"I have walked over it at least 3 times...I hope that makes me cool. It my favorite structure in the city. "
Buy it Now
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Friday, October 10, 2008
One Last Hurrah
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Ralph's Famous Italian Ices
The signs are everywhere: yellowing leaves, tiny dogs in tiny sweaters, flannel for function rather than fashion. Autumn is here. Thankfully, the kind people at Ralph's understand that wintery weather can't keep neighbors-in-the-know from his delicious ices. Throughout the summer the corner of Graham Avenue and Conselyea Street was a bustling cross-section of the local demographic, every imaginable type gathering to partake in ices and ice creams of even wider variety. Fruit and cream ices are a big draw, and I've heard it proclaimed by more than one self-styled connoisseur that Ralph's ice cream rivals even the purest boutique creams in the borough (oh, and BTW it's cheap! Two to three bucks, people!). But be warned! Despite perennial devotion, Ralph will close up in the winter months, so haul out your coat, excavate the pocketed crumpled bills and revel in the summer's last bliss before the city slips into a seasonal ice cream headache.
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Thursday, October 09, 2008
(Leg)Room With A View
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Penn Station
Wall Street is crashing, the ice caps are melting, oil prices are on the rise again, and mayoral term limits are optional. Time to get out of New York for the weekend. So pack your crap and get to Penn Station! Nearly a half-century after the original structure was demolished, the claustrophobic corridors thick with the scent of Auntie Ann’s continue to disappoint millions of passengers each year. The Amtrak-owned station services the Northeast Corridor and beyond, and there’s no more picturesque time of year to experience life beyond Metropolis. Despite an economic/ecologic-inspired increase in passenger traffic, fares are still relatively cheap and rarely sell out. Less cramped than the bus, guilt-invoking than a rental car, or aggravating than flying, Amtrak has plenty of reason for resurgence. The train warms the hearts of the eco-conscious and the false-nostalgic alike. Too bad after your weekend away you end up back in Penn Station.
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Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Utterly Mouthwatering
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Posted by: |
Rob Tallia |
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Photo: |
Courtesy of Grandaisy Bakery |
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Grandaisy Bakery
The king of all NYC bakeries, period. Its mouthwatering filone and pugliese loafs are on the tables of fine restaurants throughout the five boroughs--we've seen the restaurants mention where the bread is from many times, something that's pretty rare in NYC. But as great as its breads are, Grandaisy's take on "pizza" is its crowning achievement; one taste of its pomodoro (tomato), Bianca con pecorino, funghi (mushroom), patate (potato), cavolfiore (cauliflower), and seasonal options are enough for anyone to realize that this bakery is utterly brilliant and utterly unmatched by any other baker. If you want to have a small gathering and are stuck for something to serve that's better than chips and not as complicated as "real food," stopping by Grandaisy and picking up $50 worth of a sampling of pizza slices (between $2-4 each) will show every guest that you're an absolute gourmand. Chances are there won't be leftovers, but if there is--ah, what pleasure the next morning awaits you!
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Tuesday, October 07, 2008
The French Place with the Red Car
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Tournesol
A good French restaurant, especially in Queens, is hard to find. Okay, it's not that hard to find. Queen's best "Bistro francais," in Long Island City, has a tiny old red car in front of it. If you're in the neighborhood, you can't miss it. Herein lies the problem: most people wouldn't expect a restaurant with perfect steak frites to be on this side of the East River. But, dear reader, I would not be writing this if it weren't true; I would not have been going every Thursday night for the past year (and often on Sunday morning) if this weren't true. Because, even in comparison to the West Village's (over)abundance of French bistros, nothing comes as eerily close to perfection as Tournesol. The ratatouille, the lamb chop, every special I've ever had, the bearnaise sauce, the chocolate nougat dessert, the lightly chilled red wine...it's just so good. And the prices are significantly lower than those on the island of Manhattan. And the maitre d' gives me free Rose champagne. And everyone has real French accents. And I've overheard, on more than one occasion, real people from Manhattan saying it's their favorite French restaurant too. So go. And look for the red car.
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Monday, October 06, 2008
But Domino's Plays Top 40
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Arturo's
There's plenty of great pizza all over this fine city. But what place takes the crown for the total package? We're talking pizza, atmosphere, service, crowd...you know what I mean. DiFara's (if you can get a table) is like eating in a fluorescent fishbowl, Lombardi's classic interior was gutted by a misguided renovation a few years back, John's has a great divey vibe but way too many tourists. In my book there's only one pizza place that does it right: Arturo's. It has an old-school Greenwich Village atmosphere that you just can't find anymore. Live jazz every single night, a fantastic little bar, and yes, amazing pizza. But if any other pizza joint installs a bathtub in their bathroom, I just may reconsider.
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Archived Radars |
Hearst Tower: A Defense of Green
Go green. Live clean. Writer Tommy Rudnick : His noble-spirited environmentalism is evidenced by his mien.
Archived Features...
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