On a fine, fresh Thursday, we, Amanda and Margaret, met up at 12th street for our anticipated date. We had talked the night before about where we'd like to meet and decided on The Gotham Bar and Grill. It had been regarded as an accessible, accommodating spot for wheelchair patrons and thought it would be interesting to dine somewhere with a high "swank" factor. Upon arrival, we were extremely confused as to who could possibly consider this to be an accessible eatery. The front door alone holds an obnoxious 2 to 3 inch rise that's purpose is confounding. Once entering in the restaurant, there are three steps one must go up in order to even enter the dining area. Bewildered, we spoke to the hostess and asked what the normal procedure was for wheelchair patrons. She proceeded to tell us about the side entrance which she then escorted us through.
Behind the freight door entrance, lays the claustrophobic, dirty hallway we were ushered through. It was virtually an indoor alleyway that I'm certain other patrons of this establishment would be appalled to be suggested to go through. We get to the door that is supposed to mark the entrance of our dream lunch, and the door was locked. The thoroughly embarrassed hostess and walked us back out to the front of the restaurant. After taking a few moments to digest what we had just been shown, a man walks up to us and introduces himself as the manager. He says he heard we had questions about the restaurant and we proceeded to tell him the same thing we told the hostess. His response was defensive, hostile and boiling over with insecurity. He explained how the restaurant was 27 years old and that it, as well as the extremely ancient building it’s located in, were grandfathered into ADA regulations. We then asked whether they at least addressed the issue of bathroom accessibility. He explained that the only entrance to the bathroom facilities was below a flight of steps but they had a great relationship with restaurant across the street and that often patrons who were unable to access their facilities were allowed inside to relieve themselves there. To be clear, The Gotham Bar and Grill is centered on 12th between 5th Ave. and University Place meaning that a customer in a wheelchair would be required to go where 5th or University begin, cross the street, or walk to the center of E 12th on the other side of the street and after taking care of business, backtrack to restaurant where they would have to back through the dingy entrance to return to their table, rain or shine. He said it would be near impossible to install an accessible restroom in the establishment and would require them to "rip off the walls", build an elevator, and overall invest an inordinate amount of money. Considering their "Gotham Select" dinner menu features a $135 aged rack of veal, the financial impossibility is more than suspect.
After our unsettling experience, we decided to look for another place to dine. It took us a little while to weed through the crowded and/or step entrance restaurants but we finally found a little cafe within eyesight of where we were earlier called Di Fiore Marquet Cafe. We walked up the ramp into this very accessible restaurant where we had a delightful lunch. Although small, the floor plan was arranged in such a way that there was ample room for just about anyone to move around, the bathroom was highly accessible and did not require you to leave the building to get to it and the staff and owner were very eager to answer our questions. Although realizing the cafe was accessible due to regular wheelchair patrons, the owner is currently in a wheelchair after knee surgery and has been experiencing how accessible it is. She plans to make it even more accessible in the future.
In the mood for a little fun and games, we decided to check out the nearby Bowlmor for a little bowling action. We walked in and were led up to bowling area via elevator. We had high hopes for this place. Although very spacious, the bowling areas were about two feet above floor level and were paired with steps. There also is a three inch difference between the waiting area and the lanes. We asked the manager what they do when customers with wheelchairs want to bowl. She said they had ramps and she'd get the mechanic to bring us one out. Ten minutes later, the mechanic walks up to our lane and places this contraption (not a ramp) in the front of the lane that looks like some sort of a metal bracket with a small slide in the center. Confused by what this was, we looked around. The only other people using them in the alley were small children (who were placing the bowling balls on the top and watching as it rolled off and into the pins). We waited another ten minutes for the mechanic to get a ramp; the small ramp when set up by the mechanic created an incline so steep that it would be near impossible for a wheelchair user to get up it without assistance. We then asked the mechanic what people usually did about the elevation between the seating area and the lanes. He said they usually get a piece of wood and said he'd bring it out for us if we'd like. We waited about 5 minutes and the guy reported back that they were out of the wood they normal use and it would take about 20 minutes. He also mentioned often, when without wood, experienced people lifting up the wheelchair using guests and placing them on the lanes. Refusing to endure a 40 minute cumulative wait to bowl and the infantilizing methods to do so, we politely left Bowlmor.
We then experienced a small hankering for something sweet and thought, where better than Max Brenner's? We walked in and asked to be seated somewhere wheelchair accessible. Although very crammed, the seating on the first tier made for a nice dessert location with equally lovely cakes and shakes to devour. Since it was such a beautiful day and we had tripled our caloric intake for the day, we decided we should take a stroll through Union Square Park. To our delight, park boasts ramp entrances on all four corners making it a perfect destination for us to mosey around. We decided we wanted a little "alone" time. Moments away from the W. Hotel, we decided to inquire about a room. We entered the building and up the immediate ramp to the front desk and spoke to the manager who proceeded to show us around the hotel. There wasn’t really anything that wasn't mindful of guests with disabilities (the business nook, the bar, the gym, elevator access to all floors ect.) with all 21 floors equipped with an accessible room. The bed, the bathroom and even the closet was catered to the needs of a wheelchair user. The room became our final destination where, naturally, we spent a steamy evening together.
The next morning we parted ways, one of us taking the subway and the other taking the uptown bus (both conveniently accessible stops), and closed our impressionable overnight date.
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