By Tracy Zwick
Let’s Weekend!
July 19 – 21, 2024
Visit: New-York Historical Society: “Lost New York” exhibition with live music and cocktails, Friday July 19, 5 – 7:30 p.m., free with pay-as-you-wish admission, cocktails for purchase, West 77th Street and Central Park West
Check out New-York Historical Society’s current exhibition, “Lost New York,” to learn about landmarks, pastimes, monuments, communities, and modes of transport that once defined this city. Utilizing the museum’s trove of historical objects and community voices to bring lost sites and stories to life, it evokes an appreciation of the original Penn Station, San Juan Hill, Seneca Village, the Old Met Opera House, and more. In the background is live, old-school jazz played by saxophonist Michael Hashim & his trio every Friday night through the end of July. Specially crafted Lost New York-themed cocktails created by mixologists at Clara, the restaurant on the institution’s first floor, are available for purchase.
Read: “Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums,” by Bob Eckstein
Bob Eckstein is an illustrator and frequent contributor of cartoons to The New Yorker and West Side Rag. His book, a guide to 75 diverse museums across the U.S. — many in or drivable from New York City — features Eckstein’s gouache-style illustrations and some surprising anecdotes. (One involves a guard having sex with a gift shop employee in a museum’s period room before opening hours. The guard was fired for violating the rule against touching the artwork.) This notebook-sized hardover makes a winning gift for any museum lover or a helpful resource when constructing a travel bucket list. From the National Lighthouse Museum on Staten Island to the Museum of Jurassic Technology in L.A. with a stop at the American Writers Museum in Chicago, Eckstein leads readers from coast to coast with intimate drawings and insights from curators, museum visitors, and some famous friends.
Check back this weekend for WSR’s interview with Bob Eckstein.
Drink: Tiki Chick, 517 Amsterdam Avenue (West 85th), 12 p.m. – 2 a.m.
This retro tiki bar is a favorite of my college-aged daughter and her friends. They hit Tiki Chick on the reg for the tropical vibe, the fun food, and cocktails. The girls put me on to the $5 Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches, a reminder that this island-inspired outpost is part of Pickle Hospitality, which is also responsible for southern-comfort-food-focused Jacob’s Pickles, Maison Pickle, and Lucky Pickle Dumpling Co. Given the NYC heat streak, cooling off with a frozen drink might appeal. Tiki Chick has that category covered with a half-dozen offerings including the Zombie (rum, pomegranate, cinnamon, absinthe, grapefruit, lime, and bitters) and Hurricane (rum, passion fruit, orange, pomegranate, apricot, sugar, and lime). Tiki’s rum-and-tequila-based Shark Snacks, served in a shark tiki mug & garnished with marine-themed gummies, “are literally and figuratively eating,” said Sarah Ginsburg, who was seated on a tall bar stool. Enjoy them in one of the rattan-backed chairs on the sidewalk, in the bamboo-gated dining shed, or in the retro interior with shell-shaped banquettes, plant-covered ceilings, and Polynesian props.
Eat Pizza: Mama’s Too, 2750 Broadway (West 105th-106th), 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Unless you moved to the UWS yesterday, you probably know about Mama’s Too. It’s been written up by the New York Times as “the slice that slices through tradition” and called “the best place to eat a slice of pizza, probably in the world” by Eater. On Broadway between 105th and 106th Streets, Mama’s Too is close to home for me, so my family’s tried everything on the menu. Our favorites include the Funghi (caramelized onion, sautéed cremini mushrooms in white wine, whipped ricotta & mozzarella), the Cacio e Pepe (whipped marscapone, aged mozzarella, pecorino romano, parmigianno reggiano, & cracked black pepper), and the Poached Pear (aged mozzarella, poached pear, sweet gorgonzola & hot honey). But there’s nothing wrong with the classic house slice. Owner Frank Tuttolomondo has said his pies are “about the dough,” and most are thick and square. But the house slice, embellished with a fresh basil leaf, looks like the classic flat NYC triangle that people fold and feast on as they walk down the block. We’ve eaten Mama’s Too slices in as many locations as Sam-I-Am proposed for trying green eggs and ham: on our building’s roof, at dinner parties, in the car, on picnics in parks and Columbia’s lawn, and, when we don’t wanna wait to get anywhere else, in Mama’s Too’s airy dining shed on Broadway. Drop your favorite slice in the comments!
