So edgy!

The name is short for “Work in Progress,” and it was a work in progress itself for over a year. Now finally open, the 5,000-square-foot nightclub premiered Wednesday night for a mishmash of artists, PR people, friends of PR people, and actor Dean Winters. The entrance is separate from Greenhouse’s, and you descend a flight of stairs into a long, wide corridor. Before the corridor, however, is a little cubbyhole where, on Wednesday, a contortionist in a babydoll dress was lounging on a shiny rocking horse, her leg casually draped over her shoulder. “What, you guys can’t do this?” she said coyly.

Inside the main room is space for 250 people in 24 VIP table areas; seven large paintings line the walls, and over near the bathrooms is a pink neon sign that says “PISS” and a collage of photos showing people doing just that. Steve Lewis of BlackBook thinks this is going to be the “next big thing.” We wouldn’t go that far, but it’s definitely good for gawk-worthy artwork and a scene-y crowd. If you’re ready to pony up for $13 well cocktails and a $50 credit-card minimum, the place is open from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly. Oh, and it’s pronounced whip.

W.I.P., 150 Varick St., nr. Vandam St.

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Filed Under: nightlife, greenhouse, openings, soho, w.i.p.

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Bedford-Stuyvesant: The neighborhood Farm Share is looking for applications for the 2010 season. [Bed-StuyBlog]

Financial District: South Street Seaport bar LEI is hosting a free Michael Collins tasting tonight from 7 to 9 p.m; RSVP here. [Feed/TONY]

Flatiron: This Thursday, i Trulli hosts a five-course dinner to fête St. Joseph’s Day, reviving a Medieval tradition where Sicilians held a massive feast to celebrate the end of a particularly hellish drought. The feast starts at 7:30 p.m., costs $75 a head, and is meatless in observance of Lent. Call for reservations. [Grub Street]

Midtown: The Riese Organization hands out 10,000 cups of Tim Horton’s coffee at Grand Central (42nd and Vanderbilt) and Penn Station (34th and Seventh Avenue) today and tomorrow from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m. [Grub Street]

Park Slope: New intel on the Thistle Hill Tavern, whose chef we’d previously heard about: NOFX band member “Fat Mike” is among the owners! [FiPS]

Prospect Heights: A new French-Caribbean restaurant named Kaz An Nou has opened. [Fork in the Road/VV]

Upper West Side: David Ruggiero’s long-delayed Bomboloni finally opens, serving Italian filled donuts, paninis, coffee, soup, and gelati. [Diner's Journal/NYT]

West Village: Big River, an ecofoodie flick tracking big corn’s damage from Iowa to the Mississippi, premieres tonight at the Brecht Forum from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The filmmakers, as well as some environmentally minded Hudson Valley farmers, will hold a panel following the 7 p.m. screening. [Grub Street]

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Filed Under: bedford-stuyvesant, bomboloni, csa, financial district, flatiron, i trulli, kaz an nou, kyochon, lei, mIdtown west, Neighborhood Watch, park slope, thistle hill tavern, tim horton’s

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Carroll Gardens Look for coffee, records, and antiques at a new store on Court Street. [Brownstoner]

Chelsea: Grab some Oscar-themed cookies at Eleni’s. [Fork in the Road/VV]

Flatiron: Tabla launches an “Unleavened Bread Bar” menu on March 30 as Passover begins; call ahead to go in on a $95 Seder service that same day. [Fork in the Road/VV]

Fort Greene: Have tea and tea sandwiches and discuss women’s history at Fort Greene Park on Sunday at 11 a.m. [NYC.gov via Local/NYT]

Jamaica Bay: A new Palm Bar & Grille opens before security in JFK’s Terminal 4. [Grub Street]

Midtown East: Partake in Holi, the Indian Festival of Spring and Color, at At Vermillion this weekend, where a traditional five-course prix fixe dinner will run you $45. [Grub Street]

Park Slope: Spencer Rothschild’s Barrio hosts an inaugural taco-eating contest on March 18 at 7 p.m; send an e-mail to participate and try to win a $100 gift certificate. [Grub Street]

Sunset Park: As Fuzhou Chinese move into the area, Cantonese restaurants are disappearing. [Sunset Park Blog]

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Filed Under: flatiron, jamaica bay, JFK, midtown east, Neighborhood Watch, park slope, passover, tabla, the palm

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Bedford-Stuyvesant: An Indian restaurant is “coming soon” to the corner of Bedford Avenue and Greene Avenue. [Bed-Stuy Blog]
Crown Heights: Dutch Boy Burger has opened as an attachment to Franklin Park; the kitchen keeps churning out those seven-ounce burgers to bar-goers even after Dutch Boy closes at 11 p.m. [I Love Franklin Ave.]
Greenpoint: Paulie Gee’s will open at 60 Greenpoint Avenue next Tuesday, serving pies fired in his handcrafted Neapolitan oven. [Greenpointers]
Sunset Park: A new bar will open in the now-defunct Safe Haven Bar and Grill. No word on whether it’ll be alcohol-only or include bar grub like Safe Haven did. [Brownstoner]

