West Village Restaurants

1.) Rosemary’s

 

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The West Village is home to lots of excellent Italian eateries, but Rosemary’s is one of the best. The restaurant’s bright, modern aesthetic and playful pops of rustic décor make it a favorite among the Instagram crowd, and its delicious wines and cocktails come garnished with equally picturesque sprigs of rosemary. Rosemary’s is also known for placing a great emphasis on the sourcing of its ingredients: some of its produce items are grown on its own rooftop garden, and its menu rotates throughout the year in order to include as many seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs as possible. From the dinner menu, we recommend the corn cacio e pepe, octopus carpaccio, and, of course, Rosemary’s focaccia. The dining area is a single large room, and while the space feels open and inviting, it can get a bit noisy during peak hours. Plan to arrive for an early dinner or late lunch to enjoy Rosemary’s offerings in peace and quiet. 

2.) Anton’s

 

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An upscale café and wine bar, Anton’s takes a very refined approach to American-style fare. Entering the restaurant feels a bit like stepping back to an unplaceable moment in time: the décor isn’t overtly old-fashioned, but there’s a vintage sort of elegance to the pale half curtains and white-shirted waiters. Nostalgia is the currency of the day at Anton’s, and the restaurant sells it with practiced ease. The menu also riffs very effectively on old sentimental favorites. The lemon fettuccine is the peak of buttery, tangy decadence, while the roasted chicken is perfectly seasoned and tender. Be sure to also order a bottle of wine from among the hundreds of vintages in storage under the restaurant—and, if you’re sticking around for dessert, it’s definitely worth ordering the heavenly bourbon pecan pie. As a bonus, if you’ve been hesitant to return to in-person dining, Anton’s offers an exclusive menu of take home-only options.

3.) Panca

 

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The best Peruvian cuisine in New York City—and perhaps the entire country—can be found in the heart of the Village in a casual little sit-down joint called Panca. With a cheerful, wood-countered dining room that sizzles under moody reddish lighting after nightfall, Panca has weathered the ever-changing landscape of West Village restaurants for over fourteen years. The secret to their success? Every single item on their menu explodes with authentic flavor and is an absolute hit. The chicharron sandwich (a ciabatta roll stuffed with pork, sweet potato, and salsa criolla) is absolutely unparalleled, while the ceviche has received near-universal acclaim from locals and critics alike. For those looking to enjoy a drink with their meal, the pisco sour is another must-try. If you’d like to wet your whistle with a non-alcoholic beverage, Panca also serves several popular Peruvian beverages including Inca Kola, chicha morada, and maracuya nectar.

4.) Via Carota

Serving delicious Italian dishes cooked to perfection by Jody Williams and Rita Sodi, longtime fixtures of the downtown culinary scene, Via Carota is one of the West Village’s most in-demand dinner spots. This exquisite little trattoria places a great emphasis on authenticity, and every part of the restaurant, from the complimentary olives to the rustic decor, oozes old-world Italian charm. As a true testament to its quality, Via Carota is a favorite among other chefs and restaurateurs—both Jeff Gordinier (the premiere food critic at Esquire) and Sam Kass (a White House chef during the Obama administration) are frequent patrons. Be sure to start your evening by perusing the novel-length wine list before delving into the menu itself. Popular entrees include the panzanella salad, made with tomatoes, spring onions, olives, and soaked seasoned bread (think croutons, but softer), and the rigatina, which includes charred pork belly and borlotti beans. 

5.) Sushi Nakazawa

 

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For one of the most unique dining experiences in New York, look no further than Sushi Nakazawa. The brainchild of Daisuke Nakazawa, a chef famously featured in 2011’s “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” Sushi Nakazawa first opened in 2013 and revolutionized the New York City sushi game. Here, customers are offered an experience modeled after Japan’s omakase parlors: the night’s offerings are chosen by the chef rather than the customers, so don’t expect a menu when you arrive. Instead, you’ll be treated to an array of hand-selected, hand-crafted delicacies, each of which is sure to ignite your palette in totally unexpected ways. This element of the unknown can be a turn-off for some diners, as can the hefty price tag. But, for the gastronomic thrill-seekers willing to pay up for a culinary adventure, Sushi Nakazawa is certainly well worth a visit for a chance to indulge in prepared kinmedai, mackerel, and even live shrimp.

6.) Corner Bistro

 

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As more and more West Village restaurants succumb to the blandly sleek minimalism that has become the current craze, Corner Bistro has triumphantly clung on to its delightful greasy spoon aesthetic. A self-declared “bohemian bar,” this restaurant serves your typical diner fare: the menu consists of thick burgers resembling oversized hockey pucks, a few salads, and various forms of fried potato products, and that’s pretty much it. But each menu item is quite delicious, especially the long, thin, perfectly crispy french fries, and the cheerful, retro atmosphere (very little of Corner Bistro’s interior has changed since its opening in 1961) is unbeatable. It also helps that, in true bohemian style, the beer is cheap, the lights are low, and you’re always likely to find a chatty crowd of artists packed into a booth together. Corner Bistro was forced to close its two other locations during the pandemic, but we hope that the West Village flagship will live on eternally.

7.) Casa

 

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Tucked away on a quiet side street far from the hustle and bustle at the heart of the Village, Casa is a hidden gem serving exquisite Brazilian comfort food seven days a week. Owned and operated by Brazilian-born restaurateur Jupira Lee since 1998, Casa’s has long held an excellent reputation within the neighborhood, and was even recently recognized by the Michelin guide with a very warm review. Its menu offerings are perhaps most beloved by Brazilian-born New Yorkers searching for a true taste of home, are also easily and enthusiastically enjoyed by those unfamiliar with Brazilian fare. Lee has even endeavored to create vegan and vegetarian menu options to ensure that her native cuisine can be enjoyed by everyone. For an evening meal, indulge in the Moqueca de frutos do mar com farofa de dendê—its name may be a mouthful, but this rich, creamy stew made from wild-caught seafood, coconut milk, and palm oil and served over a bad of farofa and rice is simply unparalleled. Vegetarians can sample the prato vegetariano, which includes rice, beans, fried banana, greens, and your choice of roasted vegetables. 

8.) Olio e Più

 

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Walking by during the summer, it’s easy to mistake Olio e Più for the greenhouse next door, as the bright, sunlit outdoor seating area almost overflows with greenery. But within, rather than seedlings and shrubs for sale, you will find yet another unbelievably good West Village trattoria. Olio e Più, whose name means “oil and more,” prides itself on adding a distinctly Neapolitan flair to its approach. Quaint chandeliers hang from the ceiling of the dining area, whose walls are painted a pleasing shade of basil and whose floor-length windows unfold easily to admit the refreshing evening breezes. The menu is a bit broader than many of the neighboring Italian restaurants—the chefs at Olio e Più can make a lot of dishes, and they make each of them very well. If you’re heading to brunch, you can’t go wrong with the salmone con uova. Dinner guests should make an endeavor to sample the burrata and limoncello ravioli, which arrives garnished with crab meat and herbs.

9.) Emily

 

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Named for owner Matthew Hyland’s beloved wife, Emily is the second iteration of the couple’s popular pizza store that first debuted in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. The West Village outpost is unique in that it combines the finest offerings from the Brooklyn branch and Hyland’s other pizza restaurant, Emmy Squared, to create a sort of “greatest hits” version of their miniature franchise. Here, surrounded by simple but cheerful décor, you can lose yourself in elevated takes on classic American comfort foods. There is pizza of both the thick-crusted Detroit and thin-crusted Neapolitan varieties, as well as burgers, mozzarella sticks, and toasted sandwiches nearly bursting at the seams. The Emmy Double Stack Burger is a feat of burger engineering, cramming two thick patties onto a pretzel bun oozing with the signature Emmy sauce. In terms of pizza, the Angel more than lives up to its name: loaded with mushrooms, ricotta, and truffle cream crafted by The Truffleist, mushroom lovers will take one bite and believe that they’ve died and gone to heaven. The Roni Overload is another huge hit, as is the simple but delicious traditional-style Luca. 

10.) Buvette

There’s a reason that Buvette, a charming European-inspired gastrothèque, now has locations in London, Paris, Tokyo, and Mexico City as well as New York. This pocket-sized café, with its cozy brick walls, French-leaning style, and miniaturized dinnerware is absolutely adorable. Buvette is tiny (and we mean tiny), so a party of three can indeed feel like a crowd, but it makes the perfect place for a one-on-one brunch date. While breakfast foods are perhaps the highlight of Buvette’s menu—in particular, the waffle sandwich and pain perdu are especially good—every meal of the day is executed beautifully by Buvette’s kitchen. At lunch, try some of les oeufs vapeurs (steamed eggs served with toast) or the rillettes du saumon (potted salmon with butter lettuce and radishes). For dinner, you simply must go with one of the splendid tartines. The anchoiade comes with anchovies, capers, and salted butter, while the hachée with jambon cru comes topped with prosciutto, Comté cheese, and honey. There is also a separate menu of fromages and charcuterie to make you feel like you’re living out your Ratatouille fantasy. The Bibonade, a type of pale wine infused with fresh fruit, serves as a lovely digestif after the meal.

11.) A Salt & Battery

 

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In a sea of overpriced vaguely European eateries in the area, the gritty, grubby A Salt & Battery is a refreshing change of pace. Though the name of this restaurant may raise a few eyebrows, there is truly plenty of salt and batter to be found in their truly authentic take on the beloved British export that is “fish ‘n chips.” The chips (for the uninitiated, this refers to french fries rather than potato chips) are cut thick here, and perfectly seasoned with sea salt and malted vinegar to create that classic tang. The fish itself is next level, generous portions of cod, haddock, sole, and whiting doused in batter and fried to crispy perfection. The team running the friers are not shy about giving the same treatment to some other less conventional menu items—the deep-fried Mars Bar is absolutely heavenly, as are the fried beets. A Salt & Battery is also one of the few places in the city that you can reliably enjoy grungy pub classics from England like the chip butty (a simple sandwich stuffed full of fries). The delightful “mushy peas” also taste leagues better than they look and sound. Come by for cheap, filling genuine English grub.

12.) Jeju Noodle Bar

 

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Even the greatest of ramen aficionados are unlikely to have sampled ramen like the kind served at Jeju Noodle Bar. Here, chef and owner Douglas Kim serves ramyun, a Korean-style homage to the prepackaged noodles you can buy at any convenience store. But the noodles at Jeju are anything but dollar store quality; in fact, the restaurant currently holds a Michelin star. Sample the family ramyun, made with rich pork bone broth, porchetta, seafood, chili, and pickled jalapeños, or the vegetarian truffle kong guk soo, composed of chilled truffle soy broth, cauliflower, cucumbers, and truffles. The menu also includes a long list of excellent appetizers, including the hae mul ceviche, jeju fried chicken, and toro ssam bap, each of which could be a meal unto itself. Despite the kitschy “noodle bar” part of its name, the interior of Jeju is spacious, tidy, and minimalist—though there is indeed a bar counter where you can sit and watch dishes come together.

The post The 12 Best Restaurants in the West Village Right Now appeared first on CitySignal.

