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food and drink

Catch the Halloween Spirit at These Spooky NYC Bars

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the cauldron, a halloween bar in NYC

Published on Thrillist on October 24, 2019

Remember when celebrating Halloween was as simple as slipping into a $12 costume from Party City, grabbing a pillowcase, and roaming the block with neighborhood kids in search of The Biggest Candy Bar? Now, as grown-ass adults in a city that knows how to party, trick-or-treating is out and the stakes are considerably higher. Costumes require weeks of preparation, events sell out quick, and Halloween-themed attractions are, like, actually terrifying.

Luckily, amidst the chaos that is Halloween in NYC, there are plenty of festive bars that you can take shelter in all week long: some with chilling pasts, some with extravagant decor, some with themed cocktails, all with Halloween spirit. So cut yourself some slack for waiting too long to buy House of Yes tickets this year and enjoy some old-fashioned debauchery. Here are the best watering holes in NYC for celebrating Halloween this week — because you’re going to need a few drinks to make it to November.

Jekyll & Hyde Club
Jekyll & Hyde Club | ROB W./YELP

Jekyll & Hyde Club

West Village
Interactive barstaurant that’ll keep you on your toes
Dr. Jekyll (and friends) take guests on a journey through a faux 1930s Explorers Club at this frightening West Village outpost. Whether you reserve a seat for dinner or pop by for drinks at the bar, you’ll come face to face with live actors and high-budget special effects all contributing to the near-famous theatre experience. The club haunts guests year-round, but makes the biggest waves at Halloween time when guests come in costume too.

Fraunces Tavern
Fraunces Tavern | CIAN LAHART

Fraunces Tavern

Financial District
A Founding Fathers favorite with present-day paranormal activity
The Pearl Street tavern once frequented by George Washington and Alexander Hamilton opened in 1762, and its rich history lends well to a number of purportedly paranormal occurrences still happening today. Through the years, the building’s played host to a series of misfortunes: a supposed murder/suicide in the 1700s, multiple fires in the 1800s, and a bombing in the 1970s. Grab a happy hour drink from 4-7pm on weekdays and wait for the chill of dwelling spirits.

beetle house
COURTESY OF BEETLE HOUSE

Beetle House

East Village
Tim Burton-themed bar where Halloween never ends
Known as the bar where every day is Halloween, Beetle House is perhaps the most obvious place to grab an All Hallows’ drink. The macabre decor stays up all through the year, drawing inspiration from the work of Tim Burton and other creepy filmmakers and authors. Reservations are recommended for dinner service, but if you’re in it for the booze, just walk on in. Get a peek inside.

Warren 77
Warren 77 | PAUL WAGTOUICZ

Warren 77

Tribeca
The best Halloween hideout for NFL enthusiasts
Who said sports bars can’t have Halloween spirit? Warren 77 is decorated for the holiday all week long, but the best day to stop in is on Halloween proper. Screenings of The Shining and Silence of the Lambs kick off at 5pm, followed by Thursday Night Football at 8:20pm. Participate in the costume contest if you think you can steal the show, and be sure to try the “Boozed Up Blood,” a Jell-O shot in a syringe, available from October 31 to November 3.

Black Rabbit
Black Rabbit | JASON ANDRA

Black Rabbit

Greenpoint
Quaint Brooklyn bar that doesn’t even have to try
For a bar that isn’t Halloween-themed, Black Rabbit is so Halloween-themed. It’s old, it’s moody, it has candles and a fireplace; it looks like the kind of place the Headless Horseman would stop in for a drink after a long day of terrorizing angsty townsfolk. Black Rabbit doesn’t do anything special for Halloween, but that’s because it doesn’t need to. If you’re looking for a no-frills drinking spot straight out of a storybook, you’ve found it.

the cauldron
COURTESY OF THE CAULDRON

The Cauldron

Financial District
Witchy wonderland brewing up boozy potions
It’s only fitting that a high-tech bar dedicated to all things magic would get extra witchy for Halloween. Wander through the autumnal coven’s lair this month and choose from any number of themed specialty cocktails, with cute names like Sweet Agony, Necromancers Delight, Elixir of Blood Loss, and Ectoplasm. Think you can stomach it?

Ear Inn
Ear Inn | DAN DICKINSON/FLICKR

Ear Inn

Hudson Square
Haunted 19th-century tavern nestled in a designated historic landmark
New Yorkers have been going to the James Brown House for liquor since before Prohibition; today, Ear Inn calls the historic building home along with a few “friendly” ghosts. Sit for a drink at the bar and see if you can catch Mickey, the ghost of a sailor whose ship never returned for him, stirring up trouble among the other patrons. Keep an eye on your drink though, or he just might sneak a swig!

mr. purple
COURTESY OF MR. PURPLE

Mr. Purple

Lower East Side
Halloween spirit seizes a swanky downtown rooftop
Mr. Purple’s no longer just a rooftop bar: From now through the end of the month, it’s been transformed into the Temple of Terror, a ghastly space with creepy cocktails, à la carte food options, live DJs, and city views. There’s no cover charge to enter the Temple, but if you’re piling in with a big group, you’d be smart to call 212-237-1790 and reserve a table.

The Keep
The Keep | PARANJ P./YELP

The Keep

Ridgewood
Goth as f*ck venue with an October 31st birthday
Will a visit to The Keep give you nightmares? Not quite. Will it weird you out? Definitely. The decor’s as extensive as can be, landing on a generally dark and gaudy vibe. This Halloween, the bar celebrates five years in business, making it an especially festive time to stop in for an evening drink. And if you’re looking to get wild, it’s hosting a neon body paint party on October 29 with a suggested donation upon entry.