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Mama’s Too is awesome! IMO of the few eateries that actually lives up to its hype.
Mama’s Too upside-down slice. Makes other slices seem like THEY’RE upside down!
Yummm pizza!… so many good shops to choose from UWS – my vote is for Made in NY West 80th and Amsterdam and West 73 Amsterdam.
I miss the pizza place that used to be on West 78 & Broadway, does anyone remember
Pizza Town? from the Quintessential connoisseur of Pizza, and lifetime lover of this Italian gift.
Made in NY is my favorite, too.
Yes: New Pizza Town at 2196 Broadway, 1983–May 25, 2011. Lost along with all the other buildings on the east side of the block.
I absolutely remember Pizza Town. And there was a Pizza Town II right near Penn Station. I mourn the loss of many pizzerias in the UWS: Fratelli la Bufala, My Pie, T&R, the pizzas at Bettola. And who could forget Vinnie’s? That being said, there are some great pizzerias here in the UWS. As Robt. De Niro says (and Lao Tzu before him): “Those who say don’ t know. Those who know don’t say.”
This retro tiki bar is a favorite of my college-aged daughter and her friends. They hit Tiki Chick on the reg for the tropical vibe, the fun food, and cocktails
Said college-aged daughter and friends are of course over 21.
Of course! Their ID says it and everything!
When I’m eating on the street, I like a plain house slice for the simplicity of it. MT is solid.
I agree that Mama’s Too offers excellent pizza, but I recently ordered a mushroom slice and was given a totally burned out, dry, over baked slice. When I mentioned it to the kid who served it to me he shrugged saying “not my fault, I didn’t make it”, and waved me away. Quality control is low, staff training is low, but they seem to be good at insulting their customers…
This story says you fold a slice there. You can’t fold a slice at Mama’s Too. It’s more like you break the burnt blackened crust in half.
So many great recommendations!!
Mama’s Too’s poached pear slice is the BEST!!!
I cannot reply. But yes. The pizza place on 78th and Broadway. My mom would take me and my best friend there after school. Also. As a student at PS 88, we were allowed to leave school for lunch on Fridays starting in 3rd grade and we would always get pizza. And then candy at the store next door
The food at Mama’s Too is excellent but I find their snooty attitude insufferable.
It’s a tourist destination now and not worth the wait.
I have to say the classic house slice is the BEST. Lucky to be living within walking distance with the ability to hit the joint off peak hours when there are no lines.
Another great column. The touching of the artwork segment ….. priceless.
I’m in for Tiki Chick. Given the approval of twenty-something’s is good for me! Looking forward to your weekend interview. P.S. I can taste the pizza in your words.
I’ve been to Mama’s Too two times.. Yes, it’s good, but I’m still compelled to walk a few blocks south to Sal and Carmine’s and I’ve been there hundreds of times.
Aren’t we lucky to have such riches? You have to do a little blotting with a napkin first on Sal and Carmine’s, though.
MT needs a serious attitude adjustment! I stopped going there and don’t recommend them.
Have the traditional triangle.
All the rest are good, but don’t come close to the triangle.
Every bite makes staying alive a bonus.
How about some love for the other pizzerias, instead of this one all the time>
Hey Westside rag how about running a survey of everyone’s favorite pizza place on the UWS winner gets a gift certificate at that place! Or a Westside rag coaster/mug/ t-shirt?
I miss your contests and surveys,- bring them back. what about the cats and dogs stories ?
Or a photograph contest? poetry ?
you used to have some fun contests, haven’t seen that for awhile.
Please bring back contests here! they were fun like funny responses or, count the _________? .
Also prizes for best: ? . What about pics of favorite westside dogs and separately UWS cats? Haiku contest etc etc bring back the fun in the westside Rag! Anyone agree ir want this ?