The Django, a New Jazz Club In NYC’s TriBeCa, Concocts Creative Cocktails In Its Subterranean Location

The Django

Tucked away in the basement level of The Roxy Hotel in the chic TriBeCa neighborhood, The Django - a new jazz club from scene makers Vito Dieterle and Joseph Schwartz - has been impressing its patrons with unique, craft cocktails, delectable small bits, and nightly live jazz music since its opening on September 2015.

The Django

In line with its subterranean location, The Django exudes a cave-like ambiance that is further accentuated by the dimly lit candles and vaulted ceilings. The artistic brilliance of Dieterle and Schwartz is sprinkled throughout The Django’s interior design, including the hand-picked vintage lighting fixtures from antique markets. While I did not get to try savory items on the menu, the small plates are reminiscent of those you would find at a classic Jazz Age Parisian boîtes, such as Chicken Mushroom Truffle Vol Au Vent (chicken and mushrooms in a white truffle sauce served in a puff pastry shell) and Oysters Herbsaint (fried oysters with creme fraiche, fennel, cucumber, and herbsaint).

The impressive selection of creative cocktails run the gamut from classic to variations, such as Old Fashioned (bourbon, sugar cube, angostura bitters), Martini (gin, dry vermouth), and Margarita (tequila, lime, combier) on the Classics page to the corresponding Variations of these cocktails like Chet Baker (aged rum, sweet vermouth, honey), Rolls Royce (gin, sweet vermouth, dry mouth, benedictine), and Made in Mexico (tequila, lime, cucumber, mint). You can let your creativity run wild by asking one of the skilled bartenders to make you whatever you want.

The highlight of Django, of course, is the nightly live music. You will see and hear musicians trumpeting and singing, while people tap their feet, nod their heads, and dance to the beat of the music. Make Django the next destination for your night out - it won’t disappoint.

Sunday Jazz Brunch With Lea Delaria At Ginny’s Supper Club In Harlem

There are two types of people in this world: those who brunch, and those who brunch in style. I fell into the latter bucket this weekend when I attended Lea DeLaria's Jazz Brunch at Ginny's Supper Club, a sister venue to Marcus Samuelsson's famed restaurant, Red Rooster, in Harlem. Best known for her role as "Big Boo Black" on Netflix's Orange is the New Black, DeLaria doubles as an accomplished jazz musician who recently released her 5th studio album, House of David. The album, inspired by English singer and songwriter David Bowie, features 12 of Bowie's covers with jazz influence. 

"He's the only man I'd blow," DeLaria said to a packed audience at Ginny's Supper Club before performing a track from her innovative new album. Laughter aside, the audience enjoyed DeLaria's bold reexamination of Bowie's songs, such as "Golden Years," "Modern Love," and "Life On Mars" - all of which were reinterpreted with the language of jazz. Additionally, DeLaria brought holiday festivity to the venue with her jazz rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

While the highlight of the event - without a doubt - was DeLaria's outstanding vocal performance, the "brunch" portion of the Jazz Brunch impressed as well. The brunch buffet was a delicious spread of traditional, soulful Southern favorites and comfort food from Red Rooster. Highlights included Mac & Greens (al dante rigatoni pasta with New York cheddar, parmesan, and collard greens with crispy breadcrumbs on top), Fried Yardbird (crispy, juicy, and moist fried chicken battered with flour, buttermilk, and coconut milk), creamy grits, roasted root vegetables, and an assortment of dessert.

If you missed DeLaria's performance this past Sunday...you are in luck! She will return to Ginny's Supper Club for her final performances at 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 10.