The last few years I’ve enjoyed wandering the Macy’s Flower Show at the 34th Street Herald Square store in NYC. The gorgeous fresh bulbs and bushes, the stunning artistic arrangements, the bold and flashing colors: it was a Welcome to Spring after a cold and dreary NYC winter. But this year, I was spending March and April in Chicago. Quelle Surprise: The Macy’s Flower Show is also blooming at the Macy’s State Street store!

So on a sunny but windy day this week I visited Macy’s on State Street in Chicago, first browsing the colorful display windows on State Street, then entering Macy’s to view the blooms.

Moi verdict? The Chicago Macy’s displays were beautiful, very nice, and welcome burst of Spring colors. But the NYC 34th Street Flower Show: its spectacular. Go to the NYC Macy’s Flower Show if you can, or visit the Flower Shows in Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., or San Francisco.

Fountain display by the main escalators:

In the Cosmetics Aisles:

Crowninging the Jewelry Counters:

Each Macy’s store is also offering a series of special programs and events throughout the Flower Show including

• flower arrangement demos
• cooking demos
• free audio tours of the flower displays
• gardening lectures

I dropped in on a cooking demo by Art Jackson, chef and owner of Pleasant House Bakery,  cooking with fresh herbs and edible flowers.

Moi shopping tip? It’s all free, free, free!

the details:

We’re back in NYC for the week: TBG is booked all day with business meetings, then the Notre Dame v Army game at Yankee Stadium is on Saturday. But the nights are mine to schedule for romantic dinners and walks in our favorite parts of the city.

We’ve been wanting to eat at Blue Hill NYC for a long time, and decided to make it a priority this trip. Chef  Dan Barber is passionate about the farm-to-table menu this family owned restaurant offers with their sister restaurant and farm upstate. I new it would be difficult to get a reservation: Blue Hill is always booked, and reservations open at 10am one month in advance (since Michele and Barack visited Blue Hill on their “date night” in NYC last year its even become more difficult to get a reservation!)

I scored a 9pm reservation for Wednesday evening! And the anticipation and salivating began. In the month waiting for our big dining event it seemed I was bombarded with Blue Hill: TBG’s cousin facebooked about a lecture he attended by Dan Barber. A Zagat review of the restaurant appeared in my inbox (an impressive 27 rating). And on the flight to NYC, I browsed the Delta in-flight magazine and found an article on Blue Hill!

Wednesday we took a dare-devil cab ride to the Greenwich Village resto. 3 steps down: and voila! We were in the tiny entry to an intimate, formal dining room with every seat taken. We were immediately welcomed and invited to sit at the bar, where not a seat was available. After only a 5 minute wait, our table was ready and we were seated.

The wine list is small and select; I’m a gewurztraminer fan, and I was surprised to see a gewurztraminer from Italy: I’ve only had the wine from Germany and Alsace. But we both ordered a glass and were impressed by the dry spicy wine. Then on to the menu. I had planned to choose the tasting menu and sample the chef’s farm fresh recommendations. But once I saw the duck on the a la carte menu, I was hooked. My menu choices were The Farm Egg with lobster, duck with quince and pistachio and a side of brussels sprouts, and for dessert the honey crisp apples (sort of a de-constructed apple tart). It was all so good… TBG chose gnocchi followed by bass and topped off with honey ice cream. The dining room is tightly packed so we were able to easily see the other choices: the smoked tomato soup smelled heavenly and the chicken was roasted to perfection.

To start we were offered an amuse bouche of tiny tomato burgers on buns, very intense tomato burst! And with our check came “the dessert for people who don’t order dessert”: 2 tiny homemade marshmallows studded with toasted cocoanut, and 2 tiny dark chocolate cakes: so rich and not too sweet. The perfect ending with our coffee.

the details:

Moi Note: I’m out of town and working from my iPhone: Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures: they don’t do Blue Hill justice. But you get the idea!

