Last time I took you for a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, from Manhattan to Brooklyn. After exiting the walkway on the bridge you come to Brooklyn Bridge Park. One of the most unique public spaces in all of NYC. It pairs the unique, old school Brooklyn charm with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline. In that way exact way it captures both the soul and body of New York City at large. I always try to present my work thusly. The gorgeous physical architecture being the body and the people who inhabit those structures being the soul. Brooklyn Bridge Park is a fantastic way to see both. [Read more…] about Brooklyn Bridge Park- A Photo Blog
Brooklyn
A Walk Across The Brooklyn Bridge- Photo Journal
If you are a New Yorker, you are obligated to walk The Brooklyn Bridge. Yes, it could be touristy just for the fact alone that the pedestrian walkway is ALWAYS mobbed with people from all over the world, every nice day from April until October. It’s like going to the top of the Empire State Building or now the Freedom Tower. If the Queensboro Bridge has the market on quirkiness then the Brooklyn Bridge could be considered a wizened old man who has seen New York grow to be the capital of the world. It IS touristy on the surface but dig a little deeper and it’s pure New York.
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Montgomery Street’s Drops Amazing “Dapper Man” Video
One of our favorite bands in New York, Montgomery Streets, have had quite the busy couple of months. In late November, they did an epic performance at The Cobra Club in Bushwick to a rumbling audience, and also premiered their brand new song “Dapper Man”, a follow up to “Brooklyn Burning” which was released in July. Well, Montgomery Streets have now added the illusive video to their impressive resume by releasing one for “Dapper Man” which has already received thousands of views online.
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Indulge in The Best Of Valentine’s Day Sweets & Treats!
Can’t get enough of our Valentine’s Day mania here at Manhattan Digest? Good, because we are still going strong with what I think is the best part of the day (or any day, quite frankly)- the sweets! And what better place to find sweets than in the best city in the world. So for all you cheapos out there that are going to run to your local drug store and pick up chocolate that has likely been sitting there for quite sometime- think again! We have found some fun and innovative places and ideas for you to show your honey how much you love them in the calorie and sweet department. Check out what we think will melt your loved one’s heart.
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Nostalgia in Brooklyn- DUMBO Photography
Any native New Yorker will tell you that there is a certain nostalgia that permeates through Brooklyn. Yes, we may reluctantly admit that hipsters have brought a certain “cool” back to BK however, for a lot of us that were raised in NY the essence of Brooklyn goes beyond a bad mustache, know it all attitude and skinny jeans. It’s where out fathers and grandmothers grew up and where our great-grandparents settled after coming through Ellis Island. Next time you take a walk through an area like DUMBO try to imagine it through the hardworking New Yorkers from all over the world that came to Brooklyn and are the original producers of BK slickness.
A Cold Day on Nostrand Avenue – A Closer Look At Brooklyn
On a cold Wednesday last week, I ventured out to Brooklyn. Admittedly, I have not spent a lot of time there but you can see the appeal as soon as you ascend the subway station stairs. You step out into the charm and angst which make Brooklyn known the world over, even outside of it’s attachment to New York City.
I was fortunate enough to be able to have access to a rooftop looking out towards Manhattan You can see the tip of the Empire State Building and some of the glitzier high rise apartments but it might as well been a world away. These photos, some are heavily edited for a vintage effect, only begin to scratch the surface. I hope to spend more time in the upcoming year exploring and documenting the unique (dare I say quirky?) beauty of Brooklyn.
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Shaker & Spoon Teaches You How to Bartend… Deliciously
I am a firm believer that no matter how old you get, you never stop learning. Even when it comes to something as simple and delicious as making a tasty drink for you and your friends to enjoy. So, instead of going to a crowded and loud bar to have your favorite drink and try out some new concoctions, why not have it delivered to your door each month and discover something new? This can all be done when you use this phenomenal new service called Shaker & Spoon, which recently launched in the heart of Brooklyn only a couple of months ago.
