Beecher’s Handmade Cheese

Mac and Cheese fans in New York City have another reason to rejoice as a location for Beecher’s Handmade Cheese has opened in the Flatiron district.  Not just a cheese shop, you can walk in to the cafe and get your very own freshly made “World Famous Mac and Cheese” to devour.  The only other store location is still the original in Seattle, WA, so New Yorkers are very lucky. I can say from my personal experience that if you try a sample of this savory pasta dish, you will want to order a whole serving for yourself.   The cafe also offers a variety of sandwiches, soups and other goodies.

While you are enjoying your meal on the main level, you can sit and watch the cheese being made right in the store.  The picture above is a view from the upper dining area.  There is also a more upscale restaurant and wine bar located downstairs.  I have heard that there are happy hour specials offered in the restaurant from 5-7pm and that they will serve you a grilled cheese martini if you know to ask for one.  I cannot wait to check it out!

Here is a close up of all the cheesy goodness that is a serving of Beecher’s World Famous Mac and Cheese.  Yummy!

OK to Go Solo or Better with Friends?

There are definitely some companies that are better for you to bring a few friends along with you to events and then there are some that can be really fun even if you go without knowing anyone.  Of course each event and how fun and social it is will always be determined by the people going on that particular trip.  From my personal experience, I thought I would share what I have discovered over the years with regards to signing up solo vs. with friends. 

Better with Friends

Living Social Adventures (www.livingsocial.com/adventures)

They offer some great trips with events such as wine tasting and pub parties to follow the activity of the day but based on the past two trips I went on, definitely bring your friends with you. 

Zogsports Day Trips (www.Zogsports.org)

I think these have a good chance of being more social and depending on the activity you can certainly meet some fun people during your trip.  But I also have been on day trips where people mainly stayed within the groups of people they came with so just to be safe I recommend coming with friends.

It’s OK to Go Solo

Sometimes, I have had the best time ever on trips I have gone solo to.  I have made many new friends that way.  I have found that there are many people out there who really want to do things but it is sometimes hard to get friends to go with them, coordinate a date that works for everyone or even sign up before the event sells out.  Below are companies that I can say would be great ways to get out and do what you love without having to worry about going it alone.

Meetup (www.meetup.com)

If you are already a member of meetup.com you will notice that there are a lot of people who want to get out there and make new friends while doing activities that they love to do.  This site is excellent for uniting people with common interests and if for some reason there is no group for what you are looking for, then you can start one of your own.

Random Events (www.randomeventsny.com)

This group prides itself on doing fun events of all different types and connecting the people who attend them.  You will get to know people by the end of the event without a doubt.  Very welcoming and inclusive, this group is the perfect way to branch out and find yourself some new experiences and make friends along the way.

MeetMarketAdventures (www.meetmarketadventures.com)

This is a singles company which also makes an extra effort to include everyone and have people interact so that they get to know each other during events.  The whole point is to meet new people, so you are good to go alone to any of the events this company offers.

NY Social Network  (www.newyorksocialnetwork.com)

Similarly, the New York Social Network says it all with its name.  It is a great way to explore the city while expanding your network.

Outdoor Bound (www.outdoorbound.com) and Dynamic Outdoors (www.dynamicoutdoors.com)

I have found that on trips with Outdoor Bound and Dynamic Outdoors, the common activities brings people together.  For example, on my most recent event with Dynamic Outdoors (a Yoga Hike), most everyone had come by themselves and during lunch there was a friendly discussion of how hard it is to round people up to do events and that none of us were willing to sit out because of that.  So all of us were there having a great time in the outdoors together even though we arrived on our own.

Zogsports Sports Leagues (www.zogsports.org) and NY Social Sports Club (www.nycsocialsportsclub.com)

Having finally joined in a few sports leagues with Zog, this is a great way to get to know people.  Signing up single only means you will be matched with a team and will get to know everyone you are playing with.  After each game there is usually a social gathering and there are end of season parties as well.  If you love sports – get out there and play!

