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Norma's Weekly Member Snapshot:
What's the Scoop?
Looking for a sweet treat to cool you down during the hottest weeks of the year? Visit my Special Feature for the best ice cream spots in the city. These parlors have all stepped up their game to go beyond just a scoop in a dish... from root beer floats and banana splits to gelato and sorbet, everything you crave to beat the heat.
Norma Knows New York City
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Click here to visit recent Snapshots and Special Features.
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Send to other savvy New Yorkers and hip visitors,
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 GENERAL EVENTS |
Now Open Bryant Park Outdoor ActivitiesBryant Park
There is so much to do during the summer in Bryant Park... from outdoor dance and exercise classes to a live piano player... check the calendar for the full schedule. Battery Park The exquisite smart glass panels transform the carousels walls from clear to blue. More than 10 years in the making, is a multimedia aquatic experience evoking The Battery's maritime history as the first home of the New York Aquarium.
The High Line (West 13th & Washington Streets) Every Tuesday until October you can peek into high powered telescopes on the High Line and chat with the experts.
Through August 22 Harlem Week
Various Locations
Celebrate Harlem with musical events, film festivals, fashion shows, and more. August 28 Astronomy NightsIntrepid Museum - Pier 86 - Hudson River Park (at 46th Street) From 6:45pm to 10pm, star-gaze with local astronomers on high-powered telescopes. In addition to the outside viewing, there will also be talks and hands-on demonstrations inside the Museum. ON THE RADAR: 
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center - Queens Tickets are now on sale for matches at this year's Open. I plan on purchasing mine, as I do each year. On August 29th seize your chance to rub elbows with some of the top names in tennis at the Party with the Pros event.
September 3 through 6 NYC Unicycle Festival Battery Park to Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge to Coney Island, Governors Island Long distance rides, public shows, a learn-to-ride area, unicycle hockey and basketball, and workshops.
September 10 through 17 Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week
Various Locations One of my favorite weeks of the year, Fashion Week showcases spectacular upcoming collections for the fashion forward set. September 26 2015 Global Citizen FestivalCentral Park A festival focusing on ending world poverty. Celebrity entertainers were released this morning to include Beyoncé and Hugh Jackman!
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CULTURAL PURSUITS
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Looking for a new way to see a museum? Check out Museum Hack, guided tours (up to 9 people) of the Met and the American Museum of Natural History. Led by experienced guides well-versed in art history, it's a way to see the works through a new lens. |
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Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks
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Through August 22
A summer showcase of contemporary artists from Africa.
BROOKLYN MUSEUM (200 Eastern Parkway - Brooklyn) Basquiat: The Unknown NotebooksThrough August 23 View the large scale works of this illustrious painter along with sketches from his personal notebooks. ONGOING EXHIBITS:
AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM (2 Lincoln Square) Folk Art and American ModernismThrough September 27 This exhibit traces folk art from fishing shacks to the walls of major art museums.AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (Central Park West at 79th Street)
Jean-Michel Cousteau's Secret OceanThrough January 2016 Visit the American Museum of Natural History to take a breathtaking journey around the underwater world as Cousteau introduces 30 species shown for the first time on film... created over a three year period.
 COOPER HEWITT (2 East 91st Street) How Posters WorkThrough January 26, 2016 Dozens of designers collaborate to convey their ideas and constructions.
DISCOVERY TIMES SQUARE (226 West 44th Street)
The Hunger Games
Through January 3, 2016
The world premiere exhibition is open! Katniss fans will go wild for authentic costumes, props, and highly interactive hands-on experiences exploring the world of Panem.
ELLIS ISLAND
Ongoing
Life-size historic photographs of Ellis Island immigrants are displayed on the south side of Ellis Island.
Ongoing
Tells the story of immigration to America before the processing station opened in 1892 and after it closed in 1954.
THE FRICK COLLECTION (10 East 71st Street) Leighton's Flaming JuneThrough September 6 British artist Frederic Leighton's paintings are on exhibition.
GARMENT DISTRICT (Broadway between 36th and 41st Streets)
Through September 15
Rotating sculptures will be on display including "Embracing Peace" through August 16th in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM (1071 Fifth Avenue)
Storylines: Contemporary Art at the Guggenheim
Through September 9
This exhibit displays 100+ works and examines how artists forge new paradigms for storytelling through painting, photography and sculpture.
