Brooklyn Botanical Garden

The cherry blossoms are close to blooming at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.  Tuesday's are as usual, free days, so you should take advantage and check them out.

I know I have talked about this before, but it is truly amazing to get to walk down the Cherry Esplanade when the trees are blooming. A check of the website shows that the esplanade itself is still at pre-bloom:

The map is updated every weekday, so check before going!!

Another place to see some of these beautiful trees is on Roosevelt Island, along the shoreline facing Manhattan. I plan to do both in the next few weeks, but wanted to post here before the bloom, so you could plan on going, if you are in town, or if you live here.

Roosevelt Island trees

Getting to Roosevelt Island is easy, you can take the tram across, at the corner of East 60th Street and 2nd Avenue, and it will drop you off in the middle of the island. Or, you can take the F train, and get off at Roosevelt Island.  There are escalators to bring you up from the subway station, since it is down pretty far.

With This Post...

I have been posting for 3 years, and this is my 100th post... I hope to have 100 more, I love helping others take a bigger bite out of the Big Apple.  Touring Gracie Mansion tomorrow, and will be posting about that this Saturday, so keep an eye out!!

It's About Time

Flatiron District

"Pocket" watch at 1501 3rd Avenue

Clock near Manhattan Bridge

 Inspired by Pinterest of all things, here are some of the clocks located throughout NYC. There are some weird ones out there.

at Trump Tower

Silk Clock at 470 Park Ave. South

On the Jersey side, across the Hudson River. 

Tiffany clock outside Grand Central Terminal

Herald Square

Closeup of the Tiffany clock outside Grand Central Terminal

at Broadway and Maiden Lane IN the sidewalk

Grand Central Terminal

at Tiffany's

Union Square Metronome

Tourneau Store

Williamsburg Bank Building-Now Condos-in Brooklyn

Met Life Tower

Grand Central Terminal...100 Years on February 1st

If you will be in the area, you should stop in...there will be exhibits, special offers, performances...all sponsored by Target. link

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ON THE MAIN CONCOURSE

9:30 am — 10:00 am
West Point Brass & Percussion concert and presentation of colors by West Point’s Cadet Color Guard.

10:00 am — 11:30 am
The Grand Central Key Ceremony features surprise entertainment and presentations from more than a dozen well-known names and faces wishing the Terminal a happy birthday. Ceremony includes special presentations and appearances by:
• Cynthia Nixon, Award-winning actress and NYC resident
• Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins with an original
  poem commissioned by MTA Arts for Transit
• Caroline Kennedy, Author and Preservationist, Honorary Co-Chair of the
   Grand Central Centennial Committee
• Grammy Award-winning artist, Melissa Manchester
• Key Ceremony with Vanderbilt Family
• Keith Hernandez, Member of NY Mets World Series Champion Team
• The Celia Cruz Bronx High School Choir
• Peter Stangl, Grand Central Centennial Committee Chairman
• MTA officials, elected officials, and other special guests
• A surprise “sweet” delivery to cap off the event

Noon — 12:30 pm
Terminal receives special honors from the Guinness Book of World Records, the National Park Service, the US Postal Service new stamp release, the National Railway Historical Society, and the American Society of Civil Engineers, with electric violinist Sarah Charness providing a musical opening and closing for the program. Also, stop by the Station Master’s Office to see a replica of the Terminal made of Lego® bricks created and presented by LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester.

1:00 pm — 4:00 pm
Celebrations continue in the Main Concourse with music and dance performances from:
• Dancing Classrooms, featured in the film “Mad Hot Ballroom”
• Keigwin + Company, acclaimed contemporary dance company
• The Knicks City Dancers and Kids
• The Westchester Philharmonic Brass Octet
• Cast members of the upcoming musical “Orphan Train”
• Staten Island’s Susan Wagner High School Jazz Band
• Electric violinist, Sarah Charness

7:00 pm — 9:30 pm
Music from Rhythm Collective and Grammy Award-winning big band Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks will keep Terminal visitors dancing and celebrating into the evening!


