I looked up at the façade of the Lafayette House, surprised to see something supremely residential. A brownstone from around 1847, this was not your typical hotel. Brought to life in the East Village by the owners (Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson) of The Bowery, it is meant to be more like a pied-à-terre in Manhattan.
I approached the door and read the buzzers on the wall. There was one for every room, and I held down the button for the concierge. She buzzed me in and I found myself standing in a place that was quiet and mysterious. Holly, the manager, greeted me and started to show me around.