2.24.2024

Martha's Flower Businesses

Flowers have always been an essential component of the Martha Stewart ethos. From her first catering business to her books and magazines, flowers (both growing and arranging them) are central to the Martha Stewart way of life. As a caterer during the late 1970s and early 1980s, on the morning of an event, Martha and her team would head out before dawn to the flower markets, ensuring they had access to the best and most plentiful selection to help supplement those she had already picked from her own garden at Turkey Hill Road. In her books on gardening and entertaining, too, she frequently espoused the allure of arrangements of flowers throughout the house when hosting guests.

It was in January of 2000 when Martha finally brought a flower business into the Omnimedia fold, allowing her readers and viewers - many of whom did not have gardens - to partake in the enjoyment of Martha's favourite varieties and arrangements. She had already launched a catalog business, which at that point was functioning online as well: Marthasflowers.com was born.

In her letter to readers in the February, 2000, issue of Martha Stewart Living, Martha explains the concept:

“Using the knowledge that I gained during those years of catering, and the experience that we have garnered editing this magazine and Weddings, we have started an online flower business, marthasflowers.com, so that you, too, can have access to the most beautiful, freshest flowers obtainable anywhere. Our flowers staff, headed by crafts editor Hannah Milman, meticulously tests myriad varieties before we make our selections. The finest growers in the United States, South America and Europe have been visited and consulted and studied so that what we are sending you meets our standards.”

Consumers had the option of ordering online from either the marthasflowers.com, marthabymail.com or the marthastewart.com websites. They would receive what are known as ‘grower’s bunches’ – flowers that have been picked and wrapped by the growers themselves, shipped directly to the Martha Stewart warehouses where they were packaged in specially branded boxes with printed care instructions, and then sent immediately to the purchaser – all within hours of the stems having been cut. They were never unwrapped or excessively handled and were not picked over.

Flower subscription services were also available; consumers could subscribe to receive weekly deliveries of flowers for a three-month, six-moth or one-year period: three months was $148, six months was $278, and a year was $528 - a steal, by today's standards!

The flowers were shipped by FedEx Priority Overnight to ensure a timely delivery. Delivery could also be made on Saturdays with a $10 surcharge, but there was no delivery on Sunday or Monday, as per FedEx guidelines at the time.

The flowers and bouquets on offer depended on availability and seasonality. Martha and her team took care to ensure seasonal and celebratory themes for the choices of flowers available. There were hydrangeas and delphiniums in summer, hyacinths and daffodils in winter, tulips, lilies, and ranunculus in spring and many more varieties that were available at different times of year. The most popular of all, of course, were the roses. There was a special rose-delivery service within the MarthasFlowers business that specialized in monthly selections of roses chosen by Martha herself, based primarily on colour.

When the catalog shut down in 2004, so did Marthasflowers.com. It wasn’t until 2008 when Martha partnered with 1-800-Flowers (the largest flower-delivery service in the United States) to bring the flower service back. Martha’s team, headed up by stylist Tom Borgese, designed the bouquets while 1-800-Flowers handled the deliveries. Vases and vessels chosen by Martha were also on offer. As with the original flower business, a subscription service was available. This partnership lapsed in 2014.

In 2018, with Martha’s company now being handled by Sequential Brands, Martha partnered with Bloomsybox.com, a Dutch-based flower delivery company, to once again continue the flower-delivery business. Repeating the model, Martha’s team came up with the arrangement types while Bloomsybox handled the deliveries. Subscription service was also available. This partnership lapsed in 2022.

In each business model described, Martha and her team were central to the selection and arrangement of the flowers. MarthasFlowers.com, the first incarnation of the flower business, handled the distribution of the flowers that were ordered from the growers. This was at a time when Martha’s company was at its most robust, with nearly one thousand employees working with Omnimedia. As Martha’s company downsized, the deliveries of the grower's bunches and bouquets were outsourced to a flower delivery company: 1-800-Flowers and BloomsyBox.com.  In every instance, however, Martha ensured that the flowers came from reputable growers from around the world and always selected the best varietals available. 

