My Urban Sherpa

Spend the day well

Savings abound up and down 5th and Madison Avenues – if not in your bank or 401K account.

Enjoy!

This Thanksgiving adopt, don’t eat a turkey.

Since 1986, Farm Sanctuary’s annual Adopt-A-Turkey Project has rescued 1000+ turkeys from the dinner table and given them sanctuary on a bucolic farm in Watkins Glen.
Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt-A-Turkey Project lets you adopt turkeys this Thanksgiving.

1. Sponsor “adopt” a turkey who lives at our Watkins Glen, New York or Orland, California shelter for farm animals. For a one-time $25 adoption fee, you will receive:

A special Adopt-A-Turkey certificate with color photo of and fun details about your new friend
A Farm Sanctuary membership for one year,
A one-year subscription to Sanctuary, a quarterly newsletter.
As a turkey sponsor, you will not only contribute funds for the care of the rescued animals at our sanctuaries, but will also help us educate and advocate for turkeys, and other farm animals, everywhere. Adopt a turkey online or by phone at 1-888-SPONSOR.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Watch the Macy’s Day Parade come together on Wednesday, November 26th in Central Park, 77th to 81st Streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue from 3:00 to 10:00 PM.

Mandoo Bar $$

Illustration by Matt Rota.

Mandoo Bar ($$)
2 W 32nd St
Between Broadway & 5th Ave
212 279 3075

Small but modern restaurant, look for the ladies in the window making fresh dumplings. Seating for two or four. There’ll be a line, but it moves fast –so is the service.

Goon Mandoo (4 Pcs) $4.99 Pan Fried dumplings filled with pork and vegetables
Vegetable Goon Mandoo (4 Pcs) Pan-fried dumplings filled with carrot, onions, mushrooms and other assorted vegetables
Fried Tofu Fried tofu with special house soy sauce $6.99
Baby Mandoo (16 Pcs) Boiled bite size dumplings filled with pork and vegetables $7.99
Mool Mandoo (10 Pcs) Boiled dumplings filled with pork and vegetables
Vegetable Mool Mandoo (10 Pcs) Boiled vegetable dumplings filled with mixed vegetables

Nearby Attractions
The Morgan Library & Museum
Illustration House
Jim Hanley’s Universe
Empire State Building

This entry is an excerpt from a book compiled by Charles Hively, publisher of 3×3 Magazine on the occasion of ICON5, to share some of the wonderful and affordable restaurants in New York. The book is available for purchase at Amazon.

The Pond at Bryant Park

Free (admission is free – skate rentals are $12/pair) and fun is the pond at Bryant Park.

Skate in the center of Manhattan and snack at Celsius – an outdoor terrace warmed by space heaters and offering lunch, dinner and drinks.

Old fashioned fun

Head to Dylan’s Candy Shop at the corner of 59th Street and Lexington Avenue for a dizzying array of candies and confections that will brighten your day.

Fun things in NYC that are free on Friday.

A year ago, September 2007, we launched My Urban Sherpa, to help you navigate New York like a New Yorker, (we’ve even been told we’ve introduced New Yorkers to some of their favorite new places!) We’ve suggested our favorites from the myriad excellent choices for restaurants, bars, museums, shops, hotels and happenings.

We are still pursuing this goal, but today the issue of $ / $$ / $$$ is more important that ever before – for everyone we know.

So we’re going to be highlighting the best of an affordable, and sometimes even FREE New York.

Today this means strolling along 5th Avenue to see the holiday windows. Bergdorf Goodman’s windows opened yesterday, up and down 5th Avenue – retailers are ready for Christmas.

If you find yourself peckish at 5th Avenue and 32nd Street, head West to Kum Gang San for a spicy Korean lunch for less than $10.

If you are still ambling about this evening – don’t miss Jenny Holzer’s wonderful and FREE instillation at the Guggenheim Museum.

How low can it go?

I’ve been asking myself this question for a while. Back in March it was how low morally could we go. Lately it’s been the DAX, Dow, FTSE,  Nasdaq, NIKKE, S&P,…

Wow.

Bad news followed by bad news, followed by a down market even in the presence of good news (there has been some.)

We’d like to recommend a simple cup of Joe and sandwich at a deli counter to accompany these humble times. The best coffee shop and sandwich shop in town?

Eisenbergs, where you’ll find delicious sandwiches (toasted on rye) a well priced cup of coffee, a sense of humor, and money in your hand when the bill comes back.

174 5th Avenue, between 22nd and 23rd Streets.

Not a place to make reservations.

El Quinto Pino

This small tapas bar is delightful in every way. Offering a small selection of lovingly chosen wines, perfectly paired to the most delectable tastes, in a calm and quiet atmosphere where you’ll enjoy your company and the company of others.

401 West 24th Street

212.206.6900

This, and other recommendations for bars, restaurants, and shopping tips are available at MyUrbanSherpa.net and for handheld users at MyUrbanSherpa.mobi.

“A Sealed Fate” tonight ~ AMC Loews 72nd St. & 3rd Ave.

Join Nigel Barker, Mary and Peter Max, and The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International for a screening of “A Sealed Fate” a documentary on the birth of the Harp seals of Canada’s Eastern shore and their imminent deaths weeks later for their fur.
A panel and question-and-answer period to discuss ways we can help end Canada’s cruel seal hunt and speak out for animals killed for their furs.
Tickets are $25 each, all proceeds of which benefit The Humane Society of the United States’ work in celebrating animals and confronting cruelty, thanks to the support of Mary and Peter Max.

Seating begins at 6pm and the 45-minute film rolls promptly at 7pm. A limited amount of tickets may be available at the theater at 6pm, but online ticket purchase is highly encouraged.
November 18, 2008
6:00-9:00 p.m.

AMC Loews Theater
1230 Third Avenue (71st and 72nd Sts)
New York, NY 10021