ALL DAY AROUND THE TERMINAL
Music Under New York performances

1913 PRICING FROM GRAND CENTRAL SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS
*Only available February 1, 2013
• 19¢ ea. shrimp, 13¢ ea. mussels, 13¢ ea. clams at Pescatore
• 10¢ for a side of french fries at Tri Tip Grill *From 11am-3pm
• 5¢ small drip hot coffee at Financier Patisserie *Starting at 12 pm. Limit one per customer
• 10¢ shoe shine at Leather Spa
• 10¢ nylon watch straps from Central Watch *Limited to first 500 customers. Limit one per customer
• 25¢ piece of Legendary Fudge at Li-Lac Chocolates *Limit one per customer
• 19¢ slice of cheesecake at the Oyster Bar & Restaurant *Dine-in only
• 10¢ for bambini scoop of gelato or sorbet at Ciao Bella
• $2 for 100% silk scarves (unisex) at TOTO
• 6¢ loaf of rye bread at Zaro’s Bakery * Shuttle Passage and Grand Central Market locations only. Limit one per customer
• 75¢ Adirondack cocktail at Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C.
• 5¢ 1lb box of pasta with purchase of a Ceriello Sauce at Ceriello Fine Foods *until 4pm

SPONSORED GIVEAWAYS AT SPECIAL CENTENNIAL TABLES ON FEBRUARY 1
• Grand Central Centennial Luggage Tags
• Vintage train whistles from Target
• Granola Bars and trail mix from Archer Farms
• Mini men’s and women’s fragrance bottles from Vince Camuto
• Arrowhead studded earrings from Tia’s Place
• Spring rolls from Pescatore
• Financiers from Financier Patisserie
• Starbucks VIA Ready Brew from Starbucks
• “23” cookies from Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C.
• Chocolate Hearts from Li-Lac Chocolates
• Package of Masala Chai blend from Café Spice
• Origins iPhone cases from Origins
• Swatch pens from Swatch
• 2 Deluxe samples and an invite to the store for a hand and arm massage from Jo Malone

100 FREE!
First 100 people to make a $50 purchase at Vince Camuto, receive a hot pink Camuto iPhone cover!

A Grand Central Terminal commemorative USPS Express Mail stamp will be available for purchase and cancellation at the Lower Concourse Information Booth from 10am until 3pm.

Main Site

This Sunday is the day to ride the subway...

Most people around here have heard about Improv Everywhere.  They cause scenes.  One of their more popular ones is one they do every year, a MP3 Experiment.  The participants download a specific podcast, and meet up at a certain place and all turn it on at the same time, and just follow the directions.  There was one done on Roosevelt Island back in 2009.

This Sunday, they will be doing one of their most popular experiments, the No-Pants Subway Ride.  This is the 13th year they have done it, and I have yet to see it, so I think I will be taking a subway ride to get some pics.  Expect the pantlessness fun to be between 3pm and 5 pm.

The guys usually wear boxers, and the girls usually wear something with plenty of coverage, and it seems to be a fun time, but apparently native New Yorkers are sick of it.  I just finished reading this Gothamist article, titled "Destroy The Date"  The comments are really funny.  It seems to be a fun time and a good way to spend the afternoon.

From the website:

HOW IT WORKS
There are six meeting points this year. Take your pick. The Manhattan meeting points tend to be very crowded, so if you live in Brooklyn or Queens, definitely go to one of those! You’ll probably have more fun! If you are a member of the media, please see our press information page.

Astoria: Meet at Hoyt Playground – Google Map
Brooklyn: Meet by the Old Stone House – Google Map
Downtown Manhattan: Meet at Foley Square – Google Map
Queens: Meet at the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Park – Google Map
Uptown Manhattan: Meet at the Great Hill in Central Park – Google Map
Williamsburg / Bushwick: Meet at Maria Hernandez Park – Google Map
Everyone should meet at their chosen meeting point at 3 PM. Please be on time. Feel free to be early.

At the meeting points, participants will be organized into groups and assigned a specific train car. Once everyone is divided up we will all head to nearby subway station[s]. Do not talk to others once you enter the subway system. No one knows each other.

Sit in the car as you normally would. Read a magazine or whatever you would normally do. Your team leader will have already divided you into smaller groups, assigning your group a specific stop where you will depants.

Things to do on Christmas Day

See a festive show Although only a handful of Broadway shows have performances on Christmas Day (and none are that kid-friendly), you can catch the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the Holiday Circus in Brooklyn, Angelina Ballerina the Very Merry Holiday Musical and The Big Apple Circus: Legendarium on December 25. You can find discounts to most of them on BroadwayBox.com.

