[NEWS BITES] O'Toole's gets in the craft beer game, plus new brunches and businesses

Since Facebook is now burying posts unless you pay for them, I want to make sure nothing important gets missed (or also gets buried in the Week We Ate). Here are some of the most important of the important things you need to know, tasty little news bites for your gray matter.

O'Toole's is getting into the craft beer game with the intention of being, and I quote from a third party, "the best craft beer bar in Royal Oak." The O'Toole's in Waterford always did well with their Michigan craft handles and O'Toole's founder Keith Wadle, who still owns the Royal Oak location but has since sold off his share of the Waterford restaurant and bar, has taken a serious interest in bringing that culture to his Royal Oak spot. They're redoing the bar with a new look and a brand-new start-of-the-art tap system. They just added 20 tap handles and will soon be adding 20 more, and if you think it's going to be all Sam Adams and Oberon, think again: they're getting brews like Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA and Odd Side Ales Citra Pale Ale (Imperial Beverage is treating them well and will continue to do so).

After a more than two-year delay, Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe in Midtown will open for business this Saturday with a wide selection of artisan items from local producers.

Tomorrow during the Villages Fall Festival, new permanent businesses will be announced that will be opening soon in the burgeoning neighborhood. Stay tuned.

Brunch! And stuff!
In the past two weeks there has been MUCH brunch activity. (It *is* the most important meal of the week.) To wit:

*Green Dot Stables is now open Sundays noon to 6 p.m. (or whenever whatever game is done but the kitchen is nixed at six) serving items like breakfast sliders and Vermont poutine. What is Vermont poutine, you ask? Hell if I know but I WANT IT.

*Pizzeria Biga in Royal Oak will soon be serving brunch both Saturdays and Sundays.

*Local Kitchen + Bar in Ferndale is now serving brunch both Saturdays and Sundays.

*The Sugar House in Corktown is now open at noon on Saturdays and Sundays and serving a special "Eye Opener" menu that includes bagels from Detroit Institute of Bagels.

*Crispelli's Pizzeria and Bakery in Berkley now serves a daily breakfast and will start serving weekend brunch this weekend (with breakfast pizzas!).

*Tashmoo Biergarten in West Village will host a post-Beer Fest Brewer's Brunch this Sunday featuring  biscuits and gravy from Corridor Sausage and many more brunch-tastic items that make me want to test my own limits and see just how many brunches I can consume this Sunday. This will also be their last day of the season.

*Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co.'s Midtown coffeehouse and bar is now serving vegan breakfast sandwiches from vegan pop-up and catering company Chartreuse, and will host a full-blown brunch with them on November 10.

Plus in extra Great Lakes Coffee news, they are now open on Mondays until 11 p.m.