Archive | June, 2009

Midday at the Oasis

ssdc10031

From frequent commenter Karl Junkersfeld comes this BHB guest post via the BHB Inbox:

I’m sure you have seen this beautiful garden oasis on Poplar and Hicks but possibly many aren’t aware of its existence. It is open to the public for 10 hours per week on Monday and Wednesday 6:00PM to 8:30PM plus other hours like Saturday from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. Not sure of hours on Thursday or Friday.

The lady in the picture, Cindy Goulder, and a small group of volunteers (many who are expert horticulturalist) work tiredly to make this garden a unique spot next to the concrete jungle. There are tons of different species of plants and a few trees to see. Fortunately, Mr. Robert Moses missed this spot which I was told was a garden area to one of the houses on Poplar. Thank goodness for little favors.

Felt guilty taking advantage of the beautiful spot, day in and day out, and not letting others be aware of its existence. There are benches to sit and read, eat or just meditate. Hope you can give this wonderful lady a shout out and show some pictures of her labor of love.

More photos after the jump. Continue Reading →

Read full story · Comments { 2 }

84th Precinct Police Blotter – 6/24/09

bugleblotter-300x1711Last week saw no fewer that 5 wallets and purses stolen in retail spots and offices across the neighborhood. There was also one more incident in the recent spate of car break-ins.

First up is a spate of stolen purses and wallets that took place across the neighborhood on Friday, June 19. First, an office worker on Court Street between Montague and Remsen Streets reported that her purse valued at $400 was taken when she left it unattended at her desk while she used the copy machine. While there was no cash, she had several credit cards stolen.

Later that afternoon, a woman returned from her workout to find she had more than $1000 in jewelry stolen when a burglar broke into her locker and stole her backpack at the New York Sports Club on the corner of Boerum Place and Pacific Street. When she checked the activity on her American Express card, she found that her card had been used at McDonalds.

Next, a woman placed her purse on a chair as she browsed in the shoe department of the Fulton Mall Macy’s, and the purse was taken. Although she did not have cash, she had both credit cards and checks in her bag.

A purse containing $70 was stolen from a woman who left it in the restroom of her office building on Joralemon Street between Court and Clinton Streets on June 16. The victim said she left her bag in the stall, and when she returned about 10 minutes later, it was missing.

Finally, earlier in the week, on June 15 a woman had her purse taken after she set it on a bench at the Fulton Street Payless. She found her bag in another section of the store, sans her wallet, containing $300 in cash and credit cards.

Just before 5 a.m. on June 20, a woman said she watched from her 14th floor apartment as a speedy burglar made off with her truck. The woman had parked her Dodge Caravan on at the corner of Gold and York Streets, where her apartment building is located

An unknown number of perps jimmied a lock in an office building on June 19 Washington Street in Dumbo, stealing more than $1200 worth of wine and video games. The office, located between Water and Front streets, has been burglarized three times since June 7. Along with the stolen wine and video games, the business also reported a stolen computer monitor and television.

An $1100 bike was stolen on the morning of June 19 from in front of the River Café on Water Street. The biker said he saw the brazen burglar jump on his bike and peddle away just after 11 a.m.

Read full story · Comments { 1 }

Open Thread Wednesday 6/24/09

BHB Photo Club pic by fkuffel via Flickr

BHB Photo Club pic by fkuffel via Flickr

What’s on your mind? Go ahead… make a comment!

Read full story · Comments { 29 }

Marty Connor, the Comeback Kid?

NY Daily Newsphoto

NY Daily News photo

Our former man in the NYS Senate, Martin “Marty” Connor has been spotted on the senate floor according to the NY Daily News.   As the manchildren (and womenchildren) in that august body try to straighten up and act like adults, Marty was on the scene to lend some advice:

NY Daily News: A short while ago, there was a little confab in the middle of the chamber floor between Shelly Mayer, counsel to the Senate Democrats, Sen. Malcolm Smith and former Minority Leader Marty Connor (he’s the one in the tan suit, if you don’t recognize him).

There’s something really ironic about the fact that one deposed minority leader (recall that Connor was ousted in a 2002 coup by none other than David Paterson himself) advising an all-but deposed majority leader (Smith) on how to hold on to power.

