Alan Harding is Back

Alan Harding is back, kicking off a dinner series at Element Healing Arts (in the old Apple Bank building on Henry and Union). From the Brooklyn Paper and for the Patois fans:

"Carroll Gardens’ Element Natural Healing Arts — which specializes in acupuncture, herbology and Ayurvedic facials — kicks off a new dinner series on Aug. 28 with a meal by Brooklyn culinary pioneer Alan Harding.

The wellness center plans to put its Zen-inspiring back deck to use hosting monthly five-course meals crafted by some of the city’s leading chefs (at least until the weather turns nippy).

...

For reservations, call Element Natural Healing Arts at (718) 855-4850 by Aug. 26. Meals are BYOB."

Leaky Lines

Ever the purveyors of classy lines, the Brooklyn Paper comes up with another one to describe some local thieves.

"The victim told cops that she was on her way home between Henry and Hicks streets at around 2:15 pm when she noticed she was being followed by two men.

Once she arrived at her building, one of the men said he “needed to check the water” in her apartment.

Once inside, one man led the victim to the bathroom, where he insisted that she flush the toilet and run the shower. When the slimy duo left, the victim noticed the missing cash and jewelry."

Sounds like they could get "sent up the river"...or maybe they're all washed up?

Environmental Work Finished at Whole Foods Site?

Relief? Maybe not...from the Brooklyn Paper:

"“Whole Foods is now reviewing the possibilities for a future location at this site,” said a Whole Foods spokesman, Michael Sinatra. “While there is no timetable set, discussions are active and we remain hopeful to bring a store to this community in the near future.”

Two weeks ago, contractors working for Whole Foods finished excavating toxic soil and removing three underground oil tanks. The area was then capped with two feet of clean soil."

Though we'd love to see something happen to the corner, lets not hold our breaths. With the current state of construction financing, it will take a few years to even line up funds to begin construction, if that is the direction that Whole Foods chooses to go.

Maybe They Should Drown the Cats?

Residents of Second Place have been "terrorized" lately by roving packs of wild cats. At least, according to the Brooklyn Paper:

"A rogue band of cats is on the prowl on Second Place, stalking exotic fish, threatening pet pigeons — and raising the blood pressure of the animal lover who owns the veritable menagerie.

“It’s very frustrating — I’m always worried about them attacking my fish and birds,” said Sal “The Birdman” Raimondi, the proud owner of 10 shimmering Japanese koi swimming in a $25,000 display in his front garden, and over 100 plump Canadian pigeons that he raises in custom-crafted coops in his backyard.

The problem has gotten worse over the past few months, when cats began to perch themselves beside Raimondi’s koi pond, licking their chops at the chance to get at a seafood dinner.

“They’re staring at our fish pond like they want to get them,” said Nancy Lograsso, Sal’s girlfriend.

And there’s reason to worry. Neighborhood cats have a history of violence: about five years ago, cats killed 12 of Raimondi’s pigeons."

If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that we need to bring back pigeon coops. Take it away, keyboard cat...

Time To Play Detective

The Times habitat section ran a piece recently on a single man, planning for his future with a larger than necessary condo in the neighborhood.

"The following year, after having visited several dozen apartments, Mr. Chung settled on a $649,000 condominium on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, in an industrial building that had done time as a dairy store and possibly a doll factory. The apartment had three bedrooms and was just a block from Public School 58, considered one of the best in the city. "

So, any guesses as to where this former doll factory is, one block from 58? I'm guessing that it is The Mill, but that's more than a block away. Fuzzy math?

Court Street to Get A "Goods" Market

Yeah! More upscale grocers! From the Village Voice:

""We've leased a new space without the legal troubles of the former, and have almost completed our work," says co-owner Eric Finkelstein of the new location in Carroll Gardens. "We don't want to jinx anything with opening dates, but we hope to be up and running by early September."

Goods not only had to abandon the neighborhood, it also had to give up its name now that the trailer-diner Goods opened in Williamburg. And so, expect Court Street Grocers to open at 485 Court Street this fall. Like the Goods concept, it will serve local, artisanal products, including coffee, baked goods, and prepared foods."

Gotta love the new residents who move in, patronize stores and restaurants like these, and then get upset when older stores have to leave or make changes to keep up. Put your money where your mouth is!

Don't Call It A Sponge Park...

Of all the things to argue about. I guess we now know why the previous story on the Sponge Park had a trademark on it, and a commenter requested not to refer to it as a Sponge Park. Take it away, Brooklyn Paper:

"It turns out that “Sponge Park” is not some kind of public trust — it’s a trademarked name that belongs to dlandstudio — as do two Web domain names that use the name to promote dlandstudio’s business.

