The Vanderpump Cinematic Universe expanded earlier this spring when Vanderpump Villa—“a new subscripted docu-drama following Lisa Vanderpump’s hand-selected staff as they work, live, and play at an exclusive French estate: Chateau Rosabelle”—premiered on Hulu last month. The Vanderpump Rules spinoff will have its finale on Monday, May 20, but you’ll be able to keep the French-accented fun going with a two-day Vanderpump Villa pop-up at Maison Close in Soho.

RECOMMENDED: The 11 best French restaurants in NYC, from Midtown brasseries to charming Soho bistros

On Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6, Chateau Rosabelle chef and Vanderpump Villa star Anthony Bar will collaborate with chef Geoffrey Lechantoux at the downtown French restaurant, to offer New Yorkers a taste of the French countryside (the Hulu series is filmed in Mazerolles-du-Razès, France) with an authentic menu inspired by the Bell Époque era.

“Our menu is designed to transport you back to the 19th and 20th century with flavors and dishes that evoke the elegance and sophistication of classic French cuisine,” Bar posted on his Instagram about the event. “Expect exquisite food and a carefully curated wine list, all set in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It’s not just about the food; it’s about bringing people together to celebrate the art of French cooking. From the first bite to the final toast, you’ll be immersed in a world of rich flavors and exceptional service.”

At the summery soiree, diners can enjoy the limited-edition five-course menu for $165 along with an optional wine pairing for $70. Guests will also have the opportunity to taste Maison Close’s new private label Côtes de Provence rosé from Château Saint Marc, a “fresh and balanced blush wine that pairs perfectly with the flavors of summer.”

Space is limited, so if you want to “visit” the Vanderpump Villa via the Maison Close pop-up, move quick and shoot an email over to RSVP@maisoncloserestaurant.com to snag yourself a reservation to the French dinner series. It’s a hell of a lot less pricey than plane tickets to the south of France!

* This article was originally published here

The Knicks are in denial. Or have wired their collective psyches to be oblivious to adversity.
They have been unfazed and undeterred by a depletion of their lineup due to injuries. A thumping by the Indiana Pacers on Sunday in hostile territory was an aberration. The Knicks were run out of Indianapolis by an urgent opponent, losing 121-89 in Game 4 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series.

It could have been a sign that attrition was overtaking a team that has demonstrated steadfast resolve this postseason. Playing without Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic, they have found a way to soldier on. Yet the Game 4 defeat, which tied the series at 2-2 coming back for Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, was a disquieting alarm.

But dismantling obstacles has been one of the defining qualities of the current iteration of the No. 2 seed Knicks. They flipped the score in Game 5, tactically and forcefully taking apart the No. 6 Pacers by 121-91 to go up 3-2 with Game 6 tomorrow in Indiana. A victory would advance the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, when they fell to the Pacers 4-2.  

“We still need one more win so we can’t get too excited about it,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau emphasized. “We have to understand what we need to do [and] stay focused on the task at hand.”

As he has done all season, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was a force multiplier, shrugging off a sore foot, injured late in the first quarter of Game 2, and a combined 16-43 shooting in Games 3 and 4, to score 44 points on 18-35 from the field.

“I think as a team, no matter what the situation is, we have the same mindset no matter what,” Brunson said in a measured assessment. “And regardless of how I’m feeling or someone else is feeling, we know what’s at stake. We know what we have to do and we’re going to figure it out.”

The Pacers, like the rest of the league, have not devised a code or algorithm to breach Brunson’s sheer will. Still, Knicks contributions spanned the lineup. As usual, Josh Hart was an energizer, posting 18 points and 11 rebounds. Deuce McBride, who started the second half of Game 4 and was installed as a starter by Thiboeau in place of Precious Achiuwa on Tuesday, responded with 17.

Guard Alec Burks, whose playing time was completely cut late in the regular season, has been called upon by necessity with Anunoby sidelined by a left hamstring injury sustained in Game 2. The 32-year-old veteran answered the charge with 18 points. And center Isaiah Hartenstein left a deep imprint on the win with seven points and 17 rebounds, including a massive 12 offensive rebounds, as the Knicks owned the backboards 53-29 in total. 

