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Hotel Nocturne
Dracula would feel right at home amid the Modern Gothic splendors of the midtown boutique hotel, The Night, and so will you. Everything here screams black-and-white, including the walls, ceiling, furniture, bedcovers, and pillows. There's also no stinting on luxury, courtesy of 400-thread 20-count sheets, 37-in. plasma TVs, BOSE stereos, and mini-bars stocked by Dean & Deluca. Should you tire of the monochromatic interior, simply peer through the window at the rainbow vibrancy of Times Square below.
132 W. 45th St.
212-835-9600
www.nighthotelny.com |
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For Women Only
Sisterhood is powerful, especially in power suits. An entire new floor at the newly spruced-up, 125-room Premier Hotel in Times Square exclusively devotes itself to women, with special, gender-specific amenities. Among them: copies of Cosmopolitan and Self, Lather brand exfoliating body scrubs and face masks, and a special room-service spa menu. But don't confine yourself to your room; instead, partake of the Mezzanine-level Lounge where, at sunset, complimentary snacks and cocktails are served - along with chitchat with both sexes.
133 W. 44th St.
212-789-7670
www.thepremierhotel.com |
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Completely Confidential Crib
With a best-kept secret best kept, well, secret, it is with trepidation we share this one. But the West Side YMCA, steps away from Central Park West to the west and Lincoln Center to the east, offers rooms for as low as $92 a night. Posh? Certainly not, but completely functional with many perks: a 65,000-sq.-ft. fitness center, two pools, more than 100 group-fitness classes, a complete cardiovascular and weight training center, steam rooms, saunas, and basketball, racquetball, handball, and squash courts. The on-premises café serves hot breakfasts, lunches, and dinners; there's also a snack bar. Rooms with private bath go for up to $149. Holidays draw an eclectic, international crowd, ranging from school groups to aspiring musicians. Even so, the sight of limos transporting fur-clad doyennes to the door is not uncommon.
5 West 63rd St.
212-875-4100
www.ymcanyc.org/westside |
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And Keep the Robes
Looking for a particularly quiet, romantic getaway? The Library Hotel in midtown houses 60 charming rooms organized and themed according to the Dewey Decimal System. There's enough reading material to get you through the night, but, with surroundings like this, who wants to open a book?
299 Madison Ave. (at 41st)
212-983-4500
www.libraryhotel.com
 Confidential Deal: Receive a complimentary bottle of Mionetto Prosecca from Italy upon arrival. Enter promo code CONWAY when making your reservation. |
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Bit O'Heaven
With guest comments like "a gem in Manhattan" and "the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in," the Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel is an intimate oasis offering deluxe accommodations and traditional Irish hospitality. Rooms feature oversized canopy beds, plush robes, pillow-top mattresses, a traditional Irish Legends book, and turndown chocolates from the Emerald Isle. A popular choice for celebrities, political figures, and business travelers.
141 E. 44th St.
212-351-6800
www.fitzpatrickhotels.com
Confidential Deal: Mention the "conway confidential" offer to receive the "Beatific Bedtime": signature turndown service, soft luxuriant robe with cozy slippers, a pot of hot chocolate, fresh baked scone, plus a five-minute call home anywhere in the world to say "good night" to a loved one. |
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Haven on the Hudson
For a historic, country retreat about an hour's drive from the city, in Milton, N.Y., escape to Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa. Choose from 13 unique guestrooms, and for the most private, book the North Cottage set inside a cliff overlooking the Hudson. Help yourself to 24-hour refreshments from the fridge, and ask the front desk for a tour of the property to see what most guests overlook: the animal farm, organic vegetable garden, and exquisitely furnished homes also available for rent on the outskirts. A delicious breakfast is served, though other meals must be eaten out. Just a short drive into town will bring you elegant dining at Ship Lantern Inn, with the best burgers are at the Raccoon Saloon.
220 North Road
877-7-INN-SPA
www.Buttermilkfallsinn.com
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Tasty Treatment
In the shadow of the Empire State Building, Spa Sol - a full-scale spa in Midtown - breaks from the city's old-world shvitz traditions downtown for a steam session refreshingly modern and upscale. The sauna here is lined with natural jade, a gem Japanese believe relaxes muscle tension, increases circulation, detoxes the body, and improves skin elasticity. The most intriguing aspect, however, just may be the flavored air, filtered through ginseng root and Asian herbs. Add a treatment to suit your taste - a Shiatsu massage or a Seaweed Emollient & Milk Cleansing - and depart feeling deliciously refreshed.
