Ohm Spa 260 5th Ave, 7th Floor New York, NY, 10001 (Btwn 28th & 29th Streets) Tel: (212) 481-7892
The folks at Ohm Spa are particularly friendly (they ask for your shoe size when you book your appointment and have a proper slipper awaiting, upon your highness’s arrival) and anticipate your need to nosh by providing delicious snacks prior to your treatment. The mani/pedi room is large enough to accommodate your friends and the pedicure chairs offer state of the art massage. Facials and massages are custom fit for your needs and include options like cranio-sacral and a four handed massage where two therapists work in tandem on your body...ahhhhh. Ohm Spa is high quality along with its therapists, so the treatments are priced accordingly. You can expect to pay at least $130 for a facial or massage and sure, you might have to wait a month to get an appointment, but isn’t it nice to have something to look forward to?
A great place to see art that takes chances, P.S.1 is showing WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution, an exhibition examining the history of feminist art. Works shown emphasize the 1970s and the role NYC played, when feminism was at its peak. Being that you’re in Queens anyways, you HAVE to take the 7 train to Sripraphai, one of New York’s top Thai restaurants. What makes it better than most is the fact that the ingredients are fresh, and instead of choosing your entree with a choice of meat, they offer a novel sized menu with pics of every dish, with most under $10. Once a heavily Irish neighborhood, Saints and Sinners is one of the best looking Irish bars left. Grab a Guinness at the bar or traditional Irish food. If you can, head over to Baruir’s in Sunnyside for one of the best cups of coffee in Queens.
If you’re a Beatles fan, then you’re well aware of The Rutles, created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes, their fictitious band parodies the fab four’s storied rise and fall. Tonight the band celebrates their 30th anniversary. If you love Bollywood films then you probably like Indian food, and Masala Bollywood have combined the two. With giant Indian film still on the walls, and colorful dishes like the Don Fish Tikka Masala which is grilled fish tikka masala garnished with garlic and creamy tomato onion sauce ($8), the menu is surprisingly $10 and under. Whether you break into dance, that’s your call. More white trash than urban cowboy, the Rodeo Bar offers live music, Tex-Mex food, and daily Happy Hour specials like margaritas for $5 and draft beers for $3. For the health conscious, Organique offers organic food including soups, coffee, omelets, burgers, and sandwiches.
Part rock band, part electronic duo, and the rest stage performance, Ghostland Observatory’s electronic disco rock is sure to be an exciting show. Check out their new album Robotique Mystique, it’s good! With sushi that’s 50 percent off all the time, you might think, “Something’s wrong with that?” but the fish is good and the rolls are inventive, making this one of the best low-priced sushi joints in the city. Though St. Marks all of a sudden lost its charm, Grassroots Tavern hasn’t. This large dive bar has cheap drinks, darts in the back, and old men behind the bar, things a good dive bar should have. Excellent coffee served in a big mug and a healthy menu of food coupled with a year round enclosed outdoor backyard patio make this place a great little coffee shop in the area.
You can call Lez Zeppelin a tribute band if you want, but this all girl incarnation are a sight to behold and amazing live, having recorded their first album with original Zep producer/engineer Eddie Kramer. Joining them is Me Talk Pretty. Now that the weather is finally getting nice, you can head over to Shake Shake in Gramercy Park, sit under the stars and sink your teeth into one of the best burgers in the city. Yes, it’s THAT good! Any bar called The Hairy Monk is all right by me. While the food is your standard Pub fare, they show sports games and have a decent selection of cheap booze. For a quick cup of coffee if you just want to relax, the Broken Coffee Cup is your place for a good cappuccino.
Drugs and animals seem to be the theme here as Japanther headlines this night, bringing their noise rock to the masses alongside psychedelic punk band The Pharmacy, Brooklyn’s own Pterodactyl, and Bongladesh. While Bushwick is still up-and-coming, so are the restaurants. One of the few so far, Life Café Nine 83 is a great spot for drinks and it has a mostly American menu dotted with Asian and Mexican influences. One of my favorite bars, Bushwick Country Club has some good local and micro-brews on tap, a photo booth, and a white-trash mini-golf course in the backyard patio. Right nearby, actually right across the street from the Country Club, Art Land is a chill bar where local artists show their work, shoot pool and drink like fishes. You gotta love Broolyn!
