-
City restaurants to go back in time
Tim and Nina Zagat with some of the city's top chefs, who will take part in the Vintage Dinner Series. Credit: Marty Katz/Zagat.com
Today, Zagat Survey unveiled its plans to launch the Vintage Dinner Series, in which 16 of the city’s top restaurants will host dinners inspired by grand 19th Century banquets. Each restaurant will plan its own menu, and feature many dishes, ingredients and cocktails that have not been seen in years.
Thomas Keller, chef at Per Se, said his restaurant in particular will look to recreate not only the dishes, but the “entire experience and ambiance” of a 19th Century banquet, with an “abundance of food and wine.”
The dinners will take place from January 12-March 25, and reservations can be made from today on through the restaurants themselves. Among the restaurants participating are Bouley, Chanterelle, Daniel, Jean George, Le Bernardin, Per Se, and many others. More on the series to come in amNewYork.
Tags: zagat, bouley, chanterelle, daniel, jean george, le bernardin, per se
-
Urban archaeology: A defunct bank still has an ominous sidewalk warning for would-be squatters
The Haier Building in midtown was once home to the Greenwich Savings Bank, which went bust in 1981. (Photos by Rolando Pujol)
The neo-classical Haier Building stands out among the warehouses and offices buildings of the Garment District. Considered among the best works of the firm York and Sawyer, the building is now headquarters to Haier America, which sells everything from HVAC systems to wine cellars.
But the building was once home to the Greenwich Savings Bank, which had it roots in the Village, not the tony neighborhood full of well-heeled finance types in Connecticut.
Haier's name is now prominently displayed outside the building, but the Greenwich bank's link to the site has not entirely been chiseled away. Just look down on the sidewalk, where small brass plaques demarcate the property line of the Greenwich Savings Bank. We're told somewhat imperiously that we are "crossing by permission only" and that "permission is revocable at will."
Take that, wanna-be squatters! And read more for an explanation behind these plaques, which are designed to prevent "adverse possession" of a property by someone who does not own it.
And by the way, the bank's ending came in a way that's all too familiar to us today. It collapsed in 1981, its remnants were absorbed by Metropolitan Savings Bank, then Crossland Savings, and today, its DNA survives in HSBC.
-- Rolando Pujol
Tags: greenwich savings bank, haier building, adverse possession, history, banks, urban archaeology, manhattan
-
Viral video: Circus shot wins game
A recent college basketball game between two SUNY schools ends with an amazing behind-the-back buzzer-beater.
To suggest a viral video, e-mail Sean Joseph.
Tags: viral video, television, sports, basketball
-
City Living: Inwood
A perfect place to appreciate Inwood’s beauty is the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park. Below, the Mamajuana Cafe, whose name is inspired by a Taino Indian miracle potion. Twenty-four photos of Inwood HERE.(Photos by Alana Abel)
Special to amNewYork
When schoolchildren in New York are taught that the Dutch purchased Manhattan Island from American Indians for just $24 and trinkets some 400 years ago, it’s unlikely the teacher also mentioned the transaction occurred in Inwood, the borough’s most remote neighborhood.
Perched at Manhattan’s north end, Inwood blends a unique mix of big-city feel with serene settings. Three beautiful parks, Fort Tryon, Isham and Inwood Hill, surround the Art Deco walk-ups in an oasis of green. Apartment buyers are often attracted to Inwood by the prospect of Hudson River views and good schools, at prices much lower than downtown.
Once the setting of some of the most heated battles of the American Revolution, Inwood transformed from rural to urban in the early 20th century. With the subways came development, and for many years Irish and Jewish families dominated the neighborhood.
That changed in the 1970s and ’80s, when an influx of immigrants from the Dominican Republic gave the neighborhood a distinctly Caribbean flavor.
A concentration of buyer-owned co-ops west of Broadway and rented apartments on the east side shape the neighborhood. But that is changing. With younger downtowners coming north in search of cheaper rents, Inwood is seeing a transformation, with more bars, restaurants and hangouts opening to suit the newcomers’ tastes.FIND IT
Inwood is bounded by Harlem River to the north and east, Hudson River to the west, and Fairview Avenue to the south.
A striking building at 213th Street and Broadway
REAL ESTATE
Long ago, development came in waves, first on the east, then west of Broadway, and today the avenue is still a dividing line of sorts. You’ll find co-ops on the west — some in beautiful Art Deco buildings — and rentals on the east.
