Apres seven fabulous days in Monte Carlo, I thanked moi pal Nene Lacson and jetted off to Paris on France’s tres magnifique chic-ky flag carrier, Air France.
Arriving in Paris was such a bomber, however. There I was basking in a glorious European summer, but in Paris it was raining cats and dogs. Moi gang told me that the weather there had really been for ducks. But that didn’t keep moi from swinging around the City of Lights and Love for two days, instead of my originally planned week-long stay, dahlings.
Next thing I knew, I was at the fabi Charles de Gaulle Airport awaiting my Air France flight to aahhh! moi fave city in the US – bustling, energetic, adorable, exciting New York.
The seven-hour flight from Paris went like a breeze. Moi enjoyed an excellent dinner, endless choices of movies and music plus Air France’s so very French service. Next thing moi knew, I was on my way to the fantastic New York apartment of my host with the mostest, well-respected gourmet princess and the prestigious New York Restaurant School’s grand chef professor, Lorrie Reynoso.
New York somehow is a different place each time moi visits it. Only the most go-go of explorers can keep up with its avalanche of pleasurable opportunities, palanggas, be it a shopping spree, searching for the season’s fashionable restaurant, hitting Broadway or getting yourself in a tizzy over what play or musical to watch.
But thanks to moi host, Lorrie R., moi was always sure to enjoy only the best of the Big Apple.
Several days of walking from East 79th and 2nd Ave. to Times Square gave moi a pretty good idea so moi took a Line cruise around Manhattan island. It’s always such a thrill seeing fabi skyscrapers from the air, especially at night. From the river it’s an awesome sight as well. Even cruising under the Manhattan Bridge is a treat, palanggas. But the ultimate high was having a grand view of the Statue of Liberty, dahlings.
The day ultra-glamorous gal Vicky Zubiri and her daughter Stephanie arrived from Paris, we called each other up and set the next morning to explore New York by foot.
"I haven’t been here in ages and I can’t wait to move around," Vicky enthusiastically said. Right before lunch, our starting point was at Vicky and Stephanie’s hotel, The Grand Swiss Drake along 57th Park Ave. and Madison.
Our first shop was the tres impressive Nike Building between 5th and Madison on 57th, next door to the chi-chi Tiffany Building. Here, Stephanie Z. went ga-ga over what pairs to get from Nike’s latest super eye-catching collection. The footwear come in various wild colors, shapes and styles. The place was packed with shoppers from all over the world, dahlings. Needless to say, Stephanie and Vicky got the jazziest colors and styles.
Sneakers for night-wear have become the rage in the US and Europe. Calvin Klein wore colored sneakers during a gala affair. So did Julia Roberts during a movie premiere. Couturier Karl Langerfield even wears black and silver sneakers with his formal attire. Two years ago, our very own vivacious trend-setter Kitty Go wear sneakers with her long gown, would you believe?
Apres buying colorful pairs, we walked almost the whole day, window-shopping in our tres comfy sneakers, palanggas.
We rushed home to freshen up and watch the super, super rock opera, Aida at the Palace Theater. This must-to-watch musical features Elton John’s music and Tim Rice’s lyrics, palanggas.
Exotic beauty Heather Headley played Aida, the slave princess; Matt Bogat, the handsome Egyptian general; and the hilarious Taylor Dayne, the Pharaoh’s daughter. Lorrie R. had seen it a couple of months ago, but still joined us to watch it again. We left the theater feeling completely enthralled by this new version of Aida.
From there, Lorrie R. invited us for moi fave Martinis at the swinging, so hip Royalton Hotel at 44th St. between 5th and 6th Ave., palanggas. The Royalton is one of the chic boutique hotels that have mushroomed in New York’s trendy areas. World jet-setter Ian Schrager (who used to co-own the renowned Studio 54) owns this hip hotel and is considered as the King of Boutique Hotels worldwide. Philippine Starck, the most famous interior designer of Paris, did the fabi interior design.
The next day we headed for that up, uppity upscale resto, Nicole Pahri, the place to go to for an excellent lunch while people-watching the rich and famous. It is renowned for the yummiest salad and antipastos. Guess who we bumped in at the resto? None other than that popular author of coffee-table books, adorable jet-setter and New York socialite Lily Gamboa O’Boyle, no less, dahlings.
We chatted about the huge success of her book, In the Gardens of the Philippines which was launched at a fund-raising dinner. The affair, hosted by the prestigious Horticultural Society of New York, was held at the chi-chi New York Tennis and Racquet Club. This resto is right below the popular Nicole Fahri store on 60th St. and Madison Ave.
Apres the excellent lunch, we went to shop at the hip Techno Marine boutique, which has become the rage of the high-fashion pack. The designer and owner are young aggressive, achievers from the famous St. Tropez in the south of France. Techno Marine was launched here at The Fort three years ago by businessman Jun Valenton and his son Nico.
