EsheleD Marketing & Technology

That’s how we roll: Bowling bonanza with Google New York

After all the fun we had playing Skee-Ball in August, we thought about other group activities that would pretty much guarantee a great time. This time we decided to add wacky footwear into the mix and throw a bowling bonanza!

We teamed up with Hell & Heartaches, a blog dedicated to pop culture and local goings-on and held a contest for up to 30 people to win a night of bowling, drinks and pizza. The big day came and we gathered at The Gutter, an old school bowling alley in Brooklyn.

Many folks decided to show their solidarity by wearing their Google Places striped socks (we brought extra for those who did not already own a pair). Since there was going to be some heavy lifting involved, we needed fortification, so pizzas were ordered from Patricia’s. Then it was time to put on our bowling shoes!

There were gutter balls a-plenty, but quite a few strikes as well. In the end the winner was ... well, really anyone who came out to play that night.

Thanks to everyone who came out to our bowling bonanza and to the kind staff at The Gutter. We had a ball!
 
Don’t miss out on any future Google New York fun! Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date.

Posted by Margarita Vaisman, Brooklyn community manager. Photos by Amber Marlow Photography.

Meet your Google Places Neighbor: Patrice Callender

Editor’s Note: Now and then we'll spotlight one of our amazing Google Places reviewers. Both so you guys can start to get to know one another and so we can pull together and share our favorite local places. This week we introduce you to Patrice Callender of New York. 

To find out more about our community activities in New York, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, Patrice made her way back to Brooklyn as an adult. Somewhere in there she spent a year in Miami, but NYC is home, so, she says, she had to come back. A resident of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, Patrice spends her spare time brunching, admonishing the Atlantic Terminal Target for being out of toilet paper, and eating food from flea markets and food trucks. While she’s definitely Brooklyn-based, she’s also a big fan of Jackson Heights, Flushing and Jamaica (all in Queens) and Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.

Do you have any secret talents?
The ability to befriend bartenders without even trying? Does that count?

Share an ultimate insider tip for your city.
Slow down just a bit. Rushing from activity to activity, you miss the best part of NYC: the hijinks you can accidentally fall into.

If you could see any celebrity's reviews on Places, who would you choose and why?
Former Mayor Ed Koch. I bet he knows the ins and outs of all the best old school NYC places.

What would your superpower be?
The ability to make people follow the "stand to the right if you aren't walking it" escalator rule.

What's your ultimate guilty pleasure?
Reality TV — from the U.K.

What's your favorite Google event you've been to and why?
I really loved cocktails at Lani Kai. It was a perfect summer evening, and it's a great place to have drinks, with the Sonic-style crushed ice, little plates and relaxing atmosphere.

Mmm, Lani Kai — those pork belly sliders are delicious. Care to share some of your other local favorites with us?

Jackson Diner - I've been going to Jackson Diner for just about as long as I've had a mouth. Love the Sunday buffet. It's a way to try it all and find a favorite if you've never really tested Indian food beyond a random curry or two. The trays come out fast and furious, so no old Paneer here. As for the service, they honestly get such a high turnover/have become a bit of a destination to try Indian food that on the weekends and high-traffic times, you can feel neglected. I've been here on the odd Monday or Wednesday and given the time to spend with you they are quite attentive and willing to explain anything on the menu. They can also adjust the heat levels in the curries from polite to exceptionally ignorant at your request. The dining room has a great amount of space and the restaurant is best with a group if you are ordering off the regular menu. They have a selection of wine, beer and faux Indian-inspired cocktails. I'm not being snippy because they wouldn't just put rum in my lassi — I swear.

James - Burger happy hour, $5 draft beer happy hour, “Sunday Suppers” and a great brunch. James makes it easy to find a reason to have a meal here. Cozy corner banquette seating as well as two top tables. There’s seating at the bar too. Everything on the menu is delicious. Good selection of wine by the glass or bottle at a reasonable price. Generous portions (especially on the quiche) and perfectly done bacon. They also do a Huntsmen's Feast (various types of game in a tasting menu) once a year.

American Museum of Natural History - My favorite museum in the city. From the recent brain and big-boned dinosaurs exhibits, they have well thought out interactive exhibits. An easy way to keep a child or yourself occupied for an entire afternoon without effort.

Ali's T&T Roti - You want good, no frills roti and other Caribbean specialties? Then you go to Ali's. A few tables, but no wait service and the to-go line runs through the room. Meat and vegetarian roti options, as well as with rice and peas. Daily soup special and Caribbean sodas, sweets, juices and canned goods. I recommend that you ask for the housemade peanut punch instead of the bottle version. Completely affordable and portions that can last you for two meals or be shared.

Posted by Esther Brown, Manhattan community manager

Meet your Google Places neighbor: Alexis Harris

Editor’s Note: Now and then we'll spotlight one of our amazing Google Places reviewers. Both so you guys can start to get to know one another and so we can pull together and share our favorite local places. This week we introduce you to Alexis Harris of Portland, Oregon. 

To find out more about our community activities in Portland, visit us at google.com/portland or follow us on Twitter at @GooglePDX.

Hailing from Phoenix, Alexis moved to Portland about four years ago to escape strip malls and 110 degree summer days. She enjoys drinking coffee and reading, which she claims is one of Portland’s official pastimes. She likes finding new TV series from all over the world — like “Boys Over Flowers” from South Korea or “Misfits” from the UK — and “marathoning” through entire seasons in a day.

Do you have any secret talents?
I can remember songs really quickly, meaning I could sing it (poorly) back to you after that. Unfortunately, I have no musical talent, so I'm still trying to figure out a way to monetize my talent.

What's your favorite thing about sharing reviews on Places?
I love being able to let people know about my positive experiences at local businesses. When I'm planning a big dinner out or a brunch for out-of-town guests, I look at Places to get recommendations — so I think I’m helping someone out when I post a review.

If you could see any celebrity's reviews on Places, who would you choose and why?
I'd love to see Anthony Bourdain's reviews. They'd be brutal, but I think his opinion would be valuable, and I love his sense of humor.

Tell us some juicy gossip:
Don't tell the rest of the country, but .... Oregon is the best state! Shhhh!

Tell us about some of your Best Evers.

Genies: I love the food here and its well worth the wait. Theron is the best!

Crema Bakery & Cafe: I love this place and come here all the time. The staff seem friendlier than at many other Portland coffee shops, and the PB Grizzly rocks my world. The tuna and caprese sandwiches ($7) are great too.

Beulahland: Great bartenders and delicious cider on tap.

Posted by Christina Collada, Portland community manager

Google New York mingles at Obliterati

On one recent Thursday, we headed down to Sweet and Vicious in SoHo for Obliterati, a monthly event held in NYC. Targeted toward old and new media, public relations, and the web 2.0 crowd, Obliterati is focused on enabling networking and new connections between social circles in various media scenes.

We were pleased to teach many new people about Google Places at the activity itself, and we also gave away a sweet prize package as a lead-up to the activity (including a Samsung Galaxy Tab and a dinnertime tasting menu for two, with drink pairing, at Corton)!

Obliterati’s regulars gave Google Places a warm welcome. We all practiced our best Statue of Liberty pose:

And even the DJs got in the Google Places spirit:

New Yorkers were pleased to discover just how good they looked in a Statue of Liberty Crown...

And one of our users’ furry friends even stopped by for a visit:

We want to thank everyone who came out and made the Google Places edition of Obliterati so much fun. If you missed us at Sweet and Vicious, don’t worry: There’s plenty more fun where that came from! Just be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date.

Posted by Esther Brown, Manhattan community manager. Photos courtesy of Nick McGlynn.