FRIDAY
On the Fourth of July, try to finagle one of the hot tickets for a seat at Roosevelt Island. The $20 ticket buys a guaranteed chair on the island and a great view of the Macy’s fireworks. What’s more–the event is catered by Harlem’s own Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. But if that’s not up your alley, there’s always Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Just get there early–before noon–and you’ll likely get a great view of that time-honored tradition of shoving forty hot dogs into one mouth.
Roosevelt Island
Purchase tickets!
SATURDAY
Photo Credit: Anne/Debu-Hamu.com
Need to wind down after the festivities of the Fourth? The newly reopened Chocolate Bar is the perfect place to chill. The cafe, which was forced to move because of rising rent at its former West Village location, opened June 30th. Now, owner Allison Nelson wants to make friends with her new neighbors. During the first month, buy an iced or hot chocolate and get a free chocolate stencil bar-chocolate with a wrapper designed by a Brooklyn stencil artist.
Chocolate Bar 127 East 7th Street (between 1st & A)
www.chocolatebarnyc.com
SUNDAY
Begin your day with brunch at Perilla. Harold Dieterle, Top Chef champion and owner of this Village restaurant, has proven over the past year that he’s more than a reality show contestant. His menu, which changes seasonally, is delicious and inventive, and the restaurant and its people are charming and warm. Brunch reservations are much easier to obtain than prime-time dinner ones, so call for one today. Walk out of the restaurant satiated and head immediately to the nearest phone–get to work on your Restaurant Week reservations (it’s less than two weeks away!).
Perilla 9 Jones Street (between Bleecker and 4th Sts)
www.perillanyc.com
