A Moment In Time: Best Reception

" Hello! Can you hear me?"

Seems that there is good reception
between a row of Portosans
and the putrid water of the Gowanus Canal

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Brooklyn Rooftop Crop: The Giant Zucchini Of Baltic Street

Between clothing that was hung out in the sunshine and the rusted air conditioning ducts and fan, a bumper crop of zucchini is growing on a small rooftop on Baltic Street, right off Smith Street.
And my, how huge they are. As I stood there, looking up and taking photos, a small crowd gathered to see what I was taking pictures of.
" Wow, do you see that?" said someone. " Those are the biggest zucchini I've ever seen."
Everyone was mighty impressed that such squash could be grown on a rooftop in Brooklyn.
" I walk by here every day" said another, " but I never bothered to look up. I had no idea those things were growing up there."

Well, I would probably have missed it myself, had it not been for reader JLWS, who told me to check them out. Thanks JLWS!







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"Lobstah Feast Fridays" Great Fun In Red Hook

In case you missed it: Susan and Ralph, the great folks at the Red Hook Lobster Pound came up with a wonderful way to start the week-end from now till the end of the year: "Lobstah Feast Friday" at Rocky Sullivan's Tap Room , at the corner of Dwight and Van Dyke Street.

The first one was this last Friday and I made sure to get down to Red Hook for one of the best and freshest lobster in the entire city. The 1 ½ lb lobster was served with farm fresh corn, coleslaw or potato salad. (I had the potato salad, which was great.)

If lobster isn't your thing, try the Jonah Crab claws. I split an order with my husband and son as an appetizer. Super! I am glad that I came early to snag a table. The place filled up rather quickly.

So,if you intend to go next Friday, and I hope you do, don't get there too late. If you are coming with a group of 6 or more, you can send Susan and Ralph an email at the address on the poster above, so that they can bring enough lobster.




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No, No! " Bagels By The Park" Not Closing...Just Taking A Vacation

My email box started filling up with messages from readers early Friday morning. "Any idea what is happening over at Bagels By The Park? They were closed this morning, when I walked by." wrote one person. Another reader reported that " the windows were taped up, when I tried to get my coffee. What's going on?" And a third asked "Hey, Katia, you mostly know what's happening in the neighborhood. Do you know why the bagel joint is closed?"

Frankly, I had no clue, so I took my camera over to # 323 Smith Street, at the corner of President Street. Yes, it is true that the place where most neighborhood residents buy their morning java on their way to the F train, is closed.
It seems that Carroll Gardeners will need to get their brew and bagel someplace else, but ...only until September 7th. You see, the place is closed for vacation. That's all. Mystery solved!


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A Moment In Time: Please Adopt Me!

He looked like any other dog,
out for a walk with his owner,
on the cobbled streets of Dumbo,
were it not for his bright orange coat
with the words:
"Adopt me!"

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Another Great "Brooklyn Book Festival" Coming Up!

This simply has to be one of Brooklyn's coolest events. I was unable to attend last September, but am hoping to go this year. Below, find all relevant info.

2009 BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL IS HUGE, FREE

NATIONAL LITERARY DESTINATION EVENT

Over 220 literary superstars and pop culture trailblazers at hip, smart, diverse festival of ideas

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 10AM - 6PM

BOROUGH HALL PLAZA,

209 JORALEMON STREET, BROOKLYN, NY

Featuring: Russell Banks, Jonathan Lethem, Anne Carson, Paul Auster,

Edwidge Danticat, Claire Messud, Colson Whitehead, A.M. Homes, David Cross,

Mary Gaitskill, Nicholson Baker, Oliver Sacks, Staceyann Chin, Gary Shteyngart, Amy Sohn,

Nelson George, Melvin Van Peebles, Siri Husvedt, Lupe Fiasco, Heidi Julavits, Sloane Crosley,

Tao Lin, Jeffrey Rotter, Esmeralda Santiago, Keith Gessen, Naomi Klein, Thurston Moore,

M.T. Anderson, Greg Milner, Francine Prose, Jonathan Ames, Kate DiCamillo, Mo Willems,

T. Cooper, Tom Tomorrow, Judi Barrett, Christopher Myers...and many more!

On Sunday, September 13, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the Brooklyn Literary Council and Brooklyn Tourism will host the fourth annual Brooklyn Book Festival, a huge, free public event presenting over 220 authors participating in panel discussions and readings, young adult and children’s programming and a literary marketplace of more than 150 booksellers, publishers and literary organizations. Readings are held at Brooklyn Borough Hall, in Borough Hall Plaza and Columbus Park, at St. Francis College and the Brooklyn Historical Society.

The Brooklyn Book Festival will feature readings by Paul Auster (Man in the Dark), Russell Banks (The Reserve) Francine Prose (Goldengrove), Tao Lin (Shop Lifting from American Apparel), Yona Zeldis McDonough (Breaking the Bank), Nicholson Baker (The Anthologist), Ben Marcus (Notable American Women), David Cross (I Drink for a Reason) and Rakesh Satyal (Blue Boy), and poets Anne Carson, Sonia Sanchez, Philip Schultz and Arthur Sze. Jonathan Ames (The Double Life is Twice as Good).

