We head to New York City for a museum visit, a brisk winter walk, and a cozy restaurant.
New-York Historical Society
The New-York Historical Society tends to fly under the radar because it sits next to the more dramatic and famous Museum of Natural History on 77th and Central Park West, but the NYHS is a gem. One of the city’s last examples of Beaux-Arts architecture, the NYHS was the city’s first museum, founded in 1804 and standing in its present location since 1908.
We visit on this November day primarily to see the Hudson River School landscape paintings on display but spend a lot of time admiring the objets d’art of Andre Chevin and Carvin French Jewelers and the impressive two-story collection of Tiffany lamps. The lack of crowds midweek makes viewing the exhibits even more enjoyable.
Entrance into the New-York Historical Society
Tiffany lamps displayed at the New-York Historical Society
Adjacent to the lobby is a charming restaurant called Clara, but we have other plans for the evening.
The NYHS restaurant Clara on Central Park West
Darling
After leaving the museum we cross the street into Central Park. In winter the trees take on an architectural feel with their upright dark-barked trunks and angled branching. We meander south to Central Park South and the Park Lane Hotel, atop which sparkles Darling, a rooftop bar with knockout views.
The view of Central Park at dusk from our window table at Darling
The bar at Darling
Nasrin’s Kitchen
After drinks we dine two blocks away at Nasrin’s Kitchen, a Persian restaurant in an unlikely spot on the second floor of a century-old townhouse on busy West 57th Street. This location reminds us of the old days when the city reclaimed and repurposed its spaces of faded glory, and at Nasrin’s we dine under high ceilings surrounded by marble that has seen better days. Perfect.
The meal hits a sliding scale of notes. The combination, perfectly orchestrated. Americans tend to tuck into kebabs, which are plentiful here, but we try the stews and are happy we did.
The politically attuned might object to supporting an Iranian-owned business in today’s climate (remember Freedom Fries?), but we enjoy the communal feeling of breaking bread with other cultures because while geopolitical conflict will come and go, a people’s cuisine is eternal.
Our table’s window view, the sill bedecked with vintage miniatures