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New York has no shortage when it comes to sushi restaurants. But when it comes to finding sushi that prioritizes sourcing and fresh ingredients while still hitting an accessible price point? That’s where things can get a little tricky. Guy Allen ran into the same issue. While Allen was willing to spend big bucks on sushi—the former real estate agent once flew to Tokyo because a reservation at a restaurant opened up—he reckoned that there was still a gap in the market.

“I think everyone who eats sushi, the majority of the time, you just want something good and quick and affordable. No one wants to sit for three hours every time you’re eating sushi, right?” he tells Time Out New York. “Or if I just want to watch a movie on a Friday night, let me get some good takeout. It was hard to find even places that were average quality.”

RECOMMENDED:Best cheap sushi in NYC

Using his connections with suppliers and distributors he met along the way, he launched Sendo in 2021, a direct-to-consumer sushi operation that worked well during the height of the pandemic. But when he realized the wholesale model wasn’t working out, he thought back to the type of sushi restaurants he loved in Japan—fast-casual, standing counters where fresh quality sushi can be had at an affordable price. Scouting for a chef that would fit the bill, he reached out to chef Kevin Ngo, a former alumnus of two of New York’s finest for sushi: Sushi Nakazawa and Sushi Ginza Onodera. Today, the duo opened Sendo (876 6th Avenue), an Edo-inspired sushi counter for the rest of us.

Hidden behind a nondescript black door on the second floor, the 10-seater counter space can be found up a flight of narrow wooden stairs. A former threading and beauty salon-turned-restaurant, Sendo, like most New York spaces, is tight. To your right, you’ll find a small kitchen barely hidden by curtains. To your left, the counter with just 10 chairs. Looking to emulate the minimal sushi counters of Japan, Allen used AI to produce “several thousand” iterations of a space. However the end result is a relatively simple design decorated with dark walnut wood from Japan, soft lighting and a black marble counter.

And as for behind the counter? Chef Kevin Ngo bar is stocked with quality ingredients mirroring higher-end sushi restaurants. Here, premium fish is sourced from Tokyo’s Toyosu market while rice is flown in from farms in the Niigata and Hokkaido Prefectures. Small-batched vinegar and sauces aged with Japanese kelp and citrus are made in house. And on the plate (or in this case, the bamboo leaves as Sendo doesn’t use plates) features Japanese sea bream, springy Hokkaido scallops and the delightfully buttery Alaskan botanebi with roe. But even with all this, the price here doesn’t go higher than $50. Three handrolls are priced at $18 and cap at $28 for six. Meanwhile, the curated Sendo Sets—which feature nigiri, handrolls and kaisendon or a rice bowl dish inspired by the Edomae chirashi—start at $32 and tap out at $45. All the sets plus the a la carte nigri is also available for takeout. And with only 10 mouths to feed, chef Ngo can have you in, fed and on your way in 30 minutes.

And while the day-to-day dealings are more affordable, don’t be surprised if Sendo dabbles in higher-end pop-ups down the road, evident in their April pop-up with legendary Tokyo sushi chef Hidefumi Namba (attached with the legendary price of $1,000 per seat). But for now, Sendo is here to bring us good sushi in good time. And for that, we are grateful.

* This article was originally published here

Once again, we are saddened to report on the imminent closing of a beloved local business: legendary Brooklyn store Crest Hardware & Urban Garden Center at 558 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg.

The supply shop, a major part of the community for over six decades, will officially shutter on August 30.

“Unfortunately, I was not offered an opportunity to sign a new lease by my property partners,” owner Joseph Franquinha tells Time Out New York.

Pix11 reports that Franquinha’s family actually owns the store’s property and has decided “to sell the land.” 

As devotees of the shop are wont to remember, Franquinha’s father, Manny, opened the store across the street from its current location back in 1962. The younger Franquinha joined the business in 2004 but became an owner five years later. Father and son worked together until Manny passed at the age of 89 back in 2017. The shop became known for its excellent service and selection and the events it held for the community.

