'Tis The Season, Part Two

In our continuing story of the Giving Season, let's go back about a year and a half to a great place on the Upper West Side called Prohibition [at 503 Columbus Avenue . NYC 10024 . 212.579.3100].

It was June 2004 and Kamar de los Reyes of One Life to Live sponsored an event to benefit The Gabriel Project. "The Gabriel Project was founded by sixth grade teacher Mark J. Melamed in 1990. The objective of this non-profit organization is to provide life-saving heart surgery to a child from an area where such surgery is not available." De los Reyes has many events to benefit this organization visit the official site to find out more.

There was a mini-concert with Trevor St. John, Ilene Kristen, Kamar, Jay Wilkison and Kathy Brier among others. Of course, there were celebrity bartenders and Soap Opera fans. There are no fans in the world like Soap Opera fans. They are the only fans in the world who can love their shows and actors yet hold them hostage at one and the same time. Yet that event for all intents and purposes was a success. Dan Gauthier, Michael Easton, Bree Williamson, Jessica Morris, and Robin Strasser were there to assuage the intense desires of the ABC Daytime viewers. Some of the actors, most notably Trevor St. John, seemed out of their element and almost frightened. But fortunately it was for a good cause.

The event did serve as an introduction to a very inviting and comfortable locale, i.e. Prohibition, where every night of the week something is going on. When the music isn't live in the early evening, the speakers give forth with recognizable oldies that keep the customers at their tables and at the bar. The bartenders are friendly and accomodating, most notably Chris, Amber, Michelle and Adi Kurtchik, an actress in her own right who is dating a One Life to Live cast member.

In warm weather there is outside seating. The key word is comfort and it seems that the two working owner/partners Rich and Ian do their best to make it so. Last week Thorsten Kaye had his evening repast there and it seemed as if the three of them were very good friends. To turn one's head and see Mr. Kaye appear in a mode that indicates that the cameras do not do him justice only enhanced the experience.

The menu also serves up comfort food, such as fried calamari, chicken fingers, tuna tacos and quesadillas that can be enjoyed at the bar and at tables. There is a full menu that can be perused at their website www.prohibition.net

From the New York Times: "The Music Cooks and the Food Sings: But I already know from my neighborhood that a chef and a belter can peacefully coexist. Prohibition, on Columbus Avenue, has live performances every night but food so consistently fresh that I go there just to eat, before the young crowd throngs the dark room and the bands take the stage. It’s the right menu for a certain mood, when you want little plates with lots of flavor (Portobello napoleons, duck nachos and jazzy pizzas) and not much commitment or cash required."

From New York Magazine: "Prohibition typifies the Upper West Side bar scene. It's spacious and funky but not overly hip. It's popular but rarely packed. The waitstaff is young, beautiful andunpretentious. The cool décor features lamps made out of out of skinny lightbulbs suspended in wine bottles. In the front bar area, live bands perform on a tiny stage: Every night features a different musical act, from groovy funk to jazz. If you'd rather focus on your date (or your martini—try one of the many house-made varieties), head to the back room, where you can also dine on surprisingly good New American cuisine."—Shana Liebman

It's an open, warm, down to earth and welcoming locale in a great neighbourhood. Addiction sets in quickly. It's also an appropriate venue for celebrity events such as Kamar's, and showcases for musicians and even local politicians like Mike Lupinacci.

It's a perfect place to be held hostage.