aroma M New York City it list recommendations

Marea
240 Central Park South NYC
Marea is a seafood restaurant but not entirely, it is possibly more accurate to call it a restaurant inspired by seafood. The bar back is honey onyx with a crudo bar along the restaurant's side. We feasted on the crudo selections my favorites were Passer Long Island Fluke, Tonno bigeye Tuna, and the most delicious Sgombro Pacific Jack Mackerel. The Santa Barbara sea urchin Spaghetti, given that I am Uni fiend this dish was the high point.

Photographs by Kazuumi Takahashi
High Tide Wane Moon
The Japanese photographer Kazuumi Takahashi's pictures of slow moving ocean tides, waning moons and abstract horizons make for exquisite gazing. The state of mind builds gradually to a state of calm, studious inner grace, an almost Kierkegaardian, existential essence. You'll have to think and look deeply while experiencing these photographs.

Idiot Savant
By Richard Foreman
Public Theater
425 Lafayette Street NYC
This new work by Richard Foreman is a philosophical comedy, in the great tradition of Ionesco and Preston Sturges. From existential and metaphysical acrobatics, to a ridiculous game of inter-species golf with a Giant Duck, Idiot Savant is a fresh, bracing and hilarious exploration of the boundaries of the legitimate.

Bright Star
Bright Star the latest film by Jane Campion a gorgeous, beautiful romance, a story of love between the legendary poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and his muse, Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish) Poetry about a Poet. The cinematography is like watching a moving Vermeer painting, disarming beauty, much like Keats's own lyrics.

Chrysanthemums
"Kiku" in Japan are the symbol of the Emperor and through out autumn there are festivals celebrating the stunning elegance of the Japanese Chrysanthemums the most celebrated flower in Japan.

La Mer Concealer
Deceptively light cream-to-powder concealer is a bit pricey but worth the splurge.

Japanese Hot Springs
"Onsen" is the ultimate get away for me. Soaking in an outside bath surrounded by the autumn mountain colors could not be more relaxing. A night time dip under the stars sipping sake is not bad either.

Keste Pizza

New York’s newest, authentic Neapolitan pizza, wood burning oven, pizzaiola from Italy owner Roberto Caporuscio’s has been voted the best Margherita (tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil and extra virgin olive oil) and I have to agree. Superb Neapolitan crust—soft and tender, charred and chewy—oozy blobs of melted buffalo mozzarella and brightly flavored San Marzano tomatoes. A delicious summer treat paired with a nice cold Peroni, doesn’t get much better, perhaps... if I was in Naples.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Summer at the MET with the roof open and its glorious views of Central Park is always one of my favorites. Roxy Paine’s “Maelstom” a sculpture of industrial piping chaotically twisted installation of tree roots examines the nature of reality against the reality of nature.

Downstairs “Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective” is not to be missed. For 50 years Francis Bacon worked dividing abstraction and representation along with photography. Contorted figures, crime scenes, beef and gore make for a lasting impression no matter how prepared one is for his art it takes one back and for me it took my breath away.

Merce Cunningham Dance Company

With the passing of Merce Cunningham this July at age 90 the scheduled performance the following weekend became a celebration of his life, with out a doubt one of the most important artists of the 20th century. The site specific performance beautifully set outside along the Hudson River was true to the avant-garde choreographer, unpredictable and brilliant.

24 City Directed by Jia Zhang-ke

24 City takes place in the city of Chengdu focusing on the state owned factory building and it’s demolition. The film is part fiction and non-fiction with Joan Chen playing a character that is real and imagined, like watching a documentary but the characters are not real them selves. Text appears like poetry down the screen, images are mesmerizing and the ambient music by Lim Giong transportive.

Hydrangea

Native to Japan these showy flowers hold special summer memories for me. Strolling temple grounds in the heavy summer heat admiring the lace caped flower heads.

Nars Baby Doll lip gloss/ Adeita nail polish

These two products are my summer classics. Baby Doll a cotton candy pink, high shine sheer lip-gloss. Adelita goes on your nails with a sheer gold shimmer and a touch of pink, gorgeous.

