We always assumed that people were still smoking inside because the places we tend to hang out are less than savory, but according to Eater, it's happening all over.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

Tonight Blind Pilot headlines Brooklyn, at The Bell House, 149 7th St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), Brooklyn, 718-643-6510; 8, $15

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

The Film Talk guys, Jett Loe and Gareth Higgins, discuss A Christmas Carol and other recent reviews with Armond White. They call him the "most controversial of modern film critics." But the blog chatter is still raging with Preciousmania, and over at The Cooler blog, they've latched on to White's explanation (with a post titled "The Demonizing (of) Armond White") of his reputation as a contrarian:

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

Tonight we have A Camp at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St. (betw. Sullivan & Thompson Sts.), 212-228-4854; 10, $15

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

This morning's Washington Post examines the horrifying rash of "drive-by porning" incidents that are plaguing that city's subways, highways and even the airplanes flying overhead. And while most Washingtonians seem to respond prudishly and passive aggressively to the public porn (what New Yorker wouldn't realize that there is no better time to mug someone than while he is watching Cock Smokers 10 on the 4 train?), bartender Sandi Benedetti knows exactly how a situation like this should be handled.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

It's a freak occurrence of publishing genius: Sarah Palin's book "Going Rogue" will be released the same day as V. Nabokov's "The Original of Laura." Who's capitalizing on such a once-in-a-lifetime event? Unnameable Books in Prospect Heights. They encourage you to come dress as your favorite character tonight at their midnight release party. Be there, or be Levized.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

Andy Kaufman persona Tony Clifton performs tonight with Vaginal Cream Davis and P.M.E. at Santos Party House, 100 Lafayette St. (betw. Walker & White Sts.), 212-584-5492; 8, $20

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

If adding a basement lounge wasn't enough, Coffee Shop, the East 16th Street restaurant that everybody knows is a pain but most of us still eat at every so often, is expanding. According to our pal Patrick Hedlund over at Chelsea Now, Team Coffee Shop will "take over the lease at Chelsea’s Empire Diner, with plans to revamp the menu and rename the iconic railcar-style eatery."

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

Over at NPR, Carrie Brownstein interviews Thurston Moore. It happened over email, but it's still totally awesome. Moore, who lives in Northampton, Mass. most of the time, locked it up for me with this exchange:

CARRIE BROWNSTEIN: How does living outside of New York City help you to understand and appreciate it?

THURSTON MOORE: It has proven that I'm really bored not being in the city -- though I do like the colors, I guess.

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more

Tonight, buzz band Surfer Blood plays with milkshake fanatics Art Brut at Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave. (at N. 11th St.), Brooklyn, 718-963-3369; 9, $14

This post has additional content, click on the permalink to read more.

Read more