Latest news with #Pastis
CBS News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Restaurateur Keith McNally on why he regrets "almost everything"
Restaurateur Keith McNally hates New Year's Eve – he doesn't like being told to have a good time. "I don't like to be forced to enjoy myself," he said. The "least hospitable man in hospitality," as he calls himself, is not a big smiler, either. "Inside," he explained. It doesn't seem to have hurt. Over 40 years, he's opened some of New York City's most popular restaurants, among them The Odeon, Balthazar, and Pastis – institutions almost as well-known as some of the bold-face names that frequent them. But McNally himself has never been much of a publicity hound, even less so after suffering a stroke in 2016. "Naturally I'm a bit embarrassed to be on TV talking like this—who wouldn't be?" he said. "But it's good for me to do it, because it gets me free of my embarrassment. Actually, I'm embarrassed talking about embarrassment!" But the British-born McNally has largely overcome his embarrassment in a new memoir, "I Regret Almost Everything." "The drawback for me with most memoirs [is], if you're not embarrassed by what you write, you've probably not spoken the truth," he said. "If you don't cringe over every word, it's not the truth." The hardest part to write, he said, was about his suicide attempt, "because my kids. I didn't want to leave them at all." That suicide attempt was two years after his stroke. He was found by his younger son, George. "He was supposed to not find me," McNally said. "Like most teenagers he would sleep until noon. But that day he woke up early, at 8:00 o'clock." "You expected him to be sleeping later, he woke up early, he saw you?" I asked. "Yeah, the bastard just woke up early and saved my life!" he laughed. McNally might joke about it now, but the father of five was suffering with an immobile right arm (he was right-handed), back pain, and aphasia (which causes his slurred speech), and his second marriage was falling apart. But as he writes, some sobering words from a doctor made him reflect: "He said that children who lose a parent to suicide were far more likely to kill themselves than the children of parents who don't. That stopped me in my tracks." Because he had such trouble communicating verbally after his stroke, McNally began using social media. "I was so embarrassed by my speech and the way I looked, I didn't go to my restaurants for one year," he said. "I was ashamed. But eventually I realized, nothing to be ashamed about. So, not only did I admit it wasn't a bad thing, but I went in on Instagram." McNally went viral in 2022 with a post criticizing former late-night host James Corden for allegedly being rude to the waitstaff at Balthazar. But now, McNally confesses in his book he isn't so sure calling out Corden was fair. He wrote: "For someone who's hyperconscious of humiliation since suffering a stroke, it now seems monstrous that I didn't consider the humiliation I was subjecting Corden to. I felt like I'd hit the jackpot of a slot machine and thousands of gold coins were spilling out in front of me. That night I ended up with over 90,000 followers. I was intoxicated with self-righteousness." "Uh-huh, it's true," McNally said. "But afterwards, I felt really bad." Corden later apologized. But the 73-year-old McNally has continued creating a stir online. Take this recent post he wrote about his friend, ABC News' Diane Sawyer, describing a weeklong affair the two had in the 1970s. The story made news … except that it was completely made up. I said, "Some people say, 'Listen, Keith, you know, it's really not cool for you to be sharing this.' And so, did you enjoy that back-and-forth with them?" "Yes. Yeah, I'm afraid, I did, yeah," he laughed. "And I wonder, do you think that the stroke – I don't know, is that, does that …" "Say what you think," said McNally. "Well, is it that you feel a little trapped inside of yourself?" "No," he replied. "I've always been a little like this inside. But since my stroke, and now on the outside." McNally grew up in the East End of London, one of four children born to Jack, a dockworker, and Joyce, a house and office cleaner. The family had little money. "I got angry inside at my parents," he said, "because we had no books in the house, no pictures on the walls. But they couldn't help it. They were working class who grew up with nothing." McNally says he didn't eat in a restaurant until he was 17. "Most of the time, when we were on a holiday, we would go to the restaurant, they would look the prices outside, and then she'd go, 'Not for us.'" And yet, when McNally moved to New York City in 1975 as an aspiring filmmaker, he made ends meet by working in restaurants. "I didn't eat asparagus until I came here," he said. "And the next day, I went to the doctor because the smell of my …" "That was so pungent from eating the asparagus?" I asked. "Yeah, I thought I was sick! So, I went to the doctor. He said, 'What'd you eat last night?'" McNally laughed. "You know what? You gotta put that in the paperback," I said. In 1980, McNally opened his own restaurant, The Odeon, in the neighborhood of Tribeca, in what had been a no-man's land. An immediate sensation, it established certain McNally "musts," such as the importance of having a hamburger on the menu. "I don't like hamburgers much myself," he said. "But it's a sign of snobbery not to have a hamburgers." McNally prides himself on putting his staff above even his diners. Some of his employees have been with him for over 30 years. And ever since returning to work post-stroke, McNally has come to appreciate how they feel about him. "I had to talk to my staff and was really nervous," he said. "They were really kind. In the end, kindness is really essential." I asked, "The stroke lifted the veil on what they thought of you?" "Yeah, yeah," McNally laughed. "They made me feel good." READ AN EXCERPT: "I Regret Almost Everything: A Memoir" by Keith McNally If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here. For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@ For more info: Story produced by Kay Lim. Editor: Carol Ross.