Prices have risen in recent years, but the overall pain in the housing market has made a dent, according to Lisa Snyder, a real estate agent for Halstead Property.
“Everything’s come down in price pretty significantly,” Snyder said. “Right now the market is dead.”
To buy
$229,000
Studio in a 1939 co-op, 425 sq. ft. (Seaman Ave. near 215th St.)
$275,000
One-bedroom, one-bath co-op in elevator building with parking (Park Terrace East and 215th St.)
$675,000
Three-bedroom, two-bath in a 1954 co-op (Indian Road near 215th St.)
$1,720,000
Three-story four-family home with garden patio, 3,456 sq. ft. (95 Park Terrace West)
Recently sold
$290,000
One-bedroom, one-bath co-op on Arden Street, 725 sq. ft.
To rent
$1,500
Two-bedroom with river views (Cumming St. and Seaman Ave.)
$999
Studio with views facing Inwood Hill Park (Seaman Ave. at 204th St.)
$1,050
One-bedroom (Sherman Ave. at Thayer St.)
Contact: Lisa Snyder, Halstead Property, 718-878-1712
DID YOU KNOW?
NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar grew up here.
The Leonardo DiCaprio film “The Basketball Diaries” was set in 1960s Inwood.
A founder of Macy’s Department Store, Isidor Straus, owned a country estate here.
The oldest farmhouse in Manhattan, Dyckman House, is on Broadway and 204th Street
TO EAT
Years ago, Inwood was not among the greatest places to find varied and quality eats. But foodies can take heart in knowing that has changed. Today a veritable restaurant row has sprung up on Dyckman Street, and the many Dominican options are now complemented with American, Italian, Asian and Mediterranean spots.
809 Sangria Bar & Grill
112 Dyckman St.,
212-304-3800
With a curtained “VIP” section, this Dominican restaurant is one of Inwood’s places to be seen. For those who usually trek downtown to eat, the prices are a bargain. A roasted lobster is $28 and filet mignon goes for $26. The appetizer sampler for two comes with arepas, empanadas, crab cakes and croquets, $24. And don’t forget the sangria.
Garden Cafe
4961 Broadway (near 211th),
212-544-9480
Neighbors swear by brunch at this American café located steps from Isham Park. In warmer days, the outdoor patio is a plus. You can expect to pay between $12 and $24 for an entrée, stuffed chicken breast and seared wasabi-aioli tuna, respectively.
Indian Road Cafe & Market
600 W. 218th St.,
212-942-7451
Exposed brick walls and high ceilings complement the rustic nature of Inwood Hill Park, just past this Italian bistro’s doorstep. The chefs go seasonal: this fall an endive salad with toasted pumpkin seeds, apples and dried currants ($10) graces the menu, along with “Arthur Avenue” sausages ($12), beef goulash ($14) and a Portobello and kale sandwich ($10). Also drop
by for a wide selection of local craft beers.
Park Terrace Bistro
4959 Broadway (near 207th),
212-567-2828
This French-Moroccan spot won top honors —best dinner, best service and best ambiance — in Inwood’s annual dining guide. The kitchen makes couscous full of shrimp, scallops, almonds, apricots and cranberries, served in saffron cream sauce ($24). Fish, chicken, veggie or lamb tagines range from $16 (veggie) to $25 (fish). If that isn’t enough to make you feel like you’ve been transported to North Africa, the belly dancers and plush interior will.
Mamajuana
247 Dyckman St.,
212-304-1217
The big draw at this Dominican restaurant is a buffet-style brunch for just $19, with unlimited mimosas and coffee. Staples such as fresh-to-order omelets and pancakes are offered alongside Dominican dishes such as mashed plantains and black beans and rice. All in an airy, high ceiling space that evokes the Spanish Old World.
de Cafe
4842 Broadway (near 204th),
212-567-7657
For a quick, cheap bite, drop by this Inwood Hill Park coffee shop. Java, espresso and sandwiches serve to energize. And who can beat a breakfast omelet with potatoes and toast for $5.25?
TO PLAY
Inwood is no bar-hopping Lower East Side, but there are plenty of watering holes, from lounges to dives. Summertime brings music, movies and performances in the parks. And for those who seek arts, culture and dance year-round, hop a train to nearby Harlem, where museums and music venues abound.
Piper’s Kilt
4944 Broadway,near 207th St.,
212-569-7071
Customers find a friendly atmosphere and affordable beers at this neighborhood bar. And regulars swear by the burgers, too.
