![Quintessentially Magazine - I Adore NY: Meghan Asha & Julia Allison On All the Skinny
JA: Is there anything more New York than the Four Seasons? I had one of my best ever dates here. He bought me the cotton candy- so romantic!MA: Where else do you eat?JA: The Waverly Inn. I’m obsessed with it, although I realize it’s not cool to be obsessed with something so trendy. Small, amazing West Village atmosphere. There’s an understated class and air about it. But its still homey. I go once every couple of weeks. The maitre’d there, Larry, is just so incredibly sweet.MA: I love it too. Even the $50 macaroni and cheese - amazing. I love that you have to have the secret number to get a reservation. And that the front room’s not as good as the back room…JA: No, no! The back room’s not as good as the front room.MA: Sorry, right, right!JA: Every New Yorker goes through a phase where you want to try every restaurant. I had an Excel spreadsheet when I first got here. But now I try to find a place where I’m comfortable. Like Perry Street.MA: Love Perry Street. The food is outstanding. There’s a tuna appetizer there I can’t get enough of.JA: I like a restaurant where you can be low profile. But if you want to be high profile…MA: Then go to Downtown Cipriani where everybody looks you up and down and the women are dressed to the nines. You go there if you’re in the mood to wear something…Missoni. JA: Yeah and hang out with Euros. I love the risotto there. What about people watching.MA: Rooftop of Soho houseJA: You know that’s amazing for people watching on a Saturday morning? Pastis. I know that it’s trendy and been around forever, but it’s an institution. Going and sitting outside on a summer morning is divine.MA: See, I’m more into the late night scene. Like karaoke at Winnie’s, or at one of those private places in Korea Town, with the disco balls and the soju. Or the show at the Box.JA: That’s so New York- nowhere else would you see a stage show with great singer’s, with crazy drug and culture references and men who have, um, female parts. And it gets seedier as the night goes on.MA: It’s a great date place for a bad date- you can go there and just sit and watch the show the whole time.JA: But my favorite bar in New York is the Rose Bar at the Gramercy.MA: Oh, agree! With the Warhol paintings on the walls…JA: And they infuse it with wood scent- I think there’s crack in the scent because it makes me happy the second I walk in. It’s quiet enough that you can hear yourself talk- you could have a meeting there or you could have a deliciously romantic date. There’s something sultry about that place.MA: The whole crew from Entourage was there the last time I went. The rooftop there is very cool, but it’s private. And of course there’s Beatrice and Milk and Honey still going strong.JA: There’s a great bar in Tribeca- the Brandy Library. It looks like your very rich uncle’ study. Lovely atmosphere, perfect for closing the big deal.MA: Whatever that big deal might be…JA: Ha! Ok, ready? Lightning round. Best place for power coffee. Go.MA: Um Balthazar. Now You. Power Lunch.JA: Michael’s, obviously. All the media heavy hitters. Also Town in the Chambers Hotel. And of course, right here there’s the Four Seasons. MA: Good ones. I’d add 11 Madison. Their new chef, Daniel Humm, is incredible.JA: What about… cupcakes?MA: Don’t do Magnolias, only tourists line up there. Two Little Red Hens on the Upper East Side- their blackout chocolate cupcake is the best. JA: But the number one cupcake place in New York is Sugar Sweet Sunshine on Rivington.MA: Ok, more the best health food place?JA: Liquiteria on 11th Street and 2nd Avenue. I have a beet-juice smoothie there every single morning.MA: Let’s do shopping.JA: My favorite new handbag designer is Mary Rambin [JA Ed Note: HA! I always promote my girls]. Her Moe bags are ridiculously addictive. She has these beautiful bags that loop to your wrist. You can get them at Henri Bendels.MA: If it’s shoes your after, it’s Barneys or Christian Louboutin. But generally I love going to the young designers’ market every Saturday and Sunday on Mott street in SoHo.JA: Or the consignment stores on the Upper East Side because the ladies –who-lunch abandon their designer cast-offs there. They always have big labels for cheap- Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Oscar de la Renta. The Spence-Chapin Thrift Shop is