A Final Cheers to Jackie’s 5th Amendment

jackie's 5th amendment photo

After a day of hunting for my first apartment in Park Slope, my friend and I were rewarding ourselves with pizza and discussing how realtors make up names for neighborhoods to differentiate a few blocks when the area picks up in popularity. While listing various labels, a man chimed in that, “Back in the day, this whole place was just South Brooklyn”. For those of us who did not grow up in the area, we feel almost personally responsible for changes that have come about as Manhattan moves east, and attempt to show our commiseration with the local crowd. For those of us who did grow up here, we cannot really help our resentment, and we certainly don’t apologize for it.

The closing of Jackie’s 5th Amendment is its own personification of the battle between what we now view as ‘old New York’ and ‘new New York’. Whatever those are exactly.

It’s the sort of place where there are ‘regulars’ in the most literal of senses. People have been coming for years, and for them, this isn’t just the loss of their favorite drinking spot, it’s the loss of a Friday night hangout with friends – including the bartenders.

The joint is famous for attempting to secede from the neighborhood last year, as reported by Brooklyn Magazine. It is a quintessential dive bar, complete with a ten dollar bucket of six beers, an electric jukebox spouting anything from Johnny Cash to Nickelback, red lights shedding an eerie 80’s glow, and a glorious faded sign stating “No Smoking Behind the Bar”.

After chatting with the bartender, she confirmed that it was indeed set to close on September 14th, with a rumored open-bar night to celebrate the end of a family business providing cold brews since the 1950’s. Apparently the pharmacy next door, with a 20 year lease, will be taking over the space.

Sipping on my Budweiser, I was surrounded by an eclectic group of drinkers – ranging from some kids playing darts in the backroom to married couples sharing a beer and discussing what they could do to save the place to a group of older men tossing jokes back and forth.

This is not a new issue. Every day, old pubs are closing down and new spots with mixology menus are take over that sacred space. In comes the local organic grocery to demolish the shelves of canned preservatives! Derelict buildings are restored into apartments, and new schools are built as families move to affordable neighborhoods. Everything changes; that is how cities grow. Are these changes a bad thing? In this particular case, perhaps yes. In general, I suppose that’s a matter of personal opinion.

Regardless of how you may feel about this evolution, pop by on Saturday September 14th and join the crew in a final ‘cheers’ to good memories.

Meet Sydney Frumkin, Park Slope’s Most Famous Jewish Bullfighter, Ever

The famous bullfighter who came from Park Slope « Ephemeral New York

This matador is Sidney Frumkin, born in 1903 on Jackson Place off 16th Street near Seventh Avenue. It seems that at the age of 19, Frumkin took off for Mexico after a fight with his police officer father, and on a whim, he looked up a famous matador and asked him how to wave the red cape.

Under the name Sidney Franklin, Frumkin wowed the crowd in Mexico City in 1923–his first ever fight. Over time, he became one of the top matadors worldwide and had a number of famous fans, including Ernest Hemingway.

”No history of bullfighting that is ever written can be complete unless it gives him the space he is entitled to,” Hemingway wrote.

-via The famous bullfighter who came from Park Slope « Ephemeral New York.

Rotting Trees Dumped in the Lake in Prospect Park

ROTTEN TREE WITH TREE DEBRIS LEFT DUMPED IN LAKE

Anne-Katrin Titze writes:  “Not a healthy lakeside environment – The danger of becoming entangled in snagged fishing lines and barbed hooks has increased ten-fold for all wildlife, including egrets, herons, hawks, gulls, waterfowl, turtles, and other creatures large and small that inhabit the lake.”

“This is harming the wildlife habitat and clearly shows the lack of commitment of resources for years. The ongoing erosion and disrepair of the stone bank at many locations around the watercourse has weakened the trees.”

