Sunny day that the South Street Sea Port

Visiting the South Street Sea Port is one of the best ways to spend a relaxing, warm, sunny day in NYC. There are some great restaurants featuring mouthwatering seafood. There are boutiques and shops, the South Street Sea Port Museum, some very entertaining street performers, the Bodies exhibit and one of the best bookstores in the city, The Strand.

My BF and I choose an Italian restaurant with outdoor seating called Il Porto. Situated on Fulton Street, it was the perfect vantage point for watching the tourists and locals alike as they strolled down the promenade. We were also able to appreciate the colonial architecture that surrounded us. The restaurant itself however left something to be desired. The warm weather crowds overwhelmed the staff of Il Porto. After being seated we were presented with a basket of bread that was burned black and was simply inedible. We waited nearly 30 minutes before our waitress was able to come to our table. The entrees were very good, but over priced. (Although it is interesting to note that the closer to the water’s edge, the more expensive the food becomes.) The final issue was that there was only one functioning stall in the lady’s room, which translated into a half-hour wait to use the facilities. We found ourselves wishing we had opted for the upscale street food; hotdogs or fish-and-chips that were available on the pier or lunching at Carmine’s Italian Seafood restaurant (one of our favorites) just North of Fulton Street.

After lunch, we sauntered over to the pier, grabbed a mocha frappicino from Seattle’s Best Coffee and took in the street performers – a dance troupe and a magician. Then we drifted through the shops and stores at the mall followed by wandering through the neighborhood and checking out the pubs and restaurants that are not along the main fairway. To top off the afternoon, we visited The Strand, browsed through the new and used books and made a few purchases.

Good food, good companionship and a beautiful day, who could ask for more?

Insider Tips:

• If you haven’t seen the Bodies exhibit, I would recommend it. It is fascinating and educational. However some people may find it disturbing.
• The views from the restaurants on the pier are great and the food is tasty, but you might want to check out the other options in the area.
• Leave yourself some time to browse through The Strand. They offer $1.00 used books plus an incredible selection of new books as well.
• Give yourself a few hours and take your time. An afternoon at the pier is all about chilling out.
• Bring sunglasses.

Let's all go to the movies

This last weekend, my BF and I spent a casual afternoon at the movies. I know you can go to the movies in any U.S. town and at the NYC price of $12 per ticket; you might want to wait until you get back home and enjoy your local cinema. However like everything else in the Big Apple, going to the movies can be an experience.

The Ziegfeld Theatre
Originally build 1927 as a vaudeville show house, the Ziegfeld has been a part of American entertainment culture from the beginning. From 1955-1963 NBC used it as a television studio broadcasting the Perry Como Show and the Emmy Awards. It had a short 3 year run as a Broadway theatre but the building was razed in 1966 to make way for a skyscraper.

The current establishment was rebuilt just down the block from the original location in 1969. The Ziegfeld is unlike any other movie house in the city because of the grandeur of the décor that harkens back to the glamour days of the silver screen with read carpet and gold trim. The photos in the lobby and stairwell document the history of the Ziegfeld Theatre and feature the famous actors and celebrities that have appeared or performed there.

Now, before you start thinking it is all about nostalgia let me assure you that the theatre is awesome. It is the largest single-screen movie house in the city with a 52 foot screen and 1,131 seats. It is the spot for movie premieres and is, in my opinion, the best place to see big films like Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean or Iron Man.
141 West 54th Street

212-765-7600
Info about the Zeigfeld


IMAX
If you like big screens, then you may want to catch an IMAX flick. Short for Image Maximum, IMAX is able to display images in a greater size and resolution than conventional film systems. A standard IMAX screen is 72.6 feet wide by 52.8 feet high. There are several IMAX theatres in the greater metropolitan area including:

AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX 1998 Broadway (between 67th & 68th Streets)
(212)50L-OEWS 638
http://www.amctheatres.com/

The American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
(212) 769-5650
http://www.amnh.org/