Entrepreneur
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Entrepreneur
'Timmy Failure,' 'Pearls Before Swine' Creator Stephan Pastis on Creativity
The author of the hilarious "Timmy Failure" book series and longtime cartoonist of "Pearls Before Swine" dives deep into his creative process. Ever get so absorbed in your work that you forget to eat? That's nothing compared to best-selling author and cartoonist Stephan Pastis who told me, " I kid you not, when I'm coming out of a writing session, when I walk out the front door of the studio, I don't always do it, but I will often look down to make sure I have pants on. That's how lost in my own brain I get." Pastis's pants-optional procedure is peculiar, but it is productive. (Try saying that five times fast.) The man has written eight books for his hilarious children's series "Timmy Failure," he co-wrote the script for the film adaptation, and at last count, has written, drawn, and published 41 collections of his Pearls Before Swine comic strip. I spoke with Pastis for our show How Success Happens, because, well, he's pretty damn successful in two markets that are insanely hard to crack. And while his achievements should give him license to live a my-poop-don't-stink existence, he is down-to-earth, thoughtful, curious and has just the right amount of gleeful madness you want in a comedic genius. A few things I was delighted to learn during our conversation: His career is based on a burning desire to quit his career. " I was a lawyer for 10 years, and I didn't want to be a lawyer. So in the early days, success for me meant making a living by doing cartooning and being able to quit the law. In that, I succeeded." Creative success is all in your head. " Rick Rubin wrote the best book I've ever read on creativity. He gives this definition of creative success: When the work you can hear in your head is executed to the best of your ability and you're satisfied with it. When you reach that point, that's it. Everything that happens after that, commercially, critically, whatever, you can't control that. So he shifts that point of success, and I love that. That has sort of been my thing ever since I read that." Forcing it never works. "Finding an idea or a joke is kind of like you're trying to pet a cat in a room. If you run at that cat and say, 'Come here, cat!' that is not gonna work. The muse is like that cat, you have to sit there still in a room, relax, and in her own time, that cat will come to you." Speed Round!
Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
'My daughter and I went on holiday together for the first time in 30 years'
The last time I was on holiday with my daughter Kay was 30 years ago when she was a teenager - the less said about that the better. French boys and a bottle of Pastis were involved. Holidays changed when Kay and her sisters flew the nest and I started to enjoy leisurely breaks with my husband Ian, with no fighting in the back of the car. We got hooked on cruises and did Transatlantic crossings, Norway, the Baltic – the memories that keep you going. When I lost Ian after 47 years of marriage, I didn't think I'd go on a cruise again. Holidays on your own in your 70s are a whole new ball game and can test your emotions. So when Kay called and suggested a week's Mediterranean cruise with MSC Cruises, I whooped with delight. We'd be stopping at Majorca, Barcelona, Cannes, Genoa and La Spezia then back to Rome to fly home. Life is very busy for her and we live hours away, so we don't see each other as much as we'd like. I just hoped we wouldn't end up throttling each other. I'd never sailed with MSC Cruises before and first impressions seeing Seaview in Rome were 'wow, it's a big one'. Our balcony cabin was on deck 11, just a hop, skip and a jump away from a glass lift, where you could see out to the stern. This was always Ian's favourite location, watching the wake and the sun set and the coast slip away. My favourite location on Seaview was the champagne bar, where Kay and I caught up on a year's worth of news while looking out on calm waters. It was my idea of ultimate luxury and the most relaxed I've ever felt. It was Kay's first cruise so I'd talked her through the basics, with the different themed evenings to expect. I'd packed a lot more clothes than her but three days in, we'd both completely lost track of our knickers. I also learned not to mention it when Kay put an outfit on that was not quite right. Finding your way around Seaview was initially bewildering but we quickly cracked the route to the two buffet restaurants for breakfast. Big shock: no English breakfast teabags to hand… but attentive staff came to the rescue. I was missing the nectar of the gods because there were no tea-and-coffee-making facilities in our cabin, but the mini bar was put to good use. Buffet dining is convenient, if not the most relaxed experience, but the choice was superb. Still, breakfast in the main dining room, Golden Sands, felt far more civilised, where you place your order (English breakfast tea!), and the speciality restaurants were the bees' knees too. Kay and I are both starved of that experience – eating with another grown-up. My daughter has a reputation for hanging her clothes up on the floor and an annoying habit of leaving cupboards and drawers open and saying things like: 'Have you seen my so-and-so? Have you moved this?' and I was told: 'Will you stop tidying, Mother' countless times as she tried to hurry me out of our cabin to disembark each day, claiming it was quicker getting my grandchildren out the front door. I try to be organised, which you need when you're sharing a smaller space, while Kay has her own ways. But I was impressed with the space in our cabin – the shower was terrific and the balcony the perfect spot for a G&T. Kay to this day denies she snores, but I still managed to sleep well. I tended to go to bed earlier, leaving her to Seaview's late-night parties. One night she quietly stumbled in and the next morning I found toothpaste all over the bathroom floor and a piece of lemon and her cruise card in the sink. Some things never change. That was the same night I tripped over her charger cable on the way to the toilet, then reset my travel alarm clock to the wrong time, so we were