Hillary Davis Travels's Blog

The Limelight NYC

Imagine this.

A nightclub located in a former Episcopalian church. A disco ball disco haven for night owls and druggies. It became famous for a murder which was later depicted in a movie called Party Monster. Are you still with me? And why am I telling you this?

Because today the same Episcopalian church is home to an upscale group of shops, cafes and bars. The former spiritual sanctuary is now a shopping sanctuary, providing an intimate space for quietly grazing through small boutiques in downtown New York City.

At first it is a bit jarring. You look up and see the bones of the church ceiling and the sign of the cross here and there.

You seemingly are walking down the main aisle of the church as you enter. It is pretty and well designed, so eventually you forget where you are and settle into a shopping mode.

The shops are luxe. Petrossian caviar. 

Specialty bakeries and gourmet kitchen items.......and interesting granitas on offer.

 

You can stop in the lovely cafe for homemade sandiches and soups.

Now here is a question I am not sure you can answer. I am not particularly religious, but feel very spiritual. So why is it jarring for me as I climb the stairs past the stained glass window?

I suppose I would have really felt disoriented if I had been here in the time when it was a throbbing disco. So, onwards and upwards............

When you get to the top floor there is an exquisite view of the rose window. 

And what turned out to be my favorite spot, the Cana Wine Bar. It was small, tucked high and away, sort of romantic, and it had lovely food and an outgoing bartender. 

The reason I am introducing the idea of your visiting The Limelight is that I think it is a special and unusual destination in New York City that is especially appealing around the holidays when it is beautifully decorated and offers a quieter venue for gift shopping. 

It is off the beaten track. Not a tourist destination. It is a pleasure to navigate. And it is small enough that you can make it your own in an afternoon. 

Perhaps the sanctuary you need today simply comes in different forms. Travel sometimes makes me look at things in a totally different light. Limelight.

The Limelight Marketplace, 656 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10011

(212) 359-5600

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing Find: Cire Trudon

Travel sometimes takes me to the past. I found this store in New York City and was transported to another time.

It is the oldest candle maker in the world, so you can imagine what it was like entering their new space in Greenwich Village, an odd location for a really upscale store like this. Somehow I thought it would be better suited to Chelsea or Tribeca or even Soho. That said, I felt tremendously lucky to have found it.

"In 1643, a salesman named Claude Trudon arrives in Paris. He soon becomes the owner of a shop on Saint-Honore street thanks to a fruitful and happy marriage. Among groceries, the store also provides its customers with wax, candles for any domestic usage as well as church candles to the neighboring Saint Roch parish."

That was written in the 18th century, and the original store still exists in Paris today. The company makes candles for all the top French brands, including Hermes and Cartier. They still make the candles for the Chateau de Versailles.

As I walked in, I expected to be overwhelmed by aromas from the candles. Not a whiff. Almost all of the candles are under glass to preserve their scent until you lift the glass to smell them. 

Except of course for these beautiful tapers. 

What a treasure trove of visual treats. The color of the paneling, the wax busts, the antiques for lighting candles and displaying them.....all were from a distant past when light bulbs hadn't been thought of and candles were vital to survival as well as love.

I loved that they had so many candles lit and it was not even noon. It made a point. Candles are not just for the dark. 

These are some of the less expensive and absolutely delightful smelling candles you can find there. Most of the candles are quite pricey, however, considering that they burn at least 80 hours makes them actually reasonable. The quality and the colors and dyes and perfect fragrances all combine to make these some of the finest candles in the world. 

For instance, these pillars with individual cameos are $130. They come packed in a beautiful grey and red box with a book about the candle maker. 

The candle on the left under glass (cloche) is their signature candle. The gold coat of arms of the candle maker is on the front. It is hard to make out, but it is of a bee hive, with bees and the caption, "Bees work for God and the King." They come in a small travel size all the way up to a huge 7 pound candle. All are set in hand blown glasses from Vinci in Italy. 

My favorite? Has to be their candle scent called "Mademoiselle de la Valliere" because it is all tuberose, my favorite flower. All the scents are magnificent though and their descriptions delightful.

Carmelite sent: "The perfume of old stonewalls, in the shade of cloisters and convents, this scent of fresh and mossy stone tells us about the black and white silhouettes of sisters moving in the silence of ritual mass. Under the light of votives and psalmody, Carmelite refers to the peace of souls and eternity."

CIRE TRUDON, 78 rue de Seine, Paris   http://ciretrudon.com     http://blog.ciretrudon.com

54 Bond Street, New York, New York  

Cambridge With Sneakers

I walked by and stopped in front of this store window in Cambridge. If you can love a picture of sneakers, can it be far off to imagine that others would love the sneakers themselves?

I mean, these sneakers are illustrated like a modern day Botticelli was interpreting their beauty as an object of art. This is why I love traveling. I get to a place and am swept into visuals that are new to me. 

I was in Cambridge, intellectual capital of the Northeast. And here I was, in front of my urban museum window exhibiting a relic of our daily culture. Amazing that sneakers could be transformed into a whimsical item of an almost painterly ideal.

Then I saw the line.  A really long line.

So I had to ask the first person on line, "What are you waiting for?"

"Limited edition", he replied.

Wow, limited edition sneaks. 

I travelled across the street. The line seemed to be elongating. I wanted to keep walking now that I found Cambridge With Sneakers. Maybe the next corner would bring another unexpected surprise. 

