Hazelnut
The
owners: Broadway actor Bryan
Batt and experienced fashion buyer Tom Cianfichi.
Style:
A chic blend of contemporary and traditional accessories,
home furnishings, and stylish gifts with a bit of an urban edge -
New York meets New Orleans.
Motivation:
It was always their dream to join talents and establish a special
shopping experience for Magazine Street in Batt’s hometown,
New Orleans.
The
hottest products: The small “twig” accent
table in nickel or brass that they can’t keep in stock,
as well as their vast collection of lacquered “capiz shell”
serving pieces.
We
love: Anything in their award-winning New
Orleans Toile - it captures the romance and beauty of the city.
We especially covet the handmade
lacquered trays.
The
address: 5515 Magazine St., 504/891-2424.
In
the area: Visit Upperline (1413 Upperline
St., 504/891-9822) for its delicious cuisine, décor, and vivacious
owner, JoAnn Clevenger. Lally Brennan and Ti Adelaide Martin, of Commanders’
Palace (1403 Washington Ave, 504-891-8221) fame, have recently
opened Café Adelaide (300 Poydras St, 504/595-3305),
an already award-winning restaurant. The barbecue shrimp shortcake
is not to be missed. Trek to Bourbon House in the
French Quarter (144 Bourbon St., 504/522-0111) for the redfish on
the half shell and the frozen bourbon milk punch.
Check
out the dramatic 18th- and 19th-century antiques at Catherine
Cottrell Interior Design (3638 Magazine St., 504/895-5511).
Batt recommends Wirthmore Antiques (3900 Magazine
St., 504/899-3811, and 3727 Magazine St., 504/269-0660), where owner
Gay Wirth specializes in French Provincial.
At
Cole Pratt Gallery (3800 Magazine St., 504/891-6789),
find works by Southern artists in a wide range of mediums.
For
chic custom invitations, Batt and Cianfichi like Scriptura
(5423 Magazine St., 504/897-1555), a stationery shop owned by their
friends, Margaret and Sallie Jones.
And
the shop is not far from one of the best and most beautiful zoos,
in scenic Audubon Park (6500 Magazine St., 866/487-2966).