Biking and Wine Tasting with Outdoor Connections

I recently went on my first event with Outdoor Connections for a day of biking and wine tasting.  I had such a wonderful experience and couldn’t wait to write about it.  Anytime you try a new company, you know anything is possible.  Luckily, Outdoor Connections is well organized and ready to get city dwellers out of the concrete jungle to enjoy some fun adventures.

Once everyone had gathered near Port Authority, our group was divided into two vans.  A benefit of going with Outdoor Connections is that they provide a wide assortment of breakfast goodies for everyone.  The options included chilled juices and an assortment of fresh muffins and pastries.  What a great way to start the day.  Approximately 2 hours later, when we got to our starting point on the Delaware Canal Bike Path, all our bike rentals and helmets were ready for us.  It was time to start biking! Our organizer, Jim, made the trip both informational and fun.  He shared some history of the canal at a few of the stops and made sure everyone was comfortable with the pace and that no one was left behind.  Lunch is also provided with this trip which was another nice touch. 

Biking down the Delaware Canal is something I would definitely do again.  The canal path was flat and well groomed so I never felt overwhelmed and there is so much to see along the way.  We biked a total of 15 miles and then some of us did an additional 3 mile loop before it was time to drive to our next stop – Sand Castle Winery.  A well organized and thorough tasting (which included chocolate pairing for some of the wines) followed by some cheese to snack on and our day was almost done.  It was time to head back to NYC.

Outdoor Connections does a variety of trips and would be a great way to get out and enjoy the lovely fall weather.   You can also find out what they are up to at meetup.com by clicking here.  I look forward to joining them on another trip sometime soon.

Bareburger

With a second location soon opening in Astoria, two Manhattan locations and a new Park Slope spot in the works, Bareburger continues to grow.  Since I do not eat meat, it took me a while to check the place out.  However, I have now had a couple visits to Bareburger and am happy to say that they have delicious offerings for everyone, including some for those who eat gluten free and for those who don’t eat meat.

Since I go into the category of those who do not eat meat, I was excited to try their veggie burger.  Bareburger‘s menu is such that you pick your desired burger first and then you decide which bun and toppings you would like to go with it.  I opted for the Avocado California Burger, whole grain bun, veggie burger combination.  This included fresh avocado, raw milk cheddar, tomato, lettuce, onion, and cilantro lime dressing.  We also ordered a combined french fry and onion ring basket for the table.  The fries come with a variety of dipping sauces which are sure to please everyone and they are irresistible as our basket was completely empty by the end of the meal.  The veggie burger was delicious and very filling.  This was not just a small patty on a bun.  It was hearty and went perfectly with the California Avocado option (which is their recommended match).  I might not eat meat, but I do know many Bareburger fans who rave about their Ostrich burgers and Lamb burgers.  Their original Astoria location is also completely packed most of the times I walk by so they must be doing a lot of things right.  If you have enough room after your burger, then their milk shakes are also quite good.  With real peanut butter and chocolate mixed in if you choose those flavors and with interesting options such as pistachio flavor, you cannot go wrong.

Bareburger uses organic and all natural ingredients.  Their free range meats are from animals that are pasture raised and grass fed.  They also use mainly sustainable and reclaimed material when building their restaurants.  It is great to know that when you eat there you are also supporting the environment at the same time.  The location on 31st Avenue in Astoria also has a lovely outdoor seating area that is perfect for some al fresco dining this summer.

Sac’s Place in Astoria

 

We are lucky to live in an area where there are so many places where you can get a delicious slice of pizza.  I finally had a chance to stop in at Sac’s Place located at 25-41 Broadway in Astoria and am happy to report that they serve an excellent slice.  The slice pictured on the right is from their regular cheese pie, although if you compare it with most other place’s cheese slices you can see the difference upon first sight.  Sac’s uses homemade mozzarella on their slices and applies the sauce (made with San Marzano tomatoes from Italy) in circular swirls so that the proportion between the sauce and cheese is just right.  Pictured on the left is the Sicilian slice where the quality of the cheese is also distinctive.  I enjoyed both immensely.  If you like beer with your pizza, you will be happy to know that imported beer bottles such as Birra Moretti are an affordable $4.

