Boerum Hill's Building on Bond
At the risk of complying with national stereotypes, I don’t drink coffee. And with apologies to Sting, I’m not mad keen on tea either, my dear. So it may seem a little perverse that I’ve become a bit of coffeeshop connoisseur. After all, there’s only so many times a grown woman can order a hot chocolate or homemade lemonade with a straight face. But like half of Brooklyn I’m a freelancer, and given the choice between fidgeting at home alone and fidgeting in public with a load of comely strangers I’ll usually plump for the latter.
But it has to be the right kind of coffeeshop. Starbucks and its unsavoury corporate cousins leave me cold, but give me some mismatched furniture, free WiFi and a decent selection of figure-ruining cakes to choose from and I can almost forget I’m at work (bit of an occupational hazard in these places).
Park Slope’s Tea Lounge is the Big Daddy of the hot-beverage-with-benefits scene. As well as plenty of tea, there’s amazing vaguely hippie-style cakes and regular music and movie nights. The only problem is that that the big Union Street location tends to get rammed with yummy mummies and students… but the smaller Cobble Hill location is much more chilled out.
One problem with working outside of an office is knowing when to stop. Building on Bond have come up with an ingenious solution: come 4pm the WiFi gets turned off and the three hour Happy Hour kicks off, with £3 pints. Now that sounds like the perfect end to a productive day to me…
Over the link for some more great places for caffine and procrastination in my ‘hood: Read more »
Tags:
Boerum Hill,
Brooklyn,
coffee,
Park Slope
As part of its Housing Works Playhouse children’s music series, Housing Works Bookstore Café will present a special intimate performance by children’s music groups Brett Band and Joanie Leeds and The Nightlights on April 18th at 11am.
Come dance, jump, clap and sing along with popular NYC based children’s songwriter/performer/educator, Brett Rothenhaus and his band “Brett Band for Kids!” They’ll perform original tunes from his Parents Choice Award Winning album, as well as a couple of kid’s classics, and some rock n roll favorites too!
Singer/Songwriter and Early Childhood Music Educator Brett Rothenhaus <http://brettband.com/> got his start in the world of kids’ music as one of the original teachers and lead performers for Little Maestros.
Joanie Leeds <http://www.joanieleeds.com/> turns out songs reflecting the sense that life is a joyful adventure.
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe is a nonprofit bookstore, cafe and event venue stocked entirely by donations and run largely by volunteers. The store hosts readings, concerts, panels, parties, stand-up comedy, spelling bees, trivia nights and more; offers great coffee, wine and beer, homemade baked goods and snacks; free wi-fi; and the opportunity to rent the space for private events. All proceeds benefit Housing Works, the nation’s largest community-based AIDS service organization. Since 1990, more than 20,000 homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS have received lifesaving services including housing, medical and mental health care, meals, job training, drug treatment, HIV prevention education and social support.
www.housingworksbookstore.org
www.twitter.com/housingworksbks
www.facebook.com/housingworksbookstore
housingworksbookstore.tumblr.com
Tags:
Books,
Brett Band,
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe,
Housing Works Playhouse,
Joanie Leeds and The Nightlights
Where: teneleven, 171 Avenue C (btw. 10th and 11th Streets), East Village, NYC
When: Saturday, April 17, 8pm (peformances start at 9pm)
Description:
The extravagance of 1770 rococo Paris meets the eclecticism of 2010 underground New York nightlife.
Think Amadeus, Marie Antoinette, the Marquis de Sade, etc… but with a thoroughly modern twist.
This 7th installment of the Party will feature burlesque, fire-dancing, sword play, feats of endurance, magic, juggling, spectacles, vocal cartooning, live art, and live techno baroque rock music.
Powdered wigs, powdered faces, candelabras, masques, and big hair will all abound at the most baroque ball since the guillotine came down!
