40oz Bounce!
40OZ BOUNCE VI Due to popular demand, the infamous 40oz Bounce summer block party is back. Go to your local corner store and pick up a 40oz brew—a Budlight, Coors, or if your feeling like an O.G. pick up an Olde English—and then head out to Inwood Park for a day of madness. This public rager attracts thousands of people from all five boroughs so make sure to arrive early for FREE 40OZ’s. Enjoy an array of catered food, a live DJ set, and enough nutcrackers (alcoholic cocktail that combines Devil Springs and Bacardi 151) to get all of Uptown tipsy!
WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 1st 12:00pm – 7:00pm
WHERE: Inwood Park (Dyckman)
PRICE: Free Read the complete post »
2 Comments | Posted on July 30, 2010 | Categories: Event-Related, From the Blog, Uncategorized
tags: 40s, Central Park, Culture, kickboxing, Mad Men, parties, SummerStage, weekend forecast, will.i.am
New York has been on an African music kick – from the rump shaking, Afrobeat show tunes of Fela!, 
supplied by the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, to the multiple NYC concerts put on by politically-tinged and Sri Lanka native M.I.A. Central Park’s Summerstage concert this past Sunday continued this trajectory, featuring the innovative Fool’s Gold, Burkina Electric, and Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba.
As the members of Fool’s Gold took the stage Sunday afternoon, clouds were rapidly gathering over the stage, and a formidable wind started to pick up as the MC joked that we would “tough it out” – except in the event of lightning. (At this point many looked up at the tall, metal poles reaching beyond the treetops.) It was a testament to the crowd – and the enthusiasm inspired by the bands – that almost no one left as rain started to steadily fall during Fool’s Gold’s first song. Read the complete post »
1 Comment | Posted on July 30, 2010 | Categories: Attractions, Central Park, Event-Related, From the Blog, Manhattan, Neighborhoods, Nightlife
tags: African, Afro, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, Burkina Electric, Central Park, concert, Corry, Fool's Gold, Frances, Frances Corry, music, Ngoni, SummerStage
If corners are defined as where two things meet, Brooklyn’s Five Leaves café, bar and oyster bar on the corner of Bedford and Nassau Avenues has managed to defy such stringent rules of reality; where unique decor, helpful wait staff and delectable cuisine
all converge into an unparalleled dining experience. Flavored in a rustic style, diners are transitioned into this nautical atmosphere in a slow and almost unintelligible manner from the mood set by the reggae and alternative music to the minute the water is brought and filled into measuring jars, used by some beachgoers as storing vessels for collections of sea glass. Read the complete post »
No Comments | Posted on July 29, 2010 | Categories: Brooklyn, Dining, From the Blog, Greenpoint, Neighborhoods
tags: Diner, Dining, Food, Fox, Fries, Greenpoint, Sarah, Sarah Fox, Seafood, Steak, Yum, Yummy
Photo from Flickr
The restaurant’s name, which translates to “The Black Cologner”, refers to owner Dale Hall, but Der Schwarze Kölner itself is purely dedicated to Hall’s homeland, Germany. Fort Greene’s young beer garden—excuse me, biergarten—doesn’t sacrifice authenticity for appeal. But this isn’t an international dive bar either—the spot opened just over a year ago and is clean, polished, and filled with a variety of sociable people.
On the corner of Fulton and South Oxford, my eye caught the black and white building that bore a distinctive logo. Large windows filled the walls, and multiple light blue tables sporting German beer companies’ umbrellas lined the sidewalk. I expected this would be a bona fide German beer garden.
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No Comments | Posted on July 28, 2010 | Categories: Brooklyn, From the Blog, Neighborhoods
tags: beer, Beer Garden, cash only, Dale Hall, Der Schwarze Kolner, Fort Greene, Shane Galante
The scallops from Stone Park Café
There is a perfect balance in almost everything at Stone Park Café, from its dim yet cozy lighting, making it the ideal spot for a romantic date, to its food, which combines traditional flavors with exotic foreign twists. With elegant white tablecloths adorned with subtle candles, a lively yet unimposing bar stocked with an impressive wine and liquor selection, and an outdoor sidewalk patio for warm summer nights and sunny weekend brunch, this sophisticated and affordable restaurant is a favorite amongst Brooklyn natives and Manhattanites looking to escape the city’s steep dining prices.
As I entered this inviting brick walled restaurant, I appreciated the waiters’ eagerness to comfortably accommodate me—they even pulled the table back to give me easier access to my booth seat. With the extremely friendly service, I soon felt relaxed and in good hands. Having arrived with a fervently hungry stomach, I enjoyed the the crunchy baguettes served with soft, lightly salted butter, which were a welcoming pre-appetizer snack. Serene pictures of fish decorate the walls, a full bar with high stools aligned with the right side of the room, and a coffee and tea bar conveniently neighbored the outside seating area, making Stone Park a popular brunch, lunch, and dinner destination. A glimpse into the kitchen through the swinging door revealed a sparkling white cooking area within—a comforting sight compared to the less than tidy kitchens at the average restaurant.
