As an avid traveler, I can honestly say that there is nothing better than a true New York pizza pie.  But with a pizza joint around every corner, how could anyone possibly choose the best piece?

If there weren't so many darn carbs in pizza, I would eat it for every meal.  You can get all the food groups in, if you choose your slices wisely.  Egg and bacon or ham pizza for breakfast.  Traditional pepperoni, cheese or garlic pizza for lunch.  Chocolate pizza for an afternoon or late night snack.  Tomato & basil, chicken wing, mac n cheese, gorgonzola cheese, spinach & bacon, even pasta pizza for dinner.

The art of baking pizza:  It can be baked in an oven with stone bricks, in an electric deck oven, through a conveyor belt oven, or in the case of more expensive restaurants, a wood- or coal-fired brick oven.  Pizza can be cooked on a pizza stone, grilled on the BBQ, or baked in a pan (pan-style). 

The deep dish pizza is dubbed as 'Chicago style' and the twice-baked pizza originated in Detroit, but the first pizza establishment in the United States was said to open in New York's Little Italy, in 1905.  

Famous Little Italy Pizza is by far the best pizza I have ever had!  Thin crusted and twice baked gives this pizza the ultimate crispy crust.  Quick service and plenty of outside seating, along with being conveniently located across the street from the Empire State Building, this joint gets 5 stars!

Inatteso Pizzabar Casano
28 West Street
New York, NY 10004
212-267-8000
http://www.inattesopizzabar.com

Cozy and intimate, fresh italian dishes.

The name inatteso, which means “unexpected” in Italian, comes from the idea of a pizzeria, offering you more than you would normally expect.  This proved to be true when I tried the BIANCA -- a Napoletana style brick oven pizza with mozzarella, ricotta, fresh chunks of garlic, calabrese peppers and bread crumbs.

I ordered the small ($12) and it was enough for dinner and a midnight snack.  It paired well with the La Caudrina Moscato D' Asti, which was the best tasting Moscato I have ever had!

They also offer a delivery/take-out menu, with more than just pizza.  They offer appetizers, salads, sides, sweets, sandwiches, specialty dinners, pasta dishes, brick oven pizza, and the thin crust sicilian pizza.

Recommended!

Ulysses' Folk House - Bar & Grill
95 Pearl Street, NY, NY 10004
212-482-0400
Lower Manhattan

After a long day of schmoozing at the GLBT Expo, with blistery feet and empty bellies, my partner and I, along with our wonderful Florida friends, Mike & Britt of EnGAYged Weddings, (www.engaygedweddings.com) were in dire need of good grub and a glass of wine.  Taking a recommendation from the concierge at The Ritz - Battery Park, we head a few blocks west to Ulysses', an Irish pub. 

Ambiance and Decor:
Dimly lit with table candles sets a romantic mood 
Wooden beam ceilings
High top wooden tables with bar stools
Includes a carvery and raw bar 

Service: Friendly

Portion Size: Typical American oversize plate (which is great if you're hungry!)

Price: Average (Total bill for 4 people, each having one alcoholic beverage - $152.00, which includes a 20% tip)

We enjoyed raw oysters ($30) as an appetizer, hearty sirloin burgers ($12) and a spinach stuffed chicken dish with califlower and a cabbage filled baked potato ($20).

There was a band setting up to play later that evening, but the concensus at our table was to call it an early night, since today's activities at the trade show would resume again tomorrow. 

Our dinner was filling and hit the spot; the local pub was quaint and welcoming; being in the company of our friends was priceless!

Upon recommendation, we enjoyed breakfast at 2West, located at The Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park.  The spacious environment was warm and welcoming. 

My girlfriend was in the mood for a light and healthy breakfast, so she ordered the yogurt and ganola cocktail ($12).  The presentation was beautiful and the portion was just the right size.

I ordered the Traditional Eggs Benedict ($23) -- one of my favorite dishes.  This breakfast specialty is prepared with canadian bacon and an egg over an english muffin, topped with crushed black truffle & hollandaise sauce.  It was heavenly.

Service: Quick and pleasant
Portion size: Just enough
Price: Not for the budget conscious traveler
Ambiance: Modern decor in a well light area of natual light from the floor to ceiling windows

Add a coffee ($6) and an orange juice ($8).  Total for breakfast was $59, which includes the $10 tip.

Thumbs up!

Join members of the Cornell Law School's Advocacy for LGBT Commuities Clinic for an important FREE seminar that will address the importance of legal dicuments in planning for the future and
legally protectin you and your family.

WHERE:  CNY Philanthropy Center, 431 E. Fayette Street, Syracuse - Upstate NY
WHEN: March 27, 2013

Participants will receive information, have questions answered and even get assistance in completing certain documents free of charge.