What is the Union Square Holiday Market?

Run by Urbanspace, a UK-based company specializing in the creation and curation of outdoor and repurposed retail sites and community gathering spaces, the Union Square Holiday Market is erected in Union Square Park every fall, springing up practically overnight in a feat of holiday magic. Over 150 local and international vendors—all hand-selected through an extensive application process to ensure that the market’s offerings include true variety—are invited to sell gifts, food, and hot drinks out of charming semi-permanent wooden stands that sparkle with small lights powered by the market’s special biodiesel generator. Most merchants are craftspeople selling handmade wares: think soaps, candles, ornaments, and children’s toys.

How did the market come to be?

The Union Square Holiday Market is the brainchild of Eldon Scott, an ex-pat from the original London-based office of Urbanspace (which at that time was still called Urban Space Management). Inspired by traditional German Christkindlmarkts, a type of outdoor Christmas street fair that has been around since 1384 and whose existence helped to solidify Christmas as a gift-giving holiday among early Christians, he used urban planning techniques to create a harmonious miniature city of wooden sales booths. The first Holiday Market was held in 1993 and, aside from a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Market has been operated every year since.

Scott credits the success of the market to its unique format, the event’s emphasis on community, and the fact that it creates a platform for a diverse, exciting group of retailers to share a diverse, exciting set of wares. Over the years, other Holiday Markets have been added across New York City. There is now a Columbus Circle Holiday Market, and this year, for the first time ever, there will even be a Brooklyn Holiday Market held at Borough Hall.  

When is the Union Square Holiday Market open?

This year’s Union Square Market runs from November 17–December 24, 2022. Daily hours have not yet been announced for this year’s market, but last year’s hours were Monday – Saturday from 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. The vendor list for this winter is out though applications remain available online for those interested in peddling their wares. 

How do I get there?

The Union Square Holiday Market is found at the south end of Union Square along 14th Street and is easily accessible to the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R and W trains by the nearby 14th Street-Union Square subway station. There are several parking garages scattered throughout the adjoining blocks for those traveling to the market by car. 

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Before the Toilet

The modern flush toilet is descended from a model perfected by English plumber Thomas Crapper in the late 19th century, which he based on earlier designs created by inventors Alexander Cumming and Sir John Harington. However, this type of toilet relies on an integrated plumbing system and water pressure to operate, both of which were scarce in New York City until the last 150 years. Even as late as 1940, half of all homes across America did not have hot piped water, a bathtub or shower, or a flushing toilet. Instead, people were forced to deal with much messier and less sanitary options whenever nature called. 

Historically, urban areas faced particularly unique challenges when it came to the disposal of human waste. Outhouses were the most common type of toilet facility available across the country. Chamber pots were another short-term indoor option, though these were generally emptied directly into outhouses to consolidate waste. In rural communities, outhouses consisted of semi-permanent outdoor structures containing a seat suspended over a waste pit. When the waste pit began to overflow with sewage, it was covered with dirt, and a new pit was dug in another location on the property. In cities, however, the lack of available land necessitated that outhouses remain as permanent structures. As such, the waste, which could not be buried, required removal.

Disposing of Waste

“Night soil men” or “nightmen,” so named because their work was carried out long after dark to spare everyday citizens the nauseating stench of human excrement, were thus hired by contractors to empty the city’s outhouses. Being a night soil man was hardly an enviable position, but it was a very lucrative one, as there was virtually no end to the demand for their services: in the year 1844 alone, New Yorkers generated approximately 800,000 cubic feet of waste, and this figure only ballooned further as the city’s population continued to grow over the 19th century.

A night soil man’s job varied a bit from commode to commode. For instance, the emptying of a wealthy family’s private outhouse was a much simpler affair than cleaning out a tenement outhouse shared by several dozen people. Regardless of their customers’ circumstances, most waste was removed using a long-handled bucket to scoop the excrement into a barrel or similar vessel that was then loaded onto a horse cart. The night soil men would drive through the darkened streets to jettison their unpleasant burdens not into a sewage treatment center but directly into the East and Hudson Rivers and even New York Harbor. 

Building the Sewer

Unsurprisingly, this disposal method frequently impacted public health across the city, resulting in massive cholera outbreaks in 1832, 1849, and 1866. Mortality rates during these outbreaks could reach as high as 50 deaths per 1,000 people. Epidemics of dysentery, typhus, and typhoid fever were also extremely common. As scientific understanding of disease and sanitation evolved, cities began to regulate the activities of night soil men more strictly and impose fines on anyone caught dumping waste in any public area or body of water. With nowhere left to conveniently offload this excrement, and its existing open-air sewage canals only further contributing to the city’s health crisis, New York City was forced to construct a sewage system to manage its waste flow. 

Construction on New York City’s sewer began in earnest in 1849, propelled partly by that year’s spike in cholera cases. By 1855, over seventy miles of sewage channels had been laid throughout the city. The full installation of New York’s sewer took nearly half a century, but most of the city had finally been connected to the sewage system by 1902. Today, there are more than 6,600 miles of sewer pipes in New York City—to help with visualization, that’s double the distance between Times Square and Fairbanks, Alaska.

Establishing Indoor Plumbing

The implementation of this sewage system also coincided with and helped to allow for the introduction of indoor plumbing to the city. In the first two centuries of the city’s existence, a crude series of wooden pipes were used to pump water from the Bronx River; city residents could come to one of the several reservoirs served by this somewhat unreliable system to retrieve their water, or else draw from nearby wells and streams. However, there was no way to pressurize this water to propel it to ground-floor bathrooms, much less fill up a bathtub on the upper floors of a multi-story building. This changed with the construction of the Croton Aqueduct in 1842, which helped to provide running water to select areas in Manhattan.

While this luxury was at first only accessible to very wealthy households, the gradual expansion of the city’s aqueduct system over the following decades greatly improved health conditions across the city and eventually made running water available to the general public. The late 1800s also saw the implementation of the first rooftop water towers, which used gravity to create enough water pressure to service even the tallest buildings. The earliest water tower tanks were created by barrel makers, and modern water towers are still often made of wood to take advantage of improved insulation during the winter.

When Did Indoor Toilets Become Common

Indoor flush toilets became commonplace in New York City in the late 1800s, especially in upper-class households. The greatest push for universal indoor plumbing arrived following the Tenement Act of 1901, which strictly required that all residential buildings include at least one indoor toilet per unit. Though it took several decades for this requirement to be implemented, indoor toilets, at last, became the norm across the city. Around this time, the practice of “stacking” bathrooms—that is, placing each unit’s bathroom directly in the exact same place on each story of the building’s floor plan—became standard in residential architecture to streamline the downward flow of water.

One might imagine that New Yorkers were thrilled to finally do away with the squalor of their outdoor toilets, but the implementation of indoor toilets was a contentious matter at first. Many residents were appalled by the idea of having a permanent area dedicated to defecation within their homes, and superstitions persisted that indoor toilets could release toxic sewage gasses into their houses. Very soon, however, the indoor toilet came to be appreciated for the incredible convenience and sanitary benefits it offered.

Managing Wastewater

With toilets now installed inside more and more homes, the city required a means of purifying the new glut of wastewater to escape the pollution that had historically plagued the city’s waterways with filth. The Metropolitan Sewerage Commission was created in 1904 to assess the state of the city’s sewer system and determine the most effective solution. The city’s first three wastewater treatment plants were established in Brooklyn and Queens during the turn of the century, and eight more plants opened across all five boroughs in the following decades. Between 1945 and 1965, the citywide capacity for sewage treatment rose from 497 million gallons a day to 1,037 million gallons a day.

The passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 mandated an even higher standard of water treatment throughout the country and led to the creation of several more plants. The last of these were not completed until the 1980s; even as late as 1986, nearly all of the Upper West Side’s untreated sewage flowed directly into the Hudson River.  Today, New York City’s fourteen wastewater treatment plans have a combined capacity of 1.3 billion gallons each day.

New York’s sewer system was designed as a combined system, meaning that the rainwater collected in storm drains and wastewater descending from residential buildings are combined into the same system. This was an effective method before the implementation of wastewater treatment facilities when all sewers drained into the rivers and ocean; now, however, the city’s combined system means that each time the sewer overflows during downpours, several thousand gallons of wastewater circumvent treatment centers and are released into the streets and surrounding waterways. This system also requires that even relatively clean rainwater must go through the same intense purifying process used for toilet water, which can put a strain on the system during periods of heavy rainfall.

The evolution of the city’s wastewater and plumbing systems is an ongoing project as the city continues to expand and our understanding of the environmental impact of our waste treatment evolves. We may yet see a time when the issues of our combined system are permanently addressed. For now, however, simply take a moment to be grateful that cartloads of human excrement no longer rattle through the city streets each night. 

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Best Clubs in New York City

 

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1.) House of Yes

For a surreal, extravagant, out-of-this-world clubbing adventure, make Bushwick’s House of Yes your very first stop. Part nightclub and part “circus theatre,” House of Yes offers an outlandish, fantastical experience to visitors that feels like stepping into another world. Aerial dancers hang from streamers near the club’s massive stage, which is used to host weekly events such as drag performances, variety shows, and even art bazaars. But beyond its vibrant trappings and exciting programming, it is truly the unique culture of House of Yes that keeps its devoted revelers coming back again and again. House of Yes encourages camp, debauchery, and extravagance as a celebration of freedom and self-expression, and the unique atmosphere of this never-ending costume ball will help even the most trepidatious and tight-laced patrons release their inhibitions and cut loose. 

 

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2.) Le Bain

Perched atop the Standard High Line hotel in the heart of the Meatpacking District, Le Bain is known for its stunning city views and somewhat infamous jacuzzi. Come up during the “Sunset Hours” in the late afternoon to enjoy some of Le Bain’s house-made crepes and soak up the sun on the roof, and stay on through the 10 p.m.–4 a.m. “late night” hours as the pleasant outdoor lounge transforms into a bustling discothèque. Le Bain is open seven nights a week during the summers, with terrace access dependent on weather conditions, and they also frequently host themed parties and sets by up-and-coming DJs. If you decide to slip into the hot tub, just keep an eye on your belongings—and not soak until you turn into a prune.

 

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3.) Avant Gardner

A favorite from Williamsburg’s bustling scene, Avant Gardner could perhaps better be described as a compound than a club: offering more than 80,000 square feet of party space spread between four different full-sized dance halls, including the stunning rooftop courtyard known as the Brooklyn Mirage, Avant Gardner occupies a full city block. The performances by their carefully-curated lineup of artists and DJs (often skewing toward electronic dance music) are enhanced by a dizzying arsenal of strobe lights and projections. With dozens of monthly events in its various venues, any visitor is bound to find something that catches their interest—and, with a total capacity of nearly 6,000, there’s room for everyone to join the party.

