Red Rooster

Around two weeks ago my best friend Jorge and I found each other in the heart of Harlem for brunch.  What we didn't know was that it was going to turn into such a cultural and soulful one.







For a long time I have been meaning to visit Marcus Samuelsson's (who won Bravo's Top Chef Masters) Red Rooster in Harlem but even though it's only a subway ride away it always seemed too far when hungover.  So as a true "manhattanite" we made the field trip into Harlem (I know it sounds awful specially when Harlem is in Manhattan but many locals will understand that it's a whole new world up there) to find this well known place.  After getting off on 125st station, walking pass the Apollo theater, and running into the African American Parade (which to be honest I've never heard of it) we made it to Red Rooster.

Lets just begin by saying that the restaurant is beautiful.  The place is decorated with old photos which include past Jazz singers, retro signs and even a bookshelf filled with old books and items that marked the old school Harlem.  While we waited on the bar for our table I soon realized that this place was not so much about the food but the experience.  While enjoying a "Savoy" (a drink composed of vodka, lemon, muddle grapes, and agave) a lady sang the blues through the crowd, integrating the people in her soul/gospel chorus.  This improv feeling gave the place a lot of character and the Deviled Eggs (probably the best I've had in a long time) that were put in front of me complimented the 360 degree experience.

I will be honest, the food is good but not great.  I had the fried chicken with gravy and mashed potatoes (when in Rome) and Jorge had the burger.  The place is not an "eat and go" kind of place but rather a place to sit and take in all the ambiance.  I found out through the staff that they also have a speakeasy themed Jazz bar in the basement that opens from Thursday to Saturdays called Ginny's Supper Club.


Although many will consider the place catered for the "white people" in the area, I believe it is a good and respectful representation of the roots of American Cousine and will recommend it to anybody on a nice Sunday afternoon.  Now when it comes to Baton girls twerking on the previously mentioned parade I don't know....

The Art of Picnic

With the fall season here and the summer finished so is the season of picnic.  In hindsight, I come to the following realization: Doing a picnic is not only seasonal but cultural.
Every summer Central Park in NYC gets full with thousands of people doing picnics.  You gather with a group of friends in the park for a chill out afternoon of food and even games.  The menu tends to be always quite the same: you have the inevitable hummus (which everyone thinks for some reason that they are the only ones bringing it and then you end up with 20 of them in the blanket),  fruits, cookies, salad, peanuts, cheese....all of this paired with a nice wine (usually white 'cause of the heat).


 *Side note for cheese: Cheese during a picnic is an interesting topic since this is the one item that defines and categorizes people.  Some people will bring Gouda, Goat, Brie (this are the ones that actually know and enjoy real cheese) and then you have the ones that buy the cubed cheddar that comes on the box with the pre-cut ham from Kraft (the one that you eat at kids parties with a toothpick..that one)! Needless to say that the ones that bring the Kraft ones never eat their own cheese but the Brie...


For me doing a picnic was a learned thing since growing in PR we never do.  The idea of me grabbing a blanket and going to eat in a park in PR was very farfetched.  I would like to see my friends face if I even make such a suggestion.  I believe it is because our equivalent for this kinda of activity is the beach.  When we go to the beach, we "picnic" in the sand.  Usually with games, music and beer as the alcoholic drink of choice (also because of the extreme heat).  The closest in PR that I've been to a "picnic" it's a kid's birthday in the park but there is usually a gazebo that is used.  Again, the idea of me sitting on the grass where dogs most likely poo is unheard of.

A picnic was something that I grew watching in movies believing that it was also one of Hollywood's biggest lies.  I couldn't believe who will actually grab a basket and a blanket and actually do this.  It makes me wonder, are places with a nearby beach like PR, Miami, LA not into doing picnics at all?  Is it a cultural thing?  What do you think?

Penelope's

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.  Whomever invented the concept of brunch has a seat assigned in heaven in my eyes.  Don't you hate when you wake up late and hungover and all you want are eggs and bacon and the place is already serving lunch?  So having breakfast at 2 in the afternoon is an act coming directly from God's orders.

There are so many places to go to brunch in NYC on a Saturday or Sunday it all depends if you want really good food, classical or the party kind.  A few years back my best friend was visiting from PR and she took me to Penelope's (its funny how it took someone that doesn't live here but then again its in Murray Hill and there was no way I was gonna run into it otherwise).  

                                         It was love at first sight!  I don't know about people but when it comes to restaurants it does exist.  With  the appearance of an old wooden house this little restaurant lives up to its look.  Although there is usually a waiting time they have complimentary coffee while you wait as so to make you feel at home.  The food is very creative mixing some old school omelets and eggs plates with more complex sauces like balsamic mayos or a side of apple/chicken sausage.  If you are on a sweeter mood the Nutella French Toasts made on baguette bread are to die for.  But the plate which they are known for is their Pumpkin Waffles, which are topped with cranberry's and cinnamon butter....do I need to say more.  All of you Pumpkin pie lovers will go insane when you try this delicacy but be careful because it's only found during Fall and Winter season.

