PROMENADE
There is strength in numbers... APPARENTLY, THIS LITTLE NUMBER.
PROMENADE About New York since 1934
NYLUXURY.COM
SPRING 2010
LORDANDTAYLOR.COM
■ Spring Runway Report ■ The New Theatre Season ■ Jewelry and Watches ■ Fine Dining ■
dining * Smart Looking,
New Cooking
luxury properties * The High Life Near the High Line
spring in new york shopping
SPRING 2 010
Check out our fabulous dresses.
FIFTH AVENUE AT 39TH STREET Stop by our Executive office on the 7th floor to get a savings pass to use all day.
* The Runway Report * Bling in Bloom
the arts * Stars Take the Stage * Ballet’s Farm Teams Fifteen Dollars
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FUN in
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LIKE NO OTHER STORE IN THE WORLD
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THE WORLD’S FINEST CIGARS, LIGHTERS, CUTTERS, ASHTRAYS, HUMIDORS, CIGAR CASES, PIPES & TOBACCOS DELIVERED SAME DAY IN MANHATTAN AND WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY ANYWHERE IN THE U.S., PLUS FREE GIFT WRAPPING. Davidoff of Geneva 535 Madison Avenue and 54th Street, New York City, 10022 212.751.9060 Davidoff of Geneva 10 Columbus Circle The Shops at Time Warner Center – Ground Level New York City, 10019 212.823.6383 www.davidoffnewyork.com
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
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© Charles Addams. Permission of Tee and Charles Addams Foundation
Spring 2010
Jewelry
Uli Weber
Boats to New York City, from Charles Addams’s New York, on view at the Museum of the City of New York
Theatre
Jouzas Cernius, caslon-photo.com
spring in
Lucy Schaeffer
Shopping
Dining
PROMENADE
hen spring arrives in New York, the city is a glorious place to be. At the finest restaurants, fresh air and bright flowers accompany the most innovative meals being prepared by some of Manhattan’s newest chefs. Stars from the stage and screen are lighting up the boards on Broadway and beyond. Chic boutiques and the legendary department stores are filled with the latest fashion- forward looks. Sparkling, one-of-kind bijoux are abundant all over town. The pages of Promenade will be your guide to all that makes the city spectacular: Dazzling jewelry in the symbols of the season; new styles for a new decade from the runways; a visit to the amazing Metropolitan Opera costume shop, where ornate elegance is being created for 10 productions at a time. Meet some of the city’s hottest chefs and see famous dining establishments that have been reinvented. And take a trip through the iconic ‘21’ Club. The Broadway season is impressive: Tony Shalhoub stars in Lend Me a Tenor; The Addams Family moves in, The Miracle Worker is back, and countless celebrities take the stage, including: Nathan Lane, Linda Lavin, Kelsey Grammer, Kristin Chenoweth, Megan Mullaly, Valerie Harper, John Lithgow, and Dianne Wiest, to name just a few. The famed photojournalism of Henri Cartier-Bresson is on exhibit at MoMA, and the work of Charles Addams (yes, the strange brood’s creator) is displayed at the Museum of the City of New York. For travel ideas, we take you to four waterside cities—two in Wales and two in Switzerland— full of patrician castles, centuries of history, and charming hotels. And as always in Promenade, our up-to-date guides for shopping, dining, theatre, museums, galleries, performing arts, sightseeing, and spas promise you a fabulous spring in New York. For more luxury information and things to do, visit our website: nyluxury.com. Enjoy!
W
Carol Rosegg
David L. Miller Publisher 4
Performing Arts
PROMENADE I
DEDICATED TO THE AFFLUENT NEW YORK CITY VISITOR
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About New York since 1934
PROMENADE
nyluxury.com Spring 2010
Shopping New York Car lton vis Da
Spring Runway Report Abstract splashes of color, short shorts, neutrals, and ensembles define the look of a new decade. Page 16 The Birds and the Bees… And blossoms and bows, all in the stunning jewels of the season. Page 22 Dressing Up at the Met Making costume magic, the Metropolitan Opera way. Page 26 The Style Interview: Meet Paul Plumadore and Jim Tindell, proprietors of Center 44, whose showroom is filled with finds from the world’s top antique and modern dealers. Page 28
Editor’s Picks: Timepiece Treasures: New and neat choices on the market now. Page 12 The Virtual Voyager: Topflight tips for the discerning traveler. Page 14
bloooming bijoux
Our List of the Best Places Great suggestions for successful shopping. Page 30
antiques in lights
double time fashion forward
on the cover Clockwise from top left: “Kiku” brooch by Mish; the bar at La Caprice; from the spring 2010 Bottega Veneta collection; Spring Sextet, Corella Ballet Castilla Y Leon; Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge in La Cage Aux Folles; Penthouse A, 525 West 22nd Street, Chelsea. om to.c pho loncas us, erni as C Jouz
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Photo credits: theatre, Matt Crockett; dance, Juan Martin; dining, James McDonald, Courtesy of Martin Brudnizki Design Studio
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About New York since 1934
PROMENADE
nyluxury.com Spring 2010
On the Town THEATRE
The Stars on the Boards From Denzel Washington to Nathan Lane , Kelsey Grammer to Kristin Chenoweth, Christopher Walken to Lili Taylor (even Frank Sinatra is in town), what a spring of wow! Page 40
Matt Hoyle
Talking With: Tony Shalhoub Mr. Monk is now playing in Broadway’s Lend Me A Tenor. Page 43 OPERA
The New New York City Opera A short, but sweet season in a renovated, grand home. Page 56
the Addams Family moves in
DANCE
He Reigns in Spain and Abroad Ballet sensation Angel Corella’s dynamic new Spanish company visits Manhattan. Page 58 MUSEUMS
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Photocollages and Charles Addams’s New York Serious photojournalism, wacky Upper Crust creations and slightly “ooky” exhibits round out the spring art scene. Page 64 REAL ESTATE
Living Near the Highline With an elevated new park and a boom of developments, Chelsea remains an artsy neighborhood true to its industrial past. Page 76
downtown Zurich
City Opera returns
Jon Simon
TRAVEL
A Tale of Four Cities Four waterside destinations – two in Wales and two in Switzerland – offer patrician castles and hotels, stunning vistas, and centuries of history. Page 78 DINING
Promenade Picks: “21” Club and Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse. Page 86 New and Improved: Renovations, relocations and menu surprises. Page 87 The Restaurant Interview: Shaun Hergatt The Australian chef’s establishment is Asian-accented, modern French, and has a Michelin star. Page 98 ea at home in Chels
a classic reinvented
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THE MOST UP-TO-DATE GUIDES:
Theatre....................... Page 44 Performing Arts.......... Page 60 Museums.................... Page 68 Galleries...................... Page 72 Sights in the City ....... Page 82 Dining........................ Page 90
THE SIMPLICITY OF INNOVATION. LUMINOR 1950 8 DAYS GMT Hand-wound mechanical movement P.2002 calibre, three spring barrels, second time zone with 12/24 h indicator, 8-day power reserve with linear indicator, seconds reset. Steel case 44 mm Ø. Steel buckle.
www.panerai.com
Available exclusively at Panerai boutiques and select authorized watch specialists. New York Boutique • 545 Madison Avenue • 212-223-1562
Advertiser:
Panerai
Ad:
Luminor GMT 8 Days
Publication:
Promenade
Issue:
March/April/May 2010
Bleed:
9.25" x 11.25"
Trim:
9" x 11"
Safety:
7.25" x 10"
Giga Job#:
60944
COLOR ______________
TAG
/
INFO
/
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About New York since 1934
PROMENADE Spring 2010
PUBLISHER David L. Miller CO-PUBLISHER Eli Marcus DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Lisa Ben-Isvy SALES & MARKETING
VP Sales & Marketing VP Community Relations Director of Marketing Senior Account Manager
Vincent Timpone Janet Z. Barbash Susan Fine Fred Moskowitz
EDITORIAL
Editor Listings Editor Style Editor Theatre Editor Assistant Editor
Phyllis Singer Colin Carlson Ruth J. Katz Griffin Miller Christine Tarulli
Contributing Editors Kaitlin Ahern Martin Bernheimer Kristopher Carpenter Sylviane Gold Aileen Jacobson Karin Lipson Research Assistant Emily M. Stone Art Director Jiyon Son PUBLISHING OPERATIONS
General Manager Thomas K. Hanlon Administrative Frank Kirsner Denise Marcovitch Traffic Heather Gambaro Dana Golia Events Manager Rebecca Stolcz FINANCE
Credit Manager Elizabeth Teagarden Shaquon Cates Curtis Chaffin Diedra Smith Bookkeeper Fran Giovinco Assistant Bookkeeper Socehira David
PROMENADE | DEDICATED TO THE AFFLUENT NEW YORK CITY VISITOR
Published by Davler Media Group LLC 1440 Broadway, 5th Floor New York, NY 10018 P: 212.315.0800 F: 212.271.2239 www.nyluxury.com www.davlermedia.com
Chief Executive Officer: David L. Miller Quarterly circulation is audited by BPA Worldwide NO PORTION OF THIS MAGAZINE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ARTICLES, LISTINGS, MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISION OF THE PUBLISHERS. Copyright: 2010 by Davler Media Group LLC. 212.315.0800.
Subscriptions are $60 in US and $80 overseas For circulation inquiries, call Thomas K. Hanlon, 646.736.3604
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All rights reserved.
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With the SIHH, or the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie just staged in Geneva, and its “big sister” show, BaselWorld, on the boards in April, collectors of precious timepieces have plenty of new and neat choices on the market now, so they can mark time. Here is but a taste of what can grace a willing wrist with a willing wallet. By Ruth J. Katz
watching
[
TIME GO BY
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The “Luminor Marina Brookyln Bridge” watch was designed to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Panerai’s New York City boutique; the back side of the stainless case features a beautifully crafted, engraved picture of the Brooklyn Bridge. $4,400 Panerai, 545 Madison Avenue (54th/55th Streets); 212-223-1562; panerai.com
The Versace “DV One Chrono” is Swiss automatic, with a black ceramic case and bracelet. Price upon request Versace Boutiques, 800-988-6484; versacepreciousitems.com
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The “Zeitwerk” is A. Lange & Söhne’s first digital watch, packaged stylishly in an 18-kt. rose gold case. $54,500 Cellini, Hotel Waldorf-Astoria (East Lobby), 301 Park Avenue (49th/50th Streets); 212-751-9824; 509 Madison Avenue (52nd/53rd Streets); 212-888-0505; cellinijewelers.com, alange-soehne.com
Jaeger Le-Coultre’s famed Reverso watch is born yet again in a new incarnation in the “Reverso Squadra Chronograph GMT Palermo Open.” Sporty and elegant, it is fabricated in stainless steel, on a cloth band, and features a fiery red seconds hand as sleek counterpoint. $10,950 Wempe, 700 Fifth Avenue (55th/56th Streets); 212-397-9000; 800-513-1131; wempe.com, jaeger-lecoultre.com
[
EDITOR’S PICKS
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Topflight Tips for the Discerning Traveler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the
virtualvoyager
By Griffin Miller
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Time And Time Again
Regarding time and travel: It always helps if you’re in the zone; better still, two zones–home and abroad. Be thankful then, for Philip Stein®– a company with a unique line of two–faced watches. Available at Bloomingdales, these splendid timepieces are a must for adventure travelers–and jetsetters. Philip Stein® Small Signature Double Diamond Stainless Watch Head, with diamond-set bezel and frosted mother-of-pearl dial. Dual time zone, Arabic numbers, polished crown. $2,025. bloomingdales.com.
French Fantasy Sur La Glace
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The mirror in the lobby of the Le Meurice Hotel Paris draws spectators to its vast frosted surface as if they were enchanted extras in a Jean Cocteau film, beckoned by a seductive hand gloved in snow. However, when they get close, they are face to face with a unique piece of art by interior designer Philippe Starck.
Invasion Of The Pods
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London’s Heathrow airport is turning sci-fi into super-cool reality this spring with the world’s first Driverless Pod Transport System linking its Terminal 5 Business “car park” to the main terminal building. Not only does the sleek fleet of 21 battery-powered pods produce zero local emissions and is 50% more energy efficient than airport buses, the pods are also very cute, each built for four people and their luggage.
Starck, also responsible for the hotel’s striking interiors, utilized a stainless steel frame with a refrigeration system to create the mirror’s surface, which is frozen each night and gradually melts throughout the day. Each morning begins with a “fresh canvas” on which guests can leave messages, doodle, or etch their own ephemeral works of art. lemeurice.com.
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Passengers board at one of three stations and use a touch screen to choose their stop. Once programmed, the pod zips them to their destination – silently, at speeds up to 25 mph with no stops in between. (ETA from parking lot to main terminal: 5 minutes.) Heathrowairport.com. Thirtysomething: Words To The Wise
They slip nicely into one’s passport holder (I tried; they did), and are meant to be waterproof (I dunked; they dried; no problem), but do these accordion language guides called 30 Words really give you sufficient verbal wherewithal to communicate? For the fundamentals of South American Spanish, European Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin, Arabic and, as of this spring, German and Portuguese…you bet! – 30 Words will ensure you can get the conversation rolling.
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“Thirty” may refer to the lowest-common-denominator-basics anyone would need, but each guide contains 800 key words and phrases and pronunciations. Easy, helpful and under $9! 30words.com.
MONNALISA
®
1088 MADISON AVENUE (81ST-82ND STREETS) • NEW YORK CITY 212.249.9040 • WWW.MONNALISASHOPNY.COM
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t r o p e r y a w n u r pring
s
Abstract splashes of color, short shorts, neutrals, and ensembles capture the moment a new decade begins he fabrics of spring fashion usually herald gaiety—explosions of bright, happy colors, and peppy, predictable prints, like polka dots, florals, stripes, and geometrics. Those expected textile treatments seem to always appear in addition to extensions of, or reworkings of, the themes and trends that have preceded the season—echoes of fashions past, translated into fresh, evolving interpretations for the new seasons. And so it is—more or less— with this season, except the predictable prints are virtually nowhere to be found. Oh, there are prints, but they are making their mark with a distinctive, fresh look: Rainbows of abstract splashes of color, unidentifiable as lines, graphs, dots, or flowers—strokes worthy of Jackson Pollack. And gargantuan flowers or blots of color like a Rorschach test, or giant birds…or anything else, save dots and stripes. The rejiggered trends of past seasons are definitely identifiable in this season’s offerings, only they are reworked, updated, and ready to spring forward into—and capture—the new decade. All the glitz and glamour from the past few seasons is still present for spring 2010, with fabrics that have hints of metallic Lurex; or expanses of not-so-subtle, sparkly sequins; or shine and dazzle in an opalescent fabric—and there are lots of mixtures, like a denim shirt (Ralph Lauren showed lots of denim) with a glittery short, thigh-skimming skirt. The neutrals are still in full force, and the canvas that so readily embraced ivory, vanilla, cream, beige, and tan, has now extended to slightly darker, or even charcoal-y neutrals—stunning tones like fawn, mushroom, taupe, chocolate, and chestnut. What was a hint of bare a leg last season, with some very cool shorts (from Chloé, for example), is now going full throttle—naked to the thigh—this spring, with gams bare, bare, bare. So start getting those quads ready for spring’s finery, as short shorts are among fashion’s commands, with Miuccia Prada leading the parade. And last season’s single bared shoulder and asymmetric necklines are still present, just updated— some sedate, some wacky. Suits and interesting ensembles with mix-and-match potential also reign, but they are not your mother’s lunch-club suits, that’s for sure. Look for iconoclastic pairings of trousers, toreador pants, shorts, and skirts, all topped off with a trendy jacket of some sort—et voilà—suddenly, a suit! And it will be assuredly “suitable” for your cheerfullytoned, look-of-the-moment spring wardrobe.
T
Bottega Veneta
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By Ruth J. Katz
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naturally
neutral...
Luca Luca
Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Vera Wang
Erin Fetherston
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lurries of
flash
Sonia Rykiel
Carolina Herrera
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Erin Fetherston
Vivienne Tam
Prada
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Carolina Herrera
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Erin Fetherston
Bottega Veneta
who wears
short shorts?
Temperley London
Gucci
Tibi
port e r y a ring runw
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SHOPPINGNEW YORK
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ild
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Barbara Tfank
Diane von Furstenberg
Diane von Furstenberg Catherine Malandrino
Tibi
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Erin Fetherston
Gucci
ChloĂŠ
suitable
suitings
Prada
Ralph Lauren
port e r y a ring runw
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SHOPPINGNEW YORK
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Yellow sapphire (10.22 carats) and diamond pavé earrings, set in 18-kt. white gold. $38,900 Kaufmann de Suisse Jewelers, 785 Madison Avenue (66th/67th Streets); 877-249-5700; kaufmanndesuisse.com
From Bochic, Mother of pearl, diamond (4.12 carats), and pink tourmaline earrings, set in 14-kt. gold. $10,000 Bochic, 12 West 57th Street (Fifth/Sixth Avenues); Eighth Floor; 212-873-0707; bochic.com
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Antique-inspired, 14-kt. yellow-gold cuff-style bangle, embellished with diamonds, from designer Rina Limor. $13,250 Bloomingdale's, 1000 Third Avenue (59th Street); 212-705-2000; bloomingdales.com
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Platinum “Ruby Divine” bracelet designed by J. W. Currens with 18 natural rubies (19.88 carats), marquis-cut diamonds (4.82 carats), and melée (petite) diamonds (7.67 carats). Price upon request J. W. Currens, 37 West 47th Street (Fifth/Sixth Avenues), Suite 700; 212-944-1222
Charming “Ladybug” pins from Gumuchian; fashioned in 18-kt. gold, available with colorful eyes crafted from ruby or sapphire cabochons, diamonds, or black onyx. $1,500 and up Peter de Natale Jewelers, 170 Broadway (Maiden Lane), Suite 205; 212-349-2355; denatale.com, gumuchian.com
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Platinum “Bee-Line” pearl earrings from designer J. W. Currens with pistachio and pewter Tahitian pearls, diamonds (3.10 carats), rubies (.21 carats), and emeralds (.09 carats) $35,000 J. W. Currens, 37 West 47th Street (Fifth/Sixth Avenues), Suite 700; 212-944-1222
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Breguet’s “Les Groseilliers” necklace in 18-kt. white gold, set with rubies, pink sapphires, and pavéed with brilliant-cut diamonds. Price upon request Breguet Boutique, 779 Madison Avenue (66th/67th Streets); 212-288-4014; 866-458-7488; breguet.com
Birds and Bees, Blossoms and Bows…
be
jeweled
for
spring
Spring is a mere calendar page away and just as the crocuses have stopped fighting a crusty layer of snow and have popped right up, we’ve cast off our winter coats—like butterflies’ cocoons—and are donning spring frocks. What better way to celebrate the arrival of the fauna and the flora, than with bejeweled blossoms, butterflies, bird, and bugs? We’ve picked bijoux bouquets and tracked down diamond dragonflies and ruby robins to showcase the arrival of spring and its glorious, sunny days. Tie it all up in a pretty bow. By Ruth J. Katz
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Exotic “Dragonfly” earrings from Maya Jewels, set in 18-kt. yellow gold with blue enamel, crimson garnets, and diamonds. $5,700 Takashimaya, 693 Fifth Avenue (53rd/54th Streets); 212-350-0100; takashimaya-ny.com; mayajewels.com
Anna Ruth Henriques’ “Web” cuff, in 18-kt. yellow gold, set with diamonds and a sapphire. $6,700 Barneys New York, 660 Madison Avenue (61st Street); 212-826-8900; 888-822-7639; barneys.com
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©T iffa ny &
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From design gurus Reinstein Ross, a pair of 22-kt. yellowgold “Flower” earrings, with five heart-shaped rubies in each earring. $9,400 Reinstein Ross, 29 East 73rd Street (Fifth/Madison Avenues); 212-772-1901; 122 Prince Street (Greene/Wooster Streets); 212-226-4513; reinsteinross.com
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A swan- and pheasant-like brooch, mounted in 18-kt. gold, and set with pavé and baguette diamonds. $37,000 Cellini, Hotel Waldorf-Astoria (East Lobby), 301 Park Avenue (49th/50th Streets); 212-751-9824; 509 Madison Avenue (52nd/53rd Streets); 212-888-0505; cellinijewelers.com
From legendary designer Jean Schlumberger, the “Fleurage” necklace with swirling 18-kt. yellow-gold leaves and flowers, with platinum-set diamonds. $350,000 Tiffany & Co., 727 Fifth Avenue (57th Street); 212-755-8000, 800526-0649; 37 Wall Street (Nassau/William Streets); 212-514-8015; tiffany.com
From Mikimoto's “Lace” Collection, Akoya culturedpearl and diamond earrings, set in 18-kt. white gold. $6,400 Mikimoto, 730 Fifth Avenue (56th/57th Streets); 212-457-4600, 888-701-2323; mikimotoamerica.com
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Flower rings from Rina Limor’s “Calypso” Collection, set with sapphires and semi-precious gemstones; each features a cabochon center stone. From $1,750 to $1,875 Bloomingdale's, 1000 Third Avenue (59th Street); 212-705-2000; bloomingdales.com
▼ “Crackle” bowtie-style necklace, threaded on a one-inch-wide, velvet, 18” choker, with an adjustable gold-link extension from jeweler Cynthia Gregg. $15,500 Peipers and Kojen, 1023 Lexington Ave (73rd/74th Streets); 212-744-1047; cynthiagreggjewels.com
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Birds and Bees, Blossoms and Bows…be
jeweled for spring
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Delicate, diamond “Bowtie” necklace from Stuller, featuring .25 carats of diamonds, set in platinum. $1,211 Scully & Scully, 504 Park Avenue (59th Street); 800-223-3717; scullyandscully.com
“Kiku” brooch by Mish in 18-kt. rose and yellow gold, embellished with white and cognac diamonds. $32,000 Mish New York, 131 East 70th Street (Park/Lexington Avenues); 212-734-3500; mishnewyork.com
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“Bee” brooch with yellow diamonds, black onyx, and rose-cut and round brilliant diamonds, set in 18-kt. gold and platinum. Price upon request Tiffany & Co., 727 Fifth Avenue (57th Street); 212-755-8000, 800-526-0649; 37 Wall Street (Nassau/William Streets); 212-514-8015; tiffany.com
lton Car
Da vi s
A dazzling pewter Tahitian cultured pearl is the centerpiece in this Mish “Waterlily” brooch, set in 18-kt. gold with diamond accents. $38,000 Mish New York, 131 East 70th Street (Park/Lexington Avenues); 212-734-3500; mishnewyork.com
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From Bochic, a horn cuff with flower petals of mother of pearl, accented with diamonds (3.67 cts.) and crowned with a pearl center, set in 14-kt. gold. $16,500 Bochic, 12 West 57th Street (Fifth/Sixth Avenues); Eighth Floor; 212-873-0707; bochic.com
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STYLENEW YORK
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making costume magic
the metropolitan opera way
With nearly 100 people in the shop, the Met’s busy tailors, seamstresses, drapers and milliners are often working on ten productions at a time. By Ruth J. Katz Photos by Jonathan Ho ¨kklo ove over David Copperfield, Houdini, and even that gifted master of legerdemain, Ricky Jay. If it’s real sleight of hand you want to see, then take a trip backstage to the Metropolitan Opera’s costume and wig shops. Here, the resident magicians use sewing machines, glue guns, curling irons, and their wits—and years of exquisitely honed talent—to create fantasy from fabric, literally. The 5,000-square-foot main costume shop (there is a nearly 2,000-square-foot satellite shop, three floors up, where the costumes for the chorus are fabricated), appears to be a jumble of bolts of textiles, bins of trims, drawers of threads, hangers dripping with kraft-paper patterns, padded mannequins (with opera singers’ names on them), and busy hands stitching, trimming, crafting, and creating. But the seeming mayhem is quite ordered and organized. It has to be, since at any given moment, the staff may be handling the garments for the six or seven productions currently in repertory, and also working on a few that will appear later in the schedule—not to mention operas that will be mounted in a season or two. Sylvia Taalsohn Nolan, the resident costume designer and a 14-year veteran of the Met, works hand in glove with nearly 100 people. She has to make countless decisions—style, silhouette, structure, fabrics, fitting, and so on—and she monitors costume-creation and mending on hundreds of garments. (The “standard” chorus is 80, and if the choristers change costumes three times, that’s…well, a lotta costumes.) The employees comprise not just the costume-makers (the tailors and seamstresses), but also supervisors; drapers (who transform sketches into reality, creating patterns and prototype garments); “first-hands” (who are the right arms to the drapers); milliners; shoppers; a craftsperson; a dyer; stock clerks; shoppers, who scour the markets; and—one lone shoemaker. To transform the costume sketches into real garments, Nolan works closely with the designer. She keeps at least one show “bible,” with designs, research, and so on; the shop also maintains a master costume Baedeker, detailing every aspect—fabrics, yardage, processing—of a garment. An archivist from the technical department takes photos of each singer in character; the costume and wardrobe departments work from those photos, maintaining continuity in repertory. Nolan tries to keep additional fabric inventory, so that there are the same yard goods available when a costume needs to be remade after it has worn thin. “We keep things,” she laughs, “until they are nearly shredding.” When a new singer of entirely different proportions steps into a role—that season, or five years down the road—costumes may need to be recreated. She observes, “For the ‘warhorse operas,’ we are fortunate enough to still have some original costumes, like the Colline vest and overcoat from Act IV of La Bohème.” (Designer Franco Zeffirelli’s production premiered during the 1981-82 season.) She says that they always make things with an eye to the future, building garments with generous seam allowances.
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[ Top: The intricate and sumptuous back of a toreador costume for Carmen Bottom: A wig (left) being prepared and (right), the Olimpia doll wig from Tales of Hoffmann ]
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[ Top: The costume shop; Bottom, from left: Boxes hold wigs made for many of the Met’s most frequent singers; the ID labels in a Mimi costume from La Bohème attest to the number of sopranos who have worn it; a Zerbinetta costume from Ariadne auf Naxos and a seamstress creating another one ]
“And we take very good care of our garments, building them with sound internal structures that are very supportive to the fabrics.” Some costumes are so intricate and elaborate that they could take a draper and a stitcher nearly three weeks—a solid 120 hours—to fashion. For the dazzling, braid- and metallic-encrusted matador costumes—trajes de luce (“suits of light”)—for this season’s Carmen, the Met custom-ordered bespoke, traditional, Spanish bullfighting ensembles from a master Madrid tailor, who meticulously fashioned the show-stopping garb. Another hotbed of activity is the wig-making room, presided over by Tom Watson, who has been with the company 10 years. He and his staff of five handmake the wigs on mesh or lace caps, using hair purchased from the Far East. For principal singers, he has cast and molded individual head shapes, so he can create a wig without the artist’s being present. High-definition live broadcasts (shown around the country in local cinemas) “have changed the way we can work,” he notes. “We have to trim the lace caps practically to the natural hair line, and it’s made our work a bit trickier.” Wigs are washed, set, curled, and so on, as meticulously as natural do’s; generally per show, there are around 80-90 wigs. But there are the exceptions. “In Ballo in Maschera, we had the most wigs used in one production, about 220.” Regardless of where the shoes, wigs, or costumes are made, they are crafted lovingly and painstakingly, accurate in period detail and precise in every way, because the creative geniuses at the Met know that in every audience there is one ardent devotee who sits in the fourth row, with a pair of high-powered binoculars, relishing every sequin, every tuck, every ruched ruffle, drinking in the splendor of the voices and the artistry that the behind-the-scenes alchemists have wrought. And that enthusiastic fan would be, er, this reporter. ■
[ the details ] Metropolitan Opera Guild Backstage Tours can be arranged by calling 212769-7020 or online at operaed.org. The Met season ends May 15, but there is still an opportunity to purchase tickets to old favorites like Tosca, Aida, La Bohème, and La Traviata, and less frequently performed operas like Armida and Attila. For more information about tickets, visit metopera.org.
[ A costume for the Maria Boccanegra/Amelia Grimaldi character in Simon Boccanegra ]
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STYLENEW YORK
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talking with Paul Plumadore and Jim Tindell The founders of Center 44 approach their midtown showroom – filled with finds from the world’s top antique and modern dealers – as a “sort of salon, where people gather and share ideas.” By Kaitlin Ahern
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n the second floor of midtown’s Creative Arts Building, a few blocks east of Grand Central Terminal and just a bit off the beaten path, lies a block-long showroom (that’s 25,000 square feet, to be exact) filled with an eclectic and elaborate collection of pieces from 75 of the world’s top antique and modern dealers. With that kind of inventory, there’s no place quite like Center 44, which interior designers like Mica Duffy of Mac II and Eric Cohler of Eric Cohler Inc. have compared to the Marché aux Puces in Paris and a “modern day Souk.” But the dazzling displays are only part of what make this store (to put it mildly) a destination for designers and laymen alike. Its open-room settings and maze-like layout invite visitors to amble, linger, and bask in the friendly atmosphere created by proprietors Paul Plumadore and Jim Tindell. “People tend to get lost in the store. We often hear a lot of laughing and giggling,” Tindell says. “We’ve always approached it as a sort of salon, where people gather to talk and share ideas.” The combination of Tindell’s Southern charm and Plumadore’s eye for detail has made shopping at Center 44 a unique experience since its opening four years ago. We caught up with the amiable pair for a behind-thescenes look at their novel brainchild. Q: How would you describe Center 44? Jim: It’s an eclectic mix. We sell everything from antiquities to contemporary design, with a heavy emphasis on mid-century modernism, which is very popular right now. The atmosphere is laid back and friendly – we’re here to help people in any way we can, but we also give them the freedom to shop at their leisure. Paul: It’s a sort of casual, warehouse location, but we sell very sophisticated, highend material. Q: What’s your business partnership like? Paul: Left brain and right brain. Jim handles most of the sales and direct contact with the designers. I handle more of the advertising and general look of the place. Q: How did you become interested in antiques dealing? Paul: That’s a strange story. About 10-12 years ago we both had jobs that we didn’t like. I was working renovating apartments, while Jim was working in TV production. I had a client who said, “Instead of a kitchen cabinet, we’d like to find an antique.” So Jim and I drove around and found something. I showed it to them and said, “Its only $4,000!” And they said, “That’s cheap, we’ll buy it!” That was a light bulb moment; we realized we had a knack for it.
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[ Above: Center 44’s showroom; Opposite page from top: Detailed giltwood sunburst mirror from the mid-20th century; industrial chandelier made of metal banding hoops from early 20th century Amish buggy wheels; Dorothy Draper white lacquer chest with carved silver leaf front and slate top, circa 1960s ]
Q: How do you choose your dealers? Paul: We let them choose us. We don’t really pursue them; I’ve tried that a couple of times, but normally we find it doesn’t work that way. When they’re ready, they contact us. Q: What’s the best part about your job? Jim: Working with people. Paul: Sometimes people come in and say, “Hi Paul, where’s Jim?” (Laughs.) Jim has a great rapport with everyone; it’s a Southern charm thing. I’m just an old cranky Yankee.
Q: What current trends have you seen in interior design? Jim: I’ve talked to a lot of designers about this recently, and the concept is that, with the economy, people are nesting again. They’re staying home more. So I think we’re seeing a shift: It is about style and design, but it’s also about comfort. For awhile it was severe modern designs, and now we need something a little older in there, something a little more comfortable and not so hard. Paul: We’re seeing lacquered furniture from the mid-century. It used to be white or black, but now people want it in colors, like deep plum, or something less severe. People are going back to comfort. The world gets more and more frightening every day, but when you’re at home you want to feel safe. It’s always been that way, but it’s more heightened now, I think, with the economy and terrorism. Everything that goes on in the world influences design; it’s all one thing really. ■
All photos: © Jouzas Cernius, caslon-photo.com
Q: What is your personal style? Paul: We promote the mix of all styles, and that seems to be what most designers are doing now. As Jimmy’s momma says, “As long as it doesn’t fight.” Sometimes you mix things and it’s no good, but a lot of things really promote each other. For example, we decorated our apartment with old Chinese doors and mixed those with modern Swedish coffee tables, then added some arts and crafts.
