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Review: Rachel McAdams Shines in Mary Jane
April 23, 2024, 11:31.22 pm ET
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By Brian Scott Lipton
Seemingly designed as both testament to the human spirt and an examination of the status of women in today’s society, Amy Herzog’s autobiographically-inspired play “Mary Jane,” now making its overdue Broadway debut at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, is an intelligent yet understated work that nonetheless almost blunts its own power.
In another writer’s hands, this story of a single mother facing the enormous challenges of dealing with a very sick young child would elicit almost instant sobs from its audience. Instead, Herzog’s rather matter-of-fact approach to the tale stems those baser impulses, leaving one more inclined to think than feel.
Structured as series of one-on-one scenes, the play initially paints Mary Jane – played here with surprising sunniness by Rachel McAdams-- as a woman with a strong head on her shoulders, one that allows her to matter-of-factly deal with the severe illness facing her (never-seen) son Alex, who seems “lucky” to have even survived for two years.
In the first half of the one-act play (it’s really two short acts, but done without an intermission), we sit in Mary Jane’s apartment (the deceptively simple set is by the great Lael Jellinek) as she chats with a variety of women: her straightforward apartment superintendent, a take-charge home nurse and her sweet college-aged niece, and another mom with an ill child with whom Mary Jane has kindly chosen to share her hard-earned wisdom. These conversations, though smartly written and having the keen sense of verisimilitude, nonetheless don’t quite add up to very much, making us wonder if we’ll feel much of anything.
However, when Alex is suddenly rushed to the hospital in the show’s second half, the story gains some urgency, especially as the boy’s condition worsens. Mary Jane begins to transform before our eyes, and we finally see not only the pain and anger she has struggled so hard to control, but the fact that she has never allowed herself to face the gravity of her situation. Fortunately, McAdams (in her first-ever Broadway outing) proves up to this daunting task.
In keeping with Herzog’s schemata, more one-on-one encounters ensue during this section, including Mary Jane speaking with assorted, well-meaning hospital personnel, the Orthodox Jewish mother of another ill child, and an elderly Buddhist nun who is aware there are no easy answers to be had from religion. These discussions seem somehow both less authentic yet far more meaningful.
Under Anne Kaufmann’s straightforward direction, and aided by Brenda Abbandandolo’s simple but effective costuming, four excellent actresses -- April Matthis, Susan Pourfar, Lily Santiago, and Brenda Wehle -- handle all the supporting parts with true aplomb, creating distinct characterizations in mere minutes. (Pourfar and Wehle also appeared in the play’s 2016 Off-Broadway debut at New York Theatre Workshop.)
The play’s actual ending is up for interpretation. Nonetheless, Herzog leaves us with a delicate understanding that, whether we are the mother of a sick child, a struggling college student or an overworked hospital employee, life is what we choose to make of it.
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New York City’s Newest Burger has a Bun Made from Sticky Rice
April 23, 2024, 7:08.31 pm ET
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Photo: Cititour.com
If you are looking for a burger that will take you off the beaten path, then look no further than Zaab Burger at Essex Market on the Lower East Side. The counter run by the popular Thai spot Zaab Zaab is offering six burgers in total,
The most interesting one by far is the Khao Jee Burger with a bun made from sticky rice with a chili sauce known as Jaew Bong, traditionally made with sundried chilies, garlic, fish sauce, and other ingredients found in Laos.
Also on the list is the Zaab Burger, a smash burger with American cheese and dusted with chopped onions; the Jaew BBQ Burger with a jaew barbecue glaze; Isan Burger with Thai green chili, butter and mayo; , Ka Pow Burger, a smash burger with hot basils; and a classic American smash burger.
Along with burgers, the stand is also selling Salt & Pepper fries, along with its signature Zaab fries with zaab seasonings. Prices are fairly tame, with burgers costing anywhere from $6.50 to $9 (additional cost for the double patties which are encouraged!)
Zaab Burger is located inside the Essex Market at 88 Essex Street on the Lower East Side (917) 261-2555. For more information, visit zaabzaabnyc.com
2024 NYC Cinco de Mayo Guide
April 23, 2024, 6:20.25 pm ET
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Photo: Fonda
Cinco de Mayo is almost upon us. Here are some great places to celebrate!
• At the Seaport, the Tin Building patio will be offering a special margarita menu and live music from 12-4pm (96 South St) more
• Kobo by Pearl Alley, also at the Seaport, is hosting an all-day Cinco de Mayor DJ dance party from 12-6pm at Pier 17 more
• SUPEBUENO will mark Cinco de Mayo with a special collaboration featuring tacos from five exception Mexican chefs. more
• Haven Rooftop in Midtown is serving up tacos and margaritas for its Cinco de Mayo fiesta along with a live mariachi band. more
• From May 3-5, Lolita hosts a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta with $5 tacos and $12 house margaritas and palomas all weekend long. more
• Stone Street in Lower Manhattan will hold its Cinco de Mayo Block Party May 3-5 from noon to 11pm more
• Fonda, known for its festive Mexican cuisine and cocktails, will be celebrating Cinco Weekend from May 3-5 at all three NYC locations. more
• La Barca Cantina, known as NYC’s floating fiesta, which will be setting sail for a party on the Hudson on May 5 which is guaranteed to sell out. more
• PHD Rooftop will be celebrating Cinco De Mayo with a live DJ spinning some tunes from 5-11pm. more
• Enjoy authentic Mexican street tacos from one of six locations of Los Tacos No. 1 in New York City. It never disappoints. more
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Review: The Heart of Rock and Roll Proves Hard to Beat
April 22, 2024, 11:10.44 pm ET
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Photo: Matthew Murphy
By Brian Scott Lipton
No matter how much one loves a recent pop music catalogue, no matter what happy flurry of nostalgia it may bring, there’s no guarantee it will “survive” the true jukebox musical treatment, with familiar tunes shoehorned into badly structured plots, much like Cinderella’s stepsisters and those famous glass slippers.
Still, the songs of 80s supergroup Huey Lewis & The News end up being great fodder for this particular art form as is proven in the unquestionably upbeat “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” now delighting audiences at the James Earl Jones Theatre. With their irresistible up-tempo melodies and lyrics full of generic yet often inspirational sentiment, songs like “The Power of Love,” “If This Is It” and “Workin’ for a Livin’” have remained firmly in some of our brains for four decades, and --- whether you know them or not -- now help put a smile on one’s face for 2 ½ hours.
Still, there’s plenty of credit to be spread around for the show’s success, starting with the show’s eager-to-please cast, most notably, the strong-lunged and appealing Corey Cott (who deserves a special Tony Award for his biceps) as the hard-working if over-ambitious Bobby, torn between his love of music and desire to climb the corporate ladder; the adorable yet iron-willed McKenzie Kurtz as his one-time co-worker, future boss and obvious love interest Cassandra Stone; and the scene-stealing Tamika Lawrence as HR exec (and Bobby’s best bud) Roz, who proves to have some personal secrets and hidden talents that ultimately come in surprisingly handy
As with his recent Off-Broadway success, “Dracula,” director Gordon Greenberg takes his job seriously, keeping the show moving as a fleet pace. Better still, he also never makes the show too serious, ensuring that its tongue remains firmly planted in one cheek or another almost the whole time.
Meanwhile, in his first Broadway outing, writer Jonathan A. Abrams knows how to structure his book scenes so that the songs feel placed comfortably and smartly. But I do wish the show’s central conflict – in which Bobby simultaneously signs an executive contract with Cassandra’s family company to run a new division and a year-long contract to tour with his old band, the Loop – made even a lick of sense. Moreover, since Abrams figured out how to wrap this dilemma up (and he does it somewhat ingeniously), I wish he had penned his denouement about 20 minutes earlier than he does. Better still, Abrams has a devilish way with a one-liner, with laughs coming often when you least expect them. (I will forever cherish the moment eccentric furniture designer, Otto Fjord, played with delicious over-the-top panache by Orville Mendoza, calls Cassandra’s creepy controlling ex-boyfriend Tucker, portrayed by a spot-on Billy Harrigan Tighe, “a human PEZ dispenser” to his face.)
Last, and by no means least, the incredibly busy Lorin Latarro has contributed plenty of energetic, 80s-inspired choreography – including one almost eerie aerobics session led by a Richard Simmons-like instructor. All of it is performed by an incredibly talented and colorfully costumed ensemble (by Jen Caprio) on Derek McLane’s simple yet effective sets.
Sure, “The Heart of Rock and Roll” isn’t on the same plane as some of this season’s sharper musicals, including “Merrily We Roll Along” or “Hell’s Kitchen.” But it’s good, lighthearted fun. And to quote Huey Lewis himself: I know what I like! You probably will too!
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The Terrace on 7 Set to Reopen at The Dominick in NYC
April 22, 2024, 6:04.55 pm ET
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Photos: Terrace on 7
The Terrace on 7, a resort-style oasis above Manhattan, will reopen for spring cocktails and spectacular city views at The Dominick in SoHo. Amenities include an outdoor pool, poolside spa treatments and exclusive cabana packages that transport you to a relaxing oasis.
Officially re-opening for the season this May, Terrace on 7 features an outpost of the Asian-Hawaiian culinary concept El Ta'koy, which serves up a variety of seafood and vegetable forward dishes alongside large-format (perfect for sharing) rum, tequila and mezcal cocktails.
Bites include Tuna & Caviar Taquitos, Bao Buns with kalua pork, Ahi Tuna Poke Tacos, along with sandwiches, salads and bowls.
The exclusive and award-winning Sisley-Paris Spa located on the same floor as the rooftop offers nine treatment rooms and three private spa suites with a balcony where guests will find an exclusive menu of spa treatments to enjoy poolside.
For more information, visit thedominickhotel.com
Review: Patriots is a True Power Play
April 22, 2024, 5:47.17 pm ET
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Photo: Matthew Murphy
By Brian Scott Lipton
Not since Shakespeare has any writer has been more fascinated with power – or made audiences so complicit in his obsession – than Peter Morgan, who has scored critical and commercial successes with “Frost/Nixon,” “The Queen” and, more recently, “The Crown.” His keen sense of getting inside the heads of those who sometimes uneasily wear, both figuratively and literally, the “crown” is consistently remarkable.
Whether Morgan will be able to pull of the same magic – at least commercially – with the new play “Patriots,” now at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, remains to be seen. Handsomely directed by the inventive Rupert Goold (and staged on Miriam Buethler’s clever castle-cum-nightclub unit set), “Patriots” features top-tier central performances by the hypnotic Michael Stuhlbarg as the egotistical Russian oligarch Boris Berozovsky and a colder-than-Siberian ice Will Keen as current Russian president Vladimir Putin that demand your attention.
However, here’s the rub: While Morgan’s other works focus primarily on subjects and personalities familiar to Americans, “Patriots” is most likely to appeal to the always-tuned-into CNN set, who likely spent a couple of decades deeply involved in the intricacies of Russian politics. Here, most of the names mean little to most of us.
The biggest exception, of course, is Putin, portrayed here as a soft-spoken, unimportant deputy mayor who with quiet cunning and determination, as well as Berezovsky’s considerable help, works his way to the top, ultimately coming off as a modern-day Macbeth without the need of any wives or witches to stir his proverbial pot.
The other major exceptions are fellow oligarch Roman Abromavich (a very impressive Luke Thallon) and Alexander Litvinenko (a fine Alex Hurt), the Russian security specialist who defected to Britian to protect Berezovsky and then died, tragically and suddenly, after ingesting polonium-2010 in November 2006 (an incident in which Putin repeatedly denied any involvement). Still, Litvinenko never seems like much more than a pawn in the almost-endless chess game between Putin and Berezovksy. (Indeed, for a man who has an advanced degree in decision making, the inside joke in “Patriots” – often verbalized – is that Berezovsky is a terrible decision maker.)
Further, most of the show’s other supporting characters seem superfluous, and the recurring presence of Berezovksy’s mathematics professor Perelman (Ronald Guttman) is rather annoying. Every time the two have a chat, it’s like watching Harry Potter asking advice from Dumbledore.
All this said, I think one can understand the show’s success in London; Berozovsky spent many years of his self-imposed exile there after he made the top of Putin’s enemy list even after almost literally placing him in the presidential chair after the resignation of Boris Yeltsin.
More importantly, when Berozovsky went to court in 2013 to wrestle his “rightful” share of the money he made with Abramovich – in a deal which had no paper trail -- it was deemed “the trial of the century” and Berozovky’s humiliating defeat, heavily covered by the British media, all but sealed his personal and financial fate. But I doubt many U.S. audiences are even vaguely aware of this titanic courtroom battle, especially as it took place when America was still dealing with the social, financial and military aftermath of 9/11.
As a result, “Patriots,” which prizes talk over action, can often feel like a college history class you were forced into taking. Thankfully, there’s no pop quiz at the end!
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Review: Cabaret Delivers Dramatically
April 21, 2024, 9:39.05 pm ET
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Photo: Marc Brenner
By Brian Scott Lipton
What good is sitting alone in your room when you can be ensconced at the Kit Kat Club, or more accurately the extensively renovated August Wilson Theatre, now home to Rebecca Frecknall’s reconceived version of “Cabaret”? I could go on for paragraphs about what the theater looks like now, but it’s best if you see it for yourself.
As for this thought-provoking production of the legendary 1966 musical by Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb -- set in Germany at the beginning of the Nazi era – it is not a must-see on its own, but it is stunningly effective as drama, if a little less so musically.
In addition, it boasts a truly revelatory performance by Gayle Rankin as chanteuse Sally Bowles, incredibly heartbreaking turns by Bebe Neuwirth and Steven Skybell as the affianced landlady Fraulein Schneider and kindly Jewish grocer Herr Schultz, and an impressive ensemble led by the excellent Natascia Diaz as the strong-willed Fraulein Kost and the charismatic Henry Gottfried as the charming, serpent-like Ernst Ludwig. (As for Eddie Redmayne, the show’s top billed star, more on him later.)
Moreover, “Cabaret” is, as ever, a potent reminder that -- not so hard as it as to currently imagine -- the holocaust can happen again. For the record, though Frecknall does not use the chilling ending chosen by the last revival’s director (Sam Mendes), but the message is no less clear in her subtler telling. In fact, I think this warning (or is it a prophecy?) is this revival’s actual raison d’etre.