Union Square: Support local beef at the Chipotle near 17th Street and Broadway on March 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. All the money raised from $5 burrito packages will go to Stone Barns, the farm attached to upstate’s Blue Hill restaurant. [Eater NY]

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Filed Under: bedford-stuyvesant, blue hill, chipotle, crown heights, dutch boy burger, franklin park, greenpoint, Neighborhood Watch, paulie gee’s, safe haven bar and grill, stone barns, sunset park

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East Village: The Smith is hosting a panel discussion titled “Prospects, Pitfalls and Prodigies: The Hudson Valley Dairy Industry” on March 10. Tickets are available online for $10. [Grub Street]
Lefferts Gardens: A new bar called Lincoln Park Tavern is opening in the old Fly Fish space, one of Jim Mamary’s less successful ventures. [Brownstoner]
Little Italy: Try Chilean wines at Puro Chile on Thursday from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The suggested donation for the earthquake-relief fund-raiser is $100. RSVP via e-mail. [Grub Street]

Midtown East: March Madness at Golosi is less about college basketball and more about combination meals. Throughout the month, you get a slice of pizza, scoop of gelato, and can of soda for $5. [Grub Street]
Prospect Heights: Penny House Café is “coming soon” to Washington Avenue with coffee, bagels, and pastries. [Fork in the Road/VV]
Upper East Side: Attend class on “Wines of Argentina and Chile” on Saturday afternoon at Vero Panini & Wine Bar for $65. Proceeds benefit Chile earthquake-relief efforts. Reserve a spot by calling 212-935-3530. [Grub Street]
West Village: August is having a St. Patrick’s Day feast — March 17 for the non-Irish in the room — featuring corned-beef sandwiches and Irish coffee. [Grub Street]

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Filed Under: august, lincoln park tavern, penny house cafe, puro chile, the smith, vero panini and wine bar

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Lower East Side: Falai offers a two-course prix fixe menu for $28 on Mondays and Tuesdays. You can also get half-off a wine pairing add-on if you go for the $50 four-course tradizione or the gargantuan $80 eight-course fantasia. [Feed/TONY]

Midtown East: Buttercup Bake Shop founder Jennifer Appel will distribute free cupcakes to the Grand Central commuter set at the corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and 42nd Street. It all goes down on Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. [Grub Street]

Soho: Aurora is serving a six-course dinner ($95) featuring wine and food from Piemonte on March 11. [Grub Street]

West Village: Charles Restaurant is launching a new “friends and family” Sunday Italian dinner. E-mail the restaurant for reservations. [Grub Street]

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Filed Under: aurora, buttercup bake shop, charles restaurant, east village, falai, greenpoint, lower east side, midtown east, Neighborhood Watch, pies-n-thighs, van leeuwen, west village, williamsburg, zenkichi

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This week’s overview of celebrity dining features our favorite characters, except they’re acting completely out of character. Snooki, Ronnie, and Sammi Sweatheart, for example, betrayed their Italian roots as soon as they crossed the Hudson to Manhattan, picking Japanese fusion joint SushiSamba Seven over many of the West Village’s great Italian eateries. The momentary lapse on their part was made up for when they made their way to Armani Exchange after lunch.

Ballato: Approaching month three of her anti–heartbreak-related depression year, Alexa Ray Joel seems just peachy as she dines with mom Christie Brinkley. [Gatecrasher/NYDN]

Blue Water Grill: Jessica Szohr, sans fellow Gossip Girl cast member and current boyfriend Ed Westwick, washes her spicy tempura roll down with a bottle of Pinot Noir. [People]

Butter: In a “diva” move, Bono demands Perrier and — gasp! — properly chopped salad while dining with fellow U2 band member the Edge. [Gatecrasher/NYDN]

Elaine’s: The studly actor Josh Lucas is off the singles menu, it seems: He was spotted canoodling with model Amelie Latournald at a bash for PR great Bobby Zarem. [Gatecrasher/NYDN]

Library Bar: Pam Anderson does drinks and appetizers with Richie Rich and an entourage before her runway appearance at Richie’s fashion show — perhaps this is why she was an hour late? [People]

Sòlo: Miss Universe 2008 and Miss Universe 2009, both from Venezuela, share dieting tips over lunch with their immigration lawyer. [Page Six/NYP]

SushiSamba Seven: Snooki, Sammi Sweetheart, and Ronnie might be proud Italians, but they weren’t afraid to try some of the West Village’s posh Japanese offerings before heading to their treasured Armani Exchange. [Gatecrasher/NYDN]

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Filed Under: ballato, blue water grill, butter, Celebrity Settings, elaine’s, library bar, solo, sushisamba 7

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Bushwick: The as-yet-unopened Free Wifi chose its name as a clever metonym for their focus on plugging in. A soft preview of the large, open space — which will offer live music, liquor, coffee, and some food — might happen later this week. [BushwickBK]
Carroll Gardens: The Urban Meadow team is gauging interest for Columbia Street’s very own CSA, based out of Urban Meadow, a community garden located at the corner of President and Van Brunt Streets. [Word on Columbia Street]
Dumbo: The Dumbo–Vinegar Hill CSA is hosting an informational meeting on March 2. [Dumbo NYC]
Downtown Brooklyn: A restaurant is in the works for the bottom floor of Bridgeview Tower at 189 Bridge Street. [Brownstoner]

