Roberto's By Arthur

After a delightful barbecue at my Mysterious Sister-In-Law's house on Sunday I had to schlep back into the city to take care of some business. Everyone else had a play-date at the Bronx Zoo. It has become a bit of a tradition that when we go to the Bronx Zoo we head over to Arthur Avenue to eat at one of the fine Italian restaurants in that neighborhood. Of course I couldn't miss that so I took a subway up there and hooked up with everyone as they were leaving the zoo.

We decided to try a new place this time around. Jim thought Roberto's on nearby Crescent Street looked interesting, so that is where we headed.

Roberto's


We didn't have reservations and there were six of us. It was an adults only gathering, the three neices who had been to the zoo headed off with one of the aunts for a sleep-over. Kind of nice to have an adults only dinner once in awhile, and this was a nice place to have it. Small and nicely decorated. We did have a bit of a wait, but we passed the time at the bar. After a Moretti beer we decided to try a grappa. Jim had never had it before and they did have a fairly large selection.

Coming To Grips With Grappa


Jim Was Becoming A Bit Blurry


Just One Of The Boys


They had all kinds of interesting stuff on the menu and after a couple of orders of grilled octopus to start we got serious with the main course.

Jim Had Lamb Shank

We got to talking too much for me to remember to take pictures, or evern notes, of what everyone else had. I am sure there was some chicken and a seafood something in the mix. I had a rib steak that was covered in an excellent sauce with hot cherry peppers and gorgonzola cheese. Quite delicious. The steak was nice and tender and just the way I like it, medium-rare. It was a large portion and I couldn't eat it all. Jim, after polishing off his lamb shank finished off what I couldn't eat. Everything thought their meal was deicious.

The Whole Crowd


We finished up with a variety of deserts and coffees and one more grappa and then headed off into the night.

The service here was very friendly and efficient and the bartender was also a very friendly fellow. The only jarring note, and it was kind of funny, was that they blared some kind of an Italian birthday song when anyone announced it was someone's birthday. Given the fairly small and intimate setting, it was quite amazing how many people seemed to be having a birthday. Also, it is a very loud place. It doesn't look as though it should be, but the acoustics are such that it is a bit difficult to carry on a conversation. But those are minor complaints and I would certainly go back for the food, service, and ambience. And, of course, a few more grappas.



Tomorrow the Mysterious Chinese Woman and I are heading north for a week or so. Flying into Minneapolis and spending the first night at Black Bear Casino. Maybe I will get lucky. Then up to Ely and on to International Falls, visiting friends along the way. I will end up back in Minneapolis to visit with more friends and watch the Vikings with Brett Favre take on the Browns.

That should be quite an experience and I will be interested in seeing how all of my Minnesota friends react. I have some who I know think Brett will bring the Vikings to the next level and others who have sworn they will not watch a Vikings game while Brett is playing. Unlike in New York where most thought getting Brett was a good idea and you only had a few who were really vocal about stating an alternate opinion. And they were mostly like me, someone who had a history with Brett. In Minnesota, everyone has a history with Brett.

Hope Blooms Eternal

I was taking a stroll down Montague Street the other day, just checking things out and my heart burst with joy when I spotted the Armando's awning.

A Sign Of Hope


Of course a closer inspection revealed that it wasn't yet open.

Soon, Though


I talked to a woman who was standing in the door way and looked like she was somewhat in charge. She said Armando's should be open in a week or two. I kind of doubt this, though, because when I asked if a certain bartender, Paul, would be returning she said they hadn't started hiring yet. I am guessing that you would start hiring staff further in advance than just a week or two before opening. Plus, the interior didn't look close to being completed.

I asked if they would be able to re-install the landmark (my opinion only, it seems) lobster sign. She said, sadly, that she didn't think so. I suggested that it should be hung somewhere inside the restaurant but she said it was too big for that.

The Lobster Is Dead


The whole story about the lobster is kind of sad. When Armando's closed and the sign came down it couldn't be put back up because it now violates some signage law. Kind of a shame. You would think if the same restaurant with the same owner re-opens they should be allowed to put their original sign back up. The building is owned by the owner of the restaurant, so that isn't the issue. Oh well, what can you do.