Play tourist Times Square's Madame Tussauds, Ripley's Believe it or Not! Odditorium and Discovery Times Square with the cool Harry Potter exhibit are all open on Christmas. Other tourist spots that have December 25 hours are The Empire State Building and Top of the Rock, which gives you a great, crowd-free view of the Rockefeller tree.

Enjoy Chinese and a movie Families of all ethnic backgrounds can experience this Jewish tradition at 92YTribeca, which is offering an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet followed by a double feature of Back to the Future Parts I and II. Best for tweens and up.

Or just see a movie Cinemas are open on Christmas Day and there are plenty of great family films playing.

Hang with the animals Although the Bronx Zoo is closed for the holiday, the Prospect Park, Queens and Central Park Zoos are all open. You can even watch the animals open their edible presents.

Take a stroll Walk up Fifth Avenue to see the stunning department store holiday windows before they're gone. Assuming it's not too chilly (or rainy or snowy), Christmas is also a great day to take a quiet stroll through one of our city's lovely green spaces. Central, Prospect, Flushing Meadows Corona and Van Cortlandt Parks are all open. Central Park is even hosting a free cross-park promenade tour at 12:30pm.

Celebrate at a Jewish museum Many of NYC's Jewish cultural institutions are open today and offering special family activities. Catch a Klez for Kids concert at the Museum at Eldridge Street and The Macaroons at The Jewish Museum; watch chef George Wong of Chopstix Restaurants carves incredible fruit sculptures at Brooklyn's Jewish Children's Museum; and enjoy a family celebration with crafts, live music and a movie at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Hit the ice 

•  Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center – Midtown East
  Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets
  212-332-7654
•  Wollman Rink – Midtown West
  Central Park, enter at Central Park South and Sixth Avenue
  212-439-6900
•  Citi Pond at Bryant Park – Midtown West
  Bryant Park, 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
  212-661-6640
•  Lasker Rink – Harlem
  Central Park, enter at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues
  917-492-3856
•   Riverbank State Park – Harlem
  145th Street and Riverside Drive
  212-694-3642
•  The Standard Ice Rink – Meatpacking District
  848 Washington Street at 13th Street
•  Liberty View Ice Rink – Battery Park City
  Wagner Park in Battery Park City, north of Historic Battery Park off Battery Place

•  WWII Veterans War Memorial Ice Skating Rink – Staten Island
  Clove Lakes Park, Victory Boulevard west of Clove Road
  718-720-1010

•  Van Cortlandt Park Ice Skating Rink – the Bronx
  Broadway at 242nd Street
  718-760-9001

Wollman Rink in Prospect Park is closed for construction for the second year in a row. The new rinks are supposed to open next year.

More bad news for Brooklyn: The new McCarren Park Pool will not be turned into an ice-skating rink this season, according to the New York Daily News. Maybe next year.

Meanwhile, Aviator Queens Community Ice Rink, Battery Park City Ice Rink, Polar Rink at the American Museum of Natural History and Seaport Ice are all long gone.

The Brooklyn Christmas

The Brooklyn Christmas is a very bright one.  If you were to do an image search for Christmas in Brooklyn, there would be a few pictures of the Dyker Heights neighborhood.  It is well known for beautiful and elaborate lawn displays at this time of year. Homeowners hire teams of workers to put up these elaborate displays, and people come from all over to bask in the holiday glow.

This one is a little more crowded than normal, but you get the basic idea.  Any given night during December there is more traffic, as carloads of people come from all over to check out the beautiful lights.  Add a trip to get some hot chocolate, and it's an inexpensive, but very festive night!

There is a tree this year at prospect Park, at Grand Army plaza, and the story behind it is inspiring.  Last year, the park officials did not have a tree, citing Hurricane Irene and the many trees downed.  This year there was a campaign to raise money to have a tree, because Brooklynites really missed it last year.  It is there now, and should be lit up soon, so the following picture will be updated.

Next week... a Staten Island Christmas.

Junior's Cheesecake

 So, what is 30 minutes away by subway from Times Square?  Who has the best cheesecake ever?  Who has so many varieties of cheesecake it's hard to pick just one?  Yup, Juniors.  Now there are three locations. The one in Brooklyn is the furthest away, but it is the original location. But if pressed for time, you COULD always choose either of the two locations in Manhattan. Times Square, or Grand Central.  Just looking at the menu here is making me salivate.

