Archive for the ‘NYC’ Category

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The Vine: November 13, 2009

Friday, November 13th, 2009

rocketmanHi Sars,

I am hoping your savvy and knowledgeable Vine readers can help me find out about this little guy (picture at right).  I took this pic, and another one on the mall in Washington DC, in front of the Capitol building.  I took another one at the roundabout in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a friend sent me a pic from NYC at East Houston and Bleecker.  I am trying to figure out what he is all about, but I don't even know what to put into Google Images to begin to get info.

Want info on my Mystery Man

Dear Mystery,

I've never seen that guy.  I don't think it's actually related to the Toynbee tiles, but it's probably a similar style of graffiti or culture jamming.  You may want to Google a string of all the locations, and terms like "rocket" or "mystery man," and see if anyone on Flickr has posted a photo along with information.

Readers?

Tags:
Posted in Ask The Readers, NYC, Vine, popcult, rando | 31 Comments »

The Vine: July 31, 2009

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Hi Sars,

I'm looking for a book I read about twelve years ago; I'm not even sure it was a good book, but it's bugging me. It was in the section of my school library as the Judy Blumes, but definitely wasn't her.

It was an American book, and the plot centred around two sisters going on holiday with their father, and their new stepmother and her son. The older girl was a cheerleader hoping to gain weight; in fact the part that stuck in my mind was a conversation in which she thought it would be great if you could just grab fat off other people and slap it onto yourself, even if the result would be "that people would be scared to get in an elevator with fat people."

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Posted in Ask The Readers, NYC, Vine, popcult | 19 Comments »

The Vine: December 26, 2008

Friday, December 26th, 2008

This one is for you and the readers. Last summer I was studying abroad in Italy for a month and discovered these awesome little cookies in the grocery stores there. It's pretty much my favorite snack now. I smuggled a bunch back into the States, but even after careful hoarding my stash is now empty.

The silliest thing is, I opened the last package (which I then threw away) and stored the cookies in a more reliable package months ago. Now I cannot remember what the name cookies are and I've been searching everywhere online for them. The brand had a few varieties (all digestive cookies) but I'm pretty sure that my cookies were in a green package, and the cookies themselves were little grain balls somehow cemented together into cookie shape. They are not the McVities cookies.

A friend who goes to NYU says that there is an international food store near her campus that sells these cookies for around $10 a pop. The grocery store in Italy I bought them from is Esse Lunga, but they probably have them in most stores there (probably Coop also). If anyone can help, please let me know! Thanks.

Jonesing for Fiber

Dear Jones,

I'm a Danish butter-cookie girl myself these days, so I'm no help — but I'm pretty sure one of the readers will know what you mean, especially at this cookie-centric time of year.

Readers?

Tags:
Posted in Ask The Readers, NYC, Vine, retail | 10 Comments »

The Vine: September 19, 2008

Friday, September 19th, 2008

Hey Sars –

Have you (or any of your readers) heard anything about the new Bolt Bus? It sounds great, but is it? Or is it just another Chinatown bus? I'd love to us it for an upcoming NY to Boston trip.

Thanks,
KM

Dear KM,

I haven't taken it myself, but I've heard that, for the price, it's quite a nice ride.  Then again, I've heard that from…one person.  Readers, care to broaden our horizons?

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Posted in Ask The Readers, NYC, Vine | 22 Comments »

The Vine: July 11, 2008

Friday, July 11th, 2008

Sars,

My friends and I are throwing a birthday slumber party for a friend of ours. We want to make gift bags like we got when we were kids and we want to put slap bracelets in them. Because slap bracelets = awesome! Do you or your readers know anywhere here in NYC I can get slap bracelets? Or online for quick shipping?

Thanks!

K McK

Dear K,

Oriental Trading definitely has them in an assortment of colors and themes (I don't know if they still have the "WWJD" version, but I guess what He'd do is…have a slap bracelet. Hee). Fred Flare is a great source for that type of thing; while they don't appear to have slap bracelets at the moment, the six-for-$18 jumbo cocktail ring set is a pretty sweet party favor.

Readers? Anything to add?

Posted in Ask The Readers, NYC, Vine, retail | 18 Comments »

The Vine: September 7, 2007

Friday, September 7th, 2007

Hi Sars –

I have a question: last month I went to St. Lucia on my honeymoon. Had an amazing time. While there, I bought an ice-cream bar called a "Bounty." It was possibly the best thing I ate on the entire trip (the food at Sandals? Meh). As far as I remember, it was mango and passionfruit sorbets over coconut ice cream. I want MORE of these. Is it possible, with all the Caribbean immigrants in the NYC area, that someone imports these yummy treats? I work in Manhattan and have friends in Brooklyn and Queens, so any suggestions would be welcome.

Newlywed

Dear New,

If the readers don't come up with anything, I'll ask my friend San if she knows where to get it — but the readers will come up with something. They always do. And they'd better, because that sounds delicious.

Readers: where to get Bounty bars in the five boroughs.

Posted in Ask The Readers, NYC, Vine | 28 Comments »

The Vine: May 3, 2007

Thursday, May 3rd, 2007

Dear Sars,

I just got out of my first legitimate relationship (I'm a measly 22-year-old) and I feel like I'm ready to move on to something better. But I don't know where to meet the right guys. I live in New York and I'm gay, so this shouldn't be too hard, right?

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Posted in Ask The Readers, NYC, Vine, boys (and girls) | 14 Comments »

The Vine: April 20, 2007

Friday, April 20th, 2007

Sars:

I'm coming to New York this weekend and am in search of the ultimate Little Italy cannoli. Any chance you can add this request to Tomato Nation so the NYC foodies can weigh in?

Thank you,

I'm half Italian — so make it good!

Dear Half,

I always get the sorbet in Little Italy, so I don't know the best cannolis there (and I'm not picky — even the worst cannoli is awesome, in my opinion). But I don't doubt the readers will have some suggestions.

Readers: cannolis in Little Italy or the surrounding area. If you recommend a cannoli further afield you must swear to its superiority. Hit it.

Posted in Ask The Readers, NYC, Vine, retail | 28 Comments »

The Vine: February 6, 2007

Tuesday, February 6th, 2007

It's not a book, it's a story that was published in Sassy magazine's December '92 reader-produced issue called "Snow White" by Grace Hu (it was their fiction contest winner):

"Past Halloweens I had dressed up in the expected costumes: Lady Macbeth, Albino Killer Rabbit, Teenage Mutant Zombie. This year, though, I had decided on a different sort of costume. I had decided to dress up as a life-size, anatomically correct Weeping Willow High cheerleader…"

MH

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Posted in Ask The Readers, NYC, Vine, etiquette, popcult | No Comments »

The Vine: January 3, 2007

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007

Dear Sars –

I don't know of any diners specifically in Chinatown, but there are a couple of fabulous ones that are definitely within 30 minutes. The Waverly (6th Ave. between Waverly Place and 8th Street) does amazing things to potatoes. There's sometimes a wait, but even on a Sunday morning it's never been more than 15 minutes for a table for two. Manatus is on Bleeker between 10th and Christopher. It's pretty spacious and has the atmosphere of a much more expensive restaurant — seriously, I can pay $7 for breakfast and get a fresh orchid on the table? Freakin' sweet!

Hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Diner Diva

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Posted in Ask The Readers, NYC, Vine, grammar | No Comments »

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