Friday, March 26, 2010

What's Happening This Weekend?

Every weekend, we're bringing you five of our top events picks from around NYC. Check back next week for more ways you can eat, drink, see, shop and play around the city!

EAT

Join a crowd of fellow foodies on a search for the best brownie in Manhattan! After joining a team, you’ll receive a route that will take you on a sampling tour of NYC’s finest sweet treats. Whether you like the middle pieces or the crispy edges, cake-like or gooey, you’ll be able to find your favorite and cast your vote to determine the day’s best brownie (or just check out our list of NYC's Best Bakeries!).

Sunday, March 28, 3 pm
Meet at Greenwich Ave & 8th Ave, Manhattan

DRINK


Join Lacey Rozinsky, sommelier at The Four Seasons, at a private wine class and tasting. Learn about wine from one of the city's experts and sample a few different tastes from regions across the globe on the cheap! Space is limited, so sign up early!

Sunday, March 28, 6pm
751 President Street #4, Brooklyn
www.bklynevents.com

SEE

If you were the type of kid who would rather play with LEGO sets than set foot in a museum, you’re in luck. Nathan Sawaya’s art is entirely constructed in LEGO bricks. From small recreations of favorite desserts to life-size self portraits, he puts our old LEGO castles to shame.

Saturday, March 27, 11 am – 6 pm
530 W 25th St, Manhattan
www.brickartist.com

SHOP

Get your closet ready for spring with Built By Wendy’s sample sale: 70% off everything in the store. The summer dress and the classic cardigan sweater are the standouts at this store, a must for the wannabe quirky librarians in all of us.

Saturday and Sunday, March 27-28.
46 N. 6th St, Brooklyn

PLAY

Get your kicks at Coney Island this weekend: the Cyclone is reopening for business. The classic landmark roller coaster is offering free rides to the first 100 people to stand in line for some bone-shaking, old-timey fun. Our word to the wise: have your hot dogs afterward.

834 Surf Ave, Brooklyn
Sunday, March 28, opens at noon; $8 after the first 100 riders
coneyislandcyclone.com

Thursday, March 25, 2010

What Were the Alternate Names for the Mets?

And the answer is ...

d) Apples

Although New York City is often known as the Big Apple, the famous fruit was never in contention for the team name. "Mets" was chosen because it harkened back to an earlier New York team from the 1880s, and because the brevity of the name would look good in newspaper headlines.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

New York Trivia Tuesday

The New York Mets, New York's National League baseball team, got its name in the early 1960s -- It's short for "Metropolitans." Which of these team names was NOT a finalist in the selection?

a) Bees
b) Jets
c) Skyscrapers
d) Apples

Check back on Thursday for the answer to this week's New York trivia question!

Monday, March 22, 2010

New York’s Best: Vintage Stores

Spring is officially here, and it's time to stock up on seasonal garb. Where to get the goods? Check out our list of New York's best vintage stores to rock the season in style.

Buffalo Exchange

One of the forerunners to the vintage craze, Buffalo Exchange began in 1974 and has grown to become a nationwide chain of 37 stores, two of which are right here in the five boroughs. Although you won’t find many big name brands here, Buffalo’s mix of thrift and vintage basics make it a great first stop for those newly thinking about old styles.

504 Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn, (718) 384-6901
332 E. 11th Street, Manhattan, (212) 260-9340
www.buffaloexchange.com

Beacon’s Closet

The old standby for Brooklyn’s most trendy, Beacon’s Closet supplies an eclectic mix of vintage threads and last season’s top brands. We’ve found everything from Urban Outfitters rompers (new with tags) to vintage Marc Jacobs clutches. While the Williamsburg location is four times the size of the Park Slope store, gems can be found at both with a careful comb through the racks.

88 N 11th St, Brooklyn, (718) 486-0816
92 5th Ave, Brooklyn, (718) 230-1630
www.beaconscloset.com


The Clothing Warehouse


While Beacon’s Closet is in an empty warehouse, The Clothing Warehouse is, surprisingly, not in a warehouse at all. More upscale and strictly-vintage than Beacon’s or Buffalo, this small SoHo shop came up from Atlanta in 2009 and has been a staple for retro glamour ever since. With a superior selection of boots and paisley boho wear, the collection is painstakingly curated -- but expect to pay a little more for the goods.

