Electronics junkies have been raving about online retailer AudioCubes for years, so when the company opened their first physical store at the end of 2007, it was cause for some geeky celebration. The diminutive storefront resides in the middle of NYU country on overdeveloped 8th Street, which is more or less an outdoor shopping mall for first year students and their parents’ money. In short, a brilliant choice of location.
Beautifully-designed gadgets and unusual imports, from simple toys to straight-up robots, are the main event at AC Gears, and half the fun is figuring out what everything does. If you find yourself stumped, the super-knowledgeable and friendly salesmen are always on hand to show you how something works or let you down easy when you ask how much it costs. Oh, to be a freshman again. The majority of AC Gears’ products are Japanese in origin, thanks to their Osaka-based office and warehouse, and that means they’re able to offer awesome and unique items you won’t find anywhere else in New York.
I could write about the cool things they sell here all day. First of all, if you know any Guitar Hero fanatics, the “Takaratomy Air Guitar Pro Acoustic” ($55.99) is just about the most perfect present they could ever ask for. This magical guitar neck (really the upper neck) uses infrared technology to create realistic sounds, and the small size makes it extremely portable. Another item on my wish list is the Segatoys Dream Cat Smile Robot ($149.99), which puts the robotic cat Salem from “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” to shame. True, having a robot cat creepily smiling at you all day might give you nightmares and/or psychological issues, but it’s so damn cute!
More AC Gears stores are planned for New York and around the country, so soon we could literally have a full-fledged robot takeover on our hands. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
The gallery system in New York can be daunting for artists just starting out (or “emerging artists,” as they’re referred to within this insular world). If it’s not about who you know, it’s about how you look. Even worse, once you do manage to make a name for yourself, the industry demands that your work be consistent above all, so that you’ll have a recognizable style that’s simple enough for the most feeble-minded buyers to grasp. It’s enough to make an artist sell his studio and take up doing sidewalk murals for tips again. But there has also always been an undercurrent of true art, the art of the people, in New York and around the world. In recent years, a handful of arts collectives have managed to combine the modern gallery with the bohemian salon, in ways that are often daring and inspiring, and Cobble Hill’s Micro Museum is one of those collectives.
Since 1986, Micro Museum has been serving the community by offering a variety of programs and classes for children and adults, and by housing an impressive media archive, which now includes hundreds of pieces of digital and video artwork and a huge collection of 78 records donated by the Met (the art one, not the opera one). They also host regular Open Wall installations, where the public may submit artwork for display based on the cryptic themes of the upcoming shows (“Animals in Your Kingdom” and “DNA r’ US,” for example). Most importantly, they serve as an “arts incubator” for artists of truly mixed media, from dance to interactive sculpture (I’m sure there’s a more correct art term for the latter), allowing opportunities for struggling artists to develop their style and collaborate with others in a nurturing environment.
Micro Museum is only open to the public on Saturdays and during special events and openings, and unlike most New York galleries, they charge a two-dollar cover. I rarely recommend paying to view art, but the money goes to support the museum’s community programs, so I’m OK with it…this time. If you really want to get your money’s worth, stop by before closing – every Saturday from 5-7pm, gallery owners William and Kathleen Laziza, as well as the artists responsible for the work that’s currently on display, are on hand to lead a discussion and answer questions. The complimentary tea and light snacks served during these talks are a thoughtful touch considering the limitless appetites of the poverty-stricken Brooklyn artists and writers (like me) in attendance. Okay, I admit it, I go to art galleries for the free food. But this time, I actually looked at the art for more than ten minutes, and for me, that’s saying a lot!
As admirable as it is to eat organic food, there’s still kind of a Birkenstock-wearing hippie connotation to it. This is probably because, as with vegetarian and vegan food, most organic-only restaurants (at least until recently) have been rather one-note. Fans of variety, authentic ethnic dishes, and interesting preparation methods were forced to dine elsewhere. But restaurants like Gusto Grilled Organics are changing all of that.
The food at Gusto could best be described as Argentinean with a modern twist, and of course it is all 100% organic. Grilled empanadas and steak sandwiches serve as the focal point of the small menu, while grilled flatbread pizzas reflect the massive Italian influence on Argentinean cuisine. The really brave (and hopefully dateless) can order the Fugazza ($4.45), which is topped with heaps of grilled onions and olive oil, but perhaps the coolest pizza option is the Tenderloin ($7.95), with hunks of grilled sirloin, tomatoes and green olives. The empanadas are equally good; try the Humida ($3.95), which is stuffed with corn, homemade salsa blanca, and oregano, for a satisfying afternoon snack or light lunch. All other dishes aside, beef is for all intents and purposes the national food of Argentina, and it is given appropriate reverence at Gusto with their grilled steak sandwiches, which are kept very simple in order to highlight the flavor of the meat.
The cafe culture of Buenos Aires is also nicely represented at Gusto with their breakfast menu, which allows you the chance to start your day with a strong coffee and a media luna (croissant) like the Portenos do. Of course, a true Argentinean wouldn’t be caught dead out on the town before midnight, so it’s a shame Gusto closes so early (11pm on the weekdays, midnight on weekends). They have all the makings of an excellent after-dinner lounge, with a great wine list, scrumptious desserts like Dulce de Leche ice cream and Sweet Bread Pudding (all $3-5), Yerba Mate, cocoa, coffee and tea drinks. Despite this cultural inconsistency, Gusto Grilled Organics is still a fantastic (and guilt-free) place to eat.
Electronics junkies have been raving about online retailer AudioCubes for years, so when the company opened their first physical store at the end of 2007, it was cause for some geeky celebration. The diminutive storefront resides in the middle of NYU country on overdeveloped 8th Street, which is more or less an outdoor shopping mall for first year students and their parents’ money. In short, a brilliant choice of location.