Mandarin Oriental, New York

Posted on February 24, 2012 by wanda

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. At Mandarin Oriental, New York, they don’t need a second chance.

When the elevator opens onto the 35th floor lobby, you will genuinely feel as though your head is in the clouds. There may be no better view of the legendary Manhattan skyline anywhere in New York. With floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s the perfect showcase for views of all the skyscrapers, plus Central Park and the Hudson River.

If you can manage to tear yourself from the view, be sure and take a look up to the ceiling in the lobby, which should be on the list of amazing attractions: a massive, spectacular chandelier made from Waterford Crystal.

Situated in the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle, which interestingly enough is the point where all distances to and from Manhattan are measured, Mandarin Oriental, New York is literally at the center of it all. The modern Asian-influenced décor resonates throughout the hotel, and the impeccable service never disappoints.

Once you’re done giving your eyes a workout it will be time for the rest of your body, so explore the state-of-the art workout facility and 75-foot lap pool, then rejuvenate and feel as if you are floating in midair at the bi-level spa, featuring a VIP Spa Suite for two, a Thai-yoga room, and holistic treatments with the freshest ingredients.

While New York is a Mecca of fine cuisine, you won’t be but an elevator ride away from the outstanding Asiate, offering contemporary, Asian-influenced gourmet cuisine. Then, walk off your dinner with a stop in Central Park, a green oasis located directly across the street, or take an easy stroll to Broadway and catch a show.

Whether you are an out-of-town guest or just seeking a spectacular getaway in your own backyard, with a combination of award-winning service, decadent luxury and the ideal city location in the world’s most exciting city, Mandarin Oriental, New York is an absolute must.

Babyccinos: Cappuccino for babies

Posted on February 18, 2012 by wanda

Talk about starting young. A story on ‘babyccinos,’ a trend in which coffee shops are selling decaf cappuccinos to pint-sized tots, is gaining buzz among the caffeinated, hipster-parent crowd.

Babyccinos are made from either steamed milk and foam, or — for the gourmand tot — spiked with a shot of decaf espresso, and were featured in a story published in The Brooklyn Paper this week — a piece which has been picked up by popular food blogs and publications like Gothamist, Eater, Zagat and the Atlantic Wire.

The trend has become particularly popular in Brooklyn, where locals are obsessive when it comes to coffee culture, the author notes, and the culture even has tots turning into mini coffee-clutching consumers with an early taste for java.

The concept first started in Australia, where the term babyccino denotes macchiato-like drinks with a shot of decaf espresso topped with steamed milk and froth, or an entirely hot milk-based drink topped with cinnamon or chocolate powder that’s kid-friendly.

And while doctors say the amount of caffeine is negligible in decaf coffee (the story says that a shot of decaf espresso contains less caffeine than a soda) reaction to the trend has spilled over onto Facebook and Twitter, where readers either defend the trend as harmless — “a way to keep the kids happy so parents can enjoy their coffee in peace” — to dismay — “‎*sigh* Leave the babies and their yet to be fully developed kidneys and stomachs, alone already.”

Meanwhile, a YouTube video of two 5-year-old hipster mini baristas making espresso went viral last year for their ability to pull a convincing-looking coffee drink complete with heart-shaped foam.

Ralph Lauren does ‘Downton Abbey’ at New York fashion week

Posted on February 17, 2012 by wanda

As runways go, the one at Ralph Lauren’s fall-winter show on Thursday, the final day of New York fashion week, was a true stunner.

A well-worn but beautifully laid parquet floor, illuminated by chandeliers, ran the length of the Skylight Studio in the Soho district where Lauren sent out 57 outfits that brought the British period drama “Downton Abbey” to mind.

Into this whimsical English country house by the Hudson River appeared Fair Isle sweaters in green or taupe cashmere, brown ocelet-print shearling coats and dark brown plaid jodhpurs.

Double-breasted tweed wrap coats were enlivened with scarlet or purple gloves — or with a peacock feather tucked insouciantly into the lapel.

Silk top hats lent an air of foggy London town in the era of Sherlock Holmes when matched with tartan wool coats, black pumps or boots, and a debonair walking stick.

For more formal occasions, Lauren stuck with the classic lines that have made him a go-to designer for women across the United States, with a range of strapless and halterneck evening dresses in black, fuchsia and gold lamé.

It might be easy to dismiss Lauren’s vision as predictable, but the silver-haired 72-year-old son of an immigrant housepainter from Belarus had every reason to smile as he walked down that fine runway himself in a light grey suit and tie to acknowledge a standing ovation at the end of the show.
Two days ago, the publicly listed company that bears his name, and which includes the mass market Polo brand, forecast a better-than-expected 20 percent leap in sales this year in light of a third-quarter profit of $169 million — proof positive of Lauren’s staying power in the aristocracy of fashion.

