Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 06/15/2013

Ice Cream Time

The arrival of summer is the perfect excuse (if you need one) to sample the city’s frozen wares. Ice cream has not been immune to the artisanal makeovers sweeping almost every New York food category—below you will find some of the more inventive newcomers around the city.

Charming Fellow

Photo courtesy of OddFellows

Cornrbead, Chorizo Caramel, Blueberry Buttermilk…Chef Sam Mason, former wd-50 pastry chef, has created cutting-edge flavors for the brand new Williamsburg ice cream parlor OddFellows. OddFellows serves up small-batch, all-natural ice cream made from locally-sourced ingredients as well as floats, milkshakes, egg creams, and sundaes.
OddFellows Ice Cream Co.

175 Kent Ave.
(347) 599-0556
www.oddfellowsnyc.com

Two Scoops in a Beaker

Photo courtesy of Il Laboratorio del Gelato

Peer through the massive windows of Il Laboratorio del Gelato on the Lower East Side for a glimpse into the science of ice cream (ok, its close cousin, gelato).  Clearly a lot of experiments are taking place, producing flavors like Amaretto Crunch, Walnut Nocello, and Butternut Squash. Portions come in cups or in made-to-order shakes, and all of the gelato is prepared from local and organic ingredients.

Il Laboratorio del Gelato
188 Ludlow St. (at Houston)
(212) 343-9922
www.laboratoriodelgelato.com

Welcome to My Parlor

Photo courtesy of Evergeen

Cisco Garcia recently opened Evergreen Ice Cream Parlor, Bushwick’s first ice cream shop, in what used to be his dad’s corner store. Now, still featuring the original signage, the shop is an emblem of gentrification done right: a new neighborhood business that sells local–the ice cream is made by two favorite New York ice creameries, Phinn & Phebes and Jane’s–and doesn’t price out the locals.

Evergreen
144 Evergreen Ave.
(347) 954-5463
www.evergreenbk.com

Melt in Your Mouth

Photo courtesy of Melt

Surely the ice cream sandwich deserves its day in the sun. Thanks to Melt Bakery, fans of this frozen treat can enjoy concoctions like Lovelet (cream cheese ice cream + red velvet meltcakes) and Cinnamax (snickerdoodle cookies + cinnamon ice cream).

Melt Bakery
132 Orchard St. (between Rivington & Delancey Sts.)
(917) 589-1912
www.meltbakery.com

Acculturation

Photo courtesy of nycgo.com

Culture isn’t just another Pinkberry copycat. It’s homemade yogurt and frozen yogurt made from fresh, local milk and live probiotic cultures. It’s the most refreshing snack for a sweltering day, with changing flavors such as Blood Orange with Vanilla, Stumptown Coffee, and Pink Guava. Not only are they flavor innovators, they really think ahead and put your topping choices on the bottom of the cup as well, so you don’t run out of those key lime pie bits or salted caramel popcorn.

Culture
331 5th Ave.
(718) 499-0207
www.cultureny.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 06/01/13

Viva la (Sud de) France!

Welcome to the South of France! It may look like New York, but if you squint a bit, keep a sprig of lavender handy, and partake of the events below, it will feel just like the Languedoc-Roussillon. Yes, it is the Sud de France Festival, and it kicks off right here in the hotel.

Amuse Your Bouche

Photo courtesy of Charles Roussel © Sud de France

The Hotel Americano becomes L’Hotel Americain for an evening as the Sud de France Festival kicks off with a three-course dinner featuring regional specialties such as langoustine and ris de veau.  Acclaimed Chef Joseph Buenoconsejo presents a Mediterranean menu on the Hotel’s outdoor patio (weather permitting), and wine director Thierry Chouquet matches Languedoc-Roussillon wines to each course. We hear there may be some gypsy jazz and other surprises. Come with a crowd and create your own communal table.

June 2, 6pm

$100 per person. Includes one amuse-bouche, three-course dinner, wine pairings, tip and tax.

Tickets available at:

http://sud-de-france-festival.ticketleap.com/tasting-tables-at-the-americano/

Hotel Americano
518 West 27^th Street
www.hotel-americano.com
(212) 525-0000

Formidable!

The party moves south Sunday evening, with the official Festival launch party at The Park’s penthouse on Tenth Avenue.  More marvelous Languedoc-Roussillon wine will be on hand, and one can gaze at the stars while dancing to the New York Brass Band and live DJ sets.  No cover.

The Park
118 Tenth Avenue
(212) 352-43313
www.theparknyc.com

All France, All of the Time

Who knew Chelsea was so Francophile-friendly? Don’t miss these other stops on your south-of-France tour:

Appellation Wines stocks eco-friendly wines from the South of France, and is featuring a special Sud de France tasting on June 2^nd from 4-7pm.

Appellation Wine & Spirits
156 Tenth Ave.
www.Appelationnyc.com
(212) 741-9474

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iiuxxg5vjfmje6d/Mice-%246.jpg

This French patisserie features delicious and authentic pastries including brioche, tartes, chocolate-covered souris (pictured) and various gateaux.

La Bergamote
177 Ninth Ave
www.labergamotenyc.com
(212) 627-9010

Photo courtesy of Maison 140

Check the weather in Paris as you enter this specialist home décor shop (it is always posted on the chalkboard outside). Find well-curated French linens, tableware, and other home furnishings.

Maison 140
140 Ninth Ave.
www.maison140nyc.com
(212) 255-0022

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 05/15/13

Local Style

vis•i•tor

noun. A person visiting a person or place.

tour•ist

noun.  A person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure.

Dictionary definitions do not quite capture the difference between visitor and tourist, do they? In our opinion, visitors tend to go where the locals go, blend in, and mirror the pace of their environment. Tourists announce themselves by traveling in larges, carrying outsized gear, and gathering at sites culled from years of television and movie consumption.

But we have sympathy for both groups.  After all, travel is hard on the feet, and do you really want to invest lots of time and money without seeing Times Square?

But what to do if you have visitor karma and tourist tastes? Below, our guide to nearby tourist spots and how to visit them like a local.

Pastiche

Photo courtesy of Pastis

First stop: Pastis.  This reproduction French brasserie once attracted A-list celebs and is now more often filled with local internet entrepreneurs and sleek business types. It is an occasional stop of tourist groups, particularly around midday, and lunch can involve being crammed into a tiny table in the noisy bar area.

Our preference: breakfast. Service is polite and attentive, the breakfast fare top-notch, and the ambiance conducive to business, pleasant conversation, and modest people-watching. Pastis opens at 8a on weekdays and 9a on weekends, when brunch is served until 4:30p.

Pastis
9 Ninth Avenue
(212) 929-4844
www.pastisny.com

Hudson River Park

Photo courtesy of Paper & String

Weekends are madness along the Hudson: the locals are not braving the crowds—they are actively seeking them as an audience for public display of athleticism or other antics.  Our advice: strap on your roller blades, get out there, and show your stuff on a Saturday afternoon.

If crowds aren’t your thing, enjoy the more sheltered Chelsea Piers area.  Find a bench and check out the occasionally over-the-top boats docked in the marina.

Hudson River Park
West Side of Manhattan along the Hudson
www.hudsonriverpark.org

Magnolia Bakery

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Bakery

Many locals will tell you that Sex and the City and other forms of television fame ruined Magnolia Bakery forever.  If you must have a cupcake, just go to Billy’s, they’ll say.  Or: cupcakes are so 2009. Try the Doughnut Plant.

But Magnolia can still be pretty wonderful.  The volume is sufficiently high that there is a good chance that your cupcake is freshly baked, and the frosting really rocks.

Magnolia Bakery
401 Bleecker St. (corner of West 11^th St.)
(212) 462-2572
www.magnoliabakery.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 05/01/2013

Where You Should Be

Arguably, you should be on the roof of this fabulous hotel, soaking up today’s rays. But if you feel the urge for a stroll, you should be here:

Where is here?  The High Line, just between 14^th & 15^th Streets, where there is an abundance of sun and lounge chairs.

When you get hungry, you should be at one of the places below that offer lunch, dessert, and a fine jolt of joe.

The Taco Truck

Killer tacos and tortas.  Wicked fresh tortillas. Try the Carnitas Michoacan Taco ($5.50) full of braised pork goodness, cilantro and green salsa, and your choice of guacamole or queso. Bonus: Mexican Coke, made with cane sugar ($2.75).

thetacotruck.com

Delaney Barbeque

Pork ribs are the answer. (“What makes a meaty lunch?” is the question.)  $12 for one-third of a rack.

www.delaneybbq.com

L’Arte del Gelato

Classic Italian gelato with top-notch ingredients. Stracciatella for you chocolate lovers. $3 for piccola, a small cup with one flavor, or $5 for grande, bigger cup with up to two flavors.

www.lartedelgelato.com

People’s Pops

If you sit in the sun for a few minutes, you will find it really is warm enough to eat a popsicle ($3.50).

www.peoplespops.com

Blue Bottle Coffee

Winter, spring, summer. It is all the same to us when it comes to coffee—that is, we must have some handy after every proper lunch. Rev up your walk with a tasty espresso.

www.bluebottlecoffee.net

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 04/15/2013

Made in Chelsea

There has been ample press on the renaissance in American manufacturing. In New York City, Brooklyn gets a lot of attention for rampant artisanal manufacturing.  But don’t count Chelsea out. While many workshops have been edged out by art galleries, it is still possible to shop super local.

The Good Home Company

Photo courtesy of The Good Home

The Good Home Company closed its retail store, but the company still calls Chelsea HQ, and you can find the Company’s fragrant home products (scented clothespins!) at Foragers on Eighth Avenue. Lavender is always a dependable choice, but don’t miss Summer House and Beach Days.

Foragers City Grocer
300 West 22^nd (at Eighth Ave)
(212) 243-8888
www.foragerscitygrocer.com

Les Toiles du Soleil

Photo courtesy of Les Toiles Du Soleil

Les Toiles du Soleil is a travel warp to the French Riviera. Lined with bolts of vivid French striped fabrics, this tiny boutique stocks home furnishings, totes, iPad covers, and accessories for your home. Almost anything can be custom made at the store, except for espadrilles, which are only made in France. And you can literally glimpse manufacturing in action, as Les Toiles’ seamstress creates masterpieces behind the wide wooden counter.

Les Toiles du Soleil
261 West 19^th St. (between 7^th & 8^th Aves)
(212) 229-4730
www.lestoilesdusoleilnyc.com

Three Tarts

Photo courtesy of Three Tarts

This bakery and tart shop offers some of the best sweets in Chelsea, and their house specialty is—mmm-marshmallows! Vanilla, yes, but try the passion fruit or the yuzu for something off the beaten path.