a good one. But of course, if your shopping with the rich boyfriend, the first place to go would be Jeffrey’s in Meatpacking.MA: And don’t forget Bergdorf’s for handbags and dresses. For antique jewelry, you want to go to this little place on the Lower East Side, called Pippin.JA: Ooh, speaking of vintage, Screaming Mimi’s on Lafayette. Incredible vintage clothing. Lots of designers and stylists go there.MA: And what about if you’re buying for a man?JA: Thomas Pink for shirts. Paul Smith for everything. And when you’re done there and want to buy something for yourself, pop into Diane von Furstenberg’s gorgeous new store.MA: OK, we have to talk about gyms. The number one gym that everyone is talking about is the Equinox at Columbus Circle. They’re obsessed with it.JA: That and the equinox in SoHo. And my metrosexual ex is obsessed with Clay on 14th. Exclusive. There is only one, and it’s totally exclusive. What about hair stylists?MA: Ty Holbrook at John Frieda. Best haircut I’ve ever gotten.JA: All the anchors and TV personalities go to the Ted Gibson Salon on 23rd and Fifth. There’s a guy named Jason who does colour there who’s supposed to be just amazing. OK, hotels?MA: I had a long-distant relationship last year so I know all the hotels. I like Gramercy, which is dark and bordello-esque. It’s the place to put your mistress, not your mom. And the Mercer. And I love the spa at the Mandarin in the Time Warner Center.JA: But the best massage in the city is called Asian Tui-Na. If you like it rough, and I do, this is the place to go. Great acupuncture, too.MA: And the best thing, period, to do in New York?JA: Just walking around! The Battery Park Promenade, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, West Village.MA: And if you’re talkative, go stand in line at the Shake Shack in Madison Park. Meeting people there is better than the burgers, and that’s really saying something!As overheard by Brian Farnham, editor-in-chief of Time Out New YorkMeghan Asha is a socialite and former model who works in hedge funds.Julia Allison is the dating columnist for Time Out New York and an editor-at-large for Star magazine.Eat & Drink & DanceBalthazar80 Spring St. between Broadway and Crosby Sts212.965.1414Beatrice Inn [SHUT DOWN!]285 W 12th St212.243.4626The Box189 Chrystie St between Rivington and Stanton Sts212.982.9301The Brandy Library25 N. Moore St at Varick St212.226.5545Eleven Madison Park11 Madison Ave at 24th St212.889.0905The Four Seasons99 E 52nd St212.754.9494Liquiteria170 2nd Ave212.358.0300Michael’s 24 W 55th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves212.767.0555Milk and Honey134 Eldridge St between Broome and Delancey StsunlistedPastis9 Ninth Ave at Little W 12th St212.929.4844The Rose Bar at the Gramercy2 Lexington Ave212.920.3300SoHo House29-35 Ninth Ave between 13th and 14th Sts212.627.9800Sugar Sweet Sunshine126 Rivington St212.995.1960Town in the Chambers Hotel15 W 56th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves212.582.4445Two Little Red Hens1652 Second Ave at 86th212.452.0476The Waverley Inn16 Bank St212.243.7900Winnie’s 104 Bayard St between Baxter and Mulberry Sts212.732.2364Shop & Sleep & Health
Asian Tui-Na327 E 28th St212.686.8082
Bergdorf’s754 Fifth Ave212-753-7300 Clay 25 W. 14th St, 2nd floor212-206-9200 Christian Louboutin 59 Horatio St212-255-1910 Diane von Furstenberg 874 Washington St646-486-4800 Equinox (multiple locations) 895 Broadway (corporate address) 212-774-6363 Gramercy Hotel 2 Lexington Ave212-475-4320 Henri Bendels 712 Fifth Ave between 55th & 56th Sts212-582-8283 John Frieda 797 Madison Ave212-879-1000The Mandarin Hotel Spa80 Columbus Circle212-805-8880 The Mercer Hotel 147 Mercer St212-966-6060 Paul Smith 108 Fifth Ave at 16th St212-627-9770 Pippin 72 Orchard St212-505-5159 Screaming Mimi’s 382 Lafayette St212-677-6464 Spence-Chapin Thrift Shop 1473 Third Ave, 212-737-8448 1850 Second Ave, 212-426-7643 Ted Gibson Salon 184 Fifth Ave, 2nd floor 212-633-6333 Thomas Pink 10 Columbus Circle at 60th St, 212-826-9650 Young Designer’s Market on Mott St, 268 Mulberry St 212-580-8995](http://24.media.tumblr.com/k9A7Pq512nigd3liBgjbuuTuo1_400.png)
Quintessentially Magazine - I Adore NY: Meghan Asha & Julia Allison On All the Skinny
JA: Is there anything more New York than the Four Seasons? I had one of my best ever dates here. He bought me the cotton candy- so romantic!
