Sunday, August 16, 2009

America’s Best Restaurants / Peter Luger Steak House

America’s Best Restaurants – Peter Luger Steak HouseThursday 30 July, 2009 8:15 am | Boutique Hotels, New York Hotels, Restaurants | Steven

Went out for steak last night to celebrate my dad’s birthday, and I guess I’ve still got beef on the brain. If only today’s feature would come to Texas (don’t really care where. I’d drive it.)

If you take your steaks seriously at all, you’ve probably heard of Peter Luger Steak House, a Brooklyn landmark voted by the Zagat Survey as the #1 steakhouse in New York City for an incredible 24 years running. Opened in 1887, the place is almost whimsically old-fashioned, boasting a Zen-simple menu, bizarre payment options, uber-manly décor and, oh yeah, some righteous steaks.


Before we get to some of the more unusual features of Peter Luger, let’s start with what everyone can agree they get just right: the steaks. Most high-end steakhouses tout USDA Prime beef, but according to Peter Luger’s buyer, Jody Storch, that’s really just the beginning. Meat is purchased daily after Jody’s discerning examination. Not even most Prime beef meets her exacting standards. You could say she only buys the prime of the Prime. (See her in action)

The highest quality beef on-hand, Peter Luger dry ages every steak in-house. Dry aging allows moisture to evaporate from the meat cuts slowly, intensifying the rich beef flavor without over-dehydrating the steaks. After several days (I’ve seen places take it to 48, though I’m not sure about Peter Luger), the meat is finally ready and sent upstairs to the restaurant.

Don’t expect a full page of different cuts to choose from. Peter Luger specializes in the Porterhouse steak, offered by number of diners rather than weight. You can order a single for yourself, or make it monster serving up to four people, served to the table on a 400-degree plate and already cut up for your convenience.


Appetizer offerings are just as straight-forward: a plate of sliced tomatoes with sauce, tomatoes and onion with sauce, a nice Caesar salad, or the heart-threateningly delicious extra thick bacon by the slice. There’s nothing fancy about any of it, but when you use top-quality ingredients and prepare them just right, there’s really no need to be.

Oh, for dessert, it’s got to be the pecan pie. They have other options, but this is the one you want.

Another standout feature of Peter Luger Steak House is that they do not accept credit cards. Either you pay cash or you order a Peter Luger Card, essentially an in-house dining card. They also have a store, selling everything from memorabilia to their signature Peter Luger Sauce to the steaks themselves, butcher shop-style. You can even have uncooked steaks mailed to you.

Though it seems old-fashioned at times (and hey, maybe that’s part of the charm), what really counts is the meat, and these steaks just can’t be beat. Beef-lovers the world over owe themselves a visit to Peter Luger Steak House in Brooklyn. Learn more about this restaurant here.

I’ve got a couple options I want to mention in New York City today, both of them in Manhattan but still pretty close to the steakhouse:

•Hotel Reserve - an awesome boutique Manhattan hotel located right across from the Federal Reserve Bank near Wall Street. It’s an awesome location for corporate travelers and really anyone who wants to experience the Big Apple.

•Hilton Garden Inn New York / Tribeca - Thanks to the Tribeca film festival, this area of south Manhattan is getting a lot more attention of late, and this fresh, welcoming Hilton offers a nice stay at a good price.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

BASE BALL AUGUST NYC

New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox. MLB Baseball Game
August 28, August 29, August 30
New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals. MLB Baseball Game
August 4, August 5
New York Mets vs. Arizona Diamondbacks. MLB Baseball Game
August 1, August 2, August 3
New York Mets vs. San Francisco Giants. MLB Baseball Game
August 14, August 15, August 16, August 17
New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies. MLB Baseball Game
August 21, August 22, August 23, August 24
New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves. MLB Baseball Game
August 18, August 19, August 20
New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers. MLB Baseball Game
August 25, August 26, August 27
New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays. MLB Baseball Game
August 10, August 11, August 12
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox. MLB Baseball Game
August 6, August 7, August 8, August 9
New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun. WNBA Basketball Game
August 21

Free stuff NYC

Case of the Mondays Stand Up Show
FreeNYC Event Flyer
Date: Monday, August 10th
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Manchester Pub (920 2nd Ave bet 48th & 49th St)
Cost: Free

