Giants Lose to the Eagles, Jets Lose to the Broncos

It wasn't a great week for those NFL fans living in New York City who root for local teams (which you should).  Both of New York's professional football teams lost games that they were expected to win, and both in some pretty spectacularly horrible ways.

Let's start with the NewYork Jets.  Sanchez had another disappointing game, and the Jets lost to the surging Denver Broncos.  I do not know what Tim Tebow has going out there in the Mile High City, but he has the Broncos inspired, and his run of 20+ yards to give Denver the lead and the victory will certainly keep them inspired.  Denver is now 5-5, and the Jets have the same disappointing record as well.

The Giants appeared to have an easy victory this weekend, as they were playing a reeling Philadelphia Eagles team that was without starting quarterback Michael Vick (out with a rib injury).  Backup Vince Young (yeah, he still plays) took his spot, and it seemed like the Giants were poised to get a win, which they desperately needed to try and maintain pace with the Dallas Cowboys, who had beaten the Washington Redskins earlier in the day an an exciting overtime thriller.

Unfortunately for the Giants, no one told Philadelphia that they were supposed to get beaten today, and Philly came out and pulled off a 20-13 victory, sealed when Eli Manning got blindsided and fumbled the ball away on what appeared to be the Giant's tying drive at the end of the fourth quarter.  The Eagles then pulled off a spectacular running play of over 60 yards to ice the game, and the Giants went into the locker room as losers yet again.

Anything NYC this might be, but I sure would prefer to write about some New York victories in the National Football League, as opposed to both of our teams getting beaten.  Hopefully, there will be some good news in the future.

Shooting at a Nightclub

UGH!  I get so tired of reading about stupid stuff that people do, hearing about it on the radio, or worse, watching it on television.  Today I get to hear about how three people were shot (one died) at a local New York City nightclub.

Of course, you are probably thinking like I was that this is a tragedy, and you probably wonder if anyone else was hurt, if they had families, or what started the whole thing?  However, apparently the local news doesn't care about it, nor any national network.  No, apparently the big story is that a NFL player or three was there during the shooting.

Don't worry fantasy football players, bookies, sports fanatics, or ESPN watchers - these players are just fine, albeit likely a bit shook up.  As for anyone that cares about the news, you are out of luck.  The news would rather focus on the potential impact of the shooting on the game on Sunday than to worry about the dangers of a shooting in Chelsea or the impact on the victims families.

Ridiculous.

Musicians in NYC: How Do They Manage?

Sometimes when I am walking the streets of New York City, I encounter a musician on the street carrying some giant instrument in hand or on a back, and I cannot help but cringe and think how much easier life would be if NYC were a city where you could just load up your gear into a car or truck and be right on your way.

I mean, seriously, how in the world do these young kids manage?  I cannot picture myself lugging a giant instrument around all day on my back, navigating crowds of tourists, packed subway cars, and all of the walking that goes along with getting anywhere in New York City (no matter how much public transportation there is).

I have to say that I find the whole thing quite impressive, and also a real indicator of passion and love for music.  After all, if you do not love your instrument or playing it, the incredible burden of hauling it around everywhere will certainly give the not-so-passionate musician pause, and likely lead to them to at the very least switch instruments, if not give up on playing music altogether.

So my fellow New York City dwellers, the next time you see someone struggling with a heavy instrument case or looking like they are going to pass out from the weight on the subway, give them a helping hand or the seat that you do not really need, and help keep their passion alive.  You never know when we might be teetering on the brink of losing the next musical genius due to the nature of life in New York, and let us all try to help prevent that from ever happening.

Ah, Rats!

The title of this blog is Anything NYC, so this post is going to be about something truly random that I encountered while walking along Broadway.  It was a sewer cover, with half of a rat sticking out of it.  Now, to elaborate, the rat had been ran over and it was a bit of a gory sight.  However, it stayed there all day long, and I expect it to still be there tomorrow.

It got me to thinking about how many rats there are in this city, and how mean they are.  If you are not in New York City, you may have encountered a small rat or the occasional mouse, but let me assure you that they are nothing like the beasts that roam the street, buildings, subways, or sewer tunnels in this city.  They are big, mean, and bold, and not exactly anything that you want to encounter ever.

My question in the end was simply this:  How many rats are in New York City?  I have not been able to find any information, but have seen several stories and articles suggesting that there may be as many rats as people.  If so, highly disturbing, but if not, I bet it is fairly close.

Be careful out there NYC!  Crime on the streets is always a possibility, but a rat attack is too! Stay safe!

Macaroni and Cheese

You know what I love about NYC - the wide variety and options there are when it comes to getting something as simple as macaroni and cheese.  Now most people grew up eating box macaroni, where you boiled some water, poured in a packet of powder, added milk, and gobbled it up.  This macaroni was great, but it absolutely cannot compare with the wonders that New York City has to offer when it comes to this fine and tasty dish.

