Happy Halloween!

Channeling Chanel

Chanel in Central Park? A somewhat unlikely combination, but not this fall when the spaceship-like Chanel Pavilion lands smack dab in the middle of it. Zaha Hadid, a London based artichect, was hired to design the 7,400 square foot steel structure, pieced together with white plastic panels. Already on display in Hong Kong, the exhibit will travel from New York to Moscow to Paris over the next year. The sleek, timeless style pays homage to the haute couture brand Chanel. The free exhibit is on display through November 9.

It's Halloween for Hounds

In celebration of man (and woman’s) best friend, this Sunday Times Square will welcome our furry friends to the Fourth Annual Dog Day Masquerade. The afternoon of canine camaraderie will include a costume contest while also raising awareness for one of the City’s largest animal adoption agencies, Animal Haven. What’s better? The infamous Naked Cowboy will be on hand to judge the costumes, with best in show going to the pup that best encompasses the aura of Times Square.

Fall Into Autumn, Part III

It’s once again that time of year to lace up your skates and head out to the rink. This week marks the opening of a number of rinks throughout the city for you to take a spin on. And while you’re at it, why not learn a little bit of the history behind these famous rinks.

World’s Fair Skating Rink – Located in Queens, this ice rink was constructed for the 1939-40 World ’s Fair, and became the first year-round skating facility in the park system.

Abe Stark Rink –Abe Stark named this Coney Island rink after himself when he became a pseudo-celebrity for his sign in Ebbet’s Field (home of the Brooklyn Dodger’s) advertising “Hit Sign, Win Suit. Abe Stark. Brooklyn's Leading Clothier.” Only one suit was ever awarded.

The Pond at Bryant Park – The newest rink on the scene, this Manhattan rink constructed in 2005 welcomes free ice skating. Surrounding the rink is a free standing holiday marketplace modeled after Europe's Christkindlmarkts.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center – More renowned than the Rink itself, Paul Manship’s highly recognizable bronze guilded statue is displayed prominently over The Rink at Rockefeller Center. Featuring the Greek Titan Prometheus, some sources site it as the fourth-most familiar statue in the United States, behind the Lincoln Memorial, Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty. Manship was not particularly fond of it.

Wollman Rink – Perhaps the most famous of city rinks, Wollman Rink was opened in Central Park in 1949, thanks to a $600,000 donation by Kate Wollman. Now owned by the Trump Organization, the rinks official name, Trump Wollman Rink, welcomes nearly 4,000 visitors a day.

Fun Fact: Before Central Park was constructed in the 1870’s, city dwellers would skate on the famous Lake, which was drained to lower levels so no one would crack the ice.

Wine & Food Festival Update

Update: The Bobby Flay demo was great! We were practically within touching distance of Master Chef Flay, who sliced and diced his way to a full Thanksgiving meal. We even got a surprise visit from Giada De Laurentiis, who arrived a bit early for her own demonstration to say hello to the crowd. And of course, no celebrity visit is complete without a book signing, which we scored inside of Chelsea Market where all of the culinary stars were ‘stirring’ about.

Food & Wine & Celebrities, Oh My!

What pairs best with food and wine? Celebrities of course. Enter the New York City Wine and Food Festival, kicking off today with a matchup of the best of all things culinary. Tastings, book signings, and cooking demos will be held around the city this weekend (catch us at the Bobby Flay demo at Highline Ballroom this Saturday). Plenty of giveaways and celebrity sighting are a given, but if you watch (and smell) closely enough, you may even learn a thing or two.

Looking for a Celebrity Chef for your next private event? Ask us about dinner in the test kitchen of one of New York’s most famous chef’s– who will create and execute a menu just for your event!

Fall Into Autumn, Part II

5 Years of Horror. Need I say more? This Lower East Side autumn mainstay has once again come to give New Yorker’s a run for their money. Dubbed ‘Nightmare New York’, this classic walk-through haunted house isn’t for the faint of heart. Their newest fear factor - SAW V room – is a chilling ode to goblins and ghouls from back in the day. Check 'em out, now through November 8. Boo.

Intrepid Makes Waves

The two year renovation of the Intrepid is finally complete! New Yorker’s will welcome back the acclaimed 41,434 ton steel air-craft carrier today, which was commissioned to serve in World War II. Behind the Scenes is what it’s all about, with guests now able to view areas like the Foc’sle (aka the area of the ship that controls the anchors) and crew quarters, giving a real perspective on life aboard the Intrepid. While the official opening date isn’t until November 8, the partnering Museum next door is full steam ahead for incredible events at this one-of-a-kind venue.

Word on the Street

Say what? Magnolia Bakery to open a 3rd location near Rockefeller Center? Say it isn't so.

The latest Word on the Street is that Sex & the City's favorite cupcake shop is slated to open on 49th Street and 6th Avenue before the end of the year.