A saintly morsel at Saint Austere
As a resident outside of Brooklyn, it takes a lot for me to take the subway past Canal Street. Nevertheless, I have found the one reason for me to travel across the river: The Saint Austere. The Saint Austere channels upscale taste with a relaxed, downtown feel. This tapas-style restaurant is a bar food paradise that can successfully satisfy every craving you might have while drunk off the finest collection of artisanal beer and wine.
Somehow, The Saint Austere managed to successfully create a melting pot of textures that defies the boundaries of modern luxury. Objectively, one might think, “Hey! You’re not supposed to combine elaborately patterned ceilings, vintage wallpaper, casual wooden tables, a metallic bar, and a chandelier all in one room!” The unique industrial-rustic design creates a space that reflects the contrasting characteristics within the very name of the restaurant. The word “austere” is derived from the term used to describe a young, harshly acidic wine that has yet to fully age and develop in flavor. “Saint” is simply used to juxtapose “austere,” and to soften the overall feel of the name.
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No Comments | Posted on February 22, 2012 | Categories: Dining, From the Blog, Williamsburg
tags: Courtney Ho, Italian, Octopus, Saint Austere, tapas
The dramatic runway at Williamsburg Fashion Weekend
She brought me to a back room where FIT student Laura Brook Texter was putting the finishing touches on her line. Angular, tall and willowy, Laura fit in with her entourage of darkly clad models, makeup-artists and hair-stylists. Stepping back to take a look at the work she had just finished assembling, she began to describe her collection for me: it is, she said, a melding together of Rococco Art and Punk Rock. Pointing to a gaunt girl posing against the wall in a purple dress and eyes lined with heavy, dripping black liner, Laura explained that she was entranced by the way that the femininity of late baroque art and the edginess of punk came together into a sort of ethereal dreamscape. Heavily influenced by 70’s punk—Patti Smith in particular—the soundtrack of Laura’s show was designed to coax the audience into this fashion-induced dreamscape; and when I saw her collection on stage, I understood how she had planned to make this vision come to fruition: her collection began simple and structured but gradually grew more and more deconstructed as the models emerged in fluted silk and chiffon dresses; accentuating the looser, flowing movement of their garments by playing with the fabric of their clothing and swaying. They wore subtly extravagant feather headdresses and carried black roses, playing up their roles as the angsty punk-rockers as they sauntered around the stage together, gazing indifferently at the swarm of people in the audience. In the midst of the show a live theremin player took the stage to play a languid, wailing, space-age type piece. The echoes haunted the remainder of Laura’s show.
Marco Santaniello, the next designer up, was much less conventional and a lot more fitting with the image I’d had in mind when I envisioned the event. He, with his stuffed-panda studded, red sweater and floor length plaid kilt, had his models dressed in oversized t-shirts and their eyes raccoon-rimmed by thick, sooty paint. They, too, glared at the camera as they posed for pictures and kept the crowd questioning the goings on onstage as they pulled out ropes and newspapers and were later upstaged by the text Marco had projected onto a sheet against the back wall of the venue. The night finished in this same vein with shows by Nathalie Karyina, Uta Brauser and Kaliptus and Stephanie Hinson. The crowd, it seemed all the while was enamored by the spectacles and aghast.
-Lara Andersson
No Comments | Posted on February 22, 2012 | Categories: Event-Related, Fashion, From the Blog, Williamsburg
Ever wondered what kind of hot chocolate William Faulkner would drink? Have you ever thought about warming up on a cold winter day, curled up in front of the TV and maybe watching Moulin Rouge, nursing a mug of Moulin Rouge flavored hot chocolate? I hadn’t either. Thankfully, Maury Rubin (a former television producer-turned-culinary extraordinaire) has thought of it, and at least 30 other delectable concoctions, which are available at The City Bakery, near Union Square.
It was a chilly, sunny Saturday afternoon downtown. People were milling about the farmer’s market stands, stylishly-attired, their arms weighed down with shopping bags. After some browsing, my friend and I took a short walk two blocks away for a hot chocolate tasting at The City Bakery, a modern American, refined version of a neighborhood bakery, lively and welcoming, and emanating the delicious aroma of freshly baked croissants. Read the complete post »
No Comments | Posted on February 20, 2012 | Categories: Dining, From the Blog, Union Square
tags: Christina Vlahos, city bakery, comfort food, dessert, Hot Chocolate
Get Ready for Mardi Gras, NYC!
Monday, February 20
Jameson Whiskey Promotion at Parkside Lounge - FREE!
The Parkside Lounge, an artsy dive bar in the Lower East Side, is giving out free whiskey! Get there before it runs out! (which will probably happen pretty fast)
317 East Houston St, 9:00-10:00pm, subway: F to Broadway-Lafayette st
Tuesday, February 21
Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday) at The Bell House
Come dance your Fat Tuesday away at The Bell House in Brooklyn. The Hungry March Band, a brass-heavy march band, is playing along with The Underground Horns, which specializes in New Orleans-inspired funk.
