A Local and a Chain

We ate at two very good places here in NYC over the course of the last few days. The one we went to on the Fourth of July was the more special of the two for various reasons, but they both deserve mention.

Since it was too hot and we didn't feel like grilling on the Fourth, we went to a barbecue place in Astoria we hadn't tried before. It's called Butcher Bar, though the sign on the building just says "Smoke." Small but comfortable on the inside, there's also a backyard garden for dining though too steamy that night for us. We were drawn to Butcher Bar because its website said all the meat is grass-fed, free-range, hormone and antibiotic free, etc., and everything they serve is organic. There were even vegetarian options like veggie burgers for the friend my son brought along, but I wouldn't go in there if I were a strict vegetarian, because they do have a meat-market case and there's a lot of red, raw meat on display. Well, it suited me fine, but only because of the afore-mentioned natural-ness of the meat. I ordered a 1/4 pound each of the pulled pork and brisket (I wanted burnt ends but, like most good bbq places they were sold out by that time of the day) and mashed potatoes. My husband got ribs and potato salad. Everything was divine - I mean scrumptious! And very reasonably priced. However, as friendly, kind, helpful, and fast the waitresses were, the kitchen couldn't keep up with the rush. We waited about a 1/2 for our food and my son and his friend longer, as they came in after us. The waitress said they were always busy on holidays, but if that's the case, the management should plan ahead for it. Oh, and it took about 15 minutes to get our check back after we gave them the credit card, so maybe the waitresses got overwhelmed too. Anyway, I love the idea of a local place that serves great, natural and organic, sustainable food in a nice and friendly atmosphere. For this I rate Butcher Bar:
Extraordinarily sincere!

The chain restaurant we visited Friday the Fifth for lunch in Manhattan was Chop't - a place many readers may already be familiar with. I hadn't yet experienced the chopped salad phenomenon, but it sounded good, and Jon and I just needed a quick, light lunch. Jon ordered a Cobb Salad while I was still deciding, but when we looked at the amount of food going into it, decided to split it. He asked them to divide it into two bowls and I thought they would quibble, but they did it ever so cheerfully, at no extra charge. They were patient as he decided on the dressing, and in general were very friendly - something you don't always find in NYC. At the cashier, we were thinking about getting a drink, and she offered us a free cup of ice water. Very nice. The place was cool and comfortable - we even got a booth, and best of all, the meats are all free-range and hormone free. The veggies are not necessarily organic, but they try to serve local foods as much as possible. The salad was delicious and half of it was plenty for lunch. The whole thing, at 670 calories would have been way over the top for me, but most salads there had way fewer calories - between 300 and 400 for the whole thing, which is more like it. And one more super-plus: you can recycle the plastic to-go bowls and all other plastics, except the forks. They also have to-stay bowls that they wash and re-use, but we didn't think of it in time. I try to avoid chains, though this one is only in NY and Washington D.C. so far. I have to say, Chop't is one I'd try it again. So, though I would rarely give a chain our highest rating, I'll certainly rate it:
Pretty sincere!

Amé Amé (or Rain and Candy)

I haven't posted for a while about just a great little New York shop, but I love Amé Amé on East 9th Street in Manhattan. I went in on a rainy day to buy an umbrella. At first I balked at paying $27.00 for a collapse-able umbrella, even though the designs were all so cute, and the one I was interested in was super-compact, because I was sure I'd lose it or it would break. But the salesperson, who I think is the owner,Teresa Soroka, assured me that if I put it back in it's waterproof case every time I used it, rather than letting it flop onto the floor to dry wherever I went, I wouldn't lose it - nor would it break. Though little, it was super strong, she said. Since my other problem is that my son always borrows my umbrellas and loses them, I bought one with black, white and grey roses so he wouldn't be tempted. It's very pretty and very vintage-y looking. Sure enough, one year later, I still have it, it still works perfectly, and it stands up in any wind. I adore it. Points for that, Amé Amé!

Then, I needed rain boots and saw some cute yellow ones in their on-line store. When I went in to the shop, they were higher in price, but the same salesperson let me have them for the low on-line price of $40, I believe it was. They are comfy, warm, adorable, and really sturdy. More points!

