New York City | Rajo's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘new york city’

The Whitney!

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

Throughout the years, I have been really drawn to Contemporary Art. Each time I am surrounded by it, my heart soars and I get all excited! This seed has been slowly growing in me and my dream one day is to be like Dr. Cuanang who has given so much to Philippine Art. He has an amazing museum space called the Pinto Gallery in Antipolo. I have blogged about it before – http://blogs.stylebible.ph/rajosblog/2010/12/16/the-pinto-art-museum/. Because of my association with the Asian Cultural Council of the Philippines, I have been made more aware of what art can do to my country and my culture.

I try my best to get to see as much art as I can when I travel, so I could not miss out on visiting the Whitney Museum – http://whitney.org/. Considered by many to be the home of American Contemporary Art, I have been to the Whitney many times and each time I come, I take with me a brand new experience. Normally, photos are not allowed but this time, they allowed it so I was really excited! I really wanted to share with all of you my experience. Somehow, these experiences almost always translates to what I do and comes forward with my work. Take a look at the Whitney and just like me, be inspired!

They had a special exhibit on one artist, Cory Arcangel. He utilized a lot of ready made items and created studies on movement and form. These are moving display cases that would have a dance-like motion to them.

Then he did a timeline of computer games from the 70's down to the present. All the games produced gutter balls.

Even in photographs, these looked really strange! Move the mouse up and down and you will get an idea how it looked like.

I liked this wall detail.

A brief history of the artist.

Color spectrums using photo shop.

Interesting colors.

This made me happy.

More color variants.

Computer generated sketches.

NICE IDEA!

A continuation of the sketches, this time made into steel and 3D.

This was a performance piece where an actor is strapped with a camera and he's made to act and this is filmed and later projected on the screen. I think the artist is Rosa Cha? I can't remember now.

Nix enjoying the experience.

NYC Summer in the upper west side!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: new york city, The Whitney
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Wallse!

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Met up with dinner with one of my oldest friends, JR Abad. We have known each other literally since Grade One and have kept in touch all these years. Friendships like these are real blessings to me. JR made plans to have dinner at Wallse ( pronounced Vhalse) http://kg-ny.com/wallse?page_alias=wallse-restaurant. It’s a Michelin star-rated rated restaurant with Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner in the lead.

This is Wallse!

It had this Old World vibe to it!

That's the portrait of the chef, Kurt.

JR and Nix.

Wallse is a modern Vienesse restaurant that pays a lot of homage to traditional techniques. Think “The Sound of Music” and you’re on the right track! LOL! We had a really great time catching up with JR and his partner Matthew. JR is an advertising Creative Director in NYC while Matthew is an Interior/Graphic Designer. You can imagine how much we have in common with Nix.

The view from my seat.

I like this tiny orchid.

The meal started out with several cocktails! I still have to wrap my head around all the vodka martinis these New Yorkers consume! It’s insane! LOL! The dinner was simply beautiful, although I did find the room to be a bit loud that I had to crane my neck in order to hear my dinner companions. Other than that, it was a true find! If you’re yearning for what Maria and the children could have eaten, then Wallse is for you and yes….SCHNITZEL is now one of my favorite things! LOL!

Some amouse bouche. Deep fride cones with a light cream and fish filing.

Crunch and punch!

This is a spatzle dish with fresh chanterelle's. I love this mushroom! Each time it's on the menu, I end have having it.

A wedge salad! I want to do this when I get home to Manila. I think it's simple enough.

An heirloom tomato salad that was just so fresh and beautiful.

This was the winner! The best Schnitzel in NYC! A bite of this crisp moist dish will make you sing a line or two from the Sound of Music! I swear we all did!

I had the halibut with the Chanterelle mushrooms which looked liked gold nuggets to me in a pool of minty green sauce! It was such a perfect antidote to the heat of NYC!

JR had another fish dish with a light cream bath.

We did not order dessert but they gave us some Viennese sweets.

