Month: December 2016

Restaurants

Fun Eats in East Village

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ribsAccording to The New York Eater, “the East Village has the most kinetic, rapidly evolving, and downright fun restaurant scene in the city.” Featuring originality with tastes from around the world, there is very little in the world of cuisine that one will be strapped to find in the area.

The east Village food scene really began gaining credence back in the 1980s.  And then by the year 2000, things really started moving up for the region.  But there are some timeless pieces too.

But if you want to experience a bit of history in an Italian way, check out John’s of 12th Street.  This traditional Italian eatery has been serving East Village customers for more than a century.  Having opened in 1908, it brags of being “rich in history, rich in food [but] easy on the wallet.”

And for traditional ribs (that are at the same time unique) Mighty Quinn’s goes back to basics by getting the best quality ingredients and leaving them to do their own thing…not complicating the matter just barbecuing old school with plenty of wood and time with “just the right amount of salt and spice to let that lovely marriage of process ad product evolve into something transcendent.”

Take in breakfast at the Black Seed Bagel, a Chinese dry hot pot from the Mala Project, a French bistro at Lucien, and one of the best schnitzels New York has to offer at Edi & The Wolf.

We know one thing for sure; if you leave the East Village hungry, you sure missed some boat or another.

Washington Jefferson Hotel

Broadway News

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broadwayIt seems like Broadway is getting Jake Gyllenhaal back. Next year he’s returning to the theatrical scene in a short revival of “Sunday in the Park With George.” This will mark the first show in almost 5 decades (40 years) that is being put back onto stage at Hudson Theatre.

In the concert performances Gyllenhaal anchored in October (within the context of a more fully developed version of a four-performance City Center benefit concert), critics were blown away and it was sold out. A New York Times reviewer referred to it as “one of those shows that seems destined to be forever spoken of with misty-eyed bragging rights by anyone who sees it.”

In the nearer future if one finds themselves near Broadway not-to-miss shows currently include: Fiddler on the Roof, The Best of Mormon, Something Rotten among others.

Entertainment

East Village at Christmas

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christmasOn December 11, between 4 and 5, the Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition and East Village Parks Conservancy will be hosting its (25th) annual holiday tree lighting. All residents of the East Village are invited.  In 1992, the eight foot evergreen was planted by Albert Fabozzi in memory of Glenn Barnett, his late partner and park advocate who passed away from AIDS.  Fabozz is President of the Coalition and has been an East Village resident for more than three decades.

Then there are the activities at the East Village Community School.  The Cultural Share night is a really great family event but fun for those without kids too.  Brief skits are done from all around the world and it’s a great community feeling as there is a lot of parental involvement in this free public school.

Now in its 88th year, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is really quite a staple in NYC’s holiday traditions.  Tourists and locals are enjoying the Spectacular almost as much as other timeless shows like The Nutcracker. It’s not fancy though; it is just a focus on the celebration of classic holiday values like peace and love.  Using a flying Santa and other cute gimmicks, this is sure to get you in the holiday spirit!

So come all, come one and celebrate Christmas in the East Village.

There is also The Radio City Christmas Spectacular celebrates its 88th year of precision dancing and high kicks this holiday season. Along with George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker from the New York City Ballet, the Spectacular has become one of NYC’s most hallowed holiday traditions, drawing tourists and locals alike. Unlike The Nutcracker, however, there’s nothing highbrow about Radio City Music Hall’s pageant of glitz. It celebrates classic holiday values—peace! Love! Consumer confidence!—by deploying a flying Santa, a massive LED screen, and the sea of legs known as the Rockettes, all kicking in fabulous unison.

Tribeca

Working out in Tribeca

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fitnessWhen one is in Tribeca, what is the best workout option? There are so many different possibilities; here we take a brief look at yoga and rowing.

First, Sky Ting Yoga (which opened in 2015 in Chinatown) became so popular that it now has an overflow; a loft-like Tribeca studio owned by the same founders: Krissy Jones and Chloe Kernaghan.  Designed by Nick Poe, the new studio in Tribeca features a tailor-made Smile to Go menu, beauty offerings (from Benshen, CAP Beauty and Moon Juice) as well as an infrared sauna, two sun-filled rooms and one small studio to be used for specialty classes.

At the studio one will soon be able to register for pre- and post-natal classes as well as those suitable for kids (which is good as Tribeca is known for being family-oriented – just check out the NY Kids Club in the area) restorative classes and a yoga teacher training course.

Also new in Tribeca at 333 Church Street, is Current Fitness, where one can work up sweat by rowing indoors. It is set to open early next year (February 1st) and is owned by co-founder of Brooklyn Crew, Josh Ozeri. One looking for a full-body calorie busting workout (which does not put pressure on one’s joints) should definitely check this out.