The post Undeterred by adversity, the Knicks cook the Pacers in critical Game 5 win appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Today is a sad day: legendary West Village restaurant Extra Virgin has announced that it will officially close after service on May 31. 

According to Eater, the first to report the news, the lease is up at 259 West 4th Street by Perry Street, where the Italian eatery has operated since it first opened back in 2004, “and the building’s landlord raised the rent.” 

“It’s just mathematically impossible for us to continue,” owner Michele Gaton said to the outlet. 

Delicious food (including a straight-up spaghetti al pomodoro and the lemon-coated cod) and homey vibes defined the downtown restaurant for two decades, making it a staple in a neighborhood that has been dealing with a slew of other culinary-related shutterings in the past few months: Mary’s Fish Camp just closed, as did Cafe Clover and Chumley’s, among many others. 

The area’s character, so intricately related to the businesses that call it home, will undoubtedly shift come June—a fact that plenty of locals have taken to bemoan on social media while commenting on Extra Virgin’s announcement.

• “I feel like I’m losing a piece of myself!” someone wrote on Instagram.
• ”So sad to hear this news!! What a huge loss to the neighborhood and to all of NYC! I will dream about the extra virgin chicken forever!” another user commented.
• ”End of an Era!” a third fan wrote on the platform. “so many memories and helping to get us through Covid!!”

The enormity of the news is not lost on the business itself.

“The past 20 years have been filled with laughter, flavors and unforgettable moments shared with you, our cherished patrons,” the restaurant wrote in a message announcing the bitter news on Instagram. “Your unwavering support has been the cornerstone of our success and, for that, we are deeply grateful.” 

* This article was originally published here

The Mets are a competent team. Led by first-year manager Carlos Mendoza, they were 19-22 and in fourth place in the National League (NL) East after a 4-0 loss to the division leading Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field in Queens on Tuesday. The Mets were 18th in runs scored in Major League Baseball, with 172 in 41 games played prior to last night’s game versus the Philadelphia Phillies.   

Veteran first baseman and designated hitter J.D. Martinez, who was signed as a free agent in March less than a week before Opening Day, has provided protection for the other hitters, particularly All Star first baseman Pete Alonso. Martinez has been a very good hitter for most of his 14-year career, with 305 home runs, 1,655 hits, and 1,007 RBI when the Mets’ four-game, home-and-home series against the Phillies moved to Philadelphia last night for Game 3. The series finale is tonight.

Martinez has shown the ability to be a consistent run producer in the middle of a lineup. Alonso, while still one of baseball’s best power hitters with nine home runs and 22 RBI before last night’s game, has seen his batting average decrease. A career .250 hitter, he finished at .218 last year and was batting .226 after going 0-3 on Tuesday.  

Teams are pitching around Alonso due to his low average. He’s not getting enough good pitches to hit. However, as Martinez rounds into form, Alonso has begun to heat up and looks more comfortable with Martinez hitting behind him. Martinez has also helped others further down in the lineup, including second baseman Jeff McNeil. 

The 2022 NL batting champion at .326, McNeil’s average dropped 56 points last year (.270). He was counted on to be a run producer last season, which he is not. He’s averaging less than 50 runs batted in per year. Martinez, a gap hitter with power, has moved McNeil to sixth in the order where he can be more effective.

Martinez, who spent the beginning of the year in the minors, has begun to hit his stride. He hit a ninth-inning home run to avert the Mets being no-hit by a trio of Atlanta Braves pitchers in a 4-1 loss on Saturday. As of yesterday, Martinez was batting .288 with one homer, five RBI, and 16 hits in 17 games.

Four-time All Star shortstop Francisco Lindor is adding punch with seven homers and 21 RBI in 162 at-bats from the three-spot batting in front of Alonso. Thus far, the Mets have not looked like a playoff contender, but they are a respectable work in progress that could emerge as a wildcard challenger. 

Their schedule has them playing the Miami Marlins on the road for three games this weekend beginning tomorrow, followed by a three-game set versus the Cleveland Guardians next Monday through Wednesday. 

