Open Thread Wednesday

By on January 9, 2024 11:25 pm in open thread

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • Nosey Neighbor

    Reddit Post about assault outside Clark St Station on December 30 at 8:30pm. I am not the original poster. I am just sharing the post.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Brooklyn/comments/192r59r/assaulted_by_random_in_brooklyn_heights_in_front/

    Guy attacked [victim]. Shouting in street, approached [victim], punched [victim], ran off.
    [Victim] had to go to the ER for lacerations, skull fracture, stab wound
    None of the nearby businesses have security camera footage
    Local police & detective gave [victim] contact info, have zero updates so far (10 days later!)

    Description:
    Between 25-45, dark skin, 5’9 to 6′, maybe 170-200lbs.
    It was dark out and it was cold so everyone was in heavy winter clothing.
    He left a black beanie cap on the ground.
    [Victim] did not get a good look at him

  • Andrew Porter

    Here’s the Brooklyn Savings Bank Building at the NE corner of Pierrepont and Clinton Street under construction on August 30th, 1910. This building and nearly all other structures on the block were later demolished:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/baec97603b22c99aed5d5e19c040bf3a4d236c89dfc41200caf1ddfc0c693c12.png

  • Andrew Porter
  • William Gilbert

    This is disheartening to hear. It would help if that wretched scaffolding were to be removed. Just how long will the repairs take? And while we are at it, across the street the scaffolding around the Cadman Tower building is a blight on the neighborhood. It is an eyesore and a place for the homeless to roost. What is going on there? Both of these sites have an obligation to at least let the neighborhood know the status of repair and approximate time these disgusting things will be removed. Can Lincoln Restler help us get some information?

  • Banet

    Once again, the little lending library at Hicks and Grace Court Alley could use a refill.

    By the way, it’s seen a tremendous number of books come and go — I’m sure we all really appreciate the serendipity of discovering a wonderful new book. A few rules of the road though:

    — Please no books that are in tatters. About once a week someone drops off a book missing a cover, or held together with scotch tape, etc. Odds are overwhelmingly low that anyone will want this book.

    Really, the guiding principal is that you should only drop off books that you’d hand to a friend and say “you should borrow this — I really think you’ll enjoy it!”

    — Take as many books as you want — but only books you’re taking to actually read. I say this because on at least two occasions people have reported someone (an older man) walking up with a tote bag and taking pretty much every book. Likely he’s donating these for a tax donation or selling them. That’s not the intent. So please, take as much as you want — but only books for personal consumption. And if you see this person, please ask him to stop. :-)

    — Don’t be afraid to microwave your books. For real. :-) What am I talking about? A few once-bitten (or in this case, bitten many times over), twice-shy neighbors who have had bed bug problems say they would never bring in books that came from an unknown source. Fair point. A little googling revealed that microwaving for just 30 seconds kills bedbugs at EVERY stage — from egg to nymph to adult. So now every book I bring home? I microwave it for 90 seconds (better safe than sorry).

    I think that’s it. Thank you for all the books you’ve donated and I hope that for every book you’ve brought, you found at least one book you’ve taken home and enjoyed. That’s what it’s all about!

  • RW

    What happened on Clinton between Pierrepont and Cadmen Plaza Monday night? I saw several fire trucks lighting up that block, and two more trucks rushing down Henry toward that direction. The whole neighborhood smelled like smoke but I haven’t found any mention anywhere of a fire in the neighborhood recently.

  • Red Leader

    Interestingly, my tattered books are my most loved. Thanks for manning the lending library.

  • Andrew Porter

    The Brooklyn Paper reports a man walking his dog on Clark Street was stabbed on Dec. 30th. Story here:

    https//www.brooklynpaper.com/brooklyn-heights-dog-walker-stabbed-nypd/

  • B.

    Remember when A&S had a book department on the top floor? As a kid, I used to go there after school and shell out 25 cents each for old paperback classics, not that in those days I understood what on earth The House of the Seven Gables was about. I liked it though.

    I still have all of them, all in bad shape, from the 1960s.

  • Banet

    Oh, mine too. I have one book where the front cover and each of the first 10 pages are independent from one another and the rest of the book. But I’m talking books that won’t survive another reading.

    And you’re welcome. It was a fun project to set it up with my kids and selfishly, I have 3 years of reading in front of me just from the books I’ve brought in during the last 9 months. ;-)

  • Banet

    I miss Heights Books – the used bookstore that used to be across from the east end of Key Food. :-/

  • Red Leader

    I do too! When did they close? The years are starting to blend :)

  • Banet

    They were replaced by that awful Crumbs cupcake shop and according to this blog they opened in 2010. So I suspect the bookstore closed in 2009 or 2010 (I remember it took some time to build it out). And it seems to have opened in April 1999 so I bet their lease was up in April 2009.

  • Red Leader

    Thank you! I do miss them but at least we’re fortunate to have Books are Magic in the neighborhood now. Even if it took a while :)

  • Banet

    Between the VERY excellent Books Are Magic, the two Little Lending Libraries, and the very lovely new public library all my book needs are more than covered. It’s a good time to be a reader in Brooklyn Heights. :-)

  • B.

    Then there was the used bookshop down the little stairs — eventually the son moved it to near A&S.

    Long before VCRs, I used to buy books that my favorite movies were based on; hence, I read “Flotsam” (i.e., “So Ends Our Night”) “The Mortal Storm,” “How Green Was My Valley,” and so on. I liked the old couple who ran it. When they found a book they thought I’d like, they put it away for me. Nice old days.

  • clarknt67

    Lights on in the lobby of Court st cinema on Thursday evening. Ladder visible. Looks like something happening.

  • Red Leader

    So true!

  • Effective Presenter

    We are saddened to hear of your attack and wish you a full recovery.

  • meschwar

    Just walked by this evening. The bubble tea place is open.

  • Andrew Porter

    They moved to Cobble Hill. When they moved out, they left a literal dumpster full of books they’d paid for but never sold. People were climbing in and coming out with some real gems. I still have some 1940s-50s paperbacks I got from that move.

  • Banet

    Yep. They briefly moved to a smaller space on Smith Street.

  • Watson

    Does anyone know when the Just Salad on Court Street is supposed to open?

  • Banet

    Where?

  • clarknt67

    Sign has been up for so many months. Doesn’t seem like it’s soon, if ever.

  • Banet

    Reports of another violent assault in the neighborhood, this time on the corner of Montague and Hicks (though maybe the victim meant Henry Street?):

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Brooklyn/s/rzPOl3pl03