Save the Date: Global Holiday Marketplace

I’m in NYC  to kick-off the holidays, and I’ll be sure to check-out the holiday edition of the Indagare Souk  at New York’s Taj Pierre Hotel  November 15, 16 & 17.

One of my deepest impressions from my 3 weeks in India last year is color: vibrant blues, hot pinks, shimmering golds, electrifying greens. The colors, the smells, the sounds, the tastes: it’s impossible to use words to share the welcome but overwhelming assault on my senses. Just look at the gorgeous sarees we saw worn by local women as we toured:

How can you sample the colors and patterns of India? Just in time to start your holiday shopping:

Indagare Holiday Souk will be at New York’s Taj Pierre Hotel November 15, 16 and 17:

The Indagare Holiday Souk is a special trunk show featuring treasures we have discovered on our travels. Cult fashion label Irving & Fine will present gorgeous new tunics and coats as well as chic silk dresses. We also have new evening and resortwear from Cambodia and the Philippines. Among the treasures that make special, one-of-a-kind presents: hand-beaded bags and jewelry from Venice and Florence, brightly colored silk scarves from Cambodia, delicate knits from Peru, incredible suede and leather coats from Kenya, cashmere shawls and blankets from India and crocodile and python clutches from Nicaragua.

You too can experience the stimulation and excitement of the exotic colors and style of the fashions of the world: See you at the Souk!

Indagare is a sophisticated travel site that not only shares insider’s information on travel, but provides a format for members to share tips and experiences and recommendations for turning your dream vacation into the journey of a lifetime. And now, through the Indagare Holiday Souk, travel shopping can come to you!

the details:

• Monday November 15 – Wednesday November 17
  • Monday November 15 12noon-6pm
  • Tuesday November 16 10am- 8pm
  • Wednesday November 17 10am-6pm
• The Taj Pierre Hotel New York, 2 East 61st Street, Suite 1025  NYC (at Fifth Avenue)
  
• for more about Indagare travel and shopping insider tips sign-up for Indagare’s newletter
  

Moi Tip: a subscription to the Indagare newsletter is the perfect holiday gift for your favorite traveler: and it’s free! Or for the extra special gift, a membership to Indagare!

I just discovered a perk of being a Bank of America customer: free 1st week-end of the month at over 100 museums across the country! Is this a new perk: no, I just never heard of it until moi personal banker Greg happened to ask me if I was going to take advantage of the free museums  in Chicago for BoA customers this week-end.

Free 1st week-end museum? It makes me happy!

So here’s the scoop on Museums on Us :

Some of my favorite museums participate in this program:

• New York City: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bronx Zoo, Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
• Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, DuSable Museum of African American History
• Florida: Museum of Art Ft Lauderdale, Miami Children’s Museum, South Florida Science Museum
• Washington DC: The Phillips Collection
• St. Louis: Contemporary Art Museum

Moi Tip: afraid you’ll forget to schedule museum visits? BoA lets you sign up for text alerts or emails to remind you of upcoming free musum 1st weekends!

Whether you’re in NYC or Chicago, this weekend is hosting two fabulous international antiques shows. I was originally planning on attending the NYC show, but looks like now I’m lucky to be in Chicago:

The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair Fall show is Friday thru Monday, October 1 – 4. With over 100 dealers, this show is a favorite of mine, offering everything from furnishings to art to textiles to jewelry: a couple years ago I scored a gorgeous platinum neckchain studded with diamonds that I still wear at least once a week (see how great it looks below, even waiting at the busstop!). This year I’m very excited with the show’s new offering: Emporium. Emporium showcases vintage and modern pieces, including clothing and posters and architectural artifacts.