 

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4.) 1 Oak

The nightclub game can be a brutal industry—trends change quickly as clubbers constantly chase the newest craze, and even the hottest of new venues will often end up empty and near bankruptcy within a few years. The longevity of Chelsea’s 1 OAK, a mainstay on the NYC nightclub circuit for the past fifteen years, speaks to its status as one of the city’s best-run and most celebrated clubs. Their reputation has been reinforced by their impressive roster of celebrity guests such as the Weekend, Bruno Mars, and Justin Bieber—longtime fan Jay-Z even chose to immortalize 1 OAK in a lyric from “Beach is Better.” 1 OAK, unsurprisingly, is also known for its star-studded roster of DJs. The secret to the club’s success has been its ability to keep its fingers on the pulse of new trends and even to initiate new ones by taking a chance on fresh talent, so you can show up with the assurance that they’ll be bumping something exciting. 

 

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5.) Black Flamingo

When you visit Black Flamingo, you will have the pleasure of encountering one of Williamsburg’s most high-spirited nightclubs and the neighborhood’s tastiest Mexican restaurants. Fortify yourself for the night’s festivities at Ensenada upstairs, where you can feast on a variety of Tex-Mex dishes (the restaurant formerly maintained an all-vegan menu but began incorporating seafood last year), and then head downstairs to tear up the dance floor while enjoying fresh, delicious, and authentic mescal and cocktails from the bar. Be aware that Black Flamingo is currently only open on Fridays and Saturdays and on certain Thursday evenings when they have events running. The atmosphere at Black Flamingo is always relaxed and fun, so this is a great option for anyone new to clubbing and intimidated by the idea of dealing with bottle service and bouncers.

 

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6.) Trans-Pecos

While Manhattan and Brooklyn have a chokehold on the city’s nightlife scene, it would be a mistake to overlook the offerings found in other boroughs. Trans-Pecos, found in the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood, is one such gem. The club includes a bar and a built-in Vietnamese restaurant, but the real party can be found downstairs, where the venue’s underground stage plays host to various live performances and spectacular DJ sets.

If the basement dance floor gets too hot, you can also take advantage of the club’s outdoor patio to cool off and down a few drinks before you dive back into the crowd. This club is particularly unique because of its status as an “all-ages” venue, as Trans-Pecos owners feel passionate about ensuring that their music and events are accessible for everyone to enjoy. Trans-Pecos also prides itself on its community involvement. The club has partnered with a roster of nearby organizations to host community activities such as weekly morning yoga and even serves as the home base for the local “Solarpunk Magic Computer Club.”

 

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7.) Paul’s Cocktail Lounge

Paul Sevigny is constantly curating high-class, glitzy nightlife experiences in New York, and Paul’s Cocktail Lounge, affectionately nicknamed “Paul’s Baby Grand” for its elegance and rather intimate size, is perhaps his greatest creation. Its Tribeca location at the Roxy Hotel deliberately sets it apart from the main downtown clubbing drag, as Paul’s greatly emphasizes exclusivity. This is by far the most difficult club on this list to enter—even good looks and heaps of cash aren’t guaranteed to get you through the door because Paul’s bouncers are very selective about the “vibe” of the people they choose to admit. If you do get inside, you’ll be treated to grad-A elegance as servers pass around cocktails on silver trays and guests lounge on stylish pink chaises (Sevigny’s sister Chloë contributed to the interior design). At 2 a.m. each night, a disco ball is raised above the crowd in a fond gesture to the city’s beloved discothèques of old.

 

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8.) Nowadays

Now located at the edge of Ridgewood near the border of Brooklyn, Nowadays first began as a roaming outdoor party known as “Mister Saturday Night” that bounced between various city parks. After Mister Saturday Night organizers Justin Carter and Eamon Harkin purchased a permanent outdoor partying ground in 2015, adjoined by an additional indoor warehouse dance hall, Nowadays was born. The multi-use facility hosts sprawling outdoor dance parties every Sunday afternoon from mid-May to late October and various indoor and outdoor events year-round.

Their “Safer Space” policy also helps to protect visitors from harassment and discrimination of any kind. While Nowadays’ indoor events are more than worthwhile, their most unique offering is most definitely their outdoor “Mister Sunday” party. Swing by to enjoy live music, great dancing, local beers, and barbecue-style food in an upbeat, festive atmosphere.

 

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9.) The Jane Ballroom

Tucked against the Hudson River on the edge of the Meatpacking District, The Jane is most famous for sheltering survivors from the Titanic following the ship’s sinking in 1919. Walking into the hotel’s bustling ballroom, with its antique aesthetic, opulent full-length velvet curtains, and cavernous fireplace feels like stepping back in time to that fateful day. Don’t start thinking that The Jane is too hoity-toity, however. As the morning hour creeps closer, you’re bound to observe revelers dancing atop every bit of the ballroom’s impeccable vintage furniture. The bar serves high-class cocktails and a healthy menu of wine and champagne alongside the usual roster of more budget-friendly club drinks. If you’re looking for a wild party hidden inside elegant trappings, The Jane is the place for you.

 

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10.) Good Room

At Good Room in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, it’s good vibes only. While some clubs hold exclusivity as a badge of honor, the folks behind Good Room are more interested in creating the most inclusive environment possible for clubbers to enjoy. Founded “by music lovers, for music lovers,” Good Room consists of two separate dance floors with different DJs so that patrons can choose which they prefer to dance to. As a bonus, the Good Room even has a coat check. The establishment has a strict zero-tolerance policy for racism, homophobia, and discrimination. Bigotry and pretentiousness have no place here—you come to Good Room to have an honest good time, or you don’t come at all.

 

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11.) Marquee

One of the premier gay nightclubs in New York, Marquee is a 5,000-square-foot haven of neon, steel, and leather right in the heart of Chelsea. The ceiling of the primary dance floor consists of a geometric grid of reflective, glowing cubes that send fragments of light from Marquee’s complicated projection system bouncing erratically across the walls. DJs and entertainers of all stripes—including dancers, fire breathers, and acrobats—perform on the elevated catwalk overhead. Marquee cultivates a very trendy crowd, and its dress code is strictly enforced at the door, so plan ahead to make sure you’re not turned away for wearing casual or athletic attire. (Note that there is a blanket ban on shorts for male patrons.) Those willing to dress up and pay for their admittedly pricey drinks will be rewarded with complete immersion in Marquee’s utterly electric atmosphere. 

 

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12.) Elsewhere

Operating out of a refurbished warehouse not far from Flushing Avenue, Elsewhere is about as “Bushwick” as Bushwick gets. The large interior is split up into three floors’ worth of dance and performance spaces, including a small cafe known as The Loft that provides sustenance and sanctuary for revelers who have partied to the point of excess. Elsewhere’s real highlight is its rooftop dance floor, which offers beautiful views of the Brooklyn cityscape and comfortably accommodates up to 500 people.

While you’ll hear plenty of DJ sets, Elsewhere places a bit more emphasis on live performances than most other comparable nightclubs and makes it a particular point of pride to offer opportunities to up-and-coming musical acts. Elsewhere also has a well-earned reputation for being a diverse and welcoming community: their motto is “come as you are,” and they have a strict harassment policy to protect visitors from all walks of life. Elsewhere is the place to be for those who enjoy positive vibes, affordable drinks, and “underground and unbound” music. 

 

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13.) PHD Midtown

With the streets around Times Square constantly clotted with tourists, Midtown is not generally regarded as a prime location for the fast-past clubbing crowd. PHD Midtown, owned by the same management team behind Marquee, Tao, and other staples of NYC’s nightlife, aims to change that.

Perched within Dream Midtown (PHD’s other location is found in another Dream hotel in Chelsea), PHD Midtown consists of two different spaces. The open-air rooftop terrace on the sixteenth floor is stocked with greenery and miniature cocktail tables and treats visitors to gorgeous views of the glittering skyscrapers on all sides. The gilded, marble-walled indoor bar space on the floor below serves delicious craft cocktails and creates a more intimate setting for conversation. The bar bites offered here are upscale takes on your usual pub grub: think wagyu beef sliders, filet mignon skewers, and crispy mac & cheese balls made with truffle aioli, white cheddar, and parmesan. The patrons here lean more toward the business crowd, so underdressing is a massive faux pas that will not be tolerated. 

The post The 13 Best Clubs in NYC appeared first on CitySignal.

Is Queens the biggest borough?

In terms of land mass, Queens is by far the largest of the boroughs, with a total area of approximately 109 square miles. The next-largest borough is Brooklyn, with an area of 71 square miles; Manhattan, the smallest, is only 23 square miles. However, Brooklyn surpasses Queens in population: there are approximately 2,589,970 people currently living in Brooklyn as compared to 2,287,390 individuals residing in Queens. For added perspective, the state of New Mexico has a population of 2,129,190 spread out over 121,697 square miles. 

Is Queens a borough or a county?

It is actually both. Each of New York City’s five boroughs is also a county in and of itself. Queens County encompasses the borough of Queens, Kings County encompasses Brooklyn, New York County encompasses Manhattan, Bronx County encompasses the Bronx, and Richmond County encompasses Staten Island. Kings and Richmond counties are named for the historical titles that their respective boroughs once held—a title that Queens has always retained.

How did Queens get its name?

The first colonial settlers to arrive in Queens were the Dutch, but the area was seized by English forces in 1664 and subsequently established as a county in 1683, at which point it was given the name of Queens County in honor of Catherine of Braganza, queen consort of Charles II. The reason that Queens County remained “Queens” when annexed as one of New York City’s boroughs is a bit more complicated: while King’s County was defined by the city of Brooklyn, which gradually expanded to absorb nearly every neighboring town in the county, no single settlement in Queens experienced the same phenomenon and emerged as Queens County’s defining seat. Thus, it was decided to simply give Queens the borough the same name as its coextensive county. 

Where are the borders of Queens?

Queens is bordered by the East River to the north, Nassau County to the east, and Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. However, the southwestern border between Queens and Brooklyn can be a little slipperier to define, especially when it comes to Bushwick, Brooklyn, and Ridgewood, Queens. In colonial days, natural waterways and an “arbitration rock” were used to establish a boundary between the two counties. In 1931, the New York City’s updated Administrative Code employed a complicated blend of the grid system, degrees of latitude, and city streets to formally establish a specific border between the boroughs—but even this line can at times be unclear, as some of the streets and buildings used as references points by the code have ceased to exist in the intervening decades.

Is Queens part of Long Island?

Geographically, Queens and Brooklyn are both a part of Long Island. However, the identity of these boroughs is so intrinsically tied to that of New York City that they are rarely considered to be a part of Long Island proper. In casual conversation, most city residents who mention Long Island refer specifically to Nassau and Suffolk Counties. These areas are markedly less urban than Brooklyn and Queens and offer a different lifestyle than one might experience living in the boroughs.

What are the demographics of Queens residents?

Queens is an extremely diverse borough: No single racial or ethnic group holds a 50% demographic majority. Asian Americans, making up 27.5% of Queens’ population, represent the largest racial group. White Americans make up 25.8% of the population, while 16.8% of the borough is Black, 10.1% belong to two or more races, 1.3% are Indigenous American, and 0.1% are Indigenous Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders. Queens has a large immigrant population, with 46.9% of residents being foreign-born. In addition, 27% of residents self-identify as Latino or Hispanic.

