Raines Law Room, New York, NY

This past Thursday I had a date, so I suggested we grab a drink at Raines Law Room. I’ve heard several good comments about this place, so I had been dying to check it out for a while. Unfortunately, I don’t always venture “all the way” up to 17^th Street, but my date wanted to meet at Union Square, so I thought it would be the perfect place. I was a little skeptical when we first arrived, since there is a kind of pretentious door policy, where you have to ring the doorbell at an unmarked door and hope that the maître d’ will seat you. Given that it was 20 degrees and there was a party of six waiting ahead of us, I almost suggested we go elsewhere. However, we ended up getting a table pretty quickly and I was definitely glad we stuck it out.

I’m kind of obsessed by these sort of dark, period-setting speakeasies, like The Bourgeois Pig. I would describe Raines Law Room as an English dandy’s living room, complete with plush Chesterfield sofas, a fireplace, and heavy curtains. To order a drink, you simply illuminate the call-light at your table and a friendly waitress will rush over to help you choose a cocktail. Raines Law Room has a four-part cocktail menu (classic, signature, fancy, and seasonal), as well as a beer, wine, and liquor menu.

My date got the Champs Elysées (Hennessy VS Cognac, Green Chartreuse, Lemon Juice, Sugar, Angostura Bitters, and a Lemon Twist, shaken and served up). I got a glass of Moët & Chandon Rosé. Champagne is my go-to drink, but after tasting my date’s cocktail, I kind of wish I had ordered one myself. I definitely recommend Raines Law Room, with the caveat that it might be more difficult to get a table on a weekend night.

-Marcus

Raines Law Room

48 West 17th Street (between 5th and 6th)

New York, NY 10011

www.raineslawroom.com/

Babouche, Brooklyn, NY

My friend Ashlyn has been working as a server for the past several months at Babouche. Although I go to Park Slope pretty frequently, I hadn't made the effort to try out her restaurant until this past Friday. It was definitely worth it. Officially, Babouche is a Moroccan restaurant, but in reality, it offers a great mix of authentic Moroccan dishes, such as zaâlouk, couscous, and kefta tagine, tradition French cuisine, like tartare and magret de canard, as well as some American-style appetizers like Cobb Salad or crab cakes. As soon as I walked into Babouche, I knew I liked it. The decor was certainly Moroccan-inspired, with huge bronze lanterns hanging from the ceiling, poufs, a warm fireplace, and beautiful carpets. The night I was there, they also had live Moroccan music, which complimented the restaurant's theme. You can also enjoy shishah in the downstairs lounge. I honestly was not too excited about the menu, since I'm not a huge fan of Moroccan food and I generally avoid French restaurants outside of France. However, if everything at Babouche is as good as the tartare de thon and the crab cakes à la Marocaine that I had, then I will definitely be returning a lot. Both dishes were very flavorful, had generous portions and were reasonably priced. What I loved the most about Babouche though is the layout. In the front, there is a more Western-style dining room, with elegant tables and chairs, as well as a lounge area next to the wood-burning fireplace. The backroom is traditional Moroccan, resembling the inside of a genie's lamp. Finally, the downstairs is a swanky, Arabic-style lounge... a great place to enjoy shishah and mint tea.
I am definitely excited to go back to try some more of their food and relax in the lounge.

-Marcus

Babouche Restaurant and Lounge
2 Lincoln Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
www.babouchenyc.com/

The Bourgeois Pig, New York, NY

The Bourgeois Pig is one of my favorite East Village hangouts. The decor is over the top, but really adds to the great ambiance. Who doesn't enjoy pretending that they're having drinks in the boudoir of a 19th-century Parisian vampiress? Not really a dinner spot, The Bourgeois Pig does, however, offer an Alpine-inspired menu of cheese plates, fondues, and tartines. The food is good, but slightly overpriced and not quite authentic. The real reason I come here though (and I think this is becoming an overriding theme in my posts) is for the drinks. Don't come here looking for tequila shots or screwdrivers! The Pig's drink selection is much more sophisticated.

