An intersection I'd like to nominate for a light or a traffic camera: Court St. & 3rd PlaceDear Senator Squadron: Your latest newsletter asked for input on unsafe intersections, so I wanted to point out one in Carroll Gardens that I think is a tragedy waiting to happen.
On Court Street and 3rd Place, eastbound traffic on 3rd hits a stop sign at Court before continuing onto a dead end where the viaduct terminates the street. Nearly 100% of this traffic makes a right turn onto Court, but about 90% of said traffic blows right past the stop sign, into the crosswalk (without much regard for whether pedestrians are approaching--or even IN--the crosswalk), and then onto Court. I've nearly been clipped by inattentive drivers at that crosswalk numerous times, and I've seen children, pets, and adults all encounter near-misses with drivers barreling straight through.
Since traffic from 3rd is blinded to oncoming Court Street traffic, it is currently necessary for vehicles to enter the crosswalk in order to safely make the turn, but the vast majority of people do a "rolling stop" (an oxymoron, if ever there was one) rather than a full stop, and are only looking to their left at oncoming traffic, ignorant to potential sidewalk traffic entering the crosswalk from the right. Sometimes, while enjoying a drink at the Abilene sidewalk cafe on the corner, I count the number of cars coming to a full stop AT the stop sign: the number is ridiculously close to zero.
If a traffic light isn't an option, I strongly urge you to push for a traffic camera there to ticket these scofflaw drivers who endanger the foot traffic of our community. Maybe receiving a ticket or two will make them actually follow the traffic laws and come to a full stop before making their turn.
Thanks much for your time and consideration!
Cheers, Bruce McD
The Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) is seeking creative community members to volunteer with our women’s co-op group 1 to 4 times a week. The group meets from 9:00-10:00 a.m., Monday through Thursday and the position will run until December 23rd. We would like our volunteers to help design and teach new craft ideas specifically related to sewing, knitting, embroidery, cross-stitch and other skills.
Our co-op group is made up of women who attend our English and Arabic literacy classes. These women meet every morning to learn new crafting skills in a supportive community environment and also to benefit from the sale of our products. The profit made from these products is used to buy Metrocards for the women so that they are able to come to class everyday, as some of our members find it difficult to afford the public transportation fare on a daily basis. Our products will be sold at boutique stores in the community and at local street fairs. Check us out at Atlantic Antic on October 4th!
If interested in volunteering, please contact Renee Orser at AAFSC through email (renee@aafscny.org) or phone (718-643-8000 ext. 17). We are on Court St. between Pacific and Dean and are a kid friendly environment, so stay-at-home moms, we welcome you!
The Arab-American Family Support Center
150 Court Street, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel: (718) 643-8000 ext. 17
Fax: (718) 797-0410
Margaret has left a new comment on your post "According To 'Crain's Insider', Patterson Is Last Hope For Gowanus Superfund Naysayers":
It really does boggle the mind. First, the City gets the EPA to extend the submission of comments period so that the City can work on their "alternate plan." Then the City (Bloomberg) has the nerve, AFTER the deadline has passed, to commence lobbying the EPA not to Superfund. 80% of the comments to EPA were FOR Superfund. What good is having a comment period, and then not heeding to the overwhelming groundswell of support for Superfund? Superfund Gowanus NOW! The EPA is READY AND ABLE to begin with the huge task at hand to address the polluted, toxic Gowanus. And the majority in our community wants them to!!!
To contact Governor Paterson to ask that he support the community rather than to listen to Mayor Bloomberg and developers, write, phone or email :
"Texture Gardens" art opening at
Urban Alchemist
In the tradition of fostering a dialogue between the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, the G-Train Salon at Urban Alchemist Design Collective is thrilled to present, "Texture Gardens" on Friday, September 25 from 7-9pm featuring mixed-media artist Carla E. Reyes, a Queens-bred talent and former resident of Crane St. Studios in Long Island City. Following Crane St.'s devastating staircase collapse in April, Reyes found a new artistic home in Greenpoint, Brooklyn where she cultivated new roots and new work inspired by the lore of gardens and natural motifs. Join us for this Friday when the artist discusses her journey and process behind "Texture Gardens," a unique collection created from combinations of "natural" and man-made materials on view through October 16.
