New York City and The Hamptons are heating up, and I'm not just referring to the summer temperatures on our thermometers!

On the Lower East Side, Foley & Corinna, vintage clothing and coveted labels from California, will take up residence at 114 Stanton Street.

On the Upper West Side, Melia Mills will open a swimwear boutique at 220 Columbus Avenue. Chic Olive & Bette's is expanding its shop at 252 Columbus Avenue.

In Chelsea, Parisian antiques dealer Mantiques will be treasured at its new West 22nd Street location, while Antonio Prieto, salon-to-the-stars, opens on West 20th. Geoffrey Beene will bring its stylish menswear to West 29th Street.

In Soho, Adidas Sport Performance introduced its flagship at 610 Broadway. Tokyo-based clothing Via Bus Stop will entice shoppers at 172 Mercer. Yohji Yamamoto opened a new New York showroom at 34 Spring Street. Calypso continues to expand its empire, with the addition of newly opened Calypso Home at 199 Lafayette, on corner of Broome (not to be confused with nearby Calypso Christiane Celle, number 424, Calypso Enfant, number 426, Calypso Outlet, number 405, and Calypso Vintage, number 407). Sabon, handmade bath cosmetics from Israel, debuted at 93 Spring Street, and Intermix will make its way to Prince Street, between Mercer and Greene. Seven New York, formerly on the Lower East Side, will reopen at 110 Mercer Street, boasting eccentric high-end fashions.

Over in the Meatpacking District, custom denim designer Earnest Cut & Sew will take up shop at 821 Washington Street. Buckler's, British men's gear, is relocating to 13 Gansevoort Street. Luxury leather goods giant Longchamp will open at 132 Spring and 124 Spring will be the home of menswear retailer John Varatos' new shop. Greek Mastic Spa will soothe the stressed when it opens for business at 438 West Broadway, on Prince Street. Diesel Kids will bring its up-to-the- minute threads to 416 West Broadway. Vermont-based snowboarding label Burton will open at 106 Spring Street and DC Shoe Co., skate apparel, at 109-111 Spring. Spain-based Mango is rumored to be coming to 578 Broadway this summer.

In Nolita, designer Rebecca Romero will be on display at Maverick Boutique, at 262 Mott Street. Phurniture Inc., a conglomerate of three independent furniture dealers with designs from 1940s to present, opened its doors at 8 Bond Street. NIKEiD 255 Studio, an exclusive by-appointment-only Nike design boutique, will cater to shoppers at 255 Elizabeth.

In the West Village, Butik, a Danish-inspired shop owned by Helena Christensen, unveils at 605 Hudson Street. Australian handbag designer Crumpler opened its second loca-tion at 49 Eighth Ave, at Horatio.

In the East Village, CoCo & Delilah will bring trendy fashions to 115 St. Marks Place. On the Lower East Side, Peggy Pardon, vintage Edwardian and Victorian-era garb, opened at 158 Ludlow.

Do-it-yourselfers delight: The Financial District could be home to the latest installation of Home Depot. The potential site is 26 Broadway and rumor has it that the company is also looking on the Upper West Side. Daffy's, designer discounter, will bring cheap chic to 50 Broadway.

Let's not forget all of the retail activity seen by our neighbors to the East. The Hamptons are hopping with a designer lineup. Scoop is opening a quintessential beach boutique at 51 Newtown Lane and Calypso Home store is also debuting on Newtown Lane. The impressive Coach flagship on 69 Main Street will satisfy and trend-driven Intermix is nearby at 64 Main Street. J. Crew at the Beach is at number 46, Main Street. Two Theory boutiques are at 46 Newton Lane, East Hampton, and 60 Jobs Lane, Southampton. The first alice + olivia store will be at number 62 on the Circle. Dry cleaner to the stars Madame Paulette will open an East End outpost. Harmont & Blaine will bring luxury menswear from Naples to Southampton, at 38 Jobs Lane. Pampered pooches will be kept in their usual style as Hampton Hound opens at 2485 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton. Alas, we shed a tear for the nostalgic closing of the Plaza Hotel but optimistic as always, we look toward the future! The eternally expanding city of New York puts out the welcome mat for new hotels.

