The Smokeless Nights

You can put up all the signs you want. Drinkers still love to smoke, and they love to do both at the same time. So despite the smoking ban that Mayor Mike passed in 2002, some places still turn the other cheek when their patrons light up. But can the state use a tax increase to do what the City couldn't? We are about to find out, because "on Tuesday, the state tax on cigarettes will rise by $1.25 a pack — to $2.75 from $1.50 — driving up the cost of a typical pack in New York City to around $8.50." That is also the cost of one Manhattan beer (when you factor in tip). You have to think that while the die hards and casual smokers will smoke no matter what, this may help some in the middle decrease their habit, and that may just make your favorite nightlife spots even that less smoky. Gratzi NY State.

· $8.50 A Pack! Why Not Quit? [City Room]

[Photo Credit]

Pros and Cons of subMercer

Our first few trips back to the recently re-opened subMercer have been pretty positive. Division Street, a seemingly brand new brahg, has also gone and has come up with a handy list of pros and cons, which we would love to share with you.

Pros of Submercer:
* No reception = no drunk dialing/texting. Saving us all from sending this text: "out at submrcer, but woud rather be with u”…to more people than we’d like to admit.
* "You called me? Are you sure? I was at submercer, the reception there sucks. Sorry. Maybe we’ll hang out next weekend!?"
* Bomb scare? I know where I’ll be.

Cons of Submercer:

* No one can really meet you there on a whim. It has to be planned and finalized before going under. Like marriage.
* Rolling out around 3:19am and receiving these 3 messages from New Crush:

“Hey” 12:58am

“Still want to hang out? Would love to see you!” 1:39am

“Ok. I guess you’re not into it. Call me never.” 3:18am

Curses! You were THISCLOSE to sealing the deal…
* The ceilings are about 3 inches lower than Beatrice. Which is officially too low. Models: get ready to put “the slouch” to use.

The verdict: Great for parties, nice change of scenery, and by the time you make 5 lefts and 3 rights and another left before getting in, you'll feel like James Bond.

Cheeky Division Street. We'll be watching you.


[Photo by Phillip Angert]

Ins't or Ous't: Antik

Name: Antik
Address: 356 Bowery, NYC
Statu: Ous't

Don't tell us you're shocked. While this place seems to consistently attract a crowd, it's Antik's operation that has branded it officially Ou'st. We aren't sure what ad wizards decided to open a lounge without a bar, but it is one of the worst concepts we have ever seen. Because of the weird operation, most people make a bee line for the basement bar King's Cross, which when we went was staffed by one bartender, totally overwhelmed by a normal size crowd attempting to order drinks in a room that had no air conditioning. Impossible. So it's back back upstairs to Antik, only to remember that there is no easy way to order drinks there. So in that situation, what else can you do but leave without ordering anything?

To add insult to Antikury, a Little Birdy lets us know that he was threatened by the Antik doorman 45 feet from the entrance, saying "I walked out Antik because it was so terrible, and the doorman was busy talking to girls rather than manning the rope. I just walked around it and he told me that I have to wait for him to let me out. I told him that he should relax, and he started yelling at me for no reason. After walking down the street, the guy wouldn't shut up, and wound up running after me to get in my face, threatening me. What kind of bullshit are they running? Place is a joke"

Customers that can't get a drink, no air conditioning, and door men that threaten people is a losing combination. Antik is officially Ous't.

Sex and the City Premiere Eats Bunny Chow

Didn't get into the Sex and the City premiere last night? Don't cry - you are probably better off. No need to fret, because Bunny Chow has the next best thing, a SATC shindig featuring a cocktail reception from 10-12! Oooh, cocktails! That's what Carrie drinks. Ooooh.

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.

More Monday Madness

The Page gets in on the Monday Night debate, detailing the feux fued between Butter and Bar Martignetti's Monday night parties. The Sixers state:

Bar Martignetti on Broome Street, which takes a dig at how celebrity-infested Butter's bashes are, hosted its first one last week. "Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but after five years it is clear that everyone prefers the real thing. All Butter alternative products should remain on the shelf," quipped Akiva. Bar Martignetti owner Anthony Martignetti replied with, "Our party is a lot more fun."

