What – Meltdown: The Impact of Climate Change on the Tibetan Plateau

When – January 16th, 2009  8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Where – Asia Society and Museum
8th Floor, 725 Park Ave
New York NY 10021

Free Admission

Contact:  212-517-ASIA

What – Is the Internet Transforming Asia, or Is Asia Transforming the Internet?

When – January 14th, 2009  6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Where - Asia Society and Museum
8th Floor, 725 Park Ave
New York NY 10021

Contact:  212-517-ASIA

Ghajini Review – Aamir Khan Disappoints in Stolen Shit

Ghajini Tamil Movie Review

Aamir Khan’s new movie Ghajini is releasing in the U.S. on December 24 2008. Ghajini, a remake of the Tamil movie of the same name, also features Asin, Jiah Khan and Pradeep Singh Rawat.

Here are the showtimes for Ghajini in Down Town Manhattan, Mid Town Manhattan, Queens and Spring Valley, New York:

Ghajini Movie Showtimes in Down Town Manhattan, NY

AMC Loews Village 7 – Read the Review
66 3rd Ave.
New York, NY 10003
Ph: 212-982-2116

Dec 24|10:00 AM|1:50 PM|5:40 PM|9:30 PM
Dec 25|10:00 AM|1:50 PM|5:40 PM|9:30 PM
Dec 26|10:00 AM|1:50 PM|5:40 PM|9:30 PM
Dec 27|10:00 AM|1:50 PM|5:40 PM|9:30 PM
Dec 28|10:00 AM|1:50 PM|5:40 PM|9:30 PM
Dec 29|10:00 AM|1:50 PM|5:40 PM|9:30 PM
Dec 30|10:00 AM|1:50 PM|5:40 PM|9:30 PM
Dec 31|10:00 AM|1:50 PM|5:40 PM|9:30 PM
Jan 01|10:00 AM|1:50 PM|5:40 PM|9:30 PM
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Ghajini Movie Showtimes in Mid Town Manhattan, NY

The ImaginAsian – Read the Review
239 East 59th St
New York, NY 10022
Ph: 212-371-6682

Dec 24|11:00 AM|2:50 PM| 6:40 PM|10:30 PM
Dec 25|  2:50 PM|6:40 PM|10:30 PM
Dec 26|11:00 AM|2:50 PM| 6:40 PM|10:30 PM
Dec 27|11:00 AM|2:50 PM| 6:40 PM|10:30 PM
Dec 28|11:00 AM|2:50 PM| 6:40 PM|10:30 PM
Dec 29|11:00 AM|2:50 PM| 6:40 PM|10:30 PM
Dec 30|11:00 AM|2:50 PM| 6:40 PM|10:30 PM
Dec 31|11:00 AM|2:50 PM| 6:40 PM|10:30 PM
Jan 01|11:00 AM|2:50 PM| 6:40 PM|10:30 PM
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What – Bharatanatyam Concert by Sonali Skandan & Mohan Kulasingam

When – December 11th, 2008 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Where – Yoga Sutra
501 5th Ave 2nd floor
(S/E corner of 42nd St)
New York NY10017

Free Admission

Is it too much to ask Indian restaurants in New York City that they keep their premises and kitchens reasonably clean?

Indian restaurants in New York City are notoriously dirty.

Restrooms without toilet paper, spoiled food, dirty outer garments of staff, rats, mice, flying insects and other live animals are only some of the ugly aspects of many Indian restaurants in NYC.

We are sick and tired of reading New York City Health Department inspection reports that reveal how dirty our desi restaurants are.

The newest New York Indian restaurant to embrace rats, mice and flying insects is Dhaba on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

According to the New York City Department of Health, Dhaba is not vermin proof and has evidence of flying insects or live flying insects, mice or live mice, rats or live rats present in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

The NYC Department of Health inspected Dhaba restaurant on September 26, 2008.

Dhaba Indian Restaurant (108 Lexington Avenue, New York City), a recent addition to the Lexington curry hill area, is part of Bollywood supporting actor Shiva Natarajan’s chain of restaurants, which include Chola and Tadka.

Sanitary Violations observed at Dhaba during the September 26, 2008 inspection:

1.) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist.
2.) Evidence of flying insects or live flying insects present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
3.) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
4.) Evidence of rats or live rats present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

Continue reading »

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Review
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Box Office Report

Yash Raj Films new movie Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi featuring Shahrukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Vinay Pathak is releasing in the U.S. on December 12 2008.

