The Rock Shop Is Here

image via Grub StreetIf you thought Mission Dolores was loud, brace yourselves ppl, cause we've got even MORE action coming to that stretch of 4th Ave: THE ROCK SHOP!

Michael Winsch, of Bowery Ballroom fame, is opening up a "non-sports bar" sports bar with like a bazillion flatscreens in the old Cattyshack bi-level space. There's also a performance space on the first floor that's not quite ready for prime-time, but will eventually rock out with the sort of bands we're used to seeing at Mercury Lounge, which is Bowery's siter club. There is also a roof deck! (HA! Loud!). Here's a whole slidey-slideshow from Grub Street if you want a better peek.

(via Zagat and Grub Street)

GORILLA COFFEE: COMING BACK BIGGER AND STRONGER?? [COFFEE WARS]

There was some action at Gorilla this morning, and, of course, FIPS conducted an inFIPStigation to bring you the latest in coffee wars. Here is the moment you have been waiting for since Saturday morning, people: GORILLA COFFEE IS REOPENING IN A WEEK!

They're renovating now, or as @evanchooly put it: "probably had to scrub the scorn and derision off the walls..."

Ouch?

So, inquiring minds want to know: In case you still give a shit, are you going to go back?

Benchmark: No Longer a Secret

We're not sure whether the owners were trying to keep Benchmark a secret or not, but the cat's out of the bag now! 

This sign (among a few others) was slapped on the side of Loki Lounge, alerting Park Slopers of its presence.  And I'm so glad they did, because goddamn, this place is GOOD. 

Click to read more ...

MISSION DOLORES, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

image: Jacqueline WasilczykOk, so Mission Dolores opened on Friday night...and I'm not sure if they had an all offish party or what, but my ass didn't get invited. 

Anyway.

I picked up the shattered pieces of my life and went last night to check it out and ZOMG, that place is so fucking awesome it should be called Mission Amazing...or Mission You'll Never Wanna Go To Another Bar Again. I have no fucking clue what they do when its raining, but 75% of the bar is outside, so you sit at these rad wooden tables with the roof totally open above you.

It was pretty darn packed on a Sunday night as well, and there are already 4 killer reviews on Yelp.

Trust me people, this place rules.

WHASSUP [Eat This, Drink That Edition]

* A new bar is opening up in the old Cattyshack space (see above): Mission Dolores. This place is a collab between Mike and Ben Wiley of Bar Great Henry, and it should be open in a couple of weeks-ish (Brownstoner).

*Bar Reis's sandwich shop experiment, Reis 100, has been closed (does mean that you now can't get those sandy at Bar Reis?? Cause that would BLOW). Anyway, its going to be replaced with an Italian, small plates concept restaurant which will focus on affordable, local fare (ZagatBuzz).

*There is apparently a new bagel shop opening on 7th Ave, a whole block away from La Bagel Delight. At the moment, I'm totally confused about this bullshit, as that is like the LAST FUCKING thing we need here (hello future business owners, if you are looking for ideas, people, read our "Coming Soon to Park Slope" post).

*Some mom made a list of "baby friendly" bars to go to with your offspring. Surprise, surprise, Union Hall is on the list. The post mentions their rule that strollers are not allowed, but newsflash Union Hall: I was there a couple of Fridays ago and that place was OVER-fucking-run with strollers. So no one is paying attensh to that one (NY Post).

*The owners of Hotel Le Bleu realized that their rooftop bar sucked...probably after the neighbors started a campaign to get the place shut down due to all the annoying noise. So they are now going to replace it with a rooftop Italian restaurant. Wow, do we all remember this unforgettable quote from the Brooklyn Paper only last year about this "gamechanging" event?: “Everything that you thought was, now isn’t. Everything that you wish could have been, has now become.” Yes, indeed (The Brooklyn Paper).