Louis Comfort Tiffany & Laurelton Hall - An Artist's Country Estate

Laurelton Hall the lavish country estate of Louise Comfort Tiffany was built shortly after the turn of the century in Oyster Bay, New York along Long Island's north shore. Conceived and meticulously designed completely by this multitalented artist, Laurelton Hall is the crowning glory in this artist's impressive repertoire of works. From architecture to glass to painting and jewelry, each art medium, which at one point or another in his illustrious career became his focus, is represented in this one outstanding accomplishment.

In the exhibit, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you will find many elements of the home, which were salvaged from the fire that destroyed it, plus many pieces of art (including some of Tiffany's own works) from the artist's personal collection. A series of spectacular Tiffany stained glass windows and a portion of the estate's facade are on permanent exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing and can be viewed at the same time.

Company

The revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical Company opened this fall at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The story, which follows lead character, Bobby through the trials of love and dating, is told through a series of memorable songs including Being Alive and The Ladies Who Lunch.

The show is directed by John Doyle who last season won a Tony for directing Sweeney Todd. Does this mean another musical where actors play their own instruments? Absolutely!

Winter Restaurant Week 2007

For ten days, January 22-26 and January 29 - February 2 more than 100 restaurants, including many of New York City's finest will participate in an event to which New York enthusiasts have come to look forward.

During this special period you can delight in delectable three-course lunches for just $25.07 and three-course dinners for $35.07 (beverages, tax and gratuity are not included).

The winter Restaurant Week 2007 is the perfect opportunity to try out a new restaurant. Perhaps an elegant midtown classic such as Remi or the 21 Club, a theatre district hot spot such as Blue Fin, a mouth watering steak house such as Maloney & Porcelli, Frankie and Johnnie's or Shelly's, a celebrity hang out such as Nobu or Montrachet, candle lit romance such as One if by Land, Two if by Sea, a room with a view such as River Cafe or the Water Club or something ultra casual and quintessentially New York.

Make your plans now. This is a partial list of selected restaurants participating in NYC Winter 2007 Restaurant Week:

2 West
2 West St.
917-790-2525
4, 5 to Bowling Green

21 Club
21 W. 52nd St.
212-582-7200
E, V to Fifth Ave.

44 Restaurant
44 W. 44th St.
212-944-8844
1, 2, 3, N, R, W to 42nd St.-Times Square

5 Ninth
5 Ninth Ave.
212-929-9460
A, C, E, L to 14th St.

a Voce
41 Madison Ave.
212-545-8555
6, R, W to 28th St.

Abboccato Ristorante
136 W. 55th St.
212-265-4000
1 to 50th St.

Blue Water Grill
31 Union Square West
212-675-9500
4, 5, 6, L, N, R, Q, W to 14th St.-Union Square

Bobby Van's Steakhouse & Grill
135 W. 50th St.
212-957-5050
1, 9 to 50th St. or N, R to 49th St.or B, D, F to Rockefeller Center

Bolo Restaurant & Bar
23 E. 22nd St.
212-228-2200
R, W to 23rd St.

Bond 45 Italian Kitchen Steak & Seafood
154 W. 45th St.
212-869-4545
1, 2, 3, N, R, W to 42nd St.-Times Square

Brasserie
100 E. 53rd St.
212-751-4840
6, E, V to 51st St.-Lexington Ave.

Brasserie 8 1/2
9 W. 57th St.
212-829-0812
F to 57th St.

Ada Restaurant
208 E. 58th St.
212-371-6060
4, 5, 6, N, R, W to 59th St.-Lexington Ave.

Hatsuhana Sushi Restaurant
17 E. 48th St.
212-355-3345
N, R, W to 49th St.

Gotham Bar & Grill
12 E. 12th St.
212-620-4020
4, 5, 6, L, N, R, Q, W to 14th St.-Union Square

Exciting Deals – NYC Holiday Getaway Package

Best New York City Restaurants - Café d’Alsace

New York restaurateur Simon Oren saw his name at the center of many a fine restaurant review following the opening, three years ago, of his French bistro/brasserie, Nice Matin on Manhattan's upper west side. Now, he has cloned this successful fun and light-hearted design on the upper east side and named it Café d’Alsace.

Despite the almost identical aesthetics, the regional cuisine of choice has been changed from the Riviera to Alsacian. Authentic french chef and partner in this venture, Philippe Roussel (from Brittany) has prepared an authentic Alsacian menu offering hearty dishes from this northwest region that more closely resembles german cuisine than the parisian or provençal style that you will find at most french restaurants. Hearty stews such as Baeckeoffe (lamb, oxtail and bacon braised in white wine) garnished sauerkraut, sausages, roast pork and casseroles simmered in Rieslings.

