Trip by Skyscanner is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.” Trip by Skyscanner’s TripPicks This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.
Here are some exciting events and sites to check out this week in Downtown New York, courtesy of Trip by Skyscanner. Visit the Trip by Skyscanner site or download the app for more upcoming events.
Art Battle is a nail-biting art competition where 12 brilliant artists compete to win the most votes for their original canvas creations. At the end of the battle, spectators can stick around for the silent auctions where they can bid on their favorite artworks. $18.30
(le) Poisson Rouge (Greenwich Village)
Saturday, Apr. 28 from 6-9:45pm
It’s doubtful that anyone taking part in the Margarita March will do any actual marching as a ticket to this downtown bar hop include eight tequila drinks at eight different downtown bars. Tickets $65
Check site for complete list of locations
Saturday, Apr. 28-Sunday, Apr. 29 from 12-10pm
What’s better than a wine tasting event with over 200 wines from over 30 regions served by the finest New York sommeliers? A wine tasting event that gives 100% of the proceeds to Wheeling Forward, an organization that helps people with disabilities “experience life to the fullest and enable them to see possibility where others see insurmountable obstacles.” Tickets start at $99.
City Winery (SoHo)
Saturday, Apr. 28 at from 1-4pm
Catering to our late night cravings, morning caffeine and bagel fixes, and unexpected emergencies, bodegas are one of the most defining features of New York. Caveat and Masters of Social Gastronomy take a close look at the history of these unassuming corner landmarks, delving both into the origin and evolution of New York bodegas. Tickets $10-$12. 21+
Caveat (Lower East Side)
Monday, Apr. 30 from 6:30-9:30pm
This Saturday is Indie Bookstore Day so swing by one (or two) independent bookstores your area to pick up a few reads, snatch up cool limited edition art pieces, listen to live music and author readings, eat cupcakes and much more. FREE
Check site for complete list of location
Saturday, Apr. 28 (check site for times)
Today, Feb. 22, marks National Margarita Day. In honor of that wonderful holiday, Downtown has recipes for three must-try margaritas, one of which an exclusive:
1) Back to Basics: Mrs. Margarita
A classic everyone loves features a combination of fresh lime, tequila, and agave nectar; a definite crowd pleaser.
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Salted rim and garnish, if desired.
Margarita Caliente
2) Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot: Margarita Caliente
Bring the heat with Jalapeño-infused agave syrup, which gives this drink a little extra kick.
Over medium heat simmer agave nectar. Add jalapeño and let simmer at least one hour (then rest overnight for maximum flavor), strain through a mesh sieve and store in refrigerator.
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain over fresh ice in rocks glass. Garnish rim with lava salt and add dried chili pepper.
*Smoky simple syrup: Pour equal parts sugar and water into a saucepan with one dried chili pepper. Simmer until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool. Remove chili pepper and set syrup aside.
Gogobot is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.”
Gogobot’s GoGo This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week. Visit the website or download the app for more GoGo This Week upcoming events.
Here are some exciting events and sites to check out in downtown New York this week, courtesy of Gogobot:
To celebrate national sandwich month, Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys is partnering with local businesses to create elaborate and very tasty New York style sandwiches. This Sunday wraps up the collaboration with Ivan Ramen, but this week you can bite into a Fung Tu‘s Smoked Chicken Sandwich, a garlic-chive-sesame pretzel, smoked chicken with Szechuan spices, avocado, lettuce, tomato and matchstick potatoes. The following week check out Justin Warner‘s Foie Gras Sandwich. Through Aug. 31.
