cherrypatter nyc

now that i wear glasses nearly all the time, after my eye doctor scared me several years ago from wearing contacts too much (i was getting lots of red vessels popping up here and there) i have now become pretty dedicated to having frames on my face (and i always was too scared for lasik).  as a result it’s now become even more important to have the right pair — stylish enough but not too trendy, tough enough to take some whacking from the kiddies and comfortable enough to wear a lot.  

eye shoppe on 7th is a super place to go to get some real help for finding that perfect fit and style.  the husband and wife team of paula and michael stoff, who have owned the store for 18 years in the same not hip location along the more dreary parts of 7th avenue in park slope, are really phenomenal when it comes to helping you find exactly what you need.  i have never found them pushy in terms of pricing, and i love that when working together, they are endlessly patient, giving tons of suggestions and insights as to what works and what doesnt.    they will definitely provide candid opinions on the match, and if it doesn’t work they’ll let you know.  i now no longer need a second opinion from a friend when it’s time to upgrade.  and eye shoppe on 7th has also always been very accommodating.  after i bought one pair a few years ago, they broke soon after, and they helped me replace it for an insignificant cost.

although the eye shoppe on 7th is not ostentatious nor does it appear to be  the most fashionable eye store despite it’s designation by time out as one of the best independent stores, surprisingly, its small collection holds a really great range of high quality frames.  my favorite, which is very exclusive they say, is face á face from paris.  other super popular brands include theo, bevel and ic berlin, and they also carry orgreen optics, lafont, salt optics and beausoleil.   sunglasses include oliver peoples, paul smith, persol, ray-ban and many others.

and while the frames are not a bargain, the frames alone begin at $150 going up to $375, it is really the service that has me hooked.  eye shoppe on 7th also offers eye exams and they are super speedy once you place an order.  really, all in all a great shopping experience for one of those things that can be a drag to get the wrong one.   eye shoppe on 7th, 107 7th avenue at president street, brooklyn, new york, .

high end japanese is something i am a huge fan of, though i don’t often get to indulge that particular craving given the incredible costs associated with such a splurge.   so while maybe some day i will go to masa, i am not expecting it to be until the kids are finished with college (that will be a while).  so i was pretty excited to hear that matsugen was offering a pretty reasonable (considering their usual prices) prix fixe meal at $35 a head. 

at matsugen, the kitchen is run by the matsushita brothers, with fancy restaurants in tokyo and honolulu, whose specialty is hand made soba although matsugen seems to offer a super wide range of all other japanese food which is a little disconcerting (it’s no honmura an).  our prix fixe meal included a soba option. i chose the cold seiro soba with sesame sauce and j had the soba served with the hot chicken and scallion broth.  i thought my cold noodles were perfect.  a nice portion, excellent tasting slightly salty sauce that adhered well to the noodles, and the noodles themselves were light and not at all gummy. the hot noodles seemed less special — something we could get nearly anywhere and if that were the case i’d rather go some place like soba-ya.

in addition to the soba, the prix fixe included five other decent size servings field greens with maine lobster (and they didn’t skimp on the lobster), miso soup with fried tofu, sashimi, shrimp, tempura and vanilla caramel pudding for dessert.   surprisingly, j and i both thought that the tempura was the best thing on the menu.  the shrimp and vegetables, which included a pumpkin, were so lightly fried and fresh that allowed the flavors to shine through.  and while we though that the sashimi was quite good, others have not been so thrilled especially when paying full market price.  

matsugen’s space made us somewhat nostalgic, as the restaurant was designed originally by richard meier for jean-georges vongerichten’s (who is also minimally involved in matsugen) not so successful fancy chinese spot 66.   the space has changed a little but remains serene and very white and they still have those huge fishtanks.  

