East Village, Manhattan

EV Grieve: 25th anniversary of the Loisaida Festival is today

Sun, 27 May 2012 12:12:46 -0400

EV Grieve: 25th anniversary of the Loisaida Festival is today

stadterkundungen: New York | Sep 27, 2008 Hello, old friend.

mbrosen — Sat, 26 May 2012 22:48:40 -0400

stadterkundungen:

New York | Sep 27, 2008

Hello, old friend.

"Turkish percussion music?"

mbrosen — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:33:40 -0400

“Turkish percussion music?”

- Overheard, upon someone’s asking what to play on the iPod speakers…
Not ironically.
Oh fuck.

First Look at Alphabet City Beer Co.

mbrosen — Sat, 26 May 2012 08:00:32 -0400

brewyork:

We’re exhausted by the sheer number of beer spots that have opened in New York this year. But last week was yet another week with an opening. This one’s in the East Village, and will bring welcome relief to those who don’t want to trek over three avenues to buy good beer. Alphabet City Beer Co. (96 Avenue C, at 6th St., East Village) is now open. Does the East Village need another beer bottle shop? Even if they don’t need one, they’ve got one… and it comes with a pretty nice beer bar to boot.

Read More

A Care Package Saves a Life | Operation Gratitude

mbrosen — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:37:02 -0400

A Care Package Saves a Life | Operation Gratitude:

mbrosen:

From the inbox:

A few days ago we received a heart-wrenching email that we feel is important to share with you:

“I am a soldier who is currently deployed. Recently I have been pretty depressed. I see just about everyone here getting care packages from loved ones.

But I don’t have any loved ones back home.

Well, except my dog…But someone poisoned her on Thanksgiving when I showed up here.

Every day I would go to sleep and wish I didn’t wake up. On my way back to work I would hope to catch a mortar round in my chest. I spoke with the Chaplain about some of these issues but nothing seemed to help. Every day I would go through the same steps: work, lunch, work, bed.

Same thing, every day.

Then a soldier came to tell me I had a package to pick up. They told me it had been sitting in the mail office for some time now. For the whole walk over there I wondered, ‘Who could it be from?’ I heard talk about care packages being sent from private organizations back home, but those were from a list you had to put your name on. I never did that because with my job I was always too busy and time was never permitting.

When I saw the box, I saw ‘Operation Gratitude’ on the side. When I opened the package and started looking through the contents a lump grew in my throat, my lip started to quiver and the tears started to flow.

I had an overwhelming feeling that someone really does care.

I am feeling much better about myself now. I don’t know how I can ever thank you for what you have made me feel. Thank you so very much for what you and your team have done!

Sincerely, J.C.”

There is no way to quantify the invaluable morale-boosting impact our care packages have on the men and women who receive them. But letters and emails like this one from J.C. confirm that what we are doing is important. With your help we will continue this work, positively affecting Military letter-writers like J.C. and the tens of thousands more whom he represents.

Go.

Donate.

Now.

Your donation pays for the assembly and shipping expenses of $15 per care package. Tax deductible.

Do it.

Have a great weekend, Neighborhood. Pleae remember to take a moment to think about the real meaning of the holiday. And, if you can, maybe send a care package to a soldier overseas who is about as far away from a backyard BBQ with friends and family as one can be. Collect $1 from every person at your rooftop/park/backyard gathering on Monday. As you can read above, a small gesture like that can really go a long way.

At the Dentist

mbrosen — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:53:51 -0400

thebariscalledheaven:

“So how did you hear about us?” The dentist inquired in his high-pitched, sing-song voice. He was dressed in beat up sneakers, a collared shirt with a very thin tie, covered by a sweater. He looked young, perhaps early 40s. The Dentist’s office was incredibly modern, all white, with futuristic furniture. It could have come straight from George Lucas’ THX-1138.

“Yelp.” I said, which I shouldn’t have. Or rather, I shouldn’t have had to say yelp, because I shouldn’t have found a dentist on yelp in the first place.

“Okay, well, I’d like to start by going over your medical history. It says here you take flonase, do you take that everyday?”

