RIVER CAFE -DUMBO BROOKLYN

The River Cafe is located on 1 Water St. in Dumbo Brooklyn. This is my second visit to the River Cafe-I got to celebrate Thanksgiving @ the River Cafe with my friend Mark and his family. It was truly a memorable Thanksgiving. I would have loved to take pictures while I was in the restaurant, but you just don't do that @ the River Cafe-it would be very tacky!-TRUST!

The River Cafe, is noted as one of the best restaurants in NYC for years. Since opening in May of 1977, The River Café has been the recipient of numerous awards including selection as one of the five best restaurants in New York by the French culinary guide “Gault Millau” The restaurant itself is on a barge right on the river. The view is phenomenal-skyline of Manhattan. Truly romantic ambinace topped off with superb service.

So what did we eat for Thanksgiving-NO TURKEY! It was FAB! Everyone had everything but turkey. The lamb was popular, followed by the Venison. Oh yea, my appetizer- Foie Gras, was extremely rich, but truly orgasmic!! The desert was as good as the main course-The Brooklyn Bridge Chocolate Marquise was to die for!

The River Café is truly for special occasions only. The quality of the food is worth the price! Yes, its quite expensive, but it is an experience you will never forget-very magical! Its extremely romantic, so couples I highly recommend it! You must call for reservations 718-522-5200 .

I plan to go back to The River Café for sure! for another special occasion, perhaps a date! AHEM!!!

DID YOU KNOW: DUMBO, stands for "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass", is only a recent nickname for the area that has been discovered and re-shaped time and again since the mid 17th Century. When artists began flocking to the waterfront neighborhood in the mid-1970s it was known as Fulton Landing and for many decades before that it was a true no-man's land wedged between nearby Brooklyn Heights and the Vinegar Hill area. Here's a cool blog I found on Dumbo.

LAVAGINA - A POST LONG OVERDUE!

This post is long over due people! I'm a regular @ Lavagina...it really should have been one of my first POSTs! It's a bar/lounge that plays world music catering to everyone's tastes. My favorite nights include Reggae Wednesday-which feature Meta & the Cornerstones-live reggae band.

META & THE CORNERSTONES REGGAE WEDNESDAYS @ LAVAGINA

Reggae Wednesdays are the prefect get away from your routine corporate work schedule...get a couple martinis and listen to some LIVE reggae Music. Meta gives 100% every Wednesday, and kicks some irie vibes! His voice is out of this world ppl-this boy will be LARGE one day. In fact Meta recently opened for Luciano, Steel Pulse @ the Hammerstein Ballroom! Keep your eyes peeled for this Reggae star!

What else is HOT at Lavagina-Friday Nights DJ BIRANE spins African/World Music for NY African crowd and World Music fans. From Coupé Décalé, Soukous, Reggae, Salsa and more! People get crazy on the dance floor Friday Nights-its actually fun to see all dance moves...

The crowd is fun...a great place to meet new ppl...I have to say I've met a couple interesting folks!!(single ladies ahem! LOL) and just a laid back atmosphere to get your boogy on! Owner Chris Pollack is awesome-say hi to him he's usally lurking behind the bar somewhere!

So if you are looking to get your drink on till 4:30 am...meet new ppl, just have a laid back time, hit Lavagina! It's located on Ave. C and 6th St. Take the F train to 2nd Ave. and walk over to C. Ladies, if you have your heels on-just take cab it!!

DID YOU KNOW: Coupé Décalé was created by Douk Saga from-Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. He recently passed away on October 12, 2006-which was a huge loss to Africa. From what a local Ivorian tells me, Douk Saga, also known as the “President” in his medium, intially put a band together proclaimed as Jet-Set. The bandsoon grew to fame around the African continent. Coupé Décalé is filled with melodious and percussive African samples, deep bass & full of rythm. In 2002 when civil war broke out in Côte d'Ivoire Coupé Décalé gave locals an escape from the everyday political situation and everyday trouble. It express the day & life of the Ivorian Society-It's all about happiness & fete! I didn't realize that Coupé Décalé had so much history to it! Go to Lavagina on Friday-you'll see the locals breaking down the dance moves-they are really wicked & fun to watch! Thanks to my local Ivorian for all the inisight! (LOL) Now I look at Coupé Décalé in a whole new different light!!

