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    48 Hours in New York

    New York – a relatively young city by world standards – has a lot going for it, including more than 100 illustrious museums, 24,000 restaurants in Manhattan alone and of course, some pretty famous inhabitants. In its short life, it’s managed to become the undisputed cultural capital of the United States as well as bagging a spot as a leading fashion capital.

    And seeing as the Luca Faloni team are big fans of the East Coast metropolis, it was only a matter of time before we took our first steps stateside, to offer our brand of Italian style to the good American public. So, to celebrate our first US store on 386 West Broadway New York 10012, we thought we’d narrow down the endless distractions of the Big Apple and highlight our favourite spots to hit if you’re on a flying visit to the City that never Sleeps.

    Luca Faloni, 386 West Broadway - 10012
    Luca Faloni, 386 West Broadway - 10012
    Luca Faloni, 386 West Broadway - 10012
    Luca Faloni, 386 West Broadway - 10012

    The Hotel: The Marlton

    The Marlton feels refreshingly different to the flashy towers and plush old-school establishments that have long set the standard for luxury in New York. It’s been described by Conde Nast Traveller as a “A cosy refuge in the heart of Greenwich Village” – which is a statement in itself as the Big Apple is seldom described as such. Glitzy, showy, oversized, chi-chi, yes, but certainly not cosy. It’s hard to believe when you step inside the lobby that this place was once described as a ‘fleapit’, when it was the residence of Jack Kerouac – the original rebel Beatnik – feminist writer Valerie Solanas was living when she pulled a gun on Andy Warhol in 1968. But despite its luxe revamp as a pseudo-Edwardian-style villa, it manages to retain its Bohemian charm – albeit with considerably more polish – from the wood-burning fireplace in the lobby and antique rugs to the bijoux rooms and a restaurant that serves ‘Amish’ rotisserie chicken as a signature dish. The result is a smart cultural amalgam and mix of epochs that is distinctly NYC.

    The Marlton Hotel, 5 West 8th Street, New York
    The Marlton Hotel, 5 West 8th Street, New York
    The Marlton Hotel, 5 West 8th Street, New York
    The Marlton Hotel, 5 West 8th Street, New York

    The Restaurant: Via Carota

    There’s no better city to get a slice of traditional Italian cuisine than New York. With its rich, celebrated history of Italian culture and community, New York offers a window into the truest of Italian traditions and lifestyles.

    Situated in the West Village, the Via Carota restaurant is the brainchild of award-winning chefs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams. Having claimed the James Beard Award for Best Chefs in the city back in 2019, the restaurant captures the essence of its Italian roots, inspired by a 17th-century villa on the outskirts of Florence that Sodi once called home.

    A menu delivering simple, seasonal food, Via Carotta is all about conjuring and embracing the Italian spirit through relaxed care and uncompromising warmth, paying homage to old-world roots and culinary heritage.

    The interior transports its customers back to the homeland with quirky heirloom keepsakes collected by the chefs over the years and in good weather offers a terrazzo where customers can enjoy the ambience of beautiful tree-lined Grove Street.

    And if there was any trepidation, Via Carota is open early until late, serving food and drink in true Osteria fashion.

    Photo courtesy of Via Carota Restaurant
    Photo courtesy of Via Carota Restaurant
    Photo courtesy of Via Carota Restaurant
    Photo courtesy of Via Carota Restaurant

    The Bar: Primo’s, Tribeca

    Whatever your tipple, there’s certainly no shortage of spots to slake your thirst in NYC, with an estimated 10,000 watering holes calling the city home. Located in the Tribeca district of lower Manhattan, Primo’s has late-night nonchalance, in an area better known for its spacious loft apartments and celebrity hangouts. Filled with emerald-green velvet banquettes, mid-century glass cube partitions and high Art Deco flourishes – including an impressive Bauhaus-inspired mural by Argentinian artist, Conie Vallese – it’s safe to say that Primo’s has been designed for those who appreciate a side of aestheticism with their aperitif. The Martini is king here, which are delivered with an eclectic twist, by waiters wearing Fifties Harrington jackets. If you’re less hedonistic in your tastes, the wine menu features 90% natural wines, which ought to help avoid a fuzzy head the next morning, but that of course depends how much you quaff. At the other end of the spectrum, there are snow-cone absinthe brews and coffee cocktail shot flights. Just don’t blame us if you’re up all night. But isn’t that the point of New York after all?

