Sorry for the late post, but this article originally appeared in amNewYork's weekend issue, May 10-12:
Between 1820 and 1860, 1.5 million immigrants arrived in America from Germany, bringing with them their own cultural traditions -- among them outdoor beer gardens. Unlike the bars in Irish neighborhoods, the German beer gardens catered to whole families, and public drinking was just one of their attractions. Although many of New York's historic beer gardens have disappeared, this summer you can still enjoy a cold one at any of these authentic beer gardens around the city.
BROOKLYN
Gowanus Yacht Club
Garage-sale chic meets Gilligan's Island at this kitschy beer garden with a beach-shack feel. Sit outside on wooden benches and chow down on their 10 types of hot dogs while you drink wine or cheap, frothy beer in Styrofoam cups. Homemade and broken-in, with frat boys mixing politely with children and city-folk, the Yacht Club feels like a family picnic. (Open Memorial Day through Halloween; 323 Smith St., at President Street; 718-246-1321)
The Gate
With an extensive selection of beers on tap, knowledgeable staff and the option of indoor and outdoor seating, The Gate is one of Park Slope's best summer watering holes. The eponymous gate surrounds a packed patio, with tables perfectly situated for intimate conversation, or observing 5th Avenue passersby. It sometimes gets a little too crowded on the weekends, but you¹ll still enjoy throwing darts and listening to classic rock tunes on the jukebox. The outdoor patio is especially inviting for dogs and their owners. (321 Fifth Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets; 718-768-4329)
MANHATTAN
Loreley
This old world German restaurant offers a taste of Bavaria on the Lower East Side. Modeled on brewhouses in Cologne, it focuses on the beer, not the bling. A darkened bar and indoor seating area in front leads to six large pine tables on the outdoor patio in back. Come hungry and order a half-liter of German beer (don¹t worry, you¹ll finish it) and hearty plate of Wiener schnitzel. (7 Rivington St., between Bowery and Chrystie Streets; 212-253-7077)
Zum Schneider
Owner Sylvester Schneider missed the all-are-welcome atmosphere of the biergardens back home in Bavaria, so he created his own in the East Village. The cash-only indoor/outdoor beer garden has a great selection of draught and bottled German beers, communal wooden tables and fake trees, and authentic German food and desserts. Almost all of the staff is fluent in both German and English, as well. (107 Avenue C, at 7th Street; 212-598-1098)
Hallo Berlin
"New York's wurst restaurant," the Hallo Berlin menu proudly proclaims. In fact, the wurst is tops at one of Manhattan's best German restaurants. They've created an authentic indoor beer garden in Hells Kitchen, complete with long picnic tables and umbrellas, so even in cold weather you can enjoy a taste of summer in Berlin. A great place for large groups, with affordable beers and food. (626 Tenth Ave., at 44th Street; 212-977-1944)
QUEENS
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
Arguably New York's oldest and most famous beer garden. The Bohemian Hall was built in 1910 as a haven for the traditions and culture of Czech immigrants, and has remained the most authentic European beer garden in the city. Inside is a charming old dive bar, but outside is another world -- a green, spacious expanse Manhattanites only dream of, with picnic tables under trees where folks sip cold Czech and German beer and tackle plates of hearty Czech food. (29-19 24th Ave., between 29th and 31st Streets, Astoria)
THE BRONX
Charlie's Inn opened in 1935, when Throggs Neck was still home to the German Stadium, which housed many German-American League soccer matches. After changing hands several times, this carriage house-turned-German restaurant and weekend beer garden has hasn't changed much. Customers enjoy island BBQs and live entertainment in the summer in the outdoor garden, and the Bier Garden tradition is kept alive on summer Sundays. (2711 Harding Ave.; 718-931-9727)
STATEN ISLAND
Killmeyer's
Also known as the "Old Bavarian Inn," Killmeyer's has been a part of Staten Island history since the mid-19th century. Plan a small get together in the private party room, feast on an authentic German dinner in the main dining room (adorned with Bavarian artifacts), or choose from over 150 beers and listen to music in the large outdoor beer garden. (4254 Arthur Kill Rd.; 718-984-1202)
Nurnberger Bierhaus
The extensive menu includes all the German staples, such as several different types of schnitzels, Schweinshaxe and potato dumplings. This bustling and warm German restaurant serves eight German beers on tap, plus two American brews, German wines and all varieties of Schnapps. The outdoor Biergarden at Nurnberger Bierhaus opens May 4, with live bands and four additional beers on tap. (817 Castleton Ave.; 718-816-7461)
Showing posts with label amNewYork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amNewYork. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Drinks: Up on the roof
This article appears in amNewYork's May 18-20 weekend issue:
