Open Thread Wednesday 3/14/12

By on March 14, 2012 12:40 am in Brooklyn Heights

What’s on your mind? Comment away! Photo: Mrs. Fink

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  • She’s Crafty

    @me, in this recent downturn coops fared better than most condos because there was more control over the owner’s finances. I also resent the intrusion but understand it is done to protect the investment of the other shareholders. The restrictions on mortgages and refinances actually do protect the rest of the building. It’s a trade off…I know.

  • monty

    For lunch options, I have no idea why anyone would eat at heights falafel when Tutt is one block further and has fresh-bakes pita. Also, Baluchis has better Indian and the whole menu is 50% off at lunch time. Tazza is also great for sandwiches and salads.

  • She’s Crafty

    @Monty, how North Heights of you. The other suggestions were for someone lower down in the neighb. Agree with all you say except for Tutt seems to have taken the ‘slow food’ movement to a whole new level and that doesn’t work for me personally at lunch.

  • willowbubb

    sushi gallery is disgusting. OZU would be a great pick for sushi.

  • Andrew Porter

    Incredible second half of an article on Brownstoner.com talks about the more recent history of 70 Willow Street, aka where Capote lived, which just sold for, what, $12 million?:

    http://tinyurl.com/7dqmvb4

    Housing Works thrift store is an excellent place to donate all kinds of stuff, including books and records, if you’d rather not donate to a religious organization. What they don’t sell here they send to their other stores across the city.

    Bornhere: I went to Satnick for advice once and what he said was so stupid that I vowed never to go back there. So, yes, cantankerous would fit the bill.

  • Master Of Middagh

    @willowbubb- I’ve had sushi all over town and Sushi Gallery is one of the best and certainly the best in the neighborhood. The fish is always fresh. What’s your beef with them?

  • Andrew Porter

    Arch Stanton: I lived through the renovation of the St. George Tower aka 111 Hicks (the dumpsters and delivery point for construction material was across the street from my building), and they used aluminum forms, not wood 2x4s, inside the walls, which are plasterboard, and AFAIK no insulation in them. So they became superhighways for mice and other vermin. And you could punch your way into the apartments through those very thin uninsulated walls.

    There is a Yahoo group for those interested in the history of the St. George Hotel which has lots of interesting memories and photos.

  • Master Of Middagh

    @me- I can assure that you get more fish because the owner/sushi chef happens to be on the generous side, and he is quite proud of the quality of fish he dishes out. And I’ve always thought the location added to its charm. It’s the perfect place to people watch and the small size makes it feel a little exclusive.

  • Heightsguy

    Tutt is really terrible if you know anything about Arabic food. I ordered lamb sausage and it was hamburger. Ozu has huge appetizers.

  • Monty

    Tutt is really awesome if you like tasty food and don’t care where it’s from :p

    I’m a fan of Sushi Gallery as well. Had some really awful delivery from Ozu, but might try them again one day. The best sushi in the area is Hibino on Henry and Pacific. They do lunch specials if it’s not too far of a walk for you.

  • Knight

    Andrew: you “lived through” the renovation of the Eastern Athletic health club and some roof & parapet work, not a renovation of the St. George itself. Each apartment in the building is individually owned and the construction material will vary as each owner uses his/her own contractor. Go ahead and punch the wall; I’d like to see that!

  • ABC

    I think CV is a better deal. I have young kids and know families with young kids in both. CV has a much more involved families group — they’ve done common tag sales to raise funds for their dedicated playroom, they have pizza parties, etc. They are fully staffed with doorman, porters, security. Parking available if you get on the list and wait it out. And the prices are way better. I’ve never liked 111 much and their maintenance has always been awful. In an era of 4% mortgages and rising real estate taxes, I think the smart thing to do is get a bigger place with lower monthlies (maintenance charges will continue to rise as real estate taxes do). I like 75 henry too. Altho, all things considered, I’d prefer a condo.

    Also, I have a friend who recently sold in 111. It was a year long ordeal, the board turned down a cash buyer, they wouldn’t let owner sublet for a year while it sat empty. It was an ordeal. She was furious.

  • CrankyOne2

    I think one of the Goggle Twins died. I say this because I saw a lone Goggle Twin about a month ago (never ever saw that before). Hope I’m wrong.

  • She’s Crafty

    I’ve seen them lone before, and together after that, so I don’t know if that is a reliable sign. Sometimes my husband delivers to them and they give him little clippings from the newspaper. He says they are sweet.

