OCCUPATION: Founder and designer, Built by Wendy
MY STYLE: My look is classic, nostalgic, and earthly yet polished. Both city and country.
I LOVE NEW YORK BECAUSE: There are things to do and see 24/7.
Bar Pitti
Like Da Silvano next door, Bar Pitti is a West Village favorite for some veal meatballs or a bowl of tagliatelle. Plenty of other delectable options can be found on the chalkboard, which goes nicely with the mirrored wall and casual elegance of the place. There are also simple wooden tables, which fill and turn quickly. It’s not uncommon to see a small crowd waiting outside for something to open up, even in the winter months. Long accustomed to the pace, the waiters can strike some customers as a bit brisk, but not Jennifer Fisher. “The staff is great with kids, and we believe it’s the best Italian food in the city,” she says.
Fort Tilden
Rockaway Beach might have been the subject of various NY Times trend pieces this summer, but despite our eternal love for the Gray Lady, she’s not always the first word on style. If you prefer to kick back somewhere a little quieter than the public shore at Rockaway, venture further westward on the peninsula to Fort Tilden. Of course, there are still plenty of visitors in their best beach looks during the summer months, but Wendy Mullin prefers to visit the dunes and the old military installations off-season. “We go there every New Year’s Day to walk in the snow,” she says.
Pearl River Mart
This expansive space devoted to Asian-inspired tchotchkes ranging from fans to fortune-telling fish offers a venerably New York shopping experience that, for a change, won’t break the bank. Where else can one find a silk robe for only $35? “It’s an old school shop that’s held on, and even grown since it was on Grand Street in the early 90s,” says Wendy Mullin. There are also items for the home and garden such as Chinese lanterns, embroidered wall hangings, and sake sets; Mullin uses the red, white, and blue plastic bags for storage.
Wythe Hotel
Formerly a textile factory, the current interior of this newcomer to the boutique hotel scene pays tribute to its industrial past with floor-to-ceiling windows and a loft-like aesthetic. The art hanging on the exposed brick walls creates the perfect combination of grit and gentrification that makes Williamsburg a neighborhood people love and love to hate. It’s hard to be among the latter, though, when lounging in the hotel library or on the rooftop bar. Wendy Mullin goes for the fun scene and great food at Reynards, the hit restaurant on the ground floor from Andrew Tarlow. We promise you won’t miss Manhattan, but if you do, just look outside for an arresting, uninterrupted view of the river and skyline.
Crosby Street Hotel
On what may be one of the last peaceful and cobbled streets of Soho sits this New York hotel with a British twist. The bright and fanciful design, courtesy of co-owner Kit Kemp, is a delight whether you’re taking your afternoon tea in the famed bar or one of the private drawing rooms. “I love the mix of English traditional with contemporary edge,” says Kelly Florio Kasouf. Despite the relative quietude of this particular stretch of Crosby Street, the hotel is in the heart of one of the best shopping districts in town. Stop in for a drink or a bite after visiting your favorite stores. There’s also a state-of-the-art screening room, complete with 3D technology, that hosts great events with old movies.