Category: Uncategorized

Trying to gauge parents perspective on the dual-arab language school set to open this fall in Brookyln — are folks for or against the new school?

turtle95 writes on the Park Slope Message Boards: “In two articles in the NY Times recently (one about Fair Trade Coffee and the other about fixed wheel bicycles), the New York Times has equated “hipsters” with Brooklyn.”

“Is this a default now? Are there any hipsters left in Manhattan, or if they live in Manhattan, would they not be considered hipsters? What about Queens? Do they have any?”

“… If this was word association and someone said hipster, how many words it takes until you get to Brooklyn (or a subset thereof, e.g. Williamsburg)? … this isn’t an indictment of hipsters, just an exploration of what the term is coming to signify geographically.”

EXTRA!! Fun fact: the word “hipster” is used in 4 different articles in yesterday’s Sunday edition of the NYT.

Pontificate on hipsterism on the Park Slope Message Board

There are a few Park Slope & “Surrounding” Slope groups working with Brooklyn for Obama that are having get-togethers soon. The next one is on Wednesday next for the Gowanus/South Slope/Sunset Park folks. For more info, go here.
The Park Slope group is pretty active–to check it out, go here. And finally, The Obamathon is May 12th in Battery Park. Learn more here.

uglyjohnny shares his Tips on dealing with Time Warner on the Park Slope Forum | DailySlope.com Message Boards:

“We’ve had repeated outages of TimeWarner broadband in our N Slope area for about four weeks… Getting a response has been frustrating. Here are some tips I’ve learned:

1.TW will not recognize an “outage” until a whole bunch of people have called to complain. (One CSR said the magic number is 10.) So if your service goes down (one or two lights on the modem blink monotonously), and you’re pretty sure it’s not just you (your neighbors are down, too; a number of open wifi networks are concurrently disconnected), you must call…

2. Calling customer service (718-358-0900) is a real hassle, but you can make it easier. Again, if you’re sure it’s an outage and not just you, you can avoid the useless automated troubleshooting system (20 minutes easy) by refusing to respond to one of the recorded questions, or by saying something that’s not one of the listed choices. (“I don’t understand what you’re saying.” “None of the above.” “I want to talk to a human being.”) This may take some experimentation. After the first CSR tells you to bring in your modem or schedule an appointment, insist on speaking to a supervisor.

3. Call back the next day. Maybe that will count as two complaints.

4. Tell your neighbors to call, too.

5. Getting a credit for lost service? Good luck with that, but making the phone calls is a necessary first step.

What else works? Link: Tips on dealing with Time Warner (Park Slope Message Board)

Short answer: Three. Get the story across the tracks… over on the Prospect Heights Message Board.

According to the Brooklyn Papers, this woman (Pat Maliha, a Windsor Terrace preservationist) was “nearly decapitated” last week from a 36-inch piece of glass falling from everyone’s favorite Park Slope eyesore: the 10,000-square-foot brownstone on 7th Ave. that used to house the “legendarily wacky” Landmark Pub.

Apparently Maliha was in Tarzian West across the street when the guillotine fell. Now she is going to sue, according to Brooklyn Papers. Not sue the building owner, but the city, for not securing the loose and broken windows: “The city knew about the danger … But it didn’t do enough to protect people.” Well… maybe we’re a little late to the story, but there has been scaffolding around the building since at least the beginning of March. And one obvious question: how did the glass get from the window to the curb, especially with all that scaffolding sidewalk tunnel to catch it? Take a look at this photo and try to imagine the trajectory of the glass… Not saying it’s impossible, but if glass fell out of a combination of neglect and gravity, wouldn’t it simply fall straight down into the scaffolding??

Anyway… Is it right to sue the city? Drano writes on the Park Slope Message Boards: “On the one hand, it kind of seems as absurd as trying to sue the NYPD if you’ve been mugged… On the other hand, this particular ‘mugger’ has been in one spot, rotting away for the better part of twenty years… the condition of the building is plain to see.”

