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Steve R.

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Everything posted by Steve R.

  1. Steve R.
    This isn't my favorite cuisine so I can't say that I've tried many of the Czech (or Czech-ish) places in the area, but I have been to Korzo on 5th Ave in Bklyn a number of times to drink or to eat or to attend one of their live jazz concerts & I've liked it. It's a laid back place with an unassuming, non-pretentious vibe. You might want to try it.
  2. Steve R.
    Or... maybe not. Great series & great game by Cleveland.
  3. Steve R.
    Wow. LeBron was unbelievably unstoppable & clutch. Irving made one hell of a last shot. And the Warriors looked like they were forcing shots over great defense. Great last game.
  4. Steve R.
  5. Steve R.
    I like the "monthly achievement award" concept but the suspension was absurd. Charles Barkley said something about it being a moral imperative to kick someone in the nuts if he steps over you -- gotta keep giving him credit for being clear about the unwritten rules of the game. LeBron and everyone else on both teams is playing hardball, as well they should. The refs and the NBA front office fully understand the game and I don't think for a moment that this was objective. After all, the NFL didn't even consider suspending Brady for the Superbowl and they knew that they had sustainable charges. Think that the difference is a single game format vs the middle of a best of seven with lots of additional revenue in the balance? I'm soooo cynical. As for the GSWs being likable -- well, I don't think they are either. But I can't imagine that any of them could do what they do without a smugness & arrogance about themselves.
  6. Steve R.
    So, anyone think that was a legit suspension?
  7. Steve R.
    Little Pepper Hot Pot is long gone. When they moved the restaurant to College Point in 2011, they put their Hot Pot place in at their old address. Never caught on and the one visit several of us made there was less than impressive.
  8. Steve R.
    Haven't been back this year yet, but am planning on it with several friends. In my opinion, this has been just about the best Sichuan place in NYC since she moved to College Point from Roosevelt Ave in Flushing several years ago. Not that it wasn't one of the best then either, but I think the expanded digs have allowed them to cook more evenly and calmly. Just for some historical perspective, Spicy & Tasty was once, many years ago (20?) on Roosevelt Ave, just past College Pt. Ave (across the street from the housing projects). It was the best Sichuan place in NYC at the time by far, cramped into a run down, lower level set of rooms that was tough to work in. Then they moved to a more modern open upscale place up the street on Prince, off Roosevelt (still there and still okay). Replacing S&T was Little Pepper, which became a favorite for all us food board folk for years (you know: Chowhound, Mouthfuls, eGullet, etc… those folk). They made enough $$$ to finally move upwards as well, but for some reason decided to go to College Point, a good 15 minute ride away and far from the subway & LIRR. The first 1-2 years seemed rough for them and we usually found the place ½ empty. Then they seemed to find their groove and here we now are -- a highly recommended (& deservedly so) place. (end of "village elder" history)
  9. Steve R.
    With tickets now going for over $800, what's another $100 or so? At any rate, you'll be one block away from Restaurant Row (W.46th betw. 8th-9th) & Becco is not a bad choice. For $24.95, you get a salad and then any/all of the 3 pastas the chef has made for the night (unlimited quantities of it, if that floats your boat). This is not a crappy place, being the low end of the Bastianich empire. The rest of the menu is reasonable, but the pasta deal almost fits your budget w/a glass of wine, tax & tip. YOU NEED TO MAKE A RESERVATION. It's a big place with lots of rooms but it packs up. Or, if you walk over to 9th Ave & go 4 blocks uptown (W.50th/51st), you'll be at Uncle Nicks, a nicely priced Greek place that has very fresh fish, grilled simply. The salads, apps & cheeses are good, the fish is the thing to get and, if you stray and get one of the "classic Greek dishes" (pastichio, moussaka, etc) or meat dishes you have no more than an even money chance of it being good. Lots of Mexican and other small storefront places on 9th Ave as well, but the hidden gem, in my opinion, is a small Druze Cooking (yep, Druze) place called Gazala's Place at 709 9th Ave (off W48th). If you don't mind an informal but clean setting, you will eat very well for your $38. I believe all these places have web sites. Check them out.
  10. Steve R.
    You gotta go watch in person though. Paes has a touch game that doesn't lend itself well to tv coverage. Professional league tennis matches are usually inexpensive, not well attended & you get a set of all 5 types of matches (each with a no-ad scoring system). Two hours of fun.
  11. Steve R.
    Not great but quirky - Steffens in Kingsland, Ga (basically a down home southern diner) & Fullers Southern Food (buffet) in Fayetteville, NC. Both listed on TripAdvisor or their own web sites. Above average but worth it if you're in town - Caprice Bistro in Wilmington, NC. The owner used to own Bruxelles in NYC (W. Village) quite a few years ago & is running a French bistro that I'd be going to regularly if it were anywhere near me. Check out who's playing at Tin Pan in Richmond, Va. The burgers there (ok, I think they have good salads too) are above average & it's a music venue that I wish we still had in NYC.
  12. Steve R.
    Yep, this is a team… a real team. At least 8 players that can carry the game forward when needed. That being said, its usually a bad idea to mess with the chemistry of a real team but, in this case, I don't think that adding Durant would be a problem -- it would make them stronger. Picture him on the court right now against Cleveland as the "other" forward w/Green. Picture him on the court with Green, Thompson, Curry & whomever else. Substitute Livingston for Thompson or Curry. Do you foresee an "only one ball" problem in any of these or other scenarios… I don't. GS doesn't have a 2nd starting forward with his talent & they sure as hell don't have a center that he couldn't replace for significant minutes in a game. So… with him in GS's lineup, just how do you defend them? Almost any other addition of a top player to GS's roster might be worrisome but Durant would be just fine. However, I don't see it happening.
