New is the new New

The new New Museum is finally open, surrounded by an amount of buzz that is surprising since many young New Yorkers don't even seem to know about the old New Museum. Seeking to join the ranks of destination museums, the Japanese architecture duo SANAA has designed a structure of stacked boxes sheathed in aluminium; though jarring and edgy in itself, it actually fits rather well into the haphazard landscape of the Bowery, and is elegantly lit in the evenings. The interior of the museum is a lot more minimal, with whitewashed galleries that evoke warehouse lofts. This is perfectly suited to its current display of contemporary sculptures - the first part of 'Unmonumental', a clever concept about "fragmented forms, torn pictures and clashing sounds" that will continue to evolve with exhibits of collages, sounds and Internet-based art in 2008. As with all modern/abstract art, I found some works to be obtuse or even redundant, some to be interesting but not moving, and a very few to actually combine beauty, intelligence and emotion (Isa Genzken's Elephant above, and Elliot Hundley's ethereal collages); nonetheless this is definitely a worthwhile visit.

The New Museum is at 235 Bowery btwn Houston and Prince.

Atonement

Atonement isn't a perfect movie, but it is a haunting one. It begins on the luminously filmed grounds of a 1930s English estate, travels through the grimness of war-torn Europe five years later, and ends with a heartbreaking revelation in the present. James Macavoy is so soulful and charming as Robbie (*swoon*) that you really do feel the wrenching tragedy of promise cut short by a lie; yet the young girl who plays his accuser is both so precocious and vulnerable that we can find sympathy for the way she mistakenly perceives events to cause horrific consequences. Every scene is exquisitely styled and shot, and Keira Knightley is so glamorously beautiful that I have no doubt her wardrobe will be copied at every Zara and H&M. But the flipside is that the posing sometimes diminishes the intensity of emotions that the story and actors arouse. Nonetheless, as someone who hasn't even read the book, I was swept away by this experience.

Smith's, NYC

The culinary gods seem to be smiling on me, as I had yet another fantastic experience at new restaurant Smith's. Despite its somewhat grungy location in Greenwich Village, Smith's transports you with an elegantly chic atmosphere which is meant to evoke an old railway car. Intimate booths, mirrored ceiling panels, and a bar cleverly tucked in the back instead of pushed up against dining tables are some of the lovely touches. The Grilled Lobster with butternut squash and lobster consommé sounded so delicious both of my friends ordered it, while for variety I chose the Pork Chop with braised pork cheeks. Everything tasted wonderful, and an appetizer of artichoke pasta perfumed with truffle oil was also memorable. Desserts were quickly devoured. The restaurant gets pretty full but reservations are not impossible.

79 MacDougal St btwn Houston and Bleecker

Kingswood, New York

I used to live around the corner and now I wish I still did... just so I can come here more often! I have dropped by for drinks late at night, and had a light dinner here recently as well. The Aussie-ish food and cocktails are pretty good overall, with a standout being the crab linguine - heaping amounts of crabmeat garnished with cherry tomatoes and a bit of chili, so delicious. The space is beautiful, with a lot of 'garden' elements and golden-hued lighting. The scene is reminiscent of what Stanton Social used to be - attractive without being too pretentious, trendy but not young - and the bar itself is fun to hang out at. Kingswood has that rare combination of great atmosphere, enjoyable food and reasonable (though not cheap) prices.

121 West 10 St, btwn Sixth and Greenwich Ave

Forceful Entertainment

I think New York Times was spot-on in describing this as "theater for people who don't really like theater." Newbies will probably find Fuerzabruta exhilarating; even if you've seen De La Guarda (the same creators), this show may not be a revelation, but it is nonetheless enjoyably uplifting. The name means "brute force" and there are indeed several takes on that idea, through running, falling or stomping performers. But there are also lovely moments of grace, particularly when the audience views playful watery 'creatures', through the see-through bottom of an enormous pool, dancing and splashing around. The fantastical segments sometimes feel like the climaxes of several different and exotic movies, and the heady beats spun by the live DJ kept us on that high even after the lights came on.

You can get discount tickets to Fuerzabruta here.

Spitzer's Corner, NYC

We wandered into Spitzer's while looking for a civilized yet casual spot for drinks in the LES... not an easy task. Currently, Spitzer's has all its large windows appealingly thrown open to expose a cozy interior of wood furniture and flattering lighting. Those feeling friendly can share communal tables with other hipsters, but there are also private tables available. I'd only heard Spitzer's discussed as a restaurant, so I was surprised by its vast and excellent selection of draught beers, both foreign (Delirium and Leffe) as well as American artisanal (Smuttynose and Dogfish); there are also more beers by the bottle. Our waiter offered a complimentary taste of their gelato, which unfortunately had a strange chewy texture. Nonetheless, it was a pleasantly airy experience - not only in terms of the weather, but the place is currently lively without being elbow-in-your-face crowded. Go soon before things change!

Spitzer's Corner is at the corner of Rivington and Orchard St

Mercat, NYC

Cost: $53 incl. wine
Overall: Another Spanish winner!

Despite the glut of tapas invading Manhattan this year, Tia Pol has remained my fave Spanish spot... but Mercat now makes that a tougher choice. Surprisingly, it was fully booked on a Wednesday night - luckily we went there early, because the only way they would seat two people was if we agreed to vacate for their 9pm reservation (they suggested this politely though). The rustic-sexy feel of the space is reflected in the food - mushrooms with a runny egg and shoestring fries, marinated razor clams, meltingly tender pork belly. Everything was addictively good, and even the simple pan amb tomaquet (garlic-tomato toast) was amazingly flavorful. I didn't try the desserts this time, but I'm sure I'll be back again!

Mercat is at 45 Bond St, btwn Bowery and Lafayette

Thomas Paul Overload

I have always been a huge fan of Thomas Paul, but how many pillows can one have at home? I truly rejoiced to find out that the brand's distinctively charming prints are now available on a range of products, from rugs to stationery to tote bags. The vintage-y graphics, chic color combos and ridiculously reasonable prices are addictive! Buy selected products at Velocity Art and Design or See Jane Work, unless you just want to ooh and aah over the entire collection at the Thomaspaul website.

Recycling In The Name Of Shopping!

Through August 19th, bring in any pair of old jeans (in wearable condition!) to a Barney's CO-OP location and get 20% off a new pair of their designer denim! This offer is good for both boys and girls... your old stuff gets donated to the national Big Brothers Big Sisters program. For more information check it out here. Now only if they would do the same for handbags... or shoes...

2 Days Before Sunrise In Paris

Liked Before Sunrise, but wish it had less insight, more snark? Sunrise's beautiful French star Julie Delpy answers these prayers in her writing-directing debut, 2 Days In Paris. The movie is clever and light-hearted with several laugh-out loud moments, many courtesy of Adam Goldberg – not a typical dreamboat, but nailing his depiction of an artsy-cool dude from NYC. Delpy plays Marion, who brings her New York boyfriend to Paris to meet with family, friends and many, many ex-boyfriends. While it doesn't say much about relationships (or anything else) that feels truly new, a cross-cultural comedy of manners seems timely, and the raunchy, un-PC humor can be enjoyed by both guys and girls.