Plywood Report: T Salon's First West Coast Location, AK Restaurant and Del Monte in Venice

MELROSE: The snap and note from a reader: "I recently noticed that a banner was hung on the old Wholesome Pita spot on Melrose, a few doors down from Pinkberry and M Chaya. It's for the T Salon a tea room and store that I've been to many times in NY." T Salon's flagship is in the Chelsea Market, and this will be the first for the West Coast. Indeed, it will have a retail and "tea salon" component, and green and sustainable architecture. Shooting for a December debut. [PRE-PLYWOOD]

VENICE: A quick check in with Conny Andersson, former exec chef at the Beverly Wilshire hotel, about his forthcoming AK Restaurant + Bar on Abbot Kinney: Not opening this month (and way past the July date we first heard), more like the first week of October. The space will be very indoor-outdoor, with most of the tables on the patio, glass doors, hardwood and cement floors, fireplace, wrap-around bar, balcony. The menu will change seasonally and daily, "depending on what is just caught, newly harvested and freshly available from AK’s suppliers of small farms, fisheries and meat purveyors." [PLYWOOD]

VENICE: The owners of Little Temple and Zanzibar (and the now-closing Temple Bar) Windward will soon to debut their speakeasy called the Del Monte in the basement of Townhouse Cocktails on Windward. According to Metromix: "The idea is to create a ‘20s atmosphere from the decor to the atmosphere: think no cell phones, allowing ladies to always have a seat, and a Prohibition-style evening, complete with Roulette tables!" Selling point for the kids: Jim Morrison supposedly peed there. [POST-PLYWOOD]