Promenade - Summer 2012 by Promenade Magazine

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About New York since 1934

NYLUXURY.COM

PROMENADE

PROMENADE SUMMER 2012

Treasures for Collectors

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n At Home in New York n The Summer Stages n Prewar versus Modern n Fine Dining n

The ultimate dress destination

shopping

theatre

50 Years at The Delacorte

dining

A Season of Splendid Menus

summer in new york

style

Fashion History at the Met

luxury properties Prewar vs Modern

SUMMER 2012

VISIT OUR FLAGSHIP STORE AT FIFTH AVENUE AT 39TH STREET Stop by our Executive office on the 7th floor to get a savings pass to use all day.

lordandtaylor.com Fifteen Dollars

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HAPPY DIAMONDS COLLECTION

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ON THIS EARTH, A SHADOW FALLS PHOTOGRAPHS BY

NICK BRANDT

537 West 24th Street New York, NY 10011 T 212 627 0006 www.hastedkraeutler.com

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American Folk Art Museum, bequest Gloria Bley Miller, 2008

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Jewelry

Shopping

Luna Park by Vesti Davis, The American Folk Art Museum

Martha Swope

summer in

Theatre

Dining

PROMENADE

s the U.K. gears up for a summer of major events—the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics—Anglophiles will find the best of Britain in New York on the pages of Promenade. For the jewelry collectors among you, our style editor has selected chic shops where unique charms, stackables, lockets, and vintage bijoux reside. And while you may have seen photos from the star-studded red carpet at May’s Met Costume Institute Gala, we take you inside the museum itself, where the work of Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada is brilliantly displayed. Promenade has several new sections in this issue. At Home in New York features luxury properties, as well as shopping suggestions from the world of antiques, and expert decorating and design ideas. Read The smART List…, where we curate New York’s most exciting arts events. And in dining, we offer our new Ten Top list of distinctive restaurants in a category—for summer, Mediterranean delights. Speaking of dining, we sat down with restaurateur/chef Daniel Boulud to discuss chefs, concepts, and db Bistro Moderne’s iconic db Burger. We also chatted with actress Lily Rabe, appearing in As You Like It at Shakespeare in the Park’s Delacorte Theater—now celebrating its 50th year—and look back at its impressive history, as well as the A-listers, such as Meryl Streep, James Earl Jones, Denzel Washington, Kevin Kline and many more, who have performed there. Visit nyluxury.com, where you’ll find what’s new in the arts each week, exclusive shopping tips, dining specials, and designer sample sales. Have a wonderful summer!

Dance

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Paul Kolnik

David L. Miller Publisher PROMENADE I

DEDICATED TO THE AFFLUENT NEW YORK CITY VISITOR

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Promenade - Summer 2012: Aaron Basha advertisement (Right Hand Read)

Aaron Basha Boutique • 685 Madison Avenue • New York • 212.935.1960 • w w w. a a ro n b a s h a . co m Athens

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About New York since 1934

PROMENADE

nyluxury.com Summer 2012 UK/NY

Shopping New York The Best of Britain in New York 18 While the U.K. is a-twitter with Olympic and Jubilee fever, New York revels in all things British.

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph © Toby McFarlan Pond

For the Passionate Collector 22 Charms, lockets, vintage, stackables—all worthy of a treasure trove.

retro style

Style Shows: Schiaparelli and Prada 26 At the Met Costume Institute, simulated tête-à-têtes and lots of fashion from two grande dames.

cool collecting

Editor’s Picks: The Write Stuff 14 A man’s John Hancock is his autograph, but a signature pen can be his trademark. The Virtual Voyager 16 Topflight tips for the discerning traveler.

penm anship

The Best Places 28 Great suggestions for successful shopping. Day Spas 37 Gotham’s elite retreats. The smArt List 42 A potpourri of cultural events in the city.

At Home In New York Antiques 38 Mirror, mirror: love at first glance. Décor 39 Seasonal style from a design pro. 40 Carlos Bido

Real Estate: Prewar vs. Modern For buyers, a lot to choose from. luxury living

on the cover

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Kenzie-Childs

Photo credit: The Delacorte Theater, Michal Daniel; Prada collection, Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph © Toby McFarlan Pond

divine décor

Photos courtesy Mac

Clockwise from left: Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline in the 2001 Shakespeare in the Park production of The Seagull at the Delacorte Theater; leather bracelet-cuff with attaching charms from Aaron Basha; the dining room at The Four Seasons Restaurant; from the Miuccia Prada spring/summer 2004 collection at the Met Costume Exhibit; the living room in 955 Fifth Avenue.

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NIKKI FIELD www.nikkifield.com

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About New York since 1934

Summer 2012

Joan Marcus

Michal Daniel

Martha Swope

PROMENADE

nyluxury.com

[ Philip Se

50 years in the park

On the Town Theatre

Talking With: Lily Rabe 44 Returning to the Delacorte in As You Like It, the gifted Tony nominee touches on her stage career, bi-coastal existence, and growing up the daughter of two theatrical icons: playwright David Rabe and the late actress Jill Clayburgh. The Delacorte Turns 50 46 Half a century of midsummer night dreams at the beloved, first-rate American institution for producing Shakespeare.

ÂŠ 2011 William Struhs

Image courtesy Zago Architecture

Dance

summer sounds

housing starts

Different Countries, Distinct Styles 56 Magic from three continents: The Paris Opera Ballet, the Australian Ballet, and the homegrown New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Classical Music

From Finland, China and the Ever-Popular John Adams 58 Something special for opera lovers and symphony devotees alike at this summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lincoln Center Festival.

B. Milne

Museums

A Different American Dream 62 At MoMA, the innovative work of five architectural firms envisions five new models for housing in the post-foreclosure era. Travel

Elegant Adventures in India 72 And each city topped the previous one for distinctive service and special, unforgettable touches. Dining

The 10 Top... 78 Mediterranean Restaurants Boulud and burgers

Promenade Picks 84 MEGU and La Silhouette The Restaurant Interview: Daniel Boulud 98 At db Bistro Moderne, chatting about chefs, concepts, and the iconic db Burger.

The Most Up-to-Date Guides:

Theatre...................... 48 Performing Arts........ 60 Museums................... 64 Galleries & Collectibles................ 68 Sights in the City...... 74 Dining....................... 83

t India elegan

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About New York since 1934

PROMENADE Summer 2012

PUBLISHER CO-PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

David L. Miller Eli Marcus Lisa Ben-Isvy

SALES & MARKETING

VP Sales & Marketing VP Community Relations Senior Account Manager Marketing Development Manager

Vincent Timpone Janet Z. Barbash Fred Moskowitz Deborah B. Daniels

EDITORIAL

Editor Associate Editor Style Editor Theatre Editor

Phyllis Singer Colin Carlson Ruth J. Katz Griffin Miller

Contributing Editors Kaitlin Ahern Melanie Baker Martin Bernheimer Marian Betancourt Lisa Chung Kristopher Carpenter Sylviane Gold Karin Lipson Karli Petrovic Art Director Jiyon Son PUBLISHING OPERATIONS

General Manager Thomas K. Hanlon Director of Distribution Linda Seto Moi Director of Operations - Events Div. Rebecca Stolcz Traffic Heather Gambaro Dana Golia Administrative Frank Kirsner Denise Marcovitch 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: 2012 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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Photos by: CarlosBido.com

Puzzled? We’ve Got the Answers! Center44’s selection of antique and vintage furniture, lighting, art and accessories just keeps getting better and better. Whether you visit us online at center44.com or in our huge Midtown Manhattan showroom, our 75 superb boutiques will wow you with selection and quality.

Center44 222 East 44th Street New York, NY 10017 212-450-7988 • Center44.com

EDITOR’S PICKS

the write stuff A man’s John Hancock is his autograph, of course, but a “signature” pen can just as readily be his trademark. “Sign on the dotted line.” “Sign here.” These directives are common on countless documents we shuffle around daily. But how often do we stop and think about that instrument we are using to do that signing? Many men collect and cherish pens, and consider them as much a personality extension and fashion accessory as a watch, cufflinks, or briefcase. Whether the preferred instrument is a fountain pen, ballpoint, roller ball, or even a pencil, may be less crucial to a man of style, stature, and sartorial mien than the design statement of said instrument. (Most manufacturers accommodate buyers’ whims and wants, so that a single silhouette or design is manufactured in a suite of implements, and sometimes even a panoply of colors.) Many companies create annual limited editions, and ardent collectors ferret them out to secure a prized, complete set. Whether you have one favorite pen, or a passel, an exquisite writing instrument is a thing of beauty and a miraculous mini-machine. By Ruth J. Katz

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

HAPPY MICKEY

GALILEO SKELETON

FRANK SINATRA ROLLERBALL

Frey Wille’s striking “Alexander The Great” fountain pen heralds a bold and colorful design statement—lots of striking shades in interesting geometric shapes, all in cloisonné enamel, baked four times. The fountain pen has a 14-kt. gold nib; the rest is 24-kt. gold-plating over brass. $2,460. Frey Wille, 727 Madison Avenue (63rd/64th Streets); 646-682-9030; frey-wille.com

Inspired by Mickey Mouse, the “Happy Mickey” fountain pen from Chopard has an 18-kt. gold nib and features a stylized interpretation of Mickey’s large, globe-like ears and his moonshaped face in a geometric, repetitive design in 18-kt. gold against blue resin. Also available in black resin with sterling silver. Each $3,270. Chopard, 709 Madison Avenue (63rd Street); 212-223-2304; chopard.com

The “Galileo Skeleton” ballpoint pen (limited edition) pays homage to its namesake; Stipula, the manufacturer, has crafted this special instrument in transparent blue resin with an overlay in either rose-gold vermeil or matte sterling silver; the designs depict the geometric figures Galileo found in nature and transferred to his instruments. Each $316. Fountain Pen Hospital, 10 Warren Street (Church Street); 212-964-0580; fountainpenhospital.com

From fine Italian pen maker Montegrappa, the “Frank Sinatra” rollerball in sterling and resin features a few nods to its namesake, Ol’ Blue Eyes, including a staff and G-clef incised on the grip; a pin-stripe design to mimic a Sinatra suit; the orange color, his favorite; a cap engraved with the signature Sinatra fedora (which also indicates that it is an official Sinatra collectible); a pocket clip shaped like a vintage microphone. Limited edition of 1915, which was Sinatra’s birth year. $3,050. Arthur Brown & Brother, 2 West 45th Street (Fifth/Sixth Avenues); 212-838-3222; artbrown.com

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ter

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Escape to Doral Arrowwood for a Getaway Weekend.

Treat yourself to a refreshing weekend at Doral Arrowwood. Located on 114 acres in the heart of Westchester County, you’ll feel like you are a world away. There’s plenty to keep you busy: a round of golf, a game of tennis or a workout in our Sports Center. We also offer plenty of ways to relax: sauna, massage or lounging by the indoor/outdoor heated pool. In the evening, you can dance the night away at our Saturday Night Dinner Dance, or go al fresco at Mulligans. If you want to stay in the sports loop, drop by The Pub, where the big screen TVs will keep you on top of the action. Next time you’re thinking of getting away, think Doral Arrowwood.

Packages include a luxurious guestroom and a delicious breakfast.

Call Today. 866-312-0401 T O L L F R E E

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TRAVEL PICKS

{ Topflight Tips for the Discerning Traveler }

the virtual voyager Immersion Diversion, por favor

Harry Potter and the Cupcakes at Turndown

Maroma Resort and Spa. Photo by Carlos Bolaños

Enticement comes in many forms, especially when travel lust veers to the unexplored... the creative... the authentic. Of course, it helps if the backdrop for indulging these passions is Maroma Resort and Spa, a utopian coastal retreat surrounded by the world’s second-longest barrier reef. Located on the Riviera Maya, this 63-room, grand hacienda-style property, with its fine white sand beach, 200acre jungle, and five-star SCUBA and snorkeling, has added a multi-tiered, sitesavvy Mexican Immersion program that redefines the art of escapism, touching on everything from art to culture to cuisine. And should you wish to expand your Spanish-speaking skills, there’s an interactive intro to fluency involving a special bracelet (pulsera) that alerts resort staff members to communicate with the wearer in Spanish only. As for the most compelling option on Maroma’s immersion menu, my vote goes to the spa’s Mayan Temazcal—a cleansing and healing ritual held at twilight that “weaves together ancient traditions, chants, and meditation.” Perfección! maromahotel.com Feet First

Packing the right shoes for a trip—especially if you’re a woman—is fraught with all kinds of fashion angst. For one thing, footwear is notorious for hogging precious luggage space. Secondly, one’s desire to be stylish, comfortable, and occasion-appropriate— without being held prisoner to the whims of the weather — seems almost insurmountable. Almost. OKA b.’s extensive line of Ballet Flats—waterproof, classic, slim-fitting, and super comfortable—diffuse these problems and more. Like their popular collection of virtually indestructible flip-flops, OKA b.’s ballet flats are slip-resistant (regardless of terrain) and feature a footbed enhanced with massage beads (very, very wonderful). And, hard to believe, they’re constructed of recycled materials. Available in myriad colors and styles with “an eclectic assortment of adornments” (floral clusters, gemstones, and bows), the flats, with their sleek silhouette, sell for a mere $45 a pair, so indulge in multiples: even if you’re going the carry-on route, you’ll still have room for wardrobe essentials and, of course, your iPad! shoesthatloveyou.com

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By Griffin Miller

As J.K. Rowling begins work on her much-anticipated encyclopedia of all things Harry Potter, Muggles-inwaiting can make the most of 2012 by heading to the posh London hotel Rubens at The Palace for the ultimate Harry Potter Experience: an enthralling, three-hour odyssey that includes visits to such literary/cinematic hot spots as Platform 9 3⁄4, Diagon Alley, The Leaky Cauldron, and Gringotts Wizarding Bank. And since you’ll be Pottering about in one of London’s famous black cabs (with a sorcery-savvy tour guide behind the wheel), you’ll also trace the route of the Knight Bus and perambulate across the resurrected “Brockdale Bridge” (destroyed by Death Eaters in The Half-Blood Prince). Other elements of the Rubens’ family-friendly Potter package are a luxury Executive Suite; day-of-tour English breakfast; a “brilliant” spread of Harry Potter cupcakes at turndown; complimentary wands, cloaks, and H.P. glasses for your favorite wizard wannabes; framed pre-tour photo; and a most impressive certificate stating that you visited all the London Harry Potter film locations. rubenshotel.com Freewheeling Peabody-style (Ducks Optional) On Broadway, Memphis may shine as 2010’s Tony-winning musical, but once you head down south to Tennessee, you’re in for the real deal: a full-blown metropolis known as the musical heartbeat of blues, rock n’ roll, country/western, and gospel—as well as the celebrated stamping grounds of B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash... well, the list goes on. So when the elegant four-star Peabody Memphis hotel (home to the world-famous Peabody marching ducks) teamed up with Segway Inc. to create a one-of-kind excursion for its guests (Segway Experience of Memphis), they made certain the legendary entertainment district known as Beale Street topped the tour circuit. During the two-hour movable feast of a tour, The Segways—fantastical solo transports that they are—roll along pretty tree-lined streets and visit an array of historic Memphis landmarks: Cotton Row, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, and the Orpheum Theatre. In addition, there are amazing panoramic photo-op moments once you reach the breathtaking vistas overlooking the mighty Mississippi River. peabodymemphis.com

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World Yacht Dining Cruises are

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SHOPPINGNEW YORK Glitter and glam are the hallmarks of these two smashing bags from Anya Hindmarch. The “Huxley” tote [above] is constructed from woven silver metallic goods and features a silver tassel; the bag is available in three sizes. $1,450; $1,595; $1,995. The clutch [right], “Valorie Bells,” features silver glitter fabric and actual jingle bells! $1,435. Anya Hindmarch, 29 East 60th Street (Madison/Park Avenues); 212-750-3974; anyahindmarch.com

the best of

Britain...

and Jubilee Fever, pic ym Ol th wi r itte tw ais om gd While the United Kin e, and if Jubilee. Lots of reasons to celebrat pics and Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Olym sformed the tran sh— been Briti has the area for l year stria er indu er bann It’s quite a then you’ve seen how the form s, year few past pond, the the of over side End all year. Here on this you’ve been in London’s East for the Jubilee, the fair isle is rejoicing And . haligon pics Pen of Olym ns the lotio of ent ts ungu Even and Big es and readied for the (as those Brits say) fragranc ant brilli the from th, sh, Smi Briti s Paul thing from all uely British clothing there has been a quiet invasion by er goods from Smythson, to the uniq leath us ptuo sum and rs pape ing and Floris, to the fine writ Britannia! By Ruth J. Katz mention but a few. And so we hail Stella McCartney, and Ted Baker, to

For the swell in you: Ted Baker’s strikingly stylish “Gurirub” chunky brogue will add spice to any outfit, what with its magnificent poppy-red color and its textured suede. $240. Ted Baker, 107 Grand Street (Mercer Street); 212-343-8989; 34 Little West 12th Street (Ninth Avenue/Washington Street); 212-647-0991; tedbaker.com

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Rely on men’s outfitter Thomas Pink to offer handsome shirt-and-tie combos: [far left] The “Outrigger” checked classic shirt features a semi-cutaway collar, double cuff, and the signature Pink gusset detail. $160. The coordinated tie, “Tide Plain,” has a sartorial iridescence. $105. [near left] “Ashawen” classic check is woven from a textured fabric in a complex weave. $185. The “Daisy Flower” tie is 100% silk, woven in the UK. $105. Thomas Pink, 520 Madison Avenue (53rd Street); 212-838-1928; 63 Wall Street (Hanover Street); 212-514-7683; thomaspink.com

in New York

in all things British. this former colony is also reveling

No self-respecting Brit would dare write a thank-you note on anything less than a fine Smythson note card. (Queen Victoria and Grace Kelly were loyal fans.) Weighty, smooth, and cunningly designed, Smythson’s “Bunting” correspondence cards feature an exultant display of stylized Union Jacks. $70. Smythson of Bond Street, 4 West 57 Street (Fifth/Sixth Avenues); 212-265-4573; smythson.com

Paul Smith has gone to the dogs! [From left] The designer’s adorable bulldog key ring in colored leather, with solid pink on the back. $135. A multi-pocketed purse-wallet in chocolate brown with a canine pack adorning the surface. $495. The offwhite, bone-china mug features a cute Scottie named “Ronnie,” who is just waiting for you to make a soothing cuppa’. $40. Paul Smith, 108 Fifth Avenue (16th Street); 212-627-9770; 142 Greene Street (W. Houston Street); 646-613-3060; paulsmith.co.uk

Renowned for sensuous scents, lotions, and potions, Penhaligon’s is an institution in Great Britain and is beloved by loyal devotees around the globe. The “Zizonia” fragrance erupts with bergamot and jasmine, among the many ingredients in its age-old formula. In the signature Penhaligon bottle, wrapped with a ribbon. $140. Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Avenue (49th/50th Streets); 877-551-7257; 212-753-4000; saksfifthavenue.com

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SHOPPINGNEW YORK

From jeweler Solange Azagury-Partridge, a fun and whimsical Union Jack finds its way onto a ring, crafted in 18-kt. yellow gold with mutli-colored enamel and rubies. $27,500. Solange Azagury-Partridge, 809 Madison Avenue (67th/68th Streets); 212-879-9100; solangeazagurypartridge.com After the movie The Queen was released, was there a soul on the planet who didn’t recognize Barbour’s legendary waxed jacket, a perennial British fave—especially the “Liddesdale,” quilted style? But Barbour offers much more, and these lightweight and sporty “Rainbow International” jackets prove it. $299. Barbour, 1047 Madison Avenue (80th Street); 212-570-2600; 123 Wooster Street (Prince/Spring Streets); 212-941-7524; barbour.com

the best of

Britain...

Ooh-la-la. These classic PJ’s (excuse me, pyjamas) are sensuous and flowing, in soft, creamy silk, ideally suited for lounging...and sleeping if you dare. Embroidered with the signature “AP” for Agent Provacateur. $450. Agent Provacateur, 675 Madison Avenue (61st/62nd Streets); 212-840-2436; 133 Mercer Street (Prince/Spring Streets); 212-965-0229; agentprovacateur.com

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“Hen” is the name of the style of this crewneck sweater, or jumper as the Brits would say, from hip designer Reiss. It’s rusty-red with an asymmetric knit pattern in 100% cotton. $150. “Leaf” is a sexy, pastel-and-black-colored platform-style summer sandal, with braided-straw accenting on the platform. $320. Reiss, 387 W. Broadway (Spring/Broome Streets); 212-925-5707; 309-313 Bleecker Street (Seventh Avenue/ Grove Street); 212-488-2411; reiss.com

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Adorned with Asprey’s signature, 167-buttondetail, and lined in the company’s equally wellknown purple silk, the “Polo Mini” catch-all tote is crafted in luxe brown leather with elegant, contrasting top-stitching. $1,600. Asprey, 853 Madison Avenue (70th/71st Street); 212-688-1811; 800-883-2777; asprey.com

Attention all budding poker players! Play your preferred game in style with Alfred Dunhill’s silver-edged, branded cards and rainbowbright aluminum chips. The set comes with five dice as well, and is smartly presented in a sleek, carbon-fiber box. $695. Dunhill, 545 Madison Avenue (55th Street); 212-753-9292, 800-776-4053; dunhill.com

in New York

Perfect for summer: the “Vertical Stripe” cycling shirt from designer Fred Perry. It features a tri-compartment pocket along the back edge and is constructed in 100% cotton piqué, finished with Perry’s signature laurel wreath. $145. Fred Perry, 133 Wooster Street (Houston/Prince Streets); 212-260-4770; fredperry.com

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Not your traditional Burberry raincoat, this. A fabulous new take on an old theme, this 100% linen trench from Burberry Prorsum has high style and flair. Accented with geometric beading and fanciful details, this olive-green headturner will also shelter you from the weather. $8,000. Burberry, 9 East 57th Street (Madison/Fifth Avenues); 212-407-7100; 131 Spring Street (Greene/Wooster Streets); 212-925-0934; burberry.com

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SHOPPINGNEW YORK

CHARMS 1 Charms can just as easily be collected around the neck as on the wrist. Here is CG Arte’s glamorous necklace with lots of room to add more—and then some: A handsome 18-kt. yellow-gold chain, embellished to perfection with individual charms, glittery with diamond accents. Chain: $3,250. Charms: $1,200 and up. Wasserman Jewel Galleries, 576 Fifth Avenue (47th Street), Suite 605; 212-302-4266; wassermanjewelgalleries.com; cgarte.com

for the

2 New from designer Aaron Basha, a leather bracelet-cuff with an 18-kt. gold open link for attaching charms, as desired. Prices upon request. Aaron Basha, 685 Madison Avenue (61st/62nd Streets); 212-935-1960; aaronbasha.com

r o t c e l l o c e t passiona ns and amulets, vintage

ma . s, lockets, talis rm a h treasure trove c a f d o te y e h rt o Cov w ll a ble jewelr y— tegory— item within a ca bijoux, stacka tisfies ve two of any

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3 3 Mish New York’s “Cabana” white-coral bracelet is chockablock with hand-carved charms featuring marine and seaside motifs, accented in 18-kt. gold and diamonds. $68,000. Mish New York, 131 East 70th Street (Park/Lexington Avenues); 212-734-3500; mishnewyork.com

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4 How terribly New York: Fashion jeweler Carolee celebrates 40 years in business with an iconic, limited-edition (for Bloomingdale’s), goldtone-metal charm bracelet, billboarding a dozen fun charms, including the legendary Bloomie’s “Little Brown Bag.” A charitable bonus: $5 of each purchase goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. $95. Bloomingdale’s, 1000 Third Avenue (59th Street); 212-705-2000; bloomingdales.com; carolee.com

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VINTAGE

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1 A French, Napoleon III (ca. 1860s) 18-kt. gold bracelet awash in diamonds (1.2 carats) and 168 natural seed pearls, with striking enamel embellishments, all served up in the original, fitted box (always a real plus!). $24,500. Macklowe Gallery, 667 Madison Avenue (60th/61st Streets); 212-644-6400; macklowegallery.com 2 Vintage beauties from Kentshire Gallery: [left] Black enamel and carved-jade Art Deco earrings with floral motifs, set in platinum, ca.1930. $26,000. [right] A pair of gold and diamond (approximately 3.61 carats) sunflower-like earrings in 18-kt. yellow gold and platinum. Van Cleef & Arpels, Paris, ca.1950. $41,500. Kentshire Gallery, 700 Madison Avenue (62nd/63rd Streets); 212-421-1100; kentshire.com

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3 From the outstanding vintage watch collection at Aaron Faber: A striking Arts & Crafts-style, 18-kt. yellow-gold and enamel wristwatch (ca. 1930) featuring bright yellow rosettes on an ebony ground, with flourishes of verdant leaves. The movement is by LeCoultre for Blancpain, signed Blancpain on the case and movement. $3,750. Aaron Faber, 666 Fifth Avenue (53rd Street); 212-586-8411; aaronfaber.com 4 A simply spectacular â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;60s Kenneth Jay Lane (signed) demi-parureâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a bib-style necklace and clip-on earrings (not shown). Cut crystals; faceted, tear-drop-shaped turquoise rhinestones surrounded by blushpink and sky-blue stones; and dangling faux pearls. The stones are set in gold-tone prongs. $3,500. Butter at Center44, 222 East 44th Street (Second/Third Avenues), Second Floor; 212-450-7988; center44.com

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SHOPPINGNEW YORK

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TALISMANS

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1 Keys to your heart, keys to the kingdom? Tiffany “Keys” [left] are dainty and delicate, and uniquely crafted in 18-kt. rose or yellow gold or platinum, with graceful diamond embellishments. (Chains sold separately.) From $1,300. Feminine and fabulous lockets [right] from Tiffany: In platinum and 18-kt. gold, featuring assorted stones: pink and blue sapphires, diamonds, tanzanite, and seed pearls. From $40,000. Tiffany & Co., 727 Fifth Avenue (57th Street); 212-755-8000, 800-526-0649; 37 Wall Street (Nassau/William Streets); 212-514-8015; tiffany.com 2 A cache of vintage lockets—mostly Edwardian, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and even Victorian—from designer Just Jules’s “Incarnations” collection. These highly collectible lockets are gold-filled, on chains of 14-kt. gold; many are accented with embellishments of precious and semi-precious gems. $600 to $900. ABC Carpet & Home, 888 Broadway (18th/19th Streets); 212-473-3000; abchome.com; justjules.com 3 Two pictures—twice as nice!—can be stowed in the elegant “Compass” locket, in 22kt. yellow gold, hand fabricated in the Reinstein Ross workshops; it features meticulous, fancy granulation adornment. Price upon request. Reinstein Ross, 29 East 73rd Street (Fifth/Madison Avenues); 212-772-1901; 122 Prince Street (Greene/ Wooster Streets); 212-226-4513; reinsteinross.com

4 Designer Cynthia Rose’s “Tiger Tooth” necklace features an Italian, vintage, handmade 18-kt. yellow gold chain and an embellished tiger’s tooth, accented with diamonds. Chain: $15,000; Tiger’s tooth: $5,500. Cynthia Rose, by appointment only; 212-221-6133; cynthiaroseny.com

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for the passio na

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STACKED 1 Glimmering, head-turning “Bubble” bracelets from MadStone (top to bottom): 18-kt. white gold set with white quartz and diamonds; 18-kt. yellow gold ablaze with lemon quartz and diamonds; 18-kt. blackened gold gleaming with white quartz and diamonds. Each has .40 carats of diamonds. Each $11,900. MadStone, by appointment only; 212-696-1321; madstonedesign.com

2 A cluster of seductive, stackable rings from DeBeers. The top two “Adonis” rings feature .56 carats each of diamonds set in platinum or 18-kt. rose gold; the third ring is the “Match Band” and is adorned with .88 carats of diamonds in 18-kt. white gold; the bottom ring, the “Petal Diamond Band,” showcases .45 diamonds, set in 18-kt. pink gold. $2,000 to $4,000. De Beers, 703 Fifth Avenue (55th Street); 212-906-0001, 800-929-0889; debeers.com 3 “Spinning Curve” 18-kt. gold bangle bracelets (which can also be worn as eye-catching pendants) from designer Yael Sonia all feature moving orbs of smoky quartz, blue topaz, or amethyst. From $16,300. Yael Sonia , 922 Madison Avenue (73rd/74th Streets); 212-472-6488; yaelsonia.com

4 A sextet of delicate, lady-like bangles from Wempe, all in 18-kt. white, yellow, or rose gold, set with gleaming, brilliant-cut diamonds. From $1,985. Wempe, 700 Fifth Avenue (55th Street); 212-397-9000, 800-513-1131; wempe.com 5 Jewelry designer Paul Morelli’s “Confetti” rings glow with both white and multi-colored diamonds. All set in 18-kt. gold (yellow, white, or black) with anywhere from 1.19 carats of diamonds to 4.12 carats. $6,000 to $25,000. Bergdorf Goodman, 754 Fifth Avenue (57th/58th Streets); 212-753-7300, 800-558-1855; bergdorfgoodman.com 6 Stackable enamel rings in 18-kt. gold, in a myriad of dazzling designs, some with diamond accents, all by the sultan of stackables, Silvio Hidalgo. $400 to $2,000. Maurice Badler Jewelers, 578 Fifth Avenue (47th Street), 485 Park Avenue (58th Street); 800-622-3537; badler.com; hidalgojewelry.com

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5/15/12 5:04 PM

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guido Harari/Contrasto/Redux

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Hoyningen-Huené/Vogue; © Condé Nast

STYLENEW YORK

eavesdropping on Schiaparelli and Prada:

impossible conversations

At the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute, the galleries are rife with simulated tête-àtêtes between these two fashion icons, not to mention 90 designs and 30 accessories by the grande dames.

By Ruth J. Katz

nspired by Miguel “Impossible Interviews” for Vanity Fair in the 1930s (think Greta Garbo and Calvin Coolidge or Sigmund Freud and Jean Harlow, for example, as pairs of such never-to-have-happened conversationalists), curators Harold Koda and Andrew Bolton of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute have, indeed, mounted an incredible dialogue between two iconic grande dames of the fashion world, who share an Italian heritage and feminist postures, and who used fashion to express complex philosophical paradigms—Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada. The late Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973, whose fashion house closed in 1954) was influenced heavily by Surrealists Salvador Dalí and Alberto Giacometti. Her clients included the likes of the over-the-top Mae West and the equally flamboyant Daisy Fellowes. The other half of the exchange belongs to the very-much-alive Prada (née Maria, and nicknamed Miu Miu in her youth), who almost-accidentally became a designer, after getting her degree in political science and later taking over her family’s luxury leather goods business. She hit it big in the mid-’80s with her now-famous black nylon rucksacks and totes.

