manhattan digest

Album Review: Azealia Banks – Broke With Expensive Taste

Harlem born and raised, Azealia Banks finally drops her debut album

Azealia Banks has been quite the enigma since she burst into the mainstream radar with her monstrous hit “212” in 2011. Seemingly a star on the rise, she fell in and out of love with Interscope, had twitter beef with every artist from T.I. to Baauer yet had the promise to deliver some of the most experimental music since Missy Elliott.

However, two failed singles and no sign of an album release date left fans wondering whether or not Banks was merely a flash in the pan and a detriment to her own success. Fast forward to Summer 2014. Azealia Banks, now a free agent, released a new single “Heavy Metal and Reflective” and gave fans hope that her debut album “Broke With Expensive Taste” would actually see the light of day. 2 months later another single “Chasing Time” was released and Azealia teased that more was to come.

Then last Thursday, she took a huge risk and dropped “Broke With Expensive Taste” on iTunes with little warning and fans around the world rejoiced. Though not quite a Beyoncé move, given her less than stellar buzz in recent months, many may argue that it wasn’t the wisest decision, but truthfully speaking, in a world of instant gratification, it was right on time.

Despite nearly half of the album containing previously released material (depending on how closely you follow her music), overall the album is an incredibly solid debut offering. My one and only complaint about the album is the sequence of the tracks. “212” is now 3 years old and her most popular track bar none, however it is within the first 5 tracks on the album which in my opinion throws off the balance a bit. She also does not balance the diversity of her music well. Azealia often teeters the line of Hip-Hop, Electronic, R&B, and Pop which is both impressive and confusing and she jumps from one style to the next without any sort of transition.

These things aside, Azealia proved naysayers completely wrong: She is far from a one hit wonder or a flash in a pan manufactured artist. She sticks to her guns and she doesn’t apologize for it as she effortlessly delivers diverse musical styles that are absolutely amazing. And guess what? The risk has paid off. She debuted at #30 on the Billboard Top 200 with over 11k albums sold (and that was in less than a week’s time). In this day and age, without any label support and a marketing plan, Miss Banks certainly won’t be broke much longer.

Standout tracks: Wallace, Chasing Time, JFK, Idle Delilah, Ice Princess

Official Website Here

Blue & Black Apothecary Trims The Competition in Brooklyn

by Ryan Shea

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.

Blue & Black, Manhattan Digest, — Before & After Shot- Blue & Black Did A Great Job!

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.

The location of this place is big and spacious and in a great part of Brooklyn! How did this all come together?

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

New York Beer Company- The Manhattan Digest Review

by Ryan Shea

Combinations sometimes can go together pretty well. Brandy & Monica? Yup. Peanut Butter & Jelly? Yummy. But what about combining Beer, Delicious Food and the Stock Market? This is where you come up with The New York Beer Company, which is nestled in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen. Located right outside Times Square and The Theater District, The New York Beer Company boasts a warm and inviting setting that works in many environments whether you are a tourist(s) visiting NYC for the first time, enjoying a big dinner after indulging in your favorite Theater Show or just stopping by for the latest big game on their multiple televisions. But besides all of that, there are a lot of things that make The New York Beer Company really special and different compared to your run of the mill bars that seem to populate in and out of Manhattan.

One thing that makes this hot spot so unique is its connection with the Stock Market. How? Read on. A special feature of the New York Beer Company is “The Beer Market”, a segment of the beer list with prices that vary based on demand. The rise and fall of prices is displayed on screens and ticker displays throughout the bar creating a fun stock market type atmosphere. On occasion, the market will crash and beer prices drop to all time lows before regaining stability, an amazing opportunity for customers to get great value while trying out new beers. Manager Jonny Barr explained that when the crash does happen, you’ll see people flood the bars to try some of the latest and best beers for a fraction of the cost that they would pay for. Seeing as alcohol tends to be a bit overpriced in New York City, I think this whole concept is absolutely fascinating and is fun to see how it plays out on a nightly basis.

