JoonBlog New York

Venue Review – The Pump Energy Food – NYC

Simple Ingredients. Simply Prepared. Simply Good.

It seems as though The Pump Energy Food has gone through a phase of remodeling and is set to open at their new location today. With the popularity of the chain sky-rocketing across the other 5 locations, it was only natural to open up a 6th to help ease the burden. I guess New Yorkers actually DO care about eating healthy.
(from the press release)

…The lines are out the door nearly every day and they (the existing restaurants) are so small we just couldn’t do anything to make them more efficient or to cook more food.” said CEO Adam Eskin. The company is hoping the larger new location, sandwiched between its five other midtown stores, will help meet the growing demand from its customers.

With the mission of "Making It Easy for People to Eat Well", The Pump is definitely on the right track, but what about that rather detailed and sometimes confusing menu?

Eskin has dramatically simplified The Pump’s elaborate menu…”It was way too big and impossible to execute well. It was so overwhelming, customers didn’t know what to order. So we’ve reduced it down to only our best dishes…”

For over ten years now, “The Pump Energy Food” has been serving their very loyal and health conscious customers. With the addition of the new location, updated aesthetic, and their new simplified menu, The Pump Energy Food should be able to keep “people who lead very busy lives but care about what they eat” happy, healthy and full for a decade more to come.

CONTEST TIME! The first reader to email craig@joonbug.com will receive a lunch card redeemable for The Pump's signature New York Sandwich: chicken, mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes and hummus in a whole wheat twist. Sounds delicious! Good luck.

The Pump Energy Food
New Location – 275 Madison Ave. @ 40th Street
www.thepumpenergyfood.com

Best Of NY Food For 2008 Is Out

New York Magazine released their Best of NY Food listings this week:

A world-class cook, a passionate Greek, one crackerjack kitchen, and a sandwich genius earn the favor of our critics.

Head over to NYMag.com for the full list.

What To Do On The Bowery

Recently, Zagat rounded up the many positive developments on the Bowery. You can view the entire informative article here:

At 327 Bowery, the owners of Hi-Fi are preparing to open The Bowery Electric by the end of the month in the space that used to house the Remote Lounge, which officially closed in December after a slow death. The space reportedly has a new look, less cameras and retains the old lounge's phone number (212-228-0228).

One block down, the Bowery nightspot Mannahatta has closed up shop and merged its operations with neighbor Crime Scene. Three blocks up, Marion's Marquee Lounge is now going by the name Antik. Next door, the same fine folks are turning the old M&R Bar into a pub, as yet unnamed.

The Greatest Wine On The Planet

Slate has an interesting story about the 1947 Cheval Blanc, considered by many to be the greatest wine on the planet:

In the animated hit Ratatouille, feared critic Anton Ego visits Gusteau's, the restaurant in which the movie is set, and orders a bottle of 1947 Château Cheval Blanc to go with his meal. In a film full of delicious insider moments for foodies, this is a wink to the wine lovers. That's because the '47 Cheval is probably the most celebrated wine of the 20th century. It is the wine every grape nut wants to experience before he dies, a wine that even the most jaded aficionados will travel thousands of miles to taste.

It only gets better:

The '47 Cheval is often spoken of as a benchmark wine, a yardstick against which other Bordeaux should be measured and a standard to which contemporary winemakers should aspire. But the château itself describes the '47 as a "happy accident of nature," which it was: Born of aberrant weather and vinified under primitive conditions, it is a wine full of technical flaws that turned out delicious in spite of itself. Is there any reason to think that producers today could emulate such a wine, and would they be wise even to try? In addition to seeking answers to these questions, I was hoping my research would yield something else: my first taste of the '47 Cheval.

Read more at Slate.

Sundance Film Festival Parties - 'Greenhouse at the Top of Main' & More

With the Sundance Film Festival just a few weeks away, we'd like to take a moment to update you on the parties that will be going on in Park City.

The Greenhouse at the Top of Main invite just hit our inbox - Greenhouse is Jon B's (Home, Guest House) new green nightlife concept. There will be a number of parties at the Greenhouse venue, but we'll note the one we'd heard rumors about: The Sundance Premier Afterparty for U2 3D, which Belevedere and Best Buy are hosting. Paul Oakenfold will be DJing.

Down By The Hipster has the scoop on two other parties:

The House of Hype - A big multi-sponsor party put on in association with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to benefit Rock the Vote and Amnesty International
...
The Brand Asset House - Multiple events including a poker tourney and a late-night soiree hosted by 50 Cent AKA Mr. VitaminWater

If we hear anything else, we'll let you know.

Danny Meyer To Give Union Square Park A Makeovee?

Though Union Squares Luna Park was beloved by a certain crowd, most New Yorkers will be happy to hear that Danny Meyer (of Union Square Cafe and (more relevant to this news) Shake Shack fame) is in talks to take over the park's drink concession. The Observer has the scoop:

As co-chair of the neighborhood economic development corporation, the Union Square Partnership, Mr. Meyer, 49, is currently involved in the planned reconstruction of the ancient 3.6-acre square’s north end.

A collaborative effort with the Parks Department, the ambitious public-private project involves, among other things, renovating the park’s old run-down pavilion, built in 1930, and installing new plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling systems, with the stated intention of converting it into a windowless restaurant space.

Construction is expected to begin this winter.

There is some vigorous opposition to Mr. Meyer opening a restaurant in a public park, but it seems that there is a good chance we will see something new in the park, courtesy of the Union Square Hospitality Group:

[Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe] has argued that the eatery is “crucial” to the park’s continued vibrancy. “Why wouldn’t you want to bring hundreds of people into the park during the off hours to make it safe and vibrant?” he asked.

