NewYorkMundaneSecrets

West Village: Beard Papa is Coming for You

2005-08-31T18:56:00.000-04:00

Beard Papa is moving in at the corner of Carmine Street and Avenue of Americas. A little sign just appeared in the window of the still-being-renovated space there. Some counters have appeared also.

People love those cream puffs. Friends that I know have thrown tiffs over them.

Gothamist post: Beard Papa's previous opening in Upper West
Gothamist post: Beard Papa's previous opening in East Village
onokinegrindz: on Beard Papa in Hawaii

West Village IFC Center: The Baxter premiering soon

2005-08-25T14:48:00.000-04:00

Was walking by the IFC Center yesterday evening and I think there was some kind of press conference for The Baxter, which is premiering in NYC this week. Some paparazzi and passersby were hanging around a roped off area in the front of the theater. I heard someone say that Justin Theroux was going to be there.

Too bad I was in a hurry & couldn't stick around. I liked Justin in Mulholland Drive.

I think I'm going to catch this flick. I used to dig director/writer/actor Michael Showalter when he was on the sketch comedy show The State.

Bowery: old punks converge on CBGB for benefit concerts

2005-08-22T23:32:00.000-04:00

There's a ton of old punk bands reuniting to play CBGB's benefit concerts. I could hardly believe it when I saw the line up. Flipper?? Circle Jerks? Dead Boys? I didn't think they were still alive (well, many of them aren't, actually).

- Star-Studded Event Kicks Off Efforts to Save CBGB (Spin Magazine)
- CBGB's Last Stand? (Blogcritics)

West Village: Pizza Part Deux

2005-08-09T22:26:00.000-04:00

Looks like Numero28 has updated their outdoor signage. Is it time for a pizzaria war??

I haven't tried Numero28 yet, but it looks like a great place for sit-down, true Italian style pizza.

Separately, a new pizza joint is under construction on the Ave. of America's, near Famous Joe's, next door to the Pita Pit, and right near the West 4th stop. The awning reads: Cafe Amore's Pizza. Developing...

West Village: Pizza on Carmine @ Bleecker St

2005-08-08T16:48:00.000-04:00

Famous Joe's Pizza
7 Carmine St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 255-3946

Abitino's
Carmine and Bleecker St.

A new pizza place opened last week on the corner of Bleecker and Carmine, where the Famous Joe's Pizza used to be. Joe's moved further towards Broadway awhile back. (The old location of Joe's is visually preserved in Spiderman 2 -- the hapless Peter Parker works there as a delivery boy).

In the old location, Abitinos has moved in. Looks like a local chain, family owned.

So far it looks like they're doing some healthy business, filling a niche on this tourist-heavy street for higher end, topping-covered pizza by the slice.

I tried a couple of slices -- not bad. Serviceable, and fresh. It remains to be seen if they keep the quality up for some time after their opening.

The place itself does have that "chain restuarant" feeling, with its professional looking logo, new building w/ , which doesn't feel as "mom and pop" as one might like in the village. But that's the way it goes. Most of the "quaint", homey looking places are made to look that way, after all!

West Village: IFC Center arrives, amid protests

2005-08-03T01:04:00.000-04:00

The Waverly Theater, boarded up for years, is now home of the recently opened indie movie house, the IFC Center.

I've been leery about trying the place out, however, due to allegations that they are employing nonunion projectionists. The ubitiquous inflatable union rat was parked outside the theater upon it's grand opening. I need to find out more about the issues.

links
NY Metro
gothamist
the reeler

East Village: Sing Sing Redux?

2005-08-03T00:52:00.000-04:00

It looks like Sing Sing Karaoke on St. Marks has undergone a major renovation recently. New signage, new walls, karaoke rooms, etc. It's a nice clean joint now.

I went with friends last weekend -- thought it was great. We did have a few glitches with the machine (damn Microsoft errors!), but otherwise it was a blast.

MAP

Closing: Kim's Underground Video on Bleecker, reopening on Christopher

2005-08-03T00:11:00.000-04:00

Kim's Underground Video on Bleecker closed about a week ago.

But looks like they are moving to Christopher Street:

Christopher Street
Sales and Rentals (DVD only)
89 Christopher Street
(Bet. Bleecker and 7th Ave)
212-242-4363

This is a great place to rent independent, international, rare, cult films. I haven't seen the new location yet, but hopefully they'll stock a good amount of titles.

Related
interesting thread about a recent raid of bootleg films at Kim's

West Village: a knitting cafe

2005-08-02T22:05:00.000-04:00

The Point
37A Bedford St (map)

Walking around the village, chanced upon this knitting-themed cafe tucked away on Bedford near Carmine. Have some tea, buy some yarn or needles, knit, chat....

It attracts some customers... mostly female customers, as you might expect.

Official webpage
Article in The Villager

Chelsea: Energy Kitchen "business plan" salad

2005-08-02T21:13:00.000-04:00

I tried out a salad at Energy Kitchen in Chelsea, New York. It's a good-sized salad, with tasty yet healthy toppings.

Business Plan Salad $6.95
Mixed greens, red onions, tomato, grilled marinated chicken, spinach, egg whites, & low fat Canadian bacon.

I've had it 3 times for work and it was pretty fresh every time. I'm quite picky about fresh ingredients in salad. I don't like bruised greens, etc.

They have a focus on healthy food preparation -- from their website:

"We are dedicated to bringing you great tasting food that's good for you! We use only the highest quality ingredients for meals that are nutritionally-balanced, low fat & packed with protein. Everything is cooked to order, never in advance.

Energy Kitchen is a health/body conscious dining venue serving up tasty, low-fat, low carb dishes. The cornerstone of Energy Kitchen is its ability to provide the healthiest sandwiches, platters, salads and smoothies in a creative, tasty presentation. Some of our creative innovations include the Turkey Joe Wrap, Bison Cheese steak and BBQ chicken quesadilla. To compliment these meals, we also have a full line of designer smoothies known as the Liquid Lab, which includes the Lean Body Creamsicle and the Protein power punch.

All dishes are made to order and are prepared only by grilling, baking, or steaming; the menu excludes beef and focuses on the more healthy substitutes of chicken, turkey, bison and ostrich. The Energy Kitchen provides high energy foods for people on the go - serving breakfast, lunch and dinner."

Good for a work lunch...

LOCATION
Mapquest
Google Maps