Summer Restaurant Week is in full swing, and though there are plenty of hot spots across the city to choose from, you may start regretting that text you sent to the group chat a few weeks ago along the lines of: “Omg we HAVE to do Restaurant Week!”
Before your gourmand group of friends turn hangry, whip out their iMessage history, and start bickering about those reservations you promised you’d make, do yourself a favor and consider dining with a group as a blessing in disguise – just think of all the dishes you can sample! Palliate your worries (and later on, satiate your appetite) by exploring our guide to the ultimate squad-worthy restaurants to wine and dine. The more the merrier, right?
With three outposts bringing affordable steaks and innovative bites to the Insta-crowd across the city, there’s probably a Quality Eats in whichever hood your group prefers. Nevertheless, the new NoMad location, which opened earlier this year, is definitely a crowd-pleaser. Spacious booths and banquettes provide plenty of room for a party of five, while neon art and tableware provide plenty of photo opportunities. A win on both ends!
Legasea combines a top-tier seafood prix fixe menu, which includes Spicy Crab Beignets, Flounder Francaise, and Seafood Marinara Pasta, with a young, hip crowd at the Moxy Times Square. Tell your girls to dress their best and get ready to see and be seen.
Located at the Dream Downtown, Bodega Negra is offering a prix fixe menu that incorporates dishes from their newly revamped summer menu. Serving ceviche, tacos and a variety of options that pair perfectly with Bodega Negra’s selection of tequila cocktails, this always-jumpin’ Mexican spot is bound to elevate any group dining experience.
Narcissa features a rotating menu of upscale farm-to-table fare as well as an always-chic crowd. It boasts a large main dining room (perfect for groups), and a charming private garden for an al fresco experience capturing summertime vibes. You and your crew can dine on fluke ceviche with Florida citrus and papaya, skirt steak with grilled summer fruits and chimichurri, and a cheesecake sundae with seasonal ice cream, rhubarb jam, black walnut.
Chef Charlie Palmer’s Aureole has been a fancy NYC staple for almost three decades, but the Liberty Room provides a more casual night on the town experience for you and your friends. Try the marinated heirloom tomatoes with Vermont mozzarella and basil pesto, organic chicken breast with rainbow Swiss chard and purple potatoes, and the vanilla sponge cake with berries, spearmint and ice cream.
A speakeasy of a restaurant and watering hole, Beauty & Essex is always a fun time with your group of well-heeled ladies. Wine and dine with your squad and enjoy offerings from the scrumptious signature menu of international small plates along with dry-aged steaks and raw bar offerings. Oh and do be sure to leave room for the restaurant’s decadent desserts.
The Breslin Bar features a meat-centric menu that embraces unique cuisine methodologies at their Flatiron District gastropub. Executive chef April Bloomfield is serving up bites like braised shin of beef with polenta and black cabbage, stuffed pig’s foot (for two), and a chargrilled lamb burger with cumin mayo. Not the best option if there’s a vegan in your group…
True to its name, this cozy Brooklyn eatery serves up buttermilk ricotta, a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, and buttermilk fried chicken with cheddar waffles. Come one, come all, any time of day for your share of drool-worthy comfort food.
Need a night out with the boys? The Capital Grille serves classic steak house offerings such as chops, large North Atlantic lobsters and fresh seafood in an atmosphere with art deco chandeliers and rich mahogany. It’s an elegant, old school New York classic.
Winter, spring, summer, fall—for every season, the eatery Park Avenue changes its name, appearance and menu, taking the concept of seasonal cuisine to new heights. Stop in for a taste of summer!
Thanks, no doubt, to the dawning of the age of Kardashian, big booties have never been more covetable (although, hey, Sir Mix-a-Lot knew the deal way ahead of his time).
While the widely-accepted way to amp up your derriere has always been le squat, it’s not always the most effective. Sure, squats definitely help build muscle (in your glutes and quads), however, it is all too easy to turn your squat into a quad-dominate exercise – especially if you’re using weights. Long story short, you’re working the wrong part of your body.
So how do we make sure to target that gluteus maximus? This new dream machine is a start…
The DB Method (DB as in ‘Dream Butt’) was created by Erika Rayman to improve your backside with a machine that isolates the glutes, and stabilizes your hips and core. The best part? It’s super affordable, compact, and portable enough to take on vacation. That explains why a jet-setter like Khloe Kardashian herself has already fallen in love with it.
A home gym must-have, the DB Method is also a great all-in-one, as you can also utilize it to tone everything from your obliques to your arms. Add it to your daily workout routine for at least 10 minutes and you’ll start seeing the difference.
