An Irish pub with nice views? No, you’re not dreaming - you’re just lounging at Brass Monkey, the Meatpacking District’s new, no-frills rooftop bar. Unwind with watermelon margaritas, pineapple-infused vodka martinis, or one of over 75 imported beers while soaking up (over the West Side Highway, of course) one of summer’s best new spots. Low-maintenance perfection.

Brass Monkey, 55 Gansevoort Street, 55 Little West 12th Street (between Washington Street & 10th Avenue), (212) 675-6686, brassmonkeynyc.com

It’s all about the carne at Porcão Rio’s Churrascaria, as they introduce their succulent new bar lunch menu. Indulge yourself in everything from “Linguica com cebola” (Brazilian sausage and caramelized onions on a bun with yucca) to the famous “Picanha Fatiada” (Brazilian sirloin) in smaller and cheaper portions.

Porcão New York, 360 Park Avenue South (at 26th Street), (212) 252-7080, porcaous.com

Sure it’s bathing season, but it’s always lingerie time at La Perla. Spoil her with both at 40% off, plus 60% off all ready-to-wear at the famously sexy boutique.

La Perla, 93 Greene Street (near Prince Street), (212) 219-0999, laperla.com

One more reason to duck into cool air conditioning: Paul Smith’s summer sale. Take 30% off throughout the store and online, and you’ll look as crisp as you feel.

Paul Smith, 142 Greene Street (near West Houston Street), (646) 613-3060, paulsmith.co.uk

So everybody’s been telling you how grand Olafur Eliasson’s The New York City Waterfalls exhibition is. But you don’t really know just how grand. Thankfully, Circle Line Downtown, who offers the official Water Tour of the installation, allows you to see the work as intended by the artist, who also narrates each tour.

For more information, visit circlelinedowntown.com or call (866) 9CLINE1, (866) 925-4631.

Sure it’s played out. But if you want ooohs and ahhs with your cocktails, nothing beats 230 Fifth. This Independence Day, Manhattan’s largest rooftop bar is hosting a special fireworks viewing, complete with barbecue (burgers, hot dogs, ribs). Bottle service is a must. Call for reservations.

230 Fifth, 230 5th Avenue (at 27th Street), (212) 246-1000, 230-fifth.com

You’ll need some fuel to keep the long night going: get it at Jane where July Fourth gets you a special prix-fixe Clam Bake (you know, clams, mussels, half-lobster, shrimp, corn, and potatoes). $25 gets you in.

Jane, 100 West Houston Street (between Thompson Street & LaGuardia Place), (212) 254-7000, janerestaurant.com

For more adventurous seafood this Friday, head to the Upper West Side’s preeminent seafood spot, The Neptune Room. In addition to their impressive raw selection, the more-than-oyster bar will offer a variety of soft shell crabs for sampling.

The Neptune Room, 511 Amsterdam Avenue (between 84th & 85th Streets), (212) 496-4100, theneptuneroom.com

It doesn’t get more American than BBQ and a blue grass band at Josh Eden’s Shorty’s.32. Get comfortable with ice cold beer and sirloin burgers. Don’t worry though, the party ends at 8:30 p.m., so you won’t miss anything when the fireworks start.

Shorty’s.32, 199 Prince Street (between Macdougal & Sullivan Streets), (212) 375-8275, shortys32.com

The best for last? Well, yes. For true backyard bliss, The Smith is holding their own version of the down-and-dirty Southern Independence day, serving Brown Sugar and Chipotle-Glazed Pork Ribs and Buttermilk-Fried Chicken. Provocative late-night decadence meets classic down-home comfort.

The Smith, 3rd Avenue (between 10th & 11th Streets), (212) 420-9800, thesmithnyc.com

Break out your flannel and leave your dignity at home, because the fun rarely stops at party-rocker Andrew W.K.’s new downtown nightclub/concert hall: Santos’ Party House. The Studio B-esque big black box club is a trendy, low-stress change of pace from higher-maintenance nightlife. Now go dance until 4 a.m… every night of the week.

Santos’ Party House, 100 Lafayette Street (off Walker Street), (212) 584-5492, santospartyhouse.com

Get down with the brown (and some music) at The Carnegie Club for an evening of Glenfiddich tastings. Savor fine 12, 15, and 18 year old single malt Scotchs, and a short list of new Summer cocktails. Best part… it’s all free. Tonight, 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.

