Summer Fridays

All I See is Fireworks… Navy Pier

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:09:47 -0400

All I See is Fireworks…

Navy Pier

Moorea Beach Club…

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:06:21 -0400

Moorea Beach Club…

Tao Beach Club pre-pandemonium…

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:05:22 -0400

Tao Beach Club pre-pandemonium…

The Road Show... Vegas. Chicago.

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:04:26 -0400

Summer Friday hit the road last week. Making stops in Vegas and Chi-town… What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right?! Well here’s a snippet… Tao Beach Saturday Pool Party, Private cabanas and loose tits at Moorea Beach Club, numbers hitting on roulette wheel, endless seafood, Vegas in 1 word… BANANAS!

Now Chicago is Heaven in the summer and around the 4th it’s the city of endless fireworks. Some of the best things to check out in Chicago, 2 dollar Tuesdays at Three Peas Art Lounge, Jazzing at the Shedd Aquarium Wednesday nights with one of the best views of the Wednesday night fireworks show in the city, Riva for some good seafood at Navy Pier and Tantrum on 10th and State… A dope lounge with good drinks and a better DJ. Summertime Chi…Ahhhhhhhhhh

Everyday a star is Born… but the rest of us go...

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:33:38 -0400

Everyday a star is Born… but the rest of us go Karaoke!

Head just below the Empire State Building and there is a under ground world (not really but often forgotten world) of BYOF Karaoke bars where you can rent a private room and pretend to be Beyonce, Lady Gaga or whatever superstar you SWEAR you sound like in the shower. Grab a good group of courageous or easily to get drunk people and hit Duet 35 (www.duet35.com) and go H.A.M. Runs about $8-$10 per person for 2 hours. They have a full bar (not all top shelf brands available) and you can order or walk in with whatever food you like. The music selection is really good, fairly current hits (seriously they had a healthy amount of songs from this year) and all the classics. Remember Karaoke is what you make it, so grab the mic and blow!

FYI - There are at least 2 or 3 Karaoke bars on the same street… All are about the same.

Can’t beat a good party with a view like this!

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:07:55 -0400

Can’t beat a good party with a view like this!

Alize…So hood. But put it in a martini glass and chill in...

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:07:10 -0400

Alize…So hood. But put it in a martini glass and chill in the Penthouse and on rooftop of the Rivington Hotel… Then you high class hood, shrug…

So Alize launched an all female DJ team last night at the Rivington Hotel… Good Times! DJ Kiss, DJ Rashida, DJ Eque, DJ Jessica Who, DJ Niena Drake and DJ Dimepiece all did there thing… The mixes were flawless, song selection on point and the party was live…

N-Y Ahhh….

Moving On U-UP! STK Rooftop preview

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:42:00 -0400

STK NYC is hitting the roof! That’s right, this past Friday STK official opened it’s rooftop dining and lounge patio. Tuesday night I and the best foodie I know Madame Janae checked out the soft open. The decor… Cayute! There are umbrella covered wooden dining tables in the center of several lounge sets. Light strings dangle from beam to beam and there’s a view of west meat packing and the North River (Hudson). The rooftop is only on the 4th floor so there’s no sweeping view of the city but, the ambience is really nice and totally makes up for it. While there Michael Strayhan and Dr. Ian came through… Pretty cool guys. When they’re group arrived it felt a little tight but overall there’s plenty room for fun up there.

STK’s food is always a hit. Now, certain things didn’t hold up to well this night… It was cold and raining on and off. I wouldn’t suggest the STK fries on a night like that. But everything else DE-LISH! I swear I had the best dessert of my life… It’s called the Birthday cake… And Yes you feel like it’s your 10th birthday as you devour it. It features Cookies and cream ice cream between to slices of almond cake and Rum Icing, REAL RUM ICING… Surprisingly the menu was cheaper on the roof than in the dining room. It’s also limited but, the variety is still good. Shout out to Denrick for getting me on the comp list!

Just another reason to love NYC…

Soft Open of STK rooftop… Steaks in the NYC sky…...

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:28:34 -0400

Soft Open of STK rooftop… Steaks in the NYC sky… ahhh

Summer fun means Summer Drinks… Hennessy and Apple...

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:21:00 -0400

Summer fun means Summer Drinks… Hennessy and Apple Juice

All props to Snoop Dog… LOL Henny and Apple Juice is a GOOD ASS DRINK!

We know cognacs are strong and in the summer that can be a little rough on the palette but, the balance of Apple Juice really smoothes out the cognac making a very refreshing cocktail… My Summer Friday recommendation… Order a Hennessy at your favorite outdoor spot, have some Apple Juice (most bars in NYC don’t carry, sad I know) mix it up, lay back with some shades and chill…

It’s So Good… I had to make it the Background…

STRIKE ~ More Like Gutter Ball… I took a week to hit STL...

