November 18th – February 5th
The Costume Institute’s Fall 2016 roster presents Masterworks: Unpacking Fashion. It will feature acquisitions made over the past 10 years and explore the department’s strategy to amass masterworks of the highest aesthetic and technical quality. Included in the exhibition will be iconic works by designers who have changed fashion history and advanced fashion as an art form.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue http://metmuseum.org
Whether you’ve spent your morning winding your way through some of Chelsea’s art galleries, walked from one end of the High Line to other or have taken in the beautiful architecture of the historic district, you’re sure to find yourself hungry at some point. Here are some good local favorites.
Tipsy Parson, 156 9th Ave. (between 19th and 20th) http://www.tipsyparson.com
This cozy spot on Ninth Ave. offers a unique take on Southern comfort food. Low country favorites like shrimp & grits, mac & cheese and flaky buttermilk biscuits.
Cookshop, 156 10th Ave. (at 20th Street) http://cookshopny.com
This restaurant creates a welcoming home-like atmosphere, with large glass windows and big banquettes serves a menu of American and Mediterranean comfort food.
Trestle On Tenth, 242 10th Ave. (at 24th Street) http://www.trestleontenth.com
This Swiss-inspired restaurant is perfect for a cold Autumn day, with lots of pork, cheese and flavor; it is hard to have a light meal, but you won’t regret it!
Socarrat, 259 West 19th Street http://www.socarratnyc.com
Named for the flavor-packed crust that forms on the bottom of the paella pan, this place embraces Spanish culinary traditions. The paella is a must! go for the Socarrat version, a mix of chicken, beef, shrimp mussels, clams and green beans.
Blossom, 187 9th Ave. (at 21st Street) http://www.blossomnyc.com
One of the city’s rare vegan fine dining spots, Blossom does such amazing things with vegetables that you won’t miss the meat (or dairy).
The Red Cat, 227 Tenth Ave. http://www.theredcat.com/index.php
Perfect place for lunch before or after the galleries with delicious American fare and a warm inviting setting.
Del Posto, 85 10th Avenue http://www.delposto.com
The ambiance of European luxury, palette-enlightening cuisine, wonderful service and a world-renowned wine list make this an Italian dining experience like no other. Simply delicious!
November 21st – January 8th
An annual tradition, the delightfully decorated Origami Holiday Tree has marked the start of the holiday season at the Museum for more than 40 years. Volunteers begin folding in March to complete the hundreds of creations that will be displayed on the tree. This year’s theme draws inspiration from the museum’s exhibit “Dinosaurs Among Us”.
Learn the art of origami at Origami Day at the Museum, Saturday November 12th
Share the beauty and wonder of folding paper! Learn how to fold animals, stars, flowers and much more at this special folding day at the Museum.
Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street http://www.amnh.org
November 25th – December 31st
Let the season begin with the most enchanting Nutcracker of all performed by the New York City Ballet!!! Tchaikovsky’s iconic score transports you to a world of wonder where mischievious mice are foiled by toy soldiers who came to life and a blizzard of ballerinas lead the way to the enchanting Land of Sweets. George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” has been a favorite of New Yorkers since 1954. All 90 dancers, 32 stagehands and two separate casts featuring 50 young students from The School of American Ballet join forces to make each performance magical.
David Koch Theater, Lincoln Center http://www.nycballet.com
November 30 – December 31st
In 2008, a U.S. Congressional resolution designated the Alvin Ailey Dance Company as a “vital American cultural ambassador to the world”. This is the premiere dance company that not only celebrates the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience but preserves and enriches the distinctively American heritage of modern dance itself. Whether or not you happen to be a dance aficionado, you must witness The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre for yourself for its emotional, provocative and historical repertoire.
New York City Center, 131 West 55th Street http://www.nycitycenter.org
[RoyalSlider Error] Incorrect RoyalSlider ID or problem with query.
Whether you’re buying flowers for yourself or someone else, I’m of the school of thought (barring allergies) that we should all send and receive flowers as much as possible. Flowers are a great way to celebrate any occasion in life. Giving a simple bouquet of flowers says “hey I’m thinking about you and think you deserve something nice”. Is there anything more romantic than receiving a bunch of roses? Maybe you just want to brighten your day or your home? Treat yourself to a bouquet of flowers for the simple reason that we all deserve a little bit of extra beauty in our lives. What better place to get beautiful fresh blooms for less than half the price of your local florist than the New York Flower District located on West 28th Street Between 6th and 7th Avenue. With all the surrounding, beautiful foliage let alone the colorful characters who work in and patronize the area, you’ll surely have a memorable experience. As for me, I couldn’t be happier from my latest foray to the market – I finally found my Fiddle Leaf Fig!