If you’re in NYC this weekend don’t miss the Antiques and Art at the Armory show. With over 60 high quality dealers in a prestigious Upper East Side location, this show is as good for people watching as it is for antique shopping. Friday through Sunday, this show was traditionally held in the winter and is now debuting an earlier season.

the details:

Moi tip: If you’re at the Merchandise Mart don’t miss out on the other events going on at The Mart:

• Luxe Home Open House Saturday October 2 showcases products and vignettes for home design and renovation
• Dream Home thru December 10 features a Chicago designer showhouse

Moi tip encore: Both shows offer lectures and talks to expand your knowledge of antiques and antique shopping:

At the Merchandise Mart:

• Leigh and Leslie Keno will discuss good design
• Carter Oosterhouse of HGTV will discuss home renovation

At the Amory:

• The Royal Oak Foundation presents a series of lectures and panels by antiques and design experts

C’est ma vie:

No sooner had I publically rejoiced the completion of my curtains than we are packing up again. I’m pretty confident that TBG takes pleasure in changing jobs whenever I finally make curtain choices. I outsmarted him in Paris and didn’t hang curtains until our 7th year, but Copenhagen, Hoboken, and St Louis barely celebrated their year anniversary. NYC lasted 2 1/2 years until I jinxed it.

So we’re bidding au revoir to our penthouse apartment with it’s 2 terraces, and planning our Fall in Chicago and Winter months in SoFlo. And then: TBD by TBG. The movers arrive tomorrow, and I’m frantically purging closets; sorting and labeling furniture, trash and give-a-ways; and cleaning out the fridge and pantry. (Where’s TBG you ask? He has very important meetings at Starbucks. Every day.)

So between all the back-breaking move-madness how do I relax?

1. Clearing out the DVR. It will all be gone on Thursday, so I’m watching every reality show, foreign language movie, and season premiere I hadn’t gotten to yet. Forget sleep: I have important tv to view!

2. Eating. I’m frantically trekking all over the island for Moi favorite Manhattan flavors:

• This morning we were lucky the Wafels & Dinges truck was parked practically in front of our apartment. TBG had never sampled their waffles (that pesky work schedule) but this morning he and Mignette indulged in waffles with Nutella. I stocked up on Speculoos spread.

• Black and White cookies at Milano’s Market (113th and Broadway). These cookies are all over NYC but somehow I like Milano’s the best. Starbucks nationwide has been carrying black and whites, but they’re not the same.
• The new Food Hall at The Plaza Hotel. Finally opened in the lower level shopping concourse, this reminds me of The Food Hall at Harrods in London.

• Eataly, Mario Batali’s newly opened high-end Italian food mart and restaurant.
• Frozen yogurt. NYC has THE best frozen yogurt. Period. I was a Pinkberry fan, but I’ve switched allegiances and now I melt for TMagic. I like the original flavor with chocolate covered pomegranate seeds.

The good news: I’ll have be back in NYC this fall several more times, and have lots of upcoming travels, so keep checking for shopping, eating and travel news!

So chow ciao for now, NYC!

Moi tip: Having completed more moves that I care to count right now (it would only depress me) my favorite moving tip is to color-code your packing with markers and post-it labels. In this move we are moving some things to our condo, some things to storage, and giving some things away. So I’m using three colors. Even though I’ll be here with the packers and movers, its easier if I pre-label things, and then run around with markers to color-code the boxes. C’est ma vie!

I’ve been hearing alot about the massive Forever 21 store that opened last month in Times Square NYC: 4 floors of bargain priced trendy fashions for girls and guys. But I had no reason to stop in. That changed last week when Moi  niece visited, and we went on a 13 birthday celebratory shopping spree. 1st stop: Forever 21 for fabulous and affordable back-to-school wear.

Wow! The scoop:

• 4 floors of fashions, bright lights and action
• 100,000 square feet of floor space
• 121 dressing rooms
• 7 days a week, 8am-2am
• 600 employees
• 100,000 visitors per day

Forever 21 tries to have something every shopper, including faith 21 extended sizes, HGT 81 kids,  maternity, 21 Men and more!