accidentally wide awake at 5am. Seaview's decor was amazing and very subtle. I'm not a big fan of steps, but the sparkling Swarovski crystal ones in the atrium were something else, where we listened to live music. But it was lovely simply lounging on the sun deck, talking about holidays with her dad, and planning our next snack. She went off at one point to do Seaview's 425ft zip line – I thought she was incredibly brave and turned down the offer to join her. Cruise ships have come a long way and I was fascinated by the technology on board, with the smart lifts, MSC app and QR codes to access menus but I'm glad Kay was there to assist me. I worried we might get on each other's pip but we had lots of laughs, which are so good for the soul. Instead of being mindful of her children's needs, she was mindful of mine. We met some very interesting people, and it was far more cosmopolitan than the other lines I've used – you only had to hear all the languages over the Tannoy – and I chatted to everyone from Spanish schoolgirls to Japanese couples and handsome Spanish guys. I played my own secret game in the lifts, trying to guess the nationalities. I have so much respect for the multilingual staff. Our waitress, Shilpa, who was starting an eight-month run onboard, was delightful. Kay was mortified when I told another waiter he had lovely hair that looked like crispy seaweed. The animal-themed theatre show we caught onboard was also a hoot, with the best juggler I've ever seen, but I wish we'd booked the earlier show as I was wilting a bit due to all the walking. We did an awful lot of that. Portofino in Italy was my favourite port of call – it was crackingly good, sitting on a sea wall and watching silver fish swimming while eating dollops of lemon and coffee ice cream with my grown-up daughter. You could imagine the celebrities visiting here (Tom Hanks and Michelle Obama are fans) and I was swept away by the Alexander McQueen and Rolex shops. Majorca's shops were more in our price range, where I loved trying on silly sunglasses with Kay and bought a red fedora, which still has chocolate ice cream on it after a cone melted quickly in Cannes. It somehow found its way on to my bag, top and trainers and Kay's hat and rucksack too. Paddling in the sea in Cannes had to be done, although I nearly went my length in the sinky sand. I admit, we tended to be at the back of the excursions – at 76, I was the oldest person on ours. Kay would have preferred to do her faster 'London walk' but slowed down for her poor old mother. It felt like we packed a month's worth of things into a single week. I'd do it again in a heartbeat and I know Kay's dad would have been smiling down on us. The cruise was like a fizzing glass of champagne, with lots of bubbles… and each bubble was a new experience. But my favourite bubble was spending quality time with my daughter. A seven-night MSC Cruises cruise from Rome visiting: Palma de Mallorca (Baleari Is), Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes (Côte d'Azur), France; Genoa (Portofino), Italy; La Spezia (Cinque Terre), Italy costs from £1,399. Visit
The Advertiser
15-05-2025
- Climate
- The Advertiser
New York confidential: a season-by-season guide to the city that never sleeps
Average temperature: 7 / 17 degrees WHY: New York City in spring bloom is glorious. As the Big Apple thaws from the big chill of winter, it fills with the brilliant colours and sweet scent of cherry blossoms, magnolias and tulips. The parks are full of picnickers and cyclists (join their ranks on a Citi Bike), enjoying the warm but not-yet-sweaty temps. HOW: To do spring like a local, track the progress of seasonal blooms online. Central Park and Brooklyn Botanic Garden provide daily updates on their websites. If peak bloom arrives on a sunny day, run - don't walk - to the parks to enjoy the flowery spectacle and blue skies. The annual Sakura Matsuri festival at Brooklyn Botanic Garden is inspired by Japanese traditions. Stay at Loews Regency New York, where some of the largest suites in the city are within a few steps of Park Avenue's gorgeous tulip and cherry blossom displays, as well as a changing roster of public art. Time your spring visit to coincide with the Easter Bonnet Parade & Festival, held along Fifth Avenue on Easter Sunday. It's a spectacle that dates back to the 1870s. The St Patrick's Day Parade along Fifth Avenue is also a rollicking good time. April heralds the start of outdoor dining season, so if the weather's nice, reserve a sidewalk table at classic bistro Pastis or the rooftop bar, Magic Hour, at Moxy NYC Times Square. Spring is also a fun time for sports fans, with the kick-off of baseball season and the thrilling basketball play-offs taking place. Cheer for the home teams, if you know what's good for you. Average temperature: 20 / 30 degrees WHY: If you don't mind the heat and humidity, summer is a great time to get out and about in NYC at parades, dance parties, free concerts, beer gardens and music festivals. Temps range from pleasant T-shirt weather in early June to melt-your-face-off on the devil's front porch by late July. HOW: Feel free in summer, with terrific public programming that doesn't cost a cent. Lincoln Center's Summer for the City festival puts on outdoor discos, concerts and theatre, while in Central Park there's SummerStage and free-of-charge Shakespeare performances. Cool down in public pools throughout the city, or head out to Rockaway Beach in Queens for surf, sun and boardwalk fun. It's a smart move to book a hotel with a great pool if you're visiting in summer. The William Vale in Brooklyn has one of the best in town, plus a great location and a very popular rooftop bar, Westlight. If you do start to melt, head indoors to air-conditioned museums and galleries. The Metropolitan Museum of Art ("the Met") and MoMA are worthy classics, or venture somewhere less obvious, like the Museum of Ice Cream or the Tenement Museum. Blockbuster summer celebrations include the NYC Pride March on the last Sunday in June, and the 4th of July Independence Day fireworks. As many New Yorkers leave the city on August weekends for the Hamptons or European holidays, it can be easier to score hard-to-get reservations at the most popular restaurants. Try your