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Featured NYC

The Best Mother’s Day Gifts from Downtown

If there is anything that this pandemic has taught us, it’s to reach out to those we love, more often.

Human life does not exist without Mother. This year let’s make sure that we pay extra special attention to our mothers and grandmothers.

Whether you buy something already gift-wrapped from her special shop, and have it sent directly to her, or opt for a beautiful bouquet of flowers, or take the time to thoughtfully purchase a present yourself, our editors have found Mother’s Day ideas that are bound to show her how important she is, even if you can’t be there to celebrate in person.

 

LINNEA candles offer three distinctive collections designed to invoke precious memories and transport you to faraway places. Our editors cannot get enough of Linnea scented candles. While each collection (Classic, Spring, and Herbal) has an assortment to choose from, we picked these three as perfect gifts for Mother’s Day.

Wood House (Classic Collection): Create a customized sensorial experience that suits your mood with  The Classic Collection or enjoy each fragrance on its own. Mom will enjoy the warm and woodsy scents of Wood House, a blend of bergamot, violet, and sandalwood.

Freesia (Season Collection): Highlight the Spring season and Mother’s Day with thoughtful blends to stir and awaken the senses. Freesia’s aroma of Anjou pear, freesia, and vetiver is like a subtle spring breeze.

White Sage  (Herbal Collection):  Our favorite scent for spring, clean and fresh. Inspired by rich soil between our fingers, the Herbal Collection is a homage to Mother Nature herself.  Inspired by sage smudge sticks and culinary herb gardens, White Sage features notes of Petitgrain, white sage, cardamon cedar, and black pepper.

 

 

Harbour Island Gingham Long-Sleeve One-Piece Suit, this irresistible, comfortable, and eye-catching. Seriously, it’s about time we see a suit that looks this glamorous and fits like a glove. Tommy Bahama’s apparel and beach gear collections offer built-in sun protection using fabrics with 30-50 UPF (ultraviolet protection factor), mom will love this feature. Women’s sportswear and most beach gear feature UPF30 while women’s swimwear features UPF50, which blocks 98% of the sun’s rays. This is the perfect gift for Mom, she will have everyone asking where she purchased this elegant swimsuit.

 

 

 

 

“Every time I wear the jacket I’m stopped and ask where I got it from.” This is the jacket to have in your wardrobe this season. While shopping for Mom, be sure to order this comfortable, Harbour Island Gingham Long-Sleeve Rash Guard. Our team is in love with all of Tommy Bahama’s 2021 beautifully bright, seasonal colors, just the perfect fit and Mom will ready for anything.

 

 

Pre Mother’s day purchase, order today, so that Mom is ready for anything, with this Linen-Blend Off-The-Shoulder Classic style meets comfort, Mom will thank you for sure, this year you hit the mark!

 

 

 

One of our best finds in 2020 STAX. We love this brand of activewear, it is the most comfortable brand, ever. You do not feel poured into them, never uncomfortable and they look FAB! This fashion-focused, figure-flattering premium sports-luxe activewear for both performance and lifestyle, created by Founder and Creative Director Don Robertson alongside Co-Owner and Brand Manager Matilda Murray. Prioritizing high quality whilst demonstrating luxury at affordable prices, STAX. blends a perfect mix of both fitness and fashion, dressing every person at every size, STAX.

 

Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face

 

 

 

 

TOUAREG DRESS 2CM PINK DEGRADED STRIPE 

Launched in 2013 by New York fashion photographer Randall Bachner, Marrakshi Life embraces comfort and craftsmanship. Taking key style elements from the traditional Moroccan wardrobe, an in-house team of local artisans helps create original, contemporary, and wearable design pieces. Randall describes his atelier in Marrakech as a community rather than a factory. He uses sustainable, low-impact production methods with garments, mom will be proud to wear.

 

 

 

Swimming is my go-to sport, you have likely seen grandmothers enjoying water aerobics in a Florida gated community and laughed silently as they attempted to exercise “elder style.” This is probably what you picture if someone says, “water workout.”

Not so fast…Fluid Running is a serious aquatic high-tech workout developed by certified trainer Jennifer Conroyd after she was injured and needed to rehab to run a marathon. Fluid running workout uses a flotation belt and Bluetooth, with a pair of waterproof headphones that connect with the Fluid Running app. Listening to music-backed workouts. You will enjoy, beginner to extremely advanced workouts led by Jennifer. Don’t worry about your phone’s safety as it will stay dry in your bag. Remember, these workouts are performed in deep water such as a pool, lake, or bay. Swimming and water exercise are some of the best and safest ways to stay in shape. Give the gift of health to Mom this Mother’s Day!

