Best of New York: Trivia Nights

What is more fun than having a drink with friends? Having a drink with friends while showing off your smarts, of course. Luckily, many of New York’s bars have their own trivia nights each week, where players can grab a beer, form a team, and test their wits with a series of questions from pop culture to politics. Plus, winners win prizes from bar tabs to cash. Where will you play?

Crash Mansion

Although it only comes to NYC every other week, this traveling trivia night is worth the wait. Dubbed “The Next Big Quiz Thing,” it’s famous to New Yorkers who like to brag about their brainpower. The questions here are tough—ridiculously tough. Why? The prize is a cool $200. But whether you’re daring to enter the ring as a competitor or would prefer to watch the battle from the sidelines, you’ll be more entertained here than at any other trivia night in the city … and you’ll probably learn something too.
199 Bowery, Manhattan; visit bigquizthing.com for dates and times

Crocodile Lounge

Trivia at the Crocodile Lounge is a relaxed, straightforward affair. It’s a free four rounds of questions focusing on current events, with some pop culture thrown in. The hosts offer free shots between rounds to those who are quick enough to answer some bonus questions. Unlike some more competitive games in town, trivia night here is a laid-back night out with friends, with the added chance to show off your smarts. The best part? A free pizza comes with each drink, so you can stay for dinner.
235 E 14th St, Manhattan; Wednesdays at 9 pm

Rocky Sullivan’s

Only locals and die-hard trivia fans make it out to this bar in far-away Red Hook, but for those willing to make the journey out to Brooklyn’s docks, they’ll get one of the best trivia nights in the five boroughs. The game is free, and the organizers are known to bring in some unorthodox clues for their “show and tell” round, from license plates to album covers.

31 Van Dyck St, Brooklyn; Thursdays at 8:30 pm

Pete’s Candy Store

This hipster hangout and music space offers free trivia on Wednesday nights, catering to an artsy and indie crowd. The questions, although varied, often revolve around music and the arts, so get your friends from art school and tackle the regulars who come here every week for some trivia challenges and some cheap beers at happy hour (which ends at 7).

709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn; Wednesdays at 7:30 pm

Rope

Want a serious prize? You got it. Instead of the typical bar tab, Rope offers its trivia champions cold hard cash. The $2 contribution from each player at the bar adds up to an impressive grand prize, so expect some serious challengers here. And unlike many trivia nights, which have a different theme every round, Rope’s trivia nights have one overall theme for the whole evening. Study up in advance, and school the competition.

415 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn; Tuesdays at 8:30 pm

What Broadway Musical Inspired the Empire State's Illumination?

And the answer is ...

d) Jersey Boys

On November 5th and 6th, you might have seen the Empire State Building light up in red, yellow and white, the prominent colors on the Jersey Boys posters. The musical, one of the most popular currently on the Great White Way, has been playing there for five years. In 2008, the Empire State Building celebrated another musical's 5-year anniversary, by doing itself up all in green as a tribute to Wicked.

New York Trivia Tuesday

The Empire State Building started lighting up in vivid color at night in 1964, when colored floodlights were added to the facade. The iconic building's colors, which change nightly, celebrate a mix of holidays, commemorations, promotions, and quirky anniversaries. This month, the tower lit up in red, white and yellow to celebrate the anniversary of this Broadway musical's run:

a) The Lion King
b) Wicked
c) Mamma Mia
d) Jersey Boys

Check back on Thursday for the answer to this week's trivia question!

Best Hot Chocolate in NYC

Immortalized in romantic comedies and NYC guidebooks, Serendipity III is known internationally for its "frozen hot chocolate." But when you want to warm up, where do you get your fix? Check out these five favorites for a cup of cocoa on these cold New York days.

City Bakery

Any die-hard hot chocolate lover in NYC will point you toward City Bakery, a place so famous for its hot chocolate that the bakery dedicates each day in the month of February to a different flavor of the toasty drink. All year round, you can try the iconic original: a rich, decadent dark chocolate. Order a cup with one of their house-made marshmallows, or just get a $2 shot-sized portion; it’s more than enough to fill you up!

3 W 18th St, Manhattan; 212-366-1414; thecitybakery.com


Jacques Torres

The famous owner of this self-named New York chain is nicknamed “Mr. Chocolate,” and for good reason! His chocolate emporiums have some of the tastiest creations in New York, from classic chocolate chip cookies to creative ice cream sandwiches. Hot chocolate fans will delight in Torres’ piping-hot specialty: the Wicked Hot Chocolate. With dark chocolate and a dose of chili powder, it packs an extra helping of heat in your hot cocoa.

Various locations; see mrchocolate.com

Vosges Haut-Chocolat

Like the name suggests, this is the chic NYC spot for a hot chocolate fix. The three gourmet flavors offer something for everyone’s chocolate tastes: a spicy dark chocolate with chiles, a classic dark chocolate with vanilla bean, and a unique white hot chocolate, infused with lavender and lemon. Pair your selection with one of the specialty truffles and you’ll have a whole chocolate meal.

