November 7, 2014

Norma's Weekly Snapshot        
Bemelmans Bar
  
The hotel bar, a classic favorite for visitors and residents alike, is more popular than ever. There has been a revival with the renovation or opening of several hotels. I've highlighted my favorites in this week's Special Feature.  

Even though it's early November, the holidays are around the corner... festive activities are starting to happen throughout the city. Stay tuned for more holiday-related Special Features in the coming weeks. From decorated windows and markets to my annual Gift Guide, I'll give you all you need to make the most of NYC during this joyous season!   
 
   
    


Norma Knows New York City

What's
What's in this issue?  
General Events 
Cultural Pursuits
Curtain Up 
For the Foodie
Click here for previous Weekly Snapshots.
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General Events...General  
Bank of America Winter Village
   
Now Open  Bank of America Winter Village
Bryant Park
The ice skating rink is ready for skating and the shops are available to start your holiday shopping early.
 

Through November 8   New York's Festival of Light  

DUMBO (Brooklyn) 

Ten dazzling lighting installations created by local and internationally renowned designers. This spectacular display takes place in the archway under the Manhattan Bridge.  

       

November 8   Fashion Icons: Valentino in Conversation with Fern Mallis

92Y (1395 Lexington Avenue)

Once again the 92Y offers an amazing experience for fashionistas: a conversation with a fashion icon.

 

David H. Koch Theater (20 Lincoln Center Plaza)
Join celebrities such as Cameron Diaz and Eva Longoria for a two-day course on living "fun and fearlessly" at Cosmopolitan Magazine's first ever live conference.  Speakers, panels, and plenty of networking opportunities!
Canstruction

November 11  Veterans Day Parade
Fifth Avenue, from 26th to 52nd Street  
America's Parade to honor the service of our veterans and to salute our currently serving military.

Brookfield Place New York Winter Garden (220 Vesey Street)
Architects, designers, and engineers collaborate on the intricate construction of large sculptures of canned food for both competition and a food drive. 


 
ON THE RADAR: 

   

Just announced...  Baz Dazzled 

Film director/producer Baz Luhrmann of The Great Gatsby fame and his talented costume designer wife, Catherine Martin, will dazzle us with their display in Barney's windows over the holidays. Stay tuned for my full list of holiday windows that will be released in the coming weeks. 

  

November 17  The Atelier with Alina Cho: Anna Wintour 

Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue)

The real Devil Wears Prada will co-host a seminar with fashion journalist Alina Cho. Recently rescheduled, order your tickets. I look forward to hearing these fashionistas talk about both current and future trends in their industry.

  

November 20  The Union Square Holiday Market 

Union Square

Always included in my stops when doing holiday shopping... vendors to satisfy family members and friends.

 

November 27  Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 

Starts at 77th Street and Central Park West

Ends at 34th Street Herald Square  

This year I'll be staying local and heading out to watch the parade.  I'll share more information as we get closer to the event. 

  

November 28  South Street Seaport Holiday Tree Lighting 

Fulton Street  

Live entertainment and activities, plus the grand opening of the Seaport ice rink. 

  

December 3  Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting 

Rockefeller Plaza (between West 48th and West 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues)

An annual tradition; join the thousands of New Yorkers and visitors for this year's event featuring a lighting and major superstar performances... or just watch it on television.    


Cultural Pursuits...Cult 
 
Alexander Calder

CLOSING THIS WEEK:

THE GALLERY AT HERMES  (691 Madison Avenue)
Sharon Harper
Through November 11
Stopping in at Hermes is a treat unto itself, and then visiting their gallery is a lovely addition to this glamorous store.  Harper's experimental photographs force us to look at our environment with fresh eyes.

SEAGRAM BUILDING (375 Park Avenue)
Alexander Calder
Through November 10
Stop by the Seagram Building to view three iconic sculptures of famed artist Alexander Calder.  
 
SUNDARAM TAGORE CHELSEA (547 West 27th Street)
Through November 15
This exhibition features works by New York artist Miya Ando, who explores the themes of transformation. 

 

ONGOING EXHIBITS: 


AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM (2 Lincoln Square)
Ralph Fasanella: Lest We Forget
100th anniversary of Ralph Fasanella's colorful key works of postwar America.

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (Central Park West at 79th Street)
November 15 Opening
Exhibit uncovers the causes of nature's forces.
Chris Martin


ANTON KERN GALLERY (532 West 20th Street)
Chris Martin
Through November 15
One of my favorite art galleries in Chelsea. This is Martin's first solo NYC exhibit; his paintings are vibrant works that he created during this past summer in upstate New York.

