July FourPlay

Is Miss America looking to sing the Star Spangled Banner with her American Boy ’til the dawn’s early light on July 4? Well  here are some date ideas from sea to shining sea (and by that I mean from the Hudson to the East River) to keep your date exciting.

• First & Foremost, Fireworks:
  – Let’s start with New York’s classic Macy’s Fireworks. While there are plenty of options with a price tag, there are also some great free ways to let sparks fly. Couldn’t find Captain America with a West Side Penthouse Apartment in time for Wednesday? Hang in there. TimeOut New York recommended a couple of great free viewing ideas that I could share. First, they mention to take note that the Waterfront Parks and the Highline are closed. The closest (& free-est) way you can see on 12th Ave at 24th, 26th to 30th, 34th, 40th to 44th, 47th to 52nd and 54th to 57th Streets. Bar/Restaurant recommendations from TimeOut include, Pier I Cafe or the Boat Basin Cafe (no brainer!).
  – I would also recommend Le Bain, The Brass Monkey (caution: their roof is itsy-bitsy) or The Dream Hotel to have a rooftop fireworks experience. Looking to stay grounded? Then check out The Rusty Knot or The Frying Pan (if you can stand the crowds, or plan on camping out all day, which may be grueling for a date).
  – Sports & Sparks: Can a date be sporty & romantic at the same time? Yes! There are a couple of baseball games around the city (sporty) that end with fireworks (romantic!). On July 3, the Mets/Phillies 7:10 PM game will end with fireworks. Your girl is  not quite in the major leagues just yet? Then check out the Brooklyn Cyclones or Staten Island Yankees July 4 games, both of which will end with a bang!

• Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: If a perfect 4th of July means to you watching Joey Chestnut gobble down hot dogs, then Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is definitely up your alley. Believe it or not, there are qualifying events all around the country to bring the best and the boldest hot dog eaters to Coney Island, NY. So, if you and your lady are looking to relish in the event, then head to Coney Island (on the corner of Surf Ave & Stillwell Ave) to check out the woman take on the dogs at 11:30 AM, or see what separates the top dogs from the puppies at 12 noon. Either way, this date will be a memorable one.

• Looking for a Wet Hot American 4th of July? Then head to one of the many fantastic pools around the city. The Bible recently released a directory of outdoor pools around the city that give you a perfect way to cool off, so your date doesn’t take a leap off the high dive! The pool recommendations range from a casual town pool (like McCarren Park Pool) to a chic roof top pool (like Grace Bar). No matter what you are looking for, this listing has it all for you & your mermaid.

• More of a Beach Babe?
  – Then take a day trip with your man to many of the city’s great beaches–that are merely a train ride away! Some city recommendations to definitely take a dip, are the Rockaways, Breezy Point, and Coney Island.
  – Looking to skip the city limits? Then head to Long Island or New Jersey for a beach day. If you can stand the crowds & the long trip (& have enough to talk about with your man) then take the Long Island Railroad to the Hamptons. Looking for less of a commitment? Take the LIRR to Long Beach, which will take you from night to day with the sunny beaches & the great bar/resto scene post your 4th of July sunburn.
  – More of a Jersey girl? Then head to Sandy Hook or Asbury Park. Both of which are easily accessible by train with your flip flops & your fella in tow.
• Looking to Party with Your Uncle Sam?
  – Head to the Beekman Beer Garden where you can sip drinks, play ping pong, or just enjoy the waterfront view with your starry-eyed lady. The beer garden is perfect day or night & has a lot of space, so you can switch up the look & feel of your date, just by venturing to another section of the locale.
  – Another option is the Pier 92 Rooftop Beach Party. This all day celebration will have you & your Miss America dancing & drinking all day long. Headlining the event is Lil Jon (haven’t heard that in a while!) & Wyclef Jean. Tickets for General Admission are $55, with prices skyrocketing after that.

There are plenty of great options to spend the 4th with your Yankee Doodle Dandy all around the city & neighboring locales! Any option will have him singing America, the Beautiful & turn your July 4th date into one that will last well into the summer!

