Rare Weekend 12.20.07

Let the Winter Solstice begin.



Start your weekend on the “luxurious Lower East Side”: The National Underground (Gavin DeGraw’s) new, little hot spot is a little Rock, a little Country, and a lot of fun. Plus, we hear they have great cheeseburgers on the way.

The National Underground, 159 East Houston Street (at Allen Street), (212) 475-0611, myspace.com

The weather outside is frightful. But the hot chocolate at DessertTruck is delightful. And so is the Bomboloni, delicious fried Italian donut holes filled with vanilla pastry cream, and the chocolate bark made with Guittard chocolate. All new. All delicious.

DessertTruck, at University Place & 8th Street, desserttruck.com

Ironic and inexpensive (free, actually), SomeEcards.com is an excellent way to spread some Holiday love. Environmentally-friendly, too.

Visit someecards.com now. Thank us later.

Call it a Christmas miracle… Salvatore Ferragamo’s fine leather goods are 35 to 40 percent off. Now through 1/6/08. Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays, Noon to 6 p.m.

Salvatore Ferragamo, 665 Fifth Avenue (near 52nd Street), (212) 759-3822

Forget 7 fishes - this Christmas dinner is all about 5 courses at Maze by Gordon Ramsay at The London. Treat yourself to White Truffle Mosaic of Chicken and Foie Gras with Poached Quail Eggs and Pear Chutney, and traditional English Christmas pudding. 12/24 ($95/person) and 12/25 ($125/person), from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

151 West 54th Street (between Sixth and Seventh Avenues), (212) 468-8889, gordonramsay.com/mazeatthelondonnyc