Last Chance! Timboo’s Reportedly Closing Down Tonight


Photo: Brooklyn Paper

Tonight may be the last night for a great Park Slope bar. Recent reports said that Dec. 31 would be “last call” for Timboo’s. Owners Timmy Hodgens and Bobby Booras say their main reasons for closing down is because they are ready to retire, and also because they are sick of harsh city inspections, according to the Brooklyn Paper.

Their bar was one of the few places you could still find reasonably priced drinks, like a bottled beer for only 3 dollars. It was one of the only laid back, reasonably priced hangouts in an area where most of the new hangouts were ritzy and expensive. The bar was a hub for many people of the Irish community as well, including immigrants and iron workers; after work, they could sit back and enjoy a cold one while singing along to some songs with some piano accompaniment. It was also a great place to watch football and gather with friends, and was named one of the best bars in Brooklyn. A more thorough history and analysis can be found on Here’s Park Slope.

One reviewer on Yelp described his experience with Timboo’s like this:

“Okay, I just moved in right above this bar last night and after carrying things up to the 3rd floor, I needed a beer, and I headed downstairs to Timboo’s. It’s a dive, if you don’t like ’em, you won’t like this place. But I love Dives. Cheap drinks and interesting people. Right away the bartender, Tara, introduced herself and starting talking to us – super nice. She introduced me to the regulars, who yes, all have probably been regulars here since well before I was born. They all gave me a hard time (jokingly) because I was rooting for the Tampa Bay Rays against the Red Sox. All of them were nice guys and provided some entertainment for the evening in between innings…”

5th Ave. Eyesore Getting a Facelift

5th Avenue in Park Slope has one last remnant of a time when the area was run down. The decrepit building on 5th Ave. between 6th and 7th streets is finally getting a facelift. HeresParkSlope.com reports, “the owner, Chiu-Kun Wu, realized that he could make a lot more money by fixing up the decrepit building than by letting it slowly rot.” Wu has already initiated the renovation process starting with the building being gutted. The building’s “ground-floor space is being prepped for a retail tenant” reports Brownstoner.com. The renovation of this property will bring another business to flourish in the area and finally get rid of 5th Avenue’s last decaying building.

A simple renovation may not be enough to bring this building back to life. Members of the local community have posted their goodbyes on Brooklynian.com. Mamacita wrote, “It already has a X marked on it.” She continued by commenting, “No amount of gutting alone can make a structurally unsound building ready for a simple prep-and-rent situation.” While the renovation process may take longer than anticipated, Park Slope residents can rejoice in the fact there will be one less decaying building in the neighborhood.

Things to Do in Park Slope: Prospect Park Fireworks on New Years Eve

Where is the best place to watch the Prospect Park Fireworks at Grand Army Plaza? Read below…


Source: ProspectPark.org

Brooklyn’s “biggest party,” featuring fireworks and more, gets underway on Saturday, December 31 at 11 p.m. at Grand Army Plaza (Interactive Map). Right around 11 p.m., entertainment and hot refreshments start at Grand Army Plaza. According to the folks at Prospect Park, the best locations for watching the fireworks are:

  • Anywhere in Grand Army Plaza
  • Inside the Park on the West Drive
  • Along Prospect Park West between grand Army Plaza and 9th Street

To get to the fireworks by train, take the 2 or 3 to Grand Army Plaza station, or the Q to 7th Ave. Station (Flatbush Ave.). Buses B-41, B-71, and B-69 can also get you to Grand Army Plaza.

The New Year’s fireworks, sponsored by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, aren’t the only fireworks visible from Brooklyn. The more distant midnight show, over the Statue of Liberty and organized by the Grucci family, are visible anywhere on the Brooklyn waterfront where you can find a view of the sky over the statue, according to the Brooklyn Eagle. So  parts of Red Hook, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian walkway are fair game for watching.

Read more here (ProspectPark.org): ProspectPark.org

When to Rent and When to Buy

While the price of property has continued to decline, there are definitely deals to be had. Unfortunately, the correct decision to rent or to buy is not as clear as you might think. In neighborhoods like Park Slope, renting may be less expensive when you compare that to the mortgage on purchasing the same square footage. If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in a rent stabilized apartment in a great part of town, it probably makes sense for you to continue renting (although these can be hard to come by).