Oh yeah – remember when that building went on the market for $5.75 million last fall? Ken Freeman, the realtor who was handling it, called the building a “disaster”, and said the owner refused to negotiate from that high price, according to the Brooklyn Papers.

Paging Bruce Ratner: Any interest in invoking eminent domain on this beast??
Read more on the Park Slope Message Boards

Utopian Park Sloper pitu writes on the Park Slope Message Boards:

Every biker I know hates this place for their assholitude, so it was funny to read about ’em in this week’s Time Out. Funny that the rest of the list is Time Warner, Kinkos, and the US Postal Service.
The ConEd Awards for Bad Service…
http://www.timeoutny.com/newyo…..ervice.xml

Quote:

R&A Cycles Bike shopping? Apparently the staff at this Brooklyn store was trained at the Rikers Island Finishing School: At least one TONY staffer found a special animosity for women who dare to ask specific questions.

They got the high-end goods, that’s for sure. Drill down for unsubstantiated claims of alleged douchbaggery on the Park Slope Message Boards

Not one, not two, but three naked men jogging (or rollerskating) in Prospect Heights.

Oh, the humanity.

The conditions in the building at 341 5th Avenue, between 4th and 5th streets, a building owned by Sonia Santos, are horrible. Mountains of garbage. Heat and hot water out for days at a time regularly. Hallways filthy. Leaks. Roaches. Rodents. You name it, they’ve got it! I am NOT exaggerating! And on top of all that… constant harrassment and threats from Sonia Santos and her associates. All these conditions also apply to the basement where the food for the Drama Cafe is stored. You should definitely not rent from this landlord if you are looking. And I would think twice before eating in the Drama Cafe, even putting aside the fact that you would be giving your money to a slumlord. There is at least one other building owned by Sonia Santos, at 451 State Street, and conditions there are the same.

I’ve started a blog (Sonia Santos Bad Landlord) to pool the resources of all of those who have suffered or are suffering under this landlord. The tenants at 341 5th avenue are already working together, and also working together with former tenants who are facing court dates because they chose to break their leases and move rather than suffer any longer. If you are familiar with this landlord, please comment, communicate & vent. Also feel free to e-mail me ([email protected]), so that we can all share information and stop this woman from making peoples lives hell.

I am starting as a horticulture intern at the Botanic Gardens and looking for an apartment in a good neighborhood close by. The search is not going as well as expected. I am in the area now, I just need to find a place. If you have any suggestions or a place to offer please email me at cheezy_014@hotmail. Thank you!

Can you get a connection? Report it here. eKiteL has not had much luck:

eKiTeL Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Bushwick

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:43 pm    Post subject: you’re not going to get the wifi from the picnic house outside of the park, just near the picnic house inside the park, it’s not park wide so you’re not going to get it just anywhere you happen to be across the street from any part of the park anyway with such nice weather yesterday I went to give it a try and there was indeed a wifi network there to join, but I only got connected to the router, not actually connected to the internet, I’ve been having this problem in other places with my MacBook so I’m not sure if it was me or a problem with the router there

Ooh, this should be an easy list to compile… right?

Matrick Newbie Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Union St.

Posted: 14 Mar 2007 04:09 pm    Post subject: Brunch w/ unlimited mimosas, etc? Are there any decent places in the Slope where I can have a proper drunk brunch without destroying my wallet?

Vote with your wallet on the Park Slope Forum | DailySlope.com Message Boards

Idlewild I’ll Buy That For A Dollar! Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 1223 Location: America’s Bosom: Brooklyn.

