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NYC Guide

June 1, 2008

Entertainment recommendations for New York.

I have been spending a lot of time in New York over the past few months and have spent many a night walking the streets seeking the many infamous NYC vibes. Here is a list of the places I have visited and would actually recommend that others check out. Endless thanks to the friends who have showed or recommended me to these places.

Bars and Restaurants

  • Hotel Gansevoort - Smoove rooftop bar and restaurant at a super-mega-swanky hotel.
  • 230 5th Ave - The best rooftop bar I have been to in the city. Great views, gets busy early and a decent mix of people.
  • Bar 13 - Another groovy spot with a rooftop bar.
  • Sushi Samba - Very interesting Japanese Brazilian fusion menu. Nice patio overlooking 7th Ave. at Bleeker.
  • Local - Yet another rooftop bar near Madison Square Garden. They have another location on the east side, but I haven’t been there.
  • Mehanata - Also known as The Bulgarian Bar, Mehanata is a multi-cultural bar upstairs and a bricked basement dance room downstairs. Pure Slav sweetness.
  • Buddha Bar - Great ambiance, as most places in the meat packing district. The chefs are generous with the sauces over the sushi. If you like your sushi plain, I would suggest just hitting the bar. The center stage DJ starts around 8:30pm.
  • Pop Burger - Great late night spot for some tasty, yet fashionable grub.
  • Gaslight - Great place for a group to meet or for late night, otherwise it’s dead. Lot’s of couches with a bit of victorian flare.
  • STK - Ultra-swanky steakhouse in the swanky meat packing district.

Music Halls

  • Don Hill’s - Classic dive with decent local and touring talent. Caution, can get a bit seedy.
  • Knitting Factory - Another semi-dive of a place with tons of great acts. There are two halls (upstairs and downstairs), requiring separate entry fees and there is a separate bar.
  • Fontana’s - Lot’s of fun, many diverse acts. Nothing pop!
  • Fillmore - Fillmore East, as it was once called. I prefer the Fillmore in SF, but they get many great performers here.
  • Canal Room - Swank. Great sound system.

Other music halls I have yet to visit

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