cherrypatter nyc

 it’s hard to believe that a place with a hard core hipster following has become our family’s favorite friday night pizza joint, but roberta’s has somehow become everyone’s top choice.  for the past few months, we four have headed out to bushwick many a friday for a great meal.  the initial draw was the pizza.  for at least a year, j had tolerated k’s insistence on two boots (she loved that pizza dough that they gave out)  but finally he had had enough (i had opted out a long time ago as i just couldn’t bear it), and so we had still agreed that we would try to have pizza every friday night as a special end to the week.  after we had gotten sick of la villa too (which was our 2nd closest option), we decied it was time to move the family further afield.

and fortunately, k was game.  when we finally checked out roberta’s this spring we were all thrilled.  first off, the vibe is perfect for us.  although the exterior looks like a concrete warehouse amid lots of industrial wasteland, the interior is warm, the decor is low key and comfy with plenty of room for families (at least before 7).  the service has also been great even though we don’t sport a single tattoo among us.  all the waiters, and the guys and girls manning the pizza oven have been so friendly and welcoming it has made us want to keep coming back. and we do.   roberta’s also has a great backyard area, complete with a small greenhouse, an abandoned vintage mercedes, a small organic rooftop garden funded in part by alice waters, a radio studio for heritage radio network, and other projects in the works like a bread oven and maybe even goats and a bee hive.

as for the pizza’s, they are pretty good with a thin crust usually barely singed from the wood oven.  k and j are quite happy with theirs. k of course only gets a margherita, and j will be more adventuresome.  the one pictured above  was a semi-hawaiian (ugh!) pie with pineapple, ham and jalapeno called the da kine which he loved.  j’s also been happy with the r.p.s. (mozzarella, tomato, roasted red pepper and soppressata) and the specken wolf (speck, mushrooms, oregano, onions and mozzarella).  and while i think the pizza is fine, i am not as big a fan and still have my other favorites (like franny’s, motorino, di fara and maybe even saraghina). 

my obsession at roberta’s is the fried chicken which is truly excellent.  and i would come here anytime just for that.  each time i have had the chicken, it comes out of the kitchen piping hot and fresh.  the meat is succulent and juicy, and the crust is not greasy at all but is super crunchy with a little bit of spice.  the sides are also great:  a smattering of bright pink pickled coleslaw and the loveliest pork flavored beans.   s has become so addicted that each time we tell this toddler we are going for pizza he wants to know when he gets his chicken bones.   

in addition to the chicken, roberta’s has definitely been evolving its other dishes.  i’ve tried the octupus (not so great, but then again i’m not an octopus expert) and the whipped lardo served with bread (hard to not like pure fat), and they always have something new on the menu.  with a dedication to the local, some of their other offerings have included mackerel, pickled pig’s tongue, lamb ragu pappardele, berkshire pork chops and veal sweetbreads.  roberta’s also has a decent wine and beer selection and some tasty desserts like the chocolate hazelnut pudding with raw nuts.  we’re particularly fond of the franziskaner hefe-weisen.  and did i forget to say how incredibly affordable roberta’s is.  yes, just one more reason to make this our weekly outing.  roberta’s, 261 moore street between white and bogart streets, brooklyn, new york, .

socrates sculpture park is one of my all time favorite oases in all of new york.  and while the actual patch of land located right on the water in long island city is not particularly special, the garden exhibits large sculptures that are juxtaposed in front of an incredible manhattan backdrop.  the curators behind the shows at socrates sculpture park invite artists to create pieces that generate interaction among artists, the art and the public to help revitalize the urban environment.    until the late ’80s, the park land had been an abandoned landfill, and somehow a coalition of artists and members of the community got the city to dedicate the land to what they refer to as an  “outdoor museum” and it has been this fabulous amenity since then.

