When you’re in the mood for champagne, and only champagne will do, make a bee-line for this spot which specializes in just that. Riddling Widow import sparkling wines from around the world and has the story behind the brands, for extra enjoyment.
Who To Take: a date or someone who wants to sample bubbly from around the globe
[THIS VENUE IS NOW KNOWN AS AIR’S CHAMPAGNE PARLOR] In a room the size of your living room, located below ground, is a dark and tempting little spot for sipping, mingling, and sampling bubbly from around the world. Sommeliers Tanner and Greg will do their best to steer you to the right tastes, while sharing their knowledge of the wines’ subtleties. There’s also a blackboard showing menu highlights with great verbal descriptions of the flavors: lemon zest, or toasted brioche, or plums, or flowers, alert your taste buds to what’s coming.
There’s always interesting people to mingle with, and a meeting of the minds does occur here. (I discovered this spot at a book launch hosted by Glitterati for photographer Bill Hayward, for Chasing Dragons, a compilation of creative portraiture and dance.) It’s a fantastic NYC spot to host a small gathering with character and panache. They offer snacks of cheese and charcuterie along with the sparkling wines.
This space also hosts events as “Champagne Parlor” giving imbibing a more educational bent. A sample event: At the Champagne Cannon, for $85, you can experience champagne featured in the films Wayne’s World, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Rushmore, and Four Rooms accompanied by a vintage playlist. Guest are encouraged to don classy attire and enjoy breakfast items along with the bubbly.
RIDDLING WIDOW, AIR’S CHAMPAGNE PARLOR 127 MacDougal St (btw w3rd/w4th Sts); UPSTAIRS. see Hobnob’s post on Air’s Champagne Parlor to see how this concept has been updated and expanded
