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Hear ye Hear ye - Announcing the formation of Union St Block Association
Josh Guttman | December 7, 2007
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"I’m writing to let you know that we are forming a Union Street Block Association. We have reserved a room at The Public Library on Union Street on Saturday, December 8th from 11:00am to 12:30pm. We are also trying to get a representative of our Community Board to attend. I hope you can make it." Please save the date and spread the word!
From what I hear on the inside, hot topics for discussion are rumored to include:
- ILA building development (International Longshoreman’s Association)
- New lamp posts
- Block parties
- Parking policies and ticketing
A neighborhood love story and brief history of Carroll Gardens
Josh Guttman | December 5, 2007
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Our friends over at Into The Box put together this touching neighborhood love story of Chris and Lydia and while doing so, found time to give a brief history of Carroll Gardens, touching on several neighborhood hot buttons - 360 Smith, Gowanus development/pollution and Smith/9th subway stop. Well done guys!!
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?
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.
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.
The Return of "Ask Mario" - Pizza Polls, High-Rise Developments and Halloween
Josh Guttman | November 5, 2007
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Ask Mario returns this week in full force after a summer hiatus fishing on the Jersey Shore. Mario has lots to say, but keeps mum on several issues as well.
To ask Mario a question, post it in the comment section or email your questions to askmario [at] bergencarroll [dot] com.
Record attendance at this year’s Halloween parade
Josh Guttman | November 1, 2007
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More than 500 parents, children and onlookers filled Cobble Hill Park yesterday for the largest neighborhood Halloween Parade in history. The parade route ran through the park, exiting on Congress, then back around and through again. Later, trick-or-treaters bombarded Verandah Place and then scattered throughout the neighborhood in search of treasure. Thanks to Diane & Co. for sending me their photos. The flickr stream of photos is here.
Mala Yoga Opens at 162 Court/Amity on Nov 1
Josh Guttman | October 31, 2007
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Accomplished local yogis, Angela Clark, Stephanie Creaturo and Christina Hatgis - formerly instructors at Area Yoga - have partnered to launch Mala Yoga, a new studio at 162 Court Street @ Amity on the second floor. The mala (prayer) beads that we wear around our wrists inspired the studio’s name. Mala means rosary or garland in Sanskrit. Their vision is to create a studio where one can comfortably practice throughout all stages of life. The practice serves as a mala, one that threads together the different aspects of our lives, both on the yoga mat and off. Classes begin on November 1 and they’ll launch with 30 classes per week of varying degrees of difficulty, soon expanding to 45, I’m told. The new space is beautiful with fresh bamboo floors and all new equipment and furniture. Personally, I’m super excited about this. For the uninitiated, Angela, Stephanie and Christina are the best instructors in the neighborhood, and to have them teaching in this new space is awesome. Good luck guys!!
