Mexican food, Strand merchandise, Island merriment

by Hilary Hughes & Hannah Kinney

Monday November 28, 2005

El Cantinero
86 University Place (between 11th St. and 12th St.)
Mon.-Thurs.: 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Fri.-Sat.: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m.
Sun.: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
(212) 255-9378

Even if you’re not the biggest fan of pico de gallo, bass of Reggaeton or pitchers of frozen margaritas, I highly suggest you check out El Cantinero.

This little Mexican restaurant makes fantastic and authentic cuisine, and you can indulge in fresh guacamole and superb burritos in a brightly painted, somewhat schticky dining room. The waiters are all extremely friendly (Ricardo is my favorite). The prices tend to run a little steep–a friend of mine wound up paying $16 for fajitas alone. The drinks, however, are beautifully cheap if you go before five ($3.25 for specialty margaritas and mojitos!), and tend to balance out to more standard prices around dinnertime.

For those who like to shake it and who happen to be over 21, there’s a Latin dance club upstairs, which is a great way to burn off the delicious meal you consumed before heading up there.
Look for the blue awning on University Place for fast Tex-Mex and you won’t be disappointed.

Strand Books
Corner of 12th St. and Broadway
Mon.-Sat.: 9:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
Sun.: 11:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Chances are you’ve seen at least ten people on this campus walking around with a brightly colored tote bag or t-shirt with "STRAND" written on it.

This merchandise comes from the Strand Bookstore, a Manhattan landmark and a treasure-trove for literary lovers. One of my favorite things about the Strand is how cheap it is–they sell thousands of new titles for at least 50 percent off. You normally wind up with a plethora of titles that you would never be able to find (or afford) at Barnes & Noble.

The Strand also has the largest rare book collection in the city, including obscure first editions, autographed favorites and those hard-to-find photography books you’ve been dying to get your hands on.

The stock at the Strand is always changing and they get new shipments of thousands of books every day, which is evident from one look at the towering shelves and vast expanse that looks like a yard sale and library combined.

The Strand advertises that they have at least 18 miles of books on their shelves, which is great if you have an hour to browse for buried treasure. However, I’ve had problems in the past looking for books I needed for conference work and have found the sprawling domain of the store a little daunting.

Regardless, I’m a huge fan of the Strand and I suggest you become one, too, if not for the sake of your bookshelf, then for the sake of your wallet.

Coney Island
West 8th to West 24th Street, and from Surf Avenue to the Atlantic Ocean
Take the D, Q N or F train to Stillwell Avenue (last stop).
Coneyisland.com

Coney Island is both a childhood and adult fantasy with rides, games, corndogs and a side-show (don’t worry no bearded ladies, just people swallowing swords).

Though the area has seen better days, there is still a bit of the former glory. It is a place of tragic beauty, and miles (well, a few blocks) of fun.

Of course, there are rides of all sorts, both for children and adults. All the favorites are there–roller coasters, tilt-a-whirls, and so on. The greatest wonder though is the wide variety of circusy food that Coney Island offers.

The original Nathan’s (present home of the annual hot dog eating contest) is a great place to get hot dogs and cheese fries, and since it is Coney Island it tastes better than the drive-through on Central Avenue ever could. You should also check out the Mom and Pop food vendors that cover the boardwalk.

When it is all over, make sure to stop into the t-shirt shack next to Nathan’s—you get to pick the design and shirt and see it made right before your eyes! It may not be all you imagined, but it is certainly an enjoyable train ride through Brooklyn. And where else can you take a picture of your friend standing under a sign for the game "Shoot the Freak"?