Open Thread Wednesday 11/9/11

By on November 9, 2011 12:52 am in Brooklyn Heights

What’s on your mind? Comment away!
Flickr photo by Saucy Salad

Share this Story:

, ,

← 
Newer Comments  →
  • Elmer Fudd

    Does that coach have an indoor swimming pool? With a high diving board too? I sure would hate to parallel park that thing.

  • tina

    #1- who did montague street bagels bribe down at the dept of health to go from a “c” rating to an “a”? it’s hard to go from worst all the way to first.

    #2- looks like hooded guy is now wearing a sunny yellow puffy coat. saw him yelling angrily to no one in particular in front of the heights chateau on atlantic on sunday…

  • bklyn20

    That Hummer limo is parked in front of 1 BBP, I think. Thus I deduce that Vanessa and Stephen are involved. Perhaps it is used to store their fine aged cognac while they tour … fill in the blank!

  • Willow St. Neighbor

    Tina,
    I just checked the restaurant inspection website at nyc.gov
    and Montague St. Bagels gets a C rating, then they clean up their act and get and A but then they get a C again, etc. etc. etc.
    Which pretty much shows that they only clean up their act when they absolutely have to.

  • lcd

    Anyone know the location of the Bklyn Hts home used in “Margin Call”? –

  • Big Dave

    Vanessa and Stephen own the giant limo. They call it the “S” Van as a play on their names.

    Anyone ever see the street sweeper proceed at anything other than a breakneck pace? Either he’s rushing to go back for coffee or already has had too many cups…

  • JaneonOrange

    Can anyone recall–wasn’t there a YMCA on Joralemon at Hicks in the ’70’s?

  • Elmer Fudd

    Dear Jane, Yes there was. It is an apartment building now. David Yassky used to live there.

  • Tclinton11201

    agreed with you Willow St, I think the current system whereby the DOH upgrades from trash to perfectly clean place is not right, there should be a probation period from “trash” status to “spotless” one.

    As a reminder, on the DOH website for Montague St Bagel (dated 10/07/11), 52 Violation points among which the always great to read:
    “Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.”

  • Master Of Middagh

    What may be more disconcerting is that more than one local restaurant owner has told me they grease the palm of the inspectors to get their “A”. Which may account for why so many restaurants have “A” rankings. A “C” ranking is reserved for a business that has yet to pay their bribe (though they are expected to make at least a show of having cleaned the place). It sounds like this may be a pretty corrupt system where restaurants are blackmailed into giving bribes. There should some oversight into the process.

  • gc

    @Icd
    The home in Margin Call is located on the Promenade side of Columbia Hts between Clark and Pineapple.

  • DrewB

    Finally made it to Bevaco on Saturday night. Had a delicious meal. Tasty cocktails. The space is very attractive. The service was attentive. All in all a nice edition to the neighborhood. But can we now put a cap on the Italian Restaurants around here? Enough already. How about a French Brassarie or Bistro?

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/13189502@N02/ Eddyenergizer

    I’ve noticed the service at Hanco’s seems to have improved quite a bit.

  • Wrennie

    That actually looks like the back of the JW building, if you’re on Furman with your back to the park. Even so, it almost definitely is Stephen and Vanessa’s fault.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/13189502@N02/ Eddyenergizer

    Yes that’s where it is, on Vine St.

  • Hayley

    Murray Monster was doing the word of the day from Columbia Place on yesterday’s episode of Sesame Street. We were very excited!!!

  • sonny

    As an expectant mother, we’ll soon need a nanny or childcare for when I return to work in the spring. However, I have to say that I am extremely horrified by the dozens of nannies that I see in the neighborhood daily and their incessant talking on cell phones while neglecting the children in their care. Am I the only one who feels this way? I have yet to see a nanny actually paying attention to a child, but rather talking on the phone constantly. Whether it’s in a store, crossing the street, or sitting on a bench – they are always on the phone. Some never even go outdoors – I see them just sitting in the lobby of my building all day, talking on the phone, while the poor kid is strapped into the stroller all day with no stimulation or human contact or attention. Now I’m not saying that you need to be rolling around and playing with the kid constantly, but pay some attention. Just today, I walked by a nanny pushing one kid in a stroller, while the toddler brother walked alongside of her. As she was dialing her phone, she ran over the toddler’s foot. The little boy said “ouch” and she said to him “watch where you’re going or you’ll get your foot under the tire.” Are you kidding me?? She wasn’t even looking at him. I dread the thought of leaving my newborn in someone else’s care, but we have no choice – we need to work in order to pay the bills. So where in the world (or at least in this neighborhood) does one find trusted childcare from someone who will actually pay attention to your kid?

