Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Big Apple Diamonds!


Just in time for Christmas! The Big Apple Diamond Suite


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Finally, they are ready! Yes, I realize there's only six shopping days left until Christmas, but for all of you who love New York as much as I do, here is something really special; The perfect diamond pendent with matching earrings.

Months ago, we asked private jeweler, Joseph Knight (who also creates most of the wonderful photographs featured in Postcards From New York) if he would design something unique, understated, elegant and at the same time a recognizable symbol of this remarkable city.

What do you think? I would say he has succeeded beyond anything I imagined.

Of course, he chose diamonds; Mr. Knight has perfected a technique he calls diamond thread, where the lines of diamonds are so fluid they look like fine thread. In his own words he describes The Big Apple Diamond Suite, "My inspiration was to combine all the elements I love about New York into a very wearable suite of jewelry; so, I took the famous Big Apple motif and jazzed it up with a thread of diamonds which represents the Manhattan nighttime skyline and the lights on Broadway."

The Big Apple pendant, with a 16" chain, is set in 14K white gold mounted with (35) fine diamonds that total a quarter of a carat. The earrings consist of (10)diamonds each, for a total weight of .10ct. Whether giving the entire suite or the necklace or earrings separately, these items make the perfect gift for any New York lover on your list.

Order today, so a very lucky person in your life can unwrap them under the tree Christmas morning. The set is specially priced at $599.00; Click here for details. For special RUSH orders, If you order by Saturday, Federal Express will assure delivery on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas!

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

Joseph Knight Private Jeweler, 201-925-5373, http://www.knightandhammer.com/

Photo courtesy of Knight and Hammer

© Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

The Lights are Back on Broadway!

Join the revelry at Chez Josephine

Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

After nearly three weeks, the stagehand's strike that threatened to ruin the Christmas season for tourists, restaurants and theatres, finally ended last week. Broadway is back!

Now for the after Theatre dining recommendations I promised in the Claire Danes Pygmalion story (see Postcard, October 28). By the way, if you still haven't seen this wonderful production, the performance runs through Sunday December 16th.

Walk west on 42nd Street toward the Hudson River, a mere block and a half from the flashing marquees of Broadway and tourist-trap restaurants, you’ll discover Chez Josephine nudged between two Off-Broadway theatres on the south side of the street (blink and you’ll miss it).

A long time favorite of theatregoers and actors, live music and a spirit of gay frivolity greet you, the moment you open the door. Here, Jean Claude and Jarry Baker keep alive the cherished memory of their famous mother, Josephine Baker.

Portraits large and small of the exotic dancer, singer and performer in alluring provocative poses, line the red brick walls in every medium, to create a cozy, comfortable, clubby atmosphere. Reminiscent of a 1920's-30's Paris bistro, you breathe in the joie de vivre, and even though no one else is, you immediately feel like dancing.

Notice the frenzied Tahitian dancer in the Gauguin style painting that commands the east wall. Now imagine the stir Josephine’s seductive abandon caused in the Paris of her day, where Ernest Hemingway, Picasso, Cocteau and Luigi Pirandello hopelessly pursued her.

Rose-shaded chandeliers, long crisp linen tablecloth over tiny tables and deep red trellis curtains at the windows make this an ideal place for an intimate romantic dinner.

My niece and I enjoyed a tete-a-tete, while sampling one another's appetizer with a superb Merlot. I had the Belgian endive salad garnished with Roquefort and roasted walnuts, she the escargot. Our main course, mine, calf liver in mustard sauce, spicy greens and potato croquettes, hers, sea bass, left just enough room for an absolutely amazing light crème brulee. We slowly savored every spoonful.

Jaime is a big jazz fan, so we hung out for hours over after dinner apéritifs, listening to an all-female jazz band. It was so cozy, we closed the place.

During the Holidays this place is booked, so make reservations now if you plan to go to the theatre in the next few weeks. Best of all, Chez Josephine has one of the few late night kitchens in the Theatre District, open until 1AM.

Bon Appetit!

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

P.S. Haven't decided what to do New Year's Eve? Chez Josephine is just the place to welcome in the New Year. Book reservations now, don't wait.

P.P.S. Two choices you will read about in upcoming issues: Remi features unbelievable Venetian Italian to rival any found in Italy and Firebird for wonderful Russian in a setting of pure fantasy and romance right out of a Tolstoy novel.

Address to Remember: 414 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036, 212-594-1925. http://www.chezjosephine.com/

Directions: From Times Square, a 2 1/2 block walk west on 42nd Street.

Photo by Jaime Wilson

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

10 Things

Taxis, A Quintessentially New York feature


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

On a return flight from LA last week, I looked out the plane window at the landscape below ablaze with light; building lights, expressway lights, bridge lights and car lights zooming rhythmically in a sea of traffic. Immediately I got the rush, the little exhilarating shiver I always get when I come home and it hits me how lucky I am to live in this incredible place.

Now after a festive Thanksgiving surrounded by friends and family, I pause a moment to share 10 things I am extremely thankful for but take for granted far too often.

1. That this city truly never sleeps. It is alive with places where you can listen to jazz, like Birdland, into the wee hours, and places where you can just sit and chat with friends until 3 or 4 in the morning.

2. That the US Post Office at 33rd Street and 8th Avenue is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Need to have something postmarked, perhaps your tax return on April 15th? Just get there by 12 AM. In most US cities, even major ones, the Post office is closed by 5 or 6 PM at the latest.

3. The late Federal Express Drop off. It is almost 9 PM, you discover you’ve got to have something delivered tomorrow. In any other city, you would be out of luck. Not here, last drop off at 537 West 33rd Street between 10th and 11th Avenue is 9:30PM.

4. The Barnes and Noble at Lincoln Center. If like me, you find it impossible to free up an hour or two during the day to get to a bookstore; Arrive here at 9 PM and you will still have hours to browse through books in your favorite sections. The store is open until 12 AM every day.

5. Cipriani for gourmet take-out. Your sister or a friend calls to say they are on the way over, and like most New Yorkers you have nothing in your fridge; After all, with over 45,000 restaurants to choose from, we frequently dine out. No need to settle for Chinese, Mexican or Pizza. More on this amazing place in an upcoming Postcard.

6. Staples and FedEx Kinko's. Ever find yourself in a situation where you finally finish a last minute report or presentation and you need to have copies made and professionally bound? Staples at 14th Street and Union Square is open until 10 PM or there is a 24-hour Kinko’s in almost every neighborhood.

7. Easy access to the most renowned writers, artists, musicians, healers and guru’s. One can hear them play in intimate surroundings, meet them at gallery openings or lectures, or talk with them after a show or informal gathering at places like The New School. Enroll in a drawing class at the Art Students League, and there standing next to you is a famous artist, pencil and paper in hand honing his craft.

8. The New York Public Library. The city’s greatest asset belongs to all of us and we do not take advantage of even 10% of all its offers. Look for an upcoming series on the Library in Postcards early in the New Year.

9. Fairway – Like No other Market. Yes, Zabar’s and Citarella are wonderful and they too bring food and delicacies from far corners of the globe within our reach; but Fairway makes no pretense and doesn’t try to be anything other than an insanely harried, bustling, crowded-at-all-hours market.

10. The Spa at the Madison Hotel for the most exquisite Shiatzu massage. Back walk anyone? I never have time to do these things during normal business hours. Here, I can book a last minute appointment or just walk in at 7 or 8 PM and leave at midnight or later, completely rejuvenated.

Yes, only in New York.

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

P.S. Wow! It’s been almost one month since I last wrote a Postcard and I have missed communicating with you. I would like to thank contributing writer’s Jerry Petrasek and Deborah Torbert for sharing their special insights. And, I thank all of you for your wonderful comments and stories and look forward to publishing some of them in upcoming editions.

