JANUARY 9, 2015 in this issue

ENTERTAINMENT Season premiere of 19-2 on Bravo Local dancer gets gig on TV series Glee BTW vision gala to honour Dany Laferrière Johnny Legdick makes its return at Wildside Retro Roundup loves Sony In the movie theatres

LIFESTYLES Sheldon Kagan celebrates 50 years in the business Exploring New York City’s Museum of Modern Art Mike Cohen: Marianopolis partners with Alliance Sport-Études Frank Kermit: Marry your best friend Paula Lorimer: Broken resolutions? Rhonda Rabow Suzanne Reisler Litwin: Our best intentions Tracy Satov: Top six nutrition trends for 2015 Earth from 400 kilometres up Chris Hadfield’s You Are Here

2014 EDGE GREAT 2014 FOCUS YEAR-END OFFERS ON MOST NEW 2014 AND SELECT NEW 2015 MODELS

7100, Saint-Jacques O. Montréal, Qc H4B 1V2 514 487-7777 | fordlincolngabriel.com Exploring New York City’s Museum of Modern Art and some fine dining By Mike Cohen ed on Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth streets excited to meet one of the stars, Paul Oklahoma in suite 2100, now called the The Suburban between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Anthony Stewart, whom I watched for a Rodgers & Hammerstein Suite. The Wheelchairs are available free of charge on decade on the now former CBS soap Dunfeys Hotel Corporation (which included NEW YORK CITY - If you are headed to a first-come, first-served basis and are locat- Guiding Light. “It was a fun part,” he Omni Hotels and Dunfey Hotels groups) New York City anytime soon, here is a good ed in the checkroom in the main lobby. acknowledged while signing program purchased the property in May 1978 and tip: purchase the CityPASS Motorized wheelchairs are permitted. books. The show itself stars Jessie Mueller provided a $9.5 million face-lift in 1979. In (www.citypass.com/new-york). New York Family Programs at MoMA introduce kids in the title role of Carol King and she gets 1988, -based Wharf Holdings sure does appreciate its Canadian tourists and adults to modern and contemporary art high marks for an outstanding perform- purchased the Omni Hotels chain and in and this has been underlined in recent years through gallery conversations, art work- ance. 1995, Omni Berkshire Place underwent a by the establishment of an NYC & Company shops, artist talks, film screenings, activity complete historic restoration of more than office right at 99 Blue Jays Way in Toronto. guides, websites, and interactive spaces. The Omni Berkshire Place $70 million. TRT Holding, Inc. purchased By logging on to www.nycgo.com you can Museum and program admission are free We stayed somewhere new on this trip, the Omni Hotel chain in 1996. begin planning your activities. MoMA is open Saturday through the Omni Berkshire Place (www.omniho- In the fall of 2003, the hotel completed a We were only in town for a few days and Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and tels.com/hotels/new-york-berkshire) at 21 $4 million enhancement to all the guest while the other two members of the family Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Museum East 52nd Street between 5th and Madison- rooms, suites and hallways. In 2007, the saw some Broadway shows, I wanted to do Admission is $25 for adults; $18 for seniors a great location. I was particularly hotel opened a new restaurant concept, some exploring. But where does one start? and 65 years and over with I.D.; $14 full- impressed with the live chat assistance Fireside Cocktail Cuisine, redesigned the New York CityPASS includes admission to time students with current I.D. There is no available on their website as I planned the lobby, added an additional 1,200-square- NYC’s top six attractions: the Empire State cost for members and children 16 and trip. With the simple click of the mouse foot meeting room and updated all the Building Observatory, The Met, American under. there was someone at the opposite end existing meeting rooms. In 2010, in collab- Museum of Natural History, MoMA (The If it is shopping you like, the boutiques of answering all of my questions in real time. I oration with industry design experts, Museum of Modern Art), Top of the Rock or Madison Avenue, the iconic department also signed up free of charge for the Select Champalimaud Design, all of the hotel’s Guggenheim and the Statue of Liberty or stores on Fifth Avenue and the fashion-for- Guest Loyalty Program, which provides you guest rooms and suites received a new Circle Line Cruises. It is valid for nine days ward shops in Soho and the Village, are the with complimentary perks such as free Wi- fresh, modern look from floor to ceiling. from first day of use. Not only do you get to