Adding a dash of mystery to the simmering brouhaha is the anonymous $5 million donation that’s partially bankrolling the reported $19.6 million reconstruction effort.

Skeptics have long suspected that the source of the secret funding might be someone bent on nabbing the forthcoming licensing contract to run the revamped pavilion eatery.

Could that mystery money man be Danny Meyer?

Only time will tell.

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.

Drinking Cask Ales In New York City

Yesterday's New York Times had a great piece on the emergence of Cask Ales in New York City. First, some basics:

Cask ale or "cask-conditioned beer" is the term for unfiltered and unpasteurised beer which is conditioned and served from a cask, usually without additional nitrogen or carbon dioxide pressure. Cask ale may also be referred to as real ale, a term coined by the Campaign for Real Ale, often now extended to cover bottle-conditioned beer as well. (Wikipedia)

Getting A Cask Ale in New York City:

Cask-conditioned ales were standard in British pubs 100 years ago. They nearly disappeared after World War II, replaced with bland, corporate beers. But they have made a huge comeback in Britain in the last 35 years, and are in more and more American bars and restaurants. In the New York area the number of places serving cask ales has shot up since 2005.

“It’s been a dramatic increase,” said Robert Hodson, the sales manager of the craft beer division for Union Beer Distributors, the metropolitan area’s leading distributor of cask ales. “In 2005 we serviced 12 accounts, and in 2007 it’s up to 39.”

In the article, Eric Asimov of the Times describes some recent experiences:

In the last few days, I’ve had several excellent cask ales, including that wonderful pint, served at the Spotted Pig in the West Village and brewed by Sixpoint Craft Ales in Brooklyn. The bartender described it as a cross between a lager and a Bavarian wheat beer, which made no sense to me, as it tasted mostly like an English bitter. But if it was a mess in terms of genre, it was delicious in the glass.

At the Ginger Man in Midtown, I had a cask-conditioned Best Bitter from Sierra Nevada, beautifully balanced and softly carbonated with great depth and purity. At the Blind Tiger Ale House in Greenwich Village, I had a lively, detailed India pale ale from Brooklyn Brewery. I didn’t even get to Brooklyn, which, with bars like Spuyten Duyvil, Barcade, Mugs and the Brazen Head, is cask beer central. The Brazen Head is holding another in a series of cask beer festivals Nov. 2 to 4, with 25 casks.

Unfortunately, an excursion to Spuyten Duyvil last night resulted in failure--they were out of Cask Ale, though as a consolation they do offer one of the city's finest collections of Belgian beer.

So what's so great about Cask Ales? Think about it this way:

If mass-market kegs are the Wonder bread and Velveeta of the beer world, cask ales are like fresh-baked loaves or artisanal cheeses, with the potential to be glorious but risky all the same. They have a shelf life of two to four days once opened, and if not tapped correctly they can be a big disappointment.

“I’ve literally had to go into places and say, ‘That’s it, you can’t have our beer,’” said Garrett Oliver, the brewmaster for Brooklyn Brewery, which produces 9 to 14 casks of ale a week. “It’s a very touchy thing, because there are people who’ve read about cask beer and want to serve it, but they don’t really understand what it takes and they’re not willing to make the commitment. The galling thing is it doesn’t take that much time.”

Head over to the New York Times' website to read the entire Cask Ales article.

Citysearch Best Of NY Nightlife 2007

The Imbible blog just announced that the Best of Citysearch Nightlife '07 winners are online.

Some winners include (A = Audience / E = Editorial):

• Best Dance Club - (A) Pacha / (E) Dirty Disco
• Best Lounge - (A) Madame X / (E) The Back Room
• Best Dive Bar - (A) Duff's / (E) East River
• Best Beer Selection - (A) House Of Brews / (E) Spitzer's Corner

Head over to Citysearch New York for the entire list.

Pangaea Is Opening in Austin, Texas

New York may not have a Pangaea outpost any longer, but that doesn't mean Austin can't have its fun:

Michael Ault — a self-effacing, self-made offspring of New York gentry, raised on the international charity gala circuit known for celebrity-magnet hot spots and a ubiquitous presence on the New York Post's gossipy Page Six — is spending, along with his partners, almost $3 million to turn the former Alamo Drafthouse at 409 Colorado St. into a concept lounge known as Pangaea.
...
Named and designed after the geologic "first continent" of scientific theory, Pangaea is expected to attract the curious and the celebrated, as did Ault's earlier creations, especially Spy in New York and Chaos in Miami Beach, where Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Moss might have found themselves on the wrong side of a velvet rope during the mid 1990s before they hit super-celebrity status.

In case you weren't familiar with Michael Ault, this article from the Austin American-Statesmen has a long bio:

Ault has opened more than 25 nightclubs operating under different monikers and has worked on 60 others. Austin's Pangaea, decorated in African antiques and hunting trophies like its namesakes in New York, London, Hollywood, Fla. and Marbella, Spain, is tentatively due to open on Halloween. It will feature serpentine couches, posse-friendly "bottle service" to reserve a table's supply of liquor or wine, and DJ house music designed to turn a night out into an infamous party by closing time.

Head over to Austin360 to read the rest of the extended piece about Ault.

The 2008 Michelin Guide For New York City Is Out

Michelin has just announced the release of the 2008 edition of their famed Red Guide for New York City. Head over to Wikipedia for some background if you aren't familiar with this important culinary publication. There aren't many changes from last year, so we'll recap them all for you:

Craft loses its star, as do Fiamma, La Goulue, and Lever House.

