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Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Let Me Tell You: This coffee shop inside the Chrysler Building is selling $28 coffee. Here's why I think it's worth it.
'Let Me Tell You' is a series of columns from our expert editors about NYC living, including the best things to do, where to eat and drink, and what to see at the theater. They publish each Tuesday, so you're hearing from us each week. Last time, Food & Drink Editor Morgan Carter talked about how bars and restaurants are going beyond rainbow drinks for Pride this year. Not too long ago, I'd tell you that I wasn't the biggest coffee drinker. But then two things happened. One: I moved to New York. Two: In the same year I arrived, I won free coffee for a year (shout out to Burly Coffee in Bed-Stuy), which, at the time, was a good five steps away from my apartment door. Let's just say it is easy to pinpoint when my love affair began. Yet, many, and I mean many, lattes later, I fully maintain that I am no coffee connoisseur. I don't wax poetic about the origin of beans and I can't fully tell you what a flat white is. Yet, one of my treasured weekend rituals is taking my dog to the park for off-leash hours in the AM and bopping around to one of the many nearby coffee shops on the walk home, truly a treat for both of us. Nowadays, my tastes still lean toward lattes over a more reasonable cup of just black coffee, making for a habit that runs me $7 to $8 a visit, tip always included. So, color me surprised when I found out that my overpriced latte was actually a steal, especially when the hot new cup in town sells for up to $52 for a pour-over. One of the most expensive cups of coffee in New York can be found at WatchHouse. The second outpost of the U.K.-based import made its debut last month (the first opened on Fifth Avenue last spring). The price certainly fits the packaging, as the shop sits at the base of one of the most iconic skyscrapers to grace the Manhattan skyline: the Chrysler Building. Certainly taking a page from its Art Deco landlord, the interior features brushed stainless steel and a nine-foot oculus that overlooks the espresso bar. There are standing tables for a quick cup on the go and booths upholstered in a soft yellow, with marble tables before them, welcoming a sit and stay. If you post up near the rear of the shop, you can peek out onto the Chrysler's grand marble lobby without the security guard yelling, 'No pictures!' Among its everyday program of espresso, flat whites and cold brew, plus teas, matchas and the like, the menu is also home to a Rarities program. Once an exclusive offering available only at the Hanover location, all U.K. and U.S. outposts feature a curated collection, offering exclusive coffees sourced from around the world. These limited-edition beans come at a cost, ranging from $14 to $52. When I visited the location, the highest cup of joe clocked in at $28, and since I'm not planning on buying a house anytime soon, I ordered it. But before you blanch at the cost and call me an elitist, I am here to tell you that the tasting goes beyond what you find in the pot. The staff really made the overall experience. On my visit, coffee lead Sachi Patel guided me through a tasting. While her everyday deals in roasts and beans, Patel is the first to admit she wasn't a coffee drinker. Five years ago, she didn't really drink it when she started working at a specialty coffee shop in Florida. But as she learned about the background and the history of the beans, she grew an interest in everything coffee, drawn to the combination of science and the art of the pour. Moving to New York to make coffee her career, Patel began working at Midtown's coffee shop and roastery, Little Collins, where she spearheaded their coffee ordering and tasted multiple varieties along the way. Last year, she joined the WatchHouse team as a barista to prepare for their first U.S. location, and now she oversees both coffeehouses as lead. Among day-to-day coffee making and training, Patel's role is to instill the same drive for coffee that she once experienced, including ensuring each barista is well-versed in the beans they brew, including Rarities. 'So for each Rarity, everyone needs to know the process—the origin, the varietal and the tasting notes—to understand the experience,' said Patel. More than the technical side of measuring beans and heating water to optimal temperatures, Patel's function is to involve the guest in the story behind the bean. 