New York City

I have to say that I was really impressed with Thalassa. It’s a Greek restaurant that’s in a building that’s owned by a shipping company and has been there for the last I don’t know however many years. It seems like if you own the building, you’re going to have a better possibility of being able to manage a restaurant at the bottom of it, but the food here speaks for itself. To the left, Chef Raphael Abrahante is perfects the seafood display. This guy really knows his fish. I feel like this guy is going to make a name for himself, but I can’t find a lot of articles about his food just yet. There will be more soon, trust me. Onto the food: Bakalao It looks pretty, but I think it needs to be eaten when it’s hot. I had photographed all of the appetizers before I got to try it and the cooling off did something to the texture. I can’t comment on this one in one way or another, only to say that it needs to be eaten hot. Horiatiki Or as I like to call it, the fancypants Greek Salad. I think I ate the whole thing. I might have skipped the flower. Look at how GD gorgeous that thing is. Katifi Wrapped Scallops Maine Sea Scallops wrapped in Kataifi filo with sheep’s milk butter and a Kalamata balsamic reduction. These things are a must order when you dine here. They are DECADENT, so beware. These are easily someone’s main course. A refined fried scallop dish if I’ve ever tasted one. Tartare Trio Three tartares of Royal Dorado, Tuna, and Lavraki respectively. My favorite was the classic tuna and avocado. Hard to go wrong with this light fare after you’ve punished yourself with those scallops (we advise splitting the scallops with two friends). Soft-Shell Crab and Fiddleheads This one is not on the menu right now, but I just wanted to say DAMN! FIDDLEHEADS! If you haven’t had yourself some fiddleheads at this point in time this season, go find yourself some and cook the heck out of those badass mothers. You’ll LOVE them. Also, soft-shell crab? Definitely my favorite type of crab. If it’s on the menu, this is what I am ordering. Very springy. Octopus Susan was telling me a story about how all of the Greek restaurants used to have a washing machine in the kitchen. The washing machine would tenderize the octopus. Now, these washing machines have been removed from the great kitchens because they are “unsanitary.” I mean, I am guessing they are not made for this type of stuff, so they have the potential to be unsanitary, but I basically side with the chef on this one, especially in a restaurant of this caliber. These octopi were hand-massaged. They are plenty tender and you get an absolute mammoth portion of it. Not cheap, but if you like octopus, this really is an exceptional dish. Panna Cotta This one is available in the $38 prix-fixe. When I think Greece, I don’t typically think Panna Cotta, but I was happy with this one. Panna Cotta it is one of my favorite things to photograph. I’m not sure I did this one justice. Baklava I don’t think you could see it, but the honey was absolutely sparkling in the sunset. Sparkling honey is not necessarily a mark of good baklava, but they nailed it. If you are a high-end Greek restaurant, you need to nail the baklava. An ex-girlfriend of mine went to Greece on a trip and came back complaining about the bland food. I’ve been to a lot of Greek restaurants in the past and I’ve never been super excited about the cuisine. After Thalassa, I am. Editor’s note: This meal was provided to the writer compliments of the restaurant Thalassa179 Franlkin StreetNew York, NY 10013(212) 941-7661

For the past year, elite private school Horace Mann has been rocked with sex abuse allegations dating all the way back to the 1960s, and yesterday top officials at the school issued its first public apology to the victims of abuse. But despite the school's acknowledgment that a number of former teachers and administrators had been abusing students for over three decades, the administration did not say they will be conducting an independent investigation into the incidents. [ more › ]

Last year, budding Brooklyn artists were gifted with boozy painting classes, courtesy of Williamsburg paint-by-numbers outfit the Painting Lounge. But apparently the the Daily News decided to ask the NYPD if the lounge's bring-your-own-booze policy was legal or not, and it wasn't, so the cops raided the joint and now it's no longer BYOB. Nothing kills a wine-and-Warhol party like a journalist-instigated cop raid, eh? [ more › ]

