Been There Done That

4th of July Plans.

2011-07-02T15:25:00.000-07:00

Every Year I go to the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. This year I plan on doing the same thing as I have never found a better display of American patriotism in my life. This show is one not to be missed. This year it is important to make friends on the West side as they will once again be held on the Hudson River.

Last year I ran late but I still got a few great photo's on my Iphone.

Taken for 30th and 10th Ave.

This year I promise I'll be prepared with a proper camera.

I'm always excited for big displays on American freedom days.

Cheap Eats: Cafe Prague! 5 Stars after 5p.m.

2010-09-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

Cafe Prague

2 W 19th St
South West Corner of 5th Ave,
Neighborhood: Flatiron
http://www.cafepraguenyc.com/

I'll admit it, this was not what I was looking for. I was out and about again this Monday looking for the Bistro Truck. Apparently it is a lunch only truck. Well boo to them.

Hooray for Cafe Prague!

Now I admit I've walked by them before. I looked in and all I saw were some sandwiches and and a coffee counter. I was not horribly impressed. I look for the pizzazz when I walk by restaurants. I also look for menus to be posted outside so I do not have to bother with going inside unless I want to. Two weeks ago they did not have this.

This time I was walking up 5th Ave when I stumbled past their billboard. I was hungry and with my friend, who was going to join me on my Bistro Truck adventure. I looked over and ask if she was interested in eating here. Luckily for me she never wants to make any decisions. She shrugged her shoulders. (I hate that.)

Then like an angel out of the blue I see a sign saying
1/2 price sandwiches after 5pm.

I love those signs.
It means I am going to save some money.

Inside you will find a very beautifully decorated eating area. It is small and can maybe only fit about 12 people, but is very comfortable.

End of the day Sandwich Case Options!

I had been craving prosciutto for a week. I knew that if they had a prosciutto sandwich I was going to buy it. Low and behold they did! It was prosciutto, mozzarella, and greens, on onion bread. They gentleman behind the counter asked if I would like it toasted and I said "yes please."

My friend got a Czech Special(?). I should have paid closer attention. It was pork and sauerkraut on bread that was like a very savory roll. Also toasted. OMG it was so good! It was Bigos on a roll!

It's the bottom right pan that holds my beloved apple cake!

We each got a Boylan's soda ($2), and split an apple cake desert ($3.25).

15 DOLLARS!!!

I was full and tipping is optional (I tipped). I love this place.
I know I'm easy to please, but really in a pinch this place succeeded!

I have been busy!

2010-09-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

Alright New Yorkers,

I have been out and about. I am on the ball.
I am about to review your little heart out.
I am going to answer your questions!

I am ready. Are you?

What is the Population of New York City?

2010-08-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

If you ask you shall receive. I asked my friends and family to ask me anything about New York City.
My younger cousin Chloe asked "whats the population?"

According to www.nyc.gov it is 8,008,278.

Other fun facts about New York,

Queens has the most diverse area of people in the world.

In New York City, taxi drivers are exempt from the law that requires drivers to wear a seat belt at al times. I wish that would make them more careful drivers but it doesn't.

You must be at least 5 feet 6 inches to be a Rockette, and you can not be over 5 feet 10 inches if you are a Rockette. I met a Rockette once. She was amazingly plain looking with long blond hair.

The subway can travel up to 48 mph, but it usually stays between 30 and 40 mph. Except when I'm running late then it goes 5 miles an hour at it's fastest. I know this because it took me an hour to go the 5 miles to midtown.

Cheap Eats for Tourists.

2010-08-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

I moved to New York City in the summer of 2004 just after graduating from college. I came with only three suit cases and a debit card. I found the cheapest place to stay which was a hostel on 113th Street just east of Fredrick Douglas/8th ave. It cost me 18 dollars a night. I knew I had a limited time to find a job and permanent housing before I ran out of money. My plan was to spend no more than five dollars a meal. It was hard but I made it. Mostly I ate rice from cheap chinese places, but sometimes I could find a real deal that was tasty too.

Recently my friend Melissa asked me "Where are cheap places to eat? Someone like me who would travel on a budget.. very important to know."

This is tough question. When ever the big magazines answer this question they tend to categorize by neighborhood.
I love to save money.
Here is how I save money while eating out.

I like to spend no more than $10 on lunch and $20 on dinner, this includes drinks.

Now if you are a traveling couple like my friend Melissa and her husband, I would offer to you that you should spend no more than $15 on Lunch for the two of you, and $40 for Dinner including drinks.

The easiest way to do this...

Share. Cheap food in New York comes in abundance. Very few places will give you small portions. Those that do are not cheap.

