Hurricane Storms into NYC

Feeling in the mood for a little tiki but also think it's a little tacky? Get yourself to The Hurricane Club, the brand-new bar and eatery from the Fourth Wall Restaurant Group (the same folks behind Quality Meats; Park Avenue Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter; and the Post House).

It's too tempting to resist saying that I was blown away by The Hurricane Club, particularly in the way it achieves such a cozy elegance despite its large scale. The soaring main dining room is buttressed by several smaller "cave rooms," which despite being on the sidelines still provide great people-watching.

The tiki touches are subtle but fun; most of the Polynesian design elements require close inspection to suss them out, which makes the Hurricane Club experience all the more intriguing. Don't miss the ten-foot-high barnacle chandelier suspended--not in the entryway, but in the single-person bathroom in the seahorse-sconced Lagoon Lounge. The cocktails are plentiful...so much so that they are numbered rather than named, with your choice of poison coming in everything from drilled-out coconuts to large bowls for sharing.

Watch out for a swank, still-to-be-named lounge next door as well as a private space called the Volcano Lounge. Let the lava (though not the lava lamps!) flow.

For my Citybuzz tour of the Hurricane Club, including our interview with Fourth Wall owner Michael Stillman, click below.

Taking SPiN for a Spin!

I had such a blast at SPiN NYC I had to back for a second visit shortly after the first one! Whether you're a ping-pong afficionado or prefer to remain a spectator, this Madison Square Park hot spot is well worth your time. The staff is super-friendly, the food (by chef Will Horowitz) is fantastic and if you're lucky, you may even run into Susan Sarandon, who is one of the co-owners.

You can check out my Citybuzz video, complete with an interview with Chef Will, below.