Stacey Smith is a twenty-something, not quite New Yorker. She fancies herself to be, though, in that she lives well out of her means in an East Village share. Moving here two years ago to search for life, love and a house in the Hamptons, she’s realizing that the New York minute really only applies to take-out. While waiting, Stacey blogs, makes ads, and shops for vintage shirts she can wear as dresses.

Tell us about your blog: what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?
Public Display of Infection is a compilation of stolen intellectual property. I love Gawker, Jezebel, Contagious, New York Magazine, so I use those blogs as a beat report for what’s going on in the city. What are people talking about? Who’s playing tonight? What did Lindsay do this time? It’s sort of like re-reporting on New York’s social, political, and pop culture affairs where I get to make jokes and push my opinions on others. I’m very self indulgent like that.

What brought you to New York?
I had a lay over two years ago and stayed.

What do you love about living in New York?
All the possibilities.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Complaining about neighborhood gentrification.

What surprises you about New York?
It sleeps.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
The bread. New York has the best Italian bread, bagels, pizza dough…but you can’t make good bread without good water. New York has really good tap water. So I guess I’d miss the water.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
The Double Decker Sightseeing tours. I really like pointing, waving and sitting down.

Best neighborhood bar?
Any bar I can request a song off the bartender’s iPod. Cut to next question…

Best late night joint?
Lil Frankies on 1st and 1st. My friends and I made friends with the bartender one night. Two margherita pizzas and three vodka sodas later he was our after hours DJ. I didn’t know I loved Michael McDonald so much.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
I went on a date with a photographer last week.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Freeman’s. It’s schmancy but not fancy.

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
Phoenix Bar on 12th and 2nd. Lots of shirtless unavailable men.

Best live entertainment venue?
14th Street subway stop, pretty awesome guy playing the bass. My friends and I call him “Note.” Cause he only plays one note. Either that, or when Bad Guy books studio time.

Sample more of Stacey’s witticisms at
http://publicdisplayofinfection.blogspot.com

To see who else is hanging out Around the Blog, visit www.coolinyourcode.com/category/segments/around_the_blog

What brought YOU to New York? Post a comment below and let us know!

In 2003 Serge Lescouarnec began a concierge service that offered him a multi-faceted outlet. One that not only served his affinity for fine wine and cheeses and his career tending to the hectic lives of New Jersey residents, but also rhymed rather appropriately with his name. Thus “Serge the Concierge” was born. Two years later the eponymous company evolved into a blog designed to “softly promote” his business in the northern New Jersey area. In addition, it allows him a chance to expound on his knowledge and opinions regarding an eclectic range of topics. There’s Monday Work Etiquette: where the most recent entry covers a rant on a local telecom service, and before that “The Power of an Apology” (appropriate for a Monday topic). Then there’s Green Day Tuesdays, commenting on nature friendly businesses and ideas. Tokyo Thursdays deal with pretty much anything related to…well…Tokyo, Japan. Serge’s daily musings sometimes cover vinos, other times cover vices. So while his concierge business only handles North Jersey, SergeTheConcierge.com encompasses much, much more than that.

Tell us about your blog: what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?

‘Serge the Concierge’ was started in March 2005…What got me going was a piece by my friend Debbie Galant of Baristanet. She called me ‘Serge the Concierge’ and when I googled it, I found out that there was a NYPD Blue character and episode with the same name. So I thought to myself, here’s my blog’s name, let’s write…
The original premise was to promote (in a soft way) my New Jersey Concierges business by writing about food, wine, travel, work/life issues. Since then ‘Serge the Concierge’ has taken a life of its own. In the past year I also added set topics such as Monday Work Etiquette (Mondays of course), Green Day (nature friendly ideas and businesses, Tuesdays) and Tokyo Thursdays (on Tokyo and Japan)…
Recent economic hiccups inspired me to dip my toes into how to go ‘from consumed to thrifty.’

At this year’s South by Southwest Interactive conference, I offered a panel discussion on being Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet or how the online world is not just populated by 20 somethings.

In September of this year, I am planning to spend 3 weeks in Europe (France, Spain and possibly London) and share my discoveries in words, pictures and videos. To make it possible, I am talking to a few sponsors.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
Horse carriage ride around Central Park, a touch of romance.

Best neighborhood bar?
Not much of a bar hound, I have to say. My pick would be a place that has a great selection of wines by the glass and Pastis during the summer. Feel free to send me your suggestions.

Best late night joint?
BUN: 143 Grand St at Lafayette St, little plates, great food, small prices.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
Nothing in the past couple of months, I have to confess. The closest thing I can think of is the ‘Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri’ tasting on March 3rd. I did get my fill of music at ‘South by Southwest’. Personal picks would be Brooklyn band ‘Earl Greyground’ (loud and proud) and in a different style ‘Lightspeed Champion’ (which reminded me of Prefab Sprout and Martin Stephenson and the Daintees).

