TWO HANDS TO OPEN FOR DINNER
Good news for fans of the Southern Hemisphere: Starting Monday, August 26, Two Hands will stay open for the evenings (they now close at 5). The hours will now extend to 10p Monday through Sunday. The Australian cafe with a beachy theme and killer frosted banana bread will be serving its All Day menu — at night.

PICKLEBALL IN BPC
If you haven’t tried it and you like racquet sports, totally worth going to Pickleball Wednesdays at BPC’s Esplanade Plaza (south of the North Cove Marina) from 9:30 to 10:30 through August 28. They call it a cross between badminton and tennis but I call it paddle tennis on a half court. The event is free, for adults, with BPCA staff, all skills welcome, equipment provided.

BIRDBATH SPACE, NEE VESUVIO, AS RECORDED IN 1940
Some of you may have seen the post about Birdbath Bakery closing, which has been on the site of the Vesuvio Bakery at 160 Prince for the past 10 years. The original bakery goes back much farther than that – to the 1920s. James originally posted the link to this 1940 photo, which I asked the Municipal Archives to send, so we could reprint it here. Fabulous. And you should read the original story in The Gothamist, which had this amazing quote from the owner of Birdbath: “For a baker who loves bakeries, being given the keys to Vesuvio’s was a precious gift, like a violin player handed a Stradivarius—not just to hold—but to play. There are few places like Vesuvio’s left in New York, a sad, diminishing reality. To a bakery lover, it’s an heirloom. To a New York lover, it’s history.”

POP-UP RESTAURANTS AT SPRING PLACE
B. sent along the news that there are three pop-up restaurants at Spring Place (Spring Studios) on Varick. Now, this sounds like a lot more trouble than it’s worth to me, but if you’re into it, here’s the rundown. You have to have a Mastercard to go! And you have to make a reservation. And oddly, you exit at a different location than you enter. (???) And it’s only open till Saturday, August 24. If you can take all that, here they are:

There’s Lyaness, from London, by Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr. Lyan, the world’s most awarded bartender, owner of White/Super Lyan, Cub, Dandelyan/Lyaness in London — and pioneer of food sustainability and innovation. Drinks and small bites menu offered à la carte

Then there’s Teruzushi, by famed chef Taka Watanabe and his signature blade theatrics. Prix fixe dinner for $395, without booze. (!)

Last up is The Rock, from Zanzibar, an internationally acclaimed restaurant with traditional African cuisine with an Italian twist. Six-course prix fixe menu – $135 per person, not including booze.