Tag: aida m. toro

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Dining Events Featured NYC Restaurants

Downtown Restaurants Participating in NYC Winter Restaurant Week

Downtown Restaurants Participating for NYC Winter Restaurant Week
Photo Credit: Pixabay via Pexels

Every year, major cities from New York City to Los Angeles create special menus for Restaurant Week, a yearly event that allows you to have a bite at some of the nation’s most eloquent restaurants for a bargain. In Manhattan, Restaurant Week is held twice a year. The majority of eateries price lunch at $26 and dinner at $42.

Downtown has a deep love and appreciation for all restaurants, especially those with state-of-the-art menus. We rounded up some of Downtown’s best restaurants participating in NYC Restaurant Week this winter.

Bistrot Leo
60 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012
Lunch: $26
Dinner: $42

Photo Credit Bistrot Leo

Nestled inside SIXTY SoHo hotel, Bistrot Leo will offer lunch and dinner menus to Restaurant Week guests. Executive Chef Jesse Freijo curated a menu showcasing French staples such as Escargot Fricassee, Squid Ink Spaghetti Arrabbiata, Steak Frites Au Poivre (+$10), and Banana Pain Perdu for the dinner menu. For lunch, a refreshing Crab Salad, warm French Onion Soup, savory Red Prawn Risotto, and other items will be on the menu for you to order.

Bodega Negra
355 W 16th St, New York, NY 10011
Dinner: $42

Photo Credit: David Jacobson of Bodega Negra

Bodega Negra is located inside the Dream Downtown and is only offering dinner for Restaurant Week. If you are craving Mexican cuisine, Bodega Negra will satisfy your palette. Corporate Executive Chef Brad Warner will feature menu favorites such as Snapper Ceviche, Queso Con Chorizo Fundido, Chicken Pibil, Skirt Steak tacos, and Tres Leches.

Beauty & Essex
146 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002
3 Course Prix-Fixe DINNER: $42
Offered Monday-Friday & Sunday

Photo Credit: Beauty & Essex

Beauty & Essex is always a great idea for dinner. The restaurant sets a new course in cuisine, drawing on Chef Chris Santos’ experience as a pioneer in small, share-plate dining to create an upscale look at cultural food. The menu contains innovative takes on traditional American, Asian, Italian, and Latin dishes. The three-course Prix-Fixe dinner will include popular items: Tuna Poke Wonton Tacos, Chile Relleno Empanadas, Peruvian Chicken, Apple Pie Milkshake Shot and so much more.

VANDAL
199 Bowery, New York, NY 10002
3 Course Prix-Fixe DINNER: $42
Offered Monday-Friday & Sunday

Photo Credit: VANDAL

Located on Bowery, VANDAL is one of the TAO Group’s and Chef Chris Santos’ most recent restaurants. VANDAL also turns into a nightclub. The restaurant glorifies the art, architecture, and cuisine of global culture from New York to Vietnam to Barcelona. The Restaurant Week Dinner Prix-Fixe menu will highlight items like the Hamachi Escabeche, Tortilla Soup Dumplings, Mezze Rigatoni, Pecan Pie Milkshake Shot, and others.

TAO Downtown
92 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
3 Course Prix-Fixe DINNER: $42
Offered Monday-Friday & Sunday

Photo Credit: TAO Downtown

TAO Downtown provides a specific appearance and revelation as it is the first TAO venue where guests move down into a multi-level space. The underground restaurant is located in the heart of Chelsea, offering delectable Pan-Asian menu items and cocktails. They will offer a dinner prix-fixe where items such as the Spicy Tuna Tartare, Beef Mongolian, Sushi Platter, Honey Glazed Salmon, Molten Chocolate Cake, and others, will be available for ordering.

Kyma Flatiron
15 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011
2 Course Prix-Fixe Lunch: $26
Offered Monday- Friday

Photo Credit: Kyma Flatiron

At Kyma Flatiron, you will feel as if you are vacationing at the Greek Islands. The restaurant’s menu and aesthetic focus on the plethora of breathtaking islands in Greece. Contemporary seafood-based menu items are served in a beautiful white aesthetic containing traditional Grecian architecture and design. Kyma Flatiron will offer a two-course lunch prix-fixe that will include menu favorites: Lavraki, Salmon Burger, Chicken Kebab, Spanokopita, Brussel Sprout Salad and more.

Irvington
201 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003
2 Course Prix- Fixe Lunch: $26
3 Course Prix-Fixe Dinner Menu: $42
Offered Monday- Friday

Photo Credit: Irvington

Irvington is located in the W Union Square’s basement floor. The restaurant serves Mediterranean-influenced New American dishes made of sourced ingredients from the Union Square Greenmarket. The menu regularly offers handmade pasta, meats from the rotisserie, pizzas made in the brick oven, and vegetables from the park across the street. The restaurant space showcases a warm open kitchen and natural elements of wood and leather, connected with an up-to-date industrial palette of blackened metal and glass.