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La Gringa Taqueria Spices Up Brooklyn & The West Village
No matter what cuisine I am trying out in Manhattan, the one that I always seem to love more than anything is Mexican. I don’t know why, but as someone who grew up loving spice, it seems to resonate with my taste buds and a good cause for my happy faces as I have grown up. So naturally I was excited to try out La Gringa Taqueria, which has two super convenient locations on Christopher Street in the West Village and Grand Street in Williamsburg. [Read more…] about La Gringa Taqueria Spices Up Brooklyn & The West Village
Head to Greenpoint and discover Toro Ironworks Kitchen & Bar
Sometimes its good to go outside your normal viewing point and see what else is out there for you to enjoy. Whereas most of our foodie reviews happen to take place right in Manhattan, there are times where something looks very tempting and delicious outside of the main borough to shift our gears and see what they are all about. In this situation, it is a new Mexican eatery called Toro Ironworks Kitchen & Bar, located right off the G train in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Toro Ironworks has been open for less than a year now yet seems to has solidified itself as a culinary staple in Greenpoint. Owned by former music executive Sebouh Yegparian, who has been a resident of the Greenpoint area for twenty years, his goal is to bring fresh ideas and unique spins on the traditional Mexican cuisine in both the food and drink areas. He curated a craft beer selection highlighting brews from Mexico including labels like cult-favorite Day of the Dead and the Baja-brewed Ensenada.
Some popular appetizers that are good to start out with is their Elote (corn on the cob) with a really incredible spicy sauce smothered on top and their queso cheese dip with a side of nachos. Traditional in a sense but if prepared correctly can really start your meal off well. Something really unique that Toro Ironworks prepares is their “hummus a la Mexicano” combining a Mexican classic, salsa with an Israeli staple, hummus.
Toro Ironworks of course has an incredible line of burritos, tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas all based on what your taste buds want. Something that really caught me eye with this location is that they go beyond the normal chicken, steak, and carnitas option and bring very unique takes on all three and more to your plate. Some great options include Koreano Steak (Steak marinated with Korean BBQ sauce), Camaron (Grilled & Chilled Shrimp), and Al Pastor (Braised Beef) just to name a few. I tried the Koreano Steak Burrito and was amazing with the flavor texture inside, especially with the Korean BBQ sauce and delicious picked onions wedged inside that added a great crunch to the burrito itself. My friend opted for the Al Pastor Burrito with citrus and pineapple and had a similar reaction while noticing how fresh the burrito really was. As someone who doesn’t drink alcohol too much, I really enjoyed that they had authentic Mexican soda there with real sugar cane as it blends really well with all the food that we ate. Overall, this place is fantastic and worth the trip to see what all the fuss is about.
For more information you can logon to their website. Toro Ironworks Kitchen & Bar is located at 254 Griggs Street and their hours of operation are Monday – Thursday: 12pm – 10pm, Friday: 12pm – 11pm and Sunday: 12pm – 10pm.
Happy eating everyone!
Blue & Black Apothecary Trims The Competition in Brooklyn
As someone who grew up thinking that a clean shaven face looked good on me, I always relied on myself to take care of things with some Barbasol and a good Gillette razor when it came to keeping my face clean. In my early 20’s I discovered the beard looked good on me but angling it wasn’t necessarily an expertise I was good in so I started relying on barbers to do the work for me in a professional manner. I have gone to a bevy of those since then, yet recently a friend of mine recommended trying out a new hot spot in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn that goes beyond the normal trim and chat- The Blue & Black Apothecary Barber Shop.
A great corner location right in the heart of Carroll Gardens, Blue & Black provides incredible grooming in a chilled, relaxed environment. To go along with your grooming experience, you can also choose from a great selection of beer on tap from their neighbors Other Half Brewery & Manhattan Specials to enjoy a cold beverage. On top of all of this they boost a great line of men’s grooming products from Malin & Goetz, Cool Grease, Civil & Blackbird just to name a few. I stopped by there a week ago and had a phenomenal time. They did a fantastic job on the type of cut that I like and the proof is in the above photo. While I was there, I sat down and chatted it up with owners Keith Krystofolsky & Anthony DeAngelis about Blue & Black itself, from how they came up with the name, why it is called an Apothecary, the services they provide and what is next for the brand. Take a look.
We were looking in South Brooklyn for a number of months. Key elements were a corner space, great light, solid traffic and hood where you could hang out, chill and relax away from crazy traffic and the concrete big box hype that is so much of the city these days. We wanted to be off the beaten path, while still on it. Equally important as a good landlord, who we respected us, respected the neighborhood and that we could partner with. Then, while having lunch at Prime Meats, there is was, staring at us, across the street. The perfect location: awesome foot traffic, great restaurants around shops around, a masculine vibe and a place where we could differentiate ourselves and be part of a neighborhood in a chilled out, almost West Village kinda way. Aesthetically, it took a strong vision, but the bones and foundation were all that we could have hoped for.
