M1-5 Lounge

Similar to many of Patrick Bateman's walking routes, this desolate Tribeca street seems quietly scary until you walk into M1-5 Lounge. Try this place on a weekend night and it certainly won't be quiet.

This place is huge with the main floor surfacing 5000 sq ft with 18 ft high ceilings. The lofty ceilings accentuate the lavish, red-drenched walls, but the jukebox, pool table and dartboard maintain M1-5's neighborhood tavern vibe. The club name refers to the bar's zoning code. In the 1960s, the city allowed artists to live in this light manufacturing district, given that they manufactured art. Fortunately for local artists, the place is mildly priced with $5 beers and mixed drinks. I was personally shocked at my final tab being much less than I expected.

The clientele at this venue is usually heavily female dominated as the DJ is usually spinning great dance music. Raised on a small elevated stage/platform, my last encounter he had the crowd rocking to Michael Jackson mashed up with some current rap hits.

M1-5 is an enjoyable stop if you're in Tribeca looking for something you know will be solid.


M1-5 Lounge
52 Walker St

New York, NY 10013

212-965-1701

http://www.m1-5.com/

The Little Owl

New York is great for a lot of things, but establishments with character are what I without a doubt love the most. The Little Owl is anything short of character.

This place is also not much of a secret as it is damn near impossible to get a reservation on within a 3 day window. Now, normally the places that are the "in" spot to go to end up sucking, being overpriced and having way too much 'tude for my liking. The Little Owl tries to defunk such a reputation with friendly service and a comfortable scene. Our reservation for 3 was for 9:45pm and the host told us our table was not ready yet so he was kind enough to recommend we head around the corner to AOC wine bar for a drink. We took heed of his advice and enjoyed ourselves.

Once you sit down, you have to get right into the baked clams. These things are big and delicious. I also saw the gravy meatball sliders which we passed on but I was pissed we did. I had the NY Strip which was cooked perfectly but was slightly more fatty than I would like. One of my 2 lovely dates had the crispy chicken with brussel sprout homefries, this dish was unbelievable. Everyone shared the fries and these are a must.

As a hefty eater, I was slightly underfed with the smaller portions but overall it was a great meal and reasonably priced including our wine selection.

One random cool thing to add to this cozy joint is the loft area immediately to your right when you walk in. It has seating for 2 people and you are perched a good 5 feet above the rest of the tables which is strange, but also kind of cool. The long and short of it is The Little Owl is rich with character and the food is enjoyable as well. Good luck with the res but once you secure one definitely make a stop when in the West Village.

The Little Owl
90 Bedford Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 741-4695
http://www.thelittleowlnyc.com/

Arthur's Tavern

A comedian I like named Mike Birbiglia said in an act, "usually jazz is cool...but sometime jazz can suck" and went on to berate Kenny G. Anyway, Arthur’s Tavern has the kind of jazz that doesn't suck. Located technically in the West Village because it is on the west side of 7th ave, this place has much more of a Christopher Street flavor than a swanky vibe. Entertaining New York City since 1937 this place claims to have the best live jazz and blues music in the Big Apple. The venue has been located is in a historic building for more than 60 years.

I went to meet my buddy who was walking around killing time and just bellied up at the bar and was shooting the sh*t with the very friendly bartender. This is the type joint where you feel obligated to drink some sort of whiskey and I somehow got roped into it. Beware, the place is tight so don't go with a big group just hoping to find a place to sit. I was the odd man out standing next to (read: behind) my buddy at the bar and let me tell you, I looked really cool.

Eventually we got a table and waitress service with some of our friends. This made the night much better and turned what was scheduled to be a drink in a jazz club to a 3am drunken debacle. We listened to the incredible voice of Alyson Williams.

Arthur's Tavern had me feeling right on time and it is definitely a place I need to hit up again. This jazz house is anything from sleepy Kenny G. It's worth the trip


Arthur’s Tavern
57 Grove Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 675-6879
http://www.arthurstavernnyc.com/

Sjourn

It's not everyday you find a spot with a seasonal menu let alone a daily changing menu. The Yorkville gem Sojourn has such a menu that blows away any tapas spot I've experienced. This wine bar has an eclectic taste that is a must enough if you are not a fan of the Upper East Side.

Reservations are recommended because the wine bar atmosphere keeps people sitting at their tables for longer than a traditional restaurant. The slow turnover is well justified with quality service and excellent timing/delivery on each course you've chosen. My most recent dining experience was with a party of 8 booze bags that put down 8 bottles of wine just during dinner. Normally, this would translate to a hefty bill but even the wine at Sojourn was reasonably priced.