Despite some of the differences in their backgrounds, and possibly because of their interesting, intersecting similarities, it would, indeed, be revelatory to hear these two legends chat about color, style, silhouette, and how each went about breaking traditional fashion’s boundaries. And with some legerdemain from the master of celluloid fantasies, Baz Luhrmann, you can hear them “converse” as the curators imagine some new readings of the ladies’ most innovative work. The galleries are rife with videos of simulated tête-àtêtes between these icons—Schiaparelli, who made (more or less) a hat out of a shoe, and Prada, who can make raiment out of anything you might dare her to tinker with: a potato sack, an umbrella, a strip of Luhrmann’s celluloid. In the museum’s special exhibit galleries on the first floor (the Costume Institute itself is undergoing renovation, but traditionally, the spring Costume Institute show is usually not mounted there), the curators explore the parallel themes in the women’s œvres through vastly different approaches. “Juxtaposing the work of Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada allows us to explore how the past enlightens the present and how the present enlivens the past,” notes Koda.

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Metropolitan Museum of Art 212-535-7710; metmuseum.org/impossibleconversations. A book by Andrew Bolton and Harold Koda accompanies the exhibition.

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Clockwise from the top left: [ Miuccia Prada, autumn/winter 2004–5; Miuccia Prada, spring/summer 2004; Wallis Simpson in Elsa Schiaparelli, Vogue, June 1, 1937 ]

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph © Toby McFarlan Pond

Portraits on opposite page: [ Elsa Schiaparelli, 1932; Miuccia Prada, 1999 ]

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph by Cecil Beaton, Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby’s

[ the details ]

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph © Toby McFarlan Pond

The exhibition features approximately 90 designs and 30 accessories by Schiaparelli from the late 1920s to the early ’50s, and by Prada from the late ’80s to the present. Drawn from the Costume Institute’s collection and the Prada Archive, as well as from other institutions and private collections, signature objects by both designers are arranged in seven themed galleries beginning with “Waist Up/Waist Down,” which examines Schiaparelli’s use of decorative detailing as a response to “restaurant dressing” in the heyday of ’30s café society, while showing Prada’s below-the-waist focus (little anklet socks worn with high heels were probably first seen on her before the fashionistas embraced that strangely juxtaposed combo, which on Miu Miu, seemed so right) as a symbolic expression of modernity and femininity. An accessories subsection of this gallery called “Neck Up/ Knees Down” showcases Schiaparelli’s renowned hats and Prada’s amazing footwear, which continues to astonish with its science fiction, fanciful materialization, defying ambulation. “Ugly Chic” reveals how both women subvert ideals of beauty and glamour by playing with good and bad taste through color, prints, and textiles. “Hard Chic” explores the influence of uniforms and menswear to promote a minimal aesthetic that is intended to both deny and enhance femininity. “Naïf Chic” focuses on Schiaparelli and Prada’s adoption of a girlish sensibility to subvert expectations of age-appropriate dressing. “The Classical Body,” which also incorporates “The Pagan Body,” explores the designers’ engagement with antiquity through the gaze of the late-18th and early-19th centuries. “The Exotic Body” delves into the influence of Eastern cultures through fabrics such as lamé, and silhouettes such as saris and sarongs. Lastly, “The Surreal Body” illustrates how both women affect contemporary images of the female body through Surrealistic practices such as displacement, playing with scale, and blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion, as well as between the natural and the artificial. In a talk in Milan earlier this year, in preparation for the upcoming exhibit, Harold Koda, Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute, recounted an incident that was told to him by the legendary Givenchy: “I remember Givenchy telling me about escorting Mme. Schiaparelli to the Opéra and noticing that her shoes didn’t match. At intermission he mentioned this, and she responded tartly, ‘Would you know chic if it hit you on the head?’” After viewing this exhibit, you will know the cutting edge of chic. ■

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Since opening in 1986, FAO Schwarz Fifth Avenue has been a must-see destination, bringing the 150-year legacy of the FAO Schwarz brand to life for tourists and New Yorkers of all ages. The store offers first-class guest service via dedicated Concierge and Personal Shoppers to help guests find the perfect presents, in addition to an awe-inspiring, world-renowned retail presentation and a vast array of incredible playthings.When it’s time to satisfy that sweet tooth, kids can head over to FAO Schweetz! An iconic stop at the legendary store for 15 years, FAO Schweetz has been completely redesigned and now encompasses nearly 6,000 square feet and features a fantastic new assortment of tasty treats. Kids and adults alike flock to additional attractions like the FAO Schwarz Big Piano. Whether jumping on the piano’s humongous keys or listening to others play classical pieces, guests are encouraged to kick off their shoes to tickle the ivories. 767 Fifth Ave. (58th St.), 800-426-8697; fao.com

New York

SHOPPING Art and Antiques Center44 – A unique and dramatic shopping experience with 70 extraordinary international antiques dealers featured in a block-long showroom of openroom 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/art restoration and traditional upholstery. 222 E. 44th St. (Second-Third Aves.), 212-450-7988; center44.com Lerebours Antiques - An eclectic collection of Continental and American antique, vintage, and mid-century modern fine furnishings, lighting, and art. Mon.-Fri., 10am-6pm; Sat. and Sun. by appointment. 220 E. 60th St., 917-749-5866; lereboursantiques.com

Showplace Antique + Design Center – Over 250 galleries located on 4 floors

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featuring Art Deco, Art Nouveau, mid-century Modern, bronze, silver, jewelry, vintage clothing and accessories, ceramics, art glass, antiquities, period furniture & lighting. Don’t miss the 3rd-floor 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. 40 W. 25th St., 212-633-6063; nyshowplace.com

shopS The Shops at the Plaza – Throughout the legendary Plaza Hotel, there is now a collection of world’s finest purveyors of art, jewelry, haute couture and specialty foods as well as premiere health and beauty services. Highlights not to be missed are the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, Celebrity Stylists WarrenTricomi Salon, MCM, Eloise at the Plaza, and Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie. One location. Countlesss indulgences. The Plaza Hotel, Fifth Ave. at 59th St., 212-546-5499; theplaza.com

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SHOPPING SPOTLIGHT

antiques p.28

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 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; 504 Broadway (Spring-Broome Sts.), 212-729-5900; bloomingdales.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 Lord & Taylor – Generations have shopped year-round at this, their flagship store, established in 1914, attracted by their focus on the American look and American designers, offering a 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

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MacKenzie-Childs - The flagship store featuring the full collection of whimsical and unique handcrafted home and garden accessories and gifts, including hand-painted ceramics, dinnerware, tableware, glassware and home furniture. 14 W. 57th St. (Fifth-Sixth Aves.), 212-570-6050; 31 Main St. Southampton, 631-283-1880; mackenzie-childs.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 grand luxury, stocked with exclusive items for men and women. 611 Fifth Ave. (49th-50th Sts.), 212-753-4000; saksfifthavenue.com

Fashion AND Accessories Balenciaga – Fashions that meld the avant-garde with classically wearable designs. 542 W. 22nd St., 212-206-0872; balenciaga.com BCBG Max Azria – Modern and chic suits, separates, coats, dresses, handbags and accessories for fashion-forward women. 770 Madison Ave.

spas p.37

(66th St.), 212-717-4225; 120 Wooster St. (Prince St.), 212-625-2723; 461 Fifth Ave. (40th St.), 212-991-9777; bcbg.com Brunello Cucinelli – Renowned for their classic collection of fine cashmere, Brunello Cucinelli also features luxury sportswear for both men and women. 683 Madison Ave. (61st-62nd Sts.), 212-813-0900; 379 Bleecker St. (Perry St.), 212-627-9202; brunellocucinelli.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. 160 Columbus Ave. (67th St.), 212-595-0934; 444 Madison Ave. (49th St.), 212-707-6700; 9 E. 57th St., 212-371-5010; 131 Spring St. (Greene St.), 212-925-9300; burberry.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 Carolina Herrera – Elegant, ultra-feminine, up-tothe-minute women’s dresses and fragrances. CH Carolina Herrera (802 Madison Ave. (68th St.), 212-744-2076) has clothing for men, women, and kids, as well as travel accessories. 954 Madison Ave. (75th St.), 212-249-6552; carolinaherrera.com

Amsterdam-based company Suitsupply has singlehandedly invented an entirely new niche in the world of men’s fashion that sets them apart from any other boutique retailer, combining the finest Italian fabrics, European styling, unbeatable in-store service, and attainable price bracket in presenting a revolutionary approach to menswear. No attention to detail is ever spared and tailoring is done on-site and while you wait, so you can walk out the door with the perfect fit. (Off-the-rack suits are also available.) The accolades keep pouring in, with rave reviews from The Wall Street Journal, GQ, and New York magazine, which awarded them “Best Suits” in their Best of New York 2012 guide. Their first American store is here in SoHo, with locations in Chicago and Washington, D.C. set to open this summer. 453 Broome St. (Mercer St.), 2nd Floor, 212-828-7250; suitsupply.com

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SHOPPINGNEWYORK

Chanel Boutique – Featuring the classic elements of Coco Chanel’s style, showcasing handbags, accessories, shoes, ready-to-wear by Karl Lagerfeld. 15 E. 57th St., 212-355-5050; 139 Spring St. (Wooster St.), 212-334-0055; chanel.com

cutting-edge sportswear and dresses. 417 West Broadway (Spring St.), 212-334-4441; elietahari.com

Diane Von Furstenberg – Wrap dresses to flirty sportswear, accessories, and more from the fashion icon. 874 Washington St. (14th St.), 646-486-4800; dvf.com

Escada – The German-based company offers high-end, modern, and elegant women’s apparel and accessories. ESCADA SPORT represents understated city chic. The company brand also encompasses licenses for eyewear and fragrances. 715 Fifth Ave. (56th St.), 212-755-2200; escada.com

DKNY – Lifestyle clothing, accessories, and more embracing the fun 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

Giorgio Armani – The Italian designer’s flagship features suits, elegant sportswear, outerwear, and evening wear for men and women. 760 Madison Ave. (65th St.), 212-988-9191; giorgioarmani.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

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. “Fetishes,” with laced- and buttoned-up backs, rubber dominatrix boots, and plasticized lace heats things up this season. 116 Greene St. (Prince St.), 212-274-9090; louisvuitton.com

Donna Karan – This three-story home to the famed designer’s timeless collection is where simplicity meets glamour. 819 Madison Ave. (68th St.), 866-240-4700; donnakaran.com Eileen Fisher – Classic women’s fashions promoting simplicity, versatility, 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. (21st-22nd Sts.), 212-924-4777; eileenfisher.com Elie Tahari – Women’s ready-to-wear fashions and accessories, including suits,

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Marc Jacobs – Casual-chic fashions for men and women including simple dresses, classic tailored suits, and formal wear. 163 Mercer St. (Houston-Prince Sts.), 212-343-1490; 385 Bleecker St. (Perry St.), 212-924-6126; marcjacobs.com Marimekko – Established in 1951, this Finnish textile and clothing design company is renowned for its original prints and colors. The flagship store offers home decor, apparel, bags and accessories, fabric collections, and much more. 200 Fifth Ave. (23rd-24th Sts.), 212-843-9121; 1262 Third Ave. (73rd St.), 212-628-8400; us.marimekko.com

Lloyd and Barbara Macklowe opened their doors in 1971 and Macklowe Gallery, now co-run by their son Benjamin Macklowe, is currently the longest-running family-owned business on Madison Avenue. Since then, they’ve become the global leader in lamps and glassware from Louis Comfort Tiffany, selling over 1,500 lamps, including many individual Tiffany lamps valued at over $1 million, as well as many priceless exemplars now in museum collections. Macklowe Gallery is also an unsurpassed dealer in French Art Nouveau furniture and objets d’art, French cameo glass by Argy-Rousseau, Daum and Gallé, and lithographs by Alphonse Mucha. Open Mon.-Fri., 10:30am-6pm, and Sat., 11am-5pm. 667 Madison Ave. (60th-61st Sts.), 212-644-6400; macklowegallery.com

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Michael Kors – Polished, classic-chic sportswear and accessories for men and women. 667 Madison Ave. (61st St.), 212-980-1550; michaelkors.com Polo/Ralph Lauren, Madison Avenue – The jewel in the crown of the more than 145 stores worldwide, with authentic antique furniture, women’s wear, accessories, leather goods, home furnishings, and antiques. Ralph Lauren’s first men’s-only store is located across the street at 867 Madison Ave. (72nd St.), 212-606-2100. 888 Madison Ave. (72nd St.), 212-434-8000; ralphlauren.com

Jewelry and Watches Aaron Basha – A family-owned and -run staple that has made its name with high-fashion jewelry pieces, most notably their distinctive jeweled baby shoes and assortment of baby charms. They also feature heirloom-quality jewelry, with bracelets, clasps, cuff links, chains and more. 685 Madison Ave. (61st St.), 212-935-1960; aaronbasha.com

De Beers Jewellery – The ultimate destination for diamond jewelery. With over 120 years of diamond experience to draw on, De Beers Diamond Jewellers go well beyond the ‘4Cs’ of carat, clarity, color, and cut to capture unmatched fire, life, and brilliance, providing the most beautiful diamonds in the world set in magnificent designs. The creation of timelessly elegant diamond jewelery—from selecting the world’s finest diamonds to impeccable craftsman-

Prada – This specialist in minimalist fashion offers a range of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, and furnishings. 841 Madison Ave. (70th St.), 212-327-4200; 45 E. 57th St., 212-308-2332; 724 Fifth Ave. (56th St.), 212-664-0010; 575 Broadway (Prince St.), 212-334-8888; prada.com Saks Fifth Ave Personal Shopping – For special personal shopping service on women’s fashions, contact James Palazza at 212-940-2784. saksfifthavenue.com Stella McCartney – The trendy boutique featuring au courant, animal-friendly fashions for women in the heart of downtown Manhattan. 112 Greene St. (Prince St.), 212-255-1556; stellamccartney.com Suitsupply SoHo – Suitsupply has created an entirely new market in men’s fashion which sets them apart from any other existing boutique retailers. Their combination of using only the finest Italian fabrics, European styling, unbeatable in-store service and attainable price bracket is a revolutionary approach to menswear. No attention to detail is ever spared and tailoring is done on-site and while-you-wait, allowing customers to leave with the perfect fit. In The Wall Street Journal, Suitsupply ranked #1 in a blind test matching a $3625 Armani suit in quality. GQ placed Suitsupply on its list of the Coolest New Stores of 2011. 453 Broome St. (Mercer St.), 2nd Floor, 212-828-7250; suitsupply.com tibi – The renowned contemporary dress line, plus a shoe line, swimwear, and home accessories. 120 Wooster St. (Prince St.), 212-226-5852; tibi.com TSE – All things cashmere, for men and women— usually. 120 Wooster St. (Prince St.), 212-925-2520; tsecashmere.com

FURS The Fur Salon at Saks Fifth Avenue – Home to the most luxurious, elegant furs from a wide selection of designers. Fur salon services include madeto-measure garments, storage, cleaning, alterations, repairs, and more. 611 Fifth Ave. (49th-50th Sts.), 212-940-4465; thefursalon.com Maximilian at Bloomingdale’s – Offering an extensive collection of premier designer furs of the highest quality and design. 1000 Third Ave. (60th St.), 212-705-3335; maximilian.com

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THESHOPPINGNEWS

Rothmans

Harry Rothman was born in 1902 and grew up in a Lower East Side tenement building. According to his grandson, Ken Giddon, Rothman had to leave school at 11 to help support Giddon’s widowed grandmother and her six other children. The story is a familiar one: Harry hustled and built his eponymous retail clothing business, which he started in 1926 with a pushcart operation—and then “went upscale” with a horse-drawn ice truck—on East Broadway. The business grew to what would ultimately become the destination store for men-in-the-know in the ‘50s. Harry passed away in ‘85, and grandson Giddon, the closest thing the family had to a businessman (he was on his way to business school), came to the city to close the shop. But a funny thing happened on the way to the dissolution: Giddon and his younger brother Jim decided to create a fresh incarnation of the store, with a nod to Harry...and thus the new Rothmans was born, no longer a discounter (but offering great value and good prices). And today, after 25 years, the brothers, who are co-owners, have established the latest embodiment of Rothmans—a block away, with 4,000 more square feet—with an edgier feel and more stylish clothing. But still, Rothmans celebrates its heritage; there are many original fixtures and some new ones built by a Brooklyn craftsman using reclaimed materials. Harry would be proud. 222 Park Avenue South (18th Street); 212-777-7400; rothmansny.com

new stores not to miss

By Ruth J. Katz

Ankasa

Launched in 2007, Ankasa has quickly become the darling of the decorator set. The shop is stocked with virtually hundreds of throw pillows (in myriad shapes, sizes, and styles) and decorative accessories; the new 2,000-square-foot boutique in SoHo is chockablock with mirrors, candles, tabletop china, tote bags, picture frames, lighting fixtures, and linens. The brainchild of Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia, Ankasa offers handsomely designed home furnishings that have been featured in countless magazines and are, needless to say, found in a clutch of manses belonging to bold-face names. The prevailing color palette is by and large earth-toned, but the surface decorations, patterns, and prints are hardly shrinking violets. With most items made in India, the design principle of more is more is more triumphs, and surfaces can be embellished with sequins, buttons, rhinestones, soutache braiding, jewels, and embroideries. Novelty pillow treatments include elaborate mélanges of crocodile, needlework, and opulent trims. A new offering in the downtown shop (the company also has a boutique on the Upper East Side on Madison Avenue) is a custom pillow bar, where customers can choose from Ankasa’s reference library in which thousands of pillow styles are archived—and the company’s workroom will then custom-craft those personal selections. (Some pillows are so elaborate that they retail for $400 or even $500). Additionally, the new SoHo flagship shop offers a full-service interior design and consulting business. 424 Broome Street (Crosby/Lafayette Streets); 212-226-8002; ankasa.com

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ship and sophisticated designs—is the De Beers difference. 703 Fifth Ave. (55th St.), 212-906-0001; debeers.com F.D – With a luxurious, salon-like space that features a fireplace and a library, jewelry collector/art enthusiast/philanthropist Fiona Druckenmiller’s F.D offers a unique environment for seeking out jewelry, fine art, glass and sculpture from acclaimed designers and craftsmen, including Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, René Boivin, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and more. 21 E. 65th St., 212-772-2440; fionasescape.com Fred Leighton – Renowned for an extraordinary collection of vintage and estate jewelry from the 19th and 20th centuries, ranging from the Victorian era to Art Deco to retro and modern masterpieces. The collection features signature creations as well as works and signed pieces by the great makers in jewelry history, including Cartier, Van Cleef, Rene Boivin and Suzanne Belperron. 773 Madison Ave. (66th St.), 212-288-1872; fredleighton.com Frey Wille USA – Since the 1950s, Frey Wille has produced artistic jewelry of precious enamel, utilizing its unique design concept. An exceptional design philosophy, innovative artistic creations, and brilliant color from the creative team of artists,

goldsmiths and experts of fine enameling make for exquisite exclusive jewelry for enthusiasts across the world. 727 Madison Ave. (63rd-64th Sts.), 646-682-9030; frey-wille.com

Ross has influenced an entire generation of jewelry designers. Custom orders welcome. 122 Prince St. (Wooster St.), 212-226-4513; 29 E. 73rd St. (Madison Ave.), 212-772-1901; reinsteinross.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

Stephen Russell - Offering one of the most important and carefully chosen vintage jewelry collections available today, complemented with a collection of original contemporary designs. 970 Madison Ave. (76th St.), 212-570-6900; stephenrussell.com

Kwiat – Founded in 1907, this jewelry brand has a century of experience in the diamond industry and a reputation as one of the world’s leading diamond and diamond jewlery companies, dedicated to exceptional craftsmanship. 725 Madison Ave. (63rd-64th Sts.), 212-725-7777; kwiat.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

Reinstein/Ross– Pairing vibrant precious stones and classical goldsmithing techniques, Reinstein/ Ross jewelry is designed and hand-fabricated in NYC, in their Madison Ave. 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/

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; 500 Madison Ave. (52nd St.), 212-758-6098; tourneau.com

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SHOPPINGNEWYORK

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

Canyon Ranch’s #1 acupuncture referral in New York City—is a holistic health center in midtown dedicated to helping its clients “raise their bar on health, well-being, and personal power.” Elizabeth Carpenter, MS, L.Ac., created Oriens Living in response to what she calls “the 21st Century Challenge.” Says Carpenter, “It’s a new world out there. Executives and all high achievers are suffering from what is really the perfect storm: the collision of a 24/7, always-on lifestyle and energetic overwhelm, and environmental toxin assault (chemicals, electromagnetic radiation, etc). We hear a lot about stress and we know it’s dangerous. But look around. Illnesses that barely existed 100 years ago are our ‘new normal’: weight-loss resistance, hormone imbalances, infertility, autoimmune problems, the thyroid epidemic, sleep problems, chronic pain and exhaustion, and on and on.” “Nature has you programmed for thriving, but are you?” she adds. “We all have what I call ‘wellness wiring within’ that can be harnessed to redirect momentum and rewrite the script. That’s what we do at Oriens. We are so successful for patients because the engagement is at the level of cause, eliminating symptoms for good. And then we empower them to sustain their health with practical and pleasurable lifestyle tools. It’s mind-body medicine that works with a high-gear life.” Oriens is the Latin root of the word “oriental.” It means toward the rising sun—a new day, transformation. Oriens Living treatments and programs are custom designed for each client. 36 West 44th Street, Suite 1212; 212.213.5785; oriensliving.com

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The “one-stop dental perfection” approach of Jan Linhart D.D.S., P.C. combines two elements: exceptional, cutting-edge dental treatment in a state-ofthe-art facility, and the total patient experience. With multiple specialists, you can get on-the-spot evaluations, diagnoses, and proposed treatments with their areas of expertise including implants, orthodontics, periodontal surgery, and endodontics (root canal). Dr. Linhart can take care of all of your general and cosmetic dental needs as well. 230 Park Ave. (46th St.), 212-682-5180; drlinhart.com

Wempe - With over 125 years of tradition and experience, Wempe offers an impressive selection of fine timepieces and clocks, exquisite 18-karat gold and diamond jewelry, cufflinks, and watch straps. Among the brands in its European-style salon with an elegant and inviting atmosphere, are Patek Philippe, A. Lange and Söhne, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Wempe has earned its strong reputation for exceptional customer service with its state-of-the-art service center. 700 Fifth Ave. (55th St.), 212-397-9000; wempe.com Yael Sonia - Known for cutting-edge designs and taking a modern approach to jewelry making, Yael Sonia has become synonymous with innovation and sophistication. All pieces are handmade at Sonia’s studio/showroom in Sao Paulo, Brazil and available at the first Yael Sonia art boutique (and the only one in America), located on Madison Avenue. 922 Madison Ave. (73rd-74th Sts.), 212-472-6488; yaelsonia.com

LUGGAGE AND LEATHER GOODS Bric’s Madison - The company’s first freestanding store in the U.S., carrying a selection of Bric’s merchandise including luggage, handbags and small accessories, which are currently sold at Barney’s New York, specialty luggage stores, and other department stores. 535 Madison Ave. (54th St.), 212-688-4490; brics.it Tumi - The premium lifestyle, accessories and travel brand. 53 W. 49th St., 212-245-7460; Grand Central Terminal, 212-973-0015; 1100 Madison Ave., 212-288-8802; Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Cir., 212-823-9390; 67 Wall St., 212-742-8020; 102 Prince St., 646-613-9101; 520 Madison Ave., 212-813-0545; tumi.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 women in the know, the Jimmy Choo shoe lines include house, evening, bridal, sandals, and more, as well as matching handbags. 716 Madison Ave. (63rd-64th Sts.), 212-759-7078; 645 Fifth Ave. (51st St.), 212-593-0800; 407 Bleecker St. (W. 11th St.), 216-366-1305; jimmychoo.com Manolo Blahnik – One of the world’s most influential international footwear designers. 31 W. 54th St., 212-582-3007; manoloblahnik.com Stuart Weitzman – Elegant, high-fashion shoes and handbags for women. Also a wide selection of 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

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HEALTH CARE 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 wellbeing. 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 Oriens Living - One of NY’s finest healing centers and a sanctuary for high achievers to dive into themselves and address the core challenges they face with their physical, emotional and spiritual health. Specializing in acupuncture, holistic remedies, massage, non-surgical facelift options, general health & well-being, etc. Elizabeth Carpenter, MS, L.Ac. is Founder & Director and recommended by numerous health professionals. 36 W. 44th St., Suite 1212, 212-213-5785; oriensliving.com

TELEVISION The HBO Shop - A consumer retail space like no other, featuring a multimedia showcase of HBO’s® award-winning programming. 1100 Ave. of the Americas (42 St. & 6th Ave.), 212-512-SHOP; hboshop.com

Electronics/PHOTO The Apple Store - Your home to all things Apple, from the latest iMacs, iPhones, iPods and other hardware to printers, software, and lots more. 767 Fifth Ave. (59th St.), 212-336-1440; 103 Prince St. (Greene St.), 212-226-3126; 1981 Broadway (67th St.); 401 W. 14th St.; Grand Central Terminal; apple.com B&H Photo Video - The world’s largest camera and video super store, servicing professionals and everyday consumers for three decades. With an expert staff and a full line of still, digital, video, home and portable entertainment, pro audio equipment, computers and accessories, it’s the professional’s source. 420 Ninth Ave. at 34th St., 212-444-6615; bhphotovideo.com 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 J&R Music and Computer World - One of the largest selections and low prices on audio, video, digital, SLR & professional cameras, computers & software, PDAs, iPods & MP3 players, kitchen essentials, housewares, CDs, DVDS, and more, including the J&R Apple Store. and J&R Jr. for kids. Park Row (across from City Hall Park), 212-238-9000; jr.com Sony Store - High-tech meets high-touch in this flagship store that combines sophisticated electronic products with an exciting selection of music, video, and multimedia in a luxurious, sensual environment. Sony Plaza, 550 Madison Ave. (55th-56th Sts.), 212-833-8800; store.sony.com

SPAS AND SALONS Frédéric Fekkai Salon - One of the most celebrated names in beauty and hairstyling, the world’s most beautiful women and Hollywood’s brightest stars have flocked to him for his unique talents and expert advice. The Fekkai product

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SHOPPINGNEWYORK

collection was developed to meet the exacting standards of his A-list clientele, and to address the specific needs of different hair types. Book your appointment with Fabrice Gili, Creative Director. 394 West Broadway, (Spring-Broome Sts.), 2nd flr., 212-888-2600; fekkai.com

CIGARS and 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. The products unite craftsmanship, dedication, and understanding culminating in elegant, innovative, and functional pieces. 515 Madison Ave. (53rd St.), 212-751-9060; The Shops at Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Cir. (59th St.), 212-823-6383; davidoffnewyork.com

CAVIAR Caviar Russe - One of America’s largest caviar importers. They offer a focused selection of smoked fish, shellfish, foie gras and charcuterie, caviar accompaniments, and gourmet pantry items. The restaurant component offers a tasting menu, dining a la carte, and a raw bar. 538 Madison Ave. (54th55th Sts.), 2nd Floor, 212-980-5908; caviarrusse.com

TOYS If you’re looking for a hard-to-get reservation at one of the city’s top restaurants, need help planning an unforgettable anniversary or birthday celebration, or trying to get past a velvet rope to a hot new nightclub or lounge, Vivendi Corp has the inside connections to make your most luxurious New York City dreams come true. With an exclusive clientele list combined with a staff based here as well as Las Vegas, Miami, and Paris, Vivendi Corp has relationships with the most buzzed-about nightlife destinations, exclusive celebrity events and performances, and most sought-after restaurants in all four cities. From arranging the perfect evening to planning an extravagant weekend on the town, Vivendi Corp can cater to all of your entertainment needs. Contact Vivendi Corp at 646-477-2230, info@vivendicorp.com, or visit www.vivendicorp.com for more information.

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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Build-a-Bear Workshop - Have a fun family experience at Build-A-Bear Workshop, “Where Best Friends Are Made.” You can choose from over 30 bears, bunnies, dogs, and more to make. Then, give it a unique personality with outfits, accessories, sounds, and even a message you record. Plus, the fun continues at home for FREE at buildabearville. com—an online world stuffed with fun! Visit over 400 stores worldwide or go to buildabear.com. 565 Fifth Ave. (46th St.), 877-789-BEAR; buildabear.com FAO Schwarz - FAO Schwarz is a place where generations have come to play and where imagination has no limits. Their staff is ready to assist with Personal Shopping, Toy Soldier Tours, Big Piano Dance Lessons, Private Party Planning, Concierge Service and Corporate Sales. The legendary store kicked off a year-long celebration for its 150th anniversary. The company will honor this heritage with in-store events, commemorative product offerings and an enhanced website that together will present the brand’s storied history. 767 Fifth Ave. (58th St.), 800-426-8697; fao.com Toys“R”Us Times Square - The 110,000-squarefoot toy store features a 60-foot indoor Ferris Wheel, a 4,000-square-foot Barbie dollhouse, a 20-foot animatronic T-Rex dinosaur & much more. 1514 Broadway (44th St.), 1-800-869-7787; toysrus.com/timessquare

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day

spas

...Livin’ la Vida Caliente!

By Griffin Miller

Spa Editor

Suggestion: Why not surf the heat wave this summer at one of Manhattan’s to-die-for spas? Customized facials and massages are trending big time now and by the time you hit the beach, every one of your impeccably pedicured toes will be poised to hang-10!

