Does it get more New York than this? (Okay, maybe that time that Adam Sandler and Timothée Chalamet were spotted playing pick-up ball in the Village, but only slightly.) From Monday, April 22 through Wednesday, April 24, at 2pm to 5pm daily, uptowners will be able to get a taste of a downtown favorite without descending below 14th Street—hell, without even going below 74th Street. Greenwich Village cocktailer Dante is taking over the legendary Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle for a world-class cocktail residency next week. 

RECOMMENDED: The 50 best bars in NYC right now, from new drinking destinations to longtime favorites

The drink shakers over at Dante will be pouring eight of the bar’s award-winning drinks—the kind of stuff that helped it claim the coveted title of The World’s Best Bar back in 2019—as well as signature light bites (think blue cheese-stuffed olives and crunchy pistachios, served on a silver plate along with Bemelmans Bar’s signature cheese crisps) and live jazz music from modern-day piano man Louis B Middleton. 

Among the cocktails on offer will be the Dante Martini (Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire, Noilly Prat, Dolin Blank, Nardini Cedro, lemon bitters, olive bitters), Piña Colada Spritz (Bans 5, Santa Teresa, Leblon Cachaca, pineapple rum, pineapple, coconut, prosecco) and the Cosmogroni (Grey Goose L’Citron, Noilly Prat, Luxardo Bianco, rose and cranberry). 

The iconic New York bars have also collaborated on an exclusive cocktail in celebration of the upcoming Met Gala, called the “Sleeping Beauty.” Inspired by the Gala’s “Garden of Time” theme, the limited-edition tipple will be available during the three-day residency. (For reference, the Carlyle regularly serves as a hotel base for all of the well-heeled celebrity attendees of the annual Gala, located three blocks away at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.)

* This article was originally published here

The Rev. Al Sharpton’s annual National Action Network (NAN) Convention this year underscored the importance of  Black voter participation and voting rights—critical issues as voters roll onto a presidential election in November. 

Sharpton led a ribbon-cutting and opening remarks at last Wednesday’s gala at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. The event drew several major names from across disciplines including Whoopi Goldberg, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and lauded attorney Benjamin Crump. Sharpton took time to highlight his documentary, “Loudmouth,” which tracks his journey from his youth in New York City to becoming one of the nation’s foremost civil rights leaders 

But one of the biggest draws for attendees was President Joe Biden’s live remarks from the White House last Friday afternoon, streamed on big screens to a packed auditorium of eager supporters at the Sheraton. In 2000, NAN was able to get the two candidates for that year’s presidential Democratic nomination, Senator Bill Bradley and environmentalist Al Gore, to debate for the first time at the Apollo Theater, said Sharpton. Sharpton threw his own bid for president in 2004. 

REALTED: PHOTOS: National Action Network hosts 33rd Convention

Since that time, every Democratic candidate for president has come to the hotel for the NAN convention in an effort to connect directly with Black voters, including Biden and Obama. Sharpton spoke about the history Biden shares with NAN.

“One of those candidates was then-Senator Joe Biden, and every four years the presidential candidates and all the presidents would come. President Barack Obama came twice,” Sharpton said. “I have known Joe Biden before he was president. He’s always been candid and always been straight, and he’s always did what he said he was going to do. He has always said to us that he would never mislead us in a conversation, even if there may be areas of disagreement.”

Biden’s comments revolved around closing the racial wealth gap, negotiating lower prescription drug prices, bolstering Medicare and Medicaid, reducing Black unemployment rates, forgiveness of student loan debt for Black and brown borrowers, investing in HBCUs, confirming Black women to high executive and judiciary offices, and decriminalizing marijuana, as well as investing in Black-owned businesses and in clean energy for communities of color. 

“You know, for more than 30 years National Action Network has been on the frontlines of the work to redeem the soul of America,” Biden said. “You’ve been on the same page, and the work is as important as it’s ever been.”

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

The post Rev. Sharpton’s 2024 NAN Annual Convention wraps with a presidential call from Biden appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

You know summer is around the corner when Baylander Steel Beach—the smallest plane carrier in the world turned floating restaurant—announces its seasonal opening. 

