Park Slope, Brooklyn
At Gallery 64 (64 St. Marks Ave, Park Slope) from May 20 – June 24: “Mr. Zeines’ work has been compared in spirit to William Blake with references to Max Ernst and Hieronymus Bosch. His intensely cross-hatched drawings are driven by the subconscious, drawing the viewer into the artist’s deep personal world.”
The show will open with a wine reception on Saturday, May 20 from 5 pm – 8 pm.
Everyone at Curbed.com is all agog over the new models of the Atlantic Yards project. There seems to be an equal amount of hatin’ and lovin’ in their comments.
Before you drop $950,000 for that handyman’s special in Gowanus/G-Slope/BoCoCa East, you might want to consider the likelihood that Brooklyn’s hottest nabe may soon end up at the bottom of the Gowanus canal.
Alex Tingle’s GoogleMaps-flood data mashup lets you set different global warming sea levels and watch as New York City — and Gowanus in particular — sinks beneath the waves.
Pictured at right: the new Gowanus Bay after a 9m sea level rise.
Updates:
Mango Thai has not closed down, but the garlic seitan isn’t as good as it used to be, according to 8thandprez.
Beet is (still) not the suck.
Carnivore writes: “despite the multitude of Thai places in the area, they’re all quite deficient in one way or another. I’d trade every single one of them in for one Sripathai!!!
…he’s back.
He knocked her down so hard that she hit her head on
the cobblestones….
Afoot in Prospect Park: Park Slope Message Boards
quijibo writes:
a lot of people on 5th ave
can’t afford to have their own dog
they’re sharing like 2 people in a 1BR
so they miss their own dog back home
and enjoy drinking a beer while actively petting a dog
she loves the attention
it’s a win – win
Coming on the heels of an active discussion on the Park Slope Message Board regarding the safety of Propsect Park, a man was found stabbed to death in the park last weekend. 
61-year old William Oliver was found dead on a wooded trail in the infamous Vale of Cashmere section of Prospect Park.
The Vale of Cashmere (satellite image), long a gay cruising ground, has been the site of anti-gay violence in the past, most recently in 2005. While it’s not known if Mr Oliver was gay, the NYPD is currently looking into the possibility of a hate crime.
Read the New York Times story on the murder
Great advancements
are coming out of forensic science colleges; crimes like this are being
solved much more rapidly these days.
quijibo writes in the Prospect Heights Message Boards:
the next “friends”ian hit tv series will be about…
a lesbian couple who adopt an ecuadorean orphan
who doublepark their strollers at the tea lounge
shop at the food co-op + back to the land
are vegan
and there’s al the window washer guy
this one brooklyn native,
who fancies himself to be mucho mucho street
i mean like streeter than street
al employs a bunch of hispanic men to wash store windows
up and down 5th avenue
and they have these amazingly decorated bicycles
with huge handlebars
festooned with decoration –fulla bling
and wait. do they drink?
yeh. they drink
and they all go to total wine bar for drinks
*these fotos are from my friend’s flickr blog http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidbivins/sets/585137/
Thanks to kosherdave for these photos. This might not make sense if you haven’t read the gender-bending foofaraw over the “Found: Boy’s Hat” post on Park Slope Parents list.
You can read some Park Sloper comments on this in the Park Slope Message Boards.
PS. Here’s the e-mail at the bottom of the flyer: [email protected]
Anybody hear what happened? Five shots were fired about 7 PM Friday evening, and two ambulances took people away. Any news?
deposit reports in the Park Slope Message Board that he/she spoke to the police: “I was visiting friends on that block and when we left the apartment, the cops were outside. The cops said that there was a robbery at the clothing store on the corner. I guess the robbery turned to gunfire. The cop made sure to tell us that no one was killed. Was that to reassure us?”
swimbtfly writes in the Park Slope Message Boards:
“So… If you were visiting the city this weekend (from Ithaca) and wanted to make appointments to look at apartments in prospect heights, what would be your plan of attack? I’m looking for a 2 BR for 1800 or less starting in June. I can come in this weekend and 1 more weekend in May.”
