T.B.D.: After finally getting their paperwork in order, the new 2,500 square foot t.b.d. opened on Franklin Avenue in Greenpoint Tuesday night. As previously noted, the cavernous new lounge, located in a former warehouse, has twelve beers on tap, as well as wine and spirits. There’s also some comfort food, like mac ‘n’ cheese, shepherds pie, and chili dogs. And $15 gets you their “bucket of crap” – the old six pack of cheap beer trick. 224 Franklin Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, (718) 349-6727.
THE MERCURY DIME: Sasha Petraske, whose elegantly exclusive cocktail den Milk & Honey sparked the city’s current fancy-drink fetish, quixotically tried to get a liquor license for his new East Village venture The Mercury Dime. But the local community board shot him down like pretty much everyone else, so now he’s running it as an upscale coffee shop where sober gentleman and ladies can sip fine espresso in Petraske’s signature refined ambience, replete with fireplace and free Wi-Fi. The house specialty is an Ethiopian coffee called Chichu, which Urban Daddy claims is only available in the U.S. at the Mercury Dime. There are also teas, sandwiches and pastries. 246 East 5th Street, (212) 533-3295.
THE RUSTY KNOT: Ken Friedman (Spotted Pig) and Taavo Somer (Freemans) had a “soft opening” of their nautical-kitsch bar on the West Side Highway last week, and it reportedly got so crowded that they delayed an official opening to let the hype cool off. Everyone should have their problems. It’s still not clear whether the wood-paneled room is open or not, but when it finally washes ashore you can expect to find rum cocktails in plastic totem glasses, oysters and pigs-in-blankets. A fuller menu is still being determined, and food will be served until midnight, drinks until 4 a.m. 425 West Street at West 11th Street, (212-645-5668).