New York Beer Company, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: New York Beer Company

On top of the great feature about, The New York Beer Company also has some pretty great food options that go beyond the general bar food that many people can deem to be greasy and not that good due to a high turnaround rate. That however isn’t true at all when it comes to the quality of food that they provide. So let’s say you are going with a friend or group of friends and want to share a couple of courses together. The following is what I would highly recommend trying as all of them were quite delicious and were packed with flavor and taste. In the appetizer round, I would go with the homemade chicken fingers with a really yummy and creamy dipping sauce. There is a huge difference when you can taste something that is homemade compared to when it comes from a freezer and this is a true example of that. Another great option to try is the Flatbread Quesadillas, which is stuffed with three different types of cheeses and topped with avocado cream, tomato relish and a chipotle lime aioli. Burst of flavors from all over the place and filling enough to keep you satisfied for what is coming next.

What came next, is what is in the photo above. That is called the “Maxed Out” burger and it comes with the following- Pecanwood Smoked Bacon, Shredded Pork, Cheddar Cheese, Onion Strings and a delicious Mushroom Au Jus. If this was a credit card in terms of flavor I would be in collections based off of how off the chain it was. The fries that came with it too were crispy and well seasoned. The Drunken Mac N Cheese is another good option, as it is filled with bacon and chicken and smothered with their five cheese sauce. To add flavor they include jalapeno peppers and is topped with garlic & herb breadcrumbs. Totally yummy and not overpowering when it comes to spice which is a good thing in my book.

If you have enough room left in your stomach I would highly vouch that you get these two items- Fried Oreos and Chocolate Hazelnut Cake. Or the freaking awesome Sundae pictured above. Definitely a great way to finish out quite the delectable meal.

Overall I would recommend anyone try the New York Beer Company out. My friend and I had a great time while we were there and would go back again and again. Check out the official site for more information.

New York Beer Company

321 West 44th Street (Between 8th and 9th Avenue)

212-245-2337

Dirty Burger Spices Things Up On Long Island

by Ryan Shea

Even though this site is called Manhattan Digest when I hear things like “Award Winning”, “New York City Food & Wine Festival” and “Best Wings In Long Island” naturally I had to go out of my way and see what all the fuss was about. This is of course related to the unique experience that me and my friend had while visiting the uber popular Dirty Burger, located in the heart of Plainview, Long Island. As a kid growing up on Long Island myself, I was really looking forward to seeing what Dirty Burger had to offer, as the restaurants out here tend to be very chain friendly and don’t offer up many one of a kind experiences when it comes to finding a great burger. This was one of those experiences.

Dirty Burger, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Dirty Burger

I got to know about Dirty Burger due to their involvement in this years 2014 New York City Food & Wine Festival, in which they were invited to complete in the annual Blue Moon Burger Bash. The event was hosted by talk show host and Food Network pioneer Rachael Ray. Being invited to something that big of a deal clearly warranted a simple food blogger like myself to visit the upbeat establishment with a friend of mine and we were quite pleased with what they had to offer.

Dirty Burger’s trademark per se is the “Dirty Dust” that they put on many of their dishes, from their wings to chicken sandwiches, it is designed to enhance the flavor of whatever you are trying ten fold and elevate your taste buds to a whole other level that I myself have never experienced. According to its description on Dirty Burger’s official website, It’s a blend of spices inspired by the Chef’s world travels, using ingredients from the four corners of the world to create a uniquely different flavor enhancer. This blend takes on a bit of a spicy profile, but tends to smooth out in the cooking process, especially with the use of honey.

So let’s say you are the average Joe Schmoe looking guy like me and want to have a full experience at Dirty Burger ordering an appetizer, entree and dessert. Might I suggest the following as it is what I had and each was prepared and tasted to yummy perfection. For the appetizer, I would go with their delicious dirty wings, which their classic buffalo sauce actually won a Best Of Long Island Award. We tried it with that paired off with a cool dip and the flavors were explosive yet not overpoweringly spicy. Definitely can see why this sauce was award winning for sure. Next, for an entree there are a ton of options but seeing as this place is called Dirty Burger, I opted to try one of their best- The Dirty Double. 7 ounces of all-natural, hormone & additive free Angus beef, Dirty-dipped and honey-grilled on a steamy-soft, DB sauced bun. I have to say for someone who has tried so many different types of foods and flavors I can truthfully say I have never experienced something like this before. The flavors grow on you after the first bite or two and you can really get a sense of how influential the Dirty Dust is in making the Dirty Double that much more tastier. Really an amazing well put together burger. I would recommend a side of their sweet potato fries as the Dirty Dust really compliments the sweetness of the fries as well.

