From yesterday's Times Business section, an article in which Jeffrey Gettleman explores the mass-marketing of popular drinking games:

Today's Times quote of the day:

[Click to enlarge.]

Yes, yes. We know it's barely 11 in the morning. But we believe it's never too early to start making drinks plans, and, conveniently, the list of New York bars participating in Monday's Save New Orleans Cocktail Hour has been released.

At left, The Man's explanation of the Dark Room's recent closure. At right, the Dark Room's explanation.

Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni makes his way to downtown pseudo-speakeasy La Esquina, where entry is acheived via all sorts of exotic hoop-jumping:

The News introduces us today to a frightening band of alcoholics who find it charming to dress up as pirates and visit New York's bars:

From today's Daily Telegraph in Sydney, Australia:

Oh, we get it. You think you're sooo much better than Fergie, the singer for the Black Eyed Peas. Like you've never gotten so drunk you pissed yourself? Well, that's not what your sheets said.

Half of us finally gave in, sucked it up, and headed out to East Hampton this past weekend. (Really, we went for the 7 different Calypso storefronts — the block on Broome street simply isn't enough!) We deflowered ourselves only because of Manhattan's insufferable heat; the major lure of this eastward excursion was an absurd amount of time on the beach, but only with the promise that we would not, under any circumstances, be forced to enter any sort of bar with the words "jet," "star," or "toni" in its name. Our demands were thus met and, dare we say, we enjoyed ourselves.

First Thrillist, then Daily Candy, and now new foodie blog Eater are all fluttering about the secret-but-not-really opening of speakeasy La Esquina, located beneath the Corner Deli at Kenmare and Lafayette. Entry into the bar has a semi-complicated, three-step procedure in which one must enter the Corner Deli and enter the "Employees Only" door, go downstairs and get a "secret" phone number from the hostess, then leave the venue and call said number to secure reservations. Tale of Two Cities, however, thinks there's a crucial fourth step being overlooked:

About six million of you have emailed today, begging us to decipher today's Daily Candy email regarding the mysterious identity of what sounds like a great new secret bar, complete with a secret entry system. Daily Candy writes:

• The American Society of Journalists and Authors doesn't love Judy Miller as much as it thought it did. [E&P]
• Nor should they, if Joe Conason has anything to do with it. [NYO]
• Things ain't OK at OK! America. [NYP]
• Fraternal foodies Matt and Ted Lee to pen Martha Stewart Living's first ever wine column. [WWD (second item)]