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TEA TIME
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What better time than spring to enjoy the time-honored tradition of afternoon tea? From the traditional English and Irish to the ceremonial Asian and the new more chic French, tea time is always a great way to break up your day after a busy morning. A restful spa treatment is the perfect accompaniment to round off a perfect day. We have several great tea salons and spas in the city that will charm and pamper you as well as invigorate and inspire you.
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 Alice’s Tea Cup,
102 West 73rd Street (212) 799-3006.
For sheer storybook charm, Alice’s tea cup wins hands down over any other tea shop in the city. This small salon nestled on the upper west side,
(just outside Central Park) allows you to step outside New York City
and into a fairy tale land. A warm tea (110 types are sold) combined with their finger sandwiches and delicious scones make this a perfect afternoon stop. Open Tuesday - Sunday. Saturdays tend to be crowded.
The Mad Tea Cup, a smaller version of Alice’s Tea Cup, can be found on the 2nd floor of Burberry’s on 57th Street. |
 Café
Botanica, 160 Central Park South, (212) 484-5820.
In the lobby of the Essex House, just outside the entrance to the actual Café, is a relaxed and elegant seating area in which a top notch afternoon tea is served. Enjoy it at your leisure as the teapot is constantly refilled. A splendid assortment of miniature sandwiches, scones with homemade lemon curd and trays of exquisite cookies are all part of the experience. |
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The right décor, timeless elegance and classic sophistication can make afternoon tea an opulent occasion. In the landmarked
Waldorf-Astoria you will find yourself lost in an era of grandeur and grace enjoying afternoon tea with the distinct feeling that royalty as well as
celebrities have indulged here as well. Afternoon tea is served Tuesday through Saturday from 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm. You can choose from the Classic Afternoon
Tea, which includes an assortment of freshly prepared tea sandwiches, scones served warm with Devonshire cream and preserves and delicate pastries. Or, for something unique, try the Waldorf-Astoria Champagne Tea which includes all the above as well as a glass of
champagne. If you prefer a lighter fare, they also offer the Light Tea, which is served without tea sandwiches. Prices range from $22.00 - $40.00 per person. Reservations are necessary. Call (212) 355-3000. |
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The Kings Carriage House located at 251 East 82nd Street brings the look and feel of Colonial Williamsburg to a charming converted carriage house. It provides a romantic setting for an old fashion Irish afternoon tea serving tea sandwiches, scones, pastries and a selection of blends. In this beautifully appointed room you will feel as though you are in a warm Irish country home. The complete tea experience is offered seven days a week beginning at 3:00 pm. The cost is $21.95 per person. Reservations are recommended. (212) 734-5490. |
The Fauchon Tea Room, 442 Park Avenue at 56th Street offers a new French-style afternoon tea with an excellent variety of blends. The full tea includes sandwiches and desserts that are not only lovely to look at but delicious as well. The décor is chic with pink, gold, black and white accents in a light and fairly airy room. To complete your afternoon.
Visit their retail store adjacent to the tearoom you will find an amazing array of French delicacies such as rose petal macaroons, to savor at home. Reservations are recommended. (212) 308-5919. |
Franchia, 12 Park Avenue offers an Asian tea ceremony experience. To begin, a tea tray with your choice of two teas, one for the beginning and one for after the meal is presented. You may also split the tea between two people rather than have two separate teas. Try their special tea, a first-picked wild Korean green. It comes with a tiny teapot, cooling vessel, teacup, and tea container. The waiter will assist you in properly brewing the tea. After you have mastered this traditional brewing process a tray of six mini vegetarian appetizers with three sauces arrives to further delight the palate. As an ending to your now soothing afternoon a small selection of desserts
is presented. Available daily from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm ($25.00 per person). If you really enjoy your experience, consider taking one of William Choi’s Korean tea ceremony workshops offered each Saturday afternoon. The workshops begin at 5:00 pm and last one hour. You will learn how to create harmony and balance through the intricate details of the ceremony, which focuses on the meditative aspects of this peaceful tradition. For a reservation, please call (212) 213-1001. |
Fitzers at the Fitzpatrick Hotel, 687 Lexington Avenue at 57th Street. This charming Irish restaurant serves a country-style afternoon tea with traditional tea sandwiches, scones and a selection of fine Irish brews. Here you can select a choice of Low Tea offering either tea sandwiches or the scones, or High tea offering both. Their comforting afternoon celebration of an Irish favorite is $9.00 for low tea and $12.00 for high tea. Open daily from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Reservations may be made by calling (212) 355-0100. |
 Tea Box Café at
Takashimaya, 693 Fifth Avenue (54th Street) (212) 350-0100.