The service is good and friendly.  Everything is organic and fresh and has this "country" feeling that makes you feel that you are at some good ol' bed and breakfast.  I wouldn't recommend large groups but trust me when I say its worth the wait.

So next time you are feeling a little adventurous, head to Penelope's for a food experience  that will leave you with a smile on your face.  Won't promise that you will find much more of interest on that neighborhood but its worth the trip.

Monkey Journey to the West

I recently went with my roommate the show Monkey Journey to the West at Lincoln Center.  Driven by the buzz that the brainss of the musical group Gorillaz were behind it, I couldn't be more excited. Oh what a surprise! Not only in a good way but also in a bad, unfortunately.


I have heard that the show has been a smash hit internationally and that the critic praise was amazing but in the end and on its defense "Monkey" (how we are referring to it from now on 'cause the name is too long) the show is simply not for everybody.
Based on a chinese classic Journey to the West which central character is a monkey that can transform into different creatures to overcome its obstacles in life, "Monkey" combines animation, opera, and circus acts.  They set the atmosphere from the moment you enter the bar and order the various house drinks with banana liquor.  The show is composed of 9 scenes.


The first half of these how is based on the arrogant attitude of the Monkey King looking for immortality at whichever cost, this eventually puts him in a jail by The Buddha himself and after 500 hundred years is released.  In this first half the acts include a big screen that comes into the stage with the animation that made Gorillaz famous but quickly the monkey character is not likable and ends up just being plain annoying.

The second half of the show consist of the Monkey King being released of this "jail" with the condition to help a Buddhist monk find the Buddha scriptures in a far off land.  The show is clearly a quest and if you are familiar with anime, you will understand the concept right away.

The main problem with the show is that while you are reading the subtitles of the song you are missing on the most amazing theatrical stunts.  It is very hard to keep up with everything that is happening at the same time.  Although the ending has a Wizard of OZ type of lesson, in which all this other characters that have joined Monkey on the quest are awarded with some title that give them redemption in their own personal stories, it is a little too late since the kung fu fighting gets old and not everyone is into the over exaggerated fighting gestures (again think anime) plus it stops using the animation which I think its what gave the show its main edge.

I am glad I saw it but honestly would be careful as to recommend it since counting my roommate I noticed people leaving the theater.  It is an interesting take on this tale and even though some parts are visually jaw dropping, like I said in the beginning...not for everybody.  So no "monkey see, monkey do on this case".

The Frying Pan, NYC

I don't like to feel like a tourist when I travel.  I love to visit friends in different cities and have them treat me like one of them.  I will skip the tourists traps and instead explore the food and dive bars off the main road streets.  I love experiencing that particular city through the local's point of view and discover  that there is so much more that the tourists pamphlets don't show.  So every time someone is visiting NYC and ask me of an interesting place to go I always recommend The Frying Pan.

The Frying Pan is a boat that had sunk on the Chesapeake Bay and was under water for three years.  After that it was sold to their current owner which decided to dock it with a  train car barge on the Chelsea Piers and turn it into the ultimate "dive" bar.  Because of its location it only opens seasonal from Spring to Fall which makes it more appealing for those who know that all the good stuff in NYC happens during this period of time.

It is one of my favorite spots because people lay very low wearing flip flops and shorts.  It's a good place to hit with a group of friends to enjoy beer and pitchers of sangria while watching the sunset on the Hudson River.  The barge has the kitchen with the dinning area which is exposed to the weather (I experienced storm while been there and it wasn't fun) and a 16 foot observation flank that lets you take in the city in the most spectacular way while also watching the helicopters land in the heliport next door.  The actual "Frying Pan" boat has sitting areas all over its deck and if you are lucky you might find it open to explore the antique insides.

The food is simple yet good since like I said it's not about the food but of an experience with friends.  Its about sitting there in a boat doing nothing but drink, laugh and joke, and forget about the hectic city since even though you are still in Chelsea it makes you feel like you have left it.  Depending on the time and day it can go from a chill to an overwhelming atmosphere so I recommend Sunday afternoons or weekday evening for a quieter time.

Next time you are around Chelsea Piers check out The Frying Pan (It is registered as an historic place believe it or not so you could include it in your "museum list").  Try their burger with cajun fries and a bucket of beers with friends.  The worst that can happen is that a sudden thunderstorm gets you wet but then again you are in a boat!

