Ok, so it's lunch time in New York City, so the possibilities are endless. If you are really hungry, but don't want a sit down meal, there are hundreds of little delis or hot dog stands that are quick and delicious (notice I did not say cheap) If you are dressed up and in the mood for something chic and trendy, but good, my favorite place is Serafina's on the upper East Side. It looks like the restaurant that Charlotte spotted Big in near the end of the Sex and the City movie, but it's not. The food is delicious, but it is usually crowded and loud. If you are a people-watcher, this is a great place. You see a lot of well-dressed businessmen and women, plus the upper East Side moms-who-lunch-and dress-really-well.
If you are in the mood for Mexican, which I always am, go to Centrico on West Broadway. The adult food is fresh and delicious, and they have great chicken fingers for the kiddies if you can't talk them into a quesadilla. Speaking of the kiddies, if you are revolving a day around one of them for a birthday or whatever, Sweetiepie's in Central Park South is the perfect choice. I was reminded about it in Gwynneth Paltrow's blog this week. The decor is bright and kid-friendly, with balloons on the chairs. There are terrific pancakes for breakfast, or better yet, drop in mid-afternoon for a huge ice cream sundae.
Dinner can be a million choices. I haven't tried Nobu's yet...you have to have a reservation...but it is supposedly terrific and also celebrity-ridden if that excites you. If you didn't go Italian at lunch, go to Carmine's in Mid-town. This is just the most fun place to eat. Busy, loud, tons of food...and again, the occasional celebrity thrown in. Another Italian alternative, though more conservative and formal, is Patsy's in the theater district. Every Broadway "star" has eaten here. The waiters are Italian and serious, but charming. The food is authentic and good.
After dinner, or after the Broadway show, you have to go to Serendipity's. Marilyn Monroe and Jackie O were both frequenters of this cozy and kitchey dessert place. The frozen hot chocolate is to die for, and yes, it is the same one that was shown in the movie of the same name (Serendipity...a great movie with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale).
Even if you don't think you will like the ballet, you should go to the Lincoln Center and see the New York Ballet one time. They are so fabulous, and even if you fall asleep, at least you got to see the beautiful Lincoln Center. My little reminder e-mail says that they are doing Romeo and Juliet and A Mid-Summer Night's Dream this summer...
The next morning, you wake up and take a cab down to Soho. Don't bother to go early...none of the shops open before 10:00. But once you are there, just go up and down Houston street and hit every store. L'Occitane for cosmetics, Anthropolgie (I Love this store) for clothes and accessories and books and "stuff", Vivienne Tam..cool,cool, cool clothes, Jonathan Adler for home decor...and it goes on and on and on...hit Rocco's for lunch if you haven't yet O.D.'d on Italian. It is small and quaint and quiet...with a good view of the street.
The afternoon has to be spent on the Red Bus tour seeing the Statue of Liberty, Statten Island, Wall Street (while it is still there), and then places like Little Italy or Chinatown if you have time.
Of course it goes without saying that if it is the holiday season, you have to go to see the big tree and the ice-skating rink down at Rockefeller Center. While you are there, you can see all of the morning shows in progress if that thrills you. You can also stand outside the David Letterman show and spy on the stars, maybe grab an autograph. I might have done this once or twice.
Unless you are there for a week, (and I never am), your time is probably up. And we haven't even discussed so many other great stops...so this just means we will be back again soon.
So until next week, when we hop an Air France flight to Paris...
Showing posts with label New York City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York City. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Spring Time in New York City
In my former job as a buyer, I would travel to New York City every spring to do the buying for my shops. Besides traveling to Paris for the same thing, this was the best part of my job. I've always loved New York. I don't know if I would want to live there full time, but I love to visit. Whether I've travelled alone, taken one of the kids, gone with the whole family, or gone with a friend, each trip has always been fun.
On my fantasy trip, I stay at the Carlyle hotel. It is old-fashioned elegance with updated cool. Unfortunately, I've only had tea with friends there, since the $800/night price (and that was 2 years ago) was never allowed on my expense account (or my personal account for that matter). These days, you can get a room there for around $425, but that eats up a lot of shopping money.
For work, I usually stayed at the Sheraton near Fifth Avenue or the Mariott. Both are fine...nothing spectacular, but not terrible. You can get in there now for $185, which is amazing when you consider that 2 years ago, the worst room was $300.
Once you've got your hotel, you have to plan your itinerary. I always check out the Broadway show listings before I leave home. If there is one I am dying to see, I go ahead and get tickets on line. If my nights are flexible and there are several I wouldn't mind seeing, I wait and get them at the discount ticket booth in the City. They are deeply discounted, but again, you have to be flexible. I like to dress up for the shows. These days you see everything from jeans to formal gowns, but I use it as a reason to put on a great outfit. (Finding reasons to wear great outfits is kind of a theme with me...)
Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue are my favorite window shopping streets. During the holidays, it is absolutely amazing to see the windows. Saks is my favorite. Their merchandisers are amazing. They put together the most creative windows you've ever seen. I always use to take pictures of them so I could come back home and try to copy them in my shops After taking pictures of the windows, I actually go in Saks. I start on the first floor and work my way slowly up to the top floor where there is the cutest cafe with a great view of the city. I like to eat there if I am alone. The prices are reasonable and the food is good.
