http://blog.cjanerun.com/2008/06/like-guest-in-my-own-house.html?showComment=1214507400000
Can you believe it?? She even has advertisements on her site, and a real following. Ahh a girl can dream.
Tonight was fabulous though.
Tonight we did sushi and BYOW (bring your own wine, red of course, and barefoot at that. barefoot wine, that is. suze found it for $4.99. we are that classy.) Somehow, coincidentally we're dressed both in striped shirts and very desired, not cheap boots - coach and frye respectively. of course. talk of life and men, and sips of more wine than water, we then head two blocks away (had it been four we weren't going) to see my fav boys from college - one of whom is Frack. Remember him? He still hasn't read the piece about him, which really I suppose would be my bad for not telling him. They go way downtown and we head home b/c, well, we're old. 26 and 25 respectively. Suze passes a guy on the way out (of the dive bar) who smells good. "Smell him, Sil," she says. So I do. Cause that's how we work. And, wow, he does smell good - all Old Spicy, yet with a tinge of sweet, citrus flavor and all sex appeal. In all of his nerddom, that is...
"You do smell good I say. Good job."
"Thanks!" he says, glowing. "You girls should stay and hang."
"We are old," Suze says.
"Well, know any cute single girls who like men that smell good?"
"Oh, yes!" I exclaim. "We met two in the bathroom here. They are 22!
"Bet they're not as funny as you two..."
"Oh no, I say. But we are old and we are taken."
And with that, we were off...to walk six blocks home in the bitter cold, to accost cute Jack Russel Terrier's along the way, to love each other as we depart, to get ready for tomorrow's football games...and to write about it all late as I flip between two old Sex in the City's and muse about our eve.
To come...
Suze + Sil take tumblr into a new site...where up to 600 people may follow our adventures, some even in Australia!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
It's all Greek to me
A shortened version of this piece was just published on the incredible website offmanhattan.com (to which this blog will soon link to!)
Over the past few months, I’ve become what some might call a Greek groupie. It started shortly before I traveled to Santorini, Mykonos and Athens in September and just won’t subside – dreams of a traditional home overlooking the caldera, beach-hopping on an ATV, and the best grilled chicken I’ve ever had, complete with secret spices. Almost subconsciously in an effort to remember and, if I could be so lucky, recreate the trip I’ve sought out dinner parties with my friend from Athens, have gotten myself invited to Mykonos, and am planning a photo shrine to the trip soon to be mounted on my wall. But, in the end there are only so many times you can watch Mama Mia (four) and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (really, I could get through it just twice) without discovering a real need to find the perfect piece of baklava or imbibe in a refreshing Greek beer. I’ve been jonesing for grilled octopus and blue roofed stucco houses and spinach and cheese pie.
So, for this Manhattanite, what better way to indulge in my romantic fantasies of all things Greek than an afternoon jaunt to Astoria, Queens? And while there may be no beach-going in Astoria in January, here are some of the incredible treasures we found…just five stops from Manhattan on the N train.
My co-worker, a former resident of the area (who I deemed was especially in-the-know; her family name was Kavoluikis before her grandfather changed it) suggested that the best place to begin our expedition was right off the 30th Avenue (Grand Ave) stop. We did just that, the lovely and talented Lauren Matison (co-founder and editor-in-chief of offManhattan.com; I call her LeMat for short) and I, and discovered along the way that the best way to explore Astoria’s warm, welcoming and extremely tasty Greek culture is simply to wander.
First stop – arguably the highlight of the trip judging from my complete and utter inability to stop eating the nine pieces of baklava we bought – Yaya’s Bakery, directly across the street under the elevated subway stop exit. Yaya’s a non-descript little bakery from the outside, inside envelops you in the sticky sweet smells of traditional pastries and rich, hearty scents of freshly baked straight from the wood-burning oven “like they used 100 years ago.” That is what Alexandra (“I’m the niece”) tells us of her aunt’s eight-year old establishment. Any traditional treat you can imagine is here lining the glass case that makes our eyes bulge and stomachs rumble. From galaktobureko (layers of traditional custard crème tucked into phylo dough) to four types of baklava (spanning round snake-like circular twists to two-bite decadence with just the right amount of walnuts and honey) to spanikopita laden with bright green spinach for those who prefer savory, think Lauren and I could have stayed all day. A mix of six mini cheese and spinach pies ($3) and nine small baklava ($3) set us back the same as a venti latte at Starbucks.