White Horse Tavern
White Horse Tavern | BRIAN LOGAN PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK

White Horse Tavern

West Village
Old writers’ hangout housing its own celebrity ghost 
Another historic pub, another rumored haunting; but what White Horse Tavern has that other rumored haunts don’t is the spirit of renowned poet Dylan Thomas. After drinking a few too many at the tavern one night, he collapsed and later died in a hospital. Even though he made it out of the bar alive, many claim he still hangs out at his favorite White Horse table trying to get his hands on another drink. There’s only one way to find out.

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travel

A Perfect Day in the Big Apple

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Published in the Summer 2019 issue of Westwind Magazine

In New York City, people live by a few unique truths: Subways are necessary, walking shoes are mandatory, and crowds are avoidable.

Home to more than 8 million people spread across five boroughs, the city has plenty beyond flashing lights and celebrity sightings. It’s a vast cultural hub where rising chefs bring innovation to the table and talented artists dissect their crafts. Here, historic buildings live in harmony with modern architecture, and both demand appreciation.

To take it all in, you’ll have to move around a bit; the real New York can’t be found in Times Square. So lace up your sneakers and fill a MetroCard—you’ve got a busy day ahead.

9 AM • Flatiron District

Devoción

Start the morning a few blocks shy of the Flatiron Building with light treats from Devoción, a new Colombian wake-up spot that looks as if it were lifted from a page in a design magazine. You can’t go wrong with the guava Gruyere croissant, best enjoyed beneath the shop’s ceiling-strung garden or up the street at Madison Square Park.

10 AM • Midtown East

Museum of the Dog

Head toward Grand Central to the American Kennel Club’s easily overlooked and highly underrated Museum of the Dog. Explore two recently opened floors of paintings, artifacts, and interactive digital displays, all centered around one of the nation’s favorite household animals.

NOON • Nolita

Rubirosa

Ride the train directly to Rubirosa for an Italian-American lunch with locals’ stamp of approval. Situated just north of Little Italy, the mislocated pizza and pasta spot holds its own, with seating options and portion sizes suited for large groups and notable pies that put a classy twist on the “New York slice.”

1:30 PM

Dumbo

Dip into Dumbo, an industrial riverside neighborhood in Brooklyn. For photo ops below the Manhattan Bridge, walk down Washington Street; for shopping, roam the historic warehouse-turned-marketplace, Empire Stores; for skyline views and vitamin D, claim a plot of grass at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

3 PM

Dumbo/Financial District

Take the scenic route back to Manhattan—above ground and by foot. The Brooklyn Bridge spans 1.1 miles over the East River, connecting Brooklyn to the main island. Hit the walking path and enjoy the view as you cross to the other side.

4 PM • Chinatown

Ten Ren’s Tea Time or Möge Tee

Give your feet a rest and rehydrate at one of Chinatown’s many bubble tea shops. If you’re indecisive, Ten Ren’s Tea Time and Möge Tee are among the best with seating.

5 PM

Greenwich Village

Hop back in time to one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods and admire quaint homes at Grove Court, Minetta Street, and MacDougal Alley. End the self-guided Village tour under the grandiose marble arch at Washington Square Park.

7:30 PM • Midtown

Bengal Tiger

Find Bengal Tiger perched atop a staircase in an unassuming building on the outskirts of Times Square. The small Indian nook dishes delicious flavors at shockingly reasonable prices.

9 PM • Upper West Side

Cafe Lalo

Made famous by You’ve Got Mail, Cafe Lalo captures the old-school charm of the Upper West Side. It’s far from NYC’s premier dessert destination but offers the perfect haven to linger for a while and debrief the day over a shared wedge of cheesecake.

Kyler graduated from WWU with a bachelor’s degree in communication in 2018. He currently lives in New York City and writes for digital media brand Thrillist.

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events

All the Best NYC Pride Month Events You Can Hit This June

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The countdown to the NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 30, has begun, with plenty of time to prepare for the main event. The combination of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the first-ever stateside WorldPride, and an entire month teeming with all manner of LGBTQIA+ events promises to make this June the greatest Pride month NYC has ever seen. New Yorkers and folks from all over the world are amped to commemorate the Stonewall Inn’s historic place in the modern Gay Rights Movement, celebrate WorldPride’s aim to bridge communities across cultures, and have an all-around excellent time.

WorldPride alone added dozens of new events to 2019’s already packed Pride month calendar, and those are just the tip of the iceberg. Theaters, gay bars, historical societies, libraries, and city parks all have additional educational, entertaining, and decadent plans of their own. So get out the glitter and gear up for the celebration of a lifetime: Here’s every NYC Pride month parade, party, screening, talk, performance, exhibit, ball, festival, and concert you can hit this June.

Queens Pride

Sunday, June 2
Jackson Heights
NYC’s biggest borough will host the season’s first Pride festival. The parade steps off on 37th Avenue at noon, followed by a block party at 75th Street and 37th Road till 6pm. Don your best ‘fit, get colorful, and make some noise for a shot at one of the coveted Queenie Awards.
Cost: Free to attend; bring cash for snacks and sips

nyc pride ride
NYC PRIDERIDE

NYC Pride Ride

Sunday, June 2
Concludes in Hamilton Heights
Cycle with pride on a 30-, 60-, 80-, or 100-mile ride through New Jersey and New York to benefit OutCycling’s youth program. Finish the journey with a BBQ festival on the Hudson Greenway.
Cost: $90

Transgender 201

Tuesday, June 4
Long Island City
Educate yourself on the most prominent issues facing the transgender community, and learn what you can do to create a more positive and supportive environment for transgender people today.
Cost: Free