In SoHo: The Ultimate Face-Time Continuum It began on a Tuesday morning with the perfect glass of imported green tea—chilled and particularly well-suited to the intimate AMOREPACIFIC Beauty Gallery & Spa in the heart of SoHo. And, as I would later learn from my aesthetician Nicole, this particular green tea, in one form or another, is the transformative ingredient in AMOREPACIFIC’S much-sought after Time Response skincare collection, the key to their meticulous facials. Cultivated in the Korean-based company’s private green tea gardens and blended with “a rare six year-old Korean red ginseng and restorative Asian botanicals,” the upscale product line was designed to penetrate the skin’s deepest layers without a whisper of irritation. The backdrop for my facial was a domed 150-square-foot treatment room (the spa has two) where Nicole—having carefully assessed my complexionary quirks—set out eight or nine hand-picked exfoliants, creams, serums and ampules to sooth, repair and revitalize. As she explained, “Each facial incorporates a blended mask formula. We consider the skin condition of each customer and might add or interchange a couple of Asian Botanicals to further customize.” The fact that AMOREPACIFIC stands out from most other spas by being (almost) exclusively face specific was another plus factor. Post-facial, as I checked out the results, any skepticism I might have had dissolved: my skin was—dare I say it—luminous. Finally, there comes a crash course on maintaining one’s metamorphosis, conducted in the spa’s casual-chic “Beauty Gallery.” The array of products, simultaneously comprehensive and staggering, makes you grateful to have your new best friend/aesthetician to guide you along as you sit back, relax, and sip your tea. 114 Spring Street (between Mercer and Greene Streets), 212-966-0400, us.amorepacific-cosmetics.com/en/spa

In Midtown: A Multi-Dimensional Superstar In the sensual world of luxury spas, first impressions are all-powerful... which, I expect, has been critical to Townhouse Spa’s leading-edge reputation. And yes, it is an actual townhouse—impressively restored to reflect not only the lavish trappings of a beautifully serene day spa, but with added appeal for the large number of guy regulars who come for the treatments but also enjoy the clubby atmosphere (dark woods, leather couches, TV, etc.) in the men’s top floor lounge—where, I might add, a strict “women are allowed” policy is enforced. Not surprisingly, Townhouse Spa offers an intriguing menu of treatments, including their signature HydroSoak treatment, a beyond-amazing prequel to any massage. Bordering on a mini space odyssey for overstressed humanoids, the HydroSoak takes place in a one-person hot tub “capsule,” infused with minerals, where 30 massaging jets are joined by “radiant heat (infrared) therapy beams” (light show alert!) to boost one’s immune system while ridding the body of toxins. Claustrophobes can opt to have the top left open, but if you don’t mind cocooning, do surrender to the complete sci-fi experience. My follow-up was the Eastern Meridan Massage, an outstanding full-body pressure point affair (the therapist shifts from fingers to knuckles to elbows), designed to relieve tension and knots. Five stars! I was by intrigued as well by their Grounded Massage, performed with the massagee dressed in loose-fitting clothing. Definitely next time. It should also be noted that Townhouse Spa is one of Gotham’s most sought-after event venues. According to Spa President Jamie Ahn, you haven’t really partied until you mix and match spa treatments with music, catering, and spa gift bags filled with designer items from the spa’s fabulous shop. 39 W. 56th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues), 212-245-8006, townhousespa.com

Products that Perform:

Skin Salvation from elure

Unisex Quest: an even-toned complexion, regardless of age. Yet unless you’re Donald Trump or a Kardashian, spa treatments are probably not an everyday option. And, while there are no smartphone apps capable of beaming a glow directly to our skin (no matter how hard we tap), at least we live in an era of dermatological advances that led me to a product line that not only delivers the goods, but fits my minimal effort/rapid results criteria. elure Advanced Skin Lightening, with the breakthrough ingredient Melanozyme™ (a natural enzyme), began addressing my hyperpigmentation issues within two weeks (company baseline is 28 days). Considering my skin is borderline transparent, and that I’ve been experimenting with countless creams and lotions without success: huge relief, lucent uniform skin tone, sign me up for life. Here’s the deal: in the morning you use the Advanced Lightening Lotion before applying makeup; before bed you apply the Advanced Lightening Night Cream; and you precede each treatment with elure’s Foaming Facial Wash. Total daily time expenditure: under ten minutes. Perks: no irritation, no scary smells, awesome payoff. elureskin.com/en

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AT HOME INNEW YORK

ANTIQUES

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abc carpet and home

1stDibs

mirror, mirror: love at ďŹ rst glance

Our favorite antique mirrors this season not only bring culture and history into your home, but display unparalleled design that can only be found from rummaging back in time. They reflect personalities unique to their origins of time and place and possess the capability to open up a space, create dimension, and add character to a home. Whether your style leans toward a traditional tarnish or unconventional frames, here are some of the most distinctive mirrors on the antique market. By Melanie Baker A BURST OF LIGHT

1 This 20th-century mirror hailing from France offers a unique and intricately designed Sunburst style that plays to the whimsical side of any home. Featuring wrought-iron looped patterns, this piece calls attention to itself and brightens the mood of a room effortlessly. Unbeatable quality meets unmatchable charm with this Royere manner beauty. 4 ft. by 3 in. $5800. Lerebours Antiques, 224 East 60th Street; 212-308-2275; lereboursantiques.com

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IRON CLAD CLASS This gorgeous gilded iron mirror is perfect for making a grand statement. From Modest Design, while breathtaking in size, this piece enhances the elegant side of mirror design with a perfectly fashioned bird motif. Similar to other 1940s French mirrors, this iron triumph never overwhelms with clean crafted lines that allow the flawless glass to take center stage. Height: 42.5 in. Width: 38 in. $6500. Center44, 222 East 44th Street; 212-450-7988; center44.com 2

NATURAL MASTERPIECE 3 From Piet Jonker Architectural Antiques, this antique mirror features gilt wood in the style of Louis XIV. Crafted in the 19th century, the wood has been treated with gold to create a balanced sheen and subtle elegance that surpasses traditional wood-framed mirrors. Ornate carving at the edges and an intricately designed top give this mirror a majestic air without being overwrought. Height: 7 ft., 5.8 in. Width: 5 ft., 1.8 in. $7,982. 1stDibs at New York Design Center, 200 Lexington Avenue, 10th Floor; 646-293-6633; 1stdibs.com

BELGIAN BEAUTY 4 Give a room a new perspective with this multi-paned vintage metal mirror from Belgium, c. 1930. With a distressed rusted frame, this antique mirror feels all but antiquated. Donning a rusted patina effect, the history of this mirror speaks volumes from first glance. The vintage quality and rounded top present the perfect mix of elegance and edge. Height: 72 in. Width: 49 in. $3795 exclusively at abc carpet & home. abc carpet and home, 888 Broadway; 212-473-3000; abchome.com

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seasonal I

style

[ From left: Outdoor fur new Greenhouse col niture and pillows from MacKenzie-Child s’ Flower Market enamelection. “I love mixing our Courtly Check creative director Rebeclware when we entertain outdoors,” and Childs’ design campus ca Proctor, who lives near MacKenzi says ein Aurora, NY ]

Photos courtesy Mac

Kenzie-Childs

DÉCOR

t’s obvious that Rebecca Proctor, creative director for MacKenzie-Childs, enjoys no shortage of imaginative prowess when it comes to designing a living space (see: any and all of the brand’s home furnishing collections that have debuted in the decade since she took her post). As we head into summer, a season that naturally demands we liven up our décor, we asked this leading lady for advice on redecorating, refreshing and reimagining a home for any time of year.

By Kaitlin Ahern

Q. How often do you redecorate your home? RP: Redecorating is always ongoing in our household. As a child, much to my mother’s chagrin, I was always rearranging our furniture so I guess you might say it’s ingrained. I love moving things around and seeing how great a difference I can affect with just a small change. In spring and summer, when the weather is nice, we focus on opening our house to the environment. In our case, we’ve got stone terraces, lots of mature trees, and shade gardens. In the summer, our garden environment becomes an extended part of our home’s interior. I love filling vases with cherry blossoms in the spring and fresh flowers all year long. And pillows…lots and lots of pillows. In the winter, on the other hand, the natural tendency is to nest and make everything feel closer and cozier. I do a lot of things with throws and textiles I’ve collected from around the world. I take our carpets out of storage to cover certain areas of our hardwood floors. I love evergreens and juniper and fall foliage. I love the holidays and surrounding ourselves with all the handmade sentimental things we’ve accumulated through the years, and of course all of my MacKenzie-Childs [products]. Q. What are some fun decorating ideas for the summer? RP: This spring and summer I want to concentrate on the new “tiny house” that my husband built for me last year. It’s sort of a cross between a tea house, a potting shed, and a folly, with a small balcony and a spectacular river view. It sits on a stone foundation he uncovered under the old decrepit shed, and the doors and windows are architectural salvage. We’ve just topped it with a small heron weathervane. In the summer, my husband and I love to spend time working on projects in the garden. Every Saturday morning I fill my favorite vases with fresh flowers I buy from the farmers market. I’m also a big fan of making little places to sit to enjoy the way the light moves around the house. Q. When is it appropriate to redecorate for a season? RP: I think with the way we are all so pressed for time these days, any time you can put a little thought and energy into your next holiday event or season is helpful. Don’t be afraid to do things incrementally if you don’t have the time to do it all at once. Q. What is an appropriate timeline for summer décor? RP: Our garden furniture, decorative garden urns, planters and birdhouses usually come out at the tail end of April—but this year we had a snowstorm on the 27th! It’s all tucked back into storage at the end of October.

Q. Do you have any tips on easy ways to freshen up décor each season without making any big changes? RP: Be flexible with your floor plan. Small changes, even moving a chair or a photograph, can have a big impact on a space. Fresh flowers are important all year long. And it’s fun to add a few new things each season. Home fragrance is also a great way to change the mood in a house—my favorite right now is our Greenhouse scent, which was literally inspired by our studio grounds and greenhouse in Aurora. Q. Are there any rooms that lend themselves more to seasonal decorations than others? RP: Certainly the front hall and the living room lend themselves to being focal points in your home for seasonal decor. But I love to make seasonal changes in the dining room focused around the holidays. We have tons of dishes and tabletop pieces that we have collected through the years and there is nothing I enjoy more than setting a table for a holiday. We have a new ceramic pattern called Parchment Check, which is soft and beautiful—it’s going to look great as a focal point in our dining room. Q. Do you have any advice on storing seasonal décor—especially for someone with limited space? RP: I have several extremely organized large lidded tubs that are great for storage. These are kept in our attic for safe keeping and easy access. Since we only have a small garage, our garden furniture is kept in a rented storage locker not far away. Q. When is the best time to buy seasonal decorations? RP: I tend to purchase things as I see them at any time of the year. It’s always best to snap something up if it strikes your fancy because chances are, as you near the holiday, it won’t be there the next time you look. Q. How often does MacKenzie-Childs debut a new collection? Are the collections often seasonally themed? RP: We introduce three major collections a year: Spring, Fall, and Holiday. In the spring we debut our newest outlook on the garden, which features everything from wrought-iron garden gates and gorgeous watering cans to hand-painted enamel dinnerware. This spring is over the top! Fall is typically filled with a variety of designs great for gift giving: lush textiles and upholstery pieces. Our Holiday collection has expanded dramatically and offers everything from beautiful wreaths and ribbons to fine hand-blown glass ornaments, stockings, and tree skirts. Each season has a theme that provides an over-arching storyline that most of the designs follow.

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5/16/12 6:05 PM

REAL ESTATENEW YORK

prewar versus modern

The NYC choice: luxury living and vintage sophistication or modern conveniences and flexible designs. By Karli Petrovic

hen considering a real estate purchase in Manhattan, it comes down to two choices: prewar or modern. Beautiful hardwood floors and crown moldings treat prewar property owners to vintage sophistication, while modern construction provides cityscape views from sky-high floors and the option to add a wine cooler to the kitchen or spa Jacuzzi to the bathroom before buying. If selecting one over another proves difficult, consider which of these three lavish properties speaks to your personality.

The Prewar: Exclusively Elegant

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Prewar construction in the condominium co-op (Condop) at 995 Fifth Avenue comes in the form of 26 private homes at the former Stanhope Hotel. Each residence has gorgeous coffered and barrel-vaulted ceilings, as well as Santos Mahogany floors, and Lefroy Brooks, Waterworks, and Dornbracht fixtures. “Prewar homes are simply not made anymore, and there is always a limited inventory. Prewar residential buildings in Manhattan have always commanded the interest and the value that rare art masterpieces realize,” says Nikki Field, Senior Vice President and Associate Broker for Sothebys International Realty. “The sheer limited number of homes available in these buildings, which were predominately designed and erected in the Golden Age of Manhattan society, continues to attract collectors of fine real estate.” The full 16th floor, for example, boasts more than 8,000 square feet, a sixroom master bedroom suite, and grand gallery for art collectors. Built in 1926 by Rosario Candela, the property received an update in 2008, and this floor’s complete redesign concluded earlier this year. The price of this luxurious home with vast views of Central Park, the Reservoir, and the Metropolitan Museum is $30 million. Modern conveniences, such as an AMX building security system (and a round-the-clock doorman), La Palestra health and fitness spa, and a billiards

room, mesh with prewar signatures like 10-foot ceilings, formal dining space, and a library with a wood-burning fireplace For entertaining, the sun-drenched great room and media room provide plenty of space, as do the dining and sitting rooms and the Smallbone kitchen with Sub-Zero, Miele, and Viking appliances and breakfast room. Visitors will feel right at home in the private guest wing. As one of the largest residences on Fifth Avenue, the four additional bedrooms and 9.5 baths provide ample space to accommodate the whole family. “Native New Yorkers prefer prewar homes as so many of them grew up in them, and they are driven back to the familiar sense of traditional lifestyles in familiar and beloved neighborhoods,” Fields says. “New arrivals are often focused on securing the lifestyle that they have become so familiar with from New York films, and Europeans gravitate to the elegant buildings along Central Park and around Madison Avenue. These are the areas they know best from their visits here and they would like to melt into the fabric of the elegance of the neighborhoods.” In some homes in this residence, precious stones and mosaics are available to create custom baths and there is a choice of contemporary or classic arch detail. Both help customize the space, an option that many who opt to buy prewar miss out on.

5/17/12 1:14 PM

Evan Joseph

[O pposite page: The living room on the 16th floor at 995 Fifth Avenue; Top: The open kitchen plan at 400 Fifth Avenue; Stunning views at The Azure ]

The Moderns: Superb Service... Although prewar construction may play to your love of all things antique and elegant, modern buildings claim some extravagant perks as well. At 400 Fifth Avenue, the condominium tower offers unparalleled service paired with unmatched views. Located above the five-star-rated Setai Fifth Avenue Hotel, residents can receive hotel services, including housekeeping, valet parking, in-home dining and catering, and linen, and turn-down services, which are available at an additional cost. Homeowners also have access to the 3,000-square-foot Technogym Fitness Center and business center with private conference room. The hotel restaurant serves dishes crafted by celebrity chef Michael White. “With a prewar situation, you are limited as to what you are able to create,” says Karen Mansour, Executive Vice President for Douglas Elliman Development Marketing. “The condominium over [a] hotel allowed us to create something completely different.” In addition to building a space unlike any other, the residences at 400 Fifth Avenue offer buyers views of the entire city, with the homes beginning on the 31st floor. “You don’t have that in any prewar building,” says Giuseppe Rossi, Executive Vice President of Bizzi & Partners Development. “It’s an urban resort with all the comfort that you want, and there are stunning views and beautiful architecture.” The price point for the homes range from just under $1.5 million for a onebedroom residence to $32 million for a penthouse with north/south and east/ west exposures to create a breathtaking 360-degree view from the top. Because of the central location, Rossi says the building is attracting a global audience.

038-41 AtHome.indd 41

...Spacious Living For buyers in the market for a well-located modern building with significant square footage for entertaining, look to The Azure at 333 East 91st Street. Offering 400 square feet more than the typical West of Lexington luxury living space, the 3,005-square-foot, five-bedroom home fits large families comfortably for $3.6 million. For singles, one- and two-bedroom units offer about 1,000 and 2,000 square feet for $775,000 and $1.2 million, respectively. “The large units are pulling people away from the classic sixes,” says Doug Maclaury, Senior Vice President of the Mattone Group, one of The Azure’s two developers. “The added space is attracting people in from Park and Madison, who are priced out or can’t find the size home they are looking for.” Maclaury also notes that with a game room for teens, children’s playroom, two furnished roof-top terraces and a close proximity to Asphalt Green, Carl Schurz Park, and many private and public schools, this modern property attracts families. The Azure isn’t just for families, though. With 11-foot-high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, Viking kitchen appliances, and marble bathrooms couples and foreign visitors looking for a lavish pied-à-terre are drawn in. Another exciting benefit in this modern residence is the ability to make requests for specialized finishes or reconfiguring the space to allow more room for entertainment. “It’s a huge perk to be able say, ‘we would like to have this’ or ‘can we move that?’” Mansour says. n

5/15/12 5:17 PM

POP

By Sylviane Gold Give a girl a guitar and anything can happen. She can turn into a folk icon like Judy Collins [left]. She can become a blues goddess like Bonnie Raitt [right]. Or she can get into jazz and be hailed as the second coming of Billie Holiday, like Madeleine Peyroux. Collins and Peyroux, who’s been exploring roots music recently, share a Town Hall bill on June 1, and Raitt does two nights at the Beacon later in the month. An Evening With Judy Collins & Madeleine Peyroux, June 1 at Town Hall; Bonnie Raitt, June 20-21 at the Beacon Theatre. the-townhall-nyc.org; beacontheatre.com

Statistically speaking, the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center hasn’t been mostly Mozart for years. But the master’s final symphony, No. 41 in C major, K. 551, the magisterial Jupiter, has enough heft to make it seem like the evening is mostly Mozart. It’s on the calendar for Avery Fisher Hall on August 21 and 22, along with Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 and Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1, with Stephen Hough at the keyboard and Andrew Manze [right] conducting. Mostly Mozart Festival, July 28 through August 25 at various Lincoln Center venues. lincolncenter.org

Basil Childers

CLASSICAL

FUN

THEATRE

042 SummerPicks-1pg.indd 42

The talented choreographer Ronald K. Brown and his dance company, Evidence, blend urban street style, African impulses, and a stunning array of musical genres into irresistible performances. This year they are bringing two programs to the Joyce, and the recorded musical accompaniment runs the gamut: Stevie Wonder, Cutumba Folklorio do Santiago, Nina Simone, and Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, July 9-14 at the Joyce Theater. joyce.org

Think Italian Renaissance and what comes to mind are grand paintings and monumental sculptures in Rome and Florence. But artists were busy in other cities, too, and some were working on a less grandiose, more intimate scale – just check out two of New York’s less grandiose, more intimate museums. At the Frick Collection, you can inspect the exquisite forms and burnished surfaces of bronzes [left] by the Mantuan sculptor Antico (born Pier Jacopo Alari de Bonacolsi). And the Morgan Library & Museum is displaying its collection of 15th- and 16th-century Venetian works on paper, allowing close-up views of drawings by such masters as Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, and Carpaccio. Antico: The Golden Age of Renaissance Bronzes, through July 29 at the Frick Collection; Renaissance Venice: Drawings From the Morgan, through September 23 at the Morgan Library & Museum. frick.org; themorgan.org

Jeremy Daniel, Richard Termine

ART

Basil Childers

DANCE

Sven Lorenz, Essen

ON THE TOWN

sm ART list the

The tightrope walkers, trapeze artists, contortionists, and clowns of Cirque du Soleil pay a return visit to Radio City Music Hall this summer in last year’s hit spectacle Zarkana. It’s nearly two-and-a-half hours of surreal stage magic created by the physical and technical wizardry orchestrated by François Girard, Guy Laliberté, and Gilles Ste-Croix. Zarkana, June 6 through September 2 at Radio City Music Hall. radiocity.com

Theatre openings come in many flavors: shows start their runs, companies mount their first productions, old spaces become new stages. But a brand-new theatre where there was only thin air before? That’s a rarity in this crowded city. It happens this summer right above Lincoln Center’s venerable Vivian Beaumont, when the Claire Tow Theater opens on June 4. The new home for LCT3 opens with Slowgirl, by rising dramatist Greg Pierce. Sarah Steele [left], whose performance as a conniving teen in Speech and Debate was called “magic” by Variety, stars alongside three-time Tony nominee (and Emmy winner) Zeljko Ivanek [right]. Slowgirl, June 4 through July 15 at the Claire Tow Theater. lct.org

5/15/12 5:38 PM

FINAL YEAR at RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL®

SAVE $10* ON SELECT SEATS WITH CODE: PNDZARK

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY FRANÇOIS GIRARD

VENUE

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

cirquedusoleil.com 866-858-0008 • Groups 15+: 212-465-6080

*Cannot be combined with any other offer or used on previously purchased tickets. 8 ticket limit per person. Subject to availability. Not valid on Fri & Sat Eve performances. Schedule and pricing subject to change. Other restrictions may apply. Tickets for people with disabilities may be purchased over the phone by calling Radio City Music Hall’s Disabled Services department at 212-465-6115. Offer is valid through September 2, 2012. ©2012 Cirque du Soleil

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5/4/12 3:30 PM

THEATRENEW YORK

Nella Vera

CELEBRITY PROFILE

LilyRabe

The intrepid young actress, who last appeared on the Delacorte stage in The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino, returns in the Bard’s romantic comedy As You Like It. By Griffin Miller

‘‘S

he looks fabulous,” a stranger whispered in my ear as he exited the closed-off room at the historic Friars Club where Lily Rabe and Richard Thomas were sequestered prior taking the podium to announce the Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards nominees. It was Monday morning, April 23rd, which is significant because: A) Rabe had arrived early and, after one or two drawn-out delays (inevitable at these events), did indeed emerge looking quite fabulous in a free-flowing Botticelli hair sort of way; B) it was the first day of As You Like It rehearsals, set to include Steve Martin and his bluegrass posse playing a sampling of what Rabe calls the “feel-good music” he’d written for the production; and C) all of this took place in the middle of a spring that, weather-wise, was, to put it kindly, fickle. I mention the latter because when Rabe and I finally spoke we were both in the throes of loathsome seasonal colds, meaning our in-person meeting was switched to a phone interview that began with her telling me how much she hoped “the worst of it” was over so she could get back to rehearsing with director Daniel Sullivan. “It’s no secret he’s a great director and genius,” she says of Sullivan, who had never seen her do Shakespeare prior to their working together on Merchant in 2010, but felt compelled to cast her as Portia because he instinctively knew she was perfect for the role. “What I especially love about him is this wonderful shorthand we have when we’re working together… sort of our own language, which is tremendously comforting, especially during the first month of rehearsals when I find it hard to hold onto my thoughts and tend to get terribly tongue-tied.” But with Sullivan, no matter how discombobulated her words come out (“I’m the queen of fragments,” Rabe confesses), she knows he’s getting it. “It’s so wonderful to have someone on your side like that, someone who makes you feel safe and brings out the best in you.” Sullivan has set the Delacorte production of As You Like It in America’s rural south during the 19th century – a lovely fit for the storyline and characters, including Rabe’s spirited Rosalind who, for the majority of the play, goes

undercover in the guise of young man named Ganymede. (“It helps that I’m tall,” she says.) Compared to Portia’s male persona in Merchant, a resolute courtroom lawyer who delivers the play’s famous “Quality of Mercy” monologue, Rosalind’s “breeches role” is a cross-dressing romp that has her trotting about Arden forest on a romantic fact-finding mission. Notes Rabe, “I’ve done a lot of tragedies so it’s great getting to do a play that is so deeply full of joy for everyone.” Family Ties “I had two amazing parents,” says Rabe of her famous playwright father, David Rabe, and celebrated actress mother, Jill Clayburgh. “Both of them were incredibly passionate, focused, and driven artists,” she continues, recalling what it was like growing up in a home where “…the arts were always around us; they were the language we spoke around the dinner table. And I took it all in – I was such a sponge as a child.” Yet, even though her mother and father had incredibly productive, busy lives, what Rabe remembers most fondly is the great love they had for her and her brothers. “As focused as they were on their work, they were always there for us—helping with homework, driving my brother to soccer and me to ballet—they gave us a wonderful childhood.” While much has been written about her loss of her mother in November of 2010 to leukemia (Rabe was in Broadway previews for Merchant at the time), more than a year and a half later she prefers to steer her reminiscences to the “inseparable” relationship she had with Clayburgh, not the least of which being their shared loopiness: “My mother and I had a total giggling problem. Countless times I remember having to leave a public place with her [because we were] convulsing with laughter.” Similarly, when talking about her siblings—older half-brother, musician Jason Rabe, and younger brother Michael Rabe—she gravitates to the hilarity: “The two of them are the funniest. They would tortuously tease me all the time because they knew it would make me laugh.”

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5/15/12 7:47 PM

Joan Marcus

Opposite page: [ From left: Lily Rabe; Oliver Platt and Rabe in rehearsal for As You Like It, running as part of The Public’s 50th Anniversary Season of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte, June 5 - June 30. Top: [ Lily Rabe and Al Pacino in the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park production of The Merchant of Venice at the Delacorte. ]

And then there’s her Tony-winning dad, whose prolific theatrical legacy [Streamers, HurlyBurly, In the Boom-Boom Room, Sticks and Bones, et al.] is still expanding with his latest play, An Early History of Fire, having had its world premiere Off-Broadway this past May. It was this work, incidentally, that was to have marked the first official collaboration between playwright father and actress daughter. Unfortunately, scheduling issues—including Rabe’s longtime commitment to As You Like It—took over and the show went forward with another actress in the role written for her. “Yet as heartbreaking as it was for me to let it go, we both felt it was important for it to be seen,” she says. Still, they haven’t given up on one day doing a project together. “We’re always looking to find that right thing,” she says, “throwing ideas around and so forth.” Savoring the Bi-Coastal Life Rabe’s last Broadway venture—which ended for her on April 1st—was Theresa Rebeck’s black comedy Seminar, in which she played Kate, a novice novelist who, along with three other aspiring young authors, signs up for private writing classes with a world famous, jugular-lacerating literary figure played by Alan Rickman. Her other costars in the five-character cast were Jerry O’Connell, Hamish Linklater, and Hettienne Park. “We all bonded very quickly,” she says, still awed by the show’s 90-minute running time that had the group out and hanging out at their favorite watering hole by 9pm every night. “Everything about that show just flew by, with everything from my first rehearsal to last performance being over in about seven months.” Even her pre-show preparation was a walk in the park. “I was wearing jeans and a ponytail and doing my make-up in like five minutes,” she marvels—definitely a far cry from her run in Shaw’s Heartbreak House, the lavish period production she costarred in on Broadway in 2006. As laid back as Seminar was, it overlapped with filming the brilliant supernatural cult series, American Horror Story, in which she played the ghost of Nora Montgomery, who died in 1926. To make everything work, she would fly out of New York after the Sunday matinee, shoot in Los Angeles on Monday, and return in time for the Tuesday night performance. “I don’t mind going back and forth in the least; in fact, I head back to LA to film the new season right after finishing As You Like It,” Rabe concludes. “I’m such a New Yorker but I love being in LA—my brothers are both there and I have so many friends on the West Coast. And being able to work in both cities—always with such amazing people—is truly an embarrassment of riches.” ■

[ Random Rabean Observations... ] Lily graduated from Northwestern University in 2004. She made her professional stage debut alongside her mother in Speaking Well of the Dead by Israel Horovitz at Massachusetts’ Gloucester Stage Company.  Her first roommate when she moved to New York to pursue her acting career was her mother (“We were inseparable”), whom she recalls being very forgiving of things like her being late with the rent or failing to unload the dishwasher. “What can I say, she loved me unconditionally.”  She is one of her father’s biggest fans, describing his scripts as “profound, devastating, and funny” and his use of language as “beautiful and specific and complicated.”  Her Broadway debut came in 2005’s all-female Steel Magnolias, alongside a cast of stage and screen stars that included Delta Burke, Christine Ebersole, Marsha Mason, and Frances Sternhagen. The production, in which Rabe played Annellle (Daryl Hannah’s part in the film version), was her first professional acting job after graduating college. “Here I was with all these generations of dynamic, strong, and incredibly funny women who could have treated me like the annoying little kid sister, but I never felt that way, even for a second. They were wonderful to me.”  Her first major film (in which she played the minor role of “Tess”) was the 2001 romantic comedy Never Again, starring her mother and Jeffrey Tambor.  In her most recent film—2012’s Beyond Redemption (currently in post-production)—she plays the lead role of Anna; also in the cast is one of her Seminar costars, Hamish Linklater.  While she has made several films over the past 11 years, her guest television credits during that period are also impressive and include all three Law & Orders, Nip/Tuck, Saving Grace, The Good Wife, and a Medium two-parter with Anjelica Houston.  The mastermind behind American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy, created the role of Nora for Lily after seeing her in the Nip/Tuck episode.  And for fans of American Horror Story a news flash: In the new season, Rabe will be playing a different role, but you’ll have to tune in to see who—or what—it will be.  

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5/15/12 7:47 PM

Courtesy of The Public Theater

Joseph Moran

THEATRENEW YORK Brigitte LaCombe

the Delacorte Theater turns 50

Half a century of midsummer night dreams at America’s premier summer stage.

n the evening of June 18, 1962, 10 children of United Nations delegates stood on the stage of the newly minted Delacorte Theater in Central Park and delivered Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech in their native tongues—a moment in time that officially celebrated New York City’s annual free Shakespeare in the Park festival’s new (permanent!) 2,300-seat amphitheater home. With Belvedere Castle rising regally in the distance, the dedication ceremony—interlaced with a benefit preview of The Merchant of Venice starring George C. Scott, James Earl Jones, and William Devane—included the reading of a congratulatory telegram from First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy by founder/ director Joseph Papp and a speech by Mayor Robert Wagner, who described the festival as “a memorial to [Papp’s] persistence and his belief in Shakespeare.” And so it was. The Delacorte, the supreme brick-and-mortar coup of Joe Papp’s theatrical legacy, was built upon a tempest-tossed, four-year prelude of acrimonious “slings and arrows” launched at Papp (who thankfully gave as good as he got) by Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. At the core of the dispute was Moses’s insistence that instead of “free” Shakespeare, Papp should charge a dollar or two for tickets to compensate for “soil erosion” caused by the destructive patter of assorted theatregoer feet on park grounds. (Prior to the Delacorte, starting in 1954, Papp’s nonprofit troupe performed in various park settings during the summer, including a 35’ trailer truck that transformed into a 35 x 30 foot stage.) Fortunately, in 1959, after Papp took the matter to appellate court—resulting in Moses being dubbed “arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable”—it was the Commissioner himself who approached the City Planning Commission requesting $250,000 to begin construction on the future Delacorte Theater, marking a détente that ultimately ended the Moses-vs.-Papp “turf war.” Observes Public Theater/Delacorte Artistic Director Oskar Eustis: “The fact that Joe Papp was able to create—basically from inspiration, spirit, and willpower—one of the most beloved and first-rate American institutions for producing Shakespeare is amazing. That it has endured for 50 years and will continue to do so is, to me, a miracle.” Eustis, an incredibly likable and innovative successor to Papp (two artistic

By Griffin Miller directors removed), helms all things Public Theater alongside Executive Director Patrick Willingham. That said, it’s clear the artistic director’s seasonal plunge into the Delacorte pool holds a special place in his heart. Plus, his birthday falls on July 31st—smack in the middle of Shakespeare in the Park’s season. “I can honestly say the happiest day of my life was my 50th birthday, [which] fell during the run of Hair in 2008,” Eustis says, recalling that at the end of the show, as performers and audience are dancing to “Aquarius,” “...the cast hoisted me over their heads and carried me around the stage. It was really a child’s dream come true!” At the moment, though, Eustis, along with everyone associated with the Public, is caught up in another dream come true: celebrating the Delacorte’s 50 years of groundbreaking theatrical moments and memories, beginning with a 50-years-to-the-day (June 18, 2012) gala honoring Al Pacino and featuring a once-in-a-lifetime performance: Kevin Kline and Meryl Streep in the title roles of Romeo and Juliet. (The play will be preceded by cocktails and a lavish dinner served outdoors around the Delacorte grounds.) The gala leads up to the Delacorte’s 2012 dynamic duo of a season, beginning with As You Like It (directed by Daniel Sullivan, who dazzled last year with The Merchant of Venice both in Central Park and on Broadway). This summer’s company includes Lily Rabe as Rosalind (see our Celebrity Profile on page 44), Andre Braugher as Duke Senior/Duke Frederick, and Oliver Platt in the role of Touchstone. And, in keeping with Sullivan’s setting (rural Dixie circa 1840), Emmy- and Grammy-winning actor/comedian/author/(pause for breath)/musician/composer Steve Martin has composed a score of catchytwangy tunes to be played by a live bluegrass band throughout the show. (Previews begin Tuesday, June 5; closing night is Saturday, June 30.) The second and final production of 2012’s anniversary season is Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fantasy-infused musical Into the Woods, directed by Timothy Sheader (with co-direction by Liam Steel). And, in case you hadn’t heard, the mega draw for this irreverent fairy tale collective is Tony winner Donna Murphy, who plays The Witch. She is joined by three-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams who, interestingly, has plans to produce and star in a film adaptation of Steve Martin’s novel An Object of Beauty. Fête accompli! ■

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5/15/12 7:47 PM

[ James Earl Jones in The Merchant of Venice,1962 ] [ Meryl Streep and Peter Phillips in Henry V, 1976 ]

George E. Joseph

[ Opposite page clockwise from top: The Delacorte Theater; Joe Papp amid construction in 1961; The Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis ]

[ Delacorte trivia by the numbers ]  The amphitheater’s total price tag was $400,000, with

[ Morgan Freeman in Coriolanus, 1979 ]

Martha Swope

$150,000 contributed by George T. Delacorte Jr., president of the Dell Publishing Company.

