Steve Mirsky: Steve is a freelance writer specializing in culinary, destination, and outdoor adventure content. In addition to his own food and travel blog at www.gastrotraveling.com, he has recently completed two hiking guidebooks published by Pequot Press. Follow him on Twitter @MirskyS

Empire Steakhouse Sizzling

Before visiting Empire Steakhouse next to Rockefeller Center, I’d been hearing that after being open for only several months, this steakhouse is rapidly complementing the rousing success of sister restaurant Ben and Jack’s. Remarkably in this down economy, owner Jack Sinanaj and his family are building a regular customer base and some impressive accolades. I simply couldn’t wait to see and taste what’s shaping their good fortune! Empire Steakhouse Dining Room The main thing...

December 27th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Desert Hot Springs Spas

Desert Hot Springs Views Many times, Palm Springs and other affluent Coachella Valley enclaves in the Southern California desert get all the respect when it comes to spa getaways. But just a 15 minute drive north of I-10 lies the town of Desert Hot Springs with stunning San Jacinto Mountain views in every direction. Find cheap short-term rentals near Desert Hot Springs with iStopOver.com ! Villas of Palm Springs 1 Bedroom Palm Springs $90 per night Club Trinidad 2 Bedroom Palm Springs $90 per night Hacienda-style...

December 22nd, 2010 | Baby Boomers, Luxury | Read More

Sun WineFest 2011

Sun WineFest 2011 The 8th Annual Sun WineFest returns to Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Casino January 28 -30th. This is hands down the largest can’t-miss food and beverage extravaganza in the tri-State area. Best of all, getting to the Sun from NYC has never been easier! The hub of WineFest’s activity centers around the Grand Tasting Event held on both Sat. & Sun. (Jan. 29 -30) 12-5 p.m.. Here attendees get to sample more than 1,000 fine wines and specialty beers paired with signature...

December 16th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Cowshed Spa Pretty Parties

Getting its start in 1998 on the Babbington House grounds in Somerset England, Cowshed was named after the actual bovine inhabitants who at one time occupied this first location. Since then, Cowshed Spas has expanded to nearly 10 locations including several outside England like on the 3rd floor of Soho House Hotel in Manhattan. Inside Cowshed A big point of pride for Cowshed is that all their treatments, no matter where the location, still have a little bit of Babbington in every single bottle...

November 22nd, 2010 | New York | Read More

Gray Line Now Running 3 Manhattan Culinary Tours

Even if you’re only a one time visitor to NYC, I’m sure you recall seeing loads of double decker tour buses plying the streets. You may not have paid attention to the names emblazoned on the sides but there are differences in style and delivery between all these companies. I normally argue that on many levels, it’s a bad idea to hop aboard one of these prepackaged tours on wheels. There’s no denying that they usually sanitize the City into sound bites and clichés elevating you above the...

November 21st, 2010 | New York | Read More

Lausanne on Lake Geneva

Many times the best cultural immersion in Europe can be experienced by losing yourself in a smaller lesser known city. Of course marquee destinations like London, Paris, and Madrid can’t be missed and offer gargantuan doses of culture, native cuisine, and international panache. But small to mid-sized cities like Munich, Lyon, Stuttgart, and Milan, have sophistication and vibrant arts scenes, along with the intimacy needed to dig in and be as close to local as possible. Lausanne Street Scene Switzerland’s...

November 17th, 2010 | Baby Boomers, Switzerland | Read More

NYC Halloween Escapades

Even though Halloween is rapidly approaching, you still have time to throw your costumes together and plan your party or get- together. But if you’re lucky enough to be in NYC on October 31st, no preparation is required. Just keep reading for some of my favorites to get you started! Village Halloween Parade - So grand it attracts 2 million visitors each year! Now in its 37th year, the parade steps off at 7pm Village Halloween Parade north on Sixth Avenue from Spring to 15th Streets. A constant...

October 24th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Summer Beers Made in NYC

Even if you’re not a self proclaimed beer connoisseur but simply prefer great tasting craft brews over the heavily commercial watered-down rivals, you have plenty to choose from in NYC. Here are some unique seasonal favorites currently on tap at the following breweries: Chelsea Brewing Company Checker Cab Blonde Ale Located on Pier 59, The Chelsea Brewing Company’s huge copper-clad tanks loom large behind the polished mahogany bar overlooking the white tablecloth dining area and spectacular...

August 28th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Discover Herbs at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden

If you’ve recently visited a farmers market or have been tending a balcony garden, it’s obvious that this is the year of the tomato. Hot and dry with sporadic downpours are perfect for these prolific plants. Once they’re in season, there’s no stopping them and I find the best way to enjoy them is with a drizzle of simple dressing made from olive oil, fresh basil, and a touch of parsley. Freshly picked herbs are now also at their prime making it the perfect time to visit the Brooklyn Botanic...

August 17th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Candle 79: True Farm to Table Vegan

An offshoot of the Candle Café which has been a go-to vegetarian venue in Manhattan since 1984, Candle 79 opened in 2003 to wide acclaim sticking to the same philosophy: “To share our passion of vegan, organic, and seasonal cuisine, while eliminating dependence on animals as a food source and minimizing our carbon footprint”. Inside Candle 79 Candle 79 is a warmly elegant escape in the heart of Manhattan’s Upper East Side. A duplex with floor to ceiling windows not far from the Metropolitan...

