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.