Category Archives: Uncategorized

Goodbye, Crazy Lane

The stretch of St. Johns Place between Underhill and Washington, known to DHers as “Crazy Lane” (who started that?) is apparently making large strides toward sanity, or at least gentrification.

RBG writes in the Prospect Heights Message Boards: “On my block alone, there are 3 buildings in which owners are not renewing leases and just a few days ago a FOR SALE sign went up on a Section-8 building…”

Jack Krohn says: “Wow, that’s great news! That should speed up the gentrification of so-called ‘Crazy Lane’, something that I support without apology.”

Is it true? Apparently so. Ben posted this from the Massey Knakal website:

355 & 427 Saint John Place, Brooklyn, NY (Saint Johns Place between Washington Avenue and Underhill Avenue)

These are two 4-story multifamily buildings with approximately 28,986 square feet, located on Saint Johns Place between Underhill Avenue and Washington Avenue. There are a total of 32 apartments. In addition, there are air-rights for approximately 15,176 square feet of residential space. The buildings were renovated 1983 under the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Project-Based Section 8 Program. The owner did not renew the Section 8 status for the buildings. This is a great investment opportunity. Asking Price: $5,000,000″

Carnivore notes that this works out to only $172 per square foot, not even counting the value of the air rights, which seems really low. Anybody got $1 million in cash for a down payment?

Read more: Prospect Heights Message Boards

Assault Last Night on Park btw Vanderbilt and Underhill


he’s not joking

Originally uploaded by Malingering.

burningorange writes in the Prospect Heights Message Boards: “My friend called me about 10 minutes after midnight (last night) and told me she was just assaulted…”

“She was coming home from the Q train. She heard footsteps behind her coming closer as she walked past Vanderbilt on Park Place.”

“As she turned to look behind her, a guy in a red hoodie grabbed her from behind and put a gun to her temple. She started to scream, and the guy just said ‘shut up bitch’ to her over and over. She glanced at the gun and she said it looked orange or red…”

“She kept on screaming and the guy threw her on the ground…”

Read More: Prospect Heights Message Boards

Fresh Direct Truck Out of Control


Fresh

Originally uploaded by johnmkim.

Isa writes in the Prospect Heights Message Boards: “Yesterday on Eastern Parkway and Underhill I saw a Fresh Direct truck somehow switch out of gear and go maybe 20 feet or so down Eastern Parkway sans driver. It side swiped one parked car and came to rest on the back of another.”

“One of the car owners was there when it happened and she seemed to take it well … I just stuck around long enough to see the look on the driver’s face when he came out of the building to find his truck moved, all Christine-like. Comedy gold.”

“Did anyone else see it?”

Jamzer adds: “A good argument could be made that it is safer for all of us when these trucks do not have drivers…”

Add this to the growing collection of stories about FreshDirect drivers, including the notable FreshDirect delivery guy “mugging” reported on Metroblogging NYC.

Not to mention this story from Captain M: “Last year in midtown, I chased down a FreshDirect truck (driver) who was driving with his back doors open. Normally, I would have just followed and waited for goodies to fall out of the back, but I was on a date and wanted her to think I had some morals and stuff.”

Read more in the Prospect Heights Message Boards

Freddy's Boycotts Brooklyn Beer; Hosts 1-Year CRINGE Anniversary

the crowd

Originally uploaded by Sarah Brown.

via email: “My favorite prohibition-era bar, Freddy’s, Brooklyn, is boycotting all Brooklyn Brewery beer as of tonight…”

According to Donald O’Finn of Freddy’s, the boycot is “due to the Brklyn Brewery’s support of the Ratner Project that threatens not only our wonderful Freddy’s, but (we believe) this entire Neighborhood of Brklyn as well…”

“We had hoped that the Brooklyn Brewery would take a stand with us, on, what we believe is the correct side of the issue for Brooklyn, but the Brewery disagrees with us, and instead stands to make a lot of money if (or when) they sell Brooklyn Beer in the arena.

