Restaurant Daniel invited us to an intimate presentation of the latest addition to their cocktail menu last night. Xavier Herit, the restaurant’s esteemed head bartender, guided us through the elaborate and high-science technique of ‘spherification’ he is using to create “Cointreau Caviar” edible pearls. The pearls, which dance their way to the top of champagne glasses, slide into your mouth and mix with your bubbly to create an incomparable taste fusion. Xavier’s strawberry pearls, his personal take on the new technology, are served on the side next to a seasonal strawberry margarita. Daniel is the first of a select group of restaurants around the city that will offer variations of the pearl perfection on their menu. As if we needed another excuse to make a reservation at Daniel!

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The Water Club, Atlantic City’s newest destination, will celebrate its grand opening today with an appropriate amount of splash. Editors, celebrity chefs and the likes of Molly Sims have already arrived at the luxury hotel and spa. Thursday afternoon, Idina Menzel was spotted window shopping at Just Cavalli, which is one of six boutiques connecting the hotel to The Borgata. (Others include La Perla and Hugo Boss.) Menzel did some exploring before performing to a sold-out crowd at The Music Box in Borgata. Other VIPs indulged in a tasting of the Water Club’s nutritious menu designed by Geoffrey Zakarian. Given the sinking dollar–and this luxe new escape–AC might be primed to become a very haute destination

© Getty Images

Art + Commerce, the famed agency representing some of the world’s most notable photographers, also boasts one of the best office spaces in town. Amazingly, it was never used for exhibition purposes until last night’s opening of Flora Olbiensis by Erwan Frotin. “I had to put myself in the flower state of mind for quite some time,” the artist recalled while showing off his beautiful wildflower prints. “Luckily, when I was shooting in the south of France, I had a good expert to take me around and notice all the little treasures.” The showcase is currently on display, and the Art + Commerce Image Archive is now offering sixteen of Frotin’s flower photographs for sale at artandcommerce.com for $250 each.

With three eye colors, a coral blush and a bronzer, Fresh’s new pallate will simplify every chicster’s summer beauty routine.
THE DETAILS: $55, fresh.com

Yesterday afternoon, Chic Report meandered down to 60 Thompson, where Nintendo was introducing their latest line of DS Lites. After taking a quiz to discern our (Nintendo) personality, we treated ourselves to several rounds of Super Mario Brothers. Luckily, the experts at Bliss were on hand to massage our weary arms, along with Oscar Blandi stylists and Sephora makeup and nail artists to perfect our gaming looks. We are nothing if not pampered! While geeking out on Guitar Hero, we had to admit that the Blackberry has nothing on these delightful handhelds. Admit it–a few rounds of Cross Words is way more fun than checking emails. No wonder chicsters like Lydia Hearst (above) stopped by to get their fix.

Ivan Kane, the nightlife guru behind Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce nightclubs, is at it again. This time around, Kane is taking Hollywood by storm with his new burlesque-style Café Wa s. (The name was taken from the only letters still illuminated in a dilapidated Schwab’s sign.) A top-notch menu, created by chef and restaurateur Tim Goodell from the Dakota restaurant at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, will be complimented by a ‘bohemian-chic’ interior full of secluded nooks and visual surprises. No wonder–the interior was planned by RKIT Design partners Jason Volenec and Silvia Zofio. The house pianists, who will tickle the ivories on a revolving Mason & Hamlin 1924 vintage grand piano, will dabble in more Dylan than Sinatra. Top it off with classic cocktails. The café, set to open in July, appears primed to reign supreme as Hollywood’s newest hotspot. Daily party of 7, please!

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© Michael Roberts / Maconochie Photography

Just when we think that Michael Roberts is about to take a tiny break, he comes up with another tiny book. This time around, it’s an elaborate photo story collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana entitled The Good Shepherd. He took time out from his furious European schedule (Rio is next on his destination list!) to discuss his latest work with Chic Report.

So it looks like you have a nice second career these days!
Working on books and magazines is completely a different experience. Editorial work, of course, is a little more instant. When working on books, one is trying to achieve that timeless effect. I worked on five books already, but some of them have been booklets– which are great. For example, my great friend Grace Coddington does incredible work with Vogue, but those beautiful stories still can’t go over 20 pages. With books, you really have a freedom to expand.

