7 posts tagged “new york magazine”
New York Magazine recently ran a piece called "Reasons to Love New York Now". As usual a very well written article, but it also made me start thinking about MY reasons to love New York now. After a year and half in the city, it is now the 3rd longest length of time during my adulthood that I have resided in any one place. So there must be a reason why I love New York now, right? I'll think about it and let you know.
In the meantime read some of my favorite reasons from NYM:
Because We Have Four, Yes Four, Presidential Wannabe
Because Nas and Kelis Make Marriage Seem Sexy (although Nas doesn't seem to be aware that Ruby Dee is still alive and kicking)
"C’mon over here, sugarplum,” says Kelis. Her blonde hair swoops up like meringue. She crooks her finger for her husband, Nas, to join us.
The two hip-hop stars grew up here—she in Harlem, he in Crown Heights and Queensbridge. Nas, the hyperliterate rap firebrand, releases Hip Hop Is Dead this week; Kelis, an R&B innovator, is the 21st century’s female Prince. And at this moment, in New York, the pair are in that sweet spot where a famous couple is also a kind of royalty—turning the city into their own personal romantic backdrop.
Because You Don’t Need a Plane Ticket to Go to a Foreign Country
As a New Yorker, you spend a lot of your time not acting like a tourist: not going where tourists go (Rockefeller Center), not wearing what tourists wear (fanny packs), and not doing what tourists do (waddling in slow-moving, sidewalk-clogging herds that suddenly halt for no discernible reason). Yet one of the great joys of living here is that we can all be tourists, all the time. A current ad campaign for Delta dangles far-flung destinations with the tagline “Cheat on New York.” But the thing is, you don’t need to leave the city to do that. You can cheat on New York with New York.
Because Even in the High-Rent Chain-Clogged Heart of Manhattan You Can Still Find a Mom-and-Pop
You cannot get a decaf caramel macchiato with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles at the Inhouse Nosh Cafe. In fact, horror of all horrors, they don’t have macchiatos period. They serve tea and coffee, in the standard hot and iced varieties, as well as toasted bagels, muffins, doughnuts, and all manner of chips, candy, gum, and soda. Then there are the house specialties, like the popular spinach pie (a lovely light crust), brisket sandwiches, blintzes, bialys, knishes, pierogi, grilled chicken in a pita, fillet of flounder, and the latest addition to the menu, vegetarian lasagne. Plus the egg salad is divine. All of this, and a morning-blitz counter staff of six, is crammed into a space no bigger than a studio apartment, festooned with handwritten signs that all but cry out, “We are an independently owned and operated establishment.”
Because It Takes Only 30 Hours to Turn Into Someone Else
Because No One, No Matter How Rich, Talented, and Beautiful, Can Win Our Love Until They Earn It
Because Even in a City of 8 Million People, You Can Still Be Alone
In the rest of America, people crave human contact. Buying a quart of milk may be one’s only conversation for the day, and clerk and customer stretch out the transaction with pleasant chat. In Manhattan, by contrast, the relentless crush of humanity makes solitude into something not to be rejected but to be embraced, even defended. When out-of-towners see us pass each other by with barely a grunt, they mistake our lack of small talk for coldness. Really, we’re exchanging a small, invisible gift: a moment’s silence.
Because Our Real Mobsters Are More Entertaining Than the Sopranos
Because Our Beautiful Young Actresses Can Actually Act
Yes, L.A., your stunning, supernaturally toned, and eerily tanned actresses may demonstrate their range by playing a midriff-baring dance instructor, a midriff-baring scuba diver, a midriff-baring stripper, and a leotard-wearing superhero (Pomona’s Jessica Alba). But our stunning, quite-often-pale-but-still-drop-dead-gorgeous actresses can actually act. In fact, it’s becoming obvious that the world’s best beautiful actresses either speak with funny accents—Winslet, Kidman, Blanchett, Mirren, et al.—or they’re New Yorkers: Streep, Moore, Portman, Connelly, Johansson, Mary-Louise Parker, and Thurman, for starters (Gwyneth, a New Yorker in London, and Rachel Weisz, a Brit in our Soho, diplomatically bridge the gap).
Because Our Socialites, Having Made It Here, Are Making It Everywhere
Because the Next Isabella Rossellini Lives Here (and Happens to Be Isabella’s Daughter)
Every day, impossibly gorgeous girls are plucked from midwestern malls and Russian cafés, Brazilian beaches and small Eastern European towns, and hustled to Manhattan. The burning hope is that theirs will become The Face, and its bearer the new belle of New York—and from here, the world. But this year’s Face belongs to a born-and-raised New Yorker.
