Brooklyn Heights Blog

If you’ve been by any of Brooklyn Heights finer wine shops lately, you’ve probably noticed a growing selection of New York wines.  The push to “drink local” is gaining ground, and fortunately for Brooklyn folk, New York has fine wine shipped in daily from the North Fork of Long Island, the Finger Lakes, and Hudson Valley.

Brooklyn Heights blogger and fledgling wine video producer Mark Joyella made a day trip to Millbrook, New York (straight up the Taconic) and dropped in on the Millbrook Vineyards and Winery, makers of hand-crafted New York wines that have won awards and earned a local following even on this side of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The winery’s known for its crisp, dry summer whites and full-bodied reds, and also for its laid-back atmosphere;  a winery that encourages folks to pack a lunch, buy a bottle of wine and spend the afternoon soaking up the atmosphere at the vineyard.

Vinitrek Visits: Millbrook Winery, Hudson County, NY from Mark Joyella on Vimeo.

For more on Millbrook, visit Vinitrek, Mark Joyella’s not-yet-officially launched wine and travel website.  You can also find Millbrook wine (along with wine from other New York wine regions) at Heights wine shops like Michael Towne.

BHB Publisher/Brooklyn Bugle Media top banana Homer Fink interviews his pal Adam Suerte, owner of Brooklyn Tattoo [99 Smith Street] and author of Apprendiz a graphic novel chronicling his rise in the body art biz.

LISTEN TO THE NEW HOMER FINK SHOW with Suerte now at Blogtalk Radio.

BHB pal and Brooklyn Tattoo owner Adam Suerte will be celebrating the launch of  the final installment of his Aprendiz graphic novel at Rocketship Friday night (7/3)  starting at 8pm.   The books chronicle Adam’s journey from art school grad to one of the most respected tattoo artists in America.   They’re pretty great, you should check ‘em out!

And now the details straight from Suerte:

This Friday, July 3rd
Comic Book release Party
Adam Suerte’s graphic novel: Aprendiz
Rocketship comic shop
208 Smith Street
8-10
beer and giveaways

10 years ago last April 1, I started an apprenticeship in tattooing that would last a year, and propel me into the world of tattooing. This experience has forever affected all aspects of my art, my thoughts on anatomy, and the responsibility of leaving lasting marks on people for the rest of their lives. I have been documenting the year long apprenticeship I served in graphic novel form, one chapter at a time. The first chapter was nominated for a Ignatz award in 2002, and later the series was nominated for a Hanley award (given by the comic shop Jim Hanley’s Universe under the Empire State Building). I have finally finished the last one and Rocketship has been generous to host the final release party for this episode. Being that I grew up in this neighborhood, I couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate. I told the owners that although I am not a heavy hitter in the comics world I do have some local cred (right?). I promised I would bring in some people that might not normally step into a comic shop on the regular, and then again, some that do. Help me keep my promise and stop by. There will be door prizes hidden in some of the books, anything from schwaag to tattoo gift certificates. Come on down, there is something in the shop for everyone, comics are a magical beast.

According to the Brooklyn Eagle, Continuum Health Partners, the Manhattan-based hospital consortium that now controls Long Island College Hospital, and which last year unsuccessfully sought to close LICH’s obstetrics and pediatrics practices, has entered into a “memorandum of understanding” with SUNY Downstate Medical Center, located in Brooklyn, under which control of LICH’s operations would be transferred from Continuum to Downstate. We will keep you informed of developments on this story.

According to The Brooklyn Paper:

One of the borough’s most-beckoning attractions — the glorious view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the foot of Old Fulton Street in DUMBO — also has one of the borough’s most egregious tourist traps: an ATM with exorbitant a $3.99 service fee!

The cash machine outside Pete’s Downtown Restaurant on Old Fulton Street and near popular destinations like Grimaldi’s pizzeria, the River Cafe, Empire-Fulton Ferry state park, Bargemusic, the Brooklyn Flea and, of course, the classic bridge, wallops customers like a kick in the keyster.

