A decade after he shuttered his three West Village dining rooms—Perilla, Kin Shop and The Marrow—and took a temporary leave from the New York food scene, Harold Dieterle is back with a brand-new restaurant concept: a Southern Italian stunner called Il Totano, with a focus on aged seafood and “a stylish Sicilian sensibility.”

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Best known as the first-ever winner of Bravo’s long-running cooking competition Top Chef, Dieterle debuted the new eatery in—where else?—the West Village earlier this week, at 154 West 13th Street by 7th Avenue.

Despite its downtown NYC surroundings, you’d be forgiven for thinking you stumbled upon the Italian coast, given the menu featuring dishes like dry-aged bluefin tuna with fried capers and fig leaf oil; a grilled branzino with blistered Sicilian green beans; a crispy pork-chop cotoletta with white anchovies and Calabrian chili dressing; and a “fake” affogato, made with fior di latte ice cream and Manhattan Special espresso soda. There will also be a new version of the chef’s famed spicy duck meatballs, here served with mint cavatelli, water spinach, and quail eggs.

Overseen by interior designer Sasha Bikoff, the digs also give off la dolce vita vibes: taking a page from the Italian fashion brand Marni, the walls are dressed up in bold, blue-and-white hand-painted wallpaper, made even more nautical when paired with a dark walnut bar (to “evoke a sleek Riva boat zipping through the Amalfi Coast,” naturally). Speaking of the bar, there are also several Southern Italian-inspired tipples to enjoy, including the Bitter Giuseppe (Chaparral liqueur, orange, and grapefruit) and the Capri (Probitas rum, Blackpool Spiced Rum, J.M. Creole Shrubb, Orchard Amaro, lemon and mint).

Il Totano will be open for dinner Sundays to Thursdays from 5pm to 10pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm until 11pm. Check out the space and some of the food-and-drink offerings below: 

* This article was originally published here

Want to chill on the edge of the iconic Prospect Park Lake but can’t find a place to sit?

A new installation by the Prospect Park Alliance, NYC Parks and CJ Hendry Studio will help you out: a pair of charismatic and fully functional pink chairs are now part and parcel of the on site scenery. Unsurprisingly given their color, size and overall vibe, they are already going viral online. 

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The sculpture-slash-bench, aptly named “Pink Chairs,” is part of a artist CJ Hendry’s “Inflatable” series, which seeks to reimagine public art through the lens of utilitarian public spaces, according to the Prospect Park Alliance.

Fair warning: although the chairs may look like inflatables made of plastic, they are actually rock solid—so don’t throw yourself on them as if they were bean bags! 

Just like the Australian artist’s other large scale, hyperrealistic projects, the pink beauties are experiments in weight and scale, playfully subverting expectations.  

While in the area, make sure to check out public art pieces currently on display at nearby parks, including “Community Heroes” at Fort Greene Park, just a few minutes away. The exhibit brings together residents of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Farragut to celebrate the very people that make up each neighborhood through a series of beautiful portraits. 

But back to those adorable pink chairs: find them by the lake through October but try to head there in the next few weeks to thoroughly enjoy them as the weather turns warmer.

* This article was originally published here

This summer—from July 3 to August 24, to be precise—the Park Avenue Armory will play host to what is sure to become the next big thing on Instagram: Balloon Story, an interactive ballon art exhibition featuring over 600,000 eco-friendly latex orbs.

Tickets for the experience, which will last about 70 minutes, are already on sale right here. Depending on the type of pass you opt for, you’ll be spending between $36 and $66 to get in.

If the success of the Balloon Museum is of any indication, Balloon Story is poised to go viral on social media, so try to secure your ticket before all the influencers hear about this.

Once inside the Armory at 643 Park Avenue by 66th Street on the Upper East Side, you will walk through a series of beautiful inflatable sculptures and installations created by 200 different artists, each one telling a story of their own. Among the explored themes are iconic monuments from around the globe; an Americana display celebrating July 4; a space installation; an Antarctica-like, snowy wonderland and “magical under the sea moments,” according to an official press release.

Since Internet virality seems to be directly related to the presence of a ball pit no matter the occasion, expect just that on premise as well, alongside a “selfie square” featuring 12 installations that guests can take pictures of and in. Remember: immersive is the name of the game. 

“This exhibition is a celebration of art and imagination,” said Erica Domesek, the creative producer of the experience, in an official statement. “Each installation is designed to evoke joy and wonder, providing a magical experience for visitors of all ages.”

Although, as the weather turns warmer, we like to spend our days hanging out by the beach or perusing outdoor art pieces, we’ll make an exception and head indoors for this pretty creative show inside an iconic NYC building.

* This article was originally published here

Summer is here and that means it’s Hamptons season! Hordes of New York City’s weary residents flock to the South Fork of Long Island’s gorgeous beach community of incredibly manicured hamlets and villages on the East End.

And while much remains the same Out East, a new season means new openings and exciting changes to anticipate. Here are all the new places to eat and drink you won’t want to miss come Memorial Day.

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What’s new in the Hamptons this summer

Kizzy T’s

New at 47 Montauk Highway (the former home of O by Kissaki), this spacious royal blue restaurant brings the fun with plenty of colorful artwork, games, events, and of course, playful cuisine. Dig into shareable dishes from the pan-Asian fusion menu including wings with cheese and curry, miso mac and cheese, poutine with crispy fried chicken and more. Open until 11pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends, this is one of few late night spots in East Hampton. 

Little Charli

The Bleecker Street restaurant is expanding Out East! The Roman-style pizzeria will offer its classic pies, plus pizza-making classes with Pizzaiolo Salvatore Olivella. Bring the drama to the beach with The Godfather, a luxurious, meter-long pie topped with prosciutto, burrata, arugula, shallots, and fresh truffle shavings. A rare treat for the area, Little Charli will stay open until 4am on Friday and Saturday nights. 

