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Day 1, Thursday, January 25, 2007
When In New York
Welcome To Me
Strung Up
Tea Time
A Quick Trip To The Orient
Tango Math
North By Northwest
Susan Weinrebe
January 25, 2007
On Location in Manhattan 2007: With Susan Weinrebe - Day One
On Location in Manhattan 2007: With Susan Weinrebe - Day Two
On Location in Manhattan 2007: With Susan Weinrebe - Day Three
On Location in Manhattan 2007: With Susan Weinrebe - Day Four
(Susan Weinrebe, Chicago Editor and Arts Critic. For the record, Susan is Roberta Zlokower’s Sister-in-Law).
(See Susan’s 2005 NY Journal).
Whenever I’m a tourist, I believe in doing as the locals do. When In New York I know I’ll eat, drink, see shows, eat a little more and get to bed late. The city awaits my pleasure and on this most recent trip, I planned to fill the days with as much activity as I could fit in.
OK. I’m an early morning person, but getting up at 3 AM for my flight was a little too early. Still, if I wanted to get a full day’s worth of action on the scene for my on-line publication, RobertaOnTheArts.com in New York, I knew I’d have to get there by the opening bell.
As usual, Carmel Car & Limousine Service was a phone away once I collected my baggage. In as much time as it took to flip my cell closed, Lai, my driver, in his most comfortable and spacious Lincoln Town Car, pulled up to collect me and give a running tour of the city as we drove towards mid-town Manhattan.
Oh, happy, place, most well-located and familiar! The Holiday Inn, Midtown at 57th Street, was just as I remembered it from my last visit. Check in was effortless and the desk staff, conversant in several languages, made me feel welcome in good old English. But wait! There was a welcoming bouquet from Matles florist. Who doesn’t love to be loved and pampered and sent gorgeous flowers in vibrant colors – even if they are from one’s editor!
My comfortable room with the usual amenities of toiletries, large television, lounge chair, wireless connection and king-sized bed, and glass table on which to display my floral arrangement, called out to me: Unpack. Relax. Take a little nap. No one will know.
I would know. I had a list of things to accomplish and I couldn’t lollygag if I was going to get to all my To Do’s. A brief call to my editor and I was out the door to meet her for coffee.
Ah the Melvillian reference! The rainmaker and romancer of spinsters! The ubiquitous house of coffee! Starbucks! Looking like a million bucks herself, Roberta held down a table, a sandwich, and a latte until I walked the two blocks to meet her. Her new hairstyle from Salon Ziba, owned by Alonso, styled by Vincent and magnificently (dare I say?) colored by Fryda, looked incredible and her glamorous town coat, custom fitted for warmth, lightness and looks by Viktoria, completed the polished new look. I’m proud of my editor.
Before I came to New York I made that dervish of a whirlwind, Roberta, promise, swear and cross her heart that I’d get to a knitting store. I had a list. I checked it twice. What was near? String! A tiny niche-in-the-real-estate place, this knitting emporium specializes in the most luxe of fibers available. In fact, its owner, Linda Morse, herself in attendance on this day, wrote the book, Luxury Knitting, itself a luxurious guide to yummy yarns like cashmere and silk and even that most exotic and imaginably hard to obtain, Qiviuk – combed down from the pelts of live musk oxen. I bought the book, autographed specially and after anguished deciding, settled on a delicious morsel of variegated cashmere for a cowl in the round.
Having spent some money, it was time to eat again. Off we walked on our next round of fun. The siren call of luxurious clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, makeup, hair salons, one after a dizzying nother, along Madison Avenue, couldn’t distract us from our goal…afternoon tea at Café Opaline located at the Dahesh Museum.
Entering the Dahesh Museum through the gift shop is like stepping into a Middle Eastern suk. Silks and richly ornamented fabrics, jewelry, designs and colors arrayed on every surface beckoned, but it was off to tea.
Café Opaline is a spa, but for eating. Casual luxury exuded by the décor envelopes one and immediately soothes, before the first choice pot of tea arrives. The usual choices of Darjeeling and Earl Grey abounded, but there was also loose leaf Rose Bud, Jasmine Pearl, and my choice, Cinnamon, Anise, and Cardamon. Enjoying the suffused light and ambiance of wraparound windows over the Madison Avenue street scene, Roberta and I shared the sumptuous tea sandwiches and sweets, three tiers of them with two of everything, so there was no fighting! Fresh fruits from the oasis, smoked salmon napoleons, curry chicken, cheeses and proscuitto, lump crab, ganache cakes, éclairs, tarts, scones, preserves and Devonshire cream, baklava and much, much more. It was a repast for a pasha or perhaps an houri.
The Dahesh is just like its tea service; one expects a little taste (for it is a compact museum), but comes away filled by the exhibitions. In fact, the name Dahesh means “inspiring wonder.” The focus on academic and salon art, features of Orientalism collected by Dr. Dahesh, and shows such as the one we enjoyed, Napoleon On The Nile,
emphasizes the intimate quality of this former private collection, now open to all.
A quick run back to the Holiday Inn for something slinky and black, appropriate to wear to a tango performance and off we went to Miguel Angel Zotto’s electrifying Tango X 2 at New York City Center. The jammed house was packed with tangueros, recognized by Roberta from her own tango days. As for the dancing, sexy doesn’t have to be brought back; it never left tango!
Watching other people dance always works up my appetite, so Roberta, Robert (of ExploreDance.com) and I grabbed a cab to the perfect restaurant for a late night supper – NorthWest. Near Central Park, Lincoln Center and the Natural History Museum, one could make a day’s excursion with a stop at NorthWest for dinner.
I loved the candlelit American bistro atmosphere, the large format black and white photography collections, leather banquettes in the upstairs wine bar, and most of all the food. We had appetizers of warm crab salad and French onion soup followed by mushroom risotto, duck and a panoply of vegetables, really good coffee, and the company of owner, Matthew, who shared his passion for NorthWest in an impromptu tour.
Twenty-six hours is too long for me to stay awake. It was “home” for the night to the Holiday Inn and a most excellent sleep to cap a whirlwind day.
On ATA With Diane
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Lai From Carmel
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
A View From The Bridge
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Holiday Inn Welcome By Anthony
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Matles Florist Bouquet
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Holiday Inn
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
String's Knitted Marquee
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
String Yarn
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Linda Of String And Susan
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
String - Colors
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Nancy Helps With Choices At String
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Pamela of Dahesh and Roberta
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Dahesh Gift Shop
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Dahesh's Cafe Opaline
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Flower Teas At Cafe Opaline
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Tea Tray At Cafe Opaline
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
New York At Night
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Service By Matt At Northwest
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Northwest's Visual Ambiance
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Roberta, Susan, Robert Dine At Northwest
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Matthew's Gallery At Northwest
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Northwest's Upper Bar
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Jimmy Carr Tickets >
Mamma Mia Tickets and more
Cheap Theatre Tickets!
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