Check out pictures of previous parties:
By Gabi Porter, of Metromix:
http://newyork.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/essay_photo_gallery/return-of-rococo-a/1609240/content
By Lucas Jackson, of Reuters:
http://in.reuters.com/article/RCOMIN_ENT/idINRTXDEM8
By Miss Maro, of the Village Voice:
http://www.villagevoice.com/slideshow/view/240565
By Ben Deibert:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjames/sets/72157613218215913/
Featured Performances by:
Katy Antoinette – Juggling (www.myspace.com/katysandomenico)
Miss Em - Burlesque
Honor Amongst Thieves – Swords, Fire, Bed of Nails, and More! (www.HATsideshow.com)
Anna Jacobson – Fire and poi dancing (www.anna.jacobson.net)
Kat Mandu- Burlesque (www.myspace.com/kat_mandu22)
Pandora – Burlesque (www.myspace.com/pandoraburlyq)
Paula K - Burlesque/Performance Art (www.paulakohatsu.wordpress.com)
R. J. Williams – Mentalist (www.middletonowhere.com)
Zero Boy – Vocal Cartooning (www.zeroboy.com)
Snazz Mammoth - Electronic Baroque Cello Rock and Live Art (www.myspace.com/snazzmammoth)
Colorform - Music and Live Art (www.virb.com/colorform)
…and More!
10$ is the Cover. 5$ with Costume. Masks will be available.
BEST COSTUME wins a Prize!
Costumes encouraged, but certainly not required!
For More Information:
www.returnofrococo.com
[email protected]
www.myspace.com/snazzmammoth
Tags:
Baroque Bash,
East Village,
Events,
nyc,
The Return of Rococo Party
Lara also is founder and editor of Grits in the City
The Spotted Pig – West Village
I’ve been meaning to try The Spotted Pig since I moved to New York City over two years ago. I’ll admit, it is the usual wait time I’ve heard about from basically all sources which has kept me away. Overall, I like low-stress and unrushed brunches. However for certain restaurants, you’ve just got to make an exception. At least once anyhow…
This outing coincided with the inaugural outing for Babes Who Brunch. Since we had a fair sized group and they do not take reservations, we were there right when they opened. Sometimes this itself is not an effective strategy (this is definitely the case with Clinton Street Baking Company – arrive at opening time and you’ll be greeted by a long line of people who have been there already for an hour), but in the case of the Spotted Pig, I was relieved to see lots of empty tables, no line, and that there’s even a decent-sized seating area upstairs.
Upstairs Area – The Spotted Pig
Once seated upstairs, our server was very attentive, coming over to check-in with us and to share the specials. I could quickly tell that he really knew their food, as I asked him several throughout our table’s ordering process. I couldn’t make up my mind and I saw once our entrees came out that he’d made a spot-on assessment. I’d been toying with the idea of the frittata until he said it was very heavy. This was confirmed when my friend who did order it told me later in the day that she was still full. He’d told me if I wanted bacon, the Dutch baby was what I should choose. I learned something else when another friend tried to order a side of bacon – very little flexibility on the menu options. No sides of bacon here. Either a side of serrano ham or you’d better be getting the Dutch baby too. Read more »
Tags:
BabesWhoBrunch,
brunch,
city grits,
lara ruth,
Manhattan,
Spotted Pig,
west village
As important as it is that we overcome speechlessness with Alice Walker, it’s still April, which means it’s still National Poetry Month. And the place I wanna be is not the Eastern Congo, digging through the wreckage of race and genocide. No, I’d rather wander the stacks at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, nibbling on a “crisped rice square” with one hand and balancing a Cup-o-Joe with the other, thank you very much.
To celebrate poetry month, Housing Works welcomes Pulitzer Prize–winning author James Tate, who has spoon-fed audiences life-changing realizations by way of his beautifully ratty poems for over 40 years. His latest collection, The Ghost Soldiers, released nearly two years ago, still has nothing to say about nothing and does so in a way that makes Tate difficult to ignore:
“This World Peace stuff is a load of crap,”
I said. “Men are killing each other all over the globe. That’s
what they do. They hate each other over land, religion, money,
whatever. It’s a way of life. What are we supposed to do, take
that away from them?”
Pulitzer Prize-winning author James Tate at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe ( 126 Crosby Street), Thursday, April 15th at 7 p.m. – This is a free event. James Tate will be joined by fellow poets Danielle Pafunda and Sabrina Orah Mark.
Tags:
92 Street Y,
Alice Walker,
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe,
James Tate,
National Poetry Month
Welcome back fellow bees to another season of The Paulinator’s guide to gay life and the city. This time around I’ll be focusing on hot spots that are perfect for romantic rendezvouses and giving you a little insight on how this bee is paulinating throughout the city, looking for love.
