ANOTHER Hotel for Sunset Park-ish Area

The Brooklyn Eagle rocks. Really. Few, if any, gratuitous exclamation points or Post-like headlines, lots of community events listed, and it give Sunset Park attention once in a while.

According to an article published on-line yesterday, Sunset Park (26th Street, which many would say is now called Greenwood Heights) is getting another hotel. And this one is a high-class chain. Watch your back Days Inn!

This ten-story Best Western will be on 4th Avenue. Will it be blocking any views? That's something to consider since it will be just west of Green-Wood Cemetery. The owner is listed as Joseph Yunatanov, and it is supposed to have 99 rooms.

We'll see if it actually happens, and let's hope it has better news items than the Best Western in Bay Ridge, the Gregory, which has had several deaths occur on its floors.

Frogs Lose their Heads, Reveal Webless Hands in Playground

It's shocking imagery, I know. These poor frogs, all sitting in a circle around the sprinkler in the playground on 3rd Avenue and 40th Street. (Playground Three-Forty, if you want a name.) I don't usually frequent this playground, but it was totally empty...perhaps because of the exhaust coming from the BQE/Gowanus just feet away.

I can't imagine that hacked off concrete is a particularly safe situation for kids running and shrieking during the warmer months when water sprays from the center of the frogs' circle. Sharp concrete frog necks versus soft, squishy child flesh and limbs = no good outcome. Since this area is maintained by both the BOE and NYC Parks, hopefully someone will get around to replacing or fixing up these amphibians.

Another shocking discovery was that these frogs do not have webbed feet. Even frogs that live most of their time on land have SOME webbing, don't they? Are these actually Sphinx-like creatures? Perhaps the missing heads are actually human and that's what ticked off the vandals enough to destroy the tiny statues.

Witches Close Out Kids' Movies at El Pequeno Artista

The last movie of the season...soon the weather will be far too lovely to watch movies indoors. The final film will be an adorable children's movie for all ages. It also features the voice of too-soon-departed Phil Hartman.

KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989)

In director Hayao Miyazaki's gentle, animated adventure, young witch Kiki (voiced by Kirsten Dunst) moves away from her family to practice her craft, but she finds that making friends in a new town is difficult. With her cat, Jiji (voiced by Phil Hartman), in tow, Kiki puts her broom flying skills to work for a baker's wife by starting an express delivery service. She quickly discovers, however, that she can't take her abilities for granted.

EL PEQUENO ARTISTA
249 20th St. @ 5th Ave.
www.elpequenoartista.com
T: 718.965.1406
Fridays 5:15pm
$6 per person, includes one juice box per child
Feel free to bring dinner, snacks and/or drinks - tables are available to eat while they watch!

New Karaoke "Restaurant" Gets a Big No-No Recommendation for its Liquor License

Both The Brooklyn Eagle and The Brooklyn Paper have articles about a new Karaoke bar - or restaurant - going in on 64th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. The owners say it's for business men. I say, judging from the crowd outside the 100 FUN establishment (opens at 2 PM!), you're going to see much younger clientele. Of course, without hard liquor, you don't get to have fun drinks like "cookie monster," so maybe not.

According to The Brooklyn Eagle, the main issue seems to be its proximity to PS 69; it's less than 500 feet away. The school's dismissal times overlap with the Karaoke establishment's hours of 4 PM to 4 AM, and the principal is concerned about her students' safety.

The existence of 13 private rooms also concerns members of the CB 10 and residents. They are picturing less Lost in Translation, and more, mmmmm, shall we say Private Dancer? Can't we have both? Anyway, the liquor license asks for beer, wine, and sake. The CB 10 members voted to recommend that the establishment NOT receive a liquor license, but they don't get final say.

What You See in Sunset Park: Lonely Heart

Lonely Heart, originally uploaded by herrC.

From the BViB photo pool and herrC comes this little guy. Very sweet.

Direct Marketing: BOOZE

Will this bring in the Maria's customers? The board was already out at 11 AM. Their garden is ready and waiting for the warm weather. The reviews of their food have fallen off lately (except the Chile Relleno, that's still good, apparently), but what about the drinks?

How Does That Happen?

This curb on 4th Avenue by the 59th Street N/R entrance has been like this for several days now. Sometimes there is a "warning" item - tape, can, cone - other times there isn't. I'd really like to know how this happened. Was it road-work gone wrong, the imps underground trying to leave, skateboarders attempting to create a ramp? Anyone know?

Five Floors of Furniture for North Fork Bank

Lots of new bank branches are popping up around Sunset Park. Besides the seeming dozens of Chinese banks on 8th Avenue, the new Amalgamated on 5th and 45th, and now North Fork Bank will show up on 5th and 50th. What's too bad, however, is that the deep red lettering that adorns the top three stories of the building will probably be removed or covered up.
I'm not sure why I like the lettering so much. Is it the "kick" that the Rs get to do? Is it the shade of red that we don't see much anymore?

