UPDATED: Finally Some Action At Former Maybelle Space On Henry Street

***UPDATE***

Friend and PMFA reader Rick Luftglass reached out to me after reading the post below to inform us that Purbird Flame Grilled Chicken of Park Slope, not Sweet Chick was moving into the space vacated by Maybelle's Café on Henry Street.

Whatever 'bird' place moves into the storefront that once housed the famous Cammareri Italian bakery, you may enjoy the photos that Rick sent to us of the original bakery equipment that is still stored in the basement of the building. (You can see the photos by scrolling down)
Rick writes:

"They left the Cammareri Bros. bakery equipment in the basement. They put up drywall around the equipment. Apparently the equipment was too large and heavy to be removed, so none of the restaurant owners moved it out.
As you see in the photos, they had already started to put up the walls, and were preparing to put up the drywall. By now, I assume they're covered up.
Someday, decades from now, an urban archaeologist is going to find it. "


Thanks for the information and the photos Rick. What an incredible time capsule and a reminder of one of the best bread bakeries in the neighborhood.

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Original Post
Maybelle's, a favorite café spot at 502 Henry Street across from Farmacy, sadly closed its doors last January. Since then, the storefront has been empty.

However, reader Edward alerted PMFA last week that there has been some action recently and that it appears as if Sweet Chick , a "rustic-chic eatery" that serves "American cuisine with a Southern accent" may be moving in.

Edward writes:
"It looks like Maybelle's at Sackett and Henry will become Sweet Chick.They seem to be working on the interior until late night so it may be soon. Sweetchick as to other restaurants by the same name in NYC."

Sweet Chick has an outpost on Ludlow Street in Manhattan and a second one on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. Apparently, their waffles and fried chicken are pretty awesome. So are their drinks.

Of course, Maybelle's occupied the space which was once the beloved Cammareri Bakery. In the late 1987, several scenes of the movie Moonstruck with Cher and Nicolas Cage were filmed in the bakery.

(stills from the movie Moonstruck)

Here are the photos Rick Luftglass shared with Pardon Me

(photos courtesy of Rick Luftglass)

And here is a wonderful scene of Moonstruck's Loretta Castorini and Ronny Cammareri's first encounter filmed in Camareri Bakery's basement.

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This Fall At The Carroll Gardens Public Library

The Carroll Gardens branch of the Brooklyn Public Library is hosting several weekly classes and clubs for young and old this fall.  Besides "Toddler Time" on Thursday mornings and "Babies And Books" on Mondays,  one can take advantage of english conversation classes,  the Knitting and Crochet club, the open Writing Memoir Group and fitness classes.

Jeana Musacchiosenior hosts senior exercise classes every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 am to 11 am with yoga, aerobics, strength training, chair exercises.
Classes are free.  No registration or experience necessary, either! Please use the Union Street stairwell entrance when entering.
On Thursdays from 10-to 10:30,  join Lisa Catanzaro for  'Mindful Meditation', followed by Chair Exercises.
There is also "Sit Down To Get Down", a six-week series of chair exercises led by Akwesi Asante, Owner of Arts in Performance. He is an Actor, Dancer, and Fitness and Nutrition Consultant. Those classes are held on Thursdays at 10:30 am to 11:30 am.
For Further Information, call the Library at 718-596-6972

For the full line-up of classes and clubs hosted by the library, click here.



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Two Opportunities To Get Your Free Flu Shot In Carroll Gardens

Before you know it, flu season is upon us again.  Better plan ahead.
There are two opportunities to get your free flu shot right here in the neighborhood.

State Senator Daniel Squadron is sponsoring a free flu shot clinic on Wednesday, September 19, from 10:00AM to 1:00PM at the Eileen Dugan Senior Center at St. Paul's Church 199 Carroll Street (between Clinton and Court Streets). Call 718-596-1956 to sign up.

In addition, Assemblywoman Joan Millman is offering free flu shots, compliments of Downstate Long Island College Hospital on Monday, October 15th and Tuesday, October 16th between 10 and 1 PM at Millman's office, 341 Smith Street (between Carroll and President Streets.
Call 718 246 4889to schedule an appointment.



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It's Taken A Long Time, But 132 Second Place's Make-Over A Bit Closer To Completion

132 Second Place back in 2008

Losing its stoop in early 2011

Construction of cinderblock wall surrounding front yard, Spring 2011

New cornice, summer 2012

The conversion of the four-story brownstone at 132 Second Place to a five-story (presumedly condo) building has taking a long time, but it now looks as though at least the façade is complete. In the process, it has lost a stoop, but gained a cornice.

