Michael Lomonaco shares some of his Upper East Side Favorites

Pizza by the Slice:  Italian Village 

Pizza by the Pie:  John’s Pizzeria

Cheap Burger:    J.G. Melon 

Fancy Burger:  Jones Wood Foundry  

Sandwich:  2^nd Ave Deli

Coffee:  Oren’s Daily Roast

Bagels:  Tal Bagels 

Chinese:  Pig Heaven 

Breakfast:  E.A.T 

Bar:  Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle

Ice Cream/Gelato:  Sant Ambroeus

Falafel:  Melange Food Fair

Late Night Eats:  Cascabel Taqueria 

Date night:  Crown 

Can’t-miss Neighborhood Spot:  Sandoro’s   

From Serious Eats NY

 Some advice from the experts:

• Start before the child comes
• Get down on their level.  Crawl around on your hands and knees and see things from a child’s perspective
  • Outlets:  use outlet covers with horizontally sliding doors.  Easy for parents to use, don’t need to be removed and reinserted.  Check out Safety 1^st Swivel Outlet cover about $2.25, or Levitons Decora tamper-resistant duplex receptacle, $2.50 at Home Depot.
  • Choking and strangulation hazards:  Cords on window treatments and power cords.  Secure the electric cords out of reach with Safety 1^st’s Cord Short’ner, about $4.  Forego the venetian blinds for something that is completely cordless.
  • Secure the TV to the wall, a child reaching and grabbing could tip the TV onto themselves.
  • Secure furniture more than 30 inches tall with wall restraints.  Be sure to screw the straps into a wall stud.
• With all the temptations in the kitchen and bath, toxic chemicals, sharp utensils, etc., think Operation Lockdown:
  • Use latches that automatically reset upon closing.  Safety 1^st No-Drill Deluxe latch kit (about $31/set of 4) uses a magnetic handle to release the latch.  Once installed, keeping track of the handle will be the hardest part.
  • In the bath, get a toilet lock.  KidCo makes one that automatically resets and is relatively easy to clean (about $15).
  • Keep the bathroom doors closed and put child-proof doorknob covers on the knobs.
• Stairs:  Use a child safety gate top and bottom. 

 While this list isn’t all inclusive, it gives you a good start.  Consider calling in a consultant.  Every home is different, and poses different potential hazards. 

 Based on New York Times article by Bob TedeschiOctober 26, 2011

Central Park is one of the most important works of art in America. And for 30 years, the Central Park Conservancy has worked to maintain this living masterpiece and enhance the public’s enjoyment of its visionary design. What better way to celebrate the Park’s success than with a stunning art installation befitting of New York City’s premier museum without walls?

Narrated by Kevin Bacon this incredible marriage of art and technology takes you through a year in the life of Central Park. With musical selections from Sting’s Symphonicities, this digital artwork lets Central Park admirers from around the globe enjoy its colorful spring blooms, green summer lawns, rust-colored fall foliage and snowy winter landscapes – all without traveling an inch. Originally projected onto Bethesda Terrace during a live event on October 13, Seasons is making its online debut today.

 As I tweeted last night @reGeezer:

 Below is the menu from Del Posto’s site. Our favorites were the ostrich and the 100 Layer lasagne!

                                                                  Menu Tradizionale

StreetEasy has searchable listings and user forums geared towards sales rather than rentals. For $15/month you can get sold prices of coops, condos and townhouses. A must have if you are trying to determine what the “correct” selling price should be.

Trulia  has searchable listings and interesting neighborhood stats.

The New York Times website  has articles and searchable listings.

PropertyShark.com  provides you with comprehensive and detailed data including zoning, permits (Department of Building information), property tax information etc.

Curbed NY  is a cross between commentary and gossip, it is a good place to get a feel for New York real estate and learn about new developments and conversions. Tongue-in-cheek

The BrickUnderground gives practical advice, with current prices and advice on rental apartment living.

Hotpads A search tool with thousands of apartment listings plotted on a map.

NabeWise ranks neighborhoods based on various characteristics.

If you have certain neighborhoods in mind, for rentals,  sites like Naked Apartments and RentHop  provide search tools to narrow preferences

Navigating the waters of Manhattan real estate is not for the faint of heart.  It takes stamina and persistence to find just what you want at a price you can afford.  Educating yourself is a great first step.

 Adapted from a New York Times article by Joseph Plambeck

Located on a side street (122 East 27th Street between Lex & Park) i Trulli’s hands-on Chef Patti Jackson creates homecooked meals with virtually everything produced on site. The owner’s mother, Dara Maravilla, makes nearly all the pasta and can be seen doing so daily from 11am through about 4pm.

Unfortunately, Dara was not feeling well on Saturday, so it was up to Patti to cook and entertain the 15 or so “students” that attended the hands-on pasta class and lunch.

Each dish was prepared by Chef Patti with the assistance of apron wearing students. Interestingly, lessons learned were much less about exact measurements of the ingredients as it was about the look and feel of the various doughs and the color and consistency of the sauces. After each dish was prepared by Patti/group, we had it as lunch course served from the “real” kitchen. 

