SceneTracker New York

All Turkeys Aside: Our Weekly Party Picks

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:27:00 -0500

November. The month of designated family time, frantic cooking, and ample preparation. Which is why whether the last week of November (in all its T-day glory) is filled with family fun or mama drama, we know you’ll be jonesing for something, anything to de-stress before the big day. And what better way to take a break than to attend a couple of parties, comedy shows, and a Lady GaGa book signing, all planned to perfection for your entertainment and relaxation. Here’s your top picks for this week:

Monday November 21^st

Comedy Central Corporate Retreat

To kick off your busy week, sneak a little trip in to this relaxation station. Comedy Central, the epicenter of all stand-up, has brought back their bi-weekly comedy shows at Upright Citizens Brigade East. And as we know, laughter is the best medicine. After a couple of yucks from amazing CC legends like Leo Allen, Mike Lawrence, and Julie Klausner, those endorphins will be flowing, and the furthest thing from your mind will be preparing that turkey. And the best part? Tickets are $5, so you and your hubby wont be making a dent in that x-mas present budget. Relaxation accomplished.

Where: UCB East

When: Monday November 21^st 8:00PM-10:00PM

Tuesday November 22^nd

Lady GaGa & Terry Richardson Book Signing@ New Museum

Calling all Little Monsters. We have a huge T-Day surprise for you. While most will be heading over to GaGa’s Workshop (opened just Monday November 21^st), if you can snag one of the nearly sold out books, you can attend the only US launch of GaGa’s new photog book with celebrity camera-master himself, Terry Richardson. There, you’ll rub shoulders with celebs and other eager fan-monsters. For your very own copy, and a chance to meet Lady GaGa at the signing, go here.

Where: The New Museum

When: Tuesday November 22^nd 6:00PM-9:00PM

Wednesday November 23^rd

Party Like It's 1999

With T-minus one day till Thanksgiving, all you want to do is revert back to a time when life was worry-free. Enter the year 1999- the year of Britney, Blink 182, and Eminem (among the many other pop gems. Hint: Livin la vita loca). This Brooklyn bash, located at The Bell House, is sure to loosen that tension with some good old fashioned nostalgia tugging on your heartstrings. Remember the time you kissed to Sugar Ray’s “Fly”? or how about singing to the God awful “C’est La Vie” like it was your American Idol application? Either way, you can’t pass up an opportunity to feel that same teenage excitement you get when rocking out to Barenaked Ladies. And to help you with that budget, Bell House is inviting everyone to come for free.

Where: The Bell House

When: November 23^rd 9:00PM

Thursday November 24^th

Thanksgiving @ Pacha

For those of you that can’t stand an entire night with the fam, we have a little night time snack for you, so save room for a treat. After you’ve stuffed yourself silly at the family shindig, head over to Pacha for a live performance by special guest DJ’s Chuckie and Nervo. Doors open at 10:00PM and the part y goes well into the morning (5:00AM), so you’ll be sure to work off all that stuffing.

Where: Pacha

When: Thursday November 24^th 10:00PM-5:00AM

Friday November 25^th

Leftovers 2011: Booze Buffet

The last thing that’s on your mind the day after Thanksgiving, is leftovers. But what if it wasn’t leftover turkey, rather- leftover Turkey Hill? Enter Williamsburg’s famous Public Assembly. For $15 you have a 4-hour all-access pass to drinks, beer, and music by DJs Bobbi Lupo and Robert Rhymin’.

Where: Public Assembly

When: Friday November 25^th 8:00PM- 11:00PM

Saturday November 26^th

Glow Massive

If a party could contain everything- great music, food, and fun in between- the Glow Massive party happening this Saturday November 26^th, could quite possibly be it. An entertainment mecca, you’ll jump on a moon bounce, paint your face, get a massage (at their massage tables!), and play some video games. And that’s not even half of it- Not only will you be able to snack on some carnival faves, You’ll be showered in glow sticks while dancing all night to their 40+ performers and DJs. Oh, and did we mention its just $25?

