Old Whiskey River
metulj writes in the : “I love Fermented Grapes. They’ve got my favorite bourbon in stock. Endorsed by Willie Nelson, dammit. If the Redheaded Stranger puts his name on something you can’t go wrong. Then again, he probably owes someone money….
“I guess the point is: Whoo hoo for our local merchants!!!”
Drink:
Can Fulton Mall Be Gentrified?
I walked down to Fulton Mall the other day. Beyond the mind-numbing procession of cell phone huts, electronics retailers, sneaker shops, and junk jewelry stores, there were a few interesting finds, including Beat Street Records, and a roving barbershop-on-wheels.
Of course, the ubiquitous Developers, who won’t rest until every authentic experience is converted into “An Experience”, think Fulton Mall is the next frontier. Check out this piece in The Brooklyn Papers:
“… planners believe the mall’s future calls for transforming it into a buzzing, 24-hour destination — thanks to a Soho-like residential conversion of dozens of vacant offices above existing retail spaces.”
“Some of the spaces are truly beautiful … But many have been boarded up for 40 or 50 years. Some of the vacant offices have no infrastructure at all.”
Michael Burke, director of the Downtown Brooklyn Council: “I think everyone wants to keep the current, hip-hop, urban market, but we want to bring in new markets, too.”
“Once a way station along the Underground Railroad … it later became known for stately brick buildings and upscale department stores. Now, it’s known for cellphone stores.”
Blizzard 2006: Cool or Uncool?
Super Cool: 86%
So Not Cool: 16%
So Not Cool: 16%
:
daniel: “Cool…except when you can’t get a taxi home to Brooklyn from the city. Bastard taxi drivers, one after the other, denied us a ride. One, after we were already in the cab, suggested that we take a subway instead. I caxlled 311 with their medallion numbers, but was told that they wouldn’t do anything unless I was willing to appear in court. Lame.”
nybt: “Who’s got the over/under on the number of days ’til the snow is gone?! Not consulting any weather info, i’m going with 4 days ’til bare sidewalks…”
VOTE:
11 Vacant Storefronts on Flatbush Ave.
lovemynabe writes in the
message boards: “Just counted 11 empty storefronts on Flatbush Avenue between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue. Is this a sign of a slow ecomony or is it that landlords are asking too much for rent?”
message boards: “Just counted 11 empty storefronts on Flatbush Avenue between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue. Is this a sign of a slow ecomony or is it that landlords are asking too much for rent?”
Read comments: message boards
Vanderbilt & Sterling = *kablam*
alafairnadia writes in the Prospect Heights Message Boards: “given this, I’m glad I was using a cameraphone (and not insta-blogging, either, through my ultra-hip flickr acct) to capture this …”
Captain M writes: “Saw them picking up the pieces this am… one of the cars looks like an undercover cop car. Its been a while since I’ve seen a bad crash on Vandy.”
ana.log writes: “I was actually walking right there when this occurred, though I only heard the bang, and didn’t see what exactly happened. it wasn’t pretty though.”
“That’s the second time this has happened to me — I witnessed a woman get hit by a car on 5th Avenue in Park Slope last week (and then the car subsequently backing up and racing off – a hit and run; thank god the victim was more or less OK).”
“I hope there isn’t some force field around me that causes accidents.”
On the scene: Prospect Heights Message Boards
Atlantic Yards on Google Earth
Jon Keegan writes:
“Hey…I worked up a Google Earth placemark of the Atlantic Yards project, with 3D buildings so you can see how monstrous it is…”
“Get the word out!”
Discuss: Prospect Heights Message Boards
UPDATE to UPDATE: Some people have complained that the previous Google Earth screenshot exaggerated the difference between the Atlantic Yards project and surrounding Brownstone Brooklyn. This new screenshot (right) shows the current building heights. Also, this picture from Jon’s website (below) gives a much better idea of scale:
The Accidental Gentrifier
MissNY writes in the
Prospect Heights Message Boards:
Prospect Heights Message Boards:
“I cannot stress the importance of visiting a potential apartment building repeatedly, and at various times during the day. Also, speak with tenants about things like repairs…security, etc.”
“I live in one of the gracious twin grey buildings on Underhill across from ‘Associated’ (bodega).”
“Had I spoken with my neighbors & visited the building at various times of the day prior to moving into my apartment I would have learned that:”
*People loiter in the halls, use & sell drugs until all hours of the morning.
*The hallways are always dirty, garbage & miscellaneous food items are deposited there.
*Garbage is thrown out of windows.
*Mailboxes are vandalized.
*Repairs are only made after repeatedly calling & yelling at management personnel. (I’ve been informed that there is a three-year waiting list for repairs.)
*Homeless people are allowed to take up residence in the garbage/recycling areas.
*Arsonists repeatedly set fire to various parts of the building, resulting in our elevator being out of service for several months.
“I don’t remember this being the Brooklyn I grew up in…”
READ: Tips to Avoid Living in Squalid Conditions [Prospect Heights Message Boards]
Have You Seen Olga
Flyer found adrift in Grand Army Plaza near the entrance to Prospect Park on Feb. 2, 2006.
“Answers to the name of ‘Olga.’ “
Have you seen her?
My Name is Michael
Spinningpinwheel writes:
“Came home to find this letter taped to my door a while back. I’d put in up in the message boards but I haven’t figured out Flickr and besides, there’s really nothing at all to discuss. It’s all here. Totally amazing.”