Break Down: Upstairs Bar

We don't want you to feel like we have left you hanging. So we used our DBTH skills and technological advancements to break down Upstairs. Starting at the bottom right and moving clockwise. Raise your hand if there are any questions.

1. The main entrance to Cafe Bari. You can enjoy their food or use their staircase to try and go Upstairs.
2. Behold! Door #2. A back entrance to Upstairs, or so we are told. Also the entrance to an international product mart.
3. Behind those dark curtains, Upstairs.
4. More curtains.
5. Again, curtains.

You get the point. Call your model and celeb friends, and let them know you are ready to get in on the secret. Or you can tell them DBTH sent you. But if you do, promise to let us know how it goes.

Get Down for the Upstairs, Everybody Get Down

Ooooh secret bar. Oooh so secret. Oooooh Danny A. Oooooh how do we find out more. You want to know more? You want to know more? We'll tell you more! Without further adieu, a very special Little Birdy.

It's actually housed in Cafe Bari, in the upstairs part of the resto. The place turns into a nightclub a few nights/week. We were clued into the fact that it was the right place because there's graffiti in the back hallway with a big "Upstairs" graff. Then you go in the back door to the restaurant. Who we assume was Danny A. was sitting there with some important looking people, looking/acting really pissed, reading the Post, looking at papers, on their blackberries. A couple of times he yelled at the waiters - we're assuming because that's where they think the leak came from.

Yelling at the waiters, nice touch. To add a few more details, the space has been long planned and is permitted. Like LB said, don't expect a 7 day a week celeb-a-thon. Danny A. and Co. only plan to let you upstairs a few nights a week. 7-Up? We dig.

An Evening At: mm

About a month ago, we got word that there was a secret club throwing rotating dance parties every so often in New York. Invitations were given only upon request, and credentials were needed. It sounded intriguing, so we set out to gain admittance. Upon our request, mm sang our praise, saying "have checked your blog. you witty little lobster." And like that, we were in.

Like underground dance parties of yore, invitations and directions came the afternoon of the party. A group was put together and plans were made. The invitation called for midnight until late, so we knew that things wouldn't really get started until the early morning. Sit back, it's going to be a late one.

After having a few drinks to get warmed up, we piled into a cab and went to the secret spot, a no man's land location on the west side. Through a metal door of a nondescript 2 story building. Give our name at the door, DBTH +3, and we are in.

But just where are we? The space looked like a VFW meeting house in a state of disrepair. Wood paneled, industrial carpet, the whole nine. Two bars were set up, and the scene was laid back. 3 rooms were used as lounges, with the fourth being the dance floor. The system was loud, professionally done, and impressive. House music blasted through the speakers, and a euro flavored crowd was getting down.

By 3:00, the place had filled up. Every room was packed, and the scene was most definitely anything goes. German DJ legend Sven Vath had stopped by, and since he was enjoying himself, asked if he could get behind the decks. Of course. So he went home, got his records and took over. And with that, the party went to the next level.

A bit later and we decided it to call it a night. Some stayed, some went on to the next party, but we packed it in. Serious kudos for anyone who can throw a semi regular event like this. Who could do it every week? Surely not us. But every so often, it's a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of chasing the perfect cocktail. Unfortunately, that's all we can tell you. Some things need to be kept secret.