January 2010
38 posts
4 tags
A (Good) Baseball Team for Brooklyn?
The “South Brooklyn” area has a rich sports tradition. Gowanus was home to the Brooklyn (Trolley) Dodgers, and the Atlantic Yards will soon be home to the Brooklyn Nets. What many people forget nowadays is that New York City used to be home to three baseball teams. And, if you think about it, it makes perfect sense; if St. Louis, with a population of 380,000, can support a Major League...
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We've Got the Biggest...
Courtesy of the New York Times Magazine Blog, we find out that The Invisible Dog (gmap), an art space in Cobble Hill, has a new installation called “Ant Colony”. “An enormous ant built of steel and nylon balloons, with a porkpie hat suspended above its head, “The Ant” refers to the childrens’ poem by the Surrealist artist Robert Desnos.” Hmm. This reminds me of...
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Long Island 12 Needs a Geography Lesson
Long Island 12 recently did a story (and accompanying video) on a suspicious device which caused an evacuation. From the video and story, we can ascertain that the evacuation was in Gowanus. Ok, I guess if you stretch it, you could say that it was in Carroll Gardens. But, oh boy, were they off…
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Another Super Fun Superfund Meeting
Another fun filled Thursday Night as the EPA came to the community to discuss it’s ongoing progress and outline their community participation efforts. Found in Brooklyn has done a good job of summarizing the EPA’s presentation, but failed to note one interesting tidbit. The EPA spokeswoman actually referenced those who engage in “subsistence fishing” along the Canal. There...
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Analysis of a Brooklyn Theme Song
As anyone who grew up in Brooklyn from 1995-2005 can tell you, there is no more appropriate Brooklyn theme song than “Brooklyn’s Finest”, by Jay-Z with the late, great Notorious B.I.G. In the song, they go through a roll call of sorts of neighborhoods where they grew up or frequented. Have a listen: Here is an analysis of the current state of the neighborhoods mentioned in the...
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Shameless Plug for a Band
Readers - Head on over to Amie Street to check out Greg Smith and the Broken English. Their first album release was #1 on the Amie Street charts for a while, and is holding steady at #4. “On Amie Street, the community determines the price of music. Every song starts cheap (or even free!) and increases in price up to 98 cents as more and more people purchase it. This ensures that you get...
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Community Board 6's Craig Hammerman Honored for 20...
Anyone who has attended a Community Board 6 meeting no doubt appreciates the hard work, even temperament and quick wit of District Manage Craig Hammerman. Personally, I think that Craig’s biggest strength is his ability to stand above the heated discussions that the meetings frequently devolve into and offer advice and support to both sides of a discussion. although he has mulled entering...
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Brad Lander Becomes our Councilman
Newly elected Councilmember Brad Lander took his oath in Prospect Park on Sunday. Lets hope that Mr. Lander is a little more progressive, open and thoughtful than his predecessor. From Courier-Life: “In his speech, Lander cited three challenges that his district faces: recovering from the economic crisis while preserving neighborhoods, preserving and strengthening schools, subways and...
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New Area Skate Park
With the construction and rehabbing of the Brooklyn Bridge’s Manhattan side, the famed Brooklyn Banks will be closed for some time. Maybe some of the skaters can head over to Gowanus for Homage, the new indoor skate facility at 615 DeGraw Street. From the New York Times: “has a suitable concrete floor and several wooden skateboard ramps wedged into it. The 2,500-square-foot space...
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A Novel Idea for Slowing the CSOs into the Gowanus...
Everyone who lives around and studies the Gowanus Canal knows that the long-term issue is heavy metals, industrial history and lack of current. However, adding fuel to the fire are the CSOs, Combined Sewage Overflows. Basically, the waste and storm water flows share the same drain, and when stormwater flows heavily (i.e. during a rain event), the excess capacity overflows into the Gowanus. Once in...
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Old Computers Are Art in Gowanus
For the more artsy among us, the Brooklyn Eagle is reporting that some Gowanus artists took some older Macs which were to be recycled, and made some interesting exhibits. “Since the Mac Support Store is part of the NYCS retail takeback program, the equipment was slated to be recycled. But Graber and Brooklyn curators Michele Jaslow and Spring Hofeldt decided to put out a call for artists to...
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Columbia Heights: Another Great Video
Mr. Junkersfeld over at the Brooklyn Heights Blog did another history tour video, this time on Columbia Heights. Truthfully, Columbia Heights may be the most expensive and coveted real estate in all of Brooklyn, and I’ve always enjoyed it. However, the BQE creates a physical, psychological and cultural barrier to conceptualizing a waterfront where Columbia Height, Fulton Ferry, Carroll...
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New Waterfront Restaurant for Brooklyn?