“Well, no. I’m really bad about it, and it’s also not actually flonase, but it’s like flonase. It’s something that begins with an ‘a,’ or a ‘z,’ or a ‘c,’ or something.

“Okay well I’m just gonna give you a little speech here. I’m sort of an all natural medicine kind of guy.”

“Oh?” I don’t want my doctor to be an all natural medicine kind of guy. I want my doctor to be a science medicine kind of guy, I thought.

“Yes, and I just think if you cut back on things like rice and bread and pasta and cereal and any other flour based products you’d probably have less allergies.”

Can I just get up and say this is not the dentist for me? Obviously that would be very awkward, but at least it would make a great story. The problem is I haven’t been to a dentist in over 2 years and well- I am here right now…

“So that’s just my opinion, and a lot of people try it and I can’t tell you how much of a difference it can make. In fact my wife used to not even be able to pet dogs without getting welts and now she can play with them all she wants.”

“But how do you survive not eating pasta?” I joked.

“Hah.” He laughed and put his hand on my knee. “I do eat pasta,” he protested emphatically, “It’s just if I do eat pasta I might not eat cereal the next day. So like today I had a fruit smoothy for breakfast and lunch is a salaaad,” he began drawing out his vowels in line with his sing-song approach to language, “with aalllmonds and pommmegranate seeds and arruuuugala and maybe for dinner I’ll have some chicken or fish. But then tomorrow I’ll eat a croissaaaant or maybe a scone.”

I held myself back from saying “some nights I order in enough thai food to feed a family of four and eat it all. I eat a economy size portion of easy-mac as a late night snack. I drink 10,000 beers and then come home and order two turkey burgers each with their own side of fries. I’ll eat a 3 egg omelette for breakfast before I leave the house to meet someone for breakfast. Once I passed out eating an entire pizza pie because I forgot to stop for air. In high school they had to ban me from the annual pie eating contest after my sophomore year because it wasn’t fair to the other students. You’re not asking me to make an adjustment to my diet you’re asking me to alter the very axle that the World of my diet spins on.” But instead I sat there, silently, dumbfounded. When you go to the dentist you always expect a lecture, a lecture about not flossing enough, maybe even a lecture about eating too many sweets, but in one’s wildest dreams would they expect a lecture about eating bread.

Paralyzed by confusion and sadness I stayed in the chair. He droned on talking, but I was unaware of what he was saying. When I came to he had just asked “So, where are you from?”

“Los Angeles, originally.” I said.

“Oh, I’m from California too,” he said, “but the northern part. San Jose.” But he didn’t pronounce it San Jose, he pronounced it ‘San Jozy.’ Like Like Jozy Altidor, or Indiana Jozy, Or Jozy and the Giant fucking Peach. No one, not a single person, in all of history, who has ever been anywhere closer to the great state of California than the map on a wall of a east-coast classroom has ever called it ‘San Jozy.’

“I like the weather out there much more,” He continued. “And I didn’t think I would like it here when I came to school, but then I met my wife and-“

This freak is married? What is happening to me? Am I in the twilight zone of dentistry? Why has yelp forsaken me? We’re all those reviews just his friends, family, and staff?

I wish I had had the gall to get up and leave the moment he said “Natural medicine,” but I didn’t I stayed and my life would now forever be altered by this wierdo.

2 and half hours later I had finished my exam. He made me a custom tray to use to bleach my teeth while I slept. I couldn’t get out of there quickly enough. I was now going to be late for a movie. Usually when you go to the dentist at 3:00 you assume you can make it to a 5:30 showing 1 subway stop away, maybe this is why I am always late these days.

After the movie I went out with a friend, whose birthday it was, and got egregiously drunk. I didn’t discuss my dentist experience because I was too creeped out by the whole situation. The next day I was laying in bed, hungover and I got a call from an un-identified New York area number.

“achheem-” I cleared my throat, “Hello?” I said.

“Hi is this Alexander?” the voice was immidiately familiar.

“Yes.”

