Nightlife News Round Up, May 2, 2012

by Yumi Matsuo · May 2, 2012

The Surf Lodge is officially sold, New Yorkers may see a rise in beer prices soon, LDV buys Bungalow 8 and plans to relaunch it as a gastropub, L'il Charlie's (formerly the XIX space) is said to be opening in 2 weeks, and so much more in today's Nightlife News Round Up.

[Photo via]

1. After much speculation, the Surf Lodge has been sold. The Montauk hot stop was sold by hospitality consultant Steven Kamali and his partners to Michael Walrath, a technology entrepreneur who also recently bought Lenny's restaurant in the area. The previous owners had difficulties with the city of East Hampton, and racked up nearly 700 code violations. [GofG]

2. New Yorkers can expect to see a rise in beer prices, by as much as $1 per pint in the next few weeks. The State Legislature eliminated the tax exemption previously given to state breweries, after they were sued by Massachusetts beer distributors for giving New York state breweries a competitive advantage over other states. Local breweries like Kelso and Brooklyn Brewery are suffering these additional costs and will most likely be raising their costs. [DNAInfo]

3. LDV Hospitality group confirms the rumors of buying Bungalow 8. Two week ago, Amy Sacco leaked word of the re-opening to the NYPost. LDV states that they will relaunch Bungalow 8 as a gastropub that will serve chef Anthony Russo's dishes until 4 a.m. every day. Amy Sacco has retained the role as the consultant for the project and will work to expand the iconic brand. [EaterNY]

4. Taking over the old Travertine space is Ken & Cook, the new raw bar/restaurant on Kenmare Street. Artan Gjoni, the managing partner, and Chef Richard Diamonte opened up the restaurant two weeks ago. Ken & Cook's airy space seats around 65 guests, and includes a raw bar, as well as a club downstairs. Their new downstairs club L'il Charlie's (formerly the XIX space), is only open for private previews for now, but word on the street is that they will officially open in 2 weeks. [EaterNY]

5. Charlie Sheen is threatening to sue a NYC strip club for naming a VIP room after him, where guests can eat sushi off women. At the gentleman's club, Cheetahs, guests pay $250 to enter the "Charlie Sheen Room," which has pictures of his grinning face plastered on the walls. Charlie's lawyers sent management a cease-and desist letter, saying they would sue for millions if his name wasn't removed immediately. [NYPost]

The company complied, and told NYPost that the room was created a year ago,

We figured it would be comical to name a room after him. It was a room where you could dine on sushi served on cellophane on the body of one of our entertainers, not where you do crack.

6. After his arrest on Tuesday morning for stashing cocaine in his underwear, Nick Gruber heads to rehab in Arizona. Nick was planning on moving out to California to take up a career in reality television, but was busted the day before his departure. A source tells the NY Daily News that Nick's ex-bf, Calvin Klein, sent him to rehab on his private jet and is taking care of all the treatment and legal payments. [NYDailyNews]

[Nick Gruber via]

7. Are happy hours in the city coming to an end? If Commissioner Thomas Farley's proposal to ban happy hour is passed, New York will be the 19th states that prohibits happy hour. The Commissioner is pushing for the ban because he believes that discounted prices on booze is exactly the type of incentive that causes people to binge drink. [EaterNY]

8. Noir, a new restaurant/lounge is replacing the former Nikki Beach space in Midtown. The bi-level space is 10,000 sq. feet and will be open for lunch, dinner, and late night lounging. George Iordanou of Taj Restaurant and Lounge is behind this project and will bring in Michelin star, Chef Jean-Yves Schillinger.

9. A new rooftop pool bar opens on the roof of Hotel Americano. Located in Chelsea, La Piscine offers an outdoor open grill, great views of the High Line, as well as of the Manhattan skyline. [Gothamist]