How to Spend a Very, Very Long Day, According to the Village Voice‘s 2014 Best of NYC® Readers’ Poll:
Start your morning with a coffee from one of Blue Bottle’s five locations (voted Best Coffeeshop for Coffee), because you’re probably going to need the jolt of caffeine for the insane day Voice readers have got planned for you. Afterward, carb up with a bagel from Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company (voted Best Bagel) in Astoria, Queens. And what the heck, grab brunch right after that at Cafe Mogador (on St. Marks or in Williamsburg), voted Best Brunch this year. You might want to take a nap after all that goat cheese and Hudson Valley Duck Confit, but resist the urge! There are so many more Best things to do right now, and it’s only noon.
Get the blood pumping in Central Park (the Best Place to Jog), or perhaps venture down to Rockaway Beach (voted Best Beach this year) to punch back the freezing waves. If you opted to jog in Central Park, head down to the East Village afterward and treat yourself at Big Gay Ice Cream Shop (voted Best Ice Cream). Maybe you get a Salty Pimp or a Rue McClanahan ice cream sandwich. If you opted to hit the beach in October, you won’t be faced with the crush of a summer crowd, and neither will you have to stand on a long line at nearby Rockaway Taco (voted Best Pop-Up). Either way, make your way to Brooklyn, because the sun’s going down and you deserve a drink. Stop at The Way Station (voted Best Cocktail Bar), or, and we’re going to use the H-word, maybe you stop by The Johnson’s (voted Best Hipster Bar) in Bushwick to rest your tired legs on the retro furnishings while you take in the tribal art. Tempting as it might be to linger, only stay for a drink or two at either of these places, because there are a million other bars — like, say, The Levee (voted Best Dive Bar), though by this point in the day your drinking appetite might be tapering off. Which is good, because…
…You’ve got more places to go yet. Finding yourself a mite peckish, following your rounds of tipples? Take the L train to Artichoke Basille’s on East 14th, home of the Best Pizza (Slice). Then head to one of Doughnut Plant’s two Manhattan locations for dessert (voted Best Doughnuts). As you’re in the best film-going city in the world, take in a movie at either Angelika Film Center New York (voted Best Independent Movie Theater) downtown or at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 (voted Best Multiplex) near Lincoln Center. When the movie’s over, find out where Jonathan Toubin (voted Best DJ) is spinning that night, and if you can’t find him, head to Verboten (voted Best Dance Club). End the night at Tom’s Restaurant (voted Best Diner) and check in at the Ace Hotel (voted Best Hotel) to sleep it off.
If you find yourself temporarily low on funds the following morning, you could submit yourself to the Best Cheap Thrill (taking the Staten Island Ferry) or maybe just stay in with a book from The Strand (voted Best Book Store for Used Books and Best Book Store for New Books).
That’s only one scenario (and 21 Best of NYC readers’ choice awards). The rest are below. Congrats to our winners — New York loves you.
Arts & Entertainment
Best All Ages Club
Webster Hall
125 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003, www.websterhall.com
Best Blues Club
Blue Note
131 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012
Best Jazz Club
Blue Note
131 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012, www.bluenote.net
Best Independent Movie Theater
Angelika Film Center New York
18 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012, www.angelikafilmcenter.com/nyc
Best Multiplex
AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13
1998 Broadway, New York, NY 10023, www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/amc-loews-lincoln-square-13
Best Cheap Thrill
Taking the Staten Island Ferry
Whitehall Terminal Manhattan (South Ferry), www.siferry.com
Best Casino
Mohegan Sun
1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville, CT 06382, www.mohegansun.com
Best Dance Club
Verboten
54 N 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249, www.verbotennewyork.com
Best DJ
Jonathan Toubin
www.twitter.com/jonathantoubin
Best AM Radio Personality
Joan Hamburg
www.twitter.com/JoanHamburgShow
Best FM Radio Personality
Alisa Ali
Best Hair on a Local TV Personality (Female)
Liz Cho
Best Hair on a Local TV Personality (Male)
Pat Kiernan
Best TV News Anchor
Brian Williams
Best Museum
The Museum of Modern Art
11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, www.moma.org
Best Place for a First Date
Central Park
5 Av To Central Park W, 59 St To 110 St., www.centralparknyc.org
Best Place to People Watch
Union Square Park
Broadway To 4 Ave., E 14 St. To E 17 St., www.nycgovparks.org/parks/union-square-park
Best Karaoke
Karaoke Sing Sing on Avenue A
81 Avenue A, Manhattan, NY 10009, www.karaokesingsing.com/avea/price
Best Live Music Venue
Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002, www.boweryballroom.com
Best Rock Club
Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002, www.boweryballroom.com
Best Airport
JFK International Airport
www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk.html
Best Book Store for New Books
Strand Book Store
828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, www.thestrandnyc.com
Best Book Store for Used Books
Strand Book Store
828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, www.thestrandnyc.com
Best Bridal Shop
Stone Fox Bride
611 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, www.stonefoxbride.com
Best CD/Record Store
Bleecker Street Records
188 W 4th St, New York, NY 10014, www.bleeckerstreetrecordsnyc.com
Best Clothing Store for Men
La Petite Mort
37 Orchard St New York, NY 10002, www.shoplapetitemort.com
Best Clothing Store for Women
Bird
220 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
316 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
203 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 10013
Best Comic Book Store
Forbidden Planet
832 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, www.fpnyc.com
Best Furniture Store
IKEA
