offManhattan

NYCdog.org president Robert Marino says there are an estimated 1.4 million canines living within the five boroughs of New York City. With the welfare of New York pooches in mind, we decided to enlist a furry friend to put our dog biscuit picks to the test—yes, we tried them too. The result, after a few pee stops, barks, and butt sniffs? There are five Baxter-approved spots in Brooklyn, from pawtisseries to bars, that will have your dog licking his chops now, and well, licking you thanks later.

What: BAMcinématek’s African Diaspora Film Festival

Where: Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)

When: February 19-24th, 2010

Why: For the past seven years, BAMcinématek has partnered with the African Diaspora Film Festival (ADFF) to bring the best moving images to its viewing auditoriums in downtown Brooklyn. (Although BAM launched its own indoor film festival last year—BAMcinemaFest—ADFF hasn’t felt like it got the shaft.) Instead, this marks the eighth year that the annual festival will take a six-day residency at the neighborhood institution devoted to the Diaspora of ideas and identities.

If your goal is to celebrate N’Awlins with all of the jambalaya (and great music, of course) but none of the obnoxious crowds, here’s an off the beaten path option for you to consider.

DIY music venues are now just as significant in the New York indie scene as the more traditional bar venues. Brooklyn’s Fort Useless opened its doors in mid-August. The man behind this operation is Jeremiah McVay, who’s been putting together shows all over the city as part of his StereoActiveNYC.com project for years. Through this website, he covers shows and news on local bands. It’s like BrooklynVegan but more personal, more local, and more underground.

Hailing from the Bayou State, McVay is particularly amped for the Mardi Gras event he’s put together this coming Saturday, February 13. The night will include a stellar line-up of performances by Holy Moly!, Dinosaur Feathers, Ava Luna, and Flying Pace.

What: Sounds Like Brooklyn Music Festival

Where: BAM, BAMcafé, and 13 other Brooklyn venues

When: Jan 29, 30; Feb 4-6

Cost: Varies, Free for some locations.

Why: Over the next two weekends, the musically devoted can sample from a wish list of 60+ bands who are waiting for you to be part of their cult following.

What: The Brooklyn Taco Experiment

Where: The Bell House, Gowanus, Brooklyn

When: Sunday, January 31, 1- 5 p.m., free after party

Why: The Atlantic recently tweeted a timeline on food history that dated the tortilla shell back to 5000 BC. Since its discovery, the utensil-less taco universal appeal comes from the limitless sweet and savory combinations found in the middle of its shell.

This Sunday, Nick Suarez and Theo Peck of the Food Experiments are bringing their latest cook-off to jack-of-all-venues, The Bell House. Sunday afternoon will feel like an endless indoor taco truck as 300 people consume the 11,000 four-inch mini corn tortilla shells donated by Tortilleria Chinantla in Williamsburg.

“This time we asked ourselves, ‘What constitutes a democratic food that jumps racial, economic, and regional barriers? And what is a food that everyone likes?’” said Suarez. “The taco was the first thing that came to mind.” The pair will host 30 chefs as they test their taco techniques with fillings like pork, beer, chicken, chorizo, and oh yes, chocolate.

When you put fresh, seasonal, and local together, voilà! You have iCi.

If you’re in the market for an intimate venue for a special date night, faite attention. Okay, so this new American bistro isn’t really French, but it is romantic, tasty, and eco-friendly. And you could be this week’s giveaway winner of a dinner for two up to $75.

Should you venture across the Brooklyn Bridge on February 14, the prix-fixe will include mini ginger cream and topika crepes, a rosemary rack of lamb, and a chocolate torte with bourbon sauce and Chantilly. Otherwise, you might try crispy sweet and sour pork belly, vegetarian lasagna, and pumpkin mousse with a spiced graham cracker tart.

1) Follow us on Twitter and tweet this message (if you already follow us, just tweet!):

“Win a dinner for two at iCi in Brooklyn. Just follow @offManhattan and RT! http://bit.ly/FreeDinner”

OR

2) Sign up for our email list. (If you’re already a subscriber, you are automatically entered for a chance to win the giveaway.)

You can do both to be entered twice, and tweet once a day to be entered multiple times and increase your chance of winning. Deadline is January 31st at 11:59pm EST – a winner will be chosen at random and announced the next day. Good luck!

How to get there: Take the G train to Smith-Washington subway stop. (iCi, 246 DeKalb Ave., 718.789.2778, icirestaurant.com)

While some of New York’s best graffiti spots may be hidden or inaccessible, aficionados can still find a variety of artwork, including throw-ups, murals, stencils and wheatpastes, just a short subway ride from Union Square.

Palo Santo, a Latin bistro in Brooklyn’s Park Slope, is doing its part to aid the Haiti outreach effort by organizing a one-night prix-fixe dinner special on Sunday, January 31. Half of the meal’s proceeds will be donated to the Rural Haiti Project, a U.S.-based youth service organization. The three-course menu, which will consist of traditional Haitian dishes such as pan roasted blue fish and platano slaw, costs $50 per person including food, beverages, tax, and tip.

Ice skating is always a good idea in winter. Now add hot chocolate (spiked if you’d like), rink snacks, Brooklyn Brewery beer, a game of Trivial Pursuit, and music courtesy of DJ’s Mikey Palms & PQ, and you’ve got yourself a bronze medal—or two actually. The Prospect Park Alliance is offering a pair of tickets or “bronze medals” each worth $40 to its annual Skating Under the Stars event on February 5 that raises funds for restoration and programming of Brooklyn’s last remaining forest.

Bring leg warmers, but leave the skates at home.

1) Follow us on Twitter and tweet this message (if you already follow us, just tweet!):

“Win two tickets to Prospect Park’s Skating Under the Stars Party. Just follow @offManhattan and RT! http://bit.ly/ParkParty”

OR

2) Sign up for our email list. (If you’re already a subscriber, you are automatically entered for a chance to win the giveaway.)

You can do both to be entered twice, and tweet once a day to be entered multiple times and increase your chance of winning. Deadline is January 24th at 11:59pm EST – a winner will be chosen at random and announced the next day. Good luck!

How to get there: Take the Q, S, or B to Prospect Park Station. Click here to find out where the trolley can pick you up in Brooklyn. (For more information on the event, visit prospectpark.org or contact Alex at avanslyck@prospectpark.org, 718.965.6992.)