Maybe they can settle this with a butter fight - where they all lather each other with butter and fake butter and wrestle on Lafayette. Who wouldn't watch that?

Marquee and the Mortgage Crisis

Glen Pizzolorusso became a mortgage banker straight out of college, right when the housing market was exploding with ARM's and sub prime loans that were making many people temporarily rich. So how did he spend his money? By balling in New York City of course. In this clip, we hear Glen's heartwarming tale of living the high life, spending nights dropping thousands of dollars at Marquee with his friends.

Now we bet you are wondering - what does all of this really have to do with nightlife? Well, everything. You see, people like Glen fell ass backwards into jobs that paid him close to $75k a month for a job that any monkey could do. And when the monkey got paid, he decided to throw it around in nightclubs, which helped make others very rich. And now that monkey money is gone - but the successful clubs have paid a price. Some have seen declining business, others have dealt with rising rents they can't afford to pay anymore. Just proves that this credit crisis has an impact everywhere, in ways many haven't imagined.

Clip courtesy of This American Life.

Getting to Know Matt Abramcyk

Matt Abramcyk sits down for a little one on one time with the Observer to talk Beatrice, Chelsea and everything else, and boldly states the Beatrice Inn has "become one of the best places in the world of all time". You've got to love the moxy on this one. Plus, the author got some quotes from a familiar face, so please give it a read.

· Baron of Beatrice Inn Branches Out [Observer]

Paging La Playa

Our good Tim from the Pink Elephant checks in to clarify the PE crew's summer plans, saying "Pink Elephant will be operating as usual at Capri Hotel. The Tavern space will be now called La Playa. Same owners but unaffiliated with Pink Elephant. Two separate nightclubs with 2 different crowds. Hope this clears up PE’s role out East this summer. Pink @ Capri will be in full effect. Expect to see big things." Well, that's Capri apparently without the outdoor space, but still Capri. This makes our super DBTH Poll a little less accurate, but just a little.

Dark Room Drama

IMG_1633, originally uploaded by R. K..

We thank our hated enemies at Eater for sending a trusty intern to sit through the Community Board 3 Economic Development Committee meeting last night, where Dark Room's liquor license renewal permit was denied! According to Eater:

The committee rejected Ludlow Street's Darkroom for a liquor license renewal. They cited several infractions including noise complaints a few counts of selling booze to minors. The bar will have to plead its case with the full board later this month.

Underage drinking? In the Lower East Side? No! Maybe we need to bring back prohibition! We predict that they will make their case to some sympathetic Board members and the license will be renewed at the full meeting. What else would go into that basement space besides a bar? It may as well be Dark Room.

SLA Disses Death & Co, Keeps Le Suck Alive

In a case of what the hell were they thinking, the Observer has news of two embattled East Village establishments, Death & Co. and Le Souk, who are both battling the fickle SLA. Amazingly, Death & Co. have not swayed the SLA to re-instate their license, while Le Souk has managed to hold onto theirs for another week. Exsqueeze us? Something about this is just off.

While we have had our issues with Death & Co with small operational items, overall we find it to be a rather well run cocktail den. Le Souk is another beast, with underage crowds, loud music, fights and a general garbage atmostphere. To sum up, the SLA should desire establishments like Death & Co. But since they are the SLA, they do all they can to run them out while Le Souk manages to remain open. No wonder the Governor needed some adult fun, he worked for NY State!

FDNY Hits the Beatrice Inn - Again!

What's the FDNY's favorite bar in New York City? Why, the Beatrice Inn of course! If it wasn't then why would they spend so much time there? A Little Birdy was there Friday night when New York's bravest stopped by yet again, and apparently this was more than just the old in and out. "They came on Friday night when it wasn't crowded at all and were there for a long time, checking the sprinklers and floorplans," our Little Birdy tells us. That's not a fun way to spend a Friday. Until this blows over, we expect the City's tightest door to be even tighter. A slow Memorial Day weekend might just be what the Beatrice's doctor ordered.

Santos' House Party Party

The downstairs of Santos' House Party soft-opened last night after 3 years of construction. According to NY Mag, the too small space is "a godsend for anyone who has ever danced in the basement of 205 thinking the experience could benefit from a little more space and a much sicker sound system." Lovely. The upstairs part will be opening soon.