These are two of the carry out slices offered at Sac’s so you can only imagine a piping hot pizza pie coming out of their coal oven and then being brought straight to your table while dining in the restaurant.  After going on Scott’s Pizza Tour, I really love trying different pizza places and am so happy to have found Sac’s Place.  I’ve already visited them twice this week and expect there will be quite a few more visits in the future.

 

 

Random Events Goes to Iceland

It was by luck that I was able to join Random Events on their first International Excursion to Reykjavik, Iceland. A spot opened up at the last minute and I was very excited to go.  You would never know that it was the first International trip that Random Events had organized.  Everything ran smoothly from beginning to end.  It was an amazing experience that I won’t soon forget.

Everyone met up at JFK airport for some time to mix and mingle at the bar before we made our conga line entry onto our direct flight to Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital.  With the time difference, our flight landed at approximately 6:30am.  From there we had a few hours to get breakfast and take a power nap before a full day of touring began.

Day 1:

The first full day tour was to explore the city of Reykjavik.  I loved the colorful houses and majestic mountainside that could be seen towering behind them in the distance. We got a fantastic view of the entire city when we went to the top of Hallgrim’s Church, which is the tallest building in Iceland.  After the city tour ended, we got to further familiarize ourselves with Reykjavik during a group dinner later that evening.  Icelandic nightlife is very active and the party goes on until dawn breaks or maybe until all the glasses are broken since there is lots of broken glass found on the street after nights of partying.  This evening we went on our first Northern Lights tour but sadly we did not see anything that night.

Day 2:

One of our most adventurous days was the second day of the trip.  Our group was driven in super jeeps to a scenic overview, where we got to walk around through tall cavernous rocks before driving to view the magnificent Gullfoss (Golden Falls).  Next it was time to drive to the Langjokull Glacier. As we got closer and closer to the glacier it almost looked as if we were on another planet since there was so many lava rocks and open space between mountains. Once dressed in the helmets and snow suits provided, we got the chance to jump on some snow mobiles and ride further out onto the glacier.  After a playful snowball fight and some group photos it was time to ride back to the jeeps.  Our last stop of the day was a visit to the Strokkur geyser that still actively erupts with frequency.  What an amazing day of adventure, sightseeing and fun!

Day 3:

For those not returning on the shorter trip that was offered, day three was a tour of West Iceland.  As was our routine by now, we all piled into a van and began a full day of sightseeing.  On this day we started with the Whale Bay Fjord.  From there we went up into the mountains on an unpaved mountain road into the Skorradalur Valley.  I loved seeing all the Icelandic horses as we drove by surrounding farms.  One of the stops on our tour was a visit to Iceland‘s largest natural hot spring, called Dieldartunghuver.  You can smell the sulfur in the steam that rises from the extremely hot water.  (You can also smell the sulfur when you wash your hands or take a shower in Iceland, something I never quite got used to when I was there).  Next we arrived at what is known as the Children‘s Falls, as it was named for the three children that perished there while trying to cross a slippery bridge. I could not imagine someone trying to walk across these falls as they looked very treacherous and I am relieved they tore down the faulty crossing.  Not far from the Children’s Falls is Iceland‘s most mysterious waterfall where the water comes from under the ground and the source of it is actually melt off from a glacier. On our way back from these waterfalls we paid a visit to Snorri’s historical home and took a look at the geothermal outdoor hot tub which is rumored to be the world‘s first.  Then it was time to enjoy the scenery on our drive back to Reykjavik for another delicious meal and night out.

