I never thought I’d say this, but I’m really into Blockheads. The restaurant, that is. How can you not be into a business that has sock monkeys as its mascot?

Since the weather finally reached a gorgeous, sunny springtime feel, I headed for Midtown West’s Worldwide Plaza last Friday night. And so, it seems, did the rest of Manhattan. The area was packed full of Manhattanites. More importantly, however, were the $4 fruity (and strong) frozen margaritas. Turns out, happy hour is every hour at Blockheads!

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Everything truly is beautiful at the ballet. I digress from my search for the perfect margarita and guacamole to talk about one of my other favorite things: dance in New York City. American Ballet Theatre opened its spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center earlier this week, and it is definitely one not to be missed.

Having studied dance steadily for 18 years of my life, I take every opportunity I can to see dance in performance. When I recently found myself with a free evening (a true rarity for a girl on the go in NYC), I decided to embrace spontaneity and head over to Lincoln Center. I hoped to snag a ticket for La Bayadère, ABT’s first ballet in repertory this season. That’s one of the phenomenal things about New York City—anyone craving a live performance will have many choices within reach on any given night.
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Just when I thought the guacamole couldn’t get any better than El Rio Grande, it did. My quest to discover the best guacamole and margaritas in NYC lead me to Rosa Mexicano’s Lincoln Center location. Late for a dinner date with two of my co-workers, I breezed past the handful of outdoor tables bustling with patrons enjoying the beautiful spring weather and joined the crowd of people waiting to speak to the hostess. After a quick peek at the bar and the downstairs tables, I pulled out my lifesaver, a.k.a. my cell, and dialed my friends to find out where they were. I bypassed the crowd and headed for the stairs, which have a fountain that spans the entire wall as a backdrop. A closer look reveals that there are tiny figures of cliff divers plunging from different heights.

Spring is upon us—or so they tell me; you certainly wouldn’t know it after the current spell of cold, damp weather we’ve had. For me, the return of warm weather and sunshine signals the perfect time for sandals, skirts, sun dresses and my two favorite things: margaritas and guacamole. Who am I am kidding, really? In my book, any time is the perfect time for margs and guac, but at least the change of season allows us to enjoy them outside (eventually).

I have traveled long and hard, far and wide on this isle of Manhattan in search of the perfect salty-rimmed marg and tangy, creamy glob of guac. In honor of this search, my next few posts will feature the tastiest Mexican restaurants in the city. Instead of saving the best for last, let’s bring it up first: El Rio Grande. After a long day at work, nothing beats heading to El Rio Grande, my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant on 38th Street in Murray Hill. The spot boasts amazing food and strong (comes with a warning from the bartender), flavorful margaritas—easily the best in Manhattan.
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As the weather is getting colder and one can no longer ogle scantily-clad bodies on exhibition at the beach, why not enjoy them right here in Lower Manhattan? That’s right - for just $24.50, you can see clothesless bodies at the South Street Seaport. There’s just one catch: many of these bodies are also skinless. BODIES…The Exhibition is the controversial exhibit of 22 human cadavers and 260 other specimens ( i.e. fetuses, body parts, and organs) currently located on the main cobblestone street at the South Street Seaport. Housed in the new Exhibition Centre, this 32,000 square foot human anatomical showcase is drawing countless tourists and residents each day since its opening on November 19, 2005.

Hi, my name is Erica, and I am a Broadway-aholic. Well, actually a few years ago I was much worse than I am now, as I used to see at least one show a week. It’s been several months since I last saw a show, so I think I may be growing out of my (expensive) obsession (were it not for student rush and standing room, I’d be broke). But whenever the word “free” precedes the word “ticket,” I jump on it. My good friend and theater connoisseur Meredith offered me a ticket to a preview of comedian Martin Short’s new show Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, which is scheduled to open on August 17th. After scanning my calendar, I immediately accepted.