“Some of the CL stuff looks OK, but nothing specifically for June (when I want to move in). I’m thinking of contacting some of the brokerages from the thread over in the park slope forum, but I’m not sure how productive (or expensive) this would be.”
“I’ve found 1 listing in clinton hill from housingmaps.com that I’m looking at on Friday, but fear that its too far away from subways for a reasonable commute to midtown… “
Ziggly writes in the Park Slope Message Boards:
I am moving my family to Park Slope (near the Union street train station on 4th ave) in a month and was wondering what the best way to get from JFK to PS would be. I will have myself, wife and 15 month old toddler. We will have 4 large suitcases, 4 carry ons and a car seat. We will be arriving at 8am. I figure my options are…
1. Airtrain to Howard beach station and take the A train in, transfer to the F take that to 9th street/4th ave station and transfer to the R to get to Union street
2. Take Airtrain to Jamaica station, take the Long Island Railroad to Flatbush then take the R to Union street. Does anyone have experience taking a lot of luggage on the LIRR?
3. Car service or cab it. I am on a tight budget and was concerned about getting a cab during what I anticipate to be rush hour AM traffic.
…and wave ’em like you just don’t care: kagey_b’s most interesting photo.
Q. Will Katie Couric make a good “CBS Evening News” anchor?
“She has always done a good job and I don’t know why she wouldn’t on the new show. I like when she comes out in public for interviews. She has a nice smile. I’ll miss seeing her reporting … in the mornings.” –Glen Martin, 56, Park Slope
Updates will be posted as they become available.
Eyewitness account in the Park Slope Message Boards from the neighbor of the victim of the attempted robbery on 15th and 8th:
jeb writes: “I was on the scene shortly after the incident happened around midnight. My upstairs neighbor, who was the victim of the attempted robbery that sparked it all off, recounted it to me right afterwards.”
“The shooting apparently took place when a couple of guys tried to rob my neighbors at gunpoint, on 15th Street between 8th and PPW, in front of our apartment building. A couple off-duty cops just happened to be driving by and saw the robbery in progress…”
“… They jumped out of their car and chased the perps down the street toward the park. Apparently that’s when some kind of gunshots were exchanged … They called for backup and continued to search for the guys throughout the neighborhood. Helicopters, EMTs, fire trucks, and tons of patrol cars arrived on the scene. Apparently in the search for the guys they cleared out Bar 4 to see if the suspects were hiding in there.”
“According to abc, they actually got the guys in there and recovered their guns.”
jaha127 writes in the Park Slope Message Boards:
“I know there are alot of mothers who read this blog, so I just wanted to give you an FYI …”
“Also, I don’t think this guy went to trial yet, and its also important to remember that you are innocent until proven guilty. But this is just a reminder about being cautious…”
Read the story in the NY Daily News.
Read neighborhood reaction in the Park Slope Message Boards
Grand Master steve writes in the Park Slope Message Boards:
“I’m a big believer in supporting small local business… which is why why I am somewhat conflicted to be happy about the demise of one: a cell phone store on 7th Ave. just outside the F station.”
“… One less cell phone store sounds great to me. There must be one on nearly every block of 7th Avenue, and the proprietors largely seem like shysters, so enough is enough. I might even call to see how much they want for the space, but I think it will be more than I want to spend right now for my business.”
Click here for more resources
for small businesses.
seven24 asks in the Park Slope Message Boards: Anyone hear about the shots fired on 15 street and 8th avenue last night?
fifteenthstreet says: “I live at 15th and 8th, and yes, I heard them … There were a lot of cop cars blocking off 15th street between PPW and 8th for at least 30 minutes, and a police helicopter with a search beam scouring the roof of our building … ”
So it looks like Stone Park on 5th Ave. in Park Slope took “best restaurant” honors in AOL cityguide’s City’s Best 2006 poll for New York–placing ahead of Gotham Bar & Grill, Gramercy Tavern, Daniel and Le Bernardin, among others.