 

 

Do your feet hurt at the end of each day? Many of us spend most of the day on our feet.  We can definitely appreciate this new dpl® Slipper Foot Pain Light Therapy. FDA-approved OTC device eases foot pain while finally relaxing around the house. Medically proven to relax muscles and relieve muscle pain. Now this is a gift for mom!

 

 

No more running to the store to get your mom’s favorite carbonated beverage. Drinkmate,  carbonated beverages, not only cut back on trips to the store but also on plastic, and aluminum waste. Can you say recycle? Drinkmate, soda maker with a patented Fizz Infuser can carbonate virtually any beverage. The perfect gift for the carbonated mother!

 

To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power.

 

 

The FDA cleared SONIQUÉ MINI is a facial cleansing breakthrough that combines the soothing, restorative treatment of red, infrared red and amber LED light therapy trusted and recommended by skin care professionals, making it the ultimate skincare cleanser. Red infrared light therapy stimulates natural collagen and elastin for the reversal of fine lines and wrinkles. Improves skin’s overall texture. Sonic vibrations will massage the skin and open pores for a deeper cleanse and the waterproof design makes it easy to incorporate into mom’s daily routine.

 

 

 

Bushwick Kitchen’s gift sets Threes Knees Spicy Trio including their best-selling Spicy Honey, Gochujang Sriracha, and Spicy Maple, will have mom saying thank you for this Mother’s Day.

 

 

 

 

 

Seeds of Wellness SOW® is truly a delicious line of chia-based products that help to incorporate the nutritional properties of seeds in various types of preparations. Trust us, we were leery at first but then once sampling these delicious chia milk and pasts, we were blown away. Easy, delicious, and healthy. SOW’s methodology “from the field to your plate” they are sure to control the entire process, from the chia to the plant and how it’s cleaned, and processed. Even how their products are packaged and distributed. The benefits of SOW products they are ideal to help your Mom balance both her’s and your daily diet. Give Mom a healthy choice, this Mothers Day!

 

Motherhood is the exquisite inconvenience of being another person’s everything

 

Virginskin anti-aging cream 

One of our all-time favorites has been rebranded and back out for consumers. Dr. Lefkovits created Virginskin through his deep knowledge of botanical actives and their benefits in treating skin. By working with multiple botanicals over time, he developed a cream that not only soothed post-treatment, but could also firm, plump, and smooth the skin to the highest standards that he and his patients demanded. His formula was a breakthrough and essential to the skin health of his patients, who loved the new glow in their skin. Today, Dr. Lefkovits’ legacy is carried on proudly and passionately by his daughter-in-law Andrea Lefkovits. Natural ingredients such as acacia flower extract, Centella Asiatica, jojoba, Mimosa Tenuiflora bark extract, Sheabutter, and Squalane, Virginskin is a nourishing cream that feels luxuriously smoothing. 

 

 

 

ReGen De Peau Platinum is an innovative, natural skincare backed by science that disrupts the way you age with powerful treatments of healing, lifting, and wrinkle reduction. One product… One application… One minute. Two times daily! It is made up of four-ingredient complexes, MDI complex, UGL Complex, BMPX Complex, and the organic Japanese Blue Lotus flower extract, known to be a miraculous turnaround in anti-aging. Apply a dime-size portion directly onto your skin, each to the forehead, cheeks, chin, and neck with a firm tapping motion to expedite penetration and energy into the outer layer of your skin. Mom will experience a cooling, tingling sensation for a few seconds. Give mom the gift of anti-aging.

 

Everything I am, you helped me to be

 

 

 

When you think of Ladurée, you think delicious macarons, pastries, and oh their delicious Club Ladurée, think again!

La DoubleJ and the Parisian la Maison Ladurée are excited to announce an exclusive collaboration launching in time for Mother’s Day. The 12-piece collection brings the Milanese lifestyle brand’s happy maximalist homeware together with Ladurée’s delectable sweets.

Reinforcing La DoubleJ’s commitment to celebrating women and wellness, the collaboration draws upon the deeply personal and spiritual practice of the brand’s founder, J.J. Martin, and dives into themes of motherhood, fertility, and the spiritual concept of the sacred feminine. This is realized through the Tree Of Life print, a verdant La DoubleJ artwork, designed in-house in honor of the ancient Tree Of Life archetype, a symbol of fertility, renewal, life cycles, and all types of motherhood for everyone.

