offManhattan

Anthony Bourdain had lobster cappuccino with Bill Murray at X20 in Yonkers while exploring the Hudson Valley for No Reservations. [Eater]

Speaking of the Hudson Valley, start planning for your culinary trip north of the city during the area’s restaurant week, March 15-28. [HVRW]

Britain beat Acela to the punch with free wi-fi on trains. [Jaunted]

If you want to spice things up for Valentine’s Day, go on a naked scavenger hunt. [Going]

If you’re in D.C. during February, the Lobby Café at the Ritz is offering a blind dessert tasting for $45; or you could just buy the champagne and chocolate sauce, and do it at home. [UrbanDaddy]

The Sam Mendes-directed play The Tempest will start showing on Valentine’s Day in conjunction with The Bridge Project at BAM. [BAM]

Money might not grow on trees, but vegetables do grow on walls; see for yourself at the latest lunch hot spot to open by Mixt in D.C. [UrbanDaddy]

Instead of watching Avatar a second time, put the dough towards a dinner at one of these participating restaurants—proceeds will go to the Haiti relief effort. [DineOut4Haiti]

Last year brought gourmet accoutrement to the fast food chain, now Arby’s is opening a location inside a beautiful landmarked building in Brooklyn. [AMNY]

If you wanted to go to the Sundance Film Festival, well, it’s coming to Brooklyn for one night. [BAM]

When in Montreal recently, Jimmy Fallon Twittered about where he specifically had a blast. (Ever hear of Joe Beef?) [Jaunted]

Did you know that Brooklyn is ripe for decentralized urban farming? BK Farmyards does, and they’re taking action. [GOOD Blog]

• Recently renovated Savoy Suites in Georgetown is offering a Thanksgiving Holiday Dinner Package starting at $159; while in D.C., visit the new “Inside Tim Russert’s Office” exhibit at the Newseum. [Savoy]
• While you’re shopping for the big feast accoutrement at Greenpoint Farmers Market in McCarren Park this Saturday, donate some produce to the Food Bank for NYC. [DailyCandy]
• If you like your pie extra crumbly (or the aunt with special dietary needs is coming for dinner) gluten-free cooking just got easier. [NPR]
• The Langham Boston has a Thanksgiving prixe-fix for four at $175, and room rates from $165. [LanghamBoston]
• Let the kids know the little ways they can help green Thanksgiving. [GreenGuide]
• Brooklyn Kitchen still has organic locally-sourced birds in case you forgot to reserve the pièce de résistance. [BK]
• The Sagamore Resort in upstate New York is offering a special Thanksgiving package starting at $597 to sweeten their Lake George setting even more. [NYT]

Celebrate 40 years of Sesame Street with Elmo at the Brooklyn Public Library’s newest exhibit this Saturday. [BPL]

At the McCarren Park Greenmarket tomorrow, pick up some hot apple cider, order a turkey for Thanksgiving, and vote for your favorite winter squash pie. [FreeWilliamsburg]

The Biggest Beer Fest Ever is happening at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence this weekend. [BeerFestAmerica]

Marriott announces plans to green more than 160 of its Courtyard properties, beginning with the Settler’s Ridge hotel in Pittsburgh, expected to open next summer. [Environmental leader]

Recently opened Manhattan Inn in Brooklyn is offering sustainable dining, serious mood lighting, and live entertainment. [Gothamist]

Although the travel industry has hardly escaped being marred by bad economic times, a new website meant to motivate “heritage- and culture-rich experiences” thinks this is a great moment to launch. Gozaic.com (go-zay-ik) offers insights and guided tours on destinations around the world—from the Maya Ruins to San Francisco to the Cape of Good Hope.

With beach bumming behind us for now, we met up with Gozaic’s Amtrak-roving president and CEO John Williams for his top winter recommendations on public transit accessible “places that matter” near NYC.

At Againn, Washington D.C.’s newest gastropub, the drink program includes more than 100 scotches and beers by the bottle, plus 17 brews on tap. [Eater]

NYC Transit chief resigns after two years on the job. [AMNY]

The strip club turned Latin restaurant Tamboril now has karaoke Tuesdays and a two-for-one happy hour. [ClintonHillBlog]

Comedian Jim Gaffigan tweeted this week about his January 9th performance in Peekskill, NY; tickets are available now. [ParamountCenter]

Red Star bar will offer 20 different craft and micro-brewed beers (in addition to live music, snacks, and a beer workshop) all day and night at the Greenpoint Beer Festival. [Facebook]

From the folks who brought us Dia: Beacon, the Dia Art Foundation announced this week it will construct a new building for long-term installations, readings, lectures, and performances in West Chelsea. [DiaArt.org]

The Frying Pan’s season docked near Chelsea Piers has been extended into the Fall with Monday Night Football projected on a 12-foot screen, and includes a communal bonfire complete with s’mores. [Urban Daddy]

Williamsburg newcomer Rye is an all-American bistro setting the right tone with good fare (think Long Island duck breasts and glazed meatloaf sandwiches) mostly under $20. [AMNY]

In Prospect Heights today, The Vanderbilt restaurant and bar from Ben Daitz (of Num Pang) and Saul Bolton (of Saul) opens with a French-influenced menu. [Daily Candy]

Attend P.S.1’s annual Fall Opening Celebration this Sunday at 12pm to see their latest installments of contemporary art. [Village Voice]

Next week, the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Connecticut will open Bike Rides: The Exhibition, which will celebrate bike culture with artworks and Lance Armstrong and David Byrne bikes. Opening party welcomes the public on October 4. [AldrichArt]

The casino entrepreneur who made a Vegas water fountain dance is taking a gamble on Ozone Park in Queens for his next adult playground. [CrainsNY]

The Red Hook place that packs a mean Watermelon Gin Punch has temporarily closed but will reopen “bigger and better.” [NYMag]

It’s tough to choose when you’re spoiled for choice, which may explain why Washingtonians would rather list their favorites than pick just one. With an itinerary thick with recommendations, we bolted to the capital city to eat, sleep, and discover its myriad distractions for ourselves.

We wandered from Pennsylvania to Connecticut Avenue and memorial to zoo, pausing for chewy chocolate oat cookies sprinkled with sea salt at Teaism before dinnertime at America’s first certified organic restaurant. With Restaurant Week and an unbeatable hotel promotion underway (save 30% on three-night stays), we found exactly where to spend and some excellent ways to save for your next DC getaway.