LUXURYCULTURE.COM - Sharing the Art of Living Well

Spice Market

Jean-Georges Vongerichten's piquant, East-meets-West cuisine is now spicing up Manhattan's Meat Packing District. This time, inspired by the street food of Vietnam and Thailand, he has created a communal eatery offering earthy flavors and family-style dining. Heavenly, yet down to earth.

Charles Worthington Salon

This award-winning, celebrity hairstylist from Britain is making waves on this side of the Atlantic as well, tending the tresses of some of America’s leading screen and fashion personalities. If you can’t book the man himself, then try his products, which promise a permanent end to bad hair days.

Robert Miller Gallery

A gallery founded in 1977 exhibiting a perpetually updated collection of modern and contemporary paintings, sculpture, works on paper as well as vintage, modern and contemporary photography.

Gypsy Tea

One of the latest late night hotspots in the Flatiron district where the focus is a grand aquarium in the center of the dance floor... that is, if you can take your eyes off the beautiful people. State-of-the-art sound system has attracted some of the world's top DJs to this exclusive, celebrity-packed club and bar.

Chocolate Suites

A new concept in premium accommodations, Chocolate Secret Suites, located in the center of the trendy shops, restaurants and nightspots of Soho and Nolita, are available for short term stays of up to one year. Shrouded in secrecy, these luxurious suites are outfitted with perfection.

Strand Book Store

Founded in 1927, this legendary bookstore is best known for its "18 miles of books" and remarkable deals. Thousands of new titles at 50% off, and the largest rare book collection in NYC, including signed editions.

Four Seasons Hotel New York

Rising 52 stories above Manhattan's premier shopping and business district, this I.M. Pei-designed hotel features stunning views and gracious style – a remarkable experience, even by New York's lofty standards.

Frederick's

An intimate bar and lounge providing a stylish escape for a limited number of patrons. The members-only room seats 80 very special people who gain access thanks to a fingerprint scan. Asian-inspired tapas as well as sushi are served.

Cain

A nocturnal sanctuary of South African culture in the wilderness of West Chelsea, this exclusive boutique nightclub is where the beautiful people unleash their wild side, while nursing cocktails infused with indigenous ingredients such as African honey and kumquat.

60 Thompson

This sophisticated 100-room boutique hotel discreetly located in the heart of Soho, has a panoramic rooftop Members' bar that has become a hot-spot for the city's movers and shakers. Guest rooms are furnished with all the luxuries including linen by Frette and gourmet items from Dean & Deluca.

Hiro

The essence of Tokyo-chic, this late-night lounge, lit by paper lanterns and fueled by sake, mixes hip-hop, electronica and forgotten 80s—the perfect blend for its hip-swinging denizens. Especially popular with the Chelsea gay crowd.

Café Gray

Those who mourned Gray Kunz's departure from Lespinasse can rejoice again. The award-winning chef is back with his most sumptuous creation to date. Even the panoramic views of Central Park can not compete with the exuberant creations of Kunz's new, open kitchen.

Lever House

Located inside the legendary Lever House Building on Park Avenue, this retro-futuristic, high-stylized dining room designed by Marc Newson offers New American cuisine such as tuna carpaccio with wasabi crème fraiche, and lobster gazpacho.

Vitra

A furniture manufacturer with showrooms all over the world, Vitra designs for the places where people work, be it in the office, home, or on the road. Its top-of-the-line pieces, developed along with today's top designers, are not only good-looking, but also ergonomically and ecologically-correct.

Mix New York

Alain Ducasse is back again, this time collaborating with dynamic NYC restaurateur, Jeffrey Chodorow. In their chic, yet relaxed setting, the duo introduces a unique menu that mixes French and American classics. U.S./France relations have never been smoother.

Arté Salon

A fusion of disparate design elements – from antique cutting stations to modern furnishings – this eclectic salon specializes in friendly, quality service as well as soothing hair and scalp treatments. Coming soon: complimentary hand reflexology with essential oils.

Bergdorf Goodman

Known throughout the world for elegance and luxury, this New York legend is the place to go for your most demanding purchases, with all the top names in fashion, beauty, accessories and shoes under one roof. Don’t forget to dress up before you stop by. Yes, it’s that kind of a place.

Moss

Labeled the "design equivalent of Disneyland" by the Financial Times, this 7000 square-feet museum-like store offers one of the world's most sophisticated selection of everything from tableware and furniture to lighting, watches, jewelry and books.

Megu

A highly designed space serving modern Japanese cuisine crafted from the freshest ingredients. A dazzling selection of sake and shochu, as well as a sumibi aburiyaki bar—a grilling technique that uses bincho-tan charcoal, prized for its purifying properties.

House of Bumble

A hair salon, a university, a gallery, a store and a café. The six floors of Bumble and Bumble's new hair mecca in the Meat Packing District is not just a place to get a great cut or color, but to take an afternoon tea overlooking the Hudson or browse through a hand-picked selection of books.

Hotel Gansevoort

The first full-service luxury hotel in the trendy Meat Packing District, the Gansevoort features a heated outdoor pool with underwater music and lights, plus commanding views of both city and river from the imaginative rooftop with a cosmopolitan lounge and event loft.

Clay

Just don't call it a gym. This new, sleekly-designed fitness club and spa in the heart of New York City is a calm, Zen-like oasis in the midst of the urban bustle. Offering a range of services from a high-tech gym to massage and facials to a rooftop organic café, Clay is a minimalist sanctuary dedicated to molding and transforming both body and soul.

dream

With its dramatically decorated lobby, three bars and in-house healing center by über-spiritualist Deepak Chopra, this is one NY's most wonderfully surreal experiences. Rooms aglow in an otherworldly blue light and featuring lush Egyptian cotton linens guarantee sweet dreams.

hotel on rivington

This new hotel has lent a welcome touch of class to the Lower East Side. Design buffs will love the swish duplex penthouse and futuristic restaurant and bar designed by Marcel Wander. You can enjoy a deluxe complimentary breakfast and evening wine on the lovely rooftop lounge.

bungalow 8

This super-chic private members club has gotten all the city's scenesters in a tizzy. Its décor and name are a stylish throwback to old Hollywood, as are the lashings of champagne and caviar on offer. So throw on your glammest outfit and get ready to impress the doorman and all the rest.

matsuri

The beautiful people simply adooore this spectacular zen eaterie nestled below the Maritime Hotel. Ex-Caravelle chef Tadashi Ono conjures an audacious selection of Japanese fusion dishes including taste bud thrilling fried sea bass and pink snapper with yuzu juice. Chicly delicious.

nobu

Celebrated chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa's modern Japanese cuisine with South American influences has been drawing the in-crowd for nearly a decade. Co-owned with actor Robert DeNiro, this award-winning restaurant has since transcended its cult status, becoming as well known as its signature dish – miso cod.

agent provocateur

Breathe new life into your bedroom with Agent Provocateur's delightfully seductive line of lingerie-imagine bra-and-brief sets in pretty peach chiffon, dark red tulle, and slinky black silk. A.P's utterly beguiling corsets are perfect for special occasions. Naughty yet very nice...

dylan's candy bar

Sugar rushes are all the rage thanks to this amazing sweet-emporium helmed by NY's candy queen, Dylan (daughter of Ralph) Lauren. Willy Wonka himself would be dazzled by the mind blowing array of rare, custom made goodies, as well the chocolate baths at the Candy Spa.

intermix

The city's bright young things all congregate at this hipster haunt, to nab the latest ultra-covetable item to spice up their wardrobe. So go on and boldly mix and match from an expertly sourced selection of trendy international labels including Chloe, Mathew Williamson, and Seven.

Jeffrey

Posh Jeffrey led the fashion migration to the meatpacking district, taking with him Balenciaga, Dries Van Noten and Michael Kors, among others. Elbow your way past the manicured fashion editors, socialites, models and celebrities who flock here for the hand-picked selection of men's and women's clothes, shoes and beauty products.

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton marked its 150th year in style by launching its biggest flagship store. This marvelous boutique combines pure modernism with classic opulence. Highlights include the 35 vintage trunks on display as well as an ultra-covetable array of signature LV designs.

Aquavit

Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson takes Scandinavian food to innovative new heights, with dishes such as tandoori-smoked char with goat cheese parfait and Oscietra caviar. Those craving something simpler have not been forgotten – the Swedish meatballs are also on the menu. A bracing sip of Aquavit – the restaurant has just released its own version, flavored with fresh cranberries – will warm you up for the meal.

Indochine

It's been around a while, but this French colonial-styled Vietnamese restaurant is still happening, thanks to crowd-pleasing staples such as generously-stuffed spring rolls and sole wrapped in banana leaf with coconut milk curry. Wash it all down with a pineapple and ginger martini while keeping an eye out for celebrity regulars including Madonna and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Kittichai

Located inside the trendy boutique hotel, 60 Thompson, the tastefully-decorated dining room of this restaurant, with its limpid reflecting pool, water lilies and the usual flock of fashionable customers, is a fitting showcase for the modern Thai cuisine that, authentic or not, remains pleasingly respectable.

Lure Fishbar

A far cry from the seafood shacks decorated with dusty buoys and plastic fish, the interiors of this new restaurant better recalls a luxurious yacht, with its white leather banquettes and varnished floors. A raw bar offers large selection of uncooked seafood and fish, though the cooked creations, such as yellowtail with jalapeno and mint, would be difficult to resist.

Neue Galerie

Created by Ronald Lauder, chairman of Estée Lauder and lifelong art collector, this museum is devoted to early 20th century German and Austrian art and design, covering fine and decorative arts from the likes of Klimt, Kandinsky and Klee among many others. Regular exhibitions explore neglected aspects from the art of the time such as humor in German art.

Yumcha

Modern Chinese haute cuisine like you've never seen before is served up with care at this new, stylish restaurant. The compact east meets west menu features unusual dishes such as pan-friend frogs' legs with pineapple consommé and veal cheeks braised in soy and star anise - a far cry from the sweet and sour chicken balls of your typical takeaway.

Atelier New York

A one-stop shop for fashion-forward males, featuring high-end men's clothes, shoes and accessories by the likes of Rick Owens, Balenciaga, Les Hommes and Ann Demeulemeester. Most of the minimalist, monochrome items verge on the dark side – neo-Goths, this is the place for you.

Marquee

A new, 6,500 square foot space located in Upper Chelsea, this is a venue designed to accommodate miles of red carpet. Billed as an event facility and a nightspot, come here for the dining, dancing and drinking, the star-studded soirees thrown together each week, or organize your own exclusive event.

Prada

Designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, this 40-million dollar flagship store created a sensation even before it was opened in 2001. The giant retail space houses all the Italian luxury brand's fashion and accessories for men and women, but most visitors come to gawk at the store's design instead.

The Frick Collection

Those yearning for serenity in the city should pop by this stately mansion showcasing the private collection of Henry Clay Frick, a 19th century steel magnate. Pick up an audio guide and take in the fine array of old masters, contemporary paintings, Chinese porcelain and Renaissance bronzes.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

One of the world's greatest museums and the largest in the western hemisphere, the Met attracts some 5 million visitors a year with its magnificent collection of art and culture from around the world. Everything from Egyptian mummies to Native American masks to 20th century decorative arts can be found here, along with all the greatest hits of art history. A not-to-be-missed experience.

