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No disrespect to jazz, but as a musical genre bluegrass simply suits brunch better. More...

Located in a formerly deserted strip of warehouses in Gowanus, the Bell House’s performance space rivals the Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg in both size and ambition. More...

Conan O’Brien may have left us for L.A. but New York screwball comedy lives on at the monthly screenings hosted by the web comedy network Channel 101. More...

The most important quality in a date bar: really great lighting. More...

If your talent for guzzling maple syrup or sorting Skittles has gone unappreciated, here’s your chance at glory. More...

To Paul Grieco, Terroir’s not just a nice place to quaff wines. It’s a “soapbox platform†for his oenophilic predilections. More...

In the city’s classical-music sphere, it used to be that going small meant settling for less. Not so with Gotham Chamber Opera. More...

As any veteran club kid can tell you, the best parties happen on school nights. Which More...

Hidden staircases, secret buzzers, and unmarked addresses are standard fare these days, but Ron Castellano is undoubtedly the king of the faux speakeasies. More...

With poor old Chumley’s still shuttered, West Village singles were hurting for a rustic, unpretentious pub to cruise and booze in. More...

Despite its tininess—just 520 square feet, and that’s with a baby-grand piano onstage—Rockwood Music Hall attracts an outsize following. More...

This tiny, extremely low-budget Maysles Cinema has the pedigree of an art-film palace. More...

First-rate recreational activities, from 25 cents to $29. More...

The River Road offers bikers what most of us drive hours to observe: Hudson views, dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, wildflowers, lush greenery, and minimal traffic. More...

Celebrate St. Pat with punks, folkies, and old-school rockers. More...

A panel of experts shares its favorite unheralded Irish beers. More...

Notable nightlife openings. More...

A Little Birdy asked us to check out a recently launched blog that details the true story of Arthur Kade, a former model turned financial planner from Philly who 9 years later gives it all up to become a male model and actor again. Circles. In one recent narrative, our hero decides to head up to NYC after a stressful business meeting to unwind. What better place to do that than 1OAK, the coolest spot on earth, saying: we headed to my favorite lounge in NYC named 1Oak. For those of you who have never had the pleasure of partying there, imagine an ultra-exclusive lounge in Chelsea, with a celebrity doorman named Binh (always has a scowl, and doesn’t care if you are a celeb or athlete, you can easily wait outside for 20+ minutes if he feels like it), and every hot celebrity, model and athlete gracing 5 feet past you trying to get the best table for bottle service. It’s an experience all to itself. I love going there because I can listen to the hottest hip-hop music and meet beautiful women while simultaneously networking and creating material for the blog. Luckily, Binh now recognizes me, and when we went to the front of the line outside. How does it all turn out?

Breaking news across the Birdy wire! Updating this morning's rumor, Megu has been in discussions with the landlords and leaseholders to take over the troubled Merkato 55/Bijoux space in the Meatpacking district. According to our Little Birdy, "it is an extremely complicated situation", making the deal probably but unlikely. It seems logical that if a deal was reached, Megu would bring its new M Lounge concept to fill the Bijoux space, while the upstairs would function as a dedicated restaurant. It is the MPD, how can they not have a lounge? And if they are negotiations with Megu, the end for the famed Merkato brunch party is certainly near. Sigh. We will continue to post as this story unfolds.

Is your nightclub heading under water? Looking for a way out? A current Craigslist ad promises you that bailout you have been looking for, saying "Owners/operators of NYC's most sophisticated cocktail lounges seeks to invest/acquire distressed Manhattan lounges." There are plenty of quality operators who made a crap ton of cash over the past 8 years who may be looking to swoop in like vultures. But just who owns NYC's most sophisticated cocktail lounges? Let's talk about it!

Just when we were wondering if the Meatpacking District was bound to be a culinary wasteland, a commenter drops a huge rumor* that sent our heads a spinning. According to said commenter, "Word has it that Megu is in negotiations with Merkato." Crazy. Megu is a fine establishment with a global reputation for luxurious Japanese cuisine served by an expert staff, and we would have to think plunking itself in the heart of the MPD action would be a successful venture, giving tourists and corporate types one more option to go big in the hood. But is it an original dining concept that is choosing the Far West Side to make a go of it? Hardly. It's two NYC locations already do a brisk business. This is akin to Nobu opening on 57th Street - a big concept with a huge up front cost, but with little risk, unless customer's appetite for Japanese cuisine wanes. Fat chance. We will wait to see how this plays out. *Again, this is only a rumor. We welcome additional information.

This week, it was revealed that the much beloved Water Taxi Beach would be expanding from LIC into 2 Manhattan locations. A Governor's Island announcement soon followed, but the mystery of the Manhattan space has still not been revealed. Until now. A Little Birdy tells DBTH "Its going to pier 17 at South Street Seaport." The location makes sense, both for its proximity to the Water Taxi dock, and the influx of tourists and commuters who pass by the Seaport on a daily basis, and seems to have everything lined up to be a smashing success. Who's ready for summer?

Image courtesy of NY Times How did we not know about this? A new sex club has opened in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn. The unnamed club, run by a Mistress Wanda, "is open only on the weekends, and the cover charge will not break the bank: $40 for couples, $90 for single men. Unescorted women, who are sex-club gold, are allowed in free." Added bonus comes in the form of handy wipes for the sex stalls and free condoms! [NYT]

Is Bijoux headed for a quick exit? Commenting on the so called Top 7, a reader questions Bijoux's place on the already questionable list, saying "Bijoux is for sale. How can you even add that to the list? They closed 3 nights off their week and losing money." We can't help but wonder if they are referring to the entire Merkato 55 space, which failed miserable as a restaurant and is now operating as a Saturday afternoon brunch party. Bijoux is popular with the Euro crowd, but the whole project has been a disaster from the start. In this economy, it may just be time to cut bait and recoup whatever money a sale may generate. But this leads to another question - is it possible to open a new and successful dining venture in the MPD, or is the neighborhood destined to be a culinary wasteland, attracting tourists to its high end boutiques and cheesy nightclubs? We know the refashioned Lotus is going to give it a go, but have serious diners already dismissed it as a "why bother"?Or is possible that one of the most unique neighborhoods in the City can somehow escape this downward spiral into No Man's Land and become a place that its residents will visit?

It's freaking cold out there, Little Birdys. Really freaking cold. That's why this little number warmed our spirit up, since the warm is on its way. But while we pine away for the heat, we are fearful that season's summer rental season out east could be in trouble. The reason? A Little Birdy forwarded us a message he received from one seasoned rental operator who is now shilling for a workout routine, saying "They normally do not discount their fee for anyone, however, she has agreed to allow me to offer to my friends and those on my email list 50% off". Anything to make an honest buck these days.