It seems like anywhere you go in the city you can find this delectable dish prepared in a different way, and it is all so good.  Since I live in the Village, I often wander around there where you have S'Mac, Macaroni Macaroni, and MacBar, all of which offer some tasty goodness.  Another great place there for a sit down mean is Home, where their baked macaroni and cheese is sure to delight.

Today I ventured to the Murray Hill area, where I encountered a 5 cheese macaroni and cheese that was delightful indeed.  While grabbing a beer at Highland Park, I noticed it on the menu, so of course I tried it out.  It was so delicious, cheesy, and perfectly cooked, that I ate the whole thing in the blink of an eye.

This has made me decide that I am going to go on a quest, and seek out all of the best macaroni and cheese in the city.  The great thing about NYC is that I can spend a lifetime doing just that!

Handicap Access to the City

New York City, for all of its elevators, escalators, ramps and such, is not really the place to live when you are in a wheelchair or on crutches.  If you are blind, you are even worse off, as none of the technological advances that are seen in other cities can be found here.  Why is this?

I think that in terms of the blind, there just hasn't been enough of a push on their behalf.  I spent some time one day watching a blind man navigate and was absolutely impressed by his abilities and self-reliance, but also horrified by several of the near misses that I saw.  To me, it makes sense to arm crosswalks with some kind of sound emitter that can help protect this vulnerable population as they cross the street (at the least).

In terms of wheelchairs and crutches, the thing that really strikes me is subway access.  To be sure, there are definitely elevators that lead down into most of the subways, but once you take that elevator, where do you go from there?  How do you bridge the gap between the platform and the railcar?  Clearly, something more needs to be done here.

Speaking of those elevators, I think that there should be some type of mandatory cleaning schedule, because those things absolutely reek.  They smell like a combination of human waste, old food, dirt, rust, and machinery, and it is unpleasant to say the least.  The handicapped population (differently abled if you will) already has enough issues getting around in New York City, and it doesn't make sense to subject them to even more hardships.

Food Delivered - ANYTIME!

One of the most amazing things about New York City is the ability to get food delivered to you.  Not only are there convenient websites that make it easy (Seamless and Delivery.com among others), but there are also an amazing amount of restaurants with phone numbers just waiting to deliver.

It shocked me when I moved to the city to realize that I could log onto a computer and have my choice of over 550 restaurants deliver to my location.  It seems unreal that there are so many places.  Most shocking of all, especially for those new to the city, is that McDonalds will even deliver.  It is incredible that a Happy Meal will be delivered to your door with one phone call.

Is this a good thing though?  That is the question that I ask myself.  If people in other parts of the country are getting obese from fast food, doesn't it make sense that having food delivered to you (literally every meal if you like) will make things even worse.  You don't even have to get in your car and go to the drive-thru, now the calories will come right to you.

Time will tell how this affects my waistline, but as for now there is nothing I like better than great food arriving on a cold and rainy day.

Occupy Wall Street

Since we are talking Anything NYC in this blog, I have to make a brief comment on the status of Occupy Wall Street.  To be quite frank, I have absolutely no idea what these people are up to, nor what they want.  In some ways, it feels like an early Communist movement in Russia, or perhaps some type of socialist movement, but at the end of the day, I really have no idea what these people want.

Now, don't get me wrong, I certainly want more out of life than i have now, and I certainly want more for my family, but for some reason I do not think that hanging out in a park complaining about how other people have more than me is the answer.  I think that there are all kinds of things that can be done, but I think chilling in the park is actually adding to the same kind of problems (waste) that these people allude to the most.

The problem with opportunity in general is that you have to believe that you deserve it.  If you are not educated enough to understand what you might be capable of, then it is hard to conceive a plan to actually achieve what you want.  Complaining for a hand-out doesn't accomplish this, because that is actually not the root of the problem.  There have always been people with better ideas, which led them to utilize resources more, and while some of them seem to have read Adam Smith and understand his "invisible hand", most seem to have failed to do so, and are just concerned with accomplishing more.  And you know what?  That is okay.

I like to think of the wealthy like Netflix.  You can do well and amass a lot for a long period of time, but eventually if you piss enough people off, someone will come after you, and in a way that matters.   The people at Wall Street can't see beyond their own noses and individual lives, so all they do is end up hurting each other or their fellow "99%".   That just won't work.

For example, people seem to think that corporate taxes should be higher and personal taxes on the "lower class" should be dropped, but if you think about it, this will never work.  Corporations are adept at avoiding taxes, so the answer is actually to create a flat corporate tax in an updated tax code that both allows the corporations to thrive, yet keeps the money in the U.S.  Personal tax breaks aren't the answer, because then you affect communities and education systems, which just promulgates the problem.

Anyways, I digress.  At the end of the day, I just don't know what the Occupy Wall Street movement wants, and I'm not sure that any of the factions there do either.

The Creative Little Garden - Great Place to Relax in NYC!

