Top Hidden Hotspots in NYC

New York is home to hundreds of fantastic bars and restaurants. You could spend a lifetime scouring the city for the best places to eat and drink and still never stop adding names to your list. Though not a wasted life, I may be able to shorten your time spent pounding the pavement with my list of favorite places to visit when I’m in the Big Apple.

Cleverly disguised as a retro barber shop, The Blind Barber is charming as it is subtle. The shop window reveals two small barber chairs complete with trimming tools and all the necessities for a fresh cut. A passerby looking through the window would see little more than a relic of a bygone age, and not the bar hidden just beyond the door at the back of the shop. The name, Blind Barber, harkens back to the days of prohibition when speakeasies were often given the name “Blind” to motivate policemen to turn a blind eye to the goings on. To whet your thirst, The Blind Barber offers a bevy of classic drink selections from beer to cocktails.

When walking the city streets, it’s easy to grow accustomed to closed store fronts with their metallic shutters. It’s precisely this assumption that allows uninitiated passerby of Nubulu to keep walking. Shuttered and spraypainted, there could hardly be said to be a better camouflage in the city than this. Opened a space to practice music, the owner acquired the liquor license to legally offer alcohol to bandmates during practices. Carrying the musical spirit forward, patrons can expect live music from any number of genres when spending the night at Nubulu.

If you’re looking to satisfy your appetite as well as your thirst, then the hidden Glasserie in Greenpoint, Brooklyn will be perfect for you. Marked solely with a neon-green “G” and nothing more, this once bustling glass factory has been repurposed, but not entirely remodeled. Large portions of its over hundred-year-old architecture remain. illustrating its rich history dating back to 1870. Through the massive kiln doors that once held a belly full of fire, you can fill yours on rich Mediterranean cuisine freshly prepared with all the spice and flavor of owner Sarah Conklin’s heritage.

New York City

NYC Bars

Though only a piece of what New York has to offer, these locations are delightfully hidden and well worth the pursuit. So the next time you find yourself in New York City with an appetite for good food and adventure, look no further than this list for a rollicking good time. For more of The Big Apple’s hidden goodies, click here.

 

 

 

And check out “Andy’s Awesome Adventures” video:

Travel Without Fear

In light of the recent and horrible events of Friday the 13th, many are reconsidering traveling outside the borders of their native lands. In a world where borders are becoming more like dividing lines than simple demarcation on a map, do we choose to venture beyond or stay within the relative safety of the familiar? Below are some ways to combat the ever-growing sense of unease that comes with travel, and remember that the world was meant to be seen, not feared.

Be Aware: You’d be surprised how many people arrive at unfavorable conclusions because they didn’t take the time to familiarize themselves with where they were going. It’s not enough to purchase a ticket and pack a bag. A smart traveler does research on where they are visiting if there are any dangerous elements, and how to avoid them. This goes for anywhere you can visit, from Colorado to Columbia, so keep a level head.

Be Understanding: Though it’s pertinent to be aware in this day and age, the same can be said for being understanding. Assuming that everyone around you is a potential threat will only ruin your vacation and weigh heavily on your mind when you should be relaxing. Keep this in mind while traveling. You may not have control over what goes on around you, but you can certainly manage your reactions.

Peace

Peace

Be Realistic: While the attacks in Paris were utterly deplorable, it’s important to be realistic when traveling. Statistics show that, at least in the United States, you are more prone to catch a stray bullet from an act of gun violence than be involved in an act of terrorism. Now, I’ve listed this as the third thing to remember because the above two are vastly more important. Statistics cannot replace alertness and will not substitute understanding, but they can offer some sense of truth in a time of concern.

Regardless of where you choose to journey, be safe. The world has been many things over the years, but one thing that never faltered is it’s beauty, and we owe it to ourselves to see as much of our home as we can.