On a brighter note, the woman did say that they saved the picture of Marilyn Monroe and they would be putting that back up.

Welcome Back, Marilyn


I then strolled on down to the promenade and, somewhat to my surprise, saw that a lot of work was actually taking place on the new park.

Men At Work


Apparently, parts of the park are actually supposed to be open by the end of the year. I am not sure if the dead of winter is the best time to be opening a park, but hey, at least progress is being made. Usually the only thing you see are the signs showing what may one day appear.

Promises, Promises


Whenever I see this broken down pier I think of that little patch of dark brown that they left when the renovated Grand Central Terminal to remind people of what the place used to look like.

They Should Leave It As A Reminder


Funny thing about this park, it is supposed to be self-sustaining. In other words, once it is open the maintenance fees are supposed to be generated by fees paid by private concerns located in the park rather than by taxes. The funny part is that, at least as far as the luxury condominiums being built, these fees are being paid in lieu of taxes. So what difference does it make? Indirectly, at least, the maintenace of the park is being funded by tax revenue that is not being collected.

Sightseeing done I popped into Pete's Waterfront Ale House for a pint of their daily special, Long Trail Belgian White, only $4.50 if you drink it at the bar. Then I headed down the street to the Atlantic Chip Shop. They were offering Newcastle Brown Ale's for just $4.oo during a football game between Arsenal and Celtic. Arsenal won and I was glad of that. Celtic had the stupidest looking uniforms I have ever seen. It was fine when they wore green and white, but for some reason they have switched to black and yellow.

How Hideous


I mean, even their socks were back and yellow stripes. Only a Pittsburgh Steelers fan could possibly find these uniforms attractive. My friend Allen, a Steelers fan, would probably pollinate all over himself if he saw this game

Oh, and in the category of things you just have to know, "ladoo" is an alternative spelling for "laddu." This has absolutely nothing to do with anything else in this post, but I thought I would throw it in just for the hell of it.

How To Give Lou Dobbs A Nervous Breakdown

Ask him if it is better to buy a Toyota manufactured in the United States, or a Chrysler manufactured in Mexico.

How Embarassing

To think that I was once proud to be a Vikings fan, happy to hate our arch-enemies the Packers and, of course, Brett Favre. And I thought I was a typical Viking fan, non-swerving in my loyalties and hatred.

But no, I find that the vast majority of Vikings fans are spineless lickspittles who now embrace Favre as their new-found savior.

And I truely believed I would have to endure this kind of behavior only once in my life, when my fellow Jets fans did the same thing and turned their back on Chad Pennington, who went on and turned the Dolphins around and took them to the play-offs last year. This while our savior at the time threw as many interceptions as touchdown passes during the season including eight interceptions versus two touchdowns in the last four games. But at least the Jets fans didn't have a history of hating Green Bay and Brett. They just somehow got sucked into Brett's vortex of glory or, as I refer to it, Brett's glory hole.

Oh, but now Favre gets a standing ovation when he comes onto the field in Minnesota and then goes 1 for 4 for 4 yards against the Chiefs. And their loyal quarterback, Tarvaris Jackson, gets booed when he comes in to replace Favre.

Then Jackson goes 12 for 15, 202 yards, and two touchdowns, one a 64 yard pass to Darius Reynaud and the other a 13 yard pass to Visanthe Shiancoe.

I am betting that with Favre at the helm the Vikings don't even repeat as Division Champions this year, let alone make it to the Super Bowl.

Remember, you read it here first, and my track record with Favre is 100%, predicting last year that Miami would have a better year than the Jets and that Miami would win the last game of the season against the Jets to go to the play-offs. You can look it up.

I saw Inglourious Basterds yesterday, a very good movie. Of course I couldn't help but think that, not unlike the Nazis in the movie, Brett can take off and burn his Green Bay uniform. But he should be marked for life as a Packer.

Actually, the Nazis didn't wear Green Bay uniforms, but you know what I mean.



The scars will never heal.

Yum Yum Zum

Well, not really much yum yum. Aside from a cheese plate and a potato pancake that the people we sat next to gave us we really didn't eat at Zum Schneider. But we did drink beer, lots of beer.

