Saturday, 6:45pm
Laguna Champagne Bar
The Palazzo, Las Vegas
A pattern in Vegas emerges: If you sit down and pay for stuff that's not cheap and you're not in a nightclub or pool lounge, you're likely to be surrounded by Age Appropriates. Speaking of age, the Shirley Temple pictured is a Champagne Cocktail: Hennessy, Grand Marnier, Sugar(!), Bitters, Moët & Chandon Impérial, and possibly a bit more sugar.
Wednesday, 5:30pm
Wine Bar Wednesdays
Astor Center
399 Lafayette St. (East 4th St.), Manhattan
Soave Classico, Roero Arneis (aka Bianchetto di Alba), Barbera d'Alba, Nebbiolo. One of these things is not like the other. If you'd been to Wine Bar Wednesday you'd know. Hint: Soave Classico is a region within a region (Veneto) while the others are grape varieties. Answer: The three varietals are from Piedmont.
There's knowledge to be attained, if you wish, at this social wine tasting. Mingle with Age Appropriates or arrive early for a semi-private table. We sat next to an excited, nervous gentleman not quite introducing his boyfriend to his mom. "He's a friend from the neighborhood," she told us. "Isn't he terrible? He seems like he's about to have a heart attack." We don't like taking sides but it seemed she was about to have a heart attack. The rest of us were simply having fun with Italian favorites. Organizers tell us events are mostly AA. We'll be back for sure.
Saturday, 4pm
Otto
One Fifth Ave. (8th St.), Manhattan
Holy Batali fest here at 30toMidnight. After seeing that new TV show recently while in the dentist's chair (the episode in which the not-Top-Chef-loser girl says she's never heard of bratwurst and never had a hot dog), we were not sure we were still fans, but nearly every recent outing has had Mario's hand in it. What does that mean? Consistency. We like it. Or, we like the expectation of. Did we have good waiter service in the Otto bar? Nope. Did we have good wine? Yup. Was the crowd Age Appropriate? Mostly. Does that change as day becomes night? Totally. Is it a complete write-off? Of course not, unless you don't like standing, which we do.
Monday, 4:15pm
Wölffer Estate Winery
139 Sagg Road, Sagaponack, NY
Sometimes we leave the City and happen upon Age Appropriateness and it's pretty great, and pretty, and we're compelled to share. Weekday afternoons at Wölffer almost always are free of AI's, says the bartenderhostess. Most events too. Likey. Go here if you're not wine-ing on the North Fork.
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.
Bar Carrera
146 West Houston St. (MacDougal St.), Manhattan
Park Avenue Winter
100 East 63rd St. (Park Ave.), Manhattan
In twenty days (that's March 14th) Park Avenue Winter will shut down after brunch. They'll reopen on March 16th for dinner as Park Avenue Spring. Everyone knows that means a complete transformation - menu, uniforms, wallpaper - and almost everyone enjoys Spring best (unless it's Autumn). But we think you should stop by each reincarnation because the food is good and the company is great - almost exclusively Age Appropriate. Don't believe us? A Sous Chef tells us it's a veritable ghost town 'round midnight. It's true. We saw it happen. Packed house near 8pm; empty in the 11's (bar empty before that). Bed by 12. Perfect.
It's Italian Wine Week in NYC.
30toMidnight is going to start an education column, everything from Art to Wine. While we work on that we have to tell you about a variety -pun! get it, varietal? funny because it sort of means the opposite thing. hmm- of wine promotions at bars, restaurants and shops throughout Manhattan, until February 10th: Flights, Pairings, By-The-Glass specials on wines from Apulia, Calabria, Tuscany and Veneto here:
Bull & Bear Steakhouse (Lexington Ave at 49th St., Manhattan)
Le Cirque (Bloomberg Building, 151 East 58th St., Lexington Ave., Manhattan)
SD26 (19 East 26th St., Madison Square Park, Manhattan)
Salumeria Rosi (283 Amsterdam Ave., 74th St., Manhattan)
Serafina (29 East 61st St., Madison Ave., Manhattan)
Click to check out the complete Vino 2010 list.
Saturday, 9:30pm
Pizza 33
489 Third Ave. (33rd St.), Manhattan
Pizza 33 is a mini chain with better than average 'za. It is Not a Wine Bar. We're intrigued by the sign, which is only on the side awning, above the service entry, but not on the front awning. Why? Because they thought they'd have a bar when they opened, years ago, but it never came to be.
So, stop in for a sobering slice (the bright lights help in that arena too) but not for a glass of vino. Your dining companions will be whatever age the time warrants.
Wednesday, 9:30pm
Cavatappo Wine Bar
347 Third Ave. (26th St.), Manhattan
We finally made it down to the Murray Hill outpost of one of our favorite places on the Upper East Side. What a great addition to a part of an Avenue generally overrun by Age InAppropriates. That's their thing, huh? Cavatappo is an Age Appropriate oasis. Nice. Thank you. Next they'll be opening on the Lower East Side (that's a joke).
