Zio's Monday Night Meatball

On a warm and cozy Wednesday evening, Zio Ristorante presented its new event introducing Monday Night Meatball. The meatball celebration is about to make your Mondays better.

Beginning on September 17, 2018, every Monday night at Zio Ristorante, you will be able to enjoy three meatball sliders for just $10. Each guest is allowed to choose from five different styles of meatballs, including vegetarian options. The first meatball is prepared out of Zio’s signature veal and combined with mozzarella cheese. If you are not a fan of veal, there are also choices of lamb meatballs with ricotta cheese and red onion marmalade, as well as seasoned chicken meatballs with fontina cheese. If you would like to add some spice to your Monday nights, try a spicy pork meatball covered in hot cherry pepper sauce. And of course, if you are a vegetarian, a veggie meatball with homemade pesto sauce is about to make your night.

Zio Ristorante, which offers a variety of delicious Italian dishes such as Fettuccine pasta with baby shrimps and fresh tomato sauce, as well as Petto di Pollo, which includes grilled pounded chicken breast, wild mushrooms and mashed potatoes, guarantees to become your NYC go-to restaurant during any time of the week. The restaurant offers a variety of finger-licking dishes that will be worth a try on any day of the week.

But if you are looking for a comfort level food for an amazing price, Monday Night Meatball is the event for you. Exclusively available every Monday night and only at Zio.

The Official Arrival of Clinton Hall to Williamsburg

Clinton Hall, a place for burgers, games, and beer, has finally arrived in Williamsburg! The new location can be found at the POD BK Hotel, and it includes good music, fun games, delicious food, and a large selection of draft beers.

The unique bar and dining experience features 20 beer drafts on rotation, which range from keg-conditioned lagers from the US, Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia, and more. But, if you’re in the mood for something other than beer, Clinton Hall offers a few different wines and cocktails worth trying, including  the Spicy Margarita (tanteo jalapeno tequila, agave nectar, and fresh lime juice) and the Frozé (Frozen Rosé).

To accompany the wide selection of drinks, Clinton Hall provides an array of “sliders,” “pass arounds,” and “on table.” The “sliders” are finger-licking good, varying from Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (served with pickled red slaw on a crispy chicken breast, cayenne pepper and secret spice blend) to The Shipwreck (beer battered cornet fish, old bay fries, tomato, lettuce, and tartar sauce). As for the pass arounds, Clinton Hall does not disappoint. Surprising combinations such as Buffalo Cauliflower (crispy florets with Clinton Hall buffalo sauce and crumbled bleu cheese) and Kimchi Hot Dogs (all beef hot dog, kimchi, crispy onion and chili aioli) are mouthwatering.The “on table” selection includes Waffle Fries (with cheddar cheese, jalapeno, and scallions) and Vietnamese Style Crispy Brussels (with mint, crispy shallot, and chili lime vinaigrette).

Photo by The Skinny Pig

After the food and drinks, guests are invited to participate in games such as giant Jenga and connect 4. What better way to finish off the night than to play some fun games in great company? After all, Clinton Hall has it all. With craft beer, great food, and fun, Clinton Hall is the perfect place to go to for a memorable experience. Check out the new location for more: 247 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211. 

Photos courtesy of Clinton Hall

Nello Petrucci: The Pompeii Collection

In Ancient Greek, “Καιρός,”(kairos) is defined as a critical moment in time. It therefore is the perfect name for the newest artistic project created by Italian artist, Nello Petrucci. Presented at the ArtExpo in New York City this past weekend, the “Pompeii” Collection pays homage to Petrucci’s origins and current residence: Pompeii, Italy. The collection also included elements of the ancient artwork that was originally located inside the ruins of the early Pompeii homes.

“Nello and I are from Pompeii,” said Giovanni Boccia, the CEO of Contemply Art Gallery, who also represents Nello Petrucci’s work. “Millions and millions of people come from around the world to visit Pompeii and see the ruins of the city which were caused by the volcano.” Pompeii, a city which was once considered one of the most technologically and culturally advanced cities in the world, was vaporized by Mount Vesuvius, a volcano near the Bay of Naples in 79 A.D. . The catastrophe resulted in the deaths of thousands , as well as loss and damage of artifacts. However,  the millions of tons of volcanic ash acted as a marvelous preservative; underneath all that dust were artworks that were once displayed in the Roman city homes. The city of Pompeii and its rich history allow millions of current residents and visitors to witness the marvelous art first-hand. However, as the official records were erased, the names of the artist artists remain unknown.

The mystery of who is the mastermind behind the most fascinating pieces created in humanity’s time served as the point of origin for Petrucci’s project. “In Greece, for example, you know about this culture and you know who made it; we know the names of the artists. But in the ancient times, such as during Pompeii,  there is no artist. We do not know who the artist was. There were no names behind these paintings,” said Petrucci. “I wanted to know who the artist was and that was the start of my project. I had a very big task of taking the work from the past and incorporating it into my work with my technique, with my style, and with my identity.” Therefore, the Pompeii project was born.

