Do you know Puppets in South Park Slope? There's a lot to like about the place: a very vegan-friendly menu, full bar, back yard, late hours, and--most unusually for a veg restaurant--excellent music.

Seriously, live music at veggie restaurants tends to be pretty lousy, right? But Puppets puts the music first, while also providing real good eats. (And don't get me started on the chicken-finger-and-cobb-salad filled menus at typical jazz clubs!)

Anyways, Puppets is going through some tough economic times and they've declaring this weekend "Help Save Puppet's Jazz Bar Fundraiser." If you happen to see this post tonight and can make it over before 3am, go for it. Otherwise, head over on Saturday the 28th between 5pm and 3am (happy hour til 8! backyard til 11!) and have burger or hot dog or salad or guacamole (hell, read their whole menu yourself; it's short). And give them some money. They're waiving all cover charges during the fundraiser and instead just asking for you to give what you can.

Even if you're not a real jazzhead, I bet you'll have a good time. Let's do our part to keep this place open!

Puppets is located at 481 5th Avenue between 11th and 12th in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

I was excited to see Jack White of the White Stripes' side project Dead Weather perform in Prospect Park's Bandshell the other night. But I walked out scratching my head about a couple of things. First, what was the point of the three dead animal heads that his roadie dragged out on stage right before the band came on? Seriously, I know he's a rock star with Michigan roots but I didn't take that to mean he was anything like that other one.

Then, as I was bumping around a dark Port-O-Potty during the set, I heard Jack say "I bet you read Brooklyn Vegan too. Any other vegans in the crowd out there? Come on stage and we'll kill a cow together." And then it sounded like he mentioned something about bringing an Amish person on stage (again, I was temporarily confined in a small, stinky potty at the time). He continued on to say something about people eating only "salmon and avocado," which seemed to upset him so he blurted out "get the fuck out of here."

OK, so a couple of issues: What was the Amish thing about? And since when did vegans eat salmon? (Avocado, well yes, obviously). And finally, WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM JACK WHITE? What did I (or any other vegans in the audience for that matter) do exactly--other than purchase a ticket (with Ticketmaster fees, mind you) and support the Bandshell?

Zen Palate is back at Union Square! On Monday they opened in their new location, on 18th Street between Park Avenue South and Irving Place. They'll have a party and private room available for large groups and, for a limited time, they are offering a special grand opening menu available only for delivery and carry-out, with all menu items under $10.

In other restaurant opening news, vegan bakery Champs has been added to the SuperVegan directory, so start leaving your reviews. Current menu offerings include cakes, cupcakes, cookies, scones, whoopie pies, and mini-cookies, including gluten-free pignoli cookies. They will be open seven days a week from 8am to 10pm, but call ahead during the first few weeks as the hours may change.

P.S. Don't forget to bring a pocket full of cash–Champs is cash only.

We just received word via our Twitter feed, courtesy of Megan of Boneshakers AND (now) Champ's Family Bakery:

We just opened Champs! SOFTLY. Sort of like practice, except for real. Lots of cookies! Scones! Muffins! 176 Ainslie at corner of Leonard!

We'll add Champ's to our restaurant directory soon, but until we do, read our June 22nd post on Champ's for more information.

Head to the rooftops of Bushwick this Saturday for Vegan Jam which bills itself as "New York's Premier Vegan Hip Hop And Fashion Event" (and who are we to argue?).

The event will feature performances by rapper Emcee Jermaine, poet Narubi Selah, and singer/songwriter Stephanie Rooker.

T. Leacock, will be showcasing her vegan fashion-line, "reciclaGEM", and DJ Henry C will be spinning old-school hip-hop.

Of course my first question was about the food, and here's what they're offering: "a number of platters made of pasta, and vegetables. There will be raw salads and mock-meat platters. We will also have a home-made vegan cheesecake made from tofu." Awesome.

The Jam happens Saturday July 3 from 3-7pm on the rooftop of Opera House Lofts at 27 Arion Place, Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Videos from Emcee Jermaine and Narubi Selah below. This is good stuff!

UPDATE: It's open as of Monday, August 2, 2010!

