Open & Closed: Say Hello to UO; Goodbye to Elvie's Turo-Turo

The new Sigmund Pretzel Shop on the Lower East Side was opened by pastry chef Lina Kulchinsky and partner Tricia Wancko. Expect small batch, hand-twisted pretzels, plain or dressed up with spreads and dips, both sweet and savory.
[Always Hungry]

Sushi UO has opened on the Lower East Side with 23-year-old chef-owner David Bouhadana at the helm. Bouhadana has studied in Japan and worked at Morimoto. The menu at his unmarked restaurant will change daily.
[NY Times]

The owners of Koreatown's not-so-secret Third Floor Cafe are opening 8st Kitchen, serving traditional Korean dishes with occasional Japanese touches. A cocktail program is in the works, which will include drinks made from soju and the lesser-known makkoli.
[Grub Street]

First Avenue Filipino, Elvie's Turo-Turo, was shuttered in June by the DOB, and the space is now up for lease. Apparently, owner Elvie left the business to daughter when she retired to Philippines, and the business as run into the ground within six months.
[Eater]

Avenue B residents can rejoice: Le Souk is dead! The clubby restaurant plagued neighborhood residents with its loud, drunken patrons for years. A sign on the door says all reservations will be honored at Le Souk Harem in Noho.
[Eater]