[ Owners Jim Tindell (left) and Paul Plumadore (right) opened Center 44 in January 2006 and have since watched it grow into a veritable Mecca for interior designers ]
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Since its inception in 1968 in Italy, Monnalisa has become the world leader in the high-fashion children’s wear market. The company distinguishes itself with cuttingedge design, with collections that feature a wealth of elegant hand-finished details, embellishments, and adornment. The Spring-Summer 2010 color palette features crisp, cool whites and subtle ivories, nautical-inspired blues, and bold bursts of color in rich floral prints against neutral backdrops. The collection has a fresh, sophisticated mood, featuring elegant ruffles and eyelets, detailed with crystals and pearls, richly embroidered tulle party dresses, and ornate dimensional taffeta rosette skirts. Elegant, satin trench coats are beautifully detailed with ruffles and girly touches. Matching shoes and accessories complete the collection. 1088 Madison Ave. (81st-82nd Sts.), 212-249-9040; monnalisashopny.com
NEW YORK
SHOPPING
ART AND ANTIQUES
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Center44 – A unique and dramatic shopping experience with 70 extraordinary international antiques dealers featured in a block-long showroom of open-room settings, with aisles of antiquities (from ancient to the 19th century), 20th-century design—including Deco, Modernism, and Futurism—and unique contemporary art and objects. On-site skilled artisans provide furniture and art restoration, as well as traditional upholstery. 222 E. 44th St. (Second-Third Aves.), 212-450-7988; center44.com
Showplace Antique Center – Over 250 galleries located on 4 spacious floors featuring Art Deco, Art Nouveau, mid-century Modern, bronze, silver, jewelry, vintage clothing & accessories, ceramics, art glass, antiquities, period furniture & lighting. Don’t miss the 3rd floor featuring designer room settings and over 50 showcases filled with an eclectic range of decoratives and collectibles. Mon.-Fri, 10am-6pm; Sat.-Sun., 8:30am-5:30pm. Silversmith, Espresso Bar & Café on the premises. 40 W. 25th St., 212-633-6063; nyshowplace.com
DEPARTMENT AND SPECIALTY STORES Barneys New York – Long identified with New York chic and sophistication, Barneys features international men’s and women’s fashion designers ranging from the classically understated to the flamboyantly avant garde. Accessories, formal wear, cosmetics, and shoes are also offered in a variety of styles. Their restaurant, Fred’s at Madison Avenue, is open for brunch, lunch and dinner. 660 Madison Ave. (61st St.), 212-826-8900; barneys.com
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ANTIQUES p.30
Bergdorf Goodman – Among the nation’s most prestigious shops, featuring women’s fashion designs from Armani, Chanel, Versace and Ferre, to Tyler, Galliano, and Westwood. 754 Fifth Ave. (57th-58th Sts.), 212-753-7300; The men’s store is located at 745 Fifth Ave. (58th St.), 212-3393310; bergdorfgoodman.com Bloomingdale’s – One of the world’s most famous landmark department stores. The best international fashions and home furnishings are brought together under a single Art Deco roof, in a store that encompasses a full city block and more than 500 departments. 1000 Third Ave. (59th-60th Sts.), 212-705-2000; The SoHo branch is located at 504 Broadway (Spring-Broome Sts.), 212-729-5900; bloomingdales.com Century 21 Department Store – “New York’s Best-Kept Secret” with high-quality European and American designer merchandise at 40-70% off retail prices. 22 Cortlandt St. (Church St.Broadway), 212-227-9092; c21stores.com Hammacher Schlemmer – The landmark store for America’s longest-running catalog, offering unique products that solve problems, further your lifestyle, or represent the only one of their kind. 147 E. 57th St., 212-421-9002; hammacher.com Henri Bendel – This ultra-chic, elegant Fifth Avenue retailer features Lalique windows, in-store Lalique history and displays, and multiple dramatic spiral staircases. It makes for a wonderful backdrop for the high-end goods, including top women’s labels. 712 Fifth Ave. (56th St.), 212-247-1100; henribendel.com Lord & Taylor – Generations have shopped yearround at this, their flagship store, established in 1914, attracted by their focus on the American look and American designers, offering a vast selection of reasonably priced sportswear in all sizes, and particularly fine high-quality shoes and accessories. 424 Fifth Ave. (39th St.), 212-391-3344; lordandtaylor.com Macy’s – “The world’s largest store,” and one of NYC’s most visited landmark attractions. The world’s first department store maintains a huge stock of everything from sofas to caviar, clothing, and everything in between. Broadway & 34th St., 212-695-4400; macys.com Saks Fifth Avenue – This venerated symbol of class and elegance began in 1924 as the brainchild of Horace Saks and Bernard Gimbel. Their flagship “dream store,” a New York City landmark since 1985, features nine floors of
SPECIALTY STORES p.30
grand luxury, stocked with exclusive items for men and women. 611 Fifth Ave. (49th-50th Sts.), 212-753-4000; saksfifthavenue.com
FASHION AND ACCESSORIES ADAM – Fashion designer Adam Lippes’ outpost, featuring luxurious fashion apparel for men and women, including runway designs and daytime basics. Women will find draped shorts, sporty rompers, and slouchy tees, all in bright colors 678 Hudson St. (14th St.), 212-229-2838; shopadam.com Balenciaga – A futuristic, luxurious environment, with fashions that meld the avant-garde with classically wearable designs. Some of this season’s street-chic clothing is made from recycled fabrics. 542 W. 22nd St., 212-206-0872; balenciaga.com BCBG Max Azria – Modern and chic suits, separates, jeans, coats, dresses, handbags, and accessories for fashion-forward women. Abstract prints worked into solid blacks and navys mark the spring collection. 770 Madison Ave. (66th St.), 212-717-4225; 120 Wooster St. (Prince St.), 212-625-2723; bcbg.com Brooks Brothers – Classically modern business and casual clothing for fashionable men and women, including dress shirts, ties, pants, sweaters, and polos. 1 Liberty Plaza (Broadway), 212-267-2400; 346 Madison Ave. (44th St.), 212-682-8800; brooksbrothers.com
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212-965-0990; 654 Hudson St. (Gansevoort St.), 646-638-3000; 191 Lafayette St. (Broome St.), 212-941-6512; calypso-celle.com The Carlisle Collection – Stylish women make appointments for an exclusive and personalized shopping experience with couture-quality clothing that can’t be found in stores, including everything from power suits for the executive office to elegant dresses for the evening. 16 E. 52nd St. (Madison-Fifth Aves.), 16th Floor, 212-751-6490; showroom@carlisleny.com; carlislecollection.com Carolina Herrera – Elegant, ultra-feminine, upto-the-minute women’s dresses and fragrances. Rope-weave jacquard dresses, satin blouses and column dresses are the trend this spring. 954 Madison Ave. (75th St.), 212-249-6552; carolinaherrera.com Catherine Malandrino – High-end couture fashions that blend the energy of Manhattan and the romance of Paris, and are a favorite among celebrities. Little jackets, harem pants and jumpsuits in animal and tribal prints are “an invitation to travel.” SoHo: 468 Broome St. (Greene St.), 212-925-6765; Meatpacking District: 652 Hudson St. (13th St.), 212-929-8710; catherinemalandrino.com Chanel Boutique – Featuring the classic elements of Coco Chanel’s renowned style, showcasing handbags, accessories, shoes, cosmetics, and readyto-wear by Karl Lagerfeld. 15 E. 57th St., 212-355-5050; 139 Spring St. (Wooster St.), 212-334-0055; chanel.com
Burberry – This luxury brand, synonymous with its signature house check–the camel, black, red, and white pattern–offers men’s, women’s, children’s, and babywear lines, fragrances, golf, eyewear, and home collections. Their made-to-order coat service has customized style and color options. 9 E. 57th St., 212-371-5010; 131 Spring St. (Greene St.), 212-925-9300; burberry.com
Davide Cenci – The women’s collection features Italian-made cashmere sweaters, shirts, dress suits, and slacks in various styles and colors, an assortment of outerwear and accessories tailored with unmistakable flair. The men’s collection features comfortable Italian-made suits, sport coats, pants, shirts, and accessories. 801 Madison Ave. (68th St.), 212-628-5910; davidecenci.com
Calvin Klein Collection – This monument to elegant modernity showcases its selection of women and men’s clothing, shoes, and accessories, and the home collection, including china, flatware, glassware, and linens, plus exclusive gift items. 654 Madison Ave. (60th St.), 212-292-9000; calvinklein.com
Derek Lam – Classic American fashion for women: elegant, modern, and ready-to-wear, plus limited-edition pieces, custom-made furniture, and more. Women can find high-waisted shorts and skirts, and blouses in floral and start prints in this ‘retro’ spring collection. 12 Crosby St. (Grand St.), 212-929-1338; dereklam.com
Calypso – Feminine, flowing dresses, ultrasoft sweaters, swimwear, and other brightly colored fashions that mix “urban vintage” with “tropical exoticism.” 815 Madison Ave. (68th St.), 212-585-0310; 935 Madison Ave. (74th St.), 212-535-4100; 280 Mott St. (Houston St.),
Diane Von Furstenberg – Signature wrap dresses to flirty sportswear, swimwear, accessories, and more from the fashion icon. Floral appliqués, and animal and safari-ish prints in bright hues set the tone for this collection. 874 Washington St. (14th St.), 646-486-4800; dvf.com
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DKNY – Lifestyle clothing, accessories, and more embracing the fun and “real” styles of New York from Donna Karan. 420 West Broadway (Spring St.), 646-613-1100; 655 Madison Ave. (60th St.), 212-223-3569; dkny.com Dolce & Gabbana – Ultra-modern Italian fashions, including men’s formalwear and more adventurous women’s fashions. 825 Madison Ave. (69th St.), 212-249-4100; dolcegabbana.com Donna Karan – This three-story home to the famed designer’s timeless collection is where simplicity meets glamour. Easy, draped dresses and elegant skirtsuits are in stores this spring. 819 Madison Ave. (68th St.), 866-240-4700; donnakaran.com Dooney & Bourke – Designer handbags and small leathergoods featuring trendy animal prints, soft suede, and their trademark logo. 20 E. 60th St. (Madison-Park Aves.), 212-223-7444; dooney.com Eileen Fisher – Classic women’s fashions promoting simplicity, versatility, beauty, and creativity. 395 West Broadway, 212-431-4567; 521 Madison Ave. (53rd-54th Sts.), 212-759-9888; 341 Columbus Ave. (76th St.), 212-362-3000; 314 E. 9th St., 212-529-5715; 1039 Madison Ave. (79th-80th Sts.), 212-879-7799; 166 Fifth Ave. (21-22 Sts.), 212-924-4777; eileenfisher.com Elie Tahari – Women’s ready-to-wear fashions and accessories, including suits, cutting-edge sportswear and dresses. This season brings “effortless dressing”— t-shirt dresses and lots of linen. 417 West Broadway (Spring St.), 212-334-4441; elietahari.com Emilio Pucci – Women’s clothing, hats, and shoes featuring brightly colored, often psychedelic, ultra-mod prints. 24 E. 64th St., 212-752-4777; 701 Fifth Ave. (54th St.), 212-230-1135; emiliopucci.com 333 SHERBROOKE: THE PRESTIGE ADDRESS, TO LIVE AND SEE MONTREAL! Located on Montreal's most elegant thoroughfare, bordering the city centre and the Plateau Mont-Royal, 333 Sherbrooke offers spectacular residential architecture, and design by Cardinal Hardy & Associates. Inspired by European architecture, the 333 Sherbrooke offers an inside courtyard with magnificent landscaping, which includes mature trees, abundant light and a public square. The height of sophistication: the cantilevered pool between the two towers on the 10th floor with a large roof terrace providing exceptional views of the mountain, the river and the city of Montreal. The open-concept living interiors reinterpret the concept of "modern", infusing it with timelessness through the use of noble materials such as granite, marble, porcelain and rare woods. The site of 333 Sherbrooke is, at 100,000 square feet, almost three times larger than the average Montreal real estate project. In addition to investing in a luxury condominium just steps from downtown Montreal, you are investing in the exceptional lifestyle of an international metropolis. Perfectly located, the 333 Sherbrooke takes advantage of the rich heritage of Sherbrooke Street as well as being adjacent to the borough called Plateau Mont-Royal with its cafés and excellent restaurants, shops, cinemas and theatres. Luxury high-level condominiums and penthouses: From 1066 sq. ft. to 3563 sq. ft., 1 to 4 bedrooms. Exterior balconies and large roof-top terrace. Sumptuous maisonettes with spacious interior courtyard: From 1064 sq. ft. to 2448 sq. ft., 1 to 3 bedrooms. Exterior balconies and large terrace. 333 Sherbrooke St. East, Montreal, 514-849-5958; 333sherbrooke.com
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Eryn brinié – Inspired by “French chic and urban spirit,” this collection of clothing, shoes, and handbags for women merges refined, sophisticated silhouettes with modern sensibility. 501 Broadway (Broome St.,), 212-308-6134; erynbrinie.com Etro – Offbeat, intricate and bold Italian fashions, accessories, and shoes. 720 Madison Ave. (64th St.), 212-317-9096; etro.com Façonnable – Creating timeless fashions since 1950. Designed in France, Façonnable offers classic men’s and women’s clothing and accessories made with exclusive fabrications and impeccable craftsmanship. 636 Fifth Ave. (51st St.), 212-319-0111; faconnable.com Giorgio Armani – The Italian designer’s four-level flagship features understated suits, elegant sportswear, outerwear, and exquisite evening wear for men and women. 760 Madison Ave. (65th St.), 212-988-9191; giorgioarmani.com Gucci – A name synonymous with haute couture and classic sophistication, the Italian luxury-goods company’s flagship store features five floors of cowhide sling-back chairs, up-to-the-minute handbags, signature jewelry, and men’s and women’s shoes and apparel. 725 Fifth Ave. (56th St.), 212-826-2600; 840 Madison Ave. (70th St.), 212-717-2619; gucci.com Hickey Freeman – Tailored clothing for men, including formalwear, men’s dress furnishings, and sportswear, and the hickey line for the younger set. Topof-the-line fabrics, superior craftsmanship, and total uniqueness. 666 Fifth Ave. (53rd St.), 212-586-6481; 543 Madison Ave. (55th St.), 212-586-6481; 111 Broadway (Pine St.), 212-233-2363; hickeyfreeman.com Hugo Boss – With its brands BOSS and HUGO, Hugo Boss covers all the main fashion areas for women and men. Shoes and accessories, fragrances, glasses, watches and more. Men can find fresh white suits and bold stripes in stores this spring. Shops at Columbus Circle, 212-485-1900; 401 W. 14th St., 646-336-8170; hugoboss.com Huminska – A charming East Village boutique and home to the Huminska line of classic “flirty little dresses” inspired by the likes of Marilyn Monroe,
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Everything Your Home Desires 75 antique and modern dealers in the heart of Midtown Manhattan – come take your pick of the finest, Monday – Saturday, 10-5 pm, or choose online at Center44.com.
Center44
222 East 44th Street, New York, NY 10017 • 212-450-7988 • Center44.com
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Audrey Hepburn, and Greta Garbo. 315 E. 9th St., 212-677-3458; huminska.com Intermix – Cutting-edge American and European women’s styles and accessories, from big labels to up-and-coming designers. 125 Fifth Ave. (20th St.), 212-533-9720; 1003 Madison Ave. (77th St.), 212-249-7858; 210 Columbus Ave. (69th St.), 212-769-9116; 365 Bleecker St. (Charles St.), 212-929-7180; 98 Prince St. (Mercer St.), 212-966-5303; intermixonline.com Jack Olive – Italian-made preppy menswear inspired by the sport of cricket. 87 Mercer St. (Spring St.), 212-966-9692; jackolive.com
Tracing its roots back to the 1826 partnership of Samuel Lord and George Washington Taylor on the Lower East Side—and now with 46 stores in nine states and the District of Columbia—the upscale specialty department store Lord & Taylor remains one of New York City’s longest surviving businesses. The oldest department store in America, they’ve built a reputation for attentive customer service and high-quality merchandise focused on apparel and accessories. Generations of families have shopped year-round at this, their flagship store, established in 1914, attracted by their focus on the quintessential American look and talented American designers, offering a vast selection of sportswear in all sizes, reasonably priced, and particularly fine high-quality, moderately priced shoes and accessories. But while loyal to their traditional customers, the grand store also accommodates the younger, more modern, hipper shopper as well. 424 Fifth Ave. at 39th St., 212-391-3344; lordandtaylor.com
In the fashionable Flatiron District, nestled among luxury bathroom fixture and tile stores, is a little gem of a shop for chic fashionistas: L.O.L. Kids. The bright, fun and friendly atmosphere of the boutique is refreshing, while the selection of high fashion children’s wear is truly impressive, featuring European designers such as Sonia Rykiel Enfant, Roberto Cavalli, Simonetta, Miss Grant, and Monnalisa, to name a few. The boutique’s owner, Joseph Schoenfelder, has been at the forefront of the children’s apparel market for over 30 years and has lived in Europe and New York. “Today’s children are just as fashionsavvy and fashion-forward as their parents,” he says, “seeking quality items that are unique and fresh, helping to customize their own personal style.” The boutique is the go-to shopping spot for the little ones. When you visit, you might even “Laugh Out Loud” and say there’s “Lots of Love” at L.O.L. Kids. 22 W. 21st St. (Fifth-Sixth Aves.), 212-929-6521; lol-kids.com.
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John Varvatos – Home to the Varvatos lifestyle collection, including men’s designer suits, shoes, bags, belts, cologne, and more. 315 Bowery (Bleecker St.), 212-358-0315; 122 Spring St. (Greene St.), 212-965-0700; johnvarvatos.com Krizia – Superbly tailored Italian clothing for men and women, including suits, knitwear, ties, shirts, gowns, handbags, shoes, pants, skirts for day and for evening, as well as fragrances. 769 Madison Ave. (66th St.), 212-879-1211; krizia.net Lambertson Truex – The luxury-accessory brand known for its modern vision of classic opulence offers a full retail experience. 692 Madison Ave. (62nd St.), 212-750-4895; lambertsontruex.com Loro Piana – For over a century, this luxury-clothing manufacturer has produced exquisite vicuna, cashmere, ready-to-wear, and custommade apparel for men, women, and children. 821 Madison Ave. (68th St.), 212-980-7961; loropiana.com Louis Vuitton – A showcase for the timeless elegance of the famed line of classic men’s and women’s fashions, handbags, watches and jewelry, and shoes. 1 E. 57th St., 212-758-8877; 116 Greene St. (Prince St.), 212-274-9090; louisvuitton.com Malo – Italian sportswear for men and women, with an emphasis on cashmere. 814 Madison Ave. (68th St.), 212-396-4721; malo.it Marc Jacobs – Casual-chic must-have fashions for men and women including simple dresses, classic tailored suits, and formal wear. Women can shop cropped jackets, high-waisted satin shorts, and wrap dress, while the men can find fitted pants and various jackets this season. 163 Mercer St. (Houston-Prince Sts.), 212-343-1490; 385 Bleecker St. (Perry St.), 212-924-6126; marcjacobs.com Michael Kors – Polished, classic-chic sportswear and accessories for men and women. Spring boasts tailored dresses and knits with fun cutouts for women, and distressed jeans and relaxed hoodies for men. 974 Madison Ave. (76th St.), 212-452-4685; 101 Prince St. (Greene St.), 212-965-0401; michaelkors.com Moschino – This flagship store offers an array of notions, shoes, and accessories from their Moschino, Moschino Cheap and Chic, Love Moschino, and Moschino Uomo lines. 401 W. 14th St. (Ninth Ave.), 212-243-8600; moschino.com Mulberry – British luxury bags, womenswear, menswear, and interior design. 605 Madison Ave. (58th St.); 387 Bleecker St. (Perry St.), 212-835-4700; mulberry.com Nicole Miller – Unique in style, color, print, and fabric, these women’s fashions, including dresses, evening wear, and classic cuts, are often inspired by film imagery and exotic cultures. 780 Madison Ave. (67th St.), 212-288-9779; 77 Greene St. (Broome-Spring Sts.), 212-219-1825; nicolemiller.com Paul Stuart – Men’s and women’s clothing exclusively designed with a distinctly American viewpoint, as well as outerwear, furnishings,
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shoes, and made-to-measure apparel. Madison Ave. & 45th St., 212-682-0320; paulstuart.com Peter Elliot – High-end tailored men’s clothing from formalwear to cashmere sweaters geared toward power-lunching businessmen. The cufflink department is a must-stop. 1070 Madison Ave. (81st St.), 212-570-2300 Polo/Ralph Lauren, Madison Avenue – The jewel in the crown of the more than 145 stores worldwide, with authentic antique furniture, men’s and women’s wear, accessories, leather goods, home furnishings, and antiques. 888 Madison Ave. (72nd St.), 212-434-8000; ralphlauren.com Prada – This specialist in minimalist fashion offers a range of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, leather goods, and furnishings, as well as other exclusive products. Angular jackets, vests and shorts are in stores this season. 841 Madison Ave. (70th St.), 212-327-4200; 45 E. 57th St., 212-3082332; 724 Fifth Ave. (56th St.), 212-664-0010; 575 Broadway (Prince St.), 212-334-8888; prada.com Roberto Cavalli – A boutique with “funky, sexy stuff” from the Italian designer that is always fresh, dramatic, and innovative. The more economical Just Cavalli is located at 665 Fifth Ave. (53rd St.). 711 Madison Ave. (63rd St.), 212-755-7722; robertocavalli.com Runway –The “Original SoHo Boutique,” featuring cutting-edge European fashions, outerwear, eveningwear, and custom-tailored women’s blouses, skirts, dresses, pants, and jackets. 450 Broome St. (Mercer St.), 212-925-9817; runwayconnection.com Scoop –The “ultimate closet,” featuring designer shoes, clothing, and accessories from Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Stella McCartney, and others. 473 Broadway (Grand St.), 212-925-3539; 1275 Third Ave. (73rd St.), 212-535-5577; 430 W. 14th St. (Washington St.), 212-929-1244; scoopnyc.com Searle –Best known for shearlings, classic coats and luxurious leathers, Searle offers their own collection and many designer labels appealing to fashion-forward women, from the latest in accessories, handbags, and apparel to swimwear and beauty. 1051 Third Ave (62nd St.), 212-838-5990; 1142 Third Ave (67th St.), 212-988-8361; 635 Madison Ave. (60th St.), 212-750-5153; 156 Fifth Ave. (20th-21st Sts.), 212-924-4330; 805 Madison Ave. (68th St.), 212-668-6665; 1296 Third Ave. (74th St.), 212-717-5200; 1124 Madison Ave. (84th St.), 212-988-7318; searlenyc.com Stella McCartney – The trendy boutique featuring au courant, animal-friendly fashions for women in the heart of the fashionable Meatpacking District. Silvery silk jackets and pants lit up the runways for spring. 429 W. 14th St., 212-255-1556; stellamccartney.com Stuart Weitzman – Elegant, high-fashion shoes and handbags for women. Also a wide selection of
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bridal and casual footwear. Shops at Columbus Circle, 212-823-9560; 625 Madison Ave. (59th St.), 212-750-2555; 2151 Broadway (76th St.), 212-873-0983; stuartweitzman.com Theory – Hip, classic work-friendly attire for men and women. 40 Gansevoort St. (Greenwich-Hudson Sts.), 212-524-6790; 151 Spring St. (W. B’wayWooster St.), 212-226-3691; 230 Columbus Ave. (70th-71st Sts.), 212-362-3676; theory.com Thomas Pink – This premium UK shirt company’s core product is a hand-made Jermyn Street shirt for both gentlemen and ladies, made of the finest two-fold 100-percent Egyptian cotton. 520 Madison Ave. (53rd St.), 212-838-1928; 1155 Sixth Ave. (44th St.), 212-840-9663; Shops at Columbus Circle, 212-823-9650; thomaspink.com tibi – The renowned contemporary dress line, plus a complete shoe line, swimwear, and home accessories. Simple spaghetti strap dresses and shirts as well as bustiers and peg-leg trousers define this spring collection. 120 Wooster St. (Prince St.), 212-226-5852; tibi.com Tommy Hilfiger – Featuring the American fashion icon’s collections for men, women and children, including accessories and shoes. The “global flagship” on Fifth Avenue opened in Sept. 2009. 681 Fifth Ave. (54th St.), 212-223-1824; 372 West Broadway (Broome St.), 917-237-0983; tommyhilfiger.com TSE – All things cashmere, for men and women. Sleek and sophisticated, the collection has an urban flair. 120 Wooster St. (Prince St.), 212-925-2520; tsecashmere.com Vera Wang – Featuring some of the finest bridal gowns in the world. 991 Madison Ave. (77th St.), 212-628-3400; 158 Mercer St. (Prince St.), 212-382-2184; verawang.com Victoria’s Secret – Sexy, reasonably priced lingerie and sleepwear. 722 Lexington Ave. (58th St.), 212230-1647; 901 Sixth Ave. (33rd St.), 646-4730950; 1240 Third Ave. (71st St.), 212-717-7035; 165 E. 86th St., 646-672-9183; 2333 Broadway (85th St.), 212-595-7861; 34 E. 57th St., 212-758-5592; South Street Seaport, 19 Fulton St., 212-962-8122; 565 Broadway (Prince St.), 212-274-9519; 115 Fifth Ave. (19th St.), 212-477-4118; 1328 Broadway, (34th St.), 212-356-8380; victoriassecret.com Yves St. Laurent – Refined, modern, elegant, and upscale men’s and women’s apparel, from tailored suits to refined knits. 3 E. 57th St., 212-980-2970; ysl.com
JEWELRY AND WATCHES Aaron Basha - A family-owned and -run Madison Avenue staple, Aaron Basha has made its name with high-fashion jewelry pieces, most notably their distinctive jeweled baby shoes and assortment of baby charms (including frogs, ladybugs, flowers, teddy bears, you name it). They feature heirloom-
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quality jewelry as well, including bracelets, clasps, cuff links, chains, and much more. 680 Madison Ave. (61st St.), 212-935-1960; aaronbasha.com bochìc - Faraway cultures meet modern luxury with bochìc’s fine jewelry collection, a staple on the streets of downtown NYC and the red carpets of LA. Working with the bochìc woman in mind—someone “confident, adventurous...”—designers Miriam Salat and David Joseph create fine pieces that are sensual, distinctive, and enduring—a perfect match for the women who wear them. 12 W. 57th St., Suite 806, 212-659-7743; bochic.com Cartier - A name synonymous with jewelry since 1847. Peruse the coveted classic gold jewelry, innovative new boutique pieces and the complete range of watches, clocks, leather goods, china, and crystal. 828 Madison Ave. (69th St.), 212-472-6400; 653 Fifth Ave. (52nd St.), 212-753-0111; cartier.com
Established in New York City in 1848, Hammacher Schlemmer is America’s longest-running catalog, offering unique products that solve problems, further their customers’ lifestyle, or represent the only one of their kind. Their landmark store in the heart of Midtown’s shopping district features many of the items sold in their catalog. Pictured here is the Autonomous Saucier ($39.95), a device that automatically stirs sauces so cooks can concentrate on other aspects of meal preparation. It stands on three stainless steel legs and autonomously spins and revolves smoothly around a pan, simultaneously mixing sauce ingredients and melding flavors while a spatula on one of the legs rests flush against the bottom of the pan and lifts bits of food that would otherwise stick and burn. 147 E. 57th St., 800-421-9002; hammacher.com
Cellini - Rare, one-of-a-kind jewelry and legendary collection of the world’s finest watches. Its reputation goes far and wide with watch connoisseurs, who also know it as a resource for limited edition timepieces. The window displays inside the Waldorf=Astoria flagship have long been one of NYC’s most beautiful fixtures. 301 Park Ave. (49th St.), 212-751-9824; 509 Madison Ave. (53rd St.), 212-888-0505 Chanel Fine Jewelry - The international luxury-goods company’s stand-alone shop for jewelry, which carries the core line of the collection. Take a peek at a modern interpretation of the screens in Coco Chanel’s Parisian apartment. 733 Madison Ave. (64th St.), 212-535-5828; chanel.com Georg Jensen - Trendsetting, luxury jewelry and watches, faithful to the unique Danish design language and committed to high quality and craftsmanship. The collection focuses on gold and sterling silver jewelry. 687 Madison Ave. (62nd St.), 212-759-6457; 125 Wooster St. (Prince St.), 212-343-9000; georgjensen.com Gevril - Gevril pours years of effort and ingenuity into the design and manufacturing of its rare and enduring timepiece collections. Their limited editions bear the signatory markings of a rich history, technical innovation, and timeless beauty. Call 845-425-9882 or visit gevril.com for retail locations Harry Winston - America’s premier jeweler and one of the world’s largest and most prestigious jewelry empires, famous for their huge diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires of the highest quality in hand-made platinum settings. 718 Fifth Ave. (56th St.), 212-245-2000; harrywinston.com Jeri Cohen Fine Jewelry - Jeri Cohen presides over her upscale boutique, greeting her clientele with a warmth and friendliness to match the shop’s charming distinction and relaxed, yet luxurious atmosphere. She imports exquisite, reasonably priced Italian designs, from traditional to trendy. Diamond earrings, necklaces, pendants, and rings that utilize the finest stones and unique settings, as well as Cohen’s own signature collection. 1036 Third Ave. (61st-62nd Sts.), 212-750-3172; jericohenjewelry.com
Founded by William Rondina in 1981, the Carlisle Collection is a full service purveyor of couture level women’s clothing in one of the most beautiful settings in New York. Perched high atop the city in their lavish penthouse level showroom, the byappointment-only Carlisle Collection representatives will set to work putting together a full look especially for you. Whether a trip to the Carlisle Collection is for a major wardrobe addition or that perfect last minute dress for the opera – the personal attention, complementary in-house alterations, focus on quality, and magnificent setting make for an unparalleled shopping experience. 16 E. 52nd St. (16th Floor), 212-751-6490; carlislecollection.com
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Kaufmann de Suisse - Inspired by the symmetry of Art Deco and the romantic fluidity of Art Nouveau, Kaufmann de Suisse has become one of the world’s most recognizable jewelers, renowned for its selection of the world’s most fabulous gemstones set in their custom designs, including many rare D/Flawless diamonds, as well as the most exceptional rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. 785 Madison Ave. (66th St.), 212-249-5700; kaufmanndesuisse.com Marisa Perry Atelier - Each piece in this collection of fine jewelry is unique and complete—boldly designed, detailed, and finely worked. Fashioned in gold, silver, and platinum, and set with precious and semi-precious stones, the jewelry for women and men—including rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, engagement rings, cuff links and belt buckles—evokes strength, beauty, and sensuality. 154 Prince St. (West Broadway), 212-566-8977; marisaperry.com Mikimoto - This Japanese company, renowned as the originator of cultured pearls for over a century, maintains high standards of quality, craftsmanship, and design. 730 Fifth Ave. (57th St.), 212-457-4600; mikimotoamerica.com Mimi So New York - Mimi So is the go-to name for luxury jewelry that is both modern and feminine. A third-generation jeweler and an alumni of the Parson’s
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School of Design, Mimi So’s collections are created for wearability from day into evening, and styling for vintage and couture casuals. Mimi So is worn by countless celebrities including Reese Witherspoon, Anne Hathaway, Courtney Cox, and Drew Barrymore. 550 Fifth Ave. (46th St.), Penthouse Salon, 212-300-8655; mimiso.com Reinstein/Ross - Pairing vibrant precious stones and classical goldsmithing techniques, Reinstein/Ross jewelry is designed and hand-fabricated in New York City, in their Madison Avenue shop. Reinstein/Ross jewelry is distinctly contemporary, but reminiscent of Etruscan, Indian and Egyptian jewelry and art, and has a timeless quality. Often featured in magazines, movies and fashion events, the work of Reinstein/Ross has influenced an entire generation of jewelry designers. Custom orders are welcome, including setting your stones in their signature style. 122 Prince St. (Wooster St.), 212-226-4513; 29 E. 73rd St. (Madison Ave.), 212-772-1901; reinsteinross.com Stephen Russell - Offering one of the most important and carefully chosen vintage jewelry collections available today, complemented with a collection of original contemporary designs. Exquisite detail shapes the collection, from selecting striking examples of Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and Retro jewels to new works in which tradition and innovation merge. 970 Madison Ave. (76th St.), 212-570-6900; stephenrussell.com Tiffany & Co. - The renowned jewelry store offers luxurious merchandise with the tradition of quality, showcasing a wide variety of jewelry including diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, pearls, and the gold and silver signature collections. Other items include china, crystal, silver, watches and clocks, and fragrances. 727 Fifth Ave. (56th St.), 212-755-8000; tiffany.com Tourneau - America’s leading luxury-watch store features over 8,000 styles from more than 100 world-famous brands. You can even trade in your old watch for a new one. The TimeMachine on 57th St. is a state-of-the-art watch emporium. The Shops at Columbus Circle, 212-823-9425; 12 E. 57th St., 212-758-7300; 200 W. 34th St., 212-563-6880; 500 Madison Ave. (52nd St.), 212-758-6098; tourneau.com Verdura - This illustrious line has been a favorite of Hollywood royalty, and New York high society, designing such specialty items as Night and Day cuff links for Cole Porter, a Maltese Cross cuffs for Coco Chanel and a bracelet worn by Princess Diana. The collection includes luxury cuff links, ear clips, bracelets, necklaces, rings, and brooches. 745 Fifth Ave. (57th St.), Suite 1205, 212-758-3388; verdura.com
SHOES Bally - Leather products featuring old-world artistry blended with modern design, including footwear, handbags, executive cases, luggage, and small leather goods. 628 Madison Ave. (59th St.), 212-751-9082; bally.com Jimmy Choo - Favored by movie stars, celebrities, and elegant women in the know, the Jimmy Choo shoe lines include house, evening, bridal, sandals, and more, as well as matching handbags in equally sumptuous leathers and unique stylings. 716 Madison Ave. (63rd-64th Sts.), 212-759-7078; 645 Fifth Ave. (51st St.), 212-593-0800; jimmychoo.com Manolo Blahnik – One of the world’s most influential international footwear designers. 31 W. 54th St., 212-582-3007; manoloblahnik.com Salvatore Ferragamo - A fine mix of men’s and women’s shoes crafted from superb leathers, from classic business and formal footwear to casual styles with a European flair. 655 Fifth Ave. (52nd-53rd Sts.), 212-759-3822
CHILDREN LOL Kids - Fun, friendly shop in the fashionable Flatiron district, catering to NYC’s hippest girls and boys, size 1 month-size 18. The finest European designer brands such as Sonia Rykiel Enfant, Miss Grant, Magil, Monnalisa, and ZaZieZen. 22 W. 21st St. (Fifth-Sixth Aves.), 212-929-6521; lol-kids.com
With a silversmith and an espresso bar and café on the premises—not to mention over 250 galleries on four floors— Showplace Antique Center is one of the city’s premier destinations for antiques and decorative and fine art. The possibilities within are endless, with Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and mid-century Modern pieces to complement bronze, silver, jewelry, vintage clothing and accessories, ceramics, art glass, antiquities, period furniture, lighting, and much more. Be sure to save time for the 3rd floor, which features designer room settings and over 50 showcases filled with an eclectic range of decoratives and collectibles. 40 W. 25th St., 212-633-6063; nyshowplace.com
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Monnalisa - Ultra-chic and ultra-feminine, the premier Italian brand brings its sophisticated style to NYC’s glamour girls size 3 months - size 18. 1050 Third Ave. (62nd St.), 212-758-2269 Spring Flowers - Since 1983, Spring Flowers has been the premier shopping destination for the finest European brands of clothing and shoes for girls and boys ages newborn to 12 years. 907 Madison Ave. (72nd-73rd Sts.), 212-717-8182; 538 Madison Ave. (54th-55th Sts.), 212-207-4606; Americana Manhasset, 2042 Northern Blvd., 516-365-7200; 320 Worth Ave., Palm Beach, FL, 561-832-0131; springflowerschildren.com
review copies, coffee-table books, used hardcovers, remaindered books, and paperbacks. 828 Broadway (12th St.), 212-473-1452; strandbooks.com
STATIONERS AND WRITING INSTRUMENTS Art Brown International Pen Shop - Experience one of the largest selections of fine writing instruments in the world. Whether for yourself, a gift or for corporate giving, they can meet your needs. They also carry a full line of stationery and greeting cards which can be personalized. 2 W. 45 St., 800-772-PENS; artbrown.com
ELECTRONICS/PHOTO DataVision - NYC’s largest computer and video retailer with 3 levels and 30,000 square feet of savings. They feature a full selection of computers, software, peripherals, digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, DVDs, and more. 445 Fifth Ave. (39th St.), 212-689-1111; datavis.com
CIGARS & ACCESSORIES Davidoff of Geneva - One of the most popular cigar and accessories shop in America, with two warm and welcoming top-of-the-line shops in Manhattan, and the most comfortable smokers lounges in the city. Davidoff products— which include lighters, cigar cutters, ashtrays, humidors, cigar cases, and pipes—unite craftsmanship, dedication, and understanding culminating in elegant, innovative, and functional pieces. 535 Madison Ave. (54th St.), 212-751-9060; The Shops at Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Cir. (59th St.), 212-823-6383; davidoffnewyork.com
BOOKSTORES Argosy Book Store – The city’s oldest purveyor of antiquarian books, autographs, maps, posters, and prints, focusing on the areas of Americana, history of science and medicine, and art. Highlights include a 1685 edition of Shakespeare, the editorial copy of Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, and a first edition of Twain’s Innocents Abroad, inscribed by the author. 116 E. 59th St. (Park-Lexington Aves.), 212-753-4455; argosybooks.com/ Shakespeare & Company – One of the city’s most popular independent bookstores specializing in literature, lit criticism, poetry, drama, philosophy, and travel. 716 Broadway (Washington Pl.), 212-529-1330; 939 Lexington Ave. (69th St.), 212-570-0201; 137 E. 23rd St., 212-505-2021; shakeandco.com The Strand – With 8 miles of shelves and some two-million books, the biggest used-book store in the world. All items are discounted and include bestsellers,
DOCTORS AND DENTISTS Dr. Fajiram, D.D.S. - Make an appointment today and have your dream smile in just two visits -- correct crooked teeth, cover dark stains, and more. Dr. Fajiram has many years of experience in a variety of cosmetic-dental procedures. 400 E. 56th St. (First Ave.), 212-759-1369 or 212-751-5665 Jan Linhart, D.D.S., P.C. - Cosmetic dentist Dr. Jan Linhart has been listed as one of America’s top dentists by Castle Connolly Consumer Guide and by the Consumers’ Research Council of America. Dr. Linhart has mastered the various modern, pain-free cosmetic dental techniques and procedures that can transform your smile, giving you a renewed sense of self-confidence and well-being. 230 Park Ave. (46th St.), 212-682-5180; drlinhart.com NY Hotel Urgent Medical Services - New York City’s premier 24-hour urgent care center, full-service travel medicine center and house call service. Medical care is provided in the comfort and safety of your hotel room. Dr. Ronald Primas has over 20 years of experience as one of NY's finest internists. 952 Fifth Ave. (76th St.), Suite 1D, 212-737-1212; travelmd.com
OPTICIANS AND EYEWEAR Oliver Peoples - The luxury eyewear and sunglasses house, founded in 1987, features retro-inspired looks and innovative designs favored by trendsetters. They are the exclusive global licensee for Paul Smith Eyewear, which combines whimsical yet classic designs and attention to detail. Their flagship store is located at 755 Madison Ave. (65th St.), 212-585-3433; 366 West Broadway (Broome St.), 212-925-5400; oliverpeoples.com Solstice - A wide array of luxury eyewear for women and men by such designers as Gucci, Dior, Dior Homme, Kate Spade, Valentino, Giorgio and Emporio Armani, Marc Jacobs, Bottega Veneta, Chanel, Maui Jim and Ray Ban. The Shops at Columbus Circle, 212-823-9590; 500 Fifth Ave. (42nd St.), 212-730-2500; 107 Spring St. (Mercer St.), 212-219-3940; solsticestores.com
In celebration of Avo Uvezian’s 84th birthday, the legendary cigar composer presents another masterpiece at Davidoff of Geneva: the AVO Limited Edition LE2010, a noble Super-Robusto format, measuring 55 ring gauge x 5½”. The dark sun-grown wrapper awards the cigar with a precious, extremely elegant appearance. This full-bodied cigar, when smoked, delivers pleasing aromas and a sophisticated taste that is only possible from the skillful blending of such high quality, wellaged tobaccos. Although the filler is completely composed of full-bodied Ligero tobaccos, this opulent Super-Robusto remains balanced due to the combination with a Sumatra Mexico binder and the selected darker Ecuador Special Sun Grown wrapper. The contemporary box has a sliding lid, which can be pulled out and put at the end of the box in a special and separate compartment. The AVO LE10 will be launched at on March 22nd, with a retail price of $15.50 (taxes not included). 535 Madison Ave. (54th St.), 212-751-9060; The Shops at Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Cir. (59th St.), 212-823-6383; davidoffnewyork.com
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spas
...Spring Break awaits By Griffin Miller
Meticulous pampering, soothing environments, health and well-being renewed and refined – these are the elements that draw spa-goers from across the globe to Manhattan’s lush network of day spas year-round. Still, it’s spring that arrives wrapped in inspiration as many blue-chip spas take this season to debut new treatments and packages. And speaking of debuts, 2010’s Indulgence a la Spring bursts onto the scene with two new spas…
Spa Merge... It arrived within weeks of the new year, poised to become a major player in the upscale league known as West 57th Street. Stressing the harmonious fusion of science and nature, Spa Merge’s distinctive facials – including one 90minute treatment, dubbed “The Ultimate,” involving state-of-the-art micro-current lifting technology, LED light therapy, and a concentrated collagen mask – are generating impressive buzz from the neighborhood spa cognoscenti, as are its signature Organic Massage and B5 Hydrating Paraffin Body Wrap. Part of West 57th Street by Hilton Club (Hilton’s new timeshare/hotel development that opened in October), Spa Merge is open to local clients as well, featuring a separate street entrance for a well-defined “stand-alone destination” presence. Spa director Margaret Lora (formerly of Ajune Spa New York) has assembled an amazing staff of therapists and aestheticians. “Our treatment rooms are set up as treatment suites, meaning everything from your locker, shower, vanity and amenities are in your room/suite,” explains Lora. “Our team embraced it and I have to say it adds an entirely new dynamic to the ‘new’ spa experience.” In terms of products, Spa Merge has partnered with two prestigious lines: Skin Ceuticals and Naturopathica, and their menu uses a helpful symbol key to indicate ‘Nature Treatments,’ ‘Science Treatments’ and ‘Merge Exclusives.’ 102 West 57th St. (at the corner of Sixth Ave.), 646-484-4104, west57street.com.
This intimate oasis on the second level of a lovely Beaux-Arts-designed Upper East Side hotel opened just last November and has already built a reputation as a shining jewel of customized services. High on this list are The Spa’s treatments honoring ancient Aboriginal healing practices (vis-à-vis its Australian Li’Tya product line and specially schooled therapists). Their Mala Mayi treatment, for instance, includes an Australian Desert Salt and Aromatic Oil scrub and a scalp massage that “prepares the remainder of the body to be cocooned in a layer of warm, mineral-rich Mapi Body Mud” followed by a massage incorporating “pressure-point therapy and rhythmical spiraling techniques to help re-align the body’s energy.” And for the ultimate in Aussie ambiance, the Mala Mayi begins with the sounds of a didgeridoo playing in the background. “I love introducing people to something new that might make a difference in how they feel and experience their world,” notes spa director Cheryl Jacobs. As for the space, The Spa at the Surrey offers a lovely low-key consultation area, treatment rooms and two luxurious spa suites. The Spa at the Surrey offers complete privacy, with everything from changing to multiple services taking place in your personal treatment room. Their other product line is Darphin, which has designated the The Spa at The Surrey their flagship store in New York. 20 East 76th St. (bet. Madison and Fifth Aves.), 646-358-3600, thesurrey.com.
Tom McWilliam
The Spa at the Surrey...