I tried to figure out why the New York Furniture facade seemed so new to me lately, and when I looked up the intersection on Google Map's Streetview I remembered that the banners seen below had been up a long time.

I wonder if NFB will use some paint to create their logo...somehow I doubt it. They did have a fantastic mosaic at their branch in Harlem, however. Check it out here. Could we get them to put up a mural or other artwork inspired by Sunset Park? Citibank did.

Be An Opportunist

Don't want to commit to buying a condo? No problem! Check out this opportunity on craigslist!

The listing is slightly misleading (AND ANNOYING TO READ!!!!!), but the new Kings Hotel (with day rates!) is a few blocks up the street, and the park is a couple of short blocks away. Not bad for three bedrooms with two baths. Of course, opening your windows and enjoying your terrace is tough with all those trucks...

Pig Heads and Tacos in Sunset Park

Hello from Sunset Park, Brooklyn, originally uploaded by ext212.

This photo comes from ext212 on Flickr (click on the photo to see more); she has a photostream that shows some yummy looking tacos from Matamoros on 5th Avenue and 45th. Enjoy.

If you have cool Sunset Park photos, consider adding them to the Best View in Brooklyn photo pool on flickr. We'd all love to see them!

42nd Street Condos - Plenty for Sale

This is the controversial building that started out as a 10-story twinkle in Johnny Chan's eye. Thanks to community action, it ended up halved at five stories; the park view of St. Michael's is safe! These are not your average condos in Sunset Park; they have Friedrich a/c covers. High class. Seven of these condos are sold or under contract, but the rest are available to you! Two bedrooms, one bath, and a balcony for just 350K or so. You can even add in a parking spot for 30K. What a bargain. It wasn't such a bargain for the neighbors on 43rd Street...several backyards sank thanks to the ruckus caused by digging up the former funeral home parking lot for the foundation.

According to the sheets posted in the windows, all 3rd, 4th, and 5th units have balconies (but no 4th floor units are listed on the sheet). 5th Floor units have extra balconies. There's also roof access for all units. With tax abatement for 25 years and low-ish common charges, what's not to love? The highest price is 468K for the 2 bed/2 bath, but that's in contract. After that, the prices drop to 388K for just over 950 square feet.

My question is: Attempting to ignore the unpleasant exterior, does the inside have anything to redeem itself? And what happened to the day care center that was supposed to be housed on the ground floor?

If you have answers, especially if you've been in to see the units, do tell!

What You See in Sunset Park: Coupe de Ville in Blue

I know it's a gas guzzler. I know it's a parking space hogger (it really is a huge car). I know it's wrong in so many ways. But this car, parked neatly in a space just the right size, is very pretty.

A man and his daughter got out of the car after parking it. After exiting the passenger side, the girl gave the hood a lovingly gentle rub with her sleeve. The man glanced back at least four or five times as they walked down the hill. He certainly looked the part of a Cadillac Coupe de Ville owner.

New York Times on Bob Guskind and the Future of Gowanus Lounge

* This isn't directly related to Sunset Park, and it's unusual in that it's more editorial than observation. So walk on by if that's not your thing. *

Today's New York Times has a short article pondering what will happen to Gowanus Lounge now that Bob Guskind is not around to plunge into the topics that generate joy and disgust and fear and hope across Brooklyn. I don't know about you all, but Gowanus Lounge was a bit of an addiction for me. It still is, even though new items haven't been posted since the obituary his close friends created as a post. I used to check in during the morning, and then back twice in the afternoon, baby's nap-willing. I always knew that there would be something new up since I last checked.

In the article, different people comment on whether or not Gowanus Lounge should be kept up. That is, whether other contributors could or should continue what Bob Guskind started - without his active input. I have to differ with one of the contributors when she said that new posts would be "pushing Bob's work down." While his work wouldn't be the "newest" postings (and thus not at the "top" of the page), his influence on bloggers across the borough has been so strong that anyone who helped GL to continue couldn't help but reflect some of Bob Guskind's work.

I think that if a small group of people close to RG, or one very motivated person, were to serve as publisher, Gowanus Lounge could continue in the same manner and form. There would be a lot missing; Guskind's passion for Coney Island and his biting commentary on irresponsible development have been echoed, but few have been able to match his in-depth and detailed "analysis" of the events closest to his heart.

Featuring the fun items like the "Street Couch Series" and videos from around Brooklyn could continue. Linking to various other sites that have compelling or just plain strange (or goofy) items could continue. Focus on development (and destruction) in Brooklyn could continue. Hopefully the passing of the Gowanus Lounge founder won't mean the death of something that meant so much to him. Hopefully it will mean that others who relied on Gowanus Lounge for information will be inspired to go out and find it, and then share it themselves. How great would it be if more people got involved in their neighborhoods, Community Boards, community councils, and so on? Imagine, something to talk about other than rents and square footage.

