12/8/11

An Impromptu Aerial Tour

Longtime readers may remember my affinity with taking overhead photos of NYC both from a helicopter and an airplane. I generally am pretty good at following all the rules pertaining to flying -- my 3 oz. liquids are always in a plastic bag, my seat back and tray table up is always for take off and landing and I always turn off my cell phone when asked. However, when the aircraft I'm traveling on takes an unusual route in and out of New York, I can't help but whip out my camera and snap away. 

On my return trip from Thanksgiving, I was deep into the New York Magazine crossword when I looked out my window and saw two bridges that I couldn't determine the location of. Once I got it in my head which was was north, I discovered that those were the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges and Manhattan island directly below. I don't know about any of you, but I have NEVER approached LGA or JFK from that direction. In fact, I thought Manhattan was a no fly zone. As soon as I realized what a privilege this was, I hastily shut off my overhead light and rifled around my purse for my camera just in time to view Times Square RIGHT below my window. How cool! However, all I got was this blur of a picture...

Blurry Times Square

Still pretty awesome. As we continued north up the Hudson River and turned east just above Westchester, I got some better shots. Enjoy!

Midtown and Central Park looking southeast

Central Park and Upper East Side looking east

Westchester, the Bronx and Manhattan looking south (you can see the bright lights of in Manhattan in the upper left corner)

12/7/11

Upcycled, Local and Stylish? Oh my!

Don't you ever wish you could find a way to shop locally, ethically and environmentally-minded while looking fashionable all at the same time? One component always seems to be missing from the equation. Enter Vaya Bags. Made of "upcycled" materials (including scrap sailboat awnings, bicycle tubes and vinyl banners)  in Ridgewood, Queens, these bags are hearty, colorful and fairly stylish. Some versions are made with reflective tape to specially cater to the increasing population of cyclists in the five boroughs.


If you like these bags or know of someone who would like one as a holiday gift, they are on sale up to 20% off today through Friday on one of my favorite online shopping and design sites Fab.com. You can check out the complete selection of messenger bags, bicycle tube purses and wallets and find something unique for someone on your gift list (or yourself, we won't judge). I'm a big fan of the Vinyl Blue Wallet.

If you aren't familiar with Fab.com, I'd suggest you sign up for their daily emails. They have some of the most unique design related items for sale every day and a handy 100 design gifts under $100 curated shop going on now just in time for the holidays. Check it out!

12/6/11

AWESOME ALERT: Free Insomnia Cookies on the Upper East Side

Out to prove that cupcakes and macarons aren't the only kings of the dessert world, Insomnia Cookies is doing a mighty fine job of balancing out the top of the NYC sweets pyramid with their ooey gooey cookies. Even better, they deliver into the wee hours of the night, proving that it's never not time for a Snickerdoodle or White Chocolate Macadamia Nut (my favorite! hint hint!).



No newcomer to the sugar scene, the cookie chain launched at UPenn in 2003 is opening their 4th NYC store on the Upper East Side (1579 2nd Ave at 82nd Street) and celebrating with a Grand Opening December 14-18. The best part....they want all Awesome in New York readers to have a free cookie on the house! Just print out the coupon below, bring it into the new store and pick your favorite flavor! It's that easy! And feel free to tell all your friends and family as well -- you wouldn't want to be responsible for hoarding a secret about free sweets around the holidays would you?


Check out Insomnia Cookies on Twitter and Facebook for future cookie news.

12/5/11

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to Follies (again!)

One of my favorite shows of the season was the revival of Follies, yet sadly it must close January 22! If you haven't seen the show, you don't want to miss what Ben Brantley of The New York Times called a "white-hot, vibrant, and moving" show. Bernadette Peters is fabulous and I can't get enough of Jan Maxwell, each as former Follies girls reunited for the closing of the theater in which they once performed. Danny Burstein and Rob Raines make up the rest of the quad-fecta as love interests  and strong individual characters with their own stories to tell. There are limited opportunities to see this show before it closes so make sure you get tickets!




