I'm a blogger-- not about JC-- with several hundred thousand monthly readers (that's pretty big in my industry). While it wouldn't be fun to see a thread bashing me, to be honest it's part of the business and wouldn't elicit more than a shrug. Several of my blogger friends recently had fun with negative comments by reading them spoken word style and putting up the video on you tube. It's better to be polarizing than boring at any rate.

I haven't read this person's blog but if putting herself prominently in her posts works for her, then she should by all means continue. It's not my personal style but we all do what works for us. If she explicitly discloses receiving payment for reviews (which is really advertising) then who cares. Don't read it or start your own blog. Like mainstream journalists, I go on press trips all the time and disclose it (but don't accept payment, it's not my thing). Ultimately it's the size of your readership that determines your success, not what is said on some random thread on jclist.

Surprised no one's put up the link it's been out for a couple of days. Beautiful photos.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/20 ... y-city.html?smid=fb-share

I've been three times and love the place. Ignore the complainers here who are whining about another coffee place-- why idiots who haven't even been have to hear themselves talk on these threads and offer zero helpful information is beyond me.

Coffee is very local and this place is much closer to me than the other new spots. Also it's the best in the area, bar none (better than Grove Kitchen too). I've had both hot and ice coffee here several times. I've tried three different sandwiches and they're all delicious. The kale salad is excellent too. Finally a place that is doing everything right.

I just wanted to add that on the square receipt you receive from the restaurant there was a place for feedback-- I noted the fritters were grease soaked (I assume that has to be a one off because no one would eat them). I didn't ask for or expect a refund but they did refund the fritters and reported that they would try to maintain better consistency. I just hate reporting only negative things if the owner tries to correct it.

It's Korean ramen and it's on the menu-- who said anything about Japanese ramen? Why don't you keep your comments related to your own experience, troll.

I had so been looking forward to trying this place and went tonight but was very disappointed. For two of us, I ordered the kimchee and seafood fritters, ramen and bibimbap. The good: the bibimbap wasn't bad (fresh cut veggies) but it lacked flavor-- I got it for take out and was given no sauce with it (basic serves it with a yummy siracha like sauce). The ramen was substandard and completely flavorless. The fritters were inedible-- absolutely soaked in grease/oil. I can't believe this is the same place others rave about. It wasn't even busy.

Whoever made the remark about the "veneer of quality and competence" is so on point.

I complained about the greasy overcooked whole chicken I bought for $18 (the next time I came in, I didn't bring it back) I just got a shrug. Mentioned it again the next time to someone else. Same response. I also find they just don't weigh correctly. If I ask for a pound I want a pound not .85. And I'm not correcting someone more than once. I asked about one of the vegetables antipasta dishes and the guy had no clue. I asked the price of a loaf of bread and got a bewildered look, as if it was a dumb question to ask (it was $8). It just seems like there is a whole lot of not caring going on.

Which is too bad because other than the chicken the items are decent (did not try the pasta but pasta at the del cure place excellent so no need to).
I also wish they would regularly have leaner ground beef available (the standard grind is super fatty). You can request a leaner grind but you have to call a day in advance. I'm sure if they just had it out and labelled it lean it would outsell the fatty version (which is tasty, but unnecessary when I'm making tacos).

On a completely unrelated note, can't anyone open up a salad place here? it would make a killing.

thank you! Great idea!

I have a 4 pound chihuahua that I prefer not to load up with multiple vaccines every 6 months-- every groomer in the vicinity of Grove street now requires this. Ridiculous, my elderly toothless chihuahua doesn't need unnecessary vaccinations for 5 minutes of toe nail clipping (I even hold her). Groomingdales did not require vaccines but they moved farther away.
When I lived in NYC no one ever asked for vaccine certificates for toe nail clipping. Canis Minor is an option but it's in Newport and not convenient. There must be someone in the area?

The sandwiches are delicious and huge. I had the coffee black, and it was my favorite in the neighborhood.

Any bloggers in the JC Writers group? Or is there a separate bloggers group? I have a popular travel blog but I don't otherwise write-- would love to meet up with other writers/bloggers in the neighborhood.

It seems they've changed hands since my last visit (which was some time ago) and they no longer use their coal-fired oven, but instead bake elsewhere (the person was new and had no idea if coal fired oven were used or where exactly they were baked but did say the owner also owns Antique bakery in Hoboken).

