Buffet’s are tough to get right. The concept behind unlimited food at a reasonable prices is simply too good to be true. That being said, when I went to Larosh, the Indian/Pakistani/Bengali Buffet on 29th Street, I was not anticipating the best Indian food of my life. I came in with an understanding that the food might not be straight-off-the-pan hot and served in an elegant atmosphere. And so I was very pleasantly surprised by my $10 meal.
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No Comments | Posted on November 30, 2009 | Categories: Dining, From the Blog, Manhattan, Neighborhoods
tags: Austin Moukattaf, cheap, Food, full for ten, indian food
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zagatbuzz/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
On a dark and rainy night, my friends and I ventured off the all-too trodden path which is Bedford Avenue and hurriedly walked Williamsburg’s deserted streets to The Woods, a recently opened bar on South 4th Street between Wythe and Kent. Clutching our stomachs with hunger and on the verge on dehydration, we immediately rushed inside.
We found ourselves in a room with a long, crowded bar and a few tables in the back, opening up tons of space for what I imagined would turn into a huge dance party by the end of the night. A small stage suggested that shows and concerts probably take place under the high ceilings and between the exposed brick walls. Then we saw the sign: “Taco truck in the back,” which led us out into the spacious backyard, where I could just imagine sipping a cold beer on a warm summer’s day. Read the complete post »
2 Comments | Posted on November 28, 2009 | Categories: Brooklyn, From the Blog, Neighborhoods, Nightlife, Williamsburg
tags: alcohol, beer, booze, brooklyn, cheap, Food, tacos
My family has a tradition of spending the night before Thanksgiving each year walking the path of the Macy’s 
Thanksgiving Day Parade, and this year was no different. For those too busy to attend the actual parade, the balloon inflation is an excellent opportunity to see the incredible size of the balloons, with enough time to get home in time to cook your turkey. But be warned: the event is not for the faint of heart. The parade route is incredibly stuffed with people, crowd control, and NYPD auxiliary as far as the eye can see, keeping visitors inside the metal gates, and making sure we all cross at the green. “This is like Disney World!” I heard one mother remark to her husband. “No, it’s worse,” he grumbled back.
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No Comments | Posted on November 26, 2009 | Categories: Event-Related, From the Blog
tags: balloon inflation, balloons, Deborah Stack, free, holiday events, Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, thanksgiving
This past Sunday, I ventured to the East Village for the sweetest of sugary excursions. I joined Bruce Scher, founder
of Walking Tours Manhattan, and 30 other similarly sweet-obsessed New Yorkers on a cupcake crawl. Scher’s tours focus on the culinary treasures of the city, and Sunday’s was part of a series of monthly dessert crawls where participants are asked to donate a mere $5 that goes towards fighting hunger in New York, and, of course, to pay for their own sweets.
A cupcake enthusiast myself, I was eager to test out the famed gems of Baby Cakes ($3.25 per cupcake), a charming all-natural, organic, vegan, gluten and wheat-free bakery that also happened to be the first stop on our tour. Even without butter and sugar, these inventive bakers have come up with a way for us to enjoy the delight of sweets without the potential health hazards. The frosting was creamy and delicious, and while the cake itself was not as decadent, for a cupcake without butter, it was impressive.
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No Comments | Posted on November 25, 2009 | Categories: Dining, East Village, Event-Related, From the Blog, Manhattan, Neighborhoods
tags: cheap, cupcakes, dessert, Food, food crawl, Gila Schwarzschild
Walking into the Old First Reformed Church on Caroll Street, I pondered what it would be like to hear Jonathan Safran Foer read in such a solemn
Photo by Rachel Valinsky
setting. But when the Park Slope local stood up at the pulpit for a reading of his newly published book, Eating Animals, it was clear that a convivial chat was more what the author had in mind.
Foer kicked off the event by reading from a chapter entitled “A Case for Eating Dogs,” a passage he doesn’t typically share with public audiences. His argument raised the issue of excessive meat consumption and the environmental consequences of the ever-growing expansion of factory farming, suggesting that pets could be a good substitute for daily sustenance. The author’s humorous and personalized style gave life to the brief passage, a pleasant reminder that non-fiction books don’t have to be dry retellings of statistical data and stark facts. Grounded in Foer’s skepticism over how to provide a healthy diet for his newborn, the book follows his quest to learn about eating habits and the food industry, exploring the power it has in influencing our daily dietary choices.