Light dinner provided. RSVPs requested to Heather Hauer-Ross hauerross98@yahoo.com or 607-724-4308

Message from the Seminar organizers:

"We are offering this workshop in large part because LGBTQ families and couples do not necessarily fit into the categories prescribed within family and trust and estate law. We will discussthe unique considerations that LGBT individuals must take into account when it comes to their legal rights and security, regardless of their age or stage of life. Young adults, seniors, couples, single adults, parents and non-parents will all find this session useful." This workshop follows a similar presentation held in Binghamton in November.

Specifically, this session will provide information on ways to secure legally recognized parent-child relationships, such as through second-parent adoption, address the impact of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and discuss estate and life planning. Members of the Cornell Law School LGBT Clinic will assist attendees in properly executing important legal documents, including Power of Attorney, Healthcare Proxy, and Standby Guardianship. 

Kim Dill, Director of Sage Upstate, had this to say about the need for advance planning among LGBT individuals: "Advance planning documents are important for all older adults, but especially critical for older LGBT people because families and caregivers in our community don't necessarily look the same as those in the mainstream. People who make up our circles of care may not be tied to us legally or by blood, so it is more important to define who gets to make important decisions."

For more information on upcoming Pride & Joy Families Events, click to their open group facebook page.

McShane's Restaurant & Pub in East Syracuse, New York
Basic American cuisine
Best known for their 1/2 chicken
Most unique menu item:  Chicken wing soup
Visited in February 2013

We stopped by at noon on a Monday and were the only lunch patrons in the restaurant. There were a handful of gentlemen gathered at the bar, so I guess it's safe to say that McShane's is still commonly known as the local watering hole.

My partner and I tend to eat light at lunch so we shared a lunch option and an appetizer. We ordered the Crispy Onion Haystack $5.99, which is served with caper aioli sauce.  The dipping sauce was tasty with both the fried onions and our french fries.  The shoestring size crispy fried onions were a bit on the salty side, but good none-the-less.

Although best known for their crispy, flavorful, golden brown 1/2 chicken, I was in the mood for some red meat, so we opted for the cheeseburger with swiss - ADD BACON! ($7.99)  The hamburger was cooked as specified, the bacon was crispy, the cheese was melted, and the fries were perfectly crisped.

The TV show 'Restaurant Impossible' gave McShane's a makeover in late August of 2012.  With just $10,000 and 2 days, the dismal roadside restaurant was transformed with vibrant paint colors, the fake leaves and paper strings hanging from the ceilings and walls were removed (thank god), and more importantly, the 'dirt upon dirt upon dirt', as stated by Irvine, was removed and the place was thoroughly cleaned. 

We offer a thumbs up to McShane's for offering us a lunch that filled our bellies, a clean, comfortable atmosphere, and a friendly server!  We are frequent flyers at the independently owned restaurants, and are truly in support of small business, so congrats to Cindy and the McShane's team for staying afloat during these trying economic times and for contacting 'Restaurant Impossible' to get a true assessment of the concerns that just may have brought the restaurant to bankruptsy.

McShane's Restaurant & Pub
6801 Kinne St
East Syracuse, NY 13057
Find them on facebook

Are all Hibachi Restaurants the same?

If you’ve never been, here’s the definition of hibachi, or as some call it, “Japanese fire bowl”: 

Hibachi: a portable barbecue of Japanese design, with a base for the fire with vents under it and one or more adjustable cooking racks

We visited two hibachi restaurants and then had to question if all the employees, of all these separately owned establishments, learn their technique at the same school…?  There is one recognizable difference about these two restaurants, but we’ll get to that in a minute.  
 
The first restaurant we visited was Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse in Liverpool, New York.  

Here’s the skinny:
 
Favorite drink:  Fujiyama – peach brandy & rum mix $7.50
Favorite appetizer:  Eda Mame – boiled soybean pods, lightly salted $4.95
Favorite hibachi dinner: Chicken Teriyaki $18.50
Add: fried rice $1.95 extra
Add: fried noodles $1.95 extra

Dinner comes with soup AND salad 
Total meal for one:  $34.85, plus tax & tip
 
Great entertainment by the hibachi trained chef, who wore a spongebob chef’s hat.
 
The second restaurant we enjoyed was the Teppan Bar & Grill in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Here’s the scoop: 
 
Favorite drink:  Hello Kitty - TY KU liqueur (Sake Liqueur), vodka and lemonade $6.00
Favorite appetizer: Grilled Chicken Satay – chicken on skewers with spicy peanut sauce $6.95
Favorite hibachi dinner: Chicken dinner $18.00
Add: fried rice $2.00 extra

Dinner comes with hibachi noodles and soup OR salad 
Total meal for one: $32.95 plus tax & tip
 
Also great entertainment by the hibachi trained chef, including egg tosses and fire shows on the grill.
 
