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Trooping: New York Comic Con 2009

Posted on February 17th, 2009 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Costumes, Food, NYC, Star Wars.

[Me, breaking out of my germ infested apartment, wearing stormtrooper handcuffs and sporting a stolen E-11.]

As I had spent the week with a triple digit fever, spending time in Midtown Manhattan with 60,000 of my closest friends was not high on my priority list, but I did, in the end, manage a few hours, plus a brief appearance at the Legion dinner.

[Snowtrooper making a withdrawl at the ATM.]

Too exhausted to suit up myself, I walked the floor with Kris, spotting him and helping him take some fun pictures…

[Myself with an R2 unit - wee!!!]

…and I served my time at the Legion table, which had such a hideous location this year that I proposed that next year, if we don’t get a floor on the main table, we don’t bother with the table at all.

[Myself with a Republic backpack, and a baby Rotta the Hutt - I want an ABS version of this backpack.]

I walked the floor briefly and looked at some of the toys and such.  The above $35 Republic backpack was very tempting, but I want a hard, ABS backpack, and this one, while supposed with cardboard, is still soft…and not right…  When someone makes these, send me a note and I’ll send a payment through PayPal.  Seriously.  I want one.

[Best costume of the con: the Incredible Hulk.]

I also saw some neat costumes, but this towering hulk, who easily cleared 7 feet, was quite impressive.  (I love seeing people’s creativity come out at cons.)

[Stout’s burger, with swiss and guac, and a side of sweet potato fries.]

After the con, the 501st and Rebel Legions headed over to Stout, on 33rd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, where Danny and I indulged in burgers.  Burgers and fries run you $10, but you have to pay an additional dollar for each topping.  I wasn’t well, so it’s hard to judge, but it was made to order and was quite satisfying, even though I was dying, so if you’re in the area, give it a try.

[Steve Sansweet, head of Lucasfilm fan relations, I believe.  He looks like he could be my uncle in this pic.]

Steve Sansweet stole my chair when I stood briefly for some reason I can’t recall.  Now the temptation was there to forcefully reclaim my chair, but as I was still on the mend, and as it seems like a bad idea, I instead stole Steve I.’s chair when he stood for a moment (and Steve I. was nice and did not steal it back.)  Sansweet was a really nice guy, spent the whole evening with the Legions, and sat at out table signing trading cards for us to snatch up.  Good times.

Randomly:

{OM NOM NOM NOM!]

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USA: NYC: Ted’s Montana Grill 2: The Search for the Bison Burger

Posted on December 7th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Food, NYC.

We had been to Ted’s Montana Grill before to try the buffalo meat, but the burgers on the menu looked mighty tempting, too.  We agreed to come back another time for them.  (And then our lives got horribly busy and burgers left my life for a month and a half.)

The bison burger was delicious, although I would have to have a beef burger accessible to do a taste test and figure out how they’re different.  Miserable, exhausted, overworked and underpaid (as the rest of America) we had inhaled half our burgers (made to order, mine a perfect medium-rare, pink and juicy) before I realized we had forgotten to photo-document the experience.  Oh well - we’ll have to go back again.

With huge, juicy burgers that include your choice a side order (or get two half-sides, like me) for $10 to $15, Ted’s Montana Grill makes an excellent choice for a burger spot when you’re in Times Square.  It’s on 51st Street between Broadway and 7th Ave.  Mmmm…I get hungry just thinking about it.

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USA: NYC: West Bank Cafe

Posted on November 9th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Food, NYC.

Ray: Believe it or not, Danny went out for burgers with me, unchaperoned.  (Though, had we known it would be good, we would have kept it for a group night.)

[Image from the West Bank Cafe website.]

Danny and I went to the West Bank Cafe - based off a recommendation he overheard on the bus, so we weren’t sure what to expect, but it was, overall, a pleasant surprise.  They did mix up our cheeseburgers, giving me the rare patty and Danny the medium-rare.  I sucked it up and ate the rare ground beef - yes, it was purple in the center, and that seems a bit wrong for a burger to me, but it was still delicious.  They eventually got Danny’s burger right, though it took them forever.