Museum of Modern Art

Re-opened in late 2004, this 630,000 square-feet space, designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, is flooded with space and light. The spacious rooms hold an excellent collection of paintings, sculptures and design pieces from Van Gogh to Rodin to the Macintosh I-Pod. Edgy exhibits make this a destination to revisit again and again.

Skin Klinic

A skin care center that dispenses with the frills of other spas and gets straight down to the business of beautiful skin: Medically-trained practitioners and dermatologists administer a range of cosmetic skin care treatments in a quiet, minimalist environment. Drop in on a lunch break and emerge looking years younger.

Isamu Noguchi Museum

An ideal place to escape the bustle of the city while gaining a greater understanding of the multifaceted Japanese-American designer and sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Stroll through the sculpture garden and take home your own piece of the Noguchi legacy, by buying one of his famous Akari lights from the shop.

Karim Rashid

You no longer need to head to the MOMA or go online to step into the playful, futuristic world of the famed English-Egyptian designer. Here you'll find everything from Rashid's famed Garbo trashcan to his gold cufflinks and lovely chairs that are just crying out to be swiveled around in.

Artisan Parfumeur

A new fragrance is wafting through Soho now that the prestigious Artisan Parfumeur boutique has opened its doors. As well as showcasing the luxury brand's famous eau de toilettes, amber balls and flower sachets, the store allows customers to discover the mysteries of fragrance at 'the scent bar'.

St. Regis

Few hotels can rival the graciousness offered by the St. Regis of Fifth Avenue. This Beaux Arts landmark in the heart of midtown is a step back in time to an era of pure refinement, luxury, and impeccable service. From the Louis XVI style furnishings to the crystal chandeliers, a stay at the St. Regis is unforgettable.

Berluti

Berluti's Manhattan branch is the realization of a long-standing family dream to bring their beautiful handcrafted footwear for men to the city that never sleeps. Don't miss the chance to discover their fancy footwork at the Italian brand's only American boutique.

Marni

Whimsical womenswear meets space-age design at Marni's SOHO outpost. You'll have to be wily to get in however—no name adorns the external façade and a bioluminescent sign is the only marker of the fresh luxury that awaits you inside.

Perry St.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten's newest Manhattan endeavor is a hip, new neighborhood restaurant on the West Side. The cuisine is simple - three key ingredients are highlighted in every dish while the decor is elegant yet cozy. The only hitch is getting a table.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Perched more than 250 feet above ground level, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is a true combination of luxury, sophistication, and technology. Dramatic views, elegant and spacious guestrooms, and first-class Asian-inspired cuisine will really make you feel on top of the world.

The Modern and The Bar Room

The reopening of the MoMA has brought two culinary works of art into the museum's fold: The Modern and its sister restaurant The Bar Room. Destinations in their own right, The Modern, with its long glass wall looking out to the Sculpture Garden, is both spectacular for its views and Gabriel Kreuther's cuisine. Previously chef at the Ritz-Carlton, he is perfecting his sophisticated fusion of French and New American cooking with such dishes as Potato Gateau with escargots, Roasted Wild Boar Chop with rutabaga 'choucroute', and Buttermilk-Poached Turbot with clove sauce. As for The Bar Room, its two stunning walls – one covered with wine bottles, the other decorated with a Thomas Demand landscape – are as mesmerizing as the museum's exhibits.

Masa

If the client is king in your book, then Masa will probably make you mad. The chef and owner, Masayoshi Takayama decides what to serve his guests, and the sequence and the rhythm these delicacies (all unarguably divine) will appear. You might find yourself tucking into a white truffle risotto, or popping open a ceramic pot filled with foie gras; sushi will certainly be part of your three-hour banquet. Make sure you check your bank balance before you go – $700 per person is the average damage done, and that doesn't even include a sip of sake.

Per Se

One sign of Per Se's dedication to excellence is its guest/service ratio: there are only 26 tables, but a staff of around 50 in the kitchen, which measures 700 square meters. Owner and chef Thomas Keller, who first wowed American gourmets with his heavenly French Laundry restaurant in Napa Valley, has surpassed himself in Gotham. Prepare yourself for a palate challenging experience with his Tasting Menu, a four-hour banquet including such delicacies as Oysters and Pearls – oysters poached in sabayon, tapioca and caviar – and feather-light black sesame cones filled with salmon and fresh cream.

Fendi

To celebrate its 80th anniversary, Fendi has opened this ultra-sleek, 700-square meter store. Designed by the ubiquitous Peter Marino, the facade is in rust-colored steel – the color being a homage to Rome, where the brand was founded in 1925. On the ground floor you'll find Fendi's trend-setting handbags, travel bags and shoes; while behind an undulating Roman traversine stone wall the Fendi men's collection looks cool and elegant. Perhaps the most spectacular feature of the store is the Marino-designed virtual fountain next to the stairway with Fendi's logo cascading from it. The brand's signature, sumptuous furs are displayed on the first floor along with ready-to-wear day and evening wear. In all, this airy space with floor-to-ceiling views of Fifth Avenue is the place to soak up modern-day luxury at its best.

Vong

Jean-Georges Vongerichten is the master chef behind this fabulous fusion of Thai and French cuisine. For those ready for a banquet, the five-course Tasting Menu is de rigueur – worth it if only to sample the heavenly pepper ice cream. Vong's setting is almost as awesome as the cuisine, so make sure your peepers are well equipped to take in the spectacular arrangements of fresh and dried spices, the stone tables and walls covered with silver leaves. For an unforgettable evening out, Vong is a must.

BDDW

In their slick new showroom on the Lower East Side – now the hot district for modern furniture design – Tyler Hays and Joshua Vogel offer their collection of exceptional American-Danish furniture, forged from a blend of Mid-century Modern and Shaker aesthetics. The pure-lined pieces are made exclusively from American woods and the beautifully crafted metal and bronze work is produced by BDDW's own forger in New York State. Every object here is a future classic, so be sure to invest now.

Barbara Gladstone

Barbara Gladstone has her pulse on the New York art establishment's current darlings. She has shown video artists such as Matthew Barney and Gary Hill, globe-trotting installation artists Ilya Kabakov and Vito Acconci, and the relatively traditional Stephan Balkenhol, who has carved out a niche for himself as a figurative sculptor. Focusing mainly on major conceptual artists who have emerged in the last five to 10 years, Gladstone has recently featured Rosemarie Trockel, Richard Prince and Anish Kapoor in her huge Chelsea space.

Zwirner & Wirth

New York gallerist David Zwirner and Swiss dealer Iwan Wirth specialize in modern and contemporary masters, including Martin Kippenberger, Gordon Matta-Clark, Gerhard Richter, Dan Flavin, Bruce Nauman, Thomas Ruff, Agnes Martin, Cy Twombly and Georg Baselitz. The ultra-uptown gallery opened in 2000 and occupies the first two floors of a townhouse renovated in 1999 by architect Annabelle Selldorf. Meanwhile, Zwirner's space at 525 West 19th Street, opened in 1993, remains flush with impressive shows by the likes of Gerhard Richter, Diana Thater, Luc Tuymans, On Kawara, Yutaka Sone, Toba Khedoori, Thomas Ruff, Raymond Pettibon, Michaël Borremans, Isa Genzken and Christopher Williams.

Howard Greenberg Gallery

Howard Greenberg is one of the world's leading photography dealers. Connoisseurs of 19th- and 20th-century photography keep their eyes peeled on his gallery to snap up recently uncovered treasures. Greenberg represents and exhibits the work of the acknowledged masters, including Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Weston, Eugene Atget, Walker Evans, Brassai, and Henri Cartier-Bresson. He also represents the estates of Edward Steichen, Imogen Cunningham, Andre Kertesz and Roman Vishniac. The gallery's website is an invaluable source of information on photography artwork – better still you can buy online from its extensive collection. Greenberg's goal is to post his entire archive online – no easy task given its size.

Mandarin Oriental Spa

This exquisite nest set on the top floor of the wickedly exclusive Mandarin Oriental Hotel is for those who have no intention of having a single ruffled feather. Start with the "heat experience" sublimely rejuvenating ripples in a pool, followed by a stress-dissolving vapor bath scented with fruits and eucalyptus. For the best body cleansing sensation go for the multi jet shower that sprays fog, water in cascades, or tropical rain as required. Facials and massages with ESPA products are next on the beautification agenda. Finally, perfectly preened, stretch out on a day bed with a pot of herbal tea and enjoy the vertiginous views of Central Park.

Luhring Augustine

Founded by Lawrence Luhring and Roland Augustine in 1985, this gallery is the closest visitors will get to a museum-style exhibition presentation in a commercial setting. Earlier, minutely-curated shows such as Marcel Duchamp in 1987, Gerhard Richter in 1995 and Donald Judd in 1999 set the tone and rigorous standards for the gallery. These days you can expect to find the oeuvre of artists such as Damien Hirst, Rachel Whiteread and Barbara Kruger presented with the same in-depth exploration of their oeuvre in the contaxt of art history.

Morrell Wine Bar & Café

For those who know their grapes, Morrell is the Bacchus of your dreams. Test the bartenders' knowledge, or your own, with its selection of around 2,000 wines (150 available by the glass). For those who like to temper their tippling with a little solid nourishment, stay on the ground floor (you won't be disappointed). Otherwise head to the S-shaped bar on the middle floor. From here the view is stellar over Manhattan, if a little blurred as the evening wears on.

Sway Lounge

Sway is a late, late night dive whose opium-den-style decor attracts musicians, models, and downtown dilettantes. Creative chameleons in the arts and fashion turn into DJs here, spinning Rock, Eighties hits, new wave and punk.

JACOB & CO

Jacob Arabo is the go-to-guy for jewels throughout the music, entertainment, fashion and sports world, with the biggest names in the business becoming faithful clients of Jacob's: Paris Hilton, P. Diddy, David Beckham, Justin Timberlake, Bono, Naomi Campbell, among others. The designs are anything but subtle; in Jacob's parlance, bigger is better. Diamond-encrusted watches are nearly saucer-size, and carats for rings go into double-digits.

MARC JACOBS

Casual and comfortable at the highest level, Marc Jacobs is always chic. He was the first big-name designer to hit Bleecker Street in the West Village and now everyone else has followed. From fashionistas, and trend-spotters to the junior set, they all love Marc Jacobs. Visit Jacobs for luxe cashmere sweaters, swingy party dresses and cartoon-cute shoes that all the Hollywood girls like Sofia Coppola wear.

PORSCHE DESIGN

The Porsche Design Group have opened their first flagship store in New York City. The 1,724-square-foot store is located in Manhattan's General Motors Building on the Madison Avenue side. The store displays a "Gate to the Future", which consists of three plasma monitors and a scan table. When a customer places a product on the table, animated films incorporating product images and information are projected onto the screens.

MARIAN GOODMAN

Since its founding in 1977, the Marian Goodman Gallery has played an important role in introducing European artists to American audiences. The gallery's offerings include contemporary art, publications, books, editions, prints and multiples. Its international artists work in a wide range of media, including sculpture, painting, video, film, photography, installation, prints, works on paper, architecture and mixed media. Throughout the years Marian Goodman has been a showcase for contemporary American and European art movements, focusing on 20th century, post-war, conceptual art, Arte Povera, abstract, figurative, and realist works.