Want a different summer escape every night of the week? As Manhattan's rooftop bar season kicks into high gear this month, there are more than 25 places to see a bird's-eye view the city. Relax and enjoy fresh air -- except for the cigarette smoke -- and even more refreshing drinks at any of the high-altitude bars, whether they're trendy clubs, hidden dives or just a plastic lawn chair on a tar roof. Here are seven standouts, so you can sip in style every day of the week:
230 Fifth
With 22,000 square feet of space and enough wood benches and sturdy garden chairs for about 500 guests, the city's largest rooftop bar opened a year ago on top of the New York Market Center near Madison Square Park. 230 Fifth is so vast that it seems impossible it could be in Manhattan -- until you notice the Empire State Building and MetLife building looming as your tablemates while you sip cocktails flavored with guava, cactus and blood orange, and enjoy an array of Malaysian bar snacks. Drinks average $12 each, but the (almost) unobstructed 360-degree view of the city offers a year-round rooftop vacation that's well worth it. (230 Fifth Avenue, Twentieth floor, between 26th and 27th Streets, 212-725-4300)
A60
Though a members-only bar, there are tricks to cracking open A60. Try reserving a room at the hotel downstairs. Two separate rooftop areas present guests with picturesque midtown and lower Manhattan skyline views. The bar has room for up to 100 people, and offers pricey exotic drinks and Thai hors d'oeuvres. (60 Thompson, 60 Thompson Street, between Spring and Broome Streets, 877-431-0400)
Bar 13
Amid palm trees and illuminated panels, patrons at this Miami-themed rooftop garden can enjoy a different themed party and two-for-one happy hour specials every weeknight. Its location between NYU¹s Washington Square campus and Union Square makes this a prime destination for students stuck in the city all summer and looking for a little South Beach flavor, but the mostly under-30 crowd varies every night of the week. Affordable drinks save this otherwise lackluster roof, where opaque screens surrounding the deck mean the only place to look is up. Get there early (before 10pm) on the weekends to avoid a $10 cover charge. (35 E. 13th Street, between Broadway and University Place, 212-979-6677)
Cabana at the Maritime Hotel
Consistently ranked as one of the city's best rooftop escapes, Cabana at the Maritime fulfills your summer fantasies. In the summer, this bar in the meat-packing district feels like a cross between a trendy L.A. nightclub and a retro luxury cruise liner, complete with heat lamps, leafy plants, tropical wallpaper, lounge cushions, and plenty of strappy sandals and halter tops on the tanned female clientele. Cool off with a bottle of sake or a martini with fresh lychee juice and look for celebrities like Sean Penn, Sam Rockwell or the Hilton sisters, all of whom have been regulars in the past. And after a night of partying, you can use free passes to New York Sports Club a block away. (88 Ninth Avenue, between 16th and 17th streets, 212-242-4300)
The Delancey
During the summer, the roof is the main draw at this three-floor Lower East Side rock and roll bar near the Williamsburg Bridge. The all-weather rooftop bar is palm-fronded, South Beach style, with benches, fountains and a BBQ (and even a retractable roof that shields partiers from the rain while it unfortunately eliminates an already-limited view). But beware: the roof usually closes to the public by 9pm for private parties, the drink specials aren't always as cheap as advertised, and the staff doesn't want you there. (168 Delancey Street, at Clinton Street, 212-254-9920)
Gramercy Park Hotel Private Roof Club and Garden
The Gramercy Park Hotel has just opened its own rooftop bar this spring, available only to guests of the hotel and select private members. The unique indoor and outdoor space 16 stories above the city strikes a balance between after-hours chic and classic private membership clubs, creating a country club feel in the middle of Manhattan. Paintings by Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst, among others, are on display inside. The roof promises to offer the same personal comfort and intimacy of a private home, and its exclusivity is ensured by the hotel's expensive room rates. (2 Lexington Avenue, at E. 21st Street, 212-920-3300)
Roof Garden Café
At the Roof Garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, young and old, tourist and native co-exist in a spacious garden setting above the treetops of Central Park. The "bar" is really just a concessions cart that serves alcohol and snacks, but in addition to the spectacular view, marvel at sculptures by Frank Stella. Children are welcome and the roof closes early (8:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, 4:30 pm other days). Accessible only by the southwest elevators on the ground floor of the museum, just outside the 20th-century art gallery. (The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, at 82nd Street, 212-535-7710)
Want a different summer escape every night of the week? As Manhattan's rooftop bar season kicks into high gear this month, there are more than 25 places to see a bird's-eye view the city. Relax and enjoy fresh air -- except for the cigarette smoke -- and even more refreshing drinks at any of the high-altitude bars, whether they're trendy clubs, hidden dives or just a plastic lawn chair on a tar roof. Here are seven standouts, so you can sip in style every day of the week:
