Punta Dura Italian Restaurant
41-15 34th Street (off Steinway)
Astoria, Queens, NY 11103
718-721-2137
R/V/G train
http://www.puntadura.com/
This restaurant is a true step back into time into a far away land. They do have Italian food, but the feel is very Eastern European, as the owners are Croatian and the crowd is very mixed from all over Eastern Europe. A sort of secret about this place, is that it was used in The Sopranos as the scene for the restaurant Nuovo Vesuvio, and when you walk in you feel like you have been here before.
The food is excellent and fresh and a drop pricey for Astoria, but don't let that stop you, as it’s just a fun feeling to be a part of this place. At 10 PM on both Friday and Saturday nights they have live international music, and everyone dances to music from every country. It really reminds me of our trips to Croatia, Italy, Germany and Poland and much more.
The waiters are formal, and the service is excellent. It has the feel of "old world" and definitely not Manhattan. I felt like a fly on the wall seeing how other people enjoy the simple pleasures of life; good food, good wine, seeing friends, and making new friends and dancing and dancing. Around midnight yet another group comes in, a bit younger and more dancing. I admit this place is not for everyone, but I know we'll be regulars. as it brought back lots of fond memories of both trips abroad and times gone by.
Friday, December 17, 2010
American Museum of Natural History in NYC
The American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West @81st Street
New York, New York
This museum is a wonderful way to spend a cold winter's afternoon, especially with a young child. There is so much to see and do that I recommend going in small steps. Don’t try to cover the entire place in one visit. I can't tell you about every exhibit, but I must say that the BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT, is really a lot of fun and so interesting. As you walk into this tropical paradise, you see the most beautiful array of every color a butterfly can be. They land on your head, on your fingertips and whirl around so nicely. They are amazing to study, and they don't bite!
A trip thru the Safari Animals is fun as well, as the backdrop on the various animals gives the feel of being on the plains of Africa. As always, the DINOSAURS make a huge impression, especially on little children. You just can never start too young, or too soon to make this wonderful museum feel like a second home to all that continue to visit.
HINT: There is a coat check for $2.00 per person. On the lower level there is a cafeteria, but to be honest, the food is much overpriced and not too good; I would suggest bringing a sandwich and just buying drinks there, especially if you are with children. As an example, the chicken fingers for a child were about $10 and the fries were extra, a plain lettuce and tomato salad was about $9.
Have fun and share your stories with me...
Central Park West @81st Street
New York, New York
This museum is a wonderful way to spend a cold winter's afternoon, especially with a young child. There is so much to see and do that I recommend going in small steps. Don’t try to cover the entire place in one visit. I can't tell you about every exhibit, but I must say that the BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT, is really a lot of fun and so interesting. As you walk into this tropical paradise, you see the most beautiful array of every color a butterfly can be. They land on your head, on your fingertips and whirl around so nicely. They are amazing to study, and they don't bite!
A trip thru the Safari Animals is fun as well, as the backdrop on the various animals gives the feel of being on the plains of Africa. As always, the DINOSAURS make a huge impression, especially on little children. You just can never start too young, or too soon to make this wonderful museum feel like a second home to all that continue to visit.
HINT: There is a coat check for $2.00 per person. On the lower level there is a cafeteria, but to be honest, the food is much overpriced and not too good; I would suggest bringing a sandwich and just buying drinks there, especially if you are with children. As an example, the chicken fingers for a child were about $10 and the fries were extra, a plain lettuce and tomato salad was about $9.
Have fun and share your stories with me...
Sunday, June 13, 2010
AMAZING GREEK FOOD IN ASTORIA
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
TAVERNA KYCLADES
(GREEK)
33-07 Ditmars Blvd. (at 33rd Street)
Astoria, Queens, New York
718-545-8666
www.tavernakyclades.com
This is a true Greek Taverna! As you sit in the simple but immaculate small dining room amongst mainly Greek locals, you know this is a really great find. The food is about as fresh as it can be, and the fish is brought in daily and cooked to perfection. The salads and veggies are just as fresh, possibly because this place is located next to a vegetable and fruit store. The food is simple but wonderful and served with love. In nice weather they offer outdoor seating too. The appetizers alone can be a meal. It is a huge menu and all made fresh daily. The meats are delicious and interesting as well. The prices are just right and maybe on the low side. Of course a place like this has CLEAN BATHROOMS
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TAVERNA KYCLADES(GREEK)
33-07 Ditmars Blvd. (at 33rd Street)
Astoria, Queens, New York
718-545-8666
www.tavernakyclades.com
This is a true Greek Taverna! As you sit in the simple but immaculate small dining room amongst mainly Greek locals, you know this is a really great find. The food is about as fresh as it can be, and the fish is brought in daily and cooked to perfection. The salads and veggies are just as fresh, possibly because this place is located next to a vegetable and fruit store. The food is simple but wonderful and served with love. In nice weather they offer outdoor seating too. The appetizers alone can be a meal. It is a huge menu and all made fresh daily. The meats are delicious and interesting as well. The prices are just right and maybe on the low side. Of course a place like this has CLEAN BATHROOMS
To learn more about life in New York, its attractions, shopping discounts and other news, sign up for our newsletter here
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Caffe Taci ( The Opera Caffe)
CAFFE TACI (a true secret of NYC)
I almost hate to share this secret place I love so much. The singers literally sing for their supper.
