JoonBlog New York

Technological Advances in Dating

The dating scene’s a much different beast than it was when our parents met and fell in love. Today’s dating scene’s a global one, what with all of the online dating services and chat groups out there. Recent studies indicate singles are turning more to their computers than they are the local bars and clubs, in search of a mate.

But has living in a global village – where our friends and family are little more than a text message away at all times, where we can browse through profiles, and download pictures (remember: some people look better in pictures), of other singles on websites and judge who we’d like to meet, and where email addresses have replaced telephone numbers as the common form of exchangeable contact information – hurt or helped the single man and woman?

Well, that’s up for debate. We’re not sure we like living in a world where guys can utter the phrase, “Hey baby, I lost my email address – can I have yours?” Then again, we’re not sure we felt any better hearing that same phrase when it applied to “the digits.” But certainly, there seem to more and more ways to meet people – and all without ever having to leave home.

In the minds of psychologists and social commentators, at least, online interactions and technology isolate people, and can create more harm than good in the romantic realm in the long run. The argument’s that, people can come to rely too heavily on the web to meet people, and that in time, it can destroy their abilities to interact socially in real world settings.
Others complain that emails are the most informal means of communication available, and that this form of non-verbal communication can lead to misinterpretation – making today’s single scene more confusing than it has to be.

Not hearing the tone and inflection of one’s voice or the emphasis placed on certain words in a message, and not seeing the non-verbal cues people transmit in face-to-face interactions, can, according to experts, create misconstruction. We can all understand that. A friend of ours, who’d met a great guy and exchanged email information with, recently received a message in her inbox (“I think you’re sexy”) and she called him “a creep” – it might’ve worked over the phone, with the right tone of voice.

But still, some feel technology’s made the singles scene safer, and that meeting people online first helps eliminate those unhealthy games people play during the earliest stages of a relationship. It’s easier, some experts argue, to weed out make-out material from all the fish in the sea on a computer.
When the Internet first went public, it seemed taboo to be forging romantic relationships via the computer; the shy and timid now had an alternative to face-to-face talking or calling over the phone. Now, it’s perfectly acceptable. People are actually encouraging each other to try the electronic dating services available out there.

With these online services, someone in Des Moines, for instance, can meet someone in Tampa, and the two of them can fall in love; online dating services are bringing people together that would not normally meet each other in their day to day activities. And of course, online dating services are also great for people who work odd hours, and can’t always make it out to the clubs.

What do you think? We’d love to hear your opinion. Click on the “Comments” link below, and give us your opinion. Is online dating, which is designed to cater to individual tastes, better than meeting someone in person, and sharing the same space for a while?

The Ten Worst Things About Getting Too Drunk

We’ve all been to that dark and disgusting place. You know the one. The “What Was I Thinking With Those 151 Shots” hell, where you’ve guzzled enough alcohol to kill a zebra, and you feel like you’re going to die – both physically, and because of all the embarrassing things you’d done the night before, all of which your friends recount for you in hideous detail.

It can be hard, at times, to know when we’ve had enough; you’re in the moment, having a blast with your friends at some nightclub, and so far, everything you’ve been drinking hasn’t really hit you all that hard – a few more drinks wouldn’t hurt, right? But, it always catches up with you, and you almost always wind up doing something that, when you’ve awoken the next morning feeling as though you’d stumped your head somehow, you don’t even recall doing.

Here’s our list of some of the worst things that can happen to one – all theoretical, and not from personal experience, of course – after a long night of bending the old elbow:

10. You’d gone out the night before with $300 in your wallet, and when you wake up the next morning, find just 87 cents in your pocket, and a credit card receipt for a $600 bar tab.

9. You’d left your apartment the previous evening wearing a pair of boxer shorts, a nice shirt, and a pair of jeans. Somehow, you woke up wearing no shirt, a pair of khakis, and a purple, crotch-less thong.

8. Meeting Bo Derek at a nightclub, but waking up next to Bo Diddley.

7. Abusing your cell phone, and calling all the people in life you’d always wanted to tell off, but didn’t have the guts to – also known as DUI: Dialing Under The Influence. Former flames, old roommates who always stole food from you, etc. Only, you also left a message at your job, for your boss, on their voicemail, that started off, “You know what makes you such an incompetent, lousy boss?”

