As I was crossing over Park Avenue on Friday night I had that god-awful, Green Acres song stuck in my head – as if I’ve ever even seen that show! I was skipping along, super excited to meet my friend at the newly revamped Mark Hotel on 77th Street and Madison Avenue – I did mention this renovation a few months ago – it is finally open!

The Mark Hotel is an original 1927 building, but the old-school-styled set was recently revamped and merged Art Deco glamour with modern furnishings, lots of marble and beautiful artwork. The Mark turned to renowned French designer Jacques Grange, whose clients have included some of the world’s greatest and most exacting style-setters, among them Yves St. Laurent, Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld and Caroline, Princess of Monaco.
Grange has unleashed the full range of his talents, creating public spaces that engage and delight, and private rooms and suites that calm and soothe. In addition, he not only oversaw and designed furnishings, he collaborated with the Parisian design gallerist Pierre Passebon to commission a host of objets d’art, furniture and lighting fixtures, specially created by celebrated artists and artisans, including Ron Arad, Vladimir Kagan, Mattia Bonetti, Paul Mathieu, Eric Schmitt, Rachel Howard, Todd Eberle, among others.
The hotel has layered one-of-a-kind offerings, including a full service salon by iconic Frederic Fekkai called CHIC by Frederic, a state-of-the-art gym and a restaurant by the famed Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, called The Mark Restaurant. On your way into The Mark Restaurant, you’ll pass through the modern, swirling “cloud” bar at Mark Bar. This place is already a staple with the hoity-toity Park Avenue crowd – and soon to be with my crew as well…

Since most of my friends would rather poke their eyeballs out of their skulls with hot needles than hang out with the plastic surgery, Hermes set, I went with a neighbor/old friend of mine who also enjoys the snotty pretentiousness of the UES/Gossip Girl land. I arrived at the hotel first (she’s forever late) and made my way into the slightly intimidating environment. The bar oozes sexiness, serious shopping habits, vanity and sophistication. Everyone is richer, skinnier and more beautiful than you – and all of the older woman there seemed to hate their husbands and clearly only stay with them so they can keep up appearances.

For a minute there, I felt 100% out of place and considered telling my friend that we should go elsewhere. It was a fashion show of couture and rocks. The women at the small, curved-out bar were wearing rings with diamonds the size of my eyeballs – meanwhile I rolled in rocking a sample sale cocktail ring that cost about $2 to make. After removing the garbage ring and sticking it into my coat pocket, I felt the once-over from a group of plastic-surgery science project-styled women in their 40’s at the edge of the bar. I had to stare back – how in the world could you be happy with a botched nose job reminiscent of Michael Jackson?

I stood in the corner of the dark bar by myself (surely someone mistook me for a hooker) and played on my iPhone while contemplating grabbing the cocktail menu. Let’s place a bet – the cheapest glass of wine is $17? Hmm so as I glanced over the wine list, I spotted my number one drink of choice, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for … $10! Delighted in my find, I ordered it and felt slightly déclassé since everyone else was drinking Rosé (which I ignorantly equate to White Zinfandel) or top-of-the-line champagne. I scanned the bar as I waited for my friend’s arrival and let her know that she will neither meet her Prince Charming, nor will we be able to snag a seat at the high, white bar. She arrived a minute later and we decided to stick around, observe and hope for an opening at the bar. My Barbie Doll-esque pair of Badgley Mischka 4-inchers were absolutely cutting off the circulation in my big toes and causing the bunion on my left foot to throb with pain. The things we women do in the name of fashion and vanity!