Yes, Amé Amé is a little pricey. I checked just now and didn't see anything in their on-line store as cheap as the prices I mentioned, but there's more variety in the store. And besides, most of their items are made in Canada, England or the U.S. They are the epitome of a great, local business. And did I mention they sell candy too? I used to think they were called Rain and Candy... just an adorable idea for a store. Please patronize them this holiday season, either in person or on-line. You can order from anywhere in the world!

Ame Ame
318 E. 9th street

New York, NY 10003

http://www.amerain.com/

Evaluation:
Pretty sincere

Sorriso Italian Pork Store - Astoria

It was Good Friday. We'd spent the afternoon at St. Mark's-in-the-Bowery in Manhattan, rockin' out to the Good Friday Blues program in which Josh had performed. We'd planned an evening with Italian friends: Teresa, an Italian/American, and Elena, the real thing, who was going to cook for us at our house, after which we were all going to dye Easter eggs. But it was 4:00 and we were already famished. To complement Elena's meal, we decided to pick up some antipasti, and took Teresa's recommendation of checking out Sorriso, a neighborhood Salumeria, or "pork store," as they call themselves. We were unprepared for the extravaganza of homemade Italian delicacies that awaited us: fresh mozzarella - still warm - house made sopressata - spicy and sweet - fried ravioli and artichoke hearts, olives, prosciutto balls and Italian sparkling water. These were only the items we took home. We could have bought an entire "home cooked" meal of pastas, meats, salads and sweets, but we'd already spent a pretty penny. We weren't hungry any more though, as the proprietor had stuffed us full of samples. It was just the home-grown experience you'd expect from small town USA or Italy, but with every delicacy you'd expect to find in NYC...Queens that is. Manhattan may have it all, but I doubt it has anything to compare with Sorriso's combination of freshness, gourmet quality and friendliness.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere! 
4416 30th Ave
Astoria, NY 11103
(718) 728-4392 

The New York City Tenement Museum

In the heart of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where huddled masses of immigrants teemed a hundred years ago, a testament to their lives and their struggles beckons. It is called the NYC Tenement Museum. To go there is to time-travel to an era and a place which, if one had their choice via time machine, one would probably not choose to go. For it is at the Tenement Museum that you experience the cramped conditions, the lack, the desperation, but also the pervasive hope and determination of many of our ancestors and remember that, after all, we are a country of immigrants. 

You have to make an appointment to visit the Tenement Museum and you go on your tour in a small group. You choose the experience you wish to have - to learn about one particular family, be it Irish, Jewish, Russian, Greek or Italian, and their struggles. In my experience, the best one is the Confino Family tour where you meet a young actress, flawlessly portraying a Greek/Sephardic immigrant from early in the 20th century, see her home and ask her questions, which she answers completely in character. On the other tours you go with a guide through a family's restored apartment in this once condemned building and he or she explains the family's history and the artifacts therein.

Admission is a little steep: $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors, but they're pretty generous with discount coupons. They also do public school tours for a much lower price and they provide free tours to ESL groups. For all the grand museums in New York City, this small, rundown brick building on Orchard Street is for so many reasons, in my opinion, truly the most sincere.

Evaluation: Very sincere



http://www.tenement.org/ 
108 Orchard Street
New York, NY

Porto Rico Importing Company - Coffee

We've all seen the cartoons where the little mouse is carried along by the very sinuous and slinky odor of a block of cheese. The mouse is lifted from his feet and there's music  heard as he's wafted along by that enticing smell.  We all now associate that music with snake charmers ( research let me find "Dance Of The Snake Charmer") from old black and white movies. Or maybe you know it as the melody to elementary school songs that had to do with France and ladies without pants? Anyway, there was no music (that I can remember) as I walked by the entrance to Porto Rico that day with Georgina on my arm. What I do remember is that she kissed me, and went on to work whilst I was lifted from my feet and carried by the aroma of roasting coffee into this little store. Honestly, I had no choice. I ordered a large iced coffee. They charged me $2.00. I commented on the stunning perfume of the coffee out on the sidewalk, and the one other customer in the store agreed heartily, and informed me that I just happened in at a perfect time since under typical conditions the place would have been packed with other mice such as myself. I was indeed thankful for my good fortune. The woman behind the counter was kind and helpful. The coffee was delicious. What more might I want? Well, since you ask, I just happen to like agave nectar or chocolate soy milk as condiments for my brew, and they did not have them, but I'm forced to admit that such exotic elements are generally found to be available only in my home where the coffee is just as good. Still, there's nothing like finding something so wonderful as a freshly made cup of coffee served by pleasant people, available at my whim as I wander the streets of Manhattan. This ain't no starbucks. This ain't no disco. This ain't no foolin' around. This, my friends, is the real deal.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!