2nd street bakery does still use coal, but they don't have many breads. Wondering if there are any coal oven bread bakeries left in the area? In Hoboken Marie's oven was knocked down for condos, Dom's is rumored to now use a combo of coal and gas (though I don't know for sure).

Coal baking provides a specific texture that can't be replicated with gas.

I was told another juice bar already took over the Juicewell space so I stopped by today. It was closed, despite the sign indicating it was open all day. I tried to google what I think is the name of the place but couldn't find anything. Has anyone been here, know what they sell, and whether they actually intend to keep the hours they have posted?

Re: size of chicken (at least the pre-made rotisserie). I wasn't referring to those 4.5 pound mass market chickens which I never buy-- the D'Artagnan organic free-range chickens I buy are smaller (2.5-3 pounds max) but still at least a pound bigger than the tiny chickens sold at Corrino. I can't judge the flavor of their chicken because IMO they weren't cooked properly-- maybe I just got a poorly cooked batch and they aren't up to speed yet.

I would absolutely buy their raw meat products though and cook them myself-- their chicken breasts seemed like a great deal for organic/humanely raised. I didn't think 10.99/lb for organic ground beef was that far out of line with Whole Foods (8.99) and will definitely buy it there for the convenience.

Re: receipts-- I'm sure they don't intend for customers for the market to tip, but I agree I still don't like seeing the suggestion. Juicewell used to do this too-- and they had no excuse because they didn't even have a restaurant portion-- they expected a tip for me reaching into their cooler and buying a pre-made drink.

Overall it looks great and the quality and prices for the butcher shop items seem fair. Desserts were excellent, coffee good. Bread looks great but haven't tried yet.

But I picked up a rotisserie chicken (17.99 for maybe a 1.5-2 pound chicken, it was the smallest rotisserie chicken I've ever seen) and was disappointed. It was dry (which I personally don't mind) but also bland and the skin was a little greasy, not crisp. They sell it lukewarm, not hot, so you'll need to heat it up back home. I usually make my own roast chicken (d'artagnan, which isn't cheap, I usually spend $15-18 for an uncooked chicken, probably 2.5-3 pounds) and my chicken blows this one away in flavor, texture and portion-- and I don't do anything fancy with my chicken.

I don't think there is anywhere in the downtown area for the pies you're looking for. I also pick mine up at that Fairway location-- very convenient to the Path and excellent pies (in different sizes too).

Got two breakfast sandwiches and a coffee to go. They got my order wrong (despite repeating it mulltiple times). The sandwiches were tasty, but the english muffin was incredibly greasy-- I think they buttered and grilled it. I would try again and get a breakfast sandwich on a roll (and check my order before I leave since they are unreliable). The coffee was disappointing-- it tasted very stale-- I hope it was just that batch. I waited at the bar for the sandwiches and was thinking what a nice bright space it was to hang out in the morning with a laptop (as several people were doing) but the stench of cleaning supplies and beer was too overwhelming.

Do not order from here, just don't do it. I ordered from delivery.com when it popped up as "new"-- I live 3 blocks away. An hour later no food. I called and they were totally unapologetic and told me it's "on its way."

Half an hour later the lazy delivery calls my cell phone instead of ringing the door. We get the food and the order is completely screwed up, they missed an entire entree. Call and the manager is a jerk, just gave me complaints and excuses was totally unapologetic. They offered to send the correct order but didn't offer to comp it anything and just told me to "calm down."

Why on earth I ordered from here I have no idea-- I was extremely happy with Tacqueria Viva Mexico-- there is no reason EVER to deal with this place.

Just went and ordered two flavors on a regular cake cone (not a waffle cone). The scoops were tiny (much smaller than Torico's) and the price was $4.25. The guy explained that if you order it in a cup instead of a cone you get significantly more ice cream, that they price it differently. The ice cream was tasty but the skewed pricing system is off putting.

Whole foods sells bee pollen from hives in nj, nyc and CT. It's sold in granuale form so it's easy to take daily. Look in the refrigerator case in the supplements section. I just started taking it so I'm not sure how well it works yet (or if I'll even be able to tell as I'm allergic to pretty much everything). Figured it was worth a try though.

In walking around, I passed a few new spots that I didn't know existed before- JC Barre (has anyone tried this yet?) a new yoga studio on the same block, and somewhere (I can't remember exactly where or the name) I walked past a studio that has some adult dance classes (including ballet).