4 W. 33rd St.
212-564-2100 |
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Hair Apparent
The unique philosophy of Oscar Blandi, whose namesake salon is home to many celebrities, is, "This is my hair. You might wear it, but the hair is mine." A few of those to whom he has applied his art include Kelly Ripa (even before she shared her mornings with Regis), Kyra Sedgwick, Robin Williams, Katie Holmes, and Tom Cruise. Attention: Such attention doesn't come cheap; Oscar charges around $500. "We are driven to make everyone who visits our Salon look and feel their best," the master says of himself and his staff. "Our love of beauty is that strong."
746 Madison Ave. (at 65th)
212-988-9404
www.oscarblandi.com |
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Color Your Chakra
A little mist with a light show sounds vaguely Dance Fever, but at The Great Jones Spa in NoHo, the chakra-light steam room does more than just give buck-and-wing to your soul. An aura of embedded light cycles through seven spectral colors, corresponding with each of your seven chakras - red (sex, money, power), orange (inner child), yellow (survival), green (emotions), blue (truth and creativity), indigo (psychic abilities), and purple (spiritual enlightenment) - rotates while you inhale the warm vapor. The result: Your chakras are properly strengthened, cleansed, harmoniously balanced, and healed. Translation: This treatment puts you in a good mood.
29 Great Jones St.
212-505-3185
www.gjspa.com |
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Eastern Influence
Based on ancient Indian principles, treatments provided by Dr. Pratima Raichur have been helping all things external and internal to our bodies with great success. Her SoHo spa, Pratima, is an oasis of calm, pampering, and exploration. Whether it is for consultation, meditation, or combating, the doctor is in. Explore the vast range of Bindi all-natural products; your skin will thank you.
110 Greene St., Suite 701
212-581-8136
www.pratimaskincare.com/pratima_spa.html |
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Star Styles
Ooh-lala Salon owner Leo Levi is "obsessed with making women look sexy." From stylish cuts to high-quality hair extensions that last up to six months, Leo gives clients the look they've always dreamed of in just one visit. Ooh-lala also specializes in European highlights - a healthier, France-developed alternative to using bleach - as well as eyelash dyes and waxing treatments from brows to bikini. Open seven days a week.
326 E. 61st St.
212-319-0777
www.salonooh-lala.com |
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Color Sensation
A favorite among both news and primetime TV personalities - yes, all that hair is touched-up - the Miano Viel Salon and Spa is possibly the best-kept secret in the city that never shuts its mouth. Master stylist Damien Miano and "color genius" (as he has been rightfully dubbed), Louis Viel specialize in enviable, cutting-edge looks that aren't overly trendy. Their Terme di Saturnia day spa within, run by Russian dermatologist-turned-NY-facialist Alla Katkov, specializes in lymphatic drainage massages and chemical peels. A full-service salon with world-class stylists and colorists, Miano Viel also offers manicures, pedicures, waxing, and body treatments for men and women. Tangible proof the place is a must amongst the international set: Combined, the staff speaks 18 languages.
16 E. 52nd St.
212-980-3222
www.mianoviel.com
Confidential Deal: Free manicure with any haircut, hair color, or spa treatment, and 15% off any hair or skin products purchased. Print this offer and show at time of purchase. |
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About Face
Remove traces of travel, tiredness, and stress face with one of more than 23 award-winning facials from Manhattan's Metamorphosis Day Spa. Two of the most popular are the “Do it All Facial,” which lives up to its name, and “The Stem Cell Facial” that uses plant stem cells from a rare Swiss apple to boost the production of human skin stem cells. A private, co-ed oasis amid simple, soothing décor also offers a full array of services that include laser hair removal, couples massage, waxing, detoxifying body wraps, and treatments.