2.06.2024

Martha Fans Visit The Bedford

Rox-Anne Henderson, Hayden Regina and Michelle Zabell, three Martha fans, had wanted to visit Martha's signature restaurant in Las Vegas since it opened on August 13, 2022. They all recently had their chance! Below are photographs and thoughts about their experience there. 

HAYDEN REGINA: from Chicago, Illinois. Visited the restaurant December 19th, 2023.

"I finally made it to The Bedford in Vegas this past weekend (twice)! It was decorated for the holidays and the food overall was really lovely. I finally understand why everyone can't shut up about the bread basket and Big Martha's pierogi. The sour cherry and rosemary focaccia might become a new holiday staple in our household.
The White Cosmopolitan was hands down the best of the six cocktails we tried, the crab cake with the carrot and apple slaw was mouth watering, and the creme brulee was just beyond. I was excited to find that the gift shop next door also had The Bedford by Martha Stewart T-shirts in both men's and women's sizes. Worth a visit!"
Hayden at his table (the one traditionally reserved for Martha) looking very pleased to be there.
When Hayden and his partner visited, the restaurant was decorated for the holidays.
On one of the walls at The Bedford there is a gallery of photographs of Martha from her modelling days.
A view of the "Brown Room" area of the dining space.

ROX-ANNE HENDERSON: from Ontario, Canada. Visited the restaurant on Christmas Eve, 2023. 

"Here are some photos from our Christmas Eve dinner at The Bedford!

The sour cherry and rosemary focaccia deserves all the hype it’s getting and my New Years goal is to recreate it.
Our table, specifically the seat my husband was in, was Snoop Dogg’s seat on his visit.
Speaking of Snoop, they played a song of his with Dr. Dre in between Christmas songs and Bon Iver. Loved the eclectic music selection that combined classics and modern hits.
The service was truly a stand out of the visit. Our waiter and I traded stories from when we met Martha. He shared that Martha taught him how to make cappuccino so we declared him the winner.
While the holiday pre-fixe menu looked delicious, we had our hearts set on the carved table side roast chicken and we have no regrets.

Cocktails: Martha-tini and the Meyer lemon drop, then red wine for dinner
Apps: bread basket and Big Martha’s pierogis
Main: Roast chicken, Martha’s smashed baked potato and matchstick fries (I’d pass on the fries)
Dessert: Upside down lemon meringue pie
Price: Sure it’s gauche to talk about money but whatever I’m going to do it. As a family that follows chefs like most people follow rock stars and is used to large bills, this one made our eyes water and now holds the record as our most expensive meal to date at $390 USD ($520 CAN) for two people.
The food was excellent but seemed to lack the special quality that would truly make this an elevated dining experience worthy of the cost. I was hoping for more green options in the side dishes, specifically a root vegetable medley would have been appreciated on a winter menu. Vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions would have a difficult time ordering, I think.
The gift shop next door has a few items for purchase. Keychains, t-shirts, water bottles and the one I purchased, a large umbrella.
The vibe is elegant but you can tell patrons were hoping for the more “colourful” Martha of the past. This must have been raised by patrons before as the staff educate patrons on the inspiration of the restaurant's decor, which is her current home. I overheard a few people (clearly not super fans, like us) who didn’t know about her Bedford home or its style.
Overall, we had a truly lovely visit and enjoyed our time immensely. It’s a must do for the Martha super fans, but it’s a one and done for me. After dinner we visited the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower which was a nice end to the evening."

Rox-Anne looking lovely and elegant at her table. Her dress was inspired by one she had seen that Martha wore in the late 1980s: image below.
 The Christmas decorations were subdued but impressive. 
Inside the "Brown Room" are enormous 'windows' with seasonal scenes from Martha's farm.
The simple and elegant menu, with Martha's trademark faux-bois motif in classic Bedford Gray.
Big Martha's Pierogi 
The signature bread basket, which has become the most popular item on the menu.
The Roast Chicken
The Upside Down Lemon Meringue Pie
A visit to the Paris gift shop after dinner is a must: there is a lot of 'Martha merch' on hand, including many of her books, plus souvenirs specific to the restaurant: t-shirts, key chains, water bottles, umbrellas and Martha's signature wine.