2. Weekends with Fellini IFC (West Village) Friday, Aug. 19 – Sunday, Aug. 21 at 11:00 AM
As film and lovers and italophiles, we would not miss the rare opportunity to spend the weekend with Italian film boss, Mr. Fellini. This weekend the IFC will screen Roma as part of an 11-film retrospective running through Sept. 25. Tickets: $8
3. Margarita March Parkside Lounge (Lower East Side) Saturday, Aug. 20 – Sunday, Aug. 21 from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
We doubt those taking part in the Margarita March will do any actual marching (the kind that would require coordination and regular measured steps) as a ticket to this downtown bar hop entitles participants to 8 tequila drinks at 8 different bars. Tickets: $65
4. Blues BBQ Hudson River Park, Pier 97 (Chelsea) Saturday, Aug. 20 at 2:00 PM
5. India Day Parade Madison Avenue East 38th-East 23rd Sunday, Aug. 21 from 12-6pm
The India Day Parade in New York is the largest parade formed by Indians abroad. A slew of cultural programs, performances and foods will represent the diversity of Indian cultures and language present in New York. FREE!
6. Battle Of The Burger South Street Seaport (Financial District) Thursday, Aug. 18 from 5- 7pm or 8- 10pm
7. New Shopping Center The Westfield World Trade Center (Financial District) Tuesday, Aug. 16 from 12-9pm (regular hours 10am-9pm)
If you’re looking to escape the heat but not the opportunity to do some shopping and eat awesome food, then swing for the grand opening of Westfield World Trade Center. So far the center will house Apple, Aesop, Kusmi Tea, Links, Eataly and a host of other trendy businesses. “Shop. Eat. Drink. Play. All under one magnificent roof.”
If you know of great events happening in your neck of the woods that might be a fit for a future GoGo This Week column, please send details about the event to events@gogobot.com
Are you a fan of tequila? What about authentic Texas-style Mexican food? And are you free and local on Jul. 24? If the answers to those questions are yes, yes and yes, then you will probably want to be spending your Sunday at Avenida Cantina on Avenue B. One of the local establishments that will be celebrating National Tequila Day, Avenida Cantina will be offering flights and other specials for the occasion.
In advance of the event, Avenida Cantina owner Josh Gent caught up with Downtown about his very fine establishment. Josh — a native New Yorker — opened up Avenida Cantina with three Texans: Allison Baxley, Dustin Baxley, and Christen Hagan. Practically its own establishment, Avenida Cantina has a downstairs space known as The Mockingbird Bar, which one can easily describe as a tequila speakeasy. Avenida Cantina also has a sister restaurant in Double Wide Bar & Southern Kitchen, as located on East 12th Street.
For more information on Avenida Cantina, click on over to www.avenidacantina.com. The establishment also maintains a presence on Twitter and Instagram. Josh himself, a musician outside of his Avenida Cantina-related work, is on Twitter as @ElGant.
Any idea where the idea for National Tequila Day came from?
Josh Gent: The holiday gives people a chance to explore and celebrate a great spirit that sometimes gets a bad rep. Many people do not realize there are many different types that taste slightly different –- not just like the classic shot. On National Tequila Day, people can enjoy the spirit in its refreshing, natural element. For us, everyday should be National Tequila Day!
Lately we’re seeing a big shift in folks choosing to drink tequila over other spirits. Tequila used to have a stigma, that having a few shots can cause you to act wild. I think over the years, people have learned to experience tequila in a more discerning way, enjoying the nuances and depth of each different kind. Enjoying a silver or reposado appeals to people looking for a smooth, easy-drinking liquor. And the barrel-aged smokiness of some of the anejos and mezcals is pleasing to someone who’s accustomed to a scotch or bourbon.
As one of the largest tequila-focused restaurants in Manhattan, we’ve seen patrons move to tequila from whiskey as their new drink of choice every day! Overall, there is a rise in tequila sales as people want a cleaner spirit than the brown liquors they drank in the past. At Avenida Cantina, we revel in introducing our guests to the world of tequilas and teaching them to find their favorite brands.
What does Avenida Cantina have in store for National Tequila Day?