More of a write-up via Wood chucked — into lake! City turns Prospect Park waterway a lumber dumpster • The Brooklyn Paper:

“The city axed more than half a dozen tree houses in Prospect Park in an attempt to save a delicate lakeside ecosystem — but then tossed the lumber into the water, creating a whole new environmental no-no…”

Slow Zones Save Lives and Don’t Dump Traffic on Other Neighborhoods

slow zones in london

Streetsblog New York City highlights a The Brooklyn Paper’s “trademark neighbor-vs.-neighbor” story on the public workshop talking about the potential 20 mph zone in Park Slope. The y quoted “Greenwood Heights activists”  who apparently fear the Park Slope slow zone would dump unsafe traffic on Greenwood Heights. In fact, when London adopted 20 mph slow zones, traffic-related casualties went down, both in slow zones and immediately adjacent to the zones, adn there was no increase in casualties outside the slow zones (that is to say, no “casualty migration” that activists might fear).

-via Slow Zones Will Save Your Life, and Will NOT Dump Traffic in Your NIMBY Backyard » Brooklynian.

Park Slope Townhouse on Third Street Lists for $4 Million

This six-bedroom, limestone-fronted townhouse, built in 1909 by E. Carlson, is on the market for $4 million. That beats the $3.75 million asking price for the Park Slope townhouse put on the market by J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons. Compared with Lyons’ townhouse, this townhouse is one block closer to Prospect Park, and right around the corner from John Jay High School. In addition to six bedrooms, it’s got 3.5 baths, a 20-foot front, and an adaptable floor plan, according to Curbed. Thanks to an extensive renovation, there’s central air and a large media room in the basement, renovated kitchen, and two terraces.

Check out the photo gallery and floor plan: A Classy Park Slope Townhouse Sure to Spark Controversy – On the Market – Curbed NY.

Tea Lounge Censored Nipples on Artwork with Canvas Strips

Tea Lounge Breeders - Parents and Kids

So the Tea Lounge in Park Slope, a hangout where breast-feeding is a common site, has been censoring some artwork depicting nipples. They used canvas strips to cover the nipples, apparently due to concern and/or complaints that the art was inappropriate for children coming into the cafe.

Some customers were “puzzled and occasionally offended” by the nude paintings. But now, the canvas has been removed. What’s going on over there?

via Cafe’s Modesty Is Offensive to Some – WSJ.com which is hiding the article behind an evil paywall (sorry).

Park Slope Now Has a Barbecue District: Reno Provisions and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Dinosaur Barbecue Park Slope BrooklynHow quickly things change. Earlier this week, Reno Provisions was going to be Park Slope’s first full-fledged barbecue joint. Now, Eater NY reports that the New York chain Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is moving in on the same block as Reno Provisions.

Dinosaur, which you may have seen on Food Network or Travel Channel already, won #1 BBQ on Good Morning America, and they even have their own cookbook: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que: An American Roadhouse.

Fifth Avenue in Park Slope is Supersaturated with More than 150 Bars and Restaurants

Bareburger Organic Burgers on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope - 5th Ave
Remember when there was little reason to go out on 5th Ave., unless it was to go to Aunt Suzie’s? Well, now Aunt Suzie’s is closed, and there are dozens clamoring to take its place. WSJ reports that a 31-block span of Fifth Avenue has about 150 restaurants and bars commanding rents up to $60 a square foot.

Today 5th Avenue is “restaurant row” subject to a high amount of business “churn” – consider that Uncle Moe’s burrito shop, Perch Cafe, and Sette Enoteca e Cucina, have also shut down recently. Yet as quick as restaurants close, “spaces are being snapped up by new establishments betting a fresh approach can succeed where predecessors flagged,” according to WSJ.

Examples include Kaffe Roasting House, and the planned Dizzy’s Diner going in where Comida Mercado Fresco used to be.

Fort Reno Provisions is Park Slope’s Only Full-Fledged BBQ Restaurant

Fort Reno Provisions - Park Slope BarbecuePark Slope’s only full-fledged barbecue restaurant, Fort Reno Provisions, could open as soon as this coming weekend, reports suggest. Pictured is a test run of Fort Reno’s new smoke pit.

Partners in the restaurant are Anthony Laudato, Lia Forman, and Jacques Gautier of Palo Santo. “Anything Gautier touches turns to edible gold,” one fan said in a recommendation on the Fort Reno Provisions Facebook page.

