To much anticipated fanfare, Nordstrom’s has finally come to Manhattan albeit a Nordstrom Rack. The store occupies 32,000 square feet once occupied by Virgin Records at Union Square.

If you are a bargain shopper, Nordstrom Rack is for you, especially if you are looking for designer duds at discounted prices.

Nordstrom Rack sells clothing, shoes and accessories at 50-60% off the original price and carries many of the same brands as the regular Nordstrom stores. There seemed to be a gazillion racks of shoes and handbags. The best part about shopping at Nordstrom Rack is that they offer on-site tailoring, quite a plus for a discount store.

If you are in the mood for some bargain shopping and have the patience, head to Nordstrom Rack.

1 Union Square South
Subway: 4, 5, 6, N, R, Q, W to 14th Street

Wined Up bar and restaurant, located in the Flatiron district offers a fun and cool place to stop in for a drink or have a casual meal.

You might think you are in the wrong place or at best on a questionable mission to parts unknown as you walk up the steep stairs, passing the entrance to Punch restaurant.  But as you push through the heavy, velvet Harry Potteresque curtains, you will ultimately end up at Wined Up.

The curtains open up into a beautifully decorated area where you will be seated at a marble bar located in the back of the restaurant. I have only been the bar during the week and think that while there was room at the bar or room to stand, on busy nights, it probably is crowded and will seem like a small space for drinks.

The dining room faces the front as you would expect, is quite spacious, unlike other restaurants where you are literally sitting on top of one another.  One entire wall is lined with bottles of wine giving the room a very open and elegant effect.

I have been to Wined Up on several occasions both for drinks and dinner.

The Bar – While they offer wine by the glass, I would definitely recommend getting a bottle with friends as the pricing is so much better. Wine by the glass will run you $9 – $14. The wine selection  ranges from Riojas to Chilean wines. We enjoyed a delightful Rioja and a Malbec on the day that we went. The bartenders are always friendly and are more than happy to answer all your questions about the wine list.

The Restaurant – The variety of foods on the menu is sure to please, whether you are there for drinks and appetizers or low-key dinner with friends.

The appetizer menu includes an incredible cheese selection from the United States, France, Italy and Spain. There are cheeses on the menu that I had never heard of but the server will be able to walk you through all the different choices and help you pair them with your wine selection. Since we had just come for appetizers, we tried everything and were quite happy. Don’t forget to ask for more bread, there is definitely not enough bread for the cheese.  If you are into pizza, think about adding pizza along with your cheese appetizer options.  There is your basic pizza margherita along with unusual topped pizzas like truffled tomato (yummy.)

For dinner, there is a range of options that is sure to appeal all of your friends and even kids. The menu ranges from salad to pasta to steak. My friend and I, were feeling rather carnivorous the day we went to Wined Up. She ordered a hamburger while I opted for the cast iron hanger steak with spicy fries. The steak was just perfect. The portion size was generous enough to walk away with a doggy bag. The average entrees range from $13 – $20 which is pretty average for New York City.

So if you are wandering around Union Square or Madison Square, head “up” to Wined Up.

Again don’t be confused by the location,  you have to enter a doorway that is the same entrance to Punch restaurant but for you to get to Wined Up, you need to climb up the stairs to the second floor.

Location: Wined Up

913 Broadway between 20th and 21st Streets

Reservations: 212-673-6333

When I first arrived at Omni Wellness I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve never received acupuncture before. I went based on a referral and had an open mind with only one ingrained misconception: all my ailments would be cured at once after being stuck with a million needles. Misconceptions or not, my experience at Omni was a truly rewarding experience.

Plus #1: My health insurance covered my visit, but they clearly stated their willingness to work with me within my budget had it not.

Plus #2: Omni Wellness is conveniently located in at 928 Broadway between 21 and 22nd streets, easily accessible by all forms of public transportation.

Plus #3: Unless you’re a student of Chinese medicine the terminology of acupuncture can be intimidating or downright ridiculous. The acupuncturists on staff (independent practitioners who lease space on site) do a really great job of gauging the knowledge of their clients and communicating with them and to them at their level. Not once during my time there did I feel like I was being fed a bunch of mumbo jumbo.