A word to the wise: there’s an ATM inside Grimaldi’s that charges a more reasonable fee. But, you gotta have the noive to make like you’re trying to crash the line for pizza in order to get to it.

Flickr photo by danielle cumbo

What’s on your mind?  Comment away!

It was a crime-filled week in the neighborhood, including an armed robbery at a fast-food joint, a series of vehicle thefts and a pair of thefts from strollers (don’t worry, there were no babies involved). Read more »

BHB Photo Club pic by jen via Flickr

BHB Photo Club contributor Jen snapped this pic of a diorama in the P.S. 8 end-of-the-school-year trash heap.  We think that Gehry,  Scarano and Two Trees could learn something from this.  Look at all that green space!

Brooklyn Heights’ own Marc Hermann, NY Daily News photographer and BHB contributor is profiled in the NY Observer:

NY Observer: Mr. Hermann, 27, has been covering the city’s seamy side for over a decade. His job is one for which he is—quite literally—well-suited. In a double-breasted suit, polished wingtips, and a fedora festooned with his press card, Mr. Hermann cuts the figure of a noir newsman at the city’s crime scenes and courthouses.

Or, to others, a cartoon character. Cops who don’t know him often holler “Hey Jimmy Olsen! Hey Clark Kent!” as he maneuvers around a crime scene

“I get a little sick of that,” he told the Observer, injecting his matter-of-fact tone with just a trace of indignation. “I’m not a Spiderman fan, I’m not a Superman fan. I’m Marc Hermann, a factual character.”

Here are some of last week’s headlines in case you missed ‘em!  Have a news tip for this week?  Comment below!

Only on BHB

Governor’s Island - Fantastic!

Park Progress: Piers 1 and 6 (Seventeenth Report)

Cottonball Clouds

Rowf on Hicks Street Moving

“Busy Chef” Kaufman Goes to Trial July 23

Open Thread: The Premier Apartment Building in Brooklyn Heights?

Midday at the Oasis

Brooklyn Heights Tire Slasher on the Loose?

You Could Be Armando’s Excecutive Chef

In other news

City Plans Pedestrian-Friendly Tillary Street

84th Precinct Police Blotter – 6/24/09

Marty Connor, the Comeback Kid?

BQE Rehab Meeting Recap

This Week’s Community Calendar

From CHB:

Sex-crazed birds keep residents awake

76th and 84th Precinct Police Blotter - 6/19/09

One year ago on BHB:

NYC Waterfalls: Rendering vs. Reality

Two Years ago on BHB:

Wig Out! Ricky’s Comes to Montague

Here are the Top 10 most-viewed stories on BHB since January:

Hey Wait a Minute Mr. Postman
Movies with a View is Back!
A Tea Lounge in Brooklyn Heights
Chicks Street: A Family Raises Chickens on Hicks Street
DUMBO Death Plunge
You Must be from Brooklyn Heights If…
High Heat for 90 Minutes
There Must Be Some Way Outta Here: Watchtower Plans Rockland Compound
Open Thread: Best Sandwich in Brooklyn Heights
Sales Halted at 20 Henry

Hey! I can sorta see my house from here!

We made it out to Governors Island yesterday via the free ferry from Fulton Landing.   We stumbled upon Creative Times “This World & Nearer Ones” art exhibit which is taking the island by storm this weekend.   Mrs. Fink and I were amused by Nils Norman’s tent installation by Castle William as well as the many exhibits in the island’s abandoned residences.  We hope that whatever the future holds for the Island, which is now under NY State control, includes preserving the intimate feeling and historic landmarks that it offers.

You can read up on and participate in future park plans via The Park at the Center of the World and stay up to date on park events via the Governors Island blog.

Hey Island historians — while we suspect that Poppa Fink spent some time at Castle William after being picked up for being AWOL (hey it was to see Charlie Parker, we think) from the Army in Times Square right after WWII, was it more likely he cooled his heels at Fort Jay?