Last year, when Techno Marine came out with a new design that had diamonds around the time- piece, everyone wanted to have one on their rich wrist. It was such a hit that other watch makers have imitated the design. But there’s nothing like having the real thing, dahlings. Vicky Z. bought this watch for her daughters last summer while we were vacationing in Monte Carlo and St. Tropez.
Since Vicky Z.’s priority while in New York was to hit Broadway and watch as many plays as possible, we watched the hilarious, out-of-this-world Full Monty.
If you enjoyed the movie version which won the Academy Award for "Best Foreign Picture," you will adore the Broadway version even more. From the opening scene to the curtain call, you’ll be left breathless and rolling in the aisles from laughter. One of the funniest and most enjoyable Broadway shows, dahlings, it is at par with that Broadway smash hit, The Producers. The actors are good-looking, the dialogue is hilarious and the songs are tops. Handsome Jason Daniely, John Ellison Conlee and Kathleen Freeman stole the scenes. This is definitely a must watch play, dahlings.
After theater drinks and dinner, Lorrie R. brought us to the fantastic Hudson Hotel, also owned by Ian Schrager and designed by Philippine Starck. Since it opened a year ago, it has been considered the hottest place to be seen in. Everyone you see here is gorgeous.
Even Chelsea Clinton celebrated her big birthday bash here just weeks before moi arrived, dahlings. World-class interior and furniture designer Budji Layug stays here whenever he’s at the Big Apple. Stunning Sunshine de Leon works at this hotel, too. It is New York’s hottest beehive for the young and more mature namedroppables who breeze in through a yellow-lighted pathway that leads one smack into the lobby which features huge chandeliers.
From there, if you turn right, you’ll find yourself at the swinging (especially for singles) cocktail bar lounge that has the most fantastic sounds New York has to offer. If you turn right, you’ll find yourself at the hotel’s super popular (with a queue that reaches almost to the lobby) private open-door park which is usually jam-packed.
Apres drinks, Lorrie R. made reservations at the hotel’s trendy Cafeteria which has a permanent exhibition on the walls and an open fire-grill kitchen so no smoke nor odor can affect the diners. Real cool, palanggas.
The following day, moi begged off from my "angels" Vicky, Stephanie and Lorrie as I spent almost half of the day at Times Square’s Virgin Records Video and CD Shop.
Early the next morning, we got ready to have lunch with our host, charmant Lily O’B. and brilliant lawyer Tunting Cruz Matters. We joined business and restaurant entrepreneur and gourmand Rico Ocampo and his fashionable wife Tina Maristela-O. at the chic-ky La Goulue at 65th St. and Madison.
Here, the waiters, maitre’d and general manager are all – and I mean all – good-lookers. Here is where you can find New York’s alta sociedad table-hopping and exchanging "hellos" and throwing kisses to their friends belonging to the same set, dahlings.
Over lunch, our chat revolved around where to shop, which Broadway plays to watch, what restos to go to, and how Rico and Tina O. were so glad they were spending their annual monthly vacation with their gorgeous children in the Big Apple.
The couple got a fully-furnished apartment ideal for the kids who spent most of their time at Central Park. Last year, it was a month in Paris for the Ocampos. Next year? "Well, we haven’t decided yet," Tina O. replied.
Tunting C.M., on the other hand, is so glad she has finally moved closer to New York with her husband, super handsome John Matters. "Now we save at least an hour going and coming from work," Tunting laughed. Lily O’B. meanwhile was all set to jet over to Florida with her family for the summer.
After an absolutely excellent lunch with the resto’s to-die-for cheese quiche Lorraine and a salad, we said "Thank you" and "See you soon" as moi angels Vicky and Stephanie (Lorrie R. had dashed back to work) took a taxi and headed straight to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the hottest ticket of the summer season – Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years.
The hour-long queue to reach the gallery was well worth it, palanggas. The minute you walked in, you instantly felt the Jackie O.’s aura. It took us another hour to bask in Jackie O.’s grandeur, glamour and lifestyle.
Her beautifully displayed clothes were accompanied by huge photos showing Jackie wearing the same outfits in different occasions. Her favorite designers were Oleg Cassini, Givenchy and Chanel.
Jackie was also noted for her popular three-strand pearl necklace. Her basic black and pearls were the ultimate in style and taste. As we left the Museum, we were certain that this one-of-a-kind experience would stay with us forever. The prestigious New York Times summed it up beautifully: "Organized with intelligence and flair, the show represents a substance over style. And in an age wracked by fear, it is vivifying to be reminded that the desire for beauty can survive the rage to destroy."
The following days were filled with excitement. The highlight of our trip was Madonna’s first US stop after her already successful Drowned World Tour 2001. The Material Girl Madison Square Garden’s 27,000 seats.
