Carroll Gardens: January 2007 Archives

So I took fellow Brooklynite Ben Kweller's advice and I ate at Savoia on Smith Street for the first time. Don't know why I'd never stopped by. Perhaps it's just one of those places that becomes part of the scenery and you forget exists to be tried. On Friday night, we sampled three items: the ravioli special, which was ravioli in a butter-herb sauce, one of the restaurant's apparently famous wood-fired pizzas--we tried one with a super spicy soppresetta--and shared a fennel salad. The portions were generous, the prices were reasonable ($33 bottle of wine); though perhaps my one complaint is the closeness of the tables. Normally this wouldn't bother me, but we happened to sit next to a semi-annoying couple. You know, the ones who need attention right away, always ask for something extra, send a dish back, and then rush off to something more important. Besides them, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and no one rushed us to finish our bottle of wine. I think it's going to become our new neighborhood favorite. One question: I noticed they do brunch on the weekends--is it any good?

Smith and Vine outgrew its space on 246 Smith Street a long time ago, but the good news is that the fab wine store is moving down the block to 268 Smith (across from Chestnut and Zombie Hut). They'll make the move the first week of February. Here's to more space for more wines on the $10 and under table!

Leo's at Court and Nelson streets (the former Sparky's) appears to be planning a comeback. The interior looks cleaned up and there's now a big "classy" white sign outside re-affirming the name. Do I smell an opening soon?

One of the things I love about living in Carroll Gardens is that you can experience the past while still enjoying the comforts of the current century (like, say TWO nights of double "24" action!). I give you Bob's Grinding Service, whose van I caught driving up Clinton Street yesterday. Bob has a bell that he rings when he stops and parks for a bit to alert customers, and then he moves on. Warms my heart; almost makes me want to leave my empty milk jugs outside tonight.

So Brooklyn Yoga finally canceled its 7:30 a.m. classes, which makes me sad because I loved those classes. The only other nearby early morning option I know of is Area Yoga, but they're currently not on my best list because I had a spa treatment there the other day, and the spa couldn't provide me a receipt for my insurance. Normally, I go to Cornerstone Healing (hands down the best massage in the neighborhood), but Cornerstone was booked, so I decided to try Area. Not the best massage I've ever gotten, though not the worst, but when I asked for a receipt, they claimed the only receipt they could possibly give me was a credit card receipt. So I asked, "You can't handwrite me a receipt on an invoice?" Nope. They don't have them. And they've never been asked for a receipt before, ever. I am the only crazy person who ever needed a receipt. Uhuh. Hard to believe that a company that owns no less than eight locations in Brooklyn can't scare up a receipt that someone needs for their insurance.

OK, now I've got that off my chest ... is their yoga any good?

UPDATE: The owner of Area contacted me and offered a printed, itemized receipt. She also offered several free yoga classes to make up for the inconvenience. I'll report back on the classes!