Monthly Archives: June 2010
How to Open a Business in Brooklyn
A June 28th article in Inc.com says that “Brooklyn is as much a brand as a location.” Hey, we knew that. And so did that vodka company that sponsored the Brooklyn Blogfest. But the article, How to Open a Business is quite interesting. Take a look/see.
For Alexis Miesen, Atlantic Avenue had all the makings of the quintessential Brooklyn thoroughfare that combines the charm of a small town with the pace of city life. With its colorful boutique storefronts, diverse dining options, smattering of coffee shops, and antique stores, she expected to see happy families strolling along the street sharing ice cream cones.
There was one problem: There was no ice cream anywhere around.
“It’s filled with all these fantastic bars and restaurants and shops and it just has this really great kind of energy. They have all these great amenities to the community but no great ice cream shop,” she said. “This is a gap in what other people are offering.”
Less than three years later, Miesen and her partner Jennie Dundas had opened not only an ice cream shop on Atlantic Avenue, but also had rapidly expanded the franchise to two other Brooklyn locations, feeding summertime crowds that often form lines winding out the door. Blue Marble’s organic, grass-fed dairy-based ice cream has been praised on The Martha Stewart Show, CNN, and in a bevy of New York publications.
Brooklyn has become as much a brand these days as a location. Slap the word “Brooklyn” on a piece of clothing and it’s instantly edgy, and quite likely to sell. New York City’s most populous borough remains a popular place to start a business, and Miesen and Dundas are emblematic of the grassroots, DIY entrepreneurs across the borough who’ve found a niche, and a loyal fan base that helps spread their brand along the way. (Check out Inc.com‘s slideshow on Brooklyn’s Best Entrepreneurs.)
The surge of creative energy, young artists and recent graduates is putting Brooklyn on the map not just for its booming music scene but also as competition with San Francisco to see who will lead the next Internet revolution.
Business owners say starting a venture in Brooklyn requires creativity, a careful study of neighborhoods, and a good deal of Web 2.0 savvy. We talked with several successful companies about why the county of Kings is a bubbling cauldron of entrepreneurship, and how to get in on the action.
Bklyn Bloggage: food & drink
Mack’s 140 = dunzo: Effed in Park Slope
Icebox cookies = Brooklyn Brownout: A Cake Bakes in Brooklyn
How to open a business in Brooklyn: Inc
Japanese noodle bar coming to Fifth: All About Fifth
White House chef visits Purple Yam: Ditmas Park Blog
101 fast recipes for minimalist grilling: NY Times
Sandwiches in Kensington and Lefferts: NY Times
Brooklyn food & drink round up: Brownstoner
Effed in PS: Mack’s to Become High End Italian
According to Effed in Park Slope (via a tipster) the owner of Mack’s, the casual bar/restaurant on Seventh Avenue, which opened about six months ago, has teamed up with new partners, who are in the process of turning the eatery, into a high-end Italian restaurant.
Hey, then it will be just like Elementi, the restaurant that was in there previously.
Apparently the owner didn’t even tell the staff. According to the Effed Tipster, in the middle of the night the owner “dragged all the food and liquor out” and “the place has been locked up since Monday with no signs or explanations.”
You heard anything?
OTBKB Music: July Music Calendar
There’s a lot of music around next month: Rosanne Cash is going to Governors Island for a free July 4th show, The Swell Season and Sonic Youth are coming to the neighborhood to play Celebrate Brooklyn, Kathleen Edwards is playing a show on a cruise around Manhattan, and the Siren Music Festival is at Coney Island. Information about those shows and 27 others can be found at the July Music Calendar over at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
–Eliot Wagner
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
My Mistake: Luscious Food is Alive and Well
Phew.
I mistakenly reported that Luscious Food, (delicious homemade comfort food with fresh ingredients) was no longer on Fifth. My bad.
That lovely eatery, which specializes in tasty sandwiches, soups, salads (all homemade) is alive and kicking. So sorry for the mistake.
Lulu’s Gently Used for Kids Coming In
Walking up Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue on our way home from BAM last night we noticed that a new Lulu’s is going in. Not hair cuts and new toys but children’s resale and I assume that will include “gently used” toys, clothing, furniture and strollers…
Just a guess.