KUSH CAFE-CLINTON HILL BROOKLYN

Located in Clinton Hillls, Kush Cafe is tucked away on the corner of 17 PUTNAM AVE.(@ Fulton b/w Cambridge & Grand). Take the C train to Clinton Washington and walk down fulton st. till you hit Putnam. Kush is a cutesy restaurant run by 2 Senegalese gentlemen (who were actually super nice). Providing French Pan African food, the chef brings together the earthy spicy African flavors with any overlay of rich French zest. I had the seafood Maffe which was had a creamy peanut butter sauce base with assorted sea food like (shrimp, mussels, salmon and more) it came with couscous-it was excellent!

We actually went here for my friend Mayeme's 28th Birthday party (Happy B'Day!)-which was a riot! We showed up late (which was not cool at all!) but it turned out OK at the end of the night, as her sister knew the owners which ended up being a good thing!

Kush is has a tiny homey feel to it very Prospect heights / Clinton Hillesque!-I would recommend calling them for private parties-and please show up on time! (LOL!). In the summer they have outdoor seating (ah I wish it was here again! I hate the winters!!) but the food is worth the trip!I'm definitely going back here for brunch which is served on both Saturday and Sundays.

G BAR..BX IN THE HOUSE CONTINUED....

So after my SOBRO experience at the Bruckner Bar & Grill Hetu and I headed to the G Bar! G Bar- that's right ppl doesn't get anymore G than this! Located on 575 on the Grand Concourse the G Bar was a beautiful bar really nice interior-my picture didn't come out great-but check out their website for an interactive view of the whole bar/lounge and restaurant area.

The Thursday night crowd, I have to say was so interesting!! All kinds of ppl! For a second before we walked in I was like, oh GOD Hetu, they're gonna be like what the hell are these two Indians doing here-it was the exact opposite-I didn't feel that way at all! Anyway... Our bar tender was super nice-I think she was european...paid attention to our needs....The food ppl was amazing.

Now it was Italian food, but it was so FRESH, and original. We had red snapper which came with clams on the side..(which was a sweet surprise) in a tomato sauce. Oh and we had it cheezy Garlic bread…Yummy!

The atmosphere was really laid back; you can eat right at the bar, or in the restaurant area. The crowd was fun! It was quirky yet original and true to the BX vibe!! We came up with a story for every couple, in the joint-it was hillarious! I won't reveal the stories we came up with- I'll let you guys come with your own when you go visit the G Bar!! Stay G everyone!! ( I know I'm a cheez ball!)

DID YOU KNOW? The Bronx was called Rananchqua by the Siwanoy Native Americans, and was divided by the Aquahung River, now known as the Bronx River....Pretty cool eh? Also Edgar Allan Poe (whom I love-he's so crazy and spooky!) spent the last years of his life (1846 to 1849) in the Bronx at Poe Cottage, now located at Kingsbridge Road and the Grand Concourse. A small wooden farmhouse built about 1812, the cottage once commanded unobstructed vistas over the rolling Bronx hills to the shores of Long Island! (Wonder if its still there? Hmmm I need to find out...) Don't be fooled PPL the BX is definately up and coming! I'm keeping a close watch on it on my radar!!

BX IN THE HOUSE! SOBRO-BRUCKNER BAR & GRILL

First of all people-I gotta apologize for the quality of my recent pictures-I promise to get my camera fixed soon! I'm using my Razor for now-which gives me yucky pics-but hey at least u get a glimpse of what I see! Enough of that-off to the BX!

