DAILY SLOPE

In a reversal of classic urban roles, a recent thread begins with a driver complaining that bike lanes are making driving more dangerous.

YankeeFan:

Is it just me, or is the Bicycle lane on 5th making it quite a dangerous street to drive down? So many drivers are using those Bike lanes for easy double parking.  Obviously this is forcing way too many cars to cross the yellow lines and drive on the wrong side of a two-way street. It’s just a matter of time until we have some serious head to head collisions.

Several cyclists proceed to chime in and agree that this is why they often opt for biking down 6th instead.  Rather ironic that the presence of bike lanes on 5th pushes bikers to 6th (2 way street, single lane each way, no bike lanes) and makes driving on 5th more dangerous.  A couple of posters advocated for increased enforcement of the bike lane rules by ticketing offending drivers.  Do you have the answer to this infrastructural riddle.  Share it at Park Slope Message Boards: 5th ave Bicycle lanes are now extremely dangerous :: Brooklynian.com

8thandPrez unleashed a flurry of recommendations this week by asking for a good coffee rec in the ‘hood:

We’re finally moving to South Slope this weekend and I’m looking for a good coffee rec. I’m totally in love with Gorilla, and have been known to sneak into Starbucks when I’m too lazy to walk to 5th Ave. Any good coffee south of 9th St (and preferably closer to 16th St)?

What follows is an in depth critique of anyone that serves a decent cup of joe in the vicinity.  Cafe Regular, Red Horse and Parco each get numerous mentions.  Some for the quality of their coffee, some for the dreaminess of their baristas.  From starsinjenseyes:

“Brooklynpotter, I agree- the guys that run the place are dreamy! And they know their stuff.”

Read more about these coffee gems or add your own at Park Slope Message Board: South Slope coffee? :: Brooklynian.com | Brooklyn Blog and Message Boards

brooklynleather wants to buy a wig, and maybe you do too. You’re in luck, because Ricky’s Halloween Store is open for business.  It’s located next to Pintchik, err kind of in Pintchik where they usually have blinds and gardening gear.  Do you need to buy a wig?  fangs?  tutu?   Tell us on the Park Slope Message Boards – Ricky’s Halloween Store? :: Brooklynian.com

Today the owners and architects of the site formerly occupied by Zuzu’s Petals and Olive Vine will present their proposal for a new building to be built to the Landmark Preservation Commission.  The new building would replace the fire damaged structure currently on that site at 79 and 81 7th Avenue.  belzjm brought this to the attention of the forum by posting the link to the story and proposed design on Brownstoner.com. Most responses to the design have been positive, but not all as seen with this comment by LongTimeSloper:

My problem isn’t with the height of the building, it’s with the way the front of the building looks (HATE the huge factory like windows). My other problem is with the idea of things being torn down and built anew, I hate when i see that, old building or houses being taken down to put up a newer structure when work could be done on the old building and preserve some history (not to say that this is a particularly historic building, but, I think you get my drift).

Have a look for yourself and then add your two cents at Park Slope Message Board: former olive vine/zuzu’s petal space on 7th and berkely (Brooklynian.com)

A highly disturbing incident of child abuse was witnessed by lurker this week:

“I was riding the bus on 7th Ave in South Slope last night and witnessed a pretty horrible incident. A guy – late 40s perhaps – was walking down 7th with a kid of perhaps 10 yrs. The kid was carrying a bike helmet when suddenly the guy turned around and smacked the helmet out of his hands. The kid started crying and picked up the helmet and then threw it down again in a sort of tantrum. No big deal, I thought.

Then, the guy grabbed the kid by his jacket, at the neck and the lower back, picked him up off the ground, and threw him into the doorway of a store onto the floor (door was open, not through the door). He then walked up to the boy, who was lying on his back, and kicked him at least twice. The store had several people in it. The woman behind the counter came around and helped the boy up. She appeared to be related to both the kid and guy. They talked while she tried to comfort the crying boy.  Pretty shocking and sad. Makes me wonder what kind of family dynamic is at work there.”

lurker adds that the police were called.  Because the scene was witnessed from within a passing bus, we’re not sure what the result of their involvement was.