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Cyrus in Headsburg (Sonoma), not quite New York but great for a week-end escape.

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
I am married with children otherwise I would say the cheese counter at Whole Foods…if you have any cheese knowledge that is.

Best place to send a couple on a first date and why?
The ‘New York Botanical Garden’…(weather permitting, not on week-end), you can find some oasis of peace, have a chance to slow down and not be disturbed.

www.sergetheconcierge.com

Have you always wanted a concierge? Do you agree with Serge’s neighborhood picks? Post a comment below and tell us what’s up!

It takes a strong heart to navigate the New York Real Estate Market. Veteran broker Toni Scott can help fortify you for the journey. On her blog, Condo Buzz NYC, she offers listings of recent sales in Manhattan, along with insights about the status of the NYC market, exciting architects and intriguing international properties, like the American Embassy in Baghdad. Also on the site, Scott’s personal photos of New York remind us why we love this city.

Tell us about your blog: what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?
Specializing in residential property sales downtown Manhattan. My blog is Condo Buzz NYC www.condobuzznyc.com – Written by a veteran Manhattan real estate broker, CONDO BUZZ NYC offers info on recent sales in Manhattan; photographs; spotlights on architects world-wide making creative product; prices and photos of international properties; occasional tips for sellers and buyers of residential property; and anything that has a connection to land, buildings, houses, lofts and apartments including those who make it all happen. Mark Twain said “buy land, they’re not making it anymore.”

What brought you to New York?
Art

What do you love about living in New York?
Freedom of fashion on the streets and the food.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
A natural multi-tasker, risk taker and lots of energy.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
Nothing.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
The visuals and the pace.

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
Never take a taxi crosstown above 34th st, remember the 4 pm witching hour (taxi shift change).

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
Harbor Cruises from South Street Seaport great for photo opps of the island

Best neighborhood bar?
Ulysses on Pearl Sreet.

Best late night joint?
Grand Bar in the Soho Grand.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
Gallery hopping in Chelsea.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Still NOBU.

Best up and coming neighborhood (to buy)?
Flatiron

Newest real estate trend?
All but Americans are buying.

Check out some dream neighborhoods CiNYC has unzipped at coolinyourcode.com/buildingcode

Where are you looking to buy? Post a comment below and fill us in!

Even the internet’s becoming eco friendly. Environmentalist do-gooders take to the blogs in a grass roots initiative known as greenbrooklyn.com. But before you get on them for the large amounts of energy they’re using to sustain their daily posts of reduce, reuse, recycle – hold your cynical tongues: they use 100% wind powered website and email servers. You may know which bin to put your plastic bottles in, and hopefully wait until the next garbage can to toss out your gum. But with congestion rates on the rise, and city waste at an all time high, Ethan Oringel, Co Creater and Founder of the environmentally conscious url says there’s much more to learn.

Tell us about your blog… what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?
Green Brooklyn (www.greenbrooklyn.com) is a website with news and opinion, grassroots initiatives, and resources on how we can all pitch in — individuals, community groups, as well as city government — and make Brooklyn and NYC a more sustainable place. The topics covered include all the main issues in sustainability — energy, building, food, green space, and more — but also ones not traditionally associated with being ‘green;’ such as education, community action, and culture.

The concept for Green Brooklyn actually hatched in 2004-2005. I had been doing a lot of research on the web about sustainability purely out of interest and curiosity, and I found that while there were some really good resources on renewable energy and green building — and a few select green blogs — there was one aspect that was missing. And that was a really strong connection between sustainability issues and local communities around the country. In my mind there was a niche to fill for a local green blog, the green community in Brooklyn was just beginning to boom, and so finally in the Fall of 2006 I stepped up and gave it a shot. I had intended from the beginning to develop the site to include local on-the-ground greening initiatives and local resources, and that is what I have done with the relaunch of the site for Earth Day 2008.

What brought you to the New York area?
Chinese food. No really, I am a 4th generation New Yorker, who was raised in Northern Westchester — close enough to nature to really develop an appreciation for the natural world at a young age, but still just a short train ride away from Midtown. My first foray into actually living in the city was in Fall of 1998 as the dot com boom was starting to take off. I figured it was my one chance to make a million dollars before I turned 30, and it was… And I didn’t. But I did get to work for David Bowie, so that was cool.

