Welcome Back to the City That Never Sleeps

Vision Expo East 2023 (March 16-19) is gearing up to be The Vision Council and Rx’s biggest event yet, with a new, all-inclusive show floor located all on one level.

With more than 320 exhibiting companies flaunting the latest in eyewear fashion and eyecare innovation, the new layout contains all of Vision Expo’s curated neighborhoods on level three of the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

In the 'Hood.

Vision Expo’s neighborhoods continue to be a defining factor for the show. The Park remains where the industry’s iconic brands showcase new styles and offerings, and The Springs highlights fresh talents in eyewear design and innovation.

Dedicated to artisanal eyewear, The Atelier hosts a limited selection of highly regarded independent designers, while The Union—appointed epicenter of design—showcases new collection launches, pop culture-inspired collaborations, and groundbreaking trends from more than 80 designers. The Focus centers on contact lens innovations, lens coating and processing technologies, disease-management solutions, and eyecare practice optimization.

Finally, The Panorama—new to the Vision Expo neighborhoods—is the hub spotlighting cutting-edge business solutions, medical advances, software, and wearables that are paving the path for the future of the industry.

Beyond the neighborhoods, a robust schedule of presentations, networking opportunities, education offerings, and entertainment awaits, set to inform, inspire, and invigorate every kind of industry professional.

Here, our team has curated a seven-page guide to the key education and events offerings being served up at Vision Expo East. Wishing you a highly productive and entertaining event! —The EB Team

Presentations + Parties

Vision Expo East will serve up a defining lineup of inspiring events and presentations. Here, a curated list of some of the key offerings on tap.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

10-10:30 a.m.

EYE2EYE Series: Eyecare Business Trends Presentation

EB editor-in-chief and editorial director Erinn Morgan will lead an interactive fashion presentation to highlight the must-know eyewear trends for the Spring/Summer 2023 season, along with real-world fitting advice from @OpticianAboutTown Sheena Taff and trend directions with EB managing editor Kerri Ann Raimo. Look forward to a fashion show with live DJ accompaniment to kick off Vision Expo.

Location: The Bridge

 

Education Highlights

Vision Expo East’s education offerings cover the latest key intel—from technology to techniques and customer service to business management— providing you opportunities to enhance your value to both your patients and practice.

For optometrists, clinical courses cover an expansive range of topics like contact lenses, glaucoma, presbyopia, and more. For courses developed with opticians, frame buyers, office managers, and other industry professionals in mind, look for the OptiCon Eye on the show's official schedule of education offerings available at east.visionexpo.com .

Here, we highlight a selection of Vision Expo’s standout education­—from the clinical, to the optical, and the whole business itself.

With sessions related to the five key areas of leadership, customer experience, human resources, data, and profitability + growth, the Business Practice and Expertise series is designed to offer ideas and solutions you can bring home and implement right away with courses like “Strategies for Dealing with Unhappy Patients” (21B1), “Telehealth Is Here to Stay—Really” (24B1), “How to Hire From Within Your Practice” (33B2), “The 14 Service Behaviors Every Practice Needs” (35B1), and “Breaking Bad Buying Habits” (43B1).

“Myopia Control” (11C4) is designed to provide the necessary knowledge to conduct a comprehensive pediatric myopia assessment and, through discussing all myopia control treatment options, prescribe the most appropriate treatment plan.

The Contact Lens series explores the evolving area of lens design and fitting techniques with courses such as “My Child Is Not Old Enough for Contact Lenses—Guess Again” (24O2), “Why Contacts?” (36O4), and “Fundamentals of Soft Contact Lens Fitting” (43O1).

Learn the latest in frame materials, lens design, and instrumentation in the Optical Technology series with courses like “The ABCs of Pediatric Vision” (13O1), “Intro to Sports Vision: Children Who Play Sports Need Safety Eye Protection” (21O2), “Frame Styling With Science and Savvy to Minimize Thickness and Maximize Patient Delight” (21O4), “Myopia Matters” (23O1), and “Understanding Glaucoma: Making the Pieces of the Puzzle Fit” (41O3).

