Open Thread Wednesday

By on May 27, 2020 7:33 am in open thread

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • Andrew Porter

    This is the place I go to for my old car fix, a website called “Age of Diesel”:

    https://anyskin.tumblr.com/archive

  • Jeremy

    Thanks for sending the bat signal, Karl :)

    The underground railroad story doesn’t make any sense – even the plaque itself says the stable is post-Civil War. (Circa 1876, actually.)

    As for the “tunnel” – no idea if the vault/crawl space is actually a tunnel, or goes to the carriage house. Would be very unusual for such a tunnel, but not impossible. That said, a tunnel (and not a simple vault) wouldn’t be original to either the row of houses or the stable building. The carriage house sits on land that used to be part of the grounds of a large free-standing house. There was no relation between that house, and the row at 155-157-159 Willow. Nor was the carriage house built for someone living in those houses. Only later did it become owned by someone living in the row.

    It was common to have underground vaults in front of houses for coal storage etc. Because 155-157-159 Willow were built as a row, it wouldn’t be so unusual for the vaults to be linked. I wouldn’t really call that a “tunnel” however. I have no idea if the vaults were later connected to the carriage house. (Also, the root cellar would’ve been in the rear, because who wants their vegetables stored next to the dusty coal?)

  • Water

    Looks like it has been there are a few days. Who wants 311 report and a DEP inspector to come knocking with a $30k repair bill?
    Wonder if anyone has called it in to 311

  • Jorale-man

    Apparently they sold the US operations for just $3 million to a fast-food company here in NY. They say they plan to keep a third of the stores going but no specifics. https://ny.eater.com/2020/5/28/21273094/le-pain-quotidien-bankruptcy-nyc-aura-reopening

    I agree with Heights Guy about the inconsistent service (they’d sometimes crowd everyone in the front tables while roping off the back area) but the pastries have always been pretty solid.

  • Cranberry Beret

    They’re probably moving the sales office because the building is essentially done, right?

    I’m sure they appreciated your tactful reminder and COVID-19 question! :o

  • Cranberry Beret

    OMG that block has been dug up so many times in the past few years for various reasons, I can’t believe there’s yet another issue

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    Jeremy,
    You are an incredible source of Brooklyn Heights history.
    It makes perfect sense that this space would serve as storage for coal. Obviously, convenient for deliveries. Also, root cellars make sense in the rear adjacent to the garden. Duh.
    I did not know the carriage house was constructed after the row houses and that they were not related. Interesting.
    Speaking of plaques, they should have one installed on your house designating you as the most knowledgeable resource concerning Brooklyn Heights history.

  • El

    there are 2 drives on 7/2 and 7/9 at the courts if you or anyone else are still looking into it!

    https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/272253
    https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/272173

  • KBells40

    That’s great news, thanks so much!

  • Mike Suko

    There’s a very fine repair shop on Hoyt Street (& Warren, approx.) It’s apparently “the best of times” for bike stores, proof – and it IS needed – that “every cloud has…”

  • CJ

    Service was horribly slow for takeout as well. 15 minute wait for oatmeal or even to buy a shelf item!

  • Andrew Porter

    I reported it last night. Service number 311-02608931.

    This is not what’s gonna happen, hopefully:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/61d93202d9c4058841729119f451eb4c1ac6682620ce23fe3f34a198f152ca68.gif

  • http://www.donorschoose.org/antiracistreading Alison Chatfield

    Brooklyn Heights neighbor,

    If, like me (a Henry St resident!) you have been outraged, disgusted, and saddened by yet another senseless murder of a black person in this country, I ask you to join me in being part of the solution by supporting Antiracist Reading for U.S. public school students. White people, it’s time to actively confront and dismantle racism. Let’s use our power to enable our kids to build a better America.

    Fund antiracist reading projects here: http://www.donorschoose.org/antiracistreading

    Check out my giving page, Antiracist Reading, on DonorsChoose (where I work!) that highlights projects you can support that will enable U.S. public school teachers to:

    — Provide their students with racially diverse literature
    — Educate our classrooms about the problems of white privilege and racism and how to overcome it
    — Provide examples of Black Excellence so children can see themselves and their friends in the stories they read

    For instance, I donated to a teacher who wants to add X, “the story of the boy who would become Malcolm X, from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today.” More than ever, children need these stories to make sense of the world, find their identity within it, and build the confidence to lead. But teachers often can’t afford to provide their students with books like this, and it’s hurting our country’s ability to confront and dismantle racial prejudice.

    Be part of the solution! http://www.donorschoose.org/antiracistreading

  • regularmike

    Thanks for sharing! The PTA at Park Slope Collegiate just sent this op-ed to every parent in preparation for a discussion this week. They also mentioned that some teachers are discussing the murder of George Floyd and the public response in “class.” I’m impressed. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/opinion/george-floyd-police-funding.html

  • Cranberry Beret
  • Knight

    I haven’t been over that way for a while. Are they selling slices or just delivering whole pies?

  • Jorale-man

    Ugh. At least it’s just a temporary construction, not an actual property.

  • Pierrepont

    Support and love to the protesters, but man I ready to be finished with these bloomin’ helicopters. Every night! 😡

  • regularmike

    At least it doesn’t say All Lives Matter

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