How did you come up with the name for Blue & Black?
Way way back, when we were doing inspiration and design trips for the brand and shop, focused on color palette and vibe, we kept coming back to two key: blue and black. We felt those colors represented a masculine coolness and style, yet they were classic, easy but could also be arty depending on how they were paired. It kept on coming up, sounded cool to us and it just stuck. We also like that its a flip on the typical saying of Black & Blue, a bit of a play on words.
You describe this as an Apothecary, a word not commonly used much in the modern era. Why use that word to describe Blue & Black?
We’re trying to take the word Apothecary and put a fresh, new and modern spin on it, redefine it. Certainly, per tradition, there is a heavy focus on personal care products for hair, face, skin, oral etc. But we’re also trying to expand the concept from everyday items you need for your BODY, but also to everyday items you need for LIFE such as small electronic and gadgets, small fashion accessories like wallets, hardware such as flasks and knives, but also into other weird and wonderful categories like art and literature.. We see this as only the beginning of our cool offering to our even cooler clients…just think of all the possibilities!
What services do you provide? Is it unisex?
We provide classic barbering services including hairs cuts and trims, facial hair and beard services, and also a manly version of a quick facial done right in the chair. We do cut women’s hair, but as our core services offering is simple and stylish, most of our female clients tend to be those looking for shorter or more edgy styles. Don’t get us wrong, were def open to the right lady should she see us as a good fit, but our core target is definitely guys.
Can you describe in detail what a client would get once they enter your establishment?
When you arrive to our shop you will be checked in and offered a drink, and yup Other Half Brewery IPA is the obvious choice. If you’re a bit early, you can hang in out in our waiting area, browse our collection of art books and style mags or check out the latest product in our Apothecary. For those of you desiring a click hole, you can hook into our free wifi and top off your phone with one of our Cheero chargers (yup, we also sell Cheero).
Once in the chair, your Barber will consult you to figure out where you want to go style-wise, but also importantly what your current grooming and styling habits are (or are not), ensuring your direction and habits are a match. Then, its all about relaxing and enjoying ride, with beer of course. For us, the finer details are really important. The subtle fades, natural lines and fine texturing are key the finished look, among a few other shop secrets. At the end of the service, you’ll be offered a rinse and receive a hot towel (more shop secrets hidden here), a truly refreshing experience. After you’re a’ll cleaned up, its about setting with the front desk, but of course you are free to hang out and relax, and have another drink. It’s on us!
How are things price wise, is the entire experience affordable?
Our services range from $15-$42, beard trims at the lower end, full clipper and razor cuts at the higher end. Our price point is somewhere between classic subway tunnel barber and high-end salon. That being said, we feel we are well positioned to be very accessible to the NYC market given the mad skills of our barbers, the fine details of the services and the overall elevated experience and vibe.
I see you serve some really great beer and lager, something I have never seen before at a barber type establishment. Why incorporate this?
We incorporate it because we think beer is just awesome! We love Other Half Brewery and everything they produce; they are a local brewery and are located just a few blocks from the shop and we thieve on the idea being part of the neighborhood just like Other Half. We also think its quite nice to have a drink while your waiting for your barber, during that brief respite from the busy day. For those not as enthusiastic about beer, we also offer seltzer water and Manhattan special coffee soda.
Overall, why do you think people should travel to Blue & Black over their local barber shop?
We feel strongly we’re providing a fresh and really unique experience, both in delivery of services, through our environment and with our product offering. We’re elevated the experience, yet kept it simple, masculine, easy, modern and accessible to all types of guys, form high trend to no trend. Key to our philosophy is avoiding any air of exclusivity and pretense if who we are and what we do. We consider ourselves INCLUSIVE, not exclusive, lord knows there’s enough of that in NYC.
What are your hopes for the future of Blue & Black?
We see a lot of potential in the Brand we are building, both short and long term. Our core competency is surely Barbering complimented by a natural extension into personal care product. We see a lot of natural adjacencies: deeper expansion into retail including our own branded product, additional services offerings tailored to guys needs, perhaps even a foray into mens accessories and fashion. We def see shop 2 or 3 or beyond!
Blue & Black is opened Wednesday through Monday, with both walk-ins and appointments available. For more information, log onto their official site.
Blue & Black
488 Court St
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(347) 987-4426