Empire Hotel

Can’t you just smell the weekend? Quite frankly, Thursday is the unofficial start to the weekend for the young, black professionals of Black Oak Nights. Besides, you can muster your way through one day of work without sleep. Just think of the reprieve you will get on Friday and Saturday night, and that should make a day’s worth of battling sleep worth it, no? If you do decide to party like a rock star tonight, we have a few events that can aid you in your quest. Here is your Thursday Nightlife Rundown for April 29, 2010.

Short Films – All Day
Tribeca Film Festival: There are a slew of short films playing in the Tribeca Film Festival today, and there are still plenty of rush tickets left to see these masterful works of art. Short films are great because of their emphatic, introspective, focused commentary on life that last just a few minutes. They are also great because they give busy young, black professionals like yourself a chance to be a part of the independent filmmaking experience without having to spend too much of your time away from the streets of New York. So check out the Film Guide for the Tribeca Film Festival and see if you can catch a screening or two in a theater near you this Thursday night.

Honey Afterwork – 6pm
Honey (243 West 14th Street): I guess you can say that Honey has officially gotten out of the dog house. If you will recall, I wasn’t always fond of its late night attempts to act as 14th Street’s new nightclub bearer. Actually, I’m still not a fan of that, but I think they have pretty much given up on that, which makes this place a much better place to be in the late evening on into the night. This Thursday evening, Honey continues to keep it simple, with no cover, drink specials and a fairly impressive menu of food as well. This is a great place to sit back, relax, and enjoy some good tunes and conversation with friends. Really, it is atmospheres like the one at Honey tonight that make being around good people (and good alcohol) the great experience that it is.

Thursday on the Hudson – 10pm
Hudson Terrace (621 West 46th Street): For all of you who work on the far, far west side of Manhattan’s midtown like I used to, you know that Hudson Terrace was the place to be afterwork. All you had to do, at most, was hop in a cab and ride your way down the West Side Highway, and before you knew it, you were tossing up drinks and kick back on the terrace during the New York City’s sizzling summer. Well, it’s not exactly summer in the City yet, but it will be in the 70s today—which is just hot enough to make your way to the Terrace tonight. As per usual, hip-hop and old school music will play throughout the night, and the ladies are free or charge until midnight. Dress trendy and sexy, and you should have no problems at the door—don’t forget a light sweater, especially if you plan on being here well into the night!

Thursday Afterwork – 6pm
Empire Hotel (44 West 63rd Street): Empire Hotel will be popping from the end of the work day into the wee hours of the morning. Get there as soon as you can to enjoy the skyline of New York City on what should be a cool, breezy, yet just warm enough Spring night in Manhattan! After 8pm, DJs and black socialites galore will be piling into Empire for a night of panache and chic style that can’t be paralleled anywhere else in the city. You would be hard pressed to find another rooftop bar that’s going to be as black-friendly as Empire Hotel will be tonight. So make your Thursday plans accordingly, and get down to Empire Hotel the second you clock out of the office today!

Caribbeans Afterwork – 6pm
Club Roam (5 East 19th Street): My island brethren! I know I do not have to tell you all where to be tonight! As one of the most trendy, chic and popular Caribbean events of the week, Club Roam is breaking it down island style, serving up nothing but Reggae music all night long! And we are not talking about that popular Reggae mess that plays in every club in New York City, from Harlem to Chelsea! Nah, we’re talking about that dirty island music, where brothas get down on the floor and sistas have limbs flying all over the place. So don’t come through here if you aren’t planning on working up a sweat or getting hit in the face with a flying elbow or two, because tonight at Roam, the party is going to get a little crazy. The pretentious need not attend.

Sexy Afterwork – 5pm
Tribeca (22 Warren Street): For a little afterwork fun, Tribeca is the place to be. DJ Sugar Daddy will not disappoint you, as hip-hop and R&B will dominate the 1’s and 2’s, leaving only a little room for reggae and soca throughout the evening. Everyone is free before 7pm, and it is about $7 after that. There is a free buffet before 7pm, but I have been told that it isn’t anything special, so don’t plan on satisfying your taste buds here. That said, plenty of young, black professionals will be in the building getting their grooves on and talking shop all evening and well into the night. So be a part of the party and come through Tribeca Lounge tonight.

Twitter Thursdays – 11pm
Candy Lounge (608 East Fordham Road, The Bronx): Talk about a crazy night! You never know what you are going to get when you walk into the Candy Lounge in The Bronx. I will admit that this definitely isn’t your typical, relaxing, afterwork evening at a lounge in Manhattan. This is pure, good-natured, debauchery on all fronts. Don’t get me wrong, it is all in good taste and nothing foul or unseemly is going on, but don’t come here with any pretentious inclinations, because those will all be dashed the second you walk in the door. Still, if you want to be around some black people having a good time, without a care or worry in the world for the few hours they are on the dance floor, then it would be difficult to argue you go anywhere not named Candy Lounge this Thursday night.

Musicians on Call – 8pm
The Gates (290 8th Avenue): People of our ilk certainly know the healing power of music—for many unfortunate people in impoverished areas, we know music is all some people have to get them going through the day. Well, think of what music can do for sick people who are terminally ill. While it can’t cure disease, and can put a smile on someone’s face for at least a brief moment. Musicians on Call (MOC) is a non-profit that provides live music for sick people in need of a few tunes. Tonight, at The Gates, MOC will be hosting an event for young, New York City professionals in an effort to raise money for their cause. There will be music, food and an open bar from 8pm to 10pm. There will also be a special guest DJ. If interested in intending, you can get more information and tickets here.

1. Thursday Rundown: June 10, 2010
2. Thursday Rundown: May 20, 2010
3. Thursday Rundown: May 13, 2010
4. Thursday Rundown: May 6, 2010
5. Thursday Rundown: April 22, 2010
6. Thursday Rundown: April 15, 2010
7. Thursday Rundown: April 8, 2010
8. Thursday Rundown: April 1, 2010