Plus #4: Omni’s offices were clean, minimalistic and invited you to relax. The lights were low, but not so much that you had to squint in order to see your way around.

Plus #5: The consultation. My acupuncturist, Seanna Sifflet, Lac, LMSW, an amazing and very reassuring person, spoke with me at length about all that ailed me, stressed me, and all that didn’t. This happened before I received my first needle. It was an experience that cleared my head and would’ve erased any unease had I had any prior to receiving treatment.

40 minutes later I emerged from my mini-vacation feeling as if I had been taken away from it all, if only for a little while. I was given my prescription: drink plenty of water and get a good night’s rest. I made an appointment for my next visit and extended my hand for the customary shake. This was promptly dismissed by Seanna who instead gave me a hug. I can’t say I’ve ever been hugged at the doctor’s office, but strangely enough this felt pretty natural. Within two days all but one ailment remained after my treatment. If I wasn’t a full believer before, I definitely am now.

Omni Wellness’ amenities don’t stop at acupuncture. They also have chiropractic, skincare and massage services, rounding out an entire menu of care. If you plan your day accordingly I’m sure you could make a day of it. But unless someone is there to take you home you may not have the desire to ever leave.

Omni Wellness. Wholistic care — and a hug.

Omni Wellness
928 Broadway, Suite 1200
New York, NY 10010
Between (21st / 22nd)
Telephone: 212-777-1318
E-mail: omninyc@gmail.com

Tony Award-nominee John Tartaglia starred in the acclaimed musical Avenue Q, appeared on Broadway in Shrek: the Musical and created and starred in The Playhouse Disney series Johnny and the Sprites.  Now he presents John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean.

A one-of-a-kind, interactive show, John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean is a magical, musical undersea adventure for kids of all ages.  Tank, Bubbles, and Dorsel are three best friends who just happen to be fish, and they’re about to set out on a remarkable journey of discovery.

Jam-packed with original music ranging from swing to R&B to Big Band, John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean is a blast—from the first big splash to the last wave goodbye.

NYMetropolista is giving away two (2) tickets to one lucky winner to this spectacular, fun-filled show! Tickets are valid May 23 to June 30 performances.

To Enter:

1) Leave a comment expressing your interest in the giveaway

2) Tweet about the giveaway and remember to @NYMetropolista

3) Join our FaceBook Fan Page

Winner will be chosen end of day Tuesday, May 4 2010.

For more information visit http://www.imaginoceanthemusical.com

Performances at New World Stages, Stage 5, 340 West 50th St., NYC

By now you’re all pretty familiar with my love of Central Park.  It really is a happy medium for city-loving tree-huggers like me.  Just the other day, a friend and I decided to take our little ones to the Central Park Zoo and had a truly wonderful time.  You would be surprised at all there is to experience in such a small zoo.  Here were some of our favorite experiences:

The Sea Lion Pool:  Those Sea Lions are some serious Show-offs!  Not only do they enjoy doing their tricks during feeding time with their trainers (which happens at 11:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.), but even when the show is over you can catch them hamming it up for onlookers.  At one point, one of the Sea Lions came up through the water, basked against the rocks, and stared at us with a very knowing look, ”You love me; you know you do.”

The Rainforest: My son clamored to see the snakes from the moment we entered the zoo (boy-oh-boy will he be disappointed if he thinks that he will ever get one as a pet), and the Rainforest exhibit had plenty of snakes for the viewing.  Large ones, small ones, even a pretty pink one with delicate gray streaks, all behind double-reinforced glass (thank you very much).  There were also Piranhas and other Rainforest creatures to enjoy seeing as well at that exhibit.

The Polar Circle:  On a hot day, the Polar Circle is the place to be.  Seeing the giant Polar Bears is exciting; then you get to go inside the chilly Penguin and Puffin exhibit, which will surely be a refreshing moment after having the hot sun beat down on you.  The great thing about the Penguins is that they are super friendly, and will swim right up to you on the other side of the glass to say hello!  I personally delighted in putting my nose against the glass and having Penguin after Penguin come over and rub their beak on the other side of the glass.  So amazing!

