Personally, the only draft I care about is the kind that's served in a glass, but football fans might be interested to know that this Saturday afternoon, Southern Hospitality will be throwing a special event to celebrate the NFL draft. Free and open to the public, the pre-draft show kicks off at 11am, with live coverage of the draft itself starting at 3pm. Giants center Shaun O'Hara will be making a special guest appearance, so you can congratulate him in person for the team's  recent Superbowl victory, then go sample some down-home Southern grub prepared by SoHo's new executive chef, Dr. BBQ, and take advantage of draft beer specials all day.**

**Get it? draft beer for the NFL draft? It's a lot funnier when you're as drunk as I am right now.

This week we review Bowery Wine Company, the latest in a string of new spots seemingly designed to remind us that the CBGB-era Bowery is dead and gone. But while we mourn the loss of the punk age, it seems that Bowery Wine Company--which is part-owned by Bruce Willis--isn't half bad, at least as wine bars go.

Hits: Despite the fancy digs, inexpensive wine and sangrias are served along with a tasty roster of finger foods and desserts worthy of a multi-starred restaurant.

Misses: If you're allergic to yuppies and foreign tourists, try another wine bar; the surrounding luxury condos feed this high-end haunt with a high-rolling clientèle.

Read our full editorial review of Bowery Wine Company, 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).

Back in late January, I noticed construction underway on my block at Avenue B between 11th and 12th--directly across the street from Panificio, which opened last week--and learned that a cafe was to open, "in early February." Well, a few months later, it looks like a cafe called De Nova is finally getting ready to open its doors fairly soon. The above sign (left) appeared several weeks ago, but after a graffiti writer quickly put the kibosh on that plan, the sign disappeared, then reappeared covered in some kind of plastic sheath that's presumably resistant to Posca markers and such.

The space, formerly home to the Furniture Place (which moved to Great Jones Street after my landlord raised the rent, also forcing out vintage shop Suzette Sundae), is larger than it looks, but it's unclear whether De Nova will be a coffee shop-style cafe posing as a restaurant that serves three squares a day, or whether it'll be more like a real restaurant with a coffee bar. I suspect they don't have a liquor license and won't be able to get one, so I'd say it's looking like the former. I walk by at least twice a day, so unless my rent is next on the hit list, I expect to know as soon as De Nova opens.

Last fall, we reported that a restaurant called La Scarpetta was to open at Avenue B and 11th Street, in the space formerly known as Uovo. Well, after months of waiting, last Tuesday the restaurant finally opened--under the name Panificio (an Italian neighborhood bakers shop).

I stopped by last Sunday to peruse the menu, which features a mix of traditional Italian cuisine and Italian American fare prepared by chef Kenneth Johnson. I didn't sample anything, but as one patron walked outside after dinner, I heard her say, "the food was excellent and we'll definitely be back."

Earlier this week I spoke with the manager, Ayo Balogun, who explained that part of the concept behind Panificio is to cater to neighborhood locals in particular, with specialty coffees offered at a reduced price if you leave nearby (he mentioned a price of $2 and change for fancy Starbucks-style drinks). Panificio also opens early and serves breakfast treats like lemon polenta pancakes, ricotta fritters, stuffed Tuscan toast, and an Italian bacon, egg and cheese sandwich made with pancetta and fontina cheese on ciabatta bread.

So...what about the matter of that elusive liquor license, which Uovo was unable to procure (eventually forcing its closure), and which had thus far been denied to La Scarpetta/Panificio when we spoke to the chef last fall? Ayo says a full liquor license is on the way, though we're not sure whether that means it has been officially approved, or whether he has reason to believe that the SLA has had a sudden change of heart, and that all signs point toward liquor license approval in the near future. That doesn't sound like the SLA we know, but, hey, surely there's a first for everything.

UPDATE: In an email, Panificio manger Ayo Balogun says they expect to receive their liquor license "in three weeks or so."

If you're like me, right now you're probably sitting in your cubicle, going crazy, wishing it was 6pm on a Friday so you could leave your godforsaken office immediately, and expedite your standing plans to drown your sorrows in a tall glass of Scotch. So it's particularly unfortunate when you discover, as I just did, that in fact it's only 4:45pm on a Tuesday.

But if I was attending tonight's Greek-themed Vino-Versity class at Divine Bar West, maybe I wouldn't need to be talked down off the ledge. The event, which runs from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, is described thus:

A wine tasting forum designed to teach the novice to advanced wine enthusiast how to enjoy and decipher the intricacies of wine. Taste over 24 incredible wines, from whites to reds to late harvest desserts, from Macedonia, Peloponnese, Santorini, and Crete, among others ... A fabulous buffet of Mediterranean specialties, including stuffed grape leaves, roasted lamb and garlic tartlets, lemon-feta spread, and spanakopita, plus olives, tapenades and cheeses, will transport you right to Greece. Aside from tasting, you’ll learn fabulous wine facts and tidbits, such as how to pronounce the major red grape, Agiorgitiko, by saying "Ahhhhh, your Yittiko is showing!" 

