If you want Kosher Sushi, award-winning pizza, 100 grams of Vodka (roughly a shot) and, heck why not, let's throw in an overstuffed but delicious gyro, then you've got to come down to Midwood. About a 45-minute ride from Midtown Manhattan, it's certainly worth your while to check out the neighborhood that Orthodox Jews, Russians & Ukrainians, Turks, amongst others (and New Yorkers thought the F train was diverse) call home, and where you can find some seriously good food and good shopping. But don't expect to rock the night away here; Midwood conservatively shuts down come sundown Friday in observance of the Shabbas.
There's more to Midwood than its bakeries, Yeshivas, abundant shoe stores, synagogues, decadent homes, and fun, sleek airy cafe style hangouts - - really there's more! Midwood offers two distinct landmarks that'll have the history buffs nodding in approval in their discreet, golf-clap like way. Midwood had its hand in the entertainment industry and helped produce and launch great television shows. Just ask NBC who owned two large studios right in the heart of Midwood, NBC Brooklyn Studio 1 and NBC Color Studio 2. NBC sold the studios and now the landmark is known as JC Studios. Movies, TV shows such as Saturday Night Live (very briefly), As the World Turns, The Cosby Show, and the Sammy Davis Jr. Show, amongst many others were produced right here, in Midwood! This place was like a mini-me Hollywood, heck even Don Rickles taped here. Betcha didn't know that little factoid.
In addition to its ritzy Hollywood past, Midwood offers another impressive landmark: On a quiet street there sits a quaint house that, to a passerby, might seem like any other house on that street, though that is the beauty of exceptional design (and once again the Dutch have outdone themselves). Pay closer attention because this house is actually a landmark due to the fact that it was built during the American Revolution, it is the Wycoff House. Currently it's privately owned (rest assured, the City is trying to "fix" that), so do not plan on having some kind of museum-like experience and touring the house while snapping pictures with outdated but albeit historical houseware that you could post on your favorite social networking site.
Potential visitors to Midwood will delight in its many shopping opportunities, primarily on Kings Highway. Come to the neighborhood in the early afternoon and visit the many shoe stores that house great quality Italian and other European imported shoes. Also chic clothing boutiques that carry formal gowns, feminine dresses, designer jeans, jackets, and handbags can all be found here. Finish off your afternoon/early evening with a primarily healthy and almost always kosher cuisine that's priced very fair. Don't forget to visit the delicious bakeries and other dessert hotspots, also very reasonably priced. L' Chaim.
Nightlife
Midwood doesn't really offer a nightlife, unless you love dive bars like Nitecaps. You can step inside a lounge or two on the outskirts of the neighborhood,
but don't expect a bar-hopping, club-hitting kind of scene, because
there just aren't any. Instead, opt for a Russian or Japanese
restaurant. Let the vodka flow and voila.
Restaurants
Lotsa food, so little time: Vist DiFara for award-winning pizza or for home-style Russian food with a shot of cold vodka, hit up Obzhora. Pop into Ostrovitsky Bakery for kosher pastries that you’ll smell from a block away. For all things shish-kebab get to Sahara, pronto. Want unique sushi? Try Nagoya.
Shopping
Shop Fox's for designer gear with a considerable discount. Visit the many shoe stores to get your casual sneakers, stylish office pumps and those weekend Va va voom heels (Tsakiris Mallas). You'll also find evening gowns, sexy dresses, and chic street wear at the many neighborhood boutiques on Kings Highway.
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On Our Radar:
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Monday, April 20, 2009
Posted By:
Sara Bogush
Photo:
Sara Bogush
DiFara
The Mount Olympus
of great New York
pizza is Midwood's humble DiFara, owned and operated by Dom DeMarco for 40-odd
years. Dom makes every pie himself, eleven hours a day, seven days a week,
moving at a slow but steady and unrelenting pace. The result is a golden ratio
of crisp, airy crust, tangy sauce, and a blend of rich mozzarella and salty
parmesan cheese. The line, of course, can be excruciating. Expect to wait a
half hour or more for slices, and longer for pies. Go early, bring a book, and
keep an eye out for when your order should be up, as it can get a bit
disorganized in there. You won't be disappointed--simple dough, sauce and cheese
never tasted this mind-bendingly good.
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Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Posted By:
Jennifer Keeney Sendrow
Photo:
Courtesy Roomorama
If there were an award for the creepiest window display in the city (Village Voice “Best of NY” editor, are you reading this?), it should go to Wig Showcase in Ocean Parkway. A mere photograph cannot do justice to their collection of oddly coiffed mannequin heads locked behind a metal gate after hours. If you have ever been afraid of dolls, stay far away. One of the heads slowly rotates, while the rest stare off in a dozen directions, their lifeless expressions lit by small spotlights. Most are a phony Caucasian flesh tone, but a few have the pure white skin and blood red lips of a cartoon vampire. The cascading assortment of hairstyles of the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s is rounded out by two small plastic envelopes containing a false beard and moustache. It’s hirsute horror.
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Thursday, March 15, 2007
Posted By:
J. Slab
Photo:
J. Slab
Pizza Time
Even my harshest critics generally concede that I’m a humanitarian of the highest order. It’s almost like Ghandi “did it” with Mother Teresa, then (9 months later) yours truly. I mention this only because I recently did the unthinkable: I went to Avenue J and decided to get a slice not at Di Fara’s. Whether it was my innate sympathy for those less fortunate, or Dom Di Fara’s mind-boggling inability to make a square pie in under an hour, I decided to give Pizza Time a go. After all, 1) I was starving; 2) it’s a block away; and 3) they advertise (without a hint of irony) “authentic Kosher Italian food.” Color me intrigued. And confused; this place was packed. Even more crowded than Di Fara’s. And I wasn’t that curious. So I headed back and waited 40 minutes for Dom to dish out the slices, comforted by the fact that at least I had tried.
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