I apologize as I totally dropped the ball. Only writing about pancakes for the month of February is shameful, unless of course I was a food critic blogger.

What’s going on this week in NYC? Tons of cool stuff!

Friday Feb. 26th

Wonderland: A Tim Burton Ball - dress up in your favorite character and learn to dance!

Dumbo Art Center: Pop Up Art Sale - Help support them and some wonderfully talent artists while also adding something to your wall. Art prices start at $50 a pop.

On Saturday 27th

The Music Hall of Williamsburg is screening UNPROTECTED, a series of 2 minute films by members of The FilmShop. For more information click here

Bike Buddy & Bike Tweetup in Brooklyn.

On Sunday Feb 28th

NYC Food Crawl Presents:  The February Pork Bun Crawl, Manhattan

Don’t forget to stop by City Bakery for the last day of the Hot Chocolate Festival! Sunday is their FINALE!!!!

When some people think of February they think of that “holiday” that start with a V and ends with cards, chocolate and overpriced dinners. February has a special place in my heart because it is PANKCAKE MONTH at CLINTON ST. BAKERY and HOT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL time at City Bakery.

CLINTON ST. BAKERY

Chocolate & Blood Orange pancakes with candied orange glaze and warm apple butter Feb 1-3

Poached pears with vanilla bean whipped cream and warm apple butter Feb 4,5

Fresh coconute pancakes with passion fruit syrup and bananas Feb 8-9

Roasted apples with candied walnuts and warm maple carmel butter Feb 10-11

Classic Chocolate Chunk fresh raspberries and raspberry -carmel sauce Feb 12-

Brown sugar pecans, bananas and cinnamon maple butter Feb 16-17

Classic Chocolate Chunk Feb 18-22

Fresh blackberries, pecan streusel, warm maple butter Feb 23-24

Crunch Bananas with cinnamon-chili-chocolate sauce Feb 25-26

CITY BAKERY”S HOT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL kicks of Feb 1st with Lemon Hot Chocolate

I LOVE food, which is evident if you’ve read my Stacey Eats: East Village or Stacey Eats: Williamsburg. Food is the one common denominator that I have with the people closest to me. Not a day goes by where someone I know isn’t sending me a picture of something they ate or commenting on a picture of something that I’ve eaten. This also explains my love and need for the gym. Without it I’d be like 400lbs.

I have been experimenting in the kitchen and reading My Life In France which lead me to do a search for cooking classes in NYC. I already tried to volunteer for Astor Food and Wine, if you volunteer your time, you can take a class for free. So far, I haven’t been selected as a volunteer. So, I started searching for alternative options and I found a few.

Brooklyn Kitchen, Offers an array of classes from pizza making to chocolate making to butchering a pig with the one you love see Date Night: Pig Butchering). Classes range from free to about $80.

I also found… Trinisoul Offers class for adults, kids and for parties. Learn to make Caribbean and Trinidadian food!

If money is no object then by all means check out Astor Food and Wine. It’s seems like a fancy smancy cooking experience ($125/class).  They theme classes (Tuscan, Wine, Green Market). You can always get on their volunteer list like me and wait and wait and wait your turn.

So a few months back I had some fun writing down and boasting about some of my favorite neighborhood eats on the cheap. I thought I’d do it again, although this time for the neighborhood to my East: Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Here are my picks for about $10.00

*please note that this is not a full survey of the neighborhood and I’m sure there are hidden gems, I just haven’t spent enough time there to find them.

1. Fabiane Cafe & Pastry: Right on Bedford Ave, a hipster throw away from the L (@142N 5th St): It’s all about the Baked Eggs here, for under 8 dollars you can get an assortment of different baked eggs (tomato and feta, spinach & hollandaise, prosciutto and chedder, smoked salmon and potato. This wonderful dish also includes a baguette which you can soak up every last piece of egg and cheese with.  Of course if eggs aren’t you thing, this cozy little cafe has salads, sandwiches, and plates most under $10.00!! Also if you have 3.75 to spare enjoy their mocha, it’s made with lots of love!

2. Peter’s: (168 Bedford Ave) An Israeli Chef with a French Culinary background is the master behind this place, which brings me much joy. 1/4 Roasted Chicken, and your choice of two sides (Sweet Potato and Green Beans are my fav) Total cost $9.50. Apparently they’ve been making these succulent chickens since 1969! These chickens hold up to traveling too, I tend to pick up and bring home, although if you have the time to sit down there, you should. Very homey.

3. Doner Turkish Food (189 Bedford) In the mood for some Middle Eastern food? Hummus, Lamb or Chicken Doner? All sorts of great simple choices on their menu. You’ll leave full and minus 6.50 in your wallet.

4. Baci Abrachi (204 Grand St) don’t remember how exactly I came upon this place, probably just a walk by, but I remember enjoying pizza with friends and looking forward to coming back and sitting in their backyard when the weather got nice. Haven’t been back since, but if you’re in the mood for some Italian, you can get a delicious brick oven pizza for $10.00. Actually you might want to save this place for a pay day and enjoy some wine with your meal.

5. Dokebi Korean BBQ So you’re sick of Thai, Pizza, Chinese, and in the mood for something a little different. Ah how about Korean BBQ? This place has the whole BBQ experience as well as some pretty decent cheaper items like an assortment of stews and BIBIMBAHP. Although, looking at the menu now I’m seeing this place will up your price at least 2 dollars.

