New York

565 Vanderbilt Ave, at Pacific, Brooklyn; 718.398.6662

Cheffed by an ex-Freemans cook, this corner pubstaurant evokes an early 20th Century vibe -- mahogany ceiling, gilded wall trimmings, etc -- in which they deliver homestyle eats like meatloaf sliders, mac & cheese w/ hot bacon lardon, and buttermilk fried chicken. The five tap microbrews (Brooklyn's Kelso, Smuttynose, etc) change twice monthly, while liquor's almost entirely boutique American, including Hudson Valley Single Malt, Triple Eight Vodka, and infused gins from American Fruit, which is just an odd name for a gin brand.

Mon Jan 19th thru Tues Jan 20th at St. Patrick's Center: 268 Mulberry St, between Prince and Houston

Formerly an industry insider's event but now open to the public, this two-day trade show/pop-up shop's selling hard-to-find streetwear including seer plaid blazers and ornately gothic tees from Wildchild Nation, hoodies from just-launched Amivectio, and ganja-themed tees from Sweet Cheeba, plus wooden double-fingered rings from Good Wood (as if there were any other kind).

Tues Jan 20th thru Sun Jan 25th at Clothingline: 261 W 36th St, between 7th and 8th, 2nd floor

Up to 70% off samples from Crew's entire Spring-Summer '08 catalog, e.g., cotton-cashmere half-zip sweaters, long-sleeve crewneck tees, full-zip fleece hoodies, and point-collared button-downs known as "the Washed Favorite Shirt", which'll inevitably be downgraded to "the Froot Loops Eating Smock".

These plastic tools were designed by two Queens natives to "eliminate a critical source of eating frustration": not being able to eat bbq wings without getting slop all over your beer, cell, beer, etc. Unfortunately, whatever daintiness points you score will be torpedoed by the sight of you eviscerating your food with what appear to be staple removers.

The debut from an Esquire scribe who braved snarling guard dogs and secret service agents to gain entree into America's 20 richest neighborhoods, this work of Gonzo Business Self-Help features in-person interviews w/ 50 loaded businessmen. Each explains in lurid detail how they became filthy rich, from reinvesting in their real estate portfolio, to creating a machine that peels shrimp. Lucky he stopped there: the 51st guy got rich creating a machine that peels writers.