Brazilian Bossa nova
Bossa nova the sexy Brazilian beat is my summer music pick. Whither sipping a Shiso mohito or the traditional mint let the subtle rhythm keep you cool all summer long.

High Line Park

No need to leave the city this summer with the opening of the High Line Park. It is a lovely stroke of green, sensitively landscaped, modernly furnished wooden deck chairs on wheels. At night it is beguilingly lit with the glimmering city as a backdrop. The High line has quickly become one of New York City’s treasures.

Minetta Tavern

http://www.minettatavernny.com
Step back into New York of days gone by Minetta Tavern is an old fashioned classic re opened by Keith McNally. Complete with the original murals and photo gallery the ambiance exudes glamour. As for the famed "Black Label" burger, delicious and the best "Original Martini" stirred with gin and bitter orange, both classic and original as with the nostalgic Minetta.

Izakaya Ten
http://www.izakayaten.com/
Set in the middle of the Chelsea art gallery neighborhood this cozy bar feels like stepping into a hip Tokyo bar in Shinjuku. Funky art and Japanese pop music create a great vibe. Excellent selection of SakeÕs and ShochuÕs. I recommend the sesame Shochu on ice, very smooth and unusual.

Merce Cunningham at 90

http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=703
Merce Cunningham's world premiere of "Nearly Ninety" at BAM was dazzling and poetic. Often called the greatest living choreographer the solos, duets and trios were unpredictable and powerful. Sonic YouthÕs live performance was a cascade of noise rock music accompanied by visuals of ripples of liquid and smoke. The tremendous lighting added to Romeo GigliÕs costumes of pattered leotards and to the liquid movements.

Valentino: The Last Emperor

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/film/valentino_the_last_emperor_tyrnauer
The fabulously opulent life of Valentino shown in this documentary is at times wildly funny and is an endearing love story that left me with tears in my eyes.

Picasso: Mosqueteros

http://www.gagosian.com/
The last phase of Pablo Picasso's career, paintings museum worthy are on display at Gagosian gallery. Rich and roughed up the paintings are comic and haunting. The images stay with you long after viewing.

Sonic Youth "the eternal"

Starts out with a nod to Yves Klein on to 60's Berlin then to NY beat poet Gregory Coso road trip groove.

Shiseido

Lilac Luster eye shadow. Beautiful light sparkle perfect to welcome spring.

Cherry Blossoms

Symbolic of spring, cheery blossoms possess a poetry that deeply runs through Japan. I always look forward to these delicate flowers and the parties that surround them this time of year.

Corton

http://cortonnyc.com/
With exquisite white walls embossed with images of butterflies and trees, this peaceful Tribeca dining room is the perfect complement to chef Paul Liebrandt's innovative and studied delicacies. A real treat... if you can get a reservation.

Apotheke
http://www.apothekebar.com/
Through an obscure door on an off street in Chinatown, enter into a dimly light bar specializing in custom cocktails. With the bar lined with distinctive apothecary bottles, you can choose from one of the many infusions of flowers, fruits and spices. The housemade Absinthe is a must--flaming glass and all.

NYC Ballet

An evening of George Balanchine at Lincoln Center. Pure movement in time and space, contemporary masterpieces.

Silent Light

A gorgeous art film with possibly the most beautiful opening and closing scenes ever. Directed by Carlos Reygadas.

Les Chansons d'Amour

A romantic French love musical directed by Christophe Honore.

Hiroshi Sugimoto

The mesmerizing photographs of the sea and sky will surely transport you. More information at: http://www.sugimotohiroshi.com/

After Dark by Haruki Murakami
A story about all that is mysteriously moving in the world while we sleep.

Sultana

The Bosporous meets Brooklyn... Innovative, sexy Hip Hop/Rap from one of Turkey's best.

Nars Lip Gloss Misbehave

Beautiful sparkly red, a surefire way to heat up the winter darkness.

Plum Blossoms

Symbolic of the ending of winter, plum blossoms possess a fragrance with a deep pink sweetness. I always look forward to these richly scented flowers this time of year.

Palm Beach, Florida

Just two hours away on Jet Blue and warm warm warm! The beach at the Breakers is spectacular, and the wild blooming orchids in the palm trees are simply inspiring.