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Table of Contents Feature 11 47 51 55
Dylan! A Sweet Success Chocolate: The Way To Say “I Love You” Valentine’s Day In NYC: Romantic Dining With Your Love Couples Spa For A Truly Romantic Valentine’s Day Experience
17 21 25 30 35 40 43
Cruising Unesco Sites In Northern Italy Club Med: The Original Romance Zone Celebrate The Foodie Trail In Tucson Nashville, Music City & Incubator of Country Songs Exploring The Non-Stop Fun Of Ambergris Caye Residence Inn Celebrates First Anniversary With A Surprise A Romantic Getaway For Manhattanites
Travel
FOLLOW THE
Sun.
Spas & Health
58 The Power of Beautiful Thinking 60 Improve Your Heart Health By Being Loving To Others 63 Valentine’s Day Filled With Mixed Emotions
Theater & Arts
67 Broadway Bound 68 Warming Up On Broadway For Lovers 70 School of Rock Still Kickin’ Butt
Dining 73 76 78 81
Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Great Food Bryant Park Grill: Romantic Destination For Valentine’s Day Pair Wine & Cheese By A Master Of The Art The Coolest Place In Town For Some Hot Romance
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96 Everyone Has Heard of Him, But Who Was “Zadroga?” Cover photo by Michael Dweck
V a c a t i o n s
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February Is A Time For Lovers...
February is kind of a month that sort of falls between the cracks. It’s still winter, bit it’s on the throes of spring. It’s still chilly here, but the boys of spring, the Yankees and Mets are already heading south.
PURSUE
perfection.
The Yankees and Mets both open their training camps for the 2016 season on February 18. If that’s not a harbinger of warmer weather, then I don’t know what is. But this month is more than just baseball. There is the commemoration of presidents. What began as celebrations of George Washington and Abe Lincoln has morphed into President’s Day to celebrate all 45 of the men who held that office. Football is long gone, basketball is hanging on. Hockey seems to go on forever until well past the time anyone wants to look at ice. But the best part of February is the fourteenth day of the month. That’s the day, every year, when we celebrate love and affection. That being said, a good bet would be that not one in a million people actually know anything about Valentine. In fact, there were about a dozen St. Valentines and one was even Pope. The one generally accepted to be the patron saint of lovers was referred to as St. Valentine of Rome. He had the misfortune to cross Emperor Claudius II who had him beheaded in about AD 270. Claudius, not a fan of Christendom, was bent out of shape because of Valentine’s habit of performing marriage ceremonies for young Christian couples. That was a no-no in Claudius’ Rome. Both head and body were buried in the city. But that penchant for helping lovers is what cemented his heritage to this day. Centuries later the grave was excavated and bits and pieces of the hapless saint were distributed to reliquaries in churches throughout the world. His skull remains in Rome at the Basilica of Santa Maria. Interestingly, Valentine was not only a protector of lovers, he, apparently was revered by beekeepers and sufferers of epilepsy. According to history books, saints were kept quite busy in the afterlife answering prayers of devotees. We’ve devoted much of this issue to the romance of Valentine’s Day. It has lost most of its religious significance and now is a major marketing device for candy and greeting cards. We’ve sent our writers out to investigate places lovers can enjoy the moment. Check out the Minus5 Ice Bar in the Hilton Hotel where you really have to stay together to keep warm. We’ve got listings of restaurants fit for a romantic meal, such as Del Frisco’s highly rated by our writer. There are also chocolate stores that are top rated in New York. For a romantic getaway where you can snuggle in front of a fireplace at a historic inn, read the article on the Woolverton Inn. If you’d like a plain old getaway weekend in the Big Apple, head for the Residence Inn by Marriott in Lower Manhattan. Tell them you read about the hotel in NYLM and they’ll even give you a 10% discount. To all of our readers from all of our staff and contributing writers, we love you for the kind things you’ve been saying about New York Lifestyles Magazine. We’ll work hard to keep on bringing you the best magazine possible.
-Bob Nesoff
Executive Editor
Championship golf. Barns and riding trails. They epitomize the idyllic country life. Here among the rolling 1,200 acres at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club in central Florida, you’ll discover the Golden Life in stately, elegant surroundings. Find your estate at GoldenOcala.com. Exclusively Represented By
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,1 Ê/ Vol. 2 #2 | February 2016 President / Publisher Bill Mason Executive Publisher Ernie Anastos
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Executive Editor Bob Nesoff Vice President of Sales Lyle Seltzer Director of Operations Kurt Nesheim Art Director Eric Duncan Travel Editor Sandy Nesoff Photographers Chief Photographer - David Handschuh Photographer - Maybelle Webster
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Medical Editors Doris Day, MD, Miki Makrillos, MD Devi Nampiaparampil, MD, MS, Peter Schmaus, MD Contributing Writers Northeast Jon Haggins, Jeff Sylva, Stephanie Sylva Jason Wolfgang Gehlert, Jim Kierstead, Kerri Zane Karen Feld, Laurie Heifitz, Willard Smith Nava Raviv, Michael Raviv, Aram Kasparian, Ray Daoud Midwest Pacific Northwest Mira Temkin, Jodie Jacobs Curt Winston South Southeast Mona Hayden Pam Barker, Gerry Barker Real Estate Daniel Bollinger, Stan Popovich
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Dylan! A Sweet Success By Ivette Manners n 2001, Dylan Lauren introduced New York City to a new way of experiencing the sweeter things in life. She opened her colorful candy megastore, Dylan’s Candy Bar, which quickly became an iconic staple in the Upper East Side and launched her now world-recognized company. Her first flagship store, located on the corner of Third Avenue and 60th Street, along with her 15 other retail locations sell every kind of candy your heart could desire, as well as candy-themed items from psychedelic swirl-
designed bags and cupcake-shaped pillows to jewelry and cozy PJs. All of the flagship stores also house ice cream counters and a select number of stores feature cafés that serve savory noshes like flatbreads, sandwiches, and mac and cheese; plus of course decadent desserts, sweet mocktails, and candy-based cocktails. Her brand has not only been well received from the start, but has also become as much of a part of American culture as her father’s Ralph Lauren fashion and lifestyle empire. “People of all ages really respond to candy. They love the colors and flavors,” says Lauren. “Almost everyone can connect candy to a happy memory.”
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 11
12 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
Fifteen years later, Lauren’s passion for all things candy hasn’t staled, in fact, her love for sweet confections has grown and today she’s excited about her new store that recently opened in Union Square next to the famed Blue Water Grill restaurant. The 3,500-square foot downtown store is a boutique version of the uptown candyland with more of an edge. The glittery silver floor, black walls, and an illuminated ceiling featuring a light show of changing holiday colors much like the Empire State Building gives it a fun nightclub vibe. “This location caters to the other half of New York. It’s for all the downtowners and Brooklynites who don’t make it uptown” says Lauren. “It’s a little funkier. I like to call it ‘hip hop disco chic’.” To impress her cool-kid clients, Lauren debuted the second New York City store with an outdoor performance by the Brooklyn United Marching Band. Other details that make this location unique from its big sister are the candy songs remixed by a hip hop DJ and an outdoor seating area overlooking the park that will open this summer. “New York is the only city with two flagship locations because there’s room for it,” says Lauren. “Each store accommodates the different tastes of the diverse people in the city.” As the daughter of a major mogul it’s no wonder that she has the Midas touch for business. “I always knew I wanted to lead or be an entrepreneur and create a new concept. I wanted to be an innovator,” says Lauren. “I’ve watched my dad in his business; he has a vision. I’ve seen how he’s a leader in his company.” Lauren’s own vision started at an early age. When she was 16 years old, her father wanted to name a perfume after her, but she told him that she wanted to reserve her name for when she built her own brand. “I love the name my parents gave me and I knew I wanted to see it on a door one day,” says Lauren.
world. She’d bring back candy and fill the shelves of her room with them. “However, I never came across a really fun candystore and decided I wanted to open my own Disneyland or Willy Wonkalike store that offers candy from around the world. I wanted to create a pop culture with candy,” says Lauren. “I still have shelves full of candy from around the world that inspire me,” says Lauren. Her personal favorites include marshmallow, gummy candies, and anything red. “I love red candy. Red gumballs, red gummies, red licorice. And Cadbury crème eggs!” Candy has definitely played a major part in a lot of aspects in Lauren’s life. Her husband, hedge-fund manager Paul Arrouet, proposed to her on the beach in the Hamptons spelling out “You are my It Girl” with It candy bars. “It was very romantic,” says Lauren. On the topic of romance, Lauren is one who loves Valentine’s Day. “It’s an opportunity to create a special day or night for the person you love that comes from the heart.” Lauren helps couples create a special Valentine’s Day at her flagship stores’ cafés. “It’s a great date place,” says Lauren. “Couples can even go with their kids.” For Valentine’s Day, the stores are decked out in the holiday’s theme and the cafés offer menus featuring candy cocktails, such as their signature cotton candy cloud or chocolate cocktails, along with over-the-top desserts like molten chocolate cake and 10-scoop sundaes.
It’s not just her sweet personality that drove her to build a business around sugary confections. “While fashion is something that inspires me, the fashion industry was never my thing. I wanted to start a business around something I love and I’ve always loved candy. I love the look and the packaging,” says Lauren. “My father started his business with a tie and I guess I started mine with a chocolate bar.” From her travels while studying abroad in London, Lauren started to curate a collection of candy from around the FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 13
Lauren’s business might be all sugary sweet, but she’s a serious businesswoman. Her eye for detail has attracted the attention of many companies that have approached Dylan’s Candy Bar for collaborations. In addition to creating their own products and selling those of over 1,000 candy companies worldwide, Dylan’s Candy Bar has developed both edible and non-edible products for well-known brands and franchises including Havaianas, Hanky Panky, LeSportsac, Minions, Star Wars, and Barbie. They’ve also had the honor of creating products for Hello Kitty’s 50th and The Wizard of Oz’s 75th anniversary. To add to Dylan’s Candy Bar’s offering of over 7,000 different types of candy, Lauren is launching the brand’s new Gold Collection, a luxury high-end line of decadent-flavored chocolates wrapped in elegant paper packaging. Lauren is always thinking of ideas to take her brand to the next level. “I love what I do and I get inspired by working,� says Lauren. But the hard-working mom of 10 month-old twins, Cooper Blue and Kingsley Rainbow—who she and her husband lovingly refer to as the Twinkies—knows the importance of balancing work and personal life. “I dedicate a certain amount of hours each day to just the babies and make sure Paul and I have date nights,� says Lauren. “I sometimes take Paul with me on shopping trips for the store, so that we can have time together while I’m working.� Lauren also notes making time for her dad, mom Ricky, brothers David and Andrew, and friends. “It’s not easy, I’m still trying to figure it all out!� One of the things that helps the All-American Beauty unwind and share time with her husband is being in the outdoors. “Paul and I love to go hiking and biking when we can,� says Lauren. Not only the outdoors energizes Lauren, she counts several New York City neighborhoods as influential elements on her brand and personal interests. “The streets are so inspiring, especially in New York. I love Central Park, the Upper West Side where I grew up, and Museum Row,� says Lauren. “Downtown and SoHo are packed with fabulous design stores where I like to shop and the 14 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
West Village is amazing because it feels a little like Europe. I’m so proud to say I’m from New York. It’s like the center of the world.� Pop Art is another big passion of Lauren’s and an influence on her business, so luckily New York is a mecca of color and design. “I wander through gift and stationary stores for ideas and browse through paint stores for colors. I like to keep up with trends and apply them to my brand.� Home is another place Lauren looks to for inspiration. Her twins have motivated her to start a candy-themed baby line including products like onesies, bibs, and even a stroller designed with Maclaren. “It’s so much fun to be creating this product line with my babies,� says Lauren. Another close family member contributes to Lauren’s creativity. In addition to inspiring her to develop a line of pet clothes, toys, and accessories, her rescue dog Jersey also led her to start Dylan’s Candy Barn, a foundation which hosts parties at Dylan’s Candy Bar flagship stores to raise money for animal shelters, rescue efforts, and encouraging formal pet training and proper pet care. “We even bring in animals to be adopted during the event,� says Lauren. Lauren’s colorful character is evident in her brand. “My mission is to merge fashion, art, pop culture, and the holidays into the products,� says Lauren. New York events like Fashion Week also make it into the brand’s offerings, when she asks artists to design products like shoes with candy. “I want each and every item we sell to be a special gift. I search high and look for good products and want the packaging to be chic.� What’s next for the Candy Queen’s kingdom? World domination. She’s looking to open additional flagships throughout the U.S., expand into more department stores and hotels, and is currently scouting out locations for future stores in prime international cities MJLF -POEPO 5PLZP BOE %VCBJ 4XFFU t
Dylan’s Picks for Your Sweetheart Available for purchase on dylanscandybar.com
Dylan’s Candy Bar Milk & Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries Dark and milk chocolate-covered strawberries that pair perfectly with champagne or wine to toast to love.
$65 $14
Dylan’s Candy Bar Stack-A-Round 5-Pack Valentine’s Day Gift Set Cheeky keepsake stackable containers, filled with Valentine’s Day favorites like conversation hearts, candy lips, and gummy X’s and O’s, that can be reused after all the treats are gone to store desk supplies, hair accessories, or jewelry.
$9 Dylan’s Candy Bar Cupid Cubes Adorable mini conversation boxes of milk chocolate hearts that you can address to your special someone. FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 15
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Cruising UNESCO Sites In Northern Italy By Nava and Michael Raviv
orthern Italy is home to Milan, Venice, Verona, Padua, Bologna and Ravenna, cities rich in history, beauty, and UNESCO heritage sites. One of the best ways to explore these gems is with Uniworld’s ship, River Countess, on a smooth river cruise through the historic sites of Italy.
THE SHIP
The River Countess offers 82 staterooms (151 sq.ft.) and 4 suites (214 sq.ft.), with a very comfortable maximum capacity of 132 guests. Rooms on the upper deck feature French balconies, while others have river view windows, depending on the deck, of different sizes. Staterooms are bright and beautifully decorated in light colors, offering luxurious amenities such as Egyptian cotton linens, European duvets, and a pillow menu giving you the option of choosing what is most comfortable for your taste. The marble bathrooms feature glass enclosed showers, L’Occitane en Provence toiletries, plush towels, and cozy bathrobes. Public spaces include Il Castillo Lounge, the main gathering area with a full-service bar and dance floor, the elegant Savoy Restaurant, Captain’s Lounge, a patio lounge, spa, fitness center, and sun deck. Dining is one of the ship’s major attractions. The talented chefs prepare delicious, Mediterranean inspired dishes using fresh
ingredients purchased from local markets and farmers.
The breakfast buffet features freshly baked pastries, cheeses, cold cuts, smoked fish, egg selections, cereals, and fruit. Lunch, also buffet style, offers salads, antipasto, pasta, meat, fish, and assorted desserts. Dinner, served a la carte, consists of daily selections of Italian favorites such as pasta dishes, osso bucco, Branzino, fresh clams and mussels, gelato, and mouthwatering cakes. Daily selections of complimentary Italian wines and beer are served during lunch and dinner. The dining experience is enhanced by a courteous European waitstaff that memorizes guests’ names, favorite drinks, and food preferences. After dinner, passengers relax in the lounge, enjoying the tunes of the onboard musician, sip cocktails on the upper deck, or chat with fellow passengers. Ship’s amenities also include complimentary drinks throughout the lounges, an espresso and cappuccino machine, use of bicycles on shore, and free Wi-Fi. The cruise‘s main attraction, however, is an exciting selection of shore excursions. There are half day or full day trips, some only short walks from the ship while others are two to three hours. Most trips are complimentary, except several in depth art tours in Venice and a wine country tour. Guests are divided in groups and are driven by comfortable coaches with English speaking local guides. There is even a group for slower walking guests. Here are some of the itinerary highlights:
FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2016 2016| |NEW NEWYORK YORKLIFESTYLES LIFESTYLESMAGAZINE MAGAZINE|| 17
VENICE
We start our tour with a visit to the Doge’s Palace, the seat of power of the once powerful Venetian Republic. We walk through gilded chambers, along gold leafed corridors, marble fireplaces, and paintings by Tiepolo, Titian, Tintoretto, and others. The tour concludes with a walk across the Bridge of Sighs and through the ancient prison. At night we are treated to an exclusive experience in St. Marks Basilica, the most famous church in Venice. We sit in the darkness, and, as the interior is gradually illuminated, we are awed by the colorful mosaic art, the golden cupolas, and the basilica’s majestic altar. An art historian presents the fascinating thousand year history of the church and we view the gilded silver panels behind the altar.
PADUA
Padua is a glorious medieval city, once home to Galileo, Copernicus, and Dante. We stroll through the city’s main public square, a huge plaza dotted with water fountains and statues of local notables. We visit the Byzantine style Basilica of St. Anthony, considered as one of the top eight Catholic shrines. We view St. Anthony’s tomb and relics and admire the High Altar by Donatello. The tour continues
18 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
to the old University of Padua, famous for its illustrious alumni and for its medical and scientific discoveries. Finally, we stop at historic Pedrocchi Café and taste its signature coffee — a strong espresso topped with a refreshing mint foam.
BOLOGNA
Bologna is home to the oldest public university in the world, dating back to 1088. We visit the 16th-century inner courtyard and view coats of arms of students from all over the world. The top floor houses the anatomy theater where medical students studied the human body. Continuing on to Piazza Maggiore, we go to a sprawling square surrounded by the imposing Church of St. Petronio and the City Hall. We walk along the city’s famous decorative porticos (covered sidewalks), some dating back to the middle ages. The town of Bologna is known for its wonderful food, including mortadella, Parma ham, parmigiano cheese, balsamic vinegar, pasta, and the Bolognese sauce. The stores are laden with giant hams, oversized bologna salami, cheese wheels, fresh vegetables, and fish.