6. Getting on the subway to downtown to the comfort of your bed, only to fall asleep on the train, and wake up in Coney Island.

5. Meeting an amazing man or woman you’re attracted to, and then calling them 30 times that same evening and leaving them 30 answering machine messages – but what’s worse is, you couldn’t even remember what their name was, so each message starts out, “Hello. . .you.”

4. Passing out on the floor of your apartment, only to wake up and realize you’d used your hands as a pillow of sorts, and now, you’ve got the stamps of all the clubs you’d been to plastered across your cheeks.

3. Forgetting to take your contacts out, and passing out; the next morning, they’re stuck to your dehydrated-from-all-the-aperitifs-you’d-consumed eyes, leaving you no choice but to peel them off.

2. Someone bumps into you in the club, causing you to spill your entire drink; you’re drunk, so “keeping it real” seems like a stellar idea – but the guy who bumped into you knows karate, and is a police officer.

1. You find ten messages from your friends in your email inbox the morning after a hardy night of boozing, and each one has an attachment; pictures downloaded from JoonBug.com, of you locking lips with a transvestite you thought was “the kind of woman I could settle down with.” Oh, and to make matters worse, you’re married.

Buddha Rumor

During the 1990s, Buddha Bar was the place to be; the nightlife mecca was the spawn of the celebrity-studded Paris original. Now, it might be coming back. While JoonBug wasn’t able to confirm the recent rumors concerning the long-delayed, finally-on-the-horizon return of the Buddha Bar (Raymond Visan, the infamous restaurateur and creator of the Buddha Bar chain, is one tough guy to get on the phone) to the city’s Meatpacking District, our sources claim the rumors are all true – that Visan has firmed up a 14,000 square foot locale on Washington Street, where he’s planning Buddha’s resurrection.

According to the New York Post, “the eatery will seat 700, making it the second largest restaurant in New York after Tavern on the Green,” and the space is “said to feature a stunning cross-shaped skylight that will soar over the dining room.” Visan had hoped to re-open the Buddha Bar, a famously trendy nightspot during the 1990s, in the Chelsea Market, plans that, after two years, fizzled thanks to a lack of financial backers interested in the project.

It was said that the Chelsea Market building was in need of more than $4 million in repairs; celeb chef Emeril Lagasse was also eyeing the edifice (the former Nabisco factory that was turned into a gourmet shopping spot) at the time, for one of his restaurants, according to sources

In other nightclub news, it seems Nocturne, the ultra-hip Bleecker Street hotspot, has been shut down by the city, and one of its co-owners, Frank Ferraro, says he has no plans to re-open it – period; he claims the city’s been unrelenting in its efforts to close Nocturne’s doors, bringing regular fines against the club that were generated from neighbors’ complaints over excessive noise. Sources reveal it would cost him more than $15,000 to fight the city’s actions – and that fighting the law’s not the kind of battle he’d like to take on. Heard any good gossip about New York’s nightlife scene? Let us know about it, by clicking on the “Comments” link below. We’d love to know what the little birdies are telling you.

Out-On-The-Town: Los Angeles

When it comes to nightlife towns, Los Angeles takes a distant third to Chicago and New York. Despite its relative size, Los Angeles has never risen to the feverish pitch found in other cities, like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Because the city’s sprawled out over such a massive area, with insufficient public transit or cabs to compensate, Los Angeles nightlife has been hindered, over the years, from living up to traditional expectations of urban life after nightfall. Yet, make no mistake: Los Angeles nightlife offers no less in terms of excitement – and it beats out any other city in terms of celebrity sightings.

The good news? Los Angeles has, in recent years, evolved as an eclectic mix of lounges, rock clubs, and mega-clubs – all of them, just as exclusive as any nightspot in New York, for example. Los Angeles is catching up to the pack, and has transformed itself into one electric metropolis that – more now than ever – manages to hold onto its lifeblood well after quitting time, offering its resident night owls a plethora of choices. If you’re ever in the Los Angeles area, and you’re just itching to hit the clubs, here’s a brief list of some of JoonBug’s faves.

