outdoor-entertainment

Lobel's of New York: A Family Tradition for Over 140 Years

Lobel's of New York is a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Online Meat Company.

The family-owned and operated business is located on the Upper East Side of New York. Ten years ago, Lobel's launched Lobels of New York (www.lobels.com), an online butcher shop, enabling its customers to order and have its products delivered to their door in all 50 states.

The Lobel family have been in the business for five generations. It all started back in the 1840's when Nathan Lobel began raising cattle in Austria, and with the help of his son, later added a slaughterhouse to the business. Nathan's grandson Morris joined the famly business as a boy, and in 1911, at the age of 17, he emigrated to the United States. He eventually settled in New York where he opened a butcher shop, first in the Bronx and later at the current location at 1096 Madison Avenue (at East 82nd Street) in Manhattan.

Gallery: Lobel's of New York

Service and quality have always been the hallmarks of the Lobel's business. Morris' sons Leon, Nathan, and Stanley, followed in their father's footsteps. Stanley remains active in the store, while his sons, David and Mark, as well as his nephew, Evan, have emerged as the fifth generation of the Lobel family to work in the business.

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Lifestyle Expert Mar Jennings' Best Gardening Tips

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Gardening and lifestyle expert Mar Jennings.

Few understand gardening better than Luxist Awards Panelist Mar Jennings. Mar is the in-house lifestyle expert and correspondent for Better TV and is the home expert for the Fine Living Network. Mar also appears on the Today Show, ABC, Fox, CNN, and many other national and local networks across the country. He is also the author of Life on Mar's: A Four Season Garden (S&J Publishing, $39.95).

In an exclusive interview with Luxist, Mar shares some of his best gardening tips. According to Mar, it is not too late to roll up your sleeves and get to work in your garden.

Luxist: It is already late June. What can someone plant now?

MAR: You might be surprised---and I meet many gardeners who think they're too late.

I recommend focusing on accent pieces where the garden seems bare. Ground cover plants and plants that come in small containers are the best options for getting you in and out of the garden quickly when it's so hot out. Any plant that blooms early in the Spring and has spent flowers is perfect for planting in summer because they will be focusing their energy on growing and not on flowering-plus most will be on sale. Another great bet is succulents.

What can be planted now for full sun and what do you recommend for partial sun? How about no sun?

MAR: Your local garden center can further advise you of things that are particularly good for your area, but here are some sure-fie items that I make use of:

Full sun: Decorative vines such as wisteria or trumpet vines, anchors for your garden such as dwarf boxwoods, and ornamental grasses.

Partial sun: Hydrangeas, hydrangeas and more hydrangeas are ideal. (Not that I'm biased or anything.)

No sun: When God gives you lemons, make lemonade. A full-shade garden can be as wonderful as a full-sun garden. Discover the endless varieties of ferns and hostas, intertwined in any shady area. These create height, texture and interest in an otherwise overlooked place. Introduce moss onto garden structures and stone walkways as an added feature that will increase in charm over the years.

Is it too late to plant vegetable plants?

MAR: For some things, yes. But don't give up! Lettuces, tomatoes, peppers and herbs can be started now---but not from seeds, but by planting the small plants already started. Another reason I love to encourage people to plant vegetables in the summer is because children are out of school and can be involved in the process---a learning experience for them and a family activity for you.

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How to Make a Classic Manhattan

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

At the newly renovated Plaza Hotel, which recently underwent a $450 million renovation, Luxist visited the famous Oak Room Bar where Head Bartender Orlando Rivera shared with us some of his secrets, including how to make one of the most classic cocktails---the Manhattan.

Orlando Rivera, who has worked at the Plaza Hotel for 21 years, presides over The Oak Bar. During his time there, he has served classic cocktails to the great and near-great, including princes, presidents, powerbrokers, politicians, Hollywood stars, musicians and professional athletes.

The Manhattan is believed to have been invented at the Manhattan Club in New York City in the 1870's. The cocktail has not diminished in its popularity over the ensuing 140 years and is referred to as the "king of cocktails." We couldn't think of a better place to learn (or a better person to learn from) how to make this classic cocktail than at this landmark location. Built in 1907 as a bar for men only, the Oak Room Bar is now an iconic meeting spot for New Yorkers and visitors to the city alike.

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