Both restaurants had engaging chef’s that offered a flamboyant show, which included flipping shrimp into their chefs’ hats and pockets, tossing and cracking eggs with a knife, and lighting volcano-shaped stacks of raw onion hoops on fire.   The atmosphere of dining hibachi style is fun and always filled with energy.  So, with the cost of dinner and entertainment at each of the two
restaurants being almost identical, the only major difference was that at Teppan Bar & Grill in Jersey City, the chef’s carry a water bottle on their prep cart.  This ‘special’water bottle contains sake liqueur, which they squeeze from a distance, creating a sake
stream, landing into participating guests mouths.   This turns up the excitement level a bit, and from my experience, creates a rolling laughter throughout the restaurant!

Join Connextions Magazine and many other GLBT Travel Industry members at this year's GLBT Travel Expo!

NYU’s Kimmel Center will be the venue for the New York City GLBT Travel Expo. This exquisite building is the home of student life to almost 50,000 and is located in the center of the Village in New York City. The Kimmel Center offers a variety of amenities for the exhibitor and a great location for all those attending the show. “We have always done well with the middle and older age demographics for these events. By having the show at NYU and with the cooperation of local student groups we will bring a great new group of younger travelers to the show. This is especially important to the exhibitor/sponsor looking to create a new following. ” said Steve Levenberg, show producer.

WHEN:  April 28, 2013
HOURS: 12-5pm
WHERE:  Kimmel Center at NYU, 60 Washington Square, New York, NY 10012


 For further information, please contact Steve Levenberg or visit http://www.glbttravelexpo.com/happiness/


Stevenlevenberg777@verizon.net
718 622 5709
A Steven Levenberg LLC Production


Other GLBT Travel Expos include:
Feb 7 – Ft Lauderdale,
Feb 10 – Miami Beach 
date tbd– Chicago

Warm Up at THE OUT NYC this Winter with Hot Deals! 

Urban Resort steps from Times Square offering up to a 25% discount for January and February

To kick-off 2013, THE OUT NYC is offering guests discounts of 15%, 20%, or 25% through February 2013. Now is the perfect time to visit THE OUT NYC and Manhattan to get the New York experience without the crowds of the holiday season.  




Valid through February, THE OUT NYC’s discount includes:

·15% discount off a one and two nights stay

·20% discount off a three and four nights stay

·25% discount off a five (or more) night stay  

*Pre-discount rates for THE OUT NYC start at $179 per nightand are based on availability, exclusive of taxes. Blackout dates apply. This offer is not combinable with other promotions or packages.

Guests can experience some of the THE OUT NYC’s key amenities that helped distinguish it has a2012 Fodor’s 100 Hotel Award winner. Some highlights include the just-opened Spa at THE OUT NYC that features a 5,000-square foot wellness center with luxury treatment rooms, hot tubs, cabanas and a private gym; a Winter Wonderland alpine snow lodge complete with ice skating rink, seasonal cocktails and fondue; KTCHN Restaurant where Executive Chef Dale Schnell serves modern American cuisine, fixed in tradition and inspired by the seasons; and XL Nightclub which has featured performances by the likes of Cher Lloyd and Carmen Electra. 

Conveniently located within walking distance of “must-see” NYC landmarks including Times Square, the Empire State Building and Central Park, THE OUT NYC also serves as a great home base for sightseeing in Manhattan.

For further information or to make a reservation, contact the hotel at (212) 947-2999 or visitwww.theoutnyc.com.    

ABOUT THE OUT NYC
THE OUT NYC, located on 42nd Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, encompasses a 105-room hotel, the 14,000 square foot XL Nightclub, Cabaret & Lounge by John Blair, Beto Sutter, and FV Events, a late-night restaurant called KTCHN, three courtyards, a business/conference center, function space, and a wellness center. Rates start at approximately $250.

WHAT:            
Repair, Rebuild, Restore, a holiday benefit for Habitat for Humanity hosted by Nest Seekers International. Supporting Superstrom Sandy relief efforts.

WHO:               
Celebrity Chef Jason Roberts, Star of ABC’s “The Chew” designed menu and other celebrity supporters include Katie Couric, Alec Baldwin, Zac Posen, Kelly Bensimon and Million Dollar Listing Star Ryan Serhant.                   
 
WHEN:             
Wednesday, December 19, 2012