Posts Tagged ‘Lower East Side’

How to Celebrate Mother’s Day in New York City

It’s not too late to buy your mother a tasty gift for Mother’s Day, or, better still, to take her out to celebrate the fact that you exist because of her!

This Mother’s Day, legendary Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side (and now in Brooklyn) has launched two new packages, specially made to celebrate mom. You can either bring the feast to her with Breakfast in Bed a perfect in-bed food rush with New York bagels and lox, Katz’s signature coffee mug, a T-shirt which makes a perfect sleep shirt, and a limited edition egg cream candle. If mom isn’t the stay-in-bed type of person, I’d suggest taking her to dinner at Katz’s instead for their Mother’s Day Dinner . She’ll get a full taste of New York City local dining with one of Katz’s famous pastrami, corned beef or brisket sandwiches with all the fixing;, a cup of matzoh ball soup; rugelach for dessert; and a take-home Katz’s Deli apron and egg cream candle (it’s always good to give your mother a real present as well as food!). 205 East Houston Street, at Ludlow Street. 1-800-4HOT DOG.

If you live outside of New York, or even if you do live in the city and don’t feel like trucking downtown or over the bridge, Katz’s will send these packages straight to your door through their nationwide shipping service, free with orders over $100.  Instead of sending a salami to your boy in the army, you’ll be sending a pastrami to your mother at home. Yum!

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park celebrates mothers with an indulgent “Mom and Me” spa package. After choosing between two treatments, a 60-minute Signature La Prairie Facial or a 60-minute Swedish Massage, your mother will spend the afternoon enjoying a special Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea in The Star Lounge with a Champagne toast, savory sandwiches, and other treats personalized with her  initials to make her feel extra special. 50 Central Park South. 212-308-9100 http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/new-york/central-park

If you feel like taking a 30-minute drive outside of the city, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester is also offering a special Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea with a specially crafted menu. Moms are welcomed with a complimentary glass of Shramsberg Blanc de Blanc wine and then a high tea experience that only the Ritz-Carlton could do: a choice of loose leaf tea, fresh homemade scones, housemade jam, and an assortment of savory sandwiches like smoked salmon with dill and asparagus, or cucumber with mint cream cheese on caraway bread.  For a sweet finish, the decadent petit four collection will bring a smile with chocolate opera cake, fresh fruit tarts, French macaroons, and madeleines.

You can add to Mom’s perfect day with a treatment at the Ritz-Carlton Spa such as a Radiance and Renewal facial, or the 90-minute Spring Equinox Spa Treatment, a three-part series of full-body dry brushing, a detoxifying algae wrap, and a massage. 3 Renaissance Square, White Plains. 914-467-5717.

How about surprising your mother with an elegant and indulgent weekend hotel staycation. Make sure you’re enrolled in Hilton’s Honors Program as you select from the Hilton hotels in New York City that are offering discounted stays, a taxi credit, discounted tickets to the Roundabout Theatre, and special meal discounts at restaurants including Lincoln Ristorante, BLT Steak, ATRIO Wine Bar & Restaurant  https://travel.hilton.com/en_us/offers/savor-nyc-weekend

If your inclinations take you somewhere outdoors, New York Hilton Midtown will put together a Mother’s Day picnic for you in Central Park. Stop by the hotel’s gourmet market, Herbs N’ Kitchen, to pick up your picnic basket filled with a blanket, housemade meats, and treats from local vendors including sandwiches, salads, New York cheesecake, and sustainable wine.. 1335 Avenue of the Americas. 212-586-7000.

One of my favorite restaurants near City Center, Carnegie Hall and the Theater District, Molyvos is a wonderful choice for a pre-theater or post-theater Mother’s Day celebration.  An authentic Greek tavern, Molyvos will present a three-course prix fixe menu with specials like jumbo lump crab cake, slow roasted Vermont baby lamb, and the restaurant’s own distinctive Greek dessert, tres leches baklava.  871 Seventh Avenue. 212-582-7500.

We wouldn’t want to forget the great restaurants in Brooklyn also celebrating Mother’s Day. My choice for the perfect place is Olmsted, a lauded sliver of a restaurant with a cozy garden in the back. Bring your mother here for lunch or dinner where a prix fixe selection of the restaurant’s many favorites will be on the menu including their inventive breakfast egg roll, duck duo with crispy duck sausage and duck scrambled eggs, and krapfen (Austrian donuts filled with pear jelly).  For dinner, you can expect more deliciousness. As of this writing, reservations were still (surprisingly) available. http://www.olmstednyc.com/ 659 Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. 718- 552-2610.

Beer Festival Takes on NYC: August 23-29

One Mile Bar

One Mile House

From August 23 – 29, Third Rail Beer will be introducing their craft brews throughout the city in a brew-centric party. Beer lovers should not miss these events which not only give you great drinks but also take you to some of the city’s finest watering holes.  Third Rail Beer is a New York City-based craft brewery. http://www.thirdrailbeer.com/about-us.html

The itinerant schedule of events:

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23OFFICIAL THIRD RAIL BEER LAUNCH PARTY |  5pm on

One Mile House on the Lower East Side is the setting for Third Rail’s official launch party. Both Bodega American Pale Ale and Field 2 Farmhouse Ale will be tapped that evening. 10 Delancey Street (between Bowery & Chrystie Street).

The Pony Bar

The Pony Bar

MONDAY, AUGUST 25 | THE PONY BAR UES – 6pm

Move on up to the Upper East Side for day two of launch week at the Pony Bar. (1444 First Ave. at 75th Street).

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26 | THE JEFFREY NYC -  6pm

Third Rail’s Midtown launch takes place at one of the best beer curators in NYC, The Jeffrey (311 East 60th Street).

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27 | TOP HOPS BEER SHOP – 7pm

The launch takes on a different twist on its fourth day, as it meanders back to the Lower East Side.  Enjoy Third Rail Beer and melt bakery ice cream sandwich pairings at Ted Kenny’s Lower East Side beer palace beginning at 7pm. Top Hops is located at 94 Orchard Street.

Pacific Standard

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28 | PACIFIC STANDARD – 7pm

Third Rail Beer’s launch party ventures into Brooklyn at one of the County of Kings’ finest, Pacific Standard (82 Fourth Avenue), starting at 7pm.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 | JUDY & PUNCH – 7pm

The final event of Third Rail Beer’s aunch week takes to Queens to visit NYC’s newest beer bar, Astoria, Queens’ Judy & Punch (34-08 30th Avenue), also beginning at 7pm.

New York Neighborhoods: a Traveler’s Guide

New York is a city of neighborhoods in a way that few others are. Wander through Manhattan, and you’re taken on a tour through New York’s colorful and diverse history. Little Italy, Greenwich, East Village: all these are names which trip off the tongue of foreign and domestic visitors alike. However, if you’re not from the city, you may not have much idea of what each district is actually like. That’s why we’ve put together this run-down of the best of each of New York’s most famous neighborhoods. Wealthy visitors arriving in the city on cruises from Southampton, and student backpackers on cheap flights from Canada should both find this guide equally useful. Take it, and use it to devise your own walking tour through the heart of New York.

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Shopping and Snacking Breaks in Manhattan

It’s the season for super pre-spring, get-rid-of-the-winter-blues sales!  Need a quick energy break in-between stores?  Here are some ideas for “quick bites” no matter where you are in NYC…

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