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Photo by Joseph Knight


© Copyright 2007 The Cable Group



Saturday, November 17, 2007

Where Everybody Knows Your Name


Deborah at the piano with Joey, no longer shy singing for an audience


---- About this Story ----

When I met Deborah, the author of How to Survive New York City, we discovered besides our passion for New York we shared a favorite local hang out, the always lively "Mimi's." During this holiday season it's the perfect place for visitors and newcomers to immediately feel welcome and at home.

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Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Little did I know how much Mimi's would become a part of me when I first walked in the door. This corner Italian restaurant/piano bar's floor to ceiling window on 52nd Street and 2nd Avenue offers patrons a panoramic view of the hurried pace and bustle outside on the street. A former business associate introduced me to the place.

No one remains a stranger once they pass through Mimi's doors. A voice from the direction of the piano calls out "Hello" as soon as you walk in, or perhaps it comes from smiling Fred Graham, who likes to tease you with his welcome. Once you divulge where you are from, the piano player will play a tune only you know from your city or country, no matter how far away.

That would be Hunter at the piano; Hunter Blue. He's the one that looks like a bejeweled monk, and he's one of Mimi's best pianists. They welcomed me the same way. I told them I loved to sing but was shy in front of strangers. Not anymore. They made singing such fun, I can't remember being shy.

Gradually, all the family's members and long-time staff became friends. Dominick, Mimi's son, said of his late father, "it was always his way of treating people that made them feel like family." You cannot stay long at Mimi's and not experience a sense of family.

Just like the TV show, Cheers, the regular patrons are characters; It is entertaining to observe while Fred banters with Hunter until the "all clear" is sounded, so Hunter can play Alice, a favorite song of the late night crowd. Passers-by point and stare while Hunter parades around the restaurant in costumes and flags of the various visitors' countries, making sure they feel welcome. It is truly a unique and entertaining place.

The stories are plentiful; Many became fodder for How to Survive New York City for the Newcomer . Dominick says "Mimi's is the quintessential New York neighborhood place to be." I think it's more than that; It has its own recipe for making people want to return again and again. Sort of like Fred, everyone thought he worked for Mimi's for years, and he only recently joined their payroll. He was a regular who just clicked with everybody. That's the kind of place Mimi's is; full of characters.

Mimi's is for music lovers, the lonely, the curious, and always for the fun-loving. It has played host to famous singers, visiting celebrities and international performers, and the food is as good as the company.

My personal favorites; spinach ravioli, Kailua and decaf, Alice, singing to Saturday night songs Jerry Delet plays, talking to friends and most of all, introducing newcomers to Mimi's. Someday, I hope to meet you there too.

Deborah Torbert
For Postcards from New York

Address to Remember: Mimi's Restaurant, 984 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10022, 212-688-4692.

Hours: Mon-Sat noon for lunch until 2am. Sunday late brunch at 5pm until 2am.

Directions: From Times Square, MTA S to Grand Central and 6 to 51st Street. Short walk to Restaurant. M42 Bus to 2nd Avenue, 10 block walk to Restaurant.

Photo by Fred Graham

© Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Notes from a Runner's Diary Part III

Two very special Marathon winners, Kurt Fearnley of Australia and Edith Hunkeker of Switzerland

---- About this story----

For complete information about the Marathon and this year's winners, please visit the New York Roadrunners site at http://www.nyrr.org/. You may consider entering the 2008 race. If you missed Part I and II of Jerry's story Marathon Sunday - From a Runner's Diary, please go to http://www.postcardsfromnewyork.com/.

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Dear Postcard from New York Reader,

A sea of people organized by ability, pressed together body to body, pushed forward toward the starting line on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Some elected official, I think it was the mayor of New York, gave a pep speech. No one really listened; we anxiously waited for the moment when one of the celebrities said “runners ready, the race begins.”

It takes about ten minutes before you are no longer part of the crushing wall of humanity surging forward. You are now on your own and the silence is broken only by the sound of heavy breathing, feet pounding the pavement, and occasionally words of encouragement from other runners. The sound of breathing and feet pounding on the pavement begins to have a rhythm of its own.

Once over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge you are in Brooklyn. Suddenly the air is full of excitement. People line the sidewalks to cheer us on. Men are playing music on the tops of garbage cans, solitary garbage cans are on fire, and people run in the streets to give you hi-fives. The next borough is Queens. Here, the noise and people are fewer. You can take water from the fluid stations at every mile; Boredom comes and goes.

The steady beat of pounding feet on the pavement can still be heard. I cannot remember my thoughts during the race. My mind was fighting fatigue and telling me to continue staying completely in the moment. From time to time I would think, "will this never end?" When we finally reach the Queensboro Bridge, the thought comes to me, "how wonderful is this." Never again will I be able to run inside the bridges of New York.

There is something magical about running over a bridge with a crowd of other runners, the pounding of the feet, the water below and the sight of the next borough ahead. The marathon is now in Manhattan on the Upper-East Side. There is almost complete silence. Nowhere are there people cheering or offering water to drink. This was true in the Los Angeles marathon as well. The people in the wealthy sections of cities never come out to see the runners, while those in the less well-to-do sections support the runners 100%.

Unfortunately, the Upper-East Side is where runners hit "the wall," as we approach the seventeen or eighteen mile. Your mind and body give out and you have to push really hard to keep going. Many runners stop at this point. The New York Runners Club provides sponges soaked with water to soften the fatigue. If one makes it through this milestone, you can finish the race. The remaining runners continue across the Triborough Bridge into the Bronx. Here, the enthusiasm and encouragement from the people, once again, spur us on.

The run through the Bronx is short but invigorating. I know that I have passed the wall and will finish the race, "come hell or high water.'' We cross the final bridge, the Willis Avenue Bridge into Harlem. Here, the people embrace the runners with heart as they run into the street to offer candy, pieces of oranges, joy and love. The runners who have survived are now on the home stretch.

Suddenly one is at the finish line. Everything happens so fast. Pictures are taken of you crossing the finish line; A medal was placed around my neck and I was wrapped in a HeatSheet. I felt numb both mentally and physically, but was also filled with feelings of accomplishment and joy. To top it off, I finished the marathon in four hours and twenty minutes! This became my time at the three other marathons that I ran in later in the year. Once again, I ran every step; I never walked.

I started walking back to 92nd and Broadway. My mind was still blank but I was proud of myself. I finished the New York Marathon and that will always be something that can never be taken from me. Back at the apartment, my friends were going out for the evening. I think this was one of the few times that I actually saw them during my entire time in New York.

Slowly I removed my running clothes, took a shower and dressed to go to dinner. This seemed to take hours. My mind was blank; I couldn’t digest what I had accomplished. I was back in the moment, and it was euphoric!

I found an Italian restaurant, ate as many carbohydrates as I could while staring into space, oblivious to the people around me. By the time I left the restaurant, I felt pains in a few new places. Slowly I climbed the steps to the second floor apartment, fell into bed and almost immediately went to sleep. But not before I took one last look at my medal, put it around my neck and looked in the mirror with a big smile on my face.

Jerry Petrasek
For Postcards from New York

Photo courtesy of the New York Road Runners Club


© Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Notes from a Runner's Diary Part II

The race begins - runners cross the Verrazano Narrows Bridge


----About the New York Marathon ----

Of the more than 38,000 runners this year from around the globe, almost half were running the race for the first time. If you missed Part I of Jerry's story Marathon Sunday - From a Runner's Diary, please visit http://www.postcardsfromnewyork.com/.

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Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

I found myself on an airplane going to New York. I landed at Newark, my friends had told me to take public transportation to the New York Port Authority.

