Look! Paul Manafort's Now Infamous Carroll Gardens Brownstone Has Been Designated A Landmark

 photo credit: Daniel L

  photo credit: Daniel L

photo credit: Daniel L

photo credit: Reader M.

Look! 377 Union Street, Paul Manafort's Carroll Gardens brownstone has just been designated a landmark... overnight.  A sign attached to the brownstone reads:

"The House That Brought Down A President"

377 Union Street will forever be known as the building that lead to the collapse of the presidency of Donald J. Trump. Originally acquired by Trump campaign chairman, Paul Manafort in January 2017, this building's finances would later become the foundation for initial charges of money laundering and conspiracy against the United States of America. Under the direction of special counsel Robert S. Mueller, III, these central criminal indictments were the "tip of the iceberg" in the federal investigation of collusion, conspiracy and other illegal activities by Donald J. Trump and his associates.

Thought to be originally but in 1899, 377 Union Street is constructed 22' x 45' on a 90' lot in the classic brownstone style of the Carroll Gardens area.

New York City Landmark Preservation Foundation, 2017."

Of course, this brownstone and its questionable financing is now part of an indictment against Manafort, which was handed down by Special Council Robert Mueller yesterday.

I don't know who is responsible for this sign, but it is brilliant. Respect! (If it's you, send me an email and I'll buy you a drink.)

Thanks to Reader M. and Daniel L for making me aware of this.

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Paul Manafort, A Carroll Gardens Brownstone, And A Little Neighborhood Blog

 

377 Union Street, Paul Manafort's Carroll Gardens Investment in September 2017.

Part on the Indictement against Paul Manafort 

On this day, I am glued to the news just like all of you, I can imagine.
Back in early 2017, I ran a little post entitled "Washington Lobbyist And Trump Advisor Paul Manafort Owns Brownstone In Carroll Gardens."
It focused on the veteran Republican strategist and Donald Trump's former presidential campaign manager's investment property at 377 Union Street. What began as a blog story of a neglected brownstone that irked neighbors led to a look at ownership and public records related to finances.
What Pardon Me For Asking uncovered in February 2017 was that Manafort had taken out mortgages way beyond the value of the property, which raised some interesting questions.
The press got a hold of the story, dug deeper, and now 377 Union Street and its shady financing is included in today's indictment of Manafort.

Don't they say that all news is local?  I still would love to know who directed Paul Manafort to Carroll Gardens? What was it about our neighborhood that made him want to invest in Carroll Gardens. How many other New York City properties have been used to launder money?
We live in interesting times, don't we?

A huge 'Thank You' to all of you who have been reaching out all morning to acknowledge Pardon Me For Asking's tiny part in this story.



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''Barely Disfigured', Smith Street's New Cocktail Bar Named After A Famous French Poem, To Open Soon

Owners and partners Jeremy Andre, Damien Frey and Regis Vankaster

There are two things to know about Barely Disfigured, the much anticipated new cocktail bar coming to 257 Smith Street. The first is that its name is an homage to the lyrical poem À peine défigurée , written in 1932 by French surrealist poet Paul Eluart.  The second is that the notice  written in gold letters on the establishment's front window assuring passersby that 'this is not a brothel' and that 'there are no prostitutes at this address' is a subtle reference to the infamous massage parlor, which operated at this location for a short period in 2016.

Barely Disfigured, in fact, is imbued with references to both the poet and the previous business. The bar's decor is a throwback to Eluart's time. From the photos on the wall,  to the vintage items on display, to the crystal carafes behind the large serpentine counter, all is of the surrealist period.
Here and there, reference is made to the former house of ill repute. The list of cocktails, for example, included the 'Madame Kelly,' named after the owner of one of the most luxurious brothels in Paris, which operated near the Louvre Museum until 1946.

Co-owner Jeremy Andre explained that he and his partners Damien Frey and Regis Vankaster did not want to shy away from the space's slightly unusual history.  "It is part of the story of the place, so we wanted to embrace it and refer to it in subtle ways," he explained
They choose,  however, to address the issue of illegal massage parlors around the city more directly by planning to donate part of Barely Disfigured's proceeds to the Urban Justice Center.

Barely Disfigured will open on Monday, November 6th. Cocktails will cost between $11 to $15.
Chef Gwenaël Le Pape is planning a tapas menu that includes ceviche, truffle infused Mac and cheese, as well as charcuterie and cheese selections from Stinky Bklyn.  The cocktail bar will feature live jazz.

Andre and Frey (who opened  La Cigogne on Union Street in 2014)  and Vankaster are keeping a special surprise in the back room of the bar till opening night.
Make sure to check it out on the 6th.

Barely Disfigured
257 Smith Street
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Picture Of the Day: That First Morning Cup

That's how most of us probably feel before that first cup of coffee in the morning.

