RELAX: Ohm Spa

Be Treated Like a Queen at Ohm Spa

Ohm Spa
260 5th Ave, 7th Floor
New York, NY, 10001
(Btwn 28th & 29th Streets)
Tel: (212) 481-7892

The folks at Ohm Spa are particularly friendly (they ask for your shoe size when you book your appointment and have a proper slipper awaiting, upon your highness’s arrival) and anticipate your need to nosh by providing delicious snacks prior to your treatment. The mani/pedi room is large enough to accommodate your friends and the pedicure chairs offer state of the art massage. Facials and massages are custom fit for your needs and include options like cranio-sacral and a four handed massage where two therapists work in tandem on your body…ahhhhh. Ohm Spa is high quality along with its therapists, so the treatments are priced accordingly. You can expect to pay at least $130 for a facial or massage and sure, you might have to wait a month to get an appointment, but isn’t it nice to have something to look forward to?

–Sheehan McGuirk

The Daily Shortlist March 31

Abakan Red, 1969 Photo courtesy of Magdalena Abakanowicz

Location: Gramercy, NYC
Art: WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution
Show time: Thursday thru Monday: noon–6:00 PM through May 12
Venue: P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
Food: Sripraphai
Drink: Saints and Sinners
Miscellaneous: Baruirs

A great place to see art that takes chances, P.S.1 is showing WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution, an exhibition examining the history of feminist art. Works shown emphasize the 1970s and the role NYC played, when feminism was at its peak. Being that you’re in Queens anyways, you HAVE to take the 7 train to Sripraphai, one of New York’s top Thai restaurants. What makes it better than most is the fact that the ingredients are fresh, and instead of choosing your entree with a choice of meat, they offer a novel sized menu with pics of every dish, with most under $10. Once a heavily Irish neighborhood, Saints and Sinners is one of the best looking Irish bars left. Grab a Guinness at the bar or traditional Irish food. If you can, head over to Baruir’s in Sunnyside for one of the best cups of coffee in Queens.

The Weekend Shortlist March 28 to 30

Anyone in the Mood for Cheese and Onions?

Friday March 28

Location: Gramercy, NYC
Band: The Rutles
Show time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Blender Theater at Gramercy
Food: Masala Bollywood
Drink: Rodeo Bar
Miscellaneous: Organique

If you’re a Beatles fan, then you’re well aware of The Rutles, created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes, their fictitious band parodies the fab four’s storied rise and fall. Tonight the band celebrates their 30th anniversary. If you love Bollywood films then you probably like Indian food, and Masala Bollywood have combined the two. With giant Indian film still on the walls, and colorful dishes like the Don Fish Tikka Masala which is grilled fish tikka masala garnished with garlic and creamy tomato onion sauce ($8), the menu is surprisingly $10 and under. Whether you break into dance, that’s your call. More white trash than urban cowboy, the Rodeo Bar offers live music, Tex-Mex food, and daily Happy Hour specials like margaritas for $5 and draft beers for $3. For the health conscious, Organique offers organic food including soups, coffee, omelets, burgers, and sandwiches.

Friday March 28

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Ghostland Observatory
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Oyama
Drink: Grassroots Tavern
Miscellaneous: Mudd Cafe

Part rock band, part electronic duo, and the rest stage performance, Ghostland Observatory’s electronic disco rock is sure to be an exciting show. Check out their new album Robotique Mystique, it’s good! With sushi that’s 50 percent off all the time, you might think, “Something’s wrong with that?” but the fish is good and the rolls are inventive, making this one of the best low-priced sushi joints in the city. Though St. Marks all of a sudden lost its charm, Grassroots Tavern hasn’t. This large dive bar has cheap drinks, darts in the back, and old men behind the bar, things a good dive bar should have. Excellent coffee served in a big mug and a healthy menu of food coupled with a year round enclosed outdoor backyard patio make this place a great little coffee shop in the area.

Saturday March 29

Location: Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC
Band: Lez Zeppelin + Me Talk Pretty
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
Food: Shake Shack
Drink: The Hairy Monk
Miscellaneous: Broken Cup Cafe

You can call Lez Zeppelin a tribute band if you want, but this all girl incarnation are a sight to behold and amazing live, having recorded their first album with original Zep producer/engineer Eddie Kramer. Joining them is Me Talk Pretty. Now that the weather is finally getting nice, you can head over to Shake Shake in Gramercy Park, sit under the stars and sink your teeth into one of the best burgers in the city. Yes, it’s THAT good! Any bar called The Hairy Monk is all right by me. While the food is your standard Pub fare, they show sports games and have a decent selection of cheap booze. For a quick cup of coffee if you just want to relax, the Broken Coffee Cup is your place for a good cappuccino.

Saturday March 29

Location: Bushwick, Brooklyn
Film: Japanther + The Pharmacy + Pterodactyl + Bongladesh
Show time: 9:30 PM
Venue: Market Hotel
Food: Life Café Nine 83
Drink: Bushwick Country Club
Miscellaneous: Art Land

Drugs and animals seem to be the theme here as Japanther headlines this night, bringing their noise rock to the masses alongside psychedelic punk band The Pharmacy, Brooklyn’s own Pterodactyl, and Bongladesh. While Bushwick is still up-and-coming, so are the restaurants. One of the few so far, Life Café Nine 83 is a great spot for drinks and it has a mostly American menu dotted with Asian and Mexican influences. One of my favorite bars, Bushwick Country Club has some good local and micro-brews on tap, a photo booth, and a white-trash mini-golf course in the backyard patio. Right nearby, actually right across the street from the Country Club, Art Land is a chill bar where local artists show their work, shoot pool and drink like fishes. You gotta love Broolyn!

Sunday March 30

Location: Gramercy/Flatiron, NYC
Band: Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Winter Cabaret
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Zipper Factory
Food: Market Cafe
Drink: Holland Bar
Miscellaneous: Cupcake Cafe

The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Winter Cabaret is a group of daredevils, clowns, fire eaters, and sideshow freaks that blend all of the above with vaudeville and burlesque. Not for the faint of heart! For dinner, Market Café is not a bad spot. With an American menu, entrees like the Market Peasant Chicken, with fresh tomatoes, capers, and lemon ($15) is great, though skip the pizzas, they’re grilled. One of New York City’s great dive bars, the Holland Bar offers cheap booze and an oldies jukebox. The space is tight and the drunkards are a plenty here, but what’s a dive bar without a few of these things? Known for creating one of the best cupcakes in the city, Cupcake Café makes dense cakes topped with rich icing. The icing features artistry that Picaso would be jealous of.

The Daily Shortlist March 27

Little Red Riding Hood, hand embroidered linen. By Annie Aube

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Art: Girls 2!! All-Female Art Show
Show time: Today thru Sunday March 30, 2:00 – 7:00 PM
Gallery: MF Gallery
Food: Paladar
Drink: Pianos
Miscellaneous: Motor City Bar

Not what you’d expect, Girls 2!! All-Female Art Show showcases the talented and disturbing art from some really kickass female artists like Martina Secondo Russo, Emma Porcupine Griffiths, Mary Doyle, and others. With a Pan-Latin menu, Paladar offers traditional Spanish dishes with a twist in a fun and funky atmosphere. Try the Salmon a la Plancha Pan, a seared salmon with spring vegetable picadillo & serrano-ramp vinaigrette ($17). If you still want to party afterwards, a good place for that is Pianos. A lounge in front, rock club in back, and a DJ dance party on the second floor, Pianos is a good place to party hard. Though loud, Motor City Bar is an homage to Detroit as license plates and other car parts adorn the walls, the DJs here play “THE ROCK” all night, and the vibe has everyone on the lookout for a good time.

MUSIC REVIEWS: Basia Bulat and JayMay

Basia Bulat
Oh, My Darling
Rough Trade/Hardwood

The first time I listened to Basia Bulat’s album Oh, My Darling, it was kind of like hearing an especially warbly Joanie Mitchell. The arrangements and vocals were pretty, though Andean panpipes and cinematic string arrangements gave it an overproduced, Adult Contemporary feel. But then I listened to it a few more times.

It’s still not the Next Big Thing, NPR plugs not withstanding, but it is growing on me. “In the Night” is fun and catchy, with the track’s offbeat rhythms working well with Bulat’s ethereal voice. Several other tracks approach the inventiveness of “In the Night,” but overall this is an album of comfort music; Fiona Apple light.

PS. Take a pass on the “In the Night” music video, unless you’re a fan of lo-fi productions of animal-costumed Canadians trampling thru the woods in some kind of high school band/feel-good drum circle montage.

– Gidalya

JayMay
Autumn Fallin’
EMI

The songs on JayMay’s Autumn Fallin’ are sweet, simple, and endearing tapestries that illustrate the singer’s wistful emotions. The album is heartbreak-centric, and New York City is referenced in several songs, evoking the desolation of being alone, while surrounded by millions of people.

In its catchy melody and JayMay’s charming voice, “Blue Skies” is a song set for commercial success, while “Gray or Blue” has elements reminiscent of a calmer, folksier version of Regina Spektor. Most of the songs are simply JayMay, an acoustic guitar, some light percussion in the form of drums or tambourine, and a sprinkling of keyboard or xylophone.

The CD in its entirety is a strong debut, ideal for listening to while taking an introspective stroll through NYC, relishing the heartbreak and beauty the city has to offer.

–-Patricia Scull

The Daily shortlist March 26

Breakin’ Goes World-Wide!