Three Tarts
164 Ninth Avenue (at 20^th St.)
(212) 462-4392
www.3tarts.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 04/01/2013

Ninth Avenue Rising

For a decade or two, Eighth Avenue was Chelsea’s Main Street. But there’s a new kid in town: Ninth Avenue is giving Eighth Avenue a run for its money.

Eighth Avenue is still the utilitarian home of groceries, drug stores, shoe repair shops, pizza joints and strategically spaced Starbucks, and many locals do their everyday shopping along its sidewalks. But Ninth Avenue is making a claim as a cool-kids cultural hub, no doubt thanks to the influx of visitors pouring into West Chelsea to partake of the High Line, the art galleries, and the burgeoning Chelsea Market.

Ninth Avenue’s renaissance began about a decade ago, when a handful of French shops & cafes staked a Little France sort of claim on the blocks in the low 20s (some of those, like Le Bergamote & La Grainne, still exist, albeit in new forms). Other trendsetters like 192 Books, Three Tarts, and Bombay Talkie followed.

What’s happening now? A stampede of sorts! Below, a few of the latest newcomers.

Photo courtesy of Pastai

Pastai, a new artisan pasta joint, offers fresh pasta all day.

200 Ninth Avenue (between 21^st & 22^nd Streets)
www.pastainyc.com

The Meatball Shop opens a new branch, serving up its now-famous fare. Check the website for daily specials (note that the day-after-Easter special was “Bunny Balls.”)

162 Ninth Ave. (between 22^nd & 23^rd Sts.)
www.themeatballshop.com

Cull & Pistol, a new oyster bar from the people who brought you the ever-popular Lobster Place, is coming soon to Chelsea Market.  If you know how to shuck oysters, they are hiring.

75 Ninth Avenue (between 15^th & 16^th Sts)
www.thelobsterplace.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 03/15/2013

A Field Guide to Pizza

What could be more quintessentially New York than grabbing a slice? You can argue over what makes the pizza so good here in the city—is it the water or the ambiance?—but you simply can’t argue that it tastes amazing, whether for a proper sit-down meal or a slice-on-the-run after a night of clubbing.

Here is a rundown of Chelsea’s pizza hotspots.

SLICES

Pizza Suprema. Looks like every other slice shop (ok, maybe cleaner), but the crust is marvelously crisp all the way through.

New York Pizza Suprema
413 Eighth Avenue (at 31st Street)
212.594.8939
www.nypizzasuprema.com

Rocco’s. Dependable and friendly.

Rocco’s Pizza Joint
162 Seventh Ave. (between 19^th & 20^th Sts.)
(212) 633-9995
www.roccospizzany.com

OLD SCHOOL

Patsy’s. Descendant of one of the original coal-fired pizzerias that planted the pizza flag in NYC in the early 20^th century.

Patsy’s
318 West 23rd (between 8thh & 9^th Aves.)
(646) 486-7400
www.patsyspizzeria.us

Don Giovanni. Stop in for pizza or pasta.  West Chelsea locals order pizza delivery from here, not from Domino’s.

Don Giovanni
214 Tenth Avenue (between 22^nd & 23^rd Sts.)
(212) 242-9054
www.dongiovanni-ny.com

NEW SCHOOL

Donatella. Neapolitan-style thin pizza in wood-burning oven (pictured). Secret passageway to D Bar on 19^th St.

Donatella
184 Eighth Ave. (between 19^th & 20^th Sts.)
(212) 493-5150
www.donatellanyc.com

Ovest. Right across from the Americano. Try the classic Bufalo pizza.  Fried artichokes also worthy of attention.

Ovest Pizzoteca
513 W. 27^th St. (btwn. 10^th & 11^th Aves.)
(212) 967-4392
www.ovestnyc.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 3/01/2015

The Brooklyn-ness of Brooklyn

All sorts of things are going on in the galleries and theaters not far from the Americano (see “Culture”), but if you take one “field trip” during your visit to NYC, make it Brooklyn.

Why?  Because Brooklyn is weird.  Yes, it now has a professional basketball team and an increasing number of chain stores, but it also has a constantly renewing collection of eccentrics that keep the borough true to itself.

Here are a few places that make the locals roll their eyes and mutter, “Only in Brooklyn.”

Step Aside, Hellman’s

Photo courtesy of Empire Mayonnaise

Empire Mayonnaise is—get this—a store that only sells mayonnaise.  Exotically flavored artisanal mayonnaise, mind you, but mayonnaise nonetheless. The NYC Mix includes Empire’s first three flavors from opening day in 2011: Smoked Paprika, Black Garlic, and Lime Pickle ($20 for three 4 oz. jars). Empire’s recommendation: mix them all up for the ultimate French fry dipping sauce.

If that doesn’t make you trade in the mustard for some mayo, maybe these flavors will: Bacon ($9), Blue Cheese ($7), and Red Chili ($7).

Empire Mayonnaise

564 Vanderbilt Ave. (between Dean & Bergen St.)
(718) 636-2069
www.empiremayo.com

Above the Fold

Photo courtesy of Taro's Origami

With a life-size origami husky dog and giant golden origami dragon staring out from the second-story store front window, Taro’s Origami Studio promises to be a magical place. Taro’s offers drop-in visits and “try out corners” for those intrigued by this curious workshop, as well as classes, summer camp, and party space rentals. Kids (and adults) of all ages can scan a wall full of colored paper and learn how to fold from personal tablets installed with software that demonstrates step-by-step folding techniques. After you choose what you want to make and learn how to fold it, you can decorate your origami creation with stickers, stamps, and markers.

$10 for 30 minutes and unlimited paper.

Taro’s Origami Studio

95 7th Ave., second floor (between Union & President St.)
(718) 360-5435
www.tarosorigami.com

The Best of Both Worlds

Photo courtesy of Take Root

Take Root may be the highest-concentrated dose of Brooklyn you can fit into one space. This restaurant serves seasonal, hand-crafted local food, and, er, yoga classes. Yep, this is two of the best Brooklyn clichés in one. Come for one of many different styles of yoga workshops during the week and stay for dinner, and on weekend nights experience the tasting table dinners. The ever-changing menu ($85/per person) currently serves dishes like Goat’s Milk Ricotta Tortellini with Red Beet Vinaigrette and Foie Gras Butter and Olive Oil Cake with Chocolate, Grapefruit, Yogurt, and Puffed Rice.

Take Root

187 Sackett St. (between Hicks & Henry St.)
(347) 227-7116
take-root.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 2/15/2013

Pastie Parties

A burlesque show is the perfect date: sexy, entertaining, and daring. Show your companion you’re not worried about the competition–au contraire, you love it! These ladies (and gents!) may know how to wiggle, but you’ll be watching them for their, ahem, personalities.

Burlesque Dance Party

Photo courtesy of nycgrindhouse.com

Shaken & Stirred is a night-long burlesque extravaganza, with three sets at 10:30, 11:30, and 12:30 (and sometimes a bonus set at 1:30 for the late-partiers). But don’t take your seat assuming you’ll be a quiet spectator taking in a raunchy debacle, because you will be part of it.

Prepare yourself for a wild night: this is a dance party, hosted by the famously vivacious Miss Runaround Sue, and with DJ Jess spinning new wave, disco, and rock n’ roll. And the shows are free, so your money goes towards more drinks (on top of the free shots that are doled out after select sets).

The Delancey

168 Delancey St. (between Clinton & Attorney)
(212) 254-9920
www.sugarshackburlesque.com

A Spanking Good Time

Photo courtesy of Paper & String

“Spanking the Lower East Side” is hostess Calamity Chang’s self-described “fetish-y and S&M-y”burlesque show extraordinaire. The fifties pin-up themed bar, Nurse Bettie, is intimate (read: tiny), so get there early to claim your spot near the stage. The show teases you with Go Go dancing (tips accepted in bustiers and panty lines), and then finally gives you what you’ve been waiting for: the sexy/cheeky performances by the Southern belle Cherry Brown and the Asian Sexsation herself, Miss Calamity Chang (pictured).

Nurse Bettie

106 Norfolk St. (between Rivington & Delancey)
(917) 434-9072
nursebettie.com

Something in the Air?

Photo courtesy of Slipper Room

The Slipper Room should be described as a vaudeville venue rather than a burlesque venue, because the performances range from dance to comedy to aerial acrobatics to Tigger!, the Original Godfather of Boylesk. You can ooh and aah at him and other tantalizing characters like professional hula-hooper Pinkie Special and “Nerdlesque” performar Dangrr Doll at The Slipper Room Show every Friday night at 10pm ($15).

The Slipper Room

167 Orchard St. (between Orchard & Allen)
(212) 253-7246
www.slipperroom.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 02/01/2013

Chocoholic-a-Thon

Ah, February. Would we rather be lounging by the pool on the roof of the Americano? Sure. But until summer returns, we are going to embrace the whole winter thing. To wit: we keep a list handy of the best hot chocolate in the city so we are never more than a few blocks from liquid chocolate goodness.

Stick Shift

Photo courtesy of Popbar

Popbar is known for its delicious gelato-based popsicles, but in twenty-degree weather cold treats are the last thing on our minds. But it turns out that Popbar offers another stick-based treat: a block of chocolate, plus a cup of steamed milk, so you have total control over the level of chocolate in your hot cocoa ($3.50).

Popbar

5 Carmine St (at Bleecker St.)
(212) 255-4874
pop-bar.com

Lonely Chocolate Seeks Flavorful Companion

Photo courtesy of City Bakery

February is the gloomiest month, but it’s also the 21^st Annual Hot Chocolate Festival of Flavors at The City Bakery. Each day of the month brings a brand new hot chocolate flavor, from Lemon to Spicy Caramel to Ginger ($5). The hot chocolate is thick and crazy good—kind of like falling into the vat at the chocolate factory.

The City Bakery

3 W. 18th St.
(212) 366-1414
thecitybakery.com

Hot Chocolate, All Grown Up

Photo courtesy of Cocoa Bar

Cocoa Bar is the 24-hour hang out spot for chocolate lovers: coffee bar by day, bar by night, chocolate all the time. Read a book and sip on your choice of mint, dark, white, cinnamon, or spicy hotchocolate ($4.59), or the special Funky Monkey banana flavored hot chocolate ($4.82). If it’s evening, try the cocktail version, aka French HotChocolate: dark hot chocolate with Graham’s Tawny  Port and chocolate shavings around the rim ($12).

Cocoa Bar

21 Clinton St. (between Houston & Stanton)
(212) 677-7417
cocoabarnyc.com

Hot Not-Chocolate

Photo courtesy of Serious Eats

OK, we get it: there are those who find hot chocolate too rich, sweet, or, dare we say, chocolatey. For those less chocolate-obsessed than we are, the white-chocolate based Bianca hot cocoa ($5) at Vosges Haute Chocolat will toy with your taste buds without torturing them. Scented with lavender flowers and a hint of Meyer lemon for a citrus after-taste, this vanilla-flavored white chocolate drink is subtle and just the right amount of sweet.