“Hi Alex, this is Doctor Young from yesterday and I was just calling to see if you got a chance to use the bleaching tray yet.”

“Um, no, I haven’t.”

“Oh okay, well I was just calling to see if it went well and all.”

“Yeah. I mean, I didn’t use it last night.”

“Oh okay, well that’s all.”

“Um, alright.” I hung up the phone.

It takes all the self control I have — which is not much — to not post this exact piece on yelp, however this guy has my phone number, this guy has my address, and this guy is one fucking creep of a guy. He disturbs me to my very core, but that isn’t even the bottom line. The bottom line is, just like I was too lazy to get out of that chair when he said he was ‘Natural Medicine kind of guy,’ I’m too lazy to bother finding another dentist.

I like this post very much.

Can you top this one, Neighborhood?

And Alexander, next time, try ZocDoc.

notforyourmouth: east village surprises.

mbrosen — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:02:19 -0400

notforyourmouth:

east village surprises.

brooklyntheory: Scenes From The NYC Dance Parade

mbrosen — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:42:23 -0400

brooklyntheory:

Scenes From The NYC Dance Parade

“Intersection: Babel” is a documentary short looking...

mbrosen — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:13:00 -0400

“Intersection: Babel” is a documentary short looking at a place that’s all about leaving it.

The busy intersection of 14th Street and First Avenue in New York City may seem unremarkable. But people have a lot to say about it. And the crossroads create an inspiring place for dance.

“Intersection: Babel” hearkens to Genesis 11, which documents Babel as the birthplace of alienation.
It premiered at the LABA Festival at the 14th Street Y on May 17, 2012.
Directed and produced by Karen Loew, videography and editing by Cory Antiel, dance by Julie Gayer Kris.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

See our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Intersection-Babel/380821128621667

mbrosen: Joey Ramone - New York City [iTunes link] From his...

mbrosen — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:44:00 -0400

mbrosen:

Joey Ramone - New York City [iTunes link]

From his just-released posthumous album ‘…ya know?’

An instant NYC anthem.

This one has Nick-Swisher-stepping-into-the-batter’s-box-in-October written all over it.

The album is really good.

I love the crescendo at the end of ‘Rock ‘n Roll Is The Answer.’

‘I Couldn’t Sleep’ is classic Ramones.

And ‘Life’s A Gas’ will make you cry.

Enjoy.

neighborhoodr-newyork: Smithfield*, NYC’s newest sports bar in...

mbrosen — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:36:36 -0400

neighborhoodr-newyork:

Smithfield*, NYC’s newest sports bar in a class of its own, celebrates its Grand Opening this Tuesday, May 22, 6-8pm.

Built by veterans of the New York bar biz (Lunasa, Nevada Smiths), Smithfield emerges as a premier destination in the heart of Manhattan, just a few blocks from Madison Square Garden (Go Rangers!).

Smithfield is located at:

215 West 28th St. (btwn 7th & 8th Ave)

The product of nearly two years of hard work, the three floor tavern greets you with beautiful reclaimed wood, exposed brick, and warm lighting. State of the art LED HDTV’s are strategically placed throughout the ground floor bar for an unfettered view of your favorite sports event no matter where you sit. The Market Bar on the second floor, with windows opening on to 28th Street, has a more intimate atmosphere whilst retaining the vintage theme and is perfect for private parties and events. Finally, on our mezzanine, we have The Wallace Room, named after the famous Scottish rebel, Sir William Wallace better known to most as Braveheart. Rich mahogany and leather couches with a private bathroom and service bar are features of the room.

In addition to all local sports teams, Smithfield will show all live soccer games from around the world and will offer locally produced food at reasonable prices. The classic American menu — read: seriously, not your average bar fare — will feature locally sourced products wherever possible and the draught will focus on local craft beers. Check out the extraordinary menu here. Teaser: The Smithfield Burger — Angus beef, candied foie gras, shaved truffles, 100 year aged balsamic reduction.

And, read this glowing review for more.

Smithfield…combines classic elements of the football bar, traditional Irish pub and lounge, and fine restaurant into a beautifully designed and thought out package that is unique, friendly, and affordable.

