Royal Ascot Hat Convention (and Horse Races)

It's sunny at the Ascot! And they've provided this handy dandy dress code chart. Other major events should take a cue and provide similar guidelines (your move, Coachella).

Suits You

The acquisition of a lovely swimsuit, like all privileges, comes with its share of responsibilities. Especially when said swimwear is from Eres's lovely Soho boutique, chosen on a sunny Sunday in June, and celebrated with a Ciao Bella gelato afterward. So, here's how to care for it:

Always rinse after wearing
No exceptions.

Do not dry in the sun
Instead, roll it flat in a towel to protect from fading. Or, place it inside the dark plastic bag that Eres wraps your suit in. This will naturally resist the sun's fading rays.

Wash with baby shampoo
Do not use Woolite; this gentle soap will preserve the elastic.

Careful with sunscreen
Don't get it on your suit, the chemicals can also cause elastic to deteriorate

Don't sit on concrete
Remember what your bathing suits looked like as a kid? Pilly, fuzzy bikini bottoms do not look good on the yacht, my rosebuds.

Riad Noir D'ivoire, Marrakesh

The medina is a nutty place. Mopeds, bikes, donkeys, cats, kids, puddles of who knows what... It's full throttle sensory overload, and it's amazing. Equally amazing is that precisely the opposite sensations await you the moment you step inside the carved doors of riad Noir D'ivoire. Inside, it's sublimely quiet, beautifully decorated, and awash in flattering lighting. Three suites around the new addition could not be more luxurious. The tubs are fit for a harem, with a skylight above, just because- why not? Private rooftop with private hot tub? Yes, of course. Impeccable staff that magically appears as if summoned by your slightest whim? Yes, of course. Delicious Moroccan breakfast served on your private rooftop? Do you even have to ask? Jill and Damien will make sure you maximize your time in Marrakesh. Or, they'll happily sit back and make sure the rosé keeps flowing by the plunge pool. Whichever suits you. Either way, a must.
Riad Noir D'Ivoire
31-33 Derb Jdid
Bab Doukkala, 44.000, Marrakech, Morocco
Jill Fechtmann (Proprietor, Designer, Kaftan Shop Referrer Extraordinaire)

High Line is open!

The High Line is now open for your west-side walking pleasure. Last night Maury Rubin himself was manning the City Bakery bike, stocked with $2 and $3 cookies (which definitely enhance the strolling experience) but also begs the question: What other retail outlets will pop up here? We're already getting a Target takeover of the park on July 12. What else is in store?

La Pause

It's a mere hour's drive from the medina, but you may as well be on another planet. The Marrakeshi Desert is rocky, hilly, and all yours (when you book, you book the entire property). Arrive, and your (delicious) lunch is waiting under a berber tent. They produce their own olive oil from the olive trees, and it's damn good. Walk it off with a two hour hike along the wadi. Or play desert golf. Or mountain bike. Or ride horses. Or..maybe just laze around in a hammock, float in the pool, or play with the two sweet dogs (who won't leave your side).At sunset, take a camel ride around the property, passing tents, baby camels, and yes, that's a helipad. There's no electricity, but plenty of hot showers thanks to solar powered water heaters. Once the sun is gone, the place magically glows with hundreds of candles, lanterns, and bonfires that help you find your way to dinner. It may be the best meal you have in Morocco - chicken tagine with latkes? Yes please.You won't want to leave, but the parting gift (a bottle of their homemade olive oil) will help grease your wheels.











La Pause
+212 61 30 64 94

Happy Summer!

Nothing quite says "Bikini Season!" like 25 pounds of butter in the form of a three layer, nine inch yellow cake with vanilla buttercream. Above, we have this year's Happy Summer cake, fresh off the redeye from Hawaii. (Actually, she's courtesy of Billy's Bakery. Magnolia is for suckers.)

Begin Magnolia rant:
Speaking of Magnolia - don't go. They used to be open for breakfast, now they are neighborhood haters. A friend who lives around the block from the bakery was walking her dog, and stopped in for a cupcake. She only had $2, but promised to come back tomorrow with the missing $0.50. They weren't having it, and made her throw away the cupcake since she "already touched it and couldn't pay for it." That is soooo not how the West Village should roll. Shame on you Magnolia.
End Magnolia rant.

Dar Marjana Marrakesh

There's a man in a long white robe guarding the entrance of a long dark passage. The sign above confirms it: Dar Marjana.

Sure, the most dreaded descriptor applies: touristy. Fortunately, many other adjectives trump it: magical, transporting, warm, personalized, attentive, authentic. The white-robed man leads you down the lantern-lit passage, and you are seated on pillows in the courtyard under the stars and plied with Moroccan rosé and Casablanca beer. Don't eat the nuts and dried fruit that come with it, though, or you won't be able to enjoy the 5 course meal you're about to have. On the way home, you may feel brazen enough to try and navigate the medina solo, but you're much better off ringing your riad for an escort; The fixed price includes drinks, so things can look very different after a few hours at Dar Marjana.

Dar Marjana 15, Derb Sidi Ali Tair Bab Doukkala, Marrakesh