For those who can find room, well prepared deserts abound. The ambiance is cheerful and the chef is commendable but if there is one stand-alone gimmick that is bringing people to café d'Alsace it's the Beer Sommelier (yes they're serious). With almost 120 brews on hand, Avriam, the restaurants beer sommelier can suggest the perfect choice for each meal, and for each individual's taste. The restaurant has become quite popular and reservations are needed for both lunch and dinner.

Tree Lightings - The Baroque Christmas Tree

Each year, The Metropolitan Museum of Art erects a 20-foot Christmas in the center of it medieval sculpture hall. Placed before the large iron choir screen from the cathedral of Valladolid in Spain, this dramatic, low-light setting creates a sight to behold.

The tree is decorated with angels and cherubs and, at the foot of the tree is an elaborately detailed nativity scene composed of 18th century Neapolitan figurines.

From Cézanne to Picasso: Ambroise Vollard, Patron of the Avant-Garde

At a young age, Ambroise Vollard, an art dealer in Paris, began collecting and exhibiting the works of emerging artists. At the turn of the 19th century he was representing not only Cezanne and Picasso but also Degas, Gaugin, Van Gogh, Matisse, Renoir, Rousseau and others.

One successful exhibition followed another and soon Vollard became sought after by emerging artists hoping to be discovered and chosen by the man with the Midas touch. This exhibit, which contains 100 paintings, sculpture, books and prints, brings together works by many of these artists, which at one time were either presented or collected by Vollard.

This comprehensive exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art will be on view through January 7, 2007.

NYC Shopping Guide – Holiday Crafts on Park Avenue

Held inside the armory, this fair gathers 175 of the best known artisans from throughout the states. With a more than twenty year history, this market is an exciting crowd pleaser.

The high quality of the crafts displayed draws a large number of browsing art enthusiasts as well as serious shoppers. Featuring one-of-a-kind and limited editions this market is a great place to find something special for that special someone.

Kaleidoscope Light Show in Grand Central Station

While at Grand Central Station, also enjoy the new Kaleidoscope light show.

Every 30 minutes from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., this new spectacular light show held in the main concourse creates a dancing effect of light and color that turns the building's interior into an incredible prismatic kaleidoscope image.

Best New York City Restaurants - Quality Meats

Michael Stillman, son of Alan Stillman of Smith and Wollensky fame has branched out on his own bringing yet another steak house to Manhattan's midtown area.

The fruit of his labors, Quality Meats has been cleverly designed, incorporating several meat industry icons such as butcher block tiles, walnut planks reminiscent of meat lockers and ceiling light fixtures porting a steal hook motif.

Surprisingly enough, the well conceived design provides an elegant atmosphere that is more likely to appeal to women than the typical stodgy steak house that we have come to expect.

Attention to an attractive presentation does not end with the decor, menu items are served with well planned garnishes that defy the ubiquitous brown sauces. The menu offers a broad variety of choices including t-bone steak, sirloin, rib eye, a gargantuan 64 ounce double cut intended for two, rack of lamb, veal chops, suckling pig and a variety of fish. Heaping flavor, however, comes at a heaping price.

Exciting Deals – NYC Holiday Getaway Package

The New York City Ballet presents: The Nutcracker

This holiday season, come and experience for yourself the incredible show. With Tschaikovsky's incomparable score and dazzling sets and costumes, The New York Post calls this joyous holiday tradition "the Christmas show of all Christmas shows."
Start your holiday season off right and be one of the first to see this year's production of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker at New York City Ballet. Tickets are available at New York City Ballet website or please call CenterCharge 212.721.6500.

Lightings in NYC - UNICEF Snowflake

Suspended at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, the UNICEF Snowflake is held in place by four of New York's most highly known establishments: Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Bergdorf Goodman and The Crown Building. This twenty-one year old tradition received a facelift last year with introduction of a new snowflake presented by Baccarat Crystal.

Designed and handcrafted by Ingo Maurer in Germany the snowflake incorporates 16,000 Baccarat crystal prisms. Twenty-three feet wide and twenty-eight feet tall, this magnificent structure weighs in at over three thousand pounds and serves as a beam of hope for needy children around the world.

Christmas With Renée Fleming

Renowned artist Renee Fleming fills Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium with the sounds of her incomparable voice in a holiday celebration that includes excerpts from Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Mass in C minor, Bach's Christmas Oratorio, Berlioz' Trio for Flutes and Harp, Bernstein's Simple Song plus traditional carols.

The event take place on Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 8:00 PM. Ticket prices range from $42-$125 and are available on line at Carnegie Hall or at the box office.