Joya
242 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills; (310) 274-4440
Joya’s a mosaic of entertainment, known for its upscale dance club and bar scene. A menagerie of socialites spanning the Beverly Hills social spectrum gather to enjoy mixed nights of hip-hop and house music, at the only dance club within the 90210. The men all sport Armani, and the girls, J.Lo figures and designer duds.

Highlands
6801 Hollywood Blvd # 433, Los Angeles; (323) 461-9800
The Highlands is a full-scale restaurant, bar, and live performance venue anchored at Hollywood and Highland that sets its ambition as high as the stars it entertains. The expansive 30,000-square-foot venue occupies two floors, complete with four dining rooms, seven bars, two dance floors, four incredible outdoor patios, and two stages that always feature stellar names. Offering one of the biggest and most ornate nightlife spectacles ever seen, Highlands is determined to be the best of the best.

White Lotus
1743 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood; (323) 463-0060
White Lotus is an entertainment sanctuary of vast space and glamour, featuring a main hall interpreted through Hollywood’s vision of Eastern culture. Tones of red, oversized Buddhas, and wall panels of carved woods and gold accents echo throughout; a regular hangout for Britney Spears, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Hugh Hefner – and his 20 girlfriends.

Key Club
9039 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood; (310) 274-5800
With some primo Sunset Strip digs, the Key Club’s one of West Hollywood’s most popular live music and dance spots. Walking into the haute club is a bit like walking into a TV commercial, as bombastic event promotions on the flashing marquee only subside once you pass the seven-foot bouncer; favorite nightspot for the likes of Dennis Rodman, Ice Cube, and Tori Spelling.

Ivar
6356 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles; (323) 465-4827
This glittery nightclub’s one of the hottest spots in the entire state, evidence by the long lines of hopefuls who weren’t “on the list,” who stand around hoping their luck will change. To quench your thirst, skip the apple martinis in favor of the club’s energy mixers, which include an array of vodka energy concoctions. Ivar’s a contemporary cross-section of fame and fashion in the heart of Hollywood.

The Viper Room
8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 358-1881
Owned by actor Johnny Depp, this rock club’s perhaps better known as the place River Phoenix spent the last few minutes of his life, making it a morbid destination for tourists. But as a live music venue, the Viper Room remains one of LA’s finest, with top bands performing nightly and star acts such as the Stone Temple Pilots and Oasis stopping by for the occasional surprise appearance; if it’s music celebs you seek, this is the place, as the last time we were here, we spotted Gwen Stefani, Kid Rock, and Marilyn Manson, to name a few.

Best Places To Impress a Date

So, you’ve met someone special, and you’re thinking this could end up turning into something long term. You’ve fallen for their personality, discovered you share many of the same interests, and this person gives you that warm, overpowering sensation in your abdomen every time you see them. It’s a wonderful experience when you’ve found someone you know you’d like to spend if not the rest of your life, at least a sizable chunk of time with. So, next thing to do is take them out for a romantic dinner; time to impress them a tad, with a fancy meal and some incredible intoxicants, all served within an ultra posh restaurant – preferably one with a stunning view. As always, we here at JoonBug are on the case, and to help you choose the right spot to impress that fine human specimen you fancy, here’s a short list of some eateries that’ve worked for us. But, remember: these aren’t “first date” locales. It’s important not to dazzle that date on the first outing too, too much. These restaurants are more appropriate for second and third – even fourth -- dates. Think you’re more of a romantic than JoonBug? Let us know, by clicking on the “Comments” link at the end of this post.

Romantic:

One If By Land, Two If By Sea
17 Barrow Street (bet. 7th Ave. S. and W 4th St.), New York, (212) 228-0822

Often considered the most romantic (and one of the more pricey) restaurants in Manhattan, One If By Land, Two If By Sea’s housed within a former carriage house, which once belonged to Aaron Burr. Exposed brick, blazing fireplaces, dim lighting, the remarkable garden, the elegant décor, and the tuxedoed servers who’ll wait on you hand and foot make this a great destination for a romantic meal – not to mention the food here’s second to none.

Balthazar
80 Spring Street (bet. Crosby and Broadway), New York, (212) 965-1785

If being transported to a bustling Parisian bistro’s your idea of romance, Balthazar’s the perfect destination. Expensive? Yes. But the food’s outstanding. The Le Grand raw bar selection’s a must; mounds of sparking fresh oysters and shellfish arrive on multi-tiered platters. Nothing says “romance” like iced crustaceans.