[Ah, juicy cheeseburger goodness.]

The fries were excellent.  Fresh, in-house, with delicious seasoning.  No onion rings available, unfortunately (though I wouldn’t have minded testing the fried calamari.)  Definately the classiest burger place we’ve been to, and it was a yummy burger, but at $13.50, I’m left thinking that for one more dollar, I could go back to Rare.  Still, if your burger joint needs a wine list and a dessert menu, West Bank Cafe just might be the place for you.

LOCATION: 407 W 42nd Street (between 9th and 10th Aves)

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USA: NYC: Blue 9 Burger

Posted on October 22nd, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Food.

This week, we tried Blue 9 Burger at Rebekah’s recommendation.  No options to order our burgers medium, medium-rare, or rare…this is a one-burger-fits-all joint.  And the burgers, I admit, are skinny little things…yet there was something very tasty about them: it made you want to eat another.

I had the Mango Infusion burger…not sure if I actually got the advertised mango chili, or if they just slathered on some Thousand Island dressing, but it was darned tasty.  Maybe not as filling as you might long for, but where else can you get a decent burger in the East Village for less than $5?  Gray’s Papaya hotdogs aren’t filling either…that’s why you buy four hotdogs when you go there.

The fries were also good - though the cheese fries were just plain fries with nasty, melty, American cheese squirted on them.  For those of you who know me too well, you know I won’t touch Kraft singles with my bare hands.  Once I saw what cheese fries really were, I ran back to the kitchen and told them to hold the cheese on my order.  (I should have known by the confusion that ensued when I asked: “What kind of cheese do you use on you cheeseburger?”

All in all, not a bad deal…but not something I would go out of my way for, either.

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USA: NYC: Trailer Park Lounge & Grill

Posted on October 19th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Food, NYC.

[Decor at Trailer Park Lounge & Grill]

So, I went to a Birthday at Trailer Park Louge & Grill, which I looked up on the ‘net before the event.  While fame often means the owners feel little need to make decent food, it boasted having been featured on Food Network, so I figured it was probably decent.  Having run about the city sampling different burger joints, I was curious how a famous place would compare.

[Myself with Ruby, the birthday boy.]

Trailer Park boasted an 8 oz. burger…no fancy burgers…no toppings choices…but a plain burger can be might good, so I ordered one, medium-rare.  What I got was a thin, weak, slightly burnt medium-well burger, a flat slab of ground beef no more than four ounces in weight, a single leaf of lettuce, a single slice of tomato less than half the size of the burger, and three slices of pickle.

 
[Skutch, wearing my glasses.  One nerd to rule them all, right?]

The burger had no juice, had no flavor.  It tasted like one of those frozen hockey puck-like patties.  Now, maybe that was the goal, to explicitly serve crappy, white trash food…but if that’s the goal, really, I could just stay home, save some cash, and have a Hot Pocket.

 
[Myself, with the champagne in a can…not woth the $7.75 I paid.]

The disappointments weren’t limited to the burgers.  The service blew.  We had a reservation for 8pm, and we arrived at 8pm, but we had to wait until 9pm for our table, which rather pissed us off.  The tater tots, which I’d heard were delicious, paled in comparison to the frozen ones my mom bakes.  And my champagne in a can was not only tiny, but came served already opened, which made me wonder if it actually came in a can, or if they just fill cans with bottled champagne.

 
[Part of the group at Trailer Park…going ’round the table, vaguely left to right, it’s Eric, Jenn, Ruby, Kris, myself, Julie, Danny, and Ralph]

About the only redeeming quality of the place was the sweet potato fries, which were crispy, not soggy, and quite sweet.  The decor was neat, but it didn’t make up for all the other short-comings of the place.  The next time my friends and I drop $500 on a meal, some decent service and tasty food are called for.