What would you like this abusive man’s punishment to be?  Share it here: Park Slope Message Board: Child abuse witnessed in South Slope store (Brooklynian.com)

Well, here’s one for the books. The local staple New College Restaurant on 4th avenue and Union street has gone through renovations in this past month. They have broken through all the dim outer walls on that corner and created a lovely open space with sliding glass doors, similar to the look Beso had on Union and 5th (before it closed last year). New awnings now boast “South Slope.” Menus still lay claim to their history of “serving Park Slope for 25 years,” but from the looks of it the owner just decided to revamp the spot with a perhaps hipper name and contemporary look.

I always wondered about the name New (not since the early eighties?) College (there’s a college around here?) Restaurant, but what truly befuddles me is the new name. First of all 4th and Union is barely Park Slope, if anything it’s Gowanus, despite the hopes of Realtors. Second, since when is Union Street considered South Slope? I thought I lived in North Slope? Go figure.

Read More and Comment: New College Restaurant is Now “South Slope: cafe-restaurant” (Park Slope Message Board at Brooklynian.com)

booklaw alerted the board this week to a New York Times article breaking what is sure to be a hot button issue.  “http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/…..artner=rssnyt&emc=rss Who needs Beverly Hills? We have valet parking right here!! ” It turns out that the Y on 9th street has started offering valet service for parents using the facilities.  Reactions so far have been mixed. Livetotravel seems to feel that things might be getting out of hand in this “Spawnocentric” neighborhood.  “I just wonder what has changed over the years to have made it imperative to have strollers with temperature sensors and pedometers since the days when my kids were little.” Jamzer comes out in favor: “I think the Y provides this service so that the strollers don’t clog the inside of the building. Since the YMCA provides child care, it makes sense that they need someplace to put the strollers.” And you’ll just have to stop by the thread yourself for Whatchuwant’s less nuanced reaction to the detractors.

Park Slope Message Board: Valet Stroller Parking at 9th Street YMCA (Brooklynian.com)

This Sunday is the annual Atlantic Antic, the biggest, baddest and latest in the season street fair in the neighborhood. pastoralia did us the favor of sending out a reminder this week as well as some advice.  “Just thought I’d remind everyone in the Slope that Atlantic Antic is this Sunday (10/5) so start planning your work excuses for Monday now.” And if you think you’ve had enough of white socks and sausages (Hamilton’s street fair impression) then at least hear out Mamacita who writes: “Atlantic antic is one of the few fairs that rock, seriously, Rock bands playing in front of the bars. Lots of food: bahn mi, pies, ice cream, lots of cheap beer, soul food, pernil and beans/rice, Antiques and stoop sales everywhere. It’s awesome! .” Three consecutive emoticons can’t be wrong.  The thread contains plenty of hot picks for who’s got the best ales, best sales and where and when the best bands plug in.

So head on over to Park Slope Message Board: Atlantic Antic! (Brooklynian.com) to start planning how to spend your Sunday

Everyone in Park Slope seems riled up about the Biden-Palin debate. Some will be constructively playing drinking games like Brooklynbound or Palin Bingo like dailyheights, others will be taking out their rage on their innocent televisions

Mamacita writes: “I’m scared to watch it. I really hate Palin. I may throw a beer at the tv.” And rtraindweller, a similarly inclined viewer posts: “I‘m gonna do my best NOT to throw a forty at the TV. I couldn’t even watch 5 minutes of her speaking at the RNC. I had to shut the TV off and go for a bike ride to regain my senses. Thursday is going to be interesting to say the least…”

Underhill_MT shares another way to calm yourself down if the debate is getting you heated up. “When she spoke at the RNC I had to turn the TV off because I felt sick…Had to go outside and look at the moon to calm myself down.” All told, it might be wise to surround yourself with other people.  Either so they can restrain you, or so your beer can be hurled anonymously from the crowd at someone else’s TV.