luck - in advance, online - at Tatiana or The Polo Bar. Average temperature: 11 / 11 degrees WHY: One of the prettiest times of the year to visit New York, autumn has feel-good weather, lower humidity, still-warm temps and plenty of sunny skies. During fall, as it's known in the US, leaves are changing colour, there are Halloween and Thanksgiving parades to look forward to, and the New York City marathon inspires the city. HOW: There's a buzz in the city in September, when the kids go back to school and residents return from summer travels. The weather cools down and the social calendar heats up. Fun can be found at Oktoberfest, the West Indian Day Parade and the Feast of San Gennaro. Pack a few layers, though you probably won't need the thermals. In the weeks leading up to Halloween, there are pumpkins and spooky decorations all over town. Anyone in costume is welcome to join the Annual Village Halloween Parade on 31 October, a bucket-list experience. For a quieter outing with kids in tow, head to Jackson Heights for the Children's Halloween Parade. "Leaf peeping" is a popular pastime, as punters marvel at the spectacular seasonal changing of colour. Wander through Central Park or take a leaf-peeping cruise on the Hudson River. Book a hotel with park views to fully appreciate the colours: Park Lane on Central Park South is a good choice. Its rooftop lounge, Darling, boasts knockout views and delicious bites. If the cooler weather has you craving a substantial meal, try Korean fried chicken hotspot Coqodaq or the steakhouse fare at Carne Mare. Average temperature: - 1 / 5.5 degrees WHY: Holiday decorations, window displays and festive markets can make it feel like you've stepped into a romantic Hallmark movie. Cue the ice-skating and hot cocoa. While December reigns supreme, January and February still hold appeal with lower hotel prices, snowfall and cosy bars to snuggle up in. HOW: Celebrate the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons all the way through December with a ticket to the Radio City Rockettes show, a visit to Bryant Park's holiday markets and a wander along Fifth Avenue to marvel at the window displays. Visit Santa at Macy's for a photo opportunity and shopping temptation. Ice-skating is a fun and inexpensive way to get yourself in a jolly, rugged-up mood (Rockefeller Center's rink is small but charming, while Central Park has a larger rink space), and all eyes are on the grand Christmas trees throughout the city. Splash out on a stay at an iconic hotel such as The Plaza, where great care and expense is given to the festive decorations and Gatsby-era design nods. A decadent 16-scoop ice-cream sundae, created in honour of the film Home Alone, is made to be shared. Score a deal in January and February with NYC Winter Restaurant Week, which actually lasts for several weeks and promises deep discounts at popular eateries. Try a classic, storied restaurant like Delmonico's or Gramercy Tavern. Follow lunch with a discounted show: Broadway Week is the time to nab 2-for-1 tickets and half-price promotions. Average temperature: 7 / 17 degrees WHY: New York City in spring bloom is glorious. As the Big Apple thaws from the big chill of winter, it fills with the brilliant colours and sweet scent of cherry blossoms, magnolias and tulips. The parks are full of picnickers and cyclists (join their ranks on a Citi Bike), enjoying the warm but not-yet-sweaty temps. HOW: To do spring like a local, track the progress of seasonal blooms online. Central Park and Brooklyn Botanic Garden provide daily updates on their websites. If peak bloom arrives on a sunny day, run - don't walk - to the parks to enjoy the flowery spectacle and blue skies. The annual Sakura Matsuri festival at Brooklyn Botanic Garden is inspired by Japanese traditions. Stay at Loews Regency New York, where some of the largest suites in the city are within a few steps of Park Avenue's gorgeous tulip and cherry blossom displays, as well as a changing roster of public art. Time your spring visit to coincide with the Easter Bonnet Parade & Festival, held along Fifth Avenue on Easter Sunday. It's a spectacle that dates back to the 1870s. The St Patrick's Day Parade along Fifth Avenue is also a rollicking good time. April heralds the start of outdoor dining season, so if the weather's nice, reserve a sidewalk table at classic bistro Pastis or the rooftop bar, Magic Hour, at Moxy NYC Times Square. Spring is also a fun time for sports fans, with the kick-off of baseball season and the thrilling basketball play-offs taking place. Cheer for the home teams, if you know what's good for you. Average temperature: 20 / 30 degrees WHY: If you don't mind the heat and humidity, summer is a great time to get out and about in NYC at parades, dance parties, free concerts, beer gardens and music festivals. Temps range from pleasant T-shirt weather in early June to melt-your-face-off on the devil's front porch by late July. HOW: Feel free in summer, with terrific public programming that doesn't cost a cent. Lincoln Center's Summer for the City festival puts on outdoor discos, concerts and theatre, while in Central Park there's SummerStage and free-of-charge Shakespeare performances. Cool down in public pools throughout the city, or head out to Rockaway Beach in Queens for surf, sun and boardwalk fun. It's a smart move to book a hotel with a great pool if you're visiting in summer. The William Vale in Brooklyn has one of the best in town, plus a great location and a very popular rooftop bar, Westlight. If you do start to melt, head indoors to air-conditioned museums and galleries. The Metropolitan Museum of Art ("the Met") and MoMA are worthy classics, or venture somewhere less obvious, like the Museum of Ice Cream or the Tenement Museum. Blockbuster summer celebrations include the NYC Pride March on the last Sunday in June, and the 4th of July Independence Day fireworks. As many New Yorkers leave the city on August weekends for the Hamptons or European holidays, it can be easier to score hard-to-get reservations at the most popular restaurants. Try your luck - in advance, online - at Tatiana or The Polo Bar. Average temperature: 11 / 11 degrees WHY: One of the prettiest times of the year to visit New York, autumn has feel-good