Stuff to Do

AllNY.com's look at things to do in NYC written by New Yorkers for New Yorkers and serious New York tourists.

Baseball Fancation: Let’s Plan to See the New York Mets

Here’s another Fancation to tempt your travel planning for the year ahead. Plan to visit New York City starting in April to see the Amazins’ continue the momentum started this year.

New York Mets:

Baseball Stop: Citi Field, Queens

Be one with your favorite firecracker-hot Mets players at Citi Field where you can really feel like you’re a part of the action. The Mets’ newish stadium seats 41,800 and provides a little something for every single fan. The seats are positioned inward to provide an enhanced view of the field, there’s the 2K Sports FanFest area complete with batting cage, dunk tank and video and of course an abundance of food stands serving the best hot dogs, pretzels, Italian heroes and other baseball-friendly snacks. The food court in the back takes baseball cuisine a step further with Danny Meyers’ Shake Shack and Blue Smoke,along with Pressed by Josh Capon of Lure Fishbar fame. Very much made with the customer in mind, tickets are reasonably priced, compared to the other New York team’s.. Located in the busy and diverse Flushing Meadows section of Queens there is so much culture and energy surrounding the stadium in the form of interesting museums, ethnic restaurants and beautiful architecture. Getting to the stadium is easy— whether you prefer by subway, rail, water or road. The 7 train takes you directly to the park. Check online to find out about seasonal water taxis, often leaving from downtown Manhattan.

Explore:

Anti-Booze Cruises: Take a break from all-you-can-drink nighttime sailing adventures and give Classic Harbor Line (http://www.sail-nyc.com/) cruises a try. Sail around New York while renowned restaurateurs and architects entertain and enlighten you with their fare. Learn some New York City architectural history aboard a classy 1920’s style yacht where you glide along the East, Harlem and Hudson Rivers, under each of Manhattan’s 18 bridges (who knew there were so many) and past many other notable buildings and memorials. Cruises set sail from easily accessible Chelsea Piers, Pier 62 at West 22nd Street. You can also enjoy the new cruise-dining experience on Fish Bar (http://northriverfishbar.com/) from Pier 81, where you can choose to sit on top at the bar on lounge furniture, or inside as you enjoy fine dining while sailing along the Hudson River. Time your dinner to coincide with a sunset viewing of the Statue of Liberty. The boat and restaurant operate year-round.

Not Your Mom’s Science Fair: Perfect for ages 6 months to 70 years, the New York Hall of Science (http://www.nysci.org/) takes the science beyond generic science-fair level. There’s a Science Playground with slides, sound machines and more that are perfect for the little ones who are discovering the use of their senses. There are more than 450 permanent exhibits that are all hands-on and mentally stimulating. Explore some of the most powerful and historical spacecrafts at Rocket Park, discover unknown worlds beneath the microscope at Hidden Kingdoms and put your body to work at Sports Challenge where you participate in fun and physical activities. Rocket Park Mini Golf is a way to incorporate all you learned about physics, mathematics and good old fun. General admission tickets are priced reasonably, based on age of guest, and don’t miss the opportunity for complimentary admission September-June on Fridays, 2-5pm; Sundays, 10-11am and Fridays when school is out for students. The Museum hours change with the seasons.

Bird’s Eye View: In order to take in all the beauty of New York City from above either take a helicopter ride with New York Helicopter (http://www.newyorkhelicopter.com) or opt for the economical route and head to Queens Museum http://www.queensmuseum.org/) to see the renowned Panorama. The 50-year-old model is 9,335 square feet and includes an accurate model of every New York City building that was ever built before 1992. Robert Moses’1964 World Fair entry celebrates the city’s diverse and beautiful architecture and infrastructure, shining light on each of the 895,000 structures. The model’s upgrade in 2009 was to make a crucial addition, the Met’s Citi Field. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday 12-6pm and the admission is a suggested donation. New York City Building Flushing Meadows Corona Park; Queens, NY 11368; 718-592-9700

