New York: Introduction: What's New: Spring 2008 Update for New York

Spring 2008 Update for New York

Some of our favorite new discoveries:

WHERE TO STAY

HIP: Guests of Robert de Niro’s brand-new Greenwich Hotel enjoy instant insider status: they are the only ones who have access to the pretty courtyard, the spa and the romantic subterranean pool. Everyone else needs an invitation.

BUSINESS: Gild Hall, the latest offering from the Thompson Hotel Group (think 60 Thompson and the Gaige House in Sonoma) is centrally located in the heart of the financial district. Stay posted for Todd English new gastro-pub adjacent to Gild Hall.

GRAND: The much anticipated overhaul of the Plaza is complete but our editor is less than charmed by the outcome.

WHERE TO EAT

BIG NIGHT OUT: With Alain Ducasse decamped to the St. Regis with Adour, the Essex House opened South Gate, a modern and refined place helmed by a former chef of Eleven Madison Park and designed by the masterful Tony Chi, who also created Spoon in Hong Kong.

GLOBAL CUISINE: Alain Ducasse has brought Paris’s legendary Benoit bistro to town. Its private dining room is the one to take over for a party.

GLOBAL CUISINE: Perfect for a pre-performance nibble, Bar Boulud, located near Lincoln Center, serves up a menu of French classics and the city’s best charcuterie (Boulud brought over legendary French charcuterie chef Sylvain Gasdon for his newest venture).

RELAXED AND REFINED: Robert De Niro has brought Ago, the Tuscan eatery that has long been a favorite in L.A. and Miami to Tribeca. More than 200 reservations are being turned down a day.

WHERE TO SHOP

BEAUTY: The new U.S. flagship boutique in SoHo of London’s Space NK a simple-chic lay-out, with products neatly assembled on white tables and well-lit glass shelves, but it’s the knowledgeable aestheticians who provide customized skin and makeup solutions.

BOOKS & PAPER: Design aficionados mourned the loss of Archivia, when it closed its doors on Madison Avenue a few years ago. A new, sleeker version sells a seductive selection of new and vintage titles and hosts fun author events.

FASHION & ACCESSORIES: In search of that perfect bikini and beach cover-up? Head to new Upper East Side boutique Inca, where in-store seamstress are ready to take your measurements and create custom suits if you can’t find a flattering fit in the inspired collection (Salma Hayek and Halle Berry are fans).

MARKETS: Newly opened and already a huge success, Brooklyn Flea, the largest outdoor flea market in New York City, is drawing crowds of antiques and bargain hunters who are—gasp– willing to leave the island and head to Fort Greene on Sundays.

WHAT TO KNOW

GUIDES & TOUR OPERATORS: Even die-hard New York insiders can learn more about the city on the fascinating, scholar-led walks offered by Context Travel. Programs, many of which are geared towards kids, include an insider look at Chelsea’s art galleries, a path walk through Jackson Heights and an exploration of lower Manhattan’s archeology.