When last we met, The Paulinator was traveling far and wide to seek the attention of an Argentinian out on Long Island. Needless to say, the commute, his green card marriage and his no alcohol policy were three strikes against him. While the thought of an exotic boyfriend danced around in my mind, I needed to be realistic and go with my gut on this one. Was I heart broken? No, not so much, but I was sad that I was back to square one, that is until I decided to step up my game and make it my mission to seriously start dating more. Read more »
Tags:
44 1/2,
First Dates,
Green Card Marriage,
Hell's Kitchen,
The Paulinator,
Twitter
On Monday, May 24, come to Book Culture in Morningside Heights for a celebration of the release of One of Us, a new children’s book from Peggy Moss & Penny Weber about bravely being who you are! The book is being released in conjunction with Powered by Girl, a new campaign from Hardy Girls Healthy Women designed to educate young teen girls about the impact of media on their lives and empower them use their creativity, wit, and individuality to make a difference. With inspiring speakers, art, great food and much more, there really will be something for all ages and interests at this lively event!
Bring the kids to Book Culture on Broadway (Broadway at 114th St.) at 4:00pm for their own book launch, recommended for ages 5-11. They’ll be one of the first to hear this brand-new story, read by author Peggy Moss, and will see first-hand how a book is made. Then they’ll dive into the glue & glitter with illustrator Penny Weber to create their very own starring characters, just like Roberta and her friends in One of Us!
Read more »
Tags:
Book Culture,
children,
Children Books,
family,
morningside heights,
One of Us,
Peggy Moss,
Penny Weber
Lara also is founder and editor of
Grits in the CityA friend of mine was dying to try out
Highlands, as she’d been craving some true Scottish fare and had heard this might be as close as it gets in the city. Located in the West Village, Highlands describes itself as a contemporary Scottish gastropub. And my friend’s Scottish. Super Scottish, as in her family knows where to order their family’s tartan type Scottish. Me? I’m sadly only able to say I “think” I’m the majority Scottish… but I was 100% interested in trying out somewhere new. The stars even lined up so as for Highlands to be the featured special that day on Blackboart Eats (if you haven’t checked out the site, it’s a wonderful way to get free discounts to restaurants in NYC).
Lamb Sausage Rolls – Highlands
To start off, we decided to split a couple of appetizers. I’d read wonderful things about the lamb sausage roll, which was prepared with mint, upland cress, and harissa aioli. When it came out, the dish was essentially two giant grown-up versions of pigs-in-a-blanket, substituting in lamb for the pork. The bread casing was thicker and flakier than for pigs-in-a-blanket and the lamb was fresh, slightly minty, and crumbly. It was quite good, although slightly on the heavy side for an appetizer. If you’re wanting something heartier, it’s a good way to go. We also ordered the house cured Loch Duart salmon, which was served with pumpernickel crostini. The salmon was so light and fresh, it was a refreshing change from the sausage roll. Both of the ones we selected were delicious, but I’d recommend the salmon over the sausage. Read more »
Tags:
Cocktails,
Dish Buzz,
Good for Drinks,
Grits in the City,
Haggis,
Highlands,
lara ruth,
Scottish Butter Cake,
west village
Courtesy of NY Times Cityroom
Recently, David Yassky, the erstwhile Brooklyn city councilman and candidate for comptroller, was confirmed as the chairman of the Taxi and Limousine Commission. He will be czar of the city’s livery and yellow cab industry — “a steward of this icon,” in his words.
A son of Manhattan and Princeton, Mr. Yassky is known among lawmakers for his intellect, which he honed at Yale Law School and later as a professor at Brooklyn Law School. He has been the author of federal gun-control legislation and once worked for Edward I. Koch.
Presumably, he also takes cabs — although a recent study suggested that very few taxis pick up passengers in Brooklyn Heights, Mr. Yassky’s home. In fact, Mr. Yassky said at his confirmation hearing that part of his charge was to “ensure the industry serves all parts of the city effectively.” Read more »
Tags:
Brooklyn,
Christine C. Quinn,
City Hall,
David Yassky,
environment,
Government & Politics,
Highlights,
livery cabs,
Manhattan,
Matthew W. Daus,
Off the Rails,
Queens,
Staten Island,
taxi and limousine commission,
Taxi Workers Alliance,
taxis,
the Bronx,
transportation,
William Lindauer