We consumed too many delicious plates to list them all but some of my favorites were Kobe Beef Sliders, Home Made Gnocchi & Pan Roasted Scallops. The silver medal went to the Chicken Satay with yogurt curry, spicy peanut sauce & grilled pineapple. A perfect blend of salty, spicy & sweet. The cream of the crop is without a doubt the Black Pasta house-made linguini with lobster arrabiatta. Not enough words to describe.

The owner was gracious enough to talk with us for a while and even sent over several free desserts including his claimed, "best cheesecake in New York". If he wasn't right, he was pretty damn close.

Overall, great dining experience in a cool trendy scene that you would not expect to find in this neighborhood.

Soujourn

244 East 79th Street

New York 10075

(212) 537-7745

http://www.sojournrestaurant.com/

Rare View

There is probably nothing better in New York City than a Thursday outdoor happy hour in the Summer. Most people have already checked out mentally for the weekend and the evenings are usually significantly more fun than the other 9 months of Thursdays.

Everyone knows there are plenty of places to go, but Rare View at the top of the Shelburne is right up there. This Murray Hill roof deck is much more attitude free unlike some of the other roof tops in NYC that are heavily guarded by d*bag bouncers most likely from the forgotten borough. My first venture here I was wearing shorts, a t-shirt & maybe even a Phillies hat but there was no one hassling me about my attire. Once you get off the elevator you immediately see a great nightlife scene. Lots of young professionals drinking moderately priced drinks. I stuck to beer, so I can't comment on the liquor but it was reasonable considering the ridiculous view.

Almost 360 views occupied my eyes and mind for the first 20 minutes and then I realized I was not paying attention to what was a great scene. We were with a group of about 10 standing, but there are plenty of tables for sitting, none were available for our large group. Drinks were really easy to get with lots of waitresses walking around as well as several accessible bars. If you are looking to mingle Rare View has it with lots of 20somethings looking for a good time. By buddy who I went with started talking to an incredibly gorgeous girl, but it didn't work out for him and we ended up crushing pizza together a few hours later.

This place is great for a Summer night if the weather is cooperating. They also have certain parts of the roof available for private events which is nice but also a risky scheduling endeavor considering it could rain. Nonetheless, Rare View is high up on my list and you definitely have to stop in even if it is only for a drink and a few minutes of enjoying the beautiful NYC skyline.

Rare View
303 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10016
(212) 481-8439
http://www.rarebarandgrill.com/

Wild Edibles

If you want to get that down the shore fresh seafood market feeling while you are eating, Wild Edibles has to be on your list. This gets more press than Obama so you probably heard about it or walked by it in Grand Central. From Martha Stewart to Bobby Flay, this place certainly doesn't need a piker like me to write about it but I will voice my unheard opinion.

Let's talk apps, Calamari w/ Chipotle Aioli, steamed P.E.I. Mussels & the She Crab Soup. You really are good with just that but I kept going. I ordered Linguini alle Vongole Cockles, Manilla and Littleneck Clams in a Red Fra Diavolo sauce. It was delicious and I rarely don't finish my meal but w/ all the appetizers and the large portion entree I was down for the count.

This is not your romantic dinner spot nor is it the hip scene or the hot neighborhood but Wild Edibles is a solid Murray Hill staple that you should definitely hit up if you are seafood lover like myself. Enjoy.

Wild Edibles Seafood Market Oyster Bar & Restaurant

535 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10016

(212) 213-8552
http://www.wildedibles.com/

Automatic Slims

This tiny little corner bar is named after an old Willie Dixon tune, this sister bar to the one in Memphis first appears the antithesis of the swanky clubs that surround it. It proves different when the after dinner crowd rolls in. For a far West Village/Meat Packing joint this place remains pseudo attitude free and young. Unlike all the $60K millionaires that hang out at the staple Meat Packing places, Automatic Slims keeps it pretty simple with simple drinks, lots of shots & loud party music that keeps the scene rocking 'til 4am.

This place is definitely tight and if you need your "personal space", it may not be up your alley so beware before you head there. As the night gets more rowdy the dance space basically disappears and tables pushed together so don't be surprised to see the female patrons making their move to the bar top. If this is not your scene, there are tons of other options near by so the neighborhood definitely adds points.

Hit up this casual joint Friday or Saturday nights and expect to dig in for the night of good music, dancing & heaving drinking.

Automatic Slims
733 Washington St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 645-8660
http://www.automaticslims.com/