The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Winter Cabaret is a group of daredevils, clowns, fire eaters, and sideshow freaks that blend all of the above with vaudeville and burlesque. Not for the faint of heart! For dinner, Market Café is not a bad spot. With an American menu, entrees like the Market Peasant Chicken, with fresh tomatoes, capers, and lemon ($15) is great, though skip the pizzas, they’re grilled. One of New York City’s great dive bars, the Holland Bar offers cheap booze and an oldies jukebox. The space is tight and the drunkards are a plenty here, but what’s a dive bar without a few of these things? Known for creating one of the best cupcakes in the city, Cupcake Café makes dense cakes topped with rich icing. The icing features artistry that Picaso would be jealous of.
Little Red Riding Hood, hand embroidered linen. By Annie Aube
Location: Lower East Side, NYC Art: Girls 2!! All-Female Art Show Show time: Today thru Sunday March 30, 2:00 - 7:00 PM Gallery: MF Gallery Food: Paladar Drink: Pianos Miscellaneous: Motor City Bar
Not what you’d expect, Girls 2!! All-Female Art Show showcases the talented and disturbing art from some really kickass female artists like Martina Secondo Russo, Emma Porcupine Griffiths, Mary Doyle, and others. With a Pan-Latin menu, Paladar offers traditional Spanish dishes with a twist in a fun and funky atmosphere. Try the Salmon a la Plancha Pan, a seared salmon with spring vegetable picadillo & serrano-ramp vinaigrette ($17). If you still want to party afterwards, a good place for that is Pianos. A lounge in front, rock club in back, and a DJ dance party on the second floor, Pianos is a good place to party hard. Though loud, Motor City Bar is an homage to Detroit as license plates and other car parts adorn the walls, the DJs here play “THE ROCK” all night, and the vibe has everyone on the lookout for a good time.
The first time I listened to Basia Bulat’s album Oh, My Darling, it was kind of like hearing an especially warbly Joanie Mitchell. The arrangements and vocals were pretty, though Andean panpipes and cinematic string arrangements gave it an overproduced, Adult Contemporary feel. But then I listened to it a few more times.
It’s still not the Next Big Thing, NPR plugs not withstanding, but it is growing on me. “In the Night” is fun and catchy, with the track’s offbeat rhythms working well with Bulat’s ethereal voice. Several other tracks approach the inventiveness of “In the Night,” but overall this is an album of comfort music; Fiona Apple light.
PS. Take a pass on the “In the Night” music video, unless you’re a fan of lo-fi productions of animal-costumed Canadians trampling thru the woods in some kind of high school band/feel-good drum circle montage.
-- Gidalya
JayMay Autumn Fallin’ EMI
The songs on JayMay’s Autumn Fallin’ are sweet, simple, and endearing tapestries that illustrate the singer’s wistful emotions. The album is heartbreak-centric, and New York City is referenced in several songs, evoking the desolation of being alone, while surrounded by millions of people.
In its catchy melody and JayMay’s charming voice, “Blue Skies” is a song set for commercial success, while “Gray or Blue” has elements reminiscent of a calmer, folksier version of Regina Spektor. Most of the songs are simply JayMay, an acoustic guitar, some light percussion in the form of drums or tambourine, and a sprinkling of keyboard or xylophone.
The CD in its entirety is a strong debut, ideal for listening to while taking an introspective stroll through NYC, relishing the heartbreak and beauty the city has to offer.
Break dancing has come a long way since Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo. Planet B-Boy is a documentary focusing on break dancing teams from around the world who meet at Battle of Year, a yearly tournament, where some amazing dancers pull off crazy moves. Ever have Nepalese or Tibetan food? Must try dishes at Café Himalaya include the momos, better known as pan-fried dumplings, and thukpa, a Tibetan noodle soup, both amazingly delicious and under $10 like most menu items. One of the last boho bars on the L.E.S., Max Fish is a mix of local dive and new art as upcoming artists show their work monthly, while being a local hang for artists from all genres. A great late night cafe for coffee or drinks, it has a literary atmosphere and a friendly and hip waitstaff where you can sit and talk the night away.
Yael Naim is the new kid in Apple town and she's hoping to follow in Feist's hot-selling footsteps. Like the Canadian singer before her, the Israeli-French singer also has a folksy pop tune "New Soul" that landed the job of selling Apple's latest toy - in this case, the MacBook Air. That kind of commercial airplay can be a double-edged sword. Sure, you'll get lots of exposure but when everyone starts to ask, "What else have you got?" you better deliver. Naim's answer to that query is the March 18th release of her self-titled debut. The disc showcases an artist who might not have as strong an album to back up her heat-seeking single as Feist did but what she lacks in cohesiveness she makes up for with sheer moxie. Singing in Hebrew (the lovely "Lachlom") and English, Naim's whimsical songs range from melancholy ballads ("Lonely") to eccentric cover choices ( Britney Spears' "Toxic"). It's not a perfect mix but it's definitely worth a listen.