It all started in 2005, when the home was sold for $1,850,000 to Mohegan Holdings, Co. LLC.
Shorty afterwards, work began on a vertical and horizontal addition. That's when things quickly turned into a comedy of errors. First, the NYC Department of Buildings issued a violation for demolition work done 'without proper permits'. Then, after proper permits were filed in the fall of 2006, the back wall collapsed into the neighbor's back yard. Construction stopped and the windows were bricked up. The building languished in limbo for the next few years.

In 2007, the deed to the property was transferred from the Mohegan Holding Company, LLC to a Henry Azcue for $1,825,000. New work permits were issued by the NYC Department of Buildings in 2008 and work finally resumed, but then stopped again.

It wasn't until the spring of 2011 that construction seemed to finally move along. However, progress has been sporadic at best and I was told that the inside looks as though it still needs lost of work

Over the last year and a half, a fifth floor was added, the rear extension was completed, and a new brownstone coat was applied. In the last few weeks, a cornice has been attached.

It's only too bad that the brownstone lost it's stoop. The new entrance definitely makes it look more like an apartment building. And the new aluminum awning just accentuates this.
And have you noticed that t is crooked?

Reader Dinah sent the photo below and wrote:
'Pardon me for asking, but is this "rooflet" supposed to be crooked? I got gestures and attempts to explain in English, but English was not the workers' first language, so I took my picture, shrugged, and moved on.'

photo credit: Dinah G.

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"Improving, Non-Stop":Culver Viaduct Rehabilitation Includes Weeding

The MTA New York Transit Authority has been making steady progress on the restoration and upgrade work of the F and G Culver line viaduct between the Carroll Street Station and the 4th Avenue Station.

Along Smith Street, the black Christo-like wrapping, which has kept chunks of cement from falling from the crumbling 80-year old structure for years, is slowly being removed as crews are busy repairing.

The projected completion date for this $320.2 million undertaking is the second quarter of 2013 and will not only include the "structurally sound, more attractive viaduct," but also new state of the art signal system and low vibrating rails.

And look, a few days ago, workers were even weeding and cleaning up the sidewalk underneath the Culver viaduct. It looks more attractive already, I'd say.

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A Moment In Time: 'The Well-Informed'

Tuesday night, at the corner of Smith and Union Street:

'The Well Informed' on one of the stops of their Fancy Chance Tour

through Brooklyn neighborhoods.

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What's The Deal With Barclays Signs On PS 58 Schoolyard Fence?

I am waiting to get more information from Public School 58 and from its PTA on two signs that appeared on the fence of the school yard, which runs along Smith Street. The Barclays Nets signs were hung there yesterday and seem to indicate that there was some corporate sponsorship from the bank best known for the highly controversial 'Barclays Center' arena at Atlantic Yards to the school.

The signs puzzled some of the school's parents yesterday afternoon. If Barclays had given anything to the school, they had not heard about it. Neither had one of the school's teachers, with whom I spoke.

I was told by someone in the office that Barclays paid for the new schoolyard. Though the yard has been totally refurbished last summer, most of the funds had been secured by our former Councilman Bill de Blasio before he left that office.

PS 29 secured the same funds at the same time, renovated their schoolyard and as far as I know, have no corporate sponsorship signs on their fence.

I will follow up with the school to get more information, but whatever monies Barclays coughed up shouldn't give the bank the right to turn a schoolyard into a place for advertisement. What's next? McDonald signs?

Its kind of a slippery slope.

I'll follow up with more information and if you are a PS 58 parent, please enlighten us.

***UPDATE***

A PS 58 mother was kind enough to get the scoop on the signs directly from the school's administration.

She writes:

I got the following info in an email from a school employee this afternoon:
Barclays Nets Community Alliance paid for part of our schoolyard renovation through Out 2 Play. I am told the newly hung signs are part of that agreement. I do not know why they were not received for display sooner. The news of Barclay's involvement was mentioned in a school website article last November. I've copied the text below. In addition, there was a public ribbon cutting ceremony on November 4th to which the entire community was invited. Representatives of the Barclays Nets Alliance made a presentation at the ceremony.