It was so hard to find a cab so JR had to resort to some old fashioned VOGUEING!!! LOL!

He still bends like no other! Tee hee!

TAXI!!!!!

After a while Nix joined in! LOL!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: JR Abad, new york city, Wallse
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

STRIPHOUSE!

Sunday, July 31st, 2011

Nix and I were craving for some New York meat! LOL! Actually we just wanted a proper steak for dinner and we asked our friend Rafe Totengco (who is now the creative director of JONES NY and my fellow blogger here in Stylebible) to organize the dinner. After several phone calls, text and bbm messages, it was decided that we have dinner at the Striphouse. http://www.striphouse.com/

The problem with Steak and NY is that everyone has a favorite steak house. Some like the good old standards like Smith and Wolensky or some prefer to head over to Brooklyn and get their Peter Luger fix. For me, I go with the flow! LOL! I love trying out new things and well although I judge, I don’t discriminate.

Restaurants here really love their places dark! This dark! LOL!

So the Striphouse it was! Due to jetlag, I was 40 minutes late! Unforgivable in this town. Good thing, I was with dear friends. Joining Nix, Rafe and I were my friends Manika Yujico who works in the fabulous house of Marchesa. You all know PJ and my NY buddy Steven Horn.

THE GANG! PJ, Rafe( who never ages! IHATEHIM!) Manika with the fan that I gave all my friends here in the city. Nix and Steven!

I adore Manika she is really so chic! I love her Nina Ricci sheath that night.

Behind Nix is the wall of photos that always puzzles me who they are? Patrons? Family?

We had a super meal that started with a gigantic seafood platter filled with oysters, prawns, king crabs and lobsters. OH VAH! Then the gang decided to all have some Prime rib and the games began! I loved every minute of this meat fest! Thing with US servings, one usually means Asian two. So in this case we had enough meat for 12! We tried our best but we just couldn’t even if it was OH SO GOOD!

An amuse bouche! A watermelon shot.

A fabulous seafood plate!

Rafe looks happy!

Our server with our meat!

Duck fat french fries! OH MY! A side of creamed spinach.

PEACE TO THE BEEF!

I love women who eat meat!

My plate.

Photo time!

Rafe and Steven!

We then met up with friends at the Boom boom room! We met new friends from Thailand named BIG & TIME! I am not kidding!

Rafe with Big!

Striphouse was very well designed that bathed in this beautiful amber glow. The kind of light that makes everyone look amazing! I know the locals all have their own fave steak places. As for me, I am still trying to find my own personal NYC steak place! Striphouse was pretty good though so it does not hurt to try it yourselves.

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: Manika Yujico, new york city, rafe totengco, steak, Striphouse
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Super chic LOFT living in NYC!

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

I have the best friends all over the world! The kind of friends who unselfishly lend me their homes when I need a place to stay. This was the case of my recent trip in NYC. I have this fantasy/dream that one day, I too will have a small place in Manhattan. A place where I can escape to and recharge. A place where I can get inspired and just be free and create.

Well, my friend’s place was just AWESOME! It was a beautiful loft along Park Ave and it had all the qualities that people in NYC would literally kill for! SPACE! I mean it was almost the size of a basketball court! LOL! Filled with beautiful pieces most of which were lovingly created in the Philippines! What I love about the loft was the huge brick wall that really define NY spaces for me. They lent me this amazing space for a week and for those 6 days I was living my fantasy! LOL! One can dream right? In my heart, I know one day, I too will have a space like this to call my own!

Nix posing to show you the scale.

That brick wall is love!

An eclectic mix of beautiful pieces most of which were made in Manila!

Filled with flea market finds and high end pieces. It's really all about the mix.

The lighting of the apartment is just killer!

In black and white!

I felt right at home!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: new york city
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Lady M!

