BohemianSpirit

Some Hi's Some Lows I have mixed feelings about this bar. Sometimes it feels dark and dingy and other times like a respectable hangout. It has a neighborhood dive bar feel to it, complete with the beer stink that emanates from the front door. That's not to say I hate it- it has it's place. And the nightly specials are awesome when you're on a budget.

LOVE Room 18 A new favorite for me! Room 18 is so cozy and cute and perfect for dinner and drinks. There are a lot of interesting menu items- I had the Teriyaki Calamari Salad and was surprised at how fresh and tasty it was. I'll definitely be back here!

Sweet & Not too Vicious This place is indeed sweet, and the prices aren't too vicious. Though the inside was packed to the brim last Saturday night, the outdoor garden made for an amazing ambiance. The music inside was classic and the crowd had a good mix from all over the city. My only gripe is that the credit card minimum is $25 as opposed to the normal $20, so if you don't plan on staying long make sure you bring cash.

Am I Missing Something? This place is an embarrassment to Irish bars. The doormen were horribly rude for no reason, the "frat" type boys were drunkenly body slamming into anything with two legs, and it was crowded beyond belief. Literally- I don't understand why so many people were there. The only good thing was the music but there are plenty of places with good music in the East Village that don't involve such horrible people.

Von What a cute place that I've walked by so many times and never known! That's what I thought when I first walked in last night. Then my friend led me downstairs to the club part and I swear it was like walking into an orgy. Something must have been in the water because it was like Dirty Dancing on speed. Cool place though- the drinks were strong and the music was pumping.

Love Fig & Olive I love this place! The food is delicious and the mixed drinks are rockin! The ambience is sophisticated cool. Fig and Olive is a good place to go to to start out the night- just don't stay too long or the "suits" start piling in.

Meh This is ok Thai food. It didn't help that the crispy spring rolls were none to crispy complete with still frozen middles. I had the pad thai and though it wasn't bad, I've had better. If you need something quick and you're craving Thai then give it a whirl but for quality Thai, I'd go elsewhere.

My Favorite Restaurant This is my favorite restaurant in New York. . . which is a very tall order, not to be taken lightly. I almost hesitate to write a review about this place because I don't want it to become over-rodden with college freshmen. But it's hands down awesome. I went here Saturday night and tried the lamb which was mouth watering. (The filet mignon is my favorite though- it's even better than Ruth's Chris, IMO.)

The ambiance is great and this is a favorite for many East Villagers. I never see out of towners here and the waitresses are incredible nice, so I'm not sure who wrote the above "venue description," but I obviously disagree with it.

Whoa! This place is CRAZY! I went here Friday night for a going away party and it was pretty cool. . . literally. Downstairs they have an ice cage where if you pay 20 bucks you can go in with a group of your friends and down all you can drink vodka out of ice shot glasses for 2 minutes. Oh and did I mention that you have to dress up as Russian soldiers to enter the ice cage?

Upstairs is where the dancing and live band are located and let me tell you, I never knew I would like Bulgarian music so much. The live saxophone with some sort of digital effect over top were enough for me to dance the night away til closing. If you're interested in a different kind of New York experience, then you should definitely check out Mehanata.

Apparently Being "Continental" = Jerk Bouncers I decided to give this place a try after walking by several times and seeing it crowded. The bouncer I encountered was a total asshole. I almost left because of him but my friends convinced me to stay for the 5 shots for $10 deal. This is a good place to get cheap drinks before really going out- only if you can stomach the inappropriateness as you walk in the door.

Bar "NO"ne I stepped into this place and then right back out. This is where my friends used to go in high school. It is an underage drinking bar and I highly doubt any "celebrities" have ever set foot in the place. If you are over the age of 21 then I would avoid this place.

Kick-ass Pourhouse This is a pretty kick-ass sports bar but I have to say it seems like it's being overrun by college freshman. It's a great place to watch a game (or accompany the BF and pretend to be interested in a game), the food is decent, and the beer is excellent. I haven't tried Rockband Tuesdays but will definitely do so in the future.

Not so Cosmic Weird. Very weird. The fluorescent lighting on a Saturday night made me skeptical to begin with, but then we waited 15 minutes before we realized that you had to go to the counter to order. . . you would think someone would have told us that. We got a picture of sangria which was mediocre. I can't comment on their vegetarian mexican food because we decided to go elsewhere. This place might be ok for a mid-day drink, but not for a Saturday night outing.

