Excellent news for TF Cornerstone FiDi residents, as well as anyone who works or plays in the neighborhood: the new burgers-and-fries joint Clarke’s Standard, opened just a couple of weeks ago on Maiden Lane and Pearl Street, is a first-rate fast-food spot. Better than Good Burger or 5 Guys; maybe even as great as Shake Shack. Is your mouth watering yet?

I know; I was surprised too. Especially since Clarke’s Standard, currently with two locations and plans for several more, is an offshoot of the mostly mediocre ... Read More »]]>

Excellent news for TF Cornerstone FiDi residents, as well as anyone who works or plays in the neighborhood: the new burgers-and-fries joint Clarke’s Standard, opened just a couple of weeks ago on Maiden Lane and Pearl Street, is a first-rate fast-food spot. Better than Good Burger or 5 Guys; maybe even as great as Shake Shack. Is your mouth watering yet?

P.J. Clarke’s Delicious Cousin Moves into FiDi

I know; I was surprised too. Especially since Clarke’s Standard, currently with two locations and plans for several more, is an offshoot of the mostly mediocre (though undeniably historic) P.J. Clarke’s, in a transparent attempt to jump on the lucrative cheap-eats-chain bandwagon. But after two meals in both Clarke’s Standard locations (most recently in the blossoming Financial District), I’m convinced that this is the real deal.

Fast Food Adds Flavor To Financial District

Clarke’s Standard FiDi is designed to evoke the heyday of the American lunch counter/soda fountain, but it’s done in a surprisingly tasteful way. The typography and signage, especially, is nicely handled. This is definitely no Ellen’s Stardust Diner. And the Clarke’s Standard menu, though heavily reliant upon old school burgers, dogs, shakes, and fries, is actually pretty inspired in its updates, with items such as the Bahn Mi Dog, the Dutchie Chicken Sandwich (with harissa sauce), the Black and Bleu Burger (black bacon, bleu cheese), and Salted Caramel ice cream included to satisfy contemporary cravings. And everything on the menu is priced comfortably in the single digits.

I ate at the Midtown Clarke’s Standard within days of its opening, and then the same at the slightly newer FiDi outlet–which, by the way, has outdoor seating–and really enjoyed both places, and both meals. The burgers here are cooked to order, and both times arrived medium rare as requested, the patties as juicy and intensely meaty as any I’ve had, at this or double the price. The Cadillac (basically: bacon and cheese) is an excellent baseline burger, and the trickier Brooklyn au Poivre, with black pepper sauce, gouda, and Jimmy’s pepper’s and onions was a success as well. The buns, made exclusively for Clarke’s Standard by St. Joseph’s, are terrific, striking the exact right soft/chewy balance.

Good Sides Matched With Good Burgers

The Clarke’s Standard spud–based sides are also solid. The regular Natural French Fries were crisp and salty, with plenty of actual potato flavor. And Clarke’s Standard shows admirable restraint with their Cheesy Tater Tots: rather than drowning these fried crunchy delights in yellow goo, they are instead sprinkled with parmesan. Ok, so it’s still not what you call health food, but it’s all fresh and tasty at Clarke’s Standard. If I lived around the corner I’d probably find myself here once a week.

Sample The New Standard in FiDi and Midtown

Clarke’s Standard FiDi is located on the corner of Maiden Lane and Pearl Street and is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and on weekends from noon until 10:00. The Midtown Clarke’s is on 54th Street and Lexington Avenue, with the same hours. Here’s more information, including easy online delivery ordering and the complete Clarke’s Standard menu.

MoMA PS1, the cultural anchor of the ever-more cultural Long Island City, always hosts terrific (or, at a minimum, terrifically interesting) events and exhibitions. But with the museum-wide Expo 1: New York, a festival of possible futures that opened last Sunday and is running through the summer, MoMA PS1 may have outdone itself. In terms of the welcome variety and admirable focus of the curation, as well as the quality, creativity, and surprise-factor of the individual pieces, Expo 1 is a true show-stopper.

