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This week's Village Voice is the annual Best of New York issue, and, to be honest, most of it we couldn't muster the energy to actually read. ("Best Borough Connector: Pulaski Bridge"; "Best Place to Catch a Fish You Won't Eat: Harlem Meer"; "Best Use of Lettuce: Porcupine.") But one entry particularly caught our eye, largely because we had a strong suspicion from the git-go of what the winner would be:

Best Overused, Overcrowded, and Overrated Bar for Hipster Birthday Parties: THE MAGICIAN

Don't expect to get anywhere near the bar at THE MAGICIAN on a weekend, when at least three tragically hip media folks will be celebrating their latest twentysomething age gain. The mob scene utterly ruins any redeeming aspects of this rather nondescript locale; thankfully, it's near several other cool ones you can decamp to after showing your face for the minimum-required friend duty. -Rachel Kramer Bussel

We're somewhat sad, because we like this bar and yet also recognize that the Voice is entirely right. We're even sadder when we remember that, even so, we've had our last three birthday parties there, plus several I-just-left-my-job gatherings.

And we wonder where that leaves for Original Gawker Elizabeth Spiers to hold her I-just-left-my-job party, to which — from what we're hearing today — you should expect your invitation imminently.

[Disclosure: Where to begin?]

Best of NYC 2005 [VV]
Related: Blogger High's Peach Pit: The Magician [Gridskipper]
Earlier: Elizabeth Spiers Pimps Her Book