A couple at the bar who looked like they were visiting from a trailer park in West Virginia began scrambling for their check, whipped out a Black Amex (I guess it’s a luxury trailer park) and paid the tab, leaving a spot open at the bar for the two of us. We hopped onto the tall barstools and grabbed the drink menu. The bartender brought over some delicious snacks – rosemary popcorn, wasabi-covered nuts and homemade potato chips. We ate three rounds of said snacks – we really did look classy! The restaurant must not have been all that crowded as the hostesses from The Mark Restaurant constantly approached us, asking if we either wanted to go inside for dinner or if we had reservations. This is never a good sign for a brand new “hotspot”. We told her a few times (maybe she was drunk?) that we’re only there for the bar. Then my friend suggested we try out the Jean-Georges spot – so I suggested she expense the meal. She realized she was being a bit eccentric – when in Rome, do as the Romans – requested the food menu from the bartender, but was rebuffed. You cannot eat at the bar!

After a chatting a bit, observing the obnoxiousness of the Hermes Birkin set, and finding way more women than men, we ordered one more round of wine, paid our tab which was a mere $43 for four drinks – unheard of at a swanky hotel bar in Manhattan – and made our way over to Sant Ambroeus for a bite to eat.

We were the youngest people in Sant Ambroeus and the only females AGAIN who were lacking a nip, a tuck or anything Hermes.

God I love the Upper East Side – and The Mark Bar!

Lil Jon at Premium Lifestyle Group Table at Sky Suite at Sundance Film Festival 2010

After a short hiatus and several months of travelling(Mexico, Miami, LA and other fun destinations) we are back with a vengeance and happy to report on our great success at the recent Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.  Premium Lifestyle Group was invited to participate as the event concierge and sponsor for the Sky Suite at The Sky Lodge.

The Sky Suite was arguably the best attended, and certainly the coolest gifting lounge at Sundance. The three day event was expertly organized by our good friends at Talent Resources and the result was an overwhelming success for everyone involved. Premium shared the stage with several other fabulous companies and provided fabulous “swag” for all the celebrities who visited the Sky Suite.

We were fortunate enough to have the folks at Corona donate 16 limited edition Corona Burton snow boards that we gifted to some of the top celebrities that visited the Sky Suite. In addition, we decided to contribute to a worthy cause by having all of the celebrities sign one of the snow boards. Celebrities such as Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, Khloe Kardashian, Aaron Rodgers, Danny Masterson, Jordy Masterson, Kate Mara, Malin Akerman, Pauly Shore, John Forte, Tom Arnold, Appolonia, Lil Jon, David Wells, John Goessling, Wilmer Valderrama and many others were kind enough to sign the snow board.

We then packaged the autographed snow board with a 3 month complimentary membership to our service and are in the process of auctioning the package at charitybuzz.com. All of the proceeds we receive from the snow board will be donated to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for Haiti.  You can check out the auction and bid for yourself here.

Once all the gifting was done for the day, we returned to the Sky Suite at night to party at special parties that were sponsored by our  good friend Matt Goldstein at The Eldridge and Gold Bar in NYC. The DJ’s were rocking, the booze was flowing and everybody got down and dirty dancing to the beats.

All in all, Sundance 2010 was a fabulous experience for all and we cant wait to do it again next year! For those who want to see all the photos from the sky suite we invite you to view them here.

Stay tuned for more adventures,reviews and news from The Premium Life!

“Where might we find a place down here that has an amazing selection of scotch?” She asked. Did I mention I’m apparently a walking Zagat Guide?

I began scouring for places in TriBeCa—we lived down there and I figured, with Wall Street so close, surely there must be a place downtown that specializes in such manly boozing. After scanning my Zagat Nightlife Guide, I stumbled upon a place called “Brandy Library” and realized I had hit the jackpot!

“According to the website, they even do single-malt scotch tasting every Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m.,” I exclaimed. “Would you be down for that?” Now, mind you, I don’t drink brown liquor. The scent alone activates the vomit reflux, but I decided to man-up. If she can do it, why can’t I? Oh probably because I can’t even swallow Sam Adams without whining about how much of a “boy beer” it is.

I arrived at 25 N. Moore Street, walked up the stairs and opened the heavy door.

“Do you have reservations?” Inquired the very well-spoken maitre d’.