Meanwhile, the decision to transform the Wilson may be keeping in with other recent immersive experiences – here, complete with a lengthy “prologue” in which you can hear musical performances throughout the entire house for over an hour – but it also seems symbolic of the English belief that, dramatically, you always work from the outside in.
That’s also my best explanation for Redmayne’s miscalculated turn at the Emcee. Costumed by Tom Stutt (who is also responsible for the minimal set design) in an increasingly bizarre series of outfits, Redmayne starts the show clad as a demented marionette, then he’s a black latex-clad “dominatrix,” then he’s a clown who escaped from Stephen King’s “It.” Why? I have no real clue. In fact, Redmayne’s Emcee, both as written and performed, has no inner life and no actual identity.
Worse still, the production numbers that take place in the club are almost amateurish in every possible sense – Redmayne’s singing voice is wildly and unpleasantly rangy -- and ultimately serve as nothing more than almost obvious commentary on the scenes that precede or follow them.
Ah, but those scenes. Rankin (who played Fraulein Kost in the show’s 2014 revival) brings tremendous vulnerability to Sally, a woman whose life revolves around her need for approval, whether it be from the many men she sleeps with or the audiences at the Kit Kat Club. She talks about her great “talent,” but this Sally is no undiscovered star. One senses she’s aware of all her limitations, even as she refuses to let them stop her from pursuing some half-conceived dream.
Indeed, she almost thoughtlessly gives up a slightly more conventional life – complete with a baby -- with the bisexual American writer Clifford Bradshaw (Ato Blankson-Wood, mostly bland but who eventually brings pathos and power to an underwritten role) – in order to keep chasing them. And When Sally sings those chilling lines from the title tune that “I made my mind up back in Chelsea, when I go, I am going like Elsie,” you fully understand those lyrics as a true prophecy of a death foretold.
And make no mistake, Neuwirth and Skybell practically steal the show by drawing indelible portraits of two people, one comfortable with independence, one longing for codependence, who attempt to make an almost unfathomable commitment to each other. Their duets, “It Couldn’t Please Me More” and “Married” are things of gentle beauty, and Neuwirth’s searing solos, “So What?” and “What Would You Do” are worth the price of admission.
True, not everything about this “Cabaret” is perfectly marvelous, but there’s more than enough to warrant a visit!
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Review: Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen Is On Fire!
April 21, 2024, 12:52.18 am ET
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Photo: Marc J Franklin
By Brian Scott Lipton
Being able to brilliantly straddle the line between (semi)autobiography and a universal coming-of-age tale is just one of the many achievements of the vibrantly exciting new musical, “Hell’s Kitchen,” now at the Shubert Theatre. Expect a lot of Tony Award nominations – and perhaps even a statuette or two – for this extremely accomplished, feel-good musical!
The extraordinary singer-songwriter Alicia Keys (winner of 16 Grammy Awards, among many other honors) has clearly put her heart, soul and much of her esteemed musical catalogue – this is primarily a “jukebox” musical -- into this deeply personal enterprise about a gifted if unhappy 17-year-old named Ali (played with remarkable assurance and a killer voice by stage newcomer Maleah Joi Moon in a dazzling Broadway debut).
We watch eagerly as Ali struggles to find her true self while growing up in the 1990s in the still-dicey Manhattan neighborhood that gives the show its title. Petty crime aside, she’s also dealing with an overly protective white mother, Jersey (the vocally dazzling Shoshana Bean) and a mostly absent African American musician father, Davis (Brandon Victor Dixon, oozing charm from every pore and singing like a dream),
But rather than letting the show feel trite or even self-indulgent, either of which could have been the outcome, librettist Kristoffer Diaz, director Michael Greif, and choreographer Camille A. Brown have all used their considerable talents to make this story feel both fresh and heartfelt, even if it loses a little steam in the second act. (Brown’s modern-dance choreography for the large, athletically gifted ensemble is among the evening’s high points, even if it pops up in some unnecessary places.)
Moreover, there’s a surprising poignancy in both Ali’s brief, ill-conceived romance with Knuck, a somewhat older “thuggish” street musician (beautifully embodied by Chris Lee, who serves up the perfect mixture of toughness and tenderness) and her relationship with Miss Liza Jane, a no-nonsense pianist who lives in Ali’s building and becomes her teacher and her mentor. It helps immensely that she’s portrayed by the unbelievably powerful Kecia Lewis, who walks away the show time and again, especially with her rendition of “Perfect Time to Die.”
Still, the show’s wealth of emotion derives primarily from Keys’ music, alternately soulful, defiant and even anthemic – and the fact that even her most familiar songs have been stunningly rearranged by Keys and Adam Blackstone and orchestrated by the great Tom Kitt so they feel brand new.
For example, her familiar anthem “Girl on Fire” is no longer a solo boast, but a community’s congratulations of Ali’s personal achievements; “Not Even the King,”, and “Fallin’,” are both soulful duets for Bean and Dixon that redefine the idea of a romantic love song; while the depth of mother-daughter love is stunningly expressed by Moon and Bean in the irresistible “No One.” Dixon does his paternal part with “If I Ain’t Got You.” And for her own showstopper, Bean does everything she can on the angry-yet-humorous “Pawn It All.”
The show’s physical production isn’t overly lavish, but it works. Some members of the amazing orchestra are seated on Robert Brill’s two-tiered stands that moves back and forth from the often-vacant stage, while the rest remain offstage. Dede Ayite’s costumes are (as usual) colorful and decade appropriate, while d Peter Negrini’s evocative projections set the time and place with precision.
And for those who feared the mega-hit “Empire State of Mind” would simply become a mega-mix singalong, spoiler alert: it serves as a moving finale from the whole cast and a tribute to all of those who live or have lived in New York and watched their dreams come true. You should try it some time if you haven’t.
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Fast 10: Ten New Places to Try in NYC Right Now
April 20, 2024, 3:51.33 pm ET
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This is the first Manhattan location of Grandma’s Home, a restaurant founded in Hangzhou, China. Traditional dim sum, soups and rice dishes are offered. Highlights include soy glazed crispy fish, pork belly stir fry, and green tea claypot chicken, among others. 56 W 22nd St, NYC
Beefbar, high end spot in former Nobu space, describes itself as a symphony of exceptional meats. Look for things like Ribeye Ham, Bao Buns with smoked Kobe Beef, Applewood Smoked Veal Belly, 45 Day Dry-Aged Porterhouse, and American Wagyu served three ways. Fish & veggy options available. 105 Hudson St, NYC
Marie’s, in Bushwick is a neighborhood Italian spot offering playful interpretations of the classics, like Skillet Focaccia with chili butter, Fried Olives with fennel and pork sausage, Duck Cappelletti with duck jus, Porchetta with polenta espuma, and Strawberry Gelato for dessert. 195 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn
Sammy’s Romanian
Sammy’s Romanian, which closed during the pandemic, is returning at a new location on the Lower East Side. The Romanian steakhouse is known for things like kishka and karnatzlack (types of Romanian grilled sausages), oversized steaks and potato latkes served in a party atmosphere. 112 Stanton Street, NYC
Goog has opened in the former Somtum Der space in Red Hook. The restaurant serves Thai food that you might find in a neighborhood restaurant in Thailand. Think BBQ Pork Skewers with coconut cream glaze, crispy quail egg wontons, crispy chicken with “Nam Pla” fish sauce and more. 360 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn
Lucia Alimentari
Lucia Alimentari in SoHo is a spin-off of Lucia Pizza of Sheepshead Bay. This spot is quickly getting a reputation for its focaccia sandwiches, pastries and specialty items. The restaurant is now open for dinner service with wine and small bites. 301 West Broadway, NYC
Sky Pavilion
Spice things up with Szechuan cuisine at Sky Pavilion in Times Square. Look for dishes like Chengdu Roast Duck, a whole duck served in broth, Stir Fried Chicken in “numbing” sauce, Emperor Pork Knuckles, and Spicy Pig’s Trotter with green peppercorn sauce just to name a few. 325 W 42nd St, NYC
Yokox Omakase is offering a 15-course omakase experience for $89 served in just over an hour. With fish imported from Japan when possible, guests can expect an intimate dining experience whether it’s a salmon roll with hints of green apple and a drizzle of yuzu or sea scallops mingling with urchin. 41 Ave B, NYC
Find true Thai Isaan flavors wrapped up in a burger at Zaab Burger inside Essex Market on the Lower East Side. The burger counter is brought to you by Zaab Zaab, a popular Thai spot in the city. Aside from a burger, cheese and bun, look for additions like sticky rice, Thai chiles and basil. 88 Essex St, NYC
Sawa is a new Lebanese spot in Park Slope offering comforting dishes in a light and airy space. On the menu, find traditional mezze dips, kibbeh nayeh (a raw lamb dish), lamb chops, kafta and more. For dessert, there is semolina pudding with whipped cream and pistachios. 75 5th Ave, Brooklyn
Stereophonic Hosts Star-Studded Opening
April 20, 2024, 2:28.13 pm ET
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Photo: Andy Henderson
David Adjmi’s “Stereophonic” opened on April 19 Broadway at the Golden Theatre to a star-studded crowd including J. Cameron-Smith, Ani DiFranco, Common, Andrew Wyatt, Clyde Lawrence, Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Edelman, Amber Gray, Marin Ireland, Justin Peck, Lynn Nottage, Sammy Rae Bowers, Louisa Jacobson, David Rasche, Stark Sands, Miriam Silverman, and many more.
The show, which premiered last year at Playwrights Horizons, mines the agony and the ecstasy of creation as it zooms in on a music studio in 1976, where an up-and-coming rock band recording a new album finds itself suddenly on the cusp of superstardom. The ensuing pressures could spark their breakup — or their breakthrough.
The cast includes Will Brill as Reg, Andrew R. Butler as Charlie, Juliana Canfield as Holly, Eli Gelb as Grover, Tom Pecinka as Peter, Sarah Pidgeon as Diana, and Chris Stack as Simon.
For the opening night, there was a one-time-only musical encore for invited guests, featuring Academy Award nominee and Grammy Award winner Will Butler, the composer of the original songs featured in the show.
It was recently announced that “Stereophonic” will release an original cast recording through Sony Masterworks Broadway. The digital album arrives May 10 with the physical CD release set for June 14/
Tickets for the show are on-sale now at StereophonicPlay.com.
First Look at Bar Primi’s Stylish Sister Restaurant in the Penn District
April 19, 2024, 7:08.14 pm ET
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Photos: Nick Johnson (F&B)
Bar Primi now has a second location in the heart of Midtown offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Bar Primi is operated by Noho Hospitality, the same group behind sought after restaurants such as Locanda Verde, The Dutch, and Lafayette. Noho Hospitality says the new Bar Primi (349 West 33rd St), located in the booming Penn District, offers the same energy and vibrancy of the original’s uptown location. Guests will find a primi piatti-focused menu as well as Italian-inspired cocktails.
Many of the dishes on the original opening menu nearly a decade ago can now be found at the new Bar Primi. Look for things like AC’s Antipasti Salad; Meatballs In Sugo; Pappardelle with ragu bolognese; Vesuvio Scampi with spicy rock shrimp, as well as other Primi pasta favorites.
Dishes range in size, from smaller plates like Burrata Pockets with calabrian honey, and Hot Knots with Italian Chili Crisp, to larger Secondi courses such as the Sea Bass alla Griglia with olive muffuletta, and Little Hen Under A Brick with piccata sauce.
For a sweet finish, or Dolci, there is Bar Primi’s iconic since-day-one Tiramisu, as well as other sweet treats like Lemon Cream Zeppoli and Pistachio Gelato with fennel caramello.
The cocktail menu is a fun celebration of all things Italian. Inspired by the expansive outside dining area, a portion of the menu is designed to transport guests to an Italian piazza with cocktails such as Piazza Julep with Cynar, bourbon, grapefruit, lime, raspberry syrup, and mint, served in a sunflower ceramic; Smokey Luigi with cucumber-infused mezcal, Aperol, Dolin Blanc, and bitters; and a Sicilian Daiquiri with rum, lime, pistachio orgeat, pistachio oil, and a pistachio sugar rim.
Photos: Liam Sheenan (Exteriors)
For a fun twist, guests can also order a Negroni jello shot by Solid Wiggles or sip on an iconic Frosé, which was originally created by Managing Partner Justin Sievers at Bar Primi. In addition to cocktails, Beverage Director and Master Sommelier Josh Nadel has created an exciting wine program that celebrates and highlights indigenous Italian grape varieties, with an opportunity to discover new wines and producers, as well as Italian classics.
Taking over a former warehouse, NoHo Hospitality worked with the New York-based studio Meyer Davis to design the interiors. Embracing the building's industrial history. Meyer Davis opened the facade with expansive steel-framed windows and doors that look out to a lush patio featuring a Breccia Capraia marble bar.
Photo: The Ingalls (Interiors)
The line between indoor and outdoor is further blurred with a large, preserved tree installed in the center of the main dining room. Curated artwork throughout is inspired by the restaurant's character, which provides bold accents and a bit of cheekiness, including a hand-painted mural of Bar Primi's brand character, a woman with a bow-pasta in place of her face, crafted by Finley, a Brooklyn artist.
The team, with more than 75 collective years of experience in the hospitality industry between them, includes Chef Andrew Carmellini, Luke Ostrom, and Josh Pickard who together have produced some of the industry’s most-talked-about establishments.
Bar Primi Penn District will be open for Dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday from 5pm to midnight, with plans to extend operating hours to lunch and weekend brunch later this Spring. Reservations are available via Resy. For more information, visit barprimi.com
The West Park Beer Garden Opens for the 2024 Season
April 19, 2024, 6:08.36 pm ET
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Photo: Cititour.com
The West Park Beer Garden, operated by Oceana, is now open for the season. The beer garden is located in the breezeway between West 48th and West 49th Streets (enter on 49th St side) in Midtown.