Candela Restaurant
116 E. 16th Street (bet. Park Ave. and Irving Place), New York, (212) 254-1600

The Candela recipe for romance starts with low lighting and candles. Next, add exposed beams and chandeliers dripping with blistering candle wax. Then, throw in a menu teeming with Mediterranean, Italian, and pan-Asian delights (we recommend the tempura-battered spicy tuna rolls), and you’ve got the perfect place to spark those romantic embers.

Terrace In The Sky
400 W. 119th Street (bet. Amsterdam Ave. and Morningside Dr.), New York, (212) 666-9490

The New York Times, in it’s review of this upscale, high-priced French Penthouse restaurant, commented that “this may be the world’s only room at the top with an accomplished kitchen.” We second that sentiment. Terrace In The Sky provides diners with a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Big Apple, and its light French cuisine with Mediterranean influences, along with the abundance of fresh flowers that decorate the room, and its exquisite fine china and crystal, make this not only a room with a view, but a restaurant where romance will bloom.

Paradou
8 Little West 12th Street, New York, (212) 463-8345

A little bit of a Provençal paradise lies within Manhattan’s Meatpacking district, in the form of Paradou, a light-filled, airy oasis overflowing with warmth and charm reminiscent of the quaint village of the same name. This small, intimate (intimate is good for romantic eats) restaurant served up hearty, rustic fare, and has an unbeatable wine list. Add to that its sprawling garden, and tables fashioned out of wooden wine crates, and you’ve got one reasonably priced locale that’ll ensure an impressive second date.

Trendy:

Anything Jean-Georges Vongrichten

Whether it’s Spice Market, JoJo, Mercer Kitchen, 66, or Jean Georges, you’re sure to make an impression with the one you adore – if only for the fact that you managed to secure an actual reservation. Jean-Georges’ restaurants are ranked amongst the world’s fine dining vanguard. Celebrities abound, always (nothing impresses a date more than getting a table right next to Janet Jackson’s) and the food’s so incredible, those taste buds of yours may never be the same again. While very expensive, and very elite (make reservations tomorrow if you’d like to eat at one of these restaurants in, say, three weeks), you’re at least guaranteed an excellent meal if that date’s unmoved.

Nobu
105 Hudson Street, New York, (212) 219-0500

One of the trendiest of the trendy, Nobu, which is co-owned by Robert DeNiro, certainly lives up to the hype. If you want to impress him or her, this place will do the trick (not a soul in New York doesn’t know about Nobu.) A regular destination for celebs like Howard Stern and Mark Wahlberg, this Tribeca landmark’s home to some of the finest Asian cuisine on the East Coast, thanks to Nobu’s renowned chef, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa – arguably the world’s most famous Japenese culinary artist.

Sound Bar Advice

Has this every happened to you? You’re at a nightclub, and it’s packed to the rafters with bodies – and hence, it’s sweltering inside and you need a drink to cool you off. The music’s blaring, and the bar’s crammed with people, who’re all suffering like you are, and also had the idea to get a frosty beverage to ease the heat. After ten minutes, you worm your way up to the bar, and wait. And wait. Still, you wait. But alas, none of the three bartenders (there are never enough bartenders at nightclubs anymore) will even acknowledge you’re standing there, tongue hanging out of your mouth, never more thirsty in all your life. Thirty minutes later, one of them finally takes your order. Ten minutes later, your drink arrives.

Yes, we know – we’ve been there too. But, we can impart some knowledge (that’s what we sometimes do here), some helpful advice that could help you in such dire times, as well as some other useful bar tips to make your night out more enjoyable and relaxing. Here’s a few key suggestions you should bring with you the next time you hit the clubs.

First of all, don’t be a hog at the trough. Once you’ve finally made it to the bar, and you’re ready for some drinks, remember that if the bar is packed, it’s always better to either have one person go for drinks, or have each of you go separately, to avoid having your whole group bombarding the bartender at once – in short, hogging the bar. Always remember that if the barkeep’s busy, you should all place your drink orders once you have his or her attention, because he or she might not be able to get to you for another long while. No standing there, wondering aloud, “Do I want a margarita or do I want a daiquiri? What do I want?” When ordering a drink, always know what you want, and have cash ready, or you’re never going to get that bartender’s attention again.

