04Jan

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Tour of New York City

Photo by On Location Tours Disclosure: I was invited to review On Location Tours, but all opinions are my own. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, now in its third season, is one of my favorite shows of the last decade. Its depiction of a Jewish family in NYC in the late 1950s plus the writing by Amy Sherman-Palladino plus the acting plus the active chatter all resonate on a very personal level. I love the characters - they have spunk, charisma, charm, and a whole lot of Jewishness. The writing is also very unique, funny, and so very NYC - at least, the NYC Read More

04Nov

Guest Post: Why I’ve Taken My Kids to See the Big Apple Circus Four Years in a Row

Guest writer Liat Ginsberg is a mother and former journalist for the Israeli newspaper, Maariv. She has taught at the Film and Media Department at Hunter College. If you are wondering if it's worth the hassle to take your kids to sit in a tent to watch two hours of high energy circus performers? If you want to invest in pleasant childhood memories and support a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to make you and children happy, do it, Big Apple Circus is 100% worth the effort. If you also think, "Oh, again? I took my kids last year to Read More

18Oct

My New Culinary Find: LEYLA on the Upper West Side

I was so happy to discover a wildly new delicious Upper West Side restaurant that serves Turkish cuisine last week called LEYLA. My guest and I were intrigued by each and every dish and were really impressed by the level of detail in taste, originality, and authenticity, as well. We are both in love with Mediterranean food, so LEYLA spoke to both of us on a very deep and genuine level. The restaurant itself is small and intimate, with a definite sense of Turkish influence in style and design with beautiful textiles. It's colorful, comfortable, and Read More

27Sep

My Latest Upper West Side Discovery: Roasted Masala

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Last week I experienced a new Indian restaurant on the Upper West Side called Roasted Masala. As a former resident of the neighborhood, I was quite eager to return to my old stomping grounds for what I felt would be a unique culinary experience. I had read that the restaurant is helmed by Chef Jawad Rehman, who uses Northen India recipes passed down from his grandfather. He used to watch as his grandfather created cuisine for large and lavish Indian weddings.  Those storied recipes are now brought to life at Roasted Masala for diners to Read More

12Aug

Lunch at Toriko in Greenwich Village, a Culinary Find

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Yesterday my son went into NYC to for lunch at Toriko NY, a restaurant that has recently launched new lunch menu items. It was an opportunity for us to head to Greenwich Village on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and I used my time well, heading to the Guggenheim after lunch for a dose of modern art. Toriko is known as one of the top Japanese yakitori and wine concepts from Tokyo Restaurants Factory, helmed by Chef de Cuisine Manabu Asanuma previously of MIFUNE New York.  As Japanese food lovers, we welcomed the opportunity to try Read More

26Jun

A Simply Sublime Israeli Meal at NYC’s BUSTAN

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If you're looking for an exquisite meal and you love Israeli food, you simply must visit BUSTAN. I was invited for a tasting recently, which I went in for with zero expectations, and I came out with a new favorite NYC restaurant. For one thing, I adore Israeli food. For another, I'm a vegetarian, and I love Israeli ingredients - the fresh vegetables, spices, and flavors. BUSTAN nailed all of my passions and desires. I am not necessarily a foodie, but after a visit there, I may be converted to one. I knew I was in for a treat from the moment I stepped Read More

10Jun

The 10 Best Quotes Heard Backstage at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards

Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions This year the press room at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards was buzzing with excitement as news of the winning recipients flooded in throughout the evening. The room was full of reporters from around the world, writing for all kinds of publications from print to broadcast. It was an honor to be inside, and I relished my contact with the journalists and performers who came through to speak to us. These are people who love theater as much as I do, if not more. There weren’t too many surprises Read More

24Dec

Celebrating the Holidays with Alvin Ailey During Their 60th Anniversary Season

Yesterday I was fortunate to attend Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's special Family Matinee series in Manhattan at City Center. I took my 14-year-old son to witness the greatness that this group of modern dancers brings to their work and I hope he remembers it for years to come. The program was Timeless Ailey, featuring over a dozen treasures from Mr. Ailey’s wonderfully rich body of work, including highlights of seldom-seen gems Mary Lou’s Mass and The Lark Ascending. The result was electrifying. My son had never been to a modern dance Read More

08Oct

Wokuni: An Unexpected Culinary Treasure Trove for Kids (and Adults) in Midtown Manhattan

If you're looking for an unusual and delicious kid's menu entree for kids in Manhattan, you have to head to Wokuni, an upscale Japanese seafood restaurant in midtown. It's their first-ever kid's menu and it's called Captain Kuni's Treasure Ship. Plus, it's at an incredible value - $10 for kids under 12 years old, served at both lunch and dinner. My son and I were eager to try it, and other things on the menu, so we set a date and tried it last week. The restaurant is very modern and trendy, yet inviting and comfortable. We slid into a private table Read More

28Jul

Gulliver’s Gate: An Unexpected Treat in Times Square

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Last week my son and I played tourist in New York City. When I asked him what he wanted to do, he suggested Gulliver’s Gate. I was impressed that my son brought an idea to my attention so I quickly set the wheels in motion to take him there. Never heard of it? Gulliver’s Gate is a miniature world experience that offers an interactive display representing various regions of the world and famous landmarks, as well as moving trains, planes, wagons and people of the past and present. There are levers along the way which people pull to create motion within Read More