
The Naked Cowboy must have his choice of beverages.Photo: Melissa Hom
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The Naked Cowboy must have his choice of beverages.Photo: Melissa Hom

Photo: Melissa Hom

The tourists are loving this one.
Astoria: The Bohemian Hall beer garden is hiring. [Joey in Astoria]
East Village: An Eater commenter on Indian-owned Singas pizza: "Singas make pizza like my mom would.... If my mom was a Korean who had never tasted pizza before in her life." [Slice]
Hamptons: If you're heading to a beach where you can drink in public this weekend, you might consider ordering Steady Sticks to secure your wine glasses (and the bottle) upright and above the sand. [Restaurant Girl]
And even though it's in Montauk, the Surf Lodge could be the dark-horse hot spot of the summer. [Down by the Hipster]
Meatpacking District: The closing of Florent's has touched even the coldest of hearts: "You know things are getting bad...when the cynical young keyboard-tappers at Gawker think the City is changing too fast and losing too many of its great places." [Lost City]
Soho: Adam Kuban verifies that even though Kenn's Broome Street Bar burger is on a pita, flouting the most basic of hamburger rules, it can be dubbed a burger, and the version with bacon is a pretty good option in the hood. [Hamburger Today]
Times Square: The rechristened China Club, Eden, opens tonight. [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
West Village: Interns (probably) weren't paid to put the "Britney Spears" stickers on the windows of the Life Thyme natural market (and all over the rest of the city) to promote a book that isn't about Britney. [Gothamist]
East Village: There's a chance, however slim, that Ko could start serving lunch, thereby doubling its available weekly covers. [Eater] Bar Carrera has actually expanded and taken over the deli space next door, though for bodega lovers this isn't necessarily a good thing. [Jeremiah's Vanishing New York via Eater]
Lower East Side: If Kampuchea's good reviews don't lure you in, its open windows will now that the weather's warming up. [Gothamist]
Nolita: From a tipster: Josh Hartnett hosted a private party at the Randolph Friday. [Grub Street]
Times Square: Illi chef-owner Philippe Massoud's most memorable meal was at Le Bernardin, in the eighties. [Diner's Journal/NYT]
West Village: The FDNY was poking around Beatrice Inn Friday and stayed for a while. It's starting to sound like New York's Bravest are just trying to bypass the line. [Down by the Hipster]