The tour includes a pasta making demonstration in a local restaurant, where we observe how pasta is handmade from scratch, and rolled into tagliatelle, tortellini, and other shapes. The demonstration concludes with a lunch of charcuterie, freshly made pasta, and local wine.
RAVENNA
Ravenna, once the capital of the Roman Empire and a major Byzantine city, is home to several UNESCO heritage sights. We visit the Basilica of St Vitale, an octagonal shaped church, in service since the sixth century. The domed ceiling and walls are covered with magnificent mosaic art depicting biblical scenes. We also stop at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, next to the church, and marvel at the blue mosaics representing the afterlife. The tour ends with a stroll along the city’s winding streets, where we browse eclectic boutiques and purchase local souvenirs.
VERONA
Verona was an important Roman city long before Shakespeare
made it the world’s famous city of love. We visit the charming medieval area, walk along ancient streets and squares, and learn about Verona’s glorious past and then stop by Romeo’s house and continue to Juliet’s courtyard to view her legendary balcony. The tour continues with a walk along the marble paved streets, passing by designer boutiques, fine stores, and restaurants. We complete the tour at the city’s best known landmark, the Arena of Verona, home to its famous summer opera festival. With a capacity of up to 25,000 seats, it is the second largest Roman arena after the Colosseum in Rome. This year’s itinerary is a ten-day trip beginning with a two night stay and tours in the vibrant city of Milan, prior to embarkation in Venice. Once on board, guests may partake in the fascinating shore excursions or just enjoy their floating hotel, indulging in a luxurious massage, relax on the sundeck with a frothy cappuccino or sip a refreshing Aperol spritz, the popular northern Italian cocktail. Salute! For information and booking call 1-800-257-2407 or visit: www.uniworld.com t
FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2016 2016| |NEW NEWYORK YORKLIFESTYLES LIFESTYLESMAGAZINE MAGAZINE|| 19
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www.theislandsclub.com.ky We offer 2, 3 or 4 bedroom suites, each with its own private patio or balcony overlooking world famous Seven Mile Beach. The Islands Club is located within easy walking distance of many fine restaurants, duty-free shopping, nightclubs, golf course, a large modern grocery store and water sports and activities. On the beach, large Casuarina trees provide shade from the sun as you relax in a lounge chair by the sea.
For more information visit theislandsclub.com.ky or Call TOLL FREE 1-866-533-0934 Tel: (345) 945-5211 E-mail: islclub@candw.ky
Club Med: The Original Romance Zone By Sandy Nesoff efore many of us were born, or were even thoughts in our parent’s imaginations, Club Med pioneered the concept of romance in beautiful parts of the world. That attention to romance continues today with the development of a new Zen Oasis area in Punta Cana, D.R. While Club Med locations are family friendly, there are some things that youngsters need not be a part of, even on a family trip. The Zen Oasis area has been designed with total serenity in mind and is reserved for adult guests only. Sophisticated and stylish, the Zen Oasis area is a relaxing haven within the resort, focusing exclusively on adults and couples looking for rest, relaxation and wellbeing. Concealed along the northeast edge of the resort, this private hideaway is perfect for leisure guests looking for elegantly appointed accommodation. Couples can escape for a romantic getaway while multigenerational families can drop the children off at the Children’s Club and enjoy some quality grownup time.
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 21
Zen Oasis: The exclusive retreat transports lovers and others, to a peaceful environment with a dedicated concierge, calm zen pool, featuring in-water lounge chairs and an Olympic sized lap pool, a secluded quiet beach for ultimate relaxation, a breezy palapa for yoga sessions on the beach and the Hibiscus Bar & Lounge serving healthy smoothies, teas, light bites and delectable cocktails.
ample outdoor spaces with plush daybeds on private terraces or gardens for lounging. Sleek 49” Smart TVs provide guests with access to a complimentary movie library and Wi-Fi content connectivity, as well as access to personal Netflix and Spotify accounts. The Smart TVs also include resort information via the Club Med app – a go-to resource for all on-property needs.
Zen Oasis Rooms: This tranquil escape features 78 brand new deluxe guest rooms with spa-like bathrooms boasting rainfall showers, large soaking tubs, soothing lighting, L’Occitane toiletries, and wellness amenities such as yoga mats. The rooms also feature
The Spa: The first L’Occitane Spa in the Caribbean now has a new look with the addition of a second story boasting two new VIP Couples Suites with relaxing treatment beds and plush sofa seating, as well as a second room housing indulgent hydrotherapy tubs to experience unique aromatherapy bath treatments. An additional VIP Bath Suite features two hydrotherapy tubs allowing one or two persons to enjoy one of the new specialized water treatments. All VIP spa suites feature breathtaking floor to ceiling views of the tranquil beach area and turquoise waters of the Dominican Republic. The spa menu now features two new offerings: The Spa Bath Experience and VIP Couples packages and the new Couple VIP experiences allow guests to choose from three themes (Relaxing, Revitalizing and Sport) combined with one of three unique packages (Coconut Tree Siesta, Sand Dunes Rest and Lagoon Invitation) with pricing starting at $390. Indigo Beach Lounge: Club Med Punta Cana’s new Indigo Beach Lounge features contemporary beach chic style with waterfront a la carte dining amidst incredible views of the Caribbean Sea. This oceanfront all-day restaurant and lounge is the perfect place to enjoy a quick bite or enjoy a leisurely breakfast or lunch. All resort guests may then take advantage of adult-only dining in the evenings with a delectable menu showcasing a variety of fish and meat specialties. Once the restaurant closes after dinner, Indigo transforms into a trendy nightclub where guests can dance the night away.
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t Club Med CREACTIVE by Cirque Du Soleil: The resort recently launched Club Med CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil, allowing guests to learn up to 30 acrobatic and artistic circus activities. t New Fitness Concepts and Facilities: Elevating the existing fitness offerings, a comprehensive gym renovation and expansion, provides guests with new state-of-the-art equipment and innovative fitness concepts inspired by the latest exercise trends (Soul Cycle, CrossFit, Orange Theory and TRX). t Tiara 5-Trident Luxury Space: Part of Club Med’s Exclusive Collection, the Tiara 5-Trident area of the resort has recently undergone a full renovation of the deck and pool bar, as well as updated lighting and furniture to further enhance the guest experience. t Cortes & Pizarro Buildings Get a Refresh: All Club and Deluxe Rooms in the buildings have been fully renovated featuring new furniture, floors, paint and bathrooms. Located a stone’s throw from the Zen Oasis area, these rooms provide a great option for adult guests with families seeking romance and the ability to utilize Zen Oasis while children explore the resort on their own or as a part of the Children’s Clubs. Club Med Punta Cana: Club Med Punta Cana boasts a gorgeous beachfront setting where authenticity and tradition come together with its incredible views. This Dominican Republic resort will now offer 631 guestrooms and suites with the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation and rejuvenation for guests of all ages with both adultsonly and family friendly resort experiences. Breathtaking facilities and amenities include three tantalizing restaurants, three bars with top shelf drinks, multiple pools including a sprawling lagoon pool and children’s splash park and endless sports activities. Club Med caters to groups with convenient and comprehensive, all-inclusive pricing and a mini-buyout program to take over the entire Zen Oasis area. A few resort highlights available include:
With a wide range of land and water activities and choices for vacationers to personalize their vacations, Club Med continues to spread “happiness” around the world – a philosophy that’s been in the brand’s DNA for more than 65 years. For more information visit www.clubmed.us, or call 1-800-ClubMed (1-800-258-2633) For an inside look at Club Med: Follow Club Med on facebook.com/ClubMed Twitter @ClubMedOfficial Instagram.com/ClubMed or subscribe to YouTube.com/ClubMed t
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Celebrate the Foodie Trail in Tucson By Mira Temkin Photos courtesy of Visit Tucson tatuesque Saguaro cacti dot the landscape as far as the eye can see. Lovely desert terrain and golden sunsets beckon against the dramatic backdrop of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Home to the University of Arizona, world-class golf courses, outdoor adventure and a hub of culture that the Wall Street Journal refers to as a “mini-mecca for the arts,” there are plenty of reasons to visit this oasis in the desert. But if your palate is hungry for a succulent taste of the Old Southwest, freespirited Tucson will be more than happy to satisfy your cravings.
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Best of the Barrio Foodie Tour
Get your fill of Tucson’s most delicious offerings on a culinary adventure considered the “Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food” north of the border, sponsored by Gray Lines Tours. This Sonoran Cuisine Tour highlights five different “dines in the desert” from family-owned businesses, which combine history, delicious cuisine and lots of fun. You’ll watch as bakers make traditional Mexican goodies at La Estrella Bakery and get to taste these luscious treats. The owner explained how, in Mexico, bakeries served as the community center because women had to visit the bakeries every day to buy fresh bread. Then it’s on to El Merendero for a sampling of cheese crisp, fish tacos and other outstanding Mexican fare. Now’s your chance to discover what an authentic Sonoran Hot Dog is all about. At El Güero Canelo, they slit the bun open, wrap the hot dog in bacon and top it with pinto beans, chopped tomatoes, grilled onions, mayonnaise, mustard and jalapeño salsa. This robust combination of Mexican and American cuisine is a firecracker of flavors. Then it’s time for a bit of refreshment at Oasis Raspados, voted the best raspados by Tucson Weekly. The Mexican answer to the snow cone blends ice cream and fresh 26 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
fruit flavors into a cool, sweet delight. The tour ends at Carlotta’s Kitchen, the commissary for El Charro Cafe, (also known for their prickly pear margaritas), where you’ll watch Mexican specialties being made and then presto…it’s your turn to take your hand at making tamales. grayline.com/tours/tucson/best-of-the-barrio-5887_1/
Upscale Dining Extraordinaire at Café Poca Cosa
For more than 20 years, owner/chef Suzana Davila has been tempting guests with incredible Mexican cuisine in downtown Tucson and a warm, friendly hug, to boot. This dining experience is, well, something to behold. The menu arrives at your table on a chalkboard and changes twice daily, based on Davila’s whim and what’s in season. Every dish is just bursting with color as well as flavor and the artistic presentation will simply wow you. The chicken with mole sauce and mesquite asada in pepper sauce, were spectacular. Go with the Chef ’s Plate, a three dish sampler, and let Davila surprise you. Each one is different. The red Sangria…well, you can just taste the freshness. Don’t try this dessert alone folks, but their decadent Molten Lava Chocolate Cake with ancho chile, is both huge and heavenly. Reservations are a must at Tucson’s most celebrated Mexican restaurant. Open Tuesday – Saturday. 520-622-6400 | cafepocacosatucson.com
Say Pizzaaaaa at Pizzeria Bianco
Located in historic downtown Tucson, Pizzeria Bianco prepares its award-winning artisanal pizza in a wood-burning oven. My Pizza Margherita had a thin, crispy crust, generously topped off with fresh, natural ingredients. Chris Bianco is the only pizza maker to win a James Beard Award and his attention to detail is evident in this popular eatery. pizzeriabianco.com
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum An Outdoor Living Museum
A perfect way to walk off some of Tucson’s fine cuisine is to spend time at this museum and gain a real appreciation for the Sonoran Desert. Here you’ll find 98 acres of zoo, an aquarium, a botanical garden and an art gallery, all in one. Walk through more than two miles of pathways and observe more than 200 animal species displayed in their natural habitat, surrounded by 1,200 types of plants. Don’t miss the hummingbird aviary. desertmuseum.org
Mission San Xavier del Bac
As you drive up the road, the Mission welcomes visitors like a vision in the distance. Considered the best example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the U.S., this well-preserved and still active Catholic mission was built in 1783, about 10 miles south
of downtown Tucson. This National Historic Landmark features dazzling frescos, statues and carvings. The impressive two-story interior is masterfully decorated, portraying both Spanish and Native American art. sanxaviermission.org
Lodge on the Desert An Arizona Landmark, Filled with Local Traditions
Since 1936, Lodge on the Desert has offered an urban oasis in the middle of Tucson, standing tall and proud as an Old Pueblo historic masterpiece. This 100-room boutique hotel features charming hacienda-style accommodations with meandering pathways and blooming flowers, which let you feel the essence of the real Southwest. The Lodge Restaurant, a member of the Tucson 50+ Originals, is a popular eatery among the locals as well as guests. The menu blends contemporary cuisine with traditional flavors from America’s melting pot. Their Sonoran Burrito, stuffed with fresh ingredients, gives a real kick to start the day. The star of the show is their daily baked fresh breads; simply awesome. 520-320-2000 | www.lodgeonthedesert.com Along with the lovely aromas in the desert air, there’s also a true sense of joy in this blissful paradise. Come embrace it. t
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Nashville, Music City & By Jodie Jacobs Photos courtesy of Tennessee Tourism ou’re on Broadway. Definitely, there are neon lights and music. But, no, you’re not in Manhattan. You’re on Lower Broadway where music is king. Musicians play here day and night. Buildings just around the corner pay homage to musicians, recordings, song writers and singers. You’re in Nashville, “Music City USA.” Before heading out to explore such important music stops as Opryland, Country Music Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame and RCA Studio B, get into music mode by going to the Musicians Hall of Fame’s U-Tube videos at musicianshalloffame.com/video Turn off the oven and iPhone, sit back, listen and enjoy. Then plan your trip to Nashville to see and hear it all. The city is the state capital, so it has good-eating places and several museums. However, if going to Nashville because of its music reputation here are a few don’t-miss attractions. 30 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
Sit In On A Radio Broadcast
Your tour of Nashville starts away from the downtown music district with a radio station. The Grand Ole Opry sits on the Cumberland River in Opryland Music Valley off Briley Parkway. If you remember that the river flooded in 2010, don’t worry. The hall reopened later that year and is certainly back to full glory with the old center oak circle (it wasn’t destroyed) where the stars stand. Begun in 1925 as the WSM Barn Dance, a Nashville radio show, it was a spin-off from George D. Hay’s National Barn Dance that broadcast from Chicago. A few years later when the program followed NBC’s Music Appreciation Hour, Hay introduced the term that is still with the program today. Archival notes report Hay saying: “For the past hour you have been listening to Grand Opera. Now we will present Grand Ole Opry.” The call letters, WSM, stood for “We Shield Millions” because the station was started by the National Life & Accident Insurance Company. The problem was that so many people wanted to watch the show live, it moved from the station into increasingly larger venues including Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium, before settling into its present, 4,400 seat home in Opryland.
Incubator of Country Songs And yes, it still is a radio broadcast. And it comes from what is considered the world’s largest broadcasting studio. To understand what goes on before, after and during the broadcast, get show tickets and book a backstage tour. You’ll see dressing rooms and probably people rehearsing. The show/broadcast always includes a Country Music Hall of Fame star plus popular guests. Tip 1: Thousands come to the broadcast from all over the world each year, so the best plan is to get show and tour tickets ahead of time. Go to opry.com for both tickets. The Grand Ole Opry House is at 2802 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214 or call 1-800-SEEOPRY (800-733-6779). Tip 2: Another plan-ahead item for your agenda is to do dinner or dessert (or even stay) at the Gaylord Opryland Resort next to the Grand Ole Opry. You walk through huge garden atriums, past waterfalls, to get to restaurants, bars and shopping. If not staying here (they have a spa, fitness center and golf course) ask about reservations for dinner and about visiting if only stopping for a drink at the wine bar or Irish Pub. Plan enough time to be there before the show because you will be stopping every few feet
to take garden and waterfall photos to post on your social media site. Gaylord Opryland Resort is at 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214. Call 615-889-1000 or visit gaylordhotels.com/gaylordopryland
SoBro Neighborhood
Back to downtown Nashville where you are likely to see on maps and hear when you get there the designation SoBro. It stands for South of Broadway. It’s where the Nashville Visitor Center is located on the Broadway side of Bridgestone Arena. You know it as the hockey ice where the Nashville Predators take on the New York Rangers. Open daily, the Visitor Center, 501 Broadway, is a good place to stop for maps, brochures and find answers to your whereis and how-far questions. Also in the arena is Music City Market Place which has themed gifts. The building you’ll see on the other side of the arena at Demonbreun Street, is Music City Center, a conference center with a huge guitar decorating the side. Go inside to visit the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 31
Broadway And Off
Have your walking shoes on because next you can cross 5th Avenue on the north side of the arena to see the Ryman Auditorium just west of Broadway, visit restaurants and honky-tonk bars on Broadway or go east to see the Music City Walk of Fame Park and the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum at Demonbreun between 5th and 4th Avenues. Why the Ryman? You will hear it mentioned because the Grand Ole Opry broadcast from there, famous singers and bands played there and it has an excellent, continuously playing movie that tells all about the auditorium. Among the history tidbits is that it was built in 1892 by a sea-faring captain to be a tabernacle with perfect acoustics. In addition, this is where the Johnny Cash Show was performed. Stars that appeared on the show there include Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Eric Clapton’s Derek & the Dominos and so many other musicians who became famous. You should visit the Ryman just to feel its ghostly spirits. Ryman Auditorium is at116 5th Avenue North. For Tour tickets visit ryman.com If ready for lunch, stop at Jacks on Broadway The neighborhood still has honky-tonk bars, but it is also where the locals go. Don’t be put off by its past reputation. Adult stores are gone. “It’s a destination for tourists but also for locals. Change came about in the mid-1990s when the Country Music Hall of Fame moved downtown and things started happening. There was a big music preservation move,” said record producer/recording engineer Michael Janas, director of Belmont University’s Recording Studio. Janas has worked with such well-known names as Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Billy Ray Cyrus and Chuck Mead of alternative country quintet BR5-49. On tour with his band, The Grassy Knoll Boys, Mead was on his way to a gig with Grammy-Award Country Singer Marty Stuart, when New York Lifestyles reached him to ask about Nashville’s 32 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
Lower Broadway. (BTW, Mead was also the musical arranger and director of a hit on the other Broadway “Million Dollar Quartet.”) “It’s where the Ole Opry guys would hang out. It shared an alley with the Ryman which was known as the Mother Church of Country Music,” said Mead. He recalls playing Robert’s Western World and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge there for five-hour gigs without a break. The honky-tonks were later credited with helping clean up the Lower Broadway neighborhood. “It was seedy. Now it’s colorful. The area has exploded,” he said. “It’s a wonderful circus.” Tip 3: Eat at Jacks on Broadway. Mead said it passed his downhome Kansas test. “Great BBQ brisket,” he said.