I had a blast taking it all in ... Read More »]]>

MoMA PS1, the cultural anchor of the ever-more cultural Long Island City, always hosts terrific (or, at a minimum, terrifically interesting) events and exhibitions. But with the museum-wide Expo 1: New York, a festival of possible futures that opened last Sunday and is running through the summer, MoMA PS1 may have outdone itself. In terms of the welcome variety and admirable focus of the curation, as well as the quality, creativity, and surprise-factor of the individual pieces, Expo 1 is a true show-stopper.

EXPO 1 Arrives at MoMA PS1

I had a blast taking it all in at Expo 1 yesterday afternoon, and will certainly be back again more than a few times over the course of its run. On every floor of this beautiful old building (if you’ve never been, it’s called PS1 because it used to be NYC public school, with many of the architectural details still in place), in almost every gallery, there is something to make you chuckle, or make you think, or just something cool to look at.

Argentinian Architectural firm a77′s Colony hangs in the courtyard of MoMA PS1

Right in the courtyard, for example, you’ll find Argentinian architectural firm a77 constructing their epic, self-sufficient Colony (a clear response to our current plague of natural disasters), where several members are actually live for the duration. Meg Webster’s Pool, first commissioned by MoMA PS1 in 1998, returns for Expo 1, transforming the soaring subterranean space to the left of the lobby into a kind of cavernous pond, complete with cascade, waterlilies, and koi. Also on the first floor is Your Waste of Time, Olafur Eliasson’s giant solar-powered freezer, which houses big, bluish chunks of ice from Vatnajokul, Iceland’s largest glacier. And don’t miss the tank of spindly, vicious arrow crabs (plus a big surprise) in Pierre Huyghe’s Zoodram 5.

Meg Webster’s Pool, returns to MoMA PS1 for the first time since 1998

Expo 1: Exhibitions-within-the Expo

ProBio, an excellent exhibition-within-the-Expo, takes up much of the second floor. Here are a group of emerging artists, mostly New York-based, who explore the profound impact that technology has had upon the our bodies–from the DNA level on up–as well as our “souls”. There are lots of great pieces here, including Ian Cheng’s compelling, kinetic Entropy Wrangler, a grim tide pool littered with techy detritus; and Travel Impression, Alysa Baremboym’s looping infomercial for pregnancy prosthetics (or something).

Much of the third floor gallery space has been consumed by Adrian Vilar Rojas’s massive “The Innocence of the Animals”, a spectacular ruined-civilization sort of work whose centerpiece staircase serves as an amphitheater for the Expo 1 “Speculations”, a series of lectures, panels, and debates, each starting with the question “The future is ______”, and ending who-knows-where. Among the guest speakers and presenters: Marina Abramović, Norman Rush, Samuel Delaney, Elizabeth Stark. And don’t forget to poke around the “back rooms” up here. Expo 1 should keep you busy for plenty of summer afternoons to come.

Olafur Eliasson’s giant solar-powered freezer includes big, bluish chunks of ice from Vatnajokul, Iceland’s largest glacier

Expo 1: New York will be at MoMA PS1 from now through September 2.  Something to note for the Midtown West residents,  the amazing Rain Room–a walk through a field of pouring-down rain without getting wet–which is part of Expo,  is housed next to MoMA in Manhattan. I loved this, but lines all already two and three hours long. Rain Room (pictured below) runs through July 28.

Rain Room, part of EXPO, is housed next to MoMa Manhattan.

Even after four years and at least a hundred strolls along this once-decrepit elevated railway, The High Line still manages to surprise and delight me most every time I climb those stairs and see what’s new. Sometimes it’s the foliage that’s changed, following the rhythm of the seasons.

There’s always good people-watching to be had, and photo-ops, as locals and tourists alike continue to flock to the space. And the other day I witnessed a well-choreographed marriage proposal in the “theater” near 17th Street looking out over 10th Avenue. And yes, she said yes. 