To finish things off, I always love a good milkshake so naturally I went with my favorite character from Sesame Street- The Cookie Monster. Designed for kids, but I’m a big kid at heart and the taste was super delicious and it was blue, my favorite color. Now what is great about Dirty Burger is that pretty much everything they make is Gluten Free, even the fries! That speaks volumes to people who are on a diet or can only eat gluten free products as this can be limiting sometime but everything they prepare has that option. Pretty freaking cool.

I would recommend this as a great hang out place for you and your friends or family to go on a weeknight, after work or to stop by on a cool, fall weekend. If you are ever in the Plainview area definitely check this place out.

Dirty Burger

12 Manetto Hill Mall, Plainview

516-595-7399

Peacock Alley at Waldorf Astoria- Best Of Manhattan Brunch

by Ryan Shea

When it comes to food experiences in New York City, few are as grand and amazing as the equivalent to an actor winning an Oscar or a singer winning a Grammy. I found that experience at the Waldorf Astoria, where myself and a friend dined at their historically known Sunday Brunch. It was held at Peacock Alley, located inside and towards the back of the famed hotel, and to say that they come prepared for the masses of this is a huge understatement. I had first gained notice about the brunch upon watching a Brunch segment on WNBC’s “New York Live” where Peacock Alley was one of the three featured. After doing some extensive research on other sites, I knew that this was something that I had to review for so many different reasons. How do you navigate the entire brunch? Can you pace yourself while doing so? What should I try and what should I avoid, if anything? What new foods at Peacock Alley haven’t I tried that I should? All of these were answered upon my exit yesterday. Here is the review. [Read more…] about Peacock Alley at Waldorf Astoria- Best Of Manhattan Brunch

Mike MRF Flanagan Releases Groundbreaking Video “Trying”

by Ryan Shea

Something I happen to love is when an artist goes outside the grain and makes something of quality that gets people thinking. That is what Mike “MRF” Flanagan has done with his latest video “Trying“, which details the high’s and ultimate lows in a relationship. MRF, who is an openly gay musician based out of Boston, is someone that I met a couple of months ago at the one and only Bear Week In Provincetown, Mass. After hearing the beautiful music that he made on both his freshman and sophomore albums, I knew I wanted to interview him as he was someone I saw on the rise. You can check out that full interview here.

As for “Trying” which is off of his phenomenal sophomore album “Mob Music”, the song and video both are beautiful in its lyricism, sound and portrait of the end of a relationship. Only being out for 3 days, yes 3 days, the video itself has received 20,000 views and counting and has amassed quite the positive feedback from the LGBT community and outside of it as well. I got to sit down with MRF again to discuss the video at hand, the concept in making it and what is next for the chart topping piano player. Take a look.

Hey MRF! The “Trying” video is simply beautiful! Tell me about the concept behind it.

The concept is about not being able to find resolution in your most significant relationship ending. The good was everything you’ve ever wanted, but ultimately that person is never going to allow the two of you to be together. And therefore, it’s about being in position where grieving that loss is not possible and you’re haunted by the memories of all you shared with that person. I left the ending ambiguous for a reason. I wanted people to relate to it in their own way and plug in their on experience as to how and why their own personal relationship ended.

How did you go about casting your hunky costar to play the man you are in a relationship with?

I’ve known Mladen for about 5 years now. He’s an absolutely stunning man and a good friend. I knew his look would be amazing on camera and I also thought the chemistry between us in this narrative would work really well. His look and demeanor is so masculine, I felt it important to represent masculine men in a narrative that was loving and normal and sensual and not just hyper-sexual.

Where was the video shot and how long did it take to put everything together? Were you a part of the creative process as well?

The video was shot in Boston. We did three days of shooting and about two weeks of editing. We shot at a rehearsal space in Boston, at a friend’s place and partly at my place. I wrote and directed the scenes and Steve Osemwenkae shot the video and co-directed.

The song “Trying” alone is stunning. Can you tell my readers what you think the ultimate message of the song is?