  • Hello Brooklyn

    Steven & Vanessa wouldn’t be caught dead in that tacky beast. They’ve got a X5 garaged for $400 a month for the weekends and a VIP card with Big Apple Cars. That thing is filled with the poor ethnics taking tacky wedding photos in the park.

  • AEB

    What is it with white stretch Hummers in the Height, a tres genteel nabe, after all?

    Last year, on the morning after the first and worst, most dreadful snow storm, a specimen similar to the one depicted above was left on Hicks and blocking MIddagh.

    Most surreal.

  • noone

    sonny – thank you for ruining the day/week/life of every working mother with a nanny in the neighborhood. If all the nanies you see are that bad, why bother asking?

  • Willow St. Neighbor

    Sonny,
    I have witnessed the same.
    My daughter found childcare at Bright Horizons in Westchester.
    I think theyalso have a daycare center in the Wall Street area.
    She did alot of research and she is very happy with the child care providers. Her baby has been at Bright Horizons for nine months now and it seems to be working out very well.
    I have seen and met some extraordinary nannies who have helped to raise children from birth to school age. They became part of the family. I still see these women in the neighborhood from time to time. They are a gift to working women but I do agree with you that I see many many so called “nannies” who are not doing their jobs and the parents of those children would be appalled if they ever saw what was really going on when they were at work.

  • sonny

    Noone – not sure what you mean?? I’m not trying to ruin anyone’s day or bring anyone down. I’m just pointing out what I’ve been observing. This is a new experience for me. Maybe it’s no big deal and this is just common and nobody else really thinks it’s an issue. That’s fine. I’m just not used to it because to be honest, I was never on the lookout for nannies before. My main point is that I’m in the same boat – I have to go back to work too. So I’d be interested to know how to start the nanny search. Of course I’m realistic and don’t expect Mary Poppins to come along, but if anyone has some recommendations or referrals, that would be great.

  • Still here

    Unfortunate House – First order since new management. Eggroll and some of the dishes were cold, fewer dumplings in the soup, and the soup noodles were prepackaged little things.

    What happened?

  • Monty

    @sonny, as a dad who has occasion to take his kids to playgrounds on the occasional weekday and knows a lot of parents in the neighborhood, I think you are overreacting, but not crazy. I see quite a few attentive nannies who really do seem to give their charges a lot of attention. I also see quite a few who chat on the phone while completely ignoring them. You also shouldn’t set too high of a standard because I doubt even the most loving parent has enough energy and attention span to pay attention to their kids every moment they are together.

    That being said, my little girl is enrolled at Kiddie Korner and she loves it. Yes, it is way expensive and yes it is run by Chabad who teach them some judaica and close on Simchas Torah and every other obscure holiday, but the teachers are generally very, very good and my daughter is very happy there.

  • nyviews

    sonny…we hired our nanny from someone we met on the parents blog…we did interviews and you will just feel what’s right.

  • Willow St. Neighbor

    Sonny,
    First of all, you are not overreacting!
    Second, I have heard good things about Kiddie Korner too.

  • AmyinBh

    I think all the hate thrown at Vanessa and Stephen on this blog is too funny. I also think I might have the perfect Halloween costume next year if they keep running the commercials.

  • PierrepontSkin

    Can someone please explain who the heck Vanessa and Stephen are and why everyone keeps talking about them?

  • harumph

    Sonny –
    Please don’t rely on references, I learned the hard way that all potential nannies have “great” references. We called and checked on all our nannies – we had to fire two. Our gut said we really liked them, clean references – what could go wrong???!! A lot. After our ordeal we stick with young babysitters – the men and women just out of college, needing cash and not landing a job in this market (usually actors, writers and fashion folk). And we only hire based on ‘someone we know’ recommendation (direct work relationship in the past). Hope this helps.

  • AmyinBH

    PierrepontSkin, Vanessa and Stephen are cartoon characters used to advertiese the condos down on the pier.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQCTIo1YlNE

←  
Newer Comments  →