Karaoke is our new addiction

For the last two weekends we went to a Karaoke place and rented a room (I'm way too embarressed to sing in front of others yet)

We tried out Japas38 http://www.japas38.com/ which is where we will have my husbands 40th Birthday party in a couple of weeks. Also this week after one too many Margarita's we wandered into a place, and I do not remember the name. It was a few doors down from Karaoke Duet 35.

My biggest problem is that I only seem to know how to sing "Beatle Songs" with my number one singing hit being "I am the Walrus" (what's up with that) and second issue is I have to listen to the hubby sing off tune!

Looking for the best COSMO in NYC & the WINNER is...

Since we arrived I decided that I wanted to find the bar or restaurant that makes the best Cosmopolitan. I find I am never happy when I order a Cosmo. So I thought it would be fun to go on an adventure of finding who I think makes it the best.

The two main reason it is usually not good is 1. to small of a glass and 2. taste like cranberry juice! I do not like paying over 12.00 dollars for cranberry juice.

Come on! If you dare to charge me 10, 12, or 15 dollars for a Cosmo, please bartender put some vodka in it! There is nothing worse than paying such a high price for a drink and it taste like juice.

Well now I found the bartender and the place that makes it the best, and I wanted to make sure it wasn't a fluke so I have been back 3-5 times ordering them (such a tough job) and they have been consistently great! I was just back there last night and once again, the Cosmo is made to perfection. (Chilled glass, just the right mixtures of ingredients)

So the WINNER OF THE BEST COSMO IN NYC GOES TOO!!!!!

Hudson Yard Cafe - Bartender name - Barry!! Stop by and tell Barry that Deb sent you for the BEST COSMO in NYC and see if you agree with me.

Hudson Yard Cafe, 350 10th Avenue at 35th Street New York, NY http://hudsonyardscafe.com/

In search of the BEST Margarita happened quickly!!

Ok Best Cosmo...........done

Cowgirl - 519 Hudson St, New York NY 10014

212-633-1133

Next Best Margarita...........the last 2 weeks trying a Margarita here and there and not being impressed. My friend tells me go to" Happy Hour" which by the way is every day from 3-6pm at "Cowgirl " in the West village. http://cowgirlnyc.com/ We arrive and actually at first I was a bit disappointed to find out that only the frozen Margarita's were 1/2 price at Happy Hour. In the past I found frozen Margarita's not to be really strong enough. I usually get mine straight up with salt. Then I noticed on the menu you can add a "Floater" for only 2.00 dollars. (extra shot of tequila to the top of the drink) So I figured that would help liven the drink up to make it to my liking and for only 2.00 dollars! What a bargain!! Usually I have to add a shot or two and pay 10.00 or more for the extra shots!

Well first let me say this Frozen Lime Margarita which is 9.00 but 1/2 price brings it down to 4.50 (add the 2 dollar shot = 6.50) probably didn't even need the floater. This was a GREAT 16 oz (pint size)Frozen Margarita (by the way they have many flavors like Cherry, Mango, Blood Orange, etc) and I had the lime flavor with the floater and I was floating in no time!!! Of course I had to have a second (such a sacrifice) to make sure it was as good as I thought it was, I had to have a second one and the second one was just as yummy!

We had to absorb some of the tequila with some Black & White Nachos! Great!

By the way, the prices for tequila shots are really reasonable at this joint starting at about 3.50 per 1oz shot.

To absolutely positively make sure that this is the BEST Frozen Margarita we will be back next weekend to test it again!

My day at the New York Times Travel Show - Feb. 2011

The New York Times Travel Show is a yearly event held at the Javits Center in New York City. I have never had the chance to go, but now with living in that area I decided I wanted to go.

Pretty much the event has booths set up and you can visit tour companies, hotels and more all over the world. Many are offering prizes, but I was a big fat loser that day! There are some booths with food and snack samples from that destination. There are stages in each area of the world set up for entertainment.

The other part of the show which I really felt was the best part was the seminars. I got to go to 3 seminars.

Karen Brown Guides - which were guides I loved to use when I was a practicing travel agent - Best B&B and Inns in many destinations all over the world

http://www.karenbrown.com/

Another seminar was done by "Rick Steves" with Suggestions for traveling through Europe's back door. http://www.ricksteves.com/ I found his suggestions to be great, because I agree that you need to travel and just not do touristy stuff. Going to Europe and doing what the people of that area do, makes you really feel part of the country you are visiting. There is so much more to see than just the tourist trap stuff!! So read and explore before you arrive so you see more! Do your homework!!