The Carnegie Club, 156 West 56th Street (between Sixth & Seventh Avenues), (212) 957-9676, hospitalityholdings.com

If downtown is more your thing, get to the brand spanking new Le Poisson Rouge for jazz/electro-funk titans Joshua Redman and Soulive. Thank the JVC Jazz Festival for uniting the post-modern jazz colossus and the kings of jam-jazz in Bleecker Street’s hottest new multimedia art lounge. Tonight and tomorrow, 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call (212) 796-0741.

Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street (at Thompson Street), (212) 796-0741, lepoissonrouge.com

Flavorpill’s One Step Beyond party at the American Museum of Natural History is a must on Friday. Well, that is, if you dig MCs Talib Kweli and Buckshot, and the sounds of legendary hip hop DJ Pete Rock. Friday, 9 p.m. Get tickets here.

One Step Beyond @ the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West & 79th Street (enter on 79th Street), flavorpill.com

Ease in to the weekend with Helmut Lang’s twice-yearly sale. Tees, tanks, shorts, blazers, dresses, and outerwear from the Men’s and Women’s Spring/Summer collections are 60% off. Now through July 6th.

Helmut Lang, 819 Washington Street (corner of Gansevoort Street), (212) 242-3240, helmutlang.com

Warm weather means sexy dresses, so point your girl to Temperley London’s Summer Sale. She’ll enjoy 60% off Cruise and Spring/Summer collections, you’ll enjoy looking at her in them. Sale begins Saturday.

Temperley London, 453 Broome Street, 2nd floor (between Mercer & Greene Streets), (212) 219-2929, temperleylondon.com

And in return, Mexican cuisine keeps on loving you back.

Case in point: the soon-to-open Mercadito Cantina in Alphabet City. Cantina replicates the food and feel of the classic Mexican taqueria without neglecting the neighborhood’s penchant for nightlife. Start your evening at the salsa bar, offering eight guacs and ten salsas featuring ingredients from local organic and green markets.

Then it’s time for tacos and heartier fare: try one of the eight new, exotic tacos never tasted at any of Cantina’s sister establishments, or indulge yourself in grass-fed skirt steak, barbacoa chicken, or pork-belly carnitas. But the highlight of the night could be… Tric-quila™ - a sake-based, brewed Tequila substitute that might just fool your seasoned and refined margarita palate.

And don’t worry about getting there late - Mercadito Cantina is open till 1 a.m.

Perfect for fueling your post revelry recovery.


Mercadito Cantina opens Monday (June 30th).


Mercadito Cantina
172 Avenue B (between 10th & 11th Streets)
Tel: (212) 388-1750

For a trendy yet welcoming twist on New American, get to Forge, Tribeca’s newest boutique-style eatery. Head chef Marc Forgione’s first restaurant boasts a homey, rustic dark wood and black leather interior, where guests enjoy fresh rolls from a vintage oven as an accompaniment to the ever-changing menu. This weekend, indulge yourself in Colorado Lamb with cocoa beans, Free Range Chicken “Nuggets” with smoked onion remoulade, or a leg of suckling pig for two.

Forge, 134 Reade Street (between Hudson & Greenwich Streets), (212) 941-9401, www.forgenyc.com

Perfect soba noodles. Seared fatty Blue Fin Tuna. Kurobuta pork belly. There’s something delicious for everyone at Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s much-anticipated Matsugen. Revamping the old 66 space, the newest food temple from the noted chef and the Matsushita Brothers sports a pristine, modern décor and a long communal table. Plant yourself at the bar and unwind with a Matsugen Moscumur, a refreshing mix of vodka, club soda, lemon and ginger juices, topped with a shiso leaf.

Matsugen, 241 Church Street (at Leonard Street), (212) 925-0202, www.jean-georges.com

Of course, if burgers and bourbons are more your style, may we suggest 5 Napkin Burger, the new comfort food destination from the crew behind French Roast. Get comfortable with a cocktail or one of the twenty different bourbons available. Then choose from a list of seven different burgers. Leave room for dessert.

5 Napkin Burger, 630 Ninth Avenue (at 45th Street), (212) 757-2277

Round up your entourage for the new brunch menu at Bobo. Start things off with a decadent Bloody Lobster cocktail made with vodka, lime, house spices, lobster stock, celery salt and yes, a whole lobster claw. Follow with Gently Scrambled Eggs with Duck Ham and Foie Gras Butter or Crisp Pork Belly with shell beans, sausage and spring garlic.

