My NYC Spots

An old friend of mine was planning a trip to NYC and wanted to know my favorite downtown spots. Why not share them with everyone! Since I think it best to eat your way through the city these are mostly restaurants, but I threw in a museum for good measure. Here are my picks, do you have any you'd like to share?



Lower East Side:


Shillers - GREAT bistro food
Supper - excellent Italian food (Drew Barrymore's favorite haunt)
Apizz - another fantastic Italian spot
Freemans - very Lower East Side vibe, lots of taxidermy, very cozy and killer drinks



NoLita (North of Little Italy):


New Museum Of Contemporary Art
La Esquina - very trendy restaurant (taco stand, cafe and underground restaurant - the later is hard to get into but the cafe upstairs is easy and the food is the same, the taco stand is a walk up type place if you're looking for something cheap and fast)



Soho:


Tons of shopping on Broadway, gets a little crowded but worth it if you can handle the crowd.

Saturdays Surf Shop - I haven't yet been but Laura says it's a must. Hey if Anna Wintour shops there, why not!
Delicatessen - trendy spot, decent food, always good for a John Mayer sighting.



West Village:


If you like Marc Jacobs you can hit five of his stores in a two block radius. This neighborhood is super quaint and worth a visit even if you don't like Marc Jacobs.

Spotted Pig - best burger you'll ever have
L'Artusi - super yummy
August - perfect brunch spot
Employees Only - bar, gets a little crowded but great drinks
Commerce - gorgeous street, quintessential West Village, great restaurant


Once you've hit the West Village head North and check out the Meatpacking District, there the shopping and eating continues, you can't go wrong there for nightlife.



Enjoy!

Gjelina

We've been back in California for well over a month and the reoccurring dinner invitation revolves around one restaurant- Gjelina. I finally made my way up to my dear friend Stella's house and we made our way to Abbot Kinney and immediately got a table at the very packed restaurant (she's a regular). The mushroom toast was divine as well as many other dishes, the decor was urban cool with funky bottle chandeliers and minimalist finishes yet a warm touch. The best part- cutie Chef/Owner Travis Lett working away in the kitchen for all to see in a big picture window. He's been featured in Vogue as seen below.

Gjelina: 1429 Abbot Kinney Venice, CA (PH) 310-450-1429.

Guest Stylist - Stacey Angeles

A cross between Ann Curry, Chelsea Lately and Edie Sedgwick (her style icon by the way), Stacey is my Brooklyn-based cousin (by marriage but I am claiming her as family because she's super cool). She's one of the funniest gals I know and her adorable pixie good looks make me want to put her in my pocket and make her my little pet - she's too cute! I could go on but I think her self description says it best...


Stacey Angeles is director, producer and writer for the idiot box (recently working with Rachel Zoe on the Rachel Zoe Project). Anytime you see a fight break out on a reality show, she’s the one behind the camera encouraging it.

Stacey Angeles


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Who is your style icon?
Edie Sedgwick! I’ve always loved the look of black tights with short dresses. Now that I’ve regrettably chopped off my hair, I find myself re-appreciating her and pulling up pictures of her style because while she had a tomboyish quality, she managed to be extremely feminine.



What's playing on your iPod?
Oh the guilty pleasures I cannot dare say aloud. Who wants to admit they’re a fan of bands such as Erasure? But I recently saw Beirut in concert and can’t get enough of them right now. Makes being crammed under armpits in an overcrowded subway slightly tolerable.




What is the one item in your closet you cannot live without?
Well, I live in a loft and don’t have a closet. But one item I cannot live without is . . . jeans. Exciting, I know. My favorite pair I’m wearing out right now are my AG jeans.



Where is your favorite place in the world?
Outside – does that count as an answer?


What are you obsessing about owning right now?
My own apartment


What is the most used item in your makeup bag?
My Revlon tweezers. If I didn’t have them I’d be mistaken for Frida Kahlo.




What is your favorite neighborhood restaurant?
5 Leaves in Greenpoint, Brooklyn is amazing. Delicious menu and they play great records.



What is your necessary extravagance?
Traveling!! Even though I should probably be saving money instead, I try to leave the country twice a year for my sanity.



How do you define perfect happiness?
Happiness is being with your favorite people in life and laughing so hard that you lose control of your bladder . . . there would also have to be wine and puppies present.

