The Urbane Urbanite

With the holidays looming and a brisk chill wafting through the air, ‘tis definitely the season for eating and drinking. While sizzling thirst quenchers like teas, hot chocolates and warm apple ciders will be bought and consumed by the boatloads this winter, what hot beverage options are available for folks looking to get lit - and stay toasted? I commissioned the head bartender at 169 Bar, a down-home dive bar on the lower east side of Manhattan, to concoct five warm, charismatic cocktails perfect for keeping the cold at bay and a buzz on deck this winter. I've tried them all - and they're good!

Photo: S. James  Del don't do road trips. Usually. I have terrible childhood memories of being sandwiched in the back seat of an unairconditioned hooptie, riding down south in the middle of the summer. *Shudders*  So naturally, when talk of a road trip comes up, I'm the first one on the computer looking up a flight to said destination and making plans to meet my travel mates there. In my mind, by the time they get to the hotel completely aggravated, cranky and smelling of automobile, I'm already checked into my room, curled up with a Kindle and enthralled in a good book. Such was the case this past summer when my homies decided that a road trip from northern New Jersey to Toronto was in order for the 4th of July weekend.

There I am happily eating in a dark diner after Hurricane Irene Over the weekend, Hurricane Irene crippled the eastern seaboard, flooding towns, knocking over trees and taking lives. And in New Jersey, where I live, 617,000 people were without power. My lights were out for almost 18 hours. Meditation and light-skin-did Oreos helped me maintain my sanity. I had access to my gas stove but didn't really feel like cooking. So I hit the streets and went to my favorite diner a few blocks down from my apartment. They were without power as well, but that didn't keep them from serving customers and me from going in for something to eat. Here are six tips on how to chow down during a power outage.

My French is a little rusty. But I will never let my bilingual struggle keep me from enjoying une nuit fine cuisine française. Brasserie Beaumarchais, a sexy eatery inspired by the south of France located in the heart of New York City's hip Meatpacking District, serves up some flavorful French cuisine. As upscale and chic as executive chef and Iron Chef champion Nicolas Cantrel's restaurant is, the lively crowd and a live DJ keeps the stuffiness at bay. Although it's best known for its brunch, I decide to give their dinner menu a whirl.

Image: S. James An unseasonably cool breeze whips through my rental car as I zoom up I-80 on my way from the San Francisco International Airport to The Meritage Resort & Spa in southern Napa Valley. After a six-hour flight from New York City, the fresh air is a welcome reprieve. The one-hour drive, which features glimpses of The San Francisco Bay, grassy knolls and rugged mountainous terrain, goes by in a flash. And before I know it, I pull up to a palatial 158-room resort that looks like an estate plucked straight from a Tuscan painting. I can't wait to check in! Image: Courtesy of The Meritage Resort & Spa

The Ainsworth is not your typical sports bar. Sure, there's the standard fare: Flat screens (over three dozen to be exact) on display at every available angle; a mammoth-sized, fully-stocked bar that begs to be sat at and pine walls that evoke a rustic, woodsy vibe. But fused with all of the masculine details are charming chandeliers that hang from sky-high ceilings, sporadic splashes of printed wallpaper, white, sheer curtains and life-size plants that dress the store front windows and doorway, giving the decor a classy, delicate touch.

On a hot summer day, nothing is better than an ice cold fruit smoothie...laced with Bacardi. I got this recipe from my homie, Aliya. But I remixed it by substituting regular ice cream with dairy free SO Delicious instead (I'm lactose intolerant) and adding a "splash" of hooch to give it an extra kick. There are a ton of smoothie recipes out there. But mine is pretty basic compared to others. Here's how you can enjoy an easy to make, semi-healthy, fruit-filled beverage that will hopefully give you a light buzz to boot!

With Memorial Day behind us, the summer movie season has officially kicked into high gear. Whether you like teenage mutants ( X-Men: First Class  ), violent robots ( Transformers: Dark of the Moon ) or magical wizards ( Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II ), there's something for everyone in theatres this season. This summer, AMC offers a great way for you to enhance your moviegoing experience.

