Page 78 - Westchester Magazine - January 2011

76 / JANUARY 2011 / WWW.WESTCHESTERMAGAZINE.COM
ever-evolving venue makes for avid followers and has garnered a raft of accolades including two “Awards of Distinction” for ’09 and ’08 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
COVER: Depends on the music, but typi- cally about $5 to $10. HIGH NOTES: An 18-piece swing band (Greg Westhoff & the Westchester Swing Band) performs the second Monday of ev- ery month. The band includes musicians from various Broadway shows as well as the West Point Black Knights. BEAT IT: 12 N Division St, Peekskill (914) 737-6624; 12grapes.com.
Gramatan Ave, Mount Vernon (914) 668-2634; bayourestaurantny.com.
I
Magazine's 2010 Best of Westchester issue— and is all about traditional hospitality and fun. Don’t expect get-up-and-dance music (though, come St. Paddy’s day, it's a different story), but do expect covers of ’60s and ’70s music by local artists starting at 9:30 pm on Saturdays (un- till 1 am), with Irish music specialties once a month (think step-dancing and bagpipes). Food is served until midnight on weekends (or 11pm on weekdays): try a beefy burger, authentic fish and chips, or a slice of shepherd’s pie.
COVER: No HIGH NOTES: There’s Irish music at least once a month along with special Irish weekends. BEAT IT: 3262 E Main St, Mohegan Lake (914) 528-1614.
K
Zen vibe, monster martini list, and the fact that it’s pretty much the only game in town where you can mix light bites and live music. Here, you can sip a glass of Mirassou Pinot Noir on a sofa in the lounge area while balancing your plate of grilled skirt steak, or opt for a table in the large dining room where a small Buddha statue may stare back at you. The sophisti- cated room features exposed brick walls, soft lighting, and a warm atmosphere while also boasting a flavorful tapas selection of coconut shrimp, pan-seared sea scallops, and crab cakes. Complement either with the Karma-Tini of your choice (there are at least 20 options) and the sounds of R&B band Shomari, and you’re in for a fine, fine night. This Connecticut-based group is exclusive to Karma (they don’t play at any other Westchester venues) and brings a sense of funk, rhythm, and overall good vibra- tions. Shomari plays once a month (usually the first or second Friday of the month) starting at ll pm, but call first as evenings vary.
COVER: $10 for Shomari HIGH NOTES: According to Manager Alison D’Elia, the res- taurant is looking to expand its events list. At press time, she was in the process of interview- ing jazz musicians for acoustic Thursdays start- ing at 8 pm (no cover). There is also a DJ on weekends. BEAT IT: 175 Main St, Ossining (914) 488-5999; karmaloungeofwestchester.com.
I
nightspot in the Pound Ridge hamlet of Scotts Corners, the music will. Everyone from Andy Aledort of the Dicky Betts Band to background singer Dennis Collins, who works regularly with Roberta Flack, Phil Ramone, and other major
of
BLACK CAT CAFÉ, (45 Main St, Irvington 914-231-
9060; blackcatchef.com)
This quaint coffeehouse sets a familial tone by hosting up-and-
coming bands most Friday and Saturday nights. Check the website for listings.
CAFÉ MOZART (308 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck 914-698-4166) Expect a mixture of jazz, pop, and folk 7:30 to 11 pm every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night at this European-style café known for its oversized salads and a long list of coffees, teas, and desserts; no cover.
CHAT 19 (19 Chatsworth Ave, Larchmont 914-833-8871; chat19.net) Local and more established bands play Friday and Saturday nights starting at 9:30 pm; no cover.
THE TURNING POINT (468 Piermont Ave, Piermont, NY 845-359-1089; turningpointcafe.com) is a Rockland County classic known for its eclectic roster of performers, including many marquee-name artists, as well as its fine food and down-to-earth vibe. Call ahead to reserve tickets (i.e., your name and number in your party will be put on a list at the door).
TOWNE CRIER CAFÉ (130 Rte 22, Pawling, NY 845-855-1300; townecrier. com) The list of musicians, many bona fide legends, who’ve headlined here
is too long to list. Suffice it to say, this Hudson Valley mainstay, in business
for nearly four decades, has always been about “presenting the best in the performing arts and creative dining.”
OPUS 465 (465 N Main St, Armonk 914-273-4676; opus465.com). Live music in the bar area every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
PEEKSKILL COFFEE HOUSE (101
S Division St, Peekskill 914-739-1287; peekskillcoffee.tumblr.com) serves some of the best coffee around and features a range of musical talent with no cover. Check the website for info.
n the mood for some Irish music? Brodie’s Pub is a traditional Irish watering hole— named Best Irish Pub in Westchester
S
pub offering comfort food and a laid back vibe. Owners Tim Murphy and Jim Morganthaler, two golf buddies and music afficionados, sup- port local bands. If you're never heard of the Bookends Trio, Orange Felix, Castaways, Dirty Water Dogs, and I-40, then stop by and say hi. The lineup shifts from week to week, offering a constant flow of rotating bands, as a way to rest assured you never get bored. And, even though the music doesn’t start until 10 pm, the kitchen serves a full menu until midnight (think burgers, brews, nachos, Irish specialties like shepherd’s pie, and bistro favorites like lobster ravioli) with a late-night bar menu till 1 am (the band often goes until then as well).
COVER: No HIGH NOTES: Thursday night is trivia night, Friday night is karaoke, and Saturday features live music. BEAT IT: 110 Halstead Ave, Harrison (914) 630-2760.
ince opening a little more than a year ago, Murphy’s Law has built a reputation as a let's-grab-a-burger and go-neighborhood
Y
music” complete with “Appeteasers” like Creole gumbo, Cajun fried calamari, voodoo wings (jalapeños stuffed with mozzarella or boudin sausage), and “Side Splitters” like sweet tater fries and a slab o' cornbread. While the heart and soul of the food is pure New Orleans, right down to its killer Hurricanes and lip-smacking entrées (think Bourbon Street BBQ ribs and Jazzy Jumpin’ jambalaya), it’s all about mixing it up come showtime. On one night, you could walk into Mardi Gras with the accordion-play- ing CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band and some lively Zydeco music, while another time you might find a Black Sabbath tribute courtesy of Into the Void. The atmosphere is pulsating, fun (and loud!), with songs that stick in your head long after you head home. Music on Thursdays starts at 9:30 pm, with the big- ger headline bands playing Friday and Saturday starting at 11 pm.
COVER: Free on Thursday nights; $5 to $15 on Fridays and Saturdays. HIGH NOTES: There is always something going on here, so check the website calendar for updates. Plus, the kitchen is open until 1 am. BEAT IT: 580
ou can’t help but smile the minute you enter The Bayou, which bills itself as offering “darn good eats with darn good
arma Lounge, which opened last spring, is still carving out its niche—but it’s get- ting there, thanks, in part, to its warm
f the perfectly decadent truffle mac and cheese doesn’t win you over at North Star Restaurant, the rustic six-year-old
PHOTO BY SUSAN M. D'AMBROSIO
Also
Note