Above: The graffitti-filled corridor that leads to Soho hot spot Upstairs--just one of the many places where I punished my liver this weekend

Welcome back to the perma-hell that is your 9:00 to 5:00--or, as the case may be, 10:00 to 6:00. OK, fine, 10:30 to 6:00--after another weekend, one that was likely filled with various acts of depraved indifference of the liquid kind. This weekend alone, my drinking problem (and my poor choice in friends) led me to hit up Phebe's, Bowery Electric, Bella's, Pastis, Upstairs, Boss Tweeds and Whiskey Ward. In at least one case (that I recall), I wound up behind the bar, pouring my own shots, before the night was over. 

But there is no amount of liquor in my apartment on God's green earth that could ever cause a blackout so severe that I'd forget any part of what I witnessed Sunday night at The Tank, where a friend of mine performed in a play called "Sherri Zahad and Her Arabian Knights." The Village Voice recently described the show--which runs every Sunday and Wednesday at 7pm until April 30th--thus:

The Middle East is a big topic in theater these days—but taking an unusually lighthearted approach in yet another desert-set play is Laboratory Theater, whose new piece, "Sherri Zahad and Her Arabian Knights," turns Sir Richard Francis Burton's translation of the "Arabian Nights" into a Vegas lounge act.

The whole spectacle pretty much defies all logic, and though I don't suspect my friend will appreciate it, I've posted several short video clips on YouTube; I figure it doesn't really do any further damage to post them here. He's the one wearing the miniature novelty monkey hat and the jockstrap (oh, and sometimes he's also wearing a blazer, but mostly, it's just the jockstrap). Here's one--click through to view all 9 clips.

It's always nice when a user-friendly local bar manages to survive and prosper in New York's cutthroat nightlife industry, especially if said bar happens to be in the Meatpacking District. Brass Monkey--one of the lone remaining bars on Little West 12th Street where you don't have to be on a list or drop a name to get in--is expanding. As per an email from owner Sean Cunningham:

"We are opening another bar with a roof deck, overlooking the Hudson River.  We are expecting the build-out to be finished at the start of June ... It's an extension of Brass Monkey. We've renovated the bathrooms and hallway downstairs, and the outside deck is going to look fantastic."

There's talk of the additional space being adapted into a beer garden, though we'll have to wait and see as the renovation is closer to completion. 

Finally, a bar that's under construction to expand, rather than one that's using "construction" as code, to mean "closed indefinitely while we determine how to get out of our lease and avoid filing for bankruptcy."

(Image courtesy of BrassMonkeyNYC.com)

Yesterday we reported that there seemed to be signs of life at recently shuttered bar and restaurant Gin Lane. Well, as promised, I did some investigating last night, and it looks like we can expect the place to re-open, with some changes. Word for word, the construction permit in the window says:

Alteration Type 2
Interior demolition to existing restaurant at basement and first floor; work to include removal of walls and plumbing fixtures, all as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy under this application.

That description makes it sound as though Gin Lane is simply renovating--remodeling the ladies room, perhaps. We can't say whether the ownership or overall concept will remain intact, but the language above seems to suggest that it will. Then again, given that the place was arguably doomed from the moment it landed on Eater's Deathwatch list, and was  struggling before it eventually closed several months ago, we have to hope that other changes are also underway.

If only the butchers could see the Meatpacking District now ... unfortunately they can't, because they wouldn't be able to get past the bouncers. Luckily, we can, so we sent one of our ace reporters to the new club Kiss & Fly, now open on West 13th Street in the space formerly known as Aer.

Read our full review of Kiss & Fly, 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).

(Photos provided by Kiss & Fly)

Please note that tomorrow's release party for YRB Magazine's end of year issue will now be held at Lotus, and not Element, as previously reported.