The Elizabeth Street Garden has been a favorite outdoor spot for so many people in Little Italy and Soho for nearly 200 years. On top of offering a respite from busy city life for the residents of Downtown Manhattan, the garden also offers rentals for video and photo shoots as well as weddings and private events.
But the garden may not be with us for much longer. The city has proposed the sale of this land to Haven Green (Pennrose Properties, Habitat NYC, and Riseboro) to make way for affordable housing, retail locations, and office space. The Garden states on their website that “the affordability is not permanent,” and that the residence can eventually “turn into market rate housing.”
The Elizabeth Street Garden has offered numerous alternative sites for affordable housing developments in an effort to save the community’s garden and green space, with these sites providing “more than 10x the amount of affordable units.”
To help save the garden, visit The Elizabeth Street Garden website today!
It goes without saying that if you want the best you have to learn from the best!
Ladurée, the 150-year old iconic French restaurant and teahouse, and the esteemed NYC French Bistro, Bagatelle have collaborated on a special pop-up.
Trust us, you will want to book right away, before its too late.
Ladurèe 16 rue Royale
The Ladurée, history of Parisian tea rooms is intimately tied to the history of the Ladurée family. It all began in 1862, when Louis Ernest Ladurée, a man from France’s southwest, created a bakery in Paris at 16 rue Royale.
Louis Ernest Ladurée’s wife, Jeanne Souchard, had the idea of mixing styles. The Parisian café and pastry shop gave birth to one of the first tea rooms in town. The ”salon de had a definite advantage over the cafés, women could gather in complete freedom. At the time being a woman and able to gather was not what women of today have the freedom to experience.
Elisabeth Raberin Holder Ladurèe Co-President USA
Ladurée’s refined atmosphere, laden with history, caught the attention of David Holder and his father Francis Holder, founder of the Holder Group.
In 2011 New York City was graced with the first Ladurée on Madison Avenue followed by the US’s first full restaurant and garden in New York’s trendy Soho neighborhood.
Since its opening in February 2014, the Parisian husband-and-wife team of Elisabeth Holder Raberin and Pierre Antoine Raberin has been running the iconic SoHo tea salon.
Holder Raberin’s family bought the original little Ladurée bakery on Rue Royale in 1997, but it’s been in Elisabeth’s blood long before that. “We used to go there for lunch every Saturday when my brother was studying in Paris,” she remembered and explained, “You don’t discover Ladurée, you grow up with it in France.”
“To this day the Ladurèe is a global institution and the best locale to indulge in dèlicieuse French cuisine, and pastries, in an ambiance vraiment française.” Grace A. Capobianco
Two New York Institutions
Bagatelle, widely recognized as a Meatpacking District staple and NYC institution. This flagship location continues to thrive after nearly a decade in the neighborhood, reminding guests daily of the unique and magnetic ambiance that made it famous.
The esteemed restaurant destination was originally designed to reinvigorate the neighborhood and bring the European flare back to the Meatpacking District. Bagatelle continues to delight diners with unmatched service and outstanding seasonal cuisine.
Founders of Bagatelle Aymeric Clemente & Remi Laba
Aymeric Clemente & Remi Laba the brains behind the Bagatelle Brand. Bagatelle came to life when these business partners, shared a desire to translate their previous experience in Hospitality in an environment that stood a lot closer to their idea of what a modern dining destination should be like, and was in line with their own aspirations. To them, Bagatelle is a lifestyle, a way of life, where Joie de Vivre is a constant driver.
Bagatelle has taken over Ladurée’s magical secret garden in the evenings and has created a mouth-watering, bespoke dinner menu. It includes several Ladurée specialties, and of course delicious desserts.
The Cocktail Menu
The Menu
QRQ Menu
Ladurée and Bagatelle want diners to feel comfortable and enjoy a night out with unmatched service and outstanding cuisine.
Social distancing of six feet between tables, and the official restaurant health and safety guidelines are strictly enforced.
Could there be future seasonal pop-ups for the two brands? It’s certainly possible!
Each day we see progress with all of our favorite New York treasures. It may be a very long time before we go back to a pre-COVID lifestyle, until then we must take the time to get out to enjoy this great city and all that it has to offer.
Soon you will be able to take your family and friends to one of our largest treasures, New York Botanical Garden.
Phased reopening plan includes new safety protocols following CDC guidelines and State and City requirements
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The New York Botanical Garden has announced plans to reopen the grounds of its 250-acre site to the general public on Tuesday, July 28. The process will be gradual as the City enters New York Forward’s Phase Four. Since enacting the temporary closure on March 15, 2020, due to COVID-19, Botanical Garden leadership has been proactively developing and implementing new safety protocols in accordance with State and New York.
NYBG is among the most comprehensive botanical gardens in the world—an urban oasis and integral part of the cultural fabric of New York City, anchored in the Bronx.
The verdant landscape currently features a trove of vibrant daylilies, hydrangeas, water lilies, and lotuses among its one million plants. Walking paths and trails crisscross the Garden providing opportunities for discovery through encounters with nature. The reopened gardens, outdoor collections, and natural features include the Native Plant Garden, with its meadow, woodland, promenade, and centerpiece water feature; Bronx River, with its waterfall, which runs through the 50-acre Thain Family Forest; layered and colorful patterns and plant groupings of the Perennial and Herb Gardens; lushly shaded Chilton Azalea Garden; award-winning Rockefeller Rose Garden; tropical and aquatic plant-filled Conservatory Courtyards and Pools; inviting paths through the Ross Conifer Arboretum; Benenson Ornamental Conifers; Burn Family Lilac Collection; and more.