Framed by the soft pink and pistachio green shades of Ladurée’s world-renowned macarons, the collaboration ranges from La DoubleJ’s first-ever Teapot, an exclusive design crafted in fine porcelain by Italian manufacturers Ancap, to cotton twill Aprons and a new porcelain Goodie Jar, perfectly shaped to stash macarons. Sets of seven and 13 macarons will be housed in La DoubleJ printed confection boxes, available exclusively at Ladurée stores. This is calling your mother’s name this Mother’s Day.

 

 

 

Downtown is crazy about their afternoon tea. Perfect timing for This Ultimate Gift Set with the ultimate tea experience for two. Featuring a Tea Tasting Assortment Tea Chest of 20 blends, forty signature silken pyramid infusers in all, is our most expansive selection of premium gourmet teas. Also includes are two signature Café Cup presentations: two lidded porcelain Café Cups, two bamboo oval serving trays, two orchid white Tea Trays, and two porcelain Sugar & Creamer Set. This gift set is presented in a keepsake slate grey gift box with elegant gold foil Tea Forté lettering, with your Moms name on it!

 

 

 

 

The perfect introduction to the Tea Forté experience. Beautifully packaged and always appreciated, this curated tea collection is a most welcome presentation of the world’s most extraordinary teas. The Tea Tasting Assortment Presentation Box contains 20 pyramid infusers, two each of the following 10 blends: African Solstice (herbal tea), Black Currant (black tea), Chamomile Citron (herbal tea), Earl Grey (black tea), Ginger Lemongrass (herbal tea), Green Mango Peach (green tea), Jasmine Green (green tea), Raspberry Nectar (herbal tea), White Ambrosia (white tea), and White Ginger Pear (white tea). The open lid reveals a detailed tasting menu.

 

 

 

Give Mom a chance to relax, restore and revitalize her mind and body with this wellness-focused tea collection, inspired by the elegance and holistic knowledge of fine luxury spas. Organic green tea blends and herbal tisanes come together to support a glowing complexion, enlivened spirit, fortified defenses, calm state of mind, and purified sense of tranquility. The Wellbeing Presentation Box contains 20 pyramid infusers, four each of the following blends: Defense (green tea), Invigorate (green tea), Purify (herbal tea), Radiance (herbal tea), and Serenity (herbal tea). The open lid reveals a detailed tasting menu. All teas in this collection are USDA Organic and Kosher Certified.

 

 

Take Mom out for a delicious meal at one of our new favorites Charlie Palmer New York City

 

 

 

Charlie Palmer Collective grew out of Aureole, American cuisine pioneer Charlie Palmer’s landmark restaurant. For 30 years it has been one of New York City’s most celebrated restaurants, garnering 13 Michelin stars and two James Beard awards. Traveling, no problem you can find coast-to-coast locations by Charlie Palmer award-winning restaurants and luxurious boutique hotels in beautiful significant historical locations and each designed with distinctive personalities to provide unique experiences. If you have not been to Charlie Palmer’s it’s time, take mom out for Mother’s Day this year!

 

There is no role in life that is more essential than that of motherhood

 

 

 

 

 

You might just want to give Mom a break from grocery shopping. You can find everything you want and more at Eataly Downtown. Think about it, fresh Italian cheese, pasta, fruit, meats, seafood all delivered right to your door. Want to make mom dinner but you’re still learning, no problem, contact Eataly they will provide you with just the right supplies to make a delicious home-cooked meal. Or order in, Eataly will be sure to deliver the same quality meals from their chefs. Here we chose bundles, we like to stock our pantry so that we are ready for one or more guests. Now that’s Italian!

 

Help Mom’s cravings with Chocolate Lover, combat stress with Golden Mellow, and help her sneak in a full serving of veggies with Super Green. These delicious healthy choices include a full serving of our best-selling superfood mixes, absolutely no fillers or additives, and 100% organic ingredients. Now you can take the power of superfoods anywhere with Super Bars and we at Downtown do just that!

 

 

Book Mom the perfect getaway, she does everything for you, now it’s time to pamper her. Whisk Mom off to the heart of Ibiza, to this luxury boutique hotel Cas Gasi offering exclusive accommodation in Ibiza to those looking for a peaceful haven within easy reach of the island’s delights.

 

 

Our bags are packed for this beautifully restored country home is set on four hectares of the picturesque Mediterranean landscape of pine forests, orange and olive groves, almond, fig, and carob trees plus organic vegetable plots. A relaxing hideaway in pure surroundings. I don’t know about you but my bags are packed just in case my daughter decides to give me this much-needed vaca for Mother’s Day!

