BBar is ok but it has had some ungodly smell the past few times I've been there. I don't mind solas but you will definitely have to wait in line. If you are set on the east village, maybe Bowery electric, but it's only really good if you can get downstairs the upstairs is kind of mellow

I might be wrong but I thought I heard B-Bar is a gay bar?

Im not set on what part of the city so it could be the village, midtown, whatever.

Its gona be between 8-15 people more guys than girls. I dont care about having a table, just didnt want everyone to have to wait in a long line. If they have some kind of open bar for around $40 deal that people on my list could get, that would be cool.

I know some people have mentioned copia previously, give them a call they seem to be pretty open to a per head open bar although on a saturday night it's appears to have become to the go to place for the indian crowd, not sure how that happened or that it's a bad thing just a heads up.

I read through the first three pages looking for my favorite spots to be mentioned, saw a couple were, many weren't, and realized that most people aren't reading this whole thread anyway so I'll just throw them out there again.

Top Five Bars

1) The Frying Pan (Spring/Summer Only, 26th St and the Hudson River) - It's basically a couple of boats docked just above Chelsea Piers, they serve Corona by the bucket (6 in a bucket for $36 I think), and they have a grill. I love drinking by the water, so chilling on the Hudson and drinking Corona is a good way to spend a day/night. It gets crowded, so get there early on nice Fri/Sat nights or do some day drinking on the weekend on a nice day.

2) Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, aka "The Old Beer Garden" (24th Ave and 29th St, Astoria, Queens) - There's an indoor and outdoor section, but you want to go during the summer and sit outside. On weekend nights you may need to get there a little early to get a table. The food is good, go for a brat or a sausage, and the beer and atmosphere are great too.

3) Death and Company (East 6th between 1st Ave and Ave A, East Village, Manhattan) - It's near a cluster of bars over by Tompkins Square Park, but you can walk right past it and miss it. The huge, wooden front doors are not really marked, but you'll see a doorman outside, well dressed usually, and possibly a few people waiting. They'll only let you in if there is open seating, there is no standing in this bar. It's sort of a prohibition era feel inside, although it's not quite a speakeasy, with all of the bartenders wearing three piece suits and serving up expensive, but wonderful cocktails. I like to stop in here and have one or two drinks a few times a year. The reason for the name? During prohibition, supporters of the Volstead Act said that to drink was to "live a life shadowed by death." Those who drank anyway would sometimes sarcastically toast to "Death and Company."

4) PDT aka Please Don't Tell (St. Mark's place between 1st Ave and Ave A, East Village, Manhattan) - This one is only a few blocks above Death and Co. and is a similar place. They're both tough to get into on weekend nights without a reservation, so sometimes I'll head to the area and gamble on one or the other having space. If not, there are plenty of other bars around there to kill an hour wait. You can easily miss PDT if you don't know what you're looking for. You have to go into a hot dog shop (Crif's Dogs) and look for a phone booth on your left, likely with some people milling around it. Walk in, pick up the phone and they'll answer on the other side and let you in or take your name. The wall opens up into a door and you're in. Inside the feel is similar to Death and Co, but slightly less upscale. You can also order hot dogs from Crif's, which get passed through a hole in the wall. Last time I was there, on a first or maybe second date, the date saw Scarlett Johansson in the corner and didn't tip me off. Terrible job by her.

5) The Garden at Studio Square, aka "The New Beer Garden" (36th St near 36th Ave, Long Island City, Queens) - Don't let the LIC address scare you, this area is more or less considered part of Astoria. This is a bigger, newer, cleaner version of the original, with less of that old world feel. The beer selection is awesome and they have some cool events. Last summer I went to a pig roast there with David Burke serving up some cool dishes at a reasonable flat rate price, all you could eat and drink.

Restaurants

I'm a bit of a foodie, but on a budget, so I can't speak to some of the high end places... But, I have been to some unique spots, so I'll list those.