127 E. 56th St., 5th Floor
212-751-6051
www.metspa.com/ |
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Friday Night Fever
Every Friday the Brooklyn Brewery - a genuine Williamsburg landmark - opens its doors for the best beer bargain in any of the five boroughs. Under the watchful eye of a roving cat named Monster, the high-tech brewing equipment is pushed aside and a bar opens for the happiest of Happy Hours, from 6 to 11 p.m. Standard and seasonal brews are listed on a chalkboard, and tokens are sold at the door (six for $20), to be exchanged for hand-poured beers of your choice. Other than chips and pretzels, there's no food, so standard practice is to order from a nearby pizzeria that delivers directly to your table. Saturdays, 11 am to 6 pm, are the time for brewery tours, during which you'll be treated to a free tasting.
79 N. 11th St., Brooklyn
718-486-7422
www.brooklynbrewery.com |
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X Marks the Spot
There's no rushing at the sexy and hip Madame X, where Happy Hour lasts from 6 to 9 p.m. during the week and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Low-cost, $4 to $6 libations include a full list of seductive signature drinks (such as the Indecent Proposal, mixed with bubbly, peach schnapps, and mango nectar), beer, wine, champagne, and incredibly refreshing mojitos in warm months. If famished, order food to be delivered to your table from a host of local restaurants by just asking for the menu book. Drinking or dining al fresco is also an option in the tranquil garden (where smoking is allowed).
94 W. Houston St.
212-539-0808
www.madamex.com
Confidential Deal: Print and present this offer to receive two-for-one happy hour drinks (one offer per person) and free weekend admission. |
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Potato Head
Fashioned after Belgium's traditional frite shops and topped with a New York flourish, Pommes Frites, in the East Village, dispenses only one item: French fries. The secret here is that the potatoes are twice fried, giving them their golden crispy shell. Personalize your pommes by size (regular, large, and double orders, from $4 to $7.75) and sauce. While there is ketchup, most connoisseurs opt for one or two of the 30 or so other options, such as Parmesan Peppercorn, Vietnamese Pineapple mayo, or Irish Curry. For something a bit heartier, try poutine - a habit-forming French-Canadian concoction of fries and curd cheddar cheese smothered in chicken gravy.
123 2nd St.
212-674-1234
www.pommesfrites.ws |
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Rice is Nice
Resembling a psychedelic Baskin-Robbins, the Rice to Riches dessert café offers "rice pudding with a makeover" - spiced up with exotic flavors from all over the world. First select a flavor: French toast, mascarpone with cherries, rum raisin, cheesecake, or traditional vanilla (there are others, and you can mix 'em). Next, add a topping: oatmeal coconut crumble, fresh fruit, or chilled espresso - or keep your pudding naked. Servings start at $5, and you can keep the dish and the customized spoon when you're done. Sweet.
37 Spring St.
212-274-0008
www.ricetoriches.com |
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Food Hall
Think Los Angeles' Farmers Market, only urban. The Chelsea Market is a one-stop gourmet haven made up of food stalls on the ground floor of the former National Biscuit Company factory. Shop for hard-to-find wines, organic cheeses, Bolivian coffee, even lobster. Familiar names like Fat Witch Bakery, Morimoto, and Buddakan can be found here, as can some of your favorite Food Network stars (shows are filmed on the premises). There are also roving musicians, weekly salsa and tango lessons, rooftop films, and lots more that a farmer could not even begin to imagine.
75 9th Ave.
www.chelseamarket.com |
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Perfection - and Atmosphere
Flanked on one side by a city park and the Lemon Ice King of Corona on the other, Park Side Restaurant dishes out first-rate fare so authentic that Italian-Americans jam the joint. Not that every night here isn't special, but on Fridays there’s a lobster fest, fairly priced and perfectly prepared. Years ago, the park was conscripted by Italian immigrants who built a bocce court complete with colored hanging lights, a barbeque pit, and long benches to accommodate their ongoing game - now the perfect spot for a celebration of any kind.
107-01 Corona Ave., Queens
718-271-9321
www.parksiderestaurantny.com |
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Shop 'n' Sup
Part grocery store, food distributor, and opera house, Sapori d'Ischia is - despite its industrial location - one of the most atmospheric restaurants in Queens. Fine produce lines the restaurant's walls, permitting you to shop between courses, and the tableside preparation of the fettuccini Alfredo, done in a giant wheel of Parmesan, is a show in itself. Thursday brings pass-the-hat opera night, when singers from Manhattan stages come to show off. Top that off with some balsamic cream vinegar to take home, and you have the perfect evening.
