Fagiani's facade pre-construction. [Photo: Flickr/SteveOwen52]
WINE COUNTRY — Fagiani's (813 Main) in Napa was once a speakeasy and the site of a page-turning murder mystery. Thanks to New York hospitality group AvroKO, which designed Michael Mina's RN74, it's set to reopen in August as a two-story restaurant and bar with a "floating glass wine cave." [ISSF]
FLOATING RESTAURANTS — Vincent Lackey wants to turn his houseboat into a restaurant on water by the time the America's Cup sails into town in 2013. His idea would be to station it at Pier 1, but right now it's stuck in the mud over in India Basin, where his neighbors basically don't like him and find the boat problematic. File under possible "pipe dreams." [Examiner]
SWITCHEROOS — Sage Lounge (1601 Howard) is closing, and 1601 Bar and Kitchen will be the latest to open a restaurant by the numbers. Opening date is TBA but the kitchen will be in the hands of South Bay chef Brian Fernando, who last helped to open Plates Bar and Grill in Los Altos. [Grub Street]
THE BRUNCH BUNCH — Soul Groove is pulling up to SF FoodLab (1106 Market) this weekend for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 2-3. Expect entrees ($8-15) such as the Chicken Fried Soul (fried chicken and waffle sandwich) or its vegetarian alternative, the Turntable. [EaterWire]