Spotted on Union Street in front of Mazzola  Bakery

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76th Precinct In Carroll Gardens Stages A 'Walk Out' For Retiring Community Affairs Detective Paul Grudzinski To Honor His 30 Years Of Service With The NYPD

Detective Paul Grudzinski, framed by Chief Michael Kemper (left) and Leroy Branch (right)

76th Precinct's Commanding Officer Captain Megan O'Malley

Detective Grudzinski with some of his colleagues

Paul Grudzinski in 1987

In a long standing NYPD tradition when one of their own retires,  the 76th Precinct on Union Street in Carroll Gardens staged a 'walk-out' for Detective Paul Grudzinski  today, his last day on the job.  It was a moving ceremony attended by many of the former Commanding Officers of the Precinct.
Grudzinski worked for the NYPD for 30 years. He started in 1987 with the Transit Authority Police, before joining the 76th Precinct 27 years ago.  He was part of the original  Community Patrol Officers Program,  and, for the past 17 years, has served as community affairs detective for the 76th.

Grudzinski was a real asset to the neighborhood and to Carroll Park during his tenure. "You have left an indelible impression on everyone here," 76th Precinct's Commanding Officer, Captain Megan O'Malley, told Grudzinski.
Deeply moved by ceremony, Grudzinski told members of the Precinct: "You guys made me love what I do. I leave on a high note. I promise to stop by to visit often."

We hope you will, Paul.  Thank you for all your years of service to the community.

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Spring For Gowanus Canal: By May 2018, For The First Time In Over A Century, A Section Of The Waterway With Be Clean.

Work currently going on in the 4th Street Turning Basin

Christos Tsiamis

EPA Senior Project Manager for the Gowanus Superfund

Tsiamis with Doug Sarno, Gowanus Canal CAG facilitator

Christos Tsiamis, the Environmental Projection Agency's Senior Project Manager for the Gowanus Superfund attended last night's Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group's meeting to give an update on the clean-up of our polluted canal.

As you might have noticed, there has been quite a bit of activity on the Gowanus Canal at the 4th Street Basin (TB4), located at the intersection of 4th Street and 3rd Avenue next to the Gowanus Whole Foods. As of the beginning of October, heavy equipment and barges have been moved into the basin to perform preparatory work ahead of Phase Two of the Dredging and Capping Pilot Study, which will begin in a little over a month from now.

The preparatory work consists of dredging an 'access channel' to allow larger vessels to work in TB4, and to install bulkhead support to strengthen the existing bulkheads during the excavation of soft sediment during the pilot study.

The second phase* of the Pilot Study will take place roughly from December 2017 to May 2018. It will consist of dredging the contaminated material at the bottom of the Turning Basin, to screen the material, to remove debris, to stabilize the sediment to render it harmless, and to barge the stabilized material to an off-site facility by barge.

Finally, a multi-layer  protective cover will be placed on the bottom of the canal to prevent re-contamination.  The study will take place roughly from December 2017 To May 2018.

Once the pilot study is completed, all information gathered will be analyzed and incorporated into the design for the entire environmental remediation of the canal from top to bottom. "Then we are, so to speak, off to the races. From then on, it will be a continuous process" according to Tsiamis.

"I don't know if you have realized it, folks, but this is the real deal! Pay attention to this. By the time we finish the pilot study at the end of spring 2018, for the first time in over a century, there will be a clean portion of the canal. It will be spring, and spring for the Gowanus Canal, also," Christos told members of the CAG, who applauded the news loudly.

"You dreamt about a clean Gowanus, we dreamt of a clean Gowanus. We would like for the community to pass around the news."

*The first phase of the Pilot Study was carried out in October 2016 and consisted of clearing debris from the basin which obstructed navigational access. (for photos of the intriguing objects and material dredged up can be found here.)

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Meet The Women Behind CKO Kickboxing Of Carroll Gardens On Court Street

CKO Kickboxing of Carroll Gardens''s co-owners 

Kelly Chiusano,  Kristine Simoneschi, and Adriana Di Dino 

If you have been looking to change up your regular workout routine without leaving the neighborhood, you might  want to check out  CKO Kickboxing  of Carroll Gardens at 562 Court Street. CKO, which stands for Club Knock Out, offers a unique full-body fitness program that boosts your energy level, increases your strength and endurance. Plus, it is a great stress reliever. And who doesn't need some stress release these days.

The gym is co-owned by Kelly Chiusano, Kristine Simoneschi, and Adriana Di Dino, who also own CKO of Park Slope together. The three friends have created a friendly, supportive atmosphere at their gym and pride themselves on the community they have built over the last few years.

CKO offers individual as well as group classes seven days a week.  The teachers are highly trained  and will give students individual attention to help them achieve their goals.   Since Kelly, Kristine and Adriana are not only owners but instructors as well, they spend lots of time at the kickboxing gym themselves." Between us, one of us is here every day," Kelly told me.

Right now,  CKO is offering three classes for only $19.99. So stop by and try kickboxing. 

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