Amaranth

Walking down the stairs and passing the espresso bar to enter Altesi, I felt like I had been transported onto an Italian street: the design was so perfectly European, with a calmness and slower tempo that signaled a Mediterranean location far removed from the bustle of Manhattan. The true jewel of Altesi, however, is the owner Paolo Alavian, who, after introducing himself and his very sweet wife, Antonia, treated us like royalty. Paolo's generosity and kindness is extended to each and every individual who enters his restaurant. As he guided us through the orange and cream interior, with wine trellises tucked into geometric patterns on the walls and out into the lovely backyard garden, he warmly greeted his guests before sitting himself down to speak with us. As we savored our veritable feast, beginning with sauteed artichoke, octopus in yogurt and tuna carpaccio, Paolo entertained us with stories. Having opened in 2014, he said that it had been an excellent first year. His other restaurants in Soho - Savore and L'Ulivo - have been around for many years, but, surprisingly, it is on the Upper East Side that Paolo finds the people to be the most supportive and friendly. As he said, "the neighborhood really wants you to succeed. It is the first place I have found where people are protecting the businesses. " Paolo does his part to create a neighborhood hotspot. He let us know that he often hosts breakfast and yoga sessions in his back garden. As our second course of pappardelle with duck, black truffles, and peas along with pasta decorated with chanterelles covered in melted pecorino cheese arrived, Paolo continued to amuse us with stories from his childhood and his arrival in the US. Paolo may be one of the few Italian restaurateurs who did not receive his love of food from his family. He explained that his mother, though a wonderful woman, was a terrible cook, and that until the age of eighteen, he weighed only ninety pounds. His parents, both pharmacists, assumed that he would follow in their footsteps and study pharmacology at the University of Miami, where he received a scholarship. Arriving in Florida, it did not take long, however, for Paolo to realize that his passion laid elsewhere. While continuing his studies, he got his first job in a restaurant as a dishwasher, and then quickly worked his way up to busboy and bartender. He would leave class early to "go to the bathroom" in order to get to his shift on time. He never dropped a class, though - Paolo is a big believer in education. He has always told his employees, "If you want to go to school, I will help you. I will work with you. "Paolo described his love for the restaurant business because it is a true meritocracy, where promotions happen quickly and fairly. His story of moving up the ladder sounds like a fairy tale: as a dishwasher, he was bullied by the kitchen staff, and his hands were cracked and bleeding because his coworkers would keep unplugging the dishwasher so that he would have to do everything by hand. When his employer, his figurative fairy godmother, found out, she moved him to the front room as a busboy. As the third course arrived and the Manhattan Sideways team indulged in a remarkable veal cutlet Milanese, a beautiful piece of salmon with exceptional spring vegetables, and a whole branzino, we continued to be impressed by Paolo's extraordinary generosity to others in need. He spoke of his effort to teach a trade to a person with Down Syndrome, hoping that by working in his restaurant that this person would have a skill that they can use throughout their life. Paolo also told us about the success of the Manhattan Girls Chorus, a group that was begun in 2011 by a patron of the restaurant, Michelle Oesterle. Her passion for music and her desire to provide an outlet for girls who are experiencing bullying, unpleasant situations at home, learning disabilities, or any of the other difficulties in simply being a teenager, drove her to found this organization. It is here that Michelle is able to provide a safe haven for the girls to come each week to practice and confide in one another. Having had the extraordinary opportunity to attend their first gala at the Baryshnikov Arts Center and to hear these young girls share their stories of their personal struggles was incredibly touching, but then they gathered to sing, and my heart could not stop pounding. They were magnificent. Paolo, too, has been affected by these teenagers and has taken one of them under his wing. In her, he recognized a well-behaved, smart girl who needed help, and he hired her to work in his restaurant. He has now, essentially, become her father: mentoring her, pushing her to be the best person she can be, and, Paolo jokingly said, "I even crack down on any clients who ask for her phone number. " Paolo explained that he has always remembered the woman who promoted him to busboy when he was having a hard time, and will always feel the desire to give people similar opportunities.

