Something to Blog About: A Weekend in Review

Okay....I'm a bit delayed with this post....it just BEGS to be written!
This past weekend was full of new discoveries and good times...I want to share. Correction. I NEED to share them with you...my summer reccommendations: Take your time, take it in.




FRIDAY, June 8th: FREE LOVE, baby

After I went out with colleagues from work, I recieved a phone call from a friend that I haven't see in some time. She tells me she has an extra ticket to the Public Theatre's SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK!!! I can't even tell you how incredibly excited I was. I've been wanting to go to these annual Shakespeare performance events every summer. It's always FREE, but often very difficult to come by tickets. And yes, yes, I know. Many of you are thinking, "i thought it wasn't open yet"...but my smart and sassy friend knew the brillance of seeing something while still in previews...she found it easier to get tickets. Good idea.

At any rate, I was eternally grateful! What a great performance! I saw "Romeo and Juliet" with the uber talented Lauren Ambrose (Claire from Six Feet Under) as Juliet and the fantastic Oscar Issac (performed in past Shakespeare in the Park productions) as Romeo. If you think you've seen this play, you haven't. I think most of us know some movie versions and forget some elements that make the play. And if you think hearing the same text you have heard before will bore you, think again. There were many times when I thought I had never seen a certain part ever before.
Issac's performance floored me at times. He knows his Shakespeare text, it's true, and he plays the uber essential quirky teenage heart-throb that Romeo should be, and then some. Romeo and Juliet's scenes together were chock full of physical humor and raw excitement - like love...but more like teenage love. I believed it, and enjoyed these scenes immensely. The balcony scene, which is seemingly overdone, found nuances that made it one of the most captivating parts of the show.
Camryn Manheim played the ever-so genuine and bold Nurse. What a great part, and Manheim played it with her own two cents added. It was such an enjoyable performance. Her scene with Romeo and Mercutio was like nothing I've ever seen before - rich with physicality! I also was captivated by Michael Cristofer's performance as Capulet, the man of the house. He definitely assumed the role of Juliet's father with such power and domination, it frightened me at times. Parts of the play seemed to move a bit slower than they should, especially in the second half, but they are still in previews. I forgive them for the amazing talent the actors possessed. The set was pretty damn cool too. It rotated and there was a shallow pool of water in the center....you must see it! There's sooo much to say. I am standing in line for sure. Midsummer Night's Dream is next! I am all about the summer of FREE Love this year ;)






Saturday, June 9th: the Upper West Side

Movies: Shrek the Third was good. I failed to see the second one, so I feel I missed a few connections, but it was funny and charming and yes, I did cry a little. The animation was even clearer and more detailed, if possible. Visually, it was pretty amazing. The story felt a bit unfinished, so I wondered if a fourth version of Shrek is in the future...
Go and see it, but you can wait for the DVD if you'd like...it's not a "rush-to-theatres-movie"...but see this funny cleverness at some point.

While walking around the upper west side, after the movie, I stumbled upon a little wine store called "Vintage" (Broadway & w93rd St). Hm. My dad and brother's birthday celebration dinner was Sunday night, so I wanted to get my father a unique bottle of wine. This seemed like a good place. I've heard of "Vintage" before, can't think of where, but I have...so i thought it must be good for NYC. The prices were average and they seemed to have a fine selection. Plus, they are open until midnight every night (7 days a week)! They have wine tastings nightly...I was curious to know more. I got my dad their highly recommended white wine that he has yet to try. I hope he enjoys it. There are two "Vintage New York" establishments in the city. Some cater to private wine tastings and the like, others cater to more retail sale....check it out:

http://www.vintagenewyork.com/aboutvny.html


Sunday, June 10th: Good eats. Good conversation...


After a long day and busy weekend, my brother, father, father's new girlfriend (wink, wink), and uncle came over. We were headed out for birthday celebration goodness. My brother just recently turned 28 and my father will be turning 53 on Father's Day. My brother, Nick picked a great and fantastic place to eat on the lower east side. This fantastic place was orginally discovered by Nic, my bro's girlfriend. The mentioned "fantastic" place is...

'inoteca

Located at: 98 Rivington St., New York, NY 10002
at Ludlow St.



yeah, it's a bit off the beaten path for most of my friends, I know, but let me tell you: SO worth it! Go go go! Great gourmet food and an extensive wine list (and I mean EXTENSIVE) that doesn't surpass some of the overpriced NYC gourmet. Portions are amazing and a great place to bring a group. This place usually has a waiting list. Now, if you are a true new yorker, you know that's a #1 sign that a place is something to brag about! According to Nic, it wasn't as crowded as usual (she's been about 3 times), but I thought it was pleasantly full - not overcrowded, not too sparse for a Sunday evening. This is italian cuisine that has adopted the tapas style - small plates of food served in appetizer portions. There was so much food! We had four courses....I definitely had to pace myself. Everything was amazing! And I mean, I tried things I might have turned down at first (like the beet and orange salad - which was incredible!). First served were olives in a spicy olive oil, small pieces of italian bread and a variety of thinly sliced meats directly imported from Italy. I can't even tell you - that was the best salami I have EVER had...seriously. And if you hate bologna, this italian version with pistachios was pretty delectable. The first course came next - a variety of salads. This included the infamous beet and orange salad with hazelnuts - so good. You just have to try. I have never had beets before, and was taken aback by the combination with the oranges. Good stuff. There was also a calamari salad (i could actuallly see the little squids, tried it anyway, and liked it very very much), a mixed lettuce caesar salad and a salad tossed with chicken and walnuts. I was almost full after trying small portions of each kind of salad. There were very small plates for this course...so you really had to eat and choose at the same time. After the salads came the main meal arrived...or meals I should say. There was a choice between this eggplant lasagna...(that I can't even really define as lasagne...because it was like eggplant pie or something), these meaty meatballs (must have been made of sirloin or something), some three-bean salad with polenta, and my favorite: french fried veggies. These were vegetables in salt - almost looking crystalized. They literally tasted like veggie fries. So awesomely good. I think there was something else too..but I was too caught up in all the goodness to remember! Dessert was awesome! Each person recieved individual shot-like glasses of this coffee-like milkshake/vanilla gelato creation. There was also cooked apples and grapes and a large variety of types of goat cheeses. They also served mini cracker-like nutella sandwiches. I wanna go back...

You are probably wondering about prices. We paid a pre-fix of $40 bucks each...but look at all the food I got! Of course I spent more than that - we went through two bottles of wine and a bottle of Italian Prosecco (like champagne: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecco). If less people go, you do not have to order the pre-fix.

I highly highly reccommend 'intoeca for your next dining event ;) Good friends. Good family - whomever. It's worth the money and such good eats! Thus far, my fave dining experience in NYC I think. Here's what NYMagazine had to say: http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/inoteca01/


Welcome Summer!
There's more to come about NY discoveries....

Until the next post ;) ~me