Oh my God, from the window of the bus I saw the magnificent New York skyline, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center. I was in New York! I got off the bus at the Transit Authority and hailed a cab. Under a mosaic that said New York City, I saw a homeless man fast asleep oblivious to the city's noise and bustle. Now I was in New York!

My friends, Al and Donald, lived on 92nd between Amsterdam and Broadway; having a key I let myself into the apartment, since they were at work. I immediately brushed my teeth, went out to Broadway, hailed a cab and I went straight to Tiffany’s to look in the window with a cup of coffee in hand; just like Holly Golightly.

As a huge sports fan I had often heard how teams on the road lost their focus. I could never understand what it meant. Each morning I got up at 7am, entered Central Park at 86th Street, and ran around the reservoir. After a quick shower back at the apartment, I was off to continue my adventure in the greatest city on earth.

I saw every tourist spot it was possible to see during the day, and went to the theatre every evening. I even went to the Met to see "Aida." Here I was, a kid that lived on a farm in a town of five hundred at the Met. I did manage to take time to register and pick up my goodie bag at the New York City Marathon headquarters. Inside the goodie bag was a souvenir shirt, official program, tickets to a carb loading dinner the night before the race, and many snacks provided by sponsors of the race.

On Saturday, the day before the Marathon I took a train to Princeton to see an Ivy League football game. When I arrived back in the city, I knew I should be in bed early, but instead I went to the top of the Empire State building. Below me, the city lights glittered like diamonds in the dark. Suddenly I realized, I had lost my focus. I forgot the reason I had come to New York. Immediately, I left the Empire State Building, found an Italian restaurant, loaded up on carbohydrates, took the subway back to the apartment and I went to bed.

Next morning, the alarm rang at 5am. Lying in bed, I took a deep breath while thinking; this was the day I had prepared for months. It had arrived, and it felt so surreal. I put on my jogging clothes and I was off to the subway. At each subway stop dozens of men and women got on wearing jogging clothes. Hundreds of riders in jogging clothes cramped together on the train made the situation only more surreal.

I looked down at my watch, 6am and I was on Staten Island surrounded by thousands of other runners. 12,000 men and women were allowed to run the marathon by the lottery. A feeling of pulsating anxiety mixed with joy was in the air. We were like 12,000 horses ready to run the Kentucky Derby.

The press with cameras and news trucks was there. I took every opportunity to be seen on TV. People were drinking Poland Springs and Gatorade, and eating power bars, donuts and bagels, provided by the New York Runners Club. Of course there was a long line to the Porto Potties. The Statue of Liberty looked down on us with a big smile as the time neared the start of the Marathon, 9am.

To be continued...

Jerry Petrasek
For Postcards from New York

Photo courtesy of the New York Road Runners Club

© Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Marathon Sunday, From a Runner's Diary

Early morning, a quiet moment on the way to Staten Island to the marathon starting line


---- A Note from the Publisher ----

The New York Marathon is an amazing event that attracts over 300 million viewers in 125 countries around the world as well as the more than 2 million spectators who line streets and bridges to cheer on runners of all ages. The oldest participant this year was 88 years old!

We are delighted this month to feature articles by Postcard readers. Jerry Petrasek lives in LA. We began corresponding after he emailed to tell me "I Love Postcards from New York." When I discovered he actually ran in the New York Marathon, I asked him to write about his experience. He said he had never written anything before. I said;"Just write what you have described to me." Here's his story in three parts.

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Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

My marathon running began as pure compulsion. The year was 1985; I had just entered therapy as a three pack a day smoker. The notion of a chemical imbalance in the brain was unknown. I lived life with passion, which I still do. I love people who live each day as though there might not be another. My therapist made me feel smoking was wrong; he simply said "there will no smoking during my sessions."

My life started to change. I wanted to be a better Jerry. I joined a ski fitness class at the Hollywood Y, I didn't ski at the time but that was my only choice, aerobics had not been discovered. My smoking quickly began to decline. How could I improve my life if I continued to smoke; suddenly smoking and running did not make sense.

Little by little running took over my life, I admit in part because I am compulsive. I went from being a three pack a day smoker to a gym rat. Some of the people in the ski fitness were avid runners. Each Sunday morning they would run three miles up a steep hill in Griffith Park and back down. I had been someone who stayed up at night on weekends until 2am and slept most of the day. Now I was in bed by 10pm on Saturday night and out of bed at 6am the next morning to run.

I now entered my next stage. I had been a compulsive movie watcher, living life through movies. It soon became clear I would have to choose between movies or devoting most of my free time to running. I chose running. The next step was doing 10ks.

Los Angeles was to have their first marathon in March of 1986. I knew that I would have to run the marathon or I would feel I had let myself down. Training for marathons normally start three to six months before the event. It was January. Despite the short time I would have to train, I decided to run the marathon. I believed I could do it; I was now an avid runner.

I found training brochures at Cedars Sinai Hospital and started training and made minor changes to my diet. Three months later, I ran the marathon, finished in five hours and twenty minutes. I ran every step. I did not walk one step.

The following month I heard about the New York Marathon. This was "the big one" where runners are chosen by lottery. I decided to submit an entry. A letter from the New York Runners Club arrived in May. Anxious and terrified, I decided to open such an important letter I should be sitting with a cup of coffee near by. I did the ritual and I opened the letter. To my surprise and delight, I was going to New York!

New York was bigger than life. It was a mythical city that I had only dreamed about, having spent my life to the age of eighteen in a town of five hundred farmers in Southern Oregon where I didn't belong. New York was the myth that I had seen over and over again in the movies which had been my escape.

I followed the training guide and ran each day. Every day I would increase the distance I ran. It soon became apparent I would not be able to run the correct distant during the day due to work so I rearranged my schedule so I could run at night. Soon I was running one hour every evening in areas I would not have gone into during the day. I was possessed.

Finally, I had my last day of training in Los Angeles by running a half marathon.

To be continued...

Jerry Petrasek
For Postcards from New York

Photo by Joseph Knight

© Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Hats off to Claire Danes in Pygmalion!

Claire makes her Broadway Debut


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

"I love Claire Danes," exclaimed my niece Jaime with delighted glee as an ear to ear smile lit up her beautiful face when I told her, her birthday gift was an evening at the theatre.

Her excitement mirrored my own when I first saw ads for George Bernard Shaw's classic "Pygmalion" featuring Dane's handsome head shot. Claire Danes coming to Broadway! I had to see her.

Her guileless innocent face first captured my attention in Romeo and Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann. Oblivious to the clash and clamor of party preparations criss-crossing around her, she effortlessly navigated between her emotional overwrought mother and hysterical nanny. She won me over. I am a fan for life.

Any play by Shaw is demanding, as it is difficult to "preach" his ideals while keeping an audience entertained and awake, so I was doubly impressed by her desire to stretch command of her craft by appearing in one of his best known works for her Broadway Debut. Hat's off to Claire.

Dane's working class Liza is more true to Shaw's character than the street urchin turned aristocrat in the musical, My Fair Lady. When she goes toe to toe in a successful dual of wits with Henry Higgins in his mother's drawing room, there is no chance that this young lady, with newly awakened confidence, would eagerly bring Higgins his slippers as in the Hollywood "happily ever after" final scene. Yet hers is not a feminist declaration.

Jefferson Mays' Higgins gives the play a facelift and brings it right into the 21st century; Immediately recognizable, he is an arrogant, petulant, naughty teen-ager (though at least in his late thirties) who stubbornly refuses to grow up. Mrs. Higgins (Helen Carey), Liza's dad Alfred (Jay O Sander's) and Colonel Pickering (Boyd Gaines) with their quick repartee and elegant costumes engage and amuse.

