I had such a busy and enjoyable week and now that the sun is finally out, it feels like all is right with the world again. There were lots of events and openings as everyone tries to get things on the calendar before people start leaving for the Hamptons and summer vacations. But if you are coming to the city, there will still be lots to experience and explore.

One of most exciting events this week was grand opening of the TWA Hotel at JFK airport. They actually invited me out to preview the space before it opened to the public but trying to get to JFK for a flight gives me enough anxiety so I decided to check it out from home. The developers completely renovated the iconic 1962 Eero Saarinen designed TWA terminal into a 512 room hotel with soundproof windows, Paris Café by Jean-Georges, a 200-seat restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner from an open kitchen, The Sunken Lounge, a cocktail bar operated by Gerber Group, and a Lockheed Constellation “Connie” L-1649A plane transformed into a cocktail lounge. I don’t know that I’d make a special trip out there but I do think it would be fun to have dinner before a flight and experience the golden age of travel we all miss.

Yesterday, I stopped by the Ann Mashburn and Sid Mashburn pop up at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel to see what they have new for spring and summer. As much as I love seeing the fashions and accessories, I love catching up with Ann who is the sweetest person on the planet. Sid is pretty nice too. They were laughing in every photo I took of them and I enjoyed chatting with them both. I picked up the silk tie neck blouse that put the silk blouse I was wearing to shame. The designing duo will be in New York until Saturday, May 18th and you can find all the details here. Also, Ann Mashburn has just launched her own separate Instagram account from Sid so please show her some love and follow her. They’ve also been contemplating a longer pop up in New York, preferably the Upper East Side, if there are any retail brokers reading who can make them a deal on a space.

I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve never visited the Statue of Liberty. In my defense, I moved to New York a month before 9/11 and it was closed afterward for a while. It was also closed for renovations due to damage from Superstorm Sandy. But now I have no excuse not to hop on a ferry and head over because the Statue of Liberty Museum just opened yesterday. It will include a theatre and exhibitions and also houses the original torch that stood as a beacon of light to immigrants for 100 years. It’s free to visit the Statue of Liberty but you must buy a ferry ticket that also allows you to visit Ellis Island. Who’s up for a field trip?

I had a wonderful trip to Nantucket last June and I was trying to decide if I wanted to visit again this year. The new goop MRKT pop up shop that’s open on the island until September 24, 2019 but be all the persuasion I need. It’s filled with a curated selections of her wellness products, chic fashions and accessories, and perfect hostess gifts.

The Classic Car club used to have an outpost on the Upper East Side and I still missing seeing their selections out front. If you love old cars too, Manhattan Concours will launch its first luxury car competition along the waterfront at Brookfield Place this Friday, May 17th in the late afternoon and Saturday, May 18th during the day. Lots of handsome men attend car shows as I found out in Palm Beach at the Cavallino Classic this January which is where the photo above was taken.

My friends David and Carlos are headed to London next week and as soon as I found out, I told them that they have to go to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The best part is that the entire city gets decked out in flowers including the entire facade of Annabel’s which threatens to break Instagram each spring. Definitely check it out.

Speaking of flowers, do you know about Monty Don. I found out about him last year from @decorno who posted videos of him on Instagram. Since then his programs Monty Don’s French Gardens and Monty Don’s Italian Gardens have become available on Netflix. In a world that increasingly feels like its going to hell in a hand-basket, I can count on Monty Don’s soothing voice and passion for gardens to comfort me. His shows were produced by the BBC who are the only ones making quality programing these days. He also just released a new book yesterday with photographer Derry Moore, Japanese Gardens: A Journey.

One of the most anticipated launches this spring has finally arrived. The collaboration between Marie-Louise Scio and Birkenstock named Birkenstock x Il Dolce Far Niente available on Matches. The chic color combinations and fabrics might be rethink this shoe I haven’t worn since college but they are comfortable which makes them very tempting. Get them before the sell out.

I was intrigued when I saw that actress Michelle Pfeiffer developed a perfume line called Henry Rose. I ordered the discovery set and they all smell a bit familiar but are lovely nonetheless. If you’re looking for a new scent, you should check them out.

Tonne Goodman‘s new book Point of View was released while I was in Charleston so I missed all her signings which bummed me out but I’m excited to have all her work from Vogue in one place.

I’m with the consensus that thinks this final season of Game of Thrones should be remade. It’s been the worst of all of them and probably because the production got ahead of the books and this season doesn’t follow the books because George R. R. Martin hasn’t written the last one yet. Perhaps after he does, they can come together for a movie finale that the fans deserve. But I’ll still be watching Sunday night so no one better bother me after 9:00pm.

Bon week-end !

XOXO,

HC