Luckily, not every developer purchasing a hotel is converting it into condominiums. Highgate Holdings purchased the Park Central Hotel on Seventh Avenue between 55th and 56th Street and will keep the property as a hotel. Highgate Holdings and the Carlyle Group have purchased the Crowne Plaza United Nations on Second Avenue at 42nd Street and will keep it as a hotel. The Essex House at 160 Central Park South is on the market and rumor has it that it too will remain a hotel. The famed Algonquin at 44th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue is up for sale and will keep travelers happy as a hotel.

Developer Richard Born has three new hotel projects in the city -- a boutique hotel on Greenwich Street in Tribeca, another on Third Street and the Bowery and a budget hotel on 51st and Second Avenue. Sam Chang has five hotels under construction east of Canal Street, as well as a boutique hotel in Union Square and a more cost conscious hotel on 35th Street and Fifth Avenue. Two new affordable boutique hotels have also already opened their doors: Andre Balaz's Hotel, the ultramodern QT at 125 W. 45th Street and the Blue Moon Hotel, with its cheap chic, at 100 Orchard Street.

Large hotels are predicted to open near the Javits Center and in the rezoned Hudson Yards in the near future. The hotel industry is ever expanding and replacing conversions; travelers can breathe easy, Eloise will find new digs...

Hot time to dine, summer in the city! Food is the new fashion and what to wear and where to dine preoccupy the minds of New York natives and visitors alike, including those who choose to spend the lazy days of summer in the ever-elite Hamptons.

Just in time for the summer rush, Manhattan will offer an exciting array of culinary pleasures designed to please even the most discriminating palates. Smorgas Chef, the Scandinavian café, has opened a branch at 924 Second Avenue, at 49th Street. Frederick's on Madison, boasting delectable Mediterranean cuisine, has opened at 768 Madison. Ludo opened at 42 East First Street, replacing Chez Es Saada with a multi-ethnic menu. Celebrity chef David Bouley has finally opened Bouley Bakery & Market, the one-stop shopping for foodies at 130 West Broadway.

Geoffrey Zakarian will open an American-style restaurant -- Country -- in the Hotel Carlton, 22 East 29th Street. Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery is debuting on the third floor at The Shops at Columbus Circle. Chef Keller will also open a café on the third floor to cater to the swarms of shoppers that visit the retail stores each day. Charlie Trotter's seafood brasserie will also open on the third floor, giving visitors plenty of great eats to choose from.

Dave & Busters will combine food and fun when it opens its largest U.S. restaurant ever in Times Square, at 234 West 42nd Street. Peacock Alley will reopen in the Waldorf-Astoria. Au Coin Du Feu, a restaurant evoking the feel of the French Riviera, has opened at 222 Lafayette Street, offering dishes like sea bass in pastis sauce and rack of lamb with goat cheese. Park Blue, 158 West 58th Street, features small plates and prestigious wines. Nobu 57, on two levels at 40 West 57th Street, will have a robata grill and water-inspired design elements.

Gusto has opened at 60 Greenwich Avenue with black-and-white decor inspired by old Italian films. Paris Match has taken the former Ferrier space at 29 East 65th Street and fea-tures a unique blend of French and sushi.

Those heading out to the Hamptons will still have plenty of reasons to eat drink and be merry! The Hamptons is not only delighting Manhattanites with stellar new shopping by the sand, but also tempting their tastebuds. Owners of Bridgehampton favorite Almond are expand- ing with a new restaurant and lounge called Almondito, 290 Montauk Highway, Wainscott in the former Capri Space. Ed "Jean-Luc" Kleefield's third Hamptons restaurant is set to open in the former Belles East space; Madame Tong's at JL Beach Club will bring Pan-Asian flair at 256 Elm Street in Southampton.

The old Post House is now home to Nello Summertime, located at 136 Main Street in picturesque Southampton. Citarella owner Joe Gurrera has taken over the Red Horse Market, unveiling Tutto Italiano at 74 Montauk Highway, marrying East Hampton with a classic Italian salumeria.

Increases in New York tourism have meant a boost in business, with restaurateurs and retailers -- and the food fanciers and shopa-holics that frequent these establishments -- reaping the benefits. Dining at glamorous restaurants and donning the finest designer clothing is all the rage. So, whether you hop a subway to Soho or a jitney to the Hamptons, the plethora of dynamite dining and superb shopping available will be sure to satisfy.
Enjoy the summer!