SpaWeek, 2010 | April 12th through April 18th Nirvana. Webster’s calls it “any place or condition of great peace or bliss.” I call it Spa Week in New York - those fabulous seven days when wanton relaxation, sanctuary from stress and the most decadent of spa treatments become, well, the norm. “Over the years, I cannot tell you how many calls we’ve gotten from people who want to book their New York City vacation around spa week,” reports Cheryl Reid, President/CEO of Spa Week Media Group, Ltd. and founder of Spa Week. “It’s a wonderful city to visit and Spa Week is like the icing on the cake.” Reid’s concept for creating Spa Week was straightforward: full service treatments – normally costing from $100 to $200 dollars – for $50 dollars. The stated goal being “to introduce a new generation of consumers to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and to open up the spa industry to the masses.” The first Spa Week launched modestly (24 spas participants) in New York in 2004 only to expand to cover over 800 spas across the United States and Canada. The original two-dozen New York area spas have since expanded to over 200, making spa hopping an affordable citywide event when Spa Week comes around in the spring and again in the fall. According to Reid, Spa Week in April is attracting more hotel spas, as well as several plastic surgeons and medical spas that can offer things like Botox injections and chemical peels. “Whatever kind of treatment you’re looking for, it’s a good idea to book a month in advance,” advises Reid. Appointments can be made at the Spa Week website (spaweek.com) beginning March 15th. “After Spa Week ends, you can still click on to our directory, as many spas extend the $50 offer for a month.”
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A THEATREGOER’S GUIDE: the spring season
it’s in the stars!
By Griffin Miller
[ Nathan Lane, Bebe Neuwirth and the cast of The Addams Family; Christopher Walken in A Behanding in Spokane; Kelsey Grammer in La Cage ; Valerie Harper in Looped ]
broadway THE SHOWS
The Addams Family (Previews 3/8; opens 4/8)
All About Me (Previews 2/22; opens 3/18)
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* Prior Tony Award Winner THE STARS
+ Prior Tony Award Nominee
THE SCOOP
+ Carolee Carmello + Kevin Chamberlin * Nathan Lane + Terrence Mann * Bebe Neuwirth
Nathan and Bebe as Gomez and Morticia—tango, anyone? Addams Family buffs know Lane had a cameo in the movie Addams Family Values. Other cast members have musical credits that groomed them for Addams: Carmello played a vampire in Lestat; Neuwirth, the Satanic siren, Lola, in Damn Yankees; and Terrence Mann was the first Broadway Beast. [FYI: Neuwirth played Lilith, wife/ex to Kelsey Grammer’s (La Cage) Frasier Crane on Cheers and Frasier.]
* Dame Edna Everage Michael Feinstein
Cabaret legend Feinstein and the saucy Dame known for her wigs and uncensored wit have joined forces for a theatrical event extraordinaire. [FYI: Dame Edna and Nathan Lane played Mrs. & Mr. Crummles, respectively, in the 2002 film Nicholas Nickleby. Feinstein last appeared on Broadway in 1990 in Michael Feinstein in Concert: Piano and Voice.]
Scott Suchman
Matt Hoyle
Matt Crockett
Joan Marcus
THEATRENEW YORK
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[ Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth in Promises, Promises ]
* Prior Tony Award Winner
+ Prior Tony Award Nominee
THE SHOWS
THE STARS
THE SCOOP
American Idiot
* John Gallagher Jr. + Stark Sands Michael Esper
A reuniting of John Gallagher Jr. and director Michael Mayer, who rocked the socks off Spring Awakening in 2006. Sands, Esper and Gallagher guarantee high-octane performances in this musical based on Green Day's Grammy®-winning album of the same name. [FYI: Mayer and Gallagher worked together in 1997’s A View from the Bridge (with Lend Me a Tenor’s Anthony LaPaglia) and in 2002 on Thoroughly Modern Millie (with Present Laughter’s Harriet Harris).]
Zoe Kazan Anthony Mackie Sam Rockwell + Christopher Walken
Playwright Martin McDonagh is finally giving theatregoers fair warning title-wise -- no Beauty Queens or Pillowmen to lull audiences into a false sense of security. Only a man (Christopher Walken) searching for his severed hand. [FYI: Walken starred in the film The Dead Zone with Lend Me a Tenor’s Brooke Adams and Man on Fire with Denzel Washington (Fences); Mackie worked with Washington and Liev Schreiber (A View from the Bridge), in The Manchurian Candidate directed by Jonathan Demme, making his stage-directing debut with Family Week.]
* Linda Lavin Sarah Paulson
Donald Margulies’ drama about a noted author (Lavin) and her relationship with her young protégé (Paulson) takes flight under the direction of Manhattan Theatre Club’s Lynne Meadows, who directed Lavin in 2000 in The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife. [FYI: Paulson made her Broadway debut in 1993 as an understudy in another Lavin project: The Sisters Rosensweig.]
+ John Selya + Keith Roberts * Twyla Tharp
The battle of the sexes waged on a nightclub dance floor to songs crooned by Frank Sinatra. This is the fourth time Tharp has plumbed Sinatra’s oeuvre, the first being more than 30 years ago. The company of 38 dancers includes Tharp’s two Movin’ Out male leads, John Selya and Keith Roberts, so be prepared to be spellbound. [FYI: John Selya appeared in the Woody Allen film Everyone Says I Love You. He’s billed as “Hospital Dancer.”]
(Previews 3/24; opens 4/20)
A Behanding in Spokane (Previews 2/15; opens 3/4)
Collected Stories (Previews 4/6; opens 4/28)
Come Fly Away (Previews 3/1; opens 3/25)
(director/choreographer)
Enron
* Norbert Leo Butz
The real-life scandal that flattened Wall Street in 2001 and triggered an international financial meltdown transformed into a multimedia must-see by Lucy Prebble. A hit in London, the show has been recast with Norbert Leo Butz – who embodied a far loopier miscreant in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – playing disgraced Enron prez Jeffrey Skilling. [FYI: Butz and Kristin Chenoweth (Promises, Promises) shared a romantic moment when Wicked debuted in 2003.]
Denzel Washington * Viola Davis
August Wilson picked up his first Pulitzer Prize for this mid-20th-century look at racism and unfulfilled dreams when it debuted in 1986 with James Earl Jones. For this big-buzz revival, superstar Washington has the lead opposite Tony winner Viola Davis (King Hedley II). [FYI: These two stars have shared the silver screen with several current Broadway VIPs, including Tony Shalhoub (The Siege with Washington) and Kelsey Grammer (HBO’s The Pentagon Papers with Davis.]
+ Dylan Baker + Jeff Daniels Lucy Liu * Janet McTeer
Daniels, who originated the part of the cell-phone-addicted workaholic lawyer Alan in the Broadway production, returns in the James Gandolfini role of Michael. [FYI: Baker and Nathan Lane shared a curtain call in David Mamet’s November and Lucy Liu worked alongside Dame Edna during the fifth season of Ally McBeal.]
Kelsey Grammer + Christine Andreas Douglas Hodge + Veanne Cox + Robin de Jesus
The acclaimed U.K. revival of 1983’s Tony blockbuster has sparkled its way across the Atlantic with five-time Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane/Sideshow Bob) as Georges and Olivier-winning Brit Douglas Hodge as his “better half,” Albin/Zaza. [FYI: The NY cast also boasts Veanne Cox, whose character lost her pinkie toe in a memorable Seinfeld episode, and Robin de Jesus, fresh from his breakthrough role as Sonny in In the Heights.]
Brooke Adams * Anthony LaPaglia + Jan Maxwell + Tony Shalhoub
Tony Shalhoub, his Monk neuroses now in mothballs, plays a 1930s opera company GM trapped in a frenetic farce when a high-maintenance tenor (Anthony LaPaglia) triggers a catastrophic chain reaction. Chemistry Alert: Stanley Tucci, longtime Shalhoub friend/collegue/collaborator directs. [FYI: LaPaglia, often identified with dramatic roles – A View from the Bridge; Without a Trace – took home an Emmy award for playing Simon Moon, Daphne’s chronically inebriated sibling, on Frasier.]
(Previews 4/8; opens 4/27)
Fences (Previews 4/14; opens 4/26 thru 7/11)
God of Carnage (New cast from 3/2)
La Cage Aux Folles (Previews 4/6; opens 4/18)
Lend Me a Tenor (Previews 3/11; opens 4/14)
Lips Together, Teeth Apart (Previews 4/9; opens 4/29; thru 6/20)
Megan Mullally Patton Oswalt Lili Taylor
Mullally (Young Frankenstein; Will & Grace), Oswalt (King of Queens; Ratatouille), and Taylor (Six Feet Under; Aunt Dan and Lemon) – three distinctive performers in Terrence McNally’s classic – add up to irresistible theatrical pull. [FYI: The 1991 Manhattan Theatre Club production featured Nathan Lane (The Addams Family) and Christine Baranski, who played rivals for Robin Williams’ affection in The Birdcage – the U.S. remake of the non-musical version of La Cage.]
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[ The cast of Million Dollar Quartet; Alfred Molina in Red ]
broadway
* Prior Tony Award Winner
cont’d
THE SHOWS
Looped (Previews 2/19; opens 3/14)
Million Dollar Quartet (Previews 3/13; opens 4/11)
Next Fall (Previews 2/16; opens 3/11)
Promises, Promises (Previews 3/27; opens 4/25)
Red (Previews 3/11; opens 4/1)
Sondheim on Sondheim (Previews 3/19; opens 4/22; thru 6/13)
THE STARS
+ Prior Tony Award Nominee
THE SCOOP
Valerie Harper + Michael Mulheren
Bring on the bawdy! Harper as notoriously naughty actress Tallulah Bankhead had critics howling when she toured in this comedy prior to its New York opening. [FYI: Four-time Emmy winner Harper last appeared on Broadway in The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife replacing Linda Lavin (Collected Stories), who originated the title role; far-from-petite Mulheren appeared briefly in drag as the uptight father in the 2004’s revival of La Cage Aux Folles.]
Eddie Clendening + Hunter Foster Lance Guest Levi Kreis Rob Lyons
Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins in the flesh (other people’s flesh, admittedly), but suspension of disbelief need not apply. These guys are experts at channeling the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers during a legendary 1956 jam session at the Sun Records studio. [FYI: During a pre-Broadway performance, Kreis tore a knee ligment jumping over the piano a la Jerry Lee. He was back in the show the next day.]
Patrick Breen Patrick Heusinger
Breen and Heusinger recreate their Off-Broadway roles as a conflicted gay couple (religion is the culprit) in this groundbreaking play written by Naked Angels’ artistic director Geoffrey Nauffts. [FYI: Sir Elton John and his civil-partner David Furnish (who came up with idea of turning Billy Elliot into a musical!) are members of Next Fall’s producing team.]
+ Brooks Ashmanskas * Kristin Chenoweth * Katie Finneran Tony Goldwyn Sean Hayes * Dick Latessa
A convergence of comedy cognoscenti? You tell me: Neil Simon (book); three very funny Tony winners; Will & Grace Emmy recipient Sean Hayes; and director/choreographer Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie). Based on the Billy Wilder’s Oscar winner The Apartment, the musical picked up an Outstanding Music Tony for Burt Bacharach in 1969. [FYI: Sean Hayes, who played Jerry Lewis in the TV movie Martin and Lewis, is a classicallytrained pianist specializing in Mozart.]
+ Alfred Molina Eddie Redmayne
This new American play about artist Mark Rothko (Molina) somehow managed to debut in London at the Donmar Warehouse. Original cast intact, the Broadway production is slated for a limited 15-week run. [FYI: Molina was a guest star on Monk with Tony Shalhoub in the episode “The Naked Man.” He remained fully clothed throughout.]
* Barbara Cook + Euan Morton + Vanessa Williams + Tom Wopat
Sondheim: The inside story brought to us by (a) Roundabout Theatre Company (producer of five Sondheim musicals); (b) James Lapine, who shared a Pulitzer Prize with Sondheim for Sunday in the Park with George; and (c) Barbara Cook, the celebrated interpreter of Sondheim’s work. [FYI: Cook’s last Tony nomination was in 2002 for her solo concert, Mostly Sondheim – the same year Vanessa Williams was nominated for Into the Woods.]
off-broadway Family Week Lucille Lortel Theatre (4/7 thru 5/23): +Kathleen Chalfant; Rosemary DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married) Directed by Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs/Rachel Getting Married)
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The Forest Classic Stage Company (4/23 thru 5/30): Dianne Wiest The Glass Menagerie Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (3/5 thru 5/30): *Judith Ivey A Lie of the Mind New Group Theatre (thru 3/20): +Sam Shepard (playwright); +Ethan Hawke (director) Mr. and Mrs. Fitch Second Stage Theatre (thru 4/4): *John Lithgow; *Jennifer Ehle When the Rain Stops Falling (from 3/8; open run): Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre: *Victoria Clark; +Mary Beth Hurt
Johan Persson
Jay Koh
THEATRENEW YORK
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BROADWAY PROFILE
Tony Shalhoub: Mr. Monk Moves On A whole new bundle of neuroses are up for grabs as the noted character actor bids adieu to West Coast sleuthing and takes on Broadway in Lend Me a Tenor. By Griffin Miller ony Shalhoub is a worrier. “A consummate worrier,” he maintains. “I’m very good at it.” This natural ability to panic at a moment’s notice has stood him in good stead throughout his Emmy-winning eight-season run as OCDafflicted detective Adrian Monk – and it’s proving beneficial as he tackles his first stage role since hanging up his Monk alter-ego last December. In the revival of Ken Ludwig’s delectable farce Lend Me a Tenor, Shalhoub plays Cleveland Opera Company general manager Sanders, a tightly wound businessman constantly on the verge of a coronary. Unprepared to deal with the onslaught of the high-maintenance theatrical types that overrun his world in the hours leading up to a gala fundraiser production, Sanders goes from mildly flummoxed to hysterically unhinged. “He’s a lot like me in that he lives with the idea that something will go wrong at every turn,” says Shalhoub. In reality, while cautious, Shalhoub is far from pessimistic. His career – a seemingly endless stream of brilliant and challenging character roles – and his personal life – an 18-year marriage to actress Brooke Adams and two adored daughters – is enviable. (He met Brooke in 1989 when they appeared together on Broadway in The Heidi Chronicles.) A native of Green Bay, Wis. (yes, he is a Packers fan/season ticket-holder), his introduction to performing came at age six when an older sister (he has nine siblings) recruited him for her high school musical, The King and I. “I think I must have gotten a little bit of the bug then, but nothing major,” Shalhoub recalls. “Where I grew up, professional acting didn’t seem like an option.” It became viable, however, once he entered the University of Southern Maine in Portland, and took off at Yale’s prestigious Graduate School of Drama, where he studied with Robert Brustein, founder of the Yale Repertory Theatre and afterwards, the American Repertory Theatre (ART) in Cambridge, Mass.
T
Fast forward to 1991: A West Coast transfer finds him in his breakthrough role as cabdriver Antonio Scarpacci on the sitcom Wings, which opened the door to other TV roles and films, including the Coen brothers cult classic, Barton Fink, starring John Turturro, who would one day play his agoraphobic brother, Ambrose, on Monk. And this brings us to one of Shalhoub’s most prominent professional pluses: his magnetism, not only to fans (who can recite scary amounts of Monk trivia), but to an uncanny number of celebrity friends and admirers. His Lend Me a Tenor director, for instance, is actor/director Stanley Tucci, whose history with Shalhoub began in 1989 in a Yale Rep production Moon Over Miami and went on to include the films Big Night (1996) and The Imposters (1998), and an unforgettable 2006 turn by Tucci as an actor channeling Monk for a role based on the quirk-plagued detective. According to Shalhoub, a key perk during Monk’s run centered on his role as producer – guest casting in particular. (Brooke appeared in five Monks and he brought in former Wings costars Tim Daly (as himself) and Steven Weber (as a villain) in separate episodes. Still, he considers his biggest casting coup the landing of one of his idols, Gena Rowlands, who appeared in “Mr. Monk and the Lady Next Door.” “For me, working with her was the thrill of a lifetime. After that episode I felt I could retire,” he says, noting that Rowlands received an Emmy nomination for her performance. As to his current return Broadway – in which his costars include his wife and Anthony LaPaglia – Shalhoub reflects, “It feels just right. It’s what I needed to bring closure to my years on Monk.” With the slightest a tinge of emotion, he adds, “When Monk ended it left a little bit of hole in my life… Lend Me a Tenor is the perfect antidote.” ■
[ Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub in an episode of Monk ]
SHALHOUBIAN EXTRAS First Broadway show: The Odd Couple (female version) with Rita Moreno and Sally Struthers. Most challenging Monk episode: “Mr. Monk Goes to a Rock Concert” (brutally hot, tons of extras, wind and sound issues). Pet peeve: The idea that Monk was cancelled. ”It was a mutual decision between me and the writers to wrap it up.” Spousal pride: Shalhoub is blown away by Brooke’s many non-theatrical talents, including her acclaimed acrylic paintings (brookeadamsart.com). Family Pet: Four-year-old golden retriever named Hero.
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ON THE TOWN
THEATRE
Joan Marcus
NEW YORK
MIRACLE ON 50TH STREET
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Serious buzz surrounds the 50th Anniversary presentation and first Broadway revival of William Gibson’s Tony Award-winning play The Miracle Worker, which opened March 3rd at Circle in the Square Theatre. Staged in the round, this production about the young Helen Keller features Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) stepping in front of her first Broadway audience, portraying Helen Keller to Tony nominee Alison Pill’s (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) Anne Sullivan. And then there’s the high-profile supporting cast: Elizabeth Franz, Jennifer Morrison and Matthew Modine. Not to be missed! For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit miracleworkeronbroadway.com.
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ON THE TOWN SPOTLIGHT
PERFORMING ARTS p.60
Please call the box offices for showtimes. All listings subject to change BROADWAY The Addams Family - (Musical) Two-time Tony Award winners Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth star as Gomez and Morticia in a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St., 212-307-4100; theaddamsfamilymusical.com (Previews begin 3/8 for a 4/8 opening) All About Me - (Comedy) ) Noted cabaret entertainer/award-winning vocalist Michael Feinstein teams up with the sensationally glamorous Aussie known as Tony winner Dame Edna Everage for an unforgettable evening of music, comedy and spectacular spectacle. Henry Miller’s Theatre, 124 W. 43rd St., 212-239-6200; broadwaysbestshows.com/shows/allaboutme (In previews for a 3/18 opening) American Idiot - (Musical) Based on the Grammy Award-winning album of the same name, American Idiot follows working-class characters from the suburbs to the city to the Middle East, as they seek redemption in a world filled with frustration—an exhilarating journey borne along by Green Day’s electrifying songs. This high-octane show includes every song from the album, as well as several new songs from 21st Century Breakdown. St. James Theatre, 246 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; americanidiotonbroadway.com (Previews begin 3/24 for a 4/20 opening) A Behanding in Spokane - (Play) In Irish playwright Martin McDonagh's first play to originate on Broadway, the title is just the starting point. Take a man searching for his missing hand, two con artists out to make a few hundred bucks, and an overly curious hotel clerk, and the rest is up for grabs. And for an added dose of the macabre, this black comedy stars Oscar winner Christopher Walken. Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; abehandinginspokane.com Billy Elliot: The Musical - (Musical) Set against the backdrop of a struggling English coal-mining town, the show—a celebration of a young boy’s dream to follow his passion for dance despite all odds—is a study in inspirational and entertaining musical theatre. Peter Darling choreographs, Sir Elton John wrote the score, and three young
MUSEUMS p.68
talents alternate in the title role. Imperial Theatre, 249 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; billyelliotbroadway.com Chicago - (Musical Revival) Kander and Ebb’s long-running “musical vaudeville” follows murderous vixen Roxie Hart, who gains notoriety from prison and locks horns with prison diva Velma Kelly when they both vie for the attentions of the hottest lawyer in town: Billy Flynn. Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th St., 212-239-6200; chicagothemusical.com Collected Stories - (Play) Tony Award winner Linda Lavin and director Lynne Meadow reunite for a new production of Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies’ celebrated drama chronicling the relationship between two female writers: Ruth Steiner (Lavin), a noted New York author with a dry wit and a distinguished career, and her brighteyed young protégé, Lisa Morrison. As their relationship evolves and the line between fact and fiction starts to blur, their story comes to an explosive conclusion. Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., 212-239-6200; mtc-nyc.org Come Fly Away - (Musical) A new musical from director/choreographer Twyla Tharp following four couples as they fall in and out of love during a song and dance filled evening at a crowded nightclub. Blending the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra with a live 19-piece big band and 15 of the world’s finest dancers, with “Fly Me to the Moon,” “My Way,” and “That’s Life.” Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway (45th St.), 212-307-4100 ENRON - (Play) Inspired by real-life events and using music, dance and video, Lucy Prebble’s new play explores one of the most infamous scandals in financial history, reviewing the tumultuous 1990s and casting a new light on the economic turmoil it spawned. Casting coup: Norbert Leo Butz as Enron puppetmaster Jeffrey Skilling. Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; broadwaysbestshows.com/shows/enron Fela! - (Musical) The critically acclaimed and award-winning musical based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti. A phenomenal company of actor-singer-dancers join worldrenowned Antibalas and other members of the NYC Afrobeat community, who perform Kuti’s rousing music live onstage. Eugene O’Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St., 212-239-6200; felaonbroadway.com
SIGHTSEEING p.82
Fences - (Play) Two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and Tony winner Viola Davis star in the first Broadway revival of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play by August Wilson. Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St., 212-239-6200; fencesonbroadway.com (Previews begin 4/14 for a 4/26 opening) God of Carnage - (Play) Jeff Daniels, Dylan Baker, Lucy Liu, and Janet McTeer are the newest celeb cast to take over this “comedy without manners” by Tony-winning playwright Yasmina Reza. It centers on the parental aftermath of a playground altercation. Bernard Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; godofcarnage.com Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical (Musical Revival) An all-new cast (including a couple Amerian Idol-ists) recently joined this revival of 1967’s groundbreaking musical following a group of free-spirited young pacifists (the “tribe”) during the Vietnam War. Looks like it’s the “Dawning of the Age of Aquarius” again. Peace, man! Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; hairbroadway.com In the Heights - (Musical) 2007’s Tony-winning Best Musical about two days in the life of Manhattan’s vibrant and tight-knit neighborhood of Washington Heights. The story follows the hopes and dreams of three generations as they struggle to forge an identity in a neighborhood on the brink of transition. Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St., 212-307-4100; intheheightsthemusical.com Jersey Boys - (Musical) Based on the life story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, this musical chronicles the rise to superstardom of a group of blue-collar kids from the wrong side of the tracks during the 1960s. Filled with just about every major Four Seasons hit from “Sherry” and “Rag Doll” to “You’re Just Too Good to Be True.” August Wilson Theatre, 245 W. 52nd St., 212-239-6200; jerseyboysbroadway.com La Cage Aux Folles - (Musical) A delightful tale of an unusual nightclub and the extraordinary characters whose lives and relationships revolve around it, in which a camp man (and his lover) pretend not to be gay just to meet his son’s prospective parents-in-law. Starring Kelsey Grammar. Longacre Theatre, 220 W. 48th St., 212-239-6200; lacage.com (Previews begin 4/6 for a 4/18 opening) Lend Me a Tenor - (Comedy) Set in the 1930s, this madcap farce centers on a world-famous
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Italian tenor’s scheduled debut in a Cleveland opera company production of Othello—and how the machinations are set in motion when things go very, very wrong. It’s up to the show’s increasingly crazed presenter (Tony Shalhoub) to keep things under control as chaos on a truly operatic level ensues. Music Box Theater, 239 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; lendmeatenorbroadway.com (Previews begin 3/11 for a 4/4 opening) The Lion King - (Musical) The Tony- and Olivier Award-winning stage version of Disney’s celebrated animated feature follows the lion cub Simba as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role of king of the jungle. Filled with colorful characters and Grammy-winning numbers by Elton John and Tim Rice. Directed by Julie Taymor. The Minskoff Theatre, 200 W. 45th St., 866-870-2717; disneyonbroadway.com Lips Together, Teeth Apart - (Play) Megan Mullally and Patton Oswalt star in Terrence McNally’s play. The action takes place on the deck of a beach house on Fire Island, where a brother and sister and their respective spouses attempt to celebrate the Fourth of July with a gnawing uncertainty about their lives and their futures. American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., 212-719-1300; roundabouttheatre.org (Previews begin 4/9 for a 4/29 opening; through 6/20) A Little Night Music - (Musical Revival) Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones, five-time Tony winner Angela Lansbury star in the first Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Tony-winning masterpiece serving up a web of romantic intrigue in 19thcentury Swedish country home. Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th St., 212-239-6200 Looped - (Play) In this new comedy by Matthew Lombardo, actress Tallulah Bankhead (Valerie Harper) is called into a sound studio in 1965 to rerecord a single line of dialogue for what would be her last film. Southern, but by no means a belle, Ms. Bankhead was known for her wild partying and convention-defying exploits that outshone even today’s celebrity bad girls. Lyceum Theatre, 149 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; loopedtheplay.com (In previews for a 3/14 opening) Mamma Mia! - (Musical) Set on a Greek isle, this clever hit musical romance incorporates 22 ABBA songs (“Dancing Queen,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You”) into a story about a single mother and her daughter on the eve of the daughter’s wedding—and three men who could be the bride’s father. Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway (50th St.), 212-563-5544; mamma-mia.com
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Mary Poppins - (Musical) Based on the P.L. Travers stories and the Oscar-winning film, this fast-paced, heartwarming musical about the world’s most famous nanny boasts numbers from both the original film (“Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “The Perfect Nanny”) as well as new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St., 866-870-2717; disneyonbroadway.com
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Memphis: A New Musical - (Musical) From the dance halls of Memphis, Tennessee comes this “hot and bothered” new musical set in the turbulent south in the 1950s. It tells the story of Huey Calhoun, a white radio DJ whose love of good music transcends race lines and airwaves. Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; memphisthemusical.com Million Dollar Quartet - (Musical) A new musical inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together four of the most legendary figures in the history of rock n’ roll— Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley. Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st St., 212-307-4100; milliondollarquartetlive.com (Previews begin 3/13 for a 4/11 opening) The Miracle Worker - (Play) Set in the South in the 1880s, The Miracle Worker tells the story of real-life Medal of Freedom winner Helen Keller (Abigail Breslin), born blind and deaf, and the extraordinary teacher who taught her to communicate with the world, Annie Sullivan (Alison Pill). Circle in the Square Theatre, 235 W. 50th St., 800-432-7780; miracleworkeronbroadway.com Next Fall - (Play) A witty and provocative look at faith, commitment and unconditional love focusing on the five-year relationship between Adam and Luke. This compelling work that goes beyond a typical love story debuted OffBroadway last summer, was written by Naked Angels artistic director Geoffrey Nauffts. Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St.; nextfallbroadway.com. (In previews for a 3/11 opening) Next to Normal - (Musical) This Tony Awardwinning, intimate six-person musical featuring a contemporary rock score, explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their family’s world intact. Longacre Theatre, 222 W. 28th St., 212-239-6200; nexttonormal.com The Phantom of the Opera - (Musical) Gaston Leroux’s famous period thriller now reigns as Broadway’s most legendary grand dame, having broken countless records as it continues to thrill new generations of theatregoers. Featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Phantom has achieved the kind of reputation and following most shows only dream of. Majestic Theatre, 247 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; thephantomoftheopera.com Present Laughter - (Play) As a matinee idol (Victor Garber) struggles to plan his upcoming trip to Africa, his elegant London flat is invaded by a love-struck ingenue, an adulterous producer and a married seductress—not to mention his estranged wife and a crazed young playwright. American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., 212-719-1300; roundabouttheatre.org (Through 3/21) Promises, Promises - (Musical) Based on the 1960 Academy Award-winning Billy Wilder film
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The Apartment, telling the story of the Consolidated Life Insurance Company and Chuck Baxter (Sean Hayes), one of its young employees. In an effort to advance, Chuck lends executives his apartment for their extramarital romantic trysts. But things become complicated when the object of Chuck’s affection (Kristin Chenoweth) becomes the mistress of one of his executives. Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway (53rd St.), 212-239-6200; promisespromisesbroadway.com (Previews begin 3/28 for a 4/25 opening)
life. Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., 212-239-6200; mtc-nyc.org (Through 3/27)
Race - (Play) David Mamet directs the world premiere of his new Broadway play, starring James Spader, Richard Thomas, David Alan Grier, and Kerry Washington. Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 W. 47th St., 212-239-6200; raceonbroadway.com (Through 6/13)
West Side Story - (Musical Revival) The landmark musical by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents transports Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to the turbulent streets of the Upper West Side in 1950s New York City. The star-crossed lovers find themselves caught between the rival street gangs: watch for new bilingual elements. Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway (47th St.), 212-307-4100; broadwaywestsidestory.com
Red - (Play) Set in 1958 as New York artist Mark Rothko (Alfred Molina) receives the art world’s largest commission to create a series of murals for The Four Seasons restaurant in the new Seagram building on Park Avenue, this is a moving and compelling account of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, whose struggle to accept his growing riches and praise became his ultimate undoing. Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; redonbroadway.com (Previews begin 3/11 for a 4/1 opening) Rock of Ages - (Musical) This show is a true crowd-pleaser with its high-energy retro score made up of 1980s hits by Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia and Whitesnake. Set at a Hollywood rock club, the show tracks an aspiring young rocker and a small-town girl chasing her dreams. Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th St., 212-307-4100; rockofagesmusical.com Sondheim on Sondheim - (Musical) A hightech, multimedia inside look at Stephen Sondheim’s personal life and artistic process, with exclusive interview footage. It features brand-new arrangements of over two dozen Sondheim songs and stars Barbara Cook, Vanessa Williams and Tom Wopat. Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St., 212-719-1300; roundabouttheatre.org (Previews begin 3/19 for a 4/22 opening; through 6/13) South Pacific - (Musical) Bartlett Sher directs this critically acclaimed revival of the Pulitzer Prizewinning musical that remains one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most celebrated musicals (based on James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific). The story centers on two love stories that unfold against the backdrop of WWII and the military serving in the Pacific. Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 W. 65th St., 212-239-6200; lct.org
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Time Stands Still - (Play) Starring Laura Linney, Brian D’Arcy James and Alicia Silverstone, this new play marks the fourth collaboration for Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies and Tony-winning director Daniel Sullivan. In it, a journalist and photographer documenting the realities of war are forced to return home and deal with a more conventional
A View from the Bridge - (Play Revival) In Arthur Miller’s most passionate drama, Liev Schreiber plays a Brooklyn longshoreman obsessed with his 17-year-old niece (Scarlett Johansson). When she falls in love with a newly arrived immigrant, his jealousy erupts in a rage that consumes him, his family, and his world. Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St., 212-239-6200; aviewfromthebridgeonbroadway.com (Through 4/4)
Wicked - (Musical) Set in Oz before the arrival of Dorothy, this knock-out production follows the friendship between two girls—one smart, misunderstood, with green skin; the other beautiful, popular, and ambitious—who grow up to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch. Gershwin Theatre, 222 W. 51st St., 212-307-4100; wickedthemusical.com
OFF-BROADWAY ATLANTIC THEATER COMPANY - Ages of the Moon (through 3/7), a new play by Sam Shepard starring Sean McGinley and Stephen Rea. 336 W. 20th St., 212- 691-5919; atlantictheater.org Avenue Q - (Musical) Following a stellar run on Broadway, the Tony winner returns to its OffBroadway roots. In it, singing puppets & their human neighbors are the residents of Avenue Q, a fictional NYC street where a collection of 20-somethings struggle to find their way in the world. New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., 212-239-6200; avenueq.com The Awesome 80s Prom - This interactive comedy invites theatregoers to rediscover their favorite characters from the 1980s as everyone competes for the titles of Prom King and Queen. ’80s fashions strongly encouraged. Village Nightclub, Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St., 877-RAD-PROM; awesome80sprom.com Bass for Picasso - Kate Moira Ryan’s new play about five New Yorkers—including a physically disabled New York Times food writer—whose secrets are exposed during a memorable dinner party. Funny, moving and laced with lesbianism, visa issues, substance abuse and an array of personalities. Theatre Row’s Kirk Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St., 212-279-4200; tbtb.org (4/17-5/23) Black Angels Over Tuskegee - Layon Gray’s historical drama is based on true events. Six men explore their collective struggle with Jim Crow,
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their intelligence, patriotism, dreams of an inclusive fair society, and brotherhood as they become the first African-American fighter pilots in the U.S. Army Air Forces. St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St., 212-239-6200 (Through 3/28) Blue Man Group - Best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows, the trio of post-modern clowns known as Blue Man Group combines music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. Astor Place Theatre, 434 Lafayette St. (so. of Astor Pl.), 212-254-4370; blueman.com BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC - The Bridge Project’s The Tempest, directed by Sam Mendes (through 3/13); Maly Drama Theatre of St Petersburg’s Uncle Vanya (4/7-11); August Strindberg’s Creditors, directed by Alan Rickman (4/16-5/16). BAM Harvey Theater, 651 Fulton St., 718-636-4100; bam.org Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words Created by Eugene Pack, this brilliant and hilarious concept show features a line-up of revolving performers who will interpret the actual words and stories written by the famous and the infamous, in both solo and ensemble pieces. Some of the “authors” recently featured include Ivana Trump, Vanna White, Sylvester Stallone, Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson. Triad Theatre, 158 W. 72nd St., 212-868-4444; celebrityautobiography.com Candida - The story of Reverend James Morell and how his comfortable marriage to Candida is shaken by the arrival of the young poet, Marchbanks. Both men adore her, in quite different ways and for quite different reasons, and she is attracted to them for their very different qualities. Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W. 22nd St., 212-727-2737; irishrep.org (3/7-4/18) THE CHERRY LANE THEATRE - Extinction, written by Gabe McKinley and drected by Wayne Kasserman starring James Roday (Psych) and Michael Weston (Six Feet Under) (through 3/14); Stray, written by by Ruth McKee (3/16-3/27); The Belle of Belfast, written by Nate Rufus Edelman (4/27-5/8); Paternity, written by Winter Miller (5/18-5/29); and Oliver!, by Elizabeth Meriwether (5/8-5/17). 38 Commerce St., 212-239-6200; cherrylanetheatre.org Cinderella - In this new musical version of the fairy tale classic, poor Cinderella works all day, has to deal with those awful step-sisters and then sleeps in the cinders. But, don’t be too sad because she’ll make it to the Prince’s ball and capture his heart. Sure, she may loose one of her shoes, but what she gains is worth more than gold. Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St., 212-352-3101; literallyalive.com (Through 4/25) Circumcise Me - Comedian Yisrael Campbell takes the audience on a hysterically funny and intensely personal journey through his struggles with drugs and alcohol and his eventual salvation in the Jewish faith. Though he was born Catholic, Yisrael (who changed his name from Christopher) charts an extraordinary spiritual, creative, and hilarious
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journey that includes three circumcisions along the way. Bleecker Street Theatre, 45 Bleecker St., 212-239-6200; yisraelcampbell.com/live (Through 5/16) CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY - Venus in Fur, written by David Ives and directed by Walter Bobbie (through 3/7); Alexander Ostrovsky’s The Forest, starring Dianne Wiest (4/23-5/30); Books On Stage: War and Peace and Anna Karenina (4/26-5/10). 136 E. 13th St., 212-352-3101; classicstage.org The Cocktail Party - TACT/The Actors Company Theatre presents T.S. Eliot’s profound exploration of self-deception and redemption. At Edward and Lavinia’s upscale party at a London flat, the guests are met with a major surprise. Ruthless and compassionate, the play turns the classic “drawing room comedy” on its head. Theatre’s Row’s Beckett Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St., 212-279-4200; tactnyc.org (3/7-4/10) Danny and Sylvia: The Danny Kaye Musical This musical love story follows the duo from the time the young comic Danny Kaminsky meets aspiring songwriter Sylvia Fine at an audition in the 1930s through and the romance and conflict that made them such a volatile and successful couple. Featuring many of Danny’s hit songs. St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St., 212-239-6200; dannyandsylvia.com Defending the Caveman - The hilarious solo show about the sexes, written by Rob Becker (who took it to Broadway), is back in New York starring Paul Perroni. Warning: Serious nudging and pointed laughter occurs regularly during the performance. Sofia’s Restaurant Downstairs Theater, 221 W. 46th St., 212-947-9300; defendingthecaveman.com (Through 4/18) Dr. Knock, or The Triumph of Medicine Health care reform of a darkly comic kind drives this 1923 satire about what happens when Dr. Knock buys a small medical practice in the French countryside and attempts to run it using modern business methodology. Mint Theater, 311 W. 43rd St., 212-315-0231; minttheater.org (5/10-5/30) Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert: Anyone Can Whistle by Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents, starring Tony winner Sutton Foster (4/8-11). New York City Center, W. 55th St., 212-581-1212; nycitycenter.org Equivocation - Set in the early 1600s, this world premiere of Bill Cain’s bold new look at the Bard focuses on what happens when a member of King James’ court attempts to commission a play from Shakespeare about the Gunpowder Plot, in which plans were laid to blow up Parliament. New York City Center - Stage I, 131 W. 55th St., 212-581-1212; manhattantheatreclub.com (Through 3/28)
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The Fantasticks - A romantic musical classic centered on the simple love story of a boy, a girl, two fathers, and a wall. The score includes “Try to Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.” With
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book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt. Snapple Theater Center, 1627 Broadway, 212-307-4100; thefantasticks.com 59E59 THEATRES - Brack’s Last Bachelor Party, written by Sam Marks, directed by Geordie Broadwater (through 3/14); Convinction, written by Oren Neeman, directed by Jeremy Cole (through 3/21); John Balls’ In the Heat of the Night (3/19-4/25); Enjoy, written by Toshiki Okada, directed by Dan Rothenberg (3/27-4/25); Primary Stages’ 25th Anniversary Celebration Festival (4/1-5/6; Americas’ Off Broadway (from 4/27). 59 E. 59th St., 212-279-4200; 59e59.org Fearless Moral Inventory - Drama Desk nominee Frank Blocker’s new solo show in which he introduces 64 characters, all who have been forced to take honest stock of their lives and the lives of those around them. Stage Left Studios, 438 W. 37th St., Suite 5A, 212-868-4444; stageleftstudio.com (3/8-5/31) FLEA THEATER - Girls in Trouble, by Jonathan Reynolds, directed by Jim Simpson, and featuring The Bats (through 3/15); Parents’ Evening, written by Bathsheba Doran and directed by Jim Simpson (Apr.-Jun.). 41 White St. (Broadway-Church St.), 212-226-2407; theflea.org Fuerza Bruta: Look Up - Breaking free from the confines of spoken language and theatrical convention, this new show from the creators of De La Guarda immerses performers and audience in an environment that floods the senses and makes the imagination soar. Daryl Roth Theatre, 20 Union Square E. (15th St.), 212-239-6200; fuerzabruta.net Glee Club - Blue Coyote’s hit comedy about eight misfit members of Romeo, Vermont’s cutthroat Glee Club. They’re on the verge of meltdown after their soloist makes the disastrous decision to save his own life. Will they be ready for the big recital? And isn’t music the most important thing? Access Theater, 380 Broadway, 212-868-4444; bluecoyote.org (Through 4/3) Good Ol’ Girls - Through the language of five unique southerners, this new musical celebrates childhood through old age with big hair and bigger hearts. Written and adapted by Paul Ferguson based on the stories of Lee Smith and Jill McCorkle, with songs by Matraca Berg and Marshall Chapman. Black Box Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for the Theatre, 111 W. 46th St., 212-352-3101; goodolgirls.com Graceland - Written by Ellen Fairey this comedic drama follows two estranged siblings reunited when they try to make sense of their father’s recent suicide. The Duke on 42nd St., 229 W. 42nd St., 646-223-3010; dukeon42.org; lct3.org (5/3-5/29) Happy in the Poorhouse - Paulie “The Pug” is a Coney Island dreamer at the center of Derek
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Ahonen’s comedy full of weak wrists and strong hearts; in short. it’s an unsanitzed story of love and sex that will make you think twice! Theatre 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Pl., 212-388-0388; theamoralists.com; theatre80.org (3/11-4/5) I Never Sang for My Father - Playwright Robert Anderson’s exploration of a son’s struggle to balance his own happiness with the needs of his aging parents, and his yearning for a closer relationship with the father he cannot change. Starring Marsha Mason and Keir Dullea. Theatre Row Complex, 410 W. 42nd St., 212-279-4200; keencompany.org (3/23- 5/1) The Irish Curse - In Martin Casella’s comedy, a support group of Irish-American men meet weekly in the hall of a Catholic church. But it’s a 20-something new member who unmasks questions of masculinity, relationships, social status, sex and “Do I measure up to the next guy?” SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St., 212-691-1555; theirishcurse.com (3/17-5/30) Ladies in Retirement - A gothic mystery set in Victorian England in an isolated cottage where sinister changes are set into motion when the housekeeper brings her two sisters into the house she shares with her colorful mistress. Theatre 3, 311 W. 43rd St., 3rd Floor, 212-279-4200; pulseensembletheatre.org (Through 4/3) Lenin’s Embalmers - Russia, 1924. Two scientists are called upon to do the impossible: preserve the body of Communism’s greatest leader, or face death themselves. A dark comedy about the science of death and the death of science. Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 W. 52nd St., 212-352-3101; ensemblestudiotheatre.org (Through 3/28) Limonade Tous les Jours - Charles Mee’s romantic comedy about an American man and a French woman—both recovering from ruined love relationships—who spend the day wandering through Paris and falling in love despite themselves. Starring Austin Pendleton and Eleanor Handley. The Cell Theatre in Chelsea, 338 W. 23rd St., 212-279-4200; limonadetouslesjours.com (4/3 -4/18) LINCOLN CENTER THEATRE - When the Rain Stops Falling, an epic drama, set in England and Australia, that traces a family’s history spanning 80 years (open run). The Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, 150 W. 65th St., 212-239-6200; lct.org Line - Israel Horovitz’s classic comedy about five people standing in line has been playing Off-Off Broadway for many years—in fact, it’s inching up on the 35-year mark and has become the longestrunning play in Off-Off Broadway history. 13th Street Repertory, 50 W. 13th St., 212-352-0255; 13thstreetrep.org
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Looking for Billy Haines - A romantic comedy in which struggling actor Jamie Hollis scores an audition for a film about Billy Haines, a gay movie star of ’20s and ’30s who gave up his career
for a public relationship with his partner. Lion Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St., 212-279-4200; lookingforbillyhaines.com (3/11-5/22) Love, Loss and What I Wore - Written by Nora & Delia Ephron, this collection of vignettes and monologues based on the best-selling book by Ilene Beckerman, as well as on the recollections of the Ephrons’ friends, features rotating celebrity cast of five—including Rosie O’Donnell— lending their talents to this female-centric show. Westside Theatre, 407 W. 43rd St., 212-239-6200; lovelossonstage.com MCC THEATRE COMPANY - The Pride, by Alexi Kaye Campbell and directed by Joe Mantello, with Hugh Dancy, Andrea Riseborough, and Ben Whishaw (through 3/20); Family Week, by Beth Henley and directed by Jonathan Demme, with Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Kathleen Chalfant, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sami Gayle (4/7-5/23). 121 Christopher St., 212-279-4200; mcctheater.org Mr. & Mrs. Fitch - Meet gossip columnists Mr. and Mrs. Fitch (Tony Award winners John Lithgow and Jennifer Ehle). When the social circuit no longer provides any scandalous news, they find that great celebrity can appear out of thin air. Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane’s wicked new comedy is a scathing look at who is in, who is out and who may not even exist at all. Second Stage Theatre, 305 W. 43rd St., 212-246-4422; 2st.com (Through 3/21) Murdered by the Mob - Interactive Theater. Join a private audience with the Don, mingle with mobsters and molls, and meet the new “Boss of Bosses.” It’s the party of the year celebrating the induction of the newest crime boss and everyone’s invited. Amo Dinner Theatre, 141 W. 38th St., 800-MURDER-INC; murdermysteryinc.com My Trip Down the Pink Carpet - Comedy. A laugh-out-loud take on Hollywood, fame, addiction, gay culture, and learning to love oneself, produced Lily Tomlin and her longtime collaborator, writer/director Jane Wagner, and starring Emmy Award winner Leslie Jordan (Will & Grace). Midtown Theater, 163 W. 46th St., 212-352-3101; mytripdownthepinkcarpet.com THE NEW GROUP - A Lie of the Mind, written by Sam Shepard and directed by Ethan Hawke, this new work follows Jake who, believing he may have murdered his wife, takes refuge in the home of his unstable mother (through 3/20); The Kid, based on the book by Dan Savage (4/10-5/29). 410 W. 42nd St., 212-279-4200; thenewgroup.org NEW VICTORY THEATER - New York City’s first and only full-time performing arts theater for kids and their families and classmates. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (3/514); 46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes (3/19-4/4); Time Step (4/9-18); Elephant (4/23-5/2); Pagagnini (5/7-23); The Butterfly Garden (5/140-23). 209 W. 42nd St., 646-223-3010; newvictory.org
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NEW WORLD STAGES - Just west of Broadway, this cutting-edge theatre complex is home to several of Off-Broadway’s most popular productions: Avenue Q – A musical comedy in which singing puppets & their human neighbors struggle to find their way in the world (avenueq.com); The Gazillion Bubble Show – Fan Yang’s irresistible and totally fabulous bubble show (gazillionbubbleshow.com); Naked Boys Singing – Hunky guys performing 90 minutes of musical numbers in the altogether (naked boyssinging.com); The Temperamentals, about communist Harry Hay and the Viennese refugee and designer Rudi Gernreich, as they fall in love while building the first gay rights organization in the U.S., pre-Stonewall; The 39 Steps (opening 3/25), featuring a cast of four actors who attempt to reenact all of the characters, locations and famous scenes in Hitchcock’s 1935 film thriller; Imaginocean (opening 3/17), following a group of fish friends who uncover a map that leads them to ultimately uncover the treasure of each other’s friendship; White’s Lies (opening 3/22), in which a career bachelor must find a mate after his cancer-stricken mother wishes for a grandchild. 340 W. 50th St., 212-239-6200; newworldstages.com NEW YORK THEATRE WORKSHOP - Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers, written by Geoffrey Cowan and Leroy Aarons and directed by John Rubinstein (through 3/28); Restoration, written by Claudia Shear and directed by Christopher Ashley (4/30-6/13). 79 E. 4th St., 212-460-5475; nytw.org North Atlantic - A satiric look at the role of the military and the growing influence of technology in American culture during the late Cold War period, after Vietnam and before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Jerome Robbins Theatre, 450 W. 37th St., 212-868-4444; thewoostergroup.org (3/10-4/25) Our Town - Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prizewinning play following the lives of the residents of the New England town of Grover’s Corners. In this new staging, the action takes place in, among and around the audience. Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow St., 212-868-4444; ourtownoffbroadway.com Passion Play - This play by Sarah Ruhl looks at three communities attempting to stage the death and resurrection of Christ. From Queen Elizabeth’s England to Hitler’s Germany to Reagan’s America, this exploration of devotion is filled with lust, whimsy, and a lot of fish. Irondale Center, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford St., Brooklyn, 718-488-9233; epictheatreensemble.org (5/12-5/30) Percussion People - An interactive family concert where noise is not only encouraged, it is part of the show. Here, the group takes you on a journey through the family of percussion instruments. The show even includes an instrumentbuilding workshop prior to the concert. For ages 3 & up. Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St., 212-352-3101; theplayerstheatre.com
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THEATRENEWYORK
Perfect Crime - This long-running hit psychological cat-and-mouse thriller is about a wealthy female psychiatrist who has returned to America where a bizarre murder has occurred. Snapple Theater Center, 210 W. 50th St., 212-307-4100
Joan Marcus
PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS - Clybourne Park, written by Bruce Norris and directed by Pam MacKinnon (through 3/7); A Cool Dip in the Barren Saharan Crick, written by Kia Corthron and directed by Chay Yew (3/4-4/11); The Burnt Part Boys, a musical by Mariana Elder, Chris Miller, and Nathan Tysen (May-June). 416 W. 42nd St., 212-279-4200; playwrightshorizons.org
IMMIGRATION BLUES One of the spring’s biggest hits among both critics and audiences has been the revival of Arthur Miller’s 1955 drama, A View from the Bridge, starring Hollywood heavyweights Scarlett Johansson and Liev Schreiber (pictured above). In it, Liev Schreiber portrays Eddie Carbone, a Brooklyn longshoreman obsessed with his 17-year-old niece Catherine (Johansson). When Catherine falls in love with a newly arrived immigrant, Eddie’s jealousy erupts in a rage that consumes him, his family, and his world. Performances run through Apr. 4th. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit aviewfromthebridgeonbroadway.com.