Epilogue: Once back at my computer I read up on Concepts, the store that first caught my eye. Next trip I am going to pay them a visit. They are all about Limited Editions, by various shoe companies. So their stock is really interesting and always changing. Another thing I love about traveling. Finding new stores!

 

Harrods London: A Wee Peek

I didn't take a picture of the outside of Harrods, so I thought I could show you what it looks like with the tea tins above that have the exterior of the department store embossed on the front! It actually is so large, taking an entire block, that I am not sure my camera would have captured it all.

The food halls have been completely renovated at great cost, including repainting the original ceiling designs. And now, for a feel for the branding machine that is Harrods. I love the store, there is nothing quite as exciting and interesting in the world, but it must be said that everything that can be branded is branded.

More tins of tea....

 

And the wonderful selection of English cheeses.....

 

Ok, now this is serious branding. Water. Bottled water. Harrods on the label. It translates to approximately $45 a bottle.

Although, these are worth the splurge. Their Christmas Puddings made with Brandy.

And these lovely little pies, my favorites. Chicken and Ham Pie with Honey Mustard, Turkey Gammon and Cranberry Pie, and Chicken and Ham with Apple Chutney. Good to go!

I always get one of these Bobbie banks when I am in London for the kids I know!

Even the boxes of fruit are labeled!

Even the teddy bears........

Great service. They really understand that word.......

I mean, wouldn't you feel special having your sandwich hand carved by this gentleman in this setting? Knowing that pretty much everything in the Harrods Foods Halls tastes divine?!

Another brilliant "brand" just opened an outpost in Harrods. Perfect! 

OK, the next two pictures have nothing to do with Harrods, but they were cool and in London so I wanted to share. First, this hand dryer. You put your hands in, and they are dry and germ free. Haven't seen one in the States yet.

And this.....all over London you can just put in a coin and hop on a bike. Drop it off when you reach your destination. I loved this idea! 

Liberty Of London: A Wee Peek

 

There are a few icon department stores in London that could just not be found elsewhere. Liberty of London is one of them. From the moment you see it, the architecture and ambiance are carried on within and live on in your memory.

It used to be that you would think of Liberty and associate it with Liberty print fabrics. I am happy to say that today the brand is all about uniqueness, all about one of a kind, all about quirky and charming and all things for home and garb. Today you can even buy Liberty print Nikii sneakers. It's a different kind of Liberty, and it is one of my favorite stores. Here is a weeee peak from my last stroll through!

I always start at the top. I walk all the winding steps upwards towards the light cascading in from the roof top windows, and then gaze downwards to take in the lovely  
Tudor balconies. 

This is another "well", another part of the building. I love the way they still drape oriental rugs over the railings. So homey. And reminiscent of the old Eastern Bazar that used to be in the basement of the store when it first opened over a hundred years ago, a veritable treasure cave of oriental objets d'art.

Looking all the way down to the main floor.....

And a few favorite things I spotted. I do so love a big free-standing tub!

I fell in love with these plates, but only bought one to hang up on its own.....

And I went home with a new best friend.....!

Liberty of London, Great Marlborough Street, London W1B5AH
 

 

Travel Guide Review: Paris Made By Hand

 

Oh, you are so going to love this little paperback guide called Paris: Made by Hand: 50 Shops Where Decorators and Stylists Source the Chic & Unique.

This wonderful book is written by Australian stylist, Pia Jane Bijkerk. As a stylist, she is constantly searching for the unusual or beautiful. Paris Made By Hand is her personal treasure trove of shops and workshops she found in Paris that still make things by hand. Or of shops that stock antique hand made items. 

Even if you have traveled to Paris for years, or have lived there, you still may not know most of the artisan boutiques she conveniently lists by arrondissement. With lush photography and evocative prose, Pia totally communicates the wonder of finding these places.

   These are her words describing Le Petit Atelier De Paris,"There is a common theme among the delicate, organic-shaped vases, the glossy, free-form tartlet dishes, the tiny house sculptures, and the little alphabet letters that fill the shop-each item is made by hand on the premises."

"As a lover of flea markets, this is where I come when there is not a flea market to be found in the city---the items are unassuming, rustic, and affordable, with little chairs and tables starting at 30 euros, and bigger items, like desks and dining tables, steady at around 400 euros."

I can't wait to go back to Paris to visit these extraordinary boutiques. Thank you Pia for sharing!

Paris: Made by Hand: 50 Shops Where Decorators and Stylists Source the Chic & Unique by Pia Jane Bijkerk

 

Antiques and Flea Markets: Brimfield Market, MA

 

If you love flea markets as much as I do, you'll love Brimfield Market. It's one of America's largest and most popular flea markets....located in a beautiful rural setting in Massachusetts. Come join me on my last visit!

 

EATALY in NYC

Culinary travel is one of my passions, and one of my new passions in New York City is EATALY, a foodie emporium created by celebrity Chef Mario Batali and Chef Lydia Bastianich---amongst others.

I was so excited about it that I took my video camera with me and filmed it a couple of weeks after it opened. Click below to watch. Hope you enjoy it!!!!

 

 

EATALY, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York

New Luxury Shopping Destination In NYC

I often stop into the Plaza Hotel in New York City to breathe in the air of luxury it exudes. It has been newly renovated and it is stunningly beautiful.

Now there is another reason to visit. It as a new luxurious shopping mall downstairs, with a food hall and restaurants by celebrity Chef Todd English. I put together the following video to show you around! Hope you enjoy it!