Delicious Dining in Midtown Manhattan

Chic French brasserie, located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, at 60 West 55^th Street, Benoit is marking its centenary, having opened in 1912.  It became part of the Alain Duncasse Enterprise in 2005. 

Today, together with Chef Philippe Bertineau, Duncasse has ensured the menu is a “celebrat[ion of] traditional French cuisine alongside seasonal ingredients.” It seems like the only criticism of the food is that the amazing gratinéed  onion soup – divine in its golden crusting encircling a “bubbling gooey and rich, beefy and fragrant” inside – is “exceedingly messy to eat,” according to reviewer Melissa Clark who wrote about it in an article in The New York Times.

At the bar, choose from any one of the delectable French and American wines by the glass, beers and more.  Private dining facilities seat up to 65 guests. For something more intimate, choose the Officine, which seats 10 in an antique 19^th century pharmacy setting from Bordeaux.  There, one can enjoy a personalized menu and the opportunity to select from Alain Duncasse’s private wine cellar.

Midtown Manhattan Feeds America’s Hungry

As well as being a successful business entrepreneur, Tim Bergling and Arash Pournouri are hoping to feed those with less than adequate resources. The two are currently in New York as part of their House for Hunger Tour which ultimately aims to raise $1m for Feeding America. They are performing at Midtown Manhattan’s Lavo Nightclub.

It has always been a priority for Bergling to combine philanthropy with his talents.  Pournouri felt the same.  He said that the two of them had often been approached throughout their career to do charitable events, but never complied as he was never confident he knew exactly where all the money would end up.

While they will be doing this first for America, the hope is that they will go around the world as well, having come to the realization that hunger is so much more than just confined to a third world issue.

Petula Clark Comes to New York

If you happen to be in Midtown Manhattan tomorrow, then you should try snagging tickets for a classic legend who is returning to the area to perform for the first time as a solo artist in over 30 years. Although truthfully, tickets to Petula Clark’s concert to be held at Feinstein’s from January 24 to February 4^th, are probably all sold out.

79-year old Clark did however join other performers in Washington Square Park in “an effort to energize lower Manhattan in the wake of September 11 attacks” a few months ago however.  But these performances are set to be something midtowners haven’t been privy to in quite a few decades and will probably really rock the town.

The lady has been somewhat of an icon since she was a child.  Since then, she has sold over 70 million records, the most famous of which was probably “Downtown.”  It was in the 1960s that she really became popular and successful.  In addition, Clark starred in various popular musicals including Goodbye, Mr. Chips and on stage in The Sound of Music and Blood Brothers.

While Clark still performs throughout the world, it’s been a long time since she showed up singing and dancing in NYC so this sure is big, exciting news for New Yorkers!

Midtown Manhattan Property Madness

Properties in Midtown Manhattan are prime real estate.  This is not news.  But as a new example of this, just recently, an office building in the area (that is currently the headquarters of HarperCollins Publishers) is about to be purchased for $252.5 million by SL Green Realty Corp. (SLG).  SLG specializes in commercial properties.  Right now, the building they will be purchasing is under 91 percent lease.  The intention of SLG is thus to engage in a marketing and leasing campaign through which it will make huge capital improvements.  The address of the property is 10 East 53^rd Street.

SLG has joined forces with a partner but it will hold 55 percent in the venture and be general partner in the project.  According to President Andrew Mathias, the company feels that once it puts its managerial stamp on the property, it will “become a highly coveted business address in the Plaza submarket.”  This would definitely be welcome news for SLG which reported a drop of 88 percent in its third-quarter earnings last October compared to the same time period the year earlier.

Going to Midtown Manhattan with Kids

If you happen to be in the Midtown Manhattan area with kids, you might be looking for something to do.  First, know this: every kid likes candies.  Armed with that knowledge, you are in the right place as you are right by Dylan’s Candy Bar.  Indeed, this will probably be more than just a fun day activity for your kid – it will be a dream come true.  The store is lined with all sorts of exciting candies, colors and chocolates and is akin to a real-life replica of the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory that pretty much every kid dreams of entering.  There are more than 5,000 types of candy available as well as candy-related gifts.

The store is loved by kids and adults alike and has been featured in various magazines including Elle, Town & County, and even The Wall Street Journal.  It has even been reported as being “the best candy store.”  Three years ago the store expanded from 10,000 to 15,000, adding a third additional floor.  This thus today renders it the world’s largest candy store.

Midtown Manhattan Market Madness

 

It’s mad in Midtown Manhattan right now!  The shopping is insane in the days leading up to Christmas. But truthfully, there’s also a great spirit here, buzzing in the city. And it’s fantastic that there are so many super cool eateries in the area that really seem to be getting into the spirit too. So it really feels like Christmas – and the season of fun and festivity – lasts for a long time even before December 25.

If you happen to need to go to the Post Office, check out the James A. Farley branch as you’ll really see something special.  Apparently over 600 million packages are being sent out at the peak of the Christmas rush and it’s truly miraculous to see what goes on there.  Indeed, a staff-member at the main postal branch in Manhattan said around 250 boxes were mailed out in less than two hours! 

Part of the Operation Santa program, this is a super cool, feel-good program. It’s a way of everyone giving and getting.  A bunch of volunteers come in and read the letters to Santa, and then – on his behalf of course – go out and buy the presents for the kids. What a wonderful spirit. Midtown Manhattan is definitely getting into things in a big way over this holiday season.

Christmas in Midtown Manhattan

Very little can come close to beating  the hubbub of Christmas in Midtown Manhattan.  This year is going to be no different.  Santa Claus will be accompanied by dancing Chinese dragons, to really light up the city.  They will be performing at the Fifth Annual East Meets West Christmas Parade which can be enjoyed through Little Italy and Chinatown.  At the parade – which kicks off at Mulberry and Canal Streets – one will be able to view a colorful array of Asian and Italian traditions, along with marching bands, feature floats and more.  Allegedly, this is set to be the city’s second largest parade (Macy’s Thanksgiving one being the largest).

It was in 2006 that the parade’s organizers decided to set their sights even higher and significantly expand the parade.  Today, it is a collaboration between the Little Italy Merchants Association and the Chinatown Partnership. Until then, Little Italy did it on its own (for around three decades) but with the additional input of Chinatown, it is really something quite magical.

Bridging the Cultural Gap?

Indeed, while Little Italy and Chinatown have geographically been pretty close-knit in the Lower Manhattan area for over a century, they haven’t worked together like this.  But now this could all be changing. In 2010, the two were given joint recognition on the National Register of Historic Places and they also banded together to bring in World Trade Center tourists to visit the area.

So, maybe with the holiday spirit in the air, the Christmas season will do even more to bridge the unnecessary gaps that exist between the two.