Off Into Space: Little Dipper JP Shuts Down Operations

Jamaica Plain will no longer have a space themed diner after Little Dipper JP announced it will no longer be serving brunch on weekends. The diner, which had model rockets hanging from its ceiling, had been open for weekend brunch, but in a Facebook post on its page, they said they'll be stopping serving on the weekends due to staffing and other challenges. The diner opened July 2018, taking over for the popular Centre Street Cafe. The restaurant has cajun, southern and southwestern influence, and menu items include the Thor, a breakfast sandwich with an over-easy egg, aioli, served on a house-made English muffin. There will still be food served out of the spot as two pop-ups currently operating out of Little Dipper -- Comfort Kitchen and Be Okay Bagels., will continue that as they plan on opening up their own brick-and mortar restaurants.

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Outdoor Dining Begins March 22 in Boston

Let's hope Boston sees a lot of warm days starting next week as outdoor dining will begin March 22, which is earlier than initially planned. The city has received more than 434 applications of which at least 215 have been approved. Last year more than 550 requests for outdoor dining were granted with 415 on public property. According to the city's website, eight Jamaica Plain restaurants have been approved for outdoor dining: Brassica Kitchen and Cafe; Brendan Behan Pub; Casa Verde; Jeanie Johnston; Little Dipper; Monumental Market; Soup Shack JP; and Tres Gatos. Outdoor dining was initially planned to begin April 1.

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Nine Jamaica Plain Bizs Awarded JPCS Main Streets Grants for Reopening

JP Centre/South Main Streets has awarded grants to nine Jamaica Plain businesses to help them with their reopening expenses and outdoor seating. The grants were given to businesses in the JPCSMS district. Grants of $1000 were awarded to the following businesses:

Casa Verde at 711 Centre St. Jeanie Johnston at 144 South St. JPizle Kitchen at 536 Centre St.

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Fundraising Campaign to Help Centre Street Bizs Adapt to New Reality of Outdoor Seating and More

Restaurants are now allowed to have customers inside at a reduced capacity, and to help offset the loss of customers, outdoor seating has been expanded for many eateries. To help cover some of the costs for businesses due to the pandemic, JP Centre/South Main Streets is holding a fundraising campaign to pay for things such as outdoor seating. The campaign runs through July 22 and has a target goal of $40,000, and as of July 8 had raised $3,545. JP Centre/South Main Streets is also letting customers know that businesses are open by asking them to put an orange balloon outside of their location. Business owners David Doyle of a trio of restaurants Tres Gatos, Little Dipper, and Casa Verde, and David Warner of City Feed & Supply, recently partnered to purchase the required jersey barriers (water-filled) for outdoor seating areas.

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JP Restaurant Week Returns to Support Immigration Justice Starting Nov. 10

Six of JP’s favorite restaurants and local activist group Boston For All are coming together again for an exciting week of fundraising for legal defense of immigrant children starting Nov. 10. From Nov. 10 through 15, through participating in ‘Dining For a Difference 4’ – the fourth such collaboration – customers
of the restaurants will be directly supporting the work of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). KIND’s work to provide legal support for immigrant children in the legal system informs the stated mission of all involved to support immigration justice.

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Little Dipper, Brendan Behan and Main Street Volunteers Honored by Mayor

The recent extreme heat delayed Mayor Marty Walsh touring around Main Street districts highlighting local businesses and volunteers, including several of Jamaica Plain's favorite businesses. Some of the JP part of the tour was rescheduled for July 22, and some of the tour was rescheduled for this weekend. During three separate days, Mayor Walsh will visit nine different locations, honoring 20 Main Street volunteers and numerous businesses. This weekend the PikaloX restaurant and volunteer Eugenia Arroyo, will be honored as part of Egleston Square Main Streets. The Little Dipper restaurant, and volunteer Melvin Tutiven will be honored by the Jamaica Plain Centre South Main Streets program.

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JP Restaurants Raising $$ for Immigrant Rights During Dining for a Difference Week

Diners in Jamaica Plain have a chance to donate to a great cause while enjoying meals at six fabulous local restaurants during Dining for a Difference Week from November 4 to 9. The fundraiser will support national immigrant rights group Kids in Need of Defense, which in recent months has been working tirelessly on behalf of migrant children separated from their parents. During Dining for a Difference Week, local restaurants Tres Gatos, The Haven, Casa Verde, The Frogmore, Vee Vee and Little Dipper will each donate a portion of proceeds from a night of business. The event is the fifth organized by Boston For All, a grassroots group of local parents inspired by the 2016 election to raise money for civil liberties and civil rights organizations. Thus far, Boston for All has raised more than $25,000 through fun, family-friendly events.

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Diner-Style Little Dipper Restaurant Takes Over for Popular Centre Street Cafe

Chances are the Little Dipper is the only restaurant in Jamaica Plain with model rockets on the ceiling. But it's the menu that will ultimately draw customers back in to the restaurant, not the decor. The diner-style restaurant recently opened after taking place of the popular Centre Street Cafe. Co-owner David Doyle, who also owned Centre Street Cafe, said the change in business name, concept and decor was due to working with a new business partner, Robyn McGrath, who is also the chef. "She and I agreed that there is a need for more quality breakfast and lunch options in the neighborhood, so we decided to close the cafe and open Little Dipper, a fun, casual, diner-style restaurant, which we believe will have broader appeal than the cafe," said Doyle to Jamaica Plain News.

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Centre Street Cafe Becoming ‘Celestial’ All Day Diner

The seemingly popular Centre Street Cafe will be changing its name in the coming weeks and becoming an all day diner with a celestial name. The diner will be called Little Dipper and have a space theme, according to Boston Magazine. The current ownership of the cafe purchased it in 2015 and changed it to an Italian restaurant, and continued to serve one of the most popular brunches in town, as it commonly has a line out the door. So sounds like the Little Dipper will still serve brunch, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a Cajuan, Southern and Southwestern influence, reports Boston Magazine. Centre Street Cafe is expected to close in May for several weeks as it is remade into the diner.

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