HERE'S PARK SLOPE: Fleisher's Meats & More Cupcake Dramz

On Monday I noticed that Butter Lane, the cupcake shop that's replacing the ill-fated King of Cupcakes, got some signage.

Tuesday brought word that they had been closed for the past month not due to redecorating, as I had been told, but because they had been shut down by the DOB due to some illegal plumbing work. Shoe Mine, on Seventh by Sixteenth, shut down (although they open back up on occasion) in advance of moving to Trinidad. Calexico, the Mexican restaurant on the other end of the neighborhood that's not related to the famous cart, was seized by the taxman for nonpayment of taxes, and won't be re-opening. The biggest news of the day, though, was that Fleischer's Meats, the upstate landmark where superstar butchers (?!) like Tom Mylan honed their skills, would be moving into the neighborhood, on Fifth near Union Street. It's freakin' awesome news, people are already saying it's going to be the best butcher shop in the city.

Wednesday was a lot quieter, with news breaking that a "gourmet" falafel restaurant will be opening on Dean Street near Fifth Avenue. Also, the underwhelming Kohzee Cafe, on Sixth, was shut down by the DOH but they kept scraping the sign off and opening up, because they just love paying fines, apparently. It was also my birthday.

On Thursday 79-81 Seventh Avenue, soon to be home to a Petco, got the big reveal, and it's a rather pleasant building, thankfully (as opposed to this). Also, a bridal shop will be moving into the space vacated by Dolly Lyla last week, on Seventh Avenue in the North Slope.

Friday brought some wild culinary news: Mark Simmons, the curly-haired Kiwi of Top Chef fame, will be opening up his first restaurant on Union Street, in the space last occupied by the ill-fated Lucas Fine Foods space. To the best of my knowledge it will be the only New Zealand-themed restaurant in the city. Also, I got a tour of the soon to open Greek restaurant with the great two-story wood facade on Seventh by Union.

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend my friends and neighbors!