NY@Night 1st Edition.qxd 8/21/2006 1:15 PM Page 109 NY@Night 1st Edition.qxd 8/21/2006 1:15 PM Page 110 Originally a commercial district not designated for residential housing, the 17 name SoHo was coined by developers to 8 refer to the neighborhood South of 34 Houston Street. 14 24 16 1 21 However, SoHo is not just a geographical location, 2 it is a statement, in which residents and visitors alike proudly stake a claim to being a part of this 19 37 20 13 36 international hotbed of fashion and art. Known for 3 the small art galleries, sidewalk trendy cafes, and 32 33 boutiques that line its streets, SoHo is an 6 experience to be slowly sipped, absorbed block by block and savored over an intimate dinner. 18 10 30 38 29 31 7 Having outgrown its early radical persona, SoHo 5 25 23 27 has carved out a popular niche for itself — 9 26 4 35 culturally and economically. The same lofts once prized for their location, are no longer inexpensive. The escalated cost of living is now forcing up-and- coming artists to flee to Neo-Bohemian enclaves like Williamsburg in Brooklyn, eroding SoHo’s cutting-edge reputation. The area’s established 22 15 chic character, however, is firmly embedded. 28 Bordering SoHo and the Lower East Side, Little Italy remains the heart of New York’s Old World 11 Italian culture — a character slowly being whittled 12 away by time. This is where it all started. The turn- of-the-century flood of Italian immigrants into the area’s cramped tenements that were the launching pad from which they have achieved great heights. For the most part, though, their aura has moved onward and upward, leaving behind faint wisps of what had been. Still, stroll along the area’s storied streets and sample from the specialty shops, restaurants and delightful outdoor cafes 1 Androgyny 14 Jet 19 27 The Room carrying on the tradition along Mulberry and Mott 2 Balthazar 15 Jet Lounge 28 S.O.B. s (Sounds of 3 Bar 89 16 L Orange Bleue 29 Brazil) Streets. 4 Blue Ribbon 17 M&R 30 Scharmann s 5 Cafe Noir 18 Magnum 31 Shine 6 Casa La Femme 19 Match 32 SoHo Grand Bar 7 Chaos 20 Merc Bar 33 SoHo Kitchen & Bar 8 Chibi s Sake Bar 21 æ 34 S py Bar 9 Cub Room 22 NV V elvet Rest aurant & 10 Diva 23 Naked Lunch 35 Lounge 11 Don Hill s 24 Pravda 36 V eruka 12 Ear Inn 25 Raoul s 37 V oid 110 New York @ Night 13 Fanelli s Cafe 26 The Red Bench Bar 38 W ax Bar NY@Night 1st Edition.qxd 8/21/2006 1:15 PM Page 112 T ype of Androgyny Blue Ribbon T ype of Establishment 35 Crosby Street 97 Sullivan Street Establishment Lounge Between Grand & Broome Between Spring & Prince Bar/Restaurant Hours (212) 613-0977 (212) 274-0404 Hours T-Th 6pm-2am Daily 4pm- F 6pm-4am 4am Sa 8pm-4am Whether you’re a professional drag queen, Blue Ribbon doesn’t win the grand prize a recreational cross-dresser, a shy New for congeniality at our fair, but the neighbor- Drink Prices Drink Prices $$$$ $$$ Jersey father of three with secret desires or hood regulars who frequent the place seem a boringly straight mortal tired of New York’s to like it. This compact SoHo restaurant fea- Food Food Eclectic N/A new impersonal and selective nightspots, tures seafood, but you will also find items this alternative lounge will refresh your like pigeon, fried chicken (and their spe- Nearest Nearest Subway Subway senses. Trying to create an all-welcoming cialty, attitude du jour) on the menu. In his C,E to Spring J,M,N,R,6 to community hangout — partners David and signature Fila headband, Alonso, the raw Credit Cards Canal Street Marquesa offer dressing rooms for those oyster bar chef, brings some very needed All Major Credit Cards not ready to walk around in drag. A warmth and personality to this place. Man- Cash Only pool table helps break the ice agement claims Blue Ribbon has a familial Dressing between shy patrons, like the atmosphere, unfortunately we were treated Room stocky guy in a red dress like Stepford children. playing against an oversized school girl in a jean skirt, who end Cafe Noir up sipping wine together on 32 Grand Street @ Thompson T ype of Establishment the couch. (212) 431-7910 Bar/Restaurant Some place in Morocco there is a Cafe Noir, Hours Daily 11am- T ype of Balthazar but if you don’t have the time or resources 4am Establishment to go all the way to Africa may we suggest a Bar/Restaurant 80 Spring Street Drink Prices Between Crosby & Broadway more suitable option in SoHo. The French $$$ Hours Moroccan menu is filled with an array of M-Th 12pm- (212) 965-1414 Food 2am seafood dishes (entrees $13-$22), colors, French F-Sa 12pm- The hippest, chicest spot in town, you’d have and textures. Hand-woven tapestries made Moroccan 3am to wait a month for a dinner reservation, of yarn lie on stucco walls. Lanterns covered Nearest Su 11:30am- unless you’re Brad Pitt, or you just walk in in faux gems illuminate corners of the room. Subway 2am with a lot of New York attitude, pretend to Gigantic potted palm trees double as A,C,E,1,9 to Drink Prices have a reservation, flash your card and get incense holders and archway upon archway Canal Street $$$$ really upset if they can’t find it — you’ll get a takes you to an exotic place where knights Credit Cards Food table in no time. This warm bistro with metic- AmEx French wrapped in white cloths look stately to the ulously researched French gadgets, such as horizon on two-humped camels. Nearest old mirrors, clocks, and two sirens sensually Subway 6 to S pring watching over the bar crowd, offers excellent S treet French food in a fizzing, hip ambiance. The Casa La Femme crowd, from fashion to Wall Street, is totally 150 Wooster Street Credit Cards T ype of All Major in love with itself and life at Balthazar. Between Prince & West Houston Establishment (212) 505-0005 Bar/Restaurant Hours Bar 89 Casa La Femme captures your imagination Su-T 5pm- 89 Mercer Street with its gorgeous Eastern/Maghreb decor. 12am W -Sa 5pm- T ype of Between Broome & Spring Enter and find your eyes falling to the floor, 3am Establishment (212) 274-0989 where people sit on plush cushions around Bar/Restaurant tables and where you can smoke Egyptian Drink Prices $$$$ Hours Simple and clean like an Ikea catalogue, Bar tobacco (with apple-cinnamon flavoring) Daily 12pm- 89 is proof that minimalism works. Located in from big hookas. Further inside are tables Food 2am the heart of SoHo, this sleek bar/restaurant and chairs, and Bedouin-inspired ‘tents,’ Egyptian Drink Prices is the neo-neighborhood diner. The portions tables with curtains falling to the ground for Nearest $$$ are huge and beautifully presented. Bar privacy. Can you think of a better place for a Subway N,R to Prince Food goodies like burgers, buffalo wings and date? It’s low-key and very tasteful. Call in S treet Eclectic nachos look like exotic cuisine. Ever-chang- advance for any type of seating. Whether American Credit Cards ing art installations ensure that the space you start or end the evening here, this is a MC,V,AmEx Nearest never looks the same. But believe it or not, a must see for the decor alone. trip to the bathroom might be the best part of the evening. So drink up. 112 New York @ Night SoHo 113 NY@Night 1st Edition.qxd 8/21/2006 1:15 PM Page 114 T ype of Chaos Diva T ype of Establishment 23 Watts Street 341 West Broadway Establishment Lounge Between West Broadway Between Grand & Broome Bar/Restaurant Hours & Thompson (212) 941-9024 Hours Daily 10pm- (212) 925-8966 Daily 11am- 4am Walk down West Broadway and you can’t 3am Drink Prices Although its name alludes to a miss Diva. Its doors, a bright fire-engine red, Drink Prices $$$ place where wild nights are the norm, capture the eye and definitely draw attention $$$ Food walk through the 25' tall wrought iron away from the other more understated Food N/A tI alian gates and you’ll soon realize that Chaos’ places that surround this Italian restaurant. Nearest clientele doesn’t rage, they play. With more But come to think of it, isn’t a diva always Nearest Subway Subway C,E to Spring nooks and crannies than an English muffin, supposed to be the center of attention? Its C,E to Spring S treet the swanky, palatial, three-level lounge is loud exterior is beguiling; however, the can- S treet Credit Cards prime for intimate conversation and romantic dle-lit room is rather sedate. Patrons are too Credit Cards All Major interludes. Crystal chandeliers, winding stair- busy enjoying the Ravioli d’Aragosta and All Major cases, and ever-flowing bottles of cham- indulging in a taste of La Dolce Vita. pagne lend a 20s feel to the place. Picture Hugh Hefner, in a silk smoking jacket puffing on a Monica that he purchased from the Don Hill’s cigar girl, looking down on you happily 511 Greenwich Street @ Spring T ype of Establishment drowning in the plush red velvet pillows that (212) 334-1390 Club abound.