EAST VILLAGE

Sometimes the weekend has its way with you. Crusading about in the guise of an infinite booze-fueled horizon—only to pull the ole “bait & switch”—and hit you with the anvil-sized dose of mundane reality: the arrival of Monday.

Back in the throes of the miasmic work-week revivification is key— via a renewal of nocturnal explorations into the very soul of revelry! A steady diet of nightly escapades lessens the sting of proletarian mundanity, while simultaneously sustaining one’s Dionysian impulses. Forego the slow degradation of ennui by sampling generously of this week’s party ambrosia!

For New York City cocktail culture, the East Village is Mecca. With Death & Company, PDT and Angel’s Share all a short drunken stumble from each other, one might expect craft cocktails to be flowing from taps. Just off the corner of Avenue A, on Sixth Street, expectations have become reality.

Amor y Amargo, or Love and Bitters, is a tasting room/general store/tapas bar run by husband and wife partners Avery and Janet Glasser. The couple first made a name for themselves in the world of cocktails by creating the Brooklyn based Bittermens Bitters, now one of the top selling brands in America. The space is what you’d expect out of a renovated East Village sandwich shop. As soon as you’ve entered, you’ve almost hit the back wall. Part of the tiny space is strategically used for the display and sale of bitters, jiggers, stirrers and other cocktail making accessories. If one of the handful of bar seats are available at the Spanish tiled bar, you’re in luck, but non-industry people beware, this little NYC crevice is where cocktail and spirit nerdiness reaches its all-time high. The conversation between Avery, Janet and the guests is likely to be about the herbal makeup of Fernet, tasting notes of a new liqueur, or the process of making homemade bitters. For bartenders, it may as well be heaven.

'Haunted Heart' -Little Hurricane

As all you New Yorkers know, the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade is right around the corner. That means there is going to be an overload of turkey and tryptophan coursing through your veins. Ultimately putting you in a bear-like hibernating state during Black Friday, and maybe until Cyber Monday.

If you're looking to escape the typical turkey day trance, hail a cab to 7th street between 1st avenue and Avenue A, to indulge in the Bourgeois Pig. This is a trendy East Village wine bar that serves up great wine and tapas that are both delicious and wallet-friendly. So nix your plans to have the probable overcooked bird and order up a baked brie cheese board for $17. This cheese board comes with fresh grapes and honey. Pair that alongside the lamb Morrocco tartines for $11, and your mouth will continue to thank you the rest of the night.

The recently opened Mexican cocktail bar offshoot of the successful Hecho en Dumbo restaurant, Salon Hecho brings the good cocktail to lower Manhattan. Owner Ethan Smith and his wife Monica Ramos (who is from Mexico) are married to Mexican authenticity, which is illustrated in the rapid boom of their once tiny taco shop in Dumbo, Brooklyn. It became too tasty for its own good and had to relocate three years later in 2010 to the grander space it now fits in the East Village. They soon felt the food needed a bar counterpart and thus, Salon Hecho was born this October.

Being a young barhopper in New York can be tough. Your friends who moved to Nashville call to tell you about their wild night, and here you are, plopping down your last 7 dollars on a pint of Rolling Rock. But fear not, draft hounds: justice comes to all in the form of happy hour. We've scoured the city for the best deals this side of South Dakota, and while the drinks may not be top shelf, at least your wallet won't be hung over the next morning.

Bourbon Street (407 Amsterdam Avenue)

The allure of New York City is maintained by the glamorous people, fashionable couture, diversity, and, most importantly, innovative food. The restaurant scene in Manhattan (and the other boroughs) is defined by cutting edge chefs and creative menus full of seasonal ingredients and local products. People flock to this city to experience authentic hand-pulled noodles in Chinatown and house-carved pastrami at Katz's. The pizza and bagels in New York are some of the best in the world. Gabrielle Hamilton, Bobby Flay, Lidia Bastianich, and so many others have fabulous restaurants in the city. The superb dining options are endless. And yet....IHOP just opened on 14th Street to a crowd of eager people.

"He is heading down the court, he grabs the ball, but he is blocked. He spins, spots a way out, he swerves to the run and with no hesitation at all HE SHOOTS aaaand HE....drinks?" Whether you're a sports fan or not, the bars on this list have a great atmosphere--a lot of comradeship and mututal drinking. They're the perfect place to go grab a beer.

13th Step

Opened less than two years ago, The 13th Step has quickly become an East Village staple. On any day of the week the line loops around the block. The 13th Step is not the place if you're looking for fancy, pretentious or conversation-friendly volume. It is however, the bar to visit if you want loud die-hard sports fans, a fratty scene and cheap drinks. Also, if you're looking to play some beer-pong this is the place for you. They actually have professional (if beer-pong can be called professional) beer-pong tables installed in the back.

In a city where nightlife is in abundance, and you can find absolutely anything with the touch of a button, it may be easier to stick to the same old places we know and love. We all know that good service and atmosphere are a 50/50 chance, so trying something different can be hard. Well, if you're craving something, or some place new, then feel free to break out of those old-habit chains, NYC and welcome these hot new bars and lounges.

Living Room Bar and Terrace, 123 Washington Street, New York, NY 10006

Starwood has read our minds recently, and given FiDi this eclectic nouveau lounge, the Living Room Bar and Terrace. This chic downtown desire opened August 18th 2011, just in time for the end of summer. Like a billowy ocean wave, the LED lighting installation by Lamella, drapes across the ceiling to give a fun, open vibe unlike most of the usual modern bars of Wall Street. The lights reflect the black granite floors to create a vortex-like (think Tron:Legacy) atmosphere. But don’t worry, you won't get stuck in Tron world for too long; the neutral tan leather and purple accents warm the space to give a homier feel. And how could we forget the floor to ceiling windows, the chic wraparound terrace and most incredibly, the view of downtown Manhattan. If you’re bored with the view (or hungry) there are specially designed board games, light bites and an exciting cocktail list created by Charlotte Voisey of Rose Bar. Prices start at $15 with specialty options like the Lychee Blossom- Belvedere orange blossom with lychee juice, lemon, and peychaud bitters or the Bond Street Sparkler- Champagne with elderflower liquor with blackberries, and fresh mint.

Just when you were concerned that you’d find yourself on the Upper East Side without an organic smoothie to call your own, The Juice Press comes to the rescue!

The East Village fruity beverage mavens, who recently opened up a second location on East 10th Street and are also available at FoodParc, have announced plans for their next storefront on 62nd Street and Third Avenue. The tony address will be larger than their original 1st street home, but will still offer the same Super-Food Smoothies, Raw Food and fresh Coconut Water as the other locales.

Despite the fact that you still see roaches in your bathroom and the occasional (for some of us more frequent than others) mouse in your kitchen, New York City is becoming clean, people. Clean! Well. Cleaner. At least It's nightlife is definitely gaining points on the hygiene scale. "Dingy", "dive bars" are now lounges with run-down decor and beers on tap. They are also spotless, sanitized and air-conditioned. No more stench of beer, enter-at-your-own-risk bathrooms or any of those awesome disgusting perks characteristics that made NY nightlife so remarkable. And as the mighty dirty fall, the last hope of true filth in the East Village is closing down. Good-bye Mars Bar.