Welcoming Astoria's Newest Flea

The Astoria Flea and Food Market opens today at Kaufman Astoria Studios from 10am-6pm! Affiliated with the well known (and Awesome in New York approved!) LIC Flea, this aggregation of artisanal soda syrup makers, vintage jewelry purveyors, and samosa fry-ers (just to name a few) is sure to please.

The market will be held every Sunday for 8 weeks on the recently enclosed Kaufman Astoria Studios back-lot. Check it out and report back your favorite finds!

Brunch With the Stars at Gallow Green

So many of my favorite things are coming together for brunch tomorrow: 1) BRUNCH! 2) Bryan Greenberg (I'm still reeling over the cancellation of How to Make it in America) 3) Emmanuelle Chriqui 4) Gallow Green, and 5) raising money for charity!

Join Microsoft, Bryan Greenberg, and The Olevolos Project tomorrow 5/3 for brunch at Gallow Green (530 W 27th St) at the McKittrick Hotel (Home of Sleep No More) from 12:30-4pm and help them raise money to support the educational and affiliated needs of disadvantaged and orphaned students from the Olevolos Village of Tanzania. Founded in 2007, The Olevolos Project continues to nurture a passion for learning and helps develop young village leaders through formal schooling, tutoring programs, and extracurricular activities. 

The star-studded host committee includes Alex Gannes, Alexis Nataf, Ambyr Childers, Andrea Szempruch, Delroy Lindo, Dory Gannes, Eddie K Thomas, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Geoff Stults, Hilarie Burton, Hill Harper, James Lafferty, Jamie Chung, Jamie Hector, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jonathan Azu, Justin Danko, Kelly Brady, Margo Gannes, Matt Levine, and Victor Rasuk.

DJ favorites Mel DeBarge and JUS SKE will be spinning the tunes throughout the brunch on the rooftop. The event will feature raffle prizes and a silent auction; all proceeds from which will be donated to The Olevolos Project.

Tickets for the Brunch Party are $150 per person (includes buffet brunch, unlimited cocktails and a gift bag) and VIP tables can be reserved for $2000.

Rioja, Rioja, Rioja!

If mint juleps and margaritas aren't your thing this weekend, might we suggest some wine? Rioja to be exact. Spain's most renowned wine region is putting on a party tomorrow and you're invited!

The inaugural Rioja Wine and Tapas Festival will be held in Brooklyn at the newly opened, award-winning Weylin B. Seymour’s (formally the Williamsburgh Savings Bank) at 175 Broadway, Brooklyn, tomorrow, 5/3 from 1-6pm.

Tickets are $55, with proceeds benefiting culinary scholarships at the James Beard Foundation, and include more than 200 tastings of wines from the entire region. Over 40 top Rioja winemakers and representatives will be on hand to speak about the wines, while 25 notable US chefs, from New York restaurants and beyond, will create their interpretations of Rioja-inspired tapas. You can visit the Paella Garden, sample delicious hams at the jamón bar and savor some of Spain’s best cheeses in the cheese cave. As a plus, all ticket buyers will be entered to win a 126-bottle cellar. Ole!

Since tickets are officially sold-out, click here to sign up to volunteer and maybe they'll let you take a few sips and nibbles here and there (and after your shift!).

Burger Bonanza

Happy May! Welcome to National Hamburger Month! To celebrate, Burger Maker is sponsoring NY Burger Week with some patty-melting events you're not going to want to miss.

Here's a sampling of some of our favorites, but to see the full list, go here:

• May 1: Eastern Meets Western Burger Collaboration at The Black Shack (320 Lexington Ave; 6:30 and 8pm seatings) includes 1 Black Shack and 1 Ramen Burger, 1 boozy milk shake and 1 Asian-American style side item; $45 for 2
• May 2: NY Burger Feast at Hudson Common (356 West 58th Street; 6:30-9:30 pm) includes samples from several breweries and burger restaurants; $65 or $75 for VIP, which gets you extra beer samples and early entry
• May 4: Boozed Up Burgers with Tequila and Whiskey Tasting at Rare Bar and Grill (303 Lexington Ave; 1 and 2:30 pm seatings) includes a trio of mini burgers, expert lead small batch tasting featuring Lunazul Tequila & Elijah Craig 12 year Bourbon, and 1 side of sweet potato chips with honey drizzle all for $23
• May 7: 10th Anniversary Screening of Hamburger America Hosted by George Motz at Tribeca Cinemas (54 Varick Street; 6pm) includes a pre- and post-party, screening of the movie, tasting of 3 movies in the film and a Q&A with George for $45

Tickets for all events listed here and more can be purchased here. Hurry up! Tickets are selling like hamburger buns!

In other burger news, we've received news that Del Frisco's Grille (50 Rockefeller Plaza) is debuting their Manhattan Mushroom Melt today in honor of National Burger Month. Doesn't this puppy look like something you'd like to sink your teeth into?

It All Went On Like You Like It

Last week we wrote about a special, star-studded, one-night-only concert event of Like You Like It at 54 Below. The evening was the epitome of a perfect night out in New York. There was great food (try the risotto!), wine, and lively entertainment by some of Broadway's top talent.

Here are some photos from the event:

Rebecca Faulkenberry sings "Be a Little Wild"

Sam Underwood and Jenna Leigh Green sing "Easy Way Out"

Dana Steingold and A.J. Shively sing "Creating a Monster"

Lyricist Sammy Buck talks about the show

Real life husband and wife duo Laura Osnes and Nathan Johnson sing "All of the Above"

Laura Osnes and Nathan Johnson

We weren't kidding about the chocolate dessert! Try the Dark Chocolate Tart!

