Turn City Island into the île de la Cité? Sounds unlikely, but innkeeper and chef Pierre Saint-Denis has brought some flavor from his native Normandy to a nineteenth-century sea captain’s house on the island. Prix fixe dinner is usually $40 per person, but if you reserve a room for $85 (no more than one week in advance), dinner is $10 a head. Le Refuge Inn, 620 City Island Ave. (call for reservations; 718-885-2478); A.E., checks; through 1/31.
Here Ferré, Gone Tomorrow
Gianfranco Ferré and Accento di Marzotto’s sample sale features well-designed sumptuous threads for men and women at wholesale prices. Coming directly from Italy: men’s suits, retail $950, here $395; Ferré Studio silk blouses, retail $375, here $149; Accento wool coats for women, retail $750, here $199; Ferré Studio leather skirts, retail $525, here $199. Gianfranco Ferré, 632 Broadway, near Bleecker St. (533-7724); A.E., M.C., V.; Mon.-Sun. 10-8; through 1/24.
Loosened Strand
The Strand Book Store – one of New York’s most beloved bargain landmarks (as well as a place to browse endlessly for a rare find) – is encouraging post-holiday shopping with its sales. Stock runs the gamut: The Dean & DeLuca Cookbook, published at $35, here $19.95; The Complete Works of Marcel Duchamp, published at $225, here $168.75; Valley of the Dolls, published at $12, now $8.95. There are also more than a hundred 1998 calendars and desk diaries, including: Edward Gorey desk diary, retail $16.95, here $5.95; Robert Mapplethorpe calendar, retail $12.95, here $4.95. Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway, at 12th St. (473-1452); A.E., M.C., V., checks; Mon.-Sat. 9:30-9:30, Sun. 11-9:30; 12/29 until supplies run out.
One on One
There are two situations in which having a personal trainer is particularly appropriate. The first is when you haven’t been able to start working out on your own and need some inspiration – having someone force you helps. The second is when you are in shape but want to get to another fitness level, to become more toned, to train for a race. For both, PEx is offering an incentive to try personal training: fitness assessment, was $125, now $75; if you buy a series of ten personal-training sessions ($60 apiece), you get two sessions free (value is $120). PEx Personalized Exercise, 924 Broadway, between 21st and 22nd Sts., third floor (254-1915); A.E., M.C., V., checks; Mon.-Sat. by appointment; 1/1-1/31.
Art Dealer
Stores connected to museums always command a certain cachet – conventional items seem as though they should have a story because of their proximity to art. At the Whitney Museum Store sale, however, the theme this year is more practical than erudite. For example, assorted Pendleton blankets, were $180, now $100; Akari’s Noguchi lamps, were $140-$160, now $80. Whitney Museum Store, 943 Madison Ave., at 75th St. (606-0200); A.E., M.C., V., checks; Tues.-Sun. 11-6, Thurs. until 8; 1/2 until supplies run out.
East Meets Southwest
For those with a penchant for Native American jewelry, David Saity’s is the store to visit (witness the large number of fashion spreads from heavy-hitting glossy mags that use his stuff). Included in his January sale: Navajo coral-stone necklace, was $1,400, now $850; Navajo shadow box, was $650, now $300; turquoise-and-silver earrings, were $850, now $480. David Saity Jewelry, 450 Park Ave., near 57th St. (223-8125); A.E., M.C., V.; Mon.-Sat. 10-6; 1/2-1/26.
Cheap Cuts
Haircuts at La Coupe will never cost the bundle that some of the more high-maintenance joints in town charge. And $17 gets you a good cut there (men or women; no appointment necessary). Now it’s even harder to pass up this deal; after a cut there, you get a coupon that makes the next one free. La Coupe, 2200 Broadway, at 78th St. (579-6959); A.E., M.C., V.; Mon.-Fri. 8-11, Sat. 9-11, Sun. 10-10; through 1/31.
Kay Couture
Bok Kay, a woman who has owned her small store on the Upper East Side for 21 years, is putting her merchandise on sale for the month of January. For example, beaded evening dresses, were $3,000, now $800; Italian-made suits, were $1,100, now $550; silk blouses, were $260, now $130. Bok Kay Couture, 1048 Lexington Ave., near 75th St. (737-8577); A.E., M.C., V.; Mon.-Sat. 11-6; 1/2-1/31.