The main message is that despite you and that person having it all together, there is something in the way and her or she will not allow the relationship to be. I think the most potent lyric in the entire song is “When will you believe in us” and that really sums up the entire message.

You recently stated that this is your most personal song to date. Why is that?

I wrote this song about my last relationship. I was a total wreck as it was nearing the end and both the lyrics and melody came to me simultaneously. I sat with Lisa and sang the reference for her and within a few minutes, she was singing it in the booth as though she wrote it. I had Justin do 2 harmonies with her melody and the harmonies absolutely transformed the song. It’s my most personal but also favorite song to date.

When it comes to LGBT music videos, we usually don’t see ones like this that show two men in such an intimate, physical embrace. What are your thoughts on that?

One of the best parts about making this video is the overwhelming amount of messages I’ve received from people from all over saying that they cried and finally felt represented. I think giving that visibility to the diverse stories within the massive umbrella that is the LGBT community at large, is important and tells people that their story is worth telling.

Now that the video is released and is trending high on YouTube, what are you hoping that people come away with it upon watching?

I of course want the video to speak to people but I’m really hoping this turns a lot more people onto my/our music and the chemistry/magic that we ‘mob music’ have together. And follow me and us on our journey as we create more for you.

iTunes: MRF

Spotify: Follow MRF

Twitter.com/MikeFlanagan_

Instagram.com/MikeMRF

YouTube.com/MikeFlanaganMusic

Facebook.com/MRFMikeFlanaganMusic

www.mikeflanaganmusic.com

What is next for you?

I have already started mapping out the next album which will probably surface in mid 2015. In the meantime, we’re considering doing a video for another song off of the Mob Music album called “This Love”.

Delmonico’s Kitchen Lights Up Midtown West

by Ryan Shea

When it comes to fine dining in the world, you really can’t get any better of an experience in Manhattan. In the two years that I have run Manhattan Digest, I have done many restaurant reviews that tend to skew towards more comfort food than anything else. Nothing wrong with that, but when I had to elevate myself and review the phenomenal Delmonico’s Kitchen, located in the heart of Midtown West on West 36th Street between 7th and 8th. Coming from a place that is highly regarded, reviewed and well liked by the masses (both personally and professional reviews) I went and grabbed one of my best friends to experience the best in Fine Dining that Delmonico’s truly offered, and to say that we were highly impressed is quite the understatement for this establishment.

Delmonico, Delmonico's, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Delmonico’s Restaurant Group

The look and feel of Delmonico’s Kitchen really is Manhattan 101. Touted as the country’s first fine dining restaurant, you really get the sense of elegance and sophistication upon arrival. Call me weird but this seems like a place where you could see anyone from financiers just getting off the job and having dinners with coworkers or constituents to a large family celebrating a loved one’s recent birthday or life accomplishment. It is very warm and inviting, and the colors throughout the place really shine through and blend together especially now that the weather is drastically changing from super hot to chilly in a matter of days. The general manager Denis Morovic, couldn’t have been nicer and something that immediately caught my eye was his attention to detail when it came to going to each individual table and chatting with his guests. That to me is a measure of a great manager, someone who goes the extra distance to make sure that their guests are having a good time and are ultimately welcomed at that establishment. Delmonico’s did that and then some.

Then of course there was the food, which gets a 10 out of 10 in my book anyday. Taking the fine dining aspect to a new level, the plates me and my friend were served at Delmonico’s were prepared beautifully and executed the same way. Now onto the recommendations for my readers. If we are going from start to finish here is how I would spend my night at Delmonico’s. For a starter dish, there is a lot to choose from, but seeing as me and my friend are Shrimp lovers I would recommend starting with the Jumbo Shrimp cocktail which comes with three different type of dipping sauces. One was the traditional tarter sauce however the other two were just as flavorful. One being some sort of dressing reminiscent of Thousand Island and the other one had a soy sauce taste to it that was quite delicious. If we are going in the soup realm here, one dish that I would highly recommend is the Lobster Bisque as it had just the right amount of heat and creaminess to really satisfy our palate.

