Manhattan

Mulled wine is one of the season's healthier hot beverages, but not everybody's crazy about it. If you find the notion of drinking hot wine off-putting, consider a cold drink infused with the same holiday spices as an alternative.

This bourbon-and-concord grape juice concoction, crafted by Christopher Tunnah at the Bedford Post in Bedford, NY, was designed to be a sort of mulled wine 2.0, with the same warming spice notes, medicinal aftertaste not included. It's sure to win over even the biggest mulled wine loather. Read on for the recipe.

There's just something about drinking a classic cocktail that puts you in the right state of mind, don't you think? I prefer my Manhattan on the rocks because the clinking of the ice feels old world and romantic to me. But truthfully, the cold, booze-soaked maraschino cherry is my favorite part! This cocktail goes particularly well with salty, rich dishes, making it the perfect addition to a Thanksgiving menu. But be careful: a couple of these babies and you could be dancing on tables this holiday season. Keep reading to stir up one of your own.

While I doubt that I'll ever choose to buy real estate in Manhattan (I'm a West Coaster for life), I do enjoy checking out the high-end real estate that the borough has to offer, which is why I'll be tuning in tonight to catch the second season of Selling New York. The first episode, which premieres at 9 tonight on HGTV, follows the brokers from CORE as they attempt to sell a unit in the Urban Glass House, one of the last projects from architect Philip Johnson.

The 1,457-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo loft at the Urban Glass House is listed at $1.795 million. What do you get for all of that money? Well, you can peek out at Statue of Liberty and Hudson River views every morning (though, as development increases in the area views may become more limited). Inside, interiors by Annabelle Selldorf are also sure to please (and also contribute toward the price point).

Keep reading for the details and a photo tour.

I recently discovered New York City-based architecture and interior design firm Ashe + Leandro and spent a good half hour clicking through all of their inspiring design projects. The one thing that always draws me to an interior space is a feeling of crispness — clean lines, uncluttered accessorizing, polish, elements of white — and Ashe + Leandro has that down to a T. But their interiors aren't too minimal, sterile, or modern. Each room seems to blend beautiful contemporary furniture with warm, worn, antiques or traditional pieces like Persian rugs, burlap throw pillows, or French arm chairs.I absolutely covet one particular project, a three-bedroom apartment on the west side of Manhattan, so I had to share. From the living room built-ins filled with yellow book spines to the oversize pendant shade above the dining table, there's a surprising, eye-catching element in each space. While the common spaces are painted white, two of the bedrooms are personalized with color: one features three of the most perfect shades of turquoise and looks like a breath of fresh air, and another is layered with deep hues of dusty brown and hunter green to create a truly nocturnal space. Such a dream! Take the full tour, and you'll be thinking of hiring the team to redesign your own home!

A well-stocked home bar should have two versions of vermouth, and trust me: you don't want to confuse the two. Dry vermouth, also called French vermouth (pictured), is light in color and often found in similarly shaded cocktails.

Dry vermouth mixes into a classic dry martini, as well as some of my favorite finds, including the Corkscrew and El Presidente cocktails.

Not surprisingly, Italian (aka sweet) vermouth shows up in the classic Italian cocktail the Negroni, as well as the all-American Manhattan. Some drinks use equal parts of dry/white and red/sweet vermouth and are often dubbed "perfect," as in a Perfect Manhattan. Once you've cracked open a bottle of either type of vermouth, it's best stored in the fridge. What are your vermouth cocktails of choice?

Got a burning question? Join the Burning Question group in the YumSugar Community! It's your place to post the most pressing questions about the culinary world.

Source: Flickr User erin.kkr

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member MMS01 from the Lovely Little Vignettes group:

I love this little vignette I created on my bedroom windowsill looking over Manhattan. The large windows and view make my tiny apt feel much bigger! I got the Foo Dog bookends at Home Goods and the Shell Ashtray from Urban Outfitters.

Be sure to share photos of your own home décor arrangements in the Lovely Little Vignettes group!

Though I made cherry bounce as one of this year's edible gifts, I was sure to save a bottle for myself. Delicious on its own, this old-school cordial is also great mixed into classic cocktails.

After sipping a superb cherry bounce old-fashioned, I decided to create a cherry version of the Manhattan, which, in the spirit of the Big Apple, I dubbed the Big Cherry.

It has the same ingredients as the old-fashioned, but in different proportions. For a special touch, try using brandied cherries instead of the usual maraschino. To get the recipe, read more