NYC Bar + Restaurant Reviews

Below are links to some of my reviews on nightlife spots around the city. I'll give you the inside scoop on all the ones I haven't previously mentioned in other blog posts.

If you're a karaoke singing sensation, or would at least like to pretend to be, then check out Karaoke Top Tunes in Midtown. Perfect for the die hard karaoke nut. For a more laid back group, head to Japas 38 for fun-filled singing debauchery.

Carte Blanche

This spot opened up back in May and it is a great spot for food and drinks. For a more upscale evening (morning or midday, as well), Carte Blanche Cafe & Bar is a new Meatpacking staple. (Located at the Gansevoort Hotel.)

Ronin Bar & Grill is a Japanese-American eatery with delicious beers on tap and scrumptious food --including their signature rice burger.

Walle is an Asian-fusion resto that is not to be overlooked. Their delicious menu selections and cocktails are sure to satisfy.

Lexington Brass

If you're cravin' some Southern-style eats, hit up Neely's Barbecue Parlour on the UES. Too heavy for ya? The brand new joint, Lexington Brass, is one of the best new places in NYC.

La Nacional

Don't let being in America limit your food choices...there's plenty of Spanish flava in the city. For a more upscale take on Spanish cuisine, try Socarrat Paella Bar, which has 2 locations, and will soon be expanding to the UES come November. For traditional and completely satisfying eats, check out La Nacional. You will feel as if you have walked off the streets of New York and into a restaurant in Andalucía.

The name might sounds like a breath of fresh air, and the decor and drinks at Bread and Tulips is just that. The food, however, is not for the timid. Make sure you don't bring a picky eater here, as the dishes are quite unusual.

Skip out on Henry's Rooftop Bar located at The Roger Smith Hotel. They boast sub-par food and sub-sub-par drinks.

The Barrel Room

If you're into wine, then the newly opened Barrel Room at City Winery has got your name written all over it. Their house-made served-from-the-tap wines are to die for and the staff is great with recommendations.

Sports fans will love this frat-like bar in Midtown for watching games. Overlook has TVs at every booth, but the beers aren't too cheap. If you're lookin' to save a buck, Bravest is the place to go. This fireman's bar has good bar food and cheeeaap drinks.

Enjoy authentic Indian cuisine at Amma. This fairly new resto packs up quick, so make a reservation if you plan on dining at this place.

Le Bernardin has just reopened and boasts whole new decor and a similar fish-centric menu.

I'll be updating The Daily Krenshaw with new reviews and recommendations every month, so make sure to check back!

Girls Night Out

Last night I went to an Astrophel + Stella fashion show, debuting their Spring 2012 collection. It wasn't your typical fashion show where models walk the runway, but rather they just stood around the perimeter of a room for you to oogle at them. It was a bit awkward, and must've sucked for them. Regardless, I did like the looks. Stoli was asponsor of the event, so we got complimentary Stoli cocktails, which to be honest, weren't that great. They had an orange, apple, and chocolate-based cocktails. Also the room was filled with models and guys that looked straight out of Gossip Girl. Needless to say, they had no food there and I had to venture to the outside world for some grub. Enter, Giorgio's.

Giorgio's of Gramercy
Enter past red velvet curtains to a chic wine resto that is, surprisingly, not packed to the brim. The friendly bartenders might specialize in wine, but are friendly and willing to stir up delicious cocktails catered to your taste. Their extensive wine list will blow your mind, and on Sundays every bottle is $15 off (don't worry, you can also buy by the glass). Their top-notch American/Italian food is to die for. Opt for Penne Ragu ($15) with a creamy veal Bolognese sauce with shaved asiago cheese or try their Carmelized Sea Scallops ($24). For the quality of the food and the decor of the resto, you are definitely getting a bang for your buck. But the $14 cocktails can do some damage to that wallet, so try out their prix fixe lunch ($24.07) or dinner ($35).

Strange Vodka Flavors

Yea we all love our standard vodka soda (or vodka cran), but there are some ways to spice up those age-old boring drinks with some flavored vodkas. And no, I'm not talking about Stoli Razz. Try thinking outside the box with some truly unusual flavors. What would go good in some spiked hot chocolate during this rainy hurricane? Butterscotch vodka! Need something else to add a 'lil flavor to that Bloody Mary? Pour in some Bacon vodka! Not impressed yet? Check out these 11 ridiculously...ridiculous vodka flavors. Some are good, some are bad, and some are just plain weird!