De-stress : Sweat the stress and pounds away at an authentic Russian Bath, Wall Street Bath and Spa (http://www.wallstreetbath.com/). Offered is the Russian Sauna, the Old American Shvitz that’s temperature and vapor ingredients can be adjusted to your liking, a near-Olympic-sized swimming pool, tanning beds, and Jacuzzi.  For $32.50 per day you can de-robe and relax in one of the busiest districts in the city, Wall Street. There’s a restaurant onsite with a few options to help replenish your appetite after a day of sweating off toxins and unwanted fat. Ride the New York Waterway Ferry

(http://www.nywaterway.com/Home.aspx)  for another fun experience. Open Monday through Friday 11am-11pm or Saturday and Sunday 9am-11pm.

88 Fulton Street; New York, NY 10038; 212-766-8600

Sleep: Skip staying in Queens and head instead to Manhattan for greater choice and comfort. A boutique in a quieter section of the city is the Hotel Giraffe (http://www.hotelgiraffe.com/). Comfort, elegance and style are personified in the spacious guest rooms, with afternoon snacks, and music in the lobby. The complimentary European-style breakfast buffet and rooftop lounge area are sure to provide the much-needed boost of energy or bit of relaxation to get you through your day as well as the high-speed Wi-Fi Internet for researching your next move. Though there is no gym onsite, guests receive a complimentary pass to the nearby NY Sports Club. Located at 365 Park Avenue South; New York, NY 10016; 212-685-7700 you are within a short walking or public transportation-distance from many of the city’s major shopping areas, landmarks and museums.

Hotel Elysée (http://www.elyseehotel.com/) is a boutique hotel that entices with its simplicity without sacrificing its amenities. It’s very much like a home away from home feel with the charming and thoughtfully styled guestrooms and suites and the care with which they treat guest, offering complimentary Wi-Fi Internet throughout the hotel as well as a hearty breakfast. For a delicious meal at a world-renowned eatery, head right out to Monkey Bar (http://monkeybarnewyork.com) or order into your room.  The stylish restaurant that has been around since the Great Depression serves up banana daiquiris, famous NY Strip ‘Delmonico’ and enough oysters and clams to satisfy your crustacean cravings. The Hotel is located at 60 East 54th Street; New York, NY 10022; 212-753-1066.

Eat: You’ve had a long day of sitting in sporty clothing, cheering loudly to represent your team and possibly weathering the storm of beer raining from the cups of fellow fans. A day at the baseball field is always fun and exciting but sometimes after all the casual fun sometimes a little upgrade to grownup sexy is the perfect way to end the night. DiWine is exactly the place to go. The eclectic menu reflects the diverse Astoria neighborhood in which it resides. There’s a delicious array of brunch Brick Oven Pizzas—“The Gigi” with smoked beef, capers, portabella and mushrooms sounds amazing, Pecan Buttermilk Waffles and Banana Bread French Toast to start you off. Then the Dinner Menu sets things off offering 12 Tasting Plates—Dates and Devils, Bistro Mussels and Truffled Mac-n-Cheese are just a few that scream to be tasted. The creative and tasty libations are in abundance and they pair nicely with the gorgeous interior that’s intimate and chic. The plush lounge couches and extra long bar draw people in and keep them satisfied while there.

Open Sunday through Thursday 5pm-2am; Friday & Saturday 5pm-4am; Weekend brunch begins at 11am.

4115 31st Avenue; Astoria, NY 11103; 718-777-1355

Shop: You know the drill. Manhattan and Brooklyn are where the shopping’s at. Depending on your style preferences, you might enjoy perusing the high-fashion Pucci and Prada shops along Madison Avenue in Manhattan or subway downtown to SoHo for trendier boutiques or big-name magnets like Moncler and Intermix.  Brooklyn is the place for the independents, with each neighborhood touting its own. Take the subway, pick a neighborhood, and shop. There are more stores in NYC than in most cities in the country and you’re sure to find something distinctive along the way. And, of course, there’s always the Fan Store at the stadium for your Mets flatbrim hat.

