This place has changed so much over the last four years--and while a lot can change in that time,…read moreit was still disappointing to see. I stopped by on a weekday around 3:00-4:00 p.m., right as happy hour was starting. According to their website, happy hour runs from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The main reason I came was for their frozen rosé, which I remembered being one of the best. It's definitely more of a sweet, refreshing drink than a strong one, but it still gives you a nice buzz. I was even willing to pay full price for it. I literally paid for an Uber just because I was craving that frozen drink. The first thing I noticed was that, despite it being broad daylight, there was a security guard at the door checking IDs and searching bags. That's their policy, and that's fine, but what really stood out was the condition of the entrance. The front door was cracked and held together with duct tape. It seemed odd to be so focused on security while basic maintenance appeared to be neglected. When I walked in, I was only the second customer in the entire bar besides the bartender. Unfortunately, I found out the frozen drink machines have been broken for months, so there were no frozen drinks available at all. The bartender mentioned that she has repeatedly told management the machines need to be repaired, but nothing has been done. Since that was the only reason I came, and nothing else on the menu really caught my interest, I decided not to stay. This place has changed dramatically since the COVID era. The atmosphere feels completely different. One of the things I used to enjoy was their hookah happy hour, which was around $25 with refills for about $10-$15, and they had a great selection of flavors. From what I've heard, they no longer offer hookah, and it sounds like they may not have had the proper license back then, which is concerning if true. Another thing I miss is the outdoor seating area they had during COVID. The indoor space is pretty small, but the outdoor setup made the bar feel much larger and created a much better atmosphere. It's disappointing that they didn't keep it because I think it really added to the experience and probably helped attract more customers. Sorry I didn't take any photos, but honestly, there wasn't much worth photographing. The interior hasn't really changed, so the existing photos online are still an accurate representation of what it looks like still.

I came here for a game night with a Meet Up group. The spot is cute, a bit divey, but they have a…read moregood assortment of alcohol and enough space to host group events. They have a happy hour until 9pm. Dwanna (bartender) makes a great rum punch (I had two) and was able to recommend a vegan/vegetarian friendly meal. The service was great from start to finish.

Did somebody say steak au poivre? All I can say is, I was blown away by the food, the drinks, the…read moreentertainment, the friendly staff, the cool decor, the Harlem experience.. what a great venue!

I came to the Shrine World Music Venue with a few friends after a Friday evening at a cigar lounge…read more I had no expectations and had walked by the Shrine several times not knowing what was there along Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. Unless you know about it, you can easily walk by, given it blends into the general Harlem cityscape, especially during the day. Then at night, especially during the afterhours when I was there, the scene flips and this place becomes turnt up! People were lined up trying to get inside at 0130. The bouncers were searching and patting people down, nothing absurd or overly intrusive. There is a cover charge and they take credit cards for the cover. As you walk inside, the bar in on your right. Keep going and the dancefloor awaits you. It's not that large, but people are generally very courteous. There are a few places to sit, especially in the back in the left corner. That is also where the steps lead you downstairs, presumably to the restroom, which I did not have to use. The vibe is poppin' inside and it is fed by the DJ on a stage in the back, playing Worldbeats, Afropop, Afrobeats, Reggae, Dance Hall, and Soca. They are setup for live bands here. The volume is high, but not uncomfortably or earsplittingly high. The people here are drawn to this vibe and energy. You can dance here all night and the air conditioning and ventilation are of the capacity to keep you and everyone else comfortable. Stick around until closing time at 0400 when everyone starts walking out and the AC nearly turns the Shrine into a refrigerator. For an unassuming place on the outside, it is clear this is a place you can come to with friends or a date if this is your vibe and it's hard to imagine anyone not enjoying this. Prices are reasonable too at the bar. They have a good selection of draught and bottled beer. Guinness on tap was $9 for a pint. They serve up the cocktails too. Four fun and returnworthy stars!

I wasn't aware that there was a cafe at the Apollo! It is located above the main theatre…read more We did have to go through a metal detector. I think we went up two flights of stairs. Everyone from security and staff were friendly and professional! When you enter the room, it is first come, first served. You choose from tables for four or high tables that sit two. They will inform you that if you are a party of two and sitting at a table for 4, two more people may sit next to you. You order and pay for your food and drinks with the QR code and it is delivered in minutes. Great live music! Great staff! Great vibes! I Plan on returning !