During his research, Petrucci noticed one gripping detail: the faces, bodies, and lifestyle depicted in the works of Pompeii’s artists have not changed from 2,000 years ago. “If you study [the paintings],  you will see that they're completely modern,” said Petrucci. “We brought everything from the ancient times. Nothing has really changed. The technology changed, but nothing else has. The concepts remain the same. Pompeii gives you expression and style of life. In the modern world, you can send a text, but back then it was graffiti. I want to know about the past. Because life is the same. It's just a different time. But life has remained the same as 2,000 years ago.”

With the idea of ancient, yet, contemporary, as well with the aim to preserve the historical elements and add the “Petrucci touch,” it took Nello Petrucci two years to complete the Pompeii collection. The main challenge faced by Petrucci was how to bring the unknown attributes of Pompeii and its artists onto the world stage, while incorporating his own philosophy into the work. “Nello wanted to do something for these artists. He wanted to attribute them by bringing the artworks from the inside of Pompeii to the rest of the world,” said Boccia. “It is strange because the connection is very beautiful,  these paintings come back, but they come back with the name of Nello Petrucci. All people in the world can now share how amazing and how beautiful these artworks are. But now they have a name on them: Nello Petrucci.”

The Pompeii Collection is indeed a rare piece of art magic. Prior to fully devoting his time to art, Petrucci also attended a film school, and worked as a set designer, actor, and cameraman. The artist starred in the film, The Fallen, while also working with Martin Scorsese on the New York classic-The Gangs of New York. The mixture of creative directions resulted in Petrucci using movie posters as a base for all of his paintings. He purchases original movie posters, tears them down, and begins to work with layers by adding two additional posters or images, followed by marvelous strokes of paint. To finalize his artwork, Petrucci adds photos of the Pompeii paintings on the surface, fusing them with the rest of the piece.

Petrucci’s work is truly remarkable and unique. “I met Nello and I thought to myself, ‘I need to take you into my team. I am crazy about your artwork.’ He's a true artist,” said Boccia. “Sometimes you see some artists who do something because they think, ‘Well I just want to make a painting that will sell my work. I know that if I make something really important then I will become famous.’ Nello is totally crazy for the art itself. Just look at his work.”

Indeed, Petrucci’s art captivates. It certainly speaks to the name of “Καιρός,” because Petrucci takes the past and the present and blends it to create the right moment in time. The subjects in his paintings are all drastically different and yet somehow, Petrucci draws a comparison between the women of Pompeii and the actresses on the poster layered underneath. It reaches an extent when any individual looking at Petrucci’s work begins to question if they might look like the subjects depicted. “Change the photography, change the makeup, change the outfit,” said Petrucci. “You will realize: it is all the same.”

If you are interested in purchasing artworks from Nello Petrucci’s collections, including the “Pompeii” Collection, visit http://www.nellopetrucci.com/home_en.php and https://www.contemply.com for more information.

Chat N' Chew Private Preview

If you are looking for a cozy setting for your next date night, Chat N’ Chew is a must try. Located in the heart of Union Square, the restaurant is a 20-year comfort food staple. Following a popular trend, the restaurant has now upgraded their menu to match the current flow of healthy eating habits. Curated by the restaurateur Andrew Silverman, is reopening to the public, once again, to show that hearty meals do not have to be a part of guilty pleasures.

The new menu offers a variety of familiar hearty meals, but is also introducing healthy options for those on a health kick. Along with juicy hamburgers and not your mother’s mac’n’cheese, vegan and vegetarian options are now available to the public. Appetizers, like Matzo Ball Soup,  “Platter of the Gods” Hummus & Tzatziki and “Duke’s Buffalo Shrimp” were just previews before the big game of finger-licking entrees. For a more traditional comfort food experience, try menu items, such as a “not-so-classic grilled three cheese,” as well as the “Thanksgiving on a Roll.” Those are just some options “between the bread” that show that Chat N’ Chew raised the stakes in the comfort food dining game. While other variations of entrees, such as “110% Veggie Chili” and “Butternut Squash Ravioli & Crumbled Sage” are the healthier twists on otherwise “self-indulgent” meals. To round-up a feast of deliciousness, Chat N’ Chew’s dessert menu is something to pay attention to. With “Creme Brûlée Cheese Cake” and “Carrot Cake in a Chat N’ Chew Mug,” accompanied by a list of egg creams, flots, and milkshakes, Chat N’ Chew definitely satisfies the sweet tooth.

Inspired to visit Chat N’ Chew for your next Sunday brunch? Check out the restaurant’s address below:

10 E 16th St, New York, NY 10003