Hot Mess: Drag Competition – PRIDE EDITION

Wednesday, June 5
Bushwick
Twelve drag stars will face off in what’s sure to be one of New York City’s fiercest Pride Month battles. Who will win your support?
Cost: Free

Brooklyn Pride Day

Saturday, June 8
Park Slope/Prospect Park
Close out Brooklyn Pride Week with a festivity-packed day. It all starts at 10am with a 5K run around Prospect Park, and continues through the evening with stage entertainment, family activities, a concert in the park, and the Twilight Parade at 7:30pm.  
Cost: All events are free to attend; 5K participation costs $40

“Live Oak, With Moss”: Uncovering Walt Whitman’s Queer Private Life

Tuesday, June 11
Brooklyn Heights
Most people know Walt Whitman as the brain behind Leaves of Grass, but few have come across his unpublished poetry collection, Live Oak, with Moss, which fervently explores same-sex love. Learn about this little known work at the Brooklyn Historical Society’s moderated discussion.
Cost: $10 general admission; $5 for BHS members

Out to Climb

Wednesday, June 12
Long Island City
Brooklyn Boulders brings Pride to the rock wall with races, climbing instruction, and — check this out — a vertical drag show. It’s bringing in a DJ and providing drinks from Brooklyn Brewery to keep the one-of-a-kind Pride party going.
Cost: $15 event pass; $25 climbing + event pass; free for members

Criminal Queerness Festival

Thursday, June 13 – Saturday, July 6
West Village
The National Queer Theater is giving a censorship-free voice to four international playwrights whose stories of love, oppression, and injustice shed light on the paucity of civil rights progress made in other parts of the world. Each play runs five times at the IRT Theater.
Cost: $20 general admission; $17 youth tickets (ages 30 and below)

house of yes
House of Yes | KENNY RODRIGUEZ

Discotechnique: Rainbow Disco

Friday, June 14
Bushwick
Express yourself in the most colorful way you know how at House of Yes’s disco-themed Pride party. Sparkle under rainbow lights and let your inner pride spill out onto the dancefloor.
Cost: $20-30

OutCinema

Monday, June 17 – Wednesday, June 19
Chelsea
WorldPride and LGBTQ film presenter NewFest will screen three queer films and one short over three days at SVA Theatre. Each full-length film centers on some facet of LGBTQ culture in NYC, and every screening is followed by a Q&A with key players who brought the stories to life.
Cost: $30 per screening; $100 for a three-day VIP pass; NewFest member discounts available

“But I’m A Cheerleader” Drink or Dare with Videology

Wednesday, June 19
Bushwick
This simple but effective party concept from Videology marries a drinking game with a film screening to delightfully buzzed effect. See Natasha Lyonne in the late ‘90s queer classic But I’m a Cheerleader and get jolly in the process.
Cost: $15 general admission; $60 for a VIP ticket with a bottle of sparkling and table service

Family Movie Night: “Coco” (2017)

Friday, June 21
West Village
Bring the kids along for an age-appropriate film screening event on Pier 45, hosted by drag star Miss Richfield. This year’s flick is the Academy Award-winning Disney/Pixar hit Coco.
Cost: Free to attend; VIP seating available for a pretty penny

The Library After Hours: Pride

Friday, June 21
Midtown
Dive into LGBTQ history at the NYPL’s after-hours Pride celebration. The night centers on the Love & Resistance: Stonewall 50 exhibit, and features plenty more entertainment from drag queens and special guests.
Cost: $15 for early admission at 7pm; pay-what-you-wish after 8pm (suggested donation $15)

CosPlay & Pride

Saturday, June 22
West Village
Beloved NYC drag queen Petra Fried hosts this year’s CosPlay event at Pier 40, with Drag Race alum Aja headlining the boat cruise’s talent. You’ve got almost the whole month to perfect your costume — don’t waste it!
Cost: Tickets start at $45

bronx pride march festival
1 Bronx Pride March | ED GARCIA CONDE/WELCOME2THEBRONX

1 Bronx World Pride Rally, March, and Festival

Sunday, June 23
The Bronx
The northern borough’s bash is expected to attract an estimated 20,000 revelers. The day begins with an 11am rally and march, followed by an afternoon festival with street vendors and performers.
Cost: Free to enter

Pride Luminaries Brunch

Sunday, June 23
Midtown
Enjoy an open bar and brunch buffet on Moxy Hotel’s rooftop in honor of businesspeople who have been instrumental in promoting workplace equality for LGBTQIA+ people this year. Presented in partnership with Thrillist, the Pride Luminaries Brunch will be a morning to remember.
Cost: Tickets start at $85

S & M Ball

Sunday, June 23
Bushwick
Enter the final week of Pride with a hard lean into whips and chains, leather and latex at this ball-style bash celebrating both BDSM and the queer and trans people of color who’ve brought ballroom culture to life in New York City. Newbies and allies are welcome to attend, but encouraged to show enthusiasm from the sidelines out of respect for the participants.
Cost: $10 in advance; $15 at the door

The Tea on Brooklyn’s Prismatic LGBTQ Nightlife

Monday, June 24
Brooklyn Heights
Learn about Brooklyn’s history of serving marginalized communities with clips from the documentary We Came to Sweat and a panel discussion from experts on the borough’s queer nightlife scene.
Cost: $10 general admission; $5 for BHS members

Human Rights Conference

Monday, June 24 – Tuesday, June 25
Tribeca
Hear important conversations about global human rights with a range of experts and activists. This two-day conference features performances and presentations that will touch on policy, art, and justice.
Cost: $30 one-day admission; $50 two-day admission; student/senior discounts available

gamechangers at sva theatre
GameChangers | NYC PRIDE

GameChangers

Tuesday, June 25
Chelsea
This panel discussion, Q&A, and networking opportunity focuses on LGBTQ+ movers and shakers in the entertainment industry. Star Trek legend George Takei and transgender actress Leyna Bloom lead the discussion at SVA Theatre.
Cost: $25+ general admission; $15 student admission