Keeping Traditons Alive

Last Thursday was the 4th of July and I had to work.  While everybody was getting ready to go to a BBQ, to the beach or simply to somebody's house to hang and celebrate what should be one of USA's, if not the biggest, Holiday during the whole year I was at work.  Some of you might be thinking that the biggest is probably Christmas but if you are Jewish you don't participate in it so this one and maybe Thanksgiving are the only two that apply to the whole country.

Maybe I come from a country that over celebrates everything, that looks for any excuse to call it a "holiday" and have a day off (PR is the country with most "holidays" celebrated in a year's calendar since we celebrate our own plus USA's ones.  Funny how nobody complains about being a colony during those days).  I do believe that certain days should be off for everybody , have the commerce close and let everyone enjoy it.  Little by little we are losing this type of celebrations.  More and more companies want to open and sell during theses days.  Trust me Thanksgiving is next and instead of going home to season that turkey with mom you will be part of the capitalist mentality either by working or going to shop during it.  There will be a day that all the stores will be open and it would just become one more day.  Losing the beauty and excitement that encompasses these days.

I left work early, and like the past 5 years headed to my friend Johanna's rooftop.  It is never the fanciest of parties and it never is because it is not about that.  It is about being together and celebrate freedom, the fact that we live in an amazing city, that we can be who we are without feeling ashamed or embarrassed, and that we have great people to share it with.  Thats what it was, and is, about.

While the fireworks bursted in the air and an old man sang "American Pie, I felt great happiness that we make it a point to conserve this tradition.

Bogotá Latin Bistro

 "Brooklyn?  Really?!  Ugh!"  That was my first reaction when I was invited to my friend Ashley's farewell dinner in Park Slope, Bk.  A common reaction if you live in Manhattan that is shared the other way around also.  Although we are all part of the same city since NYC is made up of 5 boroughs (including Staten Island which is treated like another state to be honest) and it is only minutes away in a train, leaving your comfort zone is a big thing.  We were not talking about Williamsburg or Brooklyn Heights which are conveniently right over the bridge but Park Slope, right in the heart of Brooklyn.

I had to leave work and hail all the way from the Upper East Side to some Latin restaurant in BK.  On top of it all it was Latin and I was worried since me being Puerto Rican has made me very critical of what people serve as Latin food in the city.  Most people think that we all eat the same stuff and as long as you add rice and beans its...voilà Latin!  Not the case, trust me!  In this case it was Bogotá Latin Bistro.  Oh boy was I in for a surprise but thankfully a good one!

At the beginning I was very apprehensive about the place since  it was full of the clichés that every Latin restaurant has when it comes to drinks.  The usual mojitos, sangrias and even piña coladas (which to my surprise was very well done) filled the drink menu but the standout was the sangrita which combines sangria and margarita in one frozen deliciousness.  Although it has a strong Colombian feel to it with its ballenato music as a background the restaurant combines Latin food from many different countries like Cuba, PR, and even Mexican.  Decorated in a very colorful and vivid manner with flying heart signs, paintings and street art that could have any minimalist asking for a Xanax, the real senses overload comes with all the amazing flavors in the food.

From a variety of arepas, empanadas, fried plantains and an assortment of meats this restaurant is very well rounded when it comes to options.  It could be a little overwhelming if you are like me that can't have that many options but later I've realized that every single plate is very well crafted. Trust me I've been to a lot of Latin restaurants and the pernil in this place blew me away!  Marinated in beer and their orange mojo it was just simply delicious.  The winner of this place is their coconut rice, not done in a Thai way but with all the flavors that define a good Latin rice.  To end things in a high note the Tres Leches cake is done to perfection but you shouldn't leave without trying their key lime pie.  

It's been a while since I've been blown away with food this good.  Brooklyn is full of great restaurants and this one is one to add to my list of favorites.  The train ride?  I guess I'll live!

PRIDE

It is that time of the year when we put our rainbow flags out there for the world to see.  Although the fight is far from over, this year our Pride became bigger with last week's Supreme Court decision to shut down DOMA and Prop 8, and Cher! I mean when we  have the Supreme Court and Cher aka The Gay Pope on our side what else can we ask for?! The real beauty of NYC Pride is that is not only our celebration but everyone's in the city since thankfully we live in a place where we welcome difference. We celebrate individuality and we fight for every single person to share the same rights. Pride is something we carry the whole year not just for a day.  It is a day to thank all of those who fight everyday for us and all the straight allies that support the fight for equality. Paint the town with the rainbow this weekend but also try to do it everyday. You'll life will be definetely more fun and colorful!

Cocoon

Remember the movie Cocoon where a group of elderly people in a retirement complex get into a pool that rejuvenates them?  That's exactly how I feel every Friday and Sundays.

