SocialSabbatical.com by Mark Anthony Thomas | New York City in 40 Days and 40 Nights

2008-02-19T17:46:00.001-08:00

... Wristbands, tabs at bars.

Email passes and VIP cards;

... Tickets Stubs, coatchecks.

Last calls, yet separate checks ...

These are a few relics that make up our social lives ... on a daily, weekly,
regular basis.

I am Mark Anthony Thomas, a writer living and working in the Manhattan Borough of New York City in the United States. I receive invitations to many events, parties, socials, lectures, but as a relatively busy person I hadn't fully maximized my social life while living in the big city.

So ... I took 40 Days and 40 Nights (Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - SuperBowl
Sunday, February 3, 2008) to take a full out "Social Sabbatical" to capture my social life in my first online
blog/journal.

This Social Sabbatical (note: I re-defined the definition) is a typical 40 day trek of what a social life of a typical New York resident. I highlight 47 social events (which include live performances, dinner & drinks, lectures, etc.) which I personally attended during this 40 day time.

Please read about my experience, visit links, forward to your friends and visitors, and enjoy my "reality" journal. I provide an entry on the experience, an assessments of the venues, and recommend whether or not you should
add this to your list of things to do, when you're in New York City.

Day 1 (December, 27, 2007) - Day 10 (January 7, 2008)

Day 11 (January 8, 2008) - Day 20 (January 14, 2008)

Day 21 (January 15, 2008) - Day 30 (January 24, 2008)

Day 31 (January 25, 2008) - Day 40 (February 3, 2008)

www.socialsabbatical.com
mat@poetryauthor.com
Published 2/18/08

1 Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2007

Jazz
at the

Lincoln Center

(Dizzy's Jazz Club)

(Manhattan-Columbus
Circle)

(#1)

Authentic Jazz...

Dizzy's is the truest of authentic jazz club. If you're into satellite
radio, many of the live performances you've heard. Beautiful venue,
great view of the Upper East Side skyline and Central Park.

Best Bet:

Monday Nights
- Upstart Special.

$15 per person.

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

2 Thursday, December 28, 2007

Harlem World Magazine

Annual Holiday Party

at the
River Room

(Manhattan-Harlem)

Dinosaur
BBQ

(Manhattan-Harlem)

(#2, #3)

Harlem on the rise...

First, the best views of the Hudson River Valley and the G.W.
Bridge, (NYC's forgotten bridge) the River Room is definitely
a classy Harlem venue. Unfortunately, Harlem World Magazine's holiday
party didn't use this as an advantage to draw much of a crowd.

B-B-Ques...

We ended up at the very popular Harlem spot ... Dinosaur BBQ. Dinosaur
is hidden among forgotten warehouses, but worth a drive from Brooklyn,
Jersey, or a train ride Uptown. You may wait 60+ minutes (without
reservations on weekend nights).

Best Bet:

For River Room, Saturday jazz performances; Sunday brunch. Great venue
for private parties.

Event Rating:

(2 out of 5 stars)

3 Friday, December 29, 2007

Nuyorican Poets Café

(Manhattan-Alphabet
City)

(#4)

Mic
Check...

NYC's famous hip hop and spoken word venue - a type of venue that defines
a city. We didn't arrive earlier, waited for nearly an hour (due to
the usual capacity controls) and enjoyed the night. This night featured
a college age poet slam and an open mic (which I couldn't help but
perform).

Best Bet:

Fridays, $10+

Event Rating:

(5 out of 5 stars)

4
Saturday, December 29th

Moca
Lounge Café

(Manhattan-Harlem)

Last call...

Moca Lounge (in South Harlem). Gets crowded after 2 a.m., it's a great
venue, although it's confused on whether it works best as a lounge,
a club, or a restaurant where you can dance?

Best Bet:

Weekends.

Usually no cost

Event Rating:

(3 out of 5 stars)

5
Sunday, December 30th

The Village Underground

(Manhattan-The
Village)

The
Underworld...

I've seen Jamie Foxx, Danity Kane, Freddie Jackson, Ryan Shaw, among others.
The best singers belt it out, with a gospel and poetic cord in between.

Best Bet:

Sundays. Ron Grant & Melanie Davis. $15

Event Rating:

(4.5 out of 5 stars)

6
Monday, December 31st

New
Year's Eve
Party

(Brooklyn-Fort
Green)

Last
Minute Invite ...

I tagged along 3 people. What a surprise. Free entry. Free drinks. Live
DJ Over 300 people.

