DECEMBER QUEST

There were too many goodies to fit into our print issue!

MORE FROM DECEMBER QUEST

Including: HOLIDAY TRADITION from TONY GUERNSEY, Head of Wealth Management, Wilmington Trust Co.

Sparkling Seasonal Gems at CHRISTIES and SOTHEBY’S

CLIVE KANDEL for MEG WENDY reports on fine jewelry being auctioned at CHRISTIES and SOTHEBY’S this season in “Sparkling Seasonal Gems at Christies and Sotheby’s.” Visit Christies’ NEW YORK JEWELS (December 10, 2009) and Sotheby’s MAGNIFICENT JEWELS (December 9, 2009).

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RXART’s First Annual Gingerbread House Party at DYLAN’S CANDY BAR

On Sunday, post-brunch, QUEST certainly got into the Christmas spirit by decorating gingerbread houses at an event co-chaired by ANNE HEARST and JAY MACINERNEY for RXART at DYLAN’S CANDY BAR at 1011 Third Ave.

RXART is a non-profit organization that is committed to fostering artistic expression and awareness through the challenging yet rewarding task of engaging patients through contemporary art in healthcare facilities. By curating installations in hospital settings, they provide a creative surrounding that helps to relieve stress and anxiety, while increasing appreciation for contemporary art.

Families excitedly gathered around gingerbread houses prepared by ELENI’S for hours, decorating with (and, of course, tasting) pounds and pounds of candy. The afternoon was fabulously sweet (!!!) and everyone left with a wonderful treat to nibble on through Christmas eve!

Spotted: Stacey Bendet, Karianne and James Flynn, Dylan Lauren, Cynthia Rowley, Bill Powers

For more information on RxArt, call 212.260.8797 or visit www.rxart.net.

For more information on Dylan’s Candy Bar, call 886.9.DYLANS or visit www.dylanscandybar.com.

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CELEBRATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD at ASPREY and the UNION CLUB

QUEST attended CELEBRATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD to benefit LENOX HILL NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE with cocktails at ASPREY at 853 Madison Ave. and dinner and dancing at the UNION CLUB at 101 East 69th St. View PMc photos HERE.

Guests arrived at ASPREY in black tie to mingle over Crantinis (yum!) and, of course, to browse the store. QUEST even did a little holiday shopping: Poker Set in Black for Dad, Cream Botanical Mixture Silk Scarf with Orange Mini Lettering Scarf Belt for Mom, Asprey Playing Cards in Purple for a brother, Purple Water Scented Candle for a sister, and Cracker 2009 Cracker Shell with sterling silver accessories for everyone!

At the UNION CLUB, QUEST enjoyed lively conversation over an elegant meal and ever-flowing red and white wine. Guests wore deep velvets (love!), and QUEST was delighted to see an HERMES bowtie. After dinner, there was dancing in the ballroom, complete with holiday-themed cupcakes (again, love!).

After a wonderful, wonderful event, QUEST donned our furs (and recruited friends with umbrellas) before walking to BAR AND BOOKS at 1020 Lexington Ave. to cap the night with a bottle of Sancerre.

Spotted: Hamish Bowles, Jennifer Creel, Mark Gilbertson, Michelle Smith

For more information on Asprey, call 212.688.1811 or visit www.asprey.com.

For more information on Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, call 212.744.5022 or visit www.lenoxhill.org.

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PIAGET MEN TO WATCH IN 2009 at LEHMANN MAUPIN GALLERY

Last night, QUEST attended PIAGET MEN TO WATCH IN 2009 hosted by LARRY BOLAND, President of PIAGET North America, and DAN PERES, Editor-in-Chief of DETAILS magazine, at LEHMANN MAUPIN GALLERY at 201 Chrystie St. We didn’t see ANDRE LEON TALLEY sporting his vintage diamond PIAGET timepiece slash his version of a “tennis bracelet” from THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE. But we did spy a GORG Piaget Polo 45 Flyback Chronograph Watch. Dear Santa!

The event’s honorees included LEE DANIELS (director of Oscar contender “Precious”), JEREMY RENNER (star of Oscar contender “The Hurt Locker”), JEFFREY DONOVAN (star of USA Network’s “Burn Notice”), MICHAEL BASTIAN (celebrated menswear designer), DAVID CHANG (celebrity chef/Momofuku … and a graduate of TRINITY COLLEGE in Hartford, Conn.), and NICK ROLDAN (top-rated US polo player).