Purchasing an apartment or condo is attractive to all of us. Being a homeowner is part of the American dream. It has been drilled into our heads that it’s another step in life that achieves a certain status in society. That may be true, but you need to make the best financial decision based on your circumstances. If you choose to live around the Upper East Side, you probably find yourself in a situation where your rent is far less than what a mortgage would be for the same space.

If you are serious about purchasing an apartment, you should hire an experienced appraiser to find out what the property is worth at today’s market value. This will give you a clearer picture of whether or not you can afford the mortgage versus the rent you are currently paying. You may find your rental situation is so good that the real estate market could not possibly provide the deal you currently have as a renter.

If this is the case, there are some steps you should take to protect yourself financially. Negotiate a long term lease agreement with your landlord. Lock in your rent amount as far in the future as you can (if you plan on staying in that location for a while). Invest in rental insurance in order to protect your belongings. This is critical to ensure you will stay financially whole if a catastrophe occurs. Rental insurance in NYC only costs between $15 and $30 a month. You may never need it, but if disaster strikes you will be glad you have it.

John Hodgman on Pavilion Theater: Please Get it Together


Photo: John Hodgman and friend in Weather Up, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. (sarahbibiable.com)

F’ed in Park Slope attended that Bored to Death cancellation party last week at the Brooklyn Inn, and scored an interview with John Hodgman. Not many of the Q&A exchanges are substantial, but Hodgman’s thoughts on the Pavilion stand out:

KD: What do you think about The Pavilion?

JH: Get it together, Pavilion … I’ve been there. I went there to see Arthur Christmas — great movie, by the way — there is no business in Park Slope that I want to support more. There’s nothing more essential than having a good movie theater. And there is also no reason why it should not be an incredible space. I’ve been there a few times, and I’m like, “this isn’t so bad,” but theater 8 — it’s like Led Zeppelin was in there.

KD: It’s disgusting.

JH: I can’t believe what happened. And I don’t know when it happened. It looks terrible, like a snuff film was shot in there. And I really urge them to get it together, because I want to go there everyday.

The fact that the Pavilion is a dump (and may have bedbugs) is not new … but maybe having some celebrity encouragement will help the Pavilion decide to “get it together.”

Fisherman VS Geese in Prospect Park

You may have noticed the 30 new signs skirting the Prospect Park shores explaining the fishing rules. This is due to the work of the Prospect Park Alliance. The alliance is in charge of restoring and maintaining Prospect Park for the public’s enjoyment. After birds were continually found injured or dead due to discarded fishing line and hooks, the alliance acted to enforce rules and educate the fishing community on best practices that would ensure safety for the park’s bird population. The NY Times reported Emily Lloyd, the alliance’s president, as commenting, “we don’t want wildlife to get hurt; we feel very strongly about that.” She continued to say, “we may not get perfect compliance, but over a year or two, I think you can accomplish a lot in changing people’s behavior.”

This is not an easy fix. Most of the fishing line and hooks that are left behind happen because lures or hooks get snagged in weeds or trees. Dan Mundy, vice president of environmental group Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers suggested, “Bait shops could put up signs.” He continued by saying, “Most fisherman believe in the environment and enjoy being out there. A lot of times I think it’s just something that goes unrecognized.” The Prospect Park Alliance has already started a program to educate the community on the importance of discarding harmful fishing line and lures.

Park Slope Townhouse for Sale: 178 Garfield Place Still on the Market


Source: Habitually Chic

178 Garfield Pl has now been listed on Zillow for at least 50 days at $3.75 million despite a Zestimate of about $2.9 million (estimated mortgage: $13,992/mo). This 7-story, 3.5 bath Park Slope townhouse was built in the late 19th century. It is 4,400 square feet, and was last sold in July 04 2004 for $1.3 million. Since then, the place has been featured prominently in Domino, Livingetc, and other publications.

A lot of the attention is due to its present inhabitants — J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons and her husband, artist Vincent Mazeau, who are apparently getting divorced. According to a report on Zillow, Mazeau might get the home in a settlement. After Lyons and Mazeau purchased this Park Slope home in 2004, they gutted it before doing a stunning remodel, including plaster cornices, an open double parlor, restored limestone mantels, and aged pine floors.