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Highlights from the Collection:
Summer 2015
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HELLY NAHMAD GALLERY (975 Madison Avenue)
INTREPID SEA, AIR, & SPACE MUSEUM (Pier 86 - 46th Street & 12th Avenue)
Through September 15
Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope.
THE JEWISH MUSEUM (1109 Fifth Avenue)
Through September 27
The first exhibition to explore how avant-garde art influenced the look and content of early network television.
MADISON SQUARE PARK Teresita FernándezThrough Winter 500 feet of sprawling sculptures made of golden canopies suspended above the park's pathway. An eye-catching exhibit.
MATTHEW MARKS GALLERY (523 West 24th)
Through October 24
Over 30 works on paper that Truitt made while living in Tokyo.
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (1000 Fifth Avenue)
Through November 1
It feels like summer and a perfect time to visit the Met's Roof Garden. Besides the beautiful view and delicious drinks, Pierre Huyghe's minimalist installation is mystifying and adds to the view.
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Navigating the West: George Caleb Bingham and the River
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THE MORGAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (226 Madison Avenue)
Through October 11
For the first time in three decades, the original manuscript will travel from the British Library in London to New York, where it will be joined by original drawings and letters, rare editions, vintage photographs, and fascinating objects... many never before exhibited.
MUSEUM OF ARTS & DESIGN (2 Columbus Circle)
Through September 20
Through August 30
Displays thirty of his works of ever-changing fashion.
MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK (1220 Fifth Avenue)Through September 13
An exhilarating exhibit of 50 years of New York landmarks.
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Everything is Design: The Work of Paul Rand
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Everything is Design: The Work of Paul Rand
Through September 7
The master of design showcases his postcards, brochures, and all of his creative concepts.
THE MUSEUM AT FIT (227 West 27th Street) Global Fashion CapitalsThrough November 14
Seventy objects representing the history of the world's prominent fashion capitals such as Milan and Paris.
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (11 West 53rd Street)
Through March 31, 2016 Exhibition of past three decades of 30 international artists whose works range in their approach to political, social, and cultural flux of our global landscape.
This Is for Everyone: Design Experiments for the Common Good
Through January 31, 2016
Digital age design encompassing fashion and furniture.
Through October 4
Showcases the work of photographers Harry Shunk (German, 1924-2006) and János Kender (Hungarian, 1937-2009) from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. Two dimensional black and white photographic works representing the chaotic energy of two dynamic cites....Paris and NYCAndy Warhol: Campbell's Soup Cans and Other Works, 1953-1967
Through October 12Andy Warhol's famous Campbell Soup Cans are on display. Through September 6 A captivating presentation of the graphic and cinematic influence of one of the most well respected film directors. In tandem with this presentation is an exhibit of 34 works from his poster collection. |
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Simon Denny: The Innovator's Dilemma
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Through August 24
The first U.S. museum solo show of Berlin-based artist Simon Denny. Adopts the architectural typology of the industry tradeshow, staging literal platforms for content drawn from various recent bodies of Denny's work. At MoMA's PS1.
Through September 7MoMA features a compilation of approximately 125 of her early objects, works on paper, installations, performances, audio recordings, and films, surveying the decisive decade that led up to her unauthorized exhibition. Through September 7 Portrays the mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN (Broadway & Bridge Street) Through January 10, 2016 Glittering World presents the story of Navajo jewelry through the lens of one of the most celebrated jewelry making families of our time.
NEUE GALLERY NEW YORK MUSEUM FOR GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN ART (1048 Fifth Avenue)
Through September 7
View the original painting that inspired Helen Mirren's role in her latest movie by the same name.
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Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life
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NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
(170 Central Park West)
Through October 12
Nine decades of his art on display for the first time.
THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life Through November 1The inaugural exhibition to examine Frida's appreciation for the beauty and variety of the natural world, as evidenced by her home, garden, and use of plant imagery in her artwork.
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY (5th Avenue at 42nd Street)
Public Eye: 175 Years of Sharing Photography
Through September 4
A retrospective survey of photography. How have we been engaged over time? Are we risking our privacy in pursuit of a more public photography? The exhibit explores these questions.