Anthos, Blue Hill, Dressler, Gilt, JoJo and L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon all appear for the first, with one star per.

Picholine and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay each appear for the first time, with two stars a piece.

New York City's three three-starred restaurants remain the same: Jean Georges, Le Bernardin, and Per Se.

A list is available at the Michelin website (via Eater).

Bars Where The Food Is Free (NYC - New York City)

Today Citysearch has published a list that will appeal to any twenty-something New Yorker on a budget: The Drinks Aren't Free, But the Food Is. As they note, free drinks are the holy grail of NYC bar deals, but free food certainly doesn't hurt. Head over to Citysearch NYC for the complete list. Otherwise, our favorites follow:

Crocodile Lounge - 325 E 14th St, New York, NY
With every drink order, they'll sling you a free personal-sized pizza.

Rodeo Bar - 375 3rd Ave, New York, NY
Free nachos and wings during the daily (M-F) happy hour, from 4 - 8pm.

If you're in BK: Hank's Saloon - 46 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Every Sunday night at 10pm the burgers, hot dogs, and sausages are free!

And don't forget about the free hot dogs up at Rudy's in Hell's Kitchen.

Venetian Macao - The World's Largest Casino Opens

Did you know that Macao is a Special Administrative Region of China, like Hong Kong? Did you know that Macao was controlled  by Portugal until 1999? And did you know that Macao is set to overtake Las Vegas as the Gambling epicenter of the world? No? Well the recently opened Venetian Macao might change that. Why? Because it's the largest casino in the world.

Really.

The Press Release doesn't lie:

The moment it opened, the US$2.4 billion Venetian Macao became the largest single structure hotel in Asia and the second largest building in the world. Like its sister-property in Las Vegas, The Venetian Macao is a renaissance Venice-themed property featuring stunning replicas of Venice landmarks such as St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, Campanile Tower, and three indoor canals with gondolas and singing gondoliers. The hotel has 3,000 all-suite guest rooms and with one million square feet of retail space, which is more than any shopping mall in Hong Kong, The Venetian Macao now becomes a major destination for the region's top shoppers. The casino floor, at 550,000 square feet, is the largest in the world and is home to 870 table games and more than 3,400 slot machines.

The facility also features the 15,000-seat Venetian Arena, which will make its debut by holding the hotel's star-studded Grand Opening event later this evening. In the coming weeks, The Venetian Arena will play host to a pair of NBA exhibition games and a match-up of tennis greats Roger Federer and Pete Sampras. The arena's seating capacity and state-of-the-art equipment instantly make it the top entertainment facility in the region.

In case you were wondering, the Venetian isn't alone in Macao:

The Cotai Strip is a collection of hotel properties to be run by some of the most prestigious names in the hotel industry, including Four Seasons, Sheraton, St. Regis, Shangri-La, Traders, Hilton, Conrad, Fairmont, and Raffles.

Vegas, you're on notice.

Official Website of the Venetian Macao.

Fall 2007 New York City Restaurant Preview

Labor Day has come and gone. So--as we start to spend our weekends in Manhattan once again--what better time to look at all of the new restaurants that will be opening this fall (hopefully). As Eater notes, nearly all of the metro-area publications have put together a list of new places. The information is extensive, and worth a full read, but if you're short for time, check out some highlights:

New York Times - Business Is Hot, but the Vibe Is Cool

Restaurateurs who have graced New York with some of its grander dining experiences are lavishing attention on drinks. Gray Kunz’s new venture will emphasize cocktails and the food to go with them. Wine bars are more abundant than ever, with new wine-focused ventures from Daniel Boulud, Alain Ducasse and Marco Canora.

Seasonal American menus predominate, but the city’s taste for new cuisines will expand to Africa, which is being given an attention-getting venue at Marcus Samuelsson’s Merkato 55 in the meatpacking district. And Lebanese food will move into a grand setting in the Flatiron district with the opening of Ilili.   

New York Times - Here Come the Chefs ...

MOMOFUKU NOODLE BAR With their move a block north, David Chang and Joaquin Baca have more than doubled the size of the original, with seating half at tables, half at a counter. Will there still be lines out the door? The same vibe despite more comfort?: 171 First Avenue (11th Street), (212) 475-7899. October. Meanwhile, Mr. Chang said, as soon as the doors open here, he will address the old space, which became shopworn before its time, and turn it into KO, with 14 seats and a single set menu with Asian inflections and daily changes. Count on vibe: 163 First Avenue (10th Street), no phone yet. Late November.

 

Time Out New York - Four coursing

Take a look at the city’s most talked-about restaurants and it’s clear: The paradigm has shifted. Food groupies stalk prime-time tables at the itsy-bitsy Little Owl the way they once chomped at the bit for a two-top at Daniel. Despite Gray Kunz’s unimpeachable reputation as a genius of Asian flavors, it’s Momofuku kingpin David Chang who’s inspired a religious following for his casual Asian- and Greenmarket-inspired fare. Then there’s Alain Ducasse, a chef with nine Michelin stars. While lines were spilling out the door at downtown destinations like Fatty Crab and Falai last year, he closed Essex House, his showpiece New York restaurant that just didn’t take.