PUBLIC THEATER - The Book Grace by Suzan-Lori Parks (3/2-4/4); Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, written and directed by Alex Timbers (3/23-4/25). 425 Lafayette St., 212-260-2400; publictheater.org RATTLESTICK PLAYWRIGHTS THEATER Blind, written by Craig Wright and directed by Lucie Tiberghien (through 3/21); The Aliens, written by Annie Baker and directed by Sam Gold (4/15-5/23). 224 Waverly Pl., 212-868-4444; rattlestick.org Rescue Me - Ma-Yi Theater Company presents a dance-theatre adaptation of Euripides’ Iphigenia in Tauris. The title character is at the mercy of a temperamental goddess and a barbarian king with a fondness for human sacrifice. Ohio Theatre, 66 Wooster St., 212-352-3101; ma-yitheatre.org (3/23-4/18) ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams and starring Judith Ivey (3/5-5/30). Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for the Theatre, 111 W. 46th St., 212-719-1300; roundabouttheatre.org
Joan Marcus
The Scottsboro Boys - Kander and Ebb’s new musical explores the infamous “Scottsboro” case of the 1930s centering on a group of AfricanAmerican teenagers were unjustly accused of attacking two white women, their attempts to prove their innocence. This stirring and provocative new work directed and choreographed by Tony winner Susan Stroman depicts one of the most memorable and notorious chapters in the history of race in America. Vineyard Theatre, 108 E.15th St., 212-353-3366; vineyardtheatre.org
BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS
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The latest play from Martin McDonagh (The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Pillowman), A Behanding in Spokane, features a dream cast of four led by Oscar winner Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Choke), and rounded out by a couple of buzzedabout Hollywood up-and-comers: Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) and Zoe Kazan (Revolutionary Road, It’s Complicated). Should you be familiar with the playwright’s catalog of darkly hilarious works, it’s clear why the coming-together of McDonagh and Walken (with his penchant for embracing disturbing characters) was inevitable— let’s just say that the titular missing appendage is just the beginning. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit abehandinginspokane.com.
SECOND STAGE THEATRE - Mr. and Mrs. Fitch, a world-premiere comedy about gossip columnists written by Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed), starring Jennifer Ehle and John Lithgow (through 4/4); The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety, written by Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Edward Torres (4/27-6/20). 307 W. 43rd St., 212-246-4422; 2st.com SIGNATURE THEATRE COMPANY - The Orphans’ Home Cycle - Set in Horton Foote’s fictitious town of Harrison, Texas and based partly on the childhood of Foote’s father and the courtship and marriage of his parents, the cycle is a wide-ranging, intricate work. Part I begins at the
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turn of the 20th century with the plays Roots in a Parched Ground, Convicts and Lily Dale and follows Horace Robedaux in his formative years. Part II focuses on life with his new wife and is made up of the plays The Widow Claire, Courtship and Valentine’s Day. Part III consists of the plays 1918, Cousins and The Death of Papa and begins with the turmoil of World War I and ends with the characters looking to the future. (Through 5/8). Peter Norton Space, 555 W. 42nd St., 212-244-7529; signaturetheatre.org Sin - Based on Isaac Bashevis Singer’s story The Unseen, Mark Altman’s new comedy pits a happily married couple against the devil himself for a devilish look at two love triangles, one human and one heavenly. Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Ave., 212-352-3101; baruch.cuny.edu/bpac (Opening 3/9) Stomp - Springing from Brit clubs and an urban aesthetic, this eight-member theatre of percussion has caused sensation after sensation at each of its international appearances—and what can only be called a big bang in the Big Apple. Orpheum Theatre, 126 Second Ave. (7th St.-St. Marks Pl.), 212-307-4100; stomponline.com That Face - Polly Stenham’s darkly comic look at an affluent family in freefall: Mia suspended from boarding school; Henry, a total drop out; and their mum, who manipulates them all. Featuring Elizabeth Marvel. MTC at New York City Center, Stage I, 131 W. 55th St., 212-581-1212; nycitycenter.org (From 4/29) This Side of Paradise - A musical following the lives and loves of the F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, from their first meeting in 1918 in Montgomery, Alabama, until Scott’s death in Hollywood in 1940. Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 W. 46th St., 212-352-3101; paradisethemusical.com (4/14-5/9) Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding - Interactive Theatre. Tony has been marrying Tina since 1988 and will do so as long as there are family and friends ready to celebrate the occasion with live music, champagne, Italian food and cake. Vinnie Black’s Colliseum at the Edison Hotel, 221 W. 46th St., 212-352-3101; tonyandtinanewyork.com When the Rain Stops Falling - Andrew Bovell’s epic drama, set in England and Australia, traces a family’s history spanning 80 years. The play premiered at the Australia’s 2008 Adelaide Festival, was subsequently presented by the Sydney Theater Company and was recently produced in London by the Almeida Theatre. The cast includes Tony winner Victoria Clark and Mary Beth Hurt. Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, 150 W. 65th St., 212-239-6200; lct.org Zero Hour - Starring Jim Brochu as Zero Mostel, the play traces the actor’s days growing up on the Lower East Side through his rise as a stand-up comedian—the Borscht Belt to Manhattan’s poshest supper clubs—and from the devastation of the blacklist to his greatest Broadway triumphs. DR2 Theatre, 103 E. 15th St., 212-239-6200; zerohourshow.com (Opening 3/7)
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new
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A short, but sweet spring season...
Carol Rosegg
By Martin Bernheimer
[ From left to right: Scenes from the spring productions of L'Etoile, Partenope and Madama Butterfly ]
ike Phoenix from the ashes…. Not long ago, the New York City Opera – which always played David to the Goliath of the Met, next door at Lincoln Center – seemed moribund if not stone-cold dead. An apparently unrealistic plan to have the Belgian avant-gardist Gerard Mortier revitalize the company faltered when the budget fell short and in November, 2008, the impresario quit before his regime could even begin. Having planned a series of costly far-out projects, he declared that he would rather walk than cut back. Complicating matters, the company remained inactive for a year while its home, the New York State Theater, underwent drastic renovations. The renovations are now complete, and in many ways they represent a significant redesign. Acoustical adjustments have made the problematic amplification-system previously in use blissfully obsolete. Altered seatingarrangements, including the introduction of two aisles downstairs, have made audience entrances and exits easy at last. An enlarged orchestra-pit en-
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ables the company to perform grandiose pieces in their proper sonic scale, and elevators now raise or lower the pit with the press of a button. These changes were facilitated primarily by a $100-million grant from the philanthropist David H. Koch, and the 2,568-seat theater has been renamed in his honor. Confounding doom-and-gloomsayers, the company managed a brief comeback in the fall with a new general manager at the helm. George Steel, 43, and a relative novice in matters operatic, agreed to pick up the pieces dropped by Mortier. His best credentials for the job – apart from enthusiasm, optimism and guts – involve a long tenure running the experimental concert program at Columbia University plus a few controversial months calling (and dodging) the shots at the Dallas Opera. For his short-notice debut at the David H. Koch Theater in November, he mustered a gala concert, a revival of a neglected modernist challenge, Hugo Weisgall’s Esther, and a snazzy update of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
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The spring season, short by historic City Opera standards, offers three important productions from the past. Typically, they represent something esoteric, Chabrier’s L’Étoile; something old, Handel’s Partenope, and something popular, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. L’Étoile, which plays from March 18 to April 3 (an abridged family-matinee), is an engaging bit of Gallic fluff, first performed in Paris in 1877. A tuneful dark-edged satire that demands a light theatrical touch, it tells the tale of a silly monarch named Ouf the First, who roams his empire in quest of an appropriate victim to execute as a royal birthday treat. The City Opera production, first seen in 2002, has been staged with equal parts wit, imagination, irreverence and style by Mark Lamos amid droll sets designed by Andrew Lieberman. It is sung, and spoken, in the original French. As with all City Opera presentations, English translations are projected atop the proscenium. The cast is headed by the tenor Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, a diminutive, elegant, much celebrated specialist in character insinuation. Partenope, which dates back to 1730, opens on April 3 and closes April 17. Rarely revived, it is an ornate quasi-historical extravaganza in which the period conventions are mocked by burlesque impulses. It also serves as a showpiece for an ensemble of vocal virtuosos, including a competitive pair of countertenors. The protagonist, Queen of Naples in antiquity, is the center of a convoluted amorous intrigue in which gender masquerades serve as basic narrative devices. Expectations are confounded, however, when the Princess of Cypress, disguised as a man, is challenged to a bare-chested duel. The charming City Opera version, directed by Francisco Negrin in 1998, moves this mythological exploration of love, war and ambition to a semblance of modern times, the aura of almost-make-believe seconded by John Conklin’s sets and Paul Steinberg’s costumes. Cyndia Sieden, a fine soprano from California, undertakes the coloratura flights and erotic mockery of the Neapolitan sovereign. The splendid mezzo-soprano Laura Vlasak Nolen portrays her Cypriot rival in temporary drag. Christian Curnyn, a British early-music specialist, makes his company debut in the pit. The City Opera version of Madama Butterfly, which returns on March 21 with performances through April 18, became an instant hit when first mounted here in 1999. Lamos’ much lauded production (it won an Emmy when telecast in 2008) manages to defy convention without contradicting the essential impulses of the score and libretto. He retells the story of the Geisha who loves an American naval officer unwisely but all too well without clichés. Abstraction becomes the dominant force. The action takes place on a nearly empty stage. Cio-Cio-San’s house is suggested by a set of stairs and a few screens. Political symbols hang from the sky (a fleet of toy warships at one point). Mood shifts are reinforced by Robert Wierzel’s sensitive lighting scheme and illustrative projections. The result, almost oxymoronic, is a Butterfly without bathos. The New York City Opera does nothing better. ■
Rene Perez
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[ George Steel, the New York City Opera’s new general manager ]
Jon Simon
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New York City Opera David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center; nycopera.com Pulitzer-Prize winning critic Martin Bernheimer covers music in New York for the Financial Times and Opera magazine. His last piece for Promenade was on Peter Gelb at the Met.
[ The newly renovated David H. Koch theater, home to the New York City Opera ]
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DANCENEW YORK
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he reigns in Spain...and abroad A former ABT marquee dancer, Angel Corella and his new company–based in Segovia–visit New York with an original duet, his first premiere and much more.
Manuel de los Galanes
By Sylviane Gold
[ Angel Corella and Corella Ballet dancers in Spring Sextet ]
f you want to get a dance fan excited, just invite him or her to a performance - any performance - by the sensational ballet star Angel Corella. If you want to get Angel Corella excited, start him talking about his new ballet company, which makes its international debut at City Center March 17-20. The ebullient joy that this handsome Spaniard brings to his dazzling spins and electrifying leaps is evident as he talks about how the fledgling Corella Ballet Castilla y León fulfills a lifelong dream: it will now be possible for other Spanish ballet dancers to ply their chosen trade without leaving home. “Dancers from Spain were always telling me, 'I just finished school, and I would love to stay in Spain',” he says. “ 'But there's no classical ballet company.' It was sad - they didn't want to leave the country. Or they were maybe abroad in a company far from home where they were not happy. We decided that we wanted to try to change the situation.”
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If anyone was in a position to do something about it, it was Corella. Born in Madrid in 1975, he began astonishing his teachers and fellow students with his gifts in the early 1990s. By then, Spain's national ballet troupe was turning away from the classics in favor of contemporary choreography. If he wanted to dance Swan Lake and Giselle - and he did - he would have to leave. In 1995, at 19, Corella moved to New York to dance with American Ballet Theatre. With his effortless technique and boyish glee, he quickly became a marquee attraction. The pyrotechnics deepened into true artistry, whether in the rakish Baryshnikov role in Twyla Tharp's Push Comes to Shove or as the title character in Kenneth Macmillan's Romeo and Juliet. Soon he was guesting in the dance capitals of the world - London, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and more. In Spain, he became something of a national hero, opening ballet shops, promoting the art form in various ways, and, finally, in 2001, taking the first
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Juan Martin
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[ A scene from Spring Sextet ]
step towards Corella Ballet by starting a foundation to drum up support. “It's a lot of work,” he says. “I now understand why most of the people who start companies or direct companies wait until they retire from dancing.” But he feels he didn't have the option of waiting. “In order to create a classical ballet company in Spain, they needed to see me dancing,” he says. “I think because I made a career overseas and I was famous in Spain, when we asked for money, it was a little easier.” Not, he adds, that it was easy. It took seven years. The government of Castilla y León offered the most support, and the ballet is based there, in the medieval town of Segovia. Corella enlisted two ABT colleagues - his sister, Carmen, and Herman Cornejo - as well as a roster of other stellar dancers from 13 countries. “The energy's still young and new,” he says. “Everyone is starting from a brand new base - it's like a baby being born.” Coming to New York, he says, feels like “bringing your newborn son back to your parent.” For the occasion, he and Carmen will be dancing a brand new duet by the famed flamenco dancer María Pagés. Corella's first ballet, to
Tchaikovsky's melodious “Souvenir of Florence,” will have its American premiere, along with a Russell Ducker work to music by Mike Oldfield. The repertoire will also include a 2006 work by the acclaimed English choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. It's only the beginning, Corella says. His plans include a school open to all, a roster of full-length ballets (the company's debut performance was Natalia Makarova's staging of La Bayadère) and a full complement of dancers employed 12 months a year. “When you see dancers from Spain, they're very defined by energy,” he says. “It comes from our blood. Everything we do, we do to the full.” ■ Corella Ballet Castilla y León Mar. 17, 19 & 20 New York City Center, 55th Street; 212-581-1212; nycitycenter.org Sylviane Gold has written about the arts for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Newsday and Dance Magazine. Her last piece for Promenade was on Judith Jamison and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
ballet’s big farm teams perform Everyone loves sneak peeks, and one of the city's best opportunities arrives April 13, with the annual 1.2.3. Festival at the dance-friendly Joyce Theater in Chelsea. Through April 25, this former movie house will welcome the farm teams for three of New York's dance powerhouses: the modernist Paul Taylor Dance Company (which will be in residence at City Center until March 14), the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the classical American Ballet Theatre.
But because these compaThe Joyce Theater nies spend so much time 175 Eighth Avenue; 212-242-0800; Joyce.org on the road, New Yorkers rarely got the chance to check out the up-and-coming talent until the Joyce started hosting 1.2.3. All three troupes share the opening night; Ailey II returns on April 14, 17, 18, 21, and 22; ABT II takes the stage April 15, 23, and 24; and Taylor 2 comes to bat April 16, 18, 20, 24, and 25. – S.G.
Tom Caravaglia
Year in and year out, these esteemed troupes look to their second companies - Taylor 2, Ailey II, and ABT II - to replenish their ranks. Astute observers could have spotted Michael Trusnovec performing Paul Taylor's choreography in Taylor 2 before he became a favorite with the main company. Of Ailey's 29 current dancers, 22 first took the stage with Ailey II. And ABT principals Michele Wiles and David Hallberg both began their careers in ABT II.
[ The Taylor 2 Dance Company in Paul Taylor’s Images ]
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NEW YORK
Richard Termine
PERFORMING ARTS CULTURAL CENTERS
SIGNATURE DANCES Classics by Antony Tudor, Frederick Ashton and Jose Limon are the centerpiece of New York Theatre Ballet’s Signatures 10: Honoring the Masters, running April 23rd & 24th. Tudor’s Lilac Garden (with Elena Zahlmann, pictured above), a favorite since its 1936 debut, features composer Ernest Chausson’s “Poème.” For tickets, call the Florence Gould Hall Box Office at 212-355-6160 or visit nytb.org.
Please call the box offices for showtimes. All listings subject to change.
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Beacon Theatre – Banana Shpeel from Cirque du Soleil (through 5/30). 2124 Broadway (74th-75th Sts.), 212-465-6225; beacontheatrenyc.com
Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts – National Dance Theatre of Jamaica (3/6-7); Odessa Philarmonic (3/13); Sleeping Beauty (3/14); Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz (3/20); David Broza (3/21); In the Mood (3/28); Dirty Sock Funtime Band (4/11); Chinese Acrobats (4/18); Tap Kids (4/25); The United States Air Force Band of Liberty (5/16). Brooklyn College, Campus Road & Hillel Pl., Brooklyn, 718-951-4500; brooklyncenter.com
Brooklyn Academy of Music – Dance: DanceAfrica 2010 (5/28-31). Music: Baroque Cabaret (3/21 & 24); Purcell Songs and Duets (3/28); Juilliard Events (3/31 & 4/2); Falla and Flamenco (4/17). Opera: The Fairy Queen (3/23, 25-27). 30 Lafayette Ave., 718-636-4100; bam.org
Carnegie Hall – Minnesota Orchestra (3/1); Max Raabe and his Palast Orchester (3/4); Mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton & pianist Kathleen Kelly (3/5); Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus of the Mariinsky Theater - Berlioz’s Les Troyens (3/9-10); Kronos Quartet (3/11-14, 17 & 21); Ensemble ACJW
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ONTHETOWN
(3/11); cellist Andreas Brantelid & pianist Bengt Forsberg (3/12); The New York Pops - Celtic music (3/12); Artemis Quartet (3/15); Pianist Emanuel Ax with soprano Dawn Upshaw (3/17); London Haydn Quartet (3/19); Violinist Anthony Marwood, cellist Steven Isserlis, and pianist Thomas Adès (3/19); baritone Gerald Finley and pianist Julius Drake (3/20); Orchestra of St. Luke’s (3/21); Michael Feinstein (3/22); violinist Monica Huggett and harpsichordist Kenneth Weiss (3/23); Thomas Adès conducts Ensemble ACJW and countertenor Daniel Taylor (3/24); San Francisco Symphony (3/2526); So Percussion (3/25); Bassekou Kouyate with his band Ngoni ba (3/26); Time for Three (3/27); Composer and pianist Thomas Adès (3/27); violinist Julia Fischer (3/31-4/1); soprano Sondra Radvanovsky and baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky with the National Philharmonic (4/1); mezzo-soprano Alice Coote and pianist Julius Drake (4/5); James Levine and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (4/5); James Moody’s 85th Birthday Party (4/7); Louis Andriessen performed by the American Composers Orchestra (4/9); soprano Dorothea Röschmann (4/12); pianist Yefim Bronfman (4/12); Ensemble ACJW (4/13); Charles Dutoit and The Philadelphia Orchestra with pianist Piotr Anderszewski (4/13); Louis Andriessen with tap dancer Maurice Chestnut and vocalist Iva Bittová (4/14); Louis Andriessen’s opera La Commedia performed by the Asko | Schoenberg ensemble (4/15); The New York Pops with special guests Kelli O’Hara, Paulo Szot, and Michael Slattery; The Clurman Singers; and the New York Theatre Ballet (4/16); Andriessen’s Zilver by Reinbert de Leeuw and Asko | Schoenberg (4/16); Making Music: Louis Andriessen with Bang on a Can All-Stars and soprano Dawn Upshaw with The Zankel Band (4/17); pianist Maurizio Pollini performs three all-Chopin solo recitals (4/18, 29 & 5/9); Takács Quartet (4/18); Kuss Quartet (4/19); mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade (4/22); pianist Kit Armstrong (4/23); Ensemble ACJW (4/26); Just Jazz: The Joyce Wein Series - trumpet virtuoso Jon Faddis (4/27); Piotr Anderszewski & the Belcea Quartet (5/12); Venice Baroque Orchestra (5/3); Thomas Quasthoff and Justus Zeyen (5/5); Sones de México (5/7); Leon Fleisher Young Artists Concert (5/8); Maurizio Pollini (5/9); Louis Andriessen’s De Staat performed by Ensemble ACJW and conductor John Adams (5/10); Nicolas Hodges (5/11); Carnegie Hall Family Concert: Polygraph Lounge (5/15); The Met Orchestra (5/16); Yundi Li (5/20); The Cleveland Orchestra (5/21); Ensemble ACJW (5/26). 57th St. & Seventh Ave., 212-247-7800; carnegiehall.org Dance Theater Workshop – koosilja/danceKUMIKO - Blocks of Continuality/Body, Image, and Algorithm (3/3-6); Studio Series Sahar Javedani (3/11-12); Yasuko Yokoshi - Tyler Tyler (3/17-20); Studio Series - Darian Dauchan (3/25-26); Faye Driscoll - There is so much mad in me (3/31-4/3). 219 W. 19th St., 212-924-0077; dancetheaterworkshop.org
Dicapo Opera Theatre – Il Caso Mortara (3/5, 7); Madama Butterfly (4/15, 17, 23, 25). 184 E. 76th St., 212-288-9438; dicapo.com The Joyce Theater – Lar Lubovitch Dance Company (through 3/7); Lyon Opera Ballet (3/9-14); KEIGWIN + COMPANY (3/16-21); DanceBrazil (3/23-4/4); Richmond Ballet (4/611); 1.2.3. Festival: Ailey II (4/14, 17, 18, 21, 22); 1.2.3. Festival: ABT II (4/15, 23-25); 1.2.3. Festival: Taylor 2 (4/16, 28, 20, 24-25); Stephen Petronio Company (4/27-5/2); Alwin Nikolais Centennial (5/4-9); MOMIX (5/11-6/6). 175 Eighth Ave. (19th St.), 212-242-0800; joyce.org Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts – American Songbook: Rebecca Luker: Songs Along the Way (3/2); Gabriel Kahane (3/3); Todd Snider (3/4); Jeanine Tesori (3/5); Chita Rivera (3/5-6). Great Performers: London Philharmonic Orchestra; Vladimir Jurowski, conductor; Thomas Zehetmair, violin (3/1); London Philharmonic Orchestra; Vladimir Jurowski, conductor; Alexander Toradze, piano (3/7); Sunday Morning Coffee Concerts: Leon McCawley, piano (3/14); Garrick Ohlsson, piano - The Chopin Project (3/21); What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow: Gershwin Songs Sally Wilfert, soprano; Michael Winther, tenor (3/22); Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Iván Fischer, conductor: Beethoven Then and Now: The Complete Symphonies (3/25-26); Budapest Festival Orchestra - Iván Fischer, conductor: Beethoven Then and Now: The Complete Symphonies (3/27-28); Ian Bostridge, tenor; Julius Drake, piano (3/31); American Symphony Orchestra (4/9); Thomas Hampson, baritone (4/11); What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow: Schumann’s Fantasy in C major - Shai Wosner, piano (4/12); Sunday Morning Coffee Concerts: Moscow String Quartet (4/18); Sergey Khachatryan, violin; Lusine Khachatryan, piano (4/21); Karen Armstrong on Jerusalem (5/1); Orient—Occident: A Dialogue of Cultures (5/2); Jerusalem: City of Heavenly and Earthly Peace (5/3); What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow: Monteverdi: Madrigals - ARTEK, Gwendolyn Toth, director (5/3); American Symphony Orchestra (5/9); Emerson String Quartet; Jeffrey Kahane, piano (5/9); Emerson String Quartet (5/16); Emerson String Quartet; Paul Neubauer, viola (5/19); Los Angeles Philharmonic (5/20, 22). Lincoln Center 50th Anniversary: Alan Gilbert Conducts the Juilliard Orchestra (4/12); Jazz at Lincoln Center presents The Music of Fats Waller & Fats Waller: A Handful of Keys (4/16-17). Columbus Ave. btw. 62nd & 65th Sts., 212-875-5000; lincolncenter.org
(3/1); The New York New Music Ensemble (3/1); Noé Inui, violinist (3/2); Washington Square Contemporary Music Society (3/3); Moonkyung Lee Violin Recital (3/4); Broadway Playhouse: Leonard Bernstein (3/7); North/South Chamber Orchestra (3/8); Tuesday Matinees: Henry Schneider Scholarship Concert (3/9); The Opera Orchestra of New York (3/10); New Sounds® Live: ETHEL Plays Jacob TV (3/11); The Blakemore Trio with Susan Botti (3/13); New York Philharmonic Ensembles (3/14); Ensemble du Monde: Modern Serenade (3/14); A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration (3/15); New York Festival of Song: The Sweetest Path (3/16): Concert Festival Winners (3/20); Poppy Seed Players: Sunshine (3/21); An die Musik (3/21); Concertante (3/22); Bartók and Crumb: Masterpieces for Two Pianos and Percussion (3/23); Eastman Virtuosi (3/27); Ukrainian Chorus Dumka 60th Anniversary (3/28); Tord Gustavsen Ensemble (3/31); New York Philharmonic Very Young People’s Concerts: Vivaldi & Friends (4/11); 1902 Mustel Harmonium / 187 List Organ (4/12); Tuesday Matinees: Musicians from Ravinia’s Steans Institute (4/13); Takemitsu Project (4/15); New York Philharmonic Very Young People’s Concerts: Vivaldi & Friends (4/19); The New York New Music Ensemble (4/19); Bella Hristova, violinist (4/21); Lark Portraits in 4x5 (4/22); Universal Sacred Music (4/24-25); New York Chamber Brass (4/26); Tuesday Matinees: La Catrina Quartet (5/4); New York Festival of Song: The Newest Deal (5/4, 6); New York Philharmonic Very Young People’s Concerts: Vivaldi & Friends (5/9-10); New York Philharmonic Ensembles (5/16); Concertante (5/17); New Sounds® Live: New Songs (5/20); Alberto Reyes, piano (5/25); SIGNAL (5/27). 129 W. 67th St., 212-501-3303; kaufman-center.org The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Sweet Honey in the Rock (3/5); Antioch Chamber Ensemble (3/6); Irish Guards (3/10); Till Fellner, piano (3/26); Pressler and Capuçon (3/27); Chanticleer in Dendur (4/10); Dianne Reeves (4/15); CONTACT! (4/17); Paul Lewis, piano (4/24); The 5 Browns (5/1); Musicians from Marlboro (5/7); Dan Zanes & Friends (5/8); Alexei Volodin, piano (5/9); Nikolai Lugansky, piano (5/23). Fifth Ave. & 82nd St., 212-570-3949; metmuseum.org
Madison Square Garden – JAY-Z (3/2); Muse (3/5); Alicia Keys (3/17); Michael Bublé (3/20). 4 Pennsylvania Plaza (Seventh Ave. & 32nd St.), 212-465-5800; thegarden.com
Metropolitan Opera Company – Il Barbiere di Siviglia (3/1, 4); La Bohème (3/2, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20); Attila (3/3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 19, 22, 27); The Nose (3/5, 11, 13, 18, 23, 25); Hamlet (3/16, 20, 24, 27, 30, 4/2, 5, 9); Aida (3/26, 31, 4/3); La Traviata (3/29, 4/3, 7, 10, 13, 17, 21, 24); Die Zauberflöte (4/1, 6, 8, 10, 15); Armida (4/12, 16, 19, 22, 27, 5/1, 4, 7, 11, 15); Tosca (4/14, 17, 20, 24, 29, 5/5, 8, 13); Der Fliegende Holländer (4/23, 16, 30, 5/3, 6, 10, 14); Carmen (4/28, 5/1); Lulu (5/8, 12, 15). 212-362-6000; metoperafamily.org
Merkin Concert Hall – New York Philharmonic Very Young People’s Concerts: Vivaldi & Friends
Miller Theater at Columbia University – Sebastian Currier (3/5); J.S. Bach - Sonatas and
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LINCOLN CENTER: THE MAN IN CHARGE
Peter Bussian
“My interest in art extends all the way back to one of my first jobs when I ran the 92nd Street Y, which had a very large performing arts program at the time, ” says Reynold Levy, Lincoln Center’s president since 2002. The soft-spoken manager of all things performing arts – although a supporter and aficionado of the arts from very early in his life – said [ Reynold Levy ] his career has not always been in the arts. “I came to Lincoln Center from the International Rescue Committee, where I was president of one of the largest refugee-assistance organizations in the world. After about 6 ½ years and 600,000 miles of travel though conflicts in West Africa, Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda, and a major civil war in the Eastern Congo - I was ready to do something different.” “Something different” he certainly found, and one of the first projects that he laid eyes on after taking the mantle of president has finally come to fruition. It’s now known as the David Rubenstein Atrium and it sits across the street from Lincoln Center proper on Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets. “When I got to Lincoln Center it was called the Harmony Atrium and it was a dark, foreboding space that almost nobody used. It was, in essence, an inert and wasted space in the shadow of the largest performing arts center in the world.” That needed to change, so Levy lobbied the board to include the atrium in their re-development plans and succeeded. The architectural firm of Tod Williams & Billie Tsien set forth to develop a modern, utilitarian, green space which would fulfill a number of objectives. From the dark emerged a glittering civic center complete with free Wi-Fi, a ‘wichcraft café, free weekly performances sponsored by Target, and a ticketing portal for full-price and discount tickets, which officially opened its doors to the public on Dec. 31st, 2009. So what exactly does the president of Lincoln Center do besides help to raise millions of dollars for beautification and construction? “Well…” Levy begins, “…In addition to managing the smooth execution of hundreds of events and performances within our role as the world’s largest arts presenter, we are also in charge of Lincoln Center’s 16-acre campus. So I also oversee very mundane but extremely important functions like security and one of Manhattan’s largest underground parking garages.” When asked what his greatest achievement was in this role, Levy says, “For the last two years Lincoln Center has been undergoing a multi-million dollar physical transformation, and to get these 12 world-class intuitions – including the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the City Ballet, among others – to agree on a plan for our physical transformation has been a huge undertaking. Of course it’s not really my accomplishment; it has taken a vast collective of very talented people to come up with, and enact this plan.” And according to Levy, construction is finally nearing completion, with a projected end date in mid-2011 and 90% to be completed by the end of this year. – Kristopher Carpenter