WorldPride Opening Ceremony

Wednesday, June 26
Prospect Heights
June may be nearing its end, but WorldPride is just ramping up. Pack into the Barclays Center for a benefit concert kickoff as Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Ciara, Billy Porter, and Chaka Khan use their talents to raise money for three monumental LGBTQIA+ organizations.
Cost: Tickets start at $45

Getting the History of HIV/AIDS Right

Wednesday, June 26
Brooklyn Heights
Separate fact from fiction as two professors unpack the complexities of HIV/AIDS and explore how identity, history, science, and stigma factor into our understanding of the virus today.
Cost: $10 general admission; $5 for BHS members

nyc gay men's chorus
NYCGMC | MATTHEW RANEY

Quiet No More: A Choral Celebration of Stonewall50

Thursday, June 27
Midtown
The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and LGBTQ choruses from across the country will commemorate Stonewall’s 50th anniversary at Carnegie Hall. Their new choral piece celebrates the Stonewall Uprising’s ripple effect with over 500 participating voices.
Cost: Tickets start at $22.50

Dirty Thursday: Born This Way

Thursday, June 27
Bushwick
A gay dance party devoted to none other than queer icon Lady Gaga? House of Yes, please.  
Cost: Free

Savor Pride

Friday, June 28
SoHo
Thrillist partnered with NYC Pride and meal-delivery non-profit God’s Love We Deliver for the return of this popular culinary experience and fundraiser. Enjoy cooking demonstrations by accomplished chefs and taste their creations on the GLWD terrace, all for a good cause.
Cost: Tickets start at $70

Stonewall 50th Commemoration Rally

Friday, June 28
West Village
Remember the Stonewall Uprising at a rally reminiscent of 1969’s. LGBTQIA+ rights have come a long way in the last five decades, but there’s still a long way to go. This call for change should rank high on your Pride month must-dos.
Cost: Free

ny lgbt pride run
LGBT Pride Run | NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS

Front Runners NY LGBT Pride Run

Saturday, June 29
Central Park
Start Pride Weekend with your best foot forward by running in (or watching) a 5-mile race through the park. The 38th annual event aims to break the Guinness World Record for the largest Pride charity run.
Cost: $37 per runner; discounts available for members, seniors, students, and youth

Teaze

Saturday, June 29
Lower East Side
Five NYC party collectives will band together for an ultra-queer night of fun. When the party’s over, you’ll have five new LGBTQ+ nightlife options to add to your agenda.
Cost: General admission is $30

PrideFest

Sunday, June 30
East Village
Join NYC Pride for an afternoon of music, activities, and all sorts of treats to go along with the neighboring Pride March.
Cost: Free to attend

NYC Pride March
NYC Pride March | JESS POMPONIO/SHUTTERSTOCK

NYC Pride March

Sunday, June 30
Manhattan
This is the Pride Month event, a tradition that began the year after the Stonewall Riots and has since grown to include millions of LGBTQ+ people and allies. Nab a spot on Fifth or Seventh avenues, celebrate all the progress that’s been made, and call for continued action.
Cost: Free

WorldPride Closing Ceremony

Sunday, June 30
Times Square
Squeeze in one more celebration before Pride Month wraps at WorldPride’s last hoorah, where Melissa Etheridge, Jake Shears, and fast-rising pop star MNEK will take the stage alongside a Broadway act and other talent.
Cost: Admission is free with registration

Categories
events

The Best Cinco de Mayo Celebrations in NYC

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Published on Thrillist on April 26, 2019

If Easter is the Christmas of spring, then Cinco de Mayo may be its New Year’s Eve: the peppy follow-up event characterized by booze, dance music, colorful streamers, and parties that rage on long after the sun folds into the Hudson. Every fifth of May, New Yorkers rally to celebrate Mexican culture through food, music, and — most notably — drinks. While mass intoxication isn’t exactly the reason for the season, it’s certainly enticing.

This year in NYC, May’s liveliest holiday takes flight with rooftop parties, taco-tasting competitions, a live donkey, and enough drink deals to keep you dancing through the weekend. So squeeze in a siesta before you fiesta, and maybe set aside some time to understand why you’re drinking in the first place. You’ve got a busy weekend ahead.

FOOD AND DRINK SPECIALS

infamous bistro
Infamous Bistro’s patio seating | MOLLY TAVOLETTI

Infamous Bistro

Upper West Side
Stroll out of the park and onto a patio for open-air drinking at Infamous Bistro. All day long, they’re serving mezcal palomas for a painless $8. The featured cocktail pairs fresh grapefruit and chili salt with the smoky liquor to create a unique, warm weather concoction. It’s smoke and spice at an affordable price.
Cost: $8 per paloma

clinton hall
Taco & Margarita Flight | COURTESY OF CLINTON HALL

Clinton Hall

Williamsburg, Midtown, Midtown East, FiDi, and Belmont
Reward your appetite at any of Clinton Hill’s locations on Sunday. If you’re looking for discounts, get three tacos and three margaritas for $25 total, or order a bucket of Coronas for the same price. At 4pm, customers at the Williamsburg and 36th Street locations can also whack piñatas to score mini tequila bottles.
Cost: $25 taco and tequila flights; $25 buckets of Corona; standard menu prices vary

