UES Book Rec: The Magnolia Palace

Have you heard about The Magnolia Palace? It was recommend to me by a fellow writer and a fun read for someone who lives on the Upper East Side—most of the book takes place at The Frick. I should admit that this wasn’t one of my favorite books of all time, but an easy read for someone who enjoys historical fiction and a mystery. Plus, I’ll read just about any book that takes place in NYC.

Here’s a long-ish plot synopsis found on Goodreads:

Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, twenty-one-year-old Lillian Carter's life has completely fallen apart. For the past six years, under the moniker Angelica, Lillian was one of the most sought-after artists' models in New York City, with statues based on her figure gracing landmarks from the Plaza Hotel to the Brooklyn Bridge. But with her mother gone, a grieving Lillian is rudderless and desperate—the work has dried up and a looming scandal has left her entirely without a safe haven. So when she stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansion—a building that, ironically, bears her own visage—Lillian jumps at the chance. But the longer she works as a private secretary to the imperious and demanding Helen Frick, the daughter and heiress of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick, the more deeply her life gets intertwined with that of the family—pulling her into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels, and family drama that runs so deep, the stakes just may be life or death.

Nearly fifty years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her career—and with it, earn the money she needs to support her family back home—within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of New York City's most impressive museums. But when she—along with a charming intern/budding art curator named Joshua—is dismissed from the Vogue shoot taking place at the Frick Collection, she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum: messages that will lead her and Joshua on a hunt that could not only solve Veronica's financial woes, but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in the infamous Frick family.

Tell me: What are your favorite books that take place on the UES?

UES Fall Bucket List

As much as I love summer in NYC, autumn is pretty special in the city. Here’s what I hope to check off in the neighborhood this fall.

Watch Football at East End Bar & Grill: I’m partial to this bar because I’m a Saints fan, but no matter who you’re cheering for, it’s a spot with very nice owners, plenty of space, and good food.

Watch the Float Line-Up for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: We like to sneak out early on Thanksgiving morning and cross the park to watch the floats line up. It’s a bit of an uphill hike but you’re rewarded with great views of the upcoming floats (this year we’re bringing croissants and bubbly).

Have a drink at Jeremy’s: Can’t wait for this soon-to-open cocktail bar from Schaller & Weber.

Check Out Analog City Exhibit at City Museum: This is all about pre-computer NYC (and goes through Dec 31).

Walk Around the UES on Halloween: We love to walk around the neighborhood on Halloween night and see all of the creative brownstone decorations and cute costumes. New York Simply has a great list.

Eat Apple Cider Donuts From One of the UES Greenmarkets: And maybe a hot cider. And seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Leaf Peeping in Central Park: I’m not invested enough to drive to a leaf peeping destination, but we do have a fairly nice version in our own backyard—perfect for sitting under the colorful trees with a fall-themed picnic.

Host a GTG for the NYC Marathon: We live close to the route and plan to host our first-ever get-together for the marathon with bagels and mimosas.

September 27 is Museum Day

Museum Day, a one-day event in which participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone with a ticket, is happening on September 27.

There are a handful of museums on the Upper East Side that participate in Museum Day, which includes: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; The Jewish Museum; and the Asia Society Museum.

Visitors are allowed to download one ticket per email address. The ticket provides free general admission on Saturday, September 17, 2022, for two people. Get your tickets here.

A Fun Thing: Ceramics at 92NY

I love the 92nd Street Y, or what’s now known as 92NY. You can always find a cool lecture by an incredible author, chef, celebrity, etc. And they have tons of great classes, too. Over the past decade, I’ve taken the ceramics sessions a few times and it’s one of my favorite-ever things to do in the neighborhood.

The 92NY studio is one of the best in the city with 25 electric wheels, a gas reduction kiln, and three electric kilns. The classes are small and you’ll get plenty of time with the instructor—and in pre-Covid days, students would bring wine and snacks for a convivial vibe—let’s hope that comes back soon.

This is a fun activity to do as a couple (my husband took one of the sessions with me), friends, or solo. I love that it’s a chance to spend a few hours without a cell phone (your hands will always be in clay!), chatting with fellow students who all want to make pretty art. Plus, your apartment will be filled with a million tiny bowls.

