All Hallows Eve @The Stone Park

Really... they are very nice children

Liz as Calamity the somolier

Andrew, and Caroline and the little Zombiettes

Holy 5 ave!

my peeps

Where all at the bar were familiar except for the ghosts and Goblins ...but the 5st crowd was also scary(in a good way)..and really I enjoyed hanging out with my peeps. And eating the muscles and apple crisp and chicken and thank you Mississippi Andrew and Liz, the perfect Annie or Calamity or just perfect Liz doing her vino exam...and thank you two cups of coffee that allows me to blog at this late hour. There were also the passersby on 5st including Andrew the very thoughtful scientist and caroline and their brood.

cat in the hat and cop with a hat

CENTRICO

Was "211" and is now Centrico @211 West Bwy. It is now Drew's place (Myriad Group) and is now a sensational Mexican restaurant. As Dad would say,"Go know!?" Meaning who would have guessed that this old favorite could offer scallops that had a roasted toasted chipoltle favor and yet seated in creamy creme something...and the Tamal with mushrooms and the platanos that looked like beignets or corn fritters and efficient likable wait staff and beans and rice that begged for some of the salsas(one smokin' smoky)

Platanos

scallops

that came with the guacamole but that we wouldn't give up til our coats were on.

Kutshers ..cant wait

Franklin near Greenwich...so many stories to tell when this restaurant opens.

Emilio Ballatos on Houston and Mulberry ...time travel Italian

The two tables appeared to be filled with a neighborhood reunion group. The owner hopped between tables and one man had a fantastic jacket with the Italian flag on the back. It was a postcard night in Soho following the Risa Jaraslow dance benefit and we were hungry. "Dis must be the place," as Milton Berle?

would say. Shrimp fra diavlo and ravioli and raw clams(many)...perfect.

KIWIANA...not just another New Zealand restaurant in the hood

Park Slope didn't know it needed a NZ restaurant but now that Mark gifted one..they are not likely to let it
go. And I've been waiting for a chance to wear that flag sweater...and for lovely snapper ...and JR likes a good

Sunnyside up burger

veggie pot pie and our NZ friend (don't you have one? You should get one; they are nice and funny and accomplished) liked the burger (but the cheese needs to get meltier). Fine NZ sauvignon..Roberts of Marlborough. 7av and Union...take a left at Auckland.

Upstate on First Ave and 6st

There are the jokes about how New Yorkers call everything North of the Bronx and West of Mahattan
"Upstate". Here there are hints of true upstate New York....like The Utica Club tray on the wall.
The truth is that this beer and oyster...and lobster bisque and lobster roll...emporium reflects the hop-ish barleyish and shell-ish treasures of a real map from Southampton to the Fingerlakes to Wash State. ...And just to make it interesting ,the very engaging bar administrator ,Francis, recently arrived from Aukland.

Stone Park's Chef Josh might not...

...consider mouse pancakes his "piece of resistence" but Sophie does. What better to eat when wearing your mouse ears....and on a day when you lose your second front tooth.

China Cafe 13 east37st

Lamb and scallions

Crystal shrimp dumplings

Smoked tea duck rice

Pork dumplings in chili oil

Corey says that the true test of dim sum lies in the shrimp dumplings. There China Cafe scores an A+. But the lamb with scallions and the smoked duck rice and the dumplings in chili oil brought the average up to 5.0 on a 4 point scale. The waiter was serious and for good reason ...he was serving some serious food.

ROMANS es divisa into tres partes..magnum,magnum and magnum

The Brooklyn Academy of Music is close to Romans

Kale and parmigiano

polenta and gorgonzola

We walked through the Bam Cafe and its sparkles after the movie to Vanderbilt and Dekalb in Bklyn This sleeper has a bar with stools and everyone one them seems to be touching someone else in a way that says they are about to have a Roman holiday. Romans is the date night mood setter. And for good reason; the lights are low and the food is vibrant and seductive and novel...unless you live in Roma.