The post The Mets’ lineup remains a work in progress appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

The Major League Baseball season is still in the early stages. The conclusion of the first half on July 14 is two months away, and 16 more weeks of the schedule lie ahead before the regular season ends.  

Even so, the Yankees are positioned where many pundits predicted they would be coming into this campaign. A lot can happen between now and their final regular season game on Sept. 29, but as for now, they had the third best record in MLB at 28-15 going into last night against the Minnesota Twins on the road. Only the Philadelphia Phillies (30-13) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (29-15), both of the National League, were above them for the top overall mark.

The Yankees were in first place in the American League (AL) East, and led the young and gifted Baltimore Orioles (26-14), last year’s division champions, by a half-game. The Yankees finished fourth last year at 82-80. They have accumulated a high win total with two mainstays. Pitcher Gerrit Cole, last season’s AL Cy Young Award recipient, and infielder DJ LeMahieu have yet to play a regular season game due to injuries they picked up in spring training. Cole was shelved with right elbow inflammation and nerve pain. LaMahieu’s 2024 debut has been delayed by a non-displaced right foot fracture after hitting a foul ball off of it on March 16.

Both have been rehabbing at the Yankees complex in Tampa, Florida. No exact timetable has been publicly communicated by the Yankees for when either will rejoin the active roster, but according to the team’s manager, Aaron Boone, the signs are encouraging.

“Gerrit, everything went well,” said Boone after a recent throwing session by Cole. In the meantime, the Yankees starters Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, Marcus Stroman, and Clarke Schmidt have been strong with a collective ERA of 3.318 before meeting up with the Twins last night. And closer Clay Holmes had 12 saves, a 0.98 WHIP, and a remarkable 0.00 ERA in 18 appearances.

At the plate, right fielder Juan Soto has been on an MVP mission, leading the Yankees in batting average (.313), RBI (34), and hits (51). Center fielder Aaron Judge, the 2022 AL MVP, topped the team in home runs with 10.

The Yankees will play three games against the Chicago White Sox this weekend on the road, then take on the Mariners in Seattle for four games Monday through Thursday. 

The post The Yankees meet expectations to start the season appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Taiwan-based bubble tea chain Chicha San Chen—which has garnered a devoted fanbase over the past two decades for serving allegedly stronger tea than its competitors, a result of growing and hand-picking their own tea leaves—is soft-opening its first New York City location tomorrow, May 16, in Manhattan’s Chinatown. And the brand is celebrating the big news by hosting a grand opening party with freebies this weekend. 

RECOMMENDED: The best bubble tea spots in NYC, from established chains to locally-owned shops

Debuting at 72-74 Bayard Street near Mott Street, the international import will fete its grand opening on Saturday, May 18 from 11:30am to 8:30pm. The first 100 who attend the opening soiree will get to take home free Chicha San Chen merchandise upon the purchase of a bubble milk tea. (Note: drinks will be limited to two cups per person during the soft opening and grand opening event.) 

And speaking of bubble tea, Chicha San Chen offers a variety of flavors, including Green Tea, Osmanthus Oolong Tea, High Mountain Pouchong Tea, and Cassia Black Tea. The shop’s teas are so quality, they’ve been awarded what’s referred to as the equivalent of three Michelin stars by the International Taste Institute, designated as “a product that has gone through a sensory evaluation of each of the above 5 criteria by professional taste-experts” and achieved an average score above 90 percent.

You can order the brand’s teas a la carte or explore the NYC location’s exclusive new Tea Tasting Area, where tea lovers can enjoy a curated five-tea flight and take part in tea-tasting demonstrations, to learn about and sample variations of Chicha San Chen’s Oolong Tea that hails from the Lishan Mountains in Taiwan.

Chicha San Chen is the just latest in international bubble tea brands that have been making moves into Manhattan as of late: HeyTea, the originator of cheese tea from Jiangmen, China, opened its first NYC location in Midtown this past December and Nana’s Green Tea—the modern Japanese cafe specializing in green teas and matcha desserts—debuted its first NYC location this past April at 1250 Broadway in Koreatown. 

* This article was originally published here