Dinner & a Movie

By JAYANTHI DANIEL | December 28, 2007

Recovery, rebirth, and revival: Not only are these themes appropriate for the approaching year; they also crop up in the film "P.S. I Love You," about a young American woman who learns to enjoy life again after the death of her husband, who was from Ireland.

Here in New York City, entrepreneurs from Ireland and beyond have created a vibrant pub scene, which is undergoing a revival now that the gastropub trend, which borrows from various culinary influences, has taken hold. This weekend, Dinner and a Movie suggests that you dine at a TriBeCa gastropub, Hideaway, and catch a nearby screening of "P.S. I Love You."

DINNER

The Hideaway, near Duane Street Park in TriBeCa, is exactly as its name suggests — a tiny space tucked in between restaurants and storefronts. Neighborhood residents relish that this Continental eatery is a hideaway, with its classic, narrow pub design and stripped-down menu by chef David Pitula.

There are only 10 items to order: A marinated vegetable salad and duck sloppy-joe sliders are among the smaller plates on offer. Larger dishes include a grilled cheese sandwich made with cheddar, Brie, tomato, and bacon; and a crispy roast chicken, served with seared grits and candied bacon — a salty and sweet side dish that could satisfy almost all cravings in one sitting. According to the menu, all the meat served at Hideaway is free of hormones and antibiotics. (185 Duane St., between Greenwich and Hudson streets, 212-334-5775)

MOVIE

Twenty-nine-year-old Holly, played by Hilary Swank, is the focus of Richard LaGravenese's "P.S. I Love You." At the beginning of the film, it seems that Holly has everything, including sassy girlfriends, a comfortable life, and a gorgeous Irish husband, Gerry (Gerard Butler). After her husband dies, though, her life comes to a full stop — until she starts receiving messages from her late love, beginning with a cake and a tape recording on her 30th birthday.

While her mother (Kathy Bates) and best friends (Gina Gershon and Lisa Kudrow) worry that the letters are leading Holly to live in the past, the notes ultimately help her navigate the first year of widowhood. The central character eventually finds a new calling (as a shoe designer), and, perhaps, a new love. (Saturday, 7:25 and 10:30 p.m., 102 North End Ave. at Vesey Street, 212-945-4370)