American Theater
1450 East Ave, Bronx
(718) 863-4900

http://www.bowtiecinemas.com/american-theater.html

And if you are up for a little drive you could visit the biggest "IMAX Dome" in the world at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey.

http://www.lsc.org/


Movies in Bryant Park
This is one of my favorite summertime activities. Each year Bryant Park, along with some big corporate sponsors host movie nights in the park. You can bring a blanket and picnic, meet friends and enjoy a classic film and the warm summer night. This year 'wichcraft sandwiches are taking onsite orders which will then be delivered directly to your blanket. The lawn opens at 5:00pm for blankets (no plastic tarps allowed) and picnicking. The films begin at dusk (typically between 8pm and 9pm).

The park is located between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
http://www.bryantpark.org/calendar/film-festival.php

Independent/Classic/Art Films
If you are interested in films that are outside the mainstream, then New York is your kind of town. Small or obscure films that might not get screen-time anywhere else can usually find an audience here. There are several theatres that are dedicated to foreign, independent and/or art films. You can also find documentaries, classics and little known gems.

Film Forum

Film Forum is a not-for-profit cinema founded in 1970 with a "$2000 investment, a tiny 16mm Bell & Howell projector and a rented loft space on West 88th Street." It is currently housed in a hip 3-screen venue on West Houston. All of the screens are rather small and the seats are not the most comfortable, but the fare is worth the discomfort.
209 West Houston Street (west of 6th Avenue)

212-727-8110

http://www.filmforum.org/

IFC
Housed in the recently renovated Waverly Theater, IFC offers new independent, foreign, cult classics and documentary features. The theatres are state-of-the-art including High-Def digital and 35mm projection and cooshy seats. They also screen short films before every feature. While there you should spend some time perusing the Posteritati Gallery and the vintage movie posters from all over the world.
323 Sixth Avenue (at West 3rd Street)
212.924.7771
http://www.ifccenter.com/

Angelika Film Center

A few blocks East of Film Forum is another popular art film house, the Angelika Film Center. It has 6 screening rooms and like its sister cinema each screen is rather small. You also have the added bonus of the vibrating seats as the nearby subway trains roll past.

18 West Houston Street (at Mercer)

212-995-2000

http://www.angelikafilmcenter.com/

BAM Rose Cinema
BAM presents first-run independent, classic American and foreign films and documentaries. They have many programs that also include Q&As with filmmakers, actors and screen writers. Through their BAMcinématek series, they also host retrospectives, festivals, premieres and rare screenings with special guest appearances.
30 Lafayette Avenue between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street, Brooklyn.
(718) 636-4157
http://www.bam.org/events/film.aspx?sDate=5/13/2008&sRange=Week&sEvent=Film

Other popular movie houses
There are movie houses in most neighborhoods throughout the 5 boroughs. Here are some of my favorites.

The AMC Empire 25 and the Regal E-Walk 13 are located on 42nd Street directly across from one another. So let's say that your show is sold out, well just walk across the street and see what's showing there.

AMC Empire 25
234 West 42nd Street
(212) 398-3939

Regal E-Walk 13
247 W. 42nd Street
(800) 326-3264

AMC Loews 34th Street 14

312 W. 34th Street

(212) 244-8850

Regal Union Square Stadium 14

850 Broadway

(212) 253-6266

Here are some resources for finding show times and theatres near you:

NYC.com Guide to New York Movie Theaters
A great list of theatres in NYC.
www.nyc.com/movies

Wild about movies
This site offers discounts on movie tickets and concessions
www.wildaboutmovies.com/amc_loews_discount_movie_tickets/index.html

Fandango
Provides show times, theatre information and sells tickets for AMC theatres.
1-800-fandango
http://www.fandango.com/

Moviefone
Provides show times, theatre information and sells tickets for AMC theatres.
http://movies.aol.com/

Insider Tips:

• When going to Bryant Park, arrive early; the best spots get taken quickly.


• Order/pick up tickets early for Film Forum and the Angelica especially on weekends.


