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New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
NYC is in its quirky bar era — here are 5 to check out with turtle races, horror-fueled dolls, ‘Moby-Dick' chic and more
New York's nightlife always has flair — but these five boozy, buzzy haunts are taking cool, quirky and strange to new heights. From a Bedford-Stuy dive where turtles race for glory to a Melville-inspired whaling tavern in Fidi where the cocktails are as literary as they are lethal — the city's bar scene is definitely in its weird-girl era. Whether you're craving horror-movie kitsch with a side of vegan haggis or want to shake your own martini under a ceiling full of hot air balloons, these watering holes are pouring personality by the pint. Advertisement Here are five oddball bars shaking up the scene and proving that in NYC, normal's just not on tap. Where every hour is the witching hour 14 Flying Fox Tavern is a horror-lover's fever dream — part haunted house, part comfort-food joint, and fully decked out in blood-red lights, creepy memorabilia and gothic flair. Stefano Giovannini Ridgewood Queen's Flying Fox Tavern is part haunted house, part comfort-food haven — and 100% unforgettable. Advertisement Decked out in gothic chandeliers, spooky memorabilia, and enough red lighting to make Dracula blush, this horror-themed hideaway at 6-78 Woodward Ave. has been a fever dream for fright fans since it opened in 2022. In 2020, Bradbury noticed there weren't any horror-themed bars left in NYC, leaving a void for classic fright lovers. 14 Owner Tracy Bradbury, an avid horror film fan, encourages guests to 'be strange, not a stranger.' Stefano Giovannini 'We wanted to provide a space for us creatures of the night to nerd out over movies and music but also get really good food and drinks,' co-owner Tracy Bradbury, who runs the spot alongside co-owner and chef Chad Johnson, told The Post. Advertisement Guests enter under a neon bat sign and can sit on coffin-shaped picnic tables in the backyard. Inside, it's all gothic chandeliers, eerie ephemera, and monster movie memorabilia. 14 'We wanted to add to Ridgewood's inclusivity and charm and welcome families, neighborhood newcomers as well as a broader audience with an interest in the classic horror and goth genres,' Bradbury told The Post. Stefano Giovannini But it's not all screams and skeletons — the menu leans surprisingly wholesome, with vegan stuffed French toast, an 8-oz Pat LaFrieda burger on a brioche bun, inventive plant-based haggis, and famous vampire-themed cocktails like their 'Christopher Lee' spicy margarita, which is a tribute to the actor's smoldering 1958 take on Dracula. 'We can't tell you how many times we've overheard couples on a first date go through all of the cocktails and discuss their favorite vampires,' Bradbury added. Where cocktails meet the high seas — and Herman Melville Advertisement 14 Quick Eternity, the storm-battered new Seaport bar, is making a splash. It's turning heads while it does. Stefano Giovannini This storm-weathered watering hole in the Seaport is making serious waves. Quick Eternity opened in May at 22 Peck Slip. It channels the salty spirit of an old Cape Cod tavern — minus the whale guts. With cocktails named after 'Moby-Dick' quotes, tin alehorns in place of glasses, and windows that look like they've seen a century of sea spray, the vibe is pure literary seafaring fantasy. Owner Bryan Schneider told The Post that the inspiration for the bar came to him when he got to the third chapter of Herman Melville's 1851 classic called 'The Spouter Inn,' which describes 'an eccentric whaling tavern.' 14 With 'Moby-Dick' cocktails, tin alehorns instead of glasses, and sea-sprayed windows straight out of a sailor's fever dream, this spot's got full-blown nautical nonsense down to a science. Stefano Giovannini To bring the vision to life, he enlisted NYC artist Azikiwe Mohammed for the custom mural and brought in his wife, Rachel — a bookseller — to curate the upstairs book nook stocked with vintage Moby-Dick editions. 'It seems at least once a night we have customers visiting us from all over because of their love of 'Moby-Dick' and Herman Melville,' Schneider told us. 'So far, we've gotten a great response from the neighborhood.' Advertisement 14 The 'Howling Infinite' cocktail packs a punch — a fiery mix of Tequila Ocho, Pimm's, Ancho Reyes chili liqueur and lime, served over crushed ice with a Thai chili kicker. Stefano Giovannini Add in crab fritters, smoked mussels pintxos, and glossy wooden floors slick enough to make Captain Ahab slip — and you've got a perfect pre-dinner port of call or a killer after-work haunt. Top menu picks include the namesake 'Quick Eternity' cocktail — made with Navy-strength gin, passionfruit, Lillet, lemon and absinthe — and the Lobster Pups: skewered tails dipped in corn-dog batter and fried crisp. Where groundbreaking journalism, globetrotting glam and gin collide 14 Miss Nellie's is shaking up Hell's Kitchen — a globe-trotting, plot-twisting speakeasy where every cocktail tells a story. Stefano Giovannini Advertisement Step into Miss Nellie's — a Hell's Kitchen's whimsical new hideaway where cocktails come with a twist — and a plotline. Inspired by globetrotting investigative reporter Nellie Bly, this theatrical bar located at 321 W 44th St. is part speakeasy, part tribute to trailblazing women. 