My only question. In the final scene, where Liza finds refuge at the home of Henry's mother, she enters in a rather drab morning dress, appropriate enough for receiving visitors in the drawing room; She then announces she must leave to get ready to attend her father's wedding, however she returns in the same dress with only the addition of gloves and purse. After the many elegant costumes in this production, why did David Grindlay(director), and Jonathan Fensom(costume-set designer), choose to end the play with Liza in that dress?

An attractive walking suit or long flowing coat would have completed the picture more appropriately, especially since Mrs. Higgins is elegantly decked out with an elaborate hat as the finishing touch; She looks like she is going to a wedding. Liza's final confrontation with Higgins would have had more impact if she were handsomely attired.

"Pygmalion" is on Broadway only for a limited engagement. Mark your calendar now to see it by December 16th at the American Airlines Theatre. Here's hoping Claire will soon make a return visit. I would love to see her as Ibsen's Nora in "A Dolls House" or Strindberg's "Miss Julie."

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York


P.S. The theatre entrance is on 42nd Street; however, when you leave, exit on the 43rd Street side of the Orchestra level and you will come out near the back-stage door. Wait a bit and the stars will exit. Then do what Jaime and I did, ask them to autograph your Playbill.

Stay tuned for what many of you have been asking for, Restaurant recommendations in the Theater District.

Address to Remember: The American Airlines Theatre, West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10011. 212-719-1300, http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/.

Directions: At Times Square.

Photo by Kelly Jeffers

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Autumn Splendor - The Foliage Report

Their job done!


---- A Note from the Publisher ---

If you only received the title of last weeks story, The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, please visit us at http://www.postcardsfromnewyork.com/ to see the entire article. We apologize for the FeedBurner posting mishap.

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Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

This time of year always reminds me of a "Johnny Walker" ad some years ago "When the trees have done their job even they turn to Red."

The last vestige of summer gone with last week's heat wave, the cooler weather signals the approaching holiday season, harvest time, Halloween pumpkins, and Thanksgiving.

October and November can race by in a flash, unless you live in the suburbs or near Central Park where nature's physical changes are ever-present. In this city, it is possible to miss out on Autumn's special beauty altogether; Don't let that happen this year.

Plan now to spend a weekend in the country. The Catskills and Poconos are not far away if upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire would require more time and planning than your schedule allows.

Closer to home, take a leisurely drive along the Hudson River Parkway; marvel at the Palisades awash with colors or experience Autumn's silent music along the Saw Mill River Parkway, The Taconic or US Highway (7) in Connecticut.

You will find a foliage map here of nearby forest and woodland areas to alert you to the peak time to experience nature at its most dramatic moment before it begins to hibernate for the long winter.

Autumn more than any other season keeps us in touch with the cycle of life. Somehow as the trees change they ignite our inner spirit.

If, despite all your efforts, life gets in the way and a weekend or day in the country is out of the question; the New York Botanical Garden is only a 20 minute train ride from Grand Central Station. Go; enjoy a walk in the more than 50 acres of natural forest for an hour or two.

Just don't miss out, whatever you do, on this season's spectacle of Autumn colors.

Jacqueline Cable


Photo courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Thursday, October 4, 2007

The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria

Columbus proudly stands over his vessels


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Three tiny ships that changed the world; See them floating on the pedestal standing in the center of always-busy Columbus Circle.

High above them, their great Admiral Cristoforo Colombo looks over the horizon, intent and resolute, the way one imagines he once looked over an endless sea of water from the deck of the Santa Maria. Hand on his hip, his lucca (long coat) below his knees, leggings, and balloon trousers, long locks under his cap, even today he is a commanding presence.

When Constantinople (present day Istanbul) fell to the Turks in 1453, all the land routes to India and China, in use from the days of Marco Polo, were suddenly lost. European kings, queens, merchants, nobles and townspeople anxious for markets and eastern products, made new trade routes imperative. 1488 saw Portuguese sailors successfully circle Africa's Cape of Good Hope, while Colombo sought a western route, against all odds and at great peril.

What made this voyage so adventurous? For millenniums, ships navigated the Mediterranean almost always close to the shoreline or within a day's sight of land. When the Portuguese circled Africa, however rugged the journey, they were never far from the coastline. Colombo's crews saw nothing but water for more than 30 days! Any wonder their panic increased with each passing day. Several times, they threatened mutiny.

The captains of the Nina and the Pinta secretly prepared to turn back. With his life in danger, Columbo resigned to abandon his mission on October 11, and decided to turn the ships around. Then, in the early hours of the 33rd day, the cry came from the lookout on the Nina, (Rodrigo de Triana), "Tierra! Tierra!" (Land! Land!)

With Colombo's "discovery" of the New World, modern history begins. The Atlantic would soon overshadow the Mediterranean's former trade dominance.

The Columbus Day Parade and a special exhibit in Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Station through October 13*, give us special reason to pause and acknowledge Colombo's and other Italians many significant contributions to our history. Amerigo Vespucci gave his name to two continents. Giovanni da Verrazano, Fiorello LaGuardia, Mother Cabrini, Maria Montessori are others we remember, to name just a few.

For Kids

After the Parade, make it a day; Take the Staten Island Ferry and visit the Garibaldi Meucci Museum.

On a personal note, I pause to remember that centuries ago the name Cable ended with a "z", Cablez. Colombo, thinking he had reached islands off the coast of India and China, named almost all the islands of the West Indies. St. Kitts, a particular favorite, was named for his patron saint, St Christopher. This is the home of my paternal ancestors, and in the 1780's, my family founded the first newspaper on the island, The St. Christopher Star.


Gérard Depardieu's stirring portrayal of Colombo gives us some sense of his many trials during his great discovery in 1492 - Conquest of Paradise.

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

* Do not allow the week to pass without visiting the sumptuous exhibit of Italy's many beautiful regions at Grand Central Station. There are exquisite Vespa's and Maserati's on display begging to be driven.

Address to Remember: Columbus Circle, New York, New York 10019.

Directions: From Times Square, MTA 1, A, C, E, to 59th Street, or M10 or M104 Bus to 59th Street.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Monday, October 1, 2007

Invitation to the Dance

Juilliard Dance


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

To the beat of cheery, sun-drenched music in Twyla Tharp's "Deuce Coupe" (inspired by the Beach Boys) these brightly clad dancers dazzled a sold-out standing room only crowd at the New York City Center last Wednesday evening to kick off the annual Fall for Dance Festival.

This not to be missed, once a year event features a vast and exciting mix of some of the world's best known, and little known dancers, dance companies and choreographers. Best of all, the tickets are offered at the amazing price of $10 for every seat in the house!

Fall for Dance is a rare opportunity to see, be inspired and delighted while experiencing a wide and varied range of dance forms; From classical ballet (Kirov, New York City and the Royal Ballet of Flanders), modern dance (Paul Taylor, Juilliard, Armitage Gone), tango and Latin (Ballet Hispanico and Mariela Fanganillo), tap (10 Foot 5), African (Kyle Abraham and Urban Bush Women) and Hip-Hop (Via Katlehong and Compagnie Kafig), there is something for every dance enthusiast.

Every year sees new additions to the already exploding number of dance companies throughout the country and the world. It has become impossible to stay on top of the latest choreography, the newest dancers and developments in this ever-evolving art form.

Seize the moment; you have a choice of 28 companies performing through October 6. Discover which styles of dance and which companies you enjoy most; Then mark your calendar to see how much more intriguing they are when they return for their season performances at the Joyce Theatre, City Center, Juilliard and Lincoln Center.

Fall for Dance is your invitation to the exhilarating, mesmerizing and always beautiful world of dance.

For Kids

At $10 a ticket, there is no better way to introduce youngsters to the "art" of dance. If they become restless, or don't like it, you will not feel quite so bad about leaving early.

