Imagini Desktop Orase - New York City

New York - Sunset

Valentino and Vanity Fair

I considered boycotting the August 2010 issue of Vanity Fair since Angelina Jolie was on the cover. (I am on Team Aniston mainly because of her hair.) I'm glad that though I didn't because it was chock full of great design stories including Bunny Mellon's Secret Garden, Architecture in the Age of Gehry, and my favorite, Valentino's New York Revival. If you watched Valentino: The Last Emperor, you saw a glimpse of his Fifth Avenue pied-à-terre but it was a bit dated to say the least. He called his designer on speed dial, Jacques Grange, to "make something more light, and more for my art collection." Now the Basquiat, de Kooning, Prince, Warhol, and Lichtenstein pop off of the white lacquered walls. Looks like retirement is suiting Valentino and his apartment very well!

Photos by Jonathan Becker

The Lion's Chic Tonight

I mentioned before that The Lion is the hot restaurant du jour since its chef John DeLucie formerly worked at The Waverly Inn. While neither place is going to win any culinary awards, The Lion might just win some design awards. It has an old school New York vibe and tons of fabulous vintage photos on its walls hung gallery style with a Basquiat and a LaChapelle. Designer Meg Sharpe apparently used to work for Kelly Wearstler and wanted The Lion to look “a little Miss Havisham.” I wish more restaurants in New York looked this cool! Enjoy!

The Lion

62 West Ninth Street

New York, NY 10011

212-353-8400