Bar Veloce If you love wine and silent movies then bar veloce is for you. The wine is excellent, the bartenders are knowledgeable, and the silent movies playing on the side wall make going here a fun experience whether you're with friends or by yourself. Don't ask to try a piece of the tempting cheese that they have on the bar though- they'll charge you a hefty 6 dollars for a couple tiny pieces.

Inoteca I kinda love this place. It has a cozy, yet hip vibe with great wine and food selections. While I was there they opened up the windows to let in a nice summer breeze, which is a huge plus for me. The "family" style tables made it possible to get nice and friendly with your neighbors- which was a good thing in our case.

Love it! This is the epitomy of the dive bar and I love it. Seriously, where else can you get a vodka and soda for $3? They provide board games and the tables are chess boards. Everything is super old and kinda grimy, but sometimes that's just what you need. When I went the other night, the place was being overrun by hipsters and dive patrons alike. When you need a cheap stiff drink and a game of pool, Blue and Gold will never let you down.

Cozy Ok, so I went here last week and I have to say that it's much better in the winter months. It's just too dark and crowded and depressing in the summer. When I went last winter however, it was nice and cozy with a woodburning stove in the back. The drinks are cheap ($4 for a blue moon) and you can bring food in with you. Will I be back? Not until it snows.

Sketchy or Best Time Ever? Ok, so there's no aruging that Habibi has the best Pineapple hookah in the city. But it's a bit . . . . well it's . . . . it's just downright sketchy. The waitresses will try to overcharge you, the owner will try to rub up against you, and the bartender will buy you shots. Oh wait, this is a good thing! If you don't mind watching your back (or front) then Habibi can be a damn good fun time. But seriously, make sure they don't overcharge you. They count on people getting wasted and not looking at the bill. Other than that, dance the night away will some awesome (if somewhat sketchy) people!

Who Needs to Actually go to England? If you want to feel as though you have stepped off the plane into the heart of London, then Telephone Bar is the place to be. They've got kick ass beer selections and every type of burger you can imagine . . . and some you can't. When all I want is a good pint, cool music, and a down to earth crowd, then Telephone Bar is just a hop, skip, and a jump away.

Yummm Three bottles of wine, an awesome pizza, and a nice summer breeze. This place is kickin. Seriously amazing gourmet type pizza. There is no outdoor area, but we sat at the front where the windows were open. The scene was laid back fun. I will definitely be back for more.

Classic I've been on a wing kick lately and it's all because of Brother Jimmy's. I never liked wings until I randomly stole someone's at this bar and it was AMAZING. Pure finger lickin' goodness. Happy Hour here rocks and though it can get a bit too collegey at times, I always end up having a great drunken time.

Awesome Wings Ok, so I know I already wrote a review on this, but I happened to go back the other night and had the most amazing wings. It was a busy pumping night, the drinks were cheap, and the food was spot on. Rock on Turtle Bay!

Hookah’s, belly dancers, and great hummus! Hookah’s, belly dancers, and great hummus. What more could you ask for? This place was a hotspot last Saturday night! It was just the right amount of crowded and though it took awhile to get out drinks, it was worth it. If you’re a hookah expert though, you may be disappointed. The coals went out in a matter of minutes, leaving you trying to pull with all your might. The ambiance is right though, and the open doors let in a nice summer breeze. Sweet place!

My Love/Breakup letter to Horus Oh Horus. You and I have had a love/hate relationship for three years now. I fell in love the first time I entered your glorious hookah scented bar and have been a regular ever since. But then you broke my heart last year when new management took over and you overcharged my bill and argued that we had in fact eaten food that was never served. But I keep coming back for more. This is an unhealthy relationship, Horus, and I fear I need to break it off, but while walking by the other day I caught one whiff of you and you had me at "hello." When in need of a good hookah and some flavorless hummus, Horus is the pace to be.

Greenpoint's Alligator Lounge There are two Alligator Lounge's in Brookyln- I went to the newest one that opened about a month ago in Greenpoint. The venue itself is amazing. The decor is somewhat industrialized and the open windows in the front brought in a nice summer breeze. The only problem is that it was pretty empty. It is a huge venue so I don't know how they're going to afford to keep it open, but let's hope they do because the free pizza is worth the trip!

Cozy Turtle I went here on a Monday night and though there weren't many people, it was super fun. Everyone in the bar became friends and the bartender was cool and friendly. This is the place to come on a rainy night when you seek the comfort of good drink and conversation.