Hudson Clearwater–The West Village Hide & Seek

Hudson Clearwater
Location: 447 Hudson St. (entrance on Morton St.)
Reservations? Yes (reservations@hudsonclearwater.com)
Type of Date: Show Her that Love is Thicker than Water

So you’ve already conquered the speakeasy bar scene with your man between The Back Room and the Tippler…but now it’s time for you & your lady to move from just drinks to a full-on dinner, at Hudson Clearwater. This little restaurant is the West Village’s version of hide & seek. No matter how hard it tries to hide, and trust me it is not easy to find, the more you want to seek it out. Hudson Clearwater is that good. And if you are good enough to find this hidden gem, then it is sure to leave your date wondering what else you have hiding up your sleeve for the rest of the night.

How to Find the Hiding Spot…
The entrance is actually on the north side of Morton Street between Hudson (closer to the Hudson side) and Greenwich. Walk down the street, to the demure forest green door that opens into their beautiful garden patio. Then lead your lady up the stairs, and walk into the hidden masterpiece of Hudson Clearwater.

Seek & You Will Find…

• Reservations: are key to a successful date at Hudson Clearwater, otherwise you will be waiting for a long, long time. Reservations are handled by email (reservations@hudsonclearwater.com) and you can email up to two weeks in advance of the reservation you are looking to book. You have the option to sit indoors, or if the weather is beautiful (just like you tenderoni), then try to snag outdoor seating in their garden patio.
• A phenomenal menu: anxiously awaits your arrival. Come hungry, every item on the menu (and I don’t say that everywhere) is delish! And the prices are so reasonable, that you should definitely take advantage of sharing appetizers and/or desserts on your date. Your stomach, and your man, will thank you! Also, Hudson Clearwater has a great Brunch menu that is sure to please all of you serial brunchers out there.
• A delicious & affordable wine list: need I say more?
• Hidden Seating: The restaurant is segmented into three different pieces. There is a bar & seating area when you first venture in. Then walk down a flight of stairs and there is a section mainly for smaller reservation parties. And take one more flight down, and there is a hidden table tucked under the staircase where a large party can dine. Perfect for a birthday party, or just a girls night out.

Now, Hudson Clearwater already has the speakeasy, West Village location, decor & menu on it’s side…what else could you possibly want? Other than that pretty little lady (obviously). The crowd!

The crowd at Hudson Clearwater is ecelectic, vibrant & provides for great people watching (one of my favorite past times and a perfect conversation piece for those first couple of dates). One night, upon being seated at Hudson Clearwater, who was my table neighb? None other than, Amy Poehler! I mean how many times do you have the opportunity to watch Amy Poehler get a little whacky and play with a restaurant’s curtains? Yes, you heard me correctly. She played with the curtains. Definitely a conversation piece, to say the least.

So seek, and you shall find not only a perfect hidden date spot; but also, a guaranteed next date. Hudson Clearwater’s atmosphere, menu & crowd is sure to show that your love runs thicker than water.

Bedlam–Alphabet City Love Potion

Bedlam
Location: 40 Avenue C
Reservations? No
Type of Date: Bats in the Belfry, Butterflies in Your Stomach & Canned Heat in Your Heels

Sigmund Freud once said, “One is very crazy when in love.” And for all of us lovers & loved (or not so loved) out there, we all know that nothing could be more true. From a very early age we learn that love makes us crazy with rhymes like, “he loves me, he loves me not” and remedies like, “if she’s mean to you, she likes you.” Then fast forward to your 20s and you’re throwing Bottles at Chris Brown (with Tony Parker in tow), letting him know that you got the love of his life. You get the point…

Love makes you do crazy things.
So allow me introduce you to one of my favorite crazy places…
Bedlam–\ˈbed-ləm\– (n) –a lunatic asylum.