 

 

 

 

Making memories, just got fun! Polaroid unveils the newest, and the tiniest member to join their family. The Polaroid Go camera. Just 4.1 inches long, 3.3 inches wide, and 2.4 inches tall, the Polaroid Go is the smallest analog instant camera in the world. Polaroid’s greatest, and most exciting new launch in decades. Designed as a wearable creative companion, the pocket-sized Go camera leans on Polaroid’s iconic heritage of design while simultaneously creating a new format of instant cameras for a new generation. Features include a newly developed selfie mirror, self-timer, long-lasting battery, dynamic flash, double exposure, and travel-friendly accessories – making it easier for anyone to capture memories wherever creativity takes them. Accompanying, their launch is the Go film, reimagining Polaroid’s classic square format in the smallest analog film the brand has ever produced. Give mom this new polaroid and watch the magic happen, on film!

 

 

 

We believe! The dpl® Joint Wrap Pain Relief Light Therapy is the most versatile joint pain relief device that’s both medically proven and clinically tested. Unlike a heating pad, infrared light therapy works below the skin’s surface-reaching deep tissues. stimulating cells and increasing circulation to target pain at the source. Powerful pain relief LED lights using IR (infrared) and red wavelengths, the dpl] Joint Wrap Therapy promotes circulation, accelerates healing,  and reduces inflammation. Used by professionals, athletes, and physicians, it benefits pain resulting from arthritis, joint injury, tendinitis, muscle pain, and more. Plus, it’s a safe, natural solution for all skin types with no side effects. Mom will thank you for this new device this Mother’s Day!

 

The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation

 

 

 

One of our team’s favorite sweets! A limited release 16 piece Mother’s Day collection is a flavorful display of your love and gratitude for everything mothers do. Beautifully handcrafted and infused with layers of delicate flavors, this collection displays admiration for the most important woman in your life, your Mom. Enrobed in buttery white chocolate, our Lemon curd apricot truffle is a blend of intense citrus balanced with the golden sweet flavor of apricot at the center. This Raspberry rose petal truffle is infused with aromatic notes of rose petals and sweetened with raspberries that gently unfold onto your palate, all wrapped in creamy milk chocolate. A decadent box filled with florals, fruit, and intricate flavors, this special collection recognizes all the care and dedication mothers put forth for their families every day. Trust us our entire office can attest to these delectable bites, we cannot get enough and neither will you mom this Mother’s Day!

 

 

 

Together with the master gardeners at the New York Botanical Garden and renowned perfumer Laurent Le Guernec, Caswell-Massey’s NYBG Living Florals Collection brings the experience of the garden to your home and is the ideal Mother’s Day gift. Available in three single-note fragrances Lilac, Gardenia, and Honeysuckle, plus two premium rose fragrances—Beatrix Rose and RÒS—and two orchid fragrances—Orchid and VIC—that represent the complexities found in the garden’s most prized florals. Give a gift that gives back to mom, this Mother’s Day, because a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these products will support the New York Botanical Garden’s work in plant research and conservation, horticulture, and education. What could be better than giving and then your gift, giving?

 

 

For the sensitive tummy mother, we have a new brand just for you. These did not last long in our office. Raised Gluten Free is a women-owned business bringing to market the ultimate comfort food for those with food allergies. Sweet and savory pies, and yes we sampled almost all of them! Made in small batches at a dedicated, certified gluten-free bakery in Northern California, the plant-based offerings are not just gluten-free, not just vegan, they’re both and more. The artisan products deliver indulgence that’s also free of dairy, eggs, and peanuts, Kosher Pareve, and Non-GMO Project Verified.

 

 

 

Eataly has unique gifts for Mom. Calvisius begins within the small town of Calvisano, situated between Venezia and Milano. There, you will find Agroittica Lombarda, the most prolific caviar farm in the world, producing 25 tons of eggs per year. This project of farming endangered fish in freshwater began in collaboration with the University of California: Davis and a Pacific species of White Sturgeon. This four-pack of caviar comprises Royal, Classic, Tradition, and Siberian caviar, all sourced according to sustainable methods from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Coast.

 

 

 

Mom will be in savory bliss with this ultimate turkey burger from Pederson Farms. Seriously it’s delicious and with zero sugar, nitrite-free, uncured pork bacon making this the best turkey burger she will ever taste. These ultimate burgers are freezer to grill ready. It’s your turn to make mom dinner, easy to make but not to forget.