You can finally stop plotting your way to Portland, OR! The fine folks who run Brooklyn's favorite bike-themed café, Boneshakers, are opening Champ's Family Bakery, an all-vegan, full-service bakery at the corner of Leonard and Ainslie Streets in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Owner Brad Baker (seriously) plans to open the 100% dairy- and egg-free, kosher/pareve shop during the second week half of July by Wednesday, August 4th, with a grand opening the weekend of August 7th and 8th, should the final permits get issued in a timely fashion. (Fear not our gluten- and sugar-free friends, Champ's will have treats for you, too.)

Champ's Family Bakery is modeled after New York bakery institutions like Fortunato Brothers and Veniero's and will stock a vegan version of anything and everything you would find in a traditional patisserie. Gimme! Coffee will be served in the bakery's café area, which will seat 12 to 13 people.

Custom cakes will be available, as will those giant cookies you longed for in the mall as a kid since they were always displayed at your eye level.

So, at this point, you're probably wondering about the availability of donuts? Yep, they'll have those, too, but most likely on a limited basis. (I'll be first in line on donut days, suckas.)

Congratulations, NYC, you're finally getting an all-vegan bakery (that isn't focused on cupcakes) to call your very own. SuperVegan will, of course, keep you updated as Champ's gets closer to opening day.

Vegan fast food joint Foodswings will donate a portion of today's proceeds to Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary.

It's not too late to head over, pick up a Handwich and help out animals like Miss Piggy and Peter the Pig and other rescues in desperate need of care and comfort!

THIS JUST IN: It was just announced that Foodswings will match all proceeds from today. What are you waiting for? Go now!

The What: Sweeties New York Pastry Co: Carrot and Banana Cupcakes
The What’s Up: Brooklyn (home) based bakery enters the vegan cupcake wars. I tried two current flavors: Carrot Cake with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting and Banana with Peanut Butter.
The Yes: How would I describe Sweeties cupcakes in one word? Delicious. Here’s the what’s what:
Banana Cupcake with Peanut Butter Frosting: The banana flavor was both subtle (and nutty) while being quite rich; the frosting was velvety and smooth. The two flavors played off each other well; the addition of banana chips (on top) was a winner. This was my favorite of the two.
Carrot Cupcake with “Cream Cheese” Frosting: While the cake part had just a hint of carrot and spice it managed to stay bright in its flavor; both moist and airy. I couldn’t tell if there was meant to be a salty undertone to the cupcake but I loved it nonetheless. The “cream cheese” frosting had more of a “buttercream” flavor than what I had hoped but it was still delectable.*
The No: See (the sorta "no") * above.
The Word: Sweeties NYC cupcakes are deliciously rich and moist. The two cupcakes I tried were both delicate and balanced. I’m a believer.
The Info: Sweeties New York Pastry Company can be found at the GreenPoint Food Market. More information can be found at their website.

For those of you who missed Chrissie Hynde's new side project JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys' benefit show at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary last weekend, they will be doing a show tonight at Brooklyn Bowl in W'burg. Doors at 6pm, show starts at 8pm. Admission is free but donations are encouraged; all proceeds collected at the door and from advance ticket sales will be donated to Stray From The Heart, a non-profit dog rescue organization that rescues, rehabilitates and places homeless dogs in good homes.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, lead vocalist for The Pretenders and animal rights activist Hynde joined forces with Welsh songwriter JP Jones and his bandmates and the result is down home, blues-influenced, folksy rock. They played a benefit show last week at Housing Works bookstore with singer and WFAS supporter Tracy Bonham, whose husband Jason Fine of Rolling Stone organized the WFAS benefit--the first of a series of concerts at the farm. Stay tuned for updates about future shows!

The What: Parked, The Gowanus Food Truck Festival

The What’s Up: BKLYN Yard. A bunch of parked food trucks. Cinnamon Snail, Vegan Food Truck. Other Vegan Options. Beer Garden. (We mentioned it last week)

The Yes: On paper this is great idea: An open space featuring some of NYC’s best food trucks; plus, y’know, vegan options. Cinnamon Snail was decent at best*.

The No: On paper this was a great idea. Unfortunately, the execution left a lot to be desired. The fact that there was a line to get into a free (open area) event should have set off a warning bell in my head. My top complaints: Too small of space for such a large group of people, minimal seating (at a food-based event no less) and 3-dollar water! My biggest letdown: Cinnamon Snail*.