Best of NYC (Paula Style)

Not too much to report this week. It has been purposefully low-key. The weather was beautiful so I have had fun working out and then getting off at different subway stops and exploring Brooklyn on a long walk home. This week was great because next month is insane in a good way, between plans with friends here, out of town visitors most of the month, the semester ending for my students, fashion shows, and theater May will be jam packed (in a good way).

So in the midst of spring cleaning I have decided that in the in the tradition of New York Magazine and Time Out New York, I would come up with my own Best of NYC...so far list. Keep in mind that my opinions are based only on my own experiences from visiting NYC a number of times and my recent experience as someone who lives here. Therefore this list is ever evolving and I'm sure I will post new lists from time to time.

So here it goes, enjoy. Also if you have not voted in my poll on the right hand side of my blog please do so. I'm dying to know what everyone considers the weirdest thing I have seen so far.

Paula's Best of NYC April 2008

Entertainment and Cultural Experiences

Best Show Currently on Broadway: Spring Awakening

Best Museum: Museum of Modern Art (winner), Metropolitan Museum of Art (runner up)

Best Venue for a Free Show: Bryant Park (winner), The Park at Lincoln Center (runner up)

Best Venue for a Show...Period: Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Building

Best Local Band: Pharaoh's Daughter

Dining Out (Restaurants)

Best Thai: Lime Leaf Cafe (Upper West Side)

Best Japanese: Sushi Samba (Union Square Area)

Best Chinese: Pacificana (Sunset Park-Brooklyn)

Best Seafood: (Tie) Oyster Bar (Grand Central Station), Aqua Grill (SoHo)

Best Italian: Patsy's (Multiple Locations)

Best Place to Eat Outdoors: Arte Cafe (Upper West Side)

Best Place to People Watch: winner-Bar Centrale (Theater District), runner up-Coffeehouse (Union Square)

Best Comfort Food: winner-The Russian Samovar (Theater District), runner up- The Farm on Aderley (Ditmas Park, Brooklyn)

Dining Out (Casual)

Best Pizza: Ray's Pizza (multiple Locations)

Best Hot Dog: winner-Nathan's Famous (multiple locations, but Coney Island is the best), runner-up-Grey's Papaya (multiple locations)

Best Ice Cream: winner-Mr. Softie Trucks (multiple locations), runner-up Tasty Delight (multiple locations)

Best Deli: winner- Carnegie Deli (Midtown West), runner-up-Ben's Kosher Deli (the garment district)

Best Lunch Chain: Pret (multiple locations)

Best Desert: Magnolia Bakery (West Village and Upper West Side)

Shopping

Best Department Store- Lord and Taylor (Midtown)

Best Shoe Store- Shoegasim (multiple locations)

Best Nail Salon- winner-Sunny Smile Nails (theater district), runner-up Jade (upper west side)

Best Home Furnishing Store: ABC (Union Square area)

Best Grocery Store: Garden of Eden (Union Square)

Best Consignment Shop: Off Broadway (upper west side)

Best Bookstore: winner-Rizzoli's (Midtown West and SoHo), runner up- Strand Books (Greenwich Village)