Are you there God? It's me, Veselka

A "Today" show correspondent filed a report early this morning from Veselka on Second Avenue... We look forward to seeing this online, perhaps. Meanwhile!

Per the TV, Veselka has "God amazing food."

Well, we love The Baczynski, but we're not quite ready to put it in God's stratosphere.

Photo via Shawn Chittle.

S'MAC planning on an early fall opening at the First Avenue/Houston kiosk

We first heard that S'MAC will be taking over for Veselka at the First Avenue/Houston kiosk back on June 4, as reported by Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo.

Little Veselka cleared out as expected at the end of June.

So when will S'MAC take over the space? We asked Sarita Ekya, who runs the popular East 12th Street macaroniship with her husband Caesar.

"We just finalized our agreement and picked up keys for the space," she said. "There is work to be done before we open so it looks like early fall at this point."

So, will there be S'MAC samplers for breakfast? Or where there be more traditional items for sale at that hour?

"We plan on being open the morning hours for coffee, pastries and the like," she said.

Previously.

Just a few more hours left for Veselka at the First Avenue/Houston kiosk

Matt Duckor at The Feast reports this morning that Veselka closes today at noon at the First Avenue/Houston kiosk. They'll be vacating the space to make way for S'MAC. Meanwhile, Veselka Bowery is expected to open in the next year or two.

[Photo by Matt Duckor]

S'MAC taking over for Veselka at the First Avenue/Houston kiosk

An outpost of macaroni-and-cheesers S'MAC is replacing Veselka in the First Avenue/Houston kiosk, Patrick Hedlund reports this morning at DNAinfo.

Veselka, which will vacate at the end of June, has manned this space the last five years. The city’s Parks Department put out a request for proposals in January for a new food vendor, Crain's reported.

Previously.

Next stop of the 'Gossip Girl' tour — Veselka

Back in February, Veselka was closed for part of a day while crews filmed a scene for the television program "Gossip Girl" there...

And the Very Special Veselka episode aired last night...

To the Twittersphere for some reaction!

Previously.

[Updated] When will Veselka on the Bowery open?

After posting the coming-soon sign for Veselka Bowery on Saturday, we sent the folks there a note asking when they're expecting to open...

We didn't hear back from anyone at Veselka. We last heard that the location will open in mid-March, per the Feast.

[Updated 2:30]
From Fork in the Road:

"Our opening date will probably be in May. Maybe early June, but we're hoping to be faster than that," said Veselka owner Tom Birchard, who mentioned that this new location will be similar to the one on Second Avenue, but will have a full liquor license and be "a little less dinerish and a little more restauranty."

As for the menu, he notes that "Everything will still be inexpensive and casual but we'll have some really exciting items. We're looking for inexpensive caviar, and we're going to have lots of vodkas from Eastern Europe which will be great because the food goes great with it."

Here's your Veselka Bowery signage

Here we are at the coming-soon Bowery/First Street location of Veselka...

We last heard that the location will open in mid-March, per the Feast.

And here was a progress report from September.

Veselka closed today for "Gossip Girl" shoot

They'll reopen at 11 p.m. .... Can't wait to try their new menu item — the Chace Crawford beef stroganoff.

DNAinfo has some paparazzi shots.

Previously.

Report: Veselka may not renew lease for First Avenue kiosk

Crain's is reporting that the Veselka kiosk at First Street and First Avenue may close this summer. Per the article:

The city’s Parks Department put out a request for proposals Tuesday to operate the kiosk, which for the past five years has been run by Tom Birchard, who owns the nearby 56-year-old Eastern European eatery, Veselka.

Mr. Birchard says he is considering the RFP, but a new requirement to install a bathroom in the park for the restaurant’s workers is a major concern. There is no existing plumbing in the park, so the installation could be very costly, he said.

Regardless, there will be plenty of borscht nearby: A new Veselka outpost is opening on East First Street near the Bowery later this year.

[Image via]

Why you'll have to wait a while longer to get your borscht from Veselka on the Bowery

Construction may have started in February for the Bowery/First Street location of Veselka...



But I caught a look inside the space the other day... Workers were carrying in some supplies... there's still a ways to go here, as you can see...