Posted: 14 Mar 2007 08:48 pm    Post subject: Beware the Chimera that is the Co-op. For its tentacles stretch far and wide

Orange safety jackets welcome on the Park Slope Forum | DailySlope.com Message Boards

Courtesy of the Park Slope Message Board:

10. Walk down the sidewalk, smoking a cigar.
9. Wear a “George W. Bush” t-shirt.
8. Tell them that your kid is smarter or more advanced/better dressed/eats healthier than theirs.
7. Suggest building a high-rise condo on the corner of Third Street and Seventh Avenue.
6. Suggest building a high-rise Section 8 building on the corner of Union Street and Seventh Avenue.
5. Advocate busing all PS 321 students to PS 284 in Brownsville in order to achieve economic parity in Brooklyn.
4. Go to the Tea Lounge and have a loud, profanity-laden conversation with your friends.
3. Hit somebody in the face with a kite. Bonus points if you do it more than once.
2. Laugh at them because they can’t afford Manhattan.

…and the number one way to piss off a Park Slope resident is:

[drumroll]
[Actually, a Letterman-style drumroll prefacing a “number-one” answer that is patently ridiculous, yet somehow vaguely amusing]

1. Murder a member of their family.

Why can’t we all just get along on the Park Slope Message Board

wexlerglazer (Newbie) asks on the Park Slope Message Board:

Any suggestions for where to meet someone for our first date?

I was thinking Bar Toto (on 6th Ave. @ 11th), as I’ve done that before. But I figured I’d open the question to everyone here…

Basically, I’m thinking a restaurant that’s somewhat moderately priced (no more than $15 or so per entree), quiet, and cozy.

How about:

1. Cocotte at 5th Ave. and 4th St.: Romantic (possibly too romantic?)

2. Chip Shop

3. Long Tan

4. And… Check out more First Date Suggestions on the Park Slope Message Board

Ive read some dicey things about City View Gardens the condo development on 2nd st btw 4/5 aves but most of the information seems to come from the initial construction and first year of occupancy.  Does anyone know if all the problems (leaks etc.) that were initially found have been solved?

 

The New York City Department of Transportation is planning some major traffic changes to Park Slope streets. According to Community Board 6’s website, the changes include:

• Elimination of lanes from Fourth Ave to improve left-turn lanes and widen the median
• Conversion of Seventh Avenue to one-way southbound
• Conversion of Sixth Avenue to one-way northboundThere are mixed feelings on the Park Slope message board. What do you think? Cast your vote on the message boards.

Assuming you all saw this e-mail forward already, but if not… here it is. Other dolls in the series include Staten Island Barbie, Bay Ridge Barbie, Lower East Side Barbie, Upper West Side Barbie, Bensonhurst Barbie, Sunset Park Barbie, Red Hook Barbie, and Greenwich (Connecticut and Village) Barbie.
“Park Slope Barbie“
This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow. She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Park Slope Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon,  you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free. 

Whole Foods is coming … you think they’d get 420 parking spaces into Park Slope without a fight?? An excerpt from the petition:
“… there are some problems with Whole Foods’ design plans. They intend to build 420 parking spaces, an excessive amount for an urban neighborhood, especially one in which only about 40% of households own cars. Oversupply of parking encourages people to drive rather than use mass transit or other more environmentally friendly modes of transportation, and more cars means more traffic in Park Slope and surrounding neighborhoods, which are already seeing a major upsurge in traffic from rapid development…”

Read More and Comment on the Park Slope Message Board

brooklynpotter writes on the Park Slope Message Board: “I know we’ve talked this one to death, but over a lunch filled with with super antsy children at the next table, my friend and i started sharing war stories…

–sitting in the park enjoying a lovely day and having kids with kites start running by my blanket. one kid dragged his kite across my blanket twice, thwapping me on the face in the process. barely an apology from the moms.

–sitting at the tea lounge, there were two children running by who smashed my friend’s lunch onto the floor with their fists. my friend approached the mom, who then told her that she should know better than to leave her lunch on the edge of the table. then refused to buy her a new lunch. she went to talk to the manager, and he wouldn’t give her a new lunch either. her lunch was a bagel

–having pizza at an upper scale restaurant over the holidays, my friend watched a child pull down an entire christmas display, wreaths and lights, and when the manager came over the mom look at him and shrugged and said in some snotty voice, something like ‘what do you expect me to do about it?’