A few of Moi favorite finds:

white tank with built-in necklace $19.80

rose-colored shirred sleeve cardigan $29.00

antique cuff bracelet $7.80

black leggings $4.50

studded skinny jeans $19.80

slouchy ankle boots $22.80

Moi Tip: Don’t live near a Forever 21? Check out there online store: free shipping on orders over $40!

Moi Tip Encore: Leave plenty of time to shop: it’s a big store. The staff was very nice, but not too helpful: we were looking for leggings and several sales people told us to check the bins by the cash registers on each floor. This took us 25 minutes with 4 floors! No one seemed to be sure where anything was, only where it might be.

Moi Tip Thre-peat: When you leave the store, be sure to walk across the street and stand on the pedestrian mall in front of the Marriott Hotel, looking up at the jumbo-tron over the Forever 21 store: you’re on TV! Forever 21 projects the street life in front of the store, with a cute commercial overlay. We watched ourselves (and others) acting goofy on tv for about 15 minutes: who said everything in NYC is too expensive!

There’s a new kiosk at Columbus Circle Times Warner Center in NYC: Canine Caviar of Manhattan. Yes, the name caught Moi attention too, so I had to stop and check it out: Mignette might need something.

Not only are there the typical tres cher (very expensive) gourmet doggie dinners, treats, California Rolls (yes, you read that correctly) and sweet potato chews, but Canine Caviar also will make and deliver Doggie Gift Baskets to your favorite petite chien.

Canine Caviar says they are “holistic” and “perfect pet food with naturally preserved allergen free food.” This is their first stand-alone store, their website lists other retailers where their pet foods can be purchases, they also sell online.

the details

Moi tip: they also sell products for cats.

Grease is the word! In fact, all the words to all the songs in Grease will be sung out loud all over the US in a major Grease sing-a-along. Girls Night Out, Date Night, or your High School Reunion: do it!

Yes, get your calendars out and find a theatre near you! Starting July 8 theaters across the country will be playing the original 1978 Grease with the words dancing across the bottom of the screen, begging you to sing-a-long with Sandy and Danny and all the gang from Rydell High.

Grease: You’re The One That I Want! ooo ooo ooo, honey!

Where Grease is playing in some of Moi favorite cities:

• NEW YORK
  AMC VILLAGE
  66 3rd Ave
  New York, NY 10003-5506
  (888) 262-4386

• CHICAGO
  AMC RIVER EAST
  322 East Illinois St
  Chicago, IL 60611
  (888) 262-4386

• MIAMI/FT LAUDERDALE
  SUNRISE GATEWAY
  1820 East Sunrise Blvd
  Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304-3040
  (954) 763-7994

Sweet and Salty: the combination both soothes and satisfies me. Pretzel sticks dipped in nutella. Caramel ice cream speckled with sea salt. Kettle popcorn.

Finally the combo has gone mainstream: Pretzel M&Ms. I saw the commercials. I read the NYTimes piece. But they remained elusive: in NYC tracking down new products can be  tough. Grocery stores are small, and stock space extra valuable. It’s an island: getting things on and off is an expensive battle.

Our son Little M is scheduled to fly in Friday morning: I was at the point of begging him to track some down in Chicago and bring them along as rent. He’s safe: I finally scored a bag on Sunday at my local Duane Reade. They weren’t there last week. But they’re on the shelves now!

The verdict: worth the search. I couldn’t find any small individual portion bags, so I had to splurge on the big bag. I opened it the minute I exited the store. And had to sample several to be sure: pretzel M&Ms are a winner. Sweet, salty, chocolaty, crunchy. They make Moi happy!

Move over, peanut M&Ms: you’ve been replaced.

the details:

• 17 pieces 180 calories
• 30% less fat
• 9.9 oz for $4.29 at Duane Reid

Moi tip: The bright blue bag stands out on the shelf. Track down the small bag. TBG loved pretzel M&Ms too. Now how many calories were there in that 9.9 oz bag…