Candela Candela - East Village

Type: CUBAN AND ITALIAN

Food: 8

Ambiance: 8

Service: 8

$$

CANDELA CANDELA MAY GET LOST AMONG ALL THE OTHER RESTAURANTS ON 2ND AVE THAT HAVE SIMILAR OUTDOOR SEATING AND FACADES, BUT TAKE NOTE. CANDELA CANDELA ISN'T LIKE THE OTHERS. FOR STARTERS, IT HAS A DOUBLE SIDED MENU, ONE SIDE CUBAN DISHES AND THE OTHER ITALIAN. STRANGE, BUT PLEASE. FOR THOSE LESS ADVENTUROUS TO TRY CUBAN, THEY CAN STICK TO PENNE A LA VODKA OR SOMETHING SAFE. I SUPPOSE I WAS WITH A MORE ADVENTUROUS GROUP AS WE ALL WENT FOR CUBAN. STARTING WITH A SAMPLER PLATTER OF SORTS THAT CONSISTED OF EMPANADAS, CROQUETTES, AND TOSTONES - A PERFECT WITH TO PREPARE OUR PALATES FOR OUR ENTREES. EACH OF US WAS UTTERLY SATISFIED WITH OUR MEALS. I ORDERED THE CHURRASCO, GRILLED SKIRT STEAK SERVED WITH A FRESH TOMATO-ONION SALAD, PLANTAIN CHIPS, AND RICE. IT WAS EXCEEDINGLY FRESH AND BURSTING WITH FLAVOR. THE PORTIONS WERE PERFECT TOO, NOT OVERWHELMINGLY LARGE BUT DIDN'T LEAVE ME HUNGRY. OUR DISHES ALL CAME QUICKLY AND OUR WAITER WAS EXTREMELY AFFABLE. THE RESTAURANT ALSO BOASTS A MOJITO BAR, WHICH I DID NOT TRY BUT IT LOOKED LIKE MANY OF THE CUSTOMERS SITTING OUTSIDE WERE ENJOYING THEIR DRINKS.

92 2ND AVE BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH STREET

NEW YORK, NY

Broken Bells

After hearing "The Ghost Inside" by Broken Bells, I did something uncharacteristic. I bought their whole album, Broken Bells. I was craving new music, sick of the same songs I listened to over and over again all spring, and thought this album may be able to fulfill me. It has. Glad I splurged on it. Though buying albums on iTunes is uncool, if you do you get the iTunes exclusive song "An Easy Life," which is awesome. Get this CD!

Mark Bittman, Culinary Crush

After reading the headlines of the New York Times, I go straight to the Style section. Some scoff at this, but it's in my nature! The fashions, the gardens, the homes, and the food captivate me! Above all others, the Dining & Wine section is by far my favorite. Last summer I stumbled upon what I found to be the most amazing list of recipes I had ever seen. New York Times columnist Mark Bittman (writer of The Minimalist) had compiled a list of 101 simple recipes for summer dining. These recipes are literally so simple that anyone could make them, and incredibly delicious. My summer staple became a shrimp and white bean dish (see below). As the lazy, muggy days have begun to descend, I am excited to turn back to Bittman's list. I have not gotten anywhere close to reaching all 101, but with my slower summer schedule maybe I'll get closer.

Check out Bittman's column for more delicious recipes, and his website for cooking tips and the like. Bittman has a way of making everyone feel like they can cook something great...which I happen to believe is true.

Fresh Summer Staple:

Open a can of white beans and combine with olive oil, salt, small or chopped shrimp, minced garlic and thyme leaves in a pan. Cook, stirring, until the shrimp are done; garnish with more olive oil.

- I like to serve this over whole wheat spaghetti or a big bed of lettuce

- Adding some halved cherry tomatoes gives it a brighter color and some more flavor; also good with sliced mushrooms or kalamata olives

My Short Film, 35mm

The Diner Perspectives from Alexandra Byer on Vimeo.

Peter's Since 1969 - Williamsburg, Brooklyn

TYPE: SOUTHERN AMERICAN AND FRENCH

FOOD: 7

AMBIANCE: 8

SERVICE: 6

$$

THE ORANGE LE CREUSET DUTCH OVENS CAUGHT MY EYE IN PETER'S SINCE 1969, REMINDING ME OF MY MOTHER'S COOKING. THAT'S VERY MUCH WHAT YOU GET AT PETER'S, HEARTY HOME-STYLE COOKING. THE RESTAURANT IS CAFETERIA STYLE SO YOU FIRST PICK YOUR MEAT (THERE ARE VEGETARIAN OPTIONS TOO) THEN CHOSE TWO SIDE DISHES, ALL OF WHICH ARE COOKED IN THOSE DUTCH OVENS. I PICKED THE 1/4 ROTISSERIE CHICKEN, SAUTED SPINACH, AND MASHED POTATOES. THEY DON'T SKIMP ON THE PORTIONS AT PETER'S AND MY PLATE WAS PILED HIGH. I PAID AND WENT TO THE BACK PATIO, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN MY FAVORITE PART OF THE RESTAURANT. LARGE WOODEN PICNIC TABLES WERE SET UP OUT BACK, CONTAINED BY A HIGH WOODEN FENCE, AND SMALL WHITE LIGHTS WERE STRUNG ABOVE. IT WAS A PERFECT SUMMER DINNER. WE SAT AND TALKED FOR A WHILE AFTER OUR PLATES WERE CLEAN AND BEERS EMPTY, BUT NEVER FELT RUSHED OR PRESSURED TO LEAVE. THE CHICKEN WAS GREAT, BUT I'D GO BACK AND TRY THE RIBS.

