Down In South Carolina Once More

Driving South

Green Grass and budding trees

In bloom

Fog rising

An old shed slowly collapsing

Leaning shed

New barns replacing the old

Tin roof and porch

Big oak trees and abandoned house

The inside of a great dinner in North Carolina

This place would do well in New York

A great sign on the diner's wall.

I loved the fork and spoon wall clock

Rainy beach

7 Am at the beach this morning

After a long drawn out winter, it was time to check on the family's beach condo In South Carolina. So my husband and I left New York on Saturday and headed down to Surfside Beach on Saturday to spend a week cleaning, caulking and painting ...and enjoying the ocean, of course. Unfortunately, the cold weather followed us, so that we have had to click on the heat. We have stayed in since we came. (Actually, I think I only stuck my nose out for about 10 minutes yesterday.)
But this morning, a glorious sunrise greeted me when I awoke and as you can see from the photos, the trees and spring flowers are in full bloom here.
I will be here all week long, heading back to Brooklyn early next week, but please send me your photos and news of the neighborhood, so that I can stay in touch with Carroll Gardens. And come back to check out my South Carolina posts.

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Best Comment Of The Day: Theft Isn't Uncommon In Our Neighborhood

RobNYC has left a new comment on your post "Parent Wants To Know If This 'Is Really The Carroll Gardens We All Want To Live In' After Daughter's Stroller Is Stolen"

"The writer of that note seems to take a big leap in assuming whoever stole the stroller lives in the neighborhood. Secondly, this is far from the worst thing to happen in CG in the last couple of years. That radio DJ was murdered in his apartment a year or so ago and that was right here in Carroll Gardens. Also, one year ago this month there was that gay bashing incident that happened on Luqour st. Two people were also mugged in the Carroll St stop in the last year both during the morning rush hour commute.

Check the crime blotter, theft isn't uncommon in our neighborhood as some people think."

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Classes On Everything You Ever Wanted To Master At Brooklyn Brainery

photos courtesy of Brooklyn Brainery

If you haven't checked out Brooklyn Brainery at 515 Court Street yet, you need to. Right now! According to its website, it's a "place to experiment with all the things you've wanted to learn but just haven't gotten around to yet -- think book clubs on steroids."

Just look at the list below of classes offered next month. Some are for one session, some are two or three sessions long. There are still spaces available, but don't wait. They are bound to fill quickly.

Brooklyn Brainery April Classes

One Session Classes:
Physics in the News: The Physics of Earthquakes, Waves, and Atomic Energy
Postcard Making + Elements of Design
Intro to Crochet
Let's Make Banh Mi
Mozzarella Making
Homemade Salad Dressings
How to Be an Indian Vegetarian (in New York)
Intro to Cinematography: Shooting with Lenses
Bike Basics
First Time Home Buying and Selling Your Home in the Worst of Times - two special classes with Realty Collective!

Two and Three Session Classes:
Finishing Techniques for Knitwear
Rethinking Math: Enticing Shapes and Sexy Numbers
What We Wore: 20th Century Fashion in America -
Data Visualization
Asian Desserts

The Brainery is at 515 Court Street, near 9th Street

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Want To Get Involved In Your Community? Learn How At New Horizons Middle School's Engagement Fair

New Horizons, the middle school at PS 32 on Hoyt Street is holding an 'Engagement Fair' this Thursday. The event is open to everyone in the community.

From Corrine at New Horizons:

The information is most relevant to parents of students in fourth through eighth grade. It's not just for parents, though. Representatives from NY Cares and NYC Serve will also be there and will be available to speak to people about opportunities (for adults) for involvement in the community, or anywhere throughout the city.

The purpose of the fair is to connect parents in the district with one another, with community partners, with civic involvement activities, with websites and communication tips necessary to help their children succeed academically or to enhance their already successful academic experience. Also featured at this "engagement fair" will be a wide range of information on our latest environmental projects -- our green roof and solar panels projects."

The fair is being held on Thursday, March 31 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at MS 442, 317 Hoyt Street (between President and Union Streets).

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Vinzee's Magic Fountain, Carroll Gardens Newest Hamburger Joint, Gets A New Sign And Its S.W.O. Lifted

Photos courtesy of Jeff S.

The opening of Vinzee's Magic Fountain, the new hamburger joint coming to 408-412 Court Street, was delayed when the renovation of the space was halted by the NYC Department of Building with a stop work order. That has now been lifted and it probably won't be long before the place will open its doors. And just in the last few days, a sign has been put up.