• Check for discount coupons and special events before hand you could save a bundle.

Walk it out

If you really want to become familiar with New York City and dazzle your friends with shocking facts, intimate knowledge or esoteric information about of some of the big apple's most notorious events, infamous characters or remarkable structures, then I would suggest taking a walking tour.

Maybe you are interested in seeing how the other half live and marveling at their posh residences and swanky hangouts. Maybe visiting the various outdoor art installations about the city is more your speed - discovering little known frescos or world famous sculptures. Or maybe you are more interested in seeing the locales associated with some of the most legendary scandals. Whatever you're into, there is a walking tour for you.

If, for instance you were to take a walking tour of Greenwich Village, you might learn how the Dutch settlers' agricultural habits in the 1600's influenced the curvy and meandering city blocks we know today. You might learn how an outbreak of yellow fever led to the construction of the colonial rowhouses or how the close quarters of Italian, Irish and German immigrants in combination with the establishment of NYU led to the bohemian atmosphere that the Village is famous for.

Are you really interested in structural design? If so then there are tours that explore the myriad of architectural styles here in NYC including: Romanesque, Classical, Baroque, Queen Ann, Gothic, Renaissance, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modern and Post Modern architecture. All of which can be seen in walking tours of different neighborhoods. There is a great tour of the Brooklyn Bridge that reveals how Emily Roebling, the world's first female engineer, and her family built the engineering marvel. There are even tours about the gargoyles in the city.

Speaking of gargoyles, perhaps you have a penchant for the macabre side of the city. If so, you might be interested in hearing of Nellie Bly's experiences as she went undercover as an inmate of the Bellevue Lunatic Asylum in the 1880's or the ghost stories and reported haunted places that influenced the writing of Edgar Allen Poe or Washington Irving. If you like that you would undoubtedly enjoy following in Harry Houdini's footsteps to see where his spiritualist investigations took him.

I joined an event this last week presented by The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation that revealed the theatrical influence of some of the Village's more noteworthy characters of the 1950's and 1960's. It was truly captivating to learn how some of these individuals got their start and how they were influenced by their cultural background and the neighborhoods in which they resided. It provided an entirely new perspective to a subject I was already quite interested in.

There are walking tours for any interest whether it is a literary walking tour that includes visiting some of the writers' favorite wateringholes or Broadway tours that share the secrets of the Great White Way or ethnic tours that explore the contributions of different ethnicities and how they have impacted the culture of New York City.

Walking tours are good exercise and a fun group or family activity. They are a great way to really get to know the city and you usually have a knowledgeable and friendly guide who can answer questions and who has insight into some of the more fascinating aspects of the city.

Here are some great sites to help you find the walking tour that's right for you.

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
http://www.gvshp.org/

New York City Talks & Walks
http://www.newyorktalksandwalks.com/

Big Onion Walking Tours
http://www.bigonion.com/

New York City Cultural Walking Tours
http://www.nycwalk.com/


Insider Tips:

• Ask questions in advance: How long is the tour? How much walking in required (distance)? Is it all outdoors or are you visiting establishments as well?
• Find the tour that is right for you. There is a tour for practically every interest. Don't go on a tour of warehouses of the 1700's when what you really want to see are battlements of the Revolutionary War.
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Bring a bottle of water

New York Style Pizza

I love pizza and I am not alone. It is reported that Americans spent over $34 Billion dollars on pizza last year. It is not surprising that New York City had the honor of introducing pizza to the United States. In 1897 Italian immigrant, Gennaro Lombardi opened a grocery on Spring Street in Little Italy. He sold a "tomato pie" by the slice to the poor local workers for lunch. The lunch special was so popular that in 1905, Lombardi’s Pizzeria was established and became the first pizzeria in America. The blue collar origins of this quick, easy and inexpensive meal helped create what is known today as New York Style Pizza; large slices of thin crust pizza that can be folded in half and eaten while on the run.