"Case of the Mondays is a new bi-weekly stand-up show in Midtown. This recession-proof show (no cover, no drink minimum) features comics who have performed at Comic Strip Live, Gotham Comedy Club, New York Comedy Club, Laugh Lounge, etc. What better way to kick off the week then to watch live comedy while snacking on buffalo wings? And as you take advantage of the Monday night special of 20% off your bill, you can enjoy this week's lineup, which includes Jonathan Powley, Phoebe Robinson, Mark Normand, Harris Bloom, Ray Marshall, and Kyle Senor-Ocasio! Be sure to arrive early as seating is limited."
RiverFlicks for Grown-Ups - Sex and The City
FreeNYC Event Flyer
Date: Wednesday, August 12th
Time: Dusk (around 8:30pm)
Location: Pier 54 (14th St. and the Hudson River)



On top of getting to watch movies overlooking Hudson River on beautiful summer nights, the other thing I like about River Flicks is that every year they pick a central theme for their screenings. This year's they "know what you did last summer" and screen films released in 2008. Tonight Carrie comes to the big screen in the Sex and The City movie.

Pool Parties on the Waterfront: Del the Funky Homosapien
FreeNYC Event Flyer
Date: Sundays through August 30th
Time: gates at 2pm
Location: Kent St btw. N 8th and N 9th Sts on the East River, W'burg)
Cost: Free

With the McCarren Pool under renovations, the Williamsburg Pool Parties move to the waterfront this summer with seven weeks of free shows. In edition to the free music there will be "DODGEBALL, basketball, DJ’s, bands, burgers the works!" for you to enjoy. Afterparties at Public Assembly. This week features Del tha Funky Homosapien, Gravytrain!!!, DD/MM/YYYY, and Kenan Bell. Full line-up below. All ages

Close Encounters at Bryant Park
FreeNYC Event Flyer
Date: Monday, August 17th
Time: Films begin at Dusk (about 8ish)
Location: Bryant Park (40th and 42nd Sts & Fifth and Sixth Aves)
Cost: Free


Bring your picnic baskets and pull up some lawn for an evening under the stars with the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. Every Monday throughout the summer HBO dusts off some classic movies and plays them on a big screen in Bryant Park. Tonight is the film of the season at they will showing Close Encounters of the Third Kind. "Steven Spielberg’s scifi blockbuster stars Richard Dreyfuss as a regular guy whose strange obsessions and journey turn fantastically clear at Devil’s Tower. Co-stars Teri Garr as his frustrated wife, and Francois Truffaut, the legendary French director, as a scientist seeking communication with extraterrestrials."

RiverFlicks for Grown-Ups - Pineapple Express
FreeNYC Event Flyer
Date: Wednesday, August 19th
Time: Dusk (around 8:30pm)
Location: Pier 54 (14th St. and the Hudson River)
Cost: Free

On top of getting to watch movies overlooking Hudson River on beautiful summer nights, the other thing I like about River Flicks is that every year they pick a central theme for their screenings. This year's they "know what you did last summer" and screen films released in 2008. Tonight is the finale of this summer's series, and what better way to go out than with last year's stoner classic Pineapple Express.


Posted by Chris at 7:30 PM | View This Article | Email to a friend
The Magnificent 7 at Bryant Park
FreeNYC Event Flyer
Date: Monday, August 10th
Time: Films begin at Dusk (about 8ish)
Location: Bryant Park (40th and 42nd Sts & Fifth and Sixth Aves)
Cost: Free

Bring your picnic baskets and pull up some lawn for an evening under the stars with the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. Every Monday throughout the summer HBO dusts off some classic movies and plays them on a big screen in Bryant Park. Tonight, get a look at The Magnificent Seven. "One of the most beloved Westerns of all time with one of the greatest scores of all time (by Elmer Bernstein). Seven mercenaries, including Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, and Charles Bronson are hired to protect a Mexican village under siege by large group of bandits led by Eli Wallach."

Summer Streets 2009

For three Saturday mornings this summer, New York City pedestrians will take over seven miles of Park Avenue (and connecting streets) from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park. During Summer Streets weekends, the streets will be closed to vehicle traffic and opened up to New Yorkers for fun activities and live entertainment.

Take advantage of free bike and skate rentals, free fitness classes, free tennis lessons, and more. Organized by the New York City Department of Transportation, the goal of Summer Streets is to get New Yorkers out for some healthy recreation and encourage the use of sustainable forms of transportation (like your two strong feet and that bike taking up half of your NYC apartment). In 2008, thousands of New Yorkers hit the road for Summer Streets. Come out and join the fun in 2009.

Summer Streets 2009
When: August 8th, 15th, and 22nd, 2009. 7AM-1PM.
Where: Park Avenue from the Brooklyn Bridge (Warren Street) to 72nd Street, 72nd Street from Park Avenue to Central Park