Visitors will find an assortment of beer from local breweries, oysters from the raw bar, and live music. Other offerings include a Giant Bavarian Pretzel, Mahi Tacos, Pizza, Sliders and more. Beers on tap include Finback, Crispy Morning, Grimm, Wavetable IPA, KCBC, Venomous Villains, and Flagship, Metropolitan Lager.
Resident Reggae musician Jahstix will be playing every Tuesday and Thursday in the park. For more information click here
Broadway Celebrates Earth Day Concert to be Held Saturday April 20
April 19, 2024, 5:53.05 pm ET
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Photo: Michael James Scott
Broadway Celebrates Earth Day Concert returns to Times Square brought to you by The Broadway Green Alliance and Times Square Alliance.
Taking place on Saturday, April 20th from 11am - 3pm ET, this unique star-studded concert features live performances from Broadway's top talent and young performers from around the region, as well as interviews with environmental thought-leaders.
Broadway performers joining the event include host Ben Cameron (Broadway Sessions), Tony Award Winner Ruthie Ann Miles (Sweeney Todd), Tony Award Nominee Anika Larsen (Almost Famous), John Cardoza (The Notebook), Lissa deGuzman (Wicked), Autumn Hurlbert (Something Rotten!), Casey Likes (Back to the Future: The Musical), Michael Maliakel (Aladdin), Liam Pearce (How to Dance in Ohio), Courtney Reed (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Jelani Remy (Back to the Future: The Musical), Nic Rouleau (The Book of Mormon), Alexandra Socha (Wicked), Nik Walker (Spamalot), and a performance by Drag Performer Evita Loca (as portrayed by John Michael Dias) as well as a selection from the new musical The Apple Boys featuring Tony Award Nominee Emily Skeggs (Fun Home), Alex Gibson (SpongeBob the Musical), and Teddy Yudain (Little Shop of Horrors).
The concert will be held on Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets and serves as one of the key events for the NYC Department of Transportation’s “Car-Free Earth Day'' being celebrated throughout the five boroughs of New York City that day.
For more information, broadwaygreen.com/earth-day
TWA Hotel at JFK Named 2024 Best Airport Hotel in North America by SKYTRAX
April 19, 2024, 5:33.29 pm ET
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Photos: TWA Hotel
The retro-inspired TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in New York City has been named the Best Airport Hotel in North America by Skytrax, the renowned international air transport rating organization, in its 2024 World Airport Awards.
The announcement coming at the annual Passenger Terminal Expo, the world’s largest annual airport design and operations exhibition, in Frankfurt, Germany.
At the heart of the hotel is the restored landmark TWA Flight Center designed by late architect Eero Saarinen and first opened in 1962 . Guests will discover restaurants and bars, like the Paris Café by Jean-Georges and The Sunken Lounge, as well as exhibits including a 1962 living room and life-size Twister game.
For more information, visit twahotel.com
Review: Suffs Gets My Vote
April 18, 2024, 9:30.39 pm ET
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Photo: Joan Marcus
By Brian Scott Lipton
Musical theater has long given short shrift to America’s unsung heroines, which is one reason that Shaina Taub’s bracing musical “Suffs,” now at the Music Box Theatre, feels like both a celebration and a corrective as we hear from more than a dozen such ladies who helped get women the vote in 1920. Now, if only all of America’s women (and men) would use that vote wisely, we’d really have reason to party.
Indeed, if you’ve never known anything about the single-minded suffragist Alice Paul (convincingly played by Taub), her older, more genteel “rival” Carrie Chapman Catt (a sublime Jenn Colella), the outspoken African American journalist Ida B. Wells (the brilliant Nikki M. James), the headstrong Inez Milholland (a glamorous, glorious Hannah Cruz) or determined factory worker and political activist Ruza Wenclawska (a sensational Kim Blanck) – and odds are you have not -- their names and their struggles will now be cemented in your memory.
Further, while the details presented here may be lightly exaggerated, there is no question that Taub has done her homework. For example, Paul’s good friend, the bookish Doris Stevens (Nadia Dandashi) not only changed the mind of attorney Dudley Malone (a winning Tsilala Brock) – who worked directly for then-president Woodrow Wilson (portrayed in a stunning, vaudevillian-like turn by Grace McLean) -– but she also eventually won his heart.
Equally true, Tennessee mom Phoebe Burn (the sublime Emily Skinner) really did send a last-minute missive to her son, Tennessee State Senator Harry Burn (Jenna Bainbridge), causing to him change his mind and vote for the 20th Amendment to finally pass. Once again, truth is stranger than fiction.
By focusing on these lesser-known figures, “Suffs” differs greatly from its otherwise rather obvious predecessor, “Hamilton,” although the two shows share a somewhat similar approach to unveiling the behind-the-scenes moments in history, and there’s more than touch of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s influence in Taub’s score.
Under Leigh Silverman’s simple but elegant direction, the show smartly allows Taub’s wildly varied score to fully shine, from Wells’ piercing rebuke to segregation “Wait My Turn” to the charming comic duet “If We Were Married” to the rousing Act Two opener “The Young Are at the Gates.” Luckily, Taub even allows herself one “big” number, the appropriately titled “Finish the Fight,” which is essentially Alice’s “I Want” song. Indeed, Taub has a unique and accomplished gift for melody and lyrics that makes you want to hear more of her work.
As a book writer, though, Taub can get a little too preachy and sanctimonious (much like Paul). Moreover, since the story is a bit A-to-B – and we already know how it ends – the piece could use some extra drama, especially in letting us know a bit more about the characters’ personal lives. And the piece still could use just a bit of judicious editing.
And while it’s not totally necessary, the show’s epilogue set in 1975, as a young NOW worker visits and elderly Paul who is working on the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, is an important reminder about the continued need for female equality, and how hard it seems to achieve it in America.
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Places to Celebrate Mom in NYC on Mother’s Day
April 18, 2024, 7:20.56 pm ET
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Photo: SutterStock
For the natural wine loving mom, sip craft sake at Brooklyn Kura. Expert sake sommeliers will walk mom through a rotating list of nearly a dozen sake on tap, including exclusives like Occidental (a dry hopped sake with a lovely rosé-esque blush hue) and shiboritate (meaning ‘freshly squeezed,’ the first product of sake production). Pair with inventive shared plates like Two-Toned Focaccia (togarashi and black garlic), Kurobuta Lil' Smokies (Berkshire pork sausage, cocktail weiner style) and Chicken Fried Oyster Mushrooms (with black garlic ranch). The taproom will also host a Mother’s Day Sake and Desserts Pairing Experience at 2pm on Sunday, 5/12 with sweet treats like Oishii strawberries, local cheese and honey, and housemade lavender cookies.
Toast mom for Mother’s Day at Caviar Russe. The Michelin-starred restaurant and lounge is offering an indulgent three-course pre-fixe package ($250/pp) to spoil mom’s palate with its sustainably sourced, ultra-premium imported caviar and additional decadent delights. The first course starts with 25 grams of Classic Osetra caviar with Glass Charles Heidsieck Champagne, Shrimp Cocktail, and Smoked Salmon, followed by its second course featuring signature Golden Egg – a soft-boiled egg boated in breadcrumbs topped with caviar served inside a parmesan broth that coats the palate with its umami flavors. To finish, guests will receive its chocolate tart and handmade Madeleines, a light and airy treat.
Raise a glass to mom at America’s first restaurant. Delmonico’s will host a Mother's Day Celebration on Sunday May 12th featuring a 3-Course menu selection by Executive Chef Eddie Hong for $145 per person. Options include things like Caesar Salad, Caramelized Bacon, Dover Sole, Eye of Delmonico, Lamb Chops and more. For dessert, try a signature Baked Alaska. Also available, an optional Seafood Plateau for $50 per person. A 20% gratuity will be added to all checks.
For the mom whose bar cart is always stocked, treat her to a night of memorable mixology with Patent Pending’s renowned craft cocktails. Located in NoMad, Patent Pending offers expertly-crafted cocktails divided into five Tesla-inspired categories, with drinks like the Odd Love (Rye, Spanish Brandy, Patent Coffee, Cherry, Walnut, Absinthe), Hit by a Taxi (Japanese Whisky, Armagnac, Sweet Vermouth, Pu'erh Tea, Curacao, Star Anise) and Impossible Idea (Chichicapa Mezcal, Navazos Rum, Blackened Banana, Luxardo Maraschino, Oloroso Sherry, Nardini Amaro).
This Mother’s Day, keep Mom happy, or “sabai”, at Sabai Thai, the Central-Thai-Inspired restaurant on the bustling Park Avenue South. The gilded restaurant will be offering its a la carte menu of cherished Thai dishes with a modern, Western twist, along with artisan craft cocktails and highballs for both lunch and dinner. Menu highlights include Soft Shell Crab Fried Rice, Pineapple Duck Curry, and Pork Belly Stew. Thai-inspired craft cocktails include Koh Pha Ngan (roku house-infused raspberry gin, Aperol, rosemary syrup, lime and egg white) and Koh Phi Phi (Bacardi rum, guava juice, dragon fruit, and lemon).
For the mom who keeps the party going with margs and tacos, feel transported to Mexico as you soak up the Baja California vibes at seeyamañana. A relaxed bar and restaurant serving up vibrant agave-based cocktails and plant-inspired fare in the NoMad neighborhood, seeyamañana (and its eclectic downstairs music venue, seeyabajo) is sure to bring the tropical vibes to her this Mother’s Day. Must-trys include the Prickly Pear (with tequila, mezcal, amaro, cactus flower, grapefruit, and lime) and Eucalyptus (with tequila, epazote, green peppercorn, papaya vinegar, and lemon), plus Street Taquitos, Vegan Enchiladas, Summer Ceviche, Esquites, and more.
Perfect for a stylish Mother’s Day out, Sereneco serves bright, seasonal fare in a chic and airy space (with wraparound patio seating when weather permits). Brunch highlights include a new Smoked Salmon Plate (capers, red onion, horseradish creme fraiche, sourdough), Buttermilk Pancakes (powdered sugar, maple syrup, citrus cream; choose between strawberry basil compote, dark chocolate-tahini spread or caramelized walnuts), Shakshouka (baked local eggs, red pepper-tomato sauce, mizithra cheese, pistachios, sourdough bread), and more. Reservations via Resy
For the burger-loving mom, take her to one of New York’s best burger spots, The Happiest Hour in Greenwich Village. Try the Happiest Hour burger (an icon & legend for almost a decade) as well as a just-debuted *new* Happiest Smash burger. The new burger is built with house-made special blend patties topped with secret sauce, caramelized onions, sour pickles, bacon fat umami, and melted cheese - a real treat for any red-meat loving mom! Pair the mouth-watering sandwich with the property’s famous crispy fries and delicious cocktails for a satisfying Mother’s Day meal.
On Saturday and Sunday, May 11th and May 12th, The Standard Grill, located at The Standard High Line, will celebrate the matriarchy of the family with its Mother’s Day brunch offered alongside their regular brunch menu. Specials include Braised Lamb Hash, Strawberry Shortcake and Lemon Meringue Pie. Additionally, The Standard Grill will partner with Kinda Formal for a pop-up shop floral activation where customers and friends of the Meatpacking District can build their own custom Mother’s Day flower bouquet. Reservations can be made through Resy.
Recently opened, YAO, located in the Financial District, has created a Mother's Day menu of Cantonese specialties for moms. YAO, by Executive Chef-Owner Kenny Leung and Co-Owner Thomas Tang of the acclaimed August Gatherings, has crafted a four-course Mother’s Day brunch tasting menu at an approachable price of $68 per person, On Saturday, 5/11 and Sunday (5/12), YAO will serve its specially curated brunch tasting menu from 11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. as well as its a la carte menu all day. The four-course tasting menu includes Fried Crab Meat with Shrimp, Grilled Angus Short Rib, Fried Rice with Scallop, plus Dessert
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Greek Easter Celebrations Planned at Estiatorio Milos
April 18, 2024, 6:22.46 pm ET
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Photo: Estiatorio Milos
Greek Easter celebrations will take place at Estiatorio Milos - Hudson Yards and Midtown Manhattan locations - on Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th.
-At Milos Midtown (125 W 55th St), offerings include live music accompanied by a prix fixe menu ($150 per person) featuring traditional Easter dishes such as Magiritsa Soup; Spring Lamb with Roasted Potatoes; Traditional Easter Salad; and Koulourakia with tsoureki and red egg. Reservations are available via OpenTable from 12 AM- 2AM. The following day, Milos Midtown is open for Easter Brunch with their normal brunch menu, and the special Greek Easter dishes noted above offered a la carte. Reservations are available via OpenTable.
-At Milos Hudson Yards (20 Hudson Yards, Fifth Floor) Offerings include live music accompanied by a prix fixe menu ($150 per person) featuring traditional Easter dishes such as Magiritsa Soup; Spring Lamb with Roasted Potatoes; Traditional Easter Salad; and Koulourakia with tsoureki and red egg. Reservations are available via OpenTable from 12 AM- 2AM. The following day, Milos Hudson Yards will be open for Easter Brunch with their normal brunch menu, and the special Greek Easter dishes noted above offered a la carte. Reservations are available via Resy.
At both locations…
Ahead of the feast, there will be lamb roasting on a spit outside of Milos Midtown, from 4:30PM - 11:45PM. Milos Hudson Yards will be open post-midnight Mass, on the evening of Saturday, May 4th.
For more information, visit estiatoriomilos.com
SUPERBUENO Taps 5 Top Mexican Chefs for Cinco de Mayo
April 18, 2024, 5:58.42 pm ET
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Photos: John Shyloski
Acclaimed Mexican cocktail bar SUPEBUENO will mark Cinco de Mayo with a special collaboration featuring five exception Mexican chefs, each providing a signature cocktail. They include:
• Chef Daniela Soto-Innes, Mexico
Taco de Lengua – Beef Tongue, Bone Marrow Salsa – $7.50/per taco
• Chef Isabel Coss, Washington, D.C.
