Give me such shows - Give me the streets of Manhattan!
Treats & Eats
We've been having a pretty mild August so far. Fingers crossed that it continues so that we can enjoy picnics in the park through the fall. Here are some of our favorite places to stock up on goodies:
1. My favorite place to picnic in NYC is Central Park's Sheep Meadow: First stop? Kashkaval to grab your main array of snacks - Babaganoush, Beet Skordalia, Tzatziki, Kofte, and Garden Poutine (the Kashkaval version made with roasted potatoes, Beecher's curds, and pork belly gravy). Then, stop in to the Time Warner Center and grab some treats at Bouchon Bakery - you can't go wrong with any of their seasonal tarts or macarons. Last stop will be Oak & Steel to grab a bottle of your favorite liquor to make a summer cocktail to bring along. Our drink of the summer? Caipirinhas.
2. For the Brooklynites - Prospect Park: Coming from Williamsburg, I stop into my favorite local shops before jumping on the G. First location here is Bedford Cheese. The well-versed cheesemongers can guide you in curating an excellent spread for your personal palate. Don't forget to grab an Amy's Bread baguette before leaving! Then, walk up 3 blocks to Mast Brothers and grab some chocolates (for cooler days) or one (who are we kidding? one would be devoured in an instant! You'll need at a few...) of their salted chocolate chip cookies. Last stop is Uva on Bedford. Complete your picnic with a box of Vrac rosé.. or your favorite bottle of bubbly.
(A Pic-Nic Party, Thomas Cole. photo courtesy of Brooklyn Museum)
Sights & Sounds
We’re already starting to reach the end of some concert seasons like Celebrate Brooklyn and Lincoln Center Out of Doors (sob!), but Summers not over yet...
1. This weekend sees the third and final ‘Summer Streets’ event which is “an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets”. Between 7am and 1pm this Sat Aug 15th, nearly 7 miles of streets from Brooklyn Bridge Park to the UES will be completely clear of vehicles. There will be everything from historical reenactors to fitness classes. The waterslide is all booked up, but other highlights include - zip-lining on a first come, first served basis at the Foley Square rest stop; public art walk (you can download a Culture Now app or a tour map to learn more about the art along the route); get a free fitting and bike helmet at the DOT stand at the midtown rest stop.
2. If that all sounds a bit too healthy, another great event this Sat Aug 15th is the Tap+Cork: Brooklyn Beer and Wine Fest at Bedstuy’s Restoration Plaza on Fulton St and Marcy Ave between 2-8pm. They're boasting at least 45-50 craft beers and artisanal wines, curated cuisines by local vendors, and a “soundstage featuring a music battle between the 70s and 80’s”. What! What! A regular priced $20 ticket will get you 15, 3oz drink tickets and the VIP ticket (selling out fast) will get you 10, 3oz drink tickets and unlimited sampling between 2 and 5pm! There will be some $30 entry tickets on the day, although this event will likely sell out. *If you'd like to try more than 15 samples, you can purchase additional drink tickets at the event.
As always, if you need to book tickets or want help planning your weekend, let us help!