8 Prince Street, Manhattan, (212) 343-1934
www.theclothingwarehouse.com

10 Ft. Single

Hidden away from the vintage-crazy crowds, 10 ft. Single is the lesser-known cousin of popular Village hotspot Stella Dallas. That means you’ll not only avoid the crowds, you’ll also get first choice of an amazing selection of designer vintage goods. Besides the standard dresses, hats and purses, the back of the store boasts an unparalleled men’s section from English waistcoats to white suits à la Michael Jackson.

285 N 6th St, Brooklyn, (718) 486-9482

Urban Jungle

Another warehouse-turned-retailer, Urban Jungle is certainly off the beaten path for vintage lovers. But what it lacks in prime location it makes up for in sheer volume; anyone will be able to find a perfect fit in this massive collection of clothes for an unbeatable price. Stamina is key: be prepared to spend a few hours sifting through the grit before you strike gold.

118 Knickerbocker St, Brooklyn
urbanjunglevintage.wordpress.com

Friday, March 19, 2010

What’s Happening This Weekend?: Our Picks

Every weekend, we're bringing you five of our top events picks from around NYC. Check back next week for more ways you can eat, drink, see, shop and play around the city!

EAT

March 20th is official Macaron Day (one of our personal favorite patry-related holidays). Enjoy this deliciously elegant French cookie at 13 renowned NYC bakeries for free to celebrate. Participants include Bouchon Bakery, La Maison du Chocolat and DessertTruck Works. Just say you're there for Macaron Day and get a free sweet treat. We'll be impressed if you hit all the stops.

Sat March 20, noon-10pm; free
See the participating stores: http://macarondaynyc.com/participants.html

DRINK


Get out of the dark bar and enjoy the spring weather this weekend at Bohemian Hall, New York's most celebrated beer garden. Even for die-hard Manhattanites, the plentiful outdoor garden bar seating and the impressive list of German beers make this watering hole a don't-miss destination and well worth the trip out to Astoria.

Weekends 12pm-11pm; free
2919 24th Avenue, Queens

SEE


You don't have to go to an observatory to see the stars this weekend. On Saturday night, amateur astronomers take to the streets and share their telescopes with the public. In a city where the lights are bright, these kind of starry views are hard to find, so check them out and ask the astronomers your burning celestial questions.

Sat, March 20; free
See website for location details: http://www.sidewalkastronomers.us/id220.html

SHOP


Lit lovers, it's your lucky day! Head on up to Book Culture, where nearly every book is 20% off thanks to the store's spring sale. Stock up on some Shakespeare, check out some Chaucer, or just browse around one of our favorite independent bookstores in NYC.

Sat and Sun, March 20-21, 11am-7pm
536 West 112th Street, Manhattan

PLAY


Get out, meet new friends and explore your city: The Amazing New York Race is having its last underground race of the season this weekend! Follow clues that take you through the underground secrets of NYC, and complete challenges along the way in this event that's part obstacle course, part scavenger hunt, and all New York!

Sun, March 21, 12:30pm-4:30pm; $35
Starts at Tracks Bar and Grill, LIRR level of Penn Station, 11 Penn Plaza, Manhattan

Thursday, March 18, 2010

What Is not in Grand Central?

And the answer is ...

c) a petting zoo

Grand Central station holds much more than just trains. The third level houses tennis courts that are open to members, and from 1939 to 1964, CBS had three studios above the main hall, which filmed the Evening News as well as classics like "What's My Line?"

The station also has a secret platform, number 61, that ran underneath the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. Although it was used for several visiting dignitaries, the platform's most famous guest was President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was more easily transported in his wheelchair to his hotel room and could avoid the public crowds.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

New York Trivia Tuesday

Grand Central Station in New York City is the world's biggest train station by the number of platforms it houses. But Grand Central has been a lot more than a train station over the years. Which of these has never existed in Grand Central over its 130-year history:

a) a tennis court
b) a secret platform
c) a petting zoo
d) a television studio

Check back on Thursday for the answer to this week's New York trivia question!