Also known as the "opera cafe", and originally on the upper Westside, and then down in The Village, Caffe Taci has recently moved to Midtown. Many of its regulars from Columbia Univ and NYU and the "old crowd" just follow Taci wherever it roams.. On Saturday nights there are “professional” opera singers performing, as well as new talen being discovered! It is not uncommon for a diva from the Met to show up after hours and sing, or even for Andrea Boccelli to sing when he is in town. To be at Cafe Taci is the next best thing to being in Tuscany. The singers are always delightful and even if you dislike opera you've gotta fall in love with opera here.
Leopoldo Mucci, the owner treats each night as if it were opening night, and perhaps some new performer will be discovered at Taci. Leopoldo recently celebrated the fourth TACI singer to earn a spot at the Metropolitan Opera.
The food is excellent and well priced, and service is great. The wine list is very good too. I promise you will return again and again. When they sing Ole Solo Mia, tears will roll down your cheeks and you'll be back in beloved Italy, if only for the night. Its just the best of both worlds to be here, to dine with live opera as it was meant to be back many centuries ago in Lucca.
Make sure you call for reservations, and sssh keep this our secret. (212) 866-0111 -or- (914) 456-4376
http://www.caffetaci.com/
You can find Caffe Taci now at Papillion Bistro
22 West 54th Street (between 5th and Madison Aves.)
New York, New York
I almost hate to share this secret place I love so much. The singers literally sing for their supper.
Also known as the "opera cafe", and originally on the upper Westside, and then down in The Village, Caffe Taci has recently moved to Midtown. Many of its regulars from Columbia Univ and NYU and the "old crowd" just follow Taci wherever it roams.. On Saturday nights there are “professional” opera singers performing, as well as new talen being discovered! It is not uncommon for a diva from the Met to show up after hours and sing, or even for Andrea Boccelli to sing when he is in town. To be at Cafe Taci is the next best thing to being in Tuscany. The singers are always delightful and even if you dislike opera you've gotta fall in love with opera here.
Leopoldo Mucci, the owner treats each night as if it were opening night, and perhaps some new performer will be discovered at Taci. Leopoldo recently celebrated the fourth TACI singer to earn a spot at the Metropolitan Opera.
The food is excellent and well priced, and service is great. The wine list is very good too. I promise you will return again and again. When they sing Ole Solo Mia, tears will roll down your cheeks and you'll be back in beloved Italy, if only for the night. Its just the best of both worlds to be here, to dine with live opera as it was meant to be back many centuries ago in Lucca.
Make sure you call for reservations, and sssh keep this our secret. (212) 866-0111 -or- (914) 456-4376
http://www.caffetaci.com/
You can find Caffe Taci now at Papillion Bistro
22 West 54th Street (between 5th and Madison Aves.)
New York, New York
Friday, June 4, 2010
ANGELINA'S ON STATEN ISLAND
I went to a wonderful restaurant the other night all the way out on Staten Island, which turned out to be not so far away. It was in an old house and had a water view of Perth Amboy, NJ. At first we questioned why we came when we have the New York skyline at our fingertips.
It was evident that dining at ANGELINA'S RISTORANTE was a special treat. Its owner run and managed. Angelina herself is there every night along with Vincenzo. They are a wonderful warm Sicilian couple, you really do feel as if you are dining in their home! You have a choice to dine outdoors on the soon to be refurbished deck, or indoors in the old world style Italian dining room. There is live music there nightly as well, that works nicely with such lovely dining.
Each course is served as if its a formal night out on the town. Its absolutely elegant, yet a very casual feel to the place, and you don't have to be dressed up either. The bar area is also relaxing to sit in. They have a parking lot, and the subway station is right at their front door.
I am definitely going back here..
So visit Angelina's Ristorante
399 Ellis Street
Staten Island, New York
718-227-2900
http://www.angelinasristorante.com/
It was evident that dining at ANGELINA'S RISTORANTE was a special treat. Its owner run and managed. Angelina herself is there every night along with Vincenzo. They are a wonderful warm Sicilian couple, you really do feel as if you are dining in their home! You have a choice to dine outdoors on the soon to be refurbished deck, or indoors in the old world style Italian dining room. There is live music there nightly as well, that works nicely with such lovely dining.
Each course is served as if its a formal night out on the town. Its absolutely elegant, yet a very casual feel to the place, and you don't have to be dressed up either. The bar area is also relaxing to sit in. They have a parking lot, and the subway station is right at their front door.
I am definitely going back here..
So visit Angelina's Ristorante
399 Ellis Street
Staten Island, New York
718-227-2900
http://www.angelinasristorante.com/
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED IN NYC
Something I would like to talk about today is the lack of real accessibility to people in a wheel chair, or even baby carriages and for most handicapped people trying to make their way around NYC.
A very dear friend of mine is visiting NYC now and nothing is easy because she is confined to a wheel chair. If she tries to use a subway, she can go to great lengths to get there, only to find out the elevator is not working. A tiny thing like a 1 inch high step on a crosswalk or sidewalk, or a step into a restaurant can become a huge problem.
Many restaurants have bathrooms on a different level so then that becomes an issue. A handicapped person visiting NYC or living in NYC cannot easily access most things that we at large take for granted.
It would be nice if we could all make a list of places that are truly easy for handicapped people. We could add to the list constantly, and then hopefully our taking note of this problem will lead to having these issues addressed.Perhaps managers and owners of hotels and restaurants and stores will become more aware.
My friend is staying in a hotel now that claimed to be giving her a handicapped room. She arrived only to find out the bathroom had no stall shower, only a tub with a safety bar.
Let's all be more cognizant of this truly upsetting issue and do the best we can to make NYC really easy for the physically challenged, so the too can enjoy NYC the most!
Perhaps The Mayor, or a tv station would like to go around The City all day, in a wheel chair, and see what the real challenges are. I would be glad to work with them on this.
As Always,
Ellen
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