Please join us on Tuesday! Bring your friends!

Facebook Event info here.

Smithfield on the web, on Facebook, and on Twitter

* - Jameson whiskey is distilled in the Smithfield area of northern Dublin, hence the establishment’s name.

From our friends at Lunasa

"I once got chased by a homeless man carrying a jumbo jar of mayonnaise in Tompkins Square Park."

mbrosen — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:54:29 -0400

“I once got chased by a homeless man carrying a jumbo jar of mayonnaise in Tompkins Square Park.”

- Overheard.

The $1 million parking space | NYPost

mbrosen — Sun, 20 May 2012 11:16:56 -0400

The $1 million parking space | NYPost:

The city’s first million-dollar parking space is on the market.

The private garage at 66 E. 11th St. costs six times more than the national-average price of a single-family home.

“It’s for someone who wants complete privacy,” said Prudential Douglas Elliman Vice Chairman Dolly Lenz. “You can drive in and not be seen again. It’s for the type of person who finds that attractive. It could be a celebrity or a business person who is camera shy.”

The hot space is about 12 feet wide, 23 feet long and more than 15 feet high.

The spot could be “duplexed” if the buyer decides to install an elevator lift so he or she can slide both the Maserati and the Lamborghini in at the same time.

The parking space isn’t the only amenity: the shower water will be pumped full of vitamin C and aloe, and the apartments will have heat reflexology flooring.

It’s gorgeous out today. Why not take a stroll through...

mbrosen — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:12:00 -0400

It’s gorgeous out today. Why not take a stroll through some of the neighborhood’s many wonderful Community Gardens?

Here’s a map (Map provided by The East Village Parks Conservancy):

East Village NYC Community Gardens Map

View more presentations from dmbream

EV Grieve: This weekend: The Ukrainian Festival on Seventh Street; DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:04:29 -0400

EV Grieve: This weekend: The Ukrainian Festival on Seventh Street; DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park

mbrosen — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:17:53 -0400

thetatortot:

Hasaki

210 E 9th St

East Village | NYC

© CHRIS HYUN CHOI

A neighborhood favorite.

eastvillagewinegeek: ABCB!!!! (Taken with instagram) What...

mbrosen — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:05:03 -0400

eastvillagewinegeek:

ABCB!!!! (Taken with instagram)

What Keith was trying to say is Alphabet City Beer Co. is now open.

Read more about the “craft beer cafe” here.

96 Ave C btwn 6th and 7th St

mosaicmannyc: The Mosaic Man is at it again, this time with...

mbrosen — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:49:48 -0400

mosaicmannyc:

The Mosaic Man is at it again, this time with these clever new mosaic coffee cups that tie into the whimsical murals painted on the exterior of The Bean’s newest location on 1st Avenue and 9th Street.

Jim’s become something of an in-house artist for The Bean.

The new location should be opening very soon.

More on Jim’s work at The Bean’s various locations here.

“Steam” murals by the very talented artists at PaintTheTownNYC.com

———————————

Like Jim on Facebook or Follow him on Twitter @MosaicManNYC

Check out The Official Mosaic Man Collection on Etsy and CafePress for belt buckles, t-shirts and a variety of other items featuring Jim’s designs. Proceeds go toward supporting Jim’s work on The Mosaic Trail.

Or you can make a direct donation here.

curethriftshop: FREE BOOKS! ALL BOOKS at CURE are FREE. YES,...

mbrosen — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:51:32 -0400

curethriftshop:

FREE BOOKS!

ALL BOOKS at CURE are FREE.

YES, FREE!

Come and get ‘em.

fxxkitfriday: Fried chicken is my greatest food weakness. If...

mbrosen — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:51:00 -0400

Pork buns that melt in your mouth

Korean-style and Southern-style chicken

The table spread

fxxkitfriday:

Fried chicken is my greatest food weakness. If someone told me I would die in the next half-hour and I had to have a last meal, it would be fried chicken, no question. When I randomly checked the fried chicken reservations on Momofuku Noodle Bar’s website and saw the open 6 pm reservation for a Saturday night, it was like discovering the Holy Grail. Naturally, I grabbed my credit card, filled the reservation form, and invited three of my friends to come.

