I stopped by Mary Ann's in search of mole and i found it. Mole in spanish means ssuce, but in emerican culture, mole can mean the (warm) spicy chocolate sauce that is poured over chicken. The name of the dish at Mary Ann's is chicken poblano ($ 12.95)and it is served with 2 tortillas which i filled with the chicken and then poured the sauce over them. This is what i ordered from my waiter Ariel.
I told the bartender: "I'm on the hunt for the inventor of the mole."
Wisegeek.com credits the mole to a sister Andrea of the Santa Rosa convent as a thank you to archbishop for convent at Puebla de Los Angeles (Mexico) and dates its invention at around the late 17 th century. Is this true?
I read that the region of Oaxaca specialiazes in (7 different kinds of) mole.
One version of mole called for tomatillos, chillis, mexican chocolate, cinnamon, while another ommited the cinnamon.
I am not sure what Mary Ann's calls for, but when i asked the bartender, he joked "I think it is a secret recipe."
Anyway, I am taken with the chocolate-chicken-tortilla combination.
I started with a (large) lime margarita (Happy hour 2 for 1) and tortilla chips with salsa (the starter you don't have to order - we like that.
I ended with flan; nice and light. Ariel seemed like he really wanted me to try the flan. "There's only one dessert:flan."
I asked the bartender when Mary Ann's opened. He said sometime in the 80's.
The menu includes many other dishes like: burritos, tacos, daily specials, specialty drinks.
Mary Ann's
east village : 86 2 nd avenue
In chelsea: 116 8 th avenue
In Tribeca: 107 west broadway
ended with flan.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Ruben's - I have now tried their mini-empanadas
Thanks to some nice counterguys over at Ruben's empanadas in the east village, i ate 3 mini-empanadas last night around 7 pm which kept me going until i got fringe pizza at midnight.
Juicy Lucy - I have now tried acai
Juicy Lucy on ave. A in east village gave me a sip of one of their smoothies. (about 3 weeks ago).
I am pleased to report that i have now finally tried acai and can now count myself as one of the self-actualized. Acai, I am told, is some kind of anti-oxidant berry. I heard it makes you randy.
Anyway, i have noticed that no 2 people pronounce acai the same way.
thanks, juicy lucy.
I am pleased to report that i have now finally tried acai and can now count myself as one of the self-actualized. Acai, I am told, is some kind of anti-oxidant berry. I heard it makes you randy.
Anyway, i have noticed that no 2 people pronounce acai the same way.
thanks, juicy lucy.
They don't need to Bully me (at Bully's) - Deli-cious
You won't have to bully me into the chicken pesto sandwich on a baguette, the ceasar salad or into the blended ice coffee with dulce de leche because all were fresh and for deli food, this is sometimes a challenge.
Louie, part owner of Bully's on Broadway, was friendly, yet a little questionning about how my one story for one meal worked. "Speak to Junior," he told me. I explained how it worked to Junior who then reported back to Louie who then gave Junior the go ahead.
I had come in wanting only to try a muffin and a blended ice coffee and left with a berry muffin, an ice coffee with dulce de leche, ceasar salad (7.30$), and a chicken pesto on a baguette (7.95$). All were scrumptious.
The homemade (large) croutons and cherry tomatoes might explain why the ceasar was so good. The fresh baguette, pesto mayo, tomatoes and arugula combo explain why the chicken sandwich was so good.
The Frappuccino may have some competition with the Bully blended ice coffee.
What made it all the more yummy was the fact that i was eating a first meal of the day before 9 pm. I generally have not been eating by noon.
Bully's has an extensive menu including: entrees, soups, paninis, bagels,wraps, burgers, salads, pasta, veggie section.
Free delivery and they cater.
759 Broadway at w. 8th st.
212-254-9755
fax: 212-979-9118
Louie, part owner of Bully's on Broadway, was friendly, yet a little questionning about how my one story for one meal worked. "Speak to Junior," he told me. I explained how it worked to Junior who then reported back to Louie who then gave Junior the go ahead.
I had come in wanting only to try a muffin and a blended ice coffee and left with a berry muffin, an ice coffee with dulce de leche, ceasar salad (7.30$), and a chicken pesto on a baguette (7.95$). All were scrumptious.
The homemade (large) croutons and cherry tomatoes might explain why the ceasar was so good. The fresh baguette, pesto mayo, tomatoes and arugula combo explain why the chicken sandwich was so good.
The Frappuccino may have some competition with the Bully blended ice coffee.
What made it all the more yummy was the fact that i was eating a first meal of the day before 9 pm. I generally have not been eating by noon.
Bully's has an extensive menu including: entrees, soups, paninis, bagels,wraps, burgers, salads, pasta, veggie section.
Free delivery and they cater.
759 Broadway at w. 8th st.
212-254-9755
fax: 212-979-9118
Pinche Taqueria - She got grill
Authentic Mexican Rancho Grill -
Normally, i often ask many questions about the produce of an eatery. Is it organic? Do you use fairly traded Ingredients? With Pinche Taqueria, I didn't really have to as the menu explains that they use only fresh, organic produce; line caught mahi-mahi; make their salsas and sauces by hand and do not use microwaves; everything is fresh. There is a certain awareness on the part of the Taqueria that the owners feel a need to share with their customers.
The first Pinche taqueria was started in Tijuana in 1973 and the ones located on Mott st. and lafayette are modelled according to the ones in Mexico.
Eric, who was working behind the counter when i went in, was really open to my feed me NY. "I'll make you something."
"What are you making me?" i asked.
"one fish taco, one carnitas (taco with braised pork), chips, rice and beans."
"Do i get something to drink?"
"Ya, a horchata," Eric said.
A horchata (2.75 $)is a cold drink made with organic rice milk, cinnamon and sugar. I was happy. I had never had one before. Refreshing and succulent, yet not too sweet.
Tacos come with cilantro, guacamole, onions on soft corn tortillas. (2.95 - 3.95 $)
Rice (2.50 $)
Beans (2.50 $)
"What do you do outside of the taqueria?" I asked.
"Play rock and roll, drums out of Brooklyn," he said.
His band is called the balishag Vipers. They are on myspace.
Pinche also serves breakfast plates, breakfast burritos, cerveza (beer), salads, yucca fries, combos, nachos, quesadillas, ...
To my dismay, there were no desserts the day i was there, except for little candies (which were really good.)
Cute shack. Good food.
Pinche Taqueria
227 Mott st.
Between Prince and Spring
212-625-0090
333 Lafayette
Between Houston and Bleeker
Normally, i often ask many questions about the produce of an eatery. Is it organic? Do you use fairly traded Ingredients? With Pinche Taqueria, I didn't really have to as the menu explains that they use only fresh, organic produce; line caught mahi-mahi; make their salsas and sauces by hand and do not use microwaves; everything is fresh. There is a certain awareness on the part of the Taqueria that the owners feel a need to share with their customers.
The first Pinche taqueria was started in Tijuana in 1973 and the ones located on Mott st. and lafayette are modelled according to the ones in Mexico.
Eric, who was working behind the counter when i went in, was really open to my feed me NY. "I'll make you something."
"What are you making me?" i asked.
"one fish taco, one carnitas (taco with braised pork), chips, rice and beans."
"Do i get something to drink?"
"Ya, a horchata," Eric said.
A horchata (2.75 $)is a cold drink made with organic rice milk, cinnamon and sugar. I was happy. I had never had one before. Refreshing and succulent, yet not too sweet.
Tacos come with cilantro, guacamole, onions on soft corn tortillas. (2.95 - 3.95 $)
Rice (2.50 $)
Beans (2.50 $)
"What do you do outside of the taqueria?" I asked.
"Play rock and roll, drums out of Brooklyn," he said.
His band is called the balishag Vipers. They are on myspace.
Pinche also serves breakfast plates, breakfast burritos, cerveza (beer), salads, yucca fries, combos, nachos, quesadillas, ...
To my dismay, there were no desserts the day i was there, except for little candies (which were really good.)
Cute shack. Good food.
Pinche Taqueria
227 Mott st.
Between Prince and Spring
212-625-0090
333 Lafayette
Between Houston and Bleeker
Friday, August 28, 2009
Jen and Angie at the Actor's Playhouse
Laura Buchholz and Christina Casa take it up a notch (or two) with their parody of the Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt love triangle.
Casa is hysterical as a very self-actualized Angie and Buchholz is a scream as a 'walking in the shadow of' Jen.
I laughed all the way through this show. The writing was smart and their parody was spot on. Angie, especially, was a knee slapper.
There are many funny lines (Angie: "I'll entertain myself by reading the map of Uganda") and the opening slide show sets the tone for the show.
Entertaining!
Casa is hysterical as a very self-actualized Angie and Buchholz is a scream as a 'walking in the shadow of' Jen.
I laughed all the way through this show. The writing was smart and their parody was spot on. Angie, especially, was a knee slapper.
There are many funny lines (Angie: "I'll entertain myself by reading the map of Uganda") and the opening slide show sets the tone for the show.
Entertaining!
Caracas - Venezuelan Homemade Arepas - Somewhere around day 21
It was love at first site -
Somewhere around day 21, i ate at Caracas. It didn't take me too long to fall in love with the places (they own 2 small spaces which sit nearly side by side one another). Milvia is the manager and upon returning a second time, she invited me to sit down. I sat at the bar and was greeted by Alejandro, who didn't waste any time and poured me a drink right away. "natural juice," he said. "Passion fruit". Then he poured another,"tamarind with (it sounded like pinata). I looked inquisitve. "pineapple," he clarified. On the menu, under beverages, they were listed as jugos naturales (3.75 $)
"Are you Venezuelan?" I asked. "No, I'm from Colombia." I told Alejandro that i looked up Arepa and the internet explained it as corn based bread. "it is corn flour, salt oil, like a dough," he said. The Caracas website explains it well and neither of us were far off in our definition. Dense, yet spongy corn flour rounds which can be either crispy or soft. They can be stuffed and are at the center of every meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner,snack) in Venezuela. They are a little thicker than a taco. They have a golden, yellowish color.
However, some of this can vary depending on the region.
Alejandro suggested the De Pabellon (7.25 $), which he said was the Venezuelan national dish stuffed in an arepa. I ordered it. It consisted of shredded beef, black beans, white salty cheese ( which later Milvia explained was Age(Ano), a Venezuelan cheese) and sweet plantains. Amazing! Mine was crispy. Really enjoyed my arepa! Thank you. There are about 14 kinds of arepas to choose from. They are only slighly larger than a taco, so you might want to order 2.
As a starter (which they call a sidekick) I had the Quasacaca & chips (Venezuelan style guacamole and chips - 6.25 $.) I, not knowing the difference between Mexican and Venezuelan had to ask Alejandro. Spicer was his answer but upon one look at them the difference was apparent. It is the chips. The chips (all homemade) consisted of green plantains and another kind which Milvia explained to me were tarot chips. Very nice.
I'm a gusher. I can't not gush at great food. It's such a treat to eat!
For dessert, i had the marquesa de chocolate (5.25 $): thick chocolate mousse with maria cookies in between. Alejandro called them margarita cookies; a type of Venezuelan cookie. Rich and amazing! Can't get enough!
To finish, Alejandro served me a coffee with steamed milk.
---
Milvia came to talk with me. "I am from Caracas. I moved here 4 and 1 / 2 years ago."
"Why did you move here?" I asked.
"I am a dancer."
"Do you have anything coming up?"
"A showcase on September 20 at the Greenspace. It is 14 minutes, in Queens...I've been working here since i moved here. I didn't speak any English. I learned to speak English in the restaurant."
"The chef is Ilse Parra Venez. Juan is no. 2. He's been working in the kitchen since the moment it opened. He's like a godfather. Maribel and Gato are the owners. They are a couple," Milvia said.
Lunch special weekdays noon-4: any arepa plus salad or soup for 7.95 $
Caracas
east 7 th st. at 1 st avenue
east village, NY
291 Grand st.
Brooklyn
Somewhere around day 21, i ate at Caracas. It didn't take me too long to fall in love with the places (they own 2 small spaces which sit nearly side by side one another). Milvia is the manager and upon returning a second time, she invited me to sit down. I sat at the bar and was greeted by Alejandro, who didn't waste any time and poured me a drink right away. "natural juice," he said. "Passion fruit". Then he poured another,"tamarind with (it sounded like pinata). I looked inquisitve. "pineapple," he clarified. On the menu, under beverages, they were listed as jugos naturales (3.75 $)
"Are you Venezuelan?" I asked. "No, I'm from Colombia." I told Alejandro that i looked up Arepa and the internet explained it as corn based bread. "it is corn flour, salt oil, like a dough," he said. The Caracas website explains it well and neither of us were far off in our definition. Dense, yet spongy corn flour rounds which can be either crispy or soft. They can be stuffed and are at the center of every meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner,snack) in Venezuela. They are a little thicker than a taco. They have a golden, yellowish color.
However, some of this can vary depending on the region.
Alejandro suggested the De Pabellon (7.25 $), which he said was the Venezuelan national dish stuffed in an arepa. I ordered it. It consisted of shredded beef, black beans, white salty cheese ( which later Milvia explained was Age(Ano), a Venezuelan cheese) and sweet plantains. Amazing! Mine was crispy. Really enjoyed my arepa! Thank you. There are about 14 kinds of arepas to choose from. They are only slighly larger than a taco, so you might want to order 2.
As a starter (which they call a sidekick) I had the Quasacaca & chips (Venezuelan style guacamole and chips - 6.25 $.) I, not knowing the difference between Mexican and Venezuelan had to ask Alejandro. Spicer was his answer but upon one look at them the difference was apparent. It is the chips. The chips (all homemade) consisted of green plantains and another kind which Milvia explained to me were tarot chips. Very nice.
I'm a gusher. I can't not gush at great food. It's such a treat to eat!
For dessert, i had the marquesa de chocolate (5.25 $): thick chocolate mousse with maria cookies in between. Alejandro called them margarita cookies; a type of Venezuelan cookie. Rich and amazing! Can't get enough!
To finish, Alejandro served me a coffee with steamed milk.
---
Milvia came to talk with me. "I am from Caracas. I moved here 4 and 1 / 2 years ago."
"Why did you move here?" I asked.
"I am a dancer."
"Do you have anything coming up?"
"A showcase on September 20 at the Greenspace. It is 14 minutes, in Queens...I've been working here since i moved here. I didn't speak any English. I learned to speak English in the restaurant."
"The chef is Ilse Parra Venez. Juan is no. 2. He's been working in the kitchen since the moment it opened. He's like a godfather. Maribel and Gato are the owners. They are a couple," Milvia said.
Lunch special weekdays noon-4: any arepa plus salad or soup for 7.95 $
Caracas
east 7 th st. at 1 st avenue
east village, NY
291 Grand st.
Brooklyn
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Maracas - Mexican bar and grill - Somewhere around day 20
Let the fiesta begin -
And with Maracas, this would not be too difficult. There is no shortage of specials at this casual west village eatery which offers both traditional mexican and nuevo latino dining options.
Get saucy -
Walk by any monday night and you will see a large crowd of people both inside and outside on the patio. Margarita Monday is the big attraction. For 3 bucks, you can start saucing yourself (responsibly, of course) with a regular lime marg; for an extra .50 cents, you can add a flavor: strawberry,raspberry, mango, prickley pear, and passion fruit). If you like your margs sweet (the lime one is the least sweet of them all), these are the ones for you. if you're trying to pick up the guy standing by the bar, a few Maracas margs will definitely loosen you up and at those prices, you can afford to get saucy.
My fiesta began with a frozen lime margarita which i enjoyed. The lime ones are my favorite (with salt around the rim); and they come with little animal toys. Sabina, my waitress, suggested the salad camerones de mendez: a salad with shrimp, jalapenos, cilantro, mayo, avocado,pepper, with pico de gallo and chipotle sauce. Sounds good doesn't it? Next time, i shall have that. I chose nachos mostly because i love them and was in the mood for them. I asked to add a little guacamole on them. Really enjoyed them.
Next was the main course. I ordered the chicken suizas enchiladas (with cheese and tomatillo) accompanied by rice and refried beans. Good.
I asked the women sitting behing me what they liked here and they replied they like weekend brunch because it offers unlimited margaritas. Unlimited, wow! I exclaimed. "That's quite a brunch." "I like the chickenn bacon melt," one of the women said.
The women sitting in front of me seemed to be very friendly with people who worked there. "Laura used to work here," the other woman said. "THe mango and raspberry margaritas are flavorful. I like the prickley pear, " she said. The busser, whose name was Octavio, took a sip from Laura's drink. "here, you want to try," she offered me a drink, "It's a diablo roja."
I looked up diablo roja in the menu: vodka, slo gin, triple sec, amaretto, southern comfort mixed with cranberry juice and o.j.. (little red devil).
Next, Sabina suggested dessert and i accepted. Sopapillas. "Very popular," she said. Crispy fried tortilla strips with cinnamon,sugar, and topped with vanilla ice cream, honey and whipped cream. Great combination!