 

 

 

 

“Being a mother is the greatest gift, yet it is sometimes the most under-appreciated role. It’s hard to find that balance between supporting and defending without overstepping that fine line. Every mother thinks they got it wrong at one time or another, but the truth is, no matter what mistakes we may make, we still get it right. We bring life into this world, and the lives we give will go on to become extraordinary individuals. They will remember who taught them to tie their shoelaces, button their shirts, and comb their hair. We glow with pride and smile when we witness our children living their lives, because hopefully, we have given them the tools to succeed.” Grace A. Capobianco

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

Categories
Bars Dining Featured Lifestyle NYC

JARDIN SECRET Ladurée x Bagatelle Pop-Up

What do you get when you pair these two icons?

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.

 

ARDIN SECRET Ladurée x Bagatelle Paring
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.

 

ARDIN SECRET Ladurée x Bagatelle Paring
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.

ARDIN SECRET Ladurée x Bagatelle 
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.

 

ARDIN SECRET Ladurée x Bagatelle 
The Cocktail Menu
ARDIN SECRET Ladurée x Bagatelle 
The Menu
ARDIN SECRET Ladurée x Bagatelle 
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!

Ladurée Soho
76 Thompson Street

Wed – Sunday
646-392-7868 or Opentable

Follow Us: @ladureeus @bagatellenyc #jardinsecret #ladureexbagatelle
Categories
Featured Living NYC

New York’s Generosity COVID19

We wanted to take the time to share some of the many who have displayed generosity and kindness during this pandemic. From celebrity hairstylists Patrick Kyle, Iron Chef Marc Forgione, Elisabeth Holder of Laudrèe USA, Harry’s Italian, and Da Claudio Restaurant, to Howard Hughes Seaport. You will read their words and see their photos as we salute their selfless acts.

Last Thursday was a day Patrick Kyle will never forget.

My buddy, Jordan @jordanehni (Infectious Disease Director @mountsinai_bethisrael ) was looking for barbers and hairstylists to volunteer to give health care workers much-needed haircuts. After discussing protective measures, I agreed to participate. Over 400 people entered a raffle for the cuts. Six were chosen to meet me in the “Wellness Room” for haircuts. I had full PPE (scrubs, mask, gloves and face shield). Clients were given a fresh mask and robe as they walked into the room. I felt completely safe. The love and appreciation I received will stay with me forever. Little did they know I felt normal for the first time in weeks getting to do something I love — servicing my clients

Celebrity hairstylist Patrick Kyle @patrickkyle_ generously donated six haircuts to front line employees at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Patrick is a freelance hairstylist whose credits include Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and New York Fashion Week.

Employees entered a raffle, and six lucky winners received a haircut and styling, snacks, music, and aromatherapy treatment as a part of a larger wellness plan to help keep COVID-19 frontline workers rejuvenated for the long journey ahead. We are all missing access to basic services, and we are grateful to Patrick for volunteering his time and truly connecting with our healthcare heroes.

Winners: Millie Rosario, emergency department tech; Dr. Arielle Sasson, first-year resident; Marco Makkar, emergency department registrar; Dr. Anthoney Lim, medical director of the pediatrics ER. #selfcare #frontlines #COVID19 #msbibettertogether #wellnesswednesday

New York's Generosity COVID19
Patrick Kyle at Mount Sinai Beth Israel
Mount Sinai Beth Israel
New York's Generosity COVID19
Mount Sinai Beth Israel
New York's Generosity COVID19
Mount Sinai Beth Israel
New York's Generosity COVID19
Mount Sinai Beth Israel

 

So grateful for the true heroes that work tirelessly behind the front lines!

“After delivering 100 more dinners (thanks to YOUR generosity) it was so heartwarming to hear the #clapforourcarers for all essential workers risking their lives to keep us safe! THANK YOU! We are especially proud of our small but mighty team that is currently working together to ensure we bring our entire team back when this is over! It is a reminder that we are collectively #strongertogether #spiritofsolidarity is alive and well!” #DaClaudioNYC https://www.instagram.com/nyphospital/

 

New York's Generosity COVID19
Da Claudio delivering to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital

 

One of our favorite sweet spots in New York, was right there front and center, taking the time to give. “We keep sharing the love with all the health workers who are doing an amazing job taking care of our families, friends, and communities.”

Merci! Thank you! Ladurée

 

New York's Generosity COVID19
Laduree US feeding our healthcare workers

 

Mar Forgione and his partners at Khe-Yo showed their support.

“Another hospital delivery today with @tasteoftribeca at @nyulangone. Thank you to everyone who has donated to the fund to feed hospital workers and @snowdancefarm @la_boite @gargiuloproduce for the delicious ingredients!”