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Tram Tours, public programs, and group tours are suspended temporarily as a safety precaution. The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, LuEsther T. Mertz Library, Edible Academy, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, and Hudson Garden Grill remain closed.
NYBG will welcome Garden Members, Bronx Health Care Heroes
The public reopening will be prefaced by Appreciation Week July 21‒26, when NYBG will welcome Garden Members; the Bronx health care heroes from the eight public and private hospitals in the borough; and Bronx Neighbors with the first access and complimentary tickets. Communities in the Bronx are among the most severely impacted by COVID-19 in New York City. Through its Appreciation Week initiative, the Garden seeks to acknowledge, with gratitude, the dedication, strength, and resilience of Bronx frontline health care workers and residents. Complimentary admission for those groups will continue through September 13.
The reopening incorporates enhanced safety measures based on best practices and guidance from health authorities and government agencies. New measures include requiring staff and visitors over the age of two to wear face coverings; increasing sanitization of public and staff areas; daily health screenings for on-site staff; supporting social distancing practices; requiring timed-entry tickets purchased in advance; operating at a reduced capacity; and more.
NYBG
The new, limited timed-entry ticketing system will stagger visitors
Arrivals promote social distancing and mitigate the risk of crowding in high-traffic areas. Advance purchase of timed tickets is required and will be confirmed by e-mail with the option to print or download a mobile ticket. Visitors who do not purchase advance tickets will not be guaranteed admission at this time. Garden Patrons and Members must also reserve timed tickets in advance. For more information, visit our website at nybg.org.
To further facilitate social distancing, visitors will find new wayfinding signage and pavement markings at admissions points and where queuing is necessary. Some pathways will be designated for one-way foot traffic to help avoid congestion. New hand sanitizer stations on the grounds and touchless restroom appliances will be available. There is ample parking on-site and in NYBG’s Parking Garage, just steps away from the Mosholu Entrance.
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Other visitor amenities include
Pine Tree Café (10 a.m.–6 p.m.; limited menu and outdoor seating),
Hudson Garden Grill Terrace (12–5 p.m.; snacks and refreshments, including water, beer, and wine)
Pine Tree Café Pop-up at the Rose Garden (11 a.m.–4 p.m.; snacks and refreshments, including water, beer, and wine)
Clay Family Picnic Pavilions,
“My Day at the Garden” kids and family activity guide,
Self-guided audio tours, which are available by cell phone, and
NYBG Shop (per social distancing protocols).
The reopening plan is subject to change based on government guidance and in response to altered circumstances. Subsequent phases of the Garden’s reopening will be announced at a future date online at nybg.org and via the Garden’s social media channels.
From Time Square’s neon billboards to the historic Statue of Liberty, the city that never sleeps took a little vaca. New York City is comprised of 5 boroughs each with their own personality. From some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers to the most magnificent gardens, all with a New York flavor unto itself. Be sure to pack a day bag, go on, get out, enjoy all that this city has to offer, our very best kept secrets will soon be yours.
Even if it’s not spring, the first step to a great looking garden is getting rid of any debris that has accumulated in the area. If you have trees, falling leaves can be a problem in the fall. Use a leaf blower to clear the space or a rake to gather the leaves in one place before placing them in a compost pile. It is also a good idea to pull out any pesky weeds. Be sure not to place these in your compost, however, as the seeds are likely to regrow if you do so.
Prepare the Soil for Planting
New flowers, shrubs, climber and trees can make a huge difference to the landscape of your garden. To prepare the soil for planting, till it between eight and twelve inches deep. Be sure to remove any large rocks. This is a good point at which you can add some fertilizer into the mix. Be careful not to over-fertilize, however, as this can burn the roots, making your plants more sensitive to drought, heat, and cold. For the best results, it is a good idea to have your soil tested for nutrients and pH levels.
Select the Right Plants
If you want to avoid future problems, opt for disease-resistant plants. Talk to other gardeners or nursery employees to find out what the most resilient plant types are. In addition, take a good look at the plants you are buying to ensure that you don’t introduce any diseases in your garden. Healthy plants should be free of rotted stems, spots and insects. Don’t forget to also examine the roots—these should be white and firm. If you are not sure what a healthy plant should look like, google it before you head off to the store. Some gardening enthusiasts claim that plants put in the ground after the sun goes down have a better growth rate and are more resilient.
Even in small Manhattan apartments, it is important to make room for life and bring vegetation into your home. A small space should not limit your garden or your imagination.
It doesn’t matter if it’s in your apartment, office or studio. By using creative ways you can play with nature, plants and flowers to add a taste of nature to your daily activities. There are easy, great ways to make a big gardening impact from the bathroom to the hallway.
A hanging planter can go anywhere you have natural light, including a balcony. In a wall planter you can mix flowers in different colors to add to the decor of the season or to brighten up a boring area. Do you want to make the kitchen a pleasurable place as well? Make a kitchen garden-in-a-box with matching herbs and peppers.
The office is also a place where you can add a little bit of green to your day by decorating with a vase or flower boxes to cheer you up and brighten the atmosphere!
Check out some of our favorite ideas and make the most of your small space with these big ideas, and prove that small size is not an excuse for not having the garden you’ve always wanted.
-Maria Zanetti and Thais Morais
Honeycomb Decorative Accent Shelf, $95 available at Uncommon Goods
