Tell us what you think! What do you think the best "Hotel Experience" is? Have a favorite place to take a date? It's your chance to make your opinion count. Take the 2009 Best of Manhattan (and Beyond) Readers' Poll available here. 

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Remember Deep Impact? Well it's ABOUT TO REALLY HAPPEN.

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Here we go again with the bleeding-heart liberals and their composting, latte-drinking, Subaru driving, Obama-voting and healthcare-loving ways.

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Although the dreary, leaking rain might suggest otherwise, tomorrow is the day the Parks Department picked to kick off the summer. New York City's 54 (a full list is here) outdoor pools open Saturday; general hours are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. So go, dig out those dusty bathing suits and cross your fingers for some sun rays to match them.

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It's a problem we all know about and usually can deal with. But since we've had weeks of near-endless rain, it's become something that we can no longer ignore. The golf umbrella must go. Bowery Boogie shows the problem of the insidious sidewalk-hogging suburban transplants. I know it seems like a good idea. But that umbrella is twice the size of most people. And pokes us in the eyes. And makes us angry. And will soon be used to bludgeon you if you don't put it away and get a normal-sized umbrella now!


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All systems go on the McCarren Park Pool construction. Curbed has released pictures and updates on the pool turned hipster concert venue turned back into a pool. The $50 million funding is still in place, and the projected opening is 2011. Artist renderings show the pool will have a “resorty” feel with big pools, changing cabanas, random fountains, a volleyball court, and the main building will house a gym and rec room. That all seems great and fun, but hey it's still going to be a NYC pool, so let's make sure there is adequate cleaning equipment. $50 million is a lot to spend on a petri-dish.

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Mayor Bloomberg has calmed the collective nerves of New Yorkers by telling us that the mysterious maple syrup smells that have occasionally wafted through Manhattan are completely harmless.

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Despite the frigid temps and the constant snow, Improv Everywhere folks are reporting success in the city for the 8th annual No Pants Day, with an estimated 1,200-1,500 pantsless participants that were divided on four train lines (and enjoyed the snow in their skivvies). As one person overheard said, "This is why I go on the subway; this would never happen on the bus." Improv Everywhere still teeters on the edge of being an act of public art, attempting to disrupt the way people conventionally see themselves and the world around them. We applaud them for their efforts, but we also wonder how much longer frivolous public acts will remain in vogue. The whole flash mob, ironic intervention thing seems dependent on a certain mentality that allows kids to wear their cute underwear and be a little naughty in a safe way (think Halloween).

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 A hurricane on the way: A storm starting to form in the Atlantic Ocean may hit the city. According to CBS News, there’re three likely paths of the storm. The first scenario, the storm hits land in the Carolinas and weakens, bringing heavy rain and tropical storm force wind to the tri-state region. The second case shows the worst-case possible outcome. The storm hugs the shore and stays over water, allowing it into intensify, possibly into a low-level hurricane that could be seen over the Empire State Building.  The third and most likely option is for the storm to stay off-shore and there would be significant winds and rain, just enough to shut down subway service.


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Mother Nature is such a tease. Just as we begin to relax our winter weariness, languishing in her gift of bizarre 60+ degree March weather, she flips us upside down, slaps our ass and makes us cry—as if we were new born babes and she a zealous doctor. Tomorrow, expect temperatures to be back in the 30s with some snow mixed in—three to six inches accumulation is expected. So get out there and enjoy this humid, sticky weather while you can.

Photo courtesy of Manamanah on Flickr


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