Moving along to the entrees it is simple as one work- steak. Delmonico’s is known for its innovative take on the traditional steakhouse and it showed in what they prepared for us. One that I would recommend is the Filet Mignon as it was cooked to perfection. A good side dish to pair with that was the delicious Brussel Sprouts which were generously seasoned and had great flavor in each bite we took. Another entree I would recommend going with is the Braised Short Ribs with sweet potato puree. Heavenly and paired with the right side dish to really inject such flavor into what they are providing.

Now that we are in the home stretch for dessert at Delmonico’s, I would recommend the two following (even though they all looked pretty freaking amazing). The southern delicacy known as Beignet’s, complimented with three different types of dipping sauces and their Baked Alaska, which is ice cream and cake topped with a browned meringue. Definitely a sweet and yummy way to finish off quite the epic meal at Delmonico’s.

So whether you are local to the area or are visiting New York City for the first time, why not treat yourself to an amazing meal at Delmonico’s? It is something you will truly enjoy and want to come back for seconds and thirds in the days and weeks to come. Check out the official site here for more information.

Best of Manhattan Brunch Series: Harding’s NYC

by Ryan Shea

Vanilla Bourbon Battered Toast? Oh yeah, Harding’s got that

After running this site for the past year and a half and talking about so many different hotspots that Manhattan has to offer, something that went completely over my head was where the best brunches were! I mean, millions of Manhattanites freaked the F out a couple of months ago when there was going to be an apparent ban on the endless brunches that many restaurants have to offer, so I knew this was something that Manhattan Digest had to offer. Now that the summer is over (kind of but not really) and we are bracing ourselves for the crisp & chilly fall weather, many of us are searching for that one place to get together with loved ones on the weekend and dish about the night before and the week ahead. So where to go to enjoy all of this?

Harding's, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Harding’s

In Manhattan Digest’s latest series, “Best Of Manhattan Brunch”, our first stop is Harding’s NYC located in the heart of the flatiron district. I have had friends go there in the past to rave reviews so when the idea to do a brunch series came up, I knew this was one of the stops I had to make. Yesterday, me and a friend stopped by there to see what all the fuss was about, and got a good vibe as to why we should include Harding’s on the list.

Harding’s itself may look small from the outside, but it iis quite different upon arrival. It has a very large seating area, with a spacious bar in case you are a table of one or just looking to grab a Bloody Mary with your buddies. The wood finishing and the varieties of browns throughout scream fall in many ways, and the overall setting was quite pleasant and fun to enjoy. There is also quite the American history feel to it, as we sat beneath an oversized, century-old American Flag and exposed brick wall which made the whole rustic feel to it that much more intensified. As delicious as the food can be, the service is also a big part of the overall experience and if bad can make the entire trip not worth going. The service, from the waitstaff to the management was impeccable and they were eager and helpful throughout the process which made it that much more wonderful.

Of course we have to discuss the food as this is brunch! A brunch just wouldn’t be a brunch without an alcoholic beverage of sorts. If you want a Bloody Mary they have three different types available at your disposal- the classic, the Balsamic (with balsamic-vinegar tomato juice as opposed to the regular) and the Dill Bloody Mary (with pickle juice added in). They also have the classic Mimosa as well as one with Grapefruit Juice, both quite yummy. As for the brunch itself, I would highly recommend the two options that me and my friend tried out yesterday. The actual Harding’s omelette- comes complete with fresh vegetables like corn, broccoli and roasted tomatoes and filled with cheddar cheese. The mixture of all of them combined into one hearty omelette worked really well together and was quite tasty. On top of that, the four words I am about to write do exist and are spectacular- VANILLA BOURBON BATTERED TOAST. Das right, Harding’s did quite the stellar job with this dish which is totally delectable with the challah bread, whipped orange pecan butter and of course the Vermont Maple Syrup dolloped on top. For the first dish I would recommend getting a side dish of fruit salad to couteract with the heaviness of the home fries and omelette, and for the toast I would recommend a side of their country bacon. Why? Because its bacon, it needs no explanation.

So I would highly recommend Harding’s as your next go to place for Brunch. You will find yourself in a quite aromatic and pleasant setting, and leave full and satisfied. Check out their official website for more information.

