By Gamal Hennessy

Time Out Publishing is releasing a book this week entitled “World’s Greatest Cities”. In the book, New York was singled out as the best city in the world when it comes to things like architecture, arts and quality of life. While most New Yorkers might feel nonchalant about this title, nightlife natives should take note of the impact our nightlife has on the city’s reputation and the impact of that reputation on our lives. The writers of this book singled out New York above all others because of our 24 hour culture. It is nightlife that gives New York its unique culture. Any moves to suppress that culture will have a direct effect on the economy and prosperity of the entire city.

Reputation for tourists

New York is known as ‘the city that never sleeps’. That reputation draws millions of tourists to the city every year. But when visitors think of a metropolis opened around the clock, what do you think pops into their minds? Do you think they are dreaming about a 24 hour Duane Reade? I don’t think so. Is it possible that people fly into New York from Sydney and Bali and Johannesburg to visit the all night bodega? Probably not. The concept that draws people to the city that never sleeps is the idea that we work all day and we party all night. Where do we party? If you have to ask that question, please close this page and visit a different site.

In 2004 a research organization called ARA conducted a study on the impact of nightlife on the New York’s economy. ARA found that 77% of all New York visitors identified visiting a nightclub or bar as one of their primary reasons for visiting the city. This means that almost three quarters of all our tourists came to New York to experience our nightlife. How much money would be lost from incoming tour groups, business conventions like the New York Auto Show, award ceremonies like the MTV music awards, and artistic events like Fashion Week if people decided that New York was no better than any other city when it comes to nightlife? It is hard to imagine how the reputation of New York would remain the same if people came to the conclusion that nightlife in New York, Cleveland, and Spokane were substantially similar.

Reputation for talent

It’s not just temporary occupants of the city that are lured by our nightlife. Every year job recruiters go around the country and around the world to find the top people from the top schools and try to lure them to New York. Recruits are seduced with money and the chance to work in the beating heart of their industry. They are also drawn in with images of high class bars, private parties and mega clubs. TV shows filmed in New York like Sex and the City, and Gossip Girl often have young workers hooked before the recruiter even shows up. People want to work in New York to get access to the nightlife.

If New York didn’t have the reputation for nightlife, how many young, bright people would choose to move to here to pursue careers? Other cities have cheaper rents, more space and other advantages. If New York isn’t unique when it comes to bars and clubs, what is the point of suffering thru all the difficulties of making it here? Other cities like Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles and Las Vegas are trying to use a vibrant nightlife to attract the best and brightest. Can we afford to lose this pool of talent and still be the center of the universe?

It is not coincidental that financial networks like CNBC are focusing on the Time Out book. A city’s reputation can directly influence the economic power of an area. New York City is central to several different industries. We are not dependent on nightlife or any other single business the way Detroit, Orlando or Las Vegas are. But nightlife is still a vital part of the overall dynamic. NIMBY community groups, opportunistic politicians and other anti-nightlife advocates can willfully ignore the contribution that nightlife makes to New York. If we follow their lead or allow them to make decisions for us, we are going to lose more than the title of the best city in the world. We will lose the reputation that drives our economy.

Have fun.
Gamal

BOND sizzles this summer with their patio and brunch

Michelle Levine - Boston Food Examiner

BOND Restaurant & Lounge, located at The Langham, is a modern spot in the Financial District in Boston, with plenty going on this summer. Whether you want something to snack on and a refreshing drink on the patio, a satisfying brunch on Sunday, a late lunch or afternoon tea, or dinner, there are a few menus to satisfy your hunger. If you are looking for a night out, the bar boasts a sophisticated setting, along with music and drinks.

The BOND terrace, which opens at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (weather permitting), is the perfect place to spend summer nights and weekends. Beyond just specialty cocktails and delicious cuisine, you can enjoy the fresh air and have an excellent view of the park at Post Office Square and the Boston skyline. BOND’s outdoor snacking menu includes items such as their Smoked Sea Salt Potato Chips, Mediterranean Olive Misto, House Roasted Maple and Chili Almonds, and Spanish Bocado Mix of Toasted Nuts and Beans.

