Munching on Mexican Menus
Posted by nycrushhour in Uncategorized on May 17, 2012
So, now that we’ve located New York’s best cheesecake as well as the best deli, it’s time to locate where the city’s best Mexican food can be found. Especially since we recently celebrated Cinco de Mayo; there must have been some restaurants competing for the title a couple of weeks ago.
However, while New York is definitely known for its cheesecake and probably its deli, one isn’t quite sure if the same can be said for its Mexican cuisine. True, there are approximately 600 Mexican eateries in the city, so there must be something worth munching about and thus talking about too. At least, that’s what Michelle Gross of The Daily Beast set out to prove.
Gross checked out the following Mexican food haunts: Taco Mix (in El Barrio – aka Spanish Harlem); where one can enjoy listening to jukebox music while eating pork straight off the sport with corn tortillas. Next there was Café Ollin known for its Oaxacan cheese, jalapeños, cow tongue (lengua) and the Mexican drink, tamarindo bebida. Then there are the Sunset Park torta y tamale stands and of course the somewhat infamous and popular Rico’s Tacos bursting with the smell of simmering carnitas. Filled with families and locals, it’s probably a good Mexican eatery as these are definitely not just first-timers hogging the joint.
But then it seems that if one wants to really say they have arrived vis-à-vis Mexican food in the city, they should check out La Esquina in Soho where the chiles rellenos and blue agave are something else. Gross also went to check out El Parador Café, Hell’s Kitchen and Mercadito, in the East Village although the last one didn’t give her much to write home about.
Muppets to Visit the City
Posted by nycrushhour in News on April 16, 2012
The Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, is trying lots of funky tricks to attract new visitors to The Big Apple. His latest action was his invitation to The Muppets to become New York’s “Family Ambassadors.” Along with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, it seems all The Muppets will be assisting Mayor Bloomberg in encouraging families to tour the city. Kermit plans to hang out in Central Park’s pond, but Miss Piggy will be enjoying a shopping soiree at Tiffany’s. As a team, The Muppets will be promoting some of the great attractions for families in New York, such as kid-friendly restaurants, recreational parks and more. According to statistics from NYC and Company, 15 million family visitors came to New York City in 2011, but there is always room for more.
New York City is definitely doing a lot to attract visitors. And clearly it’s working as Lady Gaga came to the tour the city recently too. But for the Mayor to kiss Miss Piggy, tongues started wagging. However, for Miss Piggy herself, it was all in a day’s work as part of the official New York City Ambassador group, promoting the benefits of the city for family travelers. And Bloomberg used the opportunity of announcing their new role in the city, to make jokes about The Muppets, including how other cities would become “green with envy” on hearing about Kermit’s new position in NYC. And then it was Kermit’s turn to respond and he pointed out that tadpoles have a great time vacationing in New York. Following that the event became a Muppets reunion.
Where is NYC’s Best Cheesecake Hiding?
Posted by nycrushhour in Uncategorized on March 22, 2012
A research test was undertaken by Sue Fast to finally be able to answer the following question unequivocally: where is the best cheesecake in New York City? Fast came from Vancouver for five days, and recorded her findings in an article for a Vancouver online magazine. Her mission was “to find the ultimate piece of New York cheesecake” in as true to New York form as can be: classic.
Her first stop was Junior’s Cheesecake and Desserts. It doesn’t sound like she was too impressed, attacking it for being lined with a “thin layer of flavorless sponge cake.” Not so New York either, she argued, since most cheesecakes proud of their NYC heritage do not even have a crust. However, since clearly cheesecake testing is a matter of taste, it’s hard to tell if one should trust the criticisms of Fast. One might instead want to look at what tweeter Pacman Wale said about the cheesecake from Junior’s, “if you ever come to New York you need to come here [as in Junior’s] they have the best cheesecake in America.” Hmmm…Who to trust?
Moving on to the second day of Fast’s quest, she arrives at Rocco’s. That seemed to satisfy her palette. She described it as having “the perfect consistency: baked golden and slightly drier on top, creamy through the middle and down to its crustless base. The flavors are a divine blend of cream cheese, vanilla, and a hint of lemon that result in a cheesecake that’s neither too sweet nor too tart.” How close to perfection can one get, one starts to wonder at this luscious description?
Moving on to Vaniero’s Pasticceria and Caffe in the East Village, which has been around since 1894. Apart from the cheesecake experience, Fast senses that she has gone back in time with the eatery’s cluttered antiques on the shelves. And as for the cheesecake itself, it is hailed as being “absolutely delicious.” It is creamy, light and “exquisitely smooth.” It seems like she’s found a winner.