Lulu Cuts and Toys, which started on Fifth Avenue and 2nd Street, is really building herself an empire on that northern end of Fifth Avenue.
Petco Coming to Seventh Avenue in Park Slope
The commercial space that used to be Zuzu’s Petals (before their fire and before they moved to bigger digs on Fifth Avenue near 6th Street) is finally going to be occupied. By Petland Petco. Used to be every vacant storefront became a real estate firm. Now it’s pet supplies.
Sign of the times, I guess.
The new Petco will be on Seventh Avenue between Union and Berkeley Place.
Tom Martinez, Witness: Anniversary of the Resistance
Honduran kids feel the excitement as thousands of marchers pass by in celebration of the anniversary of the resistance movement, which began on the day of the military coup (June 28, 2009).
Hot Night: Go To The Movies
If it’s boiling hot and humid tonight go see I Am Love with the marvelous Tilda Swinton. We saw it last night at BAM where the air conditioning was cold (despite Con Edison voltage reductions). Here’s an excerpt from the New Yorker review:
The best sex you will get all year, if that’s what you crave in your moviegoing, is between Tilda Swinton and a prawn. In the middle of “I Am Love,” a succulent new film from the Italian director Luca Guadagnino, Swinton’s character, Emma Recchi, sits down to lunch in a Milanese restaurant. Placed before her is a dish of seafood with ratatouille. She takes a bite, and finds herself deluged with sensation. The rest of the room grows dim, surrounding sounds are muffled, and Emma alone begins to glow. She is already incandescent, with her halo-gold hair, and a dress of flame red, but now illumination seems to fan upward from the plate and possess her. She is irradiated with a dangerous joy—a gourmet’s parody of Mary at the Annunciation, perhaps, though I couldn’t help remembering the end of “Kiss Me Deadly,” when another curious blonde opens a box with something nuclear inside, and gets a faceful of light.
July 12: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic are Free
On July 12 at 7:30 PM: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic will open the 28th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series. Performances are held Monday nights at 7:30 PM at Wingate Field, which is located on Brooklyn Avenue between Rutland Road and Winthrop Street opposite Kings County Hospital. Possible rain date on Tuesday night.
The public is encouraged to bring their own chairs because seating is limited.
August 9 and 12th: Aretha Franklin Free in Brooklyn
I was sworn to secrecy about this but now I can spill the beans because it’s public information: Aretha Franklin will be performing at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series in Wingate Park (August 9) and Seaside Summer Concert Series (August 12).
It’s free. She’s awesome. You figure out how to get there.
Bklyn Bloggage: neighborhoods
Greenpoint photo du jour: Smile: NY Shitty
Bomb threat against mosque spurs demand for investigation: Sheepshead Bites
Power outages what to do: Gerritsen Beach
Frankie’s parents got married 63 years ago today: Pardon Me for Asking
White House chef visits Purple Yam: Ditmas Park Blog
Con Ed to BK: sweat it out: Effed in Park Slope
Bklyn Bloggage: civics
MTA service cuts make it a Monday from hell: Brooklyn Paper
Oral argument today in motion to reargue AY timetable case: Atlantic Yards Report
Bang, smash, off on a stretcher: BQE Watch
Fresh new look same crappy awesome blog: Brooklyn Streets
Announcements from CB6: Community Board 6
More press on Domino Sugar re-zoning: Brooklyn 11211
On day 1 of doomsday buses remain second class: Second Avenue Sagas
Public Pools Officially Open Today
And that includes the Double D pool (no that is not the required bra size it’s the location of the pool between Douglas and Degraw Street on Nevins in Park Slope) which will open along with the rest of the NYC public pools. It was slated for closure but was saved at the last minute. Here’s the info from the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation website:
All 54 Parks outdoor pools open for the season on Tuesday, June 29 and remain open until Labor Day (September 6). General hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Indoor pools are open year-round. Check with the individual recreation centers for schedules. Please note that recreation center membership ($75 per year for adults; $10 per year for seniors; free for children and teens under the age of 18) is required for the use of our indoor pools.
Safety & Pool Rules
Water & Sun Safety— Tips for staying safe when having fun in the water and sun.
