Ippudo, a ramen noodle chain with 34 outposts in Japan, just made its way to the states. Rare Daily called the spot, set to open Monday, "the Balthazar of ramen restaurants." After seeing the space firsthand last night, the French bistro connection seems a bit farfetched. But the space, on 4th Avenue at 10th Street, is super sleek. Despite Ippudo's chain restaurant status, it feels more Chinatown Brasserie than Chipotle. There's plenty of white leather seating, white walls embossed with Japanese characters, dark wood, and an open kitchen, so you can watch as your ramen noodles as they're dunked in a boiling hot water bath. The man-of-the-hour, the restaurant's creator, Shigemi Kawahara, aka the Ramen King (yes, he's actually called that in Japan, and, yes, he's
very famous there), was on-hand, being filmed by not one, but two Japanese film crews flown in especially for the event.
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Gridskipper
The Real Housewives reality series is finding its next attention-seeking subjects in none other than . . . wait for it . . . New Jersey! That's right, a wealthy, not-yet-released community in the Garden State will soon be invaded by Bravo's camera crews. But don't worry, both the Orange County and NYC versions have been OK'd for another season. Let's just pray it'll turn into a full-fledged competition à la Road Rules, with the New Jersey and NYC housewives going head-to-head. [
A few weeks ago Bravo TV debuted an all-new Real Housewives reality series starring five wealthy, New York-based housewives (one is actually a still-single wannabe housewife). There's Luann the countess, who is in some cases a real cuntess; Ramona, the 40-something who desperately wishes she was half her age; Bethenny, the self-made celebrity chef who may or may not be on the verge of a nervous breakdown; Jill, the Upper West Side Jew-by-way-of-the ghetto; and 