55-15 37th Ave., Woodside
718-446-1500 |
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The Real Thing
Possibly Brooklyn's best-kept secret, Ferdinando's Focacceria Restaurant has been in the same location since 1904, back when its Carroll Gardens neighborhood went by the much rougher name of Red Hook. Managing to survive the gangsters of the '20s, the hippies of the '60s, and the cash-wielding yuppies of the '80s, Ferdinando's seats about 35 at best, and maintains hours that revolve around owner Frankie's family life; he's only open late on Saturday nights. Still, where better to find authentic panelle (indescribably delish chick pea fritters), pasta con sarde (a Sicilian sardine dish also featuring fennel, pine nuts, and dried grapes., caponatina (of eggplant) and cannoli that's homemade, right down to the cream. A once-in-a-lifetime meal!
151 Union St. (at Hicks St.), Brooklyn
718-855-1545 |
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Gaucho Pizza
The haute pizza at the charming Upper East Side Argentine restaurant Nina's may spoil you for any other pie. Credit the garlicky homemade sauce, lighter-than-air dough, and the cheese combo known only to those who work in the kitchen. No topping is needed, but carnivores who order the addition of sausage are in for a treat (best enjoyed with wine and one of Nina's delicious salads).
1750 Second Ave.
212-426-4627 |
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Big, Small-Scale Charm
With only 24 seats, intimate dining takes on new meaning at Donguri. Abounding with charm amid exposed brick walls, chef Hitoshi Kagawa's kitchen delivers the delectable cuisine of Japan's Kansai region on handsome, handmade tableware. Consider the brilliant tasting menu. (The New York Times also praised several of the individual dishes.) Advance reservations are a must.
309 East 83rd St.
212-737-5656 |
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Marvelous Margarita
Not only delicious but gorgeous to gaze upon, no wonder the hibiscus margarita is such a big draw at the enticingly elegant Pampano, a thoroughly modern Mexican restaurant co-owned by chef Richard Sandoval and opera tenor Placido Domingo. Specialties are seafood from the coasts of Mexico, while the drinks must be from heaven.
209 East 49th St.
212-751-4545
www.modernmexican.com |
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Beautiful Brunch
Twin to its namesake Paris sister and founded on the philosophy of exceptional personalized service, New York's Hotel Plaza Athenee dishes up the most elegant brunch in town, at Arabelle ($69, plus tax and tip). Perch like royalty in one of the Louis XV armchairs, a great place from which to look up and relish the dreamy gold-domed and hand-painted mural ceiling. Arabelle's exquisite buffet offers trays of steamed lobster, chilled shrimp, a wide variety of salads, seafood selections, meats, terrines, and pates — but leave room for your entrée. The vanilla-spiked brioche French toast and pan-roasted Atlantic halibut are favorites.
37 E. 64th St.(at Madison Ave.)
212-606-4647
www.arabellerestaurant.com |
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Vintage Splendor
From the cozy red velvet banquettes and marble pedestals to the blooming orchid chandeliers and vintage posters, everything at Benoit - including chef extraordinaire Alain Ducasse's menu - echoes the Parisian original, opened in 1912. Weekend brunch bustles, so arrive early. Featured appetizers include a rich quiche Lorraine and perhaps the city's best onion soup gratinee. For the main course, the steak tartare with French fries "L'ami Louis style" and eggs benedict delight. Afterwards, the hazelnut parfait fairly drips with an artful — and rich - chocolate sauce.
60 W. 55th St.
646-943-7373
www.benoitny.com |
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Large Slice of Pie
Artichoke Basille's Pizza & Brewery - a pint-sized parlor with no room to sit, no formal menu posted, no credit cards accepted, and no brewery service available - is nonetheless worth the effort. The line out the door is the first sign it's good. More proof? The signature, extra creamy, spinach and artichoke white pie. Even the (oversized) traditional slice holds its own with a deep, flaky crust and just the right variety of cheeses. Non-pizza lovers may go for the meatballs, cheesy stuffed artichokes, and broccoli rabe side.
