Chelsea gets mole'd

Seventh Avenue's mole fixture Chiles & Chocolate is opening an outpost in Chelsea this weekend. 

The new location, at 155 Eighth Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets, promises to serve foods covered in chili pepper and chocolate (possibly both).

The tiny Park Slope location recently moved a few storefronts down to 92 7th Avenue. The new location is bigger which means more of the brunch crowd can get their ranchero eggs on.

Chiles & Chocolate is the latest in a number of Park Slope dining establishments to move into Manhattan. Beer Table opened Beer Table Pantry in Grand Central Terminal, where commuters can pick up fancy bottles of the brew. South Slope bar Toby's Public House is set to open a second location on Kenmare Street. East Village recently gained two new restaurants by the expansion of South Brooklyn Pizza and Oaxaca Taquerias into Manhattan.

It's a win-win situation. Manhattan folks won't need to trek into the Slope for their choco-chile fix, and I can get my spicy hot chocolate without listening to them gripe about having to take the train to Brooklyn.

Fancy in Park Slope: We're Getting A Hat Store!

Photo via Goorin BrothersWho says Park Slope lacks fanciness and style?

Well, usually me.

If you're a fancy hat-loving person, you'll be happy to hear that San Francisco-based hat company, Goorin Brothers, is coming to our fair neighborhood this Fall!

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GET READY, PARK SLOBS: "STYLISH" BAR OPENING VERY SOON

Sometime in the next few weeks, South Slope will get a new place to get tanked. 

Mary's Bar, located on 22nd Street and 5th Avenue, is a new project from Stephanie Markowitz (formerly of Employees Only) and stylist Sylvia Holden.  

Holden gave up the goods an an interview with Above the Fray magazine, saying the bar "will feature a classic décor juxtaposed with a rugged urban edge."  So, unfinished wood and chandeliers?  Maybe. 

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Hot New Zealand Chef To Open Restaurant in the Slope!

Photo via chefmarksimmons.com

With the 2009 departure of Flight of the Conchord's Bret and Jermaine, we've been aching for another large presence from Down Under for quite a while. Hold your breaths no longer, Brooklyn! Former Top Chef contestant and handsome New Zealand native Mark Simmons will be opening a restaurant in the Slope within the next few weeks.

Set in the old Lucas Fine Foods on Union between 6th and 7th Ave, Kiwiana will feature dishes from Simmons' homeland, such as Diver scallops with cauliflower and bacon ragout and passion fruit sauce ($18) and Lavender goats’ milk ricotta cheese cake with roasted golden beets ($8). Here's a sample menu that was featured on Zagat:

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Petco Unleashed: Unleashed!

After waitin' and wishin' and hopin' and prayin', Petco Unleashed has opened its doors! They should probably consider getting rid of that HUGE heap of trash and cardboard that's been out front a few days, but otherwise the place looks pretty great. Has anyone checked it out yet? Thoughts?