What do you love about living here?
I Love NY. I don’t think I can pick one thing or even make a short list. Actually, I think one of the most fulfilling things about living in NYC for me is to see, hear, and feel the ghosts of my family’s past. For example, in 2000 I coincidentally moved to within one building of my great grandfather’s first apartment in New York (on Orchard Street) after getting off the boat in 1900. Total accident. You can’t make that stuff up. My grandfather was born and raised on Attorney Street on the Lower East Side. My dad was born and raised in Brooklyn. Actually, another funny story, my great grandfather on my father’s side and my great grandfather on my mother’s side each had a general store within a block or two of the other on the LES, but my family didn’t find that out until my parents were married for 30 years. There is something about those NY stories that I just love. That, and it is the most amazing and cosmopolitan city in the world.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
I think New York itself makes you a New Yorker. But even though the city itself can change the most unlikely person into a “real” New Yorker, I think people are predisposed to be receptive to it or not. You either have it or you don’t. I think cabbies are much more real New Yorkers than some of the hipsters or yuppies who come from far and wide to New York try to live ‘the life’ or to ‘be cool’.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
Absolutely nothing surprises me. Nothing at all. Anything can happen, at any time, anywhere in the city. Same goes for the people of the city. I guess the most surprising thing is just how incredibly diverse the city really is. It is diverse in the cultures and languages, but also in its history and neighborhood life. Who would have known (without poking around) that there are entire neighborhoods of family homes in South Brooklyn, or that there are sleepy waterfront communities in Queens that look like they were picked up from the North Eastern Atlantic coast and dropped just inside the borders of the five boroughs. But in getting back to the surprise factor, it is really impossible to really comprehend just how diverse NYC is. So even though I know that we live on the most diverse speck of land on Earth, I find myself constantly amazed.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
That really is too easy. The things you cannot get anywhere else with any sort of satisfaction. Namely: bagels, pizza, old school Jewish diners, the Yankees.

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
Yes. There is only one trick. It is all up to YOU. And when in doubt, walk. You’ll find what you are looking for even if you didn’t know you were looking for it.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
I guess I would have to say that everyone should go to the top of the Empire State Building at least once. Seeing the city from high up is incredible. Windows on the World was even better (I went once about 20 years ago).

Best neighborhood bar?
I used to live in Park Slope/Gowanus and I really liked a little spot called Barbes (www.barbesbrooklyn.com). I liken it to a dive bar in Paris, in Brooklyn. Except they have a small stage where they put on a wide variety of live music and movies, mostly the likes of which could only come from Brooklyn (like the Slavic Soul Party every Tuesday night).

Best late night joint?
Grand Central at 5am.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)
Rubin Museum of Art (www.rmanyc.org), “explore the artistic legacy of the Himalayan region and to appreciate its place in the context of world cultures.” Truly brilliant. Just go.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
I don’t really do fancy schmancy… I am looking forward to going to the restaurant Luz in Brooklyn (www.luzrestaurant.com) for their Earth Day (April 22 and 23) celebration. On those two nights, dinner consists of organic and locally-produced foods that are prepared and served without electricity. “No electricity, no telephones, no gas, no credit card machines, no computers, and no heat lamps.” And I just think that is awesome.

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
Cafe Habana Outpost

Best Green (organic) restaurant in town?
Cafe Habana Outpost

What are you doing to “go green”? Where do you go for green cuisine? Post a comment below and tell us what’s up.

Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for days. Give a man a Metrocard and he’ll eat anything. Dave Cook began his blog, Eating in Translation, about three years ago when his wide-ranging palate had him trying anything New York City had to offer under two conditions: it had to be authentic, and it had to be cheap. Save the five star dining and new restaurant opening for the New York Times, Dave craves the twice fried, the still swimming, hot off the hibachi, and hard to pronounce. Ever heard of upi java, wax gourd, or nam pla wan? Chances are he hadn’t either, but Dave follows one rule those with more sensitive stomachs just call brave: You don’t know until you try.

We caught up with Dave in between meals and asked him to tell us more about his experimental dining habits and the blog that hosts his field notes, 
www.eatingintranslation.com

What brought you to New York?
College. I went to Columbia, and I still live up in Morningside Heights.

What do you love about living in New York?
It’s hard to be bored, especially when it’s so easy to hop a ride to someone else’s code. My blog’s about food, of course, but you can?t beat New York for museums, shopping, live music, people watching, or just wandering around and exploring.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Being energized enough to keep things moving along, and relaxed enough to keep a good attitude about it all.

What surprises you about New Yorkers?
They’ll wait 45 minutes for a table at a Manhattan restaurant, but they won’t consider a half-hour trip to an amazing joint in Queens or Brooklyn where they can sit right down.

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
That weak dollar you hear so much about buys a lot more in the outer boroughs than it does in the Village. And this may be more of an observation, but when I’m out food hunting, many folks ask where I’m from, and often they seem very surprised that I live right here. Maybe it’s the camera around my neck, or maybe it’s the outsider attitude.

