Civil War Draft Riots

July marks the 146th anniversary of one of the most violent and destructive moments in New York's history: the Civil War Draft riots. Working class New Yorkers, who couldn't afford the $300 charge to avoid conscription, rose up violently to oppose the war and the federal government. To me, this shows how separate from the rest of the country New York felt even then.

Check out this interesting article.

And here is an interesting lecture by John Chodes that's not to be missed:

Vintage Photos

Of course, it's also fun to collect vintage photos of the city. Here are a few.

Rubin Museum

The art of South Asia really intrigues me. No area of the region produces quite as much interesting art as the Himalayan zone. The Rubin Museum (150 West 15th Street Chelsea)is one of the finest Himalayan art museums in the world, and certainly one of the must-see museums in New York.

Vintage Maps of NYC

I really love looking over vintage maps of NYC. Here's one good collection of old maps. Oh. And a few of Boston. What's Boston?

Kom Tang Soot Bul Hse

Koreatown, located along 32nd Street has a lot of good restaurants to choose from. New York Kom Tang Soot Bul Hse (32 West 32nd Street Murray Hill) is reportedly the oldest of the bunch. If you ask someone's Korean grandfather what his favorite restaurant is, he'll probably guide you here. The lunch specials are especially worth seeking, and feature an incredible quantity of very good food for a low price. Just remember 32 West 32nd St the next time you crave some Korean.

S'MAC

Only in the East Village would people successfully try to sell something as wholesome as macaroni & cheese by referencing heroin. But wow. Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese aka S'MAC (345 East 12th Street East Village) does this classic dish up in ways most people have never thought of. My favorite variants are the Cajun and Indian spiced. Oh yeah. Give me that sizzling skillet. Now.

Accents of the Five Boroughs

This is painful but kind of interesting. I wonder if anyone's actually done linguistic studies of each borough.

Urban Pita

Seriously, who would have the audacity to open up a falafel joint on the same strip as Katz's and Bereket? Talk about strong competition. But Urban Pita (189 East Houston Lower East Side) holds its own, with diverse and fresh toppings and very flavorful falafels. This is a go-to place late at night, after hitting up a few of the area bars.

Negril Village

I'm always a little skeptical of restaurants that take good street food and try to turn it into high class cuisine. But sometimes it works. Negril Village (70 West Third Street West Village) is proof. The food here is really nice. Also the chef understands the importance of the scotch bonnet habanero, one of the most noble peppers in the world and the key to why Jamaican food is so good. Negril Village is also a fun little club, hosting some really decent reggae shows. The lounge atmosphere is intimate and a little sexy, great for a classy date.

El Maguey Y La Tuna

When I first heard of El Maguey Y La Tuna (321 East Houston Lower East Side) I mistakenly translated the name to mean the magician and the tuna fish. What? My bad Spanish gave way to a little research, which revealed that it actually means the agave plant and the prickly pear cactus. Which makes sense considering that this is their logo... Another puzzling thing to me is why the food here is so outstanding yet no one knows about it. Really. El Maguey Y La Tuna is a strong contender in my own personal Mole Olympics. The enchiladas with red mole, mmm! Really phenomenal.

Yola's

Do you have a deep need to eat something as big as your head? Would you prefer it's really tasty? Get yourself to Yola's (524 Metropolitan Avenue Williamsburg) and grab a burrito. I'm partial to Yola's excellent chicken mole burrito. You can sit outside for an hour and peck away at this enormous thing, Mexican food bliss a block away from both the L train and the G train: Yola's.

Hsin Wong

Do you want to try some Chinese food that's really different than what we usually get in America? Do you want to get a good lunch for $5? There's a place that can help you out. Hsin Wong (72 Bayard Street Chinatown) serves some authentic and delicious Cantonese food at a shockingly low price. Hsin Wong's strong point is its treatment of meats, the pork and duck are particularly lovely.

Li Hua

If you want to try some excellent Korean food downtown, there's one place you need to check out. Li Hua (171 Grand Street, Chinatown) offers fresh and tasty Korean cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. Li Hua's menu is fairly extensive, affordable, and everything I've had there is quality. They also have a good, quirky beer selection. That puts the place over the top in my book.

Zaragoza

One of the great things about eating in NYC is the propensity of the city to surprise. I walked into Zaragoza (215 Avenue A East Village) to buy some hot sauce. I had no idea I was about to have a great Mexican meal. Zaragoza's a little bodega. It's not a restaurant. From the exterior, there is virtually no indication of the great food they serve. But this little culinary secret serves delicious tacos, tostadas, and burritos. There is a good selection of meats (all braised, not grilled!), including goat, which I really enjoy.

