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The Abingdon Guest House Name
Abingdon Guest House is a hotel in Greenwich
Village, Manhattan, New York City
(NYC). The Abingdon could also be considered an inn, a small
hotel lodging with accommodations that have the feeling of a bed
and breakfast (B&B). Of course, one might even call Abingdon
a “guest house.” It depends on the definition used
and the perception in the mind of the traveler. See below for
definitions of Hotel, Small
Hotel, Guest House, B&B
(Bed & Breakfast), and Inn, according
to one organization.
One thing Abingdon Guest House is not, by definition and in practice,
is a bed and breakfast, although many people think of it as one.
The terms “bed and breakfast” (or “B&B”)
and “guesthouse” are often used interchangeably but
one must be aware of the differences, primarily that meals are
not expected in a guesthouse. Breakfast may sometimes be served
but it is rarely a full breakfast (meal), and it is not included
in the room rate. Also, a guesthouse is a property where the owners
or the manager live in separate quarters from the guests. A traditional
bed and breakfast (B&B) is a property where both the owners
and their guests live under the same roof.
The owner and the manager of Abingdon Guest House each live nearby,
in the West Village, but they do not live on the property. Abingdon
Guest House offers guests the privacy of a hotel.
Brewbar Café, located on the
Abingdon premises, offers continental breakfast and light lunch
fare but neither are included in the room rate. Many guests have
breakfast at Brewbar but there are many options for breakfast
in Greenwich Village, the Meatpacking District, or in nearby Chelsea,
Soho, or Tribeca.
The term Guesthouse is used more commonly in some parts of the
country, such as in the South, whereas in New England, for example,
owners are more inclined toward B&B or Inn. Guest House is
also a term more commonly used in Europe. It is more commonly
spelled as two words in Great Britain, “guest house,”
and usually as one word, “guesthouse,” in the United
States.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “guest house”
simply as “An inn.” or “A house for the reception
of paying guests.” The derivation is from the Dutch gasthuis
or the German gasthaus.
By the way, some people have trouble with the plural of “bed
and breakfast.” Of course, it is “bed and breakfasts,”
not “beds and breakfasts” (“B&Bs,”
not “Bs&Bs”).
Definitions of Hotel, Small Hotel, Inn, B&B (Bed & Breakfast),
and Guesthouse
The Scottish Tourist Board defines “Guest House”
and other forms of accommodation under the headings Hotel, Small
Hotel, Guest House, B&B, and Inn as shown below:
- Hotel: Normally meaning
a minimum of 20 letting bedrooms, with at least half having en-suite
or private facilities. Will also normally have a drinks license,
and will serve dinner and breakfast.
-
Small
Hotel: Normally meaning a minimum of 6 letting bedrooms
and a maximum of 20, with at least half having en-suite or private
facilities. Will also normally have a drinks license, and will
serve dinner and breakfast.
-
Guest
House: Usually a commercial business with a minimum
of 4 letting bedrooms, of which some will have en-suite or private
facilities. Breakfast will be available and evening meals may
be provided.
- B&B: Accommodation providing
bed and breakfast, usually in a private house. Usually accommodating
no more than 6 guests, and may or may not serve an evening meal.
- Inn: B&B accommodation
within a traditional inn or pub. A restaurant and bar will be
open to non-residents and will provide restaurant or bar food
at lunchtime and in the evening.
The Abingdon Name – Abingdon Square
Abingdon Guest House is named for nearby Abingdon Square. Abingdon
Guest House is the best affordable hotel in New York City for a
romantic getaway.
Admiral Peter Warren, a wealthy Royal Navy officer, bought 300
acres in Greenwich Village in 1744. He left this area to his daughter
Charlotte, who married the Earl of Abingdon and moved to England.
In 1794, the post-revolutionary city replaced many place names that
had royalist connections, but Abingdon Square remained because the
Abingdons had spoken up for the rights of the Colonials from London.
The Warren Mansion stood bounded by Charles, Perry, Bleecker (often
misspelled “Bleeker”) and 10th Streets. In addition
to Abingdon Square, there were a couple of now forgotten streets
in the area with the Abingdon name. There was Abingdon Place, now
West 12th St. between Hudson and Greenwich Streets. Then there was
Love Lane, also called the Abingdon Road, a county road which commenced
at Roy Road, about the present 8th Ave. & 21st St., and ran
easterly to the Eastern Post Road at about the present 3rd Ave.
& 23rd St.
Manhattan, New York City (NYC)
Greater NYC is made up of five distinct areas called boroughs.
These boroughs include Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island
and the Bronx. The boroughs are separated from each other by various
bodies of water and are connected by subways, bridges and tunnels.
In terms of the geography of NYC, it is best to imagine the Greater
New York area as a main center island (Manhattan) surrounded by
outer islands (the other boroughs):
- Queens is located just east of Manhattan.
- Brooklyn is situated to the southeast of Manhattan.
- Staten Island is located southwest of Manhattan.
- The Bronx is located north of Manhattan.
- When people refer to New York City, they are usually talking
about Manhattan. Most of NYC's main attractions are located in
this borough and the majority of visitors spend most of their
vacation here.
Manhattan is located between the Hudson River on the west side
and the East River on the east side. The island is 22.7 square miles
(58.8 square kilometers), 13.4 miles (21.6 kilometers) long and
2.3 miles (3.7 kilometers) wide (at its widest point). Manhattan
can be roughly divided into four quadrants: the East Side, the West
Side, Uptown and Downtown.
Abingdon Guest House is located in downtown Manhattan, about two-thirds
of the way down, on the west side of the island in the Greenwich
Village neighborhood. The west side of Greenwich Village is known
as the West Village.
Greenwich Village (West Village)
Spanning from east to west between Houston Street on the south
and 14th Street on the north is New York's famous Greenwich Village.
Historically, this area has been the city's cultural center -- home
to many writers and artists. The Village, as it is known, is divided
into two areas, the East Village and the West Village. The West
Village's narrow cobblestone streets are lined with historic townhouses
as well as restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs. It is also home to
Washington Square Park, established in 1827. This park has the honor
of being the inspiration for Henry James' novel, Washington Square.
Though the area may now be home to more executives than artists,
it still has a quaint charm that embodies the feel of New York's
history.
Note: Greenwich Village is pronounced "grenn-itch"
or “grenich,” not “green-witch” or “greenwitch.”
It is two words, not “Greenwichvillage.” Obviously,
Greenwich is not spelled "grenich," "grenwich,"
“grennich,” or "grenwhich."
For more on Greenwich Village, click
here
For more on the neighborhoods
of Manhattan, click here.
For information on New York City
tourist attractions, click here.
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