JoonBlog New York

Citysearch's Top 10 Bars of 2007

JG at Citysearch (and the Imbible blog) has put together a list of the top ten bars that have debuted in 2007.
Head over to Citysearch for the entire list, or keep reading to see some of our favorites:

3. Death & Co

433 E 6th St, New York, NY
The dark doorway and unlikely locale create an illusion of mystery around this classy cocktail den--but the only thing deadly about it is how you're likely to feel the morning after.

4. Spitzer's Corner

101 Rivington St, New York, NY
With dozens of draft beers, plus a menu of gourmet treats, this unpretentious Lower East Side gastropub is good for what ails you--sobriety.

9. The Gutter

200 N 14th St, Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn welcomed quite a few new watering holes this year, but none so unique as this bowling alley equipped with a full bar, which is giving us a whole new way to spend Friday night in the gutter.

Head over to Citysearch to read the rest of the list.

New Years Eve at Dave & Busters Times Square

If you've been looking a way to spend New Year's Eve with your whole family, then look no further than Dave & Busters. This New Year's Eve, Dave & Busters Times Square is throwing open its doors to everyone. For the under 21 set they've got quite a night in store.

The Million Dollar Midway is Loaded with Over 175 Video Games and Simulators Including: SkeeBall, PacMan, Super Trivia, Basketball, Shoot Out Challenge, and Nascar Simulators. Game Tickets are Redeeemable for Countless Fantastic Prizes. There are also Multiple Flat Screen Televisions Throughout the Venue

Everyone will enjoy a Buffet Dinner, Finger Pastries & Dessert, a live DJ spinning a mix of Hip-Hop, Rock, Dance, Top 40, & '80s, and a live countdown to the Ball Drop just outside, while for those over 21, there will be a 5 hour Premium Top-Shelf Open Bar, and a Champagne Toast at Midnight.

Head over to JoonBug for more information about New Years Eve at Dave & Busters Times Square.

New Years Eve at Room Service & Ten's

Why settle for one hot party when you can get two? We don't know either, that's why we recommend spending New Year's Eve 2008 at Room Service & Ten's. And when we say hot, we mean hot--just check this list of who's been spotted at Room Service:

Mary-Kate Olsen, Kristin Cavallari, Elisha Cuthbert, Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Blaine, Jimmy Fallon, Michelle Rodriguez, New Year’s Eve 2007 Hosted by MTV’s Damien Fahey, Julian McMahon, Perez Hilton, Rosie Perez, Kelis & Nas

Spend New Years in style this year, in Room Service, the lounge that treats you like you're a guest at a five-star hotel:

Book a VIP Suite (ranging in size from the Standard to the Presidential) and receive top-notch service, including a personal cocktail waitress to cater to your every whim, plush leather couches, a fully-stocked mini-fridge, and semi-sheer curtains that allow you as much privacy as you so desire.

Of course whether you choose to go the VIP route or General Admission you can expect to enjoy a 6 Hour Premium, Top-Shelf Open Bar, passed Hors D’oeuvres, Finger Pastries, & Dessert, and a Champagne Toast at Midnight, when you'll count down as the Ball drops on a large projection screen.

And, if you somehow manage to get bored at Room Service, then just head next door to Ten's, NYC's original cabaret.

Head over to JoonBug for more information about New Years Eve at Room Service and Tens.

New Years Eve at Heartland Brewery Times Square

Are you looking to spend New Years Eve in Times Square, but don't want to deal with the crowds at one of the mega-clubs? Then New Years Eve at Heartland Brewery is the party for you.

What can you expect at this incredible New Years celebration? For starters we're talking about two parties in one. Your ticket allows you entry into both Heartland Brewery and Spanky's BBQ, which is located next door. And what does that ticket get you?

A 5 hour, top-shelf open bar (including the on-premises brewed beers for which Heartland is famous), an array of hors d'oeuvres and savory finger foods, two live DJs spinning all your favorite hits, and a live broadcast of the ball drop from Times Square - only a few steps away.

Interested? There are still a few tickets left (including Table Service VIP Packages), so head over to JoonBug now for more information about and to buy tickets to New Years Eve at Heartland Brewery.

