July 25, 2014

Norma's Weekly Snapshot 
       

 

Whether you take LIRR, the Hampton Jitney, or the Luxury Liner 

... all roads lead to a coastal getaway in the Hamptons!    

 

And to get you ready for your next trip out, this week's Special Feature includes the new gems that have opened out East now that the season is in high gear. The vibrant summer scene is always changing in each beachside community, and I have compiled the newest additions.

 
Visit past Weekly Snapshots for all of my Summer Features:
    
  
  

   Norma Knows New York City

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 GeneralGeneral Events...   
    
August 2, 9, 16  Summer Streets
On 3 consecutive Saturdays, 7 miles of NYC's streets are opened for people to play, run, walk and bike. Activities include arts and crafts workshops, live musical performances, dance workshops, plenty of snacks, a 25-foot climbing wall,  and a 160-foot zipline. Mark your calendar for next Saturday to take to the streets!  7:00 am to 1:00 pm, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets.

Wave Hill
As I often mention the botanical gardens in New York, we have another lovely garden up north...Wave Hill.  Their website highlights many daytime and evening events such as exquisite garden walks. This is a nearby stop that will make you feel like you've truly left the city.

ON THE RADAR:

Join Prima Ballerina Tattiana Berenova and International Principal Dancer Ramon Thielen for a delightful evening to introduce the mission of UNDER THE RAINBOW in the New York area. RSVP.

August 21  Taste of Tennis
The world's greatest tennis players and NYC's top chefs showcase their culinary skills at this annual event at the W New York (541 Lexington Avenue).

August 25 to September 8 US Open
Tickets are now on sale for matches at this year's Open.  I plan on purchasing mine, as I do each year.


CulturalCultural Pursuits...      

ASIA SOCIETY  (725 Park Avenue)
Himalayan Structures
The four sculptures, on view until August 3rd, come from the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection.
 
THE CLOISTERS
(Fort Tryon Park)
They're celebrating their 75th anniversary! The Cloisters has the most amazing collection of art and architecture of medieval Europe, presented by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with an exquisite garden.  Visit the website for all that is offered for your next visit.

 
DISCOVERY TIMES SQUARE MUSEUM 
(226 West 44th Street)
The Art of the Brick
A collection of intriguing and inspiring works of art made from one of the most recognized toys in the world... Legos.  Perfect for everyone in your family.  CNN names this exhibit in their top 10 must see global exhibitions! Through September 7th.

DOMINIQUE LEVY GALLERY
Materials of post-war art and contemporary art.  Visit their two current exhibits:  Hypothesis for an Exhibition (909 Madison Avenue) and Gino De Dominicis (30 East 74th Street).  Both exhibits through August 16th.




THE FRICK COLLECTION (1 East 70th Street)
Summer Nights at the Frick
Enjoy summer nights on August 15th... free evenings inspired by special exhibitions.  Visit the website for more information.  Also, make sure to view their current exhibit by French artists, Enlightenment and Beauty: Sculptures by Houdon and Clodiun through April 5th, 2015.

THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM (1071 Fifth Avenue)

Italian Futurism, 1909-1944: Reconstructing the Universe 

A truly amazing exhibit that I was fortunate to view during its installation - Italian futurism from its inception to its demise in World War II. Through September 1st.

  

INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY  (1133 Avenue of the Americas)  

Caio Reisewitz   

The ICP is exhibiting large scale, colorful photographs by Caio Reiswitz, Brazil's leading contemporary photographer. Through September 7th.  

 

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (1000 5th Avenue)  

An exquisite exhibition showcasing James' sculptural and scientific approach to the creation of his ball gowns. Through August 10th.           


Garry Winogrand Retrospective 

Gary Winogrand, renowned  NYC street photographer, will exhibit over 175 of his iconic images and unseen prints at The Met.  This is his first exhibit in twenty five years. Through September 21st.  


THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM 
(225 Madison Avenue)
Gatsby to Garp:
Modern Masterpieces from the Carter Burden Collection

Modern masterpieces from celebrated 20th century writers such as Faulkner, Fitzgerald, and James. I was in awe viewing these first edition manuscripts.  Visit on Fridays for Free Friday Evenings, concerts and lectures... the perfect way to wrap up your museum tour. Through September 7th. 

 
THE MUSEUM OF ART AND DESIGN (2 Columbus Circle)

Multiple Exposures: Jewelry and Photography
The exhibit at The Museum of Art and Design showcases how contemporary jewelry artists transform images in this digital age. Through September 14th.      

  

NYC Makers

While at MAD, visit this sweeping cross section of productions invented by artists living in NYC.  Through October 12th. 

 

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (11 West 53rd Street)

Lygia Clark: The Abandonment of Art, 1948-1988 

Over 300 of her drawings, paintings and sculptures from the 1940s through the 1990s on display at MoMA through August 24th.           

 

Conceptions of Space 

Also at MoMA, Twenty projects by contemporary artists. Through October 19th.  

  

Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes

Le Corbusier, a celebrated artist of three dimensions... a breathtaking exhibit through September 23rd.  

 

Opening July 26  The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec

Prints and posters by this renowned artist will be on display through March 22nd, 2015.

 

THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN (2900 Southern Boulevard, The Bronx)

Great American Gardens and The Women Who Designed Them 

Visit this exquisite exhibit through September 7th.

 

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY (170 Central Park West)  

Madeline in New York: The Art of Ludwig Bemelmans   

Madeline in New York is open with more than 90 original artworks from creator Ludwig Bemelmans honoring the 75th anniversary of this beloved school girl. An exhibit for all ages! Bemelmans Bar, one of my favorite bars in the city, was named in honor of Madeline's amazing illustrator.  Through October 19th.

ROBIN RICE GALLERY (325 West 11th Street)
Summertime Salon
A photographic exhibit Robin Rice herself curates to exemplify the 56 exhibited artists' strengths and aesthetics. Through September 7th. 
 

THE SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM (39 Battery Place)
Times Square, 1984
The exhibit captures the decisive moment and transformation of the urban renewal of Times Square... now known as the crossroads of the world. Through January 2015.

STUX GALLERY  (24 West 57th Street)
Burning Bright... Tiger, tiger
A captivating group exhibition of renowned artists through July 31st.

SUMO CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY (37 Walker Street) 

Through July 26  Limited Runs Marilyn Monroe Photographs 

Limited Runs is hosting a traveling exhibition of rare, never before published Marilyn Monroe photographs. The show recently launched in LA and will travel to San Francisco before wrapping up here in NYC this summer.  The show includes photographs by Thomas "Doc" Kaminski, Allan "Whitey" Snyder, Milton Greene, Lani Carlson, and Mischa Pelz.

 
THE WHITNEY MUSEUM  (945 Madison Avenue)
The Whitney presents this exhibit by the most controversial artist of the post war period.  This is his first major museum presentation in NYC. Through October 19th.  Also visit Rockefeller Center for Koons' Split-Rocker plant, soaring 37 feet above the public square... the half-pony, half-dinosaur sculpture is grown from 50,000 flowering plants.

.  
CurtainCurtain Up...         
 
MUSIC & DANCE:    
      
Live concerts at the Prospect Park Bandshell all summer long.

Bargemusic
New York's floating concert hall, moored in Brooklyn, under the Brooklyn Bridge.  View their website for this week's concerts... all under the stars.

Head to Madison Square Park for free live music through August 6th.  

 

Free music through August 7th in Union Square.

 

July 25  Chuck Braman Jazz Band 

Hudson River Park's Summer on the Hudson, free outdoor music on Pier 45 (at Greenwich Street).

 

 

July 25  Mostly Mozart 

Classical music concerts through August 23rd.  Order your tickets now.  

 

July 25 & 26  Breath of the World
Outdoor festival of  80 musicians that will take up positions across Lincoln Center for a world orchestral premier without a conductor.  Listeners are also free to move around, discovering key listening points of the production.

