In Pursuit Of Beauty

When searching for design inspiration closer to home, Yifrach makes his way to Chelsea Flea Market 39 W. 25th St.; 212-243-5343) next to the Cathedral of St. Sava where he spends Saturdays and Sundays rummaging through worldly treasures and antiques, like century-old printing presses, glamorous Art Deco jewelry, vintage clothing, and mid-century furniture. Across the street, the Showplace Antique And Design Center (40 W. 25th St.; 212-633-6063) is perfect for perusing more vintage and antique treasures. Visitors will find 250 galleries spread out on the building’s four floors with everything from restored Murano glass lamps to gold-lacquered Buddhist temple flowers, and beyond.

Before you lose yourself in the spectacular contemporary works at Jim Kempner Fine Art Gallery (501 W. 23rd St,; 212-206-6872), located in the heart of Chelsea, spend some time admiring the architectural genius of the building itself. The three-story glass-and-steel structure is a modernist dreamscape designed by architects Phillip Smith and Douglas Thompson. Find more of their design mastery at New York Buddhist Church on Riverside Drive and the Church of the Epiphany on the Upper East Side. Yifrach recommends exploring the gallery’s outdoor sculpture garden first before browsing their extensive collection of paintings, sculpture, photography, and prints from some of the most notable artists of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries: Chuck Close, Helen Frankenthaler, Jasper Johns, Deborah Kass, and Jeff Koons.

Of course, you must see the Museum of Modern Art (11 W. 53rd St.) but chances are you already have. The Frick Collection (1 E. 70th St.; 212-288-0700) is equally impressive, but on a rather different scale. Formerly the private home of industrialist Henry Clay Frick, the museum's hallways, galleries, courtyards, and dining rooms are adorned with 18th-century furniture, oriental rugs, and original masterworks by distinguished artists like Goya, Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Whistler.

For a comprehensive lesson in design history, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (2 E. 91st St.; 212-849-8400), is the only museum in the United States devoted to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting historic and contemporary international design. Diverse items on display include everything from Abraham Lincoln’s pocket watch to psychedelic posters from the 1960’s.

For a memorable dining experience with atmosphere to match, head to Soho’s Antique Garage (41 Mercer St.; 212) 219-1019). Taking over a former auto-repair shop, chef Utku Cinel transformed the grungy space into one of New York’s best-kept dining secrets. Today, the atmosphere remains unpretentious, but the antique-adorned rooms are more romantic than utilitarian. Shimmering chandeliers hang from the wooden ceiling. Gilded Victorian-style portraits hang on red brick walls. And everything’s for sale.
In the warmer months, the restaurant’s garage door opens allowing tables to spill out onto the sidewalk. Guests nibble Mediterranean mezzes like fresh grilled octopus and savory taramasalata while the enjoy impromptu jazz sessions featuring cellos and trumpets, whose raw sound can be heard echoing down the street.

For dinner, you might find Yifrach at Jack’s Wife Freda (50 Carmine St.; 646-669-9888), a hospitable Greenwich Village hangout known for its manner of delighting guests with fresh and colorful Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Their burgers are some of the best in the city, but the hearty vegetable curry bowl made with fluffy couscous and spicy house chutney is just as satisfying. At brunch, the eye-catching seasonal menu with roots in Israel and South Africa, features kaleidoscopic dishes like bright pink eggs benedict with beet hollandaise, rainbow carrot salad, and refreshing cantaloupe juice.