The anniversary celebrations have officially come to an end. Global Traveler hosted a wonderful cocktail reception last night in honor of our fifth anniversary. The event was lots of fun and a big success. Held at the Renaissance Times Square, the true buzz was the view. Two Times Square, the hotel restaurant, has windows on all sides, overlooking Times Square. The international menu featured fish and chips, gyros, gazpacho, sushi and more. Everyone mingled and had fun, accompanied by the sounds of Jeff Dawson’s jazz duo. Look out for a complete recap in an upcoming issue. I just returned from New York after spending two nights in the Big Apple. I went into New York on Wednesday night and joined Courtney at the SWISS event. I was lucky enough to stay at the Mandarin Oriental in Columbus Circle, where, once again, the views were simply outstanding. My room, on the 50th floor, had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park, the entire city and beyond. I just couldn’t take my eyes off it all. There is something truly special about being high above street level, looking out over the city of New York. It is a busy city, but taking a moment to enjoy the view is pretty calming. I had a chance to have lunch at Esca, in Hell’s Kitchen. The menu is mostly comprised of seafood. I started with the buffalo mozzarella salad, followed by the flounder with pine nuts and almonds. It was a great meal and a nice restaurant to try next time you are in New York City. I was walking to a breakfast meeting this morning and it was nice to feel a part of the morning hustle and bustle in the city. The weather was simply beautiful and the city felt alive as spring begins to roll in. -Kimberly Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and PR executive