Lombardi's closed its doors in 1984, but was reopened a decade later by Gennaro's grandson. The current establishment stands only 1 block from the original location and continues the family tradition by creating Gennaro's original pizzas along with some new options.

While there is no dispute that Lombardi's is the country's first pizzeria, apparently there are some who believe that Lombardi's employee, Pero Totonno was actually the mastermind behind the "tomato pie" and was in fact New York's first master pizziola. In 1924 Totonno opened his own pizzeria in Coney Island which now has the distinction of being the "oldest continuously operating pizzeria in the U.S. run by the same family." Totonno's currently has several locations and is renown through out the city for having some of the best and freshest pizza in town.

Of course I have my favorite spots such as John's Pizzeria. When John Sasso first established his pizzeria in 1929, he knew that while the food had to be delicious it was the ambiance that makes the experience. Both of his current locations stay true to this belief by featuring some extraordinary architectural elements. When the original John's (located on Sullivan Street) lost it's lease, Sasso dismantled the entire restaurant and had it reinstalled at the new location on Bleeker Street. "The original booths, neon sign, tin ceilings, and black and white checkered floor create an atmosphere reminiscent of days gone by." While it is enchanting to enjoy the original décor, it is a true delight to receive a piping hot pizza fresh from the 79 year old brick oven, which was rebuilt brick-by-brick. And if you enjoy that, you will love the 44th Street location. Housed in what was once the Gospel Tabernacle Church (build in 1888) the establishment still features an amazing five-story stained glass cupola and is known as the largest pizzeria in the country.

Other favorite pies include Two Boots Pizza, Arturo's and Number 28 Pizza from Naples.

Of course there are still national chains like Papa John's and Domino's and there are more local chains like Ray's Pizza and Famiglia, but every neighborhood in NYC has a corner pizzeria. They are as much a part of the culture as the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. And while I enjoy Chicago style pizza and California style pizza, there is nothing as satisfying as a big slice of New York style pizza.

Insider Tips:

• Forget the diet and indulge.


• Skip the national chains and try the corner pizzeria.


• John's on 44th is very busy right before theatre time. Plan to go early or after 8:30pm.


• Have some fun and try new toppings.

Leisure Time

While New York City is the place to go for high art, elegant gatherings and sophisticate food, sometimes you just want to let your hair down, hang out with friends and go bowling.

Leisure Time Lanes at Port Authority was the perfect spot for me and some of my friends to knock back a few brews and knock down a few pins. Now let’s be honest, there is no threat of anyone from my crew becoming a professional bowler. (Our scores ranged from 49 to 106). We weren’t there to win; we were there for the camaraderie, the sport and the drinks. And we had our fill of all three.

Along with the usual bar fare, the bartenders at Leisure Time also create original concoctions using the fruit-infused vodka that is made there at the bar. Their menu includes party favorites like nachos, chips & dip and fruit & cheese trays. There is a nightclub atmosphere at the lanes especially after 6pm when the lights are turned down that the music is turned up. There is even a bouncer at the door.

During the day however, the alley is more family oriented hosting birthday parties, providing group rates and equipping their lanes with gutter bumpers to help out the novices among us.

Rates
Monday - Friday before 5pm $6.50 per game
Monday - Friday 5pm - 9pm $9.50 per game
All other times $9.50 per game

Shoe rental is $5.00

There are party packages, night owl specials and a 20% discount for making reservations online. Check out their website for other discounts and specials.

Leisure Time is very conveniently located on 42nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues on the 2nd floor of the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Bowling is an excellent way to spend a casual and relaxing afternoon. There are several bowling allies in NYC where locals meet to play the lanes.

Check out these websites:

Bowlmor Lanes
110 University Place
New York, NY 10003
Tel: (212) 255-8188

AMF Chelsea Piers Bowl
Pier 59/ 18th Street at Hudson River
Tel: (212) 835-2695

The Gutter in Brooklyn
200 North 14th Street
Tel: (718) 387-3585


Insider Tips:

• If you are on a schedule, make reservations in advance. Especially on the weekends, the lanes can become busy.


