Open Thread Wednesday

By on August 16, 2016 11:59 pm in open thread

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • Jorale-man

    A new healthy chain restaurant is scheduled to open on Joralemon near Court. Looks like a lot of stir-fry dishes and salads. Maybe it will help to clean up that corner too.

    https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160809/brooklyn-heights/healthy-food-chain-honeygrow-opening-first-nyc-location-brooklyn-heights

  • regularmike

    I still miss Siggy’s (which was in the same spot) but I really enjoyed my first visit to Kogane Ramen. The brussel sprout appetizer, veggie and pork gyoza, and ramen were all delicious. It was empty when I went in there yesterday around 6:30 but it was about half full by the time I left. I hope they do well and stick around for a while.

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    Talking quality chain restaurants, DUMBO Heights will be adding a few plus the new Empire Stores location with such favorites as Vinegar Hill House. I walk by this location (Prospect Heights) often on my way to Brooklyn Roasting Company and dropped by Bluestone Lane Coffee and it was excellent. Restaurant locations are starting to look up around Brooklyn Heights.

    http://ny.eater.com/2015/5/28/8679779/dos-toros-dig-inn-untamed-sandwiches-dumbo

  • rss

    Anyone know when that breakfast burrito place in the Clark St. station will open?

  • Mary Kim

    Jalapa Jar ran into some bureaucratic delays. They’re hoping to open this week, as long as the city grants it one last permit. Look for a post here as soon as it opens.

  • Concerned

    The young, african american, extremely overweight beggar on Montague street is really getting bothersome. He now has a friend who sits next to him and also asks “Can I ask you a question?” whenever I walk by. His friend looks even more able-bodied than he is. The cops don’t do anything about these two. And I have reported them. I’ve never seen such blatant laziness/lack of pride from two able-bodied young men. I’d love to say something, but there’s about 500 pounds between the two of them. The cops need to do their job and stop their loitering/begging.

  • MaryT

    The large guy asked me today (Hey Miss!) if I could “pronounce this word” as he pointed to some paper document or book. I was tempted to reply “Pronounce this!” with accompanying gesture, but I just moved on. I don’t think it’s illegal to be annoying but I’d like it if they just move on, too.

  • Concerned

    Was it the older large guy or the younger one? The older one is a huge pain, but I’m pretty sure he’s mentally ill and truly homeless. He called me a f@ggot at 8 am on Saturday morning on my way to the farmer’s market. I want him to leave, as well, but I understand there are some major issues going on. However, I’m talking about the really large african american young man who looks like he’s between 17 and 23 years old. He has a buddy now and neither of them seem homeless or incapable of steady work. They simply seem lazy, although I suspect they just lack any pride and make more money begging than working a 9 to 5…

  • CHASESGILBERT

    The guy in front of the bagel shop?

  • StudioBrooklyn

    The young guys sit on the bench outside Five Guys, don’t they? The older guy is outside L&H.

  • Concerned

    Yes. Although the young guys have been moving around a bit. They’ve asked me for money on the stairs next to key foods and while sitting on subway’s chairs, as well.

  • AEB

    What if you simply ignored them, as I do, and went about your business? Brooklyn Heights is part of a large city, and thus not immune to beggars, who, in this case, are harmless.

    The need to ensure that our neighborhood is “pure,” ongoingly cleansed of “unwanted elements” is akin to the wish to live in a gated community. We don’t live in one–nor should we.

  • Concerned

    I still try to visit Siggy’s when I’m in Noho. I miss it. I do hope Kogane does well, though.

  • Concerned

    Why should I have to ignore them? They are the ones breaking the law. We have narrow sidewalks and my family and I are supposed to squeeze past 500 pounds of humanity that can be intimidating (and have reportedly said misogynistic comments to women in the area).
    I take offense to you trying to say that I want the neighborhood “pure”. I think that’s a terrible dogwhistle, especially when I’m simply asking for people to stop breaking the law.

  • AEB

    Take my comment as you wish–no dig whistle, however, was intended.

    I’m suggesting a “real politik” here; people can involve themselves in whatever they wish to, and if you want to call the cops about the obese beggar, then you’re free to do so.

  • Concerned

    No. Your words are clear and insulting. If you didn’t know what you were writing when you said: “”pure,” ongoingly cleansed of “unwanted elements””, then you’re too ignorant to even respond to. You really should retract that statement. Good day.

