'Smith And Vine' Moving To New Smith Street Location In January 2017

Current location above

new location below

Smith Street's most popular wine and liquor store "Smith and Vine" just announced that it will be relocating from 268 Smith Street, its home for more than ten years, to the storefront at 317 Smith Street, just two blocks South and mere steps from the F train station at President Street.

The reason for the move may be the fact that the building currently housing the store is on the market for $3,350,000, which certainly means uncertainty for tenants and, most likely, higher rents in the future.

Smith and Vine's new location on Smith Street was, until recently, a tanning salon, and for many years before, the home of Armando's Tailor and Dry Cleaning.

Hopefully, this well curated neighborhood business will continue to thrive in Carroll Gardens for a very long time.

Source: Street Easy

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Best Comment Of The Day!

Reader Vince, on last week's Question Of The Week :

Which Is Your Favorite Wine Store In The Neighborhood? And Do You Have Any Wine Recommendations?

I like wine and wine stores and spend a fair amount of time browsing in them as opposed to the maddening experience in most other retail stores. When I first came to the neighborhood I bought a lot of wine from the store across the street from Sam’s Restaurant. I lived across the street from there. Have you been in the store? Coming from upstate farm country it was a very different experience. The customers came in the door and into a small chamber surrounded by very thick plexi glass. It was a security device, it limited your movements, a kind of cage keeping the public out and therefore the clerk safe on the other side. It was run by a family all very friendly as long as you stayed on your side of the barrier. It struck me as having a bit of the aquarium or peep show about it. Money passed through a series of sliding doors into a tin pan with a bigger but discreet opening for the bottles. I actually got comfortable with it and would scream out to the clerk needing vintage information and tasting notes. It was big help though to know exactly what you wanted, to get in and get out as being in that space with some of the other local clientele back then was not cool.

When it was time to splurge I would make a trip up to the north heights to Marcolini Wines a wonderful store. That store front is now a restaurant and the son of the owner merged the business with the shop at the St George hotel. The father and original owner bought into a vineyard in Virginia and retired. He was a Greek man whose name was Armand He was a true connoisseur, new his burgundy’s and Barolo’s and was extremely welcoming and ready to let you taste many expensive wines that he often had open. They also had a regular Monday night unadvertised tasting in a back storage room. People actually brought wines into the store to share with him and others. It was not just about making a sale. This was in the late 70’s early 80’s and great wines although expensive, because the dollar was strong was nothing like now.

However, I have found another good place to browse wines is in peoples garbage bins on recycling day. I love looking through garbage anyway and this way I can to see what’s hot and what’s not. To my surprise down on Union St below Columbia an apartment, above what looks like an abandoned garage put its bottles out on Saturdays and wow do those guys live high. I’m always shocked to see their empties, Vosne Romanee, Mongeard-Mungneret Beaune , Chateau Margaux as all these go for near $100 a bottle easy . I really want to get invited to one of their parties and find out what they do for a living. The recycling bin is not at all a bad idea for wine recommendations, you can take my word for that.


One place I would caution you about the wine tasting notes though is Smith and Vine. You know the kind of notes I mean, the bunk generated by the store or critics that talk of apples, lavender and chocolate and crispness and honey on the tongue. Yes, these are generally total bunk but using some counter intuition I find they can tell me a lot. Wine style has gotten to be a bit too fruity for me, no structure and way to high in alcohol, just plain fat and frumpy, no real style. So it’s easy if the notes are too florid and sound more like a McDonalds happy meal I know to stay away from that one. I’ve learned that what sounds good does not always taste good. Smith and Vine, in their cool, hip irony though have really stray off the path to a place where I do not think we need to go. I swear the last time I was there they had tasting notes that used analogies about dog shit. Or maybe it was “shit eatin” and wet dogs, regardless I do not think this is the right train of thought for encouraging wine consumption. I know… irony, I understand but?? I guarantee you take a trip over there start reading their notes you will find references to all types of things you really do not need to know about before you uncork the bottle. Basically I shop all the stores think the whole culture of wine is fun or fun to make fun of depending on how I’m feeling and regardless of how I feel I love to drink it.



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Empty Streets! Carroll Gardens In The Time Of Covid-19

Pretty well stocked: K&Y on Court Street this morrning

Smith and Vine offers free delivery.

