Black Oak Nights – New York

Honey NYC

Friday is among us, and that can only mean one thing: IT’S PAYDAY! At least for most of you it is. Those of you who get paid on the semi-monthly basis probably already have your money in the bank. Those of you who don’t have the luck of collecting your servant money this week—well, there’s always next Friday! However, to help everyone involved save a little cash during the recession and beat the summer heat, we have a couple of air-conditioned and free-admission events you can take advantage of this Friday night. So leave your money in the bank tonight, because Black Oak Nights is taking care of the bill. Here is your Friday Nightlife Rundown for July 30, 2010.
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Amy Ruth's Chicken & Waffles

Being from the South, I know good soul food. I mean, I really know good soul food. Whether it was my upbringing in Maryland, or my latter years in Texas, soul food, southern cuisine and home-cooked everything is almost a religion to me. That said, it’s hard to get really good soul food up north unless you happen to have a grandmother from Alabama living somewhere within the New York City Metropolitan Area. For those of you who don’t, there are still a few havens that get the five star nod on soul food—most of them even compete with your Grandmother’s homemade dishes.

Here is our list of the Best Soul Food in New York City, “Black Listed” style.

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Tillman's

When I was in my teens, I watched a lot of “Cheers” re-runs, and thus I always imagined going to a bar where everybody knew my name. Of course, living in New York City and finding a place like that in Manhattan makes that a little bit more difficult for a young, black professional. Naturally, there are plenty of spots for black people in Harlem, but many of those tend to cater to a much older crowd. But having been in New York for quite some time now, I have managed to comb through many a bar in Manhattan, and I have a few spots worthy of regular attendance.

Here is our list of the Best Bars for young, black professionals in New York City. Read the rest of this entry »

Taj (48 West 21st Street, New York)

Thursday, February 17, 2010: Can’t you smell the weekend? Most of you are starting your weekend tonight–whether you have to work tomorrow or not. If you fit into that category, there are plenty of late night parties and bars to get into tonight, including one heck of a party going on at Suzie Wongs. But I’ll start off with a familiar face from the early 2000’s. There weren’t a lot of funny people on the anti-rap MTV of my adolescence, but this guy below was one of the few MTV personalities that could keep my attention for more than five minutes. Read the rest of this entry »

Negril Village

I remember hearing about El Nino all the time when I was younger, and back then, it seemed so “special” that I would have sworn it was a once in a lifetime event. Unfortunately, El Nino has struck again, including this latest snowfall that took sprinkled Manhattan with an inch of snow last night. Nevertheless, that little bit of snow is not going to affect anything going on in Tuesday’s Nightlife Rundown for February 16, 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

The snow may be coming down in Manhattan, but they don’t call this the city that never sleeps for nothing. Here is the Wednesday Rundown for February 10, 2010.
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While everyone else heads home after a long day of work, you, the modern day young black professional, prefer to get rid of your stress by socializing and flirting, not laying down on the couch. And that’s the way a New Yorker is supposed to think. After all, all work and no play makes for a bad nightlife, and that is not what Black Oak Nights is about. So check out some of our favorite spots to attend with the clock strikes five!

Jean-Luc

507 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY

Go here for a truly diverse time. You can find a multitude of different professionals braving this bar during the after-work hours. From actors and dancers, to investment bankers and broadcasters, jean-Luck has been the trendy destination for some of the Upper Westside’s most notable companies. You can see the shining star of celebrodum running through the establishment every once in a while, especially soap opera actors who film their shows not too far from Jean-Luc. The male to female ration is also fairly balanced, providing for a very festive atmosphere that never ceases to amazes its attendees, even on the most unlikely nights. You may come here during the daytime of the after work hours, but you will end up staying for the nightlife.

Ava Lounge

210 W. 55^th Street, New York, NY

This wonderful bar sits atop of the Dream Hotel just north of Times Square. You can see the magnificence that is the Broadway Avenue view of Times Square from the roof of Ava, and it is just an amazing site even in the twighlight of the after work hours. Ava Lounge is a bi-level penthouse looking bar. The downstairs is seductive and offers a full bar and scenic window views. The upstairs has an array of seating that puts you at eye-level with rooftop views of Midtown West. Ava Lounge is flooded with people who work in the hustle and bustle of midtown, mainly singles who are dressed in their stunning office suits and dresses. And while it is easy to think that the everyone there is so dressed up because they’re coming to work, their fashionable duds just might suggest that work was nothing but an after thought in their choice of attire.

