If there’s been one weak spot in the nightlife landscape in years past, it’s been in the dancing category. Not so this year—after an
initial shuffling of grand openings and not-so-grand closings, the dancing scene is finally settling into a nice groove. Turn to the "Clubs" section for lots of new (and newly revamped) spots playing music catering to all sorts of tastes (yes, even to those of us who only like music we can sing along to).

Whether it’s because we’ve all gone broke, or we’ve just had enough of shelling out $16 for a cocktail, I’m getting the feeling from many a Gotham woman that the best bars right now are those where drinks are downright cheap (it doesn’t hurt that you can skip the aching heels when you frequent these spots, either). The casual, local bar is one nightlife sector that never seems to garner much attention in the media. But, in researching a new section, "Local Watering Holes," I can happily say that I’ve uncovered many a gem. And that’s because of one very special secret weapon that I have—you. I went to New York women and asked them to show me their favorite neighborhood spots—the kind of place they can go to at seven o’clock on a Wednesday, have a great time, feel they’re always welcome and go home without having spent their entire paycheck.

Along with the desire to frequent those friendly locales just about every night of the week, there’s something else I took away from touring the neighborhood watering holes. It became clearer than ever to me that New York is so many different things to so many different people. In NoLita, the local bargoers always look flawless—you’ll be hard-pressed to find a flip-flop in the house (that is, unless it’s bejeweled or boasts a Calvin Klein label stitched inside). In the East Village, it’s just the opposite—a vintage T-shirt (often worn inside-out) and deconstructed denim is the most ubiquitous uniform. Hell’s Kitchen’s midweek crowd brings a mix of khaki and button-down types, actors who couldn’t find time to shed their Broadway costumes before meeting for a drink, and lots of jeans-clad neighbors just looking for a free hot dog (See Rudy’s Bar and Grill, pg. 20).

Reveling in all of this diversity just made me crave more. I found myself waking late at night thinking, "I want to know what every New York woman likes!" Perhaps that goal is a bit out of my league, but I knew I could find a way to reach out to more of you, so that I can help everyone who has a unique need for the perfect spot for a birthday, anniversary, or bachelorette night. And so, this year, I’ve added one very important feature to this book—my e-mail address. And the reason I feel it’s so monumental is because this is my opportunity to get to know more of you, to find out what you love about the city’s nightlife scene and what else you’d like to know about it—down to your search for the perfect pants for your big date, or even where to get the best cheap manicure before heading downtown to the newest Page-Sixer haunt.

That’s not to say I haven’t heard a lot from you ladies so far. As a matter of fact, it’s all of that wonderful feedback about The Girl’s Guide (some have even gone far enough to nickname it, "GG!") that made me realize I needed to get out there and write this second edition! I’ve heard tales of The Girl’s Guide being stolen from cubicles, being purchased by savvy international visitors, being given to visiting clients, and even of one generous woman scooping up 12 books for all of the ladies on her holiday shopping list! But the best comments I’ve gotten are the ones that justify all the hours of "research" involved in compiling The Girl’s Guide—the "I use it all the time!" and the "I bring it with me everywhere!"

With over 200 new listings, I hope that this edition will prove even more indespensible than the last. But for those times when you’re looking for a bit of entertainment other than the types you can find from a bottle, well, I hope I can do you well on that front, too. There are eight new "Girl Stories" (expect lots of love, love lost, immature love, and love found and lost all over two cocktails), great new "Morning-after Rituals" (get in touch with your crafty side, shop your way through that most trendy borough, Brooklyn), tons of new late-night and morning-after dining options, stores, spas, and tress destinations (even a bargain beauty section!), and insight into just about everything—from where to have the best steak dinner to what that cute bartender is thinking.

Some things, though, will never change. The Girl’s Guide is still organized to prevent long evenings of exchanging "What do you want to do?" and "I don’t know, what do you want to do?" until the desperation of it all leads you to swap that new sparkly clutch and coordinating dancing shoes for control of the universal remote and a prime seat on the sofa. Flip to the "Contents" to find sections arranged by mood, occasion, or whim; turn to the back for listings by location, type, or plain old alphabetical order if you know exactly what you’re looking for. And you’ll breathe a sigh of relief at the knowledge that those tried and true nightlife classics are still listed here, even though there may be lots of fab new spots to test out because—as Ralph Lauren would surely attest to—the classics are always in fashion.

So, no matter if you’re a cosmo girl, a Syrah/Cab blend girl, a Bud girl, or a composite of all three, live, laugh, and have a cocktail (or two). I hope you enjoy the second edition of The Girl’s Guide as much as I enjoyed writing it. I’ll see you real soon with lots more to love.