Our world has changed overnight as the reality of the spread of Covid-19 started to hit us all.
Our little corner here in Carroll Gardens is no different.  Our schools have been closed. so have our restaurants and bars.  The shelves in our grocery stores are pretty empty. So are the streets. It was eerie to experience.
I took a brief walk this morning and dropped off a package at Brooklyn Postal on Smith Street.  The service was as friendly as ever and was glad they were open so that I did not have to walk all the way to Red Hook's post office.
I am happy to report that K&Y Fruit and Vegetable at 291 Smith Street is pretty well stocked with fresh produce as well as milk. Parks Organic on Court still had many staples, but some shelves were looking bare.
Most importantly, Smith and Vine at 317 Smith Street is open and offers free delivery.

I cannot tell you how many times I heard people say:"Stay Healthy" and "wash your hands."
Like many of you, I will try to spend the next weeks safely in my house to keep myself and others safe.  Perhaps, in the absence of new stories, I will repost some older ones that are not time sensitive.

I may not be out and about in the neighborhood as usual, but I will be here on my computer. Please feel free to send me tips, to report who stocks food, toilet paper and other useful things in the neighborhood and who is open for business, so that we can go directly there, instead of stopping everywhere and coming in contact with more people than we have to.

Please stay safe, stay connected and stay hopeful.

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'Let Them Eat Cheese': Stinky's Fourth Annual Cheese Eating Contest This Sunday

Things will be hopping on Smith Street this Sunday, with both the Smith Street Fun Fair and the Fourth Annual Cheese Eating Contest happening simultaneously. The competition and a full musical program is organized by Stinky Bklyn, Smith& Vine and The Jake Walk.

Read more about the event below:

LET THEM EAT CHEESE

STINK-FEST ’10 ROCKS SMITH STREET WITH FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

FOURTH ANNUAL CHEESE EATING CONTEST

Once Again, Brooklyn Food and Music Lovers are Flocking to the

Smith Street Fair For the Stinky-est Festival of the Summer

WHO: The folks from Stinky Bklyn, Smith & Vine and The JakeWalk

WHAT: As a part of the annual Smith Street Fair, Stinky Bklyn’s FOURTH Annual Cheese Eating Contest - Stink-Fest – IS BACK. This year, the musical component of the event returns, with a 16ft grandstand and a fantastic day’s lineup of 8 Brooklyn bands for the whole family starting off with the Queen of Brooklyn Kiddie-Rock, Audra Rox followed up by the superstar kids from The School of Rock. The fun continues with more bands all afternoon including The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn and The Woes. Owner, Michelle Pravda will also guest star and show off her own vocal chops! There will be upwards of 40 competitors who will participate in a series of two heats. Each contestant has 2 minutes to eat as much Cantalet as they possibly can. Last year’s winner, Will Millender will be back to defend his title and the winner will be awarded with their name on the “Big Cheese Title Belt” which will be prominently displayed at Stinky BKLYN on it for the following year. The area surrounding the grandstand will be turned into an open—air restaurant for the day featuring 3 seating areas with over 60 seats, food and beer from Stinky and The JakeWalk, Wine from Smith & Vine

WHERE: In front of Smith & Vine: 268 Smith Street, Between Douglas & DeGraw Event will take up the entire area surrounding the storefront, spanning half the block between Douglas & DeGraw

WHEN: Sunday June 27th
Event timeline:
11:00-11:40 Audra Rox
11:45-1230 School of Rock
12:35-1:15 David Bowler & Special Guest Michele Pravda
1:20-2:10 Emily Warren & The Betters

2PM CHEESE EATING CONTEST OF 2010
2:45-3:30 The Mighty Alpacas
3:30-4:15 Les Chauds Lapins
4:15-5:00 The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn
5:15-6:00 The Woes

Read more about the Smith Street Fun Fest 2010

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BoCoCa Corona Diary: Let's Give A Shout-Out To All Our Local Businesses

Many of our small local businesses are valiantly trying to stay open to serve the Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill and Cobble Hill communities during the Coronavirus pandemic. However, the longer we are being asked to stay indoors and to keep our distance from people, the harder it has become for our merchants to stay afloat.
Some, which offer vital services, have adapted to this new reality by offering more deliveries or take out services.  Others have adjusted their hours or even the number of days they are open.