Because There’s More to Do on a Single Street Here Than There Is in Most Other Cities
Because We Like to Watch
As a plus sized woman who likes to be fairly fashionable, I am always on the hunt for new shops that may be able to meet the needs of my style and shape. New York Magazine has a great little shop directory on line and I found a few new places to test out.
#1 - Off Broadway Boutique
139 W. 72nd St. New York NY 10023
between Broadway and Columbus Ave.
212 724 6713
Profile
Broadway divas, opera stars, and grande dames of a certain age flock to this Upper West Side institution—a destination since1970—for their fix of bold clothing and vibrant accessories with a strong sense of drama. Owner Lynn Dell scours up-and-coming designer markets in far-off countries like Japan, Denmark and Morocco to compile an eclectic mix of theatrical pieces, most of which are cut in generous, flowing proportions. Up front lie crinkled silks, Issey Miyake-inspired evening suits by Ivan Grundhal and ruched metallic ponchos fit for descending a grand staircase. Two steps down in the back of the room is an in-store consignment shop called Reruns with campy, vintage looks like leopard-print Dior jeans that attract a younger clientele. And since no diva worth her diamonds can forego accessories, there are plenty of options near the entryway; find rhinestone drop earrings, chunky plastic beads, and tiki-inspired necklaces.
#2 - Off-Broadway Boutique & Re-Runs Consignment
139 W. 72nd St., New York, NY 10023
nr. Columbus Ave.
212 724 6713
Profile
Opera singers, cross-dressers, and vintage fiends alike swear by these shops for dramatic looks. Stop by the consignment area for a large selection of Chanel or a leather Versace suit. Then visit the boutique, where you can find decorative hats, ornate jewelry, and loads of other accessories.
#3 - Saks Fifth Avenue
611 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10022
at 50th St.
212-753-4000
Profile
Occupying an entire city block directly across from Rockefeller Center, Saks Fifth Avenue has been one of the city's preeminent high-end department stores since it opened in 1924. The ten-floor luxury behemoth buzzes with a well-heeled hum at the ground level, where cosmetics salespeople stand at attention and perfume spritzers beckon at every turn. Retail extravaganzas can be overwhelming; stop off at the information booth on the 50th street side before ascending to the upper sales floors.
Women's Plus-Size
Saks’ designer plus-size department, Salon Z, features a diverse array of European and US-made designer clothing from names like Dana Buchman and Marina Rinaldi in sizes 14 through 24; along with intimate apparel and hosiery.
#4 - Giselle
143 Orchard St., New York, NY 10002
nr. Rivington St.
212 673 1900
877 447 3553
Profile
A Lower East Side fixture since 1979, Giselle hearkens back to an era when Orchard Street was a historic wholesale dry-goods enclave. Situated among bargain furriers and leather, shoe, and formalwear shops, the mini department store maintains an Old World charm and remains the go-to retailer for neighborhood ladies in search of hefty bargains on traditional—albeit higher-end—looks from designers like Escada, Les Copains, and Laurel. Catering primarily to demure women-of-a-certain-age, Giselle is a neatly organized, four-floor emporium where suits, knitwear, and sportswear are always at least 20 percent less than at larger department stores, and are often marked up to 50 percent off the regular retail price. Although you might see an enthusiastic shopper forgo the dressing room to change in an aisle, Century 21 it is not: All the garments here are impeccably displayed in a range of sizes (4 to 20), and some of the sales staff speak both English and Hebrew to assist the large Hasidic clientele.
#5 - Bloomingdale's
1000 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022
at 59th St.
212 705 2000
Profile
This Eastside art-deco landmark has been serving sophisticated New York shoppers since 1886. One of the city's earliest high-end department stores, Bloomingdale's has since evolved into a more democratic institution where mid-priced products and designers share ample retail turf. Though big-ticket women's collections can still be found, the store now seems geared more toward business people on lunch breaks and the ubiquitous tourists rather than ladies who lunch. Bloomingdale's Soho, which opened in 2004, furthers this trend, eschewing home furnishings and conservative labels in favor of wallet-friendly downtown designers like Ted Baker and Miss Sixty. In the midtown store, enter underground from the 4, 5 train straight into the plus-sized department and 40 Carrots, Bloomingdale’s cafeteria-style restaurant. On the black and white tile-checkered ground level, brave a phalanx of perfume-wielding clerks to browse copious cosmetics and accessories; stylish, affordable lines like Burberry, Michael by Michael Kors, and Kenneth Cole occupy the bulk of shelf space in the notable watch department. In men's wear, visit elegant in-store boutiques for fashion-conscious sportswear labels like John Varvatos and Armani Collezioni. And gentlemen can get comfortable on the women's levels as well—in the well-upholstered lounge chairs strategically placed throughout the selling floor.