Day 4:

On our forth day we made our journey to the southernmost tip of Iceland before returning to Reykjavik.  On the way we were able to see two beautiful waterfalls – one where you could climb on an icy path to go around behind it (Seljalandsfoss) and another where you were able to climb up the hillside to view it from above if you wished (Skogarfoss).  The lava ash was visible in the mud along the water from the recent eruption of the nearby Eyjafallajoekull volcano.  We had a lovely lunch stop in the town of Vik (pictured above) and then we traveled to the other side of the view pictured above to explore Reynisfjara beach.  There we were able to walk over for a closer look at the immense basalt columns and the three rock formations in the water (these are rumored in Icelandic folklore to be frozen trolls).  The sand on this beach was made up of tiny round black pebbles and there were many larger lava rocks along the way.  Our last stop of the day was a visit to the Solheimurjokull glacier.  We walked right up to the many ice formations and could even sit right on the tip of the glacier.  Later that evening, we had our last chance to see the Northern Lights before our return to New York.  Sadly it was a really foggy night so we did not get to seen them on this night either.  We still made the night a fun one anyway though.

 

Day 5

The last day of the trip ended in the best possible way – with a visit to the Blue Lagoon. With the soothing geothermal blue water and the mineral clay that you can put on your face to make a mud mask, I loved the Blue Lagoon.  One thing I highly recommend is getting one of the floating massages that are offered – what a relaxing experience! After a tranquil afternoon, it was time to head to the airport. I will admit that it was so hard to leave though!  I wouldn’t get out of the water until the last possible moment knowing that I could get lunch at the airport later.

During each day of the trip we had wonderful tour guides who really helped to liven up the long drives with information and stories of Icelandic folklore.  I really enjoyed hearing tales of trolls, elves and hidden people.  Once we learned of the 13 Christmas lads on one of our tours, we started noticing little figurines of them placed everywhere in shops and windows – there was even a large display of them at the Reykjavik airport.  The drives to some of our destinations may have been long but there was so much to look at in the surrounding scenery that I did not notice the time and each destination made any effort to get there worth it.  Our days and nights were jam packed with activities but I wouldn’t have it any other way because we got to see so much.  I would consider another visit to Iceland to see what other seasons have to offer as I know there is still so much to experience there.

As I have said, Iceland couldn’t be more breathtaking, but what really made the trip fantastic was how well organized it was, our Random Events hosts Will and Cecilia, and the other wonderful people who signed up to go on this journey along with me. What a phenomenal trip!!! As I’ve said before, I highly recommend doing anything with Random Events and now I can say, based on this experience, that their international trips are just as well done as their local ones.  I hope to travel with them again soon.  You can visit www.randomeventsny.com to see their upcoming events schedule.

Intro to Pottery

I have always wanted to try working with clay on a potter’s wheel, so when Random Events scheduled a pottery class, I was one of the first to sign up!  We went to Choplet Ceramics Studio which is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for a three hour pottery class.  Our group was divided in half so that some could learn to make something on the potter’s wheel while at the same time others could work on hand building.  After an hour and a half we would then switch activities.

I was at the potter’s wheel first learning how to throw clay.  It was more difficult than it looked but our instructor helped us out with each step as we went along.  Having long nails proved to be a bit of a handicap but my piece still turned out pretty well as I tried to be extra careful. 

Once we were done with throwing, it was then time to build something by hand directly with slabs of clay.  There were different objects we could use to add textured patterns to our pieces and we were taught how to mold and connect the separate clay slabs to create an object of our choosing. 

It was a lot of fun learning these two different methods to make a clay object. I am very happy with the bowl I made on the potter’s wheel and the mug I built by hand.  After completing the class, there is approximately a two week period before you can come back to pick up your finished masterpieces.  During this time the pieces are placed in the kiln and glazed in the color that you choose at the end of the class.  Below you will see my finishes pottery pieces.

