Often compared to The Smiths, The Isles have been creating original music in New York since 2004. After producing and recording their first album, Perfumed Lands, they were signed to the indie label Melodic in Manchester, England. The record was well received and The Isles were written up in Magnet, NME, The Guardian, and All Music. While The Guardian noted the strong British influence, the publication wrote, “Strangely, The Isles are from New York. Stranger still, this album works.” The group went on to make two music videos which were seen on MTV Europe. But after touring overseas in Europe and hitting the festival circuit at SXSW and CMJ, the band has proven you can indeed go home again. They’re currently back in the New York groove at work on their follow-up album, tentatively titled Under the Cover of Paradise. When not playing shows, you’ll find The Isles kickin’ back in their Long Island City pad, affectionately known as “Action Jackson.” CiNYC Style Decoder Hitha went for a ride through a few Queens zips with these local rockers.

Check out “Justine,” a brand spankin’ new track from The Isles!

Justine

www.theislesnyc.com

Listen to more Vocal Code right here.

Who are some of New York’s best local bands?

Post a comment and give us some lip about the city’s music scene.

If you want to be an Allstar behind the bar, you gotta start at Allstar Bartender’s Training. Great bartending begins with great teachers, and owner/founder Gregg Lewis has been in the hospitality industry for nearly three decades. His academy is the largest training center for bartending in New York, with locations in both Kew Gardens, Queens and Suffolk County, Long Island. Once you’ve completed the curriculum Allstar also offers job placement assistance at restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and bars throughout the U.S. As Lewis likes to put it, why “barspend” when you can bartend? Thousands of students from all backgrounds and all ages have learned the art of the pour inside the classrooms, which are set up as “mocktail” lounges right down to the shot glasses and jukeboxes. The program also offers a wine seminar and a Flair Program where the more advanced can learn how to throw a bottle and charm a crowd just like Tom Cruise.

80-02 Kew Gardens Rd., 11415
www.allstarbartending.com

To see some mixologists in action, check out www.coolinyourcode.com/mixology.

What’s your favorite cocktail?

Post a comment below and let us know what you’re drinking.

Music recipes from the Big Apple are served up daily at The Deli Magazine. This blog is solely dedicated to local bands and artists living in NYC. Up and comers you haven’t heard of yet, as well as popular break out bands get the star treatment from the only deli to which you can subscribe! Reviews of bands, lists of concert dates, and a 24 hour music channel keep the news fresh, along with info about recording, promoting and performing in the Delicious Audio Blog and Listings section. This site is for fans and performers alike – so turn your computer up and dig into what The Deli is cooking!

We spoke with Yael Greenberg, The Deli Magazine’s Magnificent PR Girl, to hear what sounds good in the Big Apple.

Tell us about your blog: what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started? The Deli started in 2004 as a magazine exclusively focused on emerging and underground music made in NYC. A few months later thedelimagazine.com was born. Since then we expanded to SF, LA, Nashville and for some reason Burlington, VT. We have daily updated blogs in separate web pages that deal with all these cities’ scenes, and printed magazines in NYC and LA.

Here are the links!
NYC – www.thedelimagazine.com
LA – www.thedelimagazine.com/la
Nashville – www.thedelimagazine.com/nashville
SF – www.thedelimagazine.com/sf
Burlington (VT) – www.thedelimagazine.com/burlington

What brought you to New York?
My brother and the will to find opportunities in the entertainment industry as well as living a life of adventures and randomness in NY.

What do you love about living in New York?
That time is not a real issue in a sense of age, season, month. It goes by here so quickly that I barely feel it. I love that everybody is either a model, actor, musician, artist or all of the above.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Not being from NY, knowing where to go on your subway in order to get off exactly at the right spot at the platform in your station.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
I’m surprised that New York is a city to party in but usually the streets are empty kinda early. Also, it’s weird that everybody here communicates through each other blogs instead of meeting.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
I haven’t left NY since I arrived but I guess I’ll miss McCarren Park.