Here are a few places to watch the debate in public as compiled by brooklynmatters:
1. Pacific Standard ( 4th Ave / Pacific St) – drink specials
2. Union Hall (Union/ 5th Ave) – drink specials
3. Bar 4 ( 7th Ave/ 15th St)
Also, there’s stuff organized throughout the city by Drinking Liberally- just check their website

Know of other good places to watch the big game?  Share them at Park Slope Message Board: VP Debates (Brooklynian.com)

Old Goat in FL stopped by the boards this week in search of fellow old-timers with whom he could reminisce about the neighborhoods bygone years. “I am retired in Florida. Grew up on 12th Street
between 5th & 6th Aves in the 30’s 40″s & 50″s. Went to PS 124, PS 40’s and the REAL Manual, not John Jay. Attended 12thst Reformed Church. Is there anyone out there from my neighborhood and era?” Seems like he predates any of the regulars, but the regulars have been encouraging Old Goat to share his memories of days long past and he’s obliged.

Some excerpts:
“In the late 30’s and most of the 40’s most people were still recovering from the depression first and then the war. So few cars parked on the street that we played stickball whenever we were not in school right in the middle of the street. Two sewers was a pretty good hit!“

“12th Street was like one big family. Every nationality imaginable. There was the Hickeys, Websters, Draddys,
Carsons, Cash, Martin, Jaworski,Strozyk, Murphys, Fiorellos, Placido, Petito, Highlands and so on.”

“In Old Goats days the street gangs were the “Smittys’, and the “Garfield Boys”. The best thing was to have friends in each gang and when you met up with a gang member or two be sure to
mention the right guy you knew.”

“The only incident I rememnber IN school was when one of the gang members slapped a Gym teacher. The Gym teacher slapped him right back and knocked him on his butt. The teacher offered to meet
the member & his gang one on one after school. The teacher showed up but the gang did not and that Teacher had no more problems.”

“Does anyone out there recall Belmont’s Clothing store for Men & Boy?. Anytime you bought something you got a free gift. It could be a baseball, football or a Baseball glove… Also there was a Bickfords Cafeteria
on 9th Strret as well as a place called the “Cube Steak”. The served a square steak sandwich! “

Well I’m going to try to rig me up a square steak sandwich right now, but I recommend you read the rest of Old Goat’s tales at Park Slope Message Board: 12th street 40’s & 50’s (Brooklynian.com)

Brooklynian’s very own madman has collaborated on this Digg-worthy project:

“Palin Bingo! My friends and I put this together today. Please
pass it around to anyone and everyone you can before Thursday’s debate.
I’m hoping it gets picked up by some political blogs.”

View topic – Palin Bingo! :: Brooklynian.com | Brooklyn Blog and Message Boards

Since we all know it’s super uncool to be starstruck or otherwise impressed with celebrity while living in NYC, we will just blithely and offhandedly state that YOU MISSED GOSSIP GIRL filming right down the street:

“Sadly, you are too late,” writes filmlover44. They were filming on
Tuesday and Weds at Prospect Hall. We did get to see many of the stars.
They took up the entire block between 5th and 6th and the block between
Prospect and 17th on 6th Avenue over the highway. I think that they
took up more space than most movie crews take up.“

Just sayin’. Not a big deal, of course.

Read more: OMG OMFG Gossip Girl [Park Slope Message Board on Brooklynian.com]

As if you didn’t know, there’s a new Trader Joe’s in town, and everyone is talking about it.  A few posters on Brooklynian had the masochistic impulse to make it down there during the opening weekend.  They returned (almost universally) with warm fuzzies: “a lot of fun,” “really great” and “gorgeous” … plus the usual friend-of-a-friend knowledge about how well they treat their employees.

Is there no yang to this ying? Well, maybe one: NO TWO-BUCK CHUCK! No wine – “just the grocery store,” writes meganlibrarian. They only have 1 license for the city, and use it for their Union Square location. The other NYC locations do sell beer, though.”

Nonetheless, reviews like “large, airy, wide aisles, well stocked and lots of cashiers!” as posted by maratl2 bode well for the neighborhood’s most highly anticipated new grocery store.

Have you made it over to TJ’s?  Share your impressions at Park Slope Message Board: Brooklyn Trader Joe’s opened today, anyone go? (Brooklynian.com)

Last week Drunken Revival asked “Can
a town such as Park Slope even have hidden gems?” and then got the
conversation rolling with a list of nominations.  Others chimed in and a list was born:

Donuts – 7ave, btw 8th and 9th. For my money there is not a better BLT
in the hood. Plus they are open at 4am which is huge for me…

Best blog/message board that isn’t the Brooklynian: http://www.brooklynbabydaddy.blogspot.com/

Best ping pong game: Yes, Brownstone has some tables, but at
$11.95/hr and with the risk (or accidental, uh, joy) of backhanding a
stray teenager from the duck bowling lane wouldn’t you rather check out
Royale? From time to time they set up a table on the dance floor… think
daytime, or early Tuesday evening.