Choplet Studios provides an excellent way to learn pottery making.  They offer a variety of different classes and workshops in their well equipped studio.  You can read all about their studio and how to get started at www.choplet.com.

Learn How to Make Your Own Sushi

I love sushi so I was really excited to have an opportunity to learn how to make it.    On Tuesday nights, Satsko Restaurant (the location on 245 Eldridge St.) offers to teach you how to make your own sushi and you get to eat what you make!  This is a great deal for $25.

You are presented with a large bowl of rice at the table, a bowl of water, your own maki rolling mat, a knife and each person gets their own plate of sushi ingredients.  Each roll you make can be filled with whatever combination you would like from what you are given.  For the first roll attempt, they suggest you try making a vegetable roll to start.  I recommend that you save eating this one for last because I quickly discovered that you get full very fast and I would have much rather eaten more of the rolls made with the seafood ingredients.  So arrive hungry and you will definitely leave full.

Throughout the session, you are taught how to make a regular roll, an inside out roll, and a hand roll.  I had an even greater appreciation for the sushi making experts after trying to make these myself.  But the good news is that even if your technique is not at expert levels just yet, everything that you make will still be delicious.  It was a great deal of fun to learn and it will be entertaining to try to make rolls at home once I find the proper ingredients.  For those who like sushi as much as I do, I highly recommend checking out Satsko on a Tuesday night for their sushi making session. 

Ski Season is Here!

I lived in New York for a while before finally hitting the slopes and we have some great local mountains to ski on!   You can even sign yourself up for a day trip or weekend trip from NYC to Vermont.  There are many ways to get yourself to a mountain to enjoy a snowy ski day even if you don’t have a way to drive yourself.  Below is a list of companies that can help get you to where you want to go during this ski season:

Urban Sherpa:  www.urbansherpatravel.com

Zogsports: http://www.zogsports.org/nyc/Trip/Ski.aspx

Catskills Ski and Bus Packages: http://www.catskillhighpeaks.com/trailways-ski-new-york-bus.php?PHPSESSID=5e5734473f74831ecc0c7b0d3248202f

Emilio’s Ski Shop:  http://www.emiliosskishop.com/pipedreams_schedule.html

Catch the Homage Bus: http://nybustrips.com/

A friend just told me about another bus option – Blades Bus:  http://www.bladesny.com

Meetup.com: www.meetup.com Find local ski groups or start your own!

These were just a few options and hopefully one of them will get you on your way to the slopes.  Happy Skiing and Boarding!

Happy New Year!

2010 was filled with adventure and activities and I am certain that there is much more on the way in 2011.  It has been very busy during the holiday season, so still to come are posts on my first international trip to Iceland with Random Events and a Pottery Making Class that took place towards the end of the year.  Coming up in 2011, I am already looking forward to learning how to make sushi and more skiing adventures in Vermont and New York. 

I wish you a very Happy New Year!  Let’s make sure we live it up in 2011!!!

Paint Along

Do want to expand your creative horizons? Want to paint but not sure where to start?  A Paint Along class is a great way to break away from the daily grind and let your creativity flow for an evening.  I had a class with  Paint Along last night and couldn’t wait to write about it!

Paint Along‘s calendar shows all the different images currently on the schedule, so when you go into the class you know what you will be painting.  In the picture above, you can see some other examples of class painting selections as many were hanging around the studio.  Everyone is provided with a blank canvas and their own set of paints and brushes to use.   You are also welcome to bring your own wine to sip while you paint which was a nice touch.  The class started at 6:30pm and it usually goes for 2 hours, although ours went a little over. 

