I never thought I’d say this, but I’m really into Blockheads. The restaurant, that is. How can you not be into a business that has sock monkeys as its mascot?

Since the weather finally reached a gorgeous, sunny springtime feel, I headed for Midtown West’s Worldwide Plaza last Friday night. And so, it seems, did the rest of Manhattan. The area was packed full of Manhattanites. More importantly, however, were the $4 fruity (and strong) frozen margaritas. Turns out, happy hour is every hour at Blockheads!

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Just when I thought the guacamole couldn’t get any better than El Rio Grande, it did. My quest to discover the best guacamole and margaritas in NYC lead me to Rosa Mexicano’s Lincoln Center location. Late for a dinner date with two of my co-workers, I breezed past the handful of outdoor tables bustling with patrons enjoying the beautiful spring weather and joined the crowd of people waiting to speak to the hostess. After a quick peek at the bar and the downstairs tables, I pulled out my lifesaver, a.k.a. my cell, and dialed my friends to find out where they were. I bypassed the crowd and headed for the stairs, which have a fountain that spans the entire wall as a backdrop. A closer look reveals that there are tiny figures of cliff divers plunging from different heights.

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I saw the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform several years ago and never forgot it. The African American dance troupe—which was founded by dance great Alvin Ailey in 1958 and is considered one of the best modern dance companies in the world—was incredible. Its jaw-dropping athleticism, thrilling choreography, and a palpable passion courses through every piece they perform.

So a few weeks ago, in a spring-induced moment of culture craving, I e-mailed a dance-minded friend of mine and told her we were going to see Alvin Ailey. Turns out what I actually got were tickets to Ailey II—the Ailey School’s company of its most promising scholarship students. But let’s just say “promising” is an understatement. These students can dance, and are no doubt headed for very big things.
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When I heard that Mike Diamond, the founder of the notorious Snitch bar, was opening a brand-spanking-new rock ’n’ roll club called Retox, I was extremely excited. Since CBGB closed and Diamond sold Snitch - only after The Man hit him with fines for some rockin’ offenses such as smoking, underage drinking and fire hazards - New York’s upscale rockers have felt a serious void in our lives.

There’s nothing quite like kicking back, smoking a ciggy and rockin’ out to some old-school AC/DC while sipping on your own never-ending stash of Absolut. So the first weekend of Retox was a must-see for me. After meeting up with a group of about 30 people, I headed to the door, when, unsurprisingly, the bouncer refused to let all of my entourage in. But this rocker chick got to roll in with 15 of her closest, craziest rock star friends and grab a table anyway.
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New York Press built up its “Best of Manhattan” event to be the most amazing party the city had to offer. Dare I ask who decides what the “Best” really is? Based on the event’s lack of attendance and the not-so-happening vibe, “Best” means all build-up and no action.

Before I even had the opportunity to check out the party, located at nightclub Home on Manhattan’s West Side, I was greeted by a small VIP room filled to the brim. The catch: Instead of being filled with hordes of social Manhattanites, it was filled with a hundred overstuffed New York Press goodie bags.