In the wake of last weekend's midtown crane accident, New Yorkers pause to share fond memories of Fubar, the local bar that was destroyed in the crash. NY Times

The term drunkorexia--which was recently used by the NY Times to describe the growing number of girls who take the concept of "liquid diet" a bit more literally than the rest of us--is finally catching on. Mediabistro

Down by the Hipster has intel on the soon-to-open bar Antik, located in the Bowery locale formerly occupied by Marion's Marquee. "It is the latest creation from nightlife impresarios Larry Kramer and Craig Koenig, the team behind the rustic-lounge Retreat," they report. DBTH

Anthony Minghella--who directed such films as "The English Patient" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley"--has passed away at the age of 54. Page 6

In a recent article entitled "Checking Up On Your Spring Break Reveler," the New York Times (always ahead of the curve) describes spring break thus:

Spring break can be a stressful time for parents of college students. Not surprisingly, students on spring break outings with friends dramatically increase their alcohol consumption, the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs reported this fall. Last year, the medical journal Chronobiology International published a study tracking patterns of sexually transmitted disease. Among the trends they found were prominent peaks in March and May. The authors speculated these increases could be associated with the sexual activities of young adults during spring break, which commences as early as late February and concludes as late as mid-April.

What's that you say? College students are getting wasted and being promiscuous whilst gallivanting around the tropics? Have they no shame?!

But it gets worse for these irresponsible undergraduates, according to the Times, because now their parental units might be watching in real-time as their precious Lit majors engage in assorted acts of deviousness and debauchery. That's thanks to Earthcam, a free site dedicated to 24-hour live-broadcasting of popular spring break destinations on the web.

I know what you're thinking: "So, in other words, 'Girls Gone Wild' is now available via free live feeds?" Well, not exactly. Says the Times, "The scenes they show are largely uneventful, and the images are transmitted in a choppy, time-lapse format. From time to time rain, ocean mist or nightfall dims the view." So I guess spring break isn't ruined after all--thankfully, since doing whatever it is we've all done on spring break is precisely what prevents people from becoming president 30 years down the line. Oh wait, no it's not!

Don't forget to check out our guide to partying like it's spring break without leaving the Isle of Manhattan.

(Photo borrowed from BreakNow.com)

The Rusty Knot--the new West Village bar conceived by alums of Spotted Pig, Milk and Honey and Freemans--may have opened last night. Or it may be opening this weekend. Or it may be closed. Or whatever. Daily Candy

Two days after the NY Times broke the news that Gov. Eliot Spitzer had engaged in extramarital romps with pricey New York prosties, he has officially stepped down. The torch now falls to Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson, who will make history as the state's first African-American governor. Unfortunately for Paterson, that considerable feat is likely to be outshined in November, when America elects its first black president. NY Times

Is the State Liquor Authority more drunk off its own power than a horny New York governor with a god complex and several thousand an hour to burn? In December, The Observer reported there was beef between Lola--a Cajun-soul-food spot featuring live soul, jazz and gospel music, which relocated from Chelsea to Soho last year--and local anti-bar-sprawl group SoHo Alliance. Now, Lola is ensnared in a battle that may force its closure, after the SLA granted their liquor license and then annulled it, only to have it reinstated on appeal but with a ban on live music, which was permitted under the original license and upon which Lola's livelihood depends. The Villager

So, you need a drink like whoa, but you've got no one to watch the rug rats while you're busy getting tanked. What do you do? Line 'em up--at least for patrons of DUMBO's Water Street Restaurant and Lounge, which has contracted with something called Parent Play to provide on-site babysitting during the dinner hour. (No word on whether irresponsible alcoholic adults can retain the babysitting services for myself themselves.) Brooklyn Paper

Writers are expert procrastinators, so it comes as no surprise that they decided to wait a few weeks to throw a party in honor of the end of the Writers Guild strike. Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that the strike isn't officially over until I get some free booze, even if I have to go to Plumm to get it.