Does Tom Hanks Live in Park Slope?

http://www.newyorkshitty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/hanksy.jpg

Image: Newyorkshitty.com

Does Tom Hanks live in Park Slope?

Wikipedia says he is one of Park Slope’s “notable residents.” And at least one Park Slope blog says he has a home here.

But long time resident Adena Long posts on Facebook that Tom Hanks lived on 13th or 14th street b/w 8th & PPW during his Bosom Buddies stint.

Not seeing much evidence that Tom Hanks maintains a residence here anymore… by all means, please correct us if this is wrong.

Apartments for Rent in Park Slope: 13 Bedrooms on Lincoln Place

For only $12,500 a month ($150,000/year), this entire brownstone featuring 13 rooms can be yours. That’s less than $1000 per room!

Eight of the rooms can be used as bedrooms in this Central Park Slope property. You’ll get a total of 3500 sq ft split between 4 floors (plus an 800 sq ft basement). Inside, the garden level front room is one of the most impressive (see listing), with oak raised panel walls. In addition to a 40′ deep back yard, you’ll get a pantry room with marble sink, two fireplaces, new full bathroom, and a new maple and granite eat-in kitchen.

Why buy when you can rent?

Brooklyn Based Show “Bored to Death” Ends After 3 Seasons

Photo Source: Brooklyn Daily

Many of the shows with a Brooklyn setting are actually filmed on a California sound stage. HBO’s “Bored to Death” was filmed in the neighborhood and locals could tell. “Brooklyn looks more like Brooklyn than any West Coat soundstage does,” says Matt Flegnheimer from NYTimes.com. The show was filmed throughout the borough at places like Fort Greene, Brighton Beach and Park Slope. You can get a list of shooting locations on the show’s website. “Bored to Death” show was on air for 3 seasons before getting the ax at the end of December 2011.

The show’s creator, Jonathan Ames, invited fans to a Boerum Hill bar to celebrate the show while it was on air and mourn the fact that now it’s not. While fans loved that fact that Ames nailed the neighborhood culture they also “did not want the show’s local popularity to cause an influx of non-Brooklynites to the area” reported NYTimes.com.

No Christmas Tree for Grand Army Plaza


Image: http://eyefetch.com

Well, we’ve gone from a not-as-great Christmas tree last year, to NO Christmas tree at all this year! According to the Daily News, the city won’t put up the Christmas tree this year because they are short on cash. So how much green are we talking? A grand total of $3000 would have been needed. Officials blamed storm cleanup (including Hurricane Irene) for the lack of money.

This may be the first year since 1920 that there is NO tree at Grand Army Plaza. Daily News quoted Frank Dellatorre of Sunset Park: “There is a lot of fat in government that could be trimmed … They are crying about $3,000. Give me a break.” The office of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz says that next year, a “benefactor” will be sought to fund the Christmas tree.

Park Slope’s ‘Batman’ – Keeping the Streets Safe

Park Slope’s increase in crime has been met with a dedicated citizen. Thanks to Gotham’s Batman, women in the area feel a little safer getting home at night. Jay “Rocket” Ruiz is the caped crusader (without the cape and costume) that is responsible for getting over 30 women home safely at night. BrooklynEagle.com reports, “Ruiz began standing outside Park Slope subway stations holding a sign with his name, phone number and e-mail address.” Now ‘Batman’ is serving over 30 women in getting home safe.

The neighborhood is rallying around Ruiz to help keep the Slope streets safe. Ruiz keeps a regular conversation going on Brooklynian.com. Join the conversation and maybe join the bike patrol too!

Park Slope Grocery Packer is Awesome at Tetris

Source: Park Slope Lens

Marcelo A reports on Park Slope Lens regarding the Steve’s C Town near Continental Car Service on 9th Street: “There’s a girl there who’s particularly good at efficiently packing the boxes for delivery.  She doesn’t waste an inch of space.  I complimented her ability one day.  She replied in a very dry, unemotional, factual way, while still packing.”

“‘Tetris,’ she said. I’m awesome at Tetris.'”

