Day Date: Popbar - West Village, NY - Sunday 8/17/2014

His Take:  I was watching the Food Network one day, and what I was watching did what the Food Network always does, MAKE ME HUNGRY.  This time they were showing a place called Pop Bar, which serves different flavors of frozen gelato on a popsicle stick.  MMMMMMMMMMM, I mean who does not like gelato?  Lo and behold, PopBar is in New York!  I immediately looked up the location of Pop Bar (Carmine Street in the West Village) and took a screen shot of the place in my phone so that I would 1) remember to tell Ariana and 2) remember where it is when we were going to go.

 

Here we are, Sunday afternoon after a wonderful Sunday dinner (side note: big thing for us Italians!) I met up with Ariana and we decided we wanted to head out for a bit and enjoy the day.  During the week Ariana had remembered that we still had not gone to Pop Bar, so on Sunday I suggested that we did.  And were off to Pop Bar.

 

I have to say I was a little fooled by the show on the Food Network, I thought the place would be much bigger!  But let me tell you, size does not matter, especially when it comes to Pop Bar.  As we were walking in a family was walking out and the Father saw us peeking in and said “it is delicious, you should definitely get one.”  Walking in staring at the display off all the flavors my eyes were immediately drawn to one, PEANUT BUTTER.  Peanut Butter gelato, I never had it before but it sounds perfect to me, I love peanut butter.  Off to the dipping station, where they can dip your frozen gelato in, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate amongst other things, me I prefer white chocolate to it all, so peanut butter dipped in white chocolate is already two for two in my book.  Now onto the toppings, they have various toppings they will coat your frozen gelato in, mostly nuts, but caramel corn is the one I chose.  Thankfully I did because it was heavenly and my frozen peanut butter gelato, dipped in white chocolate, coated in caramel corn, tasted absolutely amazing.  Just reread that again, my mouth is watering thinking about it.  Ariana got pistachio gelato, dipped in white chocolate, covered with hazelnuts, good yes, but it could not hold a candle to mine!  We sat on the bench right outside and I marveled over how delicious my pop was from Pop Bar.

 

Cannot wait to take another leisurely trip to Pop Bar.  Walk right in pick from one of the many flavors of frozen gelato, but don’t stop there, dip it in something and finish it off with a topping!  Incredibly delicious and who knows maybe next time I will grab two different flavors because pop bar is DELICIOUS!  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

 

Her Take: On Sundays I like to go out. Do nice day things, take walks, go to the city and take in the scenery. I like to enjoy the day because on Sundays, we eat dinner at 1:30, so I have the rest of the day free! This Sunday, like every Sunday, Nicky was coming over, but this time he was in the mood to do something so we said POPBAR! 

We've been wanting to go and never got the chance to, so Sunday was the perfect day, it was beautiful out and what else goes hand in hand with a sunny day better than handcrafted GELATO (on a stick)? So we hopped on the train towards the West Village and we must have gotten out of the perfect stairwell cause Pop bar was just up the block on Carmine Street. 

I was surprised at how tiny this spot is, but then again do they need that much space? No! They have a glass "showcase" of all the different flavors of gelato pops and on the side they have 6 dips, 2 batches of each: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, and a handful of toppings. I picked pistachio pop dipped in white chocolate and topped with hazel nuts. It was yummy but Nicky's was DEFINITELY yummier! The caramel corn on his peanut butter pop topped it off, I don't know why I didn't get caramel corn, I LOVE CARAMEL CORN! 

But I digress, I do wish Popbar had more toppings that weren't just nuts, I was expecting crazy or diverse toppings! What if I wanted, I don't know, crushed chocolate-covered cone or something weird! They had crushed nuts and chocolate sprinkles, that was it! I think that is the only thing Popbar should update, but other than that, this place is delicious! The gelato is creamy and the taste it on point. Plus when you dip it in chocolate.. MMMM.. so good!!! The size of the pops are just the right amount of gelato, not too little, not too much (is there a such thing as too much gelato??)

I really loved it here, they have 4 little stools to sit at and a bench outside, we sat on the bench, for 3.4 seconds because we inhaled our gelato because it was that good! 

Definitely going back to Popbar soon soon soon! I've been craving it every day since. 

