By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life/ [email protected]

"Come let's mix where Rockefellers walk with sticks
Or umbrellas in their mitts
Puttin' on the Ritz"
-- From Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz"

NEW YORK -- If your visit to New York is a short one, where you stay is a big deal. You want to be close to the things you want to see and do. For us, 50 Central Park South does quite nicely, which also happens to be the address of the storied Ritz-Carlton Central Park.

The location is hard to beat. Across the street from Central Park, a few steps from Fifth Avenue, walking distance to Rockefeller Center. Not to mention all the niceties that the Ritz is known for, particularly the personal attention to its guests.

On our recent trip, that started before we arrived, when Cassidy Davis on their Guest Relations Team emailed to ask if there was anything they could provide for our stay. We did have a request or two, including a room change. And were we celebrating a special occasion, she asked? Yes, a birthday.

When we arrived, Ms. Davis had everything taken care of, including birthday balloons and a personalized chocolate presentation waiting in our room.  I was so impressed I had to thank her in person.

Formerly the Hotel St. Moritz, the Ritz-Carlton Central Park houses both a hotel and condominiums on the upper floors. From the doormen to the front desk, the staff was uniformly friendly and accommodating.

While we didn't get to sample everything the hotel offers, we had to make time for our customary Martini Inspection -- a must on every trip.

For this, we headed through the elegant lobby to the equally elegant Star Lounge, where we ordered two lemon drops -- sugar on the rim, naturally. We learned our affable bartender was from Ireland. We also l.earned he knows his way around a martini.

It was perfection.

Our stay was all too brief, but certainly memorable. Yes, it's not inexpensive, but how often are you going to be in New York, celebrating a birthday and introducing the city to your granddaughter? 

Cassidy Davis, on the Ritz-Carlton Guest Relations team. (NPBL Photo)

The Star Lounge (Credit: Ritz-Carlton)