We’ve heard rumors that one of the city’s perennial best dive bars, the Holiday Cocktail Lounge, has closed at least temporarily (Nate Hill had to move his mascot gathering from the location after he noticed it was shuttered last Friday night), and now Jeremiah’s Vanishing hears that octogenarian owner Stefan Lutak is in the hospital. This news is beyond distressing, especially with the Holland Bar gone and the fate of Ruby’s hanging in the balance (Thor has now posted “No Trespassing” signs on its boardwalk properties). On the off chance you haven’t set sticky foot into the Holiday, you need only read JVNY’s history to find out why it would be tragic if it, too, bit the dust. But let’s not jump to conclusions — Lucy’s, another Eastern European long-runner, gave us a scare last summer but is up and running again. Here’s hoping Lutak bounces back and is snatching up everyone's half-empties again shortly.

Holiday Cocktail Lounge [Jeremiah's Vanishing New York]

Broadway East has found success with its subterranean lounge (we hear the Post is about to feature BEast in its “Making the Scene” column), but especially after the departure of chef Lee Gross, the food hasn’t managed to lure crowds. That may change now that Gavin Mills, previously a sous-chef at Mas (farmhouse), has been brought on to court discerning carnivores. Although he won’t be using red meat (the veggie burger is the one thing left from the old menu), he’s been given free rein elsewhere, hence appetizers such as coq au vin ravioli similar to the ones at Mas, and entrées such as a roasted Long Island duck breast.

The Chelsea location.

Exciting news for the East Village — we’ve discovered that the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre has designs on the former Two Boots Pioneer Theater space at 155 East 3rd Street. Alex Sidtis, directing manager of the UCB’s current location in Chelsea, revealed to us that the troupe is hoping to open an East Village outpost, depending on whether it can secure a tavern wine license (the theater will plead its case at a January 12 meeting of Community Board 3’s licensing committee). The location will mean more stage time for its performers, who in the past have included Grub Street favorites like the insatiable Aziz Ansari, grillmaster Eugene Mirman, and ramen hound David Cross.

The child-chef is not Dexter Wells.

Pete Wells, dining editor of the Times, has taken a cue from such successful kid foodies as David Fishman, the 12-year-old critic, and Alex Goldberg, teen mozzarella assistant at DiPalo’s. Meet Dexter, Wells’s 4-year-old son. Dexter hoards baby vegetables and likes to make coffee. The family makes sorbet together and Dexter has food allergies. Wells narrowly avoids the Neal Pollack route, where the alterna-dad writer trained his toddler to be a cheese snob, but only because Dexter likes normal kid foods like cookies. But can Dexter retain his kid qualities growing up in a foodie household? Only the Times will tell. Also, look for new food features in the magazine this year: Sam Sifton on replicating restaurant tricks at home, regular profiles on “food revolutionaries,” and an updated recipe column.

Cooking With Dexter: Orange Genius [NYTM]
A New Way to Look at Food Writing [NYTM]

Top Chef starts up again this week with a new mean face at the judge's table: Toby Young. The British author (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People) has also been a judge on Hell's Kitchen. In an interview with Metromix today, Young makes the obligatory awestruck comment about Padma's beauty — "It's as though she's accompanied by her own lighting system" — and lists his favorite New York restaurants. His picks are a little odd, but we'll give him a pass since he doesn't live here anymore. Of the aging Raoul's, Young says it has "the louche, slightly decadent atmosphere that’s guaranteed to get a girl in the mood." Finally, he calls Indochine the most overrated restaurant in the city. Indochine still rates?

Meet Toby Young [Metromix]