1100 Madison Ave, Manhattan; 212-717-2929; vosgeschocolate.com
132 Spring St; 212-625-2929; vosgeschocolate.com


The Chocolate Room

Park Slope’s ode to chocolate, the Chocolate Room is a cute café that offers every concoction you could wish for, from cakes to custards. Of course, hot chocolate makes a starring appearance on the menu in many different forms. Their classic hot cocoa, lighter than many of New York’s competitors, benefits from a helping of gooey marshmallow. On warmer days, you can still enjoy it, either frozen (à la Serendipity) or as the base of an ice cream float.

86 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn; 718-783-2900, thechocolateroombrooklyn.com

Otto

Although, unlike the other locations featured here, Otto is a full-service restaurant, you can stop by the bar to sample one of their lesser-known but much-loved creations: gianduja calda. The drink gets its name from a specialty Italian chocolate (“gianduja”) that contains hazelnut paste. Pastry chef Meredith Kurtzman makes her own by seeping hazelnut grounds in milk, then mixing it with liquid chocolate. The result is a deliciously creamy concoction with a hazelnut twist that will have you wanting to lick the cup clean.

1 5th Ave, Manhattan; 212-995-9559; ottopizzeria.com

Which President Didn't Start as New York Governor?

And the answer is ...

b) Millard Fillmore

Although Fillmore was born in New York, he was the only one of four US presidents from the state that didn't become as governor first (Martin Van Buren, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Roosevelt, the other three, all served as governor). Grover Cleveland, although he was New York governor, was from New Jersey.

Another bit of trivia: Virginia is the state that produced the most presidents, with seven, including George Washington.

New York Trivia Tuesday: Election Edition!

In honor of today's election, our weekly trivia question concerns a hotly-contested race for New Yorkers: the office of governor. The state of New York has had 51 governors in its long history, a number of whom later became president (and many of whom did not). Which US president was NOT formerly a governor of New York?

a) Martin Van Buren
b) Millard Fillmore
c) Grover Cleveland
d) Theodore Roosevelt

Check back on Thursday for the answer to this week's trivia question!

Best French Fries in NYC

What is more delicious--and more addicting--than the perfect French fry? But with so many soggy, limp, burnt or tasteless fries out there, the search for the perfect potato can prove difficult. Luckily, we have our five favorite French fries in NYC, with something for every budget and taste. From thin and crispy to light and fluffy, these win the fries prize.

Want a burger to go with your fries? Check out our list of best burgers in NYC!

Pommes Frites

Only in NYC would you have a restaurant solely devoted to the art of the fry. But stop by this hole-in-the-wall storefront in the East Village and you’ll see why the shop continues to thrive, despite having only one dish on the menu. These are technically Belgian-style frites, served in a paper cone, cut thickly and double-fried. The variety is in the dipping sauces: Pommes Frites serves over 25, from plain ketchup to wasabi mayo.

Price: $4.50, $1 each for additional sauces 123 Second Ave, Manhattan; (212) 674-1234
Balthazar

For the classic French fry experience, head to Keith McNally’s famed bistro Balthazar. The fries are the ideal width, cut evenly with enough crispy golden shell on the outside and plenty of light and fluffy potato on the inside. They’re served with mayonnaise and Dijon mustard, which French foodies like to pair together for the perfect bite. Pair it with one of their famous steaks and you’ll be transported to Paris.

Price: $8.50 80 Spring St, Manhattan; (212) 965-1785

Rare Bar

One of the beauties of the French fry is the many shapes it takes: shoestring, waffle, curly, classic. Can’t decide? Come to Rare Bar, where the fry tasting basket offers fries in all forms. Not only do they vary the style of fry, the folks at Rare Bar also include new types of potatoes, from the often-ignored sweet potato to the classic russet. Enjoy them with unusual dipping sauce pairings, including honey maple and Mexican chili ketchup.
Price: $10 Fashion 26 Hotel, 152 West 26th St, Manhattan; (212) 807-7273 Affinia Shelburne Hotel; 303 Lexington Ave, Manhattan; (212) 481-1999

Five Guys

It may be a chain, but Five Guys consistently produces top-notch French fries at a level that outshines most fancy NYC restaurants, and at a price that should make them blush. The potatoes come from a farm in Idaho, and unlike most fast food joints, Five Guys leaves the skins for a more rustic, less processed feel; they’re served in a paper bag, after all. A bit softer than the other fries on this list, you can order yours salted or “Cajun style” with a bit of heat.

Price: $3.19 Various locations; see fiveguys.com for details

The Harrison

Perhaps the most raved-about New York fry of them all, the Harrison’s potatoes are a dieter’s nightmare—and a fry-lover’s dream. Thin and crispy, with a center of creamy potato, they get their delicious flavor and crackly texture from the duck fat they’re finished with. Served with a hearty portion of vinegar mayo, these are tangy, crispy, and the perfect addition to any meal (or sometimes, the whole meal itself).
Price:$9 355 Greenwich St # 1, Manhattan; (212) 274-9310