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Partitas for Solo Violin (3/22-24); William Schuman Award Concert honoring Pauline Oliveros (3/27); Helmut Lachenmann: 75th Birthday Celebration (4/1); J.S. Bach - Keyboard Partitas (4/12-14); J.S. Bach Cello Suites (4/19-21). 2960 Broadway (116th St.), 212-854-1633; millertheatre.com The Morgan Library’s Gilder Lehrman Hall – The Orchestra of St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble: Magical History Tour (3/3, 5); Ying Quartet (3/9); Dancing with Darcy (3/12); The George London Foundation Awards Competition Finals (3/19); Boston Early Music Festival: Great Parisian Masters Under Louis XV: Music of Leclair, Barrière, and Royer (3/23); Young Concert Artists Piano Series: Chu-Fang Huang (4/7); Double Take: Transfigured Night (4/13); The Orchestra of St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble: Love Notes (4/21, 23); Stravinsky’s RussianAmerican Odyssey (5/1); Double Take: Brahms Sonatas (5/18). 225 Madison Ave. (36th St.), 212-685-0008; themorgan.org NY City Center – Paul Taylor Dance Company (through 3/14); Corella Ballet Castilla y León (3/17-20); International Ballet Gala - Legends in Dance (3/27); The Great Russian Circus on Ice (4/16-18); Lewis Black, In God We Rust (4/22-24); Sondheim Birthday Celebration - New York City Center Gala (4/26). 130 W. 56th St., 877-581-1212; nycitycenter.org New York City Opera – L’Etoile (3/18-4/1); Madama Butterfly (3/194/18); Partenope (4/3-17). David H. Koch Theater, Columbus Ave. & 63rd St., 212-870-5570; nycopera.com New York Philharmonic – Very Young People’s Concerts: The Four Seasons: Winter (2/28-3/1); Rush Hour Concert: Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony & Sinfonia concertante (3/3); András Schiff Plays Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1 (3/4-5, 8); Young People’s Concert (3/6); Solo Piano Recital: András Schiff Plays Mendelssohn & Schumann (3/6); Repin, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto & Franck’s Symphony in D Minor (3/10-11, 13); SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert (3/15-16); Pinchas Zukerman & Brahms (3/18-20); All Mozart Program with Jeffrey Kahane (3/25-27); Young People’s Concert (3/27); Insights Series: A Guide to German Romanticism (4/5); Rush Hour Concert: Mozart’s Paris & Brahms’s Fourth symphonies (4/7); Joshua Bell and Mozart’s Paris & Brahms’s Fourth symphonies (4/8-10); Very Young People’s Concerts: The Four Seasons: Spring (4/11, 19); Solo Recital with Thomas Hampson (4/11); Riccardo Muti Conducts Mozart & Schubert (4/1417); CONTACT!, The New Music Series (4/16-17); The Russian Stravinsky I: Gergiev, Symphonies of Wind Instruments, Firebird (4/2122); The Russian Stravinsky II: Gergiev, Symphony of Psalms & Firebird (4/23-24); The Russian Stravinsky III: Gergiev, Violin Concerto & Oedipus Rex (4/28-29); The Russian Stravinsky IV: Gergiev, Orpheus & Oedipus Rex (4/30-5/1); The Russian Stravinsky: Renard & The Soldier’s Tale (5/2); The Russian Stravinsky V: Gergiev & Petrushka (5/5-6); The Russian Stravinsky VI: Gergiev & The Rite of Spring (5/7-8); Very Young People’s Concerts: The Four Seasons: Summer (5/9-10); Masur Conducts Beethoven and Bruckner (5/12-15); Gilbert Conducts Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre (5/27-29); Free Memorial Day Concert (5/31). Avery Fisher Hall, Broadway & W. 65th St., 212-875-5656; nyphil.org New York Theatre Ballet – Once Upon A Ballet (ballets geared toward children ages 3-12): Cinderella (3/13-14); Carnival of the Animals & The Firebird (4/24-25); Sleeping Beauty (5/15-16). Signatures (4/23-24). Dance on a Shoestring (all seats $15) (4/9-10, 5/7-8). Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St., 212-679-0401; nytb.org 92nd Street Y – Music: Words and Music: Péter Esterházy and András Schiff (3/1); Leon Fleisher & Friends (3/2-3); Jazz with Anat Cohen (3/7); Tokyo String Quartet & Shai Wosner, piano (3/13); Lyrics & Lyricists—Fred and Ginger in So Many Words: The Astaire-Rogers Songbook (3/20-22); Zukerman ChamberPlayers (3/28); David Russell, guitar (4/10); Dave Brubeck Quartet (4/14); Jonathan Biss, piano (4/17); Peter Serkin, piano & Orion String Quartet (4/18); Hagen Quartet (4/29); Billy Taylor Trio (5/1); Lyrics & Lyricists—Poisoning Pigeons in the Park: The Art of the Satiric Comedy Song (5/8-10); Family Music, Ages 6+: Songs and Spectacles: The Life and Music of Schubert (5/23);
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Radio City Music Hall – Igor Krutoi & Dmitri Hvorostovsky (3/6); Riverdance: 15th Anniversary Farewell Tour (3/17-21); Spoon (3/26); Nickelodeon's Storytime Live! (3/31-4/4); Gipsy Kings (4/27); Rodrigo y Gabriela (4/29); Chelsea Handler (5/15-16). 1260 Sixth Ave. (50th St.), 212-307-7171; radiocity.com Regina Opera Company – Don Pasquale (3/6-7, 13-14). 12th Ave. & 65th St., Brooklyn, 718-232-3555; reginaopera.org St. Bartholomew’s Church – Apple Hill String Quartet (3/7); Tallis Scholars (3/26). Park Ave. & 51st St., 212-378-0248; stbarts.org Symphony Space – Music: Milk and Jade by Dana Leong (3/5); Taikoza: Live! (3/7); Seeing Jazz With George Wein: Randy Weston (3/11); Celtic Celebration: Altan (3/11); Simply Schumann (3/12); Paquito D'Rivera: Reflections of a Man Facing South (3/12); Oscar Wilde: De Profundis: The Exiles of Oscar Wilde (3/18); Siegfried, Wagner (3/21); "Songs for Ophelia" with Natalie Dessay (3/22); Screen & Scores (3/25); Jazz Band Classic: Setting Standards (3/26-27); The Sippy Cups (3/27); El Espiritu Jibaro: Yomo Toro & Roswell Rudd (3/27); NYCC Celebrates John Eaton and No Borders Quartet (3/30); Samohi Symphony Orchestra plays Tchaikovsky 4 (4/3); Symphony Space Gala (4/5); Cutting Edge Concerts New Music Festival 2010 (4/5, 12, 19, 26); Seeing Jazz With George Wein: Stefon Harris, Vibes (4/8); New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (4/8); Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players (4/10); CONTACT!, The New Music Series (4/16); The Gustafer Yellowgold Show (4/17); The 3rd Annual Concert: Korea 21: Music Here (4/17); Fado of Portugal: Ana Moura (4/18); Chamber Music: An Evening Among Friends (4/21-22); Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Anne-Marie McDermott (4/22); Guitar Plus: Crazy Jane (4/23); mr. RAY Show (4/24); Classics Declassified:
Beethoven Symphony No. 4 (4/25); Classics Declassified: Beethoven Symphony No. 5 (4/27); The Christian McBride Quintet Plays Ellington (4/28); Guitar Plus: David Leisner, guitar, and Yolanda Kondonassis, harp (4/29); Masters of Indian Music: Shujaat Husain Khan (5/1); Composition Date: 2010 (5/5); The Colorado Quartet (5/7); NY Lyric Opera Theatre's "AIR Concert" (5/8); NY Lyric Opera Theatre Presents Carmen (5/8); Ancient Strings of India: Joydeep Ghosh (5/14); Wall to Wall Behind the Wall (5/15); Christine Ebersole and Billy Stritch (5/17); InterSchool Orchestras of New York Spring Concert (5/19-20); Cimarron: Music and Dance of Colombia (5/21). Dance: VintAge(3/1); Gibney Dance and David Parker & the Bang Group (3/5-6); Misnomer Dance Theater (4/2-3, 9-10); Roxane Butterfly (4/16-17); Ballet: Uptown Downtown / Today and Tomorrow (5/6-8); Fancy Nancy (5/8); Cimarron: Music and Dance of Colombia (5/21); Tap City Youth Concert 2010 (5/22). 2537 Broadway (95th St.), 212-864-5400; symphonyspace.org The Theater at Madison Square Garden – Norah Jones (3/27); The 101 Dalmatians Musical (4/7-18); 98.7 KISS FM Presents Teena Marie / The Whispers (5/9); Ricky Gervais (5/12-13); Journey to Experience (5/29). 4 Pennsylvania Plaza (Seventh Ave. & 32nd St.), 212-465-5800; thegarden.com The Town Hall – Jamie Cullum (3/4); Judy Collins in Concert (3/5); The Magnetic Fields (3/10-12); RITA (3/13); Leon Fleischer with Katerine Jacobson Fleischer (3/14); The Chieftains (3/17); Joanna Newsome (3/18); Richard Nader’s Doo Wop Party (3/19); Broadway Musicals of 1948 (3/22); Angélique Kidjo (3/26); Gabriel Iglesias (3/27); Lizz Wright & Richard Bona (4/9); American String Quartet with Manehem Pressler, piano (4/11); Joe Bonamassa (4/15); Augustin Hadelich (4/18); Brian Stokes Mitchell in Concert (4/17); A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor (4/24, 5/1, 8); Ingrid Fliter, piano (5/5); Broadway Musicals of 1946 (5/10); Greek Music Journey: Melina Aslanidou & Vagelis Douvalis Tribute the Rembetika & Popular Folk Songs of Gr. Bithikotsis & V. Moscholiou (5/14); Josh Ritter (5/20); Pat Metheny - The Orchestrion Tour (5/21-22). 123 W. 43rd St. (Broadway-Sixth Ave.), 212-997-1003; the-townhall-nyc.org Webster Hall – Chase Coy (3/3); Balkan Beat Box (3/13); God Loves a Challenge (3/16); Mike Snow (3/27); The Big Pink (3/30); the xx (3/31); Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (4/8); Blue October (4/10); Jovanotti (4/24); Yeasayer (5/4); Shout Out Louds (5/5); Beach House (5/6). 125 E. 11th St., 800-745-3000; websterhall.com
EMPIRE STATE OF MIND
Marc Baptiste
Songs of Passion and Nostalgia: Hidden Treasures from Russia, Spain and Latin America (5/23). Dance: 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Festival Anniversary Season: Past-Future-Now (through 3/28); Fridays at Noon: Fridays Retro (4/2); Fridays at Noon: Doug Elkins Presents (4/16); Fridays at Noon: Keely Garfield Presents (4/30); Fridays at Noon: Legacy Performance: Diversity & The Y (5/14); Fridays at Noon: Anniversary Special: Marathon 75 (5/28); Sundays at Three: High on Dance: The Next Generation (4/11); Sundays at Three: High on Dance: Jean Erdman Dance: Chronology and Mythology (5/23. Lexington Ave. & 92nd St., 212-415-5500; 92y.org
With twelve Grammys under her belt and over 40 million albums and singles sold, R&B superstar Alicia Keys will be bringing her Freedom Tour to Madison Square Garden on March 17th. Released in December and debuting at number two on the Billboard 200, her fourth studio album, The Element of Freedom, has spawned two hit singles— “Doesn’t Mean Anything” and “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart”—and was certified platinum one month after its release. Keys last appeared live in New York City in December, when she performed a benefit concert at the Nokia Theater, with all proceeds going to the Keep a Child Alive program. Robin Thicke and Melanie Fiona are scheduled to be the opening acts. For tickets, call 866-858-0008 or visit thegarden.com.
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Henri Cartier-Bresson Capturing the 20th Century and defining photojournalism
© Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos
By Karin Lipson
[ Shanghai, China. 1948 ]
s there a more evocative phrase in all of photography than “the decisive moment?” For most of us, the three words connote that fleeting instant—quick, get it before it’s gone!—when the camera captures the essence of a changing scene. The term is indelibly associated with the French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004), whose images in Life and other magazines helped define photojournalism and broadened the creative possibilities of the medium. His American publisher even chose “The Decisive Moment” as the title for the English-language version of a 1952 book of his work (it had a different title in the original French). So it may initially come as a surprise that Peter Galassi, the curator of “Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century,” which runs from
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April 11 to June 21 at the Museum of Modern Art, doesn’t much care for the term. For one thing, it tends to suggest that speed is all. Yet the CartierBresson show will, in part, “try to explain to observers that it isn’t just that he was quick,” said Galassi, the chief curator of MoMA’s department of photography. Equally important was that he could wade into scenes of political and social upheaval (the 1948 assassination of Gandhi and its aftermath, the Communist revolution in China) and emerge with photos of remarkable artistic and historical clarity. “It wasn’t like it would have been obvious to anybody who had been there that this was the key moment, and he was just quick enough to get it. That is sort of the popular misconception,” Galassi said. “It’s paying attention, and in fact, it’s understanding what’s happening. That’s part of why he’s such a great photographer.”
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© Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos
SPRING AT THE MUSEUMS
[ Hyères, France. 1932 ]
The first major retrospective in this country of his work in more than three decades, “The Modern Century” brings together nearly 300 prints (some never-before seen in public) to examine the multiple facets of Cartier-Bresson’s particular genius. The photographs from the early 1930s constitute “a self-contained body of work,” the curator said, heavily influenced by the Surrealist art and literary movement of the day. In one 1932 image, for example, a spiral staircase curls down onto a cobblestone street, where a bicyclist speeds past; the effect is somehow mysterious, and slightly dizzying. Advised by fellow-photographer Robert Capa to move beyond Surrealism, Cartier-Bresson became for decades a continent-hopping photojournalist (and a charter member, with Capa and others, of Magnum, the cooperative photo agency). Among his most celebrated postwar images are two that both capture and transcend their historical moment: In one, a woman in a 1945 German displaced-persons camp strikes another who had been a Gestapo in-
formant; in the second, a desperate crowd gathers in 1948 Shanghai, trying to exchange soon-to-be worthless paper money for gold before the final Communist takeover. The exhibition continues to 1989, and includes pictures taken in the United States and Mexico. No other photographer covered so many changes of the 20th Century, Galassi said: “For the combination of global scope and historical reach, from the preThe Museum of Modern Art industrial past to the modern present, Henri Cartier-Bres11 West 53rd Street; 212-708-9400; moma.org (Closed Tuesdays) son’s work is unique.” ■ Karin Lipson, a former arts writer and editor for Newsday, is a frequent contributor to The New York Times. Her last article in Promenade was on the American Stories exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
V&A Images/Victoria and Albert Museum, London
A
oh,
those wackyVictorians By Karin Lipson
[Top left: Kate Edith Gough (English, 1856–1948) Untitled page from the Gough Album, late 1870s; top right: Victoria Alexandrina Anderson-Pelham, Countess of Yarborough (English, 1840–?), and Eva Macdonald (English, 1846/50–?) “Mixed Pickles” (detail), from the Westmorland Album, 1864/70; Above: Mary Georgiana Caroline, Lady Filmer (English, 1838–1903) Untitled loose page from the Filmer Album, mid-1860s]
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Paul F. Walter
Photocollages from the Upper Crust
nd now for something completely different… Yes, that segue line is ripped from “Monty Python.” But the British comedy sketch series—with its whimsical, trademark cutout animations—is more than likely to pop into mind when we encounter the oddly beguiling subject of “Playing with Pictures: The Art of Victorian Photocollage,” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art through May 9. As the exhibition points out, such other diverse reality-changers as Alice’s journey in Wonderland and the surrealist collages of early 20th-Century avant-garde artists also seem related in spirit to the cut-and-paste Victorian handiwork in this show—a combination of photographs (usually snipped from visiting cards of the day) and watercolor drawings, organized into often bizarre and fantastical images. The creators of these photocollages, which could be slyly subversive, were women from the uppermost reaches of British society. Trained as amateur artists, they constructed tableaux in which human heads might be pasted on animal bodies (the theory of evolution, after all, was in the air at the time, though these works weren’t necessarily pro-Darwin); children might sit atop giant mushrooms (think: Lewis Carroll’s “Alice”), and people might be juxtaposed in different sizes—a clue to their relative importance to the artist. Originating at the Art Institute of Chicago, “Playing with Pictures,” is the first major exhibition to explore this little-known work, which was usually found in personal albums. Using some 50 photocollages from 15 albums of the 1860s and 1870s, the show also features “virtual albums” on computer monitors, allowing visitors to see the full contents of albums that are open to a single page. Even the most imaginative of these artists couldn’t have envisioned that play on reality. Or could they? ■ The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue; 212-535-7710; metmuseum.org (Closed Mondays)
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All Photos: © Charles Addams. Permission of Tee and Charles Addams Foundation
SPRING AT THE MUSEUMS
creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky Charles Addams’s altogether ooky New York By Colin Carlson ith the highly anticipated new The Addams Family musical starring Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth opening on Broadway in April, what better time to become better acquainted with the works of their creator, Charles Addams? But the New York cartoonist—active from 1932 until his death in 1988—was responsible for much more than just breathing life into Gomez, Morticia et al., as evidenced by the Museum of the City of New York’s Charles Addams’s New York, on view March 4th through May 16th. (In fact, the strange brood accounts for but a small portion of his prolific output; of the 3,000 pictures he made in his lifetime, only about 250 depict the ghoulish household.) The exhibition features over 80 drawings,
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cartoons, watercolors, and pencil sketches made for The New Yorker and other publications, including many offbeat depictions of a New York City populated with monsters and creepy creatures interacting with its often bewildered inhabitants. Addams’s Gotham was a city where the Statue of Liberty’s torch could share floodwaters with Noah’s ark; a giant hand could beckon pedestrians from a subway entrance; and unruly greenery could overwhelm the steel-and-concrete skyline. Altogether ooky, indeed! ■ Museum of the City of New York 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street; 212-534-1672; mcny.org (Closed Mondays)
Clockwise from top left: [ Do Not Feed the Squirrels; "Have you ever noticed how some people resemble their pets?"; River Prints; Untitled ]
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MUSEUMS Fashion, Looking Backward
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Courtesy Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Paul Pennoyer, 1965.
The first Costume Institute exhibition drawn exclusively from the newly established Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity (on view May 5th through August 15th), looks back on the evolution of women’s styles from 1890 to 1940, including the looks established by “Gibson Girls,” “Bohemians,” and “Screen Sirens.” Pictured here is a Jean-Philippe Worth (French, 1856–1926) ball gown from 1898, made with silk satin, sequins, rhinestones, and beads.
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All exhibits are subject to change American Folk Art Museum – Thomas Chambers (1808-1869): American Marine and Landscape Painter (through 3/7); Approaching Abstraction (through 9/6);Up Close: Henry Darger and the Coloring Book (through 9/13). Closed Mon. $9; students/seniors, $7; 12 & under, free. 45 W. 53rd St., 212-265-1040; folkartmuseum.org American Museum of Natural History – The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter (through 5/31); On Feathered Wings: Birds in Flight (through 7/1); Traveling the Silk Road: Ancient Pathway to the Modern World (through 8/15); Highway of An Empire: The Great Inca Road (through 9/30). Open daily. $16; seniors/students, $12; children 2-12, $9. Central Park West at 79th St., 212-769-5100; amnh.org Asia Society and Museum – Arts of Ancient Viet Nam: From River Plain to Open Sea (through 5/2); Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art (3/16-6/20). Closed Mon. $10; seniors, $7; students, $5. 725 Park Ave. (70th St.), 212-288-6400; asiasociety.org Bronx Museum of the Arts – Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956–1968 (3/28-8/11); After 1968: Contemporary Artists and the Civil Rights Legacy (3/28-8/11). Closed Mon.-Wed. $5; students/seniors, $3; 12 & under, free; free on Fri. 1040 Grand Concourse (165th St.), 718-681-6000; bronxmuseum.org Brooklyn Museum – From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith (through 3/14); To Live Forever: Art and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt (through 5/2); Kiki Smith: Sojourn (through 9/12); Healing the Wounds of War: The Brooklyn Sanitary Fair of 1864 (through 10/17); Body Parts: Ancient Egyptian Fragments and Amulets (through 10/2/11). Closed Mon. & Tues. $10; seniors/students, $6; under 12, free. 200 Eastern Parkway (Washington Ave.), 718-638-5000; brooklynmuseum.org Center for Architecture – Closed Sun. 536 LaGuardia Pl. (Bleecker-W. 3rd Sts.), 212-683-0023; aiany.org Chelsea Art Museum – “Lighter Then Fiction” by Jenny Marketou (3/4-4/3); Irish Need Not Apply: featuring the work of Irish art collective Grúpat (4/15-5/15). Closed Sun. & Mon. $8; students/seniors, $4; under 16, free. 556 W. 22nd St., 212-255-0719; chelseaartmuseum.org China Institute – Confucius: His Life and Legacy in Art (through 6/13). Open daily. $7; students/seniors, $4; under 12, free. 125 E. 65th St., 212-744-8181; chinainstitute.org
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum – Quicktake: Rodarte (through 3/14); Design USA: Contemporary Innovation (through 4/4); Quicktake: Tata Nano (through 4/25); National Design Triennial: Why Design Now? (5/14-1/9). Open daily. $15; seniors/students, $10; under 12, free. 2 E. 91st St., 212-849-8400; cooperhewitt.org The Drawing Center – Selections Spring 2010: Sea Marks (through 4/5); Iannis Xenakis: Composer, Architect, Visionary (through 4/8); Leon Golub - Live + Die Like a Lion? (4/237/23). Closed Mon. & Tues. 35 Wooster St. (Grand-Broome Sts.), 212-219-2166; drawingcenter.org El Museo del Barrio – Phantom Sightings: Art After the Chicano Movement (3/24-5/23). Closed Sun. & Mon. $6; seniors/students, $4; under 12, free. 1230 Fifth Ave. (104th St.), 212-831-7272; elmuseo.org Fraunces Tavern Museum – The 1215 Magna Carta (through 4/1). Closed Sun. $4; seniors/ children, $3; under 6, free. 54 Pearl St. (Broad St.), 212-425-1778; frauncestavernmuseum.org The Frick Collection – Masterpieces of European Painting from Dulwich Picture Gallery (3/9-5/30). Closed Mon. $18; seniors, $12; students, $5; pay-what-you-wish Sun., 11am-1pm. 1 E. 70th St., 212-288-0700; frick.org Grey Art Gallery at NYU – Downtown Pix: Mining the Fales Archives, 1961-1991 (through 4/3); Lil Picard and Counterculture New York (4/27-7/10). Closed Sun. & Mon. $3. 100 Washington Square East, 212-998-6780; nyu.edu/greyart The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum – Tino Sehgal (through 3/10); Anish Kapoor: Memory (through 3/28); Contemplating the Void: Interventions in the Guggenheim Museum Rotunda (through 4/28); Paris and the Avant-Garde: Modern Masters from the Guggenheim Collection (through 5/12); Hilla Rebay: Art Educator (through 8/22); Haunted: Contemporary Photography/Video/Performance (3/26-9/6). Closed Thurs. $18; seniors/students, $15; under 12, free. 1071 Fifth Ave. (89th St.), 212-423-3500; guggenheim.org Hispanic Society of America – Arts and cultures of Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. Closed Mon. Free. Audubon Terrace (Broadway btw. 155th & 156th Sts.), 212-926-2234; hispanicsociety.org International Center of Photography – Twilight Visions: Surrealism, Photography, and Paris (through 5/9); Miroslav Tichý (through 5/9); Alan B. Stone and the Senses of Place (through 5/9); Atget, Archivist of Paris (through
5/9). Closed Mon. $12; students/seniors, $8; under 12, free. 1133 Sixth Ave. (43rd St.), 212-857-0000; icp.org Japan Society – Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters: Japanese prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi from the Arthur R. Miller Collection (3/12-6/13). Closed Mon. $10; students/seniors, $8; under 16, free. 333 E. 47th St., 212-832-1155; japansociety.org The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Imperial Privilege: Vienna Porcelain of Du Paquier, 171844 (through 3/21); Peaceful Conquerors: Jain Manuscript Painting (through 3/28); The Drawings of Bronzino (through 4/18); Pablo Bronstein at the Met (through 4/18); Raphael to Renoir: Drawings from the Collection of Jean Bonna (through 4/26); Playing With Pictures: The Art of Victorian Photocollage (through 5/9); The Mourners: Medieval Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy (3/2-5/23); 5,000 Years of Japanese Art: Treasures from the Packard Collection (through 6/6); Contemporary Aboriginal Painting from Australia (through 6/13); The Art of Illumination: The Limbourg Brothers and the Belles Heures of Jean de France, Duc de Berry (3/26/13); Mastering the Art of Chinese Painting: Xie Zhuliu (1910-1997) (through 7/25); Picasso in The Metropolitan Museum of Art (4/27-8/1); Celebration: The Birthday in Chinese Art (through 8/15); American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity (5/5-8/15); An Italian Journey: Drawings from the Tobey Collection, Correggio to Tiepolo (5/12-8/15); Sounding the Pacific: Musical Instruments of Oceania (through 9/6); Epic India: Scenes from the Ramayana (3/31-9/19); Vienna Circa 1780: An Imperial Silver Service Rediscovered (4/13-11/7). Closed Mon. $20; seniors, $15; students, $10; under 12, free. Fifth Ave. & 82nd St., 212-535-7710; metmuseum.org The Morgan Library & Museum – A Woman’s Wit: Jane Austen’s Life and Legacy (through 3/14); Demons and Devotion: The Hours of Catherine of Cleves (through 5/2); Flemish Illumination in the Era of Catherine of Cleves (through 5/2); Two Drawings by Andrew Wyeth (through 5/2); Rome After Raphael (through 5/9); Palladio and His Legacy: A Transatlantic Journey (4/2-8/1); Albrecht Dürer: “What Beauty Is” (5/18-9/12); Romantic Gardens: Nature, Art, and Landscape Design (5/21-9/5). Closed Mon. $12; seniors/students/children 13-15, $8; 12 and under, free. 225 Madison Ave. (36th St.), 212-685-0008; themorgan.org Museum of American Finance – Women of Wall Street (through 3/31). Closed Sun. & Mon. 48 Wall St. (William St.), 212-908-4110; moaf.org Museum of Arts & Design – Slash: Paper Under the Knife (through 4/4); Bigger, Better, More: The Art of Viola Frey (through 5/2); California Dreamers: Ceramic Artists from the MAD
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FUTURE STOCK
Collection (through 5/30); Intertwined: Contemporary Baskets from the Sara and David Lieberman Collection (3/16-9/12); Dead or Alive (4/27-10/24). Closed Mon. $15; students/seniors, $12; under 12, free; Thurs., 6–9pm, pay-what-you-wish. 2 Columbus Cir. (near Eighth Ave. & W. 58th St.), 212-956-3535; madmuseum.org The Museum of Biblical Art – Uneasy Communion: Jews, Christians, and the Altarpieces of Medieval Spain (through 5/30). Closed Mon. $7; seniors/students, $4; under 12, free. 1865 Broadway (61st St.), 212-408-1500; mobia.org Museum of the City of New York – Legacy: The Preservation of Wilderness in New York (through 3/21); Only in New York: Photographs from Look Magazine (through 4/10); Charles Addams’s New York (3/4-5/16); Cars, Culture and the City (3/17-8/1). Closed Mon. $10; seniors/students, $6; under 12, free. Fifth Ave. & 103rd St., 212-534-1672; mcny.org Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art – Closed Mon. $5; 12 & under, free. 594 Broadway (Prince-Houston Sts.), Ste. 401, 212-254-3511; moccany.org Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust – The Morgenthaus: A Legacy of Service (through 12/30). Closed Sat. $12 (free Wed. 4-8pm); seniors, $10; students, $7; 12 & under, free. 36 Battery Pl., 646-437-4200; mjhnyc.org Museum of Modern Art – Monet’s Water Lilies (through 4/12); Tim Burton (through 4/26); Ernesto Neto: Navedenga (through 4/26); William Kentridge: Five Themes (through 5/17); Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present (3/145/31); Shape Lab (through 6/14); Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century (4/11-6/28); The New Typography (through 7/12); Shaping Modernity: Design 1880-1980 (through 7/31); Rising Currents: Projects for New York’s Waterfront (3/24-8/9); Picasso: Themes and Variations (3/28-9/6); Pictures by Women: A History of Modern Photography (through 1/31). Closed Tues. $20; seniors, $16; students, $12; 16 & under, free. 11 W. 53rd St., 212-708-9400; moma.org
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Museum of the Moving Image – Pays homage to the art, history, and technology of film and television, educating the public on its influence in
Running May 14th through January 9th, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum’s fourth National Design Triennial, Why Design Now?, offers a fascinating look at some of today’s most innovative designs. The works discussed and on display explore how contemporary designers addressed human and environmental problems across many fields of the design practice—from architecture and products to fashion, graphics, new media, and landscapes. Pictured here is the MIT CityCar prototype, an electric automobile designed for enclosed personal mobility— with weather protection, climate control and comfort, secure storage, and crash protection—in the cleanest and most economical way possible. Weighing less than a thousand pounds, it has no central engine and is powered by four in-wheel electric motors.
our culture and society. Tues.-Sat., 10am-3pm. $7. 35th Ave. & 36th St., Astoria, Queens, 718-784-0077; movingimage.us Museum of Sex – Sex Life of Robots (ongoing); Action: Sex and the Moving Image (ongoing); Rubbers: The Life, History & Struggle of the Condom (ongoing). Open daily. $14.50; students/seniors, $13.50. 233 Fifth Ave. (27th St.), 212-689-6337; museumofsex.com National Academy of Design Museum and School of Fine Arts – 185th Annual Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary American Art (through 6/8). Closed Mon. & Tues. $10; seniors/students, $5. 1083 Fifth Ave. (89th St.), 212-369-4880; nationalacademy.org National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution – Beauty Surrounds Us (through 3/31); Ramp It Up: Skateboard Culture in Native America (through 6/27); HIDE: Skin as Material and Metaphor (Part I) (3/6-8/1); A Song for the Horse Nation (through 7/7/11). Open daily. Free. U.S. Custom House, 1 Bowling Green (Broadway), 212-514-3700; americanindian.si.edu Neue Galerie – Otto Dix (3/11-8/30). Closed Tues. & Wed. $15; students/seniors, $10. 1048 Fifth Ave. (86th St.), 212-628-6200; neuegalerie.org New Museum of Contemporary Art – The Imaginary Museum (3/3-6/6); Museum as Hub: In and Out of Context (through 6/30); Ugo Rondinone: Hell Yes! (through 7/19). Closed Mon. & Tues. $12; seniors, $10; students, $8; 18 & under, free. 235 Bowery (Prince St.), 212-219-1222; newmuseum.org New York City Fire Museum – One of the nation’s most important collections of fire-related art and artifacts from the late 18th century to the present. Closed Mon. $5; seniors/students, $2; under 12, $1. 278 Spring St. (Varick-Hudson Sts.), 212-691-1303; nycfiremuseum.org New York City Police Museum – The Life & Legacy of Lieutenant Petrosino (through 3/31). Closed Sun. $7; seniors/students, $5; under 6, free. 100 Old Slip (Water-South Sts.), 212-480-3100; nycpolicemuseum.org
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Collection of the artist; courtesy greengrassi, London and 1301PE, Los Angeles. Photograph by Fredrik Nilsen
TODAY...AND YESTERDAY
The New-York Historical Society – Fohn Brown: The Abolitionist and His Legacy (through 3/25); New York Painting Begins: Eighteenth-Century Portraits (through 3/25); Nature and the American Vision: The Hudson River School at the New-York Historical Society (2009) (through 3/25); Lincoln and New York (through 3/25); Grateful Dead: Now Playing at the New-York Historical Society (3/5-7/4). Closed Mon. $10 (free Fri. 6-8pm); seniors, $7; students, $6; under 12, free. 170 Central Park West (77th St.), 212-873-3400; nyhistory.org New York Public Library (Humanities and Social Sciences Library) – Call 212-869-8089 for a recorded announcement of all current exhibitions. Open daily. 42nd St. & Fifth Ave., 212-340-0830; nypl.org New York Public Library for the Performing Arts – Revolutionary Voices: Performing Arts in Central & Eastern Europe in the 1980s (through 3/20); The Jazz Loft Project (through 5/22). 40 Lincoln Center Plaza (Columbus Ave. btw. 63rd & 64th Sts.), 212-870-1630; nypl.org/research/lpa/lpa.html New York Transit Museum – Last Day of the Myrtle Avenue El: Photographs by Theresa King (through 7/31); The Triborough Bridge: Robert Moses and the Automobile Age (through 2010). Closed Mon. $5; seniors/children 3-17, $3. The New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex in Grand Central Terminal presents changing exhibitions. Boerum Pl. & Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn, 718-694-1600; mta.info/museum The Noguchi Museum – Noguchi ReINstalled (through 10/24). Closed Mon. & Tues. $10 (pay-what-you-wish first Fri. of the month); students/seniors, $5; under 12, free. A shuttle operates Sat.-Sun. from the Asia Society (70th St. & Park Ave.). 9-01 33rd Rd. (Vernon Blvd.), Long Island City, Queens, 718-204-7088; noguchi.org The Paley Center for Media – A center for the cultural, creative, and social significance of television and radio. Closed Mon. & Tues. $10; seniors/ students, $8; under 14, $5. 25 W. 52nd St., 212-621-6600; paleycenter.org The Queens Museum of Art – Duke Riley: Those About to Die Salute You (through 3/13); Daniel Bozhkov: Republik of Perpetual Reconstitution and Rebuild (through 3/13); O Zhang: Cutting the Blaze to New Frontiers
Every other year since 1932—two years after the museum first opened—the Whitney Museum has hosted their Biennial, a survey of the latest in American art and an unparalleled opportunity to gauge the present and future courses of the art world. The 2010 edition features fifty-five artists working in the fields of film, video and photography, painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, performance, and architecture. (Pictured here is Pae White’s Smoke Knows (2009).) The Biennial is on view through May 30th. Serving as a complement to the Biennial, the Museum’s fifth floor is devoted to Collecting Biennials (on view now through Nov. 28th) which features artists in the Whitney’s collection whose works were shown in Biennials over the past eight decades, including Philip Guston, Edward Hopper, George Tooker, and many others.