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Theater Closings You Shoudn’t Miss

The theater season starts to wind down a bit in August and September.  It’s the last chance for you to catch some of the wonderful shows that have been playing this year on and off-Broadway before the new crop hits the stages in mid-fall.

Hurry now to get tickets to these six gems:

An Act of God - a hilarious explanation of the 10 Commandments, this revival of the original Jim Parsons’ one-man show now features the talents of Sean Hayes.  It’s irreverent, creative and totally off-the-wall.  www.anactofgod.com.  Booth Theater, 222 West 45th Street.  Closing September 4.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – the thought-provoking show about a 15-year-old autistic boy whose mathematical brilliance motivates him to solve the mystery of a murdered dog closes on September 4 as well.  Don’t miss it.  Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 West 47th Street.  www.curiousincidentonbroadway.com.

Fun Home – Tony-winner Fun Home is a musical about a family dealing with the trials and tribulations of gay children and parents.  The children are as entertaining as the adults, although this is a show that’s definitely not appropriate for young ones. www.funhomebroadway.com.  Circle in the Square, 235 West 50th Street.  Closes September 10.

Les Miserables – If you haven’t seen this monster of a musical yet, now is your last chance (at least until it’s next revival).  Closing September 4, Les Miz has an unforgettable mix of drama and music and tells the famous story written by Victor Hugo.  www.lesmiz.com/broadway.  Imperial Theatre, 249 West 45th Street.

Fuerza Bruta – an Off-Broadway favorite for the younger set, Fuerza Bruta involves the audience in its music and acrobatics.  There are no seats and it’s theater at its most immersive.  Closing August 28.  Daryl Roth Theatre, 101 East 15th Street, www.fuerzabrutanyc.com.

Oslo – Also Off-Broadway, at Lincoln Center, the play about a Norwegian diplomat and her husband facilitated the 1993 Oslo Accords and the meetings between Israel and the PLO closes on August 28.  www.lct.org.  Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center, 150 West 65th Street.

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Broadway Buzz! “Stars in the Alley” Showcases More Than 30 Shows June 3 in Free Concert in Times Square

Broadway lovers, you don’t want to miss this. From 12:30pm to 2:30pm on June 2, in Shubert Alley on West 45th Street between Broadway and Eighth avenues in New York City, you can enjoy performances and star appearances from more than 30 Broadway shows, accompanied by a live 12-piece orchestra. Free! With the Tony Awards coming up on June 12, this is a great chance to view performances from 2016 Tony Award®- nominated musicals and decide which ones to buy tickets for now. Produced by the Broadway League, this is an annual event that is always packed so arrive early for best seating and viewing.

Hosts for Stars in the Alley are Sean Hayes from An Act of God and Mo Rocca of CBS Sunday Morning.  Also featured emcees are Sierra Boggess and Alex Brightman, the two leads in School of Rock the Musical.

All photos by Meryl Pearlstein, “Stars in the Alley” 2015

Some of the stars performing are Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Alfie Boe, John Gallagher Jr., Heather Headley, James Monroe Iglehart, Rory O’Malley, Billy Porter, Max von Essen, with Tony nominees Reed Birney, Danny Burstein, Carmen Cusack, Saycon Sengbloh, Michael Shannon, Jennifer Simard

I’ve seen just about all of these musicals and it’s a great opportunity to hear them again. I encourage you to buy tickets now before the Tony Awards so you don’t get closed out from the ones you want to see most. The participating musicals are: Aladdin, An American in Paris, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Bright Star, Chicago, The Color Purple, Disaster!, Fiddler on the Roof, Finding Neverland, Fun Home, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, Les Misérables, Matilda The Musical, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, Paramour, The Phantom of the Opera, She Loves Me, Something Rotten!, Tuck Everlasting, Waitress, and Wicked

There will also be appearances from An Act of God, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Eclipsed, The Father, Fully Committed, Hamilton, The Humans, Long Day’s Journey into Night, School of Rock The Musical, and Shuffle Along, Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed

Stars in the Alley information can be found at Broadway.org. The event is produced by The Broadway League. United Airlines is the title sponsor of Stars in the Alley®.

