Manhattan Digest

Why H Bake Shop Is The Best In New York City… Period

When it comes to bakeries in New York City, you may find that they come a dime a baker’s dozen. There are so many to choose from, including well known national brands and more localized ones that have grown in notoriety due to a variety of facets, and then there are ones you should go to simply because they are the best. I can firmly say that the best bake shop that I have been in New York City so far (and probably will) is H Bake Shop located in Hell’s Kitchen on 57th between 11th and 12th. Now some might say that as New Yorkers we may get lazy in going out of our normal route to experience something different, including geographically, however the taste and experience at this place is worth rowing, sailing, swimming or doing whatever physical activity you have to in order to experience the expert deliciousness that chef Huascar Aquino has to put out for his customers.

Manhattan Digest, H Bake Shop, Huascar Aquino — Credit to: Rebecca Woodman Taylor Photography

I hadn’t heard of H Bake Shop until last month, when a friend of mine recommended that I try this place after a recent review of another fab bakery which is close by. After seeing the variety of very positive reviews posted on Yelp, Seamless, Facebook and so much more, I knew this was something that I had to try. So I took my good friend Erick to experience H Bake Shop first hand and boy was I in for a treat. I sat down with the handsome Huascar and understand how he got to where he is today, which is quite impressive if I may say so myself.

H Bake Shop, Manhattan Digest, Huascar Aquino — Credit to: H Bake Shop

Getting to know Huascar really makes you understand that if you have the passion for something it is worth taking every risk to get to where you need to be. Born in the Dominican Republic, he moved to the United States a number of years ago where he developed a love for pastries by learning at the Internationally renowned French Culinary Institute Of New York City. Just a heads up this is the same place that LEGENDS in the culinary industry such as Bobby Flay, David Chang & Dan Barber have gone to and where deans include just the run of the mill dynasties in their own rights like Jacques Pepin, Jose Andrews and Jacques Torres are deans there. You know, no big deal whatsoever. After his time at the FCI, he honed his abundance of talent at historic NYC locations like The Four Seasons and Landmarc which then led to him opening up his own location two years ago. Oh, and one more thing. Huascar won on the Food Network hit show “Cupcake Wars”, in which the theme was Jessica Alba’s “The Honest Company”. The win came with a sweet $10,000 dollars and national recognition, which is great for anyone regardless of what their field is. You can watch that episode here.

Now of course, as awesome as he is I have to describe just how amazing his treats are. To say heavenly is beyond at this point, they are just incredible. Take something as classic and simple as a chocolate chip cookie with a twist (Or as he calls it- Chocotella Cookie). I have had many of these in my life (which attest to my ever increasing waistline) and can say that these tasted better than any others that i have had in the past. And that goes for his variety of cookies as well, not just the chocolate chip. A good cookie essentially has a great bite on the outside, but is warm on the inside. You also want to be able to taste as many ingredients as possible outside of the norm. You get that in his cookies.

Huascar Aquino, Manhattan Digest, H Bake Shop — Credit to: H Bake Shop

Same goes for his line of cupcakes. They are moist, flavorful and unique in taste, creativity and texture which is important when making your own creations like this. When going, I would highly recommend the PB&J, The Scarlet Velvet (his take on the classic Red Velvet), and the Vanilla Introvert Cupcake (Vanilla Bean Cake with dulce de leche filling, sprinkles and frosting.) They all are an incredible experience that you must try.

What is even better is the specialty services that H Bake Shop provides. They make wedding cakes as well as specialty themed cakes for birthdays, graduations or whatever event you are particularly throwing. They also have a great line of other products from cheesecakes, macaroons and brownies that are to die for. Something incredibly special that Huascar and his team did today was make this OUT OF THIS WORLD Monsters Inc. themed cake for my 3 year old nephew Eddie. The look on everyone’s faces when they saw it in person as well as the reaction on social media was insane as so many people have never seen anything made like this. We were even debating not cutting into it as it looked beyond incredible. Take a look at the above picture for jaw dropping status.

I beyond recommend going to H Bake Shop the next time you are in Hell’s Kitchen, or have an event, or want something sweet. Just go. You won’t regret it. For more information log on to their official site. Oh, and this is a photo of my nephew devouring the cake today. Totally worth it.

