Recommending a tropical escape 🏖️🧉

Or should I make it mandatory?

Here’s What’s Up in New York January 27-February 2:

STEAL OF THE WEEK

It’s Restaurant Week! Not every meal is a deal – sometimes they’re just typical prices plus a dessert you’d never order otherwise. I’m plugging InKind again, because you can use this link to put $25 toward your Restaurant Week meal. (I recommend lunch at Manhatta, The Modern, or the Dining Room at Gramercy Tavern to get the most bang for your buck in spaces that are otherwise a very big deal to afford!)

TIMELY IDEAS

Mon., Jan. 27 – FOOD – Cozy Royale Soup ‘n Burger Party at Yellow Rose. This Monday, and the following two, get one burger and one soup from guest chefs. (L’Industrie today! Reservations on Resy)

Tues., Jan. 28 – PHOTOGRAPHY – Photographer and photo-illustrator William King is delivering a lecture about digital photography that’s free and open to the public.

Wed., Jan. 25 – CULTURE – Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Festival

Thurs., Jan. 30 – MOVIE – Free screening of “You’ll Never Get Rich” at the Jefferson Market Library. Hell yeah, Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth!

Fri., Jan. 31 – DATE NIGHT – The Museum of the Moving Image has a new Friday date night deal! (Every Friday)

Sat., Feb. 1 – MUSEUM – First Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum (free!)

THIS WEEK’S HOT DATE

As I write this, I am waiting to board my flight home to New York from San Juan, Puerto Rico. I traveled here for a friend’s wedding, and the sunshine and thick, damp air reminded me how very much needed it was. So, yeah, a really hot date would be to travel somewhere wam – if not an island, then at least Miami? But until you can catch a flight, enjoy a pretend escape in this chilly city. Manhattan is an Island, after all…

Here are my recommendations for a local island vacay:

Miss Lily’s – is still good! They’ve got over 100 varieties of Caribbean rum, and on Wednesdays, something called JERK FEST, which is all you can eat, jerk chicken & jerk pork spare ribs served with rice & peas, watermelon salad, grilled corn for a mere $38.

Coppelia – A truly beloved, favorite restaurant of mine. The menu has just about anything you could possibly want, and at any hour of the day or night. Get a Gran Paloma to drink, and whatever you get to eat, add on a side of sweet plantains (maduras).

Guantanamera – Known for Cubanos and superior mojitos, which are $6.50 on Tuesdays, all day.

Negril BK – Reasonable drinks and lots of seafood options

Puerto Viejo – Dominican food in a cozy, corner restaurant space

Vallarta NYC – Mexican seafood restaurant

Paradise Lost – Tiki bar but make it metal

Surf Bar – Stick your toes in the sand (ok, that may be ew) and order a frozen mojito.

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ONGOING THINGS

Free admission on Wednesdays at the New York Aquarium

Check out the Events at Drawing Room for some social crafting.

Pay-What-You-Wish at the Guggenheim on Mondays at Saturdays

Stargazing – Every Tuesday at The High Line at sunset.

Trivia Tuesdays at The Factory 380 – Come say hello to me, the emcee, and enjoy an incredible happy hour PLUS prizes for the winner.

AMC Tuesdays – On Tuesdays, tickets to any AMC movie are only $7 each, and small combos (popcorn + drink) are only $5.

Free Fridays at the Whitney – Just as it sounds. Pre-reserve a time slot, show up, and enjoy.

Free Friday evenings at The Morgan Library – Live music begins at 5pm! Damn, I love the Morgan. (Reservations are required.)

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