Istanbul Restaurant & Bar

Located in a large basement on a prime stretch of Huai Hai Lu, the Istanbul gets things right food-wise with good kebabs, mezze and Turkish wine. So far they are still only on the buffet stage of culinary development, yet those are proving so popular, especially the cheap lunches. But even the authentic food takes a backseat to way over the top décor of hookah pipes, cushions straight from Liberace's sofa and occasional belly dancers who appear from behind an electric curtain.

Balthazar

80 Spring St between Crosby St and Broadway (212-965-1414)


Subway: C, E, 6 to Spring St. Mon-Thu noon-2am; Fri noon-3am; Sat, Sun 11:30-2am. Average main course: $20. AmEx, MC, V.





Still a magnet for celebutantes and models, Balthazar remains one of the city's most alluring restaurants. Its Parisian brasserie decor (red leather banquettes, patinated mirrors) is irresistible; its roasted meats and raw-bar platters are always dependable. Remember to wear your elbow pads: You'll need them while waiting at the bar.

Unsung Heroes

Swing it, baby! If nightlife with a nu-jazz twist is your thang, this is the biz. Start the evening with live music from Art Konik, followed by nu-jazz spokesperson Cycle and very special guest Unsung Heroes all the way from the UK. And if that doesn't sound tempting enough already, it costs absolutely nothing to get in.

Flamingo East

219 Second Ave between 13th and 14th Sts (212-533-2860)


Subway: L to Third Ave; N, R, 4, 5, 6 to 14th St-Union Sq. Hours vary with event.





Long ago, this club and restaurant was some bon vivant's townhouse. Flamingo East still exudes that kind of swank atmosphere. The upstairs room features DJs spinning everything from loungecore and '80s pop to groovy disco and house (depending on the night), and you'll come across music-industry types as well as fashionistas. Wednesday night's Salon party offers some great drag shows, too. Once a month, the promoters clear the tables and chairs downstairs, set up a DJ booth and turn the restaurant area into a pumping deep-house dance floor.

Perm

The Perm region straddles Europe and Asia in the Urals. Its rich history and culture is on display at two museums in Moscow. On loan from the Perm regional museum are traditional costumes from three centuries of industrial production all on show at the Historical Museum. Meanwhile the 'Treasures of Perm region' focuses on ancient wooden sculptures that the region is famous for at the Tretyakovsky gallery. The show also features famous local painters and other cultural artefacts.