Month: June 2015

Entertainment

Midler in Manhattan

admin
by Alan Light
by Alan Light

Divine Intervention is coming to Manhattan. Or, more precisely, Bette Midler and her tour. Featuring material from It’s the Girls (her new album) as well as other parts of her long-term career, this show has fun costume changes and sets, classics she is known for including Wind Beneath My Wings (from the famed Thelma and Louise movie) as well as her risqué bath house humor.

In addition, since her latest album – It’s the Girls – is a tribute to girl power, this would make a perfect trip for a true girl’s night out (such as a bachelorette party) at Madison Square Garden. Manhattan is a great place to see Bette Midler given her duet, ‘Manhattan’ with Rod Stewart.

For those who miss the Manhattan shows, they can catch it in Brooklyn at the Barclay Center.

NY Environment

Reconnecting Washington Heights and the Bronx

admin
by vastateparksstaff
by vastateparksstaff

Finally, after decades of closure, the High Bridge linking Washington Heights and Highbridge is reopening. Built in 1848 it closed down in the 1970s and pedestrians were not able to make the move from these two neighborhoods. At the reopening, officials and community members were joined by Gale Brewer (Manhattan Borough President) and Ruben Diaz Jr. (Bronx Borough President). The two raised their hands yelling “Welcome to Manhattan.”

This is a great way of bringing families together. As Diaz said, “today this is about making sure that we’re not just joining Washington Heights and the Highbridge section of the Bronx physically, today is about joining families.”

What is great about this is that it is similar to the bridge as it was in the 1950s. Indeed, Sidney Horenstein crossed it during that time and said it is now “almost the same…save for the 8-foot protective fence, the benches and the light posts.”

Overall the feeling is that it is great that people can walk between these two neighborhoods now. The focus though probably has to move toward ensuring safety though.

 

Restaurants

Melbourne Meets East Village

admin

indian-foodBabu Ji is a restaurant that hails from Melbourne, Australia, which is making its way overseas. To the East Village to be precise. The restaurant’s name could refer to many things: a bureaucrat, a song in the Bollywood movie Salaam E Ishq, title of India’s former Deputy Prime Minister, Ramsevak Singh, among others. The New York eatery is run by husband-and-wife team Jessi (who runs the kitchen) and Jessica (who controls what happens at the front of the Avenue B location).

It’s a pretty hip place too. Bollywood films on the wall (perhaps to tie in with the Salaam E Ishq reference?) and typical Indian street food including the Papdi Chaat which could make a great start for New Yorkers wanting to sample Indian fare but are a bit scared. These are sort of like nachos but using chickpea crisps. Served with an interesting chutney too.

So for New Yorkers wanting to sample a bit of India, check out Babu Ji.

Entertainment

New York Summer Fun

admin

Central-ParkThere is so much to do in the Big Apple. And in the summer the calendar gets even busier. Of course Central Park is always a classic, but here we look at other potential hot spots over the course of the next few months.

With festivals, carnivals, and more, New York City is the place to be. The Pier A Harbor House in Manhattan is has a spectacular beer garden, where one can enjoy a pint of Guinness, or a Long Hall Lager, while taking in the Zen of the sunset and panoramic views.

For views of the Hudson River, take in a latte while basking in some culture at the Studio Café, located in the Whitney Museum of Modern Art and for those who prefer the aesthetics of the East River, the Brooklyn Barge Bar is a great place to visit.

And then of course there are the more active delights in the city, such as Central Park’s Amazing Scavenger Hunt that operates every day from 10am until 7 30pm, enabling tourists and natives alike to uncover true gems that are often missed completely at the park.

So get out the sunscreen, put on your sun hat and discover the thrills of New York in the summer of 2015.