The Spring season is finally sneaking up on us. Although it’s getting a bit chilly at night, the weather is generally warm and sunny. After all, New York wouldn’t be the same without some irregular weather changes. While March tends to focus on St. Patrick’s Day events, flower shows, and Easter celebrations, April is filled with several diverse, Spring-themed activities to guarantee that no New Yorker is left out. From beer festivals and park events to theater performances and a popular film festival, here is a recap of things to do this Spring.

At the Parks

Admirer of Japanese culture or unfamiliar with it? Welcome Spring at the 35th Sakura Matsuri, Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s annual cherry blossom festival from April 30th to May 1st! The cherry-blossom fever won’t stop, as the two-day fair includes more than 60 events and performances praising traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. To honor the end of Hanami (the Japanese seasonal tradition of blossom appreciation), there will be a cosplay fashion show, bands playing traditional tunes, dance performances, and obviously lots of pink-and-white petals. Tickets are free for children (under 12) and BBG members, but cost $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors (65 and over). Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens website to purchase tickets.

Central Park also has something to offer. German artist Isa Genzken took the liberty of revealing her gigantic display of 34 x 28 feet orchids (photo above) on March 1st at Doris C. Freedman Plaza, the entrance to the southeastern section of Central Park showcasing a series of installations authorized by Public Art Fund. Knowing the white orchid is mass-produced and open to interpretation, Genzken aims to show an idealized version of the plant that represents our generation. Not to forget, the art piece was installed last year at the Venice Biennale. You can see it any time until August 21st, so check out the Public Art Fund website for more info.

https://youtu.be/1u_64TledP8

Cirque Du Soleil: PARAMOUR

The dream has become a reality: After wooing audiences around the world for years, Cirque Du Soleil is setting foot in Broadway with its groundbreaking and touching play, PARAMOUR. Starting April 16th, a 38-member group of actors, dancers, aerialists, acrobats, and jugglers join to tell an exciting tale of a pretty young actress in Hollywood’s Golden Age. First you need to make reservations, then prepare yourself for a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Hurry up to benefit from the $55 ticket price!

Tribeca Film Festival

Film lovers, you certainly don’t want to miss this: The 15th Tribeca Film Festival (founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff) returns to New York City to cast the light on local indie films, documentaries, and foreign films. Audiences will see the newest films from well-known actors and the best from rising filmmakers. Watch two sisters adjusting to adulthood in Adult Life Skills, a mother and daughter becoming stronger together in Katie Holmes’ directional debut All We Had, and the street art world illuminated in The Banksy Job. The Spring festival will take place across Lower Manhattan from April 13-24.

Bacon and Beer Classic

The title is enough to stir your appetite! Restaurants (e.g. Tuk Tuk Go, Tres Carnes) and breweries from all five boroughs unite in this festival from April 22-23, so you can enjoy 50+ bacon-infused dishes by the best local chefs in addition to over 100 craft beers by local, regional, and national breweries. Moreover, you’ll get to explore the iconic Citifield sports stadium on a non-game weekend, partake in various games (giant Jenga, bungee run, posing at photo booth, branding yourself with bacon and beer-inspired tattoos, etc.), prove your unbreakable bond with pork in the infamous Bacon Eating Contest, and vote at the People’s Choice Booth for your favorite bacon-infused platter. Interested? Buy your tickets now!

What are you doing in April? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter.

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In the fall of 2010, the artist and Brooklyn native RAE was messing around in his studio, which at the time was in a residential building in Midwood, and some sort of "art experiment" involving a microwave went awry. There was an explosion. There was paint everywhere. There were alarmed tenants. There were tenants who couldn't care less. There were tenants who didn't really notice. 

But whatever, the landlord had had enough–noise complaints had been leveled against the artist for some time–and, with the help of a burly "nephew", RAE was escorted from the building. Security deposit: gone. Access to his storage space in the basement: denied. It wasn't until four years later, on August 4, 2014, that RAE was able to reenter the space, during the chaos caused by a sudden, mass evacuation ordered because of cracks in the building's facade, discovered by a construction crew working next door. 

