Spuyten Duyvil‘s Big Backyard
359 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg; (718) 963-4140
“Beer nerds, rejoice! The Williamsburg beer Mecca known as Spuyten Duyvil recently unveiled a patio roughly double its original size. The bar took over the backyard of the adjacent building and revealed it as part of their own back garden Wednesday of last week,” reports The Feedbag.

New Carroll Gardens Spot Blames the SLA
387 Court Street (at 1st Place), Carroll Gardens
Calpurnia, the new restaurant set to open in the old Hole in the Wall Video space on Court, has posted a sign that reads, “As you can see, the delay in obtaining our liquor license was not our fault.” Beside this message is a newspaper article about corruption in the State Liquor Authority. (Eater has posted a photo of the signage.) While we don’t recommend dissing the SLA, we’re into Calpurnia’s spunk. Any idea what kind of restaurant this will be? Tomorrow is opening night, and they’ll pour a free glass of wine for anyone who stops by.
Plus: Motorino in Williamsburg just got its liquor license, says Grub Street.

Spring Opening Report
Eater spots a Craigslist posting about available jobs at Fort Defiance in Red Hook, which will “open in May, serving coffee and lunch. Later, we’ll open for cocktails and light food at night. Staff will be trained by Counter Culture Coffee to make great espresso and coffee, and by Fort Defiance owner/food-and-drink writer St. John Frizell to mix drinks.” Eater also reports that Calexico‘s Union Street storefront “should be up and running in three weeks.” And Ditmas Park Blog says that Vox Pop is preparing to reopen.

After the jump: A human petting zoo at Brouwerij Lane, a fall in sales for Brooklyn Oenology, and food news from Park Slope, Crown Heights, and Adan Richman…

Greenpoint’s Human Petting Zoo
78 Greenpoint Avenue (at Franklin Street), Greenpoint
The Brooklyn Paper has the skinny on Brouwerij Lane’s May Day Bock Partay: “Five actors costumed in plush masks will confine themselves to a chicken wire pen at the May 2 party at the beer retailer Brouwerij Lane, in what organizers claim is an attempt to foster kinship between Brooklynites and beasts.” Huh? Maybe this will make more sense after you indulge in some free German sausage and beer on Saturday, May 2 (which is actually the day after May Day) from “1pm to 4ish.”

Hard Times for Brooklyn Oenology
“A growing interest in local products hasn’t offset the economic downturn for Greenpoint-based vintner Brooklyn Oenology. The company, which uses Long Island grapes, cut back production to 500 cases last year from 4,500 in 2006, ” says Grub Street.

Quick Bites
Chowhounds recommend Park Slope’s Athena and Mogador Falafels… Brooklyn the Borough chit-chats with Franklin Park co-owner Matthew Roff… And Park Slope’s own Adam Richman of the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food grabs lunch at Marine’s Coffee Shop with the New York Observer.