Clearly disheartened by the situation, Franquinha tells Time Out that, although “finding a new place was our instinctive thought,” the shop will not re-open at another address or in some other form.

“We looked locally in Williamsburg and other north Brooklyn areas like Greenpoint and parts of Bushwick,” he reveals. “We even looked at Ridgewood but the prices per square foot on commercial spaces made it prohibitive. Plus, the thought of trying to recreate the magic that lives within these four walls and garden in a new space simply feels out of reach.”

Speaking of the store’s legendary atmosphere: when asked what he will miss most about the neighborhood, Franquinha is quick to mention the people that live around the shop and have always frequented it.

“There’s a lot that goes into creating a successful retail formula,” he says. “Variables can change here and there but the people are the constant. Without them, none of this happens. When I’m having a rough day, I go downstairs and just help people. It clears my mind, fills my heart and reminds me of what I love about running Crest.”

For what it’s worth, we’ll miss the Crest family just as much as they will miss us.

* This article was originally published here

Listen up New Yorkers, if you’re looking for an exhilarating adventure beyond city limits this summer, we’ve got you. Whitewater rafting and tubing are two of the most exciting ways to not only cool off, but get up close and personal with the beautiful nature of our surrounding lands. No matter age or skill, challenging yourself to a day on the rapids is an incredibly fun outdoorsy way to get your heart pounding. Making for the perfect weekend trip or even short day trip, we’ve thrown together some spots you should consider booking as a getaway.

Here are our favorite places (and companies) to book this summer’s whitewater rafting excursion through:

1. Sourced Adventures – Poconos, PA

Full of twisting turns and rollicking rapids, this whitewater rafting experience brings New Yorkers directly to the Poconos for a day on the water. You can become one of the “Whitewater Challengers” as you cruise down 9 miles of class III rapids on the Lehigh River…all while taking in some of the best scenery of the Poconos. The adrenaline-pumping day trip leaves from Midtown West on select Saturdays and Sundays during the summer, where you’re then welcomed to 3-4 hours of lessons and rafting, a lunch, and access to all the gear you need.

It’s an incredible summer day trip idea (only 2 hours from the city) and a great way to cool off amongst this wild heat wave!

Book your experience with Sourced Adventures here!

2. Beaver Brook Outfitters – Indian Lake, NY

Explore 15 miles of whitewater rafting along the Hudson River Gorge with Beaver Brook Outfitters, who offers both day trip and overnight trip rafting options. They both of course feature big rapids, swimming, splash fights, excellent food and reliable dam-released waters to paddle on. The rafting location itself is about 4 hours away from NYC in Indian Lake, NY which is a little further than some of the others on this list, but it’s totally worth the trip.

In terms of cost, it’s $110 per person or you can pay per boat at $660 (fits up to 6 people), with both public mixed and private boat options available. Their rafting season runs through Columbus Day in October! Learn more about how to book with Beaver Brook Outfitters here.

3. Silver Canoe & Whitewater Rafting – Port Jevis, NY

Silver Canoe & Whitewater Rafting offers whitewater rafting along the Delaware River, with two different trip options: a 9 mile full day whitewater trip from Pond Eddy to Port Jervis or a shorter 3 mile Mongaup trip. For the longer trips you can expect 4 – 5 hours on the water and for the shorter trip 1.5 – 2 hours. The rapids here are graded Class 1 & 2 make it slightly “easier” and better for all ages and experience! Learn more about Silver Canoe & Whitewater Rafting’s trips here.

4. Kittatinny River Trips – Barryville, NY & Matamoras, PA

Serving two different areas (and states for that matter), Kittatinny Canoes offers whitewater rafting, tubing, and kayaking in both Barryville, NY & Matamoras, PA.They’ve been operating on the Delaware river for 80 years, providing adrenaline junkies with a diverse selection of rapids and Delaware River trips. Their packages can range from 3 – 11 miles of fun, totaling from 2 – 6 hours per adventure. It’s a great place to paddle, see some wildlife, and even dip your toes in the water. Learn more about Kittatinny River Trips’ offerings here!