Does anyone know the name of the dance studio so I can look it up? Also are there are studios that have sprung up on JC's side streets that I've missed?

I just wanted to report back here because I'd looked at this thread when I completely tore my ankle ligament back in May (if the nice JC'er who picked me off the sidewalk is reading this-- thank you!).

I have been to physical therapy many times for various injuries-- and associate it with monotonous exercises and never found it terribly helpful. I expected the same for rehabilitation of my ankle.

I chose Liberty Physical Therapy because walking is difficult for me and it was close-- they are right off Grove street at Columbus-- and because they had a nice website and positive reviews on Yelp. I'd read about other places in JC and they sounded like their approach was more factory-like.

I am happy to report back that Chitra at Liberty PT has totally changed my mind about PT. She is incredible-- a gifted therapist, attentive and very hands on. Therapy is actually fun instead of boring, and yes we do exercises, but Chitra guides you through it every step of the way. After she works me past what I think my limit is, I am rewarded with an incredible ankle massage and other modalities. The difference before and after therapy is pretty amazing.

Chitra is also there for moral support-- she understands pain and the stress it can cause, and not only listens, but helps you work through it. I really cannot recommend her enough.

Previously, I always went into the city for anything medical related, to the "best" centers like HSS, but now I know better, that the best PT is right here down the street. After this immediate injury heals, I am looking forward to having Chitra tackle my old injuries that have never quite resolved.

Bonus-- Chitra will work with your insurance company and take care of all the paperwork. I really hope her practice thrives here.

In Europe dogs are welcomed in some of the finest restaurants. In the restaurant of the Hotel Imperial in Vienna, small dogs (well groomed and behaved) rested on chairs piled with cushions next to their owners while they dined. Why does everyone here freak out about it being unsanitary when millions of Europeans have no issue with this. I am sure my dog is cleaner than many of the children I see.

I am not leaving my tiny chihuahua outside to be stolen, not even for a second. Is it really such a big deal if I pick her up and bring her in while I grab a cup of coffee? Personally I'd be more concerned about the sanitary condition of the kitchen then the presence of a tiny dog (in my arms) for a few minutes.

Quote:

If they want to concentrate on other areas they should not call themselves Gia Gelato, it's confusing. Hearing only the name I am thinking of a gelataria-- a place that only sells Gelato, made fresh daily. Not a sandwich shop that happens to have shipped in gelato.

And there is a huge difference in high quality, freshly made gelato versus mass produced, vendor gelato-- anyone who has been to Italy knows this. Oh well, it's for the best-- if this place were a real gelataria and more convenient to the main downtown area I'd probably frequent it far too often.

I was very disappointed to read that they get their gelato from a vendor instead of making it themselves.
Not only that, it's clearly not some niche artisan vendor-- the owners bragged that their vendor makes over 600 flavors. Why would I go to a Gelato shop for gelato that is not freshly made there? I'd rather buy Ciao Bella from the bodega or make my own gelato (I have a high end machine). It's too bad I hope the owners reconsider and learn how to make their own gelato.

The vets around downtown are terrible. I researched vets extensively and found an excellent one only a few minutes walk from the wtc path station in TriBeCa.
Reade Street Animal Hospital. Dr. Mary Xanthos is excellent and very intuitive-- she will not order unnecessary tests. My chihuahua was misdiagnosed with a collapsed trachea elsewhere and Dr. Xanthos immediately figured out that diagnosis was incorrect and took our dog off the medication. I would not go anywhere else.

I am surprised you think a boarding facility is some wonderful alternative. Do you think your dog won't miss you while it's sitting in a cage all night all alone? My dog only stays with relatives.

Thanks Russ-- the studios there look very nice but we are looking only for studios walking distance from the downtown area.

Thanks for the suggestions. I am researching for a friend and she needs sprung/marley floors and mirrored walls, so a gym wouldn't really work. There are so many dance studio rentals in NYC, I thought JC would be a good (cheaper) alternative, but maybe not. For an area with such a strong arts community, I am surprised that there aren't any adult dance lessons (ballet, modern) offered here at all. I thought my friend might be able to fill a gap, but maybe the reason there aren't any such classes is because the interest level is not strong enough locally.

Does anyone know if there are dances studio spaces available to rent (and prices?) in the downtown/Paulus Hook or Hamilton Park area? Looking for space suitable for small classes or private lessons. I was surprised I couldn't find anything searching online.