How Did We Forget About Stone Street?!

We found a Restaurnat Row we'd actually like to hang out at! The strip of restaurants located on historic Stone Street (which has been around since the 1800s and is still lined with cobblestones and small landmark bulidings), is located in the Fiancial District.

The crowd is a mix of locals and tourists who wandered over from South Street Seaport. The diverse and tasty restaurnats share space, marked by different picnic-style tables. It was tough for our group to settle on a restaurant but we were all happy with our final decision: Adrienne's Pizza Bar. Other options included: Ulysses', Stone Street Tavern, and Smorgas Chef.

Make a day out of it: head over to Governor's Island (the ferry leaves from a dock a few blocks away from here) befor having dinner on this fabulous street.

The Philip Johnson Glass House

If you love nature, form and function then this road trip is perfect! Philip Johnson, a modernist, designed the Glass House on a 47-acre property in New Canaan, Connecticut. It opened to the public in 2005 and tours of 10-12 people can view the amazing landscape and enter the various structures from May 1- November 30. Book your tickets in advance.


Getting to New Cannan is very easy - the drive is only a little over an hour from NYC or take Metro North, which stops directly across from the Philip Johnson Visiting Center, where the tour begins.

Before or after your tour, check out the lovely town center with many restaurants and shops. We wanted to dine at Tequila Mockingbird because we loved the name, but it didn't open until 5pm. New Canaan also has a wonderful Nature Center within walking distance from the visitor center and a farmer's market open on Saturdays from 10am-2pm.

If you have a little more time or are spending the night, check out the contemporary art museum called The Aldrich in Ridgefield, Ct and an aquarium in Norwalk, Ct.

An Online Charity Connecting You to Those in Need

DonorsChoose.org was started in 2000 by a teacher in the Bronx. It connects individuals who care with classrooms in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America can post a classroom project request on DonorsChoose.org. You can help build a sci-fi library, grow a garden, or outfit a marching band with all the sousaphones they need. Once a project reaches its funding goal, they deliver the materials to the school.

Donate Today. Your donation gets you photos of your project taking place, a thank-you letter from the teacher, and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent.

Forget Coffee, Try Tea

We can feel summer approaching and are looking forward to many late nights on the High Line. But before we head up to this elevated park, we like to hit the T Salon located in Chelsea Market (75 9th Ave or enter on 10th Ave b/w 15-16th Sts). They have a huge selection of loose leaf tea options and some healthy snacks to boot. We like the decor - the tea cans match the wallpaer and the lighting fixture is made out of tea bags. A beautiful tranquil spot in the city. We noticed a sign that says tea leaf readings, but we haven't had it done...yet.

Looking for a bar or restaurant near the High Line, instead of a cup of tea? Try these picks.

Edible Art

We're not that good at entertaining out-of-towners as we love to take them to our favorite restaurants, Off-Broadway shows, new hot spots, and our local pier. We tend to skip Times Sq and the Statue of Liberty on our tours, so here is a spot that pleases us and our guests!

At Papabubble you get to use all of your senses. This little candy store stretches hard candy right in front of your eyes and turns it into jewelry (engagement rings!), shapes (flowers), food (sushi), animals (monkeys), and anything else you can think of. Plus they offer free samples, something everyone loves (and your guests can buy really cool gifts for their friends back home).

Perfect Date Spot

Okay, we probably write "Perfect Date Spot" far too often, but there is no other way to describe this recommendation.

Sweet Revenge (62 Carmine S, b/w Bedford St & Bleecker St) is NYC's only cupcake, wine & beer bar. Need we write more. And, for those of us trying to eat healthy, they offer a lighter savory fare and weekend brunch.

Stop there before or after a flick at the Film Forum and then tell us a better name for this blog post! Enjoy.

A Quick Tip

Two of our friends lost their cell phones this week - one in a cab and one at a movie theater. Which one is more likely to find it? Thanks to this new resource: NYC Taxi Finder, the friend who lost it in the cab may actually get it back! The only catch - be sure to take your receipt from the driver as you will need this info to track down the yellow cab.

Wearable Collections

We must confess, we are guilty of throwing out an article of clothing or an old pair of shoes on occasion. Turns out we aren't the only ones. According to a recent study by Wearable Collections, 386 million pounds of textiles enter the NYC waste stream annually, representing close to 6% of total waste.