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Film: Planet B-Boy
Show times: 12:00, 2:20, 4:40, 7:00, 9:30 PM
Venue: Landmark Sunshine Cinema
Food: Café Himalaya
Drink: Max Fish
Miscellaneous: Pink Pony

Break dancing has come a long way since Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo. Planet B-Boy is a documentary focusing on break dancing teams from around the world who meet at Battle of Year, a yearly tournament, where some amazing dancers pull off crazy moves. Ever have Nepalese or Tibetan food? Must try dishes at Café Himalaya include the momos, better known as pan-fried dumplings, and thukpa, a Tibetan noodle soup, both amazingly delicious and under $10 like most menu items. One of the last boho bars on the L.E.S., Max Fish is a mix of local dive and new art as upcoming artists show their work monthly, while being a local hang for artists from all genres. A great late night cafe for coffee or drinks, it has a literary atmosphere and a friendly and hip waitstaff where you can sit and talk the night away.

MUSIC REVIEW: Yael Naim

Yael Naim
Yael Naim
Atlantic Records

Yael Naim is the new kid in Apple town and she’s hoping to follow in Feist’s hot-selling footsteps. Like the Canadian singer before her, the Israeli-French singer also has a folksy pop tune “New Soul” that landed the job of selling Apple’s latest toy – in this case, the MacBook Air. That kind of commercial airplay can be a double-edged sword. Sure, you’ll get lots of exposure but when everyone starts to ask, “What else have you got?” you better deliver. Naim’s answer to that query is the March 18th release of her self-titled debut. The disc showcases an artist who might not have as strong an album to back up her heat-seeking single as Feist did but what she lacks in cohesiveness she makes up for with sheer moxie. Singing in Hebrew (the lovely “Lachlom”) and English, Naim’s whimsical songs range from melancholy ballads (“Lonely”) to eccentric cover choices ( Britney Spears’ “Toxic”). It’s not a perfect mix but it’s definitely worth a listen.

–Amy Wagner

The Daily Shortlist March 25

Shinjo Ito Works on One of his Most Famous Sculptures, The Great Parinirvana Image.

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Art: The Vision and Art of Shinjo Ito
Venue: Milk Gallery
Food: Better Burger
Drink: Turks & Frogs
Miscellaneous: City Bakery

The Vision and Art of Shinjo Ito celebrates this great Japanese artists sculpture, calligraphy, and photography work in this exhibition. A devout Buddhist too, he helped create Shinnyo-en Buddhism which also played a role in his art. The name says it all in it’s mission to serve a burger as Better Burger uses organic, antibiotic, hormone & nitrate free meat and poultry in its quest to offer up a healthier alternative to the classic patty. A great little wine bar in Chelsea, Turks & Frogs has a menu of wine and beer from all over the world, including Turkey, while having the ambiance of being in someone’s home. A must if you’re in Chelsea, City Bakery offers one of the best chocolate chip cookies and thickest and richest hot chocolates in the city. The food is a gourmand’s delight.

RELAX: Great Jones Spa

Great Jones Spa
Greenwich Village
29 Great Jones St
New York, NY 10012
Tel: (212) 505-3185

Save your Starbucks dollars for a month and book a day at Great Jones Spa. While the prices are high, you’ll get a lot of oohhs and aahhs for your buck with a three story rock wall waterfall, a water lounge, thermal hot tub and cold plunge pool, chakra-light steam room, juice bar, complimentary snacks, and even disposable bathing suits in case you forget your own. The most affordable package is about $350 (includes tax and tip) and gets you a 60 minute Lavender Aromatherapy Massage and a 60 minute Lavender Naturopathica Facial and Lavender Foot Scrub, or book a single treatment, like a massage or facial for about $130. The variety of massages available, detoxifying and cleansing treatments and the energy work offered make Great Jones Spa well worth a Starbucks detox.

–Sheehan McGuirk

The Daily Shortlist March 24

See the Many Faces of Helvetica at MoMA. Photo courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Location: Midtown, NYC
Exhibit: 50 Years of Helvetica
Venue: The Museum of Modern Art
Food: Yoshinoya Beef Bowl
Drink: Rudy’s Bar and Grill
Miscellaneous: Peking Duck House

Catch the tail end of MoMA’s salute to one of the best known fonts as the exhibit “50 Years of Helvetica” comes to a close on March 31. A design classic, it’s hard to believe that this font turned 50 in 2007. Making fast food healthy, Yoshinoya serves bowls of rice, vegetables, and your choice of beef, teriyaki chicken, veggie, or a combo of meats. Super cheap, it’s a favorite spot of mine in midtown. A great dive, Rudy’s Bar and Grill serves up cheap beer by the pint or by the pitcher, and as for the grilling, that includes free hot dogs and popcorn! Though slightly on the expensive side, if you’re in the mood for duck and are a couple or in a group of four or more, Peking Duck House makes some of the best duck you will ever likely have.