[ Kevin Kline in Richard III, 1983 ]

 On opening night, the acting salary scale was $100, $75,

and $45, based on the importance of the role. (When Papp started Shakespeare in the Park, take-home pay for performers was zilch.)

[ Denzel Washington in Richard III,1990 ]

Martha Swope

[ Michelle Pfeiffer in Twelfth Night, 1989 ]

Martha Swope

 Of the stellar actors who have performed at the Delacorte,

Kevin Kline has appeared 11 times (including his 2012 Gala performance as Romeo this June) with Sam Waterston a close second at 10, his debut being the Delacorte’s first production of As You Like It in 1963. Third place is a tie between Raul Julia and Emmy winner Tom Aldredge (eight appearances each), as is fourth place with James Earl Jones and Jay O. Sanders both banking seven appearances. Equally notable are Meryl Streep and Liev Schreiber’s five star turns each (counting Streep’s Gala Juliet).

 Including the 2012 season, the Delacorte has mounted a

total of 113 performances of Shakespeare’s plays (okay, two of them were the musical version of Two Gentlemen of Verona), as well as 21 works—musicals and straight plays— by other noted artists.

 Of this number, Joseph Papp directed a total of 14 works by

[ Natalie Portman and Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Seagull, 2001 ]

Michal Daniel

the Bard, starting with 1962’s Merchant of Venice* opener and concluding with King Henry IV, Part I with Tony Shalhoub and Donald Moffat in 1987. (Papp passed away on October 31, 1991 at the age of 70.)

[ Jimmy Smits and Kristen Johnston in Much Ado About Nothing, 2004 ]

 Measure for Measure has been seen at the Delacorte six

times, giving it multiple performance seniority, with Twelfth Night next in line with five. As You Like It will tie the latter once the 2012 season takes off.

 Amazingly, two of Shakespeare’s most well-known works

have been mounted at the Delacorte only once: Julius Caesar (2000 with David McCallum) and Macbeth (2006 with Liev Schreiber).

Michal Daniel Joan Marcus

[ Sam Waterston in Hamlet, 2008 ]

Joan Marcus

[ Tommar Wilson, Will Swenson, and Bryce Ryness in HAIR, 2008 ]

Michal Daniel

* In 1962, Papp shared directing duties on both Merchant and King Lear with Gladys Vaughn.

[ tickets & such ] Tickets to Shakespeare in the Park are FREE and are distributed, two per person, at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park on the day of the show. The Public Theater also offers free tickets through their Virtual Ticketing lottery at shakespeareinthepark. org on the day of the show. Summer Supporter donations can be made at The Public Theater Box Office at 425 Lafayette Street, by phone at 212967-7555, or online at publictheater.org. Seating locations for donors are allocated strictly by giving level and in the order that they are received. (For details, visit the website cited above.)

[ Audra McDonald and Anne Hathaway in Twelfth Night, 2009 ]

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[ Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice, 2010 ]

The Delacorte Theater in Central Park is accessible by entering at 81st Street and Central Park West or at 79th Street and Fifth Avenue.

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Jeremy Daniel, Richard Termine

One of the biggest hits of 2011 is back at Radio City Music Hall: Zarkana by cirque du soleil. Specially created for the famed landmark, Zarkana plunges audiences into a sublime and suspenseful universe of bizarrely beautiful and surreal creatures, brought to life by 71 incredibly agile artists and clowns hailing from 14 countries. Running 6/6-9/2. See listings for ticket info.

on the toWn

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ON THE TOWN SPOTLIGHT

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Please call the box offices for showtimes. All listings subject to change BROADWAY Anything Goes - (Musical) All aboard for this production of Cole Porter’s musical romp across the Atlantic starring Tony Award winner Joel Grey and Stephanie J. Block. Stephen Sondheim Theatre, 124 W. 43rd St., 212-239-6200; roundabouttheatre.org The Book of Mormon - (Musical) South Park’s Matt Stone and Trey Parker join forces with Avenue Q’s Tony-winning co-creator Robert Lopez to make their musical-writing debut, about a pair of mismatched Mormon boys sent on a mission to a place that’s about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get. Eugene O’Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St., 212-239-6200; bookofmormononbroadway.com Chicago - (Musical Revival) Kander and Ebb’s long-running “musical vaudeville” follows murderous vixen Roxie Hart, who 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 Clybourne Park - (Play) Bruce Norris’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play imagines the history of one of the more important houses in literary history, both before and after it becomes a focal point in Lorraine Hansberry’s classic A Raisin in the Sun. Walter Kerr Theater, 219 W. 48th St., 212-239-6200; chicagothemusical.com The Columnist - (Play) The latest from David Auburn, whose Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning Proof dazzled audiences and critics alike, revisits a time when columnists ruled mid-century America and Joseph Alsop wore the crown. Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., 212-2396200; manhattantheatreclub.com (Through 7/1) Death of a Salesman - (Play) Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman stars with Linda Emond and Andrew Garfield in a revival of Arthur Miller’s classic 1949 play. Ethel Barrymore Theater, 243 W. 47th St., 212-239-6200; deathofasalesmanbroadway.com (Through 6/2)

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Don’t Dress for Dinner - (Comedy) Mark Camoletti’s new comedy sequel to Boeing-Boeing, in which a husband, a wife, a lover, a mistress, and a cook are thrown together in the same house for one riotous weekend. American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., 212-719-1300; roundabouttheatre.org (Through 6/17) End of the Rainbow - (Musical) Olivier Award nominee Tracie Bennett stars as Judy Garland in this musical play about her 1968 comeback. Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; endoftherainbowbroadway.com Evita - (Musical) Ricky Martin, Olivier Awardwinning Argentinean actress Elena Roger, and Tony winner Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd) star in the revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s dazzling musical. Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway (45th-46th Sts.), 800-745-3000; evitaonbroadway.com The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess - (Musical) Norm Lewis and Tony winner Audra McDonald star in a revival of the popular musical. Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St., 800-745-3000; porgyandbessonbroadway.com (Through 9/30) Ghost the Musical - (Musical) The Broadway adaptation of the beloved film, with Grammy Award winners Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” Alanis Morisette’s Jagged Little Pill) joining forces for the score. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St., 800-745-3000; ghostthemusical.com Godspell - (Musical) A revival of John-Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz’s classic features instantly recognizable hits including “Day by Day,” “Turn Back, O Man,” “Light of the World,” and many more. Circle in the Square, W. 50th St. btw. Broadway & Eighth Ave., 212-239-6200; godspell.com Gore Vidal’s The Best Man - (Play) An all-star cast—James Earl Jones, Candice Bergen, Angela Lansbury, John Larroquette, and Michael McKean—brings its considerable power to Gore Vidal’s second play. Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200 (Through 7/22) Harvey - (Comedy) Two-time Emmy winner and Golden Globe Award winner Jim Parsons

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(The Big Bang Theory), Jessica Hecht (After the Fall) and Charles Kimbrough (The Merchant of Venice) return to Broadway in Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy about an alcoholic and his best friend: a six-foot-tall rabbit that only he sees. Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St., 212-7191300; roundabouttheatre.org (In previews for a 6/14 opening) Jersey Boys - (Musical) Based on the life story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. 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 Jesus Christ Superstar - (Musical) A revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1971 groundbreaking rock opera, with lyrics by Tim Rice, that tells the story of the last week of Christ’s life. Neil Simon Theatre, 250 W. 52nd St., 800-745-3000; superstaronbroadway.com 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. Featuring Grammy-winning numbers by Elton John and Tim Rice. The Minskoff Theatre, 200 W. 45th St., 866-870-2717; disneyonbroadway.com The Lyons - (Play) Tony winners Linda Lavin and Dick Latessa reprise their roles in Nicky Silver’s play about a family dealing with their father’s imminent passing. Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St., 212-239-6200 (Previews begin early April) Mamma Mia! - (Musical) This hit musical incorporates 22 ABBA songs into a story about a single mother and her daughter on the eve of the daughter’s wedding—and three men who could be her father. Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway (50th St.), 212-563-5544; mamma-mia.com 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 as well as new songs. New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St., 866-870-2717; disneyonbroadway.com

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Memphis - (Musical) From the dance halls of Tennessee comes this Tony-winning musical set in the turbulent south of the 1950s. It tells the story of 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 Newsies - (Musical) Set in New York City at the turn of the century, this musical is the rousing tale of a charismatic newsboy who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st St., 866-8702717; newsiesthemusical.com (Through 8/19) Nice Work If You Can Get It - (Musical) Tony winners Matthew Broderick and Kelli Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara, director Kathleen Marshall, and the songs of George and Ira Gershwin meet in this brandnew musical screwball comedy by Joe DiPietro (Memphis). Imperial Theatre, 249 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; niceworkonbroadway.com Once - (Musical) A new musical based on the Academy Award-winning film that tells the story

of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant drawn together by their shared love of music. Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; oncemusical.com

that would become the mystical Neverland. Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th St., 800-745-3000; peterandthestarcatcher.com (Previews begin 3/28 for a 4/15 opening)

One Man, Two Guvnors - (Comedy) Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comedy hit comes to Broadway with James Corden playing an easily confused man who agrees to work for both a gangster and a criminal in hiding. Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; onemantwoguvnorsbroadway.com

The Phantom of the Opera - (Musical) Featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Phantom has achieved the kind of reputation and following most shows only dream of. Exquisitely produced and performed, this is truly theatre at its finest. Majestic Theatre, 247 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; phantombroadway.com

Other Desert Cities - (Play) A once-promising novelist returns home after a six-year absence to celebrate Christmas with her parents, former members of the Reagan inner circle (Stockard Channing and Stacy Keach). Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; lct.org Peter and the Starcatcher - (Play) The story of how one lost boy became the immortal Peter Pan comes to Broadway. Before Wendy, Tinkerbell and Captain Hook there was the adventure of a boy with no name traveling from a renegade pirate ship to the beaches of the wondrous island

Priscilla Queen of the Desert - (Musical) A trio of friends hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. Palace Theatre, 1554 Broadway (47th St.), 877-250-2929; priscillaonbroadway.com (Through 6/24) Rock of Ages - (Musical) A true crowd-pleaser with a high-energy retro score made up of 1980s hits by Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia and Whitesnake. The show tracks an

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aspiring young rocker and a small-town girl chasing her dreams. Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; rockofagesmusical.com Sister Act - (Musical) Based on the feature film, Sister Act features an original Alan Menken/Glenn Slater score with a vast inspiration of musical styles from Motown, soul and funk to great big disco anthems and Barry White-inspired musical comedy. Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway (53rd St.), 212-239-6200; sisteractbroadway.com Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark - (Musical) A new take on the mythic tale of Peter Parker, who’s bitten by a radioactive spider and wakes up with supernatural powers. With music and lyrics by Bono and the Edge of U2. Foxwoods Theatre, 213 W. 42nd St., 800-745-3000; spidermanonbroadway.com A Streetcar Named Desire - (Play) Blair Underwood, Nicole Ari Parker, Daphne RubinVega, and Wood Harris star in Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th St., 212-239-6200; streetcaronbroadway.com Venus in Fur - (Play) Nina Arianda offers her phenomenal breakout performance as a preternaturally talented young actress determined to land the lead in a new play based on the classic erotic novel. Lyceum Theatre, 149 W. 45th St., 212-239-6200; manhattantheatreclub.com (Through 6/17) War Horse - (Play) At the outbreak of World War One, young Albert’s beloved horse is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary odyssey before he finds himself alone. Vivian Beaumont Theatre, 150 W. 65th St., 212-239-6200; warhorseonbroadway.com Wicked - (Musical) Set in Oz before the arrival of Dorothy, this knock-out production follows the friendship between two girls who grow up to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch. A modern-day classic. Gershwin Theatre, 222 W. 51st St., 212-307-4100; wickedthemusical.com

OFF-BROADWAY The Accidental Pervert - (Comedy) Andrew Goffman takes his audience on a hilarious and self-deprecating journey into a world of video vixens, X-rated fantasies, and really dirty movies with no redeeming value whatsoever. 13th Street Repertory, 50 W. 13th St., 212-352-3101; 13thstreetrep.org (Through 8/18) As You Like It - (Play) The 50th anniversary summer season of Shakespeare in the Park’s Delacorte Theater kicks off with Lily Rabe as Rosalind and original music by Steve Martin.

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Directed by Daniel Sullivan. Central Park, entrances at 81st St. & Central Park West and 70th St. & Fifth Ave. Visit shakespeareinthepark.org for ticket information. (6/5-30) Avenue Q - (Musical) Singing puppets and their human neighbors make up the residents of Avenue Q, a fictional New York City street where a collection of twenty-somethings struggle to find their way in the world. New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., 212-239-6200; avenueq.com Blue Man Group - (Spectacle) The trio of postmodern clowns combines music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a unique form of entertainment. Astor Place Theatre, 434 Lafayette St. (so. of Astor Pl.), 212-254-4370; blueman.com The Common Pursuit - (Play) Moisés Kaufman directs Simon Gray’s witty and remarkably poignant play that chronicles twenty years in the lives of six friends, from their ambitious collegiate days to their surprising discoveries in the real world. Laura Pels Theatre, 111 W. 46th St., 212-719-1300; roundabouttheatre.org (Through 7/29) The Fantasticks - (Musical) A romantic classic centered on the simple love story of a boy, a girl, two fathers, and a wall. Snapple Theater Center, 1627 Broadway, 212-307-4100; thefantasticks.com February House - (Musical) Inspired by true events, the show follows visionary editor George Davis, who transforms a dilapidated Brooklyn boarding house into a bohemian commune for the leading lights of 1940s New York. The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St., 212-967-7555; publictheater.org (Through 6/10) Freud’s Last Session - (Play) Playwright Mark St. Germain’s hit two-person play centers on legendary psychoanalyst Dr. Sigmund Freud, who invites a young, little-known professor, C.S. Lewis, to his home in London. Lewis, expecting to be called on the carpet for satirizing Freud in a recent book, soon realizes Freud has a much more significant agenda. Freud and Lewis clash on the existence of God, love, sex and the meaning of life. New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., 212-239-6200 freudslastsession.com Fuerza Bruta: Look Up - (Spectacle) Breaking free from the confines of spoken language and theatrical convention, this 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

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Into the Woods - (Musical) The 50th anniversary summer season of Shakespeare in the Park’s Delacorte Theater continues with a production of the popular Stephen Sondheim musical, with Amy Adams, Donna Murphy, and others. Central

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Park, entrances at 81st St. & Central Park West and 70th St. & Fifth Ave. Visit shakespeareinthepark.org for ticket information. (7/23-8/25) Million Dollar Quartet - (Musical) A musical inspired by the famed impromptu 1956 recording session that brought together four of the most legendary figures in rock n’ roll— Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley. New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., 212-239-6200; milliondollarquartetlive.com Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage - (Comedy) Based on Abigail Grotke’s popular book of the same name that promises “classic advice for contemporary dilemmas.” Miss Abigail escorts audiences back to a simpler time, before booty calls and speed-dating, back when the divorce rate wasn’t 50 percent and “Fidelity” was more than an investment firm. Sofia’s Downstairs Theater, 221 W. 46th St., 877-964-7722; missabigailsguide.com My Sinatra - (Musical) Cary Hoffman stars in the long-running musical about one man’s obsession with Frank Sinatra. Sofia’s Downstairs Theater, 221 W. 46th St., 866-811-4111; mysinatra.com Naked Boys Singing - (Musical) A hilarious revue featuring 16 original songs, a gaggle of gorgeous guys, and no clothes. Whether extolling the anxiety of a high school locker room or the celebrating the joys of performing in the buff, every penile synonym known to man is referenced in the show. Kirk Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St., 212-279-4200; newsicalthemusical.net Newsical the Musical - (Musical) An everevolving mockery of all the news that’s fit to print, this laugh-filled, high-octane musical revue serves up infectious melodies with razor-sharp lyrics, biting satire, and more unpredictability than a Courtney Love tweet. Kirk Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St., 212-279-4200; newsicalthemusical.net Old Jews Telling Jokes - (Comedy) Created by Peter Gethers and Daniel Okrent, Old Jews... showcases five actors in a revue that pays tribute to and reinvents classic jokes of the past and present. The show also features comic songs—brand new and satisfyingly old—as well as tributes to some of the giants of the comedy world and to the brilliant raconteurs from the website that inspired the show. Westside Theatre, 407 W. 43rd St., 212-239-6200; oldjewstellingjokesonstage.com Perfect Crime - (Mystery) The long-running hit cat-and-mouse thriller about a wealthy female psychiatrist who has returned to America and a bizarre murder. Snapple Theater Center, 210 W. 50th St., 212-307-4100; perfect-crime.com Potted Potter - (Play) Playing to sold-out houses all over the world, the Olivier Award-nominated Potted Potter takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and

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a real life game of Quidditch) into 70 hilarious minutes. Little Shubert Theatre, 27 Barrow St., 212-239-6200; pottedpotter.com (Through 8/12) The Quantum Eye - (Spectacle) Sam Eaton offers an amazing evening of intimate magic and mind-reading brought into the 21st century as he performs the impossible. Theatre 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Pl., 212-842-9717; thequantumeye.com

JERSEY BOYS Welcomes back its tony-winning frankie Jersey Boys welcomes back the original Broadway Frankie Valli from July 3 through September 30 when John Lloyd Young returns to the August Wilson Theatre and the role that garnered him the 2006 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. And aside from the Tony accolade, we can’t think of any higher praise for Young’s performance than this, courtesy of Marshall Brickman (who co-wrote the musical with Rick Elice) on the eve of the show’s Broadway debut: “One night, Frankie was in the audience and he heard John sing ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You’ and he was the first to give him a standing ovation. Then Frankie came to the mixing session for the cast album and claims when he heard John sing, he thought he was listening to tapes of himself.” For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit jerseyboysbroadway.com.

Rent - (Musical) Rent returns in a new production directed by Michael Greif, who directed the show’s original off-Broadway and Broadway productions. Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about being young and learning to survive in NYC. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize. New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., 212-947-8844; siteforrent.com SILENCE! The Musical - (Musical) This naughty satire of Silence of the Lambs features a singing chorus of floppy eared lambs narrating the action as Buffalo Bill gleefully dances a hoedown while kidnapping hapless Catherine Martin and evades FBI agent Clarice Starlin. Even Dr. Hannibal Lecter, scary as ever, sings about the life he’d like to lead someday outside the prison walls. The 9th Space Theatre at PS 122, 150 First Ave., 212-352-3101; silencethemusical.com Sistas: The Musical - (Musical) Based on a series of interviews conducted with women over a six-year period, using a playlist of songs made famous by artists that include Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Erykah Badu, and others, Sistas tells of the struggles, the joys and the triumphs of being Black and of being a woman in America. St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St., 212-239-6200; sistasthemusical.com Stomp - (Musical) 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 Storefront Church - (Play) The final installment of John Patrick Shanley’s trilogy called Church and State, which began with Doubt. The story concerns a Bronx Borough President who is forced, by the mortgage crisis, into a confrontation with a local minister that begs the question: What is the relationship between spiritual experience and social action? Atlantic Theater Company, 336 W. 20th St., 212-239-6200; atlantictheater.org (Through 6/24) Traces - (Performance Art) In this show by the Montreal-based troupe 7 Fingers, the human body is pushed to its limits as a group leaves their mark in a run-down warehouse through acrobatics, music, and dance. Union Square Theatre, 100 E. 17th St., 800-982-2787; traceusa.com

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Tribes - (Play) Billy was born deaf into a hearing family, and raised inside the idiosyncratic and

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politically incorrect cocoon of his parents’ house. He has adapted to his family’s unconventional ways, but they’ve never bothered to return the favor. It’s not until he meets Sylvia, a young woman on the brink of deafness, that he finally understands what it means to be understood. Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow St., 212-8684444; barrowstreettheatre.com (Through 9/2) Voca People - (Musical) An out-of-this-world musical event that combines vocal sounds, a cappella singing, comedy, and the art of beat box. Performed by eight snow-white, ruby-lipped aliens with perfect harmony, there are no musical instruments, only vocals. New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., 212-239-6200; vocapeoplenyc.com You’ve Got Hate Mail - (Comedy) Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore’s comic answer to A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters. Love “bytes” all when an extra-marital affair goes wrong, thanks to a juicy e-mail left sitting on a desktop. Triad Theatre, 158 W. 72nd St., 212-868-4444; youvegothatemail.com Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil - (Spectacle) An acrobatic spectacle that blends circus arts with the surreal to create a world where physical virtuosity rubs shoulders with the bizarre. Zarkana is a visual vortex set in a slightly twisted fantasy universe where, little by little, chaos and craziness give way to festivity and love regained. The diverse cast of more than 75 international artists transports the audience into a fantastical and suspenseful world, blurring the boundaries between the real and imaginary. Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Ave. of the Americas, 866-858-0008; cirquedusoleil.com (6/6-9/2) TICKETING Dream Seats NY - For over 15 years, Dream Seats NY Entertainment has provided access to the best entertainment NYC has to offer. From sold-out shows to the hottest tickets in town, Dream Seats has you covered. Whether you are looking for tickets to a big Broadway show, seats to a New York Knicks game, or a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden, Dream Seats NY is your go-to private ticket broker. They specialize in premium seating for all events—first 20 rows. 212-279-1213; dreamseatsny.com Hello Tickets - For over 25 years, Hello Tickets has prided itself on providing superior service and developing wonderful relationships with many NYC hotels and concierges. They deliver exactly what hotel guests desire no matter the event, budget, or special requests. Contact your hotel concierge and ask them to call Hello Tickets for info on theater, concerts, Lincoln Center, sporting events and more. Or call Hello Tickets direct and don’t forget to mention Promenade for the best service in the Big Apple. 212-691-3131; hellotickets.net

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DANCENEW YORK Jeff Busby

different countries, distinctive styles

The Paris Opera Ballet, the Australian Ballet, and the homegrown New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre offer a rare opportunity to sample dance fare from three continents. By Sylviane Gold

s George Balanchine famously said, there are no new ballet steps, “only new combinations.” But the great modernist choreographer was leaving out one important consideration: ballet style. While an arabesque is an arabesque is an arabesque, it won’t always look the same, depending on who’s doing it. The company Balanchine founded, New York City Ballet, dances with a flavor markedly different from that of its friendly competitor across Lincoln Center Plaza, American Ballet Theatre. And neither one of them will ever be mistaken for London’s Royal Ballet, Moscow’s Bolshoi, or Havana’s Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Cultural tastes and traditions, historical influences, and quirks of cross-pollination all combine to give each country’s ballet a distinct character. These are not always easy to describe, but they are easy enough to spot. And this summer, with troupes from France and Australia set to perform at Lincoln Center in close proximity to our homegrown companies, we

will have a rare opportunity to sample ballet fare from three continents. Talk about compare and contrast! Ballet began at the court of Louis XIV, and one way or another, the French style is the departure point for all of subsequent ballet history. Despite the many permutations over the centuries, when the Paris Opera Ballet arrives at the David H. Koch Theater on July 11 as part of this year’s Lincoln Center Festival, it brings to the stage an elegance and a precision dating back to the dance academy established by Louis in 1661. But the company’s current director, Brigitte Lefèvre, knows that a glorious history is not enough to sustain a troupe or its dancers. So in addition to the 19th-century classic Giselle, she is showing off works by Serge Lifar, Roland Petit, and Maurice Béjart (in a program called French Masters of the 20th Century) and Pina Bausch’s 1975 setting of the Christoph Willibald Gluck opera Orpheus and Eurydice.

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[ Opposite page: Graeme Murphy’s updated Swan Lake by The Australian Ballet

Double-cast with both singers and dancers portraying the main characters, “Orpheus and Eurydice is a deeply European work,” Lefèvre says. And she was wondering how American audiences would take to it, although The New York Times weighed in from Paris in 2008 and called it “sublime.” Compared to Lefèvre’s company, and even to ABT and NYCB, the Melbourne-based Australian Ballet is a Johnny-Come-Lately. Although its roots go back to 1940 – about the time ballet got started in America – it was founded in 1962, and the current tour is part of a year-long 50th anniversary celebration. As in the United States, the Ballets Russes visits in the 1930s and ’40s created a ballet audience and left behind a number of Russian-based teachers. But Dame Peggy van Praagh, the first artistic director, came out of the lyrical English tradition. So, says David McAllister, the current artistic director, “We’re sort of a mongrel. There’s been an amalgamation of that Russian theatricality and the English style, and we’ve developed it into something of our own. We’ve also had artistic directors from all over the world. And Australian dancers tend to dance quite broadly, I think because of the open environment that we live in.” The company’s two Koch Theater programs, which begin on June 12, exemplify the national style, he says. The first is Australian choreographer Graeme Murphy’s updated look at Swan Lake, which retains the Tchaikovsky score but centers on a fragile, Princess Di-like character caught in a loveless royal marriage. Yes, there are dancing swans, but they are not bewitched maidens; they are the hallucinations of a broken spirit. And then there’s the mixed bill called Infinity, which consists of Wayne McGregor’s Dyad 1929, a blackand-white evocation of Antarctica created as a tribute to the Ballets Russes; Stephen Page’s Warumuk – in the dark night, set among the tribal people of Arnhem Land and made in collaboration with Page’s indigenous dance group Bangarra Dance Theatre; and Luminous, an anthology of classic ballet divertissements linked with historic multimedia images of the Australian Ballet. It stands to reason that if we can discern a French style and an Australian style, there should also be an American style shared by ABT and NYCB. But history decreed otherwise. NYCB, which closes out its spring repertory season at the Koch with a weeklong run of Balanchine’s exquisite ballet rendering of A Midsummer Night’s Dream June 5-10, was created as the instrument for his choreography. He brought his impeccable Russian training and his stellar French career to the United States when he came, in 1933, and quickly adapted them to the jazzy beat of New York. The speed and snap of the dancers at NYCB look entirely American, but they differ from the more eclectic, more traditional esthetic that prevails at ABT. This troupe’s full-dress, full-length ballets at the Metropolitan Opera House, running through July 7, have a polyglot flavor influenced not just by the diverse choreographers but also by the international casts that perform them. And in the end, what could be more American than a ballet company that welcomes immigrants? n

Paul Kolnik

This page from top: George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; The Paris Opera Ballet’s Orpheus and Eurydice, part of the Lincoln Center Festival ]

[ the details ] • North America American Ballet Theatre, through July 7 at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center New York City Ballet, through June 10 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center • Australia Australian Ballet, June 12-17 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center • Europe Paris Opera Ballet, July 11- 22 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center Sylviane Gold has written about the arts for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Dance Magazine. Her last piece for Promenade was on The Paul Taylor Dance Company at Lincoln Center.

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MUSICNEW YORK

From Finland, China, and the ever-popular John Adams Something special for opera lovers and symphony devotees alike at this summer’s Lincoln Center Festival.

By Martin Bernheimer

[ Elizabeth Futral stars in the New York premiere of Émilie ]

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Peter Schaaf

[ The Juilliard Orchestra with John Adams conducting. His own City Noir is on the program ]

ummertime—and the music is festive. The Lincoln Center Festival—now in its 17th year—embraces all the performing arts in various, often surprising combinations and permutations. The festivities begin this summer on July 5 and end on August 5. Seven different venues, on and off the so-called campus at Lincoln Center, host 72 performances by artists and groups from seven countries. Some of the participants come bearing—ok, flaunting—lofty international credentials. Others, leaning toward experimentation rather than proven tradition, arrive as relative unknowns. That occasionally makes quality control unpredictable. It also adds a welcome sense of adventure. Opera lovers—especially those who do not think the art form died with Puccini—will be drawn to the New York premiere of Émilie, a controversial chamber-opus by the Finnish modernist Kaija Saariaho. A taut, 80-minute monodrama in nine scenes, the music and words (libretto by Amin Maalouf) examine the final, desperate days of the Marquise Émilie du Châtelet, a historic mathematician and physicist who happened to be the mistress of Voltaire. Her study of the essence of fire earned universal scientific recognition and, in the process, a triumph over Gallic sexism. The opera was commissioned by the Opéra National de Lyon and first performed there in 2010 with Karita Mattila in the demanding title role. Saariaho dedicated Émilie to the Finnish singing actress. Reviewing the world premiere in analytical terms, Paul Driver reported in the Sunday Times of London that the composer, “like her fellow Paris émigré Samuel Beckett, comfortably unites her cultural origins and a new linguistic environment. An unmistakably Scandinavian feeling for massive but radiant texture, for effects of light, elides in her work with a very French affinity for experimental timbre.” Anna Picard of the Independent admired “the sensuality of the score’s baroque references—the fretful rhythms and verdant trills of Rameau, Purcell, and Scarlatti.” Subsequent performances took place in Amsterdam with the Dutch National Opera using the same staging apparatus. The U.S. premiere, an entirely different production, was hosted by the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston last June. In a rather ambivalent review for the New York Times, James R. Oestreich observed that “opera is passion, and there is passion here aplenty.” He also noted the preponderance of “high-flown thought.” The Lincoln Center performances, which duplicate the Charleston version, feature the virtuosic American soprano Elizabeth Futral in the tour-de-force title role. The opera is directed by Marianne Weems, artistic director of the experimental theater company known as The Builders Association. Video projections serve as the primary scenic device, reportedly reflecting Émilie’s prismatic state of mind. John Kennedy conducts the youthful Ensemble ACJW. Performances take place on July 19, 21 and 22 (7:30 p.m.) at the intimate

Gerald W. Lynch Theater. This beautifully renovated auditorium on 10th Avenue, between 58th and 59th Streets, happens to be part of the rather incongruous John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The same venue hosts another striking novelty on July 26, 27 and 28 (7:30 p.m.): Feng Yi Ting (The Phoenix Pavilion) by the Chinese composer Guo Wenjing. Written in 2004, lasting only 45 minutes, and sung in Chinese with English titles, this potentially provocative mini-opera comes to New York directly from Charleston, where the U.S. premiere took place in late May. Born 56 years ago in Chongqing, Guo Wenjing began his formal studies at the Central Conservatory of Beijing in 1978, the year that institution reopened. He later headed the composition department, and still teaches there. His music, first heard outside Asia in 1983, reflects a combination of new Western and old Chinese influences, and his output includes concertos for erhu and bamboo flute, an opera based on the life of the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, and scores for several films. Celebrated film and theater director Atom Egoyan stages this production, with video images by Tsang Kin-wah of Hong Kong and sets by the Tony Award winner Derek McLane. The costume designer is Han Feng, best known here for her lavish contributions to Anthony Minghella’s Madama Butterfly at the Met. The cast, which includes a conventional operatic soprano and countertenor, is accompanied by young musicians from Carnegie Hall and Juilliard in addition to four specialists playing traditional Chinese instruments. The conductor is Ken Lam of Montclair State University. The somewhat convoluted plot involves the vital conflict between two powerful warlords who happen to be in love with the same inscrutable woman, the beauteous Diao Chan. The action takes place during the Eastern Han Dynasty, that is, between 25 and 220 AD. Not incidentally, Nigel Redden, the discerning director of the Lincoln Center Festival, heralds Feng Yi Ting as “an exquisite chamber-opera by a major Chinese composer.” A primary magnet for those who favor traditional symphonic values must be the concert on July 11 (8 p.m.) uniting the student orchestras of America’s Juilliard and the British Royal Academy. John Adams, probably the world’s most popular quasi-minimalist, serves as conductor for Respighi’s lush Feste Romane and Ravel’s jazzy Piano Concerto in G (with the fine soloist Imogen Cooper). The central attraction, however, is Adams’ Lincoln Center own City Noir, a 30-minute essay first perlincolncenterfestival.org formed in 2009 on the other coast, which is inspired, according to Lincoln Center authorities, “by the peculiar ambience and mood of Los Angeles’ noir films, especially those produced in the late ’40s and early ’50s.” It sounds darkly intriguing. n Pulitzer Prize-winner Martin Bernheimer covers music in New York for the Financial Times and Opera magazine. His last piece in Promenade was on the Met’s Manon.