Best Bet:

n/a

Event Rating:

(5 out of 5 stars)

7
Tuesday, January 1st

The
Village Pourhouse

(Manhattan-Union
Square)

SportsBar
Heaven...

ESPN Zone and 40/40 May be the prizes, but the Village Pourhouse is always
best for big sporting events, such as the Sugar Bowl.

Best Bet:

Game Days

Event Rating:

(3.5 out of 5 stars)

8
Wednesday, January 2nd

Havana
Central

(Manhattan-Morningside
Heights)

Reaggaeton...

Fun spot. With flavor, cuban flavor. Great for dinner, or private parties.

Best Bet:

Sunday Jazz Brunch

Event Rating:

(4.5 out of 5 stars)

9
Thursday, January 3rd

O’Lunneys

(Manhattan-Times
Square)

First
there was Iowa...

It may seem like forever-ago, but Iowa was the night Obama won his shield.
This venue teams up with the Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century
to host many events, including this great polical night.

Best Bet:

Anytime

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

10
Friday, January 4th

Tribal
Spears Gallery

(Manhattan-Harlem)

Rolodex
Party ...

Annual networking party thrown by two well connected NYC PR ladies. Beautiful
women, beautiful venue. Nice turnout, with networking sprinkled in between.

Best Bet:

Friday Night Jazz 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

11
Saturday, January 5th

Maroon’s
Bar and Lounge

(Manhattan-Chelsea)

Island
Desire ...

Uptown Jamaican in Chelsea. Nice venue and below ground location. Jerk
Chicken is phire. literally.

Best Bet:

Sundays (Brunches are big in NYC)

Event Rating:

(3 out of 5 stars)

12
Sunday, January 6th

Rare
Bar & Grill

(Manhattan-The
Village)

Maybe
I'm crazy...

For the health conscious, this Village spot is a great compromise if you're
seeking something familiar and eccentric, but not too far removed.

Best Bet:

Weekends.

Usually no cost

Event Rating:

(2.5 out of 5 stars)

13
Monday, January 7th

Starbucks – Columbus Circle

(Manhattan-Columbus
Circle)

Writers
Block ...

Maybe I'm crazy, but some rare-type food ruined my stomach. In a midnight
hour (36 hours of sleep later) I came here to write. This spot
is the writers block in the midnight hour for the educated, homeless,
and every human soul seeking ventilation in between. It's a worker's wonder.

Best Bet:

Anytime.

Event Rating:

(3.5 out of 5 stars)

14
Tuesday, January 8th

Night Off

15
Wednesday, January 9th

Melba’s

(Manhattan-Harlem)

Feels
Like Home...

Good soul food, without the extra unhealthiness. Nice intimate environment,
and friendly owners.

Best Bet:

Wednesdays

Event Rating:

(3.5 out of 5 stars)

16
Thursday, January 10th

Pop
Burger

(Manhattan-Chelsea)

Beautiful stranger...

Picture a fly-white castle in the front,
and a jazzy lounge in the back. That's Pop Burger. Cool joint on the
edge of the Meatpacking District. The billiards room looks like the
scene from Hitch. The Midtown location towers above the Apple Store.

Best Bet:

Anytime

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

17

Friday, January 11th

The
Central Bar

(Manhattan-East
Village )

Café
La Lo

(Manhattan-Upper
West Side)

(#17, #18)

Lot going on...

Cool East Village crowd (which means NYU students and a few people pushing
30). DJ spun Hip Hop on this Friday, two-layer level club.

Late night dessert...

Romantic, when not crowded. A crew of us took this Upper West
Side spot over at 2 a.m., bring cash.

Best Bet:

Fridays

Event Rating:

(3.5 out of 5 stars)

La Lo: Best Bet:

Late Nights

Event Rating:

(3.5 out of 5 stars)

18
Saturday, January 12th

Bar
300

Chelsea Piers

(Manhattan-Chelsea)

(#19)

DJ,
bars, and bolling lanes...

Bowling on another level. DJs and huge projection video screens keep the
crowd moving, eases the pain of the price-per game.

Best Bet:

Weekends.

Usually no cost

Event Rating:

(2.5 out of 5 stars)

19
Sunday, January 13th

Spoonbread

(Manhattan-Harlem)

(#20)

Aunt
Amy, Sylvia, sit down here...

The best Harlem soul food that tastes like at least the gravy came from
below the mason-dixon line.

Best Bet:

Sundays. Oopen every day though.