 

 

Date Night: Coney Island, NY - Friday 7/25/2014

His Take:  Coney Island, a landmark in Brooklyn, and somewhere, I a native Brooklynite had never been?!?!  That HAD to change.  Along with my cousin Frankie, I had put together a little trip to Coney Island.  Frankie had told me how last summer he had gone with his girlfriend Jennifer and some friends to see the fireworks display Coney Island does every Friday night. We were talking about this during a car ride home, and voila, plans were born!  We decided all of us guys would take our girlfriends to Coney Island for a nice night watching fireworks on the beach, eating Nathan’s, and riding rides. 

Back to me being a Brooklynite for a second, how could I not go see the Wonder Wheel, eat a Nathan’s hot dog at Coney Island, and most importantly ride the Cyclone!  This was my opportunity to get this off my bucket list!  So off we went to Coney Island on a Friday night.  We parked in the Aquarium parking lot, which is right next to the Cyclone.  I was as excited as a kid in a candy store.  I wanted to go on the Cyclone right away!  I was told to wait by my buddy Chris, who promised me we would go on later, on the way out since it’s right next to the car (wow I sound like a little kid, but hey, I wanted to ride the Cyclone!).  First stop for us, you guessed it, Nathan’s.  I was not to hungry and neither was Ariana, so I got a hot dog, we split cheese fries (of course she ate most of them) and then we walked to get a quick ice cream.  A lot of places to eat and drink on the boardwalk, all serving different boardwalk food, you know pretzels, hot dogs, ice creams, funnel cakes, the works!  I am actually glad we ate first because the line at Nathan’s was huge all night. 

After we all finally met up at Nathan’s and ate a little something, we realized it was time to hit the beach for the fireworks.  Coney Island’s firework “show” starts at 9:30 PM between 10^th and 12^th streets.  The beach between 10^th and 12^th streets is closed because the fireworks are literally on the beach.  We all sat in the sand, there was about 14 of us hanging out laughing and joking waiting for the display to start.  Do not make the same mistake we did, come prepared to sit in the sand, unless you want to stand on the boardwalk and watch the show.  I was shocked to see how packed the beach and the boardwalk was, filled with people waiting around to watch the firework show.  Sitting in the sand was a bit uncomfortable, I really should have gotten the chairs I had in my friend’s car.  Finally the show started at around 9:50, and it was really nice.  It was romantic to sit in the sand with my girlfriend and watch the display of fireworks.  The weather was perfect for a night near the ocean.  We asked Jennifer to take a picture of us under the fireworks because we know our loyal readers would want to see!  Plus I wanted one for ourselves!  Thanks Jenn!

After the fireworks we hit the rides!  I enjoy doing rides, but you all know the one ride I was waiting to do, THE CYCLONE!  The rides I did/watched my friends do all seemed cool.  First ride we hit was the Wonder Wheel.  Ferris Wheels, my most HATED ride.  Little tidbit about me, I am afraid of heights.  How do I do rides you ask? Roller coasters, on the way up I hold on for dear life and my eyes are closed shut, the way up is over so fast it does not even matter!  After much debate, Ariana, friend Sal, and my cousin Frankie convinced me to get on the Wonder Wheel.  Fun fact about the Wonder Wheel, it has something called sliding carts, which I had never seen before.  The freaking cars slide back and forth on a track at different heights of the wheel.  Great so not only do I have to sit in a box sky high, but I have to watch it swing back and forth!  As you’ll see in the picture, I was not to thrilled with this, but after going around the first time and not plummeting to my doom, I relaxed a bit and enjoyed myself, and maybe just maybe I’ll get on again.  My brother is fearless, got on the sling shot, so did a few of my other friends, and no thanks, that’s not for me.  We walked around a bit and by 12:45 everyone started getting tired and wanting to head home, plus the park closes at one.  Wait I know what you’re thinking, the Cyclone right? My Cyclone story is this, WE NEVER WENT ON! My sole purpose for going, the one thing I really wanted to do, right there in front of me, and IT DID NOT HAPPEN! 

I won’t say I left disappointed because I had a great time with my girlfriend and friends, but I left unsatisfied, I have an unfinished date with Coney Island, and me and the Cyclone will meet!  Coney Island is a great date spot, especially if you are going to see the fireworks.  Grab a chair or a towel and sit on the beach, a better view then standing on the boardwalk.  Grab your girl, grab some friends, and go watch the show.  A fun filled date at Coney Island.  Lastly, I will make you guys a deal, if you see me at Coney Island and recognize me from this blog, stop me and I’ll get on the damned Wonder Wheel with ya!  Till we meet again Coney Island! See ya soon.