328 E. 14th St. (at 1st Avenue)
212-228-2004 |
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Puttin' on the Fitz
A new midtown find for meeting up with friends after work or for chilling on a Saturday night in one of the cozy leather banquettes is the Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel's The Fitz, a modern Irish bar with understated elegance and warm atmosphere. Order one of the creative cocktails, such as the Lexington Martini made with Baileys Chocolate Mint, Kahlua, hazelnut, and vanilla vodka.
687 Lexington Ave.
212-355-0100
www.fitzpatrickhotels.com
Confidential Deal: Print and present this offer to receive a free sampling of the "small plates" menu. These are light bites of all items on the menu, prepared by the Chef exclusively for our readers. |
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Happy Hour, Literally
Good house wines and drinks for $5 and a dozen plump oysters for $1 each - can this truly be a French bistro? Yet Café Deville, with its airy main room and doors opening onto the sidewalk, is a throwback to days gone by. Drop in between 4 and 7 pm for those happy-hour specials and stay through dinner (lovely steak frites, moutard fish, and decadent desserts). The music tends to creep up, so remind the attentive manager to check the volume. There is also a DJ spinning in an intimate clubroom on the lower level, so after-dinner plans may only be steps away.
103 3rd Ave. (between 13th and 14th Sts.)
212-477-4500
www.cafedevillenyc.com |
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Earthly Delights
Brazilian home cooking with a creative twist keeps neighborhood foodies coming back to family-run Zebu Grill. Tucked away on the Upper East Side, this cozy gem takes you a world away from the city's bustle. The eclectic menu is the creation of owner Tania Santana and includes a wide variety of delights from wild salmon over yucca puree in an acai (wild Amazon berry) sauce, to her family recipe for Feijoada — Brazil's national dish. Keeping it in the family, Tania's daughter helps out behind the bar, and her future son-in-law is the restaurant mixologist who designed all of the drinks. Favorites are the Caipirinha made with fresh lime and Jabuticaba, a grape that only grows in Brazil. Don't miss the Bolo de Chocolate desert — warm chocolate cake topped with banana praline ice cream.
305 E. 92nd St.
212-426-7500
www.Zebugrill.com |
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Magnifique!
Step off Lexington Avenue into the serene, family-run French bistro, Sel et Poivre. Chef and owner, Christian Schienle takes great pride in running this cozy spot that has been in the family for almost 30 years. He finds time to welcome regulars while his delightful wife, Pamela, mixes cocktails behind the bar. The celery root remoulade and country duck pate are favorite appetizers, or choose from one of the daily specials. The entrees are cooked to perfection from skate fish with lemon and capers, to the hearty pork chop topped with braised onions and apples in calvados sauce. Relax and take in the ambiance while enjoying dessert, great picks are the chocolate mousse with caramelized bananas and crème angelais, or the profiteroles decorated in chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream and sliced almonds.
853 Lexington Avenue
212-517-5780
www.seletpoivrenyc.com |
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Mad Meal
While most of Madison Ave. sleeps, you can waltz into Frederick's Madison any Monday through Saturday as late as 10:45 for a chic, relaxing dinner. Start the evening with tuna tartare or the beet and baby spinach salad for something tasty and light. The Tuscan bread comes with a delightful eggplant mousse instead of butter. Favorite entrees are the Milanese style veal osso buco or pan seared foie gras with caramelized apple and brioche toast. Make reservations at least 5 days prior for primetime weeknight slots, and you're likely to find a parking spot on 67th near Park Ave., or on Madison, where meters are free after 7 p.m.
768 Madison Ave.
212-737-7300
www.fredericksnyc.com/madison |
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Bed Time
Blue Tree proprietor Phoebe Cates Kline selects exquisitely one-of-a-kind items for the home, including vintage chairs reupholstered in mod fabrics and hand-stitched "Ralli" quilts from the rural Sindh province of Pakistan that will transform your bed into an abstract floral canvas. Besides the owner (you may remember her from Fast Times at Ridgemont High; she's married to Oscar winner Kevin Kline), other celebrity sightings at Blue Tree include actress Jennifer Jason Leigh and author Danielle Steel.