Please e-mail me at: Daniella@girlsguidenyc.com

Heidelberg Restaurant
1648 2nd Ave (at 86th St) Upper East Side 212-628-2332
Top contenders for the best local watering holes absolutely must have a great bartender—one that will entertain you, and make the evening fun, even if your companion is someone with whom you’ve got nothing left to talk about. At Heidelberg, even if you do want to converse with your friend, you’ll have to let the bartender in on your conversation—he has jokes to tell! He has to let you try the lemon drop shot served in a real lemon (he claims to have invented it)! He has to bet you that you can’t perform his tongue twister without an error (you’ll probably get a free drink out of it if you do)! If you’re hungry, you can brave German fare like schnitzel and bratwurst (the locals love it!). But, whatever you do, you must try the "frou-frou" beer—Berliner Kindl Weisse, served with raspberry syrup. But wait, there’s more—where else can you drink a beer from a boot? Cosmos cost $6. Bartender’s Pick: Lemon drop shot made with Grand Marnier and Absolut Citron ($6). Kitchen open Sun. 12pm–11pm, Mon.–Thurs. 11:30am–11pm, Fri.–Sat. 11:30am–11:30pm. Appetizers: $6.95–$8.95, entrees: $6.95–$8.95.

Lava Gina
116 Ave C (btw. 7th and 8th Sts) East Village 212-477-9319
How can you not love a bar named Lava Gina? It’s got the whole world in its hands, or so you might guess, from the international wine list (spanning California, Spain, South Africa, Argentina, and France), world music spun nightly, and even their answer to the standard cosmopolitan—the Lava Gina ($9), jazzed up with a bit of bissap, an elixir from a West African flower. Tapas served all night. And belly dancers and astrologers make for mystic Thursdays. Cosmos costs $9. Bartender’s Pick: Apple Lavatini made with Absolut Kurant or Mandarin, apple pucker, and blue curaçao ($9). Tapas: $5–$7.

Marie’s Crisis Café
59 Grove St (at 7th Ave) West Village 212-243-9323
Now this spot is all about character. Marie Dumont was the name of the woman who owned this building back when Thomas Paine died here. The bar was a speakeasy in the ’20s. There’s even a rumor that the sign reading "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité," is from the U.S.S. Normandy. That rumor is totally untrue, but still, it’s a good one—and the fact that rumors surround the place at all, just goes to prove how cool it is. The real draw, though, according to the friend who took me here, is "the 50-year-old gay men singing their lungs out to a pianist who has to play ‘The Sound of Music’ at least 50 times a night." Cosmos cost $4. Bartender’s Pick: Bottle of Bud ($3.50). Happy hour daily 4pm–9pm means $2.25 domestic beers, $2.50 well drinks.

MeKong
44 Prince St (at Mulberry St) NoLita 212-343-8169
I have one word for this spot—yum! The food is redolent of Vietnamese spices and just a lungful of the fragrant scents is intoxicating. Try the Pad Thai; don’t miss the grilled marinated beef. Eat right at the bar—this is how the locals do it—chatting with the friendly bartenders, the regulars, and the owner. But, I’d better warn you, this is NoLita—no matter how laid-back the vibe—everyone is dressed to the nines. Cosmos cost $8. Bartender’s Pick: MeKong Margarita made with Sauza Commemorativo, triple sec, Malibu, pineapple, and lime juices ($8). Kitchen open Sun.–Thurs. 12pm–11pm, Fri.–Sat. 12pm–12am. Appetizers: $4.95–$8.95, entrees: $8.95–$17.95.

Musical Box
219 Ave B (btw. 13th and 14th Sts) East Village 212-254-1731
The name denotes a dainty spot, perhaps your favorite period novel. Forget about all of that. This is a dark, frills-free spot, with no sign, no band, no DJ. It’s busy on weeknights, and stuffed with mismatched vintage furnishings and a pool table in back—the real, grimy East Village at its best. Order in if you get hungry—they don’t mind a bit! Cosmos cost $7. Bartender’s Pick: The Musical Box made with Absolut Citron, Frangelico, Grand Marnier, and orange juice ($7 as martini, $5 as a shot).

Raccoon Lodge
480 Amsterdam Ave (at 83rd St) Upper West Side 212-874-9984
59 Warren St (at W Broadway) TriBeCa 212-766-9656
1439 York Ave (btw. 77th and 78th Sts) Upper East Side 212-650-1775
According to one UWS local "this place is such a dive…but in a good way." Walk in and you’ll swear you’re in some small Midwest town, flannel shirts and all. And for another very un-New York twist, you can find $2 Rolling Rock drafts any day, any time. The East Side location features live bands on Fri., karaoke on Thurs.; West Side hosts karaoke on Wed. and Sat. Cosmos cost $8. Bartender’s Pick: Kamikaze shot ($4).

