ChikaLicious makes desserts that will give you something to talk about.

Photo courtesy of ChikaLicious
Location: East Village, NYC
ChikaLicious
203 East 10th Street
Tel: (212) 995-9511

If you don't want to get dinner and would rather head straight for dessert, then ChikaLicious is the perfect spot. This tiny dessert place has more bar seating than tables, and that's exactly where you want to be as chefs/owners Don and Chika Tillman happily make you delectable desserts right in front of your face. With a 3-course prix-fixe dessert menu for $12 that includes an amuse bouche, choice of dessert, and petit fours (with wine pairing, $7 additional), it's a great first date for serious fans of sugar. With desserts like Warm Chocolate Tart with Pink Peppercorn Ice Cream and Red Wine Sauce or Poached Pear with Asian Pear Salad and Lemon-Verbena Ice Cream, it's no wonder that there's usually a line out the door to get in, so get there early and bask in the sweet goodness that ChikaLicious has to offer.


Sit at the bar and watch the chefs at Supper cook up close. Photo credit: Myko L.

Location: East Village, NYC
Supper
156 East 2nd Street
Tel: (212) 477-7600

An impressive first date spot with a warm country atmosphere, while being easy on the wallet, is Supper. Dressed in hardwood tables and exposed brick, this Italian eatery has a comfortable and romantic vibe with rustic charm where you can get cozy with one another. If you can, I recommend getting a seat at the bar overlooking the chefs at work as fire rises from their pans high above. Daring and fun to watch, it’s a great conversation starter. While the chefs perform high-risk maneuvers, the food doesn’t suffer one bit. Standout dishes include the “Priest Stranglers” Pasta with Dad’s Sunday marinara sauce topped with fresh soft ricotta di pecora ($12). This is my favorite dish. The half roasted chicken rubbed in wild fennel with rosemary roasted garlic and mashed potatoes ($14.95) is a close second. Whatever you order, you get more than what you pay for.

Have you seen me?

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Event: Army of Bjork
Venue Stain Bar
Food Chimu
Drink Sweet Ups
Miscellaneous Alligator Lounge

The Stain Bar hosts The Army of Bjork, their annual costume party dedicated to that Icelandic goddess Bjork. Come dressed up and enjoy one of my favorite beverages, Glogg (hot wine) and of course Bjork’s music. This could possibly get insane! If you’re hungry, head to Chimu. This Peruvian steakhouse has some of the most delicious food this side of Peru! Standout dishes include the ceviches and the chicken breast served in a creamy aji Amarillo sauce and peanuts, served over boiled potatoes with rice. Sweet Ups is a bar with décor that makes you feel like you’re in some romance novel. Red velvet wallpaper and black leather couches set the scene here, while happy hour buy-one-get-one free drink specials run from 5:30-8. Still hungry and thirsty? Head to the Alligator Lounge, where you get a free pizza with every drink. If that isn’t heaven, then I don’t know what is!

The first date is always a big deal. It's scary because you don't know what to expect and it's exciting because you don't know what to expect. You want it to work and you're hoping your date doesn't turn out to be a jerk, married, flaky, flighty, or insane. You're hoping that you both will just get along and that your never-ending search for someone you can spend some quality time with finally comes to an end. The restaurant where you both decide on meeting for that first time can be the place where one of you makes a complete ass out of yourselves (been there!) or the place that is the beginning of a beautiful relationship. To help you out, in this three part series, I will give you a list of five restaurants that are great starts for a first date. The rest is up to you.


Cornelia Street Café. Romantic with a downstairs performance space.

Location: West Village, NYC
Cornelia St Cafe
29 Cornelia Street
Tel: (212) 989-9319

Nestled on a quiet street right in the heart of the west village, Cornelia St. Café has an ambiance that has the perfect mix of romance and fun. When you enter this well-lit and artsy café, it’s exposed brick walls and wood tables create a great atmosphere where you can talk and get to know each other better, like you’re in someone’s living room, rather than have to scream over loud music. The food is American, some with twists like the Thai Bouillabaisse (shrimp, scallops, mussels, salmon, calamari, snow peas, red peppers & cellophane noodles in a lemon grass coconut milk broth $18) With a history of giving artist’s a place to perform since this café’s inception in 1977, you can go downstairs to a performance space and see local artists play music, read their poems, or catch a new playwright’s work-in-progress. It’s like two dates in one!

Jeffrey Lewis. Photo Credit: Eric Lippe

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Jeffrey Lewis and the Jitters + Schwervon!
Venue: The Mercury Lounge
Food: China 1
Drink: White Rabbit
Miscellaneous: The Tenement Museum

Singer/songwriter and comic book fanatic, Jeffrey Lewis plays in support of his new album 12 Crass Songs, a set of beautiful and quirky reinterpretations of songs by the early 80s punk band Crass. Joining them is Schwervon! A duo making equally quirky pop music. If you seek irony in your food as well as your music, then you’ll love China 1. Sporting décor more Middle Eastern opium den than Chinatown, the food is the only thing reminiscent to China, with a smaller though better menu than your favorite Chinese take-out joint. White Rabbit, named after a Chinese milk candy, offers an all-white interior, a small Asian inspired menu, and excellent cocktails. For a taste of the beauty and hell that immigrants lived through on the L.E.S. back in the late 1800s, The Tenement Museum is as realistic as it gets. The only thing that’s changed since is the rent!

by: Amy Wagner

Prog rockers The Mars Volta are back with another album that, while big in sound takes a few departures in style. There are still plenty of psychedelic leanings and wah-wah guitar solos, but this time out band leaders Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler Zavala introduce a myriad of sounds, including shimmering middle eastern echoes and snarly punk growls, to their always eclectic mix. The Bedlam in Goliath, the group's fourth LP, does run the risk of being overly dense at times (more than one track clocks in at the nine minute mark) but the album manages to stay just this side of comprehensible by bouncing from sound to sound. "The Tourniquet Man" will hypnotize you with it's Led Zeppelin filtered through Pink Floyd stylings but just as you're about to get nice and comfortable, The Mars Volta are sure to shake you up with some screeching rock and roll.

Prepare to go to Hell . . . and Back!