1283 Madison Ave.
212-369-BLUE
www.bluetreenyc.com |
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Beautiful Bling
"Elegantly eclectic" best describes the designs of the late New York jeweler Seaman Schepps, whose baubles showcased in this salon for 50 years have served as arm candy for Roosevelts, Rockefellers, and royals. Schepps's creations artfully combine precious and semi-precious stones, as well as the non-traditional. Take a gander at the link bracelets made of mixed woods and dazzling gold, the earthy brown tones a subtle foil to the ethereal metal. Meanwhile, beads of walnut wood and rosewood connect with gold to create bold, magnificent necklaces. Elegant, eclectic, and certainly enviable.
485 Park Ave.
212-753-9520
www.seamanschepps.com |
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Paw-Ty Affiliation
Regardless of which way your pup leans, political animals of every stripe will cast their vote for the primary dog sweater by Wagwear, in all-American - and always chic - red, white, and blue. Those with a furry pal with international tastes may go for the Merino rugby sweater, in khaki green with chocolate brown, maroon with golden yellow, or grey with orange.
48 East 11th St.
212-673-7210
www.wagwear.com
Confidential Deal: Get 10% off any purchase when you show a copy of this confidential. |
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Sew Good
If fashion is your passion, make your way to Brooklyn to check out Flirt. Started by three designing women, Flirt has become well known for its unique and eclectic mix of clothing and accessories, many made by local designers. But why stop there? If you've dreamed of designing yourself, their custom skirt shop is a must. With seven patterns and more than 100 fabrics to choose from, plus the expert advice of the Flirt staff, you could be wearing your own perfect skirt in a couple of weeks. They even offer on-site classes for those who prefer to do it themselves.
93 5th Ave., Brooklyn
718-783-0364
www.flirt-brooklyn.com
Confidential Deal: 10% off any purchase from their store and free delivery on any custom skirt. Present this offer to receive your discount. |
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Danish Delight
Surfing the hot trend of celebrity-owned shops is Butik, supermodel-turned-entrepreneur Helena Christensen's co-venture with her floral designer friend, Leif Sigersen. The place is a charming update on the general store (butik means specialty store in Danish, the proprietors' mother tongue) and is an inviting showcase for Christensen's picks of favorite items culled from her travels around the globe. On offer are clothing for adults and children, antiques, candles, lamps, and much more. Besides the lovely proprietor herself, you might spot Kate Moss, Michael Stipe, or any number of Christensen's famous friends.
605 Hudson St.
212-367-8014
www.butiknyc.com [in progress] |
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Hangover Fighter
New London Pharmacy, a European-style apothecary in the heart of Chelsea, is also home to the Elle Magazine Beauty Insider. One hot tip from this helpful place: Mother Nature's most potent antioxidants, milk thistle, helps to support the liver and kidneys. Taken before bed after too much partying, it is believed to erase any trace of a hangover come the morning after. More hard-to-find health solutions are available here, too.
246 8th Ave.
212-243-4987
www.newlondonpharmacy.com |
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Horsepower Health
Imagine a vitamin store so meticulously organized that it feels like a bank where the currency is good health. Willner Chemists, North America's oldest and largest nutritionally oriented prescription pharmacy, specializes in organic well-being. Strongly potent: Olive Leaf Capsules which, besides being nature's antibiotic, are that rare kind of pill - sweet instead of bitter.
100 Park Ave.
212-682-2817
www.willner.com |
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Crave Agave
For those who suffer food allergies or are non-insulin-dependent diabetics, BabyCakes NYC will still allow you to have your cake and eat it, too. Their delightfully decadent vegan sweets contain no gluten or refined sugars (mostly sweetened, instead, with agave), and are topped with a coconut concoction so delicious you'll never again crave butter cream. No wonder "frosting shots" are so popular. And, for those who "mix": combine vanilla with Cinnamon Sugar Toastie. An L.A. branch is also in the works.
248 Broome St.
212-677-5047
www.babycakesnyc.com |
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Summer Scent
From organic perfumer Patyka, the combination of lime and lavender in Hesperide evokes an Absinthe cocktail, a timeless tartness perfect on both men and women. It's sold at Tribeca's Steven Alan, a resource for fashion-forward clothing and accessories whose founder's goals are "re-worked timeless basics and old-fashioned tailoring."
