Free Books!

Since the age of about eight, I have been a voracious reader, flying through books the way an elementary school classroom flies through Kleenex. From the Babysitters’ Club series around the fourth grade to the conclusion of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series just a few weeks ago, I have always been quick to get lost in a book and just as quick to finish it—and this is most especially true in the summer.

Yet, as I learned by the time I reached Babysitters’ Club book number five, being a serial reader can add up not just in terms of the books on your shelf, but in terms of the cash that makes its way out of your wallet (or piggy bank, if you’re the age I was when I first realized that books cost money). Reading, especially reading several newly purchased books each week, can be an expensive habit. If you, too, are constantly tempted by the display window at Barnes & Noble and the crisp, pulpy scent of the brand new books inside, there is somewhere for you to turn—and it’s called the library.

While the main branch of the New York Public Library draws quite a bit of attention with its vast, stately appearance, its Bryant Park location, and its iconic lions, the smaller branches scattered across Manhattan and the outer boroughs are much easier to miss—especially when there is a bright and shiny Borders, complete with a café full of lattes and low-fat muffins, right around the corner. But those smaller branches really are there, and they are just as quick and convenient—and much less expensive—than your favorite bookstore. Here’s all you need to know to take advantage of the branches in our area.

Where: The NYPL has seven branches on the UES: the 58th Street Branch, the 67th Street Branch, the 96th Street Branch, the 125th Street Branch, the Aguilar Branch, the Webster Branch, and the Yorkville Branch.

What: All you need is a library card, and you’ll be able to borrow from (and return to) any of the 85 Branch Libraries. As long as you live, work, or attend school in New York state, you can get a library card for free by filling out an application. For more information, and to apply for a card, click here.

How: You can check the NYPL’s holdings via LEO, the online catalog system, which you can access once you are registered card holder. When you find the book you’re looking for online, you can then request that it be sent to whatever branch is closest to you, and you’ll be notified by email when it arrives. Once you’re done with it, you can return it to whatever branch you like.

Why: Because whether old, new, or borrowed, books are always a good thing.

A Capital Weekend

This year, I took my Labor Day long weekend a little bit early. Rather than fight the stream of traffic that is sure to pour out of the city starting at the end of next week, I decided to head out of town this past Sunday instead to spend a few days in the nation’s capital.

A straight shoot across the George Washington Bridge and about four hours south on I-95, Washington is a relatively quick and easy trip from the city, which makes it perfect for a long weekend. And heading down on an off day—a Sunday or a weekday, for example—is your best chance for a smooth and hassle-free drive that will have you seeing the sights of D.C. in no time.

Washington is like New York in that it is a city full of history and alive with the energy of its inhabitants, both locals and tourists alike. Yet D.C. has a vast, majestic feel that sets it apart from any other city, astounding visitors with its grand monuments and dignified architecture. And, in three days or so, you can easily see all the major sights, as well as do some exploring in order to get a feel for the city—which is exactly what we did. Arriving mid-afternoon our first day, we had just enough time to walk from our hotel to the Capitol, stopping along the way to admire the city’s lush landscaping. Though the renowned cherry blossoms are not in season, bright pinks, purples, reds, and greens provide a sharp and tropical contrast to the pure white grandiosity of D.C.’s historic landmarks. The Capitol building, majestic from afar, has a Mediterranean feel up close, complete with potted palms, blooming flowers, and even a European-style fountain, inviting visitors to linger in its courtyard.

After a quick rest and much-needed showers (Washington is on the hot side this time of year, with temperatures in the upper 80s), we drove into Georgetown for a late dinner. Both a college town and a quaint, historic village, Georgetown has, from what we could tell, the best selection of restaurants and bars in the area, as well as some excellent shopping venues. We wandered around for a bit before finding the perfect place to dine—while watching the Olympics, of course—and we liked the area so much that we wound up returning for dinner the following night as well.

For our second day, we had a pretty ambitious plan: to tackle at least two museums, plus all the major monuments. And, for the most part, we were successful. Walking what was easily a total of seven or eight miles over the course of the day, we visited the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum, the National Archives, the Washington and Lincoln Memorials, plus the Mall and reflecting pool, taking in as much history as we could along the way—history that is easily found in a city with such a rich past.

Before getting on the road on our third and final day, we headed to the White House for a tour, which not only required advance reservations but compliance with a slew of security measures (for details, click here). But the slight hassle was worthwhile, as we were able to explore about ten rooms on the first floor of the historic home, seeing firsthand where John Adams used to eat breakfast and Jackie Kennedy used to share tea with visitors, as well as a magnificent collection of artwork and furniture. After our tour, we made one last stop in the Smithsonian’s Museum of American Art, where we viewed works from the American masters, visited the Presidential portrait gallery, and grabbed a quick lunch in the museum’s outdoor café before getting on the road.