But does that really man that Vaniero’s in the East Village indeed does possess the best cheesecake in New York? Again, it really is subjective and ultimately depends on your personal style and taste. For example, for tweeter J. Leandra, it seems simple and inexpensive fit her bill, as she tweets quite unequivocally, “New York cheesecake from Walmart the best.”
And ultimately, really it doesn’t matter which one you decide to indulge in. As tweeter Shannon King concluded, New York is a great place to be when your favorite dessert is cheesecake.
The Village Getting Spruced Up…
Posted by nycrushhour in Good Living on March 1, 2012
…But Don’t Forget the Man in the Street
It seems like there have been quite a few building renovations in the Village over the last year or so. Clearly lots of money has been spent. One may thus be forgiven for asking, what about the regular man in the street? The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 (NY’s largest grocery workers union) is fighting for a minimum wage increase to a mere $8.50 an hour. That means no matter how hard the regular man in the street is working, there’s no way he’s going to be able to afford to live in the city and stay above the poverty line.
East 4th Street Building Restoration
Still, for those who want to live in denial and enjoy the bourgeoning beauty of the city, check out the new look for the building on East 4th Street. See how far it’s come in less than four years and try not to think about how that money could have been perhaps better used on the city’s residents. Today it looks absolutely fabulous and yet has still retained a sense of New York’s modern history. It just no longer has the decrepit look it was known for back in 2008 thanks to the Rod Rodgers Dance Company, Studios and Duo Multicultural Arts Center, along with NYC itself which all donated funds to ensure this renovation was made possible.
This building has definitely been through some major changes during its history, ranging from a place to meet; a German music hall; ballroom; gay cinema; location for performances; hang-out for the likes of Andy Warhol, Jim Carroll and others who screened various controversial films, and more.
School Building Renovation
But this isn’t the only building in the Village that has undergone a rather expansive facelift. Indeed, there was even a blessing delivered by Cardinal Egan to mark the huge amount of work that was put into improve the outlook and facilities of the St. Raymond High School for Boys at the end of last year. The work that was undertaken is now enabling the staff to provide a better Catholic education – that is more modern – to the students there. This was made possible by the construction of a brand new library/media center; music room; computer room; arts room; center for senior guidance and recreation area on the rooftop.
Library Opening
And then going back a few months to July of last year, the city saw the opening of the Morrisville Public Library, which took 9 months to complete. The original building dates back to 1903, when it was opened to the public with a mere 760 volumes. Donated by Susanna Phelps Gage, it was erected in the 1850 Gothic Revival–style home of Henry and Mary Phelps. Today, the library boasts close to 18,000 volumes, and has thus certainly come a long way from its humble beginnings.
So there really are some exciting changes in the Village that are modernizing the city of New York while still retaining its tradition. It’s just a shame many of the people living there are not enjoying such fancy renovations but are focused on where there next meal is going to come from.
Historic and Beautiful Village East Cinema
Posted by nycrushhour in Night Out on February 13, 2012
Village East Cinema Main Auditorium
The Village East Cinema has a long, colorful history. First built in 1926, it opened as the Yiddish Art Theater in the New York’s Jewish Rialto district. The building was created to be an elaborate theater for Yiddish theater pioneer Maurice Schwartz and was designed by the Jewish community leader Louis Jaffe. The interior was designed in the Moorish Revival style which was prominent in synagogues of that time. The theater includes a forty-foot highly decorated ceiling with an amazing Star of David design in the center which can still be seen today.
The Yiddish Art Theater of Maurice Schwartz attracted such stellar guests as Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, George Gershwin and former New York City mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. In the mid-1900s the theater changed names several times, and finally as the landmark Phoenix Theater it housed such productions as “Oh! Calcutta”, “Grease”, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”, “The Princess and the Pea” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.
In 1992 the theater was converted and restored, and became the Village East Cinema. Today it is a lovely, seven-screen movie theater. Because of the sprawling, ornate main auditorium with orchestra and balcony seating and its oversized screen, this theater is still one of New York’s most wonderful places to view a film.
In 2006 the upper and lower lobbies were elegantly renovated with new concession stands and comfortable couches and lounging areas.
The Village East Cinema is located at 181-189 Second Avenue between East 11th and 12th Streets. Check the website for show times and what is playing.