The Vision and Art of Shinjo Ito celebrates this great Japanese artists sculpture, calligraphy, and photography work in this exhibition. A devout Buddhist too, he helped create Shinnyo-en Buddhism which also played a role in his art. The name says it all in it’s mission to serve a burger as Better Burger uses organic, antibiotic, hormone & nitrate free meat and poultry in its quest to offer up a healthier alternative to the classic patty. A great little wine bar in Chelsea, Turks & Frogs has a menu of wine and beer from all over the world, including Turkey, while having the ambiance of being in someone’s home. A must if you’re in Chelsea, City Bakery offers one of the best chocolate chip cookies and thickest and richest hot chocolates in the city. The food is a gourmand’s delight.
Great Jones Spa Greenwich Village 29 Great Jones St New York, NY 10012 Tel: (212) 505-3185
Save your Starbucks dollars for a month and book a day at Great Jones Spa. While the prices are high, you’ll get a lot of oohhs and aahhs for your buck with a three story rock wall waterfall, a water lounge, thermal hot tub and cold plunge pool, chakra-light steam room, juice bar, complimentary snacks, and even disposable bathing suits in case you forget your own. The most affordable package is about $350 (includes tax and tip) and gets you a 60 minute Lavender Aromatherapy Massage and a 60 minute Lavender Naturopathica Facial and Lavender Foot Scrub, or book a single treatment, like a massage or facial for about $130. The variety of massages available, detoxifying and cleansing treatments and the energy work offered make Great Jones Spa well worth a Starbucks detox.
Catch the tail end of MoMA’s salute to one of the best known fonts as the exhibit “50 Years of Helvetica” comes to a close on March 31. A design classic, it’s hard to believe that this font turned 50 in 2007. Making fast food healthy, Yoshinoya serves bowls of rice, vegetables, and your choice of beef, teriyaki chicken, veggie, or a combo of meats. Super cheap, it’s a favorite spot of mine in midtown. A great dive, Rudy’s Bar and Grill serves up cheap beer by the pint or by the pitcher, and as for the grilling, that includes free hot dogs and popcorn! Though slightly on the expensive side, if you’re in the mood for duck and are a couple or in a group of four or more, Peking Duck House makes some of the best duck you will ever likely have.
Alarm Will Sound is a 20-member band that takes modern music and reconstructs it for an orchestra. Here, the band explores music from that year of musical experimentation, 1969, performing works by The Beatles, Luciano Berio, Leonard Bernstein, and Karlheinz Stockhausen, among others. Not just a great name for a restaurant, Il Bastardo offers excellent Italian food, seafood, and steak in a large and beautifully designed space. With an interesting menu of cosmos and cocktails like the Fother Mucker, made with Zygo, a locally distilled energy vodka, Brite Bar is a gorgeously designed bar that looks like a lounge but is way more fun. One of my favorite coffee houses due to the fact that they are doing a great job of reinventing the wheel when it comes to making coffee, is Café Grumpy. Here, every cup is freshly pressed and the latte’s are thick and rich tasting.
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin belts out her hits, while her voice is still able to make you feel it in your bones, as she performs at Radio City. Declaring yourself a chef-driven burger joint is one way to separate yourself from the competition. At Zip Burger they prove their point, offering farm-raised, organic, grass-fed meat and poultry, letting you build your own burger with plenty of gourmet toppings. The first time I went to Subway Inn I thought it was completely strange that there was a dive bar off Lexington Ave., in this neck of the woods, but somehow it works. Born in the 30s, this bar has somehow remained, and thank god, as it’s easily the cheapest place in the area for a drink. For fans of Japanese pop-culture, Kinokuniya Bookstore has a large selection of Japanese themed books, videos, CDs, magazines, comics, and stationary.
Two DJs, a live drummer, and bass player make up the awesome Holy Fuck who play experimental electro-pop. Joining them are wall-of-sound making A Place to Bury Strangers and the “must see to believe” Beat he Devil. With one of the best burgers in Williamsburg, Dumont Burger offers theirs with gourmet toppings, sandwiches, salads, and their amazing mac & cheese. So you consider yourself a beer connoisseur and like to party. You can do all that and eat at Radegast. The Austrian/German menu perfectly compliments the 12 beers on tap and more than 30 German and Austrian bottles at this large beer hall. One of the oldest and best hipster hangout coffee shops, The Verb offers up excellent coffee and baked goods, a boho vibe, and big windows to watch the days pass while collecting unemployment!
