Rare Weekend 7.31.08

…And the weather’s so breezy…




The Spaniards know how to party. In homage to La Tomatina, Buñol, Valencia’s fabled (and messy) tomato festival, Chef Seamus Mullen created a menu of tomato dishes for both of his restaurants, Boqueria and Suba this August. Sample Ensalada de Pulpo de Playa (octopus and Toybox tomatoes), and Beicon, Lechuga y Tomates (lamb, sheep’s milk cheese, sucrine lettuce, and olive oil-poached tomatoes).

If it all sounds very decadent, well, that’s because it is.

Boqueria, 53 West 19th Street (between Fifth & Sixth Avenues), (212) 255-4160, boquerianyc.com, and Suba, 109 Ludlow Street (between Rivington & Delancey Streets), (212) 982-5714, subanyc.com

Wine aficionados, head to Italian Wine Merchants for the wines of Sergio Esposito’s new memoir Passion on the Vine. Taste such treats as Mastrobernardino’s Villa dei Misteri, and Bartolo Mascarello’s acclaimed 2001 Barolo. Purchase the wine and receive a signed memoir, IWM wine note booklet, and trial Online Cellar account. Saturday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Italian Wine Merchants, 108 East 16th Street (between Union Square East and Irving Place), (212) 473-2323, italianwinemerchant.com

For a sexier twist on the elegant favorite, Toys in Babeland SoHo is hosting the Third Annual Erotic Wine Tasting Soirée. Enjoy wines from the Naked Winery with exotic cheeses, aphrodisiac chocolates, erotic poetry by Brown Rice, and the famous Babeland Product Demo (all 10% off during the event). Mingling with the Sexy Sommeliers to follow… Tonight, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Reserve tickets ($40 in advance only) by calling Perfect Palate at (646) 400-5200 or visit perfectpalatenewyork.com

Babeland New York-Soho, 43 Mercer Street (at Grand Street), (646) 400-5200, babeland.com

With clean lines and the smoothest fabrics, James Perse gives you every excuse to wear tees all year long. Save up to 50% on Spring/Summer basics at their Private Sale, now through Sunday.

James Perse Men, 361 Bleeker Street (near Charles Street), (212) 255-5801, James Perse Women’s, 411 Bleeker Street (at West 11th Street), (212) 620-9991, jamesperse.com

Get to the West Village for Lucien Pellat-Finet’s annual sale. The King of Cashmere’s collection is on sale at 40% off today, and 60 to 75% tomorrow through 8/15.

Lucien Pellat-Finet, 14 Christopher Street, (212) 255-8560, lucienpellat-finet.com