'We want to talk to guests about the coffee, we want to share the stories. It's not just tasting it, it's also learning about it.' A quick chat with Patel yielded plenty of info about the program as a whole, from how the beans are frozen to preserve aromatics and acidity to the scores attached to coffees—80 and above is specialty, anything below is commercial. But on the specific bean I selected, the La Negrita, she was just as well-versed, speaking about the Colombian farm from where it was sourced to how the flavor would blossom through the tasting as the temp would eventually drop from hot to cold. Post-educational chat, she presented the tasting on a wooden tray, which came with one cup for enjoying, a palate cleanser of a light green tea and my $28 investment poured in a glass vessel. The tray also came with a small black card featuring a QR code on the back, which told the story of the region and included tasting notes accompanied by images of the farm and the workers who cultivated the cup. The only thing left was to actually try the dang thing. Fresh and hot from the pour over, it was a light, fruit-forward roast, with jammy blackberry on the nose and palate. As it cooled, even more profiles came to a head, including kiwi and raspberry. I tried my best to taste gingerly, counting the dollar signs per sip in my head, while also trying to appreciate the cup in front of me. Yet, like I said, I am no connoisseur. Near the end, the fruit and growing acidity notes all blended together. Regardless, I spent a good 20 minutes simultaneously enjoying and deciphering the contents of my cup before draining it. Bottom line: Is the $28 coffee worth it? If your idea of coffee is a lukewarm cup of bean water that caps at $3, probably not. And that's okay, too. However, if you are even slightly curious about what goes into your coffee, then absolutely. For me, it was nice to sit a spell and actually take in the cup in front of me instead of sucking it down in between train rides and meetings. Not only that, but the educational aspect guided by a well-versed staff gives a needed perspective, surely to entice coffee newbies and connoisseurs. Therein lies the point for Patel, as she hopes guests leave the experience wanting to learn more about their daily ritual. 'It's very similar to wine, in the way that there's so much detail and there's so much hard work that goes into the product,' said Patel. 'Coming away with a little bit more respect and a little bit more curiosity to it is one of our goals.' Check out the video of the tasting below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out New York (@timeoutnewyork)
Time Out
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Let me tell you—I'm more thankful than ever for NYC's free things to do this summer
'Let Me Tell You' is a series of columns from our expert editors about NYC living, including the best things to do, where to eat and drink, and what to see at the theater. Last time, Things to Do Editor Rossilynne Skena Culgan asserted that the summer solstice is the best day of the year. Living in New York City has long been an expensive endeavor, but this year it feels like someone is plucking the cash from our wallets bill by bill. Rents are going up at least 3 percent for 1 million rent-stabilized apartments this fall. And if you aren't lucky enough to live in a rent-stabilized unit, there's no limit on how much your landlord can raise your rent—literally the sky is the limit, folks! The average one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan already costs a staggering $5,309 a month, per RentCafe. Just leaving the house seems to cost $100, as TikTokers have joked about —and that's especially true in NYC. There's a lot to lament about our city's affordability crisis, but it's not an intractable situation; it's one our city leaders can improve if we demand it. In the meantime, these circumstances have made me even more thankful for NYC's long list of free events this summer. So allow me to highlight five of my favorite free things to do this summer and how to make the most of the experience because even if your wallet is feeling light, the summer fun doesn't have to be. Visit The Whitney during free hours Not only are NYC's museums bastions of culture, they're also oases of air conditioning. Visiting can cost a pretty penny, but not if you know when to go to take advantage of free hours at NYC's best museums. This summer, my top pick is The Whitney in the Meatpacking District. This American art museum is now free for visitors every Friday evening from 5 to 10pm and on the second Sunday of every month. Even better, visitors 25 and under are always free. Just be sure to reserve your tickets in advance. Go see: ' Amy Sherald: American Sublime ' open through August 10 with nearly 50 paintings, including the artist's famous Michelle Obama portrait Hit the beach in The Bronx or Queens While I adore Brooklyn's Coney Island, it's easy to overspend there—the amusement park rides, the funnel cakes, the Boardwalk vendors, it all adds up. So for these purposes, I'm going to recommend one of the city's quieter beaches. My top picks are Rockaway Beach in Queens and Orchard Beach (a.k.a. The Riviera of New York) in The Bronx. Keep it cheap: If you go to Orchard Beach, food options are limited with just concession stands, so you'll definitely want to pack a cooler with your lunch. As for Rockaway, head to Tacoway Beach where you can get two excellent tacos for $12. Celebrate all the fun