 

New York's Generosity COVID19
Marc Forgione

 

New York's Generosity COVID19
Khe_yo

When New York City shut down, brothers Frank and Salvatore Buglione decided with their co-owners at the restaurant group HPH NYC  –

‘WE JUST PULL UP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND DROP OFF FOOD’: WHY HARRY’S ITALIAN DECIDED TO STAY OPEN

to keep both their Harry’s Italian locations open. “You always hate to see any restaurant go completely dark,” HPH partner Paul Lamas told the Downtown Alliance. “We wanted to try and keep some of our key employees, key staff working. Everybody wanted to work. We really wanted to do something to help the community.”

Beyond their neighborhood regulars, HPH and the Bugliones identified plenty of other mouths to feed in Manhattan. They tapped a number of their food purveyors and liquor vendors to see who’d be willing to chip in — the restaurant would match any donation — to serve first responders (e.g. NYPD’s 1st Precinct, Engine 4 and Ladder 15 on South Street, NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital). “We’re not here looking to make money or make this any publicity stunt,” Salvatore told the Alliance. “We do our best work when people are not looking. We just keep dropping off food — we don’t even ask any questions. We just pull up to the emergency room and drop off food.

I always feel we do the easy part,” Salvatore added. “Okay, we’re dropping off some food. It’s more about what these hospital workers are going through. They’re dealing with patients every day.”

The Bugliones work 18- and 19-hour days to do what they’re doing. At around 7 or 8 each morning, they turn on the ovens and wait for the orders to come in. Before they know it, Salvatore said, “we turn around and it’s 11 o’clock at night.” They’re not even tired, he said. “It’s unbelievable: You don’t realize 15 hours went by and you’re still strong.”

 

New York's Generosity COVID19
Harry’s Italian by Downtown Alliance

 

Lower Manhattan property owners came together on the evening of March 19, 2020, to offer a symbol of hope and strength in the midst of the global health and financial crisis.

 

 

New York's Generosity COVID19
#NYCLightsofHope Downtown Alliance

One World Trade Center, Pier 17 at the Seaport District, Brookfield Place, 111 and 115 Broadway, 55 Water Street and 20 Exchange Place will be participating in this effort, while other Downtown buildings are working to join them over the next several days. Buildings throughout the entire city are encouraged to follow suit and add their own “lights of hope.”

“This is a moment to band together, show pride in a tough time, and light up the Lower Manhattan skyline with hope,” said Jessica Lappin, President of the Alliance for Downtown New York.  “Whether it’s red, white and blue or with a single white beacon, buildings across Lower Manhattan will light themselves in honor of our determination to endure and recover.”

“In this time of need, we as New Yorkers and Americans are looking for symbols of hope—both in our communities and across the country,” said Saul Scherl, President of the New York Tri-State Region of The Howard Hughes Corporation. “We wanted to unite our community and light up the buildings of Lower Manhattan together to show our solidarity, our resiliency, and our persistent hope for the future.”

Stay tuned for more generosity from New Yorkers taking the time to give back during this unprecedented time.

The Downtown Team

 

 

Categories
Chefs Dining Featured Restaurants

Matthew Kenney Q&A: Ladurée Going Vegan

Could you imagine a world-class, 150-year-old French patisserie going vegan? Through a partnership with Elisabeth and David Holder, presidents of Ladurée USA, plant-based chef and author Matthew Kenney, introduced vegan dishes to this world-renowned brand.  

Downtown: When did you decide to specialize in plant-based cuisine?

Matthew Kenney: It was an intuitive decision. I really made a career for myself in the NYC restaurant scene after first entering it, and my restaurants definitely didn’t have a focus on anything related to vegan. This was in the 90’s, so the term “vegan” just wasn’t something anyone, including myself, really recognized. The restaurant industry is a tough one, and I began taking up yoga and meditation to keep me centered amidst it all. The more in touch I became with my body, the more I began returning to my passion about the “source” of food.

It wasn’t until I ate in a hole-in-the-wall vegan restaurant, by complete chance, that something finally clicked. The food was raw vegan, not at all glamorous, but I walked 5 miles around the city afterwards because my body felt so revived. I knew there was an opportunity here; what if I could make food that made people feel this good, but without making it feel like a compromise? So I became determined, right then and there, to create innovative, gourmet vegan food could be as sexy and luxurious as a traditional fine dining experience.

DT: How did your partnership with Ladurée start?

