Top NYC Moments of 2007

Subway Hero – Early January is always a cruel month. The hype of the holidays leads to a month filled with cold winds and drooping temperatures. Subway Hero, Wesley Autrey, revived our spirits last January when he jumped on a subway track in front of an on-coming train to cover a student who had fallen on the tracks after suffering a seizure. It was selfless and inspiring and it still makes us mist up to think about it.

Senator Hillary Clinton Announces Her Candidacy for President – The former First Lady and Senator from New York has always been a trailblazer, and as the first woman to run for President, the trail is leading her to the White House. It’s anyone’s guess who will be our President-to-be at this time next year, but it’s bound to be an adventure for Hillary.

Will Smith’s Legend Takes Over Manhattan – New Yorker’s are never ones to keep their mouths shut, and Will Smith got an earful when filming “I am Legend” in New York this past year. After tying up traffic and closing down parts of the city, he commented that, “I felt like my middle name was F.U.” Yup, that seems about right.

Bloomberg’s Mayor’s Conference – Our man, Mike Bloomberg, hosted the C40 Conference of Mayors in New York and brought sustainability and responsibility front and center for rest of the world’s big city mayors. Is this guy President yet?

Grand Central Steam Pipe Explosion – On July 19th, New Yorkers experienced a totally unnatural geyser, as a steam pipe ruptured near Grand Central. With only 1 death and minimal injuries, we should consider ourselves lucky. Con Ed? Not so much.

Gossip Girl – Ok, it’s not really a moment. It’s a TV show. But, we like Gossip, and it’s set in some of our favorite NYC haunts and we like that.

Strikers – In late November, it seems as though everyone was on strike and we were tempted to take to the streets to strike against the strikes. Thankfully, the lights of the Great White Way are shining again, but we’re not happy at the thought of a winter devoid of the Golden Globes and the Oscars if the Writer’s Guild remains on strike.

Rockefeller Christmas Tree – This city is going greener and greener as the days go by. Even our beloved Christmas Tree in Rock Center is sporting energy-conserving LED lights. That’s over 84 feet of inspiration for conservation, blazing for all to see. It's just enough to lead us into 2008 with a smile on our faces.

May your holiday season be merry and bright! Wishing all of our friends, colleagues and clients a happy, safe and prosperous New Year!

Rock Center Christmas Tree

Trolling through the internet today, we stumbled upon this great picture of the first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. It was erected by construction workers in 1931 shortly after the site was cleared to begin construction. Like a classic New York story, the humble beginnings of this tradition has grown into something grand and elegant, topped with something very sparkly. Enjoy!

2nd Avenue Relocates to 33rd Street

Keeping things kosher in Kips Bay, the 2nd Avenue deli has re-opened after closing last year at its famed 2nd Avenue location. New Yorkers from far and wide are rejoicing as the historic business unshutters to serve classic deli favorites, like matzoh ball soup, pastrami on rye and much, much more. Jeremy Lebewohl, the nephew of the deli's late founder, Abe Lebewohl, kicked off the reborn venture with a cutting of nickel shtikel sausages.

Just a Reminder

It is a busy time of year for everyone and NYC is in full hustle and bustle mode. While the sights and sounds of New York at the holidays are exciting and can easily draw one’s eye upward for an appreciative glance, causing one’s feet to stop moving and come to a dead halt, please know that this type of activity (or lack thereof) is not appreciated by most New Yorkers when it occurs in the middle of the sidewalk. It also is not appreciated when packs of 4-12 people do it at the same time. Just a reminder to help everyone keep the holiday spirit alive and well in the city.

Brooklyn Bridge Goes Green

Bloomberg does it again. Ok, it’s not only our super-hero mayor who is behind NYC’s newest environmental upgrades, but we like to think he had a lot to do with it. Top of the list? One of the nation's oldest suspension bridges - The Brooklyn Bridge - is getting a modern makeover and going green. The famous necklace lights on the bridge will be replaced with energy-efficient bulbs, saving over 134 tons of greenhouse gases annually. Coming soon? The city will replace 25,000 streetlights and start phasing in new hybrid police and fire vehicles. All of the upgrades are gearing the city toward its goal of a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. If anyone can us get there, it’s Bloomberg.

