Everyone's Private Palace

Oh! Those Majestic Lions
----"New York for Kids" Part 1 ----

With the Christmas season over, the long months of winter are a great time for indoor activities. In the next few weeks, Postcards from New York will feature a series of great places to visit and enjoy with your youngsters.

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Dear Postcards From New York Reader,

It has been awhile since your last Postcard, so let me officially wish you "Happy New Year!"

Proud, regal, majestic, their luxurious manes ruffled by the wind, El Polter’s two lions, named Patience and Fortitude by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, stare down their noses at us beneath hooded eyelids. Like two elder statesmen, they stand guard at the marble stairway entrance to the city’s only palace, The New York Public Library (NYPL) at Fifth Avenue and 41st Street.

“What is this place?” asked Holly Golightly as her friend Paul led her up the stairs in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). Then as now, NYPL is too often overlooked as a terrific place to spend an afternoon; particularly with kids from 5 years to teenages, it is met with an anticipation of boredom (just insist on taking them, someday they will thank you).

While one can only roam the splendid rooms of the Louvre or Buckingham Palace to admire the many works of art, you can actually use this palace. Return again and again as often as you like, because it is open seven days a week, and it's free!

Walk the wide marble halls and go up one of the two grand staircases in Astor Hall to the third floor Main Reading Room. Take a seat beneath the coffered painted ceiling, look up to the sky and clouds; then sit in a high-backed wood chair made smooth and comfortable from decades of wear and explore current or past newspapers, magazines, rare books, prints, hundred year old maps and any book that has ever been published.

NYPL features art, print, and photography exhibits throughout the year. Stop to look at the incredible Gutenberg Bible dated 1455, one of the very first printed books on display on the third floor. Check the reception desks in Astor Hall for daily library tours and plan to attend one of the many lectures given each week on topics such as, "Uncovering your roots", "Genealogy research" or "The history of baseball". Check here for schedule of times. Reservations are not required; just show up.

If you are a visitor and need to check your email, the library provides free Internet access in the Main Reading Room.

Now a few things kids can look up on the library's many computers to make the visit a memorable learning experience. My seven year old niece Chanel became more and more fascinated with words and spent hours on the Oxford Dictionary (OED) computer. If your youngster has trouble, encourage him/her to ask the librarians for assistance, they are readily available and always helpful.

Find three headlines on the front page of The New York Times on the day of your birth.

Find at least five books on a subject that interest you on the computer.

Find a book about a famous person. Fill out the book request form near the computer, submit the form to the book clerk, then wait for your number and pick up the book in the Main Reading Room.

Look up the word “daisy” on the Oxford English Dictionary computer. Where did it come from and when first used? Now, look up any word you would like to know more about.

Find out who said “Give me Liberty or Give me Death.”

In the Map Room on the first floor, find an 1800's map of New York City.

Apply for an access card to use books in the Library.

Have fun!

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

Address to Remember: New York Public Library, 476 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10138-0018, 212-930-0653, http://www.nypl.org/. The Library offers a free monthly e-newsletter that will keep you informed about everything exciting that is happening at the library. Sign up at http://www.enews.nypl.org/.

Directions: From Times Square. MTA 7 to 5th Avenue, Bus 42 or 104 to 5th Avenue.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group

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

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