Picture Of The Day: Lily Of The Valley

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } A patch of lilies,Lilies of the valley,To be precise.In a side yard off Smith StreetTheir fragrance is almost intoxicating.In France, these beauties are called 'muguet'On May 1st it is the custom to offer loved ones little bouquets of those sweet-scented, bell-shaped flowers in...

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Remembering Carroll Gardeners From The Past: Vincent Spinelli

Project Carroll Gardens AncestorsWonderful Carroll Gardens reader Frank sent me a nice email a while back. He had a great suggestion:"Wouldn't it be nice to get the word out and post a few pictures of what this wonderful neighborhood was really like? I'm surer many residents have pictures of their parents, childhood as I have a priceless set of albums from my dad, ..........1930 to 2008 of family, friends and first place."Well, I couldn't agree...

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Another Gowanus Land Use Meeting!

Bob Levine, Chair of C.B.6 Land Use CommitteeCouncilman Bill DeBlasioPurnima Kapur, Brooklyn Director of City PlanningProposed Zoning MapDavid Von Spreckelsen, of Toll BrothersAnother evening, another meeting....this time, it was the monthly gathering of the Community Board 6's Land Use Committee. On the agenda was New York City Planning's presentation of the rezoning framework for the Gowanus Canal. Under discussion is the area between Park Slope...

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Picture Of The Day: Tuscany In Brooklyn

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } A lion's head,a fountain and some lovely flowersAgainst a weathered stuccoed wall.If I had traveled to TuscanyI would have told you, dear reader.Instead, I walked down Bond Street, you seeAnd there, in one small corner,It almost looked like Tuscany.Oh yes, one can be in Brooklyn,...

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Miss-Information

In the last two weeks, postings on the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association List Server have needlessly confused and mis-interpreted the Zoning Text Amendment that has just been approved by Community Board 6, Borough President Marty Markowitz's office and which will be voted on by the Department of City Planning next week.Carroll Gardens resident and Architect John Hatheway, who thoroughly understands New York City Zoning laws and has been...

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Help Re-Name "Midnight Sun" The Puppy!

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }Cute, right?This little fellow is lucky! He is being adopted by my niece Julia, who has been looking for the right dog on Petfinder for, oh....the last three years. She just graduated from college and has finally found her perfect canine match, a little three year old male chihuahua/...

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Hoyt Street Alliance Says "No" To Oyster Bar At Public Hearing

Tom Gray and Jillian Waldman of Bill De Blasio's officePaul Nelson from Joan Millman's officeLeroy Branch, Community Board 6Jim MamaryIt is clear that residents of Hoyt Street do not want restaurateur Jim Mamary's proposed Oyster Bar at number 299-301. Their very logical reason in opposing the new business? The proposed location is on a very narrow, short, residentially-zoned block. They have enough problems just getting a good night's sleep, what...

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Picture Of The Day: Tell The Truth, Homie!

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Street advice of the day: You better tell the truth, homie!At corner of Smith and Bergen Stree...

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Brooklyn Jail Forum: " More Vision, Less Prison!"

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } 'More Vision, Less Prison'Brooklyn House Of Detention Community Shareholders' Group invites you to a Community forum on the future of the Brooklyn Jail at Atlantic Avenue which has been closed since 2003. The " Brooklyn Jail Forum" will focus on alternatives to the Department...

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As Long As There Is Winn Discount...

Amongst all of the sleeker boutiques and restaurants on Court, Winn Discount stands out in its bazaar like appearance. Brooms, trash cans, fake flowers and b.b.q. grills...whatever you are in the market for, Winn has it. And I am just talking about the merchandise displayed on the sidewalk. Enter the store, and more good stuff is waiting for you. The shelves are loaded to capacity. Is there anything one can't find at Winn's? For Home Page,...

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A Moment In Time: The Ever Rising Gas Prices On 4th Avenue

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } .flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }A gas station,Three guysAnd a long pole thingy To change the price with.On Fourth Aven...

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Someone On Smith Street Has Been To Ikea

Dear Smith Street Resident, I hope you like your new "Fagerlit" shelving unit from Ikea. Was it easy to assemble? The instructions seemed a bit confusing. How does it look in the apartment? I guess you couldn't wait for the Red Hook store to open and had to schlepp all the way to Jersey. May I suggest though, that next time, you dispose of the cardboard properly instead of leaving it right in the middle of the sidewalk where everyone has...

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The Brownstone Cutters, Blue Stone Dealers and Lumber Yards Of The Gowanus Canal Circa 1875

(photo credit: Jim In Times Square on Flickr) Look what I found! Old ads of businesses that once operated on the Gowanus Canal. There were brownstone cutters, blue stone dealers and lumber yards. Aren't they incredibly cool? The ads are from 1878. And talking about the Gowanus Canal, there is an important Community Board 6 Landmarks/Land Use Committee Meeting on May 29th. It is an update and presentation by representatives for the Department of...

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Greetings From Brooklyn. Wish You Were Here!

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Could you imagine, dear reader,Someone back in the 1950'sSending this postcard from Coney Island?And what do you suppose,The receiver's first thought was upon laying eyes on it?And what, prey tell, does one write on such a card?Dear Mom and Pop,Having a blast in Coney Island.Wish...

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Welcome To My Secret Hiding Place!

Do you know, dear reader, what makes me happy?A tiny little garden that blooms faithfully every spring and summer.The Iris, the Columbine, the Coral Bell and I have been friends for many years now.I treat them well, you see, in this tiny spot we share.And they have stayed, along with others which will come and join us here.The Rose, the Honeysuckle and the Russian Sage are expected soon.Together, we entertain.Yesterday, this dove stopped by for a...

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Hoyt Street Oyster Bar Neighbors Want You To Have A Say!

A NEW BAR IS PLANNED FOR 299-301 HOYT STREET -- THE HOYT STREET ALLIANCE invites you to join us at a special community meeting, co-sponsored by Councilman Bill de Blasio Wednesday, May 28, P.S. 32 auditorium, 7—9 p.m. This is your chance to voice your concerns and hear what your neighbors have to say. Use this opportunity to make your concerns known!Above is a meeting announcement from the Hoyt Street Alliance. The residents of Hoyt...

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Marty Markowitz Says Yes To Carroll Gardens' Wide Street Text Amendment

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Breaking news! Borough President Marty Markowitz approved the Carroll Gardens Wide Street Text Amendment yesterday without revision. In a 10 page document, Markowitz brought the neighborhood a step closer towards protecting it from out-of-context development.This Text Amendment...

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What Fresh Hell Is This On Carroll Gardens' Sidewalks?

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Pardon me for asking, but is this what happens once the kids outgrow their strollers? They get to ride on the sidewalk in an electric car? I admit that there is a certain cuteness factor here, but really, isn't the sidewalk crowded enough as it ...

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T& D's Very Magnificent Azalea

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } I have not often encountered an azalea like this!Bright, bright pinkPerfectly shaped bloomsCover this lovely specimen.It belongs to my dear friends T & D, without whom Brooklynwouldn't merely feel so much like ho...

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Happy Birthday, Brooklyn Bridge!

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: center; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Happy 125th Birthday, Brooklyn Bridge!Related reading:Re-Unveiling Of The Brooklyn Bridge In 1...

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