NYC

Who doesn’t love to eat? Answer: Nobody. Because everyone loves to eat. The key, though, to happy living and eating, is to only eat food that’s amazing. Calories spent on something less than delightful to your palate are simply a waste, my friend.

That’s why we’re pretty excited about Foursquare’s “Restaurant Challenge,” AKA a checklist of 50 of the best NYC restaurants.

“Foursquare’s team of data scientists crunched the numbers, looking at where more than 50 million people go and what they do,” explains the site. “The result: top trending tastes in New York and the best places to experience them.”

From pancakes to burgers to bagels, from pastries to pizza to ramen, it’s all on the list. Will you take the Foursquare challenge with us?

• Bagel: Everything Bagel at Ess-a-Bagel (Turtle Bay)
• Bloody Mary: Bloody Caesar at Joseph Leonard (West Village)
• Bourbon Cocktail: Old Fashioned at Maysville (NoMad)
• Burger: Black Label Burger at Minetta Tavern (Greenwich Village)
• Burrito: Ramenrrito at Press Tea (West Village)
• Cheesecake: Famous No. 1 Original Cheesecake at Junior’s Restaurant (Downtown Brooklyn)
• Chicken: Roasted Chicken at Barbuto (West Village)
• Chipotle Sauce: Crack Sauce at Calexico Cart
• Chocolate Pastry: Chocolate Babka at Breads Bakery (Union Square)
• Cold Brew Coffee: Cold Brew at Little Collins (Midtown East)
• Cookie: Chocolate Chip Cookie at Levain Bakery (Upper West Side)
• Corn: Jerk Grilled Corn at Miss Lily’s 7A (East Village)
• Craft Beer: NY Local Brews at The Jeffrey Craft Beer & Bites (Upper East Side)
• Cream Cheese: Wasabi Cream Cheese at Tompkins Square Bagels (East Village)
• Croissants: Pretzel Croissants at The City Bakery (Union Square)
• Donuts: Cronuts at Dominique Ansel Bakery (SoHo)
• Dumplings: Pork And Crab Soup Dumplings at RedFarm (West Village)
• French Fries: Pommes Frites at Balthazar (SoHo)
• French Toast: Parmesan French Toast at L’Apicio (East Village)
• Gnudi: Ricotta Gnudi at The Spotted Pig (West Village)
• Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Three Cheese Grilled Cheese at Milk Truck Grilled Cheese (Midtown East)
• Hidden Place: Japanese Restaurant at Bohemian (NoHo)
• Ice Cream: Chorizo Caramel Swirl at OddFellows Ice Cream Co. (Williamsburg)
• Lamb Chops: Tandoor-grilled Lamb Chops at Tulsi Restaurant (Turtle Bay)
• Lasagna: Yesterday’s 100 Layer Lasagne All Piastra at Del Posto (Chelsea)
• Mac & Cheese: “world’s Best” Mac & Cheese at Beecher’s Handmade Cheese (Flatiron District)
• Margarita: Margarita De Toronja Picante at Gran Eléctrica (DUMBO)
• Off-menu Item: Cheeseburger at Gramercy Tavern (Flatiron District)
• Outdoor Seating: The Patio at Central Park Boathouse (Central Park)
• Pancakes: Blueberry Pancakes at Clinton St. Baking Co. & Restaurant (Lower East Side)
• Pastrami: Pastrami Sandwich at Katz’s Delicatessen (Lower East Side)
• Pie: Crack Pie at Momofuku Milk Bar (East Village)
• Pizza: Vodka Pizza at Rubirosa (NoLita)
• Pork: Rocket Pig Sandwich at Rocket Pig (Chelsea)
• Ramen: Akamaru Modern Ramen at Ippudo (Greenwich Village)
• Rooftop Garden: Rooftop Bar And Cafe at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Upper East Side)
• Sandwich: Fried Chicken And Waffle Sandwich at Root & Bone (Alphabet City)
• Scenic View: Bench Seating At 17th Street at High Line (Chelsea)
• Seafood: Grilled Octopus at Taverna Kyclades (Astoria)
• Sliders: Meatball Sliders at Little Owl (West Village)
• Smoked Salmon: Bagel With Lox And Cream Cheese at Russ & Daughters (Lower East Side)
• Southern Food: Shrimp And Grits at Red Rooster (Central Harlem)
• Speakeasy: PDT at Crif Dogs (East Village)
• Steak: Porterhouse at Peter Luger Steak House (Williamsburg)
• Sushi: Uni at Sushi Nakazawa (West Village)
• Taco: Short Rib Pastrami Taco With Mustard Seed Salsa at Empellón Taqueria (West Village)
• Tasting Menu: Chef’s Tasting Menu at Per Se (Hell’s Kitchen)
• Toast: Crab Toast at ABC Kitchen (Flatiron District)
• Vegan Food: Vegan Blt at Blossom Restaurant (Chelsea)
• Wine Tastings: Tasting Pours at Terroir (Tribeca)

See the full list here.

