Elettaria: Hendrix shredded here once upon a time, when it was a music venue called The 8th Wonder, but now the stage is an open kitchen and South Asian-spiced American dishes are the stars. Decorated by the man behind Allen & Delancey, the seductive 72-seat interior (pictured) features a rustic reclaimed barn-wood ceiling, plush banquettes, old-world paintings and exposed brick walls. Appetizers include a dish of dayboat sea scallops with celery root puree, oxtail, Meyer......

Flatiron Joe's: In the former home of the short-lived Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Jay Shaffer, who owns Shaffer City Oyster Bar and Grill down the block, has created a casual spot where, for the time being, he's serving up bar snacks like sliders and nachos. He plans on serving lunch and dinner starting in October. 29 West 21st Street, (212) 414-3139. 8th Street Wine Cellar: This long awaited cozy wine bar is a welcome addition......

A bicyclist and three pedestrians were injured as a man driving a stolen van jumped a curb in an attempt to escape the police. The incident occurred on Eighth Street, as the police - driving one of those undercover patrol cars that look like taxis - were pursuing the van up University Place. The driver "made a hard right onto Eighth," according to the Post, which also has pictures. That "hard right" the van made......

BusinessWeek assistant managing editor and blogger Bruce Nussbaum may have been one of the 40 most powerful people in design (back in 2005), but he was no match for State Supreme Court Justice Edward J. McLaughlin. In coverage of a group of lesbians on trial for allegedly beating up a straight man outside the IFC Center (best trial ever?), the Post mentioned that Nussbaum was removed from the jury. Apparently Nussbaum upset Justice McLaughlin for......

With the Bowery Hotel now open, Gothamist thought it was worth taking one final look at the Bowery of the 1970s and '80s through the lens of Luc Sante, author of Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York. Sante told Gothamist – via email – some details of life on the Bowery before the presence of Eric Goode, Ian Schrager, Whole Foods, Seth Greenberg, Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA, “Nolita......

A horrifying tragedy in Brooklyn: Sadier Jean Noel, who had jumped in front of a train on Monday as her 9 year old son's dead body was found in her apartment, admitted that "demons overtook her" and that she killed her son. Sadier Jean Noel said that son Knil was brooding about his birthday celebration from the day before - the family went to Junior's but Knil was upset an invited friend wasn't able to......

The overwhelming amount of development in Williamsburg and Greenpoint development gets a NY Times write-up today. Not only are residents are getting evicted or priced out of their apartments, construction has been damaging adjoining buildings. Which makes area residents wonder if the Department of Buildings can handle overseeing all the new construction.Last year, the department issued 24,610 permits in Brooklyn, including 1,924 for demolition and 1,740 permits for new buildings. That was roughly double the......

+ The New York Sun calls the Queens Museum of Art building "fascist" and its redesign renderings "weak." Rare feat. + Norman Foster sets his sights on a neighborhood known for its aversion to "bold contemporary architecture" (rendering, right). No, we don't mean Greenwich Village and we do wonder if this is NY Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff's way to sway opinion to keep the design in tact. + Speaking of downtown, more than a......

-- New video footage of the Columbia/Minutemen mess is a real doozy. -- "Suddenly, the future of the Bombers is gloomy." -- The price of a hot dog at Grey's Papaya is going up. -- A human skeleton was found on Friday on Staten Island. No word yet on its gender, race or age. -- Dog sitting horror! A woman was killed, and her sister injured, by a pit bull they were watching for......

Along with the "Broken Windows" crime prevention theory, one of the big success stories of Gotham's dramatic revitalization over the past two decades has been the BID (that's Business Improvement District, FYI) where business and property owners in a designated area work with the City and make a collective effort to boost business. The most famous BID success is probably Times Square, but they're all over the place nowadays (of the 53 BIDs in......

Be still our beating heart: The ever-so-successful builders of McMansions is coming to NYC. The NY Times details the Big Apple Dreams of the Toll Brothers. Chances are, if you've driven through the 'burbs in NJ, Pennsylvania, NY, and about twenty other states, you'll have seen a Toll Brothers home (oversized, gleaming homes clumped together). The company's website says this about it's "City Living" concept in NYC:Toll Brothers, America’s Luxury Homebuilder, will soon bring its......

Beer, wine or cocktails? Wine. What could I order that will get me laughed right out of the bar? A pina colada out of a blender. Who has been your favorite celebrity patron? I would never answer that question; I'm too discreet. Aw, c'mon . . . Well, I served Michael Stipe, which was pretty cool. Otto Enoteca Pizzeria, One Fifth Avenue at Eighth Street, (212) 995-9559.......

Word on the street is that Otto Enoteca Pizzeria is changing their menu. As of Monday, Otto will be removing the daily fritto (fried dish) and adding pastas to their menu. Gothamist looks forward to checking out the new additions, carbs be damned. Otto Enoteca Pizzeria, One Fifth Avenue at Eighth Street, (212) 995-9559.......