Innovative Italian Cuisine that takes pizza and pasta to the next level.

De-stress from your workday with some tantalizing libations in a fun and festive environment in one of the city's most iconic neighborhoods.

Verlaine - Lower East Side

A neighborhood stalwart since 2001, Verlaine Bar and Lounge celebrates the art of the cocktail as well as the spirit of community. This is a place where new friendships are formed every evening while local long-time friends and neighbors gather to reconnect and make the most out of life. Please believe us when we tell you that the word "celebrate" has an extraordinary meaning at Verlaine. The establishment is named after Paul Verlaine, the renowned and edgy nineteenth-century French poet who made a career out of embracing the unconventional. The space is a true sight to behold with soaring seventeen-foot ceilings and a decor theme that blends Asian influences with a minimalist sensibility. The lighting is at once theatrical yet subdued.

Verlaine also happens to be the home to one of the most famous cocktails in the city, the Hanoi Lychee Martini. According to the bar's website, over 1.5 million Hanoi Lychee Martinis have been sold since opening day in October of 2001. This powerful and tasty elixir definitely has that sought-after X-factor going for it. The ingredients of vodka, lychee and a splash of pineapple juice may be simple, but don't let that fool you. You'll want a second glass, that's for sure.

Happy Hour takes place on Tuesday through Sunday from five until ten pm. Eight-dollar Lychee Martinis are available as are Red and Rose' Sangrias, also coming in at a mere eight bucks. The Rose' Sangria consists of Rose' wine, brandy lychee, cranberry juice and club soda. The Southeast Red Sangria is made with a generous pour of red wine, lychee, organic cane sugar, brandy and orange juice. Specially priced Quick Bites include ten dollar Chicken Dumplings, $9 veggie Dumplings and Teriyaki-seasoned Edamame for just nine dollars.

 If you are any kind of a dedicated foodie, then you're probably already familiar with the wealth of gastropubs and restaurants that Astoria, Queens has to offer. Whatever cuisine you're looking for, no matter from what far-flung corner of the globe it originated, you will find it in this chill, family-oriented neighborhood. No doubt, some of the city's most innovative and trail-blazing young chefs and mixologists live and work right here in Astoria. And, speaking of creativity and setting trends, were you aware of the fact that Astoria has also become quite the creative hub for a growing and vibrant community of dancers, actors and artists? You never know just who you will run into while strolling along Steinway Street, 30th Avenue, Broadway, or Ditmars Blvd. But, rest assured, that the new friend who you make in the neighborhood will be very interesting and well worth getting to know.  It appears as though the creative muse is everywhere one goes.

Over the past year or so, it has been Aplez.com's pleasure to introduce you to a diverse and intriguing array of talented artists and craft-makers. Their paintings, prints, jewelry, ceramic pottery and tableware have enhanced both your individual style as well as the ambiance of your home. It's hard to believe that the Borough of Queens is home to so many creative entrepreneurs. There just seems to be something about the various neighborhoods in Queens that encourages such creativity.

Romantic Indoor and Outdoor dining options in the heart of Soho's trendy Shopping District.

Springtime is all about new beginnings so it's the perfect time to try out some new restaurants and explore different cuisines. Who knows, you just might find your new go-to spot. After a long Winter, there's no better reason to get out of the apartment and discover what your city has to offer. The diverse neighborhood of Soho, with tons of art galleries and shopping options, also has a foodie and restaurant scene that is second to none.

Antique Garage - Soho

This charming, romantic restaurant is so very true to its name. Converted from an old, fairly decrepit auto-body repair shop into a fine dining establishment, back in 2003, the space's ambiance is enhanced by a collection of eye-catching antiques, most of which come from the personal collection of chef and owner Utku Cinel. As you might imagine, Chef Cinel's two passions in life are cooking and searching for antique furniture, accessories, mementos; really anything and everything that makes a unique statement. After all, the chef's menu embraces the diversity of the entire Mediterranean region, so why shouldn't the decor reflect that eclectic vibe?

Trained at the French Culinary Institute, Chef Cinel's delicious menu incorporates a healthy respect for traditional cooking methods along with a zesty flair for innovation. One thing is for sure: you won't be bored eating here at Antique Garage. Starters include the magnificently refreshing Santorini Salad. Earthy and tasty chunks of feta cheese crown a mound of organic chopped lettuce, scallion onions and fresh dill. You'll definitely want to sop up the remains of the lemon and olive oil dressing with a morsel of fresh-baked bread. The Zucchini Spring Roll appetizer gives you perfectly grilled zucchini that is stuffed with goat cheese and bell peppers. The chef and his team also do a wonderful Seafood Ceviche. The octopus, squid, shrimp and scallops are dressed with jalapenos and lime juice. But, there's no overkill going on. Chef Cinel's hand is light and deft to the touch.

