A Brooklyn Cookie Swap

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J and I went to a Cookie Swap in Williamsburg on Saturday night. I really didn’t do much work. J bought the ingredients, made the dough, and then rolled all but 6 (that’s where I pitched in!) cookies onto a cookie sheet and into the oven. He was determined to make his favorite cookie, the Chocolate Crinkle. They were delicious. “Like a brownie with sugar on top,” J said. We ate an insane amount of cookies and I was so impressed by everyone’s creativity. Someone made those girl scout cookies that used to be called Samoas, but now they’re called something else b/c that’s not PC. Very impressive.

Kris doling out his homemade cookies into the jar.

The party-hosters even made a chocolate “earth.” (see below)

 

It's cookie earth!

Superbowl Stomach Ache

Mmm…. too much beer and cheese-filled foods and dips. What a fun game though, right?!

Free Treats for Voting

Ben & Jerry’s is giving out free scoops on Election Day from 5pm-8pm.

And Krispy Kreme is giving out free star-shaped donuts as well! Yay… voting! I’m excited that it’s my first time voting in NY – I’m officially a resident now. Apparently there’s some sort of big level to pull, and all!

UPDATE: Starbucks is giving free coffe out too — just picked up my cup.

UPDATE AGAIN: Apparently there’s also free Sangria at Boqueria!

Utterly Ridiculous

Yet so very entertaining. Tomorrow, July 11, you can get a free combo meal from Chick-fil-A tomorrow if you dress like a cow from head to toe (if you’re only partially costumed you’ll get a free entree)—found via YumSugar. Would you MOO for free food?

Dinner and a Movie at the Beach

It’s great when 3 different things I love coincide to form the perfect summer evening: food, film, and sand. This year, the Second Annual NYC Food Film Festival will be held at Water Taxi Beach in Long Island City, Queens from Saturday June 14th to Friday June 20th. At the festival, you’ll get to watch a film that’s all about food, and then sample the food portrayed—like Berlin’s beloved Currywurst after watching Best of the Wurst. Admission is free, but food and drink cost money. There’s a schedule of the movies, and a listing of all the food that will be served. I’ve still never been to the Water Taxi Beach, so I’m very excited about going to this!

A Sunday at the Flea

I’ve been dying to go to the Brooklyn Flea since it opened, but it’s pretty much rained every Sunday for the past few weeks (or I’ve been away for a wedding). This Sunday’s forecast? Sunny and in the 70s. And, after seeing this article about the Flea in the NY Times, I’m even more amped to go. Mostly, I’m dying to check out the Whimsy & Spice goodies that I read about all the time on Sweet, Fine, Day. Everything they make looks so darn delicious! There’s also news that the Red Hook vendors are setting up satellite stands at the Flea—and let’s face it, if I didn’t make it out to Red Hook last year, what are the chances this year? I’m not so into the artsy, crafty stuff that will probably be there, but I can use it to convince others to come with me. I think Dachsies wants to go; and I can probably get Johnny in. Who wants to join?

Get Ready for Finger-Licking BBQ

The Big Apple BBQ is officially taking over Madison Square Park again on June 7th and 8th (found on Grub Street). The NY notables that will be grilling it up: Hill Country, Blue Smoke, Dinosaur, and Rack & Soul. This is very exciting news since I’m craving BBQ and was turned away at Georgia’s Eastside BBQ last night because they were re-doing their floors… Blast! FYI: get to the Big Apple BBQ EARLY… the food goes fast and the crowd is ginormous!

Halloween Trivia Contest

I’m so excited that I actually have something fun to do tonight in celebration of Halloween (I hate that it’s on a Wed, and thus we’ve all had to celebrate the holiday for the past 5 days). Jo the MasterBaker, J, and I will all be going to NY Mag’s All Hallow’s Madness… open bar… should be interesting. I’m going to be a pirate, ARG!, and J is going to be a subway car. Why is he so much craftier than me?! But anyways, there’s a fun scavenger hunt that’s happening before the event. We don’t really have time to participate, but I wanted to let you all in on the fun. I’m listing all the restaurant/bar related places we need to find—whoever answers all 4 first (and correctly), I’ll send you a prize. Really, I will. Something ridiculous. OK… off you go:

• The 7th Ave W. Village eatery with a famous case of split personalities?
• Dylan Thomas consumed 18 shots of whiskey here & now his ghost haunts the place?
• Sadly, a murdered woman found her end in 1799 in what is now the basement of this Spring Street restaurant. Bottles flying mysteriously off the shelves?
• Romantic restaurant supposedly haunted by Aaron Burr’s daughter Thodosia who is rumored to steal patron’s earrings?

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Perilla Open for Brunch!

I just got an email from Perilla that says, starting Sunday they’ll be open for brunch! I bet it’ll be amazing, and I wish I could go. Here’s what the email said:

On September 29 we’re starting brunch here at Perilla. It’s one of our favorite things about New York – waking up late on Saturday and Sunday, reading the paper, having a cup of coffee and our favorite brunch food. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, but Harold’s having some fun in the kitchen, offering Cinnamon Challah French Toast with Rum Raisin Maple Syrup and Whipped Sweet Butter; Poached Organic Eggs with Chive-Buttermilk Biscuits and Pork Sausage Gravy; and even his take on a Cuban sandwich, with Pork Belly, Swiss, homemade Pickles and Tater Tots on the side.

It’s a great time of year in the city, and we’ll constantly be changing the menu to reflect the season’s ingredients (look for some apple pancakes made with fresh Upstate apples later this fall).

Oh, Harold. Why won’t you just marry me and cook me breakfast every morning? If anyone goes, tell me how it is!

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I Ate Caviar Last Night

And you know what? It really is salty. I got the 5-star treatment at a press event for Usher’s new perfume (not half-bad, might I add). But mostly, I just wanted to show-off my close-up pic of the dapper crooner. PS—Martha was there!