New Years Eve at Roseland Ballroom hosted by Mya

Superstar recording artist Mya is going to be hosting what promises to be a memorable New Year's Eve party at Roseland. And guess what? Everyone can afford to go, as Roseland is hosting the only major Pay-as-yo-go party in Times Square for New Years Eve 2008.

If you don't want to lay down hundreds of dollars for an open bar, than this is your party. For only $35 dollars you're in the door.

Never been to Roseland? Here's some information on this history-rich venue:

Having opened over 75 years ago on New Year’s Eve, 1919, Roseland Ballroom has seen the rise and fall of all eras in New York City’s rich musical history. Now a vast event space that has hosted the likes of Fashion Week runway shows to a Justin Timberlake concert and everything in between, Roseland still radiates with the charm and sophistication of past generations.

Head over to JoonBug for more information about New Years Eve at Roseland Ballroom.

Event Preview: New Years Eve at Sky Bar at The Shore Club 2008

This New Year's Eve, Sky Bar at the Shore Club is hosting a New Years celebration that should be among the best in Miami. ASHLEE SIMPSON will be counting down the Ball Drop, Special Guest PETE WENTZ of Fall Out Boy will make an appearance on the 1s and 2s, EVE will be doing a Special Live Performance, and if that's not enough, world famous DJ MOS will be keeping everyone moving all night.

Never been to the Shore Club? Here's what you can expect:

Designed by famed British architect David Chipperfield and landscaping inspired by the rich intense Matisse-inspired colors of the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, The Shore Club is redefining cool on Miami's South Beach. The landmarked Art Deco lobby is conceived as a calming transition to the labyrinth of gardens with secret passageways, alcoves and a succession of different outdoor 'rooms'.

Tickets start at $300 and include a 4 Hour Top Shelf Open Bar. VIP Packages are also available.

Visit JoonBug for more information about New Years Eve at Sky Bar at the Shore Club.

Event Preview: Grand Opening Of The 40/40 Club Las Vegas

With 40/40 Clubs already operating in NYC and Atlantic City, Jay-Z is set to open one more this year in Las Vegas, at the about-to-open Palazzo expansion of the Venetian Resort & Casino. What is the Palazzo you wonder:

The Palazzo Las Vegas is a 643-foot (196-m), 53-story extension of The Venetian Casino Resort and the Sands Expo complex on the Las Vegas Strip. The Palazzo is currently under construction. Owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corp., it is scheduled to open December 20, 2007.

The $1.6 billion resort will feature a Lobby where guests from the street will arrive under a 60-foot (18 m) glass dome with a two-story fountain. Those approaching from The Venetian will make the transition through a towering octagonal structure, itself topped by a glass-and-iron dome. The completed Palazzo will include, among other amenities: 3,025 suites, 375 concierge-level suites and six villas with up to 11,000 square feet ((1,000 m²) each, a 105,000 ft² (9,750 m²) casino with 2,000 slot machines and 80 table games, an extension of the Grand Canal Shoppes, a theater, and a spa

And of course, a new 40/40 Club. The Grand Opening Gala is set for Sunday, December 30th, at 9pm. If you're in Vegas for New Year's Eve, this might be the best pre-NYE party in town. If you make it in, let us know in the comments!

Venue Review: Kiss & Fly - Nightclub (NYC - New York City)

Newcomer Kiss & Fly takes over the old Aer space in the Meatpacking District. They opened last week, throwing not one, but four grand opening parties. UrbanDaddy has the scoop on the dramatic nightlife palace:

If the place feels like Roman excess, that's because it is: The massive coliseum-like space is adorned with golden columns and arches and, most impressively, a take on Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel painted on the ceiling. It could end there, but thankfully it does not. Rivaling (but not really) Bellagio's fountain show, as the night warms up a light show powered by 750 hidden LED lights takes the mood from chill to...not so chill, and a nitrous tank showers you with the occasional gale force burst of cool air (so things don't get too not-so-chill.)

As for a table, you might prefer The Temple, a candle-ensconced gazebo with gold throne-like chairs, a roundtable and a swing hanging from the ceiling (Romans love swings).

Kiss & Fly
409 W. 13th St (between 9th Ave and Washington St)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 255-1933

New Years Eve Dinner at Carne Vale

Dinner at a Brazilian Rodizio Grill? Check.
Open Bar? Check.
DJ and Dancing at a hot venue in the trendy East Village? Check.