—eating brunch outdoors in north slope and sitting near a family with children would wouldn’t sit in their seat, children who were running around and bothering patrons. the child even KICKED some other patrons, and when my friend approached the mother she got the same response as above. (though once the kid kicked the manager, he asked them to leave)

i refuse to believe it’s only park slope children, because i know some who are really nice. regardless, why is this acceptable?

Why indeed? Read 40+ Comments on the Park Slope Message Board

bkuser asks on the Park Slope Message Board: “… I’m awake right now not because of New Year’s Eve, but because my neighbor upstairs is blasting techno on his stereo system made too large for apartments of this size (and because of poor insulation between floors). I bought my co-op about 8 months ago, and slowly have come to realize the major noise issues…”

“I’ve been keeping a log of the times I’ve gone up to talk to the neighbor (after allowable hours) … It’s currently near 2:30 am and the techno is at full blast where the bass has been vibrating my walls, fixtures, and distorted enough that I feel like I’m literally in a dance club and my ears ring each time the song changes (which is not often if you know techno). They are now whoo-hoo’ing and hey-ho’ing.”

“HELP! I think this guy is a renter too… I just don’t want to get into this horrible situation where he’s just going to get vengeful. I just want him to keep the music at a tolerable level. Even at 2:30 am on new year’s day … (ok, he had his music from 8 to now at this full blast–it’s enough!)”

Advice on calling 311, formally complaining to the co-op board, carpeting, decibel meters, and renting restrictions on the Park Slope Message Board

Cabaki writes about her F train Steve Buscemi sighting on the Park Slope Message Board: “I was discreet as possible, i don’t think he noticed – i should be a cell phone paparazzo! Now I just need to run into JConnelly at the Tea Lounge again, and I’m set.”

Seeing S.B. inspired Cabaki to download her cocktail-party list of sightings from “all my 27.5 years in nyc; not trying to brag, but have nothing going on at work today so i’m reminiscing:”

• jennifer connelly (tea lounge)
• kelly ripa and mark consuelos (57th st a few weeks ago, extremely good looking couple in person)
• jimmy fallon, SNL (walking to work, rockefeller center)
• pierce brosnan (on a flight down to west palm beach from nyc)
• drew barrymore (10th st and 5th ave with a friend)
• antonio banderas (spring st)
• susan sarandon (14th st between university and 5th)
• ethan hawke (14th st between university and 5th)
• jon stewart, twice (once on the daily show, and a few years before in front of me on line inside pizza hut express, 14th btwn univ & 5th)
• donna karan (in 7th avenue office building elevator)
• sarah jessica parker (b’way and houston – she looks like a little boy without makeup)
• mr. big (chris noth) from sex and the city TWICE, (once inside spice restaurant, 5th avenue and 10th, and then again on the street)
• tyson beckford (with his posse and convertible on 8th street, multiple times – he’s only 5’8″!)
• steven tyler of aerosmith (a store i worked in on 8th street when i was in high school)
• carmen electra and b-real of cypress hill when they were dating (same store)
• brandy (same store)
• ice-t, twice: (about 5 years ago hanging out on 8th street; 2 months ago at marquee with his blonde stripper wife, grabbing her ass on the dance floor)
• model/actress devon aoki at that same club, same nite
• donald faision (57th street)
• donald trump (signing copies of books at trump tower)
• robin williams with wife (FAO schwartz, 50th & 5th)
• macaulay culkin (at a deli when i was in high school on the upper west side)
• kelis (my high school, but she wasnt famous then)
• steve buscemi

I know what you’re thinking. Only 24? Where has this girl been hiding? Now go forth and post your list on the Park Slope Message Board.

