Graphic Bubble Umbrellas, Downtown Nail Boutiques, and More New Stuff in New York Stores -- New York Magazine

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Best Bets: Week of April 4, 2016

  • By Lauren Schwartzberg
  • Published Apr 3, 2016

First Look
On April 11, the old Steinway Building at 1133 Sixth Avenue will become Steinway and Sons' new flagship, including a recital hall.


(Photo: Chris Payne; Illustrations: Jason Lee)

1. Lounge: A living-room-like space to experience the Spirio piano, which stores and replays live performances.
2. Recital hall: 74 seats, with recording and live-streaming capabilities to broadcast recitals and master classes.
3. Designer pianos: A rotating display of one-off hand-painted pianos like Frank Pollaro’s “The Fibonacci.”
4. Rehearsal space: A practice room for Steinway artists like Billy Joel and Diana Krall to use before concerts.
5. Spencer Finch art: A sculpture based on J. S. Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” and Newton’s theory of color and music.
6. Retail: Every Steinway piano from the Model D concert grand ($162,000) to the Model O living-room grand ($79,400).

2x2: Graphic Bubble Umbrellas
Under the dome.


(Photo: Courtesy of the vendors)

Allover print
Digital: Stripe by Urban Outfitters, $24 at urbanoutfitters.com.
Animal: Goldfish by Galleria Umbrellas & Gifts, $30 at amazon.com.


(Photo: Courtesy of the vendors)

Border print
Digital: Yippy by ShedRain, $32 at shedrain.com.
Animal: Recast butterflies by Totes, $32 at totes.com.

Ask a Shop Clerk
Shawn Schwartz just reopened his record shop Halcyon in a new space inside the dance club Output (74 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg).


(Photo: Illustration: Murphy Lippincott)

Is the shop open the same hours as the club? Even longer. We’re also open during the day. Less busy at night, but people will come in from the club at 2 a.m. for our Roberta’s pizza, wander around our 5,000 house and techno records, and end up with a new one like Frank & Tony’s
Waiting Ground ($11).





Side by Side
Two new downtown nail boutiques — a custom-polish store, a niche salon — for healthier manicures.


The Polish Pit (on left) and Van Court Studio.  
(Photo: Courtesy of the vendors)

The Polish Pit
59 Franklin St.
Customer: Low-key bachelorette parties (you can BYO wine and beer to create-your-own-polish events).
Polish: Formaldehyde-free polish bases are customized with powder and liquid pigments (from $12.50).
Services: Weekly polish parties and, coming soon, an on-staff manicurist who can do you up in that custom color.

Van Court Studio
90 Water St., second fl.
Customer: Women in finance who need to squeeze in 7 a.m. prework appointments.
Polish: Nontoxic options from independent brands like the vegan LVX and Brooklyn-based Floss Gloss.
Services: Personalized treatments like “See Spot Run” skin-renewing manicures for sun-damaged hands ($65).

IRL
Four years after launching Adore Me, Morgan Hermand-Waiche will open the online lingerie brand’s first appointment-only showroom in his office’s conference room�(205 W. 39th St., 16th fl.).


(Photo: Courtesy of the vendor)

“We became a popular online destination because we offer such a wide size range — from 30A to 38H! Now that we have our first store, instead of filling out an online style profile that directs you to the proper products, you’ll talk to an expert who will help explain, say, that the soft boning in the leather-accented Scarlett Plus corset ($50) is better for bigger sizes; the lacy light-blue Aria Unlined ($40) wears like a supportive bralette, and it’s great for petites. Now they can see and touch everything, and we can get immediate feedback.”



Top Five
Creative director Shane Schneck on his most innovative triangle ladles, melamine bowls, and minimalist�trivets, now available at his online kitchen-goods shop, Ommo (ommo.com).


(Photo: Courtesy of the vendor)

“The Hoop is a multifunctional serving ring ($33) that deconstructs into three parts. It’s good for edamame with soy sauce.”










(Photo: Courtesy of the vendor)

“We just got a patent on this silicone trivet ($19). It’s really grippy, so when you set a glass casserole dish on it, you can actually scoop out the casserole.”










(Photo: Courtesy of the vendor)

“Buoy is a tea infuser ($17) where the stem also acts as a handle; it can hang on the side of the teapot.”












(Photo: Courtesy of the vendor)

“This bowl ($40) is produced from melamine, which is a heavy, old plastic, and we used a matte surface so that the whole thing almost feels like terra cotta.”










(Photo: Courtesy of the vendor)

“The typical ladle needs a little beak to direct the pour, but the soft triangular shape of this one ($9) allows the liquid to come out the side in a directed way.”