Gabriel Aiello describes himself as a "one man band, " able to fill any role in his restaurant at the drop of a hat. He is quite proud, however, of the strong team that works alongside him. Nine of his employees have been at Gabriel's since day one - when they opened in 1992 - including the man who makes the pasta by hand, the butcher and a waiter. I would not be surprised if this long-standing synergy is the reason why the restaurant creates such a comfortable ambience. There are warm orange sconces illuminating a roomy dining area lined with modern art by Hector Leonardi, chosen by Gabriel's son, a graffiti artist. In the corner is a painting of a crumpled piece of paper composed by his wife. While Gabriel does not deem his restaurant a family business, he admits that each member has left his mark on the restaurant, including his other son, who works as a waiter in the restaurant while continuing his career as a writer. Gabriel considers the private room to be the jewel of his restaurant. Seating up to thirty-six people, Gabriel told us that the space has hosted "everything from my son's fifth birthday party to Oprah's Thanksgiving bash. " In the twenty-three years that they have been on 60th Street, Gabriel's has held over 5, 000 functions. "We really nail parties, " the proud owner exclaimed. After being part of the opening team for Arqua, on Church Street, in 1983, Gabriel wanted to start a restaurant that would serve "peasant-casual" Italian food with no frills, as opposed to the high-end, ornamental dishes concocted by many of the surrounding restaurants. He aimed for "elegant, efficient, and not too expensive. " A formula that seems to have worked, Gabriel went on to say that the space was chosen because the high, lofty ceilings set it apart from most others on the Upper West Side, making it feel more like a Tribeca piece of real estate rather than a neighbor to Central Park. As we headed downstairs on our tour, we learned that the whole building used to house Atlantic Records, and that Ray Charles recorded in what is now the second kitchen. Lined with rainbow trays of kale and eggplant tapenade, the kitchen was one of the most immaculate I have entered, while smelling like the house of the most skilled Italian grandmother. When I asked Gabriel if he still enjoys coming to work every day, he answered immediately, "Yes - the only thing that gets me down are the slow days. " The day we were visiting was clearly not one of them. In the middle of the week, during the lunchtime hours, we witnessed trays of tuna tartare being whisked by, wood grilled salmon over pureed cauliflower, and a bright pink risotto made with red beets. Gabriel spent a great deal of time speaking about the mix of clientele that he attracts - from tourists to locals, to those who work nearby at the Time Warner building. One patron, in particular, that Gabriel mentioned was Michael Bloomberg. Apparently, the former mayor declared this is his "favorite eatery in the city. " Gabriel told us that Bloomberg ate here every Thursday while in office and would consistently bring an illustrious panel of people to dine with him. It is no wonder. With the simple, Italian fare and comforting atmosphere, Gabriel's offers a cool oasis in the middle of the hot rush of Manhattan.

The moment a diner sits down at Il Mulino, a cavern of scrumptious parmesan cheese is chipped onto their plates; an archaeological dig of bruschetta is brought piled high on a long platter with tongs, followed by garlic bread and other fine antipasti. Everything is delivered to the table, complementary, by some of the best trained staff in the city. One could fill up on this alone, without ever having to look at the menu. However, that would be a tremendous mistake. The ambience of this uptown location is very different from its original downtown spot. When walking on the side streets of Manhattan, I am always intrigued by the stories that I hear, and I was eager to learn about what inspired the latest addition to Il Mulino. Two Italian brothers, Fernando and Gino Masci, had both been trained to cook on board a passenger ship, and when they arrived in New York, they could not find what they believed to be authentic Abruzzo cuisine. In 1981, they decided to open their own restaurant in Greenwich Village, which was, at the time, a frightening locale. There were only eighteen tables in their intimate space, and there continues to be the same number today. Within no time, word spread to Wall Street and business people were coming "uptown" for what was considered some of the best Italian food and service anywhere. In 2012, the Mascis brothers decided it was time to sell the restaurant that had afforded them an international reputation. Although they never attempted to duplicate Il Mulino, the new management had a vision and began opening new locations, not only in New York, but in other parts of the US and abroad. As I spoke with the two extraordinary designers of the restaurant, Lee Katzoff and Rozhia Tabnak of Two Blocks East, I learned that they were hoping to appeal to an uptown crowd with the black and white photos of celebrities lining the white walls, and a burst of color coming from a dazzling bouquet of forsythia. This restaurant has a sleek, more contemporary look than the traditional decor of the Greenwich Village locale. "The food and the service must always be the stars of the overall aesthetic, " Lee explained. Therefore, they had a room constructed that complements, but does not pull the focus away from, the cuisine. The designers are also interested in capturing the spirit of the neighborhood, which is why Il Mulino Uptown has such a minimalist, modern vibe compared to the original. Every single visual detail of the restaurant has been carefully thought out by these two innovative women - from the uniforms of the waiters, to the traffic patterns from the kitchen. "It's highly emotional for us, " Lee says. Their job is to generate memories, she continued, "Every piece of the puzzle must fit into place to create an environment that people will remember for years to come. "

Who would have thought that one could find a golf club so far from a green? One of the most elite golf clubs in the world, the Links is where die-hard golf players go to eat and socialize. Charles Blair Macdonald, a golf champion and founder of the United States Golf Association, started the Links in 1917 as a place where powerful members of the golf world could keep the true spirit of the game alive. The magnificent Georgian townhouse that is home to the club was built in 1890 and features four floors and a mansard roof. There is no sign: it is only recognizable by the flags waving outside.