Dosa Man

Possibly the best food cart in New York City is the Dosa Man (Washington Square Park West Village). This guy has won the prestigious Vendy Award several times. Definitely grab a dosa from him. Or a samosa. A $5 bill will buy you a memorable and filling vegetarian meal from one of the best cart cooks there is.

Guss's Pickles

Do you like pickles? Try the very best. Seriously. Probably in the world. Guss's Pickles (87 Orchard Street Lower East Side) has been serving their outstanding products for like 90 years. You don't like pickles? These are significantly better than any you've ever had. Try!

Sixth Ward

Looking for a chill bar to hang out with a group of friends? Try Sixth Ward (191 Orchard Street Lower East Side). This place features a good beer selection, friendly hosts, and a cute little beer garden with a view of tenement buildings that lets you know you're in the LES. Oh. And a Guinness drinking competition that you should avoid because it's dangerous. Great bar though, with a sweet location in the best neighborhood in America.

Teany

Once in a while I like to sit for an hour and sip on tea. New York has some cool little tea houses to satisfy that specific craving. One of the most interesting is Teany (90 Rivington Street Lower East Side). This very small (teeny, get it?) place is so cozy and inviting. It serves some quite good vegan food, and has become wildly popular for brunch. Oh, also Moby is an owner, which adds to Teany's mystique.

Shopping in NYC

You want to buy it? It's for sale in NYC. Guaranteed. The variety of choices can be overwhelming, and it takes a few lifetimes to figure out all the good bargains in the city. Check out this guide to shopping for a little clarity on the subject.

SuperVegan

Are you vegan? Condolences. But in New York, there are lots of good vegan restaurants. One place to find your next vegan favorite is SuperVegan.

Eating in Translation

Eating in Translation is an interesting blog about unusual food finds around the city. It's a good resource for finding out about eating-related events.

New York City Walk

New York City Walk is a really cool website. A guy walked down every street in Manhattan and took some excellent pictures. It's an interesting way to get a feel for different neighborhoods in the city.

HopStop

As mentioned before, New York has amazing public transportation. Need to know how long it takes to get from place to place on the train? Try HopStop. This is a great resource.

Hummus Place

Good hummus is an object of much desire in New York. One contender for the best hummus in the city award is (fittingly) Hummus Place. They have several locations around town. I frequent the the downtown east branch (109 St Marks Place East Village). Try several kinds of hummus, stuffed grape leaves, and the excellent coffee with cardamom. It's all good, and it's all very affordable.

Everyman Espresso

I like really strong espresso. And free wireless internet. Everyman Espresso (136 East 13th Street East Village) serves up both in an unpretentious atmosphere. Drop in for some of the finest espresso in the neighborhood, and get some work done on your laptop.

Zocalo

It doesn't look like much from the outside, but step into Zocalo (295 Broadway Williamsburg Brooklyn) for a real culinary delight. The bottom floor houses a cozy little bar, and the main room upstairs is a cute and relaxing space. The food here is really excellent. I'm personally very impressed by the pork mole burrito.

Billiburg Blog

Here's another great, and very browsing-friendly blog about the culturally rich neighborhood that is Williamsburg. Billiburg. Check it out.

Rabbithole

I'm a sucker for a place that serves coffee, beer, and has wireless internet. Rabbithole (352 Bedford Avenue Williamsburg Brooklyn) ups the ante. They also have a really nice space and (pause for effect) $2-3 happy hour pints of really good beer. I mean, try getting 16 ounces of anything you want to drink in New York for less than $2. They also have food, the best of which is the remarkably good scones to go with your morning coffee.

Overheard in New York

No place on earth affords such chances to hear people saying hilarious things. Overheard in New York was created as a place to document this NYC phenomenon. This site is seriously funny!

Fratelli Brick Oven Pizza

So don't make him mad. That's all I'm saying. Because he is obviously a pizza making genius and close to the edge of going off. Let the man make pizza. Yeah, I'm talking about the guy throwing down amazing pies at Fratelli Brick Oven Pizza (159 Grand Street Williamsburg). This place is seriously great. Oh, wait. The vodka pizza. More than great. Like, if you don't try the vodka pizza at least once, you're missing out on a real New York pizza gem. It melts in your mouth. Seriously. Curious? Go try.

Vietnamese Food in Chinatown

So the little secret about Chinatown is that the best food is Vietnamese. Well, it depends who you ask. But if you ask me, I'll steer you to three places, all close to City Hall, all Vietnamese. Pho Pasteur (85 Baxter Street Chinatown) is especially good for seafood. The squid is great. Nha Trang (148 Centre Street Chinatown) is the place for pho and iced coffee. Thai Son (89 Baxter Street Chinatown) is always a good place for pork dishes. I like pork dishes.