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Band: Jerry Springer: The Opera
Venue: Carnegie Hall
Food: Burger Joint
Drink: Bill’s Gay Nineties
Miscellaneous: Tafu

The idea of a pop opera based on The Jerry Springer Show (yes, that Jerry Springer) that opened in London of 2003, sounded like a bad idea. A smash hit since, now it makes a two-night stand at Carnegie Hall, with Harvey Keitel playing you know who. Just as shocking (maybe not) is Burger Joint. Located in The Parker Meridian, this basic burger joint serves up excellent burgers and milkshakes in its curtained off space inside the hotel. The theme at Bill’s Gay Nineties surprisingly is an ode to the speakeasies of the roaring twenties. With a second floor dedicated to the history of entertainment, it even has an autographed poster of Buffalo Bill. The history’s deep here and the drinks are stiff. If you want to get some sort of sanity back after this night, stop by Tafu for some premium Japanese teas and desserts. No chair throwing allowed!

Here's a little taste of England's Production of Jerry Springer: The Opera

Get pampered at Spa Hydra

Spa Hydra
35-11 36th Street
Long Island City, NY 11106
Tel: (718) 267-7991

You wouldn’t expect it from outside the converted warehouse across the street from the Museum of the Moving Image in Long Island City, but inside is a seriously chic spa. The floor is laid with white marble and the separate, dimly lit relaxation area is just the type of place you want to chill before or after your treatments, sip your tea and research Britney’s breakdown. Body treatments and facials are available as well as top-notch massages, waxing and nails. Fun fact; did you know that after 10 years your mattress will weigh almost 15 pounds more than when you bought it? For $80 you can have a Signature Salt Body Scrub that smells amazing and leaves your skin so smooth your pants might fall off. It starts with a hot scrub, then a relaxing shower, and ends with a massage using a heated aromatherapy balm. For total enjoyment, promptly go home and get naked. --Sheehan McGuirk

Get Down Latin Psychedelic Style with Chicha Libre at Barbes.

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Band: Chicha Libre
Venue: Barbes
Food: El Viejo Yayo
Drink: Buttermilk Bar
Miscellaneous: The Chocolate Room

For fans of psychedelia and South American sounds, Chicha Libre, the band named after a music craze from the Peruvian Amazon and an Incan corn liquor, are sure to make you dance with the sexy sounds of surf guitar, moog, and farfisa organ. Keeping the night going with latin flavor, try El Viejo Yayo for dinner. This gorgeous and warm restaurant has an elegant dining room and an affordable menu offering Dominican/Latin cuisine. The outside of Buttermilk Bar may look non-descript, but looks are deceiving . . . just not in this case, as this low-key watering hole is where you can grab a cheap drink in a friendly atmosphere, while playing a board game or two. With a near insane menu of chocolates from coffee and tea to delectable dessert, and even beer, The Chocolate Room is a great way to end the night on a high note.

DJ Shadow Breaks it down. Photo Credit: Leslie Torre

Friday Jan 25

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Artists: One Step Beyond: A-Trak + Kid Sister + The Cool Kids
Venue: Rose Center for Earth and Space (at the American Museum of Natural History)
Food: Rain
Drink: Prohibition
Accessory: American Museum of Natural History

Tonight, hip hop goes to the museum with One Step Beyond, a party where turntablist A-Trak (Kanye West’s DJ), Kid Sister, recently signed to his label Fool’s Gold, and retro-rap duo The Cool Kids perform. In the mood for pan-Asian food? Rain is a great bet, with it’s rather large Japanese themed wood paneled space, it has devised dishes like the Jungle Curry Wild Boar with kaffir lime, Thai eggplant, and Shanghai bok choy ($24). Prohibition harkens back to that 20s era full of illegal activity. Fortunately, the bar has an excellent drink menu including 12 different martinis. With pool tables in the back and exposed brick walls covered with paintings of people imbibing drinks, the theme may be prohibition but everyone is having too good a time to notice. While you’re at the museum, check out the exhibit “Water:H20=Life,” celebrating and informing us on that stuff keeping us alive.

Friday

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Event: Hip-Hop Karaoke NYC Championship
Venue: Highline Ballroom
Food: Pop Burger
Drink: Gaslight Lounge
Accessory: Amy’s Bread

So, you wanna be a hip hop star and think you can recite Wu Tang songs to win a championship? Prepare to be humbled as 12 finalist’s battle for a cash prize, and get judged by the legendary Prince Paul and others in this first annual event. Burger joint in the front, upscale lounge in the back, the menu at Pop Burger includes basics like 2 pop burgers for $5 for a quick fix or if your lounging, the likes of tuna tartar with soy truffle jus ($15). The Gaslight, a great hotspot bar in the meatpacking district, is dark and cozy while affordable for the area. If you don’t know Amy’s Bread, when you order a sandwich at a café or restaurant in the city, ask where they got the bread. There’s a good chance it’s from Amy’s because she’s one of the best bread makers in the city.

Saturday Jan 26

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Bands: The Giraffes & Baby Dayliner
Venue: Mercury Lounge
Food: Katz’s Deli
Drink: Nurse Bettie
Accessory: Ludlow Guitars

Longtime NYC mainstays The Giraffes bring the sex and metal as they break in their new bass player Jens Carstensen, while Baby Dayliner, who sounds like a cross between Sinatra and Morrissey, and one who usually croons alone over hip hop beats, comes full force with a live band, which is a rarity. This show ought to be one for the books. If you’re starving, I mean really starving, head over to Katz’s Deli. This old school deli packs on the pastrami a mile high. The portions are huge and the place is classic NY. For drinks, Nurse Bettie is a chic looking bar with exposed brick walls, paintings of 50s pinups, and offers an excellent cocktail menu. Stop by Ludlow Guitars if there’s time and peruse through some magnificent rare and new music equipment from inexpensive to guitars that you will have to save dearly to afford.

