Piano Bars

I%26#39;ve been looking at the suggestions regarding piano bars, but have a couple of questions that aren%26#39;t answered on the websites for ';Don%26#39;t Tell Mama';, The Duplex and Rose%26#39;s Turn.... How does this work exactly? What%26#39;s the difference between the cabaret and the piano bar? They list who%26#39;s appearing in the piano bar, so is it an actual performance that you need to be there at the beginning of or do you drop in any time.

Piano Bars

The cabaret is a set show and is generally upstairs, in the back or some other area from the piano bar. The cabaret does have a definite start time and you need to be there in advance of the start time to be seated.

For the piano bar, you can drop in any time. Ofcourse use common sense and courtesy. If you arrive and they%26#39;re in the middle of a song, generally you wait until it%26#39;s finished to sit. Same for leaving, try to do it inbetween sets or at the end of a song.

Piano Bars

HI! I am leaving in 3 short days, and Mom and I had decided on Dannys Skylight Room for Sunday night, but I just called and the number is disconnected!!!!

I tried City Search, and I am so confused...

Birdland has cuban jazz and I know Mom would hate that...

Can anyone suggest something in the 30s to 50s, from Lexington to W 8th that has live music and has great music (a piano bar would work) where you can chat, have a drink or a bite and enjoy the atmosphere (We are doing the Campbell Apartment on Saturday night) and 50%26#39;s era gals would not blush from the entertainment?

Thanks so much.

Lisa

well,a bit off track,but I think the Algonquin is so lovely;usually has wonderful chanteuse/piano..just the history of the place(';round table';,dorothy parker,etc..)oozes from the place..headliners are usually posted when you look up Algonquin hotel..

Lisa, I noticed that Danny%26#39;s has closed. Don%26#39;t Tell Mama is across the street.

Hi Whiz:

I know my mom will hate don%26#39;t tell mama cause of the dragsters...all of the reviews except the Oak Room (which is wwwwaaaaay above what we planned for $$) are horrid...any ideas?

Lisa

Dragsters? What dragsters? Don%26#39;t Tell Mama may attract some gay men (as do many of the most fun piano bars) but they%26#39;re not in drag and you%26#39;ll find just as many straights as gays. On the same block, the Firebird rest. (beautiful) often has live music in the bar.

You might look at the Carnegie Club (owned by the same folks who own the Campbell Apartments) which has live music nightly. I also think the Blue Bar in the Algonquin has a piano player on most nights, but can%26#39;t find confirmation of this online.

We went to Don%26#39;t Tell Mama in December when we were celebrating my 40th birthday. We could only hold out until 11:00 because we were all just pooped from the day. I had a great time while we were there. The wait staff also gets up to sing. Our barmaid, cannot remember her name had a lovely voice. We didn%26#39;t go into the cabaret - we were in the piano bar. I didn%26#39;t see any dragsters. My dad was the one who told me about DTM - he had been there a few weeks before with a big group and stayed until they closed! He had a blast! Make sure that you ask Mark the bartender to mix you his special Marktini!

You%26#39;re going to love this: Every Monday night at 8:45PM, Woody Allen plays with a New Orleans Jazz Band at Cafe Carlyle on East 76th Street. There is a $90 music charge. Reservations: 212-744-1600. What%26#39;s more NYC than Woody Allen?!

We haven%26#39;t got any piano bars exactly where I live so know little about it but sounds interesting and wondered do you have to book at Don%26#39;t tell Mama.

Also what sort of music is there, can you have a meal there etc? Any more tips would be apprecaiated?

There are 2 areas of Don%26#39;t Tell Mama--the piano bar and the cabaret upstairs. You don%26#39;t/can%26#39;t book the piano bar. They serve food but you won%26#39;t want to eat there. The music is popular/show tunes. For the cabaret, you can book ahead/buy tix in advance or show up and there%26#39;s usually room.

DTM is on %26#39;restaurant row'; with one eating place after another. Across the street is Joe Allen%26#39;s for basic burgers, salads etc. (you need a reservation since it%26#39;s popular). There%26#39;s also House of Brews which I%26#39;ve never tried. Orso, Lattanzi, Barbetta and Becco are popular Italians on the street.