Month: April 2015

Chandler Hotel

Local Theater Showings

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Mary PoppinsFor those in town for a vacation – maybe staying at Shimmie Horn’s The Chandler Hotel located on 12 E 31st Street – the theater is currently offering has some really great shows. For example, Rupert Holmes’ Accomplice is playing at Murphys Creek Theatre. As well, there is the classic and much loved Mary Poppins by Sierra Repertory Theatre at the East Sonora theatre until May 3.

Also playing locally is the Honky Tonk Angels musical at the Fallon House theatre located at Columbia State Historic Park. And then the whole family can enjoy the Play Reading Series held on a weekly basis with features such as the “absurdist Elizabethan comedy by Tom Stoppard dealing with the exploits of two minor characters in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.”

Entertainment

Tribeca Film Festival

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film festivalLast week saw the start of the Tribeca Film Festival. It is not very typical as film festivals go.   It doesn’t feel the need to beg for attention as it were, like international ones such as Berlin, New York, or Cannes do. It is rather, a total celebration of communal life, documenting art movies, indie pop films and more that will likely appeal to a variety of tastes.

Over the years the festival has had more and less items. For example there were 176 movies in 2005 but then that figure was slashed to 85 four years later. This year it is somewhere in between and 100+ movies will be shown at theaters in neighboring areas.

“Good Kill” by Andrew Niccol is getting a lot of attention – very exciting docudrama focusing on drone warfare with Ethan Hawke. For some humor, check out Paul Weitz’s “Grandma.”

So for those in the area who like a bit of culture, the Tribeca Film Festival is well worth a visit.

Restaurants

New Addition for East Village Bar Scene

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by Heather Cheryl
by Heather Cheryl

New York’s east village is getting a new addition to its bar scene – Fifty Paces. Located at 413 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A, the bar is quite a trendy get up. Offering a vast wine list and swank menu, it replaces Paul Grieco and Marco Canora’s Terroir – a wine bar franchise who recently parted. Canora took over and rebranded the location, with something completely new.

And what’s with the name? A spin off from the now infamous Fifty Shades of Grey perhaps? According to Canora, no. The name followed the location since he had to keep telling people how to get there – 50 paces up the street from Hearth.

So for those seeking out something a bit different, go get a classy glass of wine, sunflower-seed hummus with crispy toast and an upscale sloppy Joe. It’s a nice place and has two happy hours throughout the evening-night. A true welcome addition to the east village.

Restaurants

Drinking up Manhattan

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by terren in Virginia
by terren in Virginia

Of course, there is the traditional Manhattan cocktail; something that is easy enough to DIY…it’s just pretty much a mixture of sweet vermouth, bourbon whiskey, bitters, topped with a maraschino cherry and an umbrella! It’s not all that pricey either.

But for those who want to go a little bit more out of the box, there is now the GG Manhattan. Served up at the Irvington, on Park Avenue, north of Union Square, as well as offering this rather pricey cocktail ($30 a pop), there are some great food options too.

In actuality, the GG Manhattan is not really all that expensive as it is actually designed for two. It is a sharing drink so can also create and build intimacy. It comes with a couple of rocks glasses, brimming with ice and a flask, that comes very cold and labeled GG Manhattan – but the label just uses a magic marker and piece of masking tape!

For those hungry after their drink, enjoy what has been hailed as “New American [cuisine] with Mediterranean influences.”

NY Environment

Beauty in Manhattan

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gherkinThere is so much concealed beauty in Manhattan. The city is not necessarily known for this – more4 spoken about is the happenings in the center of New York. But thanks to filmmakers Danny Jacobs and Darren Grodsky – who actually set out to do something quite different – this could be changing.
What the twosome did was walk the entire length of Manhattan from top to bottom, noting their discoveries of pockets of beauty for others to enjoy.
Beginning at 225th Street’s Broadway Bridgek, walking through Inwood, Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen, Gramercy, the West Village and more, the filmmakers completed their journey at Battery Park.
Here is their advice for those looking for beauty in Manhattan: A walk through Fort Tryon Park offers a great escape from busy urban life; United Palace Theatre which has a sign saying “come in, or smile as you pass” was “hopping with an incredibly diverse group of people” the day they arrived there. They feel like it is New York at its truest!
Next up Washington Heights that turns to Harlem that has 30-40 blocks sporting a very “interesting island [with] an elevated train… wide blocks, wide sidewalks and really lovely trees.” Then there is the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine on Amsterdam Avenue and West 12th Street – one of the world’s largest cathedrals. If you’re getting hungry at this point, Koronet Pizza serves “ridiculously giant slices” and Jacob’s Pickles at West 84th Street is the pickle-lover’s haven.
There are a few other places on their list. But this makes a great start.