A Brand New Sushi Concept Eatery In Midtown is Now Open

Photo credit from Urbandaddy.com

My Maki, a sushi place located on 142 East 43rd Street (Between 3rd and Lexington Avenue) opens today.

My Maki follows the fro-yo concept of choosing a base (in this case, a traditional roll wrapped in nori or a roll made of soybeen wrapper), followed by the fillings--crawfish is a standout to me as one of the proteins featured.  For even extra customization, My Maki offers additional ingredients, including Doritos and potato sticks, as well as your choice of dipping sauces beyond soy sauce and wasabi. 

I intend to check them out in the next few weeks, but you can go ahead and try them out!

To view the whole menu: http://www.mymakisushi.com/index.php and for more info, call:  212-682-2795.

Your Part in Godspell As An Investor

Image from www.peopleofgodspell.com

I was reading through my facebook updates and something caught my eye.  The first thing was, Godspell is being revived, and the second eye-catcher was that We, the common people can be a part of its revival as an investor.

Yes!  We can invest in Godspell's production by becoming part of the Friends of Godspell, a group of individuals who have made a monetary investment in the revival.


For those unfamiliar, or in need of a refresher's course in Godspell, the musical was based on the Gospel according to Matthew, set in the late 60's, early 70's New York City backdrop (http://www.fandango.com/godspell_v93405/summary).

This Musical was waaaay before my time, but I was exposed to its music in high school when I was in our school chorus, so I am somewhat familiar with it, and I also watched a rendition in college.

Traditionally, investors in Broadway musicals are typically in the 5-6 figures range, but for Godspell, the organizers would like to bring greater community involvement in the process.

To learn more, please visit http://www.peopleofgodspell.com/.  If you invest, your name will be featured in a special edition poster and on the website.

Check it out!
As a disclaimer, please know, with all investment opportunities, do your homework first and read the fine print.  I think all my readers are intelligent, but as a precaution, I want to make sure you are aware of the risks behind investing in anything, period.

Help the New York City Economy by Helping the Japanese Earthquake Victims

What's a good way to help New York City while donating to the Japanese Relief Fund?  Try shopping.

Several Japanese establishments are donating a portion of their proceeds to the Japanese earthquake victims through special sales and events.  A listing of these establishments are listed below and will be updated as I get additional information:

Cadaques Tapas Bar: 188 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY, http://www.cadaquesny.com/. 30% of proceeds go to Japanese Red Cross.

Japan Society:  333 East 47th Street, NYC,  (212) 832-1155. http://www.japansociety.org/.  The Japan Society will donate 50% of its ticket and admission sales towards the earthquake victims from March 14-June 30. Also, check out its newest exhibition, "Bye Bye Kitty!!! Between Heaven and Hell in Japanese Conteporary Art."

Megu: 62 Thomas Street and 845 United Nations Plaza at 47th Street, 212-964-7777, www.megurestaurants.com will donate 5% of all beverage sales through March 20 to the Japanese Red Cross to help with relief efforts.

Nobu:  105 Hudson Street, 212-219-0500. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the earthquake fund with their special omakase menu.  www.noburestaurants.com.

Havana Central:  Multiple locations in New York  City:  http://www.havanacentral.com/.  From March23-March 30, this Cuban restaurant will donate a portion of its proceeds to the Relief Efforts.

Brooklyn Brewery:    March 28 at 7PM.  79 N. 11th Street~ Brooklyn, NY 11211~ Brewers for Brewers: Japan benefit.  New York brewers- Sixpoint, Brooklyn, Heartland, Kelso, and Empire along with Lagunitas, The Good Beer Seal, and the NY State Brewers Association are hosting a beer and food event. 6 breweries, food from the meat hook, local Japanese restaurants , more. All proceeds will be directly deposited into a special account " kiuchi brewery earthquake fund" set up by the us importer of Hitachino, B United Imports.  Visit:  https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/166978 for more information.

Terroir:  www.wineisterroir.com All proceeds from its $6 YFC Yoshi Fried Chicken will be donated to the Fund. 

Muji USA: 3 Locations in NYC:   620 8th Ave, NYC (212) 382-2300 and 250 W 39th St # 605, NYC (646) 366-0515; 16 West 19th Street, New York - (212) 414-9024.

$10 of your purchase of a DIY child chair will benefit the earthquake relief fund. www.muji.us

Philip Lim:  At the showroom, 260 W. 39th Street, 17th floor (between 7th and 8th Avenue)

Sample sale will benefit the red cross (March 24-March 25) 10AM-6:00PM

 

If you are having an event or fundraiser, please let me know.

