As I revealed in my previous post: musicals are amazing. I love musicals—all musicals, including those with poor critical stature. So when I was invited to see The Little Mermaid on Broadway, I was, of course, ecstatic. My favorite childhood movie growing up was The Little Mermaid, and it would only make sense that the musical equivalent would be equally amazing.
It was. The costumes, the songs, the stage—all great.
Close your eyes and think of five clumsy moments in American history — you know, instances when our nation was a bit off-kilter. Here’s what my brainstorm produced: George W. Bush’s presidency, the years when “The Osbournes” was a widely-viewed reality TV show, Sarah Palin — period, Prohibition during the roaring ’20s, and, naturally, this recession.
The only thing worse than rehashing uncomfortable moments of the past (such as, ahem, that little thing called the “Great Depression” back in the ‘30s) is the idea of weathering this recession with any kind of legal restriction on alcohol. But strangely enough the “Speakeasy,” an establishment that illegally sold alcohol during the Prohibition, has returned to New York as an emerging trend for restaurants and bars. I guess it’s just fun to pretend that the biggest problem right now is finding a drink.
Katz’s. Katzing. Katz as Katz can. The sound of one Katz clapping. Katz, the Musical. Katzmandu. Katzooks…
A quick brainstorm of Katz-play, Katziphenelia (but not a Katzechism), most of them not worth the ink they aren’t printed on, most of them reeking of indolence. I don’t want to write Chapter Four. I don’t want to write about how Katz’s, my best hope for a Reuben to rival Canter’s, was vanquished in single combat in the arena of memory. So maybe I just won’t, maybe I’ll skip all the sordid details, the parries and thrusts, the guts hanging out, the blood. Maybe I’ll just write about what was, really, an excellent sandwich. I mean, look at the picture. It looks even better in 3D, less warped by the sag of gravity, unbitten, more evenly distributed. But no–the wounds are too new, and speak to me so. Compare them I must.
Sometimes the Upper East Side can feel like a Stepford town, where the ivy-covered brownstones are as indistinguishable as their owners and the local restaurants feel interchangeable. Somewhere in between the monotonous blur of power-walking housewives and black town cars toting businessmen to and from Wall Street, lies a quaint Brazilian restaurant that offers an exciting alternative to the usual favorites.Zebu Grill is a cozy restaurant with a rustic feel. Tucked away on a quiet side street, the friendly staff is quick to make you feel at home.The menu offers a wide array of authentic Brazilian cooking, enhanced by the charming ambiance and the killer drink menu that keep you wanting more.
A friend of mine had recently taken a trip to Brazil and was raving about Brazil’s national drink called the caipirinha.Feeling adventurous, we decided to find a Brazilian restaurant that offered this exotic cocktail.Though New York is deservedly known for its variety of cuisines from all over the world, there are surprisingly few Brazilian restaurants offering quality meals at affordable prices.For this reason, Zebu Grill is truly a great find.Though their menu caters mostly to meat lovers, though there are vegetarian options and delicious seafood dishes that provide lighter but no less delectable alternatives.The drinks can be a little pricey, but they are absolutely worth the splurge.Zebu’s house mixologist offers a variety of colorful drinks that all have a touch of Brazil; the typical caipirinha, made with limes, Leblon cachaça (a Brazilian alcohol much like vodka), and a hint of sugar also comes in fruitier varieties called caipifrutas that are infused with fresh mango, cashew, passion fruit, guava or lemon in addition to the usual ingredients.
Though it may seem that I spend all of my time either thinking or speaking about Top Chef, I really only spend, say, sixty percent of my day doing so. I spend the other forty percent either sleeping, eating, or listening to musical soundtracks on repeat. Fact: musicals are amazing. One of my life goals is to perform in a musical. However, if Broadway continues to suffer as it is now, there will be no musicals open to cast me. So, bottom line: support Broadway to support my musical-theater career.
Here’s why: The musical experience is a magical one. The songs are typically up-beat and cleverly written (featuring a token, sentimental slow song, or two), and the dancing that complements the music is always captivating and fun. Also, each musical has its own style and theme that are usually specific to the time in which the musical takes place. For example, if you’re a fan of the tunes and dance moves of the 60’s, then you’re guaranteed to love “Hairspray.” If you prefer rap music and Latin dancing, then “In the Heights,” is the musical for you. “In the Heights” is my favorite musical. Honestly, even if you hate musicals and are determined to never see one, you should make one exception and give “In the Heights” a try. It’s just so great. At least watch the YouTube clip, conveniently located below.
Close your eyes and think of five clumsy moments in American history — you know, instances when our nation was a bit off-kilter. Here’s what my brainstorm produced: George W. Bush’s presidency, the years when “The Osbournes” was a widely-viewed reality TV show, Sarah Palin — period, Prohibition during the roaring ’20s, and, naturally, this recession.