So the queen of soul died. So I went to the Apollo and paid my RESPECTs to Aretha Franklin…read more The Apollo always has a celebration of live when a legend passes on. They play music and fans stop by and leave photos , flowers, trinkets. Fans just feel the love and comfort from like minded peeps. I've seen concerts here too. Really the inside is pretty fab. Beautiful. Enjoy the photos of the world BEST ENTERTAINERS that have performed here!!. Such history!! They have theater tours and you can take lots of pics and hear the stories!! Make sure you see The Tree of Hope!!

The venue is old style jazz and R&B music. The performances are fantastic and relaxed. The…read moreperformances that you see may cost 3 times as much if you went to the big established jazz/ blues clubs downtown . And, the performances are, believe me, top notch. And, you get a very close view and you can talk or may even rub shoulders with the stars. There isn't much in the food dept. Except a small servicing that is free with the small price you pay to enter the club. You, can get wine with you meal or other drink at no extra cost. You are also allowed to bring your own. It is a great club, friendly, relaxed and you definitely get your money's worth. It is a small venue and somewhat snug when it is crowded. But, once you get over that, it is up hill from there on. So, go to NAMA, as it is called, with your ears open and enjoy the foot tapping and hands clapping fantastic music.

This is one of my favorite places to go. Its raw and real. It reminds me of where i was born in a…read moreloft in East Village, where Jon Hendriks and many great musicians came to play. We always have a good time Monday nights when Keith the Captain Gamble and the NuGypsies performs. Entertainment doesn't get better than that. you can be in a stuffy place, pay $50 and have to leave after one set. At Nama you chill, you can go in the back in the summer, BYO, and hear awesome sounds. I Love New York!

I saw the great, great Melissa Greener play her last gig in Manhattan here - last as of her…read moreresidency in the city before you departed for parts known. To sit in this crampy, dank and ominous enclave of intimacy is to know the closed quarters that true music fans and lover of the scene that is music are drawn to. This is authentic. With a history and a very special, sacred space.

Stopped into Postcrypt Coffeehouse to listen to a friend of mine play. The venue is very…read moreinteresting; located in the basement of a church at Columbia University, it is the perfect spot for artists, musicians and poets alike. Limited seating provides an intimate setting, which allows you to experience more of what the artist is feeling, while he or she is performing. Bring cash, they do not accept credit cards, but have a good selection in terms of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Had a wonderful time and can't wait to have the chance to go there again.

I have resided on the UWS for over 38+ years, and have a love relationship with Prohibition fine…read moredining & Jazz venue since 2003. A soulful music haven, paying homage to the 1920's flavor; with impromptu melody goodness. During one of my frequent hangout appearances, Chaka Khan graced her presence, shut the house down & blew the roof off the building. The delectable food, savory flavors and my favorites are: Tuna Poke Crisps, Lollipop Lamb Chops, Crackling Pork Shank, Wild Mushroom Gnocchi, and "Pro" Pie for Two. There insanely delicious flavored cocktails are: The Bootlegger Old Fashioned and Frozen Cosmo; not watered down. Trust me, their electrify, high energetic toxicating vibe is suitable for all who are curious, daring and want pure fun from a live bang or gut wrenching melodically sound from his, her or their voices, puts a spell all over you; and I LOVED IT The staff, deserve an open blank check or countless gratuity for keeping their attention on you, so you want for nothing. Just enjoy the food, cocktails and the live band; so you can drift into the atmosphere and feel it wrap around you lovingly. Oh, I highly recommend Prohibition, just because...treat yourself, don't cheat yourself.

Live music was great! Really talented band and singer, great vibe, nice scene…read more Perfect espresso martinis. Lots of bites to share like tuna tartar, perfect crunch and a tickle of spice :)

Definitely a hidden gem! If I hadn't looked it up on Yelp first we would have walked right by…read morewithout noticing it on while walking by. The unassuming outside hides a tremendously cool inside. As soon as we walked through the door, we were greeted warmly by Dinara (sp?) who was effortlessly cool in her own right. A young lady ( whose name I didn't catch) promptly seated us. It's not a huge space, but we didn't feel cramped. There was a bar up front, tables along the side walls and a stage in the back. Apparently they have live music nights and open mic nights too. When we went there was 80s/90s music playing and it was very cool. The decor is unapologetically Black and I love it! The restroom is clean and contemporary. The service staff is amazing and attentive. They gave us cornbread with berry butter. Very tasty! My only complaint is that they could have given us each a piece instead of giving us one piece cut into 2. Lol! But it was free! And if that's the "worst" part of the experience then you know it was an overall good time! I was wavering between whether or not to get the collard greens and asked if they were sweet or bitter or spicy. Our server went and got a small sample for me to try because it was hard to describe. I was grateful for her willingness to let me try them. By the way I did order them and they are more savory than any of the above. It's a gentle savory flavor. I also got rice and beans and teriyaki salmon. The beans weren't exactly what I expected. They were black beans which I don't typically associate with soul food. They weren't bad although next time I think I'll get potatoes. My dining companion got lamb chops and collard greens and mac and cheese. She loved everything and at it right up! The food presentation, flavor, and portion size were all good. I didn't leave feeling overstuffed but I was satisfied. The servers checked in on us an appropriate amount of times (we didn't feel rushed or under surveillance but they made sure we had what we needed). The manager/owner stopped by to make sure everything was good and chatted with us. All around good vibes & good eats--I would go again. Highly recommend!