We did have to run over to the bank as this typical ‘can’t you pay everything with debit card?’ islander did not have enough for the cash-only goodies. First tip of the day – bring cash. There is a Chase Bank right on 30th Avenue, but for those of us Bank of America patrons, they rook you with a $3.00 charge (paid against all moral objections simply for the desire to buy all things at Yaya’s). Alma Bank wouldn’t even accept my PIN number.
Directly next door to Yaya’s is Opa! Opa! Restaurant, tagline: “Famous Greek since 1969,” boasting everything from homemade pork and lamb souvlaki to dolmadaki (small grape leaves), displayed on picture menus of course. Inside the small eatery, Greek flags adorn the ceiling alongside paintings of each angle of the famed Mykonos windmills and the cook will let you watch him slice lamb of the shank while simultaneously posing for photos.
Needing a (short) break from food, we wander back over to 30th Avenue and first find an Olympiakos fan club, est. 1987. As LeMat and I originally became friends through soccer, and OCFP is the favored futbol team in Athens, this was quite a find! Though seemingly not readily open to the public, definitely worth some additional exploration
As we walked up the bustling street on this Saturday afternoon, passing the Hermes Travel Agency conjured up only thoughts of a dorky Toula Portokalos from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, though there was no handsome Aiden in sight.
And soon we came across a few other hidden gems not to be missed:
Astoria Lock & Safe boasts the “Greek Lock Man” mannequin out front waving the blue and white flag, at the same time welcoming in customers and protecting the joint.
The Athanasiades Cultural Foundation Campana (est 1917), which you’ll find it across the street from the Law Offices of George Hrisikopoulos at 42nd St. and Newton. Founded by environmentalist and humanitarian Costas Athanasiades, the foundation’s philosophy is epitomized in the Percy Bysshe Shelley quotation: “We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature, our religion, our arts have their roots in Greece.”
While not open on a Saturday afternoon, a Sunday jaunt to one of Astoria’s most popular Green Orthodox churches is certainly in order. Pray on your own, take in a service, or simply have a look around at the high-ceilings and intricate stained glass at the St. Demetroios Cathedral, Greek Hellenic Orthodox on 31st St and 30th Dr.
The place to go (attested to also by my Greek friends) to end the day and take it into night is Cavo Café Lounge (42-18 31st Ave; alterative route is to take the R train to Steinway). The expansive brick-walled chic restaurant cum bar cum lounge cum night club doubles at a hot spot for a romantic dinner as you stare into each others reflections in the numerous gold-rimmed mirrors or a rockin’ evening with friends as you imbibe in only the top-shelf liquor and dance 'til dawn next to the huge outdoor garden (in warmer weather). Open from 5pm – 4am, the dinner menu is full of classic Greek delicacies and photos of Santorini’s famous blue-roofed churches I remember so fondly. Cavo Café Lounge was also the only place we saw offering a Valentine’s Day special, 4-course dinner for $65 per person.
Throughout the glorious day, LeMat and I convinced ourselves that we simply had to bring a part of Astoria home with us – enter Create Your Own Greek-Themed Party. With meats from Akropolis Meat Market on 30th Ave (heck, the meat is so fresh skinned piglets even hang in the window if that tickles your fancy) and octopus from Best of the Sea fishmonger, the protein appetizers are covered. Unless, of course you opt for my style, which means being unable to resist the sheer hilarity of poulpe en sauce á l’ ail (octopus in garlic flavor in a tin in a box with a painting of the motherland!) This brilliant find is available at Greek House Food (32-20 30th Ave) where you should also pick up a pound of Easter egg-colored hard-shelled candied almonds (also found in Italian and French bakeries; $7.00/lb). For fresh produce for those party crudités, a great place is Elliniki Agora Fruit & Vegetables, a stand half outside just like the place we went for fresh fruit each afternoon post-beach day in Mykonos.