We will have our awesome Margaritas on special as well. We only use fresh-squeezed lime juice, Cointreau and agave for our Margaritas. In addition, we have fresh fruit purées for all of our frozens…Jalepeno Cucumber, Strawberry, Mango, Pineapple, Peach Habenero, and my current favorite, Blueberry…
Or there are always our delicious tequila-focused cocktails at The Mockingbird: Mexican Martini, Mezcal Mule, Jalapeño Basil Martini…Need I go on?
Avenida Cantina – Photo by Oleg March
No, that’s alright. Any other promotions or events coming up we should know about?
JG: We always have specials at our restaurant! 2 for one cans of beer for lunch, Margarita Monday, Taco Tuesday ($2 tacos), Wing Wednesday (we smoke our own wings in-house), half-priced specialty cocktails on Thursday, and a two-hour all you can drink during brunch for $18.36! (Texan year of independence)
How would you describe Avenida Cantina to someone who hasn’t yet been there?
JG: Avenida Cantina will feel a lot like home with recipes passed through generations — authentic, down home and unpretentious — and an 80’s San Antonio vibe. Casual, fun, Tex-Mex….lots of queso and awesome things to pour it on.
What’s your favorite item on the menu there?
JG: Most — including myself — love the fried stuffed avocado best. We split an avocado, fry it lightly, fill it with salsa verde chicken or beef picadillo, then drizzle it with white queso and top it with pico de gallo. It is an impressive sight!
On your menu there’s an appetizer called Big Al’s Special. Who is Big Al?
JG: Big Al is actually Allison Baxley, who is actually rather small. She is one of my partners at Avenida. She’s from Rockport, Texas and her favorite version of queso comes with breakfast sausage mixed in. It’s one of her families’ recipes — it is AWESOME.
Avenida Cantina’s menu
The Mockingbird is underneath Avenida Cantina. Do they share the same menu? How do the two spots compare?
JG: The Mockingbird is a tequila speakeasy located directly downstairs. It serves as more of a cocktail bar and event space. We do a limited menu downstairs for those that want something to snack on until 10:00 PM daily; the restaurant stops serving at 12:30 AM during the week and at 3:00 AM on the weekends. We have a special list of cocktails down there and a great nighttime vibe. We have a lot to live up to since it was once an iconic venue in the early 90s called Save The Robots.
There’s of course a Tex-Mex influence to your cuisine there, so what brought you to New York?
JG: I am from New York and my partners — including my girlfriend — are all from Texas. I am a die-hard fan of Tex Mex and I wanted to bring it here along with a casual atmosphere indicative of most Tex Mex places in Texas. New Yorkers are known for making everything pretentious, and I really wanted to steer it in the opposite direction. Good margaritas and tacos, enchiladas or burritos, and listening to anything from classic rock and old-school hip-hop, to new wave and reggae.
Prior to owning Avenida Cantina, had you owned a restaurant before?
JG: I’ve been involved in a number of bars and restaurants in New York on a managerial or investor level for the past 12 years, but this is my first baby. Our owner Christen Hagan also owns Double Wide up the street on 12th [Street] and Avenue A.
How did the decision come about to have your restaurant downtown? Do you live around there?
JG: After hanging out in the Lower East Side for the past 20 years and having our sister bar 10 blocks away — Double Wide Bar & Southern Kitchen — it was a no brainer. The energy is unlike anywhere else in New York City down in the underbelly of the East Village.
Josh Gent / El Gant
When not busy with Avenida Cantina, how do you like to spend your free time?
JG: What’s free time? (laughs) I also make music for a living. We have incorporated that tremendously with the vibe and lifestyle of our brand.
Other than Avenida Cantina, do you have another favorite restaurant?
JG: My favorite restaurant is right around the corner from Avenida — Supper on 2nd Street. Kat the bartender is the best, and the veal meatballs are dream-worthy.
Finally, any last words for the kids?
JG: It’s been a dream of mine to smoke brisket for 12 hours on a hot summer day in New York City, put it into a taco, and feed everyone that lines up for it. Ecstatic to see it coming true!
