New Yorkers are pretty groovy folks, what with our obsession with crystals and frequent visits to the best psychics in NYC. We’ve already had astrology-themed dinners come to the city last year and now NYC is getting an entire, astrology-inspired bar: Meet Little Dipper. 

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Opening on Friday, May 3, at 135 West 30th Street, the immersive cocktail bar from Bobby Papachryssanthou and Steven Duran—the team behind The Ditty and Goldie’s Tavern—pays tribute to the horoscopes and their energies by offering “an ingredient-driven, vibrant cocktail program” where each beverage is inspired by one of the zodiac signs.

The 12 cosmos-inspired cocktails include the Aries-themed “Warrior Vibe,” made with whiskey, aloe honey, cherry bitters and a tableside infusion of green tea; the leonine “King of the Jungle” with vodka, pineapple ginger shrub, Le Moné, maple, gum arabic and topped with elderflower tonic; and the Cancer-minded “Devoted” dill-infused gin, brennivin, lemon and gooseberry. Virgos like Beyoncé can sip on a Star Maiden (arugula-infused mezcal, marshmallow root-infused banana, simple syrup, lime and an aperitivo float); while you indecisive Libras get seek “Balance” with strawberry-infused amaro, absinthe and cinnamon cream.  

To complement the celestial quaffs at the 40-seat bar, the food program includes shareable bar bites like chicken bites and caviar with French onion dip; a smoked trout dip with market vegetables; uni tater tots with lemon-citrus mayo; and a selection of seasonal nigiri (king salmon, Wagyu beef). Additionally, fresh hand rolls will be offered tableside on a Japanese-style street cart with options such as spicy scallop and fresh toro. 

And the digs will be fittingly galactic: a stairwell featuring a mural of constellation and zodiac-inspired scenes leads you into the intimate, subterranean space, which features blue velvet banquette seating, white marble tables, constellation-shaped light fixtures, and screens on the ceiling to imitate the night sky with shooting stars. The bar will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 5pm to 4am. 

Check out the out-of-this-world cocktails and space at Little Dipper below:  

* This article was originally published here

There’s plenty of obvious ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo: with the city’s best cheap tacos and best guacamole, all washed down with the best margaritas (on the rocks, duh). But a French restaurant usually isn’t your typical setting for fiesta-ing during the May 5 festivities—until now.

Tribeca bistro Frenchette (241 West Broadway) is getting in the south-of-the-border fun with a collaborative Cinco de Mayo celebration alongside acclaimed East Austin restaurant Suerte, which is known for its combination of traditional Mexican cooking techniques, local Texas ingredients and house-made masa. 

RECOMMENDED: NYC’s 18 best Mexican restaurants right now

On Sunday, May 5 for both lunch (11am to 3pm) and dinner services (5pm to 9pm), Frenchette will welcome Suerte chef Fermin Nunez and his team into the restaurant’s kitchen to whip up an all-day multi-course menu showcasing a blend of French and Mexican flavors. The lunchtime three-course option will be priced at $60 and will include appetizer dishes such as oysters with mignonette and chorizo, croissants suadero and pan perdue, and a choice of mains like œufs rancheros with morels, brandade flautas with salsa roja and an omelet barbacoa with escabeche and charred tomato. 

The four-course dinner spread will be set at $125 per guest and will open with modern fusion plates like a foie gras tostada, a tarte aux carnitas and pâté de lapin with chili de arbol, followed by main courses such as roasted duck with mole negro and tortilla; filet au poivre Mexicano with chipotle and mezcal; and barbacoa king oyster mushrooms with chili pasilla. And for something a little sweet, you can choose between a trio of desserts to finish the evening off: a classic tres leches, a Paris–Brest with Mexican chocolate, and a birthday cake with meringue and strawberries. 

Bookings are now live for the Frenchette x Suerte Cinco de Mayo collaboration dinner—you can reserve your spot on Resy. You can check out the menus both for the lunch prix fixe and the dinner spread below: 

* This article was originally published here

Kicking off this May and running through September, TSQ Live is a series of over 80 free, open-air performances all over Times Square. Basically, a giant, free outdoor event festival with programs presented by the likes of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Soul Summit and more. 

“Living up to its name, the Crossroads of the World, the free public programming of our plazas in Times Square is a direct reflection of our community, culture, and all that New York City has to offer and is just as diverse and dynamic as the people in Times Square,” said Joe Papa, director of events and programming at the Times Square Alliance, in an official statement about the series. “Complete with emerging artists as well as charting pop stars, this year’s TSQ LIVE lineup is stacked with an incredible range of talent, from a solo cellist creating an intimate soundscape to in-your-face rock-out moments; from a 17-piece big band to a 40+ dance crew; and everything in between at a venue like no other.”

This year’s full lineup can be found right here, but some standouts include dance workshops by Ailey Extension, held every Thursday in May and encompassing a variety of styles; weekly DJ sets by the likes of FEMME HOUSE, Matinée Social Club and Elsewhere; and a new series called Street Lab that will feature pop-up activations for entire families focusing on all things art.

This year, for the first time ever, TSQ LIVE will also be hosting an open call for musicians and singers who would like to perform in the middle of Times Square. All those interested can apply using this link right here.

By the looks of it, Times Square will actually be the most popular neighborhood in NYC this summer.

* This article was originally published here

Subway announcements, and the voices behind them, are part and parcel of New York City living. So when news regarding a shift in those audio clips reaches us, our attention is peaked. 

Case in point: a new report by The City outlining the MTA’s decision to test new audio tracks underground “with on-train announcements from boldface name New Yorkers and in-station promotions for big-ticket events.”

According to the outlet “a pair of one-year pilot programs […] will gauge rider reaction to announcement aboard trains and to some that will, at select stations, play paid advertisements for sporting and entertainment events.” 

This isn’t an entirely new concept. 

Just last year, subway riders were treated to a number of audio promos about the then-to-be-released movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Even before then, in 2020, Awkwafina partnered with the MTA to promote her Comedy Central TV show, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens. For a week, the actress was the voice heard on the 7 train during announcements.

A year later, in 2021, famous New Yorkers like Edie Falco and Jerry Seinfeld recorded pandemic-era messages inviting commuters to wear masks on the subway. 

The new trial run, in effect through the beginning of April 2025, will include a set of guidelines: there will be volume and frequency limits in place and, although “designed to raise money for the agency through fees charged to program partners,” according to The City, the ads will have to abide by an advertising policy that prohibits politically-inclined content, the promotion of alcohol or tobacco, and sexually explicit material.

Who knew there was so much to know about those subway announcements that pepper our daily commutes?

* This article was originally published here