Bitter Sweet at The Olive Tree..

Just a short walk from Union Square, if you don't walk past it the first time, The Olive Tree is a fun and unique place to go with some of your closest friends. However this is a bitter sweet experience to say the least.

Although their menu is limited and the food tasting average at best, the fun and different atmosphere makes it worth trying at least one time.

As you enter through the red velvet curtain the restaurant opens up to a small but open dining room. With the lights down low, you will see the images of the great Charlie Chaplin projected on the walls. The whole feel seems close and intimate. With small private lighting at each table giving it an even cozier feel, it is trendy but homey all at the same time.

On top of the great atmosphere set by the lighting and silent movies, they provide another fun and different extra, chalkboard tables. With a cup of chalk at each table, you can break the ice

during a first date, or just goof off with friends drawing or writing silly things or playing games while waiting for your food to come.

This very cute extra you won't find anywhere else makes it worth it. The only down side was that they don't give extra napkins, so expect chalky elbows.

Besides the mood and setting they create, the food and service, although quick, wasn't the greatest. Their Mozzarella sticks were served cold with even colder marinara sauce, and the fries were not seasoned well. Having over salted and bland fries in the same dish made it hard to really enjoy. But, however, they stay true to their word and serve “absolutely scrumptious” macaroni and cheese.

The food came fast and the order was taken rather quickly, however the whole meal felt rushed and unwelcoming. The servers stood close by and barely waited for you to finish your last bite before snatching away your plate.

If your looking for a place for drinks after a meal or just as a night out with friends, this might be a more suitable place. With a wide beer selection and an entire page of the menu dedicated solely to their specialty drinks and cocktails, a night out just looking for drinks and fun might be more enjoyable.

Although it's located in a trendy area of Manhattan at 117 MacDougal Street, right near New York University, the prices are more like a neighborhood bar than most places you would find in the area. With four dollar beers and cheap finger foods and burgers, it is very affordable and perfect for broke college students.

Overall, this is a different and interesting experience that is definitely worth a look. If your not looking for a real good gourmet meal, this isn't the place for you. If your just looking for a cool, fun place to just have a fun and good time with friends, then it is worth a try. Good for drinks with a group of friends or coworkers and great for dates or a get together with a couple of close friends, it's an affordable and fun night out.

Just keep your eyes open because it's very easy to miss.

All pictures courtesy of Patrick Hickey Jr.

Lets go on a...

New York is often referred to as one of, if not the greatest city around. You can speak to people from anywhere in the world and they know about New York. We get 44 million foreign and American tourists each year. However, sometimes we just need to get out and take a trip outside of the city for some crazy fun to forget the chaos that is New York.

If you want to get a little crazy and blow of some of that hard week steam, you should try your hand at a little extreme paintball. For less than a night out in Manhattan on any given weekendyou can get hours of down and dirty amazing fun at Cousin’s Paintball in Coram, Long Island.

It will cost about $50 a person for individual players, however there are both coupons and packages available. The cost of admission for both packages and individuals, includes paintballs, all of the equipment, goggles, Carbon Dioxide and depending on which package, between three and six hours of playing time.

They have a young staff who helps you out, making sure everything is going smoothly. Safety is a main concern and they are very good at having people follow rules. Although any sport has its risks, like twisted ankles or pulled muscles, at Cousins they try to make sure it is as safe as possible, which to most parents is very important.

One way they ensure the safety of young and inexperienced players, is restricting the kind of paintball guns allowed. No automatic guns or guns that are too powerful are allowed so that the game is fair for all players. They take all of the rules very seriously, so there is as much to worry about as if you were playing any other sport.

If you have never played before, paintball is a very high paced, fast and crazy sport. You can easily get lost in the game, finding yourself using military strategies and tactics. Making surprise attacks and sticking by your teammates whether you knew them before or not, are just a couple of the great things that seem to happen in this game. The sting of a paintball is minimal and after your fun is over, you will realize it is definitely worth it.