Country Music Hall Of Fame, Hatch Print And RCA Studio B
Work off lunch roaming through the musical decades at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. There are several really good temporary exhibits in 2016 ranging from Johnny Cash and Sam Phillips’ Sun Studios to Keith Urban. However, leave time to wander CMHF’s permanent exhibit - “Sing Me Back Home.” It covers country music from the 1800s through today on two floors of instrumental and costume artifacts, recordings and photographs, excellent videos and films and interactive stations. “World War II helped spread country music across the country,” said CMHF Senior Historian John Rumble. He attributed part of that to the music played in USOs and that people had more money to put coins in juke boxes. “Before the war, country music was local,” he said. Rumble recommended people read “Will the Circle Be Unbroken – Country Music in America,” produced in association by the Country Music Hall of Fame. Special exhibits are always changing, but in 2016 if you visit by May 15 you can still catch Australian superstar, multi Grammy winner’s “Keith Urban – So Far.”
If you have seen “Million Dollar Quartet” you know they recorded at Sam Phillips’ Sun Records in Memphis. If you feel any connection to the musicianship and songs of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison or Charlie Rich, try to visit CMHF by June 12. That’s when the exhibit “Flyin’ Saucers Rock and Roll: The Cosmic Genius of Sam Phillips” ends. You have until Dec. 31, 2016 to see “Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City.” It not only covers Bob Dylan’s coming to Nashville in the mid-1960s and Johnny Cash’s TV show, the exhibit has 16 listening booths that showcase a Nashville Cat such as Charlie McCoy and Charlie Daniels. While at the Country Music Hall of Fame, visit Hatch Show Print, a historic letterpress shop that relocated to space at CMHF. Reservations are sometimes hard to get so best is to pre-book a tour at hatchshowprint.com/ContentPages/hatch-tour. In business in Nashville since the 1870s, Hatch still turns out show and other posters. Visitors also get to make a poster. But don’t leave the Country Music Hall of Fame without taking CMHF’s tour van to RCA Studio B. You may not have heard of Studio B, but the Everly Brothers, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and Eddy Arnold did. They and many other famed singers and musicians recorded hits there. A foundation bought the facility in 2002 and leases it to the Country Music Hall of Fame. You take the RCA Studio B tour van from the Country Music Hall of Fame, but you should book ahead. It’s similar to booking the Hatch tour. Go online at the CMHF site for it at studiob.org
A Hall Of Fame For Musicians
Don’t skip the Musicians Hall of Fame which has the ground floor of the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, several blocks west of Broadway on 5th Avenue. Yes, it has Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen artifacts but it also has build-outs of recording studios and instruments played by the musicians who recorded on many of
the hit records you’ve heard. Its awesome displays pay tribute to the musicians recorded hits in Memphis and Muscle Shoals, Detroit and New York, Nashville and LA. “People may know the front guy, but it is the background musicians who played on everyone’s records who made the star sound good,” said Mead. The Musician’s Hall of Fame is 401 Gay St. musicianshalloffame.com/museum Tip 4: Instead of wearing out the shoe leather or leg muscles, you can take a Greyhound Hop-on Hop-off vehicle from the Walk of Fame Park on 5th Avenue. Its stops include the Musicians Hall of Fame.
More Johnny Cash
If you still haven’t had enough of the “man in black,” stop in the Johnny Cash Museum, open daily at 119 3rd Ave. South at Broadway. johnnycashmuseum.com You can also drive out to Henderson Memory Gardens to visit the gravesites of Johnny Cash and wife June Carter Cash. Visitors sometimes see Johnny’s sister, Joanne Cash Yates there. The cemetery is at 353 East Main Street (Johnny Cash Parkway) in Hendersonville, Tennessee about 18 miles northeast of downtown Nashville. Several other songwriters, singers and musicians are also buried there including famed guitarist Luther Perkins. findagrave.com/php/famous.php?page=cem&FScemeteryid= 1972272/
Side Trip To The Hermitage
Add a trip to a US President’s home and museum while in Nashville. On more than 1,000 acres, the home, farm, gardens and tomb of Andrew Jackson, known as the “People’s President” and “Old Hickory,” is about five miles east of Opryland on another bend of the Cumberland River. Called The Hermitage, it includes a museum detailing Jackson’s rise from orphan to general to US President. The address is 4580 Rachel’s Lane, Nashville, TN 37067. thehermitage.com t FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 33
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Resident
Exploring the Non-stop Fun of Ambergris Caye
By Kerri Zane
he country of Belize is often touted as one of the friendliest tourist destinations in Central America. But it’s not just the warmth of the people that attracts over 850,000 visitors every year. The Belizean coastline is home to the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and holds huge allure for non-stop families. There are 200 islands, or Caye’s (pronounced “keys”), dotted atop a 300 kilometers stretch of coastline. The liveliest and most popular for tourists is Ambergris Caye. Even better for you, traveling to the island from New York City is a cinch. United Airlines offers a 5-hour direct flight to Belize City, then it’s a quick 15-minute Tropic Air Cessna ride to the Ambergris. Ambergris Caye offers a wide variety of water oriented activities,
including some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling on this side of the world. There is a must-visit four mile area southeast of San Pedro Town called Hol Chan Reserve. It’s a popular five squaremile, underwater park, accessible only by boat. And a prime area to swim with nurse sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, colorful fish and view plenty of reef coral. Another great spot is Shark-Ray Alley. It’s a shallow swath of reef south of Hol Chan where you can get up close and personal with the sharks and rays. The perfect combination is to do both areas in one three-hour outing. (Editor’s note: Nurse sharks are non-aggressive and no need to worry about swimming with them). Other water-centric activities available on Ambergris include everything from Jet skis, wave runners and kitesurfing, to sailing, canoeing and kayaking. Not to be missed is the great blue hole, a giant submarine sinkhole. You can either dive in or fly over.
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*DWKD Tip #1 Book your scuba diving and/or snorkeling with the White Sands Dive Shop. You’ll get top rate equipment and guides who are friendly, knowledgeable and highly experienced. In 2016 the operation is planning for access to The Mexico Rocks Marine Reserve. It’s a more pristine and less traveled by tourists venue. While Ambergris Caye is famous for it’s spectacular reef activities, the island also provides plenty of on-land excursions as well. There is a rich cultural experience in visiting the ancient Mayan ruins and several are easily accessible, including Altun, Ha Xunantunich and Lamanai. The tour to Lamanai is a fun, full-day excursion, appropriate for everyone in your family. It includes a 70-minute boat trip across the ocean to the mainland, then up a river where you can see interesting indigenous plants, spot local crocodiles and, if you’re lucky, a manatee or two. There is a breakfast stop at a small community called Bomba. The locals, who live with no running water or electricity, are master wood carvers. Several display their handiwork along the main road where you are welcome to bargain with them for a purchase. After a bite of fresh fruit and a Belizean specialty called Johnny cakes, you’ll board an old yellow school bus for a 45-minute ride up the Pan-American Highway to the next boat dock. There a high-speed vessel will take you on a 26-mile ride up the New River to the entrance of Lamanai State Park. Disembarking, you’re immediately
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immersed in an ancient world where the call of indigenous birds and the loud screams of the howler monkeys greet you. It’s a short flat hike to the temple where you can climb to the top of the monolith for a spectacular view of the countryside. It’s a long trip, but worth the time.
DWKD Tip #2 Book your trip to Lamanai with Seaduced by Belize and for the most knowledgeable and fun guides ask for Ricky and Leon.
for tourists to book. Because the residences are designed to be second homes they have fully functional kitchens, large dining areas which will seat six or more, and in-unit laundry facilities.
For the bird aficionado’s in your family, Lalas Bird Sanctuary offers a unique, “people perch”. Built by Wil and Susan Lala, the perch is a large, multi-leveled tower with many vantage points to view birds. The Lalas sanctuary is located just a few minutes to the south of San Pedro Town. Other family fun activities include visiting the back side lagoon, where there are lots of flora, fauna and caves to discover. Take a hike along the guided 1-km Ecological Nature Trail. Visit the Cotton Tree Lodge to tour a nearby cacao farm, peel toasted cacao beans and sip on pinnul, a traditional cacao-and-corn drink while learning about Belizean Chocolate. Hop on one of the many golf carts that populate the island and tool around San Pedro for a day of trinket shopping and casual dining. More active members of your family book a cave-tubing excursion, ATV jungle tour or Zipline Adventure with cave-tubing.com. You can choose to do one, two or a combination of all three.
Of course, Las Terrazas is also a resort with 24-hour room service, daily maid attendants and a go-to concierge. Additionally the onproperty restaurant, called “O”, is overseen by Executive Chef Jeff Papendick. Papendick, aka Chef Papy, worked at some of the finest restaurants in Napa Valley, CA, so you know everything from an order of burger and fries to Papy’s signature BBQ ribs is top rate. A sparkling pool is the apex of the property with chaise lounges refreshingly lined up inside the water. There is also a spa for pamper treatments and a private beachfront if you’re more inclined to stick your toes in the sand.
DWKD Tip #3 The island’s entire beachfront is public, so you can walk or ride a beach cruiser along miles of shoreline. There is plenty of sea life to see, as well as beachfront restaurants and coffee spots to stop at along the way. As the island is one of the more popular Belizean destinations to visit there are a lot of luxury resorts that sit along the coastline. Many of the properties lend themselves to large groups traveling together. One that truly caters to multi-gen families is Las Terrazas Resort and Residences. Las Terrazas is located 3.5 miles north of the main town of San Pedro. Everyone on the staff from Walter, the van driver, to uber, can-do GM Dave Hesse, want their guests to have a superior experience. The resort has 36 one- two- and three-bedroom units available
DWKD Tip #4 For an extraordinary experience, ask the staff to organize a lunch on the resort’s private sand bar. The staff sets up your sand mats, towels, beach chairs, umbrellas and tables before you arrive and then serves you lunch. Then you can work it off paddleboarding, kayaking, or swimming in the shallow inlet. Ambergris Caye is teaming with US and Canadian ex-pats. In fact, many are familiar names and faces, like Leonardo Di Caprio, Greg Norman and Francis Ford Coppola. It’s such an appealing spot you too might find yourself exploring the option of owning your own Ambergris hideaway. Las Terrazas has a few of its residences remaining available for purchase. Or check out some of the new construction popping up all over the island. It’s another way for you and your family, to spend a dreamy day in paradise. DWKD Tip #5 The mosquitoes in Belize are fierce, so bringing along bug repellant and bite salves are a must. One innovative new choice to bring along is a Therapik to relive the discomfort of an insect bite. *DWKD - Do what Kerri did. t
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Win A New York Getaway Weekend
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Please visit ResidenceInnNewYork.com
Enter contact info via: www.residenceinnnewyork.com/email-signup Prize Drawing: On or about February 29th, 2016, a representtive from the Marriott Residence Inn will conduct a random drawing from among all eligible entries received during the entire Promotion Period to determine the prize winner. Odds of winning a prize depend on the number of entries received. Prizes: There will be one (1) prize winner. The prize will consist of: -One (1) overnight stay in a Maiden Manhattan Studio Apartment -One (1) $150 gift card to Century 21 (c21stores.com) -One (1) certificate to sail for two on the Classic Harbor Line (classicharborline.com) Release & Waiver: By participating in this Promotion, entrants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless Promotion Parties from and against any and all liability, loss, injuries or
damages associated with participation in this Promotion or the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize received in this Promotion. By participating in this Promotion, entrants waive all rights to claim punitive, indirect, incidental and consequential damages, attorneys’ fees or any damages other than actual out-of-pocket costs incurred to participate. Publicity: Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for the Sponsor and its agencies to use winners’ names and likenesses for purposes of advertising and publicity in all media worldwide without further compensation or notice, unless prohibited by law. Winner: To view the winner for this promotion, please visit ResidenceInnNewYork.com. The winner’s name will be available after winner validation has been completed.
No purchase necessary to enter or win. Must be 18 or older. Must be a US Resident. Employees of Marriott Hotels and New York Lifestyles Magazine are not eligible.
BRING YOUR HISTORY
RE-ENERGIZED LOWER MANHATTAN | Stay and “Experience” our Studio Apartments and New York Style Living, in Downtown New York – Broadway & Maiden Lane. Steps away from the One World Observatory and The 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Expect unparalleled accessibility when staying connected to all Five Boroughs of Manhattan via Fulton Center Subway Station one block north of the hotel on Broadway. The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, TriBeCa, SoHo, the New York Stock Exchange, Times Square, The Empire State Building, Chinatown, Little Italy, Battery Park and South Street Seaport are all only minutes away. Home to several local shops and restaurants, Maiden Lane fuses the area’s overall impression of business authority with a feeling of community and an artistic sensibility. Make it a staycation or plan your Spring Break in NYC now. Free breakfast and WiFi, daily.
SAVE 15% ON YOUR NEXT STAY. Visit ResidenceInnNewYork.com and book now through May 31st, 2016. Use Promo code: “LPR”. Based on availability, individual or group stays.
For additional inquiries, contact SALES@RIWTC.COM
170 Broadway at Maiden Lane | New York, NY 10007 | 1.212.600.8900 | www.ResidenceInnNewYork.com
Residence Inn Celebrates First Anniversary With Surprise For a Guest By Willard Smith n celebration of its first anniversary, the Residence Inn by Marriott World Trade Center, reached back to its opening. At that time, a year ago, it surprised its first guest with a host of gifts. This year they did it all over again. In celebration of their one year anniversary, they decided to do it all over again with another Mystery Guest Surprise and Delight! The guest who checked in at 10:48am (or closest to this time), would be named the 2016 one year anniversary mystery guest. The time of check-in was in commemoration of when the first guest appeared a year ago. This year’s lucky winners were Sofia Nedic and Tobias Turevo, who stepped into RIWTC at 11:15am. Traveling across the globe from Australia, it was the couple’s first time in NYC. They were welcomed by Ken Jasinski, James Gutierrez and the RIWTC Team, who presented them with a bag full of goodies: a complimentary one night’s stay, a black I NYC 40 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
duffle bag on wheels (perfect for big sales & shopping), a $25 C21 Gift Certificate (compliments of Centurty 21 Department Store), RIWTC chocolates, RIWTC Tumbler, RIWTC Journal, RIWTC Umbrella and an I NYC snow globe. To make the moment even more special, Sofia and Tobias shared the news that they just got engaged on New Year’s Eve in Central Park. What a romantic iconic NYC spot! This was reminiscent of “When Harry Met Sally” or “Serendipity”. If you plan your upcoming 2016 stay at www.ResidenceInnNewYork.com, you may be the next “Mystery Guest”! The Residence Inn Manhattan World Trade Center is located in the heart of New York City’s Financial District at the corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane – a distinctive address among Manhattan hotels. From 1795 until the early 20th century, Maiden Lane was the center of New York City’s bustling jewelry district. In 1896, Manhattan jeweler William Barthman decided to embed
a working clock into the sidewalk outside his eponymous jewelry store on the corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane as a way to lure customers. The finished clock was installed in the fall of 1899 and immediately became a public curiosity that still keeps time to this day. Stretching west from the South Street Seaport all the way to the World Trade Center Site, Maiden Lane now hosts such significant edifices as The Federal Reserve of New York, the Continental Center, the Cushman Building, and the Goldsmiths’ and Silversmiths’ Building, evoking an eclectic mix of modernist, neoclassicist, and beaux arts architecture all along the lane. Even though the Residence Inn Manhattan World Trade is one of the newest hotels in Lower Manhattan, the 20-story building at 170 Broadway dates back to 1903. To honor the historic address as well as the rich heritage of the Financial District and the famous Maiden Lane sidewalk clock, hotel representatives worked with Stonehill & Taylor to develop the architecture and interior design of the hotel around the theme of time and money. The use of the color orange as accent throughout the hotel is a nod to the historic neighborhood, which was originally set up by the Dutch for trade purposes and called New Amsterdam. Orange is the color of Holland. The artwork displayed throughout the hotel also includes references to themes of time, money, commerce, and the vibrant pace of -PXFS .BOIBUUBO t
The Residence Inn is offering a 10% discount to all guests who mention that they read about the hotel in New York Lifestyles Magazine.
A list of area attractions within walking distance to/from the hotel: t 0OF 8PSME 0CTFSWBUPSZ POMZ CMPDLT XBMLJOH
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42% 6 famous attractions
速 EMPIRE STATE BUILDING name and images
Empire State Building Experience
American Museum of Natural History
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Your choice of Top of the Rock速 OR Guggenheim Museum
Your choice of Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island OR Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise
Your choice of 9/11 Memorial & Museum OR Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Buy at these attractions - Good for 9 days - Skip most ticket lines
ONLY
Ages 6-17
114 89
$
$
Connect with CityPASS
(888) 330-5008 or citypass.com
ATLANTA | BOSTON | CHICAGO | DALLAS | HOUSTON | NEW YORK CITY | PHILADELPHIA SAN FRANCISCO | SEATTLE | SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | TAMPA BAY | TORONTO Prices and programs subject to change.
