30 to Midnight

Chinese New Year 4708 - Year of the Tiger

If you've never been in Chinatown (Manhattan, Flushing, Sunset Park) for Lunar New Year, you're missing out. Yes it's crowded but it's exciting and fun and loud (firecrackers and bang-snaps scare away evil spirits). Every restaurant and store gets a visit from the dragon and the entire neighborhood is dressed in red (and firecracker remnants). We highly recommend getting dim sum or dinner during the next week of festivities. Tomorrow is the first day of 4708.

Manhattan Chinatown Chinese New Year Cracker Show:
Sunday 2/14/2010, 11:30am - 3:30pm
Roosevelt Park

Bacaro, Chinatown

Thursday, 9:15pm

Bacaro
136 Division St. (Ludlow), Manhattan

From the chandelier to the marble-top tables and bar to the downstairs rec room, Bacaro is outstanding. Okay, the downstairs isn't really a rec room, but it's so unlike the styled ground-level room that we're compelled to differentiate in this manner. We love the AA crowd (many twosomes), the mellow vibe (whispering, apparently), and the offering of Negroni (pictured). You know we don't usually drink liquor, but who can resist well blended gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth? Um, ask us the day after. 

M1-5 Lounge, Chinatown

Saturday, 9pm

M1-5
52 Walker St. (Church), Manhattan

Empty. Well, the bartender was there, and another guy was dragging a pool table out to the front room. One of the front rooms, that is. This place is huge.

We asked if M1-5 was a club. The bartender nodded. We asked about the age range. The bartender looked at us, trying to guess what response we wanted. Too slow. "Twenties?" we suggested. He smiled. Yes.

...and, good night.

Great N.Y. Noodletown, Chinatown

Sunday, midnight

Great N.Y. Noodletown
28 Bowery (Bayard), Manhattan

Even under scaldingly bright lights, we're happy to be drinking Tsingtao and eating bowls of wontons, noodles and broth. A three-top of people in their 30's (bloodshot and near drooling) is nearby. A five-top of people in their 30's (bridge+tunnel) also nearby. Jackpot (the age part, not the b+t part). Too bad we're too hungry and tired to socialize, as are they. One truth about Saturdays-and-30's: basic needs trump all.