Lauretta Jean's Pies in Cafe Velo; Hala's Lebanese on NW 23rd

DOWNTOWN: As promised, downtown's Cafe Velo space — which stopped serving its Mediterranean-influenced lunch menu last month — has welcomed some new life, in the way of a cafe partnership. A tipster reports that Velo owner Rick Wilson has officially teamed with Kate McMillen's Lauretta Jean's Handmade Pies to create the latter's first brick-and-mortar storefront, open now. Both Wilson and McMillen got their starts as farmer's market favorites, with the latter still holding court each weekend at the PSU Farmer's Market. [EaterWire]

NORTHWEST 23rd: A tipster reports that Hala's Lebanese Grill has opened for business in the former BeWon Korean restaurant location on NW 23rd. [EaterWire]