Other happenings

Odds ‘n ends posts about things happening in NYC area , plus leftover posts from original BIte of the Best site

NYC Installations: Doors for Doris, Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, NYC

One walk to the southeast corner of Central Park was to see Doors for Doris an art installation presented by the Public Art Fund.  This installation created from a collection of discarded marble remnants from various renovation projects and stone yards around the city examines how our culture values and utilizes materials. Sam Moyer (b. 1983, Chicago, IL) created a massive three-part sculpture, with a title that pays homage to Public Art Fund founder, Doris C. Freedman (1928-1981). The three-part sculpture made from stone marks the threshold between Central Park’s boulder-filled terrain and Midtown Manhattan’s built environment. The polished stones contain the markings and shapes of their original uses. They [...]

By |2021-02-01T11:49:19-05:00January 30th, 2021|Other happenings|0 Comments
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NYC Installations: King Nyani in Bella Abzug Park, Hudson Yards

Destinations give my city walks a purpose. And so I've begun walking to the various art installation around the city. After my visit, I upload my photos on Instagram, which post to my Twitter and Facebook accounts. Seeing these musings, my friend and theatre critic Sandi Durrell (TheaterPizzazz) wrote asking me to pen an article about my explorations during COVID for her site. "Nothing keeps a wanderer like you down!" And so with this article, I'm introducing a new feature about the free art installations around the Big Apple. The first one is King Nyani (Swahili for “gorilla”),  a gigantic bronze gorilla statue (the largest in the world, in fact!) located [...]

By |2021-11-02T07:24:53-04:00January 17th, 2021|Big Apple Life, NYC Restaurant Reviews, Other happenings|0 Comments
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Dinner at Bistango at The Kimberly Hotel, Midtown, NYC

I returned to Bistango midtown to celebrate a friend's birthday. Much of their outdoor space is under an awning with tables nicely spaced apart and heaters above. We happen to have arrived in time for a happy hour mule ($13), my friend had the special pear version made with Tito's, spiced pear and ginger beer. I had a regular one; both came in traditional copper mugs. Our server brought us hummus and bread, serving me regular sliced, my friend gluten-free. Off to a great start. She started with their sliced Honeycrisp apple and Prosciutto ($16) over mixed greens along with toasted pecans in a fig vinaigrette. Next, she had the [...]

By |2020-11-03T08:57:48-05:00November 10th, 2020|Big Apple Life, Other happenings|0 Comments
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Whitehead in the City at Lambs Club, Midtown, NYC

I dined at the Lambs Club for "Whitehead in the City: New Biology Transforming Drug Discovery" recently. The Whitehead Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving human health through basic biomedical research.  Their approach with scientists creates an "optimum environment for basic research". The most mentionable of the meal were the passed hors d'oeuvres during the cocktail reception from Chef Zakarian and his team, especially the steaming-hot, cheesy arancini and the crisp vegetable spring rolls. The meal — like for most large groups — was mediocre at best although the Halibut wrapped in Swiss chard and topped with shredded beets was an attractive presentation. The folks gathered weren't there for [...]

By |2019-11-27T14:05:59-05:00January 2nd, 2020|Big Apple Life, Other happenings|0 Comments
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A Return North River Lobster Co. Boat, A Bit More Pricey

A boat ride in New York City is always a treat and often a surprise to locals as well as visitors. I discovered the North River Lobster boat when it began sailing in 2014. At that time the sailings were free. Yes, free. Today it costs $10 for the boat ride. Cocktails come in all sizes from a 12-ounce cup ($15) to 64-ounce pitcher ($55) with a 24-ounce tall lighthouse ($25) in between. We had ordered the regular ones so when a lighthouse was delivered, silly us to think that was the regular size. Decent drinks, not light on the alcohol. And in 2014, the over-stuffed lobster roll costs $16. [...]

