The long and rain-swept road to a small-but-welcome prize

[silvercamaro]

I won a prize today, a book of uncertain value about hotels of high price, but it makes me happy. Even better than the prize, however, is the long story about the odd path that brought it my way.

As most of you know, in July 2003, I was on my way to the airport. I intended to fly to NYC to audition for Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. I didn't get there that day, as I spent more than two hours trapped in my car, which was stuck beneath a 90-foot power pole that had been blown on top of me by estimated 110-mph winds.

By the time I got home again, my plane had long since left. I called American Airlines. They were not sympathetic to my plight. Despite my explanation of the unusual situation that had prevented my arrival at the airport, the customer service bastidge told me that he would be doing me a great favor by permitting me to pay a $100 change fee to rebook the flight IF and only if I did so within the next 12 hours, instead of declaring my entire ticket completely worthless. I could not rebook at that moment, as I was still more or less in shock, and I didn't even know when future auditons might be scheduled. I said I'd call back.

I next called the hotel where I had reservations in NYC. I expected -- based on their published cancellation policy -- to be charged for one night, but I wanted to avoid being charged for more than that. The hotel was the old Empire -- yes, the place that many of us were put up in the prime-time WWATBM days. I was nostalgic; the staff had been super; I felt comfortable in the neighborhood. To my surprise, the reservations guy at the Empire was incredible. After hearing my story, he first asked if I was okay, and then assured me that I would be charged nothing, nada, zip, as I most certainly was not in the category of people who just changed their minds. Because of this, I vowed undying loyalty and future patronage to the Empire. So, of course, the hotel was sold and closed down -- or closed and sold -- within weeks.

Before the 12 hours were up, I called American back and made new reservations, picking a mid-September date at random, figuring I would simply be a tourist if I were not able to audition. I waited a while to make hotel reservations, eventually finding some lesser establishment on the cheap through the internet. I did get to audition, as it turned out, and it went well, yada, yada, "Hello, Meredith."

I kept tabs on the Empire for years. The original purchasers announced renovation plans, but then they sold again, as I recall. Perhaps the hotel also passed through other hands, but eventually it ended up with a group called Tablet Hotels, which has properties around the world. I signed up for the Tablet e-mail list, in hopes that I might learn when and if they reopened the Empire. I still want to go back there someday. I am a loyal Empirian.

The Tablet e-mails have never mentioned the Empire. They are filled instead with photos and links to a dozen or so luxury lodgings in exotic and expensive locales. I have learned where to stay in Bangkok enchantment for, say, $1,200 a night and find a bargain in San Francisco for a mere $440 "and up." The weekly e-mails also usually include a small contest, in which they ask an odd question about one of the hotels featured in that issue, for which the answer can be found in one of the many linked web sites. I've entered in the past, out of curiosity or boredom, but have never been fast enough -- even with an immediate reply -- to be among the first three correct answers to win the prize book. I came to the conclusion that it would be virtually impossible to find the answer and respond quickly enough.

This week, the e-mail arrived around 2:25 a.m. while I was working late to meet a deadline. I read it when I reached a creative "stop" in my project. It occurred to me that perhaps not as many responses would flow quickly in the middle of the night. I searched for the answer to "Which new hotel is its country's first carbon-neutral hotel?" and found it at my third or fourth random attempt. (It was the URBN Hotel Shanghai. Yes, I understand that you already knew that.) Today, I got an e-mail announcing that I was indeed one of the week's book winners.

It all makes me smile. It couldn't have happened without Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, the Empire, and a scary storm.

[Ritterskoop]

Fantastic, as in, the stuff of fantasies. Well done.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Congratulations on your serendipitous win.

[SportsFan68]

A Most Excellent story.

Congratulations, and enjoy your Major Award.

[earendel]

Great story, SC. If you hear about the Empire re-opening, please let us know.

[CharlesFoxSingers]

I hope our merry friend Wierd Al doesn't mind if we borrow some of his lyrics this time....


New York, crowded urban setting
And the city don't know what the city is getting
The creme de la creme of the brainiacs for a show hosted by Reege Philbin
Surpise, we're dropped off at the dire
And delapidated dump known as the Empire
Good lord, I'd like to think that when you
Play at this level they could find a better venue
Like Super 8, or Motel 6, or Budgetel, but not this place!