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
Work for a music magazine or know someone that does to get free tickets to concerts. If you need to work on your laptop and not sit in a coffee place then go to the closest Apple store and sit in the lecture area with the free wi-fi for as long as you like.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
All flea markets and the Williamsburg Bridge.

Best neighborhood bar?
The Gutter – tons of good beers and bowling!!!

Best late night joint?
Beatrice but only because of the people I go with otherwise it’s another see and be seen place.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
Art exhibition in Harlem called HomeBase.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Not going to any but Sweet Aater is a not fancy great restaurant in W’burg.

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex ?
The subway

Best live entertainment venue?
The Box – don’t bring your kids.

Take a bite out of the Deli Magazine at www.thedelimagazine.com.

There’s more to be heard on this website too. Listen up at coolinyourcode.com/category/segments/vocal_code/

Where do check out new music?
Post a comment below and give up some lip about the best sounding zips.

In New York City, the stomach rules. Day or night, you can find culinary delights from every corner of the world and in every price range. Thankfully, the NYC Food Guy can help you savor every bite. Lawrence is a native New Yorker whose goal is to let people know where to find delicious and affordable food throughout the city. His Code Words column does just that with reviews, tips and tricks that will keep you sated.

NYC Food Guy Creation: The 24-Hour Homemade Chipwich

So after a late dinner in SoHo last night, my lovely date and I were craving something sweet to top the meal off. Houston’s was closed so no brownie sundae. Banana Pudding to go from Blue Smoke? Also closed. This is when New Yorkers should praise the lord for 24-hour bodegas. Every bodega has cookies and every bodega has ice cream and in NYC Food Guy’s estimation, you can never go wrong combining the two.

$7.95. Yes, $7.95 for all of this deliciousness. And thanks to bodegas, say it with me now “Bo-De-Ga”, you can have this at every hour of the day. The beauty of it all is any cookie or ice cream will do. Want to get really crazy? Get an ice cream bar and break it up. Could you imagine Toasted Almond cookie sandwiches?

Here’s what it took to make this happen and here’s the simple steps that even the most under-the-influence-individual can’t mess up:

1. If the cookies are of the crunchy variety like above, microwave the cookies for around :45 seconds. If they’re all ready soft like Entenman’s then :15 – :20 seconds should do.

2. Let the ice cream sit out for a few minutes so it gets malleable. If the ice cream’s too frozen to scoop, your cookies will lose their heat as you battle with the ice cream.

3. Turn one cookie on its top and scoop the ice cream onto it. Close the sandwich. Eat & Enjoy.

I’m pumped to see what kind of cookie creations you all come up with. Send submissions to lawrence@nycfoodguy.com and I’ll definitely post it on the site. Thanks in advance.

For more of NYC Food Guy’s delicious reviews click here.

Like this entry? Check out more from our Code Words contributors here.

How do you satisfy a late night sweet tooth? Post a comment below!

After World War II, Woodside, Queens was a regular chip off the ole’ Blarney Stone, with Irish stores, restaurants, pubs and people lining the Roosevelt Avenue strip and its surrounding neighborhoods. Mayor Bloomberg’s goal of assisting and preserving New York’s small businesses has resulted in a recent influx of diversity to 11377. Local hotspots like Donovan’s and Saints and Sinners keep ‘em coming, but this code has also opened its doors to Filipino, Korean, Chinese, and Columbian storefronts & communities. This charming area still has the luck o’ the Irish, but modern day Woodside is a melting pot of culture that offers something for everyone. CiNYC host Shirley takes a stroll with Rob Walsh, the Commissioner of Small Business Services, to learn what gives this code it’s Local Flavor.

Donovan’s Pub
57-24 Roosevelt Avenue, 11377

Sean Og’s Tavern
60-02 Woodside Avenue, 11377

Ottomanelli & Sons
61-05 Woodside Avenue, 11377

Saints and Sinners
59-21 Roosevelt Avenue, 11377
www.saintsandsinnerspub.com

Discover more of what New York is doing for small businesses all over the city at www.nyc.gov/sbs.
For more of what’s cool in Queen’s codes, go to coolinyourcode.com/tag/queens.