Thanks to “bornhere” for the link

Read full story · Comments { 15 }

Mystery Ship

img_6640_edited-11
Seen from the Promenade this morning, what appears to be a huge yacht lies anchored near the mouth of the Hudson. Perhaps the owner didn’t get the memo that displays of conspicuous consumption are passé.

Update: mystery solved. The yacht is Le Grand Bleu, owned by Russian oil billionaire Eugene Shvidler. Russian billionaires were exempt from the conspicuous consumption memo, provided Putin said “Da.” (Thanks to Ulrich and Kent at NYCMaritime for the info.)

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

Brooklyn Heights Tire Slasher on the Loose?

This just in from the BHB Inbox:

I am curious to see if anyone else has reported a string of tires being slashed in the past 48 hours. 2 of our tires were slashed on Joralemon Street (between Hicks and Willow) between Monday and Tuesday nights.  My husband said a woman stopped him last night (as he was waiting for the tow truck..) and said she thought another 12 or so cars has been hit.

Then we counted 4 on Hicks Street this morning.

Any other reports?

Read full story · Comments { 16 }

BQE Rehab Meeting Recap

Today, the New York State Department of Transportation held two project scoping sessions about the two-decade rehabilitation of the 1.5 mile stretch of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street, and local community members turned up to express their desires and concerns. 

The meetings began with a brief introduction regarding the need for the reconstruction work, and explaining the timeline and process the project will follow. Here’s the PowerPoint presentation: [PDF]

Today’s meetings are the first step in completing the environmental impact statement process. The developers have spilt the project’s review process into what they call two “tiers.” The first tier, which is expected to last until August 2012, will focus on developing the final project design and alternatives.

Following the presentation, community members stepped up to the microphone to express issues and ideas they would like to be considered by the developers. Suggestions after the jump. Continue Reading →

Read full story · Comments { 5 }

This Week’s Community Calendar

(BHB/Sarah Portlock)(BHB/Sarah Portlock)

Transportation dominates the community calendar this week, including tonight’s major public meetings about the upcoming major rehabilitation of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and tomorrow’s public comment meeting about the future of Tillary Street.

(1)  Today, the state Department of Transportation holds two identical three-hour sessions about the major reconstruction project along the triple cantilevered portion of the BQE from Sands Street to Atlantic Avenue, including the area directly underneath the Promenade.

The afternoon session is under way, but the evening session will run from 7-10 pm  at Polytech’s Pfizer Auditorium (5 Metrotech, along Myrtle Avenue Promenade between Jay Street and Flatbush Avenue Extension).

Continue Reading →

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

Picnic chairs now at Boro Hall

borohall-chairs

The tables and chairs from the Montague Street pedestrian plaza have finally found a new home. Each day this summer, the street furniture — 25 tables and 80 chairs in total — will be out in front of Borough Hall for the public from 8 am to 6 pm.

Per an email from Montague Street BID Executive Director Chelsea Mauldin:

As of today, our friends over at the Court-Livingston-Schermerhorn Business Improvement District are making good use of the outdoor tables and chairs Montague Street acquired last year for our pedestrian plaza — more info here.

In a cooperative chair-sharing arrangement, the chairs will make their way back to Montague Street for this year’s pedestrian plazas, scheduled for September 13th, 20th, and 27th.

(BHB photo by Sarah Portlock)

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

You Could Be Armando’s Excecutive Chef

Think you’ve got the “skillz” necessary to be the Executive Chef at the new revamped Armando’s?  All you gotta do is answer their Craigslist ad:

Craigslist: Executive chef needed for soon to open (currently undergoing gut renovation), high volume Italian restaurant. In operation since 1936 and under the same ownership for the last 28 years. Looking for a creative chef to oversee all back of house operations including menu planning, inventory, and training and managing kitchen staff. Ideal candidate must have a minimum of 3-5 years executive chef experience in an Italian restaurant (in NYC preferred but not mandatory), and will possess strong leadership, communication, organizational and management skills. Solid references a must. Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Please paste your cover letter and resume into body of email. No attachments will be opened.

* Location: Brooklyn Heights
* Compensation: Competitive salary
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Read full story · Comments { 8 }

Fish ‘n’ Chip Paper 6/22/09

Flickr photo by vegetable predator

Flickr photo by vegetable predator

Here are some of last week’s headlines – in case you missed ‘em!