Tickets may still be available, but call Divine Bar ASAP to find out. Admission will cost you $38 in advance, or $48 at the door if it's not sold out. And if you can't make it tonight, don't sweat it--apparently this is a weekly event, which means that while Tuesdays may never be the new Fridays, they just might turn out to be the new Thursdays.

(Photo borrowed from GoodWineUnder20)

After a near-week-long hiatus, I'm back from spring break--sorry for the lack of blogging, but rest assured I won't be getting any more time off for a long, long time, which means new posts every day.

First up, New Review Fridays. This week, we review Suzie Wong, the new West Chel hot spot where flavored sake is the new Grey Goose of bottle service.

Hits: Fruit-infused sake choices include mandarin orange, pear, peach, cranberry, raspberry and blueberry.

Misses: With a maximum occupancy of just 350, only varsity A-listers make the final cut at the door, and about a third of those head straight to the VIP room, cut off from the main space by a curtain of dangling beads.

Read our full review of Suzie Wong, and then peruse other New and Notable bar reviews, or check out our list of spots that are too new to review (but not too new to get you wasted).

We recently reported that a modest new bar and resto called Berry Bistro would be opening in the East 14th Street space formerly occupied by Twisted Burger. A walk-by circa 9:15pm last night confirmed that the new spot is open, though there wasn't a soul inside, save a hostess sitting behind the counter in back.

OK, so there's not much buzz yet, but that could change--especially if this Yelp user has anything to do with it:

My friends and I just happened to stumble upon this place the other night as we were walking down 14th Street, and noticed it was new to the neighborhood. I had the most amazing pasta--penne with cauliflower and roasted pine nuts and currants in a light garlic-butter sauce! My boyfriend got the stuffed leg of lamb with delicious potato dumplings. For dessert we shared their pavlova, which we'd never heard of before. It was like a delicate meringue, so heavenly and dripping in fruit sauce and berries. The service was great, and everyone was so friendly. We are already planning our next trip.

"Amazing," "delicious," "heavenly," "great," "friendly" ... Sounds suspiciously like a PR person. But since, well, there is no PR for Berry Bistro (at least none that we know of), we can't help wondering whether "Isabelle A. from Brooklyn" might be "Isabelle A. from Brooklyn who owns Berry Bistro." Then again, just because the owner thinks it's good doesn't mean it's not; we'll have to wait and see.

We recently posted about a food and drink-related opening at 400 East 14th Street. A particularly lovely commenter tipped us off to the fact that it was to be a Hot & Crusty, and a weekend walk-by confirms it.

Though I generally don't support the chain-ization of the East Village, as a local, I must say that I'm not displeased to have a fancy deli in the 'hood. We've got tons of cafes and restaurants that are great for eating out, but there aren't many places that offer made-to-order takeout salads, bagels, etc., and if this H&C is like the one near my mom's house on the Upper West where I grew up, it may become a staple for well-made overpriced sandwiches and such. No word yet on whether, like its uptown counterpart, it'll be open 24 hours.

If you're one of the poor schmucks who has to work today, by 6pm you're going to need to freebase a bottle of scotch--and not just because it's Monday. Today is that holiest of all holidays: March 17, aka, St. Patrick's Day, and we've compiled a list of the city's best Irish bars so you can toast the patron saint until the wee hours of the morn and worry about the hangover later (just like a true Irishman). And if you don't own any festive St. Paddy's Day clothing, don't worry--chase a few shots of Guinness with a few pints of Jameson and you'll turn green anyway.

Click through to read our complete guide to St. Patrick's Day in NYC.

(Image courtesy of MyTVLife.com)

Ever since Eater reported several weeks ago that Subway at 400 East 14th Street (at 1st Avenue) closed, we've been keeping an eye on the site's construction. The renovations are definitely underway on a spacious new bar and restaurant--or so we assume, per a window work permit that covers, "new layout for existing store on the first floor to accommodate a new eating and drinking establishment."

As of last week, lights are on, and, though the windows are still covered, we were able to snap a few interior shots through the fog. It's still got a ways to go, but there's certainly been some rapid progress. Stay tuned for updates on when this as-yet-unnamed spot will be opening, and info on exactly what type of "eating and drinking establishment" it will be. Because judging from that beverage case, it could be anything--like, say, a glorified deli or a glorified diner.