'Miss Nellie's isn't just a bar — it's a narrative,' said general manager Marisa Braat of the establishment that opened in October 2024. 14 Inspired by fearless reporter Nellie Bly, this theatrical hideaway is part bar, part ode to badass women. Stefano Giovannini Advertisement 'Every element, from the décor to the cocktails, is part of a story that celebrates adventure, reinvention, and bold femininity.' The Theater District crowd is here for it. 'Locals have embraced us as a cozy escape in the heart of Hell's Kitchen, and visitors often tell us they feel like they've stumbled upon a hidden gem,' Braat told The Post. Expect suitcase-shaken martinis, smoked Manhattans served in hollowed-out books, and fun cocktails like the 'Fogg & Fancies' that Broadway cast members enjoy sipping on post-show. 14 Bartender Francesco Dionese serves up the bar's beloved Fogg & Fancies cocktail, composed of teeling whiskey, averna amaro, sweet vermouth, maraschino and smoked applewood. Stefano Giovannini Advertisement 'On the food side, our spicy chicken bites and smoked French dip have developed something of a cult following. Guests love that we take comfort food classics and elevate them with unexpected twists,' Braat added. It's a place where dinner is a performance, martinis are participatory, and every drink has a backstory. Nellie would've approved. Where the drinks are cold, the turtles are bold — and the races are real 14 On the first Sunday of every month, the claws come out as crowd faves Ja Rule and Vita — two shell-on speed demons — race for glory in a packed turtle throwdown. @turtlesallthewaydownbk/Instagram At this Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, dive, slow and steady wins the crowd. Turtles All the Way Down opened in 2017 and is a dimly lit neighborhood bar with a not-so-secret weapon: monthly turtle races. On the first Sunday of each month, beloved turtles named Ja Rule and Vita — two hard-shelled speedsters — face off in a fan-favorite showdown that packs the place at 236 Malcolm X Blvd. 'We came up with the idea of the turtle races as a fun thing for us,' Brendan Rodriguez, the bar's events and media manager, bartender and DJ, told The Post. 'We had a turtle tank built in and just did it once a month for the regulars and bar staff — like our little bar pets. Over time, they blew up on social media.' Ja Rule and Vita are cared for by professionals, with regular tank cleanings, flash photography prohibited and one trusted handler who gently preps them for race day. Frozen coffee cocktails, cold beers and a lineup of cheap, simple eats (think cheese sandwiches and hot dogs) keep the party going between races. 14 Since 2017, Turtles All the Way Down has kept locals buzzing with strong drinks, low lights, and its secret sauce: high-stakes turtle races that draw a crowd. @turtlesallthewaydownbk/Instagram Race days come with $10–11 beer-and-shot specials, DJ sets from DJ Lean (Rodriguez), and rotating food pop-ups serving everything from wings to tamales — all air-fried and food-handler certified. There's shuffleboard in the back, DJs on Wednesdays and Fridays and a crowd that comes as much for the vibe as for the reptilian drama. Where every hour is golden hour on deck 14 Anchored just steps from the Hudson Yards Vessel, Sailor's Choice lets you sip cocktails dockside-style — with server Jesse Sullivan serving drinks beside a vintage Hinckley boat parked in the middle of the breezy, nautical-themed patio. Stefano Giovannini Sailor's Choice is the kind of port you won't mind getting shipwrecked in. Located at 350 11th Ave, steps away from the Hudson Yards Vessel, you can sip beer while admiring a vintage Hinckley boat in the center of the outdoor layout, while enjoying the nautical theme. The centerpiece of Sailor's Choice — owned by brothers Miles and Alex Pincus — is a tricked-out retro fishing boat turned full-blown bar, docked on a sun-drenched deck dotted with lemon-striped umbrellas. 'I've been into boats since I was 10 years old,' Alex Pincus told The Post, so it's only fitting that he and his brother opened this sea-inspired bar. 14 The crown jewel of Sailor's Choice — the latest splash from brothers Miles and Alex Pincus — is a souped-up vintage fishing boat turned boozy centerpiece, anchored on a sunny deck lined with lemon-striped umbrellas. Stefano Giovannini It's part gentleman's yacht, part Maine lobster boat — and all vibes. The duo pitched a 'boat bar on land' as a playful counterpoint to Hudson Yards' slick surroundings — and surprisingly, they bit. An additional bar, nestled inside a revamped Airstream trailer, just a few feet away from the Hinckley vessel, serves up spritzes and laid-back cocktails perfect for sipping in the sun. This dockside spot dishes out lobster BLTs, crisp fish and chips, oysters by the dozen and more. 'The lobster BLT is a real go-to. Everybody loves that,' Alex Pincus told The Post. 14 Just steps from the Hinckley vessel, a tricked-out Airstream trailer moonlights as a second bar, slinging spritzes and easy-drinking cocktails made for sunny-day lounging. Stefano Giovannini Expect coastal faves with polish, and a crab dip Pincus calls a 'sleeper hit.' Drinks, on the other hand, lean breezy and boozy, from martinis to watermelon-vodka spritzes.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Independence Benefits Helps Federal Employees Navigate Retirement Amid VSIP Offers, TSP Volatility, and FEGLI Cost Increases