Every now and then, I need to make a quick escape. Life gets tough and the four walls in my apartment in New Jersey - as much as I adore my crib - start to close in on me and I want out! This past weekend was rough. I had a lot on my mind and needed a change of scenery. A change of pace. Different air to breathe.  Something to help me clear my head and take a break from my thoughts. I knew just where to flee: Brooklyn.

Summer is quickly approaching. And that means one thing: time to get snatched! For all of you who follow me on the Interwebs, you know that I've been putting in a lot of work at the gym. (I checked into The New York Sports Club five days last week! That's a record for me). But the results are slow going. And it's all (well, maybe not all) because of this damn cookbook!

I have reservations! That's what I yelled over the thumping bass of P-Diddy's "Hello, Good Morning" to the bouncer who was checking ID's at the door of Stir, a lounge on New York City's upper east side. He pointed me in the direction of the hostess at the bar. Sure, I had called ahead to reserve a table for two, but I was also referring to my sudden suspicion that this supposed night of laid-back martini tasting and appetizer nibbling had just taken a turn for the worse. The raucous crowd spilling out of the door was my first indication that this was not the cozy lounge Stir portrays itself to be. Visit their website and you'll see pictures of plush pillows on comfy leather couches set against candle-lit brick walls, which give off a vibe perfect for first dates and catching up with friends over cocktails. What I walked into was a boozy hoedown. Super drunk patrons were sliding small ottomans across a makeshift dance floor as they moved to the blar...

Photo: S. James Sometimes, being a writer has its perks. A couple of weeks ago, my brilliant-phenomenal-stupendous-wonderful editor sent me on an assignment to cover the culture on the beautiful island of St. Croix. *Swoons* I couldn't wait to escape the frigid temperatures here in the Northeast and trade in my peacoat for a tank top and flip-flops.  But St. Croix has so much more to offer than a balmy year-round climate. The island is rich in culture and tradition with a bountiful, well-documented past.  The locals are warm, friendly and welcoming. The views are breathtaking and drool worthy - and the food is out of this world. Backed by the soothing sounds of Corinne Bailey Rae, is a four minute montage of images and video of incredible views, century-old landmarks and upscale seafood cuisine - all photographed and captured by yours truly. So.  Sit back.  Relax - and enjoy St. Croix. Click here to enjoy the video.

Smack dead in the middle of Time Square, among the white lights of Broadway, gargantuan billboards, and throngs of camera-ready tourists is a cozy enclave called the Aspen Social Club. The decor is a mix of city sophistication and warm ski lodge comfort.  The foyer is dimly lit, the ceiling is made up of granular, wooden planks and along the way to the main dining room are small, intimate alcoves complete with a table and chairs for nibbling on appetizers and sipping cocktails. With a crackling fireplace playing on a flat screen, a mass of ivory antler shaped ornaments hanging from up above and tree barks bathed in fuchsia lights in glass casings, the main dining room of the Aspen Social Club is visually stunning with a laid back vibe.  It was service with a smile when the waitress, clad in a flannel shirt, daisy dukes and knee high boots came over to introduce herself and take my order.  Here's what I chose: Libation : A blood orange colored, acai berry margarita. I...

Tired of the same old mimosa? Check out the video below. I show you how to put a spin on the popular brunch beverage by swapping out champagne for sparkling wine and adding a splash of orange-flavored liqueur to give it an extra special kick! You can subscribe to my budding YouTube page here :

I had to give my Granny an edgy makeover while she was living at the nursing home. There's something about the fabric of a grandmother's love. It's warm and fuzzy like your favorite childhood teddy bear. Sweet and inviting like the smell of an apple pie baking in the oven. Tough and wise like an old hardcover book on the shelf at the library.... On January 21, my granny, Lula Saintainia, said deuces and went on home to Glory. I can't say that I blame her. She put in her time - and then some.