All of my awesome readers are in luck again! I'm giving away a pair of tickets to see Follies on Broadway! Tickets are good through the run of the show and there are 5 easy ways to win. Keep in mind that each comment counts as an entry. Be sure to include your email in each comment so that I can easily contact you if you win.
  1. REQUIRED - Subscribe to Awesome in New York by email using the submission box in the right panel and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
  2. REQUIRED - Refer a friend to this contest. You must leave a separate comment letting me know who you referred and the friend must leave a comment letting me know who referred them for both entries to count.
  3. Follow me on Twitter @yaelleah and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
  4. Follow Awesome in New York using Networked Blogs or Google Friend Connect and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
  5. Tweet or blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet or blog below.
You have until Friday 12/9 at 4 pm EST to enter this contest. Winners will be announced soon after. Best of luck!






A winner has been chosen! Congratulations to Mary Ann! You have won a pair of tickets to see Follies on Broadway. I hope you have a great time and be sure to come back and tell us how you liked the show!

11/29/11

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to the NYBG Holiday Train Show Shopping and Champagne Event

Now that all the leftover turkey is gone, it's prime time to start checking off those holiday shopping lists. The New York Botanical Garden, which is celebrating its 20th Holiday Train Show this year, would like to help you out.Thursday nights (12/1, 12/8, and 12/15) from 6-8 pm, NYBG is putting on a Shopping and Champagne event where attendees can both view the famous train show and find unique gifts for everyone. A free glass of Champagne will be served and all tickets include a $20 voucher off a $100 purchase.




All of my readers are in luck! I'm giving away a pair of tickets to NYBG's Holiday Train Show Shopping and Champagne event! There are 5 easy ways to win, and each comment counts as an entry. Be sure to include your email in each comment so that I can easily contact you if you win.
  1. REQUIRED - Subscribe to Awesome in New York by email using the submission box in the right panel and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
  2. Refer a friend to this contest. You must leave a separate comment letting me know who you referred and the friend must leave a comment letting me know who referred them for both entries to count.
  3. Follow me on Twitter @yaelleah and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
  4. Follow Awesome in New York using Networked Blogs or Google Friend Connect and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
  5. Tweet or blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet or blog below.
You have until Friday 12/2 at 5 pm EST to enter this contest. The winner will be announced soon after. Best of luck!




A winner has been chosen! Congratulations Jerry! You win 2 tickets to the New York Botanical Garden's Shopping and Champagne event! Thanks to everyone who entered and make sure to check out the Holiday Train Show in December.

11/7/11

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to The Man Who Came to Dinner

This fall has been a great season for Off-Broadway shows thus far, and beginning November 25, The Man Who Came to Dinner will attempt to prolong that streak. A classic comedy revival, the show will feature Drama Desk Winner Jim Brochu and Tony Award Winner Cady Huffman, as well as a 27-member ensemble cast. The show tells the story of a celebrated radio personality who finds himself holed up in the house of strangers after a nasty fall. Over the course of his stay, he seems to drag his entire life through the house of his hosts who are, let's just say, not used to this kind of lifestyle. You'll laugh, you won't cry, but mostly you'll have a fun time at this show.


All of my awesome readers are in luck! I'm giving away a pair of tickets to see The Man Who Came to Dinner off-Broadway! There are 5 easy ways to win, and each comment counts as an entry. Be sure to include your email in each comment so that I can easily contact you if you win.
  1. REQUIRED - Subscribe to Awesome in New York by email using the submission box in the right panel and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
  2. Refer a friend to this contest. You must leave a separate comment letting me know who you referred and the friend must leave a comment letting me know who referred them for both entries to count.
  3. Follow me on Twitter @yaelleah and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
  4. Follow Awesome in New York using Networked Blogs or Google Friend Connect and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
  5. Tweet or blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet or blog below.
You have until Friday 11/11 at 5 pm EST to enter this contest. Winners will be announced soon after. Best of luck!



Congratulations Sarah! She was the 7th commenter and wins 2 tickets to the show! Thanks to everyone for entering and stay tuned for more giveaways!

Can't wait to buy tickets? The Man Who Came to Dinner is offering a special discount to Awesome in New York readers. All tickets are 15% off for performances Nov. 25-Dec. 18! To purchase these tickets click here and enter the code PTCHHC. You could also call 212.352.3103 or visit the box office at the Theater of St. Clement's (423 W. 43rd Street) using the same code to purchase tickets. 