It’s a good idea to always introduce yourself, and ask the bartender for his or her name. It’s easier and more respectful to call out, “Mike, can I get a round of tequila shots,” or “Hey, Julie, when you get a chance,” than “Hey, you – sooner rather than later, kapeesh!” Flashing $20 bills or Visas in their face doesn’t work, either. Just introduce yourself to the bartender, and get to know their name, so that the next time you need a drink, and the bartender’s crowded by a swarm of eager drunkards, you’ll be able to get their attention – no one can ignore someone calling out their name, and that bartender will probably serve you first. And always remember to leave a tip, and make a point of throwing it down on the bar in front of the person who just served you. The next time you approach the bar, you’ll stand out in that bartender’s field of vision.

When ordering shots, you can get friendly with the bartender by buying him or her one. If they buy you a shot, you should definitely buy them one back. On the other hand, if you treat them, and they don’t return the favor, try to become friendly with another bartender because that’s just plain rude and not good service.

Also, while many people will do this (after all, it is easier than pulling out cash every time you place a drink order), running up a tab on your credit card’s never a good idea. The bartender can get confused and overcharge you by mistake, or could purposely try to pull a fast one. It’s hard to keep track of how many drinks you bought when you keep treating the beautiful women surrounding you to some Purple Rain shots.

Valet Parking Precautions

If you can avoid valet parking, do so. That’s our first bit of advice (having known several seasonal valets over the years, who parked cars for some extra summertime cash between semesters, trust us on this one – valet parking, while convenient, can end up being a major headache.) Several restaurants and nightclubs provide valet service, to spare you the trouble of searching for a space in this congested metropolis. It’s usually an optional service; some nightclubs, including Jet East in Southampton, require its patrons to park in this manner.

If valet parking is something you can’t live without, or is forced upon you, here are some helpful precautions you should take, to minimize the odiousness that can result from someone else driving your car.

Valet parking is a “fancy” way to park your car, because someone is doing it for you. The same ideology’s what makes room service more than just expensive food. But, its also the one time when we’ll basically hand our rides over to a complete stranger, and somehow trust that they’ll return it to us in exactly the same way we left it. Remember, though: This is a time period when a valet can do anything he or she want with your car – change the radio station, dig through your glove box, eat your food, sleep in the backseat.

So, be sure to remove all items that might tempt theft. And by all, we do mean all. It doesn’t matter how useless or trivial you may think an item you’ve left in your car is. Valets don’t care about what the item is – all they’re concerned with is whether or not it’ll fit in their pocket or backpack (valets always bring backpacks to a job.) If it’s not tied down, it’s fair game for a valet. We’ve known valets to swipe everything from automobile cell phone chargers (even if they were not compatible with their own cell phones – there’s always eBay) to personal photos developed just hours earlier from a day at the beach (as one valet put it, whilst scanning some snapshots of a group of women catching some rays, “These will come in handy later on tonight” – i.e.; self-manipulation material.) We’ve even seen valets empty the contents of a car’s spare change bucket.

Sure, not all valets are bad. Some are respectful. But, keep in mind that there’s a large majority of valets who aren’t, who will steal from your car. A valet will comb through your entire automobile, like a crime scene investigator looking for clues. And if he finds something of value, or something that’s worthless but could be sold or hawked, he’ll take it.

Also, realize that most valets work for firms hired by restaurants and nightclubs to provide such a service – they’re in no way affiliated with the actual venue or establishment at which they’re working, other than that they’re parking the clienteles’ cars. These for-hire valet companies maintain massive insurance policies (we’re talking millions and millions of dollars here), because, well, accidents happen – all the time, and more than you may ever know. Most are minor. But some dings and scratches, you won’t even notice until the next morning, when you head out for coffee. So don’t assume that, because you’re at a high priced restaurant, that the valets will be more respectful of your privacy and possessions – you’re only kidding yourself.

Now, the rule of thumb in the valet world is, back up until you hit something, and then inch forward a bit (i.e.; your car is more than likely going to get dinged). So, it might be a good idea to inspect the rear bumper of your car before handing over the keys. A friend of ours even goes as far as snapping a few pictures of his ride with a cell phone camera – the rear end, the front bumper, and both sides of his car. This way, when he leaves a club to head home, he has photographic evidence to present to the valets, if, and when, there’s been minor damage.

