Brooklyn Summer Street Styles....From 1987

"Marnal Whitney in ivory leather pants and dramatic jacket 

waiting for a Seventh Avenue bus in the Slopes"

"Vanessa Crane and Janet Eisner seem harmless visitors to the Heights, 

but who knows behind those shades?"

"Robert Cavale in Park Slope in linen pants and a white silk jacket"

"Jan Andrew was dressed in contrasting black and white  patterns 
to present an arresting and graphic fashion statement"

"Firefighters West and Rogers of Park Slope's Brooklyn Squad 1, who appeared in recently designed OSHA togs, weren't out of place on Fashionable Seventh Avenue."
(Photos above by Kathryn Kirk)

Since everyone seemed to enjoy the post about 1970's Hipsters so much, here are some more Brooklyn street fashions, this time from May 1987.
The article and photos above appeared in The Phoenix, "the hometown newspaper of downtown Brooklyn's historic brownstone neighborhoods" that was published weekly from 1972 to 1998. According to reporter, Kathryn Kirk, "the Streets of Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope and Any City, USA, are filled with people in athletic attire. Sweat pants are the most recent fashion statement. Running shoes are de rigueur. T-shirts have evolved into an art form."

The captions that go with the photos are rather amusing.

And where did the 1980's Brooklyn Fashionista shop?  Well at A&S on Fulton Street and at Benetton and Two To Tango in Brooklyn Heights of course.

What were you wearing in Brooklyn in 1987?  Or any other year, for that matter.  Let's see your old snapshots from the past. Send them to me to this email address and  I will gladly post them here on Pardon Me.

* I would like to thank life-long South Brooklyn resident Celia Cacase for keeping some wonderful old Brooklyn newspapers.  When Celia moved away recently, she left her collection of papers behind and I have been archiving them along with several community friends.

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Seeking Carroll Gardens Flat "That Might Befit A Young Man And His Cat": A Poem

"Open Letter From Carroll Gardens Apartment Seeker"

Well done. Makes you want to meet the guy,
even if you don't have an apartment for rent, doesn't it?

Thank you for the photos, Mary P.

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Knock, Knock! Opossum At The Front Door

(photo credit: Nicholas Gorczynski)

Opossum sightings have become quite frequent in Carroll Gardens the last few year.  Here is yet another one.  Local resident Nicholas Gorczynski found one just outside his front door.  The little critter must have climbed up the stoop.
Nicholas grabbed his camera and shot these very funny photos.  He writes:

Not too long ago you had some articles about an opossum family that was proliferating in the neighborhood right? This [Friday] morning there was a little guy at the front door on (2nd place between Clinton and Henry). I opened the door and he was looking up like he was waiting to get in. He kind of blocked me in so I went out through the garden entrance instead and took some pictures.I don't think he was dangerous, just cold and scared. From reading anyway, I learned that having opposums around can be a good thing. 

My neighbor had a little interaction with him (his tail got caught in the door!) and once free he went on his way peacefully. She mentioned that she has seen these little guys on the block for some time and they make their appearance on occasion.

I must admit that opossums are quite cute, but I probably would not have tried to walk passed him either.  Thanks for sharing this, Nick.

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"Nature Nails" Joins "Pretty Nails" On Same Court Street Block

Seriously? Another nail place in the neighborhood? The proliferation of these places is simply astounding.  And they all seem to make enough money to survive, whether on Court Street or on Smith Street.
The latest nail place,  Nature Nails, is slated to open at 189 Court Street near Bergen Street, in the former Prudential Douglas Elliman office. (The realtor moved to 327 Court Street in Carroll Gardens.)

Nature Nails will be exactly two doors away from Pretty Nails on the same block.
Am I missing something here?

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California Taqueria On Court Street Obviously Angered Its Landlord

Oh, boy!  A reader sent me the photo above, which was taken on Monday afternoon.
It would appear that California Taqueria at 187 Court Street at Bergen Street, has angered its landlord, who has gone to great lengths to shame the Mexican eatery for non-payment of rent.
A car, presumably owned by the landlord, was parked right across from the restaurant.  It sported a huge sign on its roof, announcing that California Taqueria owes $312,000 in back rent, refuses to pay up and "continues to abuse the landlord, a WWII Vet."
Think this will help or will it drive away customers, making it even harder for the restaurant to pay the rent?

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Carroll Gardener Dares You To Let Your Dog Pee On Her Fence

Carroll Gardener to dog owners:

"Go ahead, let your dog pee on my fence."

The local resident told me: "I confess I am proud of my idea. We got very tired of asking/fighting with people to stop their dogs and they just would not. I think I saw a photo of a dog peeing on a Romney yard sign and it got me thinking.  Most people are patriotic and I thought it would stop them. At least so far I think it has worked. No sign of pee."

Worth a try, no? 

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Spotted On Smith Street: How Did The Rocks Get Here?

Good question!

A shout-out to Miss Lucy who pointed this out as we walked down Smith Street.

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Weirdly Disturbing Brooklyn Don Juan Wants To Take You On A Cheap Date

Just in case anyone is desperate enough....