“They trademarked the name without our knowledge or permission,” said Andy Simons, chairman of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy.

Simons specifically blamed dlandstudio’s principal, Susannah Drake, for the betrayal. Strong word? You decide: For her work on the park, Drake received about $21,000, of which $16,000 came from a New York State Council for the Arts grant.

Simon’s mind is made up.

“When you are taking public money, you are not supposed to be creating something that is privately owned,” he said. “As soon as you take public funds, it becomes publicly owned.”"

Don't Call It A Sponge Park...

Could Rhazel Show Up in Gowanus This Weekend?

I usually try to refrain from posting too much about the hip stuff going on in Gowanus these days, but this is just too cool to miss. From the Brooklyn Paper, news of a human beatboxing competition!

"So on July 31, the World Beatbox Association throws its first American Beatbox Championships at Littlefield in Gowanus, where the best of the best here will show off their spitting skills. Throughout the weekend, the venue will also host the Sixth International Human Beatbox Convention, traditionally held in London.

“Overseas, it’s become so huge. I felt there was something that needed to spark the growth of the culture here in the United States,” said Chesney. “And it was really important for me for this to happen in Brooklyn. There’s just something about the grassroots style of community here. It would not have felt right for any place else to host the first US championships.”"

If your mother only knew...

City (kind of) Endorses Idea of Second Carroll Gardens Historic District

Although a mixed bag, the expansion of the Carroll gardens Historic District will ultimately benefit the local community. It certainly took the LPC long enough to answer the CGNA's request, and it will be quite some time before the actual rules are in place, but it seems as if the boundaries have been set. From the Brooklyn Paper:

"The Landmarks Preservation Commission revealed last week the working boundaries of the proposed historic district — an area bounded by Court, Henry and Huntington streets, and First Place — that would dwarf the existing postage-stamp-sized zone bounded by President, Carroll, Smith and Hoyt streets.

A second zone is unnecessary, said John Esposito, co-founder of the anti-expansionist group Citizens Against Landmarks.

“Landmarking will force the old-timers out,” he said. “All the new people who have $100,000 income a year think this is a great idea.”

But a study by the Independent Budget Office suggests that landmarking does not, in itself, cause higher home prices."

Again, John Esposito cites his study that proves that "old-timers" will be forced out. This study was commissioned as a response to...oh, wait. That's right. I forgot. No one has ever proven that anyone has been moved by anything other that market forces.

Also, the picture shown on the Brooklyn Paper identifies the two women as being Third Street residents, but they are staged in front of homes on either Second Street or a Place block, the very type of street that needs preservation protection, unlike Third.

Breaking: Toll Brothers Gives Up!

Luxury home builder Toll Brothers has apparently given up on their current quest to line the shores of a toxic waste dump with condos. From the The Real Deal (and the Brooklyn Paper):

"As threatened, Toll Brothers has walked away from its $5.75 million down payment on the Gowanus Canal site of a would-be 477-unit mixed-income housing development because of the waterway's recent designation as a Superfund site, the Brooklyn Paper reported. "It just didn't financially make sense to close on the properties and then have to wait 15 to 20 years until we could develop them," said Toll's David Von Spreckelsen."

"“These were never just idle threats,” Von Spreckelsen said. “I spent five years of my life working on getting this done, and I don’t think anything is going to happen there for a very long time.”"

Sounds pretty bitter, especially when we keep in mind that there is a similar situation down the canal a few lots where planned housing IS being built. Sounds like Toll Brothers (like John Quadrozzi before) are using Superfund designation as a convenient means to abandon projects for other reasons.

New Barber For the Neighborhood: The Family Hair Salon on Third and Bond

It’s Japanese Head Massage meets Scandinavian  Furniture Style at Fumi’s Hair Salon which opened at Third and Bond on  June 1. Hair Stylist Fumi Inoue, who worked at Salon De Quartier Smith for 8 years, felt it was time to go on her own and created a place where the local community could get great hair cuts and relax in a homey atmosphere.

With a dining table and cookies visible through the front window, some people mistake the salon for a café. “I don’t sell coffee,” laughs Fumi, “but I can give it to you.” She hopes her clients will find the space (which she designed herself ) inviting and that it will allow “people to meet people and talk to each other…and things will come up.”

Fumi believes that communicating with her clients and listening to what they have to say is very important to creating a great hair cut. “Of course I want to make people beautiful. A hair stylist is an artist, but also a collaborator,” she explained. “We are making art together.”

Using organic products and ammonia free color treatments from many different companies, Fumi already has a following on Yelp. “She really knows what she's doing, is talented and super sweet.,” wrote Nastasya F of Brooklyn. “She is economical and…helping me grow in my grey beautifully which no other hair colorist in the city has been capable of,” wrote Erin K.