Happening Now in NYC

What's happening these days in the big apple? Let me fill you in!

Hankering some sliders while watching America's favorite pastime (baseball, duh)? Check out different types of sliders, from oyster sliders at The Dutch to traditional cheeseburger sliders at Highpoint Bar & Bistro, and many more here.

Go retro at this recently opened event at Nitehawk Cinema called Scribble Junkies. This new event is a festival of hand drawn animation. Enjoy cocktails as you watch recent works by well known hand-drawn animators. Check here for more information.

Alexander McQueen's smash-hit of an exhibit is sadly no longer on display at the Met, but you can read all about it and see photos here. Read all about my perspective on closing weekend.

This new eatery opened in the beginning of August and shows no signs of slowing down. Read all about Cafe Esquina a the Wythe Diner here.

Another event that's sadly already passed, is a great organic food demonstration by model Anthony Anderson. Learn all about Anthony and his healthy food demos here.

What's my favorite thing going on right now? Head to Misha Nicole to see works of art from the extraordinary artist Carlos Sampietro. Check out my exclusive interview during the gallery opening here.

Brew-tiful: NYC's Cheapest Brews

Us NYC-dwellers know that everything in Manhattan costs an arm and a leg (and sometimes both). Especially booze. That's why I've compiled this list of the bars with the best beer deals around. Stop spending a fortune on an okay gin and tonic or renowned (aka unnecessarily expensive) brews and check out these 11 fabulous bars. Some have great happy hour specials and others just have low-priced beers all around the clock. The place that I got to check out for myself was Bravest, a firefighter's bar that welcomes all. It may be small, but their old-school jukebox adds some spunk to their delicious menu and intoxicating bevs. Check out my complete review, along with pictures, of Bravest here.

Tea Time!

Last week I was able to attend a great cocktail event hosted at The Grace Hotel. HELPS Teas introduced a line of cocktails, made from their amazing teas. I tried their TLV cocktail, as well as their Double Tea-zzer, both of which were delicious. I left the event with a bag of free tea, which I can't wait to make. Their teas are unique in the fact that they aid digestion, relaxation, and other similar things. Tea is always good for you, but these teas are even better! Check out some of their cocktail recipes below.

BREATHE Mar-Tea-nee
    1 ½ oz of ABSOLUT Citron (Infused with HELPS Teas BREATHE (6 mins))
   Muddle Lemon
   Simple Syrup
    Shake well, strain and pour into a martini glass.

EASY Gin and Tonic
   2 oz Gin (Infused with HELPS Teas Organic Easy Digestion(6 mins))
   5 oz Tonic Water
   1 Lime Wedge
   Pour the gin (infused with HELPS Teas Easy Digestion) and the tonic water into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Garnish with the lime wedge.

Green Tea-Killa
    1 1/2 oz Tequila (white)
   1 1/2 oz Iced HELPS Teas Organic Green Tea
    1/2 oz Simple syrup
    Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

TLV (aka Tea Lemonade Vodka)
   2 oz Iced HELPS Teas Organic Green Tea
    1 1/2 oz Lemonade
    2 oz Vodka
   Combine HELPS Teas Organic Green Tea, vodka, lemonade, shake well, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Double Tea-zzer
   1 ½ oz ABSOLUT Citron (Infused with Helps Breathe)
   1 oz Iced HELPS Teas Organic Green Tea
    Splash of 7UP
   Shake ABSOLUT Citron infused with HELPS Teas BREATHE, iced HELPS Teas Organic Green Tea with ice and strain into a highball glass over two ice cubes. Fill with 7UP, stir and serve.

Check out my list of the top five summertime teas, as well as more info about this great event!

Get Ready to Stumbllleeeee

We all love to drink and one day I came across an article about the Flowzie, a koozie that has a nozzle to induce the shot-gun effect. This gave me an idea for an article. I thought it would be great to do some research and compile a list of interesting and unique devices that make drinking either more fun, easier, or just plain wackier. Check out my top 10 list here. There are some great devices on there, including a boob-enhancer/alcohol carrier, an app that prevents drunk texts, and much more!

