Flatiron Holiday Celebration at Sony Square NYC Recap
On Wednesday, December 12th, 260 guests visted Sony Square NYC to ring in the season and celebrate the upcoming film Spider-Man into the Spiderverse. Attendees were treated to a trio of crostini and a mocktail from neighborhood restaurant Merakia.
Sony Square NYC gave away Sony totes containing six collectable Spider-Man pins. Attendees were able to take the perfect Instagram photo of themselves as Spider-Man scaling a building, interact with Rocky the Aibo robot dog, play new releases from PlayStation, and explore the latest Sony technology.
The BID table featured a snowman full of candy and guests had a chance to win the snowman and his contents by guessing how many candies he contained. The total number of candies were 273, and the lucky winner, who has been notified via email, guessed 265. Attendees also took home with them a Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership banner bag, made from our upcycled neighborhood streetlamp banners.
Sony Square NYC is a public space committed to showcasing innovations in products, music, movies and gaming. Entry is free! Visit the Spider-Man: into the Spiderverse exhibit now, and keep coming back free access for exclusive content, product launches, creative workshops, live performances and all things Sony.
Thanks to all who joined us!
Hot Chocolate Roundup
Nothing says winter more than Hot Chocolate. Celebrate National Cocoa Day (December 13th) and warm-up from the cold with a cup of decadent hot chocolate. Check out our roundup of neighborhood spots serving everyone's favorite seasonal drink.
by Chloe, 60 West 22nd, between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, (347) 620-9622
by Chloe offers a Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa that's a vegan version of the classic drink. The cocoa is complemented by the nutty flavoring (you have your choice of creamy almond or peanut butter), and the drink is topped with vegan marshmallows.
Cosme, 35 East 21st Street, between Broadway and Park Avenue South, (212) 913-9659
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind Mexican twist on hot chocolate at Cosme. Cosme's 'Chocolate Caliente' is a cocoa spiced with tonka bean, contains a Mexican honey liqueur, topped with a chocolate foam, and garnished with orange zest and cocoa nibs.
Eataly, 200 Fifth Avenue, between 23rd and 24th Streets, (212) 937-8910
Eataly's "Cioccolata Calda" is an Italian hot chocolate that claims to be thicker, creamier, and richer in chocolate flavor than American hot chocolate. You have your choice of a variety of toppings to personalize your hot chocolate, and the freshly prepared whipped cream is just as good as the hot chocolate itself.
La Pecora Bianca, 1133 Broadway, corner of 26th Street, (212) 498-9696
Sip on a Nutella hot chocolate at La Pecora Bianca made with Nutella, Venchi milk chocolate and steamed milk - a hot chocolate that Zagat rated as one of the "10 Decadent Hot Chocolates to Try in NYC."
Leonelli Focacceria, 7 East 27th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, (212) 451-9495
Italian bakery and cafe newcomer, Leonelli Focacceria is serving up a dense and creamy hot chocolate that's rich in flavor and topped with fresh whipped cream. Treat yourself to some of their incredible cookies while you're there!
maman, 22 West 25th Street, between Broadway & Sixth Avenue, (646) 838-0700
maman's hot chocolate is a must try. maman's traditional hot chocolate is packed with flavor and the perfect temperature. maman also offers two spins on hot cocoa. The first is a Lavender Hot Chocolate that's spiced with lavender and dark chocolate, and was named by AM New York as one of the "Best Hot Chocolates in NYC." The second is a Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookie Hot Chocolate made from the maman's cookie that has a cult following (including Oprah herself). This version is made with dark chocolate, walnut and oak milk, and topped with a cookie crumble.
Maison Kayser, 921 Broadway, corner of 21st Street, (212) 979-1600
Enjoy a French-styled hot chocolate at Maison Kayser. Their hot cocoa is made with bold chocolate flavor and is the right balance of sweet. The drink is served with a delicious cookie on the side.
Patisserie Chanson, 20 West 23rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, (929) 423-8880
You can't go wrong with anything dessert-related at Patisserie Chanson. They freshly make a decadent chocolate ganache and then steam it with milk to make an incredible hot chocolate. Grab a kouign amann while you're at it - a neighborhood pastry favorite.
