Best remembered as the creator of the classic Madeline books for children, Ludwig Bemelmans once joked he'd like his tombstone to read: "Tell Them It Was Wonderful." Well, wonderful it was, and still is, at Bemelmans Bar. Named in honor of the legendary artist, Bemelmans is a timeless New York watering hole that has drawn socialites, politicians, movie stars and moguls for more than five decades. Restored in 2002 by designer Thierry Despont, the bar maintains its Art Deco legacy with chocolate-brown leather banquettes, nickel-trimmed black glass tabletops, a dramatic black granite bar and a 24-karat gold leaf-covered ceiling. Featuring the only surviving Bemelmans' commission open to the public, the 75-seat bar combines wit and coziness in unique New York style. Long-time Bemelmans bartender Tommy Rowles recalls when a weary Harry S. Truman stopped in and ordered Old Grand-Dad bourbon on the rocks. When Rowles, a dedicated beer drinker, remarked that he could never drink an Old Grand-Dad, President Truman suggested he take a look out the window at the mob of reporters waiting and remarked, "If you had to walk 15 blocks with these guys following you, you'd drink this too."

Once a locus of experimental, envelope-pushing music in Tribeca which showcased styles ranging from rock to jazz to neo-classical to electronica, the Knitting Factory, after being harangued by neighbors, relocated itself unto the more vibrant and welcoming neighborhood of Williamsburg. Now living in the completely remodeled and renovated space that once housed Luna Lounge, the Knitting Factory is back in action as one of the best and most intimate spaces to see a concert in New York, with a capacity crowd of 300 people!

Split level Chelsea dance club from nightlife makers the Butter Group (1Oak). Different atmospheres on each level, with the upstairs booming, high energy dance floor, and the lower level having that downtown lounge feel, more relaxed, which is not to say things don't get a little wild when the energy is right. Crowd is eclectic as is the music which offers no attempt to appeal to lovers of a specific genre. Rather the goal is to bring together different people and scenes to create cross-pollination and a friendly, "it" vibe. Which, given the number of celebs that frequent the place, they may well have achieved.

With 19th century floorboards and booths with saloon-style swinging doors, Black Rabbit takes a cue from the true spirit Prohibition-era bars: I'm here to drink, get out of my way. Upon entering here you feel like kicking back a few shots of whiskey, doffing your fedora to the barkeep, and sauntering off to punch Hemingway in the guts. It's a noble endeavor for a New York speakeasy in the new millennium to cast off the popular artifice of "hiding" the bar, as the Back Room does, say, or as modern speakeasies like PDT do. While the aesthetic is a decidedly American period piece, the menu comes off more like a London pub. Take, for example, the Welsh rarebit, a continental beer fondue. Or, more likely, don't. The menu also includes Black Angus mini-burgers, an Acme smoked trout plate, Bratwurst with German mustard, and other seasonal goodies that are the only anachronisms to be found in the joint.