How many times can you say that you have been to the Bronx for dinner! (OK not if you live there)... Well now I can say at least once! So when my friend Hetu who claims to know the quaintest atypical spots in NY (ahem..u have competition!) mentioned the Bruckner Bar & Grill in the Bronx, I was intrigued-BX huh? I've never really been to the Bronx (asides from the Bronx Zoo) LOL I know lame!

Anyway tucked away under the 3rd Ave. bridge off Bruckner Blvd., this restaurant is a real find! So I've learnt from BX locals that SOBRO (South Bronx) is totally up and coming and Bruckner Bar & Grill is one of the more popular spots for the locals to hang out!
They were really busy last night; they had a live comedian performing...which you wouldn't even know off unless you went through the pool room-another room and then voila a back room with a stage and everything!! I love it! Totally SOBRO(lol I just like saying that!)...anyway the food looked really good but we didn't stay to eat, (check out the next posting and find out where we did end up eating!!) our waitress was a little pre-occupied. We grabbed a couple beers, and just enjoyed the warm brick walls, & the neighborhood vibe...Truly a diamond in the ruff!

OK how to get here-I'm going to be honest, its not easy. Thanks to Hetu, I had a ride back to BK, (Haaayyy)..LOL You have to take the 6 to 138th &3rd and then walk down to 134th and 3rd, and Bruckner is right on the corner. Now, If you walk the wrong way-like I did-you will end up in the projects-which is not cool-so TRUST-just go with someone or hook up a ride! Definitely worth a trip though-its so "hipster" but NOT u know what I mean peeps!

Hetu-thanks for a FAB time and the ride home... & No we are not stopping by Hunts Point the next time we go bad boy!!!(LOL) Wait-read my next posting about stop 2 in the BX!! To be continued.....

PROSPECT PLACE & FANCY PIZZA @ AMORINA CUCINA RUSTICA

LOCATED ON VANDERBELT & PROSPECT PL. TAKE THE Q TO 7TH AVE, OR 2 OR 3 TO GRAND ARMY

I've walked by Cucina Rustica at least 1,000 times, always seen it packed...and always said, I have to go check it out. So I did recently on a rainy Sunday evening when a friend of mine dropped by to visit. I had a pan size with with Artichokes, and goat cheese-I loved it! He had, pasta-I forget which kind.... I'm not a big Italian food fan, but this place definatley knows how to make pizza with a twist!


What's interesting is that Amorina used be BYOB..this changed recently. They now have a small pricy wine selection. Apparently they are planning to install a corkage fee, so that their regulars will gradually get used to the change..Not sure if they still allow ppl to bring BYOB-I'm going to have to try the next time!
A little pricy for my tastes, but hey its a cozy spot for some good Italian grub-especially if you are looking to treat yourself to self carb indulgence-don't hate we all need it once in a while! or just catch up with friends...

Some interesting facts about Amorina- owner Albano Ballerini is responsible for transforming this pizza joint into a sassy focacceria. His offbeat Italian culinary inspiration comes from his grandmother who opened a café in the Marche region of Italy-his family has been in the food business forever! Grazie to another contributor to our burgeoning Vanderbelt Ave! I hope it stays the way it is though-cutesy with just a few warm cozy places (LOL) u know what I mean! Amorina serves Pasta, Pizza Italian beers and more!

2006 NYC MARATHON...26 MILES & 37,954 FINISHERS..EACH WITH A STORY OF MOTIVATION

Marilson Gomes dos Santos

Elena Prokopcuka repeated as the ING New York City Marathon champion for the women!

Every first sunday in November NYC draws people from all over the world and every borough for the NYC ING Marathon. From bands, to street side supporters, to by standers-its a real unifying experience!

26 miles in NYC-now that's really something people! 29-year old, Marilson Gomes dos Santos made the Brazilians in NY and back home real proud when he took the victory for the NYC 2006 Marathon this year(his first win!) This is the first time an African did not take first place (Africans can really run though-lets kid ourselves!) Stephen Kiogora of Kenya had a breakthrough race, finishing second in 2:10:06.