Friday, July 29th, 2011

One of my biggest indulgence is dessert! I am a closet sweet tooth. I avoid it most of the time but when in Manhattan I just have to pay a visit to a certain lady and her name is LADY M! http://www.ladymconfections.com/. I was introduced to Lady M a couple of years ago, as Martha Stewart kind of mentioned it in her show? I, being a loyal devotee of Ms. Stewart, had to try it.

The experience was something out of a dessert fairy tale! It was the very first time that I had their Milk crepe cake! I was in LOVE! This trip, I am back again and found out that my dear friend Faith Amigo ( who is the first cousin of my sister-in-law, Samantha) is associated with Lady M! Her partner’s mother is Lady M and I was like OMG! LOL! It’s the perfect respite between lunch and museum visits. Here we partook of some desserts that just were just pure LOVE!

The view from where I sat!

Our loot! OMG!

Check out the details of this checkerboard cake!

One more view! I am glad I walked close to 40 blocks that day! LOL!

Do yourselves a favor and visit Lady M! It really has the best cakes in the city!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: dessert, Lady M, new york city
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

The Mark!

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

I make it a point to visit hotels all over the world as they give me tons of ideas for my work. Many of you might not know this but I get a huge chunk of my business deals with corporate apparel. In fact, almost half of my business deals are with making uniforms for hotels, banks, pharmaceutical companies, restaurants and the like. My company Laurel et Ross has been doing this for close to 8 years now. I am proud to let all you know that we’re actually doing quite well.

My friend Noel dela Rama is a chef in NYC and he made reservations for us at the Mark of Jean George. This hotel used to be the Mandarin but was transformed into one of the chicest little boutique hotels in the city. Check it out here http://themarkhotel1-px.trvlclick.com/rooms/.

Lovely shades of copper and this shell pink was the motif of the sunny dining room.

We had a lovely summer lunch in their inner courtyard restaurant and I was excited when I saw the Mr. Zagat himself dining one table away from us! Thus confirming that this was a good place to eat. LOL! The location is also excellent if you wanted to visit museums like The Whitney and The Met which are just a couple blocks away.

Started my meal with this fresh Burata ( It's like eating a really buttery mozarella) cheese! It was marvelous!

Then we had a small plate of linguini with clams! This dish really spelled summer to me! It was really refreshing!

Noel had a grilled shrimp with blue cheese salad! Another summer dish! We all had to eat this way as the heat outside was unbearable!

Nix had this sesame seed salmon with mandarin!

While we were having lunch, we were approached by a very handsome young man who was Filipino. His name is Ernie Floro. Ernie is the Sales and Marketing manager of the Mark! Turns out that his sister Pam knew my sisters! Small world talaga! Well, he was kind enough to show us around the hotel and see how beautifully designed the hotel was. There was even a book on the art that dotted the hotel and this really made me smile! The interiors of the hotel suites were really sleek and so well thought of. You could see that no small detail was spared- from the mouldings down to the super chic luxurious peachy cream sheets! I really want to stay here next time. I am really so proud of these young accomplished Filipin’s in NYC. BRAVO Ernie and see you real soon!

Noel in the lobby of the Mark! I love the graphic lines!

Check out the detail on the wall.

The bar lounge in the front.

Went into a suite and fell in love with this kitchenette!

That is Ernie with Noel showing us one of the suites!

The living room!

The bedroom! I loved the sheets!

The banyo that even Chuvaness will approve!

Say hi to Mr. Ernie Floro!

Back to the restaurant!

Thank you Ernie! Friends and family rate ha when we get back! LOL!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: Ernie Floro, new york city, Noel dela Rama, The Mark
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The MET & Fred’s!

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

One of the main reasons I am in NYC right now is to see the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum called SAVAGE BEAUTY! I am a Mc Queen fan and I really felt so bad when he died and I felt that I really had to come to see his exhibition. I was really happy to be joined by Georgina Wilson. It was so cool to see this with her as she was the cover of Preview magazine when Preview did an Alexander McQueen tribute last June 2010.

