Vanessa’s Dumpling House (nee Dumpling House) is a Chinatown favorite for good reason: 39 food items on the menu that are $3 or less and nothing on the 45-item menu is over $6. 

So far, I have tried the Chive & Pork Fried Dumplings (4 for $1), the Basil & Chicken Boiled Dumplings in soup ($4.25), and the Pork Fried Bun (3 for $1) and everything has been delicious.  Ten varieties of dumplings, thirteen types of buns and stuffed pancakes, and sixteen soups, as well as cold dishes like Kimchi ($2), round out the menu.   

The restaurant recently moved into a larger space, next door to its original space.  On my last visit, there was no sign, no address posed.  Just look for the floor-to-ceiling windows, or the line snaking out the front door.   

Location:  Vanessa’s Dumpling House, 118 Eldridge Street (between Grand and Broome Street),  map  212-625-8008

Subway:  B, D to Grand Street; F, Z to Essex-Delancey Street; J, M to Bowery

Hours:  Daily, 7:30am-10:30pm

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

There are a number of free events virtually everyday.  Highlights of the summer festival include:

• Otis Clay and Ryan Shaw June 11  Free
• Sonic Youth  July 4  Free
• Folk Music Festival on Governors Island  July 26  Free
• The Big River Project: The Music of Johnny Cash  July 26  Free
• Seaport Music Festival  August 8   Free
• Latin Giants of Jazz  September 3  Free

For more information, a full list of events, and to sign up for mobile alerts, check out the River to River event sight.    

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

Walking down the crowded streets of East Broadway I quickly found the “Golden Unicorn” sign in the sea of Chinese characters.  As I entered the lobby of what appeared to be an office building I was greeted by a hostess.  She called for the elevator and sent me up to the 3rd floor (the restaurant occupies the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors).  As the elevator doors opened I gasped, I entered into a huge dining room, fabric-covered walls decorated in gold brocade, and chandeliers hung from the ceiling accented with neon lights.  My astonishment at the decoration proved to be short-lived as I saw a sea of waitresses pushing dim sum carts past well-fed customers.

I was quickly seated (it was mid-morning on a weekday, expect long waits on weekends) and tea was served.  The next 45 minutes was spent choosing little plates from the non-stop parade of dim sum carts passing my table.  There was a large selection of plates to choose from , but I wasn’t feeling too adventurous, so I took a pass on the steamed tripe and steamed chicken feet and chose instead a few varieties of dumplings and a shrimp noodle.  The shrimp dumplings were great however I thought the pork dumplings were forgettable– the texture of the boiled peanuts inside didn’t bode well with what would have been an impeccable pork dumpling.  The shrimp noodles were good, but nothing I has was truly outstanding.

Three little dishes, tea, and an hour later I was paying my bill.  No prices are listed so it came as a little surprise that the bill was $14.95.  I think it was the shrimp noodles that put me over the top. 

I am happy I finally got to experience Golden Unicorn, but I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way and trudge through Chinatown to visit anytime soon.       

Location:  Golden Unicorn, 18 East Broadway (between Catherine Street and Market Street), map, 212-941-0911

Subway:  F to East Broadway; J, M, Z to Canal Street; B, D to Grand Street 

Hours:  Daily 9am-10:30pm

Photo credit: personal collection

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

The new Boltbus will run between Metro Center at 11th and G Street NW in DC and two stops in New York City — near Penn Station at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue and in south Manhattan at 6th Avenue and Canal Street.

Boltbus is using first-come-first-serve incentives to lure customers into purchasing tickets early.  The tickets are available online and fares start at only $1 and increase as the bus fills to capacity.  Boarding is “Southwest Airlines-style,” in that when they call your number group, you board the bus.       

In a market that is becoming increasingly saturated with bus operators, Boltbus is hoping to set itself apart from fellow competitors Washington Deluxe, Apex Bus, Vamoose Express and DC2NY, with such with perks as free Internet and access to standard 110v power outlets on the bus, and a loyalty rewards program, you will receive one free trip for every eight trips purchased.  

It looks like I will have to stick to my Chinatown bus between New York and Boston as there is no word yet on Boltbus increasing its route map.  But if rising fuel costs have priced you out of flying the airline shuttles or driving your car, perhaps Boltbus is the answer on I-95.  

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

Fung Wah Transportation Inc. is the original Chinatown bus service. Founded in 1997, Fung Wah was originally a dollar van transport service for Chinese workers between Brooklyn and the Manhattan’s Chinatown. More than 10 years later, the service has expanded and now offers hourly departures between Manhattan’s Chinatown to Boston’s South Station on new 60 passenger buses.