To accompany the snacks, the mixologists have created five signature drinks exclusively for patio guests only. Try something different such as The Reserve, which includes Bombay Sapphire, lemon peel syrup, with a champagne float and lavender dust or The Fed, which features Bacardi Superior, white peach puree, and lime juice.

As of July, Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., both inside BOND and on the terrace. Guests can dine on elaborate selections including Sugar Dusted Brioche French Toast, Huevos Rancheros, or Blueberry Crumb muffins, amongst other breakfast favorites. ‘‘Staying true to BOND’s menu of global cuisine, brunch offerings are created with an international flair using both locally produced artisan products,’’ said Executive Chef Mark Sapienza.

Seating on the terrace is on a first-come basis, but reservations for bottle service and food are available inside. For reservations and more information about BOND, please call (617) 956-8765.

BOND Restaurant & Lounge
250 Franklin St (at Oliver St)
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 451-1900

Hub chef to open Theater District bistro

Celebrity chef Todd English plans to open a burger joint in Boston’s Theater District later this year.

English says he’s in final lease negotiations to take over the former Dominic’s Restaurant on Tremont Street, next to the W Boston Hotel & Residences slated to open in October.

The restaurant will focus on moderately priced, upscale burgers paired with wines and microbrews in an American bistro atmosphere. Open at night, the second-floor “gastro-lounge,” will have a hipper vibe, with a sushi bar, sultry lighting, couches and upscale drinks.

“I’ve been working on this for three years,” said English, who was in Los Angeles yesterday meeting with actress Eva Longoria, his partner at Beso in Hollywood. “I don’t think Boston’s really gotten it yet – a place that just sells burgers. And who doesn’t like a good burger? It’s the steak of our time.”

English counts the burgers at Louis’ Lunch in New Haven, Conn., where ketchup and other condiments are a no-no, as among the best. The 114-year-old institution broils its burgers vertically in original cast-iron grills and serves them on toast, with cheese, tomato and onion as the only toppings.

“You can’t try to make them be too fancy,” English said. “Burgers need to be pretty basic and made with good quality meats.”

But English’s menu – which will include burgers made with ground chuck and ground short rib, as well as turkey and fish – will feature toppings. They’ll range from American cheddar and caramelized onions, to different bleu cheeses, parmesan fondue, fried eggs, smoky bacon, various pickles and sauted wild mushrooms.

The burger restaurant will be the fifth Boston eatery for English, whose culinary empire started in Charlestown with his flagship Olives in 1989.

As of Aug. 31, the chef no longer will be affiliated with Bonfire, the steakhouse that opened eight years ago at the Park Plaza Hotel. The hotel will change the concept and menu. “Times have changed and they wanted to move in a different direction,” English said.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1190688

Isabelle English to create cupcake shop
/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1190689

Restaurant Week Boston August 9-14 & 16-21, 2009

From August 9-14 and 16-21, 2009 diners can choose from more than 200 of the region’s best restaurants to enjoy three-course prix fixe lunches for $20.09  (£ 11.90 )   and three-course dinners for $33.09  (£ 19.43)  – excluding beverage, tax and gratuity. With the favorable exchange it is the perfect last minute USA CityBreak option this summer!

* New this summer is a two-course gourmet lunch priced at a very affordable $15.09 ( £ 8.86); diners can select an entrée and then enjoy either an appetizer or dessert as the second course (so visitor has three options)

* Many restaurants are offering the Restaurant Week Menu on Saturday, August 15, a night usually excluded from the promotion. www.BostonUSA.com/RestaurantWeek has all the details on which restaurants are offering the discounted menus on Saturday, August 15.

* Restaurant Week Boston®  has achieved a record number of 215 restaurants this summer, a 23% increase over summer 2008

* Restaurant Week Boston® has grown in size this summer – the participating restaurants are located in 14 different Boston neighborhoods and 18 cities and towns beyond Boston. Cambridge has grown from 18 to 21 participating restaurants.