Greetings from New York

Happy Thanksgiving from Shackman Associates

So New York

The Sweetest Bling

New York is known for setting records of all sorts, and dessert is no exception to this. One of NYC’s famed dessert institutions, Serendipity 3, has unveiled the world’s most expensive dessert, as certified by Guinness. Partnering with a luxury jeweler, Serendipity 3 created the “Frrozen Haute Chocolate,” a blend of 28 cocoas from around the globe. The chocolate sundae is infused with edible 23-carat gold, served in a goblet lined with edible gold, and served with a side of La Madeline au Truffle from Knipschildt Chocolatier, which sells for $2,600 a pound. But, surely that’s not all, right? No, it’s not. Taking this from your average fancy-pants sweet treat to total luxury is the 18-karat gold bracelet with 1 carat of white diamonds served at the base, and the gold spoon decorated white and chocolate colored diamonds, both of which belong to the guest who orders the dessert. So, what’s the price tag for such lusciousness? A mere $25,000.

A Post- Marathon Monday

Yesterday, a record-breaking 39,085 runners lined up in Staten Island for the start of the ING New York City Marathon and New Yorkers from near and far came out in droves to support them as they ran the grueling race to the finish line in Central Park. A few of our favorite scenes from yesterday?

• Lance Armstrong striding up First Avenue in a pack of runners


• A man running in banana suit while eating a banana


• Katie Holmes cruising toward the finish line in Central Park


• Seeing runners, young and not so young, from all over the globe take to New York’s streets, running on behalf of their countries, their families, their favorite charities, and best of all, running just because they can


• Family friend Ryan Lawrence finishing his first marathon in the top 250 men’s finishers


• Paula Radcliffe’s triumphant return to marathons after a two year lapse from competition


• The buzz that takes over New York on Marathon Sunday - there’s just nothing like it anywhere

Happy Halloween

Grand (Central) Dining, Indeed

Last night, after a particularly busy evening of saving the world by event planning, we found ourselves in the Grand Central Market in Grand Central. It has been awhile since we strolled through this great little market, plump with the freshest seafood and meats, produce, wines, cheeses, and baked goods. Our eyes bulged, our mouths watered, our wallets opened and after about 10 minutes, we had handfuls of food to take with us for a lovely little evening. We had some fresh bread from Zaros, some amazing antipasti pasta salad from Bella Cucina, a bit of fresh Vermont cheese from Murray’s, some savory chicken from Dishes and the most amazing chocolate truffles from Li-Lac. And when we went home, we topped it all off with a food coma. Now that’s a great evening, and we’re not ashamed to admit it.

A New Home for Lost Luggage

In mid-September, American Airlines officially began to conduct all of its operations out of what is now known as Terminal 8 at JFK airport. The new terminal is approximately 1.58-million-square-feed and includes a new U.S. Customs and Immigration facility that can handle 1,600 travelers per hour, with security checkpoints capable of handling 1,800 travelers per hour, expanded ticketing positions and self-service check-in machines, as well as a state-of-the-art, in-line security baggage system to expedite passenger processing times. Estimates are projecting that the terminal will handle almost 13 million passengers per year.

It's a Zagat-y Wednesday

The 2008 Zagat’s Survey of Restaurants were released today and while our favorite pizza joint did not make the list of hot spots (it’s a conspiracy), we found ourselves drawn to the little red book nonetheless. I’m sure a few restaurateurs’ tongues are wagging this morning at the results. While we like to think that Zagat is a truly democratic survey, we know that it’s really just a collection of people’ few of the highlights:

• Shock of no shocks, Gordon Ramsay at the London NYC topped the list of newcomers.

• Union Square took the best restaurant honors away from Gramercy Tavern, in their never-ending flip flopping game between the top two spots.

• Time Warner’s Restaurant Collection is rocking some top spots – Asiate in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel was listed as best décor, and the Thomas Keller-ific Per Se has best service.