Bobo, 181 West 10th Street (off Seventh Avenue South), 212-488-2626, bobonyc.com

Take advantage of the mild weather by stocking up at Rag & Bone’s sample sale. Save on all Spring and Summer wear, for men and women. Thursday and Friday, Noon – 8 p.m.

Rag & Bone, 425 West 13th Street, 3rd floor, (between Ninth Avenue & Washington Street), rag-bone.com

Save even more at Obedient Sons sample sale in Soho. Get tees, knits, and jackets at up to 75 percent off. Get there early. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Obedient Sons, 70 Greene Street (off Spring Street), obedientsons.com

The kind that makes you hungry just thinking about it. You know, Buffalo mozzarella, fresh pastas, lavender-crusted swordfish.

So when we heard the news that Cacio e Pepe’s talented chef Salvatore Corea was heading uptown to start Alloro, a family-style Italian restaurant, we car-serviced up to a tree-lined block on East 77th Street to take in the scene.

And what a scene it is… inside you’ll be greeted by an adventurous decor to match adventurous fare. Start off with fresh cheese and cured meats platters (just like a snack in the old country), and fried spaghetti (a twist on the classic). Pair it with a selection from the all Italian wine list or a cold Peroni. Then move up to heartier selections like Filet Mignon with marinated bell peppers and a side of jasmine tea potato purée, or loin of lamb in a fresh mint reduction with eggplant purée.

Or maybe even that lavender-crusted swordfish steak with spinach.

Oh look, we’re already hungry.


Alloro opens next Tuesday, June 24th.


Alloro Restaurant
307 East 77th Street (off Second Avenue)
Tel: (212) 535-2866
alloronyc.com (website coming soon)

$1 Draft Mondays, Stuffed Burgers, Buck Hunter… sound good? The Stumble Inn, the newest watering hole from the founders of Jake’s Dilemma and The Gin Mill, serves up divey deliciousness in the heart of the UES. Because sometimes you just want cheap pitchers of ice cold beer.

The Stumble Inn, 1454 Second Avenue (at 76th Street), (212) 650-0561, nycbestbar.com

The stock markets are slumping, but the art market is still red hot. Peruse the goods at The Affordable Art Fair running from today through Sunday at the Altman Building. View artwork from more than 70 galleries from the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada and South America. Pieces start at a very friendly $100.

Visit aafnyc.com for more information.

Starting tomorrow, Eighty One is celebrating Summer with a fine seasonal Prix-Fixe menu. Indulge in Montauk Fluke Crudo with apple broth and chilies, Soft Shell Crab with fennel and parsley salad, and a variety of rosé wines by the glass.

Eighty One, 45 West 81st Street (between Central Park West & Columbus Avenue), (212) 873-8181, 81nyc.com

The Shave of New York, the two-chair Nolita coifferie, is not Dad’s barbershop. From clean cuts to straight-razor shaves to top-line alcohol-free products, this shop boasts much more luxury than its red-and-blue-rotating-pole ancestors. Stop by this weekend to receive a Traditional Shave Certificate with every purchase.

The Shave of New York, 202b Elizabeth Street (between Prince & Spring Streets), (212) 334-9495, theshaveofnewyork.com

This Sunday, treat Dad to life’s simple pleasures… prime cuts of steak and single-malt Scotch. This Father’s Day, Strip House offers two different flights of Scotches to sip, swirl, and pair with any cut Dad likes. A match made in heaven.

Strip House, 13 East 12th Street (between Fifth Avenue & University Place), (212) 328-0000, theglaziergroup.com/restaurants/striphouse

Hot weather? Try hot galleries. Artlog.com is hosting two anticipated events this weekend. First, enjoy Artlog.com portfolio samples while listening to electronica by Konrad Kaczmarek tonight at Metamorphic_Gestures at the Chelsea Art Museum. Tomorrow, enjoy complimentary wine while strolling through 27 LES galleries for CollectLES .

For more information on each event, or to learn more about Artlog, visit artlog.com.

Hot weather means rooftop bars, Hamptons beaches, and summer sales! Preppy/chic summer wear from most of Ralph Lauren’s Spring/Summer Lines (Purple, Black, Polo, Tennis…) is up for grabs at up to 60% off both in stores and online.

Ralph Lauren, 381 West Broadway (near Broome Street), (212) 625-1660, and 381 Bleecker Street (near Perry Street), (646) 638-0684, www.ralphlauren.com

Everyone looks good in Earnest Sewn, and starting tomorrow, the noted label is offering deep discounts on jeans, tees, and sweaters. The goods range from $22 to $100.

