Tag Archives: brooklyn 11215

Civics and Urban Life

Le Pain Quotidien Opening on Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue

Seems that Le Pain Quotidien, a cafe chain with 185 branches arond the world,  is opening on Fifth Avenue  and Carroll Street. Not only that: it’s opening in the space that was formerly Moutarde. And we all remember Moutarde’s claim to fame: it was the location used in Julia and Julia to impersonate a real Parisian cafe.

I for one like Le Pain Quotidien and have frequently frequented the one on Madison Avenue and 83rd Street, the one in Tribeca, and the one in ABC Carpet and Home and Lincoln Center (they really are ALL over the place). The communal table is a nice concept and the atmosphere and decor are very appealing. The curried egg salad sandwich is excellent, as are the quiches, soups and the baked goods, including deliciously authentic French Croissants.

Welcome to the neighborhood: Le Pain Quotidien

The photograph is from a blog called Brooklyn Home Experts. 

 

Civics and Urban Life

Park Slope’s Freddy’s to Stay Open Come Hell or High-water

Seems that the folks at Freddy’s Bar & Backroom have nothing better to do, and no place better to be, so they’ve decided, to keep their doors open in case Sandy wants to stop by for a party. Also if anyone needs shelter, food, assistance of any sort, or some cheep whiskey.

Where: Freddy’s Bar 627 5th Ave Brooklyn NY 11215

When: Now and forever

Once again, Freddy’s Bar has proven it is not easily scared, time and time again. We survived Bruce Ratner and an illegal relocation, last year’s Hurricane Irene (we stayed open for that one too – But she never showed up,) a bad economy and worse politics, so No Blow Hard named Sandy will close our doors.

We are located on 5th Ave between 17th & 18th Street in the South Slope of Brooklyn, 1 block into the safe zone; 1 block from Zone C of the NYC Hurricane Evacuation Map.

To celebrate this Natural disaster, our specialty cocktail will be the 16oz Hurricane Sandy: The recipe is Vodka, White and Dark Rum, Amaretto, Triple Sec, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice in a pint glass with ice topped with grenadine. Cost is what ever the bartender can get out of you or $10.00. Tonight in the Backroom there will literally be an Open mic, in case anyone wants to rant. We will stay open as long as need be.

Civics and Urban Life

Update on Park Slope Fire

Sign in window of Good Footing Adventure Sunday morning (written on the front of a file folder): Closed Due to Water Damage.

Indeed, passerby’s are still browsing the window (gates and all) eyeing sport shoes by Merrell, Dansko, Mephisto and Blundstone shoes. But the store, as the sign says, remains closed.

The sign, of course, refers to water damage suffered Friday afternoon at 196 Seventh Avenue during a fierce roof fire that was put out in 16 minutes by local FDNY.

Water damage incurred by the FDNY’s efforts to put out the fierce blaze, however, resulted in damage to Good Footing and two apartments upstairs. One is a duplex apartment. The other is an apartment rented by a young woman. I spoke to her boyfriend outside the building where he was standing with a coeterie of packed black suitcases.

He said the apartment was uninhabitable. His girlfriend does not have renter’s insurance and she has to move out for the time being. She stayed in a hotel the night of the fire.

He didn’t know anything about the tenants who occupy two of the building’s floors. The landlord, he said, has been away. He wasn’t sure when he was coming back.

The cause of the fire has not been released by the FDNY.