H Bake Shop

601 West 57th Street (Between 11th and 12th Avenue)

212-265-2399

What is the cost of building a mobile app?

by Randy Rayess

This post originally appeared on the VenturePact website.

The Idea: “Hey, I am trying to build an app. It’s going to be a social network for dog owners. I have $10K. You know someone?”

Source: http://bit.ly/1B49vBV

2 Weeks Later
“Yo, I got a steal – I found these people who told me they’ll build the app and give me unlimited maintenance for $10K. What a deal!”

6 Months Later
“Still building the product but not paying extra even though its going way over, I’m lucky I got a deal. $10k for 6 months of work is less than $20 per hour!”

8 Months Later
“I will never outsource anything again, the doesn’t work its been 8 months.”

What went wrong?

An outsourcing decision made solely on price can result in an array of problems.
When choosing a firm to build your application, price is a component in the decision making process, but time, experience, and quality also come into the equation. Quality is hard to quantify and its hard to know whether a company is high quality based on their website.

Sometimes you’ll find a low quality company that charges $250 per hour. Sometimes you’ll find a great company that charges $40 per hour. Of course this is not the norm, but price alone does not mean that a company is amazing or terrible. Also, a service provider that is amazing for one company might not be for another.

To guide companies through the development pricing maze, we have created The VenturePact Budget Grid with three zones and three tiers representing the world’s development firms and respective pricing.

Zones vary based on each region’s cost of living, and tiers vary based on clientele, years of experience and specialty of firm.

The chart shows the minimum project size that each zone and tier would require and their approximate hourly charges. This VenturePact Budget Grid should help guide companies when deciding how much they should pay and where they should select a service provider.

Do you have questions about outsourcing or finding a development firm for your next project? Feel free to reach out to [email protected].

Randy Rayess is the co-founder of VenturePact, a service that helps companies find and engage with vetted software development teams. He is passionate about remote work, outsourcing and software development. He previously worked in private equity at SilverLake Partners, in machine learning and in payments.

Check Out New Hot Spot Mastro’s Steakhouse In Midtown

by Ryan Shea

Who the heck doesn’t like Steak? (Besides Vegans/Vegetarians/Pescatarians, ugh just writing this is exhausted). Steakhouses run the muck here in New York City, with many of them offering a variety of foods inside and outside of steak to appeal to your appetite. Luckily, for all of my readers I have discovered this great new spot right in the heart of midtown that combines great tasting food, music, setting and location all into one. I am talking about Mastro’s Steakhouse, located on 52nd and 6th Avenue right in the heart of midtown and across the street from the world famous Rockerfeller Center. Here is some more about the new location.

Narrative Group, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: The Narrative Group

Mastro’s Steakhouse opened its doors in New York City on Wednesday, November 12 as the twelfth Mastro’s Restaurant location in the U.S and the first on the East Coast. The iconic restaurant celebrated by diners and critics alike is renowned for indulgent, signature dishes such as their two-foot-tall seafood tower, lobster mashed potatoes, and melt-in-your-mouth Signature Warm Butter Cake.

The upscale steakhouse is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, convenient to New York’s Central Park, Rockefeller Center, across from Radio City Music Hall and a wealth of high-end shopping and museums nearby. Mastro’s will offer a first-class dining experience with the highly attentive, genuine service and hospitality that guests have come to expect.

The menu, traditionally consistent across all of Mastro’s Steakhouse locations, features only the highest quality, freshest seafood and USDA Prime steaks, complemented with a wide selection of sharable appetizers, family-style side dishes and house-made desserts. Lunch is served Monday – Friday from 11:30am – 3pm and will offer salads, sandwiches and burgers in addition to Mastro’s legendary menu items.

Mastro's Steakhouse, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Mastro’s Steakhouse

“New York City is the center of the universe, and arguably the top culinary destination in the world. It was natural to choose this market, already brimming with high-caliber restaurants, as the next evolution of Mastro’s,” said President and COO Mark Levy. “We’re very excited to serve the New York City community, as well as the many people who visit each year, with our beloved dishes and outstanding attention to the dining experience.”