I like exercising but I hate the gym.  I don't have the patience and attention for weights or the treadmill. My mind on a treadmill goes something like this: ok let's do this Pedro...music is set...ok jogging...let's watch the news meanwhile...oh the headphones don't work...ok now...my neck is beginning to hurt...what happened in Syria?...my neck is really bothering me....why isn't her neck hurting next to me...I'm thirsty...getting tired...ugh that Wendy's commercial made me hungry...maybe I should get some after here, after all I'm earning it...what? she's been running for 30 mins?!....Im bored...I only been doing this for 5mins!...










So I found an exercise that I love in swimming. Every time I go into the pool I feel like I leave everything bad in the water.  I feel reborn and cleansed of every bad energy.  To make my exercise regime more interesting I started going to the water aerobics class my gym offers.  So every Friday morning and Sunday at noon I exercise with mostly elderly in the water.

 When I first went I honestly thought it was going to be a waste of time thinking that the instructor was going to tame it down for this old folks.  Not the case!  The class is composed with a very eclectic age group and instructor Jenni Lynn Patterson doesn't hold back.  For an hour of almost non stop moves which includes the use of weights and a noodle, Jenni takes you on a very fun journey that leaves you renewed and with a smile in your face.   Jenni is the creator of S'WET which uses a variety of moves taken from boxing, cross country, ballet, yoga, and even cheerleading!  All of this inside water since its is known that water adds hydrostatic pressure that open your blood vessels wider allowing the flow of more oxygenated blood which lets your muscles work more efficiently with less pain.

Not only I enjoy and feel the effectiveness of the class but I am also in awe of this elderly that come to do it.  It makes me admire the fact that they are still active at their age.  I take my hat off to them, knowing they have lived but still feel young enough to do this.  Many might think that they feed on the energy of the young ones but I believe its the other way around.  I feel that we take the most amazing energy from them every time we get in the water.  Just like Cocoon!

For  more info on Jenni Lynn Patterson go to her website www.jennilynnfitness.com

Glasses from the grave

My mom is crazy.  Plain and simple.  I love her to death but God knows that sometimes I just don't know what to think.  For all of you wondering, my sense of humor comes from my mom but what was once funny has turned into plain crazy.
I while back I was speaking to my mom on the phone telling her how my roommate and I were such big drunks that we kept breaking our wine glasses and that we might need to start buying new ones.  Somehow this preempted my mom to start buying me random cups or funny glasses every time she would go to the mall.  Imagine my face when I opened a package she has sent me to find a Santa Claus cup (or chalice...I really don't know what the fuck is it)... in April.  We must not forget the "Feeling Frosty" beer glass that accompanied it...in April.
I didn't know I had created a monster.  Apparently my mother saw it in her to fill our glass cabinet one way or another.  So about two weeks later my mom called and tells me she had gotten us some glasses, to let her know when we receive them.  A few days later I received the package and to my surprise they were quite nice.  So I called my mom to thank her for the glasses and this is how it went down:
Mom: Hello?
Me: Hi Mom, how are you?
Mom: I'm ok...you know the same
Me:  Well, I was calling to tell you that I received the package with the glasses.  Thank you a lot, they are very nice!
Mom:  Oh yeah...so sad for Mrs Annie....
Me: Ummm...what do you mean?
Mom:  Well, you know how I had told you that my front neighbor Mrs Annie had passed.  So after you told me that you needed wine glasses her son came to clean the house since they are selling it and told me to go in and grab whatever I wanted...
Me: What?
Mom: ...so I went in and grab you some wine glasses.  I'm so glad you guys liked them
Me: What?
Yep, that's my mom!  From then on I fear to ask her for anything since now I own wine glasses from an old lady that lies six feet under.  I should probably take them to Antique Road Show, one might never know where this glasses came from!

It takes two to Tango

I love when this city surprises me.  That moment when you are walking and make a turn on that street that you never walk by and stumble onto something special.  That little café with homemade pastries, an art installation from an upcoming artist or even live music at some random restaurant.

A few days ago it happened to me but this time it was rather in the open and in the last place I expected.  While walking in Union Square (famously known for always having some kind of protest, vendors, chess challenges, a dog park, musicians and even a local farmers market 3 times a week) I ran into people dancing Tango.  In the northern part of the park, inside the little hall that formerly was Luna Cafe, there were about 15 or so couples dancing to Tango.

The beauty of this moment was that amidst the extremely overwhelming activity of Union Sq. you could find such a peaceful picture.  As in a trance I sat for a while to observe the beauty of this dance and the enthralling commitment of these couples.  Every sound around me just disappeared and instead this beautiful instrumental pieces filled me whole making me forget for a few minutes where I was.  It reminded me that I do live in a great city, one that not only is tough but also sensitive.  As the sunset took place and the melodies continued I was reminded by this random moment that beauty exists everywhere, even in the middle of chaos.