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A BIG THANK YOU goes out to all the restaurants, supporters, advertisers, and people like you who made this year’s Vegetarian Restaurant Week possible.

We’d like to give out a few things to those of you who read this blog and supported a restaurant or two during Vegetarian Restaurant Week.

Send us your reviews of the participating restaurants you visited during Restaurant Week – either a link to your blog, or the review itself. Submission is easy: Simply respond to this post with your link or review. If sending a link, please include at least the first few lines of your review, being sure to include the restaurant’s name at the top.

Three lucky winners will receive a free, 1-year subscription to VegNews Magazine.

At the end of this year, Brooklyn will be losing at least 2 more vegetarian restaurants.

Let’s continue to support our local economy by supporting the places that support our eating habits.

Check out what Howard at EatToBlog.com had to say about his recent visits to Jill’s Cafe and Earth Tonez Cafe.

Since January 2003, 4 Course Vegan has been serving local, organic, and seasonal vegan fare to the curious and food lovers from all over NYC. Located in a Williamsburg, this truly unique dining experience brings vegetarians and non-vegetarians together in a communal and casual setting. Reservations are required. Email or call: info @4coursevegan.com or 718.599.5913.

Be sure to tell 4 Course Vegan and all the other restaurants that you heard about them from BKLYN Goes Veg!

Urban Spring is a vegetarian café located a few steps from Fort Greene Park, serving fresh organic juices, smoothies, sandwiches, delicious organic coffee, and freshly baked vegan treats.

Built from remains of NYC’s Peace Church, Urban Spring uses organic and local produce, biodegradable packaging, and renewable source electricity to bring you delicious and nourishing food that leaves a light footprint.

Enjoy a complimentary cup of tea with the purchase of soup or a sandwich.

When Mike McLaughlin of the Brooklyn Paper called to ask questions about BKLYN Goes Veg! one of the first things he asked was if I thought vegetarianism was waning. It was the second time I’d heard that in the same week. According to him, vegetarianism is dead.

I don’t think vegetarianism is waning and it certainly isn’t dead.

I do think that with every “new” idea or way of thinking and being that moves from the fringes of society to the center, vegetarianism has become mainstream enough – more accessible, less controversial – to stop receiving the kind of negative attention necessary to sell papers and magazines. Unless of course you’re a celebrity vegetarian or a misunderstood parent with “concerned” relatives.

Or maybe vegan is the new vegetarian?

I also believe that the global food crisis has catapulted the local, slow, and sustainable food movements (as well as issues of food security, and food justice) to the top of the conversations about our food choices. So, it’s not that vegetarianism is waning, or dead; it’s just not front page news anymore – which is what I expressed to Mr. McLaughlin.

This year’s take on BKLYN Goes Veg! in the Brooklyn Paper is a complete departure from the way they covered it last year, which is very curious to me. Perhaps readership is low; perhaps Mr. McLaughlin still hasn’t found a new girlfriend and the idea of yet another lonely night has turned him into a snarky, misguided failed vegetarian (he admitted that he was “vegetarian” in college, but has long since returned to eating meat).

In any case, BKLYN Goes Veg! is and has always been about promoting vegetarian dining in the borough. How a restaurant makes a decision to participate is based on their marketing strategy and bottom line, which may not include participating in a restaurant week.

If you feel you need clarification about the views expressed in Mr. McLaughlin’s article, feel free to send me an email.

At the very least, I hope the article motivates you all to get out and put your money where your mouth is. And maybe next year, you’ll see a larger lineup.

Support your local vegetarian restaurants.

Please see the updated list of participating restaurants and specials under “Restaurant Roll Call”, located to the right under the navigation bar.

Use the map to help you locate the restaurant of your choice.

If you have questions, please direct them to the restaurant.

Join Papacitios Monday thru Friday during their Happy Hour, 11am to 4pm.

I was going to mention the specials, but I forgot what they were, and it’s not on their website yet, so you’ll have to call them.