According to census reports, the average Queens household consists of 2.9 persons with a median household income of $72,028. Manhattan, comparatively, tends to have smaller, wealthier households: the average household size is 2.1 persons, and the median household income is $89,812. The same census found that 49% of Queens residents and only 38% of Manhattan residents over the age of 15 are married. For comparison, the national average household size is 2.6 persons, the median household income is $64,994, and approximately 50% of Americans over the age of 15 are married. 

What kinds of parks and green spaces does Queen have?

Queens is famously home to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the second-largest park in New York City. Corona Park was the site of the New York World Fair from 1939-1940 and 1964-1965, and the iconic Unisphere statue erected on the latter occasion still stands on park grounds. Astoria Park, Alley Pond Park, and Forest Park are among Queens’ other outdoor recreation spaces. The U.S. Open has taken place at Flushing Meadows’ USTA National Tennis Center every year since 1978. Two of New York City’s most popular beaches, Jacob Riis Beach and Rockaway Beach, are located in Queens. Rockaway Beach, which is the only legal surfing beach in New York City, is also home to the 5.5-mile Rockaway Boardwalk, one of the longest in the country. While not technically a green space, some Queens residents also enjoy strolling through Woodside’s historic Calvary Cemetery. A Catholic burial ground, Calvary ranks as the largest in the country, not in land area but in internments: over three million people are buried there, meaning that Queens’ deceased residents technically outnumber the living. As you can see, Queens is home to many iconic landmarks. 

What else is Queens known for?

Citi Field, home of the New York Mets since 2009 and frequently host to concerts and other non-athletic events, is located in Corona Park, as is the Queens Zoo—which, upon its opening in 1968, held the distinction of being the first in the country to operate as an entirely “cageless” zoo. Other popular attractions in Queens include the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, the Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing, the Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria, and the MOMA PS1 in Long Island City. Two of the metropolitan area’s major airports are found in Queens: John F. Kennedy International Airport is in Jamaica, and LaGuardia Airport is in Elmhurst. 

Outside of these institutions, Queens has developed a reputation for being a hub of hundreds of intersecting cultures. This has resulted in Queens becoming not only one of the most linguistically diverse places in America but the entire world. According to the Endangered Language Alliance, there are over 800 languages spoken across New York City, and no place in the city offers a broader spectrum of dialects than in Queens.

Another bonus of Queens’ melting pot nature is its bountiful array of different culinary offerings. Over the centuries, various neighborhoods throughout the borough have come to be heavily associated with specific types of cuisines. Astoria, for example, is known for its Greek offerings, while Flushing is known for serving even better (and often cheaper) authentic Chinese food than Manhattan’s Chinatown. Jackson Heights is famed for its South Asian offerings: Tibetan, Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, and Nepalese food can be found here in abundance. 

The post Facts and History about Queens, New York City appeared first on CitySignal.

Best Pizza in Brooklyn

1.) Saraghina 

 

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Established in 2009, Saraghina is beloved by Bedford-Stuyvesant natives but often slept on by Manhattanites and non-locals. They are best known for their compact Neapolitan pies with thin-on-the-bottom, puffy-on-the-rim crusts, but—unlike some of the more strictly traditional parlors on this list—their menu also includes non-pizza offerings such as truffle cacio e pepe and pork Milanese. Their list of Italian wines and spirits is also satisfyingly robust. Saraghina perfectly balances dedication to authenticity with a desire to provide a laid-back atmosphere, making this an ideal option for diners who wish to try the “real deal” without having to put up with the pretension of die-hard pizza purists.

2.) Grimaldi’s

 

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Though the restaurant has since expanded into a nationwide chain, when it comes to flavor and authenticity, the original Grimaldi’s under the Brooklyn Bridge still can’t be beaten. (Well, technically, Grimaldi’s original location at 19 Old Fulton Street now belongs to a rival parlor, but more on that later.) Opened in Dumbo in 1990 by Patsy Grimaldi, Grimaldi’s quickly became a hit and developed a reputation for spawning lines that wrapped around the block—a phenomenon that continues to this day. You can only buy full pies at Grimaldi’s, not slices, and they do not accept reservations or credit cards. The menu is sparse and the décor is simple: the restaurant’s sole focus is on its pizza, and the effort pays off. You can expect to brave tides of tourists and serve your time in line if you want to try Grimaldi’s, but you can also expect it to be worth it.

3.) Rosie Pizza Bar

 

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With so many top-notch pizza parlors in Brooklyn to choose from, it’s helpful to have a reliable gimmick to aid in attracting customers. Rosie Pizza Bar in Bushwick makes use of a brilliant one: the pizzeria also doubles as a fully-stocked bar. Their alcohol options are geared more toward the young and hip crowd than to connoisseurs of true Italian liquor, but their wine list is respectable, and they especially pride themselves on their selection of on-tap local beers. Teetotalers will be happy to note that the pizza at Rosie is just as delicious when eaten sober as it is when inebriated. Their signature pies include the Devil Pie, which comes loaded with jalapenos and spicy soppressata and dripping with Mike’s Hot Honey, and of course the Rosie, which is topped with sautéed eggplant, cherry tomatoes, ’Nduja sausage, and scallions. Rosie Pizza Bar also serves sandwiches, salads, pasta, and a few small plates—their fried mac and cheese balls are always a huge hit with the 1:00 a.m. crowd. 

4.) Emmy Squared

 

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For the best Detroit-style pizza in Brooklyn, look no further than Emmy Squared in Williamsburg. The sister shop of Emily, a popular pizzeria in Clinton Hill, Emmy Squared has quickly become famous in its own right for its sensational rectangular pies with their thick, fluffy-yet-crispy crusts. Their sprawling pie menu features hits such as the burrata-laden Big Al, the vegetarian-friendly Impossible Ang, and the pesto-flecked MVP (which can also be upgraded to a VIP to include ezzo pepperoni and calabrian chile). Unlike most upscale pizzerias, Emmy Squared also offers a build-your-own option for restauranteurs trying to satisfy a particular craving. Even better, every pie on the menu can be made gluten-free upon request. Dairy is present in all pies, however, so vegans are out of luck. 

5.) Juliana’s

 

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Currently occupying the former home of the original Grimaldi’s in Dumbo, Juliana’s is as famous for being at the center of one of New York’s most famous pizza rivalries as it is for its delicious pies. After retiring in the late 1990s and selling Grimaldi’s, Patsy Grimaldi later emerged from retirement and founded Juliana’s right next door, much to the irritation of Grimaldi’s new owners. Making use of one of the first coal-fired ovens to be commissioned in New York in fifty years, Juliana’s serves both personal and full-sized pizzas as well as calzones, pasta, soups, salads, and even Italian pastries. Their lines can occasionally stretch as long as Grimaldi’s, so be sure to budget plenty of time to make it inside the restaurant. As it turns out, setting up shop elbow-to-elbow with your biggest competitor is a great way to get nosy New Yorkers to come out and see what all the fuss is about.

6.) L&B Spumoni Gardens

 

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To the casual pizza consumer, the signature square slices served at Bensonhurt’s L&B Spumoni Gardens might seem a little backward: instead of cheese-on-sauce-on-crust, L&B serves their ’za with a layer of sauce atop a layer of melted cheese, dusting the whole pie off with a snowfall of Parmesan for good measure. This is the Sicilian way, and L&B takes equal pride in bringing a similar authenticity to all of their dishes. Every menu item, from their eggplant rollatini to their shrimp fra diavolo, is crafted on-premises with Sicilian flair and the freshest of ingredients. While you’re there, be sure to also try their eponymous spumoni—a unique confection consisting of colorful layered gelato.

7.) Roberta’s

 

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Though today it has expanded to become a nationwide chain (with an additional international outpost in Singapore),  Roberta’s got its start out of a cinder block eyesore on the Williamsburg/Bushwick border when a trio of self-professed stoners decided to open a pizza parlor fused with an urban garden. Their scrappy little enterprise became a massive and unexpected success in a manner that the New York Times compared to a garage band becoming rock gods. Favorites off of their menu of wood-fired pies include the White Guy, made with ricotta, mozzarella, parmigiano, and garlic, and the Bee Sting, which comes topped with tomatoes, soppressata, mozzarella, basil, chili, and honey. If you come during the summer, be sure to stop and enjoy a drink at their outdoor tiki bar.

8.) Best Pizza

 

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Believe it or not, someone was cocky enough to open a joint called “Best Pizza” in the middle of Williamsburg—and, fortunately for him, the pizza lives up to its name. Founded by Brooklyn native (and former Roberta’s chef) Frank Pinello in 2010, Best Pizza is known for slinging reasonably-priced pies heavily influenced by Pinello’s Sicilian heritage. Their topping choices offer a fun bit of diversity: alongside the customary pepperoni, sausage, anchovy, and onion pies, they also include calabrian chili and pickled vegetables as an option. Along with sides such as garlic knots and meatballs, you can also purchase Italian sandwiches on hero rolls in place of pizza.

9.) Lucali 

 

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Another old-school Brooklyn mainstay, Lucali has been serving quality pies to the residents of Carroll Gardens since 2006. Lucali is a sit-down, full-pie establishment only—anyone who shows up looking for a casual slice will be sorely disappointed, especially if they waited in one of Lucali’s legendary long lines to get inside the restaurant. The wait, however, is absolutely worthwhile. The chefs at Lucali have a flair for showmanship, and you’ll be able to watch pizzas being prepared in front of you on the parlor’s open marble counters before they are tossed into the massive brick oven. Lucali’s intimate atmosphere makes it a wonderful spot to impress a first date. If you’re stymied by the long queue or can’t meet the cash-only requirement, you can always hit Baby Luc’s—Lucali founder Mark Iacono’s slice shop pet project—just a block away on Court Street.

10.) Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop

 

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When you’re in the mood for delicious, high-quality pizza without a hint of pretension, Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop in Greenpoint is the place to go. Serving both slices and squares in a playful riff on the traditional New York style, Paulie’s is known for its kitschy-vintage interior and great sense of fun. This is perhaps best exemplified in the names of its pizzas: customer favorites include the Freddy Prinze, an upside-down Sicilian square made with pecorino romano, and the Hellboy, a pepperoni pie doused with Mike’s Hot Honey. As a bonus, Paulie Gee’s also offers four different vegan options, including a vegan version of the Freddy Prinze, so even your meat- and dairy-free friends can join you for dinner. Gluten-intolerant folks are out of luck, though—the restaurant’s FAQ page, in response to a query about gluten-free options, succinctly notes that “we have soda.” 

11.) La Villa

 

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You may have heard it said that the easiest way to anger a New Yorker is to eat pizza in front of them with a knife and fork. At La Villa, however, you may not have a choice. This is one of the best places in Brooklyn to enjoy deep-dish pizza, and La Villa’s take on this delicacy combines the signature Chicago style with a Sicilian twist to create a thick-crusted swimming pool of tomato-basil sauce and gooey whole milk mozzarella. The vegetable, speciale, and zucchini pizzas can all be ordered deep dish style as well, and the menu also offers a variety of traditional Neapolitan pies and a selection of flatbreads. La Villa has outposts in Park Slope, Dyker Heights, and Mill Basin, so you have several options when it comes to getting your La Villa fix. 