Reader Jeff S. sent me the photos above and wrote : "My wife and I were just out for a walk and noticed Vinzee's Magic Fountain has hung up a sign. It truly looks ... "magical"?"

That sign does look a bit hokey. Many of you readers weren't wild about the name of the place last time I posted about it and quite a few commented on the stark white façade.

According to its facebook page, "Vinzee’s Magic Fountain is a fast casual restaurant with an American style cuisine and wonderful ice cream desserts! We use fresh ingredients provided by local distributors and our products are all eco-friendly."

No menu has been posted yet.

Related Reading:

Despite Stop-Work Order, Vinzee's Magic Fountain, Court Street's Newest Hamburger Joint, Inching Closer To Grand Opening

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A Moment In Time: Spring Cleaning

On Smith Street.

He popped up out of the basement hatch door,

broom in hand.

obviously intent on doing some spring cleaning

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Red Hook Criterium 2011: Fixed Gear Race Through Waterfront Neighborhood

**REMINDER**

This Saturday

Amateurs need not apply to this bicycling event.

Red Hook Criterium is a race through Red Hook for serious daredevil bikers only. It consists of twenty grueling laps through this waterfront neighborhood, at night, over cobblestones, on bikes without brakes. And if that's not bad enough, the streets are not completely closed to traffic. Sounds fun, right?

According to Bike Blog New York, it "brings together roadies, messengers and track bike enthusiasts who turn a three quarters of a mile course into their own velodrome. All riders must be on fixed gears."

Red Hook Criterium is now in its fourth year. This year's event is scheduled for March 26th.

Keep an eye out on the event's web site for more information.

Know anyone who is taking part?

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Kumon Learning Center Takes Space Across The Street From PS58

I suppose with all the standardized test taking that our kids have to endure these days, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Kumon, a rapidly growing learning center, is expanding into Carroll Gardens. The tutoring service has rented the space on Smith Street that was occupied until very recently by the wonderful home decor store Environment 337.

This location is tailor made for Kumon. It's right across the street from PS 58, one block away from Hannah Senesh, a private school and three blocks away from PS 32.

Ka-ching!

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Best Comment Of The Day: A Week's Wages

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Moment Back In Time: "Respectfully Yours...":

"I love all this muck from the refuse pits of the plowed under history of a dear, vanished boro. That family probably spent a week's wages to preserve their mugs for a loving souvenir."

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American Apparel On Smith Street Could Use Some Help With Its Window Display

Granted, my days as a fashion designer on 7th Avenue go back a long time now, so I am not be au courant with the latest styles as I once was, but in the last few weeks, every time I walk past the American Apparel on Smith Street, the window mannequins are wearing such mismatched, frumpy outfits, that it looks a bit like a second hand store.

The retailer's second neighborhood location on Court Street in Brooklyn Heights doesn't look any better. I checked yesterday.

Is it just a Brooklyn thing? Do the windows of the Manhattan locations look better?

Don't get me wrong, I actually like American Apparel's simple cotton basics. Somehow, though, the window displays on Court And Smith seems to miss the mark and don't seem to reflect the clean style of the merchandise in the store.

Any thoughts?

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Parent Wants To Know If This 'Is Really The Carroll Gardens We All Want To Live In' After Daughter's Stroller Is Stolen

picture credit: Uppastroller.com

After a one-year-old's expensive Uppa stroller base is stolen at 8 Am in front of the Carroll Gardens family's residence, her parent wants to know if this is really the neighborhood we want to live in.

Further, on the flier above, which was posted at the F train station at Carroll Street yesterday, the parent wonders what's wrong with people. Read on:

Uppa Baby Stroller Base

Stolen!

(on Union Street)

Seriously... There are thousands of kids and families in the neighborhood who need to carry their strollers down their front stoops and then run back inside. Our stroller was stolen at 8 AM in the morning in the process of getting out the door.

What is wrong with people? Is this really the Carroll Gardens neighborhood we all want to live in!? If you accidentally took it, are looking to pawn it, feel guilty and want to return it, please bring it back!!

At the end of the day, you actually stole from a 1 year old little girl who loves to ride around the neighborhood and wave at people. Is this really who you want to be in life?

Bring it back. If you see one for sale on BoCoCa or Craigslist, please let us know. We are a community and need to stick together.