103 Franklin St.
212-343-0692
www.stevenalan.com |
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Spirited Wine Shop
Premier Cru looks more like a hipster art gallery than a wine shop, and its informed selection practically guarantees a wonderful new discovery. Don't look here for big-name brands of champagne; Premier Cru - featured in the pages of InStyle - prides itself on limited lots of unusual vintages from small producers and growers. Among its impressive array of unusual wines, highlights include an exquisite Albert Boxler Riesling to a house white named after the proprietor's niece, Charlotte.
1200 Madison Ave.
212-534-6709
www.premiercruwine.com |
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Seasonal Wrap
Dark chocolate's being named an anti-oxidant is the best news since sliced bread. Celebrate that fabulous fact with a visit to the Rockefeller Center branch of Teuscher, where the mint truffles - flown in weekly from Switzerland - are individually wrapped in seasonal colors of brilliant foil. The store itself is all gold and glitter; its contents, simply golden.
620 Fifth Ave.
212-246-4416
www.teuscherfifthavenue.com |
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Sweet Retreat
MarieBelle calls its specialty the chocolate for connoisseurs, a fact hard to argue. As delicious as the melt-in-your-mouth morsels look (decorated with charming patterns and tiny drawings), these creations of founder Maribel Lieberman are also infused with a range of 27 flavors, from the exotic (manjari, Cardamom) to the comfortingly familiar (hazelnut, Earl Grey Tea). For the true fetishist, forego MarieBelle's fancy paper boxes in favor of those made of leather.
484 Broome St.
212-925-6999
www.mariebelle.com |
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Miami Redux
Bloomingdales bills itself as "Like No Other Store in the World," and when talking about the retail icon's women's shoe department, few would argue. Case in point: fabulously flat Bernardo sandal is claiming much more than an illustrious fashion pedigree. Noted architect Bernard Rudofsky, whose groundbreaking concepts translated beautifully to footwear, founded the company in 1947. By the 1960s came his "Miami" sandal, which quickly became a fixture in the fashion bibles of its time, as evidenced by this particular item experiencing a renaissance today. As chic a shoe staple as ever.
1000 Third Ave. (at 59th St.)
212-705-2000
www.bloomingdales.com |
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Bed in Bloom
Sweet dreams are practically assured on floral sheets by D. Porthault, suppliers of luxe French linens to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the Kennedy White House (Jackie selected Porthault sheets for the private apartments and the guest bedrooms). Today, those clients seeking quality zzz's from their products include Woody Allen, Tina Turner, and Bill Gates. In fact, so great a comfort is this privileged store that had she but known, Holly Golightly would have made this a routine stop en route to Tiffany's.
470 Park Ave.
212-688-1660
www.dporthault.fr |
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Finger-Lickin' Lollies
The psychedelic-colored, Who-ville-sized sweets at Papabubble come in such lip-smacking flavors as passion fruit, apple cinnamon, and fig. But it's the candied rings of honeyed mango and spicy cinnamon — to say nothing of passion fruit, cherry, and watermelon — that really tickle our tongues. Yet as delicious as these Technicolor baubles look, they're even better to eat. Papabubble's creators are not merely confectioners, but artisans.
380 Broome St.
(212) 966-2599
—P.C.
Confidential Deal: Spend $10 or more and present a printout of this article - or mention "Conway Confidential" - for a free Papabubble "Confidential" ring.
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Surprise Package
Who would have thought the headquarters of the American-Scandinavian Foundation would be so kid-friendly. True, for the adults there's Icelandic art and Estonian cello music, but the children's area is filled with such Danish favorites as Legos, model ice caves and volcanoes, and mirrored floors. During the year there are concerts in honor of Pippi Longstocking, Saturday mornings with the Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers, puppet theaters, and more. For the sophisticated palette there's the AQ café, operated by the ever-smart Aquavit restaurant.
