Hester Street Fair + Grub Street Food Festival = Happy Camper

Yesterday was another festival day in NYC (seems there's always one of those going on around here!) Every Saturday, Suchin Pak (of former MTV VJ fame) puts together the Hester Street Fair in a little park on Hester and Essex. Composed mostly of little stands displaying vintage wares and handmade crafts, it's a fun way to spend a bit of time (it is pretty small, with maybe 20 or so stands) on a lazy day.

Yesterday (I know- a Sunday!!) was a combination of the Hester Street Fair with the Grub Street Food Festival. From 10am-6pm over 75 (as written on their flier) restaurants, food trucks and local shops hosted a day of eats and treats. The first section (where the HSF normally lies) is a small area that housed mostly the shopping part of the festival, along with the sole beer truck.

 The second area, which seemed to be a large basketball court, had the majority of the food stands, with a couple of lonely food trucks parked on the streets (although that Big Gay Ice Cream truck was jumpin'). DJs played questionable tunes (was that Bobbie Brown's theme song from Ghostbusters 2 I heard?) as the hipsters swarmed around the vast array of vendors.

 

With so many choices and such long lines, my friends and I each picked one food to try. We checked out all of our options and then went in for the kill. Miss Lily's Jamaican Jerk corn was amazing, with grilled, buttery, cheesey coconutty goodness. I've wanted to go to Miss Lily's for a while and this made it a must-do for me.

Another friend was lured in by Cemita's Mexican Sandwiches and opted for one of their signature sandwiches. Chock full of fixins like pork, lettuce, tomato, avocado, Queso Oaxaca and chipotle spread, this sandwich was both flavorful and very filling.

For my turn, I chose Luke's Lobster truck. I was faced with the choice of a Lobster Roll, Crabmeat Roll or Shrimp Roll. I'd tried the lobster roll once before and it was fantastic, but I wanted to expand my horizions and try the crab as well so I got half of each. The crab was ok. Very fresh but not much flavor. The Lobster roll was once again heavenly. The bread lightly toasted and buttered, the lobster bursting with flavor. Amazing.

Filled to capacity with our treats, we did not sample the many desserts that such vendors as Peels or The Shaved Ice Shop had to offer, although we did have a kombuchea from our old friend Kombucha Brooklyn, and after an hour or so we waddled out of there, into the sunset, bellies full and grins wide.

C.Wonder-ful Fun!

Waiting in Line

I love a store opening extravaganza. I'm not a big fan of shopping per se, but when you throw in exciting gimmicks like giveaways and special appearances, I'm in. (as illustrated by my waiting in line for 2 hours for the TopShop opening a couple of years ago-the free cookies and Kate Moss sighting were worth it!)

My co-workers mentioned swinging by the new store C. Wonder last night and said I should check it out. When I googled it, there was mention of the Grand Opening being today so I ran over on my lunch break. There was a small line to get in, but a handsome model-type was handing out cookies so it sweetened the deal. Once inside, it was an explosion of color and chaos.

Shopping to the Beat

C. Wonder is a new store of Tory Burch's (of flats with signature gold medallion fame) ex-husband, Chris Burch. Described as "the ultimate new shopping experience for women" they pulled out all of the stops to make the ladies happy. Free water, bubble teas, chocolates and prize giveways every 20 minutes all to the beat of the resident DJ all added in the fun of experiencing the brand new store.

Accesorize!

The store features handbags, shoes, clothing, jewelry, housewares and pet accesories, many with their signature C. logo on them (a dig to the former Mrs. Burch perhaps?). Bright greens, blues and pinks decorated the clothing, with everything from jackets, shirts and sweaters to slippers. The style was kind of preppy/nautical with a fun twist. The price point wasn't too bad, with shoes in the $68-$98 range, handbags starting at $58 and clothing in the $58+ range.






New Purchases thanks to C. Wonder




I needed flats and the C. logo played to my ego (C for Cassandra, get it?) so I got a little wallet for my business cards.
I made the following purchases without going over $100 --->              





On the way out I was able to send flowers (for free!) to any female in NYC. All about the ladies at C. Wonder.

Free Flowers for a Friend

Overall C. Wonder was a fun and affordable experience with a little something for everyone!

