Steak Frites are BACK!
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Steak Frites are BACK!
Not that they ever really left...
This week we’re highlighting 4 cool new restaurants, sharing weekend food pop-ups, and introducing you to our cool new friend: Komal Kehar.
Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte is BACK. After shutting its New York location during the early days of lockdown, the famed Paris-based eatery has finally reopened at 155 E. 54th Street in glorious Midtown Manhattan. For those who are new in town or any of us who may have forgotten, Le Relais serves one meal: sliced steak, cooked to your liking, doused in a pale green sauce, and served alongside crisp fries and a passable salad – all for $33.95. Pair it with a bottle of house red and finish the night with one of the surprisingly numerous options of French desserts. Can you tell we love this place?
Poppy’s Brooklyn Heights
Cobble Hill’s favorite spot for coffee & pastries, Poppy’s, has now opened up their second location in Brooklyn Heights. Head to 48 Henry St NOW to check out their new, super chic coffee bar, snag some pantry staples and try one of their delish pastries. They’ll be open Tuesday through Sunday at 8am-7pm.
Madeline’s
We all mourned the loss of Greenpoint’s local bar, Ramona, not too long ago…but the gorgeous space has been revived with a new look and taken over by a new team with a new name: Madeline’s. The versatile space at 113 Franklin Street, featuring a bar, mezzanine & dining room feels roomier than ever and we can’t wait to stop by soon. Madeline’s will be serving up classics like popcorn and Waldorf salads, along with fun bites like the pastrami platter and Spanish tortillas with unique house cocktails.
Swoony’s
The folks behind the super fun / super delicious Carroll Gardens restaurant, Cafe Spaghetti, have just opened Swoony’s: their newest concept just down the block. While there might not be any spaghetti on this menu, the new restaurant features takes on classic American bistro fare featuring dishes like short rib au poive and lobster orzo. Swoony’s is open 5-10 pm every day but Sunday at 215 Columbia St.
A new show by cool friend, Janie Korn, is on now at The Ace Hotel Brooklyn & we can’t wait to see it. Presented in partnership with multidisciplinary studio FORT MAKERS, Ace Hotel Brooklyn has welcomed Janie as its second creator as part of its global Artist in Residence program. Janie’s show, Old Tale, is full of sculptures created out of wax and displays a contemporary mashup of age-old fairy tales, and the characters and objects that inhabit them. Stop by to see the show for yourself before it ends on January 28th.
You are invited to experience 'the feels,' an IRL singles event where genuine connections + thoughtful conversations are centered. Say 'goodbye' to dating app fatigue and enter an evening of mini-meditations, eye gazes, and compliments. In the process, unlock tools for better relating, experience a new wave of more thoughtful dating, and connect with like-minded souls. Grab a ticket now for an unforgettable evening that’s shaping the future of how we relate. Wednesday November 15 from 6:30-9:30pm at 347 Maujer St in East Williamsburg.
Yellow Rose & Ha’s Dac Biet
This Saturday, coolstuff fave Yellow Rose, will be celebrating their 3 year anniversary (!) with a collab menu from Ha’s full of amazing treats like chorizo & egg fried rice & spicy chicken wings. This par-tay will be walk-ins only so head over at 5p to get in on the fun.
Bad Habit, Mad Rose, and Ghia at Caletta
This Sunday from 3-6p, join the Caletta team in the East Village for a Fall-time ice cream party. They’re teaming up with Mad Rose Foods, Ghia & their very own Bad Habit to showcase artisanal ice cream toppings & non-alc spritzes. Get into the spirit of the next season with this celebratory event. We can have ice cream in all months of the year, right?
Calling all women working in the food industry as chefs, creators, photographers, founders, writers, investors, or illustrators…Rachel Kishore of Empowered Economy is hosting a fun Friday happy hour (TONIGHT) at TALEA in the West Village. Spend the time sipping on craft beer and connecting with other women working on inspiring projects in the city. Grab your (free) tickets now!
Meet Komal, the architect and designer behind the new East Village shop, Common Things. Outside of her retail project, Komal runs her own architecture firm called MIRA PROJECTS. Her vast architectural output includes everything from designing retail spaces for Alexander Wang in Paris and ideating exhibition spaces for Design Miami to teaching an Environmental Theory course at New York’s Pratt Institute.
How did you start your career in the world of architecture and design?
My career began when I moved to New York and enrolled in the Masters of Architecture program at Parsons School of Design. Before that, I studied Economics and Political Science in Montreal. Although those two chapters seem world's apart, in a way I've always been interested in the architecture of things — the way people live their lives and the way our experiences are designed. Making sense of space and place is something that's had a hold on me from the start because for me design is the opportunity for change and for bettering our lives.
What led you to open your new East Village shop, Common Things?
A desire for togetherness, really. The pandemic created a situation in which everyone became very good — maybe too good — at working remotely and distancing themselves from everything. While it was convenient at the time, the lack of physical connection became so palpable and its effects have felt long lasting in how people go about their lives now. For me, this shop is the antithesis of that isolated, small circle experience because it brings so many people and their perspectives into one tangible place. It's a space where we can reconnect and find common ground through mutual provisions and delights. My hope is that people are craving that as much as I am!
What’s your favorite piece for sale right now in Common Things, and how did you discover it?
The plush, bouclé Tunisian blankets from Fouta Harrisa have my full attention right now as the weather gets colder here in New York. They're just the right size for wrapping, draping, or sharing and they also dress a bed or sofa beautifully with the open tassel micro fringe which adds a subtle, natural shimmer. Earlier this year, I met one of the founders of the brand, Alia Mahmoud, through a mutual friend in Miami. Sometimes, wonderful things find you when you're not even seeking them.
What’s your favorite part about the New York creative community?
It's entirely unbound. Every kind of artist that you can imagine is here, and so many that you never could have dreamt of. Being here is one of the next best things to experiencing every corner of the world because the city draws people in from all of those places. As an aesthete, it's a tremendous privilege to watch what happens here, and to be a part of it.
What’s inspiring you right now?
Lately, I’ve been enamored with floriography, the language of flowers. Across cultures, almost every kind carries some sort of symbolism. I’m interested in these meanings, the stories that come with them, and how they can be used to communicate when words fall flat. Excitingly, this subject will be the root of the shop's first series of workshops launching before the end of the year.
Photos by Sean Davidson
Follow Along:
@_commonthings_ on Instagram
www.common-things.com
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This week’s contributors:
Anna & Garrett Albury