Destinations: Japan Week In New York March 4 - 21

Loungers who are inspired by the Japanese culture should not miss this year's Japan Week which will take place between March 4th and 18th in New York City. 35 restaurants will participate and feature local and regional dishes inspired by 21 Japanese prefectures to create a "culinary tour" of Japan.  Many will be serving them in special "ekiben" bento boxes that are traditionally sold at Japanese railway stations. Their prices range from $12 to $25. Japan Week will culminate with a cultural fair in Grand Central Station's Vanderbilt Hall from March 19th - 21st.

The following is a list participating Japanese restaurants in Manhattan: Aburiya Kinnosuke, Aki on West 4th, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Cha-An, CURRY-YA, Donguri, Greenwich Grill, Go Go Curry, Hakata Tonton, Hakubai / Kitano Hotel, Hasaki, Hatsuhana, High-Collar, Kubo-chan Ramen, Kyotofu, Marumi, Megu Midtown, Misoya, Ootoya, Rai Rai Ken, Restaurant Nippon, Robataya, Ronin, Sakagura, Sake Bar Decibel, Shimizu, Soba Koh, Soba-ya, Sunrise Mart, Sushi Ann, Sushi Azabu, Sushiden Madison Ave., Sushiden 6th Ave., Tori Shin and Wasan.  Additional details on the menu items and pricing will be posted to japanweek.us.

Also new this year, diners will be encouraged to post photos to Japan Week's Facebook page of the dishes and drinks they enjoy at the participating restaurants, along with a short essay of why they'd like to visit Japan.  The winning essay's writer will win a round-trip ticket to Japan!

Please get out there and get your umami on!

Destinations: The Salon - Mardi Gras at the DL Feb 12th

Loungerati's choice destination for your krewe's Mardi Gras fun is The Salon's swank event at the DL Lounge. Here is the skinny from nightlife impresario Patrick Soluri: " The Big Easy comes to the Big Apple on Fat Tuesday, courtesy of THE SALON! Our creole carnival features a spectacular lineup of more than 25 performers (incl. 3 bands & 3 DJs), for your lounging 'n dancing pleasure...plus we've got Mardi Gras beads for every dame & dapper gent. For those craving more Nawlins, bring an appetite 'cause we've got the crawfish cookin! THE DL's fab chef is preparing a special Cajun 3 course Prix-fixe menu at the restaurant on the first floor... we'll keep your toes tappin to live music during dinner, then head upstairs for two more floors of live music, dancing, lounging and imbibing from some of the top talent in town." featuring Live Music by GRAND STREET STOMPERS traditional dixieland & New Orleans-style jazz septet on the 3rd floor with GORDON AU and vocalist TAMAR KORN. on the 2rd floor "Red Room" with BABY SODA JAZZ BAND New Orleans jazz & 30's era swing - developed by hobos, perfected by science! Featuring EMILY ASHER and BRIA SKONBERG. on the 1st floor for dinner, lounging and dancing JESSY CAROLINA AND THE HOT MESS featuring "Blind Boy" Paxton DANDY WELLINGTON Master of Ceremonies and Emcee Extraordinaire burlesque by LEGS MALONE GAL FRIDAY Specialty Craft Cocktails menu featuring New Orleans classics from: CLAUDIA SCHUMACHER (from Lucy's Lounge & LUPEC) -------------------------- THE DL - 95 Delancey Street (Corner of Delancey St & Ludlow St) New York, NY F/J/M/Z subway to Delancey/Essex or B/D to Grand St. 21+ (ID required) for 2nd & 3rd Floor Under 21 allowed on 1st floor only -------------------------- **TICKETS** GENERAL ADMISSION $25 - Advance Ticket (online) $30 - At the Door (cash only) General Admission tickets include dance lesson, Mardi Gras beads and access to all floors. -------------------------- for more info and tickets, please visit:http://www.thesalon.biz/

Lounge Essentials: The Daily "Classic" Shave Routine

One of our classic shave aficionados, The Stone Man, believes that the daily task that men perform can actually be enjoyable when done right. The idea is to use the classic shaving style of our forefathers and the right equipment (double sided safety razor, badger hair brush), creams, and balms. There are no Mach3s or other moisturized strips on his blades - he is no hurry!

These are his recommended steps which can easily become your routine:

• Shower, this will open up the pores
• Then lather up your face and neck with a "pure" badger hair shave brush. We recommend Proraso, Proraso Omega, and Eshu shaving creams.
• Using a double sided safety razor, make 2.5 passes - once With The Grain (WTG), once Across The Grain (XTG) and once - on the neck only, Against the Grain (ATG) but in the opposite direction (remember the neck can be very sensitive, so take it slow
• Rinse off with ice cold water - this serves to close the pores and stop bleeding from any "weepers" (small nicks) that may occur
• Apply a toner - Stone prefers Thayers Lavender 
• Apply an after shave balm - Stone's current go to is Eshu, but whatever you choose remember to keep it alcohol free!  The idea is to moisturize and heal here - not touting one's machismo by applying crap with alcohol in it to a freshly shaved face!

This whole process should take about 15 minutes, although the slower you go,

the more satisfying the experience.  

Resources:

Check out Classic Shaving.com and EMS Place for an excellent variety of shaving equipment - razors, blades, shave cream, after shave balm, etc.  

For shaving info (why, how to, etc.) Badger and Blade and Loungerati's Classic Shave series are terrific resources.

-  The Stone Man