Author: Margit Rüdiger

The fashion designer shows his favorite spots The US fashion creator with Cuban roots stands for architectural, elegant and unfussy design. Born in New Jersey  Narciso Rodriguez studied against the will of his parents at the Parsons’ School of Design. In his beginnings he worked for Anne Klein at Donna Karan and also in the womenswear department of Calvin Klein. During his time at Cerruti in Paris he designed 1996 the amazing dress for Carolyn Bessette’s  wedding with John Kennedy Junior. This brought him international attention. Rodriguez conquered the fragrance market in 2003 when he launched his first perfume “For Her” together with the Japanese Beauty Group Shiseido. Like his fashion, his perfumes can also be described as classic, modern and elegant.  In everything he tackles Rodriguez is an exceptional talent with exquisite taste. Enjoy the journey with him throught his New York. ANGEL’S SHARE, 8 Stuyvesant St, Manhattan One of my favorite places to meet for drinks; it’s very intimate and private. And it’s one of those very well hidden gems of New York that has stayed that way for years despite word-of-mouth. ATELIER, 304 Hudson Street A really well-edited clothing store for men where I can find exactly what I need when I need it. CLIC BOOKSTORE and Gallery, 255 Centre St und DASHWOOD BOOKS, 33 Bond St Two amazing bookstores that have very rare collections of art and photography books, many of which are out of print. Dashwood Books is New York’s only independent bookstore that is devoted to photography. Wonderful places to spend an afternoon or get lost for an entire Saturday. DAVID ZWIRNER, 525 W 19th St Gallery owner David Zwirner has an amazing eye and is able to ferret out genuine artists with integrity who are always singular. I am always inspired by something when I visit—and I definitely stop by frequently. DINOSAUR HILL, 306 E 9th St A great toy store with many special, hard to find toys that the kids in my life never fail to appreciate. I’d call it the ‘anti-Disney’ toy store. They’ve got wonderful, one-of-a-kind special clothing for kids, too. MINETTA TAVERN, 113 Macdougal St This restaurant is just very easy and classic and it still has the best burger in the city. THE MOMA, 11 W 53rd St As museums go, this is one of the best—and one of my favorites. There’s always at least one intriguing exhibit along with a staggering permanent collection that I can never get enough of.… weiterlesen

Home of vetiver and vanilla To be honest, Reunion (French: La Réunion), France’s overseas island located in the Indian Ocean, would not have been on my list of travel destinations. If it wasn’t for Marie Le Febvre. Over the years, the French perfumer, who lives in Berlin with her husband and child, has formed a special bond with the island. Her brother Yann and his Creole wife (Creole being native-born inhabitants) live on the paradise island between Madagascar and Mauritius with their three children. And whenever she can, Marie spends time in her turquoise-colored wooden house on Yann’s property in Saint-Gilles. She has also reinvigorated something on the island that had long been forgotten: the cultivation of vetiver. “Veti… what?” is a question she is asked a lot. People generally haven’t heard of the tropical bunchgrass, which grows between 0.5 and 1.5m tall. Fragrance experts, however, are more than familiar with it: Its essential oil is a popular ingredient in perfumes, because it gives fragrances a deep, citrusy, woody note. From rainforest to sand beaches Vetiver originated in Asia (Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South India), but is cultivated in many tropical areas—especially because of its practicality: the tall-growing, hard grass stabilizes the ground against erosions. The roots keep the soil moist and act as detoxifiers, which improves soil quality. The long leaf blades are used in roof thatching like we use reed. Additionally, it is used to make sturdy ropes and as a home remedy for fever and headaches. The fragrant essential oil of highest quality used by perfumers can only be extracted under optimal conditions. When the soil is as fruitful as it is on Reunion. The island offers everything imaginable when it comes to vegetation and climate: from the volcanic inland covered in rainforest to the kilometer-long black sand beaches in L’Etang-Salé-les-Bains on the west coast, or the white sand of Saint Pierre in the southwest. On the island, you can find various microclimates. While the east coast sees a lot of rain, the west coast sometimes has a steppe climate. On the coast, temperatures can reach 30 degrees Celsius during summer (December to March); in higher regions they can sink down to 15 degrees. Fun fact: Since August 2, 2010, the island has been a UNESCO world heritage site. Our arrival Arriving at the airport of Saint-Denis, the capital in the north with 143,000 residents we experience a modern city with theaters, museums, markets and the old flair of Creole houses.… weiterlesen

How a new nature retreat celebrates „Moments of Calm“ South Tyrol (in Italian: Alto Adige) stands for Mediterranean joie de vivre, good wine, fantastic landscapes and an idyllic mountain atmosphere. We won‘t mention here that the northern and southern parts of Italy are not always in full agreement . Fact is that the South Tyroleans speak a charming regional dialect of the German language rather than Italian.. More precisely, there are over 40 different variants of the dialect. German is the mother tongue of over 62 percent of the inhabitants, 23 percent speak Italian and four percent converse in the special language Ladin (mainly in the area of the Dolomites mountain range). An Oasis of Light and Tranquility As of May 2017, the Alto Adige has added yet another jewel to its crown: the Hotel Seehof Nature Retreat (4 Stars) located in Natz, close to Brixen (Bressanone). Husband and wife Tamaris und Andreas Auer, hoteliers from childhood, run it with the motto „Moments of Calm“. The hotel was inherited from the parents and has been completely rebuilt, blossoming into a true gem indeed. Alpine down-to-earth-ness and the easy-going mediterranean approach join hands.Picture perfect, the modern building itself has the air of a landscape. Once you enter the nature retreat, you feel transported into another dimension where there is no space for the stress and bustle of everyday life. Bearing a Famous Signature Working out of their architectural practice „Noa“ in Bolzano, Stefan Rier and Lukas Rungger, are responsible for the design of the estate. They have studied under star-architect Matteo Thun, one of the most famous sons of the region and the resort. reflects Thun‘s clear, minimalistic style. There are light, airy rooms and suites, some of them with open bathrooms. You immediately feel compelled to open the patio doors in order to get even closer to the landscape, watching the play of the delicate curtains as they billow in the gentle breeze of the evening wind. Throughout the premises, earth- and stone-colors accented with hints of lavender and coppery tones can be found. The latter remind us of the pioneering spirit of the owner‘s grandfather, who had water pipes installed in 1958 to supply the plateau with running water for the first time. Relaxing Moments in the Spa The Yang of the architecture snuggles into the Yin of the landscape. Directly in front of the spacious terrace with its comfortable lounge sofas, the private natural lake extends just like a private water stage.… weiterlesen