weather, lower humidity, still-warm temps and plenty of sunny skies. During fall, as it's known in the US, leaves are changing colour, there are Halloween and Thanksgiving parades to look forward to, and the New York City marathon inspires the city. HOW: There's a buzz in the city in September, when the kids go back to school and residents return from summer travels. The weather cools down and the social calendar heats up. Fun can be found at Oktoberfest, the West Indian Day Parade and the Feast of San Gennaro. Pack a few layers, though you probably won't need the thermals. In the weeks leading up to Halloween, there are pumpkins and spooky decorations all over town. Anyone in costume is welcome to join the Annual Village Halloween Parade on 31 October, a bucket-list experience. For a quieter outing with kids in tow, head to Jackson Heights for the Children's Halloween Parade. "Leaf peeping" is a popular pastime, as punters marvel at the spectacular seasonal changing of colour. Wander through Central Park or take a leaf-peeping cruise on the Hudson River. Book a hotel with park views to fully appreciate the colours: Park Lane on Central Park South is a good choice. Its rooftop lounge, Darling, boasts knockout views and delicious bites. If the cooler weather has you craving a substantial meal, try Korean fried chicken hotspot Coqodaq or the steakhouse fare at Carne Mare. Average temperature: - 1 / 5.5 degrees WHY: Holiday decorations, window displays and festive markets can make it feel like you've stepped into a romantic Hallmark movie. Cue the ice-skating and hot cocoa. While December reigns supreme, January and February still hold appeal with lower hotel prices, snowfall and cosy bars to snuggle up in. HOW: Celebrate the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons all the way through December with a ticket to the Radio City Rockettes show, a visit to Bryant Park's holiday markets and a wander along Fifth Avenue to marvel at the window displays. Visit Santa at Macy's for a photo opportunity and shopping temptation. Ice-skating is a fun and inexpensive way to get yourself in a jolly, rugged-up mood (Rockefeller Center's rink is small but charming, while Central Park has a larger rink space), and all eyes are on the grand Christmas trees throughout the city. Splash out on a stay at an iconic hotel such as The Plaza, where great care and expense is given to the festive decorations and Gatsby-era design nods. A decadent 16-scoop ice-cream sundae, created in honour of the film Home Alone, is made to be shared. Score a deal in January and February with NYC Winter Restaurant Week, which actually lasts for several weeks and promises deep discounts at popular eateries. Try a classic, storied restaurant like Delmonico's or Gramercy Tavern. Follow lunch with a discounted show: Broadway Week is the time to nab 2-for-1 tickets and half-price promotions. Average temperature: 7 / 17 degrees WHY: New York City in spring bloom is glorious. As the Big Apple thaws from the big chill of winter, it fills with the brilliant colours and sweet scent of cherry blossoms, magnolias and tulips. The parks are full of picnickers and cyclists (join their ranks on a Citi Bike), enjoying the warm but not-yet-sweaty temps. HOW: To do spring like a local, track the progress of seasonal blooms online. Central Park and Brooklyn Botanic Garden provide daily updates on their websites. If peak bloom arrives on a sunny day, run - don't walk - to the parks to enjoy the flowery spectacle and blue skies. The annual Sakura Matsuri festival at Brooklyn Botanic Garden is inspired by Japanese traditions. Stay at Loews Regency New York, where some of the largest suites in the city are within a few steps of Park Avenue's gorgeous tulip and cherry blossom displays, as well as a changing roster of public art. Time your spring visit to coincide with the Easter Bonnet Parade & Festival, held along Fifth Avenue on Easter Sunday. It's a spectacle that dates back to the 1870s. The St Patrick's Day Parade along Fifth Avenue is also a rollicking good time. April heralds the start of outdoor dining season, so if the weather's nice, reserve a sidewalk table at classic bistro Pastis or the rooftop bar, Magic Hour, at Moxy NYC Times Square. Spring is also a fun time for sports fans, with the kick-off of baseball season and the thrilling basketball play-offs taking place. Cheer for the home teams, if you know what's good for you. Average temperature: 20 / 30 degrees WHY: If you don't mind the heat and humidity, summer is a great time to get out and about in NYC at parades, dance parties, free concerts, beer gardens and music festivals. Temps range from pleasant T-shirt weather in early June to melt-your-face-off on the devil's front porch by late July. HOW: Feel free in summer, with terrific public programming that doesn't cost a cent. Lincoln Center's Summer for the City festival puts on outdoor discos, concerts and theatre, while in Central Park there's SummerStage and free-of-charge Shakespeare performances. Cool down in public pools throughout the city, or head out to Rockaway Beach in Queens for surf, sun and boardwalk fun. It's a smart move to book a hotel with a great pool if you're visiting in summer. The William Vale in Brooklyn has one of the best in town, plus a great location and a very popular rooftop bar, Westlight. If you do start to melt, head indoors to air-conditioned museums and galleries. The Metropolitan Museum of Art ("the Met") and MoMA are worthy classics, or venture somewhere less obvious, like the Museum of Ice Cream or the Tenement Museum. Blockbuster summer celebrations include the NYC Pride March on the last Sunday in June, and the 4th of July Independence Day fireworks. As many New Yorkers leave the city on August weekends for the Hamptons or European holidays, it can be easier to score hard-to-get reservations at the most popular restaurants. Try your luck - in advance, online - at Tatiana or The Polo Bar. Average temperature: 11 / 11 degrees WHY: One of the prettiest times of the year to visit New York, autumn has feel-good weather, lower humidity, still-warm temps and plenty of sunny skies. During fall, as it's known in the US, leaves are changing colour, there are Halloween and Thanksgiving parades to look