(through 3/13). Closed Mon. & Tues. $5; seniors/children, $2.50; under 5, free. NYC Bldg. in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, 718-592-9700; queensmuseum.org The Rubin Museum of Art – Visions of the Cosmos (through 5/10); In the Shadow of Everest (through 7/26); Remember That You Will Die (3/19-8/16); Bardo: Tibetan Art of the Afterlife (through 9/6). Closed Tues. $10; seniors/students/artists with ID, $7; under 12, free. 150 W. 17th St., 212-620-5000; rmanyc.org Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America – Headquarters of The American-Scandinavian Foundation. SNØHETTA: architecture – landscape – interior (through 4/3). Closed Sun. & Mon. Free. 58 Park Ave. (37th-38th Sts.), 212-879-9779; scandinaviahouse.org The Skyscraper Museum – China Prophecy: Shanghai (through 3/31). Closed Mon. & Tues. $5; seniors/students, $2.50. 39 Battery Pl., 212-968-1961; skyscraper.org Staten Island Museum – Growing a Collection: Recent Art Acquisitions (through 5/30). Open daily. $2; seniors/students, $1; under 12, free. 75 Stuyvesant Pl., Staten Island, 718-727-1135; statenislandmuseum.org The Studio Museum in Harlem – 30 Seconds Off an Inch (through 3/14); Wardell Milan: Drawings of Harlem (through 3/14). Closed Mon. & Tues. $7; seniors/students, $3; under 12, free. 144 W. 125th St. (Lenox Ave.-Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd.), 212-864-4500; studiomuseum.org The Ukrainian Museum – The Gift of Art: Major Gift of Arcadia OlenskaPetryshyn Paintings (through 3/7); Ukraine–Sweden: At the Crossroads of History (XVII–XVIII Centuries) (3/24-9/12). Closed Mon. & Tues. $8; seniors/students, $6; under 12, free. 222 E. 6th St., 212-228-0110; ukrainianmuseum.org Whitney Museum of American Art – Whitney Biennial (through 5/30); Collecting Biennials (through 11/28). Closed Mon. & Tues. $18 (pay-whatyou-wish Fri., 6-9pm); seniors/students, $12; 18 & under, free. 945 Madison Ave. (75th St.), 800-WHITNEY; whitney.org
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Malu Delibo (BRAZIL) "The Garden of Eden", 2005
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The GINA (Gallery of International Naïve Art) Gallery is the exclusive exhibitor and seller of the highest-quality naïve art in the U.S. Their permanent collection features many naïve artists in several countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Spain. Their spring exhibition, The Brazilian Naives: A Color ‘Carnaval’ (4/14-5/30), spotlights the leading contemporary naives of Brazil and features more than 50 original paintings by Lucia Bucini, Edivaldo Barbosa de Souza, Malu Delibo, Ana Maria Dias, Constancia Nery, Ernani Pavanelli, Wilma Ramos, Barbara Rochlitz, Francisco Severino, and Mara Toledo. GINA is open Wed.-Sat., 10am-8pm and Sun., noon-6pm. 454 Columbus Ave. (82nd St.), 212-877-0097; ginagallerynyc.com
All exhibits subject to change Agora Gallery - American and international contemporary art. Matrix of the Mind: Contemporary Fine Art by Japanese Artists (through 3/19). Tues.-Sat., 11am-6pm. 530 W. 25th St. , 212-226-4151; agora-gallery.com Aicon Gallery New York - Indian and international art. Tues.-Sat., 10am6pm. 35 Great Jones St. (Lafayette St.-The Bowery), 212-725-6092; aicongallery.com Amsterdam Whitney Gallery - A “vanguard gallery” featuring cutting-edge contemporary artists. Tues.-Sat., 11am-5:30pm. 511 W. 25th St., 212-255-9050; amsterdamwhitneygallery.com Artists Space - One of the first alternative spaces in New York, founded in 1972 to support contemporary artists working in the visual arts. Tues.-Sat., noon-6pm. 38 Greene St., 3rd Floor, 212-226-3970; artistsspace.org
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Axelle Gallery - Fine art. Patrick Pietropoli (3/18-4/17). Tues.-Sat., 10:30am-6:30pm. 535 W. 25th St., 212-226-2262; axelle.com
Bonni Benrubi - 20th-century and contemporary photography. Massimo Vitali, Landscape With Figures 2 (through 3/6); Cédric Delsaux: Nous resterons sur Terre (3/11-5/8). Tues.-Fri., 10am-6pm; Sat., 11am-6pm. 41 E. 57th St., 13th Floor, 212-888-6007; bonnibenrubi.com Peter Blum Gallery - Contemporary American and European artists. SoHo: David Reed: Works on Paper (through 3/6). Chelsea: SUPERFLEX: Flooded McDonald’s (through 3/22). 99 Wooster St., 212-343-0441; 526 W. 29th St., 212-244-6055; peterblumgallery.com Campton Gallery - Contemporary international and American art. Thomas Pradzynsku: Last Works of Venice (Mar.); Igor & Marina (Apr.); Ross Penhall (May). 451 West Broadway, 212-387-0208; camptongallery.com CFM Gallery - Figurative fine art paintings, sculptures and original graphics. Leonor Fini (Mar.). Mon.-Sat., 11am-6pm; Sun., noon-6pm. 236 W. 27th St., 4th Floor, 212-966-3864; cfmgallery.com Cheim & Read - International contemporary artists. Bill Jensen: New Work (through 3/27); Donald Baechler: New Work (4/2-5/1); Ghada Amer: New Work (5/6-6/19). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 547 W. 25th St., 212-242-7727; cheimread.com
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James Cohan Gallery - Contemporary art. Yun-Fei Ji: Mistaking Each Other for Ghosts (through 3/27). Mon.-Fri., 10am-6pm. 533 W. 26th St., 212-714-9500; jamescohan.com Heidi Cho Gallery - Contemporary fine art from mid-career and emerging artists. Macyn Bolt and James Westwater (through 3/13). Tues.-Fri., 11am-6pm; Sat., 11am-5pm. 522 W. 23rd St., 212-255-6783; heidichogallery.com CRG Gallery - Well-established and emerging contemporary American and European artists. TTues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 535 W. 22nd St., 212-229-2766; crggallery.com Deitch Projects - Os Gemeos - Houston Street and Bowery Mural (through 3/31); Rosson Crow: Bowery Boys (3/4-3/27). Tues.-Sat., noon-6pm. 76 Grand St., 212-343-7300; 18 Wooster St.; deitch.com DFN Gallery - Contemporary painting and drawing by established and emerging artists. Looks Good on Paper (through 3/6); Dan Witz (3/10-4/3); Alyssa Monks (4/7-5/8); Jan Aronson (5/12-6/12). Tues.-Sat., 11am-7pm. 74 E. 79th St., 212-334-3400; dfngallery.com Aaron Faber Gallery - Jewel and watch design of the 20th & 21st centuries. Mon.-Fri., 10am-6pm; Sat., 11am-6pm. 666 Fifth Ave. (53rd St.), 212-586-8411; aaronfaber.com David Findlay Jr. Inc. - American 19th- and 20th-century paintings and sculpture. Mon.-Sat., 10am-5:30pm. 41 E. 57th St., 212-486-7660; davidfindlayjr.com Foley Gallery - Contemporary photography, painting, sculpture, and works on paper. Lydia Panas: The Mark of Able (through 4/20); Group Show - Townie (3/25-4/24); Richard Barnes - Animal Logic (4/29-6/5). Tues.- Sat., 11am-6pm. 547 W. 27th St., 5th Floor, 212-244-9081; foleygallery.com Forum Gallery - Modern and contemporary figurative art. Bernardo Siciliano (through 3/13); Susan Hauptman (3/18-5/1); Alan Feltus (5/6-6/18); Sean Henry (5/13-6/25). Tues.- Sat., 10am-5:30pm. 745 Fifth Ave. (57th St.), 5th Floor, 212-355-4545; forumgallery.com Gagosian Gallery - Modern and contemporary art, including works by de Kooning, Hirst, Picasso, Ruscha, Serra, Twombly, and Warhol. Madison Ave.: Damien Hirst - End of an Era (through 3/6); Ed Paschke (3/18-4/24); Alberto Di Fabio (3/18-4/24); Tatiana Trouvé (3/25-6/26). W. 21st St.: Richard Serra (through 12/23). Tues.- Sat., 10am-6pm. 980 Madison Ave. (76th-77th Sts.), 212-744-2313; 555 W. 24th St., 212-741-1111; 522 W. 21st St., 212-741-1717; gagosian.com GINA (Gallery of International Naïve Art) Gallery - Exclusive US location dedicated to the exhibition and sale of international Naïve Art. The 2,000-squarefoot gallery is the authority and definitive resource of Naïve art and aims to introduce the public to this approachable and accessible genre. The gallery represents more than 275 artists in 25-plus countries from Portugal to Russia. The Brazilian Naives: A Color ‘Carnaval’ (4/14-5/30). Wed.-Sun., noon-9pm. 454 Columbus Ave. (82nd St.), 212-877-0097; ginagallerynyc.com Gladstone Gallery - Contemporary art. 21st St.: Banks Violette (through 4/17). 24th St.: Jan Dibbets (through 3/13). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 515 W. 24th St., 212-206-9300; 530 W. 21st St.; gladstonegallery.com James Graham & Sons - 19th- and 20th-century American paintings, American and European sculpture, contemporary art, and British ceramics. Ken Aptekar (3/11-4/17); Reeve Schley (5/6-6/18). 32 E. 67th St., 212-535-5767; jamesgrahamandsons.com Hasted Hunt Kraeutler - Contemporary photography from emerging and established artists. Erwin Olaf - Hotel, Dawn & Dusk (through 3/20). Tues.-Sat., 11am-6pm. 537 W. 24th St., 212-627-0006; hastedhunt.com Greenberg Van Doren - Contemporary fine art. Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 730 Fifth Ave. (57th St.), 212-445-0444; gvdgallery.com
SOFA: NOT SOMETHING TO SIT ON SOFA New York is a wondrous annual show of fine craft art; the acronym stands for Sculptural Objects and Functional Art, and if you have never been to SOFA, this year you must head over to the Park Avenue Armory, Friday through Monday (April 16th through the 19th). Long heralded as the nation’s premier fair for outstanding contemporary decorative arts and design, this marks the 13th SOFA show. There will be nearly 60 galleries from around the world, displaying some of the most remarkable, refreshing, beguiling work—jewelry, fiber art, glass, wood, ceramics, paper, and who knows what else. This is a serious show for collectors, it’s true, but it’s also a show for browsers who want to be educated, the curious who want to see exciting and collectible art, and for shoppers, too, who might just want to pick up, say, a one-of-a-kind, beaded necklace from German jewelry designer Axel Russmeyer, or museum-quality glass art from the stable of important glass artists handled by the Heller Gallery. (While the tariffs on many museum-quality works can soar upwards of $100,000, there are also price tags that are friendly to the cautious pocketbook.) This is a show that will never disappoint with its exciting works—it’s awe-inspiring to see just what creative minds and hands can do with paper or molten silica. Look for the wonderfully rich and fanciful photo works from artist Lucy Feller at Ferrin Gallery (her work, The Last Ride, is pictured above); Feller takes vintage postcards and photos and creates novel artwork, often customized for an individual to tell a family history or celebrate a personal milestone. SOFA is at the Park Avenue Armory (Park Ave. & 67th St.); the opening night gala is on Thursday, April 15th, (by invitation only between 5:30 and 7pm; open to the public from 7pm; tickets $100). The exposition hours are Friday and Saturday, April 16th and 17th, 11am to 7pm; Sunday, April 18th, noon to 6pm; and Monday, April 19th, 11am to 5pm. Tickets are $25 for a single day/general admission and $40 for a fourday pass (including catalog). For more information, visit sofaexpo.com or call 800-563-SOFA (7632). - RJK
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Stephen Haller Gallery - Contemporary paintings. Larry Zox (through 4/3). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 542 W. 26th St., 212-741-7777; stephenhallergallery.com Hammer Galleries - 19th- and 20th-century European and American paintings. Mon.-Fri., 9:30am-5:30pm; Sat., 10am-5pm. 33 W. 57th St., 212-644-4400; hammergalleries.com Hauser & Wirth - Emerging and established contemporary artists. Ida Applebroog (through 3/10) Eva Hesse (3/16-4/24). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 32 E. 69th St., 212-794-4970; hauserwirth.com
Hans P. Kraus, Jr. Fine Photographs - Tues.-Fri., 9:30am-5:30pm., Sat., 10am-5:30pm. 962 Park Ave. (82nd St.), 212-794-2064; sunpictures.com L’Arc en Seine - Decorative arts. Mon.-Fri., 10am-6pm; Sat., 11am-5pm. 15 E. 82nd St., 212-585-2587; arcenseine.com L & M Arts - Paintings, drawings, and sculptures by first-generation Abstract Expressionists. George Segal (through 4/3); Yves Tanguy and Alexander Calder: Between Surrealism and Abstraction (4/21-6/12). Tues.-Sat., 10am-5:30pm. 45 E. 78th St., 212-861-0020; lmgallery.com
Hirschl & Adler Galleries - 18th-, 19th- & 20th-century American and European paintings, drawings, watercolors, and sculpture. Tues.-Fri., 9:30am-5:15pm.; Sat., 9:30am-4:45pm. 21 E. 70th St., 212-535-8810; hirschlandadler.com
Lehmann Maupin Gallery - International contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, video, and new media. 26th St.: Nari Ward (through 4/17); Shirazeh Houshiary (4/29-6/5). Chrystie St.: Lee Bul (4/8-6/19). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 540 W. 26th St., 212-255-2923; 201 Chrystie St., 212-254-0054; lehmannmaupin.com
Susan Inglett Gallery - Emerging artists and historical exhibitions. Bruce Conner (through 3/13). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 522 W. 24th St., 212-647-9111; inglettgallery.com
Littlejohn Contemporary - Contemporary modern art and emerging artists. Wed.-Sat., 11am-6pm. 249 E. 32nd St., 212-988-4890; littlejohncontemporary.com
Paul Kasmin Gallery - Contemporary and modern art. Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 293 Tenth Ave. (27th St.); 511 27th St., 212-563-4474; paulkasmingallery.com
Marlborough Gallery - Important contemporary masters. Mon.-Fri., 10am-5:30pm. 40 W. 57th St., 212-541-4900; 545 W. 25th St., 212-463-8634; marlboroughgallery.com
Alan Klotz Gallery- Fine-art vintage, modern, and contemporary photography. By appointment. 511 W. 25th St., 212-741-4764; klotzgallery.com
Barbara Mathes Gallery - 20th-century, and contemporary American and European masters. Tues.-Fri., 9:30am-6pm.; Sat. 10am-5pm. 22 E. 80th St., 212-570-4190; barbaramathesgallery.com
Knoedler & Company - Contemporary and sculpture works. Milton Avery: Industrial Revelations (through 5/1). Tues.-Fri., 9:30am-5:30pm., Sat., 10am-5:30pm. 19 E. 70th St., 212-794-0550; knoedlergallery.com Kouros Gallery - Modern and contemporary sculpture, painting, photography, and works on paper. Laura Dodson - Between States (3/4-27); Martha Walker - Vortex (3/4-27). Mon.-Fri., 11am-6pm. 23 E. 73rd St., 212-288-5888; kourosgallery.com
McKenzie Fine Art - Contemporary art. Jean Lowe (through 3/13). Tues.-Fri., 10am-6pm.; Sat. 11am-6pm. 511 W. 25th St., 212-989-5467; mckenziefineart.com Robert Miller Gallery - Contemporary art. Baron Adolph de Meyer (through 4/3).Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 524 W. 26th St., 212-366-4774; robertmillergallery.com
© Banks Violette. Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York and Team Gallery, New York
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The newest installation from New York-based conceptual artist Banks Violette (b. 1973), on view at the 21st Street Gladstone Gallery through April 17th, digs further into his explorations of minimal and conceptual art as “theatrical platforms of performative decay.” This work includes a large chandelier composed of multiple fluorescent tubes and a black wall that seems to buckle and melt against the reflection of the light. Other exhibitions on view this spring include Anna Parkina: Project Space (opening March 4th at the 21st Street gallery); Catherine Opie: Girlfriends (March 19th-April 24th at the 24th Street gallery) and Jim Hodges: Brussels (March 13th-April 24th). Open Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 530 W. 21st St.; 515 W. 24th St., 212-206-9300; gladstonegallery.com.
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Yossi Milo Gallery- Contemporary photography. Pieter Hugo, Nollywood (through 4/10); Mohamed Bourouissa, PĂŠriphĂŠriques (4/15-5/29). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 525 W. 25th St., 212-414-0370; yossimilo.com Onassis Cultural Center - Ancient, Byzantine and modern art. 645 Fifth Ave., Suite 304, 212-486-4448; onassisusa.org Pace/MacGill Gallery - 19th-, 20th-century, and contemporary photography. Gaze: Diane Arbus, Lee Friedlander, Katy Grannan, Jocelyn Lee, Lisette Model, Susan Paulsen (through 3/20); JoAnn Verburg: Interruptions (3/25-5/1); Jocelyn Lee (5/6-6/12). Tues.-Fri., 9:30am-5:30pm; Sat., 10am-6pm. 32 E. 57th St., 9th Floor, 212-759-7999; pacemacgill.com PaceWildenstein - 20th-century art, including works by Calder, Close, LeWitt, Nevelson, Noguchi, Picasso, Rauschenberg, Rothko, Tuttle, and many others. 22nd St.: Sterling Ruby: 2Traps (through 3/20). 25th St.: Jospeh Beuys: Make the Secrets Productive (through 4/10). 57th St.: Robert Ryman: Large-Small, Thick-Thin, Light Reflecting, Light Absorbing (through 3/27). 32 E. 57th St., 212-421-3292; 534 W. 25th St., 212-929-7000; 545 W. 22nd St., 212-989-4258; pacewildenstein.com Guy Regal Ltd./Newel - Fine 17th-, 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century continental furniture, decorative accessories, and fine art. Mon.-Fri., 10am-6pm; Sat., by appointment. 223 E. 60th St., 212-888-2134; guyregalltd.com Yancy Richardson Gallery - 20th century and contemporary photographs. Esko Mannikko - Harmony Sisters (through 4/3). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 535 W. 22nd St., 646-230-9610; yanceyrichardson.com Ross Art Group - Over 3000 original vintage posters. Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 532 Madison Ave. (54th St.), 4th Floor, 212-223-1525; rossvintageposters.com Luis Ross Gallery - Self-taught artists from North America and Europe. 511 W. 25th St. #307, 212-343-2161; luiserossgallery.com Perry Rubenstein Gallery - Solo exhibitions by international artists. Annie Kevans - Manumission (through 3/16); Zilla Leutenegger (3/25-5/1). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 527 W. 23rd St., 212-627-8000; perry rubenstein.com Tony Shafrazi Gallery - Contemporary art. Keith Haring - 20th Anniversary (through 4/3). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 544 W. 26th St., 212-274-9300; tonyshafrazigallery.com Spanierman Modern - Modern and contemporary paintings, watercolors, works on paper, drawings, and sculpture. Betty Parsons (through 3/20); Teo Gonzalez (3/23-4/24); John Little (4/27-5/28). Mon.-Sat., 9:30am5:30pm. 53 E. 58th St., 212-832-1400; spaniermanmodern.com
Courtesy Axelle Fine Arts
Frederieke Taylor Gallery - Highly contemporary, conceptual art. Anniversary Invitational I (through 4/3); Anniversary Invitational II (4/85/8). Tues.-Sat., 11am-6pm. 535 W. 22nd St., 646-230-0992; frederieketaylorgallery.com 303 Gallery - Contemporary photography, video projections, film, paintings, and sculpture. 21st St.: Mike Nelson (through 4/10); Karel Funk (4/17-5/15); Rodney Graham (5/22-7/10). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 547 W. 21st St.; 525 W. 22nd St., 212-255-1121; 303gallery.com Tibor de Nagy Gallery - Contemporary paintings. Mon.-Fri., 10am5:30pm. 724 Fifth Ave. (56th-57th Sts.), 212-261-5050; tibordenagy.com Viridian Artists - Works in the abstract mode, including oils, pastels on paper, prints, and sculptures. Chris Bathgate - New Works in Metal (through 3/13); Phyllis Smith (3/16-4/10); Meredeth Turshen (4/13-5/8); Carol Benisatto (5/11-6/5). Tues.-Sat., 10:30am-6pm. 530 W. 25th St., 4th Floor, 212-414-4040; viridianartists.com
URBAN LEGEND From March 18th through April 17th, the extremely detailed, large-scale urban landscapes of Paris, New York, Venice, and Florence created by Parisian-born painter Patrick Pietropoli (who recently relocated to New York) will be displayed at Axelle Fine Arts. Open Tues.-Sat.,10:30am-6:30pm. 535 W. 25th St., 212-226-2262; axelle.com.
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REAL ESTATENEW YORK
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as Chelsea changes, its roots remain With the High Line open and a boom of new developments, Chelsea remains an artsy neighborhood true to its industrial past. By Kaitlin Ahern ong known as Manhattan’s gallery district—home to the highest concentration of art galleries in the country, if not the world— Chelsea has been the preferred corner of the city for the creative and somewhat offbeat for nearly a century. Though not underdeveloped, the area showed considerably more resistance to development than the city’s denser areas. In light of recent happenings, though—including new zoning laws and a popular new park by name of the High Line—Chelsea, and specifically West Chelsea, is seeing some changes. And though these developments are pushing it into a more commercial direction, the area has still managed to stay connected to its roots, maintaining the edgy vibe that’s long separated it from other Manhattan neighborhoods. Stretching from 16th Street north to 30th Street on Manhattan’s West Side and roughly bound between 10th and 11th Avenues, West Chelsea saw its beginnings as farmland in the early 1800s. Like many other areas of New York’s developing metropolis, its rural charm faded as the neighborhood evolved. But there is where many similarities end. An influx of population provided the workforce, and the area’s natural amenities—including, most notably, its proximity to the Hudson—wrote the rest of the story. By the beginning of the 20th century, Chelsea had become an industrial hub—a neighborhood of factories, warehouses, and piers – and a center for silent films, marking the beginning of Chelsea’s affair with the artistic crowd. The combination of these influences essentially laid the groundwork for the
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neighborhood’s personality. Factories and warehouses have since become art galleries and off-Broadway theaters, and, more recently, a certain rundown railway line has undergone a reported $85 million renovation into the city’s first elevated park. Originally constructed in the 1930s, the High Line’s purpose was to remove dangerous freight traffic from the streets of what was then Manhattan’s largest industrial district. The 30-feet-high tracks span from Gansevoort Street north to West 34th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues. Saved by the Friends of the High Line organization in 1999 and transformed into a model of innovative landscaping and modern design, the park’s first section opened last June between Gansevoort and 20th Streets, in the Meatpacking District, though most of the line is located in Chelsea. In many ways the High Line is reflective of the neighborhood itself, evolving from industrial center to an offbeat modern marketplace of culture that’s been attracting a lot of attention lately. “I think the High Line has opened up the door to Chelsea,” says Karen Gastiaburo, senior vice president and Tribeca sales manager for Warburg Realty Partnership. “People are focusing in on those parts of town [by the High Line] and doing things to make it more liveable and pleasurable.” Take the renewed interest in the area spurred by the High Line, combine with a city-ordered rezoning of the West Chelsea neighborhood in 2005 meant to “encourage and guide the development of West Chelsea as a dynamic mixed use neighborhood,” and you’ve got the two-part catalyst that’s steered the area into more commercial waters than ever before. A flood of
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lively ethnic restaurants and trendy clothing boutiques have earned this area’s recent prestige as an alternative shopping destination. And in the past five to 10 years, Chelsea has seen a building boom, especially in the form of highrise luxury buildings. Many of these new developments artfully echo the area’s industrial past through their architecture and aesthetics. “The High Line has gentrified the area without changing its flavor,” says Alan Sands, senior vice president and associate broker for Corcoran Group Real Estate and a member of Friends of the High Line,. “About five years ago there was a boom of developments, which has brought more people, shops, and restaurants, but it still has that industrial, gallery feel to the district. The architecture and look hasn’t totally changed.” One example is the property at 456 West 19th Street, an 11-story boutique condo building developed by architect Cary Tamarkin. The structure houses 22 duplex residences, each with double-height living areas, ranging in size from 1130 to 3000 square feet. Among those are four penthouses, located on the building’s top four floors, each featuring six-foot-wide fireplaces and large private terraces (1100-1800 square feet), which “mirror the waves of the neighboring Hudson River.” Prices for the residences start at $1.5 million, with penthouses priced from $6 million. About half of the units have High Line views, and most have views of the river as well. “I think the type of person that’s attracted to West Chelsea is one who appreciates the fundamental beauty of the neighborhood,” says Millie Perry, director of sales for the building under Stribling Marketing Associates. “The feedback I’ve gotten from buyers is that they’re drawn by the exterior beauty of the building. They love the way it blends in with the industrial elements of the neighborhood, but it’s also a classic brick building with these stunning windows.” A bit north lies the six-story property at 525 West 22nd Street, developed as the first condo building in the area in 1997 and renovated in 2008. According to Sands, who represents the building for Corcoran, the structure is a rare find in that the layouts of each residence are different. “The developer only did the kitchens and bathrooms, then people did their own thing with the rest of the apartment once they moved in,” Sands explains, adding, “There’s a lot of warmth in the building that’s not being recreated in today’s world.” What’s more, the eastern wall of the building actually fronts the second section of the High Line (in fact, a third floor apartment was once a loading dock), which means many of the residences will have stunning views of the park when the second section opens this year. But the gem of the property is Penthouse A, with 3600 square feet of space
[ Architect Cary Tamarkin designed the property at 456 West 19th Street in understated elegance, drawing on the classic artists’ studio spaces of the early 20th century for inspiration ]
and 1100 square feet of private rooftop terrace, which is currently listed at a cool $8.495 million. “In 1997 it wasn’t an art district, but the unit itself has a gallery feel,” Sands says. “It has the original cement floors and exposed brick interiors, 12-foothigh ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling columns. It fits in well with the Chelsea area.” In terms of real estate, pricing has been very strong in the neighborhood, Gastiaburo says. Many of the new luxury developments have high price points, from $1500-$1700 per square foot, which is above the average city neighborhood, she says. With more properties in development over the next five years or so and the addition of the two northern sections of the High Line, Chelsea is on track to become one of the city’s more lively residential neighborhoods. But as it evolves, its roots will likely stay intact. “The area has changed, but the flavor has been maintained,” Sands says. “It’s certainly a destination, and the High Line has opened it up even more to New Yorkers who weren’t aware before of the beauty and uniqueness of the area.” ■
[ The den (opposite page) and living room (below) of Penthouse A at 525 West 22nd Street, in the heart of Chelsea’s art gallery district ]
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four cities
A quartet of waterside destinations with patrician castles and hotels, postcard-worthy vistas, and centuries of history. By Ruth J. Katz
Wales
Not too long ago, the advertising campaign for attracting tourism to Wales proudly sang of its glories—“641 Castles, 6 Starbucks.” Frappuccinos notwithstanding, travelers interested in scoping out Wales might consider, not the larger metropolises of Cardiff and Swansea in the south, but the pastoral, enticing north, a majestic and picturesque slice of the United Kingdom, particularly Conwy and Gwynedd Counties on the mainland, and their neighbor, the ancient Celtic isle of Anglesey.
Conwy ur first stop was Conwy, where we checked into Bodysgallen Hall & Spa (one of the Historic House Hotels) in the Victorian and purpose-built seaside town of Llandudno, considered the queen of the Welsh resorts. (Don’t even try to pronounce anything in Welsh; the language is a groaning board of brain-befuddling orthography.) The hotel sits grandly on some 200 acres of forested and bucolic parkland, and its gardens are remarkably splendid. The original watchtower dates back to the 13th century, when the structure was a fortified residence. It has nearly 20 graciously appointed rooms and 16 cottages (with names like the Pineapple Lodge), each unique, and with surprises, like shortbread treats neatly tucked into decorative canisters. The scenic setting overlooks the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park and the impressive Conwy Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The walled town of Conwy is dominated by the castle, with its eight massive towers and which was built by Edward I (Longshanks), and along with his castles at Beaumaris (on Angelsey), Caernarfon, and Harlech, are arguably the best examples of 13th-14th century military architecture in Europe. The village streets are paved with cobblestones, and pleasant tea houses and oldworld shops dot the winding lanes. In town you’ll find the Ty Aberconwy House, a 14th-century town house (one of the oldest in Wales) with Jacobean, Georgian, and Victorian interiors. From Conwy, it’s a short hop into Llandudno proper, where a hike out onto the Victorian pier, built in 1878, is de rigueur. Another rewarding excursion is a ride on the Great Orme Tramway to the summit of the Great Orme, providing a wondrous view. Outside of town, visit the family-owned Trefriw Woollen Mills, which has been producing woven goods for over 150 years. Down the street in Llanrwst is the Blas ar Fwyd “Delicatessen,” as it is called, but with its painted wisteria vines on the walls and its homey décor, it is nothing like any American deli, and is an ideal place for a scrumptious lunch. Do not miss the quaint, riverside village of Betws-y-Coed, with the 14th-century St. Michael’s Church; the Fairy Glen—which looks like a stage set of an enchanted forest—in Snowdonia; and Beddgelert, where Prince Llewelyn’s beloved dog Gelert is buried (and where you can read the tragic legend). ■
[ The main hotel building and some of the gardens at Bodysgallen Hall & Spa. Inset: A typical tea house sign in Conwy, with the castle in the background. ]
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©Britainonvi ew / Rod Edwa rds
©Britainonview / Rod Edwards
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[ Above: Aerial view of Portmeirion, with its colorful architectural bricolage. Inset: A sign outside a Portmeirion shop ]
Portmeirion ur second stop in North Wales is the marvel known as Portmeirion, situated on an estuary of the River Dwyryd. It is an unexpected delight and there are a quarter-million daytime, admission-paying, yearly visitors who would agree—and that number does not include the guests who stay in the village’s 17 cottages and the 53 rooms in its main hotel. The privately-owned village is a symphony of architectural periods, styles, and details that mesh and clash—Corinthian columns, an Arts & Crafts bungalow, a Palladian window. Overall, quirky Portmeirion “feels” Italianate, with its candy-colored structures, heavy ornamentation, and profuse gardens. The village is the beloved brainchild of Sir Bertram Clough WilliamsEllis, who was an ardent champion of the environment. He created Portmeirion in two stages, from 1926 to 1939, and then from 1954 to 1976, when he attended to the “details.” Today, the village, rife with anachronistic touches, is bounded by 70 acres of lush, sub-tropical foliage, lakes, woodlands, and 19 miles of pathways for hiking. Ever popular among cognoscenti, George Harrison celebrated his 50th birthday here. Countless surprises are among Portmeirion’s many follies. There is a British Colonnade, built in 1760 in Bristol, which by 1959, was crumbling and set for demolition. It was exactly the kind of “fallen building” that Clough (as he was known) fancied rescuing and stone by stone, he dismantled, reassembled, and restored it. Aficionados of the cult 60s TV hit, The Prisoner, will recognize Portmeirion as the locale for the program; today there is even a Prisoner gift shop (and you can watch episodes of the show in your room). Another shop on the premises vends the popular Portmeirion pottery,
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designed by Clough’s daughter Susan, an artist who studied with Henry Moore, and who created the classic pattern, Botanic Garden, one of the pottery’s best-selling designs. With Portmeirion as a base, there is more of the vast Snowdonia National Park to see. At one of the park’s many lookout points, carved into stone is the declaration: “One of Britain’s Breathing Spaces.” Indeed. Mount Snowden, the highest peak in England and Wales, is where Sir Edmund Hilary trained and tested equipment before he undertook his Everest ascent. Another site to visit is the Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, one of the oldest art galleries in Wales, on the Penrhyn-Llyn Peninsula, and where the tea salon provides another ideal spot for lunch, especially if you follow your meal with a slice of the towering layer cakes. Imperial-looking Castell Caernarfon, Edward’s second largest in Wales, is nearby and is the site of the investiture of the current Prince of Wales. Anglesey is a short ride away and is home to Bangor Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Britain, and to the picturesque village of Beaumaris, well worth a stroll. ■ Information visitwales.co.uk, bodysgallen.com, portmeirion-village.com
[ the details ] Fly British Air’s (britishairways.com) World Traveller Plus to Manchester and take the train (nationalrail.co.uk) to Llandudno Junction. For a very special insider’s tour of Wales, hire Idwal Jones (countrylanetours.com). 79
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It seems somewhat anti-climactic to talk about the 100 castles (14 open to the public) in the region around Geneva, after spending time in Wales. But regardless of the number of castles the Swiss claim, it’s incontrovertible—as the world’s legendary hoteliers—that they undoubtedly can maintain them better than anyone in the cosmos. Two such modern-day “castles”—both veritable lakeside jewels with incomparable five-star Swiss service—are the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne, opened in 1861, and the Baur au Lac Hôtel in Zurich which recently celebrated its 165th birthday.
Switzerland Lausanne he heart of Lausanne is a medieval city, with hilly inclines that challenge the free-bicycle program that the municipality maintains. Among the offshoots of the Place St. Francis, the city’s central square, is the pedestrian Rue de Bourg, with its semi-circular-swirls of cobblestones. Well trafficked by locals and visitors, the shop-lined narrow lane offers a mix of crafts, clothing, touristy items, and a mélange of upscale brands (like Ladurée with its distinguished, sorbet-colored macaroons), and is capped off by a Louis Vuitton boutique at the summit. Depending on the season, there may also be farmers’ markets where comestibles hauled in from the surrounding fertile countryside are offered for sale. Among those fruitful fields are the vineyards of the UNESCO World Heritage site in the neighboring wine-growing Lavaux region. The mountainous terrain ranges from a 15% to a staggering 100% grade and yet it is all neatly terraced and productive, with 40 levels among the 10,000 terraces. There are about 15 villages with some 15 vineyards in each; some families boast 17 generations as vintners. There are a few grapes that are specific to Switzerland and if you visit a winery, you’ll get to sample some stellar vintages, as local vintners uncork their treasures and throw open their caves. There is no dearth of museums to visit (around 80), including the legendary Olympic Museum, and others that are devoted to everything from science fiction to vintage cars. But, for an outing and an opportunity to view the panoramas that circle Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), hop on board one of the ferries to Montreux, home of the celebrated Jazz Festival, and the nearby 12thcentury Castle of Chillon. Built on a rocky outcropping, it was an ideal fort–and prison–where the monk François de Bonivard, Lord Byron’s inspiration for The Prisoner of Chillon, written in 1816, was incarcerated. I opted to chill out at the Beau-Rivage’s Cinq Mondes Spa. It is a dreamy retreat, and even has a Promenade de Pluie Tropicale—a sort of glassed-in rain forest “experience” that amuses the senses. But it is the Art Deco and NeoBaroque hotel itself that truly enraptures—with its lush gardens (including a life-size chessboard), a cavalcade of bold-face-name guests, and its diverse eateries, serving up flavorful fare, including Japanese (Miyako), Italian (L’Accademia), and the eponymously named Anne-Sophie Pic’s gastronomic masterpiece. Pic, a culinary genius and third generation restaurateur (all three have earned Michelin stars) has created a menu that satisfies and delights beyond description. ■
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[ Above: Typical vineyards in the Lavaux region. Right: Lausanne Cathedral. Bottom: A nighttime view of the buildings and pool of the Beau-Rivage Palace. ]
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[ Above: An evening view of the exquisite La Terrasse bar and restaurant at the Baur au Lac Hôtel. Below: A bird’s eye view of downtown Zurich, where clocks dot the vistas. ]
Zurich
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erman-speaking Zurich is a bustling, cosmopolitan city, a metronome beat removed from French-speaking Lausanne, where the mood of the city appears more laid-back. However, if you want that lazy-day feeling, step into La Terrasse, the newly refurbished outdoor terrace/bar of the Baur au Lac Hôtel, with a stunning, painterly view of the adjacent Le Jardin, the manicured park on the hotel’s grounds, seemingly carpeted in velvet Kellygreen grass. Fronting Lake Zurich on one side, the main entrance is sequestered beyond a driveway—a modern-day porte-cochère—and that interior car park area is dotted with Bentleys, Rolls Royces, and Maseratis, suggesting the boldface names in residence. The serene and gorgeous hotel was recently renovated and the 120 guest rooms are sumptuously appointed—in period styles, ranging from Art Deco to Louis XVI to English Regency; the bathrooms have heated floors, and the face towels sport the finest cotton imaginable. In midJune, the hotel will debut its 2010 sculpture garden and impressive works of art will grace the grassy expanse, adjacent to the remodeled, glassed-in Pavillon restaurant, also a Zurich gastronomic institution. Just outside the hotel, take a left and you’ll stumble upon Schweizer Heimatwerk, founded in 1930, a destination for beautiful Swiss handicrafts. If it’s jewelry, a watch, or other luxury goods you crave, meander down the Bahnhofsrasse, Zurich’s answer to Rodeo Drive, toward the Paradeplatz, and dip into the Blancpain watch emporium, Chanel, Vuitton, or even the Apple store. World-class Sprungli Chocolates is here, and at the third-generation Osswald Perfumerie there is a beguiling wall display of glass shelves in a curving wooden frame, featuring nearly 250 graceful and historic perfume bottles. For very sleek merchandise, head to Two Rooms, on Sihlfeldstrasse. Zurich has an appealing (and car-free) Old Town, on both sides of the
Limmat River, and it is home to the Fraumünster Church with Marc Chagall stained glass panels and to St. Peter’s Church, which boasts Europe’s largest church clock face. The funky Oepfelchammer Restaurant dates from 1801—since the nature of the restaurant suggest drinking games, it’s ideal for anyone with a hollow leg. I preferred my afternoon cocktail at the Lakeside restaurant under a huge yellow umbrella, after a leisurely cruise around Lake Zurich. Surrounded by snow-dressed mountains and a picturepostcard-like cityscape, the ambience feels like a page from a fairy tale. Back at the hotel, there is plenty of time to linger in the garden, where at some point over the hotel’s illustrious history, the European elite did, too. Richard Wagner premiered Act I of Die Walküre here, singing it himself, accompanied by his father-in-law, Franz Liszt. And more recently, the guest list has included other musical giants from Arthur Rubinstein to Elton John. ■ Information myswitzerland.com, brp.ch, bauraulac.ch
[ the details ] Fly Swiss International Air Lines’ (swiss.com) new, all-business class from Newark International Liberty Airport; in Switzerland, purchase a travel pass (swisstravelsystem.ch) 81
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CIRCUS MAXIMUS Billed as an event “200 years in the making,” the latest incarnation of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s circus—Barnum’s FUNundrum!—brings together performers from all over the world, including gravity-defying motorcyclists, high-wire artists, contortionists, and of course tigers, elephants, horses, and more. FUNundrum! runs March 25th through April 4th at Madison Square Garden. For tickets, call 866-858-0008 or visit ringling.com.
