What do to in nyc this saturday?

July 28, 2009 7:30 AM

Where can I bring my very picky sister this Saturday night, in NYC?

It's embarrassing to ask this question, since i LIVE in nyc, but.... this saturday my sister is coming to visit for the night. I'm totally at a loss as to what we should do. She's pretty uptight and picky, so my usual saturday night of barhopping through Brooklyn with my pack of crazy friends, or catching a concert or baseball game, will not be good. Last time she visited, i took her to a couple of my favorite little divey bars and she was horrified. Another time i brought her to a dance party in the planetarium of the Museum of Natural History. She said there were too many "weird people" there and she wouldnt move from the railing the entire night. so frustrating! She likes the kind of obnoxious places where you have to wait online outside and they only let you in if they like what youre wearing. blech.

so my question is, is there anything fun going on this Saturday, August 1st? Something interesting but not TOO out-there? like, i dont know, a film festival or the opening of a swanky new restaurant..... something that wouldnt make her uncomfortable but would still be fun for me too. It can be anywhere in Manhattan or Northern Brooklyn. My sister is 25. I am 30. We have a little money but cant do anything too extravagant.

any ideas? :)

posted by silverstatue to sports, hobbies, & recreation (23 comments total)

The 2009 DMC turntablism world championship is being held in Chinatown.

Danny Tenaglia is doing a Michael Jackson tribute at Pacha.

M. Ward is playing at the Central Park SummerStage.

And more.
posted by billtron at 7:45 AM on July 28

hey billtron, thanks but concerts are too much for her.... she gets freaked out by big crowds. and a turntable world championship would definitely fall into her "too weird" category. i'm telling you, shes crazy picky! but the MJ tribute at Pacha might have possibilities....

keep em coming!
posted by silverstatue at 8:01 AM on July 28

Weird, I was going to suggest Santos Party House (because its fun for everyone) and also suggest not going to the DMCs (I've been, doesn't seem like something your sister would like), but unfortunately, the DMCs ARE AT SANTOS PARTY HOUSE!

I know this is kind of a lame suggestion, but as someone who has this problem _all the time_, I suggest you get your crazy friends together and try to find a bar she would like but you can deal with. E.g. you are not going to bushwick country club but you are not going to tenjune either. Specifically, I suggest Sway. For some reason, people who like lame clubs like this bar, but people who hate them seem to be able to deal with it too. Plus your friends will be there, and it'll be a weird change of pace for you all.

I hope someone comes up with a more awesome cultural option, but this is an option that I bet will work.
posted by jeb at 8:06 AM on July 28

Is there anything showing at Film Forum or IFC that she might want to see? Would she like to go shopping at the Time Warner Center? If you'd like to go further downtown, we had a great meetup a while back at Cafe Katja. It's small and intimate and close to lots of other stuff you might want to try and spring on her.
posted by hermitosis at 8:06 AM on July 28

I love this small, sophisticated bar nestled inconspicuously among NYU debauchery: http://lalanternacaffe.com/page/nutr/The_Bar_Next_Door.html


They have very pleasant jazz acts and a bunch of attractive bartenders. Downstairs is music, upstairs there is a garden to dine in. The tiramisu is among the best in the city.

Afterward, wander over to the Fat Cat: http://nymag.com/listings/bar/fat_cat_billiards/ It isn't what it used to be (so I'm told) but I'm no scenester or jazz-snob. There are billiards, ping pong, shuffleboard and live music, as well as a generally "normal" but friendly crowd.
posted by keasby at 8:09 AM on July 28

Also, I know this might seem to obvious, but why not ask her what SHE wants to do? Put her in charge of planning your fun. That way if it turns out to be a drag she'll know that it's on her, and maybe in the future she'll be a little more forgiving of your "weird" choices.
posted by hermitosis at 8:09 AM on July 28 [4 favorites]

The Frying Pan? It's on a boat, which is cool, but the crowd is standard, unthreatening post-frat professionals.
posted by snickerdoodle at 8:32 AM on July 28

....She gets freaked out by big crowds....but she likes velvet-rope clubs?

...I'm a little taken aback by the contradiction there. I'm with hermitosis -- buy her a copy of TIME OUT NEW YORK, present it to her with a flourish and tell her that you'll foot the bill for whatever it is in there she wants to do. (Within reason, though -- front row seats at Hair may just not be doable.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:33 AM on July 28

I don't really understand what your sister is about - heh, and it sounds like you don't either - but I have yet to bring anyone to Employees Only for a drink and have them dislike it. It's super lovely inside and the bartenders are highly skilled at mixing drinks.

Otherwise, I'm with hermitosis - you should definitely ask her what she wants to do, especially as she's so picky. She's probably aware that she has... different... standards than other people.
posted by jacquilinala at 8:39 AM on July 28

its weird... she doesnt like crowds in general.... unless its a place/event she really likes. i dont know. shes complicated. if she was at some swanky club, yeah it would be crowded, but she'd be seated at some VIP table with three hundred dollar bottles of something and creepy guys oozing all over. so not my scene!

