My Five Blocks

I’m eating lunch today at one of my favorite places in my five blocks — Bouchon Bakery. I recommend the new salad special of the day: Shrimp with arugula, heirloom tomatoes, cucumber and corn. It comes with a bacon vinaigrette but I substituted Bouchon’s classic sherry vinaigrette. Outstanding! It’s my new favorite lunch item at Bouchon, though the tomato soup with grilled cheese remains a close second. Hopefully, the shrimp salad will become a regular menu offering. The only drawback is the price, $21.95, considering it is small. But what a setting – view of Columbus Circle and Central Park – and paired with fresh French bread and unlimited refills of iced tea makes it a great summer treat.
If you have a chance to try it, let me know what you think.

Duane Reade has been known for its convenient locations on what feels like nearly every other block of Manhattan;  but, it also has received a lot of flack for its poor aesthetics, dull decor and bad service.   That seems to be changing, in particular at the new format stores like the 22,000-square-foot one opening at 40 Wall Street.   It’s the flagship location for the refurbished stores that now contain items like fresh food (including sushi) and the “LOOK boutique” upscale beauty departments.  One is located in my five blocks just a few steps from Lincoln Center on Broadway at 64th st (around the corner from The Empire Hotel).   Walking by, you may not realize that this location has the new “LOOK boutique” because it’s on the lower level.  (The street level portion of the store also is new with a large food section containing not only the typical dry snack goods and beverages but also fresh salads, fruit, sushi and breads. )

I highly recommend visiting the “LOOK boutique” on the lower level.   It brings the the department store experience to the convenience of a drug store ( note, with many of the department store price points).   This location is a bit cavernous compared to some of the other stores where the “LOOK boutique” is at street level surrounded by windows,  but it still benefits from the new design:

• Modern decor – clean and fresh with well-lit shelving and signage
• Upscale skincare brands such as Vichy, Kinerase, La Roche-Posay
• Specialty cosmetics brands like purminerals and tini beauty
• Extensive nail polish selection beautifully displayed
• Traditional Mass brands (Revlon, L’Oreal, Neutrogena, etc.) adjacent to the “LOOK boutique”
• Testers for the prestige beauty items, not for the traditional Mass products
• Upscale bags with purple tissue paper, versus the typical Duane Reade plastic variety.   (And, the Beauty advisor put many samples in my bag, mostly from French brand LIERAC.)
• Beauty advisors who are trained on each of the lines

Photos:

Table with Testers

In celebration of the July 4th holiday, check out Magnolia Bakery’s latest specialty cupcake.  $3.25 each.  Fun and festive!

Fourth of July Cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery

Although it has been open nearly two months, 16 Handles is having its official Grand Opening today.  16% discount, raffle, and balloons out front (photo below).    See my original Post on 5/4/2011 for more details on 16 Handles.

Last time I was walking by the Time Warner Center, I noticed a colorful happy-looking teddy bear sculpture (that reminded me a bit of Hello Kitty).    I stopped to find out more and learned that it was created by Brazilian artist Romero Britto to benefit Best Buddies International, a nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.  I’ve attached photos below of the Best Buddies Friendship Bear right outside the front entrance to Time Warner and the cat and dog sculptures inside the main doors of the lobby.   Perfect for summer fun!

Best Buddies Friendship Bear

Yoga has certainly become mainstream — not just for hard core yogis anymore.   It seems that more and more studios are opening in Manhattan, and traditional gyms are increasing their yoga class offerings.  In the last two years, I have become an avid yoga fan.  I practice 3 – 5 days a week, and now I understand why it’s called “practice”. It takes much practice to improve…and no matter how much stronger you become, there are new poses and new challenges to undertake.  Plus, some days just flow better than others on the yoga mat.  I am a true convert.   It has reshaped my body and my mind.  But enough about me.   I want to tell you about two great places for yoga in my five blocks (or really 10 blocks to be exact).

Pure Yoga

I tried Pure Yoga for the first time this weekend.   The beautiful facility is located at 204 West 77th st (between Broadway and Amsterdam), and there is another location on East 86th st at 3rd Ave.  This is an amazing place.   I would describe the decor as modern zen, with hard wood floors, calm lighting, sleek design and an uplifting energy.  Once inside, you feel completely removed from the city.

Pure Yoga has 7 yoga studios, including a hot studio and iyengar studio.  I tried “hot” power yoga  for the first time (with Kristi McNeil).  I loved it, but the temperature takes getting used to and be ready for significant sweating.  Pure offers over 100 classes a week across 27 styles of yoga.  There is also a dedicated pilates studio and private pilates and yoga.  Mats are provided and washed after each session.

The newest class is Figure 4, which Pure describes as its exclusive barre class. Those of you familiar with Physique 57  will recognize the style.  I took a class from Heather, who was excellent.  I liked it better than Physique 57, partly because it was a much nicer studio with hard wood floors.  An amazing workout.   The schedule offers about six Figure 4 classes per day, and these classes require advanced sign up.