By |2019-05-26T19:17:07-04:00May 26th, 2019|Big Apple Life, Other happenings|0 Comments
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A Stop at Tacuba After a Visit to the Richard Avedon Foundation

After learning that I was unable to attend the tour arranged by my ex-expats group, I contacted the Richard Avedon Foundation to see if I could go on my own. They were incredibly accommodating. Before going, I read up on this American fashion and portrait photographer. Richard Avedon (1923–2004) was born and lived in Ne York City. The New York Times obituary wrote that "his fashion and portrait photographs helped define America's image of style, beauty and culture for the last half-century." While there, we saw much of his work, both on the walls and in the ultra-organized archives. We also met with Executive Director James Martin, who had worked [...]

By |2019-03-17T18:45:35-04:00April 30th, 2019|Big Apple Life, Other happenings|0 Comments
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A Trip to Pizza Beach for the Launch of Chanmé Frosé

"I want to invite you to the official launch party for my client, Chanmé Frosé, the first ever frozen rosé available in a portable package," read the invitation for the party at Pizza Beach on the Lower East Side. I drink the bartender's special Chanmé Frosé frozen drink cocktail with the addition of Aperol and a splash of watermelon juice. Would be quite refreshing on a hot summer day. Pizza Beach's buffet included blistered shishitos, some meatballs and a few of their pizzas, each with a chewy crust as I like, cooked in wood-fired Italian Al Forno ovens. We sampled the Tulum, a California inspired one, with grilled avocado, cherry [...]

By |2019-03-11T10:07:56-04:00April 20th, 2019|Big Apple Life, Other happenings|0 Comments
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RH Rooftop Restaurant, Meatpacking District, NYC + Andy Warhol Exhibit at The Whitney

Chicago restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff (Au Cheval) opened this stylish restaurant in September on the rooftop of the Restoration Hardware in the Meatpacking District. RH sports crystal chandeliers, marble tabletops plus glass walls providing views of the surrounding skyline. Once the weather warms up, I'll go back for sure to dine or just have a glass of wine on the outdoor terrace that wraps around the restaurant. I had tried to get into RH once before but the wait was too long. Right now, they do not take reservations. This time we went on the early side of lunch — 11 am — before heading to The Whitney to see the [...]

By |2024-07-21T11:07:46-04:00January 26th, 2019|Big Apple Life, Other happenings, Rooftop|0 Comments
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Maglia Rosa, Industry City, Brooklyn and M.C Escher Exhibit

A group of friends schlepped to Industry City (34 - 34 Street, Building 6) to see the exhibit of one of the world’s greatest graphic artists, Maurits Cornelis Escher. The exhibit closes February 3, 2019. If you go, be sure to allow yourself enough time. I had visited Escher in The Palace (Lange Voorhout 74, 2514 EH The Hague) with Eric and a group of his schoolmates when they were attending The Hotel School in The Haag. The boys and I spent hours there, mesmerized by Escher's amazing woodcuts, lithographs and more, including many interactive works where you become the subject. We did the same thing in Brooklyn, spending over [...]

By |2019-04-26T12:50:17-04:00December 23rd, 2018|Big Apple Life, Other happenings|0 Comments
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25th Anniversary of Lucky Cheng’s Dinner Cabaret, Stage 48, Hell’s Kitchen, NYC

You're invited "to join us at the iconic Drag Cabaret and Dinner Show Lucky Cheng's! Meet some of the most famous Drag Queens in the country and cover how it has survived and thrived for 25 years as New York's original and longest-running drag show, and top employer of Trans and Drag women." How could I refuse to celebrate their 25th Anniversary at a series of Saturday evening Drag Performances by top headliners? I twisted a friend's arm to come with me to dinner and a show. Before ordering my meal, I recalled their warning, "Please be aware that the food is plated nicely and the dishes are tasty and [...]

By |2018-11-12T10:56:06-05:00December 3rd, 2018|Big Apple Life, Other happenings|0 Comments
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How to Get Discount Theatre Tickets

Before I became a full-time New Yorker, I would purchase theatre tickets ahead paying full price or come into the city and roll the dice, hoping I could get what I wanted from the TKTS discount ticket booth. Most out-of-towners are also aware of that Times Square booth that sells same-day matinee and evening tickets. TKTS also has outposts at Lincoln Center, at South Street Seaport and in Downtown Brooklyn that sell same-day evening and next-day matinee ones. You can select your seats when you buy them. When I moved to Gotham, I learned of many other ways to get show tickets — both on and off Broadway — without paying full [...]