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New York

PERFORMING ARTS CULTURAL CENTERS

Many of the city’s performing arts institutions go quiet over the summer—Lincoln Center being a notable exception—but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of star power during the dog days. Central Park’s Summerstage offers big names, including Norah Jones (center) on July 3, and the Beacon Theater hosts Al Green (left) on August 22 and Stevie Nicks on July 2. (Nicks also plays Jones Beach on Long Island on June 29.)

Please call the box offices for showtimes. All listings subject to change. American Ballet Theatre – The Bright Stream (5/29-6/2); Onegin (6/4-9); Diversions / Firebird / Apollo (6/11, 13); Mixed Rep: McKenzie Anniversary (6/12); Romeo and Juliet (6/14-16, 18-20); Dream / Firebird (6/21-23); Swan Lake (6/25-30); Le Corsaire (7/2-7). Metropolitan Opera House, Amsterdam Ave. & 64th St., 212-362-6000; abt.org Beacon Theatre – Keane (6/15); Aziz Ansari (6/16); Bonnie Raitt (6/2021); The Ultimate Doo Wop Show (6/23); Ledisi (6/27); Glen Hansard (6/29); Stevie Nicks (7/2); Seal (7/17-18); Chris Botti (7/24); The Dukes of September (8/1-2); Al Green (8/22); Dead Can Dance (8/29-30). 2124 Broadway (74th-75th Sts.), 212-465-6225; beacontheatrenyc.com

Central Park SummerStage – Annual SummerStage Gala Honoring The Music of Jimi Hendrix with Bebel Gilberto, The Roots, and others (6/5); Bobby Womack (6/7); 10th Cine Fest Petrobras Brasil NY: Sandra de Sá / Screening: Raul (6/9); Foster the People / Tokyo Police Club / Kimbra (6/11); The New York Pops with Ozomatli (6/12); Joey Arias (6/15); Dawes / Kurt Vile and the Violators (6/16); Blue Note Jazz Festival: Groove Theory / Riq & Rah with Strings (Black Thought and Rahzel with Strings) / DJ ?uestlove (6/17-18); Comedy Central: Indecision in the Park - The Daily Show’s Rory Albanese / Wyatt Cenac / Adam Lowitt / Al Madrigal / John Oliver / Kristen Schaal (6/20); Alabama Shakes / Diamond Rugs / Robert Ellis (6/24); Childish Gambino / Danny Brown / SchoolBoy Q (6/25);

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Workmen’s Circle Yiddishfest 2012 - Singing for a Better World featuring: The Klezmatics / SoCalled / Daniel Kahn and The Painted Bird / Joshua Nelson / NYT-Folksbiene’s “Soul to Soul” / Yiddish Princess (6/26); Limón Dance Company with special musical guest Paquito D’Rivera (6/30-7/1); Norah Jones (7/3); CBGB Festival (7/7); SummerStage Kids Central Park Family Day Featuring: Justin Roberts & The Not Ready for Naptime Players / IllStyle & Peace Productions / New York Chinese Cultural Center / Performers from Bindlestiff Family Cirkus (7/8); Mala Rodríguez / Ximena Sariñana / Profetas (7/11); Kinky / Los Auténticos Decadentes / 3Ball MTY / DJ Raff (7/14); Guthrie Family Reunion Celebrating Woody’s 100th (7/15); Young the Giant (7/16); The Upright Citizens Brigade Presents the All Stars of Improv (7/17); Bebel Gilberto / Criolo / Flávio Renegado / Béco Dranoff (DJ) (7/21); Orchestre Poly-Rythmo / SMOD / Bibi Tanga & The Selenites / Chief Boima (7/22); Beach House (7/23); The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series (7/25); Gary Clark Jr. / GIVERS (7/28); Héctor Acosta “El Torito” / DJ Lobo / Alex Sensation (7/29); The Power of the Trinity (7/31); Camille A. Brown & Dancers with special musical guest Imani Uzuri / Malcolm Low Formal Structure / Special Guest: Dancin’ Downtown at The Joyce Contest Winner (8/1); Amadou & Mariam / Theophilus London (8/4); 5th Annual Gospel Explosion 2012 - Hezekiah Walker and Friends / Vashawn Mitchell / Le’Andria Johnson / James Fortune & F.I.Y.A. (8/5); Old Crow Medicine Show / The Lumineers / The Milk Carton Kids (8/6); M83 (8/8); Carolina Chocolate Drops / Buckwheat Zydeco / Abigail Washburn (8/11); 4th Annual R&B Fest 2012 - Eric Benét & More (8/12); Goapele / Yolanda Zama / Screening: Come Back Africa (8/14); Koresh Dance Company / BalletX Special Guest: Dancin’ Downtown at The Joyce Contest Winner (8/15); Australia Day: Megan Washington / Emma Donavan / DJ Ashley Feraude with Jonty Hall (8/18);

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ONTHETOWN

Jamaica’s 50th Independence Day: Inner Circle / Israel Vibration / The Mighty Diamonds / DJ Carter Van Pelt (8/19). Rumsey Playfield, 212-360-2777; summerstage.org Hudson River Park’s River Rocks – Dan Deacon and John Maus (7/12); Oberhofer and the Soft Pack (7/26); Wild Nothing and Grimes (8/9). Pier 84, W. 44th St. & the Hudson River, 212-627-2121; riverrocksnyc.com Jones Beach – Neil Diamond (6/8, 10); Yanni (6/9); Dave Matthews Band (6/12-13); Drake (6/16); Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band (6/22); The Beach Boys (6/24); Iron Maiden / Alice Cooper (6/27); Stevie Nicks (6/29); Phish (73-4); Scorpions (7/7); Def Leppard (7/13); Maze (7/25); Identity Festival (7/28); Wiz Khalifa (8/2); 311 (8/3); Deftones (8/5); Big Time Rush (8/8, 17); O.A.R. (8/9); Loverboy / Journey (8/10); Barenaked Ladies / Blues Traveler (8/14); Chicago / Doobie Brothers (8/18); The Fray / Kelly Clarkson (8/21); Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band (8/30). jonesbeach.com The Joyce Theater – Gotham Dance Festival (5/30-6/10); KEIGWIN + COMPANY (6/12-17); Limón Dance Company (6/19-24); Shantala Shivalingappa Namasya (6/27-7/1); Jason Samuels Smith (7/3-7); Ronald K. Brown/ Evidence (7/9-14); Pilobolus (7/17-8/11); Smuin Ballet (8/13-18). 175 Eighth Ave. (19th St.), 212-242-0800; joyce.org Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts – Midsummer Night Swing (6/26-7/14): The Nelson Riddle Orchestra: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald (6/26); Celso Piña (6/27); The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie (6/28); Meschiya Lake & Dem Little Big Horns (6/29); Orquesta Broadway (6/30); Crytzer’s Blue Rhythm Band (7/2); Johnny Colon & his Orchestra (7/3); DCS (7/5); Gene Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie (7/6); JD McPherson (7/7); Las Reinas de la Salsa: Mambo Legends Orchestra featuring Cita Rodriguez, Yoko la Japonesa Salsera, and Nayibe la Gitana paying tribute to Celia, Graciela, and La Lupe (7/10); Cristian Zárate Sextet featuring Leonardo Suarez Paz (7/11); The Losers Lounge: The King of Pop vs. Prince (7/12); Mestres do Forró Nordestino: A Tribute to Luiz Gonzaga (7/13); Kids’ Dance (7/14); Harlem Renaissance Orchestra: A Tribute to Illinois Jacquet (7/14). Lincoln Center Festival (7/5-8/5): DruidMurphy - Plays by Tom Murphy (7/5-14); Macbeth (7/5-14); City Noir (7/11); Paris Opera Ballet (7/11-22); Hand Stories (7/1825); Émilie (7/19-22); Uncle Vanya (7/19-28); A 70th Birthday Tribute to Curtis Mayfield (7/20); TAO Dance Theater (7/25, 27); Feng Yi Ting (7/26-28); In Paris (8/1-5). Mostly Mozart (7/28-8/25): Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra - Free Preview Concert (7/28); Opening Night (7/31-8/1); Beethoven and

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Haydn (8/3-4); ‘Emperor’ Concerto (8/7-8); Bartók’s Birdsong (8/10-11); Schubert’s ‘Great’ Symphony (8/14-15); Louis Langrée and Joshua Bell (8/17-18); ‘Jupiter’ Symphony (8/21-22); Closing Night (8/24-25). Lincoln Center Out of Doors (7/25-8/12): Nile Rodgers & The CHIC Organization (7/25); Polyglot Theatre: Tangle (7/26-29); G.R.U.B.B. (Gypsy Roma Urban Balkan Beats) & The Stooges Brass Band (7/26); Los Irreales de Ondatrópica presented by Quantic and Frente Cumbiero featuring: Michi Sarmiento, Alfredito Linares, Pedro Ramayá Beltran, Markitos Micolta, & Wilson Viveros; Wil-Dog el Gavachillo featuring Banda Sol de Santa Cruz (7/27); Family Day - Polyglot Theatre: Tangle; Chinese American Arts Council Acrobatic Group: From Chinatown with Love; Bindlestiff Family Cirkus (7/28); Istanbulive presents Selda Bagcan, Ilhan Ersahin’s Wonderland featuring Hüsnü Senlendirici, The Secret Trio (7/28); ‘OurLand’: Celebrating Irish Culture in America!, The Music, The Bards, The Magic, The Auld Triangle, Joe Hurley’s All-Star Irish Rock Revue! (7/29); Yemen Blues, Khaira Arby, UkanDanZ (8/1); The Bad Plus: On Sacred Ground, Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble (8/2); Phil Kline’s dreamcitynine (8/3); Chio-Tian Folk Drums and Arts Group (8/3); Kimmo Pohjonen & Helsinki Nelson: Accordion Wrestling (8/3-4); Heidi Latsky Dance: GIMP (8/4); Heritage Sunday - Ayiti Rasanble! featuring Kongo, Peniel Guerrier, La Troupe Makandal, and Raram (8/5); La Caras Linda de Mi Gente Negra—Homenja a Tite Curet Alonso featuring Grupo Esencia and Viento de Agua with special guest Lalo Rodríguez (8/5); Dr. L. Subramaniam—Global Fusion with Kavita Krishnamurthi Subramaniam, Ambi Subramaniam, and Corky Siegel, The Alaev Family (8/8); ! ! !, Lenny Williams (8/9); Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company (8/10); La Casita (8/11-12); 29th Annual Roots of American Music Festival (8/11-12). David Rubenstein Atrium Target® Free Thursdays (Broadway bet. 62nd & 63rd Sts.; atrium.lincolncenter.org): Mils Trills (6/2); Feufollet (6/7); Spiros Soukis (6/14); Boilermakers Jazz Band (6/21); New York Philharmonic Offstage at Target Free Thursdays (6/28). Columbus Ave. btw. 62nd & 65th Sts., 212-875-5000; lincolncenter.org Metropolitan Museum of Art – CONTACT! (6/8); Jordi Savall (6/12); Cirène: Multimedia Fairy Tales (6/16). Fifth Ave. & 82nd St., 212-570-3949; metmuseum.org New York City Center – Kristin Chenoweth (6/2). 130 W. 56th St., 212-581-1212; nycitycenter.org New York Philharmonic – Carmina burana (6/1-2); Zukerman Performs Bach, Mozart, and Stravinsky (6/6-9); Alan Gilbert Conducts Beethoven, Nielsen, and Korngold (6/14-16); Saturday Matinee: Schubert and Nielsen (6/16);

Season Finale: All-Mozart with Alan Gilbert and Emanuel Ax (6/20-23); Special Event: The Kravis Prize Concert – Yo-Yo Ma Plays Dutilleux (6/26); Special Event: Philharmonic 360 – Spatial Music from Mozart’s Don Giovanni to Stockhausen’s Gruppen (6/29-30); Summertime Classics: A New York Fourth (7/3-4); Summertime Classics: Tchaikovsky Festival (7/6, 9-10); Concerts in the Parks – Prospect Park, Brooklyn (7/11); Concerts in the Parks – Central Park (7/12); Concerts in the Parks – Cunningham Park, Queens (7/13); New York Philharmonic Brass – Staten Island Indoor Concert (7/15); Concerts in the Parks – Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx (7/16); Concerts in the Parks – Central Park (7/17). Avery Fisher Hall, Broadway & W. 65th St., 212-875-5656; nyphil.org Radio City Music Hall – Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil (6/6-9/2). 1260 Sixth Ave. (50th St.), 212-307-7171; radiocity.com Symphony Space – Illustrations (6/1); Behind Painted Lines (6/1); The Young Choreographer’s Festival (6/2); NYCC Multi-media Celebrations and World Premieres (6/2); ISO Chamber Music Recital (6/3); Bridging Two Worlds: A Yiddish Musical Journey (6/3); Family Affair: Neo Bass with Lisle & Leon Atkinson (6/8); Contact! The New Music Series (6/9); RACH-C “Children’s Festival of Russian Culture” (6/10); Seeing Jazz with George Wein: Miguel Zenon (6/14); Glass Farm Ensemble presents Shergotty (6/15); This is Just To Say: Ear to Mind, Live Art II (6/16); ACA Celebrates 75 Years of American Concert Music (6/23); Opera in Eden (6/25); Manhatatan Chamber Orchestra - The American Scene (6/27); Cultured and Beautiful 2012 (6/30); Tap Future: Tap City’s All Student Showcase (7/12); Joffrey Ballet School Summer Performance (7/27-28); Young Dancemakers Company (8/1); BDC Summer Intern Showcase 2012 (8/5); Joffrey Ballet School Summer Jazz Performance (8/17). 2537 Broadway (95th St.), 212-864-5400; symphonyspace.org The Town Hall – An Evening With Judy Collins & Madeleine Peyroux (6/1); Jane Krakowski (6/8); The Broadway Musicals of 1987 (6/11); The Tallest Man on Earth (6/1920); Tango for Lovers Only: The Romulo Larrea (6/22); Sylvia Browne - 50th Anniversary Tour (6/27); Tommy Emmanuel (7/25). 123 W. 43rd St. (Broadway-Sixth Ave.), 212-997-1003; the-townhall-nyc.org Toyota Concert Series on TODAY – The Band Perry (6/1); Chris Brown (6/8); Justin Bieber (6/15); Kenny Chesney (6/22); Maroon 5 (6/29); Flo Rida (7/6); Zac Brown Band (7/13); Hot Chelle Rae (7/20); Train (8/24); Jason Mraz with special guest Christina Perri (8/31). 7-10am, unless otherwise noted; Rockefeller Plaza, 49th St. btw. 5th & 6th Aves.; concerts.today.com

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ARTNEW YORK

planning for a different American Dream At MoMA, the innovative work of five architectural firms envisions five new models for housing in the post-foreclosure era. By Karin Lipson

icture this: It’s 2009, the economy is a mess, and housing foreclosures are a national epidemic. Arriving on the scene are two travelers, Socrates and his pupil Glaucon (ok, call them time travelers), driving along the East Coast on Interstate 95. Stuck in traffic, they begin a Socratic (of course) dialogue about the suburban sprawl and decay around them—a vision of the American Dream gone wrong. This is the fanciful premise of the Buell Hypothesis, an otherwise soberminded research report by the Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture at Columbia University. Its conclusion, in a nutshell, is that we must fundamentally change the dream—now centered on singlefamily homes with private yards—to solve the problems of suburbia. That hypothesis is the bedrock of Foreclosed: Rehousing the American Dream, an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art that explores multiple ways to make those changes. On view through Aug. 13, the show was organized by Barry Bergdoll, the museum’s chief curator of architecture and design, with Reinhold Martin, director of the Buell Center. In the summer of 2011, MoMA gave five teams, each composed of architects, planners, engineers, and other specialists, studios at PS1, MoMA’s affiliate space in Queens. There, they each came up with ways to help solve America’s housing crisis, anchoring their creativity in current technology and the research data of the Buell Hypothesis. “We told all of them they couldn’t design something that couldn’t be built,” says Bergdoll. Of course, the five case studies don’t dwell on still-prosperous suburbs. Each team, headed by an architectural firm (the firms are MOS, WORKac, Visible Weather, Studio Gang, and Zago Architecture), focused on an obviously distressed suburban community in a different part of the country—the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southwest. The selected communities, as we see in the show, are places with abandoned or overcrowded houses, boarded-up windows, weed-strewn parking lots or, in the case of Rosena Ranch, just outside Rialto, Calif., acres of land of a planned residential subdivision that was left largely undeveloped as the economy imploded. Several of the older suburbs are scarred by the kind of blight once associated only with the inner city. MoMA The five MoMA projects ask 11 West 53rd Street, 212-708-9400; what kinds of new housing modmoma.org els can best serve the needs of these communities, taking into account such questions as zoning regulations, financing, allocation of public versus private space, and other issues. It sounds a tad academic, but the exhibition has been pulling in crowds

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with its use of appealing architectural models, videos, artists’ renderings, and large-scale graphics. Even a Rubik’s Cube plays its part, helping to explain Studio Gang’s presentation for Cicero, Ill., an aging suburb outside Chicago. The cube, with its shifting components, represents the plan’s modular “recombinant” housing, mostly within an abandoned factory; the concept allows residents to buy only those parts of a dwelling that they need, adding or subtracting rooms as their families grow or shrink. Visitors may find some futuristic visions here. Among the structures that WORKac created for Keizer, Ore., for example, is one that at first glance might look like an alien spacecraft. It is, in fact, “Compost Hill,” with housing atop a domed plant that processes bio-waste into compost and methanefueled electrical power. Other plans look, or feel, more typically “suburban”: Zago Architecture, for instance, includes single-family homes among the duplexes and row houses in its model for the undeveloped portion (90 percent) of Rosena Ranch. Yet for all their superficial differences, all the plans “look at ways you can have a denser population in suburbs relatively near a metropolitan center, without giving up a sense of open air and the things people go to the suburbs for in the first place,” says Bergdoll. In WORKac’s plan for Keizer, for example, the community is five times more densely populated than a typical suburban area—but also has three times the open space. Envisioning more mingling of work and residential spaces—often difficult under current zoning restrictions—the different plans also place an emphasis on pedestrian-friendly design. For Orange Township, N.J., the firm MOS proposes three-story structures encompassing residential, commercial, and office use that zigzag through streets between existing homes. The cars that once traveled those streets have been banished from the area. In fact, cars get rather short shrift in all the plans, Bergdoll acknowledges. “A lot of people have criticized in all of them a lack of attention to parking,” he says. Then again, the five projects are not intended as blueprints. “We really see the project as a kind of bridge to another stage,” says Michael Bell, of Visible Weather, in the video about his firm’s plan for Temple Terrace, Fla., which mixes housing, offices, stores, and even government in the same area. The idea, he says, was “to show what was possible.” Or, as Socrates says to Glaucon while stuck on I-95, “It may be time to dream a different dream.” n 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 Diego Rivera exhibit at MoMA.

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Photo © Jason Mandella

Installation view of Foreclosed: Rehousing the American Dream

Image courtesy MOS

Architectural model for WORKac’s Nature-City project for Keizer, Oregon

Architectural model for Studio Gang Architects’ The Garden in the Machine project for Cicero, Illinois

Image courtesy Zago Architecture

Architectural model, plan view, for Visible Weather’s Simultaneous City project for Temple Terrace, Florida

Rendering of MOS’s Thought on a Walking City project for Orange, New Jersey

Still from View of Life in the New Development, an animation produced as part of Zago Architecture’s Property with Properties project in California

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5/15/12 5:36 PM

American Folk Art Museum, bequest Gloria Bley Miller, 2008

The American Folk Art Museum marked its 50th anniversary in 2011, and as part of the celebration the exhibition Jubilation/Rumination: Life, Real and Imagined (through 9/2) features nearly 100 paintings, drawings, weathervanes, quilts, collages, and sculpture representing the full sweep of traditional folk art and creative expressions by self-taught artists. Conceived and organized by senior curator Stacy C. Hollander, who has been with the museum for 25 years and has had a significant role in shaping the collection, the show highlights important and highly recognized artists in the museum’s collection, including Henry Darger, Jacob Maentel, Sheldon Peck, Martín Ramírez, Nellie May Rowe, the husband-and-wife team S.A. Shute and R.W. Shute, Bill Traylor, Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, and Adolf Wölfli. Pictured here: Luna Park (1964), by Vestie Davis (1903-1978). Open Tues.-Sat., noon-7:30pm; Sun., noon–6pm; see listings for more info.

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5/15/12 6:09 PM

NEW YORK

MUSEUMS 200 Eastern Parkway (Washington Ave.), 718-638-5000; brooklynmuseum.org

All exhibits are subject to change American Folk Art Museum – Jubilation|Rumination: Life, Real and Imagined (through 9/2). Closed Mon. Free. 2 Lincoln Square, Columbus Ave. btw. 65th & 66th Sts., 212-595-9533; folkartmuseum.org American Museum of Natural History – Picturing Science: Museum Scientists and Imaging Technologies (through 6/24); Beyond Earth: The Future of Space Exploration (through 8/12); Spiders Alive! (7/2812/31); Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence (through 1/6). Open daily. $19; seniors/students, $14.50; children 2-12, $10.50. Central Park West at 79th St., 212-769-5100; amnh.org Asia Society and Museum – Revolutionary Ink: The Paintings of Wu Guanzhong (through 8/5). Closed Mon. $10; seniors, $7; students, $5; under 16, free. 725 Park Ave. (70th St.), 212-288-6400; asiasociety.org Brooklyn Museum – Question Bridge: Black Males (through 6/3); Aesthetic Ambitions: Edward Lycett and Brooklyn’s Faience Manufacturing Company (through 6/16); Raw/Cooked: Heather Hart (through 6/24); Keith Haring: 1978-1982 (through 7/8); Rachel Kneebone: Regarding Rodin (through 8/12); Newspaper Fiction: The New York Journalism of Djuna Barnes, 1913-1919 (through 8/19); Playing House (through 8/26); Raw Cooked: Ulrike Müller (6/29-9/9). Closed Mon. & Tues. $12; seniors/students, $8; under 12, free.

Bronx Museum of the Arts– Lobby-for-theTime-Being (ongoing); Juan Downey: The Invisible Architect (through 7/1); Urban Archives: Emilio Sanchez in the Bronx (through 7/1). Closed Mon.-Wed. Free. 1040 Grand Concourse, 718-681-6000; bronxmuseum.org Center for Architecture – Change: Architecture and Engineering in the Middle East, 2000-Present (through 6/23); New Practices New York 2012 (6/14-9/8); The Harlem Edge | Cultivating Connections (7/12-10/31). Closed Sun. Free. 536 LaGuardia Pl. (Bleecker-W. 3rd Sts.), 212-683-0023; aiany.org China Institute – Theater, Life and the Afterlife: Tomb Décor from Ancient Shanxi, Tenth through Thirteenth Centuries (through 6/17). Open daily. $7; students/seniors, $4; under 12, free. Free admission Tues. & Thurs., 6-8pm. 125 E. 65th St., 212-744-8181; chinainstitute.org The Drawing Center – ReDraw - The Capital Plan for 35 Wooster Street (through 9/13). Closed Mon. & Tues. 35 Wooster St. (Grand-Broome Sts.), 212-219-2166; drawingcenter.org El Museo del Barrio – Caribbean: Crossroads of the World (6/12-1/6). Closed Mon. $9; seniors/ students, $5; under 12, free. Free admission the third Saturday of every month & every Wed., 6-9pm. 1230 Fifth Ave. (104th St.), 212-831-7272; elmuseo.org

The Frick Collection – Antico: The Golden Age of Renaissance Bronzes (through 7/29); Gold, Jasper, and Carnelian: Johann Christian Neuber at the Saxon Court (through 8/19). Closed Mon. $18; seniors, $15; students, $10; pay-what-you-wish Sun., 11am-1pm. 1 E. 70th St., 212-288-0700; frick.org Grey Art Gallery at NYU – Storied Past: Four Centuries of French Drawings from the Blanton Museum of Art (through 7/14). Closed Sun. & Mon. $3. 100 Washington Square East, 212-998-6780; nyu.edu/greyart The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum – Being Singular Plural (through 6/6); A Year With Children 2012 (through 6/13); Francesca Woodman (through 6/13); From the Archives: Artist Awards and Acquisitions, 1956-1987 (through 7/16); Art of Another Kind: International Abstraction and the Guggenheim, 1949-1960 (6/8-9/12); Rineke Dijkstra - A Retrospective (6/29-10/3). Closed Thurs. $18; seniors/students, $15; under 12, free. 1071 Fifth Ave. (89th St.), 212-423-3500; guggenheim.org International Center of Photography – Christer Strömholm: Les Amies de Place Blanche (through 9/2); President in Petticoats! Civil War Propaganda in Photographs (through 9/2); A Short History of Photography: From the ICP Collection Honoring Willis E. Hartshorn, Ehrenkranz Director (through 9/2); Weegee: Murder Is My Business (through 9/2). Closed Mon. $12; students/seniors, $8; under 12, free. 1133 Sixth Ave. (43rd St.), 212-857-0000; icp.org

A NEW RESOURCE FOR THE FERTILE MIND

A new website for the intellectually curious has popped up this summer: ThoughtGallery.org, a single resource for all the top lectures, presentations, talks, seminars, panel discussions, and similar events in New York City. Check out thoughtgallery.org for special gallery tours at places such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art; find interesting artist panels at the Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and more; discover author appearances and book signings throughout the city; and take part in lively discussions concerning history, politics, economics; and much more covering a wide range of topics. Be the first to know and sign up for updates—including when new events are announced—at thoughtgallery.org/newsletter.

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MuseumsNEWYORK

Japan Society – Deco Japan: Shaping Art and Culture, 1920-1945 (through 6/10). Closed Mon. $12; students/seniors, $10; under 16, free; free Fri., 6-9pm. 333 E. 47th St., 212-832-1155; japansociety.org The Jewish Museum – Composed: Identity, Politics, Sex (through 6/30); Kehinde Wiley/The World Stage: Israel (through 7/29); Sanford Biggers and Jennifer Zackin: a small world... (through 8/26); Edouard Vuillard: A Painter and His Muses, 1890-1940 (through 9/23). Closed Wed. $12; seniors, $10; students, $7.50; under 12, free; free Sat., 11am-5:45pm. 1109 Fifth Ave. (92nd St.), 212-423-3200; thejewishmuseum.org The Metropolitan Museum of Art – The Steins Collect - Matisse, Picasso, and the Parisian Avant-Garde (through 6/3); Red and Black: Chinese Lacquer, 13th-16th Century (through 6/10); Breaking the Color Barrier in Major League Baseball (through 6/17); Byzantium and Islam - Age of Transition (through 7/8); The Printed Image in China, 8th-21st Century (through 7/29); The Dawn of Egyptian Art (through 8/5); Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations (through 8/19); Dürer and Beyond - Central European Drawings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1400-1700 (through 9/3); Ellsworth Kelly Plant Drawings (6/5-9/3); Bellini, Titian, and Lotto - North Italian Paintings from the Accademia Carrara, Bergamo (through 9/3); Tomás Saraceno on the Roof - Cloud City (through 11/4). Closed Mon. $20; seniors, $15; students, $10; under 12, free. Fifth Ave. & 82nd St., 212-535-7710; metmuseum.org The Morgan Library & Museum – Dan Flavin: Drawing (through 7/1); Ellsworth Kelly: Sculpture (6/19-9/9); Renaissance Venice: Drawings from the Morgan (through 9/23); Churchill: The Power of Words (6/8-9/23); Josef Albers in America: Painting on Paper (7/20-10/14); Robert Wilson/Philip Glass: Einstein on the Beach (7/13-11/4). Closed Mon. $15; seniors/students/children under 16, $10; 12 & under, free; free Fri., 7-9pm. 225 Madison Ave. (36th St.), 212-685-0008; themorgan.org Museum of American Finance – Checks & Balances - Presidents and American Finance (through 11/30). Closed Sun. & Mon. $8; students/seniors, $5; under 6, free. 48 Wall St. (William St.), 212-908-4110; moaf.org

Museum of Arts & Design – Beauty in All Things - Japanese Art and Design (through 6/3); Glasstress New York - New Art from the Venice Biennales (through 6/10); Swept Away - Dust, Ashes, and Dirt in Contemporary Art and Design (through 8/12); Space, Light, Structure - The Jewelry of Margaret De Patta (6/5-9/23); Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation, 3 - Contemporary Native Art from the Northeast and Southeast (6/2610/21). Closed Mon. $15; students/seniors, $12; high school students and under 12, free; Thurs. & Fri., 6-9pm, pay-what-you-wish. 2 Columbus Cir.