Shake Shack, southeast corner of Madison Square Park, (646) 747-2606
Shake Shack is known for its shakes and custard, but don't forget about Shake Shack's hot chocolate this season because it's just as delicious. Their hot chocolate is super creamy and does not fall short of chocolate flavor.
Picture of Leonelli Focacceria.
Flatiron Foodies: maman's Lavender Hot Chocolate
In honor of National Hot Cocoa Day this Thursday, December 13, we've got the perfect treat to make to celebrate. The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership's Holiday Flatiron Foodies recipe series, a part of the 23 Days of Flatiron Cheer, continues this week with maman's lucious lavender hot chocolate.
This simple and accessible recipe transforms your standard cocoa mix into a decadent treat by adding real lavender and paying strict attention to preparation technique.
maman's Lavender Hot Chocolate
by Caitlin Burke
Serves: 1
Total Time: 5-10 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup hot cocoa mix (save extra cocoa for garnish)
- 1 generous tbsp dried lavender
- 1 cup of milk of your choice
- 1 tbsp hot water
Directions:
1. Place the dry ingredients on the bottom of a saucepan.
2. While the dry ingredients are in the pan, put the hot water on top and whisk it together to form a sauce.
3. Add the milk.
4. Whisk together and slowly heat the mixture until it’s hot.
5. Before serving, strain out the dried lavender and sprinkle with cocoa powder for garnish.
6. Serve in your favorite mug and enjoy!
Photo Credit: Above photo courtesy of maman. Hot Chocolate photo by Victoria-Morris.
New Neighbor: Ballroom Hub
The Flatiron/23rd Street partnership is happy to welcome Ballroom Hub to the district! Ballroom Hub is a brand new 24/7 dance studio in the heart of Manhattan. Created by Igor Litvinov and Renata Shvarts, its purpose is to empower dancers, students, and professionals in New York City and Tri-State area by providing them with the best dance floor and music, very affordable floor fees, and most importantly - the friendliest and most creative atmosphere.
In addition to serving as a rehearsal and teaching space for dancers of all types, Ballroom Hub also offers private dance lessons, group classes, wedding programs, events, and studio rental. Floor fees start at $15 for 45 minutes.
‘We are very excited to have Ballroom Hub located in the prime location of the Flatiron district. We consider this to be the best location in Manhattan for our studio with its great mix of both businesses and residential areas," says owner Igor Litvinov. "There is so much going on in this amazing area with fantastic restaurants, attractions and historical buildings. These factors along with being very central for our customers to get to made it the best choice for us to open Ballroom Hub."
This dance studio offers 2,000 square feet of open, column-free space that features a hard wood dance floor flanked on both sides with a full wall of mirrors. A high quality music system, professional lighting, wifi, along with restrooms and changing rooms are also available for those using the space. The Ballroom Hub allows outside catering and is also wheelchair accessible.
The Ballroom Hub is open 365 days a year with standard hours from 9 am to 10 pm and availability 24 hours a day upon request.
The Ballroom Hub, 1 East 28 Street, Suite 5B, (917) 409-0716
F & M Trains Return to Flatiron
Flatiron straphangers, rejoice! The F and M trains are once again stopping at 23rd Street as MTA New York City Transit's Enhanced Station Initiative (ESI) wrapped up construction just after Thanksgiving.
According to the MTA, the station closed on July 23rd to address "various states of disrepair that include crumbling concrete and deteriorated structural steel columns and beams, cracked or missing tiles, water leaks, and deficient lighting."
Over the past four months, station entrances were enhanced with digital signage providing real-time information, countdown clocks, new railings and guardrails, and brighter, more energy-efficient lighting. Turnstile areas were upgraded with glass barriers, security cameras, new information centers, and digital dashboards that display New York City subway maps and the full F/M line stops. Platforms were treated with new edge warning strips, new seating furniture and benches, USB charging stations, and new countdown clocks.
In addition to the standard repairs and renovation work, the station now has 11 mosaic murals from artist William Wegman of his famous Weimaraners, Flo and Topper. Mayer of Munich, a German mosaic fabricator, spent nearly six months creating the pieces that seamlessly translated gray glass into the gray dogs. Mayer of Munich is the same company that produced the life-size human portrait mosaics at the 72nd Street Q train station. Wegman photographed Flo and Topper as a part of his “Stationary Figures” series – a project that has been two years in the making.