For starters, The Pig has an extensive list of wines from all over France... reds, whites, rosés, sparklings, and aperitifs. The Veuve Ambal is a great deal at $8 a glass. When I'm feeling like a splurge, they have an excellent red from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region of the Rhône Valley. For those who are looking for something with a bit more kick, The Pig also has a wide array of wine cocktails, sangrias, champagne cocktails, beers, and beer cocktails. If you have a big group, be sure to order the champagne punch, which is served in an elegant silver punchbowl. Reservations recommended, especially on weekends.

-Marcus

The Bourgeois Pig
111 East 7th Street (between 1st and A)
New York, NY 10009
www.bourgeoispigny.com/

The Passenger, Washington, DC

"Diving" into DC speakeasys.

Secrets—keeping them, leaking them—are currency in this town. From Rahm to Real [Housewives of DC - HOLLA]…new boozy hideouts for one-on-one lobbying/gossiping are all the rage. And since information is power, I'll share a bit of info with you: The Passenger.

Below is my very own ByTheNumbersTellAll about The Passenger, a rough-and-ready watering hole I HIGHLY recommend for a night of casual refinement:

Beers in cans: 15

Beers on tap: 4

Cocktails on the menu: 2

Number of cocktails on the menu called the Sherry Flip that come in a pitcher: 1

Dim light fixtures: 11

Dark corners for aforementioned one-on-one lobbying: 7

Naked light bulbs hanging from the ceiling by wires: 1

Naked women hanging from the ceiling by wires: 0 (yet)

Approximate date of the wood floors: 1890

Hot Dogs on the menu: 2

Hot Dogs with Kimchee (I KNOW, RIGHT? where my koreanz at??) on the menu: 1

That being said, the best thing about The Passenger are their personally tailored cocktails. Just do your best to describe the type of drink you're in the mood for - sweet, not so sweet...idk - and I promise these bartenders will be able to decipher. I said I wanted something tasty, light and different and got some type of apricot liquor, lemon and absinthe cocktail....or four :)

Four stars!

Anyway, stay tuned for more DCadventures from me

Best

-Myca

The Passenger

1021 7th Street NW

Washington, DC

Top 5 Favorite Beaches in the World

1. Positano, Italy : I love pebble beaches because it feels so much cleaner than sand. The water is so clear and the scenary is sooo beautiful ... no wonder so many celebrities vacation here.
2. Patong Beach - Phuket, Thailand : It's amazing how the beach is surrounded by forest and greenery. Unlike America, coconuts are inexpensive in Asia and so delicious to drink (must drink one on the beach). If you ever visit Thailand, make sure it's not during monsoon season, May to October, because it rains all the time. Still, I went in August and I was able to get a day of sun...and flights are cheaper in the summer!
3. Cinque Terre, Italy : After hiking between the little towns, jump off the cliffs and take a swim. This place was so calming and you feel like you're in the middle of no where ... well you kind of are... 4. Pipeline - North Shore, Hawaii : I love taking "road trips" to the North Shore to remind myself how amazing it was to grow up in Hawaii. I rarely go in the water on the North Shore because unless it's summer, the waves are like 10 ft high.
5. Kaimana Beach - Honolulu, Hawaii : I frequent this beach whenever I go home because it's in the center of town in Waikiki but not crowded with tourists. Good for swimming and laying out.

-Kristien

La Velvet Margarita Cantina, Hollywood, California

The perfect place to have dinner parties when you're craving Mexican food! The place is decorated like a Mexican version of Alice in Wonderland, so the atmosphere along with the festive music makes for a fun and crazy spot to pre-party before going out in Hollywood. I just recently threw a surprise birthday dinner here for my bff, Katherine.

There are set prices on the menu so it makes splitting the check super easy: Appetizers $8, Entrees $16. I get excited every time I go because they always give free salsa and bean dip for the table. Not to mention the margaritas and tequila here are delicious--I don't usually take tequila shots but the cheapest ones here run smoothly down your throat and actually taste good. Also, if you're cute you can get them for $5 instead of $8! I either got the discount because I played the ingenue, "they're $8 each?!?" or because I ordered 30 shots for the table ... either way, the bartenders here are also fun (too bad they weren't also delicious).

Me gusta the Ahi Tacos and Strawberry Margaritas.