For those who hadn't heard, Greenpoint is the new Soho. Next up: t.b.d., a new bar opening soon on the corner of Franklin and Green. Gothamist

Beloved Bedford Street speakeasy Chumley's Bar may finally be on the road to reopening. Eater

Perez Hilton may get his own record label. And in other news, I'm getting my own brand of Scotch. Gawker

A Clinton supporter reportedly stabbed his Obama-loving brother-in-law, after an argument about their political differences. Oh snap! The Smoking Gun

Is Schiller's Liquor Bar immortalized in the new Richard Price book, "Lush Life"? And if so, does anyone care? NY Mag

It seems that the door policy may not be the only nasty thing at Armin Amiri's uber-exclusive lounge, Socialista. According to a report that first appeared in INF Daily (and then caught fire throughout the blogosphere), anyone who patronized the West Village hot spot on February 7, 8 or 11 may have been exposed to the liver disease Hepatitis A. Worse still (or better yet, depending on your perspective), it just so happens that Ashton Kutcher celebrated his 30th birthday with a bash there on February 7, which was attended by such industry heavyweights as Demi Moore, Madonna, Lucy Liu, Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek, and "Grey's Anatomy" star Eric "Mr. McSteamy" Dane. The disease is believed to have been  tracked into the club by a bartender, and not, as we naturally assumed, by Paris Hilton.

Socialista owner Armin Amiri (a former doorman at Bungalow 8) did release an official statement, part of which was reprinted in the NY Post:

Although no additional cases of illness have been identified, the New York City Department of Health is urging customers to get the vaccination as a precautionary measure. We are grateful for their efforts and we will continue to support them in every way possible.

Although one visit to Socialista was enough for me, those who haven't had the pleasure can now take solace in knowing that the stringent door policy may turn out to have been a blessing in disguise. From here on out, it may be downhill for Socialista--you know what they say, "Once they start letting Hepatitis in, they'll let anyone in."

(Photo via Paper Mag)

For years I've been saying it's high time organized crime syndicates went mainstream, and thanks to Mob Candy Magazine, it looks like they are. From the inbox today:

You and one guest are invited to join some wiseguys (and girls) at Runway Lounge on Monday night, February 25th, from 8 to 11PM for a very special party--Mob Candy style. This is the party everyone's talking about and is by special invitation only, so make sure you RSVP by February 15th. Drinks, Dessert, Free Gifts, a Fashion Show, Celebs and of course, Candy... lots of Candy.

First of all, let me just say for the record that I'm a huge fan of the mafia, and if you ask me Italians in general are just great. I love things like San Gennaro's feast, Carmine's and all of the the "Godfather" movies, and just last spring I went to Milan for a fashion show. Plus I never use words like "goomba," "greaser," "guido," "guinea" or "Luigi," and I think the recent arrests of 62 members of the Gambino crime family was a waste of city resources. And just in case anyone is wondering, I would totally never wear a wire. In short, I am a friend to the mafia--well, I'm not a friend of theirs, but I support them and their whole "wives on Saturdays, goomahs on Fridays" culture.

So when I say that I'm pretty sure Mob Candy Magazine might actually be the single most bizarre idea in publishing history, please know that I mean it in the best sense possible.

This might be your only chance to risk your life at a crappy club in the Flatiron District on a Monday night--usually, you have to go all the way to West Chelsea to do that. So if you want to attend the Mob Candy Magazine launch party, then by all means, send me an email and I'll send you the invitation. I'd join you if I could, but I'll be busy dyeing my hair and relocating to an undisclosed location.  

 
(Image borrowed from President08.net)

Super Tuesday is finally upon us, and while a gaggle of legitimate news outlets will be focused on boring us to death with talk of "precincts," "delegates" and "exit polls," we at Citysearch are bringing you the kind of hard-hitting, no-nonsense reporting that really matters. Specifically, we're investigating a question that is of the utmost importance when it comes to selecting a new leader of the free world: "What would the presidential candidates drink, and where would they drink it?"