So my favorite places to go for sharing a meal are (by neighborhood)

East Village: There are so many cheap eats in the East Village and Lower East Side that I encourage others to please put up their favorite places too.

Mama's Food Shop 200 E 3rd St, One plate can feed two people easily. The typical plate is loaded with one meat (fried chicken, meat loaf, & pork shoulder oh my) and two sides of your choosing.

This Little Piggy had Roast Beef 149 1st Ave: It's like a warm, heart clogging, delicious, experience that takes over your mouth. Split a sandwich and order a side of fresh hand cut fries.

Polonia Restaurant 110 1st Ave: The best sit down experience you can have for under $15 a person. The plates a large and run about $10 each, and the beers are huge at only $5 each. They even make their own deserts. Need something that taste like your mothers home made apple cake? Eat here!

West Village:

Joe's Pizza 7 Carmine St: One of the Top 3 pizza slices I have had in New York.

Mamoun's Falafel 119 MacDougal St: This place is tiny but brings in a big crowd. It is open late for a 3am Omg I need food right now moment. Each sandwich will cost you about $5 but it will fill you up. I love love love the shwarma. I don't even know if I spelled that right, but I don't really care it taste so good. This is a get your own kind of spot because it's so good.

Gramercy:
Defonte's Sandwich Shop 261 3rd Ave:The eggplant sanwiches are amazing, well everything here is amazing. I frequent this place almost every Monday night.

Upper West Side:

Gray's Papaya on Broadway and 72nd: The recession special is still one of my favorite meals. Two hot Dogs and a papaya juice for about $5.

Upper East Side

Pio Pio 1746 1st Ave: One Matadore Special Please! You now have food for a week.

Subway Inn 143 E 60th St: Cheapest Drinks in the East 60's, plus it's one of the last dive bars in Manhattan.

Midtown West:

Hallo Berlin German Food Stand 54th St and 5th Ave: if you are near MOMA and need some sausage after looking at all those twisted naked Picasso's Eat here.

Tina's Cuban Cuisine 23 W 56th St: One of my old favorites for lunch on the cheap. The food portions are huge, 2 people can easily eat one serving.

Midtown East: I'll be honest. I've only really liked one place in this area. It's the BXL Mussels on 51st and 2nd Ave. Split a 2lb pot of Mussels. I think that for lunch you can even get a 1lb pot at a better price. However, drinks are bit more expensive here than in other places but thats because they are wonderful Belgium Style Beers.

Other than that Eat at a Food Truck! To find a truck click here.

Morning Side Heights:

Taqueria y Fonda la Mexicana 968 Amsterdam Ave: It's Great Food. It's Cheap. The Service is Wonderful. It's a hole in the wall.I would have walked right by this place a millions time if a friend had not insisted on taking me here 3 years ago. Everyone I know loves the burritos. I however, love the carnitas tacos. They make me happy. And with a side of tamales I just can't help but smile when my food comes out. As an extra bonus the free chips and salsas hit the table right when you sit down.

Koronet Pizza 2848 Broadway: It's not the best pizza, but I put it in my top five because one slice can feed two people. It's good, it's fast, and it's large.

If you were my friend these are the places I would send you. This is my for tourist guide. I tried to include places that would be easy to find and in areas that are popular with the sight seeing crowd. If you have a suggestion please feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email.

First Piece of Advice.

2010-07-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

New Yorkers can smell fear and happiness. So they know when you are a tourist or new to the city.
So here is your first piece of advice: Don't smile at strangers. I recently had a friend come to visit me, and she asked "I'm worried about walking around in New York by myself, is there any thing I should know?"

I said "Act like you are in your own little world and pretend like no one else exist."

It's true, act like no one else matters. They don't matter. I love this city because it provides a lot of solitude. If I lived in a small city everyone would know who I am, they would all know everything about me. In this city I am free to walk to streets free of judgement because nobody cares about me.

Ask me anything...

2010-07-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

I recently switched from tumblr to blogger because I want to know who is following me. I want to know that you are out there. I want your comments and questions. I want to know what you think. So come on... ask me anything. Preferably about New York City. Did you want to move here and need some advice? Do you already live here and are looking for something extra?

Until you reach out... I'm just going to post my rants and raves from tumblr. I want to know what your thinking.

Been There Done That

2010-07-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

View From West 67th Street Penthouse

I'm here to give you a fundamental guide to New York City. I've been there, done that.

This is a "how to" and a "what's that" to New York. I will review bars, restaurants, shows, places, and I can give you a how to when it comes to renting an apartment, getting great deals, finding free food, and much more. Some of this you may have heard before, some of this is new, and all of this is my opinion.

Enjoy and give me your feed back.The more I know the better this will be.

BTDT NYC