Samantha Yanks and Eric Ripert at the Hamptons holiday cover party

Change Is Afoot

The evolving face of New York City is simply astounding. Here’s something to think about: During what we will all remember as a tumultuous time in our economy, New Yorkers were able to develop a previously uninspired neighborhood—and give it a catchy acronym, NoMad, on top of it.

Communities develop, sometimes seemingly overnight. Once reserved for our jury duty visits, the City Hall area is today abuzz with a restaurant scene that’s explosive in its own right, not just trickle-over from its next-door neighbor, Chinatown. The Lower East Side, which in my mind still conjures up outings with my grandfather to Russ and Daughters to pick up nova, is now the epicenter of cooler-than-cool restaurants like Peels and Schiller’s Liquor Bar where, respectfully, you can still get matzo brai. A place once populated by butchers is now home to the crown jewel of the Downtown hotel scene, The Standard. Surrounded by some of the city’s most delightful clothing stores such as Jeffrey and 25 Park, the Meatpacking District (or MPD) is less meat and more caviar.

While there are things I miss about the New York City of my childhood, every day I’m awed by how resilient this city truly is. It’s a new year, and in 2011 I’m sure we will see the rise of new neighborhoods and the redesign of others. We live here because we love that about this place—at least, until you’re trying to sell in what was once a trendy neighborhood and is now yesterday’s news. Plus ça change...

EDITOR IN CHIEF