The Premium Life

Front Door

Picking a first date place is always hard.  Especially in a city with thousands upon thousands of choices.  It was a Thursday night in the middle of February and I had to do just that—decide my first date avenue of choice.  Luckily, a friend (and by friend, I mean, person who was drinking at my apartment with my roommates) told me of this “really great speakeasy” in the West Village, which “was always good on a Thursday”.  Many times when I trust a random stranger with my after hours plans; I end up bumping booties with overly tan men in the Meatpacking District.  So, I was pleasantly surprised when I met my date on the corner of 7^th avenue and Leroy Street, in front of a non-descript brown door with a small gold placard that read “Little Branch”.

Fortunately for myself and the man of the hour, it was a balmy-ish February night, for Little Branch was exactly one would expect a speakeasy to be like—in the middle of nowhere.  Many would pass Little Branch up as being nothing of importance, but the small queue at the door almost gave it away.  However, unlike many of the establishments frequented by the Manhattan glitterati, this line was not because the bouncer was a big burly hard-ass with an affinity for douchebags carrying black cards and the plastic breasted women that love them, but because the establishment itself was so tiny, it was literally a fire hazard to have over 35 patrons.

Waiting in line among the dirty snow beds with wind whipping through my freshly blown out tresses proved to strangely be perfect first date material.  We bonded over the crisp winter air and conversation was never at a loss—perhaps because if we stopped speaking we would realize that we were standing outside in 30-degree weather.  Once inside, the thirty-minute wait was out of mind as we descended the stairs into a warmly lit basement space.  A live band was playing jazz in a nook to the side of the room.  There were couples sipping cocktails at tables in the back behind a friendly hostess and others were crowded around mahogany stools scattered in front of the small bar.   We put our names down for a table, but unfortunately, never made it that far.  I’m not a lightweight, but after two of Little Branch’s expertly made cocktails, I was pretty much done for the night. Read more »

The South Street Seaport surely invokes visions of dreaded tourists dancing in your head. Before I moved down to this neighborhood I felt the EXACT same way. I was so close to SoHo, TriBeCa and the West Village – why would I dream of hanging out in a neighborhood that is overrun with fake Coach handbag carrying Midwesterners and the guys who sell them?

Well, when you’re facing a fifteen minute walk to the 4 train in the dead of winter on a rainy Saturday night in a leather mini-skirt, 4” stilettos and a sleeveless shirt you’ll begin to think differently. At first I would jump on the train at all hours and head to Marquee or Cain in an attempt to catch Lindsay Lohan make her clothes disappear or to verbally abuse reflective sunglass-wearing guidos. The following winter at the Seaport something changed – I grew up – and began to explore the area. Would I really want to date some guy who hangs out at those “hotspot” clubs and lounges on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night anyway? Not anymore.

Once a good friend of mine moved into 45 Wall Street we began exploring since we had each other and were always too cold to head uptown. Now keep in mind that we didn’t hang out at the actual Seaport, we headed a block west and north of the Seaport – this hidden gem of an area begins on the corner of Front Street and Beekman Street.

On the corner of Front and Beekman you will come across Salud Restaurant and Bar, a homey Spanish tapas spot that has knock-you-out coconut mojitos, live Cuban music on Thursday nights and fantastic happy hour specials that attract lots of the AIG men. I’ve never had a bad time here, but then again, I don’t think I’ve managed to leave sober – the drinks are so addictive you can’t have just one!

Next door to Salud, towards Water Street, is Fresh Salt. It’s one of the neighborhood’s best kept secrets. It’s a borderline divey, nautical-themed bar/restaurant that’s jam-packed with local businesspeople and natives who are attracted to the dimly lit interior, fresh munchies, drink specials and late night hours without the tourists.

On the other side of Salud on Front Street is Stella Maris, a dark and sexy Irish Restaurant and Bar that serves lots of traditional cuisine and seafood. After work it’s a bit of a meat market scene – married men tend to congregate at the bar and always offer to pay our tab – not that we’ve ever minded this. While disapproving single women in corporate wear shoot nasty looks in our direction … it’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it. The wine list is impressive and the pours – well, they’re even better!

Diagonally across the street from Stella Maris is Bin 220, a cozy, mellow and romantic Italian wine bar. A local fave – Bin 220 is not only a fab date spot, but you can also converse with friends or clients without being interrupted or hit on – which can be very annoying when you’re frantically searching for a chilled out evening. Read more »

I found this article in the September 4, 2009, edition of AM NewYork newspaper. Had to share the wealth! I am definitely going to check out The Empire Room since it’s right near my office and will report back on my findings!

BY ALEXIS KORMAN Special to amNewYork

From a stylish club in Chelsea to a Coney Island-themed bar near Union Square, there’s no shortage of nightlife spots opening in early fall. Here’s the scoop.

Forty Eight

1221 Sixth Ave.,

at 48th St.,

212-554-4848 (Recently opened)

This lounge is located in the McGraw-Hill buildingnear Rockefeller Center, making it a swanky spot for after-work cocktails. On weekends, a DJ gets partygoers moving in this modern space adorned with Swarovski crystal light fixtures. “We hope that we’ll get to serve NYC’s local influencers and late-night partygoers,” said co-owner Brian Packin.

