by Mayling C. on Why...why do we keep coming back here? It's a running joke amongst my buddies to suggest coming here at least once when we're trying to figure out where to go just to see me cringe. They know I hate it here. Here are the reasons why: 1) We keep coming back because there's no cover and the majority of my friends like Asian chicks, of which this place is bountiful so I don't need to add to that. 2) The music downstairs usually sucks ass. My grandma could play a better set. 3) The downstairs is a dungeon, a dungeon where people dance. It's hot and humid, stinky and not suitable for those suffering claustrophobia. 4) The upstairs isn't actually a bad space to lounge in, and I've been here when they actually had some sick house/drum & bass djs playing in the back, BUT there's no real dance floor so you end up dancing in the walkway. 5) I believe the drinks are overpriced, which is bad because you have to be drunk to enjoy it here. I knew I had to stop coming when one time a dude bought me a drink because he said I looked bored. He literally bought me a drink and then walked away. Damn.
by Robbin Truiolo on There are a lot of things I like and want to like at Parish. Being a Cajun girl, I'm always on the lookout for good Louisiana places. This place is kinda fancy-pants Louisiana, which I can appreciate. I had brunch here today, and it was nice, though there were a few misses. I eat by myself a lot, which some people think is weird, but I enjoy it. The downside is that at most places they sit a single lady at the worst table in the joint. When the very pleasant hostess tried to do just that, I opted for the bar. I was happy to see so many of my favorite Abita beers on tap. Not just Purple Haze and Turbodog, they've got Amber and Jockamo I.P.A.! I ordered a Bloody Mary from Jimmy the La-native bartender. It was very nice, and I believe it's a home-made mix. For those of you who don't like horseradish in your Bloody Mary, this one has more than a touch of it, so beware. Not a lot of accouterments, but it didn't need any. And it's spicy, so all y'all with weak tongues, get a Mimosa. They bring you free beignets during brunch, which is an excellent idea. They were, however, executed poorly. Half of mine were not cooked thoroughly, and the one thing a beignet should not be is a mouth full of taffy-like dough. For an entree, I ordered the Crawfish Nantau. It was to consist of 2 poached eggs, fried green tomatoes and a crawfish bechamel. It was tasty, don't get me wrong, but I could not find any crawfish on my plate :( A bechamel sauce can be very tricky, and mine also looked as if it had maybe set for too long. I also though the dish would have been totally complete with 2 slices of hearty toast. (and crawfish...) Though I did not participate in the raw bar, I cannot imagine many will. When I saw $2/oyster written on the menu (which, BTW, is located on the walls), I nearly plotzed. I can't think of any self-respecting Cajun who'll pay 2 buck for an oyster. Finally, the best part, the "Market" downstairs. This place is so cute!! Wonderful pastries, cheap and good coffee, lots of cute over priced things. It was really comfortable and wonderful. I'll be going back to Parish for dinner, and I hope (and think) my experience will be 100%.
by deb n. on Easy to miss, across the street from Penn Station, Madison Square Gardens. The elevator entrance is down the hallway, next to the Blarney Stone Bar. The dance studio is upstairs on the 4th floor, buzzer #7. West Coast Swing Dancing on Wednesday nights. $10. Long dance studio, great floor, two bathrooms. Great AC on those humid nights. A bar. John Lindo with the Gotham Swing Dance club hosts with weekly west coast swing dances. http://www.gothamswing.../ Great dancers, many intermediate level and some advance level WCS dancers. On the night I went, easily around 100-125 dancers, so a great turn out. There were some out of town dancer's there, due to John Lindo's LibertySwing event that weekend. http://www.libertyswin.../