If morning shopping brings you to Fifth Avenue then Takashimaya’s Tea Box is the perfect location to visit. This tea service represents the Japanese service rather than the English. Here, 36 different teas are served with finger sandwiches that include smoked salmon on pressed rice or chicken with wasabi on Japanese bread. Spring rolls and poached shrimp with lemongrass sauce are also served. |
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Salon, 11 East 20th Street (212) 358-0506
It’s warm and eclectic decor that mixes Asian and western styles creates
a serene experience in the midst of the hustle and bustle of New York life. Over one hundred teas are available to accompany a great assortment of tea sandwiches, scones with Devon cream and raspberry preserves, and freshly baked goods for a proper afternoon tea. |
 Tea &
Sympathy, 108 Greenwich Avenue (212) 807-8329.
A bit small and always crowded, yet this crowd pleaser goes beyond high tea serving other typical English items such as, stilton and walnut salad, Welsh rarebit, shepherd’s pie and tweed kettle pie. For English products to bring back home, visit their store located right next door. |
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SPAS
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Bliss 57, 19 East 57th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues opened in 1999 with swank modern décor and an over-the-top treatment menu that includes their famous facials, massages and totally indulging body treatments. Try their new shrink-wrap treatment featuring a radical slimming wrap using South African grapefruit oil for firming and toning. There is a treatment specifically designed to realign you wrists and hands that will kick your carpals back into their tunnels. For information on these and other treatments call the spa at (212) 219-8970 or go to their web site,
www.blissworld.com. |
Avon Salon & Spa in the Trump Plaza at 725 Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th Street combines popular Avon products and a luxurious setting. They offer traditional spa therapies as well as unique treatments such as paraffin body wraps and hot stone massages. Call for more information or a reservation (212) 755-2866 or go to their web site,
www.avonsalonandspa.com. |
Body Essentials Day Spa and Ayurvedic Center, 11 West 36th Street between Firth and Sixth Avenues is a newcomer to the city. In one of their signature treatments, the Balinese Escape, you succumb to the embrace of the spicy aroma of this skin-smoothing/skin nourishing herbal body treatment. Laced with pure sandalwood, vetiver and exotic spices, the exfoliation follows a jasmine-infused massage to the body. A wrap in banana leaves and aromatic steam is followed by a skin nourishing coconut milk slather. A soothing cucumber-honey facial mask tops off this amazing total treat! For information and a reservation call (212) 465-2200 or go to their web site,
www.bodyessentials.com. |
 Erbe, 196 Prince Street between Sixth Avenue and Sullivan Street is a charming and intimate Italian spa in the heart of SoHo that employs all natural products
and aromatic botanicals to elevate you to a new consciousness. In their botanical compress treatment,
an aromatherapy facial is augmented by anatomically specific compresses of vegetable collagen, vitamins,
antioxidants and essential oils that target wrinkles and improve elasticity. For information or a reservation call
(212) 966-1445 and for a listing of their products go to their web site,
www.erbedermocosmetica.com. |
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Millefleurs Spa Mondial is located at 3 East 17th Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue South. In its Morocan inspired interior you will find a large bright common room with low tables, floor cushions and window seats that serve as manicure-pedicure stations. The treatment rooms, for massages, facials, wraps and scrubs, have high ceilings capped with skylights, a reminder to clients that the space has a private roof deck. For information or a reservation call (212) 966-3656. They also have an annex spa at 25 East 64th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues (212) 527-9907. |
