SECOND HELPINGS

Questions we'll be answering

Lots of interesting tid-bits will be showing up in our Better Living section over the next week or so.

Among the fun things you'll be learning:

What's grosser than gross?

At the stroke of 3, a half-dozen of us ran down to Carvel on McBride Avenue in Woodland Park for the free Carvel icebergs.

A few bites in, I pulled out a short, dark, curly hair. My colleague, Reci, noticed another that was against the edge of the plastic container. Hilarity ensued: 

Two ice cream shops closed

Two ice cream places have bit the dust. TCBY on Broadway in Fair Lawn and Coldstone Creamery in Englewood are gone, my colleague and chief spy Mike Delia said this morning.

Both are being replaced by other ice cream/gelato businesses, but neither have opened yet.

The tally so far: 28-12

Toward the end of March, we took stock of the restaurant closings we'd reported this year compared to 2008 and were a little surprised at how lopsided the numbers were. 19 closings this year, to eight last year.

So here we are in the last day of April. And the margin has only gotten worse, 28 to 12. Here's our list. Again, not every closing is because of the economy.

'Round here: 'Rare'

Continuing our look at restaurants we're exploring near our new office in Woodland Park ...

Rare The Steakhouse in Little Falls is a success. I say that not because it's necessarily profitable, super-busy or unbelievably delicious. It may not be any of those things. But it's a success because it's still here -- and a year ago, that wasn't a guarantee.

Another 'Nightmare'?

We had so much fun when Gordon Ramsay came to Fair Lawn to "save" Campania. And now we all might be in for another visit.

FOX's "Kitchen Nightmares" appears to be heading to Bazzini at 28 Oak Street in Ridgewood next week, according to a filming permit application on file with the Ridgewood village manager's office.

The application is for a television restaurant reality show to be filmed at 28 Oak St., and was filed by a production company called Upper Ground, which is a producer of 'Kitchen Nightmares.' The permit is to run between May 7 and May 14, but the $500 daily fee has not yet been paid.

We've left messages for owner-chef Paul Bazzini. When I said I wanted to talk to him about "Kitchen Nightmares," the person who answered the phone at the restaurant replied,"They're coming!...That's what I hear!"

Official to buy Ho-Ho-Kus Inn

You'll see a longer story from my colleague Evonne Coutros in the next few days, but here's the headline:

Ho-Ho-Kus Councilman Gordon R. Hamm and partners are purchasing the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and converting it to a family restaurant that would reopen in late summer or early fall.

Giveaway at Carvel on Thursday

Carvel is celebrating its 75th anniversary Thursday by giving away free icebergs -- blended ice cream sodas, topped with more ice cream.

The giveaway is from 3 to 7 p.m. at participating locations.

Garlic Jim's pizza closed

Garlic Jim's, a so-called "gourmet" pizza takeout shop that opened in 2007 in River Vale, has closed and the space is for rent.

According to Garlic Jim's Web site, there isn't another within about 500 miles of here.

Xocolat Corner closed for now

Xocolat Corner, a chocolate shop in Closter Plaza in Closter, has closed.

A letter to customers from owner Anna Mazzoccoli indicates that it will reopen in another location, after renovations to the shopping center are complete.