New York Diaries: Holiday High Tea at the Baccarat
It’s been 5 days since I’ve been back from Paris and I would be lying if I didn’t tell you I have been a little low.
I had my solitude there. I could observe my top values (Adventure and Beauty) first thing in the morning, given my 6 hour jump on my New York day.
I—-walked. I just walked the city’s expanse, alone with my thoughts.
Thinking about my business. The year that just passed. What’s working? What’s not working? What do I want in 2025.
I could go back to the same store 8x and try on the same jacket.
It’s all part of my process when I’m “off the grid.”
Upon my return, it was back to seven sales calls a day as I’m interviewing candidates for the 2025 Class of my Mastermind.
But Friday, would be relegated to all things beautiful in New York. I have to be intentional about this, otherwise, I would just stay tethered to my computer.
It started with a holiday high tea at the beautiful Baccarat hotel.
Years ago, when I made the conscious decision to leave financial news and TV full time, I took a 9 month stint at Morgan Stanley in midtown. I needed a normal schedule with a salary and no 2:30am wake up calls.
The job involved alot of meetings, and everything in midtown was so steakhouse mahogany walled and “bro-ish.”
I settled upon the Baccarat, a mere 2 blocks from the Morgan Stanley offices, as my place to meet potential clients, because it was decidedly feminine.
Sitting across from the Museum of Modern Art, the hotel boasts 17 custom Baccarat chandeliers as a nod to its 250 year old French namesake.
I love the smell that that hotel pipes through the vents as soon as I walk in. Fresh red roses sit everywhere for a touch of color.
I was meeting Erin for a holiday high tea at the Grand Salon. We chose the “Princess Monaco tea” which is three tiers of sugar. My favorite is the savory scone, with butter and jam.
I wore my vintage find from Open Dressing in Paris: This YSL jacket. It’s hard to believe, things from the 1980s are now considered “vintage.” But, when I put it on, I understood for the first time, why women buy couture.
It fit like a dream. No alterations needed.
I paired it with my Sandro polka dotted blouse and my Lurdes Bergada pants.
“That’s alot of prints together,” bellowed Matt as I was walking out the door.
I kinda liked it.
Erin is a financial advisor, with a niche group of clients in women in housing and construction. I was so glad to welcome her ambition and knowledge this year to my Shesuite roundtable of women in housing and hospitality.
I like spending time with my clients, getting to know them personally. Holiday tea at the Baccarat was the perfect setting for chats about Netflix, books, relationships and business.
The weather is rainy and grey here in New York.
I had two more stops before my day would conclude.
Drinks at Perrine in the Pierre Hotel with my friend Kelly before she jets off to the land down under until February.
And finally, a belated dinner at Le Bilboquet on the Upper East Side with my friend Kavita. Hey, remember me pledging to silence my inner critic?
I got pistachio ice cream for dessert and it was heaven.
It’s the first snow in New York today. I photographed these in the early morning hours from our home in Brooklyn.
Sometimes, I walk any city and think like Charlie Brown. Everything ‘Christmas’ has gotten ‘too commercial.’
So I lean on traditions, like going to the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. I go every year and now I’ve run out of friends who want to go. Same with my friend Mou. So we are going to see it for the 400th time together. (Matt went to the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow and fell asleep.)
Nothing rings in Christmas like the snow falling on stage during the Waltz of the Snowflakes. It’s my favorite part.
Mou wants us to dress fancy for the occasion.
I’ll wear my tulle skirt from Paris as a nod to the art form I’m about to witness tonight.
But you better believe there will be some good ol fashioned American wool tights underneath. :)