The defendant, accused of burgercide.Photo courtesy Midtown Lunch
Apparently It’s Not LaFrieda’s, It’s What You Do With It [Midtown Lunch]
Related: City Burger Debuts Today in Midtown
Astoria: The Sparrow and Fatty's serve two very different takes on burgers. If you like a traditional patty, choose the latter though, as the jalapeño turkey burger at Fatty's is relatively "glitzy." [Joey in Astoria]
East Village: A cool-looking spot called Black Iron Burger Shop is opening at 5th Street between Avenues A and B. Start looking forward to grilled burgers; "How can you name a place that and not grill them?" [A Hamburger Today]
Fort Greene: Brooklyn Flea–goers on Sunday may have noticed the waffles being reheated and sold by the Wafels & Dinges stand were from Augustin's Waffles in New Jersey. But don't worry! The Jersey prepackaged waffles were just a temporary fix. Normally, they'll have Belgian prepackaged waffles. [Eater]
Midtown West: The Treats Truck, which does sell homemade goodies, will be in the area Tuesday through Thursday. [Treats Truck] A cool street vendor named Osman sells knishes and chicken shawarma on the western fringes of 42nd Street. [Cakehead]
Times Square: Chef Julian Medina is hosting a free guacamole demo and tasting at Toloache this evening to kick off a weeklong celebration of Cinco de Mayo highlighting Hass avocados in special dishes like avocado-and-jícama ravioli, fried avocado, and avocado cheesecake. [Zagat Buzz]
Union Square: The Union Square Cafe is one of a handful of restaurants that will have peanut-fed Berkshire Pork on the menu for the next two weeks. [Strong Buzz]
Expect a lot of shock-and-awe tactics on the part of the city’s food-writing corps, as calorie info begins to go up in chain restaurants around town. First on the beat is the Voice’s new blogger, Sarah DiGregorio, who stops in at T.G.I. Friday's to find that the ribs there are a horrific 1,900 calories. From there it’s on to Starbucks, where the blended-cream green tea has 650. The other chains DiGregorio stopped by still hadn’t gotten with the program: The Sbarro and McDonald’s locations she visited “hadn’t even heard of the law,” the Olive Garden presumably has its hands full dissuading waitresses from getting naked for Playboy, and as for Bubba Gump, a manager claimed that everybody is “very excited about it.” Something tells us that this excitement isn’t misplaced. There’s a lot of comedy coming our way.
Calorie Counting in Times Square [Fork in the Road/VV]
Chinatown: Continuing the nightlife blast on the Bowery, mixologist Albert Trummer will open an "old Singapore"–style bar called Apotheke this summer, on the Chinatown end at 9 Doyers Street. [NYT]
Times Square: China Club will close this Friday and reopen on Saturday as the club Opera, with a fancy "new look for the dance floor." Because sanding the floor brings in the revelers. [Zagat]
Tribeca: Mai House is serving a $59 tasting menu by cook Spike Mendelsohn "based on the food he cooked on Top Chef." [NYS]
West Village: Centro Vinoteca started doing breakfast today. It includes dishes like baked eggs with sausage-and-bean ragout; breakfast pizzetta with egg, taleggio, and speck; and Nutella-filled crespelle. Free Wi-Fi comes with it. [Grub Street]
Astoria: McLoughlin’s on Broadway at 31st Street is featuring the German lager Spaten through February. [Joey in Astoria]
Chelsea: Morimoto’s $24.07 prix fixe lunch deal is more filling and generous than you might expect. [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
Clinton Hill: If you’re too “bored by the fresh produce, too cold/lazy to trek to Fairway” to cook for yourself in winter like this blogger, here are some of the nabe’s good takeout options, including Luz and Bombay Masala. [Clinton Hill Blog]
Columbus Circle: Porter House New York is looking for a new wine director now that veteran in the biz Beth Von Benz has moved on to new projects. [Grub Street]
Lower East Side: This list of ethnic groceries includes Pueblo Deli at 129-135 Ridge Street where you’ll find “brittle, tasteless cassabe (a yuca bread Dominicans find neither brittle nor tasteless)” but also “‘merengue’ flavored Country Club soda, Induveca salami, Bay Rum Constanza antiseptic, and candles dedicated to saints or those who may become them.” [NYT via Serious Eats]
Times Square: Cafe Edison has replaced its peachy-pink paint job with a nice soft tan color, and it’s “swell.” [Lost City]
Upper East Side: Bardolino at 78th Street and Second Avenue suffered interior and exterior damage caused by a fire last week, but they’ll reopen this weekend. [Upper East Side Informer]

No way you're getting in here.Photo: Courtesy of Spotlight Live
Related: Diddy, Beyonce, Ne-Yo Make 'Spotlight Live' New York's Hot Tuesday-Night Ticket
Deadly Brawl in Times Square [NYDN]
Carrie Jennings of Spotlight Live Doesn't Mind If You're Horrible at Karaoke

Pelaccio: not his fault.Photo courtesy 5 Ninth

Pelaccio: going Korean, via Times SquarePhoto: Patrick McMullan
Related: Zak Pelaccio Taking Over Borough Food and Drink From Jeffrey Chodorow

Somewhere, Mayor McCheese is plotting an assassination.Photo: Melissa Hom
It doesn’t take much to become immortalized in Madame Tussauds these days: The wax museum, where Napoleon Bonaparte twice sat for his likeness, now has the copies of RuPaul, Freddie Krueger, and George Pataki occupying its not-so-hallowed halls. Still, we were taken aback when we heard that the Burger King and his progeny, the Whopper, were about to be enshrined. (Burger King, which came up with the idea, also paid for it.)