Ernest Sewn, 71 Gansevoort Street (at Washington Street), Third Floor, (212) 242-3414, www.earnestsewn.com

Get to Tribeca this Thursday for the Rogan and Loomstate summer sale. Score tees, shorts, denim, and jackets at up to 75% off. This Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Noon to 6 p.m.

Rogan, 91 Franklin Street (near Broadway), Ground Floor, (646) 827-7554, rogannyc.com

Through the end of June, get up to 40% off the sexy, sophisticated Gucci Spring/Summer collection. Shop online or head up to their incomparable Fifth Avenue flagship to indulge.

Gucci Flagship, 725 Fifth Avenue (at 56th Street), (212) 826-2600, www.gucci.com

The Euro-mod geniuses at Ferragamo are offering up to 40% off select ready-to-wear items, shoes, and leather accessories. Summer sale runs now through the 6th of July.

Salvatore Ferragamo, 665 Fifth Avenue (near 52nd Street), (212) 759-3822, www.ferragamo.com

Sucre and Coup de Coeur invite you to preview Wendy Nichol’s chic new Fall collection. Take 10% off the Fall collection, 15% from the Spring/Summer, and 10% off anything at Sucre. Who knows, you might even bump into Ms. Nichol herself.

Sucre, 357 Bleecker Street (between Charles and West 10th Streets), Wednesday, June 11th 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., RSVP at rsvp@coupdecoeurny.com

Spice up your restaurant rotation with YerbaBuena, the new pan-Latin eatery cheffed by Lenis Gonzalez (Patria). Have the bacaladitos, langostinos, and a hearty rib eye. Then wash it all down with cocktails by Pegu mixologist Artemio Vasques.

YerbaBuena, 23 Avenue A (between 1st & 2nd Streets), (212) 529-2919, yerbabuenanyc.com

The way to your heart? We think it’s barbecue… so clear your calendar for the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. Feast on brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and meat. Lots of it. This Saturday & Sunday, from Noon to 6 p.m. Free admission.

Big Apple Barbecue Block Party at Madison Square Park, 23rd Street & Madison Avenue

Unwind from all that turf with a little surf at Ed’s Lobster Bar for their Champagne & Oysters Special. A mere $40 scores you 1 dozen oysters and two glasses of bubbly. Tuesdays through Thursdays, from 10 p.m. to closing; Fridays and Saturdays, 11 p.m. to closing.

Ed’s Lobster Bar, 222 Lafayette Street (near Spring Street), (212) 343-3236, lobsterbarnyc.com

Warm weather is an excellent excuse to stock up on MHI by Maharishi, Obedient Sons, and Surface to Air Paris at New Dandyism. Oh, and 30% to 80% off (that’s below wholesale for those keeping score) is a pretty good reason too. Today through Sunday night.

Visit www.newdandyism.com

If the top of the sartorial food chain is your thing, then get to Barneys New York for their Designer Sale. Clothing and accessories for men and women are up to 40% off. Sale starts… now.

Barneys New York, Madison Avenue and 61st Street, (212) 826-8900, barneys.com

For all you Anglophiles, Fred Perry is holding a sample sale this weekend. From Thursday to Sunday, enjoy deep discounts on Fred Perry and Komodo apparel, accessories, and shoes. Today and tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, Noon to 6 p.m.

Fred Perry, 547 West 27th Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues), 3rd Floor, (212) 736-3030, www.fredperry.com

He promotes. He fights. He writes. And now you can meet him in person: hit Borders Wall Street for a book signing by “The Golden Boy”, Oscar De La Hoya. Tuesday, 1 p.m.

Borders Wall Street, 100 Broadway (off Wall Street), (212) 964-1988, bordersstores.com

The masters of minimalist design have answered that wish: introducing Muji Times Square.

Located on on the ground floor of the ultra-modern New York Times building (designed by architect Renzo Piano), Muji’s new flagship is a retail masterpiece. Juxtaposed with the adjacent Port Authority’s constant congestion, the store offers divine simplicity, full views of the building’s signature moss-and-birch-tree garden, and 1,750 household goods. Yes, this is the largest Muji collection in the States by far!

Muji fans will also appreciate the brand’s respectable offering of 420 inexpensive apparel items.

Just stay away from those shrink wrapped tee shirts - the goal is to look crisp this Summer.


Muji Times Square
The New York Times Building, 620 Eighth Avenue (Entrance on 40th Street)
Tel: (212) 382-2300
muji.com