Randolph Switcheroo

There is more than just basement work going on at the Randolph. A recent stop at the Broome Street bar reveals that the space has been rearranged. Gone are the banquettes that previously lined the wall, and in are several smaller booths that create a more intimate space to enjoy the expanded cocktail list. And also the Hunt parties every Thursday night. Hurry on down to say hello.

Bowery Electric Raided

Well, that didn't take long. According to Eater, Bowery Electric was raided early Saturday morning, just 5 weeks after opening. No word if the bar was shut for the rest of the weekend.

UPDATE: From a Little Birdy - "Just wanted to let you know Bowery Electric was open Saturday night." Problem solved.

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Snitch is Dead, Long Live Snitch

Snitch, the rock and roll lounge on 21st Street, is closing its doors. They have plans to start doing concert promotions and other such events, as well as open a new space. Steve Lewis is devastated, we mean, really devastated, because Snitch was his favorite place. We mean really favorite place. Sorry Steve. That sucks. Someone send him some tissues on the quickness. But according to owner John Gabel, a new space will also open in the Snitch space, one that promises to "be an upscale lounge that will cater to the upscale social scenes of Manhattan, but I would say that customer service and operations and management will be probably greater then any place in New York." Lofty goals they laid out there, but we believe in them. Onward.

· Snitch Closes…It’s The End Of The World As We Know It [GNML]

The Soho Scoop

Is Soho finally rediscovering its inner nightlife? If Zev Norotsky and Company have their way, the answer is a resounding yes. Zev checks in, saying "I have a new lounge project called Origine (in the basement space of Fr.Og) opening on Spring b/w Crosby and Lafayette in early May, my partner is Matt Shendell (Dune, Honey, Dip). I have Ricky Powell (the 4th beastie boy) providing the images, for example an early, never before seen photo of the beastie boys and run dmc on a tour bus together during the mid-80's. Jarett Brodie (vong, aix) has been named executive chef of the restaurant upstairs called Fr.Og and we have a few high profile private dinner parties slated for the coming weeks. The concept is a very basic downtown lounge, I'm really trying to embrace the neighborhood and provide another nightlife option for that location.

Zev also points out that this helps give their valuable Dune customers a NYC option before they head out east to the Hamptons during the hot summer season. Hot! We always think that downtown can use another downtown lounge, so this is right in our wheelhouse. Origine is opening soon - we will keep you posted.

Rusty Knot: The Video

Behold, a video tribute to the Rusty Knot.

Quick Hits: Bowery Electric Soft Open

Bowery Electric, the new bar in the former Remote Lounge space, had its friends and family soft open last night. The official public opening is next week. The bar, which is owned by Mike Stuto of HiFi and Jesse Malin and Johnny T of Niagara and Black and White, broke out a velvet rope and clipboard mafia to keep the public out, a sign of what the Bowery has become. Sigh. Anywhoo, first reports have the space sparsely decorated, with a simple black and white motif inside. There are a few table spaces with wrap around banquet type seating arrangements, but judging from their other joints, this will definitely be a place to come and drink. What else would you want? Holla.

Photo Credit

Inside The Rusty Knot

Behold! A Continuous Lean supplies some quality images from the Rusty Knot, Ken Friedman and Taavo Somer's much discussed and admired nautical bar on the West Side Highway. ACL says, "What we found when we arrived was pleasant (granted we went fairly early and on a Monday) and accommodating. No huge crowds, no bridge and tunnel. I suspect everyone in the bar was a blogger of some sort. At least from the quantity of coverage the “dive bar” has been receiving, that would be a logical assumption. We quickly managed to score one of the wooden booths (faux wood carvings and all) and got to work on some very well made Dark N’ Stormys served in tiki glasses. The menu was limited, but very well done." Here, here!

But what follows is really the perfect description, "I like to think of it more as working-class meets Threes Company. I was expecting to see Mr. Roper hanging out at the bar." Go and knock on their door.

Dark N' Stormy in a Tiki Glass

Bar food.

All photos courtesy of A Continuous Lean

Commenter Intel: Antik

Antik, the new semi-speakeasy on the Bowery just opened last week, and already the place is generating all sorts of reviews by our faithful readers. What say thee - commneters?

· WTF?? You cant get a drink in this place to save your life. Couldn't find a waitress and there is definitely no bar for patrons. Only for waitresses if you were lucky enough to find one. Found out later today when I was talking to some friends that this place doesn't have a liquor license or something and that's why you won't find a bar in Antique. Anyway not sure where those models were, but if they would have been there I might have been able to stay around longer and die of thirst!

· This place sucks, definitely not hipster or cool. The people are whack, service is horrible, and models?? Who are they kidding? Obviously they are writing their own good comments on here.

