Waiting for BBQ on Underhill Ave.
Concept from the Future: Sidewalk Cafe on Flatbush Ave.
Who would have thought it possible?
Imagine going way back in time to 1996 and trying to explain the concept “Sidewalk cafe on Flatbush” to a Brooklynian of that Bygone era … Is it possible? Can those words be used together in the same sentence and in that order??
Now imagine explaining the concept over the din of Flatbush lunch hour traffic… Sidewalk WHAT? And it’s WHERE? Speak up, sonny.
To be fair about the noise… if you close your eyes, you can almost imagine the ebb and flow of an ocean… An ocean with 300-decibel waves, a chorus of mermaids laying on the horn, and schools of teenage dolphins that amble about, communicating with each other in a complex and creative array of shouted profanities.
This pic was taken at 11:30 on a Saturday, which was probably a bit too early for the lunchtime burrito crowd.
Enjoy Espinal
One of PH’s bodegas.
It's Temporarily
Looks like it will be 2 weeks (or more?) until alcoholic beverages are allowed again outside at Soda bar on Vanderbilt. Everyone we’ve talked to say that Soda’s neighbors have become keenly interested in ensuring that the bar comply with city permitting requirements, but we haven’t yet heard the official word. Wasn’t there a similar situation in Cobble Hill last year?
If there’s any news on this, it will show up in this thread in the Prospect Heights Message Boards.
So, I Dinged This Guy's Car with the Door of the Cab…
… after a long and craptacular day at the office. Total accident.
Of course, the guy was *in* the car when the cab door went ‘thunk’, got out and bitched me out all up and down the street. Great, you’re ‘feeling’ me, it was an accident, alright?
Tiny little scratch on the side of his already busted-up SUV. I gave him my cell and while I haven’t heard from him yet (this was Monday night) if he does call, or more likely harass me on my block, how much should I offer? $40? For that matter, anyone know a decent body shop?
I’m not gonna pay to repaint this dude’s entire car… grrr.
Coming soon: 595 vanderbilt
Any ideas what’s going up?
This is right across the street from Hibiscus, RedLipstick, the bike
shop, etc. and a few doors down from HouseBroken.
How long before people start referring to this stretch as “Lower
Vanderbilt”?
UPDATE: It’s going to be a wine store, Ben says on the Prospect Heights Message Board. So, just a refresher on urban development…
Ungentrified: Nail salon and hair dresser on every other block
Gentrified: Wine store and sushi restaurant on every other block
PH Ladies: Chill with the Tight, Tapered Pants
I know the fashion has been addressed in other threads, but come on. Very few of you can pull them off. For most of you, it looks like you’ve got a turd in the back of your pants, hovering over two poultry getaway sticks. Seriously. This is one of the worst retro trends in years. At least back in the ’80s they were made to fit around a woman’s bottom. Granted, sometimes women (and men) had to squat over a steaming pot of water to get them on, and use pliers on the zippers, but still.
And you guys who think you look good in those nut-cutters… I’m speechless. Seriously, instead of being such fashion whores, wear what looks good on you, and above all, LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
Bank Loans for Small Co-Ops?
I live in a coop and we need to renovate our brownstone facade. We don’t have an underlying mortgage, but we need to take out a loan. Has anyone else had to deal with this? What banks did you use, and what experience did you have?
I love living in a four unit coop, but so far we haven’t found a bank that knows how to deal with a small coop. To a bank, we’re just a tiny corporation with almost no income.
Coop Financing for Facade Renovation: read more in the Prospect Heights Message Boards
Gangs of Prospect Park
Gothamist has a good piece on the crime wave instigated by roving teen gangs in Prospect Park. Discussion and news clips on reference in the
Key Food on Washington – nasTAY
So I just got home from Key Food, which I’ve been going to because the C-Town on Washington is pretty grody, and I’m pretty annoyed. I know they’re renovating and all, but they’ve got some major problems right now. First of all, be really careful in the back by the sandwich meats, because something’s leaking and causing a huge, slippery puddle back there, which I found out the hard way:
Lucky for them I’m not a litigious sort. I’m going to spare you the sight of the accompanying bruise on my left buttcheek. I also got my pants soaked in nasty-ass meat juice/shoe dirt water.
Also, the freezer isn’t working at all, so be wary of their frozen foods until they get it fixed (and, presumably, until any of the food that’s in there right now is all gone). I reached in and the air inside was downright muggy, and the package of “frozen” shrimp I picked up (and quickly put back down) felt like it was full of warm liver.
Gross. I’m calling FreshDirect next time.
Read more about Key Food on Washington – nasTAY in the Prospect Heights Message Boards