Check out their wall photos for another visually delectable test run: Pork spare ribs, bourbon bbq sauce, slow cooked collards, and buttermilk biscuits. And they plan to do cocktails in a big way; check them out at Edible Brooklyn’s upcoming cocktail event.

Fort Reno Provisions is located at 669 Union St [map], and their website is: http://fort-reno.us.

Slow Zone: Should Park Slope Cut Speed Limit to 20 MPH?

Park Slope Debates Slow ZonesFollowing all the buzz around Prospect Heights potentially becoming one of Brooklyn’s first “Slow Zones,” Park Slope may now trying to get in on the action, too.

Is 20 (mph) Plenty for Park Slope? That’s the question the Park Slope Civic Council is going to debate on Saturday, Jan. 21, 11:45 a.m at Congregation Beth Elohim, 274 Garfield Place (at Eighth Avenue).

The New York City Department of Transportation is accepting applications to establish reduced speed zones (i.e., cut it from 30 mph to 20 mph and add some special safety measures such as striping, speed bumps, and gateway signs announcing the presence of a Slow Zone).

Problem is, this is a self-enforcing, reduced-speed area, so some people in Prospect Heights are skeptical that a “slow zone” is little more than a band-aid that cops and speeders will ignore. Moreover, changing velocity on such a grand scale might not be “wasteful” and hard on suspensions and chassis, and decrease the mean time between failures of these and associated components. The truly flagrant violators will likely sail over speed bumps as if they did not exist.

Are there other, better traffic calming solutions, such as zig-zags, chicanes, and speed cameras? Or is a slow zone the perfect thing for Park Slope? Come to the meeting Saturday and let your voice be heard.

12 Horrific Photos of the 1960 Park Slope Airline Collision on 7th Avenue and Sterling Place

The Daily Mail just posted 12 huge and stunningly horrific photos of the 1960 Park Slope airline collision. It’s hard to imagine this post-apocalyptic carnage is on the corner of 7th Avenue and Sterling Place:

The collision took place on December 16, 1960, about 2 weeks before Christmas, and involved 2 passenger planes (United Airlines Flight 826 and Trans World Airlines Flight 266) as they were descending toward Idlewild and LaGuardia Airport.

The crash set more than 200 homes on fire. About 2,500 firefighters and policemen came to fight the flames and sort out the chaos.

The Douglas DC-8 had 84 people on board and overshot its holding point by some 12 miles and hit the TWA plane, which had 44 people on board. Snow was a factor in the crash, investigators said.

“Residents were horrified to see a passenger jet’s plane wing careening down a narrow street,” writes Beth Stebner. “There was an explosion, as the plane crashed to the neighborhood, demolishing the Pillar of Fire church as well as several houses. The explosion as well as flying debris blew out many nearby windows.”

The DC-8’s pilot tried desperately to make a landing at LaGuardia, but crashed on Seventh Avenue and Sterling Place in the heart of Park Slope. “What was moments ago an idyllic Christmas scene had turned into carnage – twisted metal, burned plane pieces, and charred corpses littered the streets,” Stebner writes.

The sole survivor was Stephen Baltz, 11, who was flying alone. He died 27 hours later, but not before telling doctors he looked out the window of the plane and saw snow falling on the city:

“It looked like a picture out of a fairy book,” he said. “It was a beautiful sight.”

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2086028/Photos-1960-Brooklyn-airline-crash-sparked-new-era-black-boxes.html#ixzz1jZCYrork

BARRIO is now BARRIO PLATES is now MIX

Barrio Plates is now MIXGrub Street reports that Barrio restaurateur Spencer Rothschild, who had planned to relaunch as Barrio Plates, made a last-minute decision to call his new place Mix. The idea is that the menu MIXes different flavors and cuisines (get it?) and you can mix it up with a light bite by yourself, or bring a large group and sample the full menu. Rothschild replaced Barrio’murals with orange-and-ochre colors and chef Martell Fonville (al di la) is still doing contemporary American with a tinge of Latin and Asian.

Go to Grub Street to check out the menu and a full slideshow of the new space.

