Inside a Tug Boat on the Gowanus Canal

An interesting video, from the inside of a tug boat pilot house of a tug boat going under the (raised) Hamilton Avenue Bridge, to dock at Benson Scrap Metal.

Another Brilliant Look Behind Old Doors

Sylvie Morgan Flatow, ne-of the Carroll Gardens Diary, took a look at Marietta, over at the Carroll Gardens Patch. Lets look behind some more old doors, as we've done plenty of times before:

"You wouldn’t be able to recreate a store like this if you tried. Film crews have been approaching Marietta for years because it dons that perfectly demoded look: antiquated blue and white cursive sign, behind-the-times display window of undergarments littered with words like “Special!” and “Value!” and inside, a muumuu rack fit for an Italian grandmother queen. 

The store is small. Most of the merchandise is packed in boxes, its contents and sizes written out in sharpie marker. 

Gloves: $1. Hat sale: $2.50. Panties: $5/pack of 3.

Does the idea of Marietta servicing the Carroll Gardens of today make me giggle? A little bit. That said, if I could put the store up on a pedestal, I would. "

Articles on Murder Show Lack of Real Estate Geography

The New York Times recently declared the Columbia Street Waterfront District an "up and coming neighborhood". However, apparently the New York Post never got the memo:

"Tajeme Sylvester, 31, a native of Jamaica and a Fordham University grad, was found shot in the head and chest at 5:45 p.m. yesterday inside the Lotus Temple of Visions Gallery on Summit Street near Hamilton Avenue, an artists enclave in Red Hook."

I hope they catch this guy, and when they do, they note that Summit Street is most assuredly not in Red Hook.

Post on old ILA Building on Carroll Gardens Patch

I wrote a post on the old ILA building at Carroll Gardens Patch. Check it out.

"Although no architectural masterpiece, and certainly not within the context of the existing built environment of brownstones and row houses, the building provided health care for ILA members and their families for years, having a full compliment of health care professionals under one roof. If an ILA member was out of work, he could receive his health care on the west side of Court Street, and then cross over to the east side to pick up his unemployment benefits (in the building now occupied by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). Without the health center, ILA members now have health care plans like most other union members.

In 2000, the property was passed on to Long Island College Hospital, which sold it in November, 2007 for $23,750,000. The purchaser, a national developer named The Clarrett Group, promptly tore down the building in early 2008. They had planned to redevelop the site into a mix of townhomes, retail spaces and one large condo building, known as "The Collection at Court Street"."

What a great author! What prose!

Perfect Review of Vinny's

The comments on the reviews of Vinny's of Carroll Gardens on Brownstoner are laughable. People complain about it having "nothing to do with Italian food", and not understanding "why so many people eat here". On the other hand, Proof Pudding nailed it:

"Vinny’s is just a place to have some gravy poured over lasagna, to nosh on broccoli rabe, to chow down on a a sausage and pepper hero for 7 bucks, for ordering a gigantic plate of fried calamari with a soup-sized bowl of marinara sauce for dipping.  It is comfort food pure and simple.  So don’t be a hater!
...
Keep on being yourself Vinny, as they say in Brooklyn- don’t you change for nobody.  Proof."


Amen.

Mola Di Bari

Carroll Gardens owes much to Mola Di Bari. The procession of the Maria Addolorata. A tradition of baking. So many of its immigrants. The Gallo brothers. And the Van Westerhout Social Club. Apparently the Barese were a little jealous of the Siciliani, and wanted to mimic the naming of Henry Street, so with Community Board 6's blessing, Court Street between 3rd and 4th Places will soon be known as "Citizens of Mola Way". From the Brooklyn Paper:

"The Van Westerhout Cittadini Molesi Social Club on Court Street and Fourth Place, one of the last two remaining area social clubs, proposed the co-naming to celebrate nothing less than the American dream — not just for Mola, but for all immigrants.

“We all made good in the United States,” said Pino Deserio, the facility manager at the Red Hook Ikea, who came to Brooklyn in 1970 when he was 17-years-old. “We all realized our American dream.”"

There are many Italian (and Barese) businesses on that block, including Mazzone, Caputo's, Good Food, and Vinny's. Very appropriate.

Demolition along the Canal!