In between the studios, there are several “rest” areas with comfy couches and pillows, cold towels and magazines.   The large women’s locker room is very clean with neutral coloring.  If you want a locker, you need to bring your own lock but there are many lockers in addition to the usual bathrooms, showers, and amenities such as hair dryers, lotion, cotton balls, etc.

Check out the Pure Yoga website for more details.   This is a relatively newer addition to New York City, and I expect it to grow and prosper.

Reebok Sports Club/ NY

You may not think of Reebok as a top choice for yoga, but you should, especially if you like to combine yoga with many other fitness options.   A few years ago, Reebok renovated to add  “Mind Body Studios”  located within the club, as somewhat of an “oasis” set apart from the rest of the facility.   To quote the website, “the specially designed studios provide a unique combination of serene and expansive light-filled studio rooms, an extensive and diverse class schedule, elite instructors, access to nationally known practitioners, and private studios for one-on-one and duet sessions.”  The main yoga studio is fabulous.  A large room with two sides that are all windows and one side of mirrors (though many teachers close the curtains to hide the mirrors).

There are a range of classes.  Not near as many as Pure Yoga, but a great selection. I highly recommend the Vinyasa classes.   Among my favorite teachers are Hwalan, Iyela, Oceana, Kristen and April.   Hwalan teaches only once a week at Reebok, but she also teaches at Reebok’s sister club Sports Club LA on the upper east side, at Exhale, and privately.  She is incredible.   Her class flows quickly for an intense workout, yet she also has an amazing, deep, positive voice that makes the class a calming, zen experience.   It’s always hard to have one favorite with so many styles offered, but if I had to choose, she would be it.  She has her own website if you want to learn more about her.

My only negative comment about yoga at Reebok is that Management does not enforce the “no entrance after 10 minutes” policy.   Members often come in very late and not in a stealth manner.   For example, just when you are settled and have landed in your first (or second/third) downward dog, someone loudly places a mat in a location that requires you to move yours and re-orient.

I would love to hear your comments on these and other studios in New York City. And, for those of you who want to try yoga outdoors in NYC, check out today’s article in the New York Times  entitled “Sky’s the Limit: Yogis Head Outdoors”.

Yankee fans will be happy to find Yankee-themed cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery on Columbus Ave.  Go Yankees!

Fresh tray of Yankee-themed cupcakes

In honor of the American Ballet Theater’s Swan Lake, check out the “Swan Lake” cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery on Columbus Avenue at 69th street.  Chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream and whipped vanilla icing.

I recently celebrated my birthday at Cafe Fiorello (1900 Broadway between 63rd and 64th streets) — birthday dinner there has become somewhat of an annual tradition for me.   Although it has been around for nearly 35 years,  it is still a neighborhood favorite, busy with “regulars” as well as Lincoln Center theater-goers and tourists.

The food is delicious.   The menu has changed slightly over the years, but the general feel and type of items has remained the same.   Changing the menu has also resulted in rising prices.   Cafe Fiorello is famous for its thin crust pizza and has recently added a whole wheat vegetarian version made with soy mozzarella.   It is also known for its sprawling Antipasto bar.  Many dine at the bar, but anyone can order from the numerous selections, which include cold seafood dishes, vegetables and a several hot items, like the Sausage and Peppers or the Cauliflower Almondine.  My favorite is the Brussell Sprouts! They are sauteed just perfectly and served room temperature.   In addition, the main menu offers many fish, pasta, salad and meat items to satisfy every palette.

For my birthday dinner,  I ordered the Lobster salad, which was a new Appetizer special.  It was incredible — I hope it becomes a permanent item on the menu (which is what happened with the Seafood risotto – long a special and now a fixture on the latest menu).   I’ve attached a photo of the lobster salad, since the presentation was as fabulous as the taste.  Ingredients included lobster, arugula, fennel, carrots, avocado, and asparagus in a very light dressing.

Lobster Salad Appetizer Special

For those of you interested in celebrating a birthday at Cafe Fiorello, it will be an eventful evening.   Dessert is served with a candle and brought to the table by several singing waiters with opera-style voices.   A fun and festive touch!  And, if you’re not sure what to order for dessert, try the Profiteroles.  Once he/she brings the plate to the table, the waiter pours the hot fudge from a copper pot over the ice cream-filled pastry puffs.  I’ve attached a photo from last year’s b-day profiteroles.

Hot fudge pouring over profiteroles

I could write many pages on Cafe Fiorello, as it is one of my favorite restaurants in New York.  Instead, I will wet your tastebuds with just the above brief description and recommend you to check it out.  Plus, as a reminder, Cafe Fiorello offers outdoor seating.  Despite the sound of a few buses going by, the view of Lincoln Center is worth it.  And with Spring finally having arrived in New York, now is a perfect time to try it.

Note that it is usually packed between 5pm and 8pm due to pre-theater, so if you prefer a slightly less busy scene, I recommend going after 8pm.

Enjoy!