Suite Deal!

Our first attempt at celebrating a delayed 25th anniversary with a getaway to Fort Worth on April 14, was fumbled by the Hilton Hotel [see Heartbreak Hotel; April, 2011].  Reservation for a room were confirmed, but to our dismay, the Hilton was overbooked and I choose to negotiate with manager for price cut and upgrade accommodations for a return the following week, April 21.

I called ahead this second time to make sure we had a room to our specifications.  The clerk assured us we would be find everything as requested.  Upon arrival in the lobby early Thursday evening, I asked for the manager with whom I had dealt with the previous week to let her know we had returned after having our reservation sold out from under us the last time.  She said she thought we would be pleased once we inspected our upgraded room, but if not, call the front desk and she would accommodate us.

I provided a credit card and we were given the keys to Hilton Room 1530. 

Portrait in JFK Presidential Suite

Actually, Room 1530 is more correctly referred to as rooms (plural).  We had been booked into the Presidential Suite and also linked to a bit of history.  The Fort Worth Hilton was where John and Jackie Kennedy stayed on November 21, 1963; after giving a speech in the Hilton ballroom that morning, the Kennedy motorcade left Ft. Worth for a parade in Dallas and by that afternoon, many would argue, an age of  innocence and optimism ended for America.  Though the Kennedy's stayed on the 8th floor of the Hilton (I am guessing the 15 Floor was an addition some time later), Room 1530 in known as the JFK Presidential Suite. 

Our Dining Room for a night in JFK Suite

Bed Room Suite
Very Comfortable

It was stunning and quite fun to open the double wooden doors, enter a hallway lined with photos from the Kennedy Whitehouse; at the end of the hall, cloakroom and water closet on the right; then a lavish dinning room and wet bar opens to the right of the hallway and a living area on the left, both hung with large chandeliers from a 15-foot ceiling.  Behind these two spacious common areas, decorated with a Kennedy portrait and numerous photos; were two bed rooms.  We selected the king-sized bed with luxurious bath area with step-down large tub.  Separate queen beds were available in the other room, but we were not sharing with anyone that night, so those bed remained unruffled.  We estimate the JFK Presidential Suite was about the size of our house.  As we walked out of the hotel for dinner, I stopped by the from desk to express my satisfaction with the upgrade -- and I had to ask; "What would be the listed charges for a night's stay in Room 1530?"  The clerk provided a little drum roll, and the manager said it would normally be let for $2,500 per night - base rate.

After sleeping in the next morning, we dressed in the bathrobes provided by the Hilton and documented a views of our upgraded room - living like the other half for a night.  Pretty fun.

Looking Ambitious in the Morning
Outside Presidential Bed Room Suite

Kennedy Motorcade
Photo Collection in Entry Hall

Reclining in Suite Living Area



Morning View from Living Area
JFK Suite

The JFK Suite also comes with breakfast in the exclusive executive lounge down the hall on the 15th Floor.

Having a hard time making Breakfast by 9

For our night in Fort Worth, an inimitably walkable, and comfortable town, we strolled out of the Hilton lobby and went exploring for our dinner.  We settled for a fondue restaurant six blocks north of the hotel, and ordered the 4 course dinner, including a cheese fondue with bread and vegetables, six items for the main course, including shrimp, scallops, tuna, chicken, pork and bacon-wrapped beef.  A raspberry chocolate fondue for dessert. 

In the morning we checked out and landed in the museum district, where we toured the Amon G. Carter Museum of American Art where they had a very enjoyable exhibition of the Hudson River School painters, known for their luminescent landscapes.  We then walked over to the world class Kimball Museum and viewed their European paintings (including the first know painting by Michelangelo) and their collection of Buddhist art.  A late lunch back at Sundance Square in Ft Worth, where Sue found a glutten-free Chicago-style pizza place. 

While we were out of town for Thursday and Friday, Grant saw the opportunity to take advantage of a nest devoid of parents. He asked if he could have Sam and Collin over, and was given the thumbs up. "You never tell me 'No'", said Grant, in what appeared to be a mix of appreciation and awe.

The first order of business was to purchase Nerf tomahawks, and have a battle at the local park (not that we need say anything - but Not inside the House). While acquiring their weapons, Grant saw six 4-packs of the fabulous key lime soda, a rare commodity - and bought them all and brought them home. The Three, kept the house in some semblance of order, but I found the recycle bin half filled with empties - empty Stewart's Key Lime Soda and IBC Rootbeer bottles. They watched a couple of movies late into the night, but when they put in a Robert Duvall soccer movie around 4 AM, they all promptly fell asleep. The party guests were gone by Noon-thirty.