Arthur & Sons

New Yorkers may be familiar with the very social media friendly red sauce joint housed in the West Village. Now, they’re expanding to a standalone restaurant in Bridgehampton, where the restaurant’s modernized takes on Italian American fare (spicy rigatoni alla vodka is a go-to) can be enjoyed alongside beer, wine and cocktails. 

N’AMO Seafood & Raw Bar

Open in the former home of La Fin in Montauk, this gorgeous waterside restaurant embraces coastal Italian cuisine with a raw bar, whole fish entrees, and plenty of handmade seafood pastas, like dungeness crab ravioli. Boaters can take advantage of a dock and dine option, and those who want to befriend boat owners can also enjoy the patio.  

Placēbō

Following last summer’s short-lived (but very scene-y) Talya, Ruschmeyer’s newest food and bev concept is Placebo, a Puerto Rican-New American fusion restaurant, and its corresponding bar, Don Jaguar. Menu highlights include wagyu risotto paella with wild mushroom and jalapeño, scallop pot pie with Long Island sweet corn served inside the scallop shell and more. 

Montauk Beach House

Montauk is getting a taste of Mykonos, thanks to the hotel’s newest restaurant, which will complement its summertime roster of pool-side DJs, lively pool parties, rotating art program and laid back, luxe vibe. This summer’s food and bev program is all about Greek food, with salads, kebabs, seafood, a lamb burger and more fuel for partying.

Il Pellicano at Bijoux

There’s no clubstaurant like a Hamptons clubstraunt. And Mahattanites who flock to Il Pellicano to see celebs on the dancefloor will understand why the venue taking over Blu Mar/Nello’s space in Southampton is such a big deal. The front of the space will feature Il Pellicano, an Italian restaurant with a seafood-focused menu by Chef Rocco DiSpirito. The back, called Bijoux, offers a luxe bar and lounge serving craft cocktails and bottle service. Outside, daybeds and cabanas will be open all day and night, plus lawn games, if you can stand up after however many Long Island iced teas. 

Farm and Forage

There’s no such thing as too many specialty markets out here, and this lovely new space in Southampton is a great addition. Featuring organic vegetables from local farms, local seafood, North Fork sustainable meats, and foraged foods from The East End, this gourmet shop is a food lover’s dream. Chef Anna Lembo also offers prepared dishes, like organic chicken fingers, kale Caesar salad, sandwiches, pastas and more. 

Windmill Lane Bakery

A new plant-based concept, one of few out east, is opening in Southampton. The Bakery at 17 Windmill Lane will offer a rotating menu of picnic-ready items, prepared foods and treats.

* This article was originally published here

Since late 2019, photography museum Fotografiska has played host to amazing photography, art and culture exhibits inside an exquisite building in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. Unfortunately, though, although the historic structure may wow from the outside, it doesn’t seem to be working for the kinds of expansive photography exhibitions museum leaders want to showcase.

That’s why Fotografiska is closing its doors on September 29 and looking for a new home in New York City, museum officials confirmed to Time Out New York today. The staff will mount two final exhibitions at 281 Park Avenue South—one featuring works by Vivian Maier and another of Bruce Gilden photographs. 

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The venue’s Verōnika restaurant and Chapel Bar will also close in mid-June. Although Fotografiska’s new location will include a food and beverage program, officials said in a press release, it is unclear whether the same destinations will re-open at the new premise. 

Over the past five years—even as a pandemic swept through the world—the museum saw strong ticket sales and a highly-engaged membership base when setting up 48 exhibitions. That’s hopefully going to stay the same, and more, with an expanded gallery space in response to ambitious visions from artists. 

It’s become clear that our current space is not conducive to this vision.

“At the core of Fotografiska is a dedication to inspiring new perspectives by amplifying some of the greatest artists of our time,” said Yoram Roth, Executive Chairman of the Fotografiska Board, in a press release. “As it’s become clear that our current space is not conducive to this vision, our commitment to the city’s art scene remains unwavering.”

The building’s walls are only nine feet high, as compared to 12-foot walls at Fotografiska’s sister sites in Berlin, Shanghai, Stockholm, and Tallinn, as Artnet reported. That limits what the museum can show, and it’s even halted some projects by big names, the site reported.

“Our focus moving forward will be museum operations, upcoming projects in our current and temporary locations, and managing our relocation,” a representative told Artnet. “Unfortunately, this does mean a reduction down to a core team over the next few months.”

As an institution, Fotografiska was founded in Stockholm in 2010, and it’s expanded from there. Its mission is to create “a destination to discover world-class photography, eclectic programming, elevated dining, and surprising new perspectives.”

Despite its limited space in New York City, it’s managed to achieve that goal here. The museum featured the first lifetime retrospective in the US of David LaChapelle’s work, introduced Daniel Arsham’s photography work, and premiered Andres Serrano’s Infamous series. The museum also mounted exhibitions of New York City based artists such as Kia LaBeija, Adrienne Raquel, Martin Schoeller, Pixy Liao, and Ethan James Green.

Plus, it celebrated 50 years of hip-hop with a sprawling exhibition in partnership with Mass Appeal. It also adorably featured more than 100 photos exploring the unbreakable bond between humans and their pets.

Before the museum closes its doors at this location, don’t miss its Vivian Maier show, running from  May 31 to September 29, and its show on legendary street photographer Bruce Gilden, running from June 21 to September 29. A new exhibition documenting 100 years of nightlife in New York City will be  presented in a temporary location following the closure of 281 Park Ave. South.

This news comes after The Rubin Museum of Art announced the closure of its physical space as of October 6, instead going for decentralized model. 

* This article was originally published here