I have a love/hate relationship with Beauty Bar in Bushwick. I love it because it’s two blocks from my apartment, perfect for meeting someone when I don’t have the energy to wander far, and because I like the concept: you sit in genuine bright orange vintage beauty salon chairs (from Marlene’s Beauty Shoppe in Lancaster PA, in case you were wondering) while staring at cute retro stripy walls and ceiling lamps. And you can get a dirty martini and manicure for 10 bucks and cheap drinks ($3 to $5 beers) while listening to a different DJ every night. But I hate it because the sound system is way too loud. I was there last night and it was The Lord of the Rings night – bad for me because I’m not a fan – and as usual the volume was pumped right up and I couldn’t hear the person I was talking to. Beauty Bar opened in May 2009 and with its pretty décor it has potential, and serves as a much-needed bar on the Myrtle Av stretch of Broadway. They just need to turn the music down.

Beauty Bar Brooklyn, 921 Broadway Avenue at Melrose Street, Bushwick. JMZ train to Myrtle Av-Broadway station.