All in all, it was a perfect Labor Day-esque long weekend. And, if you’re still looking for something to do over the actual Labor Day weekend, Washington just might be the perfect place for you as well.

Olympic Viewing Venues

The 2008 Summer Olympics kicked off this weekend with an astounding opening ceremony and several broken world records, promising to provide plenty of action-packed competition, stunning skill, and healthy sportsmanship over the next two weeks. While no television can do justice to the sheer scale and energy of these games, here are a few places on the UES that will most likely provide better viewing opportunities—and drink specials—than your living room.

Mustang: With TVs strategically placed around the bar, and happy hour specials Monday through Friday from 2 to 7pm, Mustang, on the corner of 85th and 2nd, is fun spot to celebrate the Olympics with some Mexican spirit.

Ship of Fools: Forty-seven TVs means you won’t miss a single event at this pub on 2nd between 82nd and 83rd. Also not to miss are the happy hour specials featured every weekday from 4 to 7pm.

Jack Russell’s Pub: With $3.50 drafts from 12 to 7pm daily, twenty-one plasma-screen TVs, including a flat screen in every booth, Jack Russell’s, on 2nd between 83rd and 84th, is a viewing location where you could easily spend the entire afternoon.

Brother Jimmy’s: On 2nd between 77th and 78th, this sports bar and BBQ spot features all-you-can-eat ribs and all-you-can-drink drafts for $22.95 on Sundays, and all-you-can-eat rib tips and hot wings with all-you-can-drink Bud and Coors light drafts for $14.95 on Mondays. Just remember that there is a two-hour maximum.

Murphy’s Law: With daily specials and an assortment of TVs, this pub on 70th between 1st and York provides a laid-back viewing atmosphere.

Swig: The relatively new pub on 2nd between 84th and 85th features happy hour specials every day until 8 pm. And on Monday and Tuesday, you can take advantage of $10 beer and burgers.

East End Bar & Grill: On 1st between 86th and 87th, in the space formerly occupied by Fiona’s, this new bar and grill features a slew of specials.

Stumble Inn: A great spot to stumble upon the games and wide selection of specials, this bar on 2nd between 75th and 76th features fourteen flat-screen TVs and three large-format projection TVs, all in full HDTV.

Bar Coastal: Kick back with ten TVs, one large projection screen, and daily drink and wing specials at this beachy pub on 1st between 78th and 79th.

Go Team USA!

The Temperature for Tapas

On a hot and humid summer night, the last thing anyone typically wants to have for dinner is a big, heavy meal. Steak and potatoes, chili and beans, spaghetti and meatballs—while appetizing in their own right, the thought of any of the above on a steamy summer evening is stifling, causing me to sweat just a bit more than I already am. Yet there are many types of cuisine for which the sultry summer air whets the appetite perfectly, and perhaps none more so than tapas.

Which is why, when my friend Caroline and I made plans to meet for dinner last night, I suggested we go to Casaville, a French- and Moroccan-influenced restaurant on 2nd Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets, just a quick walk from the 6 train stop on 33rd and Park. Featuring fresh tapas, homemade sangria, and wide open patio doors that let in the summer evening air, Casaville’s lantern-filled dining area has a rich yet airy European feel. With a long oaken bar (where you can order half-price tapas and two-for-one glasses of wine and sangria until 7 p.m.), Casaville is the perfect place for a light yet flavorful summer meal.

We met at the bar, where we ordered Casaville’s freshly-made sangria, a fruity red concoction filled with a generous helping of apples, oranges, pineapple, and several other unidentified fruit slices. When we were ready to take a look at the menu, we—or, rather, our attentive bartender—transferred our drinks to a nearby table, where our waitress met us with a fresh basket of bread and gave us a minute to mull over the menu. Though French and Moroccan cuisines could potentially be difficult to pair together, one look at the menu ensured us that Casaville had fused the two well.

Casaville offers a selection of entrées like filet of salmon and seafood paella, but the menu really centers around small plates of hot and cold tapas—and rightly so. From a list of dishes like the spicy shrimp cigar filled with rice noodles and cabbage, wild mushroom gratin with spinach and goat cheese, and seared tuna in ginger soy vinaigrette, we narrowed our choices down to four: the briwatts, crispy pastry-like triangles stuffed with chicken, almonds, and cinnamon; small pieces of grilled baguette topped with olive oil, tomato, garlic, and chorizo; warm brie cheese with fried grapes and honey; and avocado hummus with cucumber and warm pita bread.

Our selections arrived two at a time, along with our second complimentary glasses of sangria, giving us time to enjoy each without being overwhelmed by an abundance of options and lack of table space. For each dish, the flavor combinations were paired to perfection, creating unique and mouth-watering tastes. The smooth and creamy avocado enhanced the typical hummus flavor, while the briwatts struck the perfect balance between savory and sweet. Four dishes turned out to be just the right number to share, and our selections, though light, left us satisfyingly full.

And not once did we break a sweat.