Amanda Bynes claims she was sexually harassed by police during her recent arrest. Less than 24 hours after addressing her recent legal trouble on Twitter, the actress wrote a lengthy piece about how she was treated by arresting officers earlier this week. According to the former What I Like About You star’s latest tweet, Bynes was sexually harassed by police when she was arrested at her New York City apartment on marijuana possession charges. In addition to lying about the bong she reportedly threw out a window, the actress said the officer “slapped” her vagina. “Don’t believe the reports about me being arrested. It’s all lies. I was sexually harassed by one of the cops the night before last which is who then arrested me. He lied and said I threw a bong out the window when I opened the window for fresh air. Hilarious. He slapped my vagina. Sexual harassment. Big deal,” Bynes explained in her post. She continued, “I then called the cops on him. He handcuffed me, which I resisted, quite unlike any of the reports stated. Then I was sent to a mental hospital. Offensive. I kept asking for my lawyer but they wouldn’t let me. The cops were creepy. The cop sexually harassed me, they found no pot on me or bong outside my window.” Amanda Bynes concluded her recent post by stating that reports regarding her arrest shouldn’t be believed. It would seem this story is only going to get stranger before the actress returns to court on July 9. Earlier today the Easy A star tweeted that she wasn’t smoking a joint in the lobby of her apartment complex. Although she admitted to smoking tobacco, she said she doesn’t do drugs and has never owned a bong. I only smoke tobacco I don’t drink or do drugs. I’ve never had a bong in my life! I need to get another nose job after seeing my mugshot! — Amanda Bynes (@AmandaBynes) May 24, 2013 Do you believe that Amanda Bynes was sexually harassed during her recent arrest? [Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com] Amanda Bynes Says She Was ‘Sexually Harassed’ By Police is a post from: The Inquisitr

Amanda Bynes was in a New York City courthouse Friday after being arrested for throwing a bong out of her New York City apartment. However, Bynes is denying that she smokes weed, and today accused the NYPD of sexually harassing her. Bynes posted this to Twitplus earlier: Don't believe the reports about me being arrested. It's all lies. I was sexually harassed by one of the cops the night before last which is who then arrested me. He lied and said I threw a bong out the window when I opened the window for fresh air. Hilarious. He slapped my vagina. Sexual harassment. Big deal. I then called the cops on him. He handcuffed me, which I resisted, quite unlike any of the reports stated. Then I was sent to a mental hospital. Offensive. I kept asking for my lawyer but they wouldn't let me. The cops were creepy. The cop sexually harassed me, they found no pot on me or bong outside my window. That's why the judge let me go. Don't believe any reports. The New York Post reports that the Internal Affairs Bureau is looking into Bynes' claims. Bynes was released without bail yesterday, but the judge warned her she would be arrested if she missed her court date in July. She faces misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, attempted tampering with physical evidence, and unlawful possession marijuana. Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.Join the conversation about this story »

After Thursday night’s pulsating 4-3 comeback win for Manchester City against Chelsea in St Louis, the anticipation is building for tonight’s match between the two clubs, which will be played at Yankee Stadium in New York City. For viewers in the United States, the kick-off time is tentatively scheduled for 5:30pm ET on FOX Soccer. However, the exact kick-off time will depend on what time the UEFA Champions League Final finishes and whether the game will go into extra time and/or penalty kicks. In team news, Chelsea are missing Ashley Cole, Gary Cahill and Frank Lampard who have returned to London to meet up with the England national team. This will be Manchester City’s first match in New York City since their announcement that they’re purchasing a MLS franchise, so it’ll be interesting to see what the reaction is to the team in Yankee Stadium. Before, during or after tonight’s match, join the conversation in the comments section below. Manchester City vs Chelsea Exhibition Game in New York City: Open Thread is a post from EPL Talk - Independent voice of EPL soccer fans since 2005.

The NYPD is looking for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman on the subway earlier this month, and they're asking the public for assistance in their search. Cops say the assault occurred on May 15 at around 3 a.m.; a 21-year-old woman was riding a southbound 4 train when she says an older man sat next to her, exposed himself to her and tried to keep her from leaving the train as it entered the Saratoga Station in Brownsville, Brooklyn. [ more › ]

Amanda Bynes has allegedly been on a bong-smashing tear over the last 72 hours ever since she was arrested for throwing a bong out the window of her apartment. This morning, Bynes took to Twitter to defend herself, claiming "I only smoke tobacco I don't drink or do drugs. I've never had a bong in my life!" But she has now made some very serious accusations against the NYPD, claiming that an officer sexually harassed her: "He slapped my vagina. Sexual harassment. Big deal." [ more › ]

Are Miley & Amanda the same person? Without a publicist on her payroll, Amanda Bynes is doing her own damage control. Less than 24 hours after the actress was arrested in New York City, the 27-year-old denied any wrongdoing via Twitter. Bynes was charged with marijuana possession, attempted evidence tampering and reckless endangerment on Friday, May 24. “I only smoke tobacco I don’t drink or do drugs,” the Easy A star insisted, attempting to discredit a police report that said she threw a bong out of her apartment window. “I’ve never had a bong in my life! I need to get another nose job after seeing my mugshot!” Read more: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/amanda-bynes-i-dont-drink-or-do-drugs-i-need-a-second-nose-job-2013255#ixzz2UL9H76F3

Promising start in New York City, except for the FC