The Bell House, 149 7th St., Brooklyn, 8 pm, N/R to 9th St., $8.
Party on the Eastern Bloc
$1 PBR + grungy gay bar + a hot body competition for a $50 bar tab at midnight= best night ever
Eastern Bloc, 505 East 6th street at Avenue A, 11:30-12:00 am, 1:30-2:00am, L to 2nd Ave
Wednesday, February 22
Secret Science Club - FREE!
Our sensory organs are what connect us to our environment. But how is all this sensory data - light, shadow, the motion of molecules – interpreted? Do your eyes ever deceive you? Is your mind playing tricks? Neuroscientist David Carmel of NYU’s Department of Psychology and Center for Neural Science usesbrain imaging and behavioral experiments to explore how the brain constructs our perception of the world and how those perceptions can be manipulated.
The Bell House, 149 7th Street, Brooklyn. 7:30 p.m.
Standards and Parodies
Featuring kick ass guests and full houses, Evan Laurence’s revamped monthly variety shows bring an amalgam of music, comedy and burlesque to the elegant Ella Lounge. This month’s show explores American standards, a few parodies and twisted interpretations. Featuring the sizzling hot burlesque of Tiny D.
Ella Lounge, 9 Avenue A, Manhattan, 9-11p; $10 admission
The How I Learned Series presents: How I Learned to Chill the F@#k Out About a Lot of Things - FREE!
A monthly, live series in which bloggers, comedians, and writers come together to explore life lessons they’ve learned – some better than others. This month’s installment features Elisa Albert , author of The Book of Dahlia, Eliot Glazer, creator of web series It Gets Betterish, and more. Come early to snag a good spot.
Happy Ending Lounge, 302 Broome Street, 8 pm, J/M/Z/F to Delancey, free.
Urban Girl Squad Seminar: Bitch, Bimbo, or Businesswoman: Overcoming Double Standards in the Workplace
The Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College is offering a workshop for women how to manage and defy stereotypical biases in the workplace. Enjoy wine, hors d’oevres as you network with like-minded professional women and learn important life skills.
The Olivia, 315 West 33rd st, 7th floor, 7:00-9:00 pm, subway: 1 to Penn station.$40 per ticket.
No Comments | Posted on February 20, 2012 | Categories: Attractions, Editor's Pick, Entertainment, Event-Related, From the Blog, Nightlife, Weekday Forecast
tags: Comedy, Fat Tuesday, free, seminars, weekend forecast
SamSara's incredible mac and cheese croquettes and duck confit quesadillas
Nestled in South Street Seaport, an area normally associated with tourist traps, SamSara manages to beat the odds. With an eclectic menu ranging from Asian to Latin-inspired treats, salads to small plates to large plates, SamSara has an ambitious menu that is impressively well-executed. By offering delightfully indulgent food at reasonable prices, SamSara is a destination in and of itself.
Walking into SamSara, the dim lighting and the intimately arranged tables immediately set the mood for the fantastic meal that was about to come. The menu is divided into several sections, including salads, their signature small plates, several large plates, a few fried options, and flatbreads.
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1 Comment | Posted on February 19, 2012 | Categories: Dining, Financial District, From the Blog
tags: candied bacon, fusion, indulgence, Roger Li, SamSara
Scones, scones, and more scones
With over 700 stores and counting, caffébene is no small chain in South Korea. And so, naturally, there’s been much anticipation for its arrival in the Big Apple, as the first Korean coffee chain to open a store in New York City. But don’t get the wrong impression that this is a purely Korean coffee shop; in fact, if you didn’t know this fact beforehand, there wouldn’t have been any way to tell its country of origin. It boasts a modern, chic interior based off of the New York subway system (complete with the Helvetica-font exit signs and vintage subway lights from the 70s!) with a cosmopolitan menu.
The unique aspect of this particular café is its comprehensive bakery section to complement their coffee. As soon as you enter the shop, the delightful selection of baked goods welcomes you into the cafe, filled with croissants, Danishes, scones, and the likes.
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No Comments | Posted on February 19, 2012 | Categories: Dining, From the Blog, Midtown West
tags: caffebene, coffee shops, dessert, Elliot Kwon
My boyfriend and I just broke up. How can I get over the breakup painlessly?
You don’t. End of article.
Just kidding! There’s always a chance that you’ll hit your head on the taxi barrier on your way to buy your 10th Magnolia cupcake and get amnesia and forget you ever had a boyfriend.
But I don’t recommend that. So here are 19 tips to speed up and ease the healing process.