A Romantic Getaway For Manhattanites
By Stephanie & Jeff Sylva Photos courtesy of Woolverton Inn
e had high expectations for our visit to the Woolverton Inn, located in Stockton, NJ, just minutes from New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ. As we made our way up the long driveway and viewed the 1792 stone manor, enveloped by 300 acres of rolling hills and grazing sheep, we immediately knew that these rave reviews were warranted. The Woolverton Inn is a lovely country estate inn nestled on ten park-like acres surrounded by preserved farmland and forest – and it is an easy 1 1/2-hour drive from Manhattan, making it a perfect choice for a peaceful, luxurious getaway. The manor’s pastoral grounds invite guests to relax and unwind amid its tranquil scenery. During our stay, we spent a late afternoon enjoying a bottle of wine while sitting in the screened porch of our cottage watching the black-faced sheep grazing just a few feet away – a perfect moment
of peace and relaxation.
The Inn’s accommodations, which consist of five cottages and eight manor house rooms and suites, are all exquisitely appointed and boast comfy featherbeds, fluffy terrycloth robes, and Egyptian cotton linens. All stays include a three-course country breakfast, afternoon refreshments and sweets, complimentary soft drinks and bottled water, wireless internet, central air and private baths (most with whirlpool tubs for two). Woolverton’s three-course breakfast is outstanding. The Inn’s website describes their offerings as “fresh, seasonal, local and abundant.” Beginning with fresh-squeezed orange juice and a flavorful Costa Rican organic, shade-grown coffee, breakfast continues with a fresh baked pastry (possibly a flaky pina colada scone) or bread followed by fresh seasonal fruit (possibly from the Inn’s own strawberry patch) or homemade granola.
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 43
The final course features an entrée such as crème brulee French toast, “Dutch Baby” soufflé pancake with brandied apples, or a brie and herb omelet with roasted tomato. Entrees are accompanied by homemade apple-cranberry turkey sausage, maple glazed thick slab bacon, or apricot glazed pork sausage. Breakfast is served in the dining room at individual tables, on the porch or patio in the summer; or a full breakfast can be brought to your room or cottage for the full decadent touch. Although you may be quite content to just stay on the Inn’s grounds, aimlessly walking the informally landscaped footpaths and gardens, or simply whiling away the time with a good book sitting on the porch, there is plenty to do in the area. The quaint village of Lambertville, NJ and the neo-hippie enclave of New Hope, PA, separated by the picturesque Delaware River, are just minutes away, offering numerous choices for dining, shopping, and entertainment. Take the short walk across the bridge over the Delaware River for some great scenic views, especially for sunset. A stroll on the bridge can be spectacular during fall foliage. Antique hunters will love the shops in both Lambertville and New Hope, especially the Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market, considered one of the East Coast’s premier markets for vintage 44 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
and retro items. Art enthusiasts will find a variety of galleries and shops featuring an eclectic collection of art, hand-crafted jewelry, and fine crafts. Serious shoppers will also want to take the short drive west of New Hope to Peddlers’ Village and Penn’s Purchase Outlet Center in Lahaska, PA. Peddlers’ Village is a collection of 75 specialty shops and restaurants on 42 acres of colorful gardens and winding brick walkways. For those more interested in active pursuits, the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath offers a flat, scenic route with plenty of shade – perfect for biking, walking or running. The towpath (the path on the NJ side is better for biking than the path on the PA side), runs for nearly 70 miles and is easily accessible from the Woolverton Inn. We brought our own bikes and enjoyed a pleasant ride from the Inn to Washington Crossing State Park, stopping for an early dinner in New Hope at a riverfront café. Bike rentals are available at Pure Energy Cycling in Lambertville or at New Hope Cyclery, which will deliver bikes to the Inn for an extended rental.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find two-and-a-half miles of inviting walking trails at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve located 2.5 miles south of New Hope. The 134-acre Preserve has more than two dozen well-marked trails that wind through woodlands and meadow, along a pond and Pidcock Creek showcasing rare, threatened, and endangered native plants of the Delaware Valley Region. Other area activities include golfing; horseback riding; hot air ballooning; and canoeing, rafting, kayaking or tubing on the Delaware River. Another popular way to spend the day is to experience some tastings and tours of the many Bucks County, PA and the Lambertville area wineries and breweries. We enjoyed a delicious tasting of wines, together with a delectable assortment of gourmet cheeses, at the New Hope Winery, located half way between New Hope and Peddlers’ Village. The winery and gift shop is housed in a charming, rustic 18th century barn. The Woolverton Inn can provide you with a full list of area wineries and breweries. For many, a visit to New Hope includes taking in a show at Bucks County Playhouse, affectionately known as “America’s Most Famous Summer Theater.” The Playhouse, which opened its doors on July 1, 1939, boasts a veritable who’s who list of theatrical performers that have graced its stage. The Playhouse was renovated in 2012 and continues to present first-rate productions year round. During the warmer months, refreshments and drinks are available before the show and at intermission in the courtyard out front; or, for a picturesque view, on the playhouse’s riverside deck. On Saturdays, prior to the matinee, a complimentary history tour of
the theater traces the theatrical history and legendary actors of the Bucks County Playhouse through the theater’s collection of vintage posters and photos, as well as a short documentary. We thoroughly enjoyed the outstanding production of Sandy Hackett’s “Rat Pack Show.” The show was a step-back-in-time to a great era featuring songs and entertainment of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Joey Bishop. The performers were spot on, as we could easily envision these legends of entertainment with each song. Dining in the New Hope/Lambertville area is a treat, as the choices are numerous and the quality is generally excellent. The Woolverton Inn can provide you with an extensive list of some of their favorite area restaurants with a general description of each restaurant. We chose to dine one evening in the Wine Bar at Lambertville Station, sampling some flights of wine and a delicious selection of tapas in an intimate venue with a warm and inviting fireplace. Lambertville Station is an excellent choice for al fresco dining with its patio seating adjacent to the canal. And the perfect finish to our exciting day in New Hope/Lambertville was to return to our cozy cottage room at The Woolverton Inn and relax with an inviting fire in the fireplace while soaking in the inroom hot tub - no wonder The Woolverton Inn is included in the book “1,000 Places to See Before You Die.” For more information, contact The Woolverton at (888) 264-6648 or visit www.woolvertoninn.com t FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 45
Chocolate - The Way To Say “I Love You” By Bob Nesoff
hocolate is one of the most guilty pleasures in life. It has survived Weight Watchers; it has survived teenage myths about skin problems and it has managed to become, arguably, the most popular snack in the world. But more than that, it has become the most recognizable way to say “I love you” on Valentine’s Day…or at any other time. This month, with the marketing of the lover’s holiday, chocolate comes in heart-shaped red boxes; it comes in gilt foil wrapping and it comes in plain boxes. Opening a box of chocolate you’ve just given to a loved one in
celebration of Valentine’s Day is to invite anyone in arm’s length to dive in. There are chocolates that can be purchased over the counter at the local pharmacy. But they can hardly be called “fine chocolate.” The Swiss and Belgians have a worldwide reputation for fine chocolates and, for the most part, these are preferred in order to impress that lovely lass. There’s no need to go overseas for fine chocolate. New York has any number of quality chocolatiers throughout the city. Look at the calendar... there’s still time, so what are you waiting for. Listed below are some of the finer chocolate shops in New York.
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Neuhaus Belgian Chocolates 569 Lexington Avenue Multiple Locations www.neuhauschocolate.com Valentine’s Day 2016 promises to be a romantic day, according to Neuhaus Belgian Chocolates. To celebrate the day they offer “a luxurious collection filled with heart-shaped chocolate boxes.” Neuhaus has created a beautiful new Valentine gift box with a “unique” design that features hearts that flutter like butterflies. They say: “New romance, passionate lover or together forever? Every romantic will no doubt find the perfect chocolate heart for his or her sweetheart.” Neuhaus offers a Valentine’s All Dark Heart with 14 pieces for $32, a Pink 3D Heart with milk chocolate and dark and white chocolates for $64 with 28pieces. Then there is the Red Leather Heart that is all milk chocolate, also with 28 pieces for $64. To really impress her, you could opt for the Lavish Valentine Gift box with a great variety of chocolates for $225.
Jacques Torres Chocolate Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center, Multiple Locations 718-875-1269 www.mrchocolate.com Jacques Torres loves lovers. To prove it his shops will be offering chocolates in the shape of Xs and Os, signifying hugs and kisses. They’ll also offer strawberries covered in both milk and dark chocolate and lollipops for lovers at $12 each. For the true chocolate lover’s Valentine there will be double candy bars and a heart-shaped box with 55 pieces of chocolate. Jacques Torres was born on June 14, 1959 in Algiers and grew up in Bandol, a fishing village in the South of France. Torres moved to the United States, and in 1988 he served as the Corporate Pastry Chef for the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company before moving on to Le Cirque, where he worked for 11 years as Executive Pastry Chef. In 2000, Torres left Le Cirque to open a chocolate factory and retail shop in Brooklyn. Currently there are seven Jacques Torres shops, including two chocolate factories and an ice cream shop. Jacques Torres, known as “Mr. Chocolate,” is a master pastry chef. Torres is a prominent member of the International Culinary Center community, as Dean of Pastry Arts as well as holding pastry demonstrations.
that has milk chocolate ganache, passion fruit mango, vanilla and lime. There’s also milk chocolate praline with caramel, almonds, hazelnuts and zest of lemon in the Yellow Fusion box. Maison du Chocolat 30 Rockefeller Center Multiple Locations 718-361-9161 www.lamaisonduchocolat.com Maison du Chocolat is aiming at lovers who love and chocolate with a heart-shaped gift box with 13 pieces and prices starting at $42. You can go all out for a larger box with 43 pieces for $112. There are smaller boxes ranging in price from $18 northward. There are choices such as Red Enchantment containing dark chocolate ganache with three red berries, strawberry, red currant and raspberry; Blue Frisson that has dark chocolate, almond and hazelnut praline with blue Persian salt and blue poppy seed. You could also surprise your Valentine with Orange Passion
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Robert Linxe, founder of La Maison du Chocolat, dedicated his life to chocolate. Born in the French Basque region, he learned his trade of chocolatier in Bayonne before going to Switzerland to perfect his art. A visionary, who had the courage so characteristic of entrepreneurs, to open in 1977 his first boutique, dedicated exclusively to chocolate on the prestigious Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. He selected a location for this boutique with a wine cellar, which provided ideal conditions for preserving chocolates. He also had his laboratory in the cellar for over ten years. Nicknamed the “Sorcerer of Ganache,” Linxe put his stamp of nobility on chocolate as an exceptional ingredient, in particular, the ganache. A silky blend of chocolate and fresh cream is then enrobed in a fine layer of chocolate, creating associations of subtle and delicate flavors. Today visitors to Maison du Chocolat are treated to chocolates that will excite the palate and designs that will dazzle the eye.
Leonidas 485 Madison Ave 212-980-2608 www.leonidas-chocolate.com Their chocolate expertise is available in a variety of Valentine surprises. There is the Valentine’s Day Velvet Hearts box that comes in four sizes, filled with the delicious product. Prices range from $34 to $59 with the large box holding 25 pieces and the smaller one with six pieces. Or you might want to try the Valentine’s Day Ballotins in one of three sizes. They come in a traditional ballotin (box) that is specially decorated for Valentine’s Day. You can opt for the Leonidas Valentine’s Day Gift Box at $21. This is the first Leonidas store that opened in the United States back in 1991. Since then, Leonidas has been importing products on a weekly basis to ensure an impeccable and constant quality of the chocolates. The store has quickly become a shopping destination for New Yorkers and a reliable source
Vosges Haut Chocolat 132 Spring Street 888-301-9866 www.vosgeschocolate.com Their Mission - Peace, Love, and Chocolate At Vosges Haut-Chocolat, they harness the power of storytelling to open minds, spirits and palates through esteemed chocolate, inspiring us all to interact with the world in a new and creative way. Special for Valentine’s Day will be exotic truffle renegade hearts with 16 pieces for $55. You can also try the Renegade Ensemble Heart at $155 that includes a ½ pound Bachi’s Caramel, three crafted caramel marshmallows, six milk chocolate peanut butter bonbons, and 12 extra truffles and all are gluten free.
to spoil family, friends and business associates throughout the country. With well over a decade of experience in shipping Leonidas Belgian Chocolates throughout the US, the company prides itself in offering a professional, personalized, user-friendly and efficient service that matches the quality of Leonidas Belgian chocolates; this whether you are ordering online or visiting in one of their stores. They are conveniently located in the heart of Midtown, between 51st and 52nd Streets, a stone’s-throw from St Patrick’s Cathedral, and within easy walking distance from most major hotels. Visit anytime when in the area, Millie, Faith, Julia, Kozeta, Mai, Tess, Adriana, Rigo all very much look forward to your visit and particularly enjoy putting a face to a name to whom they’ve been sending Leonidas Belgian Chocolates for years. They are open seven days a week (except major public holidays) between 9 am and 7 pm weekdays, 10 am and 7 pm on Saturdays, and 12 noon to 6 pm on Sundays.
Vosges Haut-Chocolat’s intriguing creations are made with the finest ingredients from around the world, sourced by founder and Chcolatier Katrina Markoff. Three days after her graduation from Vanderbilt University, Katrina moved to Paris to pursue her dream of studying the culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu. With her palate as a guide, she embarked on a world tour that began with an apprenticeship in Spain and continued east through Southeast Asia and Australia. The House of Vosges Haut-Chocolat and the concept of “Travel the world through chocolate,� were inspired by her journeys. Katrina’s fusion of indigenous spices, flowers, roots, herbs and liqueurs with premium chocolate, creates a sensory experience that nurtures awareness of and appreciation for the world’s EJWFSTF DVMUVSFT t
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Photos by Rey Rosa Photography
UMBERTO’S CLAM HOUSE 132 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013
(212) 431-7545
umbertosclamhouse.com
Valentine’s Day In NYC: Romantic Dining With Your Love
By Bob Nesoff
here are more choices in New York for a romantic evening at a fine restaurant than perhaps anywhere else, including Paris. Some will challenge the wallet, while others offer just the right atmosphere at affordable rates. Herewith are some choices that run the gamut, but all are highly rated for that “hand holding” romantic dinner on Valentine’s Day.
Some restaurants are a bit more expensive than others, but that shouldn’t be a put-off. There are fine restaurants that will fit every pocketbook. All you have to do is a bit of looking around. With the mixture of ethnic groups in The City, there are delicious choices everywhere, from fine French restaurants to Italian, seafood to hearty meat dishes. We’ve done some research for you and herewith present a sampling of choices. Enjoy the day set aside for lovers everywhere.
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Daniel 60 E. 65th St. (212) 288-0033 danielnyc.com While many restaurants would like you to come in for Valentine’s Day, Daniel has prepared a special offering for the romantically inclined. There will be a tasting menu they refer to as “Romantic,” and I can’t wait to see it. For those who prefer a more standard set of options, there’ll be a four-course prix-fixe menu that will set you back $550 a couple. Make sure the person you are with is very special to you. Daniel Boulud, the chef-owner has a restaurant conglomerate with many different locations throughout the country. That is why the quality at Daniel is superb. One diner commented that it was “As good as it gets.” That’s high praise for the sophisticated New York palate. Aside from the food, Daniel is known for
One If By Land, Two If By Sea 17 Barrow Street 212-255-8649 oneifbyland.com
One if by Land Two if by Sea
CNN called this restaurant “One of the most romantic in New York... and one of the most haunted.” This Valentine’s day, lovers can dine on special menus and perhaps feel the ethereal mysteries surrounding them. “Our ghosts are friendly,” says the restaurants sommelier, Kirk Adair. According to the sommelier, romantic couples, rather than being put off by the ghostly presence, actually enjoy it. “Especially on a holiday such as Valentine’s Day, the ghosts actually bring warmth to the restaurant,” he said. “There is a white lady who comes down the stairs. Guests who have seen her or felt her presence, feel that she is friendly. There are about 25 ghosts in the restaurant and all of them are friendly.” Does the restaurant advertise the ghostly presence for holidays such as Valentine’s Day? “We do not. The only spirits we advertise are the ones behind the bar... the distilled spirits.” The atmosphere in One If By Land, Two If By Sea, confirms the CNN description. There are long candles on the tables, lending warmth and a soft glow to enhance romance. The overhead chandeliers are electric candles that could pass for the real thing. The room is warm, nicely decorated and the soft murmur of conversation adds to the atmosphere as well. 52 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
impeccable service. The waiters have been known to, at the request of diners, recommend wine from Daniel’s extensive collection, and there has been nary a complaint about the pairing. It is, as you might expect, somewhat expensive, but the rate of return diners is an indication that the food and service are well worth it. For Valentine’s Day expect candles on the table to give that warm glow as you hold hands between tasting the morsels of the food in front of you. Diners at Daniel have been known to spend hours enjoying the meal and each other, without any feeling of being rushed by the staff. That should also be the norm at the romantic Valentine’s Day lunch and dinner. Savor it on this special occasion. Daniel is a popular restaurant, so try and book reservations as early as possible.