Pazza Notte

1375 6^th Avenue, New York, NY 10019

How about a little Italian after-work? Pazza Notte has an extremely friendly environment, and much like its Italian name would denote it is a great place to spend the evening and night hours after a long day of work. There are plenty of great people and groups who come here on the daily basis. Even though it is primarily a restaurant, the atmosphere of the bar will remind you a chatty lounge, full of conversing business men and women, and hungry after-workers enjoying an array of Italian wine and dishes. Some people who go there cannot handle the noise of the Pazza Notte at these hours, but if you are truly looking for an entertaining way to spend your nightlife, then a little talking will not bother you.

Scouring the city for the best burger in New York was not an exercise of labor. In fact, I need to exercise after having tasted as many burgers as I have. Nevertheless, I did it for you, New York! Because some lists out there just have it all wrong; at least pertaining to the general historical taste of the black society. AOL’s City Guide has New York Burger Co. as the number one burger joint in New York City, and quite frankly, that could not be further from the truth (I found their burgers to be fairly dry and not too tasty).

Well, you don’t have to worry about this list not meeting your expectations. Young black professionals and the like have already put their stamp of approval on these selections.

What goes into picking the best burger joints? Well, of course there is the obvious, and the most important; the burger itself. A good burger is moist, served hot and doesn’t taste just like ground beef that you bought at the store, but has a particular grilled or fried taste to it that distinguishes it from not only ordinary beef, but from other burgers. However, when determining the best burger joints, you also have to take some of the peripherals into consideration, as well. Every good burger deserves an equally satisfying portion of French fries. Price is always a factor for the young black professional monitoring their expenses. Moreover, a good milkshake to go with your burger and fries is never a bad idea either.

Jackson Hole (4 Locations)
521 3^rd Avenue, New York, NY 10016
232 E 64^th Street, New York, NY 10021
3501 Bell Blvd., Queens, Bayside, NY 11361
517 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024

Yes, and all four locations are great! Jackson Hole’s subtitle is “Home of the 7 oz. burger!” Now, you tell me what is better than a 7 oz. burger at an extremely fair price. And it’s not just big, but it’s great! In addition, they offer you all kinds of different burgers, including the English Burger, Texas Burger, Copsegmore, and the Eastsider. Toppings range from eggs and ham, to guacamole and cottage cheese. You would be hard pressed to find a bigger burger, for better value at a better taste anywhere in New York City. I’m giving Jackson Hole the Black Oak Nights Seal of Approval, because with a big 7 oz. burger, it would be easy to sell customers on their burgers alone. But no. Jackson Hole also has plenty of other goods. Their steak fries and milkshakes are outstanding, but I doubt you will have room for them after the main course.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries
138 Montague Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Look, I don’t really like to go out of my way and say that one place is leaps and bounds above the others, but this place really is. I actually just happen to come across this place when I was walking to Promenade, and the fresh smell of meat and potatoes wafted across my path. I thought I was walking past a steak restaurant. When I went inside thought, I definitely knew I was in a good burger joint, because people were laughing, eating and looked happy. And as we all know, nobody looks happy in New York City. I quickly found out why everybody was so happy. In addition to the free refills, free peanuts and down to earth clientele and service, the burgers are amazing! Their burgers are extremely tasty. In fact, I would eat them by themselves alone. That’s how good they are. They are moist, full of flavor and have this kick to them that I just cannot explain. To top it all off, they have the best fries in the city, hands down! This is not just my opinion; just about every publication on the East Coast has said so. Believe me; you want to go to Five Guys. If you don’t, you are truly missing out on life.

Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridian
118 West 57^th Street, New York, NY 10019

Welcome to the Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridian! Expecting glitz and glamour just like at their hotel, right? Wrong! Wrong! This place will take you back to your college days or roaming bar dives and talking to plain clothed human beings who actually care about more than just their mutual funds and 401K’s. They keep it simple here. There’s no huge wait staff, just a person taking orders, one person working the grill, and the other person working the frier. And for only a few bucks, you can get one of the best, greasiest, juicy burgers in all of New York City. Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridian makes burgers the way they were meant to be: simple. Nothing extra, just frying them up with a little flavor. So come check out this easygoing spot disguised in a posh hotel, for a truly great burger.