(Photo Credit: 6sqft)
The mosaics depict the dogs taking on human qualities and attributes as Flo and Topper can be seen wearing everyday clothes like flannels and raincoats, and staring down the tunnel as if they are anxiously waiting for the next subway. Wegman told MTA Arts & Design, “I wanted to create portraits of individual characters, people who you might see next to you on the platform. For these, I dressed the dogs in more or less ordinary clothes, nothing too fashionable.” Wegman and his dogs have lived in the Chelsea neighborhood for decades. The charming mosaics breathe a new-found sense of life to the 23rd Street station.
Flatiron Foodies: Quality Eats' Butternut Squash Bread Pudding
Today is the third installment of the "23 Days of Flatiron Cheer" Flatiron Foodies Holiday recipes. This week Quality Eats takes a traditional dessert and adds squash, leeks and gouda cheese to make a creative savory holiday side.
Say goodbye to mom's tired old stuffing recipe (sorry mom!) and wow your dinner guests with this new take on holiday carbs.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH BREAD PUDDING
Ingredients
12 cups brioche, cut into 1” cubes
2 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2 “ chunks
1 cup leeks, cut into ½” squares, washed well and drained
Salt, Sugar and Cayenne
¼ cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon thyme
3 large eggs
1 yolk
3 cups whole milk
3 cups heavy cream
½ cup Emmentaler, grated
½ cup Comte, grated
½ cup aged Gouda, grated
Method
Preheat oven to 350.
Spread brioche cubes onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool and then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Heat a wide-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add butter, squash and leeks and sweat. Add thyme and season with salt, sugar, and cayenne. Cook until squash is tender. Pour leeks and squash over the toasted brioche cubes.
In another bowl, whisk eggs, yolk, milk, and cream together. Season with salt and a little sugar.
Mix cheeses together and set aside ½ cup of the cheese mix. Toss the remaining cup of mixed cheesess into bowl with brioche, squash and leeks and mix well to evenly distribute ingredients. Pour bread mixture into a 9” x 13” baking pan. Pour 2/3 of the custard mixture over the bread and gently press down to saturate all the pieces. Pour the remaining 1/3 of the custard evenly over the bread and let stand for 15 minutes before baking.
Bake for 1-1 ½ hours or until pudding is set. Remove from oven and let rest about 10 minutes before serving.
Photos Courtesy of Quality Eats
New Neighbor: WTHN
The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership is happy to welcome WTHN to the southwest corner of the district. WTHN is a new acupuncture experience in NYC - meant to be ultra-modern, personalized, and convenient for you. Located in the heart of the Flatiron District at 20 West 22nd Street (between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue), WTHN's goal is to bring natural healing to modern life through customized acupuncture + cupping treatments.
This isn’t acupuncture as usual. WTHN’s technique is designed to activate all five senses - from its signature bergamot frankincense scent and custom binaural beats to heated acu tables (winter is coming), a wellness lounge to sip tea and even a vanity area to freshen up post-treatment. The treatment menu is designed to help you Prevent, Heal + Glow with an array of starter options that cover the most common conditions—but every treatment is created for your unique situation. And for anyone new to acupuncture, WTHN eases you into the experience with a complimentary 15-minute one-on-one session with a certified Healer before you begin your acu-session.
"We decided to open our flagship location in Flatiron because it is the heart of New York's wellness hub," says CEO and Co-Founder, Michelle Larivee. "There are the perfect demographics here with a great mix of fitness, health, wellness, retail, residential, and commercial spaces."
WTHN is also the first acupuncture brand to offer a membership program, making it easy for WTHNsiders to get their acu fix. Wellness junkies will also love the in-studio boutique, filled with all kinds of organic, healthy goodness to take home.
WTHN is open from 9 am- 9 pm Monday through Friday, and 10 am - 6 pm on weekends.
WTHN, 20 West 22nd Street, (646) 558-9846
November News Roundup
In November, the Flatiron District embraced its first snowstorm of the season and experienced noteworthy media shout-outs highlighting new businesses and exhibitions, exciting real estate developments, and the holiday installation reveal. Stay up-to-date with the latest Flatiron District News with our monthly roundup of notable highlights.
