making the scene
Every major apparel market center offers its share of surrounding boutiques and restaurants to entice exhibitors and buyers alike to wine and dine and shop ’til they drop.
Following are our picks for the newest and trendiest, as well as the tried, true, and time-honored.
LOS ANGELES The Hungry Cat 1535 North Vine Street (323) 462-2155 Hollywood is not about standing in the concrete footsteps of Mae West anymore. There has been a revitalization of the area unlike any since its heyday in the ’30s and ’40s. Clubs, theaters, lofts, and restaurants abound. The Hungry Cat, right by the popular ArcLight theaters, features seafood, a raw bar, and cocktails— such as the kumquatini—made from exotic fresh fruits. Chef/owner David Lentz, along with fellow owner Suzanne Goin, of AOC fame, have put together a casual, East Coast–influenced place that has won the hearts of critics, foodies, young Hollywood, and anyone yearning for a lobster roll. Peel-and-eat shrimp, little-neck clams, and oyster-clam chowder conjure up sitting on a deck in Long Island overlooking the Sound. Of course, that’s what Hollywood magic is all about. Satine 8117 West Third Street (323) 655-2142 Jeannie Lee opened Satine in 2003. Originally conceived as a shoe store, it has since expanded into private label and carries its own shoe line, S and J. West Third Street has also grown into an indie boutique enclave with few corporate chains. Satine’s customers like an eclectic style—mixing high-end fashion with new designer and vintage pieces. Tsumori Chsato is a favorite. Lots of black and neutral colors are popular along with patentleather accessories. Thick chains and nautically inspired rope details also make their way into Satine’s ready-to-wear mix, which includes Stella McCartney, McQueen bags and shoes, and Vanessa Bruno. NEW YORK davidburke and donatella 133 East 61st Street (212) 813-2121 A drop-dead gorgeous deco/contemporary redo of a classic Upper East Side brownstone is the setting for this restaurant featuring modern American cuisine. David Burke began cooking at the famed River Cafe in Brooklyn and was the youngest chef ever awarded three stars from The New York Times. Situated across the street from Bloomingdale’s, davidburke and donatella presents dishes that seem to float like balloons from the plate, achieving nothing less than little artistic presentations. At the same time, they’re fun, not pretentious. Menu choices include pretzel-crusted crab cakes, lobster steak, and a cheesecake lollipop tree. Walter Cronkite is a regular. Manager Teddy Suric has brought along much of his former clientele from his days at Le Cirque. Ibiza 46 University Place (212) 533-4614 Ibiza, now in its 30th year, is one of New York’s mainstay boutiques. In 1976, gauzy gypsy/ beachwear was queen, and Ibiza, located in the heart of the Village north of Washington Square, filled the bill with cross-layering styles in ethnic fabrics and vibrant colors. In 2006, that look remains beloved. Ibiza counts both professional women and NYU students as goodcustomers. It designs and manufactures its own clothes and also carries lines from local independent designers. Sari fabric, lace, and cut velvet are popular; bright cotton tops are stocked from Ciudad Campus. Los Angeles designer Rozae Nichols works the upper end with skirts and tops that employ lace and beadwork. SAN FRANCISCO 2223 2223 Market Street (415) 431-0692 “Superb food,” “nice crowd,” “no pretense” are a few of the typical comments you hear describing 2223, a neighborhood restaurant on Market Street in the Castro District. Owner Melinda Randolph, the original chef, is always on site to oversee all the details, from flowers to menu. She holds it close to her heart, as if she’s throwing a dinner party every night in her home. The spring menu includes appetizers such as prosciuttowrapped jumbo asparagus with goat cheese, which teams nicely with roasted garlic pizza. For the very hungry, burgundy-braised Montana beef short ribs served with smashed parsnips, glazed carrots, broccolini, and horseradish cream will see anyone through the night. There’s also Sunday brunch, a special Tuesday menu features all entrees at “12 bucks,” and