Rudy’s Bar and Grill
627 9th Ave (btw. 44th and 45th Sts) Hell’s Kitchen 212-974-9169
Locals love Rudy’s for its faux-dive feel, and of course, those free hot dogs. And who couldn’t love a bar mentioned in a Steely Dan song ("Black Cow," to be specific)? The bar’s been around since 1934, and over the years has served up over 55,000 of those "all beef" dogs. Other reasons to love Rudy’s: backyard, cheapest drinks in town, 8am opening (12pm on Sundays), and over 50 types of beer on offer. Cosmos cost $3.25. Bartender’s Pick: Pint of Rudy’s Red ($2.75).

Uncle Ming’s
225 Ave B (btw. 13th and 14th Sts) Lower East Side 212-979-8506
Upstairs at this new bar, there are plenty of seats to go around—a funny mix of modern bar stools and Victorian sofas—amongst flickering chandeliers, a mural whose subject escapes me and a few neon pictures of butt-kicking "Charlie’s Angels" (my friend’s description). Most nights DJs spin hip-hop and lounge tunes (sorry, no cabaret license). Basically, it’s a good spot for a chill drink, especially when you want to be assured a place to rest your feet. Cosmos cost $7. Bartender’s Pick: Margarita ($6). Happy hour Mon.–Fri. 5:30pm–8pm means two-for-one drinks.

Vintage
753 9th Ave (btw. 51st and 52nd Sts) Hell’s Kitchen 212-581-4655
The martini is the thing here, with literally hundreds of varieties to choose from, each described in detail in their excessively thick drink book. The crowd is a mixed one, with the Broadway crew (both participants and audience members alike, the local residents to whom a shower in the kitchen is nothing out of the ordinary), their visiting families, and those savvy Manhattanites
who know that Hell’s Kitchen, with its motley mix of bars (from the trendy to the downright grungy and everything in between), is one of the best spots to spend an evening exploring. The back garden is a great place to start the evening. Cosmos cost $9. Bartender’s Pick: Hell’s Kitchen Martini made with tequila, rum, vodka, gin, sour mix, tonic, blue curaçao, and grenadine ($10). Kitchen open Mon.–Thurs. 12pm–11pm, Fri.–Sat. 5pm–1am, Sun. 5pm–11pm. Appetizers: $5.95–$9.95, entrees: $7.50–$15.95.

West
374 W 11th St (at the West Side Hwy) West Village 212-242-4375
Looking as if Calvin Klein commissioned the place himself, West is simply elegant with all of the requisite design elements—stacked, hand-polished slate, mesh stainless steel columns, black slate bar, slick leather banquettes. But the most exceptional touch didn’t have to be molded by human hands at all—the sunset, right over Jersey’s charming, miniature skyline couldn’t possibly be more beautiful than it is from this very spot. So skip out from work early to secure a sidewalk seat, grab a beer (they have 30 to choose from), order up a delicately flavorful lobster salad sandwich, and wait; it comes every day—at least that’s one thing you can count on. Cosmos cost $8. Bartender’s Pick: Love In Idleness made with Stoli Orange, Ketel One Citroen, lemon and cranberry juices, and elderflower ($8). Kitchen open Sun.–Mon. 5pm–10pm, Tue.–Sat. 5pm–12am. Light menu: $6–$12.

White Horse Tavern
567 Hudson St (at 11th St) West Village 212-243-9260
A warm Sunday evening, a snowy weeknight—anytime is perfect for a laid-back beer and some comfort food at the White Horse Tavern. History buffs love the fact that the pub dates back to the 1800s. Literary folk go for the Dylan Thomas connection (the auteur hung here). But anyone can appreciate the rustic, friendly feel of a great local watering hole where you can wear flip-flops and skip the flatiron. Sit outside when it’s warm. Cosmos cost $6. Bartender’s Pick: Kamikaze shot ($5). Kitchen hours: Mon.–Fri. 10am–12:30am, Sat.–Sun. 10am–1:30am. Appetizers: $4–$4.75, entrees: $5–$5.75.


Now, being a bar reviewer has its ups and downs. Frequent grand opening soirées featuring free food and beverages? Up. Scouring the city to find the best of the best? Up. Final stretch wherein you schedule 90 "Local," "User-friendly Boogie," "Popular Glam," and "Fresh Meat" Bars to review in five weeks? Down. Down. Down.
Now believe me, I didn’t mean it to happen that way. I had a schedule! I had a plan! I’d done the homework! So how did this wind up happening to me? That, my friends, is irrelevant (and, in case you were wondering, has absolutely nothing to do with those new "Movies On Demand" channels). What is important is that here I was, ready to review 90 bars in five weeks, calendar in tow, friends signed up and ready to accompany me through the trenches.
I’d make it a challenge! Perhaps I could score a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records! I knew I could do it! I could do anything!
So, how did it work out, you would like to know? Kids, do not try this at home.

