Posts Tagged ‘The Mark’

Give Mom a New York City Staycation or at Least Take Her to Brunch for Mother’s Day

It hasn’t been an easy year for mom: home schooling, cooking, searching for paper towels and having everyone home at the same time. It’s time to give mom a well-deserved break.

Everyone’s Favorite: Mother’s Day Brunch

Take mom away from the kitchen with these lavish Mother’s Day brunches

Courtesy Vestry

Vestry

Michelin-starred Chef Shaun Hergatt (SHO, Juni) has created a three-course prix fixe menu at his new restaurant, Vestry in The Dominick Hotel in SoHo. The menu shows off Hergatt’s versatility with a focus on seasonal selections, accented with Japanese ingredients. Choose from homemade blinis with trout roe to start or perhaps a carpaccio of salmon. The second course will please vegetarians, seafood and meat lovers with choices including black bass, chicken, or mushroom tagliatelle. A dark chocolate tart for two will finish the special brunch.

Courtesy Rainbow Room

Rainbow Room

Reopening after closing a year ago, the legendary Rainbow Room marks the occasion with its traditional Mother’s Day brunch, re-imagined this year from a lavish buffet to a family-style table feast. The prix fixe fete reconfigures the Rainbow Room classics, seafood towers, griddle platters and sides for table presentation. Dessert arrives with a s’mores cart, sweet treats cart and a dessert tower. Don’t forget to bring your cameras – being on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza offers spectacular views that you’ll definitely want to capture.

Courtesy Ai Fiori

Ai Fiori

Take Mom to the Riviera on Mother’s Day with a celebration at Michelin-starred Ai Fiori at The Langham, New York. The flower-filled restaurant is celebrating Mom with a special prix fixe brunch. Many of the restaurant’s signature dishes are offered on the three-course menu including spaghetti blue crab with lemon and chilies, raviolo al uovo with  spring peas,  pan-seared black bass, or the popular Fiori burger that can be enhanced with a fried egg. The brunch comes with complimentary chocolates and Ai Fiori can arrange a floral centerpiece to take home. Or surprise mom with an overnight stay and bring the flowers to your room.

Crab Cake Eggs Benedict - Couresty Junior’s Restaurant

Junior’s

At their Brooklyn and Manhattan locations, New York’s iconic Junior’s Restaurant offers a special  brunch and variety of Mother’s Day desserts designed to wow Mom on her holiday. If you can think beyond their iconic cheesecake, the brunch is equally tantalizing with lobster omelets, crab cake Benedict and French toast stuffed with strawberry preserves and cream cheese, a perfect complement to their adorable strawberry cheesecake mini hearts. If mom prefers chocolate, the mini hearts come in chocolate, too.

Courtesy Wave Hill

A Day at  Wave Hill

Turn Mother’s Day into an outdoor tradition by taking advantage of the one day a year the bloom-filled grounds of Wave Hill are available for picnicking.  At the Bronx garden and cultural center, the family can let loose on the lawn with a special Mother’s Day picnic supplied by Great Performances. Two versions, one designed for vegetarians, presented in reusable picnic  pouches and can be  ordered in advance for on-site pick-up on Mother’s Day.  All Mother’s Day picnickers need to do is bring  a blanket.

A Staycation Vacation Gift

A wonderful gift for an overworked mom, a staycation in the city is pampering and indulgent.

Courtesy The Baccarat Hotel

The Baccarat Hotel

Elegant appointments, spring florals, chocolate truffles and a luxurious Baccarat crystal keepsake are just part of this special stay experience created exclusively for Mom with the Mother’s Day Moment package at the ultra-luxe Baccarat Hotel. The hotel’s location steps from Fifth Avenue and Central Park complete the holiday escape. Make it a couple’s thing with breakfast in bed for two, or include the kids for a special Mother’s Day tea for all ages during Mother’s Day weekend.

Courtesy The Mark Hotel

The Mark Hotel

After a year of playing teacher, chef, psychiatrist and everything in between, mom deserves some serious “me time.” The Do Not Disturb: Mother’s Day at The Mark package indulges with five-star accommodations in a guest room or suite with amenities guaranteed to rejuvenate and restore. Caviar, blinis and Bellini’s from The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges set the tone upon arrival. Then it’s a mix of in-room and in-spa treats: cucumber eye pads, a monogrammed The Mark plush bathrobe, yoga mat, 60-minute full-body massage, Frederic Fekkai blowout and a special flower arrangement. Mom will soon forget that last year ever happened.