* The official site for Restaurant Week Boston®  is www.BostonUSA.com/RestaurantWeek. With expanded menus, direct links to the restaurants, and an opportunity to win an $100.00 restaurant certificate, the website has grown as well.

* The newest restaurants – Sensing at the new Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel, Asana at the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bina Osteria and Sportello – are participating. The oldest restaurant in America, The Union Oyster House of Boston, is participating for the ninth year in a row.

* This summer a record breaking selection of nationally-recognized chefs (and cookbook authors) are participating in Restaurant Week: L’Espalier Frank McClelland, Rialto’s Jody Adams, Sportello-B&G Oyster-Butcher Shop-No. 9 Park Barbara Lynch, Radius-Via Matta–606 Congress Michael Schlow, East Coast Grill Chris Schlesinger, Olives-Bonfire Todd English, Henrietta’s Table Peter Davis, Lumiere Michael Leviton, Toro-Clio Uni Sashimi Bar Ken Oringer, Locke-Ober, Lydia Shire, Meritage Daniel Bruce, and Summer Shack Jasper White are participating.

* Both large and popular restaurants such as Legal Sea Foods as well as smaller ‘discovery’ restaurants such as Amelia’s Trattoria in Kendall Square and Mare in Boston’s North End participate.

* Restaurant Week Boston® chefs have spent months designing menu options for diners many of whom are visiting their restaurants for the first time. The Restaurant Week Boston®  website www.BostonUSA.com/restaurantweek contains the menus for each of the restaurants. A peek at three restaurants: Brasserie Jo, Aura & Upstairs On The Square menus for example feature appetizers ranging  from cold Vichyssoise soup; Heirloom Tomato, Eggplant, Pistour Vinaigrette, Roasted tomato, grilled Halloumi cheese, chick peas & basil pesto and Chilled Yellow Tomato Soup with a Hint of Scotch Bonnet to Picked Purslane, Pistachio & Pickled Peach Salad. Entrees range from Pork Tenderloin with Braised Swiss Chard, Polenta Crème & Glaze Baby Onion; Grilled Swordfish with Lobster Succotash, Squash Tian & Mushroom Emulsion; Georges Bank Scallop with corn chowder, bacon, chives, tarragon, & heirloom tomato; Roasted Salmon with parsnip puree, grapefruit, chamomile beurre blanc & radish; Grilled Quail Salad of Wild Greens & Roasted Fig Vinaigrette to Rosa Bianca Eggplant Canelloni. Desserts offered range from Apricot Bar-Crème fraiche ice cream & honey coulis to Crema Catalana -Orange, Cinnamon & Honey Pirouettes.

* New this year for Restaurant Week Boston is Twitter & Facebook: follow Restaurant Week Boston on  http://twitter.com/RWboston and Restaurant Week Boston® on Facebook.

Also new this year is the expanded  special hotel packages and bargains during the two week Restaurant Week Boston.  Visitors will find on the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors website www.BostonUSA.com/greatdeals “Restaurant Week promotion” offers such as the bargain rate of $109.00  (£ 64.02 ) the Holiday Inn at Beacon Hill, or indulge at the new Liberty Hotel Boston with a Restaurant Week Dinner for two at Clink, valet parking and stay in one of their luxurious guestrooms  facing the Charles River or Beacon Hill for $375.00 (£ 220.19). Or stay on Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay at the Eliot Hotel (just selected ‘Number 1 Small Hotel in USA & Canada ‘ by the readers  of Travel & Leisure magazine) in one of their one-bedroom suites with dinner for two at the award-winning Ken Oringer Uni Sashimi Bar and buffet breakfast for two at the Bake Shop at Clio Restaurant, for $325.00(£ 190.83)

* Restaurant Week Boston hotel packages in Cambridge, where the number of restaurants has jumped to 21 restaurants this summer, the Royal Sonesta is offering luxurious room and a three-course dinner at ArtBar overlooking the Charles River for $245.00. Art Bar is one of only two riverfront outdoor patios in Cambridge. At The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square they are celebrating Restaurant Week with a new “Taste of The Charles” package: deluxe overnight guestroom for two, a copy of Chef Peter Davis’ cookbook “Fresh & Honest” and  special spa & fitness program at the hotel.

