30 to Midnight

Christmas Tree Lighting, Rockefeller Center

Wednesday, 7pm

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
30 Rockefeller Center (5th-6th Ave.), Manhattan

We love the City and we love Christmas, but we do not love crowds. True, the absence of Justin Bieber likely means slightly smaller and older crowds at the 2011 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, but not smaller and older enough to get us anywhere within ten blocks of this event. Street closures begin at 4pm. This is what the area looked like at 9am. Nice, huh? Will be just as nice when you (a) watch on TV, and/or (b) come back tomorrow to see the 30,000 lights.

Marriott Marquis, Times Square

Sunday post-matinee

Broadway Lounge
New York Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway (8th Ave.), Manhattan

Since childhood Sara has loved the glass elevators at the Marriott Marquis. But there's much more to see here. The Broadway Lounge doesn't rotate, but you can still get a seat overlooking Broadway, which is the best way to be near that uber-busy avenue. True it's more tourist-appropriate than age-appropriate but it's always appropriate to take a minute to remember how gorgeous are the lights and movements of the City.

The Parlour Midtown West

Sunday, 7pm

The Parlour
427 W 30th St. (8th Ave.), Manhattan

This is the fancy-pants sibling of, er, The Parlour. Not sure how sustainable their fancy-pantsness is (strange to read 'braised rabbit' while people around you are cheering; and we like rabbit, and cheering). For now it's AA, but though it's not MSG's closest bar, it's close enough that Age could change. We'll keep watch. The space is new and big and clean (pro-AA), the food is not terrible, but, really, you're coming here because your friend has to be near Penn Station and you like high ceilings with your sports. Or you're renting our their great party space upstairs or their excellent private dining room downstairs. 

Bill's Bar & Burger, Midtown

Bill's Bar & Burger
51st Street, btwn 5th and 6th, Manhattan

Stay Tuned...

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, Midtown West

Friday, 10:30pm

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill
6 Columbus Hotel
6 Columbus Circle (aka 308 W. 58th St.), Manhattan

Thankfully we have some smart friends who know about things like uptown Blue Ribbon when you, say, can't get a seat at the bar at Marea, or when you need a quietish-not-boring spot for a date. And not-boring doesn't always mean fire drill, though it did the night we sat at the bar drinking and snacking and meeting AA women from LA.

Sometimes we meet women, and later they contact us to say hello, which we'd attribute to female courtesy but maybe they're really interested in our press contacts because they make and sell an unusual product. Or maybe they're just friendly.  Either way, they, like us, know that you're never alone when you sit at the bar. That's a good thing. Bartender says the crowd is almost always AA. We noticed couples; he nodded. We also noticed those firemen checking us out (while we were taking pictures of them and their shiny truck). Pretty sure they are AI (we used to watch Rescue Me, as you know). AI is for looking. AA is for touching.

The Fantasticks, Off-Broadway (but On Broadway)

M, T, F, Sa, 8pm (other times too)

The Fantasticks
Jerry Orbach Theater
Snapple Theatre Center
210 W. 50th St (Broadway), Manhattan

Most Age Appropriates we know saw The Fantasticks at the Sullivan Street Playhouse (181 Sullivan near Houston; a pre-Civil War bulding that's now a modern-luxury apartment building). The show ran there for almost 42 years. The revival is up in the theatre district, in the theatre named for Jerry Orbach, who was in the original production (see picture with Rita Gardner and Kenneth Nelson). We're linking you to all those actors because today's post is a bit of schooling. Here's another actor to know - Jennifer Mintzer. She's seen The Fantasticks 50 times, and has played The Girl too. She was our date this time (Sara's 3rd). We were among the 40 people in the audience; small crowd even for a theatre that maybe seats 200. Honestly, we miss Sullivan Street but you should still get yourself a discount ticket and remember how fun the play is. And smart. And considerate of Age and life experience.

Knave, Parker Meridien, Midtown West

Thursday, 8pm

Knave Cafe & Bar at Le Parker Meridien Hotel
118 West 57th St. (6th AVe.), Manhattan

"Excuse me," Sara asked a concierge in the lobby while pointing, "What's the name of this bar?"
Concierge 1: The Knave.
Sara: Knave? Like chess?
Concierge 1: That's knight.
Concierge 2: Like a church, because it looks like a nave.
Sara: N-A-V-E?
Concierge 2: Yes, but we spell it K-N-A-V-E for the, you know, person.
Sara: Like in Chaucer?
Blank Stares
Sara: Canterbury Tales? Wasn't there a Knave's Tale?
Blank Stares, still
Sara: Or what that a knight too? The Knight, The Reeve, The Nuns Priest...
Donna: Let's just get a drink.
Sara: The Miller...maybe there wasn't a knave.
Concierge 2: Get a card and you'll see it on the logo.

The logo, incidentally, shaped so the figure makes a sort of "K", looks like kokopelli, just to add to the confusion at the prime meridian. 

The Knave (the bar) is surprisingly welcome in its narrowness. Age Appropriates, mostly the male version, sit, drinking cocktails, coffees, and beer. We're into it. And, if you haven't yet realized that Burger Joint isn't half the burger joint it used to be, (tear), you can have one sent to you.

Marea, Midtown West

Friday, 7:25pm

Marea
240 Central Park South (B'Way / Columbus Circle), Manhattan

We heard the bar food was fantastic at Marea (it does come from the same kitchen) so we planned a happy hour, which started a little late. Or, actually, didn't start at all since the bar here, especially on weekends say the staff, is really just additional seating for diners sans reservations. Not including two men waiting for a table, the entire bar (12 seats? maybe 14) was twosomes with big plates and bowls in front of them.

We waited to see if anyone was getting up anytime soon. A mixed-gender couple stood with us, hesitating to order a drink because of the difficulty and akwardness of leaning over the diners. Friendly bartender helped them. Really, though, what makes the bar not a bar is the fact that the space is library quiet. "You just want a drink?" as hostess practically whispered to us. "You might want to try a weeknight."

All this said, Marea makes our 'Best' list because the crowd is undeniably AA. And the bar itself is attractive. But we don't recommend it unless food is your priority.

Sushiden, Midtown West

Sushiden - 6th Ave Location
123 W. 49th St. (7th Ave.), Manhattan

Sushiden - Madison Avenue Location still open.

Jake's, Midtown West

Sunday, 10pm

Jake's
875 Tenth Ave. (57th St.), Manhattan

It might be surprising to hear that the bar closest to Terminal 5 is AA, but it is. And we're told the food tastes great though we can only confirm it smells great. And we really thought we had more to say but it seems we do not. It just felt good in here. Too bad Tenth Avenue is so far away.