Where: The Electric Warehouse

When: Saturday November 26^th 2:00PM-4:00AM

Sunday November 27^th

Brazilian Carnival @ Vodka Gallery

Head down to Coney Island this Sunday, November 27^th, to attend Vodka Gallery’s Exotic Sundays. This week’s theme is Brazilian Carnival, complete with $1 shots of Brooklyn Republic Vodka, hookah, and a live DJ playing today’s top hits, house, and well, Brazilian music (it is Carnaval-themed after all). And for those of you who don’t want to trek all the way out to Coney Island to spend money, this party’s free, so no excuses.

Where: The Vodka Gallery

When: Sunday November 27^th

Lady Gaga's Ex Throws Opening Bash for Ludlow Manor

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:30:00 -0500

On Friday night Ludlow Manor had its official opening party in New York's Lower East Side. The three story club is owned by Georgie Seville (The Delancey) and Luc Carl, a former bartender, also known as Lady Gaga's ex boyfriend. While the venue was plagued by some Community Board drama involving noise and crowd control, Carl and Seville prevailed and the new spot threw their rock 'n roll and mermaid-themed opening party.

The multi-plex is 12,000 square feet, with 20 foot ceilings, real palm trees, a retractable roof, revolving DJs, and has "one of the best rooftops downtown." The crowd "definitely had a rock 'n roll and hipster vibe." Well, duh.

For those of you house-loving, hip-hop thumping, or Britney Spears head boppers, this is not the spot for you. But if you want leather, fashion mullets, chains, grit and rock, this is the place to be.

Check out more party pics here.

Interview with Iron Chef Winner and Mixologist Tony Abou Ganim

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:55:00 -0500

Renowned cocktail expert, Tony Abou Ganim, was winner of Iron Chef America 2007 with Mario Batali, is the National Ambassador of the US Bartenders Guild, and Associate Member of the Museum of the American Cocktail. Obviously a world-class bartending connoisseur, Tony passes on his knowledge to wannabes and drink-lovers alike. Learn how he rose to fame, as well as tips for creating the perfect cocktail!

When did you begin bartending? What did you want to be when you were younger?
My Cousin Helen David first put a cocktail shaker in my hands in 1980 at her Brass Rail Bar in Port Huron, Michigan. I was in the middle of college and did not have an eye on a career goal so my father thought I might make a pretty good bartender. A couple of years later I returned to college and got a degree in business with plans to move to San Francisco and pursue a career as a stock broker. All this time I continued to tend bar, loving it more and more. After realizing I was not cut out to be a broker I switched my focus to my second love of theatre, again continuing to bartend full time. In 1993 I moved to New York with dreams of Broadway but instead I met Dale DeGroff working behind the stick at the Rainbow Room. After meeting Dale I had a career revelation and came to the conclusion that being a bartender would became my career choice and I set out to become the best bartender possible.

Do you ever struggle to come up with fresh new ideas for cocktails?
I refer to my style of cocktail development as “Contemporary Classics” meaning I take a fresh, seasonal approach to developing new recipes inspired by classic recipes. It can sometimes be difficult to spontaneously create something new, generally I get inspired by a new spirit or liqueur, a fresh, seasonal fruit, a new flavor or combination of flavors.

What is your favorite drink to make? What is the most difficult cocktail to make? Do you have a favorite cocktail to drink?
I would say the perfect Dry Martini is my favorite cocktail to make. I have made this one simple drink for over 30 years now and feel I am still pursuing the elusive perfection that is the Dry Martini.
There really is not a drink that is difficult to make if you are prepared. That said I would say that the love and effort involved in making a great Ramos Fizz would put it towards the top of the “Most Difficult” list.
My personal favorite cocktail is a Bombay Sapphire Negroni, if I could only drink one thing it would be a Negroni but thank goodness that is not the case as variety is truly the spice of life and there are so many wonderful cocktails and so little time so I try and mix it up and try as many of them as possible.