and while we weren’t starving at the end of our meal (and j. definitely needed a bit more to eat that night), we were very satisfied, and happy with the outing and deemed it a good value.  the only downside of our meal was our waiter. he was in the pushy department leading us to get the edamame which were good but not something we would have ordered.  i was disappointed to see this behavior at a restaurant of this caliber.  i mean really, we were there at 6 p.m. so i think he should have just been happy to have some customers at that point.  nevertheless, i’m hopeful that was just a random misstep and that if we feel like really splurging, matsugen may be a good place to do it as long as we can get that prix fixe.  matsugen, 241 church street at leonard street, manhattan, new york, .

the red hook ball field vendors are no secret, but the street food options here are so good and so nearby that i am very sad that i don’t feast there more often. one reason for that is my very fussy older k. has no interest in any of the amazing food there, and hubby j. is also not so keen (how did i get such unadventuresome eaters — oh right, i married an englishman so i should be happy he eats sushi on occasion).  fortunately, the little one s likes to eat most anything so i anticipate many future happy summers where we go for a swim, and then chowdown next door all without needing to bring along a pb&j sandwich.

after our first visit to the red hook pool of the summer on june 27th (a week earlier than usual — yay), i couldn’t wait anymore and so made my way over to the trucks to try out two delicious, extremely hot, coming straight from the griddle, pupusas — one filled queso and jalapenos and the other had pork.  the pupusas came with purple tangy cabbage slaw, pickled onions, sour cream and some very spicy jalapenos.  

with salvadorean, ecaudorian, colombian, honduras, mexican as well as peruvian specialities, among others, there is a lot of choice.  on the savory front, vendors offer the more ubiquitous tacos (asada, barbacoa, al pastor), tamales and quesadillas, as well as many more interesting, unusual items like huaraches, chicharons, taquitos and sopas as well as ceviches (not sure i would ever be brave enough to try that here as though seem to get mixed reviews on freshness).  a few trucks also offer grilled corn including my favorite elotes served with mayo, chili powder and anejo, and some trucks had plantaines served with sour cream.  the red hook vendors also offer lots of fresh fruits (cut up mango and coconut) and drinks including tamarind jarritos, limeonade, watermelon agua fresco, horchatas and a milky mango juice. 

on our recent visit, there were definitely trucks that were very popular and given my grumpy companion k, i opted for a shorter line and was still happy. however, the next time i’m back i do want to try to start to understand which truck is best for what (based on some reviews, it looks like the  might be the best for pupusas and maybe the martinez truck for huaraches and the perez truck for tacos , and have the time to wait in those longer queues.  and while i miss the days when the vendors could just serve from behind tables rather than having the more sterile, noisy trucks, i am super motivated to come back for my summer huarache to try to satisfy my never really fulfilled latin food cravings.   red hook ball field vendors, at the intersection of clinton street and bay street, brooklyn, new york, open from may to october, saturdays and sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. though they can close with rain or lack of demand.

running for more than 20 years, midsummer night swing is just a really super fun new york outing.  when j and i used to have a little bit more leisure time, we would often head over to lincoln center for an evening of polka or our favorite, swing.   and even though we couldn’t exactly make it through an entire sequence, despite our many many classes at the sandra cameron dance center, we did have a great time trying out those moves.  fortunately, no one was really watching us fake it so we could still enjoy being out under the stars (if we could only see them). 

midsummer night swing runs for five nights a week for three weeks, offering a wide range of music including swing, tango and soul among many others.  the night starts out with a one hour lesson, and then it’s hours of entertainment.  best of all, tickets are reasonably priced at $15 a person, so if you’re looking for a cheap date this is way better than starbucks.

tonight’s concert/dance party features the occidental brothers, an african dance band from chicago as well as samba mapangala & virunga, a band from east africa.  for ideas as to where to eat, and shop nearby if you have some time before the dancing begins, see my mini guide below.   midsummer night swing, damrosch park, southwest corner of the lincoln center plaza at 62nd street between columbus and amsterdam avenues,  tuesdays through saturday evenings, beginning at 6:30 p.m. for dance lessons, and 7:30 p.m. for live music, running through july 25, 2009.