• Overall dining prices dropped by three cents ($39.46 per dinner), but this CLEARLY is only surveying Starbucks and McDonald’s in the city. We can’t remember the last time we spent less than $75 on a meal.

Happy 100th Birthday Plaza Hotel!

Park(ing) NYC-style

What’s hap, hap, happening on this lovely Fall Friday in NYC? Lovely that you asked. Time’s Up and Green Map, two of the city's many active environmental organizations, are sponsoring Park(ing) Day in the West Village. This one-day global event is hosted in various cities, and features a collaboration between artists, activitists and citizens to temporarily transform metered parking spots into Park(ing) spaces – temporary public parks. This year’s park is hitting the streets today in front of Birdbath Green Bakery on 7th Ave at Charles Street until 6 pm. We hear that some comfy chairs, a bit of shade and a spot of lemonade is being provided. Here's a pic of last year's park in midtown. As kids who love our city for moving toward a greener way of being, we’re all for parking it on the street for the afternoon.

Woo Hoo - It's Wednesday!

Café Carlyle

Last night Woody Allen & The Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band kicked off the 52nd Season of performances at Café Carlyle. A New York institution, Café Carlyle offers refined service, exceptional cuisine and amazing performances. Featuring some of yesterday and today’s most favorite jazz and cabaret performers, this Fall Café Carlyle will be hosting Mr. Allen’s regular Monday night gig, along with Eartha Kitt, Elaine Stritch and Judy Collins, in the intimate venue. Nothing says New York like a night a the Carlyle.

With Our Rabbit Ears, We Declare

So, after a particularly busy weekend, we were thrilled to find ourselves sacked out in front of the TV (or our best friend Ramon, as we like to call him) last night watching the Emmy Awards. While it wasn’t a particularly exciting show to watch (Ramon and I blame Ryan Seacrest), it did make us think of our deep, committed and unwavering love of television. And it also made us realize just how many of shows in our glassy-eyed past are based on New York. So, here is a listing of some of Team Shackman’s favorite NYC TV Shows, in no particular order:

Law & Order – Spawning spin-off after spin-off, and employing just about every actor at some point in their career, L&O is practically a cottage industry.

Sex and the City – It’s no secret that the strongest relationship on the show was the characters marriage to The Big Apple. NYC is quite a looker - who can blame them?

Seinfeld – Duh.

30 Rock – we heart Tina Fey. Bigtime.

Everybody Hates Chris – Ok…we don’t really watch this show. But, it represents Brooklyn, which we do heart. And Ramon likes it.

Saturday Night Live – Duh squared.

What's Hot

Keepin' It Real – Let’s be honest, K.I.R never experiences the chilly winds that come with being out of style. But, K.I.R. version 9.14 is All Brooklyn, All Bowling. The Gutter - the first bowling alley opened in BK in half a century - is a hoot. That's right - a hoot! With a Schlitz globe in the house and old school pin-setters, this new “Old as New” bowling alley is going to be paradise to Brooklyn’s many hipsters. We’ll probably even make a swing by to check it out.

Fall – Ok, go with us on this one. We realize that Fall is temperately cooler than summer, which makes it decidedly “not hot” on principle. But, we heart the way that in the Fall, people start strolling down the streets again in NYC wearing funky hats, chucky scarves and clunky shoes. It’s like people remember what it’s like to dress for fun and that is just…hot.

Zeppoles – People...The Feast of San Genero has officially started, and that means that the hot, hot, hot little balls of deep-fried, sweet goodness known as Zeppoles are back in town. Run, do not walk down to Little Itlay. There is just nothing like a stroll down Mulberry, taking in the sights and sounds of the Annual Street Festival while munching on these bad boys.

Derek Jeter – HOT. Then, Now, Forever.

Coming Attractions

Our love of all things Jennifer Garner extends well beyond her butt-kicking role in Alias (which, truthfully, may have had more to do with her co-star and love interest, Michael Vartan.) No…we have loved Jennifer from back in the day when she was our favorite hostest with the mostest at one of our much-visited Upper West Side brunch joints. Success, in this case it seems, has gone to the deserving. So, how tickled pink are we that she will be coming to Broadway in this Fall’s Cyrano de Bergerac? Very. And to add a cherry on top of our cupcake, Kevin Kline will play Cyrano to Ms. Garner’s Roxane, and the very talented Daniel Sunjata (Take Me Out) will star as Christian. Now, we will not let our Jen G. adoration cloud our remembrances of some of Broadway’s more recent star turns without sizzle (you know who you are, Julia Roberts), but, we’re hopeful. The show opens November 1st.

