Friday November 26
Location: Midtown West, NYC
Bands: Gospel Queens of Brooklyn
Show time: 8:30 PM
Venue: Fat Cat
Food: Tortilla Flats
Drink: White Horse Tavern
Miscellaneous: Magnolia Bakery
If you haven’t experiences the Gospel Queens of Brooklyn you are missing out as it’s like going to church . . .minus the religion and skipping to the great music. Dinner before a show like this should be just as awesome. Check out Tortilla Flats. The food is Mexican and delicious, but it’s the insanity within (bingo and hula-hoop nights) that is the real calling for this place. For drinks afterwards, hit the White Horse Tavern, a great bar and the old haunting grounds for Dylan Thomas. If you somehow have time before all of this, stop by Magnolia Bakery for some of the best tasting cupcakes in the city.
Friday November 26
Location: Midtown West, NYC
Theater: The Pee-wee Herman Show Get Tickets Here
Show time: 2 PM & 7 PM; Through January 2
Venue: Stephen Sondheim Theatre
Venue: Terminal 5
Food: Eatery
Drink: Valhalla
Miscellaneous: Central Park
Surprisingly, Pee-wee Herman returns into our collective pop culture consciousness but not so surprisingly The Pee-wee Herman Show works brilliantly on Broadway and features several of the original characters from his original Saturday morning kids show. Anyone up for reliving their childhood? Nearby and delicious, Eatery offers a new American menu that’s asian influenced. Try the Red Curry Chicken Breast over roti pancake, with baby carrots and red curry coconut sauce ($16.95). Valhalla’s minimalist space is chill, letting the 24 brands of beer from all over the world on tap be the main attraction at this bar. While its warm out, waste a little time walking through Central Park, relax, and get out of the hustle and bustle of the city. Just watch your step. The working horses tend to leave surprises behind them!
Saturday November 27
Location: Midtown West, NYC
Event: Tim and Eric Awesome Tour Chrimbus Spectacular Get Tickets Here
Show time: 7 & 11 PM
Venue: Best Buy Theatre Times Square
Food: Yoshinoya Beef Bowl
Drink: Rudy’s Bar and Grill
Miscellaneous: Peking Duck House
If you have no idea what the Tim and Eric Awesome Tour Chrimbus Spectacular is, well think variety show on crack! Comedians Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim tend to take things way too far on their show and live should be just as ridiculous as they bring a full band (Pussywhip Banggang) and opener Neil Hamburger. 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.
Saturday November 27
Location: Midtown West, NYC
Bands: HARD NYC Turkey Soup 2010: Flying Lotus Get Tickets Here
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Terminal 5
Food: Empanada Mama
Drink: Xai Xai
Miscellaneous: Vintage
The kid’s got the musical jeans handed down from John and Alice Coltrane (great-nephew) and he’s just as adventurous. At HARD NYC Turkey Soup 2010: Flying Lotus, the DJ melds an insane combo of sounds to make some of the most groundbreaking electronic music live. Joining him are DJs A-Trak, Tiga, Mike Snow (DJ set). Though small, Empanada Mama packs a hefty punch with more than 40 kinds of empanadas. Choose from a wheat or corn flour shell to start as ingredients include basic rice and beans to what they have dubbed “Viagra,†a wheat flour empanada stuffed with shrimp, scallop, and crab ($3). For drinks, I’d recommend the wine bar Xai Xai. With a South African theme, this darkly designed spot is great for a date as well as for before or after event drinks. The wines are incredible and they even have fondue! An alternative wine bar, Vintage has a wine list with over 200 wines by the glass or bottle from most of the boutique wineries in Long Island and Upstate New York.
Sunday November 28
Location: Midtown West, NYC
Theater: Fela!
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Eugene O’Neill Theatre
Food: Sullivan Street Bakery
Drink: Rudy’s Bar & Grill
Miscellaneous: The Shops at Columbus Circle
A musical filled with dance and Afrobeat music telling the story of Fela’s controversial life. Arguably one of the top bread makers on the east coast, and good to get gourmet pizza’s and sandwiches, Sullivan Street Bakery makes exquisite food using ingredients you’d see on the Food Network! More bar than grill, Rudy’s Bar & Grill is like going back to college, minus the books. The beer is cheap and by “grill,†they mean free popcorn and hot dogs. If you have trouble finding the bar, just look for the 6 foot tall fiberglass pig standing outside! To get out of the cold and see what an upper-class mall is like, stop by The Shops at Columbus Circle. Expensive restaurants like MASA and shops like Williams Sonoma are fun to browse through to see how the other half lives.
