new york | monthly guide.

shed your overcoat and woolly layers, spring just may have sprung. now you can kick off the season by checking out some famous frocks, rocking out to your power tunes and making a marky mark on the scene with this list of monthly picks:



01. famous frocks.
LA-based luxury consignment shop decadestwo, run by christos garkinos and cameron silver and known for carrying top-shelf designers like chanel and balenciaga, is making its return to new york. for its third pop-up shop, the boys are bringing goods seen on the well-known bods of starlets and sirens from the big and small screens. it's a must-stop for us, and it's worth taking a gander. you may even come home with julianne moore's gauzy blouse or rachel zoe's fox fur caplet. and we're not going to even mention the incredible shoe sale on the last day of the shop. (how often are $150 and louboutin put in the same sentence?) march 18th - march 21st. kiki de montparnasse. 79 greene street. between broome and spring. 212.965.8070. www.decadestwo.com

02. i love the 80s.
while fashion can't seem to kick the whole eighties thing, it looks as though neither can the art world. not that that's a bad thing. currently on display at the demisch danant gallery in chelsea is the exhibit wild animals, a selection of installations from artists like ron arad and tom dixon. most pieces here were created in the totally awesome decade and done in ways that were once considered outside the box. through march 27th. 542 west 22nd street. between tenth and eleventh. 212.989.5750. www.demischdanant.com

03. power tunes.
designer and fashion mogul diane von furstenberg has become known for much more than the iconic wrap dress. her latest achievement, putting together a compilation CD titled "proud to be woman" ($15.99) proves just that. available on iTunes, DVF's web site, or at her eponymous boutique in the MPD, the album features fellow woman wonders like joss stone and estelle. and while the mix is sure to make for a motivational playlist, knowing that all of the proceeds go to DVF's woman-empowering charity of choice, vital voices, should be equally influential. 874 washington street. at 14th. 646.486.4800. www.dvf.com

04. all-stars.
in this great city of eating, food festivals are a dime a dozen, but the village voice's annual choice eats ($45) is a cut above the rest. this year is no different with some real winners in the lineup, including newbie, new orleans-style sandwich shop cheeky sandwiches from the LES, and the critically-lauded vanderbilt (pictured) from prospect heights. empty stomachs and loose-fitting trousers are highly recommended. march 21st. 69th armory. 68 lexington avenue. between 25th and 26th. choiceeats. www.villagevoice.com

05. marky mark.
JGV is making his mark again. the latest venture from jean-georges vongerichten, mark (at the, well, mark hotel) boasts a well-rounded menu that includes a raw bar, homey pastas like pumpkin ravioli, and a rack of lamb to boot. and thanks to fellow frenchie and acclaimed designer jacques grange, who counts the princess of monaco and karl lagerfeld as clients, the uptown luxe aesthetic with rich neutral tones and high ceilings looks as comfortable as the fare. now open. 25 east 77th street. at madison. 212.606.3030. www.themarkhotel.com

06. costume couture.
while a lucky few got to enjoy miuccia prada's fall 2010 collection up close and personal, those of us who missed out on the trip to milan can get a dose of ms. prada's genius here in new york. the metropolitan opera debuts verdi's "attila" (tickets between $20-$295) this month, with revered conductor riccardo muti and costumes designed by prada. expect to see characters donning leather trenches, studded boots and lots of texture. it may not be the runway, but a front-row seat is much easier to come by. through march 27th. lincoln center for the performing arts. broadway at 62nd. www.metoperafamily.org