Happy Hour International

Cheers to Good Health
These elixirs might not swear you off booze for good, but they’ll replenish your body before the next bender.

A Slice of Springtime
A seasonal slump is no match for Cafe Bolero’s tropical libations and island fare.

A Cider with the Sunrise
After waking up at an ungodly hour to catch a UK soccer match, Dana discovers her new favorite breakfast beverage.

GranTokyo North Tower Shop-o-Plex

After last week’s opening of the GYRE shopping center on Omotesando, you’d think things would calm down a bit in terms of big retail premieres. But since this is Tokyo, you couldn’t be more wrong. Next up, it’s the GranTokyo North Tower, a new shopping and office annex to the very busy Tokyo station (or more precisely, part of the “Tokyo Station Yaesu Area Development Project,” of which you’ll also find the office-only GranTokyo South Tower). There’s no denying that the Marunouchi area around the station has quite suddenly (well, not so suddenly, but it can sometimes feel that way) turned into a shouldn’t-miss eating/shopping destination — moving beyond its traditional office district image — and if the Marunouchi Building, Shin-Marunouchi Building, Marunouchi OAZO, TOKIA building (great food options on the first floor and basement), and now GranTokyo aren’t enough to convince you, then I don’t know what will.

GranTokyo North Tower [Official site]

New - En: Suidobashi
Calling En an izakaya doesn’t quite do them justice - the food and drink are both top-notch, the decor elegant and modern….

Mundane meal, sublime space
On sunny days it’s one of the loveliest spaces in London but the lamentably slow and vague service makes The Orangery a let down, says David Sexton.

Beyond the Fridge
Members bars, rooftop hot tubs… these days Brixton scrubs up well

Under the arches
Hidden beneath London Bridge station, Shunt Lounge is one of the capital’s best-kept secrets and promises a surreal soiree.

Moby Parties and Parties and Parties
But is he getting too old?

Trashion
Formerly held at Marquee, this upbeat weekly fashion-oriented bash brought to us by party darlings GBH moves to The Inn starting tonight. Expect lots of drinking, dancing and, possibly, the exchanging of wardrobe tips as DJ Dimitry (of High Voltage and Robot Rock) spins hip-hop, rock, indie,…

Suede

This place was a zoo.

Power Exchange Sexclub

Unashamed and Unabashed!

Mission Pie

Yumm…Banana Creamy Goodness

Ashlee Simpson teams with Timbaland on ‘Bittersweet World’
Also: Billy Bragg’s ‘Mr. Love & Justice,’ Tokyo Police Club’s ‘Elephant Shell.’

Ashlee Simpson

‘The Soloist’ by Steve Lopez
The L.A.Times columnist becomes an unlikely advocate and friend to a mentally ill homeless man who was once a musical prodigy.

LOS ANGELES’ skid row, as Steve Lopez writes in “The Soloist,” is the homeless capital of the nation.

Reprise Theater Company announces 2008-09 season
‘Once on This Island,’ ‘I Love My Wife,’ ‘Man of La Mancha’ and ‘Chess’ are among the musicals.

In its first full season under the artistic direction of Jason Alexander, the recently renamed Reprise Theater Company will offer the musicals “Once on This Island,” “I Love My Wife,” “Man of La Mancha” and “Chess” as its offerings for 2008-09.

The Tchaikovsky Competition, 50 years after Van Cliburn
The baby-faced pianist was 23 when he beat out an international field in Moscow in 1958 and became a U.S. hero. That was a different era from today.

THERE was a time, half a century ago, when a certain classical music competition meant more than just another young speed demon trying to wow a fractious group of judges. A lot more.

Friday, May 25th: DJ Pierre @ BLUE

WMC 2008: Let The Insanity Begin
Yes, Winter Music Conference Week has begun. Time to say goodbye to sleep, stock up on redbull, and batten down the hatches. Will this year be as much fun & successful as previous years? Will the rumors of a disappearing dance scene get backed up, or laid to rest? The suspense is killing […]

Yes, Winter Music Conference Week has begun. Time to say goodbye to sleep, stock up on redbull, and batten down the hatches. Will this year be as much fun & successful as previous years? Will the rumors of a disappearing dance scene get backed up, or laid to rest?

The suspense is killing me.

I will be checking out a few big events, maybe wander into a few smaller ones for fun, but will take it somewhat easy this year. So far, my MUST DO events include Underworld Live at Ultra, and Sunday School for Degenerates. Other than that, I plan to just wing it and see what happens. I’ll cover my adventures with a little photojournalism and post some shots here later on in the week for those that couldn’t make it down to the Miami Winter Music Conference this year. Or anyone else who’s curious.

DayBreak April 26: Emese Judit Losconzi & Sandy Marc Kertesz, Emeshel
Emese Judit Losconzi & Sandy Marc Kertesz of Emeshel talk about bringing their luxury crystal botique to the United States and show us some of their pieces. For more information, visit www.emeshel.com.

Saturday, April 26th: BackDoor Bamby

We need a Fifth Estate
It appears the Fourth Estate has failed us so the question is, can the Internet provide a Fifth Estate?

NBC Points gun at own head, Apple pulls the trigger
In trying to change Apple’s iTunes pricing NBC have managed to move themselves out of the only digital distribution channel that was making money for them. Was it about the pricing? What is a fair price for a TV show?

Next month’s issue of Food & Wine has a great …

Next month’s issue of Food & Wine has a great though epic piece about some of the best eats in Tokyo. The editor and her guide suss out the best sushi, baked goods, noodles, sake, izakaya fare, and just about every other Japanese specialty in the city. Quite a hunger-inducing read. [F&W]

Japanese Nerds Enjoy Kinky Drag Maid Cafes

Oh Japan. Words cannot express how much I love you. You always give us the best sex links. First, there were bar bunnies, and now there’s this video of Tokyo cafes where dudes in French-maid outfits draw pretty ketchup pictures on omelettes. Perhaps weirdest of all, these cross dressing “maid cafes” are only open on holidays because all of the drag queens have day jobs. The miniskirted male maids also seem to insist that their behavior has nothing to do with homosexuality. Sure thing, fellas. The Reuters reporters who got the clip link this phenomenon to Japanese otaku or “nerd” culture. One of the best things about Japan is the way the freakiest sex subcultures are linked to the most mundane sectors of society. You’ve got the massage parlor and hostess-bar-happy salarymen and the geeks who love pornographic cartoons and kinky cosplay. If only things were more like this in New York, Silicon Alley would look like a fetish club and Midtown would be, well, still pretty much the same old Midtown. Check out the full footage of the Japanese drag cafe-maid madness after the jump.

How to be a good sport
A London club night with a difference, Sportsrave sees fancy dress team up with seriously good sounds.

Hunger to be the best
Driven and ferociously hard-working, 29-year-old Clare Smyth reveals how she thrives in the macho restaurant world – just don’t patronise her as a woman chef.

Down a test-tube cocktail
Take a look at the bars following the latest trend of serving up a shot of science with their booze in the world of molecular mixology.

Is New Cross the new Camden?
Exciting new bars, clubs and live venues are bringing the cool to the South.