Time Out New York - Coming right up

Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce

Lovers of besequined pasties will descend on Nolita this fall, when the L.A.-born burlesque spot opens shop—thanks in part to the backing of part owners and rock icons Sting and David Bowie. The faux-seedy bar and restaurant will serve a pub-style menu—boobs and burgers, together at last. 19 Kenmare St between Bowery and Elizabeth St (no phone yet)

New York Mag - Where the Underground Gourmet Will Be Eating

Bun
Mai House chef Michael Huynh collaborates with his wife, Thao Nguyen, on a Soho rice-noodle shop, where the $12-and-under menu features spring rolls, skewers, and one-hour poached egg with sea urchin and truffle. 143 Grand St., nr. Lafayette St.; 212-431-7999. October.

New York Mag - Best of the Rest: Food

Zeppelin (December)
Who better than the fastidious cocktail shakers from Employees Only to revive the spirit of this once-storied space (Marylou’s and, before that, a Prohibition-era speakeasy)? Keith Harry (Chanterelle) is cooking what they’re calling old-world American brasserie, and the name is for the blimpy airships, not the band. 21 W. 9th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; no phone yet.

Read on for a couple dozen more. If you're lucky, you'll have tried them all (if they all open) by New Year's Eve. And then you'll have a mere 5 Months and 4 Weeks to work it all off in time for Memorial Day Weekend.

Best Bets For Cheap Beer In New York City

Last Sunday The New York Times looked at New York City's best spots to grab a cheap beer. We almost missed the list as it appeared in the Travel Section--the paper is the New York Times, so wouldn't the local Wine & Dining sense make more sense? But we digress--the fact of the matter is, the Times has put together a great list of bars where the beer flows cheaply. If you want, head over to the Times' website to read the whole list. We've listed a few highlights below:

• Maybe the best deal — with no happy hour restrictions — is the $7 pitcher of McSorley's at Cheap Shots, a narrow, raucous bar on First Avenue. Unlike most of what you'll find at less than $2 a pint, the amber brew, with origins at its namesake pub a few blocks away, is never compared to bodily fluids.
• Near the South Street Seaport, the $5.75 quarts of Bud Light or Coors Light at Jeremy's Ale House are a surprising value for a tourist spot. A quart, for the lactose-intolerant or metric-loving among you, is 32 ounces, equivalent to two pints or nearly three cans of beer.
• The capital of cheap beer in New York City is the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, a one-stop hop on the L train from Manhattan -- From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., seven nights a week, Levee offers dollar cans of Carling Black Label, the result of its dollar-off-all-drinks happy hour. And making Jeremy's Ale House seem both pricey and smelly by comparison is the Greenpoint Tavern, a beer joint from Williamsburg's working-class days that has made a seemingly happy transition to modern life while keeping a handful of its blue-collar clientele — apparently they all find common ground in their love of hanging pots with plastic flowers. The standard, always-available bargain is a quart of Bud or Bud Light for $3.50 and, in a nod to people who think they're being chic, quarts of Becks for $4.50.

Johnny Utah's: We Got Pictures

A few weeks ago we observed the opening of Johnny Utah's, home to New York City's first mechanical bull. JoonBug photographers were on the scene for the Grand Opening. You can check out all 200+ of those pictures out in the JoonBug photo archives. We've also highlighted a few of our favorites below:

 
 
 

See previous JoonBlog coverage of Johnny Utah's.

The Lower East Side's Best Restaurants

As Time Out New York pointed out this week, "Gertel’s has closed, the future of Katz’s remains uncertain, and Kossar’s is selling sushi. Lower East Side food culture, we’re being told yet again, is dying. But while pastrami sentimentalists beat their chests, the LES’s culinary scene has come to be defined by a new vanguard."

Against this backdrop, TONY rounded up their favorite spots to grab some great food on the Lower East Side. We like a lot of their picks, and we've highlighted some of them below. We've also added a few of our own.

WD-50 - "Dubbed everything from a mad scientist to a genius, [Chef] Dufresne delights and challenges diners with logic-defying foods (fried mayonnaise!) that are as unlikely as they are inspired. Along with his foams and emulsions came a 2006 Michelin star and the role of Gotham’s unofficial representative in a global network of avant-garde chefs.

Falai - With a mini-culinary empire that now includes the original Falai, Falai Panetteria, and Caffe Falai (in SoHo) Le Cirque pastry chef Iacopo Falai has made his mark in the neighborhood.  Frank Bruni of The Times made a return trip to the original a few days ago, and he declared that "the meal was actually quite good. Falai is a serious restaurant, with a menu that’s not a carbon copy of too many others around town, and I enthusiastically recommend a number of the dishes my companions and I had."

Suba - When Suba brought in Boqueria chef-partner Seamus Mullen you knew a good thing was about to get better. Ryan Sutton of Bloomberg had positive things to say about the update: "If Boqueria is rustic Spanish, Suba is modern Spanish. It always has been. This is where Alex Urena used to pack in crowds with his architectural, avant-garde take on Iberian fare. (Urena now runs his eponymous restaurant near Madison Square Park.) Under Mullen, things are modern but simpler. Take that jowl. It's smoky, not salty; chewy, not rubbery; slick, not slimy. It is unmistakably Spanish.

Head over to TONY to read about gelato, pickles, and more, all on the Lower East Side.