By |2018-01-22T10:06:09-05:00January 23rd, 2018|Big Apple Life, Other happenings, Theatre|0 Comments
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The 14th Annual Second Helping of Life Tasting Event, September 18

Two dozen of NYC's top women chefs will offer their signature dishes at nonprofit SHARE's annual “A Second Helping of Life” tasting event on Monday, September 18, 6 PM at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers. Celebrity Chef Angie Mar, Executive Chef of Beatrice Inn, will serve as the event’s Executive Chef. All proceeds will benefit SHARE. Participating chefs will include Food Network favorite Alex Guarnaschelli (Butter), Rebecca Charles (Pearl Oyster Bar), Sarabeth Levine (Sarabeth’s), Amanda Cohen (Dirt Candy), Patti Jackson (Delaware and Hudson), Roxanne Spruance (Kingsley’s), and many more. See the list below. The NYC female chef community has been supporting SHARE’s mission for 14 years, making A Second Helping of [...]

By |2017-09-03T13:34:45-04:00September 2nd, 2017|Other happenings|0 Comments
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Free No More: Pier 81 Boat Rides

I've been raving about the free boat rides from Pier 81 since they began a few years back. Free no more. The North River Lobster boat sailed for 45 minutes up the Hudson about every two hours. When they first began, the lobster rolls were plentiful served with fresh creamy cole slaw and a bag of chips for $16. I've been many times with friends who came for a summertime visit. Sadly as the pricing of the lobster roll when up, the quality down. And now that ride is $10 a person; the lobster roll $22.95. That's not the worst of it. Fish Bar, which also was free,  now has [...]

By |2023-07-02T08:06:35-04:00June 14th, 2017|Big Apple Life, Other happenings|0 Comments
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The Next Big Bite: The Media’s Influence on What We Consume

The Next Big Bite:  highlighted key trends in a discussion about the media’s impact on food and drink decisions. This second annual event was held last month at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in Brookfield Place, New York City. It was sponsored by Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY), the preeminent organization of women who are leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. The New York chapter (LDNY) is the founding and largest of the 37 chapters in the United States and abroad. The centerpiece of the evening was a panel discussion moderated by Martha Teichner, correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning, featuring Carla Hall, Co-host [...]

By |2017-09-03T08:09:36-04:00November 23rd, 2016|Other happenings, Rambling|0 Comments
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The 13th Annual Second Helping of Life Tasting Event in September

SHARE will celebrate its 40th Anniversary at the annual “A Second Helping of Life” tasting event on Monday, September 19, 6 PM at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers with almost 30 of NYC’s premier women chefs offering up their signature dishes (scroll down). Chef Angie Mar, Executive Chef of Beatrice Inn and Chopped Grill Masters Grand Champion in 2015, will serve as the event’s Executive Chef. All proceeds will benefit SHARE. Tamsen Fadal — PIX 11 Evening News Anchor — will serve as the evening's host. Founded in 1976 by breast specialist Dr. Eugene Thiessen with twelve breast cancer patients and survivors, SHARE currently serves 40,000 people annually with free supportive [...]

By |2017-09-03T08:03:33-04:00August 16th, 2016|Other happenings|0 Comments
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Ruth Reichl: What Everyone’s Talking About on April 20

Join food critic, editor, and best-selling author Ruth Reichl on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 from 7:30 - 9:00PM at the JCC Manhattan (334 Amsterdam Avenue at 76th) as she describes her recent journey away from Gourmet magazine and back into her own kitchen. This journey resulted in her  book, My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life. A six-time James Beard Award honoree, Reichl captures not only her zeal for the great meal, but the joy to be found in small culinary encounters and how what we eat can animate our lives.  For tickets ($25 the public, $20 members) to "What Everyone's Talking About: Ruth Reichl," click here. For more [...]

By |2017-09-02T09:28:19-04:00April 12th, 2016|Other happenings|0 Comments
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