Whether they’re lovers of food, French wine or simply good ambiance, New Yorkers now have a new French restaurant to add to their rolodex: Steak Frites Bistro. Located in Hell’s Kitchen with Parisian decor throughout, even at nine PM on a Wednesday, this bistro is rife with good times and even better food.
Who could have imagined that crying baby plants, flying broomsticks and talking portraits would be tucked right in the middle of Downtown Atlanta?
Harry Potter: The Exhibition is now in Atlanta, after opening locations in Philadelphia and Vienna, Austria last year. Soon to follow will be a Paris location as well as other cities in the near future.
The exhibition brings the world of Harry Potter to life and includes locations like Hogwarts, Harry’s bedroom and Hagrid’s living home.
While this may sound similar to the theme park at Universal Studios Orlando, or even the newly built flagship store in New York City, Harry Potter: The Exhibition is in a class of its own. From start to finish, it features everything from the entire series.
No detail is spared. In fact, every detail is carefully placed and beautifully executed. Down to the design of the Divination classroom to the real props and outfits used in each film, this exhibition is like a whimsical fever dream. Guests can expect to see behind the scenes preparations of the work that went in to building the world of Harry Potter that we know so well today.
Everything from how the characters’ wands were designed to the real story behind some of our favorite moments from the films can be seen throughout the tour.
Upon entering, guests can choose a house and a Patronus. From there, the experience is specially curated around the guest’s choice and allows them to enjoy an interactive experience. If you’re not camera shy, there are plenty of cool photo-ops to take advantage of.
The space is massive and takes over an hour to cover. Don’t worry about a sensory overload, though. There’s a lot to see but there’s no rush! We promise you’ll enjoy every minute of it.
There’s something for every kind of wizard at this exhibition. Whether you’re a super fan of the beloved series or you’re just looking for a fun outing, this is definitely the place to be.
Visit the café to get your hands on a Butter Beer, the popular soft drink introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, or snack on some tasty treats inspired by the films.
If you’re in the mood to spend some money, stop by the gift shop to see hundreds (seriously) of Harry Potter merchandise. From Gryffindor T-Shirts and the Marauders Map of Hogwarts to Voldemort figurines, there’s plenty to choose from.
Tickets to the Atlanta location are on-sale now and start at $25 for kids and $29 for adults.
Watch our recap of the exhibition here.
If you are looking for a new downtown restaurant to enjoy with your friends or even a solo date (treat yourself) then you are in luck! Offering a sanctuary for celebration and luxury that blends the greatest aspects of New York and French culture, Maison Close officially opens today in the heart of Manhattan with approachable French cuisine, elevated beverages, and a celebratory atmosphere that makes both residents and visitors feel at home.
Maison Close’s unparalleled vibe dining experience features a menu of sophisticated, yet accessible French dishes developed by Executive Chef Geoffrey Lechantoux (Louis XV in Monaco, Trianon Palace in Versailles, Plaza Athénée in Paris, Le Jules Verne in Paris and Benoit in New York) including:
“When you enter Maison Close, it feels as though you’ve entered the dining room of your oldest friend,” says Chef Lechantoux. “Our menu modernizes the idea of traditional French dining, and I’m excited to bring a fresh take on this classic cuisine to New York City.”
Situated between the more suburban hamlet of Bridgehampton and the rugged, cliffy town of Montauk is East Hampton, last in the strand of Hamptons towns. Remarkably, as those places have changed, East Hampton has stood as a rock of resistance, committed to its farm-and-stock legacy- some aspect of high Bohemia in an otherwise summer colony scene.
Vast stands of trees, carpets of moss, tables of ferns, and busts of stray sand contain years of ecological history. The climate offers a calm humidity and the sun is intercepted by ocean mist, providing a glassy warm light making everything in view practically glow. Even to this day, some roads remain unpaved and unkempt in the most organic manner.