Irvington will have a lunch and dinner prix-fixe menu available. The lunch menu will feature Parsnip Green Apple Soup, Salt Baked Beets, Baked Carbonara ‘Lasagna’, Hudson Valley Farro, and others. The dinner menu will include Pan Roasted Salmon, Yellowtail Tartare, Murray’s Burrata, Kabocha Squash Donut, and other items.

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Categories
Featured Fitness Health Nutrition NYC Wellness

The bodyART Experience

The bodyART Experience
Photo Credit: bodyART

By: Aida M. Toro and Adam Que

To us, bodyART absolutely puts the A.R.T in the heart. Not to be confused with Y-7 Yoga, bodyART is set in Western Exercise Science and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The bodyART training system is created to help individuals perform at their highest physical level while staying injury-free. It is a non-competitive, welcoming environment where individuals can concentrate on themselves and their personal goals.

Last Wednesday, Downtown had the chance to take a class with Ryan Beck, the owner and Creative Director of bodyART. Beck, a Downtown New York resident, is originally from Los Angeles where he had a voluminous dancing career. He danced for Beyonce, the Black Eyed Peas, MOMIX, MTV, and more. He was also a content director for companies like ABC, BC/EFA, Good Morning America, and Hard Rock Cafe.

The bodyART Experience
Photo Credit: bodyART

Robert Steinbacher, the creator of bodyART, introduced the concept to Beck in 2011. He loved it. Since then, Beck has been granted exclusive rights to launch, manage, and operate all bodyART studios in the country. 

bodyART has three different class options: Original, Deepwork, and Flow. We took the Original class, a holistic workout providing cardio, strength training and flexibility work inspired by martial arts, yoga, physical therapy, and classical conditioning. As I am an avid CrossFitter and Adam a Fitness Practitioner, we both had different perspectives of the Original bodyART class.

Aida’s Perspective:

Taking this bodyART class made me realize that I can be very stiff. My cardio and strength are decent, but I struggled when Ryan had us swing our arms. Then I began to loosen up and felt amazing doing the rest of the movements. My lower back was hurting all week but, by the time I finished the bodyART class, my back felt as if it had never hurt. In the last ten minutes of the class, we meditated with our eyes closed. I got a tad bit emotional as Ryan told us to imagine ourselves at the end of 2020. Overall, the bodyART class provided me with a sense of emotional and physical relief.

The bodyART Experience
Credit: Jayna Photography

Adam’s Perspective: 

BodyART was a true release for my whole being. The way Ryan had us flow from one movement to the next seamlessly, made me feel in tune with my body. He asked questions about our body during the class like, “Which foot felt heavier than the other.” It made me even more aware of that mind-body connection. And as the music came into sync with the rhythm of the class–fast to slow, exertion to relaxation–I felt that stress and the weak cold I was harboring seep out of my pores. To capture it simply, it was healing. And that becomes even more apparent towards the end of class, where Aida expressed her experience about it so eloquently.

The bodyART Experience
Credit: Jayna Photography

bodyART should be on everyone’s agenda. With this being stated, do your body and mind a favor and book your next class with Ryan by clicking on this link: https://www.bodyart-studios.com/take-class

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Beauty Featured

Choosing the Right Color Service For Your Hair This Winter

Hair Tips by Daisy Englander and Trending Winter Hair Color Services
Photo Credit: Daisy Englander

With the holiday festivities coming to an end, some people don’t want to get their hair done as much anymore. Why? Simply because it’s cold outside and they just want to be as laid back as possible. Moreso, wearing a messy bun on their head while wearing pajamas under the covers.

Even though the cold temperatures don’t help, the winter season is one of the best times of the year to get your hair done, especially because there isn’t any humidity roaming around. In this case, paying the hair salon a visit will do the trick to making you get out of those pajamas and letting your hair loose from that messy bun. At the hair salon, a plethora of services will be available for you to choose from. All the way from a haircut, to a blowout, to a color service. Of course, many feel that it is color services that will give them that so-called new look.

Downtown spoke to Daisy Englander, who is a Downtown based Master Hair Artist. Englander has a few tips and tricks to assist you with picking your next wintertime hair color service.

 

Daisy Englander

Daisy Englander’s Tips + Tricks:

  1.  Always make sure your hair is healthy enough to endure any chemical process you might want.
  2. Once you know your hair is in healthy condition, consult with your stylist to see which color options are best for your hair type.
  3. Make sure to select a color that goes with your skin tone as hair color should complement your skin and provide it with a radiant glow.