BARD GRADUATE CENTER GALLERY (18 West 86th Street)
Barbara Nessim: An Artful Life
Through January 11
A trendy gallery that explores new ways of thinking about decorative arts and design. The exhibit visualizes 19th century New York through prints and photographs.



BLAIN/DIDONNA GALLERY (981 Madison Avenue)
Dada & Surrealist Objects
Through January 17
An exhibition that is the first devoted to this subject ever presented in any gallery or museum in America.
Killer Heels

BROOKLYN MUSEUM (200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn)
Through February 15
Killer Heels explores the fashion world's most coveted accessory. I especially liked the shoes by Manolo Blahnik, Chanel, and Ferragamo.   Be sure to watch some of the six short films as you tour the exhibit.

DAVID BENRIMON FINE ART (The Crown Building - 730 Fifth Avenue)
Roy Lichtenstein: Reflections on Pop
Through December 18
The exhibition showcases works from this well-known artist's long career, examining how he became a central figure of the American Pop movement.

DOMINIQUE LEVY GALLERY (909 Madison Avenue)
Local History: Castellani, Judd, Stella
Through January 3
The exhibition captures a fleeting but profound moment of creative intersection in the careers of these three post-war artists.

DTR MODERN GALLERY (458 West Broadway)
Contemporary and pop art on display.
Abelardo Morell

EDWYNN HOUK GALLERY (745 Fifth Avenue) Through December 20
A retrospective photographic exhibit.

ELLIS ISLAND
Unframed - Ellis Island
Ongoing
This first time exhibit is by the French artist, JR.  The display has life-size historic photographs of Ellis Island immigrants that are displayed on more than 16 selected interior walls on the south side of Ellis Island, where the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital once was.



THE FRICK COLLECTION (1 East 70th Street)
Through April 5
Jean-Antoine Houdon and Claude Michel were two of the foremost sculptors in France during the late 18th century. Their sculptures are shown together for the first time, highlighting the artists' expressive ranges.
 
GAGOSIAN GALLERY (522 West 21st Street)
Picasso & the Camera 
Through January 3 
This exhibition is the 5th in a series of Picasso surveys.
Zero: Countdown to Tomorrow 
   
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM (1071 5th Avenue) 
ZERO: Countdown to Tomorrow, 1950s-60s
Through January 7
First large-scale historical survey in the U.S. dedicated to the German artistic group Zero.   
 
INTREPID SEA, AIR, & SPACE MUSEUM (Pier 86 - 46th Street & 12th Avenue)
Hubble@25
Through September 15, 2015
Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the exhibition showcases the history of this project and its scientific achievements. View artifacts, photographs, and Hubble-produced images.
Cubism

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (1000 Fifth Avenue)
Thomas Hart Benton's America Today Mural Rediscovered
Through April 19
A captivating exhibit of 1920s America in New York City.

Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection
Through February 16
Experience the most important exhibition of the essential Cubists (such as Pablo Picasso) in more than thirty years.

El Greco in New York
Through February 1
Also at the MET, an exhibit from this iconic painter.  

Amie Siegel: Provenance
Through January 4
A three-part installation of a cinematic representation of economic and political cycles.



THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM  (225 Madison Avenue)          
The Untamed Landscape: Theodore Rousseau and the Path to Barbizon
Through January 18
70 works of Theodore Rousseau's approach to open-air oil sketches.    
   
THE MUSEUM AT FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY  (Seventh Avenue at 27th Street) 
Through January 3
Dance & Fashion features 100 dance costumes and dance-inspired fashion ranging from 19th century to the present... an inaugural showing of most of the collections.  

THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK (1220 Fifth Avenue)

Mac Conner: A New York Life  

Through January 19

New York's saga of the original Mad Men! Hand-painted illustrations for advertising campaigns and women's magazines just after World War II. 

Double Trouble
THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (11 West 53rd Street)
The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec
Through March 22

Prints and posters by this renowned artist are on display at MoMA.

Through February 8
Opened for the first time in twenty years, the exhibit includes painted sheets cut into various shapes and sizes, thus creating lively compositions of contrasting colors.

Sturtevant: Double Trouble
November 9 through February 22
The first comprehensive survey in America of Sturtevant's 50-year career, which is a collection of her version of pop art.  