VeggieBrothers.com, while not a “real” restaurant (they’re completely online), is participating in BKLYN Goes Veg! As a virtual restaurant, they deliver vegetarian meals to just about anywhere, including, of course, to Brooklyn. For a limited time, first-time customers can take 10% off their order. Use code 10FTOct7 when placing your order. Offer expires November 27, 2008.

From the SuperVegan e-blast:

Join SuperVegan for our Presidential Debate Watch Party to cheer/sneer at the final showdown between “that one“ and that one at Red Bamboo Brooklyn in Fort Greene next Wed, Oct 15th at 7:30pm (debate starts at 9pm)!

Where else would you be able to enjoy a full bar and vegan goodies like Red Bamboo Brooklyn’s famous creole soul chicken, buffalo bbq wings, and cajun fried shrimp while you cringe in anger and barfiness while that man with the not so steady hand from the Palin ‘08 ticket calls you one of his “friends”?

Since our trust funds and stock portfolios have plummeted thanks to 8 years of dog-gone-it, mavericky Wall Street deregulations, this is a pay your own way party with no subsidies or bailouts.

However, in honor of (wink, wink) the Republican’s 2008 presidential/vice presidential nominee, who can see Russia from her igloo in Alaska (!!!), Red Bamboo Brooklyn will be offering discounted Vegan White Russians for just $5!!

If you’re on Facebook, RSVP for the event there.

Since there are indeed such things as Republican vegans (just like there are Republican gays), we welcome folks of all stripes – and even if you come cheering for Palin ‘08, we promise we will show you more mercy and compassion than what Palin has shown to Alaska’s wolves, polar bears, and other animals.

Join us October 14
for a Special Fundraising Event & Discover…

The Art of Healthy School Food
at the Peter Max Art Studio

Mary and Peter Max
invite you to share a special evening benefiting
The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food

Tuesday, October 14, 2008
6:30 – 9:30 pm
at the Max Art Studio
37 West 65th Street, Floor 7
(between Columbus and Central Park West)
HONORING
New York City DOE Office of SchoolFood & Candle Café & Candle 79 Restaurants
For their outstanding commitment to making a difference in the lives of children

BENEFIT COMMITTEE*
Hosts Jayni and Chevy Chase
Mark Bittman
Christie Brinkley
Woody Harrelson
Healthy Chef Alex Jamieson
Donna Karan
Lisa and Mehmet Oz, MD
Ashley Lou Smith and Dan Piraro
Amanda and Paul Sorvino
Morgan Spurlock
*Attendance pending professional commitments

LEVELS OF SUPPORT
Elementary School – $200 (1 ticket)
Middle School – $500 (2 tickets) Signed Peter Max poster plus name in program
High School – $1,000 (2 tickets) All of the above plus a tour of Peter Max’s private studio
Teacher – $5,000 (4 tickets) All of the above plus a meet and greet with one of the above celebrities
Principal – $10,000 (10 tickets) All of the above plus dinner with Mary and Peter Max at Candle 79 in 2009

FOOD FROM MANHATTAN’S HEALTHIEST
CATERERS & RESTAURANTS:
Angelica Kitchen • Ayurveda Café • Candle Café • Candle 79
Chef Fran Costigan • Chef Laura Dardi • 4 Course Vegan • Franchia
Pure Food & Wine • Red Bamboo • Rama Sushi • Slice, The Perfect Food

BEVERAGES PROVIDED BY:
Organic Wine – Pure Food & Wine
Juice – Lakewood Organic Juices

GIFT BAGS FOR ALL PROVIDED BY

www.ecobags.com

Reservations due no later than Monday, October 6th
To reserve online with your credit card, or for more information about our
organization and its accomplishments, please visit: healthyschoolfood.org
To reserve by check, please send a check made out to “NYCHSF” to
New York Coalition for Healthy School Food, POB 737, Mamaroneck, NY 10543

Please be sure to include your complete mailing address
so we can acknowledge your contribution.
We will place your name on the guest list at the door.
For more information prior to the event, please call:
(914) 630-0199

Night of event, cell phone contacts:
Janet (917) 549-9147
Amie (631) 525-3650
Kelley (917) 232- 8323