- The district is bustling with new business openings! The "Taiwanese doubleheader" of Kung Fu Tea, a bubble tea company that began in Queens, and TKK Fried Chicken, a chain founded in Taiwan, are opening a dining destination together at 117 East 23rd - doors open 11/30 (via New York Times). Celebrated Chef Jonathan Benno opened his final outpost at the Evelyn Hotel, Benno, a refined restaurant serving a lean Mediterranean menu with three-, four-, and five-course price points (via Eater New York). Bourke Street Bakery offered an inside-scoop of the Sydney-based bakery as the husband and wife duo who founded the shop discussed their journey in Australia and the design of the first U.S. location set to open in the district next month (via Broad Street). Sony Square launched a new interactive exhibition, The Mariah Carey Experience, to celebrate the release of her new album, Caution. The exhibition is open through December 4th, and features instagrammable photo sets, multimedia displays, memorabilia, and a pop-up shop (via Mariah Carey Official Website).
- The wellness trend is alive and well in Flatiron. WTHN (pronounced 'Within'), an acupuncture studio aiming to provide an affordable luxury experience that makes acupuncture more visible and accessible to the wellness community, opened its doors (via Fast Company). The founder of the meditation studio Inscape, Khajak Keledjian, discussed his goal to demystify meditation for modern consumers, and his inspiration behind the successful studio concept, and has since developed the Inscape meditation app (via PSVK).
- New real estate developments are bound to generate excitement. Blink Fitness inked a deal to expand its Manhattan headquarters at 386 Park Avenue South, which will double the company's square-footage at the location (via Commercial Observer). Silver Mirror, a facial bar, will be joining the acupuncture studio, WTHN, at 20 West 22nd Street - both spa concepts signed 10-year leases and are expected to complement each other (via Real Estate Weekly). Issac & Stern Architects revealed a rendering for the 18-story building under construction at 25 West 24th Street, previously occupied by Le Semana hotel (via New York YIMBY).
- The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership unveiled the installation Happy by Studio Cadena - the winner of the fifth annual Flatiron Public Plaza Holiday Design Competition. As you walk in and around the sculpture, the piece strives to elicit a warm feeling, and offers a unique vantage point for photographs of the landmark building (via Untapped Cities). In support of Small Business Saturday, the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership hosted a digital scavenger hunt to drive traffic to small businesses in the neighborhood this holiday season (via Metro News).
Photo via Bourke Street Bakery
New Neighbor: MDRN
The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership is proud to announce the opening of MDRN, featuring Intelligent Living, a transformable modular system for the home. Founded by interiors and futurist designer Warren Kay, MDRN offers residents an innovative lifestyle solution and raises the standard in luxury living and furniture design.
Intelligent Living is a system of furniture that transforms the way we utilize traditional spaces. At the click of one button, or with a gentle pull, motorized units are activated by a custom sliding mechanism which converts a single-use space in any home into a multi-purpose, all-encompassing experience. The transformable home system seamlessly changes a living space into a bedroom, alternates between a dining room and home office, and hides closets behind a wall unit uniquely designed by you.
When asked why Flatiron was the right home for MDRN in New York City, Kay stated that he "opened in the FlatIron [District] because it's a great hub for the design and creative industry. It's the epicenter of everything new that’s happening in this city."
Residents of tech hubs like New York City encounter challenges to effectively live in small spaces. This challenge is tasking developers with creating multi-faceted homes with all-in-one capabilities to accommodate residents in our increasingly tech-dependent society. Intelligent Living by MDRN is the future of furniture and interior design is set to revolutionize the way city dwellers live.
MDRN is meant to comprise some of the finest statement pieces in furniture and textile design, and positions itself as a haven for refined, articulate, signature pieces that will enhance any room in your home, adding elegance and style. The newly launched transformable modular system creates a new way of living and provides an all-encompassing solution to optimizing the home. The many optional modular elements create a complete customization for the home transforming a single-use space into a multi-purpose experience.
In addition, MDRN design also provides additional service options for your home including window treatments and other home accents.
MDRN, 936 Broadway, (833) 275-2872