“Nope, I’m meeting a friend here and we’re hoping to join in on today’s scotch tasting!”

He looked at me in disbelief—after all my hair was curled, nails were perfectly manicured, I was rocking a brand new Rachel Roy dress and I had on 4” stilettos—definitely didn’t look like the girl who was going to throw down scotch! I walked over to the bar where I picked up the bible of booze. I scanned the in-depth menu that’s packed with 10 pages of single-malt Scotches, including the very rare 25-year Talisker, but had a hard time finding beer and vodka. I also scanned the food portion of the menu—I might require something to absorb my brown liquor gluttony later on. The Malai Tikka chicken breast morsels in yogurt and spices immediately grabbed my attention, along with Gratin Dauphonios, or potato pancakes. The dessert also looked amazing—might have to save some room for the Valhrona chocolate cake! I bypassed the food and went straight for the booze. I started off very girly—I ordered the Peaches & Cream—which consisted of cognac, cream, crème de peche and port wine reduction. YUM!

Brandy Library’s wood-paneled space and glimmering, tile-topped bar oozes sophistication, wealth, intellect and maturity. It’s designed like a library—the vertical shelves on the walls are meticulously stocked with over 900 bottles of every type of hard-to-find bourbon, scotch, brandy, cognac and whiskey imaginable. The faux fireplace and buttery leather chairs add a cozy and romantic touch—not exactly first date worthy, but if you suggested it to your guy on a third or fourth date, he’d be highly impressed.

Now for the crowd—during happy hour it’s all Wall Street dudes and the women who love them. It’s a hoity-toity crowd and the manager has no qualms about turning someone away who isn’t dressed to the nines. Post-happy hour it’s locals and well-heeled patrons who are looking for a relaxing evening in a warm, glowing atmosphere. Don’t expect to hang out with kids at this place—they abide by a strict, 25-and-over policy. And ladies, if you’re hoping to meet Mr. Hedgefunder, you’ll have to do the talking. It’s a bit of an unspoken rule at Brandy Library that the men are not allowed to hit on the women and the bartenders will cut you off and kick you out if you begin harassing the cutie sitting next to you … unless you’re Matt Damon!

Brandy Library used to allow cigar smoking downstairs, but that has changed with the times. Even though you can still purchase cigars at the bar, you must step outside onto the balcony if you choose to speed up your lung cancer pace.

Now back to the tasting … our liquor pro guided us through five or six single-malt scotches. I sadly don’t remember because, after the first one, I decided all scotch tastes like marshmallows and practically began shooting them as opposed to sipping. This lead to a really bad headache at 7 pm and a fall on the nearly cobble-stoned streets!

I took a trip back down to Brandy Library this past Saturday after dinner at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse. After revisiting BL with my finance guy, who was highly impressed with the location and setting, I dubbed it one of the best bars in the city. It’s just so chill, classy, warm, upscale and handsome and the staff is so well-informed, how could you go wrong with this place?

Easy … you forget to bring along someone to pay your tab! Bring your client. He’ll be so impressed, he won’t think twice about the $350 bill.

I met a friend after work for a glass of wine to discuss another friend of ours who, despite our warnings, thought it was a good idea to drunk bike through NYC—well, she got hit by a cab and fractured her arm. People never listen to me! Anyway, last week I discovered that an old friend of mine is the General Manager at TAO so of course I suggested we meet there because I’d rather spend my money at Barney’s than on booze.

I’m sure you’ve been to TAO or you at least know all about it due to the media hype. I pretend the one in Vegas is non-existent because I’m allergic—we’re only focusing on New York City, people! Walking into TAO New York is like walking into a private club. Once you get past the heavy front doors (hopefully without breaking a nail) and enter into the dimly lit downstairs bar area and restaurant you instantly feel sexy and celebrity-like. Why? Because the place is loaded with tourists and they swear Paris Hilton is going to stroll through the door and trip over her hair extensions so expect star treatment for 15 seconds. In reality, celebrities do go there—on a Monday night at 10 pm when hungry Park Avenue Investment Bankers who wouldn’t care if Tiger Woods was sitting on their table will swing by for a bite after work.