Harding’s

32 East 21st Street (Between Broadway and Park Avenue)

212-600-2105

Farmbox Direct: A Fresh & Yummy Idea For Manhattanites

by Ryan Shea

With the winter season rapidly approaching, many of us New Yorkers are looking forward to the hearty and comfort type meals we will be eating for the holidays and beyond. Naturally many of us are weight conscious and even in the cold weather are looking for ways to keep our weight down and our figure looking good throughout. So when I got news of this hot new delivery service that sends the freshest produce straight to our door at a great cost, I had to learn more. This service is called Farmbox Direct, which is located in the East Village between Great Jones Street and Bowery.

The new subscription based service that brings 100% USDA certified organic seasonal, and pesticide-free produce to singletons, families, couples and friends from New York to Washington DC. For those who are looking to embark on a healthier, cleaner lifestyle, Farmbox Direct offers seasonally selected produce perfect for those who don’t have enough time to shop for food that’s good for their mind, body, and soul. Farmbox Direct provides customers with the highest quality seasonal produce with boxes assembled and delivered weekly. Farmbox Direct gives families the opportunity to rediscover what a seasonal and local diet is with all of the produce’s health benefits.

I was fortunate enough to sit down with founder Ashley Tyrner about her burgeoning business, why after all these initiatives there is still a healthy epidemic in this country, and what her hope is for Farmbox Direct in the future.

Farmbox Direct, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Wunderlich PR

Hi Ashley, thanks for taking time to talk with us. First off, how did this concept come about?

Hello! Thanks for taking the time to try out my startup!

I am the farmers daughter, my dad is a large corn and soy bean farmer. I grew up working in the summers at my uncles compost in the Midwest, so I did have a bit of knowledge about farming and our food system. The actual concept is a product is a hybrid of myself being on food stamps while pregnant with my daughter and trying to eat healthy and organic for myself and my unborn baby on a food stamp budget, and my 3 1/2 year old daughter. She is a self proclaimed vegan since age 1, she refused to ever eat a piece of meat, so I thought to myself: if my daughter is only going to put fruits and veggies in her body, I want them to be the best I can get my hands on. I was a busy corporate working single mom here in NYC, so finding time to make the trip to my local farmers market was a hard task, and I soon learned not all the farmers at my local farmers market were using organic practices. I knew I was not the only person in need of a service along these lines, so I decided to step down from the corporate world and go back to my roots to start Farmbox Direct.

Do you think there is still an epidemic in our country with the lack of nutrition amongst young adults and adults?

There definitely is. I applaud our 1st Lady Michelle Obama for going into our children’s schools to ban junk food, and work to replace our kids meals at school with healthy alternatives. I do believe in just the last 3 to 5 years people have really began to pay very close attention to what is in the foods we eat, but society as a whole defiantly has a long way to go.

How do you organize each box? Can they be custom prepared to each clients liking?

I personally each week look over what different farms, and suppliers I deal when, will have harvested for that coming weeks farmbox. I price each box out, and try to design each box around different items to make neat interesting cooking ideas. I always say that designing each weeks farmbox is my weekly puzzle for my mind! I allow people to make 5 substitutions to give my customers the freedom to swap in and out items to their liking. I want people to have the advantage of having items they love and will enjoy in their weekly box. Farmbox direct is like a CSA, but we allow you to make substitutions to your liking, where a CSA your stuck with whatever that particular farm has harvested that week.

What is your most popular Farmbox so far and why do you think that is?

The most popular farmbox menu so far was actually just last week! I had only a 7% sub rate, people went crazy over the kiwi berries I was able to get my hands on! Before that in July we had a box that contained cherries, peaches, blueberries, along other great items and that week I only had a 9% sub rate.

As diverse as these boxes are, do you think it will pave way for other unique ideas for the Farmbox brand?

Of course! This Tuesday I actually will launch our kids lunch box option, which I have named “Harlow’s Harvest” after my daughter, Harlow. That add on to your weekly farmbox will have an organic lunch kit for your child’s lunch. As a working single mom, I know how hard it can be to pack my preschoolers lunch, let alone packing her an organic lunch. I decided to launch this to help parents take the stress out of planning their child’s lunch. We will deliver the kit for you each week. *Hint* there is even a chocolate milk that contains a whole days recommended veggies Intake hidden in the chocolate milk!

