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<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rXFbguiy0i0/R1lKUhv0T7I/AAAAAAAAAzk/VcCK2ji8o3k/s1600-h/2007_r2iverviewhotel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rXFbguiy0i0/R1lKUhv0T7I/AAAAAAAAAzk/VcCK2ji8o3k/s400/007_riverviewhotel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141222166136901554" /></a>Tis the season for sharing, so we were excited when our friends from HotelChatter checked in yesterday with a <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/10/23/121417/03/hotels/Are_Goode_and_MacPherson_Eyeing_Jane_Street_in_the_West_Village_">rumor</a> they had heard a month back, saying "we hear that some undercover construction work has started at the Hotel Riverview at 113 Jane St." They also wonder if the Riverview is "Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson's new project." Oh, you mean <a href="http://downbythehipster.blogspot.com/2007/12/breaking-news-goode-and-mcpherson.html">this new project</a>? What the HC team missed is that a certain doorman opened a certain Cuban themed bar and cafe in the Riverview basement. We're talking <a href="http://www.socialista.us/">Socialista</a>, and if this is true then we have found a mega project. It would fit with Goode and McPherson's penchant for rehab projects, but losing out on the bar/restaurant space with an already established operator is a tough sell for hoteliers that thrive on food and beverage service. Calls to the Riverview were met with expected gruffness, but we hope to learn more in the coming days. Happy Friday. More...

BAMBULE Ricardo Marlow and Miguel Bard, Friday-Saturday; Trio Caliente, Thursday. 5225 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-966-0300. Link To Original Article

Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Monday Thursday, December 6 If we could look back over all the questions that we've gotten since Got Plans? began, we'd have to say that "Where can I ride a mechanical bull?" would be near the top of the list. Blame regulations, licensing or just fear of lawsuits, b... Link To Original Article

<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rXFbguiy0i0/R1hTwBv0T5I/AAAAAAAAAzU/R4GTnuLLR9Y/s1600-h/2007_PM_License+Suspended_Page_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rXFbguiy0i0/R1hTwBv0T5I/AAAAAAAAAzU/R4GTnuLLR9Y/s400/2007_PM_License+Suspended_Page_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140951059211243410" /></a>Continuing our <a href="http://downbythehipster.blogspot.com/2007/12/breaking-news-goode-and-mcpherson.html">Super Scoop Thursday</a>, a Little Birdy forwarded along a little afternoon shocker, saying <strong>"Thought you'd want to be the first to know that PM Lounge will be shut down by the State Liquor Authority during January 2008."</strong> Little Birdy speaks the truth, according to this notice issued by the overlords of night at the State Liquor Authority. A quick perusal lists underage drinking, building code violations, noise, fighting, and much much more. That's no good. Especially when your <a href="http://downbythehipster.blogspot.com/2007/08/cb2-to-pm-no-go.html">Community Board and landlord </a>already have a collective hard on to see your operation dissapear. <br /><br />May we suggest going to PM for New Years Eve, we think it could become a massive going out of business bash!<br /><br />The rest of the complaint is below.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rXFbguiy0i0/R1hU2xv0T6I/AAAAAAAAAzc/EOCzJhEhzIo/s1600-h/2007_PM_License+Suspended_Page_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rXFbguiy0i0/R1hU2xv0T6I/AAAAAAAAAzc/EOCzJhEhzIo/s400/2007_PM_License+Suspended_Page_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140952274686988194" /></a> More...

Breaking news from boutique hotel land. We have long heard rumors that Eric Goode and Sean McPherson, stars of such projects as the <a href="http://downbythehipster.blogspot.com/2007/11/on-circuit-im-not-there.html">Bowery Hotel </a>and the <a href="http://downbythehipster.blogspot.com/2007/03/inside-lafayette-house-hotel.html">Lafayette House Hotel</a>, were working on deals for additional downtown hotel properties. Well, great success. The boys have apparently settled on their next project, with a Little Birdy who is most definitely in the know reporting, "Sean McPherson and Eric Goode have closed the deal on a new hotel. <strong>It will be 'boutique-y' and in the West Village.</strong>" That's it? Nothing more? Well, not yet, because the project is a wee bit sensitive. We expect to learn more soon, or have one of the so-called reporters from a major paper just steal our headline and go snoop around for answers. Because that's how they do. Happy fing holidays. More...

