GRAND BANKS OPENS MAY 1
Grand Banks will open May 1 but is already taking reservations here. It’s West Village sister restaurant, Drift In, also in Hudson River Park, is already open at the end of Christopher Street. That crew is also opening a new restaurant on the Dumbo waterfront which will feature Brooklyn-brewed beers among their usual nautical fare.

MULBERRY & VINE OPENING UPTOWN & BK
The local chain that started here on Warren is opening three of its locations — Nomad, DUMBO and Lexington & 55th — as of April 14. Have a note in to see when ours will be back…

PEN PARENTIS APRIL EVENTS
Pen Parentis will hold its next literary salon on Tuesday, April 13, and the theme is “Love and Loss” with Marian Fontana, Marion Wink and Melanie Hatter. The writers group also has a Writing Fellowship for New Parents and the submission window is open now through April 17 at midnight. (By their definition, a new parent has a kid under 10.)

LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER SHOWS ON ORCHARD
Duane Street resident Mya Nichol has a show up this week (through April 11) titled “Story of a Girl” at Chinatown Soup, 16 Orchard, as part of Sexual Assault Awareness month. The series of photos follows a young woman growing up in a small town, and shares the girl’s story of sexual abuse through her eyes.