Saturday

Location: Union Square, NYC
Band: Cornelius
Venue: at Webster Hall
Food: Maritime's Matsuri
Drink: Hiro
Accessory: Cha An Japanese Tea House

Start off the evening at Matsuri*, with Chef Tadashi Ono’s highly acclaimed Japanese food (*make a reservations). At Matsuri the fish is so fresh it’s flown in from Japan daily. I highly recommend the sushi with one of over 200 kinds of sake they stock. After dinner, head to the Japanese-themed bar Hiro for a dimly lit cocktail to lubricate your mind for the music to come. Cornelius, Japan’s finest musical export, lifted his name from Planet of The Apes. He has three albums to blow your mind, playing musical styles ranging from Electronica to experimental rock. He and his band rarely make it to the U.S., so this will definitely be the treat to this rising sun evening. After trying to gather yourself from your musical mind expansion you might want to head down to Cha An Japanese Tea House to sip some Matcha tea and calm yourself down.
--Kevchino

Sunday Jan 27

Location: Union Square, NYC
Artist: DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist + Double Dee & Steinski
Venue: Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
Food: Yama
Drink: 119 Bar
Accessory: Barnes & Noble (Union Square location)

DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist scratching together in the documentary film “Scratch,” shows just a fraction of what these two can do together. I’m sure this performance will be amazing. Plus DJ legends that inspired the duo, Double Dee and Steinski, open the show. One of the best Japanese restaurants in the city, Yama, serves up some of the hugest and freshest portions of sushi, while not being as expensive as you think. Close to Irving Plaza, 119 Bar is one dive where you can get cheap drinks, play pool, and hang with friends while not standing out or being bothered when you’re a sweaty mess from dancing after seeing Shadow and Chemist perform, and I mean that in a good way! If you’re bored and early for the show, head over to the four floor Barnes & Noble to look through magazines and get a cup of coffee.

Arthur Nersesian. Photo Credit: David Shankbone

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Artist: Arthur Nersesian
Venue: Bluestockings
Food: Paladar
Drink: Welcome to the Johnsons
Accessory: Economy Candy


From the author who brought you The Fuck Up, Arthur Nersesian’s newest novel, The Swing Voter of Staten Island, combines sci-fi with Orwellian dystopia in New York, sort of, which will make for an excellent reading. Paladar, whose celebrity chef, Aarón Sanchez is from the Food Network show “Melting Pot,” delivers a Pan-Latino concept taking traditional Spanish fare and adding deliciously executed gourmet twists. Feeling retro? Then Welcome to the Johnsons is the place for you. It’s like being in your uncles wreck room from the 70s. With all wood paneled walls, plastic covered couches, and a Pac Man machine, this bar is out for a good time. Stop by Economy Candy and get a small taste of what it might be like to walk through Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, minus the hijinks, as there’s all sorts of candy everywhere. A real NY landmark, it’s been around since 1937.

Hey Everyone, it’s the Von Bondies!

Location: Gramercy Park, NYC
Band: The Von Bondies
Venue: Gramercy Theater
Food: Kelley & Ping Gramercy
Drink: Rodeo Bar
Accessory: City Bakery

Detroit’s Von Bondies stop at Gramercy Theater to bring the rock on tour to play and promote their recent EP We are Kamikazes Aiming Straight For Your Heart, and new upcoming album Love, Hate And Then There’s You, to be released this summer. For dinner, Kelley & Ping’s Gramercy location offers a taste of the food stalls from all over Asia including noodles, curries, and of course street food like pad Thai. The food is delish! Though honky tonk doesn’t spell R-O-C-K, the Rodeo Bar offers both. With the bar itself being an old horse trailer and the bartender offering up 10 kinds of margarita's, this place is white trash awesome! For some of the best bakery goods and hot chocolate in the city, stop at City Bakery and indulge in delectable morsels. Expect to pay for every delicious cent of em’ cause they ain’t cheap, but they’re worth it!

by: Amy Wagner

The music surrounding the film "Juno", the story of a smart aleck pregnant 16 year-old searching for a home for her baby, bounces along with the a topsy-turvy energy that matches the struggles of its heroine. While the way above-average soundtrack contains songs from both classic groups like The Velvet Underground and The Kinks and newer names like Sonic Youth and Cat Power, the majority of the music comes from Moldy Peaches member Kimya Dawson. The film's director, Jason Reitman was in touch with Dawson early in the process and shaped the soundtrack around her earthy heartfelt tunes. The collaboration was so successful that the music itself becomes a character that is equally as important as Juno - giving her a voice when the crazy mixed-up world she is forced to navigate becomes too complex for even the wisest of wisenheimers. "Juno" is playing at the following theaters in Manhattan: - AMC Kips Bay 15 - 570 Second Ave. - AMC Theatres Empire 25 - 234 W. 42nd St. - Clearview Chelsea Cinemas - 260 W. 23rd St. - Regal Union Square Stadium 14 - 850 Broadway - AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 - 1998 Broadway - UA East 85th St. - 1629 First Ave. - Regal Battery Park Stadium 11 - 102 North End Ave.

Don't forget to check out Amy Wagner's great music website here.

Martha Wainwright sings Edith Piaf at The Stone

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Artist: Martha Wainwright
Venue The Stone
Food: Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant
Drink: Verlaine
Accessory: Gus’s Pickles

Yeah Martha Wainwright’s parents are folk singers Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, and her brother is Rufus, but Martha stands pretty damn tall on her own. At this show she teams up with multi-instrumentalist Doug Wieselman to cover the songs of Edith Piaf. For din-din, check out Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant. Serving up sandwiches, omelletes, and baked goods for breakfast and lunch, for dinner expect the likes of Pan Seared Halibut with sweet corn succotash, herb roasted tomatoes, and summer squash ($19). Named after the poet Paul Verlaine, the bar offers an asian food and drink menu. While you can’t order the absinthe that probably helped kill the poet, you can order drinks like the El Chupacabra, which is better tasting with a kick of its own. If you like pickles, Guss’ Pickles has been around since 1910, it’s a landmark spot, and still makes a great pickle.

Friday Jan. 18

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Band: Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Venue: Southpaw
Food: Los Pollitos II
Drink: Pacific Standard
Accessory: Gorilla Coffee

Prepare to dance as Brooklyn’s favorite Afrobeat ensemble, Antibalas, stop at Southpaw to bring you a rumpshaking good time. Come early to catch the offbeat antics of Vic Thrill. While Mexican restaurants may be everywhere, not all are created equal. One that stands out, in that hood, is Los Pollitos II. Having gone several times, what makes me come back for more are the Chilaquiles for brunch and the gorditas for dinner. The guacamole is damn good too. Did you say you like beer? I like beer! Hooray for puppies! At Pacific Standard, the front bar has 16 beers on tap and the back room looks like a high school library. I think this is my new favorite bar. Don’t forget to ask about the frequent drinker card program! I’m totally serious. If you like your coffee black, Gorilla Coffee specializes in deep roasted flavors and provides it through fair-trade.