Nadine Sieger, US-Correspondent of Elle Magazine Germany Originally was planned that Nadine Sieger only completes an internship at the Burda Office NYC. It turned 15 years. What she loves espacially of New York is the endless potential of the city and their inhabitants. As the correspondent of the ELLE Magazine the German journalist is always up to date. She knows the best places, what trend is and where to go in town to meet the coolest people. C&C: What is your favorite place for dining out? Nadine Sieger: „Sant Ambroeus“ in SoHo – charming, cozy and chic Italian restaurant with the most delicious Cacio e Pepe, the most gorgeous interior and the nicest waiters. It’s also a great place to start the day in style with a perfect cappuccino! “Fornino“ in Dumbo – the best location in the summer is the rooftop restaurant Fornino, right by the Hudson River in Brooklyn. Enjoy the sunset and the breathtaking views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty with a slice of brick oven pizza and glass of wine. Casual atmosphere in an absolutely spectacular setting. C&C: Where do you go for breakfast? Nadine Sieger: “De Maria” in SoHo – elevated, healthy and delicious food with a twist in a stylish atmosphere and a Scandinavian vibe. From the sun-filled, extremely well designed interior and earthy ceramics to the staff and the guests, everything here is inspiring. Be sure to order the yummy Fire Dragon Bowl! C&C: Where are served the best drinks? Nadine Sieger: No place in New York has more history, style and cachet than the bar at the former legendary „Four Seasons“ restaurant in the Seagram Building in Midtown. Under new ownership, it was recently renovated and reopened as „The Grill“. The original and beautifully designed midcentury modern interior by star architect Philip Johnson is still a true New York gem. Another breathtaking New York location is the lobby bar in the historic building of the Beekman“-Hotel at the south end of Manhattan. Cozy, elegant and a little nostalgic with a spectacular atrium. Perfect for a drink after a shopping tour through Santiago Calatrava’s new Oculus Shopping Mall and bargain-hunting at Century 21. C&C: Where do you like to go shopping? Nadine Sieger: At „The Apartment by The Line“ shopping is still a truly inspiring experience. The place is stunning and decorated like everyone’s dream loft in the heart of SoHo. Every single piece of the interior is for sale: from the “Susanne Kaufmann” beauty products in the bathroom to the “The Row” clothing in the closet to the KPM dishware in the kitchen.… weiterlesen

Megan Marsanico-Byrne, Director Global PR von Nars Cosmetics Her temperament owes she her Italian, Irish and German roots. Megan was born in Denver, Colorado and lived in Toronto, Canada briefly before the family moved to Brooklyn, New York when she was three. She has been with cosmetics brand Nars for 2.5 years and in her current role as Director, Global Public Relations for over a year. That‘s why Megan nows the city better than her purse. No wonder in there is always at least one product of Nars. C&C: What is your favourite place for dining out? Megan Marsanico-Byrne: I’m currently loving Le CouCou. We celebrated my fiancé’s birthday there and it was absolutely divine. I highly recommend getting there early and having a drink at their bar, which feels more like someone’s chic living room. C&C: Where are served the best drinks? Megan Marsanico-Byrne:I used to spend a lot of time in Tribeca, and you can always get a great cocktail at Weather Up. I love the long copper bar. The views at Westlight at the William Vale hotel can’t be beat. C&C: Where do you like to go shopping? Megan Marsanico-Byrne: If high-end consignment is your thing, I highly recommend visiting Consignment Brooklyn  in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn or their pop-up store on Orchard Street. I’ve never left this place without finding something fabulous. I often check their Instagram (@consignmentbrooklyn) to see what new goodies they have in stock. If you’re in the market for bespoke garments, I love Michael Andrews. It’s technically for menswear, but they can really do anything. It’s tucked behind a gated alleyway in the middle of Great Jones Street. C&C: Where do you buy your cosmetics? Megan Marsanico-Byrne: Even before I worked at Nars, I loved the brand. I used to sneak into my sister’s room before high school to use her Nars eyeshadows. Visiting the boutique at the 413 Bleecker Street is a must. It’s in the heart of the West Village and is warm and welcoming not to mention the Artists are incredibly talented. I discovered my all-time favorite lip there which is Dragon Girl Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, but more recently I’m loving Annabella Audacious Lipstick. C&C: Which beauty addresses you can recommend otherwise? Megan Marsanico-Byrne: If you’re in the mood to splurge, I love La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa for a massage.  For facials, my go-to is Tami Lesser at Modrn Sanctuary.… weiterlesen