What’s your favorite spot in Woodside?

Post a comment and tell us what’s hip in this zip!

Stacey Smith is a twenty-something, not quite New Yorker. She fancies herself to be, though, in that she lives well out of her means in an East Village share. Moving here two years ago to search for life, love and a house in the Hamptons, she’s realizing that the New York minute really only applies to take-out. While waiting, Stacey blogs, makes ads, and shops for vintage shirts she can wear as dresses.

Tell us about your blog: what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?
Public Display of Infection is a compilation of stolen intellectual property. I love Gawker, Jezebel, Contagious, New York Magazine, so I use those blogs as a beat report for what’s going on in the city. What are people talking about? Who’s playing tonight? What did Lindsay do this time? It’s sort of like re-reporting on New York’s social, political, and pop culture affairs where I get to make jokes and push my opinions on others. I’m very self indulgent like that.

What brought you to New York?
I had a lay over two years ago and stayed.

What do you love about living in New York?
All the possibilities.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Complaining about neighborhood gentrification.

What surprises you about New York?
It sleeps.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
The bread. New York has the best Italian bread, bagels, pizza dough…but you can’t make good bread without good water. New York has really good tap water. So I guess I’d miss the water.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
The Double Decker Sightseeing tours. I really like pointing, waving and sitting down.

Best neighborhood bar?
Any bar I can request a song off the bartender’s iPod. Cut to next question…

Best late night joint?
Lil Frankies on 1st and 1st. My friends and I made friends with the bartender one night. Two margherita pizzas and three vodka sodas later he was our after hours DJ. I didn’t know I loved Michael McDonald so much.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
I went on a date with a photographer last week.

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Freeman’s. It’s schmancy but not fancy.

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
Phoenix Bar on 12th and 2nd. Lots of shirtless unavailable men.

Best live entertainment venue?
14th Street subway stop, pretty awesome guy playing the bass. My friends and I call him “Note.” Cause he only plays one note. Either that, or when Bad Guy books studio time.

Sample more of Stacey’s witticisms at
http://publicdisplayofinfection.blogspot.com

To see who else is hanging out Around the Blog, visit www.coolinyourcode.com/category/segments/around_the_blog

What brought YOU to New York? Post a comment below and let us know!

Wouldn’t it be cool if you had a friend who always knew what to order at that new French place, which movies are worth the 12 bucks, or what’s happening on any given night of the week? Well, the neighborbee blog wants to be that friend. Founder Anthony Lobosco gathered an intrepid group of “drones” to help you make the most of the five-borough hive we all call home. Contributors can help find a hot new band to check out, tell fans how to get their sports on without going to a game, even recommend the city’s best flea markets. With friends like these, you’ll be busy as a bee.

Tell us about your blog: what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started?

neighborbeeblog is affiliated with neighborbee.com, which is an internet startup whose purpose is to bring every part of your neighborhood online, from your apartment building to your local bakery (neighborbee is currently in an invite-only beta, and will be launched shortly).

neighborbeeblog was started to highlight all the great things going on in new york city, whether it’s a new boutique or a book signing. We have (thus far) 16 columnists who cover comedy, music, events, fashion, dating, manhattan, film, sports, art, brooklyn, books, food, theater, nightlife, kids & family, and real estate.

What do you love about living in New York?
I love the fact that there is always something going on, always something new to do. - Doug, Sports

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Understanding the weekend service changes for the subway, which seem to be out of control lately!
- Amanda, Events

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
They’re generally a well-mannered bunch. -Afroblanco, Music

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
I miss feeling like a member of the masses — you know, being able to walk out at any time of night, even if it’s 4am, and see other people. Even though those people are sometimes creepy, it’s nice to see that they’re there. - Kat, Books

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
Work from home. - Angela, Fashion

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
Riding the Staten Island Ferry. -Nick, Nightlife/Photography

Best neighborhood bar?
Professor Thom’s (East Village) - Chris, Manhattan

Best late night joint?
I love a late night run to Crif Dogs, even though on most visits I’m not even eating anything. You’re pretty much guaranteed to bump into a fun mix of characters here as other places begin to shut down.
– Lara, Food

