Freehand definitely appeals to a younger traveling audience, as an artsy boutique hotel chain. It was one of the few options for my price range and party size available and while I found some amenities unnecessary for the bare necessities trip I was imagining, ultimately I did enjoy the location, public areas, facilities, and room very much. We had a lot of fun at the Broken Shaker and even made out was to the Georgia Room for music and drinks which was a lot of fun.
The bunk room we stayed in was very tight and small (watch your head getting into bed!) and had no place to store luggage and clothes apart from the closet which wasn't enough for the three of us in the room, much less four which is the room's capacity. I ended up keeping my suitcase opened flat under the bed and slid it out to get dressed.
The Bellman working the lobby was informative and welcoming which is part of the job but I can tell service is a definite aspect emphasized at Freehand. The Broken Shaker has fantastic views of the city and while the drink menu prices were high in my personal opinion, the location and atmosphere made it worth it. The bartender was very nice to talk to. I encourage visitors to check out the Mezzanine level both before and after 5pm, as the mood transitions neatly from a quiet place to get work done to a swanky nightclub.
The location is a short walk to Madison Square and the Green (4,5,6) Trains and Yellow (R,W,N,Q) Trains. Made getting around extremely easy. There are a bunch of restaurants nearby and I even was able to get student discounts at a few thanks to Baruch College across the street.