Another Tick on the Great Restaurant List

So far I haven't written much about food in New York. Well, really, I haven't written much about anything in New York, but it's time to start. It there is one thing I love, its food. Now, working in New York allows me to eat plenty of food every day for lunch, but if I'm going to start with New York Food, I feel I should start at the top. This past week I went out with my work group to Peter Luger's Steak House - one of the finest steak houses in the city.

Located in Brooklyn under the shadow of the Willamsburgh, Peter Luger is a New York institution. Famous for great steak and bad service, they've been rated Zagat's best steakhouse in New York for who knows how many years. This place is a notorious haunt for the Wall St. types, in part because it isn't easy to get to. The interior has that startlingly plane decor you find in places not trying to obscure its food - white walls, wood floors, plain white linen and dozens of plane, yet beautiful, chandeliers. This place is all about the food.

And the food is terrific. Going out with my high-earning co-workers, or at least co-workers who earn more than I, afforded us the opportunity to order practically half the menu. Admittedly, steak is the word, the star, the alpha and omega, but Luger's other offerings aren't slouches either. The shrimp in the shrimp cocktail are massive, the cream spinach is... well it was the only vegetable on the table and was probably 50% butter, so needless to say it was delicious. And I can see some people shaking their heads thinking that's disgraceful, one measly pseudo-vegetable in a rich red-meat meal, but I didn't go to New York's premiere steakhouse to eat salad, so hesh-up.

I could tell you the steak was sublime -a massive plate of meat cooked perfectly medium rare and served family style with its own juices drizzled over the top - but I'd rather mention the shockingly good bacon. Thickly cut and bursting with flavor, it was so good I forgot it cost $3 a strip while I ate it.

Make no mistake, this meal wasn't cheap. In fact, it was the most expensive meal I've ever eaten, tipping the scales at just under $100. Yet, when I compare the taste of the food, the quality of the wine and the experience of it all, I can't help but feel it was worth it. Another tick mark in the great restaurant list.

Would I go again? Maybe - but probably just as an excuse to cross over the Williamsburgh bridge again. Man, what a view!

Where the action is

I've been searching for things to do in New York City. The usual tourist haunts abound, but one can really only 'see the sights' so many times before they will want to take a more active role. I've scoured webpages; I've taken surveys; I've searched books. In the city that never sleeps, there must be things for a guy like me: a history, culture loving traveler who is trying to save a buck.

Initially I was perpetually disappointed, thwarted by the same old haunts appearing again and again - Time Square, Radio City, Broadway (which are great, but which I'm also fortunate enough to pass every day on my way to the office).

The museums are world class, but the costs prohibit dropping in casually. Then again, many have 'pay what you want' hours or days. These specials allow the viewing public to choose their fare, be it $1 to $1000. Of course any visitor who pays less than full fare must deal with the blank stares of confusment from the ticket sellers, who play dumb until you confess that you 'only want to pay $5, even though the museum suggests $20."

What I was looking for was things like I know about in Boston. Things like the Scooperbowl, a charity event where there are dozens of ice cream brands competing to give you the most ice cream they can! Or the Walk for Hunger. Or even visiting Wilson Farm in the fall for a fresh Apple Cider Doughnut. Nobody I spoke with in New York could tell me about events like this. A few said Christmas time was special, but that seems to go without saying. Of course Christmas is special. I've been searching for special events throughout the year.

Today after work I walked down 6th Ave, which led me to Bryant Park and a free jazz concert, when it hit me - New York must have so many special things going on it's hard to keep track. There isn't any one or two big events each weekend everyone goes to, there are hundreds of smaller ones I just need to find. Signs in Bryant Park alone advertised Movies in the Park, jazz concerts, morning Tai Chi lessons and fencing. And just last week I stumbled across a street food festival in Times Square. Advertised events might be harder to find here, but all I'll need to do is walk around and I'm bound to find something. Besides, I should be out walking around, not poking about the internet looking up where to go... in fact, why are we both still here? I'm going out, you should too!