Only on BHB

Busted Again: The Busy Chef Never Rests!

Mixed Use: Gallery+Real Estate

Park Progress: Piers 1 and 6 (Sixteenth Report)

Big BQE Public Meeting Monday

84th Precinct Police Blotter – 6/19/09

Rabbi Raskin recognized as a rising star

Open Thread: Brooklyn Heights Best Coffee Redux

Morris Dancing on the Promenade

A Visitor from Japan at Pier 7

Checkers opens on Court Street

Magnetic Field Karaoke Reunion – It Floats!

Grace Church School to Start Construction on Long Dreamed of Library

This week’s community calendar

And in other news

Alan Young, Attorney and Busy Chef Partner Disbarred

Marty Endorses Yassky for Comptroller

Montague Street Getting Nicer Pits

Squadron Sounds Off on Albany Chaos

From Cobble Hill Blog

New health food joint

Calexico: coming next Tuesday

Cobble Hill Happy Hour

One Year Ago on BHB

Waterfalls Officially On Today

Pooch Poo Showdown on Cranberry

Two Years Ago on BHB

The First iPhone Purchase in Nabe

Salmon Sleeps with (Like The) Fishes

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

New Brooklyn Heights Blogger: “Tiger in the Kitchen” Cheryl Tan

A Tiger in the Kitchen: A Conversation with Cheryl Tan from Mark Joyella on Vimeo.

The BHB’s Mark Joyella interviews Brooklyn blogger and author Cheryl Tan, whose food and photo blog and upcoming book–both titled “A Tiger in the Kitchen”–chronicle her adventures in eating, from Cardemom cookies in Brooklyn Heights, to offbeat eats in Asia, Europe, and even a plate of exotic genitalia in the West Village.

Mark sat down with Cheryl in her Brooklyn Heights backyard to talk about life in Brooklyn, and her upcoming book.

Mark Joyella\’s Conversation with \”Tiger in the Kitchen\” Cheryl Tan

Read full story · Comments { 2 }

Mixed Use: Gallery+Real Estate

img004125

This is Robert E. Franklin, writer, painter, realtor,  in the office of Brick Realty on Atlantic Avenue.  He stands in front of a photogram by Amy Burchenal.   It is part of an exhibit called Cultivated Shadows.  The artist describes a photogram as a photographic image made without a camera— by placing objects directly onto the surface of photo-sensitive material, then exposing to light.

Burchenal’s images, stark and almost haunting,  are stunning against the backdrop of exposed brick, and white walls.  They range in price between $250 and $750.  You could rent a one bedroom in Prospect Heights and buy a painting at the same time. Franklin explains that the office changes exhibits every four months.   This type of mixed use space is a real  boon during tough economic times.

A quick perusal of the Brick Real Estate website reveals a commitment to individualized service and a belief in equality “between buyers, renters, owners and sellers.”  That’s new and refreshing in a business that is often characterized by wolves in sheep’s clothing.   These are genuinely nice people.  Who believe in art.

What mixed use space would you like to see?  A church and a theatre?  A restaurant and a reading series?

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

Solstice

A breeze batters branches;
the honey locust whispers,
¡Esperanza, esperanza!
On the harbor, tugs flit
on fathomless errands,
and beyond, the dentate skyline
no longer bears the memory
of Yamasaki’s towers, their image now
recumbent in brass at my feet.
A squirrel, brazen, fixes me
with blank eyes while lithe young women,
buttocks bobbing in tandem,
do pushups against a park bench.
Toddlers screech and stumble,
as nannies share news in lilting
island accents. The sun arches
on its marathon course as I turn
toward home. A gust rattles
the gingko: “It’s all downhill from here.”

Claude Scales
First published in Self-Absorbed Boomer, June 21, 2007.

Read full story · Comments { 3 }

Park Progress: Piers 1 and 6 (Sixteenth Report)

jsw_img_66161
Friday, June 12, 2009.

jsw_img00016-20090619-1104
Friday, June 19, 2009. I’ve decided, for the time being, to feature comparative photos of Pier 6 in this weekly post, since I’ve now found a good vantage point–the roof of the LICH parking garage–from which to shoot it. Comparative photos of the north and south ends of Pier 1 follow the jump. Continue Reading →

Read full story · Comments { 6 }