Stone Park co-owner Josh Grinker told the Daily News: “… winning these types of contests really attests to the loyal support of our customers … We really see what we’re doing as bringing up the standard of neighborhood restaurants.”
It’s true that Stone Park has its fans. And predictably, this has become another opportunity for us chronic complainers at Daily Slope to hold forth (do we like anything?). laura writes in the Park Slope Message Boards: “My boyfriend and I went there once … I can’t recall what we ate, but it was so underwhelming we decided never to bother again.”
How many distinct signs can you make out?
Answer can be found (maybe) on Dope on the Slope.
Clarification: Ranjit’s photo is at least a year old. It’s doubtful the renovations going on at Dizzy’s right now have anything to do with this auto mishap.
blksafyre writes in the Park Slope Message Boards:
“Is it kind of dumb that Dizzy’s decided to do renovations now? In the winter business is slow there, which would make sense for renovations then.”
From livetotravel: “May the renovations last forever! I’m so over this place. They clearly rely on past rumors of excellence and uniqueness for their business. There are just way too many people clamoring for tables on the weekends, resulting in consistently overcooked omelets, overcooked pancakes, overcooked coffee, underwashed dishes and utensils … “
From 8thandprez: “I love Dizzy’s. The huevos rancheros with veggie sausage are to die for. That said, the place is wildly overpriced. Insanely overpriced.”
“Something tells me the reno isn’t going to help that situation …”
Neighborhood Improvement via the Park Slope Message Boards:
“I wouldn’t mind a fancy-ish gym, like Equinox.”
“Previously I was longing for a good Indian restaurant, but now we have the lovely Kinara!”
“Ethiopian food! I’d walk over to PS more often for that.”
“I don’t care–as long as it isn’t another realtor or coffee bar …”
“An In-and-Out Burger. Or at least a White Castle.”
“… the return of a real butcher, but United has been pretty good to me since the guys on 7th left and I wouldn’t switch back.”
“A soccer bar, but hopefully we’ll be getting that once the FloydNY spin off opens.” (hmm… isn’t there a new Irish bar that’s promoting itself as a soccer bar?)
“A nice movie theater. I don’t like the one on PPW …”
“A coffee bar that doesn’t allow strollers or laptop users.”
“… we need a drug store (w/ late hours) in the 4th-5th Ave area …” (Neergard is 24/7, right?)
“A decent fish market. Don’t get me started on the ones on 7th Avenue…”
“A belgian beer/frites and maybe mussels place. not too pricey…”
ugarte writes in the Park Slope Message Boards: “2 Toms is excellent and very, very old school Italian. It doesn’t feel like it has a mafia past; it feels like it has a low-level soldier-in-the-mafia present. The food, though, is excellent.”
“Meat (steaks and chops) are excellent but quite expensive. Pasta – I linguine w/ calamari al arrabiata (spicy) is also great but not so expensive. Yes, worth the trip, but if two people are going I’d suggest sharing a steak and a pasta to keep the cost down.”
kittygolightly adds: “Last I went, there were two kinds of wine – red and white, and both were self-serve from the fridge. I also had the best pork chop of my life.”
CAVEAT:There is no set menu, and thus no price tags, according to your neighbors who have been there. It may seem inexpensive but the prices add up in a hurry. The portions are very large, so it may be best to do some family-style sharing. digital_buffalo writes: “I went with a group of 7 and somehow our bill came to $300 and half of what we ordered was still on the table when we left – just too much food.”
Photo: MarkWinegardner.com
dope on the slope writes in the Park Slope Message Boards:
“We’ve started a group on flickr to chronicle the evolution of Gowanus from what it is today into whatever it will become. If you are a shutterbug who takes pictures of the area or know someone who is, please pass along this link:”
http://www.flickr.com/groups/gowanees/
“Even if you don’t plan on contributing photographs to the pool, stop by for a visit.”
They can put a man on the moon… so what about decent coffee on 7th?
Gorilla, the Brooklyn coffee house generally acknowledged to be Doing Things Right(tm), is at least thinking about setting up shop on what is still considered the main drag in Park Slope.
