Walked past the brand new Vinzee’s Magic Fountain on Court St. and 1st Place this weekend and was told they opened their doors for business Friday, 27 May. I didn’t eat there, but it looked set up for kids and families–with balloons, plastic ketchup and mustard squeezers on the table and festive outfits for the staff. The menu is an elaborate version of McDonalds, with your basic burgers and specialties including the Al-a-Pastra with Pastrami, American Cheese, sauteed leek and honey mustard. I may have just thrown up a little in my mouth. Dogs are billed as German foot-long franks and in addition to the $5 hot dog, other choices comprise of the Relishious, Chili-Cazam and Carlito’s Wand with onions, cabbage, carrots, potato bits, parsley sauce, honey mustard and Parmesan cheese. Shake Shack it’s not. Also count on staples like personal pizzas, chicken sandwiches and tenders, and salads.
From what I can tell from the menu I absconded with, french fries are ordered on the side and you can choose from regular or sweet potato with toppings like cheese, bacon and chili. No booze to be found, but party hearty with an array of shakes, floats and egg creams. The prices seem a little boggling since I get the feeling everything is a la carte. A burger (no cheese) is $5.70, a salmon burger hits just over $13 and a pizza will cost you about $10. No mention of kid-sized portions. Now, since I haven’t actually eaten there, I can’t be sure, but would love some feedback from anyone who’s made their way in.
BococaLand
Archive for May, 2011
Vinzee’s, a Family Restaurant, Opens in Carroll Gardens
Men in Black III, in Case You Were Wondering
The third installment of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones vehicle, Men in Black was being shot end of last week into the weekend on Court St. And if you didn’t get up there to see the commotion, it was pretty cool. Thursday and Friday, a dozen vintage muscle cars were set up between State and Joralemon Streets to accompany the 1960′s era set, according to The Brooklyn Paper.
In addition to the classic cars, Court Street received another slice of history in the form of signage from a legendary Brooklyn record store. The T-Mobile on Court Street near Livingston Street was outfitted with a replica of the marquee from Zig Zag Records, a now-shuttered Sheepshead Bay vinyl shop that had its heyday in the 1970s.
Then over the weekend, the MIB III set-up was moved to Carroll Gardens, where we saw these cars ready and waiting. Even the street signs were changed from green to white and instead of the “walking man” (any parent knows you don’t say “white man”) that flashes on the street light, the word “WALK” appeared. I guess more people could read back in the 60s. The film will be out next May and the story line has to do wit Smith’s character traveling through time. It will also feature Josh Brolin as the younger Agent K (Jones), our fave New Zealander Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) and Emma Thompson thrown in for good measure. Would love to see other shots of the set if anyone has any they’d like to send in.
Could Kardashian Crash Cobble Hill?
Sadly, my husband broke the news that Kim Kardashian is engaged. Yes, his time on SportsCenter elicited a better update on the country’s favorite porn/reality/sports-loving gal than my fleeting ten minutes of BBC News. And guess what? Her hubby-to-be is a current NJ Net–and will be moving to our borough come 2012 to become a Brooklyn, um, New Yorker? Yes, Kris Humphries will be heading to our neck of the woods, and I appreciated the Wall Street Journal’s take on it.
And because this is Brooklyn, the baby watch will be on. Maybe they will have two babies, pushed in a diamond-encrusted Bugaboo. The Cobble Hill playground will be on high alert, with jealous parents clucking over lattes from Ted & Honey. Are the Humphries-Kardashian kids really having a birthday party at Carmelo the Science Fellow? Where will they go to school? St. Ann’s? Packer? Berkeley-Carroll? 321? Are Khloe and Lamar coming in for the weekend?
Kim will be everyone’s new best friend, the newest smug name drop. “Oh, you saw Jonathan Safran Foer at BAM? Well, I just went shopping at Bird with Kim Kardashian and then I took her to the Red Hook soccer field.”
Of course, we all know she’s no Michelle Williams. If you’re celebrating your engagement party with glitter-covered miniature horses (oh yes she DID), you are firmly staying in the land of Manhattan. Though I’m pretty sure I saw a diamond-encrusted Bugaboo parked outside Barney’s just last week…
FINALLY! Transit Museum Gets Elevator Entrance
Well, this is a nice upgrade. The New York Transit Museum, a gem of a family resource dedicated to telling the story of urban mass transit, is finally opening a new, accessible entrance at the corner of Court and Schermerhorn Streets. Though I’ve made it to the point where my kids can walk on their own, I vividly remember having to skip the museum on several occasions because I couldn’t get the stroller down the stairs. Now, anyone who needs an elevator will have to look no further.
The entrance, which will open 8 June, was designed pro bono by architect and Transit Museum board member John di Domenico, a principal at di
Domenico + Partners, and was funded in part by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs, and Friends of the New York Transit Museum.
Governor’s Island Food & Beer Fest
As we mentioned yesterday, free ferries start running from Pier 6 to Governor’s Island this Saturday, 28 May. So why not take full advantage and get in on the Brewer’s PicNyc, a two-day celebration of street food, craft beer and music on Colonels’ Row. The festival runs 29-30 May and includes food vendors like Asia Dog, The Bistro Truck, Cup Cake Stop, East Village Meat Market, Gotham Artisinal Sodas, Kimchi Taco Truck and Luke’s Lobster. Beer will be provided by Brooklyn Brewery, Goose Island, Sixpoint and Two Brother’s. You can buy tickets here and kids 12 and under go free. Obviously, the vendors will charge separately for their food, which will run from $2 to $15.
