CHELSEA
Hummus is a healthy culinary staple in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine that has been enjoyed in the area for a millennia. Used as either an appetizer dip or as an addition in many popular dishes, hummus is simply prepared from the same ingredients used in the earliest hummus recipes recorded in 13th Century Egypt. Hummus is prepared from cooked and mashed chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and a dash of salt. In Lebanon, they love hummus so much that in May of 2010 they set the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest dish of hummus ever prepared. 300 chefs came together in a village near Beirut to make a batch of hummus that weighed approximately 23,000 pounds!
The golden mosaic tiles of the pizza oven of Donatella Arpaia’s namesake restaurant, Donatella, acts as a beacon calling to diners, “come inside, you look hungry. I’ll cook something for you” just as countless Neapolitan mothers have done for centuries. Once you’re off the busy streets of Chelsea, sit down at one of Donatella’s marble topped tables, drink a glass of the finest Italian Campanian wines, and snack on a plate of crostinis while you painstakingly decide which of the pizzas you plan to try. Keep in mind though; Donatella’s is not your typical New York City Neapolitan pizza-focused restaurant. Donatella Arpaia, who is a recurring guest judge on the Food Network’s “Iron Chef” series, a contributor to NBC’s “Today Show,” as well as being behind a number of successful restaurants, such as Kefi and Dona, feels that Donatella is her most personal endeavor to date. Her goal for Donatella was to capture the traditional foods she enjoyed while summering in Naples during her childhood and bring them to New York. By using authentic and fresh ingredients (We mean fresh as in picked up from customs that very morning.) Donatella celebrates not only the famed pizza of the region but the pastas, desserts, and wines as well.
As reported, Maritime Hotel’s Hiro Ballroom and Matsuri Shutter restaurant are closing its doors, making way for Marc Packer and Rich Wolfe of the Tao Group to take over. According to Eater, Mr. Packer is looking to open a Tao Downtown restaurant in the Chelsea location, although finer details are scarce for now, don't look for any openings until early 2013.
If you love designer bags, shoes, and accessories, a new boutique has come to Chelsea called DF Discount. As covered in Time Out NY, the boutique offers in-season designer goods from Prada, Fendi, Tod's, Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, and more. Savings average about 20% off what you would normally pay. We were a little confused as to how this was possible --we always assumed we had to pay full retail for our designer goods! According to the owner, all items are 100% authentic and the key to their business is that they import their goods "duty-free" from overseas in small quantities, passing the savings on to their customers (which apparently includes celebs in-the-know). As described on their site: "We travel throughout Europe to bring you current authentic merchandise from top highend designers. We keep our over head low so we can offer you the lowest price possible. Visit us often as new styles are always arriving."
In light of the recent crimes, including murder, drug use, and fights, Juliet Supperclub may be getting the boot from its Chelsea location. After two murders late last year, the landlord has had enough and filed to evict the rowdy club. The notice, filed November 18th, stated Juliet had breached its lease by allowing “a culture of lawlessness and violence” to ensue.
In September 2011, a man was stabbed outside the club, but according to a Juliet spokesperson the victim was not a patron. Two months later in late November, a man opened fire inside the club and shot and killed one man while injuring two others.
Getting tourist tips for your trip to New York can be a lot like sex advice from your parents: lots of warnings of what not to do, but very few examples of fun stuff. Since no one wants to hear this stuff from their parents, Joonbug's New York staff has compiled its favorite sights. Some are tried and true icons, but others might be too off-the-beaten-path for Fodor's. Consider these sights "musts" for anyone looking to experience the Big Apple beyond the Empire State Building.
Must-See View of the Manhattan Skyline:
Brooklyn Heights Promenade. While the Staten Island Ferry might be best (and cheapest) way to see lower Manhattan through the eyes of an Ellis Island immigrant, the air's getting a little chilly for open-air boat rides. For a pleasant walk without the windchill, try the majestic views of Brooklyn Heights, where you can see the Brooklyn Bridge making its way toward City Hall. Turn your back to the water and check out the ivy-covered townhouses that get to call this view home, then head to Grimaldi's, New York's most famed pizzeria, to warm up.
At the end of September, I attended the Fall Kickoff for the Rubin Museum of Art’s young patron's group, Visionary Circle. After learning about Visionary Circle at their pre-launch event, I was eager to return to this tranquil space that creates a silent energy—certainly unique to its location in Chelsea.
The hustle and bustle of NYC can sometimes be overwhelming; especially if you’re searching for the one (like the rest of us) in this big city. While there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of ways to meet someone, we are not getting any younger and finding the one is becoming way too serious. Lose the dating protocols this Thursday, September 15th, and join sexy singles in posh Chelsea hotspot Velour Lounge for their launch of Gold Digger Thursdays.
This specially designed weekly mixer is geared toward singles of all ages (over 21, of course) to meet, mingle, and possibly find ‘the one.’ Here’s how it works: for a $25 cover, the men in attendance will get a generous amount of play money. The ladies, who get in for free, have to try their hardest (use those feminine wiles, or ahem, charm) to convince each man to give you as much of their play money as possible. With classic red brick walls, cherry wood accents and colorful pop art lining the bar, you can’t help but feel the sophisticated vibe in this mod lounge. The interaction (or excuse) of playing this fun game will encourage you to lose your inhibitions and meet people.
In a city where nightlife is in abundance, and you can find absolutely anything with the touch of a button, it may be easier to stick to the same old places we know and love. We all know that good service and atmosphere are a 50/50 chance, so trying something different can be hard. Well, if you're craving something, or some place new, then feel free to break out of those old-habit chains, NYC and welcome these hot new bars and lounges.
Living Room Bar and Terrace, 123 Washington Street, New York, NY 10006
Starwood has read our minds recently, and given FiDi this eclectic nouveau lounge, the Living Room Bar and Terrace. This chic downtown desire opened August 18th 2011, just in time for the end of summer. Like a billowy ocean wave, the LED lighting installation by Lamella, drapes across the ceiling to give a fun, open vibe unlike most of the usual modern bars of Wall Street. The lights reflect the black granite floors to create a vortex-like (think Tron:Legacy) atmosphere. But don’t worry, you won't get stuck in Tron world for too long; the neutral tan leather and purple accents warm the space to give a homier feel. And how could we forget the floor to ceiling windows, the chic wraparound terrace and most incredibly, the view of downtown Manhattan. If you’re bored with the view (or hungry) there are specially designed board games, light bites and an exciting cocktail list created by Charlotte Voisey of Rose Bar. Prices start at $15 with specialty options like the Lychee Blossom- Belvedere orange blossom with lychee juice, lemon, and peychaud bitters or the Bond Street Sparkler- Champagne with elderflower liquor with blackberries, and fresh mint.
Carlos Sampietro, born in Lake Como, Italy, moved from the advertising industry to the arts. Don't worry about getting bored while looking at his collection, "The Street Is In The House," is truly unique. Sampietro's motto for the exhibit is "There is beauty in something that has been in the street for so long."
Pictured above, is one of Sampietro's police barrier tables. The artist wanted to bring something that is normally scary and used to separate people, and turn it into something that will bring people together. Many of his works use similar elements -- transforming an item from the street into something beautiful and something that makes a statement about society.
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