As we entered the Garden, tons of people were buying all sorts of Madonna souvenirs – T-shirts, beaded denims and jackets, tank tops. You name it, they sold it. And they didn’t come cheap!
There were Madonna wannabes by the thousands – men and women, boys and girls who wore cowboy hats, hipster jeans, tank tops. Any flamboyant outfit that can be associated with Madonna was the rule of the day, dahlings.
The energy inside the Garden was overwhelming. The show was completely sold-out, with seat prices ranging from $100 to $1,700 up front. Before the show began, uniformed waiters sold the bubbly champagne by the bottle or by the glass. Even beer was sold in plastic bottles. Once the show started, all sales stopped.
The minute Madonna appeared onstage, the applause, howls and whistles drowned out her singing. Once in front, she looked at her 27,000 die-hard fans and shouted, "I’m back in my city, New York. Hello, all you mother f–!"
The audience jumped off their seats and applauded, screamed and whistled for two hours and 45 minutes, never sitting down at all. It was awesome! Madonna sang, danced, jumped from one end of the stage to the other, floated on the air, did a kung-fu number, played the guitar, and even rode on a mechanical horse. All these at age 42, dahlings. The gal was incredible!
Moi learned that from the ticket sales, souvenirs, videos, plus, plus, Madonna will gross a cool $197 million. Now that’s real smooth, palanggas.
The night before we all had to move on to other destinations, Lorrie R. invited us to dinner at the resto where anybody who is somebody must go to – Nobu at 105 Hudson St. (tel. no. (212) 2190500). It has been ranked among the top five restos for the past eight years by the tres prestigious Zagot Guide.
Celebrities and dignitaries from all over the world have made Nobu a favorite New York hang-out. Its star chef is none other than our very own chef of chefs Ricky Estrellado, a pupil no less of Lorrie R. It’s no wonder that the rich who can’t get reservations at this "in" resto usually give Lorrie R. an S.O.S. call. Lorrie always accommodates them with a table after calling her pals at the resto. Not bad, huh? Not bad at all!
Apres two and a half weeks in New York, I had to head back home to the world of reality. Vicky and Stephanie Z. headed for San Francisco. I bid my angels Vicky, Lorrie and Stephanie goodbye and drove off to the airport.
The new J.F. Kennedy Air Terminal is gorgeous. It is modern, sleek and superbly designed with the look of tomorrow. I headed straight to the Northwest Airline Business and First Class lounge which amazed me. It’s four times larger than the old one. It has spacious comfortable seats with everything one may need for business like computers and fax machines.
As always, Northwest Airlines’ ground attendants and receptionists were super courteous. Checking in at their check-in counter was a breeze at the spacious section of the Air Terminal. Clean and orderly, the efficient ground staff made moi feel great about flying, dahlings. Aboard, moi was ready for the brief 12-hour direct flight to Tokyo’s Narita Airport.
Whether you’re flying Economy or World Business Class, Northwest’s flight attendants always make sure you’re comfortable. And just what makes us jet travelers comfortable? Well, some of us like to stretch, others prefer to curl up. No matter what category you fall in, space in NW seats and leg room are definitely not wanting.
Worry no more, palanggas. Northwest has dramatically introduced more leg rooms and has the perfect angle for comfort with their Business Class seats. But that ain’t all, dahlings. On this flight, the super nice stewardesses extended to the passengers their best service. Northwest likewise introduced the fantastic state-of-the-art digital audio which definitely elevates listening enjoyment.
Right after being served an excellently prepared late lunch, moi started scanning 20 – yes, palanggas, 20 – movie, lifestyle and informative channels. Before I knew it, I had enjoyed three movies immensely
Before reaching Tokyo, we were served a superb dinner menu of Smoked Salmon with Olive Marinated Asparagus, fresh Mixed Green salad, a choice of Beef Filet in Mustard Sauce with Mashed Potatoes or Spicy Seafood on Fried Noodles and the calorific Fruit Crepe.
The wine list featured an excellent selection. I chose the champagne Billecart Sahnon Brut NV and the red 1998 Black Opal, Cabernet Sauvignon. Northwest prides itself with its improved and varied cuisine and larger portions of multiple entrees created by top chefs from Detroit, Minneapolis and Memphis, plus a new Asian hot entree offered for a second meal.
But that’s not all. You can enjoy snacks while taking it easy after dinner. Now, dahlings, if that ain’t pure pleasure while flying, then, I surely don’t know what is! No wonder Northwest Airlines is considered "the best way to fly."
Oh yes, for more info on Northwest flights and destinations, do call tel. nos., 817-0616 or 819-7346. You won’t regret it. I know, I didn’t!
After a memorable Royal Caribbean Mediterranean cruise, a week and a half in Monte Carlo and Paris, moi vacation in New York and finally the Northwest flight, believe me, it’s great being back home, palanggas!