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(near Eighth Ave. & W. 58th St.), 212-299-7777; madmuseum.org The Museum of Biblical Art – Printers, Monks & Craftsmen - Bookmaking in the Age of Gutenberg (6/8-9/9); The Adoration of the Magi by Bartolo di Fredi - A Masterpiece Reconstructed (6/8-9/9). 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 – The Greatest Grid: The Master Plan of Manhattan, 1811-2011 (through 7/15); Capital of Capital (through 10/21); Activist New York (through TBD). 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. $6; 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 – Let My People Go! The Soviet Jewry Movement, 1967-1989 (through 8/5); Filming the Camps: From Hollywood to Nuremberg (through 10/14); Emma Lazarus: Poet of Exiles (through 12/31). Closed Sat. $12; seniors, $10; students, $7; 12 & under, free; free Wed., 4-8pm. 36 Battery Pl., 646-437-4200; mjhnyc.org Museum of Modern Art – Cindy Sherman (through 6/11); Projects 97: Mark Boulos (through 7/16); Foreclosed: Rehousing the American Dream (through 7/30); 9 Scripts from a Nation at War (through 8/6); Ecstatic Alphabets/Heaps of Language (through 8/27); Taryn Simon: A Living Man Declared Dead and Other Chapters (through 9/3); Electric Currents, 1900–1940 (through 9/30); Alighiero Boetti: Game Plan (7/1-10/1); Century of the Child: Growing by Design, 1900-2000 (7/25-11/5); Quay Brothers: On Deciphering the Pharmacist’s Prescription for Lip-Reading Puppets (8/12-1/7); The Shaping of New Visions: Photography, Film, Photobook (through 4/29/13). Closed Tues. $25; seniors, $18; students, $14; 16 & under, free. 11 W. 53rd St., 212-708-9400; moma.org

More (through 8/26); White: The Anatomy of a Color (through 8/26); An American Collection – Second Rotation (through 1/13). Closed Mon. & Tues. $12; seniors/students, $7; under 12, free. 1083 Fifth Ave. (89th St.), 212-369-4880; nationalacademy.org National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution – Time Exposures: Picturing a History of Isleta Pueblo in the 19th Century (through 6/10); Small Spirits: Dolls from the National Museum of the American Indian (through 7/19); IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas (through 8/31); We Are Here! Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship (6/2-9/23). Open daily. Free. U.S. Custom House, 1 Bowling Green (Broadway), 212-514-3700; americanindian.si.edu Neue Galerie – Heinrich Kuehn and His American Circle (through 8/27); Gustav Klimt: 150th Anniversary Celebration (through 8/27). Closed Tues. & Wed. $15; students/seniors, $10. 1048 Fifth Ave. (86th St.), 212-628-6200; neuegalerie.org New Museum – Phyllida Barlow: siege (through 6/24); Stanya Kahn (through 7/1); Dani Fal: Nacht und Nebel (through 7/1); Isa Genzken - Rose II (through 7/31); The Parade: Nathalie Djurberg with Music by Hans Berg (through 8/26); Pictures from the Moon: Artists’ Holograms 1969-2008 (7/5-9/30); Ghosts in the Machine (7/18-10/7). Closed Mon. & Tues. $12; seniors, $10; students, $8; 18 & under, free. 235 Bowery (Prince St.), 212-219-1222; newmuseum.org New-York Historical Society – BE SAFE! BE SURE! GET VACCINATED! Smallpox, Civil Liberties and Vaccination in New York, 1689-2008 (through 9/2); Beer Here: Brewing New York’s History (through 9/2); Making American Taste: Narrative Art for a New Democracy (through 9/9); Stories in Sterling: Four Centuries of Silver in New York (through 9/23); Beauties of the Gilded Age: Peter Marié’s Miniatures of Society Women (through 11/11). Closed Mon. $15; seniors, $12; students, $10; 7-13, $5; under 7, free. 170 Central Park West (77th St.), 212-873-3400; nyhistory.org

Museum of the Moving Image – Industry/ Cinema: An Installation by Caroline Martel (through 8/12). Closed Mon. $10. 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, Queens, 718-777-6888; movingimage.us

New York Public Library (Humanities and Social Sciences Library) – More than a Passing Glance - Color Photographs by Jan Staller (through 8/22). Call 212-869-8089 for a recording of all current exhibitions. Open daily. 42nd St. & Fifth Ave., 212-340-0830; nypl.org

Museum of Sex – Action: Sex and the Moving Image (ongoing); F*ck Art - A Street Art Occupation (ongoing); Universe of Desire (ongoing). Open daily. $17.50; students/seniors, $15.25. 233 Fifth Ave. (27th St.), 212-689-6337; museumofsex.com

New York Transit Museum – Closed Mon. $6; seniors/children 3-17, $4. 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

National Academy Museum – Women’s Work: Mary Cassatt, Colleen Browning, May Stevens, and

The Noguchi Museum – Highlights from the Collection (6/6-9/9). Closed Mon. & Tues. $10

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ONTHETOWN

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 Queens Museum of Art – Ada Bobonis: Stages, Mountains, Water (6/171/6); Caribbean: Crossroads of the World (6/17-1/6). Closed Mon. & Tues. $5; seniors/students, $2.50; under 5, free. New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 718-592-9700; queensmuseum.org

Skyscraper Museum – News PAPER Spires (through 7/15). Closed Mon. & Tues. $5; seniors/students, $2.50. 39 Battery Pl., 212-968-1961; skyscraper.org The Studio Museum in Harlem – Closed Mon.-Wed. $7 (free on Sun.); seniors/students, $3; under 12, free. 144 W. 125th St. (Lenox Ave.-Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd.), 212-864-4500; studiomuseum.org Whitney Museum of American Art – ...As Apple Pie (opening 6/8); Sharon Hayes: There’s So Much I Want to Say About You (6/21-9/9); Signs & Symbols (6/28-10/28); Oskar Fischinger: Space Light Art—A Film Environment (6/28-10/28). Closed Mon. & Tues. $18 (pay-what-you-wish Fri., 6-9pm); seniors/students, $12; 18 & under, free. 945 Madison Ave. (75th St.), 212-570-3600; whitney.org

Courtesy Neue Galerie. Private Collection, New York.

The Rubin Museum of Art – Hero, Villain, Yeti (through 6/11); Casting the Divine (through 7/13); Illuminated (through 9/3); Modernist Art from India - Approaching Abstraction (through 10/16); Masterworks (through 12/31); Candid (7/6-1/14); Gateway to Himalayan Art (through 1/6/2014). Closed Tues. $10 (free Fri., 6-10pm); 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 – Unnatural Formations: Three Contemporary Photographers (through 6/30). Closed Sun. & Mon. Free. 58 Park Ave. (37th-38th Sts.), 212-779-3587; scandinaviahouse.org

(pay-what-you-wish first Fri. of the month); students/seniors, $5; under 12, free. 9-01 33rd Rd. (Vernon Blvd.), Long Island City, Queens, 718-204-7088; noguchi.org

2012 marks the 150th birthday of Art Nouveau/Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt, but the celebrations aren’t limited to his homeland of Austria. Neue Galerie offers Gustav Klimt: 150th Anniversary Celebration (through 8/27), featuring major Klimt works from their collection, as well as rare and never-beforeseen photographs of Klimt and his close companion, the fashion designer Emilie Flöge. Open Thurs.-Mon., 11am-6pm. See listings for more info. Pictured here: Der Schwarze Federhut (1910).

Some 100 works by nearly 70 artists in the Guggenheim’s collection make up the museum’s summer exhibition, Art of Another Kind: International Abstraction and the Guggenheim, 1949-1960 (6/8-9/12), which explores worldwide trends in abstraction in the years before the Guggenheim’s iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building opened in October 1959. Open Fri.-Wed., 10am-5:45pm (until 7:45 on Saturdays). Pictured above: Karel Appel’s The Crying Crocodile Tries to Catch the Sun (1956).

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New York

Courtesy of Steven Kasher Gallery and TASCHEN, New York

ART GALLERIES COLLECTIBLES

In June, photojournalist/filmmaker/author Lawrence Schiller receives his first solo exhibition in the U.S., coinciding with the release of his book of the same name, as Steven Kasher Gallery presents Marilyn & Me. The exhibition features over fifty of Schillerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic images of Marilyn Monroe as well as vintage prints from throughout Schillerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career as a photojournalist. Open Tues.-Sat., 11am-6pm. See listings for more information. Through 6/30.

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All exhibits subject to change Many galleries maintain different hours during the summer months; please call ahead to confirm. Bonni Benrubi - 20th-century and contemporary photography. Josef Hoflehner- Into the Calm (through 7/6). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 41 E. 57th St., 13th Floor, 212-888-6007; bonnibenrubi.com Peter Blum Gallery - Contemporary American and European art. 29th St.: 4 Films (through 6/30). 99 Wooster St., 212-343-0441; 526 W. 29th St., 212-244-6055; peterblumgallery.com Cheim & Read - International contemporary artists. Chantal Joffe (through 6/22); Alex Van Gelder (6/28-9/8); Bianca Casady (6/28-9/8). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 547 W. 25th St., 212-242-7727; cheimread.com

Clic Bookstore & Gallery - Emerging photographers. Centre St.: Peter Dugovic: City Life Signs/ Paintings (6/4-7/1); Mikael Kennedy: Between Dog & Wolf/Polaroids (6/7-7/8). Tues.-Sun., noon-7pm. 424 Broome St., 212-219-9308; 255 Centre St., 212-966-2766; clicgallery.com James Cohan Gallery - Contemporary art. Everyday Abstract - Abstract Everyday, Curated by Matthew Higgs (6/1-7/27). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 533 W. 26th St., 212-714-9500; jamescohan.com CRG Gallery - Well-established and emerging contemporary American/European artists. Aonico Lemos Auad: Figa (through 6/23). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 548 W. 22nd St., 212-229-2766; crggallery.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. Tues.-Sat., 11am-6pm. 548 W. 28th St., 2nd Floor, 212-244-9081; foleygallery.com Zach Feuer Gallery - Contemporary art in all media by emerging and mid-career artists. Florian Schmidt: Spot (through 6/16). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 548 W. 22nd St., 212-989-7700; zachfeuer.com Gagosian Gallery - Modern and contemporary art, including works by de Kooning, Hirst, Picasso, Twombly, and Warhol. Madison Ave.: Picasso and Françoise Gilot: Paris-Vallauris 1943-1953 (through 6/30). 24th St.: Lucio Fontana - Ambienti Spaziali (through 6/30). 21st St.: Richard Avedon - Murals & Portraits (through 7/6). Tues.- Sat., 10am-6pm.

Courtesy of Hasted Kraeutler

Fine Photography on the Gold Coast

[F ounder Sarah Hasted and business partner Joseph Kraeutler pose in their Chelsea gallery, Hasted Kraeutler ]

Boasting floor-to-ceiling double doors and a sleek steel façade, Hasted Kraeutler sits on 24th Street in Chelsea, a gallery space highly coveted by some of the best artists from all corners of the world—not necessarily for its large ground floor viewing-room with high ceilings, beams and skylight, but mainly for the skills that founding partner Sarah Hasted and her business partner, Joseph Kraeutler, bring to the table. Hasted, who founded the gallery in 2005, and Kraeutler, the former head of the photographs department at world-renowned auction house Phillips de Pury & Company, attract a high caliber of artist—a testament to more than 25 years combined of successfully curating and promoting artists throughout the city and beyond. Yet another tribute to the duo’s keen art sense is the gallery’s prime location in Chelsea, known as New York’s “Gold Coast” of the art world. Not confined to any one specific genre or style, the gallery specializes in photography but also exhibits paintings, sculptures, and artworks of all media. “We want to have interesting shows of work that people may not have seen before; or, if they have seen them before, it’s a reminder of how amazing it is,” Hasted says. “We represent artists that we truly like, that we not only collect ourselves, but that we can represent with great pride.” From emerging to established artists in the U.S., Hasted and Kraeutler also seek to discover artists worldwide who have never been exhibited in the States. The gallery is the exclusive exhibitor for a few such artists, debuting important artwork to the U.S. market. With a range of artists represented, Hasted and Kraeutler also consult new and seasoned collectors. “You buy what you love. Don’t be shy about asking questions,” Hasted says. “Feel free to utilize our experience and our knowledge to help you find a piece for your collection or to begin your collection.” Currently on view are what Hasted describes as “epic photographs taken exclusively in Africa” by Nick Brandt. The upcoming exhibit includes notable names such as Ansel Adams, James Casebere, Joel Sternfeld, Lewis Baltz, Henri-Cartier Bresson, Elger Esser, Richard Misrach, and Clifford Ross. For more information, visit hastedkraeutler.com or call 212-627-0006. —Lisa Chung

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GALLERIESNEWYORK

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 Galerie Lelong - Contemporary art from the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Hélio Oiticica - Penetrables (through 6/16). 528 W. 26th St., 212-315-0470; galerielelong.com Galerie St. Etienne - The oldest gallery in the U.S. specializing in Expressionism and self-taught art. Mad as Hell! - New Work (and Some Classics) by Sue Coe (through 7/3). Tues.-Fri., 11am-5pm. 24 W. 57th St., 212-765-8493; gseart.com Gladstone Gallery - Contemporary art. 24th St.: Jan Vercruysse - Works 1990-2011 (6/21-8/3). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 515 W. 24th St., 212-206-9300; 530 W. 21st St.; gladstonegallery.com Valerie Goodman Gallery - Specializing in 20th-century European decorative arts, furniture and lighting, and French contemporary artist Limited Editions. “Meanders” : Furniture in Movement, New Work by Jacques Jarrige (through 7/15). 315 E. 91st St., 917-208-0302; valeriegoodmangallery.com Greenberg Van Doren - Contemporary fine art. Richard Diebenkorn: Prints 1961-1992 (through 6/29); Summer 2012 Group Show (7/11-8/24). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 730 Fifth Ave. (57th St.), 212-445-0444; gvdgallery.com

Hammer Galleries - Featuring works by 19th- and 20th-century European and American Masters. On Paper: Impressionist, Modern and Post-War Masters (through 8/31). Mon.-Fri., 9:30am-5:30pm, Sat., 10am-5pm. 475 Park Ave. (58th St.), 212-644-4400; www.hammergalleries.com Hasted Kraeutler - Contemporary photography from emerging and established artists. Awol Erizku (6/7-7/20). Tues.-Sat., 11am-6pm. 537 W. 24th St., 212-627-0006; hastedkraeutler.com Hirschl & Adler Galleries - 18th-, 19th- & 20th-century American and European paintings, drawings, watercolors, and sculpture. Barbara Kassel: New Paintings (through 6/29). Mon.-Fri., 9:30am-5:15pm. 730 Fifth Ave. (57th St.), 4th Floor, 212-535-8810; hirschlandadler.com Hosfelt Gallery - International, emerging and mid-career artists. Julie Change - Chinese. Japanese. Indian Chief. (through 6/16); Ruth Marten Strange Bedfellows (through 6/16). Wed.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 531 W. 36th St., 212-563-5454; hosfeltgallery.com Steven Kasher Gallery - Contemporary photography and social/historical/ artistic photography of the 20th century. Lawrence Schiller: Marilyn & Me (through 6/30). Tues.-Sat., 11am-6pm. 521 W. 23rd St., 212-966-3978; stevenkasher.com

At Hammer Galleries On Paper: With over 40 works on paper by Impressionist, Modern and Post-War Masters A year and a half after opening their beautiful new Park Avenue gallery and following major exhibitions by Impressionist and Modern Masters, Hammer Galleries now presents a new exhibition titled On Paper, on view through August 31. Featuring an international selection of artists, On Paper includes over 40 significant pastels, watercolors, pencil drawings and collages from Impressionist, Modern and Post War Masters. The exhibition begins with several drawings from the Impressionist era, including a beautiful watercolor by Honoré Daumier, as well as an ethereal sanguine drawing by Pierre-August Renoir from circa 1897-98; also included is a charming 1893 mother and child pastel composition by Mary Cassatt. Continuing into the 20th century, On Paper Hammer Galleries showcases important works by Modern Masters 475 Park Avenue; 212-644-4400; such as Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Henri View a virtual tour of the exhibition Matisse, Joan Miró and Kees van Dongen, as at www.hammergalleries.com well as Surrealist works by Paul Delvaux and Yves Tanguy. The exhibition also features several works on paper by Pop Art icons Andy Warhol and Tom Wesselmann as well as three lyrical watercolors by the Abstract Expressionist artist Sam Francis. A selection of seven drawings by Pablo Picasso, ranging in date from 1905 to 1972, traces Picasso’s career as a master draftsman. Picasso’s extraordinary 1932 work on paper titled Le joueur de clarinette is inspired by Picasso’s young mistress Marie-Thérèse Walter and is an exhibition highlight. Picasso’s association with Marie-Thérèse began in 1927 when she was a teenager living with her mother. [ Joan Miró, Personnages Oiseaux, 1975 ] Many years later she told Life magazine, “I was 17 years old. I was an innocent © 2012 Successió Miró / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris young girl. I knew nothing—neither of life or of Picasso. I had gone to do some shopping at the Galeries Lafayette, and Picasso saw me leaving the Metro. He simply took me by the arm and said: ‘I am Picasso! You and I are going to do great things together.’” In addition to their On Paper exhibition, Hammer Galleries will have a selection of major oil paintings by Picasso, Chagall, Leger and Miró on display as well as a spectacular mobile by Alexander Calder and sculpture by Jean Dubuffet. The exhibition is accompanied by a virtual tour, accessible via www.hammergalleries.com as well as a full-color catalogue.

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Lerebours Antiques - An eclectic collection of American antique, vintage, and mid-century modern fine furnishings, lighting, and art. 220 E. 60th St., 917-749-5866; lereboursantiques.com

Frederieke Taylor Gallery - Highly contemporary, conceptual art. By appointment only. 145 E. 29th St., 646-230-0992; frederieketaylorgallery.com

Luhring Augustine - Late-19th century to contemporary American and European paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography and video works. Mix/Remix (through 7/9). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 531 W. 24th St., 212-206-9100; luhringaugustine.com

303 Gallery - Contemporary photography, film, paintings, and sculpture. Richard Prince - 14 Paintings (through 6/23); Marxism (6/29-8/4). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 547 W. 21st St.,

212-255-1121; 303gallery.com Viridian Artists - Works in the abstract mode, including oils, pastels on paper, prints, and sculptures. Oi Sawa - Oil Paintings on Tin and Drawings (through 6/23); 23rd Annual International Juried Exhibition (6/26-7/14). Tues.-Sat., 10:30am-6pm. 548 W. 28th St., 6th Floor, 212-414-4040; viridianartists.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 Barbara Mathes Gallery - 20th-century, and contemporary American and European masters. Agostino Bonalumi (through 6/29). Tues.-Fri., 9:30am-6pm.; Sat. 10am-5pm. 22 E. 80th St., 212-570-4190; barbaramathesgallery.com Yossi Milo Gallery- Contemporary photography. Matthew Brandt (through 6/30). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 245 Tenth Ave. (24th-25th Sts.), 212-414-0370; www.yossimilo.com The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology - Fashion, A-Z: Highlights from the Collection of the Museum at FIT, Part Two (through 11/10). Tues.-Fri., noon-8pm; Sat., 10am-5pm. Seventh Ave. at 27th St., 212-217-4558; fitnyc.edu The Pace Gallery - 20th-century art, including works by Calder, LeWitt, Nevelson, Noguchi, Picasso, Rauschenberg, Rothko, and many others. 22nd St.: Claes Oldenburg / Coosje van Bruggen: Theater and Installation 1985-1990 (through 6/23). 57th St.: Robert Irwin: Dotting the i’s & Crossing the t’s: Part I (through 6/23). 32 E. 57th St., 212-421-3292; 534 W. 25th St., 212-929-7000; 545 W. 22nd St., 212-989-4258; 510 W. 25th St. 212-255-4044; thepacegallery.com Ro Gallery - Select original paintings, graphics, photographs, and sculptures from over 5000 artists. Visit their website for live and timed art auctions. Gallery by appointment. 47-15 36th St., Long Island City, 800-888-1063; rogallery.com Michael Rosenfeld Gallery - 20th century American art. ...On Paper (through 6/29). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 24 W. 57th St., 7th Floor, 212-247-0082; michaelrosenfeldart.com Luise Ross Gallery - Self-taught artists from North America and Europe. Leo Rabkin: A 54-Year Survey (through 6/22). Tues.-Sat., 10am-6pm. 511 W. 25th St. #307, 212-343-2161; luiserossgallery.com Spanierman Modern - Modern and contemporary paintings, watercolors, works on paper, drawings, and sculpture. Gallery Selections (through 6/2); Jasmina Danowski (through 6/2); John Little (6/7-7/7). Mon.-Sat., 9:30am-5:30pm. 53 E. 58th St., 212-832-1400; spaniermanmodern.com

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TRAVELINDIA

elegance in six Indian destinations

...And each topped the previous one for distinctive service and special touches.

‘‘W

hat in the world,” I queried in wonderment, “are they going to do at the next hotel, to top these past three days?” I was speaking to my traveling companions as we ambled back to our lavish, tented bungalows at the stunning Oberoi Vanyavilas Hotel in Ranthambhore, southeast of Jaipur. We’d had an exhilarating day tiger-spotting in Ranthambhore National Park in the province of Rajasthan, and our safari outings had been electrifying. We had seen seven tigers, including a male raising his two cubs—a rarity!—whose mother had died of natural causes. And if the tigers had not been enough to mesmerize us, our stay in Ranthambhore had followed on the heels of an overnight in Agra, at Oberoi’s cosseting Amarvilas Hotel, where the Taj Mahal, visible from every guest room, brought my knees to a buckling collapse; I shed a wistful tear, remembering fourth grade, when I read about the Taj and its Moghul-empire creator, Shah Jahan, who had built it for his cherished third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. If these intense assaults on the senses had not been enough, we had capped our stay in Ranthambhore with a multi-course al fresco banquet

By Ruth J. Katz prepared by Vanyavilas’ female chef, Vidhu Sethi, while all evening a native woman baked fresh, tempting Indian breads tableside. At the end of that magical day, we stumbled back to our extravagantly elegant quarters where outside my door was a message written in scarlet rose petals, with 12”-tall letters: “Thank You.” What a way to say adieu, a sweet send-off from Vanyavilas’ General Manager, Ratna Malhotra. (Women rock at this hotel—even the two resident elephants, the temperate goliaths Laxmi and Mala, who make daily appearances for petting and pictures, are ladies.) Somehow each city (additionally, New Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur, Mumbai) managed to top the previous one with its exceptionally distinctive and unforgettable service and special touches, all crafted to dazzle the senses. And it’s no surprise, because my adventure was organized by Micato Safaris, eight-time winner of Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Tour Operator (not to mention a bundle of other superlative honors.) I had traveled with Micato previously to Africa, the company’s specialty stomping ground, since founders Jane and Felix Pinto are second-generation Kenyans, but whose ancestral

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Courtesy of the India Ministry of Tourism

[ Opposite page: The Oberoi Udaivilas Hotel on Lake Pichola in Udaipur ] [T his page: A caravan of camels with the magnificent Taj Mahal in the background, flanked by two red sandstone mausoleums; the Lotus Temple, a Baha’i house of worship, in Delhi; a tiger in Ranthambhore National Park ]

roots are in Goa, India. All the employees deliver that special, polished Micato touch and the firm excels in arranging behind-the-scenes tours of places few visitors have access to. The Indian sub-continent is a compelling land of startling surprises and superlatives. I often felt pleasantly bombarded by the sights, smells, sounds, colors, vistas, patterns, chaos. However, the journey started out quite gently in Delhi, with visits to the impressive Humayan’s Tomb, the Parliament, the India Gate (a massive sandstone memorial erected in honor of Indian and British soldiers who were felled in World War I), and Gandhi Smriti, the museum dedicated to the great one, and the site where he was assassinated in 1948. Take a rickshaw ride through the old parts of Delhi, down the narrow alleys of the silver market surrounded by fruit and vegetable vendors; look up at the tangled jumble of crisscrossing electrical cables and wires—the modernity of the 21st century brought into the mayhem of an ancient settlement. Our guide, Hem Singh—a veritable legend in India, and a Micato treasure—pointed out something else worth noting: Countless barbers work virtually in the middle of the street. This is apparently an easy business to establish, since all an enterprising “stylist” needs is a chair, a razor, a comb, and a mirror. Indeed, when we were driving through rural countryside to the legendary Pink City, Jaipur, barbers seemed to punctuate the roadside every 100 yards! Jaipur is a must on any trip to India, and it is perhaps at its most enthralling when you traverse the streets. There is too much to absorb; you can get an accurate feel for it if you see the recently released The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, in which the tumult and pandemonium of the city thoroughfares are faithfully filmed. Seeming bedlam—everywhere you look you’ll see tantalizing street foods, bolts of vibrant fabrics and saris, vendors with piles of flowers and intriguing produce, spices, and even a shoemaker sitting in the middle of the sidewalk. Perhaps the most amazing activity in Jaipur’s environs is elephant polo. I’d say I played, but well, while I was assuredly sitting on the elephant, it was my mahout who guided my unwieldy 10’-long mallet! It was frolicking-good fun: We were greeted at the Dera Amer Elephant Polo Ground by a marching band of tartan-clad bagpipers and drummers, a parade of elephants with intricately painted faces, camels in full “black-tie” regalia, and trumpeters. This level of pageantry was repeated the next evening at the maharaja’s City Palace, where our blowout dinner was preceded by a private dance presentation by the renowned Indian dancer Gulabo, who has performed at Windsor Castle. It would be hard to eclipse this meal, but indeed, in Udaipur (the city of lakes),

at the Udaivilas Oberoi, the extraordinary staff planned a surprise repast out in the middle of Lake Pichola, on a buoyed platform, where the fillip to our seven-course bill of fare was a fireworks show. (Like rose petals, fireworks are major in India...and so is henna, so don’t leave Udaipur without getting your hands hennaed, as I did, in complex swirls of peacocks and paisleys.) In Mumbai, you’ll marvel at the Dhobi Ghat, India’s fabled outdoor hand laundry. Take the Western Railway’s route to the Mahalaxmi station, adjacent to the laundry. The laundrymen are known as dhobis and they do the washing in huge cement troughs; our local guide told us that as many as 5,000 men work here. As for the irons—don’t ask—they are heated with scorching stones! You must also go to the historic, striking Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not far from there is the “headquarters” of the illustrious dabbawalas, who provide a unique lunchdelivery service to school children and office workers; they collect homemade meals from near and far, and through an elaborate system of lunchbox threecard Monte, they reroute thousands and thousands of meals to their waiting customers. It is a riveting sight to see. Lastly, do not forego the touristy Kingdom of Dreams theatre complex near New Delhi, where the nearly three-hour-long Zangoora: The Gypsy Prince has been playing for over a year-and-a-half. Part Busch Gardens, part Las Vegas excess, the destination is as ornate as any Indian temple, with the added bonus of food stalls and trinket shops. Prepare yourself for a live Bollywood musical, but with more dance numbers—if that’s possible—and fuzzy translations like, “You mean nobody to me.” Oberoi’s special touches included a drawn bath at turn-down time, with a blanket of fuchsia bougainvillea blossoms floating on the water’s surface, with a white-petal heart in the middle. And Micato’s exceptional indulgences began with the first heartfelt greeting to the final-night theatrical codetta, the hypnotizing Zangoora, whose line I paraphrase when I say that Micato “means everybody to me.” You get the idea. n

[ more information ] micato.com/india; oberoihotels.com; incredibleindia.org; tourisminindia.com; deraamer.com; kingdomofdreams.in. Break up the long journey to India with a layover in London, via Virgin Airways. It’s a most civilized way to turn a sojourn half-way ‘round the world into a pleasant experience. virgin.com 73

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The Space Shuttle Enterprise—seen here as it arrived in Manhattan in late April—the original NASA orbiter that paved the way for America’s successful space shuttle program, is scheduled to open to the public at its new home at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Thursday, July 19. Enterprise will be placed in a temporary, climate-controlled, and fully-accessible Space Pavilion located on Intrepid’s Flight Deck until a permanent exhibit facility is built. Pier 86, W. 46th St. and 12th Ave., 212-245-0072; intrepidmuseum.org

NEW YORK

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NASA/Bill Ingalls

SIGHTSEEING

5/15/12 5:45 PM

ONTHETOWN

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 Bike and Roll NYC – Bike rentals and guided tours from 11 convenient locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Tour Central Park, the Hudson River Greenway, the Brooklyn Bridge on two wheels. Kids’ equipment available. Call or visit website for additional locations. Pier 84, Hudson River Park, W. 44th St. & the Hudson River, 212-260-0400; bikenewyorkcity.com 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

for hours. 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. Horse-andCarriage 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.

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 Zoo (64th St. & Fifth Ave., 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

Circle Line Downtown – Enjoy a narrated harbor tour including views of the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and more on board the luxurious ZEPHYR, departing daily at 10am, 11:15am, 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:30pm & 5pm. Hidden Harbor Tours (6/5, 19, 7/10, 24, 8/7, 21); Zephyr Happy Hour Cruise (every Thurs. & Fri. at 6:30pm); Tropical Oasis Cruise (every Sat. at 8:45pm); Zephyr 4th of July Fireworks Cruise (7/4). 877-979-2542; circlelinedowntown.com

New York City is teeming with celebrities, but there’s only place you can guarantee yourself some star-spotting: Madame Tussauds in Times Square. Recent additions at Madame Tussauds include Prince William and Kate Middleton (pictured above) and a new, multi-level experience featuring wax likenesses of The Avengers—The Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and two new wax figures of Captain America (as portrayed by Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth)—as well as the Marvel Super Heroes 4D Experience, a new, short film with thrilling special effects. See our Madame Tussauds listing for more information.

Summertime means gorgeous weather for sightseeing on the water and New York City is synonymous with great dining, so what better way to combine both than with a dinner cruise aboard World Yacht? With a fleet of three beautiful vessels, World Yacht is an idyllic setting for romantic dinners, dinner parties, Sunday Brunches, and more. Each vessel is climatecontrolled and offers a two-level dining room, dance floor, and spacious outdoor decks. Dinner cruises sail year round; guests enjoy a four-course dinner, breathtaking views of the skyline, music, and entertainment. For reservations and more information, call 212-630-8100 or visit worldyacht.com.

