The Crown Jewel Next Door

The internationally acclaimed drama “Mad Men” has revealed to the world just one of the guises of Madison Avenue which is synonymous with the American advertising industry, since the under-story to this “ Madness” is scripted by the lingerie professionals.

Eons ago the lingerie community nestled together on Madison Avenue, primarily below 34th street, to write its own history.  Not knowing exactly why this location evolved, I was always eager to add my voice to it. I escaped the noise, the grit and the grime of Seventh Avenue to become a part of its story. I landed in a few neighboring showrooms, inches apart around Madison.  While it is no longer a prerequisite for the industry to be defined by its location, a sizable lingerie stronghold still remains on the Avenue. I felt that there was something genteel about the professional strip on Madison, melding into the residential area. Coincidentally  I lived nearby and I cherished my strolling commute and the lunch hours, I have enjoyed, crossing Park and slipping at times into the Rabbit Hole on Lexington Avenue.

A few years back I noticed a sign “for lease or sale” on the Parthenon like building on 30th and Lex, towering over the “Curry Hill”.  Apparently it was built in 1908 for the New York School of Applied Design for Women, which offered classes like “illustration, textiles and costume sketching”.  The last tenant, Touro College, had vacated the premises and the hundred-year-old incarnation of a Greek Temple emerged as a fantasy of mine. Every time I passing by, I was imagining it as a majestic artistic and design environment.

Well, last December I have discovered that my fantasy is transforming into reality.  Comme des Garçons is bringing London based Dover Street Market to 160 Lexington.  A multi mark, “cool of cool” designer brands emporium, is about to move into the intimate apparel back yard, practically next door at the end of 2013.

I have no doubt that Comme des Garçons and its crown jewels will add a bit of mega spark  and a  few decibels to the neighborhood beat, like it did on the West Side in Chelsea;  however it should be noted that there are few gems on Lexington already. Barely a step away, they are worthy to shout about.

The Old Print Shop at 150 Lexington has been in its location since 1925 and is the oldest art gallery, known for its rare collection of the American fine art prints, photography, antiquarian maps, and an exquisite sampling of hard-to-find art books.

The Kalustyan’s Deli at 123 Lexington has opened its doors in 1944 and is thriving as the destination for gastronomic tourism, a Grand Bazaar, filled with tasty exotica of spicy, sweet and savory flavors.  And for the trivia hunters there is a deeper mystery to its landmark location.

The townhouse is known as the Chester A. Arthur House, the residence of the 21st President of the United States where he actually took the oath of office.  William Randolph Hearst, the legendary newspaper publisher moved into the townhouse in 1900 and the corner of 28th and Lex became a witness to a budding romance between Hearst and his notorious mistress Marion Davies. Certainly, “Citizen Kane” and the provocative “rosebud” come to mind.

In summary, within the dynamics of the global village in which we all live now, it is all very promising when you take a leap into the world, but it is also very exciting when the world is knocking at your door.  And the charm of the neighborhood will continue to evolve with the changes to come.