  • AEB

    I believe you’re responding out of a sense of guilt; but you’re right: our exchange has done its work on earth.

    And a good day to you, too.

  • ColumbiaHeightster

    You gotta be kidding me with this. You are complaining that you don’t like a homeless person asking for help where you live? Can I ask YOU a question? What do you think those guys have to complain about? Probably much bigger problems than finding someone “bothersome.” This post is just outrageous. Have a little compassion for your fellow human beings please.

  • Elaine Rendon

    I really do hope you’re not trying to take the beggars side. The larger guy constantly says inappropriate things to women whenever they walk by!

  • Elaine Rendon

    I understand that we have to be compassionate but how can you be compassionate to a young man who says inappropriate things go women, infront of their kids?

  • Concerned

    Really? These young adults that I’m referring to aren’t homeless. Go talk to them sometime and see. Unless you give them money, they probably won’t even give you the time of day, and if you press them they might twist you into a pretzel. Go ahead and try Mr./Mrs. Compassion….
    What is outrageous is that they can bother good people who simply want to walk down the sidewalk without being harassed.
    If you see in my later post, I do have some compassion for the mentally ill homeless or down on their luck homeless. These kids are a TEAM!!! But you don’t want to hear that, do you CH? You just want to vilify anyone that doesn’t agree with your ultra liberal views.

  • DIBS

    Maybe delicate flowers shouldn’t walk past them then. At some point you learn not to continue to bang your head against the wall. Not directed specifically at Concerned of course. Just folks in general.

  • StudioBrooklyn

    Anyone, including women, who is the victim of verbal abuse should respond to it (or not) as they see fit, that’s their imperative as autonomous human beings. But I think “compassion” is about trying to understand and be kind to someone who might not deserve such a response. Not saying everyone has to be compassionate all the time, but it’s something to aspire to, and I’m just sharing the way I view that concept.

    On a personal note, what really bugs me about these guys (and I’m just talking about panhandling here) is that they target regulars. In effect, appearing in the same spot every day on a busy residential street is like setting up an informal toll booth on a commuter route. It would feel more fair if they went somewhere with a higher proportion of tourists, or passersby who are not regulars. But this is a reality of living in a city…not sure whether a solution exists short of, you know, closing the income gap or something.

  • StudioBrooklyn

    I take no issue with your frustration and annoyance, that’s totally understandable. What I think falls a little flat is the double standard of invoking the illegality of beggars when what really bothers us about them is the way they disrupt our everyday lives. If it was completely legal we’d mind as much.

  • Concerned

    LOL. Coming from someone who couldn’t hack the city and moved to Pennsylvania…
    Even if I were to take your insult personally (I don’t), are you saying that our children in the neighborhood (especially young girls) should have to undergo this harassment?
    I know Columbia Heightser and AEB really don’t care about that side of compassion. If you have a few dollars in your pocket, you have to care for everyone. If you don’t have any money, you can bother and harass people however you’d like… Garbage!
    And despite all of our arguments outside the law, it is clear that these young men are breaking the law.

  • DIBS

    No, I couldn’t hack it. That’s it. Apparently you can’t hack it on Montague Street

  • Concerned

    Cute. You wouldn’t know, but it’s hard out here, now. Yesterday, we had to picket because an apartment was put on the market for under $1,200.00 a square foot. I mean, what type of people would we have moving into the neighborhood!?! Scary…

  • DIBS

    I’m sure it is. And your plight makes me feel bad about spending 20 years in NYC just to milk it for income and then exit, leaving people in such dire straits up there. But I’m sure that between Cuomo and DeBlahsio, things will all work out well.

  • Concerned

    It may fall flat for you, but I find it to be a valid point. It is clear that my annoyance with the beggars is not about someone breaking the law. But it should be understood that my annoyance with the beggars may be different than another’s annoyance with the beggars, and the law against this behavior is for everyone. Therefore, while I don’t appreciate their bothersome ways, someone else, like a small business owner, may not like that they deter customers in front of their store. Or a woman who is harassed by one or more of them. The law is a umbrella with which we all get to express our position against the illegal behavior, despite our personal experiences (of which we might not understand).

  • Elaine Rendon

    Thank you for your opinion! In all honesty you’re right. What’s frustrating is exactly what you describe. They target regulars. Some of us have to pass there everyday but I’ll take the high road next time and just zoom past.

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