Dear Jeep Guy –
This photo was taken two weeks ago, and posted in a discussion about Barneys. This morning I noticed that your car is still parked in the same spot, but now covered in Sanitation Dept stickers and scribbles about NYPD Towing.
You might want to move it ASAP.

Sincerely,
CHB

While we try to be everywhere and cover everything, the sad truth is that it ain’t possible (especially while working in Manhattan).
What do you want to know more about? What are we lacking? What are you doing this weekend?

Photo by EJ Cory

It appears that construction on our local Barneys is underway. Earlier estimates have the store opening this Fall.

The Brooklyn resident is now making a documentary film that gets back to his Midwestern roots. Originally from Illinois, his former high school is creating an endowment for the arts by reuniting 60 years of high school theater alumni to put on one more show. He is raising money for his film via Kickstarter (New York based) so that he may capture the guts and glory that goes into putting on a play when you haven’t done so in 30 years. The stakes are raised as arts funding has been slashed in the state of Illinois causing this group to be performing for a much greater cause, possibly saving the theater department all together.

To see this ambitious project through, he is collecting donations online at the link below. If you can contribute, or know someone who may want to donate please pass this link around: http://kck.st/azYgAQ

When they’re not changing dates on spoiled meat, our local supermarket has decided to have fun with their label maker. Presenting “octopus” – or imitation crab, squid, shrimp, mussels, etc. Barf.

Planning to visit Brooklyn Tattoo tomorrow for their Bridge Anniversary Special? Well, you’re in luck as Adam has posted the flash of available designs that are part of the $27 deal – all done in his famous style.

Which one’s calling your name?

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Italian Wine Tasting Event

Do you love Italian wine but don’t know the difference between a Barolo, a Barbera or a Chianti? You can sample a red and a white wine from each of the 20 provinces of Italy at a fantastic wine tasting on Friday night, May 21, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Christ Church on the corner of Clinton and Kane Streets in Cobble Hill. Join your friends and neighbors from Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens for a spectacular event to benefit the Linden Tree Pre-school at Christ Church.

But if tasting 40 wines isn’t amazing enough, you can also discover the beautiful church designed by noted architect, Richard Upjohn, who also designed Trinity Church. Christ Church was redecorated in 1916 by Louis Comfort Tiffany. It was his last personal commission and much of his interior work remains in the landmarked church celebrating its 175th anniversary this year.

The wine tasting cost $35 in advance; $40 at the door and is tax deductible. You may pay in advance with credit card by calling Heights Chateau, 718-330-0963, or the church office at 718-624-0083 during business hours.

If this is anything like Dominique Noel’s Bordeaux tasting at Heights Chateau last week, it promises to be informative and quite fun.

Come join the Cobble Hill Association and Brooklyn Greenway Initiative for the second annual…

COBBLE HILL BIKE RIDE

When: November 8th, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Verandah Place at Cobble Hill Park
Cost: FREE, simply rsvp to cobblehillbikeride@gmail.com.
Space is limited to 50 riders maximum. Preference will be given to those who register ahead of time, as well as Cobble Hill Association members.

The Cobble Hill Association and Brooklyn Greenway Initiative are hosting a 10-mile casual bike ride that will start at Cobble Hill Park and pass through Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, the Columbia Waterfront District, Red Hook, and Carroll Gardens then loop back to Cobble Hill.

There will be several scenic rest stops as we ride along mostly calm streets with some light vehicular traffic. Several Bike Marshals will travel alongside as well as a mechanic for any urgent bike repairs needed. It may be chilly so please dress accordingly, and know that riders should bring helmets and observe all the proper rules of the road.

Last night was an evening of celebrations. BookCourt’s expansion is celebrating it’s one year anniversary, and Jonathan Lethem’s newest novel, Chronic City, was released last week to mostly favorable reviews. In front of a packed house, the Lethem vs Chronic City tour brought Mr. Lethem back to the neighborhood for a reading, Q&A, book signing, followed by even more reading. The crowd was great, and the Q&A both humorous and informative. He also apologized to all Russian readers who might be offended by this book.

Jonathan is attempting to read the entire book, all 480 pages, over the course of eight nights. However, after two events, Mr. Lethem is only about 40 pages into it. With just five more stops before wrapping up back at BookCourt on December 4, don’t fret if you missed last night. The return promises to be an all-night marathon.

New Yorker: Talk story about a Cobble Hill man winning an N.C.A.A. bracket pool posthumously. Vincent Cincotta, who is dead, was in the running to win the N.C.A.A. bracket pool for his local watering hole, the Café on Clinton in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn. The Clinton Street pool is about ten years old, although Jimmy—a.k.a. Jimmy the Peddler had been drinking Scotch-and-soda at the place since it opened, in 1989. Jimmy lived in the neighborhood his whole life; he was eighty-two when he died, in July. A death notice described him as the “last active horse and wagon peddler in N.Y.C.” There is a photograph of his wagon at Jim and Andy’s, the Court Street produce store where he and his son Carmine were based after retiring Jimmy’s horse, in the seventies. When the first Clinton Street N.C.A.A. pool was drawn up, in 1999, it had six dozen regulars. This year, Jimmy was one of eight, the pot worth a hundred and forty dollars. It is the nature of smaller pools that the winner often becomes apparent well before the final game. By the night of the N.C.A.A. semi-finals, Jimmy seemed ready to clinch.

$99 — NYC: Trendy Brooklyn Hotel w/FREE Breakfast
Brooklyn, NY
Top 20 deal – sells out quickly!
Travel dates: Through February

By Steve Bertogli
Travelzoo Staff

Experience a different side of New York City this winter. Stay at the NU Hotel in Brooklyn — just a short 10-minute subway ride to Manhattan — for just $99 per night 7 days a week through February.