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Start Your Memorial Day Eats in Stuyvesant Cove Park

Mark this address and these dates in your foodie calendar: Stuyvesant Cove Park at 23rd and East River). Manhattan is finally capitalizing on its Eastside waterfront with a series of outdoor food parties, beginning Memorial Day weekend (May 28-29).

Pick from “pay-as-you-go” dining or an all-inclusive “Sunset Session” ticket to these events that will tempt you with BBQ stations for both vegetarians and meat lovers, live music, beer/cider, showcase cook-offs, and music. On Saturday, George Motz’s Battle of the Burgers will steal the show, followed by a sustainable-seafood Sea2Table Fish Fry on Sunday.
Saturday (5/28), Day Session (12-4PM); Sunday (5/29), Day Session (2-4PM) – pay-as-you-go ($10 Admission includes one beer or cider drink ticket; children 12 and under free with paying adult)

  • Hard cider and craft beer options (10+ providers), including Sixpoint, Southern Tier, Downeast Ciders, Original Sin and more; wine available for purchase
  • All-American food, including grilled cheese stations, American-style BBQ, vegetarian dogs and portabella burgers, biscuits, lobster rolls from Luke’s Lobster, seafood from Eddie Oysters Raw Bar, Jimmy’s No. 43, Harry Hawk Schnack Burgers, Prawn Shop, Copenhagen Street dogs, ice cream and more
  • Live music from Giant Flying Turtles, Kami Maltz, Food Will Win the War, and other guests with waterfront viewing

Saturday (5/28), Sunset Session (5-9PM); Sunday (5/29), Sunset Session (5-9PM) – all-inclusive tickets (5-6PM VIP Raw Bar included, 6-9PM Raw Bar is pay-as-you-go with all other food/drink included)  Tickets range from $45 to $75.

  • Saturday: George Motz’s Battle of the Burgers / Sunday: Sea2Table Fish Fry —  sliders from George Motz, Harry Hawk’s Schnack, Fleisher’s Craft Butchery, Jimmy’s No. 43, and Harry Hawk “Schack” burgers, along with vegetarian burgers from Bittergreens and more
  • Outdoor Grilling – including vegetarian options (portabella and veggie burgers, salads and sides) with cooking competitions and celebrity chefs
  • Sixpoint craft beer and hard cider (10+ options)
  • Live music (Tall Pines, Noelle Tannen Band, The Shockwaves) and other entertainment
  • Waterfront dining as you picnic against a backdrop of sailboats and seaplanes

Full schedule information (subject to change) and ticket information is available at http://cookoutnyc.com/memorialday.

Other dates of note:

  • Saturday, June 18 - CookOut NYC “Little Big” BBQ with a ribs cook-off hosted by Blue Smoke and Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois
  • Monday, July 4 – Fireworks on the Water – It’ll be a Southern-style Fourth of July with Georgia chefs manning the helm
  • Saturday, July 16 – Running with the Beef™ & Spanish Fiesta – The best of Spain and New York compete in cider, wine and cuisine with a Danny Mena Mezcal component
  • Saturday, August 6 – CiderFeast™ – Top ciders from more than 30 cider makers come together alongside grilling stations featuring all-American foods
  • Saturday, September 3, and Sunday, September 4 – CookOut NYC™ Labor Day Weekend – details coming soon

For the full summer schedule as it unfolds, visit http://cookoutnyc.com/.

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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The first-ever survey of Isaac Mizrahi’s boundary-breaking designs brightens the Jewish Museum

Through August 7, fashionistas and non-fashionistas alike can bask in the colorblock glow of Isaac Mizrahi at the Jewish Museum on the Upper East Side.  Designed to admire and explain the inspirations behind the Brooklynite’s provocative and colorful collections, the “Isaac Mizrahi: An Unruly History” exhibition pieces together sketches, storyboards and fabric swatches from the designer’s 30-year career with footage of models wearing the actual items displayed.  “It’s a rare opportunity to have these two groupings come together in one exhibit. Watching the supermodels strut their stuff in Isaac’s dresses is wondrous enough. But to see the dresses and all on mannequins within inches of you, is truly a rare experience,” explained guest curator Chee Pearlman.