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4 Comments | Posted on July 28, 2010 | Categories: Brooklyn, Dining, From the Blog, Neighborhoods, Park Slope
tags: Food, Mila Rusafova, New American, Stone Park Café
A taste of the quaint Night of Joy (Photo from TimeOut)
A stranger to the neighborhood would pass by Night of Joy, a bar hidden on a bare Brooklyn street corner. But those who live in the area are learning that this hideaway boasts intricate décor and even more meticulously crafted cocktails.
Once I entered, I was struck by the vintage and Victorian feel. A constellation-inspired design embellished the ceiling and came to life as I made my way to the unobstructed rooftop for the mango margarita specialty. It turns out that the tattoo parlor neighboring the bar handed over one of its talents to create Night of Joy’s ceiling.
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No Comments | Posted on July 26, 2010 | Categories: Brooklyn, From the Blog, Neighborhoods, Nightlife, Williamsburg
tags: cocktails, Henrietta Paris, Jennifer Armstrong, Mango Margarita, Marcus Fields, Night of Joy, Nightlife
With bright yellow doors framed by sky blue windows and topped with a red sign, entering this Latin
oasis, Paladar, on the Lower East Side is like walking into the sunset. But don’t be fooled, this chic restaurant offers more than just Sangria and a funky Latin feel. Co-owner Chef Aaron Sanchez has spent his life cooking with some of the best, including his mother Zarela Martinez, and was in a Masterclass with Chef Paul Prudhomme by the age of 16. Soon to be co-star on the upcoming series Chef v. City and former co-host of the Food Network’s ‘Melting Pot,’ Chef Sanchez has trained the cooks in his cocina to serve a varied menu inspired by all of Latin America. Read the complete post »
No Comments | Posted on July 23, 2010 | Categories: Dining, From the Blog, Lower East Side, Manhattan, Neighborhoods
tags: Aaron, Aaron Sanchez, Bishop, cocktail, cocktails, Dining, Food, Hispanic, latin, Lauren, Lauren Bishop, Lower East Side, Ludlow, Sanchez, Spanish, Stanton
MIA in concert
HARD NYC PRESENTS MIA @ GOVERNOR’S ISLAND International music sensation M.I.A. will be headlining the HARD NYC concert at Governor’s Island featuring main performances by Brooklyn’s own Sleigh Bells, up and coming rapper Theophilus London, and the South African group Die Antwoord. Other special performances by: Skream, Benga, Rye Rye, Borgore, Destructo, 12th Planet, Nguzunguzu, and Ninjasonik. With such an impressive international lineup, this is sure to be one of the summer’s greatest concerts.
When: Sat 7/24, Doors: 4:00 PM / Show: 5:00 PM
Where: South Island Field @ Governor’s Island
Price: Tickets available on Craigslist for as low as $25. $55 Advance & Day of Show Tickets. Read the complete post »
3 Comments | Posted on July 23, 2010 | Categories: Event-Related, From the Blog, Uncategorized
tags: Comix, Jennifer Coolidge, MIA, weekend forecast
Photo from Flickr
Brooklyn’s Greenpoint is one of the richest Polish enclaves in all of New York City. Over half its residents claim Polish descent, Polish eateries, butcheries and markets line the streets, and snippets of the native Slavic tongue are overheard just as often as English. By ancestry or immersion, residents of the neighborhood know good Polish food, so it’s no surprise that Lomzynianka, serving some of the best potato, meat, and pastry dishes in New York, operates in the heart of this ethnic commune, on Manhattan Avenue.
I was a first timer at Lomzynianka, and after walking through the unassuming single-door entrance, perplexity best described my intial reaction. As I walked down the center aisle, the vines of vibrant party ribbons arching from the low, black dotted Styrofoam ceiling seemed desperately out of place. So did the contemporary floral still life paintings, the veneered brick walls, the depiction of a Revolutionary War scene, and the two stag heads, antlered, mounted to the walls, and engaged in a neverending staring contest. But when I sat down and got a moment to take it in, Lomzynianka revealed its unabashed, authentic appeal.
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No Comments | Posted on July 21, 2010 | Categories: Brooklyn, Dining, From the Blog, Greenpoint
tags: Alexander Padget, cheap, Food, Greenpoint, Polish
Chinese food is Chinese food. You know what is going to be on the menu and you usually already know what you are going to order before you even sit down. However, The Cottage breaks the rules, offering a wide variety of authentic Szechuan and Cantonese
dishes that will challenge your regular order of sesame chicken and dumplings.
Americanized Chinese food has been streamlined down to little more than brown sauce and sweet and sour shrimp, but a quick flip through the menu will grant a quick education and spark a curiosity to what makes up that fourth mushroom in four mushroom chicken. While The Cottage has the “old-guard” favorites, and certainly does them well, it is the mouth-burning Szechuan dishes that will impress the palate.
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No Comments | Posted on July 20, 2010 | Categories: Dining, East Village, From the Blog, Manhattan
tags: alcohol, Asian food, beer, booze, cheap, Chinese, Dining, free wine, full for ten, NYU Corner, Sara Weber