So, if you're wondering how Obama's plan to get the hell outta Dodge (where by "Dodge" I mean "Baghdad") compares to McCain's plan to keep us there for another 100 years, I couldn't tell you. And if you're unsure of how Clinton's plan to offer universal health care differs from Romney's plan to withhold it, I just don't know. But what I do know is that by the time the polls close on Tuesday night, all of the candidates, winners and losers alike, will be fiending for a liquid fix.

So here's our take on what and where each of them would drink--if the cameras (and evangelists) weren't watching.

DEMOCRATS

Hillary Clinton:
Everything about the New York Senator--from her infamous pants suits to her fancy Chappaqua digs--says she's a lady who lets loose with a white wine spritzer. And while her husband might prefer to go, uh, downtown, Hil's a definite uptown girl. But if Cafe Des Artistes was booked, perhaps she'd head over to midtown's Yale Club--where her fellow Ivy Leaguers sip Chardonnay at their very own haven away from New Haven. So, rather than let Obama get to her on Super Tuesday, HRC will simply take a deep breath, plaster on a smile and get plastered. 

Barack Obama:
He may be from Illinois (by way of Hawaii), but Obama knows how to kick it NYC-style. The Columbia University graduate admits that back in the day he dabbled in drugs and alcohol (which might explain in part why he's carrying the American youth vote), but these days he sticks to throwing punches rather than spiking it. When Obama wants to get his drink on, he likely meets up with celeb supporters like Robert De Niro for sake bombs at Nobu or vino at Tribeca Grill. On second thought, maybe he prefers to show that he's in touch with the Average Joe by grabbing a beer somewhere less elitist, like a dive bar in Brooklyn, or even Staten Island. Just kidding! No one would ever want to go there!

REPUBLICANS

John McCain:
The 72-year-old Republican front-runner probably has to do his boozing on the sly, thanks to his wife Cindy, the Budweiser heiress with a well-documented pill-popping habit. A decorated war veteran (and war advocate), should McCain arrive in New York to find that the officer's club is closed, I suspect he'd drop by the Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' Coast Guard and Airmen's Club and sidle up to the bar with a nice single malt scotch. And once he started feeling tipsy, he would head to the nearest military recruiting station and attempt to re-enlist for active duty, just to prove that he's not too old to be president.

Mitt Romney:
You can always count on a Mormon to be the life of any party, and the former Massachusetts governor is no exception. Although Romney's Church of Latter Day Saints traditionally prohibits the use of alcohol, they have begun to relax their policy slightly, permitting members of the Church to consume small amounts of low-ABV booze. In other words, Romney's a lightweight who probably gets a buzz off a sixer of O'Doul's. That might fly in his Puritan state, but in NYC that ain't gonna cut it. So maybe he'd try to fit in by going to a bar that is happy to make non-alcoholic versions of their cocktails--like Brasserie 8 1/2 or Counter--so he wouldn't have to feel awkward saying, "Would you make that a virgin pina colada, boss?" in public. Actually, he should feel awkward saying that. What an amateur. Do you really want a guy who can't hold his liquor running this ship?

Mike Huckabee:
The Southern Baptist and former governor of Arkansas may have vetoed a bill in his state that would have made public drinking in "entertainment districts" legal, but that doesn't mean he's not a hardcore boozer in private. This dude wouldn't know what the hell to do with himself in the big city, and would likely end up hanging out somewhere exotic and touristy, like New Jersey or Planet Hollywood or Jekyll & Hyde, where he'd order something creepy and overly complex--you know, like a drink that looks and smells like it belongs in a witches cauldron rather than a glass. It doesn't really matter though, because despite his victory in Iowa, it seems like it's only a matter of time before Huckabee drops out of the race. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time that an Arkansas governor turned out to be a nuisance for Hillary Clinton. 

Ron Paul:
I'll be honest, I don't know much about Texas congressman Ron Paul, except that he looks suspiciously like my grandpa, and that he's a doctor who doesn't believe in evolution--which means he's clearly suffering from a kind of denial seen only among people who drink a whole hell of a lot. It's not a stretch to imagine that if he weren't a politician, he'd be standing on a crate somewhere, rocking a Members Only jacket and polyester pants with a razor-sharp crease, ranting about how social welfare programs are un-American, and how the government oughtta' give everyone a semi-automatic weapon instead of universal health care. But if Ronnie found himself in Manhattan, I'm guessing he'd probably split his time evenly between the OTB and dirty bars like Charlie O's, where he'd alternate between Bud tallboys and Jack Daniels, depending on the time of day. 