Hands-On Workshops, limited to 25 participants, provide instructor-led practice while covering topics such as “What Are All These Adjustment Tools?” (25O3) and “Basic Frame Repair” (45O1).

FREE FOR ALL

Complimentary education for Vision Expo East attendees.

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Global Contact Lens Forum

Bring your contact lens practice to the next level—free of charge—with this series of presentations including “Elevate Your Contact Lens Practice” (10L1), “Seeing Red: Practical Problem-Solving of CL Red Eye” (10L2), and “Marketing for Specialty Contact Lenses” (10L3).

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, MARCH 17 + 18

8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Vision Series

New this year, attendees can take a break from the exhibit hall and classroom environment and learn over breakfast or lunch. (Not for credit.)

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Career Zone

The Career Zone connects corporate optical retailers and associations with potential hires in a laid-back environment. Participating companies include Elevate Eyecare, EssilorLuxottica, MyEyeDr., National Vision, Shopko Optical, Vision Source, Vision To Learn, VSP Premier, Walmart, and Warby Parker.

The Career Zone will host two panel presentations: “Where Should I Start My Eye Care Career?” at 11:15 a.m. followed by “Life-Work Balance in the Eyecare Industry” at 2:30 p.m.

Location: Attendee Lounge • Booth F3162 

New York City Show Guide
An Insider’s Guide to Après

By Jessica Colley Clarke

Is New York City more delicious than ever, or does it just seem that way after a few pandemic years? The trend of the moment in restaurants, cocktail bars, and even theater productions is pushing boundaries—the goal is to surprise, delight, entertain, and even comfort at every turn. We’ve rounded up recommendations for where to eat, drink, and seek out a dose of culture in NYC, with a focus on what’s new, glamorous, and always satiating.

Hungry in New York

For many New Yorkers, restaurants are their living rooms, and these gathering spaces are back to full bustle after a challenging couple of years. When hunger strikes after a day at the Javits Center, check out one of the many dining options in the surrounding neighborhood, including Ci Siamo ($$, 440 W. 33rd St.), a cozy, Italian-inspired restaurant from the legendary Danny Meyer. The menu is all comfort, with focaccia baked in cast iron, steaming bowls of handmade pasta, and wood-fired dishes like roasted whole trout.

The shining star of nearby Hudson Yards is still Mercado Little Spain ($-$$$, 10 Hudson Yards), a food hall from Chef José Andrés that celebrates the many flavors of Spain with options for every budget. This is an excellent place to graze over a glass of wine and some jamón ibérico.

Craving seafood with a twist? The new, casual Le Sia ($, 651 Ninth Ave.) in nearby Hell’s Kitchen is a Chinese restaurant serving a unique Cajun-style-meets-the-wok seafood boil, spicy seafood dishes, grilled skewers with a variety of meats, and appetizers that are spot-on for happy hour.

Ready to indulge in one of the city’s hottest tables? Make a reservation at Le Pavillon ($$$, One Vanderbilt Ave.), a French restaurant from Chef Daniel Boulud in a dramatic setting, perched high above midtown at the top of a new skyscraper. The views are a draw, but the food—with plenty of options for vegetarians—is a showstopper, as well.

For a quick bite, squeeze into the narrow All’Antico Vinaio ($-$$, 729 Eighth Ave.), a renowned sandwich shop from Florence that recently set up shop in Midtown. It’s almost impossible to go wrong here, but the porchetta is especially sublime.

In nearby Chelsea, slide into a leather banquette at Worthwild ($$, 156 Ninth Ave.) for upscale American classics from a cheeseburger with sweet onions to a roast chicken with shiitake mushrooms and beer jus.