So, next time you go to toss out that old pair of jeans that you feel no one at Salvation Army will want, head to one of the greenmarkets in partnership with CENYC listed below and drop them off instead (they take all used clothing and textiles!). Your donations helps to support CENYC's environmental and greeening programs.

Friday- W 97th st between Columbus Ave. and Amsterdam Ave from 8am-2pm

Saturday--Grand Army Plaza in Park Slope 8am-4pm

Union Sq @ 14th st and Broadway 8am- 6pm

Sunday-- Tompkins sq park @ Ave A and 9th st 8am-4pm

Monday-- Union Sq @14th st and Broadway 8am-6pm

Road Trip: Cold Springs

PF's pick:

Start off your day with a trip to Boscobell House (a 1 hour and 20 min drive from the city). The grounds are more impressive than the house which was built in 1808. You can sneak in and skip the entrance fee which is $9.

Then head to the town of Cold Spring which is 10 minutes away for great biking trails and fabulous shopping. Walk along Main Street all the way to the water. Main Street has antique shops, clothing stores, coffee houses and restaurants with outdoor dining, live entertainment on weekends.

Don't leave without checking out Little Stony Point State Park. The views from the high points of this state park are breathtaking.

Also stop at Bandstand and Dock. They have free concerts on Sunday evenings in July and August. You can also check out a scale model of the Parrott Gun, which was manufactured at the West Point Foundry in Cold Spring.

RK's additions:

Two great restaurnats to eat at are Foundry Cafe or Riverview.

Healthy Eating

We love to go out in the city and finding healthy dining options isn't as hard as one may think. To help you out, we are adding a Healthy Eating category to our blog. Keep us up to date on spots you love and we will blog about them too.

One of our favorite spots for dinner is Blossom (187 9th Ave, between 21st St & 22nd St) . This vegan joint has mastered both the creative and the exotic. We love the quinoa dishes and the vegetable lasagna. The ambiance is just as great as the food, so your meat eating friends will love the spot as much as you.

We recently checked out Blossom for lunch. Though we all had a blast and the restaurant was packed, we're sticking to dinners only at this joint.

Wave Hill

There is really no reason to ever leave New York. You want more nature in your life? Check, we got it! Hop on a train or drive up to 249th St and explore Wave Hill. Wave Hill is a 28-acre public garden and cultural center in the Bronx overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades. Its mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscapes, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world (plus they have a great gift shop!).

We packed a picnic and ate on the great benches and chairs provided (they don't want picnic blankets on the grass) but they have a restaurant on premise to dine in as well. Check out all the great programs on the events calendar. We participated in a 2-hour nature walk, which included binoculars.

Need another reason to go or just love history? Theodore Roosevelt's family rented Wave Hill during the summers of 1870 and ‘71. And, Mark Twain leased the estate from 1901-1903.

Consider becoming a member, which supports the property and get you Reciprocal admission benefits at over 230 gardens across the country.

Brunch in Chelsea With No Line!

El Cocotero is a tiny restaurant that packs a lot of punch (vibe, flavor, staff and most of all food). This dim-lit Venezuelan spot even has a great vegetarian selection and is an affordable option in this often very expensive hood.

The attentive staff will answer all your questions and help guide you through the menu. Be sure to start (or end) with a cafe con leche. We also highly recommend the arepas but you can't go wrong with one of their salads or the basics Venezuelan breakfast served with a piece of delicious fried bread.

Don't just go for brunch...it's a unique date spot as well. El Cocotero is located at 228 W 18th St, between 7th Ave & 8th Ave.

All You Can Eat...for 2 Hours

BG's pick:

We've lived in Chelsea for four years now, but just recently discovered this neighborhood all-you-can-eat lunch menu (it's not often we play hooky from work). This insane bargain, $13.95 on Mondays-Fridays from 11am-2:50pm, has a two-hour maximum stay. The menu features: soup, salad, 20+ rolls, sushi, udon, cooked appetizers, and fried rice. Don't order everything your big eyes may desire at once, just start off slow and build your way up.

There are two movie theaters a few feet away, which is a perfect full-belly afternoon activity, or exercise the food off by strolling through Chelsea's art galleries.