MK: Elisabeth actually reached out to me on Instagram direct message. She and her brother, David, run the company, which has been in their family since the early 90’s. The company itself is 150 years old, and I can imagine the challenges presented when dealing with antiquated practices in a modern day market. Both Elisabeth and her brother are strongly influenced by health and wellness in their personal lives. David has been a vegetarian for over a decade and both stick to vegan standards for the majority of their diets ­ and incorporating that into the Ladurée legacy is really important to them. Our conversations fostered this excitement about how we could pursue this partnership and introduce a plant-based focus within a brand that has a long-standing reputation for its love of dairy and butter.

DT: What are some of the dishes that you created for Ladurée’s special vegan menu?

MK: The Beverly Hills location is the first 100% plant-based restaurant, while we are adding vegan menus to other international locations as a supplement to the regular menu. We have plant-based omelets that taste almost identical to the real thing but with a mung bean base. There is plant-based Croque-Monsieur with nut-based gruyère and tofu ham that is phenomenal. We’ve redone all of the macarons with the same selection of classic flavors, as well as all of the usual French staples: meringuèes, biscuits, croissants, puff pastries, pound cakes. There’s a lot.

DT: What does world-renowned Ladurée going vegan represents to the future of cuisine?

MK: To quote Elisabeth and her incentive to pursue this partnership, it’s a “Green Evolution”. The world is acknowledging the impact that our diets have on the planet and our health, and the surge of plant-based menus and products in today’s market are an indication of that. Following a vegan diet has never been mainstream. It’s conceivable that people are daunted, or maybe just puzzled by, the concept of cutting out animal products, because it seems so obscure and restrictive ­- when the reality is that it’s not.

If a world-class, 150-year-old French patisserie can serve the exact same menu with the exact same style and chicness, with the only difference being the source of ingredients, we can open the minds of a lot of skeptics. It showcases the potential of plant-based cuisine and allows people to understand that eating this way is not a sacrifice of their favorite foods or flavors. It’s not hard, but actually more appealing in more ways than one.

Categories
Featured Lifestyle

Bergdorf Goodman Presents a Visual Feast!

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Last night the sweets and the very sweet were out for the premiere of Bergdorf Goodman’s 2018 Holiday Window display. This year David Hoey, Senior Director of Visual Presentation, says:

“This year our artistic team became faux-pastry chefs, dishing up a wall-to-wall profusion of sculpted confections. Everything candied, iced and lavish.”

Visitors will be delighted by an enchanting display of generous proportions. A dreamlike world filled with gilded treats, sugary inventions, and luscious sweets.

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Bergdorf Goodman partners with Ladurée

This year Bergdorf Goodman has promised to sweeten their selection of gifts with exclusive dessert options from Flour Shop and Ladurée.

For the first time, Flour Shop will open a pop-up on the Fifth Floor of the iconic department store offering a unique Bergdorf Goodman inspired cake as well as some of their holiday favorites.

Linda Fargo, collaborated with Ladurée together they’ve created limited-edition flavors only available inside Noir on the Second Floor and Linda’s at BG on the Fourth Floor. There will also be a special holiday installation on the Third Floor by Ashley Longshore featuring her artwork along with a curated selection of product inspired by Bergdorf Goodies.

Elisabeth Holder, co-president of Ladurée, gives a Q&A

Last night was a sweet and luscious event at Bergdorf’s – I was lucky enough to catch up with a friend and owner of Ladurée Elisabeth Holder for a few questions on her recent work on the holiday window for Bergdorf Goodman:

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Downtown Magazine: Tell us what it was like to be included?
Elisabeth Holder: I am so proud, as a French brand, to be part of the holiday window at Bergdorf’s, an iconic New York institution. It is an honor and a dream come true. To have this recognition feels very, very sweet indeed.

Downtown Magazine: how this came about?
Elisabeth Holder: Last year, Linda and Ladurée began their love story when Linda created her very own macaron (dark chocolate salted caramel in gold foil) as an exclusive for Linda’s Shop on the 4th Floor during the holidays. This season we expanded our collaboration as she opened her 2nd store-in-store called NOIR at BG, with of course another creation (dark chocolate expresso in silver foil.) The theme for the holiday windows is Candyland, so of course, Ladurée was a natural ask to participate.