East Village: New on S’MAC’s menu: a salsa picante macaroni and cheese, with pepper jack, cheddar, salsa, chicken breast, and cilantro. [Grub Street]
Upper East Side: The David Burke Townhouse hosts a “very special four-course wine dinner” with sommelier Larry Stone. Call 212-813-2121 for tickets, which run $175 a person. [Grub Street]
Upper West Side: The Fatty empire’s various locations join forces at Fatty Crab UWS, each providing three dishes, two specialty cocktails, and unlimited seconds for, in their words, “a culinary and cocktail tour de force the likes of which are rarely seen above 14th street.” Decide for yourself March 3 at 7:30 p.m.; call 212-496-2722 for the $59 tickets. [Grub Street]

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Filed Under: blue bottle coffee, bushwick, cobble hill, csa, downtown brooklyn, dumbo, east village, fatty crab, free wifi, larry burke townhouse, Neighborhood Watch, s’mac, upper east side, upper west side, urban meadow, williamsburg

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East Village: Chef-owner Didier Pawlicki will open Taureau across town from his first venue La Sirène, a tiny BYOB French bistro hidden near the entrance to the Holland Tunnel. [Feed/TONY]
Gramercy: Vino hosts an encounter on February 23 at 6:30 p.m. with esteemed Italian winemaker Mario Andrion, who will “share his secrets behind producing some of the world’s best wine, pouring some of his most prized vintages for attendees.” [Grub Street]
Greenpoint: Hit up Brouwerij Lane for a barley-beer tasting festival. Friday 6–8 p.m., Saturday 3–5 p.m. or 6–8 p.m., or Sunday 3–5 p.m. [Feed/TONY]
Prospect Heights: Da Cake Spott, a tantalizing but empty Flatbush storefront for more than two years, will open soon as a physical-therapy spot. [Brownstoner]
Williamsburg: Enjoy Afro-Latin beats and $5 drinks at Boogaloo brunch this Sunday afternoon at Barberry. [Grub Street]

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Filed Under: brouwerij lane, east village, fort greene, gramercy, greene hill co-op, greenpoint, la sirene, lower east side, lucky strikes, midtown west, Neighborhood Watch, taureau, vino, williamsburg

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Dumbo: Choice Market becomes Stumptown’s latest locavore takeout café. [Dumbo NYC]
Gowanus: Brooklyn Based throws a party at the Bell House for Cathy Erway’s anti-dining-out book, The Art of Eating In; Cathy’s mom will judge in a crostini cook-off. [Brooklyn Based]
Middle Village: Lobsterfest at London Lennie’s in Queens continues through March 7, offering the traditional boiled version as well as Lobster Pot Pie and Lobster Homefries. [Q Note]
Williamsburg: Rachel Coleman, a.k.a. Pop Jew founder and proud winner of the Worst Cooks in America contest, hosts a Purim Party at Death by Audio. March 1, 8 p.m. [AV Club]

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Filed Under: bell house, choice market, death by audio, dumbo, east village, london lennie’s, middle village, Neighborhood Watch, PDT, west village, williamsburg

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Bushwick: Celebrate Sixpoint’s fifth anniversary at Roberta’s with unlimited pizza and beer for $32 starting tonight at 7 p.m. [Feed/TONY]
Park Slope: ‘Inoteca alumna Rebecca Weitzman will be the chef at Thistle Hill Tavern, projected to open its doors in March. [Fork in the Road/VV]
Mack’s Bar and Grill opens on 7th Avenue near Garfield. [Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn]
West Village: Bad idea: Ofrenda’s $10 brunch with a shot of tequila and a shot of sangrita free; after that, tequila shots are $1 each. [Grub Street]
Williamsburg: Radegast, behemoth of beer halls, is expanding into an adjacent building. [Eater NY]

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Filed Under: bushwick, city bakery, double windsor, flatiron, Neighborhood Watch, ofrenda, park slope, radegast, roberta’s, thistle hill tavern, west village, williamsburg, windsor terrace

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Coney Island: Schmaltz Brewing Co. will begin serving Luna Lager this summer. [Grub Street]
Jackson Heights: Coming soon: Ambala Sweet & Bakery Chat House on 37th Avenue and 72nd Street. [Fork in the Road/VV]
Lower East Side: Fête the Chinese New Year at the Taiwanese restaurant Baohaus with a $38 eight-course meal. [Feed/TONY]
Park Slope: Fifth Avenue has lots of Fat Tuesday dinner specials tonight. [All About Fifth]
Times Square: If you manage to eat during Fashion Week, Bryant Park boasts numerous restaurant options. [Zagat Buzz]

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Filed Under: Ambala Sweet & Bakery Chat House, baohaus, coney island, jackson heights, lower east side, Neighborhood Watch, park slope, times square

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