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From performing at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall and the King’s Coronation Concert to amassing over 1 billion streams and collaborating with fashion houses Miyake and Hugo Boss, Alexis Ffrench has made significant strides in both music and pop culture. This holiday season, you can catch the extraordinarily gifted UK-based artist, who brought you the gold selling hit ‘Bluebird’, at a festive Candlelight concert.

Taking place at St Ann & The Holy Trinity Church, Ffrench will be playing Christmas Classics reimagined plus his own ever popular hits. But whether it’s listening to “Silent Night” or “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, hearing these moving melodies is not just about listening to nostalgic music. It’s about witnessing the passion of an artist who pours his heart into every note, enhanced by the splendor of thousands of twinkling candles. Make this December one to remember.

Candlelight: Christmas Piano with Alexis Ffrench

After the release of his album Evolution in 2018, Alexis Ffrench quickly became a rising star in the music world. By combining classical elegance with modern flair, he’s got a succession of classical number 1 albums. His performances are renowned for their emotional depth and improvisation, making each concert a unique experience enveloped in an intimate atmosphere. His ability to connect with audiences will only be strengthened by the concert series’ trademark sea of candles which add an extra layer of magic to the much-awaited singular performance.

Coming to St Ann & The Holy Trinity Church this December, this Candlelight piano concert will take you through iconic holiday songs, from “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” to “The First Noël”, recreated with a modern twist by the acclaimed British artist. Additionally, Ffrench will give you a taste of some of his most beloved original songs, including “Once”, “The Way It Was” and “Bluebird”. Watch Alexis Ffrench live this December at this edition of Candlelight Original sessions.

Candlelight is known for its unique and creative tributes to iconic artists across genres and generations. This holiday season, it’s partnering up with one of the greatest living pianists in the world for a one-time performance that should not be missed.

The concert is set to illuminate St Ann & The Holy Trinity Church on December 13 and to accommodate all the guests’ needs, there will be two back-to-back shows at 6:30pm and 9:00pm.

The post Catch Alexis Ffrench At The Upcoming Candlelight Original Sessions This Holiday Season appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

The New York City Marathon brings thousands of runners and their fans together to the five boroughs annually. 

This year, though, things will look slightly different as one much anticipated part of the coveted event will be scrapped. For the first time in decades, the city is closing off the 26-mile long marathon route to cyclists on the morning of the event, which takes place on Sunday, November 3. That is to say: you will not be able to ride along the runners while on your bike during the marathon.

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Riding your bike along a closed-off route through all the boroughs has been a beloved tradition of the marathon that hardcore cyclists look forward to each year. On a regular day, it’s pretty tricky to safely navigate much of the city on a bike, considering that we have some of the most aggressive drivers out there and not all neighborhoods offer dedicated lanes.

The reason for the bike rider ban? Safety concerns raised by volunteers from New York Road Runners, who have pointed out that runners have been hit by cyclists in the past. 

“The New York City Department of Transportation will close streets along the course so that delivery trucks, ambulances, and New York Road Runners staff and volunteers can safely set up medical tents and water stations,” New York City Marathon posted on X. “Anyone attempting to ride anywhere on the course ahead of the marathon—starting in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn—will be diverted and removed by authorities.” 

Many New Yorkers were clearly not happy about the news. 

“Another big L for NYC,” commented one X user under the statement. 

“I remember biking the closed streets from Bay Ridge to Central Park at 6am on marathon day,” another user wrote. “Will definitely miss being able to do that.” 

Although we’re sad about the end of the tradition, we are all for it: safety is always our priority.

* This article was originally published here

It’s a fact: Andrew Tarlow has been behind some of Brooklyn’s most beloved restaurants. Diner, housed in a revamped 90-year-old Pullman dining car, spins seasonal specialties under the Williamsburg bridge. Another hit right around the corner, Marlow & Sons, is a laid-back, all-day neighborhood spot with grab-and-go in the morning and natty wines and cocktails in the evening. And we don’t have to tell you about the committed customers of She Wolf Bakery—the never-ending line at each and every farmer’s market does that for us. After a 10-year gap, Tarlow is back with his latest. But this time, he traveled across the bridge, opening up in Manhattan for the first time.

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Bringing a continental trattoria to Nomad comes the latest from Tarlow: Borgo. Once he happened upon the former I Trulli location, which stood for 25 years, he knew he found something special.

“It’s my dream restaurant,” Tarlow said in a press release. “We’ve been wanting to build something new for a long time, to apply and refine everything we’ve learned and experienced on a new level, and to celebrate our particular style and love for food, wine and hospitality with a broader audience. We waited patiently but eagerly for the right opportunity, and when I walked in here I knew this was it.”

His latest follows the philosophy of his other restaurants, producer and grower-focused with local ingredients taking the wheel. Except this time, the cuisine is Italian and much of it leans on the wood-fired oven. The Focaccia Borgo rises in the oven, while the chicken with celery root and marsala and the whole branzino cook and get that noted char. One of the most popular dishes comes the drum-shaped Timballo di Anelletti, also kissed by the oven. A layered dish filled with anelleti noodles, braised beef cheek and bechamel, the pasta dish is draped in ricotta salata. But just like many other of Tarlow’s restaurants, vegetables reign supreme as the shareable Chicories salad and marinated artichokes with hunks of buffalo mozzarella stand all their own.