I am a bit confused about why someone would just want to take the base of a stroller, but as much as we think we live in a small, safe community, stuff happens here as well as anywhere else in the city. What do you think the chances are of getting it returned?

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A Moment Back In Time: "Respectfully Yours..."

The site where 140 Wyckoff stood approximately once upon a time.

The site is now part of the Gowanus Housing Complex.

I came across this wonderful old photograph of six children standing in a Brooklyn doorway a while back and had always planned to seek out the address of photographer B.J. Mulligan, who took the photo in the early 1900's.

A stamp on the back indicates that Mulligan had his studio at 140 Wyckoff Street active at the turn of the last century. I found no other mention of him online, but there is a mention in the New York Times of a John Mulligan having died at 140 Wyckoff Street in 1903.

I finally took the time to check out the address,but the building is long gone, having been replaced in the late 1940's with the Gowanus Housing Development.

A handwritten note on the back says:

"In the upper row William Adelaide Elizabeth.

In the lower row from left to right- David Joseph and Jane. Some time later Neville sent Agnes' likeness and it will give me great pleasure to send a likeness of their mother. Respectfully, D.A. McShane"*

There is no indication of where the photo was taken, but the children may have posed in front of the studio on Wycoff Street. In any case, I would love to know more about them, the photographer and McShane. Don't you?

*At least, I think this is what it says.

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Council Speaker Christine Quinn Comes To Carroll Gardens And Speaks About The Budget, Parking And Helping Small Businesses

Council Speaker Christine Quinn at the Carroll School (PS 58)

Council Member Brad Lander

Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Organization's Glenn Kelly, Maria Pagano and Colleen Giunta

don't create more parking, but will ease the burden a little bit Challenges facing small businesses.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn came to last night's Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association meeting to talk about the City's budget, neighborhood parking and how she plans on helping small businesses. Oh, and she wanted the audience to know that after a visit to our neighborhood a few months back, her partner declared Carroll Gardens her favorite neighborhood and wants to move her.

The Council Speaker was introduced by our Councilman Brad Lander with high praises, a favor she returned when she spoke. It all felt very much like a pit stop on the campaign trail, but most in the audience seemed pleased to get a chance to meet Quinn, who is apparently planning on running for mayor.

The Speaker talked about New York City's budget as it relates to the State budget. "I think the Governor is right in trying to get the State's finances under control. And I am not saying that New York City should have no cuts, but we shouldn't be cut more than any other part of the State." Neither, she suggested, should the city be penalized for good fiscal planning by prepaying bills and having set aside money in a trust.

Quinn also gave some examples of how she plans on helping neighborhoods with their mounting parking problems. One solution would be to allow community boards, which have received the highest cleanliness rating in the Mayor's Management Report for two years in a row, to cut back on alternate side of the street parking, if they want.

"Now it doesn't make more spots, but it means you don't have to drive around an extra day a week [to find parking.]"

She credited Councilman Lander for this suggestion.

The Council is also going to pass legislation that would require the City to come up with an interactive map of parking spots to make it easier for drivers to avoid streets closed for construction and for filming. "It doesn't make more spots but it tells you: Don't go down those streets!"

Though these ideas are certainly worth looking into, the only real solution for the City's parking problem is to discourage people to own cars in the first place. As one member of the audience stated, one does that by strengthening public transportation.

The last issue brought up by Quinn is the overwhelming amount of bureaucracy and paperwork involved in opening a small business in New York City. As an example, she gave the problems facing new restaurant owners, who have to deal with several agencies and conflicting regulations. Quinn proposes to streamline the inspection process for new eateries and to put in place 'NYC Business Link,' a way for the city to embrace customer service the same way businesses do."

Let the campaigning begin...

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David Chase Uses Red Rose On Smith To Film Scenes For His Newest Project

There was quite a bit of commotion outside of Red Rose Restaurant on Smith Street tonight as scenes of David Chase's new production were filming in the Italian eatery. The creator of HBO's The Sopranos has signed James Gandolfini, Bella Heathcote, Christopher McDonald and Brad Garrett to his first full feature film. Steven Van Zandt is an executive producer and music advisor for the film. According to Movie Web, it's "a music-driven coming of age story set in suburbia in the '60s"
That would explain the vintage cars parked in front of Red Rose.

When I walked by at about 9 pm, and it looked as though things were starting to wrap up. I didn't spot any celebrities. Did anyone else?

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