However, we have heard from the majority of owners that things are really bad and that they may not survive without the community's help.
We can all help by shopping in our local stores instead of going to the chain stores, which have  deeper pockets and can weather this pandemic much better. Most of our delis and bodegas are pretty well stocked and may actually have items that the bigger stores are out of, all at pretty regular prices.

So, shop the small stores and help insure that they will continue to be part of our neighborhood once this is all over.
And please stay health, everyone.

Below are some of the changes to opening hours for some businesses.
Stinky Bklyn on Smith Street is now closed. (Smith and Vine remains open.)

Travel Bar on Court Street is open, selling to-go batched cocktails, bottles of wine and whiskey flights (they have over 450 whiskies to choose from) Details at www.travelbarbrooklyn.com.
Caputo's Fine Foods has cut back their hours. They are no longer open on Wednesdays. They now only open their doors From Thursdays to Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sundays 9:00 am - 2:30 am

Scotto's Wines on Court is closed on Sundays now.

Cheeeeeeeeese and Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer has closed on Court Street at the corner of Second Place.

Seeds of Love, the wonderful little café place on Smith is now opening a bit later in the morning and offering great lunch options.

Our friend and reader Christian, who has been such a big help reported that our laundromats are starting to close one by one. He writes:

"Ms. Lee's laundromat that's on Henry and Sackett is closing for the long-term.
The laundromat on Henry and President Streets is cutting back its hours."

Indeed, the laundromat on Smith Street between First Place and Carroll Street was closed this past Sunday as well.

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Smith Street FunDay Sunday Fair 2009

I am so bumbed that I will have to miss the Smith Street fair this year. But you don't have to. It is this coming week-end, so lets hope it stops raining long enough to have a great time. Here are the details from the organizers:

THE LITTLE STREET THAT COULD DOES IT AGAIN!!
Smith Street Funday

Sunday June 28th from 11AM to 6PM

Smith Street’s Annual Festival is not just coordinated – it is ”curated”. We start with a street full of special shops with an eclectic variety of things you will want to wear, consume, eat, or otherwise enjoy – and to that we add our BOCOCA neighborhood art and craft talent, interests and collections, plus the independent designers, the joie de vivre and only the finest region-wide assortment of vendors of merchandise you will really want to bring home.

We are eight blocks long – deliberately not the longest or the biggest because we aim to bring you quality in Brooklyn’ most exotically perfect bazaar!! We also aim to bring you fun – with lots of music and entertainment. For example – both Tony’s Hardware and the Salsa Salon will have live Latin Bands and attract some great dancers. Angry Wade’s, Ceol and Rocketship will also all give lots of local bands and talent a chance to show off all day long.

And of course we will have “Stinkfest” once again in front of Smith & Vine sponsored by the wine shop and its sister and brother shops – “Stinky Brooklyn” the cheese and gourmet shop, and “The Jakewalk” Bar & Snacks venue. They are sponsoring a full day of entertainment on a stage, surrounded by tables and seating and a gourmet street food menu:. From 11-1 PM great children’s entertainment., Music from 1-2PM At 2PM NYC’s One and Only Third Annual Cheese Eating Contest 3- 5:30PM Music returns with a variety of great local talent.

Stroll, shop, and sample along Smith Street from Bergen to Union Streets.

Take the F or G to Bergen Street

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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Smith & Vine Now Open At Its New Smith Street Location

       

A few weeks ago, "Smith & Vine" announced that it would start 2017 in a new location on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens.  The beloved neighborhood wine and liquor store successfully relocated from its original storefront at 268 Smith Street to 317 Smith Street last week.

Conveniently, the new address is mere steps from the F train station at President Street.

The reason for the  store's move has to do with the current sale of the 268 Smith Street building, which is on the market for $3,350,000. This would have meant uncertainty and most probably higher rents, which is never good for a small business.

The new store is organized very similarly to the former space and offers the same wonderful range of wines and spirits. And yes, here too, there is a "$12 and under" table located right in the center.

Smith & Vine has been part of the community for more than 10 years.  Let's make sure it is still here through the next decade. So stop by often and support this local gem.

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