30 to Midnight

Laduree New York, Upper East Side

Saturday, 2:45pm

Ladurée
864 Madison Ave. (71st St.), Manhattan

If you think the outside line at Ladurée is long, wait until you get inside. Or, don't. As discussed ad nauseam here at 30toMidnight, Age Appropriates aren't into lines.

Harley's Smoke Shack, East Harlem

Next Week

Harley's Smoke Shack
355 East 116th St. (1st Ave.), Manhattan

We don't usually pre-review places but Harley's Smoke Shack has been intriguing us for months and we're told it's finally going to open: next week. Why is this so important that we're compelled to mention it before we've gauged age? Because while many of you may not partake in the many good things East Harlem has to offer, all of you trek there now and again to shop. If not Costco, then Target or Best Buy, etc. Merry Christmas. You now have a non-tac0 116th option. Age TBD.

 

City Swiggers, Upper East Side

Saturday, 7pm

City Swiggers
320 East 86th St. (1st Ave.), Manhattan

Part beer store, part beer bar, part sit in the back and chill, City Swiggers is the most exciting, Age Appropriate addition to East 86th Street since Fairway arrived in July. AABM because it closes before Midnight, but putting in AA too so it doesn't get overlooked. This is a fun, extensive collection. Breckenridge, Ithaca, Petaluma, Philadelphia...you can travel the country off the shelves here. Other parts of the world too, proving once and for all that not even microbrews are micro anymore. When I was your age, we had to walk a mile in the snow, uphill, to the actual brewery to get this kind of beer.

East End Kitchen, Upper East Side

Wednesday, 5pm

East End Kitchen
539 East 81st St. (East End Ave.), Manhattan

Intending to check out the menu in the middle of a walk, we discovered that East End Kitchen's comfortable bar has a happy hour ($5 house wines, draft beers, and well drinks). We opted for cava, surrounded by Age Appropriate females head down in their technology. The large TV is strange, but tolerable in daylight. The restaurant itself is lovely, opens at 530pm, and according to bartenders and hostess guy, is nearly-exclusively Age Appropriate. We'll be back to try the food, and to imbibe amongst our own.

Earl's Beer & Cheese, Upper East Side

Wednesday, 6pm

Earl's Beer & Cheese
1259 Park Ave. (97th St.), Manhattan

The lefthandedmale scratch on the chalkboard was a big hint as to the Appropriateness of Earl's. Eek. We over-30 like to be able to read the menu, and happiness is surely linked to aesthetics nomatter your age. Perhaps acknowledgement of, however, is the issue. But misfitted counters are undoubtedly part of the 'design' here so who are we to judge. Plus, alls we cares about is the peoples. That said, to the chagrin of the staff, "since The New York Times article came out" there are many Age Appropriate moments at Earl's. Otherwise, says the staff, the patrons are cool. Ha ha. We saw grad students (AI) and a professor or two (AA). Staff says late night it's med students; happy hour is hospital employees and "people with beards". So, we're deeming Earl's a high risk venture. Best case scenario, you get lucky and have time for a quick beer (good selection of 4) and a beer cheese (toast with oil, raw garlic rub, pimento cheese; good, really) before the students and beards crowd the teeny space.

Marty O'Brien's, Upper East Side

Sunday, 11pm

Marty O'Brien's
1696 Second Ave. (88th St.), Manhattan

30 to Midnight is making a comeback. You never gave up on us. Thanks for that. Hi; here we are. Mission Finding The Best Bars For People Over 30 resumed last night. First with a glass of riesling, then a Côtes du Rhône (and dinner), then too many Amstel Lights (and two martinis) at Marty O'Brien's. Eek. Our re-inauguration involved breaking every rule we have. We did actually have some success with Rule 3, but since it happened past midnight it doesn't count. We also had an excellent discussion (with the drinks buyer) about which neighbor - Canada or Mexico - would be preferable to incorporate into the U.S., as one mega country, if the opportunity arose.
We have some ideas. 

While you're thinking about that we'll tell you that Marty O'Brien's is still Age Appropriate, usually. Fridays and Saturday are in question, but you'll immediately know by who is lingering (smoking, stumbling, crying on a cell phone) outside the door.

Alice's Tea Cup

Alice's Tea Cup
156 East 64th St. (Lexington Ave.), Manhattan

Not including the children (literal children, as in young offspring of relatively young adults) peppering the tables, Alice's Tea Cup is an Age Appropriate venue, and an unexpectedly good place for a happy hour - alcoholic or otherwise, though we don't recommended ODing on tea so late in the day, but that's your own risk. Caffeine + AA = Dangerous.

Pil Pil Wine Bar, Upper East Side

Opening Tomorrow (Thursday 4/8)

Pil Pil
265 E. 78th St. (2nd Ave.), Manhattan

The former Sake Hana is now a Spanish Tapas Wine Bar, presumably named for the Basque garlic-chili-oil sauce. This location could swing in any Age direction, but we're keeping our fingers crossed and will have a review soon.

Heidelberg, Upper East Side

Tuesday, 9pm

Heidelberg Restaurant
1648 2nd Ave. (86th St.), Manhattan

There are many things we can say about Second Avenue in the 80's today. Namely: Yikes! It's scary to be near the end of the parade route. But let's think about pretty much every other day of the year when Heidelberg is a bastion of AAness. We aaprove the crowd, the sausage, and the ski lodge vibe, even when it's 60-something in winter.

Sfoglia, Upper East Side

Sunday, 9:15pm

Sfoglia
135 East 92nd St. (aka 1402 Lexington Ave.), Manhattan

Before we tell you how ideal the crowd (AA), how superb the food (and $$), how excellent the enlarged space (taking over that nail salon was brilliant), we must say - we do not think staff should have their post-shift drink at the bar while diners remain. When we're spending some $300 on cocktails, wine, antipasti (more rabbit pate please), ravioli, and spaghetti squash, we really really don't want to hear about how grueling it was to get it in front of us.