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No Comments | Posted on November 24, 2009 | Categories: Brooklyn, Event-Related, From the Blog
tags: brooklyn, cheap, Community Bookstore, Jonathan Safran Foer, rachel valinsky, reading
Looking for an exhilarating alternative to turkeys and stuffing this Thanksgiving? Then make like a pilgrim down to Brooklyn to explore Gowanus, Park Slope, and Carroll Gardens for an evening of hunting and gathering. The Bell House is hosting their annual pre-Thanksgiving Scavenger hunt, which promises to provide free shots, cash prizes, gift certificates, and most importantly, a “night you won’t soon forget.” Check-in starts at 5pm, conveniently corresponding with Happy Hour, which provides participants with $1 off anything from the bar, $4 pints, and a “Thanksgiving sub and munchies” to keep you fueled during the hunt. At 7pm, let the scavenging begin! You and your team of 2-4 pilgrims have three hours to follow clues through the area, culminating at 10pm at the Bell House where points will be tallied and $3 vodka drinks, $5 Jamesons, and $5 Hendricks specials will be consumed. Additionally, this Thanksgiving-eve you can be thankful for a “super fun dance-tastic you-don’t-have-to-work-tomorrow party” and DJ hosted by the Bell House following the hunt.
-Julia Sourikoff
No Comments | Posted on November 23, 2009 | Categories: Brooklyn, Event-Related, From the Blog, Neighborhoods
tags: alcohol, event showcase, Julia Sourikoff, scavenger hunt, thanksgiving
It was recently brought to my attention that, as a self-declared samosa expert, I didn’t know where in the city served the best samosas. While 
initially panicked, I soon learned that all my problems could be solved by an NYC Food Crawl: I would join my fellow, obsessed New Yorkers on a “samosa crawl” in pursuit of the perfect samosa.
Here’s how it works:
1. NYC Food Crawl picks a neighborhood—in this case, the area parochially known as “Curry Hill.” Upon arriving at the designated meeting spot (Madison Square Park), participants are presented with a scorecard listing five neighborhood restaurants that serve samosas.
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No Comments | Posted on November 22, 2009 | Categories: Dining, Event-Related, From the Blog, Manhattan, Neighborhoods
tags: cheap, Curry Hill, Food, food crawl, Halley Hair, indian food, samosas
While many college students are content spending their weekends surrounded by cheap beer and blaring music, I opted for a slightly classier 
evening last weekend. At 7 o’clock sharp on Saturday night, I found myself waiting in line at the box office of the New York City Opera. For only $12—the same price as a movie ticket here in Manhattan—I purchased myself a seat to Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
The Metropolitan Opera House is nothing if not glamorous—filled with art enthusiasts dressed to the nines, the carpets and and golden accents do not disappoint. While awaiting the performance, patrons perused photography exhibits from various rising artists to entertain themselves. Although we had to trek all the way to the top of the house for our seats, our vast view of the stage remained unblocked, even if the details of the singers’ faces weren’t quite discernible without binoculars. But for $12, I certainly wasn’t complaining.
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No Comments | Posted on November 20, 2009 | Categories: Event-Related, From the Blog, Manhattan, Midtown West, Neighborhoods, Nightlife
tags: cheap, Don Giovanni, Melissa Kravitz, metropolitan opera, music, opera
You may have heard about the sold-out Dirty Projectors’ shows this week, but INY doesn’t want you just to sit at home wishing you were there. Here are some of the coolest (and cheapest) other music events going on in the city this weekend.
Friday
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals @Terminal 5, 8pm $25/30
http://www.terminal5nyc.com/event/3556
Omer Klein, Ziv Ravitz & Haggai Cohen Milo @ Jazz Gallery, 10:30pm $10/15
http://jazzgallery.org/live/
The Honorary Title @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, 9pm $13/15
http://www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com/event/3260
Miles Benjamin, Anthony Robinson, These United States, 10:30pm $10/12 21+
http://www.mercuryloungenyc.com/event/3676
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No Comments | Posted on November 20, 2009 | Categories: Event-Related, From the Blog, Nightlife
tags: cheap, concerts, music, weekend music forecast
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
A five dollar bill doesn’t go far in New York City, but recent additions to the Lincoln Center area have made the West 60’s a little more attractive to penny-pinchers. Not only is this afternoon excursion easy on the wallet, but rest assured that all 5 senses will be satisfied as well.
Touch: Just when you thought 5 was the lucky number, this first stop may suggest otherwise: i-junkies can forget the cross-town trek to the 5th Ave Apple Store and head to the new 67th street location, just unveiled this past weekend. The new building carries on the family tradition of its ‘glassy’ Eastside sister, and is unwrapped just in time to offer a slew of i-gadgets for the Christmas season. With a 45-foot Genius Bar and free daily workshops ranging from audio production, Final Cut Pro and dozens of other tutorials for your favorite i-apps, there’s plenty to keep your hands busy.
1981 Broadway @ 67th St
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No Comments | Posted on November 19, 2009 | Categories: Attractions, From the Blog, Manhattan, Midtown West
tags: apple, concerts, free, Julia Sourikoff, Lincoln Center, Location Shocase
