Part 2 - Sheraton, Edison, NJ

This hotel is probably best-described as a plain vanilla hotel. Nothing bad, but not a memorable experience either. Not that I'm looking for anything more than a clean room, decent work area & quiet. It's in a large office complex area called Raritan Center, so I'm sure they fill-up regularly. There is also a Ramada & Extended Stay America on opposite corners.

Hallways look like they've been recently re-carpeted, clean & are well lighted. Room furniture and appointments are nice, king size bed, chair & ottoman, nice size work desk, well-stocked bathroom amenitites, and plenty of nice, thick full-size towels. Pool is indoor, nothing special & no health club facilities.

Twelve floors, with the 12th being the Club Level. Can't get up there without a key for the slot in the elevator. Fairly big lobby, with an open-lobby bar called Whispers and a restaurant called Lily's. Have not eaten in the hotel yet, and may not before I leave on Friday. Menu for Lily's looks OK, standard hotel fare.

Letter in my room from the GM says they are starting a $5 mil. renovation this winter. Upgraded, contemporary guest rooms (whatever that means, think they look pretty good now), and a 'new restaurant concept', The Metro Grill.

Using the SureSaver promotion, this room at $69/night is a bargain. Hotel is just off the NJ Turnpike, I-287 and is 1 exit away from the Garden State Parkway, which is an excellent location for my travels this week & next. Plus, I'm only about 10 minutes from Metro Park Station, so I'll take the train into NYC Thursday night to dine with Catman.
The Hilton in Woodbridge, which is in the next town about 5 miles away, in under major construction. I drove by there yesterday and was very happy I chose the Sheraton.

Spent today in Manhattan visiting customers. Took the Weehawken Ferry over from the NJ side. This is one of the best ways to get into the city and not worry about dealing with parking, traffic, etc. $5 to park, $10 for the ferry and they have free busses that drop you off at strategic spots all over Manhattan. There is a great restaurant right by the ferry called Arthur's Landing, just 50 feet from the banks of the Hudson River. Great view at night of the Manhattan skyline.

Found a wonderful restaurant in TriBeca for lunch…the Aqua Grill, on the corner of 6th Ave. & Spring Street. Had a terrific Crab Cake Salad w/vinaigrette dressing and my companion had the lobster salad which looked every bit as good. Served 3 different kinds of bread with olive oil, and they were good about refilling our plates as soon as we ate a piece. Place is small, only about 12-15 tables, they also have an outdoor section, right on 6th Ave, of about 4 tables. Great dessert menu also, but we passed.

Will continue this report after Thursday dinner with Catman at Ruth Chris.