What kinds of people make the best customers?
The best customers are those that are happy to be at your bar and have an understanding and respect for the profession of bartending. They are the ones who know what they want but are also willing to experiment, try something new. They understand that Tipping is not a city in Japan.

What is one of your most unique recipes?
Most of my recipes are relatively simple concoctions as it is my hope that people will want to re-create my drinks. That said a drink I created which was inspired by my father, called George calls for a blend of gin, Arrack, rhubarb bitters, fresh lime and pineapple juices. It is a very unique combination of ingredients but collectively they work, they complement one another and the result is a complex yet balanced tipple.

What tips do you have for starting bartenders? Do you have any suggestions for mixing flavors?
I always tell young, up and coming bartenders that to become a great bartender you need to work with and learn from great bartenders. I truly believe that the profession of bartending is truly one based on the apprenticeship approach to training. That the only way to truly gain experience is to do the time. That said one should also immerse themselves in study and practice. I have been at it 31 years and I continue to learn, continue to grow and expand my base of knowledge.
With regard to flavor combinations the words of my mother ring true “Never trust a skinny chef” which means you have to be continuously tasting and understanding individual flavors. It is hard to blend flavors if we don’t have a great understanding of flavors. Which gin is best mixed with raspberries or for my Negroni? Is there a sweet vermouth better suited to rye whiskey in my Manhattan? Does lemon or lime go better with fresh blackberries? The only way to know what things taste like is to taste them.
Mark Twain once wrote that the secret to happiness is to eat what you like, I believe the same applies to cocktails and drinking. Creating great cocktails is a journey…enjoy the ride!

Which cocktails give the worst next-day hangover? Which are hangover-free?
The worst thing for causing a hangover is cheap spirits, artificially flavored liqueurs, mixers high in sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
The best thing to prevent a hangover is moderation. That said I always recommend drinking a lot of water when imbibing and eating a good meal.
Perhaps the best thing to drink to avoid a hangover is straight vodka as it is distilled to 192 proof and free of most of the congeners that contribute to a hangover. Stay away from sugar laden mixers and opt for something like sparkling water and a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon.

What can people learn from your book, The Modern Mixologist?
My book is geared towards the consumer and inspiring them to make great cocktails at home. I break down the myths surrounding mixology and bring the art of mixology into the home. What glassware you need, bar tools and how to use them, seasonal fruits and vegetables and what spirits they mix best with. (You can buy it here for $35!)

Any last parting words?
Mixing cocktails is an art, a science, a skill and a passion but an art we can all embrace and celebrate. There is a pleasure in sharing cocktails you have crafted with your friends, it is the art of hospitality, and it’s fun, it has to be fun, because you need to love to make cocktails because if you don’t love mixing them your guests won’t love drinking them.

Enjoy responsibly…happiness!

DJ Mick Boogie and Samantha Ronson at Griffin

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:50:00 -0500

Start your Thanksgiving celebration off right at Griffin on Wednesday night. DJ Mick Boogie with be spinning the night away with special guest DJ Samantha Ronson. Enjoy Griffin's throwback 19th century inspired luxurious style while sipping complimentary Brugal Rum cocktails from 10-11pm.

Hit the dance floor to non-stop beats or cozy up in one of their plush lounges amongst the upscale crowd. Either way, this is one party worth missing your flight home for. See you there!

When: Wednesday November 23, 10:00pm

Theater in Asylum Revives Frankenstein

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:55:00 -0500

Calling all gothic genre novelist fans. Or fans of the many thousands of works based on this classic tale.

Recreated by Paul Bedard and Katie Palmer, Theater in Asylum is currently presenting a modern take of the world-renowned Mary Shelley original novel Frankenstein, of the early 1800s.