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

20
Monday, January 14th

Night Off

21
Tuesday,
January 15th

Spotlight
Live

(Manhattan-Times
Square)

(#21)

What a night...

Skip the fact that Ne-Yo performed (though very well), and that Jay-Z
was there. Denzel Washington's random appearance in this spot made the
night.

Blogs on the event 1),
2)

Exclusive event, with a few too many
Hollywood & Highland moments trying to get confirmation to get inside.

Best Bet:

Tuesdays or special musical showcase.

Event Rating:

(2.5 out of 5 stars)

22
Wednesday, January 16th

Citrus

(Manhattan-Upper
West Side)

(#22)

Latin/Asian
Worlds Collide...

Sushi is top notch there. But the meals are on point. The chefs also provide
cooking courses on other days.

Best Bet:

Anytime. A favorite NYC spot.

Event Rating:

(5 out of 5 stars)

23
Thursday, January 17th

Fashion 40

(Manhattan-Times
Square)

(#23)

Learn
to love...

this spot, because it will become a staple for your club life if you're
a new yorker. This is perfect no where else to go spot. On this evening,
the WallStreet Alphas sponsored a mixer for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's
100 Year Celebration.

Best Bet:

Weekends.

Usually no cost

Event Rating:

(2.5 out of 5 stars)

24
Friday, January 18th

Alpha
House

Harlem
Event for AKAs

(Manhattan-Harlem)

Bar
13

(Manhattan-Union
Square)

(#24, #25)

The Village Peopler...

Bar 13 works best when the DJ doesn't mix in Soija Boy with Nirvana.
At least three levels, tons of space, college crowd, nonetheless, a
great spot.

Visited the Alpha House
for another AKA related party. See photos of Charles Rangel, David Dinkins,
Adam Clayton Powell, NYC's godfathers.

Best Bet:

Fridays

Event Rating:

(3 out of 5 stars)

25
Saturday, January 19th

Sugar Bar

(Manhattan-Upper
West Side)

Aspen
NYC

(Manhattan-Union
Square)

(#26, #27)

For lovers sake...

Ashford and Simpson's spot in Upper West ... done right in every kind
of way! Great venue. Worthy food. Always a surprise.

Colorado
Decor...

The DJ's electric system rocks through
this narrow lounge's walls. Arrive early, have dinner and stay, but
not too late. Celebrity spot.

Best Bet:

Depends. Restaurant first. Party Lounge second.

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

26
Sunday, January 20th

O'Conolly's

(Manhattan-Times
Square)

Retreat

(Manhattan-Union
Square)

(#28, #29)

Almost There ...

Giants defeated Green Bay. In this somewhat dry, but good pub, we watched
the game.

Purple Rain...

Retreat is a lounge made for private parties. Open spaces, tables on
the sides, and a beautiful design. Went for a party that took a second
to get jumping.

Best Bet:

Special occassions, or afterwork.

Event Rating:

(2.5 out of 5 stars)

27
Monday, January 21st

The
Porter House

(Manhattan-Columbus
Circle)

(#30)

Out
of my range... but not for long

The Time Warner building has a slew of NYC's nicest restaurants that are
above standard prices. BUT, this was Restaurant
Week and it made the price right on-point for a great meal.

Best Bet:

Anytimes. Upper echelon of prices

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

28
Tuesday, January 22nd

Night Off

29
Wednesday, January 23rd

Londel’s
Super Club

(Manhattan-Harlem)

(#31)

Ohh
she made us drinks, to drink...

we drunk them. Another Harlem spot, at Strivers
Row. Weekends they bring in great bands to entertain the old-school
crowd. The lady bartender is beautiful and friendly.

Best Bet:

Anyday (closed Sunday nights)

Event Rating:

(3 out of 5 stars)

30
Thursday, January 24th

Pepsi
Smash Event

@ Pacha

(Manhattan-Hell's
Kitchen )

(#32)

Hollywood Shuffle...

Another fire-hazzard crowded Manhattan party. But worth every liability
(minus the crazy coatcheck). John Legend and Estelle rocked the house
though, in this short but hot event. Here
are wireimage photos.

Pacha is a multilayered
large club, worthy of a taxi ride over.

Best Bet:

It Depends --- Check website regularly.

Event Rating:

(4.5 out of 5 stars)

31 Friday,
January 25th

One
Step Beyond @ Natural Museum of History

(Manhattan-Upper
West Side)

(#33)

The Good Life
...