Courtesy Crowne Plaza HY36

Crowne Plaza HY36

It’s time for mom to put those sweatpants and slippers away – she definitely needs some R&R and some new clothes. Book her a fabulous escape at the new Crowne Plaza Hudson Yards for a Mother’s Day VIP Shopping Experience. Mom’s guaranteed to return refreshed and happy after a relaxing overnight stay and a shopping experience with a private stylist. She can explore the Hudson Yards shops, the High Line, or simply sit by the bar and sip a well-warranted cocktail. The package also includes Champagne upon arrival and a $100 shopping certificate.

Courtesy Intercontinental New York Times Square

Intercontinental New York Times Square

If you’d rather not leave the family behind, the Intercontinental New York Times Square has two packages to appeal to everyone. Broadway may not be live at the moment, but with a suite stay, the stage show will come to you on Mother’s Day courtesy of the hotel with a private magic show with renowned mentalist Jason Suran either virtually or in your room. If the kids are younger, a second package arranged by the hotel with Build-a-Bear Workshop comes with a Build-a-Bear gift certificate, a special Build-a-Bear NYC backpack, and a surprise welcome amenity for children.  Moms and dads aren’t left out – they get a minibar credit.

5 Places for Outdoor Dining in Brooklyn and Manhattan

Baby, it’s cold outside. But New Yorkers are resilient, and we love to eat. Cold weather won’t keep us home. After all, restaurants are our living rooms; it’s where we socialize. Bundle up and get ready for some creative options.

As New York City restaurants scramble to figure out how to keep their outdoor business flourishing during the chilly (and potentially snowy) winter months, many have come up with creative solutions to keep diners happy and warm. From igloos to bubbles, covered tents, and enclosed-yet-open structures, restaurants are developing new spaces to allow socially distanced socializing and fun.

Given that NYC regulations are constantly changing, please be sure to contact each establishment to verify opening hours, reservation policies, health requirements, and any other variations as the months progress.

Parklife

Parklife

Parklife in the Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn will keep its hip crowd happy this winter with outdoor heating and two solariums. Using their 4000-square-foot outdoor yard, they have created a dining and drinking space that guarantees social distancing. Blankets can be rented, if you’re still feeling chilly, for a mere $5, and the blankets are washed, sanitized and vacuumed sealed after each use. Or bring your own. There’s also a fire pit if you prefer to sit in the great outdoors instead to enjoy Texan, Persian and Mexican-inspired dishes and warm cocktails like the new Apple Sauced and Break the Mulled. The bar/restaurant also offers one of the rare socially distanced entertainment options for you during the pandemic – they have a full event calendar with the likes of trivia and movie nights, all free.

The Greens on the Rooftop at Pier 17

The Greens on the Rooftop at Pier 17

The Greens on the Rooftop on Pier 17 will bring all the seasonal charm of Upstate New York downtown as it converts the Seaport’s “The Greens” into a village of 28  winterized rooftop cabins. The personal dining cabins, which fit up to 10 guests (the current maximum allowed in an indoor gathering in NYC), are decked out with classic winter décor and amenities including cozy and comfortable banquette seating, floor-to-ceiling views of New York City, a virtual fireplace, electric heating and a Molekule air purifier. The all-day menu from the Pier’s rooftop restaurant, R17, blends New American cuisine with a festive cocktail program by bar Dante including signature cocktails and recipes developed exclusively for The Greens. Even cooler to fight off any chill, you can order warm beverages in YETI vacuum-insulated drinkware. Reserve the cabins well in advance.

Schaller’s Stube Sausage Bar

Schaller’s Stube Sausage Bar

Chameleon and somewhat-of-a-speakeasy, the unmarked back garden area below Schaller’s Stube Sausage Bar has transformed from an Austrian wine bar to Hütte, their new Alpine ski lodge.  A cozy winter retreat in the middle of the Upper East Side, Hütte (German for small cabin or hut) is a tented, heated outdoor dining experience. There you’ll enjoy hearty stick-to-your-ribs comfort food including game meats and fondue, paired with a wonderful Austrian wine list.  Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket, just to be sure. A piping hot Glühwein will add extra warmth. If you can’t fly to Austria this season, this just might be the next best thing.