Guadalupe
597 W. 207th St.,
212-304-1083
This Mexican restaurant offers one of the best happy hour deals in town: 2-for-one margaritas and half-price bar food and drinks. The cavernous interior has a medieval feel: stained glass and dominating religious-themed paintings abound.
Pied Piper Children’s Theater
20 Cumming St.,
212-544-2976
Children from 5 to 18 can learn acting skills in this theater located in Holy Trinity Church. The repertoire includes Shakespeare, Don Pasquale and children’s classics such as “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”
Liffy II Bar
5009 Broadway, near 213th St.,
212-544-7255
This comfortable bar is not well known, but it has plenty of perks. Rotating activities range from karaoke to bingo.
Scavengers of Inwood is packed with antiques. The shop is at 600 W. 218th St.
TO SHOP
Tread Bike Shop
250 Dyckman St.,
212-544-7055
Neighbors swear by the helpful customer service at this bike shop, where tune-ups are always given free estimates.
Nostylgia
251 Dyckman St.,
212-304-0337
Sneakerheads will find classic kicks and clothing at this urban boutique.
Quisqueya
551 W. 207th St.,
212-569-3531
This shop has a full range of Spanish-language music, from salsa to reggaeton.
Critter Outfitter
210 Pinehurst Ave.,
212-928-0342
Locals pick up pet essentials and accessories at this shop just south of Inwood.
PJ’s Liquor Warehouse
4898 Broadway,
212-567-5500
This well-stocked spirits house peddles a big selection of wine at surprisingly low prices.
THE BUZZ
Many Inwood residents don’t mind being a bit further than most from the bustle of downtown Manhattan.
So it comes as no surprise that when nightlife began to appear in the neighborhood, some began to complain.
Noise by far has been “the most compelling issue” among residents who appear at community board meetings, according to Ebenezer Smith, the district manager of Community Board 12.
“People come from outside the neighborhood, they come to Dyckman and cruise,” Smith said. “The residents think this noise is from restaurants on Dyckman, but really the restaurants have nothing to do with it.”
The Cloisters are assembled from five monastic structures from southern France.
ESSENTIAL INWOOD
The Cloisters
Fort Tyron Park, A train to 190th
A perfect place to appreciate Inwood’s beauty is the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park. In this medieval art museum, you’ll feel far from the city, with breathtaking views of the Hudson River. Inside, 5,000 artworks, including tapestries, sculpture and painting, date from the Ninth to the 15th centuries, when lords and ladies ruled Europe. The building is assembled from five monastic structures from southern France whose gardens are tended today just as they would have been 600 years ago.
TO SEE
More than any other neighborhood, Inwood offers peeks into Manhattan’s rural, Dutch Colonial past.
Dyckman House
4881 Broadway at 204th St.,
212-304-9422
Visiting this 1784 farmhouse, the oldest in Manhattan, gives you a chance to imagine upper Manhattan when it was just fields. Now a museum, entry is $1 for adults and free for children. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Inwood Hill Park
Dyckman St. and Payson Ave.,
212-304-2365
This park, shown above, on Manhattan island’s northernmost tip boasts the only natural forest left in the borough. Here is where Dutch colonist Peter Minuit bought Manhattan island for the equivalent of $24 and some trinkets in 1626. Today you will find caves, a salt marsh, birds and a host of ballfields and trails.
Fort Tryon Park
Fort Washington Ave. and Cabrini Blvd.,
212-795-1388
You can thank John D. Rockefeller Jr. for crafting this breathtaking park, a former battleground during the American Revolution.Steep hills offer amazing views of the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades, providing the perfect setting for a walk or run.
The BASICS
Subway
207th, or 215th; A to Dyckman or 207th - Inwood. Bus: 100 or Bx 7 (Broadway), Bx 12 (207th Street), 4 (Fort Washington Ave)
Schools
Public: Elementary: Amistad Dual Language School, 212-544-8021. Middle: Harbor Heights Middle School, 212-927-1841. High: High School for International Business and Finance, 212-927-1841; High School for Health Careers and Science, 212-927-1841. Private: Good Shepherd School, 212-567-5800; Northeastern Academy, 212-569-4800
Banks
Bank of America, 4941 Broadway, 212-544-0147; Chase, 161 Dyckman St., 212-304-2286 ;
Food Markets
Pathmark, 410 W. 207th St., 212-569-0600; La Torre Supermarket, 5008 Broadway, 212-942-1212
Library
Inwood Library, 4790 Broadway, 212-942-2445
Post Office
90 Vermilyea Ave., 212-000-1111
Community Board
CB12, 711 W. 168th St., 212-568-8500
Police
34th Precinct, 4295 Broadway, 212-927-9711
Fire Department
Engine 95, 515 W. 181st St., 212-570-4284
Crime
The 34th Precinct, which covers Washington Heights and Inwood, has reported three murders, 17 rapes and 229 robberies so far this year. It reported one murder, 18 rapes and 243 robberies through this time last year.