I had first heard of the “Chinatown Bus” in 2001, a good friend that was a student at Boston University used the service to visit family during weekends in New York. I remember his stories of being the only non-Chinese passenger on the bus, the crazy rides, and the fare being a meager $5.

Since then, much has changed for the famous Chinatown bus lines. There are now a handful of companies that offer service from all parts of New England and the Mid-Atlantic and Chinese are no longer the only passengers onboard. Now the buses are full of hipsters, indie rock bands, and budget travelers. Half the time the only Chinese person onboard is the driver himself.

Recently, the Fung Wah bus has made the headlines of local and national news– too bad the headline of “Riders Flee Bus Fire on NYC Run” isn’t exactly the most desirable. The Chinatown buses have a poor safety record and are constantly in the news due to their incidents and accidents on the interstate. In 2005 a Fung Wah bus had to be evacuated due to a fire in the wheel well. In 2006, another Fung Wah rolled over causing 34 injuries. And 2007 was a particularly harsh year for the company when, in three separate incidence, a bus lost its wheels, a driver lost control in a winter storm, and a driver high-centered a bus at a toll booth on the Mass Pike.

Despite the warnings of the media and of my several friends, I made my way from my Downtown Manhattan digs crosstown to Chinatown for my first Fung Wah experience.

Check out my pro and con list that I put together, see more photos of the bus, and hear my personal experience after the jump…

Pros:

• Cheap. Though it’s not $5 like when it started it is still a bargain at $15 one way.
• Convenience. You don’t have to battle to get to a transportation hub like Port Authority, Penn Station, or LaGuardia Airport.

Cons:

• Safety record. At least five major incidence in the last three years and showing no real signs of getting any safer.
• Traffic. I left on the 12 noon bus so I missed all of the traffic on the bridges and parkways. The NYC-Boston trip could take up to six hours in times of peak traffic or poor driving conditions.

In my personal experience, the trip on Fung Wah was relatively convenient and uneventful. I did begin to worry a bit as I got on the bus and saw there were bright orange plastic bags hanging from each seat. The last time I saw that I was on bumpy 4-hour journey through the mountains of Vietnam and 90% of the bus was “loosing” their lunch into the bags. And there was one point during the journey when I panicked because the bus got really hot inside, really fast. I wasn’t the only one with visible nervousness, there were other passengers that looked a worried as well. The driver quickly turned on the a/c which seemed to solve the problem.

The jury is still out as to if I would ever take the bus again. Though it is nice to know that we have another transportation option in the New York area. I will say that when it was time to return to New York… I took a plane.

Bus Station Locations: Chinatown-New York, 139 Canal Street (map); South Station-Boston, 700 Atlantic Avenue (map)

Getting There: New York: B, D to Grand Street, J, M, Z, to Canal Street, 6 to Canal Street, N, Q, R, W to Canal Street. Boston: Red “T” line to South Station

Hours: Nearly hourly service on most days between 7am until 11pm. Early morning departure of 2am on Mondays and Tuesdays only. Service every 30 minutes every holiday. Click here for schedule information.

Cost: $15 each way. May be purchased at the station or online.

Photo credit: personal collection

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

I love produce shopping in Chinatown.  You can find so many items that regular supermarkets don’t normally carry like yucca, Japanese eggplant, and starfruit.

Photo: personal collection 

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

Lunar New Year Flower Market | Sunday, Feb 3, 12-5pm and Monday, Feb 4, 2-8pm   Flowers are a symbol of good fortune in the New Year.  This flower market sells all of the traditional flowers of Chinese New Year such as chrysanthemums, orange blossoms, and narcissus.  Columbus Park on Mulberry Street (map).  Click here for more info.  

Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival | Thursday, Feb 7, 11am-3pm   Firecrackers will mark the first day of the New Year.  Intended to ward off evil spirits, over 600,000 rounds will be lit.  After the opening ceremonies, there will be a lion, dragon, and unicorn dance as well as cultural performances onstage.  Chatham Square (map).  Click here for more info.   

Chinese New Year Parade in Flushing, Queens | Saturday, Feb 9, 11am-1pm  Flushing, Queens is home to a large Korean and Chinese population.  Possibly putting a damper on the celebration is the fact that the 7 train may not be running that weekend.  Check for service advisories from the MTA.  Parade runs from Union Street at 37th Ave to Main Street at 37th Ave (map).

9th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival | Sunday, Feb 10, 1-5pm   This internationally renown full-fledged parade features marching bands, floats, and lion & dragon dancers and will wind its way through most major streets in Chinatown.  After the parade an outdoor cultural festival will take place on Bayard Street that will feature performances by musicians, dancers, and martial artists.  Recommended viewing is on Allen St between Canal St and Grand Street (map).  Click here for more info.  

Photo credit: personal collection

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Post from: The New York City Traveler