Chanting with monks

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

This whole story started from this : www.sidetour.com/experiences/dine-with-the-monks-at-an-east-village-monastery. Yes, it says "Dine with a monk in a monastery in East village", for real!

So by pure curiosity, I did it and I met this amazing person Rasanath.

You should get an idea of this place where an amazing happens every Thursday night from 7 to 9 pm. It is free. Just try, you'll see.

Open the door in the middle of crazy East Village, jump up to the 3rd floor, take off your shoes, and slowly enter in the Temple...

Welcome to kirtan* night.

A windfall of warmth, peace, good energy, grounding and happiness hits you right away and sticks around for the rest of your night and hopefully more. You are part of it, all together we form this bubble of positiveness, there is no more individuality but an amazing unity of loving and heartwarming state.

Just by sitting down, closing your eyes, not even singing if you don't want to, you will forget about all the parasites, all the pollution that takes place in your daily life.
By being in this room, you will even forget that there is a world outside, it takes you far away and when you come back to reality, you would probably feel different...

Give it a try
Namaste

East Village Monastery
5 1st Ave
(between 1st & 2nd St)
New York

*Kirtan is call-and-response chanting or "responsory" performed in India's bhakti devotional traditions. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas, the two-headed mrdanga or pakawaj drum, and karatal hand cymbals. It is a major practice in Vaisnava devotionalism, Sikhism, the Sant traditions, and some forms of Buddhism, as well as other religious groups.
Source: Wikipedia

Wild night at the flat

The best nights are often the ones without any plan.

This becomes totally true at this bar : the Flat, in the middle of nowhere in Brooklyn.
Try, just tell few friends to meet you there anytime from 10 pm and let the night makes it show...

I kind of don't want to tell you anything about this place, like the website which basically just shows the adress and few weird photos...

The only thing i can tell is : Yes you can.

http://www.theflatbkny.com/

The Bulgarian bar

I don't like beer in general. But when it comes to discover some new flavours, i'm down to it, beers included.
Have you ever tasted a Bulgarian beer?
I highly recommend this one:

Go get a Bulgarian night at Mehanata!

Food, drinks, atmosphere, everything combined is good thing to experience, you will feel good.
Check out the website for the events, you better go a concert/dancing night. Be careful it is open only # nights a week Thursday to Saturday!

You can also try the ice bar downstairs for 20$, good way to cool down if you get too hot...ou pas...

Don't forget to get crazy, everything is allowed in Lower East Side!

Mehanata

113 Ludlow St
(between Delancey St & Rivington St) 

Subway:

Delancey St (F)

Essex St (J, M, Z)

Grand St (B, D)

Hours: Thu-Sat 7 pm - 4 am

http://www.mehanata.com/

Ink48

Rooftops are for people who like to show-off? Well true and not true

Rooftops are expensive for what they are? Well depends who you are with

Rooftops are good to go once in a while? Definitely

This one is cool with the amazing view and this reflecting pool which gives a pimpin touch’

I think you have to dress smart to get in, not sure though…

Anyway, for a little change, for an instant bite of Manhattan, head there with the sunset. It’s always nice to bring someone who is visiting for example. Blow them up!

Martini: $15

Small plate of salumi, olives and grilled bread: $15

Ink 48

653 Eleventh Ave., at 48th St

Tea Time in Greenpoint

How come Brooklyn people look so cool?

Just like that, no need to brush their hear neither iron their clothes nor wear anything trendy, they just have swag in there. Wanna feel it? Well just walk in the streets...

You can also head to Milk and Roses, this little café lost in the middle of this funny Polish neighborhood which is Greenpoint.

Here you will definitely see beautiful people hanging around with their favorite book, piece of Apple and over the week-ends, they often have events going on: reading, music…

A regular neighborhood café? No really, let me tell you what makes the difference:

-          The piano enthroning in the middle

-          The decoration : simple and sweet

-          The backyard where the key word is “Let the garden be a garden, and give people the keys.”