When you visit a restaurant (and I use the term very loosely), and you’re trying a cuisine that you don’t know very well, sometimes the best way to discover new food is to act like an outsider: Have them make you a plate of whatever they do best, or whatever looks good at another table. Very likely they’ll tame it for you, too, so be sure to ask for whatever condiments you see at the other tables, too. But use them sparingly, till you know what you’re getting into!

Tell us about your blog.
I launched Eating In Translation about three years ago as a collection of field notes on interesting food I’d tried, or planned to try, in and around New York. Since January 2005 I’ve visited some 1,800 restaurants, lunch counters, cafes, street vendors, fairs, festivals, grocers, and greenmarkets. I prefer casual to fancy; inexpensive is good, too.

I don’t focus on my own code; Eating In Translation includes posts, in words and pictures, on the places I’ve eaten in more than 70 New York neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods I’ve visited less than others, but I’m always open to tips from my readers about what’s cool in their code!

What’s the best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
No secret: I love Gray’s Papaya, at the corner of 72nd and Broadway. They were way ahead of the curve with their recession special, but even if you’ve got deep pockets, they serve a great hot dog!
Best neighborhood bar?
When I’m in a mood to shoot pool, Tap-a-Keg on Broadway near 104th St.; when I’d rather just hang, it’s even up between Abbey Pub on 105th and Broadway Dive at 101st.

Best late night joint?
If it’s not Tap, Abbey, or Dive, it’d have to be Ding Dong Lounge, near 105th over on Columbus. Iffy pool table, good DJs.

Best fancy shmancy restaurant?
I’m not big on shmancy, but I really appreciate Del Posto; the food, decor, and service are top-notch, and they’ll treat you shmancy even when you come as you are.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
I finally caught The Counterfeiters this weekend (which brings me up to date on last year’s Oscar picks), but by the time you read this I’ll probably have been back to the movies again.

Best moviehouse?
Film Forum, by a mile. Closer to my code, Lincoln Plaza and Walter Reader are pretty good, too.

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
The cafe at the McNally Robinson bookstore, when I can get a seat; the aisles, when I can’t.

Hope Schmid and Anne Fritz are the ultimate girly girls. They love clothes, make-up, shopping, and, above all, travel! These two childhood friends are experts on planning and executing girl get-a-ways. On their blog, The Jet Set Girls, Hope and Anne share their discoveries of the swankiest hotels, trendiest clubs, and most fabulous restaurants. Whether you are planning a full on beach getaway to Atlantis or a quiet weekend break in upstate New York, these girls will tell you where to sleep, what to buy, and how to dress to get the most out of any vacation. Many of their finds can be enjoyed even while stuck at home. They know which moisturizers to try when the weather heats up, can tell you where to find the latest Marc Jacobs dress, even scout new, inexpensive wines. After all, girls just want to have fun, wherever they are.

Anne is the New York City half of The Jet Set Girls. She slowed down long enough to tell us how she spends her time, when not traveling.
What brought you to New York?
I wanted to live here because I was crazy about magazines and all I ever wanted to do was work at one! I moved here without a job two months after graduating from Syracuse University. I started working at a now defunct real estate trade magazine within a month of moving here. NYC is still—and will always be– the capital of the publishing world.

What do you love about living in New York?
I love all the diversity and the people! NYC really does attract the best of the best in so many different fields (fashion, finance, food, publishing).
I also love that we’re the first to get everything (movies open here months before anything else) and we get exclusive fashion lines—think H&M’s Cavalli collection or the Gap Mulberry bag. Not to mention all the sample sales!

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
You have to live in NYC at least a decade. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED New York for several years after moving here. Whenever I traveled I would practically be giddy coming home, even after a vacation. I felt that it was a privilege to live here. Then I went through a phase when I hated NYC—I recall a particularly disheartening trip to Home Depot in the rain when the subways weren’t running properly. I think I had to be aware of and accept its bad side (kind of like with a boyfriend), before I could be a true New Yorker. Now, the city is home.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
You never know who or what you’re going to turn around the corner and see. It might be a giant chair with a life-size horse (an art instillation at the corner of 59th and CPS a few years back); someone riding a bicycle while dressed as a flower child and playing Beatle’s music on a boom box; a dress you would sell your soul for in the window at Bergdrof’s or George Clooney standing outside the Peninsula!

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
Being able to eat late! My mom is in Alabama and all the restaurants start closing around 10. And the variety of food can’t be beat!

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
My best tip, which my boss at my summer internship many years ago told me and which I have passed on to all New York newbies, is to learn the order of Avenues and which way they run. Once you know this, you’ll never walk in the wrong direction again (at least above 14th St!).

Tell us about your blog… what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?
The Jet Set Girls focuses on every aspect of girls’ getaways. We know lots of women take trips with their girlfriends to escape from home. So that means they want to look their best, stay at an awesome hotel, go to scene-y restaurants and bars and basically have a lot of fun!

