Open Thread Wednesday

By on October 20, 2021 8:17 am in open thread

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • CassieVonMontague

    84th Precinct is angry that a citizen keeps calling 311 to complain about their illegally parked cars on Schermerhorn

    https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2021/10/18/bad-cop-bad-cop-nypd-threatens-tipster-for-filing-311-complaints-about-illegal-parking/

  • CassieVonMontague

    Outside of the long-time Heights aristocracy of brokers and attorneys (who lived in the more elegant brownstones in Columbia Heights—Willow Street, Remsen Street, and Pierrepont Street in the mid-Heights), arguably the most interesting people lived on our Middagh Street block: noted translator of Latin American literature Gregory Rabassa; 8th Street Book Shop proprietor Eli Wilentz; Jack Biblo, co-owner of the famous Biblo & Tannen used book store on 4th Avenue in Manhattan; Abstract Expressionist-turned-neorealist painter Charles Schucker, whose giant canvases barely fit through his doors; Dr. Virginia Travell Weeks, straight-talking, house-calling doctor to Heights children and sister of JFK’s physician Janet Travell; an exalted neighbor named Knickerbocker; Elizabeth Dutcher, at 25 Middagh Street, who attended the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge as a child and had the invitation framed on her wall and headed a settlement house in Brooklyn to which she was driven each morning by a chauffeur; and architect Harry Holtzman, executor of the Mondrian estate, whose College Place loft walls were covered with Mondrian paintings. On Cranberry Street, one block away, sculptor John Rhoden and his painter-wife Richanda lived, worked, and hosted Christmas parties every year for nearby neighbors (she gave these parties until 2014, when she was in her mid-nineties). Actor Paul Hecht lived on Willow Street near Middagh for a short time. And at 11 Cranberry Street, next door to my in-laws, resided old lefty composer Earl Robinson, who wrote “Ballad for Americans,” “Joe Hill,” “Lonesome Train,” and “The House I Live In.” While my husband and I were in Rome, my in-laws rented out rooms on the top floor of our home; its most famous tenant was Lee Hays of The Weavers.

    https://brooklynrail.org/2015/07/field-notes/brooklyn-heights-blows-it-the-untold-story-of-cadman-plaza

  • CassieVonMontague

    I lived in a Brooklyn Heights garden-floor apartment for nearly 20 years—it’s not like living in a basement by Austin Havens-Bowen

    https://www.brickunderground.com/live/inside-story-i-lived-in-brooklyn-heights-garden-floor-apartment-twenty-years-nyc

  • http://www.yotamzohar.com StudioBrooklyn

    Poor good ol boys in blue. Nobody ever understands them. I sure hope more people don’t call to report their “illegal” parking (cops are above the law, right?)

  • Banet

    Due to sufficient interest, I’m happy to report that Brooklyn Heights will indeed have composting return to the neighborhood. Let’s keep compost out of the landfills people!

  • Andrew Porter

    Do you have a specific date? I’m already storing my organic garbage!

  • Andrew Porter

    A postcard showing the inaugural run of the new subway train at the Borough Hall subway Station in 1904:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7acd782f43a53e89b8fcdc52e6b3135b0e73daa82ef736553abfdad336c4b2fe.png

  • Andrew Porter
  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    Wonderful history; thanks!

  • Teresa

    Expressing gratitude for Claude and his keeping this blog going. As a result of the pandemic, my contributions ground to a halt, and Claude has continued to post news important to our neighborhood. Thank you, Claude, so much.

  • Banet

    November 29:

    Thank you for your interest in Curbside Composting! We are proud that Curbside Composting will begin the week of November 29th for many buildings that signed up in these areas.

    — Bronx Community Board 8 (Kingsbridge, Riverdale)
    — Brooklyn Community Board 1 (Williamsburg, Greenpoint)
    — Brooklyn Community Board 2 (DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn Heights)

    If your address is on one of the efficient routes we are creating, you will hear from us next month.