the current show at socrates sculpture park is called state fair, and includes the artists bernard williams (his socrates ply-teck barn is the top picture), emily feinstein (“the ride” is the roller coaster in the 2nd picture) and margarita cabrera (with her “arbol de la vida — john deere” above).   the idea behind the show was to invite artists to mesh the state farm theme — for all of those you pining for middle america — with queens extraordinarily international (with more than 150 ethnic groups) and somewhat urban living into unique sculptures.  on our latest visit, the art was fun, and even though it got extremely wet, it as usual provided a great setting and hours of entertainment for the kids. 

in addition to the annual sculpture exhibit, what’s nice is that the park has developed some additional programming out there making it an even more compelling to visit.  the weekend we were there, the makers market was in full swing with some great designers and craftsmen selling their high end (mostly) jewelry, creamics, textiles and furnitures.    socrates sculpture park has also started showing outdoor movies on wednesday nights (next week’s is lou reed’s berlin directed by julian schnabel).  other activities throughout the year include a kite flying day, a fitness program which includes some boating off hallets cove right next to the park in the east river and a halloween harvest festival.   

for the most part, when i venture out to socrates sculpture park, i don’t really worry about what art will be on display or even if there is an activity, as i just need a very slim excuse to make my way to this amazing little park.  for some ideas as to some other things to do nearby, shop and where to eat, see my mini guide below.  socrates sculpture park, 32-01 vernon boulevard at broadway, queens, new york, , open year round.

long island city, at least where socrates sculpture park is located at the end of broadway in queens, is not exactly a food mecca.  there is the costco right next door but unless you want a vat of chicken wings and a huge sheet cake i suggest maybe going somewhere else.  and there also is not too much shopping anywhere near by, so this mini guide will focus on some food ideas (most of which i have not yet tried but hopefully i will sometime soon) a little bit further afar but hopefully still doable, as well as some things to do that might be fun. 

food:

tulcingo:  just a few blocks away, this hole-in-the-wall mexican spot is supposed to have pretty decent fare.  2526 broadway, queens, new york, .

mundo cafe and restaurant: on the way to the park from the subway, this mostly middle eastern and turkish spot has many vegetarian options.  time out recommends their hungarian sour cherry soup and yelp reviewers are .  31-18 broadway street, store e, queens, new york, .

tournesol:  a cute little french spot  about a mile away from the park in the heart of long island city.  they have a good french onion soup, really amazing fries and an excellent atmosphere (the olives are pictured above).  50-12 vernon boulevard near 50th street, queens, new york, .

malagueta: an affordable brazilian place with some non meat options like a shrimp stew and the frango ao vinho branco (sauteed chicken) and more traditional dishes like the feijoada completa which is a black bean stew packed with all sorts of tasty bits.   that 2535 36th avenue, queens, new york, .

to do:

noguchi museum: if you’re already out here, this museum which was a converted factory where sculptor isaumu noguchi worked and it just cannot be missed.  it also has a small cafeteria that is supposed to be o.k.  in case you don’t have time to go elsewhere.   9-01 33rd road at vernon boulevard, queens, new york, .

boating in hallets cove: the long island city community boathouse and partnership for the parks has kayaking and canoeing available for free kids and adults right from the beach that meets socrates sculpture park.  32-01 vernon boulevard, queens, new york, .

dean project: a bit further afield, this small gallery that seems to have some pretty fun exhibits including this one with timothy berg which i’m sorry to have missed.  45-43 21st street, queens, new york, .

water taxi beach:  this artificial beach a couple of miles down from socrates sculpture park, which can be accessed via the water taxi from manhattan and brooklyn, has beach volleyball, great views, drinks and some bar food.  they often have live music, and at night this is adults only.  2 borden avenue, queens, new york.

roberta roller rabbit is not the kind of store i expect to find on the upper east side.  filled with great affordably priced brightly colored fabrics with great original graphic designs for quilts, baby blankets, bedspreads, table cloths, roberta roller rabbit is housed in a cute and unassuming space.  robert freymann, who owns the store, travels the world collecting ideas and fabrics with a heavy emphasis on indian prints produced through hand block printing method and then dried in the sun.  the designs themselves are modern looking  fabrics but the production produces a product that is unique and a nice change from marimekko.   roberta roller rabbit also sells fabrics for use on sofas, chairs and curtains at about $15 to $20 a yard and some furniture. 