1) As a first step, get rid of everything that reminds you of him/her or at least put it out of sight and clean your place at the same time. Fresh start, fresh surroundings. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other similar organization’s centers are dotted all over the city. Find your local center and donate his old crap. And for jewelry and other presents, you can sell them online at exboyfriendjewelry.com
2) Don’t paint a rosy, unreal picture in your mind of what your relationship used to be like. There was a reason you broke up. Read the complete post »
No Comments | Posted on February 18, 2012 | Categories: From the Blog
tags: ask j, carpe diem, Chantalle Dumonceaux, getting over a breakup
photo courtesy of SOBs website
Though it cost nothing, my Friday night of salsa at SOB’s was a rich one. With my good friend (and wing-woman), Andrea, by my side, and red lipstick applied, I strode up to the door. When we arrived, the club was almost barren, excepting the crowd of nervous salsa novices (mostly female) awaiting their first class. The evening began with group class at 7, for which we gathered in the dance floor beneath club’s main stage. Following the lead of an exceedingly energetic teacher, we bent our knees, wiggled our hips, and internalized the basic salsa rhythm. For a group of gringos, we didn’t disappoint.
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1 Comment | Posted on February 17, 2012 | Categories: From the Blog, Lower East Side
tags: Dance, Emma Imber, ladies free, Salsa
It's Williamsburg Fashion Weekend!
Friday
Do Good Party
Open bar at the Brooklyn Brewery. Only members can attend but luckily you can become a member here. Membership for one month costs $15 and you receive unlimited perks like discounts on restaurants, groceries, exercise classes and more. 80% of the proceeds go towards helping the environment.
The Brooklyn Brewery 79 North 11 st, 7:30-10:30pm, L to Bedford Ave
Ladygunn Presents: Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em Party
Open bar, drink specials, live music, and attractive people all promised!
139 Christie st (btw Delancey st and Broome st) 8pm, Subway: J to Bowery, B.D to Grand St, 4.6 to Spring St, $5 cover
Chris Douridas (KCRW) + MFG Present School Night! - FREE
School Night!, a newly transplanted party from Los Angeles, is coming back to New York this Friday. With a diverse selection of artists and DJs, ranging from soulful singer Lindsay Fuller to a DJ set by Roofeeo from TV on the Radio, this event is well worth its price – free. Make sure to RSVP here to get free entry.
Bowery Hotel, 355 Bowery, 9 pm, B/D/F/M to Broadway-Lafayette St, free with RSVP
Sleigh Bells Live! -FREE
The concert at Terminal 5 tonight is sold out, but you can still stream the live show in your apartment at 10:30pm!
Saturday
Sword Dancing
The Half Moon Sword, an all women’s team, will show sword dancing as it was practiced in farming and and coal-mining regions of northern England as part of an ancient winter celebration to guarantee good luck throughout the year.
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (inside the park at 110 st btw Lenon and Fifth Avenues) 1:00:400pm (every hour) 2,3 to 110 Central Park North -110 st
Williamsburg Fashion Weekend
The tenth season of Williamsburg Fashion Weekend is sure to be an interesting event, with innovative designers that fulfill the event’s envelope-pushing mission. Art and fashion become fused as designers are encouraged to use dynamic fabrics and non-runway formats. Although the shows will span two days, an after party will be held at The Second Floor (97 South 6th St.) on Saturday night.
Glasslands Gallery, 289 Kent Ave., 8 pm, L to Jefferson St., $10
Sunday
Soul Train Night at Heather’s
A night dedicated to Don Cornelius: Open Reyka Vodka bar, Soul Train on all screens, soul, disco, and line dances till 1:00 am, and shows from local queens!
506 E 13 st (btw Ave A and Ave B) 10:30-11pm, 1:00-1:30 am, Subway: L to 1st Ave
Photo Courtesy of greenpointnews.com
1 Comment | Posted on February 17, 2012 | Categories: Entertainment, Event-Related, From the Blog, Weekend Forecast
tags: Belly Dance, concerts, Do Good, free, Friday, Sleigh Bells, Streaming, Swords, weekend
Shaken, not stirred – turns out this iconic Bond line has major ramifications in the art of martini mixology. I recently stopped by the Columbia Bartending Agency’s mixology course for their martini class. Though I probably won’t be stepping behind the bar to serve anytime soon, I’m certainly a more informed customer. The five-week intensive course covers everything a bartender needs to know, including memorizing the classic recipes, understanding the layout of the bar*, and your social and legal obligations as you respectfully booze up a crowd. By the time you’ve graduated with your certification you’ll be ready to deal with any self-styled international superspy and their ridiculous concoctions.
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No Comments | Posted on February 17, 2012 | Categories: From the Blog, Native's Pick, Sponsored Post
tags: Columbia Bartending, drinking, Martinis, Simon Frisch, Skills
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