The River Cafe may not be the only waterfront restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn (you can of course venture into Williamsburg or Sheepshead Bay for other waterfront dining options). From the New York Post: “The city’s Parks Department is seeking a restaurateur to operate an eatery overlooking the New York Harbor on Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6, this paper has learned. The pier is located on...
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Nine Good Teeth: Carroll Gardens, Old School
For an incredible video, head on over to Pardon Me For Asking, Katia Kelly’s Carroll Gardens and beyond blog. The video is titled “Nine Good Teeth” and is about someone’s grandmother, born in Carroll Gardens (then Red Hook) two centuries ago. The video is not only incredibly well done, but is touching and contains scenes of the neighborhood. I won’t put this video up,...
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Carroll Gardens' Lucali Continues to be a Friend
Lucali’s friends of friends continue to make news. From the ever-reliable New York Post: Colombo crime-family slacker Dominick “Black Dom” Dionisio — who was accused by his probation officer of socializing instead of working at his Brooklyn pizza-parlor job — is hoping to open a new restaurant for his boss. While Dionisio waits for his federal racketeering trial to...
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Gowanus A Go-Go: A Benefit for the Gowanus Canal...
GOWANUS A GO GO Monday, January 25, 2010 6:30 PM a benefit concert to support the Gowanus Canal Conservancy PLUSHGUN PAPERDOLL THE FLANKS GRAMERCY ARMS DJ SPIRITBEAR The Gowanus Canal Conservancy will be hosting the first annual “Gowanus a Go Go” benefit concert. Gowanus a Go Go will feature some of the best bands of the New York City music scene, bringing them...
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Jonathan Lethem on Brooklyn. Through British Eyes.
Motherless Brooklyn Author Jonathan Lethem gave an interview to the Observer (a British paper), on subjects ranging from Manhattan to writing to Dean Street. I must confess that I’ve always found Mr. Lethem a bit whiny, and it is hard to find a hipster who does not enjoy his work, but it’s interesting to read how another culture gets it information about Brooklyn. The article does also...
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Congresswoman Yvette Clark Leaves Community...
Last night Conresswoman Yvette Clark (D-NY) held a community roundtable last night at Christ Church, courtesy of the Cobble Hill Association. After showing up half an hour late, the Congresswoman gave updates on topics ranging from joblessness to health care to housing. After a short discussion on health care, the discussion moved to the topic that everyone knew it would, Superfunding of the...
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The Beer Man of Bay Ridge
A friend and fellow fisherman recently authored an article for the Brooklyn Paper on a new specialty beer store in Bay Ridge. Although not directly Carroll Gardens related, it is still a fun read. “Dharmesh Chokshi’s new BR Specialty Beer Store offers 500 other bottles of beers for the rest of us. “All of our beers were rated 95 percent or higher on Beeradvocate.com,” Chokshi said,...
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A Life In The Gowanus Houses
Many newcomers to Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill (and, lets face it, many of the natives) avoid the Gowanus Houses. Sure, they’re projects, but as projects go, they’re not that bad. The New York Times has a nice little piece on one life in the Gowanus Houses, and her impact on the Drill Team the “Gowanus Wildcats”. “Ms. Flowers, now 51 and a facilitator...
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Fear Not Landlords: Brownstone Brooklyn Rents...
In 2008 and some of 2009, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Height, Fort Greene, Park Slope and most of Brownstone Brooklyn were all affected by the down real estate market, with purchase prices and rents descending rapidly. Well, turns out that while purchase prices have yet to recover, rents are going back up. From Courier-Life: “As the temperature dropped, rental activity increased...
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City Diving: The Urban Divers at the New York Boat...
The Urban Divers have always fascinated. Although I consider myself an aquatic person, and hold PADI certifications, the waters around New York have never fascinated the diver in me. Maybe I’m not cold-blooded enough, who knows. Nonetheless, I have always taken in interest in the Urban Divers’ affairs, and now word comes, courtesy of the Brooklyn Heights Courier, that the Urban Divers...
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All In All: A Trolley Dodger's Wall?
The wall on Third and Third in Gowanus, which may or may not have been part of Washington Park (head on over to the Old Stone House for more history), the original home of the Brooklyn (Trolley) Dodgers, has drawn the attention of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. From Courier-Life: “The Landmark Preservation Commission said it will review whether the 20-foot wall, which stands at Third...
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More Super Fun Superfund Meetings!
The EPA is back again, with more informational meetings on the Superfund process. Pardon Me For Asking is reporting that the EPA’s meeting will be held on on Thursday, January 21, 2009, from 7-9 pm at PS 32. Lets hope that they have some new information about where the Gowanus is in the Super Fun Superfund food chain. For more Superfund information, check out the EPA’s website...
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Hey, Bloomberg: Keep Your Message Clear
There is fetid, putrid, contaminant-infested water body that surely needs some extensive cleanup, due to it’s industrial past. However, this one isn’t in an area that has high real estate value, or mega-developers bearing down on it, or high-paid lobbyists opposing it, so Mayor Bloomberg has decided to go along for the ride! From the Brooklyn Paper: “The Bloomberg Administration...