Sinatra: An American Icon
Through September 4A tribute to the life of the legendary actor and singer, Frank Sinatra. A multimedia exhibit showcasing memorabilia never before seen.
RANDALL'S ISLAND Through November Annual summer art exhibitions on the shoreline of Randall's Island. ROBIN RICE GALLERY (325 West 11th Street)
Summertime Salon
Through September 6Annual photographic exhibition featuring the works of the gallery artists as well as a few newcomers.
Through November 1
In his new body of work, José Picayo explores the mystery of human perception and interaction.
SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK (Long Island City) The Living PyramidThrough August 30
Stop by and see New York City artist Agnes Denes' work.
THE SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM (39 Battery Place)
Ten TopsThrough September 13Focuses on a group of the world's tallest buildings 100 stories and higher. A perfect exhibit for this museum!
VAN DER PLAS GALLERY (156 Orchard Street) Displays works from various artists. There will be a closing party for the Summer Salon exhibition on August 28th from 6-8 pm, displaying works from various artists including Red Intersections, Quartered by Toni Silber-Delerive.
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART (99 Gansevoort Street)America is Hard to See Through September 24
Recently premiering at the downtown opening of the museum. View this inaugural exhibit of over 650 pieces from 400 artists.
WINSTON WACHTER FINE ART GALLERY (530 West 25th Street)
Scott Patt: Bigger. Smaller. Funnier.
Through August 31
Patt's paintings inspire viewers to consider overlooked humorous and poignant moments in life.
WOOLWORTH BUILDING (233 Broadway) Through August 31st The lobby of this historic landmark was closed to the public for 12 years, but it's recently reopened for tours. Take in the grand marble staircase, glass mosaic ceiling and striking murals in this architecture of commerce.
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CURTAIN UP
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FILM:
Visit my recent Snapshot for all of the outdoor film this summer! This week's movie picks: 
Crosby Street Hotel (79 Crosby Street)
For $55 per person, enjoy dinner and a movie. A 3-course meal is followed by a viewing of this movie starring John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks.
MUSIC & DANCE:
The Lambs Club (132 West 44th Street)
Live jazz from new and up and coming performers.
Governor's Island
A terrific ticketed event. Enjoy a tribute to Bob Marley and Sublime, while walking along the grounds, viewing our city's skyline, and enjoying great seafood such as lobster rolls and oysters.
Lincoln Center
Classical music concerts. Order your tickets now.
August 25 through 29 Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration
Birdland (315 West 44th Street)
An all-star birthday celebration of Charlie Parker... one of the most influential and iconic artists in jazz history.
City Winery (155 Varick Street)
A fun, free after-work backyard party, the last in a summer series. Also, check the calendar for upcoming performances like Aaron Neville on August 30th & 31st.
August 27 MoMA Nights
Museum of Modern Art (11 West 53rd Street) - Sculpture Garden
The perfect respite... listen to jazz and classical music in the museum's exquisite sculpture garden on Thursdays in August.
Bryant Park
For the first time Bryant Park presents a festival of bands playing world music with each featuring one accordionist. Grab a spot on the lawn for a picnic and listen to rising talent.
Through August 30 FringeNYC
Various Locations
Tickets now on sale for shows throughout the city... musicals, operas, drama, dance, comedy and more.
Through September 5 Warm Up 2015
MoMA PS1 (Long Island City)
Each Saturday, Warm Up is experimental live music, DJs, and dancing in the outdoor courtyard of MoMA PS1 in Queens.
Park Avenue Armory (646 Park Avenue)
Visual art, electro-pop, and contemporary dance intersect in an illuminating new work.
54 Below, 254 West 54th Street
A champagne reception followed by dinner and a performance. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House.
THEATER:
 Tickets now on sale for 2-for-1 Broadway Week. Tickets will be sold for shows September 7th through 20th.39 StepsThrough November 30 Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street) The energetic production has returned to NYC! A comedic spoof where 4 actors portray over 150 characters. The Absolute Brightness of Leonard PelkeyThrough October 4 Westside Theatre Downstairs (407 West 43rd Street)An off-Broadway production of a tenaciously optimist and flamboyant 14 year old boy who goes missing from his small Jersey shore town. Through October 4th. An American in Paris
Palace Theater (1564 Broadway)
American Stage debut of the story about a young artist who discovers life and love after returning from the war.  Amazing GraceThrough December 20
Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st)
World Premiere musical based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world's most beloved song.
