I travel to NYC frequently and love to stay in new hotels. I've stayed
in the standard ones (Ritz, U.N. Plaza, Helmsley, W, Etc.) and I've
stayed in the trendy ones (Soho Grand, Tribeca Grand, Roger Williams,
etc.). Now I'm looking for something new. Money is not a big deal
(<$750/night would be good, though) and neither is location (we'll be
doing the usual Broadway, Chelsea galleries, Soho furnishings, Midtown
shopping stuff). I'd just like to find something intimate, special,
beautiful, posh and, you know, "different." Any ideas? Thanks!

Hi headdoc: 

Thanks for the interesting question. 

I have two suggestions for you to start. Please review them and see
what you think. If neither of them is to your liking, please let me
know why and any more details you can think of.

Library Hotel
URL: http://www.libraryhotel.com/
Notes: This one tops my list! Each floor/room is based on a range of
the Dewey Decimal system. See http://www.libraryhotel.com/concept.htm
for details. The "Erotica Package" for $650 sound perfect. See
http://www.libraryhotel.com/special/erotica.html for more details.

Paramount Hotel
URL: http://www.paramounthotelnewyork.com/
Notes: The Art Nouveau decor alone makes this worth a try. Each room
is designed in black/white/grey. Suites are only $450/night - so it is
definitely in your preferred price range.

I hope this helps. Like I said above, let me know if these aren't your
cup of tea and we can try again.

websearcher-ga

Search Strategy (on Google):

"new york city hotels"
"new york city" hotel "off the wall"
"new york city" hotel "out of the ordinary"
"new york city" hotel offbeat
"new york city" hotel strange
"new york city" hotel unique
"library hotel" new york
"paramount hotel" new york

Wow. What a wealth of information I got. Thanks to "websearcher" and
all the commenters, too. I fully intent to give the Libnrary Hotel a
try.

Wow, hard to top that Erotica Package.  Great job, websearcher.  ;-)

Here's the Inn at Irving Place:
http://www.innatirving.com

and

The Iroquois:
http://www.iroquoisny.com

Incredible!!!!!!!!

...a few more

60 Thompson
http://www.60thompson.com

Ian Schrager Hotels
http://www.ianschragerhotels.com/home.html

The Mark
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/themark

Hôtel Plaza Athénée
http://www.plaza-athenee.com

The Time Hotel
http://www.thetimeny.com/vr/index.htm

The Mansfield
http://www.mansfieldhotel.com

The Bryant Park Hotel
http://www.bryantparkhotel.com

Marcel Hotel
http://eurousatravel.com/hotels/newyork/marcel.html

The Shoreham
http://www.shorehamhotel.com

Chambers Hotel
http://www.chambershotel.com

Le Marquis
http://lemarquisny.com/index.html

Michelangelo Hotel
http://michelangelohotel.com

Hotel Elysée 
http://www.elyseehotel.com

San Carlos
http://www.sancarloshotel.com

The Mercer
www.mercerhotel.com

Flatotel
http://www.flatotel.com

The Avalon
http://avalonhotel.citysearch.com

Hotel Giraffe
http://www.hotelgiraffe.com

W - The Tuscany
http://www.starwood.com/whotels/index.html

The End
V