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE (36-01 35th Avenue - Astoria, Queens)
What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones
Through January 19

Creator of such iconic characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Pepé Le Pew, Wile E. Coyote, and the Road Runner, the exhibition features 23 of Chuck Jones's animated films, interactive experiences, and 134 original sketches, drawings, and photographs.  

 

NEUE GALLERIE (1048 5th Avenue)
Egon Schiele: Portraits
Through January 19 
One of the 20th century's most important artists, the exhibit showcases portraitures by the masterful Austrian artist, Egon Schiele. 

 

THE NEW MUSEUM (235 Bowery)

Through January 25
The exhibit spans the artist's influential career, encompassing his paintings, drawings, and sculptures.
Picasso & Jacqueline


PACE GALLERY (32 East 57th Street)
Through January 10
The iconic artist's devotion to Jacqueline Rogue and his homage to Matisse.

PARK AVENUE ARMORY (643 Park Avenue)
The Salon: Art + Design
November 13 through 17
An exquisite exhibit featuring the finest 20th century contemporary art.



ROBIN RICE GALLERY (325 West 11th Street)
Through December 14
Victoria Goldman's twenty-year-long fascination with Tarot has created a series of photographs based on the imagery and the mythology behind the ancient Tarot cards.
  
THE RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART (150 West 17th Street)
Witness at a Crossroads
Through March 23
French photographer Marc Riboud's photographic journals through Asia in the 50th and 60s... a time of both political and cultural transition.

THE SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM (39 Battery Place)
Times Square, 1984
Through January 18
The exhibit captures the decisive moment and transformation of the urban renewal of Times Square... now known as the crossroads of the world.   
   
VENUS OVER MANHATTAN (930 Madison Avenue)
Calder Shadows
Through February 1
Renowned sculptor, painter, and illustrator, Alexander Calder, was also a master engineer of dancing shadows. Visit this captivating exhibit.
CurtainCurtain Up...          
 
FILM:

   

Through November 9  Big Apple Film Festival 

Tribeca Cinemas (54 Varick Street)

Twenty five films will entertain you, along with the honoring of filmmakers, writers, and actors.

 

November 13 through 20  DOC NYC

Multiple Theaters

A documentary film festival featuring over 130 films and events... America's largest documentary film festival.       

 

 

November 13  The Contenders 2014

The Museum of Modern Art (11 West 53rd Street)

The Museum's selection of influential, innovative films made in the past 12 months that they believe will stand the test of time. Each is a contender for lasting historical significance; check the website for screening schedule. Movies include Noah and The Grand Budapest Hotel. 

Mezzrow

MUSIC, PERFORMANCE, DANCE:  

Mezzrow
163 West 10th Street
A long narrow grotto on basement level has recently open in the West Village. A new addition to the jazz circuit with a prohibition-era mahogany bar.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
  
November 7 through 9  Show Boat
Avery Fisher Hall (10 Lincoln Center Plaza) 
See the revival of Showboat at Avery Fisher Hall starring Vanessa Williams.
Magic Flute

November 8  Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte)
Metropolitan Opera (Lincoln Center Plaza)
Julie Taymor's choreography of Mozart's spellbinding production. 

November 8  Celebrating Bobby Hutcherson: Life of a Legend

Jazz at Lincoln Center's The Appel Room (3 Columbus Circle)

Bandleader Bobby Hutcherson performs. 


Through November 9  2014 New York Comedy Festival
Various Locations
Some of my favorite venues such as (le) poisson rouge and City Winery will be showcasing new talent.




Through November 9  Barb Jungr: Hard Rain
59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street)
Cabaret singer, Barb Junge, sings songs from Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.

November 9 & 16  The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue 
13th Street Repertory Company (50 West 13th Street)
A tribute to American composer and lyricist, Irving Berlin.
American Dance Machine for the 21st Century
    
November 11 through 16 
American Dance Machine for the 21st Century
The Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue)
A living archive of musical theater dance.
 
Through November 15  Patti Lupone: Far Away Places Part Two
54 Below (254 West 54th Street)
Famed Broadway performer, Patty Lupone, performs.

Through November 22  John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey
Cafe Carlyle (35 East 76th Street)
American jazz guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey deliver entertaining performances.

ONGOING PERFORMANCES:

 

BAM 2014 Next Wave Festival 
Through December 20
Brooklyn Academy of Music (30 Lafayette Avenue - Brooklyn) 
Avant-garde music, theater, opera, and dance. 
 