The menu includes a variety of dishes.
A few day later i went back and spoke with Fabian, the barback, who explained more specials. "there's a happy hour. today it's frozen cosmos.Tuesday, pina coladas. Tuesday night, there's gringo bingo. David is the host."
"Are there prizes?," i asked. "3 prizes. Shots, brunch for 2, huge margarita," he said.
Maracas
on Greenwich st. near 6 th avenue.
And with Maracas, this would not be too difficult. There is no shortage of specials at this casual west village eatery which offers both traditional mexican and nuevo latino dining options.
Get saucy -
Walk by any monday night and you will see a large crowd of people both inside and outside on the patio. Margarita Monday is the big attraction. For 3 bucks, you can start saucing yourself (responsibly, of course) with a regular lime marg; for an extra .50 cents, you can add a flavor: strawberry,raspberry, mango, prickley pear, and passion fruit). If you like your margs sweet (the lime one is the least sweet of them all), these are the ones for you. if you're trying to pick up the guy standing by the bar, a few Maracas margs will definitely loosen you up and at those prices, you can afford to get saucy.
My fiesta began with a frozen lime margarita which i enjoyed. The lime ones are my favorite (with salt around the rim); and they come with little animal toys. Sabina, my waitress, suggested the salad camerones de mendez: a salad with shrimp, jalapenos, cilantro, mayo, avocado,pepper, with pico de gallo and chipotle sauce. Sounds good doesn't it? Next time, i shall have that. I chose nachos mostly because i love them and was in the mood for them. I asked to add a little guacamole on them. Really enjoyed them.
Next was the main course. I ordered the chicken suizas enchiladas (with cheese and tomatillo) accompanied by rice and refried beans. Good.
I asked the women sitting behing me what they liked here and they replied they like weekend brunch because it offers unlimited margaritas. Unlimited, wow! I exclaimed. "That's quite a brunch." "I like the chickenn bacon melt," one of the women said.
The women sitting in front of me seemed to be very friendly with people who worked there. "Laura used to work here," the other woman said. "THe mango and raspberry margaritas are flavorful. I like the prickley pear, " she said. The busser, whose name was Octavio, took a sip from Laura's drink. "here, you want to try," she offered me a drink, "It's a diablo roja."
I looked up diablo roja in the menu: vodka, slo gin, triple sec, amaretto, southern comfort mixed with cranberry juice and o.j.. (little red devil).
Next, Sabina suggested dessert and i accepted. Sopapillas. "Very popular," she said. Crispy fried tortilla strips with cinnamon,sugar, and topped with vanilla ice cream, honey and whipped cream. Great combination!
The menu includes a variety of dishes.
A few day later i went back and spoke with Fabian, the barback, who explained more specials. "there's a happy hour. today it's frozen cosmos.Tuesday, pina coladas. Tuesday night, there's gringo bingo. David is the host."
"Are there prizes?," i asked. "3 prizes. Shots, brunch for 2, huge margarita," he said.
Maracas
on Greenwich st. near 6 th avenue.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sunday Best - at the Dixon theater
Sunday Best is up there as one of the best the 2009 NYC Fringe has to offer -
It's another rave. I loved Sunday Best. Laura Canty-Samuel is fabulous as she brings to life characters from the Mount Carmel church in her ensemble gospel comedy sketch show. She has a sweet charm about her that is a little intoxicating.
Backed up by 3 very talented vocalists: tenor (Xavier Rice), alto (Kimberly Crane) and Soprano (Fuln Azuli Vann), we are transported into a world of uplifting soul feeding anthems and inspirational aphorisms. Lines like "Don't let the enemy win"
(the enemy being life's failures), and funny bits like It's Destiny about 2 women who think the same guy is her destiny make this an easily relatable story ( for me anyway) and one that is most endearing. And I am not a religious person.
In between the songs (there is a live orchestra), Canty-Samuel tells us stories about the people she knows and the grandmother she loved.The music is get-up-and-dance, clap your hands, feel good and the end of the show is very touching.
Canty-Smauel plugged a smoke house in fort greene called The Smoke House (in case you like BBQ) and the box office manager at the dixon said she ate there and it was really good.
,
It's another rave. I loved Sunday Best. Laura Canty-Samuel is fabulous as she brings to life characters from the Mount Carmel church in her ensemble gospel comedy sketch show. She has a sweet charm about her that is a little intoxicating.
Backed up by 3 very talented vocalists: tenor (Xavier Rice), alto (Kimberly Crane) and Soprano (Fuln Azuli Vann), we are transported into a world of uplifting soul feeding anthems and inspirational aphorisms. Lines like "Don't let the enemy win"
(the enemy being life's failures), and funny bits like It's Destiny about 2 women who think the same guy is her destiny make this an easily relatable story ( for me anyway) and one that is most endearing. And I am not a religious person.
In between the songs (there is a live orchestra), Canty-Samuel tells us stories about the people she knows and the grandmother she loved.The music is get-up-and-dance, clap your hands, feel good and the end of the show is very touching.
Canty-Smauel plugged a smoke house in fort greene called The Smoke House (in case you like BBQ) and the box office manager at the dixon said she ate there and it was really good.
,
Frank - A Place to eat
Frank is my new lover. He tastes good. He smells good. He looks good. Dinner's on him and I can see other people.
Frank is not a man, he's a restaurant in the east village where i ate somewhere around day 16.
Mel said it sounded like an interesting idea and he was doing his good deed. The bartender made a joke about how i could try his knucklesandwich. I asked for water and he gave me a San Pellegrino.
The other bartender's name was Ryder and i thought to myself your girlfriend must love that name.
I left my info and went back on a saturday night. As usual, it was very busy. It is a very popular place. My bartender - waiter's name was Christian and after the good deed comment, I thought Mel said, He is a christian. Christian was tall and handsome and very aloof. I don't think I was his type. Aloofness can be a bit of an aphrodisiac, so you use sparingly. If i can land a boyfriend in this town, it is going to be a veritable coup. Looking around Frank, i noticed the entire staff was in fact cute men. This was going to be fun. Mel (Frank) uttered the words that a girl loves to hear: Order whatever you want.
Lettuce feed you a great ceasar -
My decision was quick. One look at the hand made ravioli on the menu and i made my decision. As a starter, i ordered the black kale ceaser salad. I had no clue what kale was but later discovered reading a New York Times article that kale is a type of lettuce (some of which farmed organically by former addicts upstate as part of a project called Renewal project). I loved the ceasar; it's all about the dressing and fresh croutons and lettuce and they know how to do it.
Ravioli with me -
The ravioli's filling and sauce change daily. On my day, it was potato and I have to check this - Pocini? it's a cheese but i think i have the name wrong - made with sage and parmesan. Incredible.
Lucia, the busser, dropped off exquisite bread served with oil and olives. At this point, I'm thinking, this place is magnificent. Loud but magnificent. Get ready for a very talky crowd and some loud (but good) music.
I asked Christian for a glass of chardonnay and he poured me Charmy.
For dessert, i ordered the chocolate cake. It was served warm with fruit and whipped cream. Rich and lovely.
------
I came back another day to ask Mel about Frank and he said Frank was opened by Frank 11 years ago. It's about family. Most of the recipes were passed down from his mother and grandmother and he twesks them. After a while, people know each other; everybody who's everybody comes in here. It's an east village eatery. The photos on the wall are of his family. Some of the furniture in the restauant belonged to his grandmother.
"Are you a tatoo artist?" i asked Mel. He was covered in tattoos from head to toe.
"No." He replied.
"I think you were a tattoo artist in a past life," i said.
"I'm a family man; I'm raising a kid." ...
Everything is market fresh and the specials change daily.
Unfamiliar names like Branzino come up on the menu and I ask Mel what the dish is.
"It's fish with tomato sauce, onions, tomatoes.."
"What dish do you like at Frank»'s?"
"I like the ragu."
"I really liked the ravioli," i comment.
"It's different all the time..sometimes it's with meat or vegetables...today it is with spinach and ricotta... the one with butternut squash is good," Mel said.
Before Frank, there was a candy store. He bought it and opened a bar - Vera's bar -and later extended it and opened the full bar and restaurant that is now Frank's. A few dishes are named after family: rigatoni al ragu - grandma Carmella's tomato and meat gravy. Uncle Tony's Gnocchi.
"We have regulars from day 1 and they know everyone who works here." Mel said.
--
I talk to Christian, my waiter - bartender.
"I live in Brooklyn but i may move to Chinatown, for all the single ladies out there... just joking," he says with a smile.
"What do you outside of Frank's?" i ask.
"I'm a photographer and photo assistant," he says.
"What type of photography?"
"I do mainly portraits." He says.
He says of Frank's, "it's a mixing pot, get all types from wall street to artists."
Frank
88 second avenue, between 5th and 6th street.
212-420-0106
212-420-1232
www.frankrestaurant.com
Open everyday except Christmas.
delivery: 10$ minimum
Frank is not a man, he's a restaurant in the east village where i ate somewhere around day 16.
Mel said it sounded like an interesting idea and he was doing his good deed. The bartender made a joke about how i could try his knucklesandwich. I asked for water and he gave me a San Pellegrino.
The other bartender's name was Ryder and i thought to myself your girlfriend must love that name.
I left my info and went back on a saturday night. As usual, it was very busy. It is a very popular place. My bartender - waiter's name was Christian and after the good deed comment, I thought Mel said, He is a christian. Christian was tall and handsome and very aloof. I don't think I was his type. Aloofness can be a bit of an aphrodisiac, so you use sparingly. If i can land a boyfriend in this town, it is going to be a veritable coup. Looking around Frank, i noticed the entire staff was in fact cute men. This was going to be fun. Mel (Frank) uttered the words that a girl loves to hear: Order whatever you want.
Lettuce feed you a great ceasar -
My decision was quick. One look at the hand made ravioli on the menu and i made my decision. As a starter, i ordered the black kale ceaser salad. I had no clue what kale was but later discovered reading a New York Times article that kale is a type of lettuce (some of which farmed organically by former addicts upstate as part of a project called Renewal project). I loved the ceasar; it's all about the dressing and fresh croutons and lettuce and they know how to do it.
Ravioli with me -
The ravioli's filling and sauce change daily. On my day, it was potato and I have to check this - Pocini? it's a cheese but i think i have the name wrong - made with sage and parmesan. Incredible.
Lucia, the busser, dropped off exquisite bread served with oil and olives. At this point, I'm thinking, this place is magnificent. Loud but magnificent. Get ready for a very talky crowd and some loud (but good) music.
I asked Christian for a glass of chardonnay and he poured me Charmy.
For dessert, i ordered the chocolate cake. It was served warm with fruit and whipped cream. Rich and lovely.
------
I came back another day to ask Mel about Frank and he said Frank was opened by Frank 11 years ago. It's about family. Most of the recipes were passed down from his mother and grandmother and he twesks them. After a while, people know each other; everybody who's everybody comes in here. It's an east village eatery. The photos on the wall are of his family. Some of the furniture in the restauant belonged to his grandmother.
"Are you a tatoo artist?" i asked Mel. He was covered in tattoos from head to toe.
"No." He replied.
"I think you were a tattoo artist in a past life," i said.
"I'm a family man; I'm raising a kid." ...
Everything is market fresh and the specials change daily.
Unfamiliar names like Branzino come up on the menu and I ask Mel what the dish is.
"It's fish with tomato sauce, onions, tomatoes.."
"What dish do you like at Frank»'s?"
"I like the ragu."
"I really liked the ravioli," i comment.
"It's different all the time..sometimes it's with meat or vegetables...today it is with spinach and ricotta... the one with butternut squash is good," Mel said.
Before Frank, there was a candy store. He bought it and opened a bar - Vera's bar -and later extended it and opened the full bar and restaurant that is now Frank's. A few dishes are named after family: rigatoni al ragu - grandma Carmella's tomato and meat gravy. Uncle Tony's Gnocchi.
"We have regulars from day 1 and they know everyone who works here." Mel said.
--
I talk to Christian, my waiter - bartender.
"I live in Brooklyn but i may move to Chinatown, for all the single ladies out there... just joking," he says with a smile.
"What do you outside of Frank's?" i ask.
"I'm a photographer and photo assistant," he says.
"What type of photography?"
"I do mainly portraits." He says.
He says of Frank's, "it's a mixing pot, get all types from wall street to artists."
Frank
88 second avenue, between 5th and 6th street.
212-420-0106
212-420-1232
www.frankrestaurant.com
Open everyday except Christmas.
delivery: 10$ minimum
Soho Park cafe - D. Chop -ra (somewhere around day 14)
Manager Joy of Soho Park cafe got very philosophical with me. "There is another path," he began saying about my project. "You should be able to find another way as a writer than what you are doing." Just when i thought he was mad at me for my business proposition-project (feed me ny), he said "it upsets me".
"Do you know Deepak Chopra?" i asked. it was all sounding a little spiritual inspirational. "I know him" and he went on. It's not about the money he said. He could feed me; it was about finding another path. "You want a burger?" "We're the best burger in Soho."
"i finished my masters, public policy. A writers' life should be more fulfilling than this," he said. "I know Fareed Zakaria well." He went to order my burger.
He went on. "a writer's life should not be about looking for food." I had to interrupt to ask "Did you give me fries?" "Yes," he replied. Good thinking. It would upset me if he didn't.
He gave me my take out bag and asked me to come back so as to continue our conversation. I said i would.
Not only did i get french fries; i got a soda and i didn't even have to ask. I love that.
A good solid burger (on the smaller side) with lots on it.
Did not inquire whether grass fed hormone free beef.
Soho Park cafe
Prince st. at Lafayette
Soho,NY
Also on the menu: sandwiches, salads, shakes, desserts.
"Do you know Deepak Chopra?" i asked. it was all sounding a little spiritual inspirational. "I know him" and he went on. It's not about the money he said. He could feed me; it was about finding another path. "You want a burger?" "We're the best burger in Soho."
"i finished my masters, public policy. A writers' life should be more fulfilling than this," he said. "I know Fareed Zakaria well." He went to order my burger.
He went on. "a writer's life should not be about looking for food." I had to interrupt to ask "Did you give me fries?" "Yes," he replied. Good thinking. It would upset me if he didn't.
He gave me my take out bag and asked me to come back so as to continue our conversation. I said i would.
Not only did i get french fries; i got a soda and i didn't even have to ask. I love that.
A good solid burger (on the smaller side) with lots on it.
Did not inquire whether grass fed hormone free beef.
Soho Park cafe
Prince st. at Lafayette
Soho,NY
Also on the menu: sandwiches, salads, shakes, desserts.
Somewhere around day 12,, cafe Yaffa fed me
Cafe Yaffa. Most food writers would probably describe yaffa as a hip,ecclectic very east village kind of space. It has a real artsy (kind of bohemian) feel to it from the busy decor (leopard skin tables, kitschy wall hangings) to the lights in the garden. The hostess directed me to Nisha, the manager who was pouring sangria into glasses. "Take a seat", she said warmly after she heard my story.
I sat out in back on the patio. Augustina, my waitress had to come back a few times because i was taking so long to make up my mind. I waa really tired and hungry.By that point, it was about 10 pm and i had approached several restaurants who either told me to come back another time or who were not interested. So, sitting down felt like a bit of a gift.
I finally made of my mind. It was crazy hot that day so the chilled cucumber soup made sense. Cold soups are perfect for anything above 90 degrees. There was lots of it. I am not even a fan of cucumber - it is my least favorite vegetable - but i liked this soup. The yogurt gave it a creaminess.
Next was a green salad with carrot dressing (which came with the main course). Good size portion and excellent carrot dressing. I think the lettuce was ice berg which i thought was funny. Maybe it was a boho snub of arugula.
For the entree, i ordered the swordfish with mango salsa and quinoa. Again, my food blog could be called a beginner's guide for the uneducated foodie because I have eaten neither swordfish , nor quinoa.
I loved the fish. The texture was thick, like a meat. The quinoa is like a round rice with a slighly more pungent taste to it. I liked the quinoa too.
With that I had a glass of chardonnay.
For dessert (yes, there's more), i had the (chocolate)mud cake with whipped cream. Like mud pie but with texture of a cake. You can't go wrong with chocolate unless you've got some kind of political squabble. One of best chocolate cakes i've eaten.
I asked for coffee and Augustina brought me an americano.
One of many satisfying dinners i've eaten. I was on cloud 9.
When done, i asked Augustina a few questions. "I started as a bostess," she said. "I love working ere. It is multicultural. You hear a lot of languages. I live a few blocks away."
She told me she was from Buenos Aires, Argentina and she held a Masters in global fashion management. "Back in BA, i had my own company, i was a designer," she said. Now, she wants to combine accounting and fashion and reopen her company.
I went inside to find Nisha and found the hostess giving a back massage to a co-worker. "on the job perk?," i joked. I asked the bartender which chardonnay he poured me: "Hanging Vine," he said showing me the bottle. "From California," i asked. "Napa Valley," he answered.