Park Slope “Authentic” Chinese Food Smackdown: Tofu on 7th vs Szechuan Garden

dried tofu & string beans szechuan styleIf you’re done with Hunan Delight or Mr. Wonton, gear up for Park Slope’s newly authentic Chinese restaurants, of which there are at least two good options. Brooklyn Vegetarian writes: “For years we have been content with the same old menus … (but) actual authentic Chinese restaurants have been getting more popular” as evidenced by places like Tofu on 7th, which have brought in actual chefs from China. Here’s BV’s take on Szechuan Garden:

… I was intrigued by the description on the menu that mentioned that they actually use Szechuan peppercorns in their dishes.

When I mentioned I was a vegetarian … they directed me towards the sauteed dry tofu with string beans, which they said has the same sauce and condiments as the meat-heavy items but was completely vegetarian. The tofu was in large, dense chunks and the string beans were cooked perfectly. The sauce was a great blend of different kinds of chiles — dried, pickled, and fresh — which made the dish super spicy (which I love).

F’ed in Park Slope posted a reader review of Tofu on 7th Avenue, which also recently added some spicy Sichuan dishes to the menu: The waitress … went on and on about how the restaurant decided to spend a lot of money to hire a new chef, who specialized in Sichuan dishes … We’re huge fans of Grand Sichuan on 9th Ave and Chelsea, but … it’s nice to have something similar right up the street (though, admittedly, Tofu on 7th isn’t quite as good). I’d recommend trying the Dry Pot Style Chicken, Chong Qing Chicken, and Three Pepper Chicken.

You can also read multiple first-hand reviews of both Tofu on 7th and Szechuan Garden on Brooklynian. Triebensee writes: “Tofu on 7th (226 7th Ave) now offers Szechuan style dishes, in addition to more run-of-the mill chinese food, and they’re quite delicious. I’d say they’re now the best chinese food in Park Slope.”

But wait – rockingood counters with a vote for Szechuan Garden on 7th Ave and 16th: “Got delivery the other night and was quite pleased. Was it the best Dan Dan noodles I’ve ever had? No. Was it Dan Dan noodles delivered to my door in park slope and quite tasty at that? YES! This is my new go-to Chinese.”

Park Slope Back When: 7 Amazing Historical Photos of the Montauk Club

Gothamist just posted a series of great photos of The Montauk Club courtesy of New York Public Library’s old image archive. Park Slope’s private social club founded in 1889 by Charles Pratt, Richard Schermerhorn, and Edwin C. Litchfield. In its heyday, it hosted prominent politicians including John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Today, it’s come back to life as a low-key and relatively non-exclusive club (I can attest, since they actually let me into the place for an actual function once).

Today, it’s focused on recruiting unmarried and “good looking” thirtysomethings, according to its website: “But our older members are holding their own and the mix of ages and the diversity of points of view make for engaging conversation.” Membership is only $350 a year.

Who’s a member of Montauk? Will there be a Super Bowl party, and is it too late to get in the betting pool?

Oxycontin Prescriptions Rising Sharply in New York

Until now, oxycontin (oxycodone) abuse has been a phenomenon associated with states like Tennessee and West Virginia. But now, a new report shows that prescriptions for oxycontin, a highly addictive and frequently abused narcotic painkiller, are up by 82% in New York state. State attorney general Eric Schneiderman released the report to support his idea of establishing a statewide drug-tracking system.

In the area, oxycodone has been a big problem in Long Island, where there were 6 people killed last year in 2 different robberies (that’s a trend too – people are robbing for pills, not money). Inpatient oxycodone treatment programs continue to be in high demand, and a number of centers in Long Island (and elsewhere) have seen quite a few individuals come in for services.

According to the New York Times, there’s also been a sharp increase in hydrocodone (Vicodin) prescriptions, up 16.7% from 2007 to 2010.

If the state attorney general gets his way, there would be a new Internet-based tracking system that pharmacists would have to use to report sales of controlled substances. And Doctors would have to check a patient’s prescription history on the tracking system.