Lamb Neck Barbacoa – Avocado Leaf Oil, Mint Salsa Verde – $7.50/per taco
• Chef Ana Castro, New Orleans
Fried Catfish Taco – Crystal Hot Sauce Mayo, Chayote Slaw – $7.50/per taco
• Chef Claudette Zepeda, San Diego
Taco de Chile Relleno – Crab & Chihuahua Cheese-Filled Charred Pepper, Spicy Tomato Sauce – $10.50/per
taco
• Chef Yara Herrera, Ridgewood
Potato Costra Taco – Seasoned Fries, Quesillo, Salsa Cruda – $7.50/per taco
The tacos will be paired with SUPERBUENO’s cocktails like the Mushroom Margarita with mezcal, cointreau, huitlacoche, lime, and lava salt or the frozen Adobada Bam Bam with mezcal, adobada falernum, pineapple, lemon, and pineapple shrub.
While the chefs will be there in spirit only, the SUPERBUENO team will execute the tacos to their specifications and will be offered on Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th during regular operating hours (2 p.m. – 2 a.m.). For more information, visit superbuenonyc.com
Review: The Wiz is a Why
April 17, 2024, 11:01.45 pm ET
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Photo: Jeremy Daniel
“The Wiz is a Wow!” shouted the TV commercials back in 1975 that helped transform the all-black musical take on the beloved 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” into a financial success that ran for four years (and earned seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical).
Sadly, don’t expect to hear the same kind of exuberance for director Schele Williams’ current production of “The Wiz” at the Marquis Theatre – at least from me. Yes, the show remains a crowd-pleaser, with its catchy Charlie Smalls songs (I’m still humming “Ease on Down the Road”) and clever-enough, fairly faithful book by William F. Brown (here punched up with some contemporary jokes by Amber Ruffin) to keep us entertained for 2 ½ hours.
Still Broadway audiences deserve something far better than this middling national-tour production that has been dropped into the Marquis for a limited run the same way Dorothy’s house was dropped into Oz after a tornado. True, no fatality occurs, just a sadly missed opportunity to introduce the show to new audiences (as well as delight older ones) with a first-rate reimagining of this beloved material.
In fairness, it’s also a bit hard for me to honestly evaluate what I saw on stage on April 13 due to a horribly muddled sound design that made many members of the talented cast close to inaudible. (When you literally cannot hear R&B diva Deborah Cox, as the good witch Glinda, from the fourth row, you know something is very wrong.)
Still, seeing is believing – not just hearing -- and the show’s two-dimensional sets (by Hannah Beachler) and sometimes less-than-inspired costumes (by Sharen Davis) contributed to my disappointment. Meanwhile, JaQuel Knight has contributed some energetic and stylish choreography, but his work can’t hold a candle to George Faison’s original dance sequences, which were a true marvel to behold.
Intriguingly, “The Wiz” has always placed the heaviest burden on the show’s youngest cast member, and newcomer Nichelle Lewis makes a most appealing Dorothy. While clearly unhappy at the get-go about having to live with her good-natured Auntie Em after the death of her parents, Dorothy almost immediately understands the value of being “home” the second she unwittingly ends up in Oz and accidentally kills the Wicked Witch of the East.
Even with the sound design issues, it’s clear Lewis has a lovely plaintive voice that effectively sells such ballads as “Soon as I Get Home,” “Wonder, Wonder Why,” and her 11 o-clock showstopper “Home,” performed expertly here with some riffs worthy of the best “American Idol” contestant, but never lacking heart.
Lewis also creates great chemistry with her three new “friends” in Oz: The addled-brained but lovable Scarecrow (a truly adorable Avery Wilson in an impressive Broadway debut), the “heartless” but kind-hearted Tin Man (the excellent Phillip Johson Richardson, in romantic crooner mode), and the scaredy-cat lion (a properly outrageous Kyle Ramar Freeman, occasionally going a bit over the top), who accompany on her visit to the Emerald City.
Oddly, the group’s main obstacle is supposed to be the very powerful witch Evilene (Melody A. Betts), but she barely registers for most of the show – until her own showstopper, “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News” explodes in the second act. And as the supposedly all-powerful Wiz (who has no power at all), Wayne Brady initially scores with his smooth game-show charm during “Meet the Wizard,” but he doesn’t do as much as one hopes with the role once the truth is revealed, settling for a standard characterization.
Indeed, Brady turns out to be no big deal – nor does “The Wiz.”
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Famous Portland Ice Cream Maker to Open Two Shops in NYC
April 17, 2024, 10:30.24 pm ET
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Photos: Salt & Straw
Salt & Straw, one of the country’s most famed ice cream makers based in Portland, OR, will open its first two Manhattan scoop shops in the West Village (540 Hudson St) and Upper West Side (360 Amsterdam Ave) this summer.
To celebrate the openings, Salt & Straw is hosting two pop-ups next week:
On Thursday April 25th from 5-7pm, Salt & Straw will be serving ice cream floats with their limited-time Passionfruit Yuzu Mochi Donuts & Whey Curd ice cream flavor, at Brooklyn Brewery. This flavor appears on Salt & Straw’s Upcycled Food Series menu this month in partnership with Spare Foods Co, and features their Spare Tonic Passion Fruit & Yuzu.
On Friday April 26th from 1-3pm Salt & Straw chef and co-founder Tyler Malek will serve ice cream outside of their soon-to-be West Village shop (540 Hudson Street). He will serve some of Salt & Straw’s most iconic flavors and will give New Yorkers a first look at their newest flavor, Pistachio & Ricotta Cannoli. Scoops will be sold for $1, with proceeds going to Hot Bread Kitchen, the nonprofit that creates economic opportunity through careers in food.
Salt & Straw was co-founded by cousins Kim and Tyler Malek in 2011 as a small ice cream cart in Portland, Oregon focused on connecting with the community, which is a value they still maintain more than 12 years later. With a significant fan base in New York City — Salt & Straw hosted a sold-out pop-up last summer with lines around the block and collaborated with NYC chefs like James Beard-nominated Mary Attea (Musket Room) and Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern) to create limited-time flavors — the forthcoming openings are an exciting milestone for the brand.
The company is known for its classics like Double Fold Vanilla, Sea Salt Caramel Ribbons, and Pear & Blue Cheese, along with unconventional ingredients such as Turkey Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce, Chocolate Potato Salad, and Don Bugito’s Creepy Crawly Critters made with real bugs.
Modern Latin spot Chica & The Don Opens in Flatiron
April 17, 2024, 6:53.24 pm ET
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Photos: Noah Fecks
Chica & The Don, inspired by the team’s hertitage, debuts in Flatiron. Partner Nick Semkiw (partner at LES rum bar Las' Lap and formerly of Mister French) has worked closely with Executive Chef Michelle Chan (The Aviary, The Lambs Club, and The Clocktower) to create a food menu, that is available late night, and inspired by the team’s Latin heritage from Nicaragua, The Dominican Republic, Peru, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico.
On the menu, visitors will find small plates such as Chicharron, puffed pork bites with spiced vinegar, lime, and tajin; Short Rib y Maduro Quesadilla with braised short ribs, oaxaca and mozzarella cheese; Lomo Saltado Empanadas with seasoned ground beef, yukon potatoes, tomatoes, sauteed onions, and soy glaze; and Shrimp and Red Snapper Ceviche with coconut, aji amarillo and mango citrus broth.
Larger plates bring Roasted Chicken, fired table side, and served with annatto saffron oil and famed green sauce; Fried Red Snapper in a coconut tomato sauce with toasted coconut flakes and cilantro; and Arroz Chaufa, Peruvian style lobster and shrimp fried rice. Desserts like Tres Leches with fresh strawberries; Flan with dulce de leche and Churro Doughnuts with fried vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream round out the menu.
The cocktail menu from Beverage Director Elvis Rosario is inspired by the team’s Latin American roots and feature house-made ingredients. Look for drinks like the Chica, aged rum, coconut, housemade strawberry condensed milk puree, and lemon, served in a Cantarito clay mug; The Don, a play on an old fashioned with scotch, mamajuana, tamarind, banane, aromatic bitters, and cinnamon; and Electrico made wiht aged rum, lime, inca kola, and buzz button flower. The wine also focuses on Latin American wine producers from countries such as Chile and Argentina.
The space with dedicated bar, dining and dancing areas, boasts high-tops with crushed blue velvet stools and tropical inspired wallpaper. The white marble bar is lined with green herringbone tiles. Towards the back of the restaurant, the dining room features gold leaf ceilings, lush greenery and exposed brick walls with paintings from Latin American artists. Live entertainment is also part of the mix, including salsa bands. Guest can also have some fun with the vintage photo booth.
For more information, visit chicadon.com
The Whitney Explores the Whimsical World of Illustrator and Author Wanda Gag
April 17, 2024, 6:18.38 pm ET
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Image: Wanda Gág,Spring in the Garden
Visionary artist, illustrator, and children’s book author Wanda Gág (1893–1946) is having a long overdue moment at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
On display on the Museum’s seventh floor from March 28 until December 2024, the small survey Wanda Gág’s World features 18 prints and two first editions of her children’s books, including Millions of Cats (1928), the longest-running continuously in-print American picture book. This exhibition offers visitors a unique window into the world of Wanda Gág, featuring works that have not been displayed since the 1990s. The exhibition is also one of the first solo in-person museum presentations of Gág on the East Coast in decades.
Drawn entirely from the Museum’s permanent collection, the works on view reflect Gág’s long history with the Whitney, including as a member of the Whitney Studio Club and her participation in six Whitney Biennials and Annuals between 1933 and 1941. For more information, click here
Image: Wanda Gág, Spring in the Garden, 1927. Lithograph, 11 3/8 × 13 3/4in. (28.9 × 34.9 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
10 Things to Do at Bryant Park in NYC
April 17, 2024, 6:06.44 pm ET
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Photo: Cititour.com
2024 QUICK GUIDE TO EVENTS THIS SPRING AND SUMMER AT BRYANT PARK
• Learn the art of Juggling weekdays 12-pm to 1pm more
• Take a ride on Le Carrousel open daily 11am to 7pm more
• Early morning Boot Camp with crunches, planks and push-ups 7am-7:30am more
• Dance Parties with Salsa, Disco and Swing Nights more
• Bring a blanket for Movie Nights starting in June at dusk more
• Picnic Performances Kick off May 31st with Puccini at 7pm more
• Bring out the artist in you with free supplies from the Art Cart 11am-7pm more
• Enjoy Games Like Chess, Ping Pong and Pétanque more
• Free Bingo in the Park with Comedian Andy Ross more
• Catch Broadway Stars for Lunchtime Performances in July more
For more information, visit bryantpark.org
Around Town - Honoring Prince, Boozy Melon Jellies, Free Desserts and more...
April 16, 2024, 7:15.14 pm ET
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Photo: KYU
KYU, the Asian-inspired, wood-fired restaurant, is celebrating its second anniversary in NYC this weekend! To mark “KYU Turns Two,” the restaurant is offering FREE desserts from a charming cart set in front of the restaurant on Saturday, April 20, from 12-5 p.m. Anyone who stops by and posts on social tagging @kyurestaurants will be treated to mini munchies: A delectable cinnamon roll or a miniature version of the restaurant’s signature coconut cake.
Photo: The Rum House
The Rum House in Times Square is offering a new spring cocktail menu featuring rum-based drinks including The Edison Cocktail with Laird’s Apple Brandy, Plantation Pineapple Rum, Lemon, Angostura Bitters, Demerara and Red Wine; Thirst Crusher with Banhez Mexcal, Pierre Ferrand Yuzu Orange Curacao, Aperol and Giffard Rhubarbe Liqueur, Lemon, Agave; Rum Fire Colada with Green Chartreuse, Rum Fire, Velvet Falernum, Pineapple, Coconut Crème and Lime, Angostura Bitters; and Barracuda with Tequila, Giffard Peach Liqueur, Lemon Grenadine, Blood Orange and Egg White The Rum House also offers Happy Hour from 4pm-6pm, and live jazz music every night.
Photo: Another Country
On Sunday, April 21st, Another Country, the newly opened cocktail and vinyl den in Union Square (10 East 16th Street), will be honoring Prince on the anniversary of his passing. In commemoration, the bar will open early, at 3pm, and will play The Artist’s catalog and artists who he inspired. There will also be Prince-inspired cocktails like the Drem, a purple drink made with bourbon, Oloroso sherry, butterfly pea flower, lemon juice and egg white, among others.
Photo: Pier 57
For Earth Month, a series of large-scale photographs representing the effects of climate change are gracing the walls at Pier 57 in Chelsea, as part of an art campaign titled #ReframeClimate. The newly unveiled art display features documentary images alongside interactive prompts, inviting viewers to reflect on the implications of climate change on people and the environment.
Photo: ARTECHOUSE
ARTECHOUSE, known for its experimental immersive art, will be hosting a special “Pay What You May” Day on Sunday, April 21, where guests can experience its current exhibition at the cost of their choosing. Visitors can reserve their tickets here. Taxes and fees apply. Additional year-round discounts, including free entry for children under 4, can be found at Artechouse.com. Currently on view through the summer, its current exhibition Aṣẹ: Afro Frequencies, a vibrant reflection upon the past, present, and future of the Black experience.
Photo: Ellen's Stardust
Ellen’s Stardust Diner will host a Miss Subways reunion on Thursday, May 2 at 11 am, honoring the NYC cultural icons who decorated the subways for more than 30 years – and as a nod to the very first Miss Subways Mona Freeman who was awarded the honor in May 1941. As part of the festivities, 12 former Miss Subways including Ellen Hart (Miss Subway 1959), the diner’s owner, will reunite to celebrate the city’s rich history and shared values as hard-working women of New York.
Photo: Talea, Black Seeds Bagels Collab
TALEA, Black Seed Bagels, and Gotham Greens have teamed up to brew two new sustainable beers that use surplus bagels in the mash of the beer. (This is the latest effort of Black Seed's to reduce as much food waste as possible by upcycling leftover bagels in creative ways.) The two beers are the Lemon Basil Weekender Beer (which uses Gotham Greens' basil, also grown locally) and the Experimental Everything Bagel Beer. They're officially launching at all Talea tap rooms tomorrow, Thursday 4/18. To celebrate the launch, this Sunday, April 21st, Black Seed Bagels will be popping up at Talea's Williamsburg taproom (87 Richardson Street) from 2-4pm, offering an open face green goddess bagel sandwich with a purchase of beer from the collaboration. Guests will receive a complimentary basil seedling from Gotham Greens with the purchase of a Lemon Basil Weekender Beer draft pour. More here
Photo: Bad Roman via Instagram
Finally, Bad Roman is rolling out a Prosciutto & “Melon” special featuring Midori Sour melon-flavored boozy jellies crafted in Brooklyn by Solid Wiggles, paired with Casell’s Salumi 18-month aged American Prosciutto. The dish is available throughout the month of April.
