Posts Tagged ‘Bryant Park’

Where to Enjoy a Great Picnic in New York City

It’s picnic time! The weather is hot and outdoor dining is the favorite pastime. Here are some ideas for where to hold a picnic to remember.

Central Park

Courtesy centralpark.com

A picnic in the park is a natural and Central Park has a wide variety of locations that you’ll enjoy, many not far from the East Side’s Museum Mile or the Upper West Side’s American Museum of Natural History. Favorites are the Great Lawn which sits in the middle of the park between 79th street and 85th street, Turtle Pond at the southern tip of the Great Lawn near Belvedere Castle, and Sheep Meadow a bit further South. Depending on whether you’re arriving from the East Side or the West Side, there are delis, specialty food shops and a picnic specialist to help you construct your outdoor feast.

Courtesy Butterfield Market

On the East Side, Butterfield Market is a popular gourmet shop with a variety of food departments. You can choose from prepared foods at the gourmet counter including crab cakes, chicken wings and more elaborate dishes like poached salmon or skirt steak, or stay small with pre-made sandwiches, sushi or salads. The talented baristas at the coffee bar will customize your beverage – try an iced dirty chai or an iced matcha latte for a break from a traditional coffee — or choose from many of the gourmet sodas and waters. Add one of their gorgeous cupcakes and you’re good to go. From the West Side, deli fave Barney Greengrass will pack up a super-portable bagel, cream cheese and nova sandwich along with Boylan’s cream soda and a black and white cookie for a very New York-y nosh.

Perfect Picnic NYC © Wendy Weston

Celebrating ten years of feeding hungry New Yorkers, Perfect Picnic NYC puts together picnic assortments from simple to elaborate. Start with a base and add on beverages, a blanket and a basket, if you wish, or just pick up a grab ‘n go meal to add to your own set-up.  You can even arrange a “picnic experience” that is full-service including delivery and clean-up. Owner Wendy Weston creates a menu that changes based on “her cravings” and ingredients of the season. Located near the Northern tip of Central Park at 100th Street and Central Park West, Perfect Picnics can be ordered in advance or onsite.

Bryant Park

Courtesy Picnic Performances

Running through September 20, a variety of New York City performance companies will showcase their talent at Manhattan’s Bryant Park. Dubbed “Picnic Performances,” the shows take advantage of the city’s burgeoning outdoor culture and, hopefully, good weather. If you missed experiencing live music, concerts and opera over the past year, this is a wonderful chance to grab a lawn spot or chair, spread out your picnic with a chilled rosé and enjoy an evening of some of the best talent around.  The scheduled is filled with opera, jazz from Jazz at Lincoln Center, dance performances by Paul Taylor and Elisa Monta Dance, the New York City Opera’s Rigoletto, theater from the Classical Theater of Harlem and a centennial celebration of The Town Hall.

Courtesy Grand Central Terminal Market

What to bring: Park Avenue Liquor Shop near the Morgan Library is the go-to for a choice of chilled wines. Visit Grand Central Terminal’s market by 7pm to put together a picnic from Eli Zabar’s Farm to Table, Murray’s Cheese or Pescatore Sushi & Noodles. Don’t forget your blanket and some reusable wine glasses.

Governor’s Island

Courtesy Pinknic Festival LLC

For the ultimate picnic experience, Governor’s Island is the place to be for the Pinknic Festival, a combination all-day picnic and music festival. Scheduled this year on September 4 and 5, Pinknic celebrates its five-year anniversary with a pink-and-white assemblage of picnickers on the lawns. Your ticket includes a Pinknic tote for your goodies, a wine cup, blanket and more. A variety of NYC restaurants at the food garden add the main ingredient, also offering pink. beverages including rosé and frosé. Then sit back and indulge while you listen to live bands and DJ sets, all with fabulous views of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Wear something pink and something white and you’ll sure to be instagrammed as part of the end-of-summer party

Brooklyn

Courtesy Dinner Party

To tempt you with her upcoming salon dinner series in Fort Greene, Cami Jetta has put together a preview  Dinner Party picnic basket for takeaway dining in the park. Plan your food menu for a day in Fort Greene Park or Prospect Park with the likes of sourdough pita, Ellie’s salad shirazi, beet hummus, roast eggplant and baklava shortbread. The menu is available online and changes frequently. Select from the “Picnic of the Week,” cookie box or sandwich. A tote bag is also available for purchase.

Kokomo © Katrine Moite

Williamsburg’s popular Black-owned and operated Kokomo offers a kicky picnic package complete with a blanket, canned signature cocktails and an array of Caribbean cuisine. For some true island flavor, sample Kokomo’s signature Yardie shrimp pizza with callaloo and grilled pineapple, braised oxtail with rice & peas, a guava BBQ-sauced Calypso burger or jackfruit tacos. Add a Coconut Negroni or a Pain Killer cocktail and you’ll have a picnic to remember. The restaurant sits in a convenient location for picking up your picnic goodies for a day in Brooklyn’s McCarren Park, Domino Park, 5th Pier Park or by the waterfront on Bushwick Inlet.

Bryant Park’s Winter Village is a Christmas Market Winner in NYC

Bryant Park's Winter Village is a Christmas Market Winner in NYCSome of the merriest Christmas shopping options can be found at the various Christmas markets throughout the city. Modeled after Christmas markets that  are the rage throughout Europe, these markets bring people together to eat, drink gluhwein (hot spiced wine), and shop for local trinkets from now through the end of the year.

After returning from visiting the Christmas markets in five European cities, I was eager to check out the ones here. Of them, my favorite is the Winter Village at Bryant Park. It may not be as large as the one by Columbus Circle or the one at Union Square but it gets my vote for its variety of attractions.  When you’re tired of shopping, there are many eating outlets, a convenient restroom, and there’s an ice skating rink that’s FREE. (Take that, Rockefeller Center!).

