Jazz & Jill photo

Nabe bloggers Jazz & Jill report that a Greek place called Athena will be opening in the old 213 Mexican space on Smith Street:

Jazz & Jill: We couldn’t be any more excited! At the old 213 Mexican address – 213 Smith Street – the new spot looks almost ready for opening. Tonight there was a logo projection moving across the sidewalk. Tacky, yet eye-catching! It was introducing Athena Mediterranean. The front of the building has a Greek relief type sculpture. Again, could be tacky – but in Carrie Bradshaw’s words “Most people would say she’s Eurotrash, but I think she’s fun.”

Brownstoner: According to the new business’s Facebook page, Pardes, as it is called, is scheduled to open at the end of September. The menu looks Asian-inspired, with heavy Indian and Japanese influences. Based on the comments on the Facebook page, it looks like there’s a big pent-up demand for some good kosher food on this stretch.

Photo: Keith Olsen/The Brooklyn Ink

Brooklyn Ink dives deep into the story of that corn at the corner of Smith and Bergen created by artist Christina Kelly:

Brooklyn Ink: Nestled just steps away from the Bergen subway stop, across the street from a Dunkin’ Donuts and adjacent to a Domino’s, the raised-bed garden has become home to what Native Americans called the three sisters: corn, beans and squash.   The term is derived from how all three plants grow by complementing one other: the beans fix nitrogen for the corn and soil, and the squash keeps the soil moist.

After participating in similar gardening activities at the Lefferts House in Prospect Park last year, and at P.S. 115 in Canarsie, Kelly crafted a grant proposal to fund the project.  She chose the Smith and Bergen location after the city expanded the sidewalk significantly.   The larger sidewalk would allow for visitors to look at the corn, as well as maintain regular walking traffic.

(via Brooklyn Bugle Around Brooklyn)

“Brooklyn isn’t as transient as other parts of the city; it reminds me of home. Most people wouldn’t put Brooklyn and Birmingham in the same sentence, but they both have a sense of community and warmth. This lack of pretense – what I call “soul” – is the essence of our brand.”

The church was built in 1894 and rebuilt in 1917.   It is on the National Register of Historic Places (added 1995 - Building – #95001334).

Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman is pleased to announce that the Douglass-Degraw Pool will be open for summer beginning Tuesday, June 29th.  After the community and local elected officials rallied to protest the City’s plans to shutter the beloved pool, the City responded by abandoning budget cuts that would have closed the facility.  The Douglass-Degraw Pool is located in Thomas Greene Park in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn and serves a diverse population, including nearly 3,500 residents at the nearby Gowanus Houses, Wyckoff Gardens and Warren Street housing developments.  The facility is also the nearest public pool for residents of Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Park Slope.

Flickr photo by CaptainKidder

USA Today: Based on a count of lists on Google and Yahoo, they seem to be more an urban than suburban phenomenon. “You live in New York City, you’re one of 8 million people, but yet you can feel all alone,” says Sheryl Braun, who founded the Bococa parents list for the neighborhoods of Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn.

Parents tell Braun that they felt isolated and disconnected. But then they joined the list, which has 2,500 members, “and it made those things go away.”

Are you a parent? What local online resources do you use?

Eater:  A tipster claims that they overheard the management at Atlantic Gardens, a new business development in Boerum Hill, talking about a new Shack location moving in. If the thought of Danny Meyer and Co. setting up shop in the neighborhood sounds like a bit of a stretch, please note that the young development sits just two blocks from BAM, in an area that is not far from Fort Green, Cobble Hill and Grand Army Plaza that is easily accessible by no less than twelve different train lines, all within a five block walking distance. In its first few months of operation, Atlantic Gardens has already courted Nunu— an upscale new chocolatier and wine bar— as well as another cafe, a salon and an art gallery.

Both Atlantic Gardens and the Shake Shack remain elusive on the subject: A call to the development’s management confirms that the group has contacted the Shake Shack and shared information about the retail space.

Brooklyn Paper: The Department of City Planning plan would cap new building heights in a 29-block area generally bounded by Atlantic Avenue, Warren Street, Court Street and Third Avenue, preventing large structures in a quiet enclave of Greek revival and Italianate brownstones.

New buildings on side streets would be capped at 50 feet, while buildings on commercial strips such as Court and Smith streets, and Third Avenue, could rise 70 feet.

The plan would also allow building upgrades and limited “appropriate development,” according to the agency.

The rezoning has already glided through the initial stages, and is supported by lawmakers, Community Board 2, and the Boerum Hill Association, which first requested the change.

Brownstoner photo

A motorcyclist was killed this morning on Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill:

NY Daily News: An out-of-control motorcyclist was thrown from his bike and killed when a sport utility vehicle slammed into him Tuesday in Brooklyn, sources and witnesses said.

The biker lost control of his silver Honda CBR Racing motorcycle and fell off, tumbling to Atlantic Ave. and Bond St. in Boerum Hill.

“I was looking at him, and he was just flipping,” said Abid Hussein, 20, manager of a nearby store.