    Primo’s, TriBeca, 129 Chambers St, New York
    Primo’s, TriBeca, 129 Chambers St, New York
    Primo’s, TriBeca, 129 Chambers St, New York
    Primo’s, TriBeca, 129 Chambers St, New York

    The Exhibition: International Centre of Photography

    For the ideal educational fix, New York’s East Village is a hub of history where visitors can absorb cross-cultural diversity through simply walking the streets. However, for a more defined experience, the International Centre of Photography (ICP) offers a walk through some of the most powerful socially and politically minded imagery in the world.

    Situated on Ludlow Street, just off Delancey and at the cusp of the Williamsburg Bridge, the ICP is the world’s leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture. Founded more than 50 years ago in 1974 by photographer Cornell Capa with a mission to celebrate photography of a more ‘concerned’ nature, the ICP offers an open forum for the dialogue about the power of the image through exhibitions, education programmes and community outreach.

    Widely acclaimed, visitors to the ICP are able to witness exhibitions covering the entire spectrum of photography, from early daguerreotypes, through to documentary images, contemporary photography and multi-media installations, with the ICP serving more than 3500 adult and teen students each year through workshops, classes and degree programmes.

    Photo courtesy of New York Public Radio
    Photo courtesy of New York Public Radio
    Photo courtesy of New York Public Radio
    Photo courtesy of New York Public Radio

    The Neighbourhood Walk: Mansions of the Gilded Age

    Before Fifth Avenue and its neighbouring streets morphed into the cavernous thoroughfares of high-end retail temples and towering commercial blocks of today, it was lined with the mansions of America’s elite, which they built in the image of European palaces and chateaus. Perhaps the most famous of these was the Vanderbilt ‘Triple Palace’ – a trio of mansions which occupied a swathe of Avenue – that became known as ‘Vanderbilt Row’. While this temple to the American Dream has long gone, there are remnants of this lost world to be found nestled unsuspectingly between the high-rise department stores and skyscrapers that overshadow them. Start at 600 Park Avenue at the former home of printing magnate Jonathan Buckley who built his house in 1911 in the Neo-Classical style; it’s now home to the Swedish Ambassador to the United States. 

    Next, is the Henry T. Sloane mansion at 9 East 72nd Street, which was later lived in by Joseph Pulitzer of the famous literary prize fame. Next, hit 973 Fifth Avenue – the 1880s Italian Renaissance pile built by railroad Baron, Henry Cook. Sadly, he never got to live in it as he died midway through its construction. In total, from 600 Park Avenue to banker Francis Palmer’s house on 75th East and 93rd Street, a total of 11 mansions can be viewed, each with their own singular story and architectural merits. These surviving gems are a reminder of what history has dubbed ‘The Gilded Age’ – an era shrewdly observed in the works of society novelist Edith Wharton.

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    Denim: Italian Heritage

    Italy is widely regarded as the producer of the most prestigious denim garments in the world, thanks to the premium fabrics and artisanal experience that dates to the 19th century.

    The manufacturers’ passion for authenticity is what made the art of denim production a “Made in Italy” excellence, where technology and innovation meet traditions passed down through generations. The result is garments that exude artisanal details and are durable and luxurious.

    Over the years, Luca Faloni has nurtured a collaborative relationship with Albini, a family-owned business with over a century of textile experience in the world of denim. Today, Albini - with its brand Albiate 1830 - is the leader in creating premium quality denim with an eye on sustainability and Italian tradition. Sharing a passion for authenticity, we aim at promoting Italian denim craftsmanship with superior quality garments.