Closest thing to an after-hours joint: Royale, again. That place is
still bumping on a Saturday at 3:30… the rest is up to you.

Best Dive bar: Canal Bar – it truly is a divey bar on a divey street
(3rd ave + President or Union). Popcorn machine, pool table, bucket
nips of MHL, Bud, and Corona. The bathroom doors don’t close all the
time, the inflatable ornaments are not for show, and the giant plastic
shark will scare you on an acid trip. Bonus features: at any given
moment the owner may come in from the back with giant try of sausage
and peppers (they have a garden and a grill), a biker gang might roll
in thick, or that one dude might fart mid sentence… there is no noise
limit and I doubt that even I could get cut off here. Seriously, good
times.

Best doctor: Dr. Burton Fletcher. He is bearded, left handed, kind,
and old school. He admits when he doesn’t know and will not over
prescribe. He is a member of a dying breed: classically trained in the
art of family care with a wide ranging knowledge base. I like that he
delivers your fate directly, clearly and without deviation.

Best pickup softball game: Let me start by saying: http://www.buttermilksoftball.blogspot.com/

Field 5, 4pm, Sundays, 4th of July through Labor Day and possibly
beyond… anyone is welcome. You will have fun, you will laugh, you will
pull a hamstring…

Best One Two Punch of a corner: If Barbes didn’t smell like a French
woman’s armpit and if Collson’s wasn’t always out of whatever I might
want I’d say 9th St and 6th Ave. As it stands, however, 6th Ave. and
20th street gets the nod. Kitchen Bar is just flat out good. Nice bar,
good, small, fresh dishes… next door is BBQ or something… huge plates
of meat – like bring a suitcase for leftovers size plates, beans,
collard greens, etc… Much more importantly, it has the best bourbon
menu in Park Slope and likely beyond. We are talking 30-40 wide ranging
varieties all for $5-$7. You cannot beat this place.

Worst loss to the hood – the Bourbon menu at Bar BQ. They’ve closed.

Best way to blow $20 – Car wash. 4th Ave. and Garfield or Carroll.
This one also falls into “best massage chair”. I recommend getting
blazed beforehand. Anyway, it’s one of those where you get out and
watch your four wheeled steed through soapy glass. While you’re waiting
on that crack team of cleanliness technicians to barely vacuum your
floor yet somehow get every penny out of your ashtray I recommend
checking out the “store”. There you will find some of the best air
fresheners and fuzzy dice along with a wonderful, coin op, massage
chair and tons of other shit you don’t need. On your way out your snag
a gum ball and don’t forget not to tip. You just blew $20. Bonus: your
radio is now blasting that Mexican station you didn’t know existed.

Best place to boycott – Sheep Station.. 4th Ave. Why you ask? Well,
you’ll have to come up with your own reasons. Mine are that the
bartender is a complete dickhead… and second, well, I have my reasons.
It’s really too bad because that place has some interesting drinks,
good food, and is gay friendly.

Best way to extend a weekend of partying – Sunday, 8pm, Bar Reis.
5th Ave btw 5th and 6th. Jim, the bartender, is cute, engaging, and
funny. Pool table, backyard, and a decent crowd for a Sunday. The
literal bar is brand new. The bars namesake, Reis, may pop in to answer
any trivia specific to the bars’ decade plus history. Also, pretty soon
they will be opening a restaurant next door. I hear it’ll be Tapas type
stuff.. small dishes, affordable and certainly tasty. Oh, don’t ask
about the “full bar tour” because it doesn’t exist.

Best bagel alternative – The Pie Shop. Prospect
Park West at 16th st. We’re not talking your grandmother’s thanksgiving
day standby; these pies are meaty and bursting with flavor. They are
designed to be easy-to-carry and eat on the go, perfect if you’re
looking to skip the bagel joint across the street on your way to the
train. My personal favorite is the mince steak and cheese.