This just in from DS stalwart 8thandPrez: “Based on the flurry of messages in another post, it seems there’s quite a demand for a Gorilla Coffee expansion. I took the liberty of emailing Gorilla and pleading for a new store on 7th.”
Here’s their very prompt response:
“hi there. thanks for the link [to the Daily Slope forum]. we’d love to [expand]…need to save up some money first. some day hopefully soon. we’d LOVE to be on 7th ave.
darleen”
8thandPrez reported last Monday that he’d beeh having sporadic connection issues that Time Warner initially blamed on “weak signal strength” between his modem and the outside world. That might make sense if there weren’t independent reports of problems from a whole bunch of people on the Park Slope Message Board, includng Drano, 8th&Carroll, Dope on the Slope, LiveToTravel, and StevieShamrocks, who writes:
“I was having problems with my cable box last week, and was given a prompt service call of 4 days later. I was told by the service guy (who was sooo happy to be here) that there are problems with TWC all over Brooklyn.”
“I asked if he had any other info, because I was alos having problems with IE and he gave me the technical lowdown “Fuck if I know.”
Dope on the Slope adds: “My god it’s an epidemic. I just had the tech here and he replaced my modem. Of course the problem returned within 45 minutes of his departure. I thought it might be problems with the exposed connections in the ‘backyards’ of Park Slope after the recent precipitation and freezes, but my TV is fine.”
illegat writes in the Park Slope Message Boards: “So I know Brooklyn Industries is a local business that’s fun to support and the water tower logo is cool and all, but has anyone else had problems with these clothes being poorly made and their return policy?”
“I bought a coat in December and its already basically useless from what isn’t even normal wear and tear. Within a week, the seams were coming loose …”
“I tried to return it, and they of course, wouldn’t accept it because it had been worn.”
“Now, two months later, the zipper won’t close and most of the threading has come undone. What’s the point in supporting local business if it’s overpriced and under-quality?”
PICTURED: The now infamous “BIKE CULTURE NOT 4 SALE” graffito from the BI store at Union and 5th.
ASIDE: So what is “Bike Culture” anyway? More from the Park Slope Message Boards:
Rhodamine says: ” ‘Bike culture’ for me is… friends who come over and paint frames in my basement, who stay in touch on lots of non-spandex messageboards, who race in alleycats, who hang out in the bike shop… after hours.. and bring beer, talking about bikes, obsessing over configurations, joining transalt, fighting for cyclists rights, meeting for regular rides/races in the parks/streets, etc. And yes, there are bike clubs/gangs. I’m sure few to none hang at starbucks.”
Ileggat: Brooklyn Industries Defective Jackets Park Slope Message Boards
Carnivore: Brooklyn Industries Won’t Exchange Unworn T-Shirt (with Gift Receipt) Prospect Heights Message Boards
Bike Culture and Brooklyn IndustriesMore from the Park Slope Message Boards
moufaisbad writes: “It has been happening a lot all around the city… My gf had to call 911 the other day for a woman and her dog who got shocked. so really, this warning is for everyone not even just people with dogs. That dog could have been a toddler… Con Ed is doing work over on Underhill near Park(ish). I am staying away from metal as much as possible until the ground dries out.”
stacey writes: “The scariest part is that it was NOT on a piece of metal – it was on the sidewalk where a light post used to be. The snow seeped into the cracks on the sidewalk and that caused the electrocution.”
“I do have a question if it was a stroller wouldn’t the rubber wheels have deflected (not sure if that is the right work) the electricity?”
Discussion 1: Prospect Heights Message Boards
Ben writes: “… this wasn’t some little 10lb dog, it was as big as a small child. It easily could have been a child …
“This is the second dog killed by stray voltage in the past two months… I urge anyone with concerns to contact your local councilmen/women, community board leaders, Bloomberg, ConEd, and anyone else who will listen. This problem needs to be fixed ASAP before more dogs and even people are seriously injured or killed.”
Discussion 2: Park Slope Message Boards
A bit late, but here it is anyway. Thanks to Daniel, among others, for sending this in!
