After scaling back its longstanding dress code to permit men without ties, the 21 Club has broken with tradition yet again, opening a new sit-down bar in a space formerly used for diners waiting for tables. Open as a speakeasy and restaurant since 1930, "21" has long attracted guests in search of a classic New York City experience. Now 21 hopes to pull in new clientele with an upscale bar experience. As a contrast to the melange of memorabilia hanging in the main dining area, the cream-colored walls and tastefully displayed Frederic Remington paintings provide an airy feel to the newly renovated space up front. Comfy brick red bar chairs add a splash of color to the mostly neutral tones, and granite bistro tables add an elegant twist on traditional bar furniture. more ›

This past year, both coal oven SoHo institution Vesuvio Bakery and greatly loved restaurant Florent closed, along with scores of other restaurants and cafes throughout the city. A number of Harlem establishments seemingly disappeared overnight. In terms of historic restaurant reboots, 2008 was equally bad: Gage and Tollner was set to re-open, but the new tenants just disappeared. Elsewhere, the return of the O.G. speakeasy was delayed: Chumley’s 2.0 is still planned for 2009, its reopening to coincide with the two-year anniversary of its original structural collapse. more ›

Helmed by Boys Don’t Cry director Kimberly Peirce, Stop-Loss follows Texan soldier (Ryan Phillippe) from a firefight in Tikrit to life back home, where his army buddies start to crack up and he goes AWOL upon learning he’s going back to Iraq as part of the military stop-loss program. The Voice thinks it’s too derivative of Vietnam PTSD movies like Deerhunter, but admirable for its measured contemplation of the Iraq fallout. more ›