in addition to the great fabrics and quilts, roberta roller rabbit also carries a smattering of other items made with her trademark look including great summer hats for kids and adults, placemats, bags, pillows, backpacks.  she also has a nice collection of cute cotton tunics or kurtas (also in kids and adult sizes) which make a great quick present or a fairly easily justified reward for something — i think my reason today would be suffering through my neighbor’s endlessly beeping smoke alarm which seems to be making me go crazy — definitely justification for a new treat.

roberta roller rabbit is a spin off from the original store called roberta freymann, located around the corner, and which focuses more on the clothes with jewelry, bags and other accessories.  and it looks like roberta roller rabbit’s trying to expand too, or at least experimenting with relatively new stores in l.a. and the hamptons.   roberta roller rabbit, 1019 lexington avenue at 73rd street, manhattan, new york, .

when k was born, a whole 6 years ago yesterday (which i really cannot believe i already she is an almost 1st grader who has just lost her first baby tooth), the modern design landscape for kids was pretty barren, and what a bummer.  we could not find a great looking crib (we made do with the simplest white crib we could find at babies r’ us), and i was really distressed with the oh so necessary but oh so ugly bouncy seat and the most hideous high chair we ended up getting as we didn’t think to look at ikea and otherwise the options were miserable.  so we just thought we had to suffer on the design front and that would be part of our new parental life.  

fortunately, for those heading into babydom now that is completely unneccessary. there are so many beautiful, well-crafted, simple yet modern children’s furniture designers out there that if we were starting all over i would be spoilt for choice.   one of the best places to go in new york to see all these collections in one place is mini jake – a true modern design emporium for children’s furniture which is an outgrowth of two jakes, an office and home modern furniture design haven where we first discovered mini jake.   the crib designers mini jake has on hand are amazing and include oeuf, casa kids, offi, nursery works, argington and ducduc.  when  i was at one point very tempted when s was on his way to get the classic bassinet by cariboo — so simple yet so beautiful.   they also have all the great high chairs by the likes of mozze, kaboost, boon, svan and tripp trapp by stokke (our personal favorite though i really wish that at the time we bought it, it had come with that oh so helpful tray).  mini jake has the associated dressers, changing tables, desks, tables and chairs  and also has a bunch of really cute bunk beds that i am obsessed with — the austin bunk bed definitely might be in our future. 

in addition to furniture, mini jake also carries also those necessary items to outfit your kid from bottles, diaper bags, strollers, bikes and car seats to toys, books and games and even some art work and they sometimes offer classes too.   in their new space – mini jake upgraded relatively recently to this cavernous warehouse space in a more central location along bedford avenue – mini jake can now really showcase all their great goods.  although there are some stores in manhattan with some of the same stock, i completely prefer the vibe at mini jake.  some of the products may be just as pricey (and some of these designers are indeed very costly), but the shopping experience is oh so much better.  i would even recommend a manhattan bound family to venture across the east river to take a look here for excellent service, amazing selection and then there’s always the fun of being in williamsburg.  mini jake, 178 n. 9th street near bedford street, brooklyn, new york, .

 i kind of have a love-hate relationship with fatty crab. i really really love their  malaysian style food. it’s super spicy, it’s original, and almost everything i have ever had in the restaurant is amazing (take out is not as successful). but the service can be inconsistent if not out right terrible (i was especially unhappy at the upper west side service), and the prices, well it just seems over priced for what it is — more 2005 than 2009.  whatever, sometimes i just have to have some very interesting, super hot and very tasty asian food.

