Asian-inspired night market comes to Brooklyn, New York

by Jessica Festa on

On Sunday, October 9, 2011, from 5PM to midnight, the Brooklyn Night Bazaar will be held at Dekalb Market in Brooklyn, New York. The event, which is inspired by the night markets across Asia, will feature more than 65 independent vendors, food, music, art, and a beer and wine garden, all outdoors. While the event is free, there will be a ticket charge of $12-$15 to enter the performance area. Tickets can be purchased here.

Some things to expect:

Dekalb Market is located at 138 Willoughby St., at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue Extension and Willoughby in Brooklyn, New York.

White & Church in TriBeCa, New York, serves worm, scorpion, and cricket cocktails

by Jessica Festa on

This past summer, White & Church opened in TriBeCa, New York, as an inventive Italian restaurant with an extensive cocktail list. On the drink menu, not only will you find interesting food-based cocktails such as a Bloody Mary mixed with mussels, as well as nature-inspired libations including a martini made from smoked tree-bark, you will also find cocktails that include bugs.

No more are the days when you can get a drink on the house if you find an insect in your vodka. At White & Church, that insect is actually a garnish.

Some of the bug cocktail options you can sample here, according to Brian Niemietz of the New York Post, include:

  • Summer-This piña-colada style drink is garnished with bamboo (don’t eat) and crickets (eat). Supposedly, they add an element of sweetness to the cocktail.
  • Blue Velvet– This brandy-based libation is a mixture of Sambucca and Créme de Menthe and is topped with a scorpion. Don’t worry, it’s not alive.
  • Why Not– This frozen cocktail is similar to a margarita with the addition of avocado, red pepper, and spicy worms.

Want to see how these cocktails are made for yourself? Check out this video:


Ajungo, the new social network platform just for travelers

by Jessica Festa on

Sick of searching through advice sites and hearing reviews from who only knows? Wish you could connect with other travelers about past or upcoming trips and events? Love social networking but wish you could interact with others in your travel niche? Then there is a brand new social media website just for travelers that brings together all of these platforms into one site.

Ajungo, created by Ben Barton and Steve Shea, is a brand new networking site that allows travelers to connect before, during, and after a trip. Here is how it works:

1) Create a profile and link all of your social networking sites. What this does is allows the site to funnel through your social networking platforms to pull information and funnel it around specific
destinations.

2) Find others who have been to your destination of choice and look through their posted trip or ask them for advice. Or, you can find others who will be in your destination of choice and plan to meet up or travel together.

3) Create your trip canvas, which consists of enabling the sites real-time travel guide feature so that the site can pull your photos and updates while you’re on your trip. This allows other travelers to learn from your experience as well as acts like a blog or trip journal by keeping your trip memories organized and sharing them with friends.

The goal of the site is to make travel more social as well as more comfortable for people going to new destinations. And, if there is any information that you do not want shared, the site will not post it without your permission.

Make connections with travelers, view their trips, find travel buddies, or just interact with others in the travel community. It is all possible on Ajungo.

10 bars in new york city to get a spicy cocktail

by Jessica Festa on

Now that summer is over, light and fruity flavors are going out of season. With the Fall comes the smell of cinnamon, a chill in the air, and the need for some spice. So when the temperature goes down, head over to one of these 10 New York City bars to get your body temperature up with a spicy cocktail.

Mayahuel
304 E. 6th St., East Village

Come here for the Stone Raft Cocktail, a mixture of Tequila, Mezcal, Amontillado Sherry, Agave Nectar, Celery Bitter, and of course, Jalapeños. This cocktail is guaranteed to make you sweat.

Barrio Chino
253 Broome St., Lower East Side

Habañero-lovers should come to this bar for two reasons. First, the Habañero-Infused Grapefruit Margarita which mixes Habañero-Infused Tequila with grapefruit juice and comes in a sugar-rimmed glass. Looking for something a little less sweet? They also have a Habañero-Infused Lime Margarita.

Death and Company
433 E. 6th St., East Village

This place has an two amazing cocktails that are sure to get your heart racing. For those who like their martinis shaken, try the Southern Exposure Cocktail, a mix of Jalapeño-Infused Chinaco Blanco Tequila, Sombra Mezcal, fresh squeezed lime juice, Petit Cane Syrup, fresh red pepper puree, and kosher salt. If you would rather have your martini stirred, opt for the Yama Blanca, which mixes Centinela Reposado Tequila, Jalapeño-Infused Chinaco Blanco Tequila, Blanc Vermouth, and Velvet Falernum.