Besides these great favorites of ours, there are Monkeys and Red Pandas to be seen, Snow Leopards, many different kinds of birds, and the very best part, the Tisch Children’s Zoo.  There is no way you could have gotten me to feed a Llama as a kid, but my brave little two and a half year old fed the Llama, some goats, and some sheep.  After seeing him do it, I felt deeply ashamed of myself and mustered up the courage to feed them myself.  The animals are so very gentle!  They use their tiny little lips to pull in the food, never once using their teeth to get the food from people’s hands.  It was truly a wonderful experience.

All in all, the Central Park Zoo is a great way to spend a few hours with the family.  You’ll be amazed at all you can experience in such a small zoo, and the memories will last for a long, long time.

A few months back when my wife came to the dinner table excited about the opportunity of a suite for a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden I wasn’t ungrateful, but I was hardly enthused. As a native Chicagoan who’s heart is forever rooted, and maybe even stuck, in the Bulls Dynasty of the nineties I’ve only been excited to watch the Knicks lose. My enthusiasm cooled even more when at the last minute, my teenage son couldn’t attend due to a conflict with his schedule and opted not to invite any of his friends.

Stuck with the unfortunate prospect of my wife’s employee perk going to waste I was charged with the task preventing it.  On the fly, I began inviting friends and friends with family and in no time we had a party.

Being an MSG Suiteholder comes at a premium, but with it comes premium amenities that you’ll never get simply sitting in the stands.  There is a Club entrance, separate and apart from general admission that is staffed by courteous and accommodating concierges willing and able to cater to your needs, such as setting tickets aside for late-comers in your group. Private elevator service whisks you to the suite level high above the nosebleed seats. Amazingly the view of the court is breathtaking and not “way down there.” Our suite featured a wet bar, Wi-Fi, bar seating, a private restroom, and three rows of stadium seating to easily accommodate a crowd of twenty. And if you or your children are afraid of heights (or you’re afraid for your children being that high up), you can relax in knowing that the front edge of your suite features a half wall of glass to prevent the unthinkable. Maybe most important, your suite can come as you like it, stocked with food and beverages of your choosing as per MSG’s suite menu. The wait staff is on duty during the entirety of the event and just as accommodating as the concierges at the entrance. My only advice is to order your food in advance so that it’s there for you at the start of your party. No one likes to be a hungry guest.

After nearly four hours, I was surprised how much I enjoyed myself. The Knicks fans were, of course, disappointed when their team lost, but the kids had a blast doing the wave, screaming with the crowd and playing amongst themselves in a safe and secure space. The experience provided most of the adults an opportunity to catch up on old times or become acquainted for the first. All in all, there was something for everyone. And we weren’t the only ones. Many of our neighboring suites that day were filled with families. It was almost like being at a state park in the summertime but without the grass and lovely aroma of barbecue.

What I learned that day is that a suite at Madison Square Garden is good for more than just closing business deals or entertaining clients. If you’re feeling generous, want to go in with friends or simply have access consider an MSG suite when looking for something to do with friends and family. For sporting events and concerts it can be one of the hottest parties in town — tailor made to your liking.

Madison Square Garden
TheGarden.com
4 Pennsylvania Plaza
New York, New York 10001
212.465.MSG1 (6741)

Photo credit E.Payne

If you are looking for some old-fashioned Coney Island boardwalk-style fun, then look no further than Carnival brought to you by the same folks who run Bowlmor bowling lanes.

By day, the venue is kid-friendly and by night an amusing playground for adults

Carnival, a 16,000 square foot wonderland offers a dozen boardwalk games including chance dunk tank, fish pong, BB gun target shooting and basketball throw all under a huge, lit big top tent.

My daughter and I visited Carnival on a Saturday spending our time partaking in all the classic boardwalk games, even playing pool. There is nothing like Carnival in the city and it’s all contained which is great if you have children.

If you are going with your adult friends for an evening of fun and games, there is ample seating and table tops to hangout while you play the games.

Carnival also is available for birthday parties.

Carnival
110 University Place (btw. 12th & 13th Streets)
212-255-8188
CarnivalNYC.com

Laura Bennett may be best known publicly as the sophisticated clothing designer and finalist on season three of Project Runway in 2006. While NYC parents tend to share the Type-A gene in one area or another, Laura Bennett wins the gold.