For the class I selected, our goal was to paint a version of Van Gogh’s Starry Night.    I was not sure how it would go since this is a very complex painting.  However, I was pleasantly surprised with how well the instructor was able to guide us through creating our own versions of this classic image (you do not need to be a professional to get a beautiful painting completed during this class).  You are lead through the painting in simple steps that build before your eyes into the image you are trying to create.  There is no judgment and our instructor was happy to help if anyone felt stuck or was concerned about how they were doing.  You are also free to paint as you would like to and can either follow the instructor directly or go on a different path if your creativity leads you elsewhere.  While we were all painting the same image of Starry Night, each painting definitely had its own unique artistry.  At the end of the class, it was really fascinating to see all of the different finished creations.  There was a blow dryer available to help dry the paintings before placing each in a bag to carry our new masterpieces home in. 

I really loved my first visit to Paint Along.  It was wonderful to relax and create something for an evening.  Don’t be intimidated by skill level and just go to enjoy yourself.  Many of the attendees were repeat painters at Paint Along and I will probably be joining them as a return artist.  Paint Along‘s studio is located at 928 Broadway near the intersection with 21st Street.

And just to share, at the end of the class, this is what my painting looked like (although some of the colors didn’t all come through so well in the picture):

MexiQ

MexiQ is now open and I was excited to try out one Astoria‘s latest hot spots.  Happy hour offers $3 Mexican beers and $5 classic margaritas from 4-7pm.  The bartender was extremely helpful and accommodating.  If you are not sure which of the many beers to try, they will help guide you to a good match for your taste buds.  

Dinner began with a small plate containing 2 large tortilla chips accompanied by a squirt bottle of salsa.  What a fun way to start your meal!  I ordered a Devil Corn Quesadilla to start and a Tuna Tartar burger as my entrée.  As you can see in the picture above, the presentation was lovely.  And I am happy to report that everything tasted as good as it looked.  All of the flavors blended together wonderfully and I did not need to heap on extra amounts of sauce or toppings on either the quesadilla or burger. 

If you are a dessert person, then you will be happy at MexiQ.  The desserts our table ordered were beautiful and well portioned.  There was enough fried ice cream that it was shared around the table.  We all left happy and full.  I look forward to trying other dishes soon.

MexiQ is located at 37-11 30^th Avenue in Astoria.  The website is not currently up and running but here is a link that gives an overview of the menu:  http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2010/09/what_to_eat_at_mexiq_now_servi.html.  Based on their business cards, their website will be www.mexiqny.com and hopefully it will be working soon.

Margarita Mondays at The Creek

 

The Creek and the Cave already has a fantastic weekday happy hour special from 4pm-7pm which includes $4 margaritas (and $2 off of all other drinks).  When I stopped in yesterday, I was happy to discover that on Mondays they now have their fabulous margaritas on special for $4 all day long!   Add to that the delicious food menu and the choice to watch Monday night football or see a free improv show in their upstairs theater and you have a great way to start the week!  This was a bargain I just had to share.  Enjoy!

You can read my previous entry about The Creek and the Cave here.

Sailing and Wine Tasting on the Hudson

Enjoy the fall weather with a sailing excursion on the Hudson.  Manhattan By Sail offers a variety of sailing outings.  I chose to venture out on a wine tasting sail aboard the Shearwater.  This 80 year old classic schooner can hold 48 people and was a majestic vessel to set sail on.

We departed from the North Cove Marina at 6:30pm just in time to see a beautiful sunset.  There is someone that comes around to see if anyone needs anything such as water or soda throughout your time on the boat.  Already set up on the ship is a plentiful variety of cheeses.  The one thing that was a little bit challenging was maneuvering to get to the cheese platter and serving myself while on a moving sailboat.  But once I had a plateful of cheese and was back in my seat, I could relax again to enjoy the ride.  As we sailed towards the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, we were presented with tastings of 4 different wines.  The wine expert would make her way around the boat to pour each tasting.  It is fall weather now, so when it got a little colder as the evening progressed they were kind enough to pass out blankets to those that wanted them.  All in all it was a very pleasant evening and we were back at the dock close to 8:30pm.

