Recently in Neighborhood Category

Eton is a neighborhood restaurant that snuck right by me. When I first saw the awning on Sackett Street at Henry, I assumed overpriced boutique and went on my way. But oh how wrong I was.

No boutique, Eton is a dumpling shack that is serving up five fresh, hot dumplings per order--in a variety of flavors--for a mere $3.50. Did I mention these dumplings are huge? And tasty? And that the restaurant is open until 11:30pm? It's like I've died and gone to a more accessible version of Chinatown.

Yes, there's a bit of a wait for the fresh dumplings, but you can watch the skins being rolled out to pass the time. And, yes, the decor leaves a bit to be desired--do not lean onto the wall separating the entryway from the counter, it will violently wobble and threaten collapse. But there's a lot of love that goes into a neighborhood joint like this, and it shows in the customer-service details. On the day that I stopped by, the guy at the counter mixed me a to-go cup of sriracha and ginger-infused black vinegar that will be my go-to dumpling dipping sauce for some time to come.

I have yet to try Eton's other offering, shave ice, mostly because I'm so devoted to Court Street Pastry's ices, I hate to cheat, but the sheer number of flavors--and number of people walking out with colorful cone in hand--speak to Eton's popularity in the shave ice department as well.

OK. I am opening up the forum on the horrible little beasts that have been eating me non-stop for weeks now. I get bit on the sidewalk in front of my house, I get bit while walking down streets with no trees, and--of course--I get bit in our backyard unless I cover myself in toxic mosquito repellent.

I've heard it's bad this year because the city stopped spraying. Does anyone know why?

Also, any remedies besides the obvious? Am I the only one being sucked dry?

I've kept silent thus far on the "Is 'The Real World' coming to Carroll Gardens or not issue?" simply because it's been so back-and-forth. Today (again), Curbed supposedly has the word, which is that the show will be located in Red Hook and not Carroll Gardens or downtown Brooklyn. Red Hook certainly makes more logistical sense for the show, and it's also certain to make many in this neighborhood very, very happy.

On a related note, what's with all the filming in the neighborhood? In the past week, there's been a film shooting in front of the movie theater, a commercial on Smith Street and then today a whole crew was set up in front of the old Little Red Deli by the Cobble Hill Park.

Seems like every time I walk down Smith Street something changes. Flirt is no more on Smith Street, which is sad because it was one of my favorite neighborhood boutiques. The location in Park Slope is still active, however, so now I'll just have to schlep myself over to 5th Avenue. In better news, Refinery (a long-time neighborhood stalwart for great purses) is looking quite spiffy in its new space just a few doors down.

I have a little confession: I've never been inside Carroll Garden's Marco Polo. It seems a bit impenetrable with its valet parking and old-schoolers congregating for cocktails and dinner. But this I know: The Italians of Carroll Gardens wouldn't have kept it in business for 25 years unless it served up some tasty Italian food. And now I have an excuse to go--the restaurant is serving a three-course $19.83 lunch, in honor of the year it opened, and a three-course $25 dinner, in honor of its anniversary. The special lasts throughout the summer and includes dishes such as house-made pasta with spicy cured anduja sausage and guanciale, grilled octopus, a prosciutto and mozzarella stuffed pork chop. Anybody want a lunch date with ABL?

And if you're not in the mood for fancy Italian, I can heartily recommend Marco Polo's pizza annex. The sausage, onion and broccoli rabe pizza is just about the perfect combo.

Lunchtime in the neighborhood is generally a perfuntory affair for me: falafel at Zaytoons, a slice at Vinny's, the occasional banh mi at Nicky's when I'm up that way. But my craving for sushi had to be satisfied on Monday, and that took me and my dining companion to Cube 63 on Court Street in Cobble Hill. Due to my pregnancy, I hadn't consumed sushi for a long, long time, and the restaurant's lunch menu was a nice way to ease back into the world of raw fish. Of particular interest is the tea menu, their version of the bento box, which ranges (if memory serves) from $6.50 to $8.50. Above is my tea lunch, which in addition to all the lovely little delicacies you see here, came with a whole pot of green tea. Below is what my dining companion chose.

As seen on Henry Street. Note to self: If I had a car and that car had an alarm, I'd definitely refrain from parking said car on Henry. (Don't miss the "friendly" notes tucked under the car's windshields, just in case the owner was unsure of how a dog with that much backup got on top of his/her car.)

You may have noticed some different artwork in the windows of businesses along Smith and Court streets. It's all a part of Windows Brooklyn. Two personal favorites--the "how much is your rent?" (my title) installation at Brownstone Treasures/Yesterday's News, above, and the "old-photo peepholes" (my title) at Hasker.

Kill your television this Saturday, April 26th, and head over to Camp on Smith St. Eric Shans will be DJing all the best britpop and indie tunes for you.

Not convinced? Go check out his mix he did for us a little while back, "A Snow Flake Falls In Brooklyn".