Konstantina
Loves New York

“My” love for New York is of course unique to me and is tied to my birth in the jewelry industry.

My first  retail account was Saks Fifth Avenue and I was still in school when I schmoozed the lobby guards to let me go up the elevator to the Saks offices on 5th and 49th to get the attention of the jewelry buyer. He did not see me that day, but he did see me, obviously, because I got the account by Christmas. That visit was September 2005. And so many appointments, with Vogue, with Instyle, with Harper’s Bazaar, Bergdorf’s, Barney’s, clients, friends, PR firms, Esquire, people I met from around the world and reconnected with there. So many visits to see art at The Met, MOMA, The Fritz Gallery, to parties, to dinners, The Tibet Fund. I stayed in New York for three months and lived in this huge apartment on the Upper West Side, on 83rd and the West Side Highway one Christmas with this couple who had no kids. I was their adopted daughter for that time, so I ran the business, sort of, from their living room and was out networking and in appointments all day and out at night. It was great and exhausting. And my business suffered! Why I decided I could not live in New York after that, but instead have a long distance relationship with lots of visits :) 

I’m going to set my New York up by NY neighborhoods. I am not a New Yorker in that I will go all over the city on any given day. I don’t mind, whereas true, old school New Yorkers are very territorial and usually stay close to home and frequent the same restaurants, bars and cleaners week after week. It’s weird to someone from out of town, but for them it’s an OUTING to go to the Village if they live on the Upper East Side.

UPPER EAST SIDE - To Do

The Met

A staple. I have been there after hours when its empty and that  was pretty magical. I’ve been to a private exhibition on the rooftop...which was a lifetime experience and had my portrait sketched by an artist who saw me and convinced me to sit for a hour in an off the beat corner of the Egyptian Hall. I love their dining room on the top floor with it’s view over Central Park and there aren’t enough words for the hours of pleasure and how those pieces have changed my mind, wandering through the galleries.

Walking: 

Cross through Central Park from The Met to Fifth Ave, Park Ave or Madison Ave and take them all the way down to Central Station which is on 42nd. The Met is on ( if you want to hit the front doors ) 82nd and 5 th Ave. If you took the Park Ave route, cross over to 5th and see the New York Library. The Empire State Building is close by but I’m not a huge fan. The Chrysler building is more beautiful.

SoHo

Start on 11th and 12 and walk the Highline, to The Standard Hotel, down the stairs and through the Meatpacking to Tribeca. Really.

Central Park

Of course. All over, all around. Have a hot dog or ice cream on your way.  The Lake, The Mall, Shakespeare's Garden, The Reservoir.

UPPER EAST SIDE - To Eat

Sant Ambroeus

Madison Ave. Very trendy and expensive if you want to hang out with Woody Allen and Upper East Side socialites and models. There is a location in the Village now, too.

Fred’s

At the top of Barney’s for lunch or Sunday brunch. Very good.

Philippe Chow

For amazing Asian.

Orsay

Very good, classic French bistro fare.

Cafe Des Artistes

Midtown westside, close to shopping, theatre and Central Park. Great Italian, classic and like family.

Da Silvano

Intimate, cozy , delicious and a Soho standard.

Balthazar

The New York version of a very classic, loud, fun, cool French bistro/ cancan venue.

Nobu 

This is DeNiro’s and it is AWESOME Japanese. Now in Vegas too:)  

Mr Chow

The original best Chinese restaurant ever ( I’ve been to the London, LA and Miami  locations as well. My opinion still stands:)

Rao’s

You need to have an “in’ or clout, but the secret here is to go through the kitchen to the back patio.

La Esquina

Looks like an old, classic dining car that seats 20 people, but the receptionist will take you through a small door, down the stairs into a candle lit basement. Very cool. Still. Food is pretty good Mexican but they got the cool factor dead on.