CINCO DE MOLLY

Eye mask twinsies!

Molly, Matt & Alex on their roof!

view from rooftop East

Jumpin Journey

My long-lost friend surprised me with a visit!  Well it wasn't too much of a surprise with a couple weeks notice, but I was still so excited to see MOLLY and show her around my digs!  It was perfect timing too because I was wrapping up easy-breezy fine cut notes on my show and was low-stressin that Friday.  She was staying with her parents in Rockland so I met her extended family for her aunts' birthday dinner on the upper east side.   
Then I nabbed her back to the East Village and the fun began!  We actually didn't do too much that night, met Dan, Dave and Dan Schwartz for a couple drinks but I was getting over a cold and ready for bed.  Plus we were looking forward to brunch in Hells' Kitchen with her friend Matt and his bf Alex.  It was 'gay brunch' to be exact.  And if I had had a hangover that morning the thumping trans music playing in the restaurant would have made my head explode.  Lucky for me, I wasn't hungover.  Steak and eggs and mimosas!  Then we walked through this long flea market back to their apartment which was lovely with high ceilings.  They have an adorable little yorkie who I smothered with attention.  We made some more drinks and walked up to their roof which had a pretty sweet view of midtown and times square. 

view from rooftop west

Times Square leaving Hells Kitchen

Mich, Molly & I @ Blue & Gold

Christian & Chell

tequila?

When our glasses emptied, Molly & I walked back home through the wretched Times Square and through the biggest subway terminal in the city to get to the NR line.  Times Square is soooo crowded it makes me want to hurt people.  We had planned on shopping and milling about but a serious nap was called for.  Michelle, my lil sis, was about to begin her 10 day NY/DC adventure by arriving that night at 10pm, so we needed to rest up good!    Molly called some more hometown friends living in the city and we all met up in my neighborhood... even Christian came out with his bicycle, which I let him keep inside my place.  We met her friends at a local dive bar I've never been to, Blue and Gold.  They're known for their seriously cheap whiskey drinks & shots.  I stuck with tequila on the rocks to level me out.  In the middle of some early debauchery, we got the excited call from Michelle, she has just arrived at my place!  We ran back home to meet her and I quickly picked up a few orders of dumplings from The Dumpling Man across the street!  It's possible that a soup dumpling fell out of my chopsticks and into the brim of my boot... Soup in the boot!  It was delicious... 
 

Wearing Pat's ironic glasses

Anyways, we went back to Blue & Gold (Spike's old stomping ground) and then flocked to some NYU bar i found on 2nd ave that wasn't college crowded.  I told all my boys to come meet after their little karaoke adventure in K-town, in honor of their friend Steve.  They all we're dressed up classy-like, or just flamboyantly-strange.  Hard to put my finger on it, but it was a night of dress-up, nonetheless.

Classy...?

Tom & Pat, the destroyers

We shot over to this nothing bar on 12th & A that we knew had a DJ and a dance floor.  So what if we were the only ones there besides a few other weirdos?  We danced up a storm and brought it till the break of dawn.  I was especially blown away by Tom's spastic dance moves and booty shakes!

The next morning, Chell, Molly and I did something non-traditional in terms of brunches.  We went to Momofuku Noodle bar for brunch/lunch!  (my 3rd time!!!)  Molly was dying to go and had previously suggested dim sum for food requests so this actually made perfect sense... And lemme tell you, momo is just as good for lunch as it is for dinner!  As I'm writing this I'm reminded that I so easily abandoned my normal Momo abbreviation, 'momotaro' sushi in burbank, best damn sushi around!  I guess I'm really a long way from home, but I haven't forgotten you momo!  But I digress...Fuku was excellent and I let Michelle take all the pics bc I've already ooo'd, ahhh'd and blogged about it twice!  Tim was working there of course and hooked us up, AGAIN, with some delicious dishes.  My new favorite was the soy sauce EGG!  A hard-boiled egg coated in soy sauce and something else amazing crusted with a light dose of panko crumbs?  every bite was incredible!  Michelle was a lil embarrassed by mine Molly's ordering behaviors!  When in Rome, Chellis, when in rome!  