Once you are given the green light for receiving color services, get in the know of what is trending. Since it’s winter, Englander mentioned the ‘Frosted Balayage’, seamless highlights, and face-framing highlights are currently trending.

Frosted Balayage:

The balayage is the technique of free-hand painting highlights onto the hair, creating a soft and natural gradation of lightness towards the ends. The Frosted Balayage can be done in a variety of colors for brunettes and blondes.

Choosing the Right Color Service For Your Hair This Winter
Photo Credit: Daisy Englander

Seamless Highlights:

These highlights have a natural-looking texture and dimension, which create an effortless yet elegant look.

Choosing the Right Color Service For Your Hair This Winter
Photo Credit: Daisy Englander

Face Framing Highlights:

The lighter-colored pieces of hair around your face adds much more visual interest as well as draws attention to your face. Think Cindy Crawford in the 90s!

Choosing the Right Color Service For Your Hair This Winter
Photo Credit: Daisy Englander

Have fun picking your next color and always consult with a professional hairstylist on which tone works best for you.

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Categories
Fashion Featured Fitness Health Lifestyle

Downtown’s Top Fitness Sneakers For 2020

Downtown's Top Ten Sneakers For 2020
Photo Credit: Burst via Pexels

“New Year, New Me,” says almost every single individual the night before the ball drops at Time Square.

The majority of folks base their New Year resolutions on working out, weight loss, and clean eating. Fulfilling some of these fitness goals can be a hassle at times, especially if you don’t have the right gear to make it happen. In terms of gear, sneakers are fundamental for performance as well as for your athleisure glam.

With this in mind, Downtown has rounded up the top ten kicks that’ll give you that motivation and swag to get sweating. Most importantly, they are all unisex!

APL TechLoom Phantom Sneaker

Hit the treadmill or waterfront evening jogs with The APL TechLoom Phantom running shoe. This shoe is one of the company’s top sellers as it intertwines innovation and style. The sneaker’s patented upper features a conspicuously yet special sophisticated grid pattern created to move with your feet while it fits you like a sock. The 4-way stretch upper is designed to keep your feet feeling great, meanwhile, the 3D grid pattern provides you all-around support. The neoprene tongue with integrated collar presents you with a noteworthy fit as well as an all-day relaxation for your feet in a sexy low-cut silhouette.

Downtown's Top Ten Sneakers For Fitnessing in 2020
APL TechLoom Phantom Sneaker

Nike React Metcons

If you’re a big-time CrossFitter, then the Nike React Metcon is the right guy for you. These sneakers grasp the stability and traction from the training original Metcon and associate it with Nike’s most complacent cushioning. These sneakers will allow you to dive into your CrossFit-style workouts with an agile yet bearable upper and durable grip to keep your feet going!

Downtown's Top Ten Sneakers For Fitnessing in 2020
Nike React Metcons

 

Brooks Running Ghost 12 Sneakers

These are not your typical running sneakers! The Brooks Running Ghost 12 sneakers have so many great benefits. The sneakers will provide you with a balanced yet soft cushioning that gives the perfect softness under the foot without losing responsiveness and durability, which feels softer than you can imagine. Your feet will also experience the ultimate run as the Segmented Crash Pad, a system of shock absorbers included in the sneakers, cushions every single step along with stride for easy-going heel-to-toe transitions.

Downtown's Top Ten Sneakers For Fitnessing in 2020

Brooks Running Ghost 12 Sneakers

 

Adidas Originals by Alexander Wang Wangbody Run Shoes

Hit your treadmill workouts with these chic Adidas Originals by Alexander Wang. The Alexander Wang Wangbody Run Shoes embrace a wistful workout aesthetic containing performance-inspired garments that can be worn anywhere. They will serve you appropriately when doing a treadmill interval workout as the boost in the midsole features a very comfortable cushioning.

Downtown's Top Ten Sneakers For Fitnessing in 2020
Adidas Originals by AW Wangbody Run Shoes

Under Armour TriBase Reign 2

Attend your boot camp class with these Under Armour TriBase Reign 2 sneakers. These sneakers maximize ground control with the Under Armour TriBase and also have a bigger heel that’ll provide you with a low stable base containing a lot of natural foot flexibility. The engineered zonal flex and traction in the forefoot will permit you to obtain much more mobility during small runs along with an additional grip while performing planks or sled pushes.

Downtown's Top Ten Sneakers For Fitnessing in 2020
Under Armour TriBase Reign 2

Reebok Speed TR Flexweave

The Reebok Speed TR Flexweave is fantastic to transition into different movements when working out. You can be running around the block and then jumping into a dumbbell circuit once you are done running and your feet won’t feel a thing! The durable synthetic outsole with Metasplit indents that flex to associate with your feet’s natural movement.