SCHEDULE:
Texture Gardens featuring mixed-media artist Carla E. Reyes
Urban Alchemist Design Collective, 343 5th St. (off 5th Avenue)
Friday, September 25, 2009
7-9 pm (Artist Q & A at 8pm)
Refreshments provided by our new sponsor Picada y Vino!
ORGANIZATION & SUPPORT
G-Train Salon at Urban Alchemist Design Collective is the latest installment by independent curator and contemporary salonière, Krista N. Saunders and co-curator Jill Benson. Promotional materials designed by Andres Medina. Wine provided by Picada y Vino wine shop.
Urban Alchemist 343 5th st. Brooklyn, New York 11215
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Hey Neighbor! Pardon Me For Asking, But... How Would You Rate Bill De Blasio's Job Performance As Our Councilman?":
For the Councilman's allegiance to his constituents in Carroll Gardens regarding development issues and the Gowanus Canal I would give him a zero. For his allegiance to Brooklynites re: Atlantic Yards: another zero.
For his charm and pretenses I would give him a 4. For his ability to exploit an issue and get some great PR for himself out of it, I would give him a 9. For follow up on that same issue I would give him a "2". For his overall level of personal political ambition I would give him a "10".
Work has been ongoing at 288 Court Street, the site of the old Blockbuster, which will soon be home to a 'Union Market' specialty food store. Yesterday, on my way to Brooklyn Heights, I caught a glimpse at the space through the open door. Looks like the first refrigerator units are being delivered, though construction is still in progress.
I had a nice little chat with a young man who looked like he was in charge. He told me that the store will most likely be opened before the end of the year. He described Union Market as being a blend of Trader Joe's and a regular supermarket, with lots of prepared food.
I have no doubt that the market will do well, but am apprehensive about what this will mean to some of the smaller stores such as Mastellone's and the new green grocer, both of which are just across the street.
What are your thought?
For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking
A plan, a canal
Last Updated: 4:30 AM, September 27, 2009
Posted: 12:17 AM, September 27, 2009
Your editorial, “ ‘Help’ the Gowanus Doesn’t Need” (Sept. 21) has several inaccuracies, the most troubling being the assertion that the Superfund relies solely on litigation to get a cleanup done.
The EPA’s Superfund program receives appropriations from Congress every year to fund work, and litigation almost never hinders progress at a site. The Superfund law gives the EPA the authority to pay for the cleanup and recoup costs from polluters later.
Moreover, Superfund cleanups often spur development. Superfund designation gives us teeth to hold polluters responsible and to ensure the health and safety of the surrounding communities and the environment.
The EPA is considering all approaches to cleaning up the canal, and our main goal is simple: a cleaner Gowanus that will better serve this vibrant community.
George Pavlou
Acting Regional Administrator, US EPA, Manhattan
Sue Perette at 270 Smith Street
Polenta Flies
Field Greens
Pork Shank
DuckSue Perette, 270 Smith Street, gives Brooklynites one less reason to trek to Manhattan. The restaurant, which opened earlier this month by Parisian couple Benoit and Melanie Rouan, serves up rustic and hearty dishes based on countryside fare that can most aptly be described as French with a heavy American influence. Benoit explains that he and head chef Matthew Knoll, “Americanized” Benoit’s recipes together, the result of which is stomach- and soul-warming food that’s unassuming yet refined. The name Sue Perette stems from the coincidental fact that both Benoit and Melanie’s grandmas are named Suzanne.
My boyfriend Bruce and I went in for dinner at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday. At that time about one-quarter of the tables were full. The following night, each table was sat and I assume that each successive night, at least on the weekends, will be busier than the last.
For appetizers, we ordered the polenta fries, which came with a parsley aioli dipping sauce for $5, and field greens with baked goat cheese and a slice of roasted tomato for $9. The baked goat cheese was enveloped in a brick dough pouch – much like fillo dough – the top of which was precisely fanned, making for a pretty presentation. Although the polenta fries were a tad too salty for my taste, they were a welcome departure from the typical starchy potato and utterly yummy.