Around Town

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

• This october, John “JE” Englebert and his partners at Pre:Post, Retox, and Myst will open a 4,000-square-foot lounge called Suzie Wong’s in West Chelsea (Grub St.)
• NYC's Best All Day Breakfasts (Gridskipper)
• Townline BBQ is almost open (The Beach)
• More Details on Upstairs Bar (above Cafe Bari) (DBTH)

Around Town

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

• Eater has dinner at Wakiya on opening night (Eater)
• Six Columbus' roof is now open for private events (DBTH)
• Blue Seats brings 62 plasma screens to the Lower East Side (Grub St.)
• Daniel Boulud's new burger joint, DBGB, gets its liquor license (Eater)
• A night of bacon, beer, and pickles at E. Village gastropub Jimmy's No. 43 (Gothamist)

The Top Spots For Late Night Eating In New York City

Nothing hits the spot after a long night of partying than a great late night meal. In some cities this is easier said than done. Lucky for you, New York, the City That Never Sleeps™, is also the city that always eats. Of course, you can always hit up your local bodega for a sandwich, but today we're going to set out sights a little higher. So, without further fanfare, here is JoonBug's list of The Best Places To Grab Some Late Night Eats After A Night Of Partying:

• The Diner - A retro 24-hour diner steps from the Meatpacking District, serving up your favorite comfort food. What more can you ask for?
• Mamoun's Falafel - For over 35 Years Mamoun's has been serving some of New York's best Middle Eastern sandwiches on MacDougal Street, in the Village. A recently opened location on St. Mark's Place only ups the ante.
• Pop Burger - A modern interior, upscale burgers, close to the Meatpacking District, a bar/lounge setup, and pool tables. And yes, they're open till 5AM on the weekends.
• Pizza Bar - From the Pop Burger team comes Pizza Bar, located on the same stretch of 9th Avenue. Similar late night hours, a robust cocktail list, and of course great thin-crust pizzas make this a great late night spot.
• The Coffee Shop - With one of the best looking wait-staff's in New York, sleek, sort of retro Coffee Shop is your best bet for late night eating (and drinking) in Union Square.
• Pre:Post - Open until 8AM, Pre:Post is the best way to start your recovery after a night of West 27th Street partying.
• Cafeteria - It may not be the newest spot in NYC anymore, but Cafeteria is still as popular as ever.

Did we miss your favorite late-night food spot? Let us know in the comments!

New York City's Best Ice Cream Shops

Citysearch New York recently released a list of, "11 Ice Cream Shops We Can't Live Out." As the mercury has been hovering in the 90s lately, we were happy to see the list hit our inbox. You can head over to Citysearch to read about all 11 ice cream shops, but we've highlighted a few of our favorites below:

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory - Offering up all sorts of bizarre flavors (as well as familiar Western ones too), Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is the perfect accompaniment to any dinner in Chinatown. (65 Bayard St, New York, NY)

Cones - An Argentinian Importer of fine South American ice creams. (272 Bleecker St, NY, NY)

Laboratorio del Gelato - Yes, it's technically gelato, not ice cream, but when it's this good, who's going to argue with you. (95 Orchard St, NY, NY)

And though it didn't make Citysearch's list, if they are going to count gelato, sorbet, yogurt, etc, The Lemon Ice Queen of Corona needs to be mentioned.

Top 10 New York City Venues On JoonBlog For First Half 2007

We're already half way through the summer of 2007, which also means that we're half-way through the year. We've seen a slew of new bars, restaurants, and clubs, and we've also seen some favorites close their doors for good. With six months in the books, now is a good time to look back at the winter and spring that was. We'll be putting together some editorial lists in the days and weeks to come, but for now, let's go with the voice of the people. Since our computers can track this sort of thing, we'd like to present The Ten Most Popular (by views on JoonBlog) Bars, Restaurants, and Bightclubs in New York City for 1H 2007:

1) Public House - A new American Pub in Midtown.
2) Runway - The fashion-inspired lounge near the Garden.
3) Socialista - Former Bungalow 8 doorman Armin Amiri's Havana-inspired restaurant/lounge. 
4) Spotlight Live - The massive new uber-Karaoke spot in Times Square.
5) Smith & Mills - The buzz-worthy new retro-style lounge in TriBeCa.
6) Tenjune - Still hot subterranean lounge in the Meatpacking District.
7) Azza - New Celeb-filled Mediterranean restaurant/lounge in Midtown.
8) Retreat - Popular Rustic lodge themed space in the Flatiron District.
9) Gemma - The Bowery Hotel's just opened, red-hot Italian restaurant.
10) B Flat - A popular new TriBeCa cocktail lounge from the staff of long-time favorite, Angel's Share.

The people have spoken clicked, and these are the results for the first half of 2007. Have you been to any of the spots above? Have something to say? Leave a note in the comments.

AOL Ask's "Who's The Hottest Bartender In America?"

AOL City Guide recently launched the second season of their popular contest, America's Hottest Bartenders. If you head over to AOL City Guide, you can vote for your favorite bartender (male and female) in ten cities. A quick browse through the site reveals bartenders working at hot spots including Sky Bar (Miami), Bare Pool Lounge (Las Vegas), Jet (Las Vegas), Gypsy Bar (Boston), and Azza (New York City)

MTA says Drinking On Commuter Trains Is Still OK!

Gothamist has alerted us to an important article in today's New York Times:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board decided yesterday not to act on a ban of alcoholic beverages on Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road.

If you weren't aware, "Both railroads sell beer, wine, and liquor (along with soft drinks, water and snacks) from carts at Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station, as well as from bar cars on trains."

So what was behind the decision? $$$

Sales yielded a $1 million profit for the MTA, so the decision was probably more based on pure hard economics than anything else, although an MTA task force looking into the matter determined the sales did not pose a risk to the safety of commuters.

So, next time you're on the LIRR or Metro-North, buy a drink and know that you're helping finance the construction of the Second Avenue Subway.

4th Of July News: Kobayashi out at Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest?

