Scoutmob New York

New York's Most Curious Wifi Names

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

In New York, you inevitably end up sharing a lot of things with strangers: tables at coffee shops/restaurants, contempt for tourists, personal space. And, if you forget to lock your wireless internet up tight, you could end up with a whole apartment building clogging your connection. But what's in a wifi name? Obviously, there are some out there who take their wifi naming very seriously. Here, a collection of some of our faves (many courtesy of you, so thanks for keeping us curious):

AbrahamLiknsys
A history nerd? A Steven Spielberg fan?

My Neighbor Is Hot
Possibly the most passive agressive way to let someone know you like them?

I Am Watching You
Rockwell was right! It's always been our naive concern that someone would be able to track our activity once we got on his or her network. Thanks for confirming.

FBI Surveillance Van
Nothing to see here. No reason to be alarmed by that milk truck sitting outside your apartment for the past three days...

Pretty Fly For A Wifi
Uh huh! Uh huh!

Get Your Own Wifi
Rude, but honest. We're assuming this person was not a fan of giant purple dinosaurs growing up.

Trannie Panties
No explanation needed. Seriously.

30% off Colador Cafe

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Scout Notes: It's generally accepted that in life, it's good to have options. Coming up in a neighborhood that was lacking in the dining variety, Colador Cafe is now bringing a little bit of everything to Bed-Stuy. Started in 2008 by a former sales rep, Colador casually serves up everything from breakfast to dinner, and all that lies in between. In a small, tricked-out industrial looking space with exposed wood beams and cement walls, guests sip on smoothies and protein shakes, chomp on bagels and pastries and mainline caffeine at the full coffee bar in the mornings. Come lunch and dinner, this spot serves up one of the best burgers in the 'hood, giving you the option of beef, turkey or veggie. Not to be outdone, there's also the Grilled Steak Sandwich with avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, swiss cheese and mayo served on a baguette, as well as a Vietnamese Chicken Wrap with pickled cucumbers, carrots, mayo and cilantro. For a little unwinding after work, pop in for a glass of wine or a beer and nosh on some empanadas or chicken wings.

Menu Highlights:
Empanadas, $2 each
Burger, $8.95
Vietnamese Chicken Wrap, $6.75
Grilled Steak Sandwich, $8.95

Hours:
Mon-Sat, 9a.m.-10p.m.
Sun, 9a.m.-9p.m.

Baring It All: A Q&A With Union Square's Topless Protestor

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Men: walking around shirtless since the dawn of time. Women: not so much. But did you know that in the state of New York it is totally legal for a woman to be topless anywhere it is legal for a man to do so? Truth.

Luckily Moira Johnson (NSFW), a local activist and women's liberator, has taken up the cause and is building awareness about this quirky bit of equality in our legislation in probably the most common sense way possible: by simply being topless everywhere men usually are—the park, yoga classes, grabbing a juice, etc. We caught up with Moira to see what she's been up to during the colder months (when at least a sweater is recommended), see what's on her docket for spring and what SPF she prefers.

So, it's been pretty cold lately. What have you been up to all winter?
I got my yoga teachers certification and I've been getting some experience teaching yoga to friends and family members, along with volunteering at Sivananda Yoga Ranch in Woodbourne, NY.

Spring is around the corner. Plans for taking your top off soon?
I plan to continue with topless activism throughout Spring/Summer 2013. I'll also be teaching topless yoga lessons in various outdoor venues for topless females and their advocates.

You spend a lot of time out on the streets to support your cause. What are some of your favorite local businesses?
I love vegetarian cuisine and some of my favorite places to eat are Caravan of Dreams, Souen, Angelina Kitchen, One Lucky Duck Juice & Take-Away and Liquiteria.

Are a lot of places supportive of your being topless?
Liquiteria is especially friendly to me. They let me sit topless in their outdoor storefront seating area on a frequent basis, and the owner even gave me a free drink the day after he saw a report about my activism on the local news channel.

Vira Yoga in Soho was also supportive. The owner is a woman and said she found it refreshing when a friend and I decided to exercise our rights during yoga class.

What's your preferred sunscreen brand & SPF?
Though I get a lot of sun exposure, I strangely don't use sunscreen on my body that often. My skin just doesn't sunburn that easily. I like to use California Baby Frangrance Free 30+ on my face though.

What's the best reaction to toplessness you've ever gotten? The worst?
The best and the worst that I can remember happen within minutes of eachother, and on the same street block. Someone who had just gotten out of jail was verbally harassing me and saying that he would hurt me, but he didn't do anything more than that. As I was walking along after that incident, three separate people yelled "I love you!"

Spring Cocktails: Recipes Straight From Your Local Distillery

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Things that are better straight from the source: spring water (supposedly); news (and/or gossip); your spring cocktails. That last one is most important. And since Brooklyn is now teaming with a slew of fancy new distilleries, we figured why not go straight to said sources and get some spring time tippling ideas from the folks actually making your hooch.

Thus, drink recipes from the folks of:

New York Distilling Co. (Gin)
700 Songs Gimlet
1.5 oz Perry's Tot - Navy Strength Gin
.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
.50 oz Simple Syrup
.25 oz Cinnamon Syrup

Shake ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Noble Experiment (Rum)
Rum Runner
Owney's NYC Rum
Spiced Pinapple Syrup
Carpano Antica
Fresh Lemon Juice

Combine ingredients in a shaker. Pour over ice.

Breuckelen Distillery (Gin & Whiskey)
The Tom O’Connell
3 parts Glorious Gin
2 parts fresh squeezed lime juice
1 part simple syrup
Soda water
5 fresh thyme leaves

Combine first three ingredients and mix well. Pour over ice, top with soda water, and garnish with thyme leaves.

77 Whiskey
In a glass, of course! Ok, ok: a splash of water or an ice cube if you must.

What To Do This Weekend, March 14-17

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Thursday, March 14, 8:30 p.m.
Dumbo Comedy
99 Water Street, Dumbo

Hosted by comics Aaron Kominos Smith and Meghan Hanley, this show features top comics from Comedy Central, HBO, MTV and all the best clubs in the city. Plus, the show is free, the beer is free and you can bring your dog! And they don't even need a leash!!

Nearby deal: Asya Indian Restaurant

Friday, March 15, 7 p.m.
Goodfellas Screening at IFC Center
323 6th Ave., West Village

The Post-film discussion with Anthony Bourdain might be sold out already (big surprise), but don't let that keep you from a screening of one of the classic gangster films of all time.

Nearby Deals: La Bota

Saturday, March 16
Chinatown Restaurant Week
Chinatown

Avoid getting ~~peed on~~ shoved around by mobs of merry drinkers dressed in green and instead hit up the second annual Chinatown Restaurant Week. Celebrating all things south of Canal, there are a slew of restaurants offering $20.13 meal deals as well as discounts at other local businesses. Then we recommend staying home and hitting your Netflix queue and riding out the inevitable wave of green vomit that's coming.

Sunday, March 17
Subway Advertising
Transit Museum, 130 Livingston St., Brooklyn

Subway advertising. It wasn't always sliced up movie posters and Dr. Zizmor. Hop on this guided tour and learn the actually fascinating history of subway advertising on the larget subway system in the world.

