'Tis the Season

Out and about in NYC during the holidays

We're right in the middle of the holiday season. It's an exciting time, filled with many events and an abundance of holiday cheer. The usual activities of seeing friends and going out are supplemented with holiday get-togethers and company holiday parties. With the packed social schedule, going out every night is tough, but thankfully, it's a sprint, not a marathon. By January 2, we can come out for air because there will be a lull in the action.

It's been that way over here at Thoughts and Considerations HQ, as, fortunately, I've been going out a lot and seeing friends. There is nowhere more festive than this time of year in New York City, and when you see those lights and shimmering windows, you forget about last night's hangover less and less.

Our holiday party invite

To add something new to the mix this year, my girlfriend and I decided to throw our own holiday party. Since most folks have many plans during the holiday season, and we were having the party on a Friday night, we thought most people would be busy and decline our invitation. We were very wrong, and we maxed out our tiny one-bedroom apartment last Friday night. After a very late night, everyone had a good time, and I’ve only recovered in just enough time to write this newsletter and get it out on time.

The home bar

As long-time readers know, we're big fans of pre-batching cocktails for our parties (read more about it in an earlier issue of the newsletter). This year, we decided to go out with two seasonal cocktails—a rosemary-infused gin gimlet and a cinnamon whiskey sour. The preparation was a joy, especially using our industrial-grade juicer to juice nearly eighty lemons and limes. It was a personal record for me and a delightful experience. A good thing to keep in mind if you're throwing parties.

Also, last week, I had plans to meet up with Rhys from St Johns (if you’re unfamiliar with him and the brand, watch my video about them). We decided to meet at the Grand Central Oyster Bar, which has become a new favorite of mine this year. Our plans were soon changed, as their main bar was closed for a holiday party. So we tried to go to the bar in One Vanderbilt across the street, which was completely booked and unavailable for walk-ins. Our Plan C was also quickly thwarted because The Campbell Bar was having a private party, as was our final option of the Grand Brasserie in Grand Central. Four tries, four misses.

We then were resigned to go to the Saloon, back in the Grand Central Oyster Bar, which is an excellent option in typical situations. Still, because every other bar in and around Grand Central was having a company holiday party, this was the only bar open, and it was packed. Nonetheless, we had a lovely time catching up, and it was a good reminder that if you dare go out without a reservation in NYC this time of year, you might want to have five options up your sleeve; who knows, you might need them.

Raoul’s martinis are honest pours

It should come as no surprise that reservations are nearly impossible during this time of year. Unless you have an in with the maitre d’—now might be a good time to start currying favor with them so you can get that impossible reservation for next year’s holiday season—you must set up a Resy notification for all the hotspots in town and have one eye on your phone at all times to wait for the chime from Resy saying a reservation has become available. Using this foolproof method, we obtained a prime reservation at Raoul's last week, which was perfectly busy yet cozy on a cold winter's night. We got the steak au poivre, of course, and then also the Dover sole. Washing it down with a dessert of profiteroles. After that meal and those cocktails, I thought I was in Paris! C'est parfait!

The bar at Balthazar looking magnificent

While my girlfriend and I agreed we didn't want a late night, we also agreed that after such a fantastic meal, we had to have a nightcap, so we decided to try to see if we could get a couple of bar seats at Balthazar. After about a fifteen-minute wait, we were seated at the corner of the bar in what has to be one of the most marvelous rooms in the city. We supplemented our first round of cocktails with a couple of Kronenbourgs—when someone has it on draft, it's a disservice not to get it—and we left full of booze and holiday cheer.

Ultimately, it's such a fun time of year and a good excuse to see friends, take some business colleagues out, possibly have one too many Guinnesses, and reflect on the year that was. The long, cold winter months of January and February are just around the corner, so by all means, lean into the holiday season!