Vicolina

Vicolina

Transporting you to Italy, new Carnegie Hill Vicolina has created an Italian garden in an enclosed box. Draped with flowers and grapes and reminiscent of a vineyard, the box is inviting and elegant. The interior is heated and decked out with chandeliers and white tablecloths. White-glove service is the norm. The evening is luxe and perfect for enjoying the restaurant’s extensive menu and wine list.  Be forewarned, portions are huge. The delicious chicken parmigiana is easily shared by two. If you happen to be there on the right night, a strolling musician will make you feel like you’ve just entered a private club or perhaps Trastevere in Rome.

The Mark by Jean-Georges

The Mark by Jean-Georges

For those in the know, the tony Mark by Jean-Georges at the Mark Hotel has been offering outdoor dining from the full menu along with a popular high-end hot dog stand. And, now, for the chillier months, the Mark’s green and white tents have been winterized to keep guests toasty. You can choose from an all-day menu with the likes of sushi, sashimi and black truffle pizza or from Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s elevated selections like slow-cooked salmon in a fermented black bean vinaigrette and the signature salted caramel sundae, a droolworthy confection that includes popcorn and peanuts. Wear your fur-trimmed Moncler or a real or faux fur for this chic experience.

Valentine’s Day Getaways in New York City — It’s Not Too Late to Book!

New York is rich in hotels that we New Yorkers never experience.  Why not try one of these packages for a different and really cool Valentine’s Day (or Valentine’s Day gift)?

Kimptons 70 Park Avenue HotelFor the on-again-off-again couple looking to rekindle the romance or just book a sexy rendezvous, Kimpton’s 70 park avenue has you covered with its “Exes and Ohhs” Valentine’s Day package.  Guests receive two welcome Hot and Toddied cocktails at the hotel’s adjacent silverleaf tavern to help set the mood before retreating for a two-night escape in one of 70 park’s cozy and intimate guestrooms.  Love birds will also receive two tickets to a three-course dinner and burlesque show to help add to this raunchy “staycation” weekend.  For additional seductive fun, the hotel’s on-site love doctor has a specially curated list of sensual activities to spice up the stay, from a sexy boudoir shoot to an in-room couples massage and chocolate-making classes. Available from February 13 – February 16. Priced starting at $862 for two nights’ minimum.  http://www.70parkave.com

The MarkWoo your Valentine with bubble baths on demand and a multi-course dinner by one of New York’s most celebrated chefs, Jean-Georges, at The Mark. The sexy Valentine’s Day package (from $755 per night) includes a dozen red roses, a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Rosé and a cheese-and-fruit platter upon arrival; a Frédéric Malle candle; a bubble bath;  and breakfast in bed the next day. http://www.themarkhotel.com

Langham HtoelLangham Place is stepping up its game with the “Love of the Game” package (from $755), which combines sports plus romance (yes, really). Celebrating the NBA All-Stars weekend, the package includes a Party with the Pros cocktail party, where you can mingle with top NBA players, as well as a couples’ massage at the Langham Place Spa and daily breakfast for two in Measure Lounge. http://www.langhamhotels.com/en/langham-place/new-york

A paddle, a necktie, bondage kit and spanking powder. We can’t forget that Valentine’s Day coincides with the release of “Fifty Shades of Grey”. Two Kimpton hotels, Eventi and Ink48, are offering “Shades of Grey” deals (from $450; through March 1), which includes the items mentioned above, plus massages, admission to the Museum of Sex, and a $200 credit toward lingerie at La Perla or Agent Provocateur. http://www.newyork.com/hotels/eventi-hotel, http://www.newyork.com/hotels/ink-48-hotel/ . Pretty darn hot.

Z HotelAcross the bridge, Z NYC Hotel in Long Island City is offering a “50 Shades of Z” Package.  Pretend you’ve taken a helicopter to meet Christian Grey as you overlook the Manhattan skyline from your accommodations. The rest is up to you with the box of trinkets you’ll receive upon check-in including edible underwear, handcuffs, tickle feather, blindfolds, and a book of erotic games. Chocolate strawberries, champagne, and breakfast in bed complete the package which is available until February 28.  Rates start at $245 per night.  Tickets to the movie can be arranged. www.zhotelny.com.

Best Picks for Bar Dining in New York City

Ever try to get a reservation at the newest, hottest, trendiest restaurant that you’ve been dying to go to and get closed out?  Try dining at the bar instead where you can often enjoy the full menu while conversing with the bartender and making friends with your neighbors.

More on Best Picks for Bar Dining in New York City

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