Happy New Year!!!!!

Personally, I couldn't be more excited that 2009 is here! I have great hopes for this year to be the best one yet! After trying so many adventures this past year, I am looking forward to having even more fun during 2009! There are already some exciting winter activities coming up in January that I am really looking forward to. I can't wait!

I wish you all a very happy (and safe!) New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! Happy 2009 everyone!!!

Holiday Wishes!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! Tis the season for time with family and loved ones! This year might not feel as cheery with the economy and all, but you don't need to spend lots of money to enjoy time with those close to you! I plan to enjoy time visiting my family and having our traditional holiday treats. I can't wait!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Fridays at the Rubin Museum of Art

Just because the Outdoor Bound event at the Rubin Museum of Art is now over, doesn't mean you can't take part in their special Friday night offerings. The K2 Lounge located within the Rubin is a great spot to get an after work cocktail. They have happy hour (buy one get one) from 6-7pm on Fridays. Even though drink prices are on the higher end, with wine and cocktails in the $9-$11 range, entry to the museum is free after 7pm which is a nice bonus. While relaxing with a glass of wine, I enjoyed sampling from their appetizer menu. I loved the special pizza they served which had a spicy tomato sauce and was covered with paneer cheese. It was delicious!

Having never been to the Rubin before, I was happy to discover that this museum will become a regular place to visit from now on. Even after the private tour I went on with Outdoor Bound, I still need to go back so I can further examine all of the art that the Rubin holds. We had an excellent tour guide who really went into detail on the pieces we looked at and it was a perfect way to get introduced to the meanings behind the beautiful visuals of the art. It is quite evident that there is so much more to learn about the pieces on display than what can be covered in the hour of time we had during the tour. I was quite impressed with the space too - it used to be the location of the first Barney's department store. Now it has been transformed into an excellent showcase of Himalayan Art and a center for cultural learning.

Along with the impressive art and the K2 lounge, the Rubin has an art film to view at their Cabaret Cinema every Friday at 9:30pm (admission is free with a $7 bar purchase!). There are also cultural concerts performed during happy hour as well. I had such a great time during this first visit that am definitely looking forward to another Friday night at the Rubin Museum again sometime soon.

The Rubin Museum of Art is located at 150 West 17th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). For information on how to visit and for all the details on what they offer, please visit their website at http://www.rmanyc.org/.

Art, Music, Film & Drinks! All in One Night!

Outdoor Bound is hosting an event called Himalayan Happy Hour at the Rubin Museum this Friday, December 19th, 2008. This one sounds too interesting to say no to!

For those of you who might not want to do some of the more physically challenging activities Outdoor Bound offers, this might be right up your alley. This event at the Rubin includes: Happy hour with drink specials, a private tour of the exhibit which features sacred art from Bhutan, music from a series of Himalayan art-inspired jazz concerts and an optional movie on-site in the Cabaret Cinema.

According to the website, there are still some spots left, so I thought I would share it with you in case you were interested! It sounds like a great way to end a work week to me! Here is a link to the event on http://www.outdoorbound.com/: http://www.outdoorbound.com/index.php/events/sub/himalayan_happy_hour_at_the_rubin_museum/

Warm Yourself Up with Some Delicious Deals

One of my favorite restaurants, Bistro 33, is back after a brief holiday hiatus. Making their return extra special is the announcement of a new winter menu. Their nightly specials have also been updated and are sure to satisfy people's appetites while giving them a great deal at the same time.

Tuesdays will continue to have the fabulous 2 for $10 special which includes various small plates, sushi, wine and beer that you can order in any combination. And now Wednesdays will be called Wine Wednesdays as every second glass you order while having your dinner will be free! I can't wait to try the new menu and enjoy these specials! Visit their website for more details at http://www.lilbistro33.com/.

Click here to read my previous post on Bistro 33: http://liveitupnyc.blogspot.com/2008/08/fine-dining-at-fine-price.html

Saving Money In This Economy is Key...

If you are searching for a great Happy Hour bargain then look no further than KeyBar, located at 432 East 13th Street (between 1st Ave and Ave A). KeyBar has one of the best happy hours around and it is not your typical run-of-the-mill offer. Every beverage they serve is two for the price of one - which includes a wide variety of unique specialty cocktails and shots, as well as their impressive beer selection. This special goes on every day usually from 6pm- 10pm!!!

KeyBar's cozy but subsequently small space features a real fire burning stove to keep you warm on a chilly night. On the exposed brick walls you will see a gallery of art work and each night there is a different DJ spinning to enhance the atmosphere. Some of the special cocktails you can order include the Huckleberry Sin and the Tangerine Queen. The Rolo, Black Sea Jellyfish and Brain Damage are just a few of the shots they are known for serving up.

I met up with my happy hour group at KeyBar the other day. We all quite enjoyed sitting near the fire while listening to some great tunes and sampling from the fantastic drink selection. Even with so many people there for the happy hour special, the bartenders were fast and attentive. Another highlight of our visit was the beer glasses. Each beer is served in the specific glass it was meant to be served in. I was enamored of the Delirium Tremens glass, which had tiny pink elephants painted all around it! All these little details only further enhanced what was a wonderful night out with friends and I definitely plan to head back again sometime soon.

You can get all the details on the website at http://www.keybar.com/. On their site, they have posted pictures of some of their more interesting looking shots and a list of DJs and specials for each day. Check it out!