· Santos House Party Actually Houses a Party [Grub Street]

Cain Southern Plans On Hold

Jamie, Jayma and the rest of the Cain gang have long planned to escape their first home in Chelsea and set up shop somewhere else. After several false starts, they had apparently settled on an alley space at 408 Broadway. Uh, not so fast. After pulling their liquor license application from the last CB 1 meeting, a Little Birdy tells us that unfortunately, the plans may have to be scrapped completely. The Community Board is dead set against Cain, or any re-imagination of it, opening in their ritzy hood. Alley or no alley, lower Broadway or wherever. The Cain crew has not given up hope of pulling something off here, but it's just not looking to good.

Randolph Expanding?

The Randolph is a deceptively excellent little bar on the edges of Nolita. And according to a Little Birdy, it may be getting a little bigger. Our LB tells us that the owners are looking to expand the basement space a little bit to create a nicer lower level experience. We would be all for it, since it is a bit basement-esque down there, and it would give the City just a bit more space in which to enjoy a full pitcher of Manhattans. And what American can be against that?

BREAKING: Home and Guesthouse Closed

From the weekend desk of DBTH, a Little Birdy sent us (and everyone else thank you very much) this quick note, "Both home and guesthouse are closed until further notice". Oh the humanity. Will NYC nightlife ever recover from this low blow to our souls? Will New Jersey and Strong Island keep their flags at half mast for the rest of the weekend? Will Steve Lewis get to redesign the clubs when they are taken over by another operator. It's way too early in the grieving process to answer these questions. You can tell the Guesthouse patrons above are wondering the same thing. Consider this developing.

UPDATE #1: When we asked our LB why the club was shut down, we were told it was the cops. Apparently they were cited for underage drinking and drugs. Maybe we should hang out there more often.

UPDATE #2: A mysterious go between drops a note to us, saying "Hi I'm sitting with Steve Lewis who just got a call and says..."home and guesthouse will be open tonight!" We are honored and wish to thank both you and Msr. Lewis. Go get em Guesthouse.

Beatrice Inn Shut Down Again

Straight from the beak of a Little Birdy who was on the scene, we get word that the Betarice Inn was visited by the cops again last night. Take it away LB:

I was at the Beatrice Inn last night and something was going down. Around 2 they stopped playing music and the dance floor cleared out. When I left a little while later, there were cop cars outside and the doorman was talking three cops. Maybe they got busted for not having a cabaret license again?

Except for running Manhattan's coolest bar, running the hospitality operations at a new Atlantic City resort, celebrity friends and possibly opening new bars on both coasts, these Beatrice Inn guys can't catch a break. We aren't sure why the cops continue this monthly game of saying hello late at night, unless they really want to see MK. And let's be honest, who doesn't? But the Angelo and the crew do a good job of keeping the street clear and we have seen the neighbors drinking at the bar. Just leave Beatrice alone!

Sub Mercer Books Up

We stopped by SubMercer for a repeat visit over the weekend and had a chance to scope their revamped cocktail menu, featuring the Tequila Mockingbird, a literary take on a the traditional margarita. Featuring maraschino liqueur, grapefruit and lime juice, it's the perfect tequila cocktail to keep you refreshed when drinking in a sub basement during the summer - if Stefan ever lets you in.

Studio B Roof Makes People Angry

Studio B (which we all know has some hot ladies) recently opened a rooftop lounge, even though they apparently never had permission. New York Shitty has a real problem with this, stating:

Let’s imagine for a moment that I, a citizen, invited 140+ of my best friends to party on my rooftop (and I have a nice one, btw). Someone would call the cops and I’d be cited and/or thrown in jail.

In other words, it’s a matter of inequality. Studio B, despite having no permission to host events on their roof does so anyway.

It doesn't seem fair, but the party does indeed soldier on.

Don't You Wanna Dance?

After learning that you really can't dance at the Beatrice Inn, Grub Street snared a copy of the 2008 list of Manhattan establishments currently operating with the coveted cabaret licenses. Who has ever heard of these places? At least Sway, one of the tiniest dance areas in the City, has one. The full list is below.