Läderach Chocolate Shop

One of the places I was very happy to finally visit was Läderach on 5th Avenue. They have been in business since 1962, and originated from the Swiss town of Glarus, now known worldwide. The Swiss are famous for their chocolate and watches (Swatch is one of my faves) so there is no surprise this place is pretty amazing. They have opened a few shops within the city so you can find one easily where you may be strolling around. Let's take a peek inside: 

They are famous for the frisch schoggi, from their website:

"FrischSchoggi is a marriage of fresh Läderach chocolate with carefully sourced, quality ingredients, presented as delightful slabs. This Swiss German expression for fresh chocolate is synonymous with creativity and a unique taste experience. "

They can be purchased in small packages, or you can pick a slab flavor, and they will break apart how much you wish to purchase. It's pretty amazing! 

I tried the item on the left and they were to die for, the popcorn is still on my list. 

They also have regular chocolate pieces, there is so much to choose from here, it's lovely to have such hard decisions to make. 

Look at all those hazelnuts !! 

I first tried the assorted flavors, but, I prefer picking my own flavors from the whole slabs 

When I saw this site for the first time, I just had a very large smile from ear to ear 

Totally amazing to look at and to enjoy 

I would highly recommend a visit here if you love chocolate, and different types of options. They had a pumpkin flavor for the fall that was so amazing. What a fun way to enjoy chocolate confections! 

You can check out their website below for locations in the city, and they do ship as well which works best now we are in cold weather season. 

Läderach

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Met Museum Exhibits 2021-2022

Happy Monday ! I cannot believe this is the last week in May! I do not know where the time is going, but hoping that the rest of 2021 will be better for folks in terms of travel and events. New York City is officially re-opening July 1st but many museums are already open, you need to be sure to pick up your timed tickets in advance. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has been open a while now, so I thought I would highlight some of their current and upcoming exhibits. 

I have not listed all of them, so you can check on their website for a total list of what will be coming up. These are the exhibits I hope to see in person, and there are quite a few that are very exciting indeed. If you cannot get to the museum yet in person, they are still doing virtual events and shopping is available online as well. 

I just watched a wonderful documentary on the Met at PBS which can also be streamed on Amazon via the PBS app titled Inside the Met  which is a must see. It shows you behind the scenes all the work that goes into the wonderful displays we are able to view and those who keep all the artifacts in the best shape possible. 

What exhibit are you most excited to see when you return ? 

THE NEW BRITISH GALLERYS MARCH 2, 2020–ONGOING - 11,000 square feet devoted to British decorative arts, design, and sculpture created between 1500 and 1900.

IN PRAISE OF PAINTING: DUTCH MASTERPIECES AT THE MET - OCTOBER 16, 2018-ONGOING -  Through sixty-seven works of art organized thematically, In Praise of Painting orients visitors to key issues in seventeenth-century Dutch culture—from debates about religion and conspicuous consumption to painters' fascination with the domestic lives of women.

The ROOF GARDEN COMMISSION: Alex Da Corte, As Long as the Sun Lasts will be on view from April 16 through October 31, 2021 - It is the ninth in a series of site-specific commissions for the outdoor space.

A NEW LOOK AT OLD MASTERS - DECEMBER 12, 2020 TO SPRING 2022 - A New Look at Old Masters will explore a variety of themes in The Met's collection of European painting, creating new dialogues among the works and including a large presentation of sculpture

JAPAN: A HISTORY OF STYLE - MARCH 8, 2021 TO APRIL 24, 2022 - This exhibition celebrates how gifts and acquisitions of the last decade have transformed The Met’s ability to narrate the story of Japanese art by both expanding and deepening the range of remarkable artworks that can meaningfully elucidate the past. Each of the ten rooms that make up the Arts of Japan Galleries features a distinct genre, school, or style, representing an array of works in nearly every medium, from ancient times to the present.

UPCOMING EXHIBIITS

THE MEDICI: PORTRAITS & POLITICS, 1512-1570 - JUNE 26, 2021 TO OCTOBER 11, 2021 - Through an outstanding group of portraits, this major loan exhibition will introduce visitors to the new and complex ways artists portrayed the elite of Medicean Florence, representing the sitters' political and cultural ambitions and conveying the changing sense of what it meant to be a Florentine at this defining moment in the city's history.

THE NEW WOMAN BEHIND THE CAMERA - JULY 2 TO OCTOBER 3, 2021 - The New Woman of the 1920s was a powerful expression of modernity, a global phenomenon that embodied an ideal of female empowerment based on real women making revolutionary changes in life and art. Featuring more than 120 photographers from over 20 countries, this groundbreaking exhibition explores the work of the diverse "new" women who embraced photography as a mode of professional and artistic expression from the 1920s through the 1950s. During this tumultuous period shaped by two world wars, women stood at the forefront of experimentation with the camera and produced invaluable visual testimony that reflects both their personal experiences and the extraordinary social and political transformations of the era.

