Neighborhood: May 2006 Archives

Dear Patois,
    The first time I had dinner with you, I was impressed. Your waitstaff were personable yet professional, the timing spot-on, the food the perfect example of what Americans want in their French bistros, and a warmth flowed from the dining room that I equate with restaurants to which I would like to return.
    The second time I passed through your doors, it was for brunch. You left me feeling like I had done something wrong and you were punishing me by leaving my water glass unfilled, my bread basket empty, my order untaken. But it was weekend; it was brunch; we all have those moments.
    The third time, I am sad to tell you, was not the charm. Your oysters were overpriced and not that tasty. Your mussels had sand in them (and not just a few, almost every one that I ate was grainy, and I heard that tell-tell crunch ring round the table). My three scallops, which I had previously been OK spending $20ish dollars on, did not live up to expectations. Lacking flavor, lacking zing, they sat upon a lukewarm bed of orzo and tomato that too was lacking. The steak was not cooked-too-order and was tough; the fries weren't hot. I have never been so happy to say no to dessert.
    So, Patois, what I want to know is, Are you slipping, or have I just been unfortunate enough to dine twice now when the better chef had the night off? You're making Bouillabaisse 126's cramped seating feel downright neighborly.

In search of the Brooklyn parrots, we set off for Greenwood Cemetery. I was imagining some expedition of gigantic bird-watching proportions. Nope, turns out if you go to the park's main entrance off the 25th Street "R" train and look up into the spires of the building that serves as the gate, you can see them quite easily (click on the photo at left for an enlarged view). The small green birds have built lofty, sprawling nests in the spires, and, being rather active animals, they swoop in and out of the nests often enough to make catching a glimpse easy work. The earlier you go, the more vocal they seem to be, as we were treated to a cacophonous squawking when we arrived around 10:45 a.m. (Our plans to attract them to our backyard were reconsidered in light of the birds' amazing ability to project vocally.)

Tropical birds who have invaded our area's ecosystem aside, the cemetery is well worth a trip. We spent almost two hours wandering the northwest side of the park, admiring gravestones, marveling at fancy tombs and spotting famous and locally famous names (we never did find Leonard Bernstein)--and we barely scratched the surface. For every big road we walked down there were tiny paths passed by. For every hundred-year-old grave topped with a strange carving or inscription we studied, there were another 100 left unseen.

Regular tours and bird-watching tours are offered on the weekends and listed on the website. Big Onion  also sponsors tours that start at the entrance. Also see many more engaging photos on Flickr.

I've been to many an open bar in New York City, but for whatever reason these are usually held on a weekday, and so the drinking is kept in check for the early-morning rise the next day. Brooklyn Collective's Saturday night party, however, had no such check. It was free beer from 7pm to 8pm; we got there at 7:30. By 7:59, I was holding my third full beer in hand. (For the record, three beers in half an hour is about two too many.) In the course of being drunk, I had three thoughts, "Wow DJ Duckcomb is good, live too," "Who is that guy playing live acid house?" (turns out he works at the Perfect Corner framing store on Court Street) and "Was that really Harry Hawk from Schnack who took those   photos of half-naked women hanging in the Brooklyn Collective store?" Just wanted to share.

Spurred by Stockholm's creativity and a reader who asked me if Brooklyn can do better than BoCoCa, I thought I'd put the question to the readers. Is there anyway to combine Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens for a pleasing acronymn? What if we throw Gowanus into the mix? Be creative and may the best word win! If we get enough submissions (use the lovely comment button), perhaps we'll put it to a vote.

From the Craig... and might I say this is the best use of "hipster" I've seen yet--apparently being "hipster" is a pre-existing condition. No matter what you open in this storefront, you are guaranteed hipness. Absolutely fabulous--it's why I love Brooklyn. Manhattan is sooo last year in the hip parade ;)

Hipster store front lease for sale

Prime location on hipster Smith St. Bklyn store lease for sale.
3 years left on the last of the low rent leases. $2,100/850ft.

Key$$, lowered to $45,000. (Landlord,most likely, will not go crazy with rent increase when lease is up as they are very laid back.)

No Food. No Bar

Move-in condition. Near all the best restaurants and trendy boutiques (American apparel next door.) totally renovated *2large front windows and large front awning,new wood floor, new air, sound system, track lighting, fridge, electric gate. Finished back room with removeable wall.(dressing rooms,expensive mirrored doors and lights on ceiling) Dirty basement but storage facility near by. (redo the entire space at your expense if you are already an established chain.)
email - Hipstuffat718@aol.com or e-mail below.

Smith St. at douglas/Butler

I can't say for sure if that's DJ Duckcomb of ABL Podcast fame posing for the poster (we've never met!), but I do know that you'll get to see him live and in person when he DJs at Brooklyn Collective's cool little gig on Saturday, May 6, starting at 7 p.m. [198 Columbia Street between Sackett and Degraw streets]. Duckcomb is joined by ShakeWell and special guests, the Innovaders. What's all the fuss about? The gallery/shop just wants to throw a party for spring--and it's free drinks and refreshments at Lido bar next door from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. with an R.S.V.P. You'll also get to check out some cool art and design (photos, paintings, sculpture, fashion, jewelry, accessories) from what I can only assume is the work of Brooklyn craftspeople.

First, I must apologize for the lack of photos on the site. I've misplaced (lost?) my camera battery charger, and the battery is dead. It makes me very sad. I keep hoping I'll find it in the apartment, but I just might have to bite the bullet and buy another one.

Now, on to Pathmark. With the loss of the world's most poorly run Key Food on Court Street, which still hasn't turned into the promised drug store, the neighborhood had to find a new place to shop for groceries. Of course, we still patronize Sue and her natural foods mini-grocery, and on occasion we've stopped into that little grocery next door, which is only good for the very basics of basics (hmmm .... I think I need a can of tomato paste). But we've also started making the trek to Pathmark, known on the company's own website as Gowanus Pathmark. On our side of the neighborhood, it's not so far away.

You'd never know it was there, even if you're a frequent shopper at Lowe's, which shares a parking lot with the behemoth (Pathmark faces Hamilton). And it is a large grocery store. It's like stepping into the suburban grocery store of one's youth. Wide aisle, so many aisles that you could lose a child in there if you really wanted to. It still puts the veggies on Styrofoam trays, but at least the veggies are fresh. It also has an impressive selection of Latin food products--Latin cheeses, crema Mexicana, arepas-making stuff, wide selection of items from Goya.  And it's a good place to stock up on staples.

Of course, the vast majority of people there are stuffing their carts with extra-large bags of frozen chicken wings, so if you find bulk purchases of frozen meat products disturbing, you might want to stick with the Met Food on Henry.

Here's betting that Half A$$ Rock Star DJ night at Abilene on Wednesday will be just as charming as its first two incarnations.

Our friend  and ipod DJ Adam will be mixing up the new and old, rock and funk, maybe even slip in a few electronic-leaning tunes, from 9 p.m. to about midnight. Come show some love for ABL.

If you haven't been, Abilene's a cool little bar. If you have, you already know this, and you should come for a cool little night.