tains and monuments to be seen with many found on the famous “Literary Walk”? And the original Central Park designer Calvert Vaux designed all the bridges and archways in the park, which total 36, and intentionally made them all different. Over the years, many fell into disrepair but the Central Park Conservancy has restored them all. And, the original design did not call for an animal sanctuary. About two years after the park opened in 1857 it began receiving exotic animals as gifts and a small sanctuary was created in the park at Fifth Avenue. In 1864 it received a charter from New York’s assembly and officially became a zoo. Lobby lounge at the Loew’s Regncy Hotel
Oasis table at the Press Lounge rooftop bar
Dining at PRINT is a multi-sensory experience and it begins with a truly comfortable and easy on the eyes dining room wrapped in dark earthy tones, slatted wood paneling, subdued lighting, and wood and wicker furnishings. Executive Pastry Chef Emily Wallendjack take their culinary cues from the region’s farmers and artisans. Major kudos to a restaurant that believes whole heartedly in a robust sustainable culinary program, they have employed in-house forager Meghan Boledovich as part of their culinary team to research, quality-check and liaise with their many farms, local winemakers, craft breweries and green markets. This year Meghan took things a step further, or rather, a step up, creating a rooftop garden, utilizing both vertical wall planting methods and classic wood containers. The current crop season is flourishing with a mix of native grasses, wild bergamot, and shade loving colius plants on the vertical wall. Vegetables include heirloom tomato varieties, sun chokes, cardoon plants, sugar snap peas, and an alpine strawberry patch.In addition, the smell of sumac, wormwood, sage, wild marjoram, 8 different types of basil, lemonverbena, lovage, lemon balm, mint, chives, anise hyssop and even centennial hop plants fill the 17th story air. Dining at PRINT is a multi-sensory experience and it begins with a truly comfortable and easy on the eyes dining room wrapped in dark earthy tones, slatted wood paneling, subdued lighting, and wood and wicker furnishings. They have the hospitality thing down too, bright and friendly and the entire team is extremely well versed menu and cocktail wise. Did someone say
cocktails? Sip on the “La Opinion”, shaken with vodka, prosecco, combier, passion fruit puree and lemon juice, or “The Gazette” mad with rye whiskey, seasonal mixed berries, topped with ginger beer. Chef Rodriguez may use simple ingredients, but he is not a conservative chef, and I love that about his food. The dishes are bold and contrasting, while being respectful of the ingredients. Standout dishes included: Lacinato kale salad with peaches, fried pumpkin seeds, shaved parmesan, lemon and olive oil; Lioni burrata with cherry tomatoes, basil, sea salt, olive oil and grilled bread; grilled quail stuffed with prosciutto served with sweet corn flan, green and yellow beans and mushroom truffle sauce; cauliflower steak with sautéed quinoa, summer vegetables, young onions, roasted carrots, pine nuts, currants and brown butter (and I’m not even a vegetarian!); and braised pork belly with cranberry beans, amaranth, roasted romatoes (Roma tomatoes) and fenn-orange salad. The fun continued with chocolate peanut butter frozen candy bars; so good, I took them with me to the theatre and finished them during intermission. Food this good, you must savor every bite. www.ink48.com www.printrestaurant.com www.thepresslounge.com Loews Regency Hotel, in partnership with Central Park Conservancy, is now offers walking tours of Central Park. A Park Avenue hotel landmark since 1963 and one of the country’s most visited (30 million visitors a year) 843-acre masterpiece of landscape architecture, have teamed up to create the quintessential New York City experience. In January 2014 the hotel completed an extensive revitalization, which included a stunning colorful and contemporary design and added amenities, but one thing that will never change is the hotel’s very own backyard, Central Park. The one-hour private walking tour of Central Park highlights the most interesting hidden gems and little-known facts about the park. Did you know there are nearly 50 sculptures, foun-
Central Park
In addition to a luxurious stay in the hotel, oodles of information from the tour and gifts from the Central Park Conservancy including an autographed copy of Central Park, An American Masterpiece, the authoritative account of the nation’s first public park written by Sara Cedar Miller, guests are invited for cocktails at The Regency Bar & Grill, the new culinary concept managed by restaurateurs Gherardo Guarducci and Dimitri Pauli of the Sant Ambroeus Hospitality Group, and helmed by culinary heavyhitter Executive Chef Dan Silverman. This New York experience is offered now through November 30, 2014. Autumn tours will be absolutely breathtaking! Park to Park information can be found here: www.loewshotels.com/regency-hotel.
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