Greek Revival Architecture on Colonnade Row
Posted by nycrushhour in Good Living on February 6, 2012
Colonnade Row
The East Village is full of things to do and see, including some astounding architecturally interesting buildings. At one site, known as Colonnade Row, there are four Green Revival mansions which were built in 1833. There were originally nine homes along this stretch of Lafayatte Street between Astor Place and East 4th Street, but the four remaining are enough to get a good feel for the elegance along this formerly exclusive strip.
The stonework on the buildings was done by inmates of the famous Sing Sing prison, and the once elegant (now a bit shabbier) buildings were home to the likes of John Jacob Astor and Cornelius Vanderbilt. Now these buildings serve as the homes of apartments, a lounge and a restaurant.
PS 122 Offers Something Different for a Change
Posted by nycrushhour in Night Out on January 30, 2012
Looking for that perfect performance art space that you have only dreamed of? Well you can make up and smell the stage lights; Performance Space 122 is just what you have been dreaming of. Located at 150 First Avenue at East 9th Street, PS 122 is a revamped public school now housing two performance spaces and one gallery space.
Expect the unexpected here, where the shows are inevitably innovative, avant garde and experimental. Presentations of theater, dance, music, film and video are all welcomed at PS 122.
Now in performance at PS 122 are “Newyorkland,” presented by Temporary Distortion; Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company’s presentation of the “Untitled Feminist Show;” and The Team’s performance of “Mission Drift. “
All shows are running now through February 4th. For more information call: (212) 477-5829 from 10am to 6pm.
Little Secret Gardens in the Big East Village
Posted by nycrushhour in Good Living on January 23, 2012
Fence Around El Sol Brillante Sr
El Sol Brillante, Sr is a little park in the East Village which is part of the East Village Parks Conservancy. The park, located on the south side of East 12th Street between Avenues A and B, is a lush, well-tended oasis in an otherwise harsh environment. A wonderful wrought iron fence surrounds the premises with a whimsical structure that bespeaks the delight held within.
If you are interesting in helping care for the garden’s grounds, there are regularly scheduled volunteer gardening days. For more information about the East Village Parks Conservancy and the many green spaces which the organization is protecting and taking delight in, contact them directly.
- El Sol Brillante Sr
Try Katz’s for a True Deli Experience
Posted by nycrushhour in Let's Eat on January 16, 2012
Katz's Deli Since 1888
Since 1888 Katz’s Delicatessen has been serving up some of the world’s greatest deli sandwiches on the Lower East Side of New York.
Today true delis are a rare breed. This special type of food emporium was created in the heyday of immigration to New York when newcomers to the US craved the flavors from back home, which were born from the reality of no refrigeration. Smoking and pickling and other food curing methods helped lengthen the lifespan of meat, and also gave meat a special flavor that could not be reproduced easily using other methods.
Katz’s Deli was a beloved eatery established by a Russian immigrant family. Today the tradition established then, which survived three depressions, uncountable recessions, and two world wars, keeps Katz’s on the map and in the hearts of its loyal customers.
Katz’s is located at 205 East Houston Street (corner of Ludlow St) For more information and their hours go to Katz’s or call 1-800-4-HOTDOG and/or (212) 254-2246.
Authentic Italian Delicacies in Little Italy at Di Palo’s Fine Foods
Posted by nycrushhour in Good Living on January 9, 2012
Are you in the mood for that perfect lasagna or baked ziti that only you know how to make? But what you need is some fresh, flavorful and wonderfully fanciful cheese. Luckily there is such a place in Little Italy (where else?) called Di Palo’s Fine Foods.
Fine Cheeses Available at Di Palo's Fine Foods
Located at 200 Grand Street between Mulberry and Mott Streets, just stepping into Di Palo’s is a treat unto itself. Founded in 1910 by the current owner’s great grandfather Savino Di Palo, as a latteria, it wasn’t until four years later that Savino was able to bring the rest of his family to New York.
Through the years and generations the Di Palo family has striven to bring the wonderful traditional cuisine of Italy to the shores of the United States. Today the present owner, Lou Di Palo is true to that tradition.
Cheese is not the only item on hand at Di Palo’s. In addition they offer oil, vinegar, pasta, rice, other grains, cured meat, coffee, honey and preserves, sweets and specialty items from northern central and southern Italy. Stop by and see for yourself what a true Italian delicacy can mean. Maybe you can even get a new recipe for lasagna while you’re there?
Di Palo’s is open Monday through Saturday from 9am until 7pm and on Sundays from 9am to 5pm. Call 212-226-1033 for more information.