Nearby Deals: Dining Room

50% off La Lucha

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Scout Notes: La Lucha pays homage to two time-honored Mexico City traditions: phenomenal tacos and lucha libre. At this witty taqueria on Ave A, the walls are plastered with wrestling posters and the tables are lined with happy locals, all hunkered over the city's best Mexican street food. It's a scene plucked from downtown Mexico City, where fight fans flock to taco stands before heading to the arena. Here, you may not be able to catch a match after dinner, but wherever you go, you'll certainly leave well fed. Every taco here is the real deal; the steak, spicy pork, and chile poblano with cheese will all make you ache to return the very next day for more. Also try their mouthwatering tortas and their new breakfast style tacos as well, with a chorizo and egg option to start (just in case you woke too late this morning). While you're eating, do as the (Mexico City) natives do and pair your plate with some horchata. A La Lucha regular, on a recent visit, hinted that it's great for hangovers.

MENU HIGHLIGHTS:
Chorizo & Egg breakfast taco, $4
Brazo De Oro (Spicy Pork), $4.50
Super Porky (Mexican Pulled Pork), $4.50
Dr. Wagner (Mayan Style Pork), $4.50

HOURS:
Sun-Thurs, 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. Fri & Sat, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m.

30% off Ayurveda Cafe

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Scout Notes: Ayurveda. Ever heard of it? We hadn't either until we stumbled upon this pretty unique cafe on the Upper West Side. Ayurveda refers to the science of life, a 5,000-year-old traditional holistic system of well-being hailing from India. At Ayurveda Cafe, the staff fully believes in the philosophy that food cooked and served with compassion adds powerful value to your dining experience. The menu is pretty simple, because it consists of just one meal option that changes every day. That meal will consist of 10 carefully and thoughtfully crafted and prepared items, including an appetizer, two vegetable entrees, lentils & rice, salad and dessert. Run by two brothers hailing from New Delhi who came to New York and worked their way up the restaurant food chain (and also happen to be Emmy-nominated documentarians), Ayurveda Cafe is a homey, simple restaurant that will make you feel welcome and cared for. If the food has piqued your interest in discovering more about Indian culture, they also have a lending library of classic Bollywood films that is free for customers. To us, that's a pretty interesting take on the whole "dinner and a movie" tradition.

Menu Highlights:
Pre-Set Lunch Menu, $9.95
Pre-Set Dinner Menu, $13.95

Hours:
Daily, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Up Your Game: What $30 Will Get You in NYC.

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Last time we gave you a few ways to be out on the town while only spending $20 and you responded with a resounding "ooooh, I want that!" Well, this time we've upped the stakes a little bit and found some pretty killer dinner specials at some pretty fabulous restos for under $30, yanno, for when you want to get a little fancy. An extra $10 fancy.

Buttermilk Channel
524 Court St., Brooklyn
Named for the patch of rough tidal waters between Red Hook and Governor's Island (so rough that it would churn the milk farmers were taking to market into butter. Knowledge!), this Brooklyn fave has a pretty impressive Monday Night dinner menu. For $25 get a three course meal that includes appetizers, entrees (like buttermilk fried chicken or parsley-crusted New England hake) and a dessert option. We recommend the pecan pie sundae.

Clinton St Baking Company
4 Clinton St., LES
If you're like us, you've attempted to have brunch here multiple times but just couldn't stomach the 2-hour wait for a table (who does that?!). The trick is to know the famous breakfast items are served at dinner time, too, alongside other home cookin' goodies like shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and fried green tomatoes. Mondays and Tuesdays also mean half off bottles of wine and, if you time it right, they'll let you take home a bag of that morning's scones. Deals!!

The Smith
55 Third Ave., East Village
Oh, The Smith. Our love/hate relationship has been long-standing. Love, because it's delicious and fun. Hate, because it can be weirdly overpriced (IOHO). But, snag a table on a Saturday and dive into their nightly special, the Spanish Paella. Sliding in at $29, bring a friend to share it with and order up some drinks.

50% off Amsterdam Tavern

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Scout Notes: Academic life is a rewarding pursuit of knowledge, information and finding the perfect place for a post-study session drink. It's rather fortuitous then that Amsterdam Tavern, nestled on 106th & Amsterdam, is so close to the Columbia campus and has become highly regarded as one of the better beer selections in the city. On any given day they have a rotating list of 24 beers on tap, heavily skewing both American and New York-made. In fact, managing partner Mark has done such a good job of building relationships with his distributors that they often come to him first whenever they have a hot new brew they want to introduce.

But it's not just all drinks. They sport a pretty stellar menu as well. Think classic gastropub fare, but elevated a notch or two. Everything is made in-house by chef Carly, so quality is a guarantee. Their burger is something to be admired, using a custom blend of brisket and chuck. Their nachos are contenders for the title of Best in The City, and they put out a pretty impressive brunch spread as well (Steak & Eggs, Crab Cake Benedict, Tavern Pretzel Chicken—you get the idea). The vibe is neighborhood-y and relaxed, with a lot of the grad student/faculty population from Columbia coming in to rest their brains and watch a little soccer under an original, 110-year-old copper ceiling. Let's just hope they've done all their homework.

Menu Highlights:
Burger, $11
Nachos, $9
Crab Cake Benedict, $14

Hours:
Sun. & Mon., 12 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Tues. - Sat. 12 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Getting Busy: Our Favorite Restaurant Bathrooms

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

When it comes to exotic locations to do your business or powder your nose, the bathrooms of the Boom Boom Room, 18 stories above the Highline at The Standard Hotel, are now legendary. The views from their thrones, both in and out, are pretty spectacular for both the user and the viewer down below.

But it's certainly not the only game in town when it comes to interesting places to potty. So naturally, we've compiled some of our favorite restaurant bathrooms in NYC. Easily the most overlooked aspect of any eating establishment.

Vynl
This shrine to pop music and Asian bistro-style cuisine is a must if you like elevated Thai food and rocking out to music while in the bathroom. Each bathroom is decorated to represent a different pop artist, and blasts said pop artists ouvre over the speakers. Choose from Cher, Dolly Parton, Nelly and Elvis, whose affinity for bathroom antics hopefully don't mirror your own.

Doughnut Plant
If you've ever wondered what it's like to relieve yourself whilst inside a giant disco ball, just wait for your next doughnut craving. The Chelsea outpost of this doughnut den is cleverly designed with its signature square doughnuts in mind. But it's the one small bathroom that's the show stealer: covered floor to ceiling in small mirrors and featuring a spinning disco ball, it's an homage to the great Studio 54.

Raymi
This pisco bar and Peruvian restaurant inconspicuously tucked away on 24th St. in the Flatiron has just been called out in New York magazine's "Best Of New York." And while its list of house-infused piscos are pretty stellar, it's the downstairs restrooms that are equally as worthy of a "Best Of" designation. Walk downstairs and you're greeted with an impressive waiting area complete with swinging, wicker seats, super comfortable lounge chairs and excellent lighting. Gender non-specific stalls are equally spacious; they're more like private cabanas at a Las Vegas resort than toilets.

Pulino's
Speaking of gender non-specific, we love the loo at Pulino's if for nothing else than the moment of panic and confusion on the face of first-timers walking in. You start out heading for the proper door, but SURPRISE! IT'S ALL THE SAME BATHROOM! Once the embarrassement of seeing the opposite sex subsides, you see you're in a giant, white-tiled, faux-vintage washroom, with a giant basin in the middle, individual stalls to the right and, just 'cause, a nice leather couch in case you want to kick it for a bit and watch all the awkward glances and small talk around the sink.

Two Weekend Getaway Options. For When Spring Decides To Arrive.