LINDA DRESNER

Dresner outfits New Yorkers in all they need for day and night, from evening gowns to urbane suits. It is also the place to find something unique and beautiful by hot designers like Jil Sander, Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto, Martin Margiela, Dries van Noten, Marni and Angelo Figus. There is also a limited range of shoes and accessories.

P.J.Clarke's

PJ Clarke's is New York's legendary saloon, restaurant and celebrity hangout. For more than 120 years this venerable New York institution with its colorful history has entertained the famous, the infamous and everyone else who appreciates the ambiance and food of a real saloon.

MOMA STORE

At the flagship, MoMA Books overlooks the main lobby. A smaller shop on the sixth floor is devoted to temporary exhibitions, and the first-floor space, at nearly 6,000 square feet, offers a collection of the museum's artworks. Inventory includes items that complement MoMA's collection (print reproductions, retrospective coffee-table books) for adults and kids, alongside beautiful home décor.

sushi yasuda

If you are looking for raw fish in an elegant environment graced by bamboo panelling and intimate lighting, look no further. More than 30 types of raw fish are offered, including several mackerel and eel selections, wild yellowtail and rich otoro A changing list of accompanying appetizers might include a tangle of a number of kinds of fresh seaweed, crispy fried eel backbone,...

the carlyle

A timeless classic, The Carlyle, is a thriving legend among Manhattan's hotels since 1930. Brilliantly positioned on Madison Avenue, it is a true New York landmark — a showcase of great art and a sanctuary of refined taste. Discreet whispers of change, such as the impeccable Thierry Despont-designed suite atop the hotel. With just 179 rooms and suites distributed among the hotel's 60 residential apartments, The Carlyle offers the exclusive ambiance of an Upper East Side pied-à-terre.

le labo

A perfumery in NYC that offers an interesting twist on ready-made fragrances. The concept is putting the finishing touches on the manufacture of fragrances each time a scent is purchased at the shop. By keeping the essential oils refrigerated and blending at the very last minute, Le Labo ensures that the fragrance is fresh at the time of purchase. The process is designed to take about 10 minutes, ample time for you to browse the shelves of raw ingredients in the 600-square-foot shop.

country

Following in the successful footsteps of his restaurant Town, Geoffrey Zakarian opened Country. Located in a deftly restored two-story space, with original mosaic floors from 1911 and a rediscovered Tiffany glass dome, Country brings to life the union of old New York and modern cuisine. It presents two dining options, one dressier than the other, under the same roof and chef, and united by their French inclinations. The dining room's menu is ever-changing, featuring seasonal ingredients.

harry winston

When the Oscars roll around, much of the Hollywood celebrity glitter comes courtesy of Harry Winston. The store has more than twenty wedding-band styles and diamonds in an exceptionally wide range of sizes, shapes, and prices. With its own workshop upstairs, Winston can easily customize rings to satisfy almost any special request.

desiron

The 40,000 sq ft state-of-the art facility houses metal, wood and upholstery divisions under one roof–offering clients made-to-order furniture.

gramercy tavern

One of New York's most popular restaurants, Gramercy Tavern serves inventive contemporary American cuisine from Chef/Owner Tom Colicchio in an historic landmark building and elegant setting. The specialties include marinated hamachi with roasted beets, roasted monkfisk with truffle vinaigrette, and Scottish partridge with foie gras. But be aware that the cooking is seasonal and the menus change often.

R 20th century

R 20th Century is a two-storey, 5000-square-foot showroom and gallery featuring an international selection of rare and unique designs from the past century. It specializes in well-crafted objects, lighting and furniture from the mid-century modern movement. It also hosts exhibitions that showcase the works from this period, as well as the history behind their development and production.

exhale

The menu includes healing services such as Exhale's signature Fusion Massage, Body Enlightening, Table Thai™ Massage, Body Detox Therapy, Multi-Action Facial, Microdermafusion, and Cool Laser Therapy. Exhale also offers a variety of acupuncture and healing services through the ancient Chinese traditions of Eastern medicine. There is also a communal cafe and lounge to socialize in, and a quiet room to wait in before classes and treatments.

lafco

Lafco made its name introducing America to quality personal care lines from Italy, Greece and Portugal. All of these favorites adorn the store, including the Claus Porto and Kimono soaps, the Sapone Per Cucina Collection and natural skin care and homeopathic remedies from Korres. It also carries the Santa Maria Novella line, which is grabbing attention all over the city. The 600-year-old-plus Italian brand of amazing soaps and fragrances was originally made in a monastery by Dominican monks and developed for the likes of Caterina de' Medici.

jojo

Jojo's renovation gives a turn-of-the-last-century feel to the townhouse, with a green and eggplant color scheme, rich velvety and silk fabrics, and 17th-century terra cotta tiles. The menu still has the same award-winning signature dishes like goat cheese and potato terrine with chive oil, roast chicken with chick pea fries, and tuna spring roll with soybean coulis.

aureole

Aureole is nestled in a charming century-old converted brownstone on Manhattan's Upper East Side. A two-storey mirror sets off the grand staircase. Honey-colored wood paneling accents the walls while striking cherry-colored marble bedecks the bar floor. Firmly rooted in the classical style, the menu offers such specialties as sesame seared Atlantic salmon with orange-miso vinaigrette and sticky rice croquette, and ginger marinated Moulard duck magret with sugar snap peas, mango and wild mushroom roulade.

perry rubenstein

For the past 22 years, the Perry Rubenstein Gallery has been dealing primarily in post-war and contemporary masters. In September 2004, the Gallery inaugurated two new public spaces in Chelsea where it exhibits work by emerging as well as established artists. The exhibition program is directed by Sylvia Chivaratanond, who was the Assistant Curator of the 2003 Venice Biennale, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

192 books

192 BOOKS is a general-interest bookstore featuring key works of literature and history, art and criticism, the social and natural sciences, travel and children's books, and more. In addition, 192 BOOKS regularly presents art exhibitions accompanied by a selection of titles relating to the artists or the theme explored.

malin+goetz

Malin+Goetz is a modern apothecary located in Chelsea. The brand's philosophy is simple: Each category (face, hair, body) requires only two products—one to cleanse and one to moisturize. There are also fragrances, travel kits, and extras like scrubs, shaving creams, and sunscreen. Also simple is the all-white store's layout, which looks like a spaceship.

de vera

With over 3500 square feet of showroom space exhibiting exquisite jewelry, vintage and contemporary Italian glass as well as recent work by Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott, De Vera displays objects that are timeless and cross-cultural. These include Philippine Santos figures, Austrian metal arts, Japanese lacquerware, Mughal ivory carvings, Tibetan deities and personal handmade artifacts, often centuries old.

nom de guerre

Nom de Guerre is a creative collective founded by Holly Harnsongkram, Wil Whitney, Devon Ojas, and Isa Saalabi. The concept of the collective is to combine basic and diverse influences from art, fashion, and various urban subcultures to create a composite culture and product. The shop's ever-evolving brand line-up includes rag and bone, Comme des Garçons, WLVZ, Adidas, Y3, Martin Margiela, etc...

mariebelle

In the heart of SoHo, Mariebelle have been delighting dedicated fans with their chocolate delicacies since October 2000. This spacious boutique features impressive antique curved glass and Mahogany cases that display the MarieBelle edible treats as well as an extensive collection of china, glassware and table top items. Take your time lingering over the glass counter showcasing the 26 custom-made chocolate ganaches, as you decide whether to choose by flavor (Cardamom, Caipirinha, Dulce de Leche) or design (graphic, fashion, Deco, children's). The aroma of fresh-baked pastries, cookies, and cakes will almost undoubtedly lure you into the in-house Cacao Bar, where you can enjoy a mid-day treat.

buddakan

The dramatic centerpiece of this restaurant is the 'Chinoiserie', a great hall with oak-covered walls two stories high, complete with gargantuan chandeliers, soaring ceilings and a 30-foot-long communal table. On the menu are traditional Chinese offerings (Cantonese spring rolls, steamed pork buns) and classic dishes that have been updated in all sorts of inventive ways, such as the Chiang Mai chicken, a sliced chicken breast with muddled tomatoes and spoonfuls of ginger-infused yogurt.

morimoto

A master of sushi and traditional Japanese cuisine, Masaharu Morimoto chooses to dazzle his clientele with a globally inspired menu. Korean bibimbap made with yellowtail tuna or pork gyoza dunked in crème fraîche, anyone? The desserts include a soufflé ingeniously flavored with red miso and a chiffon-colored square of tofu "cheesecake" topped with shavings of chocolate. Japanese architect Tadao Ando has sprinkled the restaurant with all sorts of esoteric touches such as the curved, low-slung entrance hung with a giant red curtain and the walls and ceilings of the main dining room upstairs that are covered with sheets of rippled white plaster, for a strangely soothing effect.

a voce

The talented chef Andrew Carmellini, has a real flair for using seasonal produce in unique combinations to jazz up a classic recipe. Discover a menu with tongue twisting mixes like the duck meatballs stuffed with foie gras and grilled octopus paired with pepperonata-lemon chorizo. The stylized, contemporary decor is by no means as exciting as the food, but there are enormously comfortable swivel chairs as compensation.

Jean-Georges

Located on the lobby level of Donald Trump's International Hotel and Tower, restaurant Jean Georges is one of New York City's very few 4-star restaurants. His cuisine is anchored in the classic French school but has nouvelle tendencies and plenty of Asian influences. Architect/designer/restaurateur Adam Tihany designed Jean Georges as a cool space with a hand-laid mosaic floor of white marble and terrazzo, warm woods, soothing taupe walls and high ceilings. The restaurant has three areas: the dining room, which seats 70, the Nougatine Café bar-lounge dining area and, in good weather, the no-reservations Mistral Terrace.

norma kamali

Paneled in white marble and lit with glimmering overhead bulbs, this multi-story shop looks like a stylish Greek temple. A fashion icon, Norma Kamali opened this shop in 1978, although her famous sleeping bag coats and pull bikinis had already established a firm fan club long beforehand. Since then, the brand has grown to encompass makeup, olive oil-based wellness/home products and even fizzy drinks and flower-based snacks.

the mercer

Sister to Hollywood's famed Chateau Marmont and the ocean front Raleigh Hotel in Miami, the Mercer epitomizes elegance and intimacy. Hotelier André Balazs has redefined the concepts of comfort and luxury, by creating an environment which blurs the line between hotel and home. The Mercer's 75 guest rooms open onto long entrances and lead into loft-like spaces. High ceilings with fans, arched windows and oversized bathrooms with king sized tubs add special touches to these personal spaces, as do the luxurious dark African woods that grace much of the exclusively designed furniture.

pacha

Pacha is the city's new megaclub imported from Ibiza. Its 30,000 square feet are divided into four levels and a multitude of high-design seating niches that surround an open atrium with an intimate dance floor at its base. The top-floor is VIP-only, an area affectionately called Pachita, where sleek babes and stunning boys lounge the night away on the low-slung banquettes. There is also a roof garden where summertime party-goers can watch the sun rise over the city and Times Square. Just like Pacha in Ibiza, the NYC club hosts big name DJs including Roger Sanchez, Laurent Garnier, and Jeff Mills.