   

 

 

A summer staple... visit PS1 (22-25 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City) Saturdays through September 6th for live experimental music, surrounded by art.   

 
July 27  MoMA's Summer Garden
The perfect respite... last chance to listen to jazz and classical music in the museum's exquisite sculpture garden. 
 
Through July 27  The New York Musical Theatre Festival 
The festival provides a platform to introduce new shows and new perspective into the world of musical theater. Visit the website for tickets.  
 
Through July 27  The Bolshoi 
As a part of the Lincoln Center Festival, adventurous performances at Lincoln Center from one of the world's most esteemed ballet production companies.   Three full-length ballets will be performed with intense drama and emotion. This is our city's first opportunity to experience the combined talents of the Bolshoi Ballet along with opera and a symphonic orchestral accompaniment.
See this funny man for free in Central Park. Check the website for more shows throughout the summer.
Broadway's biggest hits are sung by many top performers on Thursdays.

Through August 10  Lincoln Center Out of Doors 
3 weeks of dance, music, and concerts in Lincoln Center... and it's all free!   

   

Through August 10  Allen Toussaint

Toussaint, an acclaimed New Orleans musician, composer, producer, and singer, has collaborated with performers such as Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones. Visit the website to purchase tickets for these performances at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street).   

 

Through August 16  Lincoln Center Festival 
Performances to wow and delight through August 16th... music, dance, art.

FILM & THEATER:
   
Celebrating the art of storytelling through cinema.


Beautiful: The Carole King Musical 

If you enjoyed Jersey Boys as much as I did, you'll be equally entertained watching this musical that follows the legendary songwriter from her early days as a Brooklyn teenager to those well-known hits as a top recording artist. Through November 16th at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street).  The show took home 2 Tonys - Best Sound Design and Jessie Mueller won for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. 
 



Bullets Over Broadway   

Famed Woody Allen film hits Broadway at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). Marin Mazzie and Zach Braff deliver outstanding performances! The musical comedy is loaded with laughs and colorful characters. Through September 28th.

 
Buyer & Cellar 
At the Barrow Street Theater (27 Barrow Street) through August 31st.  An outrageous comedy about the price of fame as an LA actor goes to work in Barbra Streisand's basement.   You'll soon see why this is the longest running off-Broadway comedy. 

 

I experienced the most amazing New York evening when I saw Cabaret at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). Both Alan Cumming and Michelle Williams are show-stoppers, and the Kit-Cat band is superb!  A magnificent revival, extended through the end of the year.     


If/Then The Musical  

A favorite performer of mine, Idina Menzel of Wicked, stars in this musical about a woman that returns to life in NYC discovering endless possibilities where chance and choice collide. At the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street).  Through October 12th.   

 

Of Mice and Men 

Last chance to see the revived literary Steinbeck classic. Actors James Franco, Chris O'Dowd, and Leighton Meester make their Broadway debuts in this emotional American Depression-era tale. At the Longacre Theater (220 West 48th Street) through July 27th.

 

Shakespeare in the Park: King Lear 

It's worth standing in line at The Delacorte Theater (81 Central Park West) for the free performances of Shakespeare's classic tale, starring Annette Bening and John Lithgow! Through August 17th.

 

Visit previous snapshots for more favorites in theater.     

 

           

ON THE RADAR: 

   

August 16 & 17  Jazz Age Lawn Party 

Put on your flapper gown and head to Governors Island to take a step back in time enjoying the music, inventions, and dancing of the 1920s.

 

August 17   Aaron Neville 

For those Aaron Neville fans, buy your tickets now to see him perform at City Winery (155 Varick Street).   

 

 

August 18 to 22  Central Park Conservancy Film Festival  

Nightly movies under the Central Park stars include Big and The Way We Were.

 

August 23 & 24  Charlie Parker Jazz Festival 

Then the week later, enjoy the music of Charlie Parker at various locations throughout the city... 

 

August 29 & 30  Paulo Szot
One of my favorite singers will perform at 54 Below (254 West 54th Street) in August.  Tickets go fast, so if you're as captivated by this Brazilian opera star as I am, I suggest you buy your tickets now. I hope he'll sing a few tunes from his starring performance in South Pacific!
 
