Where to Eat: New York City
It’s the Where to Eat: Catskills edition.
It appears this heat wave won’t be breaking any time soon, and the best thing I can recommend is that you get far, far away from the city. I’m not suggesting an epic Eurotrip, necessarily. Just that you grab a rental car, a friend who can drive or an Amtrak ticket and head a few hours north. I promise it’ll feel at least twenty degrees cooler and exponentially more exciting than another weekend schlepping takeout to Prospect Park.
This list is dedicated to the people in my life who have driven me around upstate. I love you, I’m sorry I let my license expire and I thank you for your service.
Pierogi at the roller rink
To me, one of the happiest places on earth is a 2-minute stretch of Route 209 in Accord, New York. You’ll find Bluebird Wine & Spirits, a joyful little wine shop decorated with Grateful Dead dancing bears, and, a minute away, the new location of Harana Market, a daytime Filipino restaurant with perfect fried chicken.
Finally, there’s Skate Time, a longtime roller rink that was shuttered during the pandemic and revived by the popcorn company Bjorn Qorn. They have plenty of popcorn for sale, naturally, but there’s also classic roller rink fare: pizza, chicken tenders, a hot dog on a warm potato roll. The most compelling order has to be the pierogi from Helena’s Specialty Pierogies, made in nearby Kerhonkson, pan-fried and topped with sour cream, undoubtedly worth the hassle of renting a car.
Skate Time, 5164 US-209, Accord, NY
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.