Take, for example, that we all earn the ”parent” designation by having one child. Laura has six. Gold star. Many of us know how to sew on a button. Laura can sew her family clothes – from scratch. (And star in reality shows and clothe celebs too.) Gold star. Many would consider being employed in one industry as working. Laura has to decide which job she’s going to focus on that day:  architectural design, clothing design, comic strip writer, QVC saleswoman, or perhaps add book author to her list of employable skills . . . and she does it all in her signature classicly sophisticated style.  Someone please hand her a medal already!

When not selling her Laura Bennett Designs on QVC, or penning the Case Clothed comic strip for iVillage, Laura’s preparing to release her book Didn’t I Feed You Yesterday? A Mother’s Guide to Sanity in Stilettos this week. The book hits the shelves on April 6th, and I’m already contemplating what I’ll wear to her book signing at the Borders Time Warner Center Wednesday April 7th at 7 p.m.

The book  reveals a working mother’s philosophy on having a career, raising a family and enjoying life in The Big Apple. What some may consider a laissez- faire approach to parenting, others will read as a humorous and sane guide to having it all. I enjoyed reading  it: I felt more relaxed about my own parenting, and finished the book inspired to put some of my own goals higher on my to-do list. Then again, I love a book that I can relate to in parts, laugh through in others and easily breeze through for those short bursts of time that I actually have to read.

Last week I had the opportunity for a Q-and-A with Laura about parenting in NYC, and here’s what she said:

NYM: You’ve lived elsewhere, how has living in NYC affected your parenting style?

LB: Kids in New York come in contact with a lot of strangers everyday, in the subways and walking on the streets, so they have a different set of social skills than suburban kids. You have to talk a lot about the different type of people they encounter and how to handle them. In the end though, I find city kids to be tolerant and respectful of other’s circumstances.

NYM: So many couples decide to move to the suburbs after the second or third child arrives. What keeps you in the city?

LB: New York City is my lifeline. It makes me so happy to be out and about on the streets. I am afraid if I lived someplace else, I would be lost. With work and so many kids, most of my time is not my own, but the occasional hour I have to roam the garment district looking for fabric, or pop into a museum to see a mind blowing exhibit, makes that small amount of time energizing for me.

I also happen to think it is a great place to raise kids, especially teenagers because they are not driving. The biggest challenge is a financial one.

NYM: With six kids, are there NYC restaurants you visit as a family? What are your favorites to visit with your kids?

LB: Our group requires a quick in and out, before we’ve had a chance to bother any of the other guests, so we prefer diners. My kids love the classic Empire Diner on Eleventh Avenue.

NYM: In your book you mention finding your first Hermes bag at an upscale thrift shop; do you mind sharing a couple of your favorite Manhattan thrift shops you’ve visited over the years?

LB: I am a big Ebayer. You really have to be familiar with what you are buying, and if you are looking for something specific, you have to be patient, but I have yet to be disappointed. In New York my favorite store is Fisch For The Hip on 18^th Street. The second-hand Hermes bags are not cheap, but the selection is mind blowing, and if you are looking for a specific bag that they don’t have, the owner will track it down for you. She calls herself a “Bag Broker.”

NYM: You always look so fashionable, how do you handle your kids’ clothing choices? What fashion advice do you hope they take with them when they’re grown and on their own?

LB: I don’t get all up in my boys grille about what they wear. They usually look pretty scruffy, which probably makes me look good by comparison. We have a lot of hand me downs, and they seem fine with that. I do have an eight-year old son that has a suspicious interest in fashion, so he requires a bit of extra shopping, but for the most part they just find something that fits without too many holes.

NYM: You mention that there’s almost always someone playing video games in your home. Do you or your husband ever join your kids in playing? If so, which system do you like best: Playstation, XBox or Nintendo?

LB: We are definitely a Wii family. We have the system connected to a projector so the games take up an entire wall. My kids love the Resort Sports and Just Dance. I love the idea that they are not just sitting there. I actually had to build a platform for them to play on so all the jumping around wouldn’t bother our downstairs neighbor.