habanero hot box
Habanero Hot Box | COURTESY OF BODEGA NEGRA

Bodega Negra

Chelsea
Dream Downtown’s resident Mexican hotspot vows to spice things up with the Habanero Hot Box, a pair of tacos packed with four types of chiles, four cheeses, and a smattering of salsas, habanero cream, jalapeno chorizo, and cotija on top. The flaming dish, available from May 1 through the summer, arrives in a smoke-filled glass dome, and until Cinco de Mayo, brave patrons can get the new, creamy El Medico cocktail at half-price to soften the blow.
Cost: The Habanero Hot Box (two tacos) costs $16; the El Medico is $8 from May 1-5

bar hugo
The bar area | COURTESY OF BAR HUGO

Bar Hugo

SoHo
Elevated drinking adds pizzazz to any boozy fiesta, so when Hotel Hugo’s classy rooftop bar promises Cinco de Mayo discounts on a whole roster of drinks, you know you’re in for a good time. All Sunday night, take in Lower Manhattan views and reasonably priced liquor at a beloved SoHo spot. May 5’s must-try is the El Tapatio, a tequila-based cocktail with flavors of orange, cucumber, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime.
Cost: Select beers are $6; house wine is $8; well cocktails are $9; specialty cocktails (including the El Tapatio) are $10

hummus and pita co tacos
Pita Tacos | COURTESY OF THE HUMMUS & PITA CO.

The Hummus & Pita Co.

Chelsea, Tribeca, and Midtown
For one week only, you’ll find Cinco-inspired pita tacos at all Hummus & Pita Co. locations. From Friday, May 3, to Friday, May 10, fill fried pita “taco shells” with any combination of their usual ingredients. Falafel? Toss it in the taco. Turkish meatballs? Go for it. Chicken tabun? It’s holiday chicken now. Top with veggies, salads, and a signature hummus for a well-rounded celebratory bite.
Cost: $9.95 for a set of three tacos

brooklyn cider house Outdoor Deck
The seasonal outdoor deck | COURTESY OF BROOKLYN CIDER HOUSE

Brooklyn Cider House

Bushwick
When cideries and Mexican holidays overlap, amazing things happen. Brooklyn Cider House just reopened its outdoor deck, and Cinco de Mayo weekend offers the perfect excuse to break it in. On Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, you’ll find Cider-Ritas, chips & guac, and $2 tacos on the menu. BCH has plenty of other Cinco-friendly options, too, like the shareable Cider House Nachos, complete with your choice of pulled pork, chicken, or veggies.
Cost: $2 tacos; $10 Cider-Ritas; $9 chips & guac; prices for standard menu items vary

Ed's Lobster Bar
Fish Tacos | ED’S LOBSTER BAR

Ed’s Lobster

Nolita
Ed is keeping it simple this year, but when a seafood joint decides to take part in the fun at all, who’s to say it’s not enough? Cut to the chase with half-priced mojitos and margs between 3 and 7pm on May 5. It may not be the most traditional Cinco destination, but celebrations are what you make of them — plus, their fish tacos are plenty on-theme.
Cost: Cocktails normally run around $12-13; cut in half, you’re looking at less-than-$7 drinks

the flying cock beer bucket
Beer Bucket | COURTESY OF THE FLYING COCK

The Flying Cock & The Horny Ram

Kips Bay & Midtown East
On May 5, customers at sister bars The Flying Cock and The Horny Ram can expect ice cold beer buckets ($36) and regular happy hour specials from 4-7pm. The Horny Ram will also serve freshly made margaritas ($13) all day long, marked down to $7 at happy hour.
Cost: An ice bucket with six beers runs $36; margaritas at The Horny Ram are $13 for most of the day, $7 during happy hour

PARTIES AND EVENTS

Thrillist Taco Knockout
Thrillist Taco Knockout | PETER WINTERSTELLER

Thrillist Taco Knockout

Thursday, May 2
Union Square
Help Thrillist find the best taco in town at this year’s Taco Knockout, where 15 taquerias will serve up their most prized recipes in an attempt to win your vote. Between sampling, stop by the Michelada bar for a custom drink, listen to live music, and snap a pic at the photo booth. That’s living life to the Thrillist.
Cost: $65

rochelle's nyc
One of five participating Lower Manhattan bars | ROCHELLE’S NYC

NYC Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl

Saturday, May 4
Lower East Side
Slink between five watering holes at this holiday bar crawl. Register at Libation between 2 and 6pm and set on your way. Most spots have food and drink promotions until 10, but if it’s a mariachi band you seek, drop into Casa Mezcal before they pack up at 5. Consider tonight a pregame for Sunday’s main events.
Cost: $10 wristbands ($7.50 each for groups of four or more) get you discounted drinks at participating bars

Cinco de Mayo Penthouse Party

Saturday, May 4
NoMad
Take Cuatro de Mayo up 20 levels at one of NYC’s best rooftop bars, 230 Fifth. The 20th-floor penthouse comes to life at 8pm, and for the first hour, drinks are 2-for-1, and apps are free throughout the evening. Of course, no skyline-adjacent party’s complete without DJs and dancing, so come prepared to break a sweat as you ring in the month’s booziest day.
Cost: $20 admission; 2-for-1 drink specials for the first hour

ghost donkey
The bar area | COURTESY OF GHOST DONKEY

Ghost Donkey’s Cinco de Mayo Party

Sunday, May 5
NoHo
Bleecker Street’s Ghost Donkey and Saxon + Parole are bringing extravagance this Cinco season. Their joint party begins at 1pm, when guests can feast at a whole roasted pig taco bar, order a variety of Mexican drinks, dance to a hip-hop mariachi band, see a pro nacho eating contest, and pose for a pic with a live donkey. It’ll be a celebration to remember, minus the hefty entrance fee.
Cost: No tickets necessary, but come prepared to pay standard menu prices for food and drinks; table reservations can be made for groups of 10+