Bathtub Gin

It may be a strange name for a bar, but Bathtub Gin is the new hot spot in NYC. This prohibition era style bar is named after the unique brewing method people used back in the day when alcohol was illegal (gasp!). I got to go there during the first week it opened (last week). The cocktails are unique, which is getting harder and harder to do these days, and many of them are made with gin--surprise! I didn't get the chance to dine there but the food did look delicious. I was lucky enough to nom on some profiteroles for dessert though...and they were phenomenal! If you want more scoop on this great new bar, check out my reviews:
SheckysNightlife.com
Joonbug.com

Shark Bait

I love Shark Week (who doesn't?). Last year, I threw a Shark Week party one night for my friends. I had Dogfish Head and Landshark beer and one of my friends brought shark gummies. This year, I decided to just write about Shark Week instead. Here, you can see an article I wrote about different shark themed cocktails. I was able to find a couple of delicious cocktails online, and I also asked some of my friends who bartend to whip up some concoctions for it (Thanks Liam and Asia!) I also wrote another article that focused on shark themed cocktails. This one, however, focuses on cocktails served at different bars around New York City. I am looking forward to going to some of these bars for their Shark Week parties and to check out their drinks!

Harlem's Best Bars

Yeah, Harlem may be a little seedy, but it does have quite a few gems that are worth checking out. The hike way uptown will be worth at these 10 hotspots. The only place I got to check out was Harlem Tavern. Despite the fact that I had to take 2 subways to get there from my UES abode, I had a great time there. The outdoor beer garden has plenty of seating for all (German style tables) and the inside has a great atmosphere. The menu was limited, but they are working on expanding it. What they did offer was very good; I had calamari and a pulled pork sandwich ($11). They have 20 beers on tap and an additional 20 beers bottled. They also have a nice array of cocktails, wine, and frozen drinks, so don't worry if you want to drag along your wine-only friend. This is definitely a place I would go back to, even though it is in Harlem. Next time I will opt for a sunny day to take advantage of the outdoor seating instead of the rainy day I got stuck with.

American Shark Week Beers

Fourth of July may have been almost 2 months ago, but American beers really never do get old. Here is a list of some of my personal favorites. But since everyone's favorite week of summer is coming up, here are some additional beers to try. Dogfish Head will be a great beer to supply for Shark Week..if you don't know what I'm talking about, just look at the bottle! 

Another American brew to add on your repertoire during Shark Week? Land Shark Lager is obviously the first choice, complete with fins. 

Now this beer is not as well known, but also supports upcoming Shark Week. Port Brewing Company, located in California, makes a West Coast Double Red Ale called Shark Attack. What could be more fitting? 

Lost Coast Brewery, also located in California, puts out a beer called Great White. Bottoms up with this brew while you watch Air Jaws. 

Pizza Port Brewing Company also puts out a beer for you to bring to a Shark Week party. Try their signature beer, Sharkbite Red (that gives quite an image, huh?).

Fish Brewing Company, which puts out organic brews, has a beer called Mud Shark Porter. 

Lastly, Rogue Ales is known for their beer, Sharktooth Ale. The bottle is the perfect compliment to Rogue Sharks, premiering on August 1st. These 7 beers (all manufactured in the U S of A) will keep you swimming each day during Shark Week!

Mouth-Watering Alcoholic Sweets

I had to combine two of my favorite things (alcohol and chocolate) and research what kind of alcoholic goodies are out there. Last summer, I had a friend who served vodka popsicles at her birthday party. Boy were they good...and strong...and melty. (Check out this recipe for Strawberry Peach Vodka Collins Popsicles.) But oh so inspiring! Next, I discovered Intoxicating Confections, a cupcake company that, duh, has booze in their cupcakes. They have delicious flavors likes the Carbomb (chocolate-stout cake with whiskey ganache filling and irish cream frosting) and Pina Colada (pineapple cake with coconut rum frosting). I had the fortune to try these bad boys (the mocktail version) and they are good.