By Wendy Rose Gould

With the holiday season upon us, festive markets are springing up all over NYC. It’s one of the best things about spending time in the city. You can go to a holiday market, pick up hot chocolate and cookies, then walk to the next shop and buy a scarf for your aunt. Bundle up and check out some of the best holiday markets in NYC.

Best Overall: The Union Square Holiday Market

Each year, over 1 million visitors attend The Union Square Holiday Market, and it’s no surprise considering how much they have to offer. From jewelry to food and art to kid’s toys, there’s something for everyone on your list, and the best part is that you’re helping to support local artisans. It’s where you go when you want a unique gift that you just can’t find anywhere else. The market runs until December 24 – perfect for all those last, last minute shoppers – and is open on weekdays from 11am to 8pm, Saturdays from 10am to 8pm, and on Sundays from 11am to 7pm.

Best for Arts and Crafts Lovers: The Degenerate Craft Fair

Started in 2009, the Degenerate Craft Fair features fabulous items by more than 50 artists. What makes this fair even more incredible is that the majority of the items cost $50 or less. Who doesn’t love a good deal? The Degenerate Craft Fair is two days only – December 14 and 15 – so make sure you check them out before they’re gone.

Best for Foodies: The Columbus Circle Holiday Market

Just short of the entrance to Central Park sits The Columbus Circle Holiday Market, a great collection of shops where you can find everything from gourmet chocolates and jewelry to pottery and accessories. You’re undoubtedly going to work up an appetite walking around this large market, so make sure to stop off and get some food at one of the many food areas including Red Thai Basil, Macaron Parlour, Wafels & Dinges, and La Sonrisa Empanadas amongst many others. The Columbus Circle Holiday Market is open until December 24, and runs Monday through Saturday from 10am to 8pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 7pm.

Best Outdoor Experience: The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park

A favorite amongst shoppers, The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park are beloved not only for the shopping experience, but because the ice skating rink is right there and provides easy access to people watching, gliding gracefully across the ice, or falling on your derriere depending on how skilled you are. There’s plenty of shops to stop at and copious amounts of hot chocolate to consume, so get on it! The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park are running until January 5, and are open Monday through Friday from 11am to 8pm, Saturday from 10am to 9pm, and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

By Lauren Romano

Union Square Holiday Market photo credit: Erin Kestenbaum

We live in an interesting time.

The same thing was also said amidst the boom of print media, especially when haute couture glossies first hit the market and the whole fashion industry became more of an “event” as opposed to a utilitarian means to an end (read: being clothed).

I’d argue that when online blogging hit the scene roughly 15 years ago — the late ’90s — fashion underwent a notable shift. Once “the people” received a megaphone (in this case, the Internet), their amplified voices slowly began competing with the opinions of fashion designers and magazines across the globe. Don’t get me wrong, to this day designers and glossies certainly have a huge say regarding what we wear, but the whole social aspect of the Internet indubitably turned the style world on its head.

Fast forward another five-ish years or so — into the early 2000s — when “all about me” social media websites such as MySpace were at their height. The early 2000s also marked the dawn of the Facebook era, a website which has a bigger influence on the world than most even realize. It was also around this time when deep and thought provoking online diaries shared between close friends (hello, LiveJournal) lost their luster and lifestyle blogs gained momentum.

Today, you can’t go anywhere on the web without running into a blogger or a niche website that focuses specifically on fashion/style or beauty. And with the prevalence of smart phones and Apps (fashion-focused and otherwise, including Instagram), we can’t even pick up the phone without seeing what other people are wearing or buying.

This social media/Internet whirlwind frenzy makes me wonder: Are we better dressed now compared to 10 years ago?

The Stylish City’s own founder, Mirela, says: “Everybody — stores, bloggers, fashion magazines, etc — has “looks” to draw inspiration from. There are literally thousands of bloggers, personal stylists, celebrities and reality shows we are exposed to every day.”

This undoubtedly affects our decisions when we walk into a store or peer into our closet. With the potential for more people to see how we’re dressed, are many of us less apt to throw on scroungy sweats even while sauntering around the house? And do we make better fashion choices now as a result of being exposed to the more fashionable who want to put themselves out there for the world to see?

Another question I have, in regard to the Internet/social media influence:  Do we approach fashion on a more “individual” level these days? Or does the influx of online/media inspiration cause us to all sort of look like each other?

Personally, I think cities such as NYC, where there a lot of people coming from all walks of life, are more likely to dress individually, but there’s still this “NYC vibe” that permeates all fashion in the city.

Perhaps the boom of social media has made us dress better as a collective whole, but with that have we lost a sense of individuality when it comes to fashion choices?

What do you think? Have your wardrobe decisions changed over the past 10 to 15 years as a direct result of the Internet and social media? Has it gotten worse? Or have you sort of shrugged your shoulders and not changed much at all? Share your comments below!

By Wendy Rose Gould