Of course consistency is key, so no skipping days! Get ready to feel (and look) like a Kardashian (no lip fillers required).
“It is our responsibility to engage,” Harvard’s new president said at Thursday’s Institute of Politics event in Washington, D.C. “It’s our responsibility to work on behalf of others less fortunate.”
Photos by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
Harvard’s new leader tells audience he’ll be a vocal advocate for public service, higher education
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During one of his first public events as the University’s 29th leader, Harvard President Larry Bacowsignaled Thursday evening that he will be a steadfast advocate for public service and higher education.
As president, Bacow said he plans to advocate not just for Harvard but “for all of higher education, for the enduring values of colleges and universities which have enabled the American dream for so many of us, because it’s important that we not let that dream die. It’s important that each of us commit ourselves to work to ensure that the next generation has opportunity just as we have enjoyed.”
His remarks came during a reception at the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington. The event was the latest annual summer gathering organized by the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Institute of Politics’ (IOP) Summer in Washington Program, which helps introduce Harvard undergraduates working as interns or research assistants to the range of careers and experiences available in politics and public service.
The capital event held special resonance for Bacow. More than 40 years ago, he and his wife, Adele, spent their first summer as a married couple working in the city. The experience inspired them to consider working in the government after they finished graduate school, he told the crowd in his brief remarks. “But life intervened, as it sometimes does,” said Bacow, who instead headed to Cambridge as a two-year, adjunct faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “And two years turned into 24 years.”
The son of Holocaust-era refugees who arrived in the U.S. after World War II, Bacow said he is one of the countless college graduates whose life was “transformed by the opportunity to get an education” and by the doors that opened for him because of that.
Bacow speaks with Jessica Edwards and Eric Jjemba, both ’21.
The president’s predecessor, Drew Faust, often promoted public service and was a leading supporter of higher education. With his remarks, Bacow signaled he would continue that unwavering commitment.
Bacow, M.P.P. ’76, J.D. ’76, Ph.D. ’78, said he was blessed to have studied at Harvard and acknowledged that a Harvard education carries great responsibility.
“It is our responsibility to engage. It’s our responsibility to work on behalf of others less fortunate. It’s our responsibility to carry a mantle of public service which was so eloquently stated by the president for whom [the Harvard Kennedy School] is named,” said Bacow.
Such work, he said, isn’t divided along party lines or by political ideologies.
“We all have to work together: liberals, conservatives, Democrats, Republicans. It is our responsibility to make sure that we leave this country and this world a better place than we found it. It is an honor beyond words to be part of this journey together with each and every one of you. Thank you for what all of you do for Harvard, for what each of you do for the country. I look forward to working with you in the years to come.”
Bacow meets with Kevin Ogonuwe ’21, as well as Mahnoor Ali (from left), Malvika Menon, and Asma Elgamal, all ’19.
Art and hors d’oeuvres
The nearly 500 guests at the two-hour event had access to the galleries as well as the remarks by Bacow in the museum’s Luce Foundation Center. The space there is covered by block-long skylights and showcases more than 3,300 works of art on two levels, including sculptures, portraits, craft jewelry, and paintings from the 18th‒20th centuries.
Attendees snacked as they strolled through the nearby Great Hall, a vaulted space adorned with late-19th-century architectural highlights. One nearby gallery featured portraits, including a rendering of former first lady Michelle Obama by artist Amy Sherald. Nearby were portraits of Harvard’s E.O. Wilson, Pellegrino University Professor Emeritus, and of author and Harvard honorand Toni Morrison.
Lisa Fitzpatrick is an epidemiologist and infectious-diseases physician who received her master’s in public administration from the Kennedy School’s mid-career program in 2015 and currently runs a health literacy and patient-engagement business for individuals from low-income backgrounds. She was invited by the director of admissions at HKS to meet Bacow, and said beforehand that she was looking forward “to seeing who he is, and seeing what he does. I wish him luck and I also hope that he is able to emphasize service across all the Schools at Harvard because I think it’s really important, no matter what School you are in.”
Meeting, greeting, and connecting
For more than an hour, Bacow and his wife wandered amid the crowd, connecting with old friends, shaking hands with well-wishers, and warmly greeting students, alumni, political pundits, media representatives, and members of Congress, including U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, M.P.P. ’73, J.D. ’82, of Rhode Island, a friend since their student days at the Kennedy School.
A few minutes later, Bacow chatted with U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, M.P.P. ’85, of Maryland, and introduced himself to U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey ’84 of Pennsylvania, and to Toomey’s daughter Bridget, who will attend the College in the fall.
