This swank new restaurant recently opened in Jamaica Plain. Vee Vee is a New American Bistro on Centre Street, serving mid-priced, modern American food, with a focus on fresh seafood, vegetables and grains. The menu, which changes seasonally, features local products whenever possible. Also, Vee Vee's stunning decor is minimalistic with a contemporary flair. They also sport a carefully chosen selection of craft beers. Vee Vee is now open for Sunday brunch brunch from 10:30 - 3:00PM.

Slotted to open Monday, Aug. 11 2008. City Feed and Supply, the popular local convenience store and café, is taking over the former Videosmith storefront on Centre Street as a second location. This will be a much larger second site for the company (with their first location on Boylston Street). This Centre Street location (in the 3,000-square foot space on the corner of Seaverns Ave.) includes tables for enjoying a sandwich and plenty of windows for people watching. City Feed targets the "Ped Set" or the pedestrian traffic strolling up and down Centre Street. Their business is focused on locally grwon and organic and fair trade foods with an emphasis on vegetarian items like tofurkey. They are, admittedly, not a place to shop for everything, though they are a food store in addition to being a cafe.

UPDATE: Petal & Leaf moved to its new location at 48 South Street. The new spot is smaller but the compact space is warm and the selection and staff make this the go-to-place in Jamaica Plain for fresh flowers and arrangements. Petal & Leaf is a full-service florist and it's got a great mural of a lush garden on the side of the building to entice you with what you can find inside. Consistently in the running for "Best of JP" in multiple categories (friendliest business, service, mural) you will never go wrong by going into Petal & Leaf and asking for help in selecting the perfect flora for whatever occasion you have in mind.