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Spring is seemingly, hopefully, cross your fingers and maybe don't say it out loud, upon us. And while the idea of spring makes us want to go out and kiss a tree, it also means we need to hurry and book our spring weekend plans, probably starting yesterday. Or at least lay out a good idea of what those weekend plans are going to entail. Luckily, we've got two pretty solid options for two very different styles of excursion.

Wether it's a retro airstream or a woodsy cabin that looks like it was built by Instagram itself, we've got your weekend getaway options:

Kate's Lazy Meadow
B-52 fanatics, prepare yourself. Kate Pierson has traded in her quirky stage performances for even quirkier hotel hosting. Kate's Lazy Meadow features nine "atomically designed", mid-century modern suites that sit directly on the Esopus Creek. Only 2 hours from the city, Kate has a couple of new love shacks on her hands that are perfect for some much needed escapism!

The Graham & Co.
Graham means the Grey House; There are only 309 residents in Phoenecia; The bikes they rent used to be called Ninjas, until they took the stickers off them. Learn these random facts and more at this new getaway inspired by the heritage of the Catskills. Only 2.5 hours from the city, this uberly styled, impeccably hip hotel is brand new and waiting for your tired and weary Warby Parkers.

Have You Heard Shake Shack Is Going Global?

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

We love a good little-guy-taking-over-the-world story, kind of like ~~Starbucks~~ ~~Walmart~~, er... well how about just Danny Meyer. Shake Shack, Meyer's little hot dog cart that could, has become a shining beacon on the local NYC fast food scene, and is now setting its sights on taking its dogs, shakes, and addictive cheese fries not just across the country (DC, Miami ... Brooklyn), but across international waters as well.

According to its site, 2013 is going to be a big year with new locations opening up in both Turkey and London. It makes sense then, that in May when the new Delta terminal opens up at JFK Airport with some pretty stellar new dining choices courtesy of Marcus Samuelsson and Nancy Silverton, that there will also be not one, but two Shake Shack options (serving breakfast!!).

So, if the Eastern seaboard is under control, baseball stadiums and airport terminals locked down, and international treaties are already in the works, what's next? __________?

Do you have ideas on where you want the next Shack Cam to be? Sound off on our Facebook page.

Dead or Alive, Who Would You Feast with?

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Feast is a brand new restaurant that opened in the East Village this past Tuesday with an intriguing concept: two different "feasts"—or set menus of multiple dishes meant to be shared by large groups of eaters—are offered as a modern interpretation to the traditional dinner party.

Feast will serve pastries and coffee during the day, and smaller, a la carte plates can be ordered for dinner, but it's the aforementioned feasts that take center stage. Rotating seasonally, the inaugural two options are the vegetarian-friendly Farmer's Market Feast ($38 pp), which includes a smoked goat cheese tart with forest mushrooms, spaghetti squash with mushroom bolognese and roasted cauliflower with hazelnuts and grapes; and the Nose-to-Tail Lamb Feast ($48 pp) with lamb carpaccio, Merguez stew with tomato, "shepherd's pie," potato gratin and lamb lasagna among other courses.

We're chomping at the bit (literally, ScoutmobNYC has its own pony, albeit it's imaginary) to make a reservation, but it begs the age old question: if you could Feast with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose? For our supper, we're calling around to see if Uncle Bloomberg, Liz Lemon and Mr. Met might be free for a little chewing and chatting.

Tell us who you'd invite on Facebook or Twitter.

50% off Fanny

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Scout Notes: Just by name recognition alone, you get a sense that you're in for a carefree, playful dining experience at this Williamsburg staple. Named for a 1930's character from the book, plays, and films of French director Marcel Pagnol, everything about this spot fits that mood, from the French country house feeling of the interior (an old wooden bar and tables, tons of exposed brick, rustic little patio in back) to the casual Southern French cuisine, with a touch of a Mediterranean influences to keep things interesting. Owned by a first time restauranteur who worked her way up the industry food chain and loves big, family style dinners, Fanny will not disappoint in style or substance. From the menu, start with a small pot of PEI mussels or homemade terrine. Then move on to the fish stew romesco (cod, shrimp and mussels in tomato broth with roasted peppers and almonds), or the lamb shoulder with fingerling potatoes.

As for Fanny herself, she can be seen playfully exposing herself in whimsical portraits throughout the dining room, watching you as you dine.

Menu Highlights:
Homemade Terrine, $9
PEI Mussels, $9
Lamb Shoulder, $18
Fish Stew, $17

Hours:
Dinner, daily from 5pm - 11pm

NYC's $1 Eats. Yes, They Exist

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Happy Hours are pretty stellar, especially when that Happy Hour consists of $1 treats plus a discounted drink. But what about the other hours in a day falling outside of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.? Where does a New Yorker go for $1 steal then?

The simple answer? Here:

Dumplings:
Dumpling Man
100 St Marks Pl
Get yourself to this garden-level dumpling den serving up the fluffy pockets in the traditional Northern Asian style. And for 80 to 99 cents each you can feast like an emperor without even going through a five spot.

Sushi:
Kumo Sushi
282 Bleecker st.; 214 1st Ave
If we've learned anything from those eSurance commercials, cheap sushi can be troublesome. Luckily Kumo Sushi ain't no gas station. Pop in here are for $1 a piece, chow down on rolls like striped bass, unagi and smoked salmon.

Tamales:
Taqueria La Casa Del Idolo
91-07 Corona Ave., Queens
There might be a bit of a language barrier here, but just point to your stomach and the rojo and/or verde tamales (hey, they're only a buck) and we're pretty sure they'll know what to do.

Pizza:
2 Bros. Pizza
various
So, it's not the most gourmet of pies, but sometimes you just need a dirty fix of bread, cheese and grease. Say, around 12:45 am. In between ______. This is perfect for that.

Hot Dogs:
Gray's Papaya
various
While some people may turn their nose up at it, you're not a New Yorker if you haven't had a dog from Gray's Papaya—or asked yourself Wait, what's the difference between this and Papaya dog? (answer: not a lot). They've up'd their prices a bit, to $1.50 for a single dog, but in this town that's still practically free.

Frozen Yogurt:
Yogurt Station
18 St. Marks Place
Dessert! While technically you'll probably want more than $1's worth of delicious fro-yo, at .35 an ounce it is possible to get your fix for just a buck, depending on your reflexes.

What To Do This Weekend, Mar. 7-10

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Thursday, Mar. 7, 5 p.m.
First Thursday Gallery Walk
Dumbo

It's that time again! Stroll the streets of Dumbo and bask in the ever growing gallery scene down under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Over 20 galleries are participating including Captain Gallery, Central Booking and Dumbo Arts Center.

Nearby deal: Asya Indian Restaurant

Friday, Mar. 8, 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Movieoke @ Videology
308 Bedford Ave #1, Williamsburg

You're going to talk through all your favorite movies anyway, you might as entertain a crowd instead of pissing off your friends. Pick from Videology's vast collection of movies or bring in your own, they'll play your scene with captions but no sound, and you can act it out for an adoring audience. Just don't turn all Anne Hathaway on us afterward.

Nearby Deals: Lola BKLYN

Saturday, Mar. 9, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Coney Island USA Presents Spring Gala 2013: The Burlesque Manifesto
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St., East Village

Coney Island. Famous for hot dogs and racy entertainment. Coney Island USA, a non-profit that is working hard to promote the later to make sure we have side shows and burlesque for generations to come, are holding a fundraiser to help them dig out of the mess left by Sandy. The show will feature theatrical performances based on founder Dick Zigun’s 1982 track, "The Burlesque Manifesto," with over 50 performers here to entertain you.