RAE retrieved his almost-forgotten belongings, including a metal trunk filled with sketches, rolled-up canvases, and other ephemera from that era, all of which provided the creative inspiration for RAE's latest exhibition, Trunk Work.    

What Is The Story About RAE's Trunk Work?

Or so the story goes. It's sometimes difficult to distinguish between actual facts and creative license, or conceptual art, here. But what IS true is this: Trunk Work features a bunch of excellent new art by RAE, both his freewheeling, almost-collage-y paintings, and his sculptural pieces into which he incorporates items such as a "reclaimed air humidifier", plastic typewriter keys, and a toolbox.                    

Where Is RAE's Trunk Work?

It's held in an abandoned butcher's basement in Chinatown, the air still vaguely greasy, the memory of meat lingering deep in the walls. Given RAE's penchant for repurposing the unloved and discarded, it's kind of perfect. And, like his great Word of Mouth show in that Avenue C bodega in 2013, the attention to detail within the space here is astonishing.  

What You'll Find at RAE's Trunk Work

There are also pieces of "evidence" on display to support RAE's tale, such as a note from his former landlord, the stereo set-up that caused so many his problems (a battered cassette player with makeshift "bullhorn" speakers, now playing the Biz Markie classic, The Biz Never Sleeps), and random things like a Honus Wagner baseball card (?).       

More Information on RAE's Trunk Work

RAE's Trunk Work is running through April 19, Thursdays through Sundays,  from 1:00 until 7:00 p.m. The address in 94 1/2 Bayard Street, across from Columbus Park, to the left of the produce.

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You know it will happen again, and maybe soon: you splurge on Broadway tickets for you and the kids, or you and your sweetheart; or someone gives you a pair as a gift; or you're in charge of out of town visitors who just HAVE to see [insert latest show with movie stars]. Which is all great, I have nothing against Broadway spectacles, they're just a bit out of my price range for a frequent entertainment option. Anyway, sometimes the most difficult part of seeing a Broadway show–not including wading through Times Square–is figuring out where to grab a quick dinner before the curtain. You want someplace close, but it can't be terrible (everything on Restaurant Row), or crazy pricey (Esca), or a full-on tourist mob scene (Shake Shack). Enter the latest upscale food court, City Kitchen, which, though tiny when compared to, say, Hudson Eats or Gotham West, has several first-rate vendors and is conveniently located on Eighth Avenue and on 44th Street. And if you work in the area, your lunch options just got a whole better.

Welcome To City Kitchen in Times Square

I popped into City Kitchen pretty late (for me) last Friday night after a day of art fairs, and was relieved that, although plenty busy–it's attached to a hotel, Row NYC, with its steady stream of guests/eaters–there weren't really lines at any of the vendors. Basically: it didn't feel desolate, a definite danger considering it's above street level, but I could get a seat, and my food, right away. Apparently City Kitchen is somehow connected to the folks at Urban Space, who do, among other things, the big holiday markets and Mad Sq. Eats, so the line up here is both familiar and welcome. Among the first-rate food options: Luke's Lobster, with their always-a-pleasure lobster rolls; Dough's donut crowd-pleasers; interesting Middle Eastern fare from ilili Box (next time I'm trying their Duck Shawarma); flavored shaved snow–with crazy toppings like Pocky Sticks and Fruity Pebbles–from Wooly's; and, maybe most exciting, the Kuro Obi ramen stand, which is an offshoot of the great Ippudo.  