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

P.S. Yes, the shows are sold out, but have no fear. Join the waiting line for cancellations; It's long, but worth the wait. Bring something to read. After all, waiting in line, for movies, baseball tickets, theatre tickets, and the annual chocolate show is a New York pastime in itself.

Address to Remember: New York City Center, West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Directions: From Times Square: MTA A, C, and 1 to 59th Street Columbus Circle, N, R, Q and W to 57th Street and 7th Avenune, E to 53rd Street and 7th Avenue, short walk to theatre.


Photo by Stephanie Berger

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group


Friday, September 21, 2007

Simply Amazing Cannoli!

Mmm! So-o good

Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Indulge! Expect a little shiver of anticipation as the dessert fork lifts the rich luscious ricotta filling to your lips and eagerly awaiting tongue. Stop. Do not swallow before you allow all the flavors of the creamy custard to dissolve.

One luxurious cannoli is more than enough to leave you completely satiated; But, go ahead, be decadent, and have two.

By now, my guess is you have figured out that I have a wicked sweet tooth. My one cardinal rule: The sweets must be absolutely wonderful, never so-so or just okay. The calories have to be worth it!

Rocco's Pastry Shop and Cafe's cannolis, and all their desserts and cookies are worth every last calorie. A true Southern Italian pasticceria, the dolci (sweets) are never too sugary.

Friendly and slightly crammed, the shop's great to visit with friends for desserts or alone with a good book.

Most of the time I write about things readers outside New York must wait until they visit to experience. Not this time. Rocco's will ship anywhere in the continental US. Call 212-242-6031, order now, and you can enjoy these mouth-watering cannolis tomorrow. Don't you deserve a treat?

Buona fortuna!

Jacqueline Cable

Address to remember: Rocco's Pastry Shop and Espresso Cafe, 243 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014, 212-242-6031.

Directions: From Times Square MTA 1 to Christopher Street, short walk to Bleecker Street, N, R, and W to 8th Street short walk to Sixth Avenue, A, C, or E to West 4th Street, short walk to Bleecker.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Monday, September 17, 2007

A Walk in the West Village

A tree-lined Street in the West Village


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Please accept my apology for no stories last week. The many 911 ceremonies and solemn memorials dampened the city's spirits, and I was unable to write anything.

When I confided my writer's block to my friend, Lisa Cosman, who writes cookbooks, she instantly remarked: "Well of course you can’t write, we (New Yorker's) bare all the physicality of that day; we are too close and we will never get over it." I knew people who lost their lives that day, so please forgive my silence.

Let's change lanes and back track to the scene of our last article in August about a great place to enjoy gelato,
Sant Ambroeus, in the West Village. This glorious late summer weather is perfect for walking. And, we know hitting the pavement is the very best way to truly make New York your own.

There are lots of green spots between and in the shadows of our dazzling high skyscrapers, as well as little known fountains and waterfalls, cobblestone streets and mews, tiny steeple churches tucked away in remote corners and 18th and 19th century buildings with endlessly interesting architectural features. I bet you thought I was describing some European city.

Have an hour? We'll keep it simple. Begin at West 4th and 6th Avenue, and find Bleecker Street. Walk north, just pass 7th Avenue to Grove, turn left, and continue walking until you come to Hudson Street.

Stop a moment to glance at the picturesque garden set back from the street at the Church of St. Luke's in the Fields on Hudson. Right out of a storybook, now notice the winding walkway leading to the entrance of the school not far from the church. Next, retrace your steps on the opposite side of Grove Street so you can take a close look at the brownstones and buildings across from you. When you reach Bleecker, walk to the next block, Christopher Street and repeat, then proceed to West 10th, Charles, Perry and West 11th Street.

Survey the unique character and architectural detail of the brownstones and low apartment buildings. There is an unhurried neighborhood feel here; people leisurely walk with little children and dogs, and sit on doorsteps and front stoops. You'll see ivy clad doorways and facades, well kept stone stairwells with exquisite wrought iron handrails. Dated plaques on many brownstones are proof they have been around since the mid 19th century.

Look up at the stairwells to find grand entrance doors; some carved with intricate designs or polished to a high gloss finish like the mahogany double doors at 70 Perry Street.

There is a lot to see. Bleecker Street has numerous small shops, cozy bookstores, intimate cafes and sidewalk restaurants. Your fingers will itch to touch the striking flower arrangements displayed at VSF 208 W. 10th Street. While the antiques in the window of Les Pierre Antiques beg to tell their stories, the colorful fabrics and smartly designed children's clothes at
Bonpoint are impossible to resist.

Until recently, Sarah Jessica Parker called this area home. If you are a fan of Sex and the City join the line trailing around the block at her favorite place for cupcakes, Magnolia Bakery, or you know where to stop for gelato. Better yet, be really decadent and have a "to die for" cannoli. I'll tell you where next time.

Jacqueline Cable
For
Postcards from New York

P.S. Speaking of Sarah Jessica Parker, shooting begins on the much anticipated movie any day. Stay tuned for details of the 1st Postcards from New York tour "Their Town - Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda's New York."

Address to remember: West 4th Street and Sixth Avenue.

Magnolia Bakery, 401 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014, 212-462-2572.

Directions: From Times Square
MTA 1 to Christopher Street, short walk to Bleecker Street, N, R, and W to 8th Street short walk to Sixth Avenue, A, C, or E to West 4th Street, short walk to Bleecker.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group


Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Remembering Princess Diana

Althorp - Princess Diana's childhood home


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

In memory of the 10th Anniversary of Princess Diana's death, A Postcard From New York Encore published May 2, 2007.

Princess Diana will always hold a special place in my heart since she died on my birthday. So with sadness, I paused a moment when I saw the book, Althorp Living History, lying casually on a coffee table in the Antique Galleries at ABC Carpet and Home.

But then, how can one remain sad when you think of Diana's beautiful laughing smile and her shy mischievous eyes?

Soon after she and Charles were married, I had the good fortune to finagle an invitation for art collector clients to visit Althorp for a luncheon with her late father and the Countess of Spencer. The long drive on the estate's gravel road to the mansion remains a vivid memory.

If you have lived in or visited the British Isles, you are familiar with the sight of herds of sheep as they graze in lush green fields and meadows throughout the countryside. In a city like New York, we are completely isolated from such bucolic scenes right out of an 18th century novel. What made the drive to Althorp unusual was, not only were there sheep grazing, but a herd of Black Angus cows as well. Holding my breath to avoid the pungent odor of manure nearly made me gag; I had never seen such massive animals outside of the ones at a zoo, so close-up.

We quickly forgot the unpleasant aroma outside as we stood in the elegant guest entrance hall surrounded by great horse portraits by the artist, John Wootton. With the magnificent collections of paintings, silver, antique furnishings, Persian carpets, decorative art, porcelain, and objects of art, great country houses like Althorp are a pleasant reminder of a time and a past way of life.

In today's world, these homes present a real problem. The cost to maintain such properties is staggering, as repairs and upkeep never end. No matter the resources of the owner, they are a constant challenge.

Anyone who owns a home knows the time and money required to stay ahead of repairs and maintenance; There's always something, the boiler, the gutters, the ceiling, the roof, the plumbing, the wiring, or the vents; Now, image your home has over 100 rooms!

How clever of Diana's brother, Charles Edward, Earl of Spencer, to collaborate with Theodore Alexander to create exquisite reproductions of Althorp's extraordinary antiques. He has found a way to finance the maintenance of his ancestral home, while he shares Diana with all of us, at the same time.

We can imagine her as a youngster running and playing games like hide and seek, peeking out behind a high-backed wing chair, or on her knees under a great desk or table.