Hope and I had the idea for The Jet Set Girls last April when we were planning our friend’s bachelorette party to Vegas. We had so much fun researching the hotels, pool scenes, shopping, restaurants and clubs that we decided to start the blog.

We cover every aspect of a girls’ trip from hot destinations, new hotels, must-have fashions for night’s out, hair and makeup tips for various scenarios (fighting frizz in Miami, a trick for making your eyes look brighter after a long night), restaurant and food and drink news. Even though our focus is girls’ getaways, a lot of the tips work in your everyday. New York does get pretty steamy in July and hangovers aren’t reserved for vacations!

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
The Brooklyn Bridge. It’s so gorgeous and iconic and not scary at all for a bridge. I work in DUMBO a few days a week and when the weather is good, I walk home over it. I always see loads of tourists taking pictures of themselves. On this past Valentine’s Day, I even saw a guy proposing. He had sprinkled rose petals around the bench. Very sweet and romantic!

Best neighborhood bar?
I like Lansdowne Road. I live in Hell’s Kitchen. The 8th Avenue bars are way too touristy to venture into and even the 9th Avenue ones get a little too crowded sometimes. Lansdowne Road is on 10th, which makes it just far enough off the beaten path. It’s great for watching games. They do all these fun contests like the whole bar gets a free round when the Alex Rodriguez hits a home run. The food is good enough for bar food and there’s a cool ice strip on top of the bar to keep your drinks cold.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
I’m a sucker for 21! It’s such a classic and has so much history. If you ever go, ask your waiter if you can see the wine cellar in the basement and the door to the original speakeasie. All the jockies outside make the place fun to walk into. Inside, the toys on the ceiling are such fun. The hosts and waiters have worked there for years and are there to meet your every demand. The menu never changes and has all the classics—lobster salad, a burger, steak tartar and the best crème brule ever!

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
The Brass Monkey in the Meat Packing District. It’s a block away from the West Side Highway so much more low key than the typical MPD bar. I’ve always met nice, cute friendly guys there.

Best new fashion trends / brands that you are loving?
I can’t wait for warmer weather so I can break out my spring/summer clothes! I like all the tribal prints (think Jennifer Garner’s Oscar de la Renta dress at last year’s Glamour awards), you’re now starting to see them at a lower-price point; I love all the brightly colored bags and shoes that are coming out—a risk free way to have fun and add a splash of color to your wardrobe. My personal fashion goal is to experiment with mixing prints. I wore a black and white striped sweater over a pink camo tank the other day that worked out pretty well. Next I want to try polka dots and florals

As for designers—love Tracy Reese, Cynthia Steffe, Catherine Malandrino, Rebecca Taylor—anything really girlie!

www.thejetsetgirls.com

If you are involved in or are a fan of dance, you can get an inside look at the lives of these dedicated and astounding artists on The Winger. This blog was created by Kristin Sloan as a way to bring the dance community together, as well as to allow them to connect with the audience in a new way. After a series of hip injuries forced her to retire from her career as a ballet dancer, Kristin focused her interests in art, dance and technology and built a forum for dancers, choreographers, students, teachers, journalists and even medical professionals from all over the world. These contributors share their tales of training and performing, discuss performances they have seen, and talk about what their day to day lives are like. Kristin’s goal is to encourage a dialogue that promotes dance as an artform and a lifestyle.

Kristin joined the New York City Ballet after leaving her native Boston and traveling the world studying ballet. We asked her about what life in NYC is like for her.

What brought you to New York?
I left Boston when I was 14 to come to New York and attend the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet. I lived in their dormitory at Lincoln Center (also in the same building as the Juilliard dorms) with some other budding ballerinas, and moved into my own apartment – with my parents’ help – a few years later. From the very first time I visited New York I knew I wanted to live here someday, but I had no idea I’d luck out and it would be so early on. Lincoln Center is a mecca for the performing arts, so to actually get to live and study there was a dream. I ended up performing there for many years as a dancer with the New York City Ballet. Now, 12 years later, I live downtown but still get to go there every day for my job as Director of New Media for NYCB.

What do you love about living in New York?
This sounds cliche, but there really is a special energy here… this feeling that if something new and interesting is happening, it’s happening here. Even when you go on vacation for a week, there are new things when you come back. Things are always changing, moving, and evolving. It’s a fun challenge trying to keep up, and even more fun trying to drive some of that change. New York is a living, breathing organism.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
I think being a New Yorker involves constantly being aware of your surroundings – whether it’s watching your back while walking down the street, trying to find the fastest route from A to B, or trying to take in and absorb all the incredible sites, sounds, and personalities. You’re always dealing with sensory overload – perhaps that’s why people here move so quickly, constantly moving on to the next new thing so we can experience as much as possible and stay ahead of any trouble.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
The diversity. It’s not so much a surprise as it is an amazing feat – that so many people from all walks of life can live in relative harmony in 5 small boroughs. New York attracts and supports any and everybody, and it’s something that makes the city as a whole feel so rich, vibrant, and full of potential.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
I miss that feeling of knowing you’re in the middle of it all. So much is right at your fingertips – some of the best art and culture… and the corner bodega.