I took a friend to Mastro’s a week ago to experience all the hoopla first hand and was quite impressed by a lot of things. First off, I loved how it was two levels as depending on your noise level it can really make or break your night. On the top level there was this fantastic band playing for a more uptempo crowd, and on the lower level was a bit more relaxed and a calm atmosphere, per se. We decided to sit on the lower level and were treated with the utmost professionalism by the entire staff. It was quite wonderful. Mastro’s itself is very buzzy by nature and was jam packed, which is fantastic for any establishment on a Friday night, yet our needs were attended to ten fold and we got our food in a swift and efficient matter regardless of how busy it was. That is a huge key in how good a restaurant can keep up with things especially under the added pressure of a large amount of people inside.

Mastro's Restaurant, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Narrative Media Group

Now onto the food of course. The food itself was beyond out of this world and was savory and satisfying in every way possible. So let’s hypothetically say you are eating a meal with someone else and you want to navigate the best route from start to finish. For an appetizer, I would recommend going BIG and getting The Seafood Tower as it is a combination of all your favorite seafood all in once tower of deliciousness. If I were to recommend a soup I would go with a personal favorite, The Lobster Bisque. I can’t stand when I go to places the the bisque is thin and runny. In my opinion, a Lobster Bisque is supposed to be thick with a great creamy texture, and that was my experience in trying this. Both great choices to start your meal off.

Narrative Media Group, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Narrative Media Group

The picture above of the Lobster Mashed Potatoes doesn’t describe just how truly delicious it tasted in person. It was their best side dish of all the side dishes that we tried, but that doesn’t knock how delicious other side dishes were like the Gorgonzola Mac N Cheese, Roasted Brussel Sprouts or Creamed Corn and Spinach. Absolutely delightful. For the main courses, I surprisingly didn’t go the steak route (although the options run the gamut from Filet, Strip and Ribeye) and tried the Herb Roasted Chicken. The skin on the chicken was salted generously and tasted freaking amazing, and the chicken itself was cooked to perfection. My friend opted for the Rack Of Lamb which was plentiful in size and just like the chicken was cooked perfectly and tasted great.

Finish the meal off with their Signature Butter Cake, with fresh ice cream on top and whipped cream on the side. Heaven doesn’t describe. Overall a 10/10 in my book. Next time you are in midtown and want to try out a great new location I would recommend Mastro’s completely. For more information on Mastro’s, check out their official site.

Producer & Songwriter Paul Andrews Drops New Madonna Mix

by Ryan Shea

Two people I happen to be big fans of are living legend and queen of the too tight cape Madonna, as well as producer, songwriter and all around good guy Paul Andrews. Long Island and frequent NYC’er Paul is someone that I profiled recently for the site, and in that original interview you really get to understand just how truly talented this guy is. With 2014 being such a lackluster year in music, in particular sales wise, some of the biggest artists in the world have their albums slated to be released this year in hopes that we can salvage what 2014 didn’t give. Madonna of course is one of them, as her highly anticipated new album “Rebel Heart” is slated to be released this coming Tuesday.

One of the songs off of that album is called “Living For Love” which is a simple piano based song. However Paul remixed the song with a more uptempo base, and it sounds freaking fantastic. Take a listen to the track here. Madonna songs have been remixed for almost 30 years, yet I love how Paul took a simple, low key song and really lifted it to a whole other level with a great synth-base that elevates it to a whole other level. He truly shows what a chameleon he is when it comes to mixing songs, and this is a great example of that.

On the page for “Living For Love”, he has this to say about the remix-

Recorded February 2015.

Madonna is a hard worker. How could anyone not respect that! She’s still delivering. This is my 4^th Madonna remix. Decided to go with a 90’s sounding house style feel for a few reasons:

The original version of “Living For Love” is piano based.

There seems to be a trend with mixes going back to the 90’s style.

I liked how my “Lights” 90’s remix came out.

I got a new virtual synth and I HAD to use it!

When I first heard “Living For Love”, I wondered why the song built up in the chorus just to drop out. The chorus sounds like a gospel song, so why not “go there”. Interestingly, the song seems to have so many different parts to it, so I decided to re-harmonize each section on its own.

I’m saddened to hear that some radio stations aren’t playing Madonna because she doesn’t appeal to their younger listening audience. As with most pop stations, they play into the marketing. Would they play this song if a younger artist sang it? I honestly do not listen to pop radio. They have stopped playing the music I like a long time ago.

The latter part of what he said could not be more true. Madonna puts out better music than most of the 1dkatypladygagabieber crap that is out there today. So does Paul. For more information on this mix and everything else Paul does, check out his official site.

