Financial District

It’s been a hard year. Your brain is overloaded with numbers sporting nasty minus signs, your hair missed its 6 week appointment about 3 weeks back, and your skin desperately needs it to choose a season already. As if your current state isn’t dull enough, you look around to see that you are actually outshining all of your loved ones. You feel badly for them. But it’s Christmas and Hanukkah and stuff, so you decide it’s time for everyone on your list to get their glow on and start 2010 shining brightly.

For your visiting bff: Gilt.com is offering Equinox spa specials on massages, facials, training sessions and more. Each purchase includes a 3-day trial membership where out of town visitors or you (because oh, you forgot, you canceled your gym membership in April) can take advantage of the gym, classes, steam room and more starting at just 100 bones.

For your niece: Fourteen year-olds aren’t stressed! Save the massage for yourself and visit blissworld.com. There you can customize a gift box of goodies for your loved ones. Choose from staples like body scrubs and lotions or these way cool hair removal strips. Spend $25 and you get…free shipping! Your niece loves her smooth upper lip, you love the black numbers in your checking account.

For him: Your brother – Head downtown to Freeman’s Sporting Club where you can give him a $25 trim, $40 straight razor shave or a $25 hangover treatment. You don’t know what that is, but it sounds cool.  Your brother-in-law (why do you always pick him?) – Choose John Allan’s because he might be eaten by anorexic hipsters if you send him searching for Freeman Alley. A “Full Service” includes a scalp massage, shampoo, condition, hot towel, manicure and shoe shine. Your sister will thank you.

And if you have any scrilla left over, buy something for yourself something to get your shine on. Glow on sista. Glow on.
Emma Dinzebach

Everyone complained that SHO Shaun Herrgat’s location (the 2nd floor of the Setai Hotel at 40 Broad Street) was difficult to find. Then they complained the walk to your table took too long. I disagreed. I found it, and as a developer’s daughter, was quite enthralled with the design. Interior architects at  Robert D. Henry created an emotional, if slightly expansive, space. Think Dubai meets Plaza Athenee in Bagnkok. Actually, think the world meets Wall Street. I half-expected Chuck Bass to be waiting for me at the bar.

Instead I found business men at business meetings, a few sketchy mistress-esque dates, some plain ‘ol normal folk, and my patient date still in his suit from work. He looked very handsome. Knowing I wanted to write about it, he arranged for special treatment. We had an informative tour of the extensive floor to ceiling vino gallery and the private dining room (pictured). (He offered to let us to sit in there, but I thought that would be awkward.) Instead, were given our choice of a couple select tables.

Mr. Hergatt is a master of texture mixture and each dish is perfectly sculpted and presented to this degree. There are emulsions, froths, stacks and drizzles with exotic ingredients and exciting combinations. SHO Shaun Hergatt’s tasting menu is just $69 – a fine dining bargain in tough  times. We skipped that as our meal was pre-arranged. (He is an exceptional date, right?). We started with the peekytoe crab, foie gras, trout tartare and something else that slips my mind as we also tasted a lot of wine. The three day short rib, cod and veal tenderloin were our favorites. I wasn’t a huge fan of the rabbit loins, but it could have been my overall aversion to the word loins.

And then, because I’m lucky like this, Mr. Hergatt emerged inquiring into our meal. I was completely taken off guard and combined with the wine might have stumbled over my words, but eventually abruptly blurted out a slew of compliments. I looked at my smiling date. Who just said, “Dessert?”

SHO Shaun Hergatt  The Setai Hotel  40 Broad Street  212.809.3993

Emma Dinzebach

America sure looks good for being 232 years old- think she’s had some work done?

If you waited for the last possible second (like moi) to plan how you’ll be celebrating the home of the brave this year, fear not. Here are some fool-proof ways to get your fourth on.

Food. . .

. . .Because the Nathan’s hot dog champ can’t be the only one indulging. Celebrate the U.S. and the N.Y. with a good old fashioned chow down. The Great July Fourth Festival is a down-home American birthday party with a global twist. The street fair showcases 600 international food vendors, as well as arts, crafts and merchandise exhibitors like Indonesian Jewelry and Chinese Pottery. The fun ends at 8, just in time watch. . .

Fireworks!

Because what would today be without a little pie in the sky? There are breathtaking views of the Macy’s Fireworks Extravaganza*, which start at 9pm, from all points of the vogue city. The very best are:

Manhattan: Southbound lanes of the FDR drive from 14th to 42nd Street will be open for the public from 7:30pm to 10:00pm.The FDR Drive will actually be closed to vehicular traffic between Houston St. and 63rd St. from 7:00pm until 1:00am. Dancin’ in the street!

Brooklyn/Queens: Great views from Hunter’s Point, Queens, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and anywhere with an unobstructed view of the East River between 23rd & 42nd Sts.

***Be sure to tune in to 1010 WINS AM to hear the muscial accompaniment

Happy Independance Day New York!!!