lunch on speed dial.

The cold front has finally blown into the city. As the wind howls down Fifth Avenue, New Yorkers dread stepping out of their warm buildings into the frigid weather. So when lunchtime rolls around, it’s much easier to just pick up the phone and order takeout than bundle up and venture outside for a tuna sandwich.

If you work in the Flatiron district, you’re lucky. The area boasts an endless list of diverse dining spots, many of which offer delivery options. I asked the employees at Full Picture, one of the many public relations firms in the Flatiron district and where I am interning this semester, which eateries they put on speed-dial when the temperature drops.

Here are some of their recommendations:

Lenny’s
23rd Street, between 5th and 6th avenues

This chain of sandwich shops prides itself on making every sandwich to order. “I love Lenny’s because it has fast service, a large menu and decent pricing,” said assistant account executive Dwight Armstrong. “Plus, I can order online and pay by credit card.”

Armstrong loves the chicavo sandwich ($7.50), a generous serving of grilled chicken on a bed of avocado, roasted peppers and mesclun.

Order online or call 212.462.4433.

Chat ‘n’ Chew
10 E. 16th St.

Situated just off of Union Square, Chat ‘n’ Chew serves up generous portions of American comfort food – from golden mac and cheese ($10.95) to creamy chocolate milkshakes ($5.75). “Its fries are perfect – just the right amount of crispy,” said receptionist Katie Leary.

Leary’s favorite meal? The classic grilled cheese sandwich, made with tomato and three kinds of cheese ($7.95).

View the menu and call 212.243.1616 for delivery.

Mizu Sushi
29 E. 20th St.
Associate account executive Sasha Marden loves Mizu Sushi for its inexpensive, fresh offerings and efficient service. “I definitely call them when I’m starving because the food always comes quickly,” she said.

Marden’s Mizu staples include the spicy tuna roll ($5.50) and vegetable gyoza ($4.50).

Order online or call 212.505.6688

Chop’t creative salad company
24 E. 17th St.

Chop’t offers unique and healthy fare to the New York City lunch crowd. Customers can order one of the Chef-Designed salads, or create their own. Salads can also be chopped up and rolled into a flatbread sandwich. Account executive Leah Pepper loves the chicken po’boy salad ($8.45), featuring romaine lettuce topped with home fried chicken, tomato and white cheddar.

View the menu and call 646.336.5523 for delivery.

Home’s Kitchen
22 E. 21st St.
If you’re just looking for good old Chinese takeout, Home’s Kitchen is the go-to option for quick, quality fare. “For $8.00, you can get a large portion of good food,” said Dafna Debasc, a senior account executive.

Debasc recommends the lunch special, served daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Customers can get an entrée with rice and either an egg roll or soup for as low as $6.25. Debasc personally favors the beef with broccoli entrée ($6.95).

Order online or call 212.475.5049.

the old town bar.

The stretch of 18th Street between Broadway and Park Avenue South is a scaffolding wasteland. Gray planking covers most of the storefronts. But a lone, neon-lit sign swinging from a high doorway marks an oasis: the Old Town Bar and Restaurant.

The Old Town has been serving New Yorkers in the Flatiron district since 1892, long before this trendy neighborhood was even called the Flatiron district. While other bars come and go as often as the wind changes, this old bar has been faithfully serving up burgers and beers for more than a century.

“I mean, this is it,” said John Fundus, who has been a patron for three decades. “This was here.”

Originally founded by the Lohden family, the Old Town was bought by its longtime manager Larry Meagher in 1970. After he died in February, his family carried on the business. On any given day, chances are you’ll find one of the Meagher grandchildren serving up your tuna melt ($10.50) and pint of Brooklyn lager.

The restaurant’s interior is pure Old New York. Squint through the dusty front window and you can see the original pressed-tin ceiling and the sprawling 55-foot-long mahogany and marble bar. The menu is classic and unfussy: burgers (from $10.25), salads (from $5.25) and hot and cold sandwiches ($8.50 to $13.25) are prepared in the second-floor kitchen and lowered to the dining room in New York’s oldest dumbwaiter.