MONDAY, JULY 22ND:
8am: All righty! All set with my buddy Mona. Just need to get through the day of research, telephone calls, story-writing. Mona pops over an e-mail to confirm: "I’m so excited!" she says. Great! Reeled in another one to accompany me on my mission.

12:30pm: Great start! Lots of work done, off to review Back to Basics for massage and facial.

3:00pm: I am refreshed! My face is clean as a whistle thanks to a series of necessary, but oh-my-God-ouch (!) pore-cleansing squeezes. My body has never felt so limber—I have been stretched, massaged, pulled. I have been measured at a quarter-inch taller! I’m ready for a night out!
4:00pm: Get the great idea to make dinner. Must remember to refrain from keeping the cooking channel on while working.

5:00pm: "Cajun shrimp poppers" not as simple to prepare as one would think. No problem, as I am currently dating a man who is a very good liar. He claims they are "excellent" even while it takes 20 chews to get one mouthful down. I cannot prove that he is not actually swallowing, but the fact that he keeps bringing his napkin to his mouth and then turning around can’t be good.

6:00pm: Am feeling sort of tired and would love to just get an extra half hour to relax before hitting the bars. Leave message with Mona saying just this. Mmm…get to cuddle with good-liar-boy for a bit.

7:15pm: Phone rings. "Daniella—I didn’t get your message until now! I’m so sorry, but I needed to meet a friend after, and so without enough time now, I’ll have to reschedule."

7:16pm: Feeling sort of bad about not getting off to a great start on the 90-bar sprint, but rather good about not having to move. Good-liar-boy has even washed dishes. Mmm…this means more cuddling and…

TUESDAY, JULY 23RD:
8am: See, it’s great that I skipped last night, because hangover-free, was able to start the day bright and early!

8:30am: Am starting to feel a bit guilty about getting off the schedule I laid out.

8:32am: Am really starting to freak out that I won’t be able to go to all of the bars I’ve scheduled in the next five weeks.

9:00am: My worries are over! Have just spoken to God-sent friend Julie, who is willing to hit all of the bars we scheduled for tonight, plus all of the bars I scheduled for last night.

7:00pm: Julie wants to take a taxi. Having agreed, I’m off budget whereby I am supposed to be walking to all destinations and saving money. It wasn’t my fault though, as Julie was very convincing, saying tricky things like, "Should we take a taxi?"

7:15pm: Uncle Ming’s is a cute place with a cute bartender! He finds the task of choosing a signature cocktail to be a difficult one. Julie, though, is an excellent companion who comes up with fantastic descriptive words, and I am momentarily wondering if she may be a better writer, and maybe she will go to all of the bars and then I can just sleep for the next five weeks.

7:16pm: Julie does not like the idea. No, not even if I will be her best friend forever.

9:00pm: I walk into Blue & Gold, after wandering into Tile Bar first. I just have to wonder why signs seem to be so out of style in the East Village. This is my kind of place—musty, U2 on the juke, pool table in the back, cheap beer.
"Isn’t it great?" I ask Julie. She doesn’t need to answer. My Francophile, interior-design savvy friend in the stilettos is quite obviously doing me a large favor by placing her Italian leather-clad ass on a vinyl barstool. In return for the favor of sparing me her answer, I buy her a beer. Budget once again blown.

10:00pm: Musical Box seems like a great spot, ’80s music playing in the background, all manner of vintage furnishings bringing you back to the Manhattan of yore—before the swanky scene took over. Julie is not impressed. I do a quick walk-through and place Musical Box on my "must return to" list. Now I am actually adding bars rather than crossing them off. Why do I do this for a living again?

10:30pm: We walk (yay! Money saved!) to Bar Veloce, which turns out to be a fabulous spot for a sophisticated gal like Julie (I myself am a chameleon and can easily turn on the worldliness should the situation call for it), where we watch while the adorable little Italian man makes us tramezzini, bruschetta, and panini. Atkins Diet—off. Budget—off. So worth it, though, as am now humongous fan of panini and get to say "tramezzini" and sound very smart to those who have no idea what it is. Wine very good. Jules and I best friens e’enthough she woul na write boo fo me. Drank too mu…Detour and Remote Lounge, I’m sure very good, but will have to go back, since don’t remember much. Muss call for extension in mornin’. Ass’lutely.