I sat with Nisha. "Did you start as a manager?" i asked. "I worked my way up from cashier to manager," she said.
"Is anything on your menu organic?" i asked. "Not too much, the soba noodles. The yogurt..."
I commented on the swordfish. "We get our fish from Chinatown."
Nisha told me she moved to New York from San Francisco to finish an acting degree.
"A lot of artists come in here. The writer ...Musto from the village voice comes in."
Are you going to be performing sonn?
"In January, at the Crown, I am a Woman: monologues by 15 different women," she said.
I asked her to email me about it.
Yaffa cafe also serves breakfast and brunch on weekends.
Yaffa cafe
east village
I sat out in back on the patio. Augustina, my waitress had to come back a few times because i was taking so long to make up my mind. I waa really tired and hungry.By that point, it was about 10 pm and i had approached several restaurants who either told me to come back another time or who were not interested. So, sitting down felt like a bit of a gift.
I finally made of my mind. It was crazy hot that day so the chilled cucumber soup made sense. Cold soups are perfect for anything above 90 degrees. There was lots of it. I am not even a fan of cucumber - it is my least favorite vegetable - but i liked this soup. The yogurt gave it a creaminess.
Next was a green salad with carrot dressing (which came with the main course). Good size portion and excellent carrot dressing. I think the lettuce was ice berg which i thought was funny. Maybe it was a boho snub of arugula.
For the entree, i ordered the swordfish with mango salsa and quinoa. Again, my food blog could be called a beginner's guide for the uneducated foodie because I have eaten neither swordfish , nor quinoa.
I loved the fish. The texture was thick, like a meat. The quinoa is like a round rice with a slighly more pungent taste to it. I liked the quinoa too.
With that I had a glass of chardonnay.
For dessert (yes, there's more), i had the (chocolate)mud cake with whipped cream. Like mud pie but with texture of a cake. You can't go wrong with chocolate unless you've got some kind of political squabble. One of best chocolate cakes i've eaten.
I asked for coffee and Augustina brought me an americano.
One of many satisfying dinners i've eaten. I was on cloud 9.
When done, i asked Augustina a few questions. "I started as a bostess," she said. "I love working ere. It is multicultural. You hear a lot of languages. I live a few blocks away."
She told me she was from Buenos Aires, Argentina and she held a Masters in global fashion management. "Back in BA, i had my own company, i was a designer," she said. Now, she wants to combine accounting and fashion and reopen her company.
I went inside to find Nisha and found the hostess giving a back massage to a co-worker. "on the job perk?," i joked. I asked the bartender which chardonnay he poured me: "Hanging Vine," he said showing me the bottle. "From California," i asked. "Napa Valley," he answered.
I sat with Nisha. "Did you start as a manager?" i asked. "I worked my way up from cashier to manager," she said.
"Is anything on your menu organic?" i asked. "Not too much, the soba noodles. The yogurt..."
I commented on the swordfish. "We get our fish from Chinatown."
Nisha told me she moved to New York from San Francisco to finish an acting degree.
"A lot of artists come in here. The writer ...Musto from the village voice comes in."
Are you going to be performing sonn?
"In January, at the Crown, I am a Woman: monologues by 15 different women," she said.
I asked her to email me about it.
Yaffa cafe also serves breakfast and brunch on weekends.
Yaffa cafe
east village
Day 27 (or somewhere around there)
Yesterday, Bully's deli fed me. (story soon). Arturo's was somewhere around day 10, but not sure. i got my scone that i was hoping would simply land my way. i bumped into a shopping cart on the sidewalk last night, "there a donation, take some", the nce guy said (who mentionned god, but that's okay, i got fruit and chocolate chip socnes. "I'm not very religious" was my reply. I looked on the package of the panini bread : whole foods.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Arturo's - restaurant and pizzeria
I walked into Arturo's at 106 w. Houston to find Matt and Tommy, 2 Arturo regulars, at the bar. They were visiting from (just outside) Philly to see Steely Dan perform.
"We come here a lot, we love it," Tommy said.
I explained to them my feed me NY project and they loved the idea. They were really getting into it. "You could take it city to city," Matt said with smile on face.
"Cross country across the United States, i love it," i said. Indeed i was thinking of getting hotels involved. Tony, the bartender, overheard my pitch -conversation and asked me to leave my blog info (which i did) and said to come back and talk to Scotty.
I went back the following day and Scotty was receptive and invited me to come back around 6 pm for dinner.
I did and was treated to some great pizza and atmosphere. The live jazz music in Arturo's really makes it a very enjoyable and fun place to eat. There is entertainment nightly and a sign outside the restaurant indicates which musicians will be playing.
Alex, the host who first talked to me about Arturo's, said it was one of the last pizza places that uses a coal oven in New York. It opened in 1957 by Arturo himself and has been passed down to the kids.
I ordered the small (8 slices) Diavolo with sauce 21$ (which was actually quite large; i ate 3 slices the following day for lunch). It has tomatoes, onions, ham and pepperoncini. It was a little hot (as in spicy) and really really good.
Tony asked me how it was and i said delicious and then he poured me a glass of red wine: Primativo. "It is from southern Italy," he said. I quite liked it.
"How long have you been working here,?" I asked. "17 years," Tony replied. Wow, that's loyalty, I thought.
The jazz trio stopped playing to announce the last tune was a Cole Porter track.
The couple sitting next to me asked what pizza I was eating and I told them 'the Diavolo' and told them it was very good. They ordered the same thing and I asked them if it was their first time here. "No, but we usually have the pasta.I recommend the carbonara; and the arugula salad with cheese," said the woman.
For dessert, I ordered the chocolate cheesecake 5.75 $. "Chocolate sauce, whipped cream,the works?" Tony asked. "Yes," I replied a little too excited. I told Tony and my neighbors next to me, it was one of the best chocolate cheesecakes I had ever eaten.
Music wss momentarily replaced by a crowd of waiters singing Happy Birthday to a nearby table.
Tony wrapped up my leftover pizza, I thanked him and off I went. Outside, I saw a sign on their window: Eileen's cheesecake. I no longer was asking myself where this great cheesecake came from.
Another great New York city meal in another great New York city restaurant. Thank you Arturo's!
Arturo's
106 W. Houston
NYC
212-677-3830
212-475-9828
Open at 4 pm.
"We come here a lot, we love it," Tommy said.
I explained to them my feed me NY project and they loved the idea. They were really getting into it. "You could take it city to city," Matt said with smile on face.
"Cross country across the United States, i love it," i said. Indeed i was thinking of getting hotels involved. Tony, the bartender, overheard my pitch -conversation and asked me to leave my blog info (which i did) and said to come back and talk to Scotty.
I went back the following day and Scotty was receptive and invited me to come back around 6 pm for dinner.
I did and was treated to some great pizza and atmosphere. The live jazz music in Arturo's really makes it a very enjoyable and fun place to eat. There is entertainment nightly and a sign outside the restaurant indicates which musicians will be playing.
Alex, the host who first talked to me about Arturo's, said it was one of the last pizza places that uses a coal oven in New York. It opened in 1957 by Arturo himself and has been passed down to the kids.
I ordered the small (8 slices) Diavolo with sauce 21$ (which was actually quite large; i ate 3 slices the following day for lunch). It has tomatoes, onions, ham and pepperoncini. It was a little hot (as in spicy) and really really good.
Tony asked me how it was and i said delicious and then he poured me a glass of red wine: Primativo. "It is from southern Italy," he said. I quite liked it.
"How long have you been working here,?" I asked. "17 years," Tony replied. Wow, that's loyalty, I thought.
The jazz trio stopped playing to announce the last tune was a Cole Porter track.
The couple sitting next to me asked what pizza I was eating and I told them 'the Diavolo' and told them it was very good. They ordered the same thing and I asked them if it was their first time here. "No, but we usually have the pasta.I recommend the carbonara; and the arugula salad with cheese," said the woman.
For dessert, I ordered the chocolate cheesecake 5.75 $. "Chocolate sauce, whipped cream,the works?" Tony asked. "Yes," I replied a little too excited. I told Tony and my neighbors next to me, it was one of the best chocolate cheesecakes I had ever eaten.
Music wss momentarily replaced by a crowd of waiters singing Happy Birthday to a nearby table.
Tony wrapped up my leftover pizza, I thanked him and off I went. Outside, I saw a sign on their window: Eileen's cheesecake. I no longer was asking myself where this great cheesecake came from.
Another great New York city meal in another great New York city restaurant. Thank you Arturo's!
Arturo's
106 W. Houston
NYC
212-677-3830
212-475-9828
Open at 4 pm.
World March for Peace - Bowery poetry club
I walked past the Bowery Poetry club last night and noticed a group of people standing outside. A flyer was stuck to the window: World March for Peace and Non Violence. Tamara informed that it takes place over several months and involves many cites. It starts on oct. 2 in Wellington, New Zealand and ends on Jan.2 in Punta des vacas, Argentina with a stop in New York on Nov. 30. It has the support of the Dalai Lama and Bob Dylan (what a surprise) and has as its mandate: withdrawal from occupied territories, anti-nuclear proliferation.
It is sponsored by World without Wars. Last night was their fundraiser.
It is sponsored by World without Wars. Last night was their fundraiser.
The W. Kamau Bell Curve - at the Players' Loft
Ending Racism in About an Hour -
"I've thought about racism my whole life'" says Stand up comic, W. Kamau Bell three quarters of the way through his one man comedy routine - personal narrative: Ending Racism in About an Hour. Indeed, he has much to say about racism and most it (if not all) is very funny.
The show opens with a slide show with Bell still behind the stage and the audience is invited to ponder certain questions like: What is a post-racial America? the top 5 ways for black people to end racism (his answer seems to be 1-4: BET) He takes issue with BET a few times during the show as he does with Fox news, Glen Beck, the republicans...
His insights into race in america are very smart and laugh out loud riotous. He talks about Obama and the first black presidency often citing that when (racist) americans finally got over the fear of his blackness, it had to focus on his middle name Hussain and his possible tie to muslim culture.
"Who do you thank for the Obama presidency?" His answer: Oprah (among many). "Look under your chair, you'll find Barack Obama."
"i wanted a first black president who wanted revenge," he told the audience.
"I've thought about racism my whole life'" says Stand up comic, W. Kamau Bell three quarters of the way through his one man comedy routine - personal narrative: Ending Racism in About an Hour. Indeed, he has much to say about racism and most it (if not all) is very funny.
The show opens with a slide show with Bell still behind the stage and the audience is invited to ponder certain questions like: What is a post-racial America? the top 5 ways for black people to end racism (his answer seems to be 1-4: BET) He takes issue with BET a few times during the show as he does with Fox news, Glen Beck, the republicans...
His insights into race in america are very smart and laugh out loud riotous. He talks about Obama and the first black presidency often citing that when (racist) americans finally got over the fear of his blackness, it had to focus on his middle name Hussain and his possible tie to muslim culture.
"Who do you thank for the Obama presidency?" His answer: Oprah (among many). "Look under your chair, you'll find Barack Obama."
"i wanted a first black president who wanted revenge," he told the audience.
Penumbra - at the Actor's Playhouse
Penumbra is a one man autobiographical hip hop musical written and performed by Anthony Fascious Martinez about growing up in the Bronx,a jailed father, an abused girlfriend, manhood and coming to terms. It feels as though it is something very private and cathartic that he is sharing with the audience which is undoubtedly why Kamilah Forbes (from Def Poetry) has praised it as 'bold, daring and fearless'.
My one main problem with this show was that i had trouble understanding the words to the first few raps. I think technically there may have been a problem with this performance. Correcting that for futur shows would be good.
Like many hip hop rap musicals and poetry slams, Fascious comes off very forcefully and powerfully. It's non stop and several parts are notably poignant like the reading of his father's letters from prison, and his questionning of what it means to be a man in a society where masculinity is often associated with violence and men are not encouraged to open up. "I was looking for a male figure to look up to."
His Puerto Rican culture is also touched upon as are politics and family.
A compelling and engaging performance.
Too bad for the tech problem.
My one main problem with this show was that i had trouble understanding the words to the first few raps. I think technically there may have been a problem with this performance. Correcting that for futur shows would be good.
Like many hip hop rap musicals and poetry slams, Fascious comes off very forcefully and powerfully. It's non stop and several parts are notably poignant like the reading of his father's letters from prison, and his questionning of what it means to be a man in a society where masculinity is often associated with violence and men are not encouraged to open up. "I was looking for a male figure to look up to."
His Puerto Rican culture is also touched upon as are politics and family.
A compelling and engaging performance.
Too bad for the tech problem.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Venue Director - Cherry Lane studio Fringe
Hannah is the venue director for the Cherry Lane theater studio for the fringe. I asked her why she wanted to be venue director. "originally, i wanted to intern; we discussed and venue director was what was decided," she said. "I am an actor and wanted to see the other side of the stage, get familiar with other workings of theater."
I noted she used the word actor as opposed to actress and asked if there was a reason? "Don't associate with gender; think of as person," she answered.
Are you concerned with feminism, i asked. "Yes," she answered. "Everyday, we are affected by gender, affected by how gender norms are projected on us... gender is a role, performance."
It made me think of Judith Butler, a theorist i read way back in grad school.
"Do you know Judith Butler?" i asked.
"Yes, i wrote a paper on her for a class," Hannah replied.
What does the venue director do? I asked.
"Oversee that things run smoothly in space," she said.
You work with performers, tech? I asked.
" Ya, make sure that shows get in and out on time and work with back of the house and front of the house. It's challenging. I've learnt so much the last couple of weeks... actor process separate from space... It is important to develop an appreciation for everything that happens around you."
A little after our interview i heard someone ask Hannah:
"We need toilet paper in the bathroom".
Maybe things didn't run so smoothly in the john.
I noted she used the word actor as opposed to actress and asked if there was a reason? "Don't associate with gender; think of as person," she answered.
Are you concerned with feminism, i asked. "Yes," she answered. "Everyday, we are affected by gender, affected by how gender norms are projected on us... gender is a role, performance."
It made me think of Judith Butler, a theorist i read way back in grad school.
"Do you know Judith Butler?" i asked.
"Yes, i wrote a paper on her for a class," Hannah replied.
What does the venue director do? I asked.
"Oversee that things run smoothly in space," she said.
You work with performers, tech? I asked.
" Ya, make sure that shows get in and out on time and work with back of the house and front of the house. It's challenging. I've learnt so much the last couple of weeks... actor process separate from space... It is important to develop an appreciation for everything that happens around you."
A little after our interview i heard someone ask Hannah:
"We need toilet paper in the bathroom".
Maybe things didn't run so smoothly in the john.
Brief interview with Camille Harris - Muffin Man
Q: Why did you write Muffin Man?
A: It was my honours thesis in college. I wrote the song Muffin Man and performed it at every venue. I worked in a coffee shop.
Q: Is there a real Justin?
A: It is based on every crush i ever had. I never had this (support group for love) in high school. (I wanted to get how )Teenagers are so angsty (about love), it's hilarious. It's mundane but it's hilarious. (There is humor in the mundane)
A lot of people get involved in her love for him; I never had that in high school,
if i had these people.
I wrote Lyla for Samantha (Blain); she's so on . She has similar sense of humor. My friend Sara ( Dobrinich) is a good character actress.
i wanted it to be cute and funny; there is extreme value in the silly. It is a challenge to find happiness; my passion is making silliness.
A: It was my honours thesis in college. I wrote the song Muffin Man and performed it at every venue. I worked in a coffee shop.
Q: Is there a real Justin?
A: It is based on every crush i ever had. I never had this (support group for love) in high school. (I wanted to get how )Teenagers are so angsty (about love), it's hilarious. It's mundane but it's hilarious. (There is humor in the mundane)
A lot of people get involved in her love for him; I never had that in high school,
if i had these people.
I wrote Lyla for Samantha (Blain); she's so on . She has similar sense of humor. My friend Sara ( Dobrinich) is a good character actress.
i wanted it to be cute and funny; there is extreme value in the silly. It is a challenge to find happiness; my passion is making silliness.
Muffin Man (a barista in love) - at the Lafayette street theater
How cute was Muffin Man - a barista in love? Way cute. The musical was put on by the Silly Jazz company and written, directed and produced by Camille Harris, a graduate of the BFA program at Emerson college.
As the title suggests, it is about a barista in love and being a musical, she (Lila) sings her way to admitting and declaring her love for Justin, the muffin supplier for the coffee shop she works for. The songs are all fun and there is much humor sprinkled throughout.
The entire cast is impressive as they belt out one cutesy number after another and not a beat is missed.
"Do you know the muffin man? muffin man, I love you so," Lila sings at the beginning. Lyla is shy and the goal of the musical is for her to 'make him fall in love with you by end of day' declared forcefully by Sadie, her co-worker. Customers, parents and a love interest for Sadie make an appearance singing their needs and wants.
"I'm not steady until I've had my fourth (coffee)" one customer sings.
