Beer & Bites Times Two

Tomorrow, 3/25, is a big day for beer pairing dinners at two fantabulous venues with menus and prices so amazing we just had to share:

The Bell's Brewery Beer Dinner
Snowdonia - 34-55 32nd St, Astoria

For only $45 you will receive a 3-course meal featuring oxtail lasagna...Mmmmmmmm!...with each course paired with a beer from the Midwestern brewery. Snowdonia is an awesome new gastropub that opened recently in my neighborhood, but just because it's in Astoria doesn't mean they don't totally know what they are doing. This is an excellent opportunity to break out of your comfort zone and try something new! Seatings are at 7 and 9:30 and can be reserved with a $15 nonrefundable deposit.

Sam Adams Beer Dinner

David Burke at Bloomingdales - 1000 Third Avenue at 59th Street

The iconic department store restaurant has joined forces with the classic New England brewery to offer a 4-course meal in conjunction with the Art of Shaving. Roasted duck and a chocolate panna cotta martini are on the $65 menu, with each course paired with an all-American brew. This is sure to be a culinary treat.

AWESOME ALERT: Macaron Day is TODAY!!!

One of my favorite days of the year is the day when the most elegant of cookies, the macaron, are given away en masse throughout the city. And guess what? (your day is about to get amazing..................)....................FREE MACARON DAY IS TODAY!

There are 15 participating locations in NYC (Gothamist has a helpful Google map if you want to try and get to all of them), and since I work in Midtown East I'll most likely hit up the Bernardaud store for MadMac macarons, FP Patisserie, and Macaron Cafe. All proceeds from further macaron sale will go to City Harvest.

Yummmmmmmmmmmmy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to The Bridges of Madison County

Every so often a new musical comes around and completely blows me away. The Bridges of Madison County, a palpable love story based on the book and 1995 movie, is one of those. I was invited to see it last week and became wrapped up in the love triangle of Francesca, her All-American husband Richard, and the "hippie" National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid who whirlwinds into Francesca's life and changes it forever. What would you do if you got a second chance at love?

Songs like "One Second and a Million Miles" and "It All Fades Away" were stuck in my head all weekend; catchy an emotional, but milder and not as sing-song-y as showtunes can often be. Kelli O'Hara (Francesca) is a vision on stage and, especially if you saw her in Nice Work if You Can Get It, is an extremely versatile performer. Steven Pasquale, making is Broadway musical debut, melted my heart a little bit with his rich singing voice, and, oh that hair! The set was simple, yet elegant, and call me weird, made me want to visit rural Iowa.

Good news! I'm giving away a pair of tickets to a Tues-Thurs performance of The Bridges of Madison County now playing at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 W. 45th St., between Broadway and 8th). The winner will need to redeem his/her tickets for a show before April 3. To enter to win, please use the form below and follow the instructions carefully. If you don't leave the comment requested and subscribe to my blog you cannot be the winner. A winner will be chosen and notified on Friday March 21.

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AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to The Cripple of Inishmaan

Danielle Radcliffe isn't just Harry Potter anymore. The Londoner is set to star in the West End transfer of The Cripple of Inishmaan, a black comedy set in Ireland about a young "cripple" who vies for a part in a Hollywood documentary being shot in the region. Who knows? He just might get his chance!

The show is written by Martin McDonagh of In Bruges fame. Here is the official Broadway trailer:

Previews begin April 12 for an opening on April 20. Good news! I'm giving away 2 tickets to a lucky reader for a Tuesday-Thursday performance. Enter using the widget below by Friday March 14. Make sure to follow all the rules to avoid being disqualified (I check if you actually commented!). Best of luck!

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AWESOME DEAL: A Fabulous Fitness Find Returns!

Some of you may remember my post about the American Health and Fitness passbooks last year. This was seriously one of the best purchases I've ever made as it allowed me to sample boutique fitness and yoga studios all over the city for an entire year. I could not stop talking about it and convinced several of my friends to buy the passbook as well and join me on a fitness adventure.

