Saturday's Spot

www.donhills.com

Saturday's Spot--this week's hotspot was Don Hills. The buzz around this Soho hangout soared when it reopened during NYC Fashion week, penned as a welcome alternative to the bottle-service glitterati of the meatpacking district--glamour but with a downtown edge. Helmed by Paul Sevigny and Nur Khan; this spot did not disappoint, delivering grungy, stripped down fun.  We spent much of the night dancing to rock remixes and Miike Snow, the collaged walls with green neon lights blinking only added to our euphoria grooving with the laid back crowd in this hazy heaven.

Looking for a funky hideaway for your music-happy crew?? Don Hills is the spot. When were loving it:

Nur Khan Sessions the owner's wild, handpicked concerts

Thursday night post Margaritas at El Cantinero in West Village
Saturday with an epic crew and dancing shoes

Painting on one wall...and a Don Hill's motto
www.rachelhruska.com

Saturday's Spot

If you're not on your way already, get to the 13th Annual New York Chocolate Show ASAP. It started at 10 a.m. today and will run until 7 p.m. It is America's largest display dedicated to worship all things chocolate. Chocoholics: Some of the best chocolatiers come from all over the world giving out FREE samples of savory truffles and bite-size chocolate bars at EVERY station. The chocolate is obviously delicious, however it's usually the mind blowing displays that draw so much attention. Try the Jacques Horres hot cocoa while you gaze up at statues of past presidents and even couture dresses, made entirely out of chocolate. So grab that one friend you know would die for this and get to the Metropolitan Pavilion fast. We're talking; melt in your mouth truffles, fondue fountains, wine tastings and pairings, and chocolate gift baskets.

Metropolitan Pavilion: 125 West 18th St, NYC.
New York Chocolate Show

Saturday's Spot

Trinity College.

Saturday's Spot

After a one-day hiatus for yesterday’s Halloween festivities—which involved a run-in on Third Avenue with Bert, Ernie and a gorilla—we are back with a now established staple of the East Village brunch scene, The Sunburnt Cow.  This darkened enclave off Avenue C was a welcome respite from the fall breeze and the crowd inside seemed energized by the laid-back surfer vibe.  As various tables finished their meals, a makeshift dance-floor appeared, everyone moving to tunes from the likes of Yolanda Be Cool. 

While boozy brunches are becoming indispensable to the New York weekend crowds, this one took the notion of all you can drink brunch to a new level with its delectable dishes and 18-dollar price tag. Our group sampled everything from crispy crab cakes benedict and smoked salmon benedict with avocado to a burger with toppings straight from the far reaches of The Sunburnt Cow’s owners’ Australia: lettuce, tomato, thick slices of beet, fried egg, cheese, fried onions, pineapple, and bacon strips.  While this combination sounded odd at first, the photo below really says it all.  

Mix these platters with unlimited “Moo-marys,” “moomosas”, screwdrivers and the Sunburnt special Greyhound—a refreshing grapefruit and vodka concoction—and your weekend keeps rolling through Sunday.   If you and a group are looking for a pick-me up in the coming weekends look no further than this Australian transport in Alphabet city—just be sure to call ahead or wake up early—this spot has New York brunchers flocking.  One too many moomosas left us with the below snapshot--and a thank you to nymag.com and yelp for the decor images....The Sunburnt Cow is located at 137 Avenue C at 9th street. 

Saturday's Spot

BAR PLEIADES-- The spot this week is an upscale, Coco Chanel inspired hotel bar called Bar Pleiades. Nestled in the Surrey Hotel and owned by Daniel Boulud, this French inspired restaurant is named after a Parisian cafe that was frequented by some of the most prominent Manhattan artists in the 1970's and 80's. The decor is what stood out the most; with it's polished black and white lacquer seats, pearl quilted walls, and intimate areas for privacy, this bar is an ideal spot to meet someone new while doing some people watching on Madison.

After browsing through the cocktail menu, the master mixologist himself, Cameron Bogue, came over to speak with me about his unique creations that are always seasonally inspired. He said, "I sample flavors constantly, to come up with the most exquisite and strong cocktails around." He explained that there are four sections to the menu.

First is La Tradition, which are always traditional cocktails with a refined twist. Second is Le Potager, which contain garden fresh ingredients like the cocktail, Autumn Thyme, which contains our favorite, fresh fall raspberries. Third is La Saison, which is an ode to the current season. For fall, Cameron is serving up a Cornucopia that contains apricot and fresh sage. Lastly is Le Voyage which is regionally inspired by the month, right now it's Beijing, China. Ask for the Beijing Mule containing roasted Asian pear vodka and house fermented ginger beer.

After sampling cocktails and enjoying some bites like their blue point oysters and crispy prawns, I found myself chatting with some lively Spaniards that were only in town for a couple of nights. They said that they had stumbled upon this charming spot and have been sitting here sipping martinis for several hours. They were having a fabulous time! Bar Pleiades offers a wonderful selection of bar bites and seasonal cocktails that will leave your palette for food and friends satisfied. 

Current Cocktail Menu