I think that would be a fitting legacy from someone who was intensely vigilant where Brooklyn's well-being was concerned.

Tabla Rasa: Artists Talk About Personal Inspiration

Robin Ross. Inside The Green Drum, oil on canvas with detachable metal ring

Tabla Rasa presents
"What Inspires What is Personal?"
Artists Talk - FREE
March 21, 2009 - 3 PM

In this "quintalogue" led by co-curators Robin Ross and Guistina Surbone, the five artists currently exhibiting in Portraits: Painted and Personal at Tabla Rasa will discuss what is inspirational, personal, and unusual about their concepts of portrait painting.

See Tabla Rasa's website for more information about the current show.
224 48th Street (btw 2nd and 3rd Avenues)
718 833 9100

Review: http://pintamanuel.blogspot.com

Lost Dog: Sophie

I'm not sure how recent these are, but the signs looked fresh. They were on 44th between 6th and 7th. Have you seen Sophie?

Dim Sum Suggestion: 8th Avenue Seafood

Dim Sum!, originally uploaded by mysteryship.

from the Best View in Brooklyn photo pool on flickr comes this lovely photo of congee and dim sum. Thanks to mysteryship's photostream. If you have cool Sunset Park photos, join in!

8th Avenue Seafood is on 8th between 44th and 45th.

If you're interested in more than dim sum at 8th Avenue Seafood, check out this link to a description of a full-on meal, including a melon-flavored fish made of jelly.

NYPD Scam Alerts About Town

Focused on scams that involve opening your door to someone you don't know, the NYPD has signs around the neighborhood warning residents (in English and Spanish) about scams and advising them about how to avoid them.

Some of the tips given:

* Never allow anyone inside without an appointment or proper ID; even if ID is shown, call your utility company to verify.
* Keep a check on neighbors, be alert to anyone looking to perform home repairs and asking for entry.
* Immediately report any suspicious activity to the police. This can be a 911 call, based on what we were told at a June Community Council meeting.

Types of scams:

Imposter: Utility Worker Scam - claiming there is an emergency, claiming you must give cash or service will be shut off, asking to see a bill.

Stranger Scam: Claiming to be a victim of a crime (call 911 for them, and say so), claiming his car broke down "up the block," claiming a sick family member is in the car, claiming to be looking for someone at your address and needing help with a new address.

The sheets also provide numbers to assist in our vigilance:
Con-Ed: 1800 75CONED DEP: 718 595 7000 National Grid: 1800 642 4272

5th Avenue Loses Blankets and Sheets

This store usually has Dora and Diego blankets hanging off the awning. They would always make my son start chanting "Dee-go, Dee-go" as we walked or rode home. He doesn't know Spidey or Betty Boop, so that little ritual is already a thing of the past. Anyway, get your sheet sets or animated blankets soon.

This store is the latest in 5th Avenue's closings. I think we'll be seeing a few more GOOB signs soon. Then again, there have also been several fairly recent additions to that area of 5th Avenue. Two cellular/electronics stores, another Mexican restaurant, a Lechonera, and a 99cent type store.

Adopt a Pet from a Shelter Tomorrow

Salem Church, at 450 67th between 4th and 5th Avenues, is hosting the Love Wanted Adopt a Shelter Pet event tomorrow from 11:30 - 4:30. Considering the mild weather expected tomorrow, it would make a nice walk down to the northern-most reaches of Bay Ridge.

Adoptable animals are from North Shore Animal League and Animal Care and Control of NYC. There is an adoption fee, and proof of identification is required.

CSAs Are All Over Brooklyn (including Sunset Park!)

The Brooklyn Eagle has an article highlighting Brooklyn's CSAs. Left off the list was the brand-spanking new Sunset Park CSA. Lucky for you, and as posted last week, I have the information about how you can get fresh vegetables for 20 weeks (or 10 weeks) this summer.

A cool detail is that the farmer with whom the Sunset Park CSA was matched actually lives in Sunset Park during the winter months. Way to support organic agriculture AND a neighbor.

From the FAQ sheet for the Sunset Park CSA, here's a little about the farmer:

We are partnered with MimoMex Farms in Goshen, New York, (formerly Rodri-Mex) run by Martin and Gaudencia Rodriguez, and we are very excited! Some of you may have already seen MimoMex and their produce at the Sunset Park Greenmarket during the summer months on 4th Ave. and 59th St. The Rodriguez family is based in Brooklyn during the off season, but once the growing season starts, they move upstate to their farm in Goshen.

The deadline for the deposit is coming up (well, not so quickly, but if you want to guarantee a share...) on April 30th; you need your deposit and your agreement form completed by April 30th to secure a share. Full payment is due by June 1st. The vegetables will begin arriving the third week in June.

For more information, email your contact information to SunsetParkCSA@yahoo.com. Below is the pricing chart for all four plans. These are for vegetable shares, although fruit is a possibility sometime during the summer.

Help make the first year of the Sunset Park CSA a success!