 

lincoln center is one of those places that i seem to always find myself at at least once a season. in the fall, we have tickets to the meet the music series by the chamber muic society at beautifully newly renovated alice tully hall, in the winter we’re off to the see the big apple circus, spring might bring some great play at the beaumont theater, and then summer.  well there is almost always a good reason to go there in the summer such as their amazing lincon center festival with phenomenal artists, theater and music and of course midsummer night swing.  and the plaza is always a nice place to hang out, so i just hope that it keeps its essence as a public plaza after all the renovations are complete.

and although it is a great distination, i do always seem to have a hard time finding a place to eat nearby though the options are slowly getting better further up the west side.  and as for shopping, well it’s pretty meager pickings unfortunately. so below, in my mini guide, i have highlighted a few places to eat that are pretty good and very close by. as for shopping, i mention a couple of women’s shops that are not worth going out of your way for, but if you’re nearby and have time to kill, these places would not be a bad place to do it. 

food:

salumeria rosi:  a small salumi shop for take out or take in with an extensive italian cured meat selection, as well as lots of cheeses and lots of veggie sides like the cipolline in agrodolce and the zuppa primavera (sounds so much better than vegetable soup).   j went the other day and said everything was quite tasty, good service and intimate setting.   283 amsterdam avenue between 73rd and 74th streets, manhattan, new york, .

  definitely a good spot for the grandparents or anyone else super fussy (as long as they eat chinese).  i like to come here to satisfy my dim sum cravings for things like har gau, rice noodle rolls with shrimp and turnip cakes. not exactly hong kong but i don’t have to go out to queens either.  43 west 65th street between amsterdam and central park west, manhattan, new york, .

rosa mexicano: i would only recommend this now chain restuarant (it really didn’t used to be in the ’90s) for two things. the excellent traditional margaritas and the fabulous guacomole.  everything else is overpriced and just not worth it.  61 columbus avenue at 62nd street, manhattan, new york, .

shops:

the new york look:  definitely on the high end, and maybe not the best service, but they almost always have an interesting and varied collection, and they do have very good sales.  right across from lincoln center too.  2030 broadway between 70th and 69th streets, manhattan, new york, .

wink: i have not been here, but the clothes look cute and casual and maybe on the younger side, and supposedly not too pricey either.  188 columbus avenue between 68th and 69th streets, manhattan, new york, .

sean:  one of my all time favorites for men, especially if they are tall and skinny and like their clothes with a bit of french style.  also nicely affordable too.  224 columbus avenue near 70th street, manhattan, new york, . 

while there were certainly great parts about being pregnant, shopping for clothes was not one of them.  there were so few good choices in any reasonable price range. there were the crazy sample sales where you tried to predict what you might actually look like in five months.  there were the completely distressing trips to “maternity shops” and then there were the splurges like a way too expensive summer dress that i never wore because that june the temperature never exceeded 65.  my usual standbyes included a few items from the gorgeous pieces at cadeau maternity and veronique, lots of day to day things from old navy and h&m, finding some normal low riding jeans (no huge elastic band for me), and then really hope that i never needed a suit for work.

when i passed by madison rose, a buy-sell-trade shop which opened last month in carroll gardens, i was incredibly envious as this is just the kind of maternity store i would have loved (and no, no more babies will be happening so i will just need to send my friends here).   madison rose’s maternity clothing collection was filled with tops and dresses made from lovely silks, linens and cotton fabrics, and beautiful (and not at all matronly) designs at more than half off retail or more.  and i know i promised no more vintage but i really think that madison rose falls into a separate category offering only high quality gently used clothes from well known designers.  

madison rose’s selection was really stylish, useful and so very appealing starting with an extensive designer denim selection (7 for all mankind, citizens of humanity, habitual).  some of the other designers included favorite cadeau (especially now that their shop has closed) as well as diane von furstenberg, pea in the pod and chiarakruza.   the inventory turns over constantly, and they really try to offer many styles with a wide range of price points: $80 to $90 for the demin, and tops and dresses will fall in the $40 to $60 range with some more fancy items going up to $150.  they have started to carry some new nursing clothes (not used) from milk which are super cute. 

