Strange Tours Tips

Dining Recommendations for the week of June 9, 2008

2008-06-09T07:39:00.001-07:00

It's summer and it's hot as you know where.

What do you want? Salad? Lots and lots of salad?

How about Just Salad? They have three location s, more salad options than you can imagine, and the place is cheap.

I mean, the heat is a killer, and you certainly do not want to be loading up on pizza and hot soup. Or maybe you do, but if you want something light, and made to order, check out Just Salad.

New York Tips for the week of June 9, 2008

2008-06-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

There are a number of events in NYC this weekend!
If you are a jazz lover, I recommend Cassandra Wilson at the Blue Note. The Blue Note is an old school jazz establishment here in NYC. Great place for chill jazz, cool drinks and a fun West Village experience.

As for the weekend, the weather should be less brutal. The Sports Museum of America has a Children's Da y on Saturday. Battery Park is having a catch-and-release fishing day.
Central Park is slammin' with a gospel concert on Friday night and a Latin Music concert on Sunday afternoon. Both of those events are free.

Street Fairs for the weekend:
Friday June 13th
Financial Community Day Festival Series
(on Maiden Lane from Water - South Street)

Saturday June 14th
2nd Avenue Summer Fair
(on 2nd Avenue from 23rd - 34th Street)

Sunday June 15th
International Cultures Festival
(on 6th Avenue from 42nd - 56th Street)

Dining Recommendations for the week of June 2, 2008

2008-06-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ah noodles. Noodles of every ilk. Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese...the place for noodles is in Union Square: Republic.

The space is a great, fun industrial space. The one con: when it gets busy you can barely hear yourself think.

Nonetheless, they have any kind of noodles, great appetizers, and it won't break the bank.

Take the 4,5,6 or N,Q,R,W to Union Square.

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New York Tips for the week of June 2, 2008

2008-06-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Well there are a bunch of things happening this week! First of all, the River to River Festival begins this week. Check out the link.

Let's highlight some other fun happenings!

The summer begins the opening of the MET roof garden and martini bar. The roof garden overlooks Central Park and is open until 9pm. It is really lovely.
The artist featured this summer is Jeff Koons. Hop on over and check it out!

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This weekends Street Fairs:
Friday June 6^th
Tribeca Community Fair
(on Murray St. from Broadway - Church Street)
Saturday June 7^th
Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood - 2^nd Avenue Fair
(on Second Avenue from 14^th - 23^rd Street)
Sunday June 8^th
N.Y.C. Expo
(on 3^rd Avenue from 23^rd - 34^th Street)

Dining Recommendations for the week of May 19, 2008

2008-05-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

This one may be a little tough to get to, but if you make it, it will be worth your while.

It should come as no surprise that the best Chinese food is in Chinatown. What should also not come as a shock is that almost any place right of Canal St is going to be overpriced and mediocre at best. The only way to combat this is to travel deeper into Chinatown, into the part of Chinatown that is NOT so touristy, that is a true immigrant enclave, and eat there.

Let me introduce you to the best Dim Sum and Chinese dumplings ever. Nice Green Bo, on Bayard between Mott and Elizabeth, has no atmosphere, sometimes long waits, and impatient and rude waiters. But who cares? The food is incredible. And, no, they do NOT serve eggrolls.

Here is what you order:
Soup dumplings (aka steamed crab meat and pork tiny buns)
Steamed pork dumplings
Scallion Pancakes

If you order nothing else, order the soup dumplings. TRULY amazing. Here is a review.
Check out the map and subway directions below.

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Your best bet is to take the 6 or N, Q, R, W trains to Canal Street and then, well, just get out your map. But the walk and search will be well worth it.

New York Tips for the week of May 26, 2008

2008-05-27T08:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I did, admittedly, skip Memorial Day. The weather was so beautiful, I had to go out in it!

The Telectroscope is at Fulton Ferry Landing in Brooklyn. It is a large, Victorian-era looking device that connects New Yorkers with Londoners. If you look inside of it, you can see a live video feed to London. It is quite clever and a lot of fun. The New York Times wrote a great little article about it. You can find the map below:

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To get there, take either the A/C lines to High St or the 2/3 lines to Clark St.

The street fairs for the weekend can be found:
Saturday - on Lexington Ave from 42nd to 57th
Sunday - on Second Ave from 23rd to 34th

Also this week is the World Science Festival, happening all over New York City. There are great multi-media events, things for families to see, street fairs, the "Science of Disney Imagineering" and more! The events are mostly occurring at NYU, but also at other Universities in the city. Check out the website.

Brooklyn Bridge

2008-05-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe I failed to mention that this upcoming weekend is the 125th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge. If you would like to attend an event or two, all information can be found at this website:
http://nycvisit.com/bb125/

Dining Recommendations for the week of May 19, 2008

2008-05-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

I would like to alert you to two of my favorite places in New York. Both are easily accessible from midtown.

The first is the Westway Diner. The Westway has been a Hells Kitchen staple for many years and is a great place for a cheap, stick to your ribs breakfast. It is cheaper and better than the other tourist traps in the area.

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The second is a little place called Meskerem. It is an Ethiopian Restaurant also in Hell's Kitchen. Ethiopian food is not dissimilar from Indian, but more savory, in my opinion. You do eat with your hands using a bread called Injiera, but you can request a fork and knife as well. The food is inexpensive and very filling.

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Happy dining!!

New York Tips for the week of May 19, 2008

2008-05-20T13:08:00.001-07:00

This week begins New York Fleet Week.

http://www.cnrma.navy.mil/fleetweek/index.htm

There are a ton of great events, but beware of the crowds. The week will kick off on Wednesday with a spectacular parade of ships along the Hudson. Walk over to the west side of Manhattan at any point from the base up to the George Washington Bridge! It will be great fun! Also, the weather looks a little warmer, although not less rainy.

In addition, there is a section of the Berlin Wall on display at 53rd St between 5th Ave and Madison Ave.

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Make an effort to check it out!