A Huge New Outdoor Beer Hall Opens in Williamsburg

Openings, closings, and coming attractions

Rapidly expanding beer hall Clinton Hall has added a fifth outpost in Williamsburg in the Pod hotel at 247 Metropolitan Ave. with a large outdoor space, as well as games like its signature oversized Jenga, giant chess and Connect 4. With tons of big screen TVs, expect it to be a sports bar vibe on game days. Over in LIC, at the end of the month, Mexican restaurant Corazon de Mexico (Heart of Mexico) will open at 10-09 50th Ave., specializing in the food of Mexico City — enchiladas, spicy shrimp, ceviche, guacamole — from the owners of La Adelita bakery in Woodside. Over on the Upper West Side, New Amsterdam Burger & Bar will take over the picket-fence space at 680 Columbus Ave., bringing in a Kosher American restaurant.

Just Salad gets award from the Environmental Protection Agency

Even though it won’t chop, New York City salad chain Just Salad does still do some good work. The Environmental Protection Agency presented the company with a WasteWise award last month for its reusable bowls. Just Salad says those bowls save over 75,000 pounds of plastic per year by eliminating waste, and it entices customers to use them by offering some free toppings for those who do.

Pepsi donates $4 million to the Robin Hood Foundation

PepsiCo Foundation has committed $4 million to the poverty-fighting Robin Hood Foundation, earmarked specifically to support education and workforce training programs for young women and girls in the Bronx. The company estimates this will help 20,000 females between 13 and 24 increase their earning potential. It’s part of a $100 million investment from PepsiCo in women’s economic empowerment.

New Korean brunch starting this weekend

Small East Village Korean restaurant Soogil adds brunch to its lineup this weekend, serving dishes such as short rib eggs benedict and spicy tofu and egg seafood soup. Chef-owner Soogil Lim uses his prior experience at Daniel and Hanjan to combine Korean flavors with French techniques. The full menu is below, served on weekends from noon to 3 p.m.