BARS
Bar owner and visionary John Burla decided his day-to-day as a paralegal had run its course. Like many who dream of the autonomy that comes with owning a business, Burla gathered his resources and invested in what many would agree is the riskiest sector of the service industry, bar ownership. A bold move in today’s economy, John’s headlong commitment is evident in the improvements on the space. Prior to his ownership Bar Pelham, as it is now known, was home to another drinking establishment with a reputation of seconding as a drug den to local vagrants. The quaint 1200 sq-ft space is located in the north Bronx, at the crossroads of the 6 Train and numerous bus routes, most notably the BX 12, which during the summer months extends its route all the way to Orchard Beach.
The East Village is home to some of the best boozy bars in the city, so it's no surprise that two new spots have opened up, dishing out creative cocktails.
Evelyn Drinkery is not only a cocktail mecca, but it's also budget friendly, which we all know is hard to find in the city that never sleeps. The cocktail bar resembles an old-style saloon, split distinctly into two parts -- the front room, which has masculine features such as wooden benches and exposed brick, while the back room has a more feminine appeal with banquettes and cocktail waitresses. The Drinkery is brought to you by Drummer Hoff Hospitality, which was founded by Jared Shepard, Justin August Fairweather, and Christian Sanders, who have had extensive experience in the cocktail industry. The cocktail program at the bar is broken down into four categories: juleps, collins, cocktails, and spirited phosphates. If you're wondering what that last one is exactly, it's booze-infused housemade sodas (carbonated cocktails are hot right now). Not only are their phosphate drinks to die for and their liquor concoctions unique and tasty, but they surprise you with a non-traditional pricing for the city, clocking in between $7 and $11. With bargains, booze, and an 'all are welcome' attitude, this is sure to be the new 'it' desitination this Fall.
If you can’t beat the beer snob in the group going on and on about the best stouts from New York’s Great Lakes region, now you can at least join them. Thanks to a new a service, BeerText.Us, you can find out about a brew ahead of time, skipping out on the embarrassment of not knowing what you ordered and risk spitting it out all over the bar.
BeerText is as simple as texting the name of the beer to (315) 679-4711. Moments later, check your phone for the beer’s history, ingredients, and alcohol content. The service beats scouring the web on your phone’s browser, and is super helpful for those with specific allergies.
After eight years, Nolita House is closing. Sadly, the end of the month will mark the last day of the beloved watering hole.
A brief message was left on their Facebook page that read, “NH Friends, please join us this week from 5pm till close for farewell drinks. Sadly, after 8 awesome years, we will close our doors on May 31.”
The owners make note of new adventures, but it's too early to say what that may entail.
Be sure to make your way to Houston for farewell drinks tonight!
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:
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