Cheesecakes on the menu:

1.  Our Famous No. 1 Original Cheesecake 

2.  Fresh Strawberry Cheese Pie 

3.  Devil's Food Cheesecake 

4.  Carrot cake Cheesecake 

5.  Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake

6.  Black Forest Cheesecake - (Blackforest cherries and Meyer's Rum)

7.  Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake 

8.  Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake or Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake 

9.  Apple Crumb Cheesecake

10. "Diabetic friendly" Cheesecake -Sugar Free-

 

Now I prefer the original cheesecake, but have been known to get the Apple Crumb Cheesecake occasionally.  Delicious!  Well worth the trip, and you could say you rode the subway!  From Times Square, take the Q (going to Brooklyn) to DeKalb Avenue.  Junior's is on the corner of Flatbush and DeKalb Avenues.

Patsy and Sandy

Patsy

Well this last week has been interesting.  I got to celebrate a birthday at my favorite restaurant ever.  Patsy's, in midtown Manhattan.  This is one of the places that made my husband and I fall in love with New York City.

 

I had the Veal Cutlet Parmigiana and my husband had the Bucatini all’Amatriciana.  Now I am not very adventurous, and actually had the same dish way back when we first ate here, but it was just that good, I had to have it again.  My husband last time had the Spaghetti and Meatballs and wanted to try something different.  

The veal was just as I remembered, huge and delicious.  The Bucatini was al dente and amazing.  We normally do not get dessert, but they brought the cart around, and the Chocolate Mousse Cake just looked too good to pass up.  It was delicious, especially paired with the house red wine.  

After we finished, we walked around for a little bit, and then back on the subway to come home to Brooklyn.

Sandy

Ever since the 25th or so there was something about the latest storm coming that was looking very ominous. Not only was it a hurricane, but there was also another storm coming from the west.  It was shaping up to be a superstorm.  Sunday was pretty much spent going to the grocery store, and the hardware store to make sure that we had enough food, water, batteries, flashlights, and other necessities when there is a storm coming.

Monday was pretty much spent indoors for us.  My intrepid reporter went out and got some pictures down by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Monday night was the worst, but amazingly we never lost power.  It was very windy and raining. I was on Facebook and twitter trying to find out what was going on.  By Tuesday afternoon I was sick of the computer  and took a break, watching Breaking Bad, Season 1.  (Very good, by the way.)  These were taken on Tuesday morning.

Our neighborhood was not hit too bad, the power went out in parts (never here) and there were a lot of downed trees.  Other areas were a lot worse, Staten Island, Coney Island, and the Breezy Point area of Queens particularly were the worst.  Manhattan below 34th Street is still without power.  The subways are sort of up and running, but right now there is no way to get from Brooklyn to Manhattan by subway, you must get a shuttle bus:

Sandy's Aftermath
Article about the upcoming NY Marathon
Breezy Point, Queens
Coney Island and the surrounding area

Open House New York

Open House NY is a really amazing program that lets you see buildings and beautiful architecture that you normally don't get to see, and it is a great opportunity.  One weekend a year, usually in the first 1/2 of October, is when it happens, and this year, it is this weekend.  There are many things that need reservations, and they actually stopped taking reservations this morning at 9:30 am, but there is still tons to do without reservations!  So much to see...
This is the website, and just click on weekend, then plan your weekend.


Find us on Facebook and Twitter.  There are pages up top for both links.


Also check out the Unseen NYC Tours link...fall is a beautiful time to go on a walking tour!

Brooklyn's Largest Street Festival

 

Coming up this weekend...Atlantic Antic!  1.13 miles of fun... From the website...

The Atlantic Antic is a living tribute to the myriad of heritages that coexist in Brooklyn. Spanning four neighborhoods from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue, the Antic is the largest street festival in New York City! From start to finish, Atlantic Avenue is transformed into a sea of entertainment offering something for everyone. .
Comprised of local and national vendors intertwined with the offerings of trendy restaurants and boutiques, the Atlantic Antic features live music stages that showcase free performances from various cultural genres. Families enjoy pony rides, storytelling, and face painting on an entire block dedicated solely to kid-friendly activities. Best known for its eclectic delicacies, the Antic highlights an array of food from around the world in addition to street fair favorites like funnel cake, sausage sandwiches, and roasted corn!