IN AMERICA: A LEXICON OF FASHION - SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 TO SEPTEMBER 5, 2022 -The galleries will feature a fictional American home constructed of transparent walls that intersect and overlap, blurring the boundaries of the rooms. Examples of twentieth- and twenty-first-century fashion will populate the interiors, reflecting the customs and behaviors of the imagined occupants. Designs by pioneers of American sportswear will be displayed alongside works by a diverse group of contemporary designers to illustrate a shifting emphasis in American fashion defined by feelings of fear, delight, comfort, anxiety, well-being, loneliness, happiness, belonging, and responsibility, among other qualities.

GIFTS IN CELEBRATION OF THE MUSEUM'S ANNIVERSARY - JANUARY 1, 2020 TO DECEMBER 31, 2021 - The Met's 150th anniversary is an exciting opportunity to further evolve the institution's encyclopedic collection in all curatorial areas, with an eye toward presenting multiple historical narratives. The Museum has received exceptional gifts from more than 150 generous collectors and supporters in honor of the anniversary, ranging from important individual artworks to large collections comprising many dozens of objects.

The Met is probably one of my most favorite parts of the city, as I have been visiting for so long! It is an experience like no other, and one you will never forget. All museums need our support now, and they give so much back to us in return. 

You can schedule your timed ticket on their website - As of May 24th they are still requiring face coverings on everyone who enters whether vaccinated or not. Check their website for any changes to this guideline. 

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART 

1000 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10028

Phone: 212-535-7710

Hours

Thursday–Monday: 10 am–5 pm

Closed Tuesday and Wednesday

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Happy Easter !

I thought we would visit the famous Easter Parade in New York City, which sadly will not be happening this year but prepare to attend in 2021! I hope you all have a wonderful day and celebrate in the best/healthiest way you can. Stay safe and healthy! 

I loved these two folks, so photogenic! I LOVE her jacket and hat! 

These ladies were very elegant and just looked so fantastic  

This shot came out great with the back drop of St. Patrick's Cathedral  

This is a bit goth looking but I still love it  

Such a cool hat, not sure if the lady made it herself or someone did it for her. It screams SPRING!  

This group reminded me of that fabulous Amazon show- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - which I need to watch for a 3rd time. It is that good.  

I have no idea what this guy was going for but it was interesting  

Medusa!!  

This guy was being interviewed about his hat  

These 2 little dogs were cute until they started fighting with each other!  

How great are these two? Just love them  

Very pretty flower hat here  

These ladies had cupcake hats - just adorable  

Love these two, just everything, how great is that pink handbag?  

I am a huge Faberge egg fan and these ladies had the right idea FABULOUS  

Outfits very loud here, you cannot miss this couple if you tried!  

SAVE ME as in the earth, cute idea and I do love the hat with the Easter Eggs on it  

This ladies whole outfit was just gorgeous and I love the colors!  

Elegance even from the back  

Anyone need a bunny ears?  

The lady in the lime green reminded me of a Pan Am girl - love the dress and matching hat  

This group was loads of fun  

I love his jacket full of butterflies 

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The Closing of Henri Bendel

The news over the weekend that Henri Bendel is closing did not really come as a total shock to me. The iconic store on 5th Avenue, was one of my favorite places to shop. They used to have artisans at various tables to show their work, and you could purchase some very unique items. Their candles are one of the best, and fabulous to give as a gift. When they changed their format in 2014, I was really disappointed in the lack of selection of items. I popped in, and own a few of their handbags, but it just wasn't the same. I am sad to see a store that is 123 years old close, but how many items can I own with their name on it? I think if they stayed to their original format, it would have worked better. So many brick and mortar stores are closing these days, and I know many blame online shopping, but I feel if they do not provide the customer service and selection, they will not last. 

Here is some history on the store: 

History and influence. Henri Willis Bendel was born in Louisiana in 1868 and moved to New York to work as a milliner. He opened his first shop, in Greenwich Village, in 1895. In 1907, he began branding the brown-and-white striped boxes that are still identified with the company. In 1913, Henri Bendel was the first retailer to sell Coco Chanel designs in the U.S. After Bendel’s death in 1936, his nephew became the store’s president and served until his retirement in 1954. Bendel's nephew, who later founded Belgian Shoes, died in 1997. Beginning in 2008, the brand expanded beyond the New York store to become a national chain with 28 stores (in addition to the NYC flagship) across the U.S. In 2009, Henri Bendel stopped selling apparel. In 2014, the New York flagship store and website began selling only Henri Bendel-branded handbags, jewelry, fashion accessories and home fragrances, following the model set at its other stores. 

The current Fifth Avenue flagship is located in two landmark buildings, the Rizzoli building and Coty building, as well as a new five-story building.[14] During renovation of the Coty building, 276 “masterwork” panes of glass commissioned from Rene Lalique in 1912 were restored. The glass fills three large windows that comprise the front of the second, third and fourth floors of the Henri Bendel flagship. Upon the store’s opening in 1991, it received landmark status from the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission. 

The store in King of Prussia mall which I rarely saw folks purchasing items  

I will miss their holiday windows as this one was really cool with the Statue of Liberty.  

Another wonderful set of holiday windows that I just loved!  

Awesome vintage ad from 1938 for soaps and perfumes  

Thank goodness the building is landmarked so it will not be changing at all. Should be interesting to see who takes over the space after January 2019.

What are your thoughts about the closing? Do tell .....

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