lastly, madison rose itself is just charming.  nice and airy, with lots of space so it feels like a fancy boutique — there is no musty smell here.  and   the shop also has a small collection of vintage children’s books and toys, and are hunting down some of those old.  the trade aspect of the shop allows customers to come in and receive cash up front or trade credit for something in the store.   as an added bonus, they are doing good.  for the maternity clothes that don’t make the cut for sale in the store, madison rose has developed a partnership with safe horizons, a non profit focused on helping victims of violence, ensuring that the clothes do go to women in need.  madison rose, 313 court street between degraw and sackett streets, brooklyn, new york, .

 

as i have mentioned before, although j does like to have nice clothing and to look smart, he is is not really the best clothing shopper.  he has a super hard time deciding what he likes, and then that makes deciding what to buy even harder if not possible.   as a result many months and really years can go by without a wardrobe upgrade other than the few random pieces he gets here and there (and i do like to indulge him in the occasional seize sur vingt off the rack shirts).    given that i don’t think he and i had gone on a summer shopping spree since pre k (that is at least six years ago), it was about time that we upgraded j’s shrunken, holey shirts and way too old and ratty shorts.

so this spring, after i finally was able to check save khaki  out in their quaint, comfortable shop in the lower east side, i thought this was place was perfect for a solo shopping expedition. i could just send j unaccompanied because everything is so basic and pared down but still stylish and looks good.  focusing on cotton goods, save khaki only has a few styles of short sleeve shirts, one more long sleeve style of shirt and then just a few pair of shorts.   and while they have a few other items like hoodies, swimsuits and boxers, i thought that wouldn’t distract j from his mission.   i also really loved save khaki’s different fabrics and the simplicity of the styles.  the all cotton shirts were incredibly soft and silky and the shorts had a brushed cotton look that i assumed would look great on him, and they had some fun colors — nothing wild mind you — but some turquoises and orange.   and it didn’t hurt that some the new brand (started in 2006) has obviously gotten a lot of play being carried at such hot spots as barneys and even featured in gq as one of the year’s best new menswear american designers.

 

 so of course i was a little too optimistic.  j returned from his save khaki journey with not a thing.   discouraged by the muted tones (he does love crazy colors), he had failed to try on anything.    fortunately, a few weeks ago we were able to go back together so that i could show him what he had missed.  with just a little bit of prodding, he made his way to the dressing room, and we left with a new summer wardrobe which even included a frayed pair of shorts  — shocking.   this boy is now one happy clam.  he loves the save khaki short sleeve shirts (so luxurious, so cool looking and so not fussy) and the shorts look great.  and i have even gotten him to get rid of a few of the old pairs which is a minor miracle.  

while i don’t think the fit at save khakiis for everyone (and j hasn’t tried their signature slim fit khakis yet) –  at the shop i noticed another more hunky guy’s shirts seemed a little too tight — i know that for j’s skinny upper body build that i cannot wait for save khaki’s fall collection of cashmere sweaters and lightweight jackets. i think we may have finally found our “go to” menswear casual shop.  save khaki, 327 lafayette street at bleeker street, ; and 254 broome street at orchard street, , manhattan, new york.

if only there were japanese food on the the new jersey turnpike it would have made our six hour trek back from baltimore this weekend just a wee bit more bearable.   i am definitely a lover of all things fast food and japanese, and so when i used to work near madison square park, i often used to head toward union square for a fix from ennju (shake shack just isn’t possible every day of the week even back in the day when it wasn’t so crowded). 

somehow, early on in my visits to ennju, i became addicted to their takana rice.  i don’t exactly know what takana rice is or even if it is a traditional japanese dish (it seems that it is more often served fried).  but at ennju, their version of takana rice involves a plate of slightly warm and sticky rice covered in seseame seeds then mixed possibly with small bits of dried fish and takana — which after a bit of research i now believe is a kind of mustard leaf – and then topped with some freakishly pink slices of pickled something.  nothing fancy, perfectly filling and always hits the spot.  the pickles add a bit of tang and the rice is always just the right level of heaviness –not light as air but not leaden from frying.  so even though now i no longer work anywhere near ennju,  i still sometimes stop off on my way back to brooklyn for this lovely, easy traveling dish.

