THE INVENTION OF THE COSMO AT THE ODEON
A new book called “Last Call” by Brad Thomas Parsons (subtitled “Bartenders on their final drink and the rituals and wisdoms of closing time) includes Toby Cecchini, the elder statesmen of city bartenders who invented the Cosmopolitan at the Odeon in – what else – the ‘80s. (Cecchini also wrote a book called “Cosmopolitan: A Bartender’s Life.”) The pink drink was made famous by “Sex & The City” but actually made here, with vodka, Cointreau, cranberry and lime, shaken with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass with a twist of lemon. This from the book: “I had read Bright Lights, Big City when I was Paris,” says Cecchini, of Jay McInerney’s breakout 1984 debut novel that featured an illustration of the Odeon on the cover, “and was walking around New York kind of destitute when I looked up and there was the neon Odeon sign. I said to myself, Hey, that’s the cover of that book. And I literally walked in and was greeted with, ‘Yes, can I help you?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I would like a job, I think.’”

OTTO PENZLER’S MYSTERIOUS OBSESSION
Otto Penzler, the owner of the Mysterious Bookshop on Warren and once the owner of the largest collection of mystery books in the world (it was auctioned off last year) has written a book telling the story of the collection and of his career as a collector, featuring tales of “dogged pursuits, chance discoveries, and all sorts of adventures in the world of books.” You can read a sample here. The book is already sold out online; call 212-587-1011 or email info@mysteriousbookshop.com to inquire.

GEE WHIZ IMMORTALIZED
The local teenager who created the streetwear brand Runaway New York has a special edition out this season: the Gee Whiz hoodie. A great holiday gift for all the late-night/post-soccer/pre-Halloween/Sunday-morning-loving teens in your life. (And if you are wondering about the other names on the back, they are also local kids making their own brands: Draycob by Jesse Walk, Chelsea Skate Team by Sam Saslow, and Anakin by Devin Minnihan.)

BEHIND THE RED DOOR
Not sure when 149 Franklin got this striking detail, but it certainly looks great.