Maksim Spa, 80 Fifth Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets offers a friendly and relaxing environment and an attentive staff. Their paprika facial is a must for winter-worn skin. It begins with alpha-hydroxy fruit pulp to unclog pores followed by cucumber and parsley to balance and nourish sensitive skin or lime to hydrate and tighten mature skin. Next comes the paprika, which has natural heat to open pores and vitamin C to diminish lines. The final step is a cooling, seven-herb mask, after which your skin will glow warmly. For information or a reservation, please call (212) 414-9434 or go to their web site,
www.maksimspa.com. |
| Exhale, 150 Central Park South between Sixth and Seventh Avenues focuses not only on the outer beauty but the inner as well. They provide the traditional spa beauty services such as massages and facials and also
offer classes in several different types of yoga and body alignment. For a long-term health benefit, nutritional counseling can also be added to your day. For a reservation please call (212) 249-3000 or go to
www.exhale.com. |
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Tej Ayurvedic Spa, 162 West 56th Street offers unique treatments based on the ancient practices of India. Along with herb infused body wraps, holistic facials and therapeutic massages they help people balance their energy through color
therapy combined with scents, sounds, oils and food choices. They also sell their all natural beauty and health products. For a reservation call (212) 581-8136. |
The Art of Shaving, Any
one of the above spas will treat both men and women. If, however, any of the men prefers a location that caters specifically to the grooming needs of men, try The Art of Shaving. With three Manhattan locations and a full line of grooming products that can also be found at Bergdorf Goodman Barney’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, The Art of Shaving elevates men’s facial grooming to a new level.
The Royal Shave, their most popular treatment, lasts 45 minutes and
transforms a simple shave into a pampering ritual. First, a hot
towel is placed on the face to relax the pores. Then, a message
using pre-shaving oils prepares the skin for the perfect shave.
Warm shaving cream is applied twice for a double shave. After the
shave an antiseptic and pore closing treatment is applied. The
face is once again wrapped in a hot towel to prepare the face for
the nourishing after-shave mask. The mask is created from fresh
ingredients that are mixed only minutes before being applied. The
dried mask is gently removed using natural sea sponges to apply
lemon essential oils. The treatment ends with a massage of
after-shave balm to replenish moisture.
To help you continue this process at home, The Art of Shaving carries a complete line of skin and hair care toiletries plus razors and brushes for home, travel and gift giving. Locations: 141 East 62nd Street (212) 317-8436, 373 Madison (212) 986-2905 and 10 Columbus Circle, Level 2 (212) 823-9410. Barber Spa services are only available at the Madison Avenue location |
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| TIMES
SQUARE
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Times Square Celebrates Its One Hundredth Birthday
Filled with the energy of colored lights bustling workers and tourists that flock to its theaters, museums, eateries and shops, New York City’s Times Square area echoes with a fast-paced patter of racing feet that mimics the ecstatic pulse of the City. Times Square has evolved over the years into one of the most recognized symbols of urban life. Soon to celebrate its 100th birthday, 42nd Street has gone through various transformations, each time carrying with it a rich history and adding a newly created image.
Throughout its history, no industry or cultural fad has been more instrumental in defining this area than the theatre industry.
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Originally located in the City Hall area, New York City’s theatre district moved north to 14th Street and Union Square and subsequently to a stretch of land between Madison Square Park and Herald Square. In fact, the term “the great white way” was coined to describe the stream of white lights that
shined along Broadway from 23rd to 40th Street.