Nelson Hernandez will upsell you a white truffle in a flash.Photo: Melissa Hom
Flatiron: Shake Shack is hammering out a year-round plan that may kick off after the New Year and will include heat lamps. (It better!) [Eat for Victory/VV]
Long Island City: Art-O-Mat sells nice neighborhood souvenirs like LIChocolate bars. [LIC-NYC]
Lower East Side: New bar and restaurant Cafe Katja has earned some positive buzz for its touches like house-made pickles and sauerkraut and well-priced Austrian and German wine and beer. [Blog Chelsea]
Midtown West: Five Guys Burger’s and Fries at 43 West 55th Street started serving today, a day ahead of schedule. [Midtown Lunch]
Nolita: Katie Lee Joel’s favorite New York restaurant is Ballato’s on East Houston near Mulberry Street. [Restaurant Girl]
Times Square: Top-notch steakhouse Del Frisco’s still has steak tips and mashed potatoes on its lunch menu for under $10, though the burger’s over $13. [Midtown Lunch]
Upper East Side: Sassy’s Sliders at 1530 Third Avenue near 86th Street is the front-runner in this roundup of the city’s best mini-sandwiches, which also includes Burke’s burgers at Bloomingdale's and the Little Owl’s meatball version. [Gridskipper]
West Village: The new bar replacing Luke & Leroy on Seventh Avenue South is having a soft opening tonight. [Imbible/Citysearch] Voyage has finally given up the ghost, and its prime Perry Street restaurant real estate with it. [Eater]
East Village: David Chang plans on wasting no time turning Momofuku Noodle Bar into Momofuku Ko next month: The place won't close for even much a day but rather will morph overnight into its new identity. [Grub Street]
Related: Keeping Up With the Momofukus
Flatiron: Cookbook editor Judith Jones will lead a discussion and wine tasting at Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit on October 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. [Grub Street]
Fort Greene: On Saturday evenings the gourmet shop L’Epicerie turns into “a $40 per head, BYOB, family-style restaurant offering a casually sophisticated take on the dinner party.” [NYO]
Midtown: All the wines by the glass at Artisanal will be half off after 10 p.m., starting next week. [Grub Street]
Red Hook: The bar-robbing thugs who held up Bait & Tackle bartenders at gunpoint have been apprehended. [Eater]
Times Square: The Palm West will be serving a Purple Martini this season that includes some new liquor that to our knowledge does not include grape juice. [Grub Street]

This Week: 47th-50th Streets
Chelsea: Hill Country, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, and Mara’s Homemade are all taking part in the Hudson River Park Trust’s Blues BBQ on Pier 54 this Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m. [TONY]
East Village: Monday’s Regional Dinner at Mercadito will highlight Mexico’s southern region with a menu featuring banana-leaf-wrapped pork and tres leches cake. [Grub Street]
Flatiron: Hill Country is hiring someone who can cut meat must love high-energy restaurants. [Eat for Victory/VV]
Lower East Side: Wylie Dufresne switched up the bread at wd-50 from black to white sesame-seeded flatbread. [At the Sign of the Pink Pig]
Midtown West: Today is the last day of the Rockefeller Center greenmarket, but a farmer tells us there may be a deal to bring it back for fall. [Grub Street]
Soho: The developer behind the new glass hotel that will overlook 60 Thompson is Brack Capital Real Estate. [Down by the Hipster]
Times Square: Mickey D’s at 46th Street and Broadway is testing out a new Angus third-pounder that’s both thicker and juicier than their basic patty. [A Hamburger Today]
West Village: Jarnac has reopened with a new paint job, but in a week they’ll shut down again for summer vacation. [Eater]
Dumbo/Fulton Ferry: Friday night at Rebar promises “free partial-nude drawing.” [Dumbo NYC]
East Village: Simone on First Avenue is closed, but let’s pray not for good. [Down by the Hipster]
Lower East Side: Rayuela has launched a weekend brunch with arepas and poached eggs, churros and Mayan chocolate, and guanabana mimosas plus live salsa music Sundays. [Grub Street]
Midtown West: Just when you thought he'd had enough of the limelight, Rocco DiSpirito will be the guest chef tomorrow at the Condé Nast cafeteria. [Eater]
Times Square: Ruby Tuesday will sidle up next to Red Lobster but may fare better with New York diners thanks to “fully upholstered chairs.” [Lost City]
Williamsburg: New fro-yo destination /eks/ whips up fresh organic yogurt and incorporates recycling holes into its cartoon-covered walls. [Gridskipper]

