A Food-Filled Birthday

This past weekend, I celebrated my birthday with the three Fs that make getting older much easier to do: friends, family, and lots and lots of food.

On Saturday, my college girlfriends and I celebrated with our usual birthday ritual—a gathering that typically involves lunch and presents and gives us an excuse to see each other every other month or so. My friend Tracy hosted this time around, and I was treated to a luncheon luau and pool party featuring a full spread of mouth-watering tropical fare. We soaked up the perfectly sunny day on beach chairs in her backyard while sipping homemade sangria and digging into pineapple-rum chicken, Hawaiian pasta salad, mango salsa, and fresh watermelon in between dips in the pool. Though the day alone was more than enough of a birthday treat in itself, I was also treated to thoughtful gifts, as well as delicious birthday brownies and cupcakes. What more could a birthday girl ask for?

Really, nothing. But there was more to come as I celebrated on Sunday (my actual birthday) with my family—and more food. In keeping with the tropical theme of the weekend, we went to dinner at a restaurant near my parents’ house in northern New Jersey called Joel’s Malibu Kitchen. A quick walk from the Ridgewood train station, Joel’s features colorful, 60s-themed décor and an eclectic menu that boasts an array of California-style seafood and pasta dishes with Mexican, Italian and even Asian accents. Being able to gather around a table with family is yet another birthday treat, one not to be taken for granted. And I certainly appreciated every minute of it, eating every last bite of my pecan-covered Mahi Mahi—and still managing to find room for the ice cream cake my mom had waiting at home.

A birthday weekend that went above and beyond in every way possible turned into even more when Lauren, just back from a month of traveling, offered to take me out for a birthday dinner on Monday night. Not having seen each other since mid-June, we were eager to be roommates again and to catch up on each other’s various vacations. Looking for something a bit on the lighter side, I suggested a relatively new sushi restaurant I had been wanting to try: Ko, on York Avenue between 85th and 86th Streets.

With its navy blue awning and light wood trim, Ko’s welcoming exterior is just as appealing as its interior. Bigger than most sushi spots on the UES, Ko features a roomy dining area with an assortment of amply-spaced tables and a very friendly wait staff. Lauren and I settled in and requested glasses of sauvignon blanc and an order of edamame before we dove into the menu, which featured an extensive assortment of teriyaki, tempura, and hibachi entrees, noodle bowls, and a section full of special lobster dishes in addition to a long list of sushi, sashimi, and special rolls.

Unlike some sushi restaurants, where all of the menu items can begin to sound the same, Ko offered a wide variety of rolls, each one differing from the rest in a unique way. From these creative combinations, we managed to choose several rolls to share. Our highlights were the Fashion Roll: tuna, salmon, cucumber, avocado, and masago; the Manhattan Roll: shrimp tempura and spicy tuna inside, scallops and tobiko outside; and the Spicy Spider Roll: soft-shell crab wrapped in avocado, scallion, and masago. After dinner, we were able to linger over our wine and a complimentary bowl of fresh pineapple and honeydew melon. I think I found my new go-to sushi spot.

After three days full of food and, most important of all, family and friends, I think my birthday celebration is complete.

The Bryant Park Grill: Outdoors and Overrated

Many Manhattan restaurants receive a lot of hype. For some, this hype is warranted; for others, it is simply hype. This week I dined in a restaurant that, unfortunately, falls into the latter category: the Bryant Park Grill.

With an expansive, umbrella-covered patio, classy wicker chairs and forest green awnings, a sleek European-style dining room, a rooftop garden, and – most importantly – a choice location perched atop Bryant Park, the Bryant Park Grill certainly has a lot going for it. And, like the smooth-talking banker you’ll often find positioned in the most visible spot on the restaurant’s patio, it knows it. Thus, the well-heeled hostesses who greet you with a glare, and a menu featuring fare that costs more than double its worth.

I stopped at the Grill for the first time a few weeks ago, for after-work drinks on the rooftop garden, an endeavor that required me to fight my way through a standing-room-only crowd of aspiring young business-folk eager to see and be seen. Though the view of the park was grand, I was too busy guarding my glass of wine from the elbow-rubbing – and often elbow-bumping – circles to take the time to enjoy it. Needless to say, I was not impressed.

I decided, however, to give the Grill a second chance this week. Attracted by the peaceful twilit patio and lush, summery setting – and not sure where else to go – my friend Kristin and I stopped in for a late dinner on Tuesday night. And I must say that this experience was much better than the last in most ways. The patio was quiet and not at all crowded, which meant that we were seated right away and received prompt and attentive service all night. And we were treated to views of the park, alive with the buzz of a summer evening, and the fully-blooming flower baskets situated around the patio. For the duration of the evening, these highlights did not disappoint.

