by We Get Around Founder, CEO and Chief Photographer Dan Smigrod
I love being a Matterport Pro 3D Camera Photographer; not so much green vegetables. (More on the veggies in a moment.)
So, I am in New York City all this week creating WalkAround 3D Tours for 6 Columbus Circle across from Time Warner Center – one of five (soon six) lovely boutique SIXTY Hotels. It's a nice change in scenery from creating 3D Tours of Atlanta luxury real estate listings.
On Monday, I did a Matterport shoot in this Columbus Loft; one of the two 2-story Penthouses. I then stayed in the Penthouse Monday night. It was so big, I almost got lost.
WalkAround™ 3D Tour of 6 Columbus Circle, Studio King | A SIXTY Hotel. Takes about 10 seconds to load. To walk around, use the arrow keys on your keyboard; check-out the dollhouse and floor plan views (lower left icons); click to fly-in and walk around | WalkAround™ 3D Tour by We Get Around Chief Photographer Dan Smigrod
On Tuesday, one of the 6 Columbus Circle rooms I shot was this Studio King. I am staying in this Studio through Saturday. I love that I can see above the Central Park tree line; and that that the Studio has a patio too. After long-days of shooting various room types, it's great to have both a deep, long and wide bath tub and a separate, large shower. (Plus, the comfy bathrobe and slippers.)
At midnight Wednesday – last night – I began a five hour 3D – and Virtual Reality (VR) – shoot of the HI-BAR rooftop bar. (Matterport does not support outdoor – let alone night-time shoots - so the techniques that I have pioneered to accomplish this successfully takes longer than indoor shoots.) The HI-BAR is a hidden mid-town gem that's open to the public: not just guests. The combined two seating areas comfortably seat 50. I am looking forward to returning to the open-air bar one night this week. There's a smaller, candlelit area for romantic, intimate moments while taking in the view above Central Park. (I didn't actually start the mid-night shoot until 12:30 am, to allow some lovebirds some extra time after the official midnight closing.)
Preparing for a midnight shoot means sleeping during the afternoon. So, I am pleasantly surprised how quiet "my" 11th floor Studio King is. Last month, I stayed in this quiet King room.
While most of my meals have been at the adjacent Starbucks on Whole Foods across the street (and under The Shops at Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center), I did enjoy an under $25 Bento Box at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill in the hotel. While a separate business, I was able to sign my bill to my hotel room. Blue Ribbon also runs the Hi-BAR, so sushi under-the-stars is an option (that I saw some guests enjoying) while doing a pre-shoot visit the night before).
Surprisingly, I walk about five miles a day shooting 3D Tours, so I opted to UberPOOL it Zabar's to pick-up dinner (even though it is just a 25 minute walk each way). Uber was less than $10 each way, including tip and no one shared my Uber rides. Plus, there's Terakawa Ramen – a Japanese soup bowl restaurant – around the corner from 6 Columbus Circle. $10 for Miso Ramen Chicken (cash only) in a horse-shoe-shaped counter with 12 seats. I loved that I could get a Seagram's Sparking Water in a can ($1.50) to go with my soup and salad.
I look forward to staying at 6 Columbus Circle again – even when they are not engaging We Get Around to create Matterport 3D and VR tours. I've met most of their team. All so nice. And, excited about using our WalkAround 3D Tours to help make it easy for business and vacation travels get-there-before-they-go-there to see how beautiful all their guest rooms are. Of course, I'd love to repeat the 'SIXTY Stars' experience at the five other SIXTY Hotels:
- SIXTY SoHo
- SIXTY Les – New York
- SIXTY Beverly Hills
- Nautilus – South Beach
- SIXTY Montreal (opens 2016)
Oh, and about those green vegetables, each night that I talk with my wife, she always asks, "did you eat a green vegetable today?"
Telling her that I had lunch at Whole Foods, apparently does not count. (great almond croissant and fruit bowls) I do have a dinner receipt from Terakawa Ramen that says 1 Mix Green Salad. That's all the green you need for the week. Right? Does anyone go to Zabar's and get just a salad?!
Time to connect with a nephew. He's the General Manager at Porter House New York in Time Warner Center. That's convenient.
To learn more about 6 Columbus Circle and to book your room, click here. If you are interested in corporate rates or booking a group, contact me to connect you to our client.
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