<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_rXFbguiy0i0/R1gxgRv0T4I/AAAAAAAAAzM/q2SBM_OmMmg/s1600-h/2007_cipriani.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_rXFbguiy0i0/R1gxgRv0T4I/AAAAAAAAAzM/q2SBM_OmMmg/s400/2007_cipriani.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140913405232959362" /></a>Due a previous engagement, we had to skip the final night of the <a href="http://ciprianiconcerts.com/">2007 Cirpriani Music Series</a>. Luckily, we had a very special Little Birdy on hand to follow a very special report. Without further hesitation<blockquote>The fabulous and the fabulously wealthy were in attendance tonight at the final edition of this season's Cipriani Condert Series at Cipriani Wall St. After dinner and before performances by George Michael and Aretha Franklin, the annual live auction was held to raise money for for UNICEF and the Sarah Ferguson Foundation. <strong>Fergie herself (the original Fergie, Dutchess of York) presided over the auction.</strong> After an introduction by Jeff Gordon and between witty exchanges with the lewd, but oh-so-entertaining Hugh Hildesley of Sotheby's, Fergie took to calling out those in the audience, such as Harvey Weinstein, Sir Richard Branson, and Ron Pearlman, who hesitated to reach into their deep pockets. Guests bid on a Masarati Granturismo ($130K), a walk-on part in Harvey Weinstein's next film ($105K), and tea with the Dutchess ($80K), among others raising $840K.</blockquote>Imagine paying $100K to walk on in a movie that probably won't gross that much. Boom. Anyway, our LB tells us that George Michael brought the house down with his performance and that it was a great way to wrap up the year. Good for you Cipriani. Good for you. More...

Yesterday, a <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/food/2007/12/breaking_who_will_take_over_good_world.html">little story</a> made the rounds that Ian Schrager had purchased a building on Canal Street with plans to construct a W Hotel. Now, that's just umpossible, with the reason being Schrager has recently entered into a <a href="http://downbythehipster.blogspot.com/2007/08/schrager-takes-boutiques-big-time.html">very long term deal</a> with Marriott to jointly develop properties. Guess who owns W? Not Marriott! Scratch that idea. However, we do believe that this hotel could be a Schrager and Co. target. Why? Well, his old partner Morgans Hotel Group is bringing Ian's baby <a href="http://downbythehipster.blogspot.com/2007/04/psstdbth-has-secret.html">the Mondrian</a> just to the West. Wouldn't it make Ian happy to grab a slice of the Chinatown pie and stick it to his old foes? DBTH says yes. But Morgan's definitely wins the locational battle, unless Ian's potential customers book rooms based on a need to catch the Chinatown bus. We're sticking with this one. More...

Those crazy kids at Sixpoint have done gone and <a href="http://downbythehipster.blogspot.com/2007/11/six-point-on-point.html">done it again</a>. A company rep dropped a line, informing us of a new specialty ale they are rolling out for a limited time. This particular brew was created with a little help from Park Slope's <a href="http://www.gorillacoffee.com/">Gorilla Coffee</a>. To the release, which says:<blockquote>Gorilla Warfare Porter is a silky smooth porter made with 40 pounds of Park Slope's Gorilla Coffee Ethiopian Yirgacheffe blend, a Fair Trade and Organic Certified coffee roasted in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The coffee has winey, spicy notes with hints of baker's chocolate. Combined with patent malt, the signature of many great English-style porters, this is one silky smooth, coffee-rich porter.</blockquote>Chrondo! The Porter will be available around town for about 6 weeks so you best act fast. Oh, and there is a kickoff party tomorrow night at Gorilla Coffee at 8 PM. Enjoy More...

The folks at <a href="http://www.jossip.com/">Jossip</a> asked us to sit down for a little interview. We gladly obliged. You can check it out <a href="http://www.jossip.com/interviews/jossiping-with-down-by-the-hipster-20071204/">here</a>. Please excuse the Danny Tanner image they used to represent us. More...

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_rXFbguiy0i0/R1YpXBv0T3I/AAAAAAAAAzE/GYZr_GK68fo/s1600-h/2007_GPH+nye+special.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_rXFbguiy0i0/R1YpXBv0T3I/AAAAAAAAAzE/GYZr_GK68fo/s400/2007_GPH+nye+special.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140341500272725874" /></a>Via our friends at <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/11/29/111721/31/hotel-deals/HotelChatter+Reader+Deals%3A+Getting+Into+Rose+Bar+on+New+Year%27s+Eve">HotelChatter</a>, we come across the Gramercy Park Hotel's <a href="http://www.gramercyparkhotel.com/new_years.html">New Year's Eve special</a>. Per the GPH's website, the offer includes <blockquote>Enjoy unique luxury accommodations, dinner for two at Wakiya, champagne and truffles, and guaranteed access to the Rose Bar.</blockquote> This package starts at $975, but we can't tell if this is some kind of deal or not. Even though the hotel is sold out for New Years, we assume it's mostly tourists. Even if you live in the city, are you and a mate want to really live it up, is a crappy meal at a crappy Chinese restaurant and being shoved around at Rose Bar the way you want to do it? We guess no. Is guaranteed entry enough? Still probably no. But to each their reach. We expect a full report on 1/1. More...