"Her first bra, her first day, wish it would last and last" sings her parents on an (embarassing) surprise visit at Lyla's barista summer job (before college).
Look forward to a feel good ending.
As the title suggests, it is about a barista in love and being a musical, she (Lila) sings her way to admitting and declaring her love for Justin, the muffin supplier for the coffee shop she works for. The songs are all fun and there is much humor sprinkled throughout.
The entire cast is impressive as they belt out one cutesy number after another and not a beat is missed.
"Do you know the muffin man? muffin man, I love you so," Lila sings at the beginning. Lyla is shy and the goal of the musical is for her to 'make him fall in love with you by end of day' declared forcefully by Sadie, her co-worker. Customers, parents and a love interest for Sadie make an appearance singing their needs and wants.
"I'm not steady until I've had my fourth (coffee)" one customer sings.
"Her first bra, her first day, wish it would last and last" sings her parents on an (embarassing) surprise visit at Lyla's barista summer job (before college).
Look forward to a feel good ending.
Day 24 - art and struggle fed me on day 23 and fringe
last night, out of a play and on my way to fringe central i walked into an event at the space of an artist»s' collective which is now the office of rev Billy Talen (church of stop shopping) who is running for mayor of nyc. "Is that a joke?" i asked. No it is not. He is running for mayor. This should be interesting. Anyways, hungry, i was excited to fing a full spread of lovely rolls, crackers, nuts, olive and wine. They were very welcoming and didn't mind me nibbling on their treats. My saying "I'm so hungry" every 2 minutes probably worked in my favor.
Anyways, thank you . I grabbed some flyers, looked at the photos on the wall, ate and then headed for fringe where to my chagrin, there were no wraps. A mini-crisis set in, "I need those wraps", i must have those wraps; i have been looking forward to those wraps all day. Thankfully, 10 minutes later, 2 people dropped 2 trays on the table and off i was like a bloodhound searching for coke.
I do enjoy those wraps! Again, thanks fringe cafe.
Day 24 -
I am hoping i can land a scone and or a muffin along the way today. As for dinner, those veggie burgers at Quantum Leap look pretty good. So does their pancake breakfast.
Anyways, thank you . I grabbed some flyers, looked at the photos on the wall, ate and then headed for fringe where to my chagrin, there were no wraps. A mini-crisis set in, "I need those wraps", i must have those wraps; i have been looking forward to those wraps all day. Thankfully, 10 minutes later, 2 people dropped 2 trays on the table and off i was like a bloodhound searching for coke.
I do enjoy those wraps! Again, thanks fringe cafe.
Day 24 -
I am hoping i can land a scone and or a muffin along the way today. As for dinner, those veggie burgers at Quantum Leap look pretty good. So does their pancake breakfast.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Day 23 - who's gonna feed me?
Will it be the fringe? This is what i have been surviving on for the last couple of days. Chicken, hummus wraps and pizza. And let's not forget about the gin and tonics.
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De Robertis - Pasticceria and caffé - I cannoli have one cause i'm broke
John was at the counter when i went to De Robertis, a pastry shop specializing in Italian sweets on 1 st ave. in the east village. "Are you the owner?" "No, but it's a family business."
I told him i heard their cafe is like a New York institution. I had heard a lot of things about it. "How long have you been around?" i asked.
He pointed to the words on the front door. "Since 1904; 105 years," he replied.
Wow, "I'm impressed, that's a long time," i said. "So, like you're grand or great..."
"My great grandfather opened it."
He offered me a few things to try: a cannoli, a pignoli (almond and pine nut cookie), a regina cookie (sesame), a rainbow cookie and a chocolate buttercream cake.
- I canoli have one cause i'm broke, but i may try another -
I usually love canoli and i am willing to try another; i felt the cheese was a little thick. If you like your cheese thick, then i guess this is the cannoli for you.
The buttercream was rich and good on the cake.
I liked the pignoli. (Never had it before)
They have a lot more pastry to choose from and there is a cafe in the back so you can order yourself a cappuccino.
I asked if there were any celebrities that came in (I'm not sure why). He pointed to the photos on the wall and then he said, "Meadow from the Sopranos was in here last week, they are shooting a scene for Ugly Betty, i guess she's going to be in season
4."
"As a guest star?" i asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Does Robert De Niro ever come in?" i asked. I was channeling my Perez Hilton all of a sudden.
"Sure, he's come in."
I told him i heard their cafe is like a New York institution. I had heard a lot of things about it. "How long have you been around?" i asked.
He pointed to the words on the front door. "Since 1904; 105 years," he replied.
Wow, "I'm impressed, that's a long time," i said. "So, like you're grand or great..."
"My great grandfather opened it."
He offered me a few things to try: a cannoli, a pignoli (almond and pine nut cookie), a regina cookie (sesame), a rainbow cookie and a chocolate buttercream cake.
- I canoli have one cause i'm broke, but i may try another -
I usually love canoli and i am willing to try another; i felt the cheese was a little thick. If you like your cheese thick, then i guess this is the cannoli for you.
The buttercream was rich and good on the cake.
I liked the pignoli. (Never had it before)
They have a lot more pastry to choose from and there is a cafe in the back so you can order yourself a cappuccino.
I asked if there were any celebrities that came in (I'm not sure why). He pointed to the photos on the wall and then he said, "Meadow from the Sopranos was in here last week, they are shooting a scene for Ugly Betty, i guess she's going to be in season
4."
"As a guest star?" i asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Does Robert De Niro ever come in?" i asked. I was channeling my Perez Hilton all of a sudden.
"Sure, he's come in."
Medina - Bangladeshi, Indian , Pakistani cuisine
Medina, located at 210 first avenue between 12 th and 13 th st. serves up cafeteria style preprepared food in a modest setting. A variety of South Asian dishes are on the menu and when i was there as part of my feed me NY project, Rahman was kind enough to let me try the chicken tikka masala with rice, spinach, cabage, green beans. A nice salad came with it as did a dressing mixed with mint and yogurt.
I started with a vegetable samosa which as far as samosa's go, could be a runner up in a samosa competition. And by this, i mean i liked it. Seeing as it is counter food, hotness is not guaranteed. Microwaving the entire dish is a good idea.
There was an abundance of lovely orange colored mango lassis in the fridge which i unfortunately did not sample. A mango lassi is like the indian equivalent of a mango smoothie.
The one dish i was looking for, butter chicken, they did not have. But my main dish was flavored with a variety of very mild spices and if you want something fast, you can probably find something at Medina.
The nan bread compared to most nan i've had. It is simply yummy. It is ironic that i forgot to order it and was reminded when other customers ordered it. Muhammad was sweet enough to prepare it for me.
I heart nan!
Medina
Open 24 hours - 7 days a week.
Catering for all occasions.
eat in and take out
212-982-7470
I started with a vegetable samosa which as far as samosa's go, could be a runner up in a samosa competition. And by this, i mean i liked it. Seeing as it is counter food, hotness is not guaranteed. Microwaving the entire dish is a good idea.
There was an abundance of lovely orange colored mango lassis in the fridge which i unfortunately did not sample. A mango lassi is like the indian equivalent of a mango smoothie.
The one dish i was looking for, butter chicken, they did not have. But my main dish was flavored with a variety of very mild spices and if you want something fast, you can probably find something at Medina.
The nan bread compared to most nan i've had. It is simply yummy. It is ironic that i forgot to order it and was reminded when other customers ordered it. Muhammad was sweet enough to prepare it for me.
I heart nan!
Medina
Open 24 hours - 7 days a week.
Catering for all occasions.
eat in and take out
212-982-7470
Friday, August 21, 2009
Fringe cafe update - catering (organic local )
I wrote (raved) about the meal that John and Jeff fed me at the Fringe cafe, well here is their info on their catering business. (story will follow).
If you are looking for a great caterer, look no further:
Jeff Loshinsky catering
Full service catering
Custom meny consultation
private and corporate events
www.jeffloshinskycatering.com
If you are looking for a great caterer, look no further:
Jeff Loshinsky catering
Full service catering
Custom meny consultation
private and corporate events
www.jeffloshinskycatering.com
Box office manager
Jauna is the box office manager for the Manhattan source theater. I asked her why she wanted to work for the Fringe and she said she wanted to see what the fringe experience was like. Her mother was a venue director at the players loft 2 years ago. What"s it like being a box office manager, i asked. It has its ups and downs, she responded. Some ACR"s are easier to work with. Some rush the box office manager. Apparently, that is not a good thing. The other day she thought she was short 10$ but she was not. Had a crisis. The venue director (Sketkh) interjected and said some people say they are press when they really only have a luatic pass. One in particular was rude. I said i was a blogger with no vip press pass.
Jauna then counted her box office money and noted that there were all 1 $ dollar bills. "Singles, we can go the strip club," she said.
"You"re funny," i said.
Jauna then counted her box office money and noted that there were all 1 $ dollar bills. "Singles, we can go the strip club," she said.
"You"re funny," i said.
Singin wid a Sword in ma Han - Players theater
An Underground Railroad Love Story
2 words for this musical. Gorgeous and Beautiful. The lead actress,who is also the playwright and lyricist(Vienna Carroll) plays Topper,the narrator of the story of a family attempting to escape slavery to find freedom via the underground railroad without getting caught by the Gap Gang.
Their struggle is sung mostly through African American Spirituals by a griot chorus that is enchanting. Carroll has a real gift for writing music and especially these spirituals because as an audience member I really felt transported into another time and place.
It"s a Must see. I was enthralled.
You can visit her website :
ViennaCarroll.com
A cd of her spiritual songs is available : Singin wid a sword in ma han
2 words for this musical. Gorgeous and Beautiful. The lead actress,who is also the playwright and lyricist(Vienna Carroll) plays Topper,the narrator of the story of a family attempting to escape slavery to find freedom via the underground railroad without getting caught by the Gap Gang.
Their struggle is sung mostly through African American Spirituals by a griot chorus that is enchanting. Carroll has a real gift for writing music and especially these spirituals because as an audience member I really felt transported into another time and place.
It"s a Must see. I was enthralled.
You can visit her website :
ViennaCarroll.com
A cd of her spiritual songs is available : Singin wid a sword in ma han
Peace Warriors - Players theater
I must admit that i was nodding off during this play, (because of lack of sleep). I am soon going to need one very good night sleep on one comfortable bed (or sofa).
Peace Warriors, starts off political and ends personal (melodramatically). The dialogue - conversation between the 4 academics and the student were stimulating and comical in the first act but then the play took a less challenging turn and became a relationship drama about cheating spouses and broken marriages. Although the reason the wife is cheating is because the husband is no longer a left wing radical but has become right wing as evidenced by jokes like: the palestinians want peace and quiet so they can organize more bombings (right wing or simply very sarcastic),, this joke makes him a righty in the eyes of his radical wife.
It definitely attempts to challenge the status quo on middle eastern politics, but only peripherally. It ends as the audience only begins to become engaged in the topic; you want to hear more about what these characters think about this subject but then we get to hear them talk about why they are sleeping with one another ( or not).
The husband has definitely strayed from his left roots. Jokes like how he wore condoms only to prove his feminist credentials make hiim not a very likable character.
The wife seems to be the voice of the radical pro palestinian movement as we listen to her deliver a line in which she argues that holocaust demagoguery has prevented palestinian freedom.
I am wondering what the playwright"s position is on all of this; whether he agrees with the wife or the husband; or whether the playwright thinks it is a littlle more complex..
The acting was respectable.
Peace Warriors, starts off political and ends personal (melodramatically). The dialogue - conversation between the 4 academics and the student were stimulating and comical in the first act but then the play took a less challenging turn and became a relationship drama about cheating spouses and broken marriages. Although the reason the wife is cheating is because the husband is no longer a left wing radical but has become right wing as evidenced by jokes like: the palestinians want peace and quiet so they can organize more bombings (right wing or simply very sarcastic),, this joke makes him a righty in the eyes of his radical wife.
It definitely attempts to challenge the status quo on middle eastern politics, but only peripherally. It ends as the audience only begins to become engaged in the topic; you want to hear more about what these characters think about this subject but then we get to hear them talk about why they are sleeping with one another ( or not).
The husband has definitely strayed from his left roots. Jokes like how he wore condoms only to prove his feminist credentials make hiim not a very likable character.
The wife seems to be the voice of the radical pro palestinian movement as we listen to her deliver a line in which she argues that holocaust demagoguery has prevented palestinian freedom.
I am wondering what the playwright"s position is on all of this; whether he agrees with the wife or the husband; or whether the playwright thinks it is a littlle more complex..
The acting was respectable.
Day 22 - the momentum has been broken (slightly)
Day 22 of my feed me NY and the momentum has been broken slightly. 2 days, i went without food. If you have never gone without food or drink, i can tell you that it is most excruciating. I"ve slowed down my pitching due to fatigue, fringe . Encountering staff who tell me come back another day and speak to an owner or manager also slows things down and therefore does not guarantee a same day meal.
It would be nice if someone simply slipped a smoothie, ice coffee or frappuccino in my hand on these hot days as i walk down the street.
Hopefullly, i will get the momentum going again.
It would be nice if someone simply slipped a smoothie, ice coffee or frappuccino in my hand on these hot days as i walk down the street.
Hopefullly, i will get the momentum going again.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Fancy Footwork: the Irish Boxing Play - Flamboyan theater
45 minutes feels like 25 in this fast paced packs an emotional punch 1 act play written by Irish playwright Miriam Gallagher and directed by American Rich Johnson. It went by so quickly, i needed to interview the director about the larger theme of this play/
Q: why did you choose this play
A:(RJ - Rich Johnson) I thought it would be a good fit for the Fringe; there is a little set, not a big set. Good script.
Q: What about the theme
A: how athletes get manipulated, take drugs, whether they are aware of it (renders play relevant) or not. I cast the black actor because it seems like he"s washed up, but he"s not; he overcomes it and retains his title.
Talk back on friday the 28 at 2 pm
fringe high: suitable for teenagers
visit high5.org - ticket for high school students: 5 $
Surviving and Overcoming:
Speaking of surviving and overcoming: WHile i am being fed by very generous people, i still have to spend a significant amount of time pitching my iproject and there were a couple days where i did not eat at all. Also , i need a bed to sleep in tonight and it would be great if someone would be so generous as to offer that.
Also, so i do not have to begging via my blog, If anyone who has received my CV could possibly call me about an interview, that would be spectacular!
Q: why did you choose this play
A:(RJ - Rich Johnson) I thought it would be a good fit for the Fringe; there is a little set, not a big set. Good script.
Q: What about the theme
A: how athletes get manipulated, take drugs, whether they are aware of it (renders play relevant) or not. I cast the black actor because it seems like he"s washed up, but he"s not; he overcomes it and retains his title.
Talk back on friday the 28 at 2 pm
fringe high: suitable for teenagers
visit high5.org - ticket for high school students: 5 $
Surviving and Overcoming:
Speaking of surviving and overcoming: WHile i am being fed by very generous people, i still have to spend a significant amount of time pitching my iproject and there were a couple days where i did not eat at all. Also , i need a bed to sleep in tonight and it would be great if someone would be so generous as to offer that.
Also, so i do not have to begging via my blog, If anyone who has received my CV could possibly call me about an interview, that would be spectacular!
F(r)eed me NY: Maracas, Fringe cafe (John and Jeff)
As you can read, i have a back log of feed me NY stories that i will updating shortly (probably after the Fringe. Right now, things are a little hectic. People are keeping me fed and you will be able to read about all of them sometime near the end of August, Beginning September.
I wanted to mention them now as a Thank you! I have not forgotten about you. I am simply consumed with the Fringe and surviving!
Medina (Rahman, Muhammad)
De Robertis ( John)
Yaffa cafe (Nisha, Augustina)
Arturo:s (Scotty, Alex, Tony...)
Soho Park cafe (Joy)
Frank (Christian, Mel, Therou...)
Maracas (Sabina, Octavio, Hugo, Fabian...)
Fringe cafe (John, Jeff, Wild Hive farms, Dutch desserts, Strongtree coffee)
A mention about what i ate at Fringe cafe: chilled carrot and ginger soup with cheddar biscuit , dhal samosa with chutney, all prepared to perfection. And a cup of Strongtree (fair trade) coffee and a brownie (Dutch desserts). Their lime rickey, hand squeezed by Jeff himself, is really yummy.
I wanted to mention them now as a Thank you! I have not forgotten about you. I am simply consumed with the Fringe and surviving!
Medina (Rahman, Muhammad)
De Robertis ( John)
Yaffa cafe (Nisha, Augustina)
Arturo:s (Scotty, Alex, Tony...)
Soho Park cafe (Joy)
Frank (Christian, Mel, Therou...)
Maracas (Sabina, Octavio, Hugo, Fabian...)
