Another week in good, ol' NYC

That's right. I haven't been with this blog for a while, but business strategies have come in place now and I have decided to post once every Friday. Does this mean less Big City Rodeo? No. It means that every Friday you get a bunch of treats instead of one every day. That's right. It'll be like a giant gift shop where all the presents are free! So what have I got for you today? Well:

First I must take you to a trip to the West Village where I've found the coffee shop Grounded, a perfect haven to get away when it rains (somehow it always does when I'm there). Just avoid it in the summer where they tend to turn the AC up to an unbearable level. Grounded is a perfect place to work (check), read Jonathan Franzen (check), and drink very strange coffee drinks (check). Also, the staff here are actually nice. When is the last time you walked into a coffee shop and the people were nice?

 This is the wall in Grounded's bathroom by the way. Loved it so much that I had to take a picture.

Next up is Ciao For Now which is perfect for brunch on Sundays, Saturdays or whatever. It's this eco-friendly place in the East Village that does take out in the cutest take-out car you've ever seen (there's a picture, don't worry). Get the table by the corner (pictured to the left of this very text), if you can get it.

Also, another thing to love about this place. Kids always do their homework here. By kids I mean children. They go here after school and calculate with 3rd grade notebooks all over the place while sipping hot chocolate. Sometimes accompagnied by adults. Come on, you gotta love that.

Hungarian Pastry Shop! Hands down the best cakes and pastries in New York City. And cheap, too. They're open till 11pm, and crowded at their busy hours, so go there at 8pm on a Saturday. Not only are Saturdays bad for going out (I don't mean to be mean but bridge and tunnel, anyone?) but sitting inside Hungarian Pastry shop with a cheesecake and Earl Grey tea is just amazing when it's dark outside. 111th and Amsterdam. It's worth the trip. Trust me.

The other day I was out for dinner with my lovely friend Kate, and where else to go then than Kate's Joint, right? This place is wonderful. They play Fleetwood Mac and serve severely delish vegetarian and vegan food. Now, I'm not vegan or even vegetarian, but I love the restaurants that are. Somehow they just never fail, and Kate's Joint is my favorite in all of the city. And look at the portions! Crazy.

A tip: get quesadillas with black beans as an appetizer. They're so good.

Okay, so you've been to Kate's Joint and the next day you're all like "I'm totally over being healthy, I want me some mac'n'cheese" and that's when you need Sarita's Mac'n'Cheese, also known simply as S'mac.  No matter what you'll find the kind of mac'n'cheese you want here. They're have some many variations and sizes that it would be pointless going over them here. But trust me, no matter if you do take out and eat in, you should head here. Right now. It's greasy, it's bad (read= bad) for you, but it's so worth it.

See you next Friday everyone. Enjoy the city and the weekend, too.

Max Fish

Max Fish. Legendary. A modern myth in the world of bars. Dark and mysterious. Light and straightforward. Max Fish has everything, including articles in NYC Time Magazine. This is the hippest bar on Ludlow (2nd place goes to Cake Shop). It's a place for the guitar-playing musicians. It's a place for the people who own more than one oversized hat and probably live in Brooklyn. It's the place for every single person who knows how to drink whiskey and still act cool. So if you think that Ludlow Street is only for drunks, jocks and fratboys, think again. Fratboys would never come to Max Fish, so it's pretty much douchebag-free.

Angelika

The best cinema in New York is one of many flaws. But like all lovable things, it's the flaws that makes the transition from like to love. And do I love the Angelika? Oh, goddamn yes. I love how, when I sit in the cinema, I can hear the rumbling of the trains underneath my feet, because the subway station is just around the corner. I love how you have to stand in line ten minutes before a movie starts to get your favorite seats (except if your favorite seats are no one else's favorites, like me). I love the films they show: foreign and real American indies. None of that toned-down Hollywood shit (Little Miss Sunshine, anyone?) that goes for being "indie". I love their cafe inside. I love their ceiling with the painting of the sky. I love their Louise Brooks poster.

Take Shelter is running right now by the way. Go watch it. This is not a suggestion. You have to do this. It's a Jeff Nichols film starring Michael Shannon, maybe the best actor who has ever lived. Honestly, this should be enough information. Remember how brilliant Shotgun Stories, Jeff Nichols' first film, was? What are you waiting for?

Big Nick's

I'm aware that there are lots and lots of take-out places in New York, let alone the upper west side. I'm also fully aware that there are several of people claiming that the best burger in New York is available at the Shake Shack (this is true) or Minetta Tavern, but these people should give Big Nick's on Broadway near 77th a try. Nothing competes with the Shack, but damn, they make some incredible burgers at this joint. Try the Boston Burger and top it off with a chocolate mousse and you've got yourself a feast.

Scavengers of inwood

So after a little break I'm back and ready to give you so much more news on how to lead the best life in the best cities. We are still in New York, in a section that few get to experience, let alone discover: Inwood. You see, next to the brilliant coffee shop/bar/restaurant (yes, it's actually all three) Indian Road there's a labyrinth-like shop that's almost always closed. It opens at 3pm and closes at, well, who knows? This shop is called Scavengers of Inwood and is super creepy. It's a maze of old stuff; old dolls with no heads, sweaters that somebody's grandmother made, cans that used to contain whatever and books with old, yellow pages.

Oh well, the other day I went past it and realized that it was open. It has ever been open while I've passed, so it was an exciting event of the day. And this is what I found:

The Bourgeois Pig

Imagine a really fancy bordello. The bordello waiting room, perhaps, where you are served wine and cheese, maybe some chocolate fondue, before entering the palace itself. The image you now have in your mind is that of The Bourgeois Pig, a wine bar on 7th street in the East Village. I've been there twice, and every time is a dirty experience, even if all you do is just sit there and eat (amazing) cheese. Most people head here for the chocolate fondue, though, so keep that in mind. Also, keep in mind that a bottle of wine is half off on Mondays and Tuesdays...

Joe: The Art of Coffee

Yes! Sometimes what you need is just an ucomplicated cup of coffee. Joe's has that cup. No nonsense, nothing but magnificent coffee. Joe's - especially the one on Columbus between 84th and 85th - is perfect for sit and read while sipping a cup of joe (pun intended).

Veselka

Ukranian soulfood? What's that?

This was pretty much my first response to hearing about Veselka, after which I drunkenly stepped inside at 4am on a Wednesday night, and ate wondrous pirogis. Veselka is open 24/7 which is wonderful for the sole reason that it's the best place to stumble inside and eat your heart out after a night of debauchery. However, it's also plain nice to stumble in here in the daytime and eat a veggie burger (with pirogis, of course!).

Doma

Doma is what you would call "super chill". It's this haven for the sophisticated intellectuals that still manages to be low key and, yeah, chill. I remember reading Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man is Hard to Find in there and suddenly speaking to a woman about the religious views in it (I still believe there are negative notions on religion despite O'Connor's official beliefs in there), and that's exactly what you can find in Doma: chill intellectuals - and French speaking staff. Oh, what's not to love?

Bookcourt

As you may have discovered after reading my blog, I have a passion for books. In Manhattan there’s The Strand, and in Brooklyn there’s Bookcourt. It may not be as vast as The Strand (but what is?), but they have readings most night – and when I say most night, I mean, six out of seven. Those readings usually come with free wine and sometimes even food. Hooray for free drinks and appetizers! Last Sunday I was at one of these readings, and even though I wasn’t fond of the way it turned out (call me conservative, but when I go to readings I expects readings, not some dancing fool, a political debate and three bad songs), I still enjoy the silent poetry of just sitting inside Bookcourt. Their selection is impressive and their staff knows what they’re talking about.