[Somebody needs to photoshop in the Elvis Trooper here…]

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USA: NYC: Rare Bar & Grill

Posted on September 28th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Food, NYC.

[For lack of a better picture, he’s Skutch looking over the menu.]

When we went to Rare, the same burger caught the attention of all three pairs of famished eyes: the M & M Burger. flambeed in whiskey, topped with carmelized shallots, cheddar cheese, and apple smoked bacon. Mmmm…  That’s a $15 burger, admittedly, but worth every penny.

Ray ordered his burger medium, I ordered it medium rare, and Skutch ordered it rare.  The chef made no mistakes - nor did the wait staff - everything was perfect, and everyone was pleased.

We also got sides of onion rings and calamari, as the burgers don’t even come with fries (turned out to be a spendy burger, eh?) but the sides were all very yummy, at least, so although I shelled out $30 at the end of the night, I wasn’t feeling the least bit grumpy.

Located on the corner of Carmine and Bleeker, just off 6th Ave near Washington Square Park, Rare has great location and is worth a stop if you’re looking for food in the area.

[Afterwards, we cracked out the cupcakes that Ray and I had picked up earlier…see the look of delight on my face?  I already had a mini-cupcake that afternoon, so I know what’s in store for me.]

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USA: NYC: Jackson Hole

Posted on September 15th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Food, NYC.

My second time at Jackson Hole, I give credit where it’s due, was far superior to the first.  The first time my burger, which I ordered medium-rare, came well-done; dry, not juicy.  I was left wondering why I schlepped all the way into Manhattan.

The second time, success.  I ordered my burger rare and got medium-rare, juicy and bright pink in the middle.  It’s a huge slad of a burger - a hand-made paddy of no uniform shape, an inch thick and seven ounces in weight.

Both times, I was at the location at 3rd and 35th on the East Side in Manhattan, but as I understand it, Jackson Hole is a chain of restaurants scattered about the City.  Definately worth checking out - just remember to order your burger slightly undercooked.

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USA: NYC: Island Burgers & Shakes

Posted on August 28th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Food, NYC.

[Yes, it looks like a hole in the wall, but those are the best places.]

Yet another delicious burger joint, this is a tiny restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen on 9th Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets.  If you want your burger rare, you’ll have it rare: cold in the middle.  When I ordered my burger medium-rare, I got what I really wanted.  Phenomenal.  So often it’s hit or miss.

I had the Route 66 Burger, with avacado and bacon on it…mmm…  I also got a tasy vanilla malt unlike any malt I have ever tried before.  Impressive.  Most Impressive….

They were also offering a “Recession Special” at the time: Burger, chips, and a fountain drink for ten dollars flat - tax included.  Not a bad deal for Midtown Manhattan!  This place isn’t ten minutes walking from Times Square, folks.

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USA: NYC: 67 Burger

Posted on August 19th, 2008 by Anna Zhan.
Categories: Blog, Food, NYC.

[Photo of 67 Burger is coming from The Life and Times of Victor Jouvert, which is written by a man who also swears by 67 Burger - GO THERE!]

So I finally convinced some friends to come out to Brooklyn for 67 Burger, a small place located a block or two behind Target on a funky three-way intersection of Lafayette, Fulton, and Elliot.

If you want your burger rare, you can get it here.  And the sweet potato fries are some of the best I’ve ever had!  I get the 67 Burger Special…a thick, juice paddy topped with bacon and blue cheese…mmm…  And while I don’t drink soda, the RC Cola seems to be pretty popular.  Sam Adams is on tap, too.  Prices are reasonable - check out their menu here.

[The house special, the “67 Burger”, with blue cheese and bacon…mmm…]

Address is 67 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, and these are some of the best burgers in NYC - GO THERE!  (Seriously, my friends swore by Jackson Hole, but after they’d been to 67 Burger, they agreed with me…Jackson Hole doesn’t compete.) 

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