Take a walk through the Althorp Collection and live the dream of being lord or mistress of the manor. Then go home and rent a movie like "Remains of the Day" or "The Queen."

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

P.S. Those of us who share a particular affection for Diana will enjoy Mario Testino’s beautiful photographs of her at home in his recently published Diana Princess of Wales by Mario Testino at Kensington Palace: Princess of Wales.

Address to remember: ABC Carpet and Home, 888 Broadway at 19th Street. New York, NY 10003. 212-473-3000.

Hours: Monday - Friday 10 AM - 8 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 7 PM, Sunday 11 AM - 6:30 PM.

Directions: From Times Square MTA, N, R, or W to 23rd Street. Bus M2, M3, and M5.

Address to remember: Althorp, Northampton, Northhamptonshire. England, UK NN7 4HQ

Directions: From London M1 North Exit 16 or 18

Photo courtesy of Beric Tempest & Company

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Monday, August 27, 2007

Found It! Real Italian Gelato

As yummy as it looks!


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

There it was, the very place I was told to visit only the day before, a real Gelateria Espresso Bar like those found in Rome, Florence, Arezzo or any Italian city, complete with outdoor seating.

Invited by a friend to try "Ciao Bello’s Gelato" at Whole Foods Edgewater, NJ store, I sampled several favors as I fell into a conversation with a couple about why gelato in Italy always taste better than anything that can be found here. Everytime someone tells me they've found Italian gelato, I am always a little disappointed. Although Ciao Bello's texture and flavors were surprisingly good and the Sorbets, Mmm! The couple, however, insisted I try Sant Ambroeus on the Upper East-side.

Well, on a walk in the West Village, Sant Ambroeus found me, and I think the photo tells the story. Finally, this is the real McCoy. Made fresh everyday, presented in those familiar metal bins, soft, creamy rich velvety textured gelati in a rainbow of colors.

The pleasure of eating gelato begins with one's eyes; your taste buds get excited as you first imagine what the coral-colored raspberry will taste like.

What is the difference between this and ice cream? How can I describe it? Flavors hang on the rich cream of ice cream. Gelato is made with low fat milk and a lot less air so it's lighter in texture. The process creates far more intense flavors, like cold concentrated fruit exploding in your mouth.

I was in heaven as I slowly savored each spoonful of passion fruit, lampone (raspberry) and limone (lemon).

Confession; Years ago, I gave up eating ice cream, as I'm fortunate to get to Italy at least once a year. I would store up all my ice cream credits until I returned. Upon arrival, I could not make it out of Rome's airport before I had to have my first gelato fix. By the time the airport train reached center city, I was ready for another cup. Then, I had to have it at least twice a day, sometimes three times for the duration of my trip.

Now, my addiction may never end. All that crazy tension can be over; I can enjoy Italian gelato right here at home!

So take a walk in the West Village, find Sant Ambroeus at West 4th and Perry Street and discover your favorite gelato flavors.

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

Addresses to remember: Sant Ambroeus, Espresso Bar, 259 West 4th Street, New York, NY, 212-604-9254.

1000 Madison Avenue and 77th Street, New York, NY, 212-570-2211.

Directions: From Times Square MTA 1 to Christopher Street, short walk to West 4th. Check the Street map before leaving the subway station.


Photo by Joseph Knight


©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Sunday "Times" at the Fountain

The Fountain at Father Demo Square


Dear Postcard from New York Reader,

Doesn't this fountain look inviting? Too good not to be enjoyed.

So, if Central Park is a hike, and you don't have the luxury of a private park nearby like those lucky folks who live around Grammercy Park; Father Demo Square extends a welcome invitation.

For a visitor, it's a great spot to take a break after wandering around the West Village, and for a New Yorker, it is a perfect time-out place to peruse the Sunday Times before your day goes into high gear.

Father Demo Square at the intersection of Bleecker and Carmine Streets and Sixth Avenue was a construction eyesore for the longest time. The Square faces the facade of Our Lady of Pompei Church and is a tribute to former pastor Father Antonio Demo (pastor from 1899 - 1933), who was responsible for building the church and adjoining school in the early days of the last century.

The Squares renovation was finally completed this spring. Now refurbished, antique style benches and colorful flower beds surround a three tiered wedding cake fountain.

The tiny park, fashioned after an Italian piazza, is open every day until 1 AM and can be enjoyed anytime, but I think it is best experienced early Sunday morning before the temperature heats up and the sun reaches it height.

Grab your favorite sections of the Sunday Times, and maybe a few magazines that have piled up; Throw anything on, you'll only be gone an hour or two, and head for the nearest subway. Once in the Village, pick up a steaming hot cup of coffee, cappuccino or espresso from Rocco's Pastry Shop and Espresso Cafe at 243 Bleecker, then find an empty bench or seat, spread out your papers and magazines and listen as falling sheets of water drop into the fountain's pool. It is hypnotic.

Question; Do you lose yourself reading the papers and magazines, or is it the people around you that capture your attention?

Jacqueline Cable

Addresses to Remember: Father Demo Square, Bleecker and Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10014.

Rocco's Pastry Shop and Espresso Cafe, 243 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014, 212-242-6031.

Directions: From Times Square MTA 1 to Christopher Street, short walk to Bleecker Street, N, R, and W to 8th Street short walk to Sixth Avenue, A, C, or E to West 4th Street, short walk to Bleecker.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Monday, August 13, 2007

Where the Umbrella's Beckon

Can you guess where this photo was taken?


Dear Postcard from New York Reader,

These brilliant orange umbrellas on the waterfront beckon from a distance. You can hear the wind as it whips through the flaps of the umbrella aprons as you approach. No, it is not a Caribbean Island beachfront café.

On a hot summer day, a brisk breeze drifts off the East River; Battery Gardens is the ideal spot to enjoy an after the Ferry brunch, or anytime, for lunch, dinner or drinks when you wish to leave the traffic, congestion, and smog of midtown a million miles away.

Ease into a comfortable garden chair; Look out over the speckled shimmer of sunlight reflected off the water and see the familiar Statue of Liberty brandishing her torch in the distance. Take a deep breath, exhale and feel the cool breeze brush your cheeks.

Don’t talk for a couple of minutes...just allow the quiet peace and beauty of the scene to embrace you. Order a tall ice-filled drink as well as a pitcher of water with lemon and limes. My choice, equal parts orange juice, grapefruit juice, seltzer and grenadine. For lunch, I choose the watermelon salad. So light and scrumptious, it is as refreshing as it looks on the plate.

I guarantee you will not feel the need to hurry off; This setting lends itself to whiling away an entire afternoon.

Bon Appetit!

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York


P.S. Before you leave, peek into the main restaurant area. Cool white walls and billowing curtains frame a panoramic view of the Bay. The minimal interior design accented with dramatic floral arrangements created an ideal venue for the intimate wedding party I observed on my last visit.

Address to Remember: Battery Gardens, Inside Battery Park Opposite 17 State Street and across from the Ferry Terminal, New York, NY 10004, 212-809-5508.

Hours: Monday thru Saturaday 11:30 - 10:00 PM. Sunday Brunch 11:00 - 3:00 PM.

Directions: From Times Square, MTA 1 to South Ferry, N, R, or W to Whitehall Street. From 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, M1 Bus to South Ferry.

Photo by Joseph Knight


©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Sunday, August 5, 2007

View from the Ferry

The Verrazano Bridge -Beautiful in every Season


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

It's been much too long since I last did it. And, honestly the heat and humidity drove me to it. Where? You ask, to the rivers edge and the tip of Manhattan.

Now, with my face lifted to catch the cool breeze off the water as the ferry slowly pulls away from the dock, I am mesmerized by the stoic beauty of the tall buildings that crowd the shoreline along State Street.

