The Historic Blue Moon Hotel

I was up in NYC for Remake’s NYFW Walk Your Values Sustainable Fashion Show last night. This trip was a bit spur of the moment but I was so thankful to be able to make it work and be inspired for our ReFashion Show in April.

More on that in the next post, but first let’s discuss the historic Blue Moon Hotel in NYC’s Lower East Side.

I found out about the hotel through HotelTonight.com, a discounted booking site. The goal was to find a place to stay within close walking distance to the fashion show.

Going in, I didn’t know too much about the place except that it seemed to have character, which is always a plus when traveling. “Having character” turns out to be quite the understatement as this hotel is a passion project of artist and entrepreneur, Randy Settenbrino.

From the outside, the hotel looks like a cute coffee shop., and upon entering, you are immersed in a lobby that resembles a European bistro. Art is everywhere, much of it painted by Randy Settenbrino himself. As I was checking in, Randy was in the lobby and came over to introduce himself. Welcoming and kind, he seems like the type of person who genuinely is interested in everyone’s personal story. His interest in the history of the people of the Lower East Side neighborhood inspired him to renovate the old tenement building that is now the hotel. When he began transforming the building, he discovered the upper floors contained a closed off time capsule of historical documents dating from before the floors were sealed off in 1936.

It is truly awe inspiring to see how much love he has poured into this boutique hotel. He gave me a quick tour, though more extensive tours can be arranged by appointment. Also a collage artist, Settenbrino’s mixed media framed art incorporates the treasures found in the building’s time capsule and is on display in the lobby. Settenbrino’s Italian roots shine in the culinary offerings of the Sweet Dreams Bakery Cafe. located in the main floor of the hotel. Settenbrino offered me a of sample some chocolate all spice confection (apologies that I don’t remember the Italian name for this biscotti-like snack) and it was quite the treat. He was just as kind and friendly with his staff, making sure they all got to try this fresh out of the oven confection. I loved the vibe of this boutique hotel; everyone was warm and friendly, which is especially appreciated by a relative newbie to NYC.

The rooms are quiet, very comfortable, and tastefully decorated. They are quite large, too, with amazing amenities, including a heat induction plate, large fridge, coffee maker with a selection of coffee/tea, bar sink, pots and pans, and dishes/cutlery. They offer discounts if you want to rent for a longer time because it can serve like a apartment. My room had a shower and soaking tub combo as well as a charming shared balcony. There is a smart tv, too, to access all your favorite streaming services. The bed was my favorite part, though, so you can imagine how comfortable it was.

For those of you who appreciate art, historical architecture, and learning about the history of the Lower East Side neighborhood, this hotel is a must stay. This place is a gem and deserves all the accolades it receives. My only regret is that I couldn’t stay longer. Until next time.

You can read more below about the history of the hotel from their website:

An eight-story boutique hotel called Blue Moon has at 100 Orchard Street, a cobblestone's throw from the famed Tenement Museum across the street. Rates are highly competitive with New York's other boutique venues. Except for two hosiery stores on the ground floor, this building had been abandoned since shortly after 1936, according to owner and hotelier Randy Settenbrino. "None of the newspapers and other printed material that we found scattered all over the second, third and fourth floors was later than that,'' he said. This was the same time Mayor LaGuardia passed legislation that made it prohibitively expensive to use these addresses as residences. Understanding that the area was destined for better things, the Brooklyn-born Settenbrino acquired the Orchard Street property in 2000. Before going into the hotel business, Settenbrino, who is also a real-estate broker, worked in the apparel industry. He was initially trained, however, as an artist, which partly explains why he has conceived of his hotel as a kind of neighborhood museum.

Remnants Saved

He applied all the painted faux finishes himself. Every architectural and ornamental detail that was salvageable, from banisters to oak wainscoting, has been restored and, where necessary, recreated. And the abandoned memorabilia from the upper floors -- sheet music of the 1920s, old newsprints in English and Yiddish, bills of lading, calling cards, letters -- has been lovingly framed and displayed throughout the hotel. A granite-clad penthouse was added, and recessed from the street line, so it doesn't read as part of the original building. "With gentrification,'' Settenbrino says, "they take out everything. They ruin the facades. At the Blue Moon, I tried to get as close as I could to historic preservation while still keeping the place functional and modern.''

Vaudeville Suites

Each of the Blue Moon's 22 rooms and suites is named for a vaudeville luminary associated with the neighborhood: Eddie Cantor, Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker. All have period furniture and lavish bathrooms with tiled floors and old-fashioned fittings. On the higher floors, guests have commanding views of the Lower East Side, from the courthouses on Center Street to the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. Given the high occupancy rates that the hotel has enjoyed since it opened, Settenbrino is clearly doing something right. His Blue Moon may be only one artifact among many in the ongoing and creative adaptation of the urban past, but it is conspicuous for the sensitivity and boldness with which it achieves an increasingly sought-after goal.