…and How to Make the Angry Yellow Cab Driver Go from Manhattan to Brooklyn, Despite Heavy Sighing, Muttered Profanity, Maniacal Driving, and General Rudeness, as reported by users of the Prospect Heights Message Board:

Q. HOW MUCH TO TIP A TAXI CAB DRIVER GOING FROM MANHATTAN TO PARK SLOPE/PROSPECT HEIGHTS?
A. “I give about 15% – 20%, or a minimum of $2-$3 if a short ride.” -VeggieQueen
A. “I tip at least $3 if they’re coming over the bridge from Downtown, more if it’s from midtown and up…” -daisyh
A. “If I take a yellow cab home from Manhattan I tip about 15%, depending on how the driver reacted when I told him I was going to Brooklyn…” -em
A. “I usually tip $2 to $4 unless it’s a really long trip.” -neene

Q. CAR SERVICE: CAN YOU SKIP THE TIP? Seems like a lot of people tend to tip cab drivers, but avoid tipping the car service drivers, on the rationale that they drive their own cars and don’t have to pay for a medallion. Apparently, some car services automatically add a gratuity (~10%) to the fare, according to kristina.
A. Magic 8 Ball says: Unclear. Shake again. From Idlewild (who is a former car service driver): “Not all car service drivers own their car, and even if they do, they are still paying hefty maintaince and tax costs.”

Q. WHAT IF THE DRIVER COMPLAINS/REFUSES TO TAKE ME BACK TO BROOKLYN? This used to be almost the rule, and now is becoming the exception. But it still happens. A lot. What’s more, some cabbies will refuse fares across Brooklyn if they deem yours not worthy enough. As far as we know, none of this is legal.
A. Legal or not: don’t even let it happen. Pre-empt it. Jump in the cab and slam the door before disclosing your destination. If the driver balks, remember this phrase: “You may not want to take me to Brooklyn, but you’re not getting another fare until you do, because I’m not getting out.” -Carnivore

Q. RUDE DRIVERS: SHOULD YOU GET REVENGE? And should you report the cabbie who won’t go to Brooklyn??
A. Don’t bother, unless you’re unemployed, or especially vindictive: “You can complain all you want, but to have any real action taken, you have to turn up to a TLC hearing in person, which usually means taking a day off work. What a shock! The TLC isn’t concerned about weeding out lame drivers, or serving the entire NYC populace.” -ANFIELD

Hi! please go and check out are college lab class project’s website

make comments and take the polls

it’s research about park slope

It’d be great help.

www.freewebs.com/sit_here

thanks,
sarah

Photo by: neene

Is it possible to get a fresh, affordable tree in this neighborhood?? Michelle76 writes on the Park Slope Message Board: “… I live around Garfield and 5th Ave, and I’ve bought trees at both the place on Flatbush/5th Ave, and the one in front of Key Food on 5th. Both have been disappointing in the past, with really, really dried out trees. I’m just trying to get a nice, healthy 3-footer … I really love Christmas trees, but these ones in Park Slope have been bumming me out.”

3-footer?? Okay, Charlie Brown. Here’s your quick list:

That place on Union between 6th and 7th Ave – “Vermont” something, just downhill from the Food Coop. They are nice and the trees are great. -pitu

The church at the corner of 7th and Carroll (Old First Reformed Church) has sold trees … Pretty good trees in the past. But they are large ones. Also, there’s the lot on Flatbush @ 5th Avenue that’ll be around until they build Ratnerville … nice Canadienne who sold me a tree last year … they have all sizes and probably have Charlie Brown-type trees too. -dw438

But don’t buy on recommendations alone – check the tree before you buy: Bend the needles to see if they snap. They’ll be flexible on a fresh tree … Unfortunately its probably near impossible to get a fresh affordable tree in the neighborhood. – Ando

Get more recommendations on the Park Slope Message Board

Hi all,
My girlfriend and I have just started a little tutoring service in Park Slope. We are both long time teachers. We’ve been tutoring two students from families in the area but are always looking for more work. Our prices are great and our tutoring is really amazing (if i can say so myself). We really love it and put a lot of effot into lesson planning and helping kids do well in school. We have great experience on everything from reading skills to the SAT’s. If you’re stressed out about your kids’ work in school, we’d love to help! Please check us out at www.centralparktutors.com.
Thanks!
Mike

Are you getting those magazines a week late? All your ‘do not bend’ letters folded in half? Swapping mail with the people across the street every day? Are you even getting any mail at all?

