Excursions: The Village Quarter

I mean, come on. You know you want to know more about this place.

Hit the jump for Smoked Tomato Bisque, Bacon-wrapped Mushrooms and more...

Pictures of those, that is.

Excursions: Cupcake Cravings at Magnolia

The only reason I find it odd that I haven’t blogged about Magnolia Bakery in the West Village until right now is because back during my first semester of freshman year, my friends and I trekked down to
Bleeker St. just for these perfect cupcakes 3 weekends in a row. Granted, I haven’t been back there until yesterday...so I guess it makes sense that I haven’t blogged about it until now. Fun fact: this particular Magnolia’s is apparently famous and always has a line out the door and around the corner. I always thought it was because of how small a space it was. Whoops. Hit the jump for more pics of delicious cupcakes and such!

Excursions: Meatballs, Anyone?

Brooklyn never ceases to amaze me. Well actually, Bedford Ave never ceases to amaze me. I had the biggest craving for BBQ last weekend and after making the treck all the way down to Berry St. to realize that the place didn't even open for lunch, Brian and I realized that The Meatball Shop wasn't exactly what you'd call a bad back up plan. At all. Hit the jump for pictures of what the menu is telling you I got. The checkmarks on the menu are my order. Yes, I got a meatball hero and a slider on the side. Judge me.

The images you are about to see are of some of the most delicious sandwiches ever made by man. It will make you crave a meatball sub. Viewer discretion is advised.

Excursions: Luck of Lucien

At about 7:15 on Friday night I realized that we were running late (again) and it was my fault (again). I wanted to take Brian to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe for the Friday Night Poetry Slam and we originally planned on eating closer to school. If any of you know anything about Friday night at the Nuyorican, you know that "Doors open at 10pm" means you'd better be in line by 9:15 if you want to get inside. Lucky enough for us, my tardiness led us to eating at this amazing French restaurant on the lower east side called Lucien. There was an authentic vibe to the restaurant that made us feel like we were right back in Mont-de-Marsan or a South of France city equivalent. We ordered Escargot for an appetizer...and it was healthy competition for the ones we had in France. Honestly. The fish soup (Soupe de Poisson Traditionelle sounds so much nicer) was really good too; they served us crispy bread and two different types of cheeses for the bread and soup....clearly they knew I was coming. It was really great and the people there (like the Parisian hostess) are actually friendly, despite what people think about the French. 

View from the entrance of Lucien.

The old couple is just adds to the cuteness of this picture.

Sadly enough, Escargot never looks appetizing in pictures.  

Soupe de Poisson Traditionnelle. And it was amazing.

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For more info on Lucien NYC click here

Excursions: The Unnamed Store in Soho

Okay, I'm sure that this place isn't actually unnamed, but there wasn't a name on the front of the store -- just a pink wooden heart. I really liked this place; it had jewelry, crop tops, jeans, sweaters, and really funny signs that were for sale. One really cool part about it? the prices were all in Euros BUT apparently the Euros only equalled a dollar. My guess is that the store got clothes straight from Europe so the lucky few of us in NYC actually get the chance to buy them. And they just didn't feel like changing all the price tags. This store is on Broadway and Spring Street and on the same side of Broadway as All Saints. I don't feel the need to talk about All Saints...it's heaven, and that's that.  "Time is running and passing and passing and running, running and passing and passing and running...Excursions." 

Excursions: The Corner Shop Cafe: Update

After going to countless shops, stores, and boutiques in Soho yesterday, Stacy and I obviously went back to our new favorite cafe on Bleeker and Broadway. If you didn't get to check out my mini review on The Corner Shop Cafe click here! We decided to get their 8oz Grass Fed Beef Burgers and, well, I died pretty much. I'm not going to tell you how good it was because you'll end up hating me and not following my blog anymore and nobody wants that. I'm also not going to tell you about my new found love for bread pudding. Particularly Chocolate Bread Pudding. Just see for yourself.

 (taken with iPhone) 

Excursions: The Corner Shop Cafe

Last night, my friend Stacy and I ventured into Soho to get away from campus and luckily discovered this gem of a coffee shop/restaurant. The Corner Shop Cafe, off Broadway and Bleeker Street, had everything a local NYC student could ask for: a coffee shop vibe with a coffee shop price. I only ordered a creamy tomato basil soup and cordadito coffee (which i reccomend to everyone who ever decides to go) but judging by what other people around us were ordered, the food here is unbelievable. Not to mention the desert. 3 words to take home: Bourbon. Apple. Crisp. There was a homey feel to the place, like as soon as you walked in it felt like your local cafe where the waiters knew your regular order and the owners always gave you a discount − if only. The Cafe recieved recognition from The Wall Street Journal in May 2011, after only opening in February 2011. This is definitely a place to put down in your favorites; I already put it down on mine.

                                                                     (taken with iPhone)