Fun fact time: TAO was originally built in the 19th century as a stable for the famed Vanderbilt family (would they like to adopt me?) and then became a balconied movie theater before becoming one of the most famous restaurants in the states.

I personally enjoy the upstairs bar because the view is much better, the bartenders are more attentive and you do not have to deal people hovering over you while they’re trying to grab a drink. Your back is against the wall—the only thing that’ll fit in that space is an anorexic chick. What’s more, you actually have a chance to snag a seat at the upstairs bar, rest the feet that 5” platforms destroyed and wish upon that 16-foot Buddha who is seemingly floating above a virtual, reflecting pool of fish. Sometimes I think it might be fun to sit next to him—you could splash people and feed the fish rice and wine—not that I’d ever do that. I wouldn’t mind sitting in the prized, third floor Skybox either. The best seats in the house are normally reserved for private parties, corporate events and celebrities who would like to avoid appearing in Page Six.

TAO has a full bar with an interesting selection of specialty cocktails like the Bamboo Gingerita and the TAO Love Potion #9, but I still stick to what I know…New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. As for food, I’m very fond of my Asian cuisine and I’d say that makes me pretty knowledgeable in this area. The food is average, the apps are decent—can you really screw up edamame, sushi and spring rolls?—and the vegetable sides are tasty, but I’d hold off on the entrees if you’re looking for amazing. You’d find a better meal a few blocks away at Le Colonial on 57th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues.

Not to diss my beloved TAO, I go for the incredible ambiance, the positive vibes, the unmistakable soundtrack, the flowing alcohol, the intriguing design and, of course, people-watching.

Mayahuel, located on 6^th street between 1^st ave and 2^nd ave, is a welcome edition to the lower east side.   If you are not aware of the exact location, you might walk right past its entrance with a low slung door  and casual wood facade.  Be warned that Mayahuel only allows customers to sit at tables and not stand.  The space fills up fast with limited tables and does not take reservations.  However, the very friendly doorman will take your name and mobile number….calling you when a table is free.  Owned by mixologist genius Phil Ward, partner in Death & Co., Mayahuel features some of the most innovative tequila and mezcal (a smoky flavored tequila.) inspired cocktails in the world.  Come hungry as Mayahuel serves amazing tapas and Mexican cuisine.

Mayahuel is named after the Aztec goddess of fertility-the agave plant is fabled to have sprouted from her grave.   As you walk in through the heavy wood door, it feels as if you have entered an old Mexican monastery.  The brick walls are complemented by church pew benches and don’t spill your secrets in the confessional booth shaped table spaces.   As you head upstairs, you notice a stained-glass chandelier shaped like a tarantula and around seating for 25 guests.

For the tequilla lover, you will really be in heaven.  I have never tasted such delicious blends of various bitters, tequila, and mezcal .  Drinks are broken down into 7 categories, reminiscent of the 7 deadly sins.  I was brave enough to try one from each category of Agave Fresco, Strange Stirrings, Punch-O-Villas, Tea-Quilla Cocktails, Vino en mi Copa, Cerveza Cocktails, and Fugitives.  It was not easy walking down the narrow staircase after a long night of sampling.  Cocktails are created with perfect hand sliced ice cubes (reminiscent of the famed ice at Double Seven).   Be sure to try the Git Ur Lapsang in which the tequila is infused with smoked tea and tamarind soda.  Another favorite is Red Ant River Swizzle, created with mezcal swizzled sugar cane, lime & absinthe.  Even the salt and cayenne pepper rimmed glass are complemented by a sweet watermelon sugar tequila.