Sunday supper goes for $22.23. Brown Eyed Girl 2999 Washington Street (415) 409-0214 Swanky Pacific Heights, by the marina, is the setting for a white Victorian adorned with pink curtains and a brown sign. This is Brown Eyed Girl. As you enter this “home,” chandeliers, armoires, couches, and chairs welcome you—and are for sale. A very feminine mix of clothing in vibrant colors (no earth tones here) as well as cocktail and dressy dresses, T-shirts, and jeans are found here. The store also stocks Gucci and Dior sunglasses, earrings, and big bead jewelry. There’s even a bridal shop in the back, Something Blue. A teen/tween version of the store is located at 2120 Union Street. Smitten customers arrive from all over the Bay Area and Marin County. LAS VEGAS Rosemary’s 8125 West Sahara Avenue (702) 869-2251 A true find about eight miles west of the Strip, Rosemary’s is a family-owned restaurant in the upscale Summerland neighborhood. A local favorite, neighbors have long taken visitors to this warm and inviting place, and now word is spreading to the Strip. Owners Michael and Wendy Jordan are Culinary Institute of America–trained chefs, and Michael spent eight years cooking in New Orleans. Rosemary’s “new American cuisine” betrays its French and Louisiana influences. A classic like grilled veal tenderloin shares the menu with honey Creole mustard glazed salmon. The signature appetizer is Hugo’s Texas BBQ shrimp with Maytag bleu cheese dressing. It is proudly noted that the bleu cheese hails from Iowa. Toto, I don’t think we’re in Vegas anymore! Prada Via Bellagio 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South (702) 866-6886 If you must talk about a premier resort shopping destination, and about Las Vegas one must, Via Bellagio is it. Ensconced amidstChanel, Dior, Hermegrave;s, and Armani boutiques is the recently opened Prada. The clean, uncluttered space, with Prada’s signature green on the walls, features women’s readyto- wear, accessories, handbags, and shoes as well as men’s accessories and footwear. Microfiber bags, some with a mix of Napa leather, range from $400 to $800. The top-end Pythonskin bag is $3,000. Such Vegas celebs as Celine Dion and Oscar De La Hoya drop in. Cotton and nylon jackets, slacks, and dressy shirts in whites, beiges, and taupe are elegantly presented. Via Bellagio itself is a carpeted, marbled, and skylit wonder, worth a stroll with your credit card leashed or unleashed. CHICAGO La Scarola 721 West Grand Avenue (312) 243-1740 This bright, photo-adorned trattoria has, for nearly 10 years, been a fixture in River West. The area has gentrified and the old “street corner,” as owner Armando Vasquez puts it, is now surrounded by galleries, converted loft spaces, and trendy restaurants. La Scarola is old-school Italian with a tiny dash of the Southwest, as in its pasta Lorenzo, which features chicken, shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and chipotle peppers. Veal chops, pasta fagioli, escarole and beans, eggplant parmigiana, and risotto are all specialties, and the chefs are happy to cater to individual requests. There’s no attitude at La Scarola, not even with the big influx of celebrities like Keanu Reeves and Kathy Bates and the “crazy business” they do each night. Sugar Magnolia 34 East Oak Street (312) 944-0885 A Chicago boutique icon since 1973—and which has seen the area around it grow glitzier—is Sugar Magnolia. Oak Street is a major shopping avenue where Kate Spade, Barney’s and Prada share space with this “realitybased” store. Sugar Magnolia draws its clientele from the suburbs, Lincoln Park, and several surrounding states. Warm maple floors and a balcony pull customers to T-shirts by James Perse and Zooey, jeans by J Brand, and pink quartz crystal jewelry by California designer Melissa Joy Manning. There are cowboy boots as well as platform and summer shoes. Outfit yourself for the beach or a black-tie dinner at this stand-alone store. MIAMI The Restaurant at Setai 2001 Collins Avenue Miami Beach (305) 520-6000 Long ago, the new Setai Hotel was the old Dempsey-Vanderbilt Hotel on once-staid South Beach. All of that’s changed. The Dempsey exterior has been restored, but inside, an