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2008 Postings | 2007 Postings | 2006 Postings | 2005 Postings Regate by Brian Scott Lipton While I consider myself a major Francophile, I have to admit I had never heard of the French island of Re until I was invited to Regate, an 18-month-old Lower East Side bistro inspired by this charming spot. Owner Marc Jehan – the chef – and brother Jocelyn have recreated the look of one of the island’s cottage and the 34-seat eatery is an absolute oasis of calm in Manhattan’s stormy seas. more  Photo: Regate Bar-B-Que Island by Thomas Rafael Just off the Coney Island boardwalk and down the block from Nathan's you'll find some finger-licking Kansas City-style barbeque. Chef Chris McGee, a veteran of Blue Smoke and Jean-Georges, has rolled into Beer Island with his very own BBQ truck complete with smokers. more  Photo: Cititour Rime by Pamela Grossman Though I'm a firm believer in remembering that summer lasts till September 21--ignore the "Get ready for Fall in August" hype you see in commercials!--it is nonetheless true that college students are getting ready to roll back to campus shortly; and K-12ers will follow soon. more  Photo: Rime Socarrat by Andrea Strong In Spain, where Paella is their country’s rice dish, a crust also forms, this one on the bottom of the wide shallow pans brimming with rice, shellfish, and chicken. The crispy rice is called the socarrat, and I imagine similar crust battles unfolding in homes from Valencia to Barcelona, where socarrat is fervently scraped up from the bottom of the pan until there’s little need for a dishwasher. Now comes Socarrat Paella Bar, the second restaurant venture from the charming and gracious Lolo Manso. more  Photo: Cititour 5 Napkin Burger by Thomas Rafael The Five Napkin Burger got its start at Nice Matin, the French bistro on West 79th Street. It's popularity led to an entire restaurant being named after it, hence the 5 Napkin Burger was born on 9th Avenue in Hells Kitchen. more  Photo: Cititour Hair Extended The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical now extended through the end of August at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. more  Photo: Joan Marcus Collector's Toy Den by Pamela Grossman With summer comes big, loud, extravagent summer movies. And with these extravaganzas come--for the young, the young at heart, and perhaps the savvy collector--movie merchandise: action figures, model cars, lunchboxes, and the like. more  Photo: Collector's Toy Den Chin Chin by Brian Scott Lipton A good man is – and always was – hard to find, but these days, it seems good Chinese food is even harder to locate (outside the overcrowded streets of Chinatown or the faraway reaches of Flushing). That’s one reason to be thankful for the longevity of Chin Chin, the haute Midtown eatery that has been consistently delighting diners for over two decades. more  Photo: Chin Chin Quarter by Thomas Rafael Tucked away on the outskirts of Park Slope you'll find the Quarter Bar, where the beer is flowing and cocktails rule. The space has a cozy feel with its dark wood and lots of candles, and the crowd is quite friendly. Drinks are displayed on blackboards above the bar. That's where you'll find David Moo carefully crafting some of the best-tasting cocktails you’ll find in Brooklyn. more  Photo: Cititour Heart Beat by Pamela Grossman I recently found myself in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn--on the day that a local dessert legend, Cake Man Raven (of Cake Man Raven Confectionary), was hosting his annual block party. And nearby, I found a clothing shop perfect for festivities. more  The Marriage of Bette and Boo by Lesley Aalexander Back in 1985 when Christopher Durang’s "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" first debuted examining family angst in this off-beat style was simply received as theatre of the absurd. Nowadays, it’s taken for granted that weird irony melds into life’s daily tasks. An unflinching taste for the macabre, and humor born out of other’s pain, is commonplace. Such is the environment that introduces "The Marriage of Bette and Boo", now in revival at the Roundabout, to a whole new audience. more  Photo: Joan Marcus |