Q&A
David Gross, 20, is a student and lifelong Inwood resident.
How has Inwood changed over the years?
My dad has seen more change than I have. He’s seen it grow more Hispanic, and now more white people are moving up here again. Recently a lot of restaurants have been popping up around here, like Mamajuana, that attract a lot of people. That’s one of the biggest changes I’ve seen. As far as safety, it was worse before; they’ve actually done a lot of clean-up and it’s pretty safe.
Where do you like to hang out?
Dyckman Express is one of my favorite places [to eat]. It’s cheap but really good.
Is gentrification affecting the neighborhood?
It’s interesting because there’s kind of a split. In the last five or six years we’ve gotten a lot more people from downtown. Apartments have gone up a lot. I’ve seen a studio go from $700 a month to $1,100 now. It’s still cheaper than downtown, but it’s a lot more expensive now.
What attracts people to Inwood?
We’ve got a lot of shops where you can get clothes. A big, big thing is the restaurants. If you come to Dyckman on a Friday or Saturday night, you can’t find any parking, some places even have valet parking.
What might deter someone from moving here?
Parking. Just the amount of people who come out during the prime hours from 4:30 in the afternoon on make it really frustrating. There’s sometimes construction on the subway, but I go to Westchester for school, so I don’t find it an issue.
If someone had a few hours to visit, what should they do?
Eat! You can tell I’m a big food person. But besides that, definitely the Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park. And Inwood Park is nice because it’s still natural. You’ll see people playing baseball, handball, soccer, everything.
Tags: inwood, city living, real estate, shopping, restaurants, music, museums, manhattan, history, arts, architecture
-
New Tasti look, same D-Lite taste: Chain adapts to fro-yo competition
Tasti D-Lite added the new tagline, "Dessert Your Guilt," to be more health-centric. (RJ Mickleson/amNewYork)
By Julie Gordon
In a city crowded with frozen dessert shops, Tasti D-Lite’s recent brand re-launch may be just what the company needs to reclaim its title as king of New York’s market — or at least be able to compete.
This fall, Tasti opened two flagship centers, gave a facelift to 27 of its outposts, updated its logo, added a health-centric “Dessert Your Guilt” tagline and began advertising on taxi toppers and buses. Those efforts, along with converting the business to a franchise format, are designed to help expand Tasti to 500 locations worldwide during the next few years, said Bill Zenke, chief marketing officer for Tasti D-Lite.
During the past few years, Pinkberry, Red Mango and a number of other soft Korean-style yogurt stores have exploded around the city, breathing new life into a stagnant market. Now, it’s only natural that Tasti — which says its soft treats are technically neither yogurt nor ice cream — wants a piece of that resurgence.
“Pinkberry has really done a big push in New York, which has been Tasti D-Lite’s turf, so it could be a defensive move on their part,” said Emily York, who covers food for Advertising Age. “And Red Mango’s going into New York as well. That’s huge.”Earlier this fall, Pinkberry signed with branding firm Bulldog Drummond, while Red Mango hired advertising agency The Richard Group. Zenke declined to specify how much Tasti spent on its re-launch.
“It's hard to miss all of the new frozen yogurt shops popping up around New York. In many ways, this is a clear reflection of the trend toward
people wanting to live and eat more healthfully,” Zenke said. “We believe that our unique ability to offer consumers the best of both worlds — a great-tasting treat without the guilt — will help us translate our success in New York City to success around the world.”
Some New Yorkers said they prefer Tasti for that reason.
“Tasti has an amazing variety of flavors that, like jellybeans, freakishly and inexplicably taste just like their descriptions,” said Annika K. Martin, who lives in the Financial District.
Martin also noted people up eating fewer calories at a place like Tasti because there aren’t as many toppings.
But others prefer Pinkberry or Red Mango for its tart taste, upbeat environment or some other unexplainable reason. On Facebook, Pinkberry has 6,756 fans, Red Mango has 1,786 and Tasti has 313.
