Get Ready For Speed Dating At Provence En Boite On Smith Street

Are you ready to find love on Smith Street this Valentines Day? If yes, this is THE event for you.
Provence en Boite, the French bistro at 263 Smith Street, is hosting a 'Valentine Night in Brooklyn' event, presented by Ricard and Speed Dating Connections.
Fun, no?

FIND YOUR SOUL MATE

SPEED DATING

at Provence en Boite

February 10th 2010

7pm to 9.30pm

Single people only from 23 to 38 years old!!!!

Entrance fee $20.

Be the first to register to be sure to get a seat and meet a date, a boyfriend or the love of your life!!!!

To make your reservation on line, click here.

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Good News: "Provence En Boite" Allowed To Re-Open

"Provence En Boite," the cute French bistro at 263 Smith Street, was doing a brisk business on Sunday. Nothing very unusual, except...
last week, the establishment was closed by the Department Of Consumer Affairs for "operating illegally." That seemed like an ominous infraction. However, it turns out that "Provence En Boite" had added two extra tables to its outdoor seating area, which violated its 'unenclosed sidewalk café license.' Outside seating is under the jurisdiction of Consumer Affairs. On their website, I found the following paragraph:

The new law also strengthens DCA's enforcement authority allowing the City, for the first time, to close restaurants that repeatedly break the unenclosed sidewalk café rules. Operators of unlicensed sidewalk cafes who violate the law two times may have their restaurants padlocked for up to thirty days after the second violation. Licensed operators who encroach illegally on the sidewalks may have their restaurants padlocked for up to thirty days after the third violation.

Hey, I am all for following rules and honestly, I am not crazy about the proliferation of tables and chairs hogging up the sidewalks on Smith, but closing the entire business because of two extra tables seems a bit extreme to me.

Provence En Boite was allowed to reopen over the week-end.


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Provence En Boite On Smith Street Closed For " Operating Illegally"

Provence en Boite, the charming French Bistro at 263 Smith Street was closed by the Department Of Consumer Affairs, as indicated by two big stickers right in the front window.  Judging by the agency which closed the restaurant, it is most probably because of unpaid fees for their sidewalk seating area, which is under the jurisdiction of the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs.

From the agency's web site: 

The new law also strengthens DCA's enforcement authority allowing the City, for the first time, to close restaurants that repeatedly break the unenclosed sidewalk café rules. Operators of unlicensed sidewalk cafes who violate the law two times may have their restaurants padlocked for up to thirty days after the second violation. Licensed operators who encroach illegally on the sidewalks may have their restaurants padlocked for up to thirty days after the third violation.

I seem to remember that the restaurant went in front of CB6 just in the last three months to re-apply for their license.  Maybe they never followed through to pay the fee for the new license.  Just a thought. 

Does anyone know more?

Thanks to reader Stephen for emailing me with the info.

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