Neighborhood Watch

Docks Oyster Bar Hosts Shucking Contest in Midtown; the Castello Plan Launches Late-Night Menu in Ditmas Park

Ditmas Park: The Castello Plan, at 1213 Cortelyou Road, is launching a new late-night menu to be served daily until 1 a.m. The menu includes the scallion grilled cheese and bacon sandwich with fried egg, shrimp, and potato stew, and a variety of cheeses and desserts.
[Ditmas Park Blog]
East Village: After suffering severe fire damages in October, the back room at Otto’s Shrunken Head reopens tonight. [Grub Street]
Marfa is closing soon, making room for Swan & Defense, coming in December or January. [Fork in the Road/VV]
Japanese soul-food restaurant, Ichibantei, is now open at 401 East 13th Street. [Fork in the Road/VV]
Midtown: Sophie’s Cuban is now open at 45th Street and Fifth Avenue. [Midtown Lunch]
Docks Oyster Bar is hosting an all-you-can-eat oyster festival with unlimited beer and a shucking contest on Saturday from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Tickets are $60. [Diner’s Journal/NYT]

Prospect Park: The Second Annual Helping Hands Food Pantry 5K Fun Run will take place on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Prospect Park. Participants are invited to walk, bike, or run and all proceeds go to Helping Hands Food Pantry. [Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn]
Buy one holiday drink and get one free at a local Starbucks from 2 to 5 p.m. this weekend.
[Brokelyn]
Upper West Side: Rati Lohti will host an Indian street-food-cooking class on Sunday at the James Beard Foundation, 167 West 12th Street. Tickets start at $60; call 212-627-2308 to RSVP. [Diner’s Journal/NYT]

Docks Oyster Bar Hosts Shucking Contest in Midtown; the Castello Plan Launches