1) Les Halles (Multiple Locations) - This is Anthony Bourdain's old place, he's still listed in name only, but I doubt he stops in very often. Regardless, it's a meat lover and steak lover's paradise. It's also cheaper than you'd expect, IMO. No dish is more than $30, except those that are servings for two. The Planche de Grillades is a great sampler, with lamb chop, hanger steak, merguez, steak, thick cut bacon,french fries, and provençal dressing. It's $28 for one, $56 for two. I liked everything but the merguez, and the steak (sirloin, I believe) was my favorite. I've gone with the sirloin on all future visits, but the thick cut bacon is always missed. There's a french beer on the menu that's pretty good, too.

2) Kabob Cafe (Steinway St and 25th Ave, Astoria, Queens) - This place was actually featured on Bourdain's Outerboroughs episode and it's a 10 minute walk from my place so I had to check it out. Ali is the chef and it's all Egyptian food. It's only got four or five tables, and Ali will come and talk to you and explain what is on the menu that day. By menu, I really just mean he'll ask you some questions and give you some options. He'll ask you what meat you want (I think he has vegetarian options too), then make a suggestion. We always go with the suggestion and we've never been disappointed. He'll suggest a few different dishes to go with it, it's family style servings, and you can pick and choose. It is a bit adventurous (we tried duck testicles last time we were there), but 90% of the things I tried were delicious. He'll also explain the cultural significance of some foods as he brings them out, which is awesome.

3) Cafe Lalo (83rd St and Amsterdam Ave, Upper West Side, Manhattan) - This is the cafe that was in You've Got Mail, when they're waiting outside for the blind date setup. It's a great dessert spot, with probably about 200 different dessert options on the menu. The regular foods are pretty eccentric, with a lot of healthy options and some different/random ethnic offerings. They supposedly have great coffee too, although I can't vouch for that. It's a great spot to take a date for dessert, because girls probably like that movie and it's also not too far from a park where you can walk along the Hudson (although that walk is a little creepy at night, because you don't walk through parks in NYC at night...).

On my to do list over the next few months is trying some different Chinese spots in Flushing, which I hear has more authentic Chinese food than the Chinatown in Manhattan. I also want to hit one of the top steak places - Peter Luger's or Wolfgang's... And I want to try some good Italian places. I really, really, really want to eat at Rao's, but it's literally impossible. 8-10 tables, one seating per night, Monday to Friday only and the tables have owners each night. Translation? You can call and call, but you pretty much can't get a reservation.

I've seen this before and it's awesome! Definitely worth a watch.


My roommates and I have been considering moving for awhile, and there are some good deals to be found in FiDi. I was into it, they didn't want to live there because it's not exactly a bar/restaurant hotspot and not a cool area to live if you're young. I was trying to sell them on two big bonuses - a lot of the subway lines come together down there, so you can get anywhere in Manhattan pretty quickly and the South Street Seaport isn't a bad area and is nearby.

We're probably going to stay in Astoria, though. We love it. We're on the very last stop of the N/Q, and it's still only about 20 minutes into 59th and Lex, and no more than 40-45 to most places. The tradeoff is we have a lot more space for the cost (2100 for a 3 bedroom with a big living room and a small, but decent enough kitchen) and we have a quiet neighborhood. There are also tons of cool restaurants and bars in Astoria, which is very ethnically diverse. Greek, Italian and a variety of Middle Eastern cuisines are all nearby...

Do you ever go to the creek and cave? Been going there to catch the weekly comedy and it's pretty awesome

I've never been, I actually hadn't heard of it - it's pretty far away down by Hunter's Point, right? When is the weekly comedy night? Maybe I'll check it out soon.

hey guys

so I'm thinking of taking a long time off from poker and living in NYC with my friends.

I was planning to move in around April/May, my friend mentioned that NYU gets out around mid-May and that it's possible to get really good deals on apartments because of students leaving etc.

Do you guys know if this is true and if it applies to good apartments that are around the 2-4k cost?

Thanks!

I'm hoping to live in lower east village, Death and Co. is my type of bar and it'd be great to walk there and back inebriated

ummm no its not.

it depends what you think a good deal is. nyu is such a small and minute % of pop that kids moving out hardly affects the real estate pricing in the area at all. how much are you looking to spend on your apt for rent should be your first question, and then you can go from there and start looking.

you can find a decent one bedroom for around 2K in the area.

whats your budget?