Pool Rules – Rules to know before using Parks swimming poolsSwim Programs
Learn about adult lap swimming and Parks’ other freeswimming programs for tots, children, teens, and adults. Call Parks’ Citywide Aquatics at (718) 760-6969 for more information.
Current Weather in Park Slope
Brought to you from the Feldman Family weather tower in Park Slope.
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Have You Been to Mile End for Montreal Style Jewish Deli Food?
Mile End is a Montreal style deli on Hoyt Street just south of Atlantic Avenue. Everyone is raving about it. I was wondering why there was a big line on that street one day. Turns out it’s a small place and it draws quite a crowd. Here’s their menu i.e. what you’ve been missing by not knowing about this place for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They’re open 8:30 AM until 10PM weekdays except Monday and from 10:30 to 10PM on weekends. One more thing: they’re closed daily from 4:30 until 5:30PM. Got it?
breakfast and lunch
{until noon}
bagel & cream cheese 3/3.5
basic / tomato & onion
breakfast sandwich 6
chazzer {meat hook canadian bacon},
egg & 2 year quebec cheddar on rye
mish-mash 8
eggs scrambled with salami or lox,
onions & greens
the beauty 8/11
lox on a bagel with cream cheese,
tomato, red onion & capers;
closed / open-faced
{after noon}
sour pickle {brooklyn brine} 1.5
coleslaw 3
borscht 5
matzo ball soup 6.5
the ruth wilensky 7
salami sandwich pressed on an onion roll
{no mustard 10¢ extra}
smoked meat 9/16
beef brisket on rye with mustard
sandwich {7 oz.} / platter {14 oz.}
grandpa 8
smoked turkey breast on rye with mustard
frites 5
poutine 8/11
classic / smoked meat
{drinks}
stumptown coffee 2
direct trade french-press {refill 1.5}
stumptown iced coffee 2.5
direct trade cold-brew {refill 2}
orange juice 2
seltzer 2
virgil’s soda 2.5
cherry soda, root beer, cream soda
dinner
sour pickle {brooklyn brine} 1.5
coleslaw 3
borscht 5
matzo ball soup 6.5
the ruth wilensky 7
salami sandwich pressed on an onion roll
{no mustard 10¢ extra}
smoked meat 9/16
beef brisket on rye with mustard
sandwich {7 oz.} / platter {14 oz.}
smoked meat burger 10
poulet chaud 15
pan roasted half chicken, house-made challah,
chicken gravy & english peas
frites 5
poutine 8/11
classic / smoked meat
Con Ed: Reduced Voltage by 8% in Some Bklyn Nabes
According to Gothamist some nabes in Brooklyn may be experiencing reduced voltage by 8 percent…
UPDATE 5:58 p.m.: In a press release, Con Ed says, “Because of problems on electrical equipment supplying power to several neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Con Edison has reduced voltage by 8 percent to the area… One affected area is bounded by Newtown Creek on the north, Graham Avenue and Throop Avenue on the east, Fulton Street and Pacific Street on the south and the East River on the west. The other affected area is bounded by Fifth Avenue to Prospect Park West and from Pacific Street to 23rd Street.
“Company crews are working now to repair the problems. Con Edison has asked customers in the affected area to turn off all non-essential electrical appliances to help reduce electricity usage until equipment problems can be resolved… Con Edison urges customers to call 1-800-75-CONED promptly if they are experiencing any service difficulties.”
BAM: Eldridge Cleaver Doc and Q&A with Kathleen Cleaver
On the fourth of July at BAM as part as their Contraband Film Series on Sun, Jul 4 at 7:15pm: join Kathleen Cleaver (Emory Law School professor, author, and former Communications Secretary of the Black Panther Party) and curator Kazembe Balagun for a Q&A following a screening of William Klein’s documentary Eldridge Cleaver.
Eldridge Cleaver
Directed by William Klein
Under pressure from FBI’s counterintelligence program, Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver and his wife Kathleen left the United States for Algeria. There, he set up the International Section of the Black Panther Party which quickly became the hangout of revolutionaries from the Vietnamese and African liberation movements. Klein’s moving interview follows up with Cleaver during the Pan-African Cultural Festival in Algiers, where he expounds upon the Vietnam War and Black Power during a time when “revolution was the main theme of the day.”
