Coming back from vacation, I always enjoy that first walk down Seventh Avenue:  Who will I run into?  Is anything different? Have housing prices gone up again? Whose back from vacation?

It feels like we’ve been gone for ages. Ages. Twenty days away from Brooklyn and it’s all brand new. Again.

Another table was added to the  "summer cafe" in our front stoop. My downstair’s neighbor found an attractive tile table at the PS 321 Flea Market. Now we have two tables. All we need now is a couple of Cinzano umbrellas and we’ll be in business.

So what else is new?

Key Food created an outdoor flower market on the side of their building on Carroll Street. It used to be an eyesore with dumpsters and worse. I didn’t get a close look at the flowers, but there is a red awning. Maybe they think there’s a buck or two in it now that the Korean Market on the north side of Garfield closed.

So what else is new?

Seventh Avenue Books, which is now fully moved into it sister store, Seventh Avenue Kids, between 3rd and 2nd Streets, got a new awning that says SEVENTH AVENUE BOOKS. There’s also new lettering on the front window.

So what else is new?

The Chocolate Cafe, on Seventh Avenue between 3rd and 4th Street is now open. Hopefully its chocolate delights will firmly replace all memory of Funky Monkey.

So what else is new?

And this is a big one. Brooklyn Industries is going IN where Uprising used to be on Seventh Avenue near 9th Street. (I have my son to thank for that BIG TIP).

So what else is new?

Fratelli ice cream and fried ravioli finally went out of business. I knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when. Maggie Moo seems to be hanging in there. Somehow.

So what else is new?

There’s sccaffolding surrounding the former John Jay High School building (now home to the Schools for Law, Journalism and Research).

So what else is new?

There seem to be even more teenagers hanging out on Seventh and in Pinos. GIrls in low cut jeans and bellybutton piercings. Boys with long hair looking very grunge.

So what else is new?

Loom has lots of fall clothing in their front window. Lolli, the kids shop that replaced Fidgits, seems to be really hitting its stride and Community Books is having a 40% off sale, says a sign on the window.

So what else is new?

Hanging out at Connecticutt Muffin with my sister and her daughter Ducky. Now that’s something completely different. Definitely the best new thing of all.