MA: Where else do you eat?
JA: The Waverly Inn. I’m obsessed with it, although I realize it’s not cool to be obsessed with something so trendy. Small, amazing West Village atmosphere. There’s an understated class and air about it. But its still homey. I go once every couple of weeks. The maitre’d there, Larry, is just so incredibly sweet.
MA: I love it too. Even the $50 macaroni and cheese - amazing. I love that you have to have the secret number to get a reservation. And that the front room’s not as good as the back room…
JA: No, no! The back room’s not as good as the front room.
MA: Sorry, right, right!
JA: Every New Yorker goes through a phase where you want to try every restaurant. I had an Excel spreadsheet when I first got here. But now I try to find a place where I’m comfortable. Like Perry Street.
MA: Love Perry Street. The food is outstanding. There’s a tuna appetizer there I can’t get enough of.
JA: I like a restaurant where you can be low profile. But if you want to be high profile…
MA: Then go to Downtown Cipriani where everybody looks you up and down and the women are dressed to the nines. You go there if you’re in the mood to wear something…Missoni.
JA: Yeah and hang out with Euros. I love the risotto there. What about people watching.
MA: Rooftop of Soho house
JA: You know that’s amazing for people watching on a Saturday morning? Pastis. I know that it’s trendy and been around forever, but it’s an institution. Going and sitting outside on a summer morning is divine.
MA: See, I’m more into the late night scene. Like karaoke at Winnie’s, or at one of those private places in Korea Town, with the disco balls and the soju. Or the show at the Box.
JA: That’s so New York- nowhere else would you see a stage show with great singer’s, with crazy drug and culture references and men who have, um, female parts. And it gets seedier as the night goes on.
MA: It’s a great date place for a bad date- you can go there and just sit and watch the show the whole time.
JA: But my favorite bar in New York is the Rose Bar at the Gramercy.
MA: Oh, agree! With the Warhol paintings on the walls…
JA: And they infuse it with wood scent- I think there’s crack in the scent because it makes me happy the second I walk in. It’s quiet enough that you can hear yourself talk- you could have a meeting there or you could have a deliciously romantic date. There’s something sultry about that place.
MA: The whole crew from Entourage was there the last time I went. The rooftop there is very cool, but it’s private. And of course there’s Beatrice and Milk and Honey still going strong.
JA: There’s a great bar in Tribeca- the Brandy Library. It looks like your very rich uncle’ study. Lovely atmosphere, perfect for closing the big deal.
MA: Whatever that big deal might be…
JA: Ha! Ok, ready? Lightning round. Best place for power coffee. Go.
MA: Um Balthazar. Now You. Power Lunch.
JA: Michael’s, obviously. All the media heavy hitters. Also Town in the Chambers Hotel. And of course, right here there’s the Four Seasons.
MA: Good ones. I’d add 11 Madison. Their new chef, Daniel Humm, is incredible.
JA: What about… cupcakes?
MA: Don’t do Magnolias, only tourists line up there. Two Little Red Hens on the Upper East Side- their blackout chocolate cupcake is the best.
JA: But the number one cupcake place in New York is Sugar Sweet Sunshine on Rivington.
MA: Ok, more the best health food place?
JA: Liquiteria on 11th Street and 2nd Avenue. I have a beet-juice smoothie there every single morning.
MA: Let’s do shopping.
JA: My favorite new handbag designer is Mary Rambin [JA Ed Note: HA! I always promote my girls]. Her Moe bags are ridiculously addictive. She has these beautiful bags that loop to your wrist. You can get them at Henri Bendels.
MA: If it’s shoes your after, it’s Barneys or Christian Louboutin. But generally I love going to the young designers’ market every Saturday and Sunday on Mott street in SoHo.
JA: Or the consignment stores on the Upper East Side because the ladies –who-lunch abandon their designer cast-offs there. They always have big labels for cheap- Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Oscar de la Renta. The Spence-Chapin Thrift Shop is a good one. But of course, if your shopping with the rich boyfriend, the first place to go would be Jeffrey’s in Meatpacking.
MA: And don’t forget Bergdorf’s for handbags and dresses. For antique jewelry, you want to go to this little place on the Lower East Side, called Pippin.