Tequila 101

Sunday, May 5
Chelsea
Yeah it makes your clothes fall off, but like, what is it? Gain a deeper knowledge of your favorite agave spirit at Tequila 101 in the Chelsea Market. Learn what goes into making tequila and how to best use it while sampling four hand-crafted variations, plus its smoky sister spirit, mezcal. The afternoon course is a perfect precursor to your evening festivities, and an excellent day drinking justification.
Cost: $50

Vandal's Secret Garden
Vandal’s Secret Garden | TAO GROUP

Taco Celebration at Vandal

Sunday, May 5
Lower East Side
Open bar, all-you-can-eat tacos, margarita tastings, and guacamole? The Taco Celebration has it all. From 6-8:30pm, soak up the party in Vandal’s Secret Garden, an art-forward indoor/outdoor dining space perfect for celebrating.
Cost: $60

cinco de mayo party
House of Yes | KENNY RODRIGUEZ

CINCO

Sunday, May 5
Bushwick
House of Yes shimmies the extra mile for holiday celebrations, and CINCO has all the markings of another successful Bushwick rager. Let tequila take control as two Brooklyn musicians set the dancefloor mood from 3pm till around 10. Unlike most HoY parties, CINCO is free to enter. Come ready to dance the day away — this just might be NYC’s wildest May 5 fiesta.
Cost: Free

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policy

Alumna of Note: Elizabeth Jones

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Elizabeth Jones portrait by Ryan Donnell

Published in the Spring 2019 issue of Westwind Magazine

Most people spend their lives trying to steer clear of bankruptcy, but Elizabeth Jones’ warm embrace of the subject propelled her into a career she perhaps only dreamed of a decade ago. Now a Supreme Court fellow in Washington, D.C., she reflects on how she developed a passion for bankruptcy law and details how she hopes to help debtors moving forward.

Jones began making career plans even before she stepped foot in a college classroom: She wanted to be a lawyer, and she’d spend her
undergrad years at Walla Walla University gearing up for law school.

“I was pretty sure I wanted to do business for my major,” she says, noting that she’s always appreciated numbers, “but I kind of knew that for law I would need something else in order to feel a little more prepared.” She tacked an English minor onto her degree and joined the Honors Program to help round out her education.

Preparing for law school isn’t all about acquiring textbook knowledge, though; it’s about learning to hold firm under pressure.

“I knew I needed to push myself in other ways,” she says, “so I did that by doubling up on some classes and getting involved in other things outside of the curriculum,” such as ASWWU Senate, The Collegian, and the softball team. Despite the extra responsibilities, she finished all her coursework within three years to make up for time spent abroad in Thailand.

With a bachelor’s degree under her belt and unwavering plans for her career, Jones said farewell to the west in 2013 and headed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to attend the University of Michigan Law School, ranked No. 8 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

“Going in, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Jones recalls,
“and that was pretty intentional because I wanted to be open to the
possibility of falling in love with a certain type of practice.”

At one point she considered transactional corporate law; at
another, she was leaning toward litigation. When Jones got a taste
of bankruptcy law—a middle ground between the two—she realized
she’d found her niche.

Bankruptcy law might sound dull on the surface, but Jones argues that it’s far from black and white. “You really get the opportunity to reinvent the wheel in every case that you get,” she says. Though most bankruptcy cases fall within the same parameters, lawyers are forced to find creative solutions for each debtor.

Jones completed her law degree in 2017 and continued her journey east to clerk for a bankruptcy judge in New York City. During her clerkship, she heard about the Supreme Court Fellows Program
and decided to apply.

The program selects four individuals each year to work in one of four federal judiciary agencies, giving them practical experience and providing a path for them to conduct research on a specific topic. Jones proposed a bankruptcy-related research project in her application, and the unique pitch—coupled with her obvious zeal for the subject—earned her a placement at the Federal Judicial Center in the 2018–19 cohort. In August, she made the move to D.C. to begin work.

While one could argue that Jones has already accomplished plenty for someone less than two years out of law school, her motivation has yet to peak. She plans to do clinical teaching down the road, supervising law students as they represent real bankruptcy clients.

“There’s a very big subset of people that are trying to navigate this process on their own, which is very complicated and difficult,” she says. Running a clinic will allow Jones to mentor students and provide more representation for debtors who can’t afford attorneys. She will conclude her fellowship in August and move back to New York City, where she’s accepted a position at a law firm to continue working toward this goal.

For Jones, the next step seems to always be within reach. Maybe it speaks to her innate drive for success, or maybe it’s a result of finding what she loves. In either case, it’s clear that she’s not slowing down any time soon.

Categories
policy

Panic button catch-up

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unsplash

Published in the Sacramento News & Review and on newsreview.com on December 20, 2018

The Me Too movement shed light on pervasive misconduct in America, but hotel employees continue to face harassment and assault at alarming rates. The city of Sacramento just took a step toward changing that.

On December 11, the City Council’s Law and Legislative Committee considered additional safety measures for hotel workers. The most notable proposal would require hotels to provide employees with panic buttons: portable emergency contact devices that immediately summon help.

Consuelo Hernandez, Sacramento’s director of government affairs, suggested that hotel operators also be required to establish and distribute written sexual harassment policies.

Councilman Eric Guerra noted it was time for the city to catch up to Sacramento County on the worker safety front. The county passed its own panic button policy in February. “It makes no sense if you cross Stockton Boulevard, or if you cross one of these areas, and you have one ordinance and then another ordinance,” Guerra said.