FLORENCE, S.C., July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As early retirement incentives and agency budget shifts continue across federal departments in 2025, Independence Benefits has announced expanded support for federal employees evaluating complex benefit decisions. The Alabama-based firm provides personalized retirement consultations for employees covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), with sessions focused on helping workers assess their options related to pensions, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) withdrawals, Social Security timing, and life insurance coverage. "This year has created real uncertainty for many federal workers," said Christopher Lee, Founder and Retirement Planner at Independence Benefits. "From VERA and VSIP offers to adverse market conditions, employees are facing decisions they've never had to make before. We help them evaluate their options with clarity." The firm has seen a noticeable increase in demand from agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Social Security Administration (SSA), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), and Department of Defense (DoD), where many employees are exploring early-out offers or preparing for standard retirement. Each consultation includes an individualized review of: FERS pension estimates and survivor benefit elections TSP withdrawal and rollover strategies tailored to income needs Social Security filing timelines and long-term impact FEGLI comparisons and alternative insurance options "We break it down step-by-step, without pressure," Lee added. "The goal is clarity, not sales." Unlike group-sponsored programs, Independence Benefits operates independently and is not affiliated with any specific insurance carrier or government agency. This allows for education-first support designed to help federal employees navigate benefit choices with confidence. The firm has also released a library of planning tools and content for those nearing their Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) or evaluating early-out programs such as VSIP and VERA. To learn more or request a retirement consultation, users can visit: About Independence Benefits Independence Benefits is an independent retirement services firm focused on the needs of federal employees. Based in Florence, Alabama, the firm offers one-on-one consultations that include pension reviews, insurance comparisons, TSP withdrawal strategies, and timeline planning. All services are delivered by licensed professionals and structured to provide educational, neutral guidance. Contact Founder & Retirement PlannerChristopher LeeIndependence Benefits LLCchris@ Photo: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Independence Benefits
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Independence Benefits Helps Federal Employees Navigate Retirement Amid VSIP Offers, TSP Volatility, and FEGLI Cost Increases
Florence, United States, July 10th, 2025, FinanceWire As early retirement incentives and agency budget shifts continue across federal departments in 2025, Independence Benefits has announced expanded support for federal employees evaluating complex benefit decisions. The Alabama-based firm provides personalized retirement consultations for employees covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), with sessions focused on helping workers assess their options related to pensions, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) withdrawals, Social Security timing, and life insurance coverage. 'This year has created real uncertainty for many federal workers,' said Christopher Lee, Founder and Retirement Planner at Independence Benefits. 'From VERA and VSIP offers to adverse market conditions, employees are facing decisions they've never had to make before. We help them evaluate their options with clarity.' The firm has seen a noticeable increase in demand from agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Social Security Administration (SSA), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), and Department of Defense (DoD), where many employees are exploring early-out offers or preparing for standard retirement. Each consultation includes an individualized review of: FERS pension estimates and survivor benefit elections TSP withdrawal and rollover strategies tailored to income needs Social Security filing timelines and long-term impact FEGLI comparisons and alternative insurance options 'We break it down step-by-step, without pressure,' Lee added. 