Vosges Haute Chocolat

132 Spring St. (between Wooster & Greene)
(212) 625-2929
vosgeschocolate.com

Double Delicioso

Photo courtesy of DNAinfo

At Bar Jamon, you don’t drink the hot chocolate–you drench cinnamon-sugar coated churros in the thick, fudge-like syrup. This traditional Spanish-style hot chocolate is the richest of the rich, and you’ll be sopping up every last drop.

Bar Jamon

125 E. 17th St. (between Irving Pl. & 3rd Ave.)
(212) 253-2773
casamononyc.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 1/1/2013

Ice Ice, Baby!

Happy New Year. We are off to a cold start, and what better way to enjoy the city in winter than a turn or two around the ice? Here is everything you need to know about New York City’s outdoor skating rinks. Don’t forget to warm up afterwards with a little hot cocoa.

Gr8 Place to Sk8

Pressed for time? Do your skating and your banking at CitiPond! Ok, just kidding about the banking part, but the Pond does have a lot to offer: you can get your skates sharpened ($20), rent skates ($14), take a lesson (varies), or just skate (free). And when you run out of steam, warm up under outdoor heaters with hot chocolate on the adjacent Celsius terrace.

CitiPond at Bryant Park

Between 40th & 42nd St., 5th Ave. & 6th Ave.
October 26, 2012 – March 3, 2013, Sun.-Thurs. 8am-10pm; Fri. & Sat. 8am-midnight
http://www.bryantpark.org/things-to-do/pond.html

A Winter’s Tale

If there is a classic New York place to skate, it is Wollman Rink. In the middle of Central Park, with the city rising all around you, it’s an ice oasis. The rink, which is a five-minute walk from the south entrance of the park at West 59^th Street & Sixth Avenue, offers lessons for all levels, including figure skating, synchronized skating, and hockey. See admission fees below. Skate rental is $7, and Wollman is cash only.

Wollman Rink at Central Park

Five-minute walk from the south entrance of W. 59th Street and 6th Avenue
Mon. & Tues. 10am-2:30pm; Wed. & Thurs. 10am-10pm; Fri. & Sat. 10am-11pm; Sun. 10am-9pm
Adults: $11 Mon.-Thurs.; $17 Fri-Sun
Children: $6 Mon.-Sun.
Seniors: $5 Mon.-Thurs.; $9 Fri.-Sun.
http://www.centralpark.com/guide/attractions/wollman-rink.html

Play N(ice)

Lasker Rink, another Central Park offering, is where the serious skaters hang out. Lasker hosts both youth and adult hockey leagues, but in between games, the public is welcome to enjoy the rink (see hours below). Skate rental is $6.

Lasker Ice Skating Rink at Central Park

Entrance just south of park entrance at 110th St. & Lenox Av.
Open Friday, November 4, 2011 through Sunday, March 18, 2012.
Mon. 10am-3:45pm; Tues. 10am-3:30pm, 8pm-10pm; Wed. & Thurs. 10am-3:45pm; Fri. 10am-5:15pm, 7pm-11pm; Sat. 1pm-11pm; Sun. 12:30pm-4:30pm
Adults: $7.00
Seniors (60 & older): $2.25
Children (12 & under): $4.00
http://www.laskerrink.com/

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 12/15/2012

New York at Night

New York is not a summer city. Yes, New York has lovely summer moments, when the humidity lifts, the air is crystal clear, and the traffic is sufficiently calmed to allow audible conversation while seated at an outdoor table. But July and August are never New York at its New Yorkiest—indeed, many of the city’s residents flee at that time of year, taking at least some of the city’s energy with them.

So much of New York life takes place indoors that one might argue fall and winter are the times of year that expose the city’s soul. New York may be at its best at dusk on a late fall eve, when it is just dark enough for the interiors of stores and restaurants to reveal the creative activity, commerce-driven buzz, and sheer drama that takes place within.  Below, the Meatpacking District on a December evening.  (It is mere blocks from the hotel, so consider creating your own early evening tableau.)

Ninth Avenue at Dusk

Vitra, design, 29 Ninth Avenue

Manahatta, restaurant & bar, Gansevoort St.

Apple Store, 9th Ave. & 14th St.

Pastis, restaurant, 9 Ninth Avenue

Warby Parker pop-up store, 819 Washington St.

Hector’s, 44 Little West 12th St.

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 12/1/2012

NEIGHBORHOOD

For the last few years, most of Chelsea’s retail offerings have been utilitarian (groceries and hair salons) and located along the neighborhood’s most central main drags (7^th & 8^th Avenues).  In West Chelsea, there are scattered pockets of retail joy (Chelsea Market, Ninth Avenue between 19^th & 23^rd), but most of the action has been elsewhere.

That seems to be changing: Tenth Avenue has started to roar with retail innovation, just in time for holiday shopping.  Here are a few new offerings:

Shopping in Narrative Form

Story began its existence about a year ago as a “startup store,” featuring products made by local startups like Quirky & Joor.  Its hook was that the curtain would go down every 4-6 weeks and, when lifted, would reveal a new theme and new merchandise within the store.

One year in, Story has kept the theme rotation but, as near as we can tell, lost the startup focus. This month’s theme is “Home for the Holidays,” and the “stage” is set up as a series of “rooms” bursting with merchandise for everyone on your holiday shopping list. A digital fire burns on a big screen to your right as you enter, setting a cozy tone as you shop for Her. Items for Him are in the back (and pictured above).  Great stuff for kids, too, and a well-stocked “Everyone” section in the dining room as well.

Story

144 Tenth Avenue (at 19^th St.)

(212) 242-4853

www.astartupstore.com

Paris on the Hudson

Assuming you are not furnishing a house (in which case Muleh is an excellent stop for unusual lighting and accent pieces), visit Muleh to shop for a sophisticated woman in your life. Here, let’s get the obligatory listing of brands over with: Vivienne Westwood, 3.1 Philip Lim, Hache, and Maline Berger. But what drives the collection at Muleh is an eye for well-structured clothing with subtle but surprising features¾a classic collar made from an unusual fabric, a knife-pleat skirt with a contrasting loose kick-pleat, slim trousers in a bold silk. Muleh is the type of refined boutique one might find on a side street in Paris. Lucky us, here in Chelsea.

Muleh

500 West 22^nd Street (at 10^th Ave.)

(212) 525-0220

www.muleh.com

Give Good

Support women-owned businesses by shopping at Give Good on December 1^st.  The event showcases thirty-five women-owned vendors with holiday-ready wares including handbags, ornaments, scarves, and baskets.  11a-8p. Additional details via link below.

Give Good

Starrett-Lehigh Building

601 West 26^th Street (between 10^th & 11^th Aves)

www.givegoodmarket.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 11/15/2012

We Are Back

Mostly, that is. Our neighborhood, Chelsea, was hit hard by Sandy the Superstorm. Many businesses west of Tenth Avenue have finished bailing and pumping and drying out but are still replacing damaged equipment and filling out insurance forms. We hope you will visit the ones that are open and cheer them on. Also, you can help the art-related businesses in particular by joining us for cocktails in the hotel on Friday, November 16.  Details here.

Thanksgiving, Before and After

Will you celebrate Thanksgiving in NYC? If you are cooking, bravo! If you are dining out or have been invited to feast with friends or family, you may want to consider a few of these activities for burning a few calories before or after the big meal.

Walk the Walk

Photo courtesy of Paper & String

The High Line, NYC’s elevated park, draws about 3 million visitors each year.  Fortunately, they do not all appear on the same day, making the park a perfect venue for a pleasant stroll replete with ample people-watching and a fair amount of flora.  The High Line is only about a mile in length, so consider starting at one end and making a round trip (two miles!) to get the blood really moving.

To make your pedometer really buzz, walk from the Americano to the tip of Manhattan along Hudson River Park, located along the westernmost edge of the island. By the time you reach Battery Park, you will have logged about three miles and captured some great views of downtown along the way.

The High Line

Enter at Tenth Avenue at 26^th St.

(212) 206-9922

www.thehighline.org

Hudson River Park

Enter at 23^rd Street & the West Side Highway

www.hudsonriverpark.org

(212) 255-5051

Ice, Ice, Baby

It may be crowded, but that’s part of the experience. Skating at the Pond at Bryant Park (now known as “CitiPond” thanks to its sponsor, Citibank) is becoming as classic a New York experience as skating in Rockefeller Center. Skating is free, and skate rental is $14.
Bryant Park

42d St. & Avenue of the Americas

(212) 661-6640

www.bryantpark.org

Runtime

There is much to be said for checking the box on exercise early in the day, and this may be doubly true on a holiday when spending time with others is at a premium. City Running Tours hosts an early morning run on Thanksgiving¾and gives a tour of the West Village along the way. The fun gets started at 7am. Preregistration is preferred but one can also register at the meeting spot.

City Running Tours

Meet at the Arch at Washington Square Park

(877) 415-0058

www.cityrunningtours.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 11/01/2012

Rebuilding

Ordinarily, this space is devoted to letting all Americanos know about the splendid goings-on of the neighborhood surrounding the hotel.  Of course, as your correspondent posts this, some very un-splendid things have taken place.  Sandy was particularly hard on Chelsea: she filled basements with water and knocked out the power for a disconcertingly long time.

Should you wish to pay a kindness to the Americano’s neighborhood in the aftermath of Sandy, you may want to visit some of the valiant small businesses that have pumped basements dry, tossed ruined merchandise and food, worked by flashlight, and managed to greet customers with a smile when the lights finally went on.  Here are a few of our nearby favorites.

One of a Kind

Warning: Do not enter unless you have time to spare.

What: There is no other store like Printed Matter. A non-profit dedicated to books by artists (not about artists—think about it) Printed Matter has also has original zines, T-shirts, limited edition monographs, flip books, handmade oddities by big and small names alike, rare and out-out-print books, and works on the printed page that will please both collectors and the curious.

Tip: If you are looking for a particular, obscure title, search the Printed Matter online database, which is updated regularly. But always stop into the store. You will never fail to be delighted and surprised at what you find.

Factoid: Started by Sol LeWitt, Carl Andre, Edit DeAk, and other art world heavyweights in the 1970s, Printed Matter also consults to artists and libraries. It also originated the annual NY Art Book Fair as a way of keeping NYC at the bull’s eye of the art book-publishing scene.

Printed Matter
195 Tenth Avenue between 21^st & 22^nd Sts.
(212) 925-0325
www.printedmatter.org

Sweet Tarts

Three Tarts offers some of the best treats in Chelsea.  Meticulously crafted, the bakery’s petit fours, mini-tarts, tiny parfaits, and brownies are desserts for design lovers. The bakery also makes marshmallows from scratch in flavors like rosemary-chocolate, cinnamon, and mango—a lightweight gift to throw in one’s carry-on bag as colder weather/hot-cocoa season looms.