Cocktail Time: The Smoking Mezcal Margarita at two fifteen
April 15, 2024, 6:49.01 pm ET
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You know the old saying where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Nightlife legends Ian Schrager and Nur Khan are offering an exciting smoky new cocktail their new nightspot, two fifteen, at the PUBLIC hotel.
The creation of Master Mixologist Charlotte Voisey, the Smoked Mezcal Margarita is a mix of mezcal, reposado tequila, smoked agave fresh lime and tamarind that is smoked with wood chips.
A total of six signature cocktails are offered along with three Champagne along with new takes on the classics.
Brooklyn Kura and Faccia Bruta to Host Cocktail Pop-UP
April 15, 2024, 6:28.51 pm ET
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Photo: Ward 8 Studios
Brooklyn Kura (34 34th St.), is teaming up with Brooklyn-based amari brand Faccia Brutto to host a one-night only cocktail pop-up on Thursday, April 25.
Inspired by the rainbow of distinctive, rich colors of Faccia Brutto’s botanically-infused Italian spirits, Bar Manager Kyle Davis will ring in sunnier days with expertly-crafted cocktails made with amari and shochu (a grain-forward Japanese spirit). Each cocktail will be named after various Pikmin characters, as a nod to their signature saturated colors, like: Blue Pikmin — barley shochu, Faccia Brutto Centerbre, house made sake vermouth, spirulina; Purple Pikmin — sweet potato shochu, Faccia Brutto Amaro, ube, coconut; Red Pikmin — black sugar shochu, Faccia Brutto Aperitivo, sotol, blood orange
Amarena Launches Lunch & Brunch on UES
April 15, 2024, 6:08.40 pm ET
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Photos: Marconi Gonzalez
Amarena, Chef Julian Medina's new Italian spot on the Upper East Side, is launching lunch and brunch.
In addition to Amarena signature dishes, menu highlights also include Amarena Burger: Prime ground beef, provolone, caramelized cipollini onions, mushrooms, patate Toscano; Frittata with zucchini, golden bar squash, Grana Padano, cherry tomato, insalata; Pancakes, ricotta, Meyer lemon syrup, blueberries; and Eggs with pistachio hollandaise, focaccia, choice of prosciutto and insalata. Assorted pizze and pasta dishes are also available.
Lunch is available Monday thru Friday from 12pm to 3pm. Brunch is available on Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 2:45pm. Amarena is located at 151 E 82nd Street, in Manhattan.
Huda to Launch Brunch Service in East Williamsburg
April 15, 2024, 5:41.06 pm ET
Details
Photos: Huda
Huda, the Middle Eastern restaurant and bar that celebrates Levantine culture and cuisine in East Williamsburg, is launching brunch service starting the first week of May along with Summer Sundays screenings and live performances.
Inspired by weekends with family, brunch is a fixed, family-style menu for $30 per person. Each guest receives Fresh Vegetables, Hummus, Muhammara, Falafel, Fattoush Salad, Shanklish Labne, Fava Medamas, Chickpea Musabaha, Turkish Poached Eggs, Nabulsi Olive Oil Cake and Ka’ak Bread. Fresh-squeezed juice (cantaloupe, honeydew, grapefruit and others), coffee and tea, and cocktails, are also available. Reservations are available on Resy, and walk-ins are encouraged.
Huda will also offer outdoor seating starting May 1st.
Bar Bastion to Offer Jazz Fridays
April 15, 2024, 5:26.21 pm ET
Details
Photo: Alex Stanlinoff
Bar Bastion, from the renowned Bastion Collection, is thrilled to unveil Jazz Fridays, a new weekend series with dates in April and May, and more to come, featuring live jazz from 7:00-9:30pm, with bar service extended until 11:00pm.
On April 26th and May 3rd, with additional dates to come, guests can immerse themselves within the sultry world of jazz surrounded by an opulent cocktail and lounge experience at Bar Bastion. Offering something for every guest, including all the jazz aficionados and cocktail enthusiasts, an evening of elegance and refinement will fill the air. Guests can unwind with handcrafted cocktails and delectable bites while enjoying the finer pleasures of life.
Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan above Le Jardinier, Bar Bastion offers a chic, hidden escape with an outstanding beverage and culinary programs, crafted by a Michelin starred team.
Review: Lempicka is Surprisingly Artless
April 14, 2024, 11:05.27 pm ET
Details
Photo: Matthew Murphy
By Brian Scott Lipton
Without question, the art of making art about artists – especially visual ones – has long proved tricky for theater makers. Stil, it’s clearly not fair for audiences to expect “Sunday in the Park with George” every time someone tries to do it!
So, for whatever credit it does deserve, I will admit that “Lempicka” the ambitious, visually compelling but otherwise muddled bio-musical about the artist Tamara de Lempicka (played consistently at full volume by Eden Espinosa) is nothing like watching paint dry.
Yet, under Rachel Chavkin’s surprisingly frazzled direction, the show, now at the Longacre Theatre, often feels like you’re watching someone put together a misguided collage – one that often incorporates elements of other stronger musicals, most notably “Cabaret” -- as it struggles to decide what story it wants to tell us and what message we’re supposed to take with us as we leave the theatre. Women can do anything? Women never get the same credit as men? Women are brilliant? Art isn’t easy? You tell me?
Indeed, while de Lempicka herself never became a household name like Picasso or Matisse, the Polish-born artist had periods of a great success, primarily in 1920s and 1930s Europe, thanks to her often shocking Art Deco-inspired portraits of society figures and nude women (here visualized in Peter Negrini’s projections). That her success didn’t last is less a matter of changing tastes than having to change homelands because of World War II.
Still, the musical seems much more interested in titillating us with her personal life (even as it plays fast and loose with many of the actual facts). Early on, it makes a big show about how she used her body (for one night) to help get her captured husband Tadeusz (handsome Andrew Samonsky) released from a Russian prison. And large parts of the musical focus on her surprising ease with her bisexuality, whether spending time in the outre lesbian/drag bar founded by her friend Susy Solidor (a dynamic Natalie Joy Johnson) or having a torrid affair with local whore Rafaela (the incredibly compelling Amber Iman), which contributes to the downfall of Tamara’s marriage.
On the other hand, it omits the fact that Tamara had an actual affair with the kindly Baron Kuffner (a fine Nathaniel Stampley), instead positing she had a close friendship with the Baron and his wife (a criminally underused Beth Leavel, giving a nothing role 200 percent) and that it was the Baroness’ idea for Tamara to wed her husband after her untimely death.
And I have next to no clue why we needed the presence of Italian art teacher Martinetti, a certified lunatic (and future fascist), played in ultra-manic fashion by George Abud, who seems to be auditioning to become Eddie Redmayne’s replacement in “Cabaret.” He’s annoying, distracting and completely unnecessary.
The show’s shortcomings would matter far less if there was a memorable, hummable score, but what we get here ranges from the banal (a song about a bracelet, really?) to Tamara’s power ballads, which given Espinosa’s signature belt, mostly sound like trunk songs from “Wicked.” (I have never appreciated “Defying Gravity” so much in my life!)
What you will likely remember is Riccardo Hernandez’s abstract, multi-purpose set, spectacular lit by Bradley King, and, especially, Paloma Young’s colorful, often outrageous costumes, modeled by an extraordinarily attractive ensemble of performers. Raja Feather Kelly’s choreography is served by these men and women and it clearly serves its purpose, but it’s not his finest work either.
Art and theater are both subjective, so “Lempicka,” like the painter’s work, will have its fans. Personally, I’d rather just brush the whole experience off.
SEE DETAILS/TICKETS
Head to Sushi Delic in Lower Manhattan for a Fun Break from Reality
April 14, 2024, 10:04.44 pm ET
Details
Photos: Cititour.com
You might say Sushi Delic is the cat’s meow. This colorful cacophony of sights and sounds features oversized cat heads circling above the bar with lipstick lights as a bright pink conveyor belt delivers sushi and cocktails along with colorful art.
Sushi Delic describes itself as an immersive Kawaii experience where reality intertwines with the imagination. Guests should grab a seat at the bar to take in the entire show.
Cocktails come with names like the Sugar Plum Spritz, a fruity concoction made with plum wine, cranberry, lime and prosecco, or go for a Shōchū Sour with shōchū (a Japanese distilled beverage), lime, lemon and agave. Non-alcoholic drinks include Zombie Love, a mix of pineapple juice, ginger, agave and lime with a cranberry float.
As you sip your cocktail, watch in amazement as your sushi arrives via conveyor belt alongside colorful creations ranging from a statue of a laughing cat to a crystal handbag and ruby red stilettos. Visitors can opt for an $88, six-course omakase or choose from an assortment of a la carte dishes like crabcake croquettes, chicken karaage, California rolls with snow crab, and a selection of sashimi.
Sushi Delic is a lively, fun experience. Sit back and enjoy the ride! Sushi Delic is located at 177 Lafayette St, New York, NY (646) 478-7099. For more information, visit sushidelic.net
First-Ever Thai Fest is Set for June 20th in Midtown
April 12, 2024, 7:42.17 pm ET
Details
Photo: Thai Fest
The first-ever Thai Fest is set to take place on April 20th on 6th Avenue between 29th and 30th Streets in Manhattan. This annual event promises to bring the authentic flavors and vibrant culture of Thailand to the heart of New York City.
Attendees can look forward to a diverse array of authentic Thai street food from some of NYC's most popular Thai restaurants. Delicacies such as Crab Fried Rice from Fish Cheeks, spicy KraPow from Mayree, savory Fried Meatballs from Sappe, rich Khao Soi from Soothr, and crispy Fried Chicken from Somtum Der, classic Pad Thai from Rua Thai, sweet Mango Sticky Rice from Zabb PuTawn, flavorful Garlic Noodle from Obao, and tangy Tom Yum Ramen from 11Tigers will be featured, providing a taste of Thailand's diverse and vibrant food culture.
The festival invites New Yorkers and visitors alike to explore the traditions and cuisine of Thailand in an immersive and festive atmosphere. The sponsor of Thai Fest is beverage maker Chi Forest.
For more information, visit https://www.thaifests.com
A New Bi-Level Lounge and Restaurant from the MaLa Team Opens on LES
April 12, 2024, 6:57.13 pm ET
Details
Photos: Ori Harpaz (Interiors)
Only Love Strangers, a new bi-level cocktail lounge and restaurant with nightly live jazz performances, has arrived on the Lower East Side. It is led by the team behind MáLà Project - Amelie Kang, Simona Petrovska, Christian Castillo, Irene Li, and Yishu He.
The immersive dinner-and-a-show experience promises a sensory journey bordering on Stanley Kubrik’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Striking Cobalt Blue floor-to-ceiling tiles complement an aluminum clad bar and banquettes upholstered with the late Verner Panton’s 1969 “Black and White Optik”design.
Photos: Heidi's Bridge (F&B)
Signature cocktails from Beverage Director Fabrizio Argiolas (Obicà Mozzarella Bar), feature the Bebop (Tequila, Green Apple, Red Beets, Pomegranate, Citrus), the Bossa Nova (Mezcal, Pink Grapefruit, Yellow Pepper, Pineapple, Citrus), and the Nu (Vodka, White Creme de Cacao, Frangelico, Espresso Ice Cube). Martini lovers are also in for a treat, with options like the Double Dirty (Kalamata + Sevillano Brine), the Pickled (House made Pickle Brine), and the Ouzo (Dry Anise Liqueur).
The seafood driven menu is a collaboration between Culinary Director Tabitha Yeh (Noma, Per Se) and Chef de Cuisine Alberto Gomez (Prohibition, The Williamsburg Hotel), drawing inspiration from Spain, Italy, and Greece.
The meal begins with a shareable seafood tower flowing with Oysters, Little Neck Clams, Shrimp Cocktail, Salmon Rillette, Scallop Tartare, Razor Clams with Chorizo along with traditional pintxos and mezze dishes. Other highlights include an Osetra Caviar Cannoli with Potato, Sour Cream & Onion; Shrimp Kataifi with Calabrian Chili Aioli; Squid Ink Tagliatelle with Sea Urchin and Bottarga; and Branzino with Salsa Verde, Olives, and Dandelion Greens.
For a sweet finish, try the Baklava Sundae with black pepper gelato, caramelized figs, and pistacho. Only Love Strangers is located at 200 Allen Street, near East Houston, in New York City. For more information, visit onlylovestrangers.com
Review: The Outsiders Goes for the Gold
April 11, 2024, 9:00.33 pm ET
Details
Photo: Matthew Murphy
By Brian Scott Lipton
At the end of “The Outsiders,” both S.E. Hinton’s groundbreaking 1967 novel about teen class warfare in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the faithful and very satisfying musical adaptation now open at the Jacobs Theatre, there is the lingering question of whether good-hearted, slightly troubled teen Ponyboy Curtis (played by charismatic newcomer Brody Grant) can always “stay gold” – which means pursuing his dreams of being a writer, leaving Oklahoma, and, yes, remaining on the right side of the law.
However, for Broadway awards watchers, there’s another lingering question -- one that will be answered definitively -- in about two months: Can “The Outsiders” earn the gold – aka the Tony Award for Best Musical? It’s a bit too early to call, but the show has enough first-rate elements that I suspect it will at least be a contender.
Its story, adapted by Adam Rapp and Justin Levine (who is also credited with lyrics, music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations) is aimed squarely at anyone who has ever felt like an “outsider,” no matter if you’re 14 or 64. The former age belongs to the recently orphaned Ponyboy, who along with his best friend Johnny Cade (a touching Sky Lakota-Lynch) and his two older brothers, the hard-working if somewhat embittered Darrel (a strong-voiced Brent Comer) and the good-natured Sodapop (the endearing and impressively fit Jason Schmidt), are members of the “greasers,” an ad hoc gang from the wrong part of town.