Long Time Employee Let Go from Connecticut Muffin

According to a report on Brooklynian.com, Connecticut Muffin recently let go one of their most liked employees: Armando, who was an employee at Connecticut Muffin for 11 years! According to people posting on Brooklynian site, he was let go after he disagreed with some changes the café made. The posters say the changes have resulted in less than helpful employees and longer waits. Ashley Faye is a former employee of Connecticut Muffin and had this to say about the changes, “I am also a former employee of The Muff, I was also discarded along with Armando.” Faye continued to say, “The abrupt discharge truly upset him and he was absolutely not ready for it.”

Armando was a throwback to “great service with a smile.” The neighborhood is rallying to get in touch with Armando to help find him a position at another café that would be lucky to have him. Join the discussion at Brooklynian.com.

Reggae Rapper Matisyahu Shaved Beard

The man who brought us reggae/rap with an Orthodox Judaism message has shaved his signature beard. Matisyahu was known as much for his traditional beard as his hit songs like “King Without a Crown.” On Tuesday Matisyahu tweeted “No more Chassidic reggae superstar.” Matisyahu’s name at birth was Matthew Paul Miller. He changed his name at 19 after converting. “Sorry Folks, all you get is me … no alias.”

Many of Matisyahu’s longtime fans were confused over his faith after shaving his beard. Fans commented on Matisyahu’s Web site, “As a huge fan of your music and your personal voyage, I’m pretty confused right now.” The singer replied with a Tweet that said, “For all of those who are being awesome, you are awesome. For all those who are confused: today I went to the Mikva and Shul just like yesterday”

The Best of Park Slope, According to Amy Sohn

Photo: Joe Hume, Brooklyn Magazine

Amy Sohn, author of Prospect Park West: – A Novel, was just interviewed by Brooklyn Magazine and gave her take on the “best of” Park Slope. For example, she says her favorite place to people-watch is Grand Army Plaza on a Saturday, on the stone benches: “I do laugh at the line at the coffee truck and the Blue Moon Fish people who start lining up at the crack of dawn,” she says, “But mostly the people make me happy. I like public space. It reaffirms my love of Brooklyn.”

Other notable faves:

AMY SOHN’S FAVORITE PLACE TO DRINK: Vinegar Hill House. Her husband had the ice-cold martini and she got one of those fancy cocktail drinks. “This bar is one of the few places where it really is worth it that your bartender takes ten minutes to fix the drink,” she says.

Favorite restaurant – Al Di La. Her standby that never gets old: “I love that everything is delicious and that they never have a bad night.”

Favorite grocery store or farmer’s market: Park Slope Food Co-op for the cheese selection and organic snacks (she even likes doing her shift to quiet her “writer’s overactive mind.”

Favorite coffee shop – Cafe Martin: “This shop needs its own reality show. It’s like Cheers … “The only downside is that it’s so small you cannot discuss movie pitches there or someone will steal them.”

Favorite local celebrity – Peter Sarsgaard (apparently also a Park Slope Co-op member)

Favorite date spot – Thistle Hill Tavern: “Romantic but not in-your-face romantic.”

Most intriguing local character whose name you do not know – The Park Slope Stoop Sale Sign-Ripper: “I once heard him speak aloud and was stunned at his voice’s melodiousness. The guy could do Mitsubishi Galant voiceovers for a living.”

Best weekend night out when you don’t feel like traveling far – The Vanderbilt, for its Manhattan feel, wine list, and meatballs.

Read more at Brooklyn Magazine.

Coffee Watch: Noella Brew Bar Opens

Coffee lovers who stop in to one of the Slope’s bean roaster establishments have a new kid on the block (or one that has moved back). The former owner of Ozzie’s has opened a new coffee shop that promises to continue in Ozzie’s tradition – good coffee with a good conscience. Noella Brew Bar serves up organic coffee from Counter Culture and pastries from La Bagel Delight. For the more discerning taste, coffee can be made using the “pour-over” technique.

Located on 7th Avenue between Lincoln and Berkley, Noella Brew Bar will be competing against established cafes such as Café Regular Du Nord. Noella’s café provides great coffee with an unmistakable neighborhood ambiance, but only time will tell if Slope locals will choose higher end coffee with a price tag ($3 to $6 for a cup of “pour-over” joe) to match. Visit BlackBookMag.com for ratings and reviews of the newest additional to the Slope’s business community.