Sitting at home on a Sunday, as I’m wont to do, I had a sudden, intense craving for a mojito. So I downloaded the recipe from Bacardi’s obnoxious mojito site, bought my mint, limes, club soda and rum, made my “simple syrup” (essentially boiled sugar water) and whipped up a batch. Refreshing!
As I was drinking the first and already considering a second, I got a call from Andie inviting me out for dinner. I met up with her, her cousin Bill, Eric, Katie and other assorted friends and acquaintances at the Riviera Café in the West Village, which was still teeming with folks, cops, barriers and debris from the Pride Day parade. There’s certainly something for everyone on Pride Day and I’ve never seen so many shirtless men that were justified in being shirtless.
After some drinks, we moved up to Merchants Chelsea for some “contemporary American cuisine.” I was feeling neither adventurous nor hungry, so I settled for the Merchants veggie burger, which had Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, herb mayo on an egg bun, served with tortilla chips and salsa on the side. And it was good. I discovered later by coincidence that the same management company that developed Merchants also came up with the dark and loungey Art Bar (52 Eighth Ave.), where I’ve been a few times for drinks.
Merchants Chelsea
- 112 Seventh Ave. (between W. 16th and 17th)
- (212) 832-1551
- Meal 17/52: veggie burger ($8.75).