The beautiful Metropolitan museum!

This is George's preview McQueen tribute cover.

Unfortunately, photos were not allowed but you can view videos and images here http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/. I decided to see the exhibition on the special Monday viewing which was more expensive but oh so worth it! There was hardly a line and there were less people. Let me tell you that it was such an emotional experience that it left me shaking! It was haunting in a way that a man’s imagination can transform needle, thread and fabric into something so magnificently sublime that it renders one speechless.

Clear skies!

Stole this photo in the exhibit! It was a wall paper design with dark romantic motifs.

I did not want the exhibition to end! They had several rooms that capture the themes and motifs of his works. My favorite was the accessories room which features Alexander’s collaboration with his army of craftsmen and milliners. It was nothing short of breathtaking. The exhibition will only run for another 2 weeks and I think that if you love fashion, you have to try your very best to come see the show.

After the exhibition, we all were famished and since it was the middle of the day, I could only think of Fred’s in Barney’s for lunch. George, Nix and I all channelled our inner tai-tai’s and pretended to be ladies who lunched! Barney’s was also having an incredible 70% off summer sale that day so it was like a double whammy of joy! LOL!

George and Nix!

Me and George!

Lunch at Fred's! Started out with some Caprese salad.

Green pea soup!

The veal was wonderful!

A side order of green spinach!

Spaghetti and meatballs! Always a crowd pleaser!

We had a fabulous lunch and and an even more fabulous time trying out and buying shoes! I am so happy that the peso against the dollar is so strong as it makes shopping here in the states more guilt-free!

I like ladies who lunch! LOL!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: Alexander McQueen, georgina wilson, new york city, SAVAGE BEAUTY, The MET
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

TXIKITO!

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Every time I am in NY, I get to visit my high school barkada! These women I have grown up with and have remained as some of my closest and dearest of friends. These were the same girls whom I did the Prom dresses, wedding dresses and now their daughters’ dresses. So you can only imagine if I did not give them a call, they would literally kill me. LOL!

We made plans to try out this basque tapas place called TXIKITO! http://txikitonyc.com/. We all found the name so funny as it reminded me of the late pinoy comedian. LOL! The food was so my type! Little plates of goodness that captures the flavors of the north of Spain. Memories of my trip there from 2004 came rushing back. It was really lovely to catch up with my girls. One of which Melissa, whom I have not seen since we were 13! OMG! Everyone looked great and as the wonderful food and sangria kept coming, we just enjoyed ourselves more and more. The restaurant was good and most of the food that came were really beautiful. Some dishes were failures but in general, it was fine. I just wished our server was a bit sharper. She reminded me of Suzanne Summers playing that dumb blonde to a hilt, which does not work when you’re dealing with food! LOL! Do give it a try and tell me how you like their version of cochinillo? If you’re in NYC and miss lechon, this could be a good alternative! ENJOY!

This is Txikito! I really like this wood treatment. I wonder if this will work in Manila? Humidity might warp the weather.

The view from the bar.

Happy to see Melissa Gallardo! Who just lost close to 100 pounds! WHOA!!! Here she is with Christine de Castro-Carballo.

We had to try some golden croquetta's. Cirkulo is still so much better.

I love PULPO! Sos I had to try it! It was beautiful!

I loved these deep fried chili peppers! I wish it was less oily.

This was absolutely amazing! Ribbon like squid strips in a light lemony cream sauce! Absolutely amazing!

Deep friend Lengua! I felt like this was a bit odd. Don't order this! LOL!

This pork and beans dish looked promising on the menu. In reality it was rubbery and bland! Sayang! I really wanted this to be a hit!

Cochinillo was a WINNER! It was crunchy and moist! I loved the green chimchuiri sauce!

We had a second order! LOL!

Some albondigas! Not the best! Pass up on this one. Read! Hindi masarap! LOL!

Now this was beautiful! Grilled prawns in butter! Always good no matter where you get it! The key is fresh prawns!