Carmen

Carmen
Through March 7
The Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center Plaza)
Bizet's acclaimed opera has returned to the MET.

Through December 20
The Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center Plaza)
A dazzling and light-hearted opera set to the music of Mozart.  



White Light Festival 

Through November 11
Various Locations in Lincoln Center  
Complimentary events throughout the month to lighten your soul... abstract musical events that illuminate our lives. 

 

Works and Process

Through December 15

Guggenheim Museum - Peter B. Lewis Theater (1071 Fifth Avenue)  

Celebrating 30 years of performing arts, discussions, and world premieres. See and hear acclaimed artists in an intimate setting.   


THEATER: 

The Elephant Man
What's the best way to get tickets?  Try the Broadway Ticket Lottery. This is one of the best finds for securing tickets to Broadway shows. The website lists the simple process for both Broadway Rush and Lottery tickets.  On each day of the week, the featured Broadway shows offer discounted tickets via rush tickets and lotteries. A bit of patience and an early arrival will often score you excellent seats at the best price. 

 

UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS:

    

Through November 16  The Band Wagon

New York City Center (131 West 55th Street)

Tracey Ullman and Brian Stokes Mitchell are part of the all-star cast... an ensemble excelling in song and dance as the performers weave together Broadway and Hollywood.   

 

November 7  The Elephant Man 

Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street) 

Bradley Cooper and Patrica Clarkson star in Bernard Pomerance's Tony Award-winning classic based on the real life of Joseph Merrick, a 19th century British man who became a star of a traveling freak show. Previews begin November 7th, opening date December 7th, through February 15th.

 

 

Through November 9  FOUND: A New Musical

Atlantic Theater's Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street) 

A play of quick-witted dialogue that is cleverly hilarious.  It's not based on one true story... instead, it's based on hundreds of stories from discarded notes that have been "found" by everyday people.  

 

 

 

ONGOING PRODUCTIONS:

Through February 22
John Golden Theater (252 West 45th Street)
Glenn Close returns to Broadway with John Lithgow in Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance."  A moving play about a married couple struggling to maintain equilibrium when they open up their home to friends and family.

Through December 7

Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street) 

Music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein... a musical masterpiece by two of theater's masters.
  
Through May 24
Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street)
I enjoyed this musical following the legendary songwriter from her early days as a Brooklyn teenager to those well-known hits as a top recording artist. The show took home 2 Tonys including Jessie Mueller for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. 

The Belle of Amherst

Through August 25 

Westside Theater (407 West 43rd Street) 

Starring Joely Richardson, Emily Dickinson welcomes the audience into her Amherst homeland in the mid-19th century.

Billy & Ray

Through November 23 

Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street)  

Director Garry Marshall of Pretty Woman directs this true story portraying the life of two artists (Billy Wilder & Raymond Chandler) and how they battled the Hollywood censors and each other. 

Through March 29 

Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street)    

I experienced the most amazing New York evening when I saw Cabaret. Both Alan Cumming and Michelle Williams are show-stoppers, and the Kit Kat band is superb.  Emma Stone will take on the role of Sally Bowles starting November 11th... I will have to go see the show again for that!
The Country House
 

The Country House 

Through November 23 

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street)
Blythe Danner returns to Broadway in Manhattan Theatre Club's production. A piercing look at a family of performers each coming to terms with the roles they play in each other's lives.    

 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Through April 26
Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) 

The show brought everyone to a standing ovation. The lead actor, a recent graduate of Julliard, is brilliant. The story unfolds with a mathematical precocious adolescent with behavioral problems uncovering truths and hidden secrets.  

Through February 22
Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street)

Critically acclaimed play starring Gretchen Mol. The cast shares the stories, secrets, and lies we tell our friends, family, and ourselves in finding the American Dream.  

 
If/Then The Musical 
Through February 22
Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street)  
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. 

 

Indian Ink  

Through November 30 

Roundabout Theatre Company (231 West 39th Street)
Tony award winner Tom Stoppard's play is enticing, entertaining, and romantic. A story about two people whose connection continues through art.         

Through March 29
Neil Simon Theater (250 West 52nd Street)
The Last Ship has set sail. Directed by Joe Mantilla, the play portrays the hope and heartache of a working class Englishman who leaves his life behind to travel the world. And I left the best to last... the score is produced by Sting!
 
Lennon Through a
Glass Onion


Lennon Through A Glass Onion

Through February 22 

Union Square Theater (100 East 17th Street)

A remarkable celebration of a unique and timeless talent. The American premiere honors one of the famed Beatles with music and lyrics by Lennon and McCartney.   

