What's up Dog? or... what's on my dog rather...?

Crif Dogs.

It's.. beyond. just.. beyond.

If you love a good hot dog... you've got to make a trip down to Crif Dogs and get your fill. It's located on St. Marks Place, btw 1st and avenue A. Though it may be a walk from the train... it's well worth it.

The Menu is hilarious. Using sly names and local humor to liven it up... you can have a philly cheese steak dog (covered in onions and melted cheese) or a "Spicy Redneck" (Bacon Wrapped, with Chili, Cole Slaw, and Jalapenos). Also...they do have veggie dogs for you veggie heads out there... so it's all inclusive. They serve different types of beer on tap, and my favorite.. red birch beer (the soda).

Their fries and tots are to die for... and come in very large portions. And for all those people who are adventurous, looking for a late night snack (especially those who are drunk and/or stoned) there's special menu items for you... it literally says so on the menu. For a moderate price, you get what is a grab bag of food. You'll have no idea what you're going to get, but I'm sure you won't complain! Aslo... if you're with a small group and are feeling up to it.. they have the grab bag in different quantities for different amounts of people... DIG IN!

The decor isn't bad. The sort of "st. marks-esque" original artwork you'd expect line the exposed brick walls ( a woman wrapped around a terribly phallic hot dog) and they have a few picnic tables and a wall table that's bar style. It's a little small... so i don't suggest bringing a whole crowd if you'd like to sit... but the dogs are just as good on the run. but if you're lucky to grab a seat, you'll enjoy your dog completely. One table has the arcade game of pac man, or mrs. pac man.. can't remember which...inside it... so you can play vintage while you eat new.

Also... they have a speak easy that's located beneath them... and to get to it you have to go into a phone booth (located inside crif dogs) and pick up a phone... and get let in. I was amazed at how Clark Kent/Superman the whole situation was... but it's quite interesting.

I definitely say check it out... and then after your dog... there's a little australian chocolate place next door that has amazing chocolates, ice cream and hot cocoa.

Here's all the info... and ironically their myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/crifdogsnyc

113 Saint Marks Pl
New York, NY 10009
(212) 614-2728

Hours:
Sun-Thurs (12:00pm-2:00am)
Fri & Sat (12:00pm-4:ooam)



ENJOY!

Thanks a latte... but I barely can afford coffee... but still need to talk

I planned on meeting my guru for coffee, but both of our pockets were not in a coffee mood. So we thought of talking elsewhere... and we ended up talking... on, get this... the phone.

I know... I know... who would have thought about the telephone? I mean almost all carry one. We bring them around with us everywhere imaginable... and at the best times check it constantly for missed calls, texts or voice mails that aren't there. But do we ever think about what a phone can truly be useful for? A way to stay in touch, a form of therapy, a truth. Maybe not the phone itself... but whoever it connects you to.

Now my guru (i feel like I'll be talking about her a lot)... she is the perfect person my phone can connect me with. She's insightful, honest, to the point... it's just a relief talking to her because rather than tell me what I want to hear... she tells it like it is, and it makes me feel like there's some true people in this world.

Through our talk, a point was made that I needed to go out and do things... on my own. Like explore the city, eat places... set aside a time to do something new every week. So I think I'm going to. Maybe pick a small place and do some sight seeing... maybe grab a bite... but I have a problem with doing things solo... so we'll see.

I'm expecting my future explorations to do two things... give you all insight on secrets or what have you of the places i visit... and to give me an insight of myself. So I'm pretty sure you all, if you keep reading, are going to learn a lot about me... and be sort of my silent therapists...
though you are welcome to email me or comment anytime you like... and I'd actually like if you were not silent at all.

Hence forth, I will be exploring things local.. (and by local i mean New York, NY) and be updating from time to time on them, my experiences and maybe a few insights here and there.

So first insight on things is very simple. If you don't have the money to grab coffee, and you still want to catch up with someone lost or discuss things with someone found... pick up the phone. The conversation you have may not taste as good as a double tall caramel mocha macchiato with extra whip... but I bet it'll be just as worth it.