*In Sophia Petrillo Voice* Picture it: New Jersey. 1980 something.  The crack of dawn on a Saturday morning. A young (cute) little boy leaps out of bed and runs into the kitchen to fetch his favorite breakfast morning cereal: Frosted Flakes.  He fills the bowl to the top with cereal and drowns the sugary goodness in milk.  Then he runs into the living room with his bowl, plops down on the couch and crunches away while he watches The Smurfs. Y'all. That little boy was me. We all come from different places, backgrounds, religions and family structures. But if there's one thing we all have in common, it's the vivid memory of waking up bright and early in the morning to devour a bowl of beloved deliciousness. Flash forward many years later and a lot has changed.  I barely have time to grab a granola bar in the morning much less a bowl of cereal. And I be damned if I wake up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday, my day to sleep in a catch up on some...

I've got FIVE days to: Clean up my filthy apartment. Finalize my menu. Hit the market to buy ingredients for said menu items. Marinate the fruit for my sangria. Have my favorite bottles of wine shipped from the Franklin Hill Vineyard in Pennsylvania. Yes, you guessed it, I's throwing a party! WOOT. WOOT. PARTY OVER HERE! It's my annual holiday party, except I didn't throw one last year and I only threw one once the year before that.  But the word annual gives it a certain UMPH, so it stays! *Shrugs* In any event, while I get things together for my function, allow me to share with you my 11 tips for throwing the perfect house party. While I'm using my holiday party as an example, these tips are universal and can be applied to any house event you decide to throw.

The holidays are officially upon us. And while many people will get their hands dirty in the kitchen slaving over hot stoves, others may opt to take friends and family out for a nice dinner instead. If you're a food snob like me, you frown at the thought of dinning at a chain restaurant. While I don't have anything against spots like The Cheesecake Factory (that carrot cake cheese cake! *drools*), Chili's (Them lightly salted French fries *licks lips*) or Red Lobster (That there cheddar bay biscuit *faints*) when I want to have a real fine dining experience, those are the last places I want to eat. But not all  chain restaurants are the same. There are some upscale chain eateries that will give you the food and ambiance of a five-star restaurant. Here are my top 6 favorite upscale chain restaurants.

C is for cookie and cookie is for me! *Falls down on knees in prayer pose* Lawd! What is I gone do?! Y'all, the bakery manager at Whole Foods done told me my favorite cookie in the whole wide world hasn't been on shelves in weeks because it's seasonal. She said it won't be back until the spring! *Faints* Anyone who reads my blog, follows me on Twitter, FourSquare or Facebook knows I've got a soft spot for decadent baked goods. Chewy cookies.  *licks lips* Moist cakes.      *bites bottom lip* Tangy cobblers.  *drools* Warm brownies. *rubs belly* They make my heart sing. But my boo. My ride or die cookie: is the lemon coconut white chocolate chip joint sold at Whole Foods. *sigh* Whenever I'm having a bad day, need a pick-me-up or I'm just being plain greedy, I rush over to Whole Foods for this chewy piece of heaven. The hint of lemon, the light trace of coconut and smattering of white chocolate chunks soothes my soul li...

Ask any of my drinking partners and they'll tell you I'm a Grey Goose lover through and through. But being the cocktail connoisseur that I am, I always keep my eyes peeled for the next best drink. Lately, all I've been hearing about is the coconut flavored Ciroc. I tasted the original Ciroc at a house party once and was pleasently surprised at how smooth it went down. I wanted to see what all the hype was about, so after work, I went straight to my favorite liquor store to pick some up. Yes, I'm a club member. I gets it in! They didn't have it.  Some talk about it being out of stock and not being able to get any. See. That's what I get for being bourgeois and buying my liquor from a chain store in the suburbs.  I know better. I hopped right into my car, and drove a few miles down the road to a Mom and Pop liquor store in the hood. Not only did they have every flavor of Ciroc known to man on the shelf, but they had economy sizes too. P...