Rachel’s Corner, everyone’s favorite late night Greenpoint grocery (106 Nassau at Eckford), is getting a makeover. On my way to pick up the usual deadline cookie dough on Friday around 1 a.m., I was stopped short by Rachel’s owner, Vinny “the Turk” Sahin. Vinny explained that he was expanding all the way back, replacing office and bathroom space with a full freezer section and….beer!

The beer selection will be brought over from Vinny’s other store on the block, Beer Mania (110b Nassau Ave.). The former Beer Mania has already been gutted (left), and is being remodeled into a fast food kabob house, which Vinny hopes to open in two months. What does Vinny the Turk plan to call his new eatery? “Turkish Kabob House, of course!” he says.

The construction at Rachel’s (below) began around 10 p.m. on Friday evening and Vinny, committed to efficiency, swore the place would be open for business again by Saturday at 10 a.m.

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Photo: Josh Levine

 

Kent Ave closer to getting bike lane. [Brookyln Paper]

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The nice people at the Angel Street Thrift Shop will be throwing a Garden Party this weekend to benefit individuals and families affected by substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and Mental Illness. While the fundraiser, which features a 10% discount for individuals who print out the flyer (after the jump), isn’t set to begin until tomorrow at 1pm, the thrift store will hold a special preview event this evening, from 5-8pm. If you can’t make it tonight, that’s ok, as the benefit will continue through the weekend. For a 10% discount and more information on the event, click here.

Hazy view of Manhattan. Photo: Mark Hulbert

 

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Weezer fans and NAG supporters packed the back room of Union Pool last night to hear The Blue Album Group cover the band’s eponymous classic. The BAG was note-for-note on ’90s alt anthems “My Name is Jonas” and “No One Else,” while “The World Has Turned,” a personal favorite, sounded a little fast. There were some other snags for the BAG, but that didn’t stop people from singing and dancing (in a restrained fashion).

Unfortunately, I missed The Roulettes and only caught a little bit of Rebecca Schiffman (it was a nice night on the patio, what can I say…). Anybody catch those?

Not sure what NAG’s fundraising goals were for the night, but the back room was overflowing with supporters — we’ll try to find out how that translated into dollars, and how those dollars will become oral histories.

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