Pharmacists are outraged about the large and “ridiculous” fines they (and doctors) would face for ignoring the requirements: $500 for their first offense, $1,000 for a second offense, and $5,000 thereafter.

“Pharmacists don’t need further distractions.”, Craig Burridge, the executive director of a pharmacists society, told the New York Times. “Have they been behind the counter of a pharmacy?”

Eyesore at 7th Ave and 2nd Street: Will the Nash Building Escape Foreclosure?

building at 7th Ave and 2nd St in Park Slope - Real Estate

According to Brownstoner, this week’s Community Board 6 meeting included an appearance by Rachel Nash, daughter of the owner of 187 7th Avenue, the famously dilapidated Park Slope building.

Apparently Rachel started talking about plans to launch an art gallery and artist housing, but CB6 members quickly steered the conversation to “foreclosure pressure” on the building; Rachel reportedly said that her family is “trying to appeal” foreclosure actions.

The Nash Building in Park Slope has been a lightning rod for controversy and criticism: “It is a small miracle that only one person has been injured thus far by falling debris from this building,” snarkslope said in a Brooklynian post about the Park Slope building foreclosure. ‘It is a disaster waiting to happen … After proving for 20 years that the owners will do nothing to the building but neglect it, it is unsafe to even walk near, much less occupy in its current state. I cross the street to avoid it.”

“What a terrible, immoral way to treat a once-beautiful space on a prime corner in a fabulous neighborhood.”

What to do for MLK Day of Service in Park Slope

MLK Day: Brooklyn Museum
In Brooklyn, Martin Luther King is memorialized at Martin Luther King Jr. Playground in East New York, and Martin Luther King Place in Bed-Stuy. In the summer, at Wingate Field, on the other side of Prospect Park, the long-running Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Seriesbrings big names like Queen Latifah and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly to the bandshell on Brooklyn Avenue. And this weekend, there are going to be MLK Day events near Park Slope and throughout the borough:

MLK: Generations Speak (FREE, Sunday, January 17, 2010, 3–5 p.m.at the Brooklyn Museum): co-hosted by WNYC’s Brian Lehrer and Celeste Headlee of The Takeaway. Panelists include: Dr. Roscoe C. Brown (former Tuskegee Airman); Majora Carter of Sustainable South Bronx; Eddie Glaude, Ph.D.; Major Owens; and Patricia J. Williams.
26th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (FREE, Mon, Jan 16 at 10:30am at BAM). This is New York City’s largest public celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote speaker is Dennis M. Walcott, chancellor of the New York City Department of Education. Musical performances by Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely and The Institutional Radio Choir C.O.G.I.C. of Brooklyn.

Following the event in the Opera House, BAM Rose Cinemas presents a FREE screening of the film The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975. Shot by Swedish journalists who came to the US to chronicle urban unrest and revolution, this film has never-before-seen interviews with many leaders of the Black Power Movement.

MLK Day of Service, Community Cleanup in Crown Heights by the Crow Hilll Community Association (CHCA). Come to the Crow Hill Community Garden (730 Franklin between Park & Sterling) on MLK Day Observed (Monday January 16th, 10-12 pm). Bring gloves, outdoor brooms/dustpans, garbage bags, etc. Bring your family, friends & neighbors, and tell any HS students who might need to do community service.

Also, check out these comprehensive guides to MLK Day events in Brooklyn:

“Barrio Plates” is the New Barrio Restaurant, Opens Monday

Photo: Brooklyn Paper
As reported on Grubstreetand elsewhere, the Park Slope Mexican restaurant Barrio will reopen Monday as Barrio Plates, with a whole new look (goodbye, pink paint job; hello, blown glass and antiqued mirrors). The new menu, created with the help of chef Martell Fonville (al di là) will be Latin-tinged “Nouveau American” (e.g. calamari in Dominican-style honey glaze).

Consensus of Barrio reviews is pretty much, great food but pricey, and Yelp’s got it hovering right around 3 stars.

