Monthly Archives: March 2008

Civics and Urban Life

Update on the Lincoln Place Bordello or How are the Condo’s Coming?

1 Comment

Bob at Gowanus Lounge has a story that’s near and dear to many a long-time Park Sloper’s heart, the Lincoln Place Bordello.

That’s right. There’s a big, gorgeous building on Lincoln Place next door to the backyard of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music that used to be called The Lincoln Hotel or the The Park Slope Hotel—does anyone remember?

To quote from the Kander and Ebb song, "Cabaret": "She wasn’t what you’d call a blushing flower. As a matter of fact, she rented by the hour."

Yes, the Lincoln Hotel was the real deal. Rooms by the hour. Limousines and cabs out front all night. My mother and a friend once went in years ago because her friend was curious about this "hotel" in her neighborhood.

They said the person at the front desk acted pretty funny when they asked for room rates.

A few years back the hotel was sold and it’s been in construction hell ever since. Yesterday Gowanus Lounge’s story included this tip from a reader.

My companion noted that
there was a worker perched on the chimney way up on the roof. No harness.

A few hours
later, I walked by again. There was an unharnessed worker (couldn’t
tell if it was the same one) in the same place. I called through the
gate to ask if there was a supervisor I could speak to. A worker told
me that he was "inside." As I had a child with me this time, I didn’t
pursue the boss further, but said to the worker that the other man
didn’t have a harness–which was dangerous. He replied, "It’s only 20 minutes work."

Clearly, the brothel condo isn’t the safest construction site around. Seriously, though. Why has it taken so long to convert that place into condos? I mean, it’s not the Sistine Chapel.

Civics and Urban Life

10 Things to Love About Park Slope from Amy Sohn and Grace Bonney

2 Comments

Hey, Grace and Amy are two of my faves in Park Slope and they’re BOTH on the Park Slope 100. Brooklyn Based asked them to come up with five things to love about the Slope. And I love them for doing it. Here’s Amy Sohn’s. I’ll run Design Sponge’s Grace Bonney tomorrow. And check out Brooklyn Based. It’s cool. You have to sign up for it to get her emails 3x a week. We’re doing cocktails together on March 26th at Sidecar.

1.   The Old Stone House

2.  Al di La – moderate prices for amazing Northern Italian food, and ambiance that can’t be beat

3.  The Prospect Park Boathouse and the electric boat rides around the reservoir
montauk1.jpg

4.  The Montauk Club — a private club open to all, which just welcomed a new executive chef [Joel Thompkins]

5.  Picnic nights at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden [this year, June 25, July 30 and August 27]

Postcard from the Slope

Nun Orchids at Zuzu’s Petals in Park Slope

Fonda at Zuzu’s wrote to say that she and the Zuzu’s team went to the Orchid Show at The New York Botanic Gardens.

They fell in love with something called a Nun Orchid. Perfect for Easter, eh?

Luckily, they have been able to score four excellent specimens of Nun Orchids. "Just put her in your bright window and give her water when she approaches dryness," Fonda says. "She will reward you with an annual explosion of fresh foilge and copious stems of blossoms.

Some of you may shy away from the care and feeding of such an exotic plant. That’s why Zuzu’s big and small has a large selection of plants and flowers for Easter that take absolutely NO Expertise whatsoever.

Check out one of the shops. To reserve your Nun Orchid call:

The Big
374 fifth avenue
718 638-0918

Little Zu
158A Berkeley Place
718 636-2022

 

Civics and Urban Life

OTBKB-related Events in March

Sidecarfront7_3

March 26: Join OTBKB and Brooklyn Based for cocktails at Sidecar, the groovy newish bar in the South Slope. 560 Fifth Avenue. 6:30 – 8 p.m.

March 27: Brooklyn Reading Works presents: Inner Lives Out Loud at the Old Stone House. Readings from Regina McBride’s workshops. 8 p.m.