Manhattan By Sail also offers beer tasting sails, brunches, fall foliage routes and many other sailing adventures.  It is not too late to get out there before the season ends!  Check out their website for a full listing of offerings here.

Slider Happy Hour at Five Napkin Burger!

The Astoria location of Five Napkin Burger has a delicious happy hour deal! Every day from 4-7pm it is Slider Happy Hour (only at the bar and only in Astoria).   Fill up on $4 draft beers and $2 sliders!  Even vegetarians can enjoy this special as they offer the 5 Napkin Veggie Burger slider in addition to the original 5 Napkin Burger and the Italian Turkey Burger sliders.  Pork taquitos and chicken wings (the wings are served in groups of 4) are also available for the $2 bargain price during this special.

I went this past Friday and it was a great way to finish off the work week.  Of the draft options, I chose the Goose Island Summer Ale and pictured above is the veggie burger slider that was finished off rather quickly.  Having only tried (and loved!) the Ahi Tuna Steak burger, I wasn’t sure if a veggie burger would win me over.  I had nothing to be worried about though.  The veggie patty was flavorful and generously topped with Five Napkin sauce and pickles.  I can honestly say that this veggie burger was so good that I know I will be back for more ASAP. I was in slider heaven!

You can also read about the dinner experience I had at Five Napkin Burger here.  Apparently you just can’t go wrong at Five Napkin Burger!

NY Craft Beer Week Begins Today!

The 3rd Annual NY Craft Beer Week officially begins today, September 24th, 2010.  That means there will be numerous craft beer events taking place all over NYC from now through October 3rd, 2010. 

You can even get yourself a NYC BEER PASSPORT book that is filled with coupons good for $3 pints of craft beer and other offers from the numerous participating bars and venues.  Can’t get to every spot in the next 10 days? Some bars even offer a year round special coupon that can be redeemed after Oct. 3rd in case you cannot get to every place that is listed in your passport over the duration of the week. 

Visit www.nycbeerweek.com for all the details on where to pick up your passport booklet and to discover what events are scheduled during this fun-filled week of beer appreciation.  Events are added regularly so they suggest that you check the website often to keep yourself informed on all that is going on.  I am definitely looking forward to using my passport booklet to explore some new spots and enjoy some tasty brews! Cheers!

Learn to Paddle Board!

Yes, you can learn to paddle board right here in NYC!  The New York Kayak Company is located on Pier 40 (West Houston and West Street) and this is their first summer of Stand Up Paddle Boarding instruction and tours.  I have really enjoyed learning to surf so I had to give this other popular sport a try.

I signed up for Intro to Paddle Boarding through Urban Escapes.  We had a 2 hour lesson followed by a pizza dinner on the end of the pier.  The ratio was 2 people for each paddle board, which meant lots of opportunities to get out and work on improving your skills.  NY Kayak and Co. also offers Intro to Paddle Boarding classes for $25 on Wednesdays.  More people are in those classes so the ratio is usually closer to 3 or 4 people sharing time for each board.  For an introduction to the sport though, it is definitely a great deal to get yourself out on the water.  Because paddle boarding is such a workout, it is better to take breaks when you are starting out and you will not mind handing the board to someone else in between tries. 

The scenery was beautiful and the sun was in the process of setting during our lesson.  Getting on the board from the dock was the easiest part.  Then once you row yourself far enough away from the dock, the goal is to stand up in a fluid motion so that you can then continue to balance and row yourself along.  As a beginner, it was an amazing experience.  There were more waves than I expected due to passing boats on the Hudson, thus balance was quite a challenge.  I could feel every muscle working to maintain my stance.  It is better to keep your board moving through the water to prevent yourself from falling.  Between trying to stay standing up, steering and rowing over waves I was very focused on my efforts.  With more practice, I am sure I would be a bit more relaxed than I was this first time.

Once you are more comfortable and experienced with stand up paddle boarding, NY Kayak and Co. has paddle boarding trips where you can venture out further than Pier 40.  It was mentioned that going out towards the Statue of Liberty would be one of the tours they offer.  I am not at the skill level for that yet but perhaps with more practice I will be.

