Review of Hotel Palomar in Austin American - Statesman
Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:49 pmYeah, SMU is mentioned...and once again there's a negative note attached. I've replied via online to the reporter's comments.
from the Austin American - Statesman:
By Helen Anders | Monday, November 13, 2006, 01:16 AM
We watched the second half of the Longhorns unpleasantness on a nice 32-inch flat screen in high definition Saturday night at the cool new Hotel Palomar. The TV showed every wart of that game. Hated the loss; hated watching Colt McCoy get hurt. Loved the high-def TV, though. And loved the Palomar.
In addition to the usual Kimpton Hotel features — wonderful bed, zebra-print robe, free wireless, etc. — this hotel has especially striking contemporary design in earthy golds and browns and nice bathroom features like a square vessel sink and, in addition to rheostat lighting over the big mirror, a small makeup mirror mounted so that a shrimp like me can see herself.
Central 214, the restaurant, looked good, though we didn’t eat there this time. I loved the bar. Big, but cozy, somehow. There are couches, tables and a bar. It was full of people, but not loud. Two locals sitting next to me were splitting a chocolate creme brulee, and they seemed to love it. Palomar has a spa, too, though I didn’t get a chance to look at it this trip.
And here’s something odd, but fun: There’s a small furnished sitting area — sort of a mini-living room — outside under the portico, where the valet takes your car (and valet is the only way to park here; there’s no self-parking). I’m told smokers like it. You can, if you want, sit out there, smoke, have a cocktail and watch the drive off with cars.
This is a great location if you want to go to a Southern Methodist University football game; the stadium’s walkable. The downside of the location, of course, is that if you can walk to SMU, SMU can walk to you: A bunch of drunk sorority girls kept us awake partying in the hall.
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Comments
By (my name)
November 13, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this
Ms. Anders: Thanks for mentioning SMU in your review of the Hotel Palomar. However, a couple of questions:
1) How do you know the sorority girls who kept you awake were from SMU? Did they identify themselves to you? And did you see their Greek letters? Sounds like you’re assuming they were from SMU only because of the hotel’s proximity to the campus. Remember: there are other universities throughout the area and the University of Houston had students in town for its game against SMU the same night you were there.
2) What was your reason for not calling the hotel’s security department and asking them to tell those girls to be quiet? That’s the very first thing I would do especially if I were staying in an upper-class hotel.
Just some thoughts.
(my name)
from the Austin American - Statesman:
By Helen Anders | Monday, November 13, 2006, 01:16 AM
We watched the second half of the Longhorns unpleasantness on a nice 32-inch flat screen in high definition Saturday night at the cool new Hotel Palomar. The TV showed every wart of that game. Hated the loss; hated watching Colt McCoy get hurt. Loved the high-def TV, though. And loved the Palomar.
In addition to the usual Kimpton Hotel features — wonderful bed, zebra-print robe, free wireless, etc. — this hotel has especially striking contemporary design in earthy golds and browns and nice bathroom features like a square vessel sink and, in addition to rheostat lighting over the big mirror, a small makeup mirror mounted so that a shrimp like me can see herself.
Central 214, the restaurant, looked good, though we didn’t eat there this time. I loved the bar. Big, but cozy, somehow. There are couches, tables and a bar. It was full of people, but not loud. Two locals sitting next to me were splitting a chocolate creme brulee, and they seemed to love it. Palomar has a spa, too, though I didn’t get a chance to look at it this trip.
And here’s something odd, but fun: There’s a small furnished sitting area — sort of a mini-living room — outside under the portico, where the valet takes your car (and valet is the only way to park here; there’s no self-parking). I’m told smokers like it. You can, if you want, sit out there, smoke, have a cocktail and watch the drive off with cars.
This is a great location if you want to go to a Southern Methodist University football game; the stadium’s walkable. The downside of the location, of course, is that if you can walk to SMU, SMU can walk to you: A bunch of drunk sorority girls kept us awake partying in the hall.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment |
Comments
By (my name)
November 13, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this
Ms. Anders: Thanks for mentioning SMU in your review of the Hotel Palomar. However, a couple of questions:
1) How do you know the sorority girls who kept you awake were from SMU? Did they identify themselves to you? And did you see their Greek letters? Sounds like you’re assuming they were from SMU only because of the hotel’s proximity to the campus. Remember: there are other universities throughout the area and the University of Houston had students in town for its game against SMU the same night you were there.
2) What was your reason for not calling the hotel’s security department and asking them to tell those girls to be quiet? That’s the very first thing I would do especially if I were staying in an upper-class hotel.
Just some thoughts.
(my name)
