Open Thread Wednesday

Archive | March, 2007

Open Thread Wednesday

By Homer Fink on March 28, 2007 10:24 am in Brooklyn Heights

Opening up the floor to whatever is on your mind this week. Comment away!

BHB Photo Club pic "After the Party Willow Street" by fkuffel

FIRE at 42 Remsen Street!

By Qfwfq on March 27, 2007 11:50 pm in News

There was a huge fire at 42 Remsen Street — a 3 story brownstone — where no less than 6 firetrucks were called to contain the blaze. Brooklynheightsblog was on the scene with grainy photos and no press pass. We hope no one was home at the time, and we pray no one was seriously hurt. UPDATE: Apparently this is the same building that was on fire during Thanksgiving last year, see below for details. In the aftermath of the blaze it looked like all floors of this building were affected by the blaze, and we noticed in particular that the firemen were concentrating on the 3rd floor when we arrived. We will provide details as further events warrant, but if anyone knows anything about this incident or the building, please comment below or email us.

UPDATE: Jo Ann emailed us:

This same apartment had a fire on Thanksgiving weekend. Apparently there is a not so right in the head woman living there who collects a lot of paper and garbage. The word back in November was that stacks of newspaper stored on or near her stove had caught fire. The family that lives on the ground and parlor floors, who financed the rebuilding of the outside staircase which won them building a Heights Assn award a few years back and had a very, very nice apartment were understandably beside themselves. I believe they suffered a lot of water damage then, and I don't even think that they had moved back in yet. This obviously is much worse – it looks like the building may need to be gutted. I live a few doors down, and I hope this will get the woman out of here – before she burns the whole block down. They said she was seen outside the building during the fire, and there was no ambulance action, so I believe there were no injuries.

And Marc Hermann:

Tonight's fire at 42 Remsen St. was a replay of another that occurred on November 25th of last year. At both incidents, the fire started in the top floor apartment. The occupant still had plywood boards up in the windows, and firefighters were faced with the same "Collyers' Mansion" conditions they were in November. This time, a two-alarm response was required to get a hold on the fire.

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Brownstoner on 111 Hicks

By Homer Fink on March 27, 2007 3:56 pm in Uncategorized

Brownstoner posted a property at 111 Hicks as their co-op of the day and remarked on the INCREDIBLY HIGH MAINTAINENCE in the building.

At first glance, we were wondering what a 1,320-square-foot apartment in Brooklyn Heights was doing on the market for only $625,000. Then we notice the monthly maintenance of $1,975 and it all made sense. Other than that, there are high ceilings, big windows and new appliances in the plus column and a low floor in the minus column. The building also has the added benefit of housing the Eastern Athletic Club and possessing a killer views from the common roofdeck. Anyone know why the maintenance is so bad in this building?

A commenter on B'stoner directed folks to the 111 Hicks website where it's explained: Continue Reading →

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Tasti-Delite RIP

By Homer Fink on March 27, 2007 2:09 pm in News

Tasti-Delite at 91 Montague Street is now sleeping with the fishes. What's next?

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BHS Landmark Exhibit Opens Wednesday

By Homer Fink on March 27, 2007 11:05 am in Arts and Entertainment, Events, History, Landmark Preservation, News

As we reported last week, on March 28, the Brooklyn Historical Society will launch a new exhibit in its first floor gallery. The opening Landmark and Legacy: Brooklyn Heights and the Preservation Movement in America will be celebrated at the museum that night with a reception from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

Read full article

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Blaze at Taze

By Homer Fink on March 26, 2007 2:46 pm in News

photo by marc hermann

BHB tipsters and Gothamist newsmap report a fire overnight at 142 Montague Street, the location of Taze Restaurant and Aerosoles.

Anyone have info?

