Because, despite today’s spring-like weather, the world still sucks and we wanted to say something mean about someone, we dropped in at the Housing Works Bookstore and Café’, located on Crosby Street, and our faith in humanity was slightly restored. Main floor and mezzanine look more like an eccentric—though literate millionaire’s library. And, just like Barnes and Noble (which, we’re told, is mean to puppies), in the cafe section tables awaited and we read and we ate—knishes, quiche, sandwiches, soup, pastries, cake, coffee, tea, beer, wine, and more. Best of all, our money went to an organization that gives medical services, housing, and employment to more than 2,500 homeless HIV-positive New Yorkers.
Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe: 130 Crosby Street.
Posted in Books/Films/Media, Food & Fashion on March 7th, 2010 | 
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bookstore cafe Housing Works Soho
Until yesterday, the Bellini—a cocktail/nuclear device equal parts Champagne and peach juice—did not appeal to us. We’re more Jack on the rocks types. Then we swaggered into Cipriani at 55 Wall Street, whose owners have gained fame for refusing to serve food critics, and were surprised. We are not saying the fruity cocktail is worth $16 a glass—few cocktails are—just that this drink is pungent and slightly amazing, provided you get it, as we did, freshly-mixed.
Posted in Food & Fashion on February 25th, 2010 | No Comments »
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Because we are old, we half expected the doormen standing guard to the entrance of the Ace Hotel’s Lobby Bar, to grimly bar us. Located at 20 W. 29th Street, near the corner of Broadway, the space is casually hip, unpretentious, though spectacular–a big room with comfy chairs and couches, and free Wi-Fi—thus the many people hanging out all day (don’t these people work?), driving the nice waiters bonkers. Nestled into that spectacular lobby, are a coffee shop and a restaurant, The Breslin Bar.
Some history: In the 1870s, an entertainment district blossomed near Madison Square, along with hotels and restaurants. One of these was James H. Breslin’s eponymous hotel, rising in 1904. “French Renaissance in design, it was built of brick and terra cotta. By this time, the area was already off the beaten track, for entertainment and hotels,” says a recent Times pictorial. It eventually became a rent-stabilized SRO, before emerging as the “hipsterific” Ace, spawning a number of ongoing disputes between the new owners and the left-over tenants who have charged, among other things, that they are not allowed to use the lobby.
We don’t see how that’s possible. Anyone can hang out in the lobby, without actually buying anything. That’s what we did—staring off into space, mentally putting the Ace on our cheap date list, our hang-out list, our email-checking list.
It’s cold outside, baby. Kill time at the Ace.
Posted in Food & Fashion, The City on February 16th, 2010 | No Comments »
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29th Street ace hotel Breslin Bar broadway. cheap dates chelsea hipsters lobby bar madison square new york city hotels wi-fi
Someday, we’ll wonder where we were on February 6, 2010, Super Sunday Eve, and we’ll look at this—the 14th Street exit from the 7th Avenue-Broadway IRT express—and feel a trillion times more than when we gaze on Picasso’s Guernica, or listen to Karen Carpenter singing “Close to You.”
Better than Superbowl XLIV
Posted in The City on February 15th, 2010 | No Comments »
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We just got back from Vietnam, a country so money-hungry, so capitalistic—Hanoi and Saigon—that we came away with two strong impressions: 1) Because the people are smart, can-do, petite, cheerful and in a charmingly-crazed sort of way, the place struck of as being populated by Asian Reese Witherspoons. And 2) what a stupid waste the war was.
So after reading the Times rave, we were eager to visit the Arts of Ancient Vietnam exhibit at the Asia Society. First off, we dislike large museums—the Asia Society is tiny—and we love exhibits that don’t try to crowd everything into one room. This one has exquisite sculptures, from the coastal kingdoms of Champa to the kingdom of Funan in the Mekong Delta. Our favorites are the delicate designs on ceramic plates recovered from a ship that went down in the South China Sea.
Through May 2.
Posted in The City on February 15th, 2010 | No Comments »
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The beautiful thing about this country, no matter how un-chic you are, how empty your wallet, the stores on Madison Avenue still buzz you in. So we are walking past 940 Madison Avenue, a former Chase Manhattan bank, transformed by architect Peter Marino into the flagship for designer Bruce Hoeksema’s VBH uber-luxury line of bags and jewelry. Gorgeous place, but spooky. In fact, aside from the five staffers and security guards, VBH is post-Apocalyptic empty. Customer-wise, we are it. Still, we make our way to the bank’s former and still-thrillingly claustrophobic vault (see above), and we stop in front of these earrings. We don’t usually notice earrings–but these are special–peacock tails of glitter fanning out from Mexican opals. And, don’t laugh, we ask the very nice salesman the price.
“$300,000.”
“$300,000?”
“$300,000.”
VBH 940 Madison Avenue
Posted in Food & Fashion, The City on February 6th, 2010 | No Comments »
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Bruce Hoeksema fashion jewelry Madison Avenue Mexican Opal VBH
Wisdom has it, that pizza prices keep pace, more or less, with subway fares.
Not so at 2 Bros Pizza and 99¢ Cent Fresh Pizza, with three and four locations respectively in Manhattan.
Bite per penny, we choose 2 Bros as the best cheap slice in Manhattan. Plain slice costs a buck (tax included); two slices and soda are $2.75. Just as tasty and nearly as filling as Ray’s – for less than half the price. We’re partial to the branch at 543 Ninth Avenue (West 40th Street), which offers dollar items other than pizza: rice, French fries, yams, and fried chicken legs for $1, broccoli or string beans for $1.50, and jerk chicken for $2.
Unlike 2 Bros, 99¢ Fresh Pizza’s price does not include tax; actual price is $1.07. Slices, while far from the worst (see Chicago Uno), taste undercooked. Plus they are thinner than 2 Bros, thus less filling. What we do like about 99¢ is the option of a 16” pie for $7.
Let’s not quibble. All seven spots are a cheap bastard’s dream.
Posted in Food & Fashion, The City on January 31st, 2010 | No Comments »
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Julius C performed at the corner of Broadway and Waverly, June 21, 2007, and they shook that tiny crowd. This is what rock and roll is supposed to be…young, dumb, and street.
Julius C, wherefore art thou?
Posted in Arts & Events, The City on December 21st, 2009 | No Comments »
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music video
Every so often, someone comes up with an idea that’s so friggin’ genius we lap our heads with admiration and envy. Sushi? Karaoke? In one place? Damn! Damn! Damn!
EAST JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 366 3rd Ave, New York 10016
Thanyawan Ausaraurak
Posted in Food & Fashion, The City on December 15th, 2009 | No Comments »
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karaoke sushi
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