CitySights NY – See New York from top-seating-only double-decker buses with unobstructed views of attractions, neighborhoods, and more. 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 combo tickets, day trips, and more. They offer tours in four languages (Italian, French, German, and Spanish). 212-812-2700; citysightsny.com

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SIGHTSEEINGNEWYORK

Discovery Times Square – NYC’s first large-scale exhibition center presenting visitors with limitedrun, educational and immersive exhibit experiences while exploring the world’s defining cultures, art, history and events. Now on view: Terracotta Warriors: Defenders of China’s First Emperor (through 8/26) and Spy: The Secret World of Espionage. 226 W. 44th St., 866-987-9692; discoverytsx.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, 8am-2am; last elevator at 1:15. $23; $20 (seniors, 62+); $17

(6-12); free (under 5). 350 Fifth Ave. (34th St.), 212-736-3100; esbnyc.com Grand Central Terminal – This landmark masterpiece boasts a vast, and dramatic sunken central room, lit by huge windows and ornamented by a ceiling depicting the constellations of the zodiac and an information kiosk topped by an old clock set in the center of the main floor.42nd St & Park Ave., 212-532-4900; grandcentralterminal.com Gray Line Sightseeing Tours – Daily tours by open-top deluxe double-decker buses and luxury coaches including the ALL LOOPS TOUR, a 2-day ticket hop-on and off with 50+ stops from Times Square and Broadway to Harlem to Brooklyn. 777 Eighth Ave. btw. 47th & 48th Sts.; PABT, 42nd St. & Eighth Ave.; Times Square, Broadway btw. 46th & 47th Sts., 800-669-0051; newyorksightseeing.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 and the Financial Center. They also offer customized tours and hourly rates. Downtown Heliport (Pier 6 & the East River), 212-355-0801; heliny.com Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum – The renovated museum complex includes the 900-footlong 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. Ship-Shape: Nautical Scale Models (through 7/8); U.S. Army Birthday Celebration (6/14-16); Firefighter Appreciation Weekend (7/14-15); Space Shuttle Pavilion grand opening (7/19); Coast Guard Appreciation Day (8/5). 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 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 in 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. $36; $29 (4-12). 234 W. 42nd St. (Seventh-Eighth Aves.), 866-841-3505; nycwax.com

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National 9/11 Memorial – Expanded over about 8 acres of the 16-acre site, the memorial includes two acre-size square reflecting pools, featuring North America’s largest manmade waterfalls cascading down the eight sides of the pools. In the spaces the

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ONTHETOWN

towers previously occupied, there’s a cleared space for gatherings and special ceremonies called the “Memorial Grove,” and over 400 swamp white oaks including the “Survivor Tree,” a callery pear nursed back to health following the attacks. Advance visitor passes are required. To reserve a pass, visit 911memorial.org or call 212-266-5200 for groups of 10 or more. 1 Albany St. at Greenwich St. New York Water Taxi – Tours include the Hop-On/Hop-Off pass, with stops at Fulton Ferry Landing, South Street Seaport, Battery Park, Greenwich Village (Christopher St.), and West 44th St. 866-973-6998; nywatertaxi.com

Tribute WTC 9/11 Visitor Center – Recovered objects, photographs, oral stories, films and personal effects in five different galleries offer visitors the chance to pay respects to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, NYC terrorist attacks. Open Mon., Wed.-Sat., 10am-6pm, Tues., noon-6pm, Sun., noon-5pm. $15 adults, $10 seniors/ students, under 12 free. 120 Liberty St. (Greenwich-Church Sts.), 866-737-1184; tributewtc.org

World Yacht – Offering year-round dinner cruises featuring a four-course dinner, breathtaking views of the city skyline, music and entertainment. Brunch and lunch cruises sail from May-October. Special cruises include Father’s Day Brunch & Dinner Cruises (6/17) and the July 4th Fireworks Cruise (7/4). Pier 81, W. 41st St., 212-630-8100; worldyacht.com

NYC Freedom Tour – A unique land-and-water tour experience, and an economical way to see downtown Manhattan. Focusing on the Statue of Liberty and the WTC Memorial, the tour begins on a bus in Times Square and includes a boat cruise to see the Memorial, a bus tour of lower Manhattan with a drive across to Brooklyn’s Fulton Ferry Landing, and finishing with another boat cruise to see the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty. Tours depart at 9:30am, 11am & 12:30pm. 212-852-4821; onboardnewyorktours.com/nyc-freedom-tour/ 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 Radio City Music Hall – Get an exclusive look at the legendary hall. Daily, 11am-3pm. $19.95; seniors & under 12, $15. Tickets sold at Radio City on the day of the tour. 1260 Sixth Ave. (50th 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 Times Scare – This year-round, state-of-the-art, interactive haunted attraction in the heart of Times Square is the first of its kind in the nation. With live magic shows featuring illusionist Dan Sperry, a retail store, the Crypt Cafe, two bars, and more, Times Scare promises “an unforgettable night of shock illusion.” Open daily. 669 Eighth Ave. (42nd St.), 212-586-7829; timesscarenyc.com Top of the Rock – 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 while incorporating innovative features, with 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

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TEN

DININGNEW YORK

TOP restaurants

Molyvos

AI FIORI

Ai Fiori means “among the flowers” in Italian, and dining in this elegant restaurant is like being in a culinary Garden of Eden. This latest effort from chef/partner Michael White (Marea, Morini) honors the cuisine of the French and Italian Riviera and has earned a Michelin star and a threestar rating from The New York Times. The “flowers” theme carries through to the plates and table linen in an otherwise understated space, entered through a winding staircase from the lobby of the Hotel Setai. The bar area is a relaxed spot for a pre-meal cocktail (very Riviera!).

This long-running favorite near Carnegie Hall recently celebrated its 15th birthday with a dining room makeover that pays homage to the rocky coast lines and sandy beaches of Greece with elegant artistic line drawings on three walls of the dining room that recreate Greek island seacapes. On the lower level, near the cocktail area, there’s a new Family Corner, with framed photos of the Livanos family. Chef Jim Botsacos, a partner with the Livanos family in operating the restaurant, gives traditional dishes a modern spin with his “New Greek Cuisine.” (You may have spotted him talking about this recently on NBC’s Today.) You will also find the largest Greek wine list in the country here.

The chilled Zuppa di Zucchini is a creamy and refreshing first course, with paper thin rolled zucchini swirls, chunks of prawn, and touches of basil and lemon. Ligurian pasta—made without eggs and hand-rolled into squiggly shapes—forms the basis for a fabulous crustacean ragout called Trofie Nero. The trofie is made black with squid ink, paired with scallops, and dusted with spiced breadcrumbs. Calabrian chiles give this creamy and sensual dish its very subtle kick. Branzino, or Mediterranean sea bass, is a signature entrée and Chef de Cuisine P.J. Calapa pan sears it and serves it with sea beans, almond, and sauce Meuniere. It is crispy, tender, and delicious. Bouilliabaise, a classic Mediterranean fish stew, gets an elegant revamp here, and the saffron broth and rouille of chiles, garlic, breadcrumbs, and olive oil will take you there. Ai Fiori is in a hotel so it serves three meals daily, but make dinner reservations at least two weeks in advance.

Among the selection of Mezedes (small plates), don’t miss the Keftedes, spicy little meatballs of beef and lamb sauced with red wine, tomato, garlic, Greek oregano, and cumin. Horiatiki Salata is a refreshing treat served in a chilled shallow bowl with a block of feta cheese on top. This traditional salad is built around the just-picked ripe tomatoes from the farmers on Long Island and dressed in the chef’s own buttery-yetpeppery olive oil from olives grown in Lakonia.

Location 871 Seventh Avenue • 212-582-7500 • molyvos.com

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NYC

Entrées of whole grilled Mediterranean fish, such as Wild Lavraki (sea bass) and Fagri (pink snapper), are served simply with lemon and a bit of olive oil. The traditional Lamb Shank is custom carved in house, then marinated and braised in a clay pot. Grilled Baby Lamb Chops with roasted eggplant salad are a summer treat. Classics such as the Moussaka and Lahano Dolmades are always on the menu and this summer, in honor of the Greek leg of the 2012 Olympic torch, Botsacos is preparing dishes influenced by the regions through which it travels. Dinner daily; lunch Monday through Saturday; brunch Sunday. Location Setai Hotel, 400 Fifth Avenue • 212-613-8660 • aifiorinyc.com

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Mediterranean cuisine By Marian Betancourt

TABOON

FIORINI Lello Arpaia has been a fixture in New York’s restaurant world (Cellini, Scarlatti) since arriving from Naples decades ago. His newest location represents what he cares about most: providing his guests with comfort, a touch of romance, and incredibly good food. Fiorini means “little flower” in Italian, and it well describes this polished, understated gem amid the clamor of the city’s dining scene.

The Eastern Mediterranean—or Middleterranean—has come into its own in New York’s culinary scene, and one of the best experiences is Taboon, the Arabic word for “oven,” which is the first thing you see upon entering. Everything is cooked in the taboon, giving the air a “woodsy” perfume. Taboon is friendly and fun, and fills up fast with guests dining at tables as well as the bar. Haim Cohen, an Israeli celebrity chef (and related to the owners), counsels on the menu, which is beautifully executed here by Chef Jose Aguilar.

Scialatilli Amalfitani is a pasta dish with eggplant, baby shrimp, and lobster that is perfectly prepared to keep each morsel within it a tasty treat. The diced pieces of eggplant are first fried, then drained of oil so they remain crisp and meaty. In another first course, a small Mediterranean octopus is steamed to tenderness in its own juices with some tomatoes in a clay pot. The result is pure magical flavor. Acqua pazza means “crazy water” in Italian and Branzino Acqua Pazza was so named because the early fishermen cooked this fish in Mediterranean Sea water. Here, the water is not crazy, but the fish is crazy good with tender roasted tomatoes and a bit of olive oil. Try the Veal Scallopine prepared in white wine with truffle oil and fresh thyme or the Grilled Baby Chicken with roasted lemon sauce. Arpaia has come up with a lighter version of a classic dessert, a sort of do-it-yourself Baba au Rhum: a small cake filled with mascarpone cream is presented with a small snifter of rum, so you can pour as much (or little) as you like over the cake for a sublime dessert. Lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday; closed Sunday.

The puffy Taboon Baked Bread, halfway between focaccia and pizza, is brushed with olive oil and finished with rosemary, sage, and salt. Have it with some hummus, which includes a subtle jolt of jalapeño. An outstanding meze is the (very gently) Sautéed Calamari with sage and garlic served on a bed of shaved fennel and yogurt— so tender and so not Italian. It’s a lovely new taste experience. Sautéed cubes of goat milk halumi are the basis for a fresh, crisp salad with Israeli cucumbers (fewer seeds, more flavor), tomato, red onion, green pepper, fennel, kalamata olives, and oregano, dressed simply in lemon juice, olive oil, and a bit of salt. Grilled kebabs of ground lamb mixed with seasonings look like quenelle-shaped hamburger patties and are served over roasted eggplant with tahini, and fresh tomato, mint, and cilantro salad.

Location 773 Tenth Avenue • 212-713-0271 • website under construction

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A knockout dessert is Silan: vanilla ice cream layered with puffed rice and date honey sprinkled with caramelized pistachios and shredded halva. Enjoy this with the house tea, brewed from sage, mint, and lemon verbena, and served in Moroccan tea cups. Dinner daily; brunch Sunday. Location 209 East 56th Street • 212-308-0830 • fiorinirestaurantnyc.com

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DININGNEW YORK

TOP restaurants

LA PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS

This busy, convivial dining spot in Chelsea is named for the boulevard along the coast of Nice made famous by the throngs of 19th-century British tourists who strolled there. When you take your seat, look up to see an artistic rendering of that boulevard painted on the ceiling, complete with pebble paths, beach umbrellas, and a map of the Mediterranean. Nice is also the hometown of chef/ owner Alain Allegretti, who embraces the fresh, sunny flavors of his homeland. To get in the mood for a stroll on the Riviera, try the Lavender Lemonade cocktail of lavender-infused vodka, lavender honey, and fresh lemon.

PERA MEDITERRANEAN BRASSERIE You may think you are on Madison Avenue, but when you step into Pera, you are entering the kind of sophisticated restaurant you would find in Istanbul. An authentic open Turkish kitchen is like a stage in the back with the feel, flavors, and sounds of the eastern Mediterranean. An international wine list showcases wines from Turkey as well as other Mediterranean regions. Traditional Pidettes, fresh from the oven, are mini flatbreads, a Turkish pizza with toppings such as spinach and pine nuts. Among the mezes (appetizers), the Roasted Whipped Eggplant is smoky and comforting. The Lentil and Bulghur Tartare is delicious, as are the tender Homemade Grape Leaves that look like tiny sushi rolls. Salads are considered as meze and there’s a delicious Watermelon and Feta Salad served with a basil dressing for an exciting new taste combination and refresher before the main course. For one of the best lamb experiences you may ever have, try Lamb Adana, named for the Turkish city that created the ancient technique that removes all the meat and fat from the bones and recombines it with a spice mixture of sumac and onion. After marinating, the meat is pressed onto long skewers and grilled. The resulting kebabs are presented on house-made lavash, a flatbread made from dough rolled flat and slapped against the side of a hot oven, then baked just before serving. Tear off a piece of the bread and wrap it around some of the kebab with chopped onion, peppers, and tomatoes. Lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday; closed Sunday.

The Mussels Crostini, with fennel, almonds, and a touch of Pernod, will definitely prime your taste buds. The crisp crostini, the succulent tender mussel, and the lightly sautéed fennel ribbons leave you wanting more—and that’s the point. Provençal Fish Soup is made from a richly flavored stock and served with garlic croutons, Gruyère, and classic rouille. A summery Tomato Salad includes black olives, scallions, and basil. Bits of red and yellow pepper adorn the Riviera Style Cod Fish with sausage, crispy potatoes, basil, and olives. In summer, there are more menu items built around vegetables and fish, and you might even find Allegretti’s version of that famous dish from his hometown, Salade Niçoise.

Location 461 West 23rd Street • 212-255-7400 • lapromenadenyc.com

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Zucchini Pound Cake with olive oil gelato is a fine finish to a meal. There are several selections inspired by chocolate, as well as the traditional Riviera favorite, Baba au Rhum. Dinner daily; brunch on weekends. Location 303 Madison Avenue • 212-878-6301 • peranyc.com

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Mediterranean cuisine RED CAT

The Red Cat has been a beloved fixture in Chelsea since it opened in 1999. It is a warm and welcoming place where you can enjoy a meal with friends or grab a snack at the bar with its signature bowls of crisp radishes. There’s something about the ambiance, from the engaging entry under the red canopy to the wall sconces on the weathered white barn paneling, and the muted soundtrack of classic rock that makes it cozy and hip at the same time. It’s hard to explain, but it just feels good to be there. Like the Mediterranean cuisine owner/chef Jimmy Bradley’s favors, it’s uncomplicated.

THE LITTLE OWL The Little Owl is a tiny restaurant with a big reputation in a residential area of brownstones and tree-lined streets in the West Village. This cozy space on the ground floor of a corner building has two walls of glass and a tin ceiling brushed with gold. There are only 37 seats—and owner/chef Joey Campanero keeps a few open for neighborhood residents—so you need advance reservations. Campanaro’s cooking is straightforward, contemporary, and built around seasonal fresh local ingredients as well as a few imported specialty items. A disciple of Jimmy Bradley, he was executive chef at Bradley’s Tribeca restaurant, The Harrison, before opening his own place. He has created two famous meat dishes that never leave the menu. The very thick Big Pork Chop is seasoned with cayenne, curry, coriander, and cumin, and cooked medium rare to keep it juicy. It is presented with Parmesan butter beans and wild dandelion. The equally famous Gravy Meatball Slider is beef, veal, and pork cushioned on a tiny garlic roll. (There’s a delicious kick from the pecorino in the mix.) In summer, you may enjoy soft-shell crabs, or sardine filets, paired simply with snow peas and chili vinaigrette. Before he broils a whole fish, Campanaro likes to coat it with a pesto aioli (a garlicky Provençal mayonnaise) that creates a deliciously salty second skin to keep the flesh moist. The fish is served on a bed of roasted corn, English peas, and red onion. Fresh vegetables are abundant and there is a totally luscious heirloom tomato salad. Dinner daily; brunch on weekends.

Red Cat diners enjoy the freshest corn, tomatoes, beans, and lettuces from local farms. A quick Saute of Zucchini captures that fresh-from-the-garden flavor and is simply sprinkled with a few toasted almonds and grated pecorino cheese. Another appetizer or side is Bradley’s famous Tempura of Green Beans with sweet hot mustard. Bradley, who worked on fishing boats out of Rhode Island in his youth, reels in the freshest catch from local fishmongers. A Dijon Crab Cake with lemon-caper aioli set on some baby greens is a tasty way to begin a meal. Pan Roasted Cod is perfumed with saffron mussels, sweet sausage, pearl pasta, and some garlic bread to catch all the juice. Veal Milanese is served with a tri-color salad, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil.

Location 227 Tenth Avenue • 212-242-1122 • theredcat.com

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Pistachio Semifreddo is a dessert that never leaves the menu. Another winner is Roasted Fresh Figs with honey ice cream and pignoli rosemary biscotti. On your way out, take an apple from the barrel sitting next to the flower pots near the front door. Dinner daily; lunch Tuesday to Saturday. Location 90 Bedford Street • 212-741-4695 • thelittleowl.com

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DININGNEW YORK

TOP restaurants THALASSA

MORSO

Thalassa means “the sea,” and at this Tribeca fixture, it means the Mediterranean, which provides the inspiration and much of the fish for this seafood standout with three stars from Forbes. Fashioned from the former storehouse of owner Steve Makris’ family import business, it has two levels to accommodate 90 diners, as well as a climatecontrolled wine room and a cheese cave. The Greek influence is everywhere from the curved bar made of marble from the island of Thasos, to the handmade Iroko wooden tables from Mykonos, to the music on the telephone hold button, to the award-winning wine list.

This open, airy space with big yellow umbrellas on the spacious patio has a modern Mediterranean feel, although the only “sea” nearby is the East River. Owner Pino Luongo is a restaurant pioneer in New York and an early employer of Anthony Bourdain. (Luongo urged the now famous writer/ celebrity to get out of the kitchen and write a book or two.) For this new venture, Luongo’s executive chef is Tim Ryan, formerly of Picholine.

A signature appetizer is Diver Sea Scallops wrapped in kataifi filo with sheep’s milk, butter, and a yummy kalamata balsamic reduction. Fish arrives daily from local fishermen as well as direct from the Mediterranean via Federal Express. Chef Ralphael Abrahante is especially pleased when he can get red mullet, a bright red lean and firm-fleshed fish that has been a Mediterranean delicacy since ancient times. Sardines are a summer specialty marinated in lemon oil and served with micro arugula salad and a watermelon relish. Royal Dorado, or Tsipoura, is Mediterranean sea bream with a firm white flesh and mild flavor. Although it’s a seafood restaurant, Greeks would never be without lamb on the menu, such as the traditional Lamb Shank braised slowly in St. George wine sauce and served with lemon potatoes. A favorite dessert is the Manouri Baklava; layers of almonds, walnuts, and filo filled with manouri cheese mousse. Dinner daily; lunch weekdays.

Morso means “bite” in Italian and tutto means “the whole thing,” and these portion sizes apply to everything on the menu, although morso is bigger than a bite—it’s an appetizer-size portion. Carciofi is a wonderful artichoke salad with pickled fennel, olives, arugula, and ricotta, with citrus dressing and topped with a pile of crispy fried artichoke leaves. (These are as addictive as potato chips and much more delicious.)

Location 420 East 59th Street • 212-759-2706 • morso-nyc.com

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A standout is Spaghetti Vongole, a ragout of shelled white clams, white wine, and garlic sauce. The secret: tiny clams are briefly steamed and then the pasta is cooked in the clam water for intensity of flavor. (You might want to order tutto for this one.) Grilled Sardines with tomatoes, fennel, artichokes, and sun-dried tomato pesto make a lovely summer dish. Branzino is simply roasted and served with half a lemon to squeeze over the fish. Try the Coniglio (rabbit) braised with Chardonnay, garlic, and rosemary. For al fresco dining under those big yellow umbrellas, munch on Pizzetta: spring vegetable flatbread with grilled zucchini, eggplant, roasted peppers, tomatoes, and goat cheese. Dinner daily; lunch weekdays; brunch weekends. Location 179 Franklin Street • 212-941-7661 • thalassanyc.com

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American ABC Kitchen - Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s contemporary American restaurant inside ABC Carpet & Home features a locally sourced, globally artistic changing menu “passionately commited to offering the freshest organic and local ingredients possible.” ABC Carpet & Home, 35 E. 18th St., 212-475-5829; abckitchennyc.com 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 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 to enhance the bold flavors of his ingredients, employing a wood-burning oven, a rotisserie, and a grill to perfect his earthy, inventive American fare. 25 W. 56th St., 212-332-0500; beaconnyc.com

Blue Smoke - This bustling restaurant puts the “soul” back into soul food. They’ve got spareribs cooked Kansas City-style (saucy) and St. Louisstyle (marbled), as well as pulled-pork and Texas beef-brisket sandwiches. Make a night of it—lick the sauce off your fingers and head downstairs for live music at the Jazz Standard. 116 E. 27th St., 212-447-7733; bluesmoke.com

B. Smith’s - Fine American cuisine with Southern influences, located on Restaurant Row in the Theater District/Times Square area, courtesy of the popular television host. The Albert Rivera Organ Trio performs every Friday and Saturday night, 8:30-11:30pm and during a live jazz brunch on Sundays from 11:30am to 3pm. 320 W. 46th St., 212-315-1100; bsmith.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 threecheese-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 some 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

Bryant Park Grill - Overlooking Bryant Park and set behind the landmarked New York Public Library, this American-style grill, with seasonal outdoor patio and roof-top dining, features an elegant and sophisticated dining room ideal for a romantic dinner or a festive party. Whether you’re in the mood for light fare or a full-course meal, the restaurant’s high-end, traditional menu is sure to delight. 25 W. 40th St., 212-840-6500; arkrestaurants.com

Long regarded as one of New York City’s superb “old-school” French dining rooms (it just turned 45 in April), the refined and luxurious Le Périgord is one of the longestrunning four-star operations under the same management. The menu blends classical French techniques with a lighter contemporary touch, natural flavors, sauces and spices, and high-quality produce. Entrées (subject to change) include Filet d’Agneau a la Barigoule (loin filet of lamb “au jus” with artichoke hearts and carrots) and Carré d’Agneau Rôti á la Croûte de Thym Frais (roasted rack of lamb with a fresh thyme crust). They have served U.S. Presidents, world leaders, and showbiz royalty—and they will treat you just as they have treated them. Jacket and tie required. 405 E. 52nd St., 212-755-6244; leperigord.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 $30 three-course prix-fixe dinner. 150 E. 59th St., 212-705-3800; burkeinthebox.com

Caviar Russe is the place in New York City to get your hands on the finest caviar imported to the United States. In addition to their retail boutique—which offers a wide range of caviar and accessories, from Platinum Osetra caviar to Premium Pacific Sturgeon caviar and gift pack pairings for 1 to 10 people—the restaurant component offers dinner a la carte, crudo/raw bar, and a seven-course tasting menu. The tasting menu includes King Crab, Hamachi, Sea Urchin and Smoked Caviar Risotto, Turbot, Milk Fed Veal, Sheeps Milk Ossau Vielle, and a Coconut dessert, courtesy of Executive Chef Christopher Agnew. Be sure to check out the wide variety of caviar delicacies on their website, where you can purchase just about anything your roe-loving heart might desire. 538 Madison Ave. (54th-55th Sts.), 2nd Floor, 212-980-5908; caviarrusse.com

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Promenade PICKS

La Silhouette Located in Hell’s Kitchen, La Silhouette’s very creative bill of fare is not nouveau, nouvelle, or traditional, but modern French of a sort encountered every day in Paris. Not yet two years old, the restaurant has already made its mark on the New York City culinary scene, winning a 2011 Concierge Choice Award for “Best New Restaurant” and earning a coveted “Z” in the 2012 edition of Zagat, which refers to restaurants that have received their “highest ratings, popularity, and importance.” La Silhouette also received an outstanding 26 for food, 21 for décor and 25 for service.

MEGU MEGU means “blessing” in Japanese, and if you’ve sampled the modern Japanese cuisine at either of their Manhattan locations (the original in Tribeca, or the one near the UN in Midtown), you know the name is well deserved.

Open for lunch Mon.-Fri., 11:30am-2:30pm; brunch Sat. & Sun., 11:30am-2:30pm; and dinner Sun.-Mon., 5-10pm, Tues. until 11pm, and Fri. & Sat. until midnight. NYC

[ The dining room at Megu Midtown ]

Owners Sally Chironis and Tito Rahman, alums of NYC’s classic La Bernardin, manage the front of the house while executive chef Matthew Tropeano (formerly of La Grenouille) helms the kitchen. And the food is where La Silhouette really shines. Appetizers include a Poached Farm Egg with “truffled” mascarpone polenta, oyster mushrooms, and procini coulis; Long Island Fluke Tartare with American caviar, citrus vinaigrette, and poppy seed flatbread; and Veal Sweetbreads with butternut squash agnolotti, pumpkin seeds, and sage. Entrées include a Wild Mushroom Risotto with truffle oil and Parmigiano; Lamb Chop and Lamb Shank Crèpinette with broccoli rabe, sweet potatoes, fennel-lamb sausage, and rosemary jus; Filet and Beef Short Rub with Yukon potato purée, roasted shallots, and burgundy beef jus; and Butter Poached Lobster & Bass with celery root-apple “slaw” and leek fondue and sauce Américaine. A five-course tasting menu is available by request ($95/$150 per person with wine pairing; entire table only).

Location 362 West 53rd Street • 212-581-2400 • la-silhouettenyc.com

The ambiance and decor at MEGU New York and MEGU Midtown take cues from both traditional and modern Japanese design, with Yasumichi Morita of Japan’s Glamorous Co. conceiving the unique interiors for both locations. The two-tiered, 13,000-square-foot downtown space—which just received a Six Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences—blends ultra-modern design with ancient Japanese details. In the glass-walled Kimono lounge, stacked bolts of antique kimono fabric cover the walls, while white leather banquettes provide an intimate setting for pre-dinner cocktails. Below, a giant temple bell, or bonsho, and an ice Buddha sculpture provide the centerpiece for the main dining area. The intimate midtown location is designed so that everything points from the ceiling to the floor, with lamp pillars, family crest emblems, open sushi and Teppan-yaki kitchens, and a crystal chandelier. A similar harmony is reflected in the menu, which utilizes both authentic and avant-garde ingredients. There is no star chef at MEGU; it’s the food and that takes center stage. Signature dishes include: MEGU Original Crispy Asparagus; Salmon Tartare; Kobe Beef Carpaccio with Basil; Foie Gras in Crispy Kobe Beef Croquettes; MEGU Kobe Beef Slices “Ishiyaki”; and Tajima Kobe Beef Skewers.

NYC

MEGU Midtown is open for lunch Mon.-Fri., 11:30am-2:30pm and dinner 5:30-10:30pm (until 11pm Thurs.-Sat.). MEGU New York is open for dinner 5:30-11pm (until midnight Thurs.-Sat.). Locations 62 Thomas St. • 845 UN Plaza (47th St. & 1st Ave.) • 212-964-7777 • megurestaurants.com

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David Burke Kitchen - The latest addition to the famed restaurateur’s New York City empire, located in SoHo. Focusing on wholesome, unique and modern American food presented in the creative and whimsical style that is Burke’s trademark, the Thomas Schlesser-designed restaurant blends the cool, industrial simplicity of an airy loft with the rustic warmth of a country barn. The James New York, 23 Grand St. (Thompson St.), 212-201-9119; davidburkekitchen.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 and angry lobster “cocktail”—make their way through the dining room you’ll see that Burke’s flair for presentation is matched only by the food’s outstanding taste. 133 E. 61st St., 212-813-2121; davidburketownhouse.com Doral Arrowwood - Westchester County’s Doral Arrowwood hotel features three dining options. Dine al fresco at Mulligan’s Outdoor Cafe, which overlooks the ninth green and features salads, light dishes, and grilled specialties. The PUB has a wrap-around bar and fireplace as well as 14 highdefinition flat-screen TVs, pool tables, dartboards,

and a dance floor. The light, airy Atrium serves buffet-style lunches and à la carte dinners. 975 Anderson Hill Road, Rye Brook, NY, 914-939-5500; doralarrowwood.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 The Four Seasons - A spectacularly beautiful restaurant serving excellent American seasonal specialties. As seasons change, so do the menu and decor. The restaurant has two dining rooms: the Pool Room and with its trees and marble pool, and the wood-paneled Grill Room. 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 Gilt - The New York Palace’s elegant and refined yet striking and futuristic restaurant, where

Stationed in one of the most iconic spaces in New York City—the landmarked Hotel des Artistes—The Leopard at des Artistes has ambiance to spare, with Howard Chandler Christy’s nine “Fantasy Scenes with Naked Beauties” oil-on-canvas murals situated throughout the renovated space. But the food is even more remarkable than the atmosphere. Owned by husband-andwife team Gianfranco and Paula Bolla Sorrentino, with a kitchen headed by Chef Vito Gnazzo, the menu is rooted in the area once known as “The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies” (mid 1800s) and in the traditions of the Italian regions of Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Apulia, Sardinia, and Sicily. The result is everyday food done with respect to Southern Italian cultural traditions, absolute quality of ingredients, modern research, and outstanding service. 1 W. 67th St., 212-787-8767; theleopardnyc.com

contemporary, honey-colored leather accented with white man-made materials provide harmonious contrast to the 19th-century details. The New American menu offers transcendent twists on the classics. 455 Madison Ave. (50th St.), 212-891-8100; giltnewyork.com Gotham Bar and Grill - The highly acclaimed haute cuisine of this dynamic, trendy downtown restaurant reflects the Post-Modernist, converted warehouse setting. Executive chef/co-owner 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 Gramercy Tavern - This classic American tavern offers extraordinary cuisine and hospitality in a historic landmark, featuring contemporary American fare with French and Italian overtones. 42 E. 20th St., 212-477-0777; gramercytavern.com The Harrison - This Tribeca favorite exudes the aura of a long-time neighborhood haunt, serving comfort food with a downtown twist. 355 Greenwich St. (Harrison St.), 212-274-9310; theharrison.com

Westchester County’s Doral Arrowwood hotel not only features 114 acres of rolling hills, open meadows, ponds, and a nine-hole, Robert von Hagge-designed golf course, but also three excellent dining options. You can dine al fresco at Mulligan’s Outdoor Cafe, which overlooks the ninth green and features salads, light dishes, and grilled specialties. The quintessential pub experience is offered at The PUB with a wrap-around bar and fireplace as well as 14 high-definition flat-screen TVs, pool tables, dartboards, and a dance floor. The light, airy Atrium serves buffet-style lunches and à la carte dinners amid spectacular views through floor-toceiling windows, an award-winning brunch, and the Saturday Night Buffet Dinner Dance. 975 Anderson Hill Road, Rye Brook, NY, 914-939-5500; doralarrowwood.com

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DININGNEWYORK

Inside Park at St. Bart’s - A space built across the famous Terrace at St. Bartholomew’s Church, with intricate, Byzantine-like decorative stenciling, true to the immense room’s original colors, motifs, and craftsmanship, painstakingly replicated on the 30-foot ceiling, as well as on the walls and overhanging balcony. Executive Chef Matthew Weingarten oversees the ever-changing contemporary American menu. 109 E. 50th St., 212-593-3333; insideparknyc.com The Libertine - Celebrity chef Todd English’s clubby restaurant and bar with a small dining room and a rustic pub fare menu. A popular stop for the neighborhood’s Financial District workers, with a menu full of imaginative house cocktails. 15 Gold St. (Platt St.), 212-785-5950; thelibertinerestaurant.com The Lion - Founding chef and partner of the Waverly Inn, John DeLuci’s restaurant offers his unique, Italian-American take on classic cuisine, which has attracted both celebrities and serious food fans. 62 W. 9th St., 212-353-8400; thelionnyc.com Northern Spy Food Co. - A small and inviting East Village restaurant with a menu built around seasonality, accessibility, and quality, using locally-grown or -produced ingredients whenever possible. The beers come entirely from the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions, while the well-curated wine list includes many New York State-based selections meant for pairing with the food. 511 E. 12th St., 212-228-5100; northernspyfoodco.com 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

The Four Seasons Restaurant is one of New York City’s most iconic restaurants, and over the last 50 years, in the same location on East 52nd Street, it has flourished as a dining destination and one of the city’s premier power lunch venues. Offering awardwinning seasonal American cuisine created from locally grown ingredients, the Four Seasons offers two dining rooms: the Pool Room is airy and romantic, with a bubbling marble pool and canopy of trees; while the Grill Room has soaring two-story windows, French walnut-paneled walls, and the restaurant’s legendary wooden bar. 99 E. 52nd St. (btw. Lexington and Park Aves.), 212-754-9494; fourseasonsrestaurant.com

