Yes, the pint of vodka in your desk drawer is calling your name, pleading for some well-deserved attention. But instead of dipping into your stash at the day's end, head to Blue Owl in the East village tonight at 5pm to celebrate hump day. There's no cover to join the Wonderful Wednesdays fun at this cocktail den. Simply RSVP to thehumpnyc@gmail.com and start sipping specialty and well drinks for $6 a pop, and don't stop until 3am. The guest DJ tonight is Blu Jemz, joining resident DJ's Myles and Lindsey. For more details, just click on the invite to the left. And for similarly awesome opportunities around town, check our list of bar and restaurant deals.

Covering restaurants has been a pain the ass lately. First R&L opened for a glorious couple of days before closing down indefinitely, and then Kurve kept everyone guessing by constantly closing and reopening. Which brings me to Black Iron Burger Shop, the new upscale burger joint that had everyone from Shecky's to the NY Times droolin'. I kept calling and visiting after their supposed open date, but sadly got no response. But as of this week, the wait is finally over.

Right now the casual East Village spot is only open from 6pm-3am, but it will open for lunch at 11am starting Saturday. It has a casual, worn-in feeling, with bar stools, exposed brick walls and classic punk tunes on the radio. The burgers themselves were delicious and well-worth the very reasonable $7 price. The griddle created simple, misshapen burgers that let the natural flavor of the beef really shine--no fancy special sauces needed here.

What really impressed me was the beer selection, which ranges from Sixpoint Brownstone to Saratoga Lager, all priced at $5-$6. The waitress was friendly, if a little green, as is to be expected at a brand-new restaurant.

The best thing of all? It's open until 3am, meaning I can stumble across the street after playing skeeball all night at Ace Bar.

Photo by Mango Vision, borrowed from Films In Tompkins

So you want to see a movie on the big screen, but you're hesitant to dish out ten-plus bucks for a ticket, five-plus bucks for a popcorn, and another five for a gratuitously large soda. Praise be to Films in Tompkins, which offers free screenings of films every other Wednesday throughout the summer in Tompkins Square Park, weather permitting. The gates open tonight (Wednesday, July 30) at 6pm and the featured movie, "Better Off Dead"--the 1985 cult classic rom-com starring John Cusack--plays at sundown. So pack a picnic and a blanket, head to Alphabet City and seat yourself on the grass alongside your sweetheart. Booze is discouraged, but there's no simpler problem than one resolved by a brown paper bag or an opaque plastic cup.

For yet more opportunities to get free stuff in the city, check out our Unemployed Guide to New York.

Meet SideBar, the latest boozy undertaking from Mike Sinensky and Sean McGarr (the people who brought us the Village Pourhouse, the soon-to-open Village Pourhouse uptown, and the midtown spot Hudson Terrace, also opening to the public soon).

Dubbing itself an "upscale sports lounge," SideBar features seven HD flat-screens (plus two projection screens), two private party rooms, an elevated platform (connected to the DJ booth) that may be used as a dance floor, stage or VIP area, and all the other things you would expect from the minds behind sister bar VP: Booze, booze and more booze.

There's also a menu of upscale American cuisine--in other words, a step up from the pub grub at the Pourhouse--which the bar plans to show off at weekly tastings hosted by their in-house sommeliers and executive chef, along with guest celebrity chefs and mixologists. Those will take place in the aptly named Tasting Room, one of the private party areas.

We haven't checked in after dark yet, but weekday walkbys seem to suggest that since it soft-opened two weeks ago, SideBar has already struck a chord with the area's after-work crowd. And if that's not enough to keep it going, then the thousands of thirsty concert-goers looking for a place to get hammered within a 20-foot radius of Irving Plaza should do the trick. 

If you haven't been there yet, I highly recommend you check out Arlo and Esme, a coffee shop by day, swanky bar by night located in the deceptively large space formerly occupied by the East Village Yacht Club.

Hits: Come during the day and you'll savor strong coffee and plenty of space to sprawl out; after dark, you'll sip expertly prepared classic cocktails and dance until the wee hours.

Misses: Though some nights are crazy packed, other evenings are so quiet and slow you'll often wonder if you've wandered into a bona fide ghost town.

Read our full editorial review of Arlo and Esme, then peruse other New & Notable bar reviews or check out our list of spots that are too new to review (but not too new to get you hammered).

Photo by Peter Cuce

We first reported back in March that Luca Lounge was closed for renovations, only to follow-up recently with the unfortunate news that as per the signage outside, the space was evidently for rent.

Well, yesterday we received an email from Vito DiTomaso, who identified himself as Luca's "co-founder, co-chef, member of Luca family, and all around cool dude," so, at long last, here is the official lowdown on the popular Avenue B bar's future ...

In regards to your May 20th article: we must correct you and inform you that Luca Lounge is by no means a goner ... Unfortunately, in the midst of renovations leading into a typically busy and fun summer season, and following months of negotiating, we quite suddenly and unfairly did lose our lease due to an unexpected and outrageous rent increase. However, we fully intend to stay in this community and are planning to move the restaurant to 222 Avenue B--this location is just next door to our original space. So do plan to see a new, improved, and definitely alive and kicking Luca Lounge by the end of July, next door to our former location. Our sister spots, Luca Bar on St. Marks Place and Masso in Long Island City are also open for those who need their Luca fix immediately!

And there you have it.

Say it ain't so ... Local Avenue B favorite Luca Lounge appears to be officially on the market, as per the above signage out front. 

Readers of Imbible will recall that back in March we reported that Luca Lounge was supposedly closed for "renovations," according to a sign posted to the gate. At that time, we also speculated as to whether it was really closed for a remodel, or whether it might actually be done for. On a side note, that speculation prompted one of the owners to send me an email in which she chastised me for suggesting that Luca Lounge might not re-open, and insisted that it would. As a local resident, I was hopeful that it would in fact re-open, and grew increasingly wary when I walked by every day and never saw any signs of life, let alone evidence of construction.

And then up popped this "store for rent" sign, which I noticed yesterday, confirming that despite everyone's best efforts, Luca Lounge is indeed a goner.

But with a sprawling space (plus a massive backyard), the next question is, of course, what's next for the bar formerly known as Luca Lounge? Stay tuned ...