If you didn’t make it to the awe-inspiring backyard of Lavender Lake before Sandy put it under three feet of water and then the endless winter descended, make up for lost time at one of the beer hall’s long-awaited, free, outdoor movie nights this spring. This week, grab a beer and some of Lavender Lake’s insanely addictive fried Brussels sprouts and settle in for some pretty first-rate double headers: North by Northwest and Midnight Run on Tuesday and Unforgiven and Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid on Wednesday. While you’re in the ‘hood, check out one of the best new restaurants I’ve been to in a while, Runner & Stone. Head baker Peter Endriss manned the ovens at Per Se and Bouchon Bakery before arriving at Third Avenue’s burgeoning restaurant row, and all I can say is, it shows. I never pass by without picking up a baguette or a brioche, and during the month of April, the restaurant will be selling special cookies to raise money in connection with Autism Awareness Month. With each purchase, you get a delicious brown sugar shortbread cookie, a cookie cutter and a copy of Endriss’ recipe. –K.H.