With the only outdoor fields on Long Island, Cousins is the only place you will get the full paintball experience. They have 26 different fields on 88 acres of land, available for public or private parties. You get to experience different settings from bunkers made with brightly colored barrels and tubes, to more realistic settings on huge fields where you hide behind trees and logs, as if you were in a real war zone. The more realistic the setting the better the experience, expect to get really into it once you get into a more natural setting.

Many of the packages are for groups starting at around ten people. Get ten or more of your friends to take the ride and you can have the fields to yourselves. It’s great for anything from kids parties, to bachelor parties and company outings.

On the weekdays, a reservation is required with ten people or more, but on the weekends and some holidays, it is open to the public. Just have a waiver signed (by a parent if your under 18) and get there early for a guaranteed spot on a field.

You never have to worry about bringing anything to the field because they have everything from rental guns to bags of paintballs. You can bring your own, or buy a jumpsuit for about $7. There is also both hot and cold food available on site, so bringing food and drinks isn’t necessary.
If you do have your own equipment you can bring it, however they do have restrictions on certain guns for the safety of less experienced players.

Cousins also has facilities in Platekill, NY, Manchester, NJ, Staten Island and even in Texas. This is truly a great and exciting experience that you can enjoy whether your with your kids, colleagues or friends.

You can make reservation two to three weeks in advance by calling, (800) Flag-007.

Photos from Cousins.com

Recession Special...

In the hip and yuppie-filled Park Slope, Aunt Suzie's is a great place to get away from the city's crazy, fast paced and ever changing atmosphere. With wonderfully traditional recipes, it's reminiscent of dinner at Grandma's house to any Italian American. Overall, it's a satisfying night out that wont empty your wallet.

With the economy in its current state, many people have been avoiding going out to eat. Aunt Suzie’s, at 247 5th Ave between Carroll and Garfield Pl, however, is there to make it possible to enjoy a real and delicious Italian meal. With only one dish on the menu over $20, it’s a great way to enjoy going out, without going broke. And if you still don’t want to take the trip on the R or M trains, their website has the recipe for their marinara sauce for anyone to use at home.

“I love this place, I can go with my boyfriend and get amazing Italian food, with appetizers and beer for the two of us for less than it would cost at a place like Fridays or Applebee’s. It’s really great that they’re here in the middle of Park Slope's other more expensive places to eat,” said frequent guest of Aunt Suzie’s, Danise Pimpinella.

If they’re inexpensive entrees are still a bit too much for you, you can also take a look at their “Cheap Menu.” This recession friendly menu offers a generous plate of pasta, salad, or vegetables, to go with warm bread and your choice of Chicken, Veal, Meatballs and more. Or you can try their plain pasta dishes, where for only a couple more dollars will double the portion and feed “Two Italians, or four yuppies.” They will also give you $10 off a meal on your birthday, if you sign up for their mailing list.

Despite they’re cheap prices; they are never cheap with portions, or flavor. This is some of the best Italian food around. They were not only mentioned in newspapers such as the Daily News, but also voted “Best Buy” in a Zagat Survey.

The pasta is always done al dente and the sauce is close to perfection. Never too much, or too little of anything on your plate. The bread and dipping sauce you get, free of charge, once you are seated is almost worth the trip out. Between the baked ravioli, to chicken parmigiana or their great Vodka sauce, theres not much on the menu that doesn't catch your eye.

The cozy environment is kid friendly and appealing to adults at the same time. It’s a great place to bring a date and has tried to stay true to their roots. Surrounded by hip and chic restaurants and bars, they have done a good job keeping their “homey” feel with family photos and traditional décor.

They also have a great beer selection with brews from right here in Brooklyn. Whatever your taste might be they have something you’ll like. Dark brews to light brews, American and European, there are definitely some worth trying. You also have a wide choice of wine. Both red and white, the wait staff seems knowledgeable and they are willing to help you decide based on your tastes.

This is a great place to be, in a great area where you can hit a bar after dinner, or go down the street to Ozzie’s for a cup of coffee. Aunt Suzie’s has a great atmosphere and great food. A real blessing during times we are all watching what and how we spend, so if you want a real good Italian meal, it might be time to take a ride over to Park Slope and meet Aunt Suzie. The only problem you might face, is deciding which of these great dishes you want to try first.