Feng Shui Long Island's Blog

New York City Restaurant Week-It's Here!  Fabulous (Mostly Feng Shui) Finds.

It's so nice that I'm in New York City frequently for Feng Shui Consultations.  This week, however, I'd travel there anyway....it's one of two weeks out of every year we you have an opportunity to eat in SO many different places, all at a price-fix amount.  Restaurant Week in New York City has arrived.

I've been eating out in the City for YEARS.  This year, along with a link to the list of participating restaurants, I'm going to be adding restaurants that I've personally eaten at that are on the list.  In my opinion, these are ALL good places to eat.  If you can make it to New York, you have a spectacular line up of places this week.

Restaurant Weeks runs from July 12^th to 31^st and many places get booked well ahead.  Call first as certain restaurants have restrictions and most require reservations.  MY Voice and MY LIST:

The 21 Club:  Famous, Fun, Unique.  A New York City Landmark

AJ Maxwell's Steakhouse:  I ate at the one in Chicago, does that count?

Atlantic Grill:  Seafood-any way you like it and fresh!

Blue Water Grill:  Ah, the atmosphere!

Brasserie 8 ½:  Outstanding food and service.

*Central Park Boathouse:  What a wonderful place to eat!  The food is terrific and the views of the lake are even better!   Highly recommended! Book WELL ahead.

Le Cirque:  Dare I say World Famous?  Note:  I ate at their old location and they have a new chef...definitely time for a re-visit.

One if by Land, Two if by Sea:  Wonderful seafood and steaks and not too stuffy : )

Redeye Grill:  The food is good but what do they say about Location?

Smith & Wollensky:  For all you steak lovers out there

Note:  The fabulous and world famous Oak Room across from Central Park at the Plaza is listed.  I am confused by this because I happened to be in the city the last day of the Auction for the Plaza Hotel.  The OLD Oak Room (see "Scent of a Woman" and "Six Degrees of Separation") had been completely dismantled and I even purchased an old, well worn cooking dish (useless-- but I love it : )  You might want to check.

ANOTHER NOTE:  My FAVORITE New York City restaurant is not on the list.  It's expensive and it's absolutely breathtaking.  For those of you that have never experienced this place (it's an experience, not just a dining pleasure), you might want to invest in The Rainbow Room (seen in more movies then I can remember) with it's ‘old time' music,  revolving dance floor and breathtaking views..  It's an amazing place that you will remember even AFTER you've finally paid off your credit card!

That's it:  Favorite Picks from a New York City Feng Shui Consultant.  Here's the entire list:

**I will get back to everyone as soon as my computer is repaired**

http://www.FengShuiLI.com

*Carole Provenzale is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island & New York City, providing on site Feng Shui Consultations for Homes, Businesses, Corporations, Real Estate, Retail, Restaurants and New Construction for Long Island, New York City - Manhattan - Queens and Brooklyn NY.  http://www.TheFengShuiVoice.com

 The SHAME if Foreclosures --- Feng Shui in New York

As a Feng Shui Consultant in Long Island New York when I first began hearing about foreclosures, they seemed so far away.  They were in another place and for some reason, I never thought they'd hit Long Island.

After all, Long Island is a very desired place to live; it's where the rich and famous come to "play" after a long winter.  It's where we struggle to pay unsightly taxes just to stay on this lovely Island with all the benefits of being close to New York City.

Foreclosures hit...and hit hard.  So many people out of work because of layoffs.  Some people might be critical of calling in a Feng Shui Consultant for help when they are in a distressed situation and, quite honestly, some call us in because they don't know where else to turn.  While others call us just because they BELIEVE.  They need HOPE.

It was recently that I walked into the home/condo of a lovely couple on Long Island NY.  I was immediately struck by a wall of pictures of all prominent people-and wondered WHO my client was.  It doesn't matter; what matters is that in another 3 weeks, my clients will be put into foreclosure.  A very sad and very scary thought for someone who never imagined he'd be in this position.

I can only offer hope, not promises.  And I see that they need some signs of hope to turn their situation around in a short amount of time.  Go to all your helpful people, I urge them but my client is a proud man.  I suddenly realize something I had not before:  There is a SHAME that accompanies money issues.

How did he find himself here?  An accident in the new dream home they'd purchased which kicked off another pre-existing health condition he has.  He's out of work although, thankfully, he does have medical.  More then that, they are HOLDING his job open for him-he is well known and well liked.  All he needs to do is hold on until he can work again.