QUEST strolled through the gallery (filled with ink sketches of human figures accompanied by pithy remarks in scrawly handwriting), noting a pair of THOM BROWNE pants (thumbs up) and lots o’ brightly colored footwear (the jury’s still out …). 

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Dinner at LOCANDA VERDE

On Friday night, QUEST dined at ROBERT DE NIRO’s new LOCANDA VERDE, or “Green Inn,” at THE GREENWICH HOTEL at 379 Greenwich St. The Italian restaurant is overseen by chef ANDREW CARMELLINI, darling of the “foodie” scene, who strays from his classical French and Italian techniques to cook “family style.”

QUEST enjoyed a Mozarella crostino with eggplant & pesto on prosciutto bread and Penne Pugliese with sausage, broccoli rabe, and ceci. And learned that the singular form of the word “Chichetti” is “Chichetto.” Who knew? View the complete menu HERE.

LOCANDA VERDA has received many positive reviews (Time Out New York said, ”Carmellini cooks like an Italian grandmother — delivering simple food with so much heart, the recipe might’ve been passed down from a long line of great cooks”). However, QUEST overheard a comment that the restaurant was somewhat of a glorified pizzeria. Oh, well …

Also, QUEST apologizes for the lack of photos. Breaking out our BlackBerry camera while on a date — even sans flash — just seemed a little embarrassing at the time. 

For more information on Locanda Verde, call 212.925.3797 or visit www.locandaverdenyc.com.

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Recipe for Nana’s Jelly Cookies

Santa may even come early this year if you tempt him with these cookies (and if you’ve been really, REALLY nice) …

Ingredients: 1 1/2 Stick of Butter, 1/2 Cup of Sugar, 1 Egg Yolk, 2 Cups of Flour, 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla, and Jelly

Instructions: 1. Cream butter and sugar 2. Add a bit of flour and beat 3. Add egg yolk and remaining flour and vanilla 4. Pinch off and roll into balls 5. Press indentations with thimble and fill hole with jelly 6. Bake at 300° for 30 minutes on a slightly greased cookie sheet

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Dinner at LA CAVE DES FONDUS

If you happen to find yourself in NoLita (or even if you don’t), stop by LA CAVE DES FONDUS in the basement of JACQUES at 20 Prince St. The menu is simple, consisting only of La Fondue Savoyarde (Swiss, Gruyere, and Comté cheeses served with a bread basket, $21) and La Fondue Bourguignonne (steak cooked in beef bouillon, $21), as well as a Cheese Plate ($15), a Charcuterie Plate ($18), and Pâté ($10).

Apparently, owner JACQUES OUARI was inspired by LE REFUGE DES FONDUS at 17 Rue des Trois Frères in Paris, France, where wine is served in baby bottles so as to avoid taxes on wine served in stemware. So, go sip your Bordeaux through a rubber nipple, served “by the glass” (because “by the bottle” would just be misleading).

For more information on La Cave des Fondus, call 212.966.5073 or visit www.jacquesnyc.com.

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Lambswool Tartan Scarves at J. PRESS

Enter Promo Code “PSNOV09″ at J. PRESS and receive 25 percent off of their “100% Lambswool Tartan” scarves. Just in case you don’t already own, you know, like twenty. Prints include “Royal Stewart,” “Dress Gordon,” and “Mackenzie,” which reminds us of our uniforms at Greenwich Academy. Not a bad thing!

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Enjoying your WILD TURKEY (The Other Kind)

This holiday season, keep your spirits high with a fun flask that will be the envy of everyone at the dinner table:

Step outside for a minute with the BoozeBerry, a sneaky little container designed to resemble a BlackBerry. Perfect for all occasions, even business meetings! Well, maybe not. $24.95 at Amazon

Invest in a timeless style with needlepoint and leather cover from Smathers & Branson. QUEST loves the Jolly Roger Flask in Navy and the Block Monogrammed Flask. The perfect accessory for tailgating! $65 – $100 at Smathers & Branson

… and don’t forget to pick up a festive, if not challenging, bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon! Chin, chin!

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