Awesome Goes Gagnam Style

After visiting Seoul, South Korea last year, I've been itching to try an authentic meal in NYC's Koreatown. However, since I got pretty sick after my last excursion there 4 years ago, I've been a bit hesitant. However, the friendly folks at Madangsui invited me and a friend to check out their Korean BBQ last week, and oh man am I hooked.

My place setting

Empty tables waiting to be filled with hungry people

We arrived at 6pm on a Thursday evening, fairly early for NYC, but I my mom was flying in later that night and I needed to be home early. By 7 the restaurant was jam packed, and by 7:30 I'm not sure there were any open tables available. David, the welcoming manager, explained the menu to us and recommended a wide variety of their specialties. Whenever I see different country-specific beverages on the menu, I have to go for it, so we ordered the Saeng Makkoli (14% alcohol), which came in a giant bowl with a ladle ($17). I would highly recommend this as an accompaniment to any spicy dishes because it's milky texture (note: there is no milk in it, just unfiltered fermented wheat and rice) helps balance the heat.

Saeng Makkoli ($14)

For an appetizer we ordered the pan-fried seafood pancake, Haemul Pajeon ($14.99), which I could have eaten and called it a day. The pancake had the perfect crispiness and the seafood wasn't 'fishy' like I often find it in lower-class restaurants. Two thumbs up on this one!

Haemul Pajeon ($14.99)

For our main course, we ordered the marinated beef combo for 2 ($82.99) which included: short rib (galbi), jumuluk (boneless short rib) and bulgogi with vegetables and mushrooms. Thankfully the waiters were helpful and basically cooked our whole meal (I was extra thankful for this because I almost burned down a Korean BBQ joint in Seoul when I was there...NOT KIDDING). When the meat was cooked, we were instructed to wrap it in a lettuce cup along with pickled radish and spicy bean curd sauce taco-style. Yum!

Along with our meat, we received 8 different small dishes called banchan, which are very characteristic of Korean dining. In addition to that, we received a large bowl of steamed egg (way tastier than I ever thought eggs could be) and a spicy soup meant to be shared around the table.

Marinated beef combo for 2 ($82.99)

My meat "taco" pre-wrapping

Steamed egg and spicy soup

We also sampled the hot pot bibimbap ($15.99) and OH MY KOREA this was amazing. I learned that I've been eating bibimbap wrong this whole time. I always would pick out the different vegetables and meats along with the rice. However, when our server mixed everything up, magic happened and all the flavors of everything combined to take me to my happy place. This is a must-order.

Hot pot bibimbap ($15.99)

So can you tell I loved my meal at Madangsui? Not only was the food amazing, but the service was impeccable. My friend who has been to a wider variety of restaurants in Koreatown than I have even said this might be her new favorite. I can't wait to go back!

So you know, Korean BBQ is 10% off from 4-7pm every day and Madangsui has some great lunch specials including: kimchi with short rib in a spicy broth ($9.99), dumpling Soup ($10.99), kimchi casserole with pork, ham, sausage and vegetable in a hot spicy soup ($10.99), as well as a selection of bibimbap and bulgogi ($11.99-$17.99).

CancerCare 70th Anniversary Gala Recap

It's not often I go into a giant party and leave with not only a giddy buzz, but also a renewed feeling of hope and confidence in humankind. After attending CancerCare's 70th anniversary gala last week at Cipriani 42nd Street, I was able to observe first-hand the power of community and effective fundraising.

Waiting for my friend outside of the venue, I had a grand old time watching the fancy shoes click clack on the feet of philanthropists and cancer survivors as they arrived at the Spring gala. It was like a shoe fashion show! Upon entering ourselves, we were greeted with Cipriani's signature Bellini. We also sampled truffle mushroom tartlets and veal with marinara sauce. Yum!

The former bank was decked out in class, with the extensive silent auction wrapped around former teller windows and other monetary memories. In addition to Soul Cycle class packs and gift certificates to Casellula and David Burke restaurants, I spied a giant bottle of 1993 Dom Perignon (can you imagine the pressure behind that bottle's cork!?).

Katie Couric was the first to present an award. She gracefully told the story of how CancerCare came to her family's aid when her husband was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. I couldn't help but think a) how amazing she looked, b) how poised she was, c) how well she kept herself together while opening up an extremely vulnerable side of herself to a roomful of strangers. I am in awe of that woman.

Katie Couric

In addition, 13-year-old Maddy Gold, CancerCare's youngest advocate, told the extremely moving story of how her mom fell victim to cancer when she was only 6 years old and how CancerCare has provided support to her family. I felt goose bumps up and down my arms while listening to her speak eloquently and beautifully (and I'm getting them again just writing about her). I kept thinking, "How can this person be only 13 years old?!"

Maddy Gold

The live auction featured Sotheby's auctioneer Hugh Hidesley, who entertained the audience with his clever methods of raising auction bets and ultimately bringing in more support for the organization. Amazing prizes included an ultimate foodie trip to Paris and a private dinner cooked in your home by the one and only David Burke. Next time I have $17K to spend, I know where I'll go...

We didn't stay for dinner, but I can definitely attest to the bartenders' martini-making abilities. Up, very dry if you must know :)