Whimsical, imaginative and a little bit cheeky are ways to describe the designs of the talented David Stark.  His latest project isn’t a corporate event or lavish wedding but a one-month “surprise ambush” of Nina Freudenberger’s Nolita store, Haus Interior.

Inspired by a wood worker’s atelier, Wood Shop is one part concept store and one part gallery.  It’s filled with David Stark designed goods including vases, pillows, place mats, vintage jewelry and art pieces.  Some of our favorites include two unique Valentine’s Day gifts – Wood You Be Mine, a box of inedible wooden chocolates and the Sweetheart Carving Kit with vintage knife.

One particular item, the Wood Shop Tool Belt, was designed by Stark for his female staff, who often lacked enough pockets to carry all of their necessary items – headset, iPhone, tape, tools – while setting up an event.

The idea for Wood Shop was born after Stark and Freudenberger met at a RISD alumni dinner and expressed their mutual appreciation for each other’s work.  The pop-up at Haus Interior (250 Elizabeth Street, New York) will be open from today until February 27th, 2012. The limited edition items, which range in price from $5 to $500, are also available for purchase online.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of David Stark and Haus Interior

Always on the lookout for gorgeous and original china, we discovered the exquisite patterns of Melbourne based designer, Courtenay Graham of Frida Plumm.  There are two collections of fine bone china that include platters, bowls, cups, votives and coasters.

The Illuminator’s Garden Collection features a darkly romantic floral pattern inspired by the twisting tendrils of exotic blooms and accented with silver and gold.  The Troika Collection pays homage to the geometric relics of the Aztec Empire which Graham has reinterpreted in a combination of shades including turquoise and silver or pale pink, purple and grey.

With its elegant packaging, the sets of petite bowls and tea light vessels make great hostess or housewarming gifts.  Visit the brand’s web site to make a purchase.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Frida Plumm

If the sight of Missoni’s signature zigs and zags makes you weak in the knees then welcome to the club.  Over the past few weeks, the anticipation for Missoni’s upcoming collaboration with megastore Target has reached an all time high.  We wonder just how many fashionistas are going to camp out for the brand’s nationwide debut on September 13th, 2011.

New Yorkers get first dibs on the new collection with an early shopping party on September 8th during Fashion’s Night Out at the Target pop-up shop at 1095 6th Avenue.  We hear that the first 20 guests that purchase over $100 get to pose for family portraits with Angela and Margherita Missoni.

The collection for Target features over 400 pieces including clothing for women, men, girls and babies.  But, we fell in love with the home accessories such as the tableware, stationery and candles.  Prices range from $2.99 to $599.99 but most items are less than $40.

Here’s your first look at Missoni for Target….available until October 22nd, if it lasts that long!

 PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Target

Acrylic furniture may have had its big moment in the 70′s but with the launch of Alexandra von Furstenberg’s new collection of modern acrylic designs, the once futuristic material is making a grand comeback.

Inspired by the faceted cuts of diamonds and clean architectural lines, the multi-talented designer, who was previously the Creative Director at Diane von Furstenberg, set out to create an elegant and chic home collection that would suit any type of aesthetic.

Von Furstenberg launched with, “Fearless” a collection of 8 pieces of furniture including desks, coffee tables and consoles.  Accessories were just introduced under the “Accent” Collection and include bud vases, coasters, trays and candy bowls – many of which are illuminated by a pop of neon color.

Prices for accessories range from $79 for a set of 4 coasters to $978 for a set of 3 candy bowls.  Available for sale on www.alexandravonfurstenberg.com and at specialty retailers across the country.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Alexandra von Furstenberg

The style icon who made the wrap dress an enduring fashion staple is now looking to wardrobe your dinner table.  Launched earlier this year, Diane von Furstenberg has created a collection of home accessories and tabletop, including glassware, dinnerware, serving pieces and entertaining items, that reflect her modern bohemian aesthetic.

The collection features her signature bold prints tempered with a selection of vintage and natural pieces that can be mixed and matched to create many original tablescapes.  Sold exclusively at Bloomingdales, the DVF Home Collection is filled with chic statement pieces and everyday wares that are well priced.