Here are the Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi movie showtimes in Manhattan, Queens, Long Island and Spring Valley, New York.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Movie Showtimes in Down Town Manhattan

AMC Loews Village 7
66 3rd Ave.
New York, NY 10003
Ph: 212-982-2116

Dec 12|  2:45 PM|6:15 PM|9:40 PM
Dec 13|11:15 AM|2:45 PM|6:15 PM|9:40 PM
Dec 14|11:15 AM|2:45 PM|6:15 PM|9:40 PM
Dec 15|  2:45 PM|6:15 PM|9:40 PM
Dec 16|  2:45 PM|6:15 PM|9:40 PM
Dec 17|  2:45 PM|6:15 PM|9:40 PM
Dec 18|  2:45 PM|6:15 PM|9:40 PM
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Copper Chimeny Indian restaurant located in Lexington Avenue Curry Hill area of Manhattan is not vermin proof and has evidence of mice or live mice in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas, says the New York City Department of Health after it inspected the restaurant on November 6, 2008.

Copper Chimney Indian restaurant located at 126 E 28th St between Lexington and Park Avenues in Manhattan received 26 Violation Points in its November 6, 2008 health inspection report.

A NYC restaurant needs a score of 27 or less to pass the NYC Health Dept  inspection. Copper Chimney passed the restaurant inspection of November 6, 2008 by receiving 26 points.

Sanitary Violations observed at Copper Chimney on  November 6, 2008:

1.) Lighting inadequate. Bulb not shielded or shatterproof.
2.) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist.
3.) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
4.) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
5.) Hot food not held at or above 140°F.

The NYC Department of Health said A Notice of Violation was not issued as a result of this inspection. But Copper Chimney’s violation point total is above the average violation point total of 15, for all NYC restaurants on their most recent inspection.

Copper Chimney Previous NYC Inspection Reports:

Date | Violation Points

03/19/2008 – 20
02/27/2008 – 47
10/23/2006 -  2
11/21/2005 -  6

Related Stories:
Copper Chimney Restaurant Review

Saravanaas  (Shravanaas) located on Lexington Ave in Curry Hill area is still not vermin proof, still has evidence of flying insects or live flying insects and evidence of mice or live mice present in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas, says the New York City Department of Health after it inspected the restaurant on September 30, 2008.

Saravanaas Indian restaurant on Lexington Avenue of Manhattan received 12 Violation Points in the New York City Health Dept. inspection of September 30, 2008.

To pass the NYC Health Dept. inspection, a restaurant must receive 27 violation points or less. Saravanaas passed the NYC Health Dept inspection of September 30, 2008 by receiving 12 violation points.

Sanitary Violations observed at Saravanaas Indian restaurant during the September 30, 2008 inspection:

1.) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist.
2.) Evidence of flying insects or live flying insects present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
3.) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

The NYC Department of Health said a Notice of Violation was not issued as a result of this inspection and that the violation point total received by Saravanaas is below the average violation point total of 15, for all NYC restaurants on their most recent inspection.

Saravanaas Previous NYC Inspection Reports:

Date | Violation Points

9/10/2008   – 33
4/28/2008  -  36
12/27/2006 – 19
09/15/2005 – 17

Related Stories:
Saravanaas Fails NYC Health Inspection, Again
Saravanaas Fails NYC Health Dept Inspection
Saravanaas Restaurant Review

Chennai Garden Indian restaurant located at 129 E 27th St in Murray Hill of New York City still has evidence of mice or live mice in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas, says the New York City Department of Health after it inspected the restaurant on June 10, 2008.

Chennai Garden in Curry Hill area of Manhattan received 24 Violation Points, an improvement over 38 Violation Points it received in the previous inspection of April 23, 2008.

To pass the NYC Health Dept. inspection, a restaurant must receive 27 violation points or less. Chennai Garden passed health inspection by receiving 24 Violation Points in the NYC Health Dept inspection of June 10, 2008.

Sanitary Violations observed at Chennai Garden Indian restaurant during the June 10, 2008 inspection:

1.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
2.) Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
3.) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

The NYC Department of Health said a Notice of Violation was not issued as a result of this inspection and that the violation point total received by Chennai Garden is above the average violation point total of 15, for all NYC restaurants on their most recent inspection.

Chennai Garden Previous NYC Inspection Reports:

Date | Violation Points

04/23/2008 – 38
09/28/2006 – 19

Related Stories:
Chennai Garden Fails NYC Health Dept Inspection

Tiffin Wallah located at 127, E.28th St off Lexington Avenue in Murray Hill area of Manhattan has ‘Other live animal present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas,’ says the New York City Department of Health after it inspected the restaurant on November 7, 2008.

Were there any ‘other live animal’ in the kitchen when we dined at Tiffin Wallah. Scary thought, eh?

The NYC Health Dept. report also mentions that personal cleanliness is inadequate at Tiffin Wallah and that the food at the restaurant is not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Also, pray that you do not feel like going to the rest room at Tiffin Wallah because the NYC Health Dept says that toilet facility at this restaurant is not maintained and provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle and self-closing door.

Tiffin Wallah in the Curry Hill area off Lexington  Avenue received 26 Violation Points.

A NYC restaurant needs a score of 27 or less to pass the NYC Health Dept