Picture and text from IMBY (great blog name, btw):

"The conversion of the Hamilton Avenue MTS is one of four proposed waste management facilities identified as part of NYC's Solid Waste Management Plan - NYC Department of Sanitation long term waste export program. All solid waste transfer and containerized activities will take place within the fully enclosed building.  The new facility is designed for the transfer of solid waste from collection vehicles into sealed and leak proof containers for export by barge and rail.  All solid waste transfer and containerization activities occur within a fully enclosed, negatively pressurized, air scrubbed, building.   The facility is authorized to operate 24 hours a day, Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday,  except for public emergency."

Lets hope that continued uses going forward make use of the working waterfront like this one.

Hypocritical Ikea Giving Out Bikes

After taking their shameful stance in June of opposing a bike lane outside their store, Ikea is sending mixed Scandinavian signals by giving out free, custom bikes to all of their employees.

"Company officials insisted the event was hypocrisy-free — even though they blasted part of the four-block cycle path painted in both directions on Columbia Street from Bay Street onto Halleck and Beard streets back in June.

At the time, Ikea manager Mike Baker said that a southbound bike lane along Beard and Halleck streets could jeopardize cyclists, cars and buses all vying to enter the big box store."


But how will they get to work? According to Ikea, it is dangerous to bike to their store...

Another Neighborhood Institution Not Long For This World?

Zillow has a listing for the building that currently houses Michael's Shoe Repair. The three story building is listed for $1,200,000.

Although I'm sure new owners would not want a newer use in there, there is no way that the existing use can pay the market rents in the area. Unless there is a sale-leaseback arrangement (and the listing price doesn't seem to indicate so), Michael's Shoe Repair might be going the way of College Point Bakery and Nino's.

They have been in the area for a long time, and indeed, are one of the few places left where you can find real people. However, they never seemed to sell anything other than socks.

Sokol Brothers Profiled

Sad as we were to see her go, Sylvie Morgan Flatow has taken her series over to Carroll Gardens Patch. The debut shop that gets profiled is Sokol Brothers, the long-time furniture retailer (and only one left) in the neighborhood.

"Drafty like an old barn or an unfinished basement, neighborhood folks have been weaving through the three long rooms that make up Sokol's for 60 years. Couches, tables, chairs, mirrors, desks, beds, rugs, armoires -- it's a pretty solid selection. There are no salespeople. No one is tending a register. There is one man and one man only who is greeting you when you walk through the door.  

Grandma was right. That Michael Sokol is a very nice man. He is by no means a flashy man, but neither is his store. Instead, he is one of the nicest storekeepers in the neighborhood. He dresses comfortably in blue jeans and sweaters, sneakers and old sweatshirts.

At a table that may or may not be for sale, we sat down one chilly night to chat."

Michael Sokol, and the Sokol Brothers before him, have provided my family with furniture for four generations now. I'm glad to see him out there, on Patch and also this week in the Red Hook Star-Revue.

P.S. 58 Students Save the Music

From Yahoo!:

"Current strings students and alumni from P.S. 58 The Carroll School's orchestra performed at the VH1 Save The Music Foundation Gala on Monday, November 8 at Cipriani Wall Street.


Sarah James, P.S. 58's Upper Grade Music Teacher, helped students rehearse and prepare for this star studded evening. The gala honored Julie Andrews, John Mayer, John Legend and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation."

Preserving Old Neighborhood Faces

Carroll Gardens will be undergoing a massive transformation in the next twenty years, as the older generation of Italians, Puerto Ricans and other once-large groups of working-class citizens dies off. Who will replace them is unknown, but I doubt it will be many working-class individuals. Photographer and artist Kurt Kietrich Wilberding is attempting to preserve and share some memories of his views of Italian-Americans in Carroll Gardens in his show "Valentino's Children".

Excerpt and Photo from the Brooklyn Paper:

"“I would see one woman everyday that lives down the street from me, Milly. She is 95-years-old and has lived here all her life,” said Wilberding. “When you come across someone like Milly, you start to wonder, ‘Who else is around that has seen how this neighborhood has changed? What was it once like? What has been improved? What has been lost?’ ”

The resulting show, which is named after the Italian actor Rudolph Valentino and Louis Valentino Jr., a local fireman who died in the line of duty, is a collection of portraits of older generation Italian-Americans and mementos of things dear to them, such as passports."

“Valentino’s Children” at Acres Gallery [114 Smith St. between Pacific and Dean streets in Carroll Gardens (Ed - Most definitely NOT Carroll Gardens), (917) 428-3810], Dec. 10-Jan. 23. For info, visit acresbrooklyn.org.

Christmas Tree Lighting on Columbia Street - This Friday

Neighborhood affordable housing development group the Carroll Gardens Association and the newly revived Union Street - Columbia Street Merchants Association are holding a tree lighting this Friday, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, at the Human Compass Garden at Columbia and Sackett Streets.