March 29: If you are a Brooklyn blogger, come be interviewed for a video about Brooklyn blogging by Blue Barn Pictures. Let me know what’s a good time for you (louise_crawford(at)yahoo.com. The shoot is from 11 am until 7:30 on Saturday the 29th in DUMBO. Email me if you can be there and what’s a good 90-minute time slot for you. You must be a Brooklyn blogger, who’s been around for 3 months, who updates with some frequency. This video will be at the May 8th Blogfest!

Postcard from the Slope

The Best Bra-fitter in Brooklyn

1 Comment

Recently on Park Slope Parents there’s been much discussion about Iris, who many consider the best bra-fitter in Brooklyn.

In fact, so many PSP moms chimed in about Iris that I found myself wanting to get fitted by Iris. I guess she has a great selection of bras, too. But she doesn’t have a store of her own and has worked in various stores. In other words, she was a wandering bra-fitter until recently.

So what’s a bra-fitter? In my experience, she’s usually an older Jewish woman, who took your measurements and helped you figure what kind of bra you needed.

There used to be a great bra-fitter at The Towne Shoppe, a bra, lingerie, pajama and swimsuit shop on the Upper West Side (near Zabars). Before that there was a bra shop on Broadway above 86th Street, which had a serious old Eastern European Jewess. She was short and stout and wore multiple measuring tapes like a scarf. With great seriousness, she would would measure and fit. Not only did she measure, she adjusted the straps until they looked just right.

There used to be a great bra fitter at a bra shop on 8th Street east of University Place. I don’t think that store is there anymore.

Women still need bra-fitters, but they are a dying breed. We’re expected to go to department stores and try bras on ourselves. Sometimes I have to go into the dressing room and read the tag on the bra that I’m wearing in order to remember what size I wear. During and after pregnancy, our bra size changes. Many women find themselves with new breasts after having children. They need help!

So what happened to bra-fitters?

Well, the great bra-fitter Iris is now located at Kimera at 366 Atlantic Avenue. Apparently, Iris has the whole downstairs and lots of new merchandise.

One mom wrote, “I hope this helps out all us less than pert moms out there!!”

I just noticed that A Child Grows in Brooklyn has a story about Iris, too. And a picture and some biographical details:

She fitted bras at Bloomingdales for 10 years and designed the award winning wedding bra ensemble (which I happen to own) for Le Mystere. She has been designing bras for 9 years.

1352115887_a11ce8a3a9

Photo by Susan and her 5D is called The Search for the Bra

Civics and Urban Life

Brooklyn Restaurant Week: March 24-31

Make your reservations at these participating Park Slope restaurants for a prix fixe dinner for $23:

12th Street Bar & Grill (D)*
1123 8th Avenue
718-965-9526

200 Fifth (D)*
200 5th Avenue
718-638-2925

Alchemy Restaurant & Tavern (D)*
56 5th Avenue
718-636-4385

Anthony’s (D)*
426A 7th Avenue
718-369-8315

AOC Bistro (D)*
259 5th Avenue
718-788-1515

applewood (D)
501 11th Street
718-768-2044

Aunt Suzie’s Restaurant (D)*
247 5th Avenue
718-788-2868

Bar ToTo Italian Bistro (L/D)
411 11th Street
718-768-4698

Belleville (D)*
330-332 5th Street
718-832-9777

Blue Ribbon (D)*
280 5th Avenue
718-840-0404

Blue Ribbon Sushi (D)*
278 5th Avenue
718-840-0408

Bogota Latin Bistro (D)*
141 5th Avenue
718-230-3805

Café Tapeo (D)*
52 5th Avenue
718-638-1066

Canaille Bistro Francais (D)
78 Fifth Avenue
718-789-8899

Cantina Restaurant & Bar (L/D/#)*
494 4th Avenue
718-369-5850

Elementi (D)*
140 7th Avenue
718-788-8388

KitchenBar (D)*
687 6th Avenue
718-499-5623

Long Tan (D)
194 5th Avenue
718-622-8444

Los Pollitos II (L/D)
148 5th Avenue
718-623-9152

top

Lucious Food (L/#)
59 5th Avenue
718-398-5800

Magnolia Restaurant & Bar (D)*
486 6th Avenue
718-369-4814

Maria’s Bistro Mexicano (L/D)*
669 Union Street
718-638-2344

Melt (D)*
440 Bergen Street
718-230-5925

Miriam (D)*
79 5th Avenue
718-622-2250

Mulino Ristorante Italiano (D/#)*
133 5th Avenue
718-398-9001

NoNo Kitchen (D)*
293 7th Avenue
718-369-8348

Palo Santo (D)*
652 Union Street
718-636-6311

Piramide (D)*
499 5th Avenue
718-499-0222

Rose Water (D)*
787 Union Street
718-783-3800 

Sakura Cafe (D)*
388 5th Avenue
718-832-2970

Santa Fe Grill (L/D)
62 7th Avenue
718-636-0279

Scottadito Osteria Toscana (D)*
788A Union Street
718-636-4800

Sette Enoteca e Cucina (D)*
207 7th Avenue
718-499-7767

Sotto Voce Restaurant (L/D)*
225 7th Avenue
718-369-9322

Stone Park Cafe (L)*
324 Fifth Avenue
718-369-0082

Tempo Restaurant (D)*
256 5th Avenue
718-636-2020

Tonio’s Restaurant (L/D)*
306 Seventh Avenue
718-965-4252

Trattoria Mangia (L/D)*
119 5th Avenue
718-636-5259

The Park Slope ChipShop (L/D/#)
383 5th Avenue
718-832-7701

Brooklyn Blogfest

Blue Barn Pictures and OTBKB are Making a Video about Brooklyn Blogging

And if you’re a Brooklyn blogger, who’s been blogging for at least three months with some frequency you need to be part of it.

Here are the ‘tails:

The video shoot is on March 29th from 11 am until 7 pm at Blue Barn Pictures in DUMBO.

I met filmmaker David Castillo of Blue Barn at the recent Brooklyn Blogade brunch in Kensington. I liked his work, and immediately approached him about doing a short video for the Blogfest. He thought it was a great idea and we’ve been brainstorming about it ever since.

But we need your help. You gotta come and be interviewed on March 29th!

No, you don’t need to be there all day. Email me with a 90 minute time slot that works for you. There’s a wine bar in the building where everyone can wait for their close up and loosen up. my email: louise_crawford(at)yahoo.com

David Castillo of Blue Barn Pictures will interview you. All the interviews wil be edited together into a short, fabulous video for the Blogfest and elsewhere.

Do this for me. For OTBKB. For the Blogfest. For posterity.

Postcard from the Slope

Obama Fundraiser at Union Hall on March 31, 7 pm

1 Comment

Now that everyone is so jazzed up about the speech he gave yesterday, this is the Park Slope fundraiser for Barack Obama you won’t want to miss at Union Hall: Monday night March 31 at 7 pm.

That’s right, Union Hall, our venerable bocce court, cozy drinking spot, venue for spelling bee’s, grammar fests, all ages music shows and other quirky entertainment adventures is hosting a Barack Obama fundraiser on Monday night March 31 at 7 pm.

Location: 702 Union Street @ Fifth Avenue.
              718.638.4400

They promise to provide free hors d’oeuvres, discount drinks, inspirational speakers, and The Easy Tease.

Donations at the door. No dollar figure has been mentioned. But I’m guessing the suggested donation will be $25, $35, or $50. Larger checks will, of course, be welcomed. There will be computers on site where volunteers will be able to type in credit card donations.

Speakers include the very cool, the very interesting and eclectic James Bernard, who was cited on the 2007 Park Slope 100. A member of Community Board 6 and a
executive coordinator of the Project Forum on Race and Democracy, and
senior communications fellow at Policy Link. You launched the Source
and XXL, two hip-hop magazines, and have written about popular culture
for the New York Times, the Village Voice and Entertainment Weekly.