168 BEDFORD AVENUE

BROOKLYN, NY 11211

Recipe - Upper West Side

TYPE: RUSTIC NEW AMERICAN

FOOD: 8

AMBIANCE: 6

SERVICE: 4

$$

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT RECIPE WAS A TREAT. I ORDERED THE POACHED EGGS WITH BACON, APPLE HASH, AND SMOKED PAPRIKA, WHICH WAS FANTASTIC. THE EGGS WERE THE PERFECT AMOUNT RUNNY, WHILE THE WHITE WAS NOT AND THE APPLE HASH GAVE THE PAPRIKA AND EGGS THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF SWEETNESS WITHOUT BEING OVERWHELMING. WE ONLY HAD TO WAIT FIVE MINUTES THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE A RESERVATION, WHICH SEEMED LUCKY. THE ATMOSPHERE OF RECIPE WAS BRIGHT AND FRESH WHILE STILL REMAINING COZY AND INTIMATE. THE RESTAURANT IS SMALL, SO EXPECT TO BE CLOSE TO YOUR NEIGHBORS AND PROBABLY OVERHEAR THEIR CONVERSATIONS. OUR ENTREES WERE EACH $11, WHICH SEEMED REASONABLE FOR THE AMOUNT OF FOOD. BUT WE STUCK TO WATER BECAUSE DRINKS WERE JUST AS MUCH AS OUR BREAKFAST. THE ONLY COMPLAINT WOULD BE THE SERVICE, WHICH WAS PRETTY SLOW AND NOT VERY ATTENTIVE. I WOULD RETURN THOUGH, ESPECIALLY IF TO TRY YESTERDAY'S SPECIAL OF CHOPPED LIVER GRILLED CHEESE WITH EGG.

452 AMSTERDAM AVE.

NEW YORK, NY 10024

film updates

i am constantly told i am the 'worst film major ever' for not having seen this or that (tonight it was planet of the apes). since the worldwide film library is thousands and thousands and thousands of movies deep, i am constantly playing catch up. this means i can usually be found watching older movies that are on dvd and relying on "play now" from netflix. but in the last month or so i have seen a few new movies that i would like to recommend.

i went into date night because i thought it was going to rain and that steve carell may provide a few laughs. well it didn't rain and i spent most of the movie laughing out loud. carell and tina fey were paired perfectly - their comedic timing never felt forced. along with ridiculous situations and crowd-pleasing cameos, the film was a pleasant surprise. light and amusing.

lucky for me, my friend's father is one of the distributers for exit through the gift shop and she invited me to a free screening of the film. i will admit i had no idea what this movie was about and from the posters i thought it looked like a horror flick. well it's not. it is instead a film by Banksy, the famous anonymous street artist. instead of following him though, the movie tracks a wannabe filmmaker/graffiti artist, Thierry. a lover of contemporary art, i was forced to view this art form more critically. and if that does not interest you, Banksy's dry, witty humor surely will. the documentary is absolutely fantastic and i encourage anyone and everyone to see this.

i will preface this last review by saying i am completely and utterly biased toward this film. last year i wrote about matt porterfield's to-be film "metal gods," but due to financial difficulties the movie was never made. instead, putty hill was created, which i was lucky enough to be a part of. with this film porterfield breaks the fourth wall of filmmaking with this quasi-fictional narrative. most of the actors play themselves and the stories they tell are their own but set within the frame of the fictional death of Cory. the production qualities are gritty and accentuate the style of cinema verite. beautiful images of tattoo artists at work and teenage girls smoking cigarettes add to this emotionally charged film. a real treat in independent filmmaking. it's currently deep into film festival circuits, so find out when it's playing near you.

Free Energy

i started listening to these guys a few weeks ago but now that i finally feel like summer is in full swing, it's even more appropriate to listen to Free Energy. they're an energetic band that starts your toes tapping in your sandals and your head bopping. hoping to see them next saturday at brooklyn bowl.

Free Energy - Free Energy from DFA Records on Vimeo.

brother sport by animal collective

you could travel the world, but nothing comes close

we're lucky in life if we meet someone that imbues us with passion and vigor. someone who has complete faith in our abilities and believes we will succeed even when we think we'll fail. i met that person, but sadly she's moving to paris to take europe by storm. for all the advice and hope she's given me, i know that she will triumph in all her goals and she has the vitality to push on even when things get tough. being the one to introduce me to this song, and being my favorite california gurl, i am posting "california gurls" by katy perry in her honor.

California Gurls from Kennedy Byers-O'Brien on Vimeo.

feeling frazzled

songs that are helping me push through finals.

friday and summer cannot come soon enough.

California Gurls - Katy Perry (ft. Snoop Dog)

Tighten Up - The Black Keys

This Too Shall Pass (Passion Pit Remix) - Ok Go

Man - The Bird and the Bee (thanks rem)

22 - Lily Allen

Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz (ft. Ludacris)

picture from hipsterpuppies.

why don't you love me?

A gem of a video from Ariella.

I love the vintage clothes, furniture, and dance moves.

Wondering what film stock they shot it on.

Digital manipulation or 16mm?

Not crazy about the song, but could keep watching.

"Why Don't You Love Me" - Beyoncé from Beyoncé on Vimeo.

psychedelic pooch

The annual Intergroom competition in Seacaucus, NJ is a polar opposite to traditional dog shows like Westminster. At Intergroom, dogs are turned into works of art. Their fur is cut, sculpted, dyed, and thus transformed to resemble a number of different things. This year contestants primped their dogs to resemble Lady Gaga, Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter, and sea horses (see above). Though you would think this can't be good for the dogs, the owners and artists promise that they love it too. Definitely an alternative to most dog's lives.

in honor of...

rel going surfing this weekend in new zealand,

the man on west university running at 1:30am on saturday,

and the two weeks left until SUMMER.