12.) Speedy Romeo

 

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Clinton Hill’s Speedy Romeo offers one of the most unique dining experiences among Brooklyn’s many pizza parlors: the restaurant inhabits a refurbished auto-body shop and has proudly maintained the industrial flair of its former inhabitants. The pies—all wood-fired, as no pickups for a gas stove were installed when the building was renovated—are top-notch and playful in both name and composition, as could perhaps be expected from a pizzeria proudly named for a former racehorse. Menu highlights include the ratatouille-esque Anton Ego, a cheese-free pizza that is naturally vegan, and the Dick Dale, which comes decked with béchamel, provel, scallions, pineapple, and speck, a type of cured ham. Non-pizza menu offerings include calzones, hot wings, salads, and a traditional Italian olive oil cake. 

13.) Giuseppina’s

 

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Found in South Slope, Giuseppina’s is run by Chris Iacono, the brother of Mark Iacono. Pizza-making genius must run in the family, for Giuseppina’s thin-crust pies are totally distinct but equally as delicious as those found at Lucali. As a bonus, the wait times tend to be much more manageable. The menu is limited, but each item has been perfected in the years since Giuseppina’s opening in 2011. You absolutely cannot go wrong with the classic cheese, made with Buffalo mozzarella and dusted with reggiano pecorino—or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can sample the everything pizza, which adds pepperoni, olives, onions, peppers, portobellos, and fresh garlic to the mix. Another must-try is the dessert calzone, made by stuffing pizza dough with Nutella and drizzling the final product with icing.

14.) Williamsburg Pizza

 

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As with Best Pizza, Williamsburg Pizza’s rather pedestrian name belies the incredible quality of the slices served inside. Williamsburg Pizza sells garlic knots, a meatball hero, and a few salads, but otherwise, their menu is strictly pizza-forward. Their pies can be crafted in a square “Grandma” pizza or left round in the usual Brooklyn style. You can get your run-of-the-mill margherita or bianco pies, or take a walk on the wild side with the truffle oil Tartufo or the Apple Bacon pizza. There are usually a few vegan pies on the rack as well, including options made with and without Violife cheese alternatives. The interior is warmly lit and distinctly old-school, with a cheerful red and white awning welcoming customers inside. Best of all, the slices are sizable, filling, and reasonably priced. 

15.) Di Fara

 

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Midwood’s Di Fara Pizza is one of the pricier parlors on our list, with normal slices selling for $5, square slices for $6, and a full regular pie for $30. But loyalists who return to wait in Di Fara’s sprawling lines again and again insist that it is worth every penny. Established by Italian-born Domenico “Dom” De Marco in 1965, Di Fara is known for the painstaking attention to detail paid to each of its high-quality pies. While patriarch Dom passed away earlier this year, his family continues to operate the restaurant to keep his tradition alive. Customers have the choice of either selecting their toppings, which include soppressata, prosciutto, and sun-dried tomatoes alongside the usually expected offerings or going with one of Di Fara’s specialty pies. The Chaos Pie, overflowing with sausage, meatballs, cherry tomatoes, wild onions, and fresh garlic, is particularly popular among diners.  

16.) Norbert’s Pizza

 

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For a fun, grungy (in a cool and trendy way, not a “health code violation” way) joint off the beaten path, you’ll have to check out Norbert’s Pizza in Bushwick. Their regular pies—especially the Grandma Pie, a quadruple-cheese extravaganza that comes loaded with mozzarella, fontina, gorgonzola dolce, and Grana Padano—do more than hit the spot, but Norbert’s is especially beloved by neighborhood bohemians for its vegan options. Grab a slice of vegan margarita, pesto, or “meat” lovers, or try the vegan-ified (and equally tasty) version of the Grandma Pie. For dessert, be sure to snag some of their doughy and dairy-free cinnamon swirls, a loving delicious bastardization of the cinnamon sticks found at Pizza Hut.

17.) Tontonno’s

 

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Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitana has been a cultural institution in New York City’s pizza scene since the parlor first opened its doors in Coney Island in 1924. The joint has been operated by three successive generations of Totonnos, making it one of the oldest continually-operated family-owned pizzerias in America. The family’s love for their craft comes through in each Neapolitan pie, crafted from dough made fresh on the premises each day and cooked to lightly-charred perfection in their coal oven. While Tontonno’s offers a few choices of toppings, owners recommend starting with a plain pie to allow you to fully appreciate the subtlety of the exquisitely blackened crust and the ever-so-slightly-sweet sauce. The Zagat Survey once claimed of Tontonno’s that “only God makes better pizza,” and anyone who has sampled the pies here would be hard-pressed to disagree.

18.) Table 87

 

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While perhaps most famous for their successful stint on ABC’s Shark Tank, where founder and owner Thomas Cucco earned a $250,000 investment for his proposed by-the-slice coal-fired frozen pizza business that continues to thrive today, Table 87’s flagship store in Brooklyn Heights more than merits a visit to sample some of their fresh-cooked pizza. A seasonal favorite is the vegetable pizza, which arrives loaded with cauliflower, eggplant, and basil. Their crusts are thin and crispy and the mozzarella and sausage made on their pies are all house-made. Cucco prides himself on the freshness of Table 87’s ingredients, and the payoff comes through in every bite. If you’re dining in, you can also take advantage of the delicious seafood offerings on the menu, including baked clams, grilled octopus, and fried calamari.

The post The Ultimate Guide to the Best Pizza Places in Brooklyn appeared first on CitySignal.

History of the High Line

Today’s High Line is constructed on the remains of an elevated rail line that was erected in the early 1930s as part of the historic West Side Improvement Project. With street-level trains responsible for a rising number of deaths as pedestrian and automobile traffic increased, the city opted to shift its major rail lines up a few stories. As years passed, however, the majority of the city’s shipping needs were soon being met by trucks rather than rail deliveries, and the West Side Line finally ceased operations in 1980.

For several decades, the High Line sat in a state of disrepair. Both the Giuliani administration as well as nearby Chelsea residents made several motions to demolish the rail line completely, though these were contested in court by preservationists who hoped that the rail line could someday be rebuilt or repurposed. In the meantime, the abandoned rails had become something of a hotspot among urban explorers, many of whom enjoyed the untamed pockets of nature that had begun to thrive on the gravel rail beds.

In 1999, area residents Robert Hammond and Joshua David founded the nonprofit organization Friends of the High Line to advocate for the rail line’s renovation into a public green space. After years of campaigning, the High Line renovation at last received official approval from the City Council and broke ground in 2006. The first section of the High Line, running from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street, opened to the public in 2009. The second and third sections opened in 2011 and 2014, respectively, while the “spur” at the intersection of Tenth Avenue and 30th Street was opened in 2019, at last completing the High Line’s uninterrupted 1.45-mile elevated pathway.

Is the High Line NYC free?

Thanks to the Friends of the High Line, the High Line is free to visit. Visitors can even download a free pocket guide which includes a map of the park, historical details of the park, and information about the art displays, exhibits, and performances that you can find throughout your walk.

Where does the NYC Highline Start and End?

Anyone is welcome to can hop on the High Line during the park’s open hours between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. The northern terminus of the park can be found on West 34th Street, just across from the gleaming glass and steel of the Javits Center. This is also a popular area for bus drop offs and pickups, so you may not be able to see the entrance through the crowds from a distance. The 34th Street entrance is the only street-level access point onto the High Line: from here, the path slopes gently upward to level out approximately thirty feet above the city streets. The southern end of the High Line can be found at the corner of Gansevoort and Washington Street in Chelsea.

Determining which direction to traverse the High Line is a crucial decision. For the best experience, plan your walk around what you hope to accomplish afterward. If you want to do some sightseeing in Hudson Yards or continue uptown toward Times Square, start at Gansevoort and work your way northward. If you’re aiming to do some shopping in Chelsea or snag a dinner reservation in the Meatpacking District, begin at the north end and head south. 

For your first visit, we recommend walking the High Line in its entirety in order to get the full experience. However, depending on your agenda, it may be advantageous to step off midway through. The High Line currently has fourteen access points scattered across its length. Most of these are reachable only by stairs, though there is wheelchair ramp access at 30th Street between 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue as well as elevator access at 30th Street, 23rd Street, 14th Street, and at the southern end of the High Line. The High Line is fully ADA-compliant and has even won awards for its accessibility features.

How Long Does it Take to Walk the High Line NYC?

The entirety of the High Line is around 1.45 miles. As such, it’s calculated that it’ll take the average person around 30 minutes to walk the High Line. So plan accordingly!

Sights to Look Out For

There’s plenty to see all around you when strolling the High Line. One highlight, of course, is the High Line’s greenery. The walkway features sixteen carefully cultivated garden zones, all inspired by the wild plants that originally inhabited the abandoned rail line. Protected from the wind by the nearby warehouses, the canopy-level Flyover section boasts bigleaf magnolia trees and dainty white trilliums that will make you feel as though you have somehow been transported to a tropical paradise. The Gansevoort Woodland near the southern end of the High Line features a stunning landscape of pale, slender Whitespire gray birches and tumbling falls of American wisteria surrounded by a sea of ferns. Another personal favorite is the Washington Grasslands, whose switchgrasses, chokecherries, and thimbleweeds remind us of the prairielands in Wisconsin.

As you walk the High Line, check out the many amazing residential buildings that line the pathway. Many have fallen in love with the modern look of 515 High Line located at 515 West 29th Street, or the fun-looking architecture style of The Getty located at 503 West 24th Street.

The High Line also serves as a sort of walkable outdoor art museum. Alongside a rotating array of public performance events, the park includes a series of semi-permanent art displays and continually commissions unique works to be integrated into the High Line’s architecture. Italian multimedia artist Paola Pivi’s piece You know who I am, a replica of the Statue of Liberty wearing a slightly eerie cartoon mask, is currently on display in the Northern Spur Preserve area of the park. Women & Children, an evocative fountain assembled by Danish-born Nina Beier, features the titular subjects weeping endlessly into a collection pool near Little West 12th Street.

If you prefer people-watching to ogling modern art, the High Line offers a number of observation areas that will allow you to peer down at the city’s bustling crowds. One particularly exceptional view can be found at Tenth Avenue Square, where a descending bank of seating leads to a large glass wall overlooking the streets below. A favorite activity among the High Line’s younger visitors is clambering across the Pershing Square Beams, an exposed section of the High Line’s underlying architecture that has been coated with silicone to render it a safe playing area for children. Depending on the date of your visit, you can also opt to take a free guided tour of the High Line. Tours, which operate on a first-come, first-served basis, are offered all year long and are led by a knowledgeable team of the High Line’s devoted docents.