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Oscar Hamerstein I was greatly responsibly for bringing theaters north of 40th Street, building the Lyric and the original Victoria just north of that demarcation line. The intersection of 42nd Street and Broadway, then known as Long Acre Square gained even greater notoriety when the fledgling New York Times, purchased by Adolph Ochs, moved to the square constructing the 25-story tower today known as One Time Square. The exterior of this edifice is known worldwide as the focal point of every New York City New Year’s Eve celebration. Following the example set by The Herald Tribune, which had succeeded in having the corner of 34th Street and Broadway named after itself, Adolph Ochs petitioned to have Long Acre Square renamed after his newly revitalized publication. His request was eventually granted in 1904 by then Mayor McClellan. April, 2004 marks the one hundredth birthday of Times Square.
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Today thirty-nine theater houses remain in New York City’s Time’s Square theatre district, which now stretches as far north as 54th Street, many of them dating back to the early days. The creation of these theaters is due, in large part, to two organizations, The Nederlander and The Shubert Organizations. Here, in brief form, are their
histories:
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The Nederlander Organization
(aka Nederlander Producing Company of America)
Founded in 1912 by David T. Nederlander, the company is still to this day run by the Nederlander family who, at present, owns and operates thirty theaters in the United States and the UK. The very first venture of this dynastic company was the purchase of The Detroit Opera house. Today after three generations of family involvement, the organization is among the most prominent live theater production companies in the world. They credit their success and longevity to their ability to present material of varied interest that ranges from classic theater to opera, ballet symphony and dance. In addition to Broadway style theater houses, the Nederlanders have developed a tremendous expertise in amphitheaters, owning and operating such renowned venues as the Los Angeles’ Greek Theater and Anaheim’s Arrowhead Pond. |
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In recent years notable Nederlander productions have included Aida, Movin’ Out, Hello Dolly, Rent, Riverdance, Chicago, Beauty and The Beast, Copenhagen, Sunset Boulevard, Hairspray, Fiddler, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Wicked. As you can see, with rare exception, the Nederlanders gravitate towards large-scale musicals counting on their longevity. |
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The Nederlander Theatre located at 208 West 41st Street opened in 1921 as The National Theatre. It was renamed in 1959 after Billy Rose, famed theater producer and director, and husband of Vaudeville queen, Fanny Bryce. In 1979 it underwent another name change at which time it became The Trafalgar Theater. Most recently in 1980 it was named The Nederlander in honor of David T. Nederlander. |
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The Nederlander family has grown extensively and now includes his son James Nederlander his brothers Joseph and Harry who are involved in Detroit and San Francisco theaters, Frances Nederlander Kohn, Fred Nederlander, his daughter Amy Nederlander-Case an Off Broadway producer and Mr. Robert Nederlander a television producer. |
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The Shubert Organization
Sam, Lee and JJ Shubert (brothers) jointly directed the Shubert Organization. They began with a group of theaters located in upstate New York in such towns as Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Troy, Albany and Rochester. In 1900 Sam came to New York City and leased the Herald Square Theater then located at 35th Street and Broadway. Soon joined by his brother Lee, the two began to form what is now the largest theater production company in America. Five years later Sam Shubert died in a railroad accident leaving his brothers to continue growing their network which, by then, reached as far as Portland, Oregon and by 1920 numbered nearly one thousand. Their success,
claimed the Shuberts, was a result of the caliber of personnel that they retained for their shows - actors comedians, dancers, lyricists, directors, choreographers and designers. Lee Shubert and JJ Shubert died in 1953 and 1963 respectively. The organization continued under the direction of John Shubert, JJ’s son. |
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Today, The Shubert Organization owns and operates seventeen of Broadway’s theaters plus Boston’s Shubert theater, Philadelphia’s Forest Theater and the National theater in Washington D.C. In recent years, well known Shubert productions include: Cats, Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line and Miss Saigon. |
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Founded in 1945, The Shubert Foundation operates as the parent company for The Shubert Organization. It is a non-profit foundation that distributes large sums of money to many non-profit theaters and dance companies each year. |
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