Even back in 1984 there was mainstream media attention on the ever-changing landscape of the Lower East Side and East Village. Real estate was "exploding," chain stores were popping up, and galleries were abundant. The New York Magazine cover story on May 28th of that year was titled: The Lower East Side -- There Goes the Neighborhood. more ›

"I've seen bizarre sex acts followed by gentle poetry followed by very perplexed wannabe stand-up comics." Francis "Faceboy" Hall has been hosting Faceboyz Open Mike for just over 13 years, with its 666th weekly performance coming up on July 15th. His stage has been graced by countless comedians, musicians, performing artists, and everyone in between, making it an institution of what it means to aspire to entertain in New York City. more ›

THEATER: A revival of Patrick Hamilton’s thriller Gaslight has just begun at Irish Rep; some may remember the award-winning 1944 film version starring Ingrid Bergman and Angela Lansbury. The chilling study in domestic domination to the max concerns a diabolical husband who, not satisfied in exploiting his wife’s savings to buy their house, plots her murder. But while he’s out the police inspector comes in to warn the poor bride that her husband is suspected of another “black-hearted murder” committed fifteen years ago... in the very same house! - John Del Signore more ›

There is something comforting about familiarity. You go to the same place, order that dish you like and go with the wine that’s the old stand-by. You know what you’re going to get and you’ll know you’ll like it. It’s not a bad thing but sometimes you just need to break the habit - walk down a different street, surprise yourself, take a risk and hope for the best. Some of the best nights we’ve had are those where we’ve stepped outside of our comfort zone (Queens qualifies). Being adventurous can be exciting – and when it comes to wine, experimentation has lead to great rewards – both for the winemaker and the drinker. more ›

In a city that specializes in specialties, New York is a playground for those who love wine. Whether it’s an unknown Turkish wine you crave or a spicy Tinto Fino from the Ribera del Duero, we have it all. But in a place where your options are endless, the biggest challenge is selecting where to go. The good news is New York also happens to be the city that never sleeps. So with a desire for great unique wines and a few free nights, Gothamist sets out to find the best spots to bring a date, entertain some friends or just throw back a glass or two. more ›

Now when we say “old school” we are not just referring to throwing back Cider Jack in high school behind the bleachers, because beer tasted yucky. Nope, we’re talking real old school, like Pilgrim old school. Cider has a rich history in America. In fact, the Pilgrims started making hard cider as soon as the apple trees they planted started to bear fruit. Up until the 19th century, cider was the most popular alcoholic drink - the fall of cider happened when farmers discovered that they could make beer cheaper from grain. So like any patriotic American, we could not let a piece of our history die – we went in search of frosty hard cider…to honor our past and drink to an American classic (ok fine, we were thirsty and the cider they were selling at the farmers market in Union Square was non-alcoholic). more ›