-          The coffee is Miscela d’Oro from Messina, Sicily and the pastries are from Gian Piero Bakery in Astoria. Yes the owner is Italian, maybe that’s why everything is so good…

Well now, just follow your feelings and pop-up there whenever you feel like it…

Milk and Roses

1110 Manhattan Ave

(Between Dupont & Clay St)

Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Subway:

Greenpoint Av (G)

Vernon Blvd - Jackson Av (7, 7X)

Hours: Mon-Thu, Sun 7:30 am - 11 pm

Fri-Sat 7:30 am - 12 am

Awesome Mister Sunday

If you have ever heard of Mister Saturday Night, then you will love Mister Sunday.
If not, then you will double-love it, I can guarantee!

This is, so far, one of the best thing I have ever done in New York. Oh yeah! Imagine : a little backyard right by Gowanus Canal, a sunny Sunday afternoon, under the trees, surrounded by industrial plots, a DJ set in the middle of this little nest, what else do you need?!

First you will certainly want to lay down, have one of those drinks (beer, sangria, lemonade...), maybe an ice cream or even a plate of whatever, everything looks good and then the music will take possession of your soul and body and we will certainly find you in the middle of the dancefloor smiling like everyone here and moving like a happy New Yorker.

When summer comes, that's what we all are : happy New Yorkers and proud to be!

So enjoy this wonderful idea from Justin Carter and Eamon Harkin every Sunday from 3 to 9 pm all summer long. And if you want to keep partying, they often have after parties.

Step 1- Warm up and Get ready :

Step 2 - Check out the details here and share it only with cool people!

Classy cocktail under the bridge

Let's carry on this drinking vibe and celebrate this wonderful thing we all appreciate : cocktails!

The coolest thing with cocktail is that even your under 21 sister, your healthy friend,etc can hang out with you and have cocktail without alcohol, neat!

This place suggested by my happy neighbors is worth the trip. Except one thing which I hope is not occuring every night : our eyes were stinging, I think because of some smoke escaping from the kitchen.

Other than that, look and imagine this place sprinkled with beautiful girls and boys for the most part from Brooklyn, what best way to discover the neighborhood.

What I like most here is that it is bright, clean, classy, art--deco style,with regular price ($10-12 a glass of wine, $12-15 for a cocktail) some latin platters to share, and not too packed yet because it is brand new. So if you want to drink sat and relax you should go tonight before it becomes too popular! Maybe it's too late, I shouldn't have talked about it...

Donna
27 Broadway
Brooklyn, Williamsburg
That's all folks, better find it by yourself

What’s up on the roof?

One thing people looooove to do in New York during the summer is getting a nice time on a rooftop.

You can find plenty of them in the City, the classy, the upper-classy, the rich-men hunting, the high-heel stylish, etc.

What you prefer beers? What you don’t want to dress up like a businessman?

Well I have something for you! Yes, we can find everything in this city so why not a pretentious-less cool rooftop bar!

Where? Haha of course…Brooklyn!

Berry park is still in progress, that’s why you will find a difference each time you go there.

Now on, you have an ok selection of beers (6-7$), some bar food like burgers, pulled pork (not that cheap though) and a beergarden style tables and chairs. The crowd is a mix of artists, neighborhood youngsters and people like you and me, means anyone can appreciate such a place.

The mega plus : an adorable view on the skyline, very nice to help you make it out with your +1!

It looks to be in the middle of nowhere but be nosy, explore around…

Berry Park

4 berry St

(between 13th St & Nassau Ave)

http://www.berryparkbk.com

Subway: Nassau Av (G) - Bedford Av (L)

Hours:

Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 2 am

Fri-Sat 12 pm - 4 am

Upper class drinks in Soho

You might have get it : I looove Brooklyn, I looooove its laid-backed, cool, woodish bars and restaurants. I could stay in Brooklyn all life long and never get bored.

But once in a while, I feel like it's nice to treat yourself in one of those luxurious hotel bars.
Mon péché mignon...

If you feel the same, let's go together!

But we have to pick the right place.So many are just ok or even pretentious and useless.

