La Palapa

We went to La Palapa in the East Village (St. Mark's and 1st) last night for HH. It was awesome. The Apps were wonderful (Chorizo Fondu- amazing) and the margs were great also (try the Pink Cadillac Low Rider Margarita). Plus, the place is really cute. The only thing is that it is apparently considered as more of a restaurant, so it closes at 12- so don't plan on late night cocktails or snacks. Good for after work though. Check it.

Subways

Not that anyone reads my blog for their morning news, but I just wanted to make a comment on this. So, yes, there was a HUGE storm overnight on the East Coast. There was even a tornado in Brooklyn. Yes, it woke me up (the storm, not the tornado). Yes, it is still really freaking hot in the city and now more steamy and smelly than before. So gross. Also, I am a big fun of public transportation, it is one of my favorite things about NYC (and the roads are probably a lot safer without me on them), but let me just show you how confusing it is when something disrupts the transit routes (not to mention that I was stuck underground for 45 minutes, packed onto the train like sardines, got whacked in the face with an old man's backpack and was an hour late to work only to realize that everyone else is working from home today):

Due to severe flooding throughout the subway system, there are extensive delays on all subway lines. Customers are advised when at all possible to use bus service. The detours are as follows:

There is no V train service in both directions between the 2nd Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

There is no W train service in both directions between the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard and Whitehall Street.

There is no Franklin Avenue Shuttle (S) train service in both directions between the Prospect Park Station and the Franklin Avenue Station.

There is no G train service in both directions between the Long Island City-Court Square Station and the Smith-9th Street Station.

The R train is running on the N line in both directions between the Canal Street Station and the DeKalb Avenue Station.

There is no 1 train service in both directions between the 14th Street Station and the South Ferry Station.

There is no 2 train service in both directions between the Penn Station-34th Street Station and the Brooklyn College-Flatbush Avenue Station.

There is no 3 train service in both directions between the Harlem-148th Street Station and the New Lots Avenue Station.

The A and C trains are running local in both directions between the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Station and the Broadway Junction Station.

There is no E train service in both directions between the 23rd Street-Ely Avenue Station and the Jamaica Center-Parsons-Archer Station.

There is no F train service in both directions between the Jamaica-179th Street Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

There is no F train service in both directions between the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station and the Jay Street-Boro Hall Station.

There is no 4, 5 or 6 train service in both directions between the 125th Street Station and the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall.

There is no L train service in both directions between the Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway Station and the 8th Avenue Station.

There is no 42nd Street Shuttle (S) train service in both directions between the Times Square-42nd Street Station and the Grand Central-42nd Street Station.

Astoria-bound N trains are running on the D or M lines from the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station to the 36th Street Station.

J trains are running with residual delays.

In addition, due to debris on the track at the Church Avenue Station, the B and Q trains are running on the D or N line in both directions between the DeKalb Avenue Station and the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station.

Please expect delays in service system wide at this time.

Oh, also the MTA website was down, so you have to go to a completely different site to get this info.

Matador

Okay, so I met some friends for HH on Friday (aka Harry and Ron) ;)

Anyway, we went to this fabulous tapas place called Matador. They have half priced Sangria, Draft Beer and Tapas from 5-8. Definitely worth checking out as there were 5 of us and we were there for a good 3 hours or so and the bill was just over $100. And we ate and had drinks AND food. It was great. Anyway, definitely worth checking out if you need a good HH place downtown (Greenwich Ave at Perry St). Additional info here. Also, there is this pub across the street that reminds of Hogsmeade (HP fans!), but I can't remember the name. What I DO remember is thinking "why is it that when you go downtown, a pub turns into a total scene?" I mean seriously everyone was dressed up as if they were going out clubbing or to a nice dinner or something. We are in a PUB for cryin out loud. Please people. Obviously I was in a T-shirt and flip flops-it was Friday work attire. Needless to say that after HH (a few sangrias, a few beers) and the pub (a few more beers, maybe a shot or two) I had no problem standing in the rain trying to catch a cab or singing the Harry Potter theme (or attempting to, rather) in the cab on the way to the NEXT bar uptown. I think I was home around 4am (or so I was told). I love NYC! Mom and Dad, I hope you're ready :)

8 Coupons

Okay, so for now this is only good for the NYCers, but I'm sure it will spread. It's this coupon service where you can go to the site and have coupons sent directly to your cell phone (in a text). This way there is no coupon clipping, lugging around, losing etc. involved. You just show them your phone with the coupon in it and it is a done deal. This is especially interesting for all you Direct Marketers out there...maybe it'll help us put an end to all that junk mail. Anyway, the launch in NYC is tomorrow are there are some good deals listed. Check it out here.
If you want to log in today, use the code "THRILLIST." Otherwise, the official launch is tomorrow (8/8 at 8am 8 minutes and 8 seconds). Why can't I for once think of an idea like this FIRST???? Damn.