 
Lips Together, Teeth Apart
Through November 23
Second Stage Theater (305 West 43rd Street)
Terrance McNally's revival comedy, after 23 years, is about a quintessential summer weekend in an unfamiliar setting starring America Ferrera (of Ugly Betty).

Love Letters
Through February 1
Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street)
No one forgets their first love!  A.G. Gurney has created a funny and emotional play about the powerful connection of love. 




Through May 31
Lyric Theatre (213 West 42nd Street)
The feel good play that everyone should see. Broadway's largest orchestra and cast make us fall in love with New York again.  It is a story of three sailors on a whirlwind tour in the city that doesn't sleep.

Through January 4
American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street) 
Starring Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Cynthia Nixon... what more do I have to say? 

Signal Failure
Through November 16
SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street)
A captivating story about a girl and boy's journeys through life, love, and the London underground.

Sleepy Hollow
Through November 9
The Players Theatre (115 Macdougal Street)
The Headless Horseman rides again in the musical adaptation of Irving's tale, Sleepy Hollow.

Sticks and Bones
Through December 14
The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square
Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street)
First major New York revival of this off Broadway play starring Richard Chamberlain, Holly Hunter, and Bill Pullman.  A Vietnam-era tale about parents struggling with challenges when their son returns from the war. 
 
Tail! Spin!
Through February 1
Lynn Redgrave Theater (45 Bleecker Street)
Rachel Dratch of SNL fame stars in this political comedy.
 
Through January 4
Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street)
James Earl Jones and Rose Byrne star in this touching comedy by Moss Hart that portrays the relationship between two families when their children become engaged.  
 

Visit previous snapshots for more theater favorites.       

 

 

ON THE RADAR IN CURTAIN UP: 

 

November 16  The River 

Circle In The Square Theatre (1633 Broadway)

Starring Hugh Jackman, it's the story about a man and woman in a remote cliff side cabin on a moonless night. Now in previews, opening date November 16th, through January 25th.     

November 16   Tristan & Yseult
St. Ann's Warehouse (29 Jay Street)
The original tale of forbidden desire, broken hearts, and the agony of choosing one human being over another. Through December 14.  
 
November 21 to 23    
6th Annual In French With English Subtitles Film Festival
Florence Gould Hall (55 East 59th Street)

Tickets are now on sale for this 3-day festival including world premiere movies and one-time only screenings and Q&As. 

  
For the Foodie...  Food
Gansevoort Market

Gansevoort Market 
52 Gansevoort Street
New on the scene... a new food hall and market in Meatpacking District. From Ed's Lobster Bar and Crepe Sucre to Flower Girl and Lov Organic, you'll now have another venue besides the Chelsea Market to do your shopping. Luzzo's pizza cart will now find a home inside, one of the best pizza spots in the city.  

Saturdays  Bloody Mary Bossa Nova Brunch     
The Lambs Club (132 West 44th Street)  
Live music and great food in a speakeasy atmosphere. Visit the website for the weekly music schedule, including Sunday jazz brunch.  


Sundays Champagne Brunch 
Beauty & Essex (146 Essex Street) 
From 1-6pm, a 4-course brunch with two glasses of champagne for $45 per person.  
 
November 10  New York Taste 
The Waterfront (269 Eleventh Avenue)
Purchase your tickets for this sought-after event by New York Magazine with all you can eat and drink from more than 40 of New York's most celebrated restaurants and bars. 

November 10  Meatless Monday in Umbria
Eataly (200 Fifth Avenue)
Demonstration, tasting, and wine pairing... learn about the vegetable-centric regional cuisine of Umbria while participating in Meatless Mondays, a campaign launched in 2003 as a way to raise awareness about the health and environmental reasons for cutting back on meat consumption. Mario Batali joined the cause and even celebrated his 51st birthday with a meatless meal! Purchase tickets. 
 
November 15  Best Wines for Your Bird
Pasanella & Sons Vintners (115 South Street)
Perfect your Thanksgiving prep, taste an array of turkey-friendly wines. 
 
ON THE RADAR: 

November 18  25th Annual Wall Street Taste of New York
Guastavino's (409 East 59th Street) 
Sample cuisine from some of New York's finest establishments and participate in silent and live auctions, benefiting St. Jude.

City Winery (155 Varick Street)
Event features remarks by a leading regional expert, a three-course dinner, and three flights of wine highlighting the traditional styles of Argentina.   