Molly & Chell @ Tompkins Sq Park

So soon after that it was time to bid the girls ado.  Molly was taking the metro north train back up to Rockland to spend her last day with her fam... and Michelle was taking the bolt bus down to D.C. to spend a few days with Lauren Youngman!  --> shout out to come soon lady!  

Occupy @ Union Square

Herald Square

I walked them through my lovely Tompkins Square Park and then up to Union Square where Molly took off.  I accompanied Chell up to her bus, @ 33rd... Herald Square area.  I noticed a little Madison Square Garden peeking out around the corner...  It felt like a real Sunday, saying bye to everyone, but I was excited that Chell was coming back in a few days and then joined again by Jay, who I hadn't seen in 5 weeks!!!  

MSG

The homestretch of my stay was here & I was set on enjoying every moment!  This weekend was no exception, thanks for the good times guys!!!

WEEKEND OF THE TAURUS

Spencer, Dave & Dan at Zum Schneider's

Contrary to popular belief, the week of the Taurus actually happened this year!  Moments before the famous weekend, Spencer and Jess decided to come up from the DC area to get crazy with us New Yorkers, Taurus style.  For the majority of my readers, Week of the Taurus is a tradition we've had since college, getting together in towns all across the country to celebrate the Taurus birthdays of Spencer Vilet, David Moore & Ricardo Velasco (not present this year).  So Friday night, while celebrating Aaron Estrada's birthday at the $3 tavern in Murray Hill (yes everything was $3!!) and sparking a budding romance -talkin bout you Joe & Meryl!!- Spencer and Jess arrived.  It was a fantastic evening clad with a record-breaking hand shake competition.  Way to go nerds!

Dan loves the attention!

Dan & Tom, best friends!

The next day, I attempted to get broadway tickets at the TKTS booth down in South St Seaport (they sell next-day matinees), but alas they didn't have the play I wanted to see, Once.  I learned that the Taurus boys were chilling at a German restaurant right in my neighborhood, Zum Schneider.  So I met the lasses and had a nice Bavarian delight.  I wanted to make the most of my weekend, as per usual, so while they left for a bar to go watch the basketball game, I shot over to Williamsburg to meet Julie Duffield and peanut for a little dog park action!  Peanut is such a nut!  We hung out in McCadden Park, then walked around in Greenpoint a little.  We went into a couple vintage stores and I bought a shirt.  It's totally my hipster androgynous plaid button down I needed to bring home as a souvenir from Brooklyn!  Score!   After shopping, I left Julie and headed back to Manhattan... I met the boys at the sports bar in Alphabet City and began the rest of our night.  I was pretty tired from waking up to early (trying to get tickets) that I knew if I went home that would be it.  So why not just keep going until I'm done for the evening.  And that's what I did.  Many others gathered there, including Meryl, at the request of Mr. Catanese!  Budding romance continues...  

You say, I only hear what i want to...

We went from there to some place on 10th & Ave B with a live band.  There all the boys were breaking out into accapellic harmonies during intermissions of the band and I suggested to just go to karaoke already!  And so we did!  Private room turned into a crazy night of belting out the Boss & Lisa Loeb favorties!  I sneaked off to go home at some point.  It was a fun night!

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

The next morning, I jumped out of bed and ran up to Times Square, man what an awful place!  But I was determined to get those play tickets and the 'day-of' was my best chance.  Sure enough, the TKTS booth had them, discounted, and I hardly had to wait in line.  I got out of there as soon as I could, trying to escape the oncoming crowds of obnoxious tourists.  I had a few hours before the play with Emily, so with no one awake and wanting to go to brunch with me, I went to Brooklyn to check out the Botanical Gardens.  
It was a quick trip but couldn't have asked for better weather to see the gardens in.  It was gorgeous out with hardly any humidity.  They had the Cherry Blossoms festival going on with a huge tent of performers and food, but I was more interested in the flowers.  It was nice to get out of the city and see so many different types of foliage.  I ran through the garden on my way back to get to the train back to times square…  I made it to the theater with no seconds to spare and met Emily.

