Tag Archives: NYC

Travel Tracks: vince vaughn + tiny’s giant sandwich shop

6 Dec

I decided to start this post in similar fashion to that of a few weeks ago (since the reasons keep piling up).

Reason # 129474 why I love Manhattan: Not only can you leave the doorstep of nearly any apartment in town, turn the corner and see at least 10 places you’d love to eat–BUT–you can also grab a table at your favourite neighbourhood sandwich shop and find yourself front row for a film shoot starring Vince Vaughn.

Vince Vaughn Film Shooting NYC via Tracks by Linds

Approaching the scene above, I wasn’t sure what I’d find around the corner. Turns out it was Vince – no big deal. I waited on the corner by strict demand so as not to disturb the filming with a group of  30 grade four school kids. Their teacher wasn’t too pleased about the waiting (imagine trying to contain that many kids). When the ‘Cut’ finally came, seeing their reaction when they realized who was acting was priceless. Excited murmurs and lots of ‘bounce walking’ ensued- you know the kind. Vince  was great with them, smiling and waving at their animation as they passed by.

As no photos were allowed outside, I knew there had to be a way, and that way was in the heart of a great breakfast/lunch spot – Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop.

I mean, I had to eat lunch anyway, right?

Vince Vaughn Film Shooting NYC via Tracks by Linds

Tiny’s is great because whether you are vegetarian or carnivorous, there is an option for you aside from bread with veggies (unlike Subway). On that note, I decided to rebel from my usual pescetarian diet and order chicken because that’s how I’ve been rolling lately. I loved its spicy hot sauce and the chicken was great, but I opted for mayo instead of the recommended blue cheese sauce. If I were to do it again I’d take the plunge for the blue cheese, but for this time, I guess you could say I ‘chickened’ out. Ha.


Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop NYC via Tracks by Linds

Vince Vaughn Film Shooting NYC via Tracks by Linds

Vince Vaughn Film Shooting NYC via Tracks by Linds

I enjoyed watching the filming process and kept amused by the two extras. Every time a scene was about to begin, they took their jobs more seriously than the main actors by brushing their hair, smoothing their clothes, etc. Kudos to them all for filming in the chilly weather though; they looked freezing and bundled up between shoots.

The movie’s slated to be called ‘Delivery Man’ so I’m wondering if this guy has a co-starring role:

Vince Vaughn Film Shooting NYC via Tracks by Linds
Eventually they huddled around to watch clips with the team and Vince seemed to have everyone in stitches, even off camera. They moved to the side of the sandwich shop for further filming but I concluded my time was done. I felt slightly creepy capturing even this much, but as these things rarely happen where I’m from, I swallowed my dignity and paparazzi’d my little heart out.

Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop NYC via Tracks by Linds
Thank you Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop for not only a great meal and friendly service, but a front row seat :).

Info
Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop
129 Rivington Street  / Lower East Side
New York, NY

Soul Balm: girlfriends, new life + nyc

23 Nov

Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what is going on outside of us, there’s always something we could be grateful for.- Barry Neil Kaufman

1. Girlfriends
autumn friends
 Through my days, I’ve connected with some pretty incredible ladies to love the shit out of. Life’s speckled us across all corners of North America at the moment, but a mini university reunion to celebrate the bump in our friend Kel’s belly had some of us in Toronto for one magical weekend this month. I love being with these girls – all it takes is one fragment of an idea to spiral into moments like the above. And that’s mild. Hallelujah for private Facebook albums. My favourite quote of the weekend happened during our dinner date: “Let’s go home so we can be weird.” 

2. New Life

Though a big part of going home for two weeks meant my grandfather’s passing, this little bundle was our blessing. She was born on both my grandmother and Blair’s birthday. This angel’s my new ‘niece’ as I like to say and she’s going to be very, very spoiled by all her aunties XO. I’m so happy I got to meet her last week and look forward to January.


3. NYC

1st Ave and 1st AveNYC this time around has been very different. I’m high on life, simply because I don’t have the commute to town like before. I can leave my doorstep and be in a community with restaurants & cafes &  laundromats. Yes, even they excite me! Blair took this pic for his brother – they’re Seinfeld maniacs:

Jerry: Well,where are you? 
Cosmo Kramer: I’m at the corner of 1st, and 1st.
Wait a minute. How can the same street intersect with itself? I must be at the nexus of the universe!


4. Pre-Cut Butternut Squash

Trader Joe's Butternut SquashTrader Joe’s. I’ve mentioned this love affair before way back in Kansas City and again in Towson, Maryland.  Their pre-cut butternut squash inspired me to cook some fun things this week like black bean, butternut squash, feta + arugula tostadas and a roasted veggie + garlic side dish. Yum.

5. Live Music
concert tee

THE BEST. I could do an entire post about this Of Monsters and Men show, but then it wouldn’t be very interesting since I didn’t even have a camera on-hand to document it! Idiot! My sole proof is this concert tee. A few comments: every song from this Icelandic band was unreal. The drummer was sick and the highlight of my night. The trumpet, phenomenal, and the chick playing it was fierce! NYC’s Terminal 5 venue had no bad spot in the sold-out house of just 4,000 people. Kind of felt exclusive, kind of felt wrong. This band is the real stuff.

So guess what I found? Youtube always pulls through for concert memories!
The best version I could find of their NYC performances:

So tell me, what’s warmed your soul  over these last couple of weeks? I have so much to catch up on! Share in the comments:) And Happy American Thanksgiving! X

The Falafel Shop // lower east side

22 Nov

Reason # 129473 why I love Manhattan: You can leave the doorstep of nearly any apartment in town, turn the corner and see at least 10 places you’d love to eat. At the very least.

Arriving Day 1 at 3:00pm and having only eaten a 6:30AM breakfast, I was ravenous for a late lunch. Blair grabbed my hand and led the way to some spots he knew I’d love, just around the corner from our apartment.

Tiny Giant’s Sandwich Shop and The Falafel Shop stood side by side. In the end, Falafel reigned, but Tiny’s proved a great second choice the next day.

NYC Restaurant Review via Tracks by Linds
The Falafel Shop was a great intro to the Lower East Side: small, understated quality, diverse and grungy with a hint of trendy on top. Much like my falafel, which was also small but packed with flavorful falafels, pickles – um, pickles!? – that was a first for me, and a glob of fresh hummus at its summit.

Falafel Shop NYC via Tracks By Linds
While Blair chose two high seats at the window, it didn’t take long for my ears to tune to the softly wailing Bob Dylan’s Times They Are a Changin’.  Behind us, a man, his daughter and her tiny red backpack occupied three chairs for an after-school snack. Dark-haired ladies painted nails through big windows across the street, bikers passed, ATM men delivered money and car horns blew their tune.

NYC Falafel Shop Review via Tracks by Linds
Spreading hot sauce along my falafel’s narrow creases and devouring the first few bites, I stopped to give Blair a taste (while sneaking some of his french fry add-on, of course). I could think of only one thought – a quote my good friend Meg and I adopted while in Spain a few years ago:  “Happier than a pig in shit.”

Info
The Falafel Shop
127 Rivington St
(between Norfolk St & Essex St)
New York, NY 10002
http://www.thefalafelshop.com

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