Through an eclectic mix of theatre, dance and original music, the show will once again raise the always controversial theme of science vs ethics, setting the scene in the not so distant future of 2045.

Will man once again push the boundaries and create a modern day monster?

For we are yet to know..

Presented daily till Saturday 19th November at The Looking Glass Theatre, 422 West 57th Street.

General admission $18.

For session times and further information, check out theaterinasylum.com.

NYC's Novembeerfest 2011

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:45:00 -0500

Hot on the tail of this Saturday's NYC Beerathon, and the always celebratory Octoberfest, this weekend's first annual Novembeerfest at club 82Mercer is sure to make a splash.

The festival will offer over 100 varieties of craft beers from around the world, coupled with traditional food dishes from each region.

If the massive line-up of suds, including brews, ales, lagers, pilsners and many more doesn't whet your whistle, the international menu showcasing beer-braised corn beef on rye and Asian short ribs with Pints of Pepe Nero definitely will.

With tix starting at only $20, it's hard to find a reason not to..

And whose ideal weekend doesn't consist of beer, babes and bratwursts anyway?

Where: 82Mercer, 82 Mercer Street (between Broome and Spring Street).

When: Saturday November 19th and Sunday November 20th, 12.00-3.00pm and 5.00-8.00pm both days.

For more info and online ticketing check out iadventure.com.

Occupy Wall Street Needs a Better Strategy

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:30:00 -0500

What started as what protesters claimed to be a "peaceful" movement has turned into a full-on clash with authorities and residents of NYC alike. Two months ago, I posted my first coverage of Occupy Wall Street and the local disruption and was met with vehement denials that it wasn't about "disrupting" or "annoying." Turns out that's exactly what they've purposely done. Today's ambush of the subways prove that more than ever. My argument was if they wanted to piss off the "bad guys" on Wall Street they should be in midtown, where the banks really are, and they should definitely be marching to D.C. where the corrupt politicians are. The counter-argument was that it was about "symbolism" not actually affecting the guys responsible for the recession. That makes absolutely no sense to me. So instead of raising hell near the White House and in front of the actual banks, you're going to disrupt the daily lives of local businesses and residents who ARE "the 99%" and just trying to get by like everyone else? Because that's who is really affected everyday in all of this. I live in the Financial District and I'm moving by next month, largely because of the protest. The quality of life here has declined. What was once a clean, peaceful neighborhood has been taken over by mobs of angry, entitled protesters who have also attracted plenty of criminals and drifters who are riding the coattail of the "movement." Authorities arrested an Occupy Wall Street protester yesterday who was handing out flyers on how to build bombs and ranted on a YouTube video saying "We're going to burn New York City to the f--king ground!" Numerous times I've been accosted and unable to get home without showing my I.D. There's constant yelling and sirens. I've seen protesters harassing men in suits walking by. How is that okay? It feels like a warzone. In America.

While I am all for freedom of speech and the reason behind the protest, Occupy Wall Street and the people who represent them deserve plenty of criticism. You're only as good as your worst protester. If your people are behaving badly, you're responsible for them. There's no doubt social inequality in America. Things are not right, people who should be in jail are walking free, and our politicians are bought and sold, but these antics are not the way to go about it. How is ambushing the subway and making it difficult for the people (who are most likely poor and middle class) to get to their destination going to help the cause? Don't they want these people on their side? So why are they making their lives more difficult? If this movement is to actually make a true difference in law and Congress (isn't that the point?), they need a better game plan. And I'm hoping they do get an effective strategy, because there's no doubt we need change, and OWS has potential to make it happen if they can get their act together.

I'm not afraid to criticize people, even when they're on my own side. (I'm a Democrat with plenty of friends involved in Occupy Wall Street.) But if you can't see the serious problems here, you're either a) being P.C and afraid of criticizing popular opinion or b) completely clueless.

