A fire ripped through 101 Orchard Street in the Lower East Side at around 9 a.m. this morning in a building that houses the restaurant Congee Village and abuts the Tenement Museum. The FDNY's press office wasn't available for comment, but DNAinfo reports that the fire started in the ground floor kitchen of Congee Village "and spread to the duct work in the building." Bowery Boogie notes that the fire appeared to be put out by around 10 a.m. and that the northbound M15 bus is on a temporary detour. No other buildings appear to be damaged, and there were no apparent injuries. Phone calls made to the Tenement Museum weren't answered. more ›

Everyone's favorite Disneyland-on-acid-esque congee emporium, Congee Village (the one on Bowery, not Allen Street), has been shuttered by the Health Department after racking up 55 violation points on a recent visit, reports The Lo-Down. more ›

It's time for the Lunar New Year, which starts February 7th and lasts for 14 days, and this year is the Year of the Rat, 4706. Sure, there are plenty of things to do to celebrate the holiday, but to us, it means one thing -- a new year banquet. We've found a few places that are offering banquets in honor of the Year of the Rat, including variations of traditional Chinese Lunar New Year foods that bring prosperity, happiness and good fortune to all who join together to feast, like dumplings, uncut noodles, whole fish and chicken. more ›