Alisha Miranda

It might be a mouthful, but the AppStorm Business Productivity Bundle Giveaway is here! It’s holiday season, and AppStorm has got you a real treat…

We have 5 bundles to giveaway, each including a license to Daylite and Billings Pro – it’s the perfect combination for getting your business organised and making money!

Read on to find out more about these two awesome apps, and how to get a chance to grabbing both of them for yourself.

Daylite

Daylite is a business productivity manager designed to help you manage your business and your team. More than just a CRM, Daylite can be used to manage your company’s projects, sales, contacts, tasks, appointments, meetings, notes, and email.

Daylite can be easily customized to suit the exact needs of your business, and has an illustrious array of users all over the world. We’re big fans of the excellent software that Marketcircle has created, and I’m pleased to give you a chance to power your business with it!

Daylite is a first class solution for managing your business on OS X.

Billings Pro

We took another look at Billings Pro last year and how to make team management simple. Ian Tromp noted how;

If you’re a small or medium-sized gang of workers frustrated by the limitations of not being able to bring together your various projects, without needing to pay sometimes hefty monthly subsciptions, then Billings Pro is an excellent option.

Billings Pro is a professional, multi-user time tracking and invoicing solution for the Mac and iPhone, with a simple web interface for timekeepers. Today we’re giving you the opportunity to get a license for both Daylite and Billings Pro, two apps that could increase your business productivity and profitability by leaps and bounds!

We have 5 bundles up for grabs, each with a license for both Daylite and Billings Pro – get involved!

How to Enter

Entering the competition is really easy. All you need to do is:

1. Post a link to this competition – either on your website, or via Twitter
2. Leave a comment, letting me know where you posted the link and mentioning the top 2 struggles that you have with running your business

Best of luck, and I’ll be picking the winners in a couple of weeks.

Instead of resolutions, I’m creating a list of things I’d like to see happen in 2012. Some are industry in nature, some professional, some personal. I encourage you to add yours in the comments, and check back occasionally throughout the year to see how we’re doing.

1) May 2012 be the year that passive aggressive status updates cease. It’d be so nice to see a status update from someone that simply says “I’m pissed off, I need to blow off some steam,” as opposed to “I wish that I lived in a world where people kept their promises and didn’t lie to get what they wanted while other people were left hoping that happens.” Passive-agressiveness helps no one. Don’t be a part of the problem.

2) May 2012 be the year that all of the self-appointed gurus, experts, and rock-stars fall off cliffs to their mangled, bloody deaths into the oceans of anonymity, thousands of feet below.

3) May 2012 be the year that the TSA either gets its shit together, or gets disbanded in favor of transportation security that’s actually effective, useful, and serves a purpose other than theater.

4) May 2012 be the year of the least amount of public information about any of the Kardashians.

5) May 2012 be the year where we all get smart enough to stop auto-linking every single niche social network to Twitter and Facebook. No one EVER needs to know that you’re ordering a mocha latte at Starbucks, or walking through the locker room at your gym.

6) May 2012 be the year that everyone becomes smart enough to realize that if the incident happens, even if there’s no one with a camera within a hundred miles, it’ll probably wind up online, and that the best way to avoid that happening is to make sure you aren’t part of the incident in the first place. This goes for anything involving alcohol, public nudity, arguments, or stuff that happens in a men’s bathroom.

7) May 2012 be the year that people learn the difference between “there,” “their,” and “they’re.”

8) May 2012 be the year that people stop using “password” as their password.

9) May 2012 be the year that people stop reacting to emails, posts, or tweets that purportedly comes from a friend, yet doesn’t seem to be written in the same language they normally use, and usually has a link that ends in .ru.

10) May 2012 be the year I learn to be a better listener .

11) May 2012 be the year that United Airlines puts flat-bed seats on their EWR-LAX run.

12) May 2012 be the year that I exceed 2011′s number of speaking and consulting gigs.

