OCCUPATION: Co-founder of the Soft Serve Fruit Company
MY STYLE: Funky elegance. Everything looks better with a touch of pearls, a dash of navy, or a blazer.
I LOVE NEW YORK BECAUSE: A simple walk makes for an adventure. There is inspiration, energy, and culture at every turn. The city offers a unique combination of convenience and magic. The kids are immediately exposed to culture, diversity, and excitement without any effort.
Minetta Tavern
Believe it or not, a small stream called Minetta Brook, which this restaurant is named after, once divided the island of Manhattan. Opened in 1937, Minetta Tavern has managed to last much longer than its namesake. With its classic French steakhouse ambiance, it is no surprise that artists like Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Eugene O’Neill, and E.E. Cummings would often take refuge in the booths or at the large wooden bar. And one of the tavern’s current owners, restaurateur Keith McNally (of Odeon and Balthazar fame), is about as equally renowned as his patrons. The brooding writers are long gone, and the restaurant is now packed with hungry hipsters and swanky natives like Chloe Epstein enjoying dishes like roasted bone marrow, pig’s trotter, and chocolate soufflé into the wee hours of the night. Photos by Sylvia Paret
Jones Wood Foundry
This pub and restaurant has deep roots in the United Kingdom, which is immediately made apparent by the Unionjack-upholstered couch at the back of the bar. “From the moment you open the doors, you feel as though you have escaped to London—or at least away from the Upper East Side,” says Chloe Epstein. Main dishes like haddock and chips and bangers and mash, plus sides like minted mushy peas and bubble and squeak, serve as additional reminders of the old mother country, while exposed brick walls and wooden floors add to the intimate ambiance. The communal, family-style tables and large bar with stools covered in burlap sacks help too, and ensure that not only will you leave full, but also perhaps with some new friends.
Children’s Museum of East End
At the Children’s Museum of East End, “kids cannot decide where to begin,” says Chloe Epstein. “We find ourselves looking forward to rainy days for an excuse to spend quality time at our favorite museum.” With an endless number of hands-on activities and places to play, including a musical forest and a fantasy tree house the museum is a much-needed addition to Bridgehampton, which has always been a family destination. The museum’s various exhibits and classes seek both to educate and entertain your children, who’ll have so much fun they won’t realize they’re actually learning something in the process. On “Twirlygig Tuesdays,” families can attend musical and theatrical performances outdoors. And if you’re looking to host a birthday party outside your home, the museum is also a great place for an all-inclusive celebration.
25 Park
Chloe Epstein says that when you shop at 25 Park, you feel glamorous upon entry because the store is so stunning. Located on the Upper East Side, celebrities like the Kardashian sisters, Vanessa Hudgens, and Whitney Port all shop there for “uptown chic” looks. The brands they stock include contemporary labels like Elizabeth and James, Haute Hippie, and Yigal Azrouel, and they even sell Cacharel, Eberjay, and more for kids. 25 Park’s mission is to run “the gamut between bohemian, classic, and trendy.” It’s a perfect shop for outfits for the Hamptons, home to a second storefront, or for comfy, simple pieces to wear at home. “From casual to formal, the looks are dazzling,” says Chloe Epstein.
The Pierre
On its 75th birthday in 2005, the Pierre Hotel was taken over by the Taj Hotel empire—an Indian hotel group that’s continued the tradition of high-class excellence and royal flair. The hotel, which is known for its fantastic views over Central Park and regal rooms like the Rotunda, just underwent a $100 million renovation. But don’t worry, the Renaissance-esqe wall paintings are still there. As are historical grand rooms like the Hutton Suite, the Getty Suite, and the Escoffier Suite, which have some of the best views of the city and are classically furnished to look like they did when the hotel first opened. To add to the already lavish atmosphere of the Pierre, the Taj Hotel has now added the option of hiring a personal “royal attaché”—a traditional Indian attendant who will treat you like a real-life queen. Chloe Epstein can also vouch that The Pierre is a memorable place to celebrate large events like weddings.