Fringe cafe (John, Jeff, Wild Hive farms, Dutch desserts, Strongtree coffee)
A mention about what i ate at Fringe cafe: chilled carrot and ginger soup with cheddar biscuit , dhal samosa with chutney, all prepared to perfection. And a cup of Strongtree (fair trade) coffee and a brownie (Dutch desserts). Their lime rickey, hand squeezed by Jeff himself, is really yummy.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
America"s Next Top Bottom - Actor"s Playhouse
Who will outsass and out bitch one another to become America"s Next Top Bottom in this improv comedy produced and directed by Efrain Schunior and now playing at the Actor"s Playhouse as part of the New York international Fringe festival. 6 drag queen and Village peoplesque contestants and a hostess (Trina Sugg - a Franzia loving bitchy wisecracker who makes jokes) and her co- host (who asks the contestants in the 3 rd challenge to do the "Jean Benet") make up the cast of this mildly wild search for America"s nest top bottom. A Hair like character, a prebuscent Star Trek Fan with a girly side, Brian Boitano like, Tony Manero Saturday Night Fever like character (my own interpretation), and 2 others costume their way, dance their way, and crack their way to the top (really the bottom). Questions like what makes a good bottom are asked and answered with "soy milk", "sequenced knee pads" .
You the viewer get to vote on the winner at the end and being improv, there is a different show every night. "The 3 challenges remain the same but the lines change every show; it is structured improv," says Schunior, the show"s producer - director. The personas "are extensions of themselves" , he replied when i asked if the characters were based on TV and film personalities.
It is a fun ride.
cast:
You the viewer get to vote on the winner at the end and being improv, there is a different show every night. "The 3 challenges remain the same but the lines change every show; it is structured improv," says Schunior, the show"s producer - director. The personas "are extensions of themselves" , he replied when i asked if the characters were based on TV and film personalities.
It is a fun ride.
cast:
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Fringe: And Sophie Comes Too - The Cherry Pit theater
With a title like And Sophie Comes Too, I was expecting a you go girl play about women yet again talking about how to have orgasms, how to give orgasms... Thankfully, this was only a (very) minor topic of conversation. I was expecting something stale, but instead I was surprised by the freshness of the story as well as the freshness of the acting by the 7 actresses.
3 sisters ( 2 lesbian - one closeted, one not) and a comatose mother make for some good comedic fun in a family comedy drama written by Meryl Cohn and directed by Mark Finley. There is a punchline around every corner and you feel as though the humour is very well rehearsed. The women next to me could not stop laughing.
Motherhood, adoption, dating and getting desires met are examined with a zany flair and swift pace. Lines such as : "You say the word cunt like you are ordering a latte from Starbucks", are delivered. And Sophie Comes Too is entertaining.
3 sisters ( 2 lesbian - one closeted, one not) and a comatose mother make for some good comedic fun in a family comedy drama written by Meryl Cohn and directed by Mark Finley. There is a punchline around every corner and you feel as though the humour is very well rehearsed. The women next to me could not stop laughing.
Motherhood, adoption, dating and getting desires met are examined with a zany flair and swift pace. Lines such as : "You say the word cunt like you are ordering a latte from Starbucks", are delivered. And Sophie Comes Too is entertaining.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Time":s scream and hurry (cherry lane theater)
I want moments that rise above -
I attended the performance after my volunteer shift. 3 long monologues ( 2 by women and 1 by a man). very dramatic. Not too many light moments. Performed well and engaging. Could wrap them up a little sooner.
too be continued...
I attended the performance after my volunteer shift. 3 long monologues ( 2 by women and 1 by a man). very dramatic. Not too many light moments. Performed well and engaging. Could wrap them up a little sooner.
too be continued...
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Fringe Voluntear
The inner workings of the Fringe -
As a Fringe volunteer, i am learning the many exciting inner workings of the theater. On my first shift at the Connelly theater on East 4th near ave. A, i met the box office manager, Flor. She is in charge of ticket sales and my job was will call: distributing tickets to patrons who have already purchased them. Although not complicated, it's amazing how something simple can become not so simple.
The font -
I was handed a list with names with a font size of about 1. Minuscule would be an understatement. Flor had to write them out for me. Next, i was introduced to the venue director (in charge of the venue) and the ACR who is the one who hands out the playbill as you walk in to the theater. I kept referring to the ACR as the CPR.
Flor and i talked and i learnt that she is an actress and she said that it is difficult to land roles because she is a latina with an accent and if you're not equity, it is difficult. I asked if she was performing in the fringe and she said no but she was performing in the Strawberry festival in a play called Business or Pleasure at the St Clemens on 423 46 th between 9 th and 10 th avenue on monday, aug. 17 at 7 pm. She plays a spanish teacher. I would love to go and see it but i will probably be fringing. I enjoyed talking to Flor.
The theater critic from Time Out New York did not pick up his tickets and i got a little excited as i thought, maybe i could use the ticket and review the play for my blog but i did not. The will call was pretty relaxed as the house did not sell out.
The venue director, Nicole, asked me if this was my first time volunteering for the Fringe and i said yes and she responded with a : "fun for everyone" which i thought was funny.
---
My next shift was at the Milagro theater on saturday morning and although i left early, i still found myself scrambling to find Suffolk street. I let out a few curse words but i managed to still get myself there early. I met Kathleen, the show's ACR. She said she worked for Universal and i bit my lip. She fed me Munchkins but i really wanted a coffee and i still hope a coffee purveyor is going to donate coffee for the hard working volunteers.
Krystal, the box office manager then showed up, and i learnt that she also is an actress ( not being gender neutral). I told her i studied journalism along with women studies and liberal arts and she said she also studied women studies at Smith and is concerned with feminist post colonial narratives. I perked up as i think that is interesting. I asked her what her upcoming plays were and she said she was assistant directing a play called Post No Bills written by a friend (Mando Alvarado) put on by raddlestick playwrights. She said she was concerned with multicultural, asian american and hispanic theater. In the Spring, she will be involved in All american gender fuck cabaret.
When the house lights went down, both the venue director, Jenny and the ACR, Kathleen said i could watch the play if i wanted. Home is the Sailor, Home from the Sea was the show and as i had had only 2 hours sleep the night before, paying attention was a real challenge. I kept nodding off and i thought, i hope it doesn't give the actors a complex. As i came in 10 minutes late and was drifting off, i am not sure what this play is about. It is a drama. 3 characters hit a deer and they are quite traumatized (i'm thinking, Peta must be in the picture somewhere as i don't think any normal person would spend that much time agonizing over a deer but some of the dramatic delivery was engaging and one actress gave a fairly believable emotional crying scene. There were some funny moments and then the deer seem to be a catalyst for something else but i really can't tell you what this play is about. I will have to get a full night sleep for that. But i do appreciate having seen it. It was my first play at the NYC Fringe.
My volunteer voucher allowed me to see a play so i chose to see The Green Manifesto, a very green musical written by Anne Berlin and Andy Cohen(lyrics).
I loved it. From the moment i heard the actor sing (at the fringe teaser) What does it mean to be adam green..." i knew i was different, use tom" s of maine toothpaste, eat organic"... i was hooked. A couple Adam and Madison, eco conscious, sing each other love serenades about meeting in Whole Foods and eating DDT free and pesticide free lettuce while working to save rainforest everywhere and gazing into each other:s eyes (while serenading). The whole foods song is hilarious and catchy and the musical follows the conventional musical path to conflict ( madison meets patrick, a conervationist which makes her question her relationship to adam) , they sing more songs ( some sad), they gaze into each other:s eyes, they get through it and then they get energized again pushing to the climactic song of loving the earth.
Nice work!
to be continued...
As a Fringe volunteer, i am learning the many exciting inner workings of the theater. On my first shift at the Connelly theater on East 4th near ave. A, i met the box office manager, Flor. She is in charge of ticket sales and my job was will call: distributing tickets to patrons who have already purchased them. Although not complicated, it's amazing how something simple can become not so simple.
The font -
I was handed a list with names with a font size of about 1. Minuscule would be an understatement. Flor had to write them out for me. Next, i was introduced to the venue director (in charge of the venue) and the ACR who is the one who hands out the playbill as you walk in to the theater. I kept referring to the ACR as the CPR.
Flor and i talked and i learnt that she is an actress and she said that it is difficult to land roles because she is a latina with an accent and if you're not equity, it is difficult. I asked if she was performing in the fringe and she said no but she was performing in the Strawberry festival in a play called Business or Pleasure at the St Clemens on 423 46 th between 9 th and 10 th avenue on monday, aug. 17 at 7 pm. She plays a spanish teacher. I would love to go and see it but i will probably be fringing. I enjoyed talking to Flor.
The theater critic from Time Out New York did not pick up his tickets and i got a little excited as i thought, maybe i could use the ticket and review the play for my blog but i did not. The will call was pretty relaxed as the house did not sell out.
The venue director, Nicole, asked me if this was my first time volunteering for the Fringe and i said yes and she responded with a : "fun for everyone" which i thought was funny.
---
My next shift was at the Milagro theater on saturday morning and although i left early, i still found myself scrambling to find Suffolk street. I let out a few curse words but i managed to still get myself there early. I met Kathleen, the show's ACR. She said she worked for Universal and i bit my lip. She fed me Munchkins but i really wanted a coffee and i still hope a coffee purveyor is going to donate coffee for the hard working volunteers.
Krystal, the box office manager then showed up, and i learnt that she also is an actress ( not being gender neutral). I told her i studied journalism along with women studies and liberal arts and she said she also studied women studies at Smith and is concerned with feminist post colonial narratives. I perked up as i think that is interesting. I asked her what her upcoming plays were and she said she was assistant directing a play called Post No Bills written by a friend (Mando Alvarado) put on by raddlestick playwrights. She said she was concerned with multicultural, asian american and hispanic theater. In the Spring, she will be involved in All american gender fuck cabaret.
When the house lights went down, both the venue director, Jenny and the ACR, Kathleen said i could watch the play if i wanted. Home is the Sailor, Home from the Sea was the show and as i had had only 2 hours sleep the night before, paying attention was a real challenge. I kept nodding off and i thought, i hope it doesn't give the actors a complex. As i came in 10 minutes late and was drifting off, i am not sure what this play is about. It is a drama. 3 characters hit a deer and they are quite traumatized (i'm thinking, Peta must be in the picture somewhere as i don't think any normal person would spend that much time agonizing over a deer but some of the dramatic delivery was engaging and one actress gave a fairly believable emotional crying scene. There were some funny moments and then the deer seem to be a catalyst for something else but i really can't tell you what this play is about. I will have to get a full night sleep for that. But i do appreciate having seen it. It was my first play at the NYC Fringe.
My volunteer voucher allowed me to see a play so i chose to see The Green Manifesto, a very green musical written by Anne Berlin and Andy Cohen(lyrics).
I loved it. From the moment i heard the actor sing (at the fringe teaser) What does it mean to be adam green..." i knew i was different, use tom" s of maine toothpaste, eat organic"... i was hooked. A couple Adam and Madison, eco conscious, sing each other love serenades about meeting in Whole Foods and eating DDT free and pesticide free lettuce while working to save rainforest everywhere and gazing into each other:s eyes (while serenading). The whole foods song is hilarious and catchy and the musical follows the conventional musical path to conflict ( madison meets patrick, a conervationist which makes her question her relationship to adam) , they sing more songs ( some sad), they gaze into each other:s eyes, they get through it and then they get energized again pushing to the climactic song of loving the earth.
Nice work!
to be continued...
Soho Park cafe, Frank coming after NYC Fringe fest
I am now consumed with my consumption. With trying to feed myself, find work and a place to live in NY ( and finding Wifi) , writing my restaurant reviews are a bit of a challenge. But i will be writing them; a little bit of patience is required right now. THe New York Fringe festival, the fest of independent theatre, has now begun and it has been 7 years that i have wanted to come and watch shows and possibly cover it. and here i am. It is all very exciting except for the fact that i still owe bbq 12$ and do not have a job. A cop car was parked just a block away from fringe central; that is less exciting.
I just saw Dominizuelan: People in the City, performed by Wendy Mateo and Lorena Diaz. They refer to themselves as the short hispanic and the tall hispanic ( for those of you politicos, it would be latina). Very funny women; very full of energy and great performances. Character sketches set in different scenes ( Drunk ciub girls, homeless man and broke mortgage broker, jewish women at the restaurant, bro,). I loved it and so did the audience. There was much laughter in the room. In between the scenes, there were dancing musical interludes which were entertaining.
After the show,a guy came up to me and asked if i was an actress. No,i said i was a blogger and volunteer and said i loved the show and i asked him what he did and he said he managed them and that they had worked 3 years on it and were doing improv olympics in Chicago (which is where they are from) and where some SNL alumni worked (Mike Myers and Tina Fey and the new guy on snl). Indeed they made me think of snl. I asked him what his name was and he said matt and again i said i loved it and left.
I just saw Dominizuelan: People in the City, performed by Wendy Mateo and Lorena Diaz. They refer to themselves as the short hispanic and the tall hispanic ( for those of you politicos, it would be latina). Very funny women; very full of energy and great performances. Character sketches set in different scenes ( Drunk ciub girls, homeless man and broke mortgage broker, jewish women at the restaurant, bro,). I loved it and so did the audience. There was much laughter in the room. In between the scenes, there were dancing musical interludes which were entertaining.
After the show,a guy came up to me and asked if i was an actress. No,i said i was a blogger and volunteer and said i loved the show and i asked him what he did and he said he managed them and that they had worked 3 years on it and were doing improv olympics in Chicago (which is where they are from) and where some SNL alumni worked (Mike Myers and Tina Fey and the new guy on snl). Indeed they made me think of snl. I asked him what his name was and he said matt and again i said i loved it and left.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Fried at the BBQ - day 14
Today, there was an incident. I suppose i was on too much of a high, it all had to come crashing down at some point. I went to my fave BBQ where the last time i had eaten there, it was the fifth day of 5 consecutive days of eating BBQ. It's the 5$ early bird and the corn bread. Anyways,
i stopped in excited that I (believed) i still had room on my credit card. I ordered my usual, (1/2 chicken, french fries, soup, and corn bread (2 pieces) with a pina colada. I was so ecstatic i was singing to the tunes, floating on air. At the cash, my credit card was declined. The waiter looked most unhappy but he said to come back and talk to the big boss at 4. Well, at 4 i returned, the manager was not too understanding. He said the Project feed me NY didn't interest them and an iou was not an option. Next thing, we are arguing, I'm headed for the door and he's blocking my exit. I told him to move. And he said i couldn't touch him or he would file an assault charge ( an assault charge - what are you a battered wife? Battered by the corn bread maybe) It was getting kind of crazy. I should have clued in to the police cruiser that was sitting outside that i noticed upon entry, but i didn't think to check the dining rooms. Next thing, the host is yelling and i thought he was on my side but no, out come the cops and i'm thinking run , run but i couldn't get out. They asked if i had i.d. they're obsessed with id in this town- they asked me the same thing in Hoboken for simply sitting on luggage on a sidewalk. I showed them my ID "What is this?" It was really like it's not really id (quebec drivers license). Where do you live? I said the village. "Liar" one of them called me. "You don't live in the village." "How much is the bill? "I said, 11. 63 $" "Don't you have another credit card?" "NO". "You can't leave, it's theft of services, leave your id or we lock you up". All they wanted was my id as collateral and i suppose i should have given it to them but in all the commotion i got a little confused and my understanding was that they were not going to accept an iou and they were gonna call the cops. Anyways, i gave them my id and said i would be back tomorrow to pay them and they let me go.
It's bad pr. that's all. I ate there 5 days in a row and they call the cops. What is that ?
The chicken's not the only thing that's fried at the BBQ.
Needless to say, i was emotional and traumatised by the whole event, crying my eyes out walking down 6 th avenue, thinking i moved to this stinkin town because i love it and i still don't have a job, i still really havn't made any friends, my new lust interest is banging 6 other women, (i think) and none of them include me and now the NYPD are after me.
New York's finest -
My fantasies collapse. So much for sleeping with an NYPD officer. I was hoping they would tie me up, not lock me up.
Things were going a little too well, i suppose i needed a little conflict.
i stopped in excited that I (believed) i still had room on my credit card. I ordered my usual, (1/2 chicken, french fries, soup, and corn bread (2 pieces) with a pina colada. I was so ecstatic i was singing to the tunes, floating on air. At the cash, my credit card was declined. The waiter looked most unhappy but he said to come back and talk to the big boss at 4. Well, at 4 i returned, the manager was not too understanding. He said the Project feed me NY didn't interest them and an iou was not an option. Next thing, we are arguing, I'm headed for the door and he's blocking my exit. I told him to move. And he said i couldn't touch him or he would file an assault charge ( an assault charge - what are you a battered wife? Battered by the corn bread maybe) It was getting kind of crazy. I should have clued in to the police cruiser that was sitting outside that i noticed upon entry, but i didn't think to check the dining rooms. Next thing, the host is yelling and i thought he was on my side but no, out come the cops and i'm thinking run , run but i couldn't get out. They asked if i had i.d. they're obsessed with id in this town- they asked me the same thing in Hoboken for simply sitting on luggage on a sidewalk. I showed them my ID "What is this?" It was really like it's not really id (quebec drivers license). Where do you live? I said the village. "Liar" one of them called me. "You don't live in the village." "How much is the bill? "I said, 11. 63 $" "Don't you have another credit card?" "NO". "You can't leave, it's theft of services, leave your id or we lock you up". All they wanted was my id as collateral and i suppose i should have given it to them but in all the commotion i got a little confused and my understanding was that they were not going to accept an iou and they were gonna call the cops. Anyways, i gave them my id and said i would be back tomorrow to pay them and they let me go.