August 7th, 2010 | New York | Read More

2 Places to Watch Outdoor Movies in NYC During August

You don’t have to retreat into an air conditioned tomb to catch movies in NYC this month. Now you now have access to free movies from now until September 28. That’s right, summer doesn’t end with the beginning of the school calendar! So pop up your favorite bag of popcorn and show up at the following venues: Czech Center If you’re artsy, into cultural immersion, and not afraid of subtitles, head over to the Czech Center, aka The Bohemian National Hall Scene from Girlie that has...

August 4th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Monte Carlo Resort & Casino Dazzles on the Strip

Monte Carlo Hotel What would Vegas be without the whirl of the slots, heart pounding high stakes poker tables, or the happy-go-lucky craps tables. Go-go dancers throw out beads and yesterday’s loser always has the chance of winning it big today. It’s this flight of opportunity and wild abandon that makes the Vegas strip so exciting. But now more than ever, there’s plenty to do besides gambling and the Monte Carlo Hotel is a solid example of this reality that’s been taking shape here...

August 2nd, 2010 | Las Vegas | Read More

The New Museum’s Fresh Perspective on Art

Brion Gysin and His Dream Machine The New Museum in the Bowery has an exterior design resembling gigantic building blocks stacked up haphazardly serving as a reminder that there is still an edge in modern art that didn’t stop with Andy Warhol. The museum is “New” because all its art is bleeding edge and there’s no permanent collection. In addition to the galleries ever-changing exhibits, the Museum as Hub on the 5th floor, serves as the museum’s educational center and...

July 31st, 2010 | New York | Read More

Escape to Montauk Long Island

Montauk's Wide Open Beaches Montauk, also known as “The End,” is not only a quintessential beach town on the South Fork but arguably the most storied community on Long Island. After traveling through all of the Hamptons, it just seems natural to push it all the way to the tip. You’ve come this far, so what’s a few extra miles? As soon as you arrive in Montauk (map), it’s immediately apparent that this is a genuine beach town complete with surf shops, delis, and restaurants that you...

July 31st, 2010 | New York | Read More

La Newyorkina’s Wildly Tasty Ice Pops

Mexican Paletas Now that the full press of summer heat is upon us here, I have been on the lookout for popular frozen treats other than the old standbys like ice cream and Americanized popsicles. Even gelato and Italian ice are so…European. I was eager to see what our south of the border brethren do to beat the heat. Puerto Rico has its piraguas named after their pyramid shape, frío-frío (cold-cold) from the Dominican Republic, and granizados from Cuba. It’s only natural that Mexico has...

July 28th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Red Hooked: BWAC Summer Art Show

The Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, New York’s largest artist-run non profit exhibition space features more than 700 paintings and photography spread over 25,000 square feet of a Civil War era warehouse. Located at 499 Van Brunt St. in Red Hook, this 1869 complex of storehouses is constructed with rough-cut schist on reclaimed marshland and is now a work of art and heritage destination in itself. Red Hooked: BWAC's Summer Art Show Settled by the Dutch in 1636, Red Hook’s docks...

July 25th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Dumpster Diving on Park Avenue

I’m not talking about rifling through smelly trash bags and other debris searching for a semi new pair of sneakers or day old bread. This is about literally climbing up above the rim of a gigantic metal dumpster and leaping in. The dumpster ambiance however, stops with the name. Dumpster Pools on Park Avenue For the first 3 Saturdays in August, three temporary Dumpster pools will open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. free of charge on the east side of Park Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets. With Grand Central...

July 21st, 2010 | New York | Read More

Organic Wine and Vegetarian Dishes at Counter

Ever wonder about all the fuss surrounding a good glass of wine? Want to pair it with some excellent vegetarian dishes? Then look no further than Counter. An organic wine & martini bar and vegetarian bistro in the East Village, this place serves not only top quality but also environmentally friendly wines and food. Inviting Seating at Counter I know, I know, you’re tired of everybody jumping on the “Green Movement” bandwagon just because it’s fashionable. But it’s different...

July 19th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Doughnut Plant: An Alternative to Ice Cream

Didn’t think the words gourmet and doughnuts could possibly go together? It’s entirely possible at the Doughnut Plant located at 379 Grand St. in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Check out their current flavors evocative of summer like Lavender Flower, Crème Brulee, Blueberry, and their rich Valrhona Chocolate that rival ice cream. The best part is they are all made with no trans fats, preservatives, artificial flavorings, or eggs. Summertime Blueberry Donut Glazes are concocted on site using...

July 16th, 2010 | New York | Read More

Sex Deconstructed at MoSex NYC

Why does it seem like the word “sex” is so quickly associated with prurient and lurid imagery in our culture? Perhaps a portion of The Museum of Sex’s mission takes a stab at finding out why: “To preserve and present the history, evolution, and cultural significance of human sexuality”. Museum of Sex NYC Affectionately called MoSex, this museum operates under bylaws which judiciously rule out financial backing from the adult entertainment industry. Over three galleries covering more...

July 14th, 2010 | New York | Read More