13) May 2012 be the year that HARO breaks over 1,000,000 users.

14) May 2012 be the year that DailyWorth, SnapGoods, Namely, Trippy, ScotteVest, Right Next Door, Pixability, and all the companies in whom I’ve invested and for whom I advise break out into the mainstream and earn a ton of money.

15) May 2012 be the year NASA the Wondercat gets a new brother or sister

16) May 2012 be the year more of us learn the value and pure joy in volunteering, donating, or helping others.

17) May 2012 be the year I have an incredibly great Ironman NYC, but may it also be the year that I stay HEALTHY, and don’t obsess over my weight, every bite of food I eat, or what morsel contains how many calories.

18) May 2012 be the year I finally take a honeymoon with my new wife.

19) May 2012 be the year that the world becomes a better place because of something each of us has done during it.

20) May 2012 finally be a year of peace, happiness, love, and prosperity for all of us.

Happy New Year, my friends. Thank you for being here.

View Kathy's West Village Neighborhood Guide in a larger map

Editor's note: In the Serious Eats Neighborhood Guide series, we've asked SE editors and staff to tell us about where they eat in their own neighborhoods. Here's Sugar Rush columnist Kathy YL Chan sharing her go-tos in the West Village.

Morning Croissants: Mille Feuille

Patisserie Claude used to have the city's best croissant, but no longer. For that honor, visit Olivier Dessyn's Mille Feuille on LaGuardia. Olivier's croissants are among the many viennoiserie, macarons, sandwiches, and pastries offered at the French bakery, but they're the highlight. The plain croissants in particular are simply perfect, baked a deep golden brown, with a crisp and flaky body and an exterior that shatters at first bite. It's remarkably buttery, though not excessively heavy, the interior layers flaky and yielding to each bite with light stretch. The flavor is pure butter, with only a touch of salt—dangerously light on the stomach.

Mille-Feuille: 552 Laguardia Place, New York NY 10012 (map); 212-533-4698; millefeuille-nyc.com

Dosas on the Go: N.Y. Dosas

On nice days I'll pick up lunch from Thiru Kumar's food cart along Washington Square Park. Come very early or late to avoid the guaranteed lunch crowds. The Special Pondicherry Dosa is most popular, filled with warm masala potatoes and vegetables like onions and peppers; ask for it spicy. Comes complete with sambar and coconut chutney. The vegan drumsticks (made with soy protein) always sell out by noon, and for good reason. They're boldly spiced and served on sugarcane sticks with dipping sauce; three pieces make for a light lunch.

N.Y. Dosas: Washington Square South and Sullivan St., New York NY (map); Open Monday-Saturday, 11-4

Gelato: L'arte del Gelato

I've written about L'arte del Gelato countless times but I don't intend to stop; it's the perfect consistency with pure, memorable flavors. They make my favorite pistachio gelato and if you spot the banana stracciatella, get a double scoop! The banana gelato streaked in thin crunchy shards of chocolate is unforgettable. Also keep your eye out for seasonal flavors like pumpkin, eggnog, and grape. Waffle cones are housemade, and delicately constructed gelato sundaes, hot chocolate, and frappes alone are reason enough for a visit or two.

L'arte del Gelato: 75 7th Avenue, New York NY 10011 (map); 212-924-0803; lartedelgelato.com

Tea Time: Bosie Tea Parlor

An easy-to-love neighborhood favorite (come on weekdays if possible, weekends are crowded) where a complete afternoon tea service will set you back just $25. The tea includes made-to-order tea sandwiches, scones, macarons, teacakes and your pick of tea from their in-house tea line, l'Âge de Thé. Bosie also offers a full lunch serve complete with housemade soups and four takes on quiche; the Lorraine and Flamiche are my favorite. Sometimes I come for just hot tea and dessert—Darjeeling Tarts, Paris-Brest and Matcha Eclairs are always at the top of my list.