On the outside, Bedlam appears to be your average Alphabet City haunt, but step inside and you are taken back in time to a mixture of a 19th Century Parlor and London’s psychiatric institution–formally named Bethlehem Royal Hospital, and most famously known as Bedlam. Bedlam’s centerpiece is a mounted moose  which is surrounded by walls filled with newspaper clippings, old-school anatomy prints and Victorian-era novels. So at least, if you are having an awful time there (which is impossible), you have plenty of reading material!

The atmosphere is warm and cozy, with a touch of crazy–perfect combination. Want the warm and cozy? Then cozy up to your man on the leather couches. For some more privacy, head to the back room where there is plenty of seating. Want the touch of crazy? Then get on the dancefloor. Now. Call me crazy, but the DJ has the ability to read minds, and provides the perfect Love Potion Playlist (or dare I say, looney-tunes) to keep your date clicking their heels all night long.

Step into the Bedlam, and forget who you are, why you are there…and if it is that kind of night, perhaps who you came with. After all, we all have to go a little crazy sometimes.

If we weren’t all crazy, we’d just go insane.
– Jimmy Buffet

50 Shades of–Grey Dog

Grey Dog
Location: Various
Reservations? No
Type of Date: The Dog Days are Over, Time for Some Puppy Love

So he’s taken you out on plenty of night-time dates, but now it’s time for the vampire test…can he survive a date during the daytime? Grey Dog is your perfect pick,  delicious and no frills. And, it is sure to clear up the grey area of your top dog’s true intentions.

While every dog has it’s day, Grey Dog is great every day, for brunch, lunch or a casual dinner. Everything on the menu is sure to satisfy with their PHENOMENAL sandwich selection. Between the pulled pork wrap, varieties of turkey & brie (my fave!)…or even the classic PB&J–Grey Dog has plenty of bark to go with it’s delicious bite.

Looking to channel Anthony Michael Hall & Molly Ringwald? Well Grey Dog is perfect for your Breakfast Club, with breakfast is available until 3PM! And some breakfast dishes are available all day. The food is fabulous, and the price is right. You can treat your lady, or she can treat you, without going woof! when the bill comes!

And while the good food is key for a good date (duh!), the atmosphere is equally as important. Grey Dog channels a rustically warm and cozy atmosphere, staying true to their 1996 roots that they pride themselves on. Grey Dog’s various locations have a mixture of a hip West Village hot spot with exposed brick walls, yet sustains the local coffee shop cool with chalkboard menus hanging from the walls.

If the date goes well, then name him Best in Show, and start planning for your next date! Didn’t pass the vamp-test? Then put him in to the dog house and move on to the next hush puppy.

Hotel Chantelle–Show Him Your Inner Femme Fatale

Hotel Chantelle
Location: 92 Ludlow St.
Reservations? Yes
Phone: (212) 254-9100
Type of Date: Such a thing as deja vu? Let’s see if he can replay a date as great as #2.

He just asked you on Date #3. So, clearly you’ve conquered this NYC Napolean. Now it’s time to seal the deal and become his LES date du jour at Hotel Chantelle.

Hotel Chantelle is a three-tiered savoir-faire that is sure to make your monsieur keep on coming back for more. The main floor is modeled as a French World War II Safe House (per the Bible), and always keeps you guessing what scene you will walk in to next. It may be a quiet night with some people sitting at the bar, a night of speed dating, or even burlesque!   It really plays a full hand when it comes to surprising it’s guests (and can definitely make your date interesting depending on the night).

Once you finish up your drinks in the main bar, it is time to choose your own adventure with your agent provocateur–hit the roof, or hit the club. And trust me, neither will disappoint.

Rooftop:
The rooftop is perfect for all seasons, with a retractable roof and beautifully designed “it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white” tiles. If you get to the roof early enough with your date, you can bon appetit with your man. Hotel Chantelle offers the creme de la creme, with a french inspired menu and a great drink list to get your date started off right. Upon sitting at the tables, you will see that they are all glass with flowers and greenery within the table (definitely a great conversation piece). Once you are all done with dinner, the rooftop transforms. The Haute Couture come out to play, while the DJ spins the night away.