It's bad pr. that's all. I ate there 5 days in a row and they call the cops. What is that ?
The chicken's not the only thing that's fried at the BBQ.
Needless to say, i was emotional and traumatised by the whole event, crying my eyes out walking down 6 th avenue, thinking i moved to this stinkin town because i love it and i still don't have a job, i still really havn't made any friends, my new lust interest is banging 6 other women, (i think) and none of them include me and now the NYPD are after me.
New York's finest -
My fantasies collapse. So much for sleeping with an NYPD officer. I was hoping they would tie me up, not lock me up.
Things were going a little too well, i suppose i needed a little conflict.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Crooked Tree - No need to spin-ach
I found the most delicious crepes in the most adorable little creperie on St Marks place. Sim, co-owner and crepe maker put up no resistance to my feed me NY idea. "What would you like?" This was a good question as i already knew what i wanted. i had studied the take out menu before entering. "The spinach, goat cheese and chicken crepe", which is called the crooked combo on the menu - any 3 savory ingredients for 10$. Free for me of course. Normally, the spinach and goat cheese crepe is 8 $ .
No need to spin-ach -
I inhaled it. There is nothing like warm goat cheese and the soft spinach still retained its flavor. The chicken added sustenance. The crepe, buckwheat, was divine. If spinach isn't your thing, there are other combos to choose from like: mushroom and goat cheese, brie, tomato and arugala... It came with a small arugala salad.
For dessert, i chose the the belgium chocolate and banana (with whipped cream) crepe. There is not much that needs to be said about a dessert crepe except for 'can i have another?' (6.50 $)
After dinner, i asked Sim a few questions. "Why did you open a creperie?" "When we opened it (back in 1998) there were no crepes around. The Magic Pan was big in the 70's It was a good market, a good niche, " he said. "I opened it with a friend, Stephan, who is of french descent...and also part owner."
I asked, "what do you call a crepe maker? Is there a name for them?" Carlos, a waiter, answered, " crepe guru".
Sim continued, "we grew up together in NYC, born and raised downtown. We both designed the menu." And they are both chefs there.
The open kitchen in the small environment creates an intimate atmosphere. I sound a little bougie, i know.
You will also find homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, sliders, waffles, a small selection of wine, 3 different kinds of sangria.
Stephan was now at the crepe wheel. "What's this music, I like it?" I asked. "Spanish. Just kidding. Ask Carlos,, he would know. "Carlos, unfortunately, had already left.
"What's your favorite crepe?" I asked.
"Sugar butter lemon. It's the simplest, yet the hardest. One has to make it really thin, so light, perfectly."
110 St Marks Place.
212-533-3299
10 am - midnight
Delivery hours 11 am-11pm
cash only
No need to spin-ach -
I inhaled it. There is nothing like warm goat cheese and the soft spinach still retained its flavor. The chicken added sustenance. The crepe, buckwheat, was divine. If spinach isn't your thing, there are other combos to choose from like: mushroom and goat cheese, brie, tomato and arugala... It came with a small arugala salad.
For dessert, i chose the the belgium chocolate and banana (with whipped cream) crepe. There is not much that needs to be said about a dessert crepe except for 'can i have another?' (6.50 $)
After dinner, i asked Sim a few questions. "Why did you open a creperie?" "When we opened it (back in 1998) there were no crepes around. The Magic Pan was big in the 70's It was a good market, a good niche, " he said. "I opened it with a friend, Stephan, who is of french descent...and also part owner."
I asked, "what do you call a crepe maker? Is there a name for them?" Carlos, a waiter, answered, " crepe guru".
Sim continued, "we grew up together in NYC, born and raised downtown. We both designed the menu." And they are both chefs there.
The open kitchen in the small environment creates an intimate atmosphere. I sound a little bougie, i know.
You will also find homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, sliders, waffles, a small selection of wine, 3 different kinds of sangria.
Stephan was now at the crepe wheel. "What's this music, I like it?" I asked. "Spanish. Just kidding. Ask Carlos,, he would know. "Carlos, unfortunately, had already left.
"What's your favorite crepe?" I asked.
"Sugar butter lemon. It's the simplest, yet the hardest. One has to make it really thin, so light, perfectly."
110 St Marks Place.
212-533-3299
10 am - midnight
Delivery hours 11 am-11pm
cash only
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Day 9 - 7A - My first NY brunch
Brunch is big in New York. Most brunch spots are packed from morning till late afternoon on the weekends. I ate my first brunch at 7A on avenue A at e. 7th st. (i guess that's why it's called 7A). I was greeted by the manager who then showed me to the bar. Stuart was my bartender / waiter who was assisted by Chris. Stuart asked me 'who do you write for?' I replied 'not the New York Times or Gourmet (i wish), i write for my blog.' New Order was playing in the background. "I love them. I used to listen to them in high school," i said.
I was torn between the many brunch items which included Huevos Rancheros, California omelette, waffles, pancakes, frittata. After asking about the pancakes which i was told were standard but recommended and looking over at the man next to me eating huevos rancheros (which looked good), i told the guys, " i could just go to chipotle and have a burrito." Actually, i would eventually like to try huevos rancheros but i am often in the mood for pancakes or waffles when out for breakfast. Boring, i know.
I chose the pancakes and i had the choice of bacon or sausage (i chose sausage), bananas, blueberries or a mix of fruit ( i chose a mix), and rum butter or strawberry butter (i chose rum butter). I also chose orange juice (over cocktails) and a coffee.
The man eating the huevos rancheros was reading the New York Times and slightly envious i asked what's new in the news? 'There's a new chairman for the NEA and he wants to make arts part of economic redevelopment', and showing me the headline, 'Job losses are slow'. "Oh, this is good," i said.
Stuart was making a mimosa. "A brunch staple," i said. "champagne and a splash of orange juice," he said. "Too early for alcohol," i said. "If you've been out drinking the night before, it's good; that's the theory of the bloody mary," he said.
The rum butter was like candy and i started eating it right out of the ramikin. The pancakes were thick and the blueberries very large. The sausages were thick and juicy.
And then Stuart let out: "i work for Vice."
"What do you there? The guys who started it are from Montreal."
"Business side; sales; ads."
And then Chris added: "I see them in Williamsburg; they're crazy. I see the guy who does ...tv carnage...interesting people and interesting commentary."
"I might apply there," i said
"They need some quality journalism," Chris said.
"Yes, and i'm going to provide that," i said sarcastically.
"There are some great blogs in this city. It is an intellectual and cultural epicentre. So many people congealing," Chris said.
"Wow, congealing, you have a good vocabulary, I'm not even sure how to spell that," i said.
A customer overhearing my interview said upon leaving,"It's not 5 star dining, but you won't get sick here."
After about 4 cups of coffee, i think i was done. It was an entertaining brunch.
I was torn between the many brunch items which included Huevos Rancheros, California omelette, waffles, pancakes, frittata. After asking about the pancakes which i was told were standard but recommended and looking over at the man next to me eating huevos rancheros (which looked good), i told the guys, " i could just go to chipotle and have a burrito." Actually, i would eventually like to try huevos rancheros but i am often in the mood for pancakes or waffles when out for breakfast. Boring, i know.
I chose the pancakes and i had the choice of bacon or sausage (i chose sausage), bananas, blueberries or a mix of fruit ( i chose a mix), and rum butter or strawberry butter (i chose rum butter). I also chose orange juice (over cocktails) and a coffee.
The man eating the huevos rancheros was reading the New York Times and slightly envious i asked what's new in the news? 'There's a new chairman for the NEA and he wants to make arts part of economic redevelopment', and showing me the headline, 'Job losses are slow'. "Oh, this is good," i said.
Stuart was making a mimosa. "A brunch staple," i said. "champagne and a splash of orange juice," he said. "Too early for alcohol," i said. "If you've been out drinking the night before, it's good; that's the theory of the bloody mary," he said.
The rum butter was like candy and i started eating it right out of the ramikin. The pancakes were thick and the blueberries very large. The sausages were thick and juicy.
And then Stuart let out: "i work for Vice."
"What do you there? The guys who started it are from Montreal."
"Business side; sales; ads."
And then Chris added: "I see them in Williamsburg; they're crazy. I see the guy who does ...tv carnage...interesting people and interesting commentary."
"I might apply there," i said
"They need some quality journalism," Chris said.
"Yes, and i'm going to provide that," i said sarcastically.
"There are some great blogs in this city. It is an intellectual and cultural epicentre. So many people congealing," Chris said.
"Wow, congealing, you have a good vocabulary, I'm not even sure how to spell that," i said.
A customer overhearing my interview said upon leaving,"It's not 5 star dining, but you won't get sick here."
After about 4 cups of coffee, i think i was done. It was an entertaining brunch.
Watermelon lemonade is no lemon
I stopped in at City Bakery in the east village and Trey was kind enough to let me sample their watermelon lemonade. This lemonade is no lemon. It is a fantastic lemonade. "Are you a vegan?" i a asked him. He replied no. I was surprised a non vegan would work at a vegan bakery. They have a sign advertising their iced coffee as organic. "Is your lemonade organic?" i asked. Yes, he replied. "That's what we're known for". He said, "We're also a green bakery."
I only wish Trey offered me a cookie from the tray of those delicious looking chocolate chip cookies.
I only wish Trey offered me a cookie from the tray of those delicious looking chocolate chip cookies.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Westville east - Crabby no more
Extra Extra - (read all about it)
Girl eats yummy crabcakes at Westville no longer suffering crabiness caused by hunger -
Edan, the manager of Westville east on Ave. A was very welcoming. After i pitched my feed me NY idea, i expected him to tell me to come back another time but he told me to take a seat. "Right now?" i asked. "Aren't you hungry?" "Yes." It was noon. I didn't have breakfast but i was ready for lunch. I noticed hotdogs on their menu and have been craving them for a couple of weeks ( a trip to Coney Island brought that on).
To my surprise, the hotdogs were no. 4 on the most popular list of what people order. "We are known for our daily specials and our market plate," Edan said. The daily specials come with 2 veggie sides. The market plate is a choice of 4 veggies for 13 $ . "The specials change twice daily, the meat and fish are fresh, the veggies from a market upstate. " There was a very large selection of veggies.
I felt a little guilty but i wanted hotdogs and i expressed my desire for hotdogs to him. He explained there are 3 kinds of hotdogs: hebrew national, natural niman ranch (open pasture), vegan.
Dolev, my bartender / waiter, handed me a glass, "strawberry milkshake". I started with crabcakes with tartar sauce and a salad. I then ordered 2 hebrew national hotdogs with absolutely everything on them (a mountain of sauerkraut, chili, sweet relish,) and a side (fried plantains with cotija cheese).
"I can't eat those," Dolev said looking at the crabcakes. "They're not kosher." "They're delicious", i said. They were a little spicy. The salad was also lovely: arugula (the lettuce of the rich) with a light dressing.
If you're looking for hotdogs in an upmarket atmosphere, Westville would be the place to go. The hotdogs were plump and almost healthy tasting (which is ironic for a hotdog) and the plantains were perfect. I mean perfect! Soft, sweet and savoury. The hotdogs were really good. Some hotdogs you feel like you have to pump your stomach - these don't make you feel that way.
There are some organic options. The first Westville opened 5 years ago in the west village by chef / co-owner Jay Strauss. He designed the menu.
Dolev said he might try the crabcakes after work. "Lightning from the sky might hit me."
Lunch was busy. Edan said dinner was busier. Other items on the menu looked interesting. There was a grilled tilapia on a portuguese muffin with wasabi soy sauce. Dolev likes the turkey burgers. A customer next to me said he liked the poached salmon sandwich. Dolev held up an old fashioned sign 'best coffee in town'.
For dessert, i had the fruit (blueberry) cobbler with (Bassetts) ice cream. Warm and yummy.
Girl eats yummy crabcakes at Westville no longer suffering crabiness caused by hunger -
Edan, the manager of Westville east on Ave. A was very welcoming. After i pitched my feed me NY idea, i expected him to tell me to come back another time but he told me to take a seat. "Right now?" i asked. "Aren't you hungry?" "Yes." It was noon. I didn't have breakfast but i was ready for lunch. I noticed hotdogs on their menu and have been craving them for a couple of weeks ( a trip to Coney Island brought that on).
To my surprise, the hotdogs were no. 4 on the most popular list of what people order. "We are known for our daily specials and our market plate," Edan said. The daily specials come with 2 veggie sides. The market plate is a choice of 4 veggies for 13 $ . "The specials change twice daily, the meat and fish are fresh, the veggies from a market upstate. " There was a very large selection of veggies.
I felt a little guilty but i wanted hotdogs and i expressed my desire for hotdogs to him. He explained there are 3 kinds of hotdogs: hebrew national, natural niman ranch (open pasture), vegan.
Dolev, my bartender / waiter, handed me a glass, "strawberry milkshake". I started with crabcakes with tartar sauce and a salad. I then ordered 2 hebrew national hotdogs with absolutely everything on them (a mountain of sauerkraut, chili, sweet relish,) and a side (fried plantains with cotija cheese).
"I can't eat those," Dolev said looking at the crabcakes. "They're not kosher." "They're delicious", i said. They were a little spicy. The salad was also lovely: arugula (the lettuce of the rich) with a light dressing.
If you're looking for hotdogs in an upmarket atmosphere, Westville would be the place to go. The hotdogs were plump and almost healthy tasting (which is ironic for a hotdog) and the plantains were perfect. I mean perfect! Soft, sweet and savoury. The hotdogs were really good. Some hotdogs you feel like you have to pump your stomach - these don't make you feel that way.
There are some organic options. The first Westville opened 5 years ago in the west village by chef / co-owner Jay Strauss. He designed the menu.
Dolev said he might try the crabcakes after work. "Lightning from the sky might hit me."
Lunch was busy. Edan said dinner was busier. Other items on the menu looked interesting. There was a grilled tilapia on a portuguese muffin with wasabi soy sauce. Dolev likes the turkey burgers. A customer next to me said he liked the poached salmon sandwich. Dolev held up an old fashioned sign 'best coffee in town'.
For dessert, i had the fruit (blueberry) cobbler with (Bassetts) ice cream. Warm and yummy.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Whole Earth - Vegan bakery-The search for a smoothie
I wanted a smoothie and a smoothie i got -
Thursday night, in the east village and the search for a smoothie begun. I didn't have to look very far as I remembered the sign for smoothies in the window of Whole Earth. One does not have to look to far in the city of New York to find a smoothie, they're almost like Starbucks.
Peter is the owner of Whole Earth and he was in the back baking. He came out to listen to my pitch and and started talking a little bit about the bakery. "Mom and I opened the door back on 11th August 1978, she was the guiding light. " I noticed in an article from a ways back in the Villager a headline: ' Filomena Silvestri - St Mark's Place earth mother dies at 94.'
He explained a little bit about vegan baking and handed me a sheet: the art of vegan baking. " We use certified organic flour. No brown or white sugar. We use alternative sweeteners." Indeed I saw a sign for Agave syrup (which made me think of Gwyneth Paltrow).
No dairy is used. No eggs. There are also wheat free, sugar free and gluten free pastries. There are soups and sandwiches. The smoothies are made with with either soy milk or rice milk which i like because i really like my smoothies with soy milk - they're really frothy.
"What would you like?" he asked. "A smoothie and a pastry." He ordered the banana berry. "It's high in antioxidants." The berries are cranberries and blueberries. Indeed my smoothie was very blueish and thick. Other smoothie names included: Protein blast, energy boost, Himalayan goziberry and like many health food stores you can add a supplement like wheatgrass, spirulina, vitamin c, ginseng, echinacea... (what they call a booster).
I noticed the coconut corn bread (2$). "I'll have a slice of that, " pointing to it. A little salty, a little sweet. Very good.
Smoothies: 6.50$ - 7.50$
Whole Earth on St Marks near Avenue A.
Thursday night, in the east village and the search for a smoothie begun. I didn't have to look very far as I remembered the sign for smoothies in the window of Whole Earth. One does not have to look to far in the city of New York to find a smoothie, they're almost like Starbucks.
Peter is the owner of Whole Earth and he was in the back baking. He came out to listen to my pitch and and started talking a little bit about the bakery. "Mom and I opened the door back on 11th August 1978, she was the guiding light. " I noticed in an article from a ways back in the Villager a headline: ' Filomena Silvestri - St Mark's Place earth mother dies at 94.'