Bosie Tea Parlor: 10 Morton Street, New York, NY 10014 (map); 212-352-9900; bosienyc.com

Solo Lunches: Buvette

This tiny space is packed during dinner, but peaceful at lunch. I like to come in the afternoon for a beautiful entree-sized salads—think escarole salads with big garlicky croutons and sieved egg, or another of shredded chicken (skin included!) and haricot verts, a light mustard vinaigrette tossed with frisee. Options change frequently and include many daily specials. I haven't had a bad salad yet. Linger a little longer and follow up with tea and something sweet; for dessert, take your pick between a lush chocolate mousse with a cloud of whipped cream, warm apple tarte tatin, and housemade ice creams.

Buvette: 42 Grove Street, New York, NY 10014 (map); 212-255-3590; ilovebuvette.com

Everyday Dinners: Otto

Where to begin? First, sit at the bar or don't bother going. The bar and tables feel like two completely different restaurants. And it's bar seats you want; the amazing bartenders make the large restaurant feel like a neighborhood hangout. Start your meal with the Sformato di Parmigiano (a warm cheese flan), and a Sunchoke and Escarole Salad. Some of my favorite dishes include Taccozzette con Stracotto and Caprese Salad (offered during the summer months), and cheese plates complete with truffled honey, apricots and cherries. There are two fresh pasta dishes on the menu; try the goat cheese agnolotti if you've got room. Whatever you do, make sure to finish with the Olive Oil Copetta. And if you live nearby, Otto has a great delivery service, the efficient delivery guys never miss a beat. And you can get gelato delivered by the pint! Life doesn't get any better than that.

Otto: 1 5th Avenue, New York NY 10003 (map); 212-995-9559; ottopizzeria.com/

Sushi: Ushiwakamaru

Everyone needs a neighborhood go-to sushi spot and mine is Ushiwakamaru. It's not top quality sushi—it can't compare with the likes of Yasuda—but the prices are more than fair given the quality. Their $39.50 sashimi special is my standard order, 13 pieces of sashimi with rice and soup. But before you dive into that, start off your meal with one of the daily appetizer trios, which include anything from uni-shiso tempura (pictured) to a "salad" of raw octopus and scallions. Reservations are recommended, but I've often had luck dropping in for a seat at the sushi bar on a walk-in basis.

Ushiwakamaru: 136 W Houston Street, New York, NY 10012 (map); 212-228-4181

Falafel and Fries: taïm

Hands-down my favorite falafel (and fries!) in the city. Most people order the falafel sandwich, but I prefer the falafel platter, which allows you to sample all three falafel flavors, as well as their warm pita and hummus, tabouli, and Israeli salad. Split the platter with the friend so that you'll have room for thin-cut fries with saffron aioli. Fries are served hot straight out of the fryer in a paper bag. And make sure to squeeze in a Sabich Sandwich while you're there. Can't go wrong with fried eggplant and sliced boiled egg tucked into a pita with hummus, tahini and amba sauce. To drink? Smoothies! Unusual and consistently delicious flavor combinations such as date-lime-banana and tamarind-apple-cane sugar have turned me into a forever loyal customer.

taïm: 222 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10014 (map); 212-691-6101; taimfalafel.com

So Much More

Those are the spots where you'll find me most often, but of course there are hundreds of other restaurants in the West Village. Where do you like to eat in the Village?

From A Hamburger Today

[Photographs: Lauren Sloss, unless otherwise noted]

Shopping near Rockefeller Center is, let's face it, a contact sport for the next ten days. It's gotten even worse in the last month because the new Uniqlo flagship store is nearby. I happened to be in that neighborhood twice in the last few days, and I have the bruises to prove it.

Engaging in contact sports of any type makes me hungry for a burger. (Actually, truth be told, doing anything—or even nothing for that matter—puts me in the mood for a burger.) At the least it has to be a good burger, perhaps a very good burger, and maybe, just maybe, a great, seriously delicious burger. Running around the Rockefeller Center area with Serious Eats contributor Lauren Sloss, we actually discovered one burger in every category described above.

