Refinery29 Interview with my favorite NYC maven


Vashtie Kola — a DJ, creative brand consultant, video director, and "downtown's sweetheart" — lives for the night, spending her evenings hopping from highbrow gallery opening to sweaty basement dance party and making friends all along the way. Despite the fact that she almost exclusively works and plays in the dark, Vashtie (or Va$htie if you prefer) is one of the brightest rays of sunshine on the shadowy streets of the Lower East Side. An expert on everything worth doing between East Houston and Canal, Vashtie took some time out of her busy day night to tour us around her favorite local spots and show how she lives, eats, drinks, and dances between the hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.




9 p.m., Dinner at Schiller's:
"This is my absolute favorite place to eat at with friends. It's chic (without trying hard), the crowd is loud and fun, the employees friendly, and the drinks delicious. They even have a frozen margarita machine! It also inspires me because it's always consistent and that's important, whether you're managing a restaurant or a brand."

Mood Music:
"My mood here is social and sassy, my style is feminine and fashionable, so for Schiller's I'd spin Hall & Oates' 'I Can't Go For That.'"

Late-Night Lesson #1:
"Never be caught navigating the streets with a map and walk quickly or kindly get out of the way."

Local Love
"I love the LES because, despite the gentrification, the businesses and venues are mostly independently owned. That spirit is so New York to me."









11 p.m., Drinks at Home Sweet Home:
"This is a great, no-frills type of bar where you can just let loose. I've had some of my most memorable nights in this grungy basement spot. The people are always laid-back, and the music is always something you can dance to. This place reminds me that you don't need to be perfect to be good."

Mood Music:
"At Home Sweet Home, I always have a fun, flirty time and dress sleek and comfortably. Naturally, I'd want to dance to something like Blur's 'Girls & Boys.'"

Late-Night Lesson #2:
"Make sure your outfit is suitable and comfortable for your entire day or night. In NYC, you never know what comes next, so pack some flats."

A Night Owl's Life:
"I remember at age 9, my mom busting in at 2 a.m. to find me re-arranging my room. I've just always been a night owl for some reason. I do my best work then. Luckily, New York never sleeps, so there are many ways to make a living from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m."



2 a.m., Dancing at Tammany Hall: 
"I love this place for live shows or a party. It has three floors, and on any given night, each one has a different vibe. The crowd is always eclectic. I love parties where there isn't just one kind of person. Mixed crowds always make for a better time and keep me aware that there are always a million different ways to approach anything."

Mood Music:
"Here I'm casual, relaxed, and sporting a laid-back style — the perfect time for 'Mercy' by Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and Two Chainz!"

Late-Night Lesson #3:
"Don't wait in lines! Just approach the door confidently, as if you belong inside, and you're in.

Source: Refinery29

          

Central Harlem’s great new hotspot, Silvana

                             

        

This time around on “Rhythm Roulette,“ Mass Appeal linked up with the one and only, El Producto. Known for his expansive career, starting from his involvement in the group Company Flow all the way to his recent Fool’s Gold release, Run The Jewels with Killer Mike, El-P has always been known to push the musical boundaries of hip hop through his production, which usually tiptoes on the border between psychedelic and hardcore.


         

                               

The Staten Island native Mack Wilds (yes, from The Wire fame) is showing off his musical skills. He recently previewed his new LP - New York: A Love Story in Soho. The project will release on September 17th with contributions from Salaam Remi, Havoc, Rico Love, Bink!, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Havoc, Method Man and Raekwon! With such an amazing line-up it shouldn't disappoint. 

Love this woman as artist. Falling, the love song  produced by Robin Hannibal,  is the first single from Yuna’s first full-length album, Nocturnal, coming in October

        

                          

                   

The 2013 DJ Of The Year Statik Selektah is featured on this edition of Mass Appeal. After being blindfolded, the brooklyn based DJ selects 3 random records, heads back to the studio and creates one hell of a dope beat

             

Every Saturday - at Tammany Hall - the guys at Awesome Sauce will be throwing a dance party like no other, with new dope DJ's every week. 

This week we were blessed to catch DJ Kid Capri! 

Tammany Hall 

152 Orchard St, 

New York, NY - Lower East Side 

(212) 228-7556

1375 6th Ave - Midtown West 

212-765-6288

Whether it’s ladies night or just catching up with friends & family, 
Pazza Notte on 56th and 6th is a great hangout. 

This little eatery has a kind of loungy feeling to it that may be due to its 2 for 1 martini happy hours from 5pm to close! For me, this is a big selling point, seeing as how a typical martini in the city will run you around $12. The rules for Happy Hour @Pazza Notte--you have to order 2 of the same flavor, and they bring them both at the same time. You're definitely going to get a second one--why not save your server some trips?