• Wear a good pair of socks.


• Go with a group. Bowling is so much more fun when you can enjoy it with others.

Way off the beaten path

One block from the Jefferson stop on the L Train in the middle of Brooklyn, is a very obscure underground theatre called the Bushwick Starr. It is so obscure in fact that if you didn't know it was there, you wouldn't know it was there. This loft/theatre space was the setting for an extraordinary evening entitled March Madness Mealtime presented by Conni's Avant-Garde Restaurant.

If the term "avant-garde" scares you then you should definitely stay far away from Miss Conni and the cavalcade of eccentric characters that make up this "environmental dinner party." If you are brave and adventurous however, you will not be disappointed.

This modern macabre vaudevillian variety show is expertly performed by the fearless cast. With each installment the ensemble creates a new show based on a timely theme. The evening I attended was inspired by "March Madness" and explored the gray area between genius and insanity.

The evening includes a 5 course meal that begins with drinks and hors d'oeuvres while you mingle with your fellow audience members and your hosts. Each course is accompanied by an act; sometimes a scene, sometimes a song, a dance number or a dumb show. The meal is by no means gourmet cuisine, but it is filling and tasty. The vegetables in particular are quite good. Of course there is also alcohol which only enhances your enjoyment of the performance. Donations are encouraged for mixed drinks, but table wine is liberally poured and prescriptions for "gin-termission" were happily written by a wily doctor who wasn't wearing pants.

You will be surprised when the last bows are taken and you look down at your watch to realize that you have been there for nearly 4 hours. While the entertainment was sometimes dark and devious it was always performed with a sense of humor and a joyous spirit that will leave you engaged and invigorated.

Each table seats 8 to 10 guests. Somewhere between the green beans, the ballet and the second round of drinks, all the people at my table got to chatting. We introduced ourselves, laughed, discussed the show and afterwards continued our revelry by meeting for drinks at a neighborhood bar.

While they serve up both dinner and theatre, the performers make it very clear that this is not dinner theatre. House rules such as, "there is absolutely no ordering, but you may ask for seconds" and "referring to the performers as 'waiters' is insulting, don't do it" emphasize this point.

The $40 admission fee is well worth the experience that Miss Conni Convergence offers. The next restaurant is scheduled for May 2nd and 3rd. For updates and reservation information check out their website at www.avantgarderestaurant.com.

Insider Tips:

• Reserve your seats online in advance. Space is limited and the show sells out.


• Bring extra cash for mixed drinks.


• The show starts at 7pm and goes until 11pm. Be aware of your late-night travel options.

The Mother of Silly Hat Days

New Yorkers like to wear silly hats. It's true. We'll use any excuse to create and wear an absolutely absurdly gaudy headpiece; Halloween, New Years, St. Patrick's Day…. But the mother of all silly hat days has got to be Easter. If you were to stroll down 5th Avenue between 10am and 4pm on Easter Sunday, you would get an eyeful of the silliest bonnets ever created. And it's not just humans. Dogs, cats, birds, snakes and even a pig don incredibly ridiculous hats in a rainbow of pastel colors.

It may be the anticipation of the return of the warm weather, but everyone is in a good mood, full of Easter chocolate and feeling a bit frivolous. The Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival is a colorful, fun and funny event that will keep you giggling.

My BF and I also took the opportunity to saunter through Central Park, have a little picnic and visit the Angel of the Waters at Bethesda Terrace. The park is full of activities such as bike-riding and ice-skating. There are also tons of statues and art installations to appreciate, paths to explore and quiet patches of nirvana to discover.

I intend to write a blog this summer about Central Park and all the activities it has to offer, but in the meantime check out the official Central Park website.

Insider Tips:

• Get to the parade early. All the best stuff seems to be earlier in the day.
  
• Take your camera. There are lots of great photo ops.
  
• Bring a lunch and enjoy the park.