Eight is enough to start a private practice for desparate houswives of modern famillies

Looks like we've got some multigenerational viewing pleasure going on at Inc. Lounge last Friday...Betty Buckley and Tuc Watkins of the off Broadway hit White Lies flank Kate Walsh who will be hitting the great white way herself May 19th in Dusk Rings a Bell. Betty of course appeared on the same network some 30+ years ago as the stepmom matriarch on ABC's Eight is Enough, while Tuc currently appears on Desperate Housewives and Kate is all about the drama on the Gray's Anatomy spin off Private Practice. Another ABC alum was in attendance too... Jesse Tyler Ferguson of Modern Family. Who needs TiVo when you have all of your prime time viewing at The Time ?

Inc. Lounge is located on the second level of The Time hotel at 224 West 49th Street [between Broadway and Eigth Avenues] (212) 246-5252

P.S. thank you Just Jared for the photos!

Sugar high on 50th Street

So after an impromptu cocktail gathering at a friend's place on Friday evening, I made my way home through Hell's Kitchen. Since I hadn't walked on 10th Avenue in a while, I found myself taking a slightly different route than the norm... and I'm glad I did. Just off of the northeast corner of 10th Avenue ad 50th street is probably the best incarnation of empty calories I've encountered in quite some time (and I'm not referring to the cocktails we had just enjoyed). Ruby et Violette is home to some of the guiltiest pleasures in the baking world. Since I was not alone (had my better half in tow), I took the R & V motto of "Live life richly. Indulge" quite literally. I think we ordered one of just about every item on their menu of brownies and cookies. The standouts are the blondies and the peanut chocholoate chunk cookies [or the 'perfect' which is their version of the classic chocholate chunk cookie]. Each of these little gems comes peftectly packaged in its own [just short of fussy] celophane jewel case. If there is one thing the proprietors seem to get, it's how to market their calories. Every bit of the experience seems perfectly branded to June Cleaver's exacting specifications... and it seems to be working as the big "O" has already waived her magic wand of endorsement over the operation as touted on their website. I am glad though that the friendly folks over at Ruby et Violette haven't forgotten that a storefront with a bit of friendly human interaction still makes sense when it comes to certain things... like serving up the 'perfect' chocolate chip cookie.
Ruby et Violette [The Indulgent Baker] is located at 457 West 50th Street at 10th Avenue, just a short walk from all four midtown Vikram Chatwal Hotels. You can give them a ring at (718) 728-6250 or visit them online at http://www.rubyetviolette.com/

Exclusive house seats for Promises, Promises on Broadway

Well, it's official... the press-plosion has happened surrounding Broadway's latest revival Promises, Promises. Coming out of previews last weekend, the show has garnered four TONY nominations: Best Actor for Sean Hayes, Best Featured Actress for Katie Finneran, Best Choreography courtesy of Rob Ashford and Jonathan Tunick for Best Orchestration.

Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes must be living on Red Bull to keep up with not only the grueling schedle of the performances, but with the unending appearances on every relevant talk show on the airwaves... and it's no wonder. The production is a top-notch time machine designed to take you back to the era of Mad Men where business and pleasure seemed to collide over martinis.

The popularity of the show has made finding decent seats near impossible without paying a visit to the local theater mafia, but Dream New York has garnered premium house seats for the show packaged with overnight accommodations as Promises, Promises hotel partner. The package offers up a considerable deal with upgraded rooms and a discounted rate and preferred ticket pricing. Dream is also offering up a special package to one lucky winner in a Promises, Promises sweepstakes. Sign up to win tickets for two to the show the weekend of the TONY awards coupled with two nights accommodations at Dream and invitations for two to the official Promises, Promises TONY Awards afterparty hosted by Dream at its famed rooftop lounge AVA where you and a guest will sip cocktails and rub elbows with the stars of the show as they bask in their post awards glory.

Also of note is the 20% discount at Serafina Broadway, RmFifty5 and Ava given to Promises, Promises ticketholders, so keep those stubs handy before or after the show as all of these venues are just a block away from the Broadway Theater.