Black Oak Nights – New York

Interested in an afterwork spot that can reinsert the soul into your New York City lifestyle after 10 hours of work has sucked the energy right out of you? Well, try anyone of these establishments, as they are sure to comfort your afterwork quest for relaxation and a peaceful mind before you have to get up and go back to work all over again!

Tillman’s – 165 W. 26^th Street, New York, NY
How can someone go to Tillman’s and not like it? It’s one of the best experiences in all of New York City, and there is no doubt that it’s a place where anyone can fit in. The music selection is on point, with both new and old musical choices from the hip-hop, R&B and soul genres. They even have the occasional live performance at Tillman’s. Of course, the weekend DJs (such as Qool Marv) add some true class to the joint, with an onslaught of Neo soul, Afro-beat and underground hip-hop. Tillman’s is also a great place to just chill. With swinging barriers that give each patron or party a since of privacy, it’s wise to come with a partner or a group of people if you’re interested in stirring up conversation. As for the food, it’s first rate—what you might call—gourmet soul food. In fact, “The Mack” (macaroni and cheese), which is made with sage, peas, mascarpone, bacon and bread crumbs, is reason enough to come to Tillman’s. Read the rest of this entry »

The best part of the summer is rooftop bar hoping. And in New York City, you only get a window of about 8 weeks to truly enjoy it, so to aid you in your skybar ventures, I’ve laid out a few of Manhattan’s most laudable rooftop locales.
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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.

“Where spirits are high and filled with good cheer, your problems and trouble have no place here.” That is the slogan at 1849, one of the more popular bars in Greenwich Village. It is a local attraction for NYU students, village dwellers, and just about anybody who’s down for a good time.

Despite its name, 1849 (located at 183 Bleecker Street, New York, NY) is not at all antiquated. A comfort-inspired lounge area downstairs is full of plush sofas, chairs and loveseats, and naturally, you’re surrounded by 15 Plasma televisions, and everyone’s favorite, the internet jukebox.

The downstairs area is where most of the patrons tend to situate themselves. There is a bar in the back that’s incredibly spacious, unless you come during peak hours, when an over rambunctious group of NYU grad students can quickly turn this roomy structure into a jubilant, liquor-flowing, hormone-raging talkfest, all the while remaining classy and mature.

Of course, it does not take grad-students to make it that lively. On Sundays, 1849 offers live music, which often gives some of the better local New York City talent a chance to shine in front of a young, lively, and diverse demographic. That is unless of course there is a big game on Sunday night, in which case, the music often gives way to extra seating for the plethora of men and women who come in to catch Sunday Night Football or the NBA Playoffs.

Then again, some people just come on Sunday nights for the drink and wing specials, which boast $0.20 wings, $7 pitchers and $3 well drinks until the place shuts down. They offer this recession-proof deal not just on Sundays, but also on Monday and Wednesday nights. Moreover, if you come with a big group of people, you should get a table upstairs, where you and maybe 1 or 2 other groups of people can enjoy talking and laughing among yourselves as you partake in the 21st century version of family-style eating. I’m telling you, when you put $0.20 wings and $7 pitchers together, what you end up with is a whole lot of eating, drinking and over the top conversation, which all adds up to a good time.

1849’s menu is more than just wings and liquor though. They offer plenty of delicious appetizers, including the nachos, which is a favorite for anybody who has ever tried them. They also serve a decent burrito, and the California Burger is worth a shot.

Nevertheless, at the end of day, 1849 is more than just beer, food, television and music. It is a real chance to catch up with people at the end of the day after New York City has chewed you up and spit you out after a hard day of hustling. It is the perfect retreat for anyone looking to sit back, relax, and not think about how much it is costing you. And trust me, there aren’t a lot of places in Manhattan that can provide that kind of environment.

Well, it’s not the matchup that the media, the NBA, TheSportsWatchers.com or even most fans wanted to see, but it is the matchup we have been dealt. And we at Black Oak Nights Entertainment are dealing with it like any rational thinking person would: by drinking!

The Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers will face off in the NBA Finals beginning this Thursday, June 4th at 9 P.M.

Game 1 will be on ABC and televised live from Los Angeles. However, you can still enjoy the action in an arena-like setting right here in New York City by joining the fine folks at Black Oak Nights for an evening of NBA basketball at the uptown Village Pourhouse.

That’s right, Black Oak Nights will be leading the troops to the Upper West Side to watch what promises to be an entertaining series between superstars Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.

The Village Pourhouse (located at 982 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY) is the absolute perfect spot to enjoy this series.

They have plenty of televisions, and all of them are assured to be tuned to the NBA Finals, so you will never be too far away from the action.

The menu is full of bar delicacies and complete entrees that are sure to satisfy the hunger of most patrons.

I personally recommend the Smothered Hand Cut Fries, but that’s just one of the many incredibly exquisite appetizers and meals to choose from.

Thursday nights are also Trivia and Beer Pong Nights, and there will be $5 Jager Bombs, Car Bombs, Dr. Pepper Drops and Skittle Bombs from 10pm to midnight.

So come by this Thursday night with a slew of other young, black professionals, and check out what Village Pourhouse and the Upper West Side have to offer!

The game tips at 9pm ET, and Black Oak Nights and the crew should be arriving a half-hour or so before that to get situated in one of the booths (before it gets too crazy). Once again, Village Pourhouse is located at 982 Amsterdam Avenue, and it is between 108th and 109th Streets. Your best bet is to take the 1 train to 110th Street and Broadway and walk over 1 avenue to Amsterdam.

I will see you all on Thursday, and stay tuned for information on where we will be watching Game 2 of the series!