hudson hotel

From the ivy-draped lobby to the dark-walled rooms with their whiter-than-white furnishings, the Hudson is yet another extravaganza from the dynamic duo Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck. One thousand rooms fill 23 floors of impeccable taste and maximal comfort. Special Starck design touches include the chartreuse-lit escalators that sweep guests up to the lobby, an enormous indoor/outdoor private park and a ceiling fresco by world-famous painter Francesco Clemente. Exclusively open to guests of Hudson, the stunning Sky Terrace has a well stocked bar, relaxing sun loungers and breathtaking views of the city.

hudson hotel bar

Visiting New York without stopping here for a cocktail just isn't possible. The Hudson Bar is a dazzling venue decorated in a riotous collection of styles. It features a glass floor lit from beneath, a hand-painted ceiling by world-renowned artist Francesco Clemente and furniture design that looks like Louis XV meets 2001: A Space Odyssey. Since it's opening in late 2005, it's already been host to Matt Damon's 30th birthday bash and when she's in town, Jennifer Lopez regularly swings by.

double seven

Beyond the entry tunnel is a simple room outfitted with black-leather communal seats. The single flourish is an illuminated wall installation of 600 blown-glass tear drops. With drinks as luxurious as its setting, Double Seven has all the trappings of an A-list haunt. Each bartender is trained in the Double Seven's 80 cocktails with a rotating menu of 14 nightly representing what is the freshest and most seasonal. And for that extra special touch, cocktails are ingeniously and fittingly paired with a selection of Debauve & Gallais chocolates. Yum!

chanterelle

The ideal place to come for a peaceful, quiet dinner, this spacious dining room serves up delicious French contemporary cuisine. The dining room, with its carved cherry wood pilasters, custard colored walls, ornate tin ceiling, and soaring floral arrangements, uniquely combines a quiet elegance with an unpretentious downtown spirit. The signature dish which has been on the menu since day one is the Grilled Seafood Sausage, a combination of lobster, scallops, and shrimp. Current menu items include Wild Stripe Bass Sauté with Sweet Onions, Curry and Thai Basil; Green Asparagus Flan with Fresh Morels; and Cumin-Crusted Salmon with Chive Mashed Potatoes and Citrus Butter.

The Ritz-Carlton

Manhattan has no shortage of top-drawer luxury hotels, but few can equal the Ritz-Carlton's winning combination of attentive service, traditional decor, state-of-the-art infrastructure and a privileged Midtown location facing the southern end of Central Park. The landmark structure houses 261 spacious rooms and suites furnished in conservative Old World style. There's also a La Prairie spa, an intimate lobby lounge and a sophisticated French restaurant.

Bemelmans

Nowhere is the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie more palpable than in this dimly-lit bastion of old-fashioned romance. The bar itself is named after the creator of the Madeline series of books for children and has his illustrations on the wall. Whether you're falling in love or getting over it, settle into a leather banquette and let the piano player do the work. A must-see when in New York.

MObar

On the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental hotel, this compact bar—set apart from the lobby's panoramic Broadway view—offers a more intimate atmosphere for drinks and light dishes along with some tamer glimpses of the hotel's slick urban surroundings. In addition to 20 wines by the glass, the bar serves a variety of cocktails, some of which are blended with house-infused liquors.

WD-50

This restaurant is everything it's supposed to be: friendly, un pretentious, and ultra-creative. Chef Wylie Dufresne and his team are cooking up food as ingenious and exciting as anyone else in the New York. The drinks are to die for, and the menu uses seasonal produce, elements from a wide array of cuisines, and techniques from a variety of cooking traditions. The result: a celebration of the flavor, texture, and the visual.

ABC Carpet & Home

Even though all the goods contained within are luxurious to the max, ABC Carpet & Home's seven-floor Manhattan flagship retains a certain warehouse aesthetic: worn hardwood floors creak under your feet, glittering chandeliers and gigantic antique carpets adorn the high ceilings, and furniture vignettes—often more piles than displays—stand everywhere. You can flip through rugs on six, relish the Ralph Lauren rooms on five, get lost in the European antiques and reproductions on four, and fall in love with the bed-and-bath accessories and linens.

The Apple Store

This gleaming two-story showcase wows a steady stream of visitors - computer aficionados and novices alike - who come to behold the latest in high-tech hardware, walk the imposing and occasionally scene-y glass staircase and take advantage of open computers and free wireless access. In addition to MacBook Pro's, iMacs, Mac Pro's, iPods, printers, cameras, software and a slew of accessories, the store hosts classes and offers tech support.

The Pierre

The Pierre New York, a New York landmark since 1930, rises majestically above Fifth Avenue and Central Park. A tranquil refuge in the heart of the city, it combines the luxurious ambience of the finest European palaces with modern amenities and an impeccable standard of service. The hotel is located close to a wide array of New York's fabled attractions, from the shopping of Fifth and Madison Avenues to outstanding museums and cultural centers.

The Pen Top Bar & Terrace

The Peninsula's Pen-Top Bar and Terrace has an extraordinary view. Looking down, you can see the entire length of Fifth Avenue. Looking up, bigger buildings fill the horizon, dwarfing this terrace on the 23d floor. The open-air bar comes has two patios and enough atmosphere to keep you off the streets forever.

Sherry-Lehmann

Whether it's multiple vintages of Petrus or fine everyday red, Sherry-Lehmann has arguably the best selection of wines in the country. Also, if you're looking to shop from home, check out their website, rated the best wine site in the country by Forbes Magazine. Sherry-Lehmann delivers to Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Westchester.

D'Amelio Terras

D'Amelio Terras was founded in 1996 by Christopher D'Amelio and Lucien Terras. The gallery, located on the ground floor of 525 West 22nd Street, is one of the pioneering spaces in the contemporary art district of West Chelsea. Its mission is long-term commitment to the careers of a select group of innovative, international contemporary artists.

Matthew Marks Gallery

Located on West 24th Street, Matthew Marks has become the A-List venue for international contemporary artists to present their works and are famous for their immaculately mounted photography shows by the likes of Andreas Gursky and Nan Goldin.

The Metropolitan Opera

The Met is committed to presenting works from the broadest range of the operatic repertory, including classic French, German and Italian operas in addition to works from the 20th century and new commissions. The Metropolitan Opera endeavors to expand and educate the audience for opera by championing the accessibility of the art form and fostering its growth.

American Museum of Natural History

If you dig dinosaurs and fancy fossils, take an expedition to the Upper West Side! From blue whales to Redwoods, there is much to see. Kids will love the exciting and interactive dinosaur exhibit. Don't miss the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution, the Hall of Meteorites, the collection of gemstones, the IMAX theater or the Rose Center for Earth and Space planetarium shows.

New York City Ballet

The New York City Ballet, one of world's premier companies, is unique in the artistic history of the United States. Solely responsible for training its artists and creating its works, the New York City Ballet was the first ballet institution in the world with two permanent homes, the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Great Jones Spa

Forget "express", the word at this spa is "decompress." The splendid wet lounge (with three-story waterfall solarium) is free with any session. Soak up wellness through the water cures, thermal hot tub, cold plunge pool, rock sauna, and Chakra steam room with color-cycling lights. Eastern-leaning treatments align with the five natural elements and use only plant-and marine-based products.

La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa

Tucked away in the Ritz-Carlton Central Park, Swiss skin care line La Prairie's first foray into the U.S. spa market is unequaled. A relaxed, upscale elegance abounds. Locker-room amenities, from toothbrushes to irons, anticipate every need. Clients choose their own music, with CD requests noted for future visits; and complimentary refreshments (from tea to champagne) just an order away.

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental offers holistic rejuvenation and relaxation, a fitness center, and a 75-foot naturally-lit indoor lap pool. Facilities include seven multifunctional rooms with personal shower areas, vitality pools in separate men's and women's areas, amethyst crystal steam rooms, "Experience" showers, his and hers Relaxation Lounges, an oriental Tea Lounge and a VIP Spa Suite with separate changing room, steam sauna and a even a fireplace.

Craftsteak

Chef Tom Colicchio has a corner spot on 10th Avenue's restaurant row. He's famous for paring menus down to the basics and letting customers choose their side dishes. No diner could complain about lack of choice.You can order your hunk of beast based not just on cut and size, but also provenance, and even lineage. A two-story glass wine tower separates the dining area, a sprawling, high-ceilinged space where butter-colored banquettes are the best seats in the house.

Garden of Ono

The Graden of Ono is a beautifully designed outdoor bar behind the hotel Gansevoort. It is a popular spot among the rich and beautful, Giselle Bundchen, Jessica Simpson, Claire Danes, Lindsay Lohan, John Legend. The hip architectural style is a study in Asian-industrial aesthetics - texturized concrete walls, a black bamboo cage floating in a shallow reed-lined pond, and a long sleek bar with amazingly light aluminum stools.

Pink Elephant

The Pink Elephant nightclub caters to a luxury upscale market within an intimate high energy atmosphere. It retains its coziness thanks to crystal chandeliers, plants sprouting from behind the wavy wooden panels attached to the brick walls, and lounge seating . It has already become one of NY's top clubs. New York Magazine voted it the most Buzzed Club. Gorgio Armani, Bruce Willis, Drew Barrymore, Tommy Hilfiger, Mariah Carey are regulars.

Longchamp

Longchamp produces an exceptionally wide range of products including luggage, hand and shoulder bags, small leathergoods, briefcases, belts and accessories, in fine calf leathers, lightweight nylon and canvas. Longchamp manufactures all its products in Ségré, France, 200 miles west of Paris in a traditional fine leather-working region, Maine-et-Loire.

Hotel Plaza Athénée

Nestled among the residences of the fashionable East Side of Manhattan, on a quiet residential street, the intimate Hotel Plaza Athenee is just a short stroll from Central Park, Madison Avenue shopping, museums, and business areas. This elegant, European-style hotel offers 152 gracious rooms and suites. Many suites also have dining rooms, indoor terraces, and outdoor balconies.

Soho Grand Hotel

The Soho Grand hotel is right in the middle of Soho, reflecting the stylish sophistication of this district. A luxury boutique hotel, it opened in 1996 and was the first new hotel to open in Soho for more than a century. The sleek facade on West Broadway conceals the eclectic designer decor of the interior. The hotel's bar and restaurant are a popular venue with the artsy, media crowd, perfect for entertaining and socialising.

Takashimaya

Welcome to the world of Takashimaya New York, where the moment you step in from Stylish Fifth Avenue you are transported into a sensory shopping experience unlike any other. Takashimaya New York offers a rare and distinct selection of merchandise that displays an unusual sensibility to craftsmanship, hand finishing and beautiful packaging, while also emphasizing functionality.

Institut Sothys

Like its sister spa in Paris, L'Institut Sothys New York offers the quintessential French spa experience. "The difference between Sothys and other day spas is that we make it a priority to provide the human touch to everything we do," says Trena Ross, Spa Director, L'Institut Sothys New York. "We rely less on machines and more on actually touching our clients from the outside-in. Our goal is to create a safe and nurturing environment where each person can feel comfortable in their own skin."

