2009: The Year In Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

Carroll Gardens, BrooklynA Year In Pictures2009JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberThis, dear Readers, is my last post for the year 2009. What better way of recapping the year than to go through my photos of our lovely neighborhood and to choose the best one of every month.It has been a busy twelve months in Carroll Gardens. Personally, 2009 has been a wee bit more challenging than previous years and there...

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Picture Of The Day: Ready For Deliveries

They were parked off Court Streetalong a fence,ready for the eveningtake-out deliveries.For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...

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How The South Congregational Church On Court Street Lost Its Steeple

From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle archive(Picture credit: Brooklyn Public Library Archive)South Congregational Church at 360 Court StreetThe church todayDo you remember, dear Reader, that just a few days ago, I posted a wonderful old photo of the Congregational Church on Courts Street at the corner of President Street?The church has not changed much over the last decades, except that long ago, it was turned into condos and no longer serves as a place...

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Please Contribute To Neighborhood's Second Annual Food Drive

image credit: invisibleElement on Flickr I just received an email from fellow Carroll Gardener Glenda, who is organizing a neighborhood food drive for Food Bank NYC, a worthwhile organization that helps feed approximately four million New Yorkers who experience difficulty affording food.I will drop my food donation off today. I hope you will do the same.Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill's2nd Annual Holiday Food DriveDecember 28th -January...

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Picture Of The Day: Chairs And Blooms

Just when I was letting the cold and the grayof winterget to me,I passed this cheerful displayof brightly painted boxes, chairs and flowering plantson Smith Street,near Atlantic Ave.For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...

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German Magazine Lists 20 Manhattan "Must-See Attractions," Two Of Which Are In Brooklyn

photo by guest photographer Max KellyHabitually, I check the websites of both German and French magazines, just to stay in touch withcurrent events in the countries I once called home.Yesterday, I browsed the website of Stern, a German publication, and found a listing of the top20 Must-See attractions of MANHATTAN. Sure, the list includes the usual: Central Park, the Empire State building, 5th Avenue and the Guggenheim Museum.But in 7th and 8th...

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A 1968 Class Photo From Carroll Gardens' PS 58: Do You Recognize Anyone?

Lets try to re-connect some PS 58 class mates, shall we? I recently exchanged a few emails with former Carroll Gardener Tony Gomes, who was a 1st grader at PS 58 back in 1968. He left the neighborhood about 40 years ago, but would love to reconnect with some of his former classmates. Now, I know that some of you pictured above still live right here in the neighborhood and could identify not only the other students, but also the teachers. How about...

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Watercolor Classes With Local Artist Bonnie Steinsnyder

watercolor by Bonnie SteinsnyderBonnie Steinsnyder was hanging up a poster advertising her watercolor classes when I came across her on Court Street this September. She is a local artist who has taught this class at Christ Church for a few years now. I had not met her before, but the watercolor accompanying her flier was so lovely, that I stopped, introduced myself and asked her about the classes. We walked together for a few blocks and exchanged...

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A Brooklyn Postcard From The Past: The Main Post Office

You know by now, dear Reader, that I love history and all things Brooklyn. Combine the two and you will not be surprised by this new series of old postcards sent in years and decades past from Brooklyn that I will be posting occasionally on PMFA.Here is the first one.More than 104 years ago, A.R.S. sent this Post card from Broklyn of the Cadman Plaza Post Office.November 11-16-05Dear Hatty,You people out there are wonders. Steve sent me five postals...

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'We The Free' Soon To Become Home To 'Free People' On Smith Street

On my walk yesterday, I noticed that the "We The Free" boutique at 113 Smith Street had been totally emptied and that a sign in the window noted that the store would be closed for renovation from December 25 through January 21st.The space, the flier noted, will soon be home to a "new Free People boutique."The store's blog doesn't give too much more information: Yes, that’s right. Free People was so popular in our little store in Brooklyn that we...

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Comment Of The Day: Sourcing Guide, Anyone?

Anonymous has left the following comment on the post "After Months Of Anticipation, Doors Finally Open At Court Street's Union Market": You'd think for the price there would be a sourcing guide.All I really want to know is where its from and when it was picked.NYC has some of the worst produce in the world. Its old devoid of taste and nutrients.This place gets its produce from the same place every other NYC shop does, just has a higher mark up.The...

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Restaurant "Verde" Taking Shape On Smith Street

image courtesy of The Redd GroupOnce the home of Valentina's Laundromat, the new restaurant at number 216 Smith Street is slowly taking shape.Just last week, the wooden construction fence came down to reveal a new ground floor façade of Verde. It actually looks very similar to Clover, just a few doors down. The new restaurant was designed by The Redd Group. Back in September, Verde,N.Y., Inc applied for a beer and liquor license.It would appear...

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Start The New Year "Green"; Recycle Your Xmas Tree

All right! So Christmas is over and your tree is starting to lose its needles. When you are ready to toss it out of your living room, you may want to recycle it at the Park Department's Mulch Fest. More info below.TreeCycle! Take your tree to Mulchfest 2010!Saturday & Sunday, Jan 9 & 10, 10am to 2pmWhat's Mulchfest? Well, each January, Parks Department hosts a two-day event to chip Christmas trees around NYC. The event involves designated...

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Happy Holidays To All

To All My Readers And Friends,Wishing you and your loved one the very best during this Holiday Season.I am taking just a few days off to celebrate with my family. Don't worry! I will be back by the 27 th.Cheers,KatiaFor Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...

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Photo Of The Day: Fresh Steaming Bread

The bread must have just come out of the ovenat Caputo's on Court Street,because it was steaming up the windowsand its deliciousness wasbeckoning me inside.For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...

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Once Upon A Time In Carroll Gardens: The South Congregational Church

(Picture credit: Brooklyn Public Library Archive)South Congregational Church at 360 Court StreetThe same church today minus the steeple Dear Reader,I hope that you don't mind me re-publishing this post. I wrote it back in 2007, but I am sure many of you have not seen it, unless you have looked through PMFA's archive. I wanted some of my newer readers to see these great old photos of one of our most recognizable churches. And it does have a Christmas...

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C.G.N.A. Vows To Fight To Protect Signature Gardens In Carroll Gardens

Speaking for the Committee To Improve Carroll Gardens at their December meeting on Monday, Land Use Co-Chair Glenn Kelly reiterated the organization's strong opposition to any modification to the 150-year-old law which protects the signature front gardens from development.Hannah Senesh Day School, a private school which moved to 342 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens two years ago, seeks approval to build an extension to their facility on the city...

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Comment Of The Day: Second Christmas In Carroll Gardens

Andrea has left the following comment on the post "After Months Of Anticipation, Doors Finally Open At Union Market": I haven't been yet, but have been checking your blog for updates and am glad it's finally open! I think it will be great. I moved to Carroll Gardens a year ago and enjoy your blog, thank you! I'm spending my 2nd Christmas here with my sister (who also moved to the hood a year ago) and our parents from the Midwest. Are there any...

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After Months Of Anticipation, Doors Finally Open At Union Market On Court Street

After months of anticipation, the doors of the new Union Market store at 288 Court Street finally opened and frankly, it was worth the wait. Not only is the space beautiful, but everything, from the produce, meat, fish, cheese and bread looks amazingly fresh and delicious. But it is no doubt the prepared food section which will appeal and bring people in the neighborhood back to the store multiple times. Neighborhood residents will be glad to stop...

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