Some of the items that made our wishlist include: a set of “High Rise” Glasses in Erawan Blue ($60); “Powerstone” handstamped brass tray ($70); a set of 4 “Gold Leaf Wood” coasters ($40); “Floral Batik” salad plate ($20); “Night,” five piece gold place setting ($105); “Horn” bowl ($55); and, a set of “Opening Night,” high ball glasses in Avocado Green ($85).

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Bloomingdales

One look at the curated web site of Design House Stockholm is all you need to fall in love with the simplicity, minimalism and functional beauty of Scandinavian Design.

A publishing house for contemporary furniture, tabletop, lighting and accessories, their site features both internationally recognized designers including A&E Design, Nina Jobs and Form Us with Love as well as other emerging talent.

We are already imaging a Scandinavian themed tablescape filled with some of their gorgeous and affordable wares.  Some of our favorites include the Pipette Oil and Vinegar Set ($59), Bono Mug Set ($60 for set of 4), Barbara Carafe with Crystal Ball ($79), Whale Tongs ($50) and the Trinity White ($59), a set of 3 bowls that stack together to hold snacks, candies or even candles.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Design House Stockholm

If a trip to Ladurée in Paris is not in your upcoming travel plans, there is still a way to satisfy your craving for French macarons.  Head down to the Lower East Side in New York to visit Bisous Ciao Macarons, a charming little bakery shop that sells a wide assortment of the coveted confections.

The handcrafted macarons (almond based meringues filled with ganache or jam) come in many of the classic flavors including Chocolate, Pistachio, Lemon and Salted Caramel.  We fell in love with their Masala Spiced Chai and Pecan Caramel macarons which are part of their seasonal winter collection.  For something original, try their Fleur Collection which features delicate floral flavors like Orange Blossom and Rose.

A single macaron is $2.25 but we doubt anyone could have enough willpower to just eat one.  To indulge, order a box of 12 macarons for $25 or 24 macarons for $48.

Packaged in chic boxes, the macarons are available as favors for weddings, bridal showers and dinner parties.  Contact their event department to make special arrangements or to request custom flavors.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Bisous Ciao Macarons

The patterns chosen for the social stationery are some of Derian’s most iconic and graphic illustrations.  The exquisite floral Maze pattern comes with a gold bordered card while the playful Red Letters print comes with a red bordered card.  Other whimsical designs come with a small motif such as Water Lilies which features a shaded frog and Sea Urchin which has a seashell.

Each boxed set retails for $60 and comes with 10 cards with 10 lined envelopes.  The cards can be personalized with an engraved name in a complimentary color.  Proceeds from the sale of Derian’s cards will benefit The Children’s Storefront, a tuition-free school in Harlem.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Dempsey and Carroll

In Montauk terms, going for dinner and a show means dining with your toes in the sand and waiting for the nightly coming attraction, the incredible East End sunset.  At Navy Beach, partners Frank Davis, Kristina Davis, Leyla Marchetto (of Scuderia) and Franklin Ferguson have created the ultimate beachfront restaurant with a relaxed summer vibe and a menu of fresh seafood and local produce.

Chef Paul Labue, who many will fondly remember from Nick and Toni’s in East Hampton and The Beacon in Sag Harbor, offers a variety of New American classics including a Warm Lobster Roll with Butter Poached Lobster and Bibb Lettuce, the Navy Burger with Cabot Cheddar, Bacon Marmalade and House Pickles, Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Cheddar Jalepeno Cornbread and Halibut Ceviche with Green Olives, Sweet Onion and Cilantro. For the little ones, a selection of kid-friendly favorites includes mini burgers, haute hot dogs and baskets of fish and chips.

Designed by Kristina Davis, the decor has an inspired nautical theme with the requisite brass porthole windows, blue and white bistro chairs and nautical flags mixed in with chic shadow boxes filled with vintage bathing suits, swimming caps and images of 1950′s bathing beauties.  Wall to wall windows give diners a breathtaking view of the beach and Block Island Sound.

Boaters are invited to anchor in the protected waters of Fort Pond Bay and wade onto the beach to the restaurant – lured in, no doubt, by the promise of savory treats and chilled cocktails that await them on shore.   The wine list, which has most bottles coming in under $100, features both international selections and local wines chosen by Ferguson, a certified sommelier.