What to Do in the Area

Once you’ve grown tired of strolling, there are plenty of attractions in the neighborhood that you can explore. Chelsea Market, Little Island, and the Whitney Museum are all within a few blocks of the High Line’s southern terminus, so you can easily take the stairs from Gansevoort and Washington and enjoy your choice of world-class dining options from the market concourse, take a stroll around the Hudson River’s strange “floating” park, and then head over to appreciate some 20th-century American artworks. If you’re navigating the High Line toward its northern endpoint, you’ll be just a stone’s throw from the sprawling Hudson Yards shopping center or a short hike from Madison Square Garden at the conclusion of your journey.

In between, you’ll pass by a bevy of other diversions that you can hop off and investigate, including the Chelsea Piers sports complex, the McKittrick Hotel (of Sleep No More fame) and the 9/11 Museum Workshop (not to be confused with the National September 11 Memorial Museum, though both are powerful experiences in their own right). The High Line is truly one of the most excellent ways to explore New York City on foot, and each person who wanders its paths finds a way to make the journey utterly their own.

The post The Complete Guide to the High Line NYC appeared first on CitySignal.

Mexican Restaurants NYC

1. Oxomoco

Patrons come to Oxomoco in Greenpoint for its hip aesthetic—a massive skylight, a cascade of hanging plants, and an ornamental bar—but it’s Oxomoco’s unique menu offerings that keep them coming back again and again. Dabbling in various regional cuisines from across Mexico, this Michelin-starred restaurant is perhaps best known for its tacos, which can be stuffed with everything from beet “chorizo” to soft-shell crab to lamb barbacoa. However, be sure not to overlook their other colorful offerings such as the trout aguachile and the shrimp ceviche tostada, all made in their signature wood-fired oven.

2. Cosme

Dinner at the upscale Cosme may require you to shell out a pretty penny, but the fare at this Flatiron favorite is well worth the cost. Established by internationally renowned chef Enrique Olvera, Cosme has been serving exquisite dishes such as octopus tostada, halibut Meztlapique, and duck carnitas to New York’s upper crust since 2014. Be sure to dress your finest, or you may find yourself feeling out of place in the restaurant’s impeccably-styled minimalist interior. 

3. Los Tacos No. 1

 

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At the opposite end of the spectrum—in terms of atmosphere, not deliciousness—is Los Tacos No. 1. This joint, which began as a single counter at Chelsea Market but now also maintains locations in NoHo, Tribeca, Times Square, and Grand Central Station, is known for its casual vibes and limited but expertly-executed menu. While their carne asada, pollo asado, and adobada are delicious in taco, tostada, or quesadilla form, the most unique shell-stuffer is definitely their nopal, or grilled cactus. Grab a delicious Mexican soda on your way out the door to fully round out your experience!

4. La Estancia de la Espiga

The pride and joy of Acapulco native Tomás Gonzalez, La Estancia de la Espiga in Corona offers authentic dishes from the Mexican state of Guerro. La Estancia evolved from a corner stand to a taco truck to a brick-and-mortar establishment and gained a loyal cadre of customers from locals in the area during process, many of which continue to roll in each day for the restaurant’s celebrated barbacoa, churros, and tacos served on handmade tortillas. The barbacoa in particular tends to sell out quickly, so be sure to head in as soon as they open if you want to guarantee your portion of tender, sizzling goat meat.

5. Taqueria Tlaxcalli

Parkchester’s Taqueria Tlaxcalli is known for its gluttonous portion sizes: Their burritos, which come drizzled with colorful sauces and stuffed with queso rice, nearly bulge at the seams (and will likely make you do the same). The Bronx is home to some of the best authentic Mexican food the city has to offer, and Taqueria Tlaxcalli—operated by Mauricio Gómez, a native of Mexico City—is no exception. Be sure not to miss their tacos dorados (deep-fried tacos), cemitas, or fried plantains, either. 

6. Jajaja Mexicana

 

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If you have a vegan or vegetarian friend coming into town, be sure to bring them to Jajaja Mexicana, which currently boasts outposts in the Lower East Side, the West Village, Hudson Yards, and Williamsburg. Their menu, which is entirely plant-based and entirely delicious, includes staples like the palm carnitas street tacos (which substitute jackfruit and heart of palm for the traditional pork) and a house-made vegan chorizo. Be sure to also try their flamboyantly-decorated cocktails—the Popcorn y Pasión and Matcha y Coconut are especially fun, and the latter can even be made as a non-alcoholic mocktail. 

7. Ruta Oaxaca

With its snazzy interior and hot pink awning, Astoria’s Ruta Oaxaca may take a playful approach to its dining experience, but its authentic Oaxacan fare is no-nonsense delicious. The restaurant is especially known for its drinks (their 2-for-1 brunch cocktail deal is unbeatable) and for slathering its dishes in delicious mole. Be sure to sample their shrimp costeños, which are served in half a sliced pineapple, as well as their chicken buñuelos. Unlike some of the more posh Manhattan eateries, serving sizes here are generous and you are sure to leave satisfied. 

8. Taco Mix

 

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A Harlem staple since 1991, Taco Mix now also has branches in Greenwood and the Lower East Side. Each location offers tortas, cemitas, taquitos, and more, but the must-have menu item is Taco Mix’s signature al pastor pork taco. The pork is seasoned, cooked on a spit, and then sliced off in salty, perfectly tender ribbons that burst with such incredible flavor that the $4 price point feels like an unbelievable steal. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can also sample some of the other traditional meat options such as oreja (pig ear), buche (pork stomach), and barbacoa de chivo (braised goat). 

9. Casa Pública

At Williamsburg’s Casa Pública, you can enjoy a fusion of Mexican home cooking and market-style dining while surrounded by the establishment’s gorgeous Art Deco-inspired architecture. While Casa Pública’s suadero tacos and enchiladas suizas are particularly delicious, this restaurant is known for its elaborate and delicious cocktails as much as its food. During the summer months, we especially recommend trying one of their delicious frozen margaritas—which come in seven different flavors, including prickly pear, pineapple chipotle, and cucumber jalapeño.

10. La Morada

A family-owned Oaxacan joint in Mott Haven, La Morada is a hotspot for both excellent mole—their menu offers no less than seven different varieties—as well as community activism. In response to the threats faced by the undocumented immigrants in her neighborhood as well as the shadow of encroaching gentrification in the Bronx, owner Natalia Mendez has used her charming one-room dining area to host educational events and neighborhood meetings. Indulge in La Morada’s tostadas, gorditas, and flautas while knowing you are supporting a worthy cause with your patronage.

11. Oso

 

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Taking a modern approach to their Mexican fare, Harlem’s Oso earned a Bib Gourmand nod from the Michelin Guide for its simple, cheerful atmosphere and its emphasis on authenticity. The offerings from their open kitchen encompass homestyle Mexican cooking as well as antojitos (street fare); favorites from the menu include their tortilla soup, shiitake and grilled pineapple tacos, and the torta de Milanesa. Their bar menu is also excellent: try the “Taco Truck” cocktail or, if you’re feeling particularly rowdy, one of their tequila and mezcal flights. 

12. Purepecha

A relative newcomer on Brooklyn’s Mexican dining scene, Cobble Hill’s Purepecha was opened in mid-2019 by brother-sister team Sandra and Wilson Lopez. The duo wished to create a dining experience that paid homage to their native Michoacan, Mexico—and it can safely be said that they have done their home state proud. Purepecha offers scrumptious Michoacan specialties that are difficult to find elsewhere, including enchiladas placeras, carnitas Michoacanas tacos, and flan Michoacano. 

13. Lupe’s East L.A. Kitchen

Los Angeles’ Mexican food scene is a force unto itself, and you can get a taste of it right here in NYC thanks to Lupe’s East L.A. Kitchen. Proudly serving the city’s finest Cal-Mex from the border of SoHo and Tribeca, Lupe’s offers a laid-back, California-cool dining experience with its unpretentious interior and admittedly Americanized menu. Their seafood tacos always hit the spot, and their menu offers a bounty of options for vegans and vegetarians. As a bonus, their margaritas are intoxicatingly cheap and delicious.

14. Casa Enrique

 

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Raised in Chiapas, Mexico, Chef Cosme Aguilar spent more than a decade working in French cuisine before reconnecting with his Mexican roots and opening Casa Enrique in 2012. In the years since, his restaurant has firmly cemented itself as a Long Island City favorite while making consistent appearances on the Michelin Guide. Alongside its extensive taco menu, which features tequila-marinated steak, mesquite chicken, cow tongue, and even a seasonal vegan option, Casa Enrique’s hefty entrees are also not to be missed. We highly recommend the Cochinito Chiapaneco; these zesty roasted pork ribs highlight the skill with which Aguilar executes the cuisine of his hometown.

15. Mexicocina

Another Mott Haven gem, Mexicocina, was opened in 2008 by chef Antonio Vilchis and has since expanded to a second location in Prospect Heights. The menu is frankly staggering, and doesn’t even account for each day’s slew of specials (a recent highlight was birria, a delicious slow-cooked Mexican stew made of goat meat). Mexicocina serves breakfast all day long, so you’re fully at liberty to snag some huevos con chorizo or breakfast tacos at any time of day or night. If you’re not in the mood for breakfast food, no problem—try some fajitas, dig into some chilaquiles, or sample one of their seventeen different varieties of taco instead.

16. Amaranto

Amaranto in Bushwick, Brooklyn has a very casual atmosphere, but don’t let this fool you—this one-room, open-layout little joint has some of the best Mexican food Brooklyn has to offer. Their chicken enchiladas with mole poblano are a favorite among regulars, as are the braised pork shank and shrimp ceviche. Amaranto’s cocktails are both strong and generously proportioned—be sure to try the classic margarita as well as the “La Mixteca” made with Mezcal, guanabana, lemon juice, and sage syrup.

17. El Mitote

 

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The Upper West Side’s El Mitote focuses on fare influenced by the native street food of the Mexican city of Guadalajara. The restaurant takes a relaxed and playful approach to service: reservations are not allowed, and most food comes served on colorful plastic trays reminiscent of a more cheerful commissary kitchen. Their flawlessly-seasoned epazote brothy black beans are a must-try, as are their beefsteak tacos. Just be careful not to drink too many of their massive mason jar margaritas before your food comes, or you may not even be able to remember your meal.

18. Xixa

Owned by Chef Jason Marcus and his partner Heather Heuser (the couple behind Traif, another nearby favorite in Williamsburg), Xixa could perhaps better be described as a Mexican-inspired restaurant—as their website proclaims, the fare served here “echoes” Mexican cuisine rather than attempting to reach true authenticity. In the process, Marcus and his team have crafted a truly international fusion of flavors. Carne y mariscos, consisting of baby back rib carnitas, peanut salsa macha, and a blend of sauteed seafood, vegetables, and chorizo, is just one of the mouthwatering offerings on their unique menu.

19. Nina’s Great Burrito Bar

 

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After running a celebrated pint-sized burrito shop in the Upper West Side for nearly three decades, Oaxaca native Nina Flores has at last had the opportunity to transform her business into a full sit-down restaurant in the form of Nina’s Great Burrito Bar. Flores strives to introduce New Yorkers to Oaxacan favorites like bean-stuffed, cheese-drenched huaraches, and her signature burritos never fail to hit the spot. Stop by during the restaurant’s generous happy hour—4-7pm every weekday—for ridiculously cheap and delicious sangria, margaritas, and micheladas. 