Why Using A Fleshjack Isn’t A Bad Idea For You… At All

by Ryan Shea

Keeping in the sex and toy theme that seems to be running rampant on Manhattan Digest today (see our Babeland review here), I decided to flip the switch on what that original article entailed and write about a thing or two to help a guy out. From my point of view, ever since I entered my first adult store when I was 18 in Providence, it seemed like the sex toy section was always chock full of things to enhance a woman’s pleasure yet the male counterparts were either shoved to the back or truly not available. These stores though were designed for a more unisex experience, which is all and fine, but it did make me wonder if there were items more tailored for a man’s enjoyment.

So cue me living back in New York City where a friend and I tried a local shop in the heart of Chelsea that was very gay friendly. That is when I saw a barrage of items tailor made for the male species and one included the Fleshjack. At first glance I was startled by it, not because it scared me in anyways but to a certain point the product itself looked very well put together and didn’t give me much of a smutty vibe at all. It seemed like a well made professional product that had multiple usage end points for whatever the customer wanted. Yet for some reason I saw it as just a visual and then went on my way.

Couple of years later, Fleshjack has become quite the hot buttoned item in the adult toy industry. Designed for gay and straight men, the product itself has won multiple Cybersocket Awards and become a brand name for people who want a high end version of items to get them off. The Fleshlight is primarily designed for straight men, as they have different functions in terms of what parts you are, um, testing out. What is even better is that some of the top adult stars, both men and women, have their own line of these toys such as Asa Akira & Lisa Ann to Chris Rockaway and Spencer Reed to name a few. Quite the business tool if I must say so myself.

I was able to speak with someone from their social media team and they gave some great insights on the Fleshjack lines and what would ultimately work for you. Take a look at what they say-

Fleshjack, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Fleshjack

They currently offer a range of different Fleshjacks to choose from which are all made with the same medical grade, patented Super Skin material. The Endurance Jack is one of the most popular units; this specific Fleshjack features an inner sleeve canal lined with raised bumps for a high intensity level designed to help with premature ejaculation and performance anxiety. Many customers also love the Fleshjack Ice; this unit is unique in comparison to other Fleshjacks as the Fleshjack case is clear and the lack of color pigmentation in the Super Skin material makes the sleeve see-through, so users can actually see themselves inside the Fleshjack during the session.

Another interesting line of their products are the Fleshjack Boys Collection units; these Fleshjacks feature mouth and butt orifices which are actually molded from our selection of 20 separate male adult stars right here at our headquarters in Austin, Texas. Each Fleshjack Boys sleeves also feature custom inner canal textures designed by the star himself, our most popular of which is the Brent Corrigan Bliss Fleshjack.

Along with these great products, their website also offers a ‘Build Your Own’ Fleshjack section, where the customer can choose their own case color, orifice preference and inner canal texture to complete their ideal Fleshjack experience. They also have a product named Flight; these units are a tad smaller than the standard Fleshjacks and are more useful for the guy on the go or for men who may have a more average or less than average girth and length measurements. The Flight units feature a translucent Super Skin sleeve and a Black or White case, each having separate textures listed at the Pilot (with a black case) and Instructor (with a white case).

Cleaning and care for the product is minimal and easy as the Super Skin material is nonabsorbent and a quick rinse with warm water and our own sleeve cleaner ‘Fleshwash’ will rid the sleeve of any lubricant or other substances acquired from use. They also offer a Renewing Powder, which helps to keep the sleeve fresh feeling and skin-like as well as prolonging the sleeve lifetime. Many of their customers have stated they have made their Fleshjack sleeves last for a couple years, as our sleeve material is very high grade, but as with any product in and outside our market, care and usage will be a big factor in product longevity.

Now that I have been in the gay world for over ten years now, I feel the older I get the less I am weary about products like these as they are designed to enjoy and not to intimidate. If you are comfortable with your sexuality and nature, I recommend getting this as it is the perfect anecdote to a quiet night in or when the guy is away and you want to have a little fun. For more information on Fleshjack, check out their official site.

Hollywood Drive-By Drops New Single “Light in The Darkness”

by Ryan Shea

I have had the good fortune of knowing the amazing Long Island hip-hop meets rock band Hollywood Drive-By for years now and am quite impressed with the leaps and bounds they have made in the years that they have been together. You can see previous write ups about the Long Island Guys that I did on them right here on Examiner. On top of all the fantastic work and shows they have done in recent years, it looks like 2015 is going to be a banner year for this group as well.