Lets not forget our hottie Lance Armstrong(eye candy alert!)-who doesn't love this boy! He beat cancer, (love his ad-have you guys seen that??) won like how many-Tour De France- seven consecutive times!! Insane! Anyway I think he's a beatiful (in more than one way!) His recovery from Cancer has inspired ton's of people, and running the Marathon is yet another way to show the world that you can do anything you want-if you put your heart, soul and mind into it...Thanks Lance!
I didn't realize how big this Marathon was when I bumped into a stranger who actually ran the marathon in my grocery store. Motivation people, I gotta say these people really have it!

Aside for the pro Athletes who are drawn the Marathon, when you watch the tele-cast of it, you kinda look at all the boroughs and realise wow-all that is NYC! It's really amazing, from the Verazano bridge, to the brown stones in Park slope to queens via the queensboro bridge, Bronx and Harlem-and right back to Central Park, you realize how big and beautiful NYC is.

Each and every runner had a story, a reasoning behind the motivation to take this journey! I'm not going to kid myself I run 3 miles around the park, and I'm about to kill myself-so I have the utmost respect for each and every runner that ran the race (even if they didn't finish)-Congratulations!! It’s a true achievement. And to my friend in the grocery store-big up!

DID YOU KNOW? The race was originally produced by the New York Road Runners and has been run every year since 1970.

CAFE GITANE-NOLITA

Located in one my favorite neighborhoods-Nolita- on the cornre of Mott and Prince Cafe Gitane was a random restaurant I chose to visit on a Friday night to grab some quick dinner. French food with a hint of Morrocan influence Cafe Gitane is small yet quaint little joint you go to with friends to have a resonably priced meal. I had the Hachi Parmentier ground beef with mashed potatoes and salad-the salad was yummy!

The food was not out of the ordinary-but like I said they do a good job putting it together. They had cutesy touches to some of their servings-like their Hot Coco-very cute-not sure what the paw was all about-but it was cute! I would recommend it for a glass of bordeaux and some quick French grub!

DID YOU KNOW? GITANE = GYPSY IN FRENCH...(AHMM...NOT SURE WHAT THAT'S ABOUT EITHER!) BUT HEY C'est ci Bon!!LOL

"Les Ambassades" GIVING LIFE TO A NEW HARLEM

Located on 2200 Fredrick Douglass Blvd. This place is a hidden paradise in the up & n' coming Gentrified "Harlem". In fact, my first visit to Harlem was when my African peeps took me to Les Ambassades. The food is amazing! Fresh food right off the stove, served with a smile by friendly staff. The food is Senegalese with a French twist (quite a bit of West Africa has a major French influence due to colonial rule). The prices are reasonably cheap for the quality/quantity of food you get. The Menu is diverse and offers you a quick snack or even a full dinner.

My favorite is the Chwarma..(Authentically Middle Eastern) comes with marinated lamb, onion, parsley, tomatoes yogurt dressing served with f.fries in pita bread! Reminds me of Saudi (one of the few good things from there!LOL)


The African community of NY flocks here from Brooklyn, Queens, and even Jersey..its a great get away to remind them of home! The restaurants interior is decorated with subtle African themes and art-giving it a genuine and not "over the top" feel.

Although its all the way in Harlem get off your lazy booty & take a $2 subway ride to Harlem, and get some authentic Senegalese French food-people-you will not regret it! I highly recommend to leave some room for desert! (I know my Senegalese friend Mayem-always makes sure she does!)-I need to live a little and try their pastries!! Perhaps the next time she visists-



So-much love and big up to my African peeps-One day I do plan to be in Senegal to try the authentic cuisine! Summer 2008 (Most definitely ms. Mayem!)

DID YOU KNOW? Various European countries- Portugal, the Netherlands, and England - competed for trade in Senegal from 15th century onward, until in 1677, France ended up in possession of what had become an important slave trade departure point - the island of Gorée (known for it's infamous slave trade) next to modern Dakar(Capital). SENEGAL GAINED FULL INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE ON JUNE 20, 1960. (I'm reading up!-getting ready for my trip!)