Their socio-economic status, as much as anything, has made them the enemy of the richer socs (aka socialites), and this inter-class rivalry only gets more heated when Ponyboy strikes up a long if essentially innocent conversation with the sweet-but-smart Cherry (an excellent Emma Pittman) -- the girlfriend of blustering, obnoxious Bob (a well-cast Kevin William Paul) -- at the local drive-in.
To say the rich kids don’t take kindly to the idea of Ponyboy interacting with Cherry is an understatement! In fact, it leads over the course of the musical to one almost-death, one actual death, Ponyboy and Johnny leaving town with the aid of New York-born ex-convict Dallas Winston (Joshua Boone in a phenomenal turn), another tragic death, and a violent rumble in which everyone still alive joins in.
Even with its echoes of “West Side Story,” that lengthy fight, which involves a rain curtain (yep, another one), is among the most imaginative scenes staged by director Danya Taymor and choreographers Rick and Jeff Kuperman on the show’s clever industrial set (designed by AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian) -- and aided in no small part by the brilliant lighting by Brian McDevitt.
Still, for all of its action sequences (including the sudden burning of a church), the show leaves plenty of time (perhaps a bit too much) for the characters to sing about their feelings in songs, all penned by the Texas-based band Jamestown Revival (aka Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance), whether it’s Ponyboy expressing his hopes and fears in “Great Expectations,” Cherry and Ponyboy connecting emotionally in “I Could Talk to You All Night,” Dallas explaining his drastic actions in “Little Brother” or Johnny imploring his best friend to, yes, “Stay Gold.” Indeed, the score, while a tad ballad-heavy, is one of the best I’ve heard on Broadway this season.
Intriguingly, “The Outsiders,” unlike “West Side Story,” has no conventional love story; Ponyboy and Cherry are nothing more – and remain nothing more -- than unlikely friends. In fact, the show is all about men’s platonic love for other men (even if one occasionally senses a slight homoerotic bond between Ponyboy and Johnny). Indeed, it would benefit even a bit more from repeatedly showing the unbreakable familial bond among the three Curtis brothers, a fact that becomes crystal clear when the show finally does just that in its final sequences.
While an immediate ticket to this sure-to-be-hit may be hard to come by, don’t let yourself stay an outsider. This show is worth coming into a theater!
SEE DETAILS/TICKETS
Restaurant Yuu to Offer Special Spring Menu
April 11, 2024, 8:33.03 pm ET
Details
Photo: Restaurant Yuu
While Executive Chef-Owner Yuu Shimano, of Michelin-starred Restaurant Yuu, will be participating in a guest chef appearance at Shirley Brasserie with Chef Craig Hopson inside Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel, in Los Angles, Chef Yuu’s all-star team, for the first time, will be creating their own French 15-course omakase menu at Restaurant Yuu.
Leading the team is Executive Chef, Shuji Furukawa, along with Chef De Cuisine, Simon Ek and Chef De Partie, Musashi Osaki have created a special menu for the occasion.
Menu highlights are as follows:
· Scallop: raw scallop carpaccio with olive oil and vinaigrette jelly
· Clam Flan Spring Veggie: clam egg custard with spring vegetables
· Charred Trout: sliced in front of guests, served with spring cabbage and roe sauce
· Lobster: grilled lobster with melon, Pernod, mustard greens and dehydrated black olives
The menu will be served from April 23rd- 26th.
$220 per person; reservations can be made via Tock.
Rooftops and Gardens Await from Some of NYC’s Premier Dining Destinations
April 11, 2024, 7:55.32 pm ET
Details
Photo: Chez Zou
Chez Zou is the chic cocktail lounge from the team behind Zou Zou’s, the buzzy Eastern Mediterranean restaurant on Manhattan’s west side. Located just a few floors up from the restaurant, Bar Director Joey Smith offers inventive and playful cocktails highlighting flavors inspired by the eastern-Mediterranean region, categorized by Stirred, Shaken, Rums & Coladas, Highballs & Spritzes, and more. The expansive patio boasts comfortable seating and string lights overhead and a dedicated outdoor bar.
Photo: Bar Blondeau/Liz Clayman
Bar Blondeau is a French-style bar in Williamsburg with unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline. From the team behind Le Crocodile at Wythe Hotel, Bar Blondeau opens their expansive terrace for the season on Saturday, May 18th. All summer long, Bar Blondeau is hosting “Sunset Hour” from 5-7pm, which features $9 wine/beer and $11 cocktails along with small bites.
Photo: Maison Premiere
Maison Premiere is the Williamsburg cocktail bar and restaurant best known for its supreme oysters and unique New Orleans flair. Maison Premiere has grown from humble beginnings to become a major player in both the craft cocktail revival and the bar and restaurant renaissance. This spring, visitors can dine in Maison’s lush backyard garden, which offers seating under the wooden pergola with string lights interwoven with running vines, large hanging ferns, and other vibrant foliage.
Photo: Greywind/Evan Sung
Greywind from James Beard Award-winning Chef Dan Kluger is located on the edge of Hudson Yards offering a seasonally driven, vegetable-forward menu. Enjoy a meal this spring at Greywind’s breezy outdoor dining terrace where you can select from classic and seasonal bites and cocktails organized by primary flavor profile (from “Apple” to “Vegetable” to “Berries” and beyond), alongside artisanal New York spirits, beers and wines.
Photo: Huda
Huda is the new Middle Eastern restaurant and bar that celebrates Levantine culture and cuisine in East Williamsburg. Inspired by owner Gehad Hadidi’s Syrian-American heritage, and his grandmother’s home cooking, the menu incorporates influences from Syria, Lebanon, and beyond. Huda will open their outdoor patio for the summer season on May 1st where they will serve the full menu and cocktail offerings in addition to their regular indoor service.
Photo: Libertine/Evan Sung
Libertine, located in the West Village, is throwing open its French doors and offering drinks and light bites in their streetside dining area, which will house about sixteen tables. Libertine is offering a menu that focuses on cuisine du marché, the greenmarket-guided cooking found in bistros across the French countryside, alongside an entirely all natural French wine list and cocktails made with small batch French spirits. Outdoor dining at Libertine is available for walk-ins only.
NoHo Hospitality, the group behind adored and sought-after New York restaurants such as Locanda Verde, The Dutch, and Lafayette, open their second location of the beloved Bar Primi in the heart of Midtown’s Penn District (349 West 33rd Street, between 8th & 9th Ave). This new opening includes expansive indoor dining and a lush and outdoor dining area hidden away from the bustling streets to enjoy and intimate meal and Italian-inspired cocktails in a warm setting.
The year-round garden at Olmsted, the acclaimed restaurant from chef Greg Baxtrom (also behind Patti Ann’s and 5 Acres), offers a picturesque oasis in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights. Known for its creative use of seasonal produce, Olmsted sources not only from local farmers but from the garden in their own backyard. Look for things like Kale and Crab Rangoon with sweet and sour sauce, Carrot Crepe with carrot butter, clam and sunflower seeds, and Rutabaga Tagliatelle with black truffle and brown butter. Guests can also make their own S’mores melted over a personal pit of warm coals.
Photo: Peasant
Located in NoLita, Peasant is an Italian restaurant from acclaimed chef and restaurateur Marc Forgione, specializing in handmade pastas, wood-fired dishes, and Italian wines served in a warm and refined setting, and has been an NYC neighborhood favorite for over 20 years. Diners can visit Peasant’s outdoor patio featuring a comprehensive spritz bar of 20 Italy region inspired drinks. The outdoor dining area overlooks the beautiful and intimate Elizabeth Street Garden nightly starting at 5pm.
Serafina Restaurant Group, the restaurant group founded by Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato nearly two decades ago. Guests can enjoy spring in the city at Serafina’s extensive outdoor patios found at various locations throughout the city including Serafina Tribeca, Serafina 38th, Serafina Vino e Cucina 110 University Place, Serafina Always (E 61st St), Serafina Broadway (55th St), Serafina (77th St UWS), and Serafina (105th St UWS). Look for handmade pastas and creative Italian wine lists.
Photo: Silver Apricot
Silver Apricot is the New-American-Chinese restaurant in the West Village from the acclaimed team previously behind Little Tong Noodle Shop. Through a Chinese-American-inspired menu of small plates that rotate with the seasons, Silver Apricot tells a story of what it means to be Chinese-American today. Enjoy the full food and beverage menus in their backyard garden patio, open all year round and perfect for any intimate spring date.
Enjoy dining out on the plaza at Zou Zou’s, the lively modern Eastern Mediterranean restaurant located on Manhattan’s West Side. Chef Juliana Latif offers a menu inspired by and celebrating the cuisine and flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean region, bringing in influences from Lebanon, Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, among others. The beautiful, jade green interior is complemented by outdoor dining tables just steps from Penn Station and the Pendry Hotel.
Photo: As You Are
As You Are is the all-day bakery, restaurant, and bar re-imaged in partnership with Chef Camille Becerra, located at The Ace Hotel Brooklyn. The menu brings a modern take on American classics, oftentimes utilizing superfoods and offering more vegetable-forward and vegan-friendly dishes. Enjoy the full food and beverage menus in their outdoor patio, opening at the end of April, perfect for people watching.
Chalong to Celebrate Thai New Year This Weekend
April 11, 2024, 7:52.36 pm ET
Details
Thai New Year or “Songkran” runs 4/13-4/15 at NYC Thai spot, Chalong (749 9th Ave, NYC) is offering special menus to mark the occasion.
The Songkran-themed menu features rarely-seen one hundred year-old recipes, including Keang Liang (aromatic soup with jumbo shrimp and root vegetables), and Kanom Ko (sweet rice cake from the South of Thailand stuffed with roasted coconut and coconut cream)
Chef Nate Limwong has a black book of spices she uses to develop each and every dish on the menu. She takes a yearly trip to Thailand to stay on top of the latest trends and new ingredients to bring back to the states.
Celebrated throughout Thailand April 13-15, Thai New Year is immensely important to Thai people, and is also known as National Family Day. Many people who leave home for work, school, etc. return home during this period to celebrate and spend time with their families. The day is also marked by street fairs and water fights symbolizing the purification, or the washing away of the prior year.
Around Town - Slice Out Hunger, Cocktails, Pop-Ups, Sensory Room at MSG and more...
April 10, 2024, 7:14.01 pm ET
Details
Photo: Don Antonio
On Thursday, April 18th, New Yorkers can snag authentic Neapolitan pizza for just $1. It is all part of a charity effort targeting hunger relief. Don Antonio is among a star-studded lineup of pizzerias providing donations for Slice Out Hunger’s $1 Pizza Party. Returning for the first time since Covid, the event will take place at St. Anthony’s Church on Sullivan Street in SoHo featuring live pizza making with portable ovens. 6pm until supplies run out, 154 Sullivan St, New York NY. More info here
Photo: Boqueria/Liz Clayman
On Sunday April 14th at 3pm, Boqueria - the lively Spanish tapas bar and restaurant - will be hosting the latest in its series of quarterly seasonal cocktail making classes at its 260 West 40th Street location. Receive instruction on how to make two spring cocktails - the lighty and fruity "Buen Rollo" margarita, and "Beach Please" - a fresh and herbaceous gin-based drink while learning how to work with different spirits, flavor profiles, and mixology tools. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased on Resy
Photo: Lolita
It’s margarita season, and Lolita (45 West 45th St) is getting into the spirit for Cinco de Mayo. Lolita isn’t typically open on Sundays, but couldn’t miss out on the party and now plans to have specials all weekend long from Friday, May 3 - Sunday, May 5. Look for $5 tacos and happy hour all day long, which includes $12 cocktails [House Margarita, Paloma, Daiquiri], $7 cerveza and $9 for select wines. For two days only [May 4 - 5], Lolita will be open for brunch from 11AM - 3PM. And there will be a Mariachi Band starting at 6pm Friday & Saturday and 2pm on Sunday May 5.
Photo: The Standard Biergarten
National Pretzel Day (April 26) is right around the corner. At The Standard Biergarten in the Meatpacking District they are marking the occasion by baking up $12 Garlic Butter and $12 Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel specials alongside $6 Pretzel Bites with cheese sauce.
Romer Hell’s Kitchen is debuting a 3-week Generative Writing Workshop in its Study. Guests can come to either one Saturday session or all three, each priced at $35. This workshop is designed to help writers of any level ‘unstick’ their writing with over one hour of unimpeded writing to start or continue working on a project of your choosing. Guests are encouraged to bring paper and pencil or a laptop for inspired writing time with local writer and teacher, Joe D'Annibale. More info here
Photo: MSG Entertainment
MSG Entertainment is unveiling its new sensory room at Madison Square Garden for guests with sensory processing needs. The Aaron & Samantha Judge Sensory Room was created in partnership with KultureCity, the world’s leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities and sensory needs, and New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and his wife Samantha.
Photo: MSG Entertainment
The new sensory room at The Garden is thoughtfully designed to accommodate a variety of sensory needs, incorporating elements such as adjustable lighting, calming visuals, and comfortable seating. A range of sensory tools and equipment such as bubble walls, Yogibo bean bags, Nunoerin sparkle, and tactile objects available to create a personalized and calming experience. The sensory room is designed to be fully accessible, including for wheelchair users, accommodating individuals of all abilities and ages. For more information, click here
Until next time, we'll be seeing you Around Town
Denmark’s Noma is Bringing Free Events & Collabs to NYC April 14-19
April 9, 2024, 6:57.38 pm ET
Details
April 14
Kitchen Arts & Letters Book Signing
with René Redzepi, Mette Søberg and Junichi Takahashi
1435 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128
3:30pm – 6:00pm
April 16
Noma Projects x Superiority Burger Pop-up
119 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
5:00pm until sold out
April 17
Noma Projects x Pop Up Grocer Market
205 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012
8:00am - 5:00pm Noma Projects Market
11:00am A taste of Noma Projects at Pop Up Grocer Café
April 18
Noma Projects x Dashi Okume
50 Norman Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
11:00am - 8:00pm Noma Projects Market
11:00am A taste of Noma Projects at Dashi Okume, Greenpoint
April 19
Noma Projects x Norwich Meadows Farm
Union Square Greenmarket
10:00am until sold out
Noma Projects x Norwich Meadows Farm at Union Square Greenmarket
April 19
Noma Projects at DREAM Charter School, Bronx
11:00am - 2:00pm
Closed Event, Lunch Service for Elementary & Middle School Children
For more information and to sign up, visit https://nomaprojects.com/pages/nyc-tour
Films Coming to MoMA this Spring
April 9, 2024, 5:58.47 pm ET
Details
Photo: Pendulum. 1976. USA. Directed by Jamie Nares. Courtesy of the Kasmin Gallery
Preoccupations: A Jamie Nares Retrospective
May 23, 2024 – June 02, 2024
Jamie Nares has produced visual art in a variety of mediums—painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, performance, film, and video. Initially a kind of adjunct to her art making, Nares’s moving-image work grew, as Nares put it, “to accommodate multiple genres, from document to documentary, magic realist drama to travelog,” along with the epic no wave costume feature Rome 78.