my favorite things at fatty crab are mostly meaty and fatty.   i could easily fill up on multiple orders of the pork belly tea sandwiches served with sambal aioli and on super soft crustless white bread.   the fatty duck is another favorite, fried and served with toasted tamaki.   i’ve had a number of their vegetables like the chinese broccoli and the baby bok choy, which are good, but i think the real reason to go are the meats.  i also recently had their soft shell crab special pictured above. nicely fried in turmeric, sitting atop a super spicey and soupy rice concoction with curry, green chili and tamaki.  i had it with watermelon and kaffir lime jice, and started with slices of green mango that are energized with chili-sugar-salt.  it was a great way to begin the summer. 

there are plenty of foods i haven’t tried at fatty crab, including the highly touted hot dog that has a homemade xo sausage with pickled chiles and veggies, the pickled watermelon with crispy pork appetizer, and the goat brains (probably not for me).  and i really need to have their signature disk the chili crab which comes in a bowl of chili sauce and several crab legs and slices of toast with crab, chili sauce and white toast and the short rib rendang with kaffir lime, coconut and chili.  they also have lots of great cocktails.

in addition to the upper west side space, which opened in the last year and is pretty big, fatty crab’s original  tiny restaurant is in the meatpacking district and the one that i prefer since the service is better there.  however, this location tends to blast their not so mellow musical selections which makes me feel really old.  and even though in theory this is a great place for a business expense, don’t make the mistake that i did of bringing an over-60 work colleague there — he might like food but not the ambiance.  fatty crab, 643 hudson street at horatio street, manhattan, new york, ; 2170 broadway between 76th and 77th streets, manhattan, new york, .

i was pretty excited when chocolatier jacques torres announced the opening of their ice cream shop this year.  brooklyn seems to be missing some really great ice cream, and even if the ice cream is ok, the space is not.  i want an old fashioned ice cream soda shop like what i remember growing up with in slc and everything nearby seems to be falling short of that.    i don’t really like blue marble’s ice cream though their style, space and focus on organic is great.  i cannot deal with the poor poor service at sweet melissa’s cremérie though in theory this spot should fit the bill. i like the classic design at sweet melissa’s and the ice cream is solid if not exciting, but when it consistently takes 20 minutes just to order it’s not for me and two little kids.

and although there’s no sit down there, i had high hopes for bklyn larder’s gelatos but our first test with the strawberry was a bust — super sweet.   the is great (and they now have a midtown spot which is exciting), and i am a big fan of their banana splits and their peaches and cream and strawberry flavors– very creamy with fresh fruit.  however, with the explosion in popularity of my favorite pier fulton ferry landing, the brooklyn ice cream factory has become an incredible zoo flooded with tourists and wedding parties constantly.   the space has become a bit  ratty and it can take forever to get a cone.

given that jacques torres’ chocolate shops have  a lot of charm and appeal, and the chocolates are pretty darn good, i definitely thought that the new jacques torres ice cream shop might be my answer to the perfect place for a sundae.   although the store itself was a pretty big disappointment with unimaginative design and no linger appeal – just a big box with high ceilings and a few tables, the ice creams were very very good.   my father had the chocolate wicked flavor (a torres‘ signature) and i had the chocolate raspberry in a cone (pictured above) and was in heaven.  extremely rich and custardy with a dark chocolate flavor and just a tiny bit of raspberry that highlighted the flavor contrast. my only quibble is that i had no need for the super size cone, and would have much preferred a regular sugar cone.   we also tried the strawberry and blood-orange soft serve  (pictured at top) which was tart with the fruit flavors clear as a bell but not too bracing or too sweet.  j. tried the regular mango sorbet though and was not quite as impressed so i think we’ll have to stick with il laboratorio del gelato for sorbets though i am headed to l’arte del gelato later this week so maybe there is a sorbet contender.