New York Summer

FALL FALL FALL BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ

Ok, we’re going to be brave. We’re going to accept that there are certain things we can’t change. Like Fall. It’s going to come. But, we’re also going to remember that Fall brings its own magic with it. Some things that have us jazzed for the upcoming months in New York?

New Show Openings: There are some serious stars coming to New York this Fall: Claire Danes (Pygmalion with Jefferson Mays); Ian “Please Call Me Sir” McKellen (King Lear at BAM); Megan Mullally (Young Frankenstein); Jennifer Garner (Cyrano De Bergerac with Kevin Kline); and Chazz Palminteri (A Bronx Tale) – just to name a few.

Art Explosion: The Dutch are invading the Met with a major exposition, “ The Age of Rembrandt: Dutch Paintings…”; MoMA is still riding the waves of the Richard Serra exhibit through September 10, and doing a focused look at Alexander Calder’s early work; The Whitney houses Kara Walker’s first full-scale American museum survey.

America’s Next Top Model: Cycle 9, BABY!

Central Park in the Fall: ‘Nuff said.

This Moment is Brought to You by The Arch

BK Rulz

It isn't often (ever) that we venture out to Brooklyn. We're not quite sure why (we're lazy). After all we’ve heard nothing but raves about the art scene (overrun with hipsters), music scene (overrun with hipsters) and the foodie scene (overrun by stroller-wielding hipsters.) But, a recent excursion had us all excited about the Borough formerly known as Kings. From hipsters to hasidim, from pizza to picturesque vistas, Brooklyn had a bit of everything. We stopped by our favorite boxing gym to work on our jabs and punches, took in our favorite view of the Brooklyn Bridge (from right below it) and stopped by Steiner Studios to stalk some film stars (no luck.) Of course, Grimaldi’s beckoned and we couldn’t deny ourselves. But, a walk across the bridge back to Manhattan surely worked off the calories. Although, we’re pretty sure the bag of Jacques Torres chocolates is still with us.

Love to Love You, Baby

A recent night celebrating some birthdays had us trolling about the club-land known as Chelsea. Given that we’re less likely these days to shake, shake, shake our groove things, and more likely to shake, shake, shake a bowl of popcorn while sacked out on the couch, we saw some new and cool things. It’s been a while since we’ve unleashed our inner dancing queens and kings. Well, we made up for lost time, and got down on the dance floor. It reminded us of why New York is considered one of the world’s best play-lands, and made us think of some ab-fab places to get our groove on. Some favorites? Here you go:

Lotus – A personal favorite, this multi-tiered Babylon of hip is all about high style, high energy and that’s what NYC lounge living is all about. With décor done in sexy and soft shades of caramel and chocolate, Lotus keeps the MeatPacking district buzzing.

Cielo – If you are looking to really shake a tailfeather, Cielo is the place for you. The DJs are amongst the best in the city and the smaller setting makes everyone just…pop. Also, we’re all about fresh air when dancing, so the outdoor lounge is nice to catch our breath and a wink.

Pre:Post – No night of clubbing is complete without a little nosh before AND after, right? Well, Pre:Post can cater to both urges! Serving the West Cheslea crowd bistro fare in the daylight and the twilight, Pre:Post fills a very unique niche in New York…and many hungry tummies.

Welcome to the USA

Without getting all political, we can say that we’re not President Bush’s biggest fans. While we’re certainly not his least favorite, we do not wear I heart Bush t-shirts for many, many reasons. Well, the man has scored some points with us this week by signing legislation that expands the Visa Waiver Program. The expansion of the legislation will allow citizens from 39 countries (up from 27) to visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa, while putting measures in place to enhance national security and improve the arrival process through customs upon entry in the U.S. The National Tour Association, a big proponent of the legislation’s expansion, notes that it will help the U.S. regain lost market share in international travel and work to improve the United States’ image abroad, and we’re definitely big fans of that.