Parisi vs Torrisi: A Battle of the Sandwich

Working in Nolita, there is the constant temptation of delicious treats to be had. While there are more upscale restaurants in the area (Public, La Esquina, Falai) there are also many amazing restaurants that are not too expensive (Rubirosa, Balaboosta) and some that are quick, easy and quite cheap (Tacombi @Fonda Nolita, Asiadog, L'asso). Two great lunch options in the sandwich department are Parisi Bakery and Torrisi Italian Specialties.

My coworker and I were both fiending for said sandwiches the other day..only he wanted Parisi and I wanted Torrisi, so we stopped off at both and decided to so a sandwich-off.

Parisi

Parisi is strictly a deli, no seats and no frills. The ingredients are fresh and plentiful, however, and you can construct a delicious meal for not too much money. They have popular sandwich choices (ex. Egg Salad, Turkey & Cheese) and many different types of veggies, meats, and breads. Being a vegetarian, my friend chose sesame challah bread with sun-dried tomato, lettuce, smoked mozzerella and pesto. We ordered and left as it began to get crowded. 

Torrisi

We then headed over to Torrisi (ahh Torrisi!) where it was my turn. This was my second time experiencing the wonders of Torrisi Italian Specialties. The first time was a very strange occurance where I ended up having lunch with Rihanna's creative director and a famous comedian. NBD. The restaurant is tiny, maybe 12 tables tops, so the chances of getting a table are slim. Otherwise, they have a counter and you can order sandwiches and antipasti to go. The menu is pretty small but the options are all amazing. They offer a choice of five sandwiches (turkey, chicken parm, eggplant parm, italian combo and potato and egg) with options of hero or roll. You pretty much order as is and, in this case, you are in safe hands. I ordered the turkey sandwich (comes with some sort of mayo, lettuce and tomato) and a side of brussel sprouts.

Giant Sandwich from Parisi

Parisi
Tip: For those of you looking for a man, the uniformed men of the FDNY are often seen ordered their lunch there.
Ingredient Option: A wide variety of pretty much anything you could want on a sandwich
Portion: The sandwich my friend ordered was HUGE
Flavor: Overall a great sandwich but the amount of bread outweighed the flavors a bit
Price: $7ish
Overall: 8. Good selection, good price

Perfection from Torrisi

Torrisi
Tip: Order ahead and have your sandwich waiting for you. Check their website for menu updates.
Ingredient Option: If you're picky or have dietary restrictions it could be a little diffult.
Portion: Decent sized. I was totally full afterwards.
Flavor: Amazing. Torrisi can do no wrong in my eyes
Price: $9 for the sandwich, $4 for the brussel sprouts.
Overall: You havent lived until you've had a Torrisi sandwich!

Final thoughts: If you're looking for your favorite sandwich, Parisi is the place to get it made just the way you like it. If you're looking for a new favorite sandwich, Torrisi is the way to go.

Where Do I Begin: The Skin I Live In

I am still glowing from the amazing night I had last night (don't get any ideas!). Thanks to a guest who needed assistance with purchasing a movie ticket, I ended up having a once in a lifetime experience. Alright maybe I'm going overboard but after a long week of parties at the Boom Boom Room, Cooper Square Hotel and The Bowery Hotel (ahhh the life of a Concierge), it was nice to get a little culture.

I have been a longtime fan of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, ever since high school when I was on a renting-foreign-films-from-the-library-due-to-a-lack-of-social-life kick and rented All About My Mother. While the film (starring a young Penelope Cruz) dealt with controversial (for the time) subjects such as HIV and transvestites, it was (and is always, in all of his films) done tastefully, and masterfully. He has an incredible way of bringing out compassion from the audience towards misfit characters.



And so last night I had the pleasure of attending Almodovar's newest film The Skin I Live In. What made this particular screening unique is that the director introduced the film in person. A sweet and fuzzy man (reminded me a bit of a koala bear) he spoke with eloquence (albeit with a thick Spanish accent as translated by a man with a thick British accent) as he introduced his latest work. What he explained, and is exemplified in each of his films, is that he wanted to make a film that illustrated and illuminated the importance of the spirit and soul. Plastic surgery, the body and image are all transient and what truly matters is who were are all as people. And Almodovar expresses this important message in each of his films.