“I’ve actually been trying to pinpoint what it is I love so much about Pinkberry, and I can’t figure it out. I just know I’m addicted,” said Rebecca Siegel, who lives in midtown east. “I also really love the Pinkberry logo.”
But, with the sinking economy, dessert shops may have to tweak their marketing strategies to incorporate the idea of an “inexpensive luxury” or “guilty pleasure,” said Russ Winer, chair of the marketing department at New York University’s Stern School of Business.
“Obviously there’s a fun aspect to a dessert treat, but we’re starting to see a lot of food outlets and restaurants’ [sales] going down,” Winer said. Nationwide in October, sales for retail and food services were down down 4.1 percent from the previous year — and that’s just as the economy entered its freefall.
“I used to go every day but when my job became a statistic of the economy I stopped going,” said Red Hook resident Chip Mac Donald of his Tasti D-Lite trips.
Tags: advertising, food, business, tasti d-lite, frozen yogurt, restaurants, manhattan, economy
-
A modest proposal: Some other ideas for the MTA
New Yorkers are sure to end up paying off the MTA’s $1.2 billion deficit, it seems.
Under the MTA’s plan to hike subway and bus fares and a governor-appointed commission’s proposal to charge drivers on East River bridges, all city residents will feel the pain.
“You can’t balance the budget on any one group,” said William Henderson, executive director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA. “There’s a range of stuff you could do.”
In the spirit of every-little-bit-helps, amNewYork has compiled other ideas that could generate revenue for the MTA without breaking the backs of riders or penalizing outer borough drivers.Tax co-ops buyers
Requiring co-op purchasers to pay a mortgage recording tax would net $140 million a year, according to an estimate from the city’s Independent Budget Office.
Currently, buyers of condos and other real estate pay a tax on their mortgages, which is collected by the MTA, but co-op purchasers don’t. Because co-op buyers are technically purchasing shares rather than real estate, the loans they take out are not considered mortgages.
“We consider it a loophole,” said Jeremy Soffin, an MTA spokesman.
Grab a share of the lottery
The state lottery racked up $6.67 billion in sales last fiscal year, with some 38 percent — $2.56 billion — going to education. The rest was used to pay out prizes and for expenses.
Perhaps a new lotto game, or even a small portion from the existing pie, could go to public transit.
“Lotteries do raise money and, in many states it’s a major source of revenue,” Henderson said.
Other suggestions in that vein have included legalized sports gambling, an idea pushed by Councilman Tony Avella, (D-Bayside), who is also a mayoral candidate.
Raise driver’s license fees
Non-commercial licenses cost $50 to renew and some have called for a small increase.
“The concept that motorists should subsidize transit is not radical,” said Gene Russianoff, an attorney for the Straphangers Campaign. “Congestion is bad now. It would be unthinkable without public transit.”
Already, City Comptroller Bill Thompson, another mayoral candidate, has proposed raising vehicle registration fees, especially for heavier cars.
Corporate sponsorship
Pushing to implement an “adopt-a-station” program, similar to the one highways have, could rake in millions of dollars for the MTA, particularly with a big corporate sponsor eager to advertise.
The MTA has also begun selling ads that completely cover the outside of trains and wrap around turnstiles. It earned $106 million last year from ads and expects to make another $50 million next year.
-
The Cover Story: Familiar fix for budget crunch — Raise fares and toll bridges
and Marlene Naanes
The commission that’s been working for nearly a year to find ways to shore up the MTA’s flagging finances is expected to endorse two familiar solutions tomorrow: Tolls on the East and Harlem River bridges and an 8 percent fare hike.
“They’re coming up with the same old tired solutions that the public has rejected already,” said City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside). “We have too many bureaucrats who can’t think out of the box.”
The governor-appointed Ravitch Commission, which was formed in February to come up with recommendations for the state legislature, will also call for:
•A payroll tax imposed on businesses in the region
• Combining of some services
• Reducing administrative staff at the MTA
• A regional bus authority that would oversee lines in Long Island and Westchester
“I’m not sure how people are going to deal with paying those fares,” said Alex Muniz, a fragrance sales consultant from the Bronx. “Jobs are being cut, and businesses are cutting on employee hours.”At a news conference today, Gov. David Paterson confirmed the 8 percent hike, which was first proposed by the MTA this summer, and expressed support for the payroll tax.
“The message we keep trying to deliver is that we are in a very difficult fiscal time, and so it’s either going to be fare hikes or it’s going to be tolls and a combination of payroll taxes, but it’s the only way,” Paterson said.
