photo by Homer Fink
More photos from Sunday's Doggie Halloween Parade
Archive | October, 2006
20 Henry Street on Landmarks Commission Agenda
The Bridge Harbor Tenants Association posted this notice today. It says that the Landmarks Preservation Commission has "hastily" added 20 Henry Street to its agenda Tuesday (10/31) morning. The issue at hand is the destruction of the historic garden on the site by its owners the Praedium Group. Without regard for the character of the neighborhood, the company intends to build a 10 9 story building over the lovely and well maintained garden. Construction of such a behemoth would be a nightmare for residents for years to come, the handout claims.
The leaflet encourages all Brooklyn Heights residents to show up at the hearing, eventhough it unlikely anyone will be permitted to speak.
If anyone has additional information or comments, please post below.
Thanks to epc for the tip and the photo.
Nabe Pooches Dress Up for Halloween
The Hillside Dog Park's annual Halloween Extravanganza took place yesterday. Matthew Parker sent us some shots of his dog, Giuseppe (the hippie) and others in their parade day costumes.
Veni Vidi VICTORY!
The curse is broken! Homer Fink's Brigate Bocce was victorious today over Veni Vidi Bocce in Week 5 of competition in the Floyd NY bocce league. The team swept their opponents in straight sets 7-4. 7-2.
"Verso tutto la girata, girata, gira," team capo Homer Fink told reporters after the match. "Non solo era quella una canzone fredda, ma li aiuta ad avere sesso con le ragazze del hippie anche. Ma seriamente, questa vittoria è stata combattuta duro ed i nostri avversari erano abbastanza tenacious. Inoltre apprezziamo il loro senso dell'ironia."
Fink and Qfwfq were aided in their win by Dr. Mark and Naked Idiot's Dan. "Musica del garde di Avant e medicina chiropratic, ché combinazione," Fink added.
Next week, Brigate Bocce faces North Brooklyn. "I heard a rumor that Walter O'Malley bought the team and was going to move them to South Central," Fink said in a failed attempt at humor.
All Along, The Watchtower
Robert Frost's Mending Wall is the origin of the oft-quoted "Good fences make good neighbors", a phrase that has been subject to interpretation for decades. On one hand it's an ode to xenophobia (i.e. Bush's latest plan to curb illegal immigration) or an homage to knowing one's boundries. We prefer the latter interpretation. Good manners start with knowing just how far to go with your neighbor.
That has been the case with Brooklyn Heights and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society for many years, before BHB moved into the neighborhood. It's been an unwritten code to some that we'll be great neighbors as long as you're not ringing our doorbell early in the morning with "good news" for us "worldly" folks.
Which is why we were surprised on Saturday morning to find a neatly enveloped brochure about THE END OF RELIGION left for us by a doorbell ringing bearer of "Good News". (PDF of leaflet: 1, 2, 3, 4)
This is America, where we enjoy the four freedoms — of religion, of speech, from want and from fear — we're more than able to find the belief system that's right for us. That includes being members of "false religions" or tolerating or engaging in "immoral sex".
Are we telling Watchtower not to actively seek out new members? No, we are in America and it's their right. However, our neighborly fences are in need of some repair.
Gourmet Dinners in Tiny Nabe Kitchen
As we're about to renovate the BHB kitchen, nothing catches our attention more than a story on great kitchen makeovers. And when it's in the New York Times, about someone in the nabe who is the executive chef at The Harrison in TriBeca, it sends us into a Snoopy Dance of home improvement/foodie joy.
New York Times: 4 Star Dinner Conjured from a 1 Star Kitchen: For the last 12 years, Brian Bistrong and Chieun Ko-Bistrong have rented the parlor floor of a Brooklyn Heights town house. It’s a nice place, though not a marvel of brownstone Brooklyn like many of its neighbors on Remsen Street. It has a small kitchen, which is peculiar, given that food — well prepared, fresh, local and organic, if possible — is a primary bonding agent for this couple.
The kitchen, which is six feet wide from backsplash to wall, is the only part of the house that Mr. Bistrong and Ms. Ko-Bistrong, who are both 38, have lavished any attention on. Four years ago, they transformed what was a typically forbidding New York City rental nightmare kitchen into a graceful 10-foot-long space with Ikea cabinets, butcher-block countertops and a stainless-steel refrigerator tucked in the corner behind a column.
