The Park Slope Week in Review: 10/31/11 - 11/4/11

On Monday news broke that an outpost of The Painted Pot pottery studio will be opening in the northern side of the old Taqueria space on Seventh. Also, Valley Shepherd Cheese opened further down the avenue, and it's a shop run by the cheesemakers themselves.

On Tuesday the Parkside Diner, on Flatbush, closed up shop for good after getting shut down by the DOH, and a new trattoria called Piccoli opened on Sixth Avenue (try the risotto). Also open: Health and Beauty, a vitamin/organic shop on Fifth and St. Johns.

Wednesday brought official word that Beauty Bar would be taking over some of Ozzie's space on Seventh Avenue. Also, The Soup Bowl of Park Slope officially re-opened for the season, on Seventh Avenue near Ninth Street (try the butternut squash lobster bisque).

On Thursday we broke the news that Babouche, the Moroccan restaurant on Fifth, had closed for good after not being able to pay the rent. Taro's Origami Studio, a unique place for a birthday party, opened up on Seventh.I also had a chat with Carey Jones, the Serious Eats NY Editor, who lives nearby.

On Friday I took a peek into the under-construction Key Foods in the space last occupied by an OTB parlor on Fifth, and also noticed that Citibank construction is complete a couple blocks away, and it's all set to open on Monday.

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The Park Slope Week in Review: 10/17/11 - 10/21/11

Monday brought news that a new "farm to table" restaurant, to be called M. Helen's Kitchen and Bar, is coming to the corner of Park Place and Flatbush Avenue (above). A Stop Work Order was issued at the plagued construction site of 67 Burger on Flatbush (which has apparently been resolved), and Glow Accessories opened in the old Slope Sports space on Seventh.

On Tuesday we got some more details about the newly-bricked M. Helen's: turns out that it's from the same owners as Burrito Bar, and food will be local, organic, and sustainable. Also got the scoop on the flagship location of small-batch coffee roaster Forty Weight, which will be operating out of the soon-to-open Sweetwolf's, on Sixth Avenue. Finally, it's official: the space last occupied by Tonio's, the middling Italian restaurant on Seventh, will next be home to a Dunkin' Donuts.

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The Park Slope Week in Review: 10/10/11 - 10/14/11

On Monday I checked in with Caramello, the Italian cafe/bakery heading to the space on Fifth last occupied by Patio Lounge. Also noticed that construction is underway at the northeast corner of Park Place and Flatbush Avenue, and rumor has it that a restaurant is coming into the space.

On Tuesday word got around that the middling Parkside Diner, on Flatbush, was shuttered by the Health Department. A Ricky's Halloween Superstore popped up on Bergen Street as well, a few doors down from last year's location.

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The Park Slope Week in Review: 10/3/11 - 10/7/11

On Monday I noticed that the wooden facade of Prime Six, the restaurant/lounge/whatever slated to open soon on the corner of Sixth and Flatbush, is already crumbling. The (soon to be former) hole in the ground at 131 Sixth Avenue, near Sterling, is also starting to take shape.

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The Park Slope Week in Review: 9/19/11 - 9/23/11

On Monday, construction got underway on the Citibank that's heading to the corner of Fifth Avenue and Eighth Street, in the space lat occupied by Hollywood Video. I also checked in with the long-abandoned Garry Jewelers, the Slope's saddest storefront.

Tuesday brought some news in the way or facades and signage: the shiny metal front to the long-in-the-works 67 Burger, coming to Flatbush near Sixth, was revealed, as was signage for Health and Beauty, the all-natural shop coming to Fifth and St. Johns.

On Wednesday, word got around that a McDonald's would be replacing the KFC that closed recently on Fourth and Warren. Some big changes are in store for the south side of Flatbush Avenue between Sterling and Eighth, as well: when the Pintchiks are involved, you know something big is in the works.

An NYC Green Cart popped up on Fifth Avenue near First Street on Thursday, and most commenters agreed that it should have gone to a more deserving neighborhood. Also, it's that time of year again: Ricky's is popping up one of its Halloween costume superstores in the old Blockbuster space, on Fifth and 15th.

Friday brought the welcome news that a small Key Foods will be opening in the space last occupied by an OTB parlor, on Fifth and 12th. Also, a huge fire broke out in the Danken Auto Supply building on Fourth between Sackett and Carroll, causing extensive flooding and steet closures, and spewing acrid smoke into the area.