Chickpea's secret weapons: new-school falafel (top) and pimped-out hummus (bottom).Photo: Melissa Hom
Hell’s Kitchen: The last day to catch the Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center is tomorrow. [SpecialtyFood.com]
Lower East Side: The East Side Company Bar’s Black Cherry Daiquiri makes for a spot-on summer libation. [Down by the Hipster]
Red Hook: New owners plan to bring Pioneer Bar back, barbecue and all. [Eater]
Soho: Learn about the science of cooking from author Harold McGee in a three-day, $1,200 course starting July 14 at the French Culinary Institute. [Food Section]
Times Square: Celebrate Argentina’s independence from Spain tonight at Havana Central with a wine tasting hosted by Ellisa Cooper. [Grub Street]
Upper East Side: The MTA will change its design for the Second Avenue subway line to avoid closing two Food Emporiums. [Gothamist] And 62nd Street has gained a casual Italian restaurant, Pane e Vino, and a 24-hour eatery called David’s. [New York Social Diary]
Astoria: Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden opens at 3 p.m. today and next Friday for teacher appreciation days. The public is welcome, and the BBQ’s sure to be fired up. [Joey in Astoria]
Brooklyn Heights: A swimming pool in a floating barge off the waterfront will take its maiden voyage July 4 and feature a man-made beach and concession stands. [NYP]
Chelsea: Hotelier André Balazs may have a hand in restoring the Chelsea Hotel. [NYP]
East Village: You need to send a recent photo of yourself if you plan on applying for one of the many positions still open at Tailor. [Eat for Victory/VV]
Flatiron: Former CBS news anchor Bob Schieffer will step in as front man to country band “Honky Tonk Confidential” on June 27 at Hill Country barbecue. Songs he’s written include “Little Lulu and Sister Hot Stuff” and “TV Anchorman.” [NYP]
Lower East Side: A tipster reports that Kossar’s Bialys has unveiled plans to sell hand-cut sushi from kosher vendor Eden Wok. [Grub Street]
Midwood: Dom De Marco’s scarlet letter from the Department of Health has been covered in expressions of support in the wake of DiFara’s most recent close. [Eat for Victory/VV]
Times Square: Brighton Beach’s Ladder Co. 169 brought home victory last night at Gallagher’s Fire Department grilled-steak-off fund-raiser. [NYDN]
East Village: It looks like Hearth may spawn a wine bar. [Eater] A date with Momofuku’s David Chang is only worth $1000 at auction (Jean-Georges Vongerichten brought in $6100) but that’s not too bad for a night at a dive bar. [Snack]
Greenwich Village: NYU is hosting a panel on Building a Food Professional Pedigree from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. this Thursday, with speakers including Michael Lomanaco and Florence Fabricant. [NYU]
Long Island City: The Food Film Festival at Water Taxi Beach kicks off tomorrow. [The Food Section]
Midtown West: Brasserie 8 1/2 will join the dessert-bar fray starting tonight by repackaging its lounge as After 8.5, and serving desserts after 8:30 p.m. — get it? [NYT]
Times Square: Insieme is starting weekday lunch service between noon and 2 p.m. [NYS]
Tribeca: Fresh Pie has been taken over by Ruben’s Empanadas at 149 Church Street. [Grub Street]
Bushwick: Too hard to keep organic? Resident and Blue Hill at Stone Barns alum Kelly Geary will purchase your share of produce from Community Supported Agriculture, turn it into weekly meals (and pies), then deliver it (citywide). Just join by the first week in June. [DailyCandy]
Long Island City: New Greek restaurant Agnanti opens Memorial Day near the Astoria pool. [LICNYC]
Lower East Side: Bowery Whole Foods blamed for beetle infestation in apartments at Avalon Christie Place. [Racked] Rumor mill set a-cranking with speculation that Keith McNally might turn an empty space on Essex and Canal into a Parisian brasserie. [Eater]
Red Hook: The Added Value farm that employs South Brooklyn teenagers will be featured on a PBS series dedicated to sustainable food. [Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn]
Times Square: You know that neon sign for Virgil’s? It’s a bowl of Chinese noodles. [Lost City]
West Village: A photo ode to Blue Ribbon Bakery’s indulgent sandwiches. [Gothamist] Former fab Bungalow 8 bouncer Armin Amiri’s new club, Socialista, will have a little person named Anthony manning the door. [NYP]
Astoria: Freeze Peach at 22-00 29th Street has introduced tea-based ice creams including butterfly sencha and black currant to its repertoire. Plus, a man with a real French-sounding name has installed a new crêperie in the old Lil Bistro 33 space. [Joey in Astoria]
Clinton Hill: Two new Italian restaurants slated to join the nabe, and one might have an outdoor space. [Clinton Hill Blog] Tough luck if you want to taste the source of those great bakery smells near Washington at Atlantic. The Hasidic bakers probably won’t let you in. [Clinton Hill Blog]
Flatiron: Otto investor Jason Denton, after stepping away from Otto, will open an “Otto-like restaurant.” [Eater]
Midtown West: A sly janitor at Penn Station will find a go-to solution if you spill your soda. [East Village Idiot]
Park Slope: Kara Zuaro will be signing her rocker cookbook tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble; live music from Maplewood is also in-store. [Brooklyn Record]
Times Square: The only view from Above restaurant at the Hilton is the back of a giant creepy hand. [NewYorkology]
Tribeca: The New York City Hot Dog Company on Church Street at Chambers that promises healthier options and myriad toppings looks closer to an opening now that a big picture of a hot dog is in place. [Grub Street]