Four Seasons restaurant, Seagram Building, New York
1 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 7/31/2008 05:14:00 PM.
The Seagram Building, built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, in collaboration with Philip Johnson and was completed in 1958. It is 515 feet tall with 38 stories. It stands as one of the finest examples of the functionalist aesthetic and a masterpiece of corporate modernism. It is also the location of The Four Seasons Restaurant, designed by Mies van der Rohe and Johnson. Its interiors have been maintained as they were when it opened in 1959.
The restaurant was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission as an interior landmark in 1989. It is known as much for its clientèle as its food, with its Midtown location making it convenient for power lunches.
On our third night in NY, we had dinner at this fabulous place. Thank god Erik and me arrived on time to keep our table, as my parents unfortunately got mixed up when giving driving directions to the cab driver, and got sent to the four Seasons Hotel. They made it back to the right place just in time.
A few evenings later a similar problem happened to Erik and Me, as we got the time schedule for dinner mixed up and arrived at the River café an hour later than my parents.
Anyway, let's start our picture tour:
On our third night in NY, we had dinner at this fabulous place. Thank god Erik and me arrived on time to keep our table, as my parents unfortunately got mixed up when giving driving directions to the cab driver, and got sent to the four Seasons Hotel. They made it back to the right place just in time.
A few evenings later a similar problem happened to Erik and Me, as we got the time schedule for dinner mixed up and arrived at the River café an hour later than my parents.
Anyway, let's start our picture tour:
The architect Johnson spent 4.5 million dollars on the interior for this place, which is quite an impressive sum to invest into a restaurant
wonderfully draped curtains bending in the silent air of the air conditioning
the four trees in the Pool Room
the chef of the Four Seasons is Christian Albin. He sure knows how to prepare the best American foie gras I ever ate
attentioned staff in every corner
historic seating
the Pool Room and its white marble pool set in between four seasonally changing trees, giving the name to the restaurant
in between meals
our italian maitre d' was the delight of the entire evening, explaining us the difference between a martini cocktail and a martini in bottled version... at the end we got free martinis!
the fish in all its deliciousness
a huge cotton candy ball as complementary dessert
preparing the ducks
leaving the Pool Room
the wine cellar
the empty grill room, already gone to sleep on this late hour
Richard Lippold sculpture installed in the Front Bar
heading downstairs and bidding farewell to the temple of American cuisine
Labels: food, Holiday Travels, Interiors, New York, restaurants
The Meatpacking District, officially known as Gansevoort Market, was home to 250 slaughterhouses and packing plants, but by the 1980s, it had also become known as a center for drug dealing and prostitution, particularly transsexuals.
Beginning in the late 1990s, the Meatpacking District went through a transformation. High-end boutiques such as Diane von Furstenberg, Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, restaurants such as Pastis and Buddha Bar, and nightclubs, all have recently opened in order to cater to young professionals and hipsters. In 2004, New York magazine called the Meatpacking District "New York’s most fashionable neighborhood".
By 2003, only 35 of the 250 slaughterhouses and packing plants present a century earlier remained in the area.
Clean renovated housefronts, a sign of gentrification
ads spreading all over the buildings
one of the original butchers streets with its warehouses
the door to a restaurant
cobblestones are still visible in many parts of the streets (spot the spoon in this one)
urban art is also very well represented in these streets
we even came across this piece by obey giant and the one in the other picture by WK interact; as some may remember I posted a piece about their Paris show at galerie Agnes B.
a restaurant named after a french river, also quite close to pastis restaurant... this area is really hip on frenchies
da bomb
a steakhouse, not an usual sight in this area
reconverted offices and storage spaces, transformed into hip lofts for the bemoneyed finance workers
Labels: Architecture shot, Art, Holiday Travels, New York, urban art
Before it being closed down on the 29th of June last month, Erik and me paid a visit or two, to mythic "Florent" diner in New York's historic Meatpacking District, also referred to by locals as a "mecca of cool". Rising rents and cost of living in this area rose, and pushed the diner's owner Florent Morellet to this decision.
"Florent" was a place where a diverse crowd of students, artists and celebrities such as Calvin Klein, Amy Winehouse or Lou Reed would come together, in a place formerly known as a butchers and prostitutes district...
The front sign got its 'L' letter taken away, making the place up 'fo' rent
mhh morning coffee
a quite empty place in the mornings
vintageness of the barstools
all that's fit for the news. Note the Sarkozy part at the bottom
and a NY toilet makes a first guest appearance on this blog's toilet collection
in fact, I did!
before readjusting my hair
after a full NY breakfast, we were ready for a little excursion to Philadelphia
so let's head back to the station! You must take the A train!
Labels: diners of New York, Erik stuff, Holiday Travels, New York, photography