58 Park Ave.
212-879-9779
www.scandinaviahouse.org |
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Animal Magnetism
Not only do the goats, cows, and sheep get in their licks at Central Park's Tisch Children's Zoo, but so does the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig. For only 25 cents (deposited into one of the several, handy food dispensers), you'll literally have your favorite pet eating out of your hand. Afterwards, rub the bronze sculpture outside each pen to hear the native noise - be it a squawk or an oink - of the inhabitants. Finally, wing it over to the Enchanted Forest and its giant spider, primeval oak tree remains, and, best of all, its captivating aviary. Talk about flying high.
64th St. & 5th Ave. (in Central Park)
212-861-6030
www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageServer?pagename=virtualpark_southend_centralparkzoos |
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Siren Call
In an old SoHo firehouse with towering stone arches and red-brick walls, the NYC Fire Museum teaches the art of - you guessed it - firefighting. Off-duty firefighters staff this fascinating repository of information and artifacts, answering any question a kid can come up with. Indeed, the smaller set tends to go wild over the various fire engines, uniforms, and different vintage equipment. Talk about hot.
NYC Fire Museum
278 Spring St.
212- 691-1303
www.nycfiremuseum.org |
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Landmark Reclaimed
More than just a fantasy structure, Belvedere Castle maintains a real belvedere - architectural lingo for "observatory" or "tower." Part Roman temple, part Goth castle, and part Greek edifice, this Central Park landmark was once only a fake front with open windows and doors overlooking Turtle Pond, the Great Lawn, and one of the famous park's original reservoirs. Now a total building, the Belvedere is home to the Henry Luce Nature Observatory, where naturalists give off-the-cuff lessons using telescopes, microscopes, feathers, and even skeletons.
Mid-Park, at 79th St.
212-772-0210
www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageNavigator/virtualpark_thegreatlawn_belvederecastle |
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Fleas to Please
With the well-established Chelsea flea market in Manhattan shrinking as the high-rise condo market expands, so is the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene also growing. These days, 200 vendors congregate every Sunday (rain or shine) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No Manhattan snobbery here since sharp-eyed bargain hunters from the entire region shop for everything from antique furniture (costing thousands) to cupcakes to pristine prints from area photographers. Also on hand: Vintage clothing, distinctive jewelry, designer threads, hard-to-find records, out-of-print books and, of course, grandma's priceless ceramic pitcher.
Bishop Laughlin Memorial High School
Lafayette Ave. between Clermont and Vanderbilt Ave.
www.brownstoner.com/brooklynflea
Confidential Deal: Free Brooklyn Flea tote bag or Brooklyn Market T-shirt at entrance. Present this offer to redeem. |
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Artful All-Around
The first art museum to be constructed from the ground up in downtown Manhattan, the New Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa/SANAA, launched with a party hosted by Calvin Klein. Guests included Julianne Moore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Lance Armstrong. Now the public is awestruck, taking in the seven stories of challenging contemporary artwork on display, as well as dining - either before, during, or after your visit - at the stunning New Food Café on the premises.
235 Bowery
212-219-1222
www.newmuseum.org |
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Cinema Paradiso
For fans of classic cinema and art movies, expect lots of superlatives at Film Forum, considered New York's (possibly, the world's) leading movie house for indies, where the popcorn is ranked the city's best - salted to your taste with sel de mer from France. Among fans of what's on the screen: actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.
209 West Houston St.
212-727-8110
www.filmforum.org |
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From Above
What could be better than an almost touching-distance view of the Empire State Building? The secret gathering spot Me'Bar offers just that, as well as super drinks and snacks, high atop the La Quinta Manhattan hotel. Those hungry for a more substantial bite may order from the bar's menu book. Your food will be on its way to the 14th floor before you've polished off your second round.
17 W 32nd St., 14th floor
212-290-2460 |
Editor-in-Chief: Paula Conway
Associate Editor: Jeff Vancho
Managing Editor: Jane Lasky
Confidential Contributors:
Jill Browne
Paula Conway
Nicholas Gill
Jennifer Goldstein
J.P. Hoornstra
Margaret Jaworski
Jane Lasky
James Lloyd
Alyse Mandel
Denise Mc Iver
Itika Oldwine
Sue Richter
Mary Beth Sammons
Robin Tracola
J.D. Vancho
Kelley Vick
Mary Wenger
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