Pliny the Younger Lines; A Mission Indian Marketplace

The Pliny the Younger line at 11:45 am. [Photo: Maggie Hoffman/Serious Eats]

THE MISSION—Serious Eats ventured to The Monk's Kettle for today's tapping of Russian River's ultra-rare Pliny the Younger beer, and found a serious line winding all the way around the block, as seen above. (The fact that more than 100 people are capable of leaving their various modes of employ at 11 a.m. on a Wednesday to go drink an 11% ABV beer is truly what makes this city great.) On the upside, the crowd of ravenous beer geeks helped Monk's do a solid for La Cocina, with all the proceeds from every $10 10-ounce snifter benefiting the Mission food incubator. [Serious Eats]

THE MISSION—Inside Scoop brings word that a new open-air Indian marketplace, Namaste, has launched on the northern stretch of Valencia Street under the 101 freeway. Held every other week, the market currently has 15 vendors selling street food, art, and crafts; they're hoping to line up 40. There's also live music and cooking demos. The market is currently biweekly, on Saturdays and Sundays; check out their website for more info. [Scoop]

BERKELEY—Whole Foods has announced it'll be opening a second store in Berkeley, this time at 10th and Gilman Streets in west Berkeley. The developers are hoping to the space, formerly an Office Depot, will revitalize the shopping district, and though it's small for a grocery store (30,000 square feet), Whole Foods is bullish on the prospects for small stores these days (as evidenced by its bitty outposts in the Upper Haight and Noe Valley). The store is slated for 2014; in the meantime, Berkeley's existing Whole Foods, at Ashby and Telegraph, remains open. [Berkeleyside]

OAKLAND—Following in the footsteps of Sarah Kirnon's Miss Ollie's, fellow previously-lunch-only spot Grand Lake Kitchen has launched dinner this week, according to the EBX. Though their daytime menu centers on deli fare like soup and sandwiches, the nighttime menu will feature heartier dishes, like goulash, schnitzel, brisket, and roast chicken. Dinner is every night except Tuesday, starting at 5 pm; there's also a happy hour from 4-6 with $5 sparkling wine and rose, $1 off beers, and $5 cured meat and housemade pickle plates. [EBX]