Nearby Deals: Cacio e Pepe

Sunday, Mar. 10, 11 a.m.
Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers
Museum of the City of New York, 1220 5th Ave, UES

You've heard the horror stories and/or benefits of the new tiny living spaces, depending on who you talk to. Now, see examples of these micro apartments presented in a well-curated, thoughtful and attractive exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York. And then immediately run back to your 400 square foot studio and hug it.

Nearby Deals: Ichiro Japanese Restaurant

Bringing Back the Lavish Lunch: Three NYC Spots to Dine (or Drink) Like It's Dinnertime

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Dinner plans: you make those weeks in advance. Happy Hour plans: on the regular. Brunch plans too, even though it mostly requires just standing and waiting. Lunch, though? It's ignored more than the West Village's ban on honking. Basically, we take lunch for granted. An hour that used to conjure up images of empty martini glasses strewn about white linen tables now brings flashes of styrofoam containers and stained keyboards. Luckily, three local restaurants are doing their part to restore the lunchtimes of yore to their proper glory: with lavish prix-fixe menus and booze. Check 'em out:

Del Posto
85 10th Ave, Meatpacking District
Plop down $39 for Del Posto's three-course lunch menu and be treated to a meal one of the city's finer Italian restaurants for a third of what it would cost after sundown. You'll start with an appetizer than choose from a pasta dish or entree and finish with one of pastry chef Brooks Headley's desserts: like Browned Butter Panna Cotta or Butterscotch Semifreddo. Just as suggestions.

Telepan
72 W. 69th St., Upper West Side
Enjoy the supreme mastery of the farm-to-table movement at this pioneer of a restaurant. Indulge with a two course ($28) or three course ($32) lunch Wednesday through Friday and take advantage of the agricultural bounty that is the New York region. If you're really looking to dawdle before heading back to the office, add on an extra course and wine pairings for $125 total.

Algonquin Hotel Lobby Lounge
59 W. 44th St., Midtown
Follow in the footsteps of some of the city's greatest writers and drink your lunch at this famous hotel lobby, where literary heavyweights ordered up inspiration by glass. Go classic with a $17 martini and a jumbo shrimp cocktail ($21), followed by a crisp and creamy Caesar salad ($15). Or opt for the Hemingway ($18), a beautifully pink sipper made with Ketel One vodka and ruby-red grapefruit juice. Yup, you are paying for the incredibly lavish environs. And it is worth it.

Sweet Food Truck Deals, All Month Long? That's Madness

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

March. It's the time of year when spring is on the tip of everyone's tongue. We guess that in addition to dreading St. Paddy's Day, some people start prepping their livers and getting days off from work for the NCAA March Madness tournament. But what we're really interested in is Munch Madness.

Yup, little did you know that last Friday also kicked off the first ever Munch Madness, a month-long fest that could result in you getting sweet discounts and swag from your favorite food trucks every single day. During Munch Madness, check the calendar on the aforementioned website to see how to cash in each day. For example, each Friday you'll have a chance to win a catered office party from the food truck of your choice. Every Wednesday and Sunday, you'll be eligible to save 15% on orders with an exclusive promo code that gets revealed that morning. Other giveaways include catered breakfasts, “Six-Foot Sub Saturdays” and free “Munch Madness” t-shirts.

Sponsored by FoodtoEat.com, the first online ordering service to celebrates all things NYC street vendor, Munch Madness is their way of getting you out and about on your lunch hour, minus the standing in line at your favorite food truck.

Or, perhaps more aptly, allowing to quickly pick up your lunch and get back to your desk to hit refresh on your NCAA bracket, if that's your thing.

50% off Velvet Brooklyn

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Something about a perfectly crafted cocktail just sets things right in the world, regardless of the kind of day you had. It's a key ingredient to unwinding and taking pleasure in the finer things. Throw in a hand-rolled cigar with that perfect cocktail and the finer things just got even... finer.

Enter Velvet Brooklyn in South Williamsburg. Nestled next to old-school steak house Peter Luger, this candlelit, classy bar is a throwback to the Mad Men era, when cocktailing was serious, and smoking fine cigars was a given. Puff on one of their handmade Dominicans out on their heated front smoking patio, and enjoy a luxurious experience not commonly found in today's drinking landscape. Inside, the dark-wooded bar and event room continues the mood: the drink menu of timeless cocktails (Old Fashioned, Side Car, Manhattan), liquors (single malt scotches, bourbons, cognacs) and fine red and white wines will have you feeling otherworldly. The bar up front is great for an after-dinner drink or a cocktail to kick off the night, and the event room in back is perfect for more private events, small or large. Just remember to drink your water, too: imbibing like the boys of Sterling Cooper Draper Price leads to a wicked hangover.

Menu Highlights:
Side Car, $12
Rusty Nail, $12
Draft Beers, $6-8

Hours:
Sun. - Thurs., 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Fri. & Sat., 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

What To Do This Week, Mar. 4-7

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Monday, Mar. 4, 7 p.m.
Sackett Street Writers' Reading Series
Book Court, 163 Court St. Brooklyn

Your book clubs are fine, but come see how the pros do it. Tonight's reading features readings from Megan Abbott, Julia Fierro, Matthew Aaron Goodman, Jessica Penner. You can get back to discussing Goosebumps next week.

Nearby deal: Dining Room

Tuesday, Mar. 5, 7 p.m.
The History of Hooch
Public Assembly, 70 N 6th St, Williamsburg

Curious about where your booze comes from? Or where the term hooch originates? Hit up this history class and learn all about your favorite imbibable from the know it all tour guides of Oyster Tours. You think you know, but you have no idea.

Nearby deal: Cantina Royal

Wednesday, Mar. 6, 9 p.m.
Roosevelt Dime Wednesday Residency
Brooklyn Winery, 213 N 8th St, Williamsburg

What do you get when you blend elements of acoustic jug-band blues, classic New Orleans soul and neo-folk and house blended small batch wines? A pretty good Wednesday night at Brooklyn Winery.

Nearby deal: Hope Garage

Thursday, Mar. 7, 5 p.m.
First Thursday Gallery Walk
Dumbo

It's that time again! Stroll the streets of Dumbo and bask in the ever growing gallery scene down under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Over 20 galleries are participating including Captain Gallery, Central Booking and Dumbo Arts Center.

Nearby deal: Asya Indian Restaurant

Choice Eats: Knocking Out 50+ Bucket List Restaurants in Three Hours

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

We recently came to the conclusion that we'd never hack it as a postal worker. Why? Because mail never stops. It Just. Keeps. Coming. How did we come to this conclusion? By looking over our bucket list of restos we still need to try. It Just. Keeps. Growing. This city is insatiable when it comes to great new dining choices.

In an attempt to do some serious damage to said list, and check off a handfull of places in a one fell swoop, we're hitting up the Choice Eats event sponsored by The Village Voice on March 19. For three full hours we'll be cruising around the 69th Armory on Lexington like it's nobody's business, attempting to hit up samplings from all 50+ restaurants slated to participate. We're starting our fast tomorrow.

But among the list, there are some standouts that we're really excited about, seeing as how we've been meaning to break bread at their tables for quite some time. Here are the booths we're making a beeline for:

Bobwhite Lunch & Supper Counter
Named after a quail-like bird and not after a human-like Bob White matters little, we hear the fried chicken at this Ave C outpost is something we need to get our mouths on pronto.