Before hip hop artists were incorporating weird electronic sounds into their mostly drum and bass sound, Anti-Pop Consortium’s M. Sayyid, High Priest and Beans were already laying the groundwork. Now that they have reunited, catch their still-kickass live show. Nearby, Pakistan Tea House is a buffet style Indian restaurant where you can choose between chicken, meat, fish and vegetables. It’s affordable and very good. For drinks, check out Mocca Lounge. With a funky interior and a menu of Italian inspired fare, it’s also a bar with a large list of coffees with or without alcohol, beers, and frozen shots. Smack dab in the heart of Chinatown, the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory makes gourmet ice cream flavors like Black Sesame, Ginger, Durian, and more exotic flavors like Taro and Wasabi. Don’t worry, they have the go-to’s like Vanilla, fruits, and chocolate flavors too.
Experimental rock band Xiu Xiu stops by Williamsburg via San Francisco to play. Joining them is Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down and Brooklyn folk-singer Chris Garneau. Excellent Thai food in a huge restaurant with a giant Buddha overlooking a small pond, SEA looks like a futuristic club yet has a large menu of Thai food that’s affordable. Not just a huge bar but also a bowling alley, The Gutter, owned by the people who brought you Barcade, have created a long awaited instant classic! Whether you’re looking to check out some performance art, burlesque, or just want a beer, Galapagos art space is one of the best things happening in Williamsburg, at least till they move to DUMBO this coming Spring or early Summer.
Similar to how a pearl is found, The Grand Central Oyster Bar is an old-school restaurant and saloon tucked inside busy Grand Central Station. The architecture is alive with brick-structured arches and the overall feel of the restaurant is straight-up special. The Oyster Bar has been serving some of the city’s freshest and best seafood since 1913. Oysters from all over the world are shucked and happily eaten at the bar, counter, and tables of the establishment. The pace of service is fast, efficient and very “New York,” as the place buzzes with excitement. Most of the menu is pricey, but ten bucks gets you the best popcorn shrimp, a deliciously lumpy crabmeat sandwich or ¼ dozen oysters. The wine list is excellent and the New England clam chowder is a must. This is more than just lunch; it is a New York experience.
Hosted by Neal O’ Fortune and Miss Clams Casino, they revive the old game show “What’s My Line?” See a panel of NYC nightlife celebs wear blindfolds and guess the identities of other celebs and regular folk. Though small, Himalayan Café offers amazing food from the areas of Nepal and Tibet. Think Indian mixed with Asian. The momo’s, AKA dumplings ($6.50), are served pan-fried or steamed, while the bocha, the traditional Tibetan tea ($1) is made with butter, salt, and milk. Though it’s not for everyone, it’s worth trying, at least once. Not only can you see local bands and secret shows downstairs, but at Club Midway, the drinks are cheap and the DJs are excellent. When many think of a sex shop, they picture dirty old men looking at porn, but Babeland is a women-friendly sex shop, where the people working there are knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is fun.
Whodathunkit? Legendary Led Zeppelin cat-caller Robert Plant teaming up with bluegrass's favorite daughter, Alison Krauss, to put out a blues-and bluegrass-inflected collection?
But, that's just what the duo did, releasing Raising Sand, an album that proves something extraordinary can happen when vastly different musicians hook up and do what they do best: make sweet music.
For those familiar with Plant and Krauss, it may come as a wonderful surprise that their meeting produced a startlingly great result. In general, the songs that work best, like “Killing the Blues,” feature the duo's flawless harmonization and, true to Plant's repertoire, fantastical or romanticized lyrics.
However, the standout track is “Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us,” a bluegrass ballad so beautiful it’s hypnotic. Krauss' vocals feature prominently on the track, which has a distinctive, almost exotic melody, and on which the instrumentalists stand back a bit, allowing the vocalists to shine.
--Gregory Hyman
Yelle Pop Up EMI France
Yelle’s spunky new album Pop Up is a poppy mélange of keyboards, beats, and even a few whistles. Many tracks are so retro 80s, others are slow and sweet, while the rest have a real energy to them backed by lyrics that are cheered rather than sung.