The thing you also need to know is, valets don’t care about your car, at all. At least not in the same way you do. And yes, most valets are college-aged males – perhaps the worst drivers, by insurance company standards, in all the world. When valet firms hire these guys, there’s a brief cone test to evaluate their driving skills. Driver histories are also ignored at most firms. So, believe us when we say valets, when they grow bored, will often times take a car, left in their care, for a spin. Deli runs for food are common practice. Which cars will they take for a cruise? Well, the more luxurious, rare, and expensive ones, of course (which would you choose?) So, make a note of your odometer’s reading, in full view of the attendant – this way, they’ll leave your car alone when it comes time to go for a joy ride. And don’t ever tell the valet how long you’ll be gone, because if he knows he can use your car within a three-hour window, he will. It’s best to keep them from even considering your car, to relieve the boredom of the work they do.

Last but not least, make sure to tip valets – especially if you’re something of a regular at a particular restaurant or club. A valet never forgets the times he’s been burned, but always remembers the good tips. If you don’t give a valet at least a two dollar tip, then don’t plan on returning to that establishment for at least a month – or you’re car will pay the difference.

The Hot Ten: Worst Pick-Up Lines

Ah, the pick-up line. We all know they’re as effective as dropping Lizzie Grubman’s name at the velvet ropes, yet men still insist on using them, for some strange reason (“It’s a great way to break the ice,” a friend of ours, who swears by pick-up lines, tells me; he’s single, of course, and the last time he was with a woman, it cost him $500.)

Pick-up lines can range from the sweet to the infuriating, and everywhere in between. The men who use them might think it’s a clever way to meet a woman, but in the end, they just end up looking like desperate idiots with no class; as one female friend told us last week, during a conversation on this very topic, “If you’re not a handsome supermodel or a famous actor, pick-up lines aren’t going to help you – at all.”

Here’s a sampling of the ten worst (i.e.; lamest) pick-up lines we’ve ever heard – both for your amusement and your own efforts at general self-improvement. If you’re a man, and you’ve ever uttered any of these ten sentences in the presence of a woman, understand that sometimes, just treating someone, regardless of gender, like a human, and not an object or a prize to be won, will get you much further on the singles circuit. Being disrespectful won’t. Have you heard one that beats these ten? Let us know about it by double-clicking the “Comments” link below.

10. This one was visual; A man asked a woman, “Do you know what winks and is great in bed?” When she said, “No,” he winked.

9. “Are you from Tennessee? Because you’re the only 10 I see.”

8. “Call me Fred Flinstone, because I’ll make your bed rock.”

7. “Do you have any Italian (insert ethnic background of your choice) in you? Do you want some?”

6. “I need your help. My mother told me that if I don’t find a date for tomorrow night, she’s putting me up for adoption.”

5. “Hey there. My name’s Milk, and I’ll do your body good.”

4. “I think I could fall madly in bed with you.”

3. “I wonder what our children will look like.”

2. “So, what are the chances we can engage in anything beyond conversation?”

1. “There must be something wrong with my eyes. I can’t take them off of you.”

Noel's At It Again

JoonBug hears that veteran club owner and event producer Noel Ashman’s about to open a brand new white hot nightspot here in Manhattan, in the former West 14th Street shell that once housed Nells, the popular Greenwich Village night club that was established back in 1986 as a response to the high tech discos of the 1970s. Ashman tells JoonBug that this new night club, which hasn’t a name as of yet, could be open as soon as August. But don’t get too excited yet: Ashman claims that this club’s going to be tough to get into, and not because he plans on hiring extremely discriminating doormen.

“It’ll be a semi-private membership club,” he explains. “So it won’t be easy getting in, no.”

The reason for this? Ashman’s partnered with several A-List celebrities (“More than ten, but right now, I can’t say who,” he says), to launch the new venue. Ashman claims his new partners have always longed for a place they could call their own – a place where they could relax, and be themselves, without the annoyance of pestering fans seeking autographs.

