Vespa Raises the Wine Bar

Seeing as how Vespa, the Italian restaurant on 2nd Avenue between 84th and 85th Streets, is one of my very favorites, I was naturally eager to try the newest addition to the Vespa family, Bar Vespa, when it opened this winter. A bold new wine bar denoted by its red exterior, over which hangs a neon-lit clock, Bar Vespa, sitting between 83rd and 84th Streets, is right down 2nd Avenue from its counterpart. Yet, the first two times I tried to stop in for a drink, I wound up walking in only to turn around and walk right back out again – not for lack of good wine, attentive service, or ambience, but rather for lack of space. Attempting to bring a party of six or more to the tiny, narrow, and often crowded wine bar was perhaps not my best decision – either time. But when my friend Kristin and I were looking for somewhere to unwind this past Friday over wine and a light meal, I finally got the opportunity to go to Bar Vespa – and stay there.

The cozy venue is split in two, with an actual bar and several tables on the right-hand side and a plush lounge area to the left. Eager to try the comfy-looking lounge, with its long velvet banquette and low tabletops, Kristin and I didn’t mind waiting what turned out to be a quick five minutes in the traditional bar area, where we were able to order glasses of wine from the extensive menu. Featuring 100 Italian and Spanish wines, all of which are available in tasting portions, by the glass, or by the bottle, Bar Vespa has a wide selection and a staff that is knowledgeable about it all.

Once we were seated in the chic, European-style lounge area, our tasting portions of a Valpolicella and a Montepulciano in hand, Kristin and I began to mull over the appetizer-laden menu. Though not a full restaurant, Bar Vespa does have an ample selection of appetizers, cheese and meat tasting plates, as well as olives, salads, panini sandwiches, and luscious-looking desserts. In other words, there are plenty of options no matter how hungry you are. Relatively hungry, Kristin and I chose a chef’s selection of three meats and five cheeses, three types of olives (which our waitress kindly advised us on, as neither of us had ever heard of olives with names like ‘arbequinas’ and ‘nyon’ before) and a prosciutto panini, all to share.

The arrival of our selections was well-staggered, with our olives coming out first, followed by our panini, and then our meats and cheeses together. And we were impressed by it all. Our olives were some of the largest we had ever seen; our panini was warm, crisp, and perfectly-sized; and our meats and cheeses each had a distinct taste that was well-complemented by the delicious pear and white wine marmmalata and truffle honey spreads that came with them. We were also given miniature pieces of bread to pair with our wide range of choices, which included a spicy soppressata and an Iberian sobrano ham on the meat platter and a pecorino toscano, a gorgonzola cremificato, and a fleur de maquis on the cheese platter. We may not have been able to tell you which was which, but we enjoyed them all.

We also enjoyed the wine, which perfectly complemented our assortment. But we learned that, rather than ordering several tasting glasses, a venture that ran us each nearly forty dollars in wine alone, the more economical option would be to just pick one bottle to share. Though our bill was a bit higher than anticipated, however, the expense was certainly worth it, and we’re both eager to go back to Bar Vespa for another round of tastings.

And, if we get there early enough to snag ample space in the lounge, we may even bring a few friends.

A Taste of 'Jersey' in the City

This past fall, I purchased four tickets to Jersey Boys – one each for me, my mom, my dad, and my sister. Then I put the tickets in my desk drawer, where they sat for almost six months as we waited patiently to see the show we had heard so much about, the show that has been sold out for months in advance since it opened in November of 2005. On Saturday, however, our patience finally paid off. I dug into the depths of my desk drawer - where, luckily, our tickets were still crisply sealed in their envelope beneath a stack of old receipts, some paperclips, and a deck of cards – before meeting my family and heading to mid-town for the two o’clock matinee. And, though our day on Broadway was a long time coming, it was well worth the wait.

Headlining the August Wilson theater on 52nd Street, Jersey Boys tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, from their rough-and-tumble roots on the streets of New Jersey through their rise to the top of American pop superstardom, weaving the group’s many hits into the show with spot-on performances that leave you feeling as though you’re watching Frankie Valli himself. However, unlike many musicals that are based on the body of work of one particular group or musician – Mamma Mia or Movin’ Out, for example – Jersey Boys does not feel at all contrived. The music is by all means the backbone of the show, yet it fits perfectly into the biographical story of the group’s rise to the top. Most songs are performed under the guise of a Four Seasons concert or recording session, allowing the audience to experience the energy and excitement that such a performance would have held, while the group’s story is narrated between musical numbers by one of its members.

