Van Leeuwen Is Giving Away Free Ice Cream Today

Get some free Van Leeuwen ice cream today

Quickly multiplying ice cream shop Van Leeuwen — an UES location opened last week — is celebrating its 10th anniversary today. To honor the occasion, the brand, which started as a truck, will drive around in its original home and hand out free scoops of vegan passionfruit and chocolate hazelnut base with candied hazelnuts, chocolate chips, and white chocolate swirl. From 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., the truck will be parked near Chelsea Market, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. near Union Square, and from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. near Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Korean fried chicken joint Mono + Mono returns

After a fire closed it down in 2013, East Village Korean fried chicken restaurant Mono + Mono is back. The restaurant at 116 East Fourth St., between First and Second avenues, will operate as a flower shop by day and bar-restaurant at night. The menu has changed up a bit, but the fried chicken is still available.

Miss Lily’s launches its annual jerk crab boil

For the fourth year, downtown Caribbean hot spot Miss Lily’s will serve up a jerk crab boil every Tuesday, through Labor Day. At both its locations — in Soho and the East Village — a pound of Alaskan snow and Dungeness crabs, doused in spicy scotch bonnet jerk seasoning, plus some boiled red potatoes, corn on the cob, charred pineapple coleslaw, and festivals are served up for $28 per person.

Female sommeliers in NY are banding together

In response to feeling outnumbered at male-dominated wine tastings, women in the industry have formed a female-only tasting group. Started by Ruffian Wine Bar’s co-beverage director and partner Alexis Percival, the group meets regularly as both a support network and a chance to hone their skills. One member described instances when producers have grabbed her butt, while another, an importer, said she found it difficult to be taken seriously as a female business owner.