Reservations can be made up to one week in advance in the main dining room that seats 81 guests. On the beach, there are 50 additional seats and, for those looking for a quick snack and a drink, another 26 spots in the bar area. Private events for 15 guests and higher may be arranged including wedding receptions, ceremonies on the beach, cocktail parties and seated dinners.

Navy Beach | 16 Navy Road, Montauk, New York, 631-668-6868

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Chris Foster for Navy Beach

It might just be the most perfect pairing in town.  Pichet Ong, called the “Pastry Provocateur,” by Food & Wine magazine brings his incredible chocolates and desserts to one of New York’s iconic champagne bars.  The Bubble Lounge, which has a staggering list of 300 bottles of champagne with 20 available by the glass, has invited the self-taught, James Beard nominated pastry chef to create the new dessert menu for their Tribeca location.

Irresistible highlights on the menu include the Butterscotch and Champagne Mango Parfait with chocolate covered corn flakes, Frozen Tiramisu Cannoli with bittersweet cocoa and pistachio, Raspberry and Lemon Almond Frangipane Tart with passion fruit ice cream and the Chocolate and Caramel Fondue with fruit, marshmallow and assorted confections.

Even a favorite late-night treat is given the magic touch.  Ong’s chocolate chip cookies are baked to order – rare, medium or well done – so that patrons can get their preferred ratio of crispiness to chewiness.

The Bubble Lounge | 228 West Broadway, New York 212-431-3433

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of the Bubble Lounge

Lovers of gelato in New York have their share of haute ice cream shops with Ciao Bella, Il Laboratorio del Gelato and Grom.  But, a new player in the frozen dessert market has taken the traditional Italian recipe and served it the American way. Newly launched in the West Village, Popbar is the first ever gourmet popsicle shop that serves handcrafted authentic gelato and sorbetto on a stick. Made daily on site in small batches of 24, the popbars, which are kosher certified and gluten free, use only fresh, natural ingredients with no artificial flavors.

The popGelato bars are made with Stick House gelato from a unique artisanal recipe that uses imported Italian ingredients. Flavors include basic chocolate and vanilla as well as banana, coffee, mint, lemon and strawberry among others.  Each popbar can be customized by adding one or more poppings such as chopped almonds, biscotti crumbles or brownie chunks and then dipped or drizzled with white, milk or dark chocolate.

Some of the fancier combinations on the menu include the Coconut Premium Chocolate (coconut popGelato bar double dipped in dark chocolate and covered with shredded coconut flakes) and Pistachio Premium Drizzle (pistachio popGelato bar covered with freshly chopped pistachios and drizzled with dark chocolate).

Fruit based and dairy-free, the popSorbetto bars comes in single flavors including mango, peach, pineapple, lime or in layered combinations such as raspberry, mint and lemon.  The shop also offers popYogurt bars, popShakes and popSmoothies.

A basic popbar starts at $4 and personalized mypops (covered in poppings and dips) start at $5 each.  Sign up online to get a free mypop on your birthday. Catering is available for special events.  Popbar is open from 11AM to 11PM on Sunday through Thursday and til 2AM on the weekend.

Popbar, 5 Carmine Street (at 6th Avenue), 212-255-4874

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of popbar

To launch his newly christened Ampersand Studios, Bentley Meeker took us back to the very beginning.   On April 21st, 2010, the lighting designer extraordinaire entertained the who’s who of the special events industry by hosting a cocktail reception to showcase his new event space and to celebrate his 20th anniversary in the business.

Some of Meeker’s top clients and industry friends including celebrity cake-maker Sylvia Weinstock, caterer Ronnie Davis and Harriette Rose Katz of Gourmet Advisory Services attended the the lavish event. Food stations including a vertical gyro spit and lobster roll stand as well as gourmet hors d’oeuvres were provided by Restaurant Associates.  Rentals were supplied by Party Rental.

The highlight of the party was a speech from Meeker himself who graciously thanked his early supporters and explained the presence of the (smoking) 1989 Chevy Caprice NYC Taxi that was parked in the room.  With his signature sense of humor, Meeker recounted his humble beginnings as a one-man show traveling by cab and carrying milk crates filled with lighting gear to each client job.

Housed in the same building as his lighting design firm, Ampersand Studios is Meeker’s new 5,200 sq feet ground floor event space with drive-in access, polished concrete floors, white walls and 15 ft ceilings.  Capacity ranges from 510 guests for a fashion show with runway to 400 guests for a cocktail reception to 250 guests seated for dinner with a dance floor.