I'm hoping to find either a 2 bedroom for 3-3500 or a 3bedroom for 4-5k

UWSers get yourself to Jacobs Pickles, Beer and Biscuits immediately. Loved it. Tweeted about it and compared it to Meatball Shop and the Meatball Shop guys tweeted back, felt a little bad because Meatball Shop is my favorite place in the city and although this place rocks, its no Meatball Shop.

Thanks for the rec. Been meaning to stop in there, checked out the menu a while ago and I can definitely get down with some small batch bourbon and biscuits.

I'm loving the new batch of places that have opened up recently

I just set up a double date with two girls and a friend of mine. i'm going to take them out for dinner then hopefully some post meal activity/dessert, i was wondering if anyone could give recommendations.


the company other than myself are fashion school grads/students who have lived here for couple of years, while ive only been in the area for 6 months or so. so i imagine they're familiar with most restaurants so i'd like to take them out to place with a good mood/atmosphere that they haven't been to. any good spots to look out for? budget isn't much of an issue but keep in mind it's a first "date". thanks again

Prepare yourself properly for NYC. I wasn't. You pay more here to get into an apartment (first, last, and deposit), much more when you include finder fees if you have them, and they expect local references including job references.

Just a heads up. It caught me by surprise coming here from Florida. Down there it was a deposit and you're in if you're breathing.

wtf

i need local and job references to rent a place?

You should be able to negotiate to pay 2 months security or more rent up front. When i first moved i had to pay 4 months up front + 2 months security because I'm not a US citizen

Kittichai at the Thompson Hotel, then up to the Thompson for cocktails?

A place like Spitzers on the Lower East Side may also be a cool place for a first date. Has a vibe that fashion students may like, is not overly expensive, and has good food/drink. Then maybe head to Stanton Social or one of the other 50 places to get a drink within a few blocks.

If you're looking for a place that only does dessert, go to either Chikalicious or Spot Dessert Bar. Expect a wait if you go to Chikalicious with 4 people. Both of these are in the EV so there's tons of places to eat before and drink after.

You can also consider some of the more clubby options like Saxon + Parole, Beauty and Essex, etc

Maybe im old school, but that place just gives me the creeps. that place , the salon they put on ludlow and stanton , (pimps and pinups) and that quality inn hotel they put, have really changed the look of ludlow to me. Me and my friends concede that the neighborhood is not ours anymore (yuppies/hipsters have taken much better care of it) , but i think maintaining some of the old new york feel to it would be better in in the long run. Next thing i know they will be putting an american apparel on orchard street.. ohh wait.

I wouldn't go to stanton social it's too loud for a first date.

I suggest Yuca bar on 7th / A. Some of the best sangria i've had and chick love sangria. I think im 3/3 on first dates there

thanks for the recommendations guys. Kittichai and Yuca bar seem to have the right romantic atmosphere, the girls aren't sure as to what they'd like to eat, so i'll continue my search. any ideas on activities? you guys have been a great help

You could also try The Smith on 11/3rd it has a wide variety of non offensive foods and has a good atmosphere. Then maybe Angel Share (8th/Stuyvesant) afterwards for a cocktail or PDT (st marks [8th street] bw 1st and 2nd) both are close by and have good atmosphere PDT is better but they can be dicks letting people in.

Thanks! Sorry, I overlooked this the last time I visited the thread since I wasn't quoted.

Basically... I have no idea what I am doing. I rented a sublet in BK after visiting my sister for the holidays while still on the return leg of my Prague EPT/WPT quest. Then, one of my best friends had a room open up in the LES, and since you have to live in Manhattan once in your life, I figured why not now? I was living out of a suitcase for 6 weeks, and I just finally went back to MI to drive a truck out with a bed/furniture and all my guitars and home studio.

Seeing as this is now pretty much the worst city on earth to be a pro poker player in, I am mostly focusing on building my coaching business for poker related income. Otherwise, I am spending a lot of time working on music, trying to meet as many creative people as I can, figuring out a way I can make myself a marketable commodity outside of the poker world, learning how to love, and doing my best to keep my demons at bay.

Hope the city is treating you well, sir.