The magic in dining out in New York
An evening at The Waverly Inn with At Present
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There are plenty of perks to living in New York City: the comfort of knowing that whatever you need, whether it’s a dry cleaner or a sandwich shop, is just around the corner; the thrill of hopping on the subway and finding yourself in a neighborhood that feels like a new city altogether; even the fact that you can still get a pretty decent slice of pizza for $1.50 (it used to be a dollar, but inflation). All of that makes the city special. But if you ask me—and I doubt I’m alone—New York truly comes alive when you dine out. That’s when you see the city’s energy in full effect. And when you’re eating at one of the institutions, those near-mythical restaurants that have become part of the city’s culinary fabric, it’s even more exhilarating. These are the places where all walks of New York society converge: the glitterati, the literati, and every other kind of ‘ritati.’ You could easily name a dozen: The Odeon, Indochine, Le Veau d’Or, and now Jean’s, which occupies the old Butter space and is clearly angling for a seat at that same table. But there’s something singular about crossing the threshold of The Waverly Inn, in many ways it feels like you're stepping into this wonderful little chestnut of a bygone era with the the lowhung ceilings, the mural with all the “Greenwich Village all stars” the backyard with the fireplace and carriage door, and at the same time there is something about dining at The Waverly Inn that feels like a stamp on life’s passport, so it only felt right to have a dinner with At Present at a restaurant that holds such significant meaning to the city.
This month’s dinner was held in celebration of Keane, and it was such a pleasure to have Colin, the mind behind the brand, with us. We also used the evening to highlight some of the new additions on At Present, including glass pieces made to mimic silver with a charming little glass cabochon, and necklaces with pendants that looked like they could have come straight out of Pee-wee Herman’s playhouse. As an added treat, each guest was welcomed with a ring at their place setting. Who says you can’t have a little dessert before your main course?
I was first introduced to Keane when I began working with At Present, and what struck me most was Colin’s incredible sense of color. You can liven up any outfit with just one, two, or even three of his colorful bands, depending on how much finger real estate you’re working with. A friend of the newsletter, and a longtime supporter of At Present,
, showed up to dinner in her own Keane pieces.
The guest list made the night even more memorable. Angelica Hicks came dressed in a vintage coat that once belonged to her mother, featuring a gigantic camel embroidered on the back. Brynn Wallner of Dimepiece wore a Chanel-inspired tweed jacket paired with a well-loved vintage Speedy. I didn’t catch which watch she had on, but I did notice a beaded bracelet that felt very Keane-coded. Tanya Dukes was also in attendance, along with Talia Abbas from Vogue Shopping, who forgot to wear her cocktail watch but still looked as glamorous as ever.
(aka Andrea Linett) joined as well and shared stories from her days at Harper’s Bazaar under Liz Tilberis. Consider this your reminder to check out this podcast! She also had a beautiful jewelry stack, with each piece tied to a story she recounted over dinner.
Once the truffle mac and cheese had been devoured and everyone was thoroughly stuffed, a few of us made our way to a local bar to catch the end of the Knicks game. On the way out, we passed Adam Driver on the street, which felt very New York. At the bar, the game was in overtime, but sadly, not enough time for the Knicks to pull off a win. As we stepped back out onto the street, a group of sailors passed by. I suddenly remembered it was Fleet Week. You really never know what a night in New York might hold.
See you all on Sunday!
XX
JJ
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