Around the World in NYC
With nearly 170 languages—from Afrikaans to Yiddish—spoken on a daily basis and 36 percent of the local residents foreign-born, this cultural melting pot is, perhaps, the only place on earth where one can find holiday gifts from every corner of the globe.
Travel Savvy
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PASSPORT WALLET Red WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie 100-percent leather bifold pouch with passport and card holders. About $95.
Barneys New York, 660 Madison Ave., 1-212-826-8900.
NAVIGATION TOOL Durable aluminum waterproof Brunton Geo Pocket Transit, which contains a north-seeking magnet balanced on a sapphire bearing. About $695. Tent & Trails, 21 Park Pl., 1-212-227-1760.
GLOBE Mova self-rotating 4-inch-diameter globe set on a clear acrylic base. About $195. American Museum of Natural History Store, Central Park West at W. 79th St., 1-212-769-5100.
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BAG Asprey Traveller in woven horsehair with buffalo leather trim. About $2,050. Asprey, 853 Madison Ave., 1-212-688-1811.
THROW/CUSHION Frette Jet Set throw blanket and boudoir pillow cover in 87-percent merino wool/13-percent cashmere. About $395. Frette, 799 Madison Ave.,
1-212-988-5221.
Africa
LOCAL FLAIR
EGYPTIAN MOVES Stomach undulations, hip isolations and graceful arm movements are a few of the sultry steps taught in classes at Belly Dancing by Serena (939 Eighth Ave., 1-212-247-5051).
GHANIAN ART Treasure hunters can find an exquisite selection of authentic textiles from Ghana at Hemingway African Gallery (The Manhattan Art & Antiques Center, 1050 Second Ave., Galleries 96 & 97, 1-212-838-3650), as well as ancient and contemporary tribal art, masks and baskets from all over the continent.
WILD MADAGASCAR Collared lemurs, crocodiles and tree boas roam the island of Madagascar-and its recreated habitats at The Bronx Zoo (Fordham Rd. & Bronx River Pkwy., 1-718-367-1010).
MOROCCAN SANCTUARY Resembling an Arabic harem (sacred house allotted to women), Le Souk Harem (510 LaGuardia Pl., 1-212-961-7507) is a North African restaurant decked out with lanterns, tents, hookahs (water pipes used for smoking tobacco) and belly dancers.
NIGERIAN RHYTHM Featuring a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies, Fela! (Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St.,1-212- 239-6200) is based on the life and music of Nigerian performer and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
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DRUM Ghanian talking drum made of wood. About $125. Drummer’s World, 151 W. 46th St., 1-212-840-3057.
LANTERN Brass patiné filigree Moroccan lantern. About $375. Imports from Marrakesh Ltd., 88 10th Ave., 1-212-675-9700.
RED TEA Decaffeinated red rooibos tea grown in South Africa. About $14; T Salon, Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave., 1-212-243-0432.
AREA RUG African-inspired,
zebra-print, hand-loomed llama wool rug (5 feet x 7 feet). About $1,050. Jonathan Adler, 304
Columbus Ave., 1-212-787-0017.
BRACELET Hand-enameled Egyptian chevron cuff with 24-karat gold overlay. About $150. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store,1000 Fifth Ave., 1-212-570-3894.
RED TEA SET Red Astor ceramic tea set. About $60; T Salon, Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave., 1-212-243-0432.
Europe
LOCAL FLAIR
BRITAIN ON BROADWAY Theatergoers travel to a working-class English town from the 1980s during Billy Elliot, The Musical (Imperial Theatre, 249 W. 45th St., 1-212-239-6200), which tells the heartwarming story of a young boy who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer.
French Antiques Visitors are immersed in French antiques from the 19th century, including a gilt-metal Christofle rooster, at Sakai Antiques, Inc. (The Manhattan Art & Antiques Center, 1050 Second Ave., Galleries 4, 5 & 9, 1-212-486-8900).
IRISH CHEERPatrons come together every Monday night from 8 to 11 p.m. for traditional Irish music played live by fiddle, banjo and harmonica performer Don Meade at The Landmark Tavern (626 11th Ave., 1-212-247-2562).
ITALIAN OPERA The Metropolitan
Opera's (Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, 1-212-362-6000) production of Il Trittico by composer Giacomo Puccini, first premiered in 1918, brings audiences a piece of Italian history; One of its three parts is based on Dante's Divine Comedy.
RUSSIAN THEATER Professionally trained dancers from Moscow wearing elaborate costumes perform authentic Russian cabaret at Rasputin Restaurant (2670 Coney Island Ave., Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, 1-718-332-8111).
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STOLE Russian sable 18-inch contoured stole—includes country of origin on label. About $37,500. The Fur Salon at Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave., 2nd fl., 1-212-940-4465.
VASE Arrington by Waterford Irish crystal 10-inch vase with diagonal cuts and 14-karat gold-rimmed accents. About $325. Bloomingdale’s, 1000 Third Ave., 1-212-705-2000.
MOISTURIZER Regenerative oil-free moisturizing gel IS Icelandic for men and women. About $179. Face
Stockholm, The Shops at Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Circle, 1-212-823-9415.