His pleas to the bank fell on deaf ears; he's fallen through the cracks.  And because of circumstances beyond his control, he is ashamed.  A position any of us can find ourselves in at any time.  The harsh realities are that if we don't work, we don't get paid.  Maybe we are all only a few steps away from wondering where we would go or what we would do if it happened to US.  Maybe that thought is so frightening that most of us won't even consider it.

I keep hearing there is help out there for these people.  Yet in spite of the number of things he's attempted, no one has stepped in to help.  He does not want to lose this dream home.  In the short time since I've visited this couple, they have called me THREE times to tell me about money coming to them through different and unexpected avenues.  While it's wonderful news, it's not enough.

If YOU have any advice for these wonderful people, please let me know.  They keep a positive attitude which I admire but I kept letting them know there is no shame in their circumstances.  There but for the Grace of God............ 

http://www.LongIslandFengShui.com

**Carole Provenzale has been a New York Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island & New York.  On Site Feng Shui Consultations provided for New York City (Manhattan), Queens and all of Long Island for Homes, Apartments, Businesses, Corporations, Renovations and New Construction.  http://www.TheFengShuiVoice.com

Feng Shui ART?  Or ART of Another KIND?

We ALL know Art is subjective.  After all, Beauty IS in the eyes of the beholder.  Some see beauty in every day objects and, if you're REALLY lucky, others will see it, too.

Recently, after a New York City Feng Shui Consultation a friend convinced me to stop in MOMA  The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.  You really don't have to twist my arm to go there, it happens to be my favorite Museum in New York City.  I theorize that it's because of it's DESIGN---Light and open and airy; you never feel as if you're in a "dark" space.

He wanted me to see a particular work of ART.  He wasn't fond of it and wanted my opinion.  One thing I will say is that place is never boring :):  I'll let you decide if this is something you'd expect to see in MOMA in NYC:

In case you're wondering:

Yes, it's a ROPE.

**Feng Shui Long Island and New York Consultant, Carole Provenzale is the Founder of this Feng Shui and Design Center since 1997 providing quality Feng Shui and Design Consultations for Long Island, New York City - Manhattan - Queens, Brooklyn and through the NY, NJ area.  http://www.FengShuiLI.com

By A Feng Shui Consultant in New York City

Did you know you can take a tour of Lincoln Center in New York City?    If you're in New York or coming to New York it can be one of the most enjoyable and least expensive things you can do!

Had I not stopped one day inside a hotel in New York City and picked up a few guides for traveler's, I wouldn't have known about this.  If your tour starts at the right time and they are rehearsing, you'll get to see a behind the scenes rehearsal of how they put together an opera.  It is a thrilling sight.

You also might catch ballerina's rehearsing.  Your guide might tell you how their love of dance is so strong that most will not be able to continue dancing after they are 30 years old.  At that time they have to find new careers and often suffer permanent injuries from the workouts they have given their bodies.

Lincoln Center is facinating if you love the Arts.  Everything is timed down to the MINUTE as they cannot afford to run late and for each minute they go over, EVERYONE must be paid. 

Tours run daily but you may need to call ahead to reserve a spot.  For under $20, I can't think of anything better to do if you have a love of the Arts!

Can anyone name the Artists?

Lincoln Center Tours
212.875.5350
tour_desk@lincolncenter.org

Reconstruction is currently going on.  Please check with Lincoln Center Tours for availabilty.  But add it to your New York City list, you will honestly LOVE IT!

http://LongIslandFengShui.com

**Carole Provenzale has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and Founded Feng Shui Long Island & New York that same year providing on site consultations for all of Long Island, New York City, Queens and Brooklyn for Homes, Businesses, Corporations, Retail, Restaurants, Renovations and New Construction.  Distance Feng Shui Consultations for those out of New York also available. 

Close Encounters of the BEST Kind in Feng Shui Long Island, NY

Today was beautiful.  I was determined to go out and play for a bit and ended up in the lovely town of Huntington Long Island.  I've written about it so many times because it truly is a special place.  I think of it as a little bit of New York City on Long Island with the Galleries, eclectic shops and wonderful restaurants.

There is also a store that I always visit when I am there called Mystic Warrior.  It has lovely Native American objects and crystals; today I was in search of an amethyst to send to a dear person, Sherie.  Feng Shui in New York: Sherie's Story   Amethysts are known to have healing properties.