The push to bring added safeguards to city hotels was fueled by conversations with members of the Unite Here labor union and the Sacramento Hotel Association. Shelly Moranville, incoming president of the hotel association and vice chairwoman of Visit Sacramento, told the committee her industry is supportive of the panic button proposal, but added local operators don’t want to be mandated to blacklist guests who violate the hotels’ policies. She said hotels also don’t want to be required to conduct additional sexual harassment training.

California has seen at least two notable panic button proposals face rejection—in the city of Long Beach and at the state level. In both cases, additional provisions were tacked on and deemed too costly by critics. Hernandez is working to see that Sacramento’s proposal meets a different fate.

“I anticipate working with stakeholders, trying to address any concerns that they may have,” she said, “and to develop a meaningful program that would benefit both workers and the hotel and motel owners.”

The Law and Legislative Committee advanced the proposal to the full City Council as staff continues to work on it.

Categories
health

Alumna of Note: Elena Rohm

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Elena Rohm

Published in the Fall 2017 issue of Westwind Magazine in November 2017

When Elena Rohm enrolled at Walla Walla University in 2010, she already had a career plan in mind. “I never went to nursing school to work in a hospital setting,” Rohm said. “My goal in going to school was always to meet the needs of the underserved population, particularly overseas.” But helping displaced Iraqis in areas devastated by ISIS? That’s something she couldn’t anticipate. 

Rohm’s mission work has already brought her to nine foreign countries across five continents. The Oregon native’s latest trip took her to northern Iraq, where ADRA and Adventist Help are building an emergency medical care hospital to serve the 100,000-plus internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region. 

She lived in Erbil, Iraq, for two and a half weeks last June and July, traveling an hour to the Hasansham U2 Camp each day to help construct the hospital and treat patients from each of the five local IDP camps. “These were people fleeing from Sinjar or Mosul or a lot of the ISIS-held territories,” Rohm said. 

Her daily commute to the hospital site showed evidence of a war-torn region. “We would have to go around a bridge every single day because ISIS had blown up that bridge six months before we were there,” she recalled. Despite the damage, Rohm felt safe alongside her team of over a dozen volunteers. 

It wasn’t until she spent a few days at a trauma stabilization point in Mosul that safety became a concern. “You could hear gunfire and bombs going off and see the smoke in the distance,” Rohm said. Only about 2 kilometers from the action, the trauma stabilization point workers acted as a first response for several injured soldiers and citizens who wouldn’t have made it to one of the distant hospitals in time. 

Rohm knew what kind of injuries to expect when she signed up to help in Iraq—anybody who watches the news knows it’s an ugly situation—but she had no idea how much of an impact the experience would have on her. “When we think of people from Third World countries, we think they’re so different. But the people are the same as us,” she said. “They have goals and desires just like we do.” 

After meeting people whose lives were abruptly interrupted by war, she learned that only months earlier, their lives weren’t far from her own. “The only difference between me and these people is that I was lucky enough to be born into a place where I don’t have to worry about this,” Rohm said. “It really stood out to me more than any other trip.” 

Rohm returned to her current Oklahoma home in July, where she faced a tough decision: What comes next? Rohm toyed with the idea of revisiting school to become a nurse practitioner, but she’s in a prime position to travel and there’s no age limit on a degree. “School will always be there,” she said. “I don’t know that these opportunities will always be presented the same way that I could fulfill them right now.” 

Few people exchange luxury for discomfort—and fewer people do it willingly—but when Rohm marched across Centennial Green in 2013 and took her diploma, she knew her dream was far from conventional. Nobody can predict what part of the world will need help next, but one thing’s for sure: When an opportunity to help comes knocking, Rohm will open the door with a suitcase by her side and a passport in hand.

Categories
environment

Mitigation litigation

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empty farm land

Published in the Sacramento News & Review and on newsreview.com in August 2018.

Years before thumb drives, Sacramentans knew “USB” as an acronym for the “urban services boundary.” In the county’s 1993 general plan, the USB was established as “the ultimate boundary of the urban area.” Now, it’s at the root of the latest clash between local developers and environmentalists.

Earlier this year, the Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCo, approved a project that would add 1,156 acres of farmland to the city of Elk Grove’s sphere of influence. The commission’s 4-3 decision brings Elk Grove one step closer to potentially annexing the area just east of State Route 99 for development. According to the project application, Elk Grove “has no remaining large unplanned blocks of land available for long-term planning and future growth within its boundaries.”

Jim Pachl, legal chair for the Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter, doesn’t accept that rationale. He claims that there are over 4,000 acres of vacant city land already zoned for urban development. With unfinished projects scattered across town, Pachl charges that the 99 expansion is an unnecessary case of urban sprawl—one that puts the county and its residents at a crossroads.

“Are we going to confine the development to the USB,” Pachl asked, “or are we going to bust the boundary?”

LAFCo’s February approval favored the latter, causing several community members to call for reconsideration. Letters to LAFCo staff cited a range of concerns pertaining to water supply, traffic congestion, air quality, loss of agriculture, harm to wildlife and insufficient mitigation options. In May, LAFCo denied reconsidering its decision. A month later, five groups—Environmental Council of Sacramento, Sierra Club, Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk, Habitat 2020 and Friends of the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge—filed a petition for the Sacramento Superior Court to issue a writ of mandate and overrule LAFCo’s findings.

The petition contends that LAFCo commissioners made a few major errors in their consideration of the project. First, LAFCo certified an environmental impact report that fails to account for water supply and loss of habitat. Second, LAFCo acted against its governing legislation by failing to discourage sprawl and preserve prime agricultural lands. Third, LAFCo has not yet adopted policies that make them eligible to review the sphere of influence application.