and if i’m feeling hungry enough or have a long day ahead of me, i also might buy some of ennju’s excellent  japanese treats like the green tea daifuku, or my other favorite filled with red bean paste.  ennjucarries lots of other japanese snacks like pocky sticks, black sesame mousse and different kinds of crackers as well as some beer and sake.

as for what else to eat at ennju, the place is a smorgasbord of all things japanese prepared the fast way.  these include a sushi bar (half price after 9 on weekdays), curries, teriyakis, udon soups, rice balls and katsudon and other kinds of donburi.   i’m sorry to say i cannot recommend any of these as i haven’t tried them and .  and i am not crazy about the space. basically it’s a decent cafeteria with good bathrooms and has a super convenient location (also quite nearby a few other great cheap eats including rainbow falafel).   but if you’re in the mood for something cheap, fast, homey and asian, this is the place.  ennju, 20 east 17th street between 5th avenue and broadway, manhattan, new york, .

brooklyn is pretty sparse in the barbecue department.   other than smoke joint in fort greene, which doesn’t get great reviews, and the beloved but closed pies ‘n thighs (and which does not seem any closer to reopening), the only real contender for excellent bbq is  fette sau.   open in 2007 by the owners of  spuyten duyvil, fette sau has a fantastic warehouse-like space (originally an auto body shop) with a super casual, low key urban vibe.  its  large outdoor area is furnished with picnic tables and butcher murals cover the concrete walls making this a great spot to hang out for hours. 

fortunately, the style is matched by some pretty sweet barbecue.  fette sau’s bbq is all about the smoke (with more than four kinds of wood chips) and a specially-developed dry rub and an aversion to cooking with sauce.  often this approach leads to addictive delicious cuts of meat.   on the night we were there, we had the excellent st. louis style duroc pork spare ribs, which were soft, succulent and tangy.   for sauces, i loved their sweet bbq flavor, though they also have a vinegar (not so great) and a passila chile pepper one.

on that same visit, we also tried the black angus boneless beef ribs which were unfortunately dry and pretty tasteless.  but given how good the ribs were, i definitely need to return to try some of the other meats on offer.   fette sau prides itself on using organic meats from smaller farmers and as a result their choices vary daily.   we didn’t get to sample many that others have raved about including a revered pork belly,  pigs’ tails, leg of lamb, flank steak, various kinds of sausages  and even a pastrami with a 3-day brine (using a peppercorn and coriander rub).  and if you don’t make it during dinner hours (till 11 p.m.), fette sau offers bar snacks like pulled pork sliders and sausage sandwiches until closing time at 2 a.m. 

and while i loved my spare ribs, the sides — — are pretty mediocre.  except for guss’ pickles, which were tart and firm, the soft white rolls, the very meaty baked beans, a chilly broccoli salad and a not so beloved german potato salad were not so delightful. fortunately, the meat is sold by the pound, is not too pricey and is accompanied by an excellent drink selection with whiskeys,  draft beer like captain lawrence liquid gold and high and mighty fette sau, and even some unusual wines.

although fette sau easily achieves the best in show ranking in brooklyn, it is probably not the best barbecue joint in new york though it made time out’s recent bbq rundown .  since i am no expert (having only been to blue smoke and hill country) , i think that i have a nice bbq summer challenge ahead of me.   i will definitely make my way to dinosaur bar-b-que, daisy may’s bbq usa, bone lick park, and rub bbq so i can provide a better assessment.  fette sau, 354 metropolitan avenue near havemeyer street, brooklyn, new york, .

happy 4th of july everyone.  i’m taking the week off hopefully to work on some better indexing of the site and improved organization.   and in a few days, the whole family is on our way to d.c. for lots of swimming, friends and maybe even some monuments.  hope you have a great celebration now that it is finally hot and rain free in new york.