Museum Lunches: The Wright at The Guggenheim

The lunch:

I wasn’t very hungry after a vertigo induced museum stroll around Maurizio Cattelan’s hanging lifetime oeuvre… but still, lunch at the Guggenheim’s The Wright, sounded just… you know. My friend, also feeling a bit dizzy after our rotating stroll staring up and down the museum’s void, wanted something light as well. We both had the calamari salad appetizer as our main, and were not disappointed. The small lunch allowed us to share a delicious pumpkin cheesecake with dulce de leche ice cream. The restaurant is smaller then I expected, but cozy, light and clean.

The exhibit:

There’s nothing conventional about this provocative artist, neither is the way his art is displayed. Perfect match: no chronological order, nor your standard way to see art. Nothing wrong with that. Besides the vertiginous feeling when you look down from the Guggenheim’s spiral walkway, the only other little thing that bothered me a bit were all the stuffed real dogs. I’ve seen plenty of large taxidermy animals, so many artists now do them, but puppy pets? What’s next? The hanging children or the old lady in the fridge? If he could, would he?

You really should see it for yourself, it is totally worth it and don’t forget to download the app, it was very useful at some point. Don’t read while walking, you might feel sick, and that would spoil your appetite… The Wright is totally worth a lunch or dinner.

Ends January 22^nd

For tickets, directions and hours.

Paris Theater in New York

It might be rainy, it might be cold in New York City, BUT: we’ll always have Paris… The charming movie theater called Paris is across the Plaza Hotel on 58^th Street and 5^th Avenue always brings interesting indies and foreign movies that the Mega Cine-plax-max’s out there won’t. It is indeed a trip, at least mentally, to a far away place.

This week I went on that journey twice, for two premieres (thanks to a good friend who works for the Weinstein company). I saw My Week with Marilyn and The Artist, both pristine motion pictures.

So you know, you can escape to Paris when New York City becomes too much.

For more info

PUMA store: 30% off sneakers for your old pair of shoes

It's true. You get 30% off just for giving up your old pair of shoes, which don't even need to be sneakers. Any brand or size will do a good deed. Remarkable. And if you only have one pair of old shoes on you and decide to get a second one (or a third one like me…), you can just pay $5 for the second (and third, etc…) pair and still get the 30% discount. Really? I stocked up on trendy kicks while doing good. The donations go to the Soles4Souls, a shoe charity that gives shoes to adults and children in need around the world.

And if that wasn’t enough, 100% of all profits from their “project pink” apparel will benefit breast cancer research. What a great example Puma… My hat off, new sneaks on.

Get updated shoes for little, feeling like you did a lot.

Ends November 10^th.

For Puma store locations

Newish SoHo arrivals: Treasure and Bond and The Dutch: shop and eat the best

My tip for a pleasant morning: stroll down West Broadway… First, stop and shop at one of the best curated stores I’ve ever been to (except Merci in Paris, as my Italian friend points out). Meet Treasure & Bond, a boutique that displays the best picks in home décor, accessories, and apparel for all.

The staff is always helpfully standing by, and curiously, 80% of them are green eyed girls who wear abundant mascara (I asked: Dior). So, not only are the sales ladies nice on the eyes, also friendly, no fuss here. Besides, you can count this as philanthropical retail therapy: 100% of their quarterly profits are donated to New York City's non-profits that help children in the NYC area.

Don’t miss the light-flooded second floor.

Treasure & Bond, 350 West Broadway between Broome and Grand 646 669 9049

After the delightful experience of browsing through beautiful things, you might get hungry. But before I give you my second tip, take a peek at Lumas next door.

Great concept: art photography from professionals around the world for affordable prices. Nicely mounted on acrylic frames.

Second stop: The Dutch, just a block north. Very friendly staff here as well. The delicious pork sandwich is practically devoured in a few seconds by any customer who orders it. “Is this from the same owner as Batlhazar?” my italian friend legitimately asks. Nope, not Keith McNally, but you could think so from the Pastis like (and all others) décor: white tiles, French bistro vibe, old mirrors, vintage lighting. The Dutch is co-owned by Locanda Verde’s Andrew Carmellini. Now that I do a little bit of research, The New York Times defines the athmosphere of one of Sam Sifton’s (their food critic at the time) as: “A Balthazar for Generations X and Y, a “21” Club for post-Reagan youth”, So, good eye, amica!

131 Sullivan Street (Prince Street), (212) 677-6200