The day of, I was so incredibly excited and freaked out about coming late and losing the reservation that I came an hour ahead of time. I got my nails done at a place two blocks down to kill some time (ask for Kelly at Galleria!) - which I subsequently ruined digging into the massive pile of fried chicken (sorry Kelly).

Before the fried chicken even came, we had the famous Momofuku pork buns, which totally live up to their hype and fame. The pork belly melts in your mouth like butter. I would have been just as happy eating a meal out of the pork buns alone. But we came for chicken, and the chicken did not disappoint.

The fried chicken is cooked two ways, Korean style and old-fashioned Southern style with a buttermilk batter. In addition to the chicken, you get a bowl full of lettuces, fresh herbs, carrots and radishes, four dipping sauces (hoisin, garlic and scallion, chili paste, and jalapeno olive oil), and mushu pancakes. You can eat the chicken as it is, or you can use the sauces, veggies, and pancakes to make a ssam-style wrap. Overall, thanks to David Chang’s special cooking method of steaming the chicken first before frying it, the chicken meat was juicy and tender. The Korean-style fried chicken was a hit by a long run: sweet and spicy at the same time, with toasted sesame seeds sprinkled on the sticky coating at gave it a nice nutty flavor to round out the seasoning. This tasted amazing wrapped in a pancake with Bibb lettuce, basil, and a smear of scallion-ginger sauce.

The southern-style fried chicken wasn’t as successful in my opinion: I found the heavy use of Old Bay seasoning in the batter unpleasant and flat. I’ll stick to my guilty-pleasure Popeye’s for regular fried chicken. Personally, I think David Chang should just make the Korean-style fried chicken as the meal - but then why not just go to Bonchon for a meal? Having the fried chicken two ways, I guess, is part of what makes this an eating experience.

I loved the idea of eating fried chicken in a different way and sharing the experience with friends; I think the very familial-style of serving this dinner was the most unique aspect of this dinner. My friends and I were quite full by a little more than halfway through the plate of chicken. I could have easily invited four more people for the maximum reservation size and we all would have left sated. That huge plate of chicken and all the sides cost $100 before tax and tip. It seems like a wild splurge to spend $100 on chicken, but if you’re inviting 8 people, it comes to $12.50 a head which is quite reasonable in comparison to other places. And, there aren’t that many other restaurants in New York City that will offer this kind of dining experience for $12.50 a head. It’s well-worth at least trying it once.

Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 First Avenue
New York, NY 10003
**Reservations must be made online for fried chicken. They do not accept reservations for the regular menu, so expect a wait.

East Village, Manhattan

EV Grieve: 25th anniversary of the Loisaida Festival is today

stadterkundungen: New York | Sep 27, 2008 Hello, old friend.

"Turkish percussion music?"

First Look at Alphabet City Beer Co.

A Care Package Saves a Life | Operation Gratitude

At the Dentist

notforyourmouth: east village surprises.

brooklyntheory: Scenes From The NYC Dance Parade

“Intersection: Babel” is a documentary short looking...

mbrosen: Joey Ramone - New York City [iTunes link] From his...

neighborhoodr-newyork: Smithfield*, NYC’s newest sports bar in...

"I once got chased by a homeless man carrying a jumbo jar of mayonnaise in Tompkins Square Park."

The $1 million parking space | NYPost

It’s gorgeous out today. Why not take a stroll through...

EV Grieve: This weekend: The Ukrainian Festival on Seventh Street; DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park

thetatortot: Hasaki 210 E 9th St East Village | NYC ©...

eastvillagewinegeek: ABCB!!!! (Taken with instagram) What...

mosaicmannyc: The Mosaic Man is at it again, this time with...

curethriftshop: FREE BOOKS! ALL BOOKS at CURE are FREE. YES,...

fxxkitfriday: Fried chicken is my greatest food weakness. If...