Though the group’s rise to success makes for a compelling story, it is the music that absolutely makes this show. Whether you, like my parents, grew up listening to such hits as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” and “C’Mon Marianne,” or, like me, became familiar with the Four Seasons through movies, TV commercials, and oldies radio stations, you will be itching to sing along to nearly every musical number, always eager for the next song. The actors who portray the four original group members are extremely convincing, nailing the Seasons’ movements, mannerisms, and voices – even Frankie Vallie’s fantastically unique falsetto – and leaving audience members (my mom included) dancing in their seats as though at an actual concert.

After the show, with a dearth of open cabs to be found, I ventured to take my family on a subway ride back uptown for dinner in my neighborhood. Though the crowded 6 train was certainly not the highlight of my father’s day, he – and the rest of us – enjoyed an early dinner at One83, the Italian restaurant on 1st Ave. between 83rd and 84th Streets. Only 5 o’clock when we arrived, One83 was nearly empty, and we had our pick of tables in the dimly lit, elegantly decorated dining area, where we were given the full attention of the wait staff. And apparently the kitchen staff, as well, as our avocado salad and buffala mozzarella appetizers were brought out right away, with our entrées following not long after – wild salmon for my dad, a seafood-stuffed ravioli special for my sister, and guitar-string pasta with lobster pieces for my mom and I.

We were all pleased with our meals, which were complemented by a rich cabernet and an endless supply of fresh bread and crunchy breadsticks. And we of course made sure to save room for dessert: warm apple tart and a soft chocolate lava cake, topped with coffee and tea and two plates full of complementary mini-biscotti-like cookies. It was a delicious meal that kicked off a weekend full of delicious food, of which there was plenty at yesterday’s family Easter celebration.

And on this year’s Easter soundtrack? The Four Seasons, of course.

To check availability and purchase tickets to Jersey Boys, click here.

Spring Happenings

Spring is in the air. Well, almost. Like the crocuses that are pushing their way through the newly defrosted earth in Carl Schurz Park, spring is peeking through the clouds and the cold weather, trying to warm up the city before the official start of the season this Thursday, and these hints of spring are leaving New Yorkers eager to get out and about and enjoy the almost-warm weather. However, as is often the case in the blustery month of March, spring has not yet fully sprung – although that shouldn’t stop you from getting out and helping the season along. Here are a few ways to celebrate the arrival of the 2008 spring season – even if it’s still a bit chilly to spend the day outdoors.

Get to the Met. Now on display at the Met are two exhibits that are perfect for this time of year. “Jaspar Johns: Gray” evokes the windy gray days of March as it looks at the use of the color gray by American artist Jaspar Johns from the 1950s to the present. Meanwhile, “Gustave Courbet” features the lush landscapes and rich portraits of the 19th-century French artist in a vivid retrospective that is perfect for spring. The Johns exhibit is on display until May 4; Courbet until May 18.

Celebrate the Whitney Biennial with a series of events that run through June 1 and examine everything from music to movies to art at this very modern museum.

Explore the latest exhibit at the Guggenheim, “From Berlin to New York: Karl Nierendorf and the Guggenheim”, an installation featuring the collection of Karl Nierendorf, whose extensive holdings were a major contribution to the museum’s Founding Collection.

Learn about the literacy efforts of the First Lady by attending a talk with Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna as they discuss literacy, education, and their new children’s book. To be held at the 92nd Street Y on April 22, the talk will be moderated by Vogue magazine writer Julia Reed. For tickets, click here.

Enjoy the beauty of the Hudson River Valley this spring by visiting “The Nature of a Nation: Paintings of the Hudson River School” at Questroyal Fine Art on Park Avenue and 79th Street. On display until April 5, this exhibit, featuring the verdant landscapes portrayed by the Hudson River School, will have you eager to explore the Hudson River Valley this spring.

Indulge your taste buds with The Chocolate Collection, an evening of chocolate and wine tasting at the 92nd Street Y. This event, run by culinary historian Alexandra Leaf, chocolate connoisseur Clay Gordon, and wine expert Costos Mouzouras, will be held on Sunday, March 30. For tickets, click here.