  • Master Of Middagh

    Ozu DOES have fairly large appetizer portions (and some of them are quite delicious- I recommend the “kalbi”) but you have to keep in mind that the prices for the appetizers range from 5 to 11 bucks. So you’re paying nearly an entree’ price for that appetizer a lot of the time.

  • Hicks St Guy

    @AP, I believe aluminum struts are used over wood 2×4’s because they are fireproof.

  • DrewB

    I’m a little late to the party, but I can’t believe all this sushi talk with no mention of Hibino on Henry. Their sushi is excellant, and they also have daily Obanzai specials (think japanese tapas). They have a great bento box lunch as well. I used to go to Iron Chef and Ozu, but since discovering Hibino they are my only choice for sushi. You can check there website for dialy specials:
    http://hibino-brooklyn.com/

  • Master Of Middagh

    @DrewB- Our neighbor, “Monty” mentioned Hibino a few posts up. And it does sound like it’s worth checking out. However, it’s not in Brooklyn Heights. So, Hibino may very well be the best sushi in the zip code (or “area” as Monty put it), but Sushi Gallery still gets the blue ribbon for the neighborhood, in my book.

  • willowbubb

    masterofmid- my beef with them is when i ate sushi from there as well as there seaweed salad it tasted like sweat and the rice was hard. maybe it was just my one time experience and i shall try again !

  • Master Of Middagh

    Seaweed salad tastes like sweat in the first place, doesn’t it? It’s like how rice cakes taste like packing foam! ;)

    I second your notion to give them another try. Perhaps you might enjoy their kim-chee or their avocado salad; I’ve seen them preparing those by hand- I think the seaweed salad may come to them prepackaged,

  • PJL

    We bought an unrenovated 2br/2bth at Concord Village last year (Adams St) for around what 1BRs go for across Cadman Plaza. The buildings are fully staffed and the doormen/staff and management are friendly and eager to help/neighbors are friendly (more than I can say for 75 Henry w/the exception of their doormen and a couple of the neighbors). Lots of families with kids. We have the gym in our building and it’s about 100 steps to the High St. station. Was a bit dubious about the location at first (and I had loved Henry Street), but in addition to the 24 hour doorman, we benefit from the security at the entrance to the Bridge and the federal courthouse. There’s tourist/pedestrian traffic at almost all hours and I enjoy my 30 second walk to/from the subway. DUMBO, Heights and Downtown are all a 5 minute (or less) walk away (and we/our roofdeck have great Manhattan skyline/Bridge views). We have since renovated and are enjoying our apt/location. I would highly recommend CV if you are looking for more space/bang for your buck (particularly if you are a growing family); also, the co-op’s financials are great.

    We’ve always had good experiences with Iron Chef (and their delivery is remarkably quick).

  • Andrew Porter

    Knight: I am not referring to the recent work. I moved to Pineapple Street in 1968, when the St. George Tower was still a hotel. The construction of the apartments at 111 Hicks, and of 60 Pineapple Street as condos—it had been empty for decades before that—lasted from 1973 to 1978. And “lived through” is just that: we got to see everything that went into the Tower, plus everything that came out. Can’t tell you how many times work was halted due to illegal construction methods, etc., and I have photos to prove it.

  • Andrew Porter

    I forgot to mention that 111 Hicks was rebuilt to be rental apartments; the building only went co-op several years later.

  • She’s Crafty

    Well, I really did like the building (111 Hicks). So we’ll see. We’re committed to staying in the Heights in any case~if not there, somewhere else. Thanks for all the feedback guys.

  • RF

    For what it’s worth, Hibino is the only one of those restaurants actually run by Japanese people. Koreans also eat sushi rolls and other seaweed preparations, so Sushi Gallery can count as legit, plus, it’s a family-run business that cares about quality. The others, not so much. Those rolls at Ozu with mayonnaise all over them are ridiculous.

  • MOT

    Thanks fernolivia & TK for the restaurant recommendation that accommodates wheelchairs. Teresa’s turned out to be perfect.

    I’m surprised how challenging it is for her to navigate NY as so few subways have elevators. If you have any navigation tips please let me know.

    Thank you so much.

  • willowbubb

    master of mid- i will take your recommendation !!! :)

  • T.K. Small

    MOT: please feel free to contact me outside the blog. You can reach me at tk@tksmall.com.

  • JustANeighbor

    Concord Village residents – how is the noise level in between apartments? I’m looking to buy something but want to make sure that it’s quiet..I know the noise level b/w apartments in 111 Hicks is too loud for me as I’ve visited some friends in there.

  • M on Willow

    Looking for a Qigong center or practitioner in the neighborhood … any ideas?

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