“This is my first time meeting President Bacow. He is a very, very charming and engaging man and obviously enormously accomplished, so I am looking forward to getting to know him and learning about his vision for Harvard,” said Sen. Toomey. “Harvard is a unique and really important institution for America, and so the leadership of Harvard is really important too.”
As he made his way around the room Bacow frequently stopped for photos, even appearing in a brief smartphone video for Harvard College students and IOP members Grace Bannister ’21 and Diego Garcia ’20, who were posting to the University account. Bannister, who is spending her summer interning for U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, liked that Bacow kicked off the segment with a Yale joke. “He is pretty funny,” said Bannister.
Garcia, a government concentrator working for the summer at Quorum Analytics, a big-data startup founded by Harvard undergraduates, said Bacow’s presence sent an important message. “I really feel that we are being appreciated and that we are getting a lot of important [attention] by the fact that President Bacow is here … in Washington, D.C., to celebrate public service and the work we are doing.”
Carlos Díaz-Rosillo, M.P.P. ’98, A.M. ’03, Ph.D. ’09, the senior deputy chairman and chief operating officer at the National Endowment for the Humanities who until recently was director of policy and interagency coordination for the Trump administration, said he was thrilled to be part of the Thursday celebration. Prior to working in the White House, Díaz-Rosillo spent 20 years at Harvard pursuing his degrees and serving as a government lecturer and Dunster House resident dean.
“What better way to celebrate public service than to have the president of the University do his first public event in the nation’s capital with alums who are doing amazing work?” said Díaz-Rosillo.
Bacow with his wife, Adele, and at the podium.
Two of Bacow’s former Kennedy School classmates said the Michigan native’s intellect, humility, and temperament make him a perfect choice to lead Harvard. “Personality-wise, everybody is going to get along with him. He knows how to get people together,” said Joseph B. Tompkins Jr., M.P.P. ’75. Susan J. Irving, M.P.P. ’74, Ph.D. ’77, said she hoped Bacow would help dispel any misconception that Harvard is for the elites. “It’s hard to meet Larry and think snob,” said Irving, since “it doesn’t fit.”
The importance of service
Support from the Kennedy School’ summer program enabled current IOP Director Mark Gearan ’78 to intern as an undergraduate in the office of the late U.S. Rep. Robert Drinan in 1978. He called the experience life-changing. An IOP-backed internship or research position “opens the doors of possibility, it opens the window of service across the spectrum politically” for undergrads, said Gearan, “and I think is yet one more testament to Harvard’s mission of really working toward creating citizen leadership in our country.”
Before Bacow spoke, Christabel Narh ’18, the IOP’s summer program coordinator, addressed the crowd. Narh moved to the U.S. from Ghana at age 9 and quickly took advantage of the country’s education system. At Harvard she worked with the IOP, and with the Phillips Brooks House Association helping vulnerable women and children in Boston.
“Harvard gave me the opportunity to engage in direct service and social action as a means to promote social change and combat the harmful effects of power imbalances within our society,” said Narh.
2 1⁄2 cups very ripe strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 cup (8 ounces) water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
2 tablespoons agave syrup
1⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger
COOLERS
1 cup (8 ounces) white rum
1 cup (8 ounces) dark rum
Orange bitters
Crushed ice
2 cups (16 ounces) ginger beer
1 orange, cut into 8 wedges
How to Make It
Step 1
Bring the strawberries, 1 cup water, lime juice, agave syrup, and ginger to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-low. Cook until mixture is fragrant and strawberries are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool completely, about 1 hour.
Step 2
Transfer the strawberry mixture to a blender. Process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 5 days. Makes about 2 cups.
Step 3
For each cooler, combine 1⁄4 cup Strawberry-Rum Cooler Base, 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) white rum, 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) dark rum, and 6 dashes of bitters in a mixing glass, and top with ice. Stir mixture until ice dilutes the liquid into a smooth puree. Pour over crushed ice, and top with 1⁄4 cup ginger beer. Garnish with an orange wedge.
Serve With
This is a seasonal beverage and can be served with any seasonal item spring and summer.
Peak-season tomatoes make all the difference in this simple bruschetta from author Susan Spungen. They’re the perfect accompaniment to a bowl of soup or a large salad, or, to turn them into two-bite hors d’oeuvres, simply cut the bruschetta crosswise into strips.
