If you ever get bored in New York City, you have only yourself to blame. When it comes to nightlife in particular, the only difficulty you'll have is in choosing amongst the seemingly infinite options for entertainment. New York's top weeklies--The Village Voice and Time Out New York--offer their round-ups of goings on about town, as do the e-mail newsletters such as Flavorpill (www.flavorpill.com), My Open Bar (www.myopenbar.com), Brooklyn Vegan (www.brooklynvegan.com), and Oh My Rockness (www.ohmyrockness.com) who each week direct you towards various concerts, multimedia events, and new bars. Over time you'll figure out which sources you trust and which venues you favor, and the explorer in you will thrive on checking out the new watering holes that seem to be sprouting like weeds downtown and in Brooklyn. A current favorite for usually cheap and off-beat picks is The Skint. For those of you who require more than a perfect drink in the ideal setting: LVHRD (www.lvhrd.com) hosts monthly themed parties at secret locations . Below you'll find a few choice destinations for the key genres in evening diversion--dive bars, cocktail lounges, dance spots, music venues, and much more. A word of caution: don't forget to pace yourselves.
Dive Bars
There is no shortage of dumps in this city, so we've done our best to single out the darkest and the dirtiest. A popular choice among our staff is the oh-so derelict Mars Bar (Map 6)--clean freaks should use the bathroom wherever they are before they get here. Unfortunately, the Mars' status is up in the air with all the new condo development. Let’s hope it survives! Around Union Square one of the your only (and best) choices is 119 Bar (Map 10). Other down-town favorites include Puffy's Tavern (Map 2), Milano's (Map 6), Blue & Gold (Map 6), and Holiday Lounge (Map 6). In Midtown, the classic Subway Inn (Map 15) will satisfy all your dive needs, along with Times Square haven Jimmy's Corner (Map 12). Uptown, we like Reif's Tavern (Map 17), Dublin House (Map 14), 1020 Bar (Map 18), and St Nick's Pub (Map 21). On the other side of the East River, check out the Turkey's Nest (Map 29) in Williamsburg and Red Hook classic Sunny's (Map 32).
Best Beer Selection
When it comes to sheer beer selection, there are a number of worthy contenders. The heavily trodden Peculier Pub (Map 6) offers an extensive, though expensive, beer list. Visit this one on a weekday if you want to take advantage of some one-on-one time with the bartender. The Ginger Man (Map 9) in lower Midtown stocks over 100 kinds of bottled brew, and has over 60 options on tap. Vol de Nuit (Map 5) has a large number of Belgian beers and a warm but reclusive atmosphere. Zum Schneider (Map 7) offers a slew of unique German beer choices to wash down its German fare. Hipster-fave Otherroom (Map 5) is off the beaten path but has a solid selection, too. Good Beer (Map 7) is better than good. Their microbrew taps will impress any hop head. Uptown Earl's Beer & Cheese (Map 17) has a small but killer beer selection. Plus you can take growlers to go. Other places to try: Blind Tiger Ale House (Map 5) and The Waterfront Ale House (Map 10). In Brooklyn head to Beer Table (Map 33) where the proprietors know more about beer than they probably should (or maybe we're just jealous) or Draft Barn (Map 33) to drink ale like a Hungarian king or queen in a medieval fortress minus the moat. In Williamsburg, the cozy Spuyten Duyvil (Map 29), offers many rare finds among its 100-plus beers, while Barcade (Map 29) brings joystick junkies and beer-lovers together with its classic '80s arcade games and amazing selection of beers on tap.
Outdoor Spaces
Outdoor space is a precious commodity here, so combine it with cocktails and you've got the perfect destination for city dwellers who just don’t want to be cooped up on those all-too-rare temperate evenings. Truth be told, though, you'll find New Yorkers stubbornly holding court at outdoor venues in pretty much any weather short of electrical storms and sub-freezing temperatures, and they'll only retreat in those conditions when chased indoors by the staff. Take note that bars with outdoor patios have circumvented the no-smoking legislation--either a perk or a put-off, depending on your inclination. Unfortunately, you'll never see most of the finest outdoor drinking dens unless you know a supermodel or a European prince--these fashionable places (mostly high up in five-star hotels) have strict door policies. For the rest of us mere mortals, try the Mé Bar (Map 9) at the top of La Quinta Inn in Koreatown. They'll let you in no matter who you hang out with or what you wear. For a little fancier night out in the open air but still accessible, try Bookmarks (Map 12) the rooftop bar in the Library Hotel. We love the aptly named Gowanus Yacht Club (Map 32) in Carroll Gardens. This intimate beer garden serves up cold ones with dogs and burgers in a cookout setting. Other patios to check out include Sweet & Vicious (Map 6), The Park (Map 8), and The Heights Bar & Grill (Map 18). Other Brooklyn highlights include The Gate (Map 33) in Park Slope, and Williamsburg’s Iona (Map 29), Union Pool (Map 29), and Huckleberry (Map 29). For great views of Manhattan from Long Island City, nothing beats the summer-only Water Taxi Beach (Map 27). In Long Island City, there's an excellent outdoor drinking spot called Studio Square (Map 26), while in Astoria there's a place called Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden (Map 26) that you might have heard of, at least once, maybe?