Tom Berger, 29, a stage director from Washington Heights, said he was dubious about the tolls and fare hikes.
“(It’s) a short-term solution,” he said. “Unless you can use that cash to look at the long game and invest in long-term solutions.”
Another critic of fare hikes, state Sen. Bill Perkins, (D-Manhattan), suggested the MTA sell some of its real estate holdings to raise money.
“I want to see some creativity,” he said. “I’m very concerned about that old idea that keeps coming back: Raise the fares.”
Perkins, a member of the Transportation Committee, called the East and Harlem River tolls a “Quixotic” idea that’s “been around for a while and never gone anywhere.”
Gene Russianoff, an attorney for the Straphangers Campaign who has been sharply critical of the MTA, said the Ravitch Commission appears to have struck a good balance.
“(It’s) asking everybody who benefits from the subways, buses and commuter lines to help contribute to their maintenance,” he said. “That includes drivers, riders and businesses.”
But Hector Gonzalez, 27, of the Bronx, expressed frustration at being subject to decisions made by the transit agency.
“It’s unfortunate that the MTA is pretty much a monopoly,” he said. “We have to pay one company to get from point A to point B. We really have no power against it.’
On the Dec. 16, the governor will propose the state budget, including any provisions from the Ravitch Commission. The budget will be approved by the legislature sometime afterward, but when is unclear.
(Aline Reynolds contributed to this story)
Tags: transit, subways, tolls, fare hike, ravitch commission
-
Knicks top moneymaker in NBA
The Knicks have suffered seven consecutive losing seasons, but they’re winners financially.
The team is the most valuable franchise in the NBA for the fourth straight year, according to Forbes magazine’s annual rankings.
The Knicks are worth $613 million — up from $608 million last year — and generate $208 million in annual revenue.
The Lakers, worth $584 million, are the league’s second-most valuable franchise.
The Knicks and amNewYork are both owned by Cablevision.
(amNY)
-
amNewYork Letters to the Editor
Please curb your pets
Re “Pooper Troopers Keep City Clean,” Dec. 3: Beyond picking up (or not) after their pets, people need to be reminded to lead their pets to the curb to do their business. Too many pet owners allow their pets to pee and poop smack in the middle of the sidewalk — where the rest of us walk.
— Melissa Bell, Manhattan
Mayor shouldn’t try to influence the law
With all due respect to Mayor Bloomberg, I think he is wrong to suggest to the authorities that Giants star Plaxico Burress should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I am not a fan of Mr. Burress, but I think that when someone holds the position of mayor, their words have a lot of power and influence on a lot of things. This is a law enforcement problem that they can handle without his input. The only person harmed in this matter was Burress himself. It was a foolish mistake, and as it stands now with the mayor’s input, it would be hard for him to get a fair trial. Let good sense prevail.
— Valentine Young, Manhattan
A record year for MTA
The MTA hit us with two of the largest fare hikes in NYC history over the last decade and has record ridership, so they have more money than ever. How is it that they now have the largest debt ever, rather than the largest surplus? There is only one possibility if we let them raise the fare again: more record debt, more record service cuts, more record waste, more record fraud. If Gov. Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg won’t do their job, they must be fired.
— Liam Kirchberger, Brooklyn
Tags: letters to the editor
-
The city's best hot chocolates
Special to amNewYork
After having strolled through the city in the cold, you and your guests deserve to warm up with one of the city’s best hot chocolates.
Max Brenner is a chocoholic’s paradise, with more than 10 varieties of hot cocoa. Kids will love Choco-Pops ($4.50), a hot cocoa with crunchy chocolate wafer balls, and sophisticated adults can opt for the chocolate chai ($4.20), a chai spice blend infused with hot white chocolate truffle. 841 Broadway between 13th and 14th sts., 212-388-0030; 141 Second Ave. at 9th St., 646-467-8810.
City Bakery may serve Manhattan’s most well-known hot chocolate. The lines can be long, but the thick, rich cocoa topped with homemade marshmallows is worth the wait. 3 W. 18th St. between Fifth and Sixth aves.; 212-366-1414.
One of the city’s most celebrated chocolatiers, Jacques Torres Chocolate Haven serves up five varieties of cocoa. Try white hot chocolate with a hint of mint or the Wicked, a classic cocoa with a dash of ancho and chipotle peppers ($3 each). 350 Hudson St. at King St.; 212-414-2462.
City Bakery's hot chocolate. Credit: Jori Klein
Tags: hot chocolate, jacques torres, city bakery, max brenner, food