One Last Brooklyn Bridge Park Update-Pier 6 Expanded
Wow, it’s been a big week for Brooklyn Bridge Park. I was just informed that this Saturday will also mark the opening of a new, 1.8-acre area at Pier 6 featuring three regulation-sized sand volleyball courts, two 15,000 square-foot lawns, and an expanded network of lighted pathways planted with an array of native plants and trees. In addition to Bark Hot Dogs, other concessions at the pier include Milk Truck, best known for its grilled cheese sandwiches and milkshakes, Blue Marble Ice Cream and Uncle Louie G’s Italian Ices. And, lo and behold! The free ferry service to Governor’s Island also starts on 28 May and will operate on Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays through 25 September 25.
Party On at Brooklyn Bridge Park Sunset Fundraiser
Better save the date, the party of the season is approaching fast. Called Sunset Soca, this is Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy’s time to kick off their shoes and party hard with the community. Plus they get to show off what an awesome park we have–and collect some money to make it even more awesome-er. We’re talking Caribbean tunes, children’s activities, island-inspired eats & specialty cocktails — plus a silent auction featuring steals, deals, and one-of-a-kind opportunities. Think tickets to baseball games (Cyclones, Yankees and Mets), meals at local restaurants, even tix to Shakespeare in the Park. Tickets start at $25 for kids and $125 for general admission. A Family Pack will run you $500 and up to 20 tickets is a measly $5,000. The event takes place at Pier 1 on 2 June and goes from 6pm to 9pm so buy your tix now and show your support.
Bark Hot Dogs Coming to Pier 6
If you’ve been watching the construction of the restaurant area jutting into the East River at Pier 6 as eagerly as I, then you’ll be thrilled to hear this news. Though we still don’t know the identity of the mystery upscale restaurant set to open this fall, we can offer you an alternative for the summer. Bark Hot Dogs, the high-end wiener shop in Park Slope is fanning out to Brooklyn Heights, opening a hot dog stand this Saturday at Brooklyn Bridge Park, near the water park. Even better, come June it will be moving to a 75-seat terrace on the pier, pairing dogs and burgers with Sixpoint Craft Ales and wine, according to the NY Times. And of course, in true Brooklyn fashion, these dogs are not your dirty-water variety. We’re talking locally sourced pork and beef, home-made toppings and even a beautifully sculpted veggie dog.
New B&N Nook For Summer Reading
In my other, non-Bococland life, I play a journalist covering lots of lifestyle stuff and today got a chance to check out the new and not-yet-released Barnes and Noble Nook e-Reader. I realize many of you may still like the paper variety, but if, like myself, you can’t fit any more volumes in your Brooklyn apartment, you may want to think about a switch. Unlike the Nook Color, which has been out for quite a while and boasts the ability to read all kinds of media (newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc) this Nook is going back to basics as just a book reader. It’s scaled back in many ways–including a weight of under 7.5 ounces and an almost square footprint of 5-inches (w) by 6.5-inches (h). The six-inch, no-glare, e-ink screen makes it a perfect gadget for reading outdoors and it comes with built-in WiFi to purchase books. Other than a home button and four page turning buttons on its sides, you navigate using a full touchscreen. I like that you can just touch a word to go straight to a built-in dictionary (yes, I still use that feature on a fairly regular basis) and the page turning is quicker than with many other e-readers I’ve played with. Plus, if you use it for about half hour a day (and remember to turn off the WiFi), you’ll get up to two months battery life on just one charge. A social media aspect is being touted by B&N, with an area that lets you pull suggestions for future reading from Facebook, Twitter and Nook Friends (which you can cull from your email or Facebook account), as well as industry reviewers from Barnes & Noble itself. No, there’s no built-in 3G, so you’ll have to make sure to download your books while in a WiFi area (including AT&T hotspots). And, if you’re planning an international trip, better do all your browsing before you leave cause it won’t work overseas. You can pre-order the Nook now for $139 (it will be available 10 June–in time for Father’s Day), or if you want a bargain, grab the first generation Nook readers for $119 (WiFi) or $169 (3G) while supplies last.
DUMBO’s Vinegar Hill House to Expand
I admit, I haven’t made it to Vinegar Hill House yet. Though it opened back in 2008, the Vinegar Hill eatery only takes limited reservations and I just haven’t been able to make the schlep, knowing I’m in for a long wait to sit down. Reviews have been great and I understand it’s a local fave–especially since there’s not a ton of restaurants in the area to choose from. So I was glad to hear that the owners are planning on expanding the homey cafe to the building next door, allowing for a 20-seat offshoot of the original. According to The Brooklyn Paper, it will feature bar seating but no outdoor space.
Minor construction has already begun at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Water Street for a café to open this fall and serve coffee in the morning, and beer, wine and light noshes throughout the day. Co-owner and chef Adamson said the plans for the corner eatery are “super preliminary,” and added, “We don’t even have a name. We’re gonna start soon, so call back in a month.”
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