But when it came to the menu, the Bryant Park Grill just did not measure up. Featuring an array of salads, seafood, pasta dishes, and other traditional American cuisine, the Grill doesn’t offer anything especially unique, yet they charge quite a price for their very standard fare. The stir-fry that I chose featured ginger shrimp, Portobello mushrooms, and white rice, and, while it was definitely tasty, I could easily have made a similar dish at home for much less than the $27 the Grill was charging. Kristin’s penne primavera was similar; featuring shrimp and an array of vegetables, it was good – but I don’t know that it was quite worth the $24.75 she paid for it.

One could argue that the outdoorsy atmosphere and park views are worth the extra cost, and for some they very well may be. But, next time, I think I’d rather grab a sandwich and just sit in the park instead.

Vacation Inspiration

Being on vacation for nearly two weeks is, well, wonderful. But, with a long, relaxing vacation typically comes a long period of playing catch up once said vacation comes to an end. After having spent close to two weeks on the West Coast on what turned out to be quite an amazing trip, I am still trying to dig out from under the piles that accumulated in my inbox while I was gone. So, while I finish getting caught up, here are a few photos from my trip. I hope they inspire you to take a nice, long vacation of your own.

I spent July 4th on the beach in San Diego, where I helped to make the best sandcastle ever (well, almost):

Next up was a road trip to Las Vegas, where I strolled the strip, lounged by the pool in nearly 110-degree weather, spent an afternoon at the spa...and had such a fabulous time that I actually forgot to gamble.

Best of all, however, was a camping trip on Catalina Island. Never having been camping before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and I was certainly surprised - but very pleasantly so. Catalina was absolutely gorgeous, and the dry, mountainous island's amazing views made it the ideal location for hiking, kayaking, swimming, sunbathing, tracking wild bison (yes, I really did that - they are all over the island), and roasting marshmallows under the stars. It was truly a perfect trip, and one that made me eager to go camping again.

All in all, it was an amazing trip - and one that was completely worth the amount of catching up I had to do when I got back.

To Cab or Not to Cab

That is the question that most New Yorkers face on a daily basis, and one that I’ve been pondering over the past few days as I get ready to head to the West coast for vacation on a flight that leaves from JFK, quite possibly the most inconvenient of airports.

Sure, a cab would be the easiest and most likely the quickest way to get out to Jamaica, but it is certainly not the most cost-effective means of transportation. From the Upper East Side, a typical fare to JFK runs about $45 to $50, plus tip and tolls. When all is said and done, cabs to and from the airport can tack upwards of $100 extra on to the cost of your trip. Suddenly, that great deal you found on Expedia doesn’t look so great anymore.

But what are the alternatives? While it may seem as though a cab is the only reasonable option, there are actually several other ways to get out to JFK. Some are more convenient than others. All are less convenient than a cab. But they are all much more affordable. Here are your options:

Subway: The JFK AirTrain connects the airport to the subway system via the A and the E trains. From the UES, your best bet is to take the 6 train to 51st Street, where you can switch to the E. Once on the E, it’s a straight, albeit somewhat long, shoot to the Sutphin Blvd./Archer Ave./JFK Airport stop, where you can pick up the AirTrain.
Time: Prepare for at least 90 minutes total.
Cost: $7 total ($2 for the subway, $5 for the AirTrain, which you can pay for with your MetroCard as long as it’s a pay-as-you-go rather than an unlimited card)

Bus and Subway: If, like me, the 6 is a bit of a hike for you, especially with a large piece of luggage in tow, the M31 bus provides an alternate route over to the E train. Pick up the M31 anywhere on York Ave. below 96th Street, and take it to the 57th and Broadway stop. Walk just four blocks, down to 53rd and Broadway, where you can hop on the E without the hassle of having to hike to the 6 and then switch trains. Then, take the E to the AirTrain as above.
Time: Give yourself at least 90 minutes to two hours for this one, depending on where you pick up the M31, just in case the bus hits traffic.
Cost: $7

LIRR: From Penn Station, you can take the Long Island Rail Road to the Jamaica Station stop, where you can pick up the AirTrain. The only problem here is getting to Penn Station, which, from the UES, can sometimes be as much of a hassle as getting to JFK. But if you’ve made it to the E train and are looking for a slightly quicker and more comfortable trip, the LIRR is the way to go.
Time: The LIRR only takes about 20 minutes to get from Penn Station to Jamaica. But you’ll also have to account for the trip to Penn Station, which can take up to 45 minutes from the UES.
Cost: The LIRR to Jamaica is $12 during peak hours, $10 off-peak. However, you can save almost 50% by purchasing WebTickets through the MTA website. Add to this the $2 ride to Penn Station and $5 for the AirTrain, and you’ll spend somewhere between $12 and $20, depending on when you go and how you purchase tickets.

I’m off to sunny San Diego for the next week and a half, the longest vacation I’ve taken in a while, and one that I’m very much looking forward to. While I’m still weighing my options before my flight later this afternoon, as of now I’m leaning toward taking the M31 to midtown and picking up the E.

Unless, of course, a cab happens to come by as I’m waiting for the bus…