Three Tarts puts a spin on seasonal drinks each year.  In summer, each week brings a new flavor of lemonade (Juniper Fizz, anyone?); in winter, it’s the same for hot chocolate (Orange Spice is quite nice).
Finally, Three Tarts has great little gifts: clever coffee mugs, a book about the High Line, sexy aprons, and New York-themed merchandise for the little ones.

Three Tarts
164 Ninth Avenue (at the corner of 20^th St.)
(212) 462-4392
www.3tarts.com

Seeing Stripes

Les Toiles du Soleil is a travel warp to the French Riviera. Lined with bolts of vivid French striped fabrics, this tiny boutique stocks custom home furnishings, totes, and accessories for your home.

The company began as an espadrille fabric factory 150 years ago in southern France. Popularity grew, and the factory was eventually sold in the 1990s to the Quinta family, who now offers a range of products made from this cheerful, yet highly durable cotton. Almost anything can be custom made at the store, except the original espadrilles, which are only made in France.

New York now houses one of the three boutiques worldwide, offering local shoppers a first-hand look at this “cloth of the sun.” Great small gifts include notebooks, iPad covers, aprons, or oven mitts or customized pillows that will brighten any sofa.

Les Toiles du Soleil
261 West 19^th Street (between 7^th & 8^th Aves.)
(212) 229-4730
www.lestoilesdusoleil.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 10/15/12

Tricks and Treats, New York-Style

For denizens of New York City, there is a long list of questions asked by curious visitors that one learns to field.  How do you do your grocery shopping without a car?  How can your dog stand to be cooped up in your apartment all day?  How can you afford paying that much rent?

October’s question is often, Where do children trick or treat in New York City?  As it turns out, Halloween is quite delightful in the city, for kids and grown-ups.  A quick tour below.

Sca-a-a-ry!

Let’s dispense first with the question of trick-or-treating for children.  While it is true that certain children in this city troll for treats within the sanitized hallways of large apartment buildings, in Chelsea, the neighborhood in which the Americano is located, the locals do things right.

First, two brownstone blocks in West Chelsea organize a fabulous, if crowded, trick-or-treat extravaganza for the kiddies.  Children assemble in C.C. Moore Park at dusk to compare costumes and enjoy apple cider and doughnuts.  Then they head around the corner to collect treats at ghostly old homes.

One frequent attendee tells us, “People decorate their brownstones in a really over-the-top way…One guy paints his face white every year and spends the evening in a coffin propped against his stoop.  He ‘wakes up’ and scares the tinies every few minutes.”

Another sure bet: Chelsea Market, which goes all out every year on spooky décor and offers indoor refuge when cold or rain strike on October 31.

C.C. Moore Park
Tenth Avenue between 21^st & 22^nd Sts.
No website

Chelsea Market
75 Ninth Avenue (between 15^th & 16^th Sts.)
www.chelseamarket.com

 
Hollyween at the Hotel

Photo courtesy of Hotel Americano

There is no question that the city holds more Halloween treats for adults than children.  Just don’t tell the kiddies and it will all be fine.

If you are staying at the hotel on October 31, lucky you – you need not leave the premises to get your treats.  The Americano has a special prix fixe dinner menu, and an afterparty in the Bar Americano and El Privado with DJ Coleman Feltes.  Attire is “cinematic,” so choose your favorite Hollywood decade for inspiration.

Hotel Americano
518 West 27^th Street (between 10^th & 11^th Aves.)
(212) 216-0000
www.hotel-americano.com

I Love a Parade

Hard to say which is more fun: watching the NYC Halloween Parade or marching in it.  The parade consists of music, dancers, artists, and more campy drama than you have ever seen in one place.  The costumed line up on Sixth Avenue between Canal and Spring Streets between 6:30 and 8:30p in preparation for the big surge northward.

More details here: www.halloweennyc.com/parade

Neighborhood

10% Off A Sexy Bistro in Chelsea

In honor of the Affordable Art Fair this weekend (10/4-10/7), chic Bistro la Promenade in Chelsea is offering 10% off to any Hotel Americano Affordable Art Fair clients and hotel guests. Dig into a succulent Steak Frites accompanied by rosemary-dusted fries or the Whole Branzino with sautéed spinach and lemon olive oil.

Photo courtesy of La Promenade

You may make a reservation on Opentable (http://www.opentable.com/bistro-la-promenade) or by phone. To receive the discount, write “Americano” in the guest notes on Opentable, or mention “Americano” when making your reservation by phone.

Bistro la Promenade
461 W. 23rd St. (nr. 10th Ave.)
(212) 255-7400
www.lapromenadenyc.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 10/01/12

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 09/15/12

Fashion Passion

Whether you were in town for Fashion Week or not, it is difficult not to catch the fashion bug when visiting NYC.  To take advantage of the city’s fashion wealth within the vicinity of the Americano requires nothing more than a short walk and a healthy wallet.

Enter the High Line just south of the hotel on 26^th Street.  Exit the High Line on 14^th Street and wander in and around the Meatpacking District and the West Village.  We provide the following list of smashingly good fashion for you to peruse before you go:

Jeffrey

The store that started it all.  Jeffrey Kalinsky was the Meatpacking District pioneer, launching a store on 14^th Street in 1999. It made for an adventure for the chauffeur-driven crowd, who braved the slaughterhouse stench to check out Jeffrey’s collection of very high-end designer apparel and footwear.

Jeffrey
449 West 14^th Street
(212) 206-1272
www.jeffreynewyork.com

Ten Thousand Things
Can jewelry make you calm? The simplicity of the designs at TTT defy trends and soothe the soul. Not for the bling lover.

Ten Thousand Things
423 West 14^th Street
(212) 352-1333
www.tenthousandthingsnyc.com

Marni
Marni is tucked inside a glassy triangle on Gansevoort.  The store includes slightly less expensive Marni Edition as well as the Marni line.

Marni
1 Gansevoort Street
(646) 532-6015
www.marni.com

Trina Turk
This Jonathan Adler-designed retail store is the perfect setting for Trina Turk’s designs, which, no matter what the current theme (“English Eccentric”), seem to be delivered through the lens of classic Hollywood/Southern California style.

Trina Turk
67 Gansevoort Street
(212) 206-7383
www.trinaturk.com

Ted Baker
Ted Baker just arrived in the neighborhood, and our menfolk in particular are awfully happy to see him.

Ted Baker
34 Little West 12^th Street
(212) 647-0991
www.tedbaker.com

Christian Louboutin
The store is tiny, but the red-soled shoes are pretty huge.

Christian Louboutin
59 Horatio Street
(212) 255-1910
www.christianlouboutin.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 09/01/12

Blink and You’ll Miss It

There is nothing like the waning days of summer to remind us not to miss the good stuff. Below, a few fleeting moments worthy of your indulgence.

Extra Crabby

Few regional specialties are more distinctive than the blue crabs of the Chesapeake Bay.  Steamed in spicy crab boil, they require a fair amount of wrangling with nut-crackers, crab picks and other small tools. But the prize – tender crab meat – is well worth the effort.

If the Mid-Atlantic coast is not in your plans, don’t miss the Hammer & Claws Blue Crab Feast, September 7^th to 9th.  All you can eat blue crabs.  All you can drink beer and wine. And we are pleased to see Old Bay, maker of that spicy crab boil, is among the sponsors. Tickets are $89 per person, $45 for kids 6- 12, and kids under 6 are free. There are four seatings over the course of three days.

Hammer & Claws Blue Crab Feast
269 Eleventh Avenue (between 24^th & 25^th Sts.)
hammerandclaws.com

Here’s Looking at You

Walk round the bend of the northbound High Line at 18th Street and come face to face with the latest installation in the HIGHLINE BILLBOARD project. Photographer Elad Lassry created the work, titled Women (065, 055) and, trust us, it’s pretty arresting.

In your face until September 7th.

The High Line
Tenth Avenue at 18^th Street
(212) 206-9922
www.thehighline.org

To Market, To Market

It is harvest time, and nowhere is this more apparent than at the Union Square Greenmarket, the grande dame of New York City fresh-air markets. Don’t miss heirloom tomatoes, beans, grapes, early apples and other fresh-from-the-farm bounty.

Union Square Greenmarket

Union Square (aim for Broadway at East 17^th Street)
Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
www.grownyc.org/unionsquaregreenmarket

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 08/15/12

Wander-ful

If you are staying at the Americano, you really must visit a few galleries.  See the Arts & Culture tab for our suggestions.

While you are wandering about Chelsea’s ever-growing assortment of galleries, consider these stops should you require a break in the action.

First Snack of the Day

Years ago, after studying bread-making in Italy, Jim Lahey founded Sullivan Street Bakery and blew New Yorkers away with his game-changing pane.  Since 1994, the faithful trekked to Sullivan Street in Soho for pane pugliese and pizza of the day.

Lahey has brought more pane to the people via a recent expansion into Chelsea.  Stop in for a cappuccino and a bomboloni (Italian doughnut) when your feet get tired.

Sullivan Street Bakery
236 Ninth Avenue (between 24^th & 25^th Sts.)
www.sullivanstreetbakery.com

Souvenir

Printed Matter, one of the best sources of books and ephemera in the city, is holding a bootleg t-shirt event this Saturday, August 18 from 5-7p.  Printed Matter has partnered with a number of artists to create limited-edition t-shirts, and it is safe to say that one should arrive early.  Artists include Peter Sutherland, Matt Connors, Benjamin Critton, Mungo Thompson, Chris Castillo, Shannon Michael Cane, Eliza Koch and Marc Hundley.

Printed Matter
195 Tenth Avenue (between 21^st & 22^nd Sts.)
(212) 925-0325
www.printedmatter.org

Second Snack of the Day

You have visited 12 galleries and walked for hours. Time for a bigger snack.  Pop into Ovest Pizzoteca across the street from the hotel and sample the fried artichokes.  If you’re in the mood for pounding pasta, consider the pesto gnocchi; for pizza, try the classic Bufala with mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil. Bonus: Italian Happy Hour from 5-8p, Monday-Friday, in which food is complimentary with the purchase or cocktails (beer, wine, and so on).

Ovest Pizzoteca
513 W. 27^th St. (btwn. 10^th & 11^th Aves.)
(212) 967-4392
ovestnyc.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 08/01/12

Strange Brew

Summer is a delightful time to see the sights in New York City.  Take in the panoramic view from the top of the Empire State Building on a clear day.  Walk the High Line early in the morning.  Take the ferry to Brooklyn and get a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline.

Locals tend to take those activities for granted.  Indeed, locals often seek out activities that don’t seem very New York-y at all, like test-driving a fast car or hitting a bucket of balls at the driving range.