Her Take: We have been wanting to go to Coney Island for some time now. Frankie, Nicky's cousin, told us that every Friday night, there's Fireworks. Finally we went. It was a bunch of us: Nicky and I, Chris and Martyna, Frankie and Jen, AJ and Bianca, and Sal and Rangel. (best couple) We headed over at around 7, made it there by 7:30-8 and basically stood on the Nathan's line for an hour! Nicky wanted a hot dog and so did the Chris, Martyna and her friends. I didn't want anything, so obviously I got cheese fries and a cafe mocha ice cream! :) I wasn't hungry...
By the time everyone ordered, ate and drank, it was around 9 o'clock so we said lets head down to the beach to get a good spot.
Coney Island was PACKED, with so many kids too, BABIES why aren't they sleeping?! But I understand it's nice to see the fireworks. Back to the beach, Nicky had bought two chairs for us, and those chairs were left in the car, a good place to have them when you're sitting on the sand! But it's ok, I sucked it up and sat down. We had our personal photographer, Jen, take pictures of us because shes the best! Plus she likes to so yay :) She took some great shots of us I must say!
The fireworks started like 20 minutes late! But they lasted about 15 mins and they were really pretty! We were so close, that many of us got hit with pieces of them. Cool life.
After watching the fireworks and being romantic taking photos under them, we decided to walk the boardwalk and go on some rides!
First things first: The Wonder Wheel! Built in 1918 and still goin' round!
Nicky is SUPER scared of heights and did not want to go on this at all, especially after he found out that the cars swing! BUTTTT we got him on :))) it wasn't that hard muahah! But he sat in the cart with his eyes closed grasping to the sides. What a baby!
It was a lot of fun and also REALLY cold up there, I was literally shivering. If you go, bring a light sweater!
Nicky even said he liked it so it went well!

After that we walked around some more and the rest of them went on a few more rides, I wasn't in the mood for rides that day, I might have been super tired. But it's all good because I had a great time!
We stayed until the park closed, 1 am. Longer than I expected!! Nicky didn't get to ride the cyclone, which is what he realllllyyyy wanted to do!

Coney Island is just a spot that everyone needs to visit at least once! This was Nicky's first time and he loved it. I'm glad he did! It's always a great time, and me, I love games and rides and ice cream and feeling like a kid again! Who doesn't? Get to Coney Island and ride the Cyclone before they take that old piece of history down!

I definitely want to go back, maybe in the daytime this time, so I can catch a tan while we walk ;) AND go on some rides!

 On the Wonder Wheel

 Nicky crying on the Wonder Wheel

 Jen and Frankie in the Front

Date Night & Dessert: Juliana's Pizza & Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory - DUMBO, NY - Wednesday 5/14/2014