Lounge:
Looking for a change of scenery? Then head to the Velvet Underground where you can feel the joie de vivre pulling you down the stairs to your fellow enfant terribles. Curl up a little closer to your man on the leather couches or dance the night away to the DJ’s infectious playlist. The music will keep you and your man on the dance floor of this Moulin Rouge all night long. The lounge perfectly completes the menage a trois of the Hotel Chantelle (roof, bar & lounge). No matter your choice you are sure to impress your belle; not to mention the fact that it is practically 3 dates in 1!

Looking to stage a coup, and keep her wanting more? Then look no further to Hotel Chantelle.

Mood Music–Because You Need a Weekend Soundtrack

So whether or not he has called….or she has texted, you need some mood music to get pumped up for the weekend. Yes, that’s right, Friday is finally here.

Ugh, it’s been a whole week and still no call! As Jigga would say, On to the Next One! If you haven’t heard from that fine (or not so fine) young thing…no big deal. Head to the Westway or CV at the Rivington whose remedy is perfect for you. Get dolled up and dance the night away. Because if he hasn’t called yet, there is someone anxiously awaiting you at these clubs that is going to!

Texting all week?! Plans for tonight!!? Then time to get flossy and glossy. As Billy Ocean would say, Get out of my dreams, get into my car (or cab, or subway, or bus). Enjoy your date and remember try to get a place that you haven’t been before. Find a conversation piece location, and since it’s summer, sit outside! Plenty of people watching (giving you more to talk about) and warm weather always makes it easier for some one to warm up to you.

Gran Electrica–Dim the Lights & Let Sparks Fly…Show Him You’re Electric

Gran Electrica 
Location: 5 Front St (Brooklyn)
Reservations: No
Telephone: (718) 852-2789
Type of Date: Time to Give Him that Electric Feel

Now before you get started reading this post, here is a little soundtrack for your enjoyment.

So you’ve been Brooklyn dodgin’ him for date #3, but then he asks you to rock down to Electric Avenue (or Front Street) to Gran Electrica. So obviously, you must oblige.

Snuggled close to the Brooklyn Bridge, Gran Electrica is guaranteed to turn up the voltage for date #3. It is so beautifully decorated with glossy brick walls, walls of potted plants & a cute back garden. There will definitely be plenty to talk about. One of my favorite eye-catching pieces is the wallpaper. Dia de los muertos chic skeletons don the walls–dancing on carousels & dressed in handle bar moustaches (a.k.a. Brooklyn skeletons). It’s hilarious, and the longer you look at it, the more you find.

There are plenty of ways to shock him (like an electric-a eel) with potential menu choices like pig head stew and lengua (or tongue) tacos (scary!). If you go that route, your date will be like an higher class/delicious version of Fear Factor (not recommended as first date food choices).  But there is a variety of other choices–tacos, quesadillas & flautas filled with chorizo, chiles,  porks, potatoes, fish…and more. Also, there is a “mariscos” section on the menu with amazing seafood options. Don’t want this date to end? Then grab some postres and keep your sweet tooth & him wanting more.

Looking to spice up your date? Then try one of their many spicy margaritas, they will make your mouth, and your man, go va-va-voom. As The Bible wrote in their recent review, if all of this doesn’t ‘tickle your taco’ then check out their recently opened back garden. Donned in black and candles, you are sure to electric-slide a little closer to your girl in this quaint jardin. Looking for some post-date plans? Then take your girl on a night time walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, there is nothing more romantic for a city girl, than a beautiful view of a lit up skyline.

So plug it in, change his world and show your a Gran Electric-a girl.

The Back Room–Speak-Easy on the Eyes in the Lower East Side

The Back Room
Location: 102 Norfolk St
Reservations? No
Phone: (212)-228-5098
Type of Date: Guaranteed to go from speaking easy to pillow talk

You’ve already grabbed dinner at Son’s of Essex or The Pink Pony and hit up a show at Rockwood. So now, it is time for me to share with you my favorite LES trick up my sleeve, The Back Room. The Back Room is one of the most tucked away bars in Manhattan. You literally need a map to find this hidden treasure. So now it’s time for dateswithkates to take you on guided tour to The Back Room, and when we are finished, X will mark your newest favorite date spot.