That’s when the brown Ford Explorer came roaring in at 6:15 a.m.

“I tried to hit the brakes to slow down, and I swerved because I saw the
bike first,” said Dozie Flowers, 63, who was driving the SUV. “But I couldn’t miss him.”

The Explorer barreled into the victim and ran over him.

Please Join us to Discuss the Closings of:

Bethel Baptist Daycare Center

Strong Place Daycare Center

Gowanus Senior Center

Douglass/Greene Park Community Pool

Wyckoff Gardens Child Health Clinic

June 14, 2010

6:30-8:00 PM

Belorussian Autocephalic Orthodox Church

401 Atlantic Avenue

(Atlantic Avenue and Bond Street)

Photo from forgotten-ny.com

Not the hookers in question but Jennifer Jason Leigh in Last Exit to Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Paper reports that the 76th Precinct pulled off a sting called “Operation Losing Proposition” last Thursday (4/15).  It’s purpose — bust “johns” looking for “action” on a “notorious” corner in Boerum Hill (ahem you might say it’s in Gowanus but that would have spoiled our headline…OK?).

But seriously folks, couldn’t the NYPD have come up with a better name? Our suggestion “Operation What’s the Opposite of Above Me” clearly didn’t make the cut.  But we think that’s because only 25% of the busts were in the market for that particular service the report says.  Perhaps “Operation 3 Nuts in Search of a Bolt” would have been better. Which family friendly name would you have given this buy and bust initiative?

CHB is a convert! There’s been a lot of talk and some overwhelmingly positive press about the nabe’s newest deli, Mile End [97a Hoyt Street], and its house-cured brisket and imported Montreal bagels.

This reporter arrived promptly at noon to beat the rumored crowds, and by the time the sandwich above had been demolished with glee, the small space was quickly filling up.

Owner Noah Bernamoff was busy slicing brisket but had took a moment to say that “Things are going great. Very very busy. People are happy. We’re happy.”

With world-class brisket now resting comfortably in my belly… I’m happy.

Squeezed between the similarly charming (and high-ranking) neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens and Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill offers the best of both of those worlds. It’s one stop closer to Manhattan on the F train than the former, and $200 to $300 cheaper per month than the latter. Smith and Court Streets are among the most interesting and diverse retail corridors in the city, and the housing stock is superb, with beautiful and well-maintained nineteenth-century homes and plenty of modern amenities.

Neighborhoods were ranked on a reader-adjustable grading scale that author Nate Silver and staff thoughtfully designed to help housing seekers find their perfect match. Here’s how Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill stacked up (rankings are out of 50):

Brooklyn Heights placed sixth and Carroll Gardens/Gowanus seventh, respectively. It looks like it’s hard to go wrong on this side of town!

Bococaland: His signature, Spaghetti Chitarra, will feature sea urchin and jumbo scallops tossed in a light, creamy sauce. Also expect items like sushi grade salmon and tuna as well as Kobe beef, pistachios imported from Sicily and produce from far-flung places like Japan. Verde will enjoy a full liquor license, so you’ll be able to sip some vino from the all-Italian wine list or relax with an Italian-themed cocktail at the bar or in the garden.

As the first Wednesday of the month approaches, so does another monthly Cobble Hill Association Happy Hour. Stop by Watty & Meg (corner of Court and Kane Streets) this Wednesday from 6-9pm, where there will be reserved tables and drink specials, including $5 glasses of wine and $3 beers.

Photo, the New York Times.

Mile End (97A Hoyt Street) will begin selling bagels from St-Viateur Bagel bakery in Montreal this Saturday. The bagels have been served since Mile End opened, but now they’ll be fresh out of the oven- driven down from Montreal on Friday night by two of the owner’s friends. Previously, the bagels were delivered via FedEx, and were missing some of  “that gooey awesomeness that Montreal bagels can have when they’re super-fresh,” says owner Noah Bernamoff. The bagel imports will cost $2.50 for one, $12 for a half-dozen and $22 for a dozen. They’ll probably go as quickly as the smoked meat, so your best bet is to pre-order them here. I’ll be picking up an order of half sesame, half poppyseed myself, if the snow doesn’t stop me (honestly, I can’t imagine a bagel being more delicious than one from Avenue N in Mill Basin). The New York Times put up the Montreal Bagels against New York’s very own – check it out here.

The F train will completely shut down for at least seven different weekends this year in large stretches of trendy Brooklyn, between Jay Street-Borough Hall and Church Avenue. As happened for six weekends last year, commuters will be forced to cram into slow-moving shuttles that will cross Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Park Slope during those time periods. Even yoga instructors are rattled! “People are going to totally freak out,” yoga guru Laura Stryjewski told the Post. “Taking the shuttle is a royal pain.”

The tiniest of the three locations of the mini-ice cream chain, Blue Marble, will open on Court Street in Cobble Hill on Sunday, and while it will sell Jennie Dundas and Alexis Miesen’s deliciously sinful ice cream made from the organic milk of grass-fed cows, this time, custard-style cones are part of the mix.

