58

This lounge is located on W 58th Street between Park and Madison Ave and is a very cool but expensive night out 58 a.k.a AuBAR.

I recommend only going to this place if your traveling with a large group, at least 10 or more. Here's my reasoning... It's about 25 per person to enter. Unless you get on some stupid guest list or your a girl and get there ridiculously early. To sit at a table you must by a minimum of two bottles and one must be hard liquor.

We purchased a bottle of champagne and a bottle of Absolut Vodka. Now, I know this price is going to sound outrageous but our bill came out to $560. But, if you get a table your cover charge is lifted. To buy a shot or a martini at the bar would cost you $12 each and don't forget the tip! The cheapest drink of the night was pineapple and vodka for $10.

So, we all ended up paying $56 a head which came out to less then the cover charge and tow drinks. The perks about sitting at this table were the free unlimited french fries, the strawberries for the champaign and all the fixings to mix the drinks grapefruit juice, cranberry juice,lemons and limes.

The decor of the place was pretty cool... Burgundy walls and drapes with dark wood tables and zebra furniture. There was only one bar which was a little annoying because the place was packed. The dance floor was pretty small but the music was awesome. A great mix of dance, hip hop and some old school jams.

Senor Swanky's

I discovered this place by pure accident one late night in the village. It obviously is a Mexican food restaurant and it is very small. It's located on Bleeker Street and it could be considered a "dive" bar but interestingly enough I liked it. I only recommend this place for the brave, or the New Yorkers who can prepare themselves :)

I wouldn't say its a close to a five star place and the service isn't top notch but it has the best margaritas for low prices in all different flavors...mango, peach, strawberry... You name it they have it. There dishes run anywhere from $10-20.

The decor is quite cheesy... chili pepper lights, corona flags and spanish music. It's small and dark but it is an experience. So, I wouldn't say plan to be here all night or bring your date here. I do say after bar hoping all over the village, your feeling a buzz, craving some salty food and more alcohol stop by before you go home. Just to say you've been there. Good luck!

Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center

If your ever in the city during the holiday season...Say right after you go ice skating in Central Park :) please stop by Rockefeller Center and check out the tree.

It so beautiful and it always put me the holiday spirit. There are a dozen white wicker angels that line the path to the enormous tree. Don't forget to bring your camera...But if you do there are professionals photographers that will take your picture if your willing to pay about $30. Now, I didn't make this investment being a broke college student my digital did the trick but my aunt did and it was an amazing picture. So, if you have the cash, splurge :)

Word of advice be sure to go somewhere between 7-11pm because I have shown up just around midnight when the shut the lights off...Complete disappointment! You can also watch the ice skaters... Some fall and some of very impressive LOL. I went on New Years Eve around 8ish and it was awesome not crowded at all... Made sure to steer clear of Times Square festivities. There is actually a whole story about how the history of this tree lighting ceremony, check it out.

Central Park

I know this might seem a little weird that its April and I'm talking about this but it's something you must do if your in the city during the Christmas holiday... you should go ice skating in Central Park.

I know a lot of you might be asking why there and not Rockerfeller Center? Well let me explain... Rockerfeller Center is amazing and you must go to see the tree (which will probably be another one of my posts) but the skating rink is very very small and the line is always very very long! Not to mention very very crowded with people who have no idea how to skate and at times are dangerous.

Central Park is beautiful all year round... some of you might even remeber the recent art exhibit called THE GATES
(scroll down past pics to see the story).



But I say it's most beautiful in the winter. I was lucky enough be taken there by my boyfriend on New Years Eve and it was a lot of fun.

There are two rinks to choose from either Wollman Rink located between 62nd and 63rd Streets or Lasker Rink located between 106th and 108th Street. We chooseWollman ,which has been around since the early 1950's and has been popular since the day it opened.



This rink is much bigger then the one in Rockerfeller Center. The wait was only about 20 minutes. Word to the wise you can save a lot of money if you bring your own skates! For those of you who don't know how to skates lessons are avialable. The best part of this rink is the awesome back drop of the NYC sky line. If your up to it try skating at night it is truly romantic :)

Here I am showing off my skates!



For those of you who won't attempt the skating thing there are benches for spectators but you must pay a fee to sit! I can't recall the price of admission but it had to be under $20. If you've skated your heart out and your feeling chilly take a break and go inside to the snack bar. It can get a little expensive so don't go there on an empty stomach and stick to the hot chocolate :)

This should definately be on your agenda during the holiday season if your in New York. C'mon live a little lace up those skates and get moving!