The club will be a mix “between a lounge and a supper club,” he reveals, and memberships won’t come easy; “They’ll be hard to get,” he promises, with a laugh. So, why Nells? Ashman says it had always been one of his favorite Manhattan clubs, and when it shut its doors back in May, he couldn’t resist the opportunity to own it, and reopen it with a new attitude.

With its old world charm and elegance, Nells had become a New York City institution, after hosting a variety of events over its fifteen year history. While most hot spots cool off after a year or so, Nells remained popular with New York party-goers, as it catered to a more mature and ethnically-diverse crowd. Ashman, who conveyed his excitement to JoonBug about opening his new, untitled-for-now club, promises there will be a magnificent grand opening bash for the joint in early August; of course, we here at JoonBug will keep you posted on when, once we know ourselves.

Beach Bummin’ It In The Hamptons

Ah, summer in the Hamptons. The fresh ocean air, the long, debauched nights at the clubs, and days spent sitting on the beach, soaking up the sun and surf, recovering from that wicked hangover. There’s nothing better than beachin’ it in the Hamptons. But, be careful: not all of the beaches on Long Island’s East End are right for you. For a fuller, more enjoyable beach-going experience, its good to know which beaches fit your personality. The following’s a list of some of the Hamptons’ best beaches. Just bear in mind that, unless you’re the owner of a town permit, you’ll be asked to cough up $15 a day at most of these sandy sites.

Best Non-Ocean Beach
Foster Memorial Beach, Noyac

This pristine strip of sand, located along Long Beach Road, is a placid locale, where you won’t find any waves at all, and its always warmer than the icy Atlantic. Nestled along Noyac Bay, it’s a prime destination, during the late afternoon, for those seeking a front row seat for that evening’s spectacular sunset. During the day, though, it’ll cost you $15 to spend the hours, toes sunk into this superb, mile-long beach’s sand. There are lifeguards on duty, and restroom facilities, too. Plus, it’s all but five minutes from Sag Harbor Village.

Best Social Scene
Sagg Main Beach, Bridgehampton

Sagg Main, where several celebs spend their days during the summer months (Mila Jovovich, Katie Couric, and Kate Moss, to name a few), is one of the Hamptons’ most beautiful, and most popular, chunks of shoreline, with extensive sand dunes and a salt water pond, all surrounded by mammoth private residences. It’s 1,500 feet of gorgeous, off-white sand’s always blanketed with singles, all looking to get their bronze on while at the same time scoping out prospective party partners. This place fills up quick, so head there early. The daily fee’s $15, but it’s well worth the price, as this is the primo sunbathing spot if you’re single – and searching.

Best All-Around Beach
Main Beach, East Hampton

East Hampton’s Main Beach is a high-end destination that fills with out-of-towners in the summer months, and is known to be less flashy than the neighboring Southampton. But visitors may run into a few local celebrities, or even spot Steven Spielberg, Billy Joel, or Jerry Seinfeld in their swimming finery. The spirit of East Hampton (posh, trendy, fabulous) carries here, but it’s the white sand, clear water, and beautiful people that make Main Beach one of the Hamptons’ best; this beach is rife with fine, powdery dunes and spectacularly white-capped surf, drawing families, athletes, and partygoers alike. The $15 daily fee’s a small price to pay for what has been named one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the United States.

Best Family Beach
Mecox, Bridgehampton

Mecox Beach, located on Bridgehampton’s Jobs Lane, features 250-feet of ocean shoreline, as well as lifeguards, a beach volleyball court, and an outdoor shower. This is a popular beach spot for families, both locals and visitors alike. Of course, there is a $15 daily fee at this beach. But singles, beware: Unless you’re looking to score with some 20-year-old nannies, this popular sandy strip’s strictly about keeping it in the family. Also, topless sunbathing’s frowned upon.

Best Kept Secret
K Road Beach, Hampton Bays

Right off of Dune Road in this unassuming Hamptons hamlet, you’ll find K Road beach. If you’re not into the crowds at the pay-per-day beaches in Southampton and East Hampton, this spot’s certainly worth the trek; it offers total seclusion and powder-soft sand. Parking’s free, but limited. But the best thing about K Road – at least for the ladies – is that it’s the local hang for the Hamptons’ staunch surfers, as it’s home to some of the best waves on the East End. Single gals might want to catch their rays at this hidden gem.

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