Archive | November, 2008
One Neighbor Scales Back This Holiday Season
The New York Times profiles a few folks who are scaling back their holiday this year because of… you know… The Great Depression. One of those featured in the piece is nabe attorney Robin McCabe and her sister Susan:
NY Times: The Holidays Downsized: A restaurant dinner? All those presents?
“Out of the question,” said Ms. McCabe, who is scrambling to make the rent on her Manhattan apartment. “And that really bothers me.”
In solidarity, Ms. McCabe’s sister, Robin, a lawyer, suggested a familywide ban on gifts for the adults. Then, to strike a tone more seemly for the times and her little sister’s circumstances, Robin reshaped her annual Brooklyn Heights holiday party: the sparkly, dressy affair will be a potluck gathering with a charitable component. It will feature clothing from Goods of Conscience, a new line sewn by Bronx seamstresses using fabric woven by Guatemalan women, who share in the profit.
Heights and Hill Serves Feast for Seniors
Yesterday afternoon, about two hundred seniors packed the Guild Hall and adjoining North Room of Grace Church for a Thanksgiving feast provided by the Heights and Hill Community Council. On hand to say a few words and help with serving the food were State Senator Elect Daniel Squadron (shown in photo above, along with The Rev. Steven Paulikas, Assistant to the Rector of Grace, and Patrick Burns), Assemblywoman Joan Millman, District 52 Leader Jo Anne Simon, and Heights and Hill’s Judy Willig.
Brooklyn Black Friday: Where are you shopping?
Brooklyn Beep Marty “Faux Petit Fleur” Markowitz wants you to shop in Brooklyn this holiday season. There are many discount programs offered and detailed at ishopbrooklyn.com . Sure the ecomony stinks, but you still have to buy gifts for someone, eh? But do Brooklyn Heights folks really “Shop Brooklyn”? Do you plan to hit the Fulton Mall or Target for your holiday shopping? If not, where do you go? Comment away!
Ivanov the Terrible’s Day in Court
Ivaylo Ivanov appeared at a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, the Brooklyn Eagle reports. Ivanov was arrested in January after accidentally shooting himself in his Hicks Street apartment. Police responding to the report discovered a cache of illegal firearms and pipe bombs. It was later discovered that Ivanov was also responsible for a spate of hate graffitti sprayed along Remsen Street in September 2007.
He faces a variety of weapons and hate crime related charges which could land him in jail for up to 25 years, the Eagle reports. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 21, 2009.
Fun Turkey Day Game: “Who Wants To Be A U.S. Senator?”
For my money, there is only one thing better than “Autumn in New York” and that is “Thanksgiving in Brooklyn!”
Where else in real or fake America can you enjoy any number of cultures and ethnicities celebrating Turkey Day in their own special way. (more…)
Open Thread Wednesday 11/26/08
Flickr photo by mikebny
What’s on your mind? Comment away!
Brooklyn Heights Little House That Could Sells
135 Joralemon Street, ravaged by fire in early 2005 and renovated by contractor Howard Haimes, has been sold. The property, which was part of the BHA’s Annual House Tour 2007, is listed as “in contract” on the Brown Harris Stevens website and was originally listed for $5.95 million. The asking price was reduced a few times and finally settled at $4.95 million. No word on the final sale price.
Back in March, the New York Times ran a story about Joan Goldberg, the BHS broker who sold the property, and how she’s had to work harder to sell properties in this economy. Looks like her tenacity has finally paid off.
There’s a Film Crew Outside Your Door.
Well, maybe not at this very moment. But, given that this is one of the most-filmed neighborhoods on earth, it’s bound to happen sooner or later. Most of us, I think it’s safe to say, find the attractiveness of the Heights to movie-makers something of which we can be proud, and take occasional slight inconveniences caused by it with good grace. We also recognize the importance of the business to the local economy. Nevertheless, problems can arise. (more…)
Heights History: The Bad Old Days at 55 Pierrepont
With all this talk about the return of 1970s economics, it’s time to see what that would really mean for Brooklyn Heights. Over the next few weeks, we’ll post items from newspaper archives that will give us all a taste of what a Life on Mars-like return to the Disco Decade would mean for us all.
On Septemer 24, 1973 the New York Times ran a story, “The Pierrepont: A Brooklyn Horror House; A Serious Annoyance“, about the sub-par conditions at 55 Pierrepont Street. While the conditions there today are far from those described in the article, they seem to be typical of the era. (more…)
Nabe Chatter