New Year's Eve 2008 at Carne Vale has it all.

Add some flare to your New Year’s Eve this year by indulging yourself in the East Village’s newest and hottest restaurant/lounge, Carne Vale.  A Brazilian-like décor sets the scene for the coolest party to hit downtown Manhattan.  Come early and enjoy a 3 course meal of the best meats, cheeses and their famous salad bar.  Dinner includes a glass of champagne or wine, to hold you over for the real celebration – the main party starts at 10pm with a 4 hour open bar, champagne toast at midnight, and a live DJ spinning all night!

If all you want is dinner, you can get dinner tickets. If you just want to dance, show up at 10. Or, if you're down for the entire night, buy a complete package.

For more information about New Years Eve 2008 at Carne Vale head over to JoonBug.

New Years Eve at LQ

If you're looking to celebrate New Year's Eve in Midtown, but don't want to deal with the Times Square crowds, then LQ is your best bet. LQ is a large venue, and with a 6 hour Top Shelf Open Bar, you can bet that you're in for a wild night.

The doors open at 8pm, and you'll start the night off with Hors d'oeuvres and a Gourmet Buffet Dinner. There will be multiple stations: Pasta, Asian, Hot Buffet, and a Carving crew.

What else can you expect?

• DJ Jayceeoh Spinning A Mix of Hip Hop, Dance, Rock, Top-40, & 80's
• A Live Broadcast of Ball Drop On 30 Plasma Screens
• A Champagne Toast at Midnight
• Finger Pastries & Dessert
• A Complimentary After Party Ticket to Capitale ($35 Value)

Head over to JoonBug for more information about New Year's Eve 2008 at LQ.

The Official Carson Daly and Friends New Year's Eve Party at Gypsy Tea and The Madison

This just in--Carson Daly will be hosting the New Year's Eve Party at Gypsy Tea and The Madison:

Ring in the New Year at Chelsea's two HOTTEST venues at the Carson Daly OFFICIAL New Year's Eve Event where he and his guests will party after he hosts the NBC Countdown!

In the past Carson’s New Year’s Eve bashes have been attended by Ashlee Simpson, Fat Joe, Jeremy Piven, Chris Noth, America's Next Top Model Girls, and Fall Out Boy.

So, in addition to celebs, what can you expect?

• A 6 Hour Premium, Top-Shelf Open Bar
• A Champagne Toast at Midnight
• Party Favors
• Live Broadcast of Ball Drop On Flat Screens

Of course we'll also have VIP Tables available (Bottles, Cocktail Waitress, etc.)

Head over to JoonBug for more information about the Official Carson Daly New Years Eve Party at Gypsy Tea and The Madison.

New Years Eve at Vesta

If you're looking for a lounge party in Chelsea, then Vesta is the perfect place to spend New Year's Eve this year. Vesta, named for the Roman Goddess of the Hearth, is a dynamic lounge that is perfect for any upscale event, whether it’s a high profile evening event or a very private celebrity soirée.

New Year's Eve will be no different. DJ Rampage will be spinning a mix of Hip Hop, Dance, Rock, Top-40 & '80s. We'll have a 5 Hour Open Bar, the Ball Drop will be broadcast on Vesta's numerous flat screens, and when the clock strikes twelve, we'll share a Champagne toast.

For those of you looking for something extra special, we'll have VIP tables, which can accomodate upto 12 people. You'll get your own bottle(s) and cocktail waitress service.

For more information about New Years Eve 2008 at Vesta visit JoonBug.

New Years Eve at Marquee

If you're looking for the most exclusive, celebrity populated New Year's Eve Party in New York City, then Marquee is where you need to be.

The party at Marquee starts at 8:30pm. DJ ELove & DJ Omi will be spinning a mix of Hip Hop, Dance, Rock,
Top-40, and 80's.

There will be a 5 Hour Open Bar, Hors d'oeuvres, a Champagne Toast at Midnight, Party Favors, and a Live Broadcast of Ball Drop on a Flat Screen.

If you're spending New Year's Eve somewhere else, there is always Marquee's After Party, which starts at 2am.