Not the case of Soho Grand Hotel, this beautiful little perl in the middle of Soho.
Come have a nice glass of wine, bourbon or even a tea, who cares!

Of course, it is expensive (at least $15 for a glass of wine) but you are not anywhere...

Soho Gand Hotel
310 West Broadway
Canal St & Grand St
Subway 1 Canal St
http://www.sohogrand.com/

Definitely Glasslands

Have you read that L magazine a few weeks ago where they were presenting 8 bands you need to hear?
Example here

So one of the question they ask is "What is your favorite venue in NYC?" and almost all of the artists answer is Glasslands. Not surprising when yourself as a listener you would anwer the same.

Why? Not sure though. The palce is pretty small, totally laid-back. I am sure it looks awful with the lights on.
But who cares because here you will feel good, I can garantee!

Dirty beaches, Cocorosie, Saint-Motel, Diane Birch, Telephoned Cookies, Big troubles, The Hairs, Napoleon, The Dig... All those bands have their own magnet power, you're gonna be amazed (normal they enjoy the place), tickets around 8 to 20$, a wonderful way to discover rock, pop, indie, rap, hip-hop ...and many other bands which I'm telling you are on their way for celebrity and success if they are not already!

Check there program and bring your friends for that kind of night you never want to forget.

http://glasslands.blogspot.com/

Never go to Le Baron

I usually write here to tell you where to go but today I'm totally pissed off againt those pretentious useless jokers aka Le Baron in New York.
Personally I have never been interested to go to Le Baron in Paris. Here I was like let's see as they were advertising this nice-looking facebook event a friend sent me
I have never seen so many people in a line on a Monday night, around 300 people waiting in the cold to end up being rejected at the entrance by the meanest guy ever who only knows 5 words 'You not on the list',
What the heck?!
For the few ones who have been accepted inside, that night seemed like a nightmare, totally packed, no way to enjoy the concert at all.

Maybe other nights are better, maybe ceci, maybe cela...
Seriously, do not even waste your time to go to Chinatown and get humiliated.
You deserve better, New York is so full of wonderful places and Le Baron should not even be in this City, beurk beurk!

Stand up for Aziz

One of the coolest thing to do after a crazy day at work is going to one of those numerous comedy show all around the city. A nice venue for that is Cameo Gallery on Wednesday nights.

Nicely hidden in the backroom of the Lovin' Cup Café, Cameo is that kind of place which is not fancy at all but kind of charming with its local crowd, free beers and above all very interesting and eclectic artists.

You HAVE to check it out : http://cameony.blogspot.com/

So at Cameo, Wednesday nights = Big Terrific = a free, fun comedy show starting around 8:30 5come at 8 if you want to sit) with some newbees and also some show-biz stars dropping in. Tonight I have re-discovered Aziz Ansari, nice, nice, very nice!

If you need your weekly fun, the answer is easy : Cameomeo!

And here if you want to discover Aziz too:

Drink at the post office

If you grew up in France, you mignt not like post offices at all.
For me, they have often represented a complete burden, a nightmare, hours of waiting for something that could be so simple.

That's maybe why I love the concept of this recently discovered post office which is, vous l'aurez devinez, not at all a place where you can post your letters but a nice and cozy bar, yeah!

The house specials are the whiskey-made cocktails. I am not a big fan but I must admit that they are very good, I feel like I need to try them all now.
Dim lights, wooden walls, a warmful bar with its open kitchen serving amazing deviled eggs, grilled chesse and some other snacks to help you find an alibi to stay longer.

A good way to discover the south side of Williamsburg, a bit less hipster, much more multicultural and as you should know, one of the best neighborhood of NYC, si si!

Post Office
188 Havemeyer St
(between 4th St & 3rd St)
Subway : J-M-Z Marcy Ave
               G - Metropolitan Ave

Movie+Dinner = 2 in 1?

Well in a country where people looove eating in front of a movie, this idea seems to make sense.
But, how is it for real?

The scene takes place in a little neighborhood cinema called Nitehawk.