Dirt Candy
Our curiosity is peeked as much as our stomachs by this tiny little resto serving nothing but vegetables. "Inventive", "creative", "surprisingly satisfying" are all terms we've heard thrown around when describing this place. Problem is they're consistently booked up to three weeks out. We love skirting a line!

Joe Dough
If the casual, sandwich-only offshoot of this East Village joint is any testament to what the full menu is like at the sit down portion, then we're already salivating. The Conflicted Jew (chicken liver, onion, bacon) and the After Hours Special (fried bologna) are in constant rotation for lunch.

Kuma Inn
We keep hearing about this quaint little place on the LES that offers up supposedly fantastic "Asian tapas". While we're typically not hard to convince, this spot just keeps slipping through the cracks of our dining musts. We plan on atoning for this egregious oversight.

Swine
An ode to pork in the form of a restaurant? We're in. We've been to the upstairs bar decked out in 80s basement rock decor (they have wine on draft), but have yet to get ourselves a table downstairs. Their jukebox is just to good.

Save the Kubbeh: A Pop-Up to Bring Back an Endangered Dish

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Right behind the Olive Ridley Turtle and the Polar Bear, Kubbeh—an Iraqi-Jewish comfort food—is teetering on the brink of extinction. Luckily The Kubbeh Project, an after-hours pop-up restaurant starting yesterday, is aimed at bringing this traditional dish back from said brink. At least for the month of March.

Taking over the beloved Zucker Bakery in the East Village, The Kubbeh Project will serve the eponymous dish—round semolina dumplings stuffed with seasoned meat or vegetables and served in a variety of broths— from 6 p.m. until their pots are empty (or roughly 10:30 p.m.), every evening for the next three weeks. Also on the menu will be traditional sides including challah bread, tahini, pickled vegetables and a special “Kubbeh Libre” Cocktail made with pomelo (a sweeter cousin of the grapefruit) and arak, an anise-flavored grape-distilled liquor.

So why, exactly, is this dish in the danger zone of no longer existing? Apparently the dish is pretty labor intensive, requiring a lot of time and TLC, which is making it somewhat of a dying art.

Hopefully, with the help of pop-ups like these, the kubbeh can gain somewhat of a cult following and live to see another day. Just like the Desert Rain Frog.

50% off Penthouse 808 Asian Bistro & Lounge

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Scout Notes: There's just something about the word "penthouse" that exudes luxury, exclusivity and a mandatory great view. Happily, we found all of those things on a recent trip out to Penthouse 808 Asian Bistro & Lounge in Long Island City. Housed atop the Ravel Hotel and tucked underneath the Queensboro Bridge, Penthouse 808 is an Asian-influenced bistro, lounge and year-round rooftop that offers up an inventive menu, high-end surroundings and a view of Manhattan that will have your Instagram on overload. On the dining front, Penthouse offers up a mixed menu of shared plates and entrees perfect for large groups or intimate dining. Fill your table with things like the short rib flatbread, Korean-style chicken wings or tuna and avocado salad. Entrees include mouthwatering fare like Japanese BBQ Salmon, the Samurai Burger (teriyaki bbq sauce, shishito peppers), or Umami Noodle Stir Fry. If you came up just for drinks, hit up the back lounge or patio and order signature cocktails like the Saketini, Wasabi Margarita or the Tsukimi (Four Roses bourbon, Ty Ku sake, apple cider, cinnamon & sugar). Yup, we can get used to the high life.

Menu Highlights:
Short Rib Flatbread, $16
Samurai Burger, $14
Japanese BBQ Salmon, $23
Wasabi Margarita, $13

Hours:
Daily, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Happy Hour:
Mon. - Fri., 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Want a Chef to Cook You Dinner? Click Here

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

You're a pretty good dinner host, and by that we mean you have really great taste in picking up some hot plates from Dean & Deluca and rearranging them on a plate. Luckily KitchenSurfing is now a thing, a site that hosts professional and homegrown culinary aces anxiously waiting to share their cooking with your next dinner party.

Here's how it works: Log onto the site and browse their rolodex of chefs; find someone who has the expertise that fits your needs (farm to table, Korean BBQ, brunch, etc); send a proposal with menu ideas, budget, themes, etc; busy yourself with more important work (like your House of Cards marathon. Intense!). Once you've worked out all the details, your chef will show up at your door and create a culinary wonder.

And because this is more social food experiment and less don't-talk-to-the-staff, your meal is likely to come with an interesting back story by way of your chef's history. While totally left to the discretion of the host, users are encouraged to invite the chefs to actually join them at the table and chat about what they've just prepared. Or join the conversation about how Clare totally sabotaged Francis' Clean Water bill out of spite but it's ok because it appears he's secured himself the Vice Presidency. FOR NOW.

Which ever topic comes up.

What To Do This Weekend, Feb. 28-Mar. 3

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Thursday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m.
Date Night at Jalopy Theater
316 Columbia St., Red Hook

Valentine's shouldn't just be one day a year. Keep the amour alive by hitting up date night at Jalopy Theater with a little dinner and a show, all in the same spot. A ticket here includes a gourmet meal, plus your choice of live performance from Victor V. Gurbo & Co. or blues rocker Luciano Sabba.

Nearby deal: Vern's Kitchen & Pub

Friday, March 1, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Portuguese Red Wine Tasting @ Green Grape
753 Fulton St., Ft. Greene

While they may be famously known for their eponymously named dessert wine, Portugal has a few other tricks up its sleeves. Come taste the magnificence of their red wines by way of Alandra Tinto Rouge and Monte de Cal.

Nearby Deals: Lola BKLYN

Saturday, March 2
Urban Brew Fest
622 Degraw Str., Gowanus

Craft beer has been on the rise all over the country, and now it has its own festival to celebrate its popularity. If you're into the brew, you'll want to hit up this party with more than 50 of the best craft brews and specialty brewers all under one roof. There are two sessions, and a VIP will give you an extra hour with the beer and brewers before the general masses arrive.

Nearby Deals: Backyard Restaurant

Sunday, March 3, 11 a.m.
Collect-i-Bowl Record Show
Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg

We know there's more than one aspiring DJ in this town, so you'll want to get to this bash of all thing vinyl a little early. Dig through crate after crate of epic record collections during this show featuring some collections that have never been seen in the tri-state area. All vendors have been hand-picked for their collections, and feature Jazz, Blues, Soul, Bubblegum, Ska, Punk and more.

Nearby Deals: Cantina Royal

Smoke 'Em If You've Charged 'Em: A Rant on Electronic Cigarettes

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

by Raef Harrison

Dear Smokers of NYC,

Your cigarettes are now electronic. You can smoke indoors again without grossing everyone out. ~~Mayor Bloomberg~~ Don Draper would be proud.

And while initially I was skeptical about these electronic cancer sticks as I began to see them pop up at bars (and... offices) across the city, confused as to what they actually were (a quitting aide? a toy? Why is Katherine Heigl hawking them on TV?), once I had a little time to process and research, I actually think I'm on board.

Why, as a mostly non-smoker (a seemingly small group in this city), am I down with this concept? Well, a few reasons:

I will hopefully no longer be left at the bar while everyone "pops out for smoke, just really quick," forcing me to drink alone, awkwardly dance solo or pretend to text someone while waiting for everyone to get back.
I'm hoping it means that soon I'll be able to walk down the street and not have to Matrix myself around wayward puffs of tobacco from the line of NYU undergrads outside of Trader Joe's.
This could potentially rid our city of the blight of the cigarette butt.
Yes, when I inquisitively (drunkenly) ask to take a puff from your cool new contraption some random weekend (it's going to happen, just accept it), I'll briefly and naively believe that this is somehow healthier for me.