For Valentine’s Day the restaurant is luring lovers with a series of menu offerings. There are several prix fixe choices as well as menu specials. The four-course lunch prix fixe ($150), offers toasted farro soup, Nantucket Scallops Tempura and duck confit agnolotti. The second course is green market salad and the third is a selection of various vegetarian options, poached sea bass, rack of lamb, Beef Wellington and fricassee of wild mushrooms. And the fourth course, dessert, offers key lime pie, brownie with caramel ice cream or champagne sabayon. There is a six-course tasting menu for dinner ($295) that starts with toasted farro soup. The second course is Nantucket Scallops Tempura. That is followed by the third course of crispy duck breast. A fourth course is poached sea bass and the fifth offers several vegetarian options. Those not interested in vegetarianism can opt for Beef Wellington. Dessert is the sixth course with a choice of key lime pie, brownie with caramel ice cream or champagne sabayon. You don’t need a ghost, friendly or not, to have a wonderful Valentine’s dinner in New York. There are more restaurants per block in The City, arguably, than anywhere else in the world. All you have to do is a bit of looking around. Pick a place that looks nice, get a recommendation from a friend, check one of the rating services such as Zagat or Yelp, call up and confirm that they will have Valentine’s specials. Then don’t wait and be left out in the cold. Call and reserve your table for a romantic evening.
Recette 328 W. 12th Street 212-414-3000 RecetteNYC.com Recette welcomes lovers and other couples for Valentine’s Day with a special prix fixe menu designed by Chef Jesse Schenker (Who also oversees The Gander-listed below) and Chef De Cuisine Audrey Villegas. The special is a five course dinner ($150 per person) with delectable starters and going through dessert.
The staff is noted for being attentive and provided whatever was asked for quickly. The linguine with clams, chicken parmigiana and king crab with angel hair pasta were all high on the list of recommendations. Also recommended at Recette is the lamb ragout, beef Carpaccio surrounding burrata. Also try the fresh arugula salad and duck breast. Desserts also were ranked highly by diners. One reviewer commented “Stellar dining in an intimate setting.�
First Course: Flake crudo, pomegranate, fennel purĂŠe, caviar, crumble Second Course: Shellfish chowder, guanciale, parsnip, cream Third Course: Roasted quail, coco bean cassoulet, chorizo Fourth Course: Veal chop, sweet potato hash, creamed kale, jus Dessert: Raspberry mousse, lychee cake, rose “kissesâ€? raspberry compote Recette has been highly rated by diners for its “adventurous New American small plates.â€? There are exceptional multicourse tasting menus available aside from the full menu choices. The restaurant is conducive to a romantic evening, in part due to its “intimateâ€? size. All seem to agree that the food is “deliciousâ€? and the service is impeccable. It’s been called “a fun place, even romantic.â€? Cocktails are finely crafted and the atmosphere permits the food, drinks and service to stand out.
The Gander 15 W. 18th St. 212-229-9800 thegandernyc.com What’s good for the goose is also good for the gander, or so they say. In this case The Gander has whipped up specials for Valentine’s Day to entice couples for a romantic dinner. Diners can either choose the full menu of the special Valentine’s prix fixe at $96 per person. It will include lobster, tortellini, bisque, bone marrow fondant and black truffle.
called the gnocchi crispy and decadent while the duck was “to die for.� The branzino was very flavorful and was accompanied by a nice selection of grilled vegetables. Carrot cake at dessert is one of the more popular finales at The Gander. With all the detail and fine food, you might expect the tab at the end of the meal to be astronomical. Wrong? Two people dining, UXP HMBTTFT PG XJOF BOE GPVS DPVSTFT UPUBMFE BCPVU FBDI t
Chef Jesse Schenker is on top of everything that comes out of the kitchen in this Flatiron District restaurant. His unique and imaginative cooking style shows through in his house-made pickles, fresh pastas and wide selection of entrĂŠes. For that romantic dinner there is a wonderful selection of international wines. There is also a great assortment of spirits for cocktails. Try the calamari salad and burrata as starters. Grapes and nuts are wonderful additions to the starters. Diners had cheddar gnocchi and duck tubetti. Comments heard during the meal
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 53
Welcome.
Escape to your own private country estate at The Lodge at Woodloch, an all-inclusive destination spa resort just 95 miles from Manhattan. Reservations: 866.953.8500
thelodgeatwoodloch.com
Couples Spa For A Truly Romantic Valentine’s Day Experience By Sandy Roberts here are so many ways lovers express themselves on Valentine’s Day. They walk together, holding hands; a romantic movie, dinner at an intimate restaurant or a box of chocolates. But for the ultimate romantic experience, reserving a spa treatment for two really does the trick. Before making a spa reservation, call ahead and find out if they offer a couples massage. Many spas, even day spas, have special treatment rooms that are big enough for two people.
The most romantic spas have lavishly equipped suites for couples. After treatment the couples can lounge in a private area. Many suites have amenities such as fireplaces, pedicure chairs, steam showers and lounge beds. New York City and environs have a plethora of spas offering Valentine’s Day specials. It is recommended that before making a reservation, check on the special price as opposed to the regular rate. Here are some of the more romantic spas in New York for couples on Valentine’s Day. FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 55
Mandarin Oriental 80 Columbus Circle 212-805-8880 Their 650 square foot spa suite is reminiscent of a sumptuous Oriental-style home with views of Central Park and the Hudson River, a fireplace, elevated bath and dual massage beds. The lights of the Upper West Side sparkle at night. The Thai Yoga Suite was custom-designed with elements that’ll remind you of Thailand. It creates a sense of place with a deep-soaking tub decorated with teak wood and gold leaf. The suite exudes a tranquil feeling and a sense of togetherness. The Couples Escape is a Valentine special that provides three or four hours of total bliss in the Couples Escape Spa Suite. You begin with a bath customized with the Mandarin Oriental’s signature oil blends. You’ll start with a soothing foot treatment tailored to individual needs. Then couples are served glasses of Billecart-Salmon rosé and chocolate covered strawberries in a kang bed. Then follows the bath, relaxing side-by-side with the “Time Rituals” experience. The treatment finishes with private time and the spas five elements bento.
Juvenex Spa 25 West 32nd Street 646-733-1330 You have two couples packages to choose from at this midtown spa. There is the 150-minute Basic Romantic Couples Getaway ($395) that begins with a Jade Journeythree-part treatment that nourishes the skin with an igloo sauna, a steam sauna and a cold rain forest shower that is followed by a move to the celebrity room. Here you’ll have a private soak and hydrotherapy massage. After that relax with snacks of fruit and then finish with an invigorating Korean-style scrub. If you’d like more pampering, try the Enhanced Romantic Couples Getaway ($555) that includes all of the above plus the added relaxation of a private room and the option of a body wrap or facial instead of a massage.
Faina European Spa 315 West 57th Street 212-245-6557 Want a choice for a Valentine’s Day spa treatment? Faina Spa offers a dozen options for the two of you to choose from. Try the Decadent Duet ($252). That’s a European manicure for her and a European pedicure and foot scrub for him. It also includes a 50-minute joint aromatherapy massage with champagne and chocolates. You want something sweeter, you say? Try the Couples Decadence package ($229), that includes a 50-minute chocolate body massage for two. The ultimate pampering session here is the Champagne Immersion for Two.($469). The package includes a champagne facial and either an antioxidant hydrating wine wrap or champagne-rosecream massage, a grape-enzyme-peel pedicure for him and a champagne manicure for her. 56 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
The packages below offer a Valentine’s Day discount: 1. Side by side couples massage for one hour, offering relaxing pleasure for two ($195). Includes a full body aromatherapy, massage in a private, candle lit room, using organic essential oils, with two massage therapists pampering both of you. 2. Chocolate facial for Him and Her ($190). Custom holistic facials using organic chocolate and anti-aging skin care products to rejuvenate your skin. Before the treatment, the spas cosmeticians will examine your skin and a well customized facial will be performed. 3. Chocolate Spa Pedicure ($99). This will be a side-by-side pedicure for the couple in Jacuzzi massage chairs. Sit back and relax with a glass of wine. You’ll think you are having a facial for your feet. As an added Valentine’s special you can opt for all three treatments for only ($450 instead of the standard $484).
Picture yourself at Le Cachet’s Valentine Special for a couple’s massage in a private, candle lit room. Now relax.
Le Cachet is known for its unique pampering pedicure. More than a standard pedicure, this therapeutic treatment includes an almond scrub, organic chocolate mask followed by an invigorating foot and leg massage, using essential oils to revitalize tired feet. This stimulates blood circulation and leaves your feet soft, well-groomed and polished.
This full-service day spa will offer a Valentine’s Day chocolate full body wrap, custom European facial for him and her, using organic skin care products. Valentine’s Day couples can also enjoy a chocolate pedicure in a Jacuzzi massage chair.
The Couples Escape Magic Over Manhattan package is $1,355 per couple and is available February 13th to February 16th.
Timeless Marilyn Monroe Spa Hyatt Hotel-Times Square 135 West 45th Street 646-640-3830
and relaxing facial massage and the must-have “Steamy Wonderful.”
Le Cachet Day Spa and Laser Center 39 East 30th Street 212-448-9823
Named for the late sex goddess, the Timeless-Marilyn Monroe Spa is extending its Valentine’s Day special until the end of this month. The “My Sweet Darling” package ($250) is for couples and is a 50-minute treatment in a luxurious spa suite. It includes:
You can take advantage of these treatments before or after your romantic dinner at a nearby fabulous restaurant. The Times Square location of the Timeless Marilyn Monroe Spa opens the door to some of the better restaurants in New York for a wonderful, romantic Valentine’s dinner or a show. The restaurants and most theaters are only a short, hand-holding walk from the spa.
*2-50-minute Marilyn Monroe Signature massage treatments en-suite *Glass of champagne for two served at the spa *Spa gift for two to take home The Timeless-Marilyn Monroe Spa takes a glamorous cue from its namesake, the legendary actress and sex symbol. The spa’s mantra is Marilyn’s motto: “I just want to be wonderful.” The spa menu includes indulgent massages, body treatments and facials as well as manicures and pedicures. One signature treatment is “Marilyn’s Signature Fassage,” an effective lifting
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 57
The Power of Beautiful Thinking By Doris Day, MD was looking at photographs from my childhood with my daughter for a mommy-daughter project we’re working on. We looked back from when I was a little girl of two, all the way through my teens and college years. My daughter looked at the photos, paused, looked at me, looked back at the photos, paused, looked at me… Finally she looks back at me and says: “mommy, this was you???” I said “yes, that’s me growing up”. “Mom, by the time you die, you’re going to be a supermodel.” She replied in awe. This altered the lens through which I viewed the relevance, meaning and perception of beauty. As an aesthetic physician my job every day is to make my patients, both men and women, look and feel more beautiful. The requests come in many forms. Patients use terms like “I look tired,” “awful,” “old,” or one of the most common ones I hear, “one day my face just fell apart!” It’s very interesting that there’s a commonality in how we describe ourselves: it is always by our flaws. The first thing I notice and comment on as my patients and I look in the mirror together, is their beauty. Everyone has it - I see piercing green or blue or brown eyes, defined bone structure, shapely brows, sultry lips, perfect facial symmetry and balance. All feel seemingly nonexistent or irrelevant relative to certain perceived flaws. There’s beauty in all of us and if we don’t see it then how can we enhance it? My main job and focus is to help you see your beauty and to understand how to maintain and enhance 58 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
your best features. That doesn’t mean changing how you look; it means looking like the best version of you. And what that version is, may change as you age, seamlessly tailoring your definition of optimal beauty to fit and match who you are is what I call truly aging gracefully. Don’t confuse aging gracefully with aging helplessly. Where I see people run into trouble is when they chase youth. There are changes that happen at every structural level - from bone to fat to collagen and elastic tissue in the skin that affect how we look as we age, so it’s impossible to look 20 when you’re 50. What I’ve observed through 20 years of practice is that beauty is a feeling and expression as much as it is physical. It is as much about a life lived to the fullest as it is about the skin that drapes the face. My greatest fulfillment comes from learning about my patients and helping them see the best in themselves and to bring that to the surface so what they see in the mirror is their true beauty. This transcends youth and is the main reason we can look even more beautiful and radiant at 50, 60, 70 and beyond. But living life to the fullest without regard for known skincare data can have its repercussions; The fact is, up to 90% of wrinkles, not to mention uneven skin tone and broken blood vessels, and oh yes, skin cancer too, come from sun exposure. If you add on a few or more years of smoking, decades of stress and other lifestyle factors, those are the cause of what you see in the mirror, and just a few changes can turn things around so you like what you see in the mirror.
Photo by Susana Fernandez This is where the need for great skin care and attention to detail plays an immense role in enhancing the health and beauty of your skin. Truly aging gracefully means doing what it takes to look your best and understanding that it is your prerogative to have aesthetic treatments, or not. When done well, fillers and botox, along with lasers, can truly bring out the best in you without looking like you’ve had anything done. More important than the product or treatment, is the training and skill of the physician doing the treatment. We’ve come to think of the product as the treatment, which is the same as the idea that milk, eggs and flour make a great cake- you need the right chef to combine and use the ingredients to make the final masterpiece. As important as what you have done is how you maintain your skin. It’s never too late to start taking care of your skin and it’s never too early either. Besides sun protection, which I really can’t emphasize enough how important that is, there are other measures that you can take as well. The first step is proper cleansing. This is critical because we now know that makeup and pollution left on your skin can damage and age your skin while you sleep. If you’re out late or too tired to wash your face before bed on any given night, or if you’re traveling and can’t follow your regular routine, you can use a premoistened cleansing cloth instead, but that should be the exception not the rule. I often use a cleansing cloth to remove makeup and then wash with a gentle cleanser to make sure my face is clean and ready for the next step. For skin care we’ve come a very long way in creating products to help prevent and treat insults to the skin. My next most important skin recommendation is to use retinol. It can be over the counter or prescription strength but this ingredient is the most studied and well-understood ingredient in skin rejuvenation. The final step is moisturizer. Completing these 3 steps on a daily basis will help maintain optimal skin health and give you the best protection against the daily wear on your skin. Helping my patients look and feel beautiful as they age is my main goal and I believe that process starts with appreciating your inner beauty and unique and beautiful characteristics. From there, these beauty tips and the host of non-invasive treatments can help you BDDFOUVBUF ZPVS PXO OBUVSBM CFBVUZ t
Dr. Day, a dermatologist, is affiliated with NYU Langone Hospital. FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 59
Improve Your Heart Health By Devi Nampiaparampil, MD, MS (“Doctor Devi”) eart disease is the number one killer of both men and women across the world. Although the medical focus has been on diet and exercise, research suggests we might have another—potentially more powerful—intervention: a loving relationship. The early research concentrated on the health effects of marriage. In 2007, the Department of Health and Human Services found that married people live longer and have fewer medical appointments than unmarried folks. Japanese scientists determined that nevermarried men were three times more likely to die of heart disease than married men.
One study found that the more educated a man’s wife was, the lower his risk for medical problems such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity. A 2009 study showed that men married to more educated women also had a lower death rate than men married to less educated women. It’s possible more educated women might have more knowledge about health. Therefore, they might promote healthier habits in their spouses. Regardless of education level, being in love often changes how you act. If you feel like you have meaning and purpose in your life, you might take better care of yourself for your partner. You might take fewer risks. Research suggests that people in love drink less, exercise more, and floss more.
That could mean one of two things. Perhaps being married confers a health benefit. Or, maybe healthy people are more likely to get married. Scientists tried to tease out the answer by studying more than 3,600 people over a 10-year period. After accounting for cardiovascular risk factors such as age, body fat, smoking, blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol levels, married men had a 46 percent lower rate of death than unmarried men.
Scientists are discovering that the benefit may not be behavioral alone. There are physiologic underpinnings to why relationships might improve your heart health. When you feel stressed, your body releases stress hormones to help you adapt. This is called the “fight or flight” response. When you’re really anxious, these hormones cause your heart to race and your blood pressure to go up.
A report from the National Institute of Medicine also found that having intimate relationships helps you live longer. Why would marriage affect your health? The physiologic changes that occur in your body when you’re in love might improve your health habits, lower your stress hormone levels and lower your blood pressure.
When you water delicate indoor plants, you probably use a spray bottle that creates a light mist. Those water droplets are propelled out of the bottle—but at a very low pressure—so they land gently on the leaves and roots. If you watered your house plants with a garden hose, you would damage them. The pressure generated
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By Being Loving To Others inside the hose would be too high for the plant to withstand. The same is true in the body. When your blood pressure rises to high levels, the blood doesn’t nourish your brain and heart in the same way. Instead, it practically assaults those organs causing damage. There’s evidence that being in love lowers your body’s stress hormone levels. Without those stress hormones there to elevate your blood pressure, it comes down. Your heart and other organs get some relief. And that can translate to living longer.
poorly. When you’re in love, your brain gives you more dopamine. As a result, you feel more pleasure. That’s why falling in love often involves a mixture of pleasure and attachment. What happens if you’re not in love? Researchers looked at data from approximately 300,000 people and found that being socially connected—being part of a community—could also add years to your life.
Researchers dubbed oxytocin the ‘anti-stress’ hormone because it lowers stress hormone levels in the body, thereby reducing blood pressure. This could protect your heart.
And owning a pet, particularly a dog, can reduce your risk of heart disease. This could be related to exercise habits. A study of more than 5,000 people showed that dog-owners walk much more than those who don’t have dogs. Dog owners are also less obese. Other studies suggest having a pet—who showers you with unconditional love—can reduce your stress hormones and improve your blood pressure.
