Black Oak Nights – New York

It does not matter if you are man, woman, boy or girl, if you live in New York City, then you have to attend a New York sporting event at least once a year. It should actually be required by New York City law that you attend a sporting venue every 3 months, but I think that whole Constitution thingy frowns upon rules like that.

Let’s face it; sporting venues in New York City are unlike any other. The fans are rowdy, anxious, cranky and on edge, and those are just the effects of having paid too much for their tickets. Add to that the fact that New York athletes are paid an exorbitant amount of money (i.e. see the Yankees and Knicks), and New York fans demand more from their athletes than just about any other city in the United States.

New York City’s most notable professional teams include the Yankees, Mets, Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, Liberty, Giants and Jets.

At the college level, you have the Columbia Lions, Fordham Rams, and St. John’s Redstorm.

In a city with so many professional sports teams, not to mention some great high school basketball squads and a few pro teams across the river in New Jersey, there is no reason not to attend just one event a year.

However, when it comes to watching the pros, that issue of paying too much for a ticket comes into question yet again. Rest assure, there are several ways to going to a sporting event that is well worth the price of admission.

Baseball: New York Yankees and New York Mets – These are both tickets that come with a high relative premium in New York City. The fortunate thing is that baseball tickets are generally cheaper than any other venue because of the amount of games available to the consumer. The best way to get a good deal on tickets for the Mets and Yankees is to go when they are playing a horrible team. So try to catch a home game with the Kansas City Royals or Tampa Bay Devil Rays come to town. The games are all at night and they all sell out, so it will feel just like any other game. Besides with the Yankees’ and Mets’ pitching, every team that comes to New York has a chance to make it a close game.

Basketball: New York Knicks – This is unquestionably the most expensive seat in town. Knicks’ floor seats go for prices that are out of this world. Moreover, even season tickets a couple rows up from the sideline will cost you a middle-income salary. The most valuable ticket to see the Knicks play at Madison Square Garden is up in the cheap seats. Yeah, it’s further away then you like, but they are always full and you can see the game just fine and at the same level as the reporters in the press box. Try getting ticket pages before the season starts when tickets are going for as low as $40 a ticket.

Hockey: New York Rangers and Islanders – For those of you who want to see the Islanders play, I have good news. They cannot give these tickets away. Therefore, your best value ticket is one you get from a radio station or other promotion. Rangers’ fans will have a more difficult time finding value at the Garden, however, GoodCheapSeats.com has great deals on Rangers tickets and they always seem to be in good supply at their site…go figure!

Football: New York Giants and Jets – As far as an entire league goes, the NFL has the most expensive ticket in all of sports, so you can imagine that finding a good value at the Meadowlands, where both the Jets and Giants play, is quite arduous. The only real suggestion to get tickets to these football teams is to buy them straight from the Jets and Giants themselves. Stay away from the season ticket packages though, as you will be forced to pay for the pre-season games, and you will certainly lose out on some value.

Popularity: 1%

In a city noted for Broadway musicals, concerts in the park and at MSG and film festivals, the jazz scene often gets pushed into the New York City background. Yet there are plenty of venues for a connoisseur of jazz to get to hear the music that they love.

Young black professionals across the city are really starting to warm up to the jazz scene. I started going to more jazz performances in college, and there were a lot more Caucasians there then any other race, and they were much older than me on average.

However, the tables are beginning to turn. I am starting to see more and more African-Americans out at the jazz clubs, and the audience is even beginning to include young black professionals.

So let’s start heading out to these jazz spots, New York! This is music created by our ancestors and it can serve as an historical experience for many of us. Besides, where else can you meet a young, black single that is more culturally and aesthetically sound then someone you find at a jazz club.

Iridium
This is one of the most prominent and yet unknown places in New York. It’s located right there on Broadway, underneath the Ellen’s Stardust Diner and the Winter Garden, and yet it goes virtually unnoticed. I worked across the street for 6 months before I ever went inside. But when I finally did go inside of Iridium, I was welcomed to some of the best jazz stylings in New York City. They have plenty of Jazz favorites come through, including David “Fathead” Newman who was there when I went some time ago. With a cover and food & drink minimum, Iridium is a little pricey, but if you stay for a couple of sets you will certainly get your money’s worth.

Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola
Broadway at 60^th Street, New York, NY 10019

Now this is a classy joint. With the class, comes the price, but with live jazz performances that have included some of the most articulate and innovative jazz musicians of this era, a night at Dizzy’s is almost priceless (ok, well not exactly, but you know what I mean!). The cover charge can be as high as $30, but Black Oak Nights: New York City will try to have a night of jazz or two there later on to bring down the price for all you young professionals. There is also a $10 food and drink minimum, so it is no cheap night. However, you get great music and a wonderful view of the Columbus Circle and Central Park with your overpriced food. You can check out performers, such as Karrin Allyson, Nancy King, Nicholas Payton Quintet, Igor Butman and Cyrus Chestnut during the last months of 2007.

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 W. 42^nd Street, New York, NY 10036

Despite it’s popular name and location in Times Square, it is not the overly crowded jazz spot that you think it would be. It’s biggest nights are when they have special acts and performances come in on tour, but for the most part, you can come into B.B. King Blues and 4 or 5 nights a week and find your average jazz crowd taking back some soulful tunes to unwind after a long work day or week. The food is a good as the music, and that’s saying a lot when they have the type of performers that they have. There is also a bar, a prix-fixe and is a magnificent place for both groups and singles.

Popularity: unranked

Black Oak Nights: NYC is about to take part in some fall rejuvenation, and we want you to come and renew yourself with us this Saturday, October 6^th, 2007, at Star Lounge!

You know that you need to come out and get your Fall nightlife started off right. And what’s a better treat for your nightlife than enjoying a good time with your friends and the people at Black Oak Nights?

We’re moving the party from the club Opus to Star Lounge so that everyone can get a little rejuvenated from that one hell of a summer that just passed!

Star Lounge is located at; 222 West 23^rd Street, New York, NY. So make your way out to the West Side of Manhattan for a party that you won’t want to miss.

Everything is set up at Star Lounge so that you can come and have the party that you deserve.

First, there is no cover, so it is completely free to get in, as long as you say Black Oak Nights at the door! How few other places are there in New York City where you can still get in for free! The doors open at 11pm, so get there early to avoid the lines!

The music is going to be taken care of by Collin, who is handling the beats, and DJ Davey Gold who will be on the 1’s and 2’s.

There’s also two big birthday groups coming through. And if your special day is coming up this Saturday or this weekend, then let us know at: reservations@blackoaknights.com. We will do our best to accommodate your friends and your wallets if you just let us know you will be celebrating yet another year of being alive at the Star Lounge!

This is going to be one of the biggest and best events in New York City this weekend, so make sure that you don’t’ miss out on this wonderful night of birthdays, music and alcohol.

Where else in Manhattan would you want to end up this Saturday, October 6^th, 2007?

That’s what I thought! So go get something to eat at a restaurant, walk it off and then bring all of your young, black professional friends, down some alcohol, and get the mingling with all of the other sexy, black singles at the Star Lounge this Saturday night!

RSVP now to reserve a slot for both you and your guest for this A-list event at the Star Lounge. Include your Name, Email Address, Number of Guests, Bottle Service Request, and Guests’ Email Addresses. Be sure to mention that you’re on the “Black Oak Nights: New York City” guest list at the door.

Popularity: 1%

The Star Lounge
222 West 23^rd Street
New York, New York

The Star Lounge just opened in February of 2007, and it is now one of Chelsea’s most happening spots.

This New York City meets the Hampton’s club is one of the most unique designs in Manhattan. Designer Heidar Sedeki devise the modern and classical juxtaposed features for a look that just screams “dancing” and “party!”

The Star Lounge is located under the Chelsea Hotel, which automatically means that this club is held up to the highest of standards. The owner of the club also owns the infamous Star Room, located in the Hamptons, so he knows about high-end taste just about as well as anybody.

For a young, black professional looking to get a little wild on a Saturday, this is certainly your place drinking alcohol, dancing on furniture and drinking more alcohol! The I.D. requirements are pretty strict, but if you’re 21 or over, you probably cannot handle this wild venue anyway.

The dress code requires your typical grown and sexy apparel and clothing, but you certainly do not have to over due it. Although, I would try to look my best if I were you, because you certainly will have your share of ballers who come out to show off their best duds. And just a hint fellas; wearing a collard shirt will rid of the dress code ambiguity if you want to make sure that you have no problem getting in.

Check out this event thrown by Black Oak Nights: NYC for this Saturday!

Popularity: unranked