Ingredients
10 ounces multicolored cherry tomatoes
2 garlic cloves, thickly sliced
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Kosher salt
Pepper
4 thin slices of pancetta
32 sage leaves
1 pound fresh ricotta cheese
8 slices of country bread, cut 1/4-inch thick and toasted
Flaky sea salt, for serving
How to Make It
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 325°. In a bowl, toss the tomatoes with the garlic and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil; season with kosher salt and pepper. Transfer the tomatoes to one side of a parchment-lined baking sheet and lay the pancetta slices out on the other side. Bake for 25 minutes, until the pancetta is crisp. Transfer the pancetta to paper towels to drain, then crumble.
Step 2
Roast the tomatoes for about 10 more minutes, until bursting and lightly caramelized. Transfer the tomatoes and any rendered fat from the pancetta to a bowl.
Step 3
Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil over moderately high heat. Add the sage and fry until bright green and crisp, 30 to 45 seconds. Drain the sage on paper towels; reserve the oil for another use.
Step 4
Spread the ricotta on the toasts and top with the tomatoes and crumbled pancetta. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and pepper and top the toasts with the sage leaves. Serve immediately.
1/2 cup crushed kettle-cooked potato chips, plus whole chips for serving
How to Make It
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375°. In a medium bowl, blend the mayonnaise, cheese, 1/4 cup chives and the lemon juice. Fold in the lobster and season with salt and pepper. Scrape the dip into a small shallow baking dish and scatter the crushed potato chips on top.
Step 2
Bake the dip for about 15 minutes, until hot and lightly browned on top. Serve with kettle-cooked potato chips.
Make Ahead
The unbaked dip can be covered and refrigerated overnight. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before baking.
Recipe by: JUSTIN CHAPPLE
Justin Chapple transforms the ingredients of a classic lobster roll into a genius dip. We like it best scooped up with crunchy kettle-cooked potato chips but toasted slices of brioche hot dogs buns are just as delicious.
Preheat the oven to 325° and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly coat a large bowl and 2 large spoons with nonstick spray. Spread the almonds on the baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, until golden. Transfer to the prepared bowl. Leave the oven on.
Step 2
In a small saucepan, combine the corn syrup with the salt, pimentón de la Vera, piment d’Espelette and 1 tablespoon of water. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until hot and thin, 3 to 5 minutes. Immediately drizzle the hot syrup over the almonds and, using the greased spoons, toss to coat.
Step 3
Spread the almonds on the parchment paper–lined baking sheet; bake for 10 minutes, until coated in a sticky glaze; stir the almonds twice during baking. Return the nuts to the greased bowl and let cool, stirring occasionally to separate them.
Make Ahead
The almonds can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
This luxury beachfront villa in the Dominican Republic is creating waves, literally.
One word can sum up this entire property – WOW! It certainly does have the “WOW Factor”, in a Caribbean sort of way. Not sure if I could live in ‘The Wave’ full time, but it would make one great vacation home.
The Madrid-based architectural group A-cero Studio led by Joaquin Torres has slowly but surely cemented (literally) a reputation for designing private houses with intrinsic artistic value. It’s latest home ‘The Wave’ in Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic. Just steps from the beach on a private stretch of coastline, is a home inspired by the surf, literally…to call this just some nice Dominican Republic real estate, is not doing it justice.
Dramatic curves are everywhere, from the monolithic entrance, which sweeps upward from the ground to the Nike swoosh-like roof. Constructed from blocks of Coralline (coral), its curves are accentuated by the Caribbean sunshine as the stone shines bright white in contrast to the shadow.
Vast windows that open to the beach are complemented by internal gardens, giving the house on open-air feel. Seating areas and bespoke Coralline furniture are gracefully sunken into the ground. The waves of the external architecture can be seen only in the artistic frames given to the ocean views. And the pool, please! It’s one of the best I have ever seen. Feels like the sea spills into this cement pond.
Interiors and furniture are designed by A-cero and made to measurement; practically the whole production was done in Spain. The stone of exterior Coralline interferes inside to offer visual continuity, and there is this material adapted for the warm present climate the whole year. The entire house is opened to the outside with big, practical and extra large windows.
If you like wide open spaces, simplicity and casual elegance with an ocean view, this place is perfection in paradise.
The New Hacienda Club at Hacienda Pinilla in Costa Rica Launches Luxury Private Residence Club Offering Resort Living… at a Fraction of the Cost
Palms International Realty and Costa Rica’s premier beach and golf resort community dd fractional ownership in Costa Rica via a private residence club giving those seeking a luxury vacation home in CR the good life at a fraction of the price.
Hacienda Pinilla, Costa Rica’s largest beach and golf resort community, announces the launch of the much anticipated Hacienda Club, a private residence club offering a luxurious and carefree way to own a vacation home. The new Residence Club is based on the proven fractional ownership model, the fastest growing segment of vacation home ownership today. The Hacienda Club allows buyers to purchase deeded and titled shares of a luxury vacation home in one of Costa Rica’s most popular coastal destinations.
