The long-lived Montero’s Bar at 73 Atlantic Avenue announced on its Facebook page the passing of matriarch Pilar Montero, at the age of 90. She died Saturday night, January 14. Pilar and her husband, Joseph, opened Montero’s in 1947, which was once a haven for longshoremen and sailors. Today, it is beloved for karaoke, pool and its rustic knick-knack-packed ambiance. The New York Times said in a 1995 story that Pilar was born in New York’s West Village and first came to Brooklyn as a little girl on the ferry on which her father worked. You can post fond memories on Montero’s Facebook page here.
Montero’s Bar Matriarch Pilar Montero Dies At Age 90
Karl Goes Tropical at Tobacco Warehouse
Our man with cam shows up for last night’s Celebrate Brooklyn tropical dance party and catches the groove. Video after the jump. Continue Reading →
L Magazine Names Three Brooklyn Heights Blocks Among Borough’s 50 Best

BHB photo by C. Scales
L Magazine has surveyed Brooklyn’s multitude of blocks, and named its fifty best in various categories. Two blocks completely, and one partially, in the Heights made the cut. The winner in the “Best Block for Historical Significance” class is Montague Terrace (see photo above).
It was here, way back in 1776 at the “Battle” of Brooklyn, that George Washington staged the evacuation of his army to Manhattan, allowing it to survive for another day, insuring that we’d one day drive on the right side of the road.
(Despite the snarky quotation marks, there really was a Battle of Brooklyn; indeed, it was the largest battle of the Revolutionary War. What happened in the Heights was its aftermath.) If there had been a category for literary significance, Montague Terrace could have won there, too, having been home to both W.H. Auden, who wrote New Year Letter at One Montague Terrace, and Thomas Wolfe, whose novel, Of Time and the River took shape two doors away at Number Five. Also, of course, Montague Terrace has featured as the gateway to hell, a distinction L bestows on Central Avenue between Moffat and Knollwood Cemetery, in Bushwick. Continue Reading →
Brooklyn Heights People: Caitlin Pasko
Caitlin Pasko, a Brooklyn Heights newbie and BHB reader, also wears the hat of songstress. As Lacrymosa, she’ll perform at The Living Room on September 5, 19, and 26 at 8pm in the first residency of her career. Continue Reading →
Scenes From Last Night’s BHA Pub Crawl

BHB photo by C. Scales

BHB photo by C. Scales
Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar: A Place for Kids?
Park Slope has a reputation as a neighborhood that’s almost too family friendly, to the extent that some “grown-up” restaurants have been asked to add a kids’ menu, and parents and their children are now welcome into bars. CNN.com even did a story on it back in March:
[A] 14-month-old toddler is the sort of barfly who’s at the center of a recurring and heated debate: Should parents be allowed to bring their babies and children to bars?
It is a question in Brooklyn, New York, that’s fired up online arguments, prompted unofficial protests and made outsiders giggle. And while the issue may not be exclusive to that area, it’s the stuff disputes are made of in what [the toddler's] dad, Matt Gross, calls the kid-heavy “greater stroller zone” of Park Slope and its surrounding neighborhoods.
I’d read the online brouhaha on the topic but never come across it myself, until one Friday evening while with friends at the Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar—a large group of parents came in with babies and toddlers, and the staff even had high chairs to accommodate them all. After a second and then third wave of families arrived, we decided to go get desserts at Tazza and head to my friend’s roof deck. So I ask BHB readers because I’m clueless as to whether this is the norm or not—are many bars now expected to welcome kids? Or does it depend on the bar? Or the neighborhood? And are bars—even wine bars—great hangouts for kids?
The Boat May be Rockin’ but Inside it’s All Swing
The Mark Soskin Trio is one of the many accomplished music groups you will find performing year round at Bargemusic.
At first glance this floating white barge seems an unlikely place for a night of Jazz. But make no mistake, Bargemusic is a great place to hear some very talented musicians here in Brooklyn Heights.
Founded by Olga Bloom in 1976. Bargemusic is committed to enhancing New York’s cultural life with year round chamber music performances. Thursdays are Jazz night down at Bargemusic, now in it’s thirty-second year.
Formerly a transport for coffee beans in 1899, bought by Bloom and turned into a floating concert hall. The interior of the barge was made by salvaged wood from the scrapyards of the Staten Island Ferry. The wooden interior is a perfect choice, the acoustics of this ‘floating concert hall’ are amazing.
Paul Nidenberg, a longtime fan of the Mark Soskin Trio calls Bargemusic an “incredibly underutilized resource”. As we talk in between sets he mentions the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development project saying “as this water front is finally getting used, maybe these guys [Bargemusic] will get some more exsposure.”
The Mark Soskin Trio consisting of the former on piano, Jay Anderson on upright bass, and Adam Nussbaum on drums, has been playing together on and off for the last five years. They have released a new album ‘The Man Behind the Curtain’ with Kind of Blue Records which is available on their website www.marksoskin.com.
The band playing at the front of the barge, the Manhattan skyline bobbing up and down behind them. This writer can think of many reasons to check out this and future seasons of Bargemusic, but certainly no excuses to miss it.
Fire in a Crowded Theater: The Sequel!

