••• Duane Park restaurant’s Marisa Ferrarin reports that burlesque queen Dita Von Teese popped over Friday night for Brian Newman’s show: “The crème de la crème of the burlesque world was there. The group included Mr. Showbiz himself, Murray Hill, the regular host of The Sweets Shop’s Saturday night extravagancy at Duane Park; Perle Noire, known as America’s most energetic burlesque dancer; and Dirty Martini, in town promoting her upcoming documentary, Dirty Martini and the New Burlesque. A smoking hot night was had by all.” Above, from left: Murray, Dita, Perle, and Dirty.

••• Whole Foods has created a kids’ play area (left) in its café—I suppose that’s one way to cut down on the number of Internet freeloaders.

••• On Twitter, @FrithaM asked if anyone knows where around here she can get new heels put on her shoes? Or a Samsonite case zipper fixed? (Two folks already recommended the one on Church between Chambers and Reade and the one at 66 W. Broadway, but more suggestions are welcome.)

••• She also complained about the never-ending construction on Chambers. Here’s an update on the Chambers Street Reconstruction from the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center: “Launched in September 2010, the capital reconstruction of Chambers Street is now winding down on the south half of its first block, between West and Greenwich Streets. City Department of Design and Construction crews have replaced the water main and other utilities in that block’s southern roadbed, and are now in the process of restoring sidewalks and the concrete base. Work on the north half will follow through July 2011. That first segment of work also installed 200 feet of water main along Greenwich Street. The Chambers-Greenwich intersection also will be restored by late this spring. Meanwhile, crews have shifted eastward on Chambers Street, with work proceeding between Greenwich and West Broadway. DDC crews have already completed utility work and are restoring the south side of Chambers through early June. They will shift to the north-side roadway by mid-June, where extensive utility work will continue for approximately eight months. At the southwest corner of Chambers and West Broadway, major utility relocation, upgrades and repairs—including Con Edison steam and gas work—will have crews working busy through this spring. Once complete, they will continue reconstructing the five-point intersection in quadrants, including the northwest corner where Hudson Street begins. The final block [Blocks —Ed.] of Chambers Street to be reconstructed will be from West Broadway to Broadway. That segment is expected to begin in late winter 2012 and continue through mid-2013.”

••• A reader wrote in saying that Ralph Cummings, who used to own Dekk on Reade (where Marc Forgione is now), has passed away. The viewing is this evening 7–9 p.m. at the Greenwich Village Funeral Home (199 Bleecker). The funeral is tomorrow (Monday) at 1o a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (371 Sixth Ave.).