EaterWire: More Changes at Houstons/Hillstone, Miss Williamsburg Burns, the Case for Absinthe, and More

GRAMERCY— More changes are afoot at Houston's/Hillstones. Per Grub Street: "Sometime in the next month (and possibly as soon as next week), the Gramercy location of meat-and-potatoes chain Houston’s will get a sushi program...while the chain’s Boston, Miami, and L.A. locations sell hundreds of rolls a day, the two New York outposts have hit snags with the buildings department in trying to install a proper sushi counter." [GS]

WILLIAMSBURG— In an early morning Disaster Report the blog i'm not sayin, i'm just saying runs shots of a major fire at the former Miss Williamsburg Diner. [insijs]

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS— After learning about the existence of the hot dog and french fry pizza, Adam Kuban of Slice has to try it for himself. The verdict: "I feel funny right now." More interesting: Kuban discovers this pizza is actually a very popular item over in Naples. [Slice]

HYPEDOM— SE writer Paul Clarke wants you to know that absinthe shouldn't be considered passé just yet: "It was probably inevitable that all the excitement of having a long-illegal liquor suddenly return to store shelves would result in it being overhyped. But don’t blame the absinthe, especially now—while 2008 saw the release of several decent brands, along with a number of high-profile, incredibly crappy ones...we’re at a point when some of the world’s best brands are entering the U.S. market." [SE]