Photo by Marc Hermann/BHB
It’s ba-aaaaack! Kernel panic returned to the UA Cinemas at 106 Court St. tonight in an incident nearly identical to one that happened last month. Continue Reading →
‘Shop Brooklyn’ Boutique Nights Come to Brooklyn Heights
Next Wednesday and Thursday, July 29 and 30, a number of Brooklyn Heights shops will participate in the Shop Brooklyn Boutique Fashion Nights.
The shops will remain open to 10 p.m. and each shop will feature discount offerings, a designer and wine and cheese.
Participating Brooklyn Heights after the jump: Continue Reading →
Swizzle Hits Big Bell House Stage
Former Magnetic Field mainstay Dick Swizzle will be hosting his Sudden Death Game Show Tuesday night (6/16) on the big stage at the Bell House [149 7th Street].
Heights Wine Bar Opens
Cupcakes for a cause
Looking for something fun to do, while supporting a good cause? The Junior League of Brooklyn — based here on Pierrepont Street — is hosting a Happy Hour and Food Drive on Thursday, April 30 at Franklin Park, in Crown Heights (which, we will note, is a very cool bar).
The fundraiser is for CHIPS, a soup kitchen and pantry in Park Slope, and will offer happy hour drink specials, free tapas and cupcakes, and music. Bring one canned good for free admission. To RSVP, email jrlrsvp AT gmail.com, and a flyer with more information is attached [pdf].
The fundraiser runs from 6:30 to 10 pm at Franklin Park, 618 Saint Johns Pl., between Franklin and Classon avenues. Take 2/3/4/5 to Franklin Avenue, and walk two blocks north and turn left.
Armando’s Seeks New Liquor License
According to this notice posted in the window of the ex-Spicy Pickle, soon-to-be Armando’s reborn location, Community Board 2′s Health, Environment and Social Services Committee invites public comment on the application of Peter Byros Enterprises, Inc. for a Beer/Wine & Liquor license at the Committee’s next meeting, to be held on April 1 at 6:00pm, at Brooklyn Hospital Center, 121 Dekalb Avenue, 3rd Floor, Conference Rooms 3A and 3B.
Foodies, start your engines! Dine in Brooklyn starts on March 23

The annual Dine in Brooklyn week begins on March 23, and five Brooklyn Heights restaurants will be participating.
Between March 23 and April 2, diners can get a three-course meal for $23 at nearly 200 of the borough best’s restaurants. And, some restaurants are offering brunch for $23 per couple, including Café Buon Gusto and Eamonn’s.
Continue Reading →
Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar to (maybe) open in April!
Construction is moving full-steam ahead at the future Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar at 50 Henry St., and owner Mark Lahm said he’s pushing for an April 1 opening date.
The Department of Buildings still has to make final approvals, Lahm said, but he is in the space each day, creating the wine and tapas menu, and sorting out construction and the security system.
Continue Reading →
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- Transit Museum Plans Day for Special Needs Kids January 22
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- Open Thread Wednesday, February 8, 2012 February 8, 2012
-
214/216 Hicks Street Carves Out Space For Larger Tenant
February 7, 2012
- Lost Dog: Lili, a Shiba Inu February 8, 2012
-
Morton’s Steakhouse On Adams Street Is Cooked
February 7, 2012
-
Montague Street, Meet Your New Starbucks
February 8, 2012
-
Downtown BK’s Historic Offerman Building At Last Gets New Life Via TJ Maxx
February 7, 2012
-
Le Pain Quotidien Taking Shape
February 8, 2012
-
UPDATE: Shiba Inu “Lili” Is Home!
February 9, 2012
-
Damascus Bakery getting some competition
February 8, 2012
-
Downtown Skyscraper District: He Said/He Said On Landmarks Approval
February 8, 2012







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