To serve it all, and likely to find all sorts of other desirable goods and goodies, Euro Market (next to the St. Demetroios Cathedral) is your one-stop shop. For my party, guests will drink all beverages from blue and white striped espresso mugs and saucers that say “Yasou!” (“God Saves” on the sides. European country flags fly from the ceilings, but the Greek’s blue and white cross definitely dominates the décor as traditional Greek music kept us dancing down the isles on the hunt for our Greek beer (Mythos is the way to go) and boxes upon boxes of frozen phylo dough.
My party is planned, the imaginary table is set, and the festivities will be upcoming soon, possibly on March 25th, The Greek National Anniversary, if I can wait that long amidst my dreams of Greece.
Over the past few months, I’ve become what some might call a Greek groupie. It started shortly before I traveled to Santorini, Mykonos and Athens in September and just won’t subside – dreams of a traditional home overlooking the caldera, beach-hopping on an ATV, and the best grilled chicken I’ve ever had, complete with secret spices. Almost subconsciously in an effort to remember and, if I could be so lucky, recreate the trip I’ve sought out dinner parties with my friend from Athens, have gotten myself invited to Mykonos, and am planning a photo shrine to the trip soon to be mounted on my wall. But, in the end there are only so many times you can watch Mama Mia (four) and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (really, I could get through it just twice) without discovering a real need to find the perfect piece of baklava or imbibe in a refreshing Greek beer. I’ve been jonesing for grilled octopus and blue roofed stucco houses and spinach and cheese pie.
So, for this Manhattanite, what better way to indulge in my romantic fantasies of all things Greek than an afternoon jaunt to Astoria, Queens? And while there may be no beach-going in Astoria in January, here are some of the incredible treasures we found…just five stops from Manhattan on the N train.
My co-worker, a former resident of the area (who I deemed was especially in-the-know; her family name was Kavoluikis before her grandfather changed it) suggested that the best place to begin our expedition was right off the 30th Avenue (Grand Ave) stop. We did just that, the lovely and talented Lauren Matison (co-founder and editor-in-chief of offManhattan.com; I call her LeMat for short) and I, and discovered along the way that the best way to explore Astoria’s warm, welcoming and extremely tasty Greek culture is simply to wander.
First stop – arguably the highlight of the trip judging from my complete and utter inability to stop eating the nine pieces of baklava we bought – Yaya’s Bakery, directly across the street under the elevated subway stop exit. Yaya’s a non-descript little bakery from the outside, inside envelops you in the sticky sweet smells of traditional pastries and rich, hearty scents of freshly baked straight from the wood-burning oven “like they used 100 years ago.” That is what Alexandra (“I’m the niece”) tells us of her aunt’s eight-year old establishment. Any traditional treat you can imagine is here lining the glass case that makes our eyes bulge and stomachs rumble. From galaktobureko (layers of traditional custard crème tucked into phylo dough) to four types of baklava (spanning round snake-like circular twists to two-bite decadence with just the right amount of walnuts and honey) to spanikopita laden with bright green spinach for those who prefer savory, think Lauren and I could have stayed all day. A mix of six mini cheese and spinach pies ($3) and nine small baklava ($3) set us back the same as a venti latte at Starbucks.
We did have to run over to the bank as this typical ‘can’t you pay everything with debit card?’ islander did not have enough for the cash-only goodies. First tip of the day – bring cash. There is a Chase Bank right on 30th Avenue, but for those of us Bank of America patrons, they rook you with a $3.00 charge (paid against all moral objections simply for the desire to buy all things at Yaya’s). Alma Bank wouldn’t even accept my PIN number.
