Week of November 16 - November 22, 2010

NYC is always full of surprises! New stores and restaurants open every week. Sometimes stores just pop-up for a limited time. This week GEM has the best of what puts the new in New York.

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DINING

Manhattan’s sleek new contemporary steakhouse, cityhouse, located at 870 Seventh Avenue at the corner of 56th Street, recently opened its doors at the Park Central Hotel, offering a diverse menu of modern American classics and the best cuts of USDA prime beef. Executive Chef, Fabio Capparelli, a budding culinary talent, formerly of the acclaimed BLT Steak at the Ritz-Carlton in Westchester, has crafted innovative signature plates for his latest venture. Dishes include a sublime lobstertini, succulent slow braised tomahawk short ribs and enchanting pistachio crusted diver scallops. Flawlessly prepared steak entrees from the cowboy rib-eye to the filet mignon are accompanied by a vast choice of outstanding sides from Capparelli’s divine mac n’ 5 cheeses and truffle fries to the hen of the woods mushrooms.

Conveniently located near Central Park and just steps away from Carnegie Hall, cityhouse is the ideal spot not only for power business lunches and chic dinners but also pre-theater dining with generous prix fixe menus for both lunch and dinner. With the debut of outdoor seating in Spring, cityhouse will be the perfect place to enjoy weekend brunches and signature cocktails such as the refreshing bellatini, made from a unique blend of premium tropical juices, fine French cognac and a touch of ultra premium vodka shaken to a chill and garnished with fresh squeezed key limes.

This Thanksgiving cityhouse will offer a prix fixe Thanksgiving menu which is available on Thanksgiving Day only from 12PM to 8PM. Please visit opentable.com/cityhouse-new-york for reservations or call 212.707.5500.



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GIFTING

To celebrate their 75th anniversary, Harry & David, the leading lifestyle gourmet gifts company, will bring a taste of their home in Oregon’s Rouge River Valley to the big city this holiday season. The two NYC locations, one in Gramercy on 22nd Street and Fifth Avenue and the other at the Columbus Circle holiday market, provide one-stop holiday shopping showcasing the brand’s farm-to-table expertise and new holiday gifts including exclusive wines, award-wining artisanal cheeses, luscious fresh fruits, delectable homemade baked goods and custom handcrafted confections. The pop-ups also offer free delivery service in NYC. For more info visit www.harryanddavid.com

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FASHION

Levi’s has just opened a brand new concept store in NYC. Inspired by its location, the Levi’s Meatpacking 4,500 square-foot store will be the ultimate expression of the Levi’s® brand, complete with an in-store concierge and tailor shop. Levi’s Meatpacking offers an array of unique products including: Levi’s Vintage Collection (LVC) of archival reissues, including replicas of 501s that date as far back as 1890 and limited-edition products, including: Billykirk wallets, hand-dyed silk bandanas and scarves from Upstate, Levi’s Workwear by Filson Oiled Tin-Cloth trucker jackets and the new Workwear byPendleton line, a finely-crafted capsule collection featuring the style and denim of Levi’s® and the authentic wool jacquard fabrics and craftsmanship of Pendleton’s iconic woolens.
Here are a list of prices and just SOME of the services on the menu at the Tailor Shop:

• Misc. Hem options on jeans: starting at $20

• Jacket Sleeve Hem: $30

• Pocket Bag repairs: starting at $20, depending on the nature of the repair

• Jacket Repairs: start at $20, depending on the nature of the repair

• Knee Repairs: start at $20, depending on the nature of the repair

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SPA

Spa Merge celebrated its grand opening in March 2010, merging science and nature into one organic spa experience. The spa, located at 102-108 West 57th Street, offers clinical, effective treatments, coupled with naturally invigorating (often vegan and/or edible) products in a peaceful environment. The treatments are not only relaxing and luxurious, but provide amazing results!

Skincare is their specialty and it’s a great time to get a facial to brighten up your complexion for the holiday season. GEM recommends their signature treatment, The Ultimate Merge Facial. The Ultimate Machine by Ageless Esthetics, one of only four units in the entire United States, for the ultimate luxury in facial rejuvenation. The four step process embraces Spa Merge’s concept of merging science and organic nature, combining cutting-edge technology with invigorating product. As the very first treatment system to combine crystal-free microdermabrasion, microcurrent toning, LED light therapy and high frequency stimulation, The Ultimate Machine provides the most versatile and effective facial therapy available. To book your appointment visit www.SpaMerge.com.

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BEAUTY

In celebration of their fall and holiday makeup and skincare collections, Shiseido Cosmetics America opened the Shiseido NYC Limited Edition Beauty Boutique - its first-ever pop-up beauty boutique on Friday, November 12th in NYC. The boutique located at 989 Third Avenue at 59th Street, is open to the public for one week only - from November 12th - 19th from 11AM to 7PM daily. Guests are invited to sample the collections and receive signature Shiseido services during the event.

Other offerings include:

• Gift cards for complimentary facial massage treatments at the Bloomingdales Shiseido counter on 59th Street

• Deluxe samples of signature Shiseido skincare and makeup products

• Information about Shiseido collections including the:

• New Fall 2010 Shiseido Makeup and Limited Edition Holiday Palette

• New Shiseido Future Solution LX Eye and Lip Contour Regenerating Cream

• Best-selling Shiseido Bio Performance Super Corrective Serum

For more info visit: www.shiseido.com