jacques torres also had a bunch of ice cream concoctions we didn’t get a chance to try but should including an ice-cream waffle, a fontain of chocolate with raspberries, a cotton candy sundae, a chocolate banana cigar and lastly the all time famous chocolate chip cookiesmade into an over the top ice cream sandwich.    for a more enjoyable eating experience, if the weather’s not so great, the other jacques torres shop on hudson street in manhattan which has lots more appealing seating is also serving ice cream though i’m not sure if that will be a year-round thing.   given that i think it’s the best in the borough, i’m sure i’ll be coming by jacques torres for a cone periodically after grimaldi’s or on our way to the pirate ship playgroundthat is one of our favorites at brooklyn bridge park.  jacques torres ice cream, 62 water street at main street, brooklyn, new york, ; 350 hudson street at king street, manhattan, new york, .

now that it is finally finally feeling like the hot and sticky summer that i have come to expect from new york, the red hook pool has got to be one of my favorite parts of  our summers here, especially that we now have kids.   at 330 feet in length, this public pool is really glorious.  with four or five great lap lanes (and there is adult-only swim in the mornings during the week from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.), there is still a huge area for just playing around.  in addition, there is also the biggest toddler pool that i have ever seen which has these overhead sprinklers, little concrete horses with water spraying out and the depth is at a food across just right for little ones to wander around as much as they’d like.    

with funding from the federal works progress administration as part of the new deal, parks commissioner robert moses and the city’s mayor fiorello h. la guardia welcomed 11 new pools, including the red hook pool, in the summer of 1936 when temperatures rose to 106 degrees according to the new york times.   the magnificent pools were all strategically located to serve the city’s poorest residents.

the main downside to the red hook pool, especially if you don’t live nearby, is that there are lots and lots and lots of rules.   the more you know about those rules before going, the better off you are so definitely check the parks department for any updates.  the main rules are: (1) bring a lock (cannot take valuables into the pool area and you MUST have a lock); (2) only items for the pool area are a swimsuit (must have that on, and the more it looks like a suit the better), a towel, sunscreen, water and maybe a book; (2) any t-shirts or hats must be white.  remember, no floaties, no food, no attitude. 

and the pool itself can get extremely crowded and rowdy so we really like going bang on at 11 a.m. and get out of there by 1.  i definitely don’t like being there in the late afternoons (the lifeguard whistling can be non stop).  if you can adjust to the rules, red hook pool is definitely an amazing completely free swimming option in the city so for those of us without country homes this is summer.  for ideas as to where to eat and shop in red hook which is a great little slice of new york, see my mini guide below.  red hook pool, 155 bay street between henry and clinton streets, brooklyn, new york, , open for approximately 2 months from the end of public school through labor day.

red hook is a bit of a trek, especially without a car although the ikea bus and ferry service make things a little better, but there are definitely a few destinations worth visiting.   if you’re already here you might as well spend a few hours.  the highlights, at least for me,  are the views off the piers looking toward the statue of liberty, the red hook pool and the red hook ball field vendors.   this quirky little neighborhood, which still seems somewhat preserved with lots of low-rise buildings and cobbled streets as well as reconfigured warehouses, is very “new york” and great to walk around if you know where to go.  in addition to the two big box draws of ikea and fairway, there are a few good restaurants and snacks as well as some fun shops to explore and as will become obvious, nearly all of these run down the  happening strip of van brunt street.

food:

baked: one of my very favorite bakeries in all of new york. i am especially fond of their cupcakes, their hostess cupakes and their sweet and salty brownies.   they also carry some sandwiches from luscious food.  359 van brunt street between wolcott and dikeman streets, brooklyn, new york, .

good fork: although i had heard of this place forever, i only recently went and was pleasantly surprised even though some of the reports in the last year had suggested some decline but since i had never been i couldn’t tell. amazing crisply fried onion rings, the really tasty “steak and eggs” korean style and  and the fried oyster po’boy when we went.  391 van brunt street at coffey street, brooklyn, new york, .