  13. Steve R.
    Note to youse guys -- Shumpert and JR Smith were on the Knicks. Who moves without the ball when Carmelo has it? The one that I don't get is Irving -- is GS really doing such a good defensive job on him or is he just having a bad time of it so far? I'm rooting for GS, but I want Cleveland to play better than Game 2 (obviously).
  14. Steve R.
    I remain a loyal devotee of Federer but I gotta admit that Djokovic is convincing me that he may well be the best player ever. A couple more years of this level and it'll be indisputable. Even at this juncture, its a legit argument.
  15. Steve R.
    Prior to them teaming up both Paes and Hingis were each already on my short list of players I run to watch whenever I can. Hingis played for the NY Sportimes (now defunct) when I was a member of that club and had season tickets to the team's matches (only 4 years ago). She was incredible to watch, both in singles and doubles. My favorite was the evening she teamed up with Johnny Mac in doubles… she was the stronger partner. As for Paes, my wife and I go to the US Open every year and we always manage to watch one of his doubles matches. Years ago it was with the "other" Martina, then (up until last year) Mens Doubles w/Stepanek. Always great to watch. What a touch. This year, we have our tickets and will keep an eye out to see if Hingis/Paes are teamed up (I assume they will be) &, if so, we'll be parked in the stands watching. Doesn't matter who else may be playing at the time, that's where we'll be.
  16. Steve R.
    Well, that was a fun game to watch. And now, Cleveland.
  17. Steve R.
    Yeah, but let's see who they're playing first. Against Oklahoma, Love & Irving's presence is a game changer. I'm not too sure that it changes much against Golden State. That being said, I would favor Cleveland vs Oklahoma (maybe in 5 or 6) but think that Golden State would be favored (in 6 or 7).
  18. Steve R.
    So… Golden State was like, gone right? Playing Game 6 away, losing just about all game. And then they weren't. Holy crap… how composed and tough are these guys?! I am officially even more impressed. Cant wait for Game 7.
  19. Steve R.
    So, a bunch of us (me, some CH oldsters, a couple of solid food bloggers, etc.) are hitting Nargis this coming Fri 6/3 & I'll probably report back. I, personally, haven't been to any of the places near Brighton Beach for a couple of years but have been to Glechek, Kashkar and several others (including a now defunct Moldovian place that didn't impress us) over the years. It's almost home turf since I grew up off Coney Is. Ave/Ave L (although that was a lot of years ago). At any rate, I look forward to Nargis.
  20. Steve R.
    No horse in this race (unfortunately, I've had no horse in this race for too many years now), but I've been watching lately & just cannot get my head around how smooth Curry is and how easily he seems to play this game. As a "Jordan was the greatest player" advocate, I may have to re-evaluate if Curry can stay this good (& uninjured) for 3-5 more years. As great as LeBron is, I just don't think he takes enough control of the game often enough to be the GOAT.
  21. Steve R.
    There are a couple of big Dim Sum houses in Manhattan's C'town, like the one up the escalator in the Mall under the Manhattan Bridge, in Flushing & in Sunset Park… but, overall, the quality has not been great in NYC since the heyday of World Tong in Bensonhurst (when Joe Ng was there). There are places outside of C'towns that serve high quality, high price dim sum (like Chinatown Brasserie, where Joe Ng is the Exec. Chef) in an upscale setting… but they don't count (at least to me). In Manhattan's C'town, NY Noodletown is still a solid late night genuine hole in the wall, good food place but, with every year that goes by, you have to order more carefully. If you ever return to the area & want to explore Sunset Park or get out to Flushing for Little Pepper, Fu Run or any of the others let me know. We still have groups who met years ago (when we were all young and food boards were just beginning) thru CH who go out regularly.
  22. Steve R.
    I agree. Although there are several places in Manhattan's C'town that are still worth going to, this area of NYC (in general) is not the best place for Chinese food in NYC. In Manhattan, a # of Szechuan places have sprung up in midtown that are very good and worth frequenting but, more importantly, Flushing's C'town (in Queens) is by far the bigger, better place for ethnic Chinese food of several regions. Recommendations upon request. Actually, the Brooklyn C'town around Sunset Park is probably better than Manhattan's C'town as well, but mainly for small, storefront places representing only a couple of regions of China. Of course, both Flushing, Queens and Sunset Park, Bklyn are pretty out of the way for Manhattanites or visitors staying in Manhattan, but a trip on the #7 train to Flushing is highly recommended for anyone who wants one of the best C'towns in the country.
  23. Steve R.
    Funny, several of us have been going back and forth on CH's Outer Boroughs board in the past several days (on a Seattle visitor's thread no less) about going to Nargis or Kashkar or Glechik soon. I actually haven't been to any of them in the last several years and could use a return. Take a look. (Don: I assume its okay to link to a CH thread? If not, feel free to delete) [Yes, please feel free. DR]
  24. Steve R.
    I can add my 2 cents (as usual) & even intermediate my wife's participation, as her career before New Line Cinema (15 years with them) was as a Stage Manager on & off Broadway. She won't come on any of these boards, but knows most of the NY Mouthfulsfood people (& even went with me to one of the DR picnics when we were in DC at the right time), so she gets what I'm doing here with my virtual friends (well, sorta). We go regularly... American Psycho next week, Long Days Journey last week (it sucked!) & she knows many of those involved on stage and behind the scenes. So... what do you wanna talk about?
  25. Steve R.
    Well?
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