Prime Burger

[Photographs: Robyn Lee]

At Prime Burger you can sit in the same one-person swivel desks people have been eating on for nearly sixty years. The burgers are still solid even if the place looks its age a tad too much (somebody needs to tell management they need new lighting fixtures).

Make sure you order your burger with griddled onions and put on some of their excellent relish, and specify you want your burger cooked to order. Don't be afraid to send it back if it's over or under-cooked—we did so and the next round of cheeseburgers ($6.25) was perfect.

Prime Burger

5 East 51st Street, New York NY 10022 (b/n Madison and 5th; map)
212-759 4730; primeburger.com

Related: Save Prime Burger, A Burger Shop With Real Character

Bill's Bar & Burger

Right up the block from Prime Burger—and even closer to the tree and Uniqlo—is the massive branch of Steve Hansen's Bill's Bar & Burger. It's insanely busy at the moment (the manager told me they are serving 1500 burgers at every lunch during the holiday season), but since the place is so big my guess is the wait isn't that long even for a table at peak hours.

The signature Bill's Burger ($8.95) was juicy, crusty, and plenty salty—once our overcooked one was replaced by a medium rare one as ordered. Almost as good were the sliders ($8.50).

The skin-on seasoned steak fries ($3.95) left me cold, but the puffy crispy onion rings ($5.50) were excellent, and so was the malted coffee milkshake ($5.95).

Bill's Bar and Burger

22 9th Avenue, NY NY 10014 (map); 212-414-3003; 2nd location at 16 West 51st Street, NY, NY 10019 (map)
212-705-8510; more locations at billsbarandburger.com

Related: NYC: Get Great Sliders at Bill's Bar and Burger

Burger Heaven

The surprising winner of our Rockefeller Center burger mini-tour was the patty melt ($12.35, comes with fries) at Burger Heaven, another neighborhood institution (the menu says it's a three generation family business). I've had this sucker twice in two days, and both times it was ridiculously good, cooked as ordered first time every time, the griddled rye bread a nice golden brown, and the cheese properly oozy and melted. The ground beef was plenty beefy and not ground too fine. If I could have this patty melt every day for lunch I would be a happy man. This is a paradigmatic patty melt, as good any any you will find in New York City.

The cheeseburger ($7.75) was good, too, if a little overcooked. And the fries here, as always, are twice fried, crisp, tender on the inside, and just needed some salt to achieve french fry serious deliciousness.

Any of these burgers will make your holiday shopping around Rockefeller Center a little more bearable, and a little more delicious.

Burger Heaven

20 E 49th St, NY NY 10017 (map)
212-755-2166; burgerheaven.com

Related: Burger Heaven in Midtown Doesn't Exactly Live Up to its Name

Whether or not the hype matches the forthcoming beef-patty payoff, visitors to the new Steak 'n Shake opening later this month in midtown will have at least one thing to be cheerful about: an across-the-board menu-price freeze for the year.

In a statement released today, Steak 'n Shake CEO and chairman Sardar Biglari says the company has "no intention of raising menu prices," and promises that the move is an attempt "to insulate our customers from inflation." No price hikes for an entire year? Paging Ryan Sutton!

Meanwhile, a worker at the city's first Steak 'n Shake location says the the chain is still aiming for a "mid-January" debut in the Big Apple.

