#Crif has cool art

[cupidstarz]

We love Crif and their art in this household!

Criminal fun to draw

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New York City

Favorite Places to Eat: 

First, download the app, Scout Mob. I’ve had awesome luck getting good deals on restaurants and bars. Secondly, look up a place on Yelp before you go in there. Anything under 2 stars is a crime to eat at in NY (not literally, but I will judge you). Thirdly, don’t eat in Time Square. It is overpriced and a bad sampling of NYC food fare. If you’re at Times Square and you’re hungry, walk to 8th or 9th Ave and eat at any restaurant on that side.

LUNCH OR DINNER 

- Meatball Shop… their menu is just meatballs, fresh veggies, and ice cream sandwiches. Super Good. Downside, no reservations, but there is a bar next door where you can wait.  They have locations in the East and West Village, Upper East Side, and Williamsburg. 

- Rolf's: German food and amazing Christmas decorations. I think people sell their reservations on FB because it's booked solid right now, but you might also be able to call and get a cancelled res too.

- Del Posto: the best meal I've had in NYC. They have a $50 pre fixe lunch or a $150 pre fixe dinner. Worth every penny. So damn good.

- Blue Ribbon 97 Sullivan St, SoHo (Spring Street C, E Trains)… a little bit fancy, but super tasty. Good for late night dinner.

- Big Daddy’s 239 Park Ave S, Flatiron ‎ ( 23 St. 6 Train)… Fancy diner food. Great for kids.

- Room Service 690 9th Ave (Hell’s Kitchen) … Fancy Thai Food

- Landmarc 10 Columbus Cir (Lincoln Square) … in the Time Warner Center on the third floor. Tasty late night dinner. Love the bone marrow. Not super cheap.

- Crif Dog 113 St Marks Pl (East Village)… Hot dogs!! You haven’t lived until you’ve had a Crif Dog.

- Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, the line is always crazy, but the burgers and shakes are worth it. My fav is the peanut butter shake and the shack burger.

- Momofuku Noodle Bar 171 1st Ave at 11th Street… My favorite Ramen

- Red Head (13th Street at 1st Ave)… yummy Low Country Southern Food. Awesome cocktails. Get there early around 5:30 to be guaranteed a table.

- This Little Piggy 149 1st Ave @9th Street… Great alternative to Katz’s.

BRUNCH 

Weekend only after 12pm. My top two places to eat brunch are in Brooklyn: 

- La Barricou 533 Grand (Lorimer L) French style California cuisine. This is in Williamburg and close to the Brooklyn Flea Market, Mast Brothers Chocolates, and all the other fun sights and sounds of Williamsburg.

- Peaches in Bed Stuy... Southern yumminess 

Manhattan Brunch

- Lips 227 E 56th St Upper East Side, Have you ever wanted to see a drag show while you eat brunch? Now you can… Unlimited mimosas and fabulous queens make this a prime brunch spot. 

- Southern Hospitality 645 9th Ave (Hell’s Kitchen) Soul Food Brunch 

- The Smith 55 3rd Ave (East Village) Fancy American food. Also a good place for dinner and overpriced drinks.

BAKERIES 

- Amy’s Bread 672 9th Ave (Hell’s Kitchen) Yummy Pastries and Breads

- Domique Ansel 189 Spring Street (Soho) CRONUTS!!!

- City Bakery 3 W 18th Street (Flatiron) PRETZEL CROISSANTS!!! – game changer.

- Sprinkles 780 Lexington Ave (Upper East Side) If you’re going to eat a cupcake in NYC, eat Sprinkles. - Junior’s 44th Street between 7th and 8th Ave (Times Square) Famous Cheesecake place. Don’t eat anything other than Cheesecake here. You will regret it. - Milk Bar (13th St at 2nd Ave) Try their cookies… Super good.

DRANKS!  

Lower East Side 

- The Slipper Room... go see a freak show and sip on some whiskey.

- Mehanata... it's a bulgarian bar that's lots of fun

- No Fun... actually it's fun.

- Pianos... lots of good music

- Local 138... super cool dive.

- Nurse Bettie... it's a burlesque bar

- 169 Bar... kind of like an old school tiki bar.

Dive Bars

- Blue Ruin (40th Street and 9th Ave) There’s a lion on the wall and a kickass happy hour

- Rudy’s (9th Ave and 45th St) They give out free hot dogs. It’s pretty old school and kind of disgusting. Worth stopping in for the experience.

- Kabin (2nd Ave btwn 5th and 6th) Awesome happy hour. There’s a pool table and weird locals. - Ace Bar (East Village) They have darts, pool, and wait for it… SKEE BALL! Super fun.

- Johnny’s Bar (Greenwich Ave @ 12th Street) sign just says BAR. My favorite of the dives.

Kitchy Awesomeness

- Otto’s Shrunken Head (14th street at Ave B)… Tiki drinks. Nuff said.

- Trailer Park Lounge (23rd Street at 8th Ave)… A white trash menu. Like walking into a John Waters’ movie.

Rooftop Bars

- Thompson Hotel 60 Thompson Street. I think you need to call and make a reservation. Super awesome views though.

- Bar 13 (13th Street at University) Pretty cheap. Lots of college kids.

- Hudson Terrace (46th St btwn 11th and 12th Aves) Super pretty

Other Bars of Note

- Fraunces (54 Pearl Street) This is like the oldest tavern in NY. Has a museum and three different bars in it. Super awesome. Close to Battery Park and Wall Street.

- McSorley’s (7th St. between 2nd and 3rd Aves) Super old bar. Arguably the oldest bar in NYC, and they serve you two tiny beers! Pretty awesome.

- Art Bar (8th Ave at Horatio) I have my beard meetings here.

- Jimmy’s No. 43 (E 7th Street @ 2nd Ave)…. It’s in a basement. Good crowd.

Things to Do:

- The Strand Super amazing bookstore.

- Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge Think of the photo opps! And the views!

- Top of the Rock… Best view of the city AND you get to see the Empire State Building.

- MOMA… awesome museum. If you have an extra two hours to spare, wait to see the rain room.

- High Line walk along an old train track above the city streets. Super neat!

- Ulysses S Grant’s Tomb… not too far from the Cloisters in not the best neighborhood. Resting place of the man on the $50 bill.

- Cloisters… not the best neighborhood but pretty fantastic museum.

- Washington Square Park… great place to see homeless people, college kids, and a random piano player

- Sleep No More... Interactive Theater

- Then She Fell... Interactive Theater  

- Tenement Museum: awesome slice of NYC history.

- Intrepid

- Rose Mansion 

- Color Factory 

- Museum of Illusions