Begin your evening at Coppelia, a 24 hour Latin American diner straddling the border of Chelsea and the West Village, where even at prime time on a Friday evening, you will not have a problem finding a seat.

The term "diner" is actually a bit of a misnomer; most lowly luncheonettes won't serve cocktails atop an elegant marble bar. The menu also belies the premise that, "a diner is a restaurant without an opinion." This is a diner for dinner and not just deseyuno.

While technically a Cuban restaurant, Coppelia serves food from the Caribbean and South America. Stand out dishes include pernil, doused in garlicky mojo and topped with crispy chicharron, and arroz con pollo, dressed up with egg and sambal. The cocktails are surprisingly well constructed, considering this is, after all, a diner. The Hemingway Royal, with ginger infused dark rum, is delicious and only $11. Desserts are solid and a choice of 3 can be had for $20 ($8 for one).

After dinner, head three blocks up 7th Avenue to The Rubin Museum of Art, which celebrates the art and culture of the "Himalayas, India and neighboring regions." On Friday evenings from 6:00-10:00 PM, the museum is free to the public and showcases a live DJ and cocktail bar in its ground floor cafe-cum-lounge.

A word to the wise: avoid the $14 cocktails. Sure, one shouldn't expect Gladwellian mastery behind the bar when cocktail service is relegated solely to Friday evenings (only beer and wine are served during regular museum hours). However, ingredients like tamarind syrup and orange bitters just seem silly when an extra shot of Maker's is haphazardly added after the bartender realizes the concoction from the shaker doesn't quite fill the glass. Skip this nonsense and stick with beer or booze served simply on the rocks. A glass of Bulleit Rye will run you the same $14 and, while still expensive, it will not suck. Beer by the bottle costs $8-9.

Drink in hand, ditch the crowded and the decidedly douchey bar scene and descend to the theater one floor down, where you can enjoy your beverage while watching a classic movie in a cabaret setting. Every Friday evening, The Rubin Museum presents a film that examines themes featured in an exhibition upstairs. The current film series focuses on the "role of masks" in cinema and showcases a diverse selection of domestic and international films ranging from Dumbo to Blue Velvet.

Essential Info:

-Coppelia is located at 207 West 14th Street, Manhattan. The Rubin Museum of Art is located at 150 West 17th Street, Manhattan.

-Total Cost: About $70 per person for dinner, drinks and dessert at Coppelia + movie ticket and drink at The Rubin Museum. Tax, tip and movie fees included. While the entrees at Coppelia are the way to go, the sandwiches are tasty and are all under $10. Bottles of beer are $6 and most bottles of wine are under $40.

-Order your movie tickets in advance via the museum website. Pick up tickets at will-call.

-The bar at the museum closes at 10:00 and movies begin at 9:30. Many of the museum galleries are open, so you can check them out before the screening, though drinks must be finished before entering.

-Every screening is introduced (briefly) by a guest speaker.