Last minute invite, found us in line to check out the Museum's monthly
hip hop venture. This month, The Cool Kids (think Kanye West's grammy
performance), were hosting. Didn't know that Kanye would make a surprise
performance, which is why we, and about 400 people, couldn't get in.

Best Bet:

(5 out of 5 stars)

32 Saturday, January
26th

The
Den

(Manhattan-Harlem)

(#34) Red lights in the Basement ...

Minus the ghetto names of the mixed drinks this spot actually keeps the
good times rolling. Food isn't the selling point, but the right event is
worth a trek for.

Best
Bet:

Weekends.

Usually no cost

Event Rating:

(3 out of 5 stars)

33 Sunday, January
27th

Billie
Black’s

(Manhattan-Harlem)

(#35) One word: Catfish...

I'm sure the other foods will get you right, but trust, the catfish there
is the greatest on the island. Live bands and poetry also stop through

Best Bet:

Sunday brunch, good deals.

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

34 Monday,
January 28th

Earth
Institute

Show Me

Poverty Tour

with

John Legend

San
Domenico

(Manhattan-Central
Park South)

(#36, #37)

Down for the cause...

John Legend teamed up with Jeff Sachs, author of "End of Poverty"
and director of Columbia University's Earth
Institute to promote his Show
Me Poverty Tour. Fresh off the Pepsi Smash, saw John Legend perform
a few more sings and discuss his philanthropic efforts.

Central
Park South...

James Bond-classy spot. Upscale and (for that week) discounted, :) for
Restaurant
Week.

Best Bet:

N/A

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

35 Tuesday,
January 29th

Hue-Man
Bookstore

(Manhattan-Harlem)

RENT
– Broadway

(Manhattan-Times
Square)

(#38, #39)

Book Jewel ...

Young motivational speaker and author Farrah
Gray spoke at Hue-Man Bookstore, which is a Harlem-jewel + equipped
with a coffee shop.

525,600 minutes...

Not to end the night early, went to see RENT (which closes in June 2008)
with Tamyra Gray.

Best Bet:

Anytime - they close at 8 p.m. on weekdays though.

Event Rating:

(2.5 out of 5 stars)

36 Wednesday,
January 30th

The
Whitney Museum

(Manhattan-Upper
East Side)

Cilantro
NYC

(Manhattan-Upper
West Side)

(#40, #41)

Fade
to Black...

Attended a film featuring critic Margo Jefferson and filmmakers Marco
Williams and Michelle Parkerson. Event highlighted acclaimed artist Kara
Walker. Her exhibit has ended, but the Whitney is always worthy of a visit.

Cilantro:

Southwestern-inspired spot in the Upper West. Also in the Upper East Side.

Best Bet:

Closed Mondays,

any other day.

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

37 Thursday, January
31st

ONE
– Restaurant

(Manhattan-Meapacking
Distric)

(#42) SexyBack...

Love this spot. Banging sound system. Best with a group of friends and hard-sole
shoes, to guarantee the bouncers permit your entrance.

Best
Bet:

Weekends. Lunch or dinner.

Event Rating:

(4 out of 5 stars)

38

Friday, February 1st

The
Shrine

Restaurant

& Bar

(Manhattan-Harlem)I
stumbled on this Harlem spot, and fell in love. This world music venue,
is purely that. All cultures collide in a festive Lower East Side meets
Brooklyn kind of way. Hidden in Central Harlem. Visit
their myspace page.

Best
Bet:

Open every day, 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. Hot on Fridays!

Event Rating:

(5 out of 5 stars)

39 Saturday,
February 2nd

Max Soha Italian

(Manhattan-Harlem)

The
Canal Room

(Manhattan-Tribeca)

(#44, #45) Neighborhood
spot ...

Bring cash only, but it's worth it. Limited menu but good.

Night & Day...

Two different spots in one. A hot club at night, a cool lunch spot for afternoons.
I went for a party, but live 'exclusive performances' go down here.

Best Bet:

Any day with Max Soha. Canal Room: visit website or search promoters.

Event Rating:

(3.5 out of 5 stars)

40 Sunday, February
3rd

The
Five Spot

(Brooklyn-Fort
Green)

(#46, #47)

Super Sunday...

Popular Brooklyn spot --- artistic venue. Attended Kevin Powell's Superbowl
Party.

Finished the sabbatical
at another private superbowl party, where the New York Giants gave me
every reason to celebrate.

Best Bet:

Wednesdays

open mic night

with Nate Jones)

Event Rating:

(3 out of 5 stars)