Buddha Lounge

NOT the Buddha Bar Paris's New York offshoot, which is on Little West 12th Street, this place is far more chilled, and "lounge" is the operative word. Under ceiling fans surrounded by a tropical forest of small trees and flickering candlelight, it's easy to groove to the sultry, varied hip-hop, world and house music along with a non-scenester crowd.

Daniel

DANIEL offers a dining experience that awakens all the senses: the elegant ambiance, gracious service, delectable food and wine recreate 'la grande restauration Française' in the heart of Manhattan's Upper East Side. Chef Daniel Boulud's renowned seasonal French cuisine is served in a beautiful setting reminiscent of a Venetian renaissance palazzo.

Café Boulud

The informal sister restaurant to Daniel, Café Boulud has a menu inspired by the eponymous chef's four muses: 'la tradition', classic French cuisine; 'la saison', seasonal delicacies; 'le potager', the vegetable garden; and 'le voyage', the flavors of cuisine from around the world. The dining room recreates the cosmopolitan-chic of an elegant 1930s Parisian rendezvous - a sleek backdrop for Café Boulud's creative menu.

DB bistro modern

A modern French-American bistro where the traditions of French cuisine meet the flavors of the American market with a menu reflecting the seasons and the simplicity of fine ingredients. Located in midtown at the crossroads of fashion and theater, this Daniel Boulud restaurant promises dining that is as easy going and convivial as it is delicious.

Privé Salon

Light from oversized windows flood the 3000 square-foot New York salon of the famous LA hair stylist, giving it the feel of a luxury loft. Privé is a full service salon, offering cuts, blow-dries, color, perms, highlights, scalp and moisturizing treatments, Japanese thermal reconditioning, manicures and pedicures, makeup services and lessons. No surprise that it draws a celebrity-heavy clientele like Uma Thurman and Gwyneth Paltrow.

BED

Not only does BED New York offer the unique opportunity to kick off your heels and lounge on specially designed beds while eating Roman-style, but it also boats a rooftop with a stunning 360-degree view of the midtown Manhattan skyline. Opened in 2005, BED quickly became the hot destination for many celebrities including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Denzel Washington.

Balthazar

Balthazar is still as much of a power scene as ever. The atmosphere has been compared to a bustling railway station. But it all works, harking back to the classic French brasserie of the early 20th century, complete with red banquettes, world-weary mirrors with wine selections printed on them and a scarred wood bar. The food is solid along classic bistro lines, with such dishes as tender whole-roasted chicken, simple fish preparations and steak frites, with heavy amounts of celebrity caché.

Ochre

The flagship boutique in downtown New York of the celebrated interior design team, noted for their inventive use of the best fabrics and materials in their furniture and for their originality when creating their bespoke chandeliers.

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

Frequently referred to as 'The chef of the century', and with restaurants in Paris, Tokyo and Las Vegas, Joel Robuchon brings his distinguished expertise in culinary precision and top quality produce to the Four Seasons Hotel, New York. Designed by architect I.M Pei and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, it has fast become the place to dine in the Big Apple. Advance booking essential.

Cornelia Day Resort

Luxurious pampering at its best, the Cornelia Day Spa is an unforgettable urban sanctuary. Offering a range of treatments both exotic and enticing, such as the Chiva Som massage direct from Thailand, the spa is also the only in New York to offer a Watsu Pool (designed to give you a highly spiritual level of relaxation).

Ling Skincare

In combining her knowlege of Chinese botanicals and cosmetic science, Ling Chan has created a formidable skincare collection. Probably the reason celebrities such as Madonna, Alicia Keys and Gisele keep returning.

Sally Hershberger

Famed for her $600 haircut, Sally Hershberger has built up a client list that's a veritable who's who of A-List celebrities. With actors such as Meg Ryan and Julia Roberts seeking guidance, it's non surprising that she has become one of the most sought-after stylists in the world.

Oscar Blandi

Boasting an eponymous book that brims with names such as Ivana Trump and Reese Witherspoon, Oscar Blandi has come a long way from his native Naples. A heritage far from forgotten, however, as the salon's terra cotta tiled floors and exposed brick create a distinctly Mediterranean ambiance.

Frederik Fekkai

Having styled hair for countless photo shoots and fashion shows, Frederik Fekkai has garnered quite the celebrity following. Located in the famed Henry Bendel store on Fifth Avenue, you'd be hard-pressed to find a member of New York's social set who doesn't have his number on speed dial.

John Allan

Taking men's grooming to the next level, John Allan is more of a club than a salon. Featuring a billiard room, cigar room, and shoe shining service plus many other activities, it aims to take the taboo out of men's grooming and make it a wholly-enjoyable experience.

Truman's

From hot shaves, hair cuts and beard trims to manicures and massages, Truman's is a thoroughly masculine anti-salon where men can relax, watch television and grab a drink from the bar all the while prepraring themselves for a night out on the town.

Art of Shaving

An oasis of old world luxury for the modern gentleman seeking a traditional haircut and a hot towel shave. Perfect for cleansing the skin and making you feel refreshed and revived.

Kirna Zabete

New York's reliable one stop shop that is everything chic and trendy. With different areas stocking everything from books to fragrances and accessories and threads by hot designers such as Rick Owens and Aussie design duo Sass & Bide a girl need look no further.

The London

With interiors designed by David Collins and Gordon Ramsay behind the stoves at the restaurant, The London is tip-top, in and out. One of the tallest hotels in the city, it's here that you'll find one of the best views over the Big Apple.

Gilt

The restaurant at the New York Palace Hotel is a place where the old meets the new in a wood-panelled room featuring an ostentatious neon honeycomb bar. With a wine list so long the word "extensive" doesn't even suffice and a menu that's a symphony of flavors to beat the band, it looks like Gilt is here for the long haul.

Paul Smith

Over 500-square feet of everyones favourite colorful British designers goods. From dandy prints to paintings, apparel, accessories and luggage, shoppers can delight in this welcome addition to the usually furniture store ridden Greene Street in SoHo.

Le Bernardin

Glamour comes in many guises, but it appears that one is wholly able to visualise all of them when they step inside this restaurant. A very enjoyable atmosphere with food and service that supersedes one's already high expectations.

BLT Burger

A burger joint with a difference. Relaxed and with a great atmosphere, Bistro Laurent Tourondel serves only the best beef, including their infamous $62 Japanese Kobe Burger.

Issey Miyake

A far cry from what started out as a t-shirt making business, Issey Miyake opens their flagship boutique stocking the various lines that come under the Miyake umbrella such as APOC and HaaT.

Gramercy Park Hotel

Probably the biggest reopening of 2006, Gramercy has come back with more of a bang than anything else in recent years. Plush interiors, ecclectic revolving art collections and a visitors roster that will put anywhere else to shame. Oh and try get one of the exclusive keys to the private Gramercy park adjascent during the summer months.

Richart

The famed chocolatier's New York outpost invites chocoholics to choose amongst the dizzying array of gourmet varietals freshly shipped from Richart's factory in Lyon, France.

Gin Lane

French Flock Wallpaper, the retractable skylight, the long red banquettes and a candlelit atmosphere that reminices of that of an old boys club. Great cocktails and an even better crowd make this restaurant the perfect place to catch up on lost conversation. Designed by the same interior architect as Paris' 'Experimental Cocktail Bar,' a certain Cuoco Black, the restaurants surroundings ensure that the taste in both design and cuisine fuse tremendously.

Tom Ford

Sartorial supremo Tom Ford returns to the fashion world to magnificent effect in the opening of this his first store on Madison Ave. Focusing on luxury menswear the three- story boutique offers gentlemen a thouroughly masculine yet wholly chic locale in which to shop for exquisitely tailored suits, handmade shoes, unique fragrances and an array of custom made accessories.

Brasserie Ruhlmann

With a décor devoted to it's namesake, Art Deco designer Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, this traditional brasserie, located on Rockerfeller Plaza, is presided over by executive chef Laurent Tourandel. Serving up French fare at it's finest, make sure to make room for their now famous desserts.

FR.OG

Highly anticipated due to its conspicuous location beside another certain French braserie, FR.OG - meaning FRench OriGine - has, since it opened, garnered more than enough praise to ensure it's clientele keeps coming back. Owned by French chef Didier Virot the menu focuses on French fare that has, over time, been highly influenced by cuisines from Vietnam, Morocco and Lebanon.

By New York

Collaborations are nothing new in the design world, but when three of its major players -Boffi, Living Divani and Porro - decided to join forces and open up a concept store in SoHo it's time to get excited. With a space designed by Piero Lisoni, the idea of the project is to blend the three brands products seamlessly in one space. An effort that has been more than easily achieved and possibly one of the better examples of how to perform a ménage-à-trois.

Diane Von Furstenberg

From wrap dress to the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Ms. Von Furstenberg sure has come a long way. Testament to her phenomenal growth is this 2100 sq ft flagship store which now proudly plays home to all the designers various lines and also includes the DVF beauty collection and a limited edition of her jewelry collection created in collaboration with H. Stern.

60 Thompson

Create enough hype around something and everybody wants a piece of it. That's exactly what happened here at the 60 Thompson. The private members rooftop terrace has for a while now been one of the most saught after locales for an evening drink. Perfectly located in downtown SoHo, grab a cocktail, lie back and enjoy the view from the top.

Gramercy Park Roof Terrace

Positioned on the top of one of NYC's hottest hotels lies a veritable garden of eden. With features such as a ceiling installation made up of hundreds of bulbs, a retractable roof in summer and a large open fire in winter it truly is the perfect place to wind up or down, depending on the time of day. Access is reserved to guests at the hotel however so it might be an idea to book a room in advance.

Tom Ford Menswear

The man who brought us sex in the nineties brings us style in the noughties. Tom Ford's flagship store pays homage to men's style. The three-story 8,680 square-foot Madison Avenue store, designed by architect William Sofield, is a haven for the metropolitan male. Ready-to-wear and bespoke tailoring illustrate Ford's innate sartorial flair, while impeccable service (including in-house butlers and maids) will have you longing to stay - but one thing's for sure, you won't be leaving without a purchase.

Peninsula New York

Extensively and authentically revamped, the mythical Peninsula New York reopened in November 2008, uncovering a jewel of elegance and sophistication. This 1905 landmark building, ideally located in central Manhattan, radiates with exceptional Beaux Arts architectural features and a history filled with rich memories. Its plush interior wellcomes guests in a lavish and cozy atmosphere, where time has stoped for an instant.

Mac Pro

Professional makeup artists have a new New York mecca. Located in the city's Flatiron District, the brand new MAC PRO store extends across 600 square meters of unfinished wood, high ceilings and neverending palettes of colors. The endless displays of cutting-edge, performance-tested products are developed exclusively for makeup artists, who should soon be able to develop their own, in this new gigantic laboratory. The space also includes a mixing station, research library and photo studio.

