SHOWS
Sweep Them Away
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh bring their West End hit musical Mary Poppins to Broadway this fall, with Gavin Lee from the London production as Bert, the chimney sweep. Performances begin October 14 at the New Amsterdam Theatre. (Tickets: Ticketmaster.com; group sales: Broadway Inbound)
Go Across the River
Head east to the Brooklyn Academy of Music—it’s the time of year when the avant-garde Next Wave Festival heats up, with concerts, operas, theater, dance, and multimedia offerings. Featuring 18 productions, this year is BAM’s largest festival; performances run October 3 through December 16.
CULTURE
Do the Art Shuffle
If gallery-hopping in Chelsea is your thing, stop by the Aperture Foundation for a show of camera work by painter Chuck Close. The nonprofit center dedicated to photography is displaying Close’s daguerreotype portraits of his friends and artists November 9 through January 4. For something to eat afterwards, head to Trestle on Tenth, the rustic new restaurant from chef-owner Ralf Kuettel at 10th Avenue and 24th Street.
Hot Designs, Cool Sculptures
Check out the latest in design as the National Design Triennial comes to the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, December 8 through July 29. The show includes examples of animation, architecture, product design, and fashion from 87 designers and companies. And it’s your last chance to get to the Bronx and check out the fanciful glass creations from Dale Chihuly set amid the flora at the New York Botanical Garden—the exhibit wraps up October 29.
BITES
Savor Some Spain
Yann de Rochefort of Lower East Side restaurant Suba has headed uptown—but only as far as the Flatiron district. His new 85-seat Boqueria focuses on regional Spanish fare, and its look is evocative of that country’s famous tapas bars. Designed by the Meyer Davis Studio, the eatery has tile walls, ceilings inset with burlap-covered panels, a stone bar that seats 20, and a 16-foot communal table. Boqueria’s wine list represents all of Spain’s major winemaking regions and offers a range of specialty sangrias (including some with a mix of beer, fruit puree, and citrus juices).
Watch the Action
Change has come to the stalwart Four Seasons Hotel—with the debut of L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, which opened this summer. Celebrated chef Robuchon maintains restaurants in Paris, Tokyo, and Las Vegas; his new establishment features a U-shaped bar with views into the kitchen. Signature dishes from his other restaurants make it to the menu here, including truffled mashed potatoes, foie gras-stuffed quail, and roasted rack of lamb.
Take Them to the Tavern
Drawing upon the rustic feel and fare characteristic of American taverns, John Mautone and Michael Waterhouse, the owners of Dylan Prime steak house, opened the cozy, casual new Devin Tavern. It’s rich with architectural details like exposed brick arches and rough-hewn ceiling beams. The menu includes a selection of braised, grilled, and roasted seasonal meats, fish, and game. The main dining room has 110 seats.
Sup and Sip
Yet another eating and drinking destination has popped up near the bustling meatpacking district—Gin Lane, which takes its name from the famous Southampton street. The elegant space includes vintage wall coverings and a 100-year-old bar. Antonio Cardoso (whose résumé includes the fabled Oyster Bar at the Plaza Hotel) is the chef, and master mixologist Dale DeGroff created the cocktail menu.
IN-OFFICE CATERING
Take A Bite
Tom Colicchio strikes again. The chef-restaurateur’s expanding empire now includes yet another Wichcraft sandwich outlet, this time in Midtown at 555 Fifth Avenue. The new eatery has the same great sandwiches you get at other locations (the roasted turkey with bacon and avocado is a delight), as well as catering options not on the regular menu. Another location is slated to open at the end of the year on East 20th Street.
GIFTS
Explore the City
Two new city-centric titles make for thoughtful choices to give to visiting clients, or even curious natives. Caitlin Leffel and Jacob Lehman’s New York Unlimited: The 1,001 Best Things to Do in New York City (Universe Publishing) provides suggestions for dining, shopping, sightseeing, culture-hunting, and adventureseeking all over town; the paperback costs $18.95. For a look at the city’s presence on the big screen, check out James Sanders’ Scenes From the City: Filmmaking in New York, 1966-2006 (Rizzoli). The book costs $49.95 and contains film stills and behind-thescenes shots, including contributions from Sidney Lumet, Nora Ephron, and Woody Allen. Both titles are available through Rizzoli.
—Mark Mavrigian
Posted 09.25.06
Photos: JJ Ignotz for BiZBash (Devin Tavern), Chuck Close/Aperture Foundation, Bill Bettencourt (Wichcraft), © Disney/CML, Michael Le Poer Trench (Mary Poppins)
Mary Poppins comes to Broadway.
The Aperture Foundation's Chuck Close exhibit.
The Flatiron district's new Boqueria restaurant serves regional Spanish fare.
Devin Tavern's decor and menu take direction from rustic American taverns.
Wichcraft opened up another location—this time in Midtown.
