Archive for ‘real estate’

Sadie’s Kitchen To Offer Country Grub

By Tobey, 7 September, 2011, No Comment

Quick update on our post from last week. Sadie’s Kitchen, a new cafe at 243 Degraw Street, will open early October, according to the NY Times. Expect “comfort food with a Southern accent served in a countrified storefront, mainly for takeout.”

New Bus Stop at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6

By Tobey, 2 September, 2011, No Comment

Quick heads up for anyone who takes the but to or from Pier 6. The route and loading area is changing as of this weekend. Rumours have also been rumbling about new signage and traffic patterns by the Department of Transportation in the area to help families and pedestrians get to the park without saying their prayers. Here’s the official message from the folks at Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy:
Effective Sunday, September 4th, the B63 bus stop will be moved from the south side of Atlantic Avenue to inside Pier 6 Brooklyn Bridge Park and located on the south side of One Brooklyn Bridge Park on the loop road. Directional signage will be installed around the pier and at both the old and new locations once the change takes effect. This new location will minimize conflicts at the Atlantic Avenue intersection and allow easier access to the park for B63 riders.
Further changes will be made over the next few weeks to the Atlantic Avenue intersection to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety at the Pier 6 entrance. Brooklyn Bridge Park will update its website as these changes get underway.

Sadie’s Kitchen Comes to Cobble Hill

By Tobey, 30 August, 2011, 2 Comments

A new cafe, located at 243 Degraw St. (near Clinton St.), looks like it will be open to the public soon. The space, which in the past few years has gone from take-out darling Chicory to doomed Ultimate Burgers and Dogs, now has cheerful flower boxes lining its windows and Sadie’s Kitchen painted on a new, green awning. But unfortunately, that’s all I got for you folks. The rumor is, the address has no liquor license, so don’t expect a neighborhood drinks spot. Got any tips? Give me a yell at tobey@bococaland.com.

Cobble Hill’s Bar Bruno Shows Its Signage

By Tobey, 4 August, 2011, 3 Comments

Bar Bruno is slowly making its way into South Brooklyn consciousness. The restaurant/cafe/bar now has signage up and could be ready to open doors sooner rather than later. With a minty green exterior and the step to the door replaced with a wheelchair (and stroller) friendly ramp, expect coffee in the morning, a sandwich menu for lunch and Mexican-inspired grub in the evening. All served up with a friendly, neighborhood smile.

Watchtower to Fund Brooklyn Bridge Park

By Tobey, 3 August, 2011, No Comment

Back in March, we ran a post about the funding for Brooklyn Bridge Park–and lack there of. The fight for building more housing in the well-used park has been on-going, with some factions hoping for none and some banking on more to pay for further construction and upkeep. Of course, like Congress bickering over the debt ceiling, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. This week, a deal was made that would promise fewer luxury condos inside the park’s outlines. According to the Brooklyn Paper,

State Sen. Daniel Squadron (D–Brooklyn Heights) and Assemblywoman Joan Millman (D–Carroll Gardens) accepted a slightly smaller luxury building on John Street in DUMBO in exchange for a Bloomberg Administration flip-flop to allow future tax revenues from the 30 properties owned by the tax-exempt Watchtower Bible and Tract Society to fund the park if those buildings are sold and return to the tax rolls.

If all those buildings are sold, then we won’t have any more condos at Pier 6 and they’ll have more revenue to move ahead with building up the other piers. But, those properties (on which the Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t currently pay taxes, by the way) don’t go on the market until 2014. Oh well, looks like it’s going to be a while before we see our floating pool . Maybe it won’t be so hot next summer. Not.

Bikes Get Home on Carroll Gardens Street

By Tobey, 22 July, 2011, No Comment

image of bike parking on Portland, OR via Brooklyn Paper

If you’ve ever tried to make a left hand turn onto Smith St. from Sackett St., you understand how nosing your car past the stop sign is about the only way to make sure you don’t get clipped by an overzealous car or truck. And if you ride a bike, you know how the nose of those cars can make this a dangerous corner to navigate. So, in its infinite wisdom, the city has decided to kill two birds with one stone. According to the Brooklyn Paper, eight U-shaped bike racks will replace a two-space no-standing zone, which will make visibility better for cars and riding safer for bikers. Of course, it does seem a stoplight would do the trick just as well, if not better (cause there won’t be as many bikes parked there in winter time, one suspects), but kudos for some ingenuity. Look for the racks to be built by end of summer.