forward to, and the New York City marathon inspires the city. HOW: There's a buzz in the city in September, when the kids go back to school and residents return from summer travels. The weather cools down and the social calendar heats up. Fun can be found at Oktoberfest, the West Indian Day Parade and the Feast of San Gennaro. Pack a few layers, though you probably won't need the thermals. In the weeks leading up to Halloween, there are pumpkins and spooky decorations all over town. Anyone in costume is welcome to join the Annual Village Halloween Parade on 31 October, a bucket-list experience. For a quieter outing with kids in tow, head to Jackson Heights for the Children's Halloween Parade. "Leaf peeping" is a popular pastime, as punters marvel at the spectacular seasonal changing of colour. Wander through Central Park or take a leaf-peeping cruise on the Hudson River. Book a hotel with park views to fully appreciate the colours: Park Lane on Central Park South is a good choice. Its rooftop lounge, Darling, boasts knockout views and delicious bites. If the cooler weather has you craving a substantial meal, try Korean fried chicken hotspot Coqodaq or the steakhouse fare at Carne Mare. Average temperature: - 1 / 5.5 degrees WHY: Holiday decorations, window displays and festive markets can make it feel like you've stepped into a romantic Hallmark movie. Cue the ice-skating and hot cocoa. While December reigns supreme, January and February still hold appeal with lower hotel prices, snowfall and cosy bars to snuggle up in. HOW: Celebrate the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons all the way through December with a ticket to the Radio City Rockettes show, a visit to Bryant Park's holiday markets and a wander along Fifth Avenue to marvel at the window displays. Visit Santa at Macy's for a photo opportunity and shopping temptation. Ice-skating is a fun and inexpensive way to get yourself in a jolly, rugged-up mood (Rockefeller Center's rink is small but charming, while Central Park has a larger rink space), and all eyes are on the grand Christmas trees throughout the city. Splash out on a stay at an iconic hotel such as The Plaza, where great care and expense is given to the festive decorations and Gatsby-era design nods. A decadent 16-scoop ice-cream sundae, created in honour of the film Home Alone, is made to be shared. Score a deal in January and February with NYC Winter Restaurant Week, which actually lasts for several weeks and promises deep discounts at popular eateries. Try a classic, storied restaurant like Delmonico's or Gramercy Tavern. Follow lunch with a discounted show: Broadway Week is the time to nab 2-for-1 tickets and half-price promotions. Average temperature: 7 / 17 degrees WHY: New York City in spring bloom is glorious. As the Big Apple thaws from the big chill of winter, it fills with the brilliant colours and sweet scent of cherry blossoms, magnolias and tulips. The parks are full of picnickers and cyclists (join their ranks on a Citi Bike), enjoying the warm but not-yet-sweaty temps. HOW: To do spring like a local, track the progress of seasonal blooms online. Central Park and Brooklyn Botanic Garden provide daily updates on their websites. If peak bloom arrives on a sunny day, run - don't walk - to the parks to enjoy the flowery spectacle and blue skies. The annual Sakura Matsuri festival at Brooklyn Botanic Garden is inspired by Japanese traditions. Stay at Loews Regency New York, where some of the largest suites in the city are within a few steps of Park Avenue's gorgeous tulip and cherry blossom displays, as well as a changing roster of public art. Time your spring visit to coincide with the Easter Bonnet Parade & Festival, held along Fifth Avenue on Easter Sunday. It's a spectacle that dates back to the 1870s. The St Patrick's Day Parade along Fifth Avenue is also a rollicking good time. April heralds the start of outdoor dining season, so if the weather's nice, reserve a sidewalk table at classic bistro Pastis or the rooftop bar, Magic Hour, at Moxy NYC Times Square. Spring is also a fun time for sports fans, with the kick-off of baseball season and the thrilling basketball play-offs taking place. Cheer for the home teams, if you know what's good for you. Average temperature: 20 / 30 degrees WHY: If you don't mind the heat and humidity, summer is a great time to get out and about in NYC at parades, dance parties, free concerts, beer gardens and music festivals. Temps range from pleasant T-shirt weather in early June to melt-your-face-off on the devil's front porch by late July. HOW: Feel free in summer, with terrific public programming that doesn't cost a cent. Lincoln Center's Summer for the City festival puts on outdoor discos, concerts and theatre, while in Central Park there's SummerStage and free-of-charge Shakespeare performances. Cool down in public pools throughout the city, or head out to Rockaway Beach in Queens for surf, sun and boardwalk fun. It's a smart move to book a hotel with a great pool if you're visiting in summer. The William Vale in Brooklyn has one of the best in town, plus a great location and a very popular rooftop bar, Westlight. If you do start to melt, head indoors to air-conditioned museums and galleries. The Metropolitan Museum of Art ("the Met") and MoMA are worthy classics, or venture somewhere less obvious, like the Museum of Ice Cream or the Tenement Museum. Blockbuster summer celebrations include the NYC Pride March on the last Sunday in June, and the 4th of July Independence Day fireworks. As many New Yorkers leave the city on August weekends for the Hamptons or European holidays, it can be easier to score hard-to-get reservations at the most popular restaurants. Try your luck - in advance, online - at Tatiana or The Polo Bar. Average temperature: 11 / 11 degrees WHY: One of the prettiest times of the year to visit New York, autumn has feel-good weather, lower humidity, still-warm temps and plenty of sunny skies. During fall, as it's known in the US, leaves are changing colour, there are Halloween and Thanksgiving parades to look forward to, and the New York City marathon inspires the city. HOW: There's a buzz in the city in September, when the kids go back to school and residents return from summer travels. The