Earlier: Steak ’n Shake Coming to Manhattan, BareBurger to Brooklyn
Steak 'n Shake to freeze menu prices through 2012 [Denver Business Journal]

Read more posts by Hugh Merwin

Filed Under: freezeouts, openings, steak n' shake

Sep 18, 2011 – Jan 9

Daily

This is the first major museum exhibition devoted to the full scope of the career of Willem de Kooning, widely considered to be among the most important and prolific artists of the 20th century. The exhibition, which will only be seen at MoMA, presents an unparalleled opportunity to study the artist’s development over nearly seven decades, beginning with his early academic works, made in Holland before he moved to the United States in 1926, and concluding with his final, sparely abstract paintings of the late 1980s. Bringing together more than 200 works from public and private collections, the exhibition is the first to occupy the Museum’s entire sixth-floor gallery space, totaling approximately 17,000 square feet.

I recently discovered “With love, from Brooklyn,” just in time for the holidays thanks to twitter friend Denis Hurley. It’s a curated gift site with picks from Brooklyn artisans, perfect for any Brooklyn-ite on your shopping list. I’m loving the “Breakfast in Brooklyn” bundle, filled with goodies like Brewklyn Coffee and granola from Granola Lab. You’ll also love the “Tea it Up” gift set, with everything you need for your tea break.

Buying from “With love, from Brooklyn” is a great way to support local businesses too, like The Good Batch, Nunu Chocolates, Bakes, and Brooklyn Cruiser. Check it out for yourself here.

nprfreshair:

New York’s Museum of Modern Art is currently hosting the first major Willem de Kooning retrospective. Critic Lloyd Schwartz says the exhibit traces the development of de Kooning’s entire career, along with the little detours he took along the way.

Woman I (1950-52) is one of the works featured in de Kooning: A Retrospective. The exhibit is on display at the Museum of Modern Art through Jan. 9, 2012.

YES. awesome. I love DeKooning!

this is why I live here.

also: I take my food experiences VERY seriously.

I’d probably live here if it was okay with the owners.

wecreatenyc:

Our space has never looked prettier! Thanks to a new coworking space finder, SharedDesks, we have our very own page for coworking in Manhattan. 

What’s great about SharedDesk is how they break down coworking spaces’ main attractions for workers - see their review of WECREATE in the slideshow above. 

MORE: SharedDesks adds WECREATE to coworking in Manhattan

this site is so pretty, me want!

“

Looks like I’m a half-hour early, whoops! No whoops, actually. This is exactly what I wanted to happen. I hate showing up last, or second, as it were. I hate like, walking into a bar, and then here’s some dude I don’t know watching my every move as I self-consciously try to get my act together in front of him. Awkwardly look for somewhere to hang my jacket. Awkwardly wrap my headphones around my iPod. Awkwardly figure out how to say “hi” while all of that is going on, and there he is all settled in and just… looking at me. But where else is he going to look? Guess it’d be kind of weird for him to look at like, the floor or the menu or his cell phone while I’m totally aware of his purposeful lack of eye contact. God, I hate dating. JK, love it.

I should probably order a drink to calm my nerves. That’s totally innocuous, right? Nothing wrong with that. If this guy has a problem with my having a beer or two before he shows up, he’s probably not The One, anyway. It’s my personal version of There’s Something About Mary-law, the one that states guys must jerk off before dates so that they’re not all horny and distracted come showtime. Pre-date maintenance. No big deal. I wonder if guys actually do that? Seems like, time-consuming now that I think about it. What if they’re coming straight from work? Do they squeeze in “me time” anyhow? Do they, in all actuality, make it a priority to jerk off before a date or am I stupid for taking a two-minute movie clip to heart all these years? I feel like I’d be too lazy to commit to that, touching myself every time I leave the house. I’d rather have a beer. Beer is my date lubricant. Does that analogy even make any sense? Beer = Jerking off? I’m glad I’m a woman.

The bartender is attractive. Kind of wish I wasn’t about to be on a date. I guess it’s too late to cancel? I shouldn’t be eyef-cking the bartender right now. I guess I’m doing it because I’m nervous. Getting major ‘This is going to suck’ vibes re: this date, except they’re all coming from me. I’m the only one on this date right now. I need to chill. And be positive. Positive vibes.