SELECTED NEWS STORY
November 03, 2010
Renovated School Yard Officially Open!
On November 4 at 10 AM, PS 58 officially opened its newly renovated school yard. A once blank slab of cracked asphalt has been transformed into a true play yard marked with colorful areas for both traditional sports and games and free-form dramatic play.
Thanks to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, former City Councilmember Bill DeBlasio, and the Barclays Nets Community Alliance. Thanks also to Assistant Principal Perlman, who along with parent Cheri Walsh, were instrumental in writing the grant and collaborating with Out2Play, a non-profit organization that designs and refurbishes playgrounds throughout New York City.

Thanks for getting us the info.

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Meet Mr. Burke, The"'Lucky Irishman" Of 4th Place

Bob Burke of 4th Place in his garden

The heart of marigolds which Bob has planted for 25 years in remembrance of his wife

Bob Burke and his daughter Marcie (with Petey, the dog)

A plaque in Bob's garden to commemorate his loved ones.

This post is for Alicia in North Carolina. A while back she contacted me to let me know about a very special neighborhood garden on 4th Place. She wrote: "My Dad, Bob Burke, has been delighting the area with his garden for more that 25 years. He plants what he calls "Margie's Heart" and young and old stop to admire it. He loves to remember my Mother but also creates this scene to reach out to his neighbors. I think a picture of "Margie's Heart" would be a nice addition to your Blog."
I agreed and contacted Alicia's sister Marcy who introduced me to Bob and to his heart of marigolds. And what a pleasure it was. Bob Burke is a lovely man.

Bob (90) has lived on 4th Place since 1930. He arrived in this country from Ireland when he was just a child and first lived in Carroll Gardens with his aunt. He remembers a simpler time in the neighborhood. "I played fistball on the street. You were lucky if there were three cars on the block."

As a young man he spent three years in the National Guard. He saw action at Guadalcanal and in the Philippines. In between, he spent 2 months in New Zealand. "Those two months there were beautiful." he told me.

When he came back to Carroll Gardens, he never left again. It's obvious that he loves his neighborhood, his home and his family. "I am a lucky Irishman." he tells me with a twinkle in his eye.
Bob, it was a real pleasure meeting you. I will make sure to walk past your garden often.
And to Margie and Alicia, thanks for introducing me to your dad.

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The De-Construction Of 333 Carroll Street's Illegal Addition:Part 3

One of my readers had this to say about the de-construction of the illegal addition on 333 Carroll Street: "My heart gets a little lighter with every piece that comes off this godforsaken BORG cube."

I know the feeling. I am looking forward to the day that the steel structure is just a bad memory in our collective Carroll Gardens memory.

Here are the latest photos. Enjoy!

Related Reading:
The De-Construction Of 333 Carroll Street's Illegal Addition: Part 2

Let's Party! Illegal Top Finally Comes Down At 333 Carroll Street

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Former Court Street Spa To Become Pediatrician's Office

The former location of Home Spa* at 300 Court Street is to become a practice for pediatrics and adolescent medicine. A quick search of the telephone number posted in the window indicates that the space is being taken by Doctor Philippa Gordon, currently on 8th Avenue in Park Slope.

Reviews for Doctor Gordon on Park Slope Parents are glowing. One parent writes: " Dr. Gordon practices evidence-based medicine and is very warm, kind, and thorough."

With all the children in the neighborhood, this is great news.

(Who here in the neighborhood remembers when the wonderful Edna Pytlak had her office on Clinton Street at DeGraw Street?)

*The Home Spa relocated to 478 Court Street.

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'Treme' And Untitled David Chase Project Filming Back To Back Around The Neighborhood

Get ready for lots of film crews with the inevitable wardrobe and catering trucks in the next two days here in Carroll Gardens, as two productions have scheduled back to back shoots around the neighborhood.

Starting tomorrow,Wednesday, the untitled David Chase project (or UDCP) will be filming on Smith Street from 7Am to 10 PM, though you have to move your car by 7PM tonight.

Filming for the production is also taking place on Court Street.

David Chase, the creator and producer of HBO's wildly popular The Sopranos has signed James Gandolfini, Bella Heathcote Christopher McDonald and Brad Garrett have all joined the cast of Chase's first feature film.

Then, on Thursday, everyone has to clear their car for a shoot on Friday. HBO's Treme, is coming back to film on Smith Street. The drama, set in post-Kathrina New Orleans, already filmed in Carroll Gardens in November 2010. Why would a show about New Orleans film in Carroll Gardens?

According to Variety, actor James Ransone joined Treme's cast in a recurring role through the second season as a New York City restaurant worker. Ransone's character may well be working in a Smith Street eatery...

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