A Week in NYC
I love fall in NYC. The fantastic weather has made for a lot of walking. Here is a short rundown of some new and not-so-old spots to check out, along with a few other things. I went back to Borgo (full disclosure, we are investors), but the place is so good. The backyard is now open, too. If you haven’t gone, get there.
On the Gotham frontier, our line of lotions, soaps, balms, diffusers, and incense is relaunching in glass (environmentally friendly). It should hit our stores sometime in mid-October. We have two new scents, On The Bowery and Electric Flowers, which are fantastic! This is a small preview above.
We also got ready for fashion week, where we were highlighted (no pun here) at Ekhaus Latta and Collina Estrada.
One of the highlights was going up to Patterson Houses to cut the ribbon on their new basketball court. The Community Fund worked with Green Space Connections, with funding from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, to expand access to resident-driven green spaces across four NYCHA campuses in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
We went to the Willie Birch opening at Fort Gansevoort Gallery and met the artist. He is 83, spry, and amazing. We own one of his pieces, so it was a serious treat. This show was noted as one of the top ten worth seeing his fall by the one and only Jerry Saltz.
We walked the HighLine at dusk up to the Shed to see The Brothers Size. It is so lovely. New art is up on the HL, and this piece just made me laugh….why did the chicken cross to the other side?
The Brothers Size, was first performed at the Public in 2007. The story is about family, freedom, incarceration, and personal struggle—ninety minutes without intermission, the perfect amount of time. There are no props, just three insanely talented men. Their acting, their singing, and their body movements stick with you.
Thursday, we took a trip to Hudson to see the Gotham team upstate. The store looks great, and it is always nice to get out of the city.
When I got back in, I went directly to Chateau Royale, a new spot on Thompson Street from Cody Pruit of Libertine. We have eaten at the bar twice and need to go upstairs to the main dining room. France has influenced Cody, as he spent a significant part of his childhood there. The food is delicious. You can’t go wrong with foie gras, oysters, steak frites….and the french fries are perfect.
Friday, I stopped by the Revelry Festival at Pier 36. Every year, the cannabis industry grows with new brands and new players. I fear that many will be out of business by the end of the year, as the government has made it almost impossible for anyone to achieve profitability like a regular business. It is frustrating for all of us.
Saturday, we went to BK for a party before hitting up F&F for a slice before going back to Manhattan—the best.
Next stop, another play, Can I Be Frank? We saw the last show, but I hope that it comes back. Morgan Bassichis is a comedian who brings back to life the story of Frank Maya. Maya was the first gay comedian, musician, and performance artist who busted out to mainstream in 1995 before he died of aids. Morgan raises the point that we can’t forget the people who came before us. One of the lines that stuck with me, is when gay people become famous they go into the closet. Shame on them.
We finished off the week by having dinner at Sunn’s in Dime Square. Chef Sunny Lee has created a small gem of a Korean restaurant. I felt like I was at Sunny’s house for dinner. I can hardly wait to get back!
We walked back through Dime Square, and it was hopping. It was so lovely to see the streets teeming with people. It felt very European—another week in my favorite town.