Urban Escapes will be offering another intro course in September (for those interested click here).  You can view the current schedule of Stand Up Paddle Boarding offerings from NY Kayak and Co. by clicking here.

The Creek and the Cave

It is long overdue that I write about one of my favorite spots in Long Island City.  Located just one stop outside of Manhattan on the 7 train, you will find The Creek and the Cave (10-93 Jackson Ave.), a spot that has something to offer to anyone who values live entertainment, food and drinks.  While they have a plentiful beer selection, I simply cannot go for a visit without ordering a pineapple margarita (pictured above).  For those looking for a bargain, they have a fantastic happy hour special on weekdays from 3-7pm.  During happy hour, you get 2 for 1 margaritas, $2-$3 beers and $2 off of other drinks.  With a restaurant area upstairs, fantastic outdoor seating on the back patio, and indoor space to lounge or catch a comedy show, you will have a great time at this LIC spot.

Usually, I lean towards ordering fried seafood, but at The Creek there is nothing better than their grilled fish or shrimp tacos.  A wasabi sauce with finely chopped cabbage is all that accompanies the tenderly grilled fish on a small tortilla and it is the perfect flavor combo.  I have yet to try another fish taco that I love more than The Creek and the Cave’s version.  I also adore their spinach burrito with fresh avocado, tofu, brown rice, cheese and a dash of sour cream.  I am so hooked on these two menu items that they are my consistent order (even if it means taking some of it to go).  However, from what I see being ordered around me, there are many other delicious options to choose from as well.

If you are interested in stand up comedy and improv theater, The Creek and the Cave is a prime spot to watch, participate and learn from local talent.  There is always something going on so visit their website (www.creeklic.com) for a schedule of daily events and these shows are usually free which is even better.

A Taste of Italy at Da Franco

Located right off of Astoria Park at 23-92 21st Street, you will find Da Franco Restaurant.  Da Franco offers a few outside tables to enjoy a good weather day and also has a wide selection of gelato to cool you off from the summer heat.  Their menu is extensive but that just means there is more to try and enjoy.

To start, they brought a plate of freshly baked crostini drizzled in olive oil. It was right out of the oven and still warm so it was devoured rather quickly.  All of the pastas at Da Franco are home-made on the premises.  Being a pasta and seafood lover, I tried the Spaghetti Ai Frutti Di Mare.  It met all of my expectations.  The fresh spaghetti pasta sautéed with extra virgin olive oil and garlic in a light tomato sauce was surrounded by a plentiful portion of seafood which included mussels, calamari, clams and shrimp.  It was absolutely delicious and I will definitely order it again.

It wouldn’t be a visit to Da Franco without getting one of their brick oven pizzas.  Da Franco uses home-made mozzarella directly from his own factory in Ridgewood, NY and you can taste that freshness.  I really enjoyed the margherita pizza.  The crust was thin and was a nice balance between doughy and crispy – I thought it was just right.

The mission at Da Franco is to make everyone feel at home at their family restaurant.  I can say that I enjoyed my visits there immensely.  The friendly service and the food will keep me coming back.

Learn to Surf!

One of the best ways to cool off in the hot summer months is to go to the beach.  As I discovered with my first attempts last summer,  it is even better if I can grab a surf board and get in the water to catch some waves.  I had a really successful surf lesson on Long Beach, Long Island this past Saturday and wanted to share the company info with those who might be interested.

Skudin Surf, Inc. has local surfing lessons at Long Beach and the Rockaways. The instructors were really helpful and I improved a lot during my 90 minute session. Here is a link to their website where you can sign yourself up for surf lessons and camps www.skudinsurf.com .  Even if you have never surfed before, they will help you get up on the board in no time!  I look forward to putting the skills I learned to good use on future surfing outings.