Update: BHB contributor/nabe photog Marc Hermann checks in with an account of the incident and some photos:

FDNY received a call just after 3:00 a.m. reporting smoke on the upper floors of the building, which usually doesn't turn out to be much. Then a second call came in reporting residents trapped on the roof. Engine 224 and discovered a fire involving the door frame at street level, with a relatively heavy smoke condition throughout the rest of the building. The building was safely evacuated, though two residents were treated for smoke inhalation, and the fire was knocked down quickly. The stairwell, however, took a lot of water damage due to the sprinkler system which could not be immediately shut off. The fire was classified as "suspicious," with no immediate cause known.

photo by marc hermann

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Spring is Here and It’s Plastic

By Homer Fink on March 26, 2007 12:00 pm in Uncategorized

The Astroturf at Cadman Plaza Park is almost ready for prime time as this photo taken over the weekend reveals.

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Where Did the Extra “I” Come From?

By Homer Fink on March 25, 2007 9:25 pm in Landmark Preservation

Last week “Heights 97″ commented that the street sign for Pierrepont Place near the Pierrepont Playground was spelled wrong. Now, through the miracle of digital photography, we have proof. The sign at Montague Street and Pierrepont Place is correctly spelled.

What’s the deal?

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With a Little Practice and a Lotta Vagina

By Mrs. Fink on March 25, 2007 8:58 pm in Fun

Brigate Bocce evens out their record, heading into spring with a much needed win for a scoredcard of 3-3, winning this Sunday over Hanukkah in Hollis, 7 -3, 7 – 3. This was no slam dunk victory – it entailed inches, a wild course, tequila and some smart moves on the part of both teams. BB would like to send special special shout outs to all those who attended actual 'practice' on Thursday as well as this week's MVP JDP who crossed two rivers to help tomato up to this week's win along with Mrs, Fink.

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Busy Chef Unveils Website

By Homer Fink on March 25, 2007 10:14 am in Food

BHB commenter/webhound “bosox” alerted us to the spankin’ new Busy Chef website. The site doesn’t tell us much about what the new establishment will offer, but it’s logo suggests that it’s more than a bakery. So does this passage:

At Busy Chef, we appreciate the difference natural, preservative-free food can make in our clients’ lives. Our goal is to sell the most superior food we possibly can. We evaluate the quality of each of our ingredients and strive to make them the best in taste and nutrition.
Whenever possible…Busy Chef uses fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats. We use Certified Angus Beef © products and hormone-free chicken.

Busy Chef promotes and maintains…

the healthiest nutritionals in the meal preparation business
completely original recipes elegant and professional entrée
appearance and presentationunparalleled flavor inventive sauces,
roux and gravies all made from scratch

…In our Customer Service

Busy Chef goes to extraordinary lengths to satisfy and delight our customers. You will feel welcomed and pampered at our store.
Our motto: “The customer is always right” …need we say more?
More options such as splitting at no extra charge.
Warm Mediterranean atmosphere. You will feel the difference when you walk in the door.

Dietary flexibility to fullfill most special needs such as vegetarian, and low-sodium requirements with advanced notice.
A fabulous staff trained in attending to each client’s needs and wishes.

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Beats Workin’

By Homer Fink on March 24, 2007 9:26 am in Brooklyn Heights

One of the many Clochards of Brooklyn Heights is captured in this Orange Street photo by BHB Photo Club member fkuffel.

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Fake Bomber Busted!

By Homer Fink on March 23, 2007 10:38 pm in News

Nabe photog Marc Hermann tipped us off to the fact that WNBC-TV is reporting that the Fake Bomber, who has robbed 4 banks in the Nabe and surrounding area in the last two weeks, has been arrested. And surprise (!) he might be a heroin addict.