6. Surf Bar (139N 6th st)Wanna get out of the city, kick off your shoes and feel the sand in-between your toes? Haven’t saved up enough yet to do so in Hawaii? Hungry? Then, I’d recommend Surf Bar, although I don’t know what their policy is on putting your feet in the sand. . . Sand, burgers, seafood and a funky tropical setting, what more can you want on a budget?  On their menu is an assortment of burgers, soups, salads for $10, of course seafood lovers will have to cough up a few extra bucks for some yummy market price seafood.

7. Last but not least, the Taco Truck (Bedford & N6th). If you need a quick taco fix $2.50 (chicken, beef, pork, veggie).

Now what about dessert? I guess I’ll have to go back to Brooklyn to find out…

May I suggest the upcoming HUNGRY FILMMAKERS EVENT taking place on December 15th at 7:00pm at Film Anthology in NYC.

HUNGRY FILMMAKERS is an evening of excerpts from upcoming doc films that take on food and agricultural issues. Shelley is co-curating the event alongside food writer Cathy Erway. We’ve all asked the questions, so now it’s time to see some reactions to the growing discussion of the environment and food, farming and our eating choices. A panel discussion with the attending filmmakers will immediately follow the screenings.Anna Lappé, food activist and author, will keep the discussion rolling and get your questions answered as moderator.

Now, I did mention food? At 9 pm come on over to Jimmy’s No 43 for an after party filled with good people, good discussion and of course good eats. Sample some hors d’oeuvres from locally sustainable purveyors such as Blue Isle Oyster Company, Mama O’s Kimchee, 3-Corner Field Farm, Schoolhouse Kitchen and more. A bar and Restaurant, Jimmy’s No. 43 uses local farm-sourced ingredients from Slow Food NYC and believes in supporting local arts and sustainable food communities. Bon Appetit!

This evening I was  enjoying the plentiful flavors of the East Village with a friend of mine. We were talking about shooting a cooking pilot (details of which I won’t discuss now, cause you will steal it!) and it got me thinking…about all the NYC cheap eats articles and how I have yet to add my list of great cheap eats in NYC to the interweb.

So without any further a do, this is my first list of Stacey Eats: East Village Style.

11 B Express (147 Avenue B ( @ East 11th St. ) Best Calzone  $4.50, cause once in awhile it’s okay to indulge in doughy cheesy heaven. Besides that’s what the gym is for right?

2 Brother’s Pizza $1.00 a slice! 2 slices and a soda for 2.75. This pizza is far better than the stale pizza across the street. Get a whole pie for $8.00! Although this place is flooded with high school kids and NYU students, once you taste the cheesey goodness, and the extra cash in your pocket you won’t mind the kids so much.

Mark: Burger Beer Wine, a slider (with or without bacon) $2.00/ $2.75 wine $5.00 fries $3.00.

“The burger itself was tender, perfectly cooked to a bright pink on the inside, loosely packed, and enveloped in the perfect squishy potato bun.” They also are known for a Guinness Milkshake but honestly, I was so excited about the burger that I didn’t look at anything listed on the menu after burger. There is always a next time!

Caracas (93 1/2 7st) All Empanadas and Arepas under $8.00. If you have the spare cash, I highly recommend the Yoyos as a “side kick” (fried sweet plantain balls stuffed with white cheese). AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS.

Cafe Himalaya ( 78 East 1st St) Entrees 7.99 or less, meat and vegetarian options.  This place is small and has a real homey feel. Like Grandma, small, cozy and you get to walk through the kitchen to use the bathroom.

Rafiki Street Cart. Now if you find yourself on the corner of Broadway and 8th St and don’t  mind “street meat”. I recommend the chicken and rice platter for 4.50. I also recommend that you have no big plans for the rest of the day cause Rafiki will probably slow you down.

FOR DESSERT

A big favorite of most is Momofuko Milk Bar, although they have some very very interesting desserts, like STUFFING ICE CREAM, if I am in the mood for a sweet treat, I’d head in the direction of Black Hound Bakery, (little tip if you’re too full to buy a cake or a cup of moose, they always have samples!

Then there is Chickalcious, If we’re sticking to the “cheap eats” avoid the dessert bar although their tasting menu isn’t too pricey ($14.00 tasting menu), you can save calories and a few bucks by hitting up the store front across the street. My favorite is their Red Velvet cup cake (1.75, far cheaper and better than CRUMBS or MAGNOLIA).

Finally, I’d like to recommend Saint’s Alp Tea House, as they have 100 different types of teas! Their known for their bubble teas but I had the Butterscotch Milk Tea that really was the perfect end to a good evening of food and friends.

The End. (for now)

Performa 09, the third edition of the internationally acclaimed biennial of new visual art performance presented by Performa, will be held in New York City from November 1–22, 2009. The three-week festival will showcase new work by more than 80 of the most exciting artists working today, in an innovative program breaking down the boundaries between visual art, music, dance, poetry, fashion, architecture, graphic design, and the culinary arts.

Light Industry will be host to “Untitled Performances” by Emma Hart and Benedict Drew in their first collaborative performance in New York. Juxtaposing and transforming the mechanics of 16mm film, video and sound,

Tuesday November 17th $7 at Light Industry 220 36th Street, 5th Floor - Brooklyn, New York.

For full schedule on Performa 09 and Light Industry click on their respective links

Need to make a note to self to get involved in the next one. Marking my calender now.