We used to have an XBox, but the kids were fighting in the car one day on out way back from the country and my husband put it on someone’s lawn, controllers, cords and all. Now we just have to say “XBox” and they work things out on their own. I think they fear for their cell phones. I don’t miss it at all. Some of the graphics are so realistic. I had little ones running through the room watching execution style murders. Even I draw the line there.

NYM: What do you use to accomplish everything: Blackberry, Droid or iPhone?

LB: I am so Blackberry. It makes working possible with all the running around that I do with the kids. I would probably be fine with an iPhone, I love the SAT vocabulary app, but my Blackberry works so well for me, I can’t get motivated to switch. We have an iTouch for the cool apps. I’m also counting the days until the iPad comes, but as much as I love all things Apple, I am tried and true Blackberry.

NYM: What mantra or vision gets you through stressful work/family life balance times today?

LB: I’m going to have to get cheesy on you here. I am actually so thankful for all the opportunities that I have, when I get stressed out, I just remind myself of that. I am also fortunate enough to be in a position where I don’t have to take on projects that I think I won’t enjoy. That is a major luxury.

I actually find the kids to be more stressful than work, so there I just remind myself how fast it all goes by. That little girl I moved to New York with fifteen years ago is about to graduate from college. There’s a real eye opener.

And if all that fails, a piece of Nicotine gum makes me eternally happy.

NYM: Do you ever look back on those initial “lean” years in NYC and wonder how you did it?

LB: When I was single and broke in New York I was where I wanted to be, so I was never unhappy. I didn’t grow up in a wealthy family, so I’ve always had a knack for making do, and being handy with a sewing machine got me pretty far. At the moment, I have more than I ever imagined, but I could do a financial 180 and still be happy.

New York offers tons of activities for children from museums to Broadway which are well-known but there are so many undiscovered family-friendly entertainment options. Recently, I discovered New York University’s Big Red Chair Family Series when I was looking for birthday events for my daughter. We ended up attending “Darwin“, a touching story of Darwin the Dinosaur and his encounters with flowers and pre-historic birds, acted out by cartoon-like characters only seen by their outlined lit bodies, all set to a moving and entertaining soundtrack.

While Darwin the Dinosaur, is no longer playing, there are two shows left in the 2009/ 2010 season that should prove entertaining to both children and adults.

Michael Moshen
Mr. Moshen is a juggler but not just any juggler. He combines the magic of light and movement to change your notion of juggling.
April 17 @ 7:00PM
Recommended for all ages

The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour presents Nobody’s Perfect
Based on the children’s book by Marlee Matlin and Doug Cooney, whose main character is Megan, a deaf fourth grader. Megan is at odds with a new student Alexis is who not exactly nice to her making, Megan wonder, “Does she not like me because I am deaf?” The girls discover from having to work together on a science project that “Nobody’s Perfect.”
May 8 @ 2:00PM
Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Skirball Center for the Performing Arts
566 LaGuardia Place (at Washington Square South)
212.352.3101
www.skirballcenter.nyedu

Since I moved to New York, I have been dying to get to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. According to some, it has the best Italian food in the area.

Recently, I had the opportunity to eat at one of Arthur Avenue’s landmark restaurants, Mario’s Restaurant. The Migliucci family has been cooking traditional Neopolitan dishes since 1919. The restaurant’s interior is very old school with pictures of Vesuvius and Naples scattered throughout the room with the chandeliers lend an air of old world charm.

Since there were four of us, we ordered a variety of food so we could sample the menu. We started with appetizers which included calamari, antipasti special and stuffed mushrooms followed by penne with broccoli, lasagna and veal marsala for the main courses.

So how was the food? There was just a tad bit of inconsistency across our selections, ranging from very good to fair. The anti pasti and stuffed mushrooms were very good while the
lasagna and veal marsala were fair.

Would I go back again? Yes, because the restaurant has charm, atmosphere and while the food was inconsistent, it’s worth it if you are adventurous and find yourself near Arthur avenue.

If you are planning to go, I would recommend making reservations. We arrived late Sunday afternoon which is prime family hour and had to wait for 30 minutes for a table.

Mario’s Restaurant
2342 Arthur Avenue
Bronx, NY 10458
(718)584-1188
http://www.mariosrestarthurave.com