We are confident you can find your way to the city’s magnificent but well-trodden tourist destinations.  If you are seeking something more neighborly and offbeat, consider the selection below.

Electric Company

We have written before about Tesla, the ambitious electric car company founded by Elon Musk (of recent rocket-ship fame).  If you have any interest in fast cars or electric cars or electric fast cars, here are two reasons to drop by the Tesla dealership, which is steps away from the Americano:

1. The world is hardly awash in Tesla dealerships.  In fact, there are only 19 Tesla locations in the US, according to the company’s website.  This may be your only chance.
2. There is a new Tesla, the Model S.  It has inspired some of the best car reviewer prose in recent memory (see the Wall Street Journal Review here, subscription required).  This baby goes zero-to-sixty in 4.4 seconds.

Oh, yes: don’t forget to buckle up.

Photograph Courtesy of Tesla Motors

Tesla

511 West 25^th St. (between 10^th & 11^th Aves.)

212.206.1204

www.teslamotors.com

Good Sports

It is not unusual in Chelsea to see someone crossing the street with a) a hockey stick and a big bag of gear, b) three or four golf clubs clutched in one hand, or c) a soccer ball and cleats.  Where could they be going?  You are in the middle of Manhattan, are you not?

Chelsea Piers is a massive sports complex built on piers overlooking the Hudson.  No doubt it seemed a folly when it was built in 199X, but it has become a much-beloved megalith where toddlers tumble, triathletes train, and weekend warriors have access to sports that most would think only exist in the suburbs.

A few ideas for a Chelsea Piers adventure:

1. Get a day pass to the Sports Center for $50 and enjoy access to pool, track, boxing ring, sundecks and 20,000 square feet of cardio & training equipment.
2. Hit golf balls in the massive caged driving range overlooking the Hudson (club rental starting at $4, ball cards starting at $25) .
3. Try the batting cages in the Field House.  $2.75 gets you 10 pitches.

Or, just walk around the piers and admire the various watercraft before a nice riverside lunch at one of the cafés.

The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers

Pier 60: 20^th Street at Hudson River Park

212.336.6000

www.chelseapiers.com/sc/

The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers

Pier 59: 18^th Street at Hudson River Park

212.336.6400

http://www.chelseapiers.com/gc/

The Field House at Chelsea Piers

Between Piers 61 & 62: 23^rd Street at Hudson River Park

212.336.6500

http://www.chelseapiers.com/fh/

Time Warp

If you have never heard of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, you are showing your age (hey there, youngster).  If you have never seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show, you are a “virgin” in RHPS parlance, and you can remedy your little problem by attending the show at midnight on a Friday or Saturday night at the Chelsea Clearview Cinemas on 23^rd Street.

Let’s face it, most movie-going experiences are purely passive.  You settle into a cushioned seat, slurp away at high fructose corn syrup, and stay pretty much immobile for two hours.

Not so the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which has been playing in movie theaters longer than any other film in history.  You are not just watching the movie – you are acting in it.  It’s an uber-campy tale of a young couple (Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick) who stumbles upon a castle filled with oddballs, led by creepy-kinky overlord Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played marvelously by Tim Curry.  Did we mention it’s a musical?  Get ready to jump out of your chair to dance the Time Warp.

Diehards arrive in costume and with supplies (rice, toilet paper).  It’s a friendly bunch, though, eager to inculcate a new generation of fans, so don’t be intimidated.

Chelsea Clearview Cinemas

260 West 23^rd Street (between 7th and 8th Aves.)

(212) 777-FILM

http://www.clearviewcinemas.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 07/15/12

Where Am I?

Greetings, Americano, and welcome to New York.

Your correspondent often writes of neighborhood goings-on in this space.  But you may be wondering: what exactly is this neighborhood I am visiting?  How can I get my bearings?

Here, from a local, is the lay of the land.

You are in Chelsea.  Outside of the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, Chelsea is one of the geographically larger neighborhoods in Manhattan. It is, as you will see, large enough to have several sub-neighborhood zones which differ in architectural complexion and activity.  Chelsea stretches from Sixth Avenue to the Hudson River (east to west) and 14^th Street to about 30^th Street (south to north), although it depends on whom you ask.

Gallery District.   The Hotel Americano is situated in the heart of the Gallery District of Chelsea, which is mostly west of Tenth Avenue between 22^nd and 30^th Streets.  The first galleries made a pioneering move from Soho to Chelsea in the late 1990s, and others followed en masse, attracted by the large open spaces and relatively cheap rents of old light-industrial buildings.  Now, of course, it’s the geographic heart of the New York art world – and the Americano is the only hotel smack in the center of it.

Chelsea Market.  In recent years, Chelsea Market and the surrounding area has become its own zone, characterized primarily by large quantities of people milling about.  Chelsea Market is an old Nabisco factory that occupies the full city block bordered by Ninth & Tenth Avenues and 15^th & 16^th Streets.  It contains a really lovely collection of local merchants, most of them purveyors of high-quality foodstuffs, as well as some offices and a subterranean bar.  Because it is right next to several entrances to the High Line, it is often jammed with visitors to the city looking for a bathroom and a place to have lunch.  It is also across the street from the old Port Authority Building, a massive structure that houses Google and other tech companies.

Chelsea Historic District.  In between the Gallery District and the Chelsea Market zone are several residential blocks lined with brownstones that date from the 1840s.  This is where it all started for Chelsea, which was named for Sir Thomas More’s estate in London.

Chelsea Lofts.  As you walk east from the Americano you enter what used to be a commercial district filled with furs and flowers.  You may still find the odd wholesale florist shop or two, and you may see signs for a furrier, but for the most part this area is converting to residential.

Chelsea Center.  Eighth Avenue north of 14^th Street has long been the commercial main drag of Chelsea.  Never precious, occasionally tawdry, it is a rotating strip of convivial restaurants, men’s clothing boutiques, mom-and-pop florists and other retail flotsam.  A few chains – The Gap, Chipotle – have entered the scene, but for the most part Eighth Avenue is homegrown.  Just off the avenue are some gems – head east on 16^th through 22^nd Streets to find a smattering of boutiques and restaurants among the otherwise residential blocks.

Chelsea Riviera.  Last but not least, the Chelsea Riviera (our name for it).  Walk along the Hudson River from 14^th Street northward and enjoy the increasingly fascinating mix of architecture along the vast waterway.  Notable: Frank Gehry’s IAC Building, Jean Nouvel’s 100 Eleventh Avenue, Annabelle Sellfdorf’s 200 Eleventh Avenue, the Starrett-Lehigh Building at 26^th Street.

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 07/01/12

One Stop.

Here on a short visit? Perhaps you have only an hour or two to get your New York fix. Museum? Lunch at an interesting restaurant? A bit of shopping?

How about all three?

The Rubin Museum of Art is a jewel of a museum in the old Barney’s building right here in Chelsea. We have written before about their exhibitions, but they have recently opened a restaurant and revamped their unusual museum shop, and it is a calm and lovely stop in a hot and busy city.

The museum is dedicated to Himalayan art, and what is on display is unparalleled: the museum showcases selections from its own collection of over 2,000 works of Himalayan art in addition to hosting traveling exhibitions. Even if you are not into Himalayan art, it is worth a visit just to experience the zen-producing design of the museum itself, which features a large central spiral.

What’s new as of this spring is the opening of the Serai, a combination dining/shopping space. While the menu offers hearty fare like Malabar Shrimp Curry and a NY Strip Steak, the small plates like Octopus Salad and Himalayan Spiced Vegetables make for a light and healthy lunch on a hot day. Don’t miss the Momos: steamed dumplings stuffed with edamame or chicken & veggies that come with two sauces, soy-vinegar and Tibetan hot sauce.

The shopping is unusual and inspired. White silk sarongs with just a strip of pale color along the edge, bold woven-wool pillows, leather-bound accounting books, and some clever gifts for children are all from the Himalayan area.

Not least, of course, are the current exhibitions: Modernist Art from India (through October 16) explores the impact of the modernist movement on post-independence India. Illuminated features religious art in which precious metals are integrated – a practice used across many religions to indicate sacredness of texts and devotional items. More details available at the website.

The Rubin Museum of Art
150 West 17th Street (at 7th Ave.)
(212) 620-5000
www.rmanyc.org

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 6/15/12

Your West Village Guide to the Best Restaurants and Shopping

New York is a great city for walking but sometimes, after a day traipsing through throbbing Times Square or the ever crowded Lower East Side, the tree lined, cobblestone streets of the West Village can feel like an oasis. But don’t be fooled by the low-key vibe; this neighborhood is home to
some of the best restaurants and shops in town. Take a stroll down Hudson, Bleecker, or Washington Streets and find designer fashion from NYC’s finest — Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs or Ralph Lauren — as well as wares from lesser-known stores such as Improvd and Nida.

Below is a beginners guide to the West Village. There is much, much more, so bring a map and don’t be afraid to use it. Here, streets are named, not numbered, so navigation is challenging even for locals.

EAT

Whitehall. Gastropub. Simple menu. Killer cocktails.

Kingswood. Australian. Excellent mussels. Fun bar.

5 Ninth. Lovely outdoor garden. Flamenco on Saturdays.

Murray’sCheese. International cheese emporium. Vast.

Meatball Shop. The trendiest food of the minute. Seriously. Go immediately.

Buvette. Great French. Great vibe. Great wine. Just great.

Shop

TracyReese. Flirty women’s clothing. Lots of colors.

LaMaison Supreme. Lovely dinnerware and home décor.

Calypso. Beachy women’s clothing.

ElizabethCharles. Funky women’s clothing with a sophisticated twist.

Nida. Lesser-known brands for women. Upscale.

Teich. Bags, jewelry, and clothing made by local NYC designers.

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 06/01/12

High Times

Fine times on the High Line these days, no?  The gardens are abloom, the fountains offer a bit of relief if the day is warm, and the people-watching is moving into high season.  The zen aspects of walking the Line are as appealing as ever, but if you want to shake things up with an activity or two, we offer these suggestions.

Hiya Venus!

One does not often think of astronomy in the midst of Manhattan – bright lights dim the upward view, after all – but there is a small but dedicated coterie of enthusiasts who turn their gaze skyward every week and manage to see more than a few celestial sights.  The Amateur Astronomers Association of New York meets at sundown every Tuesday on the High Line (hint: they are the ones with the telescopes), and they are happy to allow passersby a sneak peak of what’s on the menu up above.

No doubt the AAA can tell you a bit about the upcoming Transit of Venus, when Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun on June 5^th (which happens to be a Tuesday, the group’s regular meeting day, although that particular gathering will start at 4p so as not to miss the action).