FRAGRANCE Un Matin d’Orage 3.4-oz. women’s French fragrance by Annick Goutal with notes of gardenia, jasmine and ginger. About $115. Aedes de Venustas, 9 Christopher St., 1-212-206-8674.
SWEATER Men’s powder blue Italian cashmere pullover with buttons. About $299. Loehmann’s, 101 Seventh Ave., 1-212-352-0856.
DOCUMENT CASE A very British A4 protective leather document case with a flap lined in suede calf leather and an engraved lock. About $850. Smythson of Bond Street, 4 W. 57th St., 1-212-265-4573.
SWAN SCULPTURE Gray handmade Finnish glass whooper swan designed by Professor Oiva Toikka. About $550. The Shop at Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave., 1-212-847-9737.
Asia
LOCAL FLAIR
BURMESE BEVERAGES The precision and art of a fine cocktail is preserved at Pegu Club (77 W. Houston St., 2nd fl., 1-212-473-7348), where guests can enjoy drinks that were made famous at the original Pegu Club in the late 1800s in Burma (now known as Myanmar).
CHINESE ART Traditional calligraphy landscapes and contemporary sculpture can be found at China 2000 Fine Art (434A E. 75th St., 472-9800), a gallery exhibiting fine
artwork in a variety of mediums by 19th- and 20th-century Chinese artists.
INDIAN DANCING Students learn Bollywood dances rooted in traditional and classical Indian culture from talented professionals at Dhoonya Dance (Dance Theatre Workshop, 219 W. 19th St., 1-212-716-4400).
JAPANESE CULTURE Boasting an indoor waterfall, reflecting pool and garden, Japan Society (333 E. 47th St., 1-212-832-1155) showcases Japanese films, exhibitions, performances and writing workshops in the first contemporary Japanese building erected in New York City.
KOREAN BARBECUE In a softly lit dining room, diners cook their own meats and seafood at barbecues built into tables at Woo Lae Oak (148 Mercer St., 1-212-925-8200).
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DECORATIVE PILLOW Linen and cotton primrose throw pillow with mirror accents handcrafted in India. About $75. John Robshaw Textiles, 245 W. 29th St., Ste. 1501, 1-212-594-6006.
NECKLACE Vintage 1920s Yemeni handmade necklace with black Czech glass beads. About $950. Himalayan Crafts, 2007 Broadway, 1-212-787-8500.
LACQUER TRAY Vietnamese lacquer tray with silver elephants. About $75. Extraordinary, 247 E. 57th St., 1-212-223-9151.
SPRAY-ON MAKEUP Air Touch foundation spray by Japanese brand SK-II. About $165. Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave., 1-212-753-4000.
EVENING BAG Wooden Madagascar clutch with decorative tassel from Hong Kong-based retailer. About $4,500. Blanc de Chine, 673 Fifth Ave., 1-212-308-8688.
KIMONO BELT 100-percent silk Japanese obi kimono belt with embroidered flowers. About $500. Kiteya Soho, 464 Broome St., 1-212-219-7505.
Americas
LOCAL FLAIR
AMERICAN ICON Museumgoers can view the work of American artist Jasper Johns, who is credited with his introduction of geometry and spatial depth onto a national icon-the American flag-at The Whitney Museum of American Art (945 Madison Ave., 1-212-570-3600).
BEATS OF BRAZIL Guests are immersed in Brazilian dance and culture during Samba Soul nights at S.O.B.'s (200 Varick St., 1-212-243-4940). Live South American musicians play samba, hip-hop and salsa, while the kitchen serves up Brazilian fusion cuisine late into the night.
LATINO VIBE The vibrant Puerto Rican and Dominican neighborhood of Washington Heights, where salsa dancing, eating piraguas (ices) and loving abuela (grandmother) are the rules, is the setting for Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights (Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St., 1-877-250-2929).
COMIDA MEXICANO Using traditional South of the Border garnishes-from refried beans to jalapeños to tequila-chipotle batter-Burrito Loco (166 W. 4th St., 1-212-675-1977) offers everything from tacos al carbon and chimichangas to flautas, fajitas and tostadas.
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BOOTS Argentinian Casa Fagliano brown genuine leather polo boots. About $4,000. By special order
at Etiqueta Negra, 273 Lafayette St., 1-212-219-4015.
RUG 100-percent hand-loomed Mexican wool textile made with all-natural dyes. About $675. Pan American Phoenix, 857 Lexington Ave., 1-212-570-0300.
NECKLACE Frida Kahlo-inspired, ancient Aztec coin necklace by designer Eduardo Garza. About $4,000. By special order at Bergdorf Goodman, 754 Fifth Ave., 1-212-753-7300.
SHIRT Men's polo shirt from Brazilian designers Fernando and Humberto Campanas + Lacoste collector's series. About $165. Lacoste, 608 Fifth Ave., 1-212-459-2300.
BOOK Reprint of Cities of the World: Complete Edition of the Colour Plates of 1572-1617, Braun and Hogenberg's survey of town and city plans, with an introduction and commentary by Stephen Füssel and forward by Rem Koolhaas. About $200. Taschen, 107 Greene St., 1-212-226-2212.
-Stephanie Bolivar