The first course was a Cavatelli (little shells) with broccoli rabe and almonds. We all had the chance to feel the consistency of this ultra simple dough ( ratio of 2 cups all purpose flour + 1 cup very hot water) as well as try our hands at making the shape.

Next we worked with whole wheat flour to create whole wheat tonnarelli (pasta similar to spaghetti) with fonduta (rich creamy cheese sauce) and walnuts.

Then we created butternut squash ravioli with a brown butter and sage sauce. Amazing!

Finally, we ended this lunch feast with strudel di mele for desert. Throughout the demonstration Patti would return to the strudel dough and continue to stretch it. Over time it was transformed to a paper thin dough,  four feet by 2 feet, encasing the apple and cinnamon and sugar filling.

Faith Hope Consolo, Chairman, Retail Leasing and Sales Division
of Prudential Douglas Elliman recently published the shop ’til you drop Spring 2010 New York Retail Leasing Report

The answer? Bow Bridge. Check this and see what so many have said about Bow Bridge. Even in  the snow of winter! Or read about Central Park’s most romantic stories. 

The story behind Bow Bridge…

• Named for its resemblance to a violinist’s or archer’s — or Cupid’s — bow, Bow Bridge’s dreamy setting over the sprawling Lake has inspired many a lovers’ stroll.
• Designed by Central Park co-designer Calvert Vaux and his assistant Jacob Wrey Mould and built in 1862, Bow Bridge is the second-oldest cast-iron bridge in the United States. The Bridge spans 60 feet across the Lake, linking the cultivated and flowering landscape of Cherry Hill with the rustic and sprawling woods of the Ramble.
• Bow Bridge is one of the most photographed spots in the Park and is provides the romantic backdrop for many wedding proposals and classic film shots.

Don’t worry spring is on the way…

1974: KEG
2009: EKG

1974: Acid rock
2009: Acid reflux

1974: Moving to California because it’s cool
2009: Moving to California because it’s warm

1974: Trying to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor
2009: Trying NOT to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor

1974: Seeds and stems
2009: Roughage

1974: Hoping for a BMW
2009: Hoping for a BM

1974: The Grateful Dead
2009: Dr. Kevorkian

1974: Going to a new, hip joint
2009  Receiving a new hip joint

1974: Rolling Stones
2009: Kidney Stones

1974: Being called into the principal’s office
2009: Calling the principal’s office

1974: Screw the system
2009: Upgrade the system

1974: Disco
2009: Costco

1974: Parents begging you to get your hair cut
2009: Children begging you to get their heads shaved

1974: Passing the drivers’ test
2009: Passing the vision test

1974: Whatever
2009: Depends

Fed housing credit?

Local media has been commenting since last August that New Yorkers seem to be blasé about the Recovery Package offer of $8,000 toward a new home. However, it was so popular nationally that Congress has extended that, and added a $6,500 offer for current owners who move.

Well, I wouldn’t pass it up if I were in the home market right now, and put my team to work finding out what you might buy with that free cash. Some new furniture and décor are obvious choices, and almost everyone needs something for their new home.

Or you could use it for other kinds of fun. Given my favorite pastimes, I might figure out how many lovely restaurant meals I could savor, including cuisine hot spots my wife and I usually reserve for special occasions.

But you have many other options. For about $600 to $1,600 you could score a pair of trendy Christian Louboutin shoes or boots at Saks, which offers 96 choices at your fingertips. Or there’s the current Prada event with hot items coming up, now available for pre-orders. While at Sak’s you could also pick up a steal on men’s watches, such as Breil Milano’s stainless steel chronograph strap watch at $1,250.

Or how about a Hermes bag? For classic Hermes, you can’t go wrong with the Birkin bag, starting at $6,000. Here’s a entire blog dedicated to the Birkin.

Here’s a tidbit from a local fashion blog: “Katie Holmes & Suri: Spotted on Madison Avenue of New York, little Suri had her own pint-sized version of Mom’s orange Hermes shopping bag. Later on, Katie was seen with a rare burgundy Garden Party Handbag that looked more like a boarding bag. The Hermes handbag offset her black pencil skirt and red heels. With all the goodies that could be stuffed into that spacious bag, Holmes was ready for anything.” The Evelyne, starting a bit under $2,500, is très chic now.

You can toast your new home with a rare champagne.  Dom Perignon Oenotheque 1993 is just $399.00 per 750 ml. bottle, limited to one per customer at Astor Wines.  Salon Blanc de Blanc, Le Mesnil – 1997 is more expensive at $459.99, but in greater supply.  You can buy a case of 6 for $2621.94.

Does your new co-op or condo allow pooches?  How about using your savings for today’s most expensive, pure bred, a Samoyed, starting at $3,000 or an English Bulldog at around $2,500.  On the other hand, if you adopt a nice homeless puppy from a shelter approved by the Humane Society, you’ll have lots of money to buy dog food and a really fancy collar, $18 and up from wwww.muttropolis.com.

And let’s not forget the sports fans.  How about season tickets to the Yankees next year?  Despite the World Series victory, top prices will actually decline, with field level seats at $250 per game for season ticket holders, down from $325 this year.

How much more stimulated could you get?  Check out my November 2 post  for housing stimulus dates and details. Go, Feds!