5. Farmington River Tubing – New Hartford, CT

If you’re looking for somewhere to go tubing, look no farther than Farmington River Tubing, who is the premier place in New England to go for a floating ride! A mere 2.5 hour trip from NYC, this outfitters company grants access to their specially designed river tubes as you float down a 2.5 mile ride of wild rapids down the scenic Farmington River. It’s only $30 per person (cash only) and you can go as much as you wish during their open hours! Learn more about their tubing program here!

6. Pocono Whitewater Rafting – Poconos, PA

Another great option in the Pennsylvania area, Pocono Whitewater Rafting offers a few different whitewater rafting options that are perfect for all ages. Their classic adventure consists of 12 miles and 4 – 5 hours of Class II, III whitewater rafting and breathtaking scenery, but they other fun packages too like a 3 to 4 hour family style whitewater rafting adventure on the Lehigh River, an afternono express adventure, a pirate-themed adventure, and even nighttime “moonlit” excursions. Prices start at around $80 and their season runs through October. Learn more about Pocono Whitewater Rafting’s options here!

7. Lander’s River Trips – Narrowsburg, NY

Operating since 1955, this outfitter along the Delaware River has whitewater rafting down to a science…offering 5 different launch and landing locations and adventures ranging from 2.5 – 5 hours. They also provide other services too like tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and even camping! Their 10 mile stretch runs from Matamoras, PA to Callicoon, NY allowing rafters to pick and choose where they’d like to go on the rapids. It’s family-owned as well so every detail feels lovely and heartwarming. Learn more about their adventures here!

The post 7 Places To Go Whitewater Rafting & Tubing Near NYC This Summer appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Each year visiting Earthlings, extraterrestrials, and other-worldly beings head to the annual UFO Fair in Pine Bush, New York, but the fair isn’t actually the only chance you have of catching a glimpse of an alien in this town.

There’s a reason the town holds a UFO Fair each year: the town is actually the UFO Capital of the East Coast–and perhaps the entire country!

According to Haunted History Trail, the Hamlet of Pine Bush has “witnessed some serious activities and strange sightings over the years,” and extra-terrestrial enthusiasts have been flocking there since the early 1960s.

Times Union states that in the 1980s and ’90s, the Hudson Valley had one of the biggest clusters of UFO reports in history. A New York Times article circa August 1984 wrote how in the span of a few years more than 5,000 people–including highly reputable sources–reported seeing a “gigantic triangle with lights, about 30 feet off the ground – hovering. Then it turned off its lights and shot straight up.”

On March 24, 1983 alone, more than 300 reports came in of people seeing a “V-shaped craft adorned with colored lights that hovered slowly and silently in the sky,” according to Times Union.

And not too long ago in March 2018 USA Today reported that declassified video and audio was released which showed “U.S. Navy pilots apparently encountering a UFO — with no wings and no tail — as they flew their Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet” in Pine Bush back in 2015.

So, naturally, the town opened The Pine Bush UFO & Paranormal Museum back in 2021, which operates year-round and gives visitors an inside look at the region’s ties to unexplainable happenings and extraterrestrials.

A timeline of UFO sightings in the museum, however, shows that mysterious events in Pine Bush date back to at least the early twentieth century.

You can explore the museum two ways–by taking a self-guided tour and experiencing the museum at your own pace or on an exclusive guided tour which includes a look at their new haunted artifact exhibit.

So, what do you say? Do you believe in aliens? If you’re on the fence and looking to get in touch with interstellar beings and extraterrestrials, you may only need to hop in the car and drive to Pine Bush.

Pine Bush, New York

2 hours from NYC by car

The post The UFO Capital Of The East Coast Is Only 2 Hours From NYC appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here