Photo by Gareth J.M. Saunders

Park Slope is starting to feel like that Seinfeld episode where Jerry completes Newman’s mail route with gusto, and is later scolded by Newman after he gets flack from his fellow carriers: “Too many people got their mail! Close to 80%… Nobody from the post office has ever cracked the 50% barrier! It’s like the 3-minute mile!”

Mail service in the 11215 zip code has been varying wildly of late. Reports on the Park Slope Message Board range from a few stating they’ve gotten of excellent service, to posters like Christina who have spent too much time peering into an empty box. After several phone calls and complaints, Christina finally got an answer: “I got a phone call back (from the mailman’s supervisor)…his reason for not having delivered my mail recently is that “IT SLIPPED HIS MIND”.

What else? jenntrixie and sweetpea both report mail being dumped into an unsorted pile in the hall. And with the holiday season coming up, mail service will likely slow down for all of us.

How does your mail carrier rate? Report it on the Park Slope Message Board

It’s Wednesday again – the day that mountains of store circulars, or as I like to call it, corporate litter, are tossed onto our stoops to simply sit there in ever-growing, moldering piles until they are thrown away by the most disgruntled neat freak in the building (yours truly.) Is there any way to stop this?? Our block looks like a total junkyard after the Trash Fairy comes by. I have no idea who actually wants these things, so maybe we can get it outlawed – like telemarketing. The circulars are sponsored by Lowe’s, Pathmark, Fairway, Home Depot, Pathmark and Duane Reade – all companies that can afford real advertising. I realize this may not be the most pressing political issues facing our nation at this time, but man, is it ever annoying!!

I personally will not shop an anyplace that sponsors this trash.

Parksloperox writes on the Park Slope Message Board: “I’m looking for a reasonably priced framer here in the Slope… Quality is super important (I just received a super nice print and I want it to be done properly… of course). Does anyone have any places that they’d recommend?”

Here’s a few to start with:

1. Old standby: Yale on 5th Ave. near Greenwood Cemetery. Only open during weekday business hours (no weekends) but are very good on price.

2. San Art (7th Ave. one block south of Flatbush Ave.) has a huge selection of frames and mats.

3. NuNu Gallery on Union St. does good work (which may not come cheap).

4. That great shop on 7th Ave. between 11th and 12th Sts. Can be busy.

Stuff comes recommended on the Park Slope Message Board

Image: nunuframing.com

Photo by estrojenn.

Does your neighbor’s bundle of joy = sleepless nights for you and everyone else in your building?

Recent proud parent Willregistersoon asks on the Park Slope Message Boards: “We just had a baby about a month ago (first one, boy). We live in an apartment building. I’ve always been abnormally concerned with keeping quiet and being courteous and considerate to my neighbors wherever I’ve lived. But now, with the baby, this is proving much harder…No neighbors have said anything so far – and even if they do say something, what can I actually do? I’m just dreading the inevitable night(s) where we try letting him ‘cry it out.’ ”

Well, at least you asked… BrooklynJack replies: “Thanks for your consideration. If he does wake in the middle of the night and you let him cry it out, please, please take him to the living room. My downstairs neighbors let there child cry it out in the bedroom, just under where we are (trying) to sleep. Sorry you have to have a bad night, but why must I?”

Parents: Never mind the neighbors… should you let junior scream till he’s spent? Linusvanpelt says yes: “It’s not just hard to stop a crying baby, it’s inadvisable…Going to get the crying baby in the middle of the night teaches him to cry every time he wakes up… which is worse for everyone’s sleep in the long run.” Apparently there are also studies that show that babies who learn how to soothe themselves to sleep end up being more self-secure and confident adolescents and adults.

Take heart, neighbor of crying infant: at least you can look forward to a good night’s sleep…13 years from now.

Park Slope Parents: Cry it out on the Park Slope Message Board