· I'm so sick of these "speak easies" that are being rolled out one after another. Would you like a honey infused, peppermint, pomegranate, ginger, fizz????!!

Ouch, ouch and more ouch. That is not the way to open up. Because this is the site of a former bar, we are pretty sure that they are properly licensed. But it does seem like they are operating Kings Cross and Antik as two bars with cross access. We obviously need more information, and we think we know the right person.

An Evening At: Death & Co.

What is it about Death & Co. that drives the people so crazy? The regulars love it and want it to stay forever. The neighbors hate it and want it gone immediately. And where does that leave us?

After visiting several times after it first opened, Death & Co. left us with a bad taste in our mouths. The food wasn't good, the seats were small, and the price point was, in our opinion, too high. We decided to stop going. But after almost a year, we decided to give it a chance. We showed up early in the evening to meet a friend, but when we told the door guard we were meeting someone, we had to wait outside in the cold until the rest of the party arrived. The next guests were told the same thing, saying the bar doesn't seat incomplete parties. Luckily, our party arrived before after a few minutes and we managed to get the last available small table. The other waiters never got in.

The room is still dark and well designed. Jazz is still on as background music. The cocktail list is lengthy and varied, with several creative concoctions that were tasty, but took 10 minutes to be delivered to the table. We didn't eat, but the food we saw still came in excessively small batches. The size of the room, the crowd and the music make it very loud and hard to talk. Maybe not the best place to catch up with friends, but then what is it a good place for? We aren't sure.

Do we want it be closed? Of course not. But we have our complaints. If it's a cocktail bar with food, then let people wait inside for their group. If it's too small, then allow people to reserve tables. The community issues have Death and Co. walking too fine a line, trying so hard to put it's restaurant foot forward while doing everything it can to operate as one of the most upscale cocktail lounges in town. No one can be everything. Death & Co. deserves a chance to do as it pleases, operating as a full service lounge until 4 AM, 7 nights a week. But that doesn't mean we are going to go.

Remembering Fubar

After the horrific crane accident this past weekend, the Times has an excellent article in memory of Fubar. Lacking fancy cocktails, gimmicks or pretense, Fubar was simply a neighborhood bar, and a much loved one at that. We wish the best for everyone involved.

An Evening At: The Rusty Knot

Last week, we took the opportunity to enjoy An Evening at the Rusty Knot, the high end nautical dive bar that Ken Friedman and Taavo Somer quietly opened for business in the old West Space. Walking in, you can't help but feel you've stumbled into the local bar in some rural town in Maine. Busch Beer on tap, box wine on the shelf, Tiki glasses, Spider Bowls, a killer juke box, pool table and furniture crafted from what seems like the remnants of the Love Boat set only enhance the mood. The space is tight, but capacity is only 75 or so, which should render any problems moot. Unless you are stuck outside that is. We stepped in and ordered a Rusty Knot, the refreshing house cocktail made from Rum, house sour mix, and mint, that went down smooth as sugar. A few stools opened up and our party settled down.

The Knot isn't only a place to drink and stare at Jersey City. They also got some kick ass bar food. Oysters, peel and eat shrimp, classic shepard's pie, razor clams, giant pigs in a blanket. Bar food to the extreme. The best we had? How about a Chicken Liver, Bacon and Avocado sandwich that scream luxury even as you are sucking down a smooth drinking tap Busch. Aww yeah.

The best news is that this can all be yours until 4 AM, 7 days a week. Look out Corner Bistro. Expect desire to experience this to be at a full burn as of tonight, so if you want to go, best get their early. Because once you get a seat, chances are you will be hanging at the Knot all night. Aye Aye.

K&K Do Antik

Thanks to a fast moving Little Birdy, we can drop some additional intel on the soon to open Antik. According to the LB, "It is the latest creation from nightlife impresarios Larry Kramer and Craig Koenig, the team behind the rustic-lounge Retreat." Now, R&R was not half bad during its short run, but Retreat? We are having trouble coming up with something nice to say. Best to just leave it alone. Overall, impresarios may be a little too strong of a word here.

Bonus note: The late M&R bar has also been renovated into King's Cross Tavern, which fancies itself as an English pub of sorts. It's been open for a few weeks now, with some early intel making it sound not half bad. We also hear that they have been letting people upstairs into Antik, even though it's not open yet. Stop by tonight and let us know how it goes.

Bowery Goes Antik Shopping

Bowery Row is set for a new addition to its already plentiful nightlife menu. The old Marion's Continental has quietly undergone some interior renovations and is about ready to reopen as Antik. There has been next to no news about this, but the fancy Zagat folks have heard that Antik will be "a 'semi-private' cocktail lounge". Joy. And judging by the logo, we can imagine the bar will have some sort of dark and sexy motif. No word if it is connected to Hostler Burrows Antik Gallery. Most importantly, when does it open? DBTH has heard rumors of Wednesday, March 19th, but that is unconfirmed. Since it's semi-private, we doubt any of us are invited, but we're working on correcting that.

