Though us New Yorkers take a lot of pride in our pizza, the city is definitely seeing more and more places popping up and serving pies we may not necessarily be familiar with–take Appas Pizza, for example, the East Village’s new Korean pizza parlor.

And considering NYC is officially the #1 best U.S. city for pizza addicts, we’re always open to try something new–right? And Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza is the newest place to give us that opportunity.

The owners behind this new rooftop restaurant and bar are combining outside influence with personal tradition, serving pies that that pull inspiration from New Haven-style apizzas, some of their favorite Brooklyn pies, and the pizzas they make at home with their kids.

Apizza is a thin-crust pizza that is traditionally baked in a coal-fired brick oven that gives the crust a sooty, smoky flavor. Visitors will find these thin sourdough pies on the menu topped with seasonal produce and cooked in a pizza oven sourced from Italy.

Specialty summer pizzas include Hot Pepperoni with tomato sauce, pepperoni, serrano chilis, and honey, Clam with local little neck clams, aged mozzarella, garlic, Physica Riesling butter sauce, and fresh parsley, Squashed with summer squash medallions, squash blossoms, egg yolk drizzle, ricotta, and cracked black pepper, and Cozy with mashed potatoes, bacon, and fermented tomatoes.

And though the specialty pies will change with the seasons, Lala’s offers two year-round pies–Red with tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, pecorino, olive oil, and White made with fresh mozzarella, garlic, oregano, pecorino, olive oil, both of which can be customized with toppings.

Non-pizza menu items include house lacto-fermented pickled vegetables, salad, and a selection of desserts.

Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza is the brainchild of Lauren and Joe Grimm, the husband and wife duo behind the award-winning brewery Grimm Artisanal Ales and sister natural winery Physica Wines.

Their pizza-making process uses the same spontaneous fermentation that gives Grimm beers and Physica wines their unique flavor profiles.

Guests who visit the 4,000-square-foot open air space will be met with floor-to-ceiling accordion doors (to create an indoor-outdoor seating during the warmer months), biergarten-style long tables and benches, and a terracotta bar.

Their rooftop terrace offers stunning sweeping views of Brooklyn and Queens, making for the perfect place to enjoy a pie along with a drink from their beverage menu which includes a full list of Grimm beers, natural wine from Physica Wines, and a small cocktail menu featuring housemade batched classics.

Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza is located in East Williamsburg on the roof of Grimm Artisanal Ales at 990 Metropolitan Avenue. They’re open Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

You can learn more on their website.

The post This New Pizza Spot Is Serving New Haven-Style Thin Crust Pies On A Williamsburg Rooftop appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

Black and Hispanic households consistently maintained lower median cash balances than their white and Asian counterparts during and post-pandemic, according to a new JPMorgan & Chase Co. comprehensive Household Pulse study.

Placing a spotlight on American households’ financial landscape, the financial giant analyzed administrative banking data to track the cash balance of around nine million Chase customers from January 2020 to March 2023.

Through financial analysis, Chase provided an important glimpse into the economic trajectories of diverse households by revealing stark cash balance discrepancies among its customers based on race and ethnicity.

The study underscored that the imbalances are not merely numerical; they also reflect the broader dynamics of the American socioeconomic fabric.

Black and Hispanic households saw more balance gains during the pandemic, especially when the government provided economic impact payments and expanded unemployment insurance.

However, study authors emphasized that the pandemic’s financial effects were not evenly distributed across all demographic groups.

Despite reports of higher income growth for Black and Hispanic individuals before and during the pandemic, there was a significant difference.

Black and Hispanics maintained cash buffers substantially below their white and Asian counterparts.

The authors noted that existing disparities defied the expectations that predicted higher income growth would bridge the gap.

The study showed that households’ combined checking and savings balances decreased in all income quartiles in the second half of 2022.

But the trend was reversed in March 2023, as tax returns began flowing in, providing a much-needed boost to many households’ financial standings.

As of March 2023, a stark divide was apparent between income quartiles.

The highest income quartiles saw median balances of approximately $9,000, while the lowest struggled with balances of around $1,300.

That represented a substantial decrease from the pinnacle observed in April 2022 post-tax return distributions, where balances stood at approximately $10,700 and $1,400, respectively.

