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10011 Travel Guide

The John Dory

November 5, 2008 at 1:00 PM | 0 Comments

Chef April Bloomfield and her business partner Ken Friedman, the team behind the white hot eatery Spotted Pig, are generally credited with introducing New York to the term gastropub, a.k.a. the idea that burgers and fries can be turned into a fancy--and expensive--night out.

Well, the Spotted pig crew is back with their second restaurant, and this time they’re aiming to put the same kind of upscale twist on another comfort classic: The British pub.

The John Dory features a colorful and kitschy ocean vibe, with stained-glass fish murals, fish doorknobs and even a 900-gallon tank. But don’t look for any calamari or greasy fish and chips here. The British classics are more of the foodie variety, including a smoked haddock and leek tart, whole broiled lobster and the namesake fish, a whole John Dory served with potatoes.

Related Stories:
· The John Dory [Official Site]
· New NYC restaurants coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: John Dory]

Chelsea Scene: Clubbing As High Art

November 5, 2008 at 10:30 AM | 0 Comments

The rave scene may not exactly be at the cutting edge of pop culture these days, but that means it’s just the right time to take an overly intellectual look at it, right?

German artist Andreas Gursky, known for his enormous color photographs, has turned his lens on Euro club culture, producing a series of tricked-out shots of Euro club kids at Frankfurt’s giant Cocoon Club. The show is ideal for anyone who ever wanted to feel like they were doing drugs in the middle of 5,000 other people, but didn’t want to actually do it.

The raving-as-high-art exhibit opens today at Chelsea’s Matthew Marks gallery, and continues through December 24.

Related Stories:
· Matthew Marks Gallery [Official Site]
· Art coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Matthew Marks]

Project Runway Map: Chris March Shops at Authentiques

December 21, 2007 at 1:30 PM | 0 Comments

There was no new Project Runway episode on this week but the reality TV gods must have been smiling down upon us for as we got an afternoon snack at Viceroy on 18th and 8th Ave in New York's Chelsea, we spotted everyone's favorite costume pageant designer Chris March standing outside looking a little confused.

He seemed to be trying to figure out whether he wanted to go north on 8th or east on 18th. Finally, he made his decision and headed into Authentiques, an antique and collectible shop that sells ocean liner memorabilia, pin-ups and sexy stuff, world's fair items and vintage costume jewelry--all of which are right up Chris' alley.

And interestingly enough, the Project Runway website asked Chris where his favorite places to shop were and he replied:

Barneys, small boutiques, thrift stores, vintage stores, and flea markets (I like one-of-a-kind items).

Maybe he was doing some shopping for an upcoming fashion show? Say one in Bryant Park, hmm?

Art Galleries in New York: Freight + Volume

August 31, 2007 at 12:30 PM | 0 Comments



When it comes to travel, we like taking risks. Maybe that's why most of our summer vacations come with an edge. When it comes to art, it's no surprise the same rules apply. Give us pushing the limits, or give us a break. That's why we love the Chelsea gallery Freight + Volume.

Freight + Volume tends to showcase narrative and text-based art. (Don't worry: We didn't know what that meant, either.) Just be ready to see some stuff you can't find anywhere else. We also like that the gallery embraces working class artists. In a city like New York, where it's all about the elite, it's nice to find someone is looking out for the little guy.

Related Stories:
· Freight + Volume [Official Site]
· Art Galleries in New York [Jaunted]

[Photo: Chelsea Now]

Boqueria: Tasty, Tasteful Tapas in NYC

December 18, 2006 at 11:50 AM | 0 Comments


(Alex Salkever is the editor of Hawaii travel blog Hawaiirama.com and a general travel maven on all things Hawaii. He also spends a lot of time in NYC and writes about it.)

Just when you thought the tapas bar craze has topped out, enter Boqueria. This cozy spot in the Flatiron district is named for the famed open market in Spain where vendors sell small portions of regional delicacies. The bar is clearly not designed for lengthy stays, as all seats are of the barstool variety. While the communal table is alluring for its randomness factor, the bar is probably the best place to nosh as the knowledgeable bar staff will give you an on-the-fly education on Spanish wines (the list is extremely strong with wines from all the major regions including some obscure varietals).

If you order the delicious butidos (cured meats) the bartender cuts them right before your eyes (you can actually watch this action from the street window). The small plates actually vary widely in size. The "medios" - or medium plates - can serve as a small entrée. The pimientos al pardron (seared piquillo peppers) are justifiably a favorite; sweet and occasionally vicious (every 10th pepper or so packs a serious pow), they come topped with chunky rock salt fresh from a well-oiled pan. The stuffed dates were also a wow, with the smoky bacon perfectly offsetting the sweet and sticky taste of the fruit. The lightly-fried calamari came with no batter, a nice lemony romesco sauce, and crunchy deep fried garbanzo beans.

We didn't make it to desert but hey, it's a tapas bar! The crowd is mostly post-hipster, thankfully. You probably won't see Paris' deb set nor the LES regulars here which is reason enough to go.

[Photo: wwny]

NYC's Himalayan Adventure

August 25, 2005 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

If you're stuck in NY and actually itching to be in Tibet, check out one of the city's newest museums--the Rubin Museum of Art. It's the first one in the Western World dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and surrounding regions. They've got a beautiful space on 17th & Seventh and exhibits on Female Buddhas and 'Perfected Beings, Pure Realms.'

Admission in an Om-worthy $7 and they're open every day but Monday.

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