Madangsui Korean BBQ Serves Up Good Food and Fun in Manhattan’s Koreatown

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on May 17th, 2013

Madangsui Korean BBQ is Located in Koreatown (midtown Manhattan)

Madangsui Korean BBQ is Located in Koreatown (midtown Manhattan)

Right off the bat let me say that I am no expert when it comes to Koreatown barbecue restaurants. You know the kinds of spots I’m talking about: they’re loud and lively with grinning, bewildered tourists; after-work partiers, both Korean and non-; and packs of NYC destination eaters with something to celebrate and/or looking for a culinary adventure. There’s usually a grill in the middle of the table at these spots, where you (or your server) cook up platters of meat, and the staff brings out an amusingly overwhelming array of little dishes with your meal, filled with all sorts of spicy and pickled delights.  (more…)

Two Photography Exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art show Portraits of America, Literally and Figuratively at War with Itselt

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on May 15th, 2013

Soldiers from the Photography and the American Civil War Exhibit at the Met

Soldiers from the Photography and the American Civil War Exhibit at the Met

Culturally savvy Upper West and Upper East Side residents know how to take advantage of the many amazing exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because the Met’s admission price is always suggested, the best way to enjoy this massive, world-class wonderland of art and history is to pop in for about an hour, pay five bucks or so, see one or two shows before heading back outside and hitting the park. This way you don’t get art fatigue on any given visit and, because in addition to their vast and amazing permanent collection, the Met is always putting on great new exhibitions, you’re likely to go back many times over the course of a year, so annually you’re shelling out more than your fair share. In that spirit, here’s a quick look at two current exhibitions that I really loved, both squarely American in their subject and sensibility, both grim and powerful in very different ways.  (more…)

The Brooklyn Greenway, the Manhattan East River Blueway: Life on the East River Just Keeps Getting Better

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on May 13th, 2013

Aerial View of Proposed East River Blueway, & the existing East River Park

Aerial View of Proposed East River Blueway, & the existing East River Park

Some feared that Hurricane Sandy would stifle the waterfront dreams of city planners and private development companies. They needn’t have worried. True, there are many NYC apartment buildings in need of repairs six months after the superstorm, and many more are still using exterior, “temporary” generators for their power. Also, the A train to Rockaway Beach looks like it won’t be back in time for summer (shuttle bus, here I come!), and the MTA’s new, half-a-billion-dollar South Ferry station, opened in 2009 and considered a crown jewel in the system, is still two to three YEARS away from being operational again. (more…)

Can Bushwick 5 Points Replace the Legendary LIC Street Art Mecca 5Pointz?

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on May 10th, 2013

Sheryo the Yok, at Bushwick 5 Points in Brooklyn

Sheryo the Yok, at Bushwick 5 Points in Brooklyn

We’ve known for a while that the days are numbered for Long Island City’s fantastic street-art mecca, 5Pointz. Called the “Aerosol Art Center” by current curator Meres One, this massive old warehouse has for some 20 years now been covered in a constantly-changing collection of pieces by the world’s best graffiti artists. And though this may be your last summer to come out and see the true NYC treasure–the long-promised destruction and development of the building and land is likely to really begin in the fall–another spot has already been picking up the upcoming slack, Bushwick 5 Points.

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Speedy Romeo Serves up Perfect Neighborhood Food and Vibe

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on May 8th, 2013

Speedy Romeo is Located on the Border of Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy

Speedy Romeo is Located on the Border of Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy

Every neighborhood deserves a spot like Speedy Romeo. There’s a crowd-pleasing menu, centered upon eight wood-fired pizzas of varying degrees of complexity. There’s a kitchen crew, in this case led by Chef Justin Bazdarich, formerly of Jean Georges, who clearly love what they’re doing, and back it up with talent and creativity. There’s an overall friendly vibe, the sort of place you can drop by any night of the week, with the kids or some buddies, on a date or even solo, and relax, re-energize, get a little silly, and feel as if once again everything is right with the world. That’s Speedy Romeo.  (more…)