Illuminated Hours: The Cinema of Nathaniel Dorsky and Jerome Hiler
May 09, 2024 – May 16, 2024
Initiated amid the flowering of artisanal cinema in 1960s New York and continuing uninterrupted until today, the moving-image careers of Nathaniel Dorsky and Jerome Hiler are among the most captivating in film history. Their art, driven by the quest for a humanely lyrical cinema, transfigures ordinary surroundings into intimate glimpses of transcendence and offers audiences the experience of vision as an open form of poetry.
Bulle Ogier: A Tribute
May 01, 2024 – May 31, 2024
Marguerite Duras once said of her friend and frequent collaborator Bulle Ogier, “Bulle is not the nouvelle vague (New Wave); Bulle is absolute vagueness.” One of the few truly risk-taking actresses to emerge from the last golden age of European cinema, the 1960s and 1970s, Ogier is that most malleable and elusive of creatures—cerebral or sensuous as the role demands—bringing an uncommon intelligence and self-restraint to her work with such iconoclastic filmmakers as Duras, Luis Buñuel, Jacques Rivette, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Manoel de Oliveira, Alain Tanner, Robert Frank, her husband Barbet Schroeder, and, more recently, Olivier Assayas and Claire Denis.
New Directors / New Films 2024
April 03, 2024 – April 12, 2024
Film at Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art announce the 53rd edition of New Directors/New Films (ND/NF), taking place from April 3 through April 14, 2024. For more than half a century, the festival has celebrated filmmakers who speak to the present and anticipate the future of cinema, and whose bold work pushes the envelope in unexpected, striking ways. This year’s selection will introduce 25 features and 10 shorts, including one world premiere, 14 North American premieres, five U.S. premieres, and 15 New York premieres. More
Frank Borzage and Man’s Castle
April 18, 2024 – April 24, 2024
Frank Borzage’s 1933 Man’s Castle has long been considered one of the most profound and transporting of Borzage’s spiritual love stories—a cohort that includes 7th Heaven (1927), Street Angel (1928), History Is Made at Night (1935) and The Moral Storm (1940). But for decades Man’s Castle has been available only in a heavily censored cut created in 1938, when this extremely pre-Code film was reissued to cash in on the back-to-back Oscar wins of its star, Spencer Tracy.
Carte Blanche: Joan Jonas
April 25, 2024 – April 30, 2024
Joan Jonas’s lifetime of insatiable movie watching, soaking up classics and newfound discoveries alike, has had a profound impact on the shape and themes of her own moving images, art, and performance work. Presented in conjunction with the major exhibition Joan Jonas: Good Night Good Morning, this Carte Blanche program features films selected by Jonas from MoMA’s collection, presented alongside a number of her own rarely screened video works.
Martin Beck: Last Night
June 2, 2024
Martin Beck: Last Night presents the artist’s eponymous film work for one day only, on June 2, 2024. Acquired by the Museum in 2022, Last Night (2016) revisits the records that musical host David Mancuso played on June 2, 1984, at one of the last parties at the 99 Prince Street location of the seminal New York dance party known as the Loft.
For more information, visit https://www.moma.org/
A Taste of Spring at Le Jardinier
April 9, 2024, 5:18.42 pm ET
Details
Photos: Le Jardinier
Michelin-Starred Le Jardinier New York, as The Bastion Collection’s Michelin-Starred Culinary Director Alain Verzeroli will be curating two special dining experiences in celebration of the spring season. These include a two day dinner series consisting of a five-course menu crafted for spring’s reemergence and a behind-the-scenes Halibut cooking demo led by Chef Verzeroli at Le Jardinier’s private events space, Sereine
A Taste of Spring
When: Thursday, April 11th or Friday, April 12th from 5:30-10:00pm
Description: Join Le Jardinier on Thursday, April 11th or Friday, April 12th in the main dining room for “A Taste of Spring” – a five-course dinner menu crafted for spring’s reemergence. Savor vibrant spring specialties amidst the beauty of Le Jardinier - a modern greenhouse and urban oasis, nestled in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The five-course dinner menu, priced at $225++ per guest, features a delightful array of spring essentials, like White Asparagus, Maine Scallops, Shaved Radishes and Maine Spring Peas. Experience the essence of spring at Michelin-Starred Le Jardinier with Chef Alain for dinner on Thursday, April 11th or Friday, April 12th from 5:30-10:00 PM.
Reservations: Reserve your table via Resy
A Taste of Spring at Sereine
When: Saturday, April 13th at 7:00pm
Description: On Saturday, April 13th, Chef Alain will host an epicurean experience at Sereine, an open kitchen and elegant private dining space above Le Jardinier. The evening will begin with a welcome glass of bubbles and gourmet canapes, before stepping into Chef Alain’s kitchen for a behind-the-scenes demo. Guests will learn tips and tricks from a Michelin-Starred Culinary Director as Chef Alain guides guests through his preparation of a Halibut dish - complete with spring’s freshest ingredients: Green Peas, Spring Radishes and Carrot Reduction. Following the demo, guests will gather at an elegant communal table for a 4-course “Taste of Spring” dinner menu that features White and Green Asparagus and Long Island Crescent Duck. And as the second course, taste the delightfully light Steamed Halibut from Chef Alain’s demo. The finale: Executive Pastry Chef Salvatore Martone created a Cream Cheese
Reservations: Reserve your table on Resy
Where to Celebrate National Pigs in a Blanket Say in NYC on April 24
April 8, 2024, 7:53.02 pm ET
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Photo: Granola Bar
Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket at Granola Bar on the Upper West Side
The Granola Bar’s Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket is a fun twist on a classic dish. Served with a spicy mustard dipping sauce it is a great starter to share with the table (or have all to yourself!).
Smokey Pigs in a Blanket The Richardson in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Photo: The Richardson
The Richardson’s twist on classic pigs in a blanket pays homage to the neighborhood’s Polish roots with Garlic kielbasa wrapped in puff pastry. Two sizable, cozy piggies are served with whole grain mustard and a generous side of cornichons.
Photo: The Alderman
The Crispy Piggy Can be found at The Alderman in Times Square
The Alderman’s crisp piggy combines succulent pork with bold flavors, complemented by the tangy and spicy notes of red chili fermented cabbage. It’s served with beer mustard and topped with onions.
Greenpoint’s Sereneco Taps New Executive Chef
April 8, 2024, 7:15.49 pm ET
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Photo: Briana Balducci
Sereneco, (located at 113 Franklin Street) is welcoming its new executive chef – Abbey de la Rosa (previously of Diner, part of the Marlow Collective). Chef de la Rosa’s nearly tow decades in the industry also includes stints A Voce, Telepan, Ciano, Sous Chef at Lincoln Ristorante under Shea Gallante and Chef de Cuisine at Craft under Chef Tom Colicchio.
Her menu highlights sustainable and vegetable forward dishes including Roasted Beets with pickled strawberries, quinoa, avocado; Cavatelli withyoung savoy spinach, pistachios and feta; Half Roasted Amish Chicken with spiced carrots, mint and dill; and Roasted Sweet Potato with harissa yogurt, dandelion greens, walnuts and dates.
Dishes will rotate on a regular basis to reflect what’s in-season and available from notable local purveyors such as Lancaster Farms Co-op, Greenpoint Fish, Native Bread and the Greenmarkets.
Cocktails are also getting a seasonal refresher with drinks like the Seven Seas with spiced rum, agricole rhum, house-made blood orange shrub, and lime; and Sunshine Martini with lemon-infused gin, bianco vermouth and a twist.
Restaurant Marc Forgione is Making Its Move
April 8, 2024, 6:49.29 pm ET
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Photo: Chili Lobster at Marc Forgione
Restaurant Marc Forgione announcing its final 2 weeks at 134 Reade St in Tribeca and last chance to have dinner that location. The space has been home to the restaurant for the last 15 years. As part of its sendoff, guests can raise a glass with Chef Forgione while dining on Sechuan Button, Chili Lobster, Snowdance Brick Chicken, cookies and a Banana Jameson for one last time. Marc Forgione will reopen in May at 30 Hudson St in the former home David Bouley’s Brushstroke and Danube.
Lupetto Launches Weekend Brunch
April 8, 2024, 6:28.36 pm ET
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|Photo: Nicole Franzen
Lupetto, one of our Top 20 restaurants of 2023, will unveil its new brunch menu on Saturday, April 13. The playful, yet elevated Italian specialties, draw inspiration from traditional rustic hearth cooking.
Chef and partner Michael Berardino’s menu reflects on time spent living and cooking in southern Italy with a menu featuring highlights including grilled caciocavallo cheese with strawberry, rhubarb, and pickled mustard seed, various wood-fired pizzas such as a carbonara breakfast pizza with guanciale, pecorino, black pepper, and egg. There is also an Italian twist on eggs in purgatory with pancetta, smoked tomato, mozzarella, and chili.
Owner Mark Barak (La Pecora Bianca) brings everything that you love about refined Italian cuisine to a wide-ranging menu with both savory and sweet options, all while expertly using a wood-fired oven to impart a smoky finish to brunch classics. The warm and elegantly designed space is the perfect setting for a leisurely weekend meal. But the best seat in the house for brunch? The outdoor piazza seating with a full view of Madison Square Park set to open next month,
Brunch will be served starting April 13 Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am - 4pm.
Time Out Market to Host Spring Fest
April 8, 2024, 6:09.00 pm ET
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Photo: Time Out Market
Just in time for warmer weather, Time Out Market is hosting an outdoor beverage festival under the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, April 20th from 2-6 p.m. The celebration will feature local breweries (including Brooklyn Brewery and Coney Island Brewery), wine, great food from Time Out Market vendors, giveaways, live music by Silver Arrow Band and more! Guests can enjoy it all with beautiful views of the park and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. See more details + reserve a spot HERE.
NYC Solar Eclipse Survival Guide
April 8, 2024, 9:39.20 am ET
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Photo: NASA
Hillary Clinton and Lin-Manuel Miranda Team Up for Fundraiser
April 5, 2024, 8:00.10 pm ET
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Photos: Jenny Anderson
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Lin-Manuel Miranda hosted a fundraiser at new Broadway musical Suffs to support President Biden’s campaign. Clinton is a producer of the musical along with Malala Yousafzai, Jill Furman and Rachel Sussman. Suffs is now in previews at the Music Box Theatre, with an opening night on April 18th.
Secretary Clinton and Lin-Manuel Miranda made pre-show remarks to the sold-out crowd, highlighting the importance of this musical today, especially in this crucial election year. Additionally, they praised book writer, composer, lyricist and star Shaina Taub as the future of American theatre. Former President Bill Clinton was also in attendance and met the cast for photos afterwards alongside Secretary Clinton.
Chef Suzanne Cupps Brings Her Filipino Heritage to Lola’s in Flatiron
April 4, 2024, 8:35.33 pm ET
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Chef Suzanne Cupps
Lola’s, from Chef Suzanne Cupps, is now open in Flatiron. Lola’s is Chef Cupps first independent venture after working in some of New York City’s finest kitchens, including Annisa, Gramercy Tavern, Untitled, and 232 Bleecker. At Lola’s, Cupps tells a personal story of heritage and history, drawing inspiration from her Filipino-American background, South Carolina upbringing, and 15 years in professional kitchens.
Photos: Liz Clayman
Lola, meaning “grandmother” in Tagalog, the language of central Luzon in the Philippines, is named in honor of Cupps’ grandmother –Annunciasion "Noning" Rocamora Paraiso – whom she never got to meet but was tremendously inspired by. Noning’s story is one of resilience and tenacity, having fled her home during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. After ensuring the safe arrival of her children to a nearby island, she passed away, leaving behind a photograph and a jade stone that Suzanne wears as a pendant. Lola’s is a celebration of her grandmother's legacy, rather than her recipes.
Lola's eclectic menu seamlessly weaves together Southern and pan-Asian influences, paying tribute to the diverse experiences, especially her roots growing up in Aiken, South Carolina. The restaurant showcases her commitment to sourcing the finest ingredients and her profound appreciation for genuine hospitality. This ingredient-first approach is evident as she allows the natural flavors to take center stage.
Look for dishes like Southern Stuffed Littleneck Clams; Chilled Lemongrass Gulf Shrimp; Crispy Chicken Thighs with pantry pickles and fermented hot honey; Heritage Country Rib Skewers with baked beans and Carolina BBQ sauce; Stir-Fried Egg Noodles with early spring greens and silk chili crisp; and the Union Square Bento with banana squash + bacon jam, pink cabbage pancake and malt vinegar potatoes.
For dessert, Cupps is cooking up Chocolate + Black Sesame Pudding Cake with toasty meringue, Leche Flan, and Mutsu Apple Hand Pies with coconut caramel.
From the bar, guests will find a variety of highballs like the M&M (Mezcal + Montenegro); the Ferrari (Campari + Fernet); and a Shandy (Pilsner + Lemon); as well as cocktails like the Leche de Tigre (Mezcal, Ginger, Jalapeno); the Boozy Pandan Soda (Vodka, Pear, Calpico); and Suzanne’s Special (Cocchi Americano, Orange, Olives). Lola’s also features housemade sodas and shrubs, in addition to bottled kombuchas and non-alcoholic beer and wine.