Foodie  
For the Foodie...  

Mondays in July   Taste of the Terminal 

Visit Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal for free tastings from selected shops and restaurants, plus special offers and live music.  

 

Through August 15  Summer Restaurant Week 

These are my dining picks for the week.

  

CLIENT ENTERTAINING:

 

Il Cantinori

Il Cantinori

32 East 10th Street (Broadway & University Place)

Greenwich Village  

Tuscan/Italian Cuisine 

 

557 Lexington Avenue (at 50th Street)
Midtown East
Contemporary American Cuisine
55

7

DATE NIGHT

Lafayette

Lafayette 

80 Lafayette Street (West 3rd & West 4th Streets)

NoHo 

French Cuisine

 

The Writing Room  

1703 2nd Avenue (88th & 89th Streets)

Upper East Side

American Cuisine 

 

 

 

 

 

FINE DINING:

 

Bar Boulud

Bar Boulud 
 
1900 Broadway (at 64th Street)
Upper West Side
French Cuisine


Lincoln Ristorante 
142 West 65th Street (Broadway and Amsterdam)
Upper West Side
Italian Cuisine

 

 

 

MUSEUM DINING:  

 

Caffe Storico

Caffe Storico 

New-York Historical Society - 170 Central Park West (76th & 77th Streets)
Upper West Side  

Italian Cuisine

 

Ristorante Morini
1167 Madison Avenue (85th & 86th Streets)
Upper East Side
Italian Cuisine




THEATER DISTRICT DINING:   

 

Aureole

Aureole 
One Bryant Park (at West 42nd Street)   
Midtown West  
Progressive American Cuisine

 
The Lambs Club 
132 West 44th Street (6th Avenue & Broadway)   
Midtown West 
Modern American Cuisine

 

 

SPECIAL FEATURE... The Hamptons - New on the SceneFeature

    

Shop, eat, relax!

Each summer there's always chic new opening in the Hamptons.  Below are some of my favorites.

 

And while you're there, be sure to check out Hamptons Free Ride, a safe way to get back to where you're staying after a night out.

Wainscott    

Pop-up shop offering wellness and fitness lifestyle brands.

 

Silver Spoon Specialties
Host a dinner party and Silver Spoon will come and cater to you and your guests.
  
 

   

South Fork and Spoon Concierge Service

Sag Harbor    

Newly launched food concierge service with farm-to-table food and drinks delivered to your front door each weekend. 

 

CLOTHING:

 

Hamptons Collective

 

 

Hamptons Collective

Bridgehampton    

Women's designer pop-up shop through September 14th.  An array of designer brands including one of my favorite lines by Tess Giberson.

 

Zimmerman 

East Hampton    

Aussie sisters have set up their second shop featuring the best swimwear and casual dresses.

 

 

  

 

  

DINING:

  

Pearl Oyster Bar

Southampton

Now open at the iconic Delmonico's. 

 

Harlow East

Sag Harbor     

Sister restaurant to  Midtown East's Harlow.  Casual, chic...the quintessential Hamptons restaurant. Lobster sliders are a must.

 

The Harbor Raw Bar & Lounge

The Harbor Raw Bar & Lounge 

Montauk   

Small plates and tapas. Later in the evening the restaurant becomes a great spot for listening to live music.

 

Bay Kitchen Bar

East Hampton

Fantastic water views with a seafood and raw bar.

 

Paige at 63 Main    

Sag Harbor   

Modern American cuisine serving organic and seasonal ingredients.

 

FITNESS:
  

Bandier 

Southampton    

Curated selection of stylish fitness clothing

 

Erika Bloom Pilates Plus 

East Hampton

Yoga, pilates, acupuncture.

 

Elements Fitness Studio 

East Hampton

 

High energy fitness studio.

 

Peloton Cycle

East Hampton   

State-of-the-art stationary bikes with multi-touch consoles.

 

Norma Knows New York City/ East 76th Street / New York, New York 10021