'The goal is clarity, not sales.' Unlike group-sponsored programs, Independence Benefits operates independently and is not affiliated with any specific insurance carrier or government agency. This allows for education-first support designed to help federal employees navigate benefit choices with confidence. The firm has also released a library of planning tools and content for those nearing their Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) or evaluating early-out programs such as VSIP and VERA. To learn more or request a retirement consultation, users can visit: About Independence Benefits Independence Benefits is an independent retirement services firm focused on the needs of federal employees. Based in Florence, Alabama, the firm offers one-on-one consultations that include pension reviews, insurance comparisons, TSP withdrawal strategies, and timeline planning. All services are delivered by licensed professionals and structured to provide educational, neutral guidance. Contact Christopher Lee
Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Today's top TV and streaming choices: The Buddhists of Beara, The Wicker Man and Ballard
Supercruising: Life at Sea Channel 4, 8pm The crew sailing from North Africa to Europe are determined to make sure their passengers have as much fun as possible, so organise an eye-catching parade they hope will get everyone in a party mood. The Breaking Wave: The Buddhists of Beara RTÉ One, 10.10pm Fascinating insight into Dzogchen Beara, a Tibetan Buddhist retreat centre near Allihies in west Cork. It reveals how a group of misfits from around the world came together to create a traditional temple, which opened last year. The Wicker Man BBC Four, 9.05pm Classic horror movie focusing on a devout police sergeant who's sent to a remote island to search for a missing girl. The pagan locals are reluctant to speak to him, perhaps because the local laird has something shocking he's about to unveil. Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland and Ingrid Pitt head the cast. Shifting Gears Disney+, streaming now Kat Dennings and Tim Allen have joined forces to star in this new sitcom set in a classic car workshop... Now that's what I call a production meeting. Allen plays the widowed patriarch who has his daughter (Dennings) and her child move back in with him. Ballard Netflix, streaming now Inspired by Michael Connelly's bestselling novels, Detective Renée Ballard (Maggie Q) returns to lead LAPD's cold-case unit, facing decades-old crimes, a potential police conspiracy, and — the purview of all onscreen cops — a luggage load of personal demons. Ziam Netflix, streaming now Yet more South East Asian zombie fodder. For something less brutal and more bloom-fuelled, other foreign language fare includes French offering Under a Dark Sun. Alternatively, there's Gringo Hunters from Mexico. Trainwreck: The Real Project X Netflix, streaming now It's the weekly episodic that keeps on giving. This time, the good people at Trainwreck recount the fallout from a Facebook event posted by a Dutch teen. In 2012, she posted an invite for her 16th birthday, which accidentally went viral, drawing thousands to the small town of Haren. Inspired by Project X, the unplanned crowd overwhelms the area, and with no preparations in place, things spiral into chaos. Quarterback Netflix, streaming now Season 2 of the hit series offers rare access to three NFL quarterbacks — Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and returning favourite Kirk Cousins — as they navigate the highs and lows of the 2024/25 season, on and off the field. All The Sharks Netflix, streaming now If you're wondering, 'Why all the shark-related viewing of late?' Well, the simple answer is that we're currently in the run-up to July 14, which is Shark Awareness Day. This summer also happens to be the 50th anniversary of Jaws, so one should expect an inordinate level of shark-themed programming over the coming weeks. A lot of it, however, does seem somewhat at odds with itself. For instance, last week saw the release of Shark Whisperer, which featured a herd of conservationists expressing concern about people, like Instagrammer Ocean Ramsey, interfering with endangered sharks. Now, Netflix is proffering an almost oxymoronic competition show, where conservationists infiltrate the oceans to tick all the sharks off their assigned apex predator bingo cards. If you favour more traditional shark viewing — ie. without a nigh-dystopic gameshow element — Sharks Up Close With Bertie Gregory has landed on Disney+. Heads of State Prime Video, streaming now Have you ever considered a parallel universe where Idris Elba is the UK prime minister and John Cena is the US president? Well, now's your chance! For context, their 'special relationship' is under threat on account of their huge egos, but — once confronted with a common adversary — the pair must learn to rely on each other.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'This is a cultural gem for the city': Multi-million-pound museum refurb now complete