Postcard from the Slope

Slope Scope Puts Yogo Monster To The Test

Slope Scope, a fairly new Park Slope blog, decided to give Yogo Monster a try. Here’s an excerpt from his report:

While the frozen yogurt itself is ok, the real treat were the toppings. At a price of only one dollar for up to four toppings, it’s too good a deal to pass up. I went for the strawberries and magos, and both were fresh and delicious. The tastes came together very well and created a clean, refreshing eating experience.

Check out the Scope’s ambitious site, where you can read about neighborhood history, transportation, cultural and religious life, businesses, nightlife and more. There’s a great deal of information on there and it is presented in a very smart and readable way. He’s even got news feeds from OTBKB, the Brooklyn Paper, Brownstoner, and Daily Slope.

Civics and Urban Life

Oshima Looks Very Elegant

Oshima, on Seventh Avenue near Berkeley, is one of my favorite sushi places for lunch. It closed recently for renovation. Last night I walked by and finally looked in.

There are purple curtains in the window, brick walls, and a whole new layout to the restaurant. I had to walk by quickly but I did see the couple who own the place standing in the window and I gave them a thumbs-up.

She has a beautiful smile; the two of them looked very pleased.

Slope Scope, a blog I have completely lost track of has a story about the renovation, too. He isn’t nearly as impressed as me. Maybe he hasn’t seen it at night. Here’s what Slope Scope had to say:

They are open again now, that the changes are pretty drastic but not anything to write home about. The interior has been rearranged, with the sushi bar moved to the back. This arguably created more seating inside. The main feature though is floor to ceiling glass windows at the front of the store, ala the Santa Fe Grill. The old exterior (still featured on their website) was a little closed off, and hopefully this new look will get more people in the door.

Postcard from the Slope

Au Contraire: The Occasional Note From Peter Loffredo

Here’s our pal Pete, of Full Permission LIving, on Barack Obama.

Since 1980, I have basically considered myself to be apolitical. Identifying with neither left, right, Democrat, Republican ,Green or Libertarian, I became disgusted with the disingenuous, insincere, two-faced, mealy-mouthed nature of political discourse. Indeed, after Jimmy Carter lost and Ronald Reagan won in 1980, I haven’t voted in a presidential election since for lack of belief in any particular party’s sincerity or for lack of hope in our political system. Politicians themselves became the butt of jokes in the way that admen once were in the 1950’s and 60’s – snake oil salesman who spoke with forked tongues, never told the truth, and whose bottom line was always personal gain at anyone’s expense. Since the mid-Eighties consequently, I have focused on helping individuals elevate their own levels of consciousness, one person at a time, ignoring the notion of "movements" on a mass scale.

Then, suddenly, in 2007-2008, there came Barack Obama. Read more at Full Permission Living

 

Civics and Urban Life

The Oh-So-Prolific-One: Leon Freilich/Verse Responder

SEVENTH AVENUE VIEWS

Yogo Monster
Good taste demands you ban
The window garbage can;
Otherwise, Monster,
You may become a gonster.

Bank of America
You win the prize and more
For having the dirtiest floor,
Suggesting your money too
Is dirty through and through.

Prospect Gardens Pharma
What do shower heads
Have to do with meds?
Don’t toys and games and such
Seem a bit too much?

Santa Fe Grill
Singles at the bar,
Families seated not far;
Oldest avenue eatery
Deserving its popularity.

Ozzie’s
Stroller spillout from
Tea Lounge baby scrum
Leads to parking woes
As entrance traffic slows.

Civics and Urban Life

Meet me at Sidecar For a Drink on Wed. March 26th at 6:30 pm

1 Comment

Join me and Brooklyn Based for cocktails at Sidecar, the acclaimed new bar and comfort food eatery in the South Slope.