Kobayashi, the long reigning champ of the Nathan's hot dog eating contest, may have to skip the contest this year. Gothamist has the news:

First, his mother passed away in March, causing the Tsunami to take a sabbatical from training. Now, news comes from Kobayashi's blog (bad translation) that he's got a bout of jaw arthritis! Apparently Kobayashi can only open his mouth big enough to fit a finger and the injury happened just a week into training.

Gothamist adds that this gives hope to American contender Joey Chestnut:

In a qualifier for this year's Nathan's event, Chestnut ate a whopping 59 1/2 hot dogs with buns, shattering Kobayashi's record of 53 3/4 from last July 4th. If Kobayashi is still injured when July 4th rolls around, you can be sure that Chestnut will bring the Mustard Belt back to the United States.

Read the whole story at Gothamist.

The Cities With The Most Expensive Drinks In America

Yesterday we covered the release of Zagat's New York City Nightlife Guide for 2007/08. One of the most interesting things we discovered is that while NYC's drink prices have soared, they still aren't the most expensive in the nation, and certainly not the world (you can thank the weak dollar for that).

Before we put NYC's drink prices in perspective, let's see what some of the local papers had to say about the news:

The NY Post:

"People have more money in their pockets these days," said Mario Stewart of Mantra 986, a Midtown lounge that opened in January.

"People might actually get suspicious - like they walked into a dive bar - if you charge too little."

The Observer:

[Tim Zagat:] I think the 7.3 percent inflation rate is more important. If prices continue to rise, people may cut back on their nightcrawling. Also, it’s likely that bottle service will be prohibited by the City Council, which is considering a legislative ban.

So, are New York City's drink prices that bad? We scoured through the press archives at Zagat and put together the available data; this is what we found:

To put that chart in perspective here are some stats to to contemplate:
The cost of the average drink in Las Vegas Is 17% more expensive than NYC.
The cost of the average drink in Los Angeles is 5% more expensive than NYC.
The cost of the average drink in NYC is 11% more expensive than San Francisco.
The cost of the average drink in NYC is 32% more expensive than New Orleans.
The cost of the average drink in Las Vegas Is 42% more expensive than New Orleans.

Important Info: All data found on Zagat.com. You can buy their nightlife guides here. New Orleans data is post-Katrina. Las Vegas data does not include comped casino drinks.

Previous JoonBlog Coverage.

Zagat Releases Top Nightlife Ratings for 2007 (NYC)

While Zagat is better known for the ubiquitous restaurant guides, they have been quietly rating nightspots for some time now. They recently released their 2007 ratings for New York City and The Daily News has got the scoop on the top rated spots.

Coming in at number one is long-time Meatpacking District favorite, Pastis:

The "volume is loud" and the vibe "Euro-worldly" at Keith McNally's "buzzy" Meatpacking District bistro, where "circus crowds" of "varying ages" (and varying degrees of celebrity) convene in a transporting "old-world Paris" setting. Voted the Most Popular nightspot in this survey, it's "always sociable," usually "cramped" and clearly "still happening." Just getting in "feels like an event" to many.

You can always try McNally's new restaurant, Morandi.

Newcomer Buddha Bar lands in the second spot:

If you can't "get to Paris to see the original," this new bar/restaurant brings its "'wow' factor" to the Meatpacking District on a "huge" scale, spreading "Asian flair" over a "magnificent" space with a colossal "Buddha as the centerpiece" and a "fab" soundtrack featuring "their own CDs"; with a "red-rope crowd" fanning the "souped"-up scene, it can be "tough" to access, but sure to send those "willing to shell out" the bucks into "nirvana."

The Observer's Real Estate blog highlighted some other info in the recently released report:

• The cost of the average drink in New York City has soared 7.3 percent to $10.12
• A record 11 new wine bars have opened this year, featuring such tannic monikers as Grape & Grain, Wine & Roses, and Wined Up.
• Adding 14 new nightspots, the East Village is the year's most busy 'hood in terms of venue openings
• Meatpacking remains both "most popular" and "most overrated" nighttime destination

Technorati Tags: zagat, nightlife, nyc, buddha bar, pastis, 2007, meatpacking district

Mets Express - Shea Stadium Ferry Service

Opening Day at Shea has come and gone, and while Spring hasn't exactly sprung, it will soon be the perfect time of year to head over out to Queens to take in a Mets game. While most Manhattanites take the 7 over to Shea, this year, there's a new way to get to the stadium:

Soak up the sun and scenery with your fellow Mets fans as you sip a cool drink aboard New York Water Taxi's Mets Express.

Ride in style on our outdoor top deck or in our plush air conditioned cabin. A cash bar with beer, wine and soda is available to quench you thirst and feel free to bring your own food onboard.

Here are the details. You pick up the ferry at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, South Street Seaport, E. 34th Street, or East 90th Street. Once aboard you can relax, have a drink, enjoy some food, take in the sights, or watch the pre-game wrap on the 42 inch plasmas in the lounge. Round-trip tickets are $18 for adults, and $12 for children. More details are available at the New York Water Taxi website.

Technorati Tags: mets, mets express, new york city, ferry, baseball, shea stadium

Venue Review: Ivo & Lulu - Restaurant (NYC - New York City)

Back in February, we covered the subject of BYOB restaurants in New York City, highlighting some of your better options. Somehow we overlooked Ivo & Lulu, a popular, and more importantly, excellent BYOB restaurant on the western fringe of SoHo. Ivo & Lulu, often discussed on Chowhound, serves up cheap, inventive, French cuisine, focusing on organic ingredients. The restaurant is an offshoot of a popular French-Caribbean place on the Upper West Side, and the menu here is certainly eclectic.

