The ginger sugar and mint topped grapefruit at the Ace Hotel
While Besen Retail’s weekly meetings usually consist of an abundance of Stumptown’s famous coffee, today Executive Director Matt Mager decided to mix it up a bit and order breakfast. Besides the freshly baked muffin and the oatmeal served with warm milk, Mager also ate a grapefruit topped with mint and ginger sugar for a fabulous flavor combination. Perhaps the full English breakfast at the Breslin will be next week.
-Caitlin
The future location of Project 8 and Opening Ceremony (picture via Hotel Chatter)
Why is the Ace Hotel superior to all other New York hotels? Perhaps it’s because they have New York’s first farm to cup cafe, Stumptown. Or maybe it’s because of the meat and cheese filled Breslin retaurant serving french fries that make patrons tear up with joy. Or it could possibly be little cocktail bar surrounded by comfy couches in the lobby. If those weren’t reasons enough, I have another one! Two fabulous boutiques are opening in February at the hotel, Project 8 and Opening Ceremony. Yes, that’s right–Opening Ceremony. The ever-so-popular hipster shop is opening its 4th location on the Broadway side of the building. I’m overwhelmed by the coolness too.
UPDATE! Just minutes after writing about the Project 8/Opening Ceremony addition I found that the Ace Hotel has yet ANOTHER awesome idea in the works. Breslin owner Ken Friedman is thinking about installing a bar in the basement themed around Tin Pan Alley, “a century old mecca to music located just one block away from Ace.” A basement music themed bar AND Opening Ceremony in one building? NOW I’m overwhelmed.
-Caitlin
The lobby of the Ace Hotel has blown up as one of the hottest hangouts of the moment. With its high ceilings, long tables, and comfy couches,
New sign posted in the Ace Hotel lobby
Stumptown patrons and MacBook users, can’t help but wander in. The Ace is a weekend destination for fashion designers, models, and actors like Toby McGuire, and is right next to the recently opened Breslin restaurant. While the waiters of the lobby are not pushing people to order something yet, they have placed small signs around the area that have a little attitude. Will the bar/restaurant/hotel lobby continue to allow the usual crowd, or will it be reserved for hotel guests only?
-Caitlin
The recently opened Breslin restaurant located in the Ace Hotel has only been serving breakfast, lunch and brunch since its opening, but is expected to finally open for dinner next week. Owners Ken Friedman and April Broomfield aren’t keeping you waiting for no reason though! The delay is caused by all of the private events booked at the space. Just last night the Cinema Society gala took place at the restaurant, with high profile attendees like Penelope Cruz, Robin Wright, and the cast of Gossip Girl. Can’t wait to fill up on the meat and cheese-filled menu? Visit for lunch, and have a cup of steamy Stumptown coffee.
-Caitlin
The Breslin apology letter (picture credit Eater)
After a successful morning in Jamaica, Queens, Retail Specialist Elliott Dweck and I stopped by our favorite coffee joint in the city, (Stumptown, obviously) to enjoy some warm lattes. I had heard the highly anticipated Breslin restaurant was scheduled to open today, so I had to check it out. Expecting to see hoards of dining people, I was greeted by the same old brown paper in the windows with an apology note. The Breslin will open tomorrow at 7am-noon for breakfast and noon-4pm for lunch. If you can’t wait for the food, sit down in the gorgeous lobby of the Ace Hotel where they will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. We spoke with waiter-skateboarder-photographer extraordinaire Mike, who assured us it would be open tomorrow, serving delicious meals and Stumptown coffee. I’ll believe it when I see it.
-Caitlin
The much-awaited Breslin restaurant is scheduled to open for lunch tomorrow, along with their full bar, despite the protests from the Masjid Ar-Rahman Mosque across the street. The mosque called a meeting with the Ace Hotel and Breslin Co-Owner Ken Friedman asking if the bar could be moved. Friedman laughed, causing an argument between the two parties. “Can you name one restaurant in New York that doesn’t serve booze?” Friedman questioned.
A law forbids a bar to be within 200 feet of a space of worship, but in this case the law did not apply because the mosque is not exclusively a religious institution, as it also contains residential spaces and a restaurant. Friedman offered to put up a curtain to hide inebriated patrons, but The Gothamist reports that the curtain has not arrived.
The Breslin is located on 29th Street and Broadway in the Ace Hotel, close by the Besen Retail office. The Ace also homes hot coffee shop Stumptown, New York’s first farm-to-cup cafe. I highly suggest you visit.
-Caitlin
Stumptown Barista serving coffee
We couldnt help but notice the similarity between the men and women taking measurements and serving coffee at the Thomas Pink/White Collar event and those working at Stumptown Coffee. Make sure to go to the Thomas Pink event today and get your free shirt. It’s worth the wait; see my experience and more pictures here!
-Caitlin
The lobby of the Ace Hotel, and soon to be location of "The Breslin"
Remember when Retail Specialist Elliott Dweck and I gave you the exclusive scoop on New York’s hottest coffee shop, Stumptown? Well the gossip is that the Ace Hotel will soon be opening anticipated restaurant “The Breslin,” a collaboration with owners of “The Spotted Pig.” The word is that they will not be opening all at once; they may be starting with breakfast as early as next week, and then lunch and dinner soon after. Breakfast choices include pumpkin pancakes (more pumpkin!) with pecan butter and chilli, poached eggs with curried lentils and yogurt, and a Full English Breakfast. Lunch and dinner meals include lamb burgers and fried rabbit. We will keep you updated!
-Caitlin
I was excited when the baristas at Stumptown Coffee created a little flower in the foam on the top of my latte. But this morning I discovered a website peddling “coffeestencils.” Now you can create a message in your morning brew right at home. Want to tell your sweetie how you feel about them as they sip their java? Purchase “I love you,” “You are hot 
” or maybe the daring “Marry Me?” Have some big news? Perhaps the “I’m Pregnant” stencil is fitting. Other stencils include the zodiac signs, animals, and even the classy dollar sign to show how much you are rolling in.
The website instructs the user how to coffee stencil, with a few simple directions. First, you need a cappuccino or a latte coffee, a cup, cinnamon or cocoa powder, and your favorite stencil. Brew your coffee, place the stencil on top, and shake some of the powder over it. Voila! Now you can drink your coffee with a picture of a snail on it. Could this be a future coffee trend? Will what you choose to stencil be the next way to make a statement? Coffeestencil.com claims, “Decorated coffee tastes better.”
-Caitlin
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