The Salon Art + Design’s Jill Bokor on Top Picks of Her Hometown
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THE PARK AVENUE Armory was completed in 1881 and was intended as “both a military facility and a social club.” Like many historic buildings, it has since been converted into a cultural hub that boasts a robust set of art exhibitions, fairs, and performancThe Salon Art + Design’s Jill Bokor on Top Picks of Her Hometown
THE PARK AVENUE Armory was completed in 1881 and was intended as “both a military facility and a social club.” Like many historic buildings, it has since been converted into a cultural hub that boasts a robust set of art exhibitions, fairs, and performances. In the overdeveloped landscape of New York, Park Avenue Armory stands out for its remarkable conservation efforts and to this day remains one of the largest buildings to have its interiors survive intact. This appreciation for the decorative interiors blended with its forward-looking programs make it a more than apt location for The Salon Art + Design which brings together nearly 60 international galleries featuring an eclectic mix of fine and decorative arts from Old Masters to young innovators, antiquities to groundbreaking design.BLOUIN ARTINFO spoke to Jill Bokor, Executive Director of The Salon Art + Design, to hear what she’s most excited for in this year’s edition, the delights of Central Park, and, of course, where to get the best pizza and bagels. The Salon Art + Design will take place November 8-12 at the Park Avenue Armory, on the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York.Are you from New York originally? New Yorker, born and bred.What are the qualifications of being a New Yorker?Having the ability to suffer bad diner coffee. Having olfactory reminiscences from the smell of the pretzel vendors with their charred chestnuts on Fifth Avenue in the holiday season. And best of all, they’re still around. Most importantly, watching the Guggenheim being built and wanting to roller skate down the ramps!What can visitors expect from this year’s edition of The Salon Art + Design and what are you most excited for specifically? For me the excitement is in seeing how the fair evolves each year. Our exhibitors up their game — the ultimate compliment is being told that a piece is being put aside for months to bring to the fair. And, though some say there’s nothing new under the sun, I like to think there’s always something new to The Salon — whether it’s a previously unseen Frank Lloyd Wright installation — we have on this year — or a major Wendell Castle dining set. We have that, too. Additionally this year, our partners’ rooms are amazing. There’s an installation by Lalique, an incredible display of artisanal finishes by The Callidus Guild, a Collector’s Lounge that’s the best I’ve ever seen at any fair designed by Charles Burnand of London, and a project from Eileen Fisher highlighting sustainability in textiles!Do you have a favorite bar where visitors could unwind after a long day at the Salon? Yes, but if I tell you, there won’t be room for me. Seriously though it’s the gorgeous Jacques Grangedesigned bar at The Mark Hotel. I recommend the ginger margarita. For warmer weather, the rooftop bar at The Public with its 360-degree views that go on forever is the spot!New York is world famous for its pizza and bagels. What’s the best spot for each? Joe’s on Bleecker (not to be confused with long-time fixture, John’s). For bagels head to Black Seed — artisanal not, traditional. There are four locations, all downtown.What’s a New York dining establishment that visitors must try? If you can make it to Brooklyn and eat steak, Peter Luger’s is a must! For elegant dining, Vaucluse is perfection! More casual would be Veselka, which has been around forever and is open 24/7. Finally ABC Kitchen by Jean Georges is consistently wonderful.Is there a new restaurant you’ve had your eye on that you could recommend? I haven’t been there, but everyone raves about Le Cou Cou. Can you recommend one art museum and one non-art museum and explain why you chose them?That’s incredibly hard in New York, but I love the accessibility of the Neue Museum. The exhibitions are gorgeously curated and thoughtful and never overwhelming. My all time favorite museum is The Museum of the City of New York. Everyone should go there. If you’re a New Yorker, you get in touch with your love of place. If you’re not, you’ll understand us better. The counterpoint to that is the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side. We all came from somewhere else at one time and it’s important and impactful to remember what that must have been like.What is your favorite neighborhood in New York and why? Central Park. It has everything, food, fashion, entertainment, wildlife, and performance art and it’s never the same from one day to the next.What is the one tourist trap you’d recommend to people visiting New York for the first time? See a corny musical on Broadway.The crowds and pace of life in New York can quickly become claustrophobic and stressful. Where do you go or what do you do when you need a moment to decompress?The boat basin in Central Park, with a quick visit to the iconic Alice in Wonderland sculpture right next to it.Where would you recommend people stay in New York (could be a neighborhood or hotel)? If you’re feeling flush, The Mandarin Oriental for it’s perfect location and hedonistic spa. Lower key would be The Gramercy Park hotel for a little bastion of old New York combined with a bit of edge.Finally, Jets or Giants? Are you kidding? Third generation Big Blue fan — even though you have to dig down for your loyalty these days!http://www.blouinartinfo.com/Founder: Louise Blouin Read more