Weird, but Possibly Cool? My BF and I were drawn to this place because of the good prices and outdoor patio. When I walked into the outdoor area however I stopped short. It was weird. It had a narrow opening and then a few tables crammed together. I guess that's not abnormal for NYC, but it was also almost eerily quiet. After a couple sips of wine however, it grew on me . The food was pretty good- not the best, but certainly not the worst. What really bothered me though was that they let people smoke in the outdoor patio. (It's enclosed, but there's no ceiling.) Breathing in second hand smoke while trying to eat is just not cool. Will I be back? Perhaps when I'm in the mood for a quiet glass of wine and some cheap pasta.

Fun I had a great time at Imperial. I was in the VIP section though, so my experience may be different than other reviews. It was quite spacious and there was plenty of room to dance. The atmosphere was cool, though it did seem like there were a lot of bridge and tunnel people. The cages provided the entertainment of watching wasted girls try to dance.

Relaxing, but Smelly? The Thirsty Scholar is nice for a quiet drink or to play a round of darts. The decor is very cool and "scholarly." I went here with a couple friends on a weeknight and it was a nice little refuge from the busy street. The only problem was that it smelled . . . really bad. I have reason to suspect that the smell was being emitted from a 'gentleman' nearby me, but it permeated throughout the entire place. I'll try it again when I'm in the mood for something intellectual and peaceful, but if it smells again then I'm out!

Always a Good Time I always have a good time at Arlene's Grocery. Last Saturday I saw two hilarious bands- "Cudzoo and the Fagettes" and "Schaffer and the Darklords." They always have good local bands and Monday nights are karaoke nights with a live back up band. If you're in the mood for some live music and a rock/grunge feel then Arlene's in the place for you.

Eclectically Fun! I love this place! The environment is eclectic complete with string lights and interesting black and white photos. What really makes this place though, is the outdoor patio section. Paper lanterns and more string lights make you feel as if you have stepped into another world. The food is ok, (but the crabcakes are excellent). The one negative is that there is not a full bar so be prepared to drink wine, sangria, or beer.

Yummmm Amazing food. Best Mojitos in the city. What more can you ask for? Oh, I know! The cheap prices! My entire meal (shrimp and rice) and two mojitos cost less than 20 bucks! The waitress was very attentive and made sure to take our drink orders before last call. It's a very small and crowded place but as soon as you put one fork-full of food into your mouth, you will melt away into relaxation. I will most definitely be back.

Eh Hmm . . . not really quite sure what to say about this place. It was. . . eh. It was just eh. Drinks were cheap and there was a pool table, but it was impossible to get to said pool table because of the old drunk men hanging around it. I actually saw a man sleeping at the bar. This is not your typical "young people" Irish pub. This is a typical, middle aged hangoout for men who just got off the job and made a pit stop at the bar on their way home. I won't be back again unless I'm stranded in Sunnyside during a snow storm and all the other bars are closed.

Perfect Hideout Awesomeness. Pure awesomeness. For three bucks you can enter this amazing underground bar and feel as if you stepped into the 1940’s. Complete with a live jazz band, comfy sofas, ping pong, pool, shuffle board, and every board game you can imagine, you will stay entertained until closing. The evening was even complete with dancing Marines, though I suspect that is because of fleet week and not an everyday occurrence.

This place does not have a full bar so be prepared to drink some specialty beer or wine. The prices are right and you’ll stay so entertained that you’ll find you almost forget about the alcohol and won’t end up with your head over a toilet bowl in the morning. Oh, and there are even cool little “water taps” on the bar where you can serve yourself ice cold glasses of water. Fat Cat is a perfect little gem of a hideout and I will definitely be back for more.

The Best Pretend Beach Around Oh Water Taxi Beach. Never a disappointment when it comes to working on your tan and drinking the afternoon away. One improvement is that they no longer have a cover charge and you can actually bring your own water in without being reprimanded by the "door" man. But they more than compensate for these changes in the drink prices which are a bit ridiculous, even for NYC. A rum and fruit punch drink in a tiny plastic cup will run you $10 with an only slightly better priced, pre mixed overly sugary margarita for $8.

Perhaps the best part of this place is the actual water taxi. Leaving from 35th street in Manhattan, for five bucks you can journey across the water with the breeze in your face and arrive at the beach five minutes later.

Beaches are a rarity in NYC, and though you can't go into the actual water here (without climbing over a fence and the possible risk of growing a third arm), it is a good distraction from the busyness of the city.