He explained a little bit about vegan baking and handed me a sheet: the art of vegan baking. " We use certified organic flour. No brown or white sugar. We use alternative sweeteners." Indeed I saw a sign for Agave syrup (which made me think of Gwyneth Paltrow).
No dairy is used. No eggs. There are also wheat free, sugar free and gluten free pastries. There are soups and sandwiches. The smoothies are made with with either soy milk or rice milk which i like because i really like my smoothies with soy milk - they're really frothy.
"What would you like?" he asked. "A smoothie and a pastry." He ordered the banana berry. "It's high in antioxidants." The berries are cranberries and blueberries. Indeed my smoothie was very blueish and thick. Other smoothie names included: Protein blast, energy boost, Himalayan goziberry and like many health food stores you can add a supplement like wheatgrass, spirulina, vitamin c, ginseng, echinacea... (what they call a booster).
I noticed the coconut corn bread (2$). "I'll have a slice of that, " pointing to it. A little salty, a little sweet. Very good.
Smoothies: 6.50$ - 7.50$
Whole Earth on St Marks near Avenue A.
Sleep with me NY
My credit card is active again, but only temporarily. I had to pay off a debt at the hostel and now I only have a little bit of room on it to charge maybe a few more nights of hostel. Soon, i will have to barter for a bed. I am hoping that New Yorkers will come through for me.
I am still hoping to hear from all the places i sent my CV to. I may soon list you here. They are in the media industry.
I am still hoping to hear from all the places i sent my CV to. I may soon list you here. They are in the media industry.
Sitting on the bench at Cafe Mocha
I was sitting on the bench in front of Cafe Mocha in the east village where i started a conversation with a guy sitting next to me. "What are you reading i asked?" "I'm reading Lush Life by Richard Price". I was trying to remember what else he wrote when he said, "He wrote Clockers." "What's it about?" "Ir's set in the Lower East Side. He knows the neighborhood really well. It's a novel. It's really good. "
----
I tasted the free samples at Black Hound pastry: the coconut cake ( i had 3 pieces). Delightful. One free sample limit (which you find in some places) is very boring.
----
I tasted the free samples at Black Hound pastry: the coconut cake ( i had 3 pieces). Delightful. One free sample limit (which you find in some places) is very boring.
Veselka - challa-luliah
When i first walked in to Veselka, the cashier was wearing a t-shirt that read challa-luliah which i thought was quite amusing. It made me think that they might find my Feed Me NY pitch funny (it included a double meaning 'I'm not waffling') and they did.
And so I've been invited a second time for dinner to try the combination platter which i was told is quite popular among Ukrainian and non alike.
But first i will comment on the sticky bun (pecan cinnamon) breakfast pastry (or dessert if you prefer) which i took with me on my way out from eating breakfast there. if you like sticky buns, you will love this one. It is very sweet and lightly warmed, it is scrumptious. It's sticky and gooey and very satisfying.
Now for dinner. I was greeted by the night floor manager, Kawsar, who first had to check before offering me a seat. I sat at the counter which is where i sat the last time. My waitress Irene (Iryna - another attentive and very friendly waitress) suggested the deluxe combination platter which includes meat (there is also a vegetarian combo platter). "It includes soup and i would suggest the borscht, it is with beets, which is traditionally Ukrainian," she said. They offer other soups like lentil and split pea but i went with the borscht to fulfill the Ukrainian theme of the night and also because i have never tried Borscht. She explained the combo platter included a kielbasa (Ukrainian sausage), 1 meat pierogi, 1 cabbage pierogi, 1 potato pierogi, stuffed cabbage and a green salad. "Would you like to try Ukrainian beer?" she asked. "Sure". This particular type of beer is called Obolon.
You can't beet the borscht -
Iryna brought me a very colorful (deep pink / fuscia) bowl of soup and said that traditionally borscht is eaten with sour cream. She put some bread down and said "this is ukrainian style challah bread". The soup was sweet and very good. Next was the green salad which was a simple mixed green; light. The platter came next and she pointed to the different items on the plate which also included fried onions, beets.
The platter was very good and very filling. I took part of the sausage and the cabbage to go and had it for lunch the next day.
"How do you like working here?" I asked Iryna. "I love it," she said. " I am Ukrainian and I was so happy to come to US and find a Ukrainian restaurant in the middle of the east village. I was so excited." "How long have you been working here?" I asked. "Since February 2005." She continued," it is a good place to eat, it combines Ukrainian and American, we have burgers.... I have regulars that come once a year from Canada, they buy plates and mugs."
"We also have polish dishes like Bigos which is sauerkraut and porc," she said. "It has a lot of history." I did see a sign outside that read Patti Smith's last meal, I will have to ask about that.
Kurt, the cook behind the counter, asked me where I was from and he said: " I'm from Antigua, British Antigua. I've been here since 10. I'm working a double." He commented on my t-shirt and thought it was funny.
I ordered carrot cake for dessert which broke with the Ukrainian theme and then I felt a bit bad do I ordered another dessert to satisfy the theme: Kutya, a pudding made with whole wheat, berries, raisins, walnuts, poppy seeds and honey. I asked Iryna what it was and she said it is usually served as a Christmas dish but they serve it all year long.
"Did you like the Kutya?" It tasted like something you would find at a health food store. It is sweet, almost like a cereal.
Sonam, the take out guy, handed me a coffee to go and I was on my way.
Another great meal (on the house) at Veselka. Thank you!
Veselka - open 24 hours. Credit cards. Outdoor patio. Full menu.
And so I've been invited a second time for dinner to try the combination platter which i was told is quite popular among Ukrainian and non alike.
But first i will comment on the sticky bun (pecan cinnamon) breakfast pastry (or dessert if you prefer) which i took with me on my way out from eating breakfast there. if you like sticky buns, you will love this one. It is very sweet and lightly warmed, it is scrumptious. It's sticky and gooey and very satisfying.
Now for dinner. I was greeted by the night floor manager, Kawsar, who first had to check before offering me a seat. I sat at the counter which is where i sat the last time. My waitress Irene (Iryna - another attentive and very friendly waitress) suggested the deluxe combination platter which includes meat (there is also a vegetarian combo platter). "It includes soup and i would suggest the borscht, it is with beets, which is traditionally Ukrainian," she said. They offer other soups like lentil and split pea but i went with the borscht to fulfill the Ukrainian theme of the night and also because i have never tried Borscht. She explained the combo platter included a kielbasa (Ukrainian sausage), 1 meat pierogi, 1 cabbage pierogi, 1 potato pierogi, stuffed cabbage and a green salad. "Would you like to try Ukrainian beer?" she asked. "Sure". This particular type of beer is called Obolon.
You can't beet the borscht -
Iryna brought me a very colorful (deep pink / fuscia) bowl of soup and said that traditionally borscht is eaten with sour cream. She put some bread down and said "this is ukrainian style challah bread". The soup was sweet and very good. Next was the green salad which was a simple mixed green; light. The platter came next and she pointed to the different items on the plate which also included fried onions, beets.
The platter was very good and very filling. I took part of the sausage and the cabbage to go and had it for lunch the next day.
"How do you like working here?" I asked Iryna. "I love it," she said. " I am Ukrainian and I was so happy to come to US and find a Ukrainian restaurant in the middle of the east village. I was so excited." "How long have you been working here?" I asked. "Since February 2005." She continued," it is a good place to eat, it combines Ukrainian and American, we have burgers.... I have regulars that come once a year from Canada, they buy plates and mugs."
"We also have polish dishes like Bigos which is sauerkraut and porc," she said. "It has a lot of history." I did see a sign outside that read Patti Smith's last meal, I will have to ask about that.
Kurt, the cook behind the counter, asked me where I was from and he said: " I'm from Antigua, British Antigua. I've been here since 10. I'm working a double." He commented on my t-shirt and thought it was funny.
I ordered carrot cake for dessert which broke with the Ukrainian theme and then I felt a bit bad do I ordered another dessert to satisfy the theme: Kutya, a pudding made with whole wheat, berries, raisins, walnuts, poppy seeds and honey. I asked Iryna what it was and she said it is usually served as a Christmas dish but they serve it all year long.
"Did you like the Kutya?" It tasted like something you would find at a health food store. It is sweet, almost like a cereal.
Sonam, the take out guy, handed me a coffee to go and I was on my way.
Another great meal (on the house) at Veselka. Thank you!
Veselka - open 24 hours. Credit cards. Outdoor patio. Full menu.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Veselka - I am waffling, i want blintzes
2 days ago, I went in to Veselka, located on 2 nd avenue at e. 9th st, and spoke with Jason, the grandson of the original owner. He gave me a business card and said i should email Tom. I emailed him with my proposition and he replied with "deal, when do you want to come in and we can start with breakfast," implying there would be a second visit.
In my email, i suggested i could write something like I'm not waffling - i want Veselka waffles (after eying the menu), but after meeting again with Jason, he strongly recommended the Blintzes with either raspberry or peach sauce. "We specialize in eastern european (particularly Ukrainian) dishes." he said. "We also serve pierogis stuffed with cabbage, potato pancakes... we're also well known for breakfast, large portions and brunch is busy... we make our own buttermilk and buckwheat pancake mix from scratch... we have fountain drinks like lime cherry rickey which is seltzer with lime juice and cherry syrup... we make our own soups like borscht... you can start with blintzes and then come back and try a combination plate," he suggested rather generously.
Ben, the cashier,explained that veselka means rainbow in Ukrainian. Kinga, my waitress, brought out blintzes (Ukrainian style crepes) with both the peach and raspberry sauce without me having to ask. I was being treated like a queen. They were stuffed with sweet farmer's cheese and topped with sour cream. The raspberry sauce complimented the blintzes exquisitely. I told one of the main cooks, Celso, that i thought the sauce was delicious and he said, " made it myself". "Did you ?" "It's easy, boil water and add sugar." Both sauces had chunks of fruit which i think is far better than a simple coulis.
The coffee was bottomless and the orange juice was fresh. I took a sticky bun to taste their breakfast pastry (I'll get back to you on it) and a coffee milkshake which was what i would expect from a coffee milkshake: not too thick and coffeeish - good.
Irena, the floor manager, pointed out that every day there are different specials and many customers come in for them. Also, they serve to serve certain dishes with seasonal ingredients, for example, blintzes with peach sauce. I asked her whether she was Ukrainian and she explained that no, she was Polish and that in fact there are many Polish and Ukrainian that work in the kitchen and in the front of the house, and there are similarities between Polish and Ukrainian cuisine.
Before i left, Kinga told me she loved the potato pierogies with arugula and goat cheese and sour cream. "You should try them".
Maybe i will.
In my email, i suggested i could write something like I'm not waffling - i want Veselka waffles (after eying the menu), but after meeting again with Jason, he strongly recommended the Blintzes with either raspberry or peach sauce. "We specialize in eastern european (particularly Ukrainian) dishes." he said. "We also serve pierogis stuffed with cabbage, potato pancakes... we're also well known for breakfast, large portions and brunch is busy... we make our own buttermilk and buckwheat pancake mix from scratch... we have fountain drinks like lime cherry rickey which is seltzer with lime juice and cherry syrup... we make our own soups like borscht... you can start with blintzes and then come back and try a combination plate," he suggested rather generously.
Ben, the cashier,explained that veselka means rainbow in Ukrainian. Kinga, my waitress, brought out blintzes (Ukrainian style crepes) with both the peach and raspberry sauce without me having to ask. I was being treated like a queen. They were stuffed with sweet farmer's cheese and topped with sour cream. The raspberry sauce complimented the blintzes exquisitely. I told one of the main cooks, Celso, that i thought the sauce was delicious and he said, " made it myself". "Did you ?" "It's easy, boil water and add sugar." Both sauces had chunks of fruit which i think is far better than a simple coulis.
The coffee was bottomless and the orange juice was fresh. I took a sticky bun to taste their breakfast pastry (I'll get back to you on it) and a coffee milkshake which was what i would expect from a coffee milkshake: not too thick and coffeeish - good.
Irena, the floor manager, pointed out that every day there are different specials and many customers come in for them. Also, they serve to serve certain dishes with seasonal ingredients, for example, blintzes with peach sauce. I asked her whether she was Ukrainian and she explained that no, she was Polish and that in fact there are many Polish and Ukrainian that work in the kitchen and in the front of the house, and there are similarities between Polish and Ukrainian cuisine.
Before i left, Kinga told me she loved the potato pierogies with arugula and goat cheese and sour cream. "You should try them".
Maybe i will.
City Bakery - Birdbath - Vegan pastry
I met a girl named Meegan
She said she was a vegan
She fed me something tasting like grass
the second time she offered, i had to pass
but then i went to city bakery
where there really is no fakery
and ate a muffin with berry
which made me very very merry
I recited a slightly different version of this for Mary and Lauren at the City Bakery (your green bakery) on 7 th avenue in the west village in exchange for a berry muffin ( which was very hearty).
She said she was a vegan
She fed me something tasting like grass
the second time she offered, i had to pass
but then i went to city bakery
where there really is no fakery
and ate a muffin with berry
which made me very very merry
I recited a slightly different version of this for Mary and Lauren at the City Bakery (your green bakery) on 7 th avenue in the west village in exchange for a berry muffin ( which was very hearty).
TUE - home cooking thai food
TUE opened a couple of weeks ago and i have been eyeing it since it opened. I love thai food, I suppose that is a bit of a cliché, but i do love it as i do love pizza, waffles, burgers, italian, french, chinese, etc... I love food. That is why my project f(r)eed me NY is so exciting and i am really happy about the response i am getting. Although there have been rejections and many failed pitches, the successes are beginning to shine through.
F(r)eed me NY means : feed me, free and free me from hunger. I suppose it is a little melodramatic this whole project but eating in restaurants is not possible when broke and in between jobs and new to a city.
I walked up and down Greenwich avenue, near 6 th avenue several times before entering and offering my service as a writer in exchange for a free meal. Sam, the go to guy / manager was quite receptive, accepted and added "if this will help you."
I was offered a seat either inside or out and went outside as the summer air has been feeling like a warm blanket you never want to leave.
My waitress approached -whom later i was told her name is Tal , asked if i would like something to drink. "I'll have the thai iced tea with milk, " i said. She brought me a gorgeous looking orange rust colored drink in a tiny bottle (one of those old fashioned ones that milk used to come in); and a glass that looked like it was a jar. (very trendy these days). Nice presentation.
It tasted as good as it looked. A little bit sweet and spicy. I could not identify the ingredients so i looked up thai iced tea on wikipedia and the net and it explained that thai iced tea usually contains black tea leaves, sugar, condensed milk, star anise, orange blossom water, crushed tamarind seed, and some other spices.
I then ordered the creamy coconut milk, chicken, galanga and lemongrass soup. Again, beautiful and superb.
And for the entrée, i had the sauté stir fry with chicken, mixed vegetables and ginger sauce. Again, excellent. The vegetables were very fresh and not overcooked; the sauce was not invasive - there was merely a hint of it.
When finished, i asked Sam if it was a family business. "Yes'" he replied. "Is your mother the chef?" "She made the recipes, but we train people," he said.
I asked what TUE means. "It means lucky, happy, plenty, a blessing in thai."
I responded with: "It was a blessing eating here, thank you."
F(r)eed me NY means : feed me, free and free me from hunger. I suppose it is a little melodramatic this whole project but eating in restaurants is not possible when broke and in between jobs and new to a city.
I walked up and down Greenwich avenue, near 6 th avenue several times before entering and offering my service as a writer in exchange for a free meal. Sam, the go to guy / manager was quite receptive, accepted and added "if this will help you."
I was offered a seat either inside or out and went outside as the summer air has been feeling like a warm blanket you never want to leave.
My waitress approached -whom later i was told her name is Tal , asked if i would like something to drink. "I'll have the thai iced tea with milk, " i said. She brought me a gorgeous looking orange rust colored drink in a tiny bottle (one of those old fashioned ones that milk used to come in); and a glass that looked like it was a jar. (very trendy these days). Nice presentation.
It tasted as good as it looked. A little bit sweet and spicy. I could not identify the ingredients so i looked up thai iced tea on wikipedia and the net and it explained that thai iced tea usually contains black tea leaves, sugar, condensed milk, star anise, orange blossom water, crushed tamarind seed, and some other spices.
I then ordered the creamy coconut milk, chicken, galanga and lemongrass soup. Again, beautiful and superb.
And for the entrée, i had the sauté stir fry with chicken, mixed vegetables and ginger sauce. Again, excellent. The vegetables were very fresh and not overcooked; the sauce was not invasive - there was merely a hint of it.
When finished, i asked Sam if it was a family business. "Yes'" he replied. "Is your mother the chef?" "She made the recipes, but we train people," he said.
I asked what TUE means. "It means lucky, happy, plenty, a blessing in thai."
I responded with: "It was a blessing eating here, thank you."
