Carroll Gardens: A Neighborhood Worthy Of Protection

I recently wrote an op-ed piece for the Carroll Gardens Patch on the importance of landmarking more of our unique brownstone neighborhood in order to maintain it for future generations.

Thought you may want to read it in case you haven't yet.

Carroll Gardens: A Neighborhood Worthy Of Protection

by Katia Kelly on Carroll Gardens Patch

For decades, the Brooklyn neighborhood now known as Carroll Gardens, has been a quiet residential enclave, a time capsule of beautiful mid-1800's brownstones. Its unique, charming front gardens offer a wonderful feeling of space, air and tranquility and provide a sense of relief from the turmoil of city life. The fact that today, Carroll Gardens retains much of its 19th century atmosphere and charm is a testament to the thoughtful and visionary planning by surveyor Richard Butts, who understood what made a neighborhood livable.

Today, Carroll Gardens is one of the oldest planned communities in the United States.It is therefore surprising to many that only a very small section of this unique neighborhood is landmarked.

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'Stark' Worthy? Check Out Menu Of Soon-To-Open Smith Street Eatery *Diego*

Diego, the new Mexican restaurant that will replace the Union Smith Café at 305 Smith Street was supposedly going to open in time for New Year's, but obviously work on the new eatery has not yet been completed. It's name, however, has been painted on the building's brick wall and the menu has been posted in the window.

But is this the menu that was rumored to have been designed by star chef Ivy Stark?

Back in early December, restaurant owner James Geritano, who also owns Bagels By The Park, told Carroll Gardens Patch that the Executive Chef of Dos Caminos, currently one of New York City's hottest Mexican restaurants, was involved in the new venture.

Eater.com doubted that Stark had such an involvement in the new place, and wrote that her association "has been exaggerated" and that she merely suggested a chef for Diego.

Not sure the menu taped in the window of Diego is "Stark" worthy or not. I guess it doesn't much matter, as long as the food tastes good.

What say you, dear Reader?

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Before Smith Street Was Restaurant Row: Part 2

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