It’s hardly four-star dining (the restaurant’s as loud as a school cafeteria), but then Company isn’t aiming for perfection. Consider the cheeky one-liner on the menu that reads:
Our pies are not always round.
For daytime pursuits, Ace occupants can jaunt down to Greenwich Village to
wander through charming Washington Square Park and explore much-loved culinary
pit stops like Magnolia Bakery and Murray’s Cheese Shop. On my way to the Village, I also discovered Union Square’s year-round Greenmarket, which purveys the foodstuffs impromptu picnics are
made of: farm-fresh produce, artisan cheeses, and crackly crusted breads.
To visit the land of the lofts known as Tribeca requires a change of lodging.
After checking into the stylish 45-room Duane Street Hotel, I took up the
lifestyle of a fashionable loft dweller, browsing the art-deco decor at
Antiqueria Tribeca, nibbling on bite-sized caramel-filled cookies from Tribeca
Treats, and watching the neighborhood go silent over a late-night glass of wine
at the contemporary brick-walled bistro Landmarc.
Just blocks away, Battery Park fulfilled my need for outdoor pursuits. In the
morning, I jogged alongside stroller-pushing urban moms on the wide waterfront
path; in the afternoon, I returned to the park to board the Staten Island Ferry
for an authentic sightseeing tour. The leisurely ride doesn’t stop at the Statue of Liberty like the overcrowded tourist cruises do, but
then this “tour” is free.
My final home base brought me to the East Village neighborhood, where the
sparkling Cooper Square Hotel sits. This high-rise hotel is all uptown class
with modern black-and-white rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows with expansive
city views. A clubby bar and the sleek Table 8 Restaurant only add to the hotel’s hip, see-and-be-seen vibe.
Surprisingly then, the surrounding neighborhood has a distinctly casual feel;
linen pants, gladiator sandals, and vintage dresses are the uniform of choice,
and handfuls of ethnic eateries dot every block.
Take the time to find Caracas Arepa Bar. This narrow, tchotchke-filled
Venezuelan restaurant serves arepas, best described as taco-style sandwiches
with big flavors and a price tag that won’t break the bank.
A second eatery for budget-conscious diners is the pop-up supper club, Damon:
Frugal Friday Everyday Except Tuesday. All ages of couples fill the seats in
this candlelit dining room, where cocktails and $10-and-under tapas-sized
plates like pork croquettes in a cocoa nib sauce wow for a palatable price. The
room buzzes with throwback tunes and animated conversations.
The experience alone was more memorable than a Central Park carriage ride or
Chinatown shopping excursion, and, coupled with my other excursions, gave me a
taste of the real New York City. 