Beginning tomorrow, May 10, and continuing through May 22, TF Cornerstone is co-sponsoring the Abandoned Angels 10 Years Anniversary Auction, which helps raise money to rescue abandoned dogs and then “re-home” them with caring foster friends and families. Although the non-profit Abandoned Angels focuses on Cocker Spaniels, founder Dolores Rodrigues says they will certainly help any dog in distress, no matter how sick or old. Read more in our exclusive Q-and-A with this excellent, animal-loving woman.

But before we get to Dolores, I just wanted to point out all ... Read More »]]>

Beginning tomorrow, May 10, and continuing through May 22, TF Cornerstone is co-sponsoring the Abandoned Angels 10 Years Anniversary Auction, which helps raise money to rescue abandoned dogs and then “re-home” them with caring foster friends and families. Although the non-profit Abandoned Angels focuses on Cocker Spaniels, founder Dolores Rodrigues says they will certainly help any dog in distress, no matter how sick or old. Read more in our exclusive Q-and-A with this excellent, animal-loving woman.

Abandoned Angels Auction: Raising Money for Dogs

But before we get to Dolores, I just wanted to point out all of the great items, more than 150 in all, up for grabs in the Abandoned Angels Auction. Many are, of course, dog-related including gift certificates to Suburban Pets dog-walking services in the Financial District (Ruff Club, New York Dog Shop, Hounddogs.com), or a consultation with pet psychic Laura Stinchfield.  But there are also lots of nice non-poochy things for you on offer as well, from restaurant certificates throughout Tribeca (Mason Jar NYC, Tribeca Grill, two dozen Magnolia cupcakes); hotels (the Plaza here in the city, the Fairmont Miramor in Santa Monica), jewelry, Yankee tickets, fashion accessories, even a hot air balloon ride for two. All bidding is done online at BiddingForGood.com, which specializes in non-profit fundraising auctions. So log in early and often, beginning on the 10th!

Abandoned Angels Founder: Delores Rodrigues

Even though Dolores is crazy-busy right now finalizing the auction (as well as taking care of all of the usual Abandoned Angels good works) she was gracious enough to answer a few of my questions over weekend. Thanks Dolores.

Me: Loving and caring for your own dogs is pretty easy. But how do you go from being an ordinary dog owner to running a big charitable organization, putting your heart into helping dogs you’ve never met? The time and energy required–not to mention the occasional heartbreak–must be enormous. 

Dolores: My goal is for people to share the same love and happiness that my first Cocker Spaniel, Rudy, gave me. He is my driving force and although this work can be very heartbreaking at times, seeing a dog get adopted into a loving family makes it all worthwhile.

Me: The list of items for Abandoned Angels Anniversary is truly impressive, with more than 150 things up for grabs the last time I looked. How did you manage to convince everyone to donate their goods and services to the cause of abandoned cocker spaniels?

Dolores: We emailed businesses that donated to us in the past and offered to put their logo and link on the Corporate Angels section of our website in exchange. Business owners that love dogs will almost always give back. We also reached out to our 46,000+ Facebook fans and several of them donated items.

Me: Besides Frette the ferret (who clearly thinks he’s a dog), do you have any other pets that are NOT cocker spaniels?

Dolores: We actually rescue several other dog breeds including the Shiba Inu, Shih Tzu, Poodle, Schnauzer, Maltese, Jack Russell Terrier, Dachshund, Lhasa Apso, Weiden Terrier, Pitbull, and mixed breeds. We’ve also rescued a few cats!

Find out more about Abandoned Angels and make sure you take a look at all of the items up for auction at the Abandoned Angels fundraising auction for New York dog rescue .  Happy bidding everyone!

It’s been almost a year and half since Alobar opened its doors on LIC’s Vernon Boulevard, making it one of the pioneers on what has become a nice little restaurant row. As Long Island City TF Cornerstone residents know, although it’s great to have such easy access (via the G train) to the many dining delights of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, sometimes what you really need is a friendly neighborhood spot with some skill and love in the kitchen. And for that, Alobar is perfect.

Join us May 7th from 6-8pm for the TF Cornerstone Neighborhood Happy Hour at Alobar!  