Directly next door to Yaya’s is Opa! Opa! Restaurant, tagline: “Famous Greek since 1969,” boasting everything from homemade pork and lamb souvlaki to dolmadaki (small grape leaves), displayed on picture menus of course. Inside the small eatery, Greek flags adorn the ceiling alongside paintings of each angle of the famed Mykonos windmills and the cook will let you watch him slice lamb of the shank while simultaneously posing for photos.
Needing a (short) break from food, we wander back over to 30th Avenue and first find an Olympiakos fan club, est. 1987. As LeMat and I originally became friends through soccer, and OCFP is the favored futbol team in Athens, this was quite a find! Though seemingly not readily open to the public, definitely worth some additional exploration
As we walked up the bustling street on this Saturday afternoon, passing the Hermes Travel Agency conjured up only thoughts of a dorky Toula Portokalos from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, though there was no handsome Aiden in sight.
And soon we came across a few other hidden gems not to be missed:
Astoria Lock & Safe boasts the “Greek Lock Man” mannequin out front waving the blue and white flag, at the same time welcoming in customers and protecting the joint.
The Athanasiades Cultural Foundation Campana (est 1917), which you’ll find it across the street from the Law Offices of George Hrisikopoulos at 42nd St. and Newton. Founded by environmentalist and humanitarian Costas Athanasiades, the foundation’s philosophy is epitomized in the Percy Bysshe Shelley quotation: “We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature, our religion, our arts have their roots in Greece.”
While not open on a Saturday afternoon, a Sunday jaunt to one of Astoria’s most popular Green Orthodox churches is certainly in order. Pray on your own, take in a service, or simply have a look around at the high-ceilings and intricate stained glass at the St. Demetroios Cathedral, Greek Hellenic Orthodox on 31st St and 30th Dr.
The place to go (attested to also by my Greek friends) to end the day and take it into night is Cavo Café Lounge (42-18 31st Ave; alterative route is to take the R train to Steinway). The expansive brick-walled chic restaurant cum bar cum lounge cum night club doubles at a hot spot for a romantic dinner as you stare into each others reflections in the numerous gold-rimmed mirrors or a rockin’ evening with friends as you imbibe in only the top-shelf liquor and dance 'til dawn next to the huge outdoor garden (in warmer weather). Open from 5pm – 4am, the dinner menu is full of classic Greek delicacies and photos of Santorini’s famous blue-roofed churches I remember so fondly. Cavo Café Lounge was also the only place we saw offering a Valentine’s Day special, 4-course dinner for $65 per person.
Throughout the glorious day, LeMat and I convinced ourselves that we simply had to bring a part of Astoria home with us – enter Create Your Own Greek-Themed Party. With meats from Akropolis Meat Market on 30th Ave (heck, the meat is so fresh skinned piglets even hang in the window if that tickles your fancy) and octopus from Best of the Sea fishmonger, the protein appetizers are covered. Unless, of course you opt for my style, which means being unable to resist the sheer hilarity of poulpe en sauce á l’ ail (octopus in garlic flavor in a tin in a box with a painting of the motherland!) This brilliant find is available at Greek House Food (32-20 30th Ave) where you should also pick up a pound of Easter egg-colored hard-shelled candied almonds (also found in Italian and French bakeries; $7.00/lb). For fresh produce for those party crudités, a great place is Elliniki Agora Fruit & Vegetables, a stand half outside just like the place we went for fresh fruit each afternoon post-beach day in Mykonos.
To serve it all, and likely to find all sorts of other desirable goods and goodies, Euro Market (next to the St. Demetroios Cathedral) is your one-stop shop. For my party, guests will drink all beverages from blue and white striped espresso mugs and saucers that say “Yasou!” (“God Saves” on the sides. European country flags fly from the ceilings, but the Greek’s blue and white cross definitely dominates the décor as traditional Greek music kept us dancing down the isles on the hunt for our Greek beer (Mythos is the way to go) and boxes upon boxes of frozen phylo dough.
My party is planned, the imaginary table is set, and the festivities will be upcoming soon, possibly on March 25th, The Greek National Anniversary, if I can wait that long amidst my dreams of Greece.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