favorites. Sporting 100 upscale retailers, Fi Internet service, access to a 24-hour Soothing paint and rug colors paired with skip ticket lines, you save 41 percent. Madison Avenue is a slice of heaven, New business center and a state-of-the-art fit- classic artwork and mirrors produce a plush I had never been to MoMA (MoMA.org) York’s most luxurious shopping experience. ness center with a sundeck overlooking environment while the new sleek English before, described as the foremost museum From 57th St to 72nd, this haute strip midtown Manhattan. You also get a free sycamore wood furniture and desks provide of modern art in the world. Established in where the wealthy shop, boasts 15 blocks of shoe shine, pressings, the newspaper, morn- clean lines in the spacious rooms that are 1929 as an educational institution, MoMA is designer boutiques and specialty retailers. ing beverage of your choice, express check- ideal for tending to work or relaxing tuned a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds, Among the most popular tourists stops in in and check-out, customized room prefer- into new high definition 42-inch flat screen and provides inspiration. With extraordi- the Big Apple are the 9-1-1 Memorial, the ences and bottled water. televisions. nary exhibitions and the world's finest col- Empire State Building, the Museum of This luxury Omni Berkshire Place is steps We stayed in a spacious Madison Suite, lection of modern and contemporary art, Civilization, Ellis Island, The Statue of away from Fortune 500 companies and overlooking 52nd Street and Madison MoMA is dedicated to the conversation Avenue. These magnificent 781-square-foot between the past and the present, the estab- suites feature a large master bedroom with lished and the experimental. Its mission is an oversized bath that includes separate helping you understand and enjoy the art of shower and soaking tub along with gener- our time. ous counter space. There are two tele- MoMA is located in midtown Manhattan, phones in the bathroom. We very much at 11 West Fifty-third Street, between Fifth appreciated the in room safe. The separate and Sixth avenues. MoMA's holdings living area has an extremely comfortable include more than 150,000 individual pull-out sleeper sofa, club chair, desk and an pieces in addition to approximately 22,000 iHome© audio system. The hotel has a very films and four million film stills. Upon helpful concierge desk. Across the street is arrival, pick up a mobile device free of Isadora’s Café, which has an absolutely end- charge on floors 1 or 6. Photo ID is less array of items to choose from. It is just required. You can also use your own hand- perfect to bring dinner back to the room held device via MoMA’s public Wi-Fi net- before a show. work or download the free APP at For more information about the hotel, MomMA.org/mobile. call 1-888-444-OMNI or locally at 212-753- It is best to start off on the 6th floor to see 5800. any special exhibitions on and then work your way down. The fifth and fourth floors Morton’s Steakhouse & the Montreal connection features paintings and sculptures from the Morton's 5th Avenue 1880s to the 1940s and the 1940s to the (www.mortons.com/newyork) is located in 1980s respectively: the likes of Henri the heart of Midtown Manhattan (551 5th Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Liberty, Central Park/the Central Park Zoo some of the city’s most illustrious sites like Avenue, at 45th Street). Its expansive din- Vincent van Gough, Roy Lichtenstein, and the Bronx Zoo Fifth Avenue Shopping, St. Patrick’s ing room can accommodate large parties or Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol. Floor 3 Broadway experience Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Central Park an intimate dinner for two while the private focuses on architecture and design while Unquestionably “the draw” in New York and Broadway theatres. One day, while boardrooms are the ideal setting for meet- contemporary galleries (prints, illustrated City remains its extraordinary Broadway heading to the lobby, I met a very friendly ings, celebrations and events. Bar 12-21 is books and media) highlight the second productions. Be prepared to pay big dollars, gentleman in the elevator. He introduced the perfect gathering place for a cocktail or floor. Near the lobby, on the main floor, you even for a seat that is the second to last spot himself as Delfin Ortiz, the general manag- lite bite. will find an art lab and a sculpture garden. in the house at the top. Here is a tip though. er of the Omni San Antonio at the Morton's offers a diverse list of wines with There are theatres down below showing