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Caputo's Bake Shop: A Carroll Gardens Haven
Caputo’s Bake Shop occupies the first and second floor of a white-brick building at 329 Court Street between Sackett and Union. If you live in Carroll Gardens, you know this bakery quite well. In fact, the Caputos may even know you. Their long, striped yellow bread bags with the bold blue capped CAPUTO’S font may be the most recognizable logo in the neighborhood. And if someone...
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Brooklyn House of Detention Clears More Hurdles
Outgoing New York City Comptroller (and ex-Mayoral Candidate) William (Bill) Thompson has dropped the Office’s opposition to the reopening of the Brooklyn House of Detention on Atlantic Avenue. From the Brooklyn Eagle: “An expected courtroom fight between Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Comptroller Bill Thompson over a design contract for a Downtown Brooklyn jail was suddenly...
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Meet Your Congresswoman: Yvette Clark
Reported by Pardon Me For Asking and the Cobble Hill Association, Congresswoman Yvette Clark will be hosting a Community Roundtable at Christ Church (Clinton and Kane) on Monday, January 11th, at 7:30 pm. If history serves, one issue will likely dominate the night, that of Superfund status for the Gowanus. From PMFA: “I believe that Congresswoman Clarke owes her constituents an...
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CVS Crime Wave?
Over at the Brooklyn Paper, we learned this morning that the Court Street CVS (between 2st and 2nd Places) has been the site of at least two attempted robberies in the past couple of weeks. From the Police Blotter: “One week after our Police Blotter crackled with a juicy item about a pushy shoplifter at the store between First and Second places, the manager told cops that a perp entered the...
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Throwdown: Bobby Flay Comes to Court Street
Tune into the Food Network on January 13th at 9 pm, to see Bobby Flay “Throwdown” at Fish Tales on Court Street. From the Food Network: “John Addis, owner and chef of Fish Tales, is a self-proclaimed fish fanatic. He thinks his Manhattan Fish Chowder has earned him a spot on a Food Network special called “Hooked on Chowder.” What he does not know is Iron Chef...
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Hannah Senesh: Give Them Some Rope, They Want To...
Hannah Senesh may have overstepped their bounds. After an uneasy couple of years with traffic tie ups on Smith Street and a brand new color palette forced on us, they fired a huge first shot in what will surely be a war by attacking the Gardens of Carroll Gardens. Now, it seems that the attention brought on them by their land grab has backfired, as people have taken notice of the fact that they...
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The BQE Going Green???
The good folks over at Curbed have continuing coverage of the madness that surrounds the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s solicitation of ideas for the “trenched” section of the BQE. From more ambitious ideas based around housing, flooding, the EDC has selected dlandstudio for it’s “less-than-abitious” plan to green up the trenched BQE section in...
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Whole Foods: Maybe Not?
As first reported here on Thursday, the Gowanus / Park Slope / Carroll Gardens / Boerum Hill Whole Foods site is continuing with it’s environmental remediation (as much as capping can be considered remediation), which seemed to bode well for the prospects of those who love their foods whole. But today, the Daily News is reporting that the news from Whole Foods’ lawyers may not be so...
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The Jersey Shore...On Court Street
MTV’s The Jersey Shore certainly has attracted a lot of controversy. Here is a clip of The Jersey Shore’s “The Situation” being interviewed right here in Carroll Gardens at Body Elite… I wonder if Body Elite is searching for a new type of clientele by hosting this “interview”. Also, as an added bonus, the VH1 host appears at the end of the interview,...
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Carroll Gardens Residents More Unemployed Than...
Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill are apparently doing worse than Coney Island and Sunset Park when it comes to unemployment data. From the Times City Room Blog, via the Village Voice: “Predictably, realtor-friendly districts in north (Williamsburg) an southwest (Sunset Park) Brooklyn are doing better than Crown Heights and Brownsville. It’s a small surprise that Coney Island and...
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UPDATE: Old ILA Building to go to the BSA
UPDATE: According to Katia Kelly over at Pardon Me For Asking, Community Board 6’s Land Use Committee voted to recommend approval of the BSA application on Monday Night. Something of interest to all in Carroll Gardens who have been here long enough to remember when the International Longshoreman’s Association was a huge influence. According to the Courier Life Publications, the former...
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Community Board 6 Going Green!
Community Board 6, which represents Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Red Hook, and other hinterlands, has decided to go green! Or, in this age of PDFs, maybe a little less NOT green! From the Courier Life Publications: “planning to cut that amount down to 250 pieces a month, the minimum required to qualify for cheaper bulk mail rates. The move will save approximately $150 a month, not a huge...
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Happy New Year!
…from the Carroll Gardens Diary!