New York City Entertainment
With Cathy Cunningham

Things to do & see in the big apple.


 

EDITORIAL OF THE WEEK

Piccolo Pastas and the Cheap Seats 

Recent celebrity sightings: James Blunt hurrying through Union Square subway station and Mickey Rourke walking up Park Avenue South with a glamorous lady attached to his arm and a smile on his (surgery-enhanced?) face… After a hard day’s shopping my friend and I decided Italian food would be the best way to replenish our energy dispelled through 5th Avenue cardio. Making our way east we discovered Piccolo (19th St and 3rd Avenue). This petite (hence the name), bustling restaurant drew us in, largely due to the wealth of activity seen through its windows. As many tables as can fit into the restaurant have been squeezed in, yet the atmosphere is warm, not claustrophobic. The staff were ultra-friendly, the service was fantastic and the space is beautifully decorated. We ordered two chicken dishes and two glasses of wine and the total cost was around $45; despite the ongoing arrival of new customers we were unhurried and enjoyed the ambience which is perfect for a romantic night out or for a holiday season meal with friends. If a healthy bite is what you’re looking for before holiday season eating is in full throttle, a vegetarian friend recently introduced me to sNice (4th St and 8th Avenue), This vegan restaurant has a sublimely casual vibe, delicious food and extremely reasonable prices. We only just managed to secure some seats; the regulars take advantage of the laid-back atmosphere to play on laptops, read, and talk the afternoon away with friends, but stick around – I had the Smoked Tempeh Wrap ($7) stuffed with fresh vegetables and was very glad that I did. The cheap seats proved to be not too shabby when my friends and I went to see Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia (the Barber of Seville) at the Metropolitan Opera. We left it until a minute short of the fat lady singing and booked online a few days before. Our $20 tickets were a source of intrigue, having visions of being sat at a dizzying height, unable to see very much but hopefully able to at least hear the operatic tones. The seats were indeed entirely unsuitable for those with vertigo, yet entirely..reasonable! The new production of the comedic opera, directed by Bartlett Sher, tells the tale of smitten count Almaviva’s attempts to woo Rosina, the feisty heroine who is held captive by her guardian. The Metropolitan Opera is entertainment at its most sumptuous; the decadence of the red velvet surroundings, the orchestra, the gold ceiling and shouts of ‘Bravo!’ after each performance. We were welcomed by a flurry of vibrant theater-goers ranging from the decadent in their furs and diamonds to the post-shopping and post-work crowds. The atmosphere sparkled like the high society diamonds as we awaited the beginning on the red carpet. This was my first experience of the Met Opera and I was instantly captivated– I’ll be back! http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/index.aspx  ~*~Cathy~*~

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