Bama's List

Today is a taste.

A hint. A look forward.

A reminder that the weather is finally breaking, and a few short weeks from now, birds will be chirping, skin will be peeking from behind sundresses and the long, cold, nightmarish hibernation will be over.

At which point, you’ll remember that you like going out. On dates. With people.

And you’ll quietly wonder if there are any sexy new date spots to add to your stable.

To which we’ll respond, “Yes, yes there are.”

Introducing Betel, a sleek little upscale Thai street-food joint, just now opened in time for your spring awakening in the West Village.

Walking into the unmarked door of Betel, you’ll quickly realize the Aussie owners have consulted the courtship oracle—the front room is decked in dark wood, bathed in candlelight and set up with dark corners (not to mention a small back lounge) for canoodling and cocktailing.

You’ll want to opt out of a private table (trust us) and take a seat at the long communal table that runs the length of the main room (built at a narrower 18 inches for closer conversations). Here, you can get lost in the din of the room, dig into some Wagyu Brisket and Crispy Skin Duck and sup a rotating cast of muddled concoctions (try the Blackberry Passionfruit Caipiroska) and citrusy whiskey drinks (like the rye-based Sarang Manhattan).

And when spring finally hits for good, they’ll be unleashing a private back patio and front sidewalk section for your outdoor dining needs.

Which are much more significant than your regular dining needs.

Betel, now open, 212-352-0460, see the menu and the slideshow

Betel
51 Grove St
(between Bleecker St and Seventh Ave)
New York, NY 10014
212-352-0460
official website

draw the curtains and forget the frozen world above.

Bring a blanket.

Polar, opens Feb 9, closed for private events for Fashion Week beginning Feb 10, reservations here, see the slideshow

Here, on this rainy February day, we’d like to take the road less traveled.

We’d like to point you in the direction of a rooftop. Before you run for your nearest rathskeller, let us say this: you need this. You need to gaze out upon the buildings. You need a little perspective.

Oh, and there’s a retractable roof…

Introducing Upstairs, a little stunner of a lounge, perched atop Midtown’s unassuming Kimberly Hotel, providing the backdrop to your next gin-fueled conquest, booking private parties now, opening to the public soon.

Upstairs is one of those places that lets you look upon the grandeur of Midtown and remember why you chose to be a titan of industry in this particular town (it wasn’t really a choice, actually).

With a group of co-workers or a date in tow, you’ll tell the elevator operator to head for the penthouse (okay, you’ll just press a button). Stepping out among potted flowers and black wicker furniture, beneath a crisscross of exposed lightbulbs strung overhead, you’ll realize you’ve just entered the sort of garden party that rarely happens within view of the Chrysler Building.

In this realm of thin air and stiff Manhattans, you’ll sashay over to the outdoor smokers’ patio and warm yourself by the fire. Or seek respite in the closed-off library nook (with its own bar), the sort of place Trump and Bloomberg might be found sipping good brandy and blowing smoke rings.

When they’re not combing and governing.

Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel, 212-702-1600, booking parties now, follow us on Twitter for an alert when it opens, see the slideshow

	VITALS
	Panda 139 Chrystie St (at Delancey) New York, NY 10002 212-334-6770 official website

Pandas are adorable.

But they are also dangerous, ferocious wild beasts.

Which brings us to a seemingly placid, hidden-away coffee shop and gallery space on the Lower East Side that, come nightfall, morphs into an arty clubhouse, bar and late-night dance party that might just get a little…unruly.

Its name: Panda, here to set the scene for your late-night escapades. And it’s opening Wednesday.

Owned by a veteran of the much beloved, now deceased, all around great bar Passerby, Panda was conceived to recreate some of Passerby’s old charms—meaning, it has the casualness of a friend’s living room. Not your best friend, but that guy who always manages to throw the types of parties that leave you sitting at a diner at 6am, wondering if you were really just talking to RuPaul and a Russian cosmonaut.

Once you pass through the front door—marked only with a stencil of a panda—you’ll enter a deep, narrow space (formerly a woodworking shop) of exposed brick and understated wood furniture, with the bar up front and the art, couches and dance floor in back. It’s an arrangement that’ll keep things flowing as you sip house brew Panda Pilsner, peruse a photo exhibition of a nude model (human, not panda) and slowly lead a late-night, sake-powered dance party soundtracked with eclectic old vinyl.

Cosmonauts love old vinyl.

Panda, opening this Wednesday, 212-334-6770

You’ve never been good with names.

Faces, sure. Cocktails, obviously. But names are just not in your strengths column.

So we think we may have stumbled onto a place that may feel well-suited…

It’s called…actually, it’s not called anything (for the moment, at least). And it’s opening in a matter of hours.

Here’s what you need to know: it’s a bar opening on the hush-hush. It used to be a small, nondescript pizza shop. And it now deals in oysters and burgers and rock and roll. On top of a speakeasy. Rest easy knowing that the speakeasy, Cabin Down Below, is still alive and dealing in hipsters, loud music and strong cocktails. But in place of mozzarella and red sauce, upstairs you’ll find exposed brick, tufted black leather banquettes, an old chandelier or two and just enough light to see Agyness Deyn sitting in the corner.

Brought to you by the same gents who’ve gathered the attractively pouty rock-and-roll scenesters at Bowery Electric and next-door East Village staple Niagara, you can expect the same upscale dive-bar feel, just with a few more bivalves, some intricate cocktails and a windowed smokers’ patio that lets you keep your eye on the scene inside.

There’s even a rumor that a piano may end up in the corner—you know, just in case you get inspired to perform.

That means you can leave your stand-up bass at home.

Opening tonight at 6pm for drinks, food service begins next week

Bar Above Cabin 110 Ave A (at E Seventh St) New York, NY 10009

We’ve got nothing against the modern-day speakeasy.

We’re more than happy to go along with waistcoats, mustaches and intricate cocktails spiked with blackened mint bark bitters and absinthe foam.

But sometimes we just want to steal away to a hidden, dark, basement bar, listen to a little Sinatra and drink Barolo until the sun comes up.

Welcome to My Little Secret, an Italian speakeasy quietly opening its doors in the heart of Little Italy on Thursday for your late-night snacking and drinking comedown.

Now, normally a bar called My Little Secret opened by the cannoli king of Little Italy (Baby John Delutro) with an old-school gangster theme and a frosted-glass tommy gun on the wall may not be your typical late-night hangout. Actually, yes, yes it would.

To find MLS, you’ll be looking for a rather large, rather discerning bouncer standing at the base of a dark staircase on Mulberry Street. Barring any unforeseen setbacks with this gentleman, you’ll find yourself in what feels like a wine cellar complete with low ceilings, red candles and cut-off wine barrels lining the wall.

There’s a small bar up front, but you’ll want to settle in one of the semi-private booths in the back, order up some risotto balls, lobster sliders and that bottle of Barolo. Come 4am, they’ll lock the doors and if you happened to make nice with Baby John, you may find yourself at the bar taking down some limoncello before heading out into the night.

Or the morning.

My Little Secret, soft-open Thursday, open to the public Friday, 646-448-4536, see the slideshow

A Room of Your Own

The Hot List: 2009 Holiday Parties

Considering your lofty standards, your office party may fall a bit short this year. You’re going to need something larger, at least in vision. So in the spirit of seasonal generosity, we’d like to call your attention to six places to host your own bash, whether it’s a model-filled High Line Jacuzzi-fest or a quiet evening of keg service. Choose wisely.