Coney Island: Last night, Beer Island hosted an American Gladiators-like "Beach Brawl" between the New York Fire and Police Departments. [Brit in Brooklyn]
Financial District: Even promising Cameron Diaz's presence couldn't persuade residents to support approval of a liquor license for a new bar at 6 Murray Street, owned by Eytan Sugarman, who also owns Southern Hospitality with Justin Timberlake. You know, Diaz's ex? We wouldn't want that triangle of association in our neighborhood either. [Downtown Express]
Lower East Side: A new Chickpea comes to the neighborhood, on the corner of Eldridge and Houston. Longtime fans gripe with the fact that their falafels are now baked, rather than fried.[Bowery Boogie]
Park Slope: Although they call its opening as usual as "a cow farting," A Hamburger Today is dutifully checking out the new Five Guys, and invites all to join them. [Hamburger Today]
Prospect Heights: Metromix New York concludes, in their "Bar Shots" roundup of the nabe, that bargoers would rather enjoy outdoor seating than take advantage of burlesque acts indoors. [Metromix New York]
Upper West Side: Next month, author and "tomato farmer extraordinaire" Tim Stark will host an evening of dinner and wine tasting at Telepan to promote his new book. [Grub Street]

Carroll Gardens: On July 26, Tall Order caterers will serve a Brownstone Dinner at their house, on the corner of President and Smith streets. [Bergen Carroll]
Harlem: Nectar Wine Bar, at 235 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, is pairing up with next-door's Harlem Vintage and the Joy of Cheese on Sunday to host a wine-and-cheese tasting, which you'll need to buy tickets for to attend. [Uptown Flavor]
Park Slope: The Brooklyn Burger Bar has been replaced by Flipsters, which looks like another burger bar. [Blondie and Brownie via Hamburger Today]
Prospect Heights: James Bistro is the latest in this line of good neighborhood eats. [NYT]
Soho: Frank Bruni may say “Fiamma is about as Italian as a poodle in a Prada scarf,” but Fabio Trabocchi's unfazed: “You don’t need a red-and-white checkered tablecloth and a bowl of spaghetti with tomato sauce to be Italian.” [Gothamist]
West Village: Lauded chef César Ramirez has left Bar Blanc, and another Bouley alum, Sebastiaan Zijp, will not only step in, he'll expand the menu and add more snack-able bar food. [Eater]

Clinton Hill: Tamboril's hosting a post-fireworks party on Friday with live music and D.J.'s. [Clinton Hill Blog]
East Village: Artichoke Pizza was actually open by 12:30 p.m. today. Maybe the cousins found a Manhattan apartment? [Eater]
Lower East Side: When Freemans opened, it was "looking for an accessible brown cocktail that worked with our fall menu." The resulting mix of rye, orange bitters, and pomegranate has become the spot's house cocktail. [Down by the Hipster]
Prospect Heights: A 55-year-old klepto was collared by police outside a supermarket on Washington Avenue after she swiped some packaged roast beef, but, alas, the fuzz was one step behind: "The sandwich meat was not recovered intact." [Brooklyn Paper]
Tribeca: The Knitting Factory building has sold for $12 million, but the venue hasn't decided where it's moving yet. [Real Deal]
Upper East Side: James Beard Rising-Star Chef Gavid Kaysen, of Café Boulud, was once "a certified sandwich artist for Subway.…I even had a really cool tricolored shirt!" [Restaurant Girl]