Inside I found what I was looking for and glanced down to see one of my favorite free Long Island newspapers called "Creations" and bent down to take one as I checked out.  A man standing nearby asked me if I was familiar with the magazine.

I told him I was, that they had published an article of mine once.  It was a thrilling day for me as the newspaper had been about to fold and new owners had taken it over and selected my article as one to publish.  The gentleman looked a bit surprised and asked my name-I told him my name and the name of my business Feng Shui Long Island.

I saw him smile.  He was the person who had taken over the newspaper when it had been about to fold...and he had published my article.  He'd sent me a check for payment at that time and I'd sent it back with a note of thanks.  In fact, that one article had resulted in about five Feng Shui Consultations.  I'd sent back the payment to contribute it to the success of the paper and its new owners.

Here's the article published in Creations Magazine:  Getting through your Workday the Feng Shui Way by Carole Provenzale

He remembered that incident although it was about five years ago and asked me to wait while he got a list of upcoming themes in case I wanted to submit again. He told me that one single act of kindness had made an impression on him; apparently one he didn't forget.

I wonder if I continue to do things that people will remember.  A simple act that you can do often without thinking much about it that makes their memory of you a positive one. 

Have you left someone with a kind memory of you?  It's SO simple we often don't realize the impact we can have.

Even little actions will be remembered-Leave GOOD memories behind.  Happy 4th to Everyone!

http://www.FengShuiLI.com

**Carole Provenzale is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island & New York and has been  a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since 1997.  On Site Feng Shui and Design Consultations are provided for all of Long Island, New York City, Queens and Brooklyn.

A Feng Shui Consultant in New York:  A Lesson on Intention AND Marketing

As a Feng Shui Consultant in New York, we are asked to look for and think about SIGNS.  Some are apparent to us while some are much more subtle.  We don't believe in Coincidences and NEVER believe in "Accidents."  Things happen for a reason.

Feng Shui Consultants also work with Energy and believe very much in INTENTIONS they put out (what is also called ‘The Law of Attraction' to some).  There are Reasons for everything and anything that come our way and we always need to remember to look into these things that come our way before turning them down.

 It was a thrill to have the 2009 US Open here on Long Island, NY.  I enjoyed showing you some of the pictures Laura was able to capture.  It was also during that weekend that her site http://www.FengShuiManhattan.com went "live."

Laura had planned to go near the entrance to the US Open to try and sell some of her artwork.  She'd created two pictures that she'd drawn and colored and had high-quality copies made.  By the time the rains let up, it was Sunday and she was discouraged by some from trying.

People had already purchased Mercandise from the huge tent set up inside the grounds and more then that, they were wet, tired and muddy.  The Final Game was delayed until Monday due to all the heavy rains.

Marti had emailed us the evening before to say her site would be live on Sunday.  We took it as a sign to go; just that day we had been on a Feng Shui Consultation in Brooklyn and she'd been commissioned by our client to create a mural.  It didn't seem she had much to lose.

She took a folding table, a new Art piece she was working on and the two pictures she'd done along with the copies.  She set up and continued to work on the new piece of art.  If you believe in Intention and Energy, what happened next won't surprise you.  In the spirit of:"Build it and they will come" people started coming up to her, asking her questions and snapping up her art. 

One person purchased the picture she was working on before it was even done and she was commissioned for two custom pieces.  She called me before noon to tell me she'd sold out but one person she'd spoke to had said he'd be back, he said he had something he wanted to give her.

She was thrilled!  But she also said she didn't know how long she should wait and wondered if that person would return and what he could possibly have to give her.  She decided to wait another half hour and was just packing up to leave when the kind stranger returned.

He'd been impressed with her Artwork and had purchased both pieces.  He said while most people were yelling to try to get attention to sell items, she'd just gone about her work.  Sometimes, he said, a quieter approach to Marketing is the very thing that attracts others to you and handed her two tickets to the final day of the US Open on Monday, each ticket being valued at $100 each.

Needless to say, she was speechless!  She was also able to attend a once in a life-time event and was there to see the new winner and feel the excitement in the crowd. 

Energy-Intention-Marketing all go together I realized.  We are ALL marketing, every day but how much ENERGY are we putting into it?

http://www.LongIslandFengShui.com

**Carole Provenzale and Laura Cerrano are Feng Shui Consultants in New York NY providing on site Feng Shui/Design Consultations on Long Island, New York City, Queens, Brooklyn and the Tri-State area.