Think Coffee

At first glance, Old Country Coffee, managed by Lower East Side native Jesus Guerrios, seems out of sync with the bustling Hudson Yards and massive construction project that surround it. But that, it turns out, is precisely Jesus’ objective. “Our goal, ” he says, “is to provide an oasis in this industrial, commercial area. ” This small, inviting coffee shop with floors and ceiling made from Pennsylvanian oak combines modern and antique in its decor. And indeed, once the door closes, it is almost as if New York did not continue to exist outside. Jesus was approached by owner Dennis Donato in August 2015, who asked him to build a coffee shop and gave him free rein to design and manage it as he saw fit. Gregory Allan Cramer, I learned, was the genius behind the cafe's design. An important choice that stands out is that the coffee shop serves locally roasted, custom blend coffee - sixty percent of which is from Asian Pacific beans and forty percent from South American beans - together with pastries from La Marjolaine Bakery in Queens. The resulting coffee is smooth and flavorful without being too bitter. Yet this is just the tip of the iceberg of what Jesus, the former manager of the popular Cocoa Bar (with a striking resemblance to Dominican singer and icon, Juan Luis Guerra), has in the works. Sometime in late 2016 the coffee shop will become a beer and wine bar at night. Once the scaffolding outside gets removed, Jesus plans to install tables and chairs to seat more customers. To top it all off, he may open two more locations next year. So, as the Hudson Yards project is driven to completion and pedestrian traffic increases, Old Country Coffee may serve as an oasis not just in that area, but in many others throughout the city.

Hailing from a family of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu royalty, Renzo Gracie is not a good man with whom to make trouble. He is, however, a good man to train with, carrying several blackbelts and fight records, including bouts against past world champions. In 1995, while still an active (young) fighter, Gracie moved to New York and opened Renzo Gracie in midtown Manhattan, a few blocks north of its current location. Since then, the gym has moved south, added Muay Thai to its training acumen (as well as comprehensive MMA and boxing programs), and seen more than one world champion come to train.

Arriving from South Africa, Albertus Swanepoel attended the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, which led him to an apprenticeship and ultimately his own glove-making business. The appeal of gloves, however, was “incredibly limited, ” as most people wear them only seasonally. So, renaissance man that he is, Albertus switched gears and slid seamlessly into the world of hats. Now he is firmly entrenched in his new niche, and has been producing haute couture headwear since the 1990s. Grounding his practice in old-fashioned millinery traditions, but using techniques from multiple fashion disciplines, he is able to approach hats creatively and expertly. This is a must for a bold garment that can fall flat if not done stylishly. “I try to make things that people wear everyday and look cool but not nostalgic, ” Swanepoel explained. And New Yorkers are wearing his high-end hats across the city. Albertus has a very optimistic take on his environment: “I think that’s the great thing about Manhattan. There are so many people living here that you can almost do anything and people will want it. ”

“We wanted to be that diamond in the rough, ” explained Ashley, the co-owner of Blank Slate. When Ashley and Zach, spouses and co-owners, were searching for a location for their restaurant, they wanted to find a neighborhood with a large crowd but not a lot of quality spots to eat. Blank Slate is successfully that hidden gem located in NoMad, one of Manhattan’s up and coming neighborhoods. Blank Slate attracts a crowd full of young, creative professionals who are quickly changing the area. Ashley and Zach established Blank Slate, which opened in November of 2015, in an effort to create the first coffee-shop-restaurant hybrid in New York City. Ashley explains that they were tired of going to places that provided quality coffee but low quality food. She wanted a place that offered superb grab-n-go coffee as well as more formal dining where friends could meet for a long meal. Ashley and Zach’s vision has been realized. Blank Slate serves killer coffee as well as an impressive assortment of salads, sandwiches and even gourmet desserts. Their coffee is proudly served from farm to cup in close to 20 days. They have a sign at the cash register indicating the green date and roast date of the coffee being served that day. My intern, Emily, hesitantly tried their brussels sprout Caesar salad and only had positive things to say about it, even though she usually does not enjoy Brussels sprouts. Blank Slate also has a small but wonderfully curated market located inside the restaurant, which offers primarily locally sourced products such as cookie dough, yoghurts, pickles and a host of beverages. In addition to serving excellent coffee and food, Blank Slate has a fun, creative atmosphere. Ashley and Zach chose Blank Slate’s name because they wanted to convey the idea that people can make or create everything here. While customers wait in line for coffee, for example, there are etch-a-sketches on which to play. They even have Instagram competitions that reward one talented etch-a-sketcher with a free meal. Ashley hopes that Blank Slate can be a space for people to create. She explained that the etch-a-sketch sends a message: the “possibility of everything. "

In the race among Manhattan restaurants to attract customers, simplicity is sometimes lost. But not so in the Mason Jar, a restaurant and bar that keeps it old school with good vibes and great tastes. The southern, barbecue-heavy menu and extensive list of craft beers and bourbons speak for themselves, complete with suggested pairings. Each month, a new craft beer is featured in an effort to support small breweries. If these beers attract a following, they are added to the full-time roster. While visiting with some Sideways members, I had a lively conversation with chef about the different styles of barbecue - our North Carolinian team member swears by vinegar sauce and appreciated Mason Jar’s variety. The food is fresh and not overdone, but at the same time the Chef  “puts love into it. ” The high quality meat is treated seriously - specialty ribs are coated with a dry rub, smoked using apple and hickory wood, braised, and mopped with a tomato-based Kansas City-style sauce. Then grilled. The brisket and boneless pork butts are given no less attention. Replete with wood, American Flags, and comfortable seating, Mason Jar also achieves a homey feel to match its Southern style. Many of the University of South Carolina alumni  in Manhattan choose this spot as the venue to catch the Cocks football games, and Villanova basketball fans flock here for their games, as well. With the hearty food, good beers, and down-home feel, it is easy to understand why. To put it plainly and simply, Mason Jar was a good find.

At first glance, Old Country Coffee, managed by Lower East Side native Jesus Guerrios, seems out of sync with the bustling Hudson Yards and massive construction project that surround it. But that, it turns out, is precisely Jesus’ objective. “Our goal, ” he says, “is to provide an oasis in this industrial, commercial area. ” This small, inviting coffee shop with floors and ceiling made from Pennsylvanian oak combines modern and antique in its decor. And indeed, once the door closes, it is almost as if New York did not continue to exist outside. Jesus was approached by owner Dennis Donato in August 2015, who asked him to build a coffee shop and gave him free rein to design and manage it as he saw fit. Gregory Allan Cramer, I learned, was the genius behind the cafe's design. An important choice that stands out is that the coffee shop serves locally roasted, custom blend coffee - sixty percent of which is from Asian Pacific beans and forty percent from South American beans - together with pastries from La Marjolaine Bakery in Queens. The resulting coffee is smooth and flavorful without being too bitter. Yet this is just the tip of the iceberg of what Jesus, the former manager of the popular Cocoa Bar (with a striking resemblance to Dominican singer and icon, Juan Luis Guerra), has in the works. Sometime in late 2016 the coffee shop will become a beer and wine bar at night. Once the scaffolding outside gets removed, Jesus plans to install tables and chairs to seat more customers. To top it all off, he may open two more locations next year. So, as the Hudson Yards project is driven to completion and pedestrian traffic increases, Old Country Coffee may serve as an oasis not just in that area, but in many others throughout the city.