JA: Ooh, speaking of vintage, Screaming Mimi’s on Lafayette. Incredible vintage clothing. Lots of designers and stylists go there.
MA: And what about if you’re buying for a man?
JA: Thomas Pink for shirts. Paul Smith for everything. And when you’re done there and want to buy something for yourself, pop into Diane von Furstenberg’s gorgeous new store.
MA: OK, we have to talk about gyms. The number one gym that everyone is talking about is the Equinox at Columbus Circle. They’re obsessed with it.
JA: That and the equinox in SoHo. And my metrosexual ex is obsessed with Clay on 14th. Exclusive. There is only one, and it’s totally exclusive. What about hair stylists?
MA: Ty Holbrook at John Frieda. Best haircut I’ve ever gotten.
JA: All the anchors and TV personalities go to the Ted Gibson Salon on 23rd and Fifth. There’s a guy named Jason who does colour there who’s supposed to be just amazing. OK, hotels?
MA: I had a long-distant relationship last year so I know all the hotels. I like Gramercy, which is dark and bordello-esque. It’s the place to put your mistress, not your mom. And the Mercer. And I love the spa at the Mandarin in the Time Warner Center.
JA: But the best massage in the city is called Asian Tui-Na. If you like it rough, and I do, this is the place to go. Great acupuncture, too.
MA: And the best thing, period, to do in New York?
JA: Just walking around! The Battery Park Promenade, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, West Village.
MA: And if you’re talkative, go stand in line at the Shake Shack in Madison Park. Meeting people there is better than the burgers, and that’s really saying something!
As overheard by Brian Farnham, editor-in-chief of Time Out New York
Meghan Asha is a socialite and former model who works in hedge funds.
Julia Allison is the dating columnist for Time Out New York and an editor-at-large for Star magazine.
Eat & Drink & Dance
Balthazar
80 Spring St. between Broadway and Crosby Sts
212.965.1414Beatrice Inn [SHUT DOWN!]285 W 12th St
212.243.4626
The Box
189 Chrystie St between Rivington and Stanton Sts
212.982.9301
The Brandy Library
25 N. Moore St at Varick St
212.226.5545
Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave at 24th St
212.889.0905
The Four Seasons
99 E 52nd St
212.754.9494
Liquiteria
170 2nd Ave
212.358.0300
Michael’s
24 W 55th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves
212.767.0555
Milk and Honey
134 Eldridge St between Broome and Delancey Sts
unlisted
Pastis
9 Ninth Ave at Little W 12th St
212.929.4844
The Rose Bar at the Gramercy
2 Lexington Ave
212.920.3300
SoHo House
29-35 Ninth Ave between 13th and 14th Sts
212.627.9800
Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington St
212.995.1960
Town in the Chambers Hotel
15 W 56th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves
212.582.4445
Two Little Red Hens
1652 Second Ave at 86th
212.452.0476
The Waverley Inn
16 Bank St
212.243.7900
Winnie’s
104 Bayard St between Baxter and Mulberry Sts
212.732.2364
Shop & Sleep & Health
Asian Tui-Na
327 E 28th St
212.686.8082
Bergdorf’s
754 Fifth Ave
212-753-7300
Clay
25 W. 14th St, 2nd floor
212-206-9200
Christian Louboutin
59 Horatio St
212-255-1910
Diane von Furstenberg
874 Washington St
646-486-4800
Equinox (multiple locations)
895 Broadway (corporate address)
212-774-6363
Gramercy Hotel
2 Lexington Ave
212-475-4320
Henri Bendels
712 Fifth Ave between 55th & 56th Sts
212-582-8283
John Frieda
797 Madison Ave
212-879-1000
The Mandarin Hotel Spa
80 Columbus Circle
212-805-8880
The Mercer Hotel
147 Mercer St
212-966-6060
Paul Smith
108 Fifth Ave at 16th St
212-627-9770
Pippin
72 Orchard St
212-505-5159
Screaming Mimi’s
382 Lafayette St
212-677-6464
Spence-Chapin Thrift Shop
1473 Third Ave, 212-737-8448
1850 Second Ave, 212-426-7643
Ted Gibson Salon
184 Fifth Ave, 2nd floor
212-633-6333
Thomas Pink
10 Columbus Circle at 60th St,
212-826-9650
Young Designer’s Market on Mott
St, 268 Mulberry St
212-580-8995