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Hop Devil Southwest Grill - You had me at hell ya
Saturday night, by midnight i had had only one slice of pizza for dinner and headed over to the Hop Devil Grill tequila and beer bar on St Marks place to find Shaun the doorman trying to set up a date with a 'girl'. He called on Will the manager to come listen to my project proposition. He told me to come back tomorrow sunday around 3 pm when it would be less busy.
I came back the following day to find another manager Luis who was open and told me to order what i wanted.
You can find on the menu southwest cuisine like fajitas, tacos, quesadillas and even a holy chicken mole.
Rachel, the bartender, took my order of a chili burger, fries, tortilla chips and salsa. The woman sitting next to me, a visitor from Connecticut was drinking Chipotle beer (from the brewer Rogue) and said it was "good, and smoky."
I asked Rachel for a taste and indeed it was good and smoky.
The old fave Baracuda was playing on the CD player.
The chili burger was huge and messy and very satisfying.
Rachel admitted to keeping a blog at one time. "It's funny what you blog about when you are 15; i was blogging about being depressed.... "
Another customer came in and sat to the left of me. "I'm in here a lot," he said to me.
"What beer are you drinking?" i asked.
"Darkfish, 21% alcohol; you need 2 to get drunk... it's a great beer... it's from Delaware."
I looked up and noticed the organic beer: Wolaver's brown ale.
"I'm really a fan of the burritos. There's a good selection of beer in here," he added. Did guerrilla marketers send you in here ?
"What's your name?" i asked. "James". He then talked about all his favorite eateries in the east village.
Tuesday is taco tuesday 1 $. No bar is worth drinking at without a Happy hour: monday to friday 4 -7. Sunday 1/2 price burger 5 -10.
I came back the following day to find another manager Luis who was open and told me to order what i wanted.
You can find on the menu southwest cuisine like fajitas, tacos, quesadillas and even a holy chicken mole.
Rachel, the bartender, took my order of a chili burger, fries, tortilla chips and salsa. The woman sitting next to me, a visitor from Connecticut was drinking Chipotle beer (from the brewer Rogue) and said it was "good, and smoky."
I asked Rachel for a taste and indeed it was good and smoky.
The old fave Baracuda was playing on the CD player.
The chili burger was huge and messy and very satisfying.
Rachel admitted to keeping a blog at one time. "It's funny what you blog about when you are 15; i was blogging about being depressed.... "
Another customer came in and sat to the left of me. "I'm in here a lot," he said to me.
"What beer are you drinking?" i asked.
"Darkfish, 21% alcohol; you need 2 to get drunk... it's a great beer... it's from Delaware."
I looked up and noticed the organic beer: Wolaver's brown ale.
"I'm really a fan of the burritos. There's a good selection of beer in here," he added. Did guerrilla marketers send you in here ?
"What's your name?" i asked. "James". He then talked about all his favorite eateries in the east village.
Tuesday is taco tuesday 1 $. No bar is worth drinking at without a Happy hour: monday to friday 4 -7. Sunday 1/2 price burger 5 -10.
BUA - My thirst is toast
Saturday afternoon in the east village and it feels like a sauna. It's time for a drink and i entered the bar BUA on St Marks Place and met a bartender named Shane. He was easy. "I'll buy you a beer."
"What does BUA mean,"i asked. "It means victory in Irish Gaelic," he said. "Are you an owner?" "No, it was opened by a couple of guys from Ireland: Ruari, Dave and Marc." "What will you have?" "What is Yuengling?" I asked. "It is an American lager." "Where are you from love?" he called me love. "Montreal". I think i actually asked him whether he likes U2. Was it because he was Irish, maybe. i think it was the heat. "I hate Bono. He doesn't care about poverty in Ireland."
"What do you do besides work here?" "I am studying political science human rights law at Hunter college," Shane said.
"I'm from a town of 1200 people and 13 pubs, " he said.
He then put on a band that i had never heard of - the Thin Lizzies (i think that's what they were called). "They're from the 70's".
I asked for some maraschino cherries and Shane gave me 4. A customer came up to the bar and i said, " i just ate 4 maraschino cherries and 1 stays in your stomach for like a month," and he replied, "oh, that's 4 months." I was a little tipsy.
"What does BUA mean,"i asked. "It means victory in Irish Gaelic," he said. "Are you an owner?" "No, it was opened by a couple of guys from Ireland: Ruari, Dave and Marc." "What will you have?" "What is Yuengling?" I asked. "It is an American lager." "Where are you from love?" he called me love. "Montreal". I think i actually asked him whether he likes U2. Was it because he was Irish, maybe. i think it was the heat. "I hate Bono. He doesn't care about poverty in Ireland."
"What do you do besides work here?" "I am studying political science human rights law at Hunter college," Shane said.
"I'm from a town of 1200 people and 13 pubs, " he said.
He then put on a band that i had never heard of - the Thin Lizzies (i think that's what they were called). "They're from the 70's".
I asked for some maraschino cherries and Shane gave me 4. A customer came up to the bar and i said, " i just ate 4 maraschino cherries and 1 stays in your stomach for like a month," and he replied, "oh, that's 4 months." I was a little tipsy.
OST - No chocolate chip on my shoulder
I walked into OST on ave A ate. 12 th (referred to me by someone who works at Waffles and Dinges) and noticed some pretty good looking chocolate chip cookies. When you're broke and hungry, fantasizing about food becomes a major preoccupation. Food fantasies begin to rival sex fantasies. Especially in a city like New York where great food is everywhere.
I first spoke with Dan who explained to me that OST means east in German. "They are trying to go for an eastern european feel". Looking around i would say that it had a kind of boho upmarket or punk chic feel to it.
I said i noticed their coffee which is 'Intelligentsia' and is marketed as direct trade. "Is that like fair trade?" i asked. "fair trade is an international minimum wage; direct trade works directly with farmers and pays above fair trade, about 40 % above regular wages," Dan said.
I didn't mean to contradict Dan, but there are fair trade brands that work directly with farmers as well.
What is 'Intelligentsia' i asked. "They are a rotisserie from Chicago."
I then spoke with Katarina, part owner with husband Aaron. "Where did the eastern european theme come from?"
"I am from Slovakia. We wanted to create something resembling coffee shops in eastern europe like Budapest with a bohemian feel where people can sit and talk and read; for intellectual types like literary coffee shops, " Katarina said. Indeed there is a whole rack of magazines.
Balthazar provides their breakfast pastry and the Hungarian Pastry shop supplies other pastry. Westville supplies the cookies.
I tried the dessert that consisted of 2 chocolate chip cookies stuffed with Nutella. No chocolate chip on my shoulder. And an iced mocha.
They also have wifi except for weekends during the day when they are trying to encourage a more social atmosphere.
I asked Dan whether the cocoa used is also direct trade and he said that he believes it is also supplied by Intelligentsia.
Justice indeed can be sweet.
"We wanted to serve quality coffee and be responsible and local," she added.
I first spoke with Dan who explained to me that OST means east in German. "They are trying to go for an eastern european feel". Looking around i would say that it had a kind of boho upmarket or punk chic feel to it.
I said i noticed their coffee which is 'Intelligentsia' and is marketed as direct trade. "Is that like fair trade?" i asked. "fair trade is an international minimum wage; direct trade works directly with farmers and pays above fair trade, about 40 % above regular wages," Dan said.
I didn't mean to contradict Dan, but there are fair trade brands that work directly with farmers as well.
What is 'Intelligentsia' i asked. "They are a rotisserie from Chicago."
I then spoke with Katarina, part owner with husband Aaron. "Where did the eastern european theme come from?"
"I am from Slovakia. We wanted to create something resembling coffee shops in eastern europe like Budapest with a bohemian feel where people can sit and talk and read; for intellectual types like literary coffee shops, " Katarina said. Indeed there is a whole rack of magazines.
Balthazar provides their breakfast pastry and the Hungarian Pastry shop supplies other pastry. Westville supplies the cookies.
I tried the dessert that consisted of 2 chocolate chip cookies stuffed with Nutella. No chocolate chip on my shoulder. And an iced mocha.
They also have wifi except for weekends during the day when they are trying to encourage a more social atmosphere.
I asked Dan whether the cocoa used is also direct trade and he said that he believes it is also supplied by Intelligentsia.
Justice indeed can be sweet.
"We wanted to serve quality coffee and be responsible and local," she added.
Ess-a-Bagel - The search for breakfast
The begel -
It's nice not to have to beg for a bagel and with Ess-a-Bagel, i didn't really have to. Situated on 3 rd avenue at e. 21 st. Ess-a-Bagel is a family business started by Gene and Florence Wilpon and her brother Aaron Wenzelberg. Walking along 3 rd avenue, hunger struck so i walked in and hit them up for breakfast. I spoke with Michael Wilpon who at first was not entirely too receptive but then changed his mind when i persisted with my pitch and asked me what i would like to have. " a bagel ," "just a bagel," he asked. "No, a bagel with sun dried tomato cream cheese and a coffee," i replied. "How long have you been in business?" i asked. "32 years."
I ate my bagel quietly and thought about the people behind the counter. Who are they? Can i mention all of them? Do i interview them? On my way out, one counterperson spoke to me and said: "Kathy, don't forget to mention us," and pointed to the guy next to him and joked, " this is Alvin, he's the head of the counter and Alfonso's wife just had a baby." "What's your name," i asked. "Adel. And the woman at the cash, that's Laxme."
As AM New York reported about Ess-a-Bagels, they are big and beefy and very filling. And i might add, their sun dried tomato cream cheese is full flavored. And like most bagel places, they have a wide assortment of bagels and spreads.
Thanks Ess-a-Bagel.
It's nice not to have to beg for a bagel and with Ess-a-Bagel, i didn't really have to. Situated on 3 rd avenue at e. 21 st. Ess-a-Bagel is a family business started by Gene and Florence Wilpon and her brother Aaron Wenzelberg. Walking along 3 rd avenue, hunger struck so i walked in and hit them up for breakfast. I spoke with Michael Wilpon who at first was not entirely too receptive but then changed his mind when i persisted with my pitch and asked me what i would like to have. " a bagel ," "just a bagel," he asked. "No, a bagel with sun dried tomato cream cheese and a coffee," i replied. "How long have you been in business?" i asked. "32 years."
I ate my bagel quietly and thought about the people behind the counter. Who are they? Can i mention all of them? Do i interview them? On my way out, one counterperson spoke to me and said: "Kathy, don't forget to mention us," and pointed to the guy next to him and joked, " this is Alvin, he's the head of the counter and Alfonso's wife just had a baby." "What's your name," i asked. "Adel. And the woman at the cash, that's Laxme."
As AM New York reported about Ess-a-Bagels, they are big and beefy and very filling. And i might add, their sun dried tomato cream cheese is full flavored. And like most bagel places, they have a wide assortment of bagels and spreads.
Thanks Ess-a-Bagel.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Day 1 - BRGR is GR8 for feeding me
Last friday night, i walked into the BRGR on 7 th ave. hungry and hoping they would be my solution to my hunger problem. It was my first successful pitch and i landed a hamburger (named 'a beautiful day'). I approached the cashier with my story of being new to the city and being a struggling writer who has run low on funds (in between jobs). I offered to write a story about BRGR in exchange for food. She said she would have to get the manager. She walked to the back and another woman came and i pitched her the same idea and a little reluctantly she agreed and ordered a beautiful day. I went to sit and waited for a little while. A few people who came in after me got served before me. They seemed to have forgotten about me and i had to go ask the cashier who then went to the open kitchen ( a modern looking upmarket fast food type) and asked something. I went to sit back down and finally a burger came. I had to get up and go ask again for french fries. The whole place has a kind of a hip upmarket fast food feel to it as does the food. No major complaints however. The burger was more on the smaller side but it was quite tasty.
I did not get a chance to taste what New York magazine considers the best milkshake in New York: the blueberry pomegranate milkshake. I'm still waiting on that.
While waiting i got a chance to read their food philosophy hanging on their walls. They offer beef that is hormone and antibiotic free, as well as grass fed. The cows are raised in an open pasture and treated humanely.
So you can eat at a burger joint without feeling that you are going to end up in the joint .
BRGR was great for feeding me.
I did not get a chance to taste what New York magazine considers the best milkshake in New York: the blueberry pomegranate milkshake. I'm still waiting on that.
While waiting i got a chance to read their food philosophy hanging on their walls. They offer beef that is hormone and antibiotic free, as well as grass fed. The cows are raised in an open pasture and treated humanely.
So you can eat at a burger joint without feeling that you are going to end up in the joint .
BRGR was great for feeding me.
Snackalicious - 1 $ falafels
Political foodies everywhere may throw themselves in front of a truck after reading this blog, but at least they won't be alive to protest it.
ha ha!
A girl's gotta eat ( and get eaten) :
East Village - 2 nd ave at e. 6 th st.
Why they have named their hole in the wall Cinderella Snackalicious i know not but i found falafel sandwiches for 1 $. (thanks for the i o u)
Snackalicious: they're not falawful, they're falafelicious.
ha ha!
A girl's gotta eat ( and get eaten) :
East Village - 2 nd ave at e. 6 th st.
Why they have named their hole in the wall Cinderella Snackalicious i know not but i found falafel sandwiches for 1 $. (thanks for the i o u)
Snackalicious: they're not falawful, they're falafelicious.
Project F(r)eed me NY
Or how to score free food (when desperate)
My journey looking more like I O USA .
Update:
Extra extra
No longer on credit card because credit card is maxed out. Have not found work. Have not been offered a job. In Gizzi's café, on w. 8th where Jessie kindly gave me coffee on an i o u basis. (Starbucks would not).
The last week has been about feeding myself. How am i going to do it and where is this food going to come from; not in any political sense like what farm did my beef come from although those issues have actually come up but on a 'whose going to accept my proposition of blogging for bread and butter.' It's amazing how much bravura we can muster up when we're starving. One week i was living it up at the BBQ on w. 8th ( all day early bird special: soup, big chicken, corn bread and a side for 5$), the next week my credit card is declined and i'm looking for the soup kitchen which i found at a church along with soup - some very Hale and Hearty soup. A nice woman named Susan gave me 20 $ and told me to go get myself a meal - sadly i owed that money for a room.
If starbucks is mad i'm sorry, but what have they done for me lately. I even plugged them a while back in my ' 6 degrees of seperation' and what did i get? Sure they accepted my credit card when others would not ( there is a lot of 'cash only') in this town. so thanks, i got to have my coffee when i had no cash. ( I see button down starbucks looking guys walking by quickly and looking angry - a month of free coffee and the matter is resolved - and maybe a couple muffins, a few frappucinos and a vivanno).
Desperate for coffee:
Jared at the Pret a Manger offered a coffee on the house when i proposed to mention their coffee on my blog for one cup of coffee. 'You don't have to mention us, but have a cup of coffee', he said. I said i noticed that you advertise as fair trade and organic and he said, "we're trying to move forward'. It's the first i've heard of them.
Anyways, Project f(r)eed me NY is about getting fed in exchange for writing a story about whoever feeds me. It's not a hand out. I had to work really really hard the last four days to get fed. Reactions have varied from 'what do you want?' to 'have anything you want'; the latter being what we want to hear.
Extra Extra; extra corn bread please.
My journey looking more like I O USA .
Update:
Extra extra
No longer on credit card because credit card is maxed out. Have not found work. Have not been offered a job. In Gizzi's café, on w. 8th where Jessie kindly gave me coffee on an i o u basis. (Starbucks would not).
The last week has been about feeding myself. How am i going to do it and where is this food going to come from; not in any political sense like what farm did my beef come from although those issues have actually come up but on a 'whose going to accept my proposition of blogging for bread and butter.' It's amazing how much bravura we can muster up when we're starving. One week i was living it up at the BBQ on w. 8th ( all day early bird special: soup, big chicken, corn bread and a side for 5$), the next week my credit card is declined and i'm looking for the soup kitchen which i found at a church along with soup - some very Hale and Hearty soup. A nice woman named Susan gave me 20 $ and told me to go get myself a meal - sadly i owed that money for a room.
If starbucks is mad i'm sorry, but what have they done for me lately. I even plugged them a while back in my ' 6 degrees of seperation' and what did i get? Sure they accepted my credit card when others would not ( there is a lot of 'cash only') in this town. so thanks, i got to have my coffee when i had no cash. ( I see button down starbucks looking guys walking by quickly and looking angry - a month of free coffee and the matter is resolved - and maybe a couple muffins, a few frappucinos and a vivanno).
Desperate for coffee:
Jared at the Pret a Manger offered a coffee on the house when i proposed to mention their coffee on my blog for one cup of coffee. 'You don't have to mention us, but have a cup of coffee', he said. I said i noticed that you advertise as fair trade and organic and he said, "we're trying to move forward'. It's the first i've heard of them.
Anyways, Project f(r)eed me NY is about getting fed in exchange for writing a story about whoever feeds me. It's not a hand out. I had to work really really hard the last four days to get fed. Reactions have varied from 'what do you want?' to 'have anything you want'; the latter being what we want to hear.
Extra Extra; extra corn bread please.
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