9/11 Memorial Preview Site – Learn about the plans for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum currently under construction at the World Trade Center site. Share your 9/11 story with the Museum and help make history. 20 Vesey St. (Church St.), 212-312-8800; national911memorial.org Apollo Theater – Harlem’s world-famous showplace offers tours seven days a week, as well as the Apollo Amateur Night every Wednesday at 7:30pm. 253 W. 125th St. btw. Seventh & Eighth Aves., 212-531-5337; apollotheater.org
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BODIES...The Exhibition – This striking exhibit showcases real human bodies, giving visitors the opportunity to see themselves in a fascinating way like never before. Both captivating and edifying, it unveils the many complex systems of organs and tissues that drive every aspect of our daily lives and unite
us all as humans. Exhibition Centre at the South Street Seaport, 11 Fulton St., 888-9BODIES; bodiestheexhibition.com Brooklyn Botanic Garden – 52 carefully tended, intensively planted acres of flora and exotica, including a carefully reproduced Japanese garden and one of the largest public rose collections in America. Upcoming events: Sakura Matsuri (5/1-2). Tues.-Fri., 8am-6pm; Sat.-Sun., 10am-6pm. $8 (free all day Tues. & Sat. 10am-noon, weekdays 11/20-2/27); $4 (seniors/students); free (under 12). 1000 Washington Ave., Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, 718-623-7200; bbg.org Carnegie Hall – Learn about the story of Andrew and Louise Carnegie, hear how the Hall was saved from demolition in 1960, and experience a century-
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long performance tradition that has showcased the world’s finest artists from Tchaikovsky to Mahler, from Horowitz to Callas to Bernstein—even Judy Garland and the Beatles. Tours are offered seven days a week, as schedule permits; call ahead for details. 881 Seventh Ave. at 57th St., 212-903-9765; carnegiehall.org Central Park (centralparknyc.org) – Belvedere Castle (79th St. south of the Great Lawn, 212-772-0210) - This famed, whimsical landmark is within sight of the Delacorte Theatre (summer home of the Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival.) The Henry Luce Nature Observatory at Belvedere Castle is a permanent interactive exhibit focusing on how to observe, record, and identify the plants and wildlife that exist in Central Park’s rich and diverse natural habitats. Bethesda Terrace (mid-Park at 72nd St.) - Reconstruction has restored the Victorian stonework and steps to the acre-sized esplanade. Carousel (mid-Park at 64th St., 212-879-0244) - Nostalgic turn-of-the-century merry-go-round open daily, weather permitting. Central Park Walks and Talks (212-794-6564) - Subjects ranging from geology to bird-watching to astronomy, ecology, and park history make for lively free weekend walking tours of the Park. Central Park Conservancy staff and volunteers, as well as Urban Park Rangers of the City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation lead the tours. Central Park Zoo (Fifth Ave. btw. 63rd & 66th Sts., 212-439-6500; centralparkzoo.com) - From a steamy rain forest to an icy Antarctic penguin habitat, the zoo features natural tropical, temperate, and polar environments with dozens of fascinating animals, from leafcutter ants to polar bears, plus monkeys, sea lions, and cute penguins. Open daily; call for hours. The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center in Central Park (110th St. & Lenox Ave., 212-860-1370) provides year-round environmental education and visitors’ programs. Free workshops, performances, and events highlight the beauty of Central Park and the vitality of its surrounding neighborhoods. Birdwatching, fishing, ecology, and horticulture explorations are just a few of the family and youth activities available. The Conservatory Garden (Fifth Ave. near 105th St.) - A lush and dazzling six-acre garden. The Dairy (mid-Park at 65th St., 212-794-6564) - The main visitor information center, set in a vintage Victorian Chalet. Pick up a map or a calendar, and enjoy the gift shop. Horseand-Carriage Rides (212-736-0680) wait on the Central Park So./59th St. side of the Park. Sheep Meadow (66th to 69th Sts. on the west side of the park) is a lush, 15-acre quiet zone open for passive play and skyline admiring. Strawberry Fields (71st to 74th St. near Central Park West) - A 2.5-acre International Garden of Peace dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (enter at Central Park West & 81st St., 212-988-9093) Shows for the general public. Call for current schedule. Tisch Children’s Zoo (Fifth Ave. btw. 64th & 65th Sts., 212-439-6500) - This wildlife center echoes and reinforces the pastoral landscape of Central Park by creating a rustic Enchanted Forest with soft paths and native plantings. Youngsters will love the bewitching area, which suddenly unfolds into a magical place filled with birds flying freely overhead, contained in a virtually invisible net suspended in the trees, and a petting zoo. Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises – Take in the grandeur of New York and see spectacular views of Manhattan as knowledgeable guides point out the famous landmarks. There are many cruises to choose from, for every type of traveler: the classic 3-hour Full-Island Cruise; the 2-hour Semi-Circle Cruise; the 75minute Liberty Cruise (May-Oct.); the romantic 2-hour Harbor Lights Cruise; plus special holiday cruises. Pier 83, W. 42nd St. & 12th Ave., 212-563-3200; circleline42.com CitySights NY – See New York from top-seating-only double-decker buses with unobstructed views of NYC attractions, neighborhoods, and places of interest. Buses are furnished with state-of-the-art sound systems and entertaining urban-storytellers who offer interesting facts and tales about all of the city’s famous faces and places. They also feature combination tickets, day trips, and more. They offer tours in four languages (Italian, French, German, and Spanish) by way of an audio headset that plugs into a player at each seat. 212-812-2700; citysightsny.com Empire State Building – From the Observatory on the 86th floor, reached by express elevator in less than a minute, Manhattan is an unforgettable spectacle day or night. You’ll enjoy the panoramic view, which, on a clear day, reaches 80 miles in each direction. Visitors may also enjoy the free changing exhibits in the lobby. Tickets to the 102nd floor observatory sold only upon arrival. Daily,
NEW YORK’S FINE FILM FESTS Attend one of New York’s spring film festivals, and you may run into Robert De Niro, discover the next Steven Spielberg—or just watch a great new movie followed by a discussion with its director and stars. The largest is the Tribeca Film Festival, cofounded by De Niro, which will screen about 135 independent films from around the world April 21-May 2 at various downtown sites. “You go to really interact. You’re not just walking in and out,” said executive director Nancy Schafer. “It’s a really rich, wonderful film experience.” Woody Allen, Spike Lee, Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise and other celebrities have attended. Among this year’s movies is “Cairo Time” starring Patricia Clarkson as an American woman finding romance abroad. “We’re known for creating dialogue between cultures,” said Schafer. “That’s one of our sweet spots.” So are sports films, a May 1 family street fair and a free Tribeca Drive-in at the World Financial Center Plaza where movies are shown outdoors on the Hudson River April 22-24. It’s interactive, too. “I can guarantee some singing and some dancing and probably some sporting events,” Schafer said. (Ticket packages, from $250 to $10,000, are on sale as of March 8 for American Express cardholders, and March 15 for others. Single ticket sales, $8 or $16, begin April 13 and April 19 respectively. Call 866-941-3378 or visit tribecafilm.com/festival.) Spielberg, Pedro Almodóvar and Jason Reitman are among directors who were featured at the 39-year-old New Directors/New Films Festival before they gained fame. “We emphasize new, emerging directors who are often being seen for the first time,” said Richard Peña, program director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center, which with the Museum of Modern Art presents the festival, screening about 25 films March 24-April 4. “They break rules. They tell new stories in new ways. Expect a kind of adventure.” Each film is shown at both the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, 165 W. 65th St., and at MoMA, 11 W. 53rd St., and usually the director and others answer questions afterward. “It’s a cool group,” said Mara Manus, the Society’s executive director. Opening and closing nights ($20 each) include a party. (Passes cost $60, single tickets $14, less for seniors and students, rush tickets $7.50. Visit box offices or newdirectors.org, call CenterCharge at 212-721-6500, Reade Theater at 212-875-5601 or MoMA at 212-708-9500.) Aimed at a different audience, the New York International Children’s Film Festival screens over 100 animated, liveaction and experimental films for the 3-18 set through March 21 at six locations. (For schedule and tickets, $250 pass to $12 general admission, visit gkids.com or call 212-349-0330.) – Aileen Jacobson
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8am-2am; last elevator at 1:15. $20; $18 (seniors, 12-17); $14 (6-11). 350 Fifth Ave. (34th St.), 212-736-3100; esbnyc.com Grand Central Terminal – This international landmark masterpiece boasts a huge, dramatic sunken central room, lit by huge windows and ornamented by a whimsically designed ceiling depicting the constellations of the zodiac and a nostalgic information kiosk topped by an old clock set in the center of the main floor. Join the one-hour walking tours, Wed. at 12:30pm, sponsored by the Municipal Art Society; call 212-935-3960. Upcoming events: Italian Trade Commission (3/19-23); Earth Day NY 2010 (4/19-25). 42nd St & Park Ave., 212-532-4900; grandcentralterminal.com Gray Line Sightseeing Tours – Daily tours by open-top deluxe double-decker buses & luxury coaches. Classic New York Tour includes a round-trip ferry ticket to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, a ticket to the South Street Seaport Museum, a ticket to the Empire State Building Observatory & the ALL LOOPS TOUR, a 2-day ticket hop-on & off w/ 50+ stops from Times Square & Broadway to Harlem to Brooklyn, & Night Tours. 777 Eighth Ave. btw. 47th & 48th Sts.; PABT, 42nd St. & Eighth Ave.; Times Square, Broadway btw. 46th & 47th Sts., 800-669-0051; newyorksightseeing.com LONDON’S LEGENDARY LANGHAM HOTEL I stood in the lobby with a postcard in hand to mail. Before I even changed footing to head to the concierge desk, a polite bellman materialized discreetly, and with an inquiring nod and a flourish, my postcard was gone and posted. That is the kind of service that separates celebrated “mere” five-star hotels from the stratosphere of an elusive sixth star. But then this kind of service has always existed at the Langham, built in 1865, and arguably Europe’s first grand hotel. Opened by the Prince of Wales (later, King Edward VII), the hotel has just undergone an £80-million renovation. Her 382 rooms are all gorgeously and gloriously appointed, right down to the sumptuous amenities, including even oatmeal body scrub. The Langham can claim bragging rights to many firsts: the first-ever hydraulic lifts in a hotel, the first hotel in London to install air conditioning, and in 1879, the first hotel to be lit by electricity. She has been home to a cavalcade of luminaries: Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Noel Coward, Arturo Toscanini, Antonin Dvořák, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who mentioned the Langham in several of his Sherlock Holmes stories. You certainly wouldn’t need a detective to ferret out the magnificent hallmarks of the hotel’s transformation. The glamorous Artesian Bar (named for the well below the hotel) features over 70 different rums and a Rum Ambassador. The Landau restaurant (named for HRH’s coach), under the whisk of top toque Andrew Turner, was designed, along with the über-chic Artesian by the David Collins Studio—and movie sets could not be more resplendent. Bijoux Tea in the dazzling Palm Court will delight, with its precious pastries inspired by renowned jewelers’ œuvres; afternoon tea was actually “invented” here some 140 years ago. The VIP Infinity Suite, the walls of which are cloaked in sumptuous aubergine faille, is a posh 2,500-square-foot, two-bedroom manse, with an infinityedge bathtub! Coming soon, the renovated Chuan spa, with treatments based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. The modern gym and the nearly 50-foot pool (situated in what was a Barclays bank vault) will remain untouched; opulence will dominate the re-do. Not interested in luxuriating in the spa? Recline on a chaise in your room and ask the hotel’s Book Butler to custom-select your reading material. Yes, indeed, it’s a lavish, legendary hotel. langhamhotels.com. — RJK
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Harlem Spirituals/New York Visions – Explore Harlem with Gospel tours on Sun. and Wed. & the evening soul food & jazz tours Mon., Thurs., and Sat.; New York Visions uncovers the hidden treasures of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. 690 Eighth Ave. (43rd-44th Sts.), 212-391-0900; harlemspirituals.com Helicopter Flight Services Tours – See NYC from above the turmoil of its streets. They offer 2 long helicopter tours that include the Statue of Liberty, NY Harbor, the Chrysler Building, Central Park, Columbia University, the George Washington Bridge, Yankee Stadium & the Financial Center. They also offer customized tours of the city & hourly rates. Weekdays: Downtown Heliport (Pier 6 & the East River); Sundays: VIP Heliport (W. 30th St. & Twelfth Ave.)., 212-355-0801; heliny.com Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum – The renovated museum complex includes the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier with seven full decks and four theme halls; the guided missile submarine Growler; and an extensive aircraft collection including the A-12 Blackbird and the British Airways Concorde. Experience newly opened areas of the ship, new multimedia presentations and exhibit collections, interactive educational stations, recently restored historic aircraft collection and a brand new state-of-the-art public pier. Upcoming events: Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace (through 4/30); Mission to Mars Exhibit (through 6/30); Girl Scout Day (3/20); Boy Scout Day (4/17 & 5/15); Earth Weekend (4/24-25). Pier 86, W. 46th St. & 12th Ave., 212-245-0072; intrepidmuseum.org Liberty Helicopter Tours – Six different tours in modern jet helicopters. Reservations required for 6 or more passengers. Downtown Manhattan Heliport, Pier 6 & the East River, 212-967-6464; libertyhelicopters.com Madame Tussauds New York – A chance for an up-close-and-personal look at nearly 200 famous faces, from the Dalai Lama to Madonna, Albert Einstein to Joe DiMaggio. The famed Madame Tussauds wax museum of London has a spectacular NYC version in Times Square that’s become one of the city’s must-see sights. New York and world notables from film, television, music, politics, history and sports are represented in themed displays. Open 365 days a year from 10am. $35; $32 (seniors); $28 (4-12). 234 W. 42nd St. (Seventh-Eighth Aves.), 800-246-8872; www.madametussauds.com/newyork Madison Square Garden All-Access Tour – The one-hour guided tour features backstage and onstage at the Garden, locker rooms, dressing rooms, & more. Group discounts are available. Tours operate daily, approx. every halfhour: Mon.-Sat., 10am-3pm; Sun., 11am-3pm. $17; under 12, $12. Group and student rates available. 4 Pennsylvania Plaza (Seventh Ave. & 32nd St.), info: 212-465-5800; groups: 212-465-6080; thegarden.com/about/all-access-tour.html NBC Universal Store / Studio Tour – Stroll through the halls of NBC, the NBC History Theatre, and the studios of some of NBC’s most popular shows, including “SNL,” “The Today Show,” and others. Tours run every
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15-30 minutes, seven days a week. Reservations recommended. The NBC Universal Store is open Mon.-Sat., 8am-7pm; Sun., 9am-6pm. 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 49th St. btw. Fifth & Sixth Aves., 212-664-3700; nbcuniversalstore.com The New York Botanical Garden – Offering a variety of gardens and collections and events, courses and exhibitions, year-round. Current events include: The Orchid Show: Cuba in Flower (through 4/11); Emily Dickinson’s Garden: The Poetry of Flowers (5/1-6/13). Bronx River Parkway (Exit 7W at Fordham Rd.), The Bronx, or by Metro-North Railroad to Botanical Garden Station, 718-817-8700; nybg.org OnBoard Tours – NYC’s most comprehensive 5-1/2-hour tour combines driving and short walks with a ferry cruise past the Statue of Liberty. Stops include the World Trade Center site, Rockefeller Center, and the Empire State Building. 212-277-8019; onboardnewyorktours.com NY SKYRIDE – A combination of movie-motion and sights rolled up into NY’s only aerial virtual tour simulator. Guide Kevin Bacon takes you on an adventure above, through, and underneath New York. An IMAX®-style digital presentation combining HD technology, custom-designed seats, and a 6-meter/18-foot screen. Open daily at 8am. Empire State Building, 350 Fifth Ave. (33rd St.), 2nd floor, 212-279-9777; skyride.com Radio City Music Hall – Get an exclusive look at the legendary hall. And as a bonus, you’ll meet one of the world-famous Rockettes. Daily, 11am-3pm. $17; seniors, $14; under 12, $10. Tickets sold at the Radio City Avenue Store on the day of the tour. Advance tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster and the Box Office only. 1260 Sixth Ave. (50 St.), 212-307-7171; radiocity.com Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square – Ripley’s showcases the oddities in life and delivers the ultimate in shockingly strange, true stories. Open daily,
9am-1am. 234 W. 42nd St. (Seventh-Eighth Aves.), 212-398-3133; ripleysnewyork.com South Street Seaport – Located in lower Manhattan, along the East River and adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge, the refurbished, 200-plus-year-old designated historic landmark is a thriving waterfront community encompassing 12 cobblestone blocks of restored 19th-century buildings, shops, and restaurants. Pier 17 (Water-Fulton Sts.), 212-SEA-PORT; southstreetseaport.com Staten Island Ferry - Free for pedestrians, leaving from South Ferry at the Battery, any day, any time. siferry.com Statue Cruises – The only provider of ferry transportation to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from Battery Park, as well as from Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Tickets: $12 adults/$10 seniors/$5 kids (with Audio Tour: $18/$16/$11). 877-523-9849; statuecruises.com Top of the Rock – 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s dazzling, 360-degree indoor and outdoor views are not exactly new –– in fact, it was open from 1933 to 1986. The brainchild of John D. Rockefeller, the original deck was designed to evoke the upper decks of a 1930s grand ocean liner. They’ve preserved the historic integrity of Rockefeller’s creation while incorporating innovative features, and three decks featuring outdoor terraces and indoor space. Open daily, 8am-midnight. Reserved-time tickets available. 30 Rockefeller Center (W. 50th St. btw. Fifth & Sixth Aves.), 877-692-7625; topoftherocknyc.com United Nations – Multilingual guided tours normally leave every half hour Mon.-Fri., 9:30am-4:45pm. Call 212-963-7539 for a schedule of tours in other languages. $16; seniors & students, $11; children 5-14, $9. Children under five not admitted. First Ave. & 46th St., 212-963-8687; un.org/tours
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Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse Proprietor William Jack Degel - or Willie, as most people call him started in the restaurant business when he was 19, learning much of what would become his livelihood from his godfather, “Uncle Jack.” The name of his three New York City steakhouses is an homage to the man that taught him so much, and in 2005, at 37 years old, Degel was selected to Crain’s elite “40 Under 40.” Degel is a selfmade man who is constantly improving his restaurants, and espousing “quality should always come first” and “customer is king,” a motto that is actually emblazoned on the beautiful balcony of Uncle Jack’s 56th Street location. Popular with athletes and celebrities, Uncle Jack’s also boasts the members-only “Lifestyle Rewards Card,” which offers trips to Las Vegas or a Porsche with enough points earned.
Known the world over, ‘21’ is one of the most iconic and elegant dining destinations in New York City. Still the place to see and be seen, ‘21’, by Orient-Express, has been welcoming guests for over 80 years. There are two restaurants within ‘21,’ each offering something distinctively appealing. The heart of ‘21’ is the famous Bar Room with its collection of corporate logos and sports memorabilia suspended from the ceiling and its sophisticated yet fun setting. Superb American cuisine is featured in an extensive á la carte menu plus prix-fixed menus offering great value at both lunch and dinner. Executive Chef John Greeley balances classic ‘21’ dishes such as Dover Sole and New York’s best crab cakes with his own cutting-edge creations such as Vermont farm-raised lamb with creamed nettles, roasted eggplant and fingerling potatoes; and roasted halibut with shrimp, bay scallops, razor clams, bok choy, chanterelle and corn kernels. One flight above the Bar Room is the more intimate Upstairs at ‘21,’ acclaimed by the New York Times as New York’s most romantic restaurant. Enjoy wonderful cuisine and impeccable service in a formal setting adorned by four murals of scenic New York. ‘21’ also features one of the world’s most prized wine cellars, which has earned the Grand Award from Wine Spectator magazine. Among its 1,300 selections are more than 130 priced at $60 or less. For one of the city’s most comfortable meeting spots for cocktails, try the lounge at ‘21’ with its leather chairs and wood-burning fireplace. Men need jackets to dine but one can be provided if you are traveling. And please, no jeans or sneakers.
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’21’ Club also has 10 beautifully appointed private banquet rooms. No two are alike and these rooms are perfect for everything from a small corporate event to a large family celebration. Parties of 10 to 200 for lunch or dinner, and up to 400 for a reception can be accommodated to enjoy classic American cuisine, and experience service that is both caring and anticipating.
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LOCATION 21 West 52nd Street • 212-582-7200 (Private Dining: 212-582-1400) • 21club.com
Private dining is available for parties of 10 to 200 and menu options range from a three-course lunch for $49.50 per person to the lavish $150 eight-course tasting menu. NYC
‘21’ Club
The menu at Uncle Jack’s is classic steakhouse, with USDA Prime steaks hand-selected by Degel himself at center stage. All of the beef is butchered and dry-aged for 21-28 days in-house. Besides steak, there are a selection of market-fresh nightly specials like a 24-ounce Berkshire pork shank or what the menu calls an “eclectic menu” prepared by the Executive Chef and featuring free-range chicken, fresh seafood and oversized chops. Uncle Jack’s has always featured its own brand of 100% natural steak sauce made on site from Degel’s godfather’s recipe and it was also one of the first steakhouses in the United States to serve the now world-famous Kobe beef. Soon to be opening is Jack’s Burger Shack. Because of the caliber of beef that Degel hand selects for his steakhouses, the meat mix going into these prospective burgers promises to be sublime.
LOCATIONS 440 Ninth Avenue • 212-244-0005 44 West 56th Street • 212-245-1550 39-40 Bell Boulevard (Queens) • 718-229-1100 • unclejacks.com
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NEW YORK By Kristopher Carpenter
“My favorite feature of Le Caprice is most definitely the bar. It’s a beautiful, relaxed place to eat that is not too formal, where you can have a light bite or a good threecourse meal while taking in all of the atmosphere of the restaurant.” – Michael Hartnell, Executive Chef
The East Side Social Club New: Opened in November, 2009 Everything from the checkered tablecloths to the tacked-up photographs of families, celebrities and working-class folks from the golden age of “wise guys” serves to make this brand new purveyor of midtown Italian comfortable and familiar. Designed to reflect their Italian-American heritage, Billy Gilroy – king of the well-known speakeasies Employees Only and the Macao Trading Co. – went into partnership with his son Devon and daughter Grace for the first true restaurant in his cache. Grace takes bubbly care of the front of the house while her brother mixes up homemade Italian staples like ricotta gnocchi with a meaty Bolognese ragu, as well as more innovative dishes like short rib and foie gras raviolini in the back. An egg-yolk-centered raviolo was one of the nightly specials in early January and has since been permanently added to the menu. When cut, this oversized ravoli yields a bright yellow egg yolk from its pasta casing to provide a sauce of sorts, and this trendy-for-good-reason specialty is fast becoming a regular in New York Italian. The ideal meal is an order from each of the appetizers, and pasta sections finished with the Meyer lemon tart with vanilla cream and blood orange sorbetto. Another great option, if you’re in a meat mood, is the Piedmontese grilled 30-ounce Porterhouse for two, complete with two side dishes. Billy’s liquor-centric influences are apparent in the impressive cocktail list including the blood & sand: a whiskey-driven dazzler with Chivas Regal, cherry liqueur, orange juice, and vermouth. NYC
Image by James McDonald, Courtesy of Martin Brudnizki Design Studio
“I love the décor we’ve created, from the checkered tablecloths to the photos. It gives the feeling that this is a family-run place - which it is. I love having my brother Devon in the kitchen, too.” – Grace Gilroy, Partner/General Manager
LOCATION 230 East 51st Street • 212-355-9442 • esscnyc.com
Le Caprice New: (Expansion to New York), opened in October, 2009 Imported from the Piccadilly area of London, Le Caprice New York is one of the newest in Richard Caring’s collection of restaurants that now totals a baker’s dozen. The London-based restaurateur’s first foray into New York has found a cozy home in the newly renovated Pierre Hotel. The design by Martin Brudnizki tends toward modern, but the signature blackand-white décor gives Le Caprice a distinct air of formality (if entering from 5th Avenue at Central Park didn’t do the trick), which strikes a nice balance between old- and new-world luxury stylings.
[ Devon, Frank and Grace Gilroy ]
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The dishes certainly have a few noticeably British influences, the most obvious being fish and chips with minted pea purée and tartar sauce. But the menu is greatly varied from the one in London with specialties like truffles, coco beans, and lamb. Of course, any Londoner will tell you that Le Caprice is a brunch staple in England, and true to its roots, Le Caprice New York offers a wide array of spectacular brunch fare like New York State foie gras with duck egg and chanterelles, roast rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding, and of course, waffles with bacon and maple syrup if you’re craving something a bit closer to center. For sweets, try the chocolate fondant with pistachio ice cream or the Brooklyn ricotta cheesecake with citrus compote. LOCATION 795 Fifth Avenue (In the Pierre Hotel) • 212-940-8195 • capriceny.com
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“[One of my] my favorite things is the electronic Wine Bar, because our guests are welcomed by a gorgeous curtain of Swarovski crystals and can try up to 24 wines by the glass in our electronic wine-dispensing system.” – Marisa May, co-owner SD26
SD26 Improved: (Formerly San Domenico) opened in September, 2009
Improved: (Renovated, new chef), reopened in November 2009 Cru was certainly gouged by the economic implosion of ’09, but as did many New York City restaurants, it adapted and survived; emerging with slightly lower prices, a renovated dining room, and a new Executive Chef/Partner in Todd Macdonald. A former sous chef under Cru’s lauded Shea Gallante, Chef Macdonald was called back to Cru as a major part of their re-engineering following Gallante’s departure in June of last year. Awarded three stars by the New York Times’ Frank Bruni in October 2004, Cru has overhauled the dining room, kitchen, and price points. According to the daily foodie-focused email Tasting Table, “While maintaining its formal airs, this wine-enthusiast's haunt has let its hair down a bit.”
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Boasting nearly 200,000 bottles, geographically organized, Cru prides itself on its wine list, and ability to pair wine with any meal. The a la carte menu offers delectable choices like jambon persillade with tomato conserve, mustard seed, and country bread, or corianderscented skate with crispy hen of the woods, green lentils, and kabocha squash. But for the full Cru experience, Chef Macdonald will create a custom 6-course menu that might go something like this: Fennel-cured ocean trout paired with Sauvignon Blanc followed by the glazed octopus and the Rioja Crianza ‘Viña Gravonia.’ Next up could be the roasted shallot broth with comte dumplings paired with a Pinot Noir, followed by the beef short rib with a Gigondas wine. The cheese course contains a La Serena sheep’s milk cheese from Spain served with apple butter and a Juraçon ‘Symphonie de Novembre’ vintage. For dessert, a fallen chocolate souffle with passion-fruit curd, ginger, and buttermilk sorbet paired with a Pedro Ximenez sherry. And that’s just an example.
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LOCATION 24 Fifth Avenue • 212-529-1700 • cru-nyc.com
LOCATION 19 East 26th Street • 212-265-5959 • sd26ny.com
Robert Caplin
Cru
The cuisine has changed fairly drastically but mostly in presentation, with the most highly touted menu items at SD26 being their pastas which have always been legendary. But there are certainly some colorful additions, like veal sweetbreads with coffee essence olive oil, and baby turnips as well as Octopus carpaccio with sundried tomato and fine herbs. The salumeria and formaggeria sections of the menu get much more attention than they did at San Domenico so much in fact that you can actually purchase them to-go from a separate part of the restaurant. The metamorphoses from San Domenico into SD26 can be summed up simply thus: it looks vastly different, but tastes very familiar. NYC
“Obviously, Cru’s wine program is and has always been my favorite feature. We offer two leather-bound wine volumes, both red and white with over 4,500 selections. It offers the greatest wine makers from Burgundy, The Rhone Valley, Champagne, Bordeaux, Germany and Austria. Combined with our Modern European menu, Cru is the perfect destination for the gastronomic oenophile.” – Robert Bohr, Wine Director
Tony May, born Antonio Magliulo near Naples, Italy, made it to New York in 1963 and set about changing the landscape of New York City Italian forever. In 1988, his first restaurant as a proprietor, San Domenico, opened at 240 Central Park South, just a few yards from Columbus Circle and for two decades shone as a beacon of what New York City Italian should be. But as the famous song by Bob Dylan goes, “the times they are a-changin’,” so in late 2008, Tony May and his effervescent daughter/partner Marisa decided it was time to saddle up to another park: Madison Square Park. Their new location on 26th Street is really a different restaurant altogether, keeping only the initials of the former flagship eatery in homage. SD26 has three-levels, 14,000 square feet, and its 300 seats are double the allotment they had at San Domenico. Tony, although still a dapper gent at 73, has largely turned the reins over to Marisa, and it shows in the sleek new décor by designer Massimo Vignelli, and the younger Flatiron District clientele.
[ Marisa May and Tony May ]
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“My favorite thing is that I think we’ve struck the perfect balance between wonderful food and décor that creates a great vibe in the room. I think that’s what makes for a complete dining experience and I know that’s what we had in mind when coming up with the Abe & Arthur’s concept.” – Mark Birnbaum, co-owner
Abe & Arthur’s New: Opened in October, 2009 Partners Michael Hirtenstein, Mark Birnbaum, and Eugene Remm are no strangers to the world of ownership and property management. With a portfolio of establishments that includes The Chandelier Room in the brand new W Hoboken Hotel & Residences, The Estate, a private residence/Hamptons playground, and the nightclub hotspot Tenjune, they’re no strangers to “the scene.” But Abe & Arthur’s represents their first foray into the world of restaurants. Named after Birnbaum and Hirtenstein’s respective grandfathers, the trio created Abe & Arthur’s as a nostalgic homage to New York dining in the ’30s and ’40s and a tribute to their familial legacy. Further proving this was the idea, the restaurant’s moniker isn’t the only place a family member’s name shows up - Beth’s Meatballs are covered in a tasty sweet-and-sour sauce inspired by a recipe from Birnbaum’s mother.
Tipsy Parson New: Opened in October, 2009 There are a few undeniable facts about Tipsy Parson owners Tasha Garcia Gibson and Julie Taras Wallach. First, they both have three names. Second, they have a knack for creating an atmosphere both with décor and cuisine where it’s very easy to eat, and eat more than one person really ought to. Their first restaurant, Little Giant at 85 Orchard Street, is largely credited with making deviled eggs popular in New York again, and the same level of comfort found in such a simple thing pervades Little Giant and now, Tipsy Parson. Both of these oftencrowded restaurants (especially Tipsy Parson) manage to feel welcoming even when enduring a wait for a table, or sandwiched between two Chelsea-ites trying to order a drink. The bar at Tipsy Parson is the first thing one sees upon entering – a slab of light gray stone making an L that runs nearly the length of the room on the long side. All the better for serving up a large cocktail list, my dear - including a nicely balanced old fashioned, and a crisp house martini made with a magnificent small-batch gin from San Francisco.
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The food at Tipsy Parson is Southern style with some haute touches thrown in, and is best enjoyed in a series of dishes shared with a dining companion. The deviled eggs are here, along with some stick-to-yourribs additions like chicken-fried chicken livers accompanied by sweet green tomato marmalade for dipping, and sticky-spicy lamb ribs that fall right off the bone with the first bite. Get these along with a country ham salad, catfish with warm horseradish-mustard potatoes and lemon braised leeks (with an optional side of mac and cheese) and the hardest part will be deciding when to eat which. Tipsy Parson also offers a sumptuous brunch with Southern classics like pig in a poke and biscuits and gravy joining a lineup of slightly modified familiars such as lemon cornmeal pancakes with blueberry syrup and a pimento cheeseburger with pimento cheese, bacon, and fried pickles. LOCATION 156 Ninth Avenue • 212-620-4545 • tipsyparson.com
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“It may sound funny but much like you would at your home or apartment, I really like our bathrooms. Julie and I put a lot of thought into designing them, they’re comfortable and private, and I wish I had one just like it at home!” – Tasha Garcia Gibson, co-owner
This is good old-fashioned American food in a sleek, swanky setting. There’s not much window dressing on the cuisine, however the Meatpacking District clientele will usually give you something to look at. A fresh, seasonal raw bar makes for a nice accompaniment to Abe & Arthur’s meat arsenal which includes filet mignon, NY strip and a dry-aged porterhouse, all with a choice of five different housebrewed steak sauces. There are further options to gussy up your selected steak as well – ask for it “Oscar” and you’ll get lump crabmeat, asparagus, and hollandaise. Ask for it “Wellington” and you’ll get puff pastry, mushrooms, foie gras and truffles. For some lavish surf rather than turf, get the tuna tartare tacos. To end the meal, an inventive cookies-and-cream soufflé or the French toast bread pudding will do the trick. Wash it all down with a Bohemian Club (Grey Goose vodka, Elderflower liqueur, mint and champagne) and it’s back out into the night. LOCATION 409 West 14th Street • 646-289-3930 • abeandarthurs.com
[ Michael Hirtenstein, Mark Birnbaum, Eugene Remm ]
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AMERICAN Aldea - Named after the Portuguese word for village, Aldea’s seasonal, New American menu is inspired by the Iberian Peninsula and Chef George Mendes’ heritage, including a variety of shellfish, various preparations of salt-cod, or bacalao, rice dishes and Iberian-cured hams. 31 W. 17th St., 212-675-7223; aldearestaurant.com Arabelle - A stunning backdrop for modern American cuisine. This elegant gold-domed room with Murano glass and brass chandeliers combines touches of Europe and Asia, as the chiffon-colored walls with murals of pagodas and faux conservatory windows create a serene and soothing mood. Sunday brunch is an event not to be missed: enjoy a buffet of steamed lobster, chilled shrimp, salads and sliced meats; then, order off of the entrée menu before attending the dessert buffet. Hotel Plaza Athénée, New York, 37 E. 64th St., 212-606-4647; arabellerestaurant.com Beacon - Feasting on cuisine cooked over a wood fire is an incomparably delicious experience, and at Beacon, it’s all about the flame. Waldy Malouf, chef and co-owner, wields flame as a culinary tool to enhance the bold flavors of his ingredients, employing a wood-burning oven, a rotisserie, and a grill to perfect his earthy, flavorful and inventive American fare. 25 W. 56th St., 212-332-0500; beaconnyc.com The Breslin Bar and Dining Room - The latest gastropub venture from the team behind the Spotted Pig and chef de cuisine Peter Cho, featuring full English breakfasts, decadent three-cheese-and-ham sandwiches, and some of the best fries in the city. For dinner, expect exquisite cuts of meat, sausages, and a variety of terrines. Ace Hotel, 20 W. 29th St., 212-679-2222; thebreslin.com City Hall Restaurant - City Hall Restaurant has been a crowd pleaser since opening in 1998. Just a few blocks from “the other City Hall,” this sophisticated Tribeca mainstay blends 21st-century elegance with rustic New York charm. Chef/owner Henry Meer brings almost 30 years of experience to the table in the form of surf, turf, and his claim to “the best burger in town.” 131 Duane St. (West Broadway-Church St.), 212-227-7777; cityhallnewyork.com David Burke at Bloomingdale’s - The ultimate in culinary cafes, David Burke brings his signature creations to this upscale but casual setting. Nothing satisfies the shop-till-you-drop appetite like the highly touted asiago truffle fries, and for the dinner guest, every night of the week you’ll find a $24.07 three-course prix-fixe dinner. 150 E. 59th St., 212-705-3800; burkeinthebox.com David Burke Townhouse - The flagship of the Burke-ian fleet, this provocative and elegant Upper East Side resident has been turning heads and delighting patrons since 2003. As dishes—like the culinary marvel, the crisp & angry lobster “cocktail”—make their way through the dining room you’ll see that David’s flair for presentation is matched only by the food’s outstanding taste. 133 E. 61st St., 212-813-2121; davidburketownhouse.com Eleven Madison Park - Relive the glamorous era of Cole Porter and New York’s café society in the sleek, high-ceilinged elegance of what was once the cavernous Art Deco assembly hall of the old Met Life Building. The restaurant has that wonderful jazzy, streamlined look of the Roaring ’20s and the menu features American fare with an emphasis on sophisticated French classics. 11 Madison Ave. (24th St.), 212-889-0905; elevenmadisonpark.com Gotham Bar and Grill - The highly acclaimed haute cuisine of this dynamic, trendy downtown restaurant reflects the Post-Modernist, converted warehouse setting. Chef Alfred Portale creates dazzling visual and provocative culinary effects with his superb, contemporary meals, piled whimsically skyscraper-like onto plates, including one of the city’s best seafood salads. 12 E. 12th St., 212-620-4020; gothambarandgrill.com
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Gramercy Tavern - This classic American tavern offers extraordinary cuisine and hospitality in a historic landmark, featuring contemporary American
fare with French and Italian overtones in a dining room that recalls a country estate. 42 E. 20th St., 212-477-0777; gramercytavern.com Istana - Inventive, creatively presented bistro-style cuisine, including an array of á la carte appetizers, entrées, and desserts complemented by seasonal specialties, in a relaxed atmosphere. New York Palace Hotel, 455 Madison Ave. (51st St.), 212-303-6032; newyorkpalace.com Marc Forgione - Chef Marc Forgione presents laid-back, high-style New American cuisine in an energetic atmosphere. The frequently changing menu showcases fresh ingredients and new twists on seasonal favorites. 134 Reade St. (Greenwich-Hudson Sts.), 212-941-9401; forgenyc.com Métrazur - A progressive American brasserie with Mediterranean flavors, located in Grand Central Terminal, with views of the sky ceiling. The menu features the famous Caesar salad, a bounty of fresh seafood, and a popular oyster tasting. Grand Central Terminal, 42nd St. & Lexington Ave., 212-687-4600; charliepalmer.com/metrazur The Oak Room - This legendary landmark, which reopened in November 2008 after major renovations, now features the work of chef Eric Hara, who brings his special touch to the classic American menu. 10 Central Park So. (Fifth Ave.), 212-758-7777; oakroomny.com Rouge Tomate - This striking space of rich natural wood, plush booths and a cranberry pool complete with a sexy bar and lounge offers a refuge for the urban set. Chef Bearman’s Modern American cuisine touts impeccably created dishes that utilize local purveyors and sustainable ingredients. 10 E. 60th St., 646-237-8977; rougetomate.com 21 Club - One of the most iconic and elegant dining destinations in NYC. Executive Chef John Greeley balances classic ‘21’ dishes such as Dover Sole and New York’s best crab cakes with his own cutting-edge creations such as Vermont farm-raised lamb with creamed nettles, roasted eggplant and fingerling potatoes; and roasted halibut with shrimp, bay scallops, razor clams, bok choy, chanterelle and corn kernels. Dine in either the famous Bar Room or romantic Upstairs at ‘21’; or host an event in one of their ten private banquet rooms. Jacket required. 21 W. 52nd St., 212-582-7200; 21club.com Union Square Cafe - By day, this is one of the most red-hot business-lunch spots in the city; by night, it’s a casual, popular bistro. Owner Danny Meyer, chef Michael Romano, and executive chef Carmen Quagliata oversee this smash hit, serving American cuisine with an Italian soul. 21 E. 16th St. (Union Sq. West-Fifth Ave.), 212-243-4020; unionsquarecafe.com Vince & Eddie’s - Located near Lincoln Center, this cozy spot offers upscale American comfort food, including beef stew, lamb shank, and much more. The glass-enclosed courtyard garden and fireplace make it a charming destination during any season. 70 W 68th St. (Columbus Ave.-Central Park West), 212-721-0068; unionsquarecafe.com The Waverly Inn - Graydon Carter’s tough-to-get-into, low-lit celebrity favorite featuring traditonal American fare, such as salmon tartare, Dover sole, and the popular “Waverly Burger.” 16 Bank St. (Waverly Pl.), 212-243-7900
ASIAN Bann - Young Choi, owner of Woo Lae Oak, got even more creative with Bann, the city’s highest-rated Korean restaurant according to Zagat. While the décor evokes Korea—the elegant, cool ambiance is characterized by the hand-crafted copper bar and marble tables, with the flickering flames of smokeless barbecue grills in the center of each table—the fare is very eclectic. 350 W. 50th St., 212-582-4446; bannrestaurant.com Le Colonial - Authentic French-Vietnamese cuisine in an atmosphere that is reminiscent of Southeast Asia in the early 20th century. The menu emphasizes vegetables, fresh seafood, meats, and an artful use of herbs and spices, and the dishes are inventively light, low in fat, visually arresting and vividly (yet mostly mildly) flavored. 149 E. 57th St., 212-752-0808; lecolonialnyc.com
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DINING WITH
[ Selections from the menu at The Modern ]
museums are a don’t- miss for palate pleasing
By Emily M. Stone
New York museums continue to add another medium of brilliance to their list of treasures: elegant dining – the newest example is The Wright at the Guggenheim. Meals at the museums provide an artful atmosphere reflecting the timeless works within. Here’s a sample of what’s available:
The Wright Guggenheim Museum • 1071 Fifth Ave at 89th Street • 212-427-5690 • guggenheim.org
Commissioned specifically for the museum and designed by architect Andre Kikoski, The Wright at the Guggenheim is innovative and contemporary. There are 58 seats and a communal table where diners can enjoy a full menu of local, sustainable, and seasonal ingredients that Executive Chef Rodolfo Contreras, a protégé of David Bouley, selects from farms and markets in the area. Six appetizers and seven entrees offer a range of selections from mixed greens to oysters on the half shell and skate to short ribs. For dessert, the decadence of the mango mousse is accompanied by an exotic fruit salad, coconut foam, and margarita sorbet. Lunch, Friday through Wednesday, 11:30 am to 3:30pm, dinner, Thursday through Saturday, 5:30 to 11pm. Brunch, Sundays 11am to 5pm.
