This Week’s Openings and Buzz
BushwickBK reports on the soft opening of “Bushwick’s newest café and performance space,” Flushing Farms (pictured above) at 970 Flushing Avenue, just north of Bogart Street: “Flushing Farms has many components, including a lawn, garden, patio, an indoor café, and even a little patch of sand called Flushing Beach…” Clinton Hill Blog learns that “Just Taste It, a fried foods establishment” is preparing to open within the next two weeks in the old Fish and Crustaceans space at 901 Fulton. And Greenpointers notes that a new bar called Blackout has opened at 916 Manhattan Avenue between Greenpoint and Kent: “Though you can’t tell from the street, Blackout is actually a spacious affair with a stretched out bar and a accommodating backyard.”

More Upcoming Openings
The New York Times Restaurant Preview Issue lists a slew of new Brooklyn spots. Some highlights: Provence en Boite on Smith Street is moving into the old Patois space down the block. An offshoot of Manhattan’s Mercat will open this month at 65 Grand Street (at Wythe Avenue) in Williamsburg. Dumbo’s Almondine is opening a second location “with a fireplace, garden and terrace” at 442 Ninth Street (at Seventh Avenue) in Park Slope. Plus, Tanoreen will be moving from its current location to double its size at 75-23 Third Avenue in Bay Ridge.

This Week’s Closings
11211side reports that Planet Thailand in Williamsburg has permanently closed… Pardon Me For Asking notes that Bagels by the Park in Carroll Gardens has temporarily closed for vacation (until September 7)… Eater reports that Choice Atlantic is temporarily shut down, but Choice Market on Lafayette remains open for business.

Southern Comfort in Williamsburg
Betsy Andrews from the New York Times is a fan of Joaquin Baca’s home cookin’ at the Brooklyn Star: “His casseroles ($8) — garlicky summer squash and mushroom-rich green bean with slivered almonds — are toasted to gooey goodness in his open kitchen’s 100-year-old brick oven. Creamed corn with smoked trout ($4) and earthy black-eyed peas and rice ($4) are spoonful-by-spoonful delicious.”

Chowhound Chatter
This week, the ‘Hounds are raving about the hot dogs, breakfast biscuits, and milkshakes at Bark in Park Slope… Umi Nom in Clinton Hill is getting mixed reviews, but it sounds like this new spot is still working out the kinks… And Chowhounds who’ve been frequenting Smith Street’s Chestnut for years are “amazed at how well it holds up.” One regular customer says, “the current bacon wrapped pork dish is excellent these days.”

Fondness for Fonda
Tasting Table offers a nice review of Fonda, the new Mexican spot on 7th Avenue between 14th and 15th streets, and says that the menu “features modern creations like hazelnut mole, which adds an aromatic punch to shrimp enchiladas ($15), and other uncommon dishes, like braised duck tucked between two corn tortillas ($9) and coated with a spicy roasted tomato-habanero salsa.” Also, chef Roberto Santibañez shares a few of his recipes on Cookstr.