UPDATE: Pro Athletes at Juliet Club Shooting

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:10:00 -0500

Tuesday morning at approximately 2:30am a 43-year-old man was shot and killed at Juliet Supperclub. Another 28-year-old man was shot 3 times and is in stable condition at Bellevue hospital. Both men have had several prior convictions including criminal possession of a weapon, robberies, and drug sales. A woman was also apparently caught in the crossfire and tweeted "How [could] someone get in with a big gun in an elite club ?," The user known as @sexccladii went on to say there were 5 victims total. Later she tweeted a graphic picture of her leg with a wound.

This is the second murder since September, when another man was stabbed to death. Christopher Adames, 23, was found stabbed several times outside of the club. Manuel Pinero, a promoter at the club was charged with the murder.

A spokeswoman for Juliet claims after the September incident, mandatory bag and coat checks were enforced and that all patrons are inspected by security guards upon entrance.

NYPD currently has no suspects.

UPDATE: NY Times reports there were several professional athletes present at the club during the shooting. Though there are no reports of involvment by any of the athletes which included New York Giants lineman Victor Cruz, and teammates Hakeem Nicks, Aaron Ross, Antrel Rolle and Chris Canty. NBA players John Wall, Carlos Boozer, Kemba Walker, Russell Westbrook, Chris Duhon and Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Branden Albert, were also present.

"There is nothing to indicate that any of the well-known individuals in the club that night had anything to do with the shooting," NYPD chief spokesman Paul J. Browne told the New York Times.

"I don't remember how many [gunshots I heard], to be honest with you," Victor Cruz said, as reported by The Record. "There were enough.There was a melee that was going on. So we kind of just waited. We sat under the table and waited for the melee to calm down before we left. Then we got out of there as soon as we could. We didn't know if we were going to get caught in a stampede." He added, "I feel sorry for the victims, and I hope their families are well. It was an unfortunate situation that happened. That's pretty much all I want to say."

Contrary to reports, Hakeem Nicks' agent, Peter Schaffer, told ESPN that Nicks was at home the night of the shooting and the reports are "totally wrong."

Giants coach Tom Coughlin also told ESPN that he had spoken with Cruz about the incident. "The only one I heard about initially was Victor," Coughlin said. "Thank God he was safe. I would speak to him as a parent would speak to his son. I don't know what happens good at 2:30 or 3 in the morning. I've never been able to figure that one out. And beyond that it's between he and I."

The NYPD has not released the names of any formal suspects and the investigation is on-going.

Interview with Jester's Dead co-creator Rhett Henckel

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:51:00 -0500

Shakespeare. We’ve all heard of him, some of us through high school, some through Ten Things I Hate About You, or (grimace) She’s the Man. And while we love the original plays, we can’t help but feel giddy when we see a new twist on an old literary genius. Cue Jester’s Dead, a new Shakespearean parody of the classic Tom Cruise flick Top Gun currently running at The People’s Improv Theatre.

The show itself consistently has people laughing at a witty blend of language from every play in Shakespeare’s canon and the story of Top Gun. During even t he most serious moments like when Goose – dying in the arms of Cruise doppelganger Dan Hartley as Maverick – belts out Mercutio's famous last speech in Romeo and Juliet, people were awestruck at the transferability from old to new. Here, creators Rhett Henckel and Nat McIntyre showcase their ability to harness the language of Shakespeare for new audiences in what they call “Shakesparody.”

“After grad school at The Old Globe, I moved to NYC, and Nat followed a year later. We were in a lot of shows together, and one day we s tarted talking about how we’d like to start something on our own. We realized that a lot of actors want to create their own thing. It’s hard- especially when you’re starting out in New York to do different plays and sometimes you can’t choose what you want to do. So we decided to take matters into our own hands and started a company called The Outfit with nine founding members.”

Unlike most actors, this dynamic duo knew they wanted to skew away from the Shakespeare norm, but they knew they had to make it appealing to popular culture. After forming The Outfit, a theater company full of graduates of the Old Globe in San Diego, it was time to brainstorm thoughts and combinations that would be creative yet relatable.

