30 to Midnight

The Patriot, Tribeca

Thursday, 10pm

The Patriot Saloon
110 Chambers St. (Church St.), Manhattan

Sara loves it when her AI downstairs neighbor sits outside in the space below her bedroom window and yells at his girlfriend inside. She loves it when he does it at 10:20 and 11:35, but really enjoys it most when it's Midnight, 1, 4. Yes, this really happens. She's called her landlord saying, "I swear he's not malicious, just young and unaware." Yet it continues, and it's not even spring or summer or warm enough to bring a laptop out because you simply cannot tear yourself away from your movie while you have a cigarette. Volume up. 2am. Yes.

Reade Street Pub, Tribeca

Wednesday, 7:30pm

Reade Street Pub & Kitchen
135 Reade St. (Hudson St.), Manhattan

Note to women: lots of mens in this establishment for late happy hour. Lots of mens in tucked-in Oxfords (read: AA, employed). Weekends are more in balance, gender-wise, but the age is mostly the same. Yea! Tribeca is such a great neighborhood for the over-30. We've been down there quite a bit lately; will keep reporting. What we really want to do is make it to a Suckling Pig Happy Hour at Forge (134 Reade St., used to be Dekk). Tuesdays. We'll let you know. 

Racoon Lodge, Tribeca

Racoon Lodge
59 Warren St. (W. Broadway), Manhattan

Remember the Racoon Lodge up on Amsterdam Avenue (now Soldier McGee Tavern? And the one on York Avenue? Well, the Tribeca location was the first and is the last Manhattan Racoon Lodge. We like longevity. Obviously. And we like the mostly AA crowd, but we have to deem the bar AABM. Are we wrong?

Speaking of After Midnight, we have a great memory of a very late night here a few years ago.

The Odeon, TriBeCa

Tuesday, Midnight and Wednesday, 7pm

The Odeon
145 West Broadway (Thomas St.), Manhattan

Remember when every birthday party was at the Odeon? Was that forever ago? We think we want to have a party there this year. Hmm. But not eating, just space-using. Anyway, happy hourish is Age Appropriate here. And later too. Or, Acting-Age Appropriate. Suits can do that. And they can spend the money. Or, act like they can. Either way, someone drinking here needs to have a job or a benefactor because cheap it is not.
Bartender agress that AA is the norm, and tells us brunch can still be riotous. But that's just because strollers take up so much space, right?

Capsouto Freres, Tribeca

This Friday Night!

Capsouto Freres
451 Washington St. (Watts St.), Manhattan

On Friday (October 16th), the Capsouto brothers will celebrate their restaurant's 29th Anniversary. That's Age InAppropriate most days, but we're talking restaurant life here. Go in for a $29 3-course dinner, or order a la carte. We've been invited, and will likely attend as it's been ages (hee hee) since we dined at Capsouto Freres and remember it to be quite delicious.

They're giving away six dinner-for-four's, and one dinner-for-five (totaling 29). Entry to the Anniversary Drawing will be until Christmas 2009.
But, wait, there's more: all of House Red and White Wines will be $29 per bottle during the Anniversary weekend - brunch and dinner - October 16th to 18th.

Reservations: 212.966.4900
29th Anniversary Weekend Hours: Dinner: F - Sat 6-11:30pm; Sun 6-10:30pm
Brunch: Sat and Sun 12-3:30pm

City Winery, Tribeca

Saturday, 9pm

City Winery
155 Varick St. (Vandam), Manhattan

We've been in and out of City Winery, but never sat down to enjoy it, which is why this review is running now...late. And we have another excuse for the delayed review too. It's this: City Winery is amazing in so many ways (Age Appropriate, gorgeous space, cool idea, great music) but it's not really amazing at all. Hmpf. But we don't pick apart bars here at 30toMidnight (usually), we only  talk age (and gender). So, gentlemen listen up, City Winery is loaded with ladies our age, and older. They're here in groups of all sizes, some possibly too large to be approachable. Bring backup.

Warren 77, Tribeca

Wednesday, 11pm

Warren 77
77 Warren St. (W. Broadway), Manhattan

"The men here are not in tights, if you know what I mean," said a 27-year-old who told us her name was Jesse yet answered to Anna when her companion called. We don't know that means but we do know we liked Warren 77's post-game vibe, which smelled deliciously like someone getting high (in an open window seat) and garlic (dinners still on tables). And we dig the giant green banquettes with their semi-private flat-screens. We'll be back for sports. Bartender says the crowd is consistently 20's and 30's, many Beatrice Inn-ers. That said, we don't feel old, but we will leave by midnight.

Note: Warren 77 closes at 1am.

Church Lounge, Tribeca Grand, Tribeca

Wednesday, 10pm

Tribeca Grand
2 Avenue of the Americas (aka 6th Ave. at Church St.), Manhattan

We didn't know anyone went to the Church Lounge anymore but the giant room was comfortably full of non-tourist Age Appropriates when we arrived with dashing reporter Brian (oh, too late to sway the story?). Bartender says weekends can still be too-loud-too-smushy, but weeknights are mellow. If the furniture didn't look like it was stolen from an airport lounge, we'd say this was your living room away from home. Perfect for drinking + conversing = perfectly AA.

Reader Says: Brooklyn Inn, Walker's, Tavern on Jane, Ear Inn

Thanks to Tracy M in Brooklyn for writing in. She says:

It depends on the time of day, and I haven't been there in a couple of years, but the Brooklyn Inn is gorgeous and old-fashioned. It's best in the afternoon! And Walker's in Tribeca has a great burger and is Age Appropriate. Tavern on Jane used to be a nice place to be. I'm out in Brooklyn with a kid now and miss beer. The Ear Inn used to be Age Appropriate but was young last time I was there.

Thanks again, Tracy. We'll have a beer for you.

Bar Artisanal, Tribeca

Wednesday, 8:15pm

Bar Artisanal
268 W. Broadway (6th Ave.), Manhattan

Wow. We at 30toMidnight have a rule that our judging criteria is limited to Age Appropriateness. To be true to our rule, we will report that Bar Artisanal meets those requirements. To be responsible to our readers, however, we are compelled to say: Stay the Heck Away from this Disaster.

Service is appalling (though we did enjoy the fact that the Worst Waiter in NYC was training someone else); bathrooms are atrocious; hostess stand is manned by dummies ("Good evening, hello," said the one who sat us, welcoming us as we were walking out); they Ran Out of Menus; glasses of wine appeared after the first course; 2 of 3 entrees appeared during the first course (the third came 10 minutes later); decor looks like Disney-Vegas "restaurant" set; all food seems to have been marinating in salty brine before coming to table. Holy cow. It's like the entire staff came from a line of unskilled laborers waiting for day-jobs.

We have not had a New York City restaurant experience this bad since that wild boar place next to Macelleria that opened/closed, oh, 10 years ago (the waiter there was angry with us for telling him that short ribs and spare ribs are not the same; what was that place called?).

P.S. to add to the feeling that we weren't in NYC, they gave us a Comment Card with our check (see picture).