MICHELLE ZABELL: From Vancouver, Washington. Visited February 22 and February 23, 2024.

"My overall impressions were that my expectations were surpassed. As a dedicated, longtime fan and Martha aficionado, I had a deep appreciation for the aesthetic, color scheme, furniture and personal touches that we would notice. These included the faux-bois planters, the paintings, photography, the glassware collections - all were on point. The life size view of Martha's farm through the windows was also the perfect touch. The entire staff of greeters, waitstaff and tableside food preparers were friendly, knowledgeable and delivered a level of hospitality that is worthy of a restaurant connected to Martha Stewart. The food was incredible. We had the famous bread basket, the ricotta-stuffed zucchini flowers, the creamed spinach, the baked potato, the prime tomahawk for two (carved tableside), and the upside-down lemon meringue pie for dessert. For drinks we tried the frozen pomegranate Martharita, a delicious cabernet sauvignon from California and the meyer lemon drop cocktail. We will absolutely be back again...and again!"
Michelle visited The Bedford with her husband on a recent trip to Vegas. Here she is holding a frozen pomegranate 'Martha-rita' - one of the restaurant's signature cocktails.
The famous Bedford bread basket is a must-have, according to everyone who has visited.
Big Martha's pierogis. Michelle says they are not to be missed!
Ricotta-stuffed zucchini blossoms: "Crispy, flavorful and light," Michelle says.
Their tableside server prepared the prime tomahawk for two. Michelle says it was cooked exactly as requested and came with two sauces: Bearnaise and Borenaise.
For dessert it was the upside-down lemon meringue pie.
Michelle returned the next day for cocktails and tried the Meyer Lemon Drop, which she said was her favorite.
Throughout the restaurant are personal Martha touches, such as these framed lithograph bird portraits - copies of the originals that Martha has on her walls at her home in Bedford.

ABOUT THE BEDFORD MARTHA STEWART:

The Bedford is a 194-seat dining destination at The Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, created by Martha Stewart in partnership with Caesars. The menu, which was created by Martha and her food department head, Thomas Joseph, features French-inspired cuisine as well as some of Martha's signature American classics. Some of the offerings include classic Nicoise Salad, Oysters Rockefeller, Whole Roast Herb Chicken served with Smashed Baked Potato. For dessert there's Upside-Down Lemon Meringue Pie, Creme Brulee and a classic Chocolate Cake. Signature cocktails include the Martha-tini and the frozen pomegranate Martha-rita. The entire restaurant is decorated to emulate Martha's home in Bedford, New York, right down to the most minute finishes and fixtures. The decor was overseen by Martha's EVP of merchandising, Kevin Sharkey, who has been instrumental in honing Martha's design aesthetic over the years. Click here to see the menu and learn more about the restaurant.

11.28.2023

Martha Moments Readers Celebrate Thanksgiving

Every year, I am so impressed by the talent and vision of the creative members of the Martha Moments Facebook Group, the @martha_moments Instagram page, and readers of this blog - particularly at holiday time. I usually ask the members of the group to share their photographs of their Thanksgiving and Christmas decor, table settings and food to create galleries of inspiration, which I then turn into posts on the blog for posterity. Below are some of the Thanksgiving photos that were submitted this year on the Facebook group page. There were many photos posted and I cannot share them all with you, but here are a few to enjoy! 