Style Wars

Style wars, the classic documentary about New York graffiti. It really is an amazing form of art. I need to get specific and give props to my man Carter Maness (an artist in his own right) for turning me on to this. It definitely gave me a greater appreciation for the older tags around town.

Blind Tiger Ale House

One of the best beer bars downtown, Blind Tiger (281 Bleeker Street West Village) is an all night event. At least for me. Once I come in here, I'll be here for about six hours sampling as many as the lovely brews as I can and still manage to walk to the train. I love beer, and so does Blind Tiger. Their cask selections are especially inspired, and it's worth traveling across town to take in this fabulous pub. Just make sure you have a way to get home.

Awash

I really enjoy Ethiopian food. Spicy beef tibs scooped up with tart and spongy injera bread is a treat indeed. When the craving for Ethiopian hits me, I head over to Awash (338 East Sixth Street East Village). This cozy place has a classy atmosphere, great food, and friendly service. It's definitely one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in the city.

If it's set in New York I'll watch it!

So many great movies are set in New York. In fact, being set in New York goes a long way to making a movie great. I'll watch just about anything that includes interesting footage of the city.

This website, New York in the Movies, is pretty basic but provides a fun interactive map showing where some films were set around town. Also check out this great article- 5 New York City Films- that goes into depth on five classics made in the Big Apple.

Free Williamsburg

Free Williamsburg is an excellent blog about north Brooklyn. I've found lots of great spots to eat and drink here. Check it out if you want to know more about this diverse neighborhood.

Mamoun's Falafel

Mamoun's Falafel (119 MacDougal Street West Village & 22 St. Marks Place East Village) has been serving some of the most delicious falafel sandwiches in the city for over thirty years. The whole time they've been listening to the same bad Israeli disco music too, I think. Their hummus and baba ghannouj are amazing, and everything is very affordable.

Oasis

Are you staggeringly drunk? Is it 3am? Did you just get off the L train at Bedford Avenue? Then there's no doubt about where you're grabbing a bite. Oasis (161 North Seventh Street Williamsburg) serves up some decidedly inauthentic but tasty Middle Eastern food at all hours. Their hummus is a really good deal. The falafel sandwiches are delicious and satisfying, but involve ingredients not often found at more traditional places. Pickles for instance. But it works. The one warning about Oasis is that their bathroom is perpetually broken- sort of a problem for a place that serves hundreds of drunks a day!

Paris Sandwich

Banh Mi, Vietnamese sandwiches on French bread, have emerged as a New York staple in the last decade or so. One of the best places to pick up tasty banh mi is Paris Sandwich (113 Mott Street Chinatown). These are so good, in part because they use exceptionally fresh baguettes. Prices are very low, you can get what you need for around $5. I'm personally partial to the shredded pork banh mi, slathered in extra Sriracha. On a hot day, the Vietnamese iced coffee is a nice treat too.

John's Pizzeria of Bleeker Street

John's Pizzeria of Bleeker Street (278 Bleeker Street West Village) is often mentioned in discussions about the best pizza joint in NYC. No question, this is some fabulous pizza. The atmosphere of the place wins it a lot of affection too. It looks and feels just like a pizza place should, right down to the graffiti that covers every available surface. Step in to this wonderful little hole in the wall and experience one of the finer pies in the city.

Klong

Klong (7 St. Marks Place East Village) serves up some really fresh and well prepared Thai food. I like to take advantage of their very reasonable lunch specials. One big reason to come to Klong is to witness the amazing decorative use of the small space. It's really beautiful. Klong also has a full bar, and deserves to be respected as a classy place for a drink on St. Marks. Thai beers are $4 each and they have two for one happy hour specials, which is a fine deal indeed.

Alan's Falafel

It makes me nervous mentioning the best food cart downtown without giving props to Alan's Falafel (Liberty & Cedar Street Financial District). Serving up one of the tastier falafel sandwiches in the city, this venerable cart is a lunch institution among Wall Street workers. Alan also knows a thing or two about hot sauce, which is hugely appealing to me. I literally can't walk past this place without getting a nice falafel sandwich, it's too good to pass by.