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
That would take the fun out! There’s a sense of ownership gained in the things you discover on your own – and there’s almost always an interesting story involved.

Tell us about your blog… what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?
I first started mobile photo-blogging (sending photos directly from my cell phone to a blog) in 2004, because I’m really into technology and was fascinated that such a thing was possible. After a few months I realized that instead of taking random pictures throughout the city, it might be interesting to turn the camera on my profession – on my daily life as a ballet dancer for the New York City Ballet. Friends were always confused about what it was I did all day, and I personally think the process and creation of art (as well as the artists) is as interesting as the final product, so I started The Winger. My boyfriend who has a branding and design company came up with the name and created a logo and basic design for me early on. Since then, the site has grown to include over 30 contributors from around the world, all sharing their personal stories, opinions, and process. There are dancers, choreographers, teachers, students, physicists, doctors… they all effect the dance world every day, and now have a means of communicating with their audiences as well as with each other.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
The West Side Highway. I don’t think it’s really a tourist attraction on its own, but I think it could be. When I used to come back to the city from Boston, we’d drive down the Henry Hudson/West Side highway and it always meant that I was back! Nowadays, I commute on my motorcycle from Downtown to Lincoln Center, and when it’s a beautiful clear day, the “sea” air is breezing past, and the sun is on your face, you really can’t beat it. It’s one of my favorite things.

Best neighborhood bar?
I like the little bar attached to Supper for wine, Spitzer’s for beer, and Loreley for Baerenjaeger martinis and fried Camembert. Palais Royale has a great jukebox. They’re all comfortable and low-key enough that it’s easy to talk to your friends.

Best late night joint?
Marshall Stack for drinks, and Lil’ Frankies for food when it’s 1:00am and you realize you forgot to eat dinner. We often work late, so that happens a lot.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
Last night we went to our friend Amelie Chabannes’ art opening at Luxe Gallery. Today we spent $40 on ingredients to make lunch – a different, but classic, NYC cultural experience.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Anywhere with a great steak.

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
Probably not the ballet, unfortunately.

Best place to hear live music?
Carnegie Hall, Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, 55 bar…
Music has always been a huge inspiration to me. I had a period of about 3 and a half years that I was injured and unable to dance, and to fill that void I would go to hear live music as often as I could. New York provides such a wide variety of musical experiences of the highest caliber.

Best place to watch a dance performance?
Lincoln Center or Cedar Lake’s performance space in Chelsea. It’s intimate and puts you at eye level with the dancers which I think is a really interesting perspective, probably for both the audience and the dancers.

www.thewinger.com

As any New Yorker knows, you could live in NYC your whole life and be able to eat at a different restaurant every day. Miss Menu realized this exciting fact shortly after moving to the city. Coming from the South, she quickly embraced the diversity of food choices and ethnic varieties that can be found everywhere you turn. Her love of dining out became a joke among her friends, at the same time they turned to her for restaurant recommendations. On her blog, Miss Menu does not pull her punches when sharing her dining adventures. Whether she is dissing the straight out of the box rice pilaf at Ali Babi or raving about the multitude of vegetables on the pizza champion at Christina’s, there is no question where Miss Menu stands.

While Miss Menu continues to eat her way across town, we asked her what else she loves about life in the city.

What brought you to New York?
I grew up coming to New York every year with my family. The first time my parents let my brother and me go off on our own was when I fell in love with this city.. We were in awe of seeing something exciting around every corner. That’s when I realized how there’s no where else in the US I’d rather live. After growing up in the South, I was definitely ready for a change of pace, and moving here after graduating from college was the perfect opportunity to take a stab at living in the Big Apple. Five years later, I couldn’t be happier.