The Hacienda Club’s spacious three- and four-bedroom Spanish Colonial Villas are fully furnished and beautifully appointed by one of Costa Rica’s top interior design firms offering seamless turnkey ownership. While whole ownership of these luxury Colonial style villas are priced over $750,000, a deeded and titled private residence club share at the exclusive Hacienda Club starts at only $98,000. Additionally, based on availability, owners can use their Hacienda Club Villa whenever it’s available under a fair and equitable reservation program that has been in place at over 60 Private Residence Clubs worldwide since 1992.
Hacienda Pinilla, a 4,500-acre resort development in the Guanacaste area of Costa Rica boasting 3-miles of spectacular coastline, offers a wide selection of luxury residential property choices complemented by a host of world-class amenities. Each owner at the Hacienda Club also receives a golf membership at Hacienda Pinilla’s championship course designed by noted architect Mike Young, as well as membership in the popular Beach Club situated on the shores of Playa Avellanas, voted one of the top ten beaches in Central America with an equally impressive surf break.
Owners at the exclusive Hacienda Club also enjoy a range of personalized concierge services comparable to those offered by luxury boutique hotels. Quite simply, everything is ready for an owner upon arrival, with all needs and desires satisfied by the club’s professional staff throughout your stay from pre-arrival grocery shopping, daily housekeeping to booking tee times, handling restaurant reservations, adventure and fishing tours.
One signature service of the Hacienda Club is the exclusive “Day at the Beach,” a popular service provided by the residence club’s staff. According to Deborah Landon, Manager of the Hacienda Club. “We set up our owners and their guests in a private spot at one of our three beaches with everything needed for a great day at the beach, from chairs, umbrellas and a stocked picnic basket, to surfboards,” she says. “Everything is waiting and set up when you arrive and then cleaned up when your day at the beach is done, typically after one of our amazing Costa Rica sunrises.” Ownership at the Hacienda Club is truly the most luxurious vacation home experience you can have in Costa Rica.”
For more information on the Hacienda Club at Hacienda Pinilla, contact Palms International Real Estate Costa Rica at 239-243-0791 or Info@PalmsIntlCR.com.
To learn more about the Hacienda Club, please visit PalmsRealtyCr.com.
There is a big new development in the tiny Central American jewel of Belize. Introducing the first sustainable master-planned community in Southern Belize, Kanantik Belize is a private 5,800-acre gated community boasting 2,800 residential home sites and 200 Beachfront Condominiums on the sparkling Caribbean. With a commitment to low-impact design and exclusive luxury amenities, Kanantik Belize brings a new standard to sustainable luxury living in the Caribbean.
Real Estate in Belize just got even hotter.
The Residences at Kanantik, near the Kanatik Resort feature unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea and the second longest barrier reef in the world. , Property owners and vacationers alike will be able to enjoy Belize’s only 18-hole Championship Golf Course, a Culinary Institute with farm-to-table restaurant, and even their very own private island perched on Belize’s famous coral reef.
Offered by Mango Springs Development, Kanatik Belize is ideal for buyers who want to preserve the raw beauty of Belize’s ecosystem while embarking on the opportunity to invest in property at a luxury residential and golf course resort community offering an unparalleled living experience, with the added benefits that arise from Belize’s surging real estate market.
“The result is a stunning model, where affordability intersects casual luxury, and ways to protect Belize’s natural resources while enjoying its immense treasures are built into daily life,” said Luke Chadwick, founder, Mango Springs Development.
In addition to the only 18-hole golf course in Belize, designed by Casey O’Callaghan, property owners at Kanantik Belize will also enjoy access to a host of other exclusive amenities. From lounging under shaded cabanas on a 7.5-acre private island with its own Island Club to sipping cocktails at the Caribbean and Cuban inspired “Rumbar”, Kanantik Belize brings you every opportunity for adventure and relaxation.
Kanantik also features its very own rum distillery, multiple restaurants, a private 80-acre organic farm, and Belize’s only hospitality and culinary institute. Avid sea-lovers and boaters will enjoy a 4,500 foot boat dock.
Setting the bar for sustainable luxury living in the Caribbean, Kanantik is the first resort of its kind in Belize and aims to lure investors and international real estate buyers with an impressive portfolio of low-impact, high-end properties accentuated by unmatched amenities in a spectacular tropical setting.
Investors interested in purchasing property at Kanantik Belize have access to easy in-house developer financing, including mortgage financing with competitive rates. Phase 1 of Kanantik Belize is now open to investors.