Hermitosis and Jacquilinala.... i've tried to put it in her court - i've forwarded her the links from Going.com, the village voice, the L Magazine, etc. but she just says "i dont know - you pick something."
posted by silverstatue at 8:49 AM on July 28

Clearly, you see that your question is not "what can my sister and I do?" It is "how do I deal with my sister's behavior?" Because you and I both know that no matter what you suggest, and no matter what she picks, she is going to have a bad time and complain about it. If she really likes thsoe godawful clubs, and you want to make her happy, go to one of those.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 8:59 AM on July 28 [2 favorites]

i've tried to put it in her court - i've forwarded her the links from Going.com, the village voice, the L Magazine, etc. but she just says "i dont know - you pick something."

This is why I think that maybe a hard copy would work better. When she gets there, hand her the magazine, smile sweetly and say whatever she wants to do, really, it's up to her. Take all the time you need to find something, sis, in the meantime I'm going to be in the kitchen doing dishes/the bedroom folding clothes/whatever. Then smile sweetly, and leave. If she comes back in flailing and say "whatever, you pick something," just smile sweetly again and insist that no, really, you want to be absolutely certain she likes what you do, and there is no rush, really, she can get all comfortable and read it and decide... and then hand her the magazine back, smile sweetly and say that you really have to fold the laundry anyway, but that just means that she can really take her time and find something, and...

Yeah.

Or, if you don't think that'd work, Optimus is right -- if this the clubs are what she wants to do, do that.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:03 AM on July 28

Someone suggested Sway- that's actually a really good choice, because it's a really swanky and exclusive LOOKING club that is secretly a place full of laid-back dorks who are there to listen to bad 80s music and have bottles of Hendrick's bought for them by those two Saudi guys who always sit in the back. She'll have fun thinking she's in a velvet-rope type place, and you can secretly laugh, and maybe pop across the street to Antarctica once she's had a few martinis and relaxed a bit.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 9:04 AM on July 28

aw no.... i love my sister like crazy and we have lots of fun together! its just tricky to find the right thing to go to. i'm thinking Frying Pan might be good. i love that place and its spacious so we could always go into another room if the one we're in is too crowded.

but keep the suggestions coming!
posted by silverstatue at 9:05 AM on July 28

Raising Arizona is one of the midnight movies at IFC this weekend; the Angelika and Sunshine also screen midnight movies.
posted by brujita at 9:23 AM on July 28

I think your sister would enjoy PDT.
posted by spec80 at 9:53 AM on July 28

Sway- that's actually a really good choice, because it's a really swanky and exclusive LOOKING club that is secretly a place full of laid-back dorks who are there to listen to bad 80s music and have bottles of Hendrick's bought for them by those two Saudi guys who always sit in the back. She'll have fun thinking she's in a velvet-rope type place, and you can secretly laugh, and maybe pop across the street to Antarctica once she's had a few martinis and relaxed a bit.

I suggested Sway, but this is a perfect description of why I think its a good choice. I wish I wrote this, but I didn't and I would like its text to be considered to replace my suggestion please thank you.
posted by jeb at 11:01 AM on July 28

Ack Jeb, sorry- didn't mean to not acknowledge you by name. It was a great idea.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 11:08 AM on July 28

How much money is a little money?
posted by kathrineg at 11:57 AM on July 28

Walk around west 4th street / mcdougal. Preppy mainstream crowd of 21-30ish people. Plenty of lines in that neighborhood, particularly fat black pussycat. I don't think they'll turn away people based on what they're wearing but the people there will definitely judge your sisters clothing (men&women) if that's the kind of recognition she's looking for.

FYI the IFC theater mentioned above is within the 2 block radius of the area I'm talking about...maybe you could get a drink and then catch a movie?
posted by laptolain at 1:11 PM on July 28

a little money meaning.... enough to go out and have dinner and buy drinks and pay a little cover charge, within reason. nothing crazy :)

i will def check out Sway.... sounds like a good compromise. Also, a midnight movie sounds fun. i will relay these suggestions to her and pick a winner. thanks everyone!
posted by silverstatue at 1:25 PM on July 28

I was going to suggest La Lanterna but keasby got there before me. It's really nice, the jazz is good and the food is excellent. If you sit in the garden you get to hear the music and enjoy the (hopefully) warm summer night too. I remember the guy on the door was particularly cute too, and very charming and flirty.
posted by essexjan at 3:28 PM on July 28

I actually wouldn't bring a picky person to PDT or Employees only. They might balk at the prices or say they only want a glass of wine or just a beer.

And your sister may dislike the taxidermy decor, phone booth entrance, location inside a hot dog joint aspects of PDT (too weird, too small inside, there's nowhere to wait, it's basically impossible to walk in on a Saturday night without a 2 hr wait).
posted by kathryn at 7:15 PM on July 28