Through February 28, 2016
Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street)
This musical follows the legendary songwriter from her early days as a Brooklyn teenager to well-known hits as a top recording artist.
Bombshell of RhythmThrough August 30 SOHO Playhouse (15 Vandam Street) The life and secrets of Ina Ray Hutton... the first woman conductor of an all female band during the Big Band era. Through January 3, 2016
Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) Now a Tony Award Winning play! The lead actor, a recent graduate of Julliard, is brilliant. The story unfolds with a mathematically precocious adolescent with behavioral problems uncovering truths and secrets. Through September 12 Peter J. Sharp Theater (416 West 42nd Street) A kaleidoscope night in NYC that changes the lives of three people forever.
Through January 10, 2016 Starring Kelsey Grammer. The amazing story of how Peter became Pan.
The FlickThrough January 10, 2016 Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street) Set in a run-down movie theater in central Massachusetts, this is Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Fun HomeThrough June 5, 2016 Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th Street) Performance brings the actors and audience within close proximity. Tony Award Winning play about seeing your parents through adult eyes. Greek Festival
Through September 27 Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street)
A month long festival of productions and seminars celebrating classical Greek theater.
Hamilton
Through September 6
The Signature Theater (480 West 42nd Street)
World premier by Pulitzer prize winning playwright of the Flick. John is directed by Sam Gold and is the story of a young couple's struggle to stay together.
Through January 31, 2016
Lincoln Center Theater (150 West 65th Street)
The revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's play, starring Tony Award Winner Kelli O'Hara.
On the TownThrough December 6
Lyric Theatre (213 West 42nd Street) The feel good play of the season. Broadway's largest orchestra and cast make us fall in love with the city again.
Ruthless
Through January 2, 2016
St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street)
Called "the mother of all musicals," I've seen it and can attest... it's a hilarious show starring 10-year old Tori Murray.
Shakespeare in the Park: Cymbeline
Through August 23
The Delacorte Theater (81 Central Park)
It's worth standing in line for the free performances of Shakespeare's tale. Starring Hamish Linklater.
Shows for Days
Through August 23
Lincoln Center Theater (150 West 65th Street) A favorite performer, Patti LuPone, stars in a semi-autobiographical play about a community theater in rural Pennsylvania. Summer Shorts Festival
Through August 29
59E59 Theaters (59 E 59th Street)
An annual event featuring new and favorite American playwrights. |
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Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic
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Through September 6
Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street)
The acclaimed revival returns to the stage. What starts out as "blarney" turns into haunting ghost stories.
Ziegfeld's Midnight FrolicThrough August 29 Speakeasy Dollhouse (234 West 42nd Street) A hidden theater in the Heart of Times Square, purchase tickets for an evening of music, magic, and mystery.
ON THE RADAR:
August 29 Metropolitan Opera's 2015 Summer HD Festival
Lincoln Center Plaza Through September 7th, there will be 10 free screenings of MET performances, opening with a special screening of West Side Story. There will be 3,100 free seats for each screening available with no tickets required. August 31 Saturday Night Fever Reunion Concert 54 Below (254 West 54th Street) A reunion concert of the 2000 Broadway musical Saturday Night Fever. Some of the Bee Gee's biggest hits of the late 70s will be performed by some of the original cast members.  September 1 through 30 Generations in Jazz Festival Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (10 Columbus Circle) Month-long concerts at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Peter Sharp Theater at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway) See a screening of the Arthur Miller film that portrays a dark cloud surrounding the American dream. September 6 World Civic Orchestra Lincoln Center (10 Lincoln Center Plaza) Both professional and amateur musicians come together to perform music as a means to bridge the world's differences.September 8 A View from the BridgeLyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) Tickets go on sale for this magnificent and electrifying performance of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. Previews begin October 21st, opens November 12th.  September 9 through 13 Harlem International Film FestivalMultiple Locations Documentaries, shorts, youth projects, and animated works, along with panel discussions and awards.
Manhattan Theatre Club (261 West 47th Street) Sam Shepard's landmark myth starring Sam Rockwell tells the story of two former lovers struggling. Previews begin September 15th, opens October 8th. September 20 TalkCinema
The Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center (165 West 65th Street)
General admission or season passes available for the film series featuring new independent films... you won't know what you see until you arrive, but you'll be able to discuss the movie afterwards with directors, producers, distributors, critics and each other.