We'd Rather Be At Work...Seriously

Hooray! A Garden for Beer

We can't tell a lie - we love sitting outdoors in the summer months, drinking beer with our friends. We heart beer. We heart summery outdoors. We heart our friends. Put these things together and you've got quite a good time. So, where does one find such good times in NYC? Taking the N train to Queens, our quest is satisfied at the Bohemian Beer Garden in Astoria. This old time restaurant and beer garden is a former Czech and Slovak social club and features some great Eastern European beers on tap, as well as some tried and true culinary delights. Besides being the last remaining beer garden in New York, the Boho Hall boasts a totally relaxed environment to while away weekend afternoons with a good brew. 'Nuff said.

Happy Happy Happy

A couple of office birthdays this week reminded each of us of just what is so great about birthdays. From the celebrations, the hugs and kisses, the sweet treats…we firmly heart birthdays. A recent poll of Team Shackman asked the question: “What was the best birthday present you’ve ever received?” Kick back and blow out the imaginary candles as you read:

• A 25th birthday trip to Paris, feted and treated by Dad


• A true eight-year old’s delight in the form of a Pink Huffy Bicycle, complete with sparkly streamers and a banana seat


• A surprise trip home to Spain to celebrate a birthday with the family after 10 years of being away - Feliz! Feliz!


• A milestone birthday was celebrated on the sand and in the sun of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands


• A puppy’s licks made a certain birthday the most memorable


• A pair of red Adidas roller skates, complete with sparkling shoe laces, were the highlight of being 10 and made growing feet a sad occasion

Congestion Question

As New Yorkers who are forced to battle for road space on daily basis, we can totally get behind Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to implement a congestion fee for Manhattan. Yes, we’re totally thinking from that special place we go to when we are stuck in midtown, rush-hour traffic in the back of a taxi with no air conditioning. So, in an effort to “say something when we see something,” we’ve come up with some alternative plans to help ease congestion. We don’t want to give away all of our secrets before we meet with the Mayor (which we’re convinced will happen any day now), but here are a couple of highlights from the list:

• Replace all taxis with hover-craft style vehicles that fly through the city


• Ban shoes on all city sidewalks, and mandate roller-skates as the city’s required footwear


• Replace the Department of Motor Vehicles with training and licensing classes on magical apparition, taught by the esteemed Professors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry


• Replace sidewalks in NYC with moving escalators, and allow NYC cops to arrest anyone who does not adhere strictly to the custom of standing on the right, passing on the left


• All drivers will vie for entrance into the city with a series of competitive challenges at checkpoints, including those blow-up sumo wrestling get-ups…those just crack us up…

Deli De-lish

If something can be as “American as Apple Pie,” perhaps other things can be as “New York as a Pastrami on Rye." If you are coming to New York and your stomach is leading the tour, there is one place that is a must-visit that will take you beyond the current culinary trends and back to a place where a bowl of assorted pickles is THE appetizer of choice. Katz’s Deli. Yup, Katz’s still rules. No ifs, ands or buts about it. It has embraced itself as a tourist destination (Yes, Harry did meet Sally there), yet maintained its NYC cred by keeping the same quintessential deli menu offerings from the day it opened. If you’re looking for the best brisket or the perfect pastrami or the choicest cheesecake, look no further than Katz’s. We’ll be there in the back, stuffing our faces.

Happy Independence Day!

Summer...Oh Yeah

Leave it to New York to do things a bit differently in the summertime. A bit more spunk. A bit more pizzazz. A bit more sumpthin’ sumpthin’. Scanning the horizons and the waterfront, it seems like hot times are in bloom in the Big Apple. Here are a few things we’ve had our eye on recently:

**We love that artist and bon vivant/man about town Julian Schnabel has created a hot pink mess in the West Village with his soaring residential tower/ode to all things rose. Of course, if we lived in the neighborhood we’d probably be horrified, but there’s something so punk about the color that we just can’t give it a thumbs down.

