Today marks our first installment of Curated Saturday, a series that chronicles the art, shopping, and dining experience of Whitewall contributors in New York. Contributors select galleries, museums, boutiques, restaurants, and bars to visit, and review them as part of an overall Saturday experience in the city.
—
On Saturday morning, January 5, I threw on my best casual garb, left my Brooklyn neighborhood, and made the excursion up to the Upper East Side. I grabbed a Times and found a cozy spot inside Maison Kayser for breakfast. This Parisian bakery and bistro serves delicious eggs and a perfect espresso, delivered to your little table by fashionable staff in black and white stripes, very tres chic. Once satiated with caffeine and egg whites, I strolled down to Gagosian Gallery on Madison to check out The Revisionist Art: Thirty Works By Bob Dylan, exhibiting in the space. Prior to my art jaunt, I stopped first at Crawford-Doyle Booksellers for the latest paperbacks. My book of choice was Steve Martin’s, An Object of Beauty–I feel there’s very little this man can’t do well, and I’m a fan of his writing style and knowledge of the industry. Art viewing can be exhausting when the senses start buzzing and I was merely getting started with my day, so after leaving Bob Dylan I took a quick break at Ladurèe for a decadent macaroon on my way to the next gallery. The Parisian sweet shop is a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds with all of the glorious little pop-art colored treats displayed before you behind gleaming glass cases. With a pretty and pink rose macaroon and herbal tea in hand, I headed over to Fifth Avenue to Mary Boone Gallery for more art treatment. There’s a new exhibition featuring drawings by Peter Saul and Jim Shaw for your contemporary fix. Growing tired of the shoes on my feet after scanning every space Mary Boone offered, I parked myself in a massage chair at the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa. A Cabernet Crushed Scrub and a pretty new pedicure, and I was feeling like a brand new city girl before taking in a little shopping on 5th and Madison Aves. From Barney’s to smaller joints like Tory Burch, your AMEX charging options are endless on either block. A bonus: The shops are far less crowded since the holidays are kaput, and there’s either slamming sales or fresh debuted merchandise on the shelves.
I’m a huge fan of hotel bars with a quiet luxury so I decided to cool my freshly pampered heels with a glass of bubbles at the The Plaza’s hotel bar overlooking Central Park. I highly recommend treating yourself here, or a few blocks down at the St. Regis should you ever be in the neighborhood and in the mood for a little luxe. Both are within walking distance to one another and either place offers good people watching as you sip on your champagne or linger over a whiskey. After taking in contemporary art, shopping, sipping, and the sounds and sights of the city, I floated on over to greet a standing reservation for two at the delicious and beautiful Felidia for a little Italian fare before tucking into The Paris Theatre for a French film. “The Intouchables” received great reviews, and a little French cinema only seemed like the obvious ending to a well-curated Saturday in the city.
Venue Addresses
Maison Kayser
1294 3rd Avenue
Gagosian Gallery
980 Madison Avenue
Crawford-Doyle Booksellers
1082 Madison Avenue
Ladurèe
864 Madison Avenue
Mary Boone Gallery
745 5th Avenue
Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa
1 West 58th Street
Barney’s
660 Madison Avenue
Tory Burch
797 Madison Avenue
The Plaza
768 5th Avenue
St. Regis
2 East 55th Street
Felidia
243 East 58th Street
The Paris Theatre
4 West 58th Street