This offer saves you 45% OFF regular prices and comes with FREE continental breakfast and FREE wireless Internet. Superior King Rooms are available for just $30 more per night.

This new, trendy hotel is on Brooklyn’s hip Smith Street, which is loaded with popular restaurants and boutique shops.

Travelzoo Tip: Grab a slice of true New York-style pizza at Grimaldi’s, a 20-minute walk from the hotel, and enjoy views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline.

Click here to book online, or call 718-852-8585 and mention Travelzoo. Book by Feb. 2.

About the Hotel: Nestled in Brooklyn’s trendy Boerum Hill neighborhood, the NU hotel is just a few blocks from several subways. The hotel’s new loft-inspired guest rooms feature a modern design and flat-screen TVs. NU BAR, located in the lobby, is great spot to relax and grab a cocktail before heading out on the town.

Staycation!

Despite several gaudy paint jobs and duct-tape repairs to their sign, it appears that Dhaka has finally closed up shop. < sarcasm > Sad times for Atlantic Ave < /sarcasm >

Any bets on what’ll move in? Where can I find a decent curry in the neighborhood?

After posting the above image at my other blog, I received a tip about Reginella, our new Atlantic Ave neighbors. It seems that the same owners and chefs from Saana, the Yemeni restaurant that formerly occupied this space, are behind this new Italian venture. While I’m hoping for interesting “fusion” food – I’m sure it will fall into the same category as Bread for Jam, Busy Chef, and F. Martinella. Blah.

Anyone know what’s happening next door in the old Ben and Jerry’s spot? There are gift baskets on display in the windows. Sahadi’s used the space for food prep during the Antic, so my money’s on them expanding (at least for the holidays).

The line wrapped around the block this morning at PS29, where neighborhood residents showed up early to vote in this year’s election. After waiting in line for 45min, we were informed that if we knew our district (we did), that we could skip the lines and walk right in. Vote cast, democracy prevails.

Tip of the day — figure out your district before showing up, it’ll save you an hour!

CHA fall general meeting

The Cobble Hill Association invites the entire community to our annual fall general meeting. We will provide updates on all our various projects and neighbourhood concerns, including Brooklyn Bridge Park, 182-194 Atlantic Avenue, and our upcoming fifttieth-anniversary dinner. The main theme of the meeting will be ‘LICH: Hospital in Crisis’. Our featured guests will be soon-to-be State Senator-Elect Daniel Squadron, Arnold Licht and Toomas Sorra of the LICH doctors’ group, and Dominick Stanzione, the interim CEO of LICH.

What: CHA fall general meeting.
When: Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 7.30 p.m.
Where: LICH conference rooms A and B.

Eat In Pizza
I’m a huge fan of the pizza at Sam’s on Court Street. They don’t deliver, so if you’re not inclined to deal with the owner Louie, Cobble Hill Park is nearby to down the pie with a nalgene of wine.

Has anyone tried La Pizzetta on Atlantic Ave yet?

Delivery Pizza
Our go-to delivery pie comes from My Little Pizzeria, with the occasional change of pace at Layla Jones.

Of course, if you’re near the F Train, a trip down to Totonno’s in Coney Island ain’t a bad idea either. (photo from Sunday above)

Where are you guys eating pizza these days?

Join Galapagos Art Space in welcoming The Floating Brothel to our 1600 square foot indoor lake. Imagine five actors on a 3′x6′ platform, utilizing only movement and a few objects to create varying settings of a 1789 brothel from London’s underbelly. This method is based on Le Coq- a striking school of theatre, which we enthusiastically welcome to our programming.

Monday October 27th, 8pm $5

In this production, five actors tell the story of a ship full of convict women pulled out of their world in the underbelly of London and thrust into the helm of a ship sailing to a unknown continent where they will begin their lives anew.

This epic journey is performed entirely within the confines of a 3′x6′ platform that the actors never step off of. With the help of a few everyday objects, they transform the playing space from the bustle and noise of London, to the dank bilge of a ship and the harrowing voyage across the sea to a new world.

At a time when the public can step into a movie theater and be amazed by the results of big budgets and special effects, audiences are reminded why theater is exceptional and extraordinary: the actors amaze the audience by telling an epic story from a small wooden platform.

Saturday afternoon 5 meat carts and 4 dessert carts competed for street meat excellence at the Vendy Awards hosted by the Urban Justice Center at Dumbo’s Tobacco Factory. The local area had several connections – the winner, Soho-based Calexico Tex-Mex is opening a restaurant in the old Schnack location on Union St; the dessert truck winner, The Treats Truck has their bakery on Columbia Street; and a finalist, Soler Dominican, is a regular at the Red Hook Ballfields on weekends.
A couple more photos below:




These smart people brought their own Pepto…

Also, Brownstoner has pictures of the newly expanded Book Court book store on Court Street. Their website has details and more photos of the expansion. While we here at CHB look forward to the “dedicated events space for readings & performances,” and “triple the amount of children’s books,” I’m most interested in the “small cafe & bar with an accompanying outdoor garden.”

Hopefully they keep the old school sign, and bring delicious food and drink to the neighborhood!

New seasonal, organic cafe and gourmet market opening in the heart of cobble hill brooklyn is seeking prep cooks, barista’s, counter help and dishwashers. Ted & Honey will be opening on June 13th and will be run by a seasoned and award winning chef. Excellent and fun environment.

Previously: Signs of Life at the Red Deli