“Soft serve has such a bad reputation,” Dundas said the other day at her Atlantic Avenue flagship. “We’re going to restore it to its rightful place.”

The above photo was sent in by a tipster, who reports:

Verizon was all over Court Street during Saturday’s frigid weather, installing cable underneath the streets to allow for FIOS. According to the techs, FIOS should be available to parts of Cobble Hill in about six months. Adios, Time Warner!

Will you make the switch? I’m not sure how this will work for those of us with landlords, because I’m under the impression that it will require a lot of new wiring in and around buildings. Thoughts?

Stop by the Cobble Hill Association’s second Happy Hour of the year tonight, happening the first Wednesday of every month from 6-9 pm at Watty & Meg (corner of Court and Kane Streets). There will be reserved tables and drink specials, including $5 glasses of wine and $3 beers.

The 76th Precinct will be hosting a blood drive at the 76th Precinct station house on Thursday January 21, 2010 from 12:30 pm until 6:30 pm. The New York Blood Center Bloodmobile will be parked in front of the station house, located at 191 Union Street, between Hicks and Henry Streets. Please come and donate blood with us if you are able. More information on blood donations can be found at www.nybloodcenter.org.

The following letter was signed by 33 past and present Little Room families, and was sent on Sunday evening.

Dear Dane and Helene:

We, the undersigned current and former Little Room parents, are writing to express our deep concern about the future of the Little Room. Specifically, we ask that the BHMS Board reconsider its decision to terminate the Little Room program in August of 2010 and instead allow the Little Room to continue at BHMS for another year.

You will likely respond that the issues regarding the Little Room’s future were extensively debated last winter and that there is no reason to revisit the decision. For a number of reasons, we disagree. In particular, we urge you to consider the following:

1. When the Board made its decision, no Board member believed that his or her vote might be a vote to end the Little Room forever. Indeed, even though a number of elected officials suggested that moving the Little Room would take two years, the Board expressed full confidence that the program would find a new home by the BHMS imposed deadline. Some Board members expressed hope that the Little Room would be able to serve even more students in its theoretical new home. In short, there was nothing but (largely unjustified) optimism from the Board.

Now, however, the situation has changed. The Little Room has been unable to accept students for the 2010-11 school year. If it does not begin to do so in the very near future, it will mean that there can be no program in the next academic year.

The Board members made their decision with confidence that the Little Room would never face extinction. But now extinction is here. Given this new reality, would all Board members now make the same decision they did before? You cannot know unless you ask them.

2. Despite this grim situation, the Little Room has actually made great progress in finding a new sponsor. The YAI Network is, in fact, eager to adopt the program. As State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assembly Member Joan Millman wrote to us, “We were encouraged by YAI’s professionalism and zeal for continuing the Little Room…[Chief Operating Officer Steve] Freeman and his team have demonstrated an incredible commitment to continuing this program.”

Unfortunately, as you are aware, YAI faces a catch-22: it is unable to lay out the money for major renovation of a new space for the Little Room without State Education Department (SED) approval, but SED has been unwilling to approve the facility before it is built out.

What makes this situation even more difficult is the BHMS imposed deadline. Given another year, YAI would have more time to find and renovate suitable space, to work with SED to get the necessary approvals, and to plan an orderly transition for the Little Room. It is unable to do any of this simply because of an artificial deadline imposed by BHMS.

YAI stands ready to achieve the goal that the Board has always claimed to desire. Do Board members want to stop this from happening simply because it cannot be done within the artificial timeline created by BHMS? Again, you cannot know unless you ask them.

3. Throughout this process, both you and other Board members have expressed your love for the Little Room. You have claimed to respect the program and to want to see it thrive for many years to come. We are certain, therefore, that you do not want to see the Little Room end unnecessarily. You have the opportunity to demonstrate your love and respect for the program by giving it the time it needs to complete the process of finding a new home. And in fact, given the situation in which the Little Room finds itself, you are the only ones who can now save it. We respectfully ask you to live by what you so often said and to do the right thing for the program.

We understand that you are eager for the Little Room to move out. Nevertheless, the plans you have for the Little Room’s current space can wait a year. One way or another, BHMS will enjoy many years without the Little Room. But the Little Room has only one chance to survive.

If the Little Room ends, thousands of special needs children will be denied the opportunity to receive an education that can change their lives. Such an outcome is not only completely unnecessary, but also goes against the Montessori philosophy and the school’s expressed commitment to diversity. We are sure this is not what you want your legacy to be.

We are eager to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss this situation. We urge you and the Board to reconsider the Little Room’s future at the next scheduled Board meeting. We look forward to hearing from you and discussing how to move forward.

Recycle your Christmas tree at Mulchfest 2010 this weekend, and take home some mulch for your garden. Bring your trees to Cobble Hill Park (Clinton and Verandah Place) this Saturday and Sunday, January 9th and 10th, between 9:30 am and 2 pm. Please remove all lights, decorations, and garland from the trees; no wreaths or artificial trees will be accepted.