Although the album is sung entirely in French, the language is so smooth and pleasing to the ear that it doesn’t really matter what she’s singing. When listening to the faster tracks on this album, I imagine sassy models walking fiercely down a catwalk, their eyes shooting right through you as they whip around. On the slower tracks, I’m shopping in a trendy clothing store, looking over the colorful array of clothes. On the slowest of the tracks, I’m in a café and just reading quietly to myself. Well-arranged, diverse, and stylish, Yelle’s new album is certain to please.
Mark Lanegan has been working with everyone these days from the Foo Fighters to Queens of the Stone Age to Isobel Campbell, and now Greg Dulli, of Afghan Whigs fame as The Gutter Twins, playing gothic blues. Regardless of how odd that pairing may be, it will definitely sound amazing. Joining them are minimalist rockers Great Northern. If you’ve never been to Minca for dinner, go right now! This small noodle bar makes some amazing ramen noodles from scratch. Try the Minca Ramen, a mild broth with pork, chicken & dried seafood ($8.50). One of the newer bars in the East Village, Common Ground has a dark wood interior, a relaxed atmosphere, and excellent cocktails like the Blueberry Pie. If you like pastries filled with cream, check out Beard Papa Sweets Café. They offer cream fillings like earl grey, green tea, coffee, and the standard vanilla, chocolate, strawberry among others.
Somebody Scream! Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power Marcus Reeves Faber and Faber, Inc.
Music journalist Marcus Reeves has written a stunning account of the history of rap music and the genre's rise to the top of the charts in the "aftershock" of the Black Power Movement. The tome titled Somebody Scream! is not just a dry recitation of dates and doings. His musings are personal, even affectionate at times. Reeves sets the scene by looking back on when he realized his place in society was as a child of the post-Black Power movement - a member of a generation that would find their voice, not in political parties, but in the rhymes and flow of rap. The book captures all the seminal moments - the beginnings of the hip-hop movement on Bronx street corners to the meteoric rise and deadly fall (Tupac Shakur) of some of its most cherished sons - while always retaining a steadfast critical eye. Reeves openly discusses the genre's failings and is unafraid to end on a note questioning whether or not rap has seen its glory days, sacrificing a relevant message in favor of the almighty dollar.
Everyone’s favorite sarcastic songwriter John Darnielle returns with his band The Mountain Goats on the tail of their new release Heretic Pride, which is all over the place. Joining them are The Moaners, a North Carolina based blues rock female duo. For eats, check out Thai Me Up Sandwich Bar, a sandwich shop offering Thai sandwiches with 7 Steamed Fried Vegetables and a choice of chicken, veggie, tofu or beef on a baguette with 3 types of sauces for $7. One of the city’s oldest bars, you can feel the history when you enter as memorabilia, since its beginnings in 1854, are all over the walls. Aside from it being a frat hangout nowadays, it’s worth the trip. You’ve seen that orange Mudd coffee truck parked on Astor Place and on various other streets, but check out their café on East 9th for coffee and a healthy, vegan, and vegetarian menu.
Cure Beauty Bar 921 Fulton Street (btwn Clinton and Waverly) Brooklyn, NY 11238 Tel: (718) 622-7100
Sitting in a window seat inside Cure Beauty Bar on a soon to be spring day and watching all the people buzz around on Fulton Street makes me think how nice it is to be connected to humanity...while getting my nails did. Cure is welcoming and cool, with 70's R&B playing, soaps, and fun stuff made by locals and a display of jewelry that you would actually want to buy. Cure offers manicures, pedicures, facials (Evan Healy essential oil based skin care line) and massages at competitive prices (you can get a $20 manicure and an $85 facial) geared toward the au natural gal (or guy...they do a good amount of back waxing here). Located on street level, Cure welcomes walk-ins and spa parties (which are growing in popularity everywhere) and weekly discounts on manicures and pedicures.
Top O’ the mornin’ to ya! Yes, it’s St. Patty’s Day today, which means getting trashed off green beer, getting away with wearing a kilt, and maybe eating some mint ice-cream for the hell of it. As for music, what would St. Patty’s Day be without The Pogues? Catch their performance with William Elliott Whitmore and Ollin. For great Irish food, one of my faves is Pig N’ Whistle in midtown. Serving traditional Irish fare like Steak and Kidney Pie and American. A great Irish pub in Hells Kitchen, The Irish Rogue has live music and sports playing on TVs, so you know this bar will be a party all day. If Irish food ain’t you thing, then head over to Island Burgers & Shakes as the menu is stacked two pages deep of some of the most intense burgers and chicken breast sandwiches on the island of Manhattan.
