Now that we’ve made it through the clutches of winter, we invite you to read up on some of the great things going on for the summer…

Rockaway Taco will resume its seasonal hours of operation starting Memorial Day weekend serving excellent fish tacos and Jack’s Coffee. Check out the website at http://rockawaytaco.com/ for more information.

At RICE in DUMBO located at 81 Washington St., we have opened our outdoor patio bar Speak Up, serving lobster rolls (weekends only), Brooklyn beers on tap, veggie dogs, Cuban sandwiches and Bratwurst. Our meats are provided by the Meat Hook (http://the-meathook.com/) and our breads are provided by Parisi Bakery (http://parisibakery.com/). Speak Up is open 7 days a week, from 3pm-10pm, weather permitting. If the weather is questionable feel free to call (718) 222-1569 to see if we’ll be open. Ñ/bk (located under RICE in DUMBO) is open Thursday through Saturday, from 5pm.

Be sure to also check out http://www.stannswarehouse.org/ for upcoming shows, where RICE has a concession bar to hold you over while you’re there.

Across from our Fort Greene location at 166 Dekalb Avenue on Saturdays is the Fort Greene Park Greenmarket. http://www.grownyc.org/node/271, stop by and check out some of the produce and greenery that make this worthy spot to check out. Our Jack’s Coffee outpost is open Monday through Saturday from 7am and Sundays from 9am, serving fresh Blue Sky muffins, croissants, fresh granola and more. You can also find Jack’s and other items at our Nolita location at 292 Elizabeth Street, which opens at 8am Monday – Friday and 10am on Saturday and Sunday.

Thanks for eating RICE.

While we’re all bundled up in our coats and long johns why not spend some time redirecting our thoughts to the warm beach days of summer. Last summer Rockaway Taco opened its doors to serve some very well received menu items to its beach going community. Serving everything from fish tacos to grilled corn and chilaquiles for breakfast on the weekends, Rockaway Taco has received some great, well deserved press for its delicious offerings.

Check out some of the links below if you’d like to know more…

http://rockawaytaco.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/dining/reviews/30ylist.html

…and a short video piece on ABC nightly news

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/neighborhood_eats&id=6999337

Did you know that RICE has a continued partnership with Added Value Farms located in Red Hook, Brooklyn?

Added Value began in April 2000 by gathering community stakeholders and outside experts to discuss the lack of meaningful educational activities and employment opportunities for Red Hook teenagers. In the spring of 2001, Added Value convened a group of local youth, neighborhood leaders, community-based organizations and regional institutions to form our Community Advisory Committee. Guided through a participatory planning process by Heifer International, the Committee outlined a three-year plan to address food insecurity, unemployment and the alienation of youth from the Red Hook community.

Each day at RICE we contribute our compostable food waste to the farm to help further their goals and community involvement as well as reduce our impact on the environment.

Be sure to check out their website at http://www.added-value.org/

Pier One, On the Brooklyn Waterfront. A great spot for the view, and Rice is there serving Beer and Wine, Fish Tacos, Ginger Lemonade and other great food and drinks. 

Rice was excited and proud to be included in the event that was the Boredoms 77BoaDrum in the Empire State Park last year.

“The Brooklyn 77BOADRUM show was nothing short of a triumph (unless you were one of the people who got there after 3:30 and waited in line for three hours before being turned away). Perfect weather, fantastic crowd, beautiful setting, and a shimmering, jaw-dropping piece of music. Gave a lot of jaded New Yorkers new-found hope for their city, and certainly provided a from-the-heart counterpoint to the Live Earth charade going on in New Jersey. The Boredoms delivered not only a low-tech spectacle but actually achieved their goal of making the audience part of “one giant instrument, one living creature.”
The Daily Swarm
http://www.thedailyswarm.com/swarm/080808-save-date-boredoms-plan-infinite-follow-88-drummers/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYwkkdX0wsM

Rice is very happy to be invited back to the 2008 version on the Williamsburg Waterfront.
http://www.jellynyc.com/events/nike-sportswear-presents-88-boadrum-fri-aug-8-2008-2/
It will be an amazing event.

The Pier One “Pop -Up” Park is now open 7 days a week from 10am to 10pm.
Located Next to the Fulton Ferry Landing and The River Cafe, this new park offers a taste of what the full Brooklyn Bridge Park will be like when it is completed.
From Pier One you can view all 4 Waterfalls and enjoy one of the most spectacular views of downtown Manhattan (especially at sunset).

Rice has set-up a cafe and bar serving beer and wine, sangria, shandys and lucky henrys (a really good summertime beer based cocktail with fresh lime and lemon juice and seven up) and good snacks including fish tacos.

It’s a great spot, and we are feeling very lucky to be able to offer an outdoor space where you can enjoy a drink and one of the best views in the world.