Further I am lunching around the holiday time, a dry goods once a month “switch” box to slowly turn your home to an organic household. The box will contain everything from laundry detergent, to popcorn, to cookies to help slowly transition your house to an organic household.

AND for pet lovers: I am paving the way for organic pet food farmboxes!

What have you learned throughout this experience?

I have learned this business was much more difficult to start and expand than I thought before I launched farmbox direct. Once I expanded outside of the NYC area, and began using FedEx PeriShip for my logistics, I learned totally on my own that there is a whole logistic, and engineering element that goes into getting that farmbox from my warehouse, to my customers door. You would not believe what it takes to get that box to someone’s door! Expanding to a larger scale, became a whole new game! I have also learned that it is very important to surround yourself with people who believe in you, and your concept. My board of advisors I have to say is very impressive, Richard Stomabck, Ernest Lupinacci, Michael Roth, Dennis Kneale to name a few have all joined by board of advisors. They all have totally different backgrounds but make a very wide, well rounded group to help guide me in my visions for expanding. I launched solely on my own the NYC and brooklyn market, deciding to take this to a national level meant bringing on a team to help implement that idea. Down to choosing a PR firm was critical, you have to have people that support you, believe in you, and you’re brand.

What are your hopes for the Farmbox brand in the future?

I hope my company can change people’s lives, their health, and their future. You are what you eat, I hope farmbox direct can educate people to eat for their health! I am already working to take this to a national level, maybe other countries could be in the near future, I actually have already have had a Venture Capitalist meeting about me taking this to the Asia market. People like to say “the sky is the limit”. I like to aim for the moon in my life. Elon Musk wants to put people on Mars, believe if he figures out how to get to Mars, I will then figure out how to get Farmbox Direct to Mars!

Take a look at Farmbox Direct’s sites for more info!

Farmbox Direct Official

Farmbox Direct Facebook

Farmbox Direct Twitter

Get To Know The Tantalizing & Stunning Tony Orion

by Ryan Shea

Tony Orion, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Tony Orion

As someone who has interviewed many different types of entertainers in the past four or so years, I have rarely been nervous outside of meeting Jay-Z and working the MTV Video Music Awards Red Carpet (the only carpet I will ever work. Giggity). Yet when I met up with burgeoning adult film star Tony Orion, I was quite the bit nervous. Why? Because he is super handsome and cute and I think that would make any gay man nervous. Tony Orion has made quite the name for himself in the adult industry in a very short period of time, and has been able to transition himself as one of the top performers of 2014. Working with the biggest studios in the industry such as Titan, Raging Stallion and Colt, Tony has established himself as one to lookout for and in doing so is the reason why I wanted to sit down with this beautiful lad before he got to big to chat with the cute cub from Long Island.

I recently chatted with the Brazilian stud, who recently moved from Chicago to New York City and now back to Chicago again about his beginnings in the industry, his freshening take on men of color & barebacking, and what he sees for himself both in and outside of it. Take a look.

So you are a guy that was born in Brazil, made your way to Chicago and then New York City. With all this geographical change, what made you want to get involved in the industry?

It was actually my ex boyfriend who got me into this while I was in Chicago. We met last year and he was already in the industry, doing modeling and working at that point for a studio called Fort Troff. While we were dating he asked me a bunch of times if I wanted to do movies, which was something that I never thought about doing at that point. I liked being behind the camera, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to actually be in front of it. So there actually became an opportunity for Fort Troff where his original scene partner didn’t show up and there was a vacancy which he then asked me to join him in. We did the scene and it turned out to be a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be mainly because it came so natural as it was with the guy I was dating at that point, which made it that much more fun.

We came back home, and I came to the conclusion that this is something I want to further myself in. So then I started sending applications to companies like Titan Men, Raging Stallion & Colt to name a few as I feel I represent those types of men. Got callbacks and that is where everything started. Within the first week I did two shoots for Raging Stallion and one for Titan Men, it was that quick. I actually did a scene with Alessio Romero who turned out to be a good friend of mine in the long run.

During that point you were a Rentboy. A lot of guys that I interviewed have had their own opinions on their experiences while doing that, did you like yours?