No one knows if there is a key to the door of the Animal Medical Center. The veterinary hospital has never needed one: it has been running for twenty-four hours each day ever since it opened in 1962. The history of AMC, however, runs deeper; Ellin Prince Speyer, the founder of the Women’s Auxiliary to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, planted the seeds of the Center in 1909 when the Auxiliary established a clinic for animals whose owners were not financially able to go to existing veterinary hospitals. The Center was a success, thus allowing the organization to begin raising funds for a permanent animal care facility. This goal was seen to fruition in 1914 when a hospital opened on the Lower East Side. In 1960, construction began on the current grounds, which is now one of the few teaching veterinary hospitals in the world. Over one thousand veterinarians from around the globe have come through training at the AMC. Upon entering the eight-floor building and seeing the tiled animal mural decorating the elevators, I was met by the Center's enthusiastic public relations person, Barbara Ross. She was eager to give me a guided tour of the facilities. As she led me through the first hallway, I met Matt, sitting in his scrubs with one hand on his computer and the other holding a small dog. This was the perfect image to set the stage for my walk. The building mirrored a human hospital, but with a more relaxed atmosphere and animals of all shapes and sizes being attended to and comforted by staff members. It was a special moment for me when I stepped into Dr. Stephen Riback's dental office, where he agreed with my initial impression: "It's more like a people hospital than an animal hospital. " I was proud to watch this warm and gentle man, whom I have known my entire life, taking care of a dog that had just been through major dental surgery. Stephen explained that he had removed some teeth from the King Charles Spaniel who had periodontal disease - which causes the bone in the dog's gums to recede from the teeth. Stephen assured me that the dog would be much happier now, and that the other organs would be saved from the ailments that often follow from progressive periodontal symptoms. The dog's adorable little tongue was clamped in a permanent lolling position, and the woman assisting in the operation made sure that his open eyes were moistened while he was sedated. Stephen went on to tell me about some of the other dental operations he has handled: he has performed root canal procedures on police dogs that break their teeth during "bite" work, and he once utilized his dental expertise on a Bengal Tiger at the Bronx Zoo. As a rule, doctors from AMC do not work at the zoos, since both Central Park and the Bronx have their own medical team. Dentistry, however, is not taught at most veterinary schools, so Stephen is often called upon for his unique skills. After saying good-bye to Stephen, I stepped back into the hallway with Barbara, where she told me about a recent case of a dog who arrived on 62nd Street blind and left being able to see after the removal of its cataracts. Clearly medical miracles are performed at AMC. On the subject of blindness, Barbara mentioned that every guide dog is treated without charge. Though animals occasionally come in for general wellness visits, for the most part they are admitted for problems that regular vets cannot handle. As Barbara said, "The animals are primarily the sickest of the sick. "Continuing on, Barbara proudly pointed out the imposing CT scan and MRI machines, and commented that "some human hospitals do not own anything close to this level of equipment. " I was then shown a series of astonishing photographs of a young horse receiving a CAT scan. Following this, Barbara led me to a hybrid operating room for interventional endoscopy and radiology, which she said is the only one of its kind in the world. And, if I had not been impressed enough, I was then made aware of the hospital's underwater treadmill that aides animals with arthritis and hip dysplasia. When I looked at Barbara in amazement, she explained that staff members entice their patients with peanut butter, thereby encouraging them to swim forward to lick this treat. This allows them to participate in physical therapy. Brilliant! Barbara shared with me that there have often been times over the decades that human physicians have collaborated with veterinarians, including teaming up with Sloan Kettering where, together, they came up with the first canine vaccine for cancer. From what I witnessed, opening their medical center in the same vicinity as what is termed Hospital Row was the perfect decision back in the 1960s. And there is no doubt that these animals are treated with the same care and professional expertise as the human patients surrounding them.

The first fully certified “green” building in Lincoln Center, the atrium features lush vertical gardens with a spectacular fountain, where visitors and local residents are invited to sit and relax in a wide open space. Additionally, there are informative wall screens, a booth to purchase Lincoln Center discounted tickets, the ‘wichcraft eatery, and the starting point for guided tours of the Lincoln Center. The David Rubenstein Atrium, formerly known as the “Harmony Atrium, ” was created through a New York program that provides designated spaces for accessible public use. David Rubenstein, in whose honor the space is named, was the Vice Chairman of Lincoln Center, as well as a philanthropist and financier.

Established in 1958, the Fifth Avenue Synagogue has been home to many Jewish spiritual leaders both from New York and Israel. It was first formed as a place of worship where the values of Orthodox Judaism would take center stage while also catering to contemporary American lifestyles. The building was designed by Percival Goodman, who called himself "an agnostic who was converted by Hitler. " The synagogue is designed in the traditional Sephardic way, with a bimah and ark in a central area and separate sections for men and women.