What do you love about living in New York?
The main thing I love is the restaurants, obviously! You can find every type of food imaginable in every neighborhood. I walk down the street and get excited about spotting new restaurants I haven’t been to before and adding them to my rapidly-growing “to do” list. I also love that when I’m walking a few blocks, I can pass people from all walks of life. I love the view from my apartment window…Chrysler building to the left, and Queensboro Bridge/East River to my right. And finally, I love how at any time of day (or night), there is something going on and something to do. It’s true…this city never sleeps.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Someone who has thick skin and can elbow their way through crowded sidewalks. Someone with the knowledge of which way to walk when you come up the steps from the subway. Someone with the ability to quickly calculate how much to tip a cab driver. Someone who knows (not believes) that New York is the greatest city in the country, if not the world.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
I miss the energy that this city has. It sometimes takes leaving New York to be reminded of how great that is. When I go home to visit my family in Atlanta, I realize how I have to take a deep breath and slow down a little. At first, it’s so relaxing. But after a while, I find myself getting a little bored and wanting to come back to NYC. And, I wouldn’t be Miss Menu if I didn’t mention how I miss the restaurant culture. Sure, other cities have some fantastic restaurants and local specialties. What makes this city so special is the ability to find fantastic ethnic restaurants within walking distance.

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
I’ve found that being even the tiniest bit friendly to service people can really pay off. I started saying “hi, how are you?” to the guy at the coffee cart outside my office. Now, as soon as he sees me walk up, he gets my order ready even if there are people ahead of me in line. I forgot my work pass one morning, and the security guard I had chatted with before let me through with no problem. I need something repaired in my apartment, and because I am friendly to the maintenance guy, he’s here in five minutes. A little geniality can go a long way!

Tell us about your blog… what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?
On Miss Menu, I’m excited to share all of my NYC restaurant experiences…both the good and the not so good. Even though life in NYC can be a little uncertain at times, there is one thing I’m sure of…I will never get tired of dining out in this city. Some may say I dine out way too often, but I just think life is too short to be spent eating at home all the time when we live in one of the greatest culinary cities in the world!
This blog came to be after a few things happened: a friend kept joking that I am a walking Zagat guide; many others come to me for restaurant recommendations; and most recently, my boss nick-named me “Miss Menu” after suggesting a handful of restaurants that we could go to for an office lunch.
Follow my latest restaurant adventures, find ideas for your next meal, or even ask for suggestions. Bon Appetit!

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
Grand Central. Even though it’s a bit of a nightmare to walk through during rush hour, it really is a gorgeous building inside and out. It’s refreshing to see architecture other than modern skyscrapers. Seeing tourists taking photos of Grand Central makes me appreciate how cool it is to be able to walk through a major tourist destination on my walk to work every morning.

Best neighborhood bar?
Underground in Murray Hill. To me, it stands apart from the other bars in this neighborhood. It’s one of those bars that serves many purposes…after work bar, sports bar, lounge, outdoor bar. And, it’s hard to go wrong with their happy hour specials: $1 drafts and $3 mixed drinks.

Best late night joint?
The restaurant formerly known as Chickpea on 3rd Ave & St. Marks. It’s currently closed for remodeling and will be opened under another name, but they have some of the most authentic falafel in the city. It’s also open until 4am, which makes it a perfect fix for greasy, satisfying, late night food.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
I went to see the Jasper Johns’ Gray exhibit at The Met. The building itself is worth a visit. Add an incredible exhibit, and it becomes a “must see” cultural outing. It’s so impressive to see so many of his works all in one place, and to see the variety that he created using only shades of gray.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Megu wins out here. Unfortunately, it’s not the type of restaurant I can dine at regularly, but I won a gift certificate to Megu at work and dined like a queen. The décor is top notch, and the food is even better. You know a place is fancy schmancy when they have a new Buddha ice sculpture brought in daily to serve as the focal point of the restaurant.

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
I don’t think there’s a specific spot, but I think in a city this complex, people in New York meet members of the opposite sex in a crazy variety of ways. I know people who have met on the train to Fire Island, at an apartment party, while watching a parade, and online. Some may make for better stories than others, but connecting with someone new in a city of 10 million is great no matter how it happens.

Best moviehouse?
Definitely the Sunshine Cinema on Houston. It’s a nice break from the cookie cutter mega-theaters that are found all over the city. While it lacks stadium seating, most of the theaters are pretty small and very comfortable.

www.missmenunyc.com

Kevin Walsh has made it his mission to document those tiny bits of New York City history that many of us walk past everyday without even noticing. After moving to Queens from his native Brooklyn, he began photographing ancient street lamps, faded advertisements, and left over rail lines. He realized that most people have no idea how much of the old NYC is still all around us, but disappearing quickly. His desire to share his discoveries and preserve these memories led him to create a blog, and then a tour company to lead other people through the alleys, buildings and landmarks they might have missed on their own. Forgotten NY is now a book where this amateur historian shares his research, references and photographs of all these hidden gems. It is a true guide book to a New York that may not be visible much longer.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo is a self-proclaimed book nerd. She has channeled her passions for books, authors, literary culture and especially, independent bookstores into a “litblog” called The Written Nerd. Jessica says, “I started it because I was working in a bookstore where I didn’t feel like my coworkers shared my nerdy excitement about books and bookstores, and I just needed someone else to talk to!” Jessica finds great used book sales, like the one where she found an early Joan Silber novel, organizes events to promote new releases and often rails against the naysayers who write about the demise of the bookstore and reading in general. Jessica’s faith holds strong, and will be evidenced when she opens her own independent bookstore in Brooklyn, sometime very soon.