extensive restructure unveils a larger lobby and soaring spaces, one of which houses The Restaurant. Executive chef Shaun Hergatt hails from New York’s Ritz-Carlton and supervises a staff from Bangkok, India, Belgium, Hong Kong, and Italy. The food is deemed “trans-ethnic” and the setting is dramatic: gray brick walls, large urns, big art. The menu divides by region— Indian Spice and Eastern Eloquence—and by cooking method—grilled, stone oven, rotisserie. Mix and match cuisines from curry to lobster pizza. The adjoining Sushi Lounge offers caviar, and you can dine al fresco amidst ponds and pergolas in the courtyard. Misery & Co. 190 NW 36th Street (305) 576-7905 Albert Martinez, 23, owns a unique shop that draws upon the sensibility of its Wynward Art District neighborhood, near the Design District. Misery carries handcrafted clothing made by local and independent artists. Images and designs are created on site and art is merged into fashion. “Live Fashion Vandalism,” which is a great T-shirt name in itself, is the technique. Screen-printing impresses fuzzy typography and images onto clothes to create wearable art. This is no tiedye factory—the sophisticated use of color, tailoring, crocheting, and ripping creates a funky elegance. GalleryWalk, the second Saturday of each month, helps bring in business. Prices for Misery shirts range from $40 on up. Anything you can screen on, including purses, ties, and dresses, Martinez can transform. ATLANTA Fat Matt’s Rib Shack 1811 Piedmont Avenue (404) 607-1622 This small downhome rib shack, actually a glass and metal-framed joint, is situated in the heart of Atlanta between Midtown and Buckhead—a great location for the business crowd. But suits and ties are not all you see. The diverse clientele includes classical musicians and rockers. Live blues music is featured every night. The food here is good enough to create long lines, but the traffic moves along quickly. It just takes getting folks inside to get up and wipe their messy hands of the tangy slabs of pork ribs, chicken, and chopped pork sandwiches. Sides include “rum” baked beans, slaw, and Brunswick stew. There’s a big selection of beer, and, for a real Southern dessert, sweet potato pie. Square Roots 117 East Court Square Decatur (404) 371-9900 Decatur, a great walking town about eight miles east of Atlanta, is home to this folk art emporium. Square Roots is in a brick building, site of a former barber shop, now festooned with garden accents. It attracts families, professionals, and Emory College students. The shop carries work from local artists—picture frames, toys, folk animals, lamps made from found objects, and repro antique farm tables and hutches. Custom pieces can be commissioned. From Atlanta, mass transit whisks you to Decatur to explore the Craftsman bungalows and many new restaurants and bars that make this a fun destination. Buy fresh fragrant flowers at Square Roots to enjoy on the trip back to the city. DALLAS Abacus 4511 McKinney Avenue (214) 559-3111 Boasting a contemporary “global” cuisine and ultra-modern design, Abacus is a five-star restaurant popular with both business patrons and Dallas society. Just a few minutes north of downtown in Knox/Henderson, if you’re looking to inhale lobsterscallion shooters, this is the place for you. Those are lobster dumplings in a sake cup topped with red chili coconut sauce. The sushi menu is “huge.” Individual pools of light bathe the tables and banquettes; purple, red, and gold are key colors in the three dining rooms. Abacus also offers wine tastings, cooking classes, and monthly events. Neiman Marcus Downtown 4511 McKinney Avenue (214) 559-3111 When in Dallas, do what Texans and Saudi princes do— shop at Neiman’s. There are several branches in the city, but downtown is the original and the largest. A plaque from the Texas Historical Commission is attached to the building, built in 1927. It’s The One. What’s here: fine apparel, couture, classics, jewelry, trunk shows, restaurants. Need a paveacute; diamond Hello Kitty watch? It’s here. Need Pucci, Valentino, Juicy, Marc Jacobs, to name just a fraction of who’s who? Manolo Blahnik, Dior, and Frye represent a tiny slice of the shoe selection.