Set of "Once"

“Once” the play, was awesome!  If you liked the movie, have listened to the soundtrack, you won’t be disappointed!  And if you’ve never heard of the story, you’ll love it also.  The stage was set as the bar and it never changes and doesn’t have too!  We thoroughly enjoyed it.  Great music and singing and acting.

Back to brooklyn for 2nd time

That night, after the play, this insane person went back to Brooklyn!  Well Emily deemed me legally insane.  I had a mission... to cross off an amazing historical NY pizza parlour from my list.  And Meryl knew all about DiFara's in deep brooklyn... She agreed to go with me and Joe.  So, once again, I got on the Q train to Brooklyn, crossing over the river for the 2nd time today.  I met them at Meryl's house in Prospect Heights and she drove us.  It was a memorable experience, lemme tell ya.  Gotta be one of the best damn pizza's I've ever had, EVER!  We arrived on J street and found ourselves in a Hasidic neighborhood.  In fact, two doors down from DiFara's was a "kosher" pizza joint; poor lads have to have that substitute!  We walk into Difara's and there's two people behind the tiled counter, an old man very concentrated on his work at hand and a younger middle-aged man doing most of the talking.  The place is small, seats about 12-15 ppl, and all the tables are taken.  We ordered our pizza pie for the three of us with sausage and yellow peppers.  It will take about 45 minutes, but we don't mind.  The smell was incredible inside, but we were feeling a lil overcrowded so we took a walk.  

Olive oil topping

A jewish bakery across the street called out to us and we selected a couple cookies and rugula's to munch on.  There wasn't much else to do on the block so we moseyed back into the pizza place, slowly.  While we stood in the corner and stalked patrons to nab their tables as soon as they got up I started photographing the pizza making process. 

cheese chunks

Toppings and toppings

DiFARA'S- MMMMMMMM!

So apparently this old guy has been there since the 50s, every day, hand making every pie.  He rolls out the dough, hand slices big thick pieces of cheese, sprinkles them on... ladles chunky tomato sauce onto the dough, more cheese chunks, and then any other toppings you might have requested.  Slides the delicious looking pie into the pizza oven... 20 minutes later he pulls it out, drizzles it with olive oil generously and rips apart fresh basil leaves and sprinkles them over the pie.  The last thing he does is add more cheese and seal it up in a pizza box.  Within a minute all of the fresh cheese and basil has melted into the pizza and it's ready to eat!  Fantastico!  Increible!  This experience was definitely worth the entire hour it took me to get home on the Q that evening.  I didn't even mind the cold that night on the outdoor platform.

           -------------->>>>>>>>>GO HERE!!!

ORGASMIC EATS

Dave, Pam & Me @ Momofuku Noodle Bar

So this wonderful entry is going to be mainly about the food I ingested this week.  I honestly apologize in advance to the food lovers out there!  I was on the other side of this coin recently, when Jay posted an amazing looking pizza pie from Lombardi's in Little Italy while I was working, and it made me incredibly envious (and hungry!)  So, I'm sorry, really, but it's not gonna stop me from showcasing my culinary conquests.  

homemade Egg & Cheese

It began with a homemade breakfast sammie... not just any breakfast sammie, mind you, but one NY-bodega-inspired egg and cheese sandwich (since it was homemade i had no bacon or sausage to add).  I bought the roll nearby and of course it was beautiful looking.  Shout-out to Mr. Adam Tesler for always showing his love for the 'kaiser roll'... i have a new found appreciation for them since eating their fluffy and delectable east coast cousins every day.  

Fried oyster sams from The Dutch

Then Mr. Robert Schmidt (aka bob, aka jays' roomie in my absence) came into town for work and I met him at The Dutch in Soho.  I guess it borders the southern west village... I absolutely love these manhattan neighborhooditas and how I have such a better grasp on them... of course it helps that i'm obsessed with maps, but it's fun to navigate!  This restaurant was recommended to me from Laura awhile ago and I finally made it.  Delicious stuff, great drinks and fun atmosphere.  Featured here are the fried oyster sliders... delectable!  Bob and I wined and dined then I guided him over to the East Village where we slummed it at the Horse Box, with Dave, in classic EV fashion!

pork belly buns!  we each got one!