The New Museum

New York City's only museum devoted exclusively to contemporary art has just opened a new building on the Bowery. The inauguration of the architecturally stunning seven-story, 60,000 square foot building coincides with the institution's 30th anniversary. Opening with "Monumental," a colossal show featuring sculptures by 30 artists from around the world, the New Museum is dedicated to the celebration of new art and new ideas.

The Bowery Hotel

Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson's latest venture, the Bowery Hotel, is the hotel equivalent of a time machine. Upon entering the lavishly decorated lobby and landing on one of their fluffy velvet couches, you can't help but notice the authentic old-world atmosphere. Located between New York's East Village and NoHo, the opulent 17-story Bowery offers dramatically stunning views of Manhattan. The hotel's Italian restaurant, Gemma, offers fine food and a warm atmosphere.

Gucci

Located on the one and only Fifth Avenue, Gucci's brand new New York flagship store is the über-chic Italian brand's largest retail space in the world. Spread across more than 4,000 square meters over three floors, the lush, light-filled interiors offer a colossal selection of the brand's finest garments, jewelry and leather goods, as well as a unique selection of exclusive pieces. This extravagant architectural project is the result of a close collaboration between designer Frida Giannini and architect James Carpenter and is sure to become a landmark.

Korres

Taking advantage of Greece's richly abundant flora, the cosmetic company Korres has developed high-quality natural products for the skin and hair, as well as various herbal preparations. Korres's minimalist packaging and homeopathic credo have won great success around the world, and the brand has opened a flagship store in SoHo. The wide, luminous space, with its endless selection of Korres natural products, is a haven for natural beauty enthusiasts.

Hotel Royalton

A legendary New York landmark, the magnificent Royalton hotel just underwent a hot revamp. New York-based design firm Roman & Williams -with the collaboration of interior designer Charlotte Mecaux- have re-imagined the entire space: the lobby, bar, restaurant, and penthouse have been enhanced with noble materials such as mahogany, crystal, velvet and fur. The new decor, mixing high-end design with more classical touches, remains consistent with the hotel's long-standing reputation.

Adour Alain Ducasse

In the landmark Beaux-Arts building of the stunning St Regis New York, a haven for wine enthusiatsts has just opened. Ardour, Alain Ducasse's new New York restaurant and wine bar, offers a rare wine selection in a dazzling decor. The spectacular interior, created by New York-based architecture and design firm Rockwell Group, combines sculpted bronze with soft lavender hues for an absolutely stunning visual experience, the latter being digitally enhanced by a video presentation of their exceptional wines.

The Greenwich Hotel

Highly anticipated and hotly tipped as the Next Big Thing, the Greenwich Hotel opened in New York's fashionable TriBeCa neighborhood on April 1st. With sophisticated public areas designed by Grayling Design and loft-like guest rooms decorated by Samantha Crasco, the stylish hotel is sure to attract the starry friends of Robert De Niro, who co-owns the hotel with Ira Drukier and partners Richard Born and Rafael De Niro. It's the place to be during the TriBeCa Film Festival.

Momofuku Ko

Manhattan chef David Chang enjoys cult-like status among New York's gourmet aficionados. Renowned for his simple but expertly executed noodles at East Village restaurants Momofuku Ssam Bar and Momofuku Noodle Bar, his latest addition to a burgeoning mini-empire is Momofuku Ko which offers a more haute-cuisine experience. Reservations at the intimate 12-seat bar are so sought after that bookings can only be made through the Momofuku website, after which a computer selects the lucky diners at random. Well worth the effort for the outstanding Japanese/Korean cuisine and exquisite desserts.

The Box

For fine dining and unbeatable entertainment, hit New York's acclaimed Lower East Side spot The Box for a night of thrilling excitement. Nestled in a 1935 two-story brick building between Stanton and Rivington Streets, The Box's location is no coincidence as the area was legendary for its vaudeville palaces and theaters. Burlesque is back in a lavishly elegant decor.

Benoît

A Paris institution since 1912, the traditional bistro Benoît is an icon of glamour and French cuisine. And now the brasserie experience is available in New York, where über-chef Alain Ducasse has recreated the ambience with a French menu that includes classics such as pâté en croûte and steak au poivre with pommes soufflées. Renowned interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon created the cozy interior, heavily influenced by the Paris original, with its blue sky trompe-l'oeil, blond oak walls and extra-large mirrors. With such a fine heritage and such a talented team of collaborators, this is sure to be New York's next hot spot.

Smith's

Greenwich Village's dining scene is reinvigorated by the innovative and intimate Smith's. A collaboration between restaurateurs Cindy Smith and Danny Abrams, Smith's has the feel of a European café with creative American cuisine. Chef Pablo Romero creates the seasonal menu, which includes standouts such as artichoke pasta and steamed egg with creamy polenta and gorgonzola. Inside, the Mark Zeff-designed dining room is cozy and comfortable, particularly the unique railroad car room with antique mirrored ceiling. With great charm and friendly service, you can be sure you are dining in first class.

John Varvatos

New York's Bowery gets another cool concept store with the latest outpost of men's clothing designer John Varvatos. Located in a 3,300-square-foot space that formerly housed an underground music club, Varvatos has channeled his personal passion for rock music into the new shop, keeping all the authentic references, such as graffiti-inscribed walls, original concert posters and a black ceiling. Alongside the tailored collections and carefully sourced rock tees and leather jackets, a stage is set for performances by up-and-coming artists. An exceptional musically influenced space and a must visit for fans of both fashion and rock 'n' roll.

Intermix

Upping the fashion stakes in the Hamptons, innovative clothing retailer Intermix has arrived in chichi East Hampton. Over the 2,500 square foot space, the fashion brand introduces its philosophy for a "mix" of labels, price points and accessories. Designers stocked include Chloé, Guiseppe Zanotti, Stella McCartney and Diane von Furstenberg, as well as a roster of premium denim brands. The perfect place to grab last-minute sun hats, beach bags and other essential Hamptons accessories.

Scarpetta

An intimate retreat in the Gansevoort Market Historic District, Scarpetta offers honest yet sophisticated Italian cuisine. Scarpetta means "little shoe," a description of the shape bread takes when used to soak up a dish. Chef Scott Conant (L'Impero, Alto) adds that kind of personal detail to classics, such as spaghetti bolognese, as well as offering some of the most tenderly prepared seafood. This is a perfect retreat for a casual dinner and a drink at the mahogany bar or at the less street-shy caf.

Shanghai Tang

With a prime position on Madison Avenue between 57th and 58th Streets, Shanghai Tang's new Manhattan flagship is proof that China's first home-grown luxury brand has truly arrived. Richly decorated in the signature bright Shanghai Tang colors, the interior references the Art Deco era of 1930s Shanghai, with silk-paneled walls offset by black lacquer frames. As with the unique ready-to-wear and accessories, the overall effect is both exotic and modern. The contemporary store for the Emperor's clothes.

Anne Fontaine

More than a boutique, Anne Fontaine's new Madison Avenue concept store suggests a brand new and revolutionary shopping experience. Designed by the talented Andree Putman, this 3-level, 7500square meter space comprises a VIP room downstairs and a Spa( due to open in 2009) on the first floor. Entirely designed with natural textures and shades, this shopping wonderland will also exclusively house Anne Fontaine's new couture Collection, Precious. Her sculptural white designs will be showcased in a special room lined with black mirors from floor to ceiling: the Black Room. A place one can't afford to miss.

New York City Waterfalls

For this summer only, New York City is surrounded by four spectacular man-made waterfalls. A major piece of public art, the waterfalls are the work of über-artist Olafur Eliasson, who was inspired to question the "complex notion of public spaces." Positioned in such unlikely places as under the Brooklyn Bridge, and ranging in height from 90 to 120 feet, these unnatural pieces of nature show he has achieved his aim of redefining public exhibitions.

Morgans

When Morgans hotel originally opened in New York in 1983, it marked the beginning of the boutique hotel phenomenon. Since then, Manhattan is awash with designer hotels that promise personal service, but Morgans remains one of the finest and reopened on August 28th 2008 after a full redesign by Andree Putman, who also designed the original hotel. With a sophisticated palate of black, white and grey, the hotel is decorated with original photography by Robert Mapplethorpe, vintage armchairs by Jean-Michel Frank and other objets by the likes of Marcel Wanders. The original boutique experience... but even better.

Assouline

At the iconic Plaza Hotel, overlooking Central Park on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, the new Assouline boutique is the ultimate destination for exquisite books, luxurious objets and interesting gifts. Designed to feel like a private library, the new space is handsome and oh-so-stylish, the perfect environment for Assouline's signature fashion books – a collection on Chanel is presented in a quilted leather slipcase – and range of fabulous stationary and desk accessories. For lovers of luxe, this is an essential New York stop off.

Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti - New York

The founder of Vivre and New York City's most fashionable entrepreneur reveals her favorite places to eat, drink... and shop.

Ruben Toledo - New York

The irreverent artist and illustrator pays tribute to the colorful and chaotirc world of New York City.

Resurrection

Founded in 1996 by Katy Rodriguez and Mark Haddaway, Resurrection has maintained its position as New York's premier vintage fashion store for over a decade. Specializing in high fashion and accessories that range from Pucci headscarves to Courreges dresses, the store is renowned for the quality of its stock. Located in oh-so-trendy NoLIta, this is a must-see for visiting fashionistas.

Acker, Merrall & Condit

On New York's Upper West Side, America's oldest fine wine store is also its best. Founded in 1820, Acker, Merrall & Condit offers a full wine experience, with tastings and education courses organized alongside an impressive warehouse-sized range of premium wines. Monthly auctions both online and in New York are rivaled only by those of Christie's Fine Wine in London. An oenophile's Mecca.

Museum of Art and Design

Hailed as one of Manhattan's most significant public spaces, the new Museum of Arts and Design boasts more than double the exhibition space of its former location. Housing a permanent collection of over 2,000 art, craft and design objects, the 12-story space also boasts an education center and three open studios for ongoing artist-in-residence programs for the continued advancement of the arts.

Sitaras

Leading fitness trainer John Sitaras' private health club focuses on post-injury programs, developing careful strength-training routines. If you're of the school of thought that the treadmill is the ideal time to catch up on your calls, move on. Sitaras takes training time very seriously, with one of the main draws being its attention to peace and privacy – a valuable asset in the city that never sleeps.

E

With a tight door policy of only 200 invited members, "E" stands not just for Equinox, but also for "elite" at this exclusive Manhattan fitness center, located adjacent to the group's flagship location. With personal training based on a tier system (four being reserved for the fittest) and sophisticated training technology, E is more like a covert FBI operation than a gym. Aside from boasting some of the city's most highly trained health and fitness specialists, the biggest advantage has to be that both workout attire and the luxurious Frette post-workout robes are provided.

Sense at The Carlyle

Even on Manhattan, an island with an abundance of outstanding spas, the opening of the Sense spa at The Carlyle hotel was hotly anticipated. Located on the third floor of this Upper East Side icon, the bi-level space was designed by Mark Zeff, who made lavish use of rare materials in keeping with the hotel's hushed atmosphere. A spectacular vaulted stairwell that shimmers in light reflected from walls of platinum mosaic tiles leads to treatment rooms and lounges decked out in Carrara marble and exotic woods. Needless to say, the Sisley treatments are said to rival the interior in their extravagance.