The large kitchen window opens onto their charming block just a short walk from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. It’s a cheerful space.
Today’s Open Houses
160 Columbia Heights #2C (map)
1 BR 1 Bath coop
$629K
Broker: Brooklyn Heights Real Estate Agent: Danielle Mosse
Open House today 12 PM – 4 PMNEW ON THE MARKET:800+ sqf one bedroom ,in prime Brooklyn Heights with fabulous views of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, overlooking the Promenade and the East River. Huge Living Room with 4 big windows,and potential for corner office.Raised platform dining room, adjoining a redone kitchen. Spacious bedroom with ample closets, and new bathroom.(The sliding glass doors are specially made and imported from Italy!) Original Art Deco details, apartment in mint condition.Maintenance just over $ 1,000, includes all utilities. Landmark Building, on the Promenade, in excellent physical & financial condition, live-in super, partime doorman, new laundry room in the basement, pet friendly and so much more.
145 Hicks Street # A-25 (map)
Studio 1 bath coop
$399K
For sale by owner 718-541-6135
Open House today 1 PM – 3 PM
This spacious studio, which functions as a one bedroom, has a separate sleeping alcove and boasts 625 S.F. It is located in the heart of Brooklyn eights in one of the most desirable buildings, The Mansion House, which is a pre-war, doorman building.The apartment has been gut-renovated with attention to details such as luxurious granite counter tops over custom cabinets and crown moldings to compliment the 9ft ceilings. The kitchen is a true working kitchen complete with microwave and a full sized dishwasher. There are hardwood floors throughout, 5 closets and a maint. fee of $437 per month.
BHC Owner Vies For PoTown Theater
The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that Brooklyn Heights Cinema I & II owner Norman Adie is in contract to buy the long-vacant Beacon Theater located on the city's Main Street. While Adie reportedly has competition for the property, the paper reports that the BHC owner is in better financial shape than other bidders. Adie recently sold his Park Slope theater for $16 million.
Adie would split the circa 1930s art deco buliding into four theaters.
Nabe Residents No Fan of Connecticut Politician
Greenwich Time reports that Connecticut State Senate hopeful Frank Farricker (pictured here with family from his campaign's website) has found himself the target of anger of many residents in Brooklyn brownstones operated by The Penson Companies where he serves as director of acquisitions.
The company has filed papers with the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal asking the agency's permission to not renew rent stabilized leases and/or evict those tenants.
One of the brownstones in question, according to the paper, is 118 188 State Street (map) where disabled senior citizen Barbara Callender is a tenant. She points out that Farricker — who in his campaign for State Senate has said, "We can't let the spiraling cost of housing cost us some of our best residents" — is saying one thing but "doing something else."
The candidate/landlord tells the paper that neither he nor his company intend to evict rent stabilized tenants saying "I have no option other than to extend them their rent-stabilization rights."
The paper also spoke to Bennett Baumer from the Metropolitan Council on Housing. His opinion is that Farricker is twisting the truth. "This is a mass eviction that he's applied for, so his intention is to have everybody out on the street…he says one thing in Connecticut and does another thing in Brooklyn."
Farricker's website describes the candidate as, "a principal in a real estate development company in New York, specializing in historic renovation and affordable housing."
Not So Spooky — Joralemon Jem Renovation
Brooklyn Papers: The Real Ghost Stories of Brooklyn: Not all ghost stories have scary endings. Nestled between two brick buildings worth millions, the abandoned, 178-year-old wood-framed house on Joralemon and Sidney Place that has long haunted tony Brooklyn Heights is finally getting renovated. “I am restoring the interior and keeping the exterior that is landmarked,” said the house’s owner. “I’m not sure if I’m going to sell it or keep it. “The last restoration to this house was in the 1930s,” he added. “It was previously abandoned — no one has lived here since December, 2004.” Neighbors say the renovation couldn’t come soon enough. “I absolutely hope they can restore it because it’s really a beautiful house,” said a woman who lives across the street. “It’s a shame it wasn’t taken care of properly. It’s such a gorgeous house with a lot of character. I’m looking forward to seeing it once it’s finished.” The curse of 133-135 Joralemon Street, it seems, has lifted.
Nabe Chatter