Fatty Cue
91 S. 6th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Get the Smokin Bone! A blend of homemade smoked pineapple syrup, Bourbon, lime, a blend of chocolate bitters from Fee Brothers and Bittermans, and, the best part, Tabasco.

The Smith
55 Third Ave., East Village

The name of their heat-inducing concoction, Angry Apple, immediately brings to mind an image of Fall on fire. This fiery recipe mixes vodka, fresh apple, Jalapeño, apple liqueur, and lemon, for a sweet and spicy balance.

Dos Caminos
675 Hudson St., Meatpacking District

The Cosmo, a usually sweet and sugary drink, gets set on fire in the Cosmo Del Diablo, a mix of Skyy Vodka infused with five chiles, pineapple, and passion fruit.

Poco
33 Ave. B, Alphabet City

Most people love a good Margarita, but how about one with a kick to it? The Jalapeño Margarita here is a blend of Jalapeño-infused tequila, house-made sour mix, fresh lime, triple sec, and a splash of orange juice.

Rosa Mexicano
9 E. 18th St., Union Square

If you want something with just a bit of spice, try the Guayaba Limonada, made with Cruzan Guava Rum, lime juice, and a bit of Habañero-lime syrup. To kick it up a notch, opt for the En Fuego, a spicy mix of Cachaca (Brazilian rum), orange juice, lime juice, and shaken with diced Jalapeños. Ouch!

Prune Restaurant
54 E. 1st St., East Village

With their own special menu just for Bloody Mary’s, this restaurant can make your drink as hot as you like. The Southwest Bloody Mary uses Herradura Anejo Tequila, limes, and smoked chipotle peppers. Or, if you’re in the mood for more of a spicy barbeque flavor, order a Green Lake Bloody Mary, which blends Absolut Vokda, wasabi, and beef jerky.

10 bars in new york city that serve free food

by Jessica Festa on

Dining in New York can get pretty expensive, even when eating at cheaper restaurants. Use this list to help you navigate through New York and find some of the best free food that the city has to offer.

Dell’ Anima
38 8th Ave., West Village

Because aperitivo is such an important part of the culture in Italy, Dell’ Anima brings the tradition to New York by offering a free buffet of starters, such as grilled veggies, olives, and pastas, when you order a drink on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 4PM-6PM.

Rudy’s Bar and Grill
627 9th Ave., Hell’s Kitchen

This old-school bar not only has cheap beer and free hot dogs, but Rudy’s Bar and Grill also has a historical background, being one of the first bars in New York City to regain its liquor license after prohibition. In fact, the current owner, Jack, has been drinking here since 1943.

Crocodile Lounge
353 E. 14th St., East Village

A free personal pizza with every drink purchase at the Crocodile Lounge. And if you needed another reason to check it out, there is skeeball as well as a back patio.

Spring Lounge
48 Spring St., Nolita

Every Wednesday at the Spring Lounge from 5PM on, bar-goers can enjoy free hot dogs battered in a different beer each week. Hungover on Sunday morning? This bar serves free bagels from 12PM on.

Ballaro Cafe Prosciutteria
77 2nd Ave., East Village

Ballaro Cafe Prosciutteria is a rustic wine bar that hosts an aperitivo from 6PM-8PM each night. Diners who order a glass of wine or a pint of beer receive a complimentary spread of starters such as olives, cheeses, cured meats, and bruschetta.

Cucina di Pesce
87 E. 4th St., East Village

A contemporary Italian restaurant, Cucina di Pesce offers free mussels at the bar. This is very convenient at night when it gets busy and you want to order a drink while you wait for a table. They also have a buy one, get one free promotion on drinks and appetizers everyday from 4PM-8PM.

Iron Horse
32 Cliff St., Financial District

Come into the Iron Horse on Sundays from 12PM-10PM for free burgers and hot dogs with every drink purchase over $3. Want more than one? Simply order another drink.

The Cupping Room Cafe
359 W. Broadway, Soho

For those who love pub grub (chicken wings, anyone?), head over to the Cupping Room Cafe from 5PM-7:30PM, Monday-Friday, for free bar food.

Burp Castle
41 E. 7th St., East Village

Every Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday, Burp Castle offers customers free pommes frites around 6PM until they run out. While French fries may not sound that exciting, these are not just any fries. Burp Castle orders them from Pommes Frites specifically, as they make authentic Belgium-style fries. Get there before they run out.

Mullane’s Bar & Grill
71 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene, Brooklyn

When it comes to free bar food, Mullane’s Bar & Grill doesn’t mess around. Weekdays from 4PM-7PM bar-goers can enjoy a free buffet. While the fare changes weekly, expect items such as lasagna, quesadillas, French fries, meatloaf, and more.