But with death comes new life. Just a bit further down the street, a new option will soon be open. As we all know, there is enough alcohol flowing on Queen West to require even the most belligerent of drinkers getting their stomach pumped. Enter Liquid Nutrition. The budding chain started in Montreal serving protein shakes to body builders at the three gyms surrounding their little store. Now they have expanded, providing nutritional supplements in smoothie form. The dietary oasis is aiming for a late August opening.

After smoothie-aided revitalization, there's no other choice but to go out and get drunk. Next door to the Village Idiot Pub a new bar opens this weekend in the former Village Genius location (apparently the modest intelligentsia felt more at home in the Village Idiot Pub instead). Students, tired of hearing the backlash from the ‘rents for raking up the dough on their co-signed credit cards, will now get to blow that OSAP on the libations purveyed by Sin and Redemption Pub. Opening this weekend, expect a healthy dose of artsy types attracted by the close proximity to OCAD and the pretty colours. You didn't hear this from me, but this could be a good place to pick up a cute art school girl.

If you're looking for somewhere to take her, you can't go wrong with the Distillery District, one of the artsiest areas in town and also one of the trendiest. Just don't opt for a spa treatment. The lavish Oasis Spa in the Distillery District is no more. Unable to capture the necessary clientele to keep up their fancy pants spa, they shut down the operation within 11 months.

The space is currently being gutted and renovated to become Taste of Quebec, an everything-that-is-Quebecois food shop. Head there for artisan cheese, terrines, pates, gourmet oils all from La Belle Province. Unfortunately, it doesn't look as though they'll be serving poutine, cigarettes, May West snack cakes, or separatism.

Of course, if we're talking regional cuisine, it's hard to beat Italian. More specifically speaking, it's hard to beat pizza. I don't care who you are, you're not going to turn down a hot and gooey slice straight out of the oven. That's why we're so excited for the opening of Pizzeria Libretto.

This place has some distinguished personnel on board. The owner, Max Rimaldi, has some heavy-duty experience at such renowned restaurants as Ferro, Brassari and Brant House. Meanwhile, the kitchen and menu will be set up by Rocco Agostino, owner and chef of Silver Spoon on Roncesvalles. Considering the level of service and high quality of food that the Silver Spoon has been serving for almost a decade, we're pretty sure that that is going to be some pretty fine pizza. But don't expect Pizza Pizza. According to the restaurant's website, toppings are set to include Wild Boar, Duck, Montforte Cheese, and Capicollo. Plans are for the gourmet spot to open in mid August.