Steve Cohen the Magician is Magical

Image Credit: Chamber Magic

I should point out that this is not 100 percent on the Upper East Side, but it’s close and it’s worth every extra block. Steve Cohen the Magician has been performing for celebrities and other notables for the past 20 years. His show, Chamber Magic, is now the resident magic show at the Lotte New York Palace hotel (on Madison and 51st), and was one of the most fun nights we’ve had in a long time. Full disclosure, I’m not really into magic, but this performance is incredible.

The 90-minute show is held in a parlor, just off The Gold Room, and cocktail attire is encouraged, making it feel like a special occasion. I wish we would have made time to have a pre-dinner cocktail at the bar. The show is adults-only and limited to 64 people so that the environment feels intimate and elegant. 

Without giving away any secrets, Cohen has worked to recreate parlor entertainment that was popular in Manhattan’s early 20th century, when magicians were invited into the homes of wealthy patrons to entertain friends and family. This event feels like you’ve stepped back in time before iPhones, when an audience is captivated by entertainers. Cohen has a psychology degree from Cornell University and studied at Waseda University in Tokyo. He also holds the rank of Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, awarded by The Magic Circle in London. He’s performed for loads of celebs like Warren Buffet, Martha Stewart, Tracy Morgan, Buzz Aldrin, Stephen Sondheim, the Queen of Monaco, and royal family members, to name a few. His tricks, in a nutshell, are mind bending (especially the Think-a-Drink). If you’re going to do one new thing in NYC this year, I highly recommend this. It would also be really fun for visiting guests.

Chamber Magic is held twice every Friday and Saturday. Shows take place at Lotte New York Palace hotel. Tickets start at $125; get them here.

The Perfect Picnic in Central Park

One of my favorite things about living on the Upper East Side is the proximity to Central Park. Since moving to NYC in 2007, the only other place we’ve lived was on Ave C in the East Village for one year, and while I loved that neighborhood, too, I really missed going to the park. 

One of our favorite activities is having a picnic in Central Park. There certainly aren’t any rules to picnicking in the park, but there are a few things that I like to bring and do. 

First, decide when you’re having a picnic. We’ve done brunch/am picnics with bagels from Tal, cream cheese spreads, lox, and mimosas. You can have a lunch picnic, where we’ll often stop at Milano’s for Italian sandwiches and grab-and-go sides. Or, you could do the aperitivo picnic, where we’ll bring along wine or canned cocktails and small apps like chips, nuts, cheese and crackers etc. 

Over the years, we’ve rounded out out picnic gear to include the following, which makes it more festive and fun, but there’s still not too much to carry.

Wine and snack tray: This tray is fun and functional. I purchased this one on Amazon for a gift and it’s perfect for a bottle of wine and a sturdy table for a few snacks. Plus, it’s easy to carry, and folds up to fit easily in our tiny apartment.

Picnic backpack: I love the idea of a basket, but this backpack has proven to be a lot more practical. This thing has everything you need for a picnic for four people including an insulated cooler for food storage, waterproof blanket, wine cooler, wine opener, cutting board, cheese knife, plates, glasses, cloth napkins, and cutlery.

A portable speaker for tunes: We’ve had a few portable speakers over the years and this one is by-far the best—plus, it’s a fraction of the price of a Bose or other brand name. This speaker is waterproof and the battery lasts forever.

That’s all, just take off your shoes (sneakers make for the perfect cup holder), and chill out with a picnic in Central Park.

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Date Night at The Met

Every Friday and Saturday night, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., is now Date Night at The Met. The concept was introduced last spring and has continued through the summer months (and perhaps beyond). We visited on one of the initial Friday evenings, and meandered the museum while sipping cocktails, listening to live music, and checking out the 5,000 years of art.

A note from the Met: Events and performers are subject to change. All events are free with Museum admission, which is always pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and NY, NJ, and CT students with valid ID. (Pay-what-you-wish tickets can only be reserved in person; allow extra time for lines.)