This year, New Yorkers will get to flock to the 133-foot-long dining destination at the West Harlem Piers by 125th Street starting April 25. Woohoo!

RECOMMENDED: This popular floating lobster restaurant is officially open for the summer

The unique bar and restaurant is a decommissioned ship that the current owners, also behind Prohibition Lounge on the Upper West Side, took over around 2017 and relaunched as the current iteration of the business in July of 2020.

Given the pretty miserable and downright freezing winters that New Yorkers are used to, come warmer weather, locals absolutely love spending time outdoors. Add to it the fact that Baylander Steel Beach boasts a 4,000-square-foot outdoor deck that’s usually filled with picnic tables and the water splashing below and you’ve got yourself a fairly popular after-work venue.

In addition to delicious seafood and the sort of fare that delights bargoers and settles a drinking stomach (lobster rolls, tater tots, fish and chips), patrons can look forward to a slew of nautical-themed cocktails, including the Mermaid Potion (Empress gin, Rockey’s botanical liqueur, Fever Tree elderflower tonic and lemon), the Pirates’ Punch (Captain Morgan spiced rum, mandarin and pomegranate liqueurs, pineapple and fresh citrus juices) and the on-the-nose Boat Fashioned (Bulleit bourbon, blood orange vermouth, burlesque bitters).

Clearly one of the best outdoor bars in NYC, Bayland Steel Beach is one of the most unique drinking dens in town—and oh-so-very New York. See you there and happy (almost) summer!

* This article was originally published here

“To every thing there is a season,” and that season is rooftop cocktails season!

A crop of very delicious spring-themed cocktails just dropped at Time Out Market New York, meaning you can now take in the sun and skyline with a pretty drink in hand.

RECOMMENDED: You can now order directly from your table at Time Out Market New York

Once you’ve settled on your meal of choice at one of the market’s kitchens—Back Barbecue, Pat LaFrieda, Fornino, Ivy Stark’s Mexology and others—you can choose from 13 different cocktails and two mock-tails to wash it all down with including:

• The Watermelon Margarita ($19): Tromba Tequila, Cointreau, watermelon and ginger-mint syrup
• The Hawaiian “Knockout” Punch ($16): Plantation Original Dark Rum, coconut rum, pineapple, orange and mango
• Espresso Ecstasy ($22): Truman Vodka, Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, cold brew
• Very Berry Sangria ($17): Red wine, Cointreau, lemon, lime, Framboise, strawberry syrup and fresh berries
• Coconut Carousel ($15): Plantation 3 Stars, Plantation Original Dark Rum, coconut, pineapple and nutmeg
• Time Out Tea ($16): Russell’s Reserve Bourbon, unsweetened black tea and lemon
• Passionfruit Cooler ($17): Beluga Vodka, St. Germain, Cointreau, passion fruit and lime
• Killer Bee ($19): El Tequileño Gran Reserva Reposado, Dos Hombres Mezcal and honey-ginger syrup
• Mix Me, I’m Irish ($18): Paddy Irish Whiskey, St. Germain, cucumber-mint syrup and lemon
• Negroni Spritz ($18): Citadelle Gin, 1757 Sweet Vermouth and seltzer
• Oaxaca Pasión ($18): Dos Hombres Mezcal, passion fruit, Hagave Spiced Nectar and lime
• Fuzzy Mule ($22): Whistle Pig PiggyBack Rye, Q Ginger Beer, lemon, lime and peach liqueur
• Revive & Thrive ($17): Botanist Gin, Limoncello Lillet Blanc and lemon
• “Gin” sling (non-alcoholic, $12): Ritual Gin Alternative, tonic and lemon
• Tropical “Rum” Punch (non-alcoholic, $12): Ritual Rum Alternative, orange, pineapple, cranberry, passionfruit, Q Mixer Sparkling Grapefruit

If cocktails aren’t your vibe, there are more than a dozen wine varieties and a slew of local (Brooklyn Brewery, Coney Island, Six Point and others) and regional beer on tap.

Best of all, you can enjoy them on the rooftop patio overlooking the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges and the Manhattan skyline. You don’t even have to get up from your table—you can now order and pay from your smartphone!

Happy spring!

* This article was originally published here