A story about mental health, trauma, and family issues, all told from the point of view of… an uncouth ten-year-old who still wets the bed?
On the bustling streets of 6th avenue, in the heart of midtown NYC, Avra Estiatorio unveils the newest gem in their collection: Avra Rockefeller Center.
Welcome to Hortus NYC: a Michelin-recognized gem nestled in the heart of Nomad. A mature and sleek lobby greets you as you check in with the host, browse the menu stand, and are led upstairs to the intimate indoor seating balcony.
Bear Donut, a new donut shop in the heart of Herald Square, opened up this spring offering up heaps of delicious treats and beverages. We stopped by on Tuesday to sample a few of their items and learn more about this soon-to-be neighborhood staple. Read more to find out what we thought!
On Wednesday evening, we had the chance to visit Martiny’s, a new bar in Gramercy, to sample Kástra Elión vodka. Hailing from the Nafpaktos region of Greece, Kástra Elión is an artisan-crafted vodka distilled from Greek olives. They partnered with Martiny’s, recently launched by Takuma Watanabe of Angel’s Share fame, to create premium cocktails to showcase their new spirit.
Kástra Elión “is distilled from hand-picked olives in the Nafpaktos region of Greece, creating a unique flavor profile with subtle notes of ripe olives refined with peppery undertones and a soft, buttery finish.” Cocktail master Takuma Watanabe whipped up some delicious cocktail creations from the unique spirit, which we got to sample alongside some asian-inspired bites specialty of Martiny’s. King fish carpaccio with truffle and ponzu, chicken karage with kaluga caviar, white asparagus drenched in a miso egg yolk sauce, and my personal favorite, wagyu-parmesean topped brioche, circled the space on silver trays for guests to pick up alongside their cocktails.
The first cocktail on the menu, Aphrodite’s Delight, was a refreshingly delicious take on white negroni, with maldon salt, sakura vermouth, tea tincture, and of course the Kástra Elión as the focal point. Guests were greeted with a glass of this topped with a fresh flower, while getting to know each other and the Kástra Elión creators Frank, Mike, and Brandon. This cocktail, designed by Watanabe, is sweetly named after Frank’s daughter and Mike’s wife Aphrodite, and pays homage to the Greek origins of the brand. After enjoying this delicious cocktail and listening to Frank sing and play some traditional Greek tunes on his guitar, we settled into the cozy sitting area upstairs to hear Frank tell the story of how he developed the spirit.
Frank’s past experience with chemistry of beverages served as a great launching point for creating Kástra Elión. He worked on development of cold brew coffee in the 80s, before the trend of cold brew swept the world recently. Creating a vodka from olives was a challenge, but using his knowledge of “chemistry and alchemy” he was able to extract what was needed to create the spirit. Greek olives proved superior in this capability – he also tried the process with a Californian and Spanish variety. Wanting to honor his home country with Kástra Elión, he keeps partnerships with local Greek businesses. Especially following the recent economic crisis, he wants to go whatever good he can for the country. In addition to the process and source, the brand highlights its roots through its logo and name. Kástra means castle in Greek and Elión is a play on the work for olive groves, so the name means “a castle full of olive groves.” The logo is an insignia with byzantine influence designed by cofounder Brandon.
Accompanying the history of the brand was a carefully curated tasting of the high-quality vodka. We smelled the spirit and sipped to taste the flavors of the olive that lay in the spirit – fruity, buttery, and citrusy. We sipped Kástra Elión straight, and then sampled it in a classic martini with olives. Frank spoke to the quality of the spirit, saying that “you could have 3 full glasses of this and wake up the next morning feeling perfectly alright.”
After the tasting, we all went back downstairs for some more bites and the second cocktail, a play on a G&T called the Dirty Tonic. In addition to Kástra Elión, this cocktail contained a charred bay leaf, spiced olive oil, and tonic water. Each guest took home a personalized bottle of the smooth and buttery vodka we celebrated tonight. We can’t wait to see it become a hit in NYC like it’s becoming in LA, where the founders reside. Until then, stop by Martiny’s to ask for an Aphrodite’s Delight and shop Kástra Elión here.