WNBC.com: Suspect Bank Bomb Robber Busted: The FBI arrested a man on charges he robbed as many as four banks using a box he claimed had explosives inside. Law enforcement sources said Michael Contreni's latest heist happened Thursday at a Citibank branch on Court Street in Carroll Gardens. As a precaution, police called in a bomb squad. The box turned out to be harmless and was not an explosive device as the suspect allegedly claimed.Three other banks in downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights were also robbed earlier this month, including two Chase Bank branches and a Commerce Bank branch. In addition to surveillance tapes, police said a tip into their Crime Stoppers hot line helped them find the suspect. The investigation was carried out by the FBI-NYPD joint bank robbery task force. Investigators said the suspect may be a heroin addict.

Note to WNBC.com's web "guru"… please get with the program and refer to Contreni as the "Fake Bomber". Thanks

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Fleshtones Live at Magnetic Field

By Homer Fink on March 23, 2007 8:00 pm in Arts and Entertainment

Saturday (3/23) at 8pm The Fleshtones take the stage at Magnetic Field. Current indie fave bands like Cold War Kids and Menomena were mere zygotes when the 'Tones were rockin' the 80s alternative scene. They're still going strong and are about to embark on a tour of France, Greece and Germany. There will also be a bio of the band published by the same folks who do the 33 1/3 series. Sweat by Joe Bonomo will be out soon.

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NYT Picks Up on Fake Bomber

By Homer Fink on March 23, 2007 3:43 pm in News

Sure, once the Fake Bomber moves his bank robbin' ways out of Brooklyn Heights, the MSM picks up on the story. Could this be a result of BHB's finger wagging?

New York Times: In 4th Case in 2 Weeks, a Bank Robber Says He Has Explosives: Police helicopters whirred overhead yesterday in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, and the police were out in force searching for a man who had made threats with an explosive device.

But still, basketball scrimmages continued unabated and mothers with strollers, pet owners and amateur musicians chatted amicably on the street corner. Throughout the neighborhood’s leafless tree-line streets, there was a palpable lack of fear mixed with gratitude for a warm spring day.

Down the block, police officers in Hazmat suits were searching a trash can near a Citibank branch at 375 Court Street. Earlier, at about 3:20 p.m., a man with a box he said was filled with explosives had demanded money from a teller at the bank and then fled, the police said.

One witness said he saw the robber fleeing in a black and yellow jacket. “I was standing in front of my house, and he ran right by me,” said the man, a technical writer who declined to give his name last night because the robber was still at large. “I saw him running down the street, and then he stopped in front of the trash can and he took the jacket off over his head,” he said. “After he switched jackets, he stopped running and walked away at a brisk pace.”

The witness added: “I kind of regretted not doing something. You see a guy running down the street taking his jacket off, and you know something is up.“

The box was found and the police later determined that it was harmless — there were no explosives inside.

The same method was used in three robberies in Brooklyn Heights over the last two weeks. In each case, a man walked into a bank, claimed to have a box filled with explosives, demanded money and fled. In each case, the boxes were found to be harmless.

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Your Weekend Subway Clusterf… er, “Advisory”

By Qfwfq on March 23, 2007 11:58 am in Events, News, Tourism, Transportation

Here is slightly less than a noseful of weekend subway disruptions, courtesy of the nosegays at the MTA:

The 1/2/3: The 1 train won't be sniffing around between South Ferry and 14th Street in Manhattan, but that's okay, because the 2/3 will be running locally nose-and-nose between Chambers and 96 streets.

The 4/5: The 4/5 lines will be thumbing their noses at the Fulton Street stop, skipping it entirely. (Really, why would you need it? it's a horrible transfer station)

The A: Downtown A trains skipping 50, 23rd, and Spring streets. Why would you care? Unless…

The C: Downtown C trains run express between 145th street and Canal street. No service at all at 50th, 23rd and Spring streets. Otherwise, the Coltrane running like a drippy sinus.

The D: For those who care about Manhattan, the D line will be running on the A line between 59th Street and West 4th Street. Consult the MTA Nasal Advisory for D line alternative stops.

…and goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are

Photo by thesearenotpolaroids via Flickr.

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