ASTOR PLACE— Don't freak out, but the Taco Bell Truck will be in Astor Place tomorrow handing out free tacos and T-shirts from 11:30 - 2 p.m. [Asylum]

CHEFS ON TV— Eric Ripert’s new TV show, Avec Eric, premieres this Sunday, September 6th at 4:30pm on WNET (Channel 13). The 10-episode series is billed as "bringing viewers on a journey to the source of culinary inspiration." See a preview of the show here. [EaterWire]

MIDTOWN— A new vegetarian cart has popped up in Midtown, and look, it's already been cartblocked by a hot dog vendor. [ML]

[Rino Ceronte/Super Dog in plywood phase by Femia]

GREENWICH VILLAGE— Grubz reports that restaurateur Danny Omari has quietly opened plywood vet sandwicherie Rino Ceronte right near his other new spot Food Fight. Soon, he'll open a hot dog spot Super Dog, "creating his own personal comfort-food triangle on MacDougal Street." [GS]

STUPID PRANKS— NYBarFly shares this weird tidbit. If you have a dinner party, trick your guests into drinking boxed wine while telling them it's expensive, and record their reactions when you reveal they've "been boxed," you have a chance to win $2-10k. [NYBF]

FREE FOOD ALERT— Tomorrow Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' Donuts will be giving away free doughnuts at all participating locations (NB: DD requires the purchase of a drink). [ML]

Due to the glorious weather and the approaching holiday weekend, we're knocking off a little early today. We'll see you right back here, bright and early, on Tuesday.

TIME SQUARE— From the PR box: "When the Times Square Alliance closes down Broadway in Times Square this Monday, May 25th, Virgil’s Real Barbecue will still be open – and serving free ribs!...join Virgil’s Real Barbecue from noon until 2pm in front of Times Square Information Center (7th Ave between 46th & 47th St) to enjoy a sampling of Virgil’s Ribs, while supplies last." [EaterWire]

SOHO WEST— The first bottle of wine produced at New York's first winery, CIty Winery, is now on sale: "'Sohovignon Blanc' is now exclusively available for sale by the glass and carafe at City Winery...To celebrate the release, City Winery will be offering a free taste of Sohovignon Blanc to all diners at lunch through May & June." [EaterWire]

Just this morning, we were mentioning that opening a restaurant on the far reaches of Soho West is an uphill battle—getting people to trek out to the windy, bleak stretch of the nabe by the maw of the Holland Tunnel requires serious incentives. And so, the newly opened nautical themed restaurant, Harbour, located on Hudson and Spring, has a new plan. Tonight they will launch a nightly sandwich special to be served at the bar—the soft shell crab sandwich tonight is a whopping $18, marginally cheaper than most lobster rolls. More importantly, they'll be offering free bar snacks, including duck fat popcorn, fried chickpeas, Chinese five spice nuts, and Amish pretzels. If you want to stay for the real deal, some background courtesy of The RG, Plattypants, and the hoi polloi.
· All Harbour Coverage [~E~]
· Calling BS: Dog Ear Tavern Opens Near Ear Inn [~E~]

Gothamist and Gawker are reporting that it's absolute chaos at KFCs across town today. Yesterday, Oprah offered downloadable coupons for free KFC today, and now look what's happened:

"Despite the very visible grilled chicken behind the register, the manager told everyone with coupons to leave and that the promotion was over for the day. The people there are currently holding a sit-in and refusing to leave until they get their free chicken...or the cops are called. Racial epithets were being spewed, people who actually wanted to pay for chicken were facing a potential beatdown..."