Neighborhood Watch

See Liz Taylor’s 60th-Birthday Cake From 1992; JoeDough Sandwich Shop Extends Hours

Chelsea: Modern French restaurant the Americano, in the Hotel Americano, named Joseph Buenconsejo as its new executive chef. [Grub Street]
Innovative restaurant 5 Ninth just brought Chef Brandon Chavannes into their kitchen, where he’ll explore rustic comfort foods and tastes that showcase his roots in Atlanta and his travels through Spain. [Grub Street]
Crown Heights: A “crust guy” from Pulino’s and a “flavor guy” from the No. 7 group teamed up to form Pete Zaaz, a new pizzeria quickly garnering some buzz. [Eater NY]
East Village: JoeDough’s Sandwich Shop will now be open till 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (the closing time had been 10 p.m.), giving drunk people even more opportunities to chow on one of the establishment’s many oddly named sandwiches. [Grub Street]
Zi Pep announces that they unfortunately will be closed tonight, and potentially this weekend, owing to a flood caused by a leak in the building. However, if you had a reservation, there’s a sweet result: The owners will offer free dessert at their other restaurant, Stuzzicheria. [Grub Street]

Flatiron: Craft will host a blind wine tasting next Friday, January 13, led by the establishment’s wine director, Greg Majors. [Grub Street]
Hell’s Kitchen: Casa Nonna announced that Chef Kenneth Tufo will join the staff, who looks to bring a love of Italian food that should fit restaurant’s warm, welcoming environment. [Grub Street]
Long Island City: After Liz Taylor’s 60th-birthday celebration at Disneyland in 1992, the cake was frozen and now, almost twenty years later, that exact cake will be revealed when the one-year anniversary of the Entrepreneur Space (a city-sponsored “food-and-business incubator”) is celebrated on January 25. [Grub Street]
Lower East Side: Home Espresso Bar, which opened just a few days ago, looks to create a “homey” atmosphere named after the owner, Homayoun Gabbay. [Lo-Down]
Sorella, which just celebrated its third anniversary this past December, is temporarily closed for unspecified renovations and plans to reopen on Friday, January 13. [Bowery Boogie]
Murray Hill: After a stream of complaints from neighbors as a source of drunken buffoonery, Red Sky Bar & Lounge has a new owner who promises to clean up the problematic bar. [DNA Info]
West Village: Fatty ‘Cue WV is offering a post-New Year’s boozy deal: One free shot for every customer who joins for late night (midnight to 2 a.m.) tonight and tomorrow.

See Liz Taylor’s 60th-Birthday Cake From 1992; JoeDough Sandwich Shop