Smoking isn't going to go away in our lifetime, billions in lobbying efforts have seen to that. But at least for now, we can all stand at the same bar and talk about it. So, go ahead, puff electronically to your heart's content.

Got an opinion on the electronic smoking phenomenon? Hit us up on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/ScoutmobNYC

50% off Cacio e Pepe

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:55:34 +0000

Scout Notes: You may already be familiar with Cacio e Pepe. The East Village Roman kitchen has been around for a good five plus years and is famous for providing a true Roman experience: Their decor is just like it is in Italy. Their food is what you'd order in Italy. And the wines are definitely all what you'd find in Italy. From your greeting (Bueno sera!) to your dish (made to order, starting with boiling the water), Cacio e Pepe is determined to give you a start-to-finish experience just as if you were getting the real deal. Which, really, you are. Just in a slightly different climate.

They've got plenty on the menu that's not pasta (Eggplant Parmesan Timballo and Sautéed Shrimp with Rosemary and Cannellini Beans are a must), but since all pastas are house-made, it'd be silly not to order a Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe (served out of a giant wheel of Pecorino!). But, like in Italy, all dishes are made to order from start to finish, so don't be surprised if you have to wait 15 minutes for your Bucatini all'Amatricana in tomato sauce with pancetta-like pork jowl (very typical of Rome). Just look at it as additional drinking time.

Menu Highlights:
Eggplant Parmesan Timballo, $12.95
Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe, $16.95
Bucatini all'Amatricana, $17.95
Chicken Breast stuffed wi Prosciutto and Fontina cheese $23.95

Hours:
Mon. – Thurs., 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Fri. & Sat., 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Sun., 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

A Guide to NYC's International Spas

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Everyone loves a spa day. And with the proliferation of cheap joints that give great massages, it's relatively easy to sneak out on your lunch hour for a quick mani/pedi or back massage. But going for a full-blown day of spa-ing—like everything else in this city—can be pricey and exclusive.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Give up the Molton Brown products and cucumber water just this once and go for less of the pampering and more of the actual detoxing at these real-deal spas that follow the traditions of other countries in the world.

RUSSIAN & TURKISH BATHS
268 East 10th Street, East Village
This bare bones bath house has everything you need to sweat it all out (face-melting steam rooms, a genital-shrinking ice cold plunge pool, an aromatherapy room, random celebs) and nothing you don't (Muzak, fancy juice cleanses).

MERMAID SPA
3701-3709 Mermaid Avenue, Sea Gate, Brooklyn
A larger version of the East Village outpost, this Russian spa offers three Russian steam rooms, a scorching dry sauna, a Turkish bath, a circular Jacuzzi inside a lodge-like wooden hall, and two tile pools that are machine-fed with chopped ice. Mermaids love a tile pool full of chopped ice.

SPA CASTLE
131-10 11th Avenue, College Point, Queens
Every New Yorker has at least heard of Spa Castle, the Korean multi-level palace of pampering way out in Queens where you think you're going just for the afternoon and end up still there a week later. It's just that big and involved. And with three floors of saunas, plunge pools, massage rooms and outdoor facilities, it's totally worth

AIRE ANCIENT BATHS
88 Franklin Street, near Church Street, TriBeCa
Back up on the higher end of the scale (it's in TriBeCa after all), this place offers 90-minute sessions for $75, where you can wonder freely between their various heated pools, steam rooms and propeller jet bath, or just hang out on heated marble seating and relax.

50% off Tangled Vine

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Wine People: traditionally aloof, intimidating and hard to relate to when trying to ask for adivce about wine. Which is why we were so happy to sit down at the bar at Tangled Vine and have a relaxed yet surprisingly informative conversation regarding the grape juice. We said,\ "Um, white please" and what we got was a delicious Grüner Veltliner that hit the spot. And while the wine list is impressive at this UWS gem, equally as impressive is the menu of shareable small plates and entrees. Think Mediterranean-inspired dishes like Calimari Three Ways (grilled, fried and seared), weekly rotating market crudo, Montaditos (the Spanish version of sliders) and ricotta & veal meatballs all expertly crafted by up-and-coming chef Brandon Robinson (formerly of Northern Spy). The decidedly relaxed, unpretentious vibe to the whole place owes largely to the fact that it was opened not by wine professionals, just a wine lover who decided to get out of the real estate business and share his passion. Come in on a Tuesday and enjoy live music by a couple of jazz players who've decided to call this place home, or stop by for an after work snack at the bar with one of the best Happy Hours one the UWS and just enjoy a normal conversation with their abnormally approachable Beverage Director Zoe, who's always willing to talk about her favorite "juice."

Menu Highlights:
Montaditos, $22 for 3
Veal Meatballs, $16 for 3
Market Crudo, $14

Hours:
Mon. - Tues., 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Wed. - Thurs., 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Fri. & Sat., 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Sun., 3 p.m. to 12 a.m.

50% off Cu 29 Copper

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Scout Notes: There are a ton of fusion restaurants in this city. Latin-Caribbean, Italian-French, Pan Asian. The two-cuisine menu is everywhere. But combining the influence of three cuisines on the same plate? Well, that could just get confusing. Yet, that's exactly what they've done at this Italian-Latin-American Brick Oven restaurant sitting conveniently at on the north side of McCarren Park. Named for the element on the Periodic Table, this copper hued joint is serving up a little bit of something for everyone.

The giant wood-burning oven that sits at the very front of the dining room churns out some of the freshest pizzas in the 'hood, including The Grinch (baby Brussels sprout leaves, mozzarella cheese, pecorino, bacon and garlic), the Italian Stallion (Pepperoni, spicy sopressata, sweet & hot sausage, ham, mozzarella) or the Cu Siganture (Pepperoni, sweet sausage, mushrooms, red onions, black olives, sweet and hot peppers, mozzarella). They also serve up a mean Brick Oven Quessadilla with chicken, steak or shrimp, and an Arepa made with sweet corn cake that is mouth watering. You can stay on the healthy side with their fantastic Quinoa Salad with tomato, cucumber, red onion, mango basil vinnegrette. Cu Copper is a great spot for when you can't make up your mind, or a trying to please a big group after a day of sitting in the park discussing cloud formations.

Menu Highlights:
Arepa, $11
The Grinch, $13
Steak Quesadilla, $12

Hours:
Mon-Tue, 4 p.m. - 12 a.m. Wed-Sat, 11a.m. - 12 a.m. Sun, 11 a.m. - 11p.m.

50% off Stamina Grill & Juice Bar

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Scout Notes: The motto "work hard, play hard" seems to be a popular mantra for the people of New York, who come here to find their fame or fortune (or both). But sometimes all that playing hard catches up to you and you just want to start eating a little healthier. Luckily, there are places like Stamina Grill & Juice Bar. A clean, bright little store front right in the heart of downtown's Financial Center, Stamina is the perfect go-to spot for a healthy break from the usual fast food lunch routine. With options like the Bicep Burrito (grilled chicken, brown rice, pico de gallo, black beans, guacamole, low-fat cheese, and hot sauce), Albacore Abs (low-fat tuna salad) or a Power Plate on the menu, you know this place is serious about healthy eating. You can also stop in on your way to work and kick things off right with items like their breakfast burrito (egg whites, turkey bacon, guacamole, low-fat cheese, brown rice and chipotle sauce, wheat tortilla) or a Stamina Omelet (six baked egg whites served with sweet potato). You can also pick from a long list of freshly squeezed and blended juices, shakes and smoothies, like the Stress Reliever (carrots, apple, orange, beets, celery and kale) or the Pure Power Protein Shake (chocolate protein, banana, peanut butter, coconut, flax seed). If another popular mantra is true, and you really are what you eat, then rest assured we'll be coming back to Stamina on a pretty regular basis.