Starring Antonio Banderas as a plastic surgeon consumed with the desire to fix what is lost, and Elena Anaya as a mysterious and fragile figure, it is a film about human behaviour, obsession, and resilience under extreme tragedies. I won't get in to to many details about The Skin I Live In because what is most interesting about it are the twists and turns the plot takes. The way in which the director is able to capture the audience (there were moments where I was on the edge of my seat) and the constant tug of war between which of the characters to feel compassionate for  (as none of them were perfect) with the complete and utter shock I felt as the plot twisted, all added to a fantastic movie experience.

Pedro Almodovar is truly one of the most exceptional living auteurs of our day and I highly recommend seeing The Skin I Live In. You will not be disappointed.

Impromptu Nolitan Pub Crawl

Last night a friend and I decided to do an little tour of Nolitan bars we had never been to before.... well...it didn't start out that way but you know how it is when one drink leads to four hours later...

Tea Kettle for Two at 1534

I had been hearing about 1534 (or walking by it everyday for the past 3 months) so I decided last night would be the right time to head down those stairs and check it out. Located below the French bistro Jacques, it's a bit hard to see from the street. A chalkboard sign usually pops up around 5:30pm letting you know the fun is ready to start. We headed down the stairs, through some doors, and into a one room lounge. There are large banquettes, so groups of people are easily accomodated, although we were comfortable as a twosome. The menu reminded me a bit of my favorite bar, Cienfuegos, offering single drinks, tea kettles for two or three people or large punch bowls. My friend and I split a tea kettle and I cannot even pretend to remember what was in it. Some sort of rum and Jalapeno and someone ingredients, probably about 10 that created a delicious and potent drink- green too! We each got about 4 glasses out of it- hiccup! The music was good, the atmopshere chill and the bartender (James) very friendly and helpful. He also informed us that on weekends they have a DJ that plays soul and funk and it gets pretty crowded. I'll be be back!

Red Egg for some Dim Sum

We were a little hungry and were ready for the next spot so we then headed over to Red Egg on Centre Street. A moderately swanky Chinese restaurant, it is perhaps most popular now for hosting Simonez Wolf's new Madame Wong's  late night pop-up parties on Friday and Saturdays. When it is not being flooded with models and hipsters alike, it is a laid back bar/ restaurant (although the trendoids smoking their tobacco-less cigarettes at the bar were a little peculiar). My old friend Roberto was bartending so we sat at the bar while he hooked us up with some Dark and Stormys, dumplings and fried rice from the Dim Sum menu. I don't recall there being any music but it seemed more of a quiet dining spot on the weekdays. If I ever work up the nerve, I'll swing back again for some Madame Wong action.



Mother's Ruin



Ready for a new place, we headed over to the three-month old Mother's Ruin. Located on Spring Street, next to Bread, this bar has been a head scratcher, as there is no sign and it always looks under construction during the day. We wandered in and sat at the bar. Comfy stools surrounded the bar, more stools along the wall and about three large tables filled the space. Two chandeliers hung in the front windows and a couple of jars acting as vases with wildflowers were strewn about, but other than that there was very little decoration. TJ (the bartender/ owner) rocked a large Mohawk and talked us through some of their drinks. There was a frozen concotion of rum and banana and lots of other delicious sounding ingredients but, given the chilly rainy weather, I opted for another one of TJ's creations. Another rum drink this time with cinnamon and spices. Tasted like like Christmas. After that, when my Negroni (my next drink of choice) was a little two strong, he cut it with Cava, exactlty as I used to have it done when I lived in Italy (la-di-dah!). Once (as TJ called it) Shot O'Clock came around..we were out! But not finished for the night...



Skaterboys at The Randolph at Broome


We then picked up some coworkers and headed over to The Randolph on Broome.  Not our first time there, this is a casual bar, always playing good music with a decent crowd so it makes for an easy after work spot. During the day it is a coffee shop, offering much more than a standard coffee (I had something infused with sasparilla and other goodies once). At 5pm they stop serving coffee drinks and it turns exclusively into a bar. Their happy hour is daily from 1pm-8pm where their specialty cocktails are 1/2 off. What I like most about this bar is that while it is low-key and a little bit rock n roll, their bartenders act as mixologists, and great care is taken in making each drink.

 Their Castaway is a favorite of mine, with Gin, cucumber and ginger flavors-yum!

We had a great time visiting all of our new friends at the local bars, each one offering a new experience and great cocktails..I just wish I remembered more of it ;) !