Month: January 2016

The Evelyn

Great Steaks

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steakIf you are looking for an evening out that includes a delicious steak when you are spending a few nights at Shimmie Horn’s The Evelyn, look no further than Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse. This popular restaurant gives customers the ability to “feel completely at home in an atmosphere so cordially convivial.”

Run by owners Ben and Jack Sinanaj (who are also first cousins) as well as their siblings Harry and Russ, the Sinanajs’ have “devoted themselves to the religion of the NYC steakhouse.” As well it features two bars (with exquisite cocktails), a long dining room and five private dining spaces. It has a classic feel to it, including “ochre-colored walls, dark wood, sturdy chairs, white tablecloths, a wine wall.”

So that’s one new fun way to enjoy a steak in the heart of New York City.

Restaurants

GastroPub to Open in Upper West Side

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gastroChef Rob McCue (of Chef Roble and Co. and Hell’s Kitchen Season 8 competitor) will be overseeing the menu at a gastropub to open near West 107th Street at 949 Columbus Avenue. This two-floor eatery will be in the location of where Lura – a Mediterranean restaurant – once was.

The idea behind this is, according to McCue create a “London-style gastropub and bring it to the Upper West Side, where one doesn’t really exist.” The goal is to offer “comfort food [in a] higher end more relaxed setting.” Craft beers sourced from New York State will also be available.

One local was reported to have said that this now, Columbus Avenue is “slowly starting to develop” adding that hopefully “this venture will be a nice enhancement to that area.”

Fashion

For the Vintage and Obscure

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vintage-fashionThat’s what you’ll get when you visit Duo – the boutique store run by sister team LaRae and Wendy Kangas. In 2008 the siblings opened up their store to the public, and since then, it has become quite the place to be. Indeed, today, it is “a favorite amongst downtown locals and girls that wear vintage Levis.” They were in the right place at the right time; both having found themselves in New York.

The Kangas’ sisters always spoke about going into business with each other; entrepreneurship is common in their family but in college they never thought it would happen. Since they are four years apart they had a lot of “sisterly bonding fights” and working together wasn’t on the cards. But then it was. And that is what resulted in this East 9th Street store being filled with “Calvin Klein cashmere sweaters and reworked denim, plus modern styles by under-the-radar brands.” They didn’t study fashion at college but they loved it anyway.

So how else can the youth of today get into the world of fashion in the Big Apple? StylingOn Showroom is currently looking for an intern to work at its “full serviced fashion showroom,” right in the center of NYC’s fashion district. Working closely with showroom managers will be a great way in to the world of fashion in the place where it all happens – the center of New York City.

Shimmie Horn

New York City Technology

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kioskEast Village has just gotten the first ever free Wi-Fi Kiosk in New York City. Located at 3rd Avenue near Manhattan’s 15th Street, it has to undergo QC first but once it starts working it will be at 2.0 signal strength, with a range of 150 feet. It is hoped that it will be as fast as Google Fiber.

Gone are the old pay phone booths and in their stead, 7,500 hubs are planned by the city over the next eight years. It is anticipated that screen advertising will generate $500 million revenue over the next 12 years.

Meanwhile, other parts of the city and other areas of technology are decidedly low-tech and lacking in any modern features. For example, New York City’s subway system which uses century-old technology. At the moment, the state agency responsible for the subway, the MTA is undergoing a budget battle to get the funds needed for this very necessary update.

Restaurants

Eating with a Difference in Tribeca

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berriesFor those looking for a menu with a difference in the Tribeca neighborhood, they might be pleased to hear that Maman is opening a third restaurant at 211 West Broadway. Get something that is simultaneously delicious, aesthetically pleasing and healthy, such as the spaghetti-squash “à la carbonara.” This dish features a poached egg, roasted pastrami, pumpkin seeds and rosemary on top of gluten free corn spaghetti and spaghetti squash. Quite delicious and very pretty.

It is hoped that this restaurant will succeed since just over a year ago the first one opened on Centre Street. Next one opened in Toronto and this is the third one. It will be open seven days a week from 7am to midnight.

Tribeca these days is becoming quite well known for its alternative food fare. For example, A. B. Biagi with its organic milk based ice cream, featuring Brazilian flavors and tastes such as basil pine nut and acai berry. If you want a creamy soy milk panna cotta, check out Brushstroke and then for freshly ground Japanese buckwheat, kobe beef and more, Daruma-ya is perfect.

Tribeca certainly has a whole slew of new and veteran restaurants offering alternative food fare to its customers.