Mizrahi may be most recently known for his performances in the documentary Unzipped and on Project Runway All Stars, or for his QVC and Target collections – especially among younger fans — but it’s the couture items that really turn heads.  Take, for example, two of his earliest “High and Low” dares: mixing a t-shirt fabric top with a taffeta ball skirt bottom, or creating a gown from elevator padding materials.  Or his “The Real Thing” dress made of paillettes from Coca-Cola cans, laboriously beaded together on a 60s silhouette sheath.  There’s also a room with video showing Mizrahi-designed clothes worn by Sarah Jessica Parker on “Sex in the City” and Sarah Bernhard while doing stand-up comedy, as well as unusual costumes created for the Guggenheim Museum’s annual presentation of Peter and the Wolf and the frog attendants in the 18th-century French opera Platée.

The exhibit has been built to be movable, with a limited run at the Jewish Museum.  So why the fuss about a designer who is still alive?  Isaac Mizrahi is the real deal when it comes to New York City. He’s a 21st-century Renaissance man who loves life, embraces everything for what it displays, and re-gifts it in ways that break boundaries and challenge the imagination.  From his humble beginnings as a Yeshiva boy in Brooklyn, to his late 1980s entry into the design world, followed by forays into television, film, dance, and theater, Mizrahi displays a talent for imagination and vibrancy.  You may love some of the designs. You may be puzzled by others. But you will be hard-pressed not to leave with a vivid impression of this multi-talented polymath.

Museum admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $7.50 for students from Sunday-Friday (closed Wednesday).  Admission is free on Saturday, and Thursday from 5-8 are Pay What You Wish nights.  The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Avenue, at 92nd Street.  http://thejewishmuseum.org

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Easter Vacation with the Relatives: Go to the New York International Auto Show Instead

Schedule your time this weekend to see what’s in store on the automotive horizon.  If you love cars, as I do, you’ll find this year’s selection at the New York International Auto Show filled with technological advances that will make your head spin, as well as some other concept cars and prototypes that seem truly space age. Plan on spending a few hours to see nearly 1000 of the latest new cars and trucks. From now through April 3, this show will wow any car lover.

Among the news that was revealed at the show this year:

The 100th anniversary of BMW will be celebrated in the US in the fall. Stay tuned for big happenings countrywide.

Mercedes-Benz’s 2017 C-class line-up will hit the US in a big way this summer along with facelifted and less-pricey CLA models.

Jaguar is poised to take on its BMW and Mercedes counterparts with a new entry-level model, the stylish XE.  Service is included, as is for BMW, in the pricing.

BMW’s luxe 7 series models include wireless charging stations for your phone, gesture control, and headrest-mounted tablets for back-seat riders.

If your hands are full with bags and groceries, Maserati lets you open the trunk by waving your foot beneath it, provided you have the key in your pocket or bag.

Single-person vehicles designed by Elio Motors (www.eliomotors.com/team) will be manufactured in Shreveport, Louisiana, with a starting price of $6800.  Sunroof extra, of course.  Toyota has a concept car that’s similar.  Both seem very odd to me, and much like a car version of a Vespa. They seat two people, but in tandem.  Projected MPG for the Elio is 84, based on a 3-cylinder version.

The hand-built Dutch Spyker sport car returns to the show this year with the new C8 Preliator.  Only 50 of these cars will be produced worldwide. The car is sold through its first US dealer, Manhattan Motor Cars.

There’s a kids’ play area that might come in handy as you meander through the two floors of cars, trucks, SUVs, and vintage cars.

Where to go:  Jacob Javits Center, 11th Avenue between 34th and 40th streets, New York City.  Hours:  10am-7pm.  www.autoshowny.com.  Tickets are $16 for adults and $7 for children under 12, and can be purchased online or at the show.

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Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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