dif- Go online via Ticketmaster or Telecharge, Colonnade who was at the New York loca- a portfolio of producers from both domestic ferent films. You must go to the film desk to check out the precise availability and call tion on an interim basis. A day later he gave and international wineries. General find out the schedule and get a special tick- the toll free number so that you can get a me the good news that he was being asked Manager Michael Rains has been at this et. more accurate route of what is available. to move to the Big Apple full-time. location since it opened 21 years ago, start- MoMA recognizes the diversity of the gen- While they offer to mail the tickets at least Combining modern technology and fresh ing out as a server. He is very hands on, vis- eral public's abilities and needs, and it offers 48 hours before the show, we recommend contemporary décor, these reinvented New iting each table at the very pretty two tier a variety of programs and services to ensure that you either print them out online or ask York accommodations have a true residen- restaurant which seats 280 diners. the accessibility of the Museum and its col- to pick them up at will call. In some cases tial feel to them. Warren & Wetmore built We enjoyed an absolutely outstanding lection. All public areas of the Museum and you can even buy cancellation insurance. this historic landmark hotel in 1926. In dinner at Morton’s. Our server John made entrances are wheelchair accessible. We purchased tickets for Beautiful, the 1942, Rodgers & Hammerstein collaborated sure to explain the menu to his in detail, Entrances with power assist doors are locat- Carol King Musical. At the stage door I was on the landmark American musical including the specials. A fresh loaf of bread, CONTINUED ON PAGE 48 Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864–1901). Jane Avril. 1893. Lithograph, sheet: 49 5/8 x 36 1/8 in. (126 x 91.8 cm) The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of A. Conger Goodyear, 1954. 47 different dining titles. mojitos and raspberry mimosas from 11:45a.m. To 3 p.m. The other NYC restau- The Grill rants under their auspices are Ed's Chowder During this trip we also House, Empire Hotel Rooftop and Plunge dined at the fabulous China Rooftop at Gansevoort Meatpacking. Grill (www.chinagrillmgt.com) at 60 West 53rd Street, which The happens to be the birthplace of I have always been a big fan of the Hard this extraordinary dining spot. Rock Cafe (www.hardrock.com) chain and In 1987 China Grill New York enjoy checking out the different incarna- opened to a packed dining tions when I travel. Last summer I did so in room and immediate critical Nice, France, so when I found myself in the acclaim. By its fifth anniver- Times Square area on Saturday night I entrance to get inside. If you want to beat sary, the restaurant was as busy could not resist stepping inside the 1501 the line then go to their website, select the as ever and regarded as one of Broadway location to rock my senses with location of your choice and request priority the hottest destination spots in tantalizing food and drinks and enjoy their seating. New York City. Owner Jeffrey awe-inspiring rock memorabilia collection. Some of the notable memorabilia pieces Chodorow’s labor of love, his The Times Square cafe features priceless at the New York location include items from first and only venture into the pieces of rock 'n' roll memorabilia from the Beatles: Led Zeppelin/John Bonham, restaurant world, had proven Hard Rock's world-famous collection, Billy Joel, The Ramones: James Brown, the to be an enduring success in a including artists with New York roots, such Grateful Dead, The Who, Bo Diddley and scene where restaurants as John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, The the Abbey Road Studios Front Doors. seemed to come and go Ramones and Bruce Springsteen. The lively I love the menu at the Hard Rock and on overnight. Over 20 years later, restaurant is a popular destination for locals this night I had the delicious legend burger, China Grill Management and and travelers from all over the world with topped with smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, its affiliates continue to pro- multiple seating areas, an enthusiastic staff a golden fried onion ring, crisp lettuce and duce some of the most origi- and an extensive menu of high-quality vine ripened tomato. It came with crispy nal, critically acclaimed and American fare. The street-level Rock Shop fries. For dessert I had the sensational oreo wildly popular dining hotspots carries an assorted line of Hard Rock mer- cheesecake. There are so many selections