Luxury Hotels & Social Media: The Peninsula New York

Posted on February 15, 2012 by wanda

We’re entering a new age in luxury hotel marketing. Top-tier hotels are now using Twitter for concierge services, social geo-locating platforms to unlock free gifts, Facebook for customer service and YouTube to showcase unique properties. They are finding new, large and responsive audiences across the social web. No doubt, luxury travel’s latest destination is online.

Yet who is leading the charge in this recent wave of innovative hotel social media strategies? What are their methods and how are they finding success? In our ongoing series “Luxury Hotels & Social Media,” Pursuitist is interviewing the top luxe hotel leaders (Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria and many more) to gain insight into the online strategies of the industry’s elite.

Today’s interview is with Tricia Rosentreter, Regional Director of Communications, The Peninsula New York.

Q. Why is Social Media important for your company?  

A. Social media is an important way for The Peninsula New York to engage with its guests on a peer-to-peer level. For our hotel company, one of the most interesting components of social media is the ability to share relevant information with our fans and followers and receive instant feedback or appreciation for sharing. Before social media, the only way to engage with guests with that level of feedback was really through face-to-face interactions within the hotel.

Q. How many people manage your social media channels & what types of tools do you use?  

A. We have one full time e-commerce manager who runs social media campaigns for The Peninsula New York. That person uses a variety of tools to manage both online user review sites as well as the various social media platforms.  

Q. What has been the most effective content to engage users?

A. We’ve found that our users really enjoy content that is informational and educational. For example, posts that provide restaurant or shopping tips from our concierge do very well, but also fun facts such as a beautiful shot of our lobby’s floral arrangement along with the type of flowers and care tips is a big hit and receive positive feedback. Striking the right balance between promoting hotel rooms packages and restaurant specials alongside more fun and informational-based content is what we strive to achieve.

Remco van Vliet, Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Floral Designer

Posted on February 4, 2012 by wanda

As the in-house floral designer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Remco van Vliet creates five huge arrangements for the museum’s Great Hall each week. Via the WSJ, he talks about his inspiration and his favorite flowers:

“In Holland, flower arranging is as much a science as an art. Master florists study for seven years, learning flowers’ names in four languages, including Latin. Mr. van Vliet’s father, who had a shop that often worked for the Dutch royal family, taught such courses and trained his sons. Rem, as friends call him, came to New York in 1994 and found work at a wholesaler, but his floral pedigree eventually led Chris Giftos, the longtime floral arranger at the Met, to look him up when he needed a replacement. Mr. van Vliet apprenticed to Mr. Giftos for seven years, succeeding him in 2003.” – read more at WSJ

Joanne Trattoria New York Reviewed

Posted on February 4, 2012 by wanda

Lady Gaga’s parents, Joe and Cynthia Germanotta, opened the doors to their new, family-style Italian restaurant in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The restaurant “Joanne Trattoria” is named after Gaga’s aunt, her father’s late sister, whom the singer credits with inspiring her to become an artist. What’s the reviews for Joanne Trattoria? Here’s Steve Cuozzo for the NYPost with his review, “You’ll gag on the food at Gaga’s“:

“Forget the Edge of Glory — on opening night, “Lady Gaga restaurant” Joanne on West 68th Street was close to the edge of collapse. You don’t expect a brand-new eatery to be running on all cylinders. But Joanne, owned by the pop superstar’s parents, last night was running mainly on acrid-smelling burnt vinegar wafting intermittently through the raucous dining room.”

Luxurious apartment life in New York City

Posted on February 3, 2012 by wanda

Panoramic New York City views from huge windows – this is the first thought that went through my mind when seeing the stunning kitchen you can see in the photo below. This whole apartment speaks an elegantly modern language – the straight design lines, the natural color palette used to create a warm, inviting feeling and that necessary openness to the outside world.

Capturing views of nearby Highland Park, the contemporary apartment was designed by Austrian design studio Innocad. They used inspiration from European design and New York lifestyle and designed an almost transparent but private space. Each room is directly connected to the city through the continuous use of glass even in separating interior spaces. The slightly inclined wall in the kitchen and dining space draws in more natural light and offers a gorgeous frame for the city’s lights.

Rotating Eco-Friendly ‘Domespace’ in New Paltz, NY for $1.2 Million

Posted on February 3, 2012 by wanda

Designed to rotate away from the sun in the summer months and towards it in the winter, this dome home construct in New Paltz, New York serves as one of the more ingenious examples of green architecture currently on the market today. Currently listed for $1.2 million, the eco-friendly ‘Domespace’ resembles something more likely to be found within the pages of a science fiction novel, with curved beams rising to meet a central pedestal that works to create an incredibly unique shell-like appearance.

