2009: The Year In Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
A Year In Pictures
2009

January

February



March



April



May



June



July



August



September

October

November

December

This, 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 was much uncertainty. But 2009 was not without joy. And laughter. For that, I am grateful.

I am also grateful to you, dear Reader, for your visits to Pardon me For Asking, for your witty comments, your encouragement and for sharing your stories about the neighborhood.

I hope that 2010 will bring many good things to everyone and to Carroll Gardens.

Cheers!

And Come Back On Monday, When Pardon Me For Asking Starts 2010 With New Posts!

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Picture Of The Day: Ready For Deliveries

They were parked off Court Street
along a fence,
ready for the evening
take-out deliveries.

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

From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle archive

(Picture credit: Brooklyn Public Library Archive)

South Congregational Church at 360 Court Street

The church today

Do 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 of worship.
However, on the old photo, the Congregational Church has a steeple, which is no longer there.
I had no idea what happened to it, until reader Alexandra kindly sent me the article above from the Brooklyn Eagle archive, which sheds some very interesting light on the church's history.
According to the January 4, 1879 article, high winds made the steeple sway dangerously and it was feared that it was going to collapse that afternoon.
It would seem that already during construction, there was a problem with the steeple.
The article states:

The church and tower were constructed about eighteen years ago, and during its construction, a shocking accident occurred, which resulted in the nstant killing of two men and serious injury to several others. The casualty was caused by the falling of a scaffold in the interior of the edifice.
The steeple has always been regarded as more or less insecure and it has often been a matter of surprise to those residents in the neighborhood and who, during more than ordinarily severe gales observed it moving from one side to the other that it has not long ago toppled over altogether.

On that day in January, so long ago, the tower clearly rocked from side to side. Ropes around the church kept pedestrians at a safe distance. The article continues:

There is much alarm felt on the block as it is impossible to say on which side the steeple will fall.
Should it fall inward, the mass of slate, brick and mortar would doubtlessly crash through the roof of the church and cause considerable damage, and should it fall outward, some of the houses on the opposite side of the street could not escape without serious injury.

The worst did not seem to have happened, since the brownstones next to and opposite the church remain intact to this day. It is likely that, as the article mentions, the steeple may have been taken down shortly after January 4, 1879.

My thanks goes out to Alexandrea, who loves neighborhood history as much as I do and has, over the last two years, sent me a wealth of historical photos and articles about Carroll Gardens.



Related Reading:

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

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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's
2nd Annual Holiday Food Drive
December 28th -January 6th

Drop Off your donation at the DROP OFF BOX located at: 323 President Street (front gate) Between Hoyt and Smith Streets Brooklyn, NY 11231

All food items to be donated must be:
-In their original, unopened packages
-Within the expiration date on the package
-In cans, cardboard, plastic (not glass)

With approximately 1.3 million New Yorkers relying on emergency food — the majority of whom are women, children, seniors, the working poor and people with disabilities — your food donations are critical.

Food Bank For New York City recognizes 25 years as the city's major hunger-relief organization. Working to end food poverty and increase access to affordable, nutritious food for low-income New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs, the Food Bank's initiatives focus on direct services, food sourcing and distribution, education and nutrition, financial empowerment, disaster relief and policy and research.

As an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, the Food Bank meets the Better Business Bureau's charity standards. We recently received our fourth, consecutive four-star rating from Charity Navigator for effective and fiscally responsible management of our organization. Only 6 percent of charities rated have received at least four consecutive four-star evaluations, demonstrating our continued commitment to responsibly addressing the issue of food poverty. The Food Bank is a certified member of both Feeding America and the Food Bank Association of New York State.

You may also consider making a donation directly to Food Bank, NYC here

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Picture Of The Day: Chairs And Blooms

Just when I was letting
the cold and the gray
of winter
get to me,
I passed this cheerful display
of brightly painted boxes, chairs
and flowering plants
on Smith Street,
near Atlantic Ave.

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

photo by guest photographer Max Kelly

Habitually, I check the websites of both German and French magazines, just to stay in touch with
current events in the countries I once called home.
Yesterday, I browsed the website of Stern, a German publication, and found a listing of the top
20 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 place are the Brooklyn Bridge and the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood.

It made me wonder what places Brooklynites would include if the list was purely about our lovely borough.

Have any ideas, dear Reader? What would you include? Send me your suggestion and we can compile our own list of 20 Must -See Attractions in BROOKLYN.


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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 it? Can you help out?
Tony writes:

I would love to hear from anyone who may have been in my class at PS 58. I'm the boy with the dark suit in top row. I lived at three addresses between 1961- 1969, one of them was Carroll, Union and 4th Place.

If anyone else has an old class photo of PS58, St. Mary's, St. Agnes or St. Stephens, don't hesitate and send it my way. I would be more than happy to post it. P.S.: I remember those assembly outfits from when my children attended PS58 in the 90's. Red tie and white shirt with blue pants or skirt..... Was Assembly on the first Thursday of every month? I know that Marietta's on Court Street always stocked those red ties.





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Watercolor Classes With Local Artist Bonnie Steinsnyder

watercolor by Bonnie Steinsnyder

Bonnie 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 contact information. She is a lovely person and her art is simply beautiful. Make sure to check out her website and please contact her if you would like to take her class. Below is the information:



WATERCOLOR CLASSES
Relax and have fun while painting!