December 7  Bellezza Eataliana
Eataly (200 Fifth Avenue)
A night of food, wine and music in support of Italian culture! The event also seeks to raise awareness for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Special Feature...feature Hip Hotel Bars
Bar Pleiades
Hotel: The Surrey
20 East 76th Street
It's all luxury at The Surrey and the bar is no exception, especially when crafted by Chef Daniel Boulud. The design drew inspiration from Coco Chanel.

Hotel: The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel
35 East 76th Street
A New York institution... the timeless location paired with live jazz entertainment continues to attract socialites and movie stars with its extensive drink menu and nightly performances.  Try one of their famous cocktails such as the "Carlyle Punch."
Crosby Bar

The Breslin
Hotel: Ace Hotel New York
16 West 29th Street
The moment you walk into the open space of The Breslin, the Ace Hotel's lobby bar, you'll feel the NYC energy... people buzzing about in conversation, couples lounging on couches, and groups waiting for their tables.  It's a hot spot almost every night of the week.  Try the "Baked Apple Old Fashioned."   

The Crosby Bar & Terrace
Hotel: Crosby Street Hotel
Still one of my favorite hotels in the city, the bar is a place I can call my home for an evening.  The eclectic design of this SoHo hot spot, along with the delicious cocktails make it an easy pick for my top 10. Try the signature "Tiger's Eye."


Gotham Lounge


Hotel:  The Peninsula New York  
700 Fifth Avenue
The newly renovated Gotham Lounge is a favorite of mine for afternoon tea as well as after work cocktails. A chic and intimate townhouse setting in the luxurious Peninsula Hotel. While there, also stop into the more intimate Bar at Clement. 


King Cole Bar

Jimmy
Hotel: The James Hotel
15 Thompson Street
If you're looking for a hip bar with an eye-catching view, you've come to the right place.  Another SoHo hot spot, try the "Pumpkin Sazerac" which is perfect for fall.

King Cole Bar & Salon
Hotel: The St. Regis Hotel, New York
2 East 55th Street
Recently re-opened, the bar evokes the jazz age experience and offers six different Bloody Marys (fitting since this is said to be the home of the first U.S. Bloody Mary). 



The Lambs Club Bar
Lambs Club
Hotel: The Chatwal
130 West 44th Street
The Lamb's Club is a reincarnation of the legendary midtown club of old. Red leather banquets, old photographs of Hollywood legends, and a gas fireplace create the perfect ambiance. The Lambs Club is steps away from the drama of Broadway theater, offering a setting of a bygone era of the nostalgic Art Deco period. Test out the "Mad Man Cosmo" to top off the ambiance.  Don't miss their weekly Sunday Jazz Brunch, as well as Tuesday and Wednesday Jazz Nights, featuring up and coming artists.

The Living Room
Hotel: Park Hyatt New York
153 West 57th Street
Park Hyatt New York is the new kid on the block on the Upper West Side's 'hotel row.'  Their bar has the feel of a NYC apartment... you'll feel right at home and with views from the bar of Carnegie Hall, and you'll know for sure you're in the Big Apple.
The Regency Bar

Mark Bar
Hotel: The Mark
Madison Avenue at 77th Street
Chic and lively, the bar at this hotel is a go-to spot for after work or before the theater.  Taste the "Ginger Margarita."
 
Hotel: Loews Regency Hotel
540 Park Avenue
One of the hottest new hotel bars in the city, their specialty cocktails are worth the visit. "Staying Alive" is my cocktail of choice.
 

The Rose Bar
Hotel: Gramercy Park
2 Lexington Avenue
This low-key bar serves as a hot spot for the city's most fashionable, in a dramatic setting. Their "Rose Dragon" cocktail is made with muddled strawberries and pineapples and gives patrons a taste of summer year-round.
Hotel: New York Palace Hotel
Ty Bar
455 Madison Avenue
Part of the hotel's multi-million dollar new look, Trouble's Trust is named after former owner Leona Helmsly's dog.  The atmosphere is NY chic and the specialty cocktails are divine.  Try the "Queen of Mean."
Hotel: Four Seasons New York
57 East 57th Street
This is one of the few bars in the city where I can go alone and never actually feel alone. An intimate lounge, offering living room style furnishings. The fireplace will come in handy as the winter months creep in. Bespoke cocktails include a "Blood Orange Mojito." 
Norma Knows New York City/ East 76th Street / New York, New York 10021