That is the question on a lot of people's minds this morning. People who work in the financial district anticipated the worst as a commercial plane followed by two fighter jets, leered a little to close to comfort- making a complete circle before heading out.

As buildings began to shake and evacuations started to take place, one could only think of the devastating day that took place on Sept 11th. Panic arose as Goldman Sachs was evacuated along with other neighboring buildings in the financial district. Post 9/11- We hope for the best but brace for the worst... 

So why am I ranting about this...Obviously this was not a terrorist attack, nor was it a plane that malfunctioned...This eerie scenario was none other then a photo op!! Yes you heard right...a photo op. Our "Defense Department" decided to conduct a photo op involving deploying two f-16s escorting a Boeing 747 in the vicinity of Lower Manhattan & the Statue of Liberty.

Why don't they just pour some Anthrax over the city while they're at it!! I mean how stupid are these people? The sad thing is, these are the people in charge of our safety... that's reassuring... God Bless America.

The sun emerged through the ominous rain clouds just in time to shine on the Penthouse Rooftop deck of The Cooper Square Hotel for the unveiling of the mini-bar exclusives. Tuesday evening, Klaus Ortlieb, CSH's managing partner, and Evan Altman, the sales and marketing director, welcomed guests to a gorgeous view and an introduction to the honorees of the soiree and their designs .

Ortlieb had been looking to round out the hotel's distinctive design, atmosphere, guest services and amenities. He turned to three VIP New York talents to make The Cooper Square Hotel's mini-bar stand out. As a result, the mini-bar features; things by tina thor, a custom Tina Thor jewelry line, the Pretty Pak, a Cooper Square Hotel- exclusive Loraine make-up kit by celebrity make-up artist- Loraine Abeles, and Stacy Morgenstern Igel- creator/founder of Boy Meets Girl®, has designed a t-shirt solely for the hotel.

The fashionably savvy crowd sipped wine and mingled whilst nibbling on delectable hors d'oeuvres from Chef Govind Armstrong of Table 8, examining the exclusives, and daring to approach the free standing deck. Some felt the panoramic view was better seen through the floor to ceiling windows. I personally enjoyed creeping up to the just above waist high glass railing.

I would now like to take a moment to recognize the renaissance this area of Lower Manhattan is undergoing and how The Cooper Square Hotel is a brilliant addition. We all have our personal feelings, revelations, and/or reservations about the Bowery overhaul, yet I feel that there are some things honoring innovation, such as the hotel and the inclusion of the aforementioned artists/designers.

Most skyscrapers appear to just pierce through the air (hence the term skyscraper, and the eminent free association with phallicism), however, The Cooper Square Hotel- standing 21 stories, by acclaimed building designer Carlos Zapata, seems to be supported by the negative space and the environment around it. It is absolutely breathtaking and surprisingly comforting.

But alas, I returned inside to blend into the trendsetting attendees: Billy Devlin, Bobby Flay, Euince Quinones, Laura Zapatu, James Vazquez, Jason Patric, Stephanie March, Ami Ankin... oh gosh, am I name dropping? So sorry, it was just way too fabulous to go without mentioning a few.

Conclusion: Stopping by The Cooper Square Hotel to get a peek at the uber exclusives available for purchase, is a fantastic idea and while you're there, you might as well have a bite at Table 8, your taste buds will be glad you did. I also highly recommend checking out Boy Meets Girl® online or visiting Bloomies or eModa to acquire the signature current collection.

To see more photos: click here

*photos 1 courtesy of Marion Curtis/Startraksphoto.com (Jason Patric and Stacy Morgenstern Igel)

*photo 2 courtesy of yours truly (Loraine Abeles and Tina Thor)

*photo 3 courtesy of Marion Curtis/Startraksphoto.com (Bobby Flay and Stephanie March)