Last I saw Samantha Brown - who was very lively, spunky and funny. A native of Brooklyn NY and working for Travel Network now for 11 years. I always like watching her Europe shows, though they are a few years old already, now the newest are Asia travel shows. I highly recommend watching one of her shows if you are going to that destinations I really find them helpful.

http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Samantha_Brown

I definitely recommend considering going to the New York Times Travel Show when it returns in 2012! Worth 15.00 per ticket and if using the AX card my tickets were only 12.50 each! That is a bargain for a day of fun, entertainment and traveling all the continents of the world.

El Quijote & D Bar in Chelsea

Another weekend into the city!! Two in a row! Yes! We are on a roll.

Once again 25 mile per hour winds! The picture on our wall on the 27th floor blew off the wall! Holy Moly! When I step outside and have to walk against the wind I feel like my feet our moving but I am standing in one spot still! So Saturday during the day was pretty much a bust, though got to clean and do some chores. One thing I learned from living in the city is there is just so much dust all the time in the apartment. Even if the window is closed there is dust .... lots of dust! Where does it all this dust come from!

Saturday night was made for parties! We met up with family to celebrate my brother in laws birthday and of course we met up at one of our families favorite to dine "El Quijote" I believe I have mentioned this before but this place is a must if you love Lobster! I have been going here for 28 years and ordering the "Daily Double" Lobster special (broiled - you must get it broiled - delicious stuffing) When I first went there when I was 19 years old the Daily double - Two 1 1/4 lb lobsters was only costing 17.95. Today it sells for 34.95 and I still feel it is a bargain.
http://www.elquijoterestaurant.com/
226 West 23rd Street, Chelsea, NY , NY - Below the Historic Chelsea Hotel





After we headed out to a place my brother in law picked to have more drinks and listen to piano music, but that did not work out when the 6 of us couldn't even fit into the place to get a drink. Right near by we came upon a cute, romantic, cozy bar called "D Bar" , so we wandered in and ordered some great different mix of drinks they have on the menu. We enjoyed it there so much we closed down the place. Drinks are pricey, but different and fun. High energy music is playing, but low enough that you can still have conversation.

http://nymag.com/listings/bar/dbar/
Dbar (263 W. 19th Street; 212-493-5150)

I'm BACK!! Old fav Mario Trattoria, The Fighter Movie & Food Parc in Chelsea

Finally back in the "Big Apple" to continue my "Living like a tourist in NYC". Only have the apartment for another 7 months and we missed much of January and 1/2 of February coming here.........so we better step it up. Though it still has been difficult cause it has been so WINDY and COLD!!

So due to the climate we did some local favorites and a movie on our first Weekend back.

Friday night - back to our little local favorite place "Mario Trattoria" in Hell's Kitchen - 493 Ninth Avenue between 37th and 38th Street. I can not say enough of how we love dining here. The waitress is so sweet, the decor very quaint, cozy and romantic. The food really delicious. To top it off this restaurant is offered on http://www.restaurant.com/ so you can purchase 25.00 gift certificates when they are sale for only 2.00! Sign up so you know when the sales happen to pay a low price for the certificate. I have 6 for this restaurant waiting to be used. You have to spend a minimum of 35.00 on food and you can use one certificate a month. (see more details on restaurant.com site)

Saturday we went to see - The Fighter - I let my husband pick a movie for a change, and wondering if he choose this one so I would see that his family is not so dysfunctional after all. It is based on a true story about "Irish" Mickey Ward. Boy his family was nutty!! It was an enjoyable movie, not sure I would highly recommend it.

Sunday, even though COLD out we wandered over to Food Parc at the Eventi hotel in Chelsea. I have had it on my list of things to do during my "Living like a tourist in NYC" so we went over for lunch. http://www.foodparc.com/ (6th Avenue and 29th Street) This is a modern food court, with great choice of a variety of foods to order from. They have computers set up so you can order from more than one venue at a time and pay by credit card.

We just wandered up to the counters though. We ordered from "Fornetti". Their baked flat breads were delicious looking so we ordered the Mozzerala and Grilled chicken one and it was really delicious! We would like to go back and order from "Red Farm Stand" since I heard great things about thier dumplings, maybe next time. Follow them on twitter for daily specials discount codes @FoodParc

Please bear with me during my winter Sabbatical

Be back when the snow and ice and brutal COLD weather is gone. Then back to my NYC weekends in Hells Kitchen!