East Village Halal Cart

Okay. I've been avoiding the topic of food carts because it's just so massive. But let me broach the subject by recommending East Village Halal Cart (11th Street & 1st Avenue East Village). In my opinion, this is the best cart downtown. Located across the street from the Islamic Center, this guy set up to serve people who know halal food. By virtue of his exceptional street cookery, he's developed a following that cuts across ethnic lines. Try the lamb and rice, heavy on both the hot sauce and white sauce. The proprietor is likely to throw in some additional morsels, like grilled eggplant and french fries. Go around the corner to Tompkins Square Park. Enjoy how good a hearty lunch under $5 can be in New York.

Jack's Stir Brew

There should be an award for the strongest cup of coffee in New York. And it should be coveted as obsessively as my personal search for the potential winner. In the meanwhile, there's Jack's Stir Brew (138 West 10th Street West Village). The stirring apparently lends a creamy palate to the coffee, and helps the water absorb more of the psychoactive components of the bean. However it works, this is a cute little place, serving a monster of a coffee. It's worth going to just for the atmosphere, but they really might be on to something with this brewing technique.

Klatch Coffee

There are parts of New York that are very rich in cool cafes, and others that are poor. Unfortunately, one of the most coffee house deprived neighborhoods is the Financial District. Luckily, there's Klatch Coffee (9 Maiden Lane Financial District), with an atmosphere as cute as their coffee is strong. It really is an oasis of cool in the middle of Wall Street's caffeine wasteland, dominated by bourgeois blandness.

Jimmy's Diner

There comes a point in any culinary career that a basic diner is what's called for. Jimmy's Diner (577 Union Avenue Williamsburg) is the perfect response to that craving. They serve warm, homemade donuts and unlimited coffee to everyone that bellies up to the counter. Additionally, the pulled pork hash is a little slice of heaven, satisfying for even the heartiest eater.

Santorini Grill

Williamsburg is an amazing place to eat. Until recently, however, it has lacked a serious Greek contender. That's all changed with the opening of Santorini Grill (167 Grand Street Williamsburg), which serves up seriously good food in a charming atmosphere. The lady that runs the place is equal parts hilarious and generous- free deserts are a common occurrence. And speaking of deserts- the Karidopita (walnut cake) is like carrot cake on drugs. It's so, so good, worth seeking out in its own right- possibly the best dessert in Williamsburg.

Moran's

One of the most difficult parts of downtown to find a decent bar is Battery Park. Luckily, there's Morans (103 Washington Street Battery Park). This low-key place, featuring a fireplace, relaxing atmosphere, and great burgers, is an excellent place for a quiet conversation and a few tasty pints.

Brand Nubian

One of the best NYC hip hop groups ever, apparently not as well known as they should be, Brand Nubian still plays around town. You can catch them at SOB's sometimes even. These guys represent the Five Percent, a uniquely New York form of Islam. Check out this music.

Drom

Another great place to hear world music is Drom (85 Avenue A East Village). This place is intimate, upscale, and even a bit romantic. They serve some pretty awesome cocktails and the shows range from good to just plain phenomenal.

I caught Zeb the Spy From Cairo there last winter. He's worth looking out for at Drom. Good times!

SOB's

SOB's (204 Varick Street West Village) is a cool little club that hosts some of the best live music in the city. I am a huge fan of Basement Bhangra, featuring DJ Rekha, pioneer of the New York bhangra scene. This is guaranteed fun, and a must-see for anyone into South Asian music. SOB's also hosts great hip-hop shows on occasion. Check in regularly to see what's coming up at this fabulous little West Village venue.

I was at this show, it was amazing. Ten years!



DJ Rekha's Theme song!

Village Mingala

I've always wanted to go to Burma. Something about that location- neighboring India, China, and Thailand- promises glorious eating adventures. Unfortunately, even the promise of fantastic meals isn't enough to get me there while the brutal military dictatorship is still in power. Luckily, there's a place in New York that offers a good sampling of Burmese cuisines. Village Mingala (21 East 7th Street East Village) has a very cute interior, friendly hosts, and really good food. Their lunch special is a significant bargain, $6.50 for soup and and main dish of your choice.

Jackson Diner

Arguably the best- and clearly one of the best- Indian restaurants in New York, the Jackson Diner (37-74 74th Street Jackson Heights Queens) is a real anchor for the Indian enclave around 74th and Roosevelt in Queens. This place is phenomenal for the all you can eat lunch buffet, featuring dosas made to order. I stop here whenever I'm flying in to LGA or JFK, it really is an ideal place for a first meal in the greatest city on earth.

La Superior

So any place that calls itself La Superior better be great, right? Well, I'm pleased to say that La Superior (295 Berry Street Williamsburg) really does serve some of the finest Mexican food you'll find in the city. This friendly crew specializes in serving street-style food. The tacos are truly phenomenal, especially be sure to try the lengua and chorizo.