New York isn’t exactly a swimmer’s paradise; most of its pools are in basements or private buildings. But the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the Time Warner Center has just unveiled its spa and fitness club, with a pool worthy of a tropical resort. It’s 75 feet long, with a slate bottom and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Hudson, allowing natural light to filter through while you do your laps. The pool is open to hotel guests and anyone who books a spa treatment. It might just take some of the chill out of winter (212-805-8880).
Beauty Spots
Botanical Booster
After introducing two retail products to an overwhelming response, salon owner Tracie Martyn is now offering a third: Amla Purifying Cleanser. Made from the amla plant, about 4 ounces of which contains seven times the level of vitamin C an orange does, as well as the antioxident minerals zinc and selenium, it cleans without drying and has an exfoliant to give skin that extra glow. Madonna, Susan Sarandon, Patti Hansen, and Famke Janssen are already devotees. $60 at Tracie Martyn Salon and Barneys New York.
Completely Bare-neys
At Barneys New York come January, you’ll be able to do some holiday-sale shopping, have lunch at Fred’s, and then take the elevator down to the first floor for a little hair removal: Completely Bare will be opening a spa in the store with its own entrance on 61st Street. Like the branches on Madison and lower Fifth avenues, Completely Bare at Barneys will have the requisite fireplace and antique French furnishings and offer intense pulsed-light hair-removal treatments, along with a wide range of facials.
Light Show Deck the holidays with these festively scented candles.
Votivo’s Ginger Snap smells like fresh-baked goods. $24 at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Rigaud’s jolly lime-scented chartreuse candle is $50 at Saks.
Annick Goutal’s Noel candle, beautifully packaged in a cream-and-gold box, is $65 at Saks and Henri Bendel.
Red Flower’s Moroccan Rose petal-topped candle is $30 at Bergdorf Goodman.
Acqua di Parma’s oversize Red Berry candle is embossed with dried berries. $70 at Bergdorf.