They have one of the biggest selections of martini flavors I’ve ever seen. I like to order the lychee. They have plenty of other flavors, including white peach, mango and white chocolate.

So here's a quick rundown of why you should go!


1. I don’t know what it is about martinis, but they make you feel so much classier.



(source: flickr.com)


2. Food? My favorite item? A thin crust white pizza with mushrooms and truffle oil.
 Another crowd pleaser? The bruschetta, and even the free bread that’s put on the table. 

3. You can hear your friends talk: Want to catch up with friends and actually hear what they have to say? You can do so at Pazza Notte since this place isn’t nearly as loud as a bar 

4. Not rushed: I’ve had people show up halfway through pizza 
and martinis and order more food and drinks and the staff doesn’t get 
annoyed that they aren’t turning tables.

5. Location: Yes, it is in midtown (a place you should avoid) but that's what makes it great. A central spot for everyone to meet up after work or perfect before heading away from all the craziness of Times Square. To me, Pazza Notte solves that problem of “I’m in midtown with no idea where to go.”

SBF recommended!

FREE

Bob Bar is one of the most popular hip hop bars in the city. A cool spot to hang on a weeknight. $5 beers all night. Good music. Great mix of interesting people. No cover. 

Check out SBF headed out for a little fun in the city! 

Enaya: 

Shirt - Macy's 

Shorts -  F21
Shoes - Zara

Jon:

Denim Shirt , Jeans - Gap

Oxford Shoes- Steve Madden

Hat - H&M

Mason: 

H&M Kids

                           




                           

Brooklyn's own Skyzoo is quietly the most underrated MC I've been constantly listening to for the past few years...

The Wackiest NYC Restaurant

Wacky is the best way to describe Shopsin’s eatery and Kenny Shopsin, owner and chef. Over the years he’s been referred to as eccentric, compared to the Soup Nazi and rubbed some people the wrong way with his imposing “house rules” and gruff style. At the same time he’s lovable for that very wackiness because if it wasn’t for that Shopsins wouldn’t be the experience that it is.

A New York icon of eccentricity, he’s been marching to his own drummer for decades. Shopsins started as a general store then an eatery in Greenwich Village for decades until a few years back they moved into the Essex Market on the LES. Kenny was made famous in 2002 when Calvin Trillin wrote about Shopsins in The New Yorker. Hero or offensive, either love Kenny for what he is or don’t bother.

Wacky Menu
The menu is packed with choices. If you do nothing else on this blog, you HAVE to check out the menu. It’s been reported to have as many as 900 items at one time. Most talked about is the Mac n Cheese pancakes which are really good, but there are hundreds of other items just as innovative either in name (Slutty Cakes, Blisters on My Sisters) or ingredients. He makes everything himself and at this point without the aid of recipes, so it’s also an adventure on whether it will be the same the second or third time around.

Mac n Cheese Pancakes at Shopsin's

Wacky Rules
Kenny will comment or refuse to serve you if you don’t follow his house rules, which have been known to change at his whim, but basically are:
He won’t seat groups larger than four.
Everyone must order a meal.
No duplicate orders.
No cell phone usage.

Wacky Philosophy

Shopsin's Beer List taken by pheezy (flickr) who describes his experience taking the photo: I asked and got permission to take the photo. Then I got yelled at while taking it. Then I got backed up from another yell from the other side of the restaurant saying that I'd asked and it was OKAY

In September, 2008 Kenny’s book Eat Me: The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin was published. There’s also a documentary film about him titled “I Like Killing Flies”. The book is a mix of memoirs, recipes, family stories, about dealing with publicity but, most importantly his philosophy comes out loud and clear. These choice Kenny quotes from the book pretty much sum it up.

“Pancakes are a luxury, like smoking marijuana or having sex. That’s why I came up with the names Ho Cakes and Slutty Cakes. These are extra decadent, but in a way, every pancake is a Ho Cake.”

“Customers in this country have been raised to believe that they are “always right.” Their neuroses are coddled and their misbehaviors tolerated for their patronage and their money by every restaurateur in America. But not by ME. My approach at Shopsins is the exact OPPOSITE of “the customer is always right.” Until I know the people, until they show me that they are worth cultivating as customers, I’m not even sure I WANT their patronage.”

“I enjoy cooking and giving what I can to my customers, and, in turn, my customers don’t just enjoy giving me money, they enjoy receiving what I have given them. Once we’ve established a rapport, we’re absolute equals in my restaurant. But I guess I shouldn’t expect newcomers to understand this. In all fairness, they’re right and I’m the asshole, because my way is hardly the traditional you-give-me-the-money-I-give-you-a-bagel. I want more from them. I want a relationship.”

Open Tuesday through Saturday 9:30-2, located in the Essex Market, 120 Essex Street, Stall #16 (LES)