Brinkley’s

406 Broome St., at Cleveland Pl.,

no phone yet (Opens Sept. 7)

Anthony and Tom Martignetti have replaced their shuttered eatery Bar Martignetti with this relaxed English bar. Brinkley’s plans to serve pub grub (from former Kingswood chef Ben Towell) and, of course, plenty of suds on tap. Two TVs will be in place to show games. Read more »

Last week I headed off to Chicago for a family wedding. I used to head to “Chi-town” quite often, when I was a student at the University of Wisconsin Madison. I have always viewed this bustling metropolis as one of the most under rated cities in the US, offering its guests awe-inspiring architecture, swinging jazz and delectable dining. These gifts often go unnoticed as the jet set tend to favor New York and LA over the Windy City, which becomes inhospitable in the winter months.

This week the Windy City once again found a warm spot in my heart…I encourage you to give it a chance, if it hasn’t found a special place in your heart.

Although our itinerary was, for the most part, consumed by wedding festivities, we did sneak in some low-brow, high quality eats.

My sister came across an article a few months back in the New York Times on Mado. It is located in Wicker park, an upcoming area with some breathe taking residential apartments.

The restaurant is BYOB but they recommend Red & White, a chic wine store, down a few blocks. He staff was charming and extremely helpful as they are very familiar with the Mado menu. Read more »

While the LES has blossomed into one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city over the last decade, known for its grungy-chic style and booming nightlife, Oliva has been a staple for locals that crave the Latino flavor.

 Situated on Houston and Allen, the bustling corner generates fascinating people watching and heavy city traffic but when you step foot into Oliva the warm and infectious Latino vibe whisks you away for an evening of spice and passion…

 In business for over ten years, this family owned restaurant must be doing something right! Whether you’re seated at the long communal table or opt for a spot at the cozy bar, the combination of the freshly made cocktails, the scrumptious dishes and the live beats make it the ultimate One Stop Shop!

 Luckily the bartenders have mastered muddling the mojitos in a timely manner, the made- to-order Brazilian cocktails and refreshing white and red sangria are in high demand. If it is a night of scandalous behavior and tequila shots are in order don’t forget to sip the homemade Sangrita, a spicy tomato based chaser, to tame the burn of the shot.

 The menu includes hardy traditional tapas such as Croquetas de Jamon, Serrano ham fritters, Gambas al Ajillo, sautéed shrimp with garlic and olive oil, Chorizo a La Plancha, Albondigas, meatballs in a tomato sauce.

 Some of my favorite entrees range from the Grilled Skirt Steak- the perfect balance of charred and juicy sliced meat, served with crisp potato bravas, watercress and Dijon mustard. The Seafood Paella, served with fresh shrimp, mussels, calamari, and clams in a fragrant saffron rice with sautéed tomatoes is a perfect dish to share. There is an excellent vegetarian option, a whole Grilled Artichoke served with white beans, mushrooms, green beans sautéed in paprika oil. Save room for a taste of the velvety Vanilla Bean Flan with morello cherries.

 Oliva kicked off a weekend brunch menu just a few years ago and it has been a real crowd pleaser. For $15 bucks you get an entrée with the choice of coffee, tea or a cocktail. The kitchen serves up some Spanish favorites such as Huevos Rancheros and Basque Eggs, three eggs baked in terracotta with piperade & chorizo served with potato bravas. On the sweeter side, the Whole Grain Pancakes with Walnuts & Bananas are hardy with great texture and are served with pure maple and fresh fruit.

 The live music enhances the elusion that you are on holiday. Every  night there is a mix of Latin bands playing  (Sunday -Thursday from 8:30- 11:30pm and Friday-Saturday 11pm-2am). On Thursday evenings,  Yuca Seca band performs traditional Afro-Cuban Latin rythms. The restaurant is usually packed with not much room to linger but that doesn’t stop random patrons from getting up from their tables to dance the night away to the beat of the drums.

This LES haven is right on point– the flavors, the inviting ambience, and the reasonable prices make it an ideal option for any occasion. Especially for a date spot, Oliva was voted the Best date restaurant in 2007 Citysearch Best Of.

 For more information on Oliva or to make a reservation visit their website, www.olivanyc.com . To organize you next experience please contact us at www.premiumlg.com

As the summer months draw near, music lovers are once again getting ready for one of the premier music festivals in the New York metro area:  All Points West Music and Arts Festival. The festival’s name is inspired by the historical events that occurred at Liberty State Park, Ellis Island and the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal (CRRNJ) located on the festival site. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the now abandoned Central Railroad Station at Liberty State Park served as the gateway for immigrants on their journey into the United States as they embarked across the country to ALL POINTS WEST.

This year’s festival will take place on July 31 through August 2nd at Liberty State Park and the line up will include The Beastie Boys, Coldplay, Echo and The Bunnymen, Tool, My Bloody Valentine and many others.  You can buy single day tickets or three days passes to attend the whole weekend.  If you are looking for VIP access, please make sure you let us know by contacting us on our website. 

ALL ABOARD!