**When we were tiny little event planners-to-be, one of our favorite things to do was go to the pool in the summertime. Well, short of spending our hard-earned dough on a fancy-schmancy gym membership, what are we pool-lovers to do in NYC? Take it the barge! Opening in July, the Neptune Foundation’s Floating Lady will be able to accommodate almost 200 swimmers on their redesigned floating barge pool, docked in Brooklyn. Rumor has it that the Water Taxi will be docking there, which means we are so there with our goggles, floaties and flippers.

Broadway Awakening

The 61st Annual Tony Awards were presented on Sunday evening, and it was truly a night that rocked. The heavily favored anthem to youthful exploration,“Spring Awakening,” stole the night, taking home the most trophies, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance of a Featured Actor, Best Original Score, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Orchestration and Best Lighting. Describing the show as “all about the hopes we feel as parents and the wounds we feel as children,” the show’s Tony Award-winning Book writer, Steven Sater was on-hand to collect one of the show’s 8 awards.

Other big winners included the Lincoln Center marathon production of “The Coast of Utopia,” and Grey Gardens, featuring the masterful Christine Ebersole The full list of Tony winners and their acceptance speeches can be found at www.tonyawards.com.

Old King Cole

So, imagine that you’re Old King Cole, hanging about in your mural in the St. Regis Hotel. It’s been about 40 years since your last tune up and things are not looking as…fresh as they once did. Well, it's nothing that a little $100,000 glam fix can’t remedy, and the St. Regis has recently unveiled the restored Maxfield Parish oil painting. As the centerpiece for the King Cole Bar & Lounge, the mural is now back in its rightful place, amongst the classic cocktails and stately elegance of this midtown gem!

All the World is a Stage

Maybe it's because the Tony's are right around the corner, but we're seeing drama everywhere! Taking the theatricality of dining one step further, the former Park Avenue Café is transforming itself seasonally in a very dramatic fashion. With plans to open and close four times a year, and restaurant-design wizkids, AvroKO (of Public and Stanton Social fame) on board, the restaurant will transform its physical space to match their customized seasonal menus. Is this the start of a new trend? As with most productions, its best to wait until the curtain is drawn to make a conclusion.

I Scream, You Scream

It is indeed that time of year: Grilled meats, chilled beer, roof decks, beach towels, and...ice cream. Above all, ice cream. Our summer is off to a banging start with the opening of another Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory in hipster-haven Greenpoint. In a building that has historically housed a Caribbean restaurant and a glass factory, the newest shop brings the same quality we've come to expect to his eight signature flavors. With the promise of a sidewalk crêpe cart in the future, we are amped to head to BK!

Mr. Warhol - 15 Minutes on the Clock Please

Imagine if in some sort of alternative reality-TV-competition universe Iron Chef met American Idol - What would you have? Our new fave joint, Spotlight Live. Located on Broadway in the heart of Manhattan, this place has got us hooked. Serving fame with fantastic fare, this interactive dining and entertainment experience brings great dining together with great (and not so great) performances. Whether you are cutting a hit record in the private recording booths or performing "on Broadway" on the Spotlight Live Jumbo Tron, Spotlight Live is bound to unleash your inner superstar.

Here Comes The Sun...La Dee Da Da

Les Fleurs du Printemps

There are so many things to love about Spring time in New York, but the first budding tulips searching for the sun is definitely one of the most fleeting, lovely surprises to happen every year. But why limit your flower gazing to Spring only? A visit to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden can satisfy and pass along a little flower power. The recently renovated Steinhardt Conservatory Gallery is hosting large scale prints and drawings by Sarajevo native Tanja Softic, and it just isn’t spring without Cherry Blossoms, on display through May 6th.

Spring Is Coming

Hurry Spring Hurry!