Groups backing the petition are running out of options to preserve the land in question and keep the USB intact. If the court deems LAFCo’s approval valid, regional planning efforts could be disrupted.

“The purpose of the USB was to provide some tool for planning regional infrastructure,” Pachl said. “It’s a little hard to plan if anyone can plop a subdivision out there.”

LAFCo’s executive officer declined to comment about the commission’s findings, citing the litigation.

Categories
policy

The Aderholt Amendment: A Dangerous Step Backward

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Published on the Lilliput Families blog on August 22, 2018

On July 11, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) proposed a controversial amendment to the 2019 spending bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The measure, which got initial approval from the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, would allow discriminatory child welfare agencies to receive federal funding.

Currently, federal law says that government-funded adoption agencies are not allowed to deny service to anyone for religious or moral reasons. The Robert Aderholt Amendment makes room for more faith-based discrimination in the child welfare system by letting organizations pick and choose who they serve without forfeiting government aid.

Opponents fear that this will undo the progress that the LGBTQ community has made toward securing the right to adopt, and encourage further discrimination against anyone who doesn’t fit a “traditional parent” mold.

Aderholt, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, pitched his amendment as something of an all-hands-on-deck approach to getting children out of foster care. “We need more support for these families and children in crisis,” he wrote in a press release, “not less.”

What the representative failed to note is that more agencies won’t necessarily lead to more homes for foster children. Rather than widening the pool of potential adoptive parents, the Aderholt Amendment would create more competition for non-discriminatory agencies. This could reduce the number of available homes by limiting the options for LGBTQ people, single people and unmarried couples.

The same groups that are subject to discrimination are the ones that give the child welfare system hope of solving the foster care crisis. A fact sheet on the American Civil Liberties Union website points out that married, opposite-sex couples cannot accommodate the entire population of children that lack homes. “There simply are not enough married mothers and fathers who are interested in adoption and foster care,” it reads. “Last year only 20,000 of the 100,000 foster children in need of adoption were adopted, including children adopted by single people as well as married couples.”

“Faith and Freedom” is listed on Aderholt’s government webpage as part of his political platform. He quotes a portion of the First Amendment that reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Aderholt claims that the government intrudes upon people who exercise religious freedom, but one could just as easily claim that when it comes to child welfare, the government has been playing it neutral. The law doesn’t prohibit faith-based adoption agencies from finding homes for children, it simply declines to spend taxpayer dollars on agencies that are unwilling to serve all taxpayers.

Though the Aderholt Amendment was approved by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, the spending bill that it’s tacked on to has yet to receive final approval in Congress. If the amendment is implemented, the Department of Health and Human Services would be required to start withholding 15 percent of child welfare funds from any state or local government that shows bias toward secular agencies.

Several politicians and advocacy groups have taken to social media to speak out against the narrow-sighted proposal, using the hashtag #LicenseToDiscriminate—a reference to the similar “license to discriminate” laws that a handful of states have already enacted.

To learn more about how you can prevent the Aderholt Amendment from becoming law, visit the Every Child Deserves a Family website at https://goo.gl/5NLJ1k.

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nonprofit

United for momentum

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Published in the Sacramento News & Review and on newsreview.com in August 2018.

For many, ZIP codes are little more than a jumble of numbers. But for some Sacramento County children, they can be the difference between life and death.

In several areas of the region, African-American infants and children experience mortality rates that are twice that of their peers. A team of community advocates continues trying to change that grim dynamic. After securing nearly $2 million to expand their Black Mothers United program, it just might.

Her Health First, formerly the Center for Community Health & Well Being, is one of more than 20 nonprofits working out of former classrooms at the Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative. In a neighborhood fraught with violence, malnutrition and housing insecurity, Her Health First follows its name as a guide, subscribing to the mantra that “strong and healthy communities begin with strong and healthy women.” Executive director Shannon Read explains the organization’s goal as one that seeks to build health equity—not equality—for women throughout the community.

“We have to start with the population that’s experiencing the disproportionality,” Read said. “We have to help women of color first.”

In 2013, Her Health First pilot-launched the Black Mothers United program, designed to address the region’s disproportionate infant mortality rates in a holistic manner. Black Mothers United partners expectant African-American women with pregnancy coaches who help them get proper pre- and perinatal care.

The First 5 Sacramento Commission has been a vital funding source for Black Mothers United since the beginning. Following an 18-month trial period that saw zero infant deaths, First 5 Sacramento awarded Her Health First a three-year, $1.27 million contract to fully establish the program. In the nonprofit arena, Read explained, funding often disappears the moment an issue shows signs of improvement.

“We’re starting to see the needle move,” she said.

But First 5 Sacramento—whose goal is to support healthy infant development—seems to recognize that the job isn’t over. On July 1, the commission renewed its contract with Her Health First for another three years, this time upping the ante to $1.9 million.

“The power of programs like Black Mothers United is that they meet mothers where they are at, within each of their own unique circumstances, to provide individualized care,” said Julie Gallelo, executive director of First 5 Sacramento.

That tactic makes the program feasible for a range of women. If clients don’t have a house, pregnancy coaches visit them wherever they sleep. If clients don’t have a car, coaches can transport them to meetings and appointments.

The newest contract from First 5 Sacramento means HHF has the resources to form new partnerships and provide more services to Black Mothers United. The expansion includes offering free childbirth education courses, as well as partnering with organizations to connect mothers with additional training and medical care. HHF has also increased its role in the Black Child Legacy Campaign.

Advocates like Read stress that every woman has potential to birth a healthy child and change her community from within—they just need the right tools. With new momentum, Black Mothers United anticipates serving 630 new women across seven neighborhoods between 2018 and 2021.