Capital Markets Bring Club Pain

You know how NYC clubs such as Cain and Pink Elephant have been trying to find locations in London? Of course you do. Unfortunately things may have hit a snag. Due to the weak value of the dollar and London's notoriously expensive key costs, it may not be financially feasible to open in the current mecca of international nightlife. According to one Little Birdy, "these clubs and operators have very strong, proven concepts that has a lot of investors interested. The numbers just aren't working right now." That sucks for London and the players, but could potentially be a boon for NYC, as experienced operators and their overseas investors may possibly look for opportunities in the domestic real estate market. Obviously, we'll keep you posted.

Blah Blah Bar Buloud

Bar Boulud - Daniel Boulud's new Upper West Side wine bar - sure is generating a ton of attention. Understandable of course. But if you are interested in Chef Boulud's most important project, may we please direct your attention to Maison Boulud a Peking. We may? Thank you. Set to open this spring at Beijing's (Legation Quarter), Maison Boulud will inevitably become the finest French restaurant to open in Asia's hottest city. The design is by Gilles et Boissier, the French firm responsible for Budakkan NYC and the Gramercy Park Hotel. We asked our Little Beijing Birdy for some additional color, and of course they obliged, saying "perhaps most interesting - this restaurant will be located in the former American embassy with views of the Mao mausoleum and Tiananmen Square. And get this - the dining room is in the space where Henry Kissinger secretly met Zhou Enlai to lay the framework for Nixon's historic meeting with Mao." Historic indeed LBB. You are so learned. Maison Boulud will feature a main dining room and separate bar and lounge. So enjoy your wine bar New Yorkers - we're booking our tickets for Beijing.

Nobu Expansion Plans

A bit of news from around the globe. Nobu, arguably the world's most popular upscale sushi chain, is ready to spread its wings globally. A Little Birdy tells us to "expect Dubai, Moscow and Mexico City. All are currently in the design or build out phase." Well, bully for Nobu. A few things to remember is that these are not all part of the New York's Myriad Group, but may instead be licensed franchises. This also reinforces that Nobu should no longer be considered an option for serious dining or drinking. It is simply a place for tourists and expense accounts, and that ain't us.