How long have you been in New York City?

I’ve lived in New York City for seven and a half years now. It will be eight years in July.

And how do you connect to the masses?

Pretty much through my social networks although I think that it’s also important for me to write for the various publications that I write for. As much as I put my work out there to the people that follow me and to the people that are on my Facebook page or the people that read my blog, it’s also important that people get hip to me by reading an article that I wrote maybe for the VillageVoice.com, or maybe an article I wrote for Essence, or an article that I wrote for The Wall Street Journal. A lot of times a person will read something that I wrote, and it’s what I wrote that catches their interest. Then they’re interested in the person that wrote it; that person being me, and they go ahead and look me up and reach out to me via Facebook or Twitter. So I would say that writing for mainstream publications is another way that I stay connected to the masses.

Speaking of your blog; “Until I Get Married,” what is its core audience?

Young men, particularly single men in their twenties. But the audience that I hear the most from is women. I’m very aware that women read the blog and certainly women are the most vocal supporters because even when they disagree with me they still come back; they still read. I actually think that women know it’s written for men and that’s why they like to read it. I really do think it breaks down 50/50, but as far as who I hear from it’s probably like 70/30. 70% I hear from women and 30% of the time I hear from men.

Shifting gears a bit, about what area of nightlife would you say you have the most savvy?

I’m pretty big into live music. I can definitely say that if there’s a show in New York, I’ll know about it. I stay up on those things all the time.

Can we get a playlist from you on your best spots to catch a live show?

Definitely, also to be more specific about my love for live music in the city: I’m a big jazz-head. NYC Winter Jazzfest is this week, and I’m usually hitting a show every week, every two weeks. With jazz clubs it’s more important that you do your research on the artist you’re going to see. I’d much rather tell you who to see rather than where to go see it.

Bowery Ballroom:

I like Bowery Ballroom. It’s a great place to have a party but I’ve seen Ryan Leslie there. I’ve seen J Cole there. Kanye West did one of his secret shows there. I’ve also seen Francis and the Lights there and it’s just a good venue because they have a downstairs lounge that feels a little bit sexier than the main floor.

Music Hall of Williamsburg:

The Music Hall of Williamsburg; that place is great too if you want to get out to Brooklyn and catch a show. I saw Corinne Bailey Rae at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Brooklyn Bowl:

One of my favorite venues without a doubt is also in Brooklyn, and it hurts for me to say this as a Harlemite but I must give them their props. Also in Williamsburg is Brooklyn Bowl; just an excellent, excellent place to catch a show. It gives you so many options. As the name implies it’s a bowling alley; a top of the line bowling alley with huge television screens across the alley, but literally right behind you is a stage with a huge open floor. I’ve been there to see Snoop Dogg, I’ve been there to see Big Boi, most recently I saw the Alabama Shakes there, I went to a Fela Kuti party there. The dance floor is huge and it has never been packed. I don’t say that because there haven’t been a lot of people – there are just so many options. When you walk in to Brooklyn Bowl, there’s a lounge area. Then there’s also a small restaurant area; Blue Ribbon has an outpost there. They have some of the best fried chicken in New York, and just a great menu where you can get a full meal. There’s also another bar area before you go on to the dance floor /main stage area. It’s one of those places that you don’t know why a person is coming; they could be coming for Blue Ribbon, they could be coming for the show… Questlove also has a residency there; he DJs every Thursday night, so that’s an excellent place.

Highline Ballroom:

Going back to Manhattan, Highline Ballroom is always a fun place to catch a show. I’ve caught numerous shows there; XXL showcase, I just saw Robin Thicke there recently, I’ve seen a jazz show there.

Jazz Standard:

As far as jazz venues, I would say that the best place to catch a show; but you’re definitely going to pay for it, is the Jazz Standard. It’s a jazz club that’s located right below Blue Smoke barbecue and it is just a top of the line venue. I’ve been there a lot of times to catch a show and still love going there. Tables are close, the stage isn’t elevated; it’s all on the same level as the crowd and intimate. Some of the old school jazz clubs want to pack you in, or can get stuffy in regards to ambience and trying too hard to make it feel like date night for every single person in there. The Jazz Standard is a happy medium because it’s elegant, classy, but it’s also very down home and warm and inviting. Great place to catch a show and the food is excellent; they serve the full menu at Blue Smoke.