Further data dissection underscored the persistent cash balance gap among racial and ethnic groups.

Despite the relative gains made during the pandemic, Black and Hispanic families consistently faced lower median cash balances than their white and Asian counterparts.

Peak balances for Black and Hispanic families in April 2021 reached $4,300 and $4,600 respectively.

In 2021, there was a consistent decline in the numbers.

In April 2022, Black families reached about $3,200 and Hispanic families reached roughly $3,500, and that was due to tax season.

In March 2023, balances for both groups slipped below $3,000, a figure approaching their respective pre-pandemic levels.

Click here to view the full study.

The post Black and Hispanic households consistently saw lower cash balances and relative gains during pandemic appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

A glance at the NYC forecast shows this week is supposed to be a hot one, and though us New Yorkers are quite experienced with dealing with the dog days of summer, we’d never say no to to receiving some much needed relief from the heat.

Thankfully Carvel hears us, and this week they’re saving us by giving away thousands of free soft serve treats!

The giveaway comes not only as a way to honor National Soft Serve Day, but also to celebrate Carvel’s nearly century-long history. 

Almost 90 years ago, during Memorial Day weekend in 1934, Carvel’s Original Soft Serve ice cream was created in New York after Tom Carvel’s ice cream truck broke down in the summer heat.

According to their website, the truck got a flat tire causing Carvel to pull over and begin selling a slightly melted version of his ice cream. Much to his surprise, people preferred it softer. And, well, the rest is sweet, sweet history.

And this week they’ll be giving away their soft serve treats for free!

Those who head to one of their NYC locations on Saturday, August 19, will get a BOGO cup or cone of any flavor of their choosing (extra toppings excluded). Those who can’t make it that day can head to a location between Friday, August 18 and Sunday, August 20 for a “double the fun” limited-time double cone while supplies last.

And while this is a great, mouthwatering deal, do you really think Carvel would stop celebrating National Soft Serve Day there?! Of course not!

Carvel will also be popping up around NYC for special National Soft Serve Day experiences and activations, including:

• Empire State Building Treats – Thursday, August 17, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sweet tooths can enjoy Carvel soft serve and get free swag on the observatory atop the Empire State Building. Soft serve treats will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Learn more here.

• Fudgie + Carvel’s Truck – Friday, August 18

Catch Fudgie the Whale and the Carvel ice cream truck traveling around NYC handing out free soft serve! Fans can follow the stops on Carvel’s Twitter and Instagram.

• Softest Cruise Ever – Saturday, August 19, beginning at 11:55 a.m.

Relax and unwind during an NYC ferry trip with plush pillows and a soft serve themed experience while enjoying Carvel’s soft serve. While aboard, passengers might even spot Carvel’s beloved mascot Fudgie the Whale. (East River route)

The post You Can Get Free Soft Serve From Carvel This Week appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

With August‘s heat gearing up for a steady week in the 80s, we’ve got some exciting news to cool you down!

Idolized Gramercy ice cream shop, Caffè Panna, is opening their second location in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, reports Commercial Observer.

Apparently, Caffè Panna signed a 4,700-square-foot lease at 34 Norman Avenue. Hungry visitors can expect doors to open by the spring of 2024.

“The cult-following behind Caffè Panna has been absolutely phenomenal, and we cannot wait to see the customers’ reaction to the Brooklyn location, which will be an evolution of the Caffè Panna offering that exists in their Gramercy home,” Taryn Brandes of tenant broker Brand Urban. “This is a major step forward in the company’s strategic growth.”

The mastermind behind the shop inspired by Italy’s gelato tradition is Hallie Meyer. She managed to acquire loyal customers after opening the first location a stone’s throw away from Gramercy Park in 2019.

With new flavors and sundaes offered daily, ice cream lovers can always expect the unexpected on the menu. More specifically, customers can trust that the shop’s seven classic flavors will remain on the menu, in addition to five inventive scoops that continuously rotate. You can keep an eye on their Instagram for daily flavors and special updates.

The current location is open from Wednesday through Friday at the corner of Irving Place and 19th Street.

The post Cult-Followed Caffè Panna Is Coming To Brooklyn appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here