A very special friend introduced us to the deliciousness that is Heavy Water over the weekend and we thought it was just so fantastic we had to share. The bottle is chic, the sip is very refined and the high.. well it's perfect. Vodka connoisseurs we are not,  we like to think of ourselves as the discerning kind. This vodka is fabulous. Available at MORRELL and ASTOR.

AN EVENING AT MONKEY BAR

I finally made it to The Monkey Bar. What a coincidence: I dined at the latest incarnation of The Monkey Bar in the same week as the New York Times published an article about such restaurants, titled, “A Vision of the City as It Once Was”. There is a zeitgeist in the New York restaurant world right now, and I’ve been thinking about it hard; it looks like I am not the only one.

In a time when many of the old-time restaurants are dying or being killed off, restaurateurs and would-be restaurateurs are suffering pangs of nostalgia for the old days, or, more importantly, what they think the old days were, or should have been. The Plaza’s Oak Room, Minetta Tavern, Waverly Inn and, the reason for the article, the Lion, are all loving re-creations of days-gone-by.

“Gentrification over the past quarter-century has killed so many old dinner spots,” Graydon Carter was quoted in the article. “I think it’s important to give people an alternative to the chic place-of-the-moment look so prevalent with new ones.”

So, I got all gussied up and swanned into the Monkey Bar last week. After walking through the spacious bar and lounge, I was greeted by a handsome, flop-haired young man (25 years old, I’d say), who was exceedingly happy to see me. It turns out that he’s the son of the actor Peter Coyote, and he’s full of charm.

Nestled in the New York Palace lies a bar so impressive we left pondering why the scene is not as haute as it could– and should be. The space boasts national landmark status (Gilt was once the Villard Mansion music room), adorned with original Tiffany glass and other incomparable old world details– is so gorgeous we thought about keeping it to ourselves.

You may be thinking– if this place is so fab– why don't I know about it?  Well, due to location, New Yorkers may just write Gilt off as a bit too touristy. And yes, the bar scene mixes business and pleasure, so we're not arguing with that sentiment– though we think this place should be shared– cohabited. After all– the fun is in the mix, don't you think?

Should you need a low key / high on chic factor space to bring clients (business) or friends (pleasure) for cocktails- Gilt is it. The bar has an extensive wine list and an  impressive array of artisanal cocktails. Not to mention a bar menu of inspired standards from  28 year old two star Michelin man Justin Bogle– an up and coming chef who has just begun to make his impact on the New York restaurant scene.

After all– how many landmark spaces mix old school glam, mod design, a Michelin menu and a favorable male to female ratio?

Mulberry and Mosco. Bookmark that address because come September, it's the only place you're going to want to know if you're a part of / indulge in the glitterati set.  We're thinking Le Baron as the new Bungalow 8– but we'll wait and see. Bungalow circa '02/'04 equated to some seriously heady, wild and deliriously good times..

SHAFRAZI GALLERY / WHITEWALL FETE

We can never resist PETER MARINO and his signature ensemble– he's beyond fab.
And WARIS is too dapper. The pose is ultimate and the shoes seal the deal.