When nothing but a steak and martini will do, grab a seat at the bar of Steak Frites ($$-$$$, 496 Ninth Ave.) in Hell’s Kitchen. This neighborhood French bistro has just the right amount of vintage appeal; don’t miss a side of the thin, crispy fries.

Thirsty in New York

Bars in New York are leaning toward glamour in 2023, with luxurious cocktail bars popping up across the city. Near the Javits Center, raise a glass at Chez Zou ($$, 385 Ninth Ave.), a dimly lit space to kick back in a velvet chair over a creative cocktail. If the weather is nice, it also has a large outdoor terrace.

For something more casual, sip local beers at the Bronx Brewery outpost in Hudson Yards ($-$$, 20 Hudson Yards). Look out for small-batch or limited-edition brews that you won’t find elsewhere, made right in the Hudson Yards location. Food here is fresh and hearty.

Some cocktail bars stand the test of time and become neighborhood staples; walking distance from the Javits Center, that bar is Porchlight ($$, 271 11th Ave.), a Southern-influenced cocktail bar with excellent bar snacks—be sure to try the fried oysters and smoked cheddar biscuits.

Beyond the area around Javits, Manhattan is full of bars worth hopping a cab to reach. At Dante West Village ($$, 551 Hudson St.), a larger outpost of the Greenwich Village original, begin with an aperitivo-style cocktail and an appetizer or two, such as a charcuterie board or spicy calamari tossed in Japanese pepper.

Another downtown neighborhood destination is Milady’s ($-$$, 160 Prince St.), a storied SoHo dive bar that closed but has been revived by one of New York’s top cocktail minds—Julie Reiner. The no-frills vibe remains, but now you can choose between a craft cocktail or a beer. Snacks also run the high-low range, from oysters to potato skins.

Another revival can be found at the Hotel Chelsea, once the home of some of the world’s most iconic artists. The renovated Lobby Bar ($$, 226 W. 23rd St.) is a plush, old-world-influenced place for cocktails and small plates.

On the east side, explore a three-story historic carriage house in Gramercy with a cocktail at Martiny’s ($$, 121 E. 17th St.). Opened by a veteran of the beloved (and now shuttered) Angel’s Share, Martiny’s is a Japanese cocktail bar offering a range of classic cocktails plus a selection of Japanese whiskies. If you’re looking for an intimate drink rather than a crowded bar, this is the place to be.

Seeking Culture in New York

Broadway is back, and many of the season’s top theater productions star celebrity actors returning to the stage. Be sure to purchase tickets in advance if you’d like to see a particular show or download the TodayTix app to see what productions are available last minute (and at a discounted ticket price), including shows like “Funny Girl,” ($$, 245 W. 52nd St.) a musical comedy starring Lea Michele of “Glee” fame; “Sweeney Todd” ($$, 205 W. 46th St.) a Stephen Sondheim musical starring Grammy Award-winning singer Josh Groban; or for theatergoers who prefer drama over musicals, “A Doll’s House” ($$, 141 W. 44th St.), starring Jessica Chastain in a reinvention of the classic Ibsen play dating to the 1870s.

Other avenues for culture include the recently renovated David Geffen Hall ($$, 10 Lincoln Center Pl.) a concert hall at Lincoln Center that is home to the New York Philharmonic, or the Village Vanguard ($$, 178 Seventh Ave. S.), a cozy downtown jazz institution dating back to 1966.

One of the most surprising newcomers in New York is called Little Island (free, Pier 55 in Hudson River Park at W. 13th St.), a striking new park rising from the Hudson River. City and river views, elaborate plantings, and an amphitheater ideally located for sunset are all draws here, alongside occasional concerts, dance performances, and children’s programs. Check out the schedule at littleisland.org. An audio tour by the island’s landscape architect is available.

Art lovers may want to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art ($, 1000 Fifth Ave.) to experience an exhibition called “A New Look at Old Masters—The Collection of European Paintings.”