I hope I recognize this guy, seems to be a recurring problem of mine. Hope I haven’t been betrayed by beer goggles again. I guess this issue would resolve itself if I quit drunkenly accepting dates but like, no one asks me out otherwise. Think I possibly give off asexual body language if I haven’t had a few; I need to work on that. Need to be more approachable.

Is that him? He’s smiling. That’s him. How are we gonna do this? Handshake? This is why people don’t ask me out. Because I shake hands. My first instinct is to shake someone’s hand. I don’t want to hug, don’t want him near my boobs yet. Is that weird? I’m not a big hugger. I’m like, a Larry David hugger. He’s going for the cheek kiss. This reminds me of junior high school. So many cheek kisses. The age of the cheek kiss. Which way are we going? Oh christ. We’re both unsure. He’s coming at me with alarming velocity. Ow. That was bad. That was awfully orchestrated.

He’s in work clothes, I think, unless he just dresses like that in which case, I’m not sure this is going to pan out. I wonder if I’m dressed okay. I think I am… I guess it’d be easier if I, too, had work clothes on — except my work wardrobe consists of t-shirts and ex-boyfriend boxers. Think anyone who saw me during working hours would lose interest almost immediately. Pretty sure those are my least attractive hours. Too bad there’s not some sort of date uniform we could all wear, like Catholic School. I always wanted to wear uniforms when I was in high school. I thought accessorizing to assert my individuality would propel me to new heights of popularity. In hindsight I probably felt that way because I couldn’t afford anything ‘hip’ in high school. Glad I’m okay with admitting that to myself now. Screw uniforms.

I guess we’ll talk about work, since we both have jobs. I hate this conversation. I’m going to skimp on details so that he doesn’t like, look me up and read all of the insane things I’ve written w/r/t love and dating. I’ve probably screwed myself, I’m pretty sure. Some people worry that what they’ve published on the internet will mess with their employability, but not me. I’m concerned that some dude I kind of like will read some sentimental tirade I wrote and be all, “Oh no, this girl has like, soooo many feelings. Can’t deal, must abort, flatlining – - – —————-” and I’ll just never hear from him again. Goddamn feelings. I wonder if Robyn has this problem. Or Adele, jesus. She definitely has this problem.

Oh, he’s taking a bathroom break. Going to use this time to look at my phone. Wish that weren’t my first reaction. There’s never anything good happening, anyhow. Just spam from Daily Candy or whatever. Oh, a text message from some guy I used to date! He must know I’m out with someone. They always know. Do they teach that in boy scouts? “The girl you’re completely indifferent toward is resoundingly OVER IT — quick, ask her out for drinks!” Eff off. You’re not salting my game today.

I just picked up the second round. I wonder if this is even a date? It kind of seems like we’re bro-ing out, or something. He just told me about this girl he went on a date with two weeks ago… don’t open those floodgates, pal. You don’t want to. Two hours from now we’re gonna be all sauced and lamenting the ones that got away, I’ve seen this happen. It’s a slippery slope. Is this how we date now? Each party pays their own way and talks about the other people they’re dating, and their exes, and like, their baggage? This is so bleak. It’s like cooperative therapy. Which I guess is cool, because my health insurance doesn’t cover the mental stuff, but damn. Would this be going better if I weren’t overthinking everything or like, actually paying attention? Probably, right? Not sure I’m under control, here. Think I might be sabotaging myself, again. I wonder what going on a real date is like. Wish this were a real date. I guess it’s not. Oh well.

tomorrow begins project planning, brainstorming, and life goal setting.

bright and early at 10am!

welcome back, band.

Music Monday listening: The Format // fun.

new favorite song.

fellow Neighborhoodr Editor now living in Staten Island but originally from Brooklyn and damn proud of it, Anna Dooling, shares her witty observations on living in BK. plus, there’s some fun shout outs to our favorite spots here in Prospect Heights.

enjoy!