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74 Mercer St
Manhattan, NY 10012

Bad Santa Elite Event  

Category: Local Flavor
Neighborhood: SoHo

4.0 star rating
5/13/2012
If I remember right1], this was my first official Yelp Elite event I've been to in New York. What a holiday gift! :)

Met up with a bunch of hilarious folks (some who I hadn't met before), managed to avoid the inflatable couches, indulged in wine, and chatted with the talented Lindsay Jones - if you're looking for makeup services, hit her up!

Thanks to the Community Managers for throwing together yet another solid event, and avoiding the ire of the police for the evening's shenanigan's.

[1] I know this review's a bit late, but better late than never, right?

Listed in: Yelp Events

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45-02 Ditmars Blvd
Astoria, NY 11105
(718) 777-5111

NYC Airporter  

Category: Airport Shuttles
Neighborhood: Astoria

4.0 star rating
4/29/2012
NYC Airporter is an affordable and convenient way to shuttle to and from area airports.

Compared to the usual $45 taxi ride from Manhattan to JFK[1], Airporter prices rock. Book your ticket online, show up to the stop, and you're good to go. Once I even bought a ticket last minute from JFK to the city: the on-site agent swiped my credit card in front of me on the bus, and that was that.

I've used this service problem-free several times in the last few months.

[1] Reference: NYC Taxi & Limo Commission: http://www.nyc.gov/htm...

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246 West 14th Street
New York, NY 10011

The 'Stache Bash at Stash  

Category: Local Flavor
Neighborhoods: Chelsea, West Village

5.0 star rating
4/27/2012
Kudos to Jane for being a star - the 'Stache Bash was one dancetacular event!

As for Stash, it's one out-of-the-way spot: their signage was minimal, and they're easy to miss, even if you're looking for them. The bartender's pours weren't the best - and I was ordering non-party drinks - but the DJ was so good I'm STILL dancing, even now.

Next time I'm growing a real moustache.

Listed in: Yelp Events

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413 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 986-2776

The Refinery  

Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
Neighborhood: Santa Monica

5.0 star rating
4/13/2012 9 photos 1 Check-in Here
Damn fine brews.

Walking in, I was taken by the spartan setting of this coffee shop, a carpet-less space with modern furniture[1], and muted wood tones. For those who might be thrown off, soothing beats, warm service and serious coffee will dispel any doubts.

Ask for their new drip coffee Los Cauchos, and drink it black. A sip has quite a full feeling to it which practically melts into you; you'll be one with the coffee.

Skip Starbucks and pay[2] The Refinery a visit[3].

[1] Which I'd be sorely tempted to filch and put in my own apartment.
[2] Credit cards accepted.
[3] They don't have a bathroom, but they do have Wi-Fi for paying customers.

Listed in: Santa Monica Coffee

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Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020
(212) 218-7843

Ben & Jerry's  

Categories: Bakeries, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: Midtown West

4.0 star rating
3/27/2012 5 photos
Find this Ben & Jerry's inside Rockefeller's Concourse - escape from the blistering heat/cold, and dive into a cone.

DO get their sweet cream and cookies ice cream. The name might not roll off the tongue, but the actual dessert does.

DON'T get a large size serving in a cone. It's freaking huge, and is apt to topple to the floor. I've got a soft spot for ice cream, but the serving size is ridiculous. (Perfect for sharing.)

Listed in: NYC Sweet Tooth

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410 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY 10024
(212) 873-6252

Tolani Wine Restaurant  

Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Upper West Side

5.0 star rating
2/27/2012 3 photos
Tolani is quite the relaxing weekday getaway. While it's not the be all, end all of wine bars, it's certainly the best I've found in the Upper West thanks to a barkeep[1] who never neglects and never rushes, no matter the night.

A solid communal dining table and an oak bar dominate Tolani's space, lending it an organic-yet-urbane feel that translates rightly to its dishes: their lamb sliders are a perfectly portioned, tender, slightly-salty highlight, and their pannekoek (Dutch pancake) is an unexpected find, pairing well with good conversation - and a red, of course.

[1] Ask if Adrian is in - he rocks.

Listed in: NYC Favorites, NYC Drinkeries, Unisex Bathrooms in NYC

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30 St Marks PL
New York, NY 10003
(646) 476-2324

Japadog  

Categories: Japanese, Hot Dogs
Neighborhood: East Village

4.0 star rating
2/13/2012 1 photo
Japadog is a fortunate case of joining two loves: Japanese cuisine and hot dogs.