Prevalent in Europe, where the design by French builder Patrick Marsilli originated, the Domespace in New Paltz is, as our pals at Curbed note, the first of its kind to be built in the United States. The aerodynamically-shaped abode measures some 54-feet in diameter and offers a total of 2,300-square-feet spread over two floors, with a total of three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. Clad in bamboo flooring, the lower level features the main living spaces including a kitchen with wood and stone cabinetry and a central living area, while a central spiral staircase leads to the bedroom areas and a second-floor balcony.

But, however aesthetically pleasing and creative the interior of the Domespace is, it pales in comparison to its many energy efficient features, including a smaller overall footprint, rows of cascading solar panels and the home’s ability to rotate 180 degrees. “In winter, most of the windows can be facing the sun,” the homeowner, Siva Vencat, said in a 2007 interview. “And in summer, the part where there are less windows will face the sun. Or you can program by computer to follow the sun; it turns very slowly.” Besides its eco-friendly features, the Domespace’s streamlined design allows for it to withstand Category 5 hurricanes and seismic events of up to a magnitude of 8 on the Richter Scale.

The listing is presented by Anne Rajs of Village Green Realty.

See more Architectural Real Estate at REALTOR.com

Browse more New Paltz, New York real estate at REALTOR.com

Check out the official listing at REALTOR.com

The Melt Shop, New York

Posted on February 2, 2012 by wanda

Beyond the purpose of sustenance, certain foods have the special ability to nourish us by bringing back memories. Grilled cheese may be the simplest of sandwiches, but few foods can bring you back to childhood quite like hot cheese between layers of buttery toast on a blustery day. With this concept in mind, twenty-something Spencer Rubin opened Melt Shop last summer, a restaurant that specializes in the gooey goodness of grilled cheese. Now that it’s the middle of winter, Melt Shop is the perfect place to go for a comforting lunch and warm memories in midtown Manhattan.

“We hope that our customers are able to get in touch with that inner child again, whether it be through our classic American cheese options or our more sophisticated versions with Gruyere and Fontina,” Rubin says.

A 2008 graduate of Cornell’s School of Hotel Management and lifelong grilled cheese lover, he hopes that Melt Shop’s grilled cheese sandwiches remind customers of home. In Rubin’s case, home is about 25 minutes away from midtown in scenic Montclair, N.J., though he now resides in Manhattan.

This past fall, Melt Shop was featured in the New York City Wine & Food Festival as part of”The Best Thing I Ever Ate Between Bread” series, hosted by the Food Network and The Cooking Channel. The event, which gave the eatery the opportunity to compete on the Highline stages alongside chefs from some of the best restaurants in the country, was a great success.

With such a major endeavor already under his belt, Rubin looks to the future for more challenges: “The best thing about the restaurant industry is it gives you so many different opportunities to channel your creative energy, be it through the food, the branding and positioning of the concept, marketing or special events and promotions…it always keeps you thinking.”

Should you find yourself in midtown, we highly recommend heading to Melt Shop’s Lexington Avenue location for a Buttermilk-Fried Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich (8.95) or a decadent Fontina & Goat Cheese Sandwich with wild mushrooms and parsley pesto ($7.50). Be sure to try some shop tots on the side. And for those who don’t feel like braving the winter elements, this place delivers in the literal and figurative sense.

The Melt Shop
601 Lexington Ave.
New York, N.Y. 10022
(212) 759-6358

Reprinted with permission from the GoodLife Report.

“Paris Versus New York” A Tally Of Two Cities

Posted on January 30, 2012 by wanda

We generally give up picture books as we age but perhaps that’s a shame. Sometimes a series of witty pictures can brighten and inform our world more than a whole stack of prose. Sometimes we just need to look. Vahram Muratyan, a freelance art director and graphic designer began making prints comparing the city he lived in, Paris, and the city he often visited, New York, and putting them on his blog, Paris Vs. NYC in 2010. The blog was a sort of travel journal which turned into a series of 105 illustrations that tell the story of each city with comparisons like bagel versus baguette, Bordeaux versus Cosmopolitan and Amelie versus Carrie.

The style is colorful and simple and the pairings inspire more than a chuckle or two. The book is a playful look not just at the two cities but about the things that define cultures. What we eat, who we admire, where we shop, these things and more define cultural identity in ways that we don’t often consider. New Yorkers and Parisians will smile knowingly.

The book, published by Penguin is on sale January 31 for $20. Should you want a larger version of one of the illustrations, Society 6 is also selling prints of some of the favorite illustrations online.