I'll move on to the next night, Momofuku special treatment night!  I know I know, I already had a post about momofuku noodle bar on here, but this is different, trust me.  Back then I barely stumbled upon the legacy, ate solo at the bar, chose my entree conservatively (classic ramen noodle soup) and had a solitary yet deep experience.  This time around, we were with Pam!  Pam is Dave Moore's good friend from traveling abroad (i think) during their architecture undergrad... They stayed friends in NY & now Pam's fiance is the sous chef for Momofuku noodle bar.  Tim is an incredible guy!  Not only is he uber generous, but he's fascinated by all the ways to cook eggs... which totally fascinates me!  Soy sauce egg anyone??  So although i was so proud of dining solo the last time around, walking right through the crowd of hungry people waiting and sitting at the bar with excellent service, this time around we were royalty!  The wait was going to be 40 minutes; as soon as Pam showed up, we walked in, the hostess and waitresses recognized her, parted the ways and seated us immediately.  Dave and I were super impressed!!!

Curried cauliflour

Amazing take on snow peas

Needless to say, we ordered 75% of the menu (inventive specials change every week) and then Tim hooked us up with the other 25%.  We indulged loudly with little grace but happy faces.  Here are a series of pics taken from our ostentatious meal!

Potatoes w pancetta & bonito flakes

ginger scallion noodles!

Soft shell crab delight

To wrap up my incredible week of yummy goodness, my producer at work, Drew, and I ventured out to a two hour lunch on Friday in search of the New York jewish mecca.  DELI.  We trekked it to the Upper West Side, which isn't that far from us since we work on 57th and 10th.  When we emerged on 79th and Broadway, I saw sandy-colored parisian buildings, green trees lining the center of the boulevard and way less traffic then I was used to thus far.  Ahh, this place is pleasant!  I think I like the upper west side!  I had a couple delis written down in the neighborhood but we finally decided on Zabar's.  The counter in their small store is pretty limited with mostly breakfast items and prepackaged sandwiches.  Then I poke my head into their actual supermarket to see if we could score quality deli and I was pleasantly surprised...(after we had to fight the jewish elderly just to get down the aisles!)  They had an enormous cheese counter, take a number!, then in another room the meat counter, take a number! and on the opposite wall the fish counter, TAKE A NUMBER!  

Roast beef, tongue & pastrami

Fresh cut, ready to package or make a sandwich to go.  We both went for typical sky-high meat sandwiches, in all their glory!  There was a guy giving out samples of salmon & when he saw me eying the containers of smoked white fish salad he opened one up and gave me a sample right then and there!  He was awesome.  I walked out with my mile-high sandwich on rye, a container of white fish pate, a container of chopped chicken liver pate & a bag of crackers!  P.S. it was the best damn chopped liver I've ever had next to my Grandma Babs' homemade stuff!  Insano.

coleslaw in the center of the meats so bread doesn't get soggy!

We walked back to work that afternoon, because otherwise we might have keeled over and died... (don't worry, I only ate half of this sandwich!)  Drew raved about his favorite chocolate chip cookie spot in the city that we just happened to be walking by so we just happen to stop in.

   I honestly didn't believe him when he described how incredible these fresh baked cookies were, until I started down the Levain Bakery basement stairs and the familiar whiff hit me like a factory of childhood memories.  COOKIES!!!  Then i saw them.  They were softball size mounds of dough, placed neatly on trays upon trays upon trays.  Could this just be one cookie!?  

Levain choco chip cookies pre-baked

Drew assured me that 1 was all we needed and i assured him that we could split it.  After we got our ginormous cookie that could have been easily mistaken for a large scone, we walked with it warm on the wax paper, down Amsterdam Ave.  I took the first bite because Drew is a gentleman, and because I think he couldn't wait to see my reaction.  Hands down, the most delicious chocolate chip cookie I have ever tasted!  And because it was so tall and thick a good part of the inside was half cooked and damn scrumptious!  I was immediately energized by the happiness this cookie provided, or maybe it was the sugar.  Regardless, I'll never forget Levain bakery!

In all it's baked glory (half-baked inside!!)