Old world glamor, whirlwind dancing, artistic decadence…. All of this and more unfolded at the Viennese Opera Ball in New York City last Friday. Hosted at Cipriani’s 42nd Street location, the annual ball put on by the city of Vienna to celebrate the Austrian-American relationship, resumed in-person in all its beloved splendor after a two year break.
The night started off with a reception: guests dressed in white tie and ball gowns browsed the artwork and other items up for auction. Meanwhile, Cipriani’s signature bellinis were passed around in champagne flutes, and small appetizers drifted through the room on trays. From elegant lighting and crimson curtains to red rose centerpieces at every table, the space was transformed by artful decor touches.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 13: Jean Shafiroff and Martin Shafiroff attend 66th Viennese Opera Ball
As guests made their way into the dining area for the start of the event, they were greeted by a refreshing endive, parmesan, and avocado appetizer and offered their choice of beverage. Alexander Van der Bellen, the Federal President of Austria, opened the program by welcoming all attendees, introducing the guests of honor, and emphasizing his love of the ball. To him, the ball represents “safeguarding of Austrian culture abroad” and how this event offers “new opportunities and mutually enriching one another” culturally by “celebrat[ing] Austria’s cultural diversity on an international stage.”
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 13: Jean Paul Laurent and Annabel Oreste attend 66th Viennese Opera Ball
Ukrainian Bariton Iurii Samoilov took the stage with a moving tribute to his home country in light of the current war, and delivered a beautiful rendition of The Merry Widow. As guests dined on the second course of risotto with green peas, operatic performances by Donata D’Annunzio Lombardi, Johanna Will, Carolina Lopez, and Matthew White filled the expanse with enchanting melody. A sliced dry aged sirloin with leeks and potato dauphinoise and asparagus was served as a delicious main course, preparing ball-goers for a long night of dancing and festivities ahead.
The dancing portion of the ball kicked off with the introduction of the night’s debutantes and their escorts, who performed a beautiful opening waltz honoring Austria’s beloved, age-old ball traditions. They danced and spun beautifully through the night, and guests were invited later to join in the fun and learn a few basic dances. Couples took the stage with giddy excitement, spinning and ducking while learning about Austrian cultural heritage.
The Viennese Opera Ball, started in 1956 by Austrian immigrants, was based on the Vienna Opera Ball in its namesake city, which began in 1814. One of the only white-tie balls in the US and regarded as one of New York City’s “greatest annual events,” this event has long celebrated Vienna’s history and elegance in the city that never sleeps. This year’s ball, after pausing for two years, reinvigorated the city in its return to a full swing event calendar anticipated this summer and beyond.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 13: Iurii Samoilov attends 66th Viennese Opera Ball at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 13, 2022 in New York. (Photo by Michael Ostuni/PMC) *** Local Caption *** Iurii Samoilov
In addition to celebrating rich cultural heritage, tonight’s ball supported the music therapy program at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and with support from Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. Proceeds from the tickets, donations, and auction items contributed to this important cause changing the lives of so many.
Against the stunning backdrop of the Manhattan skyline from One World Observatory, the Moleskine Foundation presents its groundbreaking installation: Detour. Featuring artists from across the globe, including several alumni of their educational programs, Detour pushes the boundaries of what notebooks can be used for through artistic exploration of sculpture, mixed media, and drawing.
On Wednesday evening, we had the chance to catch a preview of this incredible traveling exhibition, now in NYC after stops in Paris and Shanghi. Delicious passed apps were served alongside platterns of sparkling wine, as attendees took in the views and artwork. We spoke with Moleskine CEO Daniela Riccardi, and Moleskine founder and Foundation CEO Maria Sebregondi about their relationships with the brand and purpose.
