A Visit From Eddie Huang; Virtual Soda Drinking

SEAPORT DISTRICT - Food personality Eddie Huang is Boston-bound for a cooking demo and dinner at Empire with resident chef Kevin Long. Fifty bucks gets you a taste of some of Huang's specialties, including dishes like "Coffin Bao Fried Chicken with Spicy, Tingly Condensed Milk." For reservations, call 617.295.0001. [Official Site via GS]

SOMERVILLE - Finally, a way to drink soda without drinking soda. The Herald reports that Somerville programmer Will Brierly has created a game called "Soda Drinker Pro" which entails just pretending to drink some soda. "There are no villains to battle or impossible tasks to conquer. Users can acquire 'bonus sodas,' but as Brierly explained, 'they just boost your morale. They don't do anything.'" [BH]

BACK BAY - There was a Tufts event at the Westin Copley Place called "Winter Bash" and it was a big, hot mess. Citations have been issued to the hotel. [UniversalHUB]

DTX/BACK BAY/KENDALL SQUARE - Now that Casablanca is gone from Harvard Square, is there anything like it left in town in terms of its legendary status as a hangout? The Globe finds out by visiting three possible contenders: Oak Long Bar + Kitchen, Meadhall, and jm Curley. [BG]
[Photo: Empire/Cal Bingham]