“Let Me Tell You” is a series of columns from our expert editors about NYC living, including the best things to do, where to eat and drink, and what to see at the theater. They publish each Tuesday so you’re hearing from us each week. Last month, Senior News Editor Anna Rahmanan tried some of the weirdest wellness treatments in NYC and wrote about them all.

I’ve reached a limit with all the themed immersive experiences, odd culinary pairings and weird wellness treatments in NYC. I long for the return of a traditional restaurant meal, a straightforward movie screening, a one-dimensional art exhibit and a simple massage so, when I first heard about a mushroom-only restaurant in New York, thought it was another gimmick. Despite that, I decided to see it for myself—after all, I have a love for fungi and I am devoted to all things new given my job as a news editor.

Alas, I could no longer avoid stepping into Third Kingdom, the self-described first restaurant of its kind in New York, which was now all over my social media feed. 

Opened earlier this year by owner Ravi DeRossi of uber-successful Overthrow Hospitality alongside chef Juan Pajarito, Third Kingdom, a reference to the fungi kingdom, occupies a pretty nondescript storefront at 21 East 7th Street in the East Village. 

The vegan restaurant falls squarely into the realm of off-the-beaten-path destinations that business owners think New Yorkers want to visit—and is perfect social media fodder. Just think about it: could you really scroll past a video of innovative mushroom-only dishes in NYC? That’s what I thought. 

And so there I was on a recent Sunday night, entering fungi-land alongside my shroom-loving husband. 

Although mushrooms are everywhere at Third Kingdom, the space feels like the inside of a fungus—all dark and brown and full of images of toadstools from across the world. The experience made one thing clear: there is no such thing as too many mushrooms. 

The menu is a relatively simple one: there are about 10 dishes on offer, each one using mushrooms as its centerpiece, cooked differently each time.

Although a bit too spicy for my simple palate, the ramen certainly showcases the creativity of chef Pajarito: the crunchy, fried enoki complements the house-made noodles and sesame coconut broth nicely. The blue oyster, the restaurant’s version of a steak, also delivers: the button mushroom puree is incredibly tasty, especially next to a deliciously prepared celery root and fennel concoction. 

The mushroom dumplings are, on the other hand, a more traditional dish and a great choice for patrons yearning for a classic order, although it is the vegan raviolo—a single (rather large) fried mushroom on a bed of green sauce—that steals the show, perhaps one of the best vegan dishes in New York.

A word about the dessert, a rosemary-and-mushroom ice cream that’s heavy on the former and is served alongside a chocolate lava cake: when, at the beginning of your meal, the waiter asks you whether you’d like to order it given that it takes almost 30 minutes to prepare, say “yes.”

The idea that fungi could be considered as routinely satisfying as, say, a piece of beef, is the exact core of Third Kingdom’s proposition. 

“Vegetables have always been an afterthought, something we thought we had to eat in order to get the proper nutrients we need to live a healthier life, not something that can taste so profoundly amazing that they can alter the course of one’s culinary journey,” owner DeRossi writes to me. “It’s like this: if I were an artist and just invented oil paint and canvas today the art world would go crazy with delight. Vegetables can be the oil paint and canvas of today.”

Perhaps not as culture-altering as the invention of oil paint, Third Kingdom certainly does seem to ride on the wave of sustainability that has come to define many local enterprises. 

“Mushrooms are the most sustainable product on the planet,” says DeRossi. “You can grow more products in the least amount of space with the least amount of energy and water than anything else. Mushrooms are the future of dining in a world where our natural resources are running out and becoming very expensive.”

What’s more, the eatery shies away from vegan versions of non-vegan dishes (there is not much fake cheese here), clearly utilizing the versatility of the mushroom as the main focus of the menu. 

Although I do wish the eatery’s drink menu included cocktails (only beer and wine are on offer), perhaps fungi-leaning ones could showcase a New York City bartender’s inventiveness.

Third Kingdom did deliver despite its at-first gimmicky premise. Turns out, not all unconventional gastronomic offerings should be passed over with an eye-roll.