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Moleskine has fostered the creative spirit for so many years. How does this exhibit take that one step further?
Daniela: The collection of these amazing pieces of art is the best way to illustrate our mission, that it’s a tool to unleash the power of ideas and creativity. When you see what the artists, but also normal people, have been able to do inspired by Moleskine, you see the story of their life, the idea of their future.
Maria: The collection here is one of the most important assets of the Moleskine Foundation. It’s unique because all the artists are donating their work, sharing the idea of a collective creative relay that is traveling the world, inspiring international minds and pioneers, and generating agency among young people. We have 70 notebooks displayed here, but the collection is 1000+ from the most important architects, musicians, artists, chefs… any kind of creators around the world, together with the artwork of the students from our workshops. Big artists are [showcased] together with young, emerging artists. Now the collection is in the highest location in the city.
What does the Moleskine brand mean to you?
Daniela: Many things. First of all it’s an Italian brand, and I’m Italian. I worked many years abroad, but when I was offered this opportunity I was fascinated by the idea of trying to do something good for a brand that is an icon all over the world and that has inspired so many people. So it means a lot to drive this brand to an even brighter future. Part of that is to give the world the opportunity to learn more about Moleskine, many people think that Moleskine is just a notebook. Maria (the founder) told me that we tell people, “this is the book yet to be written.” It’s not only for designers and big artists, it’s the book of each of us – of empowerment and creativity for everyone. We also believe in creativity for social change… we work together with the foundation to promote this mission.
Why did you choose this venue, and what is the relationship between the brand and NYC?
Daniela: Of course the US in general is one of our biggest markets. This place (the One World Observatory) is an iconic place for an iconic brand. I wanted to bring the exhibit to the sky and to the stars, and I think closer than this is probably impossible. There are thousands of pieces in the collection, and this is only a fraction.
What is the mission of the Moleskine Foundation?
Maria: Our mission is creativity for social change. We transfer the values that are at the base of Moleskine in a social domain in order to make creativity the driver of positive social change. We do this by creating unconventional educational formats for young talents, especially coming from underserved communities. Groups of 20-25 young people gather for a week of profound questioning, developing critical thinking, debating each other… At the end they create something representing the process of this workshop. One project is wikipedia articles on Africa. Africa currently has fewer articles than the city of Paris, so we are developing moments and gathering people to write articles and stories and create a new narrative on the African continent, in native languages that are not represented online.
Do you have a favorite piece in the collection shown today?
Maria: I have a lot, and I love them all. In this moment, I like the Leilah Babirye notebook. She’s here, and she started with us in a workshop in Uganda. She’s an activist in the LQBT+ community, and then she moved over to the US because of the hostile environment in her country.
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A few of the artists attended the opening event. Brooklyn artist Leilah Babirye, Chinese artist and urban planning activist Ou Ning, Program Director of Lower East Side Girls Club Erikka James, industrial designer Scott Henderson, and NYC graffiti artist FAUST all attended the event showcasing their work. Here are some of our favorite pieces:
But these incredible pieces are only a fractionof the insight into moleskine’s versatility and the creativity of humanity showcased in the exhibit. For a trip to the skies of NYC and breathtaking art installations, learn more about Moleskine Detour New York here.
Honest Restaurant, a renowned chain of Indian street food restaurants across the country, just opened up a brand new location in the West Village.
In one of the many famous rooms of Carnegie Hall, city-native newspaper New York Sun relaunched their pages last Wednesday surrounded by journalists, politicians, and more. We got to hear remarks from Mayor Eric Adams, editor Seth Lipsky, and publisher Dovid Efune, on how the new iteration of the publication can be a light to guide the city it’s dedicated to.
Bubusan, the newest brainchild of hospitality company Plan-Do-See and the “edgy little brother” of renowned Omakase restaurant Azabu, is the latest vendor to hit the halls of Time Out Market in DUMBO.