Best Jukebox
Personal taste factors heavily in this category of course, but here is a condensed list of NFT picks. For Manhattan: Ace Bar (Map 7) (indie rock/punk), Hi-Fi (Map 7) (a huge and diverse selection), Lakeside Lounge (Map 7) (a little something for everybody), 7B (Horseshoe Bar) (Map 7) (rock all the way), WCOU Radio (Tile Bar) (Map 7) (eclectic), Rudy’s Bar & Grill (Map 11) (blues), Welcome to the Johnsons (Map 4) (indie rock/punk). For Brooklyn: Great Lakes (Map 33) (Park Slope--indie rock), The Boat (Map 32) (Carroll Gardens--indie rock), The Levee (Map 29) (Williamsburg--good all around), and the Brooklyn Social Club (Map 32) (Carroll Gardens--country/soul goodness).
DJs and Dancing
New York’s old cabaret laws make it tough to find free dance spots, but they do exist (albeit often with the velvet rope scenario that may deter the impatient). On the weekends, entry into the swankier clubs doesn’t come without paying your dues in long lines and pricey cover charges. That’s not our style. You’ll find us dancing and hanging out at Santos Party House (Map 3) as well as Happy Ending (Map 3) and Le Poisson Rouge (Map 6). In and around Williamsburg, we suggest checking out the lively dance scenes at Bembe (Map 29) or Glasslands (Map 29).
Costly Cocktails
NFT loves dive bars, but sometimes it’s nice to grab that blazer or cocktail dress gathering dust in the closet and hit the town for some classy drinking escapades that usually involve fancy hotels. Here are a few places that really are worth the splurge. If you don’t want to shell out the $100 cover charge to see Woody Allen play clarinet at the Café Carlyle (Map 15), you can afford the no-cover charge during happy hour at the classy Bemelmans Bar (Map 15), one of the few places worth the money on the Upper East Side. Try to grab one of the ten seats at the famed King Cole Bar (Map 12) inside the St Regis Hotel on a weeknight (weekend nights are for tourists remember). For a more downtown cool feel head to The Lobby Bar (Map 6) at the Bowery Hotel to mingle with celebrities and models. Other noteworthy settings include The Campbell Apartment (Map 13) in Grand Central Station. Phillippe Starck’s interior at The Royalton (Map 12) is still a damned cool place to have a drink, as well. Or try the Rose Bar (Map 10) inside the Grammercy Park Hotel for a taste of opulence you can put on your credit card like everyone else these days.
Music—Overview
New York caters to a wide array of tastes in everything, and music is no exception. From the indie rock clubs of the Lower East Side to the history-steeped jazz clubs in the Village to amateur night at the Apollo, your musical thirst can seemingly be quenched in every possible way.
Jazz, Folk and Country
There are plenty of places to see jazz in the city, starting off with classic joints such as the Village Vanguard (Map 5) and Birdland (Map 11). There’s also the "Jazz at Lincoln Center" complex in the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle which has three rooms; the 1,000+ seat, designed-for-jazz Rose Theater, the Allen Room, an amphitheater with a great view of the park, and the nightclub-esque Dizzy's Club Coca Cola.
For a smaller (and cheaper) jazz experience, try the Lenox Lounge (Map 19) and St Nick’s Pub (Map 21) in Harlem, or the Jazz Gallery and Arthur’s Tavern (Map 5) and in the Village. The Nuyorican Poets Café (Map 7) has frequent jazz performances. In Brooklyn, one of your best bets is the small back room at Park Slope's Barbes (Map 33).
Easily one of the best weekly jazz experiences is the Mingus Big Band's residency at The Jazz Standard (Map 10). If you've never done it, do it--it's a truly great and unpredicatable band that even surly Mr. Mingus (might) have been proud of.