Two stand out dishes were the utterly untraditional mussels, served without their shells, in a thick, spicy broth, consisting of rum and cilantro-chile butter, and the rabbit & ginger sausages, which were dressed in an excellent cream sauce.

Of course, the biggest draw is the BYOB policy. Faced with a long wait, we asked the small restaurant's host/waiter if we would mind opening one of our bottles, so that we could have a drink while we waited on the sidewalk. Surprisingly, he agreed, handing us three glasses, though suggesting that we keep an eye out for the police. On this quiet stretch of Broome Street, that was not an issue.

Is Ivo & Lulu the best BYOB restaurant in New York City as some claim? It's hard to say. Cube 63 is certainly in the running for that title. But comparing a trendy Lower East Side Sushi joint and a (relatively) quiet French-ish bistro a few steps from the mouth of the Holland Tunnel is like comparing apples and oranges. Why not do yourself a favor and try them both?

Technorati Tags: ivo & lulu, ivo & lulu byob, new york city byob restaurants, best byob restaurant nyc, soho, soho restaurant reviews

CitySearch Takes A Look At Brunch In NYC

When you've been out late on a Friday or Saturday night, nothing satisfies like a good brunch the following morning, and besides, it's always good to have an excuse to jump out of bed in the morning, just in case you don't like who you find there. Today CitySearch rounded up some stand-out brunch joints, opining that "brunch means different things to different people." How so?

If you're looking to catch up with old friends they suggest Pink Teacup: "A cozy vibe and soul-nurturing fare like salmon croquettes keep this West Village legend hopping."

If you're looking for an over-the-top, $48 smorgasbord [that] starts the day with a touch of Scandinavian swank," they suggest you hit up Aquavit.

For a brunch which includes free drinks, they suggest Essex, The Sunburnt Cow, and Sapore.

The idea of a brunch that includes free drinks is appealing, so we'll offer a suggestion of our own. The aformentioned three restaurants are all located south of 14th. If you find yourself looking for a drinker-friendly brunch in Hell's Kitchen, we suggest The All You Can Drink Brunch at The Film Center Cafe. $18.95 buys you your choice of anything on the brunch menu, accompanied by a selection of unlimited free drinks, which include all of the just woken up mainstays--Champagne, Mimosas, Bellinis, Sangria, Screwdrivers, & Bloody Marys.

Head over to CitySearch to see the rest of their suggestions.

Technorati Tags: nyc brunch, best brunch new york city, brunch free drinks nyc

New York Mag Looks At Specialty Shots

Last month, New York Magazine took a look at some of the more inventive shots on the list at a few of New York City's famous and not-so-famous bars. Some highlights:

Is It A Shot, Or A Set Of Instructions? - 'The Monica Lewinsky' - Served at Barcelona Bar

At this midtown after-work joint inspired by a famous Barcelona shots bar, the Monica shot involves wearing a wig, pinning back your arms, and sucking back a whipped-cream-topped White Russian–type concoction that’s sure to mess your dress.

Celebrity Inspired - 'Bijou's Crack' - Served at The Anchor

...Bijou Phillips’s spin on a Russian Cocaine shot. Imbibers toss back a shot of vodka and suck down a lemon wedge dusted with sugar on one side and coffee grinds on the other.

Only For The Brave - 'Ass Juice' - Served at Double Down

The cheeky barkeeps at this punk-rock dive refuse to say what’s in the Ass Juice (no relation to the equally mysterious Fart Juice at the Slaughtered Lamb). The rose-colored concoction is actually sweet and fruity, like a Hurricane...

Head over to the Bar Buzz section @ NYMag.com to keep reading.

Technorati Tags: nyc shots, new york mag, barcelona bar, the anchor, double down nyc

Event Roundup: St. Patrick's Day Bar Parties In New York City (NYC)

St. Patrick's Day. Shamrocks. Leprechauns. Irish Car Bombs (The Drink). And Of Course, Irish Beer. Most traditional Irish Beers are stouts--extra dark, medium bodied ales with creamy heads--Guinness of course being the most famous example of this type of brew. Though ostensibly a religious day honoring Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, to most Americans, St. Patrick's Day is an just excuse to get (very) drunk on a Sunday. Not that there's wrong with that of course!

St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in America, for longer than America has been America--really. Wikipedia has the dirt:

Irish American immigrants brought Saint Patrick's Day to the United States. The first civic and public celebration of Saint Patrick's Day in the 13 colonies took place in Boston, Massachusetts in 1737.^[6] The first celebration of Saint Patrick's Day in New York City was held at the Crown and Thistle Tavern in 1756.^[7] In 1780, General George Washington, who commanded soldiers of Irish descent in the Continental Army, allowed his troops a holiday on March 17. This event became known as The St. Patrick's Day Encampment of 1780. ^[8] Today, Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated in the United States by Irish and non-Irish alike.

Boston may have been first, but New York is now home to the largest (150,000 people) St. Patrick's Day Parade in the world. If you want to check out the Parade, JoonBug's got the info on bars where you'll be able to watch, while enjoying food and drink specials. Opal, located on 52nd St., will be open from 11AM till 4AM the following morning. Boasting great views of the parade route, they will also dish up Corned Beef Specials and live DJ sets.

If you're looking for an upscale Midtown party, head over to Mantra 986 on 2nd Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd. They'll have food and drink specials, and a real life Leprechaun will be partying at the lounge all afternoon.