The Atlantic Antic, a true Brooklyn institution, spans 10 blocks – from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue – passing through three beautiful Brooklyn brownstone neighborhoods, making the festival one of the largest in the city. Unique to this community festival is the number of participating local merchants, artisans, musical acts, and not for profits bringing together a fabulous array of authentic Brooklyn food, festivities, and fun on one mile of Atlantic Avenue.

25 Fun Free things to do in NYC

In no particular order:

1.  Any park in NYC.  Put in your hotel address and find the closest one here. A nice break for the kids to relax.  And you too...

2.  The Staten Island Ferry.  Great views of downtown Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty.

3.  The Bronx Zoo:  Free on Wednesdays.

4.   Brooklyn Botanic Gardens:  Free on Tuesdays.

5.  Libraries.  The main library in Manhattan is amazing, as is the Central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, seen here.

from here

6.  Parades.  From Saint Patricks Day to Thanksgiving Day and all of the ones in between.  Some even in the other boroughs...

7.  The Brooklyn Brewery.  They give free tours on the weekends.

8.  African Burial Grounds.  They are currently renovating, but are scheduled to be open October 4.  Check back here to find out the status.

9.  City Hall.  Lots of history here.

10.  Coney Island.  The boardwalk and beach are amazing.

11.  Federal Reserve Bank.  Free, but you have to make reservations.

12. Forbes Collection.  I went years ago, and should really go back soon...

13.  Grand Central Tour with Justin Ferate.  About 2 1/2 to 3 hours, and amazing.

14.  Greenwood Cemetery.  A nice afternoon's walk in Brooklyn.  Events sometimes held here also.

15.  Walking the Brooklyn Bridge.  Here is a great guide with the ins and outs.  I recommend walking across to Brooklyn and checking out the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

16.  South Street Seaport.  Yes, it's shopping and restaurants, but still just going doesn't cost.

17.  High Line.  Really cool elevated park that used to be railroad tracks.

18.  See a baseball game... Staten Island Yankees.  So close to the SI Ferry you can walk.

19.  Governor's Island.  Weekends all summer.  Free ferry, and tons of events.

20.  Winter Windows.  See the display windows of Barney's, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord and Taylor, and Macy's.

Macy's 2011

 21.  TV Audience tapings.  You'll need to have advance planning here, but so worth it.  Whether it's Live with Kelly or SNL, here is a list of shows that look for audiences.

22.  Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.  The Unisphere.  Worlds Fair 1964.  Big Park, surrounded by Queens Museum, Queens Zoo, NY Hall of Science. 

23.  MOMA.  Free from 4 to 8 on Friday's.

24.  American Museum of Natural History.  Free for the last hour (4:45 to 5:45)

25.  Brooklyn Museum.  Free every first Saturday.

Williamsburg Bank Building and Barclays Center

The Williamsburg Bank building in Brooklyn was once the tallest building in the borough.  It is 37 floors and 512 feet high. (The highest building is now the Brooklyner, completed in 2010, which stands at 515 feet high, and 51 floors.)  The old bank building is now luxury condos.

 
It is also the winter home of Brooklyn Flea.  Last November, it set up house in One Hanson place when it got too cold to have the flea market outdoors.  Looks like it will be the same this year...

from Conde Nast Traveler

Being built nearby is the Barclay Center.  It's location is close to the Atlantic subway station,  with 9 subway lines going thru it and the LIRR, making it one of the most transit accessible locations in the city.

from flickr

 The first concert series at this venue will be Jay Z on September 28 thru October 6.  All shows were sold out after the first day they went on sale.  He also happens to be part owner of the basketball team that will call Barclay Center home, the Brooklyn Nets.

from Barclay Center

Staten Island Ferry Redux

Many of you are saying wait a minute.  She has been here before.  You are right, but I never took pictures of the other side of the ferry.  You know, where Brooklyn is.  So I went recently, and took some. Today's post is mostly pictures.

Way in the back is the Verrazano Bridge, to the left is Brooklyn, and to the right is Staten Island.

The tall building there is the Williamsburg Bank Building, which is right by the Atlantic Ave Subway Station.  I actually have some closer up pics of this building that I will be posting next week.

I was glad to have a very beautiful clear day.  The breeze on the ferry was nice, and on the way to Staten Island I sat on the Brooklyn side, and the way back, was rewarded with the Statue of Liberty being closer.

I managed to get some shots of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridges from the ferry.

This was taken from Staten Island, some tall grass with 1 World Trade Center in the background.

 

I also got the picture of the other SI Ferry running that day.