All can be enjoyed at the marble bar for a casual fete, at one of the many white tablecloth tables or on the verdant back patio. Don’t forget—besides a solid natural wine list, martinis here are shaken served tableside. Order yours and let the luxury come to you.

* This article was originally published here

Even if you wouldn’t recognize him on the sidewalk, you probably know Nicolas Heller, also known as New York Nico. At the very least, you know his work. More than a million people follow his eponymous Instagram account where he chronicles the characters of New York City: Parade-goers, subway riders, basketball players, shopkeepers, cosplayers, cyclists, runners, comedians and everybody else living their life in the city. 

As his videos amassed a following over the years, Heller often fielded questions from both locals and tourists about what they should do in New York City. Now, he’s written a 226-page book to answer those questions. New York Nico’s Guide to NYC explores the five boroughs with recommendations from the native New Yorker himself. It’s out in bookstores tomorrow, October 22, with a suite of launch events to follow.

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Though it’s wise not to judge a book by its cover, this book’s cover is stunning—and so are the pages inside. With its Where’s Waldo-esque cast of characters and places, this fictional book jacket scene blends the city’s neighborhoods into an image that captures the controlled chaos that is New York City. Inside, the pages are packed with maps, illustrations, photos, tips, and a checklist called “The Nico 100.” For his debut book, Heller worked with Jeremy Cohen on the photography; Chris Wilson for illustration; and collaborated with Jason Diamond for writing. 

You’re not going to find the Empire State Building or Times Square in this non-traditional guidebook. Instead, you’ll find places like La Sirena Mexican Folk Art; Lexington Candy Shop; Toy Tokyo; Cloudy Donut; Cuts & Slices; The Lemon Ice King of Corona; Ajo y Oregano; and Holtermann’s Bakery. 

“A lot of people have been asking me, what sets this guide apart from other guides? And the best answer I can give them is: It’s my guidebook. It’s not like the spots you need to go to,” he tells Time Out New York. “These are my favorite spots. … If you enjoy my POV on New York, then you’ll enjoy this book.”

Even if you don’t follow along with @newyorknico (and if not, what are you waiting for?), the book offers 100 excellent recommendations from a New York expert of 35 years. Heller grew up in Manhattan, left briefly for film school in Boston, then tried out Los Angeles. He made it six months before packing up to return to his hometown where he’s lived ever since. Even that short time away helped the filmmaker see his city in a new light. 

“If I hadn’t experienced that, I wouldn’t have come back to New York and found this newfound appreciation for the city I was born and raised in.”

While sitting in Union Square one day in 2013 while feeling a bit low shortly after returning to the city, he noticed a man with a sign that read “The 6’7″ Jew Will Freestyle Rap and Heal You Too.” Heller said he wouldn’t normally talk to a stranger, but he felt compelled to do so. They hit it off, and Heller ended up making his first documentary about this person. That became a springboard to creating other documentary films on YouTube and eventually Instagram.

As the pandemic struck, it changed everything for his typical work, which involved talking to people on the street. In the early days of the pandemic, he hosted an NYC accent contest virtually on Instagram, then a best NYC T-shirt contest and a best NYC photo contest all to raise money for charitable organizations. 

When business was struggling at Army & Navy Bags on Houston Street, Heller created a video about the store’s owner, Henry, along with a call for donations. Within a day, people donated $50,000. 

“The power of social media and especially during this time, so many people wanted to help. I felt like it was my duty to help support these businesses by amplifying their stories,” Heller says. “Doing my best to support these business and helping them stay afloat. I couldn’t have done it without the people who wanted to support them—and it wasn’t just New Yorkers, it was people from all over the world.”

The book grew from that concept of spotlighting local businesses and the people who make them possible. 

This book is a way to cement their place in New York history. 

“This book is a way to cement their place in New York history,” Heller says. “Ten years from now, you never know how many of these businesses will still be in the book. The book is meant to be an artifact. Something that you can look at 20 years from now and remember this time in New York history.”

Heller continues to explore the city as its so-called “unofficial talent scout.” As he walks and bikes the boroughs (up to 100 miles/week in the summer!), he stays alert for the characters, charming corners, and quirks of the city. 

“In New York, you’re constantly discovering spots,” Heller says. “Hopefully that lends itself to part two of this book.” 

New York Nico’s Guide to NYC launch events 

• Book launch: October 25 at Shopify NY, 131 Greene Street in Manhattan 
• Book event at Greenlight Bookstore: October 28, 686 Fulton Street in Brooklyn, Nicolas Heller “New York Nico” with Jason Diamond
• Signing at Casa Magazine: November 9, 22 8th Avenue in Manhattan
• Signing at Cloudy Donut Co.: November 10, 14 Columbia Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11201

* This article was originally published here