Hollywood Drive-By, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Hollywood Drive-By

The band has released their first song called “Light In The Darkness (Year Of The Human)” which leads the new album coming out later this year, the first being an untitled EP (a sneak the this summer and the latter being an LP called “The Human Condition” which is slated to be released this fall. Talk about a busy schedule. The song’s release also coincides with a huge boxing event slated to air on March 27th on ESPN. The event will feature one of the band’s good friends John “The Hitman” Hernandez and will be live at The Paramount in Huntington Village.

The song itself is crazy good in its flow and beat. The drum throughout packs a punch and the rapping in it is very reminiscent of the early Beastie Boy songs that came out in the late 80’s and 90’s. Other influences from what I hear are The Offspring, No Doubt and Pearl Jam to name a couple. And yes, this is the perfect song that you would hear when someone is entering the boxing ring and getting ready to fight.

Manhattan Digest, Hollywood Drive-By — Credit to: Hollywood Drive-By

It is a shame that this type of music isn’t at the forefront of what is hot in the industry anymore. I have seen my share of bands like Hollywood Drive-By have authentic talent that needs to be heard, and I am hoping the industry shifts itself a bit moving forward so they can have their big moment in the sun. If “Light In The Darkness” is a preview of what is to come, then expect some big things for these guys in the future. To hear Light In The Darkness and all things Hollywood Drive-By, check out the link here. Be on the lookout for more of them to come.

Entering Babeland: Where Sex Toys Can Escape Their Packaging

by Jessica Klein

Say you’re a woman looking for a sex toy to use with your partner, though you’ve never ventured into a sex shop before as a serious buyer. You fancy yourself a novice in the big, bad world of vibrators but know that having one might just be the answer to bringing excitement back into your sex life.

If that’s true, then you represent the average customer at Babeland, an upscale sex shop with New York City locations in Soho, the Lower East Side, and Park Slope in addition to a store in Seattle, where the founders, Claire Cavanah and Rachel Venning, first set up shop in 1993. The two women realized something crucial at a time when sex toys were treated more as part of the porn industry than a staple in your average Jane’s sex life. They noted that the then-current method of displaying vibrators and the like on a hook in opaque packaging featuring an image of a porn star did not exactly entice female buyers. In fact, (surprise, surprise) it kept them away, appearing more like another porn video for men than a toy targeting women looking to explore their own sexuality.

Babeland, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Babeland

Thus was born the idea of Babeland, a store where you can touch, turn on, and even taste the products offered therein. Everything is on display because, well, why shouldn’t it be? If you’re going to buy something with a tactile function, you should be able to experience its feel before bringing it home—especially if you’re a novice when it comes to sex toys, like most of Babeland’s Soho customers, according to Pamela, who does marketing for Babeland (and asked that her last name be withheld). She also provided a breakdown of the store’s clientele: “About 60% of our customers are women, 40% are men, and the majority are looking for something to use in their relationship.”

Since this customer demographic suggests plenty of question-asking, the staff at Babeland have to be prepared. They go through a lot of training, and you can hear them rattle off expert explanations of various sex toys in a way that sounds natural, not rehearsed. Why bother rehearsing the answer to a question that you’ve had to answer about a hundred times before, anyway?

“Yes, people come into a sex shop to ask a lot of the same questions, but the number of questions asked is too many to start naming common ones,” said Pamela. “It’s easiest to approach the slightly overwhelming store by category—not all sex shop novices are looking for the same thing.”

Say they’re looking to explore anal sex. There’s a whole section in Babeland dedicated to this kind of penetration and play, from plugs to beads. A three-piece plug set, for instance, Pamela described as a good intro to anal toys. The sizes vary, so you can start small and work your way up. All of these toys have flared bases (so they’re easy to pull out…and don’t get lost inside).

With “communication, relaxation, and lubrication” as Babeland’s three pillars of anal, it’s smart design, and customer conscientiousness, that puts the lube section right next to anal sex toys. This is where the tasting comes in, and where Babeland yet again proves it’s out to make its sex products accessible to patrons. In comparing Babeland to another common place to buy lube, Pamela explained, “If you walk into a drug store, you’re going to see some lube on the shelf, and it’s going to be major brands like Astroglide.”