The post The 19 Best Mexican Restaurants in NYC Right Now appeared first on CitySignal.

Best Breakfast Near Me

 

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Egg Sandwich

True to its name, Egg Shop offers eggs served scrambled, fried, poached, and every other imaginable way. However, their egg sandwiches are really what brings home the proverbial (and literal) bacon. Their menu varies by season, but the Egg Shop B.E.C on a brioche roll is a recurring favorite at both their Nolita and Williamsburg locations. For a more traditional approach, be sure to check out the Classic Fried Egg Sandwich at Veselka. This old-school Ukrainian coffee shop opened its doors in 1954 and has been satiating East Village breakfast crowds ever since. You can take your pick between bacon, kielbasa, or sausage on your sandwich and even snag a piece of delicious medovyk sour cream and honey cake on your way out. (Who says breakfast can’t come with dessert?)

Chilaquiles

A Latin American breakfast dish made from softened refried corn tortillas, cheese, and salsa, chilaquiles have caught on in a big way in NYC. Downtown Bakery Cocina Mexicana is known for providing quick and delicious counter service to East Village breakfasters, and their chilaquiles can be prepared to suit a range of spice levels. Start with the chilaquiles en salsa de chipotle sauce if you have a milder palate, or dive right into the deep end with the chilaquiles verdes. Lupita’s in East Harlem also offers deliciously authentic chilaquiles that can be paired with eggs, meat, or both.

 

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Pancakes

You can expect lines out the door when visiting the Lower East Side’s Clinton Street Baking Company—but you can also expect that your pancakes will be more than worth the wait. They serve wild Maine blueberry, banana walnut, and chocolate chunk pancakes all year long, but Clinton Street also experiments with unique menu items like Japanese pumpkin pancakes during “Pancake month” in February. Known for its comfort food, Bubby’s also takes its pancakes very seriously. This Tribeca mainstay serves two different styles of pancakes—the “light and fluffy” James Beard flapjack and “thin and chewy” 1890 sourdough pancake—and even offers pancake “flights” to allow you to try each kind of pancake topping. If you’re in the mood for a more playful riff on the traditional flapjack, hit either the Astoria or Midtown location of Mom’s Kitchen & Bar to try pancakes embedded with Fruity Pebbles cereal, topped with apple cobbler, and even stuffed full of mac and cheese.

 

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Toast

Leave it to NYC to find ways to turn the simplest go-to breakfast staple into a decadent dish. Davelle in the Lower East Side takes its toast aesthetics very seriously: this impeccably stylish Japanese-style café serves intricately-decorated pieces of toast that have made their way to many an Instagram story since the restaurant’s opening in 2018. For a more rustic toast experience, head to Little Collins in Midtown. This beloved Aussie coffeehouse offers two different kinds of toast: The Convict, which features a thick slice of multigrain bread slathered with vegemite, and Sweet Uncle Fred, which includes a toasted piece of banana bread covered in ricotta, almond brittle, honey, and berries.

 

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Cinnamon Buns

Breads Bakery, with three locations across Manhattan, is best known for its delicious loaves and baguettes. However, their lightly frosted, flaky-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside cinnamon rolls are absolutely to die for. Sarabeth’s, which recently opened its fourth NYC outpost in Tribeca, offers a unique and very swanky take on the cinnamon bun: Their rolls are served in a warm skillet and drizzled with Earl Gray cream cheese icing.

 

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Huevos Rancheros

If you’re craving eggs and carbs but a sandwich feels too boring, why not spice things up with some tortilla-wrapped ranchers’ eggs? Café Habana, a Cuban-Mexican restaurant with locations in Midtown and Nolita, offers a delicious take on traditional huevos rancheros that comes piled with mouthwatering home fries. Coppelia is open 24/7 and serves breakfast all day, so you can head to Chelsea to chow down on some of their delicious huevos rancheros with moros rice and tomatillo salsa whenever the mood strikes you.

 

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Rice Dishes

In various global cultures, especially in Asian countries, rice is a crucial component of any breakfast. Kopitiam, a Malaysian restaurant at the border of Chinatown and the Lower East Side, serves an all-day Malaysian breakfast menu with several rice-based offerings. Among them is nasi lemak, a delectable dish consisting of coconut rice, egg, sambal sauce, fried anchovies, and peanuts. At Hi-Collar, an East Village kissaten (Japanese café), you can also sample omurice, a fluffy omelet draped over a flavorful bed of seasoned rice.

 

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English Breakfast

While some might insist that a proper English breakfast is impossible to find on this side of the pond, New York City still offers an impressive range of fry-ups that even the snobbiest Anglophile couldn’t turn up their nose at. Greenwich Village’s Tea and Sympathy prides itself on its authenticity, and its “Full Monty” English breakfast covers all of the bases and then some. As a bonus, they even offer a vegetarian version. The Dead Rabbit Pub in the Financial District also serves up some sizzling bangers, bacon, eggs, and black pudding on the weekends, though they bill this fare as an Irish breakfast rather than an English one.

 

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Waffles

If you fall on the “waffles” side of the great waffles vs. pancakes debate (or are a pancake lover who’s willing to defect for a breakfast or two), Good Enough to Eat in the Upper West Side has you covered. While their plain homemade waffles are plenty tasty by themselves, you can also try their bacon waffles if you’re feeling adventurous. For those with a sweet tooth, Old John’s Diner in Lenox Hill offers delicious old-fashioned chocolate chip waffles heaped with whipped cream. And if you’re in need of a waffle on the go, visit the Wafels and Dinges stand in Bryant Park or Herald Square to grab one of their iconic Liège waffles loaded with toppings like candied bacon, caramel, or even a scoop of ice cream.

 

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Bagels

There’s no question that New York City is home to the best bagels in the world, but it’s nigh impossible to name any single establishment the best of the best. Bo’s Bagels, a relative newcomer on the scene that proudly claims to be Harlem’s first “real” bagel shop, has won widespread acclaim for its colorful array of specialty bagel sandwiches like the Nacho Camacho. Black Seed Bagels, which now boasts eight locations across the city, serve artisanal Montreal bagels that are lighter and sweeter than New York-style bagels. Operated by the same family for four generations, Russ & Daughters got its start in 1914 as a smoked fish shop in the Lower East Side and has since gained a reputation for its top-notch house-boiled bagels and terrific lox. And, while the original H&H Bagels of Seinfeld fame has closed, the chain maintains locations on the Upper West Side and Upper East Side where they continue to manufacture a kettle-boiled, oven-baked product that is “like no other bagel in the world.”

 

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Grits

It can be a tough order for Southern transplants to find good grits up north, but Pies ‘n’ Thighs in Williamsburg serves up authentic soul food that is sure to satisfy. Complement your grits with cornmeal-fried catfish or enjoy them as a side dish paired with fried eggs and a buttermilk biscuit as part of their egg breakfast. Sweet Chick, with three Brooklyn locations as well as an outpost on the Lower East Side, is another excellent option. Try their shrimp and grits, which sizzles with smoked paprika, or just grab an order of cheesy grits with scallions as a side.

 

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Avocado Toast

In the year 2022, it feels more than fair to consider avocado toast its own food group. Banter, an Australian café with locations in Greenwich Village and the West Village, offers a superb avocado toast on Pain D’Avignon sourdough topped with feta, toasted pepitas, lemon zest, and za’atar. They don’t take reservations, so stop by for an early breakfast to beat the brunch crowds. Avocaderia, an avocado-centric restaurant based in Brooklyn, Chelsea, and Midtown, takes avocado toast to another level. Alongside their basic “Chill Out” avocado toast, which comes with lime citronelle, chili powder, and hemp seeds on Balthazar multigrain bread, Avocaderia also offers a “create-your-own-toast” option that allows customers to take their pick from a range of fresh toppings. 

 

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Donuts

The cronut craze may have died down, but Dominique Ansel Bakery is still churning out delicious original croissant-donut fusion that took the internet by storm from their store in SoHo. For a more traditional donut, swing by Dough—found at six different locations across the city with occasional appearances at Smorgasburg—to try their mouthwatering handcrafted confections. One of our favorites is Williamsburg’s Dun-Well Doughnuts. Their artisanal vegan doughnuts are crafted from ethically sourced ingredients and include inventive flavors such as a Star Wars-themed “pistaci-Yoda,” a chocolate peanut butter cookie donut, and a cinnamon roll donut.

 

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Muffins

Blue Sky Bakery, found in a tiny storefront in Park Slope, has been producing the city’s best muffins for over a decade. They offer five regular flavors every day—including their unbelievable bran muffin—but also offer a rotating array of other flavors like pumpkin apple walnut and carrot mango cream cheese. Though Empire Cake in Chelsea is best known for its fabulous full-sized cakes, you can also buy incredible muffins there as well (a favorite is the corn muffin). Another reliable muffin hookup in Brooklyn is the aptly-named Little Miss Muffin ‘n Her Stuffin in Crown Heights, whose take on the old-fashioned blueberry muffin is simply unbeatable.

 

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Açai Bowls

Two Hands—with locations in Tribeca, Williamsburg, Noho, and Nolita—has an exquisite, airy interior design and an even more eye-catching menu of breakfast bowls. Their açai goes beyond aesthetic appeal, however—they taste just as good as they look. Dimes in the Lower East Side also nails the interior design game with its quirk vintage-themed decor and offers a delectable fruit-laden açai bowl as well.

 

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French Toast

Honoring the establishment’s Jewish inspirations, Sadelle’s New York branch in SoHo makes their heavenly French toast from deep-fried challah bread to give it a delectable crunchiness. On the opposite end of this spectrum is Shopsin’s thick and soft bread pudding French toast. Shopsin’s will only serve parties of four or fewer at their Essex Market location (per founding chef Kenny Shopsin’s strict mandate), so be sure to bring just a few of your trusted friends along to sample this delicacy. Thai Diner in Nolita also offers an excellent rendition: their unreal Thai Tea Babka French Toast is made of egg-dipped, cinnamon-swirled babka and accented with decadent condensed milk butter. 

 

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Pastries

Balthazar Bakery in Soho has widely been recognized as one of the city’s premier bakeries, and their authentic French viennoiseries do not disappoint: come early in the morning and snag one of their incredible cannelés, scones, sticky buns, or apple galettes before they sell out for the day. In New York, you are not just limited to European-style goodies—you can take advantage of the city’s diverse culinary offerings to indulge in pastries from around the globe. Head to Salento, a Colombian bakery in Washington Heights, to try a buñelo (a fried cheese donut) or visit Fay Da Bakery at one of their many locations in Manhattan and Queens to sample sponge cakes, sesame balls, and other Taiwanese Fare. Be sure to also visit Brooklyn Kolache (which originated in Bed-Stuy but now operates a storefront in Greenwich Village) to snag one of their eponymous—and exquisite—Czech pastries.