“We are merely one small account to the Brooklyn Brewery, but this is our home, our lively ‘Hood’, this is a culture, and a thriving community.”

In other news, this Wednesday is the 1-year anniversary “best of” CRINGE reading night at Freddy’s…

More info:

Should SODA Bar Ban Kids?


Rabble

Originally uploaded by jorel845.

“if kids in Soda is bugging you now … well. wait a few weeks. when they open up the patio, the joint is kid central til 9 p.m. almost every single day. it doesn’t bother me at all, though. as others have said in this post and the countless others on this board, Soda isn’t an upscale, fancy restaurant, nor is it a busted-ass, broke-down drunkard bar. it’s a neighborhood pub. and, thankfully, that allows it to have an eclectic clientele.” – alafairnadia in the Prospect Heights Message Boards

Sounds like SODA on Vanderbilt Ave. now has their own “Stroller Manifesto” — an angry screed written by a non-parent who can’t tolerate the irresponsible parents who bring their babies/toddlers to bars. Apparently, this angry customer wants Toly, the proprietor of SODA, to ban kids from his establishment.

From what one Daily Heights regular reports: the complaint was specifically in response to a gathering that took place on the same night as a recent DH happy hour… though it was only indirectly related to a DH happy hour. We haven’t seen the letter yet, but it apparently contains some wild and somewhat humorous inaccuracies about what took place that night.

The opinions of this irate customer aside, the facts are as follows:

Toly absolutely encourages parents to bring kids to SODA…

The waitstaff is almost universally accommodating to kids…

They have lots of kid-friendly food …

The kids are generally out of there no later than 8 or 9 pm, latest…

The kids are being supervised, even if they seem to be running amok through the back room …

And in fact, “Music for Aardvarks” holds kids music classes at SODA at least 3 times a week.

So unquestionably, SODA is a kid-friendly bar.

Whoa… “kid-friendly bar”? The concept is certainly going to be quite confusing (and offensive) to Marge in Wisconsin… but kid-friendly bars are here, and you’re going to have to get used to them. Families want to hang out together. European countries have a long tradition (see Germany: Beer Gardens) of establishments where both kids and parents alike can hang out and socialize, and yes, alcohol may be served.

COMMENTS Abound: Prospect Heights Message Boards

Is Your Landlord Nefarious or Just Lazy?


Brownstone Brooklyn

Originally uploaded by pdberger.

PHeightsGirl writes in the Prospect Heights Message Boards:

“I am in some desperate need for some help and advice. I am 99% sure that our landlord/management company is trying to push us out. And, I mean the whole brownstone, not just my roommate and I…”

“Each of us has inhabited our apartments for about 4-5 years, and we all have a really low rent…”

“1.) A few weeks ago we get a notice of a past due bill for the water. Our landlord hasn’t paid it since January. The total? Over $4000.”

“2.) Then we get a bill saying our landlord hasn’t paid the electric bill and our electricity in our hallways is in danger of being shut off. (It’s still on, but I’m assuming only a matter of time before it’s shut off)”

“3.) Finally, this past weekend, we got a notice that our landlord has not paid the heat bill, and it will be shut off on March 30th. Thank God that by then, it’ll be warm enough to live without heat – except for at night. This kinda scares me… “

Tenants unite! Prospect Heights Message Boards

Amorina (Cucina Rustica): No Longer BYOB


Amorina Cucina Rustica

Originally uploaded by Slice.

sweet tea writes in the Prospect Heights Message Boards:

“Amorina (on Vanderbilt Ave.) was BYOB only until a couple weeks ago. Now they have a very small wine selection, but still allow you to bring your own — even at Fermented Grapes prices, it’s a better deal to run across the street and pick up a bottle.”

“When I was there last (2? weeks ago) they said they were planning to institute a corkage fee, but they hadn’t yet, because they wanted to let their regulars get used to the change gradually.”

More about BYOB places in Brooklyn: Prospect Heights Message Boards