230 Fifth
With 22,000 square feet of space and enough wood benches and sturdy garden chairs for about 500 guests, the city's largest rooftop bar opened a year ago on top of the New York Market Center near Madison Square Park. 230 Fifth is so vast that it seems impossible it could be in Manhattan -- until you notice the Empire State Building and MetLife building looming as your tablemates while you sip cocktails flavored with guava, cactus and blood orange, and enjoy an array of Malaysian bar snacks. Drinks average $12 each, but the (almost) unobstructed 360-degree view of the city offers a year-round rooftop vacation that's well worth it. (230 Fifth Avenue, Twentieth floor, between 26th and 27th Streets, 212-725-4300)
A60
Though a members-only bar, there are tricks to cracking open A60. Try reserving a room at the hotel downstairs. Two separate rooftop areas present guests with picturesque midtown and lower Manhattan skyline views. The bar has room for up to 100 people, and offers pricey exotic drinks and Thai hors d'oeuvres. (60 Thompson, 60 Thompson Street, between Spring and Broome Streets, 877-431-0400)
Bar 13
Amid palm trees and illuminated panels, patrons at this Miami-themed rooftop garden can enjoy a different themed party and two-for-one happy hour specials every weeknight. Its location between NYU¹s Washington Square campus and Union Square makes this a prime destination for students stuck in the city all summer and looking for a little South Beach flavor, but the mostly under-30 crowd varies every night of the week. Affordable drinks save this otherwise lackluster roof, where opaque screens surrounding the deck mean the only place to look is up. Get there early (before 10pm) on the weekends to avoid a $10 cover charge. (35 E. 13th Street, between Broadway and University Place, 212-979-6677)
Cabana at the Maritime Hotel
Consistently ranked as one of the city's best rooftop escapes, Cabana at the Maritime fulfills your summer fantasies. In the summer, this bar in the meat-packing district feels like a cross between a trendy L.A. nightclub and a retro luxury cruise liner, complete with heat lamps, leafy plants, tropical wallpaper, lounge cushions, and plenty of strappy sandals and halter tops on the tanned female clientele. Cool off with a bottle of sake or a martini with fresh lychee juice and look for celebrities like Sean Penn, Sam Rockwell or the Hilton sisters, all of whom have been regulars in the past. And after a night of partying, you can use free passes to New York Sports Club a block away. (88 Ninth Avenue, between 16th and 17th streets, 212-242-4300)
The Delancey
During the summer, the roof is the main draw at this three-floor Lower East Side rock and roll bar near the Williamsburg Bridge. The all-weather rooftop bar is palm-fronded, South Beach style, with benches, fountains and a BBQ (and even a retractable roof that shields partiers from the rain while it unfortunately eliminates an already-limited view). But beware: the roof usually closes to the public by 9pm for private parties, the drink specials aren't always as cheap as advertised, and the staff doesn't want you there. (168 Delancey Street, at Clinton Street, 212-254-9920)
Gramercy Park Hotel Private Roof Club and Garden
The Gramercy Park Hotel has just opened its own rooftop bar this spring, available only to guests of the hotel and select private members. The unique indoor and outdoor space 16 stories above the city strikes a balance between after-hours chic and classic private membership clubs, creating a country club feel in the middle of Manhattan. Paintings by Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst, among others, are on display inside. The roof promises to offer the same personal comfort and intimacy of a private home, and its exclusivity is ensured by the hotel's expensive room rates. (2 Lexington Avenue, at E. 21st Street, 212-920-3300)
Roof Garden Café
At the Roof Garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, young and old, tourist and native co-exist in a spacious garden setting above the treetops of Central Park. The "bar" is really just a concessions cart that serves alcohol and snacks, but in addition to the spectacular view, marvel at sculptures by Frank Stella. Children are welcome and the roof closes early (8:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, 4:30 pm other days). Accessible only by the southwest elevators on the ground floor of the museum, just outside the 20th-century art gallery. (The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, at 82nd Street, 212-535-7710)
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Chris Rock's domestic side
This article appears in the March 12 issue of amNewYork:
Comedian Chris Rock expects some criticism for his new movie, "I Think I Love My Wife," in which he plays a black family man living in white suburban Westchester and working in an even whiter Manhattan investment banking firm. People may say he's gone soft; fans may worry that he's lost his edge.