Wonder how Barrio Plates will stack up on a deliciousness-to-price ratio. Tacking on “Plates” seems to imply that it won’t be cheap. Some of the small plates include:

  • Almond stuffed dates wrapped in bacon with blue cheese dipping sauces ($9)
  • Squash soup with fried sage, shaved parmesan & nutmeg ($7)
  • Bacon wrapped snapper with frisee salad ($16)
  • “Ultimate sliders” of flank, brisket, short ribs smothered in smoked bacon marmalade ($13)

Oh, and they’re hiring.

For Once, Time Warner Cable Internet does NOT Suck

Photo: New York Street Food

Booklaw writes:

About a week ago I ordered a “wideband” internet upgrade from TWC. Yesterday, at two minutes before the end of the three-hour window they gave me for installation, the installer arrived. It took about half an hour of back and forth between the installer (who is not a TWC employee) and a TWC level 3 tech to get the new 30 mbps modem up and running.

It is blistering fast, between 2 to 3 times faster than my previous download speeds, and at least 10 times faster on uploads. The upgrade costs $20 per month over the regular Roadrunner service, plus a $20 installation fee.

At my request, the installer also swapped out my cable box, without charge. He was very pleasant and quite competent.

All of the phone, cable and satellite companies take a lot of grief from unhappy customers, so I thought I’d express my satisfaction (at least momentarily).

Read more first-hand accounts of Time Warner customer service (mostly rants and horror stories) here.

A Day in the Life of Two Park Slope Hipster-Yuppie Transplants

So Brooklyn hipsters are an easy target, and hating on them may be passe. But you have to admit–this xtranormal video is inspired, relevant, occasionally humorous … and a bit eerily familiar. Here’s an approximate and partial transcript of some highlights, below. Troll alert: some of the dialogue is deliberately inflammatory (duh).

Emily: Hey, Ethan. Funny running into you here on 7th Avenue in the middle of a weekday afternoon. Having chance encounters on the street with other hipster yuppie suburban rejects identical to myself is one of the main reasons I moved here to Park Slope. As for you, you must have already taken care of your 3 hours of freelance creative consulting this week, no?

Ethan: Yeah, you know how it is in the Slope, Emily. Just another day in the nabe, trying to make ends meet. But you know how it is, Emily. I mean, you’re from Brooklyn and all.

Emily: Oh yeah. I hear you, Ethan. Say Ethan, how are you planning to kill your gratuitious amounts of free time today? any suggestions on how to spend as much of my infinite leisure time and my parents’ 401k money as possible today in the nabe? I’m trying to kill two birds with one stone.

Ethan: Actually, why don’t you head on over to Union Market. I hear they’ve just jacked up their prices yet again. You can stock up on some organic olives, rat-nibbled baguettes and goat cheese. That should easily run you a few hundred dollars, at least.

Emily: Sweet. That’s a great idea, Ethan. Now I remember why all we yups get along so well. We’re so much smarter than those Brooklyn natives …

As it Turns Out, It’s Actually a Bad Idea to Leave Your iPhone Unattended for 1 Hour at a Bar

Via the Brooklyn Paper’s PROSPECT HEIGHTS crime blotter:

Pool sharked: “A crook jacked a fancy cellphone from a bar-goer on Vanderbilt Avenue … The 29-year-old victim told cops that he set his iPhone on a table at Branded Saloon near Bergen Street at 1 am, then headed to the pool table. He came back an hour later and discovered the $750 phone gone.”

In what universe does an iPhone cost $750? That is “fancy” indeed. Or is this one of those cracked, hacked, unlocked iPhones from eBay?

See more hijinks and shenanigans at BrooklynPaper.com.

Homeless, Evicted from Rotting Prospect Park Trees, Are Now Even More Homeless Than Before

Tearing out Rotting Trees Used by the Homeless in Prospect ParkSo guess what – all that publicity embarrassed Prospect Park into cutting down those rotting, hollow trees that homeless people were using to store their stuff and take shelter. And to be honest…  now it feels a little bit awful to see this happening without any clear indication of what’s going to happen to those people.

Anne-Katrin Titze–a freelance crusader for Prospect Park who pushed hard to get rid of the rotting trees–says matter-of-factly to the Brooklyn Eagle: “If the Alliance/Parks allow people to live in the park, then they should feed them, provide toilets, garbage collection and potable water.”