Monday evenings, 7 pm to 9:30 pm, Spring 2010
January 11, 25 February 1,8, 22 March 1, 8, 15, 22 April 5, 12, 19
Location: Linden Tree School at Christ Church, 3rd floor, 108 Kane St. (near Clinton St.)
12 classes $300.
Registration and more information: email steinsnyder@nyc.rr.com
Materials list and specific description of supplies available at registration.
Taught by teacher/artist Bonnie Steinsnyder, MFA. View my work at www.steinsnyder.com


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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 11-16-05

Dear Hatty,

You people out there are wonders. Steve sent me five postals and no two are alike.

A.R.S.

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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 will be turning over our inventory, and on January 20th officially re- open as a Free People store. While we all loved our little concept on Smith Street, the time is come for change… as we all know. So FP it is.

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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 concept of local food is still very very distant to any of the food hawks. Fairway perhaps the worst.

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Valentina's Laundromat Says Farewell To Smith Street

image courtesy of The Redd Group

Once 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 that work on the space will be completed fairly soon.
I have no idea yet what kind of food "Verde" will be offering. Does anyone know?



Related reading:
Former Valentina's Laundromat On Smith Street To Become Yet Another Bar/Restaurant

Valentina's Laundromat Says Farewell To Smith Street

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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 2pm

What's Mulchfest? Well, each January, Parks Department hosts a two-day event to chip Christmas trees around NYC. The event involves designated drop-off and chipping sites where people bring trees to be chipped and turned into mulch. Please remove lights and decorations!

Chipping Sites:
*Cobble Hill Park, Clinton St. & Verandah Pl.
*Prospect Park, Prospect Park West & 3rd St.

Drop-off Locations:
*Coffey Park, Dwight St. & Verona Pl.
*Red Hook Farm/Added Value, Columbia & Halleck Sts.

Mulch is available at chipping sites and at most drop-off locations.



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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,
Katia




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Photo Of The Day: Fresh Steaming Bread

The bread must have just come out of the oven
at Caputo's on Court Street,
because it was steaming up the windows
and its deliciousness was
beckoning me inside.

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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 Street

The 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 theme....



Imagine you were standing at the corner of President and Court Street here in Carroll Gardens, right against the ball field fence of Carroll Park. Now imagine it's the early 1900's.
This is what you would have seen:
The South Congregational Church at 360 Court Street with a church steeple. The steeple has been gone gone for a very long time now and the church is no longer a place of worship, but a condo. Otherwise, not much seems to have changed at that location. Pretty neat, no?


But now look what else I found. A lovely picture from 1953 of a living crèche at the exact same church. recognize anybody from the neighborhood? The caption reads:

"Eight costumed children (four standing, 1 sitting, 3 kneeling) in Nativity scene. Caption: "Living Crèche--Every quarter of an hour this week pupils of South Congregational Church Sunday School will pose this nativity scene in the doorway of the church at Court and President Sts."

(Picture credit: Brooklyn Public Library Archive)

Living Nativity scene 1953 at the South Congregational Church

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*Carroll Gardens Organizes To Fight Assault On The Historical Integrity Of The Neighborhood

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 owned courtyard which runs along at the corner of Smith Street and First Place.

The school has hired lobbyist Ken Fisher to influence political opinion on the matter. We can expect Hannah Senesh to apply for a zoning variance and an amendment to the Administrative Code which will allow a transfer of city property to the school. Should their application meet with approval and proceed through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (U.L.U.R.P.,) Carroll Gardens will have to fight to keep its historical integrity and unique character intact.

CGNA had fought for decades to protect the front gardens. According to Glenn Kelly, the organization can therefore not support Hannah Senesh' s expansion.
Other neighborhood groups, such as C.O.R.D., have voiced their opposition as well.







Related Reading:

*Carroll Gardens Organizes To Fight Assault On The Historical Integrity Of The Neighborhood

*Bill De Blasio Courtyard Caper Delayed

*Carroll Gardens Protests "Bill": An Open Letter To De Blasio

*Dear Bill De Blasio: A Reader Strongly Protests

*In 2008, Hannah Senesh Paid Ken Fisher To Lobby For Acquisition Of Lot Currently Owned By City

*Will Bill And Brad Attend Hannah Senesh's 'Brief' Meeting About Expansion Into Publicly Owned Courtyard?

*Councilman 'Dollar Bill' De Blasio's Underhanded Move To Amend A 150-Year Old Law Angers Many In Carroll Gardens

*Breaking News! On His Way Out, Councilman Bill De Blasio Sticks It To Carroll Gardens



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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 neighborhood "must dos," or must eats, or must sees for the holidays? It's such a great neighborhood and I don't want to miss anything! Happy holidays!

Lets hear it Carroll Gardeners,
Can we give Andrea some advice?



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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 here to get a freshly roasted chicken, grab a prepared side-dish and a fresh loaf of bread as an alternative to restaurant take-out.

It certainly doesn't offer a wide-enough selection to be able to compete with Fairway, but hey, not everyone has a car, nor do people want to spend their week-end going to Red Hook to shop.

I, for one, think this is a great addition to the neighborhood. Much better than the ratty Blockbuster that was there before.

Let me know what you think, dear Neighbors!




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