Recently opened, the decoration is pretty cool with a bar in the lobby where you can have a little cocktail or any beverage while waiting for your always late friends.

Come a bit early, to grab your favorite spot as the theaters are small.
Seats are set-up two by two. So nice spot for a date I would say.
You can order food, drinks before the movie thanks to those waiters in the dark. The movie starts yeah....
Here starts also a strange manège of waiters bending their back and trying to serve people all over the room. What the heck! People keep ordering thanks to little papers and pencils under each table, they keep eating all along te movie and waiters keep coming and going with plates, glasses, smells.
So if you came here with the idea of not eating at all, no way, forget about it.
The smell either makes you feel sick or hungry, you choose.  
Unless you have had a big meal just before, I don't know.

The concept is fun and seems to attract a lot of people.
But eating while watching a movie, well it seems like having lunch in front of your computer at work, sooooo American but not for me, non merci, le repas c'est sacré!


Movie tickets are $11, beverage and food are overpriced according to me.
Who pays $9 for 2 pieces of bread, 3 cornichons onions and butter? Seriously!

Go go go try it though, maybe you will love it, who knows!

Nitehawk Cinema
136 Metropolitan Avenue (& Berry St)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
http://www.nitehawkcinema.com

3,2,1...Surprise, this is really a dancefloor!

It is not a scoop if I tell you that New York is that kind of city where you can be pleasantly surprised at any moment.

But, it is a scoop if I tell you that I have been here for almost a year and just discovered this place that literally made me fall in love with NYC for the nth time!

Why? Where? How? Really?!!!

This is it!
Here we go, at the Jane Hotel, let's start your surprising night by getting there early (before 10 pm), have a saet on one of those incredibly comfortable sofa and admire the amazing decoration, listening to the nice music and sliping your not too expensive drink ($8 for a beer, $12 for a glass of wine, from $14 for a cocktail).

The night is yours, see how you natrally start feeling good.
Around you, the place is getting crowed little by little, the lights are diming slowly, the music sounds louder and louder and before you have even noticed it, the whole place has been transformed, people are dancing around, the DJ is crazy awesome and you made it!

I can tell you : You are not dreaming, you are not drunk (or maybe you are but it is ok ), you are in a club in Manhattan which has nothing to do with any other clubs in that neighborhood. Go on, shake your body :-)
No doubt, you have swag baby!

Oh yeah, there is no more doubt New York is the most amazing thing I've ever seen.
Enjoy!

The Jane Hotel
113 Jane Street
West Village
Subway A C E L - 14th St, 8th ave
http://www.thejanenyc.com/

Indie cinema with a buzz

"Indie cinema with a buzz" - this is how this little theater freshly hidden in Dumbo bills itself.


If you ned a cosy place to watch an old or arty movie and run away from those usual american huge multicomplex, this is certainly one of the best place in New York, not to say the best.

 Go check it by yourself.

Like I did, you will probably love those refurbished old car seats, that bar decorated with hubcaps and number plates and this particular ambiance in general that makes you feel good like if you were travelling over the time. Check out the bar too, it is completely cool and laid back, full of weirdos like if you were thrown into some David Lynch's movie.

Don't worry, Dumbo is far from being a scary place.
Seems like a very nice and tranquille neighborhood, to be discovered...

http://reruntheater.com/
147 Front Street
Subway : F - York Street

Knock knock who's in the Box?

 When someone puts a box in front of you, it is usually synonym of a surprise.


Well, the box I am telling you about tonight is not only a surprise, it is a complete crazy incredible thing!
Honestly, I still can't believe it actually exists for real. I kind of need to check it a second time to be sure.
Any volunteer?

Les images parlant plus que les mots, here is how my box looks like:

 

 First thing to know: anybody cannot get in. So, I suggest you to suit up, bring your cutest, hottest, sexiest girlfriend, wear your brightest smile and here we go! 

Yeah I know this sounds ridiculous, but you feel lucky and special onece inside. It's how it works after all...