For more information, go here to the Book Festival's Official Web Site or become a fan of the even's Facebook page.

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Nasty Stubbles: Funny Subway Ad Tampering At Carroll Street Station

At the Carroll Street F train station, Manhattan bound side.
The idea that someone took the time to take out a Sharpie to draw in these thick leg stubbles on a subway ad for a depilatory product, made me chuckle. I especially like the garter.
Please excuse me, but its a rainy Friday, and we all need some fun.



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Where Once A Dogwood Grew, A Building Nears Completion

The sweet little corner garden that once graced Smith Street at the corner of Warren
in May 2008, the day construction scaffolding went up.

And the same corner now!

Agreed! As far as new buildings go, 311 Warren/180 Smith is not as bad as some. The brick façade, though lacking any detail around the windows, looks all right. However, the set-backs make it tower over the much lower neighboring row houses on Smith.
Construction on the new building looks almost done. Yesterday, workers were balancing on the top level, working on the air conditioning units. It remains to be seen what exterior treatment the top floors will get.
For decades, that same corner was the home of a beautiful dogwood and of a red leaf maple, which grew there undisturbed for decades. It seemed like a little oasis on Smith Street, like a pleasant surprise, as one walked down the block, the sky opening wide above.

I miss that garden.




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Love Brooklyn? Proud To Be From Brooklyn? Why Not Show It!

Click Here

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Comment Of The Day: New Neighbors Welcomed!

"Raised in Carroll Gardens" has left the following comment on the post "Neighborhood Graffiti: Hipsters Good...Yuppies, Not So Good":

Everyone is welcome in Carroll Gardens. However, if you decide to stay then please become a neighbor and JOIN the neighborhood.
Please don't move in because you like it so much, but then try to change us.
We welcome new neighbors and we especially welcome new friends - - but if you go around complaining that there aren't enough Starbucks then you're just telling us what you think WE did wrong before you got here and saved us.
Join us, live here for 4 or 5 years (full-time) and become our neighbor in a real neighborhood.

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Neighborhood Graffiti: Hipsters Good...Yuppies, Not So Good

Seen on a construction fence at the former OTB at Sackett Street, right off Court Street.
In black spray paint; " Yuppies Out" and then, in discreet white, right next to it:
"Hipsters In!"


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Casa Rosa Restaurant Is Getting A Make-Over

My friend T called me over yesterday. " Hey, Ms. Blogger. Did you know that Casa Rosa is closed? They are gutting the place." I assured him that I would be right on the case.
Sure enough: the interior of the storefront at Number 384 Court Street, the home of one of Carroll Gardens oldest Italian restaurants, is being ripped out.
A quick check on the NYC Department Of Buildings web site confirmed that permit has been issued to " renovate existing restaurant and bar. Relocate Bar and provide new finish material only. Convert existing windows into storefront folding doors. Provide new exterior stucco finish."
When I ran into T. again, he was talking to J., who had it on good authority that the restaurant was not changing hands, but that Casa Rosa's owner was simply revamping his restaurant.
Stay tuned....


Thanks for the tip, T and J !

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A Moment In Time: Hot, Hot Days Of Late Summer

It had been just a tad cooler in recent days

here in Carroll Gardens,

but the days of summer were not over yet.

In the heat,

life in the neighborhood

and on the unusually empty streets

had slowed down.

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More Brooklyn Summer Harvest: Pears Ripening

Maybe it was all the rain we had this spring, but look all around you in Brooklyn: the fruit trees seem to have produced an incredible bounty this year. Last week, I posted photos of my neighbor's amazing peach harvest. Well, on my walks around the neighborhood, I have spotted others, which are covered with equally beautiful fruit. Look at this pear tree, for instance.

It has never been covered with as many pears before. They are ripening beautifully.

And I know that the fig trees are also doing amazingly well this year.

I only hope the fruit gets picked and eaten and doesn't just rot. Pssst...if you want to share your bounty, I'll gladly take some off your hands.

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Months After Partial Collapse, 217 Court Street Seeing Some Action

Back in early May, part of the roof and the back wall of the four story building at 217 Court Street collapsed down to the second story after a particularly rainy period. A full vacate order was posted immediately, and ever since, the building, surrounded by protective sidewalk shed, has seen no major action. Until now, that is.

A construction crew is busy filling a dumpster with rubble. The NYC Department Of Buildings issued a permit in June for " temporary shoring for the cellar, in order to clean out construction decrees." ( debris, maybe???)

That may indicate that the damage to the existing building can be repaired and that it does not need to be demolished.
As I mentioned back in May, the building is certainly not one of the nicest in our brownstone neighborhood, but that side of Court Street is in Boerum Hill, which is not landmarked or down-zoned, which would open the door to new out-of-scale, out-of-context construction.

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