home/made: this is a cute, casual spot offering a heavy cheese menu (straight cheese, cheese sandwiches, fondue) and a nice selection of wine, beer and cider.  definitely not a destination, but if you’re there and want a good place to relax, the atmosphere is so warm and friendly it’s hard to have a good time (just go light on that cheese).  393 van brunt street between pioneer and king streets, brooklyn, new york, .

and just a few other mentions: kevin’s (a newly opened very affordable place for sunday brunch and dinner), 277a van brunt street between visitation and pioneer streets, ; steve’s authentic key lime pies, excellent pies obviously, 204 van brunt street between conover street and van brunt streets, , fort defiance, currently cafe and about to become, maybe today, a restaurant and cocktail bar, which i am eager to try out, 365 van brunt street at dikeman street, .

shops:

saipua: this is one of those places that keeps coming up on cherrypatter, but i just cannot help it. great soaps and flowers in an amazing little shop. they are just moving to new location so i haven’t gotten to check it out yet. 147 van dyke street at van brunt, brooklyn, new york, .

erie basin:  a beautiful antique jewelry store featuring 19th century and early 20th century works as well as more contemporary jewelers, and they also have a few select pieces of furniture too.  388 van brunt street at dikeman, brooklyn, new york, .

liberty sunset garden center:  a great garden center with a tremendous selection of whatever plants you might need if you have a garden inside or out in new york city.  204-207 van dyke street (at the most western edge of the street at pier 41, brooklyn, new york, .

perch!: amy adams designs beautiful ceramic pieces including great modern-looking bird feeders, fun trays and napkin rings, and really great pot holders in beautiful nonearth colors.  they have a teeny tiny spot right next to steve’s authentic key lime pies and the liberty sunset garden center.

i always like to find a single brand that i can just trust for everything. night cream, face wash, shampoo.  you get the idea.  given that i am not the most obsessed person on products (though i have gotten a little fancy with my mom’s top skin saver product shiseido since her skin looks amazing and my face needs lots of help after way too many sunburned days when i thought it was fun to look like a lobster).   so my usual choices have been a little predictable with kiehls and some additional supplements from c.o. bigelow (great value).  a few years ago, i found a new obsession, and i actually got the idea when someone at bigelow’s recommended malin+goetz. 

i had been trying to find something for j that he might be willing to use, wasn’t too metrosexual, and would be a huge step up from the guest soap he seemed to think would be ok for his face.  after holding out for a few months, when he finally started using malin+goetz’s grapefruit face cleaner (one of their best sellers), he was hooked and we’ve become fans since.   designed for women and men, malin+goetz’s products emphasize natural ingredients and many of them are hypoallergenic.   the malin+goetz collection includes conditioners, shampoos, facial cleansers, moisturizers, body wash, lotions, body scrub, shaving creams and acne treatments, as well as sunscreens with spfs of 30 and even some perfumes.  as an apothecary, they carry tweezers, brushes and combs and tootbrushes (not sure i need an $8 toothbrush but maybe there are some special features i need to talk to my dentist about).  and they have some travel amenities like pill towels – basically a fancy face wipe and small sized bottles of their products.  malin+goetz also has few more unusual “party” scents like the cannabis candle (described as “sexy green cannabis and spicy extracts blend for their uplifting intoxication and general aphrodisia” — hmm, maybe not really for us), a rum bar soap and a mojito soap set.

while malin+goetz products can be purchased lots and lots of places all over the country and even internationally, they have just a few free standing stores, two of which are in new york.  the shops are well designed with great style  mixing the super white, clean and medical with warm walnut panels and the original tin ceiling.  at the upper west side shop, which just opened, the architect craig konyk retaining the character of this former dominican barbershop with its nooks and crannies, and they also kept the old signage “la gran esquina barbershop”.  with the great packaging and graphics and within reach pricing, it is almost impossible to visit malin+goetz without bringing something home which is usually a good thing.   malin+goetz, 117 seventh avenue between 20th and 21st streets,  and 455 amsterdam avenue at 82nd street, , both in manhattan, new york.