Oxytocin works alongside the body’s natural reward chemical, dopamine. Every time your body does what your brain wants it to, the brain gives it a treat—dopamine. If your body fails, it doesn’t get that dopamine. This is why people feel happy when they do something well and they feel disappointed when they do something
Bottom line: this Valentine’s Day, consider showering someone—a romantic partner, a friend, a colleague, or a pet with love. It DPVME IFMQ ZPV MJWF MPOHFS t
The body does this through a hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin was first studied because of its role in mother-child bonding. Around the time of labor and delivery, its levels in the mother increase. It also increases during breastfeeding. Scientists later discovered that both men and women release the hormone. Activities like hugging, holding hands and cuddling release oxytocin in both sexes. The hormone promotes bonding, attachment, and feelings of contentment.
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 61
Photo by Zenspa1
Photo by Nick Webb
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Valentine’s Day Filled With Mixed Emotions By Miki Makrillos, MD alentine’s Day, a holiday traditionally about love and romance has been slowly evolving into a holiday filled with mixed emotions, unmet expectations, and miscommunication between many individuals. Men and women have always struggled with communicating and understanding each others’ wants and needs. There are myths and reality of what men and women truly desire for Valentine’s Day. Men feel women are more about expensive gifts and being wined and dined in posh, upscale restaurants. In reality, most women prefer to be heard, listened to, and have a mutual sharing of thoughts with their partner. They would rather receive a thoughtful gift that represents who they are, instead of a last minute item. Women would like little acts of romance throughout their day, such as little love notes and forget me nots. Passion is primal! Sex, desire, and intimacy are things all women want in their relationships. Lastly, women seek a “real connection” with their partner. They want to share their “lives” together. Real connection comes from sharing interests, hobbies, dreams, and passions. True intimacy happens
in the smallest moments of sharing disappointments, fears, hopes, dreams, and our deepest desires, knowing we are safe and loved. Valentine’s Day is about love, not just couples. Single women can make it positive and meaningful too! Single women don’t have to be lonely and miserable on Valentine’s Day. Learning to love your “self ” and self-acceptance are key to making this day special. Sharing love with friends and family can be very rewarding. Give yourself a new experience, sign up for a fitness or yoga class, or go to the spa, which can help relieve anxiety and tension. Plan a girls’ night out with other single friends, or attend singles events. Treat yourself to some shopping and buy yourself a Valentine’s gift. Maintaining a positive attitude and outlook may leave you with positive energy on this Valentine’s Day! Please share with us what are your thoughts on Valentine’s Day expectations, and what exactly does self-love mean to you? What is something you do to DBSF GPS ZPVSTFMG t Editor’s note: Dr. Miki Makrillos is a clinical psychotherapist and founder of wonderwomantalks.com
Here are some Valentine’s fun facts: Percent of Valentine’s Day cards bought by women - 85% Percent of flowers bought by men - 73% Percent of women who send themselves flowers - 14% Amount the average consumer spends on Valentine’s Day - $116.21 Percent of consumers who celebrate Valentine’s Day - 61.8 % Percent of women who would end their relationship if they didn’t get something for Valentines day - 53 % Average number of children conceived on Valentine’s Day - 11,000
Gifts Most Often Given on Valentines Day: Candy 47.5 % Flowers 34.3 % Cards 52.1 % Jewelry 17.3 % Dining/Eating Out 34.6 % Clothing 14.4 % Gift Cards 12.6 % Other Gifts 11.2 %
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 63
ALADDIN
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF AND THE CO-DIRECTOR OF
THE BOOK OF MORMON
ROTTENBROA DWAY.COM DWAY. COM ST. JAMES THEATRE • 2 46 W. 44 TH ST. TICKETMASTER.COM • (8 7 7 ) 2 5 0 - 2 9 2 9
PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS, ILLUSTRATIONS BY PETER DE SÈVE
BEST OF THE YEAR!
Broadway Bound
Bob & Sandy Nesoff
Chazz Palminteri’s somewhat biographical story, A Bronx Tale, has had an interesting run over the years. It began as a one-man show with Palminteri, in Los Angeles and then to New York as an offBroadway production. It made a major jump to the big screen in 1993 with Robert De Niro in the starring role of a bus driver competing for the respect and affection of his son with a gangster, played by Palminteri. The story remains in The Bronx of the 1960s, but it’s taken on a bit of West Side Story (see below) in this incarnation as a musical. Both De Niro and Palminteri are back with this production. That should be enough to guarantee a “knock ‘em dead� show. De Niro co-directs with famed Jerry Zaks. The music is by awardwinning Alan Menken. In the Paper Mill Playhouse production, Nick Cordero plays the Palminteri role of gangster, Sonny. Richard H. Blake is De Niro’s Lorenzo and Joshua Colley plays the young version of his son, Calogero. Jason Gotay steps into the adult shoes of Calogero. The clash between Sonny and Lorenzo is classic, each looking out for young Calogero. The boy, to his father’s dismay, is enthralled by the money and power the gangster has. That sets up a clash between the gangster and the father. Although the story is set 67-years ago, it could come from today’s tabloids. Calogero falls for a beautiful black woman, Jane, played by Coco Jones. If you think the brouhaha about the Academy Awards is fraught with racial tension, wait until you see how the young lovers affect their respective communities. This could ignite a race war. The tension in the play is handled beautifully and draws the audience in. You can’t help but root for Calogero and Jane, but at the same time you are terrified by his growing closeness with gangster Sonny. The showdown between Sonny and Lorenzo is classic... the bad influence vs. the parent looking to protect his young son.
Who wins? Check it out for yourself. The show will run at Paper Mill Playhouse through March 6. Tickets here are far less expensive than they will be when the show transitions to New York, with prices starting as low as $69. And, no less important, there isn’t a bad seat in the house and the seats are far more comfortable. For information and reservations: 800-840-9227. On a much lighter note, upcoming shows for the remainder of the season are: Pump Boys and Dinettes (April 6-May 1), a truly rollicking musical that is joyous, with a little bit of heartbreak and an overabundance of hilarity. The show is a tribute to life at a roadside diner. It takes place on a rural highway in North Carolina, somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna. Four hard working guys at a gas station have been known to do, when necessary, auto repairs. But they can only do it when they are accompanied by great tunes and the need for a couple of beers. Next door to the gas station is the Double Cupp Diner where the Cupp sisters offer their famus home cooking and songs. Picture Dolly Parton as a waitress with the famous “Double Cupp.� West Side Story (not quite A Bronx Tale, but with some of the same racially fired overtones) makes a comeback from June 1-June 26 to close the season. The updated version of Bill Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, has set pulses rising for decades. And as old as it might be, the music and dancing still wows audiences. This legendary musical has set the bar on the stage for all musical theater. The amazing dance numbers are soul-stirring as the Sharks and Jets confront each other. One of the big draws is that this production has the original Jerome Robbins choreography. The location for the story, which debuted in 1957, is gone, having been replaced by Lincoln Center. It is Romeo and Juliet transported to New York and the clash between somewhat upscale high school boys and girls and the newly arrived Puerto Ricans looking to find UIFJS QMBDF JO TPDJFUZ t
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 67
By Jim Kierstead
Warming Up On
hope everyone is managing to stay warm this winter! With winter’s chill finally arriving as you’re reading this, you’re going to need to warm up. And what better way to do that than to check out a Broadway show (or three)? And what better way to celebrate “Lovers Month” and Valentine’s Day, than to take in a Broadway show? Many out-of-towners come to New York City and while in town, they like to see shows on Broadway, so ticket sales are incredibly strong. In fact, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is actually one of the strongest times for Broadway sales in the entire year. But as the cold sets in, many people, especially locals, tend to stay home rather than venture out in wintry blasts. There is also the fear that a sudden snow storm or other winter mishap could prevent you from getting to the theater. So, while people are staying home and skipping the theatre, it’s actually the perfect time to go and catch up on all of the shows you want to see! In fact, the producers of shows want you to come so badly that they’re even willing to discount tickets to give you that added incentive. Let me tell you about some of these opportunities! First and foremost, if you are not familiar with the TKTS booth in Times Square, you should check it out right away! It’s the perfect spot to go on the spur of the moment when you feel like catching 68 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
a show at the last minute. The TKTS booth, as it’s called, is owned and operated by The Theatre Development Fund (TDF). TDF is an amazing not-for-profit organization that supports theatre productions and also helps to bring people of diverse backgrounds to the theatre. The TKTS booth is one of their main initiatives.
What happens is that all of the Broadway shows bring unsold tickets to the booth before performances begin and they are sold for steep discounts. Many times the discount is 50%, although it can be 20 to 40 percent, based on the show. Granted, the seats may not be the very best locations (especially for the better selling shows), however, for a heavy discount, who cares? You can still have a great time from pretty much every seat in the house, so why not take advantage of these discounted tickets? The TKTS booth in Times Square (at Duffy Square, which is located at Broadway and 47th Street) is now more efficient than ever, as it was renovated some years back. You may pay via cash or credit card and there is a sign that shows the various Broadway, Off-Broadway, and special event offerings currently available. So, when you go, check out the board, decide what you want to see, and proceed to the line for your tickets. The person at the booth will give you a general idea of which seat locations are available at that performance so it actually helps to have a couple of choices of shows in mind, if possible, so you can get tickets for the show with the best seats. For your convenience, there are also two other locations you can visit which are at the South Street Seaport and Downtown Brooklyn. www.tdf.org
Broadway For Lovers! Although the TKTS booth is great, you still have to stand in line in the cold! In light of that, another way to save money on theatre tickets is to use the new app called “Today Tix,” which has taken the discount ticket world by storm. “Today Tix” is pretty great because, after you load the app onto your smart phone, you will be shown all of the offers available for discounts to the most popular shows on and off Broadway. You can then purchase the tickets right from the app putting in your credit card information. How do you get your tickets, you ask? When you go to the theatre to see the show, you will be met by a friendly “Today Tix” worker wearing a red hat and he or she will hand you your tickets as you walk right into the theatre! No standing in the cold and you can get discounts right away. I definitely suggest you download this app and check it out! If you are interested in being a little bit more proactive and purchasing tickets in advance, you can also browse the website entitled “Broadway Box” at www.broadwaybox.com. “Broadway Box” actually lists all of the popular shows on and off Broadway and offers various discount codes for your use at the Telecharge and Ticketmaster websites (or wherever the tickets are sold from). There are full descriptions of the shows and direct links to the ticketing sites. You can then select your tickets from the seating chart (which you cannot do for TDF or “Today Tix,” by the way) and purchase them with your credit card on-line. The tickets can either be printed out on your printer, held at the box office for Will Call, or mailed to you the old fashioned way. And the winter months are definitely a great time to buy tickets since you will have a much better chance of getting the best seats in the house at these discounted prices.
Oh... one more thing to consider. In the beginning of this article I mentioned that some theatergoers might be nervous about purchasing tickets in the winter months because they fear that inclement weather may prevent them from seeing the show. However, those smart producers have a solution. Nowadays, most shows have a “Bad Weather Guarantee” where they pledge that if you buy your tickets and the weather prevents you from attending the performance, they will exchange your tickets for a later date, no questions asked. Problem solved! So please don’t let the threat of snow and ice deter you from checking out your favorite shows this winter. Whatever method you choose, winter is definitely a great time to get in out of the cold and see some amazing New York Theatre. So go support some shows! You’ll be glad you did. Until next time... break a leg! Jim Kierstead Kierstead Productions, Inc. Producer Kinky Boots On Broadway at The Al Hirschfeld Theatre, on tour, in London, and in Toronto Winner of 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical Past projects: Pippin, You Can’t Take It With You, The Visit, Side Show, It Shoulda Been You, Rocky, The Glass Menagerie; Notable investments: Something Rotten, Matilda For more information about our upcoming projects and how you can be a part of them, please contact our office at: kiersteadprod@gmail.com t
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 69
School of Rock Still Kickin’ Butt
By Bob & Sandy Nesoff
eprising a familiar show these is often dangerous. People have seen it, probably many times, and they are looking for something new. A while back a string of teencentric movies hit the screen where problems abounded and were suddenly fixed by a rock and roll band and a bunch of kids playing music and dancing. You’ve seen all that, right? No you haven’t. School of Rock at the Winter Garden Theater has knocked all of those clichés for a loop. It not only hit the boards running, but has been setting records. If you’ve seen the movie starring Jack Black, forget all of that and concentrate on one of the more talented set of musicians, singers and dancers currently hitting the boards on Broadway. The musical kicked off this year by breaking its own recordbreaking week. It grossed an amazing $1,671,621.59. Let’s not forget the fifty-nine cents. That could be the little extra that puts it over the top in the long run.
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The 2003 film of the same name has become a bit of a cult favorite and it was a no-brainer that it would be made into a Broadway stage musical. In this case, School of Rock does not miss a beat. It is a foot stompin,’ aisle-dancing, audience-singing-out-loud show. After being kicked out of a rock band called “No Vacancy,” Dewey Finn (Alex Brightman), needs money and implausibly, becomes a substitute teacher at an uptight, strict, upscale elementary school. Not surprisingly he manages to turn the curriculum into a fullblast rock concert. Dewey forms a band of fifth graders in an effort to win an upcoming Battle of the Bands contest. He’s spurred on by the talent of his young charges. Not surprisingly, Dewey has absolutely no interest in any academic pursuits and steers his students away from anything resembling normal schoolwork. He devises his own curriculum that looks something like this: First Period……Rock History Second Period…Rock Application and Theory Third Period…...Band Practice Fourth Period….Lunch/Recess Fifth Period……OK, why bother with a fifth period?
For the kids this is far better than even a series of consecutive snow days.
could be kindly described as a “free spirit.” And that would be a kindness.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, the show and film’s producer, decided that the music had to be expanded for Broadway. He was of the opinion that two solid hours of rock music blasting from the stage would numb the audience.
He wipes the sweat off his body with a towel and then throws it into a girl’s face. Dewey grosses out the establishment by unloading a mouthful of soda into the face of a female teacher. It’s a good thing for him that Bella Abzug is no longer on the scene.
“You can’t do heavy metal for hours and hours in the theater,” Lloyd Webber observed. “Everyone would be screaming. So there has to be theatrical songs too. And we’ve obviously got to use the iconic songs from the original show. It would be a shame not to do a Stevie Nicks song.”
While Jack Black had great support in the movie from Sarah Silverman and Joan Cusack, Brightman faces off against Mamie Parris and Boggess, both of whom portray humorless, stodgy foils for him.
Lloyd Webber composed the score and worked with lyricist Glenn Slater to update the selections. Three songs were taken from the movie and a dozen new songs were composed. Some had titles you could expect: Stick it to the man, School of Rock and, ironically, Math is a Wonderful Thing. Brightman’s frenetic Dewey horrifies everyone around him, especially the uptight parents and the school’s headmistress Rosalie (Sierra Boggess). You don’t have to telegraph the ending or make a note of “Spoiler Alert.” You know that by the end of the show everyone is going to be dancing, singing and praising hard rock. Surprise! That’s exactly what happens. But the road along the way to the curtain call is never-ending fun. Jack Black is a character difficult to emulate, so Brightman pretty much developed his own Dewey Finn. He’s a crass character who
Lloyd Webber has returned to his theatrical roots to score School of Rock, a bit reminiscent in style of Jesus Christ Superstar. You can see the transformation of school officials and parents on the rise when the students sing: “If only you would listen,” to an audience of parents, whom they obviously don’t think listen to them. Eventually- surprise!-the parents begin to embrace the children’s love of loud rock music and Dewey is the hero. No statue is erected in his honor-he’s no Rocky Balboa-but he did manage to ease the stiff backbone of uptight school officials and well-to-do parents who dress their kids like Buster Brown. The show will open in London’s West End theater district this fall. A U.S. tour is also being planned to begin late next year. The schedule for School of Rock is Monday-Saturday at 10 a.m, and 8 p.m. Sunday at noon and 6 p.m. Tickets are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or through Telecharge.com t
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 71
NYC’s PREMIERE Music Talent Showcase!
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Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Great Food By Daniel J Bollinger
el Frisco’s describes itself as, “... a classic American steakhouse with impeccable chef-driven cuisine, an extensive award-winning wine list, and unparalleled hospitality.” And every word is true. I would describe my experience at Del Frisco’s with four S’s. Those S’s being: Service, Steaks, Seafood, and Seasonings/Sauces.
Service: I would like to thank Orlando Santana; General Manager, Joshua Stanko; Sommelier, and Chris, Aliya, and Bridgette; Servers ~ for providing me with outstanding one of a kind service. Del Frisco’s was jam packed on a Saturday evening... jam packed with happy faces and satisfied guests. Josh, you paired all of my dishes with the perfect wines which we will get to soon enough. And Chris, Aliya, and Bridgette your attentiveness to all of your guests’ needs (not only mine) was well noticed and made for a great experience. All of your talents are an example of what “luxury” encompasses.