Amateur Astronomers Association for New York
High Line near 14^th Street or just south of 13^th Street
www.aaa.org/highline

Bow-wow-wow

Nothing says New York like a dirty water dog on a smushy bun with yellow mustard.  Brooklyn-based Bark, however, is putting the average street cart to shame with quality hotdogs, unusual toppings, and tasty sides.  Bark’s new food cart recently arrived on the High Line, just north of 14^th Street, where you can enjoy your lunch on one of the shady nearby tables.  Their private-label hotdogs have robust casings and arrive perfectly grilled.   Add a side of homemade, not-too-sweet bread & butter pickles and a lemonade, and you just redefined the classic street-corner lunch.

Bark
High Line between 15^th and 16^th Streets
barkhotdogs.com

Big in Japan

You file into the bar, take your seat, and receive a menu.  You make a selection or two, then keenly observe the drink-making process taking place before you.  That process involves more than a little equipment and activity, and it is seven to ten minutes before your beverage arrives.  You sniff before taking a sip and then succumb to a first smooth taste of – coffee?!

If you take coffee seriously, do not miss a chance to visit the siphon bar at Blue Bottle on 15^th Street, steps away from the High Line.  The process echoes the perfection-driven coffee bars of Tokyo: you have a front-row seat as baristas gracefully extract the essence of single-origin beans and decant the results into your cup.  N.B.: the excellent brioche toast with butter and jam takes the caffeine edge off.

Blue Bottle Coffee
450 West 15^th Street
www.bluebottlecoffee.net/locations/chelsea

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 05/15/12

Humble Pie

We Americanos do not generally use this space to mention our own accomplishments – our goal, after all, is to offer you a timely, if idiosyncratic, guide to neighborhood offerings.  But we feel obliged to mention a single item that might be worthy of your notice.  We are awfully thrilled about it, and hope you will indulge us.

Graphic Impact

Our friends at Pandiscio Co. are very clever designers.  So clever, in fact, that their design for The Americano, our restaurant, has won a most prestigious award.  Yes, that’s right: you can view the work of the recipient of the James Beard Foundation 2012 Award for Outstanding Restaurant Graphics right here at the Hotel Americano.  And on this website (click Food & Spirits).  And on an iPad (you will find one in each of our rooms).

Make Mine Crafty

Back to your neighborhood channel…and, indeed, May is a good time to be out and about in Chelsea and environs.

On May 19, Etsy, online marketplace of all things handmade, brings its caravan of crafts to West 21^st Street.  Spring Crafts in Chelsea will feature handmade goods from Etsy New York artists and artisans.  The festival benefits a local elementary school. May 19^th, 11am – 4pm.

Crafts in Chelsea Spring Festival
West 21^st Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

Vintage Glam

If you enjoy live music performances in not-too-large theaters, don’t miss the Highline Ballroom, just a stone’s throw away on West 16^th St.  Coming soon:

Thursday, May 24, 8p.  Nikka Costa (Anya Marina opens)
Saturday, May 26, 8p.  David Johansen (of New York Dolls fame)
Thursday, June 7, 8p.  Graffiti6.
See the website for a complete schedule.

Highline Ballroom
431 West 16^th Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues)
(212) 414-5994

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 05/01/12

Tiny Time

Tennessee Williams called them no-neck monsters. Kinder souls refer to them as little shavers, squirts, and striplings. In any case, they seem to be everywhere, and if you have one chez vous, you might consider arriving home with a Little Something for your Little Darling.

You needn’t go far.  Here are a few fairly portable gems.

Lucky Charms

The hippest babies and toddlers get dressed at Lucky Wang. Lucky Wang’s signature product, tiny kimonos in florals and stripes ($32-36), make unusual baby gifts, and the store has a well-chosen assortment of infant toys and board books, too.

Cooler still are the t-shirts for toddlers. Bring a little levity to the terrible twos by clothing your toddler in a retro tee ($38) featuring the Beatles, the B-52s, or Ted Nugent (“Monster of Rock”).

Lucky Wang
82 Seventh Avenue (at 15^th Street)
(212) 229-2900
www.luckywang.com

Vroom Vroom

This just in at Posman Books: truly the most gorgeous toy seen in recent memory.  British designer-cum-toymaker Julian Meagher has created sleek race cars and aeroplanes that may remind you of your last turn at the billiard table.  Or the Monte Carlo racetrack.  The race car ($34.99) available at Posman’s is sure to be a hit.

P.S. We won’t tell if you buy one as a desk toy.

Another possibility: these Pick Your Nose Party Animal cups ($7.95 for 24). Your tot will undoubtedly enjoy masking the prominent part of her silhouette with that of a beaver, chameleon, leopard, shark, toucan or zebra.

Posman Books
75 Ninth Avenue (between 15^th & 16^th Streets)
(212)627-0304
www.posmanbooks.com

Match(box) Maker

While Three Tarts is known for petit-fours and gourmet marshmallows, they also have a smattering of gift items for children in their corner store on Ninth Avenue. There is no suitcase that doesn’t have room for this gift: a tiny mouse complete with matchbox bed, pillow and blanket ($29). Choose boy/blue or girl/pink.

Oh, and enjoy a marshmallow when you stop by. Vanilla is fine for purists, but consider expanding your taste horizons with yuzu or strawberry-basil.

Three Tarts
164 Ninth Avenue (at 20^th Street)
(212)462-4392
www.3tarts.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 04/15/12

Footlights

No doubt many guests of the Hotel Americano enjoy visual art. After all, here you are in the midst of some of the best galleries in the world. But ten bucks says that you enjoy performance art from time to time, too.

If you are visiting the city, Broadway may beckon, but the city is full of other outstanding performance venues. Below are a few right here in Chelsea.

Hehehe

While the odd chuckle with friends or colleagues usually gets you through the day, you occasionally need stronger medicine: the full-on belly laugh. For this, head to the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.

Years ago (1999 if you must know), your correspondent saw Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch perform at UCBT, and laughed so hard that the rest of the audience averted their eyes. UCBT has been a go-to spot for good cheer ever since, and it’s good value, too: most performances are around $10. Check out the website for the schedule (“ASSScats” is good for beginners) and tickets.

Upright Citizens Brigade Theater
307 West 26^th Street (just west of 8^th Ave.)
(212) 366-9176
www.ucbtheatre.com

Re-Joyce with the Ballet Hispanico

The Joyce Theater is a temple of modern dance. It manages to span both cutting-edge and traditional, and it has created its own traditions in the city: the return of Pilobolus to the Joyce every summer, for example, is a spectacle akin to swallows returning to Capistrano.

Ballet Hispanico performs from April 17 – 29, and they are debuting a new creation, Espiritu Vivo, choreographed by Ronald K. Brown and set to the music of Latin Grammy winner Susana Baca.

The Joyce Theater
175 Eighth Avenue (at 19^th St.)
(212)691-9740
www.joyce.org

Irish Times

From Oscar Wilde to Eugene O’Neill to Samuel Beckett, the Irish have a storied tradition of great theater. How fortunate, then, to be so near to the Irish Repertory Theater, an institution devoted to keeping that tradition vibrant by performing works of both Irish and Irish-American playwrights.

George Bernard Shaw’s Man and Superman kicks off on April 26^th. Written in 1903, M&S is both a comedy and a meditation on the work of Nietzsche. Tickets start at $55.

Irish Repertory Theatre
132 West 22^nd Street (btwn. 6^th & 7^th Aves.)
(212) 727-2737
www.irishrep.org

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 04/01/12

Taking It with You

Perhaps you have seen the headlines about New York City’s new status as a tech startup wonderland.  And it is true: NYC is home to Foursquare, Tumblr, Etsy and AppNexus, among others.

But there is another type of startup even more pervasive here in the city: the Artisan.  Whether making chocolate or handbags or jewelry, there is a vibrant DIY scene alive in New York.  Some of these producers have a retail presence, but others sell only online; thus, if you are a visitor to the city, you may access a bit of NYC from the convenience of your own home.  Below, our favorite artisanal offerings.

Wrap It Up

Lucy Sisman is the genius designer behind MiddleBlue.  Lucy founded Paper Magazine, and she designed brands for companies like DKNY, Boots, Victoria’s Secret and Diesel.  With MiddleBlue, she is designing “everyday things,” and we particularly like her far-from-everyday multi-purpose sari wraps.

These gigantic wraps, made from beautiful recycled saris, make great throws, skirts, shawls, or table covers, and we like to layer one over the end of a bed for a little punch of color.

Lucy runs MiddleBlue from the Garment District.  The sari wraps are $120 each, come in a variety of hues, and support a small community of seamstresses in India.

MiddleBlue
www.middleblue.com

Cuddly and Studly

It is a truism of busy lives that you can never have too many tote bags.  Why, you may wonder, are we still carrying so much stuff when the world has shifted to digital?  We don’t know.  We just keep buying tote bags.

Yet another genius designer (there are a few of them in New York, it turns out), Soho-based Andrew Kibble, has created a new line of tote bags that are practical but also pack a little surprise.  While the exterior of the “Stud” bag (pictured) is pragmatically rugged, the interior has a cute print.

The Stud is $64 and other totes range up to $98.  All the totes are 100% cotton canvas.

Cuddly Monkey
www.cuddlymonkey.org

Think Ink

Kids need tattoos too.  And not the dorky kind you get as party favors for birthdays – NYC kids are way too cool for that.  Tina Roth Eisenberg, founder of the popular design blog Swissmiss, has created Tattly, a website where kids, with help from their parents, can order temporary tattoos that don’t embarrass anyone.  We liked the ferris wheel (pictured, $5 for a set of two), and there a lot of cool animal tats, too, that reflect Tina’s Brooklyn vibe.

Tattly
www.tattly.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 03/15/12

Get Your Zen On.

Perhaps, Americano, you are here in New York on business. Your day is a sprint from one meeting to the next, and dinner is a hectic pitch to a potential new client in a restaurant thronged with noisy trend-followers. Your day has been long, you realize as you pay the restaurant bill, and you are eager to return to the calm of your Americano room.

As you drink in the sleek design, your blood pressure falls. You wonder: is there anywhere else in New York that can offer you such serenity?

Possibly not. But here are a few nearby spots where you might attempt to extend the Americano zen…

Get High

It is everywhere and nowhere in West Chelsea. If you are on it, you see everything; if you are below it, you might not even notice it is there. The High Line park is one of Chelsea’s major attractions – to locals and visitors both – but there is hardly a soul upon it when it opens at 7am.

If you seek a bit of peacefulness at an early hour, a slow walk on the High Line is the perfect nature fix. And it will help you face the hustle and bustle of your day ahead. Indeed, science backs us up on this one: “Performance on memory and attention tests improved by 20% after study subjects paused for a walk through an arboretum. When these people were sent on a break to stroll down a busy street in town, no cognitive boost was detected (Wall Street Journal, 8/30/11).”