Menu Highlights:
Bicep Burger, $9
Albacore Abs, $7.50
Wild Salmon Avocado Salad, $12.50
Vitamin C Smoothie, $6 for 20oz

Hours:
Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Saturday & Sunday

What To Do This Week, Feb. 25-28

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Monday, Feb. 25, 9 p.m.
Broken Comedy at Matchless
557 Manhattan Ave., Williamsburg

Kick off the week in the back room of Bar Matchless with some of the up-and-coming of the NY comedy world. Hosted by Michael Che, Mike Denny and Nimesh Patel and featuring the comical stylings of Hannibal Buress, Taylor Ketchum and more.

Nearby deal: Osteria il Paiolo

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m..
Vignelli Subway Map: A Story of Birth, Death, and Rebirth
New York Transit Museum, Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street Brooklyn

Ever think a subway map could spark controversy? Of course it can. Check out this lecture with author Peter Lloyd about design, diagrams and subway map that sparked heated debate on the streets but looks great framed on your wall.

Nearby Deals: Dining Room

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m.
Live Music at Clover Club
210 Smith St., Brooklyn

The 1920s-40s where a great era, and are revisited every Wednesday via live music at the Clover Club. A rotating revue of jazz, blues and other musical stylings lead by The Michael Aranella Quartet and featuring a long list of guest performers.

Nearby deal: The Burger Bistro

Thursday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m.
Date Night at Jalopy Theater
316 Columbia St., Red Hook

Valentine's shouldn't just be one day a year. Keep the amour alive by hitting up date night at Jalopy Theater with a little dinner and a show, all in the same spot. A ticket here includes a gourmet meal, plus your choice of live performance from Victor V. Gurbo & Co. or blues rocker Luciano Sabba.

Nearby deal: Vern's Kitchen & Pub

Tonight's Dinner: Dreamt Up by a Chef, Cooked by You

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

There are over 8,000 restaurants in New York City. A fact that if your parents knew, they might stop hassling you about eating out so much (you're just supporting local businesses, right?). Yet every once and a while you get the itch for a nice home-cooked meal. The laid back feeling of staying home, the sense of pride that comes from creating, the feeling of triumph when nothing catches on fire. But, ugh, the prep work.

Luckily Chefday! is now in your life. A new service out of Brooklyn, it's basically Freshdirect but with out all the guess work of how much to order. Chefday! has a growing list of recipes from professional chefs who supply a recipe they personally love/make in their restaurant and you would have paid double for. Choose your dish, how many people you want to feed (two, four or eight), and the Chefday! staff provides all the perfectly measured-out ingredients. Plus, each meal comes with step-by-step directions of how/when to put said ingredients into a pan (if you don't like reading, they even do step-by-step video instructions).

It's a step above pretending to cook, because you're actually still doing the work, just without all the thinking. We recently tried out their recipe for Coconut Curry Fish by chef Jerry Leech of Grotto on the LES. Check out these before-and-after shots.

Brooklyn: Making Libraries Cool Since Thursday

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Libraries. You've been to one before. Maybe back in elementary school? Or the library near your college campus that was actually just a conveniently named bar? Regardless, it's a concept that has lost a little of its cool in the age of e-readers, internet memes and gifs (man, we love a good gif!). But leave it to Brooklyn to bring a little sexy back to the library.

Behold Mellow Pages, a new reading room and library concept housed in a 250 sq. ft. studio in Bushwick, open now for your community building, coffee sipping, artisanal reading pleasure. Started by two friends from Seattle, one a painter-turned-writer the other an MFA grad from Queens College, Mellow Pages is a communal hangout featuring books from small, independent presses typically not featured in larger book stores. They've books come either from their own personal collections or through donations from said small presses.

Image courtesy Joann DeLuna, Bushwick Daily

But don't worry, you won't need to re-learn the Dewey Decimal System in order to find your read. This being Bushwick, the books aren't lining dusty old shelves, but are instead hung on the walls with an artful eye and cataloged on Goodreads. Open to the public, people are welcome to pop in and browse and grab some coffee (and beer in the future), or for a $20 annual membership you'll be allowed to check out a book at a time to take home.

We think Hannah Horvath will definitely approve. Get your read on at 56 Bogart St., Bushwick.

Best Movies in Your Netflix Instant Queue... Starring NYC

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

We have a confession: all this cold weather? We love it. The "will it, won't it" tension every time Bill Evans tells us to expect a little snow? It's how we get our thrills. See, we have a touch of laziness, and who wants to be active when it's sleeting out? Plus, inclement weather is the perfect excuse to finally slog through our ever growing movie queue on Netflix. And, as luck would have it, the 'Flix is a gold mine of great films streaming instantly and starring one of the great actors of our generation: New York City.

Here's just a sneak peek into what's in our queue. If you feel like joining us, be a champ and bring a couple bottles of wine with you, won't you?

Manhattan
One of the most iconic openings to a film ever, Woody Allen's love letter to the borough is kind of a no-brainer.

Bill Cunningham NY
We dare you to not fall in love with this lovable, anachronistic photographer and his love of people, fashion and blue smocks. Plus, he has one of the greatest neighbors in history.

New York, I Love You
About as rom-com as we can get. This montage of couples trying to find (or lose) each other in the city that never sleeps is actually pretty good. Plus, it's fun to call out all of the actual restaurants and bars highlighted in the background.

Coming To America
Hands down one of the greatest comedies of all time. We always imagined this would be how we arrived in NY for the first time.

Muppets Take Manhattan
Just a band of muppets, trying to make their dreams come true on the Great White Way. Story of our lives?

Blue Valentine
If Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling can't find happiness in this crazy city, we're pretty much screwed.

All 4 Seasons of Mad Men
Get ready for the strongest craving for scotch and a cigarette you'll ever have.

What To Do This Weekend, Feb. 21-24

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Thursday, Feb. 21, 8 p.m.
The 14th Annual Mr. Lower East Side Pageant
Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow, LES

It's a special time of year, a time when dudes who haven't seen the inside of a gym in over a decade suddenly want to look buff for the ladies. It's time for the annual Mr. Lower East Side Pageant wherein the women and gay men of the Lower East Side choose one lucky man to rule the area south of Houston and east of Bowery.

Nearby deal: National Underground

Friday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m.
Underwater New York
Bronx River Art Center, 305 E. 140th St #1A, Bronx

Human skulls, a piano, a horse trailer. All these and more have been found in the pristine waterways of NYC. And now there's an art project about it. Underwater New York is a digital journal of writing, art and music inspired by real-life objects found in the riverbeds of New York.

Saturday, Feb. 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
The West, 379 Union Ave., Williamsburg

A cereal bar, shots of Baileys, $3 brunch cocktails, four hours of '90s cartoons. You're waking up early for this.

Nearby Deals: Osteria il Paiolo

Sunday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m.
Murry Hill Oscar Party
Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St., Nolita

The Oscars: Anne Hathaway will probably be annoying, Seth MacFarlane will probably be awkward, and the show will probably run forever. Luckily you're going to downtown's premier Oscar party at Joe's Pub hosted by Murry Hill. There will be Oscar Ballots, Trivia, and Audience Best & Worst Dressed Awards, plus prizes and giveaways! Get your red carpet looks ready.