Best Sandwich Counter – the sandwich counter at the back of A&S (5th
and Garfield, I think), is money. You might pay a couple dollars more
than at a regular deli, but it’s worth it — I live and die for Il
Classico –, just-salty-enough mozz, perfectly thin proscuitto, fresh
basil, tomatoes on awesomely delicious bread. Add oil and vinegar if yr
nasty.

Tuna Melt that gives you yum-tingles – Ale House (the bartender gets their own nomination as well)

Best cheap shoes – FabCo Shoes — down on like 15th and 5th — sometimes surprises with great style for like eight bucks.

Best beer selection – Eagle Provisions

Best Coffee – Java Joe’s, the coffee shop on 8th St. (7th/8th
Aves.) Their beans blow away Gorilla’s or anybody else’s & the
staff are beautiful people.


Sandwich that is a “fookin’ treat” – The Peter Luger sandwich at Pollio (across the street from Bar Reis)

Chicken tacos – Jirasol Bakery on 5th and 22nd. Add their homemade red and green sauce and you’re in heaven.

and many more!

Try them all and add your own at Park Slope message Board: REAL hidden gems of Park Slope (Brooklynian.com)

Carmen writes on the Park Slope message board at Brooklynian.com: “Ok. I get it. Owning a car in nyc is not only an exercise in patience, but also means that you need to deal with the fact that you’re car is going to get destroyed parking it on the street …

So I’m sitting in my car, parked, today waiting for alternate side parking to end … I see minivan pull up beside the car in front of me (sort of) and I realize she’s going to try to wedge into the spot left in front of me (very tight.) She proceeds to try about 4 times to just back straight into the spot, then appears to give up, and not only hops up on the curb, but then hits my car about 5 times WHILE I’M SITTING IN IT and she’s trying to park. Basically, it was bumper cars between be and the car she was pulling behind. I mean, this was enough force to actually slide my car backwards a slight amount.

So I get out and throw up my hands like “wtf” and the woman just looks at me and goes “Oh I’m no good at parking this big van” as she walks away. I was so outraged that I didn’t respond. A large part of me would love to go back and call the cops but I know they’re not going to do anything since this seems to be common practice but seriously- would you try to park like that when the owner of the other vehicle is SITTING IN IT?!”

View topic – On hitting people’s cars while parking :: [Brooklynian.com | Brooklyn Blog and Message Boards]

Is he a regular killjoy, or just a natural part of the Brooklyn street ecosystem? Pastoralia writes on the Park Slope Message Board at Brooklynian.com:

Has anyone seen this guy? He’s white, got a slight build, knobby knees, usually wearing a large gardener’s hat?

This past weekend I was walking back from the gym and he was going to every street post and tearing down people’s Stoop Sale signs. What’s the deal? I was going to confront him but I was already late and he has the sort of weasely little face that makes you immediately dislike him. He walked up 7th street between 6th and 7th Ave. I’m not sure if he lives there or was off to rip down other people’s signs.

And these were for stoop sales that were currently happening… this really pisses me off. What gives him the right? If a cop comes and rips a sign down because it’s illegal to be on city property- that’s one thing (and they have better shit to do than waste time doing this) but when some one man army thinks he knows what’s better for all of us– that’s F’d up.

LINK: Stoop sale sign ripper (Park Slope Message Board; Brooklynian.com)

8thandprez writes: Did anyone notice that the new parking regs in Park Slope are really much worse than before? It used to be that half the blocks (from 4th ave to 7th ave) were Mon-Tues street cleaning and the other half were Thurs-Fri. That made for a nice logical sequence where you would park on one set of blocks and then move to the other set of blocks.

Now, however, the 4th ave to 7th ave blocks are Mon-Thurs and the other half are Mon-Tues. So, for some strange reason we’ve got Monday street cleaning along the entire length of the streets. Sunday car moving is going to be a real nightmare now.

Thanks, DOT!