to in major cities across the chandise including city-specific products choose from, including a number of other with whipped butter, arrived at the table as globe. CGM and its affiliates own, operate, such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, pins, leather burgers, sandwiches, starters, salads and we began the task of deciding what to order. create concepts, and /or consult in creating jackets, key chains, watches, baseball caps, entrees such as grilled Norwegian salmon, One member of our party started off with a some of the most acclaimed and innovative glassware and more. The Hard Rock fried shrimp platter and a cowboy rib eye. glass of champagne. While there were a lot restaurants in Miami, New York, London, opened at its current location in 2005 at the of appealing appetizers, we opted instead for City and now Dubai. We experienced historic Paramount Theater, right in the With a total of 194 venues in 60 coun- a chopped salad which was more than large the China Grill in Miami five years ago and heart of Times Square. The building boasts tries, including 148 cafes, 21 hotels and 10 enough to share. For the main course we were excited to get a reservation in the Big its own fascinating musical legacy: original- casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is opted for what Morton’s is known for. Two Apple. ly a movie house that opened in 1926, the one of the most globally recognized compa- members of our party shared an eight ounce Virtually every dish at China Grill is pre- theater presented live music throughout nies. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe loca- center-cut filet mignon while I favored the pared on the grill or in a wok, using sauces the '30s and '40s, and even hosted the pre- tions include San Juan, Asuncion and center-cut prime rib eye. Both of these strictly for flavor. Portions are generous, miere of Elvis Presley's first film, Love Me Auckland. New Hard Rock Hotel projects items were cooked to perfection and literal- and artfully presented on bold, oversized Tender, in 1956. This place is huge. The include Daytona Beach, Dubai, Los Cabos, ly cut like butter. As for the generous por- plates, and above all, meant for sharing. We main cafe seats 708 people, yet when I Dallas-Fort Worth, Abu Dhabi, and tions of sides, we shared the sour cream toasted the evening with some champagne arrived there was still a lineup through the Shenzhen and Haikou in China. mashed potatoes and the hash brown pota- and then ordered a pair of starters: the fall toes. As for dessert, they have a number of off the bone lamb spareribs, plum and specialties which are described in detail sesame glazed and the curried chicken before you make your order. That is because satay, with chilled sesame noodles and they take 20 minutes to make. We were ever toasted peanut sauce. For our main course, so tempted by the Chocolate Molten Cake, we opted for the curry miso black cod, with GettingGetting acrossacross thethe borderborder earlyearly served in a bowl covered with ice cream, sweet soy glazed Chinese broccoli and yuzo- whipped cream and sundae sauce. It is a miso butter sauce and the grilled Szechuan good thing the three of us shared it because beef, with sake soy spicy shallots and ensuresensures timelytimely BigBig AppleApple arrivalarrival I do not know how one person can consume cilantro. As for sides, we had the five veg- this decadent offering. etable fried rice and the lobster mashed SARATOGA SPRINGS: We are levellevel garage.garage. ThereThere areare 123123 guestguest Morton’s also has veal, pork, chicken, beef potatoes. We did save some room for developingdeveloping aa newnew routineroutine whenwhen roomsrooms andand suitessuites featuringfeaturing king-orking-or short ribs, scampi, sea scallops, crab cakes, dessert and the chocolate seduction and the shrimp, Chilean sea bass, and lobster and mandarin ginger crème brûlée won out. travellingtravelling toto NewNew YorkYork CityCity thesethese queen-sizedqueen-sized beds.beds. SomeSome suitessuites crab legs on the menu. Our server, Pedro, was excellent at describ- days.days. GetGet acrossacross thethe borderborder latelate inin have spacious balconies and sepa- If you are headed to New York anytime ing all of the dining options available – and thethe day,day, stopstop offoff mid-waymid-way overnightovernight raterate livingliving roomsrooms withwith sofasofa beds.beds. soon and want to check out this Morton’s, there are plenty. We were also impressed to andand getget anan earlyearly startstart thethe followingfollowing We booked the latter and were make reservations in advance at 212-972- see Emily