Nearby Deals: Pomodoro Ristorante

50% off The View Lounge

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Scout Notes: This city has probably one of the most iconic cityscapes in the country. People come from all over the world to marvel at it. The problem is you can really only see it from the ground up or from way off in the distance. What if there was a way to actually BE in it? Well, just take the express elevator up 48 floors to The View Lounge and that's exactly where you'll be enjoying your next cocktail. The View Lounge, atop the Marriott Marquis hotel, is also New York's only rotating lounge, making a full 360 degree turn every hour. So not only will you be having drinks among the city's tallest buildings, you'll be getting an ever changing view with minimal effort.

About those cocktails you'll be sipping: try their signature 'tails like The View Fizz (vodka, mango puree, mango schnapps, sparkling wine) or Top of the View (Bacardi Superior, Malibu rum, Guava fruit juce); or enjoy their full bar of tippling standards. To fortify your drinking, they're making the buffet cool again, including a full dessert buffet complete with chocolate fountain and dipping accessories (strawberries, marshmallows, grapes), an assortment of fine cheeses, and other bite sized treats. The View Lounge is a perfect spot for pre or post theatre drinks, for impressing that special someone, or if you really just need to get above it all.

Menu Highlights:
Full Buffet, $37
Dessert buffet only, $19
Seasonal & Signature cocktails, $14-$19
Selection of bottled beers, $7.50-$8

Hours:
Mon., Tues. & Thurs., 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Wed., 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Fri., 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Sat., 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

A Bloody Mary Guide to Brunching

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Brunch: a New York tradition we all hold near and dear to our hearts and stomachs. And while it's a pretty standard recipe that makes a brunch successful (eggs, bacon, hangovers), there are a few key ingredients that can either make or break your experience. One ingredient: The Bloody Mary. Because let's be honest, the food is only half the reason you rolled out of bed this morning.

We've broken down where you'll be brunching this weekend based on how you like your tomato juice and vodka.

If you like your Bloody Mary to just keep coming:
If you view brunch more as a continuation of last night's party, and therefor never want to actually see the bottom of your Bloody Mary glass head to Essex on the Lower East Side or The Sunburnt Calf in Prospect Heights.

If you like your Bloody Mary to put a little hair on your chest:
The classic Bloody Mary at The Clover Club in Cobble Hill is just that: a traditional take on the drink with a nice kick.

If you like your Bloody Mary to come with loads of options:
The wait at Prune, on the border of the East Village, might be mighty, but once inside you're treated to an entire menu column dedicated to bloody marys. Our favorite is the Chicago Matchbox, with pickled Brussels sprouts, caper berries, white turnips, green beans and radishes.

If you like your Bloody Mary to come without vodka:
Head to the Chelsea outpost of Westville, where they skirt their lack of a liquor license by making their Bloody Marys with Sake (it's smoother, slightly sweeter experience). Tequila is perhaps the next best alternative to vodka, and James in Prospect Heights puts up a fine option, using a jalapeño-infused tequila and garnishing with three or more pickles, like celery, carrot, radish, asparagus, kohlrabi, garlic and shallots.

If you like your Bloody Mary to cost a week's salary:
It might seem a little outrageous to have your drink cost just as much, if not more, than you're entire meal, but at the King Cole Bar in the St. Regis Hotel, your $18 Bloody Mary will at least come with a little backstory: the bar lays claim that this is where the drink was first created, when it was introduced in 1934 by bartender Fernand Petiot, who referred to his concoction as the “Red Snapper.” Whether it's true or not, the recipe at least has enough vodka in it to keep you buzzing about it for a while.

What To Do This Week, Feb. 18-21

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Monday, Feb. 18, 9 p.m.
Dre Day NYC: Celebrating 20 Years of The Chronic
285 Kent, Brooklyn

A birthday party you'll actually want to attend. It's Dr. Dre's birthday and what better way to honor the man than celebrating 20 years of The Chronic. Expect some massive beats and a free Bulldog Gin (and juice) open bar from 9 to 10 p.m.

Nearby deal: Osteria il Paiolo

Tuesday, Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m..
UG! Comedy Show
No Fun Bar, 161 Ludlow, LES

Featuring both established comic veterans you've seen on TV to the up and comers, UG guarantees a riotous (and free) good time. Come for the comedy or come for the drink specials. Just come and have fun.

Nearby Deals: Empanada Mama

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m.
Camp Cabaret
Housing Works, 126 Crosby St, SoHo

Spring St. Social Society, a clandestine, downtown New York series of gatherings, is throwing a cabaret and you're invited. It's an evening of stories, music, comédie acrobatique and all manner of vaudevillian amusement. BYO speakeasy drinks.

Nearby deal: Pinche Taqueria

Thursday, Feb. 21, 8 p.m.
The 14th Annual Mr. Lower East Side Pageant
Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow, LES

It's a special time of year, a time when dudes who haven't seen the inside of a gym in over a decade suddenly want to look buff for the ladies. It's time for the annual Mr. Lower East Side Pageant wherein the women and gay men of the Lower East Side choose one lucky man to rule the area south of Houston and east of Bowery.

Nearby deal: National Underground

Celebrity Restaurant Fail: Remember These "Hot" Spots?

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Celebrities, they're just like us! In that, not everything they do is successful. While many a celeb has thrown their weight and/or money behind a number of successful restaurants in this city, there have been just as many big names who haven't been as lucky.

In order to make ourselves feel a little bit better, let's revel in some of the flops that famous people have tried to push onto the New York restaurant scene, shall we?

Nyla (Britney Spears)
With a name supposedly derived from the combination of postal abbreviations for New York and Louisiana (red flag?), pop princess Britney Spears was all over the opening of this cajun restaurant in the Dylan Hotel... for about 6 months.

Fashion Cafe (Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer, Elle MacPhearson and Naomi Campbell)
Remember the Fashion Cafe?! Founded on the idea that sex appeal and food go hand in hand? Where it was supposedly going to be fun to be served by skinny people in tight clothes? The New York Times food critic Ruth Reichl was said to find the food actually decent, but the buzz around the place quickly waned and it closed after a few years. And, surprise to no one, there were legal troubles involving Naomi Campbell.

Irving Mill (Jill Henessy, Benjamin Bratt)
Now a Brother Jimmy's location, this resto, which Jilly Henessy and Benjamin Bratt had stakes in, actually had a little critical acclaim. New York mag was into its burger, and legendary food critic Gael Greene even gave it the thumbs up. But even praise does shield a place from inner turmoil. Among chef changes and slanderous lawsuits, Irving Mill eventually fell by the wayside.

Alaia (Billy and Willy Baldwin)
What do you get when you have two of a the four Baldwin brothers as part of the team of your new restaurant? Not a successful restaurant apparently. Alaia (named for Stephen's daughter) opened in 1999 on 5th Ave and 13th St., quickly rebranded to a sleek lounge named Luahn, then to something called Society 5. When Stephen ended his involvement with the place it quickly shuttered.

And in a nod to a future failed restaurant, rumors are swirling that Lindsey Lohan is looking to get into the NYC resto business after being spotted on the premises of a new "high-end Mexican" restaurant in coming up in Tribeca. Maybe she'll ask neighbor DeNiro for some solid business advice. But we're pretty sure she won't.