Friday

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: The Mooney Suzuki
Venue: Luna Lounge
Food: The Lodge
Drink: Hope Lounge
Accessory: The City Reliquary

For fans of the Mooney Suzuki and the MTV show Made, this is a match made in heaven. Stop by to see the band perform and the show film live. The Ettes, Silver Rockets, and Nouvellas also perform. For dinner, The Lodge, with décor reminiscent of a log cabin and a menu coming from the same forest, serves comfort food in a warm and inviting setting. For drinks, Hope Lounge is a great stop. Exposed brick and earth tones mingle and the outdoor patio is big. The drink list is deep with beers from all over the world and tonight, expect a DJ to spin classic party jams. You may or may not have noticed The City Reliquary, a small storefront museum that shows artifacts of NYC, including a flashlight collection, but this place is definitely interesting to check out.

Saturday Jan. 19

Location: Hell’s Kitchen, NYC
Band: Blonde Redhead
Venue: Terminal 5
Food: Sullivan Street Bakery
Drink: Rudy’s Bar & Grill
Accessory: The Shops at Columbus Circle

On the heels of their newest album 23, Blonde Redhead stops by Terminal 5 with The Raveonettes and School of Seven Bells (feat. Ben Curtis of Secret Machines). Arguably one of the top bread makers on the east coast, and good to get gourmet pizza’s and sandwiches, Sullivan Street Bakery makes exquisite food using ingredients you’d see on the Food Network! More bar than grill, Rudy’s is like going back to college, minus the books. The beer is cheap and by “grill,” they mean free popcorn and hot dogs. If you have trouble finding the bar, just look for the 6 foot tall fiberglass pig standing outside! To get out of the cold and see what an upper-class mall is like, stop by The Shops at Columbus Circle. Expensive restaurants like MASA and shops like Williams Sonoma are fun to browse through to see how the other half lives.

Saturday

Location: Times Square, NYC
Artist: Isaac Hayes
Venue: B.B. Kings
Food: Junior’s Restaurant
Drink: The View
Accessory: Madame Tussaud’s

Still one of the kings of soul and funk, along with being the former voice of “Chef” from South Park, Isaac Hayes is still the epitome of cool and his voice still turns women into hot buttered soul. What goes best with soul music? Soul food! While the original Junior’s in Brooklyn is best, this midtown location offers a nearly identical menu of deli sandwiches, diner entrees, and of course soul food fixin’s, on top of some of the best cheesecake in NYC, which is saying a lot! For drinks check out The View. Not the TV show, but the bar high atop the Marriot Marquis. Plus it revolves. If you’re looking for something to do, go to Madame Tussauds wax museum. Yes, it’s a cheesy tourist attraction, but where else are you going to get a picture with Nicholas Cage or Samuel L. Jackson?

Sunday Jan. 20

Location: West Village, NYC
Artist: Martin Luthor King Day Celebration: Gil Scott Heron
Venue: S.O.B.’s
Food: Blue Ribbon Downing Street Bar
Drink: Village Tavern
Accessory: Bleeker Bob’s

Come celebrate the man who not only preached for freedom and equality, but marched and died for it with Gil Scott Heron. This radical black singer and poet from the 60s is one of the few people worthy of spending this holiday with. For an eclectic menu that mixes upscale and down-home food, this Blue Ribbon location, a wine bar and restaurant, offers lighter fare including foie gras, cheese plates, caviar, and steak tartare. The Village Tavern is a really comfortable neighborhood bar that’s great for catching sports games or just chilling for a drink, which is what I prefer to do when I’m in the vicinity. Also in the area is Bleeker Bob’s. It’s one of the oldest independent record stores in NYC and the selection is deep. The place looks a mess, but the staff is surprisingly friendly and extremely knowledgeable about what they have.

Why Won't You Be at this Show Jonny Greenwood? Photo: Leon Neal/Retna

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Show: Wordless Music with the Wordless Music Opera
Venue: Church of St. Paul the Apostle
Food: Swizz Restaurant & Wine Bar
Drink: Café des Artistes
Accessory: Magnolia Bakery

The Wordless Music Series brings the worlds of classical and rock music together. Tonight, catch Brad Lubman conduct several pieces with the Wordless Music Orchestra including Popcorn Superhet Receiver for string orchestra written by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood. While Swizz has an extensive wine menu and a downstairs cave, it’s the cheese that people come here for. Fondue lovers, Swizz is the place to go and the menu is just as extensive as its wine. It's romantic and cheesy. Get it! Café des Artistes is one of those old historic bars that’s as New York as it gets. This bar/restaurant was the meeting place of artists going all the way back to 1917. Today, it serves up new American dishes and cocktails to those in the know. To soothe your sweet tooth, check the uptown location of Magnolia Bakery and sink your teeth into one of the city’s best cupcakes.

Dumont
432 Union Avenue
Brooklyn NY, 11211
(718) 486-7717
(btwn Metropolitan Ave. and Devoe St.)

I think I'm in love with the St. Louis-style BBQ pork ribs that occasionally
find their way onto the list of specials at this inspired eatery. While merely
described as a $12.00 appetizer, these pork ribs exceeded all the previous
expectations i'd ever entertained. Eight gorgeous ribs sauce-soaked and luscious!Ginger, molasses, and a love of perfection were at the fore-front of this divine concoction and I nearly lost a finger during my enthusiastic intake. The meat was tender, sliding effortlessly off the bone. The taste was something between true love and a slice of heaven. Despite the full dining room I did lick the plate...and ask for a second order.