Her Take: So as I have said before, I love pizza, but also I love ice cream. We had the PERFECT date! We had talked about taking the ferry to DUMBO so I suggested we do it to grab some pizza from Juliana's and get amazing ice cream from Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory! We were to take the 7:00 pm ferry at Kent avenue on the north side so Nicky and I met up at 6:30 and took a nice walk there. We made it just in time for the 6:45 ferry; we saw it docking and we ran to get tickets and literally ran inside. (We did a lot of running for ferries as you'll see) we got lucky! The ferry was very nice, spacious and fun! We went outside and took pictures like tourists and enjoyed the scenery. It was a bit cloudy that day but it was still really nice! The wind felt so good!
We arrived at DUMBO in 10 minutes, super fast. We walked off and straight to Juliana's. I don't know if you guys have heard of Grimaldi's? Well the originally owner Patsy Grimaldi sold his restaurant and name and since that restaurant moved to the corner, Patsy came back and opened up a new pizzeria again! Voila Juliana's! Patsy was standing right in the doorway and he seated us at a little bar overlooking the pizzaioli and the coal burning oven. We already knew what we wanted to we ordered right away: two Stella Artois on tap and a large margherita pizza with half pepperoni! We could see the pizzaiolo (pizza man) making our pizza and I was literally drooling. Our pizza was done quickly! Thank God cause I was starving, and the girl brought it right to us. We dug right it.. DELICIOUS!!! Just how I remembered it from when I was younger. So so so yummy I didn't even take a break I gobbled my whole half of the pie up. I was super satisfied and so happy that I had the deliciousness in my mouth and tummy. Nicky loved it too!! We weren't too full so we had enough room for ice cream. We turned around and saw that the place had FILLED UP! It was packed and a line was forming outside! We felt kind of bad so we asked our waiter for the check and he said no no no take your time! He didn't want us to leave, so we enjoyed our beer.
We finally got up and squirmed through the people and started walking toward the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Oh my god yes I was so excited because I had been craving their ice cream forever!!!! Luckily it's only down the block :)
We walked in and I already knew what I wanted: CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHUNK two scoops in a waffle cone please!!! Nicky got one scoop of vanilla chocolate chunk in a waffle cone and we tasted it and our tummies smiled because its just THAT AMAZING!!! So creamy and the flavor is just right. They chocolate isn't too overwhelming it's milky chocolate goodness with big chunks of chocolate mixed in; OMG YUM I want some rightttt now!!! We ate as we took a walk through the DUMBO park, it was so pretty and by the water. It started getting a little chilly and misty so we went back into the ice cream shop and Nicky used the bathroom as I sat at a little table. We weren't sure what time the last ferry was so we peeked outside and saw the ferry docking! Once again, we ran for our lives for it!! We almost didn't make it! I ran with my ice cream cone in my hand and my studded loafers on my feet... Not a good combo. If I dropped my cone I would I have picked it up thrown it at Nicky and left him there for making me run!!!! But, it didn't come down to that :)))
We made the ferry just in time and relaxed until we had to get off and walked to a candy store since Nicky wanted something. He only got a pack of the gum that looks like cigarettes because he's a big kid. We walked home holding hands as he "smoked his cigarette" and digested all the yummy food all the way home to my house :)
We had a great night! The ferry was a cute and fun idea, I think everyone should ride it at least once, especially when the weather is nice to stand outside and enjoy the scenery! Pizza was amazing and the ice cream was to die for; definitely, definitely recommend both!! CHECK THEM OUT IF YOU LOVE PIZZA AND ICE CREAM! (but then again who doesn't?)
Links are in my post :)

His Take: Ariana and I love pizza, especially Ariana! We decided to do something a little different rather than the old "hey let's just go get pizza!" One of Ariana's favorite pizza places had reopened, Juliana's (the old Grimaldi's) in Dumbo, Brooklyn. They're pizza used to be great and it's coal oven pizza, which is absolutely delicious! Rather than just head over to Juliana's and give it a try, we took the East River Ferry. It as a decent day weather wise, I mean was supposed to rain but luckily it didn't! The Ferry was beautiful, we had caught it at the perfect time. From our neighborhood to Dumbo it is two stops on the ferry, a quick ride, perfect because we were hungry! We bought our tickets ($4 each person per way), and boarded our ferry. I really loved the ferry, on the way there we stood outside and watched as we passed both the Williamsburg and Brooklyn Bridges. I did the real touristy thing and took pictures and it was cool. I plan on taking the ferry again to it's other stops or even back to Dumbo.

Next stop, Juliana's. Off our enjoyable ferry ride we walked right to Juliana's and were lucky enough to walk right in. By the time we were done with our food, there was line of people waiting outside for their turn! We got to the door and the original owner greeted and seated us (Ariana had remembered him!). We sat at the counter top right next to where they make the pizzas. While normally I prefer tables, this time it was pretty sweet to sit and watch them make pizzas! Ariana and I ordered a large margherita pie, with half pepperoni. A large pie may sound like much, but for us two, it was perfect. We also order two Stella Artois and watched our pizza be made. Shortly after our pizza came and we feasted! This pizza was PERFECT. It really was absolutely delicious.  Mmmmm thinking about it now I could go for a slice or two! We ate the entire pie and almost forgot to take a picture! We finished most of beers and departed for dessert!

On to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory! If Ariana doesn't tell you this I will, she was the happiest I've ever seen when we decided to go here to! She absolutely loves this place, loves it more than she loves me! And I can see why, the ice cream was delicious! I got a vanilla chocolate chunk, one scoop that was more like three and Ariana ordered two scoops of chocolate chocolate chunk, which looked like four! We enjoyed our cones and walked the park on the pier. When we walked back we had to run to our ferry home because we were unsure of what time the last ferry was! We ran back and laughed as we got on the ferry just as it was leaving!

This was one of my favorite dates. The ferry, the food, the ice cream, and my date were all beautiful. I enjoyed everything about this date! The ferry is cool, and beats the more common means of transportation. The pizza was amazing! It really was so good. The ice cream was a nice finish. But most of all, my date was the best part! Enjoy guys!