Anthony Picozzi always sets an elegant and festive table. 
This pumpkin pie that Anthony baked looks utterly perfect! (And you may recognize the small, colourful turkey from the cover of the November, 2002, issue of Martha Stewart Living!)
Christopher Spitzmiller set a wonderfully dynamic table this year! I love the mix of prints, textures and colours. 
Brian Utz has been a reader of this blog almost since the beginning! He always sets a beautiful Thanksgiving table. This year, his guests were seated on chairs once owned by Martha. he purchased these chairs at the Martha Stewart Tag Sale. 
Here is a closer look at the chairs. You will also notice the wagon in the background - another purchase from the tag sale. This wagon was used in the original Buffet Special Martha produced for PBS in 1987.
Here is a nice shot of the wagon. Brian filled with pine boughs festooned with fairy lights. 
You can clearly see the influence Martha had on Todd Hall when he set his table for Thanksgiving this year: potted begonias on wooden trivets, glass turkey dishes and salt cellars. Beautiful!
Delicious looking dinner rolls baked by Jennifer Doherty in Detroit.
A must for any Thanksgiving table!
This beautiful centerpiece of roses by Julie Gortemaker was inspired by Martha.
Noreen Daniello set two long tables for her Thanksgiving gathering. The long table runners with multiple centerpieces and small groupings of gourds and corn husks feels very Martha!
Trellis Smith always makes Martha's famed (spiked!) eggnog for visiting friends and family.
A delicious look plateful courtesy of Susan Kellen. I hope everyone in the U.S. had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! 

9.11.2023

Martha's New Safety and Mobility Aids with Medline

When a friend of my mother's, who had recently undergone knee replacement surgery, informed me that she had just ordered a Martha Stewart cane, I was left a little stunned: "A what? A Martha Stewart cane?" I am usually so on top of Martha's product launches that I was more shocked at myself for not realizing she had issued a new line of safety and mobility aids with Medline back in April. Shame on me!This new line, of course, plays perfectly well into Martha's focus on healthy living; the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City is just one of the many initiatives she has taken to help a rapidly-growing population of aging individuals find the care they need and deserve. Her book, Living The Good Long Life, is an excellent compendium of information in this field. Now, of course, she is bringing her signature style to an area where style has never really been welcome: canes, walkers, shower chairs, over-bed tables and bath mats. 

Offered in pretty designs and colours, such as gingham and plaid, faux-bois and her signature turquoise and gray, seniors who require mobility aids at home, or those recovering from injury, now have style choices that reach beyond the metallic, chrome and black. Click here to see the full line of Medline products with Martha Stewart designs. Below is a small selection. 

This offset aluminum walking cane is 3/4" in diameter and provides strong, sturdy support for partial weight-bearing users with a rubber tip on the bottom for slip-resistant balance; supports 300 lbs. Shown above in Plaid. Shown below in Faux-Bois.


This premium quality rollator upright walker features a padded memory foam seat and backrest for all-day comfort with 6 smooth-rolling wheels for various terrain. Neoprene under the seat ensures easier cleaning. Foldable with a lightweight high-quality frame for ease of use and durable with a weight capacity supporting individuals up to 250 lbs.
This compressed foam lumbar cushion provides lower back support and relief with a comfortable ergonomic shape that maintains its original thickness, even after multiple uses.
This overbed table brings style and function together with a beautiful faux-woodgrain top, seamless "T" mold edge, and side basket for convenient storage. Adjustable height from 30” – 42” to rest over bed or sofa, faux-wood table tray measures 15” x 28” across. Rolling base measures 15” x 23", with 3" wheels. Able to fit most spaces. Easy to assemble, and can be used as a standing desk for laptop workers, bedside tray for safely and cleanly eating, or TV tray above couch or bed.
This slip-resistant bath mat has a textured, geometric pattern & 300-plus suction cups to keep the mat firmly attached to the tub for added stability, confidence & safety in the bathtub, shower or bathroom. The mat features Microban, a multi-layer antimicrobial protection that prevents the growth of stains and odors caused by bacteria. For anti-mold and mildew resistance to keep your bath mat cleaner between cleanings. Comfortable for daily use in the shower, tub, or bathroom with gentle, massaging texture and exfoliating foot scrubbers that provide a soothing experience on your skin.