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:45:00 -0400

STRIKE ~ More Like Gutter Ball…

I took a week to hit STL but I’m back!

This week it was all about Bowling! So the new thing in NYC is “Club Bowling”… Bowling alley’s with high end bars and food that give you a club like atmosphere. Well, this week I checked out Bowlamor courtesy of my good friend Madam Janae (Happy Birthday!!!)

So, Bowlamor is a chic spot on west 44th between 7th and 8th. Like everything in Time Square it’s designed to look and feel larger than life. Enter a shiny over the top lobby and take the elevator to the 3rd floor where you find a lounge and bar and eventually some bowling lanes. The space was good size it has 50 lanes but, they are spread out through 7 bars and a multitude of theme areas and lounges. The food was cool. I tried the wings… From one plate they were the bomb.com from another they were not that great.

I sampled one drink and was knocked out with just one sip. The service was sub par and the music - hit or miss. It could still be a cute date place but, after $13 per game and $7 per shoes AND the most irritating fight through the crowds on Times Square… it’s really not worth it…

But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself.

Bowlamor Lanes? Eh… I’m good with Harlem Lanes

NOT FEELING WELL? TAKE A COUPLE HOT TODDIES! I was ill this...

Tue, 17 May 2011 11:20:49 -0400

NOT FEELING WELL? TAKE A COUPLE HOT TODDIES!

I was ill this past Friday but that didn’t keep me from some of the best Cajun food in NYC…Mara’s Homemade! Located on 3rd between 1st and 2nd at the end of a row of roughly 20 Indian food restaurants. Mara’s is small and friendly. The owner is a Arkansas native (S.O. Little Rock stand up) that spent some time in New Orleans and has brought that classic taste to the East Village. I’m talking BBQ, catfish, greens, crayfish etouffee, shrimp creole, crayfish boil, mac n C…. The works and yes it’s ALL DELICIOUS! The drinks are served in the New Orleans way too, STRONG! Hurry up and visit cause rumor has it they maybe moving to Long Island :(

Whenever you’re in the East Village you gotta party with the NYU kids on St. Marks. Get a tattoo, buy a flask or some choice tobacco products, get ice cream, $2 jumbo slices, drinks, hit a karaoke bar, down a shot and buy a new graphic T and shades for the ride home.

Spicy Rita! Mezcal, Grand Marnier, Fresh Orange and Lime with...

Fri, 13 May 2011 18:32:00 -0400

Spicy Rita! Mezcal, Grand Marnier, Fresh Orange and Lime with Cayenne Pepper, Salt rim

(Not for the Faint of Heart)

Of course I drink in my honor would be spicy! To taste this o so delicioso cocktail visit The Pink Tea Cup in the Village located at Bleeker and 7th Avenue South.

http://thepinkteacuprestaurant.com/

A “sweet” soul food spot in the village where there’s fierce food and fashions alike.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name...

Mon, 09 May 2011 18:15:00 -0400

It is here!!! SPRING FINAL-Phucking-LY

Laissez les bons temps rouler.

I opened my summer Friday series at Negril Village. Located on West 3rd in the Village, between MacDougal and La Guardia Place. Negril Village has to be one of the chillest spot down there. For starters the food is good. I had the Curry Shrimp… Excellent. Make sure you get a side of plantains with whatever you order. It’s like the cherry on a sundae, so necessary. Your meal will run you around $30. Not bad at all. Secondly, the drinks are strong and delicious. I recommend a Mojito from the bar upstairs. Last, the DJ in the lounge and dining area gives you some great hip-hop and dance hall tunes that we can all get down too.

More notable thing about Negril Village… You WILL know someone else there. If not in the lounge, at the bar, or in the dinning area. I ran into more friends there, than at some planned parties. But seriously, great for a date, guys or girls night, bar hopping, watching the game. you name it.

Negril Village fed the stomach but, after that we needed to fill the night. So around 2 am a few friends, my brother and I roll over to one of my favorite bars in the city. Gaslight (located on the Southwest corner of 14th and 9th). It’s like the cheers opener. Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name. Well, at Gaslight they look out for you. Arrive and the bouncers hold you down. “How have you been?”, “New Hair?” Yeah, they remember you at a bar in the Meat packing… I Know, I know, Crazy right? But, at the end of the day Gaslight and G2 is real chill. Yes it’s a 2 sided bar with a pass through. The original gaslight is more loungy (I should submit that word to Webster’s) with big old couches and chairs to sit and watch a game. G2 is more modern with big booths for large parties. 2 different DJ’s to huge bars. Nice seating to lounge out but plenty room to dance, stand and talk whatever. Drinks are nice a strong. Average price for the area. $10- $15 (hey it is the Meat packing district) *Shrug*

Gaslight/G2 is one happy family. People will get you drinks, male and female, whether you’re alone or with a group it’s easy to meet people there and just chill.

Definitely got the 1st Summer Friday series off right!