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Park Avenue Winter/Spring/Summer/Autumn. So amazingly delicious, and the fact that the menu and decor changes with the season gives you a reason to go back four times a year. Plus, if you do, the waitstaff totally remember you. -Adam, Comedy

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
Through friends or a social activity/group, particularly kickball. All of my friends who play have dated at least one other person from the league. It may seem incestuous, but you really can’t argue with the results. -Kate, Managing Editor

Best live entertainment venue?
The subway, those breakdancing kids are so cute! Also I love the comedians on the A when you come home on a Sat or Sun after midnight, they’re perfect for hangovers. - Stephanie, Kids & Family

www.neighborbeeblog.com

How do you spend your free time?

Post a comment below and give us some buzz.

Making mixing look easy is the goal at Allstar Bartenders Training in 11415. The center was founded in 1989 with the simple mission to “make better bartenders.” Thousands have learned Mixology 101 in Allstar’s classrooms, all of which are set up like actual cocktail lounges – with full bars, ice machines, jukeboxes, and everything else a student of bartending could need. Mixologist Michael Massino brings more than 20 years of experience to his students. Nicknamed “Mix Master Mike,” he describes the art of bartending as being a conductor. “You take several different pieces of produce, juices, and purees,” he explains, “mix them in with different beverages and liquor, and you get a fantastic result.” This love of the process has taken Massino all the way to the farm where he grows organic produce that he provides to restaurants, and, of course, incorporates into his cocktails. His creations include the “Basilico,” which infuses Bianco vermouth and vodka and is garnished with a basil leaf. The recipe for this tasty concoction can be found in his new book, The New Martinis… Made Easy. “I love infusing different liquors and am constantly searching for new fruit to experiment with, such as Mangosteen,” says Massino. With a school on Long Island as well as in Kew Gardens, the hope is that the academy’s success will ultimately translate into a consistency in the bartending world. As Massino explains, “I wrote the book in an attempt to get as many bartenders using the same recipes for the same drinks as possible.” Here’s to a future with uniformly delicious mixed drinks.

80-02 Kew Gardens Road, 11415
www.allstarbartending.com
www.organicstodayfarms.com

The following drink recipes are created by mixologist Michael Massino using Tava sparkling beverage flavors:

The Brazilian Samba
1.5 oz of Cachaca
1 oz Mangosteen juice
1 oz Pineapple juice
Top with Tava Brazilian Samba Sparkling Beverage

Mediterranean Fiesta
Pour the following into a shaker glass filled with ice:
2 oz Vodka
1 oz Hypnotic
1 oz Raspberry Liqueur
Top with Tava Mediterranean Fiesta Sparkling Beverage

The Tahitian Tamure
Pour the following into a shaker glass filled with ice:
3 oz Rum infused with vanilla bean and orange zest
1 oz of Pineapple juice
Shake well and pour into a rocks glass
Top with 2 oz of Tava Tahitian Tamure Sparkling Beverage
Garnish with a flamed orange peel

Do you have a signature drink? Post a comment below and Send us a recipe!

If you think you have to be part of a couple to get the most out of life, think again. Our Code Word contributor, Sherri Langburt, is full of expert advice on life beyond dating. Whether it’s travel ideas, beauty tips, financial guidance, or recipes for entertaining, the founder of lifestyle blog Single Edition has something to say. Log on to find new ways to enjoy your freedom and get the most out of single life!

Tired of Paying Rent, but Cannot Qualify to Purchase?
Singles Tackle Home Ownership in Pairs

Tired of paying rent but don’t have enough cash or are too frightened to purchase your own place? Rather than let your single-income status keep you from buying the house of your dreams, consider the option of purchasing a permanent place with a friend. These days an increasing amount of unattached singles are pooling assets so that they can qualify for down payment and financing requirements when they can not afford do it on their own.

