Here’s a little ray of sunshine on this very damp day: The Pooldeck, a rooftop pool bar, will open atop the Empire Hotel on May 1. Reps say that it’ll accommodate a maximum of 150 hotel guests, but if you have the know-how to reach the Hudson Hotel’s Sky Terrace rooftop sans room key, we’re thinking you can do the same here — assuming crowds don’t reach 230 Fifth levels.

Should you want to escape the glow of the Empire Hotel sign, there will be five reservable cabanas, each equipped with a plasma-screen TV, a telephone (because we don’t have cell phones?), wireless, and daybeds. There will be food and cocktails, too, but remember that the Empire is where Jeffrey Chodorow's steakhouse, Center Cut, is poised to go into the twelfth floor. Just keep in mind what they say about swimming after a heavy meal…

The Pooldeck, Empire Hotel, 4 W. 63rd St., nr. Broadway; 212-265-7400

Related: Pool Crashing [NYM]