Downtown's Top Ten Sneakers For Fitnessing in 2020
Reebok Speed TR Flexweave

Adidas Alpha Bounce Trainer

Hop into your next cardio kickboxing class when wearing these cooperative cross-training shoes. The sneaker’s flexible Alphabounce midsole provides your feet with that soothing cushion for every single kick or stride you do. The fused mesh upper acclimates to your foot’s shape in order to receive that personalized sock-like feel. The adaptive outsole presents physical resistance on any surface.

Downtown's Top Ten Sneakers For Fitnessing in 2020
Adidas Alpha Bounce Trainer

Altra HIIT XT 2 Cross-Training Shoes

Your next boot camp or HIIT class is going to be a breeze on your feet. These kicks were created to improve your natural foot positioning and toe splay, even though they are also building up comfortability and stability. Not to mention that the updated lacing system and 6mm removable PowerSole™ insoles give additional stability when performing lateral movements as well as in a lifting session. Most importantly, the stick rubber outsole grips any type of court, gym floor, or surface, which means you won’t slip!

Downtown's Top Ten Sneakers For Fitnessing in 2020
Altra HIIT XT 2 Cross-Training Shoes

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Categories
Featured Living

Holiday Break Family Fun in Downtown NYC

Holiday Break Family Fun in Downtown NYC
Photo Credit: Diesel

As Christmas is only two days away, kids will obviously be out for winter recess. In this case, keeping them busy is a must and of course, Downtown New York has you covered with activities that’ll make them want to extend their winter break!

Museum of Icecream:

From December 14 through March 1, 2020, the exuberant ice cream pop up will be opened in Soho. Kids will relish sliding down the immense three-tier slide as well as tasting original and new ice cream flavors. There is also an ice-cream-themed “subway” for the kids to take the ride of their lives and a pool of rainbow sprinkles to go for that dive! The best part is that yummy treats will be provided at every little nook and cranny for them to munch on. All tickets cost $39 and children ages two and below won’t need a ticket.

How to Keep Your Kids Occupied for Holiday Break in Downtown NYC
Photo Credit: Eater NY

558 Broadway
New York, NY 10012

Let It Snow Slime Workshop:

Are your kids into the ooey gooey stuff? Well, they are in luck because the Ottendorfer Library in the East Village is offering a workshop to make snow slime at 3 pm. Children ages 4 to 12 can access this event. Also, all materials are complimentary!

How to Keep Your Kids Occupied for Holiday Break in Downtown NYC
Photo Credit: Wirecutter

135 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10003

Paddington Gets in a Jam:

Come to the DR2 Theater in Union Square with your kiddos to watch one of society’s favorite bears come to action. Paddington Bear is making his beloved marmalade jam with Mrs. Bird, the housekeeper’s, assistance. The pair runs out of sugar for the marmalade which causes Paddington to go next door and borrow some sugar from his irritable neighbor Mr. Curry. Afterwards, Paddington enlists in helping to get the house ready for his visitors, which becomes a recipe for disaster!

How to Keep Your Kids Occupied for Holiday Break in Downtown NYC
Photo Credit: Paddington Gets in a Jam

Showtimes vary and tickets start at $29.00.

103 E 15th St
New York, NY 10003

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show Experience

This literary classic will be shown live at the The Seaport Museum. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show Experience showcases a bunch of puppets, truly adapting three of Eric Carle’s stories: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, including the main story of the event, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

How to Keep Your Kids Occupied for Holiday Break in Downtown NYC
Photo Cred: Hanover Theatre

All performances emphasize The Very Hungry Caterpillar paired with the story listed below:

12/26, 12/28, 12/29:
10 am – Brown Bear, Brown Bear; 11:30 am – 10 Little Rubber Ducks; 1 pm – Brown Bear, Brown Bear

12/27:
10 am – 10 Little Rubber Ducks; 11:30 am – Brown Bear, Brown Bear;1 pm – 10 Little Rubber Ducks

The cost to attend this event is $25.

12 Fulton St
New York, NY 10038

Angelina Ballerina: A Very Merry Holiday Musical:

Come with your kids to watch this spectacular show at the SoHo Playhouse. This musical is based on Angelina and her friends planning a fun holiday dance pageant for the holidays. Angelina and her crew experience a mix-up that stops the pageant from happening, therefore, the group has to utilize their creativity to make it happen! Overall, this show will teach your kids a great moral, which is about spreading and sharing the holiday cheer rather than presents you receive.

How to Keep Your Kids Occupied for Holiday Break in Downtown NYC
Photo Credit: Petite Seat

Tickets start at $25 and should be ordered in advance.

15 Vandam St
New York, NY 10013

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