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#CurrentObsessions: Aji Ichiban

10/30/2017

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The Who:
In 1993, Aji Ichiban was founded by Lai Chan Yuk Hing and Lai Hin Tai in Hong Kong. They became successful with over 150 franchised shops in China, Singapore, the Phillipines, and the US. Their only remaining US outpost is in the heart of Chinatown on Mott Street. We often walk by the store on our Tenements Tales and Tastes tour as we explore (and taste) the exotic specialities in the neighborhood. Our favorite dumpling spot featured on the tour is just around the corner. 

People from all over the world (and homesick Chinese) love to pop in here to stock up on candy and sample many of their dried fruits and meats.


The What:
While most of us might be more accustomed to Kit Kat bars and jelly beans, Aji Ichiban (which is Japanese for "the best and superior) takes our idea of candy to a whole new level.  In addition to some usually gummy bears, they also offer salted dried plums, wasabi peas, shrimp crackers. dried ginger, and a whole lot more.

One of the most fun things about Aji Ichiban is that they are not stingy with the free samples. In fact, most of the confections (sold and priced by the half-pound) have free samples in plastic jars above the containers. Use a tong and taste a strip of dried squid or pork jerky before you commit.

They also have an outstanding selection of Pocky (Japanese chocolate covered biscuits) and some unique Kit Kat flavors (we love the green tea)


The Why:
You can really immerse yourself in Chinatown and soak up as much of the authentic culture as possible. We think it's important to try new things and Aji Ichiban allows you to do that tenfold. And even though you may not recognize most of the candy, you'll feel like a kid in a candy shop with so many new things to try.

The Where:
Aji Ichiban
37 Mott Street

New York, New York 10013
(212) 233-7650
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#MustDo in NYC: October 30-November 5, 2017

10/29/2017

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Halloween Tunes, Cocktails from the Future, Homebrew Sampling for Charity, + Himalayan Dumplings

​​​Click on the title for more info.
Sounds to Make You Shiver/ Tuesday, October 31, 2017 from 9pm-12am
While the crowds gather in Greenwich Village for the spectacular Halloween parade, we'd like to hang out at the Greenpoint outpost of Three Brewing for a night of freaky music from The Colin Brown Trio and psycho-killer trivia. And a beer or two while we're at it.
Future of the Cocktail/ Friday, November 3, 2017 from 6-8:30pm
As the opening night event for Food Loves Tech at Industry City, this evening focuses on (and pours) modern cocktails influenced by future tech possibilities, like branded ice and robotic brewers.  Food from local purveyors Ends Meat and Avocaderia will be provided along with innovative drinks.
Brew For a Cure/ Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 1-5pm
This is not just any homebrew competition, but one where all the proceeds are donated to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Head over to The Well to taste some unique homebrews, play games, win prizes, and support a great cause. Ticket price includes donation and 5 ounce tasting glass.
The 6th Annual Momo Crawl/ Sunday, November 5, 2017 from 2-5pm
If you've never had a Himalayan dumpling, it's time you started and why not start with about 20? That's how many Queens restaurants are competing in this annual crawl where you can decide the champ. A $10 passport entitles you to $1 momos and proceeds go towards Student for Free Tibet. 
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#AsktheLocals: Best Museums in NYC

10/25/2017

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The guidebooks will list dozens of museums to check out in New York - the Met, the MoMA, the Natural History. But if you hit all those museums, you'd miss a good deal of the day to day life in the city.

So we think you should pick and choose your museum visits. Our local guides have recommendations for the less popular but more local museums. Learn about the subway system at the Transit Museum or see the tenements where immigrants used to live at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum or get on an historic boat in New York harbor at the Seaport Museum. 

​Be sure to subscribe to our You Tube channel here for more videos like this. 

Do you have an NYC question you are dying to ask our guides? Leave a comment below and keep an eye out for our answers.
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#CurrentObsessions: The Roosevelt Hotel

10/23/2017

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​The Who:
The Roosevelt Hotel might have taken its name from one of many New York Roosevelts, but it was President Theodore Roosevelt who was honored with that distinction in 1924 when this Midtown icon opened up.

Another personality who spent quite a bit of time in the hotel and whose photo is honored in one of the hotel's walkways is Guy Lombardo. The bandleader (and once host of the New Year's Eve Countdown) took up residency in the hotel from 1929 and called it his creative home for a good 30 years. It was from the Roosevelt that the New Year's Eve shows were broadcast on the radio and people became accustomed to hearing the song Auld Lang Syne as Lombardo's signature closing number. The tradition of singing the song to welcome in the New Year started at this hotel

​Many people come through the hotel today from tourists looking for a central place to stay to gawking passersby who want to see the landmark's stunning lobby to business people here for a conference. 


The What:
The hotel is located just steps away from Grand Central Terminal  and is sometimes a stop on our Midtown Sights & Bites tour.
It has 1,015 rooms (including 54 suites) and a very elegant lobby with a central chandelier that is worth seeing. Part of its magnificence is the result of a n extensive renovation in the late 1990's.

When the Roosevelt opened, it was in the middle of Prohibition (which we delve into in detail on our Craft Cocktail Tour) and they were not legally allowed to open a bar in the lobby. So instead, they began renting retail space below the lobby and through a series of tunnels that once linked the hotel to Grand Central Terminal. 

More recently, the hotel opened a trendy rooftop bar (Mad46), but if you hang out at the lobby bar you can easily convince yourself you've traveled back in time a few decades. 

The Why:
You can stay at the big name hotels (Marriott, Hilton, etc.) anywhere in the world. But there is only one Roosevelt and it is just off Madison Avenue in Midtown. And when you stay here, you truly feel like you're staying in New York City. It harkens back to a more glamorous time and you feel the heartbeat of the city around you. The big chains are sterile and sadly shut the city out.

And amazingly, you can get good deals at The Roosevelt Hotel and it's not much more expensive than other mid-range hotels in the incredible expensive Midtown area.

The Where:
The Roosevelt Hotel
45 East 45th Street
New York, New York 10017
(212) 661-9600
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