That’s one week from today: Wednesday March 26th from 6:30 to 9 at Sidecar . You’ll get two  free sample cocktails
made with milagro tequila (and non-alcoholic beverages too, for moms to
be/non-drinkers).

By "sample" it simply means that the drinks are not
full drinks–they’re basically half cocktails, which the bartenders can
prepare in advance and place on the bar so people can easily "sample"
them.

I’m excited for a bunch of reasons:

1. It will be fun to meet and socialize with readers of OTBKB. Come one, come all!

2. It will be fun to go to Sidecar @ 560 Fifth Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets. It looks great.

3. It will be fun to hang out with Brooklyn Based, a really cool Brooklyn blogger.

Civics and Urban Life

Brooklyn Reading Works: Inner Lives Out Loud on March 27 at 8 pm

You’ve heard me mention Regina McBride’s amazing writing workshops, Inner Lives, Developing Characters.

Some of the best writers I know take her workshops.

That’s why Brooklyn Reading Works is presenting a reading of work from these workshops called Inner Lives Out Loud on Thursday March 27th at 8 pm at the Old Stone House. Fifth Avenue @ 3rd Street in Park Slope.

I will be reading an excerpt from my new novel, "The Last Sublet," at this reading!

During these workshops, relaxation, sense memory, and emotional memory (Stanislavski
acting techniques transformed for the writer)exercises are offered to enable the writer to find a deeper, richer
connection to the character he or she is creating.

Exercises are ollowed by writing periods, and opportunities for
people to read and share their work. The atmosphere is safe, with
the focus on exploration.

Come to the reading and hear writer read work generated in these amazing workshops.

Civics and Urban Life

Welcome to Lara Wechsler, Photographer

OTBKB is so pleased that Lara Wechsler has agreed to come on board and present a daily post called, Photography by Lara Wechsler.

I have been an admirer of Lara’s work for quite some time. In December she showed her  Coney Island work at 404 Gallery, and I was wowed seeing them in large print form.

Lara has her own blog called Park Slope Street Photography and these images will be culled from there. As I told Lara, this is a self-curated photo show and I want her to do whatever she wants to do with it.

Here is an artist’s statement from Lara’s website:

I consider myself a street photographer; my camera is always on hand and I shoot at anything that strikes my interest in public places. I constantly pay attention to people, composition and lighting.

My love for New York City has always motivated me. The city offers a plethora of visual stimuli and my goal is to capture this visual bounty. I have had a strong commitment to street photography since 1988. I capture reality – by using a wide-angle lens and avoiding postcard compositions. I seek the raw, claustrophobic crowd and congestion of the city, not just with people, but also inanimate objects. I relish people or objects that get in the way of the otherwise "perfect" shot.

Over the years, I have developed a style that combines the finesse of fine art with the grit of street photography. Unusual captures, composition and angles burst through my city scenes.

Currently I am a cooperative member of a small jewel box artist run gallery
440 Gallery in which my photographs along with all the other members’ art work is hangin in the members’ part of the gallery. I am also a member of the Brooklyn Arts Council.

Postcard from the Slope

Brooklyn is a Freelance Boro

You just have to walk around Park Slope mid-day to know that it’s a "freelancer’s mecca." Who are all these people and what do they do? How do they afford to eat lunch out?  What are their jobs?

Today in the Daily News, there’s an article by Nancie Katz called, "Freelancers Mecca: Self-employed Flock to Brooklyn."

Well, it is an awfully pleasant place to be self-employed. You can take a run in the park instead of a coffee break. Meet a friend for tea on Seventh Avenue or Fifth. Pick your kids up from school and go back to work. Here’s an excerpt from the Daily News:

You’re creative? You’re self-employed? Brooklyn‘s for you.

In
the last six years, Brooklyn has outpaced the rest of the city in
attracting creative entrepreneurs, according to statistics from the Center for the Urban Future.

"It really is quality of life. It’s not as expensive and it’s not as busy as Manhattan. Brooklyn is hip. It has reached that level," said Scott Adkins, a playwright who opened two writer’s spaces in Park Slope. "You’re guaranteed to have a good coffee shop."