 

PORTO RICO IMPORTING CO.
201 BLEECKER ST.
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10012
212-GR7-5421
1-800-453-5908
http://www.portorico.com/store/ 

Pangea and Virage - Manhattan

Pangea and Virage: they sound like casinos in Las Vegas. They are, in fact, two restaurants within a few blocks of each other in the East Village, a place where many of our reviews are centered because we tend to hang out there a lot. So do a number of friends of ours, in particular, one charming gentleman, Jerry Long, who suggested we review these two establishments. It had never occurred to me to do so before, because, though I've been to both on more than one occasion, neither particularly stood out. However, I don't frequent them as much as others, and I have a feeling that those who do have a lot of fond things to say about them.

To me, Pangea conjures up Sunday brunch with a large group of friends on New Years Day: patient waiters catering to each as we stumble in one by one, each of us politely refraining from ordering until we are all assembled, so by the time we do, we're so starved everything seems delicious. I also remember late night glasses of red wine with another group of friends, the staff allowing us to meet in the back, in a dark, mysterious room to mull over our urgent conversations. So, Pangea: flexible, solicitous, open when you need them. Sincere? Sure.

Virage is brunch central. A particular friend likes to meet us there because it's literally half a block from her apartment. The food's fine, the prices OK, the atmosphere pleasing. Otherwise, nothing stands out good or bad, for which reason I probably wouldn't have posted about it unless it had been suggested. Sincere? Maybe.

I urge those with stronger opinions about either locale to post a comment. Let us know where they stand on your sincerity barometer.

For now I evaluate them both: Kind of sincere




Pangea
178 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10003
(212) 995-0900
www.pangeanyc.com

Virage
118 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10003-8303
(212) 253-0425
www.viragenyc.com

Think Coffee - Manhattan

So, after visiting the Yippie Cafe, we desperately needed something to eat, it being around 11:00 p.m., us having spent an hour and a half earlier in the evening at our swing dance class (yes, we're taking
swing dance - very insincere of me to mention) and there not being anything palatable at the Yippie. So we wandered outside and into a place called Think Coffee that I had dismissed, when we'd passed it before, as looking like a yuppie (as opposed to yippie) haven next door. It so wasn't.

Relaxed, with wood floors and benches, little cafe tables and chairs, a high ceiling and walls of windows, they served vegan desserts and a variety of sandwiches, fair trade teas and coffees, beers on tap, and wine. Folks sat around chatting or working on their computers in a rather Starbucks-esque scenario, except for one little difference: THIS IS WHAT STARBUCKS CAN ONLY ASPIRE TO BE! I'm sure that way back in the day, in Seattle, the first Starbucks was like this, and then they chose mega-globalization, driving places like Think Coffee out of business, instead of just being satisfied with a few hundred stores across the country.

Anyway, we ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and split it, cheddar on hearty sourdough bread, delivered to our table by the cute, cheerful counter girl. It was so, unbelievably delicious. As we ate, we admired the compost and recycling stations, the subtle signage indicating the sustainable sources of their coffee, and that they donate 10% of their profits to charity. Enjoying the sixties pop music they were playing in the atmosphere of zero pretension, we suddenly realized, in searching for sincerity at the Yippie Cafe, we ultimately found it right next door.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!

 

Three locations (just don't go all Starbucks on us)
248 mercer street
1 bleecker street
123 4th avenue
www.thinkcoffeenyc.com

Bra Smythe - Manhattan

This one is for the ladies. You know how hard it is to find the perfect bra? Well, some of us do, for our own particular reasons. A friend of mine registered for her bridal shower at an upscale little shop in Manhattan called Bra Smyth and, inspired by her faith in them, I went there in search of that perfect brassiere. I was prepared to spend money – whatever it took to find the garment that would be the answer to all my prayers.