If you’re not sure of what exactly you’re looking for—in other words, if you’re not familiar with lube and are out to get a certain brand—the drug store might leave you feeling like the porn star-covered packaging on vibrators left women in 90s feeling: lost, uncomfortable, and out of your element. Babeland is geared more towards beginners, letting shoppers put the lube in their mouths if that’s where they think it’s going to end up. “There’s a whole world of lube,” said Pamela, and it certainly looks like it with each different lubricant at Babeland labeled based on its ingredients.

Next to the lube sit the condoms, all blown up (so you can get a sense of what they’ll feel like on) and affixed to jars containing their packaged counterparts. From there, you can peruse the store by brand. Sex toy brands have evolved in the past several years to comprise a range of toys wide enough to make up a person’s entire “toy chest,” according to Pamela, making for greater brand recognition and loyalty. “I think it’s also media attention,” she explained. “I’ve been working at Babeland for the past eight years, now, and it’s been within like the last six that major magazines have actually featured a vibrator in the pages…showing a photo and saying what it was and where to buy it.”

That’s not the only way sex toys have evolved. Even more recently, they’ve gone mobile. Babeland offers a handful (well, technically more than a handful, wink wink) of toys that users can control with apps. One vibrator from We-Vibe (a sex toy line from a couple based in Canada), for example, comes with an app that allows it be controlled across great distances. If you’re here in New York and your partner is, say, on a business trip in China, your partner can operate the vibrator from his or her hotel room and stimulate you in your New York apartment. Another futuristic vibrator from the company OhMiBod comes with a set of panties, making it wearable. It responds to its sonic surroundings, so if you’re wearing it in a club, it will move with the beat of the DJ.

Though these inventions might seem intimidating or out of reach, they’re available for you to touch (and feel vibrate) at Babeland. Now that sex toys have come out of their packaging and onto the shelves of sex shops, there’s no reason to be shy about exploring them. They won’t bite, after all—just vibrate. And if you’re a novice toy user visiting Babeland, it’s safe to say that you’re not alone.

You can visit Babeland in Soho at 43 Mercer Street, or give them a ring at 212-966-2120. Check the website for other locations.

RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Caftans for Everyone

by David Baxter

RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7 hunty!!! Are you ready? Did you meet the queens and watch all the fucking promo videos?! You did?!!! I’m amazed! Let’s dive right in! [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Caftans for Everyone

The Kitano Midtown: So Much More Than Your Average Hotel

by Ryan Shea

In my entire time reviewing at Manhattan Digest, I have never had an experience where I reviewed a place within a place before reviewing the actual… place. Sounds confusing, right? Let me make this more clear. Last weekend I was entranced and delighted to experience The Kitano Hotel’s weekend “Jazz At Kitano”, which takes place each Sunday. You can read my fab review here. As great as the experience was, something I noticed on a larger scale was how breathtakingly beautiful The Kitano Hotel was. It’s grandiose in stature and decorated so amazingly upon first glance that I knew I had to do something more than just the brunch write up. And boy was I glad that I made that decision.

Kitano Hotel, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: The Kitano Hotel

I was lucky enough to stay at Kitano this past weekend on a chilly Friday and Saturday here in New York City. The hotel spans over 17 floors with incredible views of several New York City landmarks. The room I stayed is was beyond compare (If you want to choose the ultimate to stay in at Kitano, Suite 1702 will be your best bet), as it was almost like being in an apartment with a fantastic view, and quite possibly the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in while at a hotel. Not to mention they have Bidet’s, which I have never experienced before but was quite happy with the end result (silly joke).

While I stayed there, I got to sit down and interview the wonderful manager Zack Zahran about the history of the hotel, amenities you get while staying and why Kitano is the best place to stay in New York City.

Please tell me a little more about Kitano. How did this establishment get started?

The Kitano Hotel New York opened its doors in 1973 as New York’s first Japanese hotel. Forty one years later it remains the first and only Japanese-owned hotel and has become an integral part of one of Manhattan’s historic neighborhoods, Murray Hill. Located four blocks south of Grand Central Station on fashionable Park Avenue at 38^thStreet, the 18-story hotel towers over some of New York City’s most magnificent turn-of-the-century dwellings, offering spectacular views of city landmarks. The hotel features 149 guestrooms, including 17 contemporary suites and a one-of-a-kind Japanese Tatami Suite. The Kitano Hotel New York is also home to the critically acclaimed Michelin-rated Hakubai restaurant where traditional Kaiseki delicacies are served.