A Party Is In Progress


You have to love New York. It is the juxtapostion of a roasting pig and a taxi that just kind of cries out to you.

Only In New York


Ready For My Closeup


We had a great time and loved the entertainment.

Oompah Oompah Oompah Pah


I wouldn't exactly call it a flea market, but there were authentic German radios for sale.

Well, One


They did have some good looking food here, and our new friends at the table with us seemed to be enjoying their meals.

Digging In


The Mysterious Chinese Woman and I got here around 5:00 PM but were going to wait until Jim showed up before we ordered any food. He didn't get off work until around 7:00 PM or so and then it took him about an hour to get here and find a place to park.

Ah, Together At Last




By the time he arrived I was kind of full from the numerous beers I had consumed (don't ask me how many) and heavy German fare didn't really appeal to me. On the walk from the Astor Place subway stop we noticed a large number of Japanese bars and restaurants along St. Mark's Place (8th Avenue). Most of these have sprung up fairly recently too. We decided to head to one of them for a lighter dinner.

On the way we passed the infamous and elusive Holiday Cocktail Lounge. Elusive because this is how it typically looks.

The Usual State


Despite the fancy name, it is more of a dive bar than a cocktail lounge and, because it was late enough, it was open.

Kind Of A Seedy Clientele, Though


Really Seedy


After a quick couple of gin and tonics for me and a beer for Jim we picked out a nice looking Japanese place.

Not Sure Of The Name


We walked in and I promptly fell off of my little stool while trying to sit down. Luckily nobody had their camera out and only my dignity was injured.

We opted for some kind of a sampler platter and weren't disappointed.

Plenty For Everyone


The Mysterious Chinese Woman, daintily dug in.

So Dainty


Bar Man was begining to regret his over-consumption of beers because he just didn't have that much of an appetite. I did manage to sample everything and I will certainly come back and do it again.

Regrets, I've Had A Few


Of course my regrets did not stop me from sharing a bottle of saki with Jim. All and all, we had a great time.

It Came From The Grave

I cannot believe it, Brett Favre is like:

The Quarterback Who Will Not Die

Just when I thought it would be safe to enjoy watching a Vikings game now and then, here he comes, crawling out of the grave to plague me once again. And don't tell me that Vikings management didn't have this planned out well in advance. They already have the bobble head dolls ready for opening day:

What next, Stephon Marbury to the Timberwolves, again?

Bond, Hazeltine, and Oompah Bands

"He's not a very good caddie. Golf is not yet the national game of Korea, eh?"

That was Goldfinger making an excuse to James Bond about Oddjob's poor caddying ability during a golf game in the movie "Goldfinger."

How times have changed. And Yang won the 2009 PGA Championship in my home state of Minnesota.

Pig roast and ommpah bands at Zum Schneider tomorrow afternoon to celebrate their 9th anniversery, and I will be there.

I think Goldfinger looked like he was German.

You see how it all comes together? Well, quite frankly, neither do I.

Got Extra Money And Like To Drink?

Hey, start saving your pennies for this exciting offering by Thirsty Swagman:

http://www.worldsbiggestpubcrawl.com/D14-3-around-the-world-in-80-pubs-2011.html

I figure if I can only get one hundred and twenty of you faithful readers of my blog to send Bar Man $100 each I could afford to go and you could enjoy reading about my adventure. Sounds like a great deal. Well, doesn't it? Huh?

Nah, I didn't think so.

Bringing Home The Bacon

Be still my beating heart. Brooklyn Brewery is coming out with a Bacon Beer. Here is a blurb from http://www.newyork.grubstreet.com/, an interesting site I follow:

Holy mother. On Diner’s Journal, Pete Wells hears incredible news from Brooklyn Brewery’s Garrett Oliver. Dude is currently working on a beer that (1) takes barleywine made from malt that’s smoked in the same room as Allan Benton’s bacon and (2) combines it with brown ale that’s been infused, via “fat washing” (mixing a melted fat with alcohol, then chilling the mixture into a solid and skimming it off), with the taste of Benton’s bacon fat. As much as we roll our eyes at gimmicks like bacon vodka, we’re also fans of the brewery's Sorachi Ace (served at Brooklyn Bowl), and we’d be lying if hearing about this new bacon beer doesn’t make our heart flutter, our pulse quicken ... It's like we just drank the stuff! Final word from Oliver: “Either this will be the most amazingly disgusting thing you’ve ever tasted in your life. Or I shall rule the earth.”

