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| Convention Bar Buzz |
| Because
the city's clubs and pubs will be anything but conventional
when thousands of Republicans roll into town on August 30. |
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| Crossing party lines at the Ritz. |
taste test
The Compassionate Conservative, the G.W.
Bellini, and the Texas Two-Step
Ritz-Carlton hotels are putting the party back in politics with
three RNC-themed cocktails complete with kitschy names, beautiful
colors, and $14 price tags. The Compassionate Conservative (vodka,
passion fruit puree, champagne) is a tangy pick-me-up, while the
G.W. Bellini (champagne, peach schnapps, peach puree) has a pink-sunset
hue and just-picked peach taste. Our favorite, though, is the Texas
Two-Step, an electric-blue mix of tequila, rum, and blue Curacao
that will have you (line) dancing in your seat. All three will be
served throughout the convention at both the hotel's classic Central
Park flagship and modern Battery Park outpost, which is hosting
the Georgia delegation (hence the peach-y G.W. Bellini), as well
as many RNC parties in its ballroom. After indulging in a cocktail
at the downtown Ritz's lobby lounge, make sure to visit the Rise
Bar on the 14th floor, where the view of the Statue of Liberty is
unbeatable.—Emma Rosenblum
Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, 2 West
St., at Battery Park Pl.; 212-344-0800; daily, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.;
Ritz-Carlton New York. Central Park, 50 Central Park S., between
Fifth and Sixth Aves.; 212-308-9100; daily, 11:30 a.m.-12:45 a.m.
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republicans
take manhattans: a how-to guide
City watering holes may be awash in patriotic potables (see the G.
W. Bellini, above), but if visiting Republicans are serious about
adopting New York City as their own, then duty calls upon them to
order a round of Manhattans at least once. But nonlocal yokels beware:
Imitations, like so many Canal Street handbags, are everywhere. And since
a mistep could result in Dem reprisal (trust us, they're the worst
kind of drunks) or, horror of horrors, shouts of "Go Back to
Jersey!," a few pointers are in order:
• The standard Manhattan recipe is two-parts rye whiskey, one-part
sweet vermouth, and two dashes of angostura bitters, topped with a
maraschino cherry or orange twist.
• Rye whiskey is not the same spirit as bourbon whiskey
or Canadian whiskey like VO—a rye blend that Broadway actors
masquerading as bartenders often mistake for the real thing.
• If real rye isn't on hand, a Manhattan made with, say, Maker's
Mark bourbon is (barely) acceptable, although we have to say, a little
bit girlie. But not enough to get you beat up or anything.
• Instruct your bartender to substitute Irish whiskey for rye
whiskey and you've got yourself a wisecracking Angela & Mike (Italian
vermouth + Irish whiskey = a volatile New Yawk union if there ever
was).
• For a Manhattan with impeccable pedigree, head to the
venerable Bemelmans
Bar (35 E. 76th St.). They'll take care of you. Follow me?
—Carla Spartos |
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| The Penthouse's Red Room. |
stripping for amy sohn
Penthouse Executive
Club
The 10,000-square-foot Penthouse, which licensed the name from
the magazine, has a South Beach vibe, with high ceilings, comfy
booths, and an airy, spacious feel. On a recent weeknight, married
men in collared shirts ogled a multiracial group of generic
and siliconed girls, who gave bored-looking $20 lap dances.
I finally discovered a half-French beauty with fake eyelashes
and natural Cs, who did a good job of making me nervous as she
wriggled down my body before a gathering crowd of leering men
(there's nothing sexier in a strip club than watching a woman
get a lap dance). Afterwards she tried to sell me another and
when I told her I wasn't interested, her expression turned sour.
These girls could use a little more sweetness: The trick to
doing good business is to make customers feel like they're not
buying your attention, even as they are. Upstairs, you can get
private lap dances for $500-$1000 an hour in the freezing Harem
Room (cool nipples make for better aesthetics), or eat prime
rib at Robert's Steakhouse while buying drinks for a blonde
with fake double Ds. As one female bartender said, "You got
a piece of meat right here and a piece of ass right there. It's
the American dream."—Amy Sohn
603 W. 45th St., at Eleventh Ave.; 212-245-0002;
penthouseexecutiveclub.com;
Mon-Fri, 5 p.m.-4 a.m.; Sat, 7 p.m.-4 a.m.; Sun, closed. |
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| The show girls at Tens. |
Tens World Class
Cabaret
Though sleek and somewhat generic, Tens offers a more tempting
variety of strippers than Penthouse. There are more natural
girls with real-girl appeal. They parade around in floor-length
gowns, stopping to offer conversation and dances to the men,
business types still dressed in work suits. Periodically,
a voice comes over the speaker system and announces a specialty
dancer, who takes the center stage and does a pas-de-deux
with a pole. Sports games play on flat-screen TVs and the
music is a little loud, but the girls take their time and
seem content to do their jobs. After a sensuous $20 lap dance
from a longhaired brunette named Mary, a buxom blonde in a
tight black dress came up and offered me a massage. "It's
the same price as a lap dance," she said, "and it lasts two
songs!" With focus and dedication, my massager kneaded out
all my knots, and she didn't try anything funny, either. "Sometimes
men get mad," she said. "When they find out I really
am just giving them a massage." When she finished, we
continued chatting. "Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed. "I read your
novel!" Though I didn't have an orgasm, I came pretty damn
close.—Amy Sohn
35 E. 21st St., between Park Ave. and Broadway;
212-254-2444; tensnyc.com;
Mon-Fri, 6 p.m.-4 a.m.; Sat, 8 p.m.-4 a.m.; Sun, 8 p.m.-2 a.m.
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republican date book
AUGUST 29
Bryant Park Grill
Attend Bloomberg bash for Log Cabin Republicans—will this federal
marriage amendment bizness ever end???
AUGUST 30
Bryant Park Grill
4pm: "big tent event" with Republican Unity Coalition
re gay/straight harmony—can someone pls. tell me what party
this is?!
Cipriani 42nd Street
10pm: meet w/ delegates from NY/NJ
*BIG NIGHT*
Hair & Makeup appts:
Who does Laura/Libby? Make inquiries...
**Meet hot Arizona delegate at Campbell
Apartment
AUGUST 31
Sky Club
Republican majority for choice event w/ Bo Derek; give Ralph's Christian
Coalition the slip thru back entrance. uggh!!
Noche
10pm: Post-convention party @ Times Sq. supperclub. Keep trips
to mojito cart to a min.—let's not have Philly repeat!
SEPTEMBER 1
Copacabana
10pm: "Los Amigos" party. Salsa w/ Pataki. Free
buffet!!!
**Caucus w/ Mr. X at 21.
SEPTEMBER 2
Water Club
10pm: Last post-convention party. Thank you, Lord!! Will NYC secede
already?
SEPTEMBER 3
6am: JFK flight...BUSH RULES IN '04. OUTTA HERE!
—Carla Spartos with Emma Rosenblum
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Published on August 19, 2004.
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