Food and Drink: September 2006 Archives

that used to be Sparky's, might be a sports bar, and shows a rather earnest love of flagstone is called Leo's and has a large orange plastic pumpkin in the window. I'd have taken a photo, but my batteries are dead from taking movies of cows. More on that later.

I'm back from Texas and that means I have no interest in cooking but a very healthy interest in eating something other than beef or veggies from a can. Somehow I missed the first wave of Chicory love, but after inhaling yet another fabulous, "home-cooked" meal from Chicory for two for about $10 a person, I must say that I am in love. Tonight, Dennis and I shared the chicken under a brick with sides of roasted cauliflower and brussel sprouts (these people know how to roast a veggie!), beets, and spaetzle with mushrooms. I should add that I had a fried chicken drumstick as an appetizer, and it's the best fried chicken I've tried in the neighborhood. Chicory is at 234 Degraw Street near Clinton, phone is (718) 797-2121. Why would you cook?

Since I somehow missed all the shows at McCarren Pool this summer, I wasn't too upset about heading up there to support a friend currently performing in Agora II. I didn't know much about the show going in, only that there were two ticket prices: a cheaper one for "players" and a more expensive one for "viewers." That kind of thing always makes me nervous. I don't mind the fourth wall. Really. I'm happy to leave it up.

Turns out, there weren't many  goofy "why is this dude on stage" moments, because the entire show is built around that query. A gazillion performers dressed in different creative outfits (my favorite was a guy rolling around in safety-orange netting) act out absurd little scenes, fall in and out of dance routines, and eventually, as the performance-art creed dictates, shed their clothes and strive for moments of transcendence. It's too long by a half-hour, but the sound design is amazing (those concert must have sounded gooood), and it's kind of fun in a Where's Waldo sort of way. Also this weekend: a robot-worshipping fest at 3rd Ward with DJ sets by folks like Nickodemus, and moody rockers Snowden, performing at Floyd's new Park Slope outpost, Union Hall. Anyone been there yet?

Ah the Tea Lounge. You'd think at the tea lounge we would have had tea, but we had beer (Chimay on tap) and wine (perfectly acceptable but not stunning). Also, I played multiple games of Galaga. There's not much more to be said, except that you can get tea, along with DUB pies, panini, sweets and drinks like coffee and espresso--and the tabletop video game also allows for Ms. PacMan. Note to those who care: The bright lighting is great for studying, not great for a romantic rendezvous. It's a nice homey, friendly spot, but I'm not seeing the appeal that Park Slope seems to place on it.

On the surface, buying an ice cream cake for a birthday party sounds innocent enough.  Some may even have fond thoughts of childhood parties with the cooling sugary finale (for me, it was trips to the Carvel store in West Chester, Pennsylvania). But when you stop and think about what it means for me to have bought an ice cream cake today (or two days ago), it might dawn on you that there's really only one place to buy such a confection in Carroll Gardens.  And then it might dawn on you that I've often wished that Dunkin' Donuts not make my neighborhood its home. But dammit if Baskin-Robbins (nee Dunkin' Donuts) doesn't make a kick-ass ice cream cake! I'm an especially big fan of the "icing" they use to write the letters on top--it's semi-transparent, and has a texture unique unto itself. I suppose that once every six months won't make or break a business.

As Crafty so subtly pointed out, it's kind of a slow weekend for events in the neighborhood. After a summer packed with free music and spanking new restaurant openings (Sapodilla? Nicky's? Bueller?), we're in a bit of a lull here. I guess everyone's just back from fabulous trips to white-sand beaches or, if you're me, rearranging their supply drawer at work. So maybe it's a good time to check out the opening of the Court Street location of Park Slope's much-loved (or is loathed?) Tea Lounge, across the street from Cobble Hill Cinema, and then pop across the street to check out Little Miss Sunshine or Half Nelson. I did see LMS last weekend, and though the bulk of the audience burst into applause at the end, I thought it was so-so--a passable feel-good family flick dressed up in hipster clothing. If it weren't for the freak show kiddie pageant at the end, it would be a total wash. Haven't seen Half Nelson yet, but I've heard good things. My only concern is that Ryan Gosling is so hot, he'll probably have half of New York's teachers reaching for the crack pipe after their first pop quiz. Fortunately, we have Google to help protect our impressionable minds with images from his "Young Hercules" days.