“We were initially inspired by this wild improvisational production of Hamlet by a London-based company called The Factory,” said Henckel. “They would pick the cast on the spot, do the show in non-traditional venues, and encoura ge people to bring their own props – you could bring a rubber balloon and somehow they’d work it in. Then we stumbled upon Point Break LIVE! and thought we’d do something similar with Top Gun, but less ridiculous. You know – sans water guns.”

Ultimately they chose the 80s classic . “As soon as we started talking about Top Gun, we found gold,” he continued. “First, it’s a movie we both love, and second, it touches on something about our country – this cockiness, this competitive attitude, it’s funny to look back and see how ridiculous it was. Once we started going through the lines, we realized that Top Gun fits Shakespeare perfectly. It’s been two years and I’m so excited that Jester’s Dead has really taken on a life of its own.”

With the economy in free fall upon their arrival in New York, and established actors booking even the smallest roles to get by, it meant an unusually steep uphill battle for Henckel and McIntyre as they were starting out. "It’s always hard,” said Henckel, “and when we got here it was maybe the worst time to be an actor in New York City. I think t was hard to get work anywhere, really, but that’s what really drove us to start this.” Henckel and McIntyre worked with three directors and nearly twenty actors, some of whom are members of The Outfit, over two years crafting their script for this first major New York City run of Jester’s Dead.

“When we initially conceived The Outfit we were definitely inspired by The Factory in London. We saw it as an opportunity to create a home for artists where they could create great work in theater in NY. The people making the work are so passionate and personal and that’s what’s going to drive us,” said Henckel. “Our company is young but I think we’re pretty fortunate to have some good DNA.”

For tickets and showtimes for Jester's Dead visit Jestersdead.org

Escape the City: Wine Tours in NY

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:35:00 -0500

While NYC is trumped by the vintners’ expertise of the more popular Napa Valley, Champagne, and Tuscany, there’s still something to be said about the romantic endeavor of touring a vineyard. So with that in mind- we found great, affordable options for you and your honey to go sip in some culture.

Brotherhood Winery

This historic vineyard, opened in 1839, is actually the oldest (still-functioning) winery in the United States. After surviving prohibition (through selling sacramental wine), they opened the winery to the pubic for tours, and events. While the owners have changed, Brotherhood’s solid reputation for rich wine has not. With its easy-access location, in the beautiful, scenic Hudson Valley, your wish to venture into wine-paradise (without spending hundreds on a flight to California) is within an hour's reach. Be sure to try their Red Ruby- a prize winner from Hudson Valley Magazine. For tours and tastings for only $10 a person, go here.

Millbrook Vineyards and Winery

If rolling hills, ponds, and quaint Northern farm houses sounds like the utmost relaxation and romance, then Millbrook is your place. This Duchess County gem is located just two hours from the city, and with its secluded small-town feel, you’ll know you’re not in Kansas (aka NYC) anymore. And we have to admit- taking a break from the constant buzz of our city can be, well, refreshing. Pair that with a $10 deal on 6 wine tastings (choices from chardonnay, pinot noir, and tocai friulano- an Italian take on sauvignon blanc) and a guided tour, and you, yourself, will be buzzing by the end of the day. To book your tour, go here.

Castello di Borghese Vineyard & Winery

Drive two hours out to Cutchogue, Long Island for our favorite wine experience yet. Home of royal wine enthusiasts- Prince Marco Borghese and his wife, Princess Ann Marie Borghese (you may know their famous aunt and founder of Borghese, cosmetic-queen, Princess Marchella di Borghese) who constantly host special weekly events like Friday Night Flights, where you can come and enjoy their wines by the glass while listening to some soothing piano. With full-bodied choices like the 2001 Borghese Meritage, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc (some of which, winners of international awards), you’re bound to discover something you’ll love.