Freelancers
say they were originally attracted to Brooklyn for its affordability,
beautiful neighborhoods, diversity, sense of community and rapid
commute to Manhattan.

Postcard from the Slope

‘Snice is ‘Snice and Busy

Diaper Diva and I went into ‘Snice today and were pleased to see how crowded is was. We ordered lentil soups and smoked tempeh wraps. That’s my favorite sandwich so far.

Mike, who owns the restaurant, said that on Saturday they were very busy. "As busy as we get in Manhattan," he said. He seemed really happy about that.

‘Snice is the nabe’s new vegan sandwich shop, cafe, and great spot for tasty restaurant-made desserts.

"We just have to convince everyone that they need a pumpkin muffin every morning. They’re really great!" he told us.

Brooklyn Blogfest

Brooklyn Flea: Greenjeans is in

Starting April 6, Brownstoner is launching a great new outdoor market called the Brooklyn Flea!

And Greenjeans , a wonderful shop that sells American handmade goods for conscious living at 449 Seventh Avenue in the South Slope, will be taking their show on the road.

Here’s the plan: The Flea will be held every Sunday
at the Bishop Loughlin High School schoolyard (on Lafayette Ave. btw.
Vanderbilt & Clermont Ave.) in the Fort Greene neighborhood of
Brooklyn.

Our plan is to bring work by different artisans every week. We’ll post the roster on the blog for you.

We’re excited that Greenjeans is coming out of the "box" and onto the street. Starting April 6th: you can find them at the Brooklyn Flea!

Civics and Urban Life

Blogfest on May 8th.

2 Comments

It’s official. We’re having the 3rd Annual Brooklyn Blogfest at the Brooklyn Lyceum (Fourth Avenue and President) on May 8th at 8 p.m.

This year’s theme: Place Matters; Blogging My World

The Blogfest, an annual gathering of Brooklyn Bloggers, is for everyone. Bloggers and non-bloggers alike.

What happens at the Blogfest? Lots of bloggers, non-bloggers, media, and others show up. A formal presentation with speakers and video will be followed by a shout-out and then some social time.

It should be quite a get-together and I’m very excited about the new venue.

And let’s not forget about the refreshments and spirits. Last year,  Partida Tequila sponsored the event and threw a great party with 100% organic agave margaritas and Mexican food from Rachels.

This year, we’re looking for a liquor or wine sponsor. But there will be Mexican
food from Maria’s Mexican Bistro on Union Street will be supplying some
of the eats.

Come one, come all. There’s tons of room at the Brooklyn Lyceum;
this year we won’t have to turn people away unless more than 300
people show up.

The program hasn’t been worked out yet but there will be quite a few
surprises. And there will, of course, be a shout-out.

That means if you
started a blog since the last Blogfest you get to come up on the
stage and shout out about it. Tell us what it’s about, where you are,
and what you’re  doing.

 

real estate

Brownstoner Speaketh: 4th Avenue “Novo” Takes a Nose Dive

Brownstoner has word that the prices on the condos at the Novo on Fourth Avenue just behind the Old Stone House and JJ Byrne Park have taken a nose dive.

The Novo heralds itself as the new park slope (lowercase theirs). For fun, take a look at the video opener on their site. See a slide show of pix of Belleville, the Botanic Gardens, horseback riding in Prospect Park, Sweet Melissa’s and the Tea Lounge:

"Hello Brooklyn please allow us to introduce the New Brooklyn. The energy of 5th and 7th Avenues…"

The music is really annoying.

So why the nose dive? The Bear Stearns’ thing is pretty scary. The Feds jumping in makes everyone even more scared. There are lots of financial jitters out there. Everyone is in suspended animation to see what’s next and the condos are going down in price.

Brownstoner speaketh:

What’s the matter? Don’t buyers know they’re going to have a brand-spanking-new dog run in their backyard?