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Ask Mario: on parking in the neighborhood
Josh Guttman | November 30, 2007
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Happy Friday! Just when you thought the cheery holiday season was upon us…. This is a classic episode of Ask Mario, in which he waxes and wines on the horrible parking situation in the neighborhood. As usual, in a way only Mario can deliver, he shares some of his unique New York experiences on the topic.
Coffee BrewHaHa in the blogosphere – what’s your opinion?
Josh Guttman | November 28, 2007
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There’s been some chatter on local blogs about the new coffee houses opening in the Boerum Hill area. Gowanus Lounge posted about the new Brooklyn Bean that is opening at Fourth Avenue and Carroll Street. Brownstoner also posted about it, saying it’s an offshoot of Cuppa Cuppa in the East Village. Gowanus poses the question “is Brooklyn big enough to have two Brooklyn Beans or is an Espresso War brewing?” The real question, in my mind, is how many coffee houses can the neighborhood sustain? By my estimation, there is nearly a coffee house on every other block through Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill and into Park Slope. It seems that I’m alerted to someone’s new fav weekly. I enjoyed The Tea House on Court for a while, before it became over-run with mommies and strollers. Sweet Melissa’s a block away is a nice spot for dessert after a movie. Some of my friends make up part of the cult following of Victory over on State and Hoyt. The Flying Saucer on Atlantic has a certain ethos that I enjoy from time to time, and it’s a nice place to work with free wi-fi. Mule is another one on Fourth Ave that provides a nice atmosphere. D’Amicos is a perennial local favorite. And there are several others I’m not mentioning. Which of the bunch is your favorite and how many more do you think the neighborhood can support?
2007 Pizza Poll: The results are in!
Josh Guttman | November 24, 2007
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The votes have been tabulated and your voices heard. From the start, this was a race for second and third place. Lucali ran away with best pizza in the ‘hood this year, snagging a whopping 50% of the vote (54 nods). In a move that made this blogger proud, the oldest standing of the bunch, Sam’s, grabbed second. Finally, My Little Pizzeria on Court/Atlantic snubbed The Famous House and Savoia to snag third place. Well done voters!
Thanksgiving special: Ask Mario waxes Court St retail
Josh Guttman | November 23, 2007
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Happy Thanksgiving guys. Today, in a Thanksgiving special Ask Mario, he waxes on Court Street retail, move-ins, move-outs, neighborhood rumors and a promising business concept!
BLKN 2.0 Meetup, tonight at 7pm
Josh Guttman | November 20, 2007
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This week before Thanksgiving is just full of local events. Tonight, BKLN 2.0 is meeting at Mooney’s at 7pm. From the organizer:
Some of the best networking I’ve ever done is while walking my dog, Henry, in Prospect Park. This morning, after I had just met yet one more person who works on web projects, I thought, we all take the train to Manhattan to attend Web meetups.
Why not have a Web oriented Meetup in Brooklyn?
So I decided to start Brooklyn 2.0, a Meetup with a ‘big tent’ approach to Web 2.0 for all of us who take the train to the city to attend Meetups. Anyone with an interest in or occupation related to Web 2.0 is invited. The focus, initially, is more on informal socializing/networki ng than formal presentations.
Come hang out with BKLN bloggers, designers, programmers, video bloggers, users, social media experts, entrepreneurs.
Tonight’s meetup is at Mooney’s, 353 Flatbush Avenue, and starts at 7pm.
Carroll Gardens Landmark Forum Meeting TONIGHT!!
Josh Guttman | November 19, 2007
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The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a panel-based forum to provide information about landmark designation in Carroll Gardens. Residents and building owners are encouraged to attend and inform themselves about the costs and benefits associated with landmarking.
The meeting will be held from 6:30-8:30pm in the PS58 Auditorium at 330 Smith Street @ Carroll Street.
New local blog + cool tee shirts
Josh Guttman | November 19, 2007
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I heard from Katia Kelly recently, who runs Pardon Me For Asking over on Blogspot, a nice looking blog covering the nabe. Her blog is great, but what I really love are these great tee shirts she designed and is selling through Cafe Press. I just ordered one (the organic cotton variety) for myself. You should too!!
Brooklyn jailhouse sits empty, awaiting possible expansion?
Josh Guttman | November 16, 2007
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It occured to me recently that our local jailhouse at Atlantic and Smith has probably become one of the most valuable pieces of real estate to house a jailhouse in the country. Surely, there is a better location where a Brooklyn jailhouse could be relocated. Worst of all, a little research shows that the jailhouse has been closed since 2003 so it’s not even operational right now. Dennis Holt reported in the Brooklyn Eagle back in May that the city’s Correction Department wants to reopen the Brooklyn Detention Complex and double its current capacity to house 1,400 inmates. One politician has proposed a controversial plan that would involve leasing the bottom levels for retail and housing, while leaving the upper levels open as a functioning jail. This is ludicrous. The city could make far more money by selling or leasing the land to a developer and relocating the jail to a less desirable neighborhood. I don’t think the inmates will mind. Holt suggests a parcel of land on the Gowanus. How about somewhere along Fulton Street Mall or down Atlantic Ave?
One week to go in Pizza poll
Josh Guttman | November 14, 2007
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Lucali seems to be running away with neighborhood’s best, but there is a real contest brewing for 2nd and 3rd place. Sam’s, My Little Pizzeria and The Famous House have been neck and neck for the duration while Savoia is making a late charge from bottom of the pack. Final results will be tallied Wednesday, November 21 before Thanksgiving. If you haven’t voted, get ‘em in!!
Overnight fire engulfs Pacific Street apartment
Erin Freeley | November 12, 2007
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At 3:30 am this morning I was woken up by fire trucks outside my window, lights glowing on my ceiling like a disco ball. There were about 7-8 trucks outside lined up from the corner of Clinton and Pacific all the way down to Pacific and Court. An apartment on Pacific was on fire! They bashed in the windows, had firemen on the roof with chainsaws cutting a hole through and firemen cutting the lock off the parking lot next door. The guy who lived there was woken up by the fire and came running out. He was in a tee-shirt and sweat pants, with nothing on his feet (I threw him down a pair of socks and other neighbors brought socks and jackets). The guy watched as his apartment was ablaze. The flames were shooting up inside! It’s boarded up today, and the street has already been swept of all the glass. It was crazy! I don’t know what started it but it was a good reminder to have a fire extinguisher nearby if you don’t already.