What To Eat at City Kitchen

All of the above is pretty much can't-miss for satisfying all sorts of tastes and moods–this is why these food courts are good for a crowd, especially if a member or two of the crew are picky eaters–but on this night I headed straight for the Whitman's booth, whose down-home burger spot in the East Village has long been a favorite. And although I did NOT get the PB&B Burger (with peanut butter and bacon) because of a missed communication, my straight-up Upstate Burger was excellent, cooked medium rare as requested, the plentiful toppings fresh and lively. I also tried the Al Pastor taco–that's the roasted pork with pineapple one that Alex Stupak (among many others) do so well–from Gabriela's but, as feared (and even though the crew assured me it would not be the case) the pre-shredded meat was terribly dry from sitting under the heat lamp for however many hours. Oh well. Good thing there are plenty of other options at City Kitchen from which to choose!

For More Information on City Kitchen

City Kitchen is located at 700 Eighth Avenue, just north of 44th Street, and is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day. For more info and complete menus from each of the vendors, see here.

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With spring finally kicking in for real it’s time to get serious about the upcoming beach season… by eating and drinking tons of delicious things! Ok, so maybe that’s not everyone’s strategy, but it’s definitely mine, and the folks at Rockaway will just have to deal with my less-than-perfect beach bod. Because April is the cruller-est month. Anyway, here are a half dozen food events coming up over the next few weeks that are worth your consideration.

Taste of Seventh (April  11^th  – 12^th)

East 7th Street boasts a noteworthy number of excellent eateries, and their annual “food crawl” is never a bad idea. Planning for this year’s Taste of Seventh was in the works well before the horrific explosion and fire destroyed the corner of 7th and Second Avenue, but rather than cancel the weekend’s event, instead the restaurants will donate all profits from every ticket directly to the local Red Cross helping those harmed or displaced by the tragedy. Big Gay Ice Cream, Luke’s Lobster, Porchetta, Butter Lane, Caracas Arepas, and newcomer Huertas: $25 gets you a tasting at them all AND helps out your fellow New Yorkers.

Bloody Mary Festival (April 12^th)

The booziest food of event of the month (other than whatever personal party you’ve got going on that I don’t know about) has to be the Bloody Mary Festival, which offers you three hours of unlimited drinks AND a meaty lunch by the great Delaney BBQ. The line-up of Brooklyn-based day-drink makers is impressive, featuring the likes of Char No. 4, Pok Pok’s Whiskey Soda Lounge, Black Swan, Beast of Bourbon, and Lucky Luna, which won Best Bloody in 2014. There will be live music, too. Expect a party. Located at Industry City in Sunset Park. More info and ticket sales here. 

Food Book Fair (April 10^th – 12^th)

On a more intellectual tip (but still fun), there’s the Fourth Annual Food Book Fair, taking over the trendy Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg for the weekend. Definitely not a simple cookbook convention, the Book Fair instead “celebrates the intersections of food culture and food systems and the writing that brings them to life” with panels, workshops, tastings, lectures, roundtable discussions, and parties. Participants include April Bloomfield, Mimi Sheraton, Brooks Headley, Stephen Schmidt, and lots of other smart, funny, lively folks with a passion for food. More info and ticket sales here. 

Taste of the Lower East Side (April 15^th)

Manhattan’s Lower East Side has a lot of great history, a vibrant community spirit, and a TON of excellent places to eat. Bringing it all together? The 15th Annual Taste of the Lower East Side, which benefits the Grand St. Settlement and, in turn, scores of local kids and teenagers who are likely less fortunate than you. Held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18th Street, the Taste of Lower East Side offers up bites from more than 50 of downtown’s best restaurants, including DBGB, Pies ‘n’ Thighs, Freemans, The Wren, Blue Ribbon Sushi Izakaya, Russ & Daughters, il laboratorio del gelato, Fung Tu, and Clinton Street Baking. More info and ticket sales here.

Bacon and Beer Classic (April 25^th)

Ok, so not only does the Bacon and Beer Classic celebrate two of the greatest things on the planet, but, unlike some food events that can get a tad claustrophobic, it’s also held inside the Mets’ still-sort-of-newish stadium, Citi Field. Plenty of room to wander and goof around as you sample bacon-based dishes from the likes of Laudhaus, Roni-Sue, Black Tree, Carnal, and Robicelli’s Bakery, and plenty of adult beverages from breweries such as Otter Creek, Flying Dog, Abita, Bad Seed, Gun Hill, and literally dozens more in both categories. Plus you’re at the ball park! There’s a brunch session and an evening session, and both are likely to be a blast. More info and ticket sales here.

