Tuesday Tidbits

Below is a list of upcoming events, seminars, and venues you may be interested in checking out:


Chef Marcus Samuelsson will be signing his new book "Yes, Chef" at the Whole Foods Bowery location in Manhattan on Thursday, August 16, from 6:30-7:30 PM.


Free Music and Food Trucks can be found at LentSpace, a small "park" in the Hudson Square area located at Varick and Canal Streets from 11 AM - 3 PM. Live music is performed from 1-2 PM with lunch provided by Kimchi Taco, Rickshaw Dumplings (my favorite), Juice Pirate, and Andy's Italian Ices, to name a few.


The Film Forum (www.filmforum.org) will pay tribute to filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles on his 80th birthday Tuesday, August 21 at 7:30 PM. Admission is $12.50. Go to their website to purchase tickets.


Aspiring writers: Screenwriter and novelist Guillermo Arriaga (www.arriagafilm.com) (Amores Perros, 21 Grams) will be in New York City, September 22-23, teaching screenwriting. Go to his website for more information.


Aspiring actors: An acting technique that was once only available in Los Angeles is now taught in New York City. The Academy Award(r)-winning Chubbuck Technique is an intensive, transformative approach to scene work based on the book, The Power of the Actor. The 10-week class is conducted in a theatre setting by Maria Psomas who is officially accredited to teach the Chubbuck technique, and many of her students have booked film and theatre work using this acting technique. Please go to her website (http://www.uniiverse.com/listings/5015bcd768eacb676405d00f) to learn more and check out her Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ChubbuckClassesNYC).

For my West Coast friends: A little birdie told me there's a great spot for oysters and beer by the bay. Mission Rock Resort 817 Terry Francois Blvd (near Illinois), San Francisco, California. (http://missionrockresort.com). If you get the chance to go, let me know what you thought of the place.

If you have any tidbits (events, information) you'd like to share, send them to me as a comment.

Dinner with a View

Alma Restaurant/B61 Bar

Head over to 187 Columbia Street in Brooklyn, New York, and take the back steps to the rooftop deck for cuisine of Mexican tradition with American and Asian influences. I recommend starting with guacamole and chips, and wash it down with your choice of 12 beers on tap, margaritas, or one of the bars signature drinks like Tavern Lemonade or Hard Palmer (vodka, triple sec, lemonade and iced tea).

While waiting for your food, take in the panoramic view of Lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and Governor's Island. This is a fabulous venue for dinner and a sunset. The rooftop is open year-round with a canopy cover in the summer to block out the sun and heated in the winter to take the chill off.

Check out the menu at http://almarestaurant.com/ but also ask the waitstaff about the specials.

If you're looking to relax after work, stay downstairs at B61 Bar. Named after the MTA bus that travels down Columbia Street, enjoy the jukebox, pinball, and free billiard table. Limited menu available with 12 beers and tap, along with their signature drinks. Happy Hour is 4-7 PM with $1 off all drafts & well drinks, and $2 Yuenglings.

Il Fornetto

On the opposite end of Brooklyn, located at 2909 Emmons Avenue, Sheepshead Bay, enjoy Italian cuisine at Il Fornetto. A friendly staff will walk you through the menu of wood-fired brick oven pizza, pasta dishes, fresh fish, and desserts. I found the dishes with the least amount of ingredients tasted the best: tomato, mozzarella and basil; rigatoni with meat sauce, although all the other dishes looked amazing.

Come early to score a table by the window for a view of the marina and a ballet of swans. A prix fixe menu is available every day.

http://www.ilfornettorestaurant.com