Helio Castroneves celebrated his big Dancing With The Stars win with a hundred friends at Mansion on Saturday night. Arriving after midnight, Castroneves was all smiles -- despite the fact he just broke off his engagement to longtime love Aliette Vazquez -- as hundreds of fans rushed the stage to cheer his win. He drank Red Bull and Belvedere vodka while others in his party sipped Moet Chandon, which was sent out with celebratory sparklers. Says one witness, ``Helio danced around the issue of his... Link To Original Article

Whether you're looking for big screens, big crowds or big discounts on food and drinks, our football guide can help. We'll be updating the listings throughout the season, so keep checking back for the latest deals and news. Link To Original Article

Norwood, that bastion of high society members only club on West 14th Street, inspired a bevy of comments last week. But more on that another time. Another Little Birdy, also not a member, stopped by this weekend and snapped this dark, blurry photograph from inside the joint. Honestly, we can't really tell what we are seeing here. It looks kind of empty in there, with a lot of guys wearing sweaters. Kind of like that club that Dan Akroyd was banished from in Trading Places. But isn't that what you are paying for when you join? It is, it is. More...

The exact whereabouts are like secret knowledge, passed around by people who grew up in places like Mount Rainier, or Bladensburg -- when they were hard-living blue-collar white-complexion neighborhoods just over the city line, before they got "art districts," brew pubs and Salvadoran restaurants... Link To Original Article

What: Ubuntu Loft Party Where: 446 Broadway On a chilly Saturday night in an old loft building way down on Broadway, the Ubuntu Education Fund held its annual loft party. Ubuntu develops education and health programs for the children of and around Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Today, they reach over 40,000 children with life-saving health and educational resources and services. No only are they making an incredible impact in South Africa, they can throw one hell of a party. We rang the buzzer and the door to the elevator suddenly opened. We stepped into the freight and went up several levels, walking into a well appointed loft and a party that was just getting started. The bar was open and stacked, and the food was good and plentiful. Rumor has the Blue Ribbon boys provided it. Nice. We danced, we drank, we caught up with old friends, and at the end of the night we tried to help out. Tis the season, no? Yes it is. More...

The site www.dictionary.com defines a bartender as a person who mixes and serves drinks at a bar. But as anyone who's spent many hours perched on a bar stool can tell you, a bartender can also be a psychologist, a comedian, a weatherman, a bouncer, a matchmaker, a political pundit, a newscaster, a sportscaster or simply a friend with an open ear and an open heart. Link To Original Article

If it seems like everyone, including your mechanic, is throwing an Art Basel party, you're probably right. And just find us one party that isn't billed as ''the hottest,'' ''the most exclusive,'' ''the most important,'' ''the most groundbreaking'' or some other superlative and we'll do our own performance piece and eat this article under a bridge while doing cartwheels to the sounds of Edith Piaf. In the meantime, before the frazzle-dazzle of Basel officially begins next week, remember that while... Link To Original Article

Some guys recently told me they wish they could carry penalty flags, the yellow ones just like the NFL referees use, when we are on a date or meeting someone for the first time. It's not such a bad idea, once you analyze it. Link To Original Article

It's here. The folks unleashed the time honored aussie tradition of Toss the Boss to Lower Manhattan. To celebrate, they threw a little kick off party at both locations. We chose the Cow to coincide with out later plans, and indeed, the boss was tossed. They event went out and got themselves an ice slide for some overly-phallic ice shots. No thanks. We drank, we sampled some food, and at the end of the night, the barkeep ripped up our bill. You know why? Because we chose Coat of Arms. That's why! Good on ya. More...

Vizcaya was a palace fit for queens during the 2007 White Party on Saturday night, when Dan Renzi of MTV Real World fame waited to escort drag diva Elaine Lancaster, who was finishing up her makeup in the ladies' room, to see headliner Cyndi Lauper. While Lauper belted out her greatest hits to a massive crowd, Lancaster danced onstage with a bottle of Snow Queen vodka in hand. Behind the scenes, we hear Lauper was a ''total diva,'' but we've seen her before and believe that diva-dom was mistaken... Link To Original Article

The Love and Hope Ball isn't until February, but its kickoff party at the Diplomat Country Club on Nov. 15 raised nearly $700,000 for the Diabetes Research Institute. Bee Gee Barry Gibb, who with his wife, Linda, is the charity's International Chairman, kicked off the donations with prize money he won from a recent celebrity call-in contest on Virgin Radio's The Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show. Link To Original Article

I went out to lunch with my grandma, my aunt and uncle, my cousin and my cousin's girlfriend. We all enjoyed our omelets and bagels and iced teas. We chitchatted about current events and talked about old times. Link To Original Article

In just a few short weeks, this city will be a slightly larger version of Pamplona during the running of the bulls. And whether your Art Basel strategy is to join the throngs or to escape them, just realize that much of Miami will be reserved for the highest bidder. That's why this week is a blissful calm before the bull, a time to get out there and take advantage of the city before the Superfly of art fairs gets hold of her. Link To Original Article

The holiday season has officially begun and for singles, this can be the best and worst of times. The reasons are obvious. You don't want to spend the holidays alone; you want to share them with a loved one; you want a guarantee that someone in your life will buy you something you want. Link To Original Article

So much for cowboy boots and line dances in Miami. Coyote Ugly, the bar made famous by the 2000 film by the same name, didn't even last one year in its location on the second floor of Coconut Grove's CocoWalk. Link To Original Article