The Old Town’s burgers are longtime restaurant review heavyweights for good reason. Grilled to pink perfection, the juicy burger is smothered in gooey American cheese and nestled in a toasted bun. A generous portion of golden fries and a long slice of pickle accompany this model of good old American cuisine.

Even though the burgers have remained the same, the crowd has changed with the times. In the 1980s, the Old Town played host to a motley crew of regulars, truckers and artists from Andy Warhol’s nearby Factory. These days, it continues to resemble a Noah’s Ark of sorts. On Friday evenings, every imaginable demographic group is crammed into the bar area. “Everything and everyone here is changing so quickly,” Stewart, an Old Town bartender for 23 years, said. “I used to know everyone at this bar. But I only recognize one person here tonight.”

On the night in question, West Village hipsters squeezed next to regulars nursing glasses of Maker’s Mark. Frat boys and their 50-something counterparts bonded over pints of Guinness, while PR types clicked away on their BlackBerrys. Grizzly-bearded men discussed Tina Fey’s "Saturday Night Live" imitation of Sarah Palin, while elderly ladies sipped on small glasses of red wine and compared the Old Town’s burgers to those of the fast food chain White Castle.

But patrons agree – while the scene is constantly evolving, this old place will always attract a crowd. Fundus, who plans to keep coming for a few more decades, gestured expansively to the horde packing the bar behind him. “This just is New York,” he said.

the seven deadly sins.

In honor of everyone’s favorite October holiday – Halloween – here’s a list to help even the most straitlaced of us be a little sinful.

Lust
The Museum of Sex indulges our kinky side with exhibits like Sex Lives of Animals and Robots.
Gluttony
New York Times investigates Curry Hill, the area around Lexington and 28th known for its many Indian restaurants.
Greed
On Oct. 28, watch money fly at Swann’s Auction Galleries's Halloween-themed auction. Items for sale include handcuffs once owned by Harry Houdini (starting at $500).
Sloth
On Monday nights, kick back with a cocktail at Hotel’s Giraffe’s Jazz in the Grande Lobby.
Wrath
Vent your anger while getting a full workout at Ironflower's Wednesday kung fu and boxing class. The first visit is FREE.
Envy
On Oct. 25, envy the toned bods and decadent costumes of Le Scandal Burlesque's performers at Chris Noth's club The Cutting Room.
Pride
Be proud of yourself this month for attending the Community Emergency Response Teams’ free training course starting Oct. 23. Learn about disaster preparedness and volunteer to support your local community.

sins and sensibility.

The Flatiron district is pulsing with issues and activities this month, ranging from the serious to the sinful.

Every third Tuesday, the New York Police Department’s 13th Precinct (which covers the Flatiron district) holds a public community council meeting. This week, Brad Kaufman, medical director of the New York City Fire Department, came to educate residents about Rapid Organ Recovery, a groundbreaking pilot program that will enable doctors to potentially harvest organs from those who die outside of the hospital. “The whole country is watching us,” Kaufman said.

A representative from the District Attorney’s office also came to assure concerned residents that they were working closely with the precinct to crack down on prostitution in the area. According to the precinct’s commanding officer, Captain Tim Beaudette, the precinct has processed five arrests in the last month.

Beaudette also reeled off a few crime statistics that will put residents’ hearts at ease. In the last 28 days, crime has fallen across the board, with a 53 percent drop in robberies and a 20 percent drop in assaults due to heightened club detail breaking up those rowdy early-morning brawls.

Grand larceny, however, was up 21 percent, specifically in bike thefts. Nineteen bikes have been stolen in the last 28 days, so invest in an extra-strong chain for your wheels. Flatiron businesses, take note: The Department of Transportation will also install free bike racks outside your store upon request.

The economic crisis is finally beginning to hit the Flatiron. The Village Voice looks at the crippled Downtown lease market – the Flatiron district fell 83 percent short of its monthly average.

But there will always be money in the area: just look at the stats on this year’s Big Apple Block Party, restaurateur Danny Meyer’s annual food-fundraiser for the Madison Square Park Conservancy. The event raised $82,500, serving up an impressive amount of food that included 8,460 lbs of baby-back ribs and 32,488 bottles of Snapple.

And the Park is using those funds well, hosting yet another fascinating art installation. Pulse Park, an interactive nighttime light show, will be on view beginning Oct. 24.