Client Julie Schettina and Assistant John (Just John) sharing a book featuring another of Fumi’s talents – photography.

Fumi
121 3rd Street @ Bond St.
(347) 763-0413/0414

Weekdays 11-8
Weekends 11-7
Closed Mondays

Prices:

Cuts:
Men $45
Women $70
Kids under 7 $30
Kids 8-12 $40

Coloring:
Single Process $70+
Highlights $100+

By Special Guest Star Marie Manuto-Brown

A Brooklyn Mystery, Solved: Lafayette Island

I seriously doubt that anyone was more excited about the New York City GIS server including aerial photography from 1924 than me. Look at the arms of the Gowanus Canal that aren't there now! Look at Sunset park with no Gowanus Expressway! Find where Newtown Creek used to go. Look at Meadowmere before JFK. No bridge to the Rockaways. Or Jersey.

But as I was poking around, I saw something off the coast of Bay Ridge which gave me pause. A little island, completely built out, where there is no island now.

To add to the mystery, the island was in almost the exact same location as the Brooklyn foot of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

Some research indicates that in addition to Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton, there was also a Fort Lafayette in the Narrows, which was not originally an island, but was constructed on a reef in the narrows called Hendrick's Reef. Used as a munitions depot through World War II, it met an ignominious end in 1960. As usual, it was John Waldman's Heartbeats in the Muck to the rescue to solve the mystery.

"Lafayette Island, former home to seventy-three-gun Fort Lafayette, is now the Brooklyn-side base of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge."

Think of the history next time you drive over the bridge. Of course, try not to get too much of the Staten Island stank on you while you're over there.

The Hits Keep Coming for John Quadrozzi

We recently heard about how John Quadrozzi was being forced to fix his crumbling house and how "upset" he was about Superfund designation of the Gowanus. In another recent decision that should make everyone but him happy, the City is again making him do the right thing, this time in Red Hook. From the Brooklyn Paper:

"“The wall prevented families from enjoying the alternative recreation that this waterfront vista offers,” said Ludger Balan, a Red Hook resident and founder of the Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy, an environmental advocacy group.

Balan said he is pleased to see most of the wall is down, but complained that support poles remain moored in the ground, perhaps a sign that the structure may one day rise again.

While the view has certainly improved for park-users, Quadrozzi says his own vista is no becoming X-rated.

He claimed that since taking down a controversial wall on his property last winter, trespassers have had a field day — including a bawdy duo caught snapping nude photos."

What John, you didn't distribute the photos in court? I'm disappointed.

Really Ikea? Really?

Ikea scored major points with the community the other night by vigorously objecting to a bike lane in Red Hook.From the store manager's comments in the Brooklyn Paper, it appears that Ikea would be happiest if Red Hook were a 28-lane on and off ramp allowing for the fastest possible access to their site for anyone in a car.

Really, Ikea, really? You built a huge store in RED HOOK, and want to REDUCE transportation options? Really?

"“It seems dangerous to officially encourage bikes to the front of Ikea,” Baker told Community Board 6 on Thursday night."

Really, Ikea, really? Bikes, and bike lanes, which cause cars to go slower, seem dangerous? Really? Maybe his former occupation was as a Transportation Engineer?

"“If [the city] insists on proceeding with the south-side bike lane, [it] should be responsible for periodically monitoring safety along those bike lanes,” said Baker."

Really, Ikea, really? You build a giant warehouse that brings innumerable cars, trucks and buses to a new location, and a bike lane will cause congestion that should relieve you of your responsibility to monitor traffic? Really?

"“If the … traffic management elements constructed and funded by Ikea are going to be modified … then Ikea is not responsible for impacting or remedying the vehicular flow in Red Hook.”"

Really, Ikea, Really? You don't think this sounds like trying to weasel out of traffic monitoring requirements and their costs? Really?

Coverage For Dennet Place

Oh, the mystery street behind St. Mary's! Click through for a little nugget about its most famous (local) residents! From Brooklyn Based, pictures and writing by Danielle Cyr:

"Kim Hanley, a fourth generation Dennet Place resident and member of the family that owned P.J. Hanley’s bar on Court Street for many years, said that her grandfather and her uncle John (called “the golden arm” because of his dice-throwing ability) used to play craps in the middle of the street. Cops would come from both ends of the street and raid the illegal dice game while the players ran through the hobbit doors of whatever house was closest and out the back and over the garden wall to escape."

Sounds like stories I used to hear from my great uncle about the neighborhood. Some of them coulda been contenders...