At The Sanibel Farmers Market

Instead of doing my shopping at the Carroll Gardens Greenmarket this Sunday, I got to shop at the one on Sanibel Island. The produce was pretty great, especially the sun ripened tomatoes. (Remember those?)

I was most excited by the pretzels and incredible bread sold by a young German couple, who owns a bakery in Lehigh Acres here in Florida. The pretzels were definitely some of the best ones I have had in a long time and took me right back to my childhood in Germany.

The young bakers seemed willing to ship their goods to New York, when I asked. You can reach them through their web site here.

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Sand Between My Toes... On Sanibel Island

As promised, here are some of the photos I took yesterday on Sanibel Island's beach. The weather could not be better and my husband and I are enjoying our time with his mother.

So far, we have had a full program, as she is introducing us to all that the island has to offer. We have also met some of her island friends and it is great to know that she is part of a very close-knit community. Florida retirement looks rather awesome.

But no worries, I am coming back to Brooklyn...and the snow....in a couple of days.

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Greetings From Sanibel Island

Dear Readers,

I have ditched my Brooklyn writing desk for a bit of sunshine and palm trees.

I am currently on Sanibel Island, Florida, visiting my mother-in-law. Have taken plenty of photos which I will post later on today, so please click back to this site this afternoon.

Wish I could send you some warm rays.

Katia

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Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group Meeting Tonight

Tonight, the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) will be holding its third general meeting at the old American Can Factory, 232 Third Street, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

The agenda will include: 1) discussion of the draft CAG charter, being developed by the Operating Procedures Committee; 2) proposal from Real Estate Committee for information-gathering; 3) outreach strategies to be undertaken by CAG for EPA public meeting to present the Risk Investigation (expected to be in February); 4) any other committee updates; 5) determining CAG schedule for subsequent months.

The public is invited.

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Picture Of The Day: Winter Cupid

A little red cupid seen

Through snow laden branches.

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Is The Igloo The New Brownstone?

Who needs a brownstone? With the record breaking snow fall we have been having this year, maybe igloos will become the new thing here in Brooklyn . Check out this snow residence. It was spotted on Sackett Street by Reader M. who graciously allowed me to post the photos she took.

Rather professionally built, no? How much do you think it could rent for?

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Giant Balloon Helps In Grassroots Mapping Of The Gowanus Canal

photo credit: Grassroots Mapping Gowanus Project on Flickr

Though it may have been one of the coldest days of the season, Professor Liz Barry and a group of students from the New School gathered at the shores of the Gowanus Canal last Saturday. They braved the element in order to take part in an experiment called "Grassroots Mapping Gowanus Project." The students sent up fairly large-sized Mylar balloon outfitted with a small camera high above the waterway to obtain aerial images of the canal. The purpose is to map the Gowanus and surrounding area in order to document its revitalization, now that it has been declared a Superfund site.

Reporter Mike Weiss of the Brooklyn Eagle was there and has a full report in this week's paper: D.Y.I. Mapping Of The Gowanus

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"Me And My Eggroll" Going (Partly) Vietnamese On Court

'Me And My Eggroll' at 407 Court Street, one of Carroll Gardens oldest Chinese restaurants, has gone partly Vietnamese by adding bubble teas and Vietnamese sandwiches. Yesterday was the grand opening of their 're-designed' restaurant space, which had gone mostly unused for years, since Me and My Eggroll is known primarily as a take-out place. Though the decor doesn't look much different than before, some rather brightly colored lights and a new lit menu sign have been added.

What do you think? Any hope that their Vietnamese offerings will be better than their Chinese food? Or should we stick to Hanco on Bergen?

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Great News! Second Place Entrance To F Train Station Will Re-Open Soon

Great news for Carroll Gardeners! The F train subway station at the corner of Second Place and Smith Street, which has been closed since September 2009, will re-open at the end of February, according to Andrew Inglesby of the MTA NY City Transit. The news was announced on Tuesday by Gary Reilly at the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association's monthly meeting.

The F train subway plaza and the staircase leading to the station at Second Place were blocked off during construction of the new building at 360 Smith Street. Since then, riders have been forced to use the smaller, narrower entrance at the corner of Second Street.

The re-opening of the staircase should make commuting in and out of the neighborhood much easier for many in the neighborhood.

Related Reading:

When Carroll Gardens Commuters Come Home Tonight, The 2nd Place F Train Plaza Will Be Closed

2nd Place Subway Station Now History

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Picture Of The Day: Sun Setting On Snowy Carroll Gardens

Love the snow, the clear cold air,

and the sun setting in the sky.

Hate those deep puddles at the intersections.

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Carroll Gardens Roof Snow Drifts

Reader Mary was brave enough to go up to her building's roof this morning. She took the cool photo above of the impressive snow drifts up above. I can imagine my roof looks pretty much the same.

Thanks for sending the photo, Mary.

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Developer Isaac Fishman Confirms: 333 Carroll Street's Steel Addition Coming Down

Preliminary drawings for 333 Carroll Street presented last night by developer Isaac Fishman

Councilman Brad Lander

Debbie Fuka of Aguayo & Huebener, speaking on behalf of 333 Carroll Street developer

333 Carroll Street project manager "YC" on left and developer Isaac Fishman on right

It's Confirmed: 333 Carroll Street Will Lose Its Top

The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association had invited, Isaac Fishman, owner and developer of 333 Carroll Street, the beautiful old industrial building with the huge 2-story 'steel birdcage' on top, to attend their monthly meeting in order to update the community on how he will proceed. At the meeting last night, Fishman confirmed that the addition will indeed be taken down.

Speaking for Fishman, Debbie Fuka of Aguayo & Huebener, explained that construction will resume shortly and will be fully enclosed in the existing building, without the additional floors. When finished, there will be 37 one-two & three-bedroom apartments available. A parking lot in the rear of the building will accommodate 9 parking spaces. The developer allowed this blogger to take a photo of the proposed design (see above), but repeated several times that this was just a preliminary drawing of what the building will look like after completion.

The news that the structure will lose its unsightly top was greeted with relief from the audience. A resident on Carroll Street told Mr. Fishman that his block was going to host a giant barbeque the day addition comes down.

I would like to thank Councilman Brad Lander and his staff who were immensely helpful in regards to this issue. Their ongoing dialogue with the developer, with the NYC Department of Buildings and with the community were key in resolving the issue.

Related reading:

Could It Be? Is 333 Carroll Street's Monstrous Steel Addition Finally Coming Down?

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Another Amazing Morning In Brooklyn, Colorado

Another AMAZING morning in Carroll Gardens!

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