In the words of Nappy Roots, Let’s Begin Now (click!)….because this is gonna be a good date.

1. Hand in hand with your haute lil mama, start on the corner of Rivington and Norfolk.

2. Walk south on Norfolk towards Delancy.

3. As you walk down Norfolk you will walk past Nurse Bettie (you are very close).

• Quick Nurse Bettie plug–this is a great bar for quick drink & a whacky time.  This 1950’s Pin Up girl themed bar is small, but packs a lot of punch. Great bartenders & drink specials…and the punch that it packs you ask?…burlesque (on Weds & Thurs nights). Follow @nursebettienyc on twitter and they will give you code words for drink specials!

4. Now keep your eyes peeled, for a small gate (click on “Street View” on the map) that says, “Lower East Side Toy Co.”

5. Open the gate and walk down the cement steps. Shady, I know…but don’t you love it!? And now for sure, if you didn’t already, you definitely have his (or her) attention.

• Disclaimer: if your date came off slightly creepy during dinner, then don’t go here. I am literally about to lead you down a dark alley…and I don’t want to loose DWK followers!

6. Walk through the cement alley way until you see another metal door, metal stairs & antique toy trucks at the top of the stairs (No, you are not being punked).

7. Walk up the metal stairs to a door with a grated mouth (you are so close, you can almost taste prohibition)…

8. Open. It.

9. And you will be greeted by velvet couches, wooden banisters and a warmly lit bar calling your name.

As if you haven’t already impressed your date with this find, head to the bar and order a couple of drinks. Beers are served in bottles covered in paper bags & mixed drinks are served in tea cups.  Either grab a seat at the bar, or walk up the steps to the back area where you can cozy up on the red velvet. You are sure to get another date after taking your PYT here, sheerly because they are wondering what other tricks are up those very exciting sleeves of yours.

The significance of the Back Room, you ask? As you walk to the back of the bar, you will find a bookshelf that doubles as a door. Don’t even try to go back there. Many have tried, none have succeed. I don’t think even KimYe could get in there (thank god!).

So what are you waiting for? Grab your man & your map and start on this LES hidden treasure hunt.

Dater beware:

• 25 & older on the weekends.
• If, and only if, you really like your lady/lad, do I recommend revealing The Back Room. This find is too good to show just anybody.

Cinco de My-Oh-My What Beautiful Eyes You Have

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo (& the Derby)! And like the PYT you are, plenty of one-liners are coming your way. So, get ready for a warm up of one-line recommendations of Cinco de Mayo Hot Spots

• Mex Fest at the Seaport: (Time: 12 PM –  7  PM) Pier 16, 80 South St.
  Get your cinco de drinko food truck fix and take your chico down to the Seaport. General Admission ($22) includes Entry, 2 Vouchers, Sombrero and Mustache!
• Fiesta en el Rio: (Time: 12 PM –  5 PM) Pier 81, W. 41st St
  Lucha libre wrestling & cervezas?! Get your senorita in a cab! This $15 in advance, $20 at the door party has music, food & drinks…and wrestling to keep this Fiesta going.
• No Fun (Time: 11 AM – 4 AM) 161 Ludlow
  This LES hotspot will be greeting you with open arms, Don Julio & Dos Equis…all. day. long.
• “The Cinco de Mayo Party” weak of heart & will, need not apply. (Not a date spot, but piqued my interest!)
  Location: Ssh, it’s a secret!
  The only location that has been revealed is that it is near Morgan St L Train stop, with more details revealed later today. Two  dance floors, a roof deck, & pro-wrestling arena. This whacky Brooklyn party promises pinatas, body-building Luchadors pumping iron, live mexican wrestling shows & good beats. Sounds like a sketchingly interesting Cinco.
  
