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Jacques Torres Chocolate is the purveyor to many restaurants and specialty shops, but you can buy it from the source: delicious, intricately flavored chocolates--pick them out individually for a...
Jacques Torres Chocolate is the purveyor to many restaurants and specialty shops, but you can buy it from the source: delicious, intricately flavored chocolates--pick them out individually for a great gift box--as well as other chocolate products. The chocolate popcorn is delicious, as is the hot cocoa on a winter day. Kids love the place, especially the opportunity to watch the chocolate making process. It makes for a nice stop when you're touring DUMBO. Prices aren't cheap, but value is high.
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The Brooklyn Ice Cream factory operates in an old fireboat house on the rebuilt pier at Fulton Ferry. I remember it opening in October 2001 and thinking, Oh, that's not a good idea, people don't eat...
The Brooklyn Ice Cream factory operates in an old fireboat house on the rebuilt pier at Fulton Ferry. I remember it opening in October 2001 and thinking, Oh, that's not a good idea, people don't eat ice cream in the fall. Well, they did, and they do. The ice cream is superpremium, and while it's not cheap, it's very rich, so I wouldn't recommend more than one scoop per person unless you're very hungry or very large. Don't expect more than six or seven flavors--it's hard work to maintain quality. And if you come on a weekend afternoon, be prepared to wait on a long, long line--sometimes it's better to go in off hours.
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The gentrification of Park Slope proceeds, with a dessert-only place like the Chocolate Room. I can't say I stop there often, since it seems like an indulgence, and it's certainly not cheap, but if...
The gentrification of Park Slope proceeds, with a dessert-only place like the Chocolate Room. I can't say I stop there often, since it seems like an indulgence, and it's certainly not cheap, but if you're eating on Park Slope's restaurant row (5th Avenue) the Chocolate Room is just down the block. The cake and ice cream and chocolates are first rate, but, again, you're paying for it.
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Sure there are lots of good venues in New York for music, but the Bowery Ballroom has the advantage of being just the right size--large enough for a group that has a good following, but not too...
Sure there are lots of good venues in New York for music, but the Bowery Ballroom has the advantage of being just the right size--large enough for a group that has a good following, but not too large for the scene to get crazy. I usually prefer to go upstairs and watch from the back gallery but sometimes ya just gotta go to the main floor. One of the best shows, in October 2004, was folk singer Dan Bern, who asked people to sing along to "Bush Must Be Defeated." Ah, nostalgia.
It's right near the J train, too, for those who can take that unusual line.
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This is now called just Babeland, not Toys in Babeland, and the Lower East Side store was the first in NYC. The store began in Seattle, I believe, and its basic orientation is to women, straight and...
This is now called just Babeland, not Toys in Babeland, and the Lower East Side store was the first in NYC. The store began in Seattle, I believe, and its basic orientation is to women, straight and gay, but guys are welcome too. The vibe is sex-positive, nonjudgmental, and they have all manner of books, videos, toys, lubes. They also offer periodic classes in techniques, but I swear, I only went for the condom selection. Needless to say, the place is clean and the staff friendly.
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Southpaw
Category:
Uncategorized
125 5th Ave
Brooklyn, New York 11217
(718) 230-0236
OK, most of the rocking in Brooklyn is at places in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, but a few years ago, Southpaw opened inside what was pretty much a large 99 cents store. They gutted the place, put...
OK, most of the rocking in Brooklyn is at places in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, but a few years ago, Southpaw opened inside what was pretty much a large 99 cents store. They gutted the place, put in an excellent sound system, and it seems like a hit. I've seen everything from punk-metal (The Dictators) to comedy here, and, while maybe I'm partial because I can walk there, I've pretty much had a good time. It's within walking distance of the R at Union Street and the 2/3 at Bergen, as well as the Q at 7th Avenue.
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This great new theater space, which has several stages, often houses experimental or unusual stuff. I saw several examples of "Brits Off Broadway" here--a bunch of plays that were quite worthy,...
This great new theater space, which has several stages, often houses experimental or unusual stuff. I saw several examples of "Brits Off Broadway" here--a bunch of plays that were quite worthy, after all. The space is spiffy, there's a nice bar, and the bathrooms are clean. And, to boot, it's very close to an express subway stop.
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Ars Nova
Category:
Recording Studios
511 W 54th St
New York, New York 10019
(212) 489-9800
This is a gem of a small theater, the size really of a cabaret space, and pretty much in the middle of nowhere, especially for those of us who don't love to take cabs. They sell beer and wine and...
This is a gem of a small theater, the size really of a cabaret space, and pretty much in the middle of nowhere, especially for those of us who don't love to take cabs. They sell beer and wine and have had some terrific shows with small casts or solo outings. I saw redneck musician Otis Lee Crenshaw (aka Rich Hall) here a couple of times and he was fantastic--one of the craziest, funniest experiences I've had in a theater.
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This is/was the garment district, hence the name of the theater (it used to be a zipper factory), and, while obviously the performances vary, this has a great relaxed vibe--the seats are old car...
This is/was the garment district, hence the name of the theater (it used to be a zipper factory), and, while obviously the performances vary, this has a great relaxed vibe--the seats are old car seats (yes!), and you can bring your drink inside. Glad somebody's wised up and recognized that you can bring more of a nightclub vibe to the theater.
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Most comedy clubs in New York are showcases, offering an array of comedians--usually pretty good to excellent--doing sets that last ten to 20 minutes. Caroline's is more like the clubs around the...
Most comedy clubs in New York are showcases, offering an array of comedians--usually pretty good to excellent--doing sets that last ten to 20 minutes. Caroline's is more like the clubs around the country, and it generally offers the opener/MC who does 15-20 minutes, the middle act who does 25-30 minutes, and the headline, who does 45-60 minutes. In other words, Caroline's draws for the specific act, not for the commodity of 'comedy.' So this is where you see people like Paul Mooney or Richard Belzer or any number of national headliners. The place is well run and the seating cozy but not claustrophobic. It's not cheap, but it can be, with the right act, a good night out. Keep in mind that the Monday New Talent show is just that: new talent, which means the audience is mostly their friends/relatives. The new talent is often reasonably good, but obviously not weekend level.
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