Is it true you are the only Japanesed owned hotel here in New York City?

The Kitano Hotel New York is Manhattan’s first and only Japanese-owned hotel, offering extraordinary traditional Japanese hospitality.

What are some of the amenities that you get when staying at Kitano?

The Kitano Hotel New York is home to the critically acclaimed Michelin-rated Hakubai restaurant where traditional Kaiseki delicacies are served. Our other on-Site dining venue, JAZZ at KITANO, opens at 7:00 AM for breakfast, lunch at 12:00 noon, and dinner at 5:00 PM. Other amenities include:

Room Service

24-hour Business Center

Valet service

High-speed wired and wireless Internet access

Iron, ironing board and hair dryer

Complimentary coffee and tea

Sleeper Sofa Available in Suites

Individual thermostat control

Power socket is 110V and adaptors are available

Fully stocked minibar

Oversized executive work desk

In-room safe

Luxurious marble bathroom

Separate shower stall and bath tub

Flat screen television, radio and alarm clock

Bathrobes and slippers

Daily local and Japanese newspaper

Dual-line telephone with voicemail system

Wheelchair accessible

Raised toilet seat on request

Pet-friendly

Manhattan Digest, Kitano Hotel — Credit to: Kitano New York

Do you have a brunch spot on location at Kitano? Can you tell me a little more about that?

Known for an acclaimed jazz program, The Kitano is home to JAZZ at KITANO, a supper club located in a former Rockefeller townhouse adjacent to the hotel, featuring daily performances of classic and contemporary jazz accompanied by a Pan-Asian inspired menu and offering Jazz Brunch every Sunday from 12 to 2:30 PM at $38.00 per person, including Bloody Mary and Mimosa.

Why ultimately should people choose The Kitano Hotel upon their next visit to New York City?

Our location, at 38th Street and Park Avenue, is perfect for guests who wish to stay in the heart of the city, footsteps from the most prestigious shopping, entertainment and cultural district. The hotel is within walking distance to The Empire State Building, The Chrysler Building, The United Nations, Grand Central Station, Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, historic museums and Broadway theaters.

We provide great customer service, for our guests’ maximum comfort, and all the necessities to make them feel at home. Our rooms are clean and stylish with great beds, original artwork, and luxurious marble showers, at reasonable prices, with deals to be found on the web.

Owners and management clearly care about the details and maintenance. Everything looks well-maintained and clean; the staff is genuinely hospitable with great attitudes.

The Kitano team is the perfect host for a supremely memorable wedding; our 18^th floor ballroom offers stunning views of The Empire State Building and Chrysler Building, making for a perfect backdrop for distinctive photo opportunities. Only one wedding per day takes place at the hotel, ensuring exclusivity and personalized attention.

Something that is worth highlighting with Kitano New York is that, as previously stated, they are much more than just a fabulous place for you to stay for a night or more. If you are looking for a space to hold a wedding, seminar, meeting, or whatever business type thing you have going on, they have you covered and then some. Let me introduce the Penthouse Banquet Suite.

Kitano New York, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Kitano New York

I was able to meet with their fantastic Catering Sales Manager Melissa Paston to learn more about this added bonus that The Kitano New York offers. “The Penthouse Banquet Suite features incredible views of the Empire State Building and Midtown from the large outdoor terraces. The food and beverage comes from our signature restaurants Jazz at Kitano (American cuisine) and Hakubai (Japanese cuisine).” The Penthouse is ideal for the following types of functions:

Weddings with up to 70 guests

Cocktail Parties for up to about 125 guests

Landmark Celebrations: Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, Sweet 16 Parties, Anniversaries

Rooftop BBQ for up to 125 guests

Meetings with up to 70 guests

Pricing for these events run at different costs of course, however they are affordable and ultimately worth it given what they are providing and then some. With wedding season coming up shortly, as well as the warm summer months approaching, the Kitano is a great place for you to hold your next big event.

Of all the hotels that I have stayed and reviewed with Manhattan Digest, this one in particular gets immensely high honors for its professionalism, look, spaciousness, variety of options and overall experience. Easily a 10 out of 10 in my book. I would recommend highly staying here the next time you are in New York City for whatever reason need be. All of the information about the hotel and The Penthouse Banquest Suite can be found on their official page located here.