American cutie-pie Johnathan Rice and his twangy Americana slurry opened for Matt Costa last Monday night. Something in Costa's awkward swagger managed to sell out Bowery Ballroom, where "Mr. Pitiful" (Costa's single from his latest full-length) himself kept tune with guitar in hand. Monday night being the first day one could walk outside without frostbite, the albums songs went over best with a crowd ready to sing familiar words about "Yellow Taxi Cabs." Fans like to pretend that Costa's this country’s next Dylan just because his compact statue uses a harmonica. But as entertaining as his flowery live show is, he is not a Dylan—he is a Costa. Watching him perform is like seeing history in the iridescent and upbeat making. And there is not a more pleasing way to spend a night than with him and Rice.
While Louis XIV are the hot rock band right now, What Made Milwaukee Famous are the ones who know how to put a good rock album together. Either way, this one shouldn’t disappoint. For food with southern flair in Union Square, Chat ‘N’ Chew makes some kickass fried chicken, pork-chops, and meatloaf. In the running for oldest bar in NYC, Pete’s Tavern has been around since 1864 and was made famous by author O. Henry who wrote “Gift of the Magi,” in one of its booths. One good thing about the Union Square location of Whole Foods is that it’s not only a reprieve from this tourist heavy area, but with it’s huge windows, you can sit, get healthy organic food and drink, and watch the insanity like it’s a movie.
Friday March 14
Location: Lower East Side, NYC Band: Masada String Trio Venue: The Stone Food: Supper Drink: Barramundi Miscellaneous: Kudos
One of John Zorn’s most accessible projects, Masada’s music is gorgeously arranged. The Masada String Trio, featuring violinist Mark Feldman, cellist Eric Friedlander, and bassist Greg Cohen, with John Zorn conducting, will undoubtedly take this music to another place. A favorite restaurant of mine, Supper has a dimly lit, all-wood interior giving it a rustic vibe. They even have what looks like a bar overlooking the chefs cooking for you to watch. The Italian menu offers some fantastic food too. Though it might sound like it has to do with Buddhism, Barramundi is actually an Australian owned bar that has infused vodkas, sangria, and a laundry list of mixed drinks like the Champagne Cocktail made with sugar and bitters with Courvoisier, topped with bubbly. If coffee and a snack is your thing, Kudos is an inexpensive place to get baked goods, a cup of coffee and chill before the show.
Put together by Nomadic Wax, a label that documents the underground hip hop scene throughout Africa, tonight they bring together some of Africa’s best up and coming MCs like Chosan, Blitz, Baay Bia, and Bamboo as part of their African Underground series. With one of the best looking spaces in NYC, My Moon offers delicious Turkish food like the Tuna Tartar-Yellow fin tuna, tomato jelly, avocado, purple potato chips, chili oil and soy sauce ($12), which makes this place worth the trip. For a drink at a local hang, The Abbey is what you’re looking for. With a TV playing and a pool table in the back, settle in, get one of seven beers on tap and relax. One of my favorite coffee shops to sit by a window and stare out into the sea of Bedford Avenue, Fabiene’s offers exceptional desserts and sandwiches on top of beer and wine.
What I like about Brazillian music is that it comes across as soft and sweet, while being intricate to play. Guitarist Vinicius Cantuaria brings his playful and well-versed take on bossa nova to the Jazz Standard in quintet form. Taking burgers to the next level, New York Burger Co. builds their burgers with high quality ingredients, delivering a better take on a classic. With a casual American and dim sum bar menu, the food is an excellent complement to the over 100 wines available by the glass from all the major wine-making countries in the world. With one of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had along with the hot chocolate, City Bakery makes all sorts of high-end food that won’t send you to the poor house.
Late 70s English ska band Bad Manners return to the stage at Irving Plaza, having gotten back together and playing the last several years. Regardless, it’ll be good to see lead singer and showman, Buster Bloodvessel running around on stage again. A Japanese noodle restaurant that makes its own noodles, Sobaya makes traditional soba and udon noodles, while creating inventive dishes like Tuna Yamakake Soba, which blends soba noodles with raw tuna. With a name like The Thirsty Scholar, one might expect drunken professors reciting Dylan Thomas or Bukowski poems, but it’s actually a chill bar with an excellent happy hour from 5-8pm. For some of the sweetest desserts in the city, ChikaLicious offers a 3-course dessert menu for $12. Be warned, get there early. Due to its small size, there’s usually a line out the door.