Another plus: pretty much every form of transportation is nearby, from myriad subway lines to the bus down Fifth Avenue, and easy access to the trains from Grand Central Terminal.  Among my favorite shopping booths, there are the unusual ones like “Don’t Chew” for all forms of melt-in-your-mouth chocolates, things made out of coins, and Brazilian home décor.  You’ll also outfit yourself to the nines with everything warm with flannel pajamas, scarves, gloves, and hats galore.  I also love the fact that Sabon has a branch here so I can do some quick shopping without having to find a storefront, and that you can stare up at the Christmas tree with a backdrop of the skyscrapers on Sixth Avenue.

Bryant Park Winter villageFood choices are pretty varied with Waffles and Dinges for those craving a sweet fix, or grilled cheese, arepas, and ‘wichcraft sandwiches to keep you satisfied.  Although I didn’t find the alcoholic gluhwein that’s ubiquitous at European Christmas markets, there was a Bavarian stand with Sigmund’s Pretzels and another that sold a non-alcoholic version of hot wine and hot apple cider.

Buy Your “Choice Eats” Tickets Now — Other Manhattan and Brooklyn Food Events This Week

Are you ready for the best foodie event in Manhattan? It’s not until March 25, but tickets are now on sale.

The Village Voice’s “Choice Eats”The Village Voice’s “Choice Eats” always has about 60 restaurants to sample treats from, from 35 or more different ethnicities. To date, 26 restaurants have voiced their commitment including Bear, Bhatti Indian Grill, Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter, Brooklyn Koloache (love those savory and sweet pastries), Butter & Scotch, Coppelia, Devi, Dirt Candy (vegetarians rejoice), Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue, Indian Clove, Jimmy’s No. 43, Kaia Wine Bar, Louro, Luke’s Lobster, Mables Smokehouse, Maima’s Liberian Bistro, No. 7 Oda House, Ovelia Psistaria, Pete Zaaz, Queens Comfort, Red Hook Lobster Pound (is this your favorite or is it Luke’s?), Robicelli’s, The Kati Roll Company, The Meatball Shop, Xe Mayu Sandwich Shop. Back by popular demand, “Choice Eats” will offer all ticketholders an array of dessert offerings in the “Choice Sweets” section of the event. March 25. www.villagevoice.com/choiceeats.

Since this is the seventh event, you know it’s going to be a lucky one! The location this year is new (not the 69th Armory as in the past): Basketball City at Pier 36 in Lower Manhattan (299 South Street). Three hours of eating from 7-10pm, with a VIP-only hour from 6-7pm. Tickets are $60 for General Admission, or $85 with the VIP sign-up.

New this year, “Choice Eats” will be accepting volunteers to assist The Village Voice team on-site at the event. In addition, to free entry to “Choice Eats,” this is a pretty cool way to get a free general admission ticket to The Village Voice’s Third annual “Choice Streets” Food Truck Tasting Event to be held later this year in May. To apply, you must be 21 years or older and fill out this application, http://bit.ly/CEvolunteer.

Two other foodie events happening in NYC this week:

23rd Taste of the NFL at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

Held in Red Hook (Brooklyn) at “heated” Pier 12, the Taste of the NFL is holding its annual party, with lots of celebrity chefs fêting their favorite NFL team, each with a special dish. This year’s event – no surprise – is being held the night before the Super Bowl. As a nod to the Super Bowl’s straggling both New York and New Jersey, there will also be a special appearance this year from cast members of TLC’s “Cake Boss.” Proceeds go to local food banks in NFL cities. 72 Bowne Street, Brooklyn.


PepsiCo will throw a three-day music and food celebration in Manhattan’s Bryant Park, starting Thursday, January 30 and ending Saturday, February 1. Free public events are scheduled from 2-6pm including performances from Broadway musicals. Nightly entertainment includes free ticketed concerts in the dome at 8pm. Food stations will be provided by local celebrity chefs David Burke (David Burke Townhouse, David Burke Kitchen, Fishtail by David Burke), Marc Forgione (Restaurant Marc Forgione) and Michael Psilakis (Kefi, Fishtag). 40th-42nd streets, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, Manhattan. Check out the video here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oJF-ipZ33c

Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series in NYC: Classical, Jazz, Opera, Broadway and more

No matter how hot it is outside, or even if the weather turns rainy, free (and mostly outdoor) entertainment during the summer is a key part of New York City culture.  Grab a blanket, a bottle of wine, and some friends and enjoy a picnic as you listen to some of the city’s most glorious theater and music offerings… free of charge.  Do note that some of these events require you to arrive significantly early to get a spot.  It’s always best to pre-arrange a meeting time with your friends so you can take turns holding your turf.

More on Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series in NYC: Classical, Jazz, Opera, Broadway and more

Free Things to Enjoy in New York City This Summer

There’s a reason why New York City is the #1 vacation destination in the US.  Both visitors and locals appreciate its diversity and energy – actually, that’s why those of us “locals” live here all year.  But, to live here all year, it’s important to know how to enjoy the city while going easy on your pocketbook.  When it’s warm outside, New York City shows off its finery with concerts, recreational activities, art, and more.  And the cost of public transportation to enjoy them?  Well, it’s a mere pittance in reality, and you can also enjoy the entertainment value of what’s happening underground as well.

Here are some of our favorite things to do that are absolutely, positively free.
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Creative Things to Do (or Give) in New York City on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a day to remind your sweetie how much you care.  Here are some innovative ideas for creating an evening to remember in New York City.

More on Creative Things to Do (or Give) in New York City on Valentine’s Day

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