HOT TICKETS NOW ON SALE:
 Previews begin November 10 Bernard B Jacobs Theatre
(242 West 45th Street)
Tickets are now on sale for this Broadway revival starring Jennifer Hudson. Previews start November 10th, opens December 10th.
Previews begin October 22 Broadhurst Theatre (Broadway & 44th Street)
Much-anticipated thriller based on the Stephen King novel (and movie starring Kathy Bates). I was petrified reading the book, the movie brought it to life, and the on-stage show starring Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf is sure to have you on the edge of your seat! Previews start October 22nd, opens November 15th.
Previews begin September 17
Roundabout Theatre Company (231 West 39th Street)
A Harold Pinter production starring Clive Owen in a play that focuses on the past you can't escape. Previews start September 17th, opens October 6th.
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FOR THE FOODIE
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NEW ON THE SCENE:Markets:
Mexican East Village (63 East 4th Street) Mexico comes to Manhattan with this authentic East Village Mexican general store.
Various cuisines Midtown West (431 West 37th Street) The renowned Brooklyn Fare has just set up shop in Manhattan. A modern day affordable market with perks and services of an old school neighborhood store. Stay tuned for the opening of their restaurant.
Restaurants: Mexican Lower East Side (151 Essex Street) The place to dine and be seen. The owners of Indocine and Acme have teamed up to create Mexican fare with Eastern flavors. Old World ambience with a rustic edge.
Italian NoMad (1133 Broadway) Translation "white sheep" in Italian. Local and seasonal Italian cuisine in the NoMad district that is true to tradition.
American Midtown (1414 Sixth Avenue) Acclaimed chef Jonathan Waxman reopens the 80s classic restaurant in the new hotel 1 on Central Park featuring farmstand fresh ingredients.
August 22 Blues BBQ Festival
Hudson River Park - Pier 26 (at North Moore Street)
Back for its 16th year anniversary, America's best blues and roots musicians entertain, while you sample food from three of the city's best barbecue restaurants.
The world's greatest tennis players and NYC's top chefs showcase their culinary skills at this annual event.
ON THE RADAR:
August 30 SURF'S UP! Vegan Shop-Up! Spreadhouse (116 Suffolk Street) Discover the best vegan, locally made foods and goods. Not vegan? That's OK, you can still savor the delicious healthy items... everything from nut-based cheeses (I look forward to tasting the Mac 'n' Cheese) to churro ice cream sandwiches. Plus various personal items.  September 13 TASTE Williamsburg GreenpointEast River State Park - Williamsburg, Brooklyn Annual outdoor celebration of North Brooklyn's local eats! It's a block party style tasting event with samples from over 40 of the neighborhood's best restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries. September 19 Smorgasburg with Mister Saturday NightCentral Park SummerStage 30 favorite food vendors all in one place, for one night only. Sip a lovely beer or fine wine, listen to a DJ spin the hottest tunes, and taste the finest treats in town. Top vendors include: Blue Marble Ice Cream, Mighty Quinn's BBQ, and Red Hook Lobster Pound.
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SPECIAL FEATURE: What's the Scoop?
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Cobble Hill & Prospect Heights locations  Chinatown - 65 Bayard Street
I recently discovered this family-owned spot and will certainly go out of my way for a dessert. Any flavor you can imagine (from vanilla and chocolate to red velvet and lychee), and some you probably wouldn't (like durian, black sesame, and zen butter).
3 locations in Chelsea & Lincoln Center
Along with delicious sorbet and gelato, try one of their amazingly filling desserts. The Affogato all'Arancia is incredible with Lemon Sorbetto, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a hint of Campari... sounds like a delicious breakfast drink to me!
 Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream
Lower East Side - 2 Rivington Street
My favorite of all, it's a modern ice cream shop perfect for the LES. Innovative ice cream flavors like avocado and five different vanillas, you can try something new or stick with the old standby. The King Kong Banana Split is worth the visit.
Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
Multiple locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, plus their mobile trucks
I'm always thrilled when I run into their truck because I know I'm in for a treat. With classic flavors and vegan options, I really enjoy their root beer floats and the Caramel Curried Nut Sundae is to-die-for!
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