We're Still Winners

Ok, so we didn’t pocket $370 million last night in the big lottery. It’s very sad and we’ve already had a good cry into our lattes. While it was fun to dream about our fancy new lives, post-lotto, it would be interesting to see how far the money would go in New York City. So, folks, this is just a taste of what $370 million will get you in the Big Apple:

• 370 million copies of The New York Times


• 185 million slices of pizza


• 185 million trips on the subway


• 90 million large chocolate shakes from Shake Shack


• 18.5 million visits to the Museum of Modern Art


• 15.5 million trips on the Circle line


• 3.7 million tickets to Wicked, Spamalot, or Jersey Boys

We've Got a Secret

Ok, it’s not really a "super secret" along the lines of Capone’s vault, Hoffa’s body and Cher’s plastic surgery past, but it’s still pretty fun. The Campbell Apartment is not an apartment filled with Campbell’s soup – it’s even better! It’s a true New York gem, tucked away in the heart of Grand Central Terminal. Visitors are invited to return to a time when train stations were bastions of glamour, laced with intrigue. Think Hercule Poirot stroking a glass of port before boarding the Orient Express, think Nick and Nora, sniping at each other over martinis. The Campbell Apartment has recently undergone a renovation to this fully restored and luxurious office of 30’s tycoon, John W. Campbell. This Nouveau-Deco sanctuary of velvet, brocade, gilt, leaded glass, mahogany, and marble provides the perfect tableau for an evening of cocktails.

Sunrise, Sunset

A Little Bit of Love

Listen up, potential lovers. Love of the furriest kind is in the air. The ASPCA, along with their partner animal rescue organizations, has declared February as "I Love NYC Pets" Month. Cool, right? More than 50 adoption events will be offered throughout February in all five boroughs, and city shelters will be extending their adoption hours. Perhaps it's time you you found your four-legged sidekick!

Baby It's Cold Outside

With negative temperatures outside and the cold wind whipping our backs, our mind immediately wanders to…Hawaii. But, we then jump right to a big cup of something warm and creamy. New York has no shortage of opportunities to get a cup of coffee, but sometimes you need a little sugar with your jolt. Here’s where you can find some of the city’s best cups of hot chocolate:

Max Brenner’s Chocolate by the Bald Man – trying to create a “new chocolate culture,” our good man Max Brenner serves up cocoa right in their signature “hug mugs.” (no handles) We took the hint and snuggled up to an assortment of cocoas on a recent visit.

MarieBelle – It’s hard not to feel special at MarieBelle’s Cacao Bar. While the name conjures up images of a room made out of chocolate that we can nibble on, the bar has a decidedly European feel, but their cup of hot chocolate will make you feel like you are right at home.

Vosges – Like all good things, a little bit of sugar and a little bit of spice gets the job done right. This is definitely the case with Vosges spicy hot chocolate with cinnamon and chili peppers

Jacques Torres’ Chocolate Haven – We love all things Jacques. Chocolate covered cheerios – brilliant. Chocolate covered orange peel – a citrusy bit of heaven. Chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels – yum times 10. Well, all of these pale in comparison to their house hot chocolate. We’re just…speechless.

And the winner is…

Well, another year…and no Oscar nomination. It shouldn’t be surprising, in that we’re not actors, directors, writers or producers, but still, it just…hurts. We will try to recover from our loss by remembering that we live in one of the cinema’s most beautifully filmed cities. Some favorite screen captures?

Ghostbusters (1984) – It’s one of the most revisited films based in NYC. Shot throughout the city, from Central Park West to Tribeca to some great scenes in Midtown. One of our favorites? A hysterical Rick Moranis at Tavern on the Green. It still cracks us up to think about it.

When Harry Met Sally (1989) – It’s one of those scenes that’s just unforgettable. Well, we think that Katz’s pastrami sandwiches are pretty unforgettable, and the mere mention of Meg Ryan is enough to get us salivating.

Ransom (1996) – Yes, there once was a time when Mel Gibson was known as just an actor with a movie filmed in New York. Ahhh…good times. The kidnap scene at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park is both a parent’s worst nightmare and one of the best representations of the hectic pace of Central Park.

The Interpreter (2005) – As the only film shot inside the United Nations, this film brings a level of realism to the story that had us on the edge of our seat.

Anything by Woody Allen – ‘Nuff said.

Oooooohhhh...Pretty

NYC Sunset from Top of the Rock