The Standard

Young, sexy, and pulsating... the Standard hotels in Los Angeles and Miami have carved a unique niche in the hospitality market. The latest outpost to open is the Standard New York, in the heart of the Meatpacking District and straddling – literally - the High Line, a once derelict railroad that is being transformed into Manhattan's newest public park. Developed by über-hotelier André Balazs (of Chateau Marmont and The Mercer fame) and designed by Todd Schliemann of Polshek Partnership, the new glass-fronted building is already a Downtown landmark. Reports so far suggest the Standard New York is as fun and lively as its predecessors, but note that not all the public areas will be functional until summer 2009.

Jack Vartanian

Bold cuffs, elegant earrings and gobstopper-sized rings are the hallmarks of Brazilian jeweler Jack Vartanian. With a cult following in his native Brazil, Vartanian has recently expanded with the opening of his first New York boutique to cater to his loyal Manhattan customers. Designed by architect Arthur Mattos Casas, the Upper East Side space is modern and cosy (just 500-square-foot), with the jewels displayed museum-style in elegant glass cabinetry. Our favorite piece from Vartanian's latest collection? The elegant, vintage-looking Art Deco ring.

Armani/5th Avenue

Armani/5th Avenue is the official name of the vast new Armani "concept store" in New York, though Armani Mall might be more appropriate – at 43,000-square-foot the gleaming, all-glass space is the first store in the United States to bring together all Armani brands – from underwear to bespoke suits – under one roof. Designed by Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas, who also created the Armani Chater House in Hong Kong and Ginza Tower in Tokyo, the interior of the new 3-storey building is signature Armani with beige for the walls, black for the floors and ceilings and a glossy shine throughout. In short: retail nirvana for fans of minimalism and understatement.

Mauboussin

A handsome nineteenth century townhouse on New York's Upper East Side – though one that has been given a surreal overhaul by uber-desigers, the Rockwell Group – is the location of French jeweler Mauboussin's first American store. A cracked glass sculpture that rises through all three floors greets visitors and sets the tone for the surprise-filled interior that includes silver-stained wood floors, a bridal suite featuring an ostrich feather room divider and glass cases embedded with magnifying glasses. The piece de resistance? A top floor Salon des Gourmandises, dedicated to trying on jewelry while tasting the finest chocolates.

Ace Hotel

Democratic luxury, deconstructed design and a rich experience over unnecessary amenities are the hallmarks of Ace Hotels, who has turned the travel industry on its head with the opening of its first outposts in Seattle and Portland. New York is the latest branch, in a historic building in ‘NoMad’, the neighbourhood immediately north of Madison Square Park. Ace collaborated with New York designers Roman & Williams to create the space filled with a mix of vintage and custom furnishings. Check-in to experience the new face of luxury travel.

Droog New York

The Amsterdam-based design company Droog describes its creative approach as ‘wry’ and ‘dry’, which is much in evidence at its newly opened store in New York. Built in partnership with Dutch designers Studio Makkink & Bey, the centrepiece of the shop is a miniature house constructed of foam, wood and stone and from which customers can purchase the parts – from the chimney to the staircase – and have them made to fit their own home. Displayed more traditionally are the Droog icons, including the chest of drawers by Tejo Remy and 85 lamps by Rody Graumans.

Jacques Torres

Part factory and part retail outlet, Jacques Torres Chocolate Heaven in New York offers a unique experience to watch cocoa beans become chocolate truffles at this extravagant space filled with vintage chocolate-making equipment. Often cited as the best chocolate in New York, French chocolatier Torres is renowned for his unique creations such as the decadent chocolate quiche.

Minetta Tavern

Once a classic but forgotten West Village brasserie, Minetta Tavern recently reopened after a meticulous refurbishment by New York restaurant king Keith McNally (Pastis, Balthazar). An oh-so French bistro interior (think red banquettes and wood-panelled walls covered in black-and-white photographs) is complemented by a traditional Gallic menu (frog’s legs is a highlight) and, as at all McNally establishments, a fashionable crowd (Anna Wintour is said to be a regular). C’est très, très chic.

Scuderia

Scuderia, a new restaurant in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village, is billed as the junior sibling of Euro-social canteen Da Silvano (the daughter of the owner of both restaurants runs the new upstart). Not surprisingly, people-watching abounds but so does Italian comfort food with a bent towards Venetian classics; Executive Chef Claudio Cristofoli, formerly of Cipriani, hails from northern Italy. A stellar wine list that ranges from affordable bottles to what they call “must haves” completes the set-up.

Top Shop

Perfectly timed to coincide with what is (hopefully) the height of the credit crunch, Top Shop has brought its celebrated formula of affordable fast-fashion to the city that invented the notion of shopping as recreation. All the major trends are here, including Balmain-esque shoulder pads and Vuitton-inspired safari pieces. Book an appointment with one of the store’s famous style advisors for frank fashion advice in a plush VIP shopping suite.

Compass in Hand: Selections from The Judith Rothschild Foundation

Compass in Hand: Selections from The Judith Rothschild Foundation Contemporary Drawings Collection The Museum of Modern Art 11 West 53 Street NYC NY 10019 April 22—July 27, 2009 Amelie von Wulffen. Untitled. 2003. The Museum of Modern Art. The Judith Rothschild Foundation Contemporary Drawings Collection Gift. © 2009 Amelie von Wulffen.

Four Seasons

New York’s ultimate power restaurant, the Four Seasons is currently celebrating 50 at the top of its game. A dramatic space created by Philip Johnson in collaboration with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (who also designed the iconic Seagram building that the restaurant is situated in) sets the stage for an act of see-and-be-seen theatre with cameos by assorted celebrities and important personalities from the worlds of finance and media. The key to the Four Seasons success? Julian Niccolini, the debonair co-owner who still oversees every aspect of this not to be missed experience.

L&M Arts

A rare combination of modern and contemporary art, L&M Arts was founded in 2005 by Robert Mnuchin (a collector and expert in the secondary 20th century market) and Dominique Levy (an art advisor specializing in cutting edge living artists). With a stable of artists that includes Yves Klein, Jeff Koons and Tianbing Li, this gallery is a one-stop shop for blue-chip favourites as well as the Next Big Thing.

The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum

Located in Queens, New York, the Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum is an ideal afternoon away from Manhattan madness and arguably the best place in the world to view the wide range of work of the renowned Japanese-American artist and architect. Noguchi himself designed the 10 galleries and sculpture garden, which are home to his signature works of East-West inspired design and Brancusi-like marble forms. Be sure to leave time for the well-stocked gift store which includes an array of Noguchi’s classic Akari light sculptures.

Philip Johnson’s Glass House

Architecture aficionados take note: just a two hour Town Car ride from Uptown Manhattan, Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House is open to private tours. Set on a 47-acre site in New Canaan, Connecticut, the modernist masterpiece that was the architect’s private residence until his death in 2005 overlooks a park that includes 11 other structures designed by him, including a guest house, library, swimming pool and an extraordinary visitors centre. Be sure to book in advance – tours are often booked for months ahead.

Michael’s

A Manhattan establishment that virtually invented the notion of the power lunch, Michael’s is where big deals are done over Cobb salads and the restaurant’s famous hamburger. Increasingly popular for business breakfasts, the Midtown eatery has long been synonymous with the media and publishing worlds, attracting everyone from Rupert Murdoch to Anna Wintour. Pitch-perfect service is what keeps them coming back.

Gagosian

Larry Gagosian is one of the most powerful names in the art world – he works with collectors including David Geffen and Samuel Newhouse Jr – and the gallery he founded represents a stellar roster of artists that includes Richard Serra, Cy Twombly and Ed Ruscha. The Madison Avenue outpost – there are two other spaces in New York as well as branches in London, Los Angeles and Rome – currently has an exhibition that explores artists’ fascination with marble, as well as a show of new paintings by Richard Philips. In short: one of New York’s, if not the world’s, most exciting art spaces.

Partners & Spade

Partners & Spade, a new store in New York’s Greenwich Village, is best described as a retail experiment. Founded by Andy Spade and Anthony Sperduti, the space is filled with a seemingly random assortment of objects that ranges from an aviary of 50 finches in the window to vintage black and white photographs lining the walls that is all for sale. More conceptual than your average concept store and unmissable for those looking for a unique retail experience.

Tom Binns

With the opening of jeweler Tom Binns’ first store, no longer do fans of his work – including Daphne Guinness, assorted Vogue editors and Michelle Obama – have to seek out his creations at niche concept stores around the world. At the heart of New York’s West Village, Binns’ new retail venture is gem-box sized and filled to the brim with his signature safety pin necklaces, skull-embossed chokers and pioneering junk-jewelry. A fashionista favourite.

Luxury Interactive 2009

Luxury Interactive 2009 NY June 17-18, 2009 Bridgewaters, New York, NY

Marcus Tremonto - New York

Taking light to the level of art, New York artist Marcus Tremonto is dazzling the design and art worlds with inspiring masterworks of illumination, which boldly defy convention.

Derek Lam

New York-based fashion designer Derek Lam may not yet be a household name but his exquisitely cut clothes in neutral shades have a cult following amongst fashion editors and hedge funders’ wives. Just opened is his first flagship store in CroHo, the achingly hip of area of Crosby Street below SoHo, where a number of influential stores are located. Dress up for Mr. Lam’s vision of sophistication, which mixes an Upper East Side mentality with a downtown edge.

Monkey Bar

Editor of Vanity Fair and owner of The Waverly Inn, Graydon Carter continues his second career as a restaurateur with the opening of The Monkey Bar, another collaboration with Sean MacPherson (Pastis, Minetta Tavern). Expect The Waverly’s loyal crowd of power brokers and socialites to fight over booths in the clubby dining room. It’s the sort of discreet establishment that doesn’t release photographs – hence this image taken from the menu.

6 Works, 6 Rooms

6 Works, 6 Rooms DAVID ZWIRNER 525 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011, USA June 27 - August 14, 2009 Courtesy of the gallery

The High Line

New York’s latest public park, The High Line, is also its most narrow (just a walkway in length at some points) and fashionable (it's the location du jour for magazine photo shoots). Stretching from Gansevoort Street, in the Meatpacking District, to West 20th Street, in Chelsea, between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues, landscape firm Field Operations and architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro reworked the former elevated freight railroad to provide gardens and recreational spaces. There’s more to come – the stretch that opened in June is the first phase of a major landscaping project.

No. 8b

Cult New York fashion retailer Project No. 8 – well known for its avant-garde womenswear – has opened a second space on the Lower East Side dedicated to menswear and furniture. No. 8b, as it is called, stocks edgy and hard to find labels, including Maison Martin Margiela, Bless, and Natalia Brilli, displayed alongside a small but outstanding selection of designer chairs and home accessories

Standard Grill

Graydon Carter – the Vanity Fair editor and restaurateur behind New York’s Waverly Inn and Monkey Bar – has a rival in the form of André Balazs, the hotelier who conceived the Standard Hotel and its now oh-so-fashionable restaurant, the Standard Grill. Situated in the Meatpacking District, the menu is true to its location, favoring “traditional meat market chop houses with New American Grill sensibilities”. Critics rave about the grilled octopus but it’s the A-list people watching that makes this Manhattan’s restaurant of the moment.