The Jazz Gallery:

One of the more affordable places to catch a jazz show and one of the coolest places is The Jazz Gallery, which is also located downtown. The Jazz Gallery is like watching a show in a living room; it’s a loft with benches and a small stage, but a really cool inviting place to go and check out a show. It’s usually like $10 or $15 bucks.

Harlem Stage:

Further up I like to catch a show any chance I get over at Harlem Stage which is located right next to City College. That’s just a wonderful performance space. It’s always great acoustics and good shows that they bring in there. It feels special and because it’s in Harlem, I have to give it its props.

Zinc Bar:

Zinc Bar also has a jam session hosted by some pretty special young jazz players out there. Specifically a guy named Igmar Thomas who is a trumpet player. They’re really pushing the envelope as far as merging hip hop and jazz, but it’s really jazz based. Igmar is a jazz musician but he grew up on hip hop, so he uses those influences and tries to bring them all together.

Le Poisson Rouge:

Another performance venue I want to mention is Le Poisson Rouge which is down in the West Village too. I’ve been to a couple of jazz shows there and that’s always an excellent place to catch a show.

Let’s take it back to you and your bachelorhood. It’s 6pm on a Thursday evening and you’re having drinks with a date. Where are you?

Coffee Shop:

If I just want to grab a drink and I don’t know the person, or it’s a first date and we’re getting to know each other, I’m probably going to meet them at Coffee Shop in Union Square. And I know that may not seem like the most exciting place for people that are out and about and on the scene, but I don’t want to take a girl to my regular place. Not to say that I have a regular place, but the thing about Coffee Shop is that as many people go there it’s still fairly anonymous. You can go there and it’s unpretentious; even more unpretentious than it used to be. It’s still cool enough, it’s central enough, and you can move from there; go somewhere else if you want. I just met up with a friend of mine for drinks there recently. It’s one of those things where I don’t need it to be too sexy if I’m meeting up with somebody at 6pm. It’s good for after work.

Sip Bar:

If I am uptown I would love to meet a person at Sip which is off of 110th Street on Amsterdam Avenue. Sip is a super small restaurant but has a lot of specialty cocktails. What I will say about Sip is it’s a great place to go more so after hours.

Can you think of any other places where you’d take someone you don’t know too well?

L'Annam Vietnamese :

There’s a cool Vietnamese spot right by Union Square on University Place. I love going there. It’s not too pricey and it’s authentic Vietnamese. It doesn’t feel like you’re going into those overproduced Thai food restaurants where they’re doing the most and it’s still the same typical Thai food. The menu is different. They have an excellent hot and sour soup with pineapple and seafood in it, and it’s not like any kind of hot and sour soup you’re going to get anywhere else. It’s definitely a good deal.

V&T Pizzeria & Restaurant:

If you wanted Italian you would go to V&T which is a Pizzeria and an Italian Restaurant right down the street from Sip.

Artopolis Espresso Café:

There’s also a place that doesn’t serve a full-on dinner menu but it’s great to go for dessert. Artopolis is an excellent dessert place that you can go get a coffee after work.

The Smith Restaurant NYC:

Another good date spot is The Smith Restaurant; great menu. Little bit of a scene but I kind of like to eat at restaurants where there are a lot of people. I don’t like to go to empty restaurants. I feel like somebody’s playing a joke on me.

The Meatball Shop:

The Meatball Shop is always packed, no reservations. They do have a vegetarian meatball for those who don’t eat meat. I love going to the Meatball Shop.

Pulino’s:

Also love going to Pulino’s.

Schiller’s Liquor Bar:

Schiller’s Liquor Bar is a good place to get a drink but they have really good food too.

Ella Lounge:

Another really good place to get a drink is Ella. They stay up. They party all night but if you get in there before 9pm and you want to get a drink that’s a good spot.

Sweet. So where we can let people know to find your work other than your blog?

I’ll be one of the featured bloggers in the February 2012 issue of Essence. They did a feature on relationship bloggers so I’ll be a part of that feature. The following month I’m working on a piece for them in the March 2012 issue. I write most often for The Village Voice “Sound of the City” music blog. I do a lot of live reviews there. You can also check me out for the next probably 2 months or so on The Wall Street Journal pop culture blog “Speakeasy.” I’ll be doing episode recaps of the upcoming season of The Game so I’ll be writing for them every week. I usually blast everything out on my Twitter so I just encourage people to follow me. It’s probably the best way to stay up to date on where my writing is.