Valerie Smaldone
Media Personality, Actress, Producer, Writer
Valerie Smaldone, a 5 time Billboard Magazine Award winner, is perhaps best known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 position in the New York radio market as the midday host of New York’s 106.7 FM. She ended her on air run with the station at the end of 2007. In addition, she was the co-creator, writer, producer and host of 'Spotlight On,' a nationally syndicated program that featured in-depth interviews with top recording artists such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Sting and Celine Dion, to name a few.
Presently, Valerie can be heard on NBC Network News promos and specialty shows and as the announcer for The Boomer Esiason Show on MSG. She writes a weekly nightlife column for TheThreeTomatoes.com, writes a theater column for Examiner.com, and has an interview program on the Italian American Network. She is an interviewer and feature reporter on Broadway for TonyAwards.com and hosts and produces celebrity portrait unveilings for Broadway stars at famed theater district eatery, Tony’s.
Valeries Gallery
The insider scoop on New York City nightlife
and Broadway news
Valerie's Gallery Archives
The NYC Insiders Guide
for women who aren't kids
2009 Review Highlights
Home / Archives / Experts / NYC Nightlife / NYC Shopping / NYC Restaurants/ Food&Recipes / Reviews / Events / Books&Movies / About Us
 | ||||
New picks!
I have been navigating the New York area this summer to find unknown treasures to share. Last week, I wrote about a few really fine bars and eating establishments.
This week, I am writing a stream of consciousness column. No particular order, just places or products that I have come across that are really worthy of sharing.
Let's start with Lobsters? Why not? I am always looking for a location that sports a restaurant by the water, so I can enjoy some kind of fish extravaganza and gaze at the mesmerizing blue liquid of some variety of body of water.
When searching for this kind of place, I usually travel to Norwalk, Connecticut to sit by the marina there, or to Long Island, or even the beyond fabulous City Island, in the Bronx which really deserves a column all it's own.
I mean, really, if you've never been to City Island, you simply must go. You will not believe that you are still in New York City, let alone The Bronx.
But I digress.
This past week, to hunt down a seafood meal by the water, we ventured across the Manhattan Bridge and found ourselves in Mill Basin, Brooklyn. We sometimes forget that there is indeed water all around us, here in NYC.
And sure enough, there exists, over in Mill Basin, an inlet of water with a Fish Market and Restaurant right off the main busy parkway.
Nick's Lobsters on Flatbush Avenue features a fresh seafood market in the front, and a restaurant in the back. There is actually a nice outdoors deck where you can enjoy your lunch or dinner and savor the sights of Brooklyn houses with boats bobbing on the water on one side, and the parkway with cars zooming by on the other. Nick's has been family owned and run for 55 years.
And through the warm weather, Nick's offers 2 for 1 lobsters on Tuesday nights!
From lobsters to servicing your Mac computer. I told you this would be stream of consciousness column with no particular order, rhyme or reason.
I had one of those upsetting days where my Mac monitor just died. It had happened before, (three times!) but I was always able to revive it. What was the problem?
A bad monitor? Bad power source? Or, heavens forbid... a corrupted motherboard??!!!
I just can't do the Mac store. It is a really cool place, but there are so many rules and regulations about how to approach being serviced. Besides, the round the clock crowds mimic those waiting on line at Shake Shack in Madison Square
Park. I just can't do it.
The good news is that I found a really great service place. Tekserve on West 23rd Street. The people there are helpful, friendly, and get the job done.
I called them and they invited me to come in so the tech people could determine what the problem was. We lugged everything there, and were then guided through the relatively painless process.
Let me put it this way, it was an hour from entering, to diagnosis, to resolution.
My problem was fixed and off we went. Amazing when things work, isn't it? If "you're a Mac," this is the service place for you.
And finally, I have a new soup product I want to share with you. Imagine Brand Corn and Lemongrass Soup. I found this at a health food store in Manhattan, but I'm sure most health food stores carry this well known brand.
I am a major fan of lemongrass so I had to purchase this product. It is just delicate and delicious. Check it out!
Till next week...Happy End of summer!