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The Park Room - Exceptional nouveau American cuisine—courtesy of executive chef Anthony Marra—and stunning views of Central Park are the order of the day at Helmsley Park Lane’s The Park Room, making for a quintessential New York experience. The dinner menu currently features entrées such as baked black sea bass, a five-spice duck breast, roast bone-in pork loin, and organic pork chops. Helmsley Park Lane, 36 Central Park So. btw. Fifth & Sixth Aves., 212-521-6655; helmsleyparklane.com Per Se - Luxurious in its stunning views of Central Park from each table, its décor of dark woods and glittering metal surfaces and its incomparable menu featuring caviar, lobster, foie gras, and Kobe beef. Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle (60th St.), 4th Floor, 212-823-9335; perseny.com The Red Cat - This popular neighbor-

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hood bistro—the creation of chef/owner Jimmy Bradley—features executive chef/partner Bill McDaniel’s straightforward presentations and intense flavors such as roasted cod with savory, shiitake, sugar snaps, and Champagne tomato butter. The spot lives up to its sassy name with sporty red banquettes to match the innovative American plates. 227 Tenth Ave. (23rd St.), 212-242-1122; theredcat.com

Burger,” The National in midtown Manhattan features modern bistro dishes by renowned Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and his longtime associate and Iron Chef America sous chef, Paul Corsentino. Their philosophy of selecting

perfectly sourced ingredients and setting them into unexpected combinations results in dishes that are not only fresh but accessible for all occasions. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the restaurant reflects the timeless sophistication of

Red Rooster - Renowned chef/restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson tries his hand at comfort food celebrating the roots of American cuisine and the diverse culinary traditions of its Harlem location. Named in honor of the legendary Harlem speakeasy. 310 Lenox Ave. (125th St.), 212-792-9001; redroosterharlem.com The River Cafe - One of the world’s most famous views combined with one of the most glamorous and romantic restaurants creates a premier dining destination for discriminating foodies as well as heads of state and celebrities. The cuisine, desserts, and outstanding wine list more than live up to the spectacular waterfront ambiance. 1 Water St. at the East River, Brooklyn, 718-522-5200; rivercafe.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 2 West - Anelegant, French-American eatery with park views, on the waterfront. Chef James Dangler leads a menu of flavorful and classic comfort foods including lobster bisque, seared jumbo sea scallops, braised short ribs, Alaskan halibut, and truffle Parmesan fries. Ritz-Carlton, Battery Park, 2 West St., 212-344-0800; ritzcarlton.com Union Square Cafe - By day, one of the hottest business-lunch spots in town; by night, a popular bistro. Owner Danny Meyer, chef Michael Romano, and executive chef Carmen Quagliata oversee this hit, serving American cuisine with Italian soul. 21 E. 16th St. (Union Sq. West-Fifth Ave.), 212-243-4020; unionsquarecafe.com The Waverly Inn - Graydon Carter’s toughto-get-into, low-lit celebrity favorite featuring traditional American fare, such as salmon tartare, Dover sole, and the popular “Waverly Burger.” 16 Bank St. (Waverly Pl.), 212-243-7900

AMERICAN BISTRO The National - Known for its signature “Ugly

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Europe’s grand cafes with cozy distressed leather banquettes and vintage cafe tables. The National also features five private dining rooms for more intimate affairs. 557 Lexington Ave. (50th St.), 212-715-2400; thenationalnyc.com

ARGENTINEAN Buenos Aires - Known for their uncompromising choice of the finest cuts of beef and the freshest vegetables—high quality food at reasonable prices in a charming, warm, cozy atmosphere. 513 E. 6th St. (Ave. A-Ave. B), 212-228-2775; buenosairesnyc.com

BELGIAN Brabant - New York’s largest authentic Belgian restaurant, with noted Executive Chef Armand Vanderstigchel presiding over dishes such as: Rack of Lamb Provençal, Pistachio Crusted Salmon, Pan-Seared Scallops Zeebrugge, Steak Frites, Short Rib Carbonnade Flamande, and more classics. Check out the large selection of Belgian beers—10 on tap, 50 bottled. 316 E. 53rd St., 212-510-8588; brabantbelgianbrasserie.com

CHINESE Chin Chin - One of the city’s premier destinations for haute Chinese cuisine, using ingredients prepared with Asian techniques and spices. Specialties include the Grand Marnier prawns and minced squab in lettuce wraps. 216 E. 49th St., 212-888-4555; chinchinny.com Lychee House - “Modern Chinese” inspired by contemporary culinary practices and ranging from comfort food like sesame chicken, to more exotic culinary experiences. Dim Sum available on evenings and weekends. 141 E. 55th St. (Lexington-Third Aves.), 212-753-3900; lycheehouse.com Red Farm - Dim sum master chef Joe Ng and Chinese food expert Ed Schoenfeld bring a “greenmarket sensibility” to modern and inventive Chinese food. 529 Hudson St. (Charles-W. 10th Sts.), 212-792-9700; redfarmnyc.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 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

DELIS

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Carnegie Deli - For the truly robust appetite in search of the quintessential New York City eating experience, the Carnegie has been offering delicious gigantic sandwiches in the hotel and Theatre 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

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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 located on the Lower East Side 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

La Silhouette - The casually sophisticated La Silhouette’s very creative bill of fare is not nouveau, nouvelle, or traditional, but modern French of a sort encountered every day in Paris. With a 26 Zagat rating, whether you select from

the world-class 5-course tasting menu or dine a la carte, you won’t be disappointed. Winner of the 2011 Concierge Choice Award for Best New Restaurant in NYC. 362 W. 53rd St. (8th-9th Aves.), 212-581-2400; la-silhouettenyc.com

French/French Bistro Balthazar - A magnetic dining scene, filled to the brim with luminaries from the art, movie, theatre, and fashion worlds and stalwart nightlifers in a transplanted Parisian-brasserie-like atmosphere. Traditional bistro fare is served from breakfast through late-night dinner, with an extensive wine list, a raw seafood bar, and breads and pastries from Balthazar bakery. 80 Spring St. (BroadwayCrosby St.), 212-965-1414; balthazarny.com Brasserie 8 1/2 - A delicate fusion of creativity and comfort, featuring a world-class art collection, haute French cuisine, and a plush atmosphere, complemented by Latin- and Asianinfluenced dishes and raw bar. 9 W. 57th St., 212-829-0812; patinagroup.com Corton - Legendary chef Drew Nieporent has reinvented and re-imagined his long-adored Tribeca mainstay with new decor, a new name, and a new chef, Paul Liebrandt, who brings his revolutionary molecular-gastronomy skills to reinvent French classics. 239 West Broadway (White St.), 212-219-2777; cortonnyc.com Daniel - With a four-star rating by The New York Times, Daniel marries neighborhood hominess with a contemporary French menu inspired by the seasons and the market, in a Renaissanceinspired dining room. 60 E. 65th St., 212-2880033; danielnyc.com DB Bistro Moderne - Daniel Boulud’s casual yet trendy midtown spot -- NYC’s top French bistro according to Zagat -- is known for their DB Burger, a sirloin burger filled with braised short ribs, foie gras, and black truffles that’s earned its reputation. 55 W. 44th St., 212-391-2400; danielnyc.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

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Chef/partner Jim Botsacos, along with chef David Arias, has worked diligently to create an authentic menu that includes the spectrum of Italian cuisine at Abboccato. Abboccato, meaning “pleasing to the mouth” in Italian, features all the classic and recognizable meals and appetizers native to Italy, including Casunzie, a half-moon ravioli filled with beets, gorgonzola and tossed with Italian butter and poppy seeds. They also offer a traditional Chicchetti menu, comprised of small, sharable plates, and includes dishes such as wild mushroom flatbread, served with truffle cheese and Robiola ricotta. 136 W. 55th St., 212-265-4000; abboccato.com

Le Périgord - Long regarded as one of New York City’s superb old-school French dining rooms (it just turned 45 in April, 2012), this refined and luxurious gem is one of the longest-running four-star operations under the same management. The menu blends classical French techniques with a lighter contemporary touch, natural flavors, sauces and spices, and high-quality produce. Jacket and tie required. 405 E. 52nd St., 212-755-6244; leperigord.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 as a Parisian steakhouse meets New York City tavern. 113 MacDougal St. (Bleecker St.), 212-475-3850; minettatavernny.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. Operated by Danny Meyer. 11 W. 53rd St., 212-333-1220; themodernnyc.com

Known for its signature “Ugly Burger,” The National in midtown Manhattan features modern bistro dishes by renowned Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and his longtime associate and Iron Chef America sous chef, Paul Corsentino. Their philosophy of selecting perfectly sourced ingredients and setting them into unexpected combinations results in dishes that are not only fresh but accessible for all occasions. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the restaurant reflects the timeless sophistication of Europe’s grand cafes with cozy distressed leather banquettes and vintage cafe tables. The National also features five private dining rooms for more intimate affairs. 557 Lexington Ave. (50th St.), 212-715-2400; thenationalnyc.com

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 wonderfully 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, 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 Pastis - An unassuming restaurant enjoyed by everyday people and movers and shakers. The mood of bohemian chic is carried out in the décor, and Executive Chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson and Chef de Cuisine Pascal Le Seac’h prepare a menu that combines hearty Provençal dishes with bistro fare. 9 Ninth Ave. (Little W. 12th St.), 212-929-4844; pastisny.com

Located in the Theatre District, Mr. Robata’s sushi pairs premium ingredients with inventive twists, like chopped o-toro with mango, or salmon with zucchini tempura. Their signature robata dishes bring the centuries-old open-hearth grilling of rural Japan into the contemporary dining scene through flourishes of French cuisine—like their duck breast and foie gras, served with a warm strawberry sauce—and hints of classic American comfort food, like in their wagyu sliders. Open until 3am Thurs.-Sat., 2am Mon.-Wed., and until midnight on Sun. 1674 Broadway (52nd-53rd Sts.), 212-757-1030; mrrobata.com

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Triomphe - Offering a warm and comfortable atmosphere, both stylish and subtle, and a diverse menu of French American cuisine with an international flair. Iroquois Hotel, 49 W. 44th St., 212-453-4233; triomphe-newyork.com

GREEK Molyvos - Ouzo flows freely and the baklava is piled high at this authentic, newly renovated

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Greek spot. A stunning atmosphere doesn’t prepare you for the food to come: don’t leave without trying the grilled baby octopus or cabbage doulmades, and moussaka. 871 Seventh Ave. (55-56 Sts.), 212-582-7500; molyvos.com

Indian Darbar - Reviewers and patrons consistently give high marks to this cozy, bi-level restaurant and lounge located on the East Side. Zagat rated, Darbar is a superb choice for Indian food with great ambience and service. A lavish $12.95 lunch buffet with new and delicious dishes is served every day, 11:30am-4pm 152 E. 46th St. (3-Lexington Aves.), 212-681-4500; darbarny.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 Utsav Festive Indian Cuisine - This upscale Indian restaurant in Times Square provides relaxed dining in a spacious, serene setting. Their 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

Blaue Gans - Renowned for its Austro-German fare, including traditional Wiener Schnitzel, Kavelierspitz, and a selection of different sausages. Bavarian beers on tap, and dessert specialties such as Apple Strudel, Salzburger Nockerl, and assorted cheeses. Located in the heart of Tribeca. 139 Duane St. (West Broadway), 212-571-8880; kg-ny.com

INTERNATIONAL and ECLECTIC

Markt - This Brussels brasserie showcases the country’s cuisine and beer, in a cozy Flemishinspired dining room, relying on simplicity, freshness, and subtle combinations rather than three-alarm seasonings. 676 Sixth Ave. (21st St.), 212- 727-3314; www.marktrestaurant.com

Alcala - The bold tastes of the Basque area of Spain are typified by dishes like a stew of tuna fish and potatoes and desalted codfish in a sauce of dry red pepper and onion. The cozy dining room expands to include a beautiful open-air patio for warm-weather visits. 342 E. 46th St., 212-370-1866; alcalarestaurant.com

The Spotted Pig - Chef and co-owner April Bloomfield presides over this West Village favorite’s eclectic menu of seasonal British and Italian fare, which uses local ingredients whenever possible. Kitchen open until 2am nightly. 314 W. 11th St., 212-620-0393; thespottedpig.com

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Wallsé - Austrian cuisine and wild game are the order of the day here, at chef Kurt Gutenbrunner’s elegant restaurant that has quickly become a favorite among NYC foodies and West Villagers, offering modern interpretations of classical Viennese cuisine. Menu favorites include the veal goulash, and other Austrian favorites such as tafelspitz and Wiener schnitzel. 344 W. 11th St., 212-352-2300; wallserestaurant.com

Italian Abboccato - “True Italian cuisine in the heart of Manhattan,” with time-honored Italian recipes elevated through the talent and techniques of their chefs. Featuring plentiful first- and second/pasta-course options, and a secondi platti list that includes fresh Arctic char, lamb chops, whole branzino, and veal sweetbreads. 136 W. 55th St., 212-265-4000; abboccato.com Bice Ristorante - A sumptuous combination of traditional and new trends in Italian cuisine—with dishes such as tagliolini con aragosta, ossobucco, and costoletta di vitello, and tiramisu della Bice—with an extensive wine selection and an elegant-casual atmosphere, it makes for a memorable dining experience. 7 E. 54th St., 212-688-1999; bicenewyork.com Casa Lever - “Milan meets Manhattan” at this new restaurant from the team behind Sant Ambroeus. The atmosphere is stunning—how could it not be, located in Lever House, a masterpiece of modern architecture, and with modern art adorning the walls? The food is classic Milanese Italian, and the level of service is timeless. 390 Park Ave. (53rd St.), 212-888-2700; casalever.com La Masseria - “A farmhouse in the middle of Manhattan,” offering classic dishes from the Puglia region of Italy, utilizing the freshest natural ingredients for simple, authentic pastas, risottos, and meat and fish dishes. The warm, inviting decor blends rural Italian style, nostalgia and charm, complementing the cuisine and extensive wine list. 235 W. 48th St., 212-582-2111; lamasserianyc.com The Leopard at des Artistes - Located in one of the most iconic spaces in New York City—the landmarked Hotel des Artistes, built at the turn of the 20th century, and the former home of the renowned Café des Artistes—and serving everyday food done with respect to Southern Italian cultural traditions, absolute quality of ingredients, modern research, and outstanding service. 1 W. 67th St., 212-787-8767; theleopardnyc.com

Nestled in Manhattan’s Midtown West neighborhood, just a block away from the esteemed Carnegie Hall, Molyvos has been known for serving soulful Greek cuisine since 1997. Named for the traditional seaside village on the Greek island of Lesvos, Molyvos takes its guests on a multi-sensory journey to the Aegean Sea and all of its bounty and beauty via menus by acclaimed Executive Chef Jim Botsacos and the largest all-Greek wine list in the US. Molyvos underwent an extensive renovation in January 2012, unveiling a new design that recalls the islands of Greece. With its clean blue, gray, and white palette, it pays homage to the rocky coast lines with sandy beaches, charming villages, white-washed houses, and bright blue skies that are emblematic of Greece. 871 Seventh Ave. (55th-56th Sts.), 212-582-7500; molyvos.com

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Locanda Verde - A casual, energetic neighborhood Italian taverna in Tribeca serving celebrated chef Andrew Carmellini’s soul-satisfying riffs on Italian cooking. 377 Greenwich St. (North Moore-Greenwich St.), 212-925-3797; locandaverdenyc.com Marea - Chef Michael White 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 MODA - A chic, sophisticated eatery for rustic Italian fare, MODA, Italian for “style,” offers a sophisticated yet friendly dining atmosphere, and an outdoor patio that lies beneath a three-story glass canopy overlooking 52nd Street. Flatotel, 135 W. 52nd St., 212-887-9880; flatotel.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

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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

service. Kitano Hotel, 66 Park Ave. (38th St.), 212-885-7111; kitano.com/dining/hakubai Inakaya - The first New York City outpost of the renowned eatery in Roppongi, Tokyo, located near

Times Square. 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 at the restaurant is larger than life, from the shouts that greet

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 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 PizzArte - A showcase for authentic Neapolitan cuisine and contemporary art, offering cuisine and pizzas prepared using simple, high quality ingredients in accordance with the finest culinary traditions of Naples. Authentic dishes include polipetti alla luciana (with baby octopus), homemade pasta maccaronara (a specialty from Avellino) with seafood, and pasta alla genovese, an onion & meat sauce that’s slowly cooked for hours. 69 W. 55th St., 212-247-3936; pizzarteny.com Remi - Remi, created by renowned 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 New York City, if not the entire U.S. 145 W. 53rd St., 212-581-4242; remi-ny.com

Japanese and sushi Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill - 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. 119 Sullivan St. (Spring-Prince Sts.), 212-3430404; 308 W. 58th St., 212-397-0404; blueribbonrestaurants.com BondSt Sushi - This high-end Japanese restaurant focuses on the finest and freshest delicacies of the sea. They boast one of the most extensive sake menus in the city, along with their own saketinis, available in the cozy, candle-lit lounge downstairs, or more formal dining areas upstairs. 6 Bond St. (Broadway-Lafayette St.), 212-777-2500; bondstrestaurant.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 Japanese tea ceremony. Both the dishes and food change with the seasons. The elegant, comfortable Tatami rooms feature perfect presentation and flawless

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you when you enter to the enormous dining bar to the elaborate costumes worn by 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 MEGU - MEGU means “blessing” in Japanese, and if you’ve sampled the modern Japanese cuisine at either of their Manhattan locations (the original in Tribeca, or the one near the UN in Midtown), you know the name is well deserved. The menu utilizes both authentic and avant-garde ingredients. Trump World Tower, 845 UN Plaza (47th St.); 62 Thomas St., 212-964-7777; megurestaurants.com Mr. Robata - Mr. Robata’s sushi pairs premium ingredients with inventive twists, like chopped o-toro with mango, or salmon with zucchini tempura. Their signature robata dishes bring the centuries-old open-hearth grilling of rural Japan into the contemporary New York culinary scene through flourishes of French cuisine and hints of classic American comfort food. 1674 Broadway (52nd-53rd Sts.), 212-757-1030; mrrobata.com Ninja New York - A one-of-a-kind, entertaining dining experience featuring a recreated 18th-century Japanese ninja village and high-end contemporary Japanese cuisine. 25 Hudson St. (Reade-Duane Sts.), 212-274-8500; ninjanewyork.com 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; noburestaurants.com Riingo - The perfect balance of American comfort and Japanese minimalism is achieved at this contemporary fusion restaurant. A stark white sushi bar complements the gray marble liquor bar and dark woodwork throughout the room, bathed in warm lighting and accented with tall, lavish plants. The Alex Hotel, 205 E. 45th St., 212-867-4200; riingo.com

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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

KOREAN Bann - Young Choi, owner of Woo Lae Oak, got even more creative with Bann, the city’s highest-rated Korean restaurant according to Zagat. 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., 212-5824446; bannrestaurant.com Jungsik - Chef Jungsik Yim presents a modern interpretation of contemporary, fine dining Korean cuisine. Open for dinner Monday through Saturday. 2 Harrison St. (Hudson St.), 212-219-0900; jungsik.kr

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 El Parador Café - NYC’s oldest—and one of the most authentic—Mexican restaurant. Recommended dishes include the mole poblano, Mexico’s national dish with a halfchickn stewed in a complex, multi-layered sauce with over 24 ingredients. Lauded for having the best margaritas by NY Press, the best ceviche by The Times, and named the city’s number one Mexican restaurant in NYC by Open Table diners. 325 E. 34th St., 212-679-6812; elparadorcafe.com Rosa Mexicano - Upscale Mexican cuisine in a stylish and festive atmosphere. The David Rockwell-designed Lincoln Center space

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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

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; aquavit.org Vandaag - Inspired by the culture and cuisine of Northern Europe—especially Denmark and Holland—this farm-to-table restaurant utilizes ingredients from the Hudson River Valley for their inventive dishes, courtesy of Executive Chef,

Phillip Kirschen-Clark. 103 Second Ave. (6th St.), 212-253-0470; vandaagnyc.com

Seafood Blue Water Grill - This majestic bank redux is just the thing for those seeking fresh raw-bar delicacies and entrées. 31 Union Square West (16th St.), 212-675-9500; bluewatergrillnyc.com Caviar Russe - This jewel box boite is one of America’s largest caviar importers, and they let you taste the caviar you are buying. In addition to the retail component, which offers gift boxes and much more, their restaurant offers a tasting menu, dinner a la carte, raw bar, and more. 538 Madison Ave. (54th-55th Sts.), 2nd Floor, 212-980-5908; caviarrusse.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. In addition to the grand dining room, Oceana recently introduced a renovated café area, transforming the former raw bar into a space at which to enjoy a drink and a variety of the finest oysters and other small plates. 120 W. 49th St., 212-759-5941; oceanarestaurant.com

SPANISH/TAPAS El Cid - Specializing in traditional Spanish hot & cold tapas like Paella Valenciana, Grilled Steak, Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, Cured Spanish Ham, and fresh, hard-to-find seafood favorites like Grilled

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DININGNEWYORK

Whole Sardines, Octopus, Fresh Dressed Anchovy Fillets in Olive Oil/Chopped Garlic, Mussels & Clams. 174 Eighth Ave (18th-19th Sts.), 212-524-6818; elcidnyc.com Tio Pepe - Open since 1970 in Greenwich Village, Tio Pepe combines two surprisingly dissimilar cuisines— Spanish and Mexican—and offers a lively bar scene, a sidewalk cafe, Latino music, and a main dining room with a skylight garden patio room, chandeliers, and stone and brick walls. The fresh guacamole is made to order in tableside stone bowls, the corn chips are warm, the salsa is snappy, and jumbo pitchers of margaritas and excellent sangria are the order of the day. 168 W. 4th St., 212-242-9338, 212-242-6480; tiopepenyc.com Oceana has been delivering bold takes on contemporary American seafood for more than two decades. After an illustrious 18-year run at its original location in a four-story Manhattan townhouse, the premier seafood restaurant completed its move to a modern and elegant space just west of Rockefeller Center in August 2009. The fine seasonal and globally inspired cuisine has earned the restaurant many accolades, including a Michelin star five years running. In addition to the grand dining room, Oceana recently introduced a renovated café area, transforming the former raw bar into a space where you can enjoy a drink and a variety of the finest oysters and other small plates. “At Oceana, we offer guests an array of dining diversity and options,” Managing Partner Paul McLaughlin says. “If you want to have a quick bite before heading to the theatre, you can belly up to the bar and order six oysters with a glass of Chablis and call that a meal. Or you can still sit down in the dining room and be luxurious by ordering the Dover Sole. The choice is yours.” 120 W. 49th St., 212-759-5941; oceanarestaurant.com

Steakhouses 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, exquisite desserts, amd much more. 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 steakhouse in the century-old 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 Bobby Van’s - Established in 1969, Bobby Van’s boasts 8 locations throughout the Northeast including five in Manhattan, two in Washington, DC and the original in Bridgehampton, Long Island. Serving only the finest USDA dry-aged prime beef, selected seafood and lobsters starting at 3 lbs. Private dining for corporate or special events. 135 W. 50th St.; 230 Park Ave. (46th St.); 13 E. 54th St.; 120 W. 45th St.; 25 Broad St.; visit bobbyvans.com for more info Bull and Bear - 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

Named after Lever House, the glass-box, international-style skyscraper that rises above it, Casa Lever is one of Manhattan’s ultimate see-and-be-seen dining destinations. Executive Chef Alessandro Caporale has developed a sophisticated Milanese menu ranging from classic Italian recipes to summer specials such as Squid Ink Risotto and Spaghetti alla Chitarra with Santa Barbara Sea Urchin and King Crab Meat, as well as the signature Vitello Tonnato: thinly sliced, slow roasted veal with tuna and caper sauce. Their seasonal garden offers casual yet elegant outdoor courtyard dining during the summer months, with one of the most gorgeous settings in midtown: Park Avenue and the rotating art exhibition of the Lever House art collection. 390 Park Ave. (53rd St.), 212-888-2700; casalever.com

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Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House - This expansive steak house’s soaring, two-story-high windows offer a spectacular view, 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. Beautifully appointed private party facilities and unique wine cellar dining. 49th St. & Sixth Ave., 212-575-5129; delfriscos.com Rothmann’s Steakhouse & Grill - 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 mouthwa-

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tering seafood for over 100 years. 3 E. 54th St., 212-319-5500; rothmannssteakhouse.com Smith & Wollensky - This steakhouse is recognized for its healthy portions, seasoned staff and elegant interior with turn-of-the-century design elements. Steaks take center stage, including juicy double sirloin, chateaubriand for two, filet mignon, filet au poivre, and sliced steak Wollensky, all dry-aged in-house for 28 days. 797 Third Ave. (49th St.), 212-753-1530; smithandwollensky.com

VIETNAMESE 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

THAI Bangkok House - For Thai near Times Square, enter Bangkok House. The reasonably priced food has exotic flavors that will challenge your taste buds and please your appetites. We recommend ordering a few entrées that can be shared easily with a group. Great for before or after a Broadway show. 360 W. 46th St. btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves., 212-541-5943; bangkokhouseny.com Kin Shop - Chef Harold Dieterle and Alicia Nosenzo offer both contemporary reinterpretations of traditional Thai dishes and new items inspired by Thai ingredients (meant to be shared), as well as Thai-influenced specialty cocktails. 469 Sixth Ave. (11th St.), 212-675-4295; kinshopnyc.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

VEGETARIAN Pure Food and Wine - New York City’s premier raw-foods restaurant, located in Gramercy Park, utilizing organic and seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds to create a unique, awardwinning culinary experience. Nothing is heated above approximately 118 degrees in order to preserve vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Open daily for lunch (noon-4pm) and dinner (5:3011:30pm). 54 Irving Pl. (17th St.), 212-477-1010; purefoodandwine.com Quintessence - Rare and exotic ingredients combine to form the elegant, innovative dishes at this East Village outpost where everything is 100% organic, vegan, and raw. The diverse menu includes Mexican and Indian platters, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, “guiltless” desserts, and more. Breakfast served 10am-noon, weekdays. 263 E. 10th St., 646-654-1823; raw-q.com

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B. Milne

Steve Benisty

THEINTERVIEW

db Bistro Moderne

55 West 44th Street • 212-391-2400 • danielnyc.com/dbbistro.html

Daniel Boulud

At db Bistro Moderne, chatting about chefs, concepts and the iconic db burger. By Kristopher Carpenter

hey say the devil is in the details, and in the restaurant business, could there be any more details? Presuming the menu is fabulous and the chef is top notch, purchasing the best ingredients from the right purveyors is certainly a key to success. A great staff who can deal with the complexities of the reservation game is another. And of course, correct service-staff to patron ratio, lighting, climate control, table settings and linens are also critical. Daniel Boulud has not one Manhattan restaurant, but seven, as well as a smattering of destinations around the globe in cities from London to Miami, and the occasional TV appearance. He makes his rounds frequently and makes his flagship “Daniel” on the Upper East Side his home base, but he just can’t be everywhere at once. Apparently, he doesn’t need to be. A recent excursion to db Bistro Moderne showed Boulud’s standards in action: a courteous staff (a waiter even opened the hallway door toward the restrooms upon approach), well-timed delivery of libations and cuisine (the Grilled Escargot Brochette is highly recommended), even the thermostat was perfectly adjusted. The tables are spaced nicely, the banquette is at the proper angle to rest comfortably on, the design and fold of the napkins match the decor, each slice of the miniature “Tarte Flambée” amuse bouche—a thin-crusted French pizza topped with caramelized onion—was cut all the way through; details, details. Nothing is trivial to this Chef/Proprietor. At a benefit reception one night hosted by Bar Pleiades (his cocktail den adjacent to Café Boulud in the Surrey Hotel) Boulud told a chef to move a deep fryer he was using for the party’s arancini because “We don’t want guests in the dining room at Café Boulud to smell this.” It is unclear where the devil comes in, but it’s plain to see that at his restaurants, Daniel is in the details.

B. Milne

Q. Daniel Boulud: Chef, restaurateur, food icon, TV personality - What’s your first thought when you wake up in the morning? DB: I wish I had a day off! As soon as I get up, I’m in contact with my team, checking in on restaurants, making routine calls and holding meetings. I try to go to the gym, read the paper, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and then start my day full throttle, but sometimes I do wish I could sleep a little more. But for me, the most exciting part of the day is when I arrive at one of my restaurants. I look at the ingredients we’ve received from our suppliers, talk about the food, and spend time with my chefs. That’s the part of my day I always enjoy the most. Q. What does it take to keep the cuisine, decor, and service at a restaurant like Daniel consistently delivering at the level it does? DB: Perseverance, consistency, a harmonious team of partners in the kitchen and the front of house, and of course reinvesting to keep the place pristine - every day we have to make sure that we are creating a magical, special moment for each and every guest. Q. You’ve got seven restaurant concepts just in New York. How do concepts for new restaurants come to you? Do you see an absence of a certain type of restaurant and look to fill the void? DB: Never. I never look at the void or the trends. I always look at what will drive me and my chefs to create a certain type of restaurant—a restaurant with food that is rooted in tradition, yet contemporary in execution. I try to do what makes me happy, to create cuisine and restaurant concepts which are the right fit for each other. There has to be a harmony between the cuisine, the decor, the service, all the way down to the menu design, every detail is important in creating the experience. Each of

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my restaurants is an extension of myself, different parts of my persona, taken in different directions. Q. Speaking of concepts, here we are at db Bistro, and what does it mean to you as a restaurant? How does it fit in with, and compare to, your other restaurants? DB: What defines any quality restaurant is the service, food, and ambiance. db Bistro was created 11 years ago and my idea was to do a chef-driven bistro with some traditional French aspects. But I also wanted a more seasonal market-driven menu reflecting New York City. Along the way it became the home of the iconic db burger [a sirloin burger stuffed with braised short ribs, foie gras, and black truffle] which some say launched the gourmet burger craze of the early 2000s. I think db Bistro encapsulates the high energy of the theatre district; while serving great cuisine in a casual setting, and also being value-conscious. Q. The db burger has certainly enjoyed some acclaim, but what is your favorite dish at db Bistro? DB: We have had three chefs at db, from three different regions of France, and each of them has left an imprint of his cuisine. Jean-François Bruel the restaurant’s first chef, and now working as executive chef at Daniel, is Lyonnais like me and always had great charcuterie or terrines and a great braised dish on the menu. Next was Olivier Muller, an Alsatian, whose Tarte Flambée is a favorite still today. Now Laurent Kalkotour is at the helm. He is from Aix en Provence and brings a wonderful Mediterranean touch. He has a Braised Leg of Lamb Provençale on the menu at the moment and always does a beautiful fish dish. db Bistro has always been a great incubator for talent. For example, our pastry chef Ashley Brauze, has become one of the best pastry chefs in the city, and many of the young sous chefs who have worked at db have later become chefs in my other restaurants. So, as varied as the cuisine is at db, given the frequency with which our menu changes, it would be too hard to pick just one.

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