Another first look for Meeker’s guests, the designer introduced an innovative new lighting offering – the FlexiFlex™ system (patent pending), developed by RGBLights, which delivers robust LED technology in a flexible, modular mesh system.  The lightweight panels of lights can be joined together to create a large indoor/outdoor flat video display or contoured to form unique shapes such as the pillars at Ampersand Studios.

Ampersand Studios, 500 West 36th Street (at 10th Avenue), New York.  For booking information, contact Kage Konsulting at 646-873-4999.

Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging Inc, over the last 20 years, has become established as the leading event lighting company in New York City. Bentley Meeker and his extremely talented design staff craft dramatic lighting environments for every kind of occasion and budget.  For inquiries and booking, call 212-722-3349 or contact via email.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Terry Gruber Photography

Inspired by the hawker stalls of Southeast Asia and Sydney’s Thai food culture, Aussie Chef Adam Woodfield and his partner Luke Fryer have set out to reinvent the typical Thai restaurant in New York City.  At Betel, their newly launched West Village hotspot, the unique menu features a mix of smaller dishes and communal plates offering three distinct flavor profiles: sweet, sour and spicy.

Highlights include Chicken Betel Leaf with smoked eggplant chili and shallot jeow, Pomelo, Asparagus & Cashew Salad with Thai basil, chili jam and coconut dressing and Stir-fried Tuna with chili jam, snake bean, cashew nut.

London based designer Martin Brudnizki, best known for his work on Le Caprice at the Pierre Hotel (New York), Cecconi’s (Los Angeles) and Jamie Oliver’s Recipease (London), brings his “minimalist deluxe” aesthetic to Betel combining rich woods and silk covered lanterns with industrial touches such as exposed brick and an aged pewter top for the main bar.

An ideal place for entertaining, Betel offers a 24 seat bar, a 20 seat high table for casual dining or standing, 55 seats in the dining room with one large communal table for 14 as well as an intimate 20 seat lounge behind the bar with low seating – perfect for private dinners or a small cocktail party.

Betel | 51 Grove Street, New York (between Bleecker and 7th Avenue), 212 352 0460

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Martin Brudnizki Design

Happy, cheerful, cheeky and fun – words to describe Jonathan Adler’s collection of home accessories and playful pots that have made him a household name.  Now the designer has expanded his offerings to include festive partyware in the form of tumblers, napkins, plates, paper gift enclosures and gift wrap.

Boldly printed tumbler sets ($12.95 for 6), that are reusable and dishwasher safe, come in four patterns including Multi-Chevron, Clover Cup, Greek Key and Zig Zag. Pairs of conversation starting words are featured on each side of the tumbler such as Spiked/Virgin or Sweet/Sour.

Sets of paper dessert plates ($4.95 for 8 plates) and napkins ($4.95 for 20) come in a variety of eye-popping colors and prints to brighten any table setting.  Hang Adler’s oversize paper lanterns ($7.95) either indoors or outdoors for an instant dose of fiesta!

Housed in a chic reusable box, a set of gift enclosures ($14.95) for your hostess will go a long way in saying thank you!  Along with the matching gift wrap, ($6.95) the set of 24 assorted gift cards and envelopes is the perfect stash to have for last minute events!

We think Adler should add to his manifesto, “We believe everyone has the right to party like a Palm Beach princess!”

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Jonathan Adler

Summer has arrived at Heath Ceramics.  The beloved Sausalito company, one of the last remaining mid-century American potteries, introduces four limited edition, hand-dipped pieces to their Plaza line.  Inspired by nature, the seasonal collection offers three new colors “Aqua,” “Zest,” and “Ocean Pacific,” the combination and overlapping of both colors, which resembles the horizon line of a summer meadow.

Expect to find a selection of tabletop items including: a pitcher (Zest/Aqua); 12×12 platter (Ocean Pacific); large modern cup (Aqua); tumbler (Aqua); bud vases (Zest Yellow, Opaque White; Aqua); 6×12 platter (Aqua); deep serving bowl (Ocean Pacific); vegetable bowl (Ocean Pacific) and a vase collection.

Available starting April 1st, 2010, each item may be purchased individually or mixed together in a set.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Heath Ceramics