This ... Read More »]]>

It’s been almost a year and half since Alobar opened its doors on LIC’s Vernon Boulevard, making it one of the pioneers on what has become a nice little restaurant row. As Long Island City TF Cornerstone residents know, although it’s great to have such easy access (via the G train) to the many dining delights of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, sometimes what you really need is a friendly neighborhood spot with some skill and love in the kitchen. And for that, Alobar is perfect.

Join us May 7th from 6-8pm for the TF Cornerstone Neighborhood Happy Hour at Alobar!  

This is a great time to get to know your Center Boulevard neighbors and try out some amazing local cuisine. There will be delicious FREE snacks generously supplied by Alobar in addition to discounted Happy Hour cocktails, American Craft Beers, and the best whiskey list in LIC. Try out the High Rise, a specialty cocktail invented just for TFC: a pineapple & vanilla-infused tequila margarita!

LIC Flea & Food is a summer-long outdoor event kicks off in June and will operate every ... Read More »]]>

Sofia Estevez (6th in from right) of TF Cornerstone joins Queens elected officials and members of the Long Island City community to announce LIC Flea & Food.

If there are two things New Yorkers like it’s finding a good deal (on anything!) and discovering great food.  Starting in June, the Long Island City community will have both at LIC Flea & Food.  An announcement about that (which follows below) was made recently and we are psyched!  Imagine being able to find some vintage records, heirloom jewelry, or inspired works of art all along side some of the most creative delicacies around.  We can’t wait!

LIC Flea & Food: Family Fun at the Waterfront

LIC Flea & Food is a summer-long outdoor event kicks off in June and will operate every Saturday and Sunday in a 24,000-square-foot lot at the corner of 5^th Street and 46^th Avenue in the heart of Long Island City’s waterfront neighborhood. LIC Flea & Food aims to be a fun and vibrant weekend destination for the entire family featuring the best in food vendors, antiques, collectibles, art, crafts, fashion and more.

“Long Island City has so much to offer residents and the addition of the LIC Flea & Food is a wonderful example of the endless perks of living here on the waterfront,” said Sofia Estevez, executive vice president of TF Cornerstone. “Residents and visitors alike will enjoy spending their weekends shopping, visiting the new waterfront playground, strolling the boardwalk, eating at great restaurants and enjoying one of the most spectacular skyline views of New York City.”

Food and Shopping: The Best of Both Worlds

LIC Flea & Food is  the perfect venue for entrepreneurs that might not yet be ready to afford a storefront, but are seeking to grow their businesses and gain incredible visibility.  From small artisan business to more the more established, vendors will have a great opportunity in the biggest market of its kind in Queens County. As a weekend destination, the market will also be a great source of economic growth for surrounding businesses, as seen at other markets in New York City.  LIC Flea & Food has partnered with The Queens Courier to list every vendor, as well as recognize a “vendor of the week” to profile. In addition BORO Magazine will also feature a vendor focused on the arts, including painters, sculptors and photographers and food. This will build upon the purpose of LIC Flea & Food, which is to act as an incubator to help promote and foster businesses.

Only minutes from our East Coast buildings, and walking distance to the 7, E and G trains and LIC East River Ferry, LIC Flea & Food is easy and accessible from all of NYC.  A convenient parking garage located on 5^th Street, offers terrific travel-by-car access for visitors of all kind.

There are always a hundred or so new and interesting things to do in NYC and every month there’s  something new to see. Here are five somewhat random picks from the beautiful Bronx throughout Manhattan and out into Brooklyn – all happening in May:

It’s never a bad idea to hang out in and around this Flatiron jewel, especially once the weather gets warm, but May gives you three specific excuses to get over there. First there’s the new public art installation, Orly Genger’s Red, Yellow, and ... Read More »]]>

There are always a hundred or so new and interesting things to do in NYC and every month there’s  something new to see. Here are five somewhat random picks from the beautiful Bronx throughout Manhattan and out into Brooklyn – all happening in May:

1. Two Carefree NYC Events Return: Kids Spring Fest and Madison Square Eats

It’s never a bad idea to hang out in and around this Flatiron jewel, especially once the weather gets warm, but May gives you three specific excuses to get over there. First there’s the new public art installation, Orly Genger’s Red, Yellow, and Blue. It’s three swirling, snaky enclosures created using primary-colored rope. Fun to look at; excellent to run around in. Opens May 2.