Much more to come.

Spitzer Gets a Scandal Special

Leave it to New York's cheeky bar owners and employees to make the most of a political scandal. Teddy's in Williamsburg quickly tacked up a few signs offering patrons some Spitzer Specials after news broke on Monday.

Via MediaBistro via NYShitty

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How to Beat the Rainy Day Blues

Rainy weekend days are a real drag. This Saturday sure fit that rainy day bill. What's a good way to pass the time? How about 2 for 1 Bloody Mary's at Tom and Jerry's? A few of these and the rain magically disappears. Funny how that works.

The Shoolbred Shill

We love all of our readers and welcome any and all comments. But we don't appreciate when interested parties anonymously drop glowing praises of their own venues. What is this - yelp? So it is with great sadness that we call out Shoolbred's for breaking this rule. After running a short item on the new East Village bar/resty, a commenter says:

I was there this past weekend for a friend's birthday and we had a great time. Shoolbreds has everything from comfortable leather chairs around a fire place (it's like drinking in your living room but you don't have to clean up the mess...and there's a fireplace!) to a hidden hangout nook in the back. It has an heir of sophistication but can also be a place you go to to do Jager shots with your friends without being surrounded by college kids (although, what are you doing Jager shots for if you're out of college?!) Crowd was mostly in their 20's & 30's and the bartenders treated us great. I would say it's pretty much the full package. I'll go back.

Well, our living room has windows and no fireplace, so it isn't exactly the same. But a few hours later, another commenter follows with:

This place has a great atmosphere - love the leather chairs by the fireplace and the stained glass. It's definitely the kind of place you want to go to if you want to chill, throw back a few drinks, and hang out with your friends. My favorite parts: you don't have to stand there for 20 minutes waiting for a drink because there is ample staff and they're very good about taking care of you, and the music is not so obnoxiously loud that you are hoarse for 3 days after going out and screaming all night to someone who is standing right next to you. You can't beat that.

Well, we were there when it was pretty dead and did wait 10 minutes for a drink. And frankly, the drink wasn't that good. We suggest running your own shop, rather than interfering in ours.

Introducing Shoolbred's

We'd like to extend a hearty welcome to Shoolbred's, the new restaurant and lounge in the former Jade Mountain Chow Mein space, at 197 Second Avenue in the Upper East Village. Well, it's just a lounge for now, as the kitchen is not quite ready to go yet. After being jammed on Friday night, DBTH returned on Saturday to enjoy a drink and survey the scene. The bar, backed by colorful stained glass, is tastefully decorated, with a working gas fireplace in the back and a few booths and leather chairs. Space is otherwise tight. There are several choice beers on tap, but we weren't made aware of any specialty cocktail list. Maybe that's coming though. Go in and say hello, then let us know what you think.

The Gold Standard

Some people love to hate on the state of nightlife in New York City. Not us of course, but some people. But the City is still very fun, and it is possible to have a great time going out. On that note, a Little Birdy filed this report after what seems to be a lonnnnnnng night out, saying:

u know gold bar? place is pretty serious stuff. degenerates of nyc in full swing at gold bar. 19 yr old brazilians having makeshift photoshoots as the party floods into the dj booth to play with the new mac computers. bottles of goose everywhere. i have 2 brain cells right now. give me some verbs.

Was that English? Our Little Birdy's goose is done and done dirty. But you all get the drift. It seems that they had a killer time, and so can all of you.

Keep sharing those stories everybody. We love em.

Quick Hits: Death and Co.

Time for a super fast edition of Quick Hits, where we tell you something oh so quickly.
A very special Little Birdy tells us some news from the bowels of the East Village, saying, "after dinner, when my friends and I couldn't get any seats at PDT, we headed over to Death and Co. around midnight. They were already closed, the doors were locked and there was nobody there." Thanks VSLB. Death & Co.'s troubles with the neighborhood and the SLA are well documented. We certainly wish them the best and hope they are able to stay open.

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Is it or Isn't It?

A few weeks back, a reader fired off an angry salvo regarding some rude treatment in the lobby bar at the Bowery Hotel. You can read all about it here. It touched off a rather spirited debate in the comments, with many readers sharing experiences of being turned away or simply not served, even while hoping for an afternoon cup of tea. Other comments lamented the state of New York City, saying "WE HAVE BECOME A CITY AND A WORLD OF PARIS HILTONS. GOD HELP US." We posed the question to the hotel itself but received no response. We may have to gear up for a stealth run inside the quiet lobby ourselves to settle this once and for all. God help us indeed.


Got a complaint or a question? Please do let us know.