We now have confirmation that East Village wine and coffee bar Bourgeois Pig is set to leave its proletariat digs behind and move to a brand-new space as early as next week. We haven't yet seen it, but the waiter who answered the phone at BP yesterday told me it's "Literally across the street, the place with the big copper doors--like I could throw a baseball and hit it from here." More specifically, "the place with the big copper doors" is in fact the old Heatherette space, located at 111 E 7th Street. The waiter also added--and this is my favorite part--that "inside [the new bar] is sexy as hell." So I guess we can all look forward to that.

We also hear that the existing Bourgeois Pig will become a "new world wine bar," and that BP owner Ravi DeRossi is planning to open a Belgian beer bar called 124 Rabbit Club, also in the Village.

Check out the full list of new bar and restaurant openings.

Although the usual nightlife blogs haven't really been pushing Forum, the latest addition to the Union Square bar scene, this time the masses seem to have figured it out all on their own, as hordes of young drinkers flock to the Fourth Avenue hot spot virtually every night. I had, however, read about it somewhere, and being that I live a few blocks away from Union Square, I figured I should check it out.

But then I got drunk and forgot all about Forum--and probably some other things--until last Thursday, when I was at a SoHo bar and a friend from college called to say she and some other friends were heading over to this new, mysterious place called Forum. Now it's no secret that Thursday is a popular night to go out, but not every bar manages to build an automatic fan-base, if you will, at 2am on a weekday without already having generated a fair amount of hype on the nightlife circuit. But low and behold, Forum was packed, just as it has been every other time I've walked by after 11pm. Yet there was no line to get in, the bouncer was friendly, there was no cover charge and we were happily double-fisting within two minutes of walking in. True, the lively (read: hammered) crowd was rather collegiate, but at least there were few signs of bridge and tunnelers, and for that I was also thankful--if it's between a collared shirt and a silk one, I'll take the lesser of the two evils.

You can read about other new and notable bars and much more on our nightlife page. 

Time is running out for you to take advantage of one of New York's premier outdoor party spaces before the season ends, and what better way to enjoy it--or anything, for that matter--than with free drinks at the Not For Tourists '08 release party tomorrow night at Spiegelworld. The party starts at 6pm and free guidebooks will be distributed until they run out of copies, which means you and your co-workers should make a bee-line for the South Street Seaport at 5:30pm on the dot and stay 'til the booze--I mean, uh, books--runs out.

Thanks to Sho Spaeth for the tip.
 

You'll have to find a new place to buy dimebags of bad pot today, because the dems' new golden child is coming to Washington Square Park, and security will be tight. While Hill and Bill spent the summer charging $1500 a plate for various Hamptons soirees, Barack's team was busy scheduling events that are free, open to the public and inspiring and what not. More importantly, you can register to attend via text message (see flyer)--in fact, that appears to be the only means of doing so.

Apathetic when it comes to national elections but proactive when it comes to saving money on booze? Then check out our bar & restaurant deals, cheap date ideas and our guide to NYC on a budget for tips on how you, too, can get bent for less.

Don't concern yourself with why I was wandering around the Upper East Side at 4pm on a Wednesday afternoon, just concern yourself with this: According to a sign hanging in the window of the tapas spot formerly known as Sabor (1725 2nd Ave at 89th St), a new bar and restaurant called Brio Vinobar is "opening soon." I sent an email to the address on the sign (which was provided as a means of hiring prospective employees) asking for more details, but have yet to hear back. If I do, you'll be the first to know.

Check out all our bar and restaurant openings (and closings).

If you are one of my friends who attended last weekend's birthday fete at Madame X (or if you've ever been to Madame X), please answer the following question: Would you describe it as the best lounge in New York City? What's that you say? If it's no, then it's your responsibility to go vote for something else, because right now Madame X holds the No. 1 spot for New York's best lounge, and voting ends tomorrow (Wednesday night). Time is running out for you to vote in (or out) the current front-runners for New York's best bars and clubs in more than 25 categories; if you don't, you'll be forfeiting your right to complain about the results.

As if there weren't already enough reasons to wander over to the Apple Store (anyone who says they don't want an iPhone is a huge, broke liar), Wes Anderson would like to give you one more. The man who brought us "Bottle Rocket," introduced us to Jason Schwartzman in "Rushmore," and changed our lives with "The Royal Tenenbaums," will be screening "Hotel Chevalier"--a 12-minute short starring Schwartzman, Natalie Portman and, supposedly, a cameo by Portman's bare ass--at the Apple Store tonight at 9pm. The short, set in Paris, is the prequel to Anderson's forthcoming opus, The Darjeeling Limited, a film about three brothers (Schwartzman, Adrien Brody and Owen Wilson) who embark on a journey through India after the death of their father and the disappearance of their mother in an effort to repair their familial bond.

Schwartzman and Anderson will both be in attendance at the free screening (though no word on Brody or Wilson, but in the wake of his highly publicized suicide attempt, we think it's safe to say the latter will be a no-show), so if you can restrain yourself from dropping all your cash on an iPhone, this may be the one time you can go to the Apple Store and get something for nothing.

(Photo courtesy of Worst Previews)

Fresh off "The Soprano's" big night at The Emmy Awards, it's back to work for Michael Imperioli, whose rock band La Dolce Vita will perform tonight at Mercury Lounge. In addition to lead vocalist and guitar player Imperioli--who made news earlier this month when a bomb went off outside his theater, Studio Dante, courtesy of an as-yet-unidentified lunatic looking for a little attention--La Dolce Vita features Elijah Amitin on bass and Olmo Tighe on drums. The band was formed a few years ago but has yet to release an album, preferring, at least for now, to hone its skills on the stage and generate a buzz for the right reasons--that is, because of its music rather than its famous frontman.

You might not think much of actors-turned-musicians (see Jared Leto, Russell Crowe and Keanu Reeves), but don't underestimate La Dolce Vita; the band has already killed it at a bunch of other shows, including a packed performance at Don Hill's, which is where I saw them perform. And for those of you who are really shallow and vapid and don't care about the music, tonight's show is still worth checking out, if only to scope the various "Soprano's" actors who ordinarily turn up to support their fellow cast mate.

Tonight's set is $10, and features an opening set by Death of Fashion at 9:30pm, followed by La Dolce Vita at 10:30pm. Click here for more details.

What successful Soho bar owners-turned-restaurateurs say they'll open a new spot within the year and may also be looking into New York hotel possibilities?

(Image courtesy of SOHH.com)

Since you probably couldn't get tickets to the Bacardi B-Live show, here's another way to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Brooklyn is taking it back to the streets, literally, with the biggest block party ever, on Hart Street between Evergreen and Bushwick. So shake off your hangover and hop on the J train to Myrtle for a day of food, arts & crafts, games, a dance-off, and live performances by The Dugout, The Project, Liberation Family and others. According to the flyer, there will also be "Fun, fun, fun!!!" and you really can't argue with that. For additional details, go to the Citysearch listing or check our Weekly Hot List of other events.

Thanks to James O'Connor at Fresh Press Media for the tip.