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Cheers. Salud. A votre santé. No matter how you say it, there's no better time to raise a glass than now, with specialty wine bars opening citywide. Xai Xai South African Winebar in Midtown West, named for the beach town in Mozambique, offers a wine list and smoky, salty pairings from the African region. On the Upper East Side, quirky glass jug chandeliers enliven Felice Wine Bar, in the space formerly occupied by Focaccia Fiorentino, as well as the Tuscan specialties. Wine 101'offered by NYC Wine Class lets you perfect your palette and impress your date the next time you're out Great
Plays
When the peanut shells crackle beneath your feet and bathroom lines stretch further than a line drive, it must be opening day. On March 31, the New York Yankees take on the Toronto Blue Jays, kick-starting the Bronx Bombers' final season in historic Yankee Stadium. And just over a week later, the New York Mets have their home opener at Shea Stadium. Market
Roundup
One way around the omnivore’s dilemma is to go straight to one of the City’s neighborhood greenmarkets for a lesson in the organic, the homemade, the farm fresh and the locally grown. There are plenty that operate year-round, including the renowned Union Square Market in Union Square Park, the Columbia Greenmarket and the TriBeCa Greenmarket. At this time of year the list expands to include seasonal outposts throughout the five boroughs. Arts
Scene
Springtime in New York City sets the scene perfectly for the Havana Film Festival, which this year features a free Meet the Industry panel and a special tribute to filmmaker Estela Bravo. April also ushers in the Tribeca Film Festival, which opens with the premiere of Tina Fey’s Baby Mama. Meanwhile, MoMA and P.S.1 invite you to Take your time, a co-presentation of the first comprehensive US survey of multimedia artist Olafur Eliasson’s large-scale works, which re-create the palatial landscapes of his native Iceland. A celebration of a different kind is happening onstage as one great thinker pays homage to another in the Metropolitan Opera’s presentation of Philip Glass’ Satyagraha, based on the life of Mohandas Gandhi and part of a trilogy depicting iconic historical figures. And the New York City Ballet gets right to the pointe, kicking off its spring season with its annual Spring Gala, followed by Symphonic Balanchine. With the warmer weather comes hot springtime shows—both on stage and in museums citywide. The New York City Ballet this season celebrates Jerome Robbins, the renowned choreographer who for nearly 40 years made the company his artistic home. From West Side Story excerpts to full stagings of Brahms/Handel—his 1983 collaboration with Twyla Tharp—see the steps that continue to inspire today. Or check out the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Dance Africa 2008, bringing together troupes from across the City and around the world. One of nature's own graceful forms takes shape in a new exhibition, The Horse, opening mid-month at the American Museum of Natural History. The Met, meanwhile, offers a rare chance to see some works with Medieval and Renaissance Treasures from the Victoria and Albert Museum. And the Brooklyn Museum presents the work of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, whose colorful anime-inspired works have made their way from the gallery to record sleeves and Louis Vuitton bags. NYC Outdoors The entire city is sretching its legs again—opening doors, unrolling storefront awnings, finding a few extra minutes to spend outside. One of the best ways to take in springtime in New York is to dine al fresco: there's Danal in the East Village for exceptional brunch, the Grocery in Brooklyn for impeccable seasonal fare, Harry's at Water Taxi Beach for eats with a view and Bowery Wine Company for— not surprisingly—fine wine. And any day ends the right way when you're watching the sun set over the City skyline, cocktail in hand at the Rooftop Garden Bar at 230 Fifth. Dedicated foodies will also want to head to the Ninth Avenue Food Festival in Hell's Kitchen May 17-18 for eclectic ethnic cuisine. The good news for those watching their waistline is that it can all be worked off with Bike Month NYC, which includes the Five Boro Bike Tour among other rides and races. Memorial
Day Weekend
From backyard grill fests to waterfront strolls, summertime really begins Memorial Day weekend. Start by taking in the sea air at the City's public beaches, opening for the season in all five boroughs. Or get a first-hand look at some of the military's great naval ships during the final days of Fleet Week festivities. Mark the holiday itself with a bit of community celebration: among the parades taking place are the American Legion Memorial Day Parade in Queens, the Staten Island Veterans Memorial Day Parade, the United War Veterans Memorial Parade in Brooklyn and the Queens Veterans Memorial Parade. Afterward, consider some home-style relaxing with burgers on the grill at Crotona or Prospect Park or in parks across the City. For barbecue of a different sort, try the tangy ribs at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Pampas Argentinas, Brian's Rib House or the new Asian grill, Bar Q. And don't forget plenty of napkins. Mother's
Day
Take time for mom on May 11. One lovely way to spend the day is taking tea in the garden of the turn-of-the-century Merchant House Museum near Washington Square Park. Or relax uptown for a vitamin infusion facial and afternoon tea as part of the Mandarin Oriental Tea and Spa package. But if you'd rather break a sweat, head to Prospect Park to rent a pedal boat or enjoy a scenic go-round on the carousel. Meanwhile, a classic Mother's Day brunch never disappoints: enjoy it with a leafy view of Central Park at Tavern on the Green or tuck in to the Peninsula New York for an elegant buffet paired with champagne. Or spend the day on the water with a Mother's Day Cruise: Bateaux New York offers a lunch sail with live jazz, and the Skyline Princess does brunch and dinner excursions. Finally, for a shared nostalgia fix, there's Peanut Butter & Co., where guests can receive a free sandwich with the crusts cut off—just like Mom used to make. New
and Notable
The City's celebrating a big birthday this month: the beloved Brooklyn Bridge is turning 125. The festivities kick off May 22 with a free concert and fireworks and continue over the next three days with film festivals, bike rides and special exhibitions. From established landmarks to new attractions-fans and athletes alike won't want to miss a visit to the Sports Museum of America, which opens May 7 in Lower Manhattan. Meanwhile, the Upper West Side, famous for its own roster of cultural attractions, is hosting a two-week fete of author workshops, concerts, museum happenings and more—all part of the Upper West Fest. May also means cultivating that perfect summer wardrobe. A great place to start is at BR Monogram boutique; the nation's only store exclusively focused on the new luxe line from Banana Republic. For the wanderlust in you, there's euro-centric boutique Jan & Äya in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, which offers artisanal wears and home goods. Finally, for the bride-to-be, Barcelona's designer label Pronovias has opened its NYC flagship—complete with a Guggenheim-esque spiral staircase perfect for practicing that grand entrance. | ||||||||||||||
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