Read more and comment:

Parking Regs Are Back, Monday July 14 (Park Slope Message Board at Brooklynian.com)

From Chowhound (posted by redgirl):

Our sushi restaurant of choice is always Geido on Flatbush. The fish is so fresh and the staff are fabulous. However, once in a while when I’m working in the South Slope (south of 9th St.) and want some lunch, I’ll go to the sushi bar at Kiku (near 12th?). Well, Kiku must be upping their game because when I was there today, they were producing plates of food and having a professional photoshoot for them – they were amazing art plates. And then my usual plate came out – a tuna/av/cuke/ roll, tobiko sashimi and 2 pieces of yellowtail sushi and it was so whimsical and good! The guys behind the counter seems liked real pros and it was serious sushi time in there. I’m happy that there seem to be at least 2 really good sushi houses in the Slope. I also noticed that another one is opening on 7th Ave. near 5th St. where another (mediocre) sushi restaurant closed.

Park Slope area sushi wars (Chowhound.com)

Brooklynian Contest (hint: FREE VODKA)

Sweetest Tabby Found Lost in Prospect Park****Update****

FOUND: camera bag w/Pentax camera @ Union + 7th

Brooklyn Burger Bar is now…

Net options aside from TWC

Read more on the Park Slope Message Boards at Brooklynian.com

City Tech GreenWalk, Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO, May 1

Take a GreenWalk! New York City College of Technology, CUNY (City Tech) students will lead GreenWalk, a walking tour of Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO, on Thursday, May 1, 2008, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. We will explore urban environmental challenges and sustainable solutions. The public is invited to this free tour.

The tour will offer a range of perspectives on environmental concerns in areas immediately surrounding the college. Issues considered will include global warming, the tendency for cities to be warmer than outlying areas (the “Urban Heat Island Effect”) and power generation, while solutions will include recycling and composting, bio-fuel use, green building techniques, absorption of CO2 by trees, and local food consumption.

We will gather between 12:15 and 12:30 p.m. at the southeast corner of Jay Street and Tillary. The walk will proceed down Jay Street into DUMBO and the waterfront, then follow Washington Street up to Cadman Plaza East to the Columbus Park Green Market and conclude at City Tech with a reception from 2 to 2:30 p.m. The rain date is May 9th.

For more information, contact Robin Michals, at 718.260.5154 or e-mail [email protected] or go to http://www.brooklyngreenwalk.org.

I’m a Spanish researcher and I’ll visit the CUNY soon. I want to rent a small flat in Park Slope for 10 days (June 21 to 1 July). Can you help me?
Thanks in advance,
Teresa

My email: [email protected]

Prof. Robert Bell
Department of Economics
Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

will speak on:
The Green Bubble? Investing in Renewable Energy

Thursday, April 3, 2008
7:00 – 8:00 PM

Room 1310 Ingersoll Hall, Brooklyn College

A light supper will be provided.
Please RSVP, and direct questions to
Prof. Mark Kobrak, Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College
(718) 951-5758, [email protected]

Prof. Robert Bell, Ph.D., Professor of Management and Chairman of the Economics Department at Brooklyn College, is the author of THE GREEN BUBBLE—Waste into Wealth; the New Energy Revolution (in French: LA BULLE VERTE), published in Paris in 2007. He was also a featured speaker at the Fast 50 awards ceremony at the Paris Bourse (Stock Exchange), November 2007 and the inaugural speaker at the HEC-Deloitte Club of Energy and Finance, La Maison des polytechniciens, Paris, November 2007.

Look for more information and classes about renewable resources at online universities as well.

Hey,
I lived in Park Slope a year ago for 3 years, there used to be this really cute Latin American/Mexican house wares Store on 5th (and President maybe) It was usually a woman running it. They sold Day of the Dead menageries, handmade textiles, tin ornaments, you get the gist. I know they closed before I moved but I bought beautiful glasses tumblers there with little Day of the Dead skulls etched onto and a signature that looks like Larson? They were a wedding gift for my husband that he adored. Now they are all broken.
Does anyone know the owner or the artist or even the store?
Long shot but I figure it can’t hurt. Thanks so much! My email is [email protected]

benzapp writes: “It’s fermented tea. It’s expensive, tastes like crap, and claims to cure everything. Thus, it appeals to the rich and those addicted to Park Slopish consumer culture.”

“That said, it’s less than half the price at the food co-op if you really want the stuff.”

Not through being cool: Park Slope Forum | DailySlope.com Message Boards