Downtown Magazine: What do you hope to see from this wonderful partnership?
Elisabeth Holder: I love to see people finding the perfect gift to celebrate the holidays, it feels amazing and we hope this is only the beginning of Ladurée at BG. Linda is so creative, who knows… we have already started to talk about next year…

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The Bergdorf Goodman’s 2018 Holiday Window displays are HERE

Each year Bergdorf Goodman presents their stunning holiday window display. This year is a must see!
Stroll along 5th Avenue and 58th Street to take in, both the Women’s and Men’s store windows. The presentation will be up until January 3rd, 2019. Don’t go hungry! Here is a sneak peak of what is there:

Cotton Candy Dream

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The once monumental royal couple floats into a cotton candy atmosphere as an effervescent constituent and her gossamer poodle take the stage. Fashion: Rodarte

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Peppermint Pandemonium

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Whirling around in a sea of peppermint, a candy cane wizard presents three custom designs at an admirer’s request. Fashion: C.D Greene, Carolina Herrera, and Alice + Olivia.

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Gumball Swag

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The Men’s Holiday windows, designed by Shane Ruth (Visual Director at Bergdorf Goodman), are filled with Bergdorf Goodies from head to toe. Mannequins with candy heads and vivid colored sweet treats surround rainbow tinsel trees and snow.

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Chocolate Paradise

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This window display is full of delicious chocolate cakes with elaborate details of icing throughout. Paired with a giant gingerbread man, yummy looking teddy bears, and a handful of holiday festive items, this display is sure to convert anyone to become a chocolate lover.

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The Party Last Night

The who’s who of the Upper East Side came out to gaze and feast on champagne served with both savory and sweet bites.
Although the weather was one of the coldest evenings of this season, it was warm and deliciously cozy inside the beautifully creative holiday inspired store.

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About Bergdorf Goodman

A New York landmark since 1901, Bergdorf Goodman represents the global pinnacle of style, service and modern luxury.
With its rich history of showcasing leading and emerging designers, the iconic store at 5th Avenue and 58th Street—the crossroads of fashion—is a singular destination for discerning customers around the world.
BG.com expands on Bergdorf Goodman’s heritage, showcasing coveted collections for men and women in an unparalleled online shopping experience. Bergdorf Goodman is part of Neiman Marcus Group.

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Categories
Events Featured

Downtown TripPicks: Jan. 15 – Jan. 22

Trip by Skyscanner is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.” Trip by Skyscanner’s TripPicks This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.

Here are some exciting events and sites to check out this week in Downtown New York, courtesy of Trip by Skyscanner. Visit the Trip by Skyscanner site or download the app for more upcoming events.

Epic Pork Event Cochon555

New York chefs will be preparing dozens of pork- (heritage breed pigs) based dishes at this one-of-a-kind culinary feast; each delicious dish will be carefully paired with wines, beers, and spirits, making this a genuinely all-inclusive experience. We have one piece of advice: Come very, very hungry. Tickets start at $130

SECOND floor NYC (Koreatown)
Sunday, Jan. 21 from 5-8pm

 

Outsider Art Fair New York

Coloring outside the lines makes for great (and some would argue, pure) art. The Outsider Art Fair brings together artists from across the world who share one defining quality: the guts to march to the beat of their own drum. Tickets start at $27.62

Metropolitan Pavilion (Chelsea)
Thursday, Jan. 18-Sunday, Jan. 21 (check website for times)

 

The Standard Skate Rink

The Standard is our go-to place for a spin on the ice, alone or with that special someone. Grab a hot something — cider, toddy, and chocolate are all on offer — and you’ve got the perfect date night. Tickets are $13 with $4 skate rental; kids $6 with $4 skate rental.

The Standard Highline (Chelsea)
Monday-Thursday from 12pm-12am; Friday from 12pm-1am;  Saturday from 9am-1am;  Sunday from 9am-12am

 

Kellogg’s Cereal Cafe is Back!

Kellogg’s Cereal Cafe is back, and it’s bigger and better! Start your morning off right with a DIY cereal bowl, or try one of Lauren Conrad’s delicious creations. For those extra rough mornings, we recommend a Pop-Tart Oddfellows ice cream sandwich.

Kellogg’s NYC (Gramercy Park)
Monday-Friday from 8am-6pm; Saturday from 9am-6pm; Sunday from 10am-4pm

 

Valrhona Hot Chocolate Festival Kickoff Party

The Valrhona Hot Chocolate Festival Kickoff Party will preview “all of the festival’s inventive hot chocolates” alongside yummy pastries. Can’t make it? Starting Saturday, Jan. 20, stop by Ladurée, Fika, La Maison du Chocolat, Baked, Epicerie Boulud, Daily Provisions, Petrossian Bakery, Brooklyn Roasting Company, and Patisserie Chanson to try out unique hot chocolate concoctions and help raise funds for C-CAP’s Job Training Program. $35.

Ladurée (SoHo)
Thursday, Jan. 18 from 5:30-7:30pm