Knowing Garrett, I am betting on him ruling the earth.

As an aside, I had several pints of Brooklyn Brewery's Sorachi Ace at Pete's Waterfront Ale House and it is a very tasty brew.

The Grande Finale

On Tuesday the Mysterious Chinese Woman and I took a stroll along the Plains of Abraham, site of a defining battle between the French and the British (the British won) and visited an art museum. Most of the exhibits were free, so it was an inexpensive way to spend the afternoon.

The Museum


Despite the modern looking entrance, it is combined with a former prison that was opened in 1867. This gives it kind of an interesting ambience. They still have some of the original cells and, believe me, you wouldn't want to spend much time in them.

Not Too Comfy Looking


The museum had a very nice restaurant, and that is where we decided to have lunch. It looks out on an open deck where a lot of people were eating, but it was a bit too warm out there so we opted for the air-conditioned dining room.

The Outside Deck


Air Conditioned Comfort


On the way home from the museum we stopped at that same cafe where we bought the coffee. This time I got a shot of the exterior.

Best Coffee In Town


As we continued our way home we passed by this sculpture which reminded me of my days growing up in Minnesota, going to school in the harshest of blizzards, uphill both ways, being chased by wolves.

Ah, The Memories


Yesterday we headed back down to the market and the Mysterious Chinese Woman wanted to visit a large 'flea market' next door.

First though we decided to have breakfast at a marina across the way.

That's It In The Distance


A Closer Look


And Here Is The View Looking Back


We had a nice little breakfast and posed for our picture by the bay, or inlet, or dredged marina.

Ooh, So Cute


We headed back to the 'flea market' which was anything but. Mostly high-end items, lot's of jewelry, clothes, and stuff like that. Even the souveniers were really expensive. I actually wanted to buy a belt but couldn't find anything decent for under $45 Canadian or about $40 U.S. I think will wait until I get to Mexico, if my pants stay up that long.

The Un-Flea Market


The other day I saw a cruise ship in the harbor and I would bet my bottom dollar that a lot of people shopping in that market came from the ship. They just had that look about them, similar to what you see in the over-priced jewelry stores in Puerto Vallarta.

After buying some supplies in the market, cheese curds, pate, dried fish, sausage, we headed on home via that little Ecolobus. It has a stop right in front of the market and another right across the street from our hotel. Kind of convenient and it sure beats walking up the hills. In fact the last two times we were down by the river I actually sprung for the $1.75 to take the furnicular back up. Bar Man is gettng old. But, before you laugh, you try climbing those hills and steps for a week.

I decided to just spend the afternoon reading a book so I stopped at a nearby deli and bought a couple of interesting beers.

Route des epices


This was a peppercorn rye beer, or so the label said. It was a mild 5% and did have a distinct aftertaste. Kind of like you had just taken a bite of a spicy sausage. Not bad at all.

I followed that up with a India Pale Ale.

Corne du diable


This was a more robust 6.5% and so dry it pulled my cheeks in. Not sour or bitter though, just exceptionally dry. And the hops, surprisingly, were not overpowering.

Both of these beers were very good and were $2.09 Canadian or just a bit under $2.00 U.S. each. I would buy them again but, not unlike New York, the delis here tend to stock a wide variety of beers so I will probably try something different next time.

A Typical Selection


Later, after making sandwiches, we headed out for the Grande Finale of the fireworks.





Canada won the competition, but I think the fix was in. Both the Mysterious Chinese Woman and I thought that Spain had the best display. They may have judged just individual displays set to a given piece of music, though, because they re-did the Canadian display set to 'Diamonds Are Forever.'

Today I think we are just going to buy a couple of all day bus passes and see where the buses take us. Kind of a fun way to explore the city and get to spots that are too far to walk. We just have to make sure we don't get on one of those express buses that take you way out of town.