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)

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

In other construction-related closing news, it seems that Avenue B spot Luca Lounge--owned by the same group as nearby Luca Bar and something called Masso in Long Island City (what, you've never been??)--is the latest casualty.

I live two blocks away, and I quite liked the spacious, more-shabby-than-chic Luca Lounge, but I always wondered how a place that big, which only drew a bar crowd on weekends, managed to stay alive. As of Thursday night the following sign was posted on the gate:

Luca Lounge is closed for renovations. We will reopen Spring [word blacked-out] 2008. Please join us at Luca Bar ... Thanks for your understanding, we look forward to see[ing] you in the near future.

So, what was under the blacked-out portion of the sign? Closer inspection revealed the word "summer," as in, "We will reopen spring/summer 2008." Maybe it's not permanently shuttered, but as we all know, when a bar suddenly closes for renovations and leaves open the possibility that it may remain "under construction" indefinitely, usually it's not because business was booming.

(Photo courtesy of Luca Lounge via LucaLoungeNYC.com)

Something appears to be happening at Gin Lane, the West Village bar and "restaurant" that shuttered several months ago, without so much as a window sign or explanation on their now-defunct website. Back then, no one but the bloggers seemed to notice, and even they didn't really care. Now, since our fancy offices are in Chelsea, I pass by Gin Lane on a daily basis, and in recent weeks, I noticed that the front door (not to be confused with the interior door that leads into the bar) has been wide open. I didn't bother to report this, but then this morning I caught a glimpse of a new construction permit hanging in the window, and snapped the above photo. At the time, I was in a moving vehicle and thus unable to inspect the sign--further intel is on the way, pending a walk-by later this evening. But perhaps we can expect to see Gin Lane: Version 2.0 in the not-too-distant future, or (much) better yet, something altogether new. Stay tuned ...

submercer (the lower level lounge at the Mercer Hotel) was reportedly closed (again) on Saturday night by the FDNY, this time indefinitely. Eater

Beatrice Inn, Dirty Jers style? Word on the street is that the Chelsea Hotel in Atlantic City has tapped Paul Sevigny and Matt Abramcyk of the beloved Beatrice Inn to oversee the hotel's new nightclub. Down By the Hipster

NY Magazine's Best of NY double issue is out this week, but no one cares--give us more Lindsay Lohan, dammit. New York Mag

Think that ID scanner just prevents 19-year-old jailbait from getting into Cain? Think again--it also records your information, which means that now if you stab someone outside a club you'd better get your alibi straight, because the coppers are coming. NY Post

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)

So long as Nelly has Pimp Juice and 50 Cent has Formula 50, I don't have a problem with Playboy jumping on the beverage bandwagon. Yes, the Hef monster is at it again, this time with Playboy Energy Drink, launching this spring. Per the press release:

With subtle notes of fruit and vanilla, this proprietary formula contains horny goat weed, ginseng and guarana extract, which have been known to stimulate the spirits of men and women.

Though the Playboy Energy Drink is not yet sold in the tri-state area, representatives tell us it will be soon, though no word on whether the drink will be available at Larry Flynt's Hustler Club. We suspect not.

Either way, in keeping with the Playboy legacy, American men are expected to buy the new drink in bulk--not because it tastes so good, just because they like reading the labels.