Roth, the assistant general man- morning. Last year we stayed in pleasantlypleasantly surprisedsurprised byby howhow 3315. The restaurant is handicapped acces- ager, so active in the service. Not only did Saratoga Springs at one of the extraordinarilyextraordinarily largelarge thethe unitunit was.was. II sible, with a handicap accessible front door she bring some of the items to the table. nicest Hampton Inn and Suites particularly liked the ultra-com- and accessible elevator leading down to She also cleared the plates on a few occa- nicest Hampton Inn and Suites particularly liked the ultra-com- restrooms with handicap accessible stalls. sions. We very much appreciated the care propertiesproperties II havehave visitedvisited soso wewe werewere fortablefortable chairschairs inin frontfront ofof thethe twotwo Morton's actually exists today because of the staff took to cater to one family member happy to repeat the same routine TVs. hamburgers! Years ago, before co-founders who had an issue with sesame seeds. They enen routeroute toto thethe BigBig AppleApple forfor ourour You can connect to free high- Arnie Morton and Klaus Fritsch really knew went out of their way to explain what was in most recent trip. speedspeed internetinternet accessaccess toto surfsurf thethe one other, they both worked at the each dish and separated the seeds wherever Saratoga (www.discoversarato- web, get some work done at the Club in Montreal where the menu was being possible. ga.com)ga.com) isis homehome toto excitingexciting deskdesk oror setset upup youryour laptoplaptop onon thethe changed. As the story goes, Fritsch cooked a China Grill is no just a meal, it is an expe- hamburger that was sent out for Morton to rienced. We thoroughly enjoyed every nightlife, chic boutiques, great convenientconvenient laplap deskdesk toto workwork fromfrom try. Morton burst into the kitchen, demand- morsel of food that came our way. This eventsevents andand muchmuch more!more! thethe comfortcomfort ofof thethe cleanclean andand freshfresh ing to know "Who cooked that hamburger?" venue itself is very pretty with soaring 30- Our previous one night stop at Hampton bed. Amenities such as a When Klaus stepped forward, he wasn't sure foot ceilings, multi-level dining platforms, thethe HamptonHampton InnInn andand SuitesSuites mini-refrigerator, microwave and if Morton was going to be pleased or not but two fully stocked bars and a centralized (www.saratogaspringssuites.hamp-(www.saratogaspringssuites.hamp- 32-inch32-inch HDTVHDTV withwith premiumpremium cablecable was relieved to hear him say that it was the open kitchen which creates an eye-popping toninn.com)toninn.com) atat 2525 LakeLake AvenueAvenue televisiontelevision makemake youyou feelfeel atat home.home. best he'd ever tasted. From that day for- visual counterpart to the restaurant’s was such a pleasant experience, You can also take advantage of a ward, they called it the "Million-Dollar mouth-watering cuisine. During warm Hamburger"! weather months, China Grill’s outdoor thisthis waswas inin factfact anan incentiveincentive toto staystay freefree hothot breakfast.breakfast. ThereThere isis aa gym,gym, More than three decades later, Morton's patio offers the perfect oasis for any event. It overover herehere again.again. HavingHaving openedopened fitnessfitness centre,centre, aa nicenice poolpool andand aa has grown to over 77 restaurants, with the is right across the street from MoMA. You justjust overover sixsix yearsyears ago,ago, itit isis partpart ofof Jacuzzi.Jacuzzi. AssistantAssistant GeneralGeneral ManagerManager very first having opened in in 1978. can call 514-212-333-7788 for reservations. thethe TurfTurf HotelsHotels group.group. TheThe firstfirst Dan Duvernay says summer week- Morton’s is now owned by Houston-based China Grill offers a $38 Pre/Post Theatre thingthing youyou willwill noticenotice isis thethe majes-majes- endend staysstays areare bookedbooked aa yearyear inin Landry’s Inc. Restaurants and Tilman Menu. This is available Monday to Friday tictic entrance.entrance. UponUpon checkingchecking inin advance.advance. Fertitta. Landry’s is a virtual restaurant during lunch 11:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and your room key grants you entrance —Mike Cohen empire, with the likes of Mastro’s, Bubba dinner 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and again after your room key grants you entrance —Mike Cohen Gumps Shrimp, McCormick and Schmick’s 9:30 p.m. On Saturdays you can enjoy a spe- toto freefree coveredcovered parkingparking onon aa multi-multi- and of course Landry’s Seafood among its cial $28 prix fixe menu and $10 bottomless