To those doubting Thomases, Japanese-style dogs aren't a stretch: replace the meats, toss on ingredients like spicy, teriyaki or soya sauces, yakisoba noodles (!), cabbage, shrimp sausage, edamane, and there you go.

Hungry yet? Confused? Both? Just get their #7, a tender treat with deep fried pork cutlets[1]. The bratwurst's hefty, and the kitchen doesn't skimp on the meat. If you're a glutton for diversity - as if eating here wasn't enough - pile on the fixings. Gherkins, peppers, sriracha, hot mustard, horseradish, and sauerkraut are just a sample of what's there.

Japadog is a welcome addition to St. Marks. They're anti-plastic but a nearby ATM, friendly service, snappy decor, and ample seating softens that sting.

[1] We substituted chicken for pork, and it was still delicious.

Listed in: NYU Haunts, NYC Hot Dogs

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129 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-7763

Cheep's Pita Creations  

Categories: Middle Eastern, Vegetarian
Neighborhood: East Village

4.0 star rating
2/7/2012
This East Village eatery provides eminently affordable chicken-y shawarma deliciousness, and in a pita.

For me and the chicken shawarma, it was love at first bite. Don't like chicken? There's lamb. Deck out your dish with a smattering of white, hot, or catsup sauces. Folks who shawarma or sandwich it up can take advantage of the self-service salad bar and fulfill any green cravings with the help of hummus, pickles, carrots, onions, and more.

Chow down in their tiny dining area, watch a little TV, then tell your friends.

Listed in: Cheap NYC Eats

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38 Water St
New York, NY 10004
(212) 361-6313

OBAO  

Categories: Thai, Asian Fusion, Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Financial District

3.0 star rating
2/5/2012 8 photos
Obao's absurd *$12* credit card minimum has GOT to go if they want to stay in business. On top of that, their prices are hardly wallet friendly, which is sadly par for the course in the Financial District.

Since their opening a few months ago, this Obao has gotten its act together in terms of crowd flow and serving sizes. They were all over the place when they first opened, but now I don't actually feel terribly ripped off when I get an order to go. And the best part? The food is tasty - as befitting of the Obao name - with a decent amount of spicy pizzazz.

Pack cash and stick to the Thai entrees, and you'll be fine.

Listed in: NYC Thai, NYC FiDi Eats

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306-308 E 6th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 979-2900

Brick Lane Curry House  

Category: Indian
Neighborhood: East Village

4.0 star rating
1/25/2012 9 photos
Brick Lane is best known for their phaal - that's weapons grade Indian curry, for the uninitiated - and their "phaal challenge", where one can gain fame and fortune[1] by downing a whole bowl faster than an episode of "Friends".

Of course I went for it. Wouldn't you?[2]

If you decide to do this, be prepared to enter a WORLD OF EVERLASTING PAIN. Scarily, I found the phaal's taste fairly agreeable, and it grew on me even as it literally burnt my lips and ate away at my stomach. After 45 minutes of trembling hands and hallucinations, I made it through 80% of my bowl before throwing in the towel. Even with my heat tolerance, I had to mix in rice and globs of yogurt, and chug two mango lassis. It was a humbling, hard phaal[3] of an experience, but I'd do it again.

[1] Well, a beer and your name on a wall.
[2] If you're not clinically insane, just get the vindaloo and the biryani. Them's good eating.
[3] Don't you love bad puns? Oh? Phaal whale?

Listed in: Insanely Spicy Food, NYC Favorites, NYC Indian

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79 Lists

Yelp Events

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Perfectly-sized venue,…
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Santa Monica Coffee

When Starbucks won't cut it (which is fairly…
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Damn fine brews.  Walking…
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2 Events

Review votes:
17279 Useful, 10562 Funny, and 14928 Cool

Location

New York, NY

Yelping Since

February 2007

Things I Love

NYC, friends, foie gras, good conversation, photography, spicy food, running, Paris, Los Angeles, UCLA, Penn State, San Francisco, Chicago, tapas, Slow Food, gelato, TED talks, Philadelphia

Find Me In

on the subway

My Blog Or Website

what's a blog?

When I'm Not Yelping...

I'm getting things done

Why You Should Read My Reviews

I am not a Yelp employee

My Second Favorite Website

http://www.angelaylee.com, http://www.fomato.com

My First Concert

you won't get into my bank account that easily

My Favorite Movie

Mamma Mia (the musical)

My Last Meal On Earth

drunken noodles with duck, and a kimchi hot dog

Don't Tell Anyone Else But...

I've been writing about food since the turn of the century

Most Recent Discovery

EAT's chicken jalapeño sausage in North Hollywood