NY MINUTE
THE LOC AL SCOOP IN SECONDS FL AT
Whipping up sweet treats with a pastry pro ... Practicing sky-high aerobic
acrobatics ... Mixing your own signature scent ...
Class Action
At Dessert Café Luxee (6 Clinton St., btw Stanton & E. Houston sts.,
1.212.375.1796), a welcoming eatery serving an inventive menu of
roasted tea brûlée and other French delights with a Japanese flair (left),
aspiring bakers can enjoy a variety of natural sweet treats—and even
learn how to make them. Award-winning Pastry Chef Yoshie Shirakawa
leads multiple four-class courses, which range in theme from Basic
Baking and Vegan Treats to Afternoon Tea and Sugar Art. Each handson, two-hour class in a series can be taken as an individual workshop
with up to eight participants per session (single class, about $80).
Lessons take place Wednesdays and Fridays noon to 6 p.m., Thursdays
noon to 9 p.m. and Saturdays to Sundays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.—NM
Dancing On Air
Scent-sational
It’s said that New York City has a rhythm all its own,
and visitors can find theirs at Manhattan Movement
and Arts Center (248 W. 60th St., btw Amsterdam
& West End aves., 1.212.787.1178; single classes,
about $13-$45). The expansive dance mecca hosts
innovative classes for all ages and levels, including
aerial dance (below). Taught by former Cirque du
Soleil member Ivo Gueorguiev, the 90-minute
sessions introduce participants to such skills as
acrobatics, aerial hoop and fabric. Offered daily,
seminars begin with warm-up movements on the
ground and progress to climbing on fabric and other
stunts as students become more comfortable.—SB
Sue Phillips understands scent.
“Smell is one of our strongest
senses,” says the creator of
TIFFANY perfume. “You can
walk down the street and smell
something that reminds you
of anything—your first love,
Grandma’s kitchen—because
memories are so tied in to
scent.” For this reason, Phillips
started The Perfume Studio (call
for location, 1.917.449.1134),
travelling perfume workshops
that allow participants to create
their own signature fragrance.
The 60- to 90-minute classes
(about $85) begin as five to 40
guests discuss the significance
and impact of smell, later taking a quiz to determine which perfume
best reflects their overall lifestyle. Students sniff their way through 18
different essences, including citrus and amber, following their nose
as they sample scents before deciding on the three or four fragrances
that will make up their own personal perfume. The chosen notes are
decanted into a 20-mL purse spray (above) or 30-mL canisters, and
guests complete the bespoke perfume process by naming their scent
and receiving a certificate of registration. All formulas are kept in the
studio’s database for easy reordering (about $55 for 30 mL).—LP
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“There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless.”— French author and philosopher Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986)
WHERE NEW YORK may 2009