New Cobble Hill Eateries-Open For Biz

By Tobey, 13 July, 2011, No Comment

Two new restaurants are now open for business in Cobble Hill. The first, Darna Falafel at 200 Court St., is focused on Mediterranean food with a spotlight on falafel. Though you may remember it for the odd, yet strangely compelling poem on the joy of falafel back in April, you can now order up salads and sandwiches from the small, ornate storefront. The falafel salad, with olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and tzatziki ($6), jumped out at me when I checked the streamlined menu. And I won’t lie, I’ll be heading over there for a kafta wrap (beef kebab please) ($7.50) when I get a chance. Sides include sweet potato fries ($3.25), hummus ($3.25) and portobello mushrooms ($1.50), and a kids menu serves up grub like the mini falafel sandwich ($2.50), a chicken wrap with lettuce, cheese and tomatoes ($5), and a good ole grilled cheese ($4).
If it’s a burger you’re craving, try heading to Five Guys at 266 Court St. Nope, it’s not gourmet and the ingredients aren’t local, but you are promised an awesomely large, greasy hamburger with a choice of toppings and a side of fries that could feed a small family. And surely, sometimes that’s all you really need.

Cobble Hill’s PS 29 Gets a Schoolyard Makeover

By Tobey, 11 July, 2011, No Comment

I know this may be old news for many of you, but since I was away last week, it was a nice surprise to see the PS 29 schoolyard looking so shiny and new. With a brand new coat of paint outlining a track and some neat-o games, it was hard to even remember the days of the harrowing playground fire in May (the equipment looked new as well although there’s still some work to do before kids can have a go). A shed was also being set up near the gardens, which looks like a nice touch for our tiny farmers-in-training.

Family Dental Practice Coming to Henry Street

By Tobey, 27 June, 2011, No Comment

new family dentist coming to Henry Street in Cobble Hill

And they say Bococa didn’t take off. Obviously, we beg to differ. And we’re glad to see another business in the neighborhood is proudly using the abbreviation. Namely, BOCOCA Dental, a Family & Esthetic Dentistry on Henry St. between Pacific and Atlantic Ave. (formerly the office of my dentist, Dr. Wong, who recently moved to a swanky office on Court St. between Pacific and Amity). Though it’s not yet open to the public, we like this nifty little tooth sign. The one on the window says, “Opening in July!” The website is minimal as of now, but does include a phone number and the name of the dentist (Gregory J. Gangi, D.D.S.). You can also email for more info at smile@bococadental.com.

Bark Hot Dogs Takes to the Roof at Pier 6

By Tobey, 24 June, 2011, No Comment

In May, we reported on the opening of gourmet hot dog joint Bark Hot Dogs on Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Now, the Park Slope-based foodie haven is expanding to a rooftop terrace in the very same area. Not only can you enjoy wieners and burgers, including a cheddar brat and veggie dog, sides include potato chips, baked beans and home-made cole slaw. Also count on beverages like beer, wine, soda, cold-brewed iced coffee and iced tea–with a Finger Lakes Riesling and California Zinfandel from Gotham Project Wines and Sixpoint Bark Red Ale all on tap, as well as all four of Sixpoint’s newly released Tallboy Cans.
I’m thinking classic hot dog with cucumber relish and habanero hot sauce, a glass of Zinfandel and sunset over the skyline of lower Manhattan. Anyone?

UPDATE: This Sunday, 26 June, you’ll also be able to grab kosher falafel sandwiches and platters, fresh cut fries and delectable dipping sauces from Porto’s, also at Pier 6. Open Sundays and holidays through Labor Day. Also, Bark is only taking cash right now, so better stop at the ATM before you head over.