|
ForYourBelly CULINARY OBSESSIONS: Must-Eats Of The Month Treats around the city that love to haunt my dreams…and diet… SUSHI SAMBA: I completely understand that sushi with cheese is not for everyone. But, if you like both-- consider fusing them for just one moment with Sushi Samba’s Latin-Asian inspired roll, which includes salmon, jalapeno, shiso leaf, fresh melted mozzarella and crispy onion. You’ll thank me later.
CAKE MAN RAVEN: Southern Red Velvet Cake
Whether you’re in a rush to get to your tourist destination, or just are late to work, the city offers a great number of places to pick up a quick bite with gourmet flavor. Here are a few of my favorites: TOSSED MANGIA
A crafty name alludes to even craftier sandwiches at this fairly new chain around the city. Grab a gourmet worthy sandwich and head to the park, or if you are near the Tribeca locale, head to South Street Sea Port. My favorite: The BBQ Flank Steak sandwich, which includes roasted shitake mushrooms, and grilled red onions on a pressed ciabatta roll.
JUMP UP! The West Indian Day Parade
Guest Writer: Rosanne Ramkarran, NYC gyal by way of Guyana BELIEVE THE HYPE: Exhibit On Hip-Hops’ New York Roots
THERE’S MORE THAN MANHATTAN: Queens In The Summertime The largest of the five boroughs, Queens has much more to offer than two major airports. Queens Quick Facts: - Most ethnically diverse city in the country THE HONG DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria, Queens. No frills bar with over 800 international beers plus your usual tasty burger and savory crepes. Inside tip: order the fried cheese…not quite your normal mozzarella stick, and worth taking a trip from Manhattan for. Be prepared for long lines at this popular spot, especially in the summer.
SOUTH STREET SEA PORT Longing for a small New England town feel in the heart of New York City? Yes, it is very possible. Many visitors and even New Yorkers rarely make it down to the tip of the island to visit the South Street Sea Port, but there are many reasons to make the trek, especially in the summer months. The port is located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and contains some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan. Take advantage while it’s still warm of its great restaurants, shopping, bars—and most importantly—an amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Manhattan’s popular Habana Restaurant has an outpost in Brooklyn that offers much more than a restaurant, especially in the summer. Stop by on the weekend and enjoy an outdoor craft marketplace that supports local artists. Most interestingly, Habana is New York’s first solar-powered restaurant. Enjoy the weather as you sip on a smoothie or margarita made with a bike blender…yes a blender powered by a bike. This eco-friendly establishment is committed to power-saving, and I am committed to its beautiful scenery, potent mojitos, and amazing fresh grilled corn.
ForYourMindAndBody www.bikramyoganyc.com You can get hot and sweaty in New York in the summer without having to try. But in an effort to cleanse these impurities that the city causes your body to produce, try Bikram Yoga. Referred to as “Hot Yoga” by many, this form of yoga is named after its founder - Bikram Choudhury, who studied Yoga with Bishnu Ghosh, brother of Paramahansa Yogananda. Bikram is a series of 26 poses performed in a room heated from around 90-100 degrees Farenheit. The initial pain of such a warm environment is inconsequential when compared to the benefits of the poses-- improved circulation and breathing, better sleep patterns, and of course a trimmer belly.
Like what you read? Want to know more? Inquire about packaging and advertising opportunities at www.ny4you.com, the key to New York City’s best kept secrets… customized JUST FOR YOU… |
El Topo Roll 
Ask any one of my friends what makes me drool, and they’ll definitely say “a slice of cake man.” This cake is truly heaven; so much so that people wait before it even opens just to get just one slice. Maybe it’s the cream cheese frosting, maybe it’s the moistness in every bite-- but I can’t get enough. Oprah raves Doughboys red velvet cake in Los Angeles is the best, but she obviously has not tried this local Brooklyn bakery that produces perfect individually sliced pieces of heaven-with or without pecans.
‘WICHCRAFT 
Jump and wave, everybody jump and wave, jump jump jump and wave! Before you dismiss this snippet of information as a segue to a hot new gym in NYC then think again. Consider this a prelude to Carnival: The annual West Indian American Day Carnival in Brooklyn. This is your one day to escape in to the abyss of Caribbean music, food and plain ole “getting on bad”. Many say it’s Mardi Gras and Carnaval coming together, but experience it for yourself and you will discover it is wildly unique festival of it’s own. From peacock feathers, sequined bras, metallic bikini bottoms to flesh glittering 
with gold and silver sparkles from head to toe; The Caribbean is represented in all of it’s splendor. Live steel pan music being played on the various floats takes you back to a beach side restaurant in Trinidad. As the Jamaican floats pass by, heavy bass rips through the air and in to your body, the pulsating rhythms transports you to a dancehall back in ’92. In recent years, dancehall king, Elephant Man and his crew can be spotted sporting the most “bashment” outfits, turning the heat up and getting the crowd going. The Haitian float passes by and spectators hope to see platinum-recording artist, music producer and actor, Wyclef Jean. Sauté tout le monde et lever ton main, Wyclef shouts, draped in a Haiti flag. By midday those playing “mas” are at their prime. Basians, Trinidadians and Guyanese can be seen by the hundreds. You quickly learn who’s who by their color combinations, red, white and black for the Trinis, 
blue and yellow for the Basians, and the unforgettable red, gold and green by the Guyanese, and everyone else for that matter. We should remind you, there is no shortage of vendors along the parade route. This is where you begin to salivate. Skewers of jerk chicken sizzle on bbq grills side by side the roasted corn on the cob. Guyanese women set up colorful lawn chairs next to their coolers, where the neatly foiled roti and dahlpuri stays soft and hot. Next to the coolers are huge cauldrons of curried goat and chicken. 
You don’t want to miss out on this. Be sure to get it as an entrée or ask if it can be served in a roti, wrap style, and don’t forget to pick up a bottle of water. The curry will be sure to have your tongue burning, yet you won’t complain at all because it will be the best you’ve had all year. 
Hip-Hop Activist & Media Assassin Harry Allen’s “Part of the Permanent Record: Photos From the Previous Century,” is a show of rare images from a crucial period of hip-hop history. Check out these photos before it’s too late.
Treat yourself and the kiddies to terrific views of the races from Flushing Meadows Corona Park’s Meadow Lake, and enjoy cultural performances, demonstrations and an international selection of food. The dragon-boat races symbolize the frantic attempts of the fishermen to rescue Qu Yuan and glutinous rice pudding called Zongzi is eaten to remember the rice offerings made in his honor. Afterwards you can check out the nearby Queens Museum, which is open until 6pm. 
BOHEMIAN HALL & BEER GARDEN 
HABANA OUTPOST AND MARKET
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |