Black Oak Nights – New York

Tired of same old work during the day go to the bar at night routine? Well, here are a couple of alternatives to get you outside this season. These three places are not only unique to the usual New York City experience, but they keep you out in the sun—while you still have it!

Sushi Samba
With two locations to choose from, you don’t want to mess this up! If you’re going to go to Sushi Samba, you could go to the less frequented option in midtown and have a less crowded experience. But if you’re truly looking to embrace this “Sex and the City” hot spot, then you must check out the West Village location, where you can join the company of financial analysts, lawyers actors and rich kids as you sit on top of a roof staring out at the downtown Manhattan skyline. I didn’t even bring up the food, which is a cultural blend of Brazilian, Asian and Latin foods and spices that combine to give your taste buds a run for their money. I’m pretty sure there’s nowhere else in New York City where you can eat sashimi and churrasco on top of a roof. Correct me if I’m wrong!

Water Taxi Beach
Now with 3 New York City locations to choose from Water Taxi Beach is the place to be for fun and cheap food! You could check out the Long Island City location in Queens, where you can play beach volleyball and peer out at the Midtown Manhattan skyline. Then there is the South Street Seaport location, where there is tons of sand and a miniature golf course to take advantage of. And at the new Governors Island location, you can bask in the beauty of the island and go to independent movie screenings, all the while taking in both the Manhattan and Brooklyn waterfronts. Plus, the Governors Island location is boasting a series of musical performances throughout the warm-weather season, so you can enjoy performances from an onslaught of musicians set to perform this year, including Erykah Badu, Mos Def and Turntables on the Hudson.

Brooklyn Promenade
As if there was actually another promenade worth naming? The Brooklyn Promenade rest high above sea level, giving you a fantastic view of Manhattan and its waterfront. Of course, during the night, you can take your significant other out to the promenade, where you can enjoy gazing at the water as the moon and lights reflect off the water, and the glistening boats whiz by the harbor. And you can make an entire date of this location alone. Right alongside the Promenade on Montague Street, you have a plethora of Brooklyn Heights’ finest restaurants, with everything from Indian food to Greek. And after you walk off those tantalizing meals at the promenade, you can stroll over to the nearby Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Shop, where they give you plenty of cream for your cash.

Every New Yorker knows the feeling. You’ve been trapped inside of an overcrowded, rambunctious, loud, messy, bar and/or night club for the last 3-4 hours of your Saturday night, and now you just want the right piece of food to settle your nerves, absorb your alcohol, and send you to sleep for the rest of the night. Only problem is, most of your favorite places are closed at 3am in the morning.

Well, in the city that never sleeps, there still are plenty of tasty options, even at a time of night when even you don’t think you should be up!

So, in honor of those who do it up every weekend, here are a few of the most popular late-late-late-night food choices in Manhattan. Warning: be weary of long, long lines.

Rosario Pizza – 173 Orchard Street, New York, NY
Here’s a Lower East Side favorite that I haven’t quite bought the hype on yet. Don’t get me wrong, the pizza at Rosario’s is great, as it is freshly baked, made of fine ingredients, and the crust has just the right amount of oil. However, the line that runs outside the door isn’t worth the wait—at least not to me. Personally, unless we’re talking about gourmet pizza, rarely do I see the need to wait longer than the time it takes to make a pizza to get my slice. That being said, most New Yorkers would kill for a piece of this stuff on a Saturday Night, and as a result, you will have to do your share of waiting if you want to eat Rosario Pizza after midnight. I guess it works out well though, considering it’s located in the Lower East Side, which probably means you’re leaving your typical LES dive bar and you probably need a little time to sober up so can you locate your wallet.

Tick Tock Diner – 481 8th Avenue, New York, NY
Yes, there is a God! We suburban transfers here in New York are used to being able to hit up our local IHOP for a decent pancake after midnight. However, when you’re in Manhattan, you have to choose from your typical diner, only very few of them open that late have the quality of breakfast food you’re looking for at 2am in the morning. So since anybody living south of 42nd Street would be reluctant to hit up Manhattan’s only IHOP on 135th Street, there is an even better late-night, breakfast diner option on the corner of 34th and 8th. Tick Tock Diner is renowned across the city for its fabulous food and the incredible wait you have to put in to get it. But it’s even more popular for its unbelievably good pancakes, which even put the International House to shame. Of course, they have your typical diner options—you know, all the way from chicken wings to broiled sea scallops. However, I’d stick close to their choices of omelettes and pancakes—safe choices, but well worth the wellbeing.

The Mecca – Southeast and Southwest corners of 53rd and 6th
There really is no official name for these guys, other than the Halal Guys, so my peeps just call them “The Mecca.” And indeed, they are The Mecca of chicken and rice, because night crawlers of all walks of life line up at the feet of these pushcart food-stops just to get a taste of their of chicken and lamb Halal platters. I must tell you, I didn’t buy the hype at first. When I initially happened across these guys, I saw a line down 53rd Street that was about 50 yards long, and I thought it was ridiculous that street-meat from a cart vendor could be worth that kind of time. But my friend persuaded me to wait, and sure enough, the chicken and rice platter has had me coming back for more for over 2 years now. The funny thing about this place is that it’s not just twenty-somethings exiting the club coming to this place, but its graveyard shifters, doctors, tourists, parents, actors and night-owls of all fashions lining up at this place at 2 in the morning, and it’s all for a platter of chicken and rice! I tell you, it’s something else, but the food is definitely worth the wait. Word to the wise though, the line tends to get very big on the West side of 6th Avenue, but what many people fail to recognize is that the same guys have a 2nd cart on the East side of the street as well. Some people will tell you the East cart isn’t as good as the West cart, but I’ve had both plenty of times, and they are the exact same things. Trust me!

Okay, so the places I’m about to suggest aren’t exactly the cheapest things out there, so when you think of cheap, think more like “Restaurant Week” cheap. Do you know what I mean? These options may not help your contributions to your IRA, but they will allow you to taste the subtle delicacies of a master chef’s creation for prices you couldn’t dare find at your average 4 or 5-start restaurant in New York City.

Brooklyn Star – 33 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11211
Our first location brings us to Brooklyn, where the food is just as interesting as the culture. That’s why Brooklyn Star fits right in, because it isn’t your typical mom and pop American diner, nor is it some overly crowded venue in the middle of nowhere. Instead, Brooklyn Star is the creation of a chef with more in mind than just serving up delicacies and French cuisine. Instead, Chef Joaquin Baca opens your stomach to the idea of eating southern-inflected dishes, such as Dr. Pepper Ribs, fried pig-tails and country fried steak. To top it off, they serve you warm and fluffy biscuits with honey butter, just in case the Sweet Tea Chicken Wings don’t give you the itus—or better yet, a heart attack! But based on the few times I’ve been here, I’d say the food is worth the risk.

Porchetta – 110 E. 7^th Street, New York, NY
Yes! That’s right! An entire restaurant dedicated to the delivery of pork to the masses—or at least to residents and visitors of the East Village! Either way, Porchetta brings the love of pork and mastery of wood-burning ovens back from the depths of Italy’s finest kitchens to give Manhattanites a taste of Tuscany’s greatest creation. And if you’re a fan of pork (we’re a dying breed, I know), then you certainly won’t want to miss out on what Porchetta is cooking up. With nothing more than 8 pork-influenced items on the menu, Porchetta serves up one of the tastiest, finger-licking pieces of swine you will have ever tasted. Porchetta, technically a gutted, boned-out, heavily seasoned and restuffed whole pig, hails from street festivals in Rome and Florence—it’s like the hot dog of Italy! And if you can remember just how much that first Coney Island Dog changed your life, then can you even imagine what this delectable, spicy, moist, organic, tender pig loin with melting bacon bits and garlic potatoes could do to your entire perception of the pig? Yeah, it’s that good!

Piola – 48 E. 12^th Street, New York, NY
Located in Greenwich Village, just below Union Square, Piola is truly a welcomed addition to the plethora of Italian offerings in New York City. Of course, why stop at Italian? Why not add the flavors of Brazil to the menu? Well, that’s exactly what they did at Piola, combining to make one of the best thin crust pizzas in the world—and I mean that literally, as they have locations all across the globe! First of all, you must try “Lucky Gnocchi Day” on the 29^th of every month, when you can get various kinds of gnocchi served to you in churrascaria fashion! And the other 29 days of the month are just as interesting, with an assortment of heavily-topped pizza’s to choose from, including the Mantova (carpaccio, brie, arugola and mozzarella) and the Sau Pauloa (Brazilian cheese and tomato sauce). People who love pizza swear by this place. So for those of you who don’t think you can find a good piece of pizza in Greenwich Village, think again!

So you have heard all of the hype, you’ve probably seen the lines, and now you want to know whether going to First Fridays at the Guggenheim “Is worth it?” Well, allow me to shine a little light on the situation, starting with an ambiguous answer the question: “Maybe.”

Overall
First Fridays at the Guggenheim (1071 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY) is basically the museum’s way of introducing young professionals and the like to the museum in a fun and innovative way on the first Friday of every month. They’ve been orchestrating this event since 2005, and since then, it has become a lot less artsy and a little more stylish, but probably for the better. For $25, the event caters to the artist in all of us, with drinks, dancing, and the ability to see all of the galleries and exhibits the museum has to offer from 9pm to 1am.

The Line
Unless you’re a member (which is recommended if you plan on attending the event more than once a year), you will be waiting in a line. In fact, the line wraps around the building, and if you’ve seen this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed mammoth of a museum, then you know that’s a pretty long wrap-around. On a good night, the average wait time is 45 minutes, unless of course you get there AN HOUR before the doors open. However, members (of which you can become one for as low as $75/year) can skip the wait.

The Drinks
Drinking at this event, as essential as it may be, will cost you. On top of that, you have to wait in more than just one line to get drinks. There is a line for tickets, where you can purchase the right to get drinks. You then take your tickets to the bar, where you can actually get a drink in exchange for tickets. I have no idea why they do it like this, but I’m sure they have good pecuniary reason to. One ticket is $3, and 1 ticket gets you a non-alcoholic beverage, while two tickets will get you a cup of whine or beer.

The Art and the Scene
Obviously, you get to take in all of the museum’s usual art exhibits. But don’t try to take your drink upstairs to the exhibits, as it simply isn’t allowed. However, once you down your drink, you can partake in the galleries and exhibits upstairs, where there are far fewer people than downstairs.

Speaking of downstairs, the main floor of the Guggenheim, that’s where you will find tons of people talking, drinking, gallivanting, and enjoying the DJ-spun music of the evening. There are a few pieces of art downstairs, so there is still some cultural discussion to look forward to. However, it’s a lot louder downstairs, so if you are really into something and want to discuss it, upstairs is where you want to be.

In Conclusion
I do and I don’t recommend going to First Friday’s at the Guggenheim. Yes, it’s a fun night to be around a lot of intelligent and culturally-aware people, and if all you are looking for is a sociable event then this is the affair for you. However, if you think you’re going to the Guggenheim Museum to meet a lot of like-minded people and engage in an engaging art discussion, then you might be out of luck. Sure, you might meet someone there solely for the art, but you’re just as likely to meet that person during the day, when it’s $7 cheaper to get in.

If you’re looking for sushi in Manhattan, you probably don’t have to travel all that far. However, if you really want quality, you know there are only a few places where you can truly get your sashimi on. Here are a few of the tastier and trendier sushi venues in New York City.

Azuki – 239 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
Other than the usual long waits by the incredibly small entrance, there isn’t anything to dislike about Azuki Sushi. This gem, located just above Union Square, serves up some of the best sushi in New York City, and the atmosphere is second to none. The sushi rolls taste like gourmet delicacies that tantalize your palate throughout the meal. Azuki’s Miso Soup is as good as anyone’s, and its Nabeyaki Udon is hard to beat. The bento boxes are very affordable and come in portions that can satisfy the biggest of appetites. While I personally tend to go for several rolls of Shrimp Tempura, prepared to perfection, just about everytime I go. The restaurant is dimly lit, and they will serve you free sake until you practically drop—although, you have to be persistent in asking for it. It’s a great place for groups for two reasons: one, the free flowing sake can make a group night out dreadfully interesting; and two, the wait by the door generally isn’t as long for larger groups of eaters.

Ruby Foo’s – 1626 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
Ruby Foo’s is quite the experience. With tons of pre-theater gatherings going on all of the time, you can imagine just how lively this place gets at time. However, Ruby Foo’s doesn’t let that take away from serving you some of the most delicately prepared sushi in town. Many people recommend the Salmon Roe, and I am a big fan of their Smoked Salmon sushi. Their dim sum and calamari are also worth trying, however, I would stay away from just about every other non-sushi dish on the menu, since they tend not to get such rave reviews. Ruby Foo’s is a little pricey, and given its location just outside of Times Square, that’s expected. Nevertheless, the portions are fairly representative of their costs, and you have the option to eat family-style as well. The service at Ruby Foo’s is well-prepped to get you to your show on time, so think about making reservations the next time you buy your theater tickets.

SushiSamba – 87 7^th Avenue South, New York, NY (Plus 2 other locations)
I recommend Sushi Samba for anyone who thinks that Latin-Asian fusion is a good idea—and all things considered, who doesn’t? SushiSamba is one of the most happening sushi places you will ever see. Although it is not as “Sex and the City” as it used to be, it still draws in your typical no-name big wigs. Located in the West Village, SushiSamba has two floors, and if you want to do yourself a favor, always call ahead and reserve a spot on the roof (don’t worry, it’s covered), because eating inside SushiSamba makes for an awfully unpleasant “eating atmosphere.” That said, the food is unbelievable no matter where you sit. Their Wasabi Leaf Tempura is incredible, and that’s big props coming from me, a 150% carnivore. And don’t shy away from the tart yellowtail seviche or the raninbow dragon roll. As for their Latin-Asian-fused delicacies, try the Bobo Brazil, which is seared kobe beef, avocado, kaiware, shiso, red onion and chimichurri ponzu. And if you’re big balling, go for the Omakase menu, which is a 5 or 7-course meal providing the full Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian experience that SushiSamba is known for. Be warned, they will rush you out of this place for the next customer, but the food just might be worth it.

A good sports bar is like a good man—they’re both hard to find—especially in New York City. But once you find that special one, don’t ever let it go. Fortunately for me, I have found three spots in Manhattan where I can get my daily sports fix on. So try one or try them all, either way, I am sure I will see you there—preferably afterwork and during a sporting event!

Blondies – 212 W. 79^th Street, New York, NY
Don’t be fooled by the meager exterior, as Blondies is one of the best sports bars in all of New York City. There are two locations, but most would agree that the one located on the Upper Westside is the better of the two. It’s a casual spot, where you can find bankers, lawyers, actors and just about any profession there is. But no matter who you are, no one is immune to the sheer enthusiasm that overcomes this place whenever a Yankees, Knicks, Giants or Jets game comes on—even if you’re not a fan of either team. And while the place can get rambunctious during games, the lull moments are full of patrons having private conversations among those who accompanied them, so you don’t have to worry about the drunk sports fanatic bothering you all night. As for the food, I’ve never heard a complaint. The all-you-can-eat Buffalo wings on Monday nights go well with their wafer fries and incredibly strong cocktails. And the wait staff is tremendous, offering service so pleasant, you’ll forget you’re at a sports bar.

Reservoir – 70 University Place, New York, NY
Look, I’ll be the first to admit it…the wait staff here…not so good. So why am I recommending it? Because the atmosphere is so great, that some things just have to be ignored. Besides, the bartenders at Reservoir tend to be extremely kind, so just avoid getting a sit-down table, get everything from the bar, and you’ll be fine. So why is this place so special? They love sports! Don’t get me wrong, there are several places in New York City where you can find a healthy sports-watching audience, but it’s hard to find one in Manhattan that lives and dies with every pitch, play and pass. It’s amazing how into the games these patrons get, and yet I very rarely see the same faces. Yes, it is Pittsburgh Steelers territory, but even if you’re not a Steelers fan, antagonizing the other patrons is just as fun. And you would think that Reservoir’s location in NYU land would leave it subjected to crowds of students, but on the contrary, this bar tends to relegate itself to a mid-20’s crowd for the grown-up in all of us. So if you’re really into sports, and you’re looking for a place where you can let go of your social inhibitions, Reservoir s the place to be. And by the way, the food is great and cheap too!

Brother Jimmy’s – Multiple Locations Across New York City
There are several Brother Jimmy’s locations across the Manhattan area, and with each of them having their own personality, you can’t really say that one is better than the other. However, there is a certain aura about all of them that is representative of the Brother Jimmy’s brand, and that is that they all are as fun as hell! Go to the Brother Jimmy’s on the Upper West Side, and you’ll come across a clientele that doesn’t know when to say when—especially when they’re drinking out of fish bowl! Head over to the Murray Hill location, and you can enjoy al fresco dining just like any other midtown restaurant. Check out the original Brother Jimmy’s on 2^nd Avenue and enjoy one of the most awe-inspiring Ladies Nights there is in New York City. Try any of the Brother Jimmy’s locations on Mondays for Rib Tips and Hot Wings Night—a combination that just shouldn’t be missed. As for watching sports, you won’t find a better Monday Night Football crowd anywhere else, and if you’re a big NBA fan, check out the Eight Avenue location.

Let’s admit it, more times than not, eating in New York City is more about the ambiance than the food itself. And whenever you eat outside, or “al fresco,” Manhattan’s best outdoor dining spots are sure to put a premium on their food. Well, here are a few of the places in New York where the atmosphere actually comes close to meeting the expectations of prices they serve. So if you’re looking for a place with good food and a better ambiance, you’ll definitely become a repeat customer at any of the following venues.

The Grocery – 288 Smith Street, Brooklyn, New York
Located in Carroll Gardens, The Grocery is one of Brooklyn’s, and New York’s, best al fresco restaurants in the city. Before we even get to the atmosphere, you must know that I have never heard a single person complain about the food at this place. From the chocolate fig cake to the duck and the goat cheese ravioli, this place gets rave reviews for its eclectic and decadent menu. I will personally recommend the duck breast with Kasha—trust me, you won’t be disappointed. And as you drown yourself in great wine selections and palatable food choices, take in the beautiful garden you’re eating in. There you will find a bar wrapped around a tree, lush plant life and tremendous landscaping that adds as much serenity and peacefulness to a meal as any other place in the city.

PJ Clarkes On the Hudson – 4 World Financial Center, New York, NY
If you don’t work in the Financial District, you’re probably not that familiar with the World Financial Center (WFC), which is just on the other side of West Side Highway from the World Trade Center buildings. Full of exquisite restaurants, one of the WFC’s afterwork favorites is PJ Clarkes, which during the summer months, offers some of the best al fresco dining there is in New York City. You can grab a nice little table right off the Hudson River, as the outdoor wait staff brings you some of the best finger foods and entrees there are at WFC. A favorite of many is the ice-cold oyster platter. Personally, I’m a big fan of their of their mini-burgers, and if you’re down for a big meal, The Cadillac Burger is sure to have you coming back again and again. PJ Clarkes also boast some tremendous seafood, and their Raw Bar Sampler can satisfy every semi-pescetarian’s desire. They also have a very popular weekend brunch without the long wait, and what’s better than brunch on the water?

The Frying Pan – Pier 66, at W. 26^th Street, New York, NY
This is not the classiest of the outdoor dining places in New York City, but it still remains one of the best. Legend has it that this outdoor barge turned bar was salvaged from the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and brought to Chelsea Piers to serve dive-bar-goers for all eternity! The indoor part of The Frying Pan offers lounging and music, often with live performances. Nevertheless, outside on the water is where all of the fun goes down. Their burgers, which belong in my “Burger Hall of Fame,” get dealt out like club flyers, and there’s not a bite of beef that doesn’t get chased by some form of liquor. For ambiance, The Frying Pan has a 16-foot observation deck that makes this place not only a great place to find someone “interesting,” but also it’s a great place to charm the heck out of them. With the views of the Hudson, other waterfront venues, and the outlandish characters that make this place so lively and entertaining, it’s hard not to succumb to the all around comfort and charm of The Frying Pan.

Are you looking for some “blactivities” to check out in Harlem? While New York City in general is not conducive to a whole lot of physical activity, there are a few things you can do in Harlem to get your butt up off the coach. Here are just a few:

Harlem Lanes – 2116 7^th Avenue #3, New York, NY 10027

When it comes to an active nightlife, bowling is one of the few American staples that has stood the test of time. However, bowling does not attract too many New Yorkers because of its relatively low “sex appeal” in a city full of nightlife and charm. However, Harlem Lanes is one of the few bowling alleys in Manhattan that’s moving the game of bowling away from Grandpa’s favorite pastime to a treat for the young, as well as the young at heart. They will hate me for saying this, but don’t even bother going to Harlem Lanes during the day—it’s just not the same. At night, when the sun goes down, the fluorescent lights of Harlem Lanes come on, and Harlemnites come out. At Harlem Lanes, you can get your bowling game on, and your mack on, all at the same place. And with popular drinks, food, and DJs galore, this place will make you forget about your plans to go to the club. Its comfortable furniture, make it a wonderful place for a sit-down conversation, and the music spurs the occasional dance-off or two. And don’t worry about the kiddies! After 8pm on the weekends, no one under 21 is allowed in the building.

The North End of Central Park

The north end of Central is for more than just your morning jog (all though you could start there). First, you can enjoy the view of the Harlem Meer, which is located right in the Northeast corner of the park. The water is beautiful there, especially at night, and you can see it from 110^th street in case the park is closed, should you decide to roll past with your spouse for a little late night rendezvous. There is also The Loch, which is one of my favorite sites during my morning run. It is a very pleasant view to see this algae-riddled pond as it traverses its way through a windy little stream that stops near the top end of the park. And don’t forget about the unbelievable trails at the north end of the park. Joggers and walkers alike know that the north end of the park is probably the “hilliest” end of the park as well, and while it may jack up your morning run, it makes for a great inner-city trek along side streams, meers, wooded-areas and of course, The Loch.

ImageNation

One of the hottest cultural movements going on in Harlem is ImageNation. A moving stage for the works of all sorts of black artists, ImageNation puts together film festivals, musical performances, and art screenings all throughout Harlem in Manhattan. They have featured the works of Charles Stone, India.Arie, Talib Kweli, Sarah Jones, Curtis Hall, Erykah Badu and Stanley Nelson, just to name a few. Some of their specific events have featured “Jackson 5 in Africa” shown at the National Black Theatre, an outdoor film and music festival at Marcus Garvey Park featuring the Roots, and the showing of an independent film called “Antonia” in the middle of St. Nicholas Park. So if you’re into popular music and up-and-coming independent artists, get on board and check out the schedule of events at ImageNationFilmFestival.us next time you’re in Harlem.