The space designed by Ben Krone of Gradient Architecture includes a front bar made of ash with pale wood fluting underneath and mirrored back with ash shelving. To honor her grandmother, Cupps chose to feature jade green tiling throughout the open kitchen – a daily reminder of her lola’s strength and fortitude – more green tones can be found on the striking green terrazzo kitchen counter. Polished concrete floors, painstakingly restored from the restaurant's storied past, provide a sturdy foundation.
Lola’s is located at 2 West 28th Street, New York (646) 941-4787. For more information, visit lolasnyc.com
The Arts and Mediterranean Food Come Together at The Mouth in Brooklyn
April 4, 2024, 7:21.23 pm ET
Details
Photos: Mouth
The Mouth is a new, vibrant and dynamic restaurant and bar located adjacent to Brooklyn Art Haus in Williamsburg. The spirit of fun mingles with the charm of Art Deco design, complemented by vintage and retro touches throughout. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in an atmosphere that celebrates creativity and community, catering to the diverse palates of artists, art lovers and creative hearts.
Every moment is an opportunity to savor the flavors of Mediterranean-inspired culinary delights, a uniquely crafted cocktail and natural wine program, and artistic inspiration courtesy of the restaurant and bar’s very own rotating art gallery.
Israeli born Executive Chefs Naama and Assaf Tamir are the brother-sister duo and co-owners of Brooklyn's Lighthouse Restaurant that have command of the kitchen. The two have also worked at such places as Employees Only, Macao Trading Co., Craft Steak, Mainland, and Smith and Mills.
Mouth’s menu includes bites such as Zucchini Fritters with yogurt and chili oil, share house-made dips and a meat-and-cheese board that can be shared with friends. Vegetarians and vegans will delight in meatless offerings including the Fig Pocket with red cabbage, mango, and tahini, and the Roasted Veggie Plate. Other highlights include refreshing Fluke Crudo, and classic Mediterranean Lamb Meatballs served with yogurt and pita. End on a sweet note with a seasonal Pavlova, Baklava with Date Glaze, and freshly-baked cookies.
Beverage Director Isaac Bush, who was part of the opening team of Graydon Carter’s MONKEY BAR, is presenting creative cocktails such as the Dahlia Spritz (Apertivo Select, hibiscus, fresh ginger, bubbles), Shibuya Roll Call (gin, melon, yuzu, lemon, basil), Tinderella (mezcal, Lillet, Aperol, grapefruit, seltzer), Kahlo-Colada (rum, coconut, lime, passionfruit, nutmeg) and Martini des Artistes (vodka, cold brew, coffee liqueur, Liquor 43). Diners will also find an all-natural, rotating selection of internationally focused, red, white, rosé, orange, and sparkling wines along with local beers and ciders.
The Mouth is located at 20 Marcy Ave, Brooklyn. For more information, visit themouthbk.com
Bar Madonna Brings its Italian Spirit to Williamsburg
April 4, 2024, 6:11.48 pm ET
Details
Bar Madonna, an Italian-American cocktail bar fusing art, fashion, and storytelling, opens in Williamsburg. The forces behind Bar Madonna are longtime collaborators and alums of some of NYC’s hottest Italian restaurants (Lupa, Babbo, Carbone, to name a few) Eric Madonna and Ray Rando.
Visitors should look for Italian-American staples including a clarified Bellini on tap, boozy Manhattan Specials, and elevated bar food from Executive Chef and Partner Rob Zwirz.
“The genesis of Bar Madonna is one of friendship, as the concept stemmed from a desire to create something exceptional - and fun - with Ray, whom I’ve worked with for many years,” said Eric Madonna, managing partner.
(Photos Left to Right) Eric Madonna and Ray Rando
The beverage menu infuses classic recipes with inventive riffs and modern techniques like the Madonna Bellini with peach, plum, gin, and prosecco; Brooklyn Special with coffee, Michter’s Bourbon & Rye, Fernet, cherry, and bubbles; The Bialetti with vodka, Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, Oloroso Sherry, hazelnut, and coffee; and 68th and Harrow with citrus infused vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry, lime, and bubbles.
Bar Madonna is also reimaging classic Italian dishes with its Smashed Meatball Parm (aged beef, pistachio pesto sugo, provolone, parmigiano crisp, semolina bun); Calabrese Wings (Pickled Calabrian hot sauce, buttermilk vinaigrette); Oxtail Croquettes (blood orange marmellata, celery salsa verde); Prawns & Polenta (‘Nduja vinaigrette, braised greens); and Lamb Spiedino (charred ramps, mint pesto, horseradish, jus).
Photo: Catarina Guimarães
The design from Catarina Guimarães’ Studio Guia with an assist from Art Director KidSuper, results in a friendly and lively atmosphere. Artwork also plays a role at Bar Madonna including a larger-than-life paintings overlooking the bar. Guests will also notice illustrations of Madonna’s and Rando’s family photos dating back to the 1940s on each plate. The playful vibe is matched with a carefully selected, hip-hop and R&B-heavy playlist making Bar Madonna a neighborhood spot to watch!
Bar Madonna is located at 367 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn. Brunch, extended hours and outdoor seating to follow. For more information, visit barmadonna.com
Pier 57 Celebrates Earth Day with Clothing Swap, Climate Café, Vegan Market & More
April 4, 2024, 6:09.10 pm ET
Details
Photo: Pier 57
As New Yorkers mark Earth Day across the city, Pier 57 will host special programming to celebrate the planet – bringing together climate enthusiasts, local organizations, and community members of all ages. The event will feature a variety of festive activities for the community to enjoy, including:
Clothing Swap: Pier 57 is partnering with Veggie Mijas – a collective of BIPOC individuals advocating for food and environmental justice – to host a Clothing Swap in Pier 57’s Living Room space. Guests can bring up to 5 items of clothing or shoes in good condition to swap and share. For personalized advice on mending, upcycling, or caring for your clothes, the Reclypt team will help families make the most of their wardrobe. All leftover clothing will be distributed between local organizations such as Collective Focus and NYC Fair Trade Coalition.
Discussion Group: Climate Café will lead meaningful conversations on sustainability, climate action, and the impact of even the smallest steps toward a healthier planet. Black Girl Environmentalist, Remake, We Are Atlas, and Worn Not Torn will also participate in the discussion.
Earth Day Cookie: Market 57 vendor Local Roots will be offering a special Earth Day cookie – available for one day only – made with black sesame and matcha icing. Foodies can also enjoy other vegan options including hearty mapo tofu, crispy scallion pancakes, cucumber salad, and more.
The event will take place at Pier 57’s Living Room, a public gathering space located on the ground floor of the Pier’s southern edge with views of the Hudson River on Saturday, April 20th from 1pm to 4pm. For more information, visit pier57nyc.com
Exclusive: Coconut Macaroon S’mores Cake for Passover at Glace
April 4, 2024, 6:08.09 pm ET
Details
Photo: Glace
Glace, the Upper East Side sweet shop (1266 Madison Ave) from founder and culinary dreamer, Sasha Zabar, son of famed New York gourmand, Eli Zabar is serving up this Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroon S’mores Cake for Passover.
Sasha and the team at Glace are pulling inspiration from their own viral s’mores hot chocolate and Eli Zabar’s beloved passover cake to create a decadent 8-inch cake with vanilla ice cream mixed with chocolate Stracciatella and pieces of coconut macaroon cookies. The cake is then covered in toasted marshmallow with a coconut macaroon cookie base.
The Macaroon S’mores ($75) will be available for purchase at the shop from April 20th - 22nd. For more information click here
Ten Things to Do in NYC This Spring
April 2, 2024, 8:57.55 pm ET
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Photo: Cititour.com
1. Grab a seat at the amphitheater and take in the sunset at Little Island on the Hudson River. more
2. Check out the new 4-thousand-square-foot Pier 26 Marine Science Playground at Hudson River Park. more
3. Catch the spring migration of flycatchers, cuckoos, warblers and other songbirds at Manhattan’s Central Park. more
4. For some of the best viewing of flowering trees including cherry trees, magnolias and dogwoods, head to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. more
5. At Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island they are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden on April 13, 2-4pm. more
6. Governors Island will be hosting its Third Annual Earth Day Celebration on April 20th from 10a-3pm with educational activities and workshops for all ages. more
7. The Hester Street Fair Pop-up Market is back at the Seaport this spring throughout the mont of April, Fridays to Sundays from 12pm-7pm. more
8. Queens Night Market returns on April 13th with a ticketed preview at the New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park. This year there are more than 70 vendors, 4pm-12am. more
9. A Current Affair: Pop Up Vintage Marketplace is popping up at Brooklyn’s Industry City on Saturday, April 6 from 10am-6pm. more
10. Get some fresh air. The Prospect Park Alliance is hosting Wellness Walks on Fridays from April to June from 10am to 12pm. Meet at the Prospect Park Audubon Center. more
Keep up with New York at Cititour.com!
Gourmet Porchetta Sandwiches by Way of Food Truck at Rockefeller Center
April 2, 2024, 7:27.12 pm ET
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Photos: Cititour.com
Jupiter, the Italian restaurant inside Rockefeller Center, is now hawking tantalizing porchetta sandwiches from a mini truck just in time for Spring.
The pork is sliced to order complete with crispy crackling. The sandwiches, served on an equally delicious roll, are offered with a choice of salsa verde or apple sauce for $18.
Aside from drinks, it is the only item on the menu and available Tuesday thru Friday in Rockefeller Plaza from 11 am to 6pm. Trust us. It’s worth every bite!
For more information, visit jupiterrestaurant.nyc
CitiEats: Halal Munchies Opens in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
April 2, 2024, 7:00.07 pm ET
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Photo: Cititour.com
We had been watching with anticipation for the opening of this Brooklyn outpost of Halal Munchies. The colorful restaurant lives up to its name inside and out with all sorts of dishes to address your cravings.
There are several types of burgers including a giant Cheeseburger oozing with cheese on a brioche bun, along with the Baconator made with turkey bacon and something called the Heart Attack Burger.
Guests will also find other “munchies” like chicken tenders and nuggets all freshly made, along with buffalo wings. All of the dishes are available with sides, including a huge pile of seasoned fries and Mac & Cheese bits.
You can also get your Middle Eastern fix of Lamb and Chicken Gyro served as sandwiches or over rice. There’s also a Kofta and Falafel Gyro. Desserts include Red Velvet and Carrot Cake sold by the slice, along with chocolate chip cookies.
Halal Muchies is located at 7919 Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn. For more information, visit eathalalmunchies.com
An Underground Pizza Joint Leaving its Mark in Midtown
April 2, 2024, 7:00.05 pm ET
Details
Photos: Cititour.com
At the 50th Street subway stop in Midtown, you can now catch a slice while catching the number one train. See No Evil is one of a handful of businesses feeding commuters, area residents, business workers and tourists alike.
Old school pizza joint is being run by two long-time friends, Ed Carew and Adrien Gallo, is located adjacent to Nothing Really Matters, a craft cocktail bar, and Tiny Dancer, which sells gourmet coffee transforming what was a grimy subway station into a desirable mini food hall.
See No Evil whose signature color is orange, now blankets the station. There are checkerboard floors and tiled walls with a glass window where you can watch the pizzas being made in action.
Pies range from a traditional Margherita with fresh mozzarella and basil to the Ottobagatto with spicy beef and pork meatballs and the Rapini with broccoli rabe, panna, ricotta, scamorza, pecorino, potato and black pepper. Aside from pizza, there is house-made lasagna.
See No Evil Pizza is also offering assorted snacks called stuzzichini, antipasti and salads including one made with octopus. For dessert, there’s vanilla soft serve with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt.
The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 4pm to 12 am.
Tony Bennett to Be Honored With Auction, Exhibition and Gala at Lincoln Center
April 1, 2024, 8:01.26 pm ET
Details
Photo: Mark Seliger
Julien’s Auctions will present “Tony Bennett: A Life Will Lived,” an exclusive two-day auction event celebrating the legendary life and career of the iconic pop jazz vocalist, which will take place Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19 at Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame in Jazz at Lincoln Center,
In celebration of this momentous occasion, an exclusive exhibition showcasing highlights of Tony Bennett’s historic collection will be mounted at the Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame in Jazz at Lincoln Center from April 10-16.
In addition, a star-studded gala in honor of Bennett, featuring Ruben Blades, Kristin Chenoweth, Norm Lewis and Bernadette Peters, will take place at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theatre on Wednesday, November 17.
Photo: Herman Leonard Photography
Highlights of the auction and exhibition will include Bennett’s own artwork, ranging from watercolors to sketches of celebrities such as Grace Kelly; his celebrated collection of his art from David Hockney, Willem de Kooning, LeRoy Neiman and more.
Other important items include an undated handwritten song list with a pen sketch of two figures with some of Bennett's American Songbook favorites including "Fly Me to The Moon," "The Lady Is A Tramp," and an exceptional and never before seen highlight is a large red leather scrapbook with stamped gilt lettering on cover reading "Tony Bennett - 75 Years / August 3, 2001."
The auction will take place live and online at Julien's Auctions. For additional information, please email info@juliensauctions.com or call 310-836-1818.
For tickets to the gala, visit ticketing.jazz.org
The Art of the Benshi at BAM
April 1, 2024, 7:35.54 pm ET
Details
The Art of the Benshi 2024 World Tour, presented by the Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities and the UCLA Film & Television Archive, will run at BAM from April 5-7.
The tour will bring to life the mesmerizing artistry of benshi performance, who were the captivating narrators of Japan's silent film era. Each of the four programs will include screenings of classic, newly restored, and rarely seen silent films from Japan and the United States.
The series will showcase the individual artistic interpretations of three different benshi -- Ichirō Kataoka, Kumiko Ōmori and Hideyuki Yamashiro -- performing individually as well as together in the form known as “kowairo kakeai,” in which multiple benshi take on the roles of different characters. In addition, a group of celebrated musicians will perform both new and historical scores.
For more information, visit www.bam.org
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