"Children (and adults too) could have their photos taken with Santa. Free food and refreshments will be offered by neighborhood restaurants and businesses.

The Tree Lighting event will kick-off a week-long promotion from participating local restaurants and bars offering a 10% discount. Participating restaurants include Lilla Cafe, Mazzat, House of Pizza and Calzone, Five Burros, Caselnova, Sugar Lounge, Margaret Palca Bakes, Jalopy Theatre, Iro, Alma and Old Brooklyn Wine & Liquor (wine only). The 10% coupon is printed in the Red Hook Star-Revue."

An Evening at the Bell House for George - Guest Post

N.B. Today's post is authored by a friend and contributor, Mike Benigno. You can find more of him over at Lines in the Street and On Your Fork.

The Universal Thump, named after an obscure line from the allegorical Melville masterpiece Moby Dick, is a collaboration of over 20 performers, songwriters and composers all from their own individual bands, who, under the leadership of musicians Greta Getler and Adam Gold, first started working six months ago to cover the classic George Harrison solo album, "All Things Must Pass" in its entirety. ATMP remains as true to a Harrison masterpiece today as it was when first released in 1970 as his first post-Beatles release. The Nov. 29th show at the Bell House marked nine years to the day since Harrison died, and the performance was both a tribute to his music, his spirit and the fund that bears his name at UNICEF.

 So, what did that look like? First, nothing but a stage full of wires, amps, mic stands and more. Then, a stage full of people - as many as 20 at one time, and no fewer than five or six at any given point - playing before rear-projected Harrison black and whites to an intimate crowd. The album was done cover-to-cover, beginning with the bang-up hits "I'd Have You Anytime," "My Sweet Lord," "Wah-Wah," and "Isn't it a Pity," in arrangements complete with a string and horn section, two drummers, several keyboard and guitar players, upright and electric basses and, of course, the pedal steel guitar. Arrangements of many of the complicated tunes were done with such dexterity that you'd wonder if these guys had been practicing for a lifetime, and, in a way, they probably have been. The program given out before the show - which was an impressive directory of talent - sums it up best:

In a year when band after aging band filed into America's Halls and Plazas of music to perform their "classic" albums in their entirety, to remind us all of a time when their albums were important, or when albums were important, it seemed a natural [idea]. "Why don't we pay tribute to a true classic? An album we all love?" And then, what would this band even look like on stage?... Most everyone seemed thrilled by the idea... Nine years to the day of George's death, and just days after the 40th anniversary of the three discs' original release. This was to be a tribute indeed, and an ambitious one.

What was the show like? It was like being at the tribute concert of your life, but, somehow, only a couple hundred people were were there alongside you. One performer after another came out, joining and re-joining those on stage, performing each piece with creativity and, more than anything else, reverence for the songs, their complexity, their underlying spirituality, their writer, and their legacy. John Wesley Harding stole the show with "Wah-Wah," but Carol Lipnik's "My Sweet Lord" was the be-all-end-all performance. Perfection. If you saw it live, you'd beg for a recording or video.

Performers included:
Corrina Albright
Amy Allison
Oren Bloedow
Zach Brock
Amy Correia
Therese Cox
Robert DiPietro
Lee Feldman
Pete Galub
Greta Gertler
Adam Gold
John Wesley Harding
J. Walter Hawkes
Art Hayes
Missy Higgins
Byron Isaacs
Courtney Kaiser
Dayna Kurtz
Gary Langol
Carol Lipnik
Jonathan Maron
Barney McAll
Rick Moody
Chris Moore
David Nagler
Rozz Nash
Clinton Newman
Phil Rodriguez
Sean Sonderegger
Leigh Sutart
PT Walkley
Shara Worden

Lines in the Street

On Your Fork

Fix the Ditch!

Some plans for the greening of the BQE were recently revealed. From the Brooklyn Paper:

"The cheapest plan, about $10 million, involves a massive tree-planting effort along the highway-created chasm — creating one of the greenest stretches in all of Brooklyn.

Another option calls for the construction of six, lightweight bicycle and pedestrian bridges over the ditch, costing between $20 million to $45 million.

And the most expensive plan calls for the construction of an iconic, $85 million, energy-generating “green canopy” along the length of the trench, from Atlantic Avenue to Hamilton Avenue."

Let's not hold our breath. If there is no money for Brooklyn Bridge Park without private development, where is the money for this?