weather cools down and the social calendar heats up. Fun can be found at Oktoberfest, the West Indian Day Parade and the Feast of San Gennaro. Pack a few layers, though you probably won't need the thermals. In the weeks leading up to Halloween, there are pumpkins and spooky decorations all over town. Anyone in costume is welcome to join the Annual Village Halloween Parade on 31 October, a bucket-list experience. For a quieter outing with kids in tow, head to Jackson Heights for the Children's Halloween Parade. "Leaf peeping" is a popular pastime, as punters marvel at the spectacular seasonal changing of colour. Wander through Central Park or take a leaf-peeping cruise on the Hudson River. Book a hotel with park views to fully appreciate the colours: Park Lane on Central Park South is a good choice. Its rooftop lounge, Darling, boasts knockout views and delicious bites. If the cooler weather has you craving a substantial meal, try Korean fried chicken hotspot Coqodaq or the steakhouse fare at Carne Mare. Average temperature: - 1 / 5.5 degrees WHY: Holiday decorations, window displays and festive markets can make it feel like you've stepped into a romantic Hallmark movie. Cue the ice-skating and hot cocoa. While December reigns supreme, January and February still hold appeal with lower hotel prices, snowfall and cosy bars to snuggle up in. HOW: Celebrate the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons all the way through December with a ticket to the Radio City Rockettes show, a visit to Bryant Park's holiday markets and a wander along Fifth Avenue to marvel at the window displays. Visit Santa at Macy's for a photo opportunity and shopping temptation. Ice-skating is a fun and inexpensive way to get yourself in a jolly, rugged-up mood (Rockefeller Center's rink is small but charming, while Central Park has a larger rink space), and all eyes are on the grand Christmas trees throughout the city. Splash out on a stay at an iconic hotel such as The Plaza, where great care and expense is given to the festive decorations and Gatsby-era design nods. A decadent 16-scoop ice-cream sundae, created in honour of the film Home Alone, is made to be shared. Score a deal in January and February with NYC Winter Restaurant Week, which actually lasts for several weeks and promises deep discounts at popular eateries. Try a classic, storied restaurant like Delmonico's or Gramercy Tavern. Follow lunch with a discounted show: Broadway Week is the time to nab 2-for-1 tickets and half-price promotions.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How the Best Restaurants Can Make You Feel
A funny thing about food is that you don't need to eat it to appreciate it. You can revisit David Gelb's 2011 documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, or his subsequent work on Chef's Table, a docuseries that paired sweeping orchestral music with close-ups of food. You can witness the creation of elaborate bites on Top Chef, stan a tormented genius on The Bear, or browse images on Instagram of carefully plated culinary masterpieces. You will probably still want to eat it all, but this abundance of cultural attention makes the message clear: Chefs are artists worthy of devotion, because they can transform raw material into something sublime. Restaurateurs are another matter. As the procurers of finances and managers of staff, they're often seen as the hard-nosed businesspeople behind the whimsical auteurs. Yet the best of them are also auteurs, I would argue. They know how to create something special too: They are architects of the inexplicable, know-it-when-you-see-it thing called 'vibe'—the warm sensation of being treated like a VIP, the collective energy of a roomful of loyal patrons, lighting that makes you think your date looks more attractive than ever. These joys don't translate well to television or social media, and even if they did, there's no guarantee the viewers would experience the same thing should they go on their own. The restaurateur is the director of a live theater performance—intimate, fleeting, and different every night. After you try a new restaurant, people typically ask, 'How was the food?' I like to ask: 'How did it make you feel?' In New York, Keith McNally is the exception to the rule of restaurateur obscurity. Few people have been as recognized for their understanding of atmosphere as McNally, who chronicles his life and work in a new memoir, I Regret Almost Everything. For the cost of dining at his restaurants ($31 for salade Niçoise at Pastis, $29 for eggs Benedict at Balthazar), one could easily find much better food in the city. But to the question of whether they make you feel good, the answer is usually yes. On occasion, during the heyday of his restaurants, from the 1980s to the early 2000s, the most yes. McNally's vibes have been so irresistible to diners that, for better or for worse, they've reshaped where the city's heart beats, helping turn sleepy neighborhoods into crucibles of spiraling rents. Pastis appeared on Sex and the City multiple times as a stand-in for all that's thrilling about a night out in Manhattan; Carrie Bradshaw once referred to it as 'the only restaurant that seemed to exist.' But the real trick of the McNally experience is its accessibility. Bathed in lighting that critics have called 'McNally Gold' or a 'fairytale glow,' you might feel as though your meal is already a wonderful memory. His restaurants are where Jude Law can brighten your breakfast meeting and Rihanna might enhance your date night, but because they typically have ample tables and walk-in bar seating, they are also readily available to you, the totally-normal-yet-especially-beautiful-tonight you. If anybody can make the case for the restaurateur as an artist, it's the creator of this particular vibe. [Read: Dining out isn't what it used to be] Although McNally is a downright legend in New York, he is not a national household name. These days, he might be more broadly known for his deliberately provocative Instagram, where he's gone viral for defenses of Woody Allen and jabs at James Corden. (He mentions these incidents in the book too, admitting that he exaggerated his Corden outrage.) His restaurant work, meanwhile, is part of a dining-out culture that doesn't