Hot Sauce Expo (April 25^th – 26^th)

And finally, some fire to end your month right, as the Third Annual NYC Hot Sauce Expo invades the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint for the weekend. Nearly 50 vendors from all over the world will be on hand selling their insanely spicy wares (and giving out lots of samples), including Heartbreaking Dawns, Puckerbutt Pepper, Bigfats, Voddoo Chili, and Holy Schmitts. There will also be eating contests to marvel at (burritos, pizza), competitions for Best Buffalo Wings and a Bloody Mary Mix Down, plus plenty of beer and BBQ to round out the fun. More info and ticket sales here.

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It's a pleasant "problem" to have, trying to decide which of the many excellent chocolate babkas to eat on any given day. Here in New York City, you see, we take our babka seriously, so much so that even one of the region's largest distributors, Green's Home Style–Big Babka, as it were–who supplies the likes of Fairway, Whole Foods, and Garden of Eden, among many other markets and restaurants, is still pretty special, and until fairly recently might even have been considered the best in town. However, there have been a number of new bakery babkas introduced of late–from here on out assume I always mean the chocolate variety when I say babka, rather than the lesser (though admittedly good) cinnamon breed–so I decided to go on a tasting spree of three of the city's most buzzed-about spots for these loaves of sweet, sticky heaven. And so was launched the great 2015 Battle of the Babkas.

Babka #1: Breads Bakery (Union Square)  

Israeli Import Breads isn't new anymore, (I'm fortunate enough to be able to stop in here about once a week for "supplies"), but their amazing babka still has the power to thrill. As created by Breads owner/master baker Uri Scheft, the babka here always strikes the exact right balance between crunchy caramelized bits on top and soft, chewy parts within, and the addition of Nutella really elevates it to dessert (or afternoon snack) nirvana. Bonus: because Breads is always busy, and everyone knows how good this babka is, you can show up at almost any time of day and expect just-baked warmness. Breads was the most expensive babka on my recent journeys at $12.95, but it's worth every cent.         

Babka #2: Petite Shell (Upper East Side) 

The most recent entry into the NYC Best Babka Battle is also of the Nutella-infused variety, courtesy of Petite Shell on the corner of Lexington and 85th Street. (Note: although the kosher cafe/bakery makes its home in the former Max-Brenner-offshoots spot, this a new venture, with no relation.) And owner Shmilly Gruenstein not only pours on the Nutella, he also throws in an indulgent, deftly blended mix of 70% dark chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips. And butter. LOTS of butter. This is a terrific babka, but try to get to Petite Shell in the morning while the $12 loaves are still warm (or re-warm in your home). By the way Gruenstein also makes about a dozen varieties of rugelach, both sweet and savory (for example: dulce de leche, jalapeno, farmer's cheese with raspberry), all of which look enticing. Coffee's good, too. 

Babka #3: Dough (Chelsea/Flatiron)

Meanwhile, at the always-packed Dough donut shop on 19th Street just west of 5th Avenue, you can get one of the great hybrid creations in recent years, the Doughka, which is exactly what you think it is, a babka made from, not just any doughnut-dough, but some of the best doughnut-dough is the city. Dough's baking wizards bring out three flavors every week (the Sticky Banana is definitely worth a try too), but the one you want is the Mexican Chocolate, which is filled with a bittersweet chocolate spread and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and more chocolate. Eat this $10 beauty warm. The only downside to the Doughka is its limited availability: Fridays through Sundays only, you have to call to reserve a loaf (or four), and can only pick it up from noon on. 

And The Winner Is…

And the Battle of the Babkas winner is…….. us! Really, all three of these are outstanding, and different enough from each other that it's kind of impossible to choose. Whatever suits your mood, or current location, that's the one you should get.     

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