Step into the light – or, in this case, the light installations of artist Dan Flavin that are on display at the Zwirner & Wirth gallery on East 69th Street until May 3.

Help to spruce up Carl Schurz Park for the spring – while also exercising your green thumb – by volunteering as a gardener for the Carl Schurz Park Association. Gardening happens on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For this spring’s schedule, click here.

Happy Spring!

Orchids Galore

This morning, my friend Tracy and I hopped on the 4 train and journeyed to the Bronx. Why? you’re probably wondering. While the Bronx may be the last place most people would think about going on a gorgeous Sunday morning, preferring instead to go out to brunch, sip a latté in Starbucks, or wander around Central Park, the area has at least one very worthwhile destination for a Sunday or any day – the New York Botanical Garden. And, with the Orchid Show currently going on, the Bronx turned out to be the perfect place to spend this particular Sunday morning.

On display in the massive Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, the Orchid Show is absolutely breathtaking. Set against an Asian-style backdrop reminiscent of Singapore, which exports over 10 million sprays of orchids per year, the show features hundreds of species of orchids, including the butterfly orchid, the vanilla orchid, and Darwin’s orchid, some of the most popular. The Conservatory bursts with colors that range from deep purple to lemon yellow, blushing pink to lily white, with oranges, burgundies, and all sorts of pinks and reds in between. Each is unique in its own way, yet all are strikingly beautiful. Since words can’t quite describe the rare and delicate flowers that make up this stunning show, I’ll let several of the 74 photos that I couldn’t resist taking today allow the orchids to speak for themselves.

The Orchid Show is on display until April 6, and I highly recommend making the trip (less than 40 minutes from the UES) up to the Bronx to experience it. Tickets are $20 for adults and can be purchased online or at the Garden’s front gates. For directions, click here.

Keren Ann, Chianti, and Cab Fare

On the weekends, I have a tendency not to venture out of my neighborhood. When deciding where to go for dinner or what new spot to try for drinks, I usually end up picking a place that is within walking distance rather than one that requires upwards of 30 minutes on the subway or a $20 cab ride. But, though I love living on the UES, I at times feel that I should make more an effort to explore the rest of the city, and, with tickets to a show at The Bowery this past weekend, I was given the perfect opportunity to do so.

I bought tickets to see Paris- and New York-based singer/guitarist Keren Ann after hearing her stunning voice and jazzily mellow sounds on an indie Internet radio station. At the legendary East Village Ballroom this past Saturday, Keren Ann was performing in my friend Kristin’s neighborhood, so our group of four gathered at her apartment early Saturday evening before heading to dinner at Lil’ Frankie’s.

A casual pizza and pasta joint, Lil’ Frankie’s charges pizza-place prices for fresh Italian favorites. An exposed-brick interior decorated with a variety of colored-glass chandeliers and clunky Victorian frames creates a warm, slightly eclectic feel, while a long, well-stocked bar – at which four seats were conveniently waiting just for us – and an ample wine list clearly indicate that Lil’ Frankie’s is not your average pizza place.

After ordering glasses of rich Italian reds at the bar, the four of us were taken to our table, where we chose an assortment of homemade pasta dishes – tagliatelle with shrimp and fresh tomatoes, orechiette with sausage and broccoli rabe, baked gnocchi, and rigatoni with meat sauce. All were delicious and, considering our bill only came to about $20 per person, quite a deal.

Just full enough, we headed to The Bowery, only a five- to ten-minute walk away. Upon arriving, we checked our coats and thawed out over drinks in the downstairs lounge area, which features a full bar surrounded by clusters of candlelit tables, before moving into the venue’s standing-room only stage area for the show.

As the opening act wrapped up, the four of us managed to make our way up near the stage, where we had an excellent view of Keren Ann as she crooned songs from her latest album as well as several pieces (some of which were beautifully done in French) from albums past. Sipping wine, we enjoyed every second, from Keren Ann’s rich, melodious voice and soothing guitar sounds to the low-key crowd and laid-back venue.

All in all, venturing off the UES for the evening proved to be well worth the trip. Although I have to admit that, at the end of the night, I was glad to be home.