• Hangouts: Brooklyn spot adds wine on tap

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CORNELIUS

565 Vanderbilt Avenue (between Pacific and Dean streets)

(Prospect Heights neighborhood)

Brooklyn, NY

(718) 398-6662

At some point, it won’t be a newsworthy move, but for the moment the practice still is fairly new. I speak here of offering wine on tap, which this neighborhood watering hole now is doing. Cornelius had been best known for its $1 happy hour oysters and lots of craft beers, but this year has expanded its oyster lineup under new chef Chris Caracciolo who includes working those bivalves in New Orleans on his resume.

Among the on-tap wines is a Riesling from Paumanok on Long Island’s North Fork and a 2010 red from Pedro Ximenez of Chile. The sandwiches include such things as oyster po’ boys and a surf-‘n’-turf burger topped with oysters and bacon. Cornelius also offers a great lineup of shakes for $6 each — A&W root beer float, vanilla ice cream with brandied cherries, Bailey’s ice cream spiked with Bailey’s Irish Cream, strawberry ice cream with blueberry compote (add $5 per for a shot of bourbon added). Oh, the name Cornelius? Couple it with the address and you have Cornelius Vanderbilt, the legendary 19th Century industrialist and entrepreneur.

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Hangouts: A Post Office in Brooklyn

PHOTO FROM YELP.COM, COURTESY OF BRENDON C.

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POST OFFICE

188 Havemeyer Street (between 3rd and 4th streets)

(Williamsburg neighborhood)

Brooklyn, NY 11211

The U.S. Post Office keeps losing customers to electronic means of communication, along with its reputation an an American icon. The people behind this new Williamsburg bar don’t think it will have that sort of competition. Post Office, which seats about 40,  specializes in American spirits only. It’s a wide storefront with tall windows; inside it;s old-fashioned looking with its minimalist bar stools and dark wood, wide bar, tiny kitchen. To show its seriousness about the American-only, the drinks menu has four pages devoted just to American whiskies. The place also has all sorts of trendy comfort food — pulled pork sandwiches, oysters with house-made hot sauce, steak tartare, deviled eggs, a pickle plate … — all turned out from a very small kitchen.

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• Hangouts: Del Posto’s new bar menu

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DEL POSTO

85 Tenth Avenue
New York, NY
(212) 497-8090

What is 64 pages long and now has a new companion? It’s the wine list at this Mario Batali restaurant which, as of this week, is accompanied by a new bar menu. And the food offerings also are accompanied by a new drinks menu that has been expanded from 7 to 27 offerings, thanks to the efforts of bartender Fabio Raffaelli and bar manager Matthew Silverstein. The media buzz already has the bar part of Del Posto quickly evolving into a prime hangout. Among the new cocktails are the Vesper Martini of James Bond fame, the XO Champagne Cocktail and a $34 rocker of a rum punch, made with the pricey Rhum Agricole Clement XO from Martinique.

Foodwise, one can come across the ustic and the exotic, Batali’s usual output. A few examples: Marinated vongole with fried Roman artichokes and minted farro dressing; spaghetti with Dungeness crab, sliced jalapeño and minced scallion; Dover sole with chestnuts, watercress, black truffles and trumpets; wood-grilled lobster with artichokes, almonds and basils,

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

HANGOUTS: The bar at the Andaz

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THE BAR AT THE ANDAZ

485 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(212) 601-1234

It’s not much of a name — insiders say it eventually will get one — but the sleek hotel cellar spot in this luxe new hotel can host 80 at communal-style tables, banquettes and lounge seating. Drinks and small plates are its forte. The fireplace adds a welcoming touch, as do the leather seats, burled wood tables and complementary color palette. Many of the foodstuffs are from the Hudson Valley and other parts of New York State, and the wine list ranges from New York Rieslings to California staples. Seasonal cocktails from Tobey Maloney include, for the fall, such concoctions as The Cellar Door (Pimms  #1, lemon, bergamot syrup, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, St. Elizabeth allspice dram), the Perry Grove (Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin, lemon, Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur, Peychaud’s Bitters) and the Mexican Firing Squad (Herradura Blanco Tequila, lime, pomegranate molasses, Angostura Bitters). Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight, Monday–Saturday.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

Newest Hotspot in NY: Some Dude’s Apartment

NEW YORK — With a headline like that, you just have to read on. Which is what I did when I saw it on Gawker.com, my favorite snarky blog that concentrates largely on the Big Apple and passing celebrities.

Here’s just a piece of the report:

“Over the last couple of weeks Mike’s apartment — it has no other title — has hosted rockers like Guns ‘n’ Roses and Sebastian Bach of Skid Row and the soul singer Daniel Merriweather. An after party for the third anniversary of The Box (where a transsexual threw up on Susan Sarandon) came complete with boxers, debutantes, strippers and models. Promoters from Avenue, 1OAK and Greenhouse bring their crowds here in a steady stream, for pre and post club debauchery. As many as 150 people have crammed into the space.

“It happened because Mike has worked in the restaurant industry for nearly a decade. While developing a new nightclub project over the last few months he accumulated some fairly unorthodox nightlife friends — who eventually started hosting impromptu parties at his place. ‘I get text messages and phone calls whenever anyone wants to bring a crew through,’ he explains.”