Honestly, no. I mainly did it as it was something my ex boyfriend did so I felt it was good to have a healthy balance and do it with him. After we broke up I came to the decision that it wasn’t something I wanted to do anymore and that was it. It was more of a comfort level for me while I did it. Don’t get me wrong, I got to meet a lot of nice and interesting people throughout, got to travel, see new places and network but ultimately it wasn’t really my thing. Right now I am just keeping my porn work active and it is doing very well for me, and it is something I am enjoying very much. It is something that when you get into it you have to enjoy it, and down the line you have a great story to tell for someone to share it with.

A big issue in the industry is that men of color aren’t treated on the same well as white man are, especially in the big studios. What is your take on this?

I think its more about your personality, how you portray yourself, how you deal with people and ultimately leave an impression with them. I am learning lately that everyone has a different personality all around, and for me I go where I fit. If I get into a situation where I don’t feel comfortable or welcomed I am not going to try hard to fit in. It is not who I am. In the industry, there is a fit for everyone. For instance, I’m not Hot House type, but recently I worked with them for a fetish movie. Why? Because I have hair and a beard but their type is usually lean, American men with very clean features. That is usually their type of men. So I am not going to say never because it worked, but the boys with that type of body typically have more work. That being said, it isn’t always about your body features, so I don’t think the question you asked really rings true in that setting.

You’ve done many great scenes in a short time frame, do you have a favorite?

Oh yeah. It was this Colt scene with Dirk Caber. I know Dirk way before I did porn because he used to live in Chicago before he moved to Boston. We became very close and good friends, so when I went to do the scene with him in San Francisco for Colt the chemistry was already there and it made everything go by that much faster. We were actually able to finish it in under an hour, so for me it was super hot not only because of the chemistry but because of how the director noticed that and complimented it. It is always nice when the director simply says, “Nice Job”, it was one of the best feelings ever when that happens and that is really what the experience was with Dirk. The cherry on top was right after the director tweeted, “Just directed the best scene of my life”. Totally awesome.

I’ve asked a lot of other guys in the industry this question and am always curious to see the different answers that I get for this. What is your take on the bareback evolution that is happening in the industry?

I would prefer to not do bareback in movies because I actually promote safe sex. I think everyone has their own decisions in their personal lives, and I’m sure intimacy for many people have their options to bareback especially if the two people involved get tested together and make the decision that much easier for each other. I know many people get off and love watching bareback scenes, for whatever reasons possible and point of views. Personally, I like working with studios that promote safe sex. Not because I think barebacking is wrong, but really it is just my own point of view on things. I love working with Titan, Raging Stallions and Colt who do safe sex scenes. I have friends who are starting to do barebacking with other studios, and if that is something they want to do then go for it. Everyone has their own decisions about what they want to do with their work, and if it brings you to a level of maturity in this industry then do that.

Is there a particular scene partner you would like to work with upcoming that you haven’t had yet?

I do actually. Adam Killian is super hot and nice. I saw him at The Grabby’s in Chicago this year and thinks he is flawless in the way he looks and talks. I would love to work with Francois Sagat. I know he doesn’t perform anymore but directs for Titan and his projects are so awesome. The ideas he puts in the project and transforms them into being so sexually hot is mind blowing. He did this one move for Titan called “Incubus” that he was part of visually directing. He brought a ton of ideas to it and it was so different from what the norm is but it was so hot, like the kind of sex that people read about but never actually see on screen. It was so easy to get off on it.

Outside of the industry what do you hope to accomplish?

I have a very creative mind and am taking classes for fashion at FIT. I like fashion very much and like to put my creativity into things like the shirt I am wearing right now. Everytime I have something that pops in my mind, I draw it. Most of the time I enjoy the final things that I do, and it makes me happy and thinks that it can be something that can be sold to the masses so that is something that i am working on now. I also gogo dance a lot, as well as a ton of other projects going on outside of porn that is in the works. When you have to accomplish something that is very yours, you have to be patient. It is not going to come easy. I just moved to New York City in March, and I am not in a rush and going with the flow and seeing what happens. There are millions of people who work here to get to where they are, that to me I just want to be part of this big mess of a crowd that are trying to find their goals.

Want to know more about Tony Orion? Catch up with him on his social networking pages for more info!

Tony Orion’s Twitter

Tony Orion’s Facebook

Tony Orion’s YouTube (With a super cute rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”)

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