P.S. Since this is a form of exercise make sure you stretch before you get out there! Just Kidding! LOL

Serendipity 3

Serendipity 3 is located on 60th street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue and is the coolest ice cream palor I've been to. It is a small place vintage looking place with marble tables and cane backed chairs. Warning if you are going to visit on a shot summer night and you don't have reservations be prepared to wait for at least 45 minutes.

The downstairs is full of old fashion ice cream palor memorabilia and souvenirs to purchase. Upstairs is where you will be seated, again, I must warn you its very small and a bit crowded around the table if your traveling in a large group but I definitely think it is worth the trip.

Every time I've gone there I've ordered dessert, however, they do serve American style food. Such as hamburgers, and sandwiches but I've heard that there food is below average so stick with the desserts.



I must recommend the Frozen Hot Chocolate made from 14 kinds of chocolate into a yummy slushy treat! (If you love this drink enough you can buy the special mix and make it at home). Also, every dessert that you order will be huge, so go on an empty stomach or find someone to share your dessert with. I hear that the banana split is also amazing (but I'm not a banana fan so I wouldn't know). All the desserts are reasonably priced I'd say majority of the treats are less then $10 check out the menu.


I hear this place is also known as a celebrity hot spot. Although, the few times I've been there I haven't spotted any! So keep your eyes open for Tom Cruise of Melanie Griffith who frequent this place often.

Buttercup Bake Shop

If you are interesting in tasting the best cupcake you've ever had you must visit the Buttercup Bake Shop in midtown on 2nd Avenue. I know a lot of you are probably thinking the last time I had a cupcake I was years ago but it's time to break the chain.

I was introduced to this wonderful place by Connie, an employee at my internship this summer in Manhattan. We just finished eating lunch and started walking back to the office when we walked by this wonderful little store and she said we had to stop in. She said I had to try one of these cupcakes. I was so full I couldn't even think of eating another thing plus looking at the multi-color gigantic cupcakes in the display case I thought there was no way I'd finish one. Just a few words about the actual store... It is quite small and the walls are a light yellow... They have huge display cases and there are about 3 tables towards the back to sit (but I feel like the majority of their business is ordered and picked up).



I'm not a big cupcake fan, I prefer ice cream or cake for my dessert. But this is one exception to the rule. I selected the yummy yellow cupcake with chocolate icing. It was delicious and buttery. It honestly tasted like something my grama would spend hours in the kitchen baking for a special occasion. Oh yea and just to let you know there's always room to fit and completely finish a gigantic Buttercup Bake Shop cupcake.

They also offer all kinds of cakes, muffins and buns as well. They also do personalized birthday cakes! A single cupcake costs $1.75...definately well worth it!!! If you don't believe me check out somequotes from the critics such as:

newyork.citysearch.com
"From the second you enter the close-quartered shop, you're enveloped in a relentless, sensual maelstrom of heavenly scents, ooey-gooey icing and eye-popping frosting swirls. However, all the goods are ensconced safely in cases and it's still bad form to press your nose up against the glass."


New York Press Awarded Best Cupcakes in NYC 2002

Lot 61

the bar Lot 61 in Chelsea is located on West 21 Street between 10th and 11th Avenue. This review is a little different from my others... I'm writing about Lot 61 to warn you to stay away from this place.

I went to this bar for Thanksgiving Eve (one of the biggest party nights of the year in Manhattan for the 20something crowd) because my friends were all pumped about it. One of the main reasons why they thought this place would be great is because celebrities supposedly hang out there, like Paris Hilton (in my eyes she's far from a celebrity but thats a whole other discussion!). That should have been my first warning.

My second warning should have been the looks of this place from the outside... what a dump! It's located on this dark run down street and it looks like a big warehouse, a black run down building with a small neon sign "Lot 61". Surprise surprise it used to be a truck garage...how nice!

The cover charge was obviously ridiculous, I can't remember the exact price. But a green apple martini is $12. What a rip off in such a small glass too. By the way a bottle of beer was $8. I was not impressed by the snotty bartenders twirling bottles and taking forever to serve you.

As for the actual atmosphere, quite dull, and I can't imagine why celebrities would want to hang out in an old garage. Walls are black, there's only one bar, not much decoration or places to sit for that matter. They think placing a couple of mirrors around the place makes it pretty (I think not!)

The only good thing about this place is the music. The DJ's that show up here are incredible. Good thing I like to dance or that night would have been a total disaster.

So a word to the wise, please steer clear of this place. It's not worth the money or the time!

P.S. They have an official site if you wanna check it out but its awful... just the address and nothing else... Lot (horrible) 61