DAILY SLOPE

Source: An Inexpensive iPhone Theft Detector (Gizmodo)

According to the New York Post, “snatch-and-run” thefts of iPhones and designer accoutrements like purses are on the rise in “trendy” Brooklyn neighborhoods including Park Slope. The 78th Precinct, which serves Park Slope, has reported a 32% uptick in this type of robberies. May be time to be vigilant and break out the black Sharpie.

Other neighborhoods: 76th Precinct, which includes Carroll Gardens and Red Hook, among other areas reported 124 robberies in 2011 vs. 100 in 2010. Victims include nightclubbers and restaurant patrons on Smith Street, straphangers at Carroll Street station, and Trader Joes/Fairway customers (and at least one Fairway employee).

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/thieves_getting_hip_to_trendy_brooklyn_4IgFUbkUKp2nG0SZZ2mqMI#ixzz1izJigtIR

Photo Source: SchoolGuides.com

Brooklyn has grown to be a cultural and (to a lesser extent) academic hotspot. Students who attend Brooklyn College tend to live in Brooklyn while attending school, since Brooklyn provides most everything a college student needs — from mass transportation that easily gets students from their apartment to school, to neighborhood bars and restaurants to blow off steam. The only problem is the difficulty in finding living arrangements that won’t drain your wallet.

A college student reported on CollegeProwler that the off campus housing at Brooklyn College “is very expensive … I wish they had some sort of student discount or financial aid.” Some 23% of Brooklyn College students reported that high prices and/or limited choices kept them on campus. Other students have found that living a little further off campus provides more choices at lower costs; the neighborhoods may not be as safe, but the rent is cheap, and mass transportation brings them right to school. Whether a student chooses to live off campus in a student run building or a little farther off campus, having apartment insurance may protecting their personal property from theft, fire or other catastrophe. For example, replacing a stolen laptop out of pocket isn’t in every college student’s means, which is where an apartment insurance policy comes in handy. The average policy in Brooklyn i $17 a month.

Photo By: Tom Rupolo

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ records show The Fresh Emporium Supermarket was caught reselling expired Costco pumpkin pies. The agency is responsible for fostering “agricultural environmental stewardship, and safeguard our food supply.” While laws against reselling food products are non-existent in New York, it is against the law to sell expired food products.

The Fresh Emporium was reported reselling pies purchased from Costco for two dollars more than the original retail price. DosLives.com reports a man identified as the store manager “made a mistake by removing the expiration date, but it was not intentional.” DosLives.com also reports previous complaints against the store, “the state agency revealed two complaints – one in 2008 about expired candy apples and another in 2009 that reported the store was adding chunks of fat to chicken to increase its weight.” A store manager named Jose said the store will not remove expiration dates from pies moving forward. If you have had any issues with this grocer, please share your experiences.

It’s been more than a decade since the “Dyke Slope” moniker made sense. The Cattyshack is now shuttered. And despite sheer numbers, New York is definitely not the gayest city, relatively speaking (see linked infographic, left column). Nevertheless, Park Slope is still considered the leading edge of the Outer Boroughs gay community (along with Cobble Hill). So there are plenty of nightlife and other social options in Park Slope for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered folks.

Two of the top options include Ginger’s Bar, which has been praised for its reasonable prices, a good jukebox, video games, and pool table, along with monthly drink specials (not to mention a Sunday Bingo night with Luscious Lola); and Excelsior, a gay and lesbian cocktail bar that has an outdoor garden and porch. It’s a New York Magazine Critic’s Pick and has been praised as being a lot more “neighborhoody” than some other options, allowing gays, lesbians and their straight friends a comfortable spot without pumping music or “seedy” trappings of some more well-known bars. Likewise, the bartenders are known to reward courtesy and respect with excellent customer service (and possibly buybacks).

If bars are not your scene, check out the Park Slope LGBT 20-30’s ‘Non-Scene’ Meetup which is designed for “cool young LGBT folks in Park Slope” who otherwise generally have to commute to Williamsburg or Manhattan to meet each other: “Central brooklyn – Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Flatbush – has its own vibe, and some really great places to hang out, and Park Slope is the center of it all. So, why not hang out with each other here?”

A Brooklyn-based photographer named Harlan Erskine was sent on assignment by Brooklyn Magazine to capture the essence of Brooklyn brownstone interiors from a voyeur’s point of view. The assignment was intended to pay “homage to the voyeuristic artwork of Shizuka Yokomizo” reports Henry Stewart of Brooklyn Magazine. Harlan went around Park Slope leaving a note that read:

“I am a Brooklyn-based photographer and would love to photograph the exterior of your home for a photo story referencing the work of Shizuka Yokomizo. In the acknowledgement to Shizuka’s ‘Distance’ piece, the essay places the same amount of emphasis on the design of the home as it does as the participation of the resident. Therefore, I would like to call on you in hopes that you might participate in this feature, to leave your lower level lights on from the hours of 10pm-11pm TONIGHT and arrange the apartment as you would like it to be seen. I would also encourage you to engage in the space or in front of the window if you too would like to be photographed.”

The images that were captured definitely embrace the essence of Yokomizo’s work. Visit Yokomizo’s website to learn more about her work.

Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in Brooklyn Hospital on December 20, 1960, and lived in Park Slope. In his teenage years, he attained notoriety as a graffiti artist; his work, signed SAMO, was humorous and poetic. And though some modern-day Park Slope graffiti writers say Basquiat Lives, and some blogs refer to him as a “Park Slope native,” the artist actually had very little connection to Park Slope, it turns out.

A lot has been made about Basquiat running away from Park Slope at age 15 (not 17), but apparently, that was a very short stint of sleeping on park benches in Washington Square Park; after being arrested, Basquiat was returned to his father in about a week. By another account, after he ran away from home, he stayed a few hours at a local radio station until the employees called his father. Moreover, it’s not really clear whether he ran away from Park Slope, since this timeline says the family actually moved to East Flatbush (East 35th Street) in 1966, at which time, Jean-Michel would have been only 6 years old, max.

In 10th grade, Basquiat dropped out of Edward R. Murrow High School in Midwood. His father kicked him out and he stayed with friends elsewhere in Brooklyn.

In the picture, you see his father, Gerard Basquiat, who was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. His mother, Matilde Andradas, was born in Brooklyn to Puerto Rican parents. And this mod-looking photo shows the Basquiats at home at 553 Pacific St., which according to the NYPL Digital Gallery, is Park Slope:

Source NYPL Digital Gallery

So that’s between 3rd and 4th Aves, right around the corner from Target – whether that counts as Park Slope may be open to discussion.

Jean-Michel Basquiat died on Friday, August 12, 1988 in his loft on Great Jones Street. He was 27 and his autopsy report listed cause of death as “acute mixed drug intoxication (opiates – cocaine).” But after all that, it turns out that his body rests much closer to Park Slope — Basquiat is buried in Greenwood Cemetery:

Photo: Brooklyn Daily

Image source: Here’s Park Slope

Park Slope’s favorite little soup shop that serves new renditions on old favorites is open again this year. The Soup Bowl is located at 321 Seventh Avenue between 8^th and 9^th Streets. Don’t count on getting a table as seating is very limited but most people grab a cup and go. During the summer months the location is an ice cream parlor, but come November the space is transitioned into a soup shop. A Brooklynian.com community member comments about the Soup Bowl’s soup in the winter months, “This stuff is so good and a perfect day for soup. The man is definitely a soup craftsman.”

The Soup Bowl menu constantly changes. You can go to The Soup Bowl website for their daily soup menu. Today’s menu is below.

Lobster Butternut Squash Bisque

Serious Split Pea

Turkey Chili

Chicken Pot Pie with Corn Bread Crust

Northern Bean Tomato

Smoked Ham and Diced Vegetables

Green Vegetables

Butternut Squash Potato

Porcini Shiitake

Sausage Chick Pea

Market Vegetable

Chicken Vegetable

New England Clam Chowder

Photo: Megan the Librarian

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of selling a car in NYC, there are a few things you might want to do aside from posting that beautiful black and orange ‘FOR SALE’ sign in the window.

Pretty much any attempt to sell your own car is a royal pain. One obvious approach is to post it on Craigslist, but it’s debatable whether it’s worth the time/hassle of dealing with potential scammers and time-wasters. There are some specific websites where you can post your car (sellmycar.com, nothingbutcars.com) but be prepared to get calls from dealers hoping to sell you a replacement vehicle. You can try the classic “flyers with rip-off contact info” approach and post it at coffee shops and neighborhood stores; you’ll get responses, but it’s the whole process of dealing with people that is annoying. People will say they are coming but never show up… Some will subject you to endless negotiations … Some will bounce checks … the list goes on.

Before you attempt any of the above, get your car detailed; that will insulate you against aggressive negotiators, who will have fewer complaints and problems to haggle over. You will get more clicks on Craigslist or autotrader.com. Even if it costs a few hundred dollars for a thorough detail, you can fold that in to your asking price.

If you put a FOR SALE sign in the window, make sure you park your car in high traffic areas at high traffic times so you get the most eyeballs – think Seventh Ave on a Saturday. One caveat – apparently there’s a rule against posting a ‘for sale’ sign in your window while the vehicle is parked on the street, and you may get fined $45. We haven’t confirmed any fines doled out, but if it can happen anywhere, it will happen in Park Slope.

Finally, do some comparative shopping to find out how much your car is worth. Search Craigslist for cars exactly like yours, and find out how much they are asking. Price yours competitively compared to theirs. Make it the best deal on the block.

Get more advice from Brooklynian.

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…”

5^th Avenue in Park Slope has one last remnant of a time when the area was run down. The decrepit building on 5^th Ave. between 6^th and 7^th 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 5^th 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.

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

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.'”

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.

The observer investigates:

“Whole Foods is coming to Brooklyn, building a huge new store right in the Park Slope Food Coop’s backyard. The Observer went shopping last night to see whether the coop’s mythic savings might save it from the micro-greens giant, even if it means working that infamous two-hour-and-forty-five-minute shift each month. We grabbed all the staples, headed for the express lane—15 items or less, please!—and tallied up the totals to see how the grocers fared.”

Check out the delicious slideshow.