All of this in mind and it becomes clear why, in 1975 Jack Lenor Larsen, chose East Hampton to create a microcosm of what he treasured as a world-renowned textile designer. You can watch the PBS “Craft in America: Visionaries” series on Jack Lenor Larsen here. At the 16-acre LongHouse Reserve, there is a deep dive into an organic soul, with every inch of its territory not only preserved, but reconsidered and critically respected. LongHouse Reserve is a remarkable integration of nature, art, and design. Unpredictable, extensive, unlimited in inspiration, its gardens present entire landscapes as an art form.
EAST HAMPTON, NY – JULY 23: Atmosphere at LongHouse Reserve 2022 Summer Benefit at LongHouse Reserve on July 23, 2022 in East Hampton, NY. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/PMC)
While awe-inspiring scenes of stillness can define the experience of Longhouse Reserve, the Reserve tends to be bustling with activity on any given day. Under the leadership of interim director Carrie Rebora Barrat, a former deputy director at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and former president and CEO of the New York Botanical Garden, Longhouse Reserve has become a dynamic place to be, with all sorts of events take place all through the year.
Sound and Silence led by Adrianna Barone at LongHouse Reserve
To this end, Longhouse Reserve has become a meeting place for creative people who appreciate the environment and arts. The events schedule this summer is extremely robust, including a well-received conversation series which has included the likes of Lee Skolnick, Bjorn Amelan (whose work is now on view at LongHouse Reserve), and Michele Oka Doner, whose Florida-based childhood was the fuel for a lifelong study and appreciation of the natural world. The talks, situated under a shade tree and near a pond, offer an inspiring sense of clarity and ritual to attendees.
Just this weekend, LongHouse Reserve supporters celebrated with ONWARD, LongHouse Reserve’s annual summer benefit which managed to raise over half a million dollars for the garden. The likes of actor Nathan Lane, sculptor Alice Aycock, fashion executive Fern Mallis came together to support the East Hampton institution with dancing, food, and an opportunity to experience the LongHouse Reserve after hours.
EAST HAMPTON, NY – JULY 23: David “Mr. Starcity” White and Duo Lin attend LongHouse Reserve 2022 Summer Benefit at LongHouse Reserve on July 23, 2022 in East Hampton, NY. (Photo by James Bayrami/PMC) *** Local Caption *** David “Mr. Starcity” White;Duo Lin
The summer benefit is LongHouse Reserve’s largest event of the year, with all proceeds going towards the mission of teaching living with art in all its forms; including diverse educational outreach, community programming, and maintenance of the grounds.
“Botanical gardens across the country have invested huge resources over the past 10 years only into bringing art to their properties because they recognize that the combination of arts and nature draws more people.”
– Carrie Rebora Barrat
Global travels and art defined Larsen’s legendary practice (with works now in the collections of MoMA and the Louvre, among so many others) and they are fully reflected in the territory of Longhouse Reserve. Today, it includes the house, a tranquil and human-oriented interpretation of an A-frame design, and the extensive grounds filled with roughly 60 contemporary sculptures, a combination of pieces on loan and permanent works, including Buckminster Fuller’s “Fly’s Eye Dome” and Yoko Ono’s giant, monochromatic chess game, “Play It by Trust.” The Pavilion is set at the end of Peters Pond, which accepts the sun with joy and lily pads stage against grand Dale Chihuly works.
LongHouse Reserve
The grounds are intentionally divided by privet hedges, offering “rooms” to explore, with some areas featuring human-made art (particularly immersive is the Sol LeWitt sculpture) while others indulge in the beauty of the environment (The Dunes and Grass Garden, for example). Wherever you walk, elements of surprise and amusement are baked into the experience. Less anticipated is the sense of oneness and control in the environment, delightfully rare by today’s standard. And that’s just in the daytime. LongHouse Reserve can be illuminated to provide an entirely new experience by night.
LongHouse Reserve is located at 133 Hands Creek Road, East Hampton NY 11937. Learn more and reserve tickets here.
With outdoor cinema on a rooftop terrace, you can’t go wrong.
The successful outdoor cinema experience from London has crossed the pond.