Where to Celebrate a 40th Birthday, and Other Reader Questions
Have I mentioned lately how much I love answering your reader questions? Please, please keep them coming — the more niche, surprising and specific, the better. I want to know exactly what you're looking to eat, who you'll be with and the vibes you crave. Drop 'em in this form, send them over email at wheretoeat@nytimes.com, or keep an eye on my Instagram stories for prompts.
Looking for a great place to eat before attending a show at Lincoln Center. One person is gluten free. — Diane
Great places near Lincoln Center is one request we'll never stop getting, so I'm always excited when I have a new answer to offer you. After a recent ballet matinee, I had a lovely dinner at the Columbus Circle location of Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill. The sushi is what you'd expect: a long list of maki, nigiri or sashimi (divided by Pacific and Atlantic fish), special rolls (I loved one with salmon, yellowtail and tuna) and a few chef's choice platters. And — I just called to double check — they have gluten-free soy sauce.
308 West 58th Street (8th Avenue)
Best spot to celebrate a 40th birthday with a large group? And after party bars for that age group. — Allison
Happy birthday to you! Or to whomever you're writing on behalf of! I'm not sure how big of a group we're talking, but anytime I hear 'group dinner,' I think Leo. They've got plenty of long tables, indoor and outdoor, and the vibes are festive but the volume never feels like an assault. Pizza is, famously, the best party food, and you can't miss with any of the sourdough pies here. If it were my party, I'd order a few of the San Guiseppe with spicy sausage and onions, a couple rich white clam pies, and some margheritas for the less adventurous. Caesar salads, oiled-up butter beans and spritzes all around.
Then, and this is the best part, you're in a great area for barhopping: The Quarter Club is right across the street if you want a pseudo-dive with screens, Maracuja has a pool table and Nightmoves takes big group reservations for their (age-appropriate!) club and light-up dance floor.
123 Havemeyer Street (Grand Street)
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Elbows Up' anthology to include prominent patriots Margaret Atwood, Jay Baruchel, Atom Egoyan
TORONTO - An upcoming anthology to meet the recent swell in national pride will include essays by prominent Canadians including writers Margaret Atwood and Omar El Akkad, as well as filmmakers Atom Egoyan and Jay Baruchel. Its publisher McClelland & Stewart says 'Elbows Up!: Canadian Voices of Resilience and Resistance' will examine our relationship with the United States and ourselves. McClelland & Stewart publisher Stephanie Sinclair says she felt 'an urgent need' to create a time capsule that captures a pivotal period of history. She says it was inspired by the 1968 collection 'The New Romans: Candid Canadian Opinions of the U.S.' It will feature excerpts from 'The New Romans,' including one by Atwood — who will also supply a new piece — and works by late writers Margaret Laurence, Farley Mowat and Mordecai Richler. The book will be edited by CBC broadcaster Elamin Abdelmahmoud, and is set for release Oct. 14. New works will also come from writers Jeanne Beker, Niigaan Sinclair, Catherine Hernandez, Canisia Lubrin and Ann-Marie MacDonald. Another comes from Ken Dryden that was previously published in the Atlantic. 'This is a book that will be talked about for decades to come,' Sinclair said Thursday in a release. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
HBCU alumna joins ‘Love Island' Season 7 cast
The post HBCU alumna joins 'Love Island' Season 7 cast appeared first on ClutchPoints. A Tuskegee University alumna is set to represent HBCUs as she joins the season seven cast of Love Island. The latest cast members were introduced on Thursday afternoon, and Olandria Carthen was featured as one of the five female islanders. Per her comments in the trailer, Carthen is a first-generation college graduate, and college football is her life. Tuskegee University has a rich football history, complete with several championships, making it entirely believable. She also shows off her touchdown dance, which give a glimpse into how she will approach her time on the show. Love Island USA