--Tengo Hambre

Sudden Death Game Show

Location: Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Show: Sudden Death Game Show
Venue: Magnetic Field
Food: Chip Shop
Drink: Last Exit Bar & Lounge
Accessory: Victory

If you’re a fan of Jeopardy, you might want to check out Sudden Death Game Show tonight at Magnetic Field. Hosts Perry Comb-over and Koo Koo the Mind Key host this Jeopardy style quiz show, complete with buzzers, lights and a big screen. Before the craziness begins, head over to the Chip Shop for English delights for dinner. Yeah, the British aren’t known for the best food, but this fish & chips restaurant serves up some of the best English treats in NYC. Try the Welsh Rarebit! Not too far away, hit Last Exit for drinks. This not too divey watering hole has local artists work hanging on the walls and specials like a Bucket of Six Miller High Life’s for $15. The Victory is good for a quick bite to eat or a cup of joe and is a great end or beginning to a zany night of trivia.

Still Sharp, Africa Bambaataa

Location: Meat Packing District, NYC
Band: Africa Bambaataa
Venue: APT
Food: Spice Market
Drink: Plunge
Accessory: Little Pie Company (located at 407 W14th St.)

The father of hip and electro-hop returns, as a DJ this time, working a Tuesday night residency at APT with Eamon Harkin and DJ Lindsey. For dinner, if you can get a table, check out Spice Market. Chef and owner Jean-Georges Vongerichten converted this HUGE space into one of the sexiest Asian restaurants in NYC. Serving up exquisite dishes like the onion and chili crusted short ribs with egg noodles and pea shoots ($22), Spice Market impresses. If you choose not to stay at APT for drinks, close by is Plunge. Located at the top of the Hotel Gansevoort, this rooftop lounge offers stunning views of the city. If dessert is your thing, stop over at Little Pie Company, where pies are baked on premises. Whether you’re in the mood for sour cream apple, southern pecan, or Mississippi mud pie, you can’t go wrong here.

Set to Play Terminal 5 Tonight, The Mars Volta.

Location: Hells Kitchen, NYC
Band: Mars Volta
Venue: Terminal 5
Food: Eatery
Drink: Zanzibar
Accessory: Colony Music

The Mars Volta’s soon-to-be-released new album, The Bedlam in Goliath, is being hailed by critics as their best yet, and truth be told, they never put on a bad show, so I think you know what to do tonight. Known as the place to go for brunch, for dinner, Eatery is nothing to mess with. Serving up comfort food with Asian flare, a dish like Wok-Flashed Tequila Shrimp (with poblano-corn flautas, sweet potato mash and cilantro sour cream $19.95), is nothing to be overlooked. For drinks, check out Zanzibar, where you can score exotic mixed drinks that are seasonal at this casual lounge. If you want to waste some time, stop in at Colony Music, where they not only sell albums but every kind of sheet music you can imagine, along with memorabilia, and autographed photos from has-been celebrities.

June Jacobs has been around since 1999 and is sold in high-end luxury spa’s like NYC’s Mandarin Oriental and Exhale. June Jacobs Spa Collection is botanically based and designed to bring a luxurious spa experience right into our own humble surroundings. The June Jacobs Intensive Age Defying Travel Kit offers 8 products including a mandarin cleanser and polishing beads, intensive age defying brightening eye cream and hydrating serum, body emulsion, SPF, complex cream and serum. It’s travel size so you won’t be hassled at the airport as you jet off to Turks and Caicos. The Intensive Age Defying Hydrating Mask is paraben and preservative free and is a powerful weapon against aging. It’s packed with ingredients that nourish, hydrate, help your skin produce more collagen and elastin and neutralize free radical damage. It’s a creamy consistency so you can apply it at night and let it work it’s magic while you sleep. For the ultimate anti-aging, anti-gravitation experience, apply the mask and strap yourself down in your bed with some heavy-duty steel tape, to train yourself to sleep on your back. Your friends will think you own a hyperbolic chamber.

Sheehan McGuirk

Kimya Dawson - "The Smoothie Song"

Friday Jan. 11

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: Meshell Ndegeocello
Venue: Music Hall of Williamsburg
Food: Fornino
Bar: D.O.C. Wine Bar
Accessory: Verb Café

Part punk part R&B, Meshell Ndegeocello is a singer/songwriter not afraid to talk politics, race, feminism, or religion. She’s what is meant by “keeping it real,” while making it funky and rock. What also rocks is finding a decent pizza! Fornino offers just that, wrapped up in an original concept. Serving wood oven burning pizza, the menu is broken up into three generations, the first being your basic pizza ingredients while the second and third go off the gourmet deep end, giving you more than 20 options total. For drinks, the D.O.C. Wine Bar has a homey atmosphere and an excellent wine list of strictly Italian wines and small plates of food. If coffee is your thing, The Verb Café offers not only coffee but sandwiches, desserts, and soup. Chill at a table and write that novel, look for jobs online, or hang with a friend like everyone else there.


Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Sex Mob with mystery guests
Venue: The Stone
Food: Chubo
Bar: Motor City Bar
Accessory: San Loco

Not an actual mob of sex addicts or a sexaholics anonymous gathering, The Sex Mob are a band of some of NYCs best musicians led by Trumpeter Steven Bernstein. Not playing your typical jazz, this show promises to be worth checking out. Plus there are mystery guests. Who doesn’t like a mystery? For food, Chubo is an amazing place, mixing French, Asian, and Spanish influences into their food, they also offer a seasonal and a tasting menu. A bit loud and out of control, tonight the DJs spin rock and Anna Copacabana go-go dances in the window. Seriously awesome! If this sounds like a late-night, it is, so cheap eats is what you need to balance the alcohol out. San Loco is a favorite spot for cheap Mexican food. Try the catfish Guaco Loco ($4.20) or the bean and cheese ballpark nachos ($3.75). Eat now and regret it later!


Saturday Jan. 12

Location: Midtown, NYC
Artist: Feist
Venue: The Times Center
Food: Vinyl
Drink: Cellar Bar
Accessory: The Bryant Park Hotel

One of indie rock’s great lead singer’s today, Feist stops by midtown’s Times Center and gets interviewed by NY Times music critic Jon Pareles. A perfect compliment to a night of music, well sort of, is Vinyl. At this rock and roll themed restaurant, the menus are made of old album covers and the food is a mix of American and Thai. Don’t forget to check out the bathroom, each one has a music icon theme. With vaulted ceilings and a mostly red and cream interior, the Cellar Bar, located in the Bryant Park Hotel, is one gorgeous place, creating a sexy atmosphere. The drinks are pricey, but worth the stopover. For kicks, take a little walk through the Bryant Park Hotel. This chic boutique hotel, designed by British architect David Chipperfield, not only has the Cellar Bar but the Koi Restaurant, a fantastic Japanese spot.


