The Village Tart is both a yet to be discovered floozy I will attempt to hook up with at my birthday party tomorrow night, and the name of Leslie Bernard’s new Kenmare Street corner pastry and light fare joint. I had cappuccino and cake with my man yesterday afternoon. It is a triumph. Real estate maestro James Famularo joined us and we exchanged war stories for hours, alternating between Pellegrino and cappuccino. The space is right next door to the Nur/Sevigny offering at 98 Kenmare street, which is under construction. The local yokels on the community board have restricted the hours of operations of the restaurant, which should prevent it from being the next Beatrice, but I don’t think that was ever the intention anyway.

Word comes that idle fire marshals are being re-tasked to aid in the smoking crackdown. Apparently the health department doesn’t have enough late night manpower to stop the smoke and the fire department will step up. While five clubs have been targeted and threatened with immediate closing, the rest of clubdom is fighting a semi-successful uphill battle to stop patrons from sneaking a puff. One inspection of a large space this weekend found nary an if, and or butt. The owner told me how “impossible it is to police this, as smokers will stop at nothing to grab a smoke.” Another told me “Security guards ask them to put out the cigarettes and they just pretend they don’t hear them. We need to start tossing people. But in this economy it’s tough, plus most of the guilty parties are at tables and we’re afraid of charge backs if they are thrown out. “

Lastly, I’m inviting people to Lit on 5th street and 2nd avenue for my birthday tomorrow night. Some have inquired, “Why Lit?” They’ve asked, “Why not a place like the Boom Boom Room?” Well, I’m all about diversity. My friends are gay, straight, rich, poor, ugly, pretty, rough, soft, witty and dull. The unpretentious, unfinished beauty of Lit is really me and I hope you will join us. Me and mine will be spending our time deciding whether the Jameson or the Powers Irish are tastier. This experiment, followed by a great deal of debate, will start around 10ish and end when my head is lower than my feet. Erik Foss is in charge. That says it all