Neighborhood Watch

Cooking School With Jean-Georges; New Menu Items at Num Pang Midtown

East Village: Idle Hands continues to celebrate its one-year anniversary this week: From 5 to 9 p.m. tonight, you’ll get a free slice of Two Boots pizza with your purchase of any Two Brothers draft, plus $2 bourbon shots. [Skint]
Little Italy: Sample olive oil from DiPalo Dairy from 5 to 6 p.m., watch a demonstration of how to prepare mozzarella (and try some, of course) by Bobby Alleva, owner of Alleva Dairy, from 7 to 10 p.m., and more, at the 85th Feast of San Gennaro. Check out the street festival throughout the week to try other gourmet upgrades this year (Grand Street, nr. Mott Street). [Guest of a Guest]

Lower East Side: Matthew Tutsky, the principal harp at the Boise Philharmonic, will perform a recital at 2nd Floor on Clinton tonight, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Bring your ticket to Alias before or after the concert for their special three-course theater menu ($25 prix fixe). Buy tickets in advance ($25), or additional standing room is also available. [Grub Street]
Midtown East: Check out Synesthesia #1 — “dinner theatre your grandma would hate” — on Wednesday, September 28, at 7 p.m. at the Roger Smith Hotel. Hosted by Roger Smith Arts, the dinner is the first in a series of ten-course tasting menus created to involve all the senses. Art and musical performances will accompany the food; tickets are $75 per person. [Eventbrite]
Paul Niedermann, crowned the winner of Hell’s Kitchen last night, will be rewarded with the title of head chef at BLT Steak. The inventive menu that earned Niedermann first place — and got him promoted from junior sous-chef — included truffle risotto, heirloom tomato carpaccio, steak with saffron and celery root, and banana polenta cake. [Grub Street]
Skip the line at Num Pang midtown with their new delivery option (free, one sandwich minimum), and try new fall menu items like their boneless spare rib sandwich with a spicy tamarind glaze or maple barbecue turkey wings (both $8.50). Other new dishes to anticipate this season include a lemongrass beef stew with pickle soy sprouts and a roasted turkey sandwich with ginger cranberry jam. [Grub Street]
Soho: Join other art and food lovers at the Amuse Bouche Soiree for the Arts, hosted by Art Boundaries Unlimited at the Soho Loft (101 Prince Street). The event will feature an assortment of snacks by chef Ramon Sanchez, wine, live music, and a speaker on internationalism in the arts. Sunday, October 2, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.; $30 suggested donation. [Grub Street]
Times Square: “Shucked and Shaken,” the new cocktail program at Oceana, will feature a flight of four seasonal oyster shooters. Shucked and shaken to order, this season’s flight includes a watermelon margarita paired with an East Coast oyster, among three other options ($35 for the flight, $8 each). [Grub Street]
Union Square: On Thursday, September 22, Harvest in the Square will celebrate its sixteenth anniversary. Stop by Union Square from 7:30 to 9 p.m. to sample food and beverages from neighborhood favorites like Aldea, wine, and an exhibit by Greenmarket, among others. Tickets are $125, all proceeds go toward revitalizing the park. [Guest of a Guest]
Upper West Side: Learn from culinary superstar Jean-Georges Vongerichten and his executive pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini during the Jean Georges Master Culinary Course, offered at the Trump International Hotel and Tower. The weekend-long experience (priced at $9,999 for two) includes a demonstration by Vongerichten in his namesake kitchen, a dessert-making class with Iuzzini, accommodations in an Executive Park View Suite, and more. Reservations are required 30 days in advance. [Grub Street]
Get an early start on your Oktoberfest celebrations at Village Pourhouse today, beginning at noon. A $30 beer flight for two will feature a selection of beer from German breweries like Beck’s and Schneider. [NYDN]
West Village: Gusto Ristorante e Bar Americano updated their Italian menu to include more seasonal and local fare, with fresh seafood hand-picked by chef Saul Montiel. The new menu follows Gusto’s décor revamp two years ago, meant to inspire the atmosphere of a vintage Italian movie. [DNA Info]

Cooking School With Jean-Georges; New Menu Items at Num Pang Midtown