Location: West Village, NYC
Event: The Rachel Trachtenburg Morning Show
Venue: The Green Room
Food: Babbo
Drink: The Dove
Accessory: Café Reggio

Rachel Trachtenberg, drummer and daughter of everyone’s favorite family band, The Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players, takes the lead in this variety show geared towards kids, with music of course! One of the six Italian eateries of celebrity chef Mario Battali, Babbo takes Italian American cooking to another level. While the food can be expensive and reservations would be the best way to get a table, this place is highly regarded among food connoisseurs. Disguised as a lounge The Dove is really a neighborhood bar dressed up in red, white, and gold décor with a nice selection of beers on tap and a very good mixed drink menu featuring delicious martini’s. One of my favorite coffee houses, Café Reggio has the most literate and West Village atmosphere I have been to. A real slice of New York, it was also in the movie Superfly. Go there or be square!


Sunday, Jan. 13

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Band: Kimya Dawson & Tiny Masters of Today
Venue: Southpaw
Food: Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen
Drink: The Gate
Accessory: Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.

With her songs on the Juno movie soundtrack, Kimya Dawson, of The Moldy Peaches fame, performs with Tiny Masters of Today, a brother/sister combo about 10 and 12 years old. Speaking of interesting, ever have Oaxacan food? Chiles & Chocolate serves up some fantastic, not exactly Mexican food. Try the smoky flavored Mole Negro, one of the best mole sauces I’ve had in NYC. Before leaving, you must try one of the hot chocolates like the Chiles Y Chocolate. A hint of chipotle without too much heat is a nice kick start for the night. The Gate is a great Park Slope bar with excellent beers on tap and a outdoor courtyard to chill. If time permits, you must, and I mean MUST go to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co., a non-profit organization that helps kids with their writing, that’s fronted by a store selling super powers.

Chaplin- 15th Anniversary Edition
Directed by Richard Attenborough
(Lionsgate)





Charlie Chaplin was as complex and idiosyncratic as they come. So when director Richard Attenborough decided to make a film about his life, he knew he had a serious task on his hands in finding an actor to play the comic genius. Robert Downey Jr. didn’t just rise to the challenge; he became Charlie Chaplin and his performance, more than any other single element, is what makes the film Chaplin a success.

The film itself is told through a series of flashbacks as Chaplin is completing his autobiography with a fictional publisher played by Anthony Hopkins. The story begins with his early career in vaudeville living in poverty with his brother Sydney (Paul Rhys) and mentally fragile mother Hannah (played by Chaplin’s daughter Geraldine) in England and runs quickly through his early career in film. The focus then shifts to Chaplin’s numerous relationships and subsequent marriages to young (sometimes underage) women and the close friend he had in Douglas Fairbanks played by Kevin Kline. Later we see his more social films develop as the great depression hits, as Hitler takes power, and then ultimately his deportation.

In actuality, the biggest issue with the film is that it takes on too much in covering all of Chaplin’s life and ends up giving important moments less than they deserve. In reality, Chaplin’s life was one of many contradictions and oddities which is difficult to explain in such a short span (it’s not a surprise that the first cut of the film was nearly 4 hours long). The film is also overly sentimental at times with a little too much “magic” and not enough reality. Even with the films faults, Downey’s characterization is brilliant and the life of Chaplin is interesting enough to always make it worthwhile.

A Chaplin fan will appreciate Downey’s ability to nail the timing, gestures, and overall feel of Chaplin from the early years to old age. Although his performance is the pièce de résistance, he is joined onscreen by a phenomenal cast including: Marisa Tomei, Dan Aykroyd, James Woods, Diane Lane, David Duchovny, and Moira Kelly as well as a 16 year old Milla Jovovich. The anniversary edition DVD also includes 3 documentary features on the film and an interesting home movie of Chaplin doing impersonations while sailing to Catalina Island. The film, despite its issues, is an interesting and insightful look at one of the ultimate greats in film and well worth the purchase.

Tim Needles

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Event:“Tattooed Limbs and Other Oddities” by Martina Secondo Russo
Venue: Tattoo Culture
Food: Fette Sau
Drink: Spuyten Duyvil
Accessory: Union Pool

Tattoo Culture is one of Williamsburg’s best kept secrets with an arsenal of fantastic tattoo artists and a gallery showing other artist’s work, like Martina Secondo Russo, whose show “Tattooed Limbs and Other Oddities,” takes you on a visual tour of tattoos and freaks. Speaking of limbs, right around the corner you can get some amazing BBQ at Fette Sau (fat pig in German), where the owners of nearby bar Spuyten Duyvil have opened up a meat only restaurant serving up some of the best pork and beef in NYC. For drinks, Spuyten Duyvil is a beer lovers dream, with a selection from all over the world, friendly and knowledgeable bartenders and a neighborhood feel, it’s no wonder this place has been so successful. If you’re still ready for more, you must hit Union Pool, where there’s always a band playing, great DJs, and plenty of action.

Get Down and Dirty at Hugs.

Hugs
108 N 6th St
Brooklyn, NY 11211

If your feeling frisky, Hugs on a Saturday night is a great bar if you want a good or any excuse to rub up against your evening's intended partner and don't want to be bothered by awkward conversation. It’s got the atmosphere of a traditional stonecutter's meeting hall, but that's a good thing! The crowd is a lively hodge-podge of Brooklyn lovelies, the music's loud, and the cozy booths are private and dark enough for fooling around. Another plus? Skeeball, Guitar Hero, and a photo booth. Don’t forget the great Happy Hour specials (2-for-1 well drinks and $1 off beer until 8pm). What more do you want?