For folk & country, try Rodeo Bar (Map 10), Hank’s Saloon (Map 33), Lakeside Lounge (Map 7) or Parkside Lounge (Map 7) on Mondays, or Jalopy’s (Map 32) “Roots & Ruckus” on Wednesdays. BrooklynCountryMusic.com keeps track of who’s fiddlin’ in Brooklyn.
Rock and Pop
In case you've just moved back to NYC from, say, 7 years in Portland or Mumbai, the rock scene is now firmly entrenched in Brooklyn. Even Bowery Presents, the people behind two of the best clubs in the city—Mercury Lounge (Map 7) and Bowery Ballroom (Map 6)—have added Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg (Map 29) to their mini-empire. However, larger live shows can be seen at downtown's Bowery Ballroom (Map 6), which remains the top live venue, featuring big acts but with excellent sound and a good layout, as well as Irving Plaza (Map 10), Terminal 5 (Map 11), the High Line Ballroom (Map 8), and, for those of you wishing to check out the Allman Brothers' yearly NYC stand, the Beacon Theater (Map 14). Roseland (Map 12) is billed as an intimate venue for high-profile acts, but good luck getting tickets for the Stones or anyone else of that ilk.
The best remaining small club in Manhattan is Mercury Lounge (Map 7), which gets great bands right before they’re ready to move up to Bowery, and features a big stage and audience area (though the bar can be really cramped). As far as the rest of the Lower East Side/East Village area goes, it helps if you like your clubs to be punky basements (Cake Shop, Map 4) or former bodegas (Arlene Grocery, Map 4).
But it's really the clubs in Brooklyn that generally shine with exciting new talent night after night, including Union Hall (Map 33), Southpaw (Map 33), Glasslands Gallery (Map 29), Bruar Falls (Map 29), Brooklyn Masonic Temple (Map 31), The Bell House (Map 33), or Trash (Map 29). And Maxwell’s (Map 34) is still your best bet in Hoboken.
Experimental
A number of venues in New York provide a place for experimental music to get exposure. Experimental Intermedia (Map 3) and Roulette (Map 2) are fully dedicated to showcasing the avant-garde. John Zorn’s place, The Stone (Map 7), takes an experimental approach towards the perfor-mance space as well as the music, with a different artist acting as curator for an entire month, no drinks or food, and the artists taking in 100% of door proceeds. The Kitchen (Map 8) features experimental music in addition to film, dance, and other art forms. Relative newcomer Le Poisson Rouge (Map 6) has brought an exciting mix of different sounds back to the heart of the Village, and is one of our favorite spots. In Brooklyn, the experimental scene is cranking away, especially at Issue Project Room's (Map 33) space at the Old American Can Factory, Glasslands Gallery (Map 29) in Williamsburg, Freddy's Back Room (Map 33) in Prospect Heights and Jalopy (Map 32) in Carroll Gardens.
Everything Else
A few places run the gamut of musical genres; folksy artists one night, hot Latin tango the next, and a slew of comedy, spoken word, and other acts. Joe’s Pub (Map 6) presents an excellent variety of popular styles and often hosts celebrated international musicians. Keep an eye on BAMcafé (Map 31) for a variety of great performers.
For cabaret or piano bar, try Don’t Tell Mama (Map 11), Duplex (Map 5), or Brandy’s (Map 15). For a more plush experience, try the Café Carlyle (Map 15) or Oak Room (Map 12) at the Algonquin Hotel. But for top cabaret talent at affordable prices, go directly to The Metropolitan Room (Map 9).
If you’re seeking some R&B or soul, check out the Apollo Theater (Map 19), though they mostly get “oldies” acts. The Apollo’s Amateur Night on Wednesday is your chance to see some up-and-comers. Both the Bowery Poetry Club (Map 6) and The Pyramid Club (Map 7) have open mic MC’ing nights. Many dance clubs feature hip-hop DJs.
Barbes (Map 33) in Park Slope hosts a wide palette of “world music” (for lack of a better term), including Latin American, European, and traditional US styles, plus more experimental fare. For more sounds of the south, SOB’s (Map 5) has live South American music and dancing and should definitely be experienced at least once. Nublu (Map 7) is always reliable for a fun and sweaty night, especially on Wednesdays when they feature Brazilian bands and DJs.
African music has swelled in NYC in recent years, with fabulous weekly performances at St. Nick's Pub (Map 21) on Saturday nights (after midnight is when it really starts to shake), Barbes (Map 33) on Wednesday nights with the Mandingo Ambassadors, Afro-fusion masters Asiko at Zebulon (Map 29), as well as occasional performances at Grand Dakar (Map 31) in Clinton Hill.