One night at the Empire and the halls are dreary
The walls have termites and the carpets fleas
You'll find a rat in every darkened corner
And if you're lucky then there's no algae
I can feel the plaster falling down on me

One town's very like another
When your view's down over the dumpster, brother
It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity to be looking down at trash not looking at the city
What a joke! This stupid, archaic, hellish piece of crap
I'd rather stay out in the street. How can Susan Viscera live up in that suite?
Need sleep, I try to hit the sack
But the lousy bed just destroyed my back
Now I'm hunched over at the waistline, sunshine

One night at the Empire makes the hard man humble
Not much between the shower and the sink
One night at the Empire and the baseboard tumbles
With these distractions, I can't even think
I think that this place is gonna make me drink

OK, I think I'm gonna holler
Cause the soda pop costs way more than a dollar
This ticks me off more than the dirty old towels or reclining table
Thank God I'm only staying two days, if I make it
This wasn't accomodating
I think I'd give it a minus star rating
I can't believe ABC's this tight
But to think they charge $300 a night
I just wanna go home to my chair, my hot shower, my comfy bed

One night at the Empire and the heat ain't working
A big drug bust is seen in the alley
You say a prayer when the elevator's jerking
They didn't even give me the right key
I can feel the anger welling up in me

One night at the Empire makes the hard man humble
I wouldn't stay in this hellhole for free
One night at the Empire watching the walls crumble
Can't be to careful with your own safety
I think that the devil wants to punish me

[peacock2121]

Yay!

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing.

[MarleysGh0st]

An excellent addendum to an already amazing story, SC!

"Which new hotel is its country's first carbon-neutral hotel?" and found it at my third or fourth random attempt. (It was the URBN Hotel Shanghai. Yes, I understand that you already knew that.)

I, for one, did not know that.

[kayrharris]

I like happy endings.

[ulysses5019]

I think the hotel has been renovated and reopened. Here is the link:

http://www.empirehotelnyc.com/

Check out the rooftop lounge.

[silvercamaro]

I think the hotel has been renovated and reopened. Here is the link:

http://www.empirehotelnyc.com/

Check out the rooftop lounge.

Thanks, Dan! I see the rates have gone upupup, but that's to be expected. After all, rooms now have flat-screen tvs.

[marrymeflyfree]

[kayrharris]

Are the bathrooms any larger? When I stayed there, the bathroom was so tiny my elbow would hit the wall while I was drying my hair.

[silvercamaro]

Are the bathrooms any larger? When I stayed there, the bathroom was so tiny my elbow would hit the wall while I was drying my hair.

I looked up current information and reviews. Apparently, the bathrooms remain as tiny as ever, although the showers now have teak floors. In fact, the rooms must be as small as ever, too. The hotel reopened quietly last August, with their Grand Reopening ceremonies in September 2007.

[christie1111]

This is a terrific story!

Love the detail and remember the events when they happened in real time.

I am soooooo happy that you survived that accident, as those of us who have seen the pictures will attest, it could easily have not gone so well.

Funny those twists and turns of life.

[T_Bone0806]

This is a terrific story!


I am soooooo happy that you survived that accident, as those of us who have seen the pictures will attest, it could easily have not gone so well.

I was thinking the same exact thing.

Thank you for the story and enjoy your book.

[kayrharris]

Our next trip to NYC (there will be one, SC, I'm sure of it) we'll stay there!
Yes, we will. Small bathroom be damned.

[silvercamaro]

This is a terrific story!


I am soooooo happy that you survived that accident, as those of us who have seen the pictures will attest, it could easily have not gone so well.

I was thinking the same exact thing.

Thanks, guys. Of course, I had no idea until I later saw the car in daylight just what a thin thread my lifeline had turned out to be. Anyway, Annie and I have agreed that we have been permitted to hang out together for longer than coulda-been for some reason -- and we just have to bring that reason to fruition before either of us can go.

[silvercamaro]

Our next trip to NYC (there will be one, SC, I'm sure of it) we'll stay there!
Yes, we will. Small bathroom be damned.

It's a deal! If necessary, I'll stand in the doorway of the bathroom to point the hair dryer at your wet head.