Here are some tips from New York Magazine on cheap haircuts from "practicing" stylist in the city. I'm not sure if they do textured hair, but I'll be calling to find out.
Aveda Institute 233 Spring Street (212-807-1492) Cuts cost: $18; free if you're open to whatever they want to do. Lag time: Booked within a week of when we wanted it. Pros: The stylist-in-training was confident and open to what we wanted; she even offered hints. We asked for long layers, and that's what we got. Cons: We were told that requesting the same stylist again "messes with the scheduling." Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes. Rating: Three stars
Redken Gallerie 565 Fifth Avenue, near 46th Street (212-984-5027) Cuts cost: Free. Lag time: We set up an immediate consultation, where we were given an appointment for about a month later. We were told we'd meet with the stylist before the cut to "reach a compromise" between our goals and his. Pros: Redken notifies clients of future color and cut availability. Cons: The stylist didn't deliver on any of our requests and disappeared before the last locks hit the floor. Duration: Just over 2 hours. Rating: One star
Bumble and Bumble 415 W 13th Street (212-866-7Bumble) Cuts cost: $20; free if you attend a daytime modeling class and get the predetermined cut. Lag time: At the model call, you're given an appointment in the next two to four weeks. Pros: Confident trainees: They took risks and gave stylish cuts. Apprentices will give you their number so you can book directly with them. Cons: Apprentices don't keep their well-earned $20—it goes to their teachers, so tip well. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Rating: Five stars
Parlor 102 Avenue B (212-673-5520) Cuts cost: Free. Lag time: We left a message and got a call the next day, arranging an appointment for the following week—on "graduated-bob day." Pros: The hip cut was great—if similar to what we already had. Cons: The stylist's nerves: Her hands shook through the entire cut. And it's not reassuring to hear remarks like "It takes so little to throw me off." Luckily, the instructor was never far. Duration: 3 agonizing hours. Rating: Two stars
Stephen Knoll 625 Madison Avenue, near 58th street (212-421-0100) Cuts cost: $30. Lag time: No questions were asked about our hair type or the style we desired. An appointment was booked for three weeks later. Pros: Our hair turned out just fine—after the instructor stepped in. Cons: Regarding the front of our hair, the stylist told the instructor, "I'm scared. I don't want to mess it up." Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (about 45 minutes longer than the three other stylists in the class took). Rating: Three stars
Louis Licari 693 Fifth Avenue, near 54th Street (212-758-2090) Cuts cost: Free. Lag time: On the phone, our stylist said she'd do anything we wanted—except a trim. We got an appointment for the following week. Pros: The stylist confidently matched the haircut in the photo we brought in, providing tips on how to keep up the multi-layered look. Cons: You can't request stylists for future haircuts—you never know whom you might get. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Rating: Four stars
More from my new favorite mag:
Ask a Shop Clerk: Olivia Kibar (also check out the shop she works at: French Sole, 985 Lexington Ave., nr. 71st St.; 212 737 2859)
With the holiday season right around the corner it's time to find something new and different to get my mother (also known as "the woman who has everything"). This year, I thought I would purchase several $20-$30 gift certificates from a variety of stores and deliver them to her in a pretty pouch or purse. But New York Magazine strikes again.
News about City Shuffle's Shopping Deck arrived in my stocking (inbox) this morning. The Shopping Deck is a set of 52 cards that double as $10 gift certificate to several independently owned New York City stores. Not only is this a great idea, but it also helps out the little people and I am — amongst other things — a champion of the independently owned!
Unfortunately, these little cards won't help me with my mom issue. She lives in Indianapolis and wouldn't get much use out of gift certificates to New York shops like Le Labo, Just Shades or Love Shine. But maybe I can design her own little deck with gift certs that from stores that she frequents in her neck of the woods.
New Yorkers can get the Shopping Deck ($29.95) at www.cityshuffle.com.
I don't know how I missed it, but 2 months ago I found a new favorite - New York Magazine. I'd heard of it before, but thinking it would be as stuffy (and typically culturally bias) as it's counterpart The New York Times I never took the time to read it. However I digress. It's Brilliant -- with a capital "B".
Here are some of my favorites from this week:
Meet. Mate. Multiply.
Jeziah Robertson, 7, and Dakotarome Paul, 6, Cousins
Q Adjarenimako
According to New York Magazine, Jeffrey has been accused of cheating by outsourcing the sewing of his final collection -- an immediate disqualifying rule breaker. Although the findings of the investigation have yet to be revealed, wouldn't it be great to see Jeffrey get what he deserves after so disrespectful to Angela's mother?
