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Bouncing Back
My Weekend in New York City
By Belinda Clarke
Though the view of the New York City skyline is visibly marred by the lack of the massive Twin Towers, it's still spectacular. From the airplane, the tall buildings on the island of Manhattan look like busy commuters jostling for standing room on an overcrowded train.
From below, as I exit the cab in a posh neighborhood on the Upper East Side, the city is everything I remember, maybe even better. At 10 a.m., fruit stands are packed with fresh oranges, apples – even papayas – that are perfectly ripe. Cafes are busy preparing for the lunch crowd while lingering croissant-eaters mull frothy cappuccinos and read the paper. I join them and savor a late breakfast of a chocolate pastry and a steaming caf矡u lait.
Separated from my husband and baby for the first time in a year, I am exuberant about a weekend away. That, of course, includes a spa treatment or two, which is why I have come to the Atzen Clinical Spa on Lexington Avenue. Having read about Catherine Atzen's treatments, which include special massage techniques to help eliminate toxins from the skin with the help of her skin care products, I am anxious to experience her therapy firsthand. In addition to the facial (which includes a hand and foot rub), I opt for reflexology for my feet and a full body massage. All in all, it's a tremendously luxurious experience and into the next day, several people comment on the "freshness" of my face.
I have booked a room at the W Hotel in Union Square, which is an area of New York City I've never experienced. The neighborhood has a funky, creative feel, which is contributed to by the Union Square Theater across the street, where Edward Norton and Catherine Keener are performing Burn This.