If the Village is more your scene, head over to the Village Lantern. They'll have $4 pints all day--for all 12 of the beers they have on tap. They'll also have $5 Corned Beef Sandwiches. At night they're going to kick things up a gear--so get yourself ready with $6 Car Bombs.

If one bar isn't enough for you, then head over to The Village Pourhouse at 11AM and sign up for their Pub Crawl. Tickets are $30, but if you sign-up through the link for JoonBug members, they'll knock the price down to $20! And what does $20 get you?  Crawlers will move up and down Second and Third Avenue, enjoying $1 beers at the following stops: The Village Pourhouse, Bar None, Finnerty’s, Link, Still and Proof!

New York not big enough for you? Then maybe you should head down to the Quarter at The Tropicana, in Atlantic City. They'll be throwing it down at 12 different bars! There will be live performances, drink specials, DJ sets, and all sorts of giveaways.

Or, you could head over to the JoonBug website, and browse the rest of our listings--you'll find St. Patrick's Day parties in every city we serve.

Technorati Tags: saint patrick's day, st. patrick's day nyc, nyc saint patricks day bars, nyc st. patrick's day pub crawl

Venue Review: Zum Schneider Bavarian Biergarten (New York City - NYC)

Anyone who has ever been to Munich in the summer knows the charms and liter-glasses of the city's famous beer gardens. The most famous beer locale in the city is, of course, The Hofbräuhaus, a beer hall in the city center, open since 1589. And here in New York City, in Alphabet City, we have Zum Schneider, a Bavarian restaurant and indoor Biergarten. So, in the cold of winter, you can sit on a picnic bench, in a room full of large trees and all sorts of German beer paraphernalia.

If this sounds a bit off-putting, like the whole thing belongs lit up in neon in Times Square--fear not--the draught beer selection (all German and offered in small, half-liter, and liter mugs) is extensive, and the authentic German food is among the best available in the city. Go for the Smoked Pork Chop.

Zum Schneider is on Avenue C, at the edge of what was once, almost 100 years ago, Kleindeutschland, the center of New York City's German immigrant community.

Even if German food isn't your thing, and you're not much of a beer drinker, come fall, you'll definitely want to head down to Zum Schneider for Oktoberfest. Of course, during the summer, you could always head out to Astoria to the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden.

Zum Schneider
Avenue C & 7th Street.


Technorati Tags: zum schneider, new york city restauarants, restaurant review, beer hall, beer garden

Enough R&R, it's time for V&V

When dinosaurs roamed the earth and we all listened to Michael Jackson, stimulants for energy drinks varied from too much caffeine (remember Jolt?) to traces of amphetamines and coca. Great for truck drivers and high school kicks, but people in NYC wanted a more drinkable choice to put into their Grey Goose.

Recently on the market comes V&V, a luxury energy drink made with all natural stimulants created by former Manhattan club owners and DJs, Gordon and Erik Von Broock. They knew first hand people were waiting for a quality alternative to coffee, as well as premium ingredients for a nice cocktail, and they delivered.

The active ingredients for V&V are all natural, namely guarana, ginseng and gingko, and are filled with vitamins to boot. Packaged in glass bottles to retain its “vim and vigor,” V&V is becoming the high end option to the aluminum canned cough-syrup-tasting drink sweeping the nation. Currently found in restaurants like Morimoto, Nobu 57 and gourmet retail stores, V&V comes in two varieties, citrus and berry.

You might as well be wearing a Michael Jackson T-shirt if you’re caught mixing Red Bull with your vodka, so check out the V&V website for a list of places to find this exceptional energy drink.

PS 450 Takes on Table 50 Over a Cocktail Brawl

The fight is on between two of New York’s class-act bars.  Table 50 with the stability of time served in the New York nightlife is being challenged by the newest member PS 450 for stealing their introduction of the “Bottail” Menu into the bar scene.  This new concept is the highlight of New York’s late night enthusiasts because it’s doing away with the one to two- bottle minimum that most bars require for table service by offering at a premium cost, mixed favorites in bottles or pitchers to their table clients.  Even though Table 50’s so called “Shaker and Shot Menu” seems focused on shot and mixed drinks, PS450 still feels their “Bottail”idea, serving cocktail drinks such as martini’s and cosmopolitans in bottles,  is very similar and they feel that their concept has been infringed upon.  This specialty drink brawl has turned into quite a “he said, he stole” battle between owners Matt Wagman (PS 450) and Mark Mathewson (Table 50), all the way to make news in Richard Johnson’s, Page Six of The New York Post.  The real question is: who really is the brains behind this new table service trend and isn’t there room for more than one?

A Guide to the Best Summer Wines

For every season, there is a wine, and during the summer months, the best seasonal wines are the ones that are lighter, lower in alcohol content (you ever drink too much while baking in the rays of an August sun, and almost not live to tell the tale?), can be chilled, and compliment typical summer fare, such as barbecued meats, seafood, fresh vegetables, and shellfish.

With summer’s warmth and humidity, dining and entertaining is casual and outdoors. So “just say no” to heavy Chardonnays and over-oaked, tannic Cabernets that turn your tongue furry. Think young. Wines from recent vintages will be fresh and better priced. Select crisp, light, fruity white wines to sip and to match salads, seafood, and chicken. It’s all about acidity with summer whites, to keep the wine light on the palate with a clean finish (i.e., for the same reason why lemonade always tastes better during summer). Select fresh, flavorful, fruit-forward red wines to accompany grilled and BBQ meats, and don’t worry about complexity.

Rosé, according to several wine merchants we spoke with, is what’s big this summer. Some of the best 2003 French Rosés have been some of the best to have ever been produced, explained our experts. They work well as