• Brooklyn Winery (Time: 4PM – 8 PM) 213 N. 8th St Brooklyn
  Get your cinco de derby on at Brooklyn Winery’s Brooklyn Derby show down. Watch hipsters donned in seer sucker sip on their mint juleps at this open bar.
• Diablo 167 Ave A OR 189 W. 10th St.
  Time to get a little devilish with your little lady, you can go casual with outside seating or get a little closer in the candlelight…either way, a perfect way to spend your cinco.
• Mercadito (11:30 AM – close) 179 Ave B OR 100 7th Ave
  Ay dios mio! East Village & West Village locations are serving up tacos starting at 11:30 AM & $40 Sharing menu of guacamoles, tacos and sides after 5 PM.
• Tacombi 267 Elizabeth St
  Experience the battle of the Puebla at this South of the Houston Border Taco truck. Costumes & tacos?! What more could you ask for?
• Pulqueria 11 Doyers St
  Keeping things interesting, head down to China Town to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at this underground spot (endorsed by The Bible), known for it’s elitist servings of pulque.
• Mole 57 Jane St. is my fave, but take your pick of the litter
  Mole is ready to keep you & your bonita chica’s glasses full with spicy margaritas, hefty guacamole servings & fish tacos to keep you saying ay yi yi!
• Gran Electrica 5 Front St Brooklyn
  To top off your Cinco de Derby Electrica will open their rooftop garden overlooking  the Brooklyn Bridge. Complete with music, dancing, a delicious menu & a gran (electrica) opening, you are guaranteed to have a buen tiempo.

THE BIBLE

• As always the Bible has out down themselves, again. Check out their Cinco de Mayo vs. Derby Day run down for all of Saturday’s festivities. Which is definitely worth a read!

Take advantage of all these cinco spots with your chiquita or chiquito, because SEIS DE MAYO is just another day!

Goat Town–Time to Bet the Farm (to Table) on Date #5

Goat Town
Location: 511 E. 5th St.
Reservations? Yes
Phone: (212) 687-3641
Type of Date: Let her know you’re the only game in this one horse town

You showed your party animal side on date #4, so now it’s time to show her you’ll still treat her like the fly bird she is. So, like a true stallion, take your foxy lady down to Ave A & 5th St. where you will find this East Village Dark Horse…Goat Town.

Once you walk in the door, Goat Town will sweep you off your feet, and into their beautifully unique white tile benches. Not only will the benches catch your eye, they will also, oddly enough, catch your ear. Restaurant designers, Evan and Oliver Haslegrave of hOmE, actually created a sound environment within Goat Town that is pleasing to every diners ear.  The recipe? Arched tin ceilings, white-tiled booths and a copper bar, which Haslegrave describes as “snow without wind” & Tasting Table perfectly describes as an aural fixation. So just like your date, while beautiful on the outside, there is so much more than meets the eye.

Again another example of Goat Town’s unique creation is the name. I know what you were thinking, “What? Goats?! In the East Village?!” Not exactly. Per The Bible, Goat Town is actually the Anglo-Saxon derivation of Gotham. Cat got your tongue? Well we’re not done yet. Wander to the back of the restaurant and you will see an adorably delicious Garden where all the veggies are home grown and end up right on your plate! Hence the term, farm to table.

So, why is this a perfect date spot for you? First of all, the endless conversation pieces (booths, the name & the garden). Secondly, the food is terrific. Brunch & dinner are always eagerly awaiting you and your man. What to order? Brunch–the open faced egg BLT. Bigger fish to fry? Then try the Monkfish over a candlelit dinner with your PYT. All the items on the menu are diversely delicious and are sure to please. Make sure to check out Goat Town on M&I Mexican Mondays for affordable farm to table cuisine with a south of the border twist.

Finally, this is the perfect place for you to move from Goat Town to painting the town red. Perfectly located in Alphabet City there are plenty of places to go post date based on your mood.  Just looking for a drink after dinner? Try Grape & Grain. Looking to get a little closer on the dance floor? No Malice Palace. Just a brew or two? Zum Schneider.

Looking to be the talk of her town? Then slide a little bit closer on the white tiles of  Goat Town.