1 Beard St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, www.ikea.com/us/en/store/brooklyn
Best Lingerie
Agent Provocateur
675 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10065
133 Mercer St, New York, NY 10012
Best Sex Shop
Babeland
94 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
462 Bergen St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Best Hotel
Ace Hotel
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001, www.acehotel.com/newyork
Best Tattoo Shop
Three Kings Tattoo
572 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222, www.threekingstattoo.com
Best Toy Store
FAO Schwarz
67 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022, www.fao.com
Best Neighborhood to Live In
East Village
Best Sporting Goods Store
Paragon Sports
867 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, www.paragonsports.com
Best Sports Bar
Berry Park
4 Berry St, Brooklyn, NY 11211, www.berryparkbk.com
Best Beach
Rockaway Beach
Beach 3 St. to Beach 153 St. and Boardwalk to Atlantic Ocean, http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/rockaway-beach-and-boardwalk
Best Place to Jog
Central Park
5 Av To Central Park W, 59 St To 110 St, www.centralparknyc.org
Best Bike Shop
Bicycle Habitat
244 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012, www.bicyclehabitat.com
Best Bowling Lanes
Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249, www.brooklynbowl.com
Best Giants Player
Eli Manning
Best Jets Player
Geno Smith
Best Yankees Player
Derek Jeter
Best Mets Player
Daniel Murphy
Best Knicks Player
Carmelo Anthony
www.twitter.com/carmeloanthony
Best Nets Player
Kevin Garnett
Best Rangers Player
Henrik Lundqvist
Best Islanders Player
John Tavares
Best Liberty Player
Anna Cruz
Best Athlete’s Butt
Derek Jeter
Best Major League Sports Venue
Citi Field
123-01 Roosevelt Ave, New York, NY 11368, www.citifield.com
Best Sports Broadcast Personality
David Cone
Best Bagel
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
3614 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103, www.bkbagel.com
Best Bakery
Sullivan Street Bakery
533 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036, www.sullivanstreetbakery.com
Best Barbecue
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
604 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, www.dinosaurbarbque.com
Best Breakfast
City Bakery
3 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011, www.thecitybakery.com
Best Brunch
Cafe Mogador
101 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
133 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Best Burger
Shake Shack
Six NYC Locations
Madison Ave & E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010, www.shakeshack.com
Best Coffeeshop (for coffee)
Blue Bottle
5 NYC Locations
160 Berry St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Best Dim Sum
Golden Unicorn
18 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002, www.goldenunicornrestaurant.com
Best Diner
Tom’s Restaurant
2880 Broadway, New York, NY 10025, www.tomsrestaurant.net
Best New Bar
Lovecraft Bar NYC
50 Avenue B, New York, 10009
Best Cocktail Name
Gin and Chronic at The Tippler
425 W 15th St, New York, NY 10011, www.thetippler.com
Best Bartender
Alissa May Atkinson at Pine Box Rock Shop
12 Grattan St, Brooklyn, NY 11206, www.pineboxrockshop.com
Best Cocktail Bar
The Way Station
683 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY, www.waystationbk.blogspot.com
Best Hipster Bar
The Johnson’s
369 Troutman St, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Best Dive Bar
The Levee
212 Berry St, Brooklyn, NY 11211, www.theleveenyc.com
Best Gay Bar
Metropolitan
559 Lorimer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211, www.metropolitanbarny.com
Best Lesbian Bar
Cubbyhole
281 W 12th St, New York, NY 10014, www.cubbyholebar.com
Best Whiskey Bar
Noorman’s Kil
609 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211, www.noormanskil.com
Best Local Brewery
Brooklyn Brewery
79 N 11th St, New York, NY 11249, www.brooklynbrewery.com
Best Doughnuts
Doughnut Plant
Two free-standing locations
220 W 23rd St New York, NY 10011
379 Grand St New York, NY 10002
Best Egg on a Roll
Stage Restaurant
128 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003, www.villagevoice.com/locations/stage-restaurant-894658
Best Falafel
Mamoun’s Falafel
22 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003
119 Macdougal St, New York, NY 10012
Best Fried Chicken
Blue Ribbon
28 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003, www.blueribbonfriedchicken.com
Best Ice Cream
Big Gay Ice Cream Shop
125 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009
Best Late Night Dining
Wo Hop
17 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
Best New Restaurant
Mokbar
75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011, www.mokbar.com
Best Oyster Happy Hour
Maison Premiere
298 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211, www.maisonpremiere.com
Best Pizza
John’s of Bleecker Street
278 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014, www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com
Best Pizza (Slice)
Artichoke Basille’s
328 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003, www.artichokepizza.com
Best Place to Eat Out Alone
Meatball Shop
Six NYC Locations
84 Stanton St, New York, NY 10002, www.themeatballshop.com
Best Pop-up
Rockaway Taco
95-19 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693, www.rockawaytaco.com
Best Ramen
Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003, www.momofuku.com/new-york/noodle-bar
Best Spaghetti
Eataly
200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010, www.eataly.com/nyc-locations-and-hours
Best Steakhouse
Peter Luger Steak House
178 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211, www.peterluger.com
Best Sushi
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar
225 Liberty St, New York, NY 10281, www.blueribbonsushibar.com
Best Thai Restaurant
Pongsri Thai
244 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036, www.pongsri.net
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Red Bamboo
140 W 4th St, New York, NY 10012, www.redbamboo-nyc.com