Restaurants to try below 14th St.

New York Magazine always has a fantastic list of restaurants and reviews on their website that I refer to when I want to direct visitors to someplace special. What follows are some of their recommendations that sound like places I would like to try, all below 14^th Street. Will I? I hope so!  As usual, I find that my visitors often are more adventurous than I am in NYC—so let me know if you go to any of the following, and report back!

East Village: 
Bruno Pizza  ($) 204 E. 13th St., nr. Third Ave)

Superiority Burger  ($) 430 East 9th Street. Veggie burgers but with a twist  CLOSED TUESDAYS

Pearl and Ash ($$$)   220 Bowery

West Village: Po ($$$) 31 Cornelia St. nr. Bleecker St.

Home 20 Cornelia St.,nr. Bleecker St.  

Cafe Cluny  284 W. 12th St.at 4th St.  

Lower East Side:

Cheeky Sandwiches  ($) 35 Orchard St., nr. Hester St.8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Note: Miniature beignets are deep-fried to order. 

Best NY Breakfasts-from New York Magazine

Loved this article in NY Magazine this week--Best Breakfasts in NY by Adam Platt. Everything sounds so delicious! Breakfast! Who needs anything more!
All are on Lower East Side area or so. I’m intrigued by these places especially:

• Santina's   820 Washington St., at Gansevoort St. 
• Pies 'n' Thighs: 43 Canal St., nr. Ludlow St.
• El Rey Coffee Bar and Luncheonette   100 Stanton St., near Ludlow St. 
• Dimes   Canal near Orchard St. 
• Baz Bagel and Restaurant  181 Grand St., near Mulberry St 

Happily revisiting Cloister Cafe-- and other East Village institutions

The Cloister Cafe at 9th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues is one of those few East Village institutions (like Gem Spa and Cafe Orlin) that has survived the past couple of decades intact and carries a lot of memories for those (like me) who arrived in the early 80's to a post-Lou Reed, pre-Madonna St. Mark's Place. When I revisited it about 13 years ago I had a nostalgically pleasant experience, but at one point it turned into an expensive restaurant and had lost is appeal as a place to hang and feel a part of the East Village crowd. Luckily we revisited it this weekend and I'm happy to announce it has an extremely affordable menu (eggplant parmigiana 6.99, salads around 5.99, pastas at around 9.99, fish and meat more expensive) and its outdoor charm is intact. It's a great place to take the family if they are in town and you want to impress them with an East Village experience without the craziness. They do offer hookah pipes also, for what it's worth.

Also recommended for that "East Village" vibe:

Cafe 7A --&th Street and A...budget prices, always cool vibe

Cafe Orlin - 41 St. Marks (bet. 1st and 2nd)-outdoor and indoor cafe...cool vibe also
Veselka Second Avenue and 9th Street -Ukranian, usually packed, slightly more expensive

Yaffa Cafe bet. 1st and Ave A --97 St. Marks Place

Cozy Cafe (middle eastern hookah lounge)- $$$ 43 E. 1st St. Haven't been here but looks interesting for an "event" type dinner
Ferrara Bakery and Cafe (more old Italian, for desserts-- not really funky but still an institution)

ChickALicious- dessert bar, highly rated-10th between 2nd and 1st

Khyber Pass- 34 St. Marks. Another EV institution. Afghan food.

Lucky Chengs - First Ave. bet. 1st and 2nd St. Drag queens and Chinese food! What more could you ask for??

Momofuku Milk Bar 2nd Ave and 13th St. - famously crazy goodies... like "Crack Pie" and "Cereal Milk" soft serve

Moustache- 10th bet, 1st and Ave A- Middle Eastern pizza and other dishes, inexpensive

Odessa -Ave. A between 7th and 8th - famous diner with pirogies and other Ukrainian specialites, where you can chose between the 1950s lounge or the the more modern diner next to it. I've had Thanksgiving dinner here in the ancient lounge--which was truly frightening. In a good way.

Phebe's Tavern and Grill-Bowery and 4th. yes, Phebe's is still here!

Pommes Frites- 2nd bet 7th and 8th. That's what they serve--deliciously greasy Belgian french fires.

Two Boots- Ave A and 3rt St. Still, I think, the best pizza ever. Can be noisy when kids are here.

East Village and NYU area

I just LOVE the East Village, still, for its cafes and restaurants...also wonderful and nearby are the cafes on Macdougal Street, walkable from the East Village, and Washington Square...
This is one of the first places I came to in NYC and while I don't want to go down there all the time I still do love it. There is so much to do here, so much to see...nice to go in and out of the streets from about 12th on down to Houston (which divides 1st Street from named streets on the Lower East Side...).

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Hottest Music Spots- Part 1

NYC doesn't lack for music of all types--
here are some venues of the hipper variety(very, very much not

comprehensive...) :
CLUBS FOR LIVE MUSIC (*recommended for lower cost and
newer more interesting acts, younger crowd)
*ARLENE'S GROCERY:Lower East Side. 2 bars, one free one with
live music.
7 days a week. Cover charges:MONDAYS FREE, SUN, TUE, WED, T
HURS $8 COVER,
FRI AND SAT $10.
*LIVING ROOM: Lower East Side. Very small club.Free usually or small
cover.Interesting acoustic acts-often 4-5 a night.
MARION’S MARQUEE: East Village. 354 Bowery, bet E. 4th and
Great Jones.
Starting at 8pm3 to 5 different bands or artists a night. $5 cover (includes a drink)
Wednesdays.
RODEO BAR East Village.  375 Third Avenue –showtimes 10PM each night .
BITTER END:  West Village-147 Bleeker Street (between Thompson and
LaGuardia)Classic club...Dylan et al got their start here.
RED LION: West Village -151- Bleeker at Thompson. Another classic.
Various folk and rock acts.
CITY WINERY: Tribeca. About 30 dollar cover and excellent acts.
JOE'S PUB- East Village. Great music. Club atmosphere.- /
425 Lafayette Street below 8th Street
/ Astor Place East Village.