Carroll Gardens: Former Asiate chef Eton Chan has opened a handmade-dumpling house with shaved ice on the menu at 205 Sackett Street, near Henry Street. [TONY]
Coney Island: Beer Island might not have a skyline view like Water Taxi Beach, but the new spot just got its very own BBQ truck, courtesy of Chris McGee, "a veteran of Blue Smoke and Jean Georges." [Strong Buzz]
East Village: Tasting Room chef Colin Alevras is not out of a job now that the restaurant has closed; he's opening a Cuban spot called La Otra, in a space that still holds a running restaurant. [Eater] La Zarza is trying to get a piece of the Monday-night party scene. [Down by the Hipster]
Greenpoint: The UnFancy Food people are hosting a backyard barbecue on Saturday, the night before the main event, so you can meet some of the producers. [Brooklyn Based]
Flatiron: Shake Shack vs. its West Coast counterpart, In-N-Out: "The patty is a lot thicker at the Shack...and...the Shack, unlike most L.A. burgers that I sampled, adds lettuce in a sparing manner." [A Hamburger Today]
Park Slope: A neighborhood pizza-slice guide, "Every Damn Slice Pizzeria in Park Slope," now can be yours. [Slice]
Prospect Heights: Flatbush Farm will cater your Fourth of July BBQ with raw, marinated meat, pasta and potato salads, and ready-to-serve pulled pork, all priced per selection. [Grub Street]
West Village: Sheridan Square will annex the former Tasca space, and have it open in July. [Zagat]

Astoria: Fatty's (25-01 Ditmars Boulevard) has a new menu and now takes credit cards. [Joey in Astoria]
Dumbo: Get acquainted with the new CSA program in town by meeting "the farmer" next Tuesday at the Phoenix House at 50 Jay Street. [Dumbo NYC]
Prospect Heights: Weather Up has been good for the Brooklyn classic-cocktail scene, even if "it took nearly 45 minutes and a whopping $55 to get four drinks." [Mouthing Off/Food & Wine]
Tribeca: The owner of now-closed Jerry's will open his Asian eatery on Chambers Street on April 14. The chef is a "Jean Georges graduate." [Eater]

Clinton Hill: Recent openings: Manee Thai from the owners of Myrtle Thai and Nuevo Latino spot Tamboril. [Clinton Hill Blog]
Coney Island: The world’s largest “lollypop” has been installed by an artist to commemorate Philip’s Candy (1930–2001). [Kinetic Carnival]
Long Island City: LIC Bar at 45-58 Vernon Boulevard is hosting a BBQ and free concert with local bands this Sunday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. [Joey in Astoria]
Lower East Side: Thor gets gutted with no warning. [Eater]
Midtown West: Frank Bruni contemplated riding the bull at Johnny Utah’s. [Diner’s Journal/NYT]
Prospect Heights: Rye with fresh blackberries, mint, and ginger beer, and gin with peaches and homemade thyme syrup are among cocktails available at Flatbush Farm Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. during a farmer’s-market tasting event. [A Brooklyn Life]

Astoria: The Greek Orthodox feast of St. Irene Chrysovalantou began on Thursday but will continue through the weekend with celebrations and copious amounts of street food. [Joey in Astoria]
Harlem: House of Seafood may be the next victim of “adverse possession,” by which small business are being pushed out by property managers to make way for gentrification. [Amsterdam News via Uptown Flavor]
Meatpacking District: 4foodies, an online community site, is launching with a dinner Tuesday at 5 Ninth that includes a meet-and-greet with the chef. [4Foodies]
Midtown East: The new Pret a Manger on Madison between 48th and 49th Streets is giving away a limited supply of free prepackaged lunches today to promote Monday’s official opening. [Grub Street] Sherry-Lehmann wine store is orchestrating a move from its longtime home at 679 Madison Avenue to Park and 59th; the plywood covering the construction is a fabulous shade of plum. [Lost City]
Prospect Heights: Vanderbilt Avenue now boasts an old-fashioned ice-cream shop, the Old Brooklyn Parlor, that offers contemporary flavors like ginger crème brûlée. [Eat for Victory/ VV]
Tribeca: Tonight at Brandy Library from 6 to 8 p.m., David Suro hosts a free tasting of Tequilas Siembra Azul. [Brandy Library]
Upper East Side: Multiple local bars are registered for BuyYourFriendADrink.com, a service that allows you to purchase drinks and bar tabs in advance online. [Upper East Side Informer]
Williamsburg: A new Pinkberry clone joins the fro-yo fray on Driggs Avenue near North 9th Street with a mango lassi flavor standing in for green tea. [Eater]