It’s about as offbeat as they come. Treat yourself by clicking here for the full story.

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HANGOUTS: The Lambs Club hits high gear

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THE LAMBS CLUB

Chatwal Hotel
132 West 44th Street, between 6th and Broadway
(212) 997-5262

Fans of mid-20th Century American show biz have heard the name of this place many times, primarily because it was THE hangout for all sorts of celebrities who belonged to its namesake group, the country’s first professional theatrical club, founded in 1874.

This is the restored version, in the original Midtown West spot, and tonight it debuts its dinner service. The place has been serving breakfast, lunch and drinks.

It is a cushy Art Deco-inspired space, designed by Thierry Despont, where chrome, torch-style lighting fixtures and red leather abound, and the 60-seat mezzanine bar has portraits of famous Lambs Club members of the past even though the 80-seat restaurant emphasizes that it is not affiliated with the still-existing private club.

Sasha Petraske’s drink menu contains some classically-inspired treats. Among them:

GOLD RUSH — Bourbon, lemon, honey
SOUTHSIDE — Gin, lime juice, sugar, mint
OLD FASIONED — Bourbon, sugar, bitters, orange peel
CHERRY FIX — Vodka or rum, fresh cherries, lemon, crushed Ice
ST. HILAIRE — Cava, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

HANGOUTS: A white-wine lover’s spot

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VYNE

82 West Third Street, Greenwich Village
New York, NY 10012
(212) 353-8963

Highlights: It’s a gutsy marketing move, but Vyne has the courage of its convictions with a predominantly white wine list (about 70-30%), cutting edge in a market in which reds have long dominated. The new Greenwich Village spot also shows off its bravado with a food menu that offers a lot of Austrian dishes put together by Monika Caha, the Austrian-born consulting executive chef who has been pushing her native cuisine in the metro area. The dishes are not exclusively Austrian, however; she also put together a small-plate list and gourmet pizzas representing other ethnicities. Wines by the glass start at $7, and the list is complemented by a grape-centric cocktail list that will change seasonally. The atmosphere is dark and romantic, designed by movie set designer Jan Roelfs (“Orlando,” “Gattica”). The whole shebang was financed by the owners of such Manhattan spots as Pegu Club and Flatiron Lounge.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

HANGOUTS: When in Rome, go downstairs

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XIX

19 Kenmare Street (below the restaurant Travertine)
Nolita neighborhood
New York, NY 10012
(212) 966-1810

Highlights: If you’re troubled by a stalker, this unmarked new spot might be a place to hide out. You get here by navigating through an unmarked door in the restaurant, then down the stairs to an elegant, exclusive little spot lined with red leather couches. Etched marble slabs — an echo of the name of the restaurant above — offer stories of the adventures of a Roman warrior. There is a nice wine list, plus a DJ to set the mood. By the way, the phone number above is the main restaurant’s number, so don’t be distracted by whoever answers. You may have to do a bit of fast talking to get access to XIX. Once there, try one of the signature cocktails, such as the Eden (green apples, apple schnapps, Bombay Sapphire Gin, honey), the Bullet In Your Gun (burnt orange caramel, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Carpano Antiqua, Aperol) or even get some Nookie (Appleton Rum, amaretto, lime juice, golden jam, soda).

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

HANGOUTS: Whiskey Brooklyn opens Monday

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WHISKEY BROOKLYN

44 Berry Street on 11th
Williamsburg neighborhood
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 387-8444

Highlights: The borough’s newest spot for drinks is a no-frills below-sidewalk spot scheduled to open Monday. Same owners — George Ruotolo, Justin Ruotolo and Rob Magill — as Whiskey Town in the East Village and Whiskey Tavern, a block below Canal Street. It’s a brick-walled former tonic water factory full of booths, a U-shaped bar, shuffleboard tables and other table game devices. Drinkswise, it will offer craft beers as well as more than 50 different whiskies.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

HANGOUTS: All-American Brooklyn wine bar

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CUSTOM AMERICAN WINE BAR
Corner of Metropolitan and Driggs
Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY
(718) 387-9463

Highlights: The food and drink menus offer only 100% domestically-sourced food, wine, craft beer and spirits. Co-owned by Stefan Mailvaganam, who also owns Bar Carrera in Greenwich Village. The chef is Ryan Bartlow. Food is in the $6-$10 range. Wine by the glass is $8 to $11. Small plates are American regional style. Open Tuesday-Sunday. Kitchen stays open till 2 a.m.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.

 

HANGOUTS: New Elmira bistro touts NY wines

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BISTRO 23
223 West Water Street between North Main and College Avenue
Elmira, NY
(607) 732-0102

“The Finger Lakes by the glass, The World by the plate.” Catchy slogan, and certainly something different for this Southern Tier city. Owner Masroor Ahmad (left) designed the Chemung River-side restaurant and the menu, with a special eye on creating the riverview atmosphere. The kitchen offers “casual dining with world flavors” — soups, paninis, stews and salads. The wine list features Finger Lakes wines and the beer list emphasizes regional brewers. Wineries represented are: Bully Hill, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Heron Hill,  Hosmer Winery, Lamoreaux Landing, Lucas Vineyard, Pleasant Valley, Standing Stone, Salmon Run, Wagner Vineyards. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday-Saturday, closed Sunday.

Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive you’ll find anywhere.