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 73
Del Frisco’s raises the bar for all steakhouses with the two entrées I had the pleasure of enjoying. I had the 16 oz. bone-in filet prime and the filet trio. I am partial to tenderloin since it is the tenderest cut of beef and for me the most delicious. It was everything that a filet should be: tender, juicy, melt in your mouth delicious. On top of that, the flavor exuding from Del Frisco’s bone-in is richer, meatier, and noticeably more succulent. You can ascertain that by comparing it to one of the filet trio’s. The filet trio is three to four filets, each with a different ‘sauce or flavor accompaniment. Those three being: salt & pepper, lobster & saffron hollandaise, and Gorgonzola crust. Try a mouthful of Del Frisco’s ‘salt & pepper’... and get a taste of what delectable flavor the meat in itself encompasses. Then try a bite of the bone-in filet. Both are fantastic and in sampling the bone-in you will taste the richer, bolder flavor that the bone-in delivers. The salt & pepper filet also sets the stage for Del Frisco’s other two flavor accompaniments in the trio. Whereas the salt & pepper gives us true bare essence of the flavor of the filet, the lobster and saffron hollandaise sauce gives a sweet, refreshing compliment with the filet. For those who enjoy sharp and bold flavors, the gorgonzola crust delivers. The sharp bite of the gorgonzola pairs well with the tender deliciousness of the filets. And while we’re speaking of pairing, Josh paired two wines to go with these culinary masterpieces. The first wine, served at 74 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
the beginning of our meal, was a 2006 Chateau Lynch-Bages. It’s bold, oaky, and fruity taste paired perfectly with the richness and intense flavors of both dishes. Further into our Filet Mignon, Josh paired us with a 2013 Pierre Gaillard Cote Rotie. This was a lighter, sweeter wine, equally complimenting our meat entrées, but also getting us in the mood for dessert. It was a great pairing and a good intro to dessert. Our appetizers encompassed Del Frisco’s signature seafood specialties including: crab cake, chilled Alaskan king crab Legs, chilled crab claws, and a shrimp cocktail sampling. The crab cake itself was perfect, everything a real crab cake should be... big chunks of crab; white, soft, tender chunks, in a nice loose patty which was browned perfectly on top and bottom. What sets Del Frisco’s crab cake apart is its Cajun lobster sauce. It was sweet and savory with just a slight heat. Even if you are from Maryland, you will be impressed by this unique combination that makes for an unforgettable crab cake experience. The crab cake is set atop a healthy pool of this Cajun lobster sauce so dip, dredge, or dunk, just make sure you get some sauce in each mouthful. The chilled Alaskan crab legs and chilled crab claws were cooked perfectly and tasted great. I like the fact that Del Frisco’s serves these two treats with the shells cracked and split. The meat easily detached from the shells, which made for easier dining. A small detail which shows the care that Del Frisco’s puts into its menu.
Last but not least, the shrimp cocktail. Once again, Del Frisco’s doesn’t just serve a shrimp cocktail with the finest jumbo shrimp... they make it a unique experience by offering different sauces to go with them. Cajun Remoulade, garlic Italian marinate, and Creole mustard are the three sauces that I sampled. The Cajun Remoulade does the same that the Cajun lobster sauce does for Del Frisco’s crab cakes. The Italian marinate is a very subtle compliment to the flavor of the shrimp. But the Creole mustard... this really impressed me. A nice amount of heat from both the mustard and Creole spices brings out the flavor, but doesn’t overpower the shrimp. Josh paired the crab legs with a 2012 Joseph Faiveley Bourgogne Chardonnay. The chardonnay was crisp, light, and it paired well not only with the crab legs but with the other appetizers. The seasoning/sauces have been covered within steaks and seafood. But there is more. Del Frisco’s The VIP and their Pomegranate Martini are both superb. The fresh Svedka Clementine vodka infused into the fresh Hawaiian pineapple in The VIP makes for the sweetest taste. The Pomegranate martini is equally refreshing and the blackberry that you will enjoy with the last sip of your drink is a great ending to the cocktail. Be careful, with the sweet flavors of these cocktails, they could easily be mistaken for virgin cocktails. The spinach supreme side dish is supreme indeed. It is a creamed spinach dish but with bacon. The bacon provides for a smokier, richer flavor that goes well with steak. The asparagus was cooked with the right amount of crisp in it and sprinkled with sliced
almonds. And for the macaroni and cheese lovers, make sure you try their signature lobster macaroni and cheese. For dessert I had Del Frisco’s signature seven layer lemon cake and their butter cake. The seven layer lemon cake is layered with lemon curd and frosted with lemon butter cream. The size of the portion is as grand as the flavor. But Josh really impressed me with his pairing of the Butter Cake with Christian Drouin Pommeau de Normandine. The butter cake is made with cream cheese served atop a butterscotch sauce (like the crab cakes) and topped with a butter pecan ice cream. The Christian Drouin Pommeau de Normandine has a strong aroma like a cognac, but tastes sweet. When enjoyed with Del Frisco’s caramel butter cake dessert it tastes sweetly dessert-ish. There is a reason why Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House has over ten locations throughout the United States. The service is topnotch, the steaks and seafood are cooked to perfection with unique seasonings and sauces. The Sommelier will pair the perfect drink with your order. I highly recommend Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House located at 1221 Avenue of the America’s. For more information, please visit: www.delfriscos.com t FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 75
Bryant Park Grill: Romantic Destination For Valentine’s Day By Jon Haggins Photos By Maybelle Webster ryant Park Grill, located behind the New York Public Library on the east end of Bryant Park’s Upper Terrace is a romantic destination to share your Valentine’s Day. It’s a lovely stop for lunch or dinner. The great green lawn, even in winter, is lined with a variety of elegant trees. This precious location is one of a kind. The floor to ceiling windows offer a perfect view of Bryant Park and the ice skaters in its rink, holding hands and circling in tandem. The view is romantic and the warmth of the grill, contrasting with the chill of the outdoors and the rink, is a perfect setting for lovers to enjoy an evening together. 76 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
When one enters this beautiful establishment you are immediately surrounded by the golden light of their full bar. One of the walls is filled with a large screen of aquatic life. The large main interior is enhanced with a number of large modern paintings, white tablecloths and red felt seating. The restaurant manager, Mary Koenke, told us: “We offer a quintessentially New York experience at a beautiful oasis in the heart of the big Apple.” The restaurant offers Nouvelle-American cuisine that’s delicious and healthy. Chef Gadi Weinreich adds glamour, color and originality to each dish. We started with a heavenly Calamari dish with a combination of arugula, avocado, green salad, cherry tomato and a garlic aioli sauce ($13.50)
We followed that with a seafood salad parfait, which is a combination of sashimi tuna, smoked salmon, shrimp, jumbo lump crab, smoked tomatoes, avocado, English cucumber, spicy tartar sauce and a grilled baguette ($17.00). It’s a sensational explosion to your taste buds. Next, organic baby Kale salad with fresh and dried figs, roasted pecans, shaved Parmesan cheese, Dijon dressing ($12.50). What could be better than that? Another great appetizer was the Burrata mozzarella. Burrata is a seamless combination of mozzarella on the outside and ricotta on the inside. Served with: Parmesan cheese, heirloom tomatoes, petite mixed herbs, basil leaves, and a drizzle of Tuscan olive oil accented with organic micro greens ($12.50). The Burrata was freshly prepared and eaten seamlessly. Burrata is a very special appetizer that I would recommend. Our main course included sweet and spicy Monkfish, with stir-fry baby bok choy, freshwater chestnuts, grilled pineapple, and brown rice ($26.50). The Asian infused fish had a fried spicy crust. Fresh ginger and pineapple is the perfect accent for this dish. Another great dish is the organic chicken breast stuffed with
mushroom duxelles melted Gruyere cheese, parsnip puree and juniper berry root vegetable sauce. It was accompanied with brown rice ($24.50). The chicken breast dish is not to be missed. My favorite dish is lamb. Bryant Park Grill presents the best Australian rack of lamb, which was marinated with lemon zest and herb whipped russet potatoes, organic faro and lentil ragout ($42.00). Pastry Chef Anne-Marie Noonan puts a fresh spin on the desserts. She creates guilty pleasures to complement your meal. Our choice of desserts included a warm chocolate tart with vanilla cocoa nib crunch ice cream ($11.00). Also, the New York creamy vanilla cheesecake, was accented with oatmeal pecan-crumble amarena, cherries and crème Fraiche sorbet ($10.50). Bryant Park Grill is a very unique restaurant that offers the best, well thought out, colorful and creative dishes. Our dining experience at Bryant Park Grill was sensational. Bryant Park Grill 25 West 40th Street New York City 10018 212-849-6500 t FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 77
Pair Wine & Cheese By Daniel Bollinger
here are endless reasons to pair things off. You can pair shoes, you can pair socks and, especially, you can pair the appropriate wine with food that it will compliment. There is even Au Pair. But pairing wine with cheese? At Pair Wine & Cheese, located in Cobble Hill at 140 Atlantic Avenue, owner, Chung Park, ‘pairs’ his seemingly endless array of fine cheeses with an appropriate wine. Chung Park is a master of his domain. I sampled quite a number of offerings off his menu from snacks to market plates to hot cheeses. Everything on the menu is exquisite indeed. When Chung found out that I am more of a beer connoisseur than a wine enthusiast, he even paired some of my samplings with beer in lieu of wine, showing me what a maestro he is when it comes to pairing food and beverage. I would describe the ambiance of the restaurant as: Love is in the
78 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
Air. A great place for a “pair.” It is quiet, quaint, and the music is soft and relaxing. I would request a table on the patio if you are on a very romantic dinner date.
Enjoy the complimentary wine soaked cherries, which are sweet with just a dash of tart and the apricot masato (braised with a shot of mustard oil). I sampled two cheeses for an appetizer. The first, Bent River from Alemar Cheese Company in Minnesota. Chung paired it with a Barmes Cremant. The second, Comte St. Antoine from the Jura area of France. It was paired with an East Village Kolsch from the Alphabet City Brewing Company. From the snacks section of the menu I sampled the Deviled Egg. Pair poaches the whites and yolks of the eggs separately, which shows real care in the preparation of their dishes and also for presentation purposes. Combined with the radish, mustard,
By A Master Of The Art pickled shallots and veggie sides that accompany this dish, it is a symphony of flavors that combine for a unique devilled egg experience. It was deliciously paired with Unger Gruner, a highly acidic wine that pairs well with the fat in the eggs.
restaurant. It is served with an air dried meat from Westchester, a very unique flavor and type of meat which is very popular in Switzerland with skiers in the Alps. Paired with a Montinore Pinot Noir I highly recommend trying this dish at Pair.
From the market plates section of the menu, I tasted both the Charred Shishito Pepper and the Cauliflower Salad. Both are delicious. The Shishito Pepper is sweet with just the slightest heat from the pepper. It was paired with Unger Gruner again. The Cauliflower is deep fried in canola oil, which keeps the vitamins in the vegetable and also delivers the perfect balance between soft and crunchy. The Maine Pilsner, Peak Organic, went very well with the cauliflower salad.
And for dessert, I had Caveman Blue with Bolivian Chocolate. Yes, blue cheese and chocolate for dessert. Paired with Quinta Infantando Port all three paired for a lovely end to my culinary endeavor.
The most unique dish that I sampled was Raclette from their Hot Cheese section of the menu. It is unique in the fact that the cheese is served ‘bubbling’ hot from a custom designed tray. It reminded me of the way ‘sizzling’ fajitas are served in a standard Mexican
Pair Wine & Cheese is a great place if you are looking for something different. Their menu offerings are quite different than standard dining and they have much more to offer than just the dishes that I have written about here. They even have classes on pairing wine and food together. You can check their website (www.pairbrooklyn.com) for the schedule. All in all, Pair Wine & Cheese is a great addition to Cobble Hill and I can see them CFDPNJOH B #SPPLMZO MBOENBSL JO UIF ZFBST UP DPNF t
Pair Wine & Cheese owner, Chung Park FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 79
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The Coolest Place In Town For Some Hot Romance
By Bob & Sandy Nesoff
K, so you’ve tried chocolates, a sexy movie, some cute drinks with an umbrella sticking out of the glass... and you still haven’t been able to set the right mood for romance and Valentine’s Day. Why? Simple... been there, done that. You could spend a fortune and go out of town to a cuddly hotel somewhere. But why do that when there are so many options right here in the Big Apple. The coolest place in New York, by far, for some terrific cuddle time sits at the corner of Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas to you tourists) and 53Rd Street in the Hilton Hotel. The Minus5 Ice Bar sparkles as couples snuggle together in their parkas to keep warm. You can’t miss the Minus5 sign and entrance just off the corner as you enter a world unlike anything else in New York. Even with the
unusual spate of warm weather enjoyed by New Yorkers the end of last year and the beginning of this year, Minus5 is unlike any climate most have experienced. The small lobby has a queue that would hardly make it at nearby Radio City Music Hall. It is small and only has about two or three twists before you reach the greeter at the register. But that gives you ample opportunity to snuggle together in anticipation of what lies ahead. All of the attractive young ladies, called “Party Starters,” helping to bring you through the lines, seem to have very rosy checks. That should be a precursor of what awaits. Admissions vary according to your whims and pocketbook, but never become onerous. For $20 per person you can enjoy the experience with Minus5 parkas and gloves. For $45 p/p you’ll each get chips for two specialty ice cocktails as well; while the $45 Fur Coat Experience gives you all of the above, plus a faux fur coat upgrade with gloves.
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 81
If you really want to splurge, try the $75 per person “Total VIP Experience” and receive one specialty cocktail, faux fur coat upgrade, gloves, a souvenir hat and a framed, 5x7 photo. Make sure you read these last two paragraphs thoroughly, so that when you get to the register, you won’t have to stand and study the menu as though you were in line at Burger King. Make your choice, flip the credit card (why pay cash when you can accumulate miles?) and collect the chips for your drinks. You will be asked to check any heat-emitting devices so that the ice inside of the Cold Room is not affected. Believe it or not, your smart phone does just that and you are asked to leave it in a locker. You’ll be given the key and it is safe and secure. In spite of that, there are those who “sneak” their cell phones inside and are bold enough to take them out and snap photos. Don’t be one of those. A house photographer with an approved camera is inside at almost all times and will take your photo. Do they charge for that? Absolutely. But they are going to do a far better job than you will. Off to the left is a coat rack filled with beautiful, white faux fur coats. Wrap your lover in one and grab a pair of gloves. You will want the gloves. There are some things you can do without in life, but doing without gloves at Minus5 is like sticking your tongue on a flag pole mid-winter. Oddly enough, that’s not a problem here. The air is dry and you can put your fingers-or other appurtenanceson the ice inside the cold room and nothing bad will happen. In fact, all of your drinks will be served in-you can’t call them glasses, because they aren’t-containers shaped like a cocktail glass and made of ice, hold the variety of libations offered in the room. They 82 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
are specially made from New Zealand artesian water. Entry into the “Cold Room” is through a door reminiscent of the ones in a butcher shop-or the meat department of the supermarketthat leads into a room where sides of beef are hung in freezer-like conditions. At Minus5, the meat is on the hoof... that’s you. Some people wander around and examine the intricately carved ice designs. One section is called “Broadway” and all of the ice designs depict many of the current hit shows on the Great White Way. There is, of course, the North Pole and another section honoring the Statue of Liberty and the Red, White and Blue of the American flag. Throughout Minus5 the carvings are beautifully enhanced by LED lights that highlight the designs, making the American flag, for example, truly stand out. Romance can almost be forgotten looking at the intricate designs and wondering how they were made. Well, here’s a little secret. Most of them are made by a computer operated, hi-tech machine that’ll take two hours or more for each, depending on the intricacy of the design. Ice carvers also work on the art. Minus5, the name, by the way, comes from the fact that the interior temperature is, at all times, 23°F. That computes on the Celsius scale to-you guessed it-Minus 5°C. Drinks, unless you request something in particular, reflect the clarity of the ice. There are primarily vodka-based cocktails. Try a “Big Apple,” made of three olives, vodka, apple pucker and sweet
and sour mix. Or you might like a “Frozen Assets,� also with three olives, Marilyn Monroe vodka and cranberry juice.
other’s arms and sip their drinks, looking into each other’s warm eyes. It’s truly Valentine’s on ice.
For those on the wagon, there are a variety of “Mocktails� that are concoctions without alcohol. For the more cultured and refined tastes, you can opt for Dom Perignon champagne.
The parkas and faux fur coats keep the chill out and the air is so dry that you actually do not see your breath. That seems to amaze more people than you’d expect. You can see other guests blowing and trying to create smoke. It’s not gonna happen.
Even the bartender needs to exit every so often although he’s normally dressed appropriately with thermal underwear and snow boots. He always cautions patrons to “Please pick up your drink with both hands.� If you don’t, your drink will become part of the frozen floor. It’s not uncommon to see a guest, finished with his drink, sitting and chewing on the glass until there is nothing left. The attraction has a bit of a split personality. From the time it opens at 2 p.m. until 7 p.m, children and families are welcomed. Beyond 7 p.m. Minus5 is by far the coolest nightclub in New York, catering to an adult crowd. While most people mingle, hold a drink in their gloved hands and walk around admiring the ice carvings, some prefer to sit and relax with their drinks. There are ice chairs and ice benches throughout. Oh, you don’t want to plant your Oscar de la Renta pants on an ice seat? Not to worry. Every seating area is covered with a heavy deer skin pelt. Only the most devout anti-hunter or vegan might opt to stand. The chairs and benches don’t become vacant that quickly because those who manage to grab one, usually curl up, wrapped in each
Every couple of months all of the ice is cleared out and Minus5 starts from scratch. They import some 35,000 pounds of ice. That computes to about 15.5 tons. The ice comes from special warehouses in Canada where the ice is pure and clear. It’s trucked to New York and the designers get to work. They have some 350 blocks of ice, each weighing up to 100 pounds, to work with. They’ve laid out the new design and the computers and machines, along with ice carvers, begin a new layout. Minus5 is open all year round and, as attractive as it might be in winter, give it a try in mid-July when the temperature and humidity are reaching record levels. The Hilton location cost more than $5 million to bring to fruition and it is one of four such locations in the United States. There are two in Las Vegas (at Mandalay Bay and Monte Carlo) and one in Pointe Orlando, Florida. Minus5 is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; FridaySaturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kids are welcome before 8 p.m. on any day. For information, contact Minus5 at 212-757-4610 or www. NJOVT FYQFSJFODF DPN t FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 83
Killingworth, CT - A short drive from NYC to a relaxing, country estate.