The cosmetic counters in Saks are dangerous. I took my daughter Rachel with me on a trip one year and we ended up at the Chanel counter for two hours. When we left, we looked pretty good, but I was stunned at how much I had been talked into spending. I've never let that happen again, but we both used those products so slowly that we probably had them past their expiration dates.
The floors are divided into different designers. There is one floor where you find Narcisco Rodriguez, Dolce and Gabanna, basically every designer that you see in Vogue but can't afford...it is fun to look even if it is a bit intimidating. Which reminds me...you have to dress up before you shop in Saks or the sales help will stare you out of the store. In fact, many of the stores along Madison or Fifth have the little "bouncer" guy (for lack of a better word) standing at the door with an ear piece in his ear. You have to learn the "Don't even look at me, I shop here all of the time" look to give him, or you won't be able to make it pass them. You can get very paranoid when you walk in and hear them saying something into their little microphone. I think I figured out after awhile that they are just commenting on everyone's outfit as they come in. Maybe they are tipping off the sales help if they think you look like a potential buyer....or maybe I am hugely insecure and paranoid. All possibilities...
Next stop is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Even if you aren't an art lover, this is a must. Go first to the Impressionist Gallery where you will see some familiar paintings (Monet, etc.)...this will inspire you. Then you can stroll through the rest on your way to the cafe...which again is reasonably priced and good. (Again, a running theme with me are the cafes)
On a serious note, you have to make the sad journey down to the 9/11 Twin Towers site. If you have not been there in person, be prepared for a lot of emotion. There is no way to see the notes and names and memories there without taking a few minutes out for prayer. If you spend some time there, a good next stop is St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown. Not only can you go in and say a prayer, but it is so lovely that it will lift your spirits.
Ok, so today we have found our hotel, seen a play, shopped and prayed...not even half a day in NYC. ..
So until tomorrow, when we will eat, tour and of course, do some more shopping...
On my fantasy trip, I stay at the Carlyle hotel. It is old-fashioned elegance with updated cool. Unfortunately, I've only had tea with friends there, since the $800/night price (and that was 2 years ago) was never allowed on my expense account (or my personal account for that matter). These days, you can get a room there for around $425, but that eats up a lot of shopping money.
For work, I usually stayed at the Sheraton near Fifth Avenue or the Mariott. Both are fine...nothing spectacular, but not terrible. You can get in there now for $185, which is amazing when you consider that 2 years ago, the worst room was $300.
Once you've got your hotel, you have to plan your itinerary. I always check out the Broadway show listings before I leave home. If there is one I am dying to see, I go ahead and get tickets on line. If my nights are flexible and there are several I wouldn't mind seeing, I wait and get them at the discount ticket booth in the City. They are deeply discounted, but again, you have to be flexible. I like to dress up for the shows. These days you see everything from jeans to formal gowns, but I use it as a reason to put on a great outfit. (Finding reasons to wear great outfits is kind of a theme with me...)
Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue are my favorite window shopping streets. During the holidays, it is absolutely amazing to see the windows. Saks is my favorite. Their merchandisers are amazing. They put together the most creative windows you've ever seen. I always use to take pictures of them so I could come back home and try to copy them in my shops After taking pictures of the windows, I actually go in Saks. I start on the first floor and work my way slowly up to the top floor where there is the cutest cafe with a great view of the city. I like to eat there if I am alone. The prices are reasonable and the food is good.
The cosmetic counters in Saks are dangerous. I took my daughter Rachel with me on a trip one year and we ended up at the Chanel counter for two hours. When we left, we looked pretty good, but I was stunned at how much I had been talked into spending. I've never let that happen again, but we both used those products so slowly that we probably had them past their expiration dates.
The floors are divided into different designers. There is one floor where you find Narcisco Rodriguez, Dolce and Gabanna, basically every designer that you see in Vogue but can't afford...it is fun to look even if it is a bit intimidating. Which reminds me...you have to dress up before you shop in Saks or the sales help will stare you out of the store. In fact, many of the stores along Madison or Fifth have the little "bouncer" guy (for lack of a better word) standing at the door with an ear piece in his ear. You have to learn the "Don't even look at me, I shop here all of the time" look to give him, or you won't be able to make it pass them. You can get very paranoid when you walk in and hear them saying something into their little microphone. I think I figured out after awhile that they are just commenting on everyone's outfit as they come in. Maybe they are tipping off the sales help if they think you look like a potential buyer....or maybe I am hugely insecure and paranoid. All possibilities...
Next stop is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Even if you aren't an art lover, this is a must. Go first to the Impressionist Gallery where you will see some familiar paintings (Monet, etc.)...this will inspire you. Then you can stroll through the rest on your way to the cafe...which again is reasonably priced and good. (Again, a running theme with me are the cafes)
On a serious note, you have to make the sad journey down to the 9/11 Twin Towers site. If you have not been there in person, be prepared for a lot of emotion. There is no way to see the notes and names and memories there without taking a few minutes out for prayer. If you spend some time there, a good next stop is St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown. Not only can you go in and say a prayer, but it is so lovely that it will lift your spirits.
Ok, so today we have found our hotel, seen a play, shopped and prayed...not even half a day in NYC. ..
So until tomorrow, when we will eat, tour and of course, do some more shopping...
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