Deann Horack

Someone to Run With, directed by Oded Davidoff

Loation: Upper East Side, NYC
Event: 17th Annual New York Jewish Film Festival
Info: Jewish Museum
Food: Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack
Drink: Stir
Accessory: Logos Bookstore

With 2008 being the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel, the Jewish Museum teams up with the Film Society of Lincoln Center to present the 17th Annual New York Jewish Film Festival at the Jewish Museum and the Walter Reade Theater. From January 9-24, 32 productions from 11 countries will be screened as this fest celebrates the many facets of Judaism and life. To get this celebration of life going, head over to Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack for some southern BBQ. Not the quintessential Hebrew meal, but if you’re into BBQ, then you can’t go wrong here. For drinks, Stir is a beautiful lounge that is a bit more upscale than the surrounding Irish bars. Serving up martini’s and upscale tapas style eats, this place is laid back. If you have the time, check out Logos Bookstore, where your interest in Judaism can be sparked along with finding books for adults and kids.

Master PUA then and now, Neil Strauss.

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Event: Neil Strauss
Venue: Barnes & Noble
675 Sixth Ave between 21st and 22nd Sts Chelsea
Food: Planet Thailand 212
Drink: Star Lounge
Accessory: Burlington Coat Factory

From the author who brought you “The Game,” a memoir about his journey into the art of picking up women, this PUA master returns at this free reading with a two volume set entitled “Rules of The Game” which includes The Pickup Artist's Companion and The Style Diaries, which tells of his misadventures with this knowledge. Before Neil teaches you about “sexy time,” hit Planet Thailand 212 for dinner. Williamsburg’s favorite Thai and sushi restaurant has extended into Manhattan and looks just as impressive as it’s sister. After you learn some new tricks, The Star Lounge, located under the forever-hip Chelsea Hotel has three rooms including a main room that’s red, white, and dimly lit providing a sexy atmosphere. Right next door to the B&N, there’s a Burlington Coat Factory and though it's not glamorous, unlike the department stores across the street, the clothing is not as picked over.

Eat, relax, and enjoy at Cha-An. Photo Credit: Brian Tseng

Welcome to Relax. This Monday column will spotlight one great place in NYC where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Whether it’s for an hour or for the day, here you will find a great oasis where you can just relax.

Cha-An
230 East 9th Street (upstairs), Between 2nd & 3rd
New York, NY 10003
(212) 228-8030
Open Mon-Thurs. 2-11pm, Fri-Sat 12-Midnight, Sunday 12-10pm
Cash Only

If you’re looking to get out of the traffic, check out Cha-An. This east village Japanese-style teahouse offers a sublime menu of teas, food, and desserts. The room is a relaxing little slice of heaven. Imagine being in the Garden of Eden or at least the back yard right next door, decked out in trees, with a bamboo tatami room and a traditional Japanese tea ceremony room! The menu offers a tea map where you can see the origin of your drink and includes a wide variety of black, green, and harder to find teas. The matcha tea (a powdered green tea) is measured with a bamboo spoon then whisked until frothy. You can sit at the bar and watch the process, which is an art in itself. Speaking of art, the desserts and décor are beautiful and altogether creates an environment you may find hard to walk away from.

World Famous *Bob* Last Monday Monthly photo by Dale Harris

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Event: Monday Night Burlesque
Venue: Galapagos Art Space
Food: SEA
Drink: Zablozki’s
Accessory: Academy Records

Let’s face it, Monday’s suck. So check out Galapagos Monday night burlesque, where the ladies carry on this early 20th century art. It’s an artform, so your girlfriend won’t be offended and they put on a great show. Before that, a great restaurant on the same block is SEA. Asian inspired from the décor to the food, this huge and gorgeous space serves up a mostly Thai menu from massaman curries to house specialties like Red SEA Duck (Half duck in red vinaigrette-tomato gravy sauce served with stir-fried mixed veggies), SEA is inexpensive and visually impressive for Brooklyn. With an increasing amount of new bars on the block, Zablozki’s is a standout that’s cozy, mostly mahogany, and has great drinks specials. A great stop off if you’re early is Academy Records. One of the biggest vinyl shops in NYC, if you are a vinyl fan, you will be blown away.

The Glasslands, one of Williamsburg's Best Venues. Photo Credit: Hoodsie DeQuincey

Jan. 4

Location, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Bands: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, It Lives (with Chris Bear of Grizzly Bear), Ne'er Do Evers
Venue: Glasslands
Food: Bonita
Drink: Savalas
Accessory: Fabiane’s Café & Pastry Shop

Featuring folk rocker Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (yes, that is one person!) has recorded with Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio and Grizzly Bear on his last album. Here he plays with Ne’er Do Evers and It Lives, which will feature Chris Bear of Grizzly Bear. If you’re in the zone for Mexican, Bonita is a great place. Serving the standard fare, try the mouth-watering chicken burrito and Mexican corn on the cob, wrapped in cheese with a hint of spice for that extra kick. If you’re looking to dance afterwards, Savalas has both great DJs and drink specials on top of delivering on the fun factor. Fabiane’s is a great little cafe in the heart of Williamsburg that’s great for not too late night people watching. Try one of their fantastic desserts or sip coffee and stare at the passing hipsters.


Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Bands: XIU XIU, Transformation Surprise, Disaster, Congs for Brums
Venue: Lutheran Church of the Messiah
129 Russell St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Greenpoint
Phone: (718) 389-0854
Food: Lokal
Drink: Enid’s
Accessory: The Gutter


This is actually a book release party for photographer David Horvitz, also the tour manager of the band Xiu Xiu, who in his new photo book Xiu Xiu: The Polaroid Project, documents the bands life on the road with Polaroid pics. With performances by Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart flying solo, Transformation Surprise (Mary from High Places), and Disaster. New restaurant Lokal describes itself as a Mediterranean Bistro, though serves up burgers, pizza, and steak. Regardless, the food is delicious, the ambiance nice, is right on McCarren Park AND they serve mulled wine during the winter. For drinks, Enid’s is Greenpoint’s go to bar. With inexpensive drinks and a festive vibe, you’ll be right in the middle of a good time. The Gutter, the new bowling alley and bar, is brought to you by the same owners as Barcade, so you know it will be good. Bowling + Booze = Awesome!