The Delancey

Shoshi's pick:

The Delancey (168 Delancey near Clinton Street) is a three-level hot-spot without the velvet-rope. They have a great line-up of live music and DJs but go on Wednesday night for Shaken and Stirred, Your Favorite Burlesque Dance Party. Doors open at 9pm. Free vodka shots throughout the night. Cover is $5.

Check out the rooftop in the summer.

Three Easy Buffet Recipes That'll Impress 'em All

It's too expensive to go out every night in this city, so entertaining at home becomes a must. We love to throw parties, whether sit down or buffet, and finding the perfect recipe is part of the fun!

Half-Hour Vegetarian Black-Bean Chili
Note: The recipe below serves 4. I doubled it.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
  
• coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
• 8 baby carrots, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 cans (19 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels, thawed
  

Directions

1. In a heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes.
2. Add zucchini, carrots, chili powder, and cumin (or tour favorite ready-made chili packet instead of chili powder and cumin. Cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots are crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, corn, and 1 cup water. Simmer until slightly thickened and carrots are soft, 8 to 10 minutes more.

This can be prepared in advance as chili tastes even better the next day. I served the chili in mason cups (easy to hold since it was a buffet party) next to a Chili Bar. The Chili Bar toppings included: fat free sour cream, low fat sharp shredded cheddar, corn chips, green onion diced, and salt.

Giant Roasted Carrots
Note: I usually cook with baby carrots but have noticed some great looking carrot sticks in the market lately. I bought these (see picture) and they were not only fun to eat, but a huge hit.

Ingredients

• 16 carrots, peeled
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions

1. Preheat over to 400 degrees.
2. Peel carrots and place on a lightly oiled pan. Season and pour a little more oil on top.
3. Cook uncovered for 30 minutes, turning the carrots occasionally. Keep an eye on them so they don't burn but serve them a little crispy for extra flavor.

I forgot to take a picture, but mine looked something like this.

Baked Brie with Honey and Almonds on a crusty Baguette
Note: I used dried rosemary but the original recipe called for fresh rosemary.

Ingredients

• 1o ounces brie round, top part of the rind removed
  
• 1/4 cup honey
• rosemary
• sliced almonds

Directions

1. Roast the sliced almonds in the over for 10 minutes or so on 350 degrees. Keep a close eye on them, tossing so they don't burn. This can also be done in a skillet on the stove. Set aside.
2. In a small pot on the stove, heat the honey, rosemary and 4 tsp water over low hear for 15 minutes.
3. Pour honey on the brie. Add roasted almonds on top. Then place brie on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.
4. Heat and slice baguette.

Voila! Bon Appetite.

Road Trip - Philadelphia, PA

R & R's pick:

Hop on the Bolt Bus for approximately $14 each way and arrive 2-hours later to Philadelphia. This bus even has Wi Fi so you can play hooky and go on a school (work) day.

There is lots to do on Philly but here are our top picks:

1. Magic Gardens (left picture) is a folk art environment, gallery space, and nonprofit organization that showcases the work of mosaicist Isaiah Zagar. The Magic Gardens includes a fully mosaiced indoor gallery and a massive outdoor labyrinthine mosaic sculpture. The installation, primarily consisting of found objects and contributions from the community, covers half a city block with myriads of tile, texture, and color.

2. Check out the Liberty Bell located in Independence National Historic Park. This famous bell, cast in England, was rung for the first time in 1776, on the occasion of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Beginning in the late 1800s, the Liberty Bell traveled around the country. It reminded Americans of their earlier days when they fought and worked together for independence. In 1915, the bell made its last trip and came home to Philadelphia.

3. Philadelphia Museum of Art has one of the largest art collections in the United States, with some 300,000 exhibits, many of them presented by various foundations.

4. Hang in South Street (pictures above). Grab a Philly cheesesteak at Jim’s and then get dessert at The Chef’s Market. Then check out the 300 shops and head back to NYC.

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms

It's New Year's day and we are busy breaking (er, making) resolutions. One of them is to travel more. We stumbled upon this website a few weeks ago and are seriously considering doing this over the summer! Want to join us?

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is an exchange that in return for volunteer help offers food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles. These farms are located in North & Central America, South America, Europe-Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.