* Restaurant Week Boston hotel packages beyond Boston: Stonehedge Inn & Spa is offering a $209.00 (£ 122.73 )one-night stay that includes Dinner for two at the gourmet Left Bank, full use of the spa facilities, swimming pool & steam room. For $339.00  (£ 199.06) visitors can upgrade with two private spa treatments with a choice of different facials and massage options. Or head to the Concord Inn  for their special $229  (£ 134.47 ) package that includes room & dinner for two.

* It’s the ultimate close-to-home vacation-on-a-budget this year. For a total of $53.18  (£ 31.23) you could savor the best lunch of the year, go for a beautiful walk through the Public Garden, over to the Esplanade , take in the new Greenway – and have the greatest dinner of the year. (It has been remarked it could be called a  “steakcation.”)

* Restaurant Week Boston between meals: Festival, exhibition, shopping, sports, & sightseeing events during Restaurant Week Boston: It’s all on www.BostonUSA.com . During the August 9-21, 2009 period Boston & Cambridge offer visitors plenty of wonderful events between meals! Celebrations include The August Moon Festival in Boston’s Chinatown, India Day on the Charles River, the Dominican Festival Parade in Roxbury, & the Italian 99th Fisherman’s Feast in Boston’s North End (Madonna del Soccorso) . Visitors can select more than five museum exhibitions “Titian” “Viva Mexico Edward Weston”  “ Arts & Crafts of Greene & Greene at the Museum of Fine Arts, the “Crittercam”  or “Black Holes”  at Museum of Science, see the new Marine Mammal Center at the New England Aquarium, view the last week of the Shepard Fairey exhibition at the ICA or see the JFK & Space exhibition at the John F. Kennedy Library Museum. Performances of free Shakespeare on the Boston Common, Blue Man Group, Shear Madness or Jersey Boys in downtown Boston; at the waterfront Bank of America Pavilion concerts during Restaurant Week include ten concerts including Blondie, The Pretenders, O.A.R., Bonnie Raitt & Taj Mahal , Tori Amos & Jamie Foxx. Red Sox home games include the Tigers & the Yankees.

* Restaurant Week Boston Special Charity: When diners use any American Express® Card at participating restaurants, American Express and the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau will donate* $.25 per transaction, up to $5000, to Community Servings, an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide free home-delivered meals throughout eastern Massachusetts to homebound and critically ill people with HIV/AIDS and other acute life-threatening illnesses. Diners can further support Community Servings by bidding on Restaurant Gift Certificates at www.RWBauction.com .

Restaurant Week Boston® Sponsors & Founders: Restaurant Week Boston® is sponsored and presented by founding partners, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau and American Express®. Additional sponsors include Greater Media, Inc. radio stations: MAGIC 106.7 (WMJX), Radio 92.9, 105.7 (WROR), Country 102.5 (WKLB),Talk 96.9 (WTKK), and Metro Boston and TV DINER. The official site of Restaurant Week Boston®  is www.BostonUSA.com/restaurantweek ]]> http://sophisticatednightlife.com/boston-restaurant-week.html/feed 1 http://sophisticatednightlife.com/sophisticated-nightlife.html http://sophisticatednightlife.com/sophisticated-nightlife.html#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:45:40 +0000 nightlife http://sophisticatednightlife.com/?p=1

We chose the best time of year to launch Sophisticated Nightlife.

Summer in our great city of Boston!

There truly is no other city that can compare when it comes to the quickening heartbeat riled by the delicious warmth and activities we all share  during the Summer months.

After a Winter of traveling, admiring the gorgeous snowfalls, cocooning and entertaining we are craving what’s ahead for us here in Boston.

Welcome to Sophisticated Nightlife.

Let’s keep each other up to date on all that makes Boston a unique metropolitan city.

This site is for all to share.

We do have some guidelines,  so be discerning in what you contribute.