Then there’s the terrific bi-annual food festival, Madison Square Eats. Thirty first-rate vendors–Roberta’s Pizza, Dreamscoops Ice Cream, Macaron Parlour, Arancini Brother rice balls, to name just four personal favorites–take over Worth Square across the street from the park, with plenty of tables in which spread out and eat and relax. From May 3 to May 31. Finally, on May 18, the park and it’s playground get overrun with little ones for the Kids Spring Fest 2013, featuring games, performances, crafts, everything you’d expect. More info about all of the above can be found here. 

 2. NYC This Weekend: The New Museum’s Ideas City Festival

Two years ago this was called the Festival of Ideas For a New City, and it was a blast. Now the New Museum brings the whole concept back downtown, running from May 1 through May 4, and I can’t wait. The theme this year is Untapped Capital, explored in a myriad ways (or not) in four days of workshops, panels, performances, and, on Saturday May 4, a massive street festival centered on Sara Roosevelt Park, a block away from the museum. It’s a little heady, certainly pro-activist, and a whole lot of fun. And you don’t want to miss Nuit Blanche NY’s “Change of State” show, for which giant images will be projected upon the New Museum facade. Tons more info, including a full calender of events, can be found here.

 3. Two Beautiful NY Botanical Gardens: Bronx and Brooklyn Style

One of the best things about living in Long Island City ? Besides, you know, living in Long Island City? Not only is Midtown just a subway stop or two away, but all of the culinary and cultural delights of Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg are similarly situated, right across Newton’s Creek. Hop on the G train, ride for a couple of minutes, and there you are, smack in the heart of two of the most exciting food-and-fun neighborhoods in all of New York City.

There are literally dozens of great restaurants ... Read More »]]>

The always-excellent Paulie Gee’s in Greenpoint.

One of the best things about living in Long Island City ? Besides, you know, living in Long Island City? Not only is Midtown just a subway stop or two away, but all of the culinary and cultural delights of Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg are similarly situated, right across Newton’s Creek. Hop on the G train, ride for a couple of minutes, and there you are, smack in the heart of two of the most exciting food-and-fun neighborhoods in all of New York City.

Paulie Gee’s: Brooklyn Pizza at its Finest

There are literally dozens of great restaurants and bars (and galleries and concert venues and bakeries) within a mile or so of each other here in North Brooklyn, but one of my favorite reasons to hit Greenpoint is the amazing pizzas at Paulie Gee’s.The Brooklyn pizza joint  is located on Greenpoint Avenue just a few blocks from the G toward the river. The food is justifiably adored by the locals, and they’ve been firing up their fantastic pies for over three years. At peak times the place is pretty packed. (And a total blast. Bring friends.)  However if you are looking for slightly more low-key, or even family-type scene, during off nights or early evenings is when you can usually waltz in and get a seat no problem.

The spacious dining room gets crowded. Bring a friend!

Gourmet Pizza: Paulie Gee’s Style

Paulie Gee’s menu is filled with appealing-sounding pies that, in my experience, always deliver on their promise. These are generously portioned Naples-style pizzas, with soft, chewy, deftly-charred crusts topped with spanking-fresh ingredients. The Ricotta Be Kiddin Me pie (mozzarella, Canadian bacon, fennel sausage, fresh basil, “post-oven fresh ricotta dollops”) is awesome, and so is the Cherry Jones (mozz, gorgonzola, prosciutto, dried cherries, honey), as well as the simple Arugula Schmoogula.

The Hellboy: Hot, and Spicy deliciousness.

My favorite pizza at Paulie Gee’s, the one I start craving the moment I walk out the door, is the magnificent Hellboy (seen above),  a fiendish creation involving mozzarella, sopressata piccante, parmigiano reggiano, and a healthy drizzling of famous Mike’s Hot Honey. This is spectacular: salty, spicy, sweet in equal measures. Paulie Gee’s also offers a couple of decent salads and soups, like the Arnold Brothstein, as well as several great option off of their vegan menu, if that’s more your thing.  Let’s not forget desserts, where you can get anything on the menu from across-the-street Ovenly (pictured below), which, by the way, is possibly my favorite bakery in Brooklyn.