Next, there's the alcoholic milkshake fad that seems to be taking over. Try a White Russian or a Bailey's Caramel Macchiato at Ted's Bulletin in Washington D.C. (ah, so far...) Mmm, or imagine your favorite peanut butter chocolate shake with a little booze mixed in (Godiva White Chocolate liqueur). In the New York area? Taste the Bourbon St. Shake (warning: contains nutella!) at Brooklyn Bowl or one (or all) of the 4 boozy milkshakes offered at Peels.

Of course, there's actual cakes that are alcohol-infused. For all you Jack Daniels lovers out there (have you had their BBQ sauce??), this recipe is going to blow your mind. Check out this recipe for Jack Daniels Bundt Cake. There is whiskey in the cake itself, as well as the frosting. And I love how the recipe suggests having a Jack and Coke while you wait for it to bake.  If you aren't a whiskey drinker then I suggest this less aggressive cake recipe, Mojito Pound Cake. The frosting is a rum-flavored meringue buttercream, and this blogger says the cake really does taste like a delicious mojito (I happen to love mojitos). This recipe totally reminds me of an episode of Cupcake Wars.

Strawberry Peach Vodka Collins Popsicles

Alcoholic Milkshakes from Ted's Bulletin

Intoxicating Confections Carbomb Cupcake

Mojito Pound Cake

Midsummer Cocktails at 116

Last night I went to a Midsummer Cocktail party at 116 in SoHo hosted by a PR company I work with. They mixed up special drinks for the evening (free!) that were refreshing and yummy - perfect for the hot day. The drink I had was called Absolut Midsummer and it was made with muddle strawberries, yumm. The other cocktail they whipped up which I tried was described as "a refreshing hint of tart." And it was quite refreshing! There I got to mingle with other people in the industry, which is always helpful. I love going to these types of events that have open bar. Unfortunately, this party had no hors d'oeuvres, oh well! 116 was a really cool place; it was my first time going there. It's a basement bar with a cool atmosphere and used to be called The Gaslight Cafe, where Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and other rock legends were known to perform. The lighting is dark, with big stone walls, and lounge style and table seating. There is also an old school photo booth hidden in a stone crevice in the wall. There is a small stage that is used for all sorts of artistic performances in an intimate setting. All in all, it is definitely a scene I would check out again. And if the drinks I tried were made just for that night, I'd love to get my hands on their regular cocktails.

Entrance to 116

Table seating at 116

Summer's Best Frozen Cocktails

Summer is a time to cool off and there's no better way to do it than with alcohol (not an oxymoron, I swear). Seriously though, frozen drinks are the way to go. They may not be filled with as many electrolytes as Gatorade and they may not be as thirst-quenching as water, but guaranteed, they will keep you cool and keep you happy. Check out my list of this summer's best frozen cocktails - complete with recipes so you can whip them up yourself (provided you can fit a blender on your 2-by-2-foot kitchen counter...I live in NYC)! Some of these come from awesome liquor brands like Purity Vodka, while others come from top-notch NYC bars.

Mmm, I wish there was a frozen mango drink in this list! What kind of frozen drinks do you want to see here? Which one is your favorite?

Earth Friendly Alcohol

Yea, I wouldn't have thought it existed either...alas, those alcoholics who are concerned about nature get pretty clever. Doing research for this article was a lot of fun. I got to learn about different (greener) ways to make alcohol, I found brands that used recycled materials to bottle their alcohols, I even found brands that donate to rainforest preservation with each bottle of alcohol sold! Check out this list of eco-friendly alcohols I found...don't worry, there is something in there for everyone: wines, vodkas, whiskeys, and more!

Stop Abuse!

Before the days where I got paid to party,  I interned for Save the Children, an organization dedicated to helping children in need all over the world. In my 10 months there, I learned more and more about their mission and how important it is to help out those in need. Last month was Support Abused Women & Children Month and I therefore wanted to dedicate an article to charities and organizations that support this cause. Obviously I had to pay homage to my former employer and Save the Children is on the list (it's a great organization!), but there are others in there, as well. Please check out these organizations and donate to one or more of them. Encourage your friends and family to do the same!