* This article was originally published here

On a quiet upstate road between the Catskill mountains and the Hudson River, an unassuming venue is partnering with some of the biggest names in Brooklyn music.

With its dark facade and single Coors Light sign blinking in the window, it would be easy to drive past The Tavern without giving it a second glance. Those not in the know would definitely not suspect that the lowkey spot in the middle of the woods was partnering with big local names like Barbès, Sister Midnight and Good Room on a killer lineup this summer. They’d also be pretty surprised upon entering the small building to find a state-of-the-art sound system, bar and dance floor.

The venue is part of Glen Falls House, a newly revitalized resort spread out across multiple buildings on Winter Clove Road in the historic community of Round Top. With its main building dating back to 1881 and well-worn trails leading to stunning, under-the-radar waterfalls, the resort balances Catskills tradition with contemporary offerings like an on-site mushroom farm and Brooklinen bedding. That balancing act extends to its live music venue where cutting-edge offerings can be found within a simple roadside building.

“This is the summer where everything has come together,” Glen Falls House owner Jon Picco tells Time Out. “We’re very eclectic in our taste, we just draw the line at good music.”

This summer, that taste has resulted in steering away from house and EDM while casting a wide net that encompasses South American and Eastern European sounds. 

Here’s what’s planned for the weeks ahead:

• July 4-July 7, 2024 Love Injection Fourth of July (SOJ 2024), in partnership with Good Room 
• July 13 Palehound (solo) + Tomberlin (solo) in partnership with Sister Midnight, tickets are $34.72
• July 18 Meridian Brothers, in partnership with Barbès
• July 20 Small Black, in partnership with Sister Midnight, tickets are $25.03 
• July 26-28 The Level Party (SOJ 2024), in partnership with Good Room
• August 3 Verbatim: Small Press Poetry and Music Fair, Verbatim x GFH, free to the public 
• August 9-11 Earth Beat Weekender (SOJ 2024), in partnership with Good Room
• August 30-September 2 Love Games Labor Day (SOJ 2024), in partnership with Good Room 

Those interested in heading up for a concert and staying the weekend will also be able to take advantage of an outdoor pool open to guests directly next to The Tavern. (A truly immersive experience!) A new poolside bar will provide easier service from the Tavern to those outside and QR codes found on tables allow guests to order food from the resort.

* This article was originally published here

Sometimes an ice rink, other times a roller rink, and even now a swimming pool, The Rink at Rockefeller Center is a jack of all trades. This summer, Joel Mesler’s “Pool Party” public art installation has entirely transformed the iconic space into a seasonal spectacle you can’t miss.

The enormous installation, put on by Rockefeller Center and Art Production Fund, features a “pool” on printed vinyl of Mesler’s signature water motif, complimented by sculptural beach balls and noodles. Turf grass surrounds the work of art, making it even more inviting for passersby to ‘dip their toes’ into the mesmerizing masterpiece that screams summertime!

“The sculptural elements encourage engagement and an environment of play, leisure and repose, transforming the urban landscape of Rockefeller Center,” reads the press release.

In addition to the artistic swimming pool, 193 flags decorate The Rink’s perimeter, designed by Mesler with words of positivity, including “hugs,” “love,” “hope,” and “joy.”

Mesler was inspired to create such a scene through his fond memories of childhood pool parties. “Presenting this work publicly at Rockefeller Center is a dream come true. I hope visitors take the time to immerse themselves in the themes of love, joy and community in the height of the summer months. Come and play!” said the artist himself, Joel Mesler.

New Yorkers can catch the installation on view from now through July 21st, 2024. It’s all part of Rockefeller Center’s summer programing, Summer at The Rink.

Guests can explore more of Mesler’s art throughout the Center with additional works of vinyl imagery on display around the campus that adds to his narrative in “Pool Party.”

For an actual pool to cool off in though you can check out these incredible rooftop pools or public pools in NYC!

The post A Massive Swimming Pool Has Taken Over Rockefeller Center In New Installation appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here