Try some of the authentic Mexican tapas style food between drinks.  I loved the Cochinta braised pork belly with papayo mango and mustard.  Other memorable favorites are the tacos with chorizo and roasted sweet pepper.  The most unique dish is the Palomitas popcorn with lime, cotija cheese, and ancho chili (popped fresh as ordered.  End your Mexican feast with churros, that come with a dish of melted chocolate sprinkled with cayenne.

The decor is much fancier and hipper than the old PM. It starts with a humongous chandelier in the middle of the main room which is a nice contrast to the blue velvet banquets that adorn the sides of the dance floow. The ceiling is a magnificent framed mirror and there is a great VIP baclony from which guests can watch all the action while not being disturbed.

The drinks  are designed and served by the experienced team at Milk & Honey . I highly recommend their Manhattan as well as some of their specialty mojitos. The place itself has a much more opulent feel than in the past and the crowd is your typical good looking crowd that tends to frequent the area. We were able to secure a great table in the middle of the main room that came with your standard bottle service requirement.

For me the best part about Griffin is the music. I found it to be quite a relief to find that the DJ’s at Griffin actually will play out most of the song the are currently playing instead of going along with the disturbing trend in most other clubs in Manhattan where you only hear about 15 seconds of a song before they switch it to something else.

So next time you are hanging at Soho House and feel the need to shake your thang, head over to the Griffin and get ready to dance the night away.

As always, if you need help securing top reservations or assistance planning your next adventure, please visit us at www.premiumlg.com

New York City offers some of the best restaurants and nightclubs in the world. Noah Tepperberg adds another amazing restaurant/nightclub to the scene.  Noah has coined the term “GastroLounge,” to describe the new venture.  This will be the perfect spot to entertain clients as they will be offering gastropub type food and bottle service. Check out their innovative menu. No other spot in NYC offers great food and nightlife all in one.   After his amazing success at Marquee

Avenue was resurrected in the old “Earth” space on the corner of 17^th street and 10^th ave…Around the corner from 1 Oak.  The concept combines a bar/ultra-lounge with moving lights, a lot of seating and eating. There is a DJ booth, but no dance floor, making conversation an integral part of the experience.  After a 2.5 million facelift, Avenue will officially open to the public the end of June.  They have already hosted some unforgettable private parties such as Mandy Moore’s birthday party

According to Mr. Tepperberg-The music and the lighting is very dim, it’s very mellow, and then depending on the crowd, at midnight or later, we can raise the volume and change the lighting. Then there’s a second floor, which is a straight lounge. There’s fifteen tables in one room, and then on the second floor there’s six big tables that overlook it. [The music] is gonna be really lounge-y, eighties, soul, seventies.

As always, if you need help planning your next nightclub expereince please contact us at www.premiumlg.com

So it was with trepidation and impending gloom that I wearily accepted my parents invitation to take the whole family to Disney. “There has to be a better way!”, I thought to myself….

Thanks to Disney VIP Tour Services there is. From the moment you arrive, your personal VIP Guide is there to take care of everything – from creating your ideal itinerary to getting you the best seats in the house for live shows, parades and nighttime spectaculars.  The cost is between $175 to $215 per hour for a minimum 6 hour tour. You get your own personal tour guide that helps you get your way around the parks, get you all your fast pass tickets in adavnce and reserves special VIP viewing areas for all Disney shows and parades.  There are eight tours that you can choose: toddlers, big kids, teens, active fun, romance and relaxation, character experiences, what’s new and good for groups. You can also customize your own experience like we did. 

We had a blend of toddlers, big kids and we wanted some active fun.  I spoke to our guide ahead of time, told her about our group, age range, experience, etc… and she created an wonderful experience that was enjoyed by everyone. It included access to the best roller coaster rides, parades, shows, dining reservations, special attractions and much more.

I know the cost of admission if high enough. However, if you truly wan to maximize you time at Disney World Parks for you and your family or group, I highly recommend going the VIP way. As always, if you need help in any of your travel plans or experiences, please contact us at www.premiumlg.com