BARS
The beginning of the week is a proverbial “no man’s land” in terms of revelry. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday typically present rather bleak prospects for the gregarious reveler. Whether it’s due to priority (rationing the wildness ‘till the weekend), financial strains, or an inculcated sanctity for the “early week”—most bars/pubs remain barren dens of hooch and silence during the week. In an effort to combat this desolation, bar owners have been relegated to rifling through their crafty “bag o’ tricks” to create an enticing evening for the potential reveler.
According to The Lodown, after Monday night's CB3 liquor licensing meeting, the committee has approved five new restaurants. Forsyth Street's Grotto team was given the go ahead with their 303 Broome Street restaurant and lounge venture, "La Gente." The lounge aspect will be located below street level with DJs spinning no more than three times a month. The team also agreed to soundproof the venue in order to avoid noise violations and complaints.
161 East Houston, formerly Spanish tapas "Oliva" is becoming a Mediterranean restaurant. Unfortunately, the CB3 comittee denied the restaurant a request to extend their hours of operation. Due to the denied request and a noise complaint filed by a neighbor this new spot will only be a day eatery.
Looking for a speakeasy style new spot in Miami? Located in an unsuspecting alley in Miami Beach, is the new under-the-radar bar, Foxhole. This new spot is so discreet it doesn't even have a sign! The cozy new bar (hence the name Foxhole) boasts a video game arcade, pool table, jukebox, and big screen TVs throughout.
It features bars on both the first and second levels as well as an upstairs lounge area and funky art by NYC based graffiti artist Curtis Kulig. (You might recognize his work around NYC that simply says "Love me.")
Eight years ago, Teresa Rivera was a New York City bartender. She dished out cocktails from behind the counters of budding neighborhood bars and bustling nightclubs. While filling glasses with cold hard liquor, Rivera discovered that she had a knack for connecting patrons, making it possible for individuals to find someone to charismatically fall in love with or to have a one-night-stand with. Her familiarity with crowds, and optimism in her guests’ ability to find love, propelled her to use matchmaker magic.
It was only a matter of time before Rivera permanently traded in her cocktail apron for Cupid’s bow and arrows. She took the knowledge that she gained from navigating the NYC bar/dating scene to draft a website that promotes connectivity online and offline. Barstalk.com, impart a bar guide and a dating site, employs filtering software, which will help individuals decide what they would like in a bar and in a partner.
On Saint Patty's Day, everyone gets to be Irish for a day. On Valentine's Day, we all get to pretend that we have a loving, stable relationship for 24 soul-crushing hours. And every fall, New Yorkers are encouraged to eat pasta, take the cannolis, and talk with their hands at the San Gennaro festival.
The best part? It's over a week long.
Today the Feast of San Gennaro takes over Mulberry Street for its 85th year. While officially a religious festival celebrating the patron Saint of Naples, the festival is always more reminiscent of a block party. But from September 15-25, this block party will feature pastries, gelato, and veal parmigiana that will put your neighbors to shame.
What for some was thirteen years of prohibition, for others it was thirteen years of clandestine encounters and nightly escapades of booze-fueled gatherings. The USA suffered a dry spell for over a decade after alcohol was banned starting in 1920. But people found their way around Prohibition Law. Oh, did they. Al Capone and Dutch Schultz, amongst other famous American gangsters, managed to supply copious amounts of illegal liquor to underground establishments around the country. These covert establishments, known as Speakeasies, became grounds for nights inflamed by liquor and radical fun. New York being the epicenter of unconventional thought was at the forefront of this new nightlife. Fast forward to 2011 and these Speakeasies are still some of the city's coolest spots! Check out our tops choices:
The state-wide smoking ban left its evolutionary mark on March 30, 2003 when it forced the sheltered, convenient, and reclined smoke circle Homo Erectus, making way for a new generation of upright, all-season smokers on the gum-stained sidewalks of New York. Devil-may-care-partiers embrace for another fight, as it appears the war on vice has just begun. Proud puffers lose another host of habitats next week starting May 23, which commences the enforcement of smoke-free public parks, beaches, boardwalks, stadiums and pedestrian plazas, subjecting violators to fines of $50 notwithstanding the social stigma that often accompanies the clout of a law. Now the debate on tobacco rights and social responsibility isn't a new one but targeting local beer-slinging businesses for the placement of its crowd is.
Still undecided where to spend this country’s most religious Sunday in sports? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of some cool places you can watch the Big Game this Sunday. Each location has its own special going on, from free food to a full on Super Bowl party. They’re guaranteed to help you kick-off your Super Bowl Sunday on the right foot!
THE CLEVELANDER: The Clevelander South Beach is throwing a special Super Bowl bash. Starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday, you can join Miami Beach’s biggest party. They have 30+ HD TVs, plus a model showcase, body painting, and jumbo screens that will be playing the game. 1020 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 877-532-4006.
Props to you, San Francisco. In the latest copy of GQ, four hometown bars have made it into the Top 25 Best Cocktail Bars in America. Here are the places you should hit after work as voted by GQ.
In the number five spot is The Alembic. The employees are tattooed and the drinks are strong. The favorite was the Vasco da Gama, a drink served on the rocks with Buffalo Trace bourbon, masala-spiced apple syrup and Islay scotch. Not a whiskey/bourbon/scotch sort of person than gin it is. The Gilded Lily is a sparkling Chartreuse-and-gin cocktail because it is topped with edible gold dust.
From the guy over at Villa, the newest Spanish themed club opens in LA this week. Extensive tapas and surprise shows each night highlight Premiere's allure as does the enormous chandeliers and giant iront stairways curling around the 5000 sq ft club. Bar eats include Peruvian ceviche with Mahi Mahi, lime, ginger, and aji amarillo chile, and paninis packed w/ brie, chicken, cranberries, green apples, and garlic aioli. I don't even know what half of that is, but sounds yummy. Complete with a 30 ft bar, Premiere is definitely up to something massive. Let's hope it works out, but even if it doesn't, they can just pull a switch-a-roo as Premiere owners plan to change the theme of the club periodically. It could be a Japanese themed Kabukki theater next month. Guess that means you should hurry.
1710 N Las Palmas Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90028; 323.978.0730; www.premieresupperclub.com
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