I read a story about Danny Meyer's new restaurant, Blue Smoke, in the NY Times. It was not a review, nor did they give the location and phone number.

Apparently too new for Zagat.Has anyone eaten there yet? I'd also like address and phone number.

Thanks.

See the latest NEW YORKER magazine reviwe. Not good.

Thanks Ron. I'll check the New Yorker.

Check Manhattan message board at www.chowhound.com - do a keyword search for "blue smoke" (hit CTRL F to get search launched). There's a lengthy thread w/comments from folks who've eaten there - mixed reports but not all negative by any means. NYC is not the place for BBQ but if I was looking for some there I'd go to Tenessee Mountain on Spring Street and the save the big $$ for a meal in an upscale non-BBQ place.

Owen, I guess I was just intrigued by the 13 or 15 story chimney. We have a great BBQ place not far from our house in S.F., My Brother In Law's, on Divisadero, so you're right about now spending $$$$ on that type of meal.

When I used to repy on guidebooks, travel magazines, and personal recommendations for my travel info, it was such a simplier time. Now with the internet and all it has to offer, there is actually too much information available and you get to the point that you discover new things every day and want to do them all.

I personally like to have a full agenda ON PAPER, and then sometimes completely ignore it, and just wander. It's nice to know your options, Plan B, but go and do whatever strikes your fancy.

Dinner restaurants are an exception. I want as much advance info as possible. If something goes onto these hips, it had better be good.

Not that's it's relevant, but my favorite BBQ in Manhattan is Brother Jimmy's, either on Second or Third. (I haven't tried the UWS location.) Also the Virgil's in Times Square is pretty good.

Ted, IMHO all opinions and recommendations regarding NY are relevant on this board. Thanks for the info.

Where is Jimmy's on the UWS?

I rarely eat BBQ at home, but after this 'conversation', my mouth is watering for some.

The UWS Brother Jimmy's is on Amsterdam around 80th Street. West side of Amsterdam, if I recall correctly. I'm sure it's as good as the two UES locations.

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/11660930/

Try this link~

I'm with you on the planning issue, Nina - at least I give some thought in advance to what I CAN do if things fall into place. The itinerary nearly always changes as I travel but having something on paper just. I'm now planning my first trip outside the US and have been advised by some that having a rough timetable in advance is a lost cause (I'll be in Belize where buses having a departure time listed at their starting point but never an arrival time!). Regardless... I enjoy the planning and allow for the unexpected anyway. By the way... the multi-story chimneys are more common than you might expect due to the density and height of buildings in manhattan. It's one of the reasonas that it's often sooooo expensive to start a restaurant from scratch where there hasn't been one previously.

Owen, we were in Belize in January. We were with a group, so we had no transportation problems. The ruins were fabulous, although we did not go to the cave that you mentioned.

FYI.... Brings lots of insect repellant. Friends were eaten alive a few months before we were there. We used protection and only got a few bites here and there.

Sorry for this off-topic post, but Owen has helped me so much with my NY trip and I wanted to warn him about the mosquitos.

Thanks Nina - yes... I'm takig plenty of SPF 40 sunblock and also two types of insect repellent, one of which is 100% Deet. Having been eaten alive once by blackflies and deerflies during a Boy Scout trip in the Adirondacks, I'm now very conscious of the need for protection. Not sure if you ever check the Latin America forum but I will be posting a trip report there around June 5 after my return. I'll have the full breadth of experiences to report on, as I'm doing the Tikal ruins, then two days of jungle caving and then five days of scuba/snorkeling on Caye Caulker... now if May 25th would just arrive!

Owen, I just left you a message on the Latin America forum - SI to Tikal.