Tom Martinez, Witness: Candlelight March in Tegucigalpa
A candlelight march was held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras to commemorate those killed since the military coup on June 28, 2009.
Gowanus Art Studio Available for July and August
Haven’t you always wanted to rent an art studio in the Gowanus?
A friend is subletting her studio. The rent is $950.00. But the space is big enough to share. It has great light and a great location-near the Smith/9th street stop on the F/G trains, near Lowe’s in the Park Slope/Gowanus section of Brooklyn.
It is available for all of July and August, but she will consider renting it for all or part of that time. Email me if you are interested: louise_crawford(at)yahoo(dot)com
Starting July 7th: Brooklyn Film Works in Washington Park
Movies alfresco at Brooklyn Film Works on the big turf field behind the Old Stone House. The first show is on Wednesday, July 7th at 8:30 PM:
July 7: Kiss Me Kate (1953) – A witty take-off on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, this fabulous Technicolor musical stars Ann Miller, with music by Cole Porter, directed by George Sidney.
July 14: Girl Shy (1924) A comedy classic from under-celebrated silent screen great Harold Lloyd playing a shy tailor attempting to win his girl in this hilarious romance featuring one of the greatest chase scenes of all time.
July 21: The 30th Anniversary Asbury Shorts New York: Short Film Concert — An array of award-winning short films from festivals around the world, including Manolo Celi’s Nueva York; Mike Ehler’s Lunch and Jeremy Kip Walker’s Super Powers.
July 28: Piper Film Workshop Student Films – Live on-screen! More amazing presentations from Piper Theatre Productions summer program by students ages 12 to 16.
All shows start at 8:30 PM
Best Band Ever at Dixon Place: Washboard Jungle
My neighbor, Bob Goldberg, of the Famous Accordion Orchestra says this is the best band ever. Well, he’s in it. But he’s not biased. That’s him pictured on the far right. He invites you to come and see (and hear) what he’s talking about.
A Washboard Jungle Reunion Concert
(to benefit the new Dixon Place!)
with special guest Lee Feldman
Thursday, July 1 at 8pm
Dixon Place
161A Chrystie Street
(between Rivington & Delancy)
NYC, NY 10002
212.219.0736
www.dixonplace.org
$25 ($15 is tax deductible)
$75 includes priority seating and a 7pm cocktail reception
with Washboard Jungle ($65 is tax deductible)
OTBKB Film by Pops Corn: Dogtooth
While most movies provide structural comforts such as resolution, closure and narratives that resist interpretation, Dogtooth, is of a different breed. A winner of the Un Certain Regard Prize at Cannes in 2009, Dogtooth is about a family living within the confines of the high fences that shelter them from the outside world. There are therefore no exterior influences on the children. Perhaps they should be called offspring, since all three siblings—if we are to exclude the one unseen sibling who everyone believes lives on the other side of the fence—are of a young adult age. This may mean that the children will soon be leaving the compound. The title, in fact, refers to moment when one can do this: when one’s dogtooth falls out, “dogtooth” being one of many made-up or mis-defined words that the father has inserted into the family’s vocabulary. It is part of his cult leader-like methods of control, which also include numerous competitions for prizes and orchestrating the sex lives of those in his home.
If the description is confusing, it is then an apt synopsis for this incredible Greek film currently playing at Cinema Village. Nearly every scene requires the viewer to piece it together as the action of each scene is either not immediately clear or the motivation is not immediately able to be understood. Unlike most films with unusual conceits, Dogtooth dispenses with exposition creating a mysterious narrative for the audience to work through. In doing so the viewer also feels thrown into this world; the offspring are thrust into games blindfolded and we are also forced to feel our way through. An incredible must-see work from director Yorgos Lanthimos, the film is disturbing and unsettling right down to its final shot which can only be summed up as wonderfully confounding.
Opera at Galapagos
It all happens on Friday, July 9, 8:00pm at Galapagos Art Space 16 Main Street at Water Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY.
Brooklyn Poets: Past and Present
American Opera Projects presents new songs based on works by Brooklyn poets.