On the rare occasions when I take the time to make the trip, I wonder once more, why I don't do this more often. It's only a half-hour ride each way; an hour round-trip. Yet time is always the issue. It is the recurring New York "problem," too many things to do and too little time.

No inside seat for me, I remain on deck the entire voyage, speechless while I suck in the serenity of the almost cloudless azure blue sky and gently rippling waves dappled with sunlight. Never quite prepared, but always anxious for the moment when I cross over to the opposite deck and my eyes are caught, arrested might better describe it, by the sublime beauty and graceful line of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. It never fails to take my breath away.

Yes, the Golden Gate, London Bridge, and Brooklyn Bridge are magnificent engineering achievements, but they cannot compare with the Verrazano's compelling elegance.

Standing at the mouth of Upper and Lower New York Bay it overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Its long lilting cables and slender towers painted "battleship gray," make it appear to melt into the skyline and become a natural part of the landscape rather than something man-made.

Experience the Verrazano's majestic beauty and enjoy the waters refreshing cool during this heat spell. The Staten Island Ferry departs almost every half hour every day from Whitehall Terminal. And, I'm surprised most people don't know this. It is free!

Best time to avoid the crowds, early Sunday morning, the ferry's almost empty. Once on Staten Island, don't rush back; There's lots to explore, like the Staten Island Botanical Garden, with its Chinese Scholars Garden, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Alice Austen House and the Garibaldi Meucci Museum.

Next time, my recommendation for after the Ferry.

Jacqueline Cable

Address to remember: Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal.

Directions: From Times Square, MTA 1 to South Ferry, N, R, or W to Whitehall Street. From 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, M1 Bus to South Ferry.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Saturday, July 28, 2007

A gem on St. Mark's Place

Just waiting to be sipped


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Remember the last time you had a "real" New York Egg cream.

As soon as the clerk started pumping the vanilla syrup into the old school Coca-Cola glass, I was transported back to the late 1970s.

I was 8 or 9 years old, sitting on a red vinyl stool, the kind that sticks to your legs when you wear shorts on a hot, humid summer day, at the lunch counter, at a Woolworth's, in the Bronx. My grandmother, who we called Oma, was sitting next to me. We waited in silent anticipation for the soda jerk to present us with our order.

Ohh, the first foamy sip! We never used the straw to begin, so we could laugh at our cream soda mustaches; we always laughed, big belly laughs, and then Oma would kiss my mustache off. How I miss her; Oma always said that she thought clouds must taste like this and someday when we were in heaven, we'd be sipping up all those egg cream soda clouds.

Luckily, you don't have to wait until heaven. A small piece of it is at St Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue at Gem Spa, a tiny 24/7 newsstand. Just think, you can get one any time of day or night! To make the experience extra special, I recommend ordering your vanilla or chocolate egg cream soda in a Coca-Cola glass, not a take away cup. This way, you are forced to take a few minutes to really cherish one of life's simple joys.

Enjoy!

Joseph Knight
For Postcards from New York


Address to remember: Gem Spa, 131 2nd Avenue, New York, NY, 212-995-1866. Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Directions: From Times Square MTA N, R and W to 8th Street, walk across Astor Place to St. Mark's Place walk two blocks to 2nd Avenue. From Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street take MTA 1 Bus to 8th Street.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Something Old, Something New, Something Deco

Grand Central, The Hyatt Hotel and Chrysler Building



Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Oftentimes it happens when you least expect it. You're dashing by in a cab or running across a street when all of a sudden you capture a glimpse of something incredible, even spectacular. A juxtaposition of light and shade, a reflection in a window, an amazing angle of one building against another, or the way the sky at a particular time of day illuminates interesting elements of architecture.

When it happens you know you have just experienced "a New York moment," something that could not take place in any other city of the world, only here, amidst this amazing and diverse collection of architectural styles tightly fitted in a confined area.

Sadly, sometimes it is not until we loose something that we appreciate a special moment often ignored or taken for granted.

Last week, without warning a massive pipeline exploded in the center of the city one block from Grand Central Station and conjured up memories of 911 and the World Trade Center disaster before our eyes. Terrified people ran in horror leaving shoes and bags behind to escape the hailstorm of rubble that rained from the eruption that looked more like an explored bomb than a steam gusher.

Within minute's police cars and fire-trucks from every part of town were on the scene and an area from Madison Avenue to 2nd Avenue for many blocks was corded off. Security was tight while alarmed citizens watched men clad in hazmat suits (hazard gear) complete with full face mask begin the work of clean up.

For almost a week, 42nd Street was closed to pedestrian traffic; so today, I gaze with particular relish at an only in New York scene I hope you will not take for granted.

Stand on the corner of 42nd Street and Madison Avenue, preferably on the Southwest Side of the street at noon or midday and look upward on your left toward Grand Central Station. See if you can capture the silhouette of Mercury's body and the turn of the Last Century Beaux-Art Architecture reflected in the dark black glass of the Hyatt Hotel. Now raise your eyes and notice how the gleaming laser sharp point of the Chrysler Building appears ready to pierce the sky, or at the very least write its signature.

Umm! What an image.

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

P.S. Just click directly on the photograph to see the buildings enlarged.


Address to remember: Madison Avenue and 42nd Street.

Directions: From Times Square MTA 7 or S to Grand Central Station a short walk to Madison Avenue.


Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Monday, July 9, 2007

While you are Waiting

787 Seventh Avenue


Dear Postcard from New York Reader,

With the heat index over 100 degrees; no one needs the weatherman's confirmation, that we are officially in a heatwave.

Oppressive humidity and suffocating temperatures have descended on us just as the tourist season kicks into high gear. Streets teaming with people and buses packed to capacity are evidence that the weak dollar has made our city even more than usual, an attractive tourist destination.

Who is the great beneficiary of this boon? The theatre houses around town of course; This is Broadway's most lucrative season. If you plan to see the following shows: Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Wicked, The Color Purple, 110 in the Shade, Mamma Mia, or Spelling Bee, and happen to show up early; Instead of waiting around on the street, escape the heat and give yourself a rare treat.

Just one block over from David Letterman's Studio on Broadway and 53rd Street, on 52nd Street and Seventh Avenue, in the lobby of 787 7th, you'll find Roy Lichtenstein's 70 feet wonder, Mural with Blue Brushstroke, in an atrium like space open to the public.

So often, large-scale works by contemporary artists are seen best in open, airy corporate spaces instead of museums. This is particularly true when the architect designs with the artwork in mind, as is the case here.

By far Lichtenstein's largest work, Mural with Blue Brushstroke was commissioned by The Equitable Insurance Company, now AXA, to compliment the Whitney Museums Collection , which originally occupied the two galleries facing Seventh Avenue.

It is quite a marvel, whether you have only five minutes to steal a glance or can stay and enjoy it longer.

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

P.S. For Kids. Just a reminder, Disney's long running Beauty and the Beast will close on July 29th. Don't miss the last chance to see a heartwarming performance that delights both kinds and adults.

Address to remember: 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019

Directions: From Times Square MTA 1 train to 50th Street or from Avenue of the Americas and 42nd Street, Bus M5, M6 or M7 to 50th Street. Walk to Seventh Avenue and two blocks to 52nd Street.

Photo by Joseph Knight

© Copyright 2007 The Cable Group.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Bryant Park in Bloom

View from the Terrace Cafe


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Spring never arrived. Winter hung on for an unusually long time, now all of a sudden the heat is upon us. New Yorker’s have quickly abandoned hats, coats and scarves for beach wear, sandals and flip flops. Overnight trees blossomed from bare branches to provide a welcome oasis and parks filled with people reading newspapers, playing chess, eating, chatting or just sitting in quite reflection.

