that girl allison
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reviews // Green Day // theatre // books // dating // broadway // movies // food // recipes // cooking // off-broadway // restaurants // upper west side // upper east side // american idiot
the morning after sandy.
Let’s just say that uptown lucked out. I never lost power, only my internet briefly today. I went to bed around midnight last night after I was of watching TV and movies. I woke up around 8:30am and went for a little walk to survey if there was any damage in my neighborhood. Whole Foods was open and people were shopping like they’d been closed up for a week. Come on, people.
I walked to Broadway to possibly go see if the rumors about Equinox’s being open for all were true but I lost interest and did an hour of cardio yoga in my apartment instead. The above are pictures of some of the damage around my neck of the woods.
I hope everyone’s okay!
Have you heard? There’s a hurricane coming to the east coast.
I went grocery shopping last Thursday so I was pretty good-to-go on most essentials, but I ran home yesterday after seeing a matinee of Don’t Go Gentle (review to come!) to make it to Whole Foods before they closed at 7pm (as per their Twitter), only to find at that they were trying to keep people out at 5:45pm. “You can come in, but don’t take a long time,” the person at the door informed us. Thanks, because we were planning on spending a few hours in Whole Foods before the 2012 Storm of the Century. This morning I went out to the still-open Associated across the street from me and bought more peppermint tea, chocolate, and a few candles. I’m not too worried about the power going out as I was informed that my building has a generator and a full oil take to heat water should anything happen. My parent’s power went out on Long Island a few hours ago - oy!
I have my main food groups covered: chocolate, peanut butter, nutella, bread (I even found Portuguese rolls - far left - which I haven’t been able to find in about ten years!), and some fruit.
I’m thinking I should cook the rest of the chicken that I have in my fridge so I have it to eat if the power goes out. Any suggestions as to how I should prepare it?
I haven’t been as productive with this mandatory solitude as I could be, but I did straighten up my apartment, do laundry, and finish the book Show Biz (meh). Now I’m eating the Ben & Jerry’s pictured above and watching The Day After Tomorrow. Stay safe!
This was the sky before the storm on Friday night. August 26th, 2011
Winter Wonderland. My ‘hood around 5pm today, January 26, 2011.
I saw the revival of Jacques Brel is Alive, and Well and Living in Paris twice back in 2006. The music is great - even if I can’t fully understand the parts in French (thank you to my 6 years of French education). And the cast was phenomenal as well, including the vocal stylings of Robert Cuccioli, Rodney Hicks, Natascia Diaz, and Gay Marshall.
Jacques Brel Returns, offering a wide range of Brel’s music in a cabaret-style setting, is now being performed once a month at The Triad on West 72nd Street with different performers each month, and a different special guest each month as well. The cast last week included Robert Cuccioli, Micheline Van Hautem, Karen Kohler, Jean Brassard, and Ereni Sevasti, with special guest Natascia Diaz.
This two hour foray into the music of Jacques Brel was lovely and entertaining, especially being performed by such talented people. I must admit though that I think I discovered my threshhold for concerts in settings such as these are 90 minutes.
I would recommend that anyone with an appreciation for the music of Jacques Brel should check this out, or someone who just wants to experience something new.
While living on the Upper West Side for a year and a half, I’ve developed a list of my favorite Japanese, Thai, and Asian-Fusion restaurants. And surprise, surprise… They’re all stupidly cheap.
Sura: I’ve written about Sura before, but I can’t enough about it. They serve an $8 lunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays that includes three courses. I usually go for the Oriental salad, Pad Thai, and green tea ice cream (although the custard is tasty, too). This meal would cost close to $20 when it’s a week day, so if you’re in the neighborhood at the right time, stop in and I promise you won’t be disappointed. Broadway between 100th and 101st Street.
Matsu: I discovered this place after last years Webutante Ball with two native New Yorker’s that I met at the party. I’ve been back several times since and it’s never disappointed. Entrees are usually around $10 and the food is actually really good! 83rd Street and Columbus.