All that food for our gang! Jahe! I love women who eat well!

Denise wanted to party some more so Nix and I took her to Splash! OMG!

My girls!

Splash on a weekday night! Empty but still quite fun!

Nix and Denise!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: new york city, Txikito
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Le Labo!

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

I am so into smells and fragrances! Each trip I make, I try to get a fragrance that would either make me remember the trip more or just pick up a bottle of my favorite signature scents. I have three scents that I toss back and forth from. Aqua di Parma’s Arancia di Capri, Jo Malone’s Pomegranate noir and Annick Goutal’s eau d’adrien. Well I just might have found my fourth. It is called Santal 33.

My friend Ramon Padilla, took me Le Labo to try out this new scent that he was so excited about. I tried it and immediately I was repulsed! It smelled like an old camphor chest. A dusty cabinet with old clothes! I had to get to run out of the store as I thought I was going to get nauseous.

However, as the hours passed, the smell grew on me and I began to really love it! The way it transformed on my skin just left me wanting more. I could not stop thinking about Santal 33 and so the next day, I came back.

This is Le Labo!

I adored how they described Santal 33.

Interior shots.

They took careful care and making all things right.

Another view of the display.

Joined by another friend Harvey Alumisin, we trekked back to Nolita and got my new favorite scent. I love the concept of the Le Labo. They create the perfume right in front of you and they even label the bottle in your name. The whole artisanal process really appealed to me and I was so happy. When in NYC, you must come to Le Labo just to experience and see how they do things. It was really fun! http://www.lelabofragrances.com/.

This is Harvey Alumisin with Nix.

Grabbed some lunch at Cafe Gitanne. I love this French Morrocan restaurant in the area.

Then we went in Le Labo.

Essential oils used in making their fragrances.

As you order your perfume they make the scent right then and there.

It was fascinating to watch.

I love these bottles.

Some of their other scents.

Beautiful cabinet.

Love the front window display.

Havey and I.

Took a photo outside.

Le Labo store front!

Cool details!

Nix...Chillin in the heat of NYC!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Tags: Harvey Alumisin, Le Labo, new york city
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

PEELS!

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

I was so excited to have dinner with my cousin Alexis. He is truly one of my favorite relatives! I know you can’t choose your relatives but if the world would be designed differently and we could choose, I would definitely choose Alexis to be my relative. He is wickedly smart, handsome and very charming. We have been very close all these years and in a way, I live through him vicariously. He is a writer for an online magazine called Metromix. This means he has the heads up on what’s new and hip in the city.

Since my flight was delayed coming in we had to reschedule my dinner with him and his partner Bill. Alexis had a table booked at this place called PEELS. http://peelsnyc.com/. It was a really beautiful restaurant that had this real Americana vibe to it. Come to think of it, this trip I have noticed a strong resurgence of “AMERICAN CUISINE”. Most of the places that were recommended to me were all leaning to this American comfort food zone. Think Hamburgers, Fried Chicken, grits and all that good stuff that makes you think of America.

This is Peels!

I love that green door.

Inside, it looks like one of those old soda shops back in the day. Think "little house of the prairie" LOL!

In a lively conversation! Alexis, Bill, Nix and Robin.

Interior shots.

I love squid! So I had to try this warm salad of grilled squid and peppers. YUM!

I believe though that it is just natural to feel like being nurtured after what’s happening to the economy here. I really can see and feel it. Around Soho, there were so many empty retail spaces and there were few shoppers. Actually, the only people shopping were Asians. LOL!

At Peels, we were joined by another couple based in NY. Robin Tomas and his partner, John. They have been together for almost a decade and I am really fond of them. Over some fried chicken, corn dogs and a proper Sundae, we laughed, reminisced and cried a wee bit about our friendship. It was really wonderful. We even spotted fashion designer Anna Sui in the corner having dinner. LOL! I LOVE NEW YORK!