get as much adulation as it once did. Following the coronavirus pandemic, fewer Americans want to eat outside their home. Since I started covering the restaurant industry nearly a decade ago, more people seem to be opting for fast-casual chains, takeout, delivery. Some critics argue that, because of this, the people who do still go to restaurants care more about ambience than ever, and that establishments are responding by making it a priority. I think this is true! Still, I can't help but sense a hint of derision in the way this development is discussed. Such efforts to find a distinguishing aesthetic are analyzed as 'branding' or good business sense rather than craft; the adjective sceney is rarely deployed as a compliment. In his memoir, McNally doesn't explicitly say that he considers his work to be an artistic endeavor, and when critics have compared him in the past to a director, he's scoffed. (McNally, who had dreamed of being a filmmaker and did eventually make two movies, complained that when these projects debuted, 'no movie reviewer ever compared them to restaurant dining rooms.') But a lot has happened to him over the years: In 2016, McNally had a stroke that greatly impaired his speech and challenged his sense of self. He attempted suicide, and got divorced for a second time. All of his restaurants closed in the early days of COVID, and eventually, a couple of them shut down forever. Reflecting on his near-death experience and its fallout seems to have shifted something in him. With the same self-deprecating voice he uses on Instagram, McNally's memoir offers up the backstory on his style, and in doing so, it embraces his status as one of New York's most influential creative minds. The book is filled with tales of the playwrights and writers and filmmakers who have inspired him, his obsessiveness in the pursuit of aesthetic perfection, and his perspective on restaurant service. It paints a portrait of the artist as a restaurateur, and shows how a singular point of view can translate to the world of dining. His restaurants, for instance, are frequently decorated with objects described as 'distressed.' The credit for this flourish, arguably responsible for decades of faux-antique decor and color-washed walls proliferating through American dining districts, goes in part to the British theater director Jonathan Miller, whom McNally met through the playwright Alan Bennett. Miller found everyday objects in junk shops and then displayed them in his home as if they were sculptures. Bennett was even more significant to the McNally aesthetic. The two of them dated—one of two gay relationships the restaurateur says he has had in his life—when the playwright was 35 and McNally was 18. Bennett introduced him to plays, books, paintings, and the art of home renovation. Once, Bennett stripped his own sitting room of decades of wallpaper and then applied wax and paint to plaster 'until it turned an extraordinary deep mustard color,' McNally writes: 'the same color I've been trying—mostly unsuccessfully—to reproduce on my restaurants' walls for almost fifty years.' [Read: Who wants to sit at a communal table?] McNally's flair for heightening the ordinary pairs well with his canny ability to stage restaurants that are posh enough for celebrities yet homey enough for tourists. This insistence on approachability stems, he explains in the memoir, from his working-class background. He writes that he demands sensitivity from his servers when it comes to price: Always mention the cost of specials; never assume that you can keep the change from a customer paying cash. As for his background in lighting, McNally describes a succession of jobs he held earlier: running lights for a live production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, managing a strip club, working as a manager at the once-legendary restaurant One Fifth. 'Of course, seductive lighting doesn't compensate for tasteless food or inept service,' he writes. 'Likewise, extraordinary food, design and service never guarantee a successful restaurant. Nothing does except that strange indefinable: the right feel.' These are not the tips and tricks of a corporate honcho's management book or the gauzy reminisces of a self-help sage; they are the experiences and deliberate choices that culminated in a fruitful creative career. McNally is neither the only vibe master in the restaurant business nor the last. Plenty of newer restaurants treat dining out as not just a vehicle for sating hunger but also a source of moments to remember. The see-and-be-seen prime of Balthazar and Minetta Tavern is over; these sleek establishments continue to fill up, but the hottest of the hot young things have largely moved on to other parties. Like a buzzy play that ends up with a long Broadway run, his restaurants stay busy and still promise delights, but many dining devotees remember to revisit only when a cousin comes into town. [Read: Why The Bear is so hard to watch] The restaurateur recognizes the ephemeral nature of his line of work, though he mostly nods to it while discussing other artists. He notes that Miller, the theater director, enjoyed much more fame than Bennett did for several decades but that Bennett's published work is far better known today. 'After a director dies, his or her specific staging can never be seen live again,' McNally writes. 'After a writer dies, his or her books can be reread and plays restaged.' Nevertheless, he seems, after a period of serious crisis, to have made peace with his own impermanence: 'Who's to say that even if I did possess the talent to write plays that I'd be able to affect—even in the most superficial way—as many people as my restaurants appear to have done for nearly half a century?' McNally is still breathing, as are his spots in New York, London, and Washington, D.C., some of which are run with the savvy Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr. And his memoir, like Bennett's scripts, will outlast a single evening out. A perfectly orchestrated meal creates the illusion of effortlessness; McNally's book serves as an enduring reminder of the work and talent that go into creating such memories, and of the artists whose vision sets the scene. Article originally published at The Atlantic