Jan. 5

Location: Lower East Side
Bands: Fake Hooker, Fur Cups for Teeth, The Dead Betties, The Black Tie Party
Venue: Cake Shop
Food: The Stanton Social
Drink: The Magician
Accessory: The Pink Pony

Come for the electro stay for the punk as this all Brooklyn band review rock your sox off. That’s right, sox with an X! All girl band Fur Cups For Teeth start the rock off as local darling band The Dead Betties bring the noise and The Black Tie Party bring the fun. Expect some sort of pit! For dinner, The Stanton Social has earned a reputation for being a beautifully designed restaurant/lounge while serving up some delicious multi-ethnic cuisine. For drinks, a favorite of mine is The Magician, this bar’s chill atmosphere just may be the cure for a well-earned night of rocking. A great way to end the night? Stop by the Pink Pony. This boho café has been serving French food and coffee since the 80s and has a relaxing vibe. It’s as punk as that neighborhood gets nowadays.

Jan. 6

Location: West Village
Film: The Killing of John Lennon
Venue: IFC Center
Food: Tortilla Flats
Drink: White Horse Tavern
Accessory: Magnolia Bakery

When John Lennon was gunned down by Mark David Chapman in front of his apartment in 1980, it was a sad day. Filmed in the actual places where the events took place, Andrew Piddington’s film The Killing of John Lennon is a drama that takes a look at the three months of Chapman’s life prior to the murder of an icon. Dinner before a movie like this should be equally wacky. Check out Tortilla Flats. The food is Mexican and delicious, but it’s the insanity within (bingo and hula-hoop nights) that is the real calling for this place. For drinks afterwards, hit the White Horse Tavern, a great bar and the old haunting grounds for Dylan Thomas. If you somehow have time before all of this, stop by Magnolia Bakery for some of the best tasting cupcakes in the city.

Location: West Village
Film: The Killing of John Lennon
Food: Tortilla Flats
Drink: White Horse Tavern
Accessory: Magnolia Bakery

When John Lennon was gunned down by Mark David Chapman in front of his apartment in 1980, it was a sad day. Filmed in the actual places where the events took place, Andrew Piddington’s film The Killing of John Lennon is a drama that takes a look at the three months of Chapman’s life prior to the murder of an icon. Dinner before a movie like this should be equally wacky. Check out Tortilla Flats. The food is Mexican and delicious, but it’s the insanity within (bingo and hula-hoop nights) that is the real calling for this place. For drinks afterwards, hit the White Horse Tavern, a great bar and the old haunting grounds for Dylan Thomas. If you somehow have time before all of this, stop by Magnolia Bakery for some of the best tasting cupcakes in the city.

While the best bagel in NYC can be (and is) disputed depending on who you’re talking to, to me, what makes a great bagel is one that is crusty on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and still hot, coming right out the oven if possible. Below is a list of my favorite places to grab a piece of that doughy goodness.



Ess-a-Bagel
359 1st Avenue (21st St)
Tel: (212) 260-2252

Other location:
831 3rd Avenue (51st/52nd Sts)
Tel: (212) 980-4315

Without a doubt, Ess-a-bagel is my favorite in all of NYC. Why? Consider what the perfect bagel is: crusty on the outside and hot and chewy on the inside. Not only do these people have the formula down to a science, they also make their own cream cheeses on premises and have a variety of smoked salmon. The bagels are so fresh, if you ask to get yours toasted, they’ll look at you like you’re crazy! Go to the one on 1st Avenue, the bagels are better and the place has more charm and characters.

H&H Bagels
2239 Broadway (at 80th Street)
Tel: (212) 595-8003
Fax: (212) 799-6765

Other Location:
639 West 46th Street
Tel: (212) 595-8000
Fax: (212) 765-7391

Founded in 1972, H&H is one of the older bagel shops in NYC that hasn’t succumbed to high rents. It’s been featured on “Seinfeld,” in movies and on television shows and has garnered a very good reputation. While I’m not going to claim these as my favorite, the bagels are always hot and great tasting, but taste more like a soft pretzel than the real deal bagel. I’d advise you to try their original location at Broadway and 80th Street and judge for yourself what makes this place great.

Murray’s Bagels
500 6th Avenue (12th/13th Streets)
Tel: (212) 462-2830

Other location:
242 8th Avenue (22nd/23rd Streets)
Tel: (646) 638-1335

With a nice neighborhood feel to this small bagel shop, Murray’s serves up great tasting bagels that are a little smaller than the giant bagels you may be used to from the cart on the corner in the morning, but are delicious and eclectic. For instance they offer spinach and multi-grain bagels along with a variety of cream cheeses and tofu cream cheese spreads.

Kossar’s
367 Grand Street (Essex and Norfolk Sts)
Tel: (877) 4-BIALYS
Fax: (212) 253-2146
Info@kossarsbialys.com

The joy of going to Kossar’s is the fact that the place is also a bakery and there’s always trays and carts of fresh dough just out and ready to go into the oven. The bagels are phenomenal and the bialys are even better. Don’t forget to try the bulka’s, pretzels, and sesame sticks to taste the art of authentic jewish baking.

The Bagel Hole
400 7TH Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215-5058
Tel: (718) 788-4014

Located in Park Slope, on the outside, you might pass by this place thinking it’s a hole-in-the-wall, but inside, the bagels are fantastic and truly authentic to what real New York bagels were, back in the day. Plus, a new batch of bagels is made every ten minutes.

Photo credit: Death of a Loyalist Militiaman, Cerro Muriano, Córdoba front, Spain, September 5, 1936 by Robert Capa

Location: Midtown
Event: This is War! Robert Capa at Work at International Center of Photography
Food: The Tea Box Café
Drink: Russian Vodka Room
Accessory: New York Public Library

War photojournalist Robert Capa has seen it all, from World War II to Vietnam, if there was a conflict, he was there, and he produced a body of work that is overwhelming. This exhibit focuses on his work in the 1930s and 1940s. Before that, discover The Tea Box Café. In the basement of the Japanese department store Takashimaya, this hidden gem has exquisite Japanese snacks and some of the best teas in NYC. Now that your feeling intellectual and ready to spew opinions on art, hit The Russian Vodka Room, where communism is chic and democracy will score you some authentic Russian vodkas. If you have time, stop by the New York Public Library on 42nd Street and check out the exhibition Beatific Soul: Jack Kerouac on the Road, which shows many of Kerouac’s unpublished writings, included the original scroll of On the Road. Best of all, it’s free.