The Creative Little Garden, located at 530 East Sixth Street (between Avenues A & B), is a place for those feeling worn down and wearied from the daily grind of NYC to relax, read a book, engage in creative activities, have lunch, or just enjoy a quiet moment.  This quiet greenspace has been around since the 1980's, but New York City's many tourists and visitors are unlikely to see this destination on any tourist's map.

The entrance of the garden can be quite simple to walk past, so much so that even native New Yorker's often do not know that this little piece of paradise exists right in their midst.  Be warned - once you enter this green sanctuary it becomes difficult to ever leave.

The garden has many things to offer its visitors, and one of the favorites for all those who enter this beautiful refuge is the swing, which is the perfect place for couples to wile away a beautiful summer day.

Nature lovers will delight in both the birdbath and the miniature waterfall that lie on either side of the entrance path.  The birdbath allows one to see something besides pigeons, and the tranquil sounds of the babbling waterfall are certain to ease even the most stressed-out visitor.

Both the birdbath and waterfall provide a nice distraction from the stress and hassle of city life.  The soothing sounds of the waterfall have been known to cause more than one visitor to find their eyes closing drowsily, so be certain not to fall asleep as you find a spot on a cozy bench near this enjoyable spot.

If you walk to the back of the Creative Little Garden, you will find a nice place to enjoy a delicious picnic or to just relax and enjoy the warm sunshine. 

The Creative Little Garden can be your sanctuary in the city.

It is open from 11am to 6pm daily, April - October (depending on the weather), and has extended hours in the summer months.

For more information, visit http://www.creativelittlegarden.org/.

The Three Best Places to Enjoy Ice Cream on Your Birthday

Even though New York City is known as the perfect place to celebrate your birthday because of its dazzling array of clubs, lounges, and bars, the Big Apple should also be on your radar as a destination place to enjoy some of the finest gourmet ice creams, sorbets, and gelatos on the planet while celebrating your birthday.  This really should come as no surprise when you consider that Manhattan is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, along with the fact that New York City is one of the most diverse places on Earth.  It only makes sense that the city would also offer a wide variety of delicious ice creams that are certain to delight even the most discerning of palates.  The list that follows shares three of my favorites.

On the day of your birthday, if you find yourself craving delicious gourmet ice cream, Emack & Bolio’s in SoHo is the place for you (located at 73 West Houston Street).  The shop refers to itself as “ice cream for the connoisseur” and does not disappoint.  When you enter the shop, the wall in front of you is covered with a constantly changing list of flavors, and you can also partake of some other delicious deserts and treats.  My favorite ice cream currently available in this heavenly haven is the peanut butter Oreo flavor, but I have to say that it seems impossible to go wrong with any of the available choices.  Another favorite among those who frequent this SoHo spot is the mint chocolate ice cream.

If you journey northeast from Emack & Bolio’s, you will find that you are not far from another one of the best places to get ice cream while celebrating your New York City birthday.  Sundaes & Cones, located in the East Village (95 East 10th Street & Third Avenue), also has an apt motto for itself.  Their website boasts that the venue is a “Journey to Ice Cream Paradise” and that only “Tasting is believing.”  The description is accurate, and starts with the moment you arrive.  The smell of fresh waffle cones is in the air, and pleasant staff welcomes you in a courteous and friendly manner.  There are so many ice creams to choose from here that it is easy to get lost in a tasting frenzy, but trust me when I say that you should get the chocolate peanut butter.  This is by far the best chocolate peanut butter ice cream that I have ever tasted, and if you like those flavors, then you will be in heaven.  Regardless of what flavor you go with, you truly will be in ice cream paradise.

The final venue on our list of the top three ice cream spots to enjoy on your birthday in New York City is Cones Ice Cream Artisans, known simply as “Cones” to most.  The venue (which is located at 272 Bleecker Street) is sometimes referred to as the home of the “Ice Cream Nazi” (for non-Seinfield fans, this is in reference to an incredibly delicious soup counter ran by a no-nonsense man who had certain expectations for the speed and manner of his customers’ behaviors).  Like the referenced soup counter, Cones is incredibly delicious, so much so that almost everyone takes delight in the brisk pace and in-your-face mannerisms of the shop owner, instead of being offended by the somewhat abrasive manner in which customers can sometimes be herded.  Here you are allowed to sample two flavors, and the owner being the stickler that he is, you will sample each flavor from alternating sides of the same sample spoon.  All of that aside, the ice cream here is mouth-wateringly good, and there is a reason this is one of the most popular ice cream shops in the entire city.  If you have never had “corn” ice cream before, this is a must-have, but really this is another one of those places where you cannot go wrong no matter what you choose.

So before you head out to celebrate your New York birthday at the dazzling nightclubs and trendy lounges, enjoy a great meal at one of Manhattan’s delectable restaurants, and make sure to save room for a tasty dessert at one of NYC’s best birthday treats – Emack & Bolio’s, Sundaes & Cones, or Cones Ice Cream Artisans.  You will be extremely delighted that you treated yourself to heaven on Earth.