Thursday, 07May26 - A night of celebrating Taurus' at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar Lounge - and…read morewhat a celebration it was. So much joy. So much talent. Thank you, Valerie Simpson, and your late husband; Nickolas Ashford, for creating this amazing venue. The guest host for the evening was the incredibly talented Olutayo. Olutayo is joy exemplified. His vocal range, dance moves, entertaining facial expressions...infectious. I fell in love with this man and did not hesitate to tell him so. Beyond his talents was Olu's ability to manage / juggle the night's open-mic entertainers with such grace. From the lyrics of En Vogue and Salt-N-Peppa: "Whatta Man, Whatta Man, What a Mighty Good Man!" All of the entertainers were incredible. What a range of singers, dancers, a poet, a violinist. And the band! The band! The band! Come on!! Outstanding. I was seated next to Darius, one of the several background vocalists that were positioned throughout the lounge. We became fast friends in this space filled with exuberance. Darius was a delight. He was also a big brother to me, making sure no one blocked my view of the performance. Thank you, Darius, that was so kind of you. I had such a wonderful time being in the company of all these amazingly talented people. It was a 6-hour dopamine rush that should not be missed. The dinner that was served was top-notch. I had the Sea Bass. My friend had the Golden Fried Chicken. Both meals were delicious. I had the ginger mocktail with rosemary and blueberries - so yummy I had two. Dessert was key lime pie - suffer we will. Our server; Vickie, was a delight and amazing to observe as she maneuvered around the performers and kept us and everyone around us well served and continually hydrated. Vickie is to be commended for how hard she worked throughout the evening. I made sure our tip reflected our appreciation of her. Put the Sugar Bar on your bucket list when visiting NYC. You'll leave there feeling you have experienced Heaven on Earth.

The evening was dedicated to love songs (Valentine's Day). Highline String Quartet performed…read morebeautifully. The location was the church on 90th & 5th Ave. There is no food or bar available so it is a straight forward performance. The doors opened 1 hour before the show allowing time for folks to find seats and take pictures. Staff were friendly & helpful. I only took one star away because my husband & I (who have mobility issues and walk with a cane) had to wait outdoors on a line in the cold (30 degree weather) and my thoughts and recommendations are that the venue could have arranged for ticket.holders to wait indoors due to the cold weather.

A tribute to Adele, love her & her music! Even though her voice is amazing and there's nothing…read morebetter than hearing the vocals, this was a great.

Great location near the 1/2/3 subway station. Lots of shops and restaurants nearby…read more The theatre is intimate with three levels. No bad seats at least on the orchestra level where we sat for a concert. Sound system was good. Seats have good legroom compared to some other theaters. Restrooms are located in the basement. Great experience overall. Would love to come back!

PROS: The atmosphere here was absolutely marvelous! It looked like a Roman or Greek theatre. The…read moreshows that perform here are top notch and the staff is friendly. Place is clean and has loads of seating CONS: I wish on their website it would show the history of this place. Also, the lighting people are in front of Rows T throw Z which make no sense. Other theaters have the lighting guys behind all rows OVERALL: This place is perfect! I was blown away by the artwork of this facility! Just don't sit behind the lighting guys and you'll be fine

I came here for a showing of _Beyond Beats and Rhymes). The space is very large, and the sound…read moresystem is high quality. They are very strict about their no food and no beverage policy. And for the love of god, turn down the A/C in mid-October! Everyone had their coats on!

Intimate venue with high quality shows of all sorts. Well raked and audience is not typically as…read moreit is part of the Columbia University genre and thus rather gentile. The show I went to was truly unique with instrumental demonstrations I'd never seen prior (think toy piano) and the imaginative puppetry was also compelling thanks to some nice financial support behind the artists. I'd say if you're even tempted to see something here you should. Oh, if part of the Columbia network there are "meet the artist" options which are a nice perk too.