Bryant Park on 42nd Street behind the New York Public Library has long been a lunchtime refuge for corporate employees working in the area and students from the State University of New York School of Optometry across the street.

Years ago, from my office in the AT&T Building (now Verizon) on Avenue of the Americas, I looked down upon the park and realized the geometrically laid our spaces for grass and trees was deliberately designed to compliment the architecture of the Library. From my high vantage point, it was immediately evident the early 20th century building was planned to replicate a Italian Renaissance or Baroque Palazzo (Palace) with the requisite landscaped garden to provide a pastoral retreat from city life.

The parks tranquil beauty, café umbrellas, comfortable chairs and tables make it an ideal location for a picnic. Invite a friend to meet you for lunch or after work for a short visit. You can pick up everything you need close-by. Select a bottle of chilled wine from a wide variety at Park Ave Wines and Spirits, 292 Madison Avenue, between 40th and 41st. Then, stop by Zeytinz, direcly across from the Park on 40th St, for fruit, crackers, sandwiches, breadsticks and of course cheese. One nice touch, they have a place where you can wash the fresh fruit.

Monday evenings in the summer the Park becomes the “place to be” when HBO sponsors a Summer Film Festival. Thousands of New Yorker's with picnic baskets and hampers in all shapes and sizes come out to eat, lounge on the grass and toast glasses of wine. Plan now to join the party next Monday night, June 18th, when the Festival opens with one my favorite “New York” movies, Woody Allen’s funny, charming and unforgettable Annie Hall.

Other classics on this summer's menu include: The Sting, Psycho, and Casablanca. Click here for dates and check out the many events from Yoga and Tai Chi, knitting, poetry readings and jazz concerts that keep Bryant Park a buzz with activity from early morning to late night.

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

P.S. Want to feel like you are sitting under the trees? Click directly on the photograph and see what happens.


Addresses to remember:

Bryant Park, 42nd Street and Avenue of the Americas. Visit web site to learn more about the parks beautiful flower arrangements, events like free tai chi classes, music and dance performances, poetry and book readings http://www.bryantpark.org/.

Zeytinz, 24 West 40th Street,http://www.zeytinz.com/, 212-575-8080.

Park Ave Wine and Spirits, 292 Madison Avenue, between 40 and 41st Street, 212-685-2442, http://www.parkaveliquor.com/.

Directions: From Times Square MTA A, E, C, 1, 2, 3, 7, S, R, N, Q or Grand Central Station 4, 5, 6, 7, and S, a short walk to Avenue of the Americas.

Photo by Joseph Knight

© Copyright 2007 The Cable Group.


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Friday, May 18, 2007

A Touch of Paris Steps from Grand Central

Madison Avenue's Chez Laurence



Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Manhattan's hurry-up pace means it's rare anyone ever has time for breakfast. Most people either go without, or at the very best grab coffee, tea, a doughnut, bagel or muffin from a sidewalk vendor's cart on their way to the office. Or, after settling in at their desk, at the first opportunity for a morning break, join a line in front of one of these ever-present carts.

Now if you have occasion to plan a breakfast meeting, better yet, it is Saturday morning, or you are on vacation, consider a leisurely "civilized breakfast" at Chez Laurence, a French patisserie on Madison Avenue a couple blocks from Grand Central Station.

Step in the door. Immediately, the aroma of fresh baked bread wafting from unseen ovens is enough to make one drunk with anticipation. You'll begin debating what to order as a charming French waitress escorts you to a tiny marble top table. After just having passed a wide glass display counter of the most deliciously tempting pastries and baskets filled with baguettes and loaves of bread.

Warning, a choice will be tough. The only comfortable solution, promise yourself to return very soon. Today you will order a croissant, next time, a brioche, then a baguette, the time after that, pain au chocolat. Mmm! Think of melted chocolate between flaky layers of bread warm from the oven.

Your croissant arrives, rich with butter, warm to touch, crisp and flaky on the outside, firm and tight on the inside, and ohhh so succulent. You salivate to devour it at once. Don't even think about the calories. Luxuriate in tearing it apart, butter a small morsel and drop it on your tongue. Perhaps instead of butter, slather a morsel with orange marmalade or raspberry preserve.

If you desire more than a croissant for breakfast, scrambled egg whites served in a cup with onions, tomatoes, scallions and ham is an excellent choice. After all, one must make some concessions to cholesterol. And, how about some orange juice? Fresh squeezed with lots of pulp; it is absolutely delicious.

There you have it, a truly memorable breakfast. Enjoy! Bon Appetit.


Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

Address to remember: Chez Laurence, 245 Madison Avenue at 38th Street, 212-683-0284. Hours: Monday- Saturday 7-11 PM. Closed Sundays.

Directions: From Times Square MTA 7 or S train to Grand Central Station. Or 4, 5, and 6 to Grand Central, short walk to Chez Laurence.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Remembering Princess Diana

Althorp - Princess Diana's childhood home


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

continued from A Day at the Kasbah

Princess Diana will always hold a special place in my heart since she died on my birthday. So I paused a moment when I saw the book, Althorp Living History, lying casually on a coffee table in the Antique Galleries at ABC Carpet and Home.

But, how can one remain sad when you think of Diana's beautiful laughing smile and her shy mischievous eyes?

Soon after she and Charles were married, I had the good fortune to finagle an invitation for art collector clients to visit Althorp for a luncheon with her late father and the Countess of Spencer. The long drive on the estate's gravel road to the mansion remains a vivid memory.

If you have lived in or visited the British Isles, you are familiar with the sight of herds of sheep as they graze in lush green fields and meadows all over the countryside. In a city like New York, we are completely isolated from such bucolic scenes right out of an 18th century novel. What made the drive to Althorp unusual, was not only were there sheep grazing, but a herd of Black Angus cows as well. Holding my breath to avoid the pungent odor of manure nearly made me gag; I had never seen such massive animals outside of ones at a zoo, so close-up.

We quickly forgot the unpleasant odor outdoors as we stood in the elegant guest entrance hall surrounded by great horse portraits by John Wootton. With magnificent collections of paintings, silver, antique furnishings, Persian carpets, decorative art, porcelain, and objects of art, great country houses like Althorp are a reminder of a time and a past way of life.

In today's world, these homes present a real problem. The cost to maintain such properties is staggering, while repairs and upkeep never end. No matter the resources of the owner, they are a constant challenge.

Anyone who owns a home knows the time and money required to stay ahead of repairs and maintenance. It's always something, the boiler, the gutter, the ceiling, the roof, the plumbing, or the vents; Now image your home has over 100 rooms!

How clever of Diana's brother, Charles Edward Earl of Spencer, to collaborate with Theodore Alexander to create exquisite reproductions of Althorp's extraordinary antiques. He has found a way to finance the maintenance of his ancestral home, while at the same time, he shares Diana with all of us.

We can imagine her as a youngster running and playing games like hide and seek, peeking out behind a high-backed wing chair, or on her knees under a great desk or table.

Take a walk through the Althorp Collection and live the dream of being lord or mistress of the manor. Then go home and rent a movie like "Remains of the Day" or "The Queen" ( just released on DVD.)


Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York


P.S. Have you been watching TV? Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were at the White House yesterday, they are here to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first British settlement in America at Jamestown Virginia.


Address to remember: ABC Carpet and Home, 888 Broadway at 19th Street. New York, NY 10003. 212-473-3000.

Hours: Monday – Friday 10 AM – 8 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 7 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 6:30 PM.

Directions: From Times Square MTA, N, R, or W to 23rd Street. Bus M2, M3, and M5.


Address to remember: Althorp, Northampton, Northhamptonshire. England, UK NN7 4HQ


Directions: From London M1 North Exit 16 or 18

Photo courtesy of Beric Tempest & Company

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group