The Modern
[ The Wright at the Guggenheim ]
Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) • 9 West 53rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenue • 212-333-1220 • themodernnyc.com
Gabriel Kreuther, a recent recipient of the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef, designs an array of dishes to mesmerize the palate. Architects Bentel & Bentel created an atmosphere stirred by the Bauhaus movement in two separate dining areas. In the Bar Room, a menu of Alsatian cuisine permits a distinctly unusual experience. Guests enjoy a more casual environment while sitting beneath the sole element of art, Thomas Demand’s photograph “Clearing,” and a menu designed from a single plate to a multicourse tasting. In The Dining Room, the simplicity of the décor, in mostly blacks and whites, has a touch of color from a fresh flower at each table. Concentrated flavors, created from seasonal ingredients, are complemented by a wine list of over 900 international bottles. Begin with the poached farm fresh egg accompanied by artichoke puree, Honshimeji mushrooms, and pimento nage followed with a lemon-dusted veal sweetbread. Finish the evening off with the milk chocolate and hazelnut dacquoise with raspberry sorbet. Open Monday through Friday, noon to 2pm for lunch. Dinner, Monday through Thursday, 5:30 to 10:30pm and Friday and Saturday, 5:30 to 11pm.
Café Sabarsky
Neue Galerie • 1048 Fifth Ave at 86th Street • 212- 288-0665 • neuegalerie.org
The Neue Galerie is considered one of the most distinguished buildings lining Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue and is dedicated to the art created in Austria and Germany during the 20th century. A dining room that seats 68 was designed to resemble the cafés of Vienna that served as the epicenter for artistic and intellectual thought. Elegant sconces created by Josef Hoffmann illuminate the Adolf Loos furniture and banquettes are upholstered with Otto Wagner’s 1912 fabric. Visitors can experience a little bit of Europe with daily concerts of German and Austrian musical scores from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, played on a grand piano. The Viennese-inspired cuisine is complemented by a diverse selection of Eastern European wines and beers. Enjoy a hearty spaetzel with wild mushrooms, peas, sweet corn, and tarragon. An array of desserts includes Sachertorte, the classic Viennese dark chocolate cake, apple strudel, and a unique layered biscuit called Dobostorte. Open Monday and Wednesday, 9am to 6pm and Thursday through Sunday, 9am to 9pm.
Robert
Museum of Art and Design • 2 Columbus Circle • 212-299-7730 • robertnyc.com or madmuseum.org
Opened in the fall of 2008, the Museum of Art and Design’s new building is an artistic display of architecture and craft gracefully reflecting the exhibits inside. With eight floors, the museum celebrates all fields of craft, art, and design. Providing stunning views of Columbus Circle and up through Central Park, the ninth floor restaurant Robert presents elegant dishes. Begin with the unique cocktails like the Mad Manhattan or Venetian Sparkler, while relaxing on the sofas in the lounge area. Enjoy the charred octopus with gaeta olives, fennel, parsley and preserved lemon vinaigrette as an appetizer and follow with the colorful tagliatelle with lobster, cherry tomatoes, corn and purple basil or the seared diver sea scallops with a cauliflower-apple puree, young bok choy, and wild mushrooms. Leave room for the Tuscan dessert of Brady’s bomboloni, a plate of cinnamon dusted, ricotta-filled fritters with a trio of dipping sauces. Open daily: lunch, 11am until 3pm, when tea service begins; dinner, 5pm to midnight; lounge stays open until 2am.
The Patrons Lounge
The Metropolitan Museum • 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street • 212-570-3828 • metmuseum.org
With its Central Park location, the Met has become a destination for the visionary cuisine served in the Patrons Lounge. The Lounge, in the Henry R. Kravis Wing on the fourth floor, is a quiet space is filled with beautiful antiques and it allows the members to take in the exquisite panoramic view of the park. A light menu is served after 4:30pm on Friday and Saturday and features an array of artisanal cheeses, citrus-cured smoked salmon accompanied by sevruga caviar, as well as charcuterie of duck and green peppercorn pâté. An afternoon tea is available by reservation only from Tuesday to Sunday from 2:30pm until 4pm. Only museum members at the President’s Circle, Patron Circle, Patron, and Sponsor level are invited to enjoy the Patrons Lounge. Reopening in March is the Trustees Dining Room which also caters exclusively to museum members. A newly renovated kitchen, headed by Executive Chef Fred Sabo and award-winning Pastry Chef Randy Eastman, will offer a prix-fixe menu of two plates with all items also available a la carte: Some samples include a warm goat cheese and cherry tomato tart and pan-roasted Atlantic halibut.
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Pranna - Chef Chai Trivedi adds his own special touch to the flavors of modern Southeast Asian cuisine in a wide-open, opulent space. The satays are especially popular, while the menu also includes dishes from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and India. 79 Madison Ave. (28th St.), 212-696-5700; prannarestaurant.com Spice Market - Stepping into this Meatpacking District retreat will transport you into a world of Eastern exotica, far from New York’s urban hustle and bustle. The airy, two-level room features teak floors from a 200-year-old Bombay palace, and custom-made, colonial-style furniture. Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten draws inspiration from the best of the region’s street food and gives it a New York spin. 403 W. 13th St., 212-675-2223; jean-georges.com Sugiyama - Even New York’s most knowledgeable Japanese- cuisine aficionados are astonished by the authenticity of chef-owner Nao Sugiyama’s creations, which are his own interpretation of the traditional Kaiseki meals— multi-course, prix-fixe dinners that range from the mini-Kaiseki to a majestic 14-course extravaganza—all personally prepared behind an open counter. 251 W. 55th St., 212-956-0670; sugiyama-nyc.com Tse Yang Restaurant - The serenely elegant Tse Yang lives up to its name, an exclusive epicurean “Center of the Sun” boasting authentic, Northern Chinese seasonal dishes created from fresh local and imported ingredients and served European-style. 34 E. 51st St., 212-688-5447 Woo Lae Oak - Featuring upscale, radically innovative Korean fare in a sleek, cool interior in the heart of SoHo. The dishes, which fuse traditional elements with a modern flair, have garnered praise and popularity in equal measure. 148 Mercer St. (Prince St.), 212-925-8200; woolaeoaksoho.com
CONTINENTAL Delmonico’s - Founded in 1837, Delmonico’s was the country’s first finedining establishment, introducing haute cuisine, wine lists, and menus written in French to the United States. It has been returned to its former glory in its stately landmark premises in the Financial District, with dark mahogany and period murals that evoke the restaurant’s legendary days as the favorite haunt of the city’s power brokers. Private dining rooms available. 56 Beaver St. (William St.), 212-509-1144; delmonicosny.com The Four Seasons - A spectacularly beautiful restaurant serving excellent international cuisine. As seasons change, so do the menu and decor. One of America’s most complete wine lists. We strongly recommend that you make your reservation at least 5 to 7 days in advance. 99 E. 52nd St., 212-754-9494; fourseasonsrestaurant.com One If By Land, Two If By Sea - Consistently rated one of the most
romantic restaurants in New York. Located in a converted carriage house, with two fireplaces and a pianist playing in the background, it’s like dining in an aristocrat’s extravagant living room. 17 Barrow St. (Seventh Ave.W. 4th St.), 212-228-0822; oneifbyland.com Opia - This plush and popular Midtown oasis offers a total New York experience with creative food and wines from around the world. The menu includes American, French and international specialties such as a full sushi bar serving the freshest sashimi, maki rolls, and cones. 130 E. 57th St., 212-688-3939; opiarestaurant.com
DELIS Carnegie Deli - For the truly robust appetite in search of the quintessential New York eating experience, the Carnegie has been offering delicious gigantic sandwiches in the hotel and Theater District since 1937. One of the world’s most famous and busiest delis, and a required culinary stop on any visit, they specialize in over-sized portions of the whole range of scrumptious deli food— from Jewish-style meats to smoked white fish and cheese blintzes. 854 Seventh Ave. (55th St.), 212-757-2245; carnegiedeli.com Katz’s Delicatessen - Sometimes it’s best to leave a classic alone, as in the case of the famous Katz’s Deli. This near-mythic legendary restaurant has been serving half-pound sandwiches of hot pastrami and corned beef, plump grilled franks, knishes, matzoh ball soup, and other favorite deli fare since 1888. Open 24 hours. 205 E. Houston St. (Ludlow St.), 212-254-2246; katzdeli.com 2nd Ave Deli - After more than 50 years in the East Village, the famed deli has relocated to the east side of Midtown, and returned with all its famous certifiedkosher delights intact. Traditional favorites include corned beef, pastrami, and the world-famous chicken matzoh ball soup. Open 24 hours. 162 E. 33rd St., 212-689-9000; 2ndavedeli.com
ENGLISH Le Caprice - The New York outpost of the famous London restaurant captures the simple elegance of the original, serving long-standing modern European favourites within a specially designed New York menu. Pierre Hotel, 795 Fifth Ave. (61st St.), 212-940-8195; lecapriceny.com
FRENCH/FRENCH BISTRO Adour Alain Ducasse - The famed French chef combines traditional French cooking with local flavors, resulting in elegant dishes with rich textures and new aromas. Both new and experienced oenophiles will be
The romance and elegance of Venetian design meets the rich tradition of Northern Italian cuisine at Remi. Dining here is a bit like embarking on a luxury cruise through Venice, with a stunning mural of a grand canal, flying buttress archways, Brazilian cherry-striped floors, and glass chandeliers. The endless menu features a wide variety of antipasti and salads, homemade pastas, and classic signature dishes like the Spaghetti Remi, prepared al dente with oven-dried tomatoes, garlic and hot pepper and Venetian-style calf liver sauteed with onions and served on polenta. 145 W. 53rd St., 212-581-4242 (212-757-7610 for private parties); remi-ny.com
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delighted by the cutting-edge interactive wine bar, where they can discover a wine’s “essentials,” including origin, producer, variety—and of course, its best matching dish. St. Regis Hotel, 2 E. 55th St., 212-710-2277; adour-stregis.com Bistro Bagatelle - A southern French bistro in the Meatpacking District. “Sophisticated comfort foods” include bouillabaisse, boeuf Bourguignon, and classics like steak au poivre with pomme frites. 409 W. 13th St., 212-675-2400; bistrotbagatelle.com
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tavern. 113 MacDougal St. (Bleecker St.), 212-475-3850; minettatavernny.com
Operated by Danny Meyer. 11 W. 53rd St., 212-333-1220; themodernnyc.com
The Modern at MoMA - As sleek, elegant, and contemporary as the MoMA that houses it, The Modern features original French-American cuisine by chef Gabriel Kreuther. Enjoy fine dining in the main room—overlooking the sculpture garden and visible from the street through a long glass wall—or a more casual menu at the curved marble bar in the Bar Room.
Nice Matin - With warm colors, chic light fixtures, and plush chairs, this gorgeous space is lively, yet still conducive to easy conversation. The wine list and the cocktails are imaginative. 201 W. 79th St., 212-873-6423; nicematinnyc.com Orsay - This Upper East Side brasserie features a classic Art Nouveau interior, using rich woods,
Bouley - Legendary French chef David Bouley's landmark in fine dining. Sample such delicacies as venison with poached pear, Swiss chard and chocolate sauce, or Long Island duckling with vanillaglazed turnips, chestnuts and Armagnac sauce. 163 Duane St. (Hudson St.), 212-964-2525; bouley.net Daniel - One of the rare restaurants with a fourstar rating by The New York Times, Daniel marries neighborhood hominess with a contemporary French menu inspired by the seasons and the market, in a Renaissance-inspired dining room. 60 E. 65th St., 212-288-0033; danielnyc.com Felix - Some of the SoHo’s finest French food, lovingly prepared and served in a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere, where prewar photos from France adorn the walls. 340 West Broadway (Grand St.), 212-431-0021; felixnyc.com Gascogne - Reflecting the hospitality, joie de vivre, and hearty regional fare of Gascony is this Gallic jewel. The décor is a blend of rustic French and candlelit romance. It is almost de rigueur to end the evening with a glass of fine Armagnac, the region’s most famous spirit. 158 Eighth Ave. (17th-18th Sts.), 212-675-6564; gascognenyc.com Jean Georges - Contemporary French works of art created by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. There is both a formal dining room and the more casual Nougatine Room. Reservations are generally taken one month in advance. Jacket and tie required. Trump International Hotel, 1 Central Park West (60th-61st Sts.), 212-299-3900; jean-georges.com La Grenouille - One of the last hold-outs in the rarified world of fine French dining in New York, La Grenouille continues to attract patrons in search of its flawless, Gallic cuisine. The menu offers the classic cuisine that guests have appreciated since the restaurant opened in 1962, featuring frogs’ legs, Burgundy-braised oxtail, and chicken in champagne sauce. Jacket required. 3 E. 52nd St., 212-752-1495; la-grenouille. com Minetta Tavern - This Greenwich Village landmark—opened in 1937 and frequented by the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Eugene O’Neill, e. e. cummings, and Dylan Thomas—was renovated in 2008 and has become known as one of the city’s finest restaurants, a Parisian steakhouse meets New York City
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traditional moldings, and mirrors. The menu marries modern French and classic fare with an award-winning wine list dominated by French and American varietals. 1057 Lexington Ave. (75th St.), 212-517-6400; orsayrestaurant.com
seamless service, and, most of all, consistency. Top dishes include tagliolini lobster, ravioli massala, osso buco, and papardelle al telefono, just to name a few. And don’t miss out on dessert—the tiramisu della Bice is one of the best in the city. 7 E. 54th St. (Madison-Fifth Aves.), 212-688-1999; bicenewyork.com
INDIAN
Del Posto - Joe Bastianich, Lidia Bastianich and Mario Batali present a “trans-generational” expression of the evolution of cuisines with what is considered one of the greatest indoor spaces in the city with an ambiance filled with warmth buoyancy and lightheartedness of the Italian spirit. 85 Tenth Ave. (15th-16th Sts.), 212-497-8090; delposto.com
Dévi - Dévi brings together the talents of chefs Suvir Saran and Hemant Mathur, sharing the authentic flavors and spirit of Indian home cooking. Swathed in rich textiles, brightly colored lanterns, and wooden temple accents, Dévi is an experience that stimulates and delights. 8 E. 18th St., 212-691-1300; devinyc.com Tamarind - Authentic Indian cuisine, with a menu that include excellent vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, incredible spices, assorted handmade Indian breads, tandoori delights from their clay oven, and lamb, goat, beef, shrimp, and chicken entrées. 41 E. 22nd St., 212-674-7400; tamarindnyc.com Utsav Festive Indian Cuisine - With an elegant décor and excellent prices, this upscale Indian restaurant in the heart of Times Square provides relaxed dining in a spacious and serene setting. Their extensive lunch buffet and pre and post theatre prix fixe dinner will please carnivores and vegetarians alike. 1185 Sixth Ave. (enter at 46th St. btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.), 212-575-2525; utsavny.com
IRISH The Fitz - New Yorkers and visitors alike enjoy the lively bar and cozy European-style setting featuring both European and American favorites, as well as traditional Irish specialties. Known for its traditional Irish breakfast, served morning, noon, and night, Fitz is also very popular for private family gatherings for brunch or dinner of 10-60 people. Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel, 687 Lexington Ave. (56th-57th Sts.), 212-355-0100; fitzpatrickhotels.com Stella Maris - Chef/co-owner Darren Pettigrew has put a creative spin on European cuisine, drawing on his Irish heritage to re-vamp classics such as pea soup (cod fish instead of ham), and other signature dishes include smoked fish chowder, rabbit confit frisée with lentils and shallots, and Dublin-style cockles and mussels. 213 Front St. (Beekman-Peck Slip), 212-233-2417; stellamarisnyc.com
ITALIAN Bice Ristorante - Combining traditional and new trends in Northern Italian cuisine in an elegant-casual atmosphere, Bice Ristorante caters to a knowledgeable clientele seeking out superior versions of beloved Italian fare utilizing top-of-the-line ingredients, refined dishes, light-touch cooking,
Downtown Cipriani - This SoHo restaurant is part of New York’s extended Cipriani family, which includes Harry’s on Fifth, Rainbow by Cipriani at Rockefeller Plaza, and Cipriani 42nd Street. With its downtown spin, this eatery has a more casual menu and relaxed ambiance than its uptown cousins, offering sandwiches and ciabette, alongside main courses like the signature filet mignon with green peppercorn sauce. Don’t miss the world-famous Bellini, a cocktail of peach and prosecco. 376 West Broadway (Spring-Broome Sts.), 212-343-0999; cipriani.com Insieme - This Italian restaurant from Marco Canora, the man behind Hearth, has earned its Michelin star with perfectly prepared, uncomplicated dishes and sincere hospitality. The old and new worlds meet here in all areas, from the menu and wine, to the service and design. The Michelangelo Hotel, 777 Seventh Ave. (51st St.), 212-582-1310; restaurantinsieme.com Maialino - A Roman-style trattoria from Danny Meyer’s award-winning Union Square Hospitality Group (their first new restaurant since 2005), serving Roman-style cooking from Executive Chef Nick Anderer. Gramercy Park Hotel, 2 Lexington Ave. (21st St.), 212-777-2410; gramercyparkhotel.com Marea - Chef Michael White and restaurateur Chris Cannon’s third venture offers a fresh interpretation of Italian coastal cuisine, with dishes such as Santa Barbara sea urchin with lardo, lobster with burrata, eggplant funghetto and seaweed-marinated east coast halibut and sea scallops with endive and bagna cauda. 240 Central Park S. (Broadway), 212-582-5100; marea-nyc.com Otto Enoteca and Pizzeria - Otto offers a world of pizza, cooked on a griddle instead of in an oven, that ranges from traditional margheritas to more creative interpretations, like pizza topped with cured salt pork and fresh rosemary. Sample one of the bruschettas, antipasti, cheeses or delectable appetizers that include eggplant caponata or chickpea fritters. Selecting a wine shouldn’t be a problem with Otto’s list of nearly 500 Italian labels. 1 Fifth Ave. (8th St.), 212-995-9559; ottopizzeria.com Patsy’s - Considered one of the greatest attractions in the Theatre District, renowned for its celebrity clientele (it was Frank Sinatra’s favorite), this landmark has been family-run since 1944. The Neapolitan cuisine is
One of the original men of meat, Ben Benson has been in the restaurant game since the late 1960s and running his eponymous Steak House since 1982. At Ben Benson’s, the steaks are expertly prepared, using only the freshest market ingredients, but what really sets the restaurant apart is the menu: "We've got five different veal dishes, four different chicken dishes, and six seafood dishes” said Benson of his own menu. A sentiment that Esquire echoed: "Ben Benson's menu has range," like wild game, pork chops with homemade applesauce, and triple lamb chops that round out the meat spectrum, and a bevy of salads, sides and seafood – a menu that's perfect for first timers and regulars alike. 123 W. 52nd St., 212-581-8888; benbensons.com
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heavenly, including succulent veal chops Siciliano, spicy lobster fra diavolo, savory calamari stuffed with seafood, and much more. A “must go” New York favorite. 236 W. 56th St., 212-247-3491; patsys.com
Japanese tea ceremony. Both the dishes and food change with the seasons. The elegant, comfortable Tatami rooms feature perfect presentation and flawless service. Kitano Hotel, 66 Park Ave. (38th St.), 212-885-7111; kitano.com/hakubai.html
Remi - Remi restaurant, created by designer Adam D. Tihany, combines the rich traditions of Venetian cuisine with the romance and elegance of Venetian design and architecture in an updated and innovative style. Often rated among the top Italian restaurants in NYC, if not the entire U.S. 145 W. 53rd St., 212-581-4242; remi-ny.com
Inakaya - The first New York City outpost of the renowned 39-year-old eatery in Roppongi, Tokyo. A traditional robatayaki restaurant, Inakaya features Japanese barbecue cooked right in front of you by chefs that shuttle the dishes at you via long wooden paddles. Everything is larger than life and theatrical, from the shouts that greet
you when you enter to the enormous dining bar to the elaborate costumes worn by the waiters. 231 W. 40th St., 212-354-2195; inakayany.com Masa - This four-star restaurant is making waves among sushi aficionados. Evoking the quiet aura of a rare temple, the décor is every bit as simple and elegant as the fish, prepared with painstaking care by the staff. Sit at the 27-footlong sushi bar, where you can watch owner Masa Takayama at work. Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle (60th St.), 4th Floor, 212-823-9800; masanyc.com
Salute! - This Murray Hill staple has been attracting a steady stream of clientele with its mix of sleek sophistication and Italian/ Mediterranean cuisine for over a decade, merging old-world tradition with contemporary flair. The menu features authentic homemade pastas, savory seafood, brick-oven pizzas, and healthy gourmet delights. 270 Madison Ave. (39th St.), 212-213-3440; salutenyc.com SD26 Restaurant & WineBar - Tony May of San Domenico fame (which closed in 2008) has returned to the contemporary-Italian scene with this theatrical Flatiron space and a modern, American spin on Mediterranean food and wine. 19 E. 26th St., 212-265-5959; sd26ny.com Sfoglia - Famous for their location on Nantucket, Sfoglia has an outpost on the Upper East Side. The Renaissance-influenced menu features samplings of antipasto, plates of their renowned pasta, naturally raised meats, and a contorno made with ingredients from area farms. 1402 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-831-1402; sfogliarestaurant.com
JAPANESE & SUSHI Blue Ribbon Sushi - Featuring some of the freshest fish this side of Tokyo, served in a lovely wood-and-mural setting. For those who don’t relish the sushi and sashimi or raw bar, a wide variety of cooked entrées are also available. No reservations. 97 Sullivan St. (Spring-Prince Sts.), 212-343-0404; blueribbonrestaurants.com Cho Cho San - The opera-inspired Cho Cho San (the misspelling of Cio Cio San, Puccini’s heroine of Madama Butterfly, was purposeful) is a cozy neighborhood restaurant with a modern twist on traditional Japanese fare. For example, the Puccini roll is chockablock with olives as its stuffing; the niko niko, which are pan-friend oysters, are wrapped in bacon. There are also daily pastas and curries, and classic sushi prepared by the former chef of Taste of Tokyo, Yoshi Azegami. 15 W. 8th St., 212-473-3333; chochosanrestaurant.com Hakubai - The only branch of Japan’s renowned ancient Nadaman restaurant, and one of the very few in the U.S. serving Kaiseki,which has its roots in Zen Buddhism and the traditional
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Nobu - Celebrated chef Nobu Matsuhisa dazzles with his daring cuisine that fuses influences from Tokyo to Peru in partnership with restaurateur Drew Nieporent and actor Robert De Niro. David Rockwell’s lovely Japanese countryside setting showcases yellowtail tuna tartare, monkfish liver pate, both served with caviar, squid “pasta” with asparagus, butter and garlic or New Style Sashimi, seared in garlic, ginger, sesame seeds and scallions. 105 Hudson St. (Franklin St.), 212-334-4445; myriadrestaurantgroup.com
MEDITERRANEAN Isabella’s - This Upper West Side mainstay, across from the American Museum of Natural History, serves Mediterranean-style fare. The ambiance is sunny and casual, with its split-level dining room, rattan chairs, and popular outdoor patio. 359 Columbus Ave. (77th St.), 212-724-2100; brguestrestaurants.com Picholine - Acclaimed chef/restaurateur Terrance Brennan takes a modern approach to Mediterranean cooking, expertly layered with French, Italian, and Spanish influences. Enjoy the casually elegant succession of dining rooms, with soaring boysenberry velvet curtains, purple leather and grey mohair banquettes, contemporary artwork, and the restaurant’s customary fine linen, crystal, silver, and china. 35 W. 64th St., 212-724-8585; picholinenyc.com
MEXICAN/TEX-MEX Maya - Mexico City-born chef/owner Richard Sandoval serves up his family’s Acapulco heritage with style; Mexican food and ambiance are elevated to a high level in a festive yet sophisticated atmosphere. 1191 First Ave. (64th-65th Sts.), 212-585-1818; modernmexican.com/mayany Rosa Mexicano - Upscale Mexican cuisine in a stylish and festive atmosphere. The David Rockwell-designed Lincoln Center space features a 30-foot cascading waterwall that spans both levels, complete with 200 miniature cliff divers. Three locations: 61 Columbus Ave. (62nd St.), 212-977-7700; 1063 First Ave. (58th St.), 212-753-7407; 9 E. 18th St., 212-533-3350; rosamexicano.com
PAN LATIN
scented Valencia rice and chorizo, smoked tea braised short rib, yellowfin tuna with minted lychee salsita, and house-made guacamole. 802 Ninth Ave. (53rd-54th Sts.), 212-262-1299; aguadulceny.com
SCANDINAVIAN Aquavit - This modern Scandinavian establishment reflects the best of minimalist mid-century Scandinavian design with its pale wood tones, soft indirect lighting, and unique tableware. A large selection of aquavits— potato vodka infused with fruits or spices—is available, along with cocktails inspired by the region. 65 E. 55th St., 212-307-7311; www.aquavit.org
SEAFOOD Blue Fin - This 400-seat, two-level seafood emporium, established by restaurateur Stephen Hanson is not your run-of-the-mill theater eatery. Blue Fin offers the finest and freshest raw bar, colorful and innovative sashimi and sushi rolls, contemporary seafood and other entrées in a setting— marked by giant faux tortoiseshell walls—as dramatic and exciting as its home on the Great White Way. W Times Square Hotel, 1567 Broadway (47th St.), 212-918-1400; brguestrestaurants.com Fishtail - David Burke’s newest NYC addition, Fishtail, opened in December 2008 and has diners lining up for his signature spin on upscale seafood. Shortly after its opening, Burke was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America. 135 E. 62nd St., 212-754-1300; fishtaildb.com Le Bernardin - Exquisite, ultra-fresh seafood served with impeccable service in an elegant venue has earned Le Bernardin a four-star rating since it opened in 1986. Veteran chef Eric Ripert surprises diners with Asian accents throughout his menus, featuring fish that is “almost raw” or “lightly cooked.” The Equitable Building, 155 W. 51st St., 212-554-1515; le-bernardin.com Oceana - Complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, chef ’s table, and outdoor dining, Oceana features a raw bar and the innovative seafood cuisine of executive chef Ben Pollinger, with fresh, whole fish, prime meats, naturally raised fowl, and artful desserts. 1221 Ave. of the Americas (49th St.), 212-759-5941; livanosrestaurantgroup.com
SOUTHWESTERN
Agua Dulce - Sexy and sophisticated, featuring lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, and an exceptional late-night meal at 3am. Highlights include organic salmon citrus ceviche, skirt steak, grilled chicken with saffron
Mesa Grill - Chef Bobby Flay serves Southwestern cuisine in a whimsical setting accented in shades of Sutter’s gold, adobe terra cotta, and sage green,
This winter was certainly an eventful one for chef/restaurateur David Burke and company. In an appearance on Live! With Regis and Kelly, he showed Regis how to make his signature Fishtail dessert, Can-o-Cake. At David Burke Townhouse, Executive Chef Sylvain Delpique earned a spot as one of Gayot’s “Rising Chefs,” awarded to the five best chefs in the United States under the age of 30. And, in 2010’s first “beverage series dinner” presented by David Burke @ Bloomingdale’s, Chef David partnered with Gordon & MacPhail scotch for a $40, four-course feast, which included Scotch pairings for each. Spring certainly won’t be any less busy for the “Chefster” with a March 17th St. Patty’s Day Beer Dinner rolling into David Burke @ Bloomingdale’s in partnership with Samuel Adams; “The Best of Burke,” an April 5th James Beard Dinner (where all of his chefs will be cooking a course); and the huge news that Burke will be one of 22 cheftestants on season two of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, premiering on April 7th. There are also rumors that Townhouse will be instituting a special “pot pie” menu on Sunday nights. David Burke’s tasty empire: David Burke Townhouse (133 E. 61st St., 212-813-2121; davidburketownhouse.com); David Burke @ Bloomingdales (150 E. 59th St., 212-705-3800; burkeinthebox.com) and Fishtail (135 E. 62nd St., 212-754-1300; fishtaildb.com).
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and boasting a view of the kitchen. Dining room people-watching is just as much fun, and the mood is relaxed and friendly. 102 Fifth Ave. (15th-16th Sts.), 212-807-7400; mesagrill.com
STEAKHOUSES Ben Benson’s Steak House - This classic American steakhouse is a true, one-of-a-kind New York City cultural descendant of its authentic 19thcentury ancestors, independently owned by the hands-on Ben Benson. It serves only USDA prime dry-aged meats, beef, veal and lamb, seasonal game and premium-grade seafood and poultry, prepared simply and perfectly and offered in substantial servings. Reservations recommended. Rockefeller Center, 123 W. 52nd St., 212-581-8888; benbensons.com Ben & Jack’s Steak House - Ben & Jack’s serves generous portions of steakhouse favorites to a very satisfied clientele. Enjoy the restaurant’s signature Porterhouse for one, two, three or four, fresh seafood, mouthwatering side dishes and exquisite desserts. 255 Fifth Ave. (28th-29th Sts.), 212-532-7600; 219 E. 44th St., 212-682-5678; benandjackssteakhouse.com Benjamin Steakhouse - Peter Luger alumni Benjamin Prelvukaj and chef Arturo McLeod join forces to create an opulent steakhousel in the centuryold Chemist Club building. Six cuts of dry-aged beef are available, from 36-ounce porterhouses to top sirloins to rib eyes to succulent filet mignon. 52 E. 41st St., 212-297-9177; benjaminsteakhouse.com Bull and Bear - Atmospherically a swank Regency-style club, the Bull and Bear serves hearty fare in the form of succulent steaks (the only certified Angus Beef Prime in the city), and seafood. The elaborate and celebrated mahogany bar is one of the city’s most popular watering holes. The Waldorf=Astoria, 570 Lexington Ave. (50th St.), 212-355-3000; bullandbearsteakhouse.com Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House - This expansive steak house’s soaring, two-story-high windows offer a spectacular view of Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center and Broadway’s theatres are just a block or two away. The menu features fresh USDA aged prime beef shipped from the Midwest twice a week. Lobster, fish, lamb, osso buco, and veal chops receive equal billing . 49th St. & Sixth Ave., 212-575-5129; delfriscos.com Quality Meats - Chef Craig Koketsu distinguishes his rustic New American menu and concept by creating modern interpretations of familiar dishes and flavor combinations, resulting in unique tastes, innovative presentations, and a distinctive style. All of the steaks are sourced from two legendary family butchers: Milton Abeles and Strassburger Meats. 57 W. 58th St., 212-371-7777; qualitymeatsnyc.com Rothmann’s Steakhouse & Grill - Located near the Theatre District, Rothmann’s Steakhouse & Grill has been serving New Yorkers, celebrities, and visitors the finest quality prime dry aged beef, delicious chicken, and mouthwatering seafood for more than 100 years. The beautiful space and attentive staff make it ideal, whether you’re there for a business lunch, a romantic dinner for two, or celebrating a special occasion. 3 E. 54th St., 212-319-5500; rothmannssteakhouse.com Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse - Pleasing the most discerning of steak lovers, the USDA prime steaks here—all aged for at least 21 days—include New York strip, filet mignon and a special Kobe beef, hand-massaged with sake. For the seafood lover, there are crab cakes, Australian lobster tails, a seafood platter, and more. 440 Ninth Ave. (34th-35th Sts.), 212-244-0005; 44 W. 56th St., 212-245-1550; 39-40 Bell Blvd., Bayside, Queens, 718-229-1100; unclejacks.com
VEGETARIAN Pure Food and Wine - New York’s premier raw-foods restaurant, utilizing organic and seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds to create a unique, award-winning culinary experience. Open daily at 5:30pm. 54 Irving Pl. (17th St.), 212-477-1010; purefoodandwine.com
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Sho Shaun Hergatt
40 Broad Street • 212-809-3993 • shoshaunhergatt.com
Sho Shaun Hergatt Asian-accented, modern French and a Michelin star By Kristopher Carpenter
Lucy Schaeffer
Q. How did this restaurant come about? I had worked in New York for four years, and I felt like it was a great city to open my own place. I had left New York to open the restaurant at the the Setai in Miami as the chef there and at that point, I won’t say that I was sick and tired of working for people but I knew that the next step in my career was doing something for myself. The opportunity came along to open this restaurant here and I was ready. I really set out to build the restaurant that I wanted to build, and everything that you see here, including the design, has flowed from my vision of Asian-accented modern French cuisine, which is the style that I’ve come to call my own through my travels and my last 20 years in the kitchen. I absolutely feel like getting this restaurant to the point that it’s at now, is the biggest accomplishment of my career. Achieving the level of success that we have in six months, starting from scratch in a tough economy has been a testament to the restaurant, the food, and to all of the people - the hands and minds - that have helped me get here.
ucked away in the second floor of the Setai, a luxury residence in downtown Manhattan–is a cordoned-off section of the world with no screaming ambulances, no huge crowds hurrying by the windows, and no passersby craning their necks over your meal in an attempt to judge its quality. When it first opened, this semi-seclusion made Sho Shaun Hergatt a well-kept secret, but that was before critics started mentioning it in their selections of where to eat, Esquire named it the best new restaurant of 2009, and it received a Michelin Star - all in its first six months of existence. A dinner-time meal from Shaun Hergatt, the Australian born Chef/Proprietor is recommended as a $69 three-course prix fixe, while lunch (also three-courses) is a steal at $30. The gleaming kitchen, visible through a huge glass wall is Chef Hergatt’s well-oiled machine turning out creations like a deconstructed duck à l’orange, with red hibiscus gelée, that are truly almost too pretty to eat. While others, like the slow-poached egg with sunchoke and berkshire pork cheek, beg to be tousled, mixed up, and devoured from a heaping fork or spoon.
T
Q. How did you get into cooking? I was always curious about the kitchen. My father was a professional chef for a while, and I started venturing in when I was about five or six to check it, out so I guess that’s basically where it spawned. From there I was planning to go to University, but I got offered an apprenticeship in a kitchen at a hotel in my hometown [Cannes, Australia]. I was there for four years and once I started, since I had learned a lot just from being around my father in the kitchen, I picked it up pretty quick. Next, I got sent to Sydney, to a restaurant called Garden Court which is at the Sofitel. I got promoted quickly over the year I was there and it was great to see another iteration of fine dining at Garden Court, which was different than what I’d already learned. All of that was about 20 years ago, so both of those were a very old-school style of fine dining but they were definitely big influences.
Lucy Schaeffer
Q. How do you think fine dining has changed today? I think it’s evolved. When you look at what old-school fine dining was about, it was very opulent but it was also inaccessible. Now, because travel is much more affordable and such a large number of people are educated about dining I think that the cuisine has become easier on the palate – it’s not quite so, stiff. It’s also relatively affordable, the spectrum of fine dining these days both in the cuisine and the patrons has grown considerably from what it was, and it’s grown in an international, eclectic way.
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Q. What’s been the biggest obstacle to overcome? The biggest obstacle was definitely…um… moving to the United States. You see, when you migrate from one country to another, the culture is completely different - so what you think it is, is not necessarily what it is. It takes a lot of adjustment to figure out the systems and the people here, how they work, how they think, and I really had to adjust the dynamic of how I operate to fit into the culture. Not only in the patrons, but in the way I interact with my employees. I think Americans are a little more politically correct and more process driven so I have to keep that in mind in the way that I interact with people. But now that I’m over that hump and I have made those adjustments, it’s actually quite pleasurable being here in New York.
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