 

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Home Fries

On the hashbrown vs. home fries scale, NYC’s restaurant scene seems to fall firmly on the side of home fries. Some of the best in town can be found at the Asian fusion Golden Diner in Two Bridges. You can order a plate of these deliciously crispy deep-fried potato bites on their own and walk away satisfied, or grab them as a side dish when ordering an omelet or fried eggs. The Smith, a trendy but casual New York dining staple with four Manhattan locations, also serves incredible, perfectly seasoned home fries that come as a side for a number of items on the breakfast menu.

 

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Crepes

Creperie NYC has been serving up incredible crepes since its opening in 2001 and has expanded to a second West Village location in addition to their original shop in the Lower East Side. While their sweet crepes (like the chocolate-coated s’mores crepe) are to die for, they also offer some delicious savory crepes such as the stuffed bacon, egg, and cheese crepe. T-Swirl Crepe, found at several outposts across Queens and Manhattan, offers a Japanese twist on the traditional French recipe by using rice flour rather than white flour, which renders them scrumptiously gluten-free. At T-Swirl, crepes are wrapped around toppings such as Okinawa hot dogs, spicy crab meat, or lychee berries to create an ice cream-style crepe cone. Yum! 

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While bathhouses, drag balls, and good ol’ “Screech Beach” (also known as the beach at Jacob Riis Park) were all important sites for queer gatherings, the city’s queer community especially thrived in its gay bars. Bars allowed queer people to socialize without a political agenda and offered a space for them to celebrate their sexuality with relative freedom—“relative” being the key word, as homosexual solicitation was still illegal and police raids were common. It was one such raid that kicked off the famous Stonewall riots, today recognized as the event that gave birth to our country’s modern LGBTQ rights movement.

In the early hours of June 28th, 1969, a squad of plainclothes police officers from the NYPD entered Greenwich Village’s Stonewall Inn and began arresting the bar’s staff as well as patrons they determined to be “masquerading” as a member of the opposite sex. Unlike in previous raids, however, the crowd amassed at the Stonewall Inn fought back. The resulting six nights of riots, led in part by transgender and gender nonconforming activists of color such as Silvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, brought new visibility to the budding LGBT rights movement and galvanized queer communities across the country to fight for their rights.

New York City’s first Pride march took place on the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots and has since become one of the city’s most celebrated annual events. In New York’s gay bars, however, pride is a yearlong event—and for your convenience, we’ve assembled a list of the best LGBTQ bars the city has to offer, from chic clubs to kinky dives to decades-old queer strongholds.

Gay Bars Near Me

The Stonewall Inn

 

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We of course begin our list with the Stonewall Inn itself, found in the heart of Greenwich Village. While the Stonewall Inn has closed and reopened several times since the events of 1969, and very little of the bar’s original interior has been preserved, Stonewall still hums with the energy of its historic legacy. The Inn’s management has been partnering with The Brooklyn Brewery since 2017 to craft The Stonewall Inn IPA, a portion of whose proceeds are donated to grassroots LGBTQ organizations through The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. Stonewall’s fame means that it attracts a lot of tourists and can get quite crowded, especially during the summer, but is nevertheless well worth a visit. As a bonus, you can also head across the street to visit the Stonewall National Monument in Christopher Park.

Industry Bar

 

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Consistently ranked as one of NYC’s best gay bars by New York Magazine and The Village Voice, Industry is known for its sizeable high-ceilinged dance floor and industrial aesthetic. Industry regularly brings in high quality DJs and drag talent and offers ridiculously cheap happy hour drinks every weeknight. Catering primarily to a younger crowd, Industry is a dancing-heavy bar with a high-energy atmosphere. After a few too many crushed toes, Industry implemented a “closed toe shoe” only policy, so be sure to leave your flip-flops at home before heading down to this Hell’s Kitchen staple.

Julius’

 

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Another historic favorite, Greenwich Village’s Julius’ holds the distinction of being the oldest continually operating gay bar in New York City. In 1966, a full three years before the Stonewall Riots, Julius’ was also the site of the Mattachine Society’s “sip-in,” a protest against the then-common practice of bars refusing to serve alcohol to gay people, that ultimately succeeded in forcing the State Liquor Authority to relax its discriminatory policies. Julius’ is proud of its role in the LGBTQ rights movement, and the bar’s walls are covered with photos and newspaper articles from the sip-in. The bar has a casual atmosphere and tends to attract a slightly older crowd. Alongside a more than respectable beer list, Julius’ also offers a surprisingly robust menu from its grill, including delectably juicy hamburgers.

Flaming Saddles Saloon

 

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If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to kick back in a Western-themed watering hole where denim-clad barkeeps do-si-do on the bar between slinging out whiskeys, then Flaming Saddles in Hell’s Kitchen is the joint for you. Swing by on Tequila Tuesday for $10 shots of top shelf tequila or on Wednesdays for $7 rounds of Jameson, Jack Daniels, or Jim Beam. If you’re feeling peckish, be sure to try their “World Famous Frito Pie,” a fascinating concoction of chili, cheese, and spicy mustard served inside a bag of Fritos. It may not be authentic Tex-Mex, but it’ll certainly satisfy your cravings once the tequila hits.

Henrietta Hudson

 

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As one of only 21 lesbian bars left in the country and one of three in New York City (the other two being Cubbyhole just a few blocks north and Ginger’s Bar in Park Slope) Henrietta Hudson is fiercely committed to creating a space that embraces members of the LGBTQ community who are often left alienated in queer spaces dominated by cis gay men. Found in the West Village, Henrietta Hudson proudly bears the title of the oldest lesbian bar in the country. The bar is open Wednesdays through Sundays and offers cocktails with risqué names such as “Two in the Pink,” “Margaritatas,” and “Dirty Diana.” Henrietta Hudson has also recently reopened its dance floor on Friday and Saturday nights for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, so be sure to bring your dancing shoes.

The Phoenix 

 

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The Phoenix is a bar with a backstory almost as colorful as its clientele: it began as a beloved neighborhood dive known simply as “The Bar” and literally rose from the ashes to become The Phoenix after a fire ravaged the original establishment. There is something different going on every evening at the Phoenix, which currently hosts karaoke every Wednesday, a RuPaul’s Drag Race watch party every Thursday, a dance night every Friday, and a drag comedy performance every Saturday.

The Rosemont

 

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With a relaxed, welcoming vibe tempered with a hint of boho chic from its native Williamsburg, The Rosemont is fairly new on the scene but has already established itself as one of Brooklyn’s premiere queer party sites. You can cram onto their crowded, sweaty dance floor to bop the night away to DJ sets and even the occasional live musician, and then step outside onto their spacious outdoor patio whenever you need some air. The Rosemont is also known for their drag performers—when the bar was forced to close its doors during the pandemic, it briefly converted itself into a unique drag queen delivery service to help keep the business afloat.

Marie’s Crisis Café

 

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If you’re in the mood for a campy night of fun, just head down to Marie’s Crisis to spend a few hours at “the world’s only acoustic sing-a-long showtunes piano bar.” Musical theatre lovers will have a blast belting along to whichever showtunes they desire as the bar’s resident pianist gamely provides accompaniment—which can be a heroically difficult task when the performers have had a few too many of Marie’s temptingly affordable cocktails and keep changing the tempo and key. History buffs may also enjoy (or at least be morbidly fascinated by) the fact that the bar was built on the site of Revolutionary War-era philosopher Thomas Paine’s death. When you come, just be sure to bring cash to tip the pianist.

The Eagle NYC

 

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In recent years, some gay bars have begun diluting the kinkiness and raw sexuality that previously defined these spaces in an effort to make them a little more accessible to heterosexual bar hoppers. Fortunately for NYC’s leather-loving community, the Eagle has made no such accommodations. Priding itself on maintaining a “dark and sleazy” atmosphere, this two-story, chain-link-strewn establishment in Chelsea caters to members of the leather and denim fetish subculture and has a proud tradition of “hot men, great pool, and serious cruising.”

The Boiler Room

 

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This old-school, cash-only dive certainly lives up to its name: the packed dance floor quickly becomes steaming hot during their nightly dance parties. The Boiler room is an unadorned, brick-walled establishment that doesn’t care much for Instagram-worthy aesthetics, but the unbelievably cheap well drinks, casual environment, and loaded jukebox help to keep regulars coming back to this East Village mainstay again and again. For extra entertainment, you can also take advantage of their pool table, pinball machine, and dartboard.

Club Cumming

 

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While today it can be found in the East Village’s Alphabet City, Club Cumming originated as a jury-rigged nightclub run out of actor Alan Cumming’s dressing room during his run in Broadway’s Cabaret in 2014. When the permanent version of his avant-garde queer nightclub opened in 2017, it quickly became known for its dazzling, celebrity-studded cabaret, drag, and standup performances (in whose audiences Cumming himself can occasionally be spotted) as well as for hosting events that might not be traditionally found in a gay bar, such as jazz jam sessions and “drink and draw” nights with live figure models. The interior of the club is lush and lavish, with crystal chandeliers and red-hued lights. The drinks won’t be cheap, but the ambiance is exceptional.

Barracuda Lounge

 

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Barracuda Lounge has been a cornerstone of Chelsea’s queer nightlife scene since its opening in 1995, when it became one of the first bars in New York City to host drag performances every week. Swing by on Thursdays to catch their celebrated Star Search, a pageant that easily draws comparisons to RuPaul’s Drag Race but predates the TV show by several years (Star Search proudly claims to be the longest-running bar show in New York). Though owned by the same proprietor as Industry, the vibe at Barracuda is decidedly more relaxed: the lounge lives up to its name by offering a room full of couches for hangouts or make outs, depending on how your evening goes.  

Metropolitan

 

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Another Williamsburg favorite, Metropolitan is known for its sprawling outdoor lounge/garden and for cultivating an open, accepting vibe for all patrons. As such, the bar’s clientele tends to skew slightly more toward the heterosexual side than in other establishments, but you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to snag a cute date or make new queer friends. The interior of the bar features two fireplaces used to keep patrons warm during winter evenings, while weekly barbeques are offered outdoors during the summer months. Metropolitan is open 365 days a year and offers a rotating calendar of events—stop by anytime, because you never know what you might find! 

Cubbyhole

 

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Another of NYC’s all-too-few lesbian bars, Cubbyhole has been serving “the LGBTQ+ community and their friends” from their current location in the West Village since 1994. The bar is small and cozy, and the bizarre array of stuffed animals, paper lanterns, and other knickknacks suspended from the feeling gives the establishment a kooky, playful air. Drinks are relatively inexpensive and the bar offers a particularly good selection of wines. Cubbyhole reopened this spring after undergoing renovations, and business is now booming more than ever.

Icon Astoria

 

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Serving as Queens’ premiere gay bar, Astoria is known for its top-tier drag talent. Regular performers have included Misty Mountains Davenport, Sherry Poppins, Petti Cash, and even Jan Sport of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame. The drag entertainment isn’t just limited to shows: other regular events include drag karaoke, Drag Race watch parties, and even drunken drag spelling bees. Even their signature cocktails have playful drag-inspired names like “All Tea All Shade” so that patrons can sip in style. 

The post The 15 Best Gay Bars in NYC to Check Out appeared first on CitySignal.