A NEW gallery documenting the history of film, television, and media opens its doors in the heart of Bradford today, and has been described as a 'cultural gem' for the city. It is hoped it will cement the National Science and Media Museum's reputation as a national attraction. The Sound and Vision Gallery includes priceless artefacts, including the camera that captured the first moving image, the fangs worn by Christopher Lee in the Hammer Dracula movies, and Stooky Bill – the dummy head that was the subject of the first television broadcast. The permanent gallery is the latest part of the museum's £6.8m refurbishment, and opens on the same day as another major city centre regeneration project, Darley Street Market. Both venues will be celebrating the openings with family events this weekend that are expected to attract huge crowds. Sound and Vision gives a spotlight to many artefacts that have spent years in the museum's storage, including a model dinosaur created by stop motion maestro Ray Harryhausen and a replica of the original xenomorph costume used in the first Alien film. Gallery project manager Yvonne Carmichael with a model of the Xenomorph costume used in Alien (Image: T&A) There is also an area dedicated to the Cottingley Fairies photos, which includes one of the original cameras used to take what became one of the most well-known hoaxes in history and which originated in a village just a few miles from the museum. The Cottingley Fairies section of the exhibition (Image: National Science and Media Museum) The refurbishment works have been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. As well as more than 500 historic artefacts, there are a number of interactive areas and newly-created installations. The Telegraph & Argus was given a tour of the gallery ahead of today's launch. At the centre of Sound and Vision is 'Circus', a new art installation by Nayan Kulkarni that uses a series of cameras and screens to create a digital hall of mirrors. Nayan Kulkarni in the Circus installation (Image: T&A) People standing inside the installation can see their image distorted in a variety of different ways. Other installations allow visitors to be part of a Cottingley Fairy photo and become a sound engineer for a concert at Bradford's famous 1 in 12 Club. The first IMAX camera has been returned to the museum, and the hulking piece of equipment is one of the first exhibits in the gallery, reflecting the importance of IMAX to the history of the museum. In 1983, the museum opened the first IMAX cinema in the UK, with this camera used to project 'To Fly', a documentary about the history of flight. Louis Le Prince's single lens cine camera – which captured the world's first moving film footage in Leeds (Image: National Science and Media Museum) Other cameras in the exhibition include Louis Le Prince's single-lens cine camera, which captured the world's first moving film footage in Leeds, and the camera used by Herbert Ponting to document Captain Scott's Antarctic Expedition in 1910. John Logie Baird's ground-breaking experimental 'television apparatus' from 1926, which includes the Stooky Bill head that was the first image to be broadcast, is another hugely significant artefact in the gallery. Stooky Bill (Image: T&A) The fast-moving pace of technology means that some of the exhibits, such as an iPod and a television digibox, are not that far removed from the lives of many of the people who will visit the exhibition. Other exhibits include a Dalek from Doctor Who, a mixing desk used at festivals, and Shaun the Sheep models from Aardman Animation. Yvonne Carmichael, project manager for Sound and Vision, said the refurbishment works have seen many areas of the museum opened up, creating much more space. Exterminate! A Dalek in the Sound and Vision gallery (Image: National Science and Media Museum) She said: 'A lot of the items in this gallery were buried away or not very visible before, we've brought a lot out, things like the Cottingley Fairies artefacts. 'We hope this is something that people will travel to see.' Toni Booth, curator of film, said: 'One of the main focuses was to showcase more of the museum's collection, and the gallery was partly led by the objects we had. 'We've increased the number of objects we have on display three-fold compared to before. The vast majority of them were in our museum collection already, and it is great we've got so much space now. 'We've got around three-and-a-half million objects in our collection, so it is always a struggle to decide what to display.' Jo Quinton-Tulloch, director of the National Science and Media Museum, said: 'The galleries have been a true labour of love and collaboration, and they showcase our incredible collections in new and innovative ways. 'Our collections and the rich narratives they tell touch upon all our lives, from the first photographic negative and film footage to the advent of radio and television, and the power of sound technologies to bring us together. 'We have worked closely with a huge range of people to develop the galleries, ensuring these spaces work for everyone and that our visitors feel represented in the stories we tell.' Helen Featherstone, director, England, north at The National Lottery Heritage Fund added: 'The Sound and Vision galleries at the National Science and Media Museum are a cultural gem for the city, telling the story behind the photographic, film and sound technologies that have played such a big role in our lives.'