Guest Stylist - Naomi Newirth

Naomi Newirth is one of our regular fashionistas visiting the island of Bali. She has a blessed life of an island girl with an unquenchable wanderlust. Don't forget to check out her new line - Acacia Swimwear. I have personally tried them on and they are SEXY and definitely make you feel good.

Naomi Newirth

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Who is your style icon?
I have a lot, but one is model, Daria Werbowy, I always pull off pictures of her from the web, and tear out of magazine pics, her style inspires me.






What's playing on your iPod?
There is a great song by Vanessa da Mata that I’m listening to right now. She collaborated on a song called Boa Sorte/Good Luck with Ben Harper.





What is the one item in your closet you cannot live without?
My bikinis of course! When I’m home, or in Bali, I live in them, so if I didn’t have one on hand at all times I would definitely feel incomplete.

From the Acacia Collection

Where is your favorite place in the world?
My favorite place in the whole world would have to be my home… MAUI! No place compares.






What are you obsessing about owning right now?
I recently saw a vintage Louis Vitton trunk that I’ve been thinking about ever since. Right now my mind is on traveling, I’m leaving for a week to go to Bali for 5 weeks and that trunk would sure come in handy!




I am also loving this handbag by Bird Handbags...

"One Night Stand" by Bird Handbags

What is the most used item in your makeup bag?
My Touche Eclat radiant touch by YSL





What is your favorite neighborhood restaurant?
Paia Fish Market in Maui... best ono burger in the whole world!






What is your necessary extravagance?
Traveling is a must…. experiencing new cultures and fashion. Traveling inspires me and makes me who I am.





How do you define perfect happiness?
Being home with family and friends. Sharing special places and special moments with the people in my life I most care about.

Guest Stylist - Tiffany English

You can't get a more worldly existence than Tiffany English, the director of Ware Malcomb, a design firm specializing in commercial real estate. Raised in Africa, Japan and India, she has an exotic style mixed with modern lines. We certainly wish we could have joined her on the Herman Miller tour!

Tiffany English

Who is your style icon?
Jessica Alba’s casual ‘mommy’ style and her classy dress up style. She can pull both off so easily!






What is the one item in your closet you cannot live without?
Seven for all Mankind Jeans






Where is your favorite place in the world?
Too many to name but if my family and friends are with me it could be anywhere!





What are you obsessing about owning right now?
Classic furniture pieces, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Herman Miller furniture factory in Michigan just recently and was able to see original sketches from Charles and Ray Eames and other fabulous classic furniture designers and I want to fill my home with all of them.

Eames - La Chaise Chair


Arne Jacobsen - Egg Chair


Nelson - Marshmallow Sofa

What is the most used item in your makeup bag?
Channel Glossimer in Unity





What is your favorite neighborhood restaurant?
Tomoyama Sushi in Carlsbad, CA





What is your necessary extravagance?
Shoes

No, this isn't my closet but maybe one day?

How do you define perfect happiness?
My family’s laughter.

Guest Stylist - Jennifer Heenan

Today's guest embodies the laid back, uber-cool, vibe of LA. A long time resident of Venice Beach, Jenn is a devoted mother of two adorables, a busy career woman, an avid traveler and foodie. Her style is effortless and we're so happy she's sharing her thoughts with us today. Thanks Jenn!

Jennifer Heenan and Laura Weber

Who is your style icon?
I love Kate Bosworth. Her effortless style is always chic and feminine.






What's playing on your iPod?
U2 - City of Blinding Lights




What is the one item in your closet you cannot live without?
Elizabeth and James shirred sleeve blazer




Where is your favorite place in the world?
The architecturally beautiful and cosmopolitan city of Barcelona, Spain where I met my husband, Marc.





What are you obsessing about owning right now?
Another piece of art by the talented Julia Schwadron





What is the most used item in your makeup bag?
Chanel Particuliere Nail Lacquer





What is your favorite neighborhood restaurant?
Gjelina in Venice Beach is delicious. The added bonuses - great people watching AND I can ride my bike to get there!




What is your necessary extravagance?
Monthly facials and eyebrow arches by Mihaeal Corcoz at Belladonna Face and Body Clinic.



How do you define perfect happiness?
Being a mother to Alex and Malia.