How do you manage it all?
Well unfortunately, I only sleep 2 or 3 hours a night.

What’s the concept for The Good Shepherd?
Domenico Dolce is from Sicily and he really directed me into centering these photos around shepherds, because he told me funny stories of what they’re associated with. Originally, this was supposed to be just about farming. So they sent me pretty much the entire men’s collection. I still wasn’t sure that it was going to be a complete book until I sent them previews of photos. They replied with immediate enthusiasm and said that in fact, it had to be a book!

What was shooting in Sicily like?
I was very familiar with the area, as I’ve shot there for quite some time. We got it all done in two nights! But they were kind of cold, Easter evenings. (more…)

The cover says it all. For Gradient magazine’s premier issue, founders Matt Fried and brothers Alan and Barris Vinogradov, presented a photo composite of famous firsts– the first President of the United States, the first Barbie, the first comic book cover, the first Mickey Mouse and the first American flag, among other things. To fete the publication’s debut, Patrón and a chic committee, dressed largely by Sue Stemp, hosted a party at the W Downtown Residences. Guests, including Sky Nellor, Paul Sevigny, Alvin Valley, Monique Pean and Chessy Wilson, gathered at the space, which is located next to Ground Zero, to celebrate a new beginning.

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Lily Buth, Kenyatte Hughes, Tommy Hilfiger, Dianna Carlin

Dreams came true last night at Glamour’s Reel Doc’s premiere party, where Tommy Hilfiger promoted not only his new fragrance (Dreaming, it’s called appropriately) but the dreams of three winners–Lily Buth, Kenyatte Hughes and Dianna Carlin. They ranged from flying a helicopter to acquiring uniforms for a marching band to opening a roller rink in Coney Island for a night. Lisa Leone, an alumus of the organization, directed the three shorts, (which are available for viewing online today) explaining, “I couldn’t say no. My hope is that other women and men are gonna see this and go for their dreams. As soon as you’re focused and fearless, you can do it all!”

Jamie Lynn Sigler, also an alumnus, stopped by as a favor to her family friend Leone, and dished about her summer plans. She’s working on Son of Morning with Lorraine Bracco as well as hanging out on her best friend’s boat in California.

Meanwhile, it’s never really a New York event without a random celeb sighting. Last night’s? Gavin Degraw, who passed by the theater en route to his towncar, which would take him to the Greg Wolf fundraiser. “A red carpet to me is like an eye magnet. I got sucked in!”

As for Hilfiger? He’s headed to Amsterdam to show his new collection, and then hitting up Greece for the 4th of July. He held court at the Bowery Hotel after party, only to slink out for a delayed dinner at Gemma. As for his dreams in life? “They keep coming true!” he exclaimed. “I live the dream!”

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Chic Report didn’t mind waking up at 7:30 this morning, only because the inaugural 8:00 yoga class at the superlative new PURE Yoga complex was our first appointment of the day. This new yoga concept was created in Hong Kong, and is now being brought to America by the genius folks at Equinox. Arriving at the 4-story facility, editors and chic types were greeted by a vertical garden, bringing a sorely-needed slice of Central Park to the eastern stretch of 86th Street. For those of you suffering from cramped studios, teensey locker rooms and otherwise undignified yogic conditions, consider PURE your antedote to all things icky. If they were teaching jumping jacks in these rooms, we’d be there. Our vinyasa class was taught by Marco, a dead ringer for Antonio Banderas (which he joked about, so clearly we weren’t the only ones thinking it!) who made even this flexibility-challenged novice feel downright…graceful. For $140 a month, you get unlimited classes in 19 different styles of yoga–all of which are taught in 3 levels. With over 50 instructors, 4 studios (including one dedicated to hot yoga), 2 private rooms, online booking, lounge areas that put Bungalow to shame and the chicest locker rooms in town, we might as well move in. The community of instructors, spearheaded by programming director Michelle Demus, represents the top talent in town, with international guest experts arriving on a rotating basis. We feel so zen it’s scary. Warning you now: This place is going to blow up. As always, you heard it here first. Namaste!