Photo Courtesy of the NY Times

The High Line
Enter on 28^th Street (one block south of The Hotel Americano)
www.thehighline.org

Get Even Higher

Where better to get a little zen than at a museum devoted to Himalayan art? The Rubin Museum of Art is a gem hidden in plain sight in what used to be a Barney’s. Its 70,000 square feet displays some of the 2,000 Himalayan treasures donated by the Rubin family, and it is a lovely oasis of peace and quiet.

Consider a walking meditation as you ascend seven stories via the dramatic spiral staircase. Or study some of the sculptures of the Nyingjei Lam Collection, on display through mid-July.

Photo Courtesy of the NY Sun

The Rubin Museum of Art
150 West 17^th Street (at 7^th Ave.)
(212) 620-5000
www.rmanyc.org

Bring it Down(ward)

If you have a chunk of free time, free your mind with a yoga class. The Integral Yoga Institute has classes pretty much all the time, and you can sign up online here. A single class is $17, and mats are available.

Directions: Walk down the High Line from the Americano and “exit” at the 14^th Street staircase. Walk a couple blocks east and one block south and start breathing deeply.

If you are a hot yoga enthusiast, Yoga to the People on 27^th Street has six 50-minute classes each day. Fees are $8 for a class, $2 for mat rental. Directions: head west from the hotel, south to 27^th Street, left on 27^th until you see the “HOT YOGA” sign just before Sixth Avenue.

Photo Courtesy of Aerobic.we

Integral Yoga Institute of New York City
227 West 13^th Street (between 7^th & 8^th Aves.)
(212) 929-0585
www.iyiny.org

Yoga to the People
115 West 27^th Street (between 6^th & 7^th Aves.)
(917) 573-9642
www.yogatothepeople.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 03/01/12

Hit the Java Trail

Not so long ago, most of the coffee available in Chelsea was generally delivered with a bright green medallion on the outside of the cup. Times have changed, however, and Starbucks’ dominance is waning amidst a growing number of purveyors of exceptional-quality joe.

Should you be in need of caffeine, we highly recommend hitting the Chelsea coffee trail at any – or all! — of these fine establishments, listed from north to south.

Hello, Joe!

Joe the Art of Coffee was one of the early players in the NYC coffee scene and now has eight locations. Joe is coffee central for London Terrace, the massive 1928 residential building that occupies an entire block between 23^rd and 24^th Street. It is a good place to stop for an espresso charge on the way to hitting golf balls at Chelsea Piers.

Joe the Art of Coffee
405 West 23^rd Street (between 9^th & 10^th Aves.)
(212) 206-0669
www.joetheartofcoffee.com

Port of Call

Ports opened last year and filled a high-end coffee void on one of Chelsea’s main thoroughfares. Ports serves Stumptown and Handsome coffees, baked goods from Scratch, and it has a great artisanal vibe – it feels like the Etsy of coffee-stops. Mast Bros. chocolate appears in various forms, and hard-to-find Monocle and Lucky Peach magazines are on sale.

Ports Coffee & Tea Company
251 West 23^rd Street (between 7^th & 8^th Aves.)
(646) 290-6151
www.portsnyc.com

Frowns All Around

Kudos to Café Grumpy for their social engineering: the café’s no-laptop policy creates an atmosphere in which people read quietly or carry on a conversation. As a result, Grumpy has a magnetic pull – it is hard not to hang out on a stool with some of the regulars or on one of the benches outside. Grumpy roasts its own in Brooklyn, and offers pastries from its own bakery on the Lower East Side.

Café Grumpy
224 West 20^th Street (between 7^th & 8^th Aves.)
(212) 255-5511
www.cafegrumpy.com

Grotto

Within the cavernous Chelsea Market, not far from the clamorous fountain, Ninth Street Espresso turns out espresso shots pretty much as fast as the baristas can pull them.  Morning perfection is a freshly baked pastry from neighboring Amy’s Bread accompanied by an excellent NSE cappuccino.

Ninth Street Espresso
75 Ninth Avenue (between 15^th & 16^th Sts.)
(212) 228-2930
www.ninthstreetespresso.com

Hitting the Bottle

Chelsea now has its own branch of Blue Bottle Coffee, the esteemed San Francisco-based café/roaster. Blue Bottle’s motto appears to be “better living through chemistry” – coffee geeks will marvel at the siphon-prepped joe on the upper level. Stop here as you work your way down the High Line from the Americano to the West Village.

Blue Bottle Coffee
450 W. 15th St. (btwn. 9th & 10th Aves.)
www.bluebottlecoffee.net

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 02/15/12

Give Me a D!

Doughnut Day is just around the corner. Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), falls on February 21^st this year. Since you are celebrating in New York, not New Orleans, consider following the tradition of taking in a bit of fat before the big fast begins. Below, our guide to nearby doughnut offerings (note: pancakes are fair game, too).

Ye Olde Doughnut

A few decades ago, you could not walk far in our fair city without encountering a Chock Full o’ Nuts. The chain was lauded for its coffee, but the doughnuts were nothing to sneeze at either.

Chock is back, with a prototype store in Chelsea. The unusual whole-wheat doughnuts are back, too — and what a treat. Crunchy on the outside, not too sweet — you will be chock full o’ doughnuts in no time.

Chock Full o’ Nuts
25 W. 23rd St. (btwn. 5th & 6th Aves.)
(212) 924-3663
www.chockfullonuts.com

Power Doughnuts

Whatever a laboratory is for mad scientists, consider the Doughnut Plant the equivalent for mad pastry chefs. Blink while looking at the menu, and you may think you have stumbled on a dessert listing for a popular restaurant.

Tres Leches doughnut? Check. Blackout? Check. Coconut Cream? Yum. Don’t miss the square doughnuts, too.

Doughnut Plant
220 W. 23rd St. (btwn. 7th & 8th Aves.)
(212) 675-9100
www.doughnutplant.com

The Essential Doughnut

Your correspondent took more than a little satisfaction from the closure of the pink mega-chain doughnut shop on 14th Street not long ago, particularly because she is certain the mom-and-pop Donut Pub kicked their butt all the way to the suburbs.

The Donut Pub is classic. When you need a jelly doughnut fix, this is the place (if jelly is not your thing, try the chocolate glazed, a lion among doughnuts). Late night? The Pub is open 24/7, and there is nothing like a doughnut (or two) to soak up too good a time. Prove your fandom by sporting a Donut Pub hat or mug on your way home.

The Donut Pub
203 W. 14th St. (btwn. 7th & 8th Aves.)
(212) 929-0126
www.donutpub.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 02/01/12

An Important Reminder

Let’s drop by the Relationship Hall of Shame. The first exhibit: forgetting one’s anniversary. Second: completely missing your sweetheart’s birthday. A not-distant third: ignoring Valentine’s Day.

Now, it could be that you are a visitor to New York during this important pre-Valentine period. Consider that an opportunity: here are three can’t-miss options for bringing home something special for the 14^th.

Looking For Mr. Chocolate

Let’s begin with the classic. A giganto, 50-piece box of scrumptious Jacques Torres chocolates ($66) is a knockout gift for the Day of Love. If the object of your affection prefers chocolate with a twist, try “The Spanker” ($14), a sizable white-chocolate lollypop. More modest (but just as tasty): a heart-shaped truffle box ($12).

Jacques Torres
75 Ninth Avenue (between 15^th & 16^th Streets)
212.414.2462
www.mrchocolate.com

Lace It Up

If revving up the engines is a little more your Valentine’s style, stop by lingerie expert Sugar Cookies. This lacy negligee from Mimi Holiday (pictured, $144) has been attracting lots of attention in the Sugar Cookies front window. Cosabella thongs ($20), available in black, white, red, yellow, and gray, might earn you at least a kiss. And for a bit of cheesecake, check out the Playful Promises Pin-Up Pants ($30): your choice of ruffles or embroidery (“Call Me”) is packaged in a tin that fits neatly into your carry-on.

Sugar Cookies
203 19^th Street (between 7^th & 8^th Avenues)
212.242.6963
www.sugarcookiesnyc.com

Shaken & Stirred

Sometimes the best gift for Valentine’s is the gift that keeps on giving. One option, particularly for Valentine’s of the male persuasion: The American Cocktail (pictured, $20), a compendium of drink recipes from the editors of Imbibe Magazine that one can enjoy all year long.

You might consider extending the theme with ingredients for one of the more interesting recipes: Sinister Proposal (Cynar & peach amaretto), perhaps? Or how about Murasaki Geisha (Chambord raspberry liqueur, nigori sake, and gin)? At this rate, this year’s Valentine’s could be extra special.

Three Tarts
164 Ninth Avenue (between 20^th and 21^st Streets)
212.462.4392
www.3tarts.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 01/15/12

Smelly Chelsea.

There are plenty of guides to the sights, sounds, and certainly the tastes of New York, but your correspondent believes the scents are sorely underrepresented.

New York is a fragrant city. Indeed, many a visitor has fled from the reek of a late garbage pickup in mid-July. But winter is a time to savor only the loveliest scents as they escape through storefront ventilation systems. Here are a few notable nose experiences not far from the HA.

Flora, I Adore Ya

First, head east from the Americano to the flower district on 28th Street between 6^th and 7^th Avenues. There is something almost jarring about encountering deep woodsy scents or a floral burst in the middle of the city, and the flower district is one sensory surprise after another. And that, my friend, is just while walking down the street. Pop indoors to any floral purveyor and get blown away by the variety of scents from highly unusual flora.

The district caters to wholesale buyers, but retail customers are generally welcomed.

Flower Distrcict
W. 28th St. (btwn. 6th & 7th Aves.)

The Best Vices are Slices

It is difficult to avoid the aroma of New York pizza while visiting the city; it is far more difficult to find truly excellent New York pizza as the source of the scent, however.

If you are in search of great pizza, let me tell you how lucky you are. You are a few short blocks from Pizza Suprema, which not only smells divine but happens to be really quite superb. In all honesty, it looks pretty much like your average New York slice, but the crust is just killer – somehow crunchy even when reheated in the very busy pizza ovens.

Pizza Suprema
413 Eighth Ave. (at 31^st St.)
(212) 594-8939
www.nypizzasuprema.com

Yes, Whey

It is a short segue from a discussion of pizza to a discussion of cheese. We will avoid the controversy of stinky cheese (does it smell good simply because it tastes good?) and focus on the magnetic aroma of grilled cheese sandwiches at Lucy’s Whey in Chelsea Market.

It is a challenge to pass the tiny Lucy’s Whey shop (in the center of the market, not far from the fountain) at lunchtime without stopping to take in a noseful of melty cheddar. Lucy’s offers three grilled cheese sandwiches each day. One is always the delicious and dependable cheddar with fig spread, a bargain lunch at $6.