We got some of Jessica’s thoughts on life outside of the bookstore in NYC.

What brought you to New York?
I grew up in a small town in California, and for college wanted something completely different. I think it was a college brochure that mentioned Billie Holiday singing in the jazz clubs of the West Village that actually convinced me to come to NYU (along with a great scholarship that included study abroad). There was some culture shock at first, but ultimately I wouldn’t have wanted to go anywhere else. After graduation I fell in love with working at bookstores, and then found myself feeling totally at home in Brooklyn, and just stayed and stayed!

What do you love about living in New York?
Not having to drive (I’m a terrible driver), and the wonderful street and neighborhood culture that walking everywhere creates. Having any cultural experience at the tips of my fingers, but also having my own sweet neighborhood and brownstone apartment that I can retreat to. Being at the center of the book publishing world, so I get to meet lots of great authors and publishing folks.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Hmm, I don’t know. Perhaps some are born New Yorkers, some achieve New Yorker-hood, and some have New Yorker status thrust upon them. =) It’s certainly a definition in flux, since lots of the people I know come here for a short time and then leave again — are they New Yorkers while they live here, or not? I don’t think it’s exactly like a club you have to earn admission to. Everyone who makes their home here, for no matter how short a time, is part of the infinitely complex mix that makes the city what it is. And sometimes when you leave you remain a New Yorker, too.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
Sometimes the number of subcultures, both ethnic and otherwise, that are fairly isolated is surprising: the fact that there are the equivalent of little villages in the midst of this cosmopolitan city. The SEX IN THE CITY version of New York is just one tiny segment of the population; there are the Russians of Brighton Beach and the Arabic community of Atlantic Avenue and the Italian community in the Bronx, not to mention the baby-stroller culture of Park Slope, and I know of some folks in Crown Heights who almost never go into Manhattan and think of their neighborhood as the world. And then it surprises me in the other direction when depictions of New York equate the city with midtown skyscrapers, when it really just happens to be a small(if the tallest) part of a vast and segmented metropolis.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
Sushi! Seriously, the variety of food you can get within a few blocks of wherever you are. And the fact that you can stay out as late and drink as much as you like and not have to worry about driving home. =)

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
Hmm, not much. Barnes & Noble always has relatively clean public restrooms, and they’re open late. The roasted peanuts from street vendors are actually addictively good. My bookstore, McNally Robinson, has author readings that are always free and often hosts authors who are reading at the 92nd Street Y or elsewhere that you have to pay to see.

Tell us about your blog… what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?
My blog The Written Nerd is part of the “litblog” genre, talking about books and authors and literary culture, with a particular focus on my experience in New York and on independent bookstores, which are my passion. I started it because I was working in a bookstore where I didn’t feel like my coworkers shared my nerdy excitement about books and bookstores, and I just needed someone else to talk to! I’ve found my niche as a rare optimist about books and bookstores — one hears so much about how reading and literature and bookstores are in decline, and I’m able to share a counter to that prevailing view because I see so much good stuff in that world. I’ve made lots of connections in the book industry because of the blog, and it’s been a great way to connect both with the New York and Brooklyn community and with the community of readers and booksellers.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
Coney Island, hands down. It’s still got a seediness that makes it feel like a county fair, even as it gets more slick and family-friendly.

Best neighborhood bar?
The Brazen Head on Atlantic for good beers on a Sunday afternoon. O’Connor’s on 5th Avenue for a real dive (it’s always dark, and they open at 10:30 AM)

Best late night joint?
Used to be Hank’s, a honkey tonk on Atlantic that had Brooklyn country music and was always good for a cheap beer on the stumble home… but I’m not sure if they’re still open. I haven’t been having as many late nights lately. =)

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
I host author readings at McNally Robinson three or four nights a week, so that’s a lot of my cultural experience! I saw PERSEPOLIS at the Angelica recently — beautiful, but not as good as the graphic novel.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Convivium on 5th Avenue in Park Slope. It’s a wonderfully warm and cozy yet sophisticated place, with an incredibly delicious menu of Mediterranean food including rabbit and quail. And it’s where my husband proposed, so I’m a little partial to it!

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
Well, I’m happily married as of last June, so I haven’t been on the lookout lately! And honestly, I don’t know that I ever met anybody worth dating or even hooking up with at a place I could mention — house parties or workplaceswere always the best bet!

Best place to hear live music?
Southpaw on 5th Avenue (I’m very Brooklyn-centric these days) — a great variety of performers and an awesome space.
www.writtennerd.blogspot.com