Guidelines for navigating the District
-Start early so you can see the Flower District come alive. Since the flower pros arrive around 5:30 am, you should plan on arriving between 8-9 am to see the area at its most vibrant.
-Bring cash – not all shops accept credit cards.
-As there are many shops on both sides of the street, take a mental inventory of what’s available at the various stores before you start purchasing.
-If you are buying multiple bunches and want to browse more comfortably, you can stash your flowers on shelves located in the back of most shops.
Favorite Shops:
JROSE Wholesale Flowers (117 West 28th St) One of my favorites with a large and varied selection of beautiful flowers and to-die-for roses. Really knowledgable and helpful sales staff.
Major Wholesale Florist (41 West 28th St) They are the supplier to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Library, Lincoln Center and the United Nations to name a few. Need I say more?
Harvest (111 West 28th St) Specializes in roses offering over 300 different varieties.
Foliage Garden (120 West 28th St) Go to this greenhouse to get leafy plants, trees and orchids.
J & P Flowers Inc (135 West 28th St)
Tropical Plants & Orchids ( 106 West 28th St) My go-to for a wide variety of beautiful orchids.
International Garden Inc. (807 6th Ave.) This is one of the few shops that is open on Sundays.
Pany Floral (146 West 28th St) Don’t have a green thumb? This shop carries beautiful, very realistic silk flowers. Shhh, just don’t tell anybody they’re imitations!
B & J Florist Supply ( 103 West 28th St) Vases, baskets, ribbon, tulle, beads, gardening shears, planters…..you’ll find it here.
NEED COFFEE WHILE SHOPPING THE MARKET?
Don’t leave 28th Street without stopping into one of the cutest coffee shops in NYC, A Little Taste Cafe (148 West 28th St) is a European, boutique-style cafe, specializing in bespoke coffee drinks and delicious fresh pastries. There is also a secret door in the back that leads to the most beautiful home goods showroom.
I have to believe that amongst the many treasured memories we have surrounding this holiday, the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of those we all share. This year marks the 9th decade of this beloved New York and national treasure. Through wind, rain, sleet, snow or hail, over 3.5 million people will brave the elements to see it in person while an average of 50 million viewers will tune in to watch from the comfort of their homes. Here’s a bit of trivia that will make you a hit at Thanksgiving dinner:
-Macy’s is the second largest consumer of helium after the U.S government.
-The parade has been an annual tradition since 1924. From 1942-1944 it was put on hold because of a rubber and helium shortage during WWII.
-The parade scene in the 1947 holiday classic “Miracle on 34th Street” features footage shot from the 1946 Macy’s Parade. The film studio installed cameras along the parade route from Central Park West (if you’re an inveterate New Yorker like I am, you’ll notice how low the trees are in Central Park!) to Broadway. With a parade of this magnitude, there are no reshoots! The Santa Claus bringing up the rear of the parade in all of his holiday splendor that year was actor and star of the film, Edmund Gwenn. He would win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor the following year for the role.
-Since 1968, the floats have been designed by artists at the Macy’s Parade Studio in New Jersey. The floats are as tall as 40′ high and 28’wide. In order to squeeze through the Lincoln Tunnel (taking them from NJ to NY) they actually fold down to a mere 12 x 8 ft. box! Can you imagine?!
-The balloons are painted while fully inflated to prevent the paint from cracking.
-It takes 90 minutes to inflate the big balloons which are capable of lifting nearly 750 lbs. Each balloon requires up to 90 handlers.
-Making its big debut this year will be “Bouncing Dog”, happily prancing her way down the parade route at a whopping 36′ long x 15′ wide. At an estimated 40′ high she is one tall pup!
-After the parade is over, the balloons are deflated behind Macy’s Department Store and are then put into storage for the revelries of next year.
November 28th 5:30-9pm
The holiday season officially kicks off on the upper west side with the much-anticipated “Winter’s Eve” festivities. This annual event features food tastings, free entertainment, live music, special offerings from the local shops and above all, jovial, cheerful spirit throughout the neighborhood Spanning a 10-block radius (all along Broadway from Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle to 68th St) be sure to get there in time for the magical tree lighting ceremony which takes place at Dante Park, directly across from Lincoln Center. Let the fun begin!
More info @http://winterseve.nyc