Monet's Water Lilies

Monet's Water Lilies MoMA 11 West Fifty-third Street, New York City September 13, 2009–April 12, 2010 Claude Monet. The Japanese Footbridge [Le Pont japonais]. c. 1920-22. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Grace Rainey Rogers Fund

Malin & Goetz

Cult beauty brand Malin & Goetz has opened its third store on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Located in a former Puerto Rican barbershop (the sign remains, rather confusingly, on the exterior of the building), the new store was conceived by architect Craig Konyk, who combined the brand’s clinical aesthetic with the original features of the historic building. Stop by for an experience that combines high style with pharmacy-like service.

Body Parts: Ancient Egyptian Fragments and Amulets

Body Parts: Ancient Egyptian Fragments and Amulets Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn NY 11238-6052 November 19, 2009, through October 2, 2011 Right Eye from an Anthropoid Coffin. Egypt, New Kingdom or later, 1539-30 B.C. Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Prosper Assouline - New York

Prosper Assouline, as the name suggests, is no stranger to prosperity since forging his singular vision of adding luxury, style and a stunning graphic edge to the age-old tradition of illustrated book publishing.

Santiago Gonzalez - New York

Santiago Gonzalez, CEO of luxury handbag marque, Nancy Gonzalez, shares his favorite downtime addresses in the Big Apple.

Museum of Chinese in America

A new MOCA has opened in New York, but not as you know it. The Museum of Chinese in America is dedicated not to contemporary art but to preserving and presenting the history and culture of people of Chinese descent in the United States. Artist and designer Maya Lin conceived the 14,000 square-foot space in a former machine shop, which has a skylit courtyard at its center that harks back to a traditional Chinese courtyard house. Visitors mistakenly looking for new art will find something at least in its opening exhibition, “Here & Now: Chinese Artists in New York.”

Gagosian Boutique

Hot on the heels of its latest outpost in Athens, the Gagosian gallery has opened its first retail venue in New York. In a space designed by Daniel Rowan Architects with MN Design, the shop sells publications, posters and prints, as well as limited editions by artists and designers including Jeff Koons, Marc Newson and Richard Prince. Yet more art objects are available at the part of the store occupied by Other Criteria, the London-based shop founded by Damien Hirst. Blurring the line between gallery and art shop, some of the items are also available at Gagosian’s website.

Tim Burton

Tim Burton The Museum of Modern Art 11 West 53 Street New York, NY 10019 November 22, 2009–April 26, 2010 Tim Burton. Untitled (The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories). 1982–84. Private collection. © 2009 Tim Burton

Alias Man Ray: The Art of Reinvention

Alias Man Ray: The Art of Reinvention The Jewish Museum 1109 5th Ave at 92nd St New York NY 10128 November 15, 2009 - March 14, 2010 Man Ray, Le Violon d'Ingres, 1924, vintage gelatin silver print. Rosalind and Melvin Jacobs Collection. © 2009 Man Ray Trust / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris.

Crosby Street Hotel

Firmdale Hotels – the group behind the Hollywood friendly Soho, Haymarket and Covent Garden Hotels in London – has opened its highly anticipated outpost in New York. The Crosby Street Hotel, located on the thoroughfare between Prince and Spring Streets, which it is named after, is decorated in a mix of modern and antique furniture and original art as conceived by Firmdale cofounder Kit Kemp. A leafy courtyard bar and luxurious bedrooms are complemented by the brand’s signature feature: an ultra luxurious screening room with seating from Poltrona Frau.

Casa Lever

The hottest table in Manhattan, Casa Lever, is best described by the team involved in its creation: conceived by Gherardo Guarducci and Dimitri Pauli, the team behind Manhattan’s acclaimed Sant Ambroeus chain of restaurants, it was designed by Marc Newson, and its walls are hung with nineteen Andy Warhol portraits from the collection of Aby Rosen, the owner of the iconic Lever House building within which it is located.

Karim Rashid - New York

The New York-based designer Karim Rashid is known for his whimsical and vibrant style that can be found in all his work, from restaurant interiors to his signature Blobulous chair.

Frédéric Malle

Frédéric Malle – the Paris-based perfumer known for working with the best noses in the business and for prominently displaying their names on his bottles – has opened his first store outside of France in New York. Olfactory is taken seriously here and the new boutique is filled with Malle’s signature ‘smelling columns’ and refrigerated display cases. French architect Patrick Naggar transformed the gem-sized space, taking inspiration from the Madison Avenue building’s Art Deco façade. A new destination for fragrance aficionados.

The New Typography

The New Typography The Museum of Modern Art 11 West 53 Street New York, NY 10019 December 23, 2009–July 12, 2010 Jan Tschichold. Die Frau ohne Namen. 1927. The Museum of Modern Art. Peter Stone Poster Fund

YUN-FEI JI: New Works

The Wright

Wakey, wakey upper east siders: The Wright restaurant has just opened at the Guggenheim Museum to celebrate the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building’s 50th anniversary. A modern American menu is provided by chef Rodolfo Contreras (a protégé of David Bouley), while high design worthy of its location was created by architect Andre Kikoski (named by New York magazine as one of “The New Garde of Ten Designers to Watch). In short: cultured cuisine.

Kiki Smith: Sojourn

Kiki Smith: Sojourn Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn NY 11238-6052 February 12-September 12, 2010 Kiki Smith Singer (detail), 2008, Photo detail by: Volker Dohne/ Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York, © Kiki Smith, Courtesy PaceWildenstein, New York

To Live Forever: Art and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt

To Live Forever: Art and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn NY 11238-6052 February 12-May 2, 2010 Mummy Mask of a Man, early 1st century C.E., Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, Brooklyn Museum

THE DRAWINGS OF BRONZINO

Night & Day

Night & Day The Museum at FIT Seventh Avenue at 27th Street-New York City December 3 – May 11, 2009 Rochas (Olivier Theyskens), spring 2004, France, Gift of Maison Rochas - Photograph ©MFIT 2009

William Kentridge: Five Themes

William Kentridge: Five Themes The Museum of Modern Art 11 West 53 Street New York, NY 10019 February 24–May 17, 2010 William Kentridge. Drawing from Stereoscope 1998–99. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of The Junior Associates of The Museum of Modern Art, with special contributions from Anonymous, Scott J. Lorinsky, Yasufumi Nakamura, and The Wider Foundation

Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present

Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present The Museum of Modern Art 11 West 53 Street New York, NY 10019 March 14–May 31, 2010 Marina Abramović. Luminosity. Originally performed for two hours at Sean Kelly Gallery, New York, 1997. © 2010 Marina Abramović. Courtesy the artist and Sean Kelly Gallery/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Maialino

A modern interpretation of a traditional Roman trattoria is the concept behind Maialino, a new restaurant at New York's Gramercy Park Hotel. The first project from Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group since it opened The Modern at MoMA in 2005, Maialino is headed by chef Nick Anderer who serves up Italian classics including ‘malfatti alla maialino' (sucking pig ragu, torn pasta and arugula) and "coda alla vaccinara" (oxtails, tomato and celery). Still hungry for more? At the heart of the Rockwell Group-designed dining room is the restaurant's store of rich cured meats and Italian cheeses.

Iannis Xenakis: Composer, Architect, Visionary

Iannis Xenakis: Composer, Architect, Visionary The DRAWING CENTER 35 WOOSTER STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10013 January 15–April 8, 2010 Iannis Xenakis, Study for Polytope de Montréal (light score), c. 1966, Iannis Xenakis Archives, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris.

YUN-FEI JI Mistaking Each other for Ghosts

REZI VAN LANKVELD

REZI VAN LANKVELD Friedrich Petzel Gallery 537 West 22nd Street New York, NY, 10011 February 5 - March 13, 2010 Courtesy of the gallery Courtesy of the gallery

Playing with Pictures: The Art of Victorian Photocollage

Playing with Pictures: The Art of Victorian Photocollage The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028 February 2-May 9, 2010 Courtesy of the museum

Ernesto Neto: Navedenga

Ernesto Neto: Navedenga The Museum of Modern Art 11 West 53 Street NY NY10019 January 22-April 26, 2010 Ernesto Neto, Navedenga, 1998. Gift of Donald L. Bryant, Jr. Installation view of Navedenga and the Ovaloids, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York, 1998. Photo: Oren Slor

Eddie Borgo - New York

Eddie Borgo is the jewelry designer of the moment. Celebrated by cutting edge fashion magazines, he is stocked by leading concepts stores such as Colette in Paris, and his signature crystal spikes drip from the wrists of society darlings (Lauren Santo Domingo is such a fan that she recently hosted a trunk show of his work at her private apartment).

Andaz Wall Street

Andaz is a new hotel brand from the Hyatt Group that aims to fill the niche for boutique-sized hotels created for sophisticated and quality-sensitive guests. Joining outposts in London and West Hollywood is the just-opened Andaz Wall Street. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the 13-floor space is to encourage socializing, with a series of communal tables in the public areas. Check out the impressive rotating “personal closet valet” found in many of the rooms, which spins to reveal its four features: a closet, hanging area, full length mirror and mini bar.

CHRISTIAN JANKOWSKI

Annie Kevans Manumission

Annie Kevans Manumission Perry Rubenstein Gallery 527 West 23rd Street New York, NY 10011 February 12, 2010 – March 16, 2010 Annie Kevans, William Beverly Hemings in Brown (All the Presidents' Girls), 2010 all rights reserved

YUN-FEI J Mistaking Each Other for Ghosts

YUN-FEI J Mistaking Each Other for Ghosts James Cohan Gallery New York 533 West 26th Street New York, NY 10001 February 19 – March 27, 2010 YUN-FEI JI Mistaking Each Other for Ghosts, 2007, all rights reserved

Jenna Gribbon re: The Mirroed Veil Paintings

Jenna Gribbon re: The Mirroed Veil Paintings PRISKA C. JUSCHKA FINE ART 547 West 27th Street, 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10001 February 11 – March 27, 2010 Jenna Gribbon, Idyll vs. the World, 2010 all rights reserved

Hermès Man on Madison

For the first Hermès store dedicated only to men, the Parisian luxury goods house chose an elegant brownstone across the street from its US flagship. Designed by RDAI, the Parisian architectural practice founded by Rena Duma (the late wife of the head of the family that owns Hermès), the new space was inspired by traditional tailors and gentlemen’s clubs. Though, as at all of the brand’s stores, the interior is light and airy, with a series of mezzanines. Showcasing men’s ready-to-wear, accessories and ”art de vivre“ essentials, there are also a number of limited edition products exclusive to the store, including an exquisitely crafted baseball glove and ball set.

ED PASCHKE

ALBERTO DI FABIO

George Kontos Adventures Are Dead My Dears

Jedediah Caesar

Ryan McGinley Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Michael Kors - New York

Michael Kors is at once a man, a brand and a by-word for chic, luxurious American sportswear. Founded in 1981, the Michael Kors label now spans both womenswear and menswear, as well as accessories and diffusion lines. Cashmere sweaters, crocodile bags, and fur trims are typical of the Michael Kors collection, which, it is said, is something of a uniform for the jet set.

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