Who Doesn't Like Pasta? - Where to find innovative and mouth-watering pasta dishes in Lower Manhattan. The area that encompasses Lower Manhattan is diverse, to say the least. The neighborhoods of Soho, Chelsea, FiDi, Nolita, Greenwich Village and the Lower East Side offer discerning foodies a plethora of captivating and delicious choices. With a truly international rainbow of cuisines available to you, the only real problem is deciding which restaurant to visit ( or order from ) first .One of the oldest and most popular cuisines that you will find here is Italian. The first wave of immigrants from places like Naples and Sicily settled in Lower Manhattan way, way back in the 1890s. They brought with them food such as pizza and pasta. These dishes might have seemed a bit strange to the Irish, German, and Polish immigrants who had arrived on our shores a generation or two earlier, not to mention the descendants of the British colonists. What are these squiggly, long noodles with tomatoes on them, anyway? Well, as it turned out, the naysayers soon became converts, once they tasted just how good a plate of spaghetti and meatballs could be.

Within a couple of decades, give or take, the pizzerias and small cafes on Mulberry Street became a beacon for hungry New Yorkers, bored with the hearty but plain American fare that they were used to eating. Nowadays, you can find excellent pasta all over this great city of ours. But, Lower Manhattan still lays claim to some of the tastiest and most authentic pasta dishes you'll find anywhere. So, without any further hesitation, let's take a quick tour and discover pasta-centric restaurants that you should know about.

The Spaghetti Incident - Lower East Side

Tomato sauce, basil, great pasta and rock n' roll! What more could you want? Well, you'll find all that and a whole lot more within the exposed brick walls of The Spaghetti Incident. The warm hospitality, amazing food, and intimate lighting transport you to a trattoria on the rustic streets of a village in the Italian countryside. Brought to you by chef and owner Giovanni Gentile, this small thirty-five-seat pasta cafe is big on flavor. And where does rock and roll come in, you may well ask? The place is named after 80's rock legends Guns and Roses' iconic album The Spaghetti Incident.

In addition to fabulous pasta dishes, the chef's specialty is various types of Arancini, which are Italian rice balls. The ultimate street food in locales such as Palermo and Naples, Arancini makes for a perfect appetizer. They are surprisingly light on the tummy and several tempting varieties are available including beef ragu and fontina cheese, pesto and gorgonzola as well as artichoke and Parmigiano. All come with a marinara dipping sauce. Come on, you can't say NO to this!

There is nothing like living the New York City life!  People come here from all over America,  not to mention the entire world, to realize their dreams. We've got it all here. 

Who among us hasn't, at one time or another, wondered "Just what does the future hold for me?"

Discover Great Irish Hospitality in the Times Square Neighborhood - Pubs that you simply HAVE to check out!

No matter how hard you may try; you simply cannot resist a piping hot, juicy hamburger.

Treat your sweet tooth to something a little bit different!

If you're a fan of pop-ups and craft markets then you are most likely familiar with the beyond-delicious dessert jars that are the signature creation of baker extraordinaire Yesenia Rodriguez.

Where the Mediterranean Diet meets Instagram-worthy dishes and trend-setting cocktails. Greece is the land that gave us civilization.

The end of the workday is a time for celebration. Before heading home, it's always a good idea to meet up with your significant other or catch up with friends and enjoy a cocktail, glass of wine and some light bites. It's the perfect way to unwind and put the cares of the day in the rearview mirror. And, oh, by the way, Midtown Manhattan's nightlife options are NOT just limited to the work week. You can party on the weekends, too. Here are a few intriguing bar and cocktail lounge options. Gather up those who you care about the most and get ready for some great times together.

A classic cocktail hits the spot just about any time of the day, night, or year, for that matter. Most mixologists even change up their cocktail menu to suit the seasons. But these cool, refreshing elixirs are particularly welcome when the high temps of Summer hit. What could be better than a nice, creative, fruit and herb-forward cocktail as you toast your friends or the love of your life? 

Concerts, yoga, kid's activities, movies under the stars, and more!

Small batch soaps that are better for your skin, brought to you by Mother Nature.

Fun places to explore after work and on the weekend.

Midtown Manhattan may not have the sexy foodie vibe of neighborhoods such as Astoria, Prospect Park, Williamsburg, Chelsea, and Soho; but it doesn't need to make any apologies on that front, either.  When you're hungry or thirsty and searching for something other than a chain restaurant or tourist trap, you will definitely find all kinds of diverse and elevated cuisines in Midtown. You just have to know where to look. And, that's where Aplez.com comes in. So, let's take a look at some of the delicious options that are available for date night, brunch, or an evening out with friends.

The vibrant art of Sandra Jockus!  

Artist Sandra Jockus' intriguing journey in life has literally taken this talented innovator around the world. And that has influenced her art and outlook big time. Sandra spent her early childhood years in her native Lithuania before moving to Berlin where she grew up and attended high school. More than a little adventurous, Sandra decided, upon graduation, to spend one year in Tokyo as a student, as part of a special program. As things turned out, though, Sandra ended up living there for nine years. During Sandra's Japanese sojourn, she attended the Bunka College of Fashion and then worked in Tokyo's fashion industry for several years.

There's art that is beautiful to look at and art that gets you thinking.

Asian Cuisine in Chelsea

Chelsea is one of NYC's trendiest and most interesting neighborhoods. There is so much to do and see including the fabulous Highline, which is something of an elevated park situated on what used to be train tracks and platforms.