Really–are we going to be that hardcore? Why can’t the homeless just temporarily abide in the park, despite the lack of modern amenities? Was it really such a big deal for a small group of unfortunates to pee in the pond, and store their junk in the rotting tree trunks–is that really “destroying a delicate ecosystem“? It seems like the compassionate option here would have been to leave the shelter intact, while advocates discuss with Prospect Park what they “should” be doing to get these people to an appropriate shelter.

Summary: Tearing out rotting trees is a hollow victory (Sorry… just got a brief flash of inspiration from Punderdome).

Daylight Mugging with a Knife

Some criminals are dumber than others. A woman was mugged in the middle of the day while getting her keys out to go into her home. The guy approached her with a knife, took her belongings and sped off in a van. The woman had the presence of mind to take down the thief’s license plate and vehicle description. Shortly after, a delivery guy walked by and the woman was able to use his phone to call the police. They caught they guy about 20 minutes later! A Brooklynian.com member reported the “cops said those kinds of robberies usually came in spurts.” A good way to protect yourself financially is  to carry only what you need that day. This way if you are mugged you won’t lose everything.

D’OH! Those DOH Restaurant Letter Grades are Meaningless, Actually

c grade.jpgIn New York Magazine (via Brooklyn Based), a server from Per Se server discusses the letter grades on restaurants, bars and cafés:

With the recent Department of Health crackdowns, those letter grades are bought—by that, I mean every restaurant that has an A has either an in-house specialist or a specialist they’ve hired. Before the DOH inspections, every high-end restaurant has four or five in-house inspections, and then everyone has their own set of fire drills—you put on hats and gloves when the inspector comes, you hide things away.

In related news, it turns out that other restaurants avoid DOH grades by claiming they’re supermarkets.

Dirty Yellow Water in South Slope

Yuck:

On Brooklynian, 8thandprez (no longer at 8th and Prez) reports discolored/yellow tap water in South Slope for the past week or so (cold water only): “It’s happening to all of the units in our apt building.”

There are a couple of possibilities here:

  • A pipe that is corroded and needs to be replaced. Since it’s only the cold water, the the problem could be somewhere in the supply line.
  • Work on a main sewer line is leading to the discoloration.
  • Someone is peeing in the water.

Other reports of yellow/discolored water are coming in from Sheepshead and another Brooklynian at the corner of South Slope/Windsor Terrace; and yet another at a condo in North Slope. 8thandprez has called DEP and hasn’t received any response yet. Anybody have a more detailed knowledge of this subject? If so, drop some science here: Discolored/yellow tap water – South Slope? (Brooklynian)

Key Food on 5th Ave. Allegedly Restricts Employees from Shopping at Store

Photo Source: Gothamist

The ownership at the Key Food on 5th Avenue reportedly does not allow their employees to shop at the store. It is normal for employees not to be allowed to shop during store hours, but in this case employees are restricted from shopping at the store all together. F’ed in Park Slope reported, “According to a cashier at Key Food on 5th Avenue, the employees are not allowed to shop in the store, like, not ever. The report continued by saying, “Apparently this has been the store’s policy for several generation of ownership.”

While neighborhood opinions of the store differ from person to person, this practice isn’t completely unusual. Jon commented on F’ed in Park Slope, “If my buddy in the meat dept. gives me 3 pounds of prime beef and labels it 2lbs of chicken, that might seem trivial but it adds up.” There are arguments on both sides of this issue. Make up your own mind and choose where you shop based on those decisions. That is what makes free enterprise so great.

Trees With Sweaters are BACK on 16th Street

Source: Brooklyn Daily

This is the work of Laurie Russell, a 58-year-old painter who hung up at least 4 tree sweaters so far this season to encourage passersby to “rethink their environment,” according to Brooklyn Daily. Russell says: “It’s a gesture of compassion for the tree — even though I know it doesn’t actually do anything … It brightens things up in the most bleak months.”

Russell will leave the sweaters up until March, when the “naked” trees start to get their leaves again.

This has been going on for several years now, at least, as this discussion reveals.