-Kristien

La Velvet Margarita Cantina

1612 N. Cahuenga Blvd.

Hollywood, CA 90028

http://www.velvetmargarita.com/vmc.html

Assouline, Paris, France

My favorite bookstore in Paris is Assouline, hands down. Every time I'm back, Assouline is one of my first stops. The store offers a wide array of 'lifestyle' books about everything from fashion to film to architecture. Assouline also offers great accessories for the home and high-quality stationary (if you want to know what to get me for Christmas, check out the leather-bound skull notebook on their website--I'd like it in black please ;-)...)
A few of my other favorite items include the elegant, hardcover Proust Questionnaire, a custom Goyard trunk full of Assouline titles, and the Marie Antoinette stationary set. The Assouline boutique is in the heart of Saint-Germain, only a few meters up the street from Le Pré aux Clercs on rue Bonaparte. Assouline has outposts in several other cities across the globe including New York (at 768 Fifth Avenue), but be sure to visit the Paris boutique for the real experience.
-Marcus

Assouline
35, rue Bonaparte
Paris, France 75006

Les Enfants Terribles, New York, New York

Les Enfants Terribles is one of my weekend hangouts. My friend Christy introduced me to Les Enfants when I first moved to NYC and I've been back just about every other week since... Les Enfants Terribles resembles a French bistro thanks to the sultry bartendress, the elbow-to-elbow seating arrangement, and the ubiquitous kirs found in the hands of its patrons.
Even the waiters and bartenders are French... although this can sometimes result in very French-style service (aka slow and nearly nonexistent). Nevertheless, Les Enfants is a great hangout spot, whether to catch up with some friends for dinner or to meet des expatriés over drinks at the bar. The menu is distinctly Franco-African, with inventive dishes like "Koroghofefemugu" (steak marinated with spices from Côte d'Ivoire) and "Bozo-Bozo" (potato crusted, pan-roasted seasonal fish).

The location is a little off the beaten path, on a rather dead section of Canal Street, which arguably contributes to the ambiance... one would say that you're in a quiet section of Montmartre or back in colonial Casablanca rather than downtown New York. In any case, Les Enfants Terribles comes highly recommended whether you're looking for a champagne cocktail or some African cuisine. There's also a DJ on weekend nights. Be sure to reserve a table if you're planning on dinner.

-Marcus

Les Enfants Terribles
37 Canal Street (and Ludlow)
New York, NY 10002

Vbar&cafe, New York, New York

I thought it would be appropriate to write about one of my favorite new york coffee shops after my post about Le Pré aux Clercs. This distinction would have to go to Vbar&cafe at Washington Square. It's literally across the street from the law school buildings, so you can often find me there between classes or grabbing a latte on my way to lecture.
I love Vbar's unassuming façade and it's cozy interior. You definitely feel like you're in a neighborhood coffee shop, not at a carbon-copy of Starbucks or Au Bon Pain. Moreover, the prices are great... you can't beat $2.50 for a latte, especially in NYC!

At night, the coffee shop turns into a dimly-lit wine and beer bar... they have dozens of wines (by the glass, carafe, or bottle) as well as a large selection of beers from all over the world. The location is great, whether you want to grab a coffee and have a walk in the park or meet up with friends for a drink before heading out to go dancing. I highly recommend checking it out. The only drawback is that it's quite small and there is limited seating.

-Marcus

Vbar&cafe
225 Sullivan Street (between Bleecker & W. 3rd)
New York, NY 10012

Le Pré aux Clercs, Paris, France

Le Pré aux Clercs is one of my favorite cafés in Saint-Germain. It's just a couple of blocks away from the Saint-Germain-des-Prés metro stop on line 4 and is the perfect place to grab a quick noisette or café crème while taking a break from shopping. It's also about halfway between the Louvre and the Jardin du Luxembourg or Notre Dame and the Musée d'Orsay, so it's great if your feet are killing you after a day of sightseeing. Although it's only a stone's throw away from the more famous Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, you can avoid the gaudy tourists and overpriced espressos that have ruined these two Parisian institutions by enjoying a glass of wine on the terrasse at Le Pré aux Clercs. It's also a great vantage point for people watching. On the same street, you'll find Dior, La Durée, and a number of high-end art and furniture galleries, so, inevitably there's a constant stream of chic Frenchmen and women strolling past the café's windows. It's definitely a must when in Paris.

-Marcus

Le Pré aux Clercs
30, rue Bonaparte
Paris, France 75006