But Rock is OK with that.
"I hope I get softer over the years," says Rock, 42. "You evolve. I can't be the guy I was 20 years ago.
"I was never angry. I was only edgy compared to other things. … I was only edgy because you watched Paul Reiser before me. But he's not not edgy, he's just Paul. And I'm not edgy, I'm just Chris."
Rock wrote, directed and stars in "I Think I Love My Wife," co-starring Gina Torres as his devoted wife and Kerry Washington as the bold bombshell who draws him into adulterous temptation, blowing his formerly routine life out of the water.
"I like playing a grown-up," Rock says of his role. "I think most comedians play guys that won't grow up. And I think my comedy comes from being a grown-up."
"I Think I Love My Wife" is based on the French film "Chloe in the Afternoon," directed by Eric Rohmer, about a happily married Parisian man who fantasizes about other women but never considers infidelity until an old acquaintance drops by and tries to seduce him.
If a witty, elegant, French character study seems like odd source material for a Chris Rock comedy, he isn't exactly surprised.
"It's weird," Rock admits. "I know it sounds like a joke. But I loved ["Chloe in the Afternoon"], and I got [co-writer] Louis C.K. a copy and he loved it, and we both thought that we could get a lot of comedy in here. We thought it was like a house with no furniture: there's a lot of jokes that could go in here."
The result is a story that probes the fuzzy line between fantasy and infidelity, telling the humor-filled truth about the pratfalls of married life.
"Is [the movie] autobiographical? No," Rock says. "I definitely relate to the character. I've been married 10 years; I have two kids; I live in the suburbs; I commute into the city – all that stuff. It stops there, pretty much."
He adds, "Any guy, anybody -- gay, straight, whatever -- you see attractive people every day. You notice them, and you keep moving."
TMZ.com reported in November that Rock was filing for divorce after nearly 10 years of marriage to wife Malaak Compton. But he has since refuted the claims, and says now that, "It's nothing. It's all rumor. We know Britney cut her hair. But it's a rumor that she's crazy."
"I Think I Love My Wife" opens March 16.
Comedian Chris Rock expects some criticism for his new movie, "I Think I Love My Wife," in which he plays a black family man living in white suburban Westchester and working in an even whiter Manhattan investment banking firm. People may say he's gone soft; fans may worry that he's lost his edge.
But Rock is OK with that.
"I hope I get softer over the years," says Rock, 42. "You evolve. I can't be the guy I was 20 years ago.
"I was never angry. I was only edgy compared to other things. … I was only edgy because you watched Paul Reiser before me. But he's not not edgy, he's just Paul. And I'm not edgy, I'm just Chris."
Rock wrote, directed and stars in "I Think I Love My Wife," co-starring Gina Torres as his devoted wife and Kerry Washington as the bold bombshell who draws him into adulterous temptation, blowing his formerly routine life out of the water.
"I like playing a grown-up," Rock says of his role. "I think most comedians play guys that won't grow up. And I think my comedy comes from being a grown-up."
"I Think I Love My Wife" is based on the French film "Chloe in the Afternoon," directed by Eric Rohmer, about a happily married Parisian man who fantasizes about other women but never considers infidelity until an old acquaintance drops by and tries to seduce him.
If a witty, elegant, French character study seems like odd source material for a Chris Rock comedy, he isn't exactly surprised.
"It's weird," Rock admits. "I know it sounds like a joke. But I loved ["Chloe in the Afternoon"], and I got [co-writer] Louis C.K. a copy and he loved it, and we both thought that we could get a lot of comedy in here. We thought it was like a house with no furniture: there's a lot of jokes that could go in here."
The result is a story that probes the fuzzy line between fantasy and infidelity, telling the humor-filled truth about the pratfalls of married life.
"Is [the movie] autobiographical? No," Rock says. "I definitely relate to the character. I've been married 10 years; I have two kids; I live in the suburbs; I commute into the city – all that stuff. It stops there, pretty much."
He adds, "Any guy, anybody -- gay, straight, whatever -- you see attractive people every day. You notice them, and you keep moving."
TMZ.com reported in November that Rock was filing for divorce after nearly 10 years of marriage to wife Malaak Compton. But he has since refuted the claims, and says now that, "It's nothing. It's all rumor. We know Britney cut her hair. But it's a rumor that she's crazy."
"I Think I Love My Wife" opens March 16.
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