    We know you care deeply about composting, and so until your Curbside Composting begins, we encourage you to bring food scraps to a drop-off location–visit nyc.gov/dropfoodscraps to find one near you. To learn how to make compost at home, visit makecompost.nyc.

    Thank you again for helping us restart the curbside program. We look forward to picking up your scraps soon.

    Sincerely,
    The New York City Department of Sanitation
    nyc.gov/sanitation

  • Banet

    Heard this a few weeks ago but just realized i never shared. Apparently the Heights Cafe/Guilia’s replacement is none other than the very popular (and VERY pricey) Sant Ambroeus. With 11 locations in the city I assume they know what they’re doing but their prices seem out of line with the neighborhood. $37 for Fettucine Bolognese? $49 for salmon? $17 for a side of asparagus or roasted potatoes? $23 for ministrone soup? I sense failure ahead.

    https://www.santambroeus.com/

  • Peter Darrow

    Actually no, it is their down market Tuscan restaurant called Felice.

  • Andrew Porter
  • Mike Suko

    “DOWN MARKET??”

    This from an either impressive or over-the-top [reader’s choice] drinks menu – FELICE’S:

    LIBRARY WINES BY THE GLASS
    In order to ensure consistency and quality, the above wines will be served via Napa Technology
    …
    Price per glass – $28-44

    Looks like the Hts is getting a small dose (for now) of serious “gentrification.” Of course, a more sanguine read is that if there’s a “fine dining” alternative (or 2) in the Heights, others may up their game in response.

    I saw a fellow heading into the Casino at midday earlier in the week – didn’t look to be “of retirement age.” It’s no secret that there are some VERY well-to-do people in B.H.

    I always wondered (well, once maybe) whether they routinely dined elsewhere – Manhattan, more likely than not – or at least occasionally opted for places that Mr. Wells might or might not have awarded 1 or 2 stars.

    FWIW: NYMag gives:

    Colonie – 81 and Noodle P. – 77… Truly, I could find no (BH) others that made their “Thousand Best” list.

    In fairness, it sure looks to me like they’re stuck in the ’90’s in terms of a Manh-centric orientation, … but they have some plausible choices in Dumbo, Cobble Hill, etc. (Note, too, that there are a couple of pizza places that make their list, almost surely the 2 you’d guess would be on it… and arguably near-not-in Bklyn Hts.)

  • Cranberry Beret

    FYI Starbucks on Montague has reduced their hours (now closing at 3 or 4pm depending on the day). They told me it’s because they can’t find enough staff

  • Mike Suko

    Ditto on your main point, of course, but – without prying or pressing – c’mon back!! Your voice & writing is missed!

  • CassieVonMontague
  • Teresa

    Thanks, Mike. All is good, and I’m ready to get back in the BHB groove.

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com/ Claude Scales

    Thank you, Teresa. Your contributions have been most valuable, and I look forward to more of them.

  • Andrew Porter

    Important info about the businesses at the Clark Street 2/3 Subway station from JoAnne Simon:

    “The upper level of the station will remain open, preserving public access to businesses. All construction activity will be scheduled from 7:00am – 6:00pm on weekdays, and the vast majority of work will be done within the Clark Street station.

    “The project received permits from DOT for a staging area for storage and a trailer on the west side of Henry Street from Clark Street to Pineapple Street (the barricades will extend in the street to the bike lane but not affect normal bike lane operation), and the north corner area of Clark Street between Henry Street and Hicks Street for compressor/generator activity and storage. The street barricades will be in place until the end of the project.”

  • Jorale-man

    An article on the owners of Alice’s Tea Cup potentially selling the family business:
    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/nyregion/alices-tea-cup-nyc.html

  • Alex

    Why is Giulia being replaced? Not sure why it didn’t last.

  • Andrew Porter

    Thanks. Saw that in the Sunday NYT, and posted the article to a whole bunch of people in BH.