Lucy’s Whey
75 Ninth Ave. (btwn. 15^th and 16^th Sts.)
(212) 463-9500
www.lucyswhey.com

In The Round

Trek to Magnolia Bakery in the Village if you must, but Chelsea offers tour group-free cupcakes at Billy’s Bakery – and, boy, do they smell good. Park yourself on the bench out front one morning and enjoy the scents of cakes and cupcakes just out of the oven. It is a lovely place for cake and coffee in the afternoon, too.

Billy’s Bakery
184 Ninth Ave. (btwn. 21^st and 22^nd Sts.)
(212) 647-9956
www.billysbakerynyc.com

It’s a Real Grind

One last scent to savor: urban coffeehouse. Café Grumpy’s coffee is outstanding – they roast it themselves on the Lower East Side – and Chelsea knows it. The place is generally jammed with regulars who come to converse with other real live people (laptops are outlawed) or get a bit of reading done. The volume means the smell of coffee is generally wafting out the front door, and on a pleasant day it is a lovely thing to sit on the bench out front and have a chat while sipping cappuccino.

Café Grumpy
224 W. 20^th St. (btwn. 7th & 8th Aves.)
(212) 255-5511
www.cafegrumpy.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 12/15/11

Happy holidays, Americanos! Perhaps you are here in New York hoping to get a little shopping done. Our fine city has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to shopping districts, but why not live like a local and take advantage of some of the resources in Chelsea? Below find three nearby crossroads of commerce that we recommend without reservations.

To Market, To Market

Take a ride on the High Line. Head south on our elevated pedestrian parkway (enter on 26^th St., just west of 10^th Ave.) and exit at 16^th Street. You will find yourself at the door of Chelsea Market, an old Nabisco factory now home to office tenants and an array of one-of-a-kind retail on the ground floor, which occupies a full city block.

Most of the shops in Chelsea Market have to do with food, much of which is prepared on site, so we’ll leave you to sort that out on your own. Meanwhile, those original gifts…

1. Chelsea Market Baskets. Select your basket, fill it with gourmet specialties, and have the CMB folks make it gorgeous and ship it for you. We particularly like the unusual seasonings and condiments (Halen mon Welsh organic celery seed sea salt, for example) and have created gift baskets for our Friend Who Grills Every Meal, our Seasonal Décor-Happy Sister-in-Law, and our Cousin with New Baby who Misses New York.

2. Jacques Torres Chocolates. A bright orange box of JT chocolates slipped into your suitcase wherever you are headed this holiday season, will guarantee a warm welcome upon arrival. Killer truffles, chocolate snowmen, hot cocoa, and that dark chocolate bark with nuts, are just a few of the offerings.

3. Posman Books. Yes, we know everyone is reading on some sort of device, but we still like our cookbooks to withstand spatters of hot oil and cake batter without complaint. Posman has a great selection, a nicely curated selection of children’s books and toys in the back of the store.

Chelsea Market
75 9th Ave. (at 15th & 16th Sts.)
(212) 243-6005
www.chelseamarket.com

Un Bon Cadeau

Once you have exhausted the food theme, exit Chelsea Market on Ninth Avenue, and enjoy its Francophile-inflected gift offerings. Just to the south, find a newly opened L’Occitane (48 Ninth Ave.), with its offerings of bath and beauty products in fragrant lavender, shea butter, and verbena. Head north and stop in at Maison 140 (140 Ninth Ave.), a tiny emporium full of home décor, much of it imported from France. Recharge with a café au lait et croissant at La Bergamote (177 Ninth Ave.) before picking up a gift for your pet at Barking Zoo (172 Ninth Ave.). (There is nothing particularly French about the merchandise at Barking Zoo; however, many of the dogs who visit this store speak the language.)

Chocolate Mice at La Bergamote

Chelsea’s Midsection

Head east on 20^th Street toward an area of Chelsea with several real retail gems. First, if you missed coffee at La Bergamote, be sure to stop at Café Grumpy (224 West 20^th St.), one of New York’s best sources for single-origin coffee and home to an unusual Clover brewing machine (seeing it in action is worth the price of a cup of coffee). Coffee beans, in any case, make a useful gift. One block away, on 19^th Street between 7^th and 8^th Avenues, you will find Sugar Cookies (203 West 19^th St.), a lingerie boutique full of sweet nothings where it is difficult not to find a lovely gift for the discerning female. Continue west on 19^th Street to Les Toiles du Soleil (261 West 19^th St., and, yes, French again), designers of striking striped outdoor fabrics sold as yardage but also on offer in the highly giftable form of espadrilles, tote bags, table linens, and patio umbrellas. If you happen to have any nasty boys in your life, stop by Nasty Pig (265A West 19^th St.), Chelsea’s purveyor of high-attitude apparel for men and some of the most rockin’ window displays in the city.

Pastries at Cafe Grumpy

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 12/1/11

Swingalong.

Chances are that you have some degree of pity for New Yorkers who happen to be golfers. You probably imagine them heading for the suburbs early on a Saturday, golf clubs protruding from their teeny Zipcars.

In fact, golfers who live near the Americano are particularly fortunate. While it is not quite like walking the back nine on a well-sculpted course, golfers enjoying the Chelsea Piers driving range – just a few blocks away – can at least get a glimpse of the occasional stunning sunset over the Hudson while perfecting their form.

Be warned that the rates may inspire an intake of breath for those accustomed to the standards at more pastoral settings, but do remember you are still on the island of Manhattan. The folks at the Piers will kit you out with clubs (starting at $4 for a single club), and they will educate you on their futuristic electronic ball cards (starting at $25).

Chelsea Piers Golf Club: Pier 59
23rd St. & the Hudson River
(212) 336-6400
www.chelseapiers.com

Gadgeteria.

We Americanos like our gadgets. Indeed, our NYC landscape is dotted with glassy gadget temples where the Worshipful gather around the latest Apple release. But when we want to sample serious equipment of a non-Mac kind, we head to the mother of all electronics stores, B&H Photo & Video.

A full block long, and, refreshingly, not part of a chain, B&H is a sort of polestar for the professional photographer or videographer. But it offers great value for us amateurs as well, and it is worth a visit just to see the theater of your purchase arriving via the overhead conveyor belt. Bonus: it’s staffed completely by Hasidic Jews, so come for a brief voyeuristic glimpse into their ultra-Orthodox lives.

B&H Photo & Video
420 9th Ave. (between 33^rd & 34^th Sts.)
(212) 444-6615
www.bhphotovideo.com

Life Jackets.

We firmly believe that a man can never have too many jackets. How handy that NUMBER:lab opened their first store just around the corner so that we can shop for their too-cool-for-school active gear in extra-wearable colors.

The zippered jackets rock, but we are pining for the alpaca tube scarf, a more manly version of the fuzzy neck gaiters we wear to ski. Holiday shopping for all the men in our lives should start here, upcoming ski vacation or no.

NUMBER:lab
317 10th Ave. (btwn. 28^th & 29^th Sts.)
(917) 523-6879
www.number-lab.com

Neighborhood

Neighborhood Notes, 11/15/11

I Like Bike

Perhaps New York has been slower to integrate biking into the fabric of the metropolis than some other leading cities of the world, but please do not count us out. You may see new, well-traveled green bike lanes not far from the hotel, and their numbers are growing. (Step carefully through the bike lane though, please, because we are all still getting used to each other.)

The notably pleasant folks at Chelsea Truck Rental, sensing a trend, have expanded their selection of rental vehicles to include bicycles — and business is booming.  Stop by their garage on 26^th Street to rent by the hour or the day.  They provide helmets, locks and baskets as part of packages that start as low as $10.

Chelsea Truck Rental
549 W. 26^th St. (btwn. 10^th & 11th Aves.)
(212) 564-9555
www.chelsearental.com

Sights by Bike, Bike by Sights

Some of the best views of Manhattan are from the bike paths along its perimeter. If the day is mild and you have an hour or so to spare, we recommend a quick trip along the Hudson River Park bike path, which is directly west of the hotel along the river. Head south, and give yourself an architectural tour:

200 Eleventh Avenue (at 24^th Street). Residential condo building designed by Annabelle Selldorf. “Sky Garage” elevator whisks your car to your floor. (Photo courtesy of LuxuryLoft)

100 Eleventh Avenue (at 19^th Street). Residential condo building designed by Jean Nouvel.

555 West 18^th Street. IAC Office Building designed by Frank Gehry.

West Street, near Perry Street. Three residential condo buildings designed by Richard Meier. Residents include Hugh Jackman, who is currently sashaying, singing and seducing audiences in “Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway”!

Americano Meets English Meets French

We know you love our namesake restaurant, but we also know you may want to stretch your legs for dinner one evening during your stay. No need to go far: the sleek & chic La Promenade des Anglais just opened on 23^rd Street.

La Promenade is the sort of restaurant where one might find Holly Golightly, French-twisted and little-black-dressed, sipping champagne at the bar with a certain sort of gentleman. It would be a shame not to move from the bar to a table, though, and enjoy a splendid meal. We were quite taken with the Salad “Mille Feuilles” — ribbons of romaine topped with applewood smoked bacon and gorgonzola. Our monkfish entree was over the top and the apple tart divine.

In case you are wondering about the building housing La Promenade des Anglais, it is called London Terrace and, when it opened in 1931, it was considered the largest apartment building in the world. It occupies an entire block, has a one-acre garden at its center, and features apartments with wood-burning fireplaces.

La Promenade des Anglais
461 W. 23^th St. (between 9^th & 10^th Aves.)
(212) 255-7400
www.lapromenadenyc.com

Tasty Samples

Here is something to know about New York: even the starving artists and publishing assistants manage to look photo-ready at all times. How do they afford all that style?  Sample sales, of course.

We are not talking about those online sites where you are not quite sure whether the goods have been manufactured just for the occasion. We are talking about honest-to-goodness sample sales, the kind that require a trip to some dusty old cavern in the Garment District. Some ideas:

First, if you would like your apartment to look like the home of a well-traveled bohemian (i.e., you, perhaps?), do not miss the John Robshaw sample sale. It kicks off Wednesday, November 16 for three days only. We love Robshaw’s block-printed textiles, all of which tell a story of exotic India or Turkey. Find bedding, table linens, decorative pillows.

Second, steps away from the Hôtel Americano is sample sale impresario Soiffer Haskin. If you hurry, you can make the Armani sale (ends November 16). Bulgari is next (November 19-22) and Frette just afterward (November 27 – December 1). See SH’s website for hours and details.

John Robshaw Sample Sale
245 W. 29^th St. (btwn. 7^th & 8^th Aves.)
November 16-18, 10am-7pm

Soiffer Haskin
317 W. 33^rd St. (just west of 8^th Avenue)
(718) 747-1656
www.soifferhaskin.com