brings together a group of singles looking for love in a stunning Fijian villa. During their stay, the Islanders must pair up to tackle exciting challenges and navigate unexpected twists. As new 'bombshells' enter the villa, tensions rise, temptations grow, and drama unfolds, forcing Islanders to choose whether to stick with their current partners or form new connections. According to People Magazine, Ariana Madix will return as the host of Love Island USA season 7, with Iain Stirling, the voice of the UK version, narrating once again. The season kicks off on June 3, with new episodes released daily during the premiere week. After that, episodes will stream on Peacock from Thursdays to Tuesdays each week. Olandria Carthen isn't the only HBCU alum who has made her way into becoming a reality TV star. Alcorn State alumnus Darian 'Dee' Holt was a cast member on Netflix's The Circle on last year. Before joining The Circle, Darian had already gone viral on social media. Holt alum became famous when his 6th-grade class mispronounced his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, as 'Apple Fried Apple.' The video gained millions of views, inspiring the creation of a youth organization that introduces students to Black Greek Life and HBCUs. His appearance on the show was noteworthy, as Holt ultimately married his fellow The Circle castmate Jadejha Edwards. Both Darian and Jadejha shared their experiences on the show in an exclusive interview with Parade. 'But there was a very short period of time where I was like, 'Okay, this is going a little too well. What if this is a dad playing his son, or what if this is his current girlfriend playing him? Dang, I don't even get a chance for him in real life because he's already got a girlfriend!' So, I did freak out a little bit. It was crazy. I would have never met him in real life. I mean, I'm sure that now that I know him, we have a lot of close ties where we definitely could have crossed paths before and just never thought about it. Sometimes you really do just have to meet the right person at the right time,' she said. 'As soon as I walked in the room, I was like, 'First of all, she's real. Damn!' She's real beautiful, pretty. Wow.' So, we get to talking. The chemistry seemed to be there. And we just started locking the eyes. There's a lot of blushing and stuff going on. And the moment presented itself. And then both just went in, and there we go,' he added.
UPI
2 days ago
- UPI
Famous birthdays for June 19: Jean Dujardin, Robin Tunney
June 19 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini. They include: -- British King James I in 1566 -- Philosopher/mathematician Blaise Pascal in 1623 -- Wallis Simpson, duchess of Windsor, in 1896 -- Comedian/actor Moe Howard in 1897 -- Musician Guy Lombardo in 1902 -- Baseball Hall of Fame member Lou Gehrig in 1903 File Photo courtesy of Pacific & Atlantic Photos, Inc -- Musician Lester Flatt in 1914 -- Film critic Pauline Kael in 1919 -- Actor Nancy Marchand in 1928 -- Actor Gena Rowlands in 1930 -- Nobel Peace Prize laureate/Myanmar politician Aung San Suu Kyi in 1945 (age 80) -- Writer Salman Rushdie in 1947 (age 78) File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI -- Actor Phylicia Rashad in 1948 (age 77) -- Musician Nick Drake in 1948 -- Musician Ann Wilson (Heart) in 1950 (age 75) -- Musician Larry Dunn (Earth, Wind & Fire) in 1953 (age 72) -- Actor Kathleen Turner in 1954 (age 71) File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI -- Musician/dancer/TV personality Paula Abdul in 1962 (age 63) -- Political commentator Laura Ingraham in 1963 (age 62) -- Musician Brian Vander Ark (Verve Pipe) in 1966 (age 59) -- Actor Mia Sara in 1967 (age 58) -- TV personality Lara Spencer in 1969 (age 56) -- Musician Brian "Head" Welch (Korn/Love and Death) in 1970 (age 55) -- Actor Jean Dujardin in 1972 (age 53) -- Actor Robin Tunney in 1972 (age 53) File Photo by Jonathan Alcorn/UPI -- Actor Hugh Dancy in 1975 (age 50) -- Musician Scott Avett (Avett Brothers) in 1976 (age 49) -- Basketball Hall of Fame member Dirk Nowitzki in 1978 (age 47) -- Actor Zoe Saldana in 1978 (age 47) -- Musician Macklemore in 1983 (age 42) -- Actor Aidan Turner in 1983 (age 42) -- Actor Paul Dano in 1984 (age 41) -- Actor Giacomo Gianniotti in 1989 (age 36) -- Actor Atticus Shaffer in 1998 (age 27)