Hookah-licious

Nights out don't always have to be all about drinking. Smoking some shisha is a good way to spend a night or two with your friends. Luckily, big cities are filled with hookah joints for you to enjoy. I was able to go to the grand opening of La Vie in New York City.

La Vie

They had sangria (which they whipped up fast), hors d'oeuvres, and belly dancers to keep us interested. Not to mention their hookahs were ginormous...and you could smoke out of a pineapple or other fruit for more flavor. Another spot I got to check out was Kush, which was smaller and a little less sophisticated, but fun nevertheless.

Kush

They also had really great cocktails. Check out the top hookah spots (according to me) in NYC here.

Wine & Cheese, Please

Skip your typical kegger and opt for the more classy wine and cheese party. Celebrations.com dishes out fun and useful tips on how to throw a wine and cheese party that your friends won't forget. Personally, you'll have to entice me with more than cheese for snacks to get me to go, but everyone else I know can't get enough of it! And please, include sparkling wine at your party, too. Not everyone is a Pinot Noir connoisseur. Check out my favorite tips for your party here! Now get drinking!

Stay Slim: Healthy(ish) Summer Cocktails

Summer is time for slimming down and looking your best on the beach. Don't blow off all your hard work and dedication sweating it out at the gym by drinking calorific boozy drinks this summer. Check out my list of low-cal and high vitamin cocktails that you don't have to worry about indulging in here.

What can you expect to find on this list? Sangrias, martinis, cosmos, and mimosas that will replace your usual drinks!

Harry Potter Recipes

You read that right...I know this is supposed to be mainly about nightlife, but let's be serious, what kind of writer would I be if I didn't ever talk about Harry Potter? Since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II just came out last week,  I was able to write an article for Shecky's about Harry Potter, specifically, Harry Potter inspired recipes. I was very prepared to write this article because in January, I had bought my sister a Harry Potter cookbook for her birthday (she likes cooking, I like Harry Potter). Although the Spiced Butterbeer recipe is surely not as delicious as the actual Butterbeer from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, at least it contains alcohol to numb the senses (so you won't realize you aren't actually there). I must suggest that you purchase The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook, so you too can make some of these tasty treats. (Stay away from Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans!)

Cauldron Cakes

Butterbeer: Regular & Frozen

Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans

Check out the recipes on Sheckys.com!

Land (not) Ho! Manhattan's best Bars on the Water

My job is pretty sweet-- I get to go out and and party for free...and then write about it. My latest task was to check out bars on the water in Manhattan and decide which were the best of the best. Let me go further in depth of the places that I actually got to go to...

The Frying Pan: Debauchery at its finest. Aboard an old ship you get to drink buckets of Coronas or sip on frozen margs all day long. This place is very reminiscent of college, with a frat-like vibe and spilled drinks galore. Alas, it is a hung place to hang out with your friends during the day.

The Water Club: This place is right on the water and quite elegant inside. However, I opted to dine outside at their more laid-back outdoor bar called The Crow's Nest. Although the service seemed a bit slow, the food (compared to normal bar food) was quite delicious and their drinks were pretty good. The place has a great view of the Queensboro Bridge (much better than the trafficky view from my apt.) and boasts a great atmosphere for casual outdoor drinking.

Cabana: Located on the third floor of the mall at South Street Seaport, this Latin-themed joint knows how to throw down. They have a very extensive drink menu, complete with specialty cocktails (frozen and otherwise), wines, beers, and more. Their food is delicious (and I'm a pretty good judge if I do say so myself, having lived in Spain for a number of months) and its presentation is spectacular. Not to mention a great view overlooking the water.

Want to know all of my recommendations? Check out my article on Sheckys.com!

The 3000 Club

Lucky me, I got to go to the Yankees game last Saturday (July 9th) and saw Derek Jeter's 3000th hit (well, 2999th, 3000th, 3001st, 3002nd, and 3003rd). However, I was supposed to go to the game Friday night, which got rained out. So I had to desperately hunt down tickets Friday night for Saturday's game. All that money for nosebleed seats was definitely worth it.

In honor of Derek Jeter's 3000th career home run this past weekend, I have compiled a list of the cutest baseball players to achieve this milestone. Check out the article on Sheckys.com! Congrats DJ!