The bouncer held my wrist between his large thumb and index finger. He carefully placed a large brown outline of a piano across the faint veins of my arm and smiled down at me.
"Enjoy your night ladies."
This was it. It was 6:30 pm on a Thursday and we were branded.
"This is going to be impossible to get off in the morning." said my friend looking down at her equally marked wrist.
My friend Kate and I had been going to Piano's since we were 21. From our senior year at FIT to work happy hours, it had become our lower east side stomping ground the our go-to when we wanted to pre-game somewhere or take the edge off after a long week.
"We Know The DJ'
When you first walk into Piano's you are greeted by a DJ booth playing every genre of music under the same. Our favorite day to go to Piano's is Thursday because between 2013 and 2015 a random guy with cool hair by the name of Avi who told us he was a DJ and spins every Thursday.
We take our seats at the bar made of some sort of sedimentary rock fused together. We order two rose's and ask for a menu.
After glancing over the menu, Kate lets out a loud gasp.
"What the hell is this, what happened to the chicken?"
I peruse the menu once more and realize it's been replaced by mainly vegetarian options. I am disappointed there is no chicken, but happy Piano's has stepped up there game and created more plant -based options for those not down with the meat.
Things to Know About Piano's
Piano's is fun, funky and downright weird depending on the night you go. It is the home to locals and tourists alike and is good place for a date or week wine-down.When we're not sipping rose, our next best drink is the frozen margaritas. When we're feeling fancy or in a celebratory mood, $9 mini bottles of wine usually get the job done. Now, the hangover I have after those bottles of wine are not review worthy.
If you need a change of scenery, make your way upstairs to the second floor. You can find an additional bar and a live band depending on the night we go. The second floor is the perfect place to get away from the crowd until about 10pm and then things really begin to turn-up.
Things to remember at Pianos:
1. Happy Hour is everyday until 8pm or 9pm. I recommend the frozen margarita's. Only 4 bucks!
2. There are two bathrooms and the writing on the wall and grimy mirror make for a great back drop for instagram photos
3. The crowd is a mix of people from all walks of life. I've met a dope DJ, an instagram influencer who takes photos at pop-ups. I've been on dates. I've danced til 4 am. I've lost all my stuff and found it again. I once accidentally stole someone's leather jacket. I've made new friends (including a cool bartender named Paul who has a gallery in his phone dedicated to his dog.
Make sure you visit Piano's in the Lower East Side at: 158 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
Until Next Time,
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