This new breed of home owner, referred to as “mingles” in some circles, consists of the widowed, the separated, the divorced and the never married. And they are catching the interest of real estate mavens nationwide. Banks and financial institutions are also paying notice to the trend and agreeing to provide a mortgage to two or more friends who have agreed to purchase a property together.

No doubt, housing between friends has benefits, but it is not the sort of commitment that can be taken casually. Before entering this sort of platonic partnership, here are some helpful tips for you to consider, courtesy of Toni Haber, Executive Vice President at Prudential Douglas Elliman:

1. Evaluate the Alliance: Can a neat freak put up with a sloppy Joe? Does the energizer bunny want to shack up with the coach potato? When it comes to day-to-day living, we all have our own quirks, priorities and skill-sets. While this can be positive in some cases, like a divvying up of household chores, it can also lead to irreconcilable differences among housemates. So before you make a joint investment, be sure to seriously weigh the pros and cons of living with your friend.

2. Carefully Communicate Commitments: When it comes to property investments, “going dutch” may not be an option. To avoid surprises and conflicts down the road, Haber stresses that it is important for both parties to have an open discussion about where they stand financially. House options, mortgage rates and contract terms will be contingent on each individual’s credit history, financial health and both short-term and long term obligations, so it is better to get this out in the open from the get-go.

3. Find A Reliable Realtor: A good real estate agent will do more than turn you on to the best places to purchases. “Look around” says Haber, “for someone who has experience dealing with joint tenancy arrangements. Their insights will likely save you legwork time as well as hefty legal fees.”

4. Enlist the Services of an Attorney: Before you can consider signing a contract, there are key items that must be settled in writing. The advice of a lawyer can be helpful in choosing the form of ownership and in drafting a legal document to meet specific requirements. According to Haber, a good lawyer will make sure to document the proportionate amount of each person’s financial interest in the property; division of maintenance costs; who pays the bills and when; methods of dealing with a partner who fails to pay at the required time; how the household will operate and detailed procedures for the equitable dissolution of the partnership.

5. Prepare a Property Agreement: A contract between the parties is vital, says Haber, as is listing each person’s name on the deed and the mortgage papers. The percentage of ownership must be clearly stated in the contract, including details of each person’s share of the down payment and the way in which mortgage payments will be divided. This sets the stage for deciding each one’s share upon sale.

6. Agree to Cohabitation Terms: In the event of dissolution, each individual must be protected. The cohabitation agreement will cover how both parties will part ways to ensure an orderly separation. Haber says one of they key provisions here is to provide each partner with a first option on the other person’s interest in the property. It is also a good idea to include a three month notice period in the event someone has to leave. Procedures may also be outlined for independent appraisal so that both people have an equitable way to establish their interest when the arrangement ends.

7. Invest in Term Life Insurance: Buy a term life insurance policy and name the other partner as beneficiary. This way, the entire mortgage will be paid off by the insurance policy in the event of an unexpected death.

Single in the City?

Post a comment below and tell us what you love about flying solo.

An oasis right in the middle of the concrete jungle can be found and enjoyed in 11355. The Queens Botanical Garden has been providing a sanctuary for city residents since it was built for the 1939 World’s Fair. It offers horticultural classes throughout the season on everything from rose pruning to composting. This museum is not just a haven for roses, herbs and bee hives. It is also a cutting edge symbol of environmentally friendly construction and sustainability.

The prime example of the Garden’s mission is the Green Buildings and Landscape Project which was started in 2001 and is scheduled to be completed in 2015. The cornerstone of the project, the Visitor and Administration Center, received the New York City Green Building Design Competition Award for “excellence in the use of good design principles and the integration of green building technologies.” It draws 17% of its electricity from photovoltaic panels on its roof. It has no conventional furnace or air conditioner. Instead, it uses 55-degree water from an aquifer 300 feet below ground to heat and cool the interior and reduce fossil fuel consumption. The ultimate goal of the project is to highlight the roles of plants in various cultures and promote healthier communities through environmental sustainability.

Want to know about more fun activities Queens has to offer? Check out www.coolinyourcode.com/tag/queens.

What’s your favorite flower in the Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing?
Post a comment below and give us some lip about this zip.