This beautiful home sits on a sprawling 3 acre lot on scenic Chestnut Hill Road in the quaint town of Killingworth,
Shelly Cumpstone at 860-391-2747. Shelly Cumpstone Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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MANHASSET PLANDOME – Classic vintage Center Hall Colonial rooms include 6 bedrooms, 3.5 baths. Full basement with laundry room. Detached 2 car garage. $2,350,000
Totally renovated and expanded classic and stately 4 Bedroom 2.5 new bath brick colonial situated on large professionally landscaped basement. Att. Garage. New heat, CAC, more! $1,499,000
MANHASSET OFFICE BUILDING – Totally renovated 2580 sq. foot
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CAC. Will be delivered vacant. Call for details. $1,149,000 $1,289,000
GLEN COVE – Pristine 5 bedroom 5 full plus 2 half bath Colonial custom built in 2009. Huge rooms throughout, wonderful architectural details. Finished lower level dance studio/gym. Professionally landscaped one half acre in cul-du-sac location. Private beach community. So much more! $1,099,000
4 bath expanded ranch set on newly professionally landscaped acre move in! $1,899,000
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10 West Street - A Rare By Daniel J. Bollinger very rare duplex trophy penthouse is available in Battery Park City. This four bedroom five full bathroom penthouse, is located in the famed Ritz-Carlton and therefore comes with all concierge services associated with the Ritz-Carlton. As usual I look for that “one thing” that sets a residence apart to share with you, but for this residence, that criterion had to be expanded to two; (1) The Views, and (2) The Oversized Steam Shower in the master bath. The views. View(s), plural. I have not been in any residence in New York City to date, that can compare to the views from this penthouse. You can see all that the southern tip of Manhattan offers from the Statue of Liberty, Governors and Ellis Islands and 86 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
parts of Brooklyn to New Jersey and up the Hudson River. It is a perfect “picture postcard” location. I know of no other building located in Manhattan that can offer such panoramic views and there is certainly no residence on the market to offer such fantastic sweeping views. Your private patio is the perfect place to enjoy your morning cup of coffee as you watch Manhattan wake up and enjoy all the waterfront and Battery Park happenings from your lofty view above it all. Your evening ritual will be much the same as the sun kisses Lady Liberty good night and you enjoy the sunset with your favorite aperitif. This penthouse is immaculate from top to bottom, but another ‘one thing’ that really sets this abode apart, is its oversized steam shower in the master bath. The master bath has many great features: the
“I have not been in any residence in New York City to date, that can compare to the views from this penthouse.�
Duplex Trophy Penthouse closet space is immense and the amazing Hudson River view from the deep soaking tub cannot be matched. But the real showpiece of this bathroom is the oversized steam shower. With a sitting area, oversized custom shower niche, and a waterfall shower head, this is definitive luxury. This penthouse at 10 West Street is a rare find. Very few trophy residences like this come on the market. This is for someone who has truly made it and wants to provide for himself/herself and his/ her family, the very best lifestyle that is available in this world. One other unique characteristic of the penthouse is that there is a wood burning fireplace in the den - a very rare feature in Manhattan considering most fireplaces are gas. If you would like to know more about this rare opportunity or for a tour please contact Daniel at: 646-692-9496 | daniel@apgny.com t FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 87
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Full Square Block Of Luxury In Williamsburg By Daniel J Bollinger
he Oosten; a complete square city block of luxury living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is located at 429 Kent Avenue, mere blocks from the famous Peter Luger Steakhouse. The design and architectural team has figured “it” out and are implementing “it” flawlessly. The Oosten is more like a compound than a building. I toured their sales office and was shown all the fixtures and details of the interiors. I also toured the actual construction site, the actual space, scope, and size of the project. The Oosten is still in construction and slated for a July 2016 completion. There is no “one thing” about this project that I can write about because there are so many “one things” pertaining to The Oosten that make it such an outstanding development. I am going to
write about the great design details that The Oosten’s architects and designers have come up with on this very special project. First, The Oosten scores high honors from me for building a ‘compound’ like structure around an entire square city block. They get high honors because they have designed an enormous (short of one acre) courtyard on the inside space. It reminds me of Gramercy Park’s private outdoor park in Manhattan, though no key is required for entrance into The Oosten’s- only residency. At the end of this courtyard is an indoor pool, though I would describe it more as an indoor/outdoor pool since the pool receives much natural light through the wall of windows that look out onto the landscaped courtyard. On both sides of the pool area are a host of additional amenities including a wellness area, yoga room, and espresso and juice bar to name just a few. FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 89
Second, The Oosten doubles down on ‘getting it’ with its green spaces, by offering private backyards with the townhouses and maximizing common space by developing the rooftop as well. There are some private rooftop areas, which we will get to when I tell you about the available living quarters. But there is also ample resident public rooftop space. Let me paraphrase Oosten’s literature since they have summed up the rooftop experience so well, “A place to relax with friends after work or for an evening cocktail, the lushly landscaped rooftop lounge features a reflecting pool, lounge seating and professional chef ’s grills for outdoor cooking and entertaining.” - thank you M18, I don’t think I could have said it better myself. Now, onto the actual living quarters. The Oosten has covered all the bases by providing 1, 2, and 3-bedrooms, lofts, duplex homes, penthouses, and townhouses. Whatever your current living needs are, The Oosten can fulfill them in both luxury and style. I am only covering the penthouses and townhouses because of the “one thing” that these residences offer which the others do not: private parking spaces. These are
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truly ‘private’ parking spaces; they are not just reserved spaces in which no one else is allowed to park. They are private in the fact that they have garage doors that wall off your residence when closed for complete privacy. There are private entrances to your residence with stairs for the townhouse and private elevators for the penthouses. Coming up the stairs and into your townhouse, you will find that the space is designed much like a classic brownstone: There are 25-foot widths, 10-foot ceilings, etc. The genius in this design is that The Oosten offers neo-brownstone-like living inside of a luxury building. The ‘one thing’ that also sets the townhouses apart from other residences, is the private garden area (only available with the townhouses). The layout is superb with a chef ’s kitchen (with island) next to the den overlooking the private garden area, overlooking the resident courtyard. It’s the perfect design for a get together with friends and family. This unique layout and the perspective of looking out the window from the den cannot be described properly on paper, it must be experienced... internally it is functional and spatially pleasing, extending outward to the private garden and courtyard, it is multi-layered. Or is it multi-
faceted? It has levels of perspective? I cannot find the right words to correctly describe it. High honors to the designers for this beautiful layout. The townhouses are ground floor residences, but if you enjoy being higher in the sky since this is New York City, then let me tell you about the penthouses. The penthouses are slightly larger than the townhouses. Private parking, as mentioned above and private elevators, will take you up to your duplex penthouse (top two floors). Bedrooms are located on the lower floor of the penthouses and kitchens are on the top floor. Another of the penthouses’ “one thing� is that there are open spaces on both the north and south sides of each residence. On the street level side there is a nice sized viewing patio running across the whole length of the apartment. Even nicer though, is the internal (inner compound side) private garden area. Whether you prefer townhouse or penthouse style living the layouts of the kitchens and dens in relation to the accompanying private outdoor gardens are fluid, both functionally and aesthetically. And all of these ‘one things’ do not end there. The Oosten allows for customization of the interiors. If you would
like a larger bedroom, additional closets, etc., The Oosten design team can customize your townhouse/penthouse by offering flexible layouts. Purchase includes an optional trip to Amsterdam to meet with the design team for such purpose. One fixture that stands out is their choice of range in the kitchen. The SMEG 48� stainless steel range with 5-gas burners, electric grill and double oven shows how serious The Oosten design team is in creating the ultimate in luxury living. Of all the luxury buildings I have toured in Brooklyn The Oosten has been the most impressive for its execution in design, from the big picture (compound) down to the last detail (range). There are a limited amount of townhouses and penthouses available so I suggest you make an appointment soon. There are small variations in some of these residences that equate to large value differences. So no matter what style of city living you are currently looking for The Oosten not only has that space for you, but offers a multitude of additional luxury amenities. If you would like to know more about The Oosten or to schedule a viewing please feel free to contact me at Daniel@apgny.com or (646)692-9496 t
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 91
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Shopping From Home For Quality Rugs By Aram Kasparian
ew York based Solo Rugs, launched a new e-commerce site that redefines the online shopping experience for high-end rugs. Solo Rugs stands apart in its marketplace by offering one-of-a-kind designs, hand-woven by artisans from all over the world. Unlike most manufacturers that replicate existing styles and patterns, Solo Rugs manufactures these unique designs through an eight-step process. Artists create them from scratch, resulting in one-of-a-kind luxury rugs. Previously available only to high-end department stores, boutique hotels and interior designers, these heirloom-quality rugs will now be offered to the public via this dynamic e-commerce site. Most notably, customers will be able to get these first-rate pieces at wholesale prices. As the direct importer, the company is able to forgo the traditional retail channel and cut out the middleman. Prior to the Solo Rugs online storefront, there was no single destination to access the thousands of new pieces imported into their New York City warehouse from all over the world each week.
Solo Rugs will now give customers immediate access to the full breadth of the inventory, in effect opening up the warehouse doors to retail customers. Noah Krinick, founder and partner, is the entrepreneurial mind leading Solorugs.com. Noah’s partnership with one of the most successful third-generation family-owned rug importers enables the site to build upon its reputation as the leading supplier of topquality, handmade rugs and carpets, and completely reshape the rug – and home décor – e-commerce industry. “While we rely on our expertise and knowledge of the craftsmanship of rugs, we have partnered it with our understanding of technology and e-commerce, to fill a void in the home décor industry,” said Krinick. “Using technology to allow access to something that was not previously available is not a novel concept across other industries. However, for the rug business, it had never been done. We are excited about this – not only the launch of the website – but about changing the industry and bringing unique, one-of-a-kind, luxurious rugs to people all over the United States.” For more information, please visit: Solorugs.com t
FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 93
$7 Million Harbor By Anse McDonald
oldwell Banker Residential Real Estate sales associate Roger Pettingell, of the Longboat Key (Florida) office, has listed a spectacular custom home at 1372 Harbor Drive in Sarasota’s prestigious Harbor Acres neighborhood. The 6,000-square-foot estate includes 4 bedrooms, library, 4 bathrooms, 5 terraces and an elevator, and sits on a 15,000+-square-foot lot directly on Sarasota Bay.
from features and finishes to room flow and orientation, was thoroughly considered before being finalized. You realize it from the moment you enter – everything just feels right. The view is the best city view you will find in Harbor Acres, or for that matter, in Sarasota.” Located in Sarasota’s highly exclusive, and centrally located, west-of-Trail Harbor Acres neighborhood, the property sits back from the road behind a private, gated driveway and lush tropical vegetation. Inside, curvilinear walls and windows bring the glorious, sweeping views of Sarasota Bay front and center, making the sparkling water seem close enough to touch. Deep water dockage allows the easiest possible access to the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay.
Construction on the home began in 2008 and took a year to complete. From the start, the owners teamed with Anne Folsom Smith Interior and along the way, every detail was reviewed, reworked and refined until the homeowners achieved their ideal vision. The result of this intensive commitment to perfection is evident everywhere you turn, from the arched African mahogany entrance doors to the curving staircase and 17½-foot Swarovski crystal chandelier.
Among the home’s many custom design elements are Italian porcelain tile floors, Lutron lighting system, faux painting with 24k-gold and crushed-pearl accents, and 5 fireplaces (4 inside, 1 outside, all operated via wall switch).
“No stone was left unturned in the design and construction of this architectural masterpiece,” remarked Pettingell. “Every element,
The show-stopping kitchen includes double Sub-Zero refrigerators, Viking ovens, a Wolf range with a French burner, chocolate glazed
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Ac r e s S h o w p l a c e maple cabinetry, granite counters and an island. In the nearby formal living room, a wrap-around, lacquered-mahogany bar, built by a yacht builder, makes entertaining a breeze. The home’s master retreat is luxuriously appointed, with a bed and cabinetry specially built for the curvilinear space, a fireplace with an onyx base and a stunning Murano-glass chandelier. The master bath features a custom-painted tub perched on tiers of glass tile inlaid with glass tile and onyx, Swarovski crystal lighting and faucets, and countertops of golden onyx. Multi-level outdoor living is designed around the beautiful Bay and features open and covered terraces, patios and balconies for maximum entertaining and relaxation options. The pool includes both a spa and a lounge area, and the private boat dock includes security sensors and a boat lift. For the ultimate ease of living, the property also includes a 7-zone A/C system, 4 tankless water heaters, water-softening system, generator, central vacuum, music/intercom system, 7-camera
security surveillance system and 4-stop elevator.
The home is being presented for $7.0 million by Roger Pettingell, the #1 Realtor in Sarasota County by sales volume. He has been the #1 Realtor in Sarasota County for the past six years. He has produced more than 70 REALTALK™ videos for his YouTube channel, in which he discusses market trends in the region’s luxury enclaves like Longboat Key, Bird Key, Anna Maria Island and Lido Key. His videos also feature interviews with some of the Sarasota’s business elite. About Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate: Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate is a leading full-service residential real estate brokerage company with more than 85 offices and 5,100 sales associates serving the communities of Central Florida, Flagler, Brevard, Palm Beach, Southeast Florida, Southwest Florida and Tampa Bay. Worldwide, the Coldwell Banker network includes 3,000 offices with nearly 86,000 sales associates. Every day, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate properties are exposed to 16 million CVZFST PO NPSF UIBO IJHI USBÄ?D XFCTJUFT t FEBRUARY 2016 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 95
NYPD Detective Jim Zadroga (right) with two partners, at Ground Zero, following the 911 attack
Everyone Has Heard of Him, But Who Was “Zadroga?” By Bob Nesoff
he Zadroga Bill, named for New York Police Department detective Jim Zadroga, has been given a 75-year extension. That, in effect, is lifetime support for those workers who responded to Ground Zero and worked for days and months, breathing in the toxic air.
NYPD administration gave him a runaround, demanding he return to work even though he could hardly breathe. They would send him home only to demand that he return to work again. Jim’s wife passed away, the family convinced it was because of the stress placed on them.
Not many people know the story of Jim Zadroga, for whom the bill is named.
Joe Zadroga, by now, had retired as chief and was the police liaison at the Bergen County Police and Fire Academy. Jim would visit, pushing his young daughter, Tylerann in a stroller that held his oxygen tank and a hose leading to his nostrils.
Jim came from a police family. His father, Joe, served as police chief in the small town of North Arlington, NJ, where Jim grew up. Jim wanted more than a small town police department could offer and he passed the exam for the NYPD, eventually being promoted to detective.
The Zadrogas moved to South Jersey and it was there that sixyear-old Tylerann found her father dead on the floor. The police department and the Bloomberg Administration fought against designating him as a victim of 911 because they would have had to pay compensation.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Jim had finished his tour of duty and had just arrived home. Before he got out of his car he heard the radio report of the attack on the World Trade Center. He ran into the house, told his wife he was heading back to Manhattan, and moved toward the door.
Congress passed the original Zadroga bill and then let it go by the wayside. For once our congressional leaders had an attack of common sense and brought the bill back. This is a country that is always amongst the first to offer aid for natural disasters around the world. For once we have begun to take care of our own.
She pleaded with him not to go, but he felt it was his duty and responsibility. Jim felt an obligation to the people of New York and there was no way he would sit at home and watch the news reports on television. He got in his car and headed south.
New York and the entire nation owe Jimmy Zadroga and the scores like him who toiled on The Pile and the many who have passed away as a result and those who, to this day, suffer from an unholy variety of maladies. At least now they’ll have some respite.
Jimmy Zadroga worked around the clock at Ground Zero, putting in more than 700 hours on what became known as “The Pile.”
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That took a toll on him and destroyed his health. A previous 96 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2016
Note: NYLM Editor, Bob Nesoff, was a first responder on 911. He knew Jim Zadroga, Jim’s father and his daughter.
SADDLE RIVER, NJ
within 17 miles of Manhattan SADDLE RIVER, NJ 6.2 ACRE ESTATE $4,995,000 A 600’+ long driveway leads to this notable gated, brick estate of aprx. 11,000 sf. Spectacular 30’+x30’+ state-of-the-art kitchen with massive breakfast rm, incredible master bath, showrm 4-car gar., pool, spa & separate guesthouse!
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION $2,650,000 This stone and cedar Hamptons style masterpiece, created by Park Hill Development, offers energy efficient mechanicals, LED lighting, and top quality woodworking and details throughout. Picture perfect setting on multi-million dollar cul de sac.
SADDLE RIVER, NJ CONTEMPORARY LIFESTYLE $3,150,000 Located on a prime cul de sac, this unique contemporary designed by renowned architect Alfredo De Vido offers an open floorplan with circular enhancements in its design elements. 2 acre setting with pool, decks, patios and water features.
SADDLE RIVER, NJ POOL & TENNIS $3,495,000 Elegantly appointed all brick manor with a beautiful floorplan. 2-story great room, banquet dining hall, billiard room, state-of-the-art kitchen, master suite with sitting room/fireplace and luxurious bath. Beautiful wine cellar for the avid wine collector.
SADDLE RIVER, NJ RED ROCK ESTATE — 4.3 ACRES $2,995,000 A converging brook, footbridges and nature paths surround this Frank Lloyd Wright inspired masterpiece. Indoor atrium, indoor pool & spa and 1st floor master bedroom suite make this a home for the discerning buyer. 4.3 panoramic acres!
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201 934-7111 R CELL 201 390-5880
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