I was a little intimidated going in – after all, this is where rich women shopped for their lingerie. The snooty French saleswoman snagged me a few items to try on, and I finally settled on one that seemed to fit well and was pretty. I laid out 75 bucks for it – twice as much as I’ve ever paid for a bra, but I figured, you've got to pay for quality. Once I got it home and wore it a couple of times, I realized that it was uncomfortable under the arms, so I brought it back, and they, not entirely cheerfully, offered to alter it. I left it for a couple of weeks and came back, tried it on, it seemed okay, and I left with it. It wasn’t okay, though I kept thinking I could break it in like a pair of shoes. No. So, after a few days, I trudged back to the Upper East Side in the cold, wanting an exchange or refund. Oh no, it was lingerie and I had worn it. Well, of course I’d worn it; it was a bra, stupid. No. No refund. They could try to fix it again. I sighed, brought it home and managed to alter the damn thing myself. But I never loved the way it looked under clothes and eventually when it lost its elasticity, I tossed it in disgust. Never again will I pay that much for a bra. Instead, I recently went to a Macy’s clearance sale (a store I am not in the least condoning for its sincerity) and bought two lovely bras for a total of 20 smackers. As much as I want to support the local business over the chain, Bra Smyth can bite me.

Evaluation: Not Sincere At All



905 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10021
212-772-9400

There's another location in Manhattan and one in N.J.
apparently you can get stuff off their website too:
I'm sure they have some nice crap:
www.BraSmyth.com

Cure Thrift Shop - Manhattan

A few months ago, I was sitting around having a high-flown discussion with a group of friends and artists around the theme of Value and what it meant to each of us. We came to the question, what is the one thing you wish you had but you would never buy for yourself ? My answer was: a really, nice bag, one of those purses that costs hundreds and ends up being a staple for years to come. I don't care about designer labels, but I've always thought that a really high-quality bag would be a classic addition to my vintage-based wardrobe. With the Value and Vintage themes in mind, I went with my husband to Cure Thrift Shop in the East Village, a place he had stumbled upon in his wanderings around town. He remembered what I'd said about the bag and he noticed they were having a big sale on purses. With very low expectations, I went, and there I found maybe a hundred bags of all kinds. I sorted through them, again with low expectations, until I began to notice that there was genuine Prada and Coach (even used out of my price range), but I realized that my chance was within reach. And then there it was. A brand new, pristine, Via Spiga bag, reddish brown leather, simple, understated, elegant, just the right number of pockets and just the right size. It was 35 bucks. I snagged it. (Later, I checked on line and found that the value of the bag, even on e-bay, was around $250 - very insincere of me, I know.)

Cure Thrift Shop doesn't always have that "bag event," running, but it's always a cool and interesting place to find clothes, furniture and other stuff. I found a beautiful Italian skirt there for $20, a linen blouse for $15, and though the selection isn't huge, I'd say they have just the right idea of the word Value. And your purchases go towards the cure for Diabetes. You can't beat that.

Evaluation: Very sincere

 

www.curethriftshop.com

111 East 12th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 505-7467

Village Style Vintage Clothing Store, Manhattan

 Buying used or vintage clothes is not only good for the environment but it's a way to support local businesses and have great style on a budget. Enter Village Style, a terrific little vintage shop in Manhattan's East Village that not only has lots of good stuff but prices it appropriately. Let's face it, vintage clothes, are still, after all, used clothes, and I object to places that price vintage items like they're made out of gold. At Village Style, you can find the cutest 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's dresses you've ever seen priced from about $20 to $40.00, plus skirts, blouses and plenty of great men's shirts, T-shirts, belts and pants. They also sell a handful of accessories like hats, shoes. cowboy boots and purses. It's not a huge store so you don't spend a lot of time pawing through rack after rack, but can find what you're after quickly and easily. Sizes vary too - they aren't all just teeny-tiny. I wouldn't exactly call the staff friendly; after all, they do have to maintain a certain level of cool, but they're nice enough, and once gave me a discount just because they recognized the dress I was wearing as one they'd sold me.

Evaluation: Pretty sincere

 

It's located at 111 E. 7th Street, between 1st Ave. and Avenue A. Even knowing the address, it's oddly hard to find, but don't give up! It's worth the effort.