11/1/11

Beerooklyn

Rub a dub dub, hundreds of suds in a...bank? A beautiful old bank in fact, and not your typical suds. The Village Voice recently held its first Brooklyn Pour event at Skylight One Hanson in Fort Greene, Brooklyn and if you like day drinking and beer, it was the place to be.

One Hanson Place

Built in 1927 in the popular Art Deco style, the Williamsburgh Savings Bank (yes, with an "h") now boasts Magic Johnson-built condos above, and one of the most unique event spaces in the five boroughs on the ground floors, Skylight One Hanson. I was impressed by the magnificence of the high-vaulted ceilings and finance-inspired stained glass and sculpture work. Just taking in the grandeur of this slice of NYC history is enough to make you slightly tipsy.

Financial stained glass
Mosaic map of NYC

However, the main attraction at this bank had nothing to do with moola and everything to do with beer. Lots and lots of beer. More than 50 brewing companies, beer shops and breweries set up shop throughout the main hall and the former vault downstairs. With each sampling between one and seven ales, ciders, lagers, stouts and porters, it was near impossible to try every beverage from every purveyor with my little beer tasting shot glass. Nevertheless, I gave it a good go.

Beer tasting glass
Main banking hall
Old teller windows served as brewery booths
Beer purveyors
Entrance to the vault
Beer tasting in the vault

Making my rounds throughout the main hall, I had the game plan to steer clear of the beers I know and love so that I could find and appreciate some newbies for my liver to contend with. But really, some of these beers were so local they can't take the express train (bad NY joke?), and I'm a sucker for locally made anything. 

One of my favorite sips of the day came not from a beer company, but from the cider brand Original Sin. NYC-based, these guys were sampling their apple and pear ciders at a booth covered in their amazing and risque posters (no one else came close in the decoration department). You almost wanted to visit the booth just to read the posters. 

Original Sin's display

Another favorite was Ithaca Beer Company's Apricot Wheat. Not overwhelmingly sweet, this beer managed to convey wonderful apricot flavor and I could totally picture sipping it on the deck of some upstate lake house while watching the leaves turn. Now if only I could go find that lake house and those leaves...

Ithaca Beer Co.'s display

I tried several Oktoberfest varieties, but my favorite was Brooklyn Brewery's. I know I said I was steering away from what I already knew, but I just couldn't help it after my wonderful experience at their brewery tour

Me enjoying some suds

Other favorites included Allahash Curiex, from the makers of my trusty Allagash White, which was aged in Jim Beam bourbon barrels and hence took on a truly different flavor. Doc's Draft pear cider and the Champagne-like Gaffel Kolsch from Germany were also hits. Singha beer was cool too because they hooked me up with a sweet keychain.

Lastly, I sampled several flavors of Fresh Ginger Ale by Bruce Cost and am now hooked. Complete with pieces of real ginger floating throughout the bottle, these ginger ales are better than anything you were ever served on a sick day growing up. The ginger flavor is celebrated instead of hidden in these non-alcoholic sodas, and I would highly recommend picking one up at Whole Foods next time you're in the area.

Allagash bottles
Doc's Draft ciders
While Brooklyn Pour revolved around a certain alcoholic beverage, the food was not to be missed. I think some of the food stands were confused as to whether or not they were supposed to sell their food or give it away because some intermittently sported makeshift price signs while some were mobbed with freeloaders. About an hour in, all were asking a few dollars for their items, with the exception of Bareburger, which I'm SO glad I finally got to try.

A local and organic Brooklyn burger joint, these guys like to experiment with their meat and the results are amazing. I had two four wild boar sliders, which were served on lightly grilled buns with some amazing pickles, cheddar cheese and chipotle ketchup. They were also serving bison and elk burgers, but the crowds gobbled them up before I got to sample either. Other local food stall included Sigmund's Pretzels, Rye House and Pizza 33.

Bareburgers
Sigmund's pretzels
Der Schwarze Kolner, a nearby Fort Greene bar, hosted the official after-party, however this awesome girl was feeling a little too full of awesome beer to partake in the ongoing festivities. If it was anything like the main event, it must have been a blast. After experiencing Choice Eats, and now Brooklyn Pour, I can tell you that The Village Voice really knows how to throw a party, especially one that revolves around anything you eat or drink. Stay tuned to see what they cook up next.

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