of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Seeing great live music doesn't have to require taking out a personal loan, even if that's what some influencers will have you believe. Forget Coachella and Glastonbury and have your own festival experience right here in Brooklyn's Prospect Park at the Lena Horne Bandshell. Most of the shows in BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn 's lineup are free—and pretty impressive, too. On the lineup: A Tribute to Quincy Jones: The Wiz (July 26), Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices (August 1), Gogol Bordello (August 2), Nick Hakim (August 16)—all completely free. Bring with you: Blankets, food and factory-sealed plastic bottles are allowed (no alcohol, though!), so pack a picnic to keep costs down. Catch a free movie at Brooklyn Bridge Park The aptly named Movies with a View series is back at Brooklyn Bridge Park with stunning views and a solid lineup on Thursdays in July and August. This year's theme is 'Women in Hollywood,' with movies made by and starring famous leading ladies like Judy Garland, Sigourney Weaver, Meryl Streep and more. Where and when to go: It's at Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn. The series draws big crowds, so it's best to arrive early. The lawn opens at 6pm, with opening credits rolling at sunset. On the lineup: July 10: Bottoms; July 17: Alien; July 24: Waitress; July 31: The Matrix; August 7: The Wizard of Oz; August 14: Trainwreck; August 21: Hidden Figures; August 28: Public Choice: Vote for Julie & Julia, Marie Antoinette, or Pretty in Pink. For even more free flicks: Here's our full list of free movies around NYC this summer, including movies on an aircraft carrier! Meditate in this Manhattan park One of the best free amenities in the city? NYC's vast system of parks. Of course, you know about the big ones— Central Park, Prospect Park and whatever patch of grass is within walking distance of your apartment. But it's worth strolling through Madison Square Park this summer where artist Lily Kwong created a beautiful oasis called Gardens of Renewal in the Flatiron District of Manhattan. Now through Labor Day, you wan walk along spiral paths that invite reflection and solitude. Go deeper: Maybe you've noticed how unbearably hot it's been this summer? That's climate change, baby, and Kwong doesn't shy away from highlighting the crisis in her work. As you walk through, you'll encounter a planting palette made up of increasingly rare—and nearly disappearing—native species.
Time Out
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Let me tell you—these weird walking tours are the best way to explore NYC
"Let Me Tell You" is a series of columns from our expert editors about NYC living, including the best things to do, where to eat and drink, and what to see at the theater. Last time, Things to Do Editor Rossilynne Skena Culgan explored a new study about the best neighborhoods in NYC —including her own! On a typical tour of Manhattan, the big tourist attractions—Times Square, the Empire State Building, Central Park—get all the attention. But on these off-the-beaten-path walking tours, you'll see fascinating historical sites that you won't find in a typical guidebook. Even if you're a born-and-raised New Yorker, these walking tours will show you a side of the city you've never seen before. Since the weather is finally pleasant again, it's the perfect time to get outside for a stroll while learning something along the way. As a certified New York City tour guide who has taken almost all of these tours, I can vouch for them—and even have a tour of my own to share. So lace up your sneakers, and let's get out there. Garbage and Rat s walking tour Sure, this one is a little gross, but it's also engrossing. You'll learn about the history of garbage in New York City dating back to its days as Dutch New Amsterdam. Plus, you'll get a crash course on the life of rats, from their sex life to their tastebuds to their teeth. It's led by a certified rat pro, tour guide Suzanne Reisman, who is a graduate of the city's Rat Academy and a member of the NYC Rat Pack. That means she can really rat-tle off (sorry) a lot of facts. Details: Two hours. $40/person. Lower Manhattan. Book here. Death in New York walking tour This tour covers more than four centuries of life and death in Lower Manhattan exploring Battery Park, the Financial District, Tribeca, the Civic Center and Chinatown. You'll learn about the first death of a European in NYC (a murder), hear about President Lincoln's funeral tour through Union Square, discover where intact skeletons are still being found, walk through the city's funeral row and lots more. As guide K. Krombie puts it: "There's no ghosts, there's no legends. The theme with all my tours is what the city doesn't want you to see. So it's the municipal management and mismanagement of death." Details: Just under three hours. $42/person. Lower Manhattan. Book here. Lit Pub Crawl Perhaps you like your history with a little booze. We won't judge—and neither would Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac or Edgar Allan Poe, just a few of the authors featured on this tour. This tour is both lit and literary, as it weaves through Greenwich Village exploring the neighborhood's history as a "dumping ground of social misfits" (a.k.a. really great writers). On the tour, you'll also learn about J.D. Salinger, Edith Wharton, Louisa May Alcott, Frank McCourt, Langford Wilson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and James Baldwin—and even hear recitations of their work. Details: Three hours. $49/person. Greenwich Village. Book here. True crime fans, this one is for you. This walking tour led by the South Street Seaport Museum unearths the neighborhood's freaky and fascinating facts. Expect to hear tales about theft, organized crime, murder and even pirates. While many stories come from the area's crime heyday in the 1800s, some stories stretch back to the 1790s and others up to the 1990s. It's grim subject matter, of course, but it's delivered in a lighthearted way. Details: 90 minutes. $30-$40/person. Seaport. Book here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cats About Town Tours (@catsabouttowntours) Scratch the surface of some NYC history with a furry twist. The Cats About Town Tours pop up in three different neighborhoods (Brooklyn Heights, Financial District and the Lower East Side) for some fascinating historical cat stories. Expert guides will bring these tails—ahem, tales—to life while showing you cool landmarks along the way. Just a note that this is not a cat-spotting safari, but if you spot a feline friend along the way, consider it a purrfect bonus. Details: Two hours. $40/person. Brooklyn Heights, Financial District, or Lower East Side. Book here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Broadway Up Close (@broadwayupclose) The Ghostlight Tour: Haunted Broadway Do you believe in ghosts? You might after this creepy Haunted Broadway tour. You'll learn about the superstitions of Broadway, including the iconic ghostlight, and hear stories of spirits that still lurk in the shadows backstage. Guides carry iPads full of rarely seen photographs, news clippings and videos from years of research to bring the stories to life. Details: 1 hour, 45 minutes. $41/adult. Midtown. Book here. These seasonal tours promise a "dose of dark history, women's history, hauntings, ghosts, the occult" and more. Tours are available in certain months, like the Ghosts of Christmas Past tour around the holidays, Ghosts of the Titanic in April, and Haunting Histories and Legends of Astoria in summer and fall. Details: Times, prices, and locations vary. Book here. Secrets of Lower Manhattan Walking Tour Finally, a tour from yours truly! This new walking tour digs into the secrets of Lower Manhattan: a treasure trove of mysteries, obscurities, and hidden history waiting to be unearthed. Learn about NYC's time under Dutch rule, revolutionary history, and incredible works of art. Without ever leaving Manhattan, this tour will transport you to Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands. It's based on my book, "," and each tour ticket comes with a signed copy.
Hamilton Spectator
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Local folk artist to debut trio at Saturday show
A Hamilton singer-songwriter is debuting her trio on Saturday, May 3 at an intimate gathering in a book store café. The Laura Keating Trio will perform at the Dog-Eared Café in Paris, Ont., with members Laura Keating, drummer Gord Moss and lead guitarist Paul Llew-Williams. Keating had her first paid gig in 2014. Four years later, she started performing with Moss. Although she wrote songs on the piano as a teen, Keating did not start performing until after she had already entered and left the corporate world. She worked in radio advertising as a writer before leaving the workforce to raise her four sons. For the next 20 years, she would teach piano at home, to have some extra income and exercise her love for music again. 'In the middle of that, there was a real rough spot in my life and I hadn't written songs in a few years and I really needed something to get me through,' said Keating. 'The music came back to me.' This was after a push from her son to take her acoustic guitar out of hiding and start playing again. 'I started writing like a maniac and I wrote for two, three years,' she said. 'I got a lot of music and I got this desire to perform.' That led her down the path of busking and performing at open mics. Keating writes all of her songs and has a bunch that have not yet been released, she said. The singer released her first and only album, 'Let Me Tell You,' in 2017. Now Keating hopes to record with her new band, on top of performing as a trio. She does not see herself moving away from music again, but developing within it. 'When you need something to pull you through things, whatever your passion is, that's usually very helpful to you,' said Keating. Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. cbholla@