Ozen: My favorite place for delivery. I’ve only had the pad thai and chicken teriyaki from Ozen, and while the pad thai is amazing, the chicken teriyaki is awful. It’s dry as sandpaper. The pad thai is awesome but the portion they serve is enormous. To give you an idea: I had a plate full last night, a plate full today for lunch, and then two of my co-workers also had full plates for lunch today. If you only have $10 and you need to feed you and your three friends, this is the place for you.
I’d heard about the Boat Basin Cafe many times since moving to the Upper West Side but I’d had yet to venture over and down. Until last night that is! A few of my UWS’er girls and I decided to kick off the Fourth of July weekend with a view… and a drink!
Well, after the two hour wait (ugh) we sat at a table with a perfect view and noshed on nachos before ordering. I had the chopped salad with a piece of corn, and a mango mai tai (YUM!). Everything was really good - though I think it has to be said that Boat Basin is not known for it’s food and though it was good, it was nothing special. People go there obviously for the spectacular view.
And Boat Basin is puppy friendly (as per the above picture), so feel free to bring your pooch!
Boat Basin Cafe is located at 79th Street and West End. Click here for more information.
I suggested to a guy I went on a date with on Monday night that we go to Shalel, on the Upper West Side (70th and Columbus). Considering that he is new to the city, I knew it probably wasn’t somewhere he’d been before. In fact, I hardly hear anyone mention it. I was afraid it would be too girly or romantic (for a second date, at least) but he thought it was amazing. I did good, I guess.
The dim lighting, candles, and cavernous-like booths makes this the perfect date spot. Although the menu was a bit hard to read and required us holding a candle up to the menu to chose drinks. I can’t remember the ingredients of what was in the drinks that we had, but each and every one was tasty - although my second choice was a bit too tart.
The staff was incredibly friendly and didn’t rush us in the least, which was nice because we stayed for over three hours. Drink prices were moderate ($12). This was my second time to Shalel and I’ll definitely be back for a third in the near future.
(photo via yelp - not my photo, taking a photo on a date would’ve been awkward!)
Thursday night was supposed to be spent with Mallory and Amy downtown at Village Tart, but when Mallory was wildly behind the packing up of her apartment, Amy and I redirected ourselves to Landmarc in the Time Warner Center. After nearly 6 years in the city and almost 2 years living on the UWS, I’d yet to have a meal here, so I was excited.
Amy had been craving a burger, so that’s exactly what ordered and when I saw a chicken sandwich on the menu, my mouth watered. We both added cheese and also ordered a half bottle of a sweet Merlot. The bread that was served prior to the meal was fresh and palatable. Our main courses arrived and were so tender that they were dripping. The side salads were also delicious and luckily the fries that were served with our sandwiches weren’t plentiful. I don’t think I would’ve had room for them if there was more than a handful.
The food was excellent and very moderately priced as far as dinner in New York goes (our meals were $15 each), especially in the Time Warner Center. This is the perfect after-work spot, located at 10 Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center at 59th Street.
(photo via)
Like I said yesterday, I’ve lived on the Upper West Side for almost two years. Well, it took nearly two years but it happened last Sunday. I finally got to try Isabella’s, on Columbus and 77th, when my family came in to celebrate my birthday (a bit early) with me. There was a twenty five minute wait but it was well worth it.
I had the Grilled Skewered Chicken, which was Greek salad with a few skewers of chicken, fries, and Tzatziki dipping sauce. It was great. The strawberry butter that is served with the muffins is also to die for. I also had a bite of the Caramelized Banana Stuffed French Toast, which was quite tasty.
All entrees for brunch come with a choice of beverage (alcoholic ones included!). Everyone at the table enjoyed their meals and prices were insanely reasonable for the quality of food that you’re getting, the service was good too. If you’re on the Upper West Side and looking for brunch, you have to try Isabella’s.
(picture via)
