Now vegetarians, sick of the same old Tofurkey, can be food perverts on Thanksgiving too. Watch and learn how to make a Veggieducken below...

Continue reading "Move over Tofurky, welcome the Veggieducken"

Admittedly I don't go there very often anymore (and partially because the service can be sooooooo slow), but I have eaten there many times in my life, and so I'm sad to hear that East Village vegan institution/diner Kate's Joint is in danger of closing! (though it's not that surprising given that everywhere cool closes eventually in the new East Village).

Luckily there's a campaign running to Save Kate's. They write:

Kate's Joint, vegetarian restaurant and bar, has been a staple in New York City's East Village since 1996. Solely owned and operated by neighborhood native Kate Halpern, who dreamt to create an affordable restaurant to serve the community she grew up in. Kate's Joint has grown to become much more than just a business, it is a home for locals and travelers a like, a place to bring family and friends, and to meet new ones.

Unfortunately, with the changing neighborhood and economic recession Kate's Joint has seen a fall in business and rise in costs. Kate is currently in arrears with the landlord. Eviction notices have been sent, court appearances have been made, and if a substantial amount of money is not raised by April 11th, the next court date, the doors will shut permanently at Kate's Joint. The East Village will lose another neighborhood landmark.

Anyone who has ever met Kate knows how hard she has worked over the past 15 years, and how dedicated she is to this business. She has many plans to increase business, including transforming a section of the restaurant in to a bakery featuring vegan and gluten free baked goods, reaching a new market of morning commuters who would be able to grab a cup of coffee and a vegan muffin on their way to work. That being said, first thing is first, fighting off this eviction!

Please help save Kate's Joint, a little bit of the East Village preserved on the corner of 4th Street and Avenue B.

[Ozzy Osbourne] has turned over a new leaf, literally, by embracing a vegan diet for what the Prince of Darkness cites as health reasons. Reportedly, after his assistant showed him the vegan documentary Forks over Knives, Ozzy decided that it was time to cut meat, fish, dairy and anything else derived from animals out of his diet. Speaking on Sharon Osbourne's chat show, The Talk, the singer revealed that he his feeling the benefits:

"I feel OK actually, I feel better about myself, you know? I go on binges. That's the reason why I decided to cut out meat out and dairy because I've limited what I can have because when you're on the road and you're travelling, you grab buns and... burgers are everywhere... so now I've just narrowed the margin."

Ozzy's new lifestyle choice comes hot on the heels of the news that he and his Black Sabbath alumni, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward may begin rehearsals for a final reunion tour.... If Sabbath do hit the road again, Ozzy may find some camaraderie from his new dietary choice in band member Geezer Butler. The bassist is a longstanding vegan, and has appeared in advertising campaigns for P.E.T.A. [Ultimate-Guitar]

photos by Bridget Laudien / Farm Sanctuary

Nellie McKay @ Cipriani


Nellie McKay will revisit "I Want To Live!" at a show on June 30th at Joe's Pub. "I Want To Live!" is a biography of Barbara Graham, "the third woman to die in the gas chamber at San Quentin". Sunny stuff! Tickets are still available.

Nellie McKay performed on Saturday at the 25th annual Farm Sanctuary gala at Cipriani

"While some others might have been enjoying a big hearty sirloin, on Saturday, those devoted to the proper treatment of farm animals--people like the '80s actor Corey Feldman, the '80s actress Ally Sheedy, the singer-songwriter Nellie McKay and Tom and Kathy Freston--gathered at Cipriani Wall Street for the 25th anniversary gala of Farm Sanctuary.

...Farm Sanctuary's goals include protecting farm animals from cruelty and promoting "compassionate vegan living" -[Wall Street Journal]

The NYC gala, which featured a 3-course gourmet, vegan meal, also featured apperances from Chevy Chase, Jesse Eisenberg, Eric Roberts, Russell Simmons, Fred Willard, and more as you can see in the pictures. More of them, along with all (two) Nelly McKay dates, and some songs, below...

Continue reading "Nellie McKay played a Farm Sanctuary gala (Cory Feldman was there), playing Joe's Pub & PA (pics & dates)"

Jonathan Richman @ Bowery Ballroom in June (more by Andrew Frisicano)

Jonathan Richman and drummer Tommy Larkins will "put the finishing touches" on their still-untitled new record after their 27-date winter US tour, which started on 1/24. As previously mentioned, three of those shows will be at Music Hall of Williamburg on February 12th, 13th and 14th. Tickets for all three are on sale.

The last of the MHOW shows is on Valentine's Day, and we can't think of a better V-Day date than attending the concert after a nice (vegan) dinner. Which is why we're giving away a pair of tickets to the show and dinner for two at East Village veg eatery / organic wine & martini bar Counter (105 First Ave). A PDF of their menu for that night is HERE. Winners will also get a copy of Jonathan's 2008 record, Because Her Beauty Is Raw & Wild.

More contest details and tour dates below...

Continue reading "Jonathan Richman now on tour (dates), win Valentine's Day dinner at Counter & tix to 1 of the 3 Brooklyn shows"

Every once in a whle I post about food. This is the best thing to happen in the vegan dessert industry since the peanut butter bomb. You can eat it while streaming new albums by Laura Marling, Lykke Li, The Walkmen and Death Vessel (that last sentence was an attempt at bringin' it back to music in the end).

No Age @ Food Fight Vegan Grocery (sachiko-no!)

No Age will be announcing many more dates soon, but in the meantime tickets are on sale for the show they're playing at Bowery Ballroom on May 6th. They recently played Warsaw and The Market Hotel. More dates below....

Continue reading "No Age playing Bowery Ballroom, tour dates"