Wine and Chocolate in a Bottle

What happens when you combine wine and chocolate in a bottle?  You get Cocoa Di Vine, a blend of desert wines with chocolate and cream. 

Cocoa Di Vine is produced in the United States by the Opici Family of wines.   I found a bottle of this at the Grande Harvest Wines store in Grand Central Station.  It is very rich in flavor and texture with blends  of Torrontes, Pedro Ximenez and Moscato.  This wine and chocolate combination reminds me of a chocolate martini and it looks better served in a martini glass.

Try it out for yourself.  I bought mine at Grande Harvest Wines in Grand Central Station.

For more information on Cocoa Di Vine, please visit:  http://opiciwines.com/wine/cocoa-di-vine/chocolate-wine/

Come Melt at the MCNY Winter Thaw

The Museum of the City of New York and its Young Members Circle are hosting an exciting event titled  "The Winter Thaw."   The event will comprise of cocktails and a special private viewing of "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing:  How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment,"  an exhibit that covers the history of the Apollo Theater.  The event will be held on Friday, March 25 from 7PM-10PM.  Tickets cost  $25 for Museum Members and $40 for nonmembers--a steal in New York City!!

To purchase tickets, please call:  917-492-3328 or visit: http://www.mcny.org/public-programs/all/winter-thaw.html

A Discussion with the CEO of Groupon Singapore

Karl Chong, CEO of Groupon Singapore is  Pictured in Front Wearing the Iconic Brooklyn Hoodie

The Trump Soho New York Hotel was the site of an informal presentation by Karl Chong, CEO of Groupon Singapore on Saturday, March 6, 2011. The event was filled to capacity and attended by many aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in the New York City area.

Chong, born in Singapore, and raised Australia, worked in investment banking prior to starting Beeconomic, an online company that offers group discounts on consumer products and services. It was one of the first of its kind in Singapore and it was an overnight success. The company, after only 6 months of existence was purchased by Groupon to the sum estimated at $24 million.

During his discussion, he talked about the trials and tribulations of starting a business and the risks that he took in leaving his job and beginning a business concept that was foreign to the Singaporean market. Chong advised any aspiring entrepreneur that the keys to building a successful business involve believing in one's idea even when many disagree with the potential for success; hiring smart people is necessary and to always be kind to one's staff and potential customers.


The discussion and networking event was presented by LUX Connections.

New York Javits Center Wine Expo

This weekend, my friends and I attended the New York Wine Expo at the Javits Center.  There were more than 760 wines and a selection of lifestyle products and services.

Upon entering the Javits Center, my first time there, by the way, we were overwhelmed by the lines before us.  There was a line for the coat check, a line to get a tasting glass, and not surprising, a sizeable line to the restroom later on in the day.

As such, I skipped the front of the Expo and started my day towards the back, and I discovered the wines of Brazil.  I sampled their Cabernet Sauvignon which according to our pourer, is the most cultivated grape in this part of the world and that they  are trying to introduce Brazillian wine into the US market in about 2 months.  One of those wines will be the Vinicola Aurora Cabernet Sauvignon, which will debut in the US market under the name "Brazilian Soul."

Another great stand was "The Perfect Pitcher of Sangria" from Perth Amboy.  The owners were looking to introduce their new product on the market, but were still doing their research on distribution and marketing logistics.  I hope that they will get this product off the ground, because I really like the sangria, and it has lots of potential. 

And, of course, as a Brooklyn resident, I had to stop at the Brooklyn Oenology stand to sample their products.  Brooklyn Oenology is located in Williamsburg and at the Expo, they had a selection of Chardonnays, Social Reds, and Merlots.  They use local artists to design their labels which add a uniqueness to their product.  Visit http://www.brooklynoenology.com/

One of the most interesting parts of my day involved running around the Expo trying to locate a bacon- like smell as we were getting hungry.  That smell turned out to be seared foie gras from the Hudson Valley.  It was one of the most luxurious things I have ever eaten and getting seconds was nearly impossible as there were many people crowding the table.

In hindsight, I highly recommend this event to anyone interested in wine, especially if you are in search of the new wines and lifestyle products.  Save the date for next year:  March 2-4, 2012; http://www.newyorkwineexpo.com/

Parra Jimenez Wine



Strong Representation From La Mancha in Spain




Ice Ciders

 

Souvenir Glasses