Treats from the Ovenly Bakery hit the sweet spot.

Paulie Gee’s is located on Greenpoint Avenue between Franklin and West Streets, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 5:00 to 10:00. Closed Mondays. No reservations or delivery.

First, I need to just tell you that I am terrible at cleaning. Well, that’s not really true. Once I get in the zone, music blasting, elbows fully greased, I can spic-n-span my place with the best of them. What I’m terrible at is STARTING cleaning.

It’s understandable, I know, especially when you live in an apartment in New York City with so many strange and wonderful distractions just a quick walk (or bike/subway ride) away. Plans for scrubbing the tiles or weeding through your sweaters are easy to scrap in favor of getting out ... Read More »]]>

TF Cornerstone’s Cleaning Checklist for Spring Cleaning

First, I need to just tell you that I am terrible at cleaning. Well, that’s not really true. Once I get in the zone, music blasting, elbows fully greased, I can spic-n-span my place with the best of them. What I’m terrible at is STARTING cleaning.

It’s understandable, I know, especially when you live in an apartment in New York City with so many strange and wonderful distractions just a quick walk (or bike/subway ride) away. Plans for scrubbing the tiles or weeding through your sweaters are easy to scrap in favor of getting out to experience NYC & your neighborhood.

But still, at some point, you’ve got to suck it up and do the right thing. Which is clean, even if it’s just doing the laundry. Even if it NEVER looks like this:

TF Cornerstone suggests: Martha Stewart Homekeeping Handbook

House Cleaning Checklists by Apartment Therapy & Martha Stewart

Anyway, if you’re as behind in your spring cleaning as I am (this weekend though! I promise!), I thought I’d share a couple of things that have helped get me unstuck in the past, as well as a few recent finds that seem to ensure that I’ll finish in a blaze of glory.

Our friends at Apartment Therapy usually have useful, inspiring things to say on just about everything, and their spring cleaning posts are no exception. Take this classic piece, for example, a round up of Spring Cleaning Checklists handily arranged by how ambitious you feel.

Aiming low (aka, being realistic)? Start with the room-by-room 15-minute “workout” at About.com. Channeling Martha Stewart? You can reference MarthaStewart.com for her Homekeeping Handbook.

Spring Cleaning Tips from TF Cornerstone – House Cleaning Checklists

Detailed Apartment Cleaning Checklists & Spring Cleaning Tips

Elsewhere on Apartment Therapy you’ll find this terrific Floor to Ceiling Guide to Spring Cleaning, with lots of extra resources (10 Tips For Dusting! 25 Places to Donate Clothes! Window Washing Tricks!). And although it’s too late to sign up for this year’s social-network-ish Spring Cure – a nine-week participatory program (everyone shares stories and photographs) for making your home “more beautiful, organized, and healthy” – you can still read through all of the suggestions. Better yet (at least for me), check out the “CliffsNotes version” in this post, Spring Cleaning Tips For Busy People.

Green Cleaning Products work well for Spring Cleaning

Oprah’s Spring Cleaning Tips

Finally, it’s been well established that many traditional cleaning products are filled with all sorts of chemicals and poisons that we’d rather not have in our home, or even in our sewage systems. But which of the growing array of green cleaners really work? We recently tackled this topic in a green laundry cleaner roundup and Oprah lists seven general green cleaners, with testimonials from the staff, too.

Some of the candid testimonials were for Bon Ami Liquid Cleanser (“the nastiest surface of all—the toilet—was rendered spotless with just a few lazy swipes of my toilet brush”), and Method Floor and Surface Cleaner (It easily lifted my terrier’s muddy footprints from tile, a maple syrup spill from the kitchen floor, even unidentified drips down my garbage can—no rinsing required”).

Well, I’ve shared all my spring cleaning checklists and tips with you so, um, happy cleaning!