Anyway, inside, it's a whole world of bling bling and show off in there with those luxurious chandeliers, red canapés,shiny varnished tables. You will very quickly hanged by the move. The DJ is fucking good here man! Let's dance and drink all night long surrounded by those rich (or pretending rich) and beautiful people.

Suddenly, the curtain opens! (Yes there is a curtain)

Oh my god! This is insane!!! A complete new world appears in front of you, cutting your breath, blowing your mind, your eyes will be stick, see you don't believe it neither!

Between trash and amazing, the whole show is worth to see once in your life. It is this kind of experience that does not leave you innocent. Kind of a lost of virginity on a way...

Nothing that vulgar though (except that Mr Pussy thing, yark disgusting...)

Anyway, photos are forbidden, so let'skeep it secret.

Go check it, that's the only thing I can tell!

The box

189 Chrystie Street  New York

Between Rivingston & Stanton

Subway : F - 2 Av

http://www.theboxnyc.com/

Having a drink like a spy?

Are you ready to play 007 tonight?

Follow me sssssh...tip-toe, tip-toe...

Down in the night, walk in the darkness of this tiny little street next to Grand Central,
Yes pull that door with those golden letters engraved on the top : CAMPBELL APARTMENT...
Mmmh come on, take those huge stairs on the right, and here we are:

This place looks like an old British/Irish apartment with his huge stained glass window, curtains, a fancy bar, luxious chandeliers, amazing sofas where you can just lay down and stay for hours sipping your coktail and observing those people who enter and leave this place like in a novel wrtiiten by Hemmingway!

My dream here : crossing the road of an old man smoking a pipe who willtell me a secret about this incredible city, New York, mon amour.  Or crossing Rita...

Just check it out, cocktails are known to be one of the bests in town.
Count around $16, calm and volupty has a price sometimes...

15 Vanderbilt Ave.
Grand Central near 43rd St
Mon-Thu: noon-1am
Fri, 12pm-2am
Sat3pm-2am
Sun, 3pm-11pm

Subway
Grand Central-42nd St. 4,5,6,7

Romantic chicha place

Oh well, chicha is not that romantic, of course.


But, this place has something to deal with romantism, First its name and then the way it has been decorated with this litteral garden, those angels and pretty little corners all around. Could look kind of kitsch on a way.

And then you have the fodd which is ok...Better come here for a drink though. even not a tea nor a desert , just a fresh drink, valeur sure à tout prix.

And then you have the service which is terribly bad and so funny or annoying at the end depending on the quantity of alcohol you have absorbed and how cool the people you are with could be.

So do not make big plans about that place but anyway, try it with your chéri(e) or few friends.

As you soon as you don't mind the chicha smell...

Cloisters Cafe
238 E 9th St
(between Stuyvesant St & 2nd Ave)

Subway: 

Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X) - 3 Av (L) - 8 St - Nyu (N, R)

Hours:

Tue-Thu 12 pm - 1 am 

Fri-Sat 12 pm - 2:30 am 

Sun 12 pm - 12:30 am

http://www.cloistercafe.com/

Nightlife at Bembe

Ne jamais penser que plus rien ne pourra vous étonner à New York.

Exemple: Bembe, ben c'est ce bar extra qui était là, posé à deux pas de chez moi et que je viens seulement de découvrir. Rien que le nom sonne caliente comme une invitation à la danse collés-serrés.

Pour ma première fois, ce fut bref mais efficace.
Déjà j'adore l'entrée super mystérieuse :

On a l'impression de partager un secret quand on y met les pieds.

Le concept : c'est un bar dansant dont la déco à été faite grâce à des objets trouvés dans la rue, du coup c'est super funky et cool, on y boit de doux élixirs, la musique est internationale tout comme les gens que l'on croise et on peut même assister à des art show chaque mois.

En bref, un bon petit condensé de New York dans ce tout petit endroit bien accueillant

Bembe
Corner South 6th & Berry
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Subway : J-M-Z Marcy Ave
Open until 4 AM 7/7
http://www.bembe.us