Kitano New York

66 Park Avenue East 38th Street

212-885-7000

Traveling To The Poconos? Visit Callie’s Candy Kitchen

by Ryan Shea

The older that I get the more that I seem to get nostalgic and look back on my childhood when things were a ton of fun and a lot more simpler. Even though I am from Long Island, each summer my family and I would take multiple trips to our Pocono home right in the heart of Mt. Pocono and experience the relaxing atmosphere that the location provided. On top of the beauty that is the Pocono Mountains, there is also a ton of great local establishments that remind us why shopping locally is essentially just as important if not more as shopping at an established brand. One great example of this is Callie’s Candy Kitchen & Pretzel Factory, which is located right in Mountainhome, PA inside the Poconos.

Now granted, the site that I run is about Manhattan culture. However, we all travel. And with the summer season fast approaching (regardless of what Mother Nature say outside) a lot of us are looking into where we should go when the temp gets warmer and the clothing options turn from pants to shorts and sweaters to t-shirts. I highly recommend if you are stopping by the Poconos to try both the Candy Kitchen & Pretzel Factory out for so many different reasons. They make both their candy and pretzels on premises, something that really adds a fresh flavor to both sides of the coin. They have every type of chocolate covered item you can imagine (more on that later) and have a wide assortment of pretzel types that go beyond what you can get while you are waiting for your train at Penn Station. Also, beyond everything their customer service is incredible and they really go the extra effort to make sure that local or not, you leave with some great product and a wonderful time.

I was fortunate enough to sit down with Gretchen Callie, daughter of the owner’s of Callie’s, to learn a little more about the business.

Thanks Gretchen for sitting down with us! So Callie’s has been in business for quite some time. How did you guys get start?

The candy store has been in business for 62 years, started by my mom and dad, Carol and Harry Callie. They both passed away last year. I made candy with my parents my whole life and have been running the business for some time now. The pretzel factory will be 30 years old this year. My husband Mark Reisenwitz ( of 33 years) runs the pretzel factory. So now we run both of them together.

Callie's Candy Kitchen, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Callie’s Candy Kitchen

You have a Candy Shop and Pretzel Factory. Can you tell our readers a little bit more about both?

At the pretzel factory we make an everything hard pretzel and a peanut butter pretzel that are great sellers. We make many flavors of popcorn and have about 50 different flavors of hard pretzels. We also make fresh soft pretzels and filled pretzels too. Years ago my parents went on a vacation and would always look around for new ideas and found a left-handed shop. My husband Mark is a lefty so we carry a line of all lefty products from notebooks, rulers, measuring cups, scissors, and mugs. It’s fun for the customers because everyone knows someone left handed.

Manhattan Digest, Callie's — Credit to: Callie’s Candy Kitchen

What are the most popular items that people buy at each?

At the candy store we have everything from fresh chocolate covered strawberries, Philadelphia crream cheese, and grapes. You name it we cover it. Twinkies, pretzels, potato chips, even bacon. Peanut butter is still the best seller whether chocolate covered or in fudge. Every season we change the store for each holiday inside and outside.

Do you make all of your items organically at your stores?

We do not use organic products, but make candy and pretzels on the premises.

How have you achieved longevity in your part of Pennsylvania?

Customer service is #1. Take care of your customers and they will keep coming back. We also have good quality products. Some of our customers have been coming for three or four generations and are still coming and bring friends.

Do you have any plans to open up more stores in your area or outside of it?

NO! Two stores keep us quite busy and that’s more than enough for my husband and I.

Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Callie’s Candy Kitchen

How important is it for people to shop locally and support small businesses like your own?

It is very important to be involved in your community. We donate for tricky trays and fundraisers. People remember when you give gift certificates and products. We all support each other. It’s a great little town we live in. We all know each other, so wherever we go it’s always “Hi how are you?”.

What are your biggest hopes for the company in 2015 and beyond?

Just keep doing what we have been doing for 62 years. Make people happy because no one is sad at a candy store or pretzel factory. Health and Happiness.

Want to know more about Callie’s? Can’t make it to the Poconos but want to order some of their delicious items online? Check out their great website! Also, shoot me an email at [email protected] to win an amazing gift basket!

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