A Moment In Time: Hula Hooping In Carroll Park

Hula Hooping In Carroll Park

on a gray day in Brooklyn.

ShareThis

Read More

Artist Andrea LaHue Brings Her "Random Acts Of Flowers" To Neighborhood Construction Fences

On construction fence at 320 Court Street

Construction fence on Smith Street near Douglass Street

2009 'random act' on the construction fence at 250 Smith Street

Sunflower on 340 Court Street construction fence

There is nothing more drab than a plywood construction fence. Unfortunately, since the downturn in the real estate market, some fences, such as the one surrounding the Clarett site at 340 Court Street or the one on Smith Street near Douglass Street, seem to have become permanent fixtures in our neighborhood.

However, this summer, Los Angeles-based artist Andrea LaHue has used a few fences in our neighborhood as canvas for her beautifully painted blossoms. According to her web site, the artist has painted 80 plus flowers in 33 US cities as part of her cross-country "Random Acts Of Flowers" project. She writes: "The interaction with all the communities is surprisingly the same... Flowers make everybody happy!"

Thanks, Andrea! Have enjoyed those giant blooms on my walks.

Here is Andrea LaHue's video on her work around the neighborhood.

ShareThis

Read More

Best Comment Of The Day: Walking Farther

Anonymous has left the following comment on the post "Those New Self Service Checkout Counters At CVS: Annoying Or Progress?:

"I live one block from CVS and sad to say I go there ALL the time. But I am so annoyed by this change that I am going to have to walk farther to another drug store, ugh."

ShareThis

Read More

Former India House On Court Street To Become "Pronto Pizza"

The retail space at 139 Court Street, across the street from Trader Joe's, has been empty for about a year now. Formerly occupied by India House, a fixture on Court Street for decades, the 750 sf storefront was for lease for $7,000 by Smith Hanten Real Estate back in July 2009. After a few month, the price was lowered to $6,500. The original ad from Smith Hanten (see above) stated that food and liquor would not be permitted.

I guess the landlord changed his mind about the food part, because a new banner announces the opening of "Pronto Pizza."

With My Little Pizza just a block away at 114 Court Street, do you think, dear Reader, that the location across the street from Trader Joe's will offset the high rent?

Related posts:

After Many Years On Court Street, India House Closes Its Doors

Space Occupied By Indi(a) House For Rent, But Restaurant Owner Not Worried

ShareThis

Read More

Picture Of The Day: Scooter Duo

One yellow

one blue,

perfectly parallel-parked from each other.

ShareThis

Read More

Those New Self Service Checkout Counters At CVS: Annoying Or Progress?

The CVS at 395 Court Street has never been my favorite store in the neighborhood. I try to avoid it as much as I can. I know that others here in Carroll Gardens feel the same way. Many regret having lost such privately owned pharmacies like Renaissance, which closed just a few years ago at 331 Court Street. Their personal service just can't be duplicated in a chain store such as CVS.

Recently, CVS has chiseled away at their customer service a bit more by replacing their cashiers with electronic self-service check-out counters. Granted, the cashiers were nothing to write home about, but all too often, those self-service check-outs are out of service. Besides, the savings in wages did not translate into cheaper prices for customers.

My question to you, dear Reader is: how are you liking this new system?

Do you miss the human touch or do you prefer swiping and bagging your own purchases?

ShareThis

Read More

Girotondo Italiano: A Neighborhood Language Playgroup For The Very Young

Girotondo Italiano At Arts Cetera on Smith Street

How about enrolling your little one in an Italian language playgroup this fall? Starting this September, classes for both 0-2 year olds and 2-5 year olds will be offered at Arts Cetera at 212 Smith Street in Boerum Hill on Mondays. The fee for the 10 1-hour weekly sessions is $250 with a one time $25 registration fee.

Classes are also given in Brooklyn Heights.

Sounds like a lot of fun for the bambinos...

For more information and to register, click here.

ShareThis

Read More