As seen on Court Street near Borough Hall, taped to a newspaper dispenser.

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"MAIL And Female" On Court Street

"MAIL and Female"

USPS box on Court Street near 4th Place.

Spotted by my friend Mary.

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What's That Weird Think Hanging From Teddy's Gate On Court Street?

Photo Courtesy of  Yelp

Reader Molly just wrote to me to let me know about something quite weird at Teddy's, the women's clothing and accessories boutique at 216 Court Street, near Warren in Cobble Hill.

She writes:

On my way home from dropping my son off at preschool this morning, I stopped in my tracks when I got to Teddy's women's boutique on Court St. that had something hanging from the pull-down metal grate. At first I thought it was a piece of meat or an octopus, but when I looked more closely, all I could think was that it was some sort of internal organ. It was about the size of a woman's shoe, yellow and red, and slimy looking. It looked as though someone had purposely put it there right at eye level. I stood there for a few minutes hoping someone would pass by who I could talk to about it, but nobody was around at the moment. I can't stop thinking about it! It's hideous looking.

Molly even sent along some photos she just took. It's truly disgusting. What is that?  Roast Chicken or some weird message?... Does anyone have an idea?

Update! Teddy just responded with the following comment:

We are as surprised by that nasty little present as anyone who sees the picture. We are checking with the local butcher shop and have informed the police, but we really don't think it is anything other than some moron with a sick sense of humor. Our cameras will catch them if it happens again. Grossness and stupidity combined! Yuck.

I am glad the store followed up with the police.  This is really quite bizarre, but I love some of the comments suggesting that aliens are coming.

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Shoeshine Anyone? New Service At The Carroll Street Subway Station

In front of the Second Street entrance of the F & G train Carroll Street Station at Second Place.

Entrepreneurship in this neighborhood seems to be alive and well.
A wooden chair, some leather polish and a few rags and voila, you have got yourself a little shoe shine business.
You have to love the big bright red market umbrella.

And there is good news regarding the 360 Smith retail space right right next door to the subway entrance.  As you may already have heard, the rumor that Momofuku Milk Bar will be opening at this corner has been confirmed.
Soon, you will be able to buy pork buns, a shake and get a shoe shine all before you get on the subway.

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Red Carpet...Brooklyn Style

 The Red Carpet stoop.

Oscar evening at my house.

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Rock Salt And Lights! Court Street Getting Ready For Winter

It may be in the balmy 70's  outside, but holiday lights have already been strung across Court Street in Brooklyn Heights.  Don't know about you, but I am not ready to get into the spirit yet. especially when it feels more like spring than fall.
And get a load of Sam's, also on Court.  They are already selling rock salt.  
50 ¢ a pound.  Go see Louie inside...

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Huge (Plush) Rat Startles Pedestrians On Smith Street

At the corner of Smith and President Street

Perhaps it was someone's idea of a joke.  Maybe, it was meant as a comment about the overflown public garbage cans on Smith Street.  Or simply a randomly discarded toy.

No matter why it was there.  This rather large plushy rodent startled quite a few passersby.
Ah, life in the city!

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Late Fall Bumper Crop Of Tomatoes On Fire Escape

I always admire people who have a knack for growing tomatoes.  My own attempts have never been anything but disappointing.  So, my hat off to the Cobble Hill resident who has obviously a gift for coaxing a bumper crop of plum tomatoes from one plant on the third floor fire escape.  
Though it is nearly the end of October, these beauties were still ripening and looked picture perfect.  Notice the one hanging down on the thinnest of stalks?

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Sell Your Brooklyn Property For A Fistful Of Hundreds! Just Call Mike Or Jimmy

How much is your Brooklyn property worth?

Well, I hope more than $500, even in a recession.

Normally, I tend to throw out junk mail right away, but for some reason, the glossy flier above caught my eye and made me chuckle. The best price? Really?

*Note the additional ad for Zach's Rubbish removal on the same flier. Very classy.

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Picture(s) Of The Day: "No Sitting"

Oh Shucks! And they looked so comfortable...

in front of Bruno's Hardware on Court Street.

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Picture Of The Day: Hurricane Preparedness

Apparently, taping up widows serves no purpose in a hurricane. Especially if one uses painter's tape. Just saying...

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Did Someone Lose A Chicken In Brooklyn?

Pardon me for asking, but did anyone lose a chicken in Brooklyn last night? This is not a joke according to reader Sarah, who found "Clucky" last night. In an email to me, she writes:

My boyfriend and I rescued a chicken last night. Found on the street and could potentially be run over by a car. Lots of people saw it last night. We took it home but are going to drive over to the pound if no one claims it. Can you help us find the owner?

Sarah and her boyfriend just posted the information on Craig's List, hoping to re-unite the feathered escapee with its rightful owner. But Sarah warns: " If you are the owner of this chicken, please describe to me the neighborhood you live in and exactly what the chicken looks like so I know that it will not end up at KFC."

Sounds fair to me. How about it? Can we help Clucky find its way home?

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