Every week we bring you the latest news in bar openings and weekend parties, and this is the day we do it. Up first: bar openings.
1. Chelsea: The Tipsy Parson, the sophomore effort from Little Giant owners Julie Taras Wallach and Tasha Garcia Gibson, is a handsome and airy restaurant-bar combo serving hearty Southern-ified meals, from a 7:30 a.m. breakfast (Stumptown coffee, homemade pastries), through a midday lunch (grass-fed burgers with bacon and homemade fried pickles), an evening dinner (oysters, braised pork shanks over grits) and right through last call. The cocktail list leans Southern, too, with an emphasis on Mint Juleps—which can be enjoyed (next year, at least) in their outdoor garden. Open now. (156 Ninth Ave. near 20th St., 212-620-4545)
2. Williamsburg: Onetime fashion consultant Cynthia Diaz looks to bring her glam lifestyle to Bar Celona, where, with the help of her interior-designer mother, Diaz has tried to create a 67-seat space she calls "old Hollywood glam kind of feel," featuring plenty of molding and vibrant colors in a black-and-gold setting. Chef Jordy Lavanderos (Jean Georges) dishes out Spanish tapas with a Latin twist, while from the long granite black bar come cocktails by the Tippling Bros. that focus on fresh ingredients. They also make their own in-house tonic, while a saffron syrup supposedly makes a Paellarhinha taste like, yup, paella. Open now. (104 S. 4 St. between Berry St. and Bedford Ave., 718-237-7828)
3. Upper West Side: Accademia di Vino sprouts a second location, on Broadway in the UWS. It's very similar to the first, with lots of Italian wines and bites. Open now. (2427 Broadway between 89th and 90th Sts., 212-787-3070)
4. West Village: Karaoke joint Sing Sing now has a little sister in Karaoke Boho, which serves Korean food for lunch and dinner while simultaneously catering to your karaoke needs, with more than 2,000 songs in about 20 (!) sexy-dungeon-style private rooms, and at the front bar. They're currently soft-open, although they're still short a liquor license (but it's in the works). (186 W. 4 St. between Barrow and Jones Sts., 212-255-0011)
5. Williamsburg: Full Circle Bar, the "National Home of Brewskee Ball" is verrry close to opening. What is Brewskee Ball? We're sure you can guess, but just in case: "Brewskee-Ball is the first-ever competitive Skee-Ball league, and Full Circle Bar is its national home." It'll host all sorts of Brewskee-Ball league events, tournaments, game nights, special events and other beer- and game-related parties, as well as serve Coney Island hot dogs, homemade chili and hand-twisted pretzels. Game on (almost)! Open soon. (318 Grand St. between Havemeyer St. and Marcy Ave., no phone)
6. Soho: The long- and eagerly awaited Bar Martignetti replacement, Brinkley's, is finally open, offering gastropubby food and drink in a refined but not-too-pretty, black-and-white tiled space. Very nice. Open now. (406 Broome St. at Centre St., 212-680-5600)
7. Flatiron: Opening tonight, Thursday, Oct. 29, in the former Porky's location, The Yard (not to be confused with the seasonal BKLYN Yard, in Gowanus) will serve pub grub comfort food and booze, as well as throw DJ's ragers (including an opening-night Halloween bash-Nightmare on 21 St.). Drink up, dudes. Open tonight. (55 W. 21 St. at Sixth Ave.)
And now for your weekend party buzz...