And oh yeah--then there's all that classical music stuff, at places like Carnegie Hall (Map 12) and Lincoln Center (Map 14)--perhaps you've heard of these venues?
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Monday, March 26, 2012
Posted By:
Sarah Enelow
Photo:
Sarah Enelow
XL Nightclub
New York is fabulous! Not only can you see a drag show on a random Wednesday night, but you can take your pick of clubs. Hot Mess is a great option, taking place in the spacious, sleek hotel club XL. For only $10 you can see two hours worth of talented drag queens, including Lady Bunny and a line-up of hilarious, high-kicking, lip-synching, sometimes-singing queens, one or two of whom have been contestants on Ru Paul's Drag Race. Sugga Pie Koko is a riot, and let's face it, we go to see drag queens for humor and debauchery and singing into a dildo like it's a microphone, not for a serious evening at the theater. My only complaint was that even though I was ready for crude jokes, the emcee was shockingly racist, but what can you do. If any of you have the nerve to tell a queen what to do, be my guest.
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Thursday, September 15, 2011
Posted By:
Sarah Enelow
Photo:
Sarah Enelow
Bowery Poetry Club
Choosing a literary reading can be tough in this city, and not just because you have to plan that über-intellectual all-black outfit. There are so many writers and styles that may or may not suit your tastes, and who can keep up with all the indie publications anyway? Thankfully, the annual Lit Crawl (born in San Francisco) served up three hours of readings all over the East Village and Lower East Side last weekend. Fiction, memoir, poetry, improv, word games, and performance were all on the menu. You could sample a cadre of talented authors without committing to more than 45 minutes at a time. This year I heard short stories about stains at the Launderette (an actual Laundromat that was open for business), comical poetry at the Bowery Poetry Club, and a dramatized scene from a new novel at Dixon Place. It was all completely free -- one Saturday night extremely well spent. Watch out for Lit Crawls in these NFT cities next month: San Francisco October 7–15 and Austin on October 22.
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Monday, June 06, 2011
Posted By:
Craig Nelson
Photo:
Courtesy of Midtown Lunch
City Winery
This Saturday is an amazing event that you will not want to miss. Especially if you love food. The awesome website Midtown Lunch is turning a ripe old age of five wonderful years. To celebrate this grand achievement, they're throwing a big old party at City Winery. From Noon-3 pm you can mingle with Midtown Lunch's editors, writers, photographers, and fans while munching on some of the best street food in New York including Kelvin Slush, Biryani Cart, Wafels & Dinges, Eddie's Pizza...we better stop, because now we're starving. Quench your thirst with all you can drink beverages from Brooklyn Brewery and Gus Soda. To top it off, all the profits go to the Street Vendor Project, a respected organization that lends a hand to food trucks throughout the city. So let's recap: a great cause, a great space, great food, and great company. Don't wait, get your tix right now!
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Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Posted By:
Craig Nelson
Photo:
Courtesy of Time Out
SOB's
Who doesn't love Brazil? Beautiful people, gorgeous beaches, incredible music--it's a country that has the total package. But how often can us hard working New Yorkers jet down there on a moment's notice? Yeah, didn't think you've done that lately. Here's a solution: head out to SOB's on Monday night for the Time Out Dining and Libation Society's Flavors of Brazil, part of the annual Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Join Time Out Food & Drink editor Jordana Rothman to sip Leblon Cachaça caipirinhas, along with original cocktails such as the Terra de Sol, all conjured by Leblon’s mixologist and "Professor de Cachaça," Jacob Briars. Pair the quaffs with unlimited meats from a churrasco station and additional beverages by Chartreuse. To top it there will be a live samba band playing so you can really feel like you're in Rio. It all goes down this Monday May 16 from 7-9 pm. Get your tickets right now!
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Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Posted By:
Sarah Enelow
Photo:
Sarah Enelow
Nuyorican Poet's Café
Sometimes, even for avid readers, there's something about an experimental poetry slam that says "you're not avant-garde enough for this scene." On the other hand, there's something called a StorySLAM, which just about anyone can get into. It's not stand-up comedy, and it's not a reading; it's just real people getting up to tell entertaining five-minute stories on a given theme. The participants generally take it seriously, so they prepare a solid yarn instead of downing a few beers and rambling about nothing. Whether you go to listen, tell a story, or volunteer as a judge, there'll be a high-energy vibe and it's generally supportive, even though judges do assign scores to determine a winner. These StorySLAMs are put on by The Moth, a nonprofit that supplies a darn funny MC.
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