If you've ever step foot in an Exhale or fancy Pilates classroom, you know those classes regularly cost upwards of $35. The passbook normally costs $90 and is available in a yoga, fitness, or Pilates version. You can view all of the specific studios available to you here, but know that at a minimum each coupon allows you 2 visits (some places give you a full week!).

Lifebooker is currently selling the books for $45 a pop with a 15% off discount using the code SCOREFIFTEEN (that brings it down to $38.25!!!). With this deal you are basically paying pennies for top-notch classes all around the city (in Queens and Brooklyn too!). To purchase, please use my referral link and go to the fitness section of Lifebooker Loot. You'll see it listed as "$45 Choice of Class Passbook: Choose from Fitness, Yoga and Pilates."

My favorite studios from last year were:

• Exhale Spa: I'm addicted! Their Core Fusion Sport class will make you sweat like no other and builds core strength in a matter of minutes
• Moving Strength: These small Pilates reformer classes feel essentially like private sessions as you get an amazing amount of personal attention and correction. Newbies welcome!
• Atmananda Yoga: A clean, welcoming yoga studio conveniently located near Union Square offers a wide range of classes
• Yoga Vida: You'll find any class you're looking for at this large, unique yoga studio also located near Union Square. I highly recommend their restorative classes for a nice wind down.
• Pure Yoga: I visited the Upper East Side location to try their signature Figure 4 class and was sore for a week! This is the most intense barre class you will ever take, and I mean that in the best way possible.

Seriously guys, no one is paying me to say this but I absolutely love these passbooks. I can't tell you how many trainers and studio administrators looked at me and said "this is the best deal!" when I checked in with my book.I never had any issues using it and was always welcomed into the different studios like any other client. It's good through the end of the year, so the sooner you buy it, the more time you'll have to use it! Trust me, you'll want to get all your friends in on this as well. 

Get Your Drink and Sweets On

So many of my favorite things (beer, dessert, and the rooftop at Hotel Chantelle) are combining for an awesome event: Beer et Bonne Bouche: A Beer & Dessert Experience is a project of both Braving the Brew and Sugartooth Tours (more to come on them soon hopefully!) with the goal of teaching you how to pair decadent sweets with your favorite pints.

Tickets are $55 per person or $90 per couple and can be purchased here. The event will be held this Tuesday 3/11 at 7:30pm. The rooftop at Hotel Chantelle is one of my favorite places--whimsical and calming, yet trendy and happening. I highly recommend you check it out!

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: Happy Pancake Day! FREE Nutella!

Today, March 4, is pancake day! Hooray! Our friends at Nutella want you to spread the happy, and we of course want you to spread the awesome, sooooooo check out these awesome ricotta pancakes with Nutella and warm strawberry sauce I whipped up to celebrate my boyfriend and my anniversary this weekend (the heart was his idea--cue the awwwww!).

Here's the recipe:

Ricotta Pancakes with Nutella Hazelnut Spread & Warm Strawberry Sauce

• 1 cup low fat ricotta
• 1/2 cup reduced fat milk (I used almond milk)
• 3 eggs, whites and yolks separated
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• oil spray
• 7 oz. strawberries, hulled & thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp Nutella per pancake

PANCAKES: Put the ricotta, egg yolks and milk into a bowl and mix well. Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt and combine until you have a smooth batter. Place the egg whites in a clean bowl and beat until soft peaks form and then gently fold into the ricotta mixture.

Spray a large non-stick pan with oil and drop in 2 tablespoons of batter per pancake. Cook for about one minute until golden and then flip over and cook for another minute. Remove from pan and keep in warm over until ready to serve.

STRAWBERRY SAUCE: Combine the strawberries and sugar in a small saucepan and gently heat for 3-4 minute until syrupy. When ready to serve, spread 2 teaspoons of Nutella onto each pancake and top with the strawberry sauce.

Awesome news! Nutella is giving one special reader 2 jars of Nutella to make your own pancakes, spread over toast, or just eat by the spoonful. To enter, fill out the form below by Thursday 3/6. Make sure to actually leave a comment below telling me your favorite way to use Nutella or you will be disqualified. A winner will be chosen and notified by Friday 3/7. Best of luck!

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Disclosure: I was not compensated by Nutella, but did receive 2 jars of my own to create the pancakes in this post.