Look, we don't know if any of the above is true (actually, it's almost certainly not true), but we do know that one of these people will be the next President of the United States. So, just in case you didn't already have a reason to hit the bottle, now you have six.

By now you've probably heard about the multiple stabbing that took place outside mammoth karaoke bar Spotlive Live early Monday morning. Granted, karaoke makes me want to stab people, too, but I wouldn't actually do it. Then again, karaoke in Times Square makes the situation that much more volatile. NY Daily News...

My drinking problem may be on the mend thanks to some positive news with respect to the Writers Guild of America strike, which may soon be resolved, FINALLY. Bloomberg...

Ironically, Graydon Carter's Waverly Inn is submerged by water. Get it? Waverly Inn, flooded? NY Post...

Guest of a Guest reports that Cordell Lochin, part owner of La Equina and The Box, has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and fined $39,000 after he was found guilty of involvement in a "cross-border drug-smuggling ring." More...

Williamsburg's new shabby-chic cocktail den, Hotel Delmano, is neither hotel nor delmano (whatever that is). Discuss.

And this just in, courtesy of The Villager:

R.I.P. Death & Co: Death & Co, which opened last year on E. Sixth St., may soon be deceased. On Dec. 21, the State Liquor Authority notified the bar’s owners that it would not renew the place’s liquor license. As a result, the bar, known for its fancy cocktails and windowless, darkly atmospheric interior, no longer can serve booze. Bill Crowley, an S.L.A. spokesperson, said Death & Co originally had stated it would be a restaurant closing at midnight, but was in fact a bar that closed at 4 a.m. Among other violations, Death & Co refused to take down an illegal flagpole with a black flag that irked its life-loving neighbors. The S.L.A.'s rejection letter accuses the owners of "fraudulent misrepresentation" and says they "lack the requisite character and fitness to hold any liquor license." Not helping the bar’s case was an Aug. 31 police raid that hit them with violations for contaminated ice, contaminated condiments and lack of a flameproof liquor-license certificate. Melissa Flores, a regular Death & Co patron who lives a block away, confirmed the bar shut down "early" at midnight last Friday but said it was still serving alcohol. She added, however, that the activity at the dimly lit drinking spot is tame compared to another bar two blocks down, and expressed disbelief that neighbors would complain when the operators take measures to keep the crowd at a minimum. However, the S.L.A.’s Crowley noted that the bar no longer possesses a license to serve, so the Police Department could rightfully pursue action against the establishment for the "illegal trafficking of alcohol." Crowley also told us something we didn't know, that Larry Gedda, a former S.L.A. commissioner, left the board seven months ago. Gedda had been with the S.L.A. 45 years, 14 years as a commissioner. "You looking for a job?" Crowley quipped.

As an East Villager, I'm sad to hear about this. Especially since I thought it was one of the best new bars of 2007.

Then again, it's a lot less disturbing than the other major story today:

Brione Schneider, a 32-year-old sporting goods store manager, was shot about 3:45 a.m. after an argument at club Stereo spilled into a West Chelsea street, police said. A club employee said Schneider had "words" with another man in the popular club at 512 W. 29th St. Once outside, the other man climbed into a car and shot Schneider in the back, police and witnesses said. "A girl was crying, 'Call the ambulance! Call the ambulance!'" said Dennis Schuette, a 48-year-old Con Ed employee who was working at 11th Ave. "I just saw him lying there," Schuette said of Schneider. "His eyes were rolling back into his head." [More...]

So, to recapitulate: Death & Co is on its way out, and I suspect Stereo will be pretty easy to get into tonight, so if you don't mind going to a club where chances are you'll catch beef with another patron, then by all means head to West Chelsea. But if you do go, maybe you should forgo buying any $350 bottles of Goose--after all, you may need that money to pay your final expenses.