Music by Gilda Lyons, Daniel Felsenfeld, and Andrew Staniland
Text by Walt Whitman, Keanu Stowe, Tristan Regist, and Tyler Forsythe
Performed by Adrienne Danrich and Nicole Mitchell.
Kelly Horsted, piano. Hamilton Berry, cello.
Removable Parts
Selections from the music-theatre piece
Music by Corey Dargel
Performed by Corey Dargel and Kathleen Supové
The Bloody Chamber
Opera on Tap presents scenes from the new one-act opera
Music by Daniel Felsenfeld
Libretto by Elizabeth Isadora Gold
Based on the novella “The Bloody Chamber” by Angela Carter
Performed by Indre Viskontas, Ross Benoliel, and Amanda Villegas
Musical Director, Jennifer Peterson
Stage Director, Sarah Stern
P.T. Barnum’s Birthday on Coney Island
The Coney Island Museum is celebrating P.T. Barnum’s 200th birthday. Here are the details:
If P.T. Barnum had lived he would have turned 200 years old on July 5 of this year, which is about the age he once claimed Joice Heth, George Washington’s nurse was.
In observance of the fact, on the Glorious Fourth (one day early) at 4:30pm Trav S.D. will speak a piece at the Coney Island Museum. The topic of his lecture will be the legacy of Barnum and Barnumism (bunkum, hokum, humbug and hooey) in vaudeville and show business in general.
And because, showmanship is the name of the game, he will be joined by the great Lorinne Lampert, a.k.a., Uke-Lola – tap-dancing; song-singing, uke-playing, juggling vaudevillian extraordinaire.
(The host may do a turn or two himself along with other special guests TBA.)
What better place to spend the 4th than Coney Island? Watch the hot dog eating contest! Ride the rides! Go for a dip! And then come see the real dips at our presentation!
And, if you can’t make the show, tune in to the swell Barnum radio documentary by James Rana, featuring Trav S.D., Todd Robbins, and many others. Various NPR affiliates are carrying it, including WFDU-FM, which will run it at 8am on the 4th. (If you don’t get it in your area, ALL radio stations stream online nowadays, ya doofus!)
Trav S.D and Friends – A Barnum Bicentenary: Talk and performance by Trav S.D. and friends in observance of P.T. Barnum’s 200th birthday
When: July 4, 4:30pm
Where: 1208 Surf Avenue (near West 12th Street) (The Coney island Museum is on the 2nd Floor)
Admission: $5 for public, free for members of Coney Island USA
More info: http://www.coneyisland.com/museum.shtml
Current Weather in Park Slope: Heat Advisory Today
Brought to you from the Feldman Family weather tower in Park Slope. Heat Advisory today (see below):
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 321 AM EDT MON JUN 28 2010 ...HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS CONTINUE TODAY... .A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY APPROACH THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON. AHEAD OF IT...GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO PUMP A HOT AND HUMID AIRMASS INTO THE REGION. NYZ072>076-281530- /O.CON.KOKX.HT.Y.0001.100628T1500Z-100628T2300Z/ NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-BRONX-RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)- KINGS (BROOKLYN)-QUEENS- 321 AM EDT MON JUN 28 2010 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING. CONDITIONS WILL BE EVEN MORE OPPRESSIVE TODAY THAN ON SUNDAY...AS TEMPERATURES RISING INTO THE LOWER 90S AND DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER 70S WILL RESULT IN HEAT INDICES IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S DEGREES FROM LATE THIS MORNING INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A HEAT ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN HIGH HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO COMBINE WITH HOT TEMPERATURES TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT IS OVER 95 DEGREES FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS... STAY IN AN AIR- CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
OTBKB Music: Emily Zuzik Is Ready for Her Closeup; The Texas Tornados Celebrate Brooklyn
In a Fort Greene Connecticut Muffin, I spoke with Brooklyn’s multi-talented musician/model/voice-over artist Emily Zuzik about her life and music. The results, along with some photos from her recent show at The Rockwood Music Hall are posted in a closeup of Emily at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
The Texas Tornados came to Brooklyn on Saturday and blew away the audience at Celebrate Brooklyn with their unique blend of Tex-Mex rock ‘n’ roll. There’s a video (of a different show, unfortunately) and a link to a free track from The Tornados here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
–Eliot Wagner