Finally, if you're rolling VIP, JoonBug can hook you up with a table and a cocktail waitress to attend to your bottle service needs.

Head over to JoonBug for more information, and to buy tickets to New Years Eve 2008 at Marquee.

New Years Eve at Capitale

Haven't made New Year's Eve plans yet? Looking for a party Downtown? Then head to Capitale, which is located on the Bowery at Grand Street.

JoonBug will be hosting its 5th Annual New Year's Eve Gala at Capitale, a private event space.

Some background on the venue:

Originally the Bowery Savings Bank, Capitale was built in 1893 and is regarded as one of the most luxurious event spaces in all of Manhattan.  Now a national landmark, Capitale is adorned with tall Corinthian columns, a beautifully decorated coved ceiling, and an art glass skylight.  Capitale, with its immense 15,000 square foot ballroom and three private VIP rooms, has been the site of numerous celebrity parties, launches, and benefits.

So what can you expect at this year's New Years Eve Party at Capitale?

• 5 hour Premium Top-Shelf Open Bar
• Gourmet Buffet Dinner + Hors d'oeuvres
• Pastries & Dessert
• A Champagne Toast at Midnight
• A Live Broadcast of Ball Drop On Projection Screen
• And, Because It's Going To Be Cold A Free Coat Check

For more information about New Year's Eve 2008 at Capitale, head over to JoonBug, the official source for Capitale New Year's Eve Tickets.

Venue Review: 124 Rabbit Club

124 Rabbit Club is a beer bar that opens tomorrow (Tuesday), on MacDougal, in the heart of Greenwich Village. Thrillist has the details, and they sound good:

An unmarked cellar reminiscent of Midtown's Single Room Occupancy, Rabbit's a partnership between a Death & Co/Bourgeois Pig founder and a former manager of CBGB (who thinks you're the bourgeois pig). Walk down the stairs and buzz the door, and you'll be ushered into a well-appointed sleeve w/ a long brass bar, fuzzy felt wallpaper, and candle votives made from broken beer bottles -- because in such a princely establishment, it's declassé to expect fighting patrons to break their own. Choose from a 30-strong beer list from Ireland, England, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic, highlighted by the freeze-distilled Kulmbacher Eisbock, and the winter porter Santa's Butt -- a slightly less crippling body image problem than "Elf Wang".

Urban Daddy has some food recommendations:

And once you've settled in, you can cut the hops with a pretzel bread sandwich, a saltier, toastier version of the usual panino. Our suggestion is the ham and camembert, to quiet down that soft-cheese jones that's been tugging at you all day.

You can also check out 124 Rabbit Club's beer guide @ Thrillist, which might come in handy for the uninitiated.

124 Rabbit Club
(212) 254-0575
124 MacDougal Street
New York, NY 10012

Venue Review: Le Royale - Nightclub / Lounge (NYC - New York City)

West Village newcomer Le Royale replaces the already-missed Luke & Leroy in 7th Avenue space. Imbible first broke the news back in November. Since then the usual sources have checked in. According to UrbanDaddy the interior will be "equal parts Vegas kitsch and pop art." What can you expect in that setting? "Le Royale aims to carry on the tradition of eclectic music, drunken hipsters and general debauchery."

The Misshapes might be gone, but you can expect great music at Le Royale:

That space, we’ll remind you, is equipped with a precious cabaret license, and who better to put it to use than music directors GBH, the team that brings top-tier rock and electronic talents — like their current resident D.J., Moby — to Hiro’s weekly Cheeky Bastard party. Alejandro Torio of GBH says that in addition to live music acts five nights a week, the weekly Robot Rock party (previous at nearby, now-defunct Movida) will be revived on Thursdays. (Grub Street)

Le Royale
21 Seventh Avenue South (at Leroy)
New York, NY 10014

Around Town: Openings & Closings

Food & Nightlife News From Around The New York City Blogosphere:

• 8 Cent Falafels & A Falafel Eating Contest @ Tasty Falafel (Gridskipper)
• Wild Salmon Closing On December 31st (Eater)
• Duvet: Closed (NY Post)
• Nightclub Touch Opens In Midtown (Imbible)
• ThreeOneOne - Social Powered News for New York City