We ordered for our main course the Berkshire pork shank (at the prodding of my neighbor who made me promise that either Bruce or I would order it) and the double duck confit. The meat was cooked to perfection: The pork was so tender it literally fell off the bone and the two duck breast medallions were served medium rare -- the way duck is traditionally cooked. The pork came with part of a caramelized apple and chopped cauliflower spiced with cumin. The duck was surrounded by individual brussel sprout leaves, baked just enough that the tips of some of the leaves turned brown (which I loved) and sun-chokes (Jerusalem artichokes).
The portions were undoubtedly more French than American, but I thought they were just right. Bruce practically cleaned his plate -- with my help of course -- and I ate one duck medallion and all of the confit and brussel sprouts. The pork was $19 and the duck, $22. Our bill with two drinks, a Macchiato, two appetizers and two entrees came to $75 or so, putting Sue Perette in the same realm as Buttermilk Channel, Po, Char No. 4 or Frankie’s 457. In the end I was happy to pay that much. For the quality of food and service, the menu is appropriately priced.
Part of what makes the Sue Perette experience so enjoyable is the ambiance. For the redecoration, Benoit and Melanie worked with Hecho Inc., which also did Building on Bond. The space, formerly home to Café Doré, was practically gutted; the brick walls are now exposed and on them are a series of photographs of Coney Island mornings by local photographer Anne Le Mouellic,. Different local artists’ work will be rotated in and out.
In fact, the emphasis on “the neighborhood” goes beyond the décor. The bread is from Stinky Bklyn (which buys from Tom Cat Bakery in Long Island City, so I’ve suggested they check out some other, even more local shops like Mazzola Bakery or Caputo’s Fine Foods). The wine is from Jenny & Francois Selections, of which Jenny is based in Brooklyn, and Jerome Selection, also out of Brooklyn.
Sue Perette is open Monday through Thursday, and Sunday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight. It will be open this Sunday, Oct. 4 for brunch and then after that it will be open for brunch both Saturday and Sunday. They also offer a kid’s menu for $10 per dish that includes a pita pepperoni pizza (which is completely delicious even to grown-up taste buds), cheese ravioli and chicken drumsticks, among other items, and is served with a glass of milk or fruit juice as well as a kids-sized dessert. They kid’s items are also served a la carte for $8 apiece.
My thanks to Sara, not only for writing the review, but also for allowing me to post it here.
El Nuevo Portal, that delightfully authentic, no-frills Dominican restaurant at 317 Smith Street has been closed by the Health Department on September 24th. Reader Stephen B. had sent me an email on Thursday, but I did not get around to checking it out myself until Sunday.
A look on the Health Department's web site did not offer any clues, since the latest inspection report has not been posted yet. Back in May 2009, Nuevo Portal scored a 36. A restaurant with a score of 28 or more needs to be re-inspected. A follow up visit on June 10th, earned the restaurant a very respectable 8, so obviously, everything was in order. It is hard to imagine that conditions could have deteriorated so much in three months to warrant a closure.
A hand written note stuck to the front window says that the place will be closed five days. That would mean that Nuevo will re-open on Monday. I hope that by then, the problems found by the department have been resolved.
For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking
We all know the story of the emperor's new clothes, but have you heard the one about the emperor's new dog?
Everywhere around the neighborhood on Sunday afternoon, people were walking 'invisible dogs'. After I passed by the first three people, I asked the fourth what was going on. "I am just walking my new puppy" the young lady told me.
Yes, right! I thought.
I did not get a better answer from the next few people I asked. It obviously was some kind of social experiment or performance art. It was not until I ran into two young men, that I finally got the answer. They had gotten the leashes from the Art Shop at 51 Bergen Street, where they were being handed out, and where they had to be returned by 4 PM.
As we were all three standing in front of the Starbucks on Smith Street, observing the passers-by, who were promenading their "dogs." We had to smile at the surreal scene. One of the two young men had to agree with me that is was all pretty silly and pointless. And he didn't mind saying so. See video below.
Invisible Dogs from Katia Kelly on Vimeo.
Raised in Carroll Gardens has left the following comment on the post "Boom, Boom...Construction Resumes At 360 Smith Street":
Just so you know, Today was the 3rd time since the "F" station was closed at 360 Smith that there was NO attendant at the President Street station. The gates on 3 turnstiles were closed & locked and only the 1 combo entrance/exit was available for commuters. OK - so it's safer to close the 360 entrance but why can't we have full service at the only remaining entrance?
