Lacquer, lager, lounge…
Beauty Bar turned ten this year, and if you haven’t visited this hipster hangout in a while then you’re missing out on more than just the two-for-one manicure-and-drink deal ($10, Wednesdays through Saturdays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.). The kitschy bar’s new addition, the “Blue Rinse Back Room,” functions as a dance floor, and on any given Saturday night you can join the well-tressed twentysomethings swinging their hair and hips to DJs spinning classic hard rock and hip-hop—just make sure your nails are dry before getting too wild on the dance floor.
•231 East 14th St., between Second and Third Aves., 212-539-1389; Mon-Fri, 5 p.m.-4 a.m.; Sat, 7 p.m.-4 a.m.
Portrait of a nightclub…
If you score your best pickups at art openings, check out Ruby Falls. This nightclub also operates as an art gallery, with DJs spinning a mix of hip-hop, 80’s, and rock amid a rotating list of shows and installations. (The gallery’s current group show includes a series of gleaming surgical-like objects, a set of black-and-white portraits, and several large-scale nudes painted on metal and canvas.) A vodka tonic ($10) might spark your interest in those wall-hangings—and you won’t have to sacrifice your inner club kid to flirt with that cute watercolorist.
•609 West 29th St., between Eleventh and Twelfth Aves.; 212-643-6464; Mon-Sat, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (gallery); Thu-Sun, 11 p.m.-4 a.m. (nightclub)
Relax and sip on this shopping trip…
The owners of Fashion/Plate NYC have divided the former M Bar space into three areas: a bar and banquettes by the entrance, a hidden dining room in the back, and a boutique in-between that sells custom-made clothing, beauty products, jewelry, and more. During the day, refuel on tea, hot chocolate, wine (available by the glass, carafe, and bottle), and cocktails (the $11 Buddha’s Dream features kiwi-and-lemongrass-infused sake shaken with honeydew-melon puree and plum wine). And if you stick around after the store closes, feast upon chef Ricardo Hernandez’s fusion cuisine, which blends the flavors of Mexico City with the Far East to create such dishes as “Asian-style” paella ($18).
•264 Elizabeth St., between Houston and Prince Sts.; 212-219-9212; Tue-Sun, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (store); Sun-Thu, 6 p.m.-midnight; Fri-Sat, 6 p.m.-2 a.m. (restaurant)
Transport yourself to Turkey…
Sit at the bar or grab a table and peruse the merchandise at Turks & Frogs, a Turkish antique shop now serving wine and tapas. The antique Turkish pottery ($75-$1000) and olive-oil jars ($75-$3000) vary in price according to size and age, while a pair of French chairs go for $2500 and collapsible copper-and-canvas lanterns run from $35 to $400. Choose among 50 varieties of wine (eight of them Turkish) and appetizers such as the cheese plate ($10), smoked eggplant salad ($6), or Lebni, a thick yogurt dish with nuts and dill ($6).
•323 West 11th St., between Greenwich and Washington Sts.; 212-691-8875;daily, 5 p.m.-4 a.m.
Fuel your dual-addiction…
Coffeehouse singer-songwriters party with rowdy rockers at Lotus Club’s horseshoe-shaped bar that serves coffee on one side, liquor on the other, and a happy medium in-between. Specialty drinks include “Murray’s Irish Latte,” a heady combo of Guinness, espresso, and steamed milk ($6). And like any coffeehouse worth its beans, this one’s got books and magazines lining the walls of the espresso side and a menu of homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches served until 5 p.m.
•35 Clinton St., at Stanton St.; 212-253-1144; daily, 8 a.m.-4 a.m.
Pick up swell clothes and swill cheap cocktails…
A quiet bar among the more boisterous East Village offerings, The Hanger offers something else the others don’t: second-hand clothes and designer duds. Vintage dresses ($25-$75) share space with contemporary designer Alessi Bennet’s tunic shirts and wraps ($80-140) and Lona D’s patterned skirts and mini-dresses ($50-80); the bar expects to carry men’s merchandise in the upcoming months. During happy hour, drinks are two-for-one ($4-6) and a pitcher of any well drink is $14. With such reasonable drink prices, you can afford that dress you’ve been eyeing all week. (Just make sure you buy that frock during the week as well—on weekend nights, the clothes move downstairs to prevent damage to the designs.)
•217 E. 3rd St., between Aves. B and C; 212-228-1030; daily, 2 p.m.-4 a.m.
With additional reporting by Joe DeLessio.