Neighborhood Watch

Compass Closes to Make Way for Loi; Greenmarket Invites You to Its Birthday Party

Ditmas Park: Tickets are still available at the door for Brooklyn Wort, Brooklyn’s home-brew competition this Saturday, August 27, at Sycamore Bar & Flower Shop. Judge 25 craft beers at one of two tastings (2 and 5:30 p.m.) to help determine the winner of the $1,000 prize and snack on specialty food from local sponsors. [Brown Paper Tickets]


East Village: An espresso bar appropriately named Bowery Coffee will open at 87 East Houston at the end of September. The café will serve homemade baked goods and beans from Counter Culture Coffee. [Bowery Boogie]


Astor Center will host the Lower Eastside Girls Club’s Cocktails & Crafts benefit on September 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. Some highlights of the event: hors d’oeuvres from chef Mary Cleaver (the Green Table), cocktails by mixologist Dushan Zaric (Employees Only), crafts, and a raffle where you can score a Marc Jacobs bag, among other prizes. Tickets are $40 per person. [Grub Street]

Flatiron: Join 150 top chefs from around the world at the seventh annual Great Gathering of Chefs, happening September 14 at the Prince George Ballroom (15 East 27th Street). There will be a book signing, a chefs tasting featuring recipes from NYC restaurants like Boulud Sud and Nobu, and a silent auction. All proceeds go toward Action Against Hunger ACF International. Tickets are limited to 400 guests; get one here). [Grub Street]


Hudson River Park: World Yacht’s second annual Oktoberfest is on Saturday, September 24, at Pier 81 on the Hudson River. The event will begin at noon, and feature Bratwursts from Schaller & Weber, Paulaner German Beers, and polka dancing. Tickets are $10 per person; additional $5 fee for a one-hour beer cruise (departs at 2:30 p.m.). [Grub Street]


Lower East Side: Foundation, one in a string of bars (Culturefix, Los Feliz) closed in a NYPD crackdown on nightlife in the LES earlier this summer, is in trouble again, this time with the Department of Health. The closure notice posted on Friday cited violations like “sewage disposal system in disrepair” — definitely more of a concern than the overcrowded conditions that resulted in its prior closure. [Bowery Boogie]


Midtown East: Buy one bottle of wine at the already bargain-priced Park Avenue Liquor Shop and get the second half off, now until the end of August (includes champagne). [NYDN]


’Wichcraft translates its Cream’wich sandwich into an Ice Cream’wich at its newest kiosk in Bryant Park, featuring artisan ice cream from Van Leeuwen (single scoop, $4; double, $7; ice cream float, $6.50; ice cream’wich, $4.25). [Midtown Lunch]


Midtown West: Tomorrow is the last day Jamba Juice will give out $1 oatmeal, baked goods, and coffee in celebration of its one-year anniversary, at the Penn Station outpost until 2 p.m. [89thandBroke]


Tribeca: If you’ve been meaning to try the new Nixtamalito stand, cash in on today’s InBundle deal before you head over to Centre Street’s outdoor plaza and get an order of guacamole, nachos or salad, and any three tacos for $8. [InBundles]


Union Square: On Wednesday, August 31, Greenmarket will celebrate its 35th birthday at its flagship location. Stop by the Union Square Pavillion from 6 to 8 p.m. to check out photographs of the market since its 1976 opening, listen to remarks from GrowNYC, and get free market favorites like carrot cake and bread from Bread Alone Bakery. [Grub Street]


Upper West Side: Maria Loi’s deal to open a restaurant in the former Compass space at 208 West 70th Street was finalized yesterday. The self-proclaimed “Greek Martha Stewart” plans to serve small plates called orektika and other authentic Greek dishes when Loi opens at the end of September. [Diner’s Journal/NYT]


Tonight is the first of Ditch Plains’ “Back Room Crab Boil,” a weekly Thursday night dinner at the restaurant’s uptown location, featuring buckets of crabs, corn on the cob, drink specials, and more. Reserve a table for seatings at 6, 7, or 8:30 p.m.; $40 per person. [My Upper West]


Williamsburg: Mixologist Martim Ake Smith-Mattsson, formerly of Double Crown, is now making cocktails at Marlow & Sons. Like the restaurant’s menu, the cocktails change often, so try the “Blueberry Bramble” with fresh lemon juice and housemade blueberry syrup while the ingredients are in season. The “Meadow Cup,” a spin on the classic gin and tonic with chamomile citrus bitters and garnished with peychauds bitters, citrus slices, and lime zest. [Grub Street]


Spend Labor Day at Maison Premiere this year, where from noon to 8 p.m. you can eat barbecue, drink specialty cocktails, and listen to house music. But the real draw is the oyster-eating competition, where competitors will challenge the current record-holder for the Maison Premiere Championship belt (and serious bragging rights). $50 entry fee per person; RSVP before 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 3, to compete. [Grub Street]

Compass Closes to Make Way for Loi; Greenmarket Invites You to Its Birthday