Time Out Kids' Edition Features DUMBO, Brooklyn

Time Out Kids features places to see and things to do in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

I just love the subtitle of the article, "We hate gentrification, too—but you have to admit, Dumbo is pretty darn cool." So perfect, right?

The article highlights all our favorites like Bubby's, the playground at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Possum Paint Studio (new to me?), Five Front, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, Modern Tots, Half Pint, P.S. Bookshop, Pomme and Grimaldi's.

The Smoke Joint Opens Sister Cafe in Ft. Greene

Fort Greene’s The Smoke Joint opens a sister cafe, serving up all things yummy like cheesy grits, artisanal hams and handmade sweets.

64 Lafayette Ave., at S. Elliott Pl., Fort Greene (718-797-1011)

(source: dailycandy)

Brooklyn "Bloggiest" Neighborhood

New Data from OutsideIn.com rates top cities in terms of blogging activity. They used a super scientific mathematic formula that factored in population and number of blog posts tied to a specific locations.

According to a write up on Boston.com:

Boston is actually the "bloggiest city" in America for the two-month period of March and April, but Brooklyn, N.Y., was the bloggiest neighborhood - indeed, if Brooklyn were regarded as a separate city, it might have eclipsed the Hub as the bloggiest city ...

Brooklyn Heights Building to Grow 6 Stories

From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

"The addition of six stories atop the nine-story building at 75 Clinton St. (aka 168 Montague St.) in Brooklyn Heights is a strong possibility, according to a Department of Buildings (DOB) document ... Also as previously reported, the building falls outside the Brooklyn Heights Historic District and is outside the special height district’s 50-foot height limit.

The conversion to condominium plan was learned from a spokesman for the building owner, who spoke with the Eagle in February, but who did not have approval to discuss specific details."

Sushi Inspired Dog Toys, Oh My!

Don't get too hungry ... yet. As the biggest sushi fan ever (I like to think so), I was naturally intrigued by these new sushi-inspired toys from a company called Sushi Pups (www.sushipups.com) that I came across in NY Press. They are so cute!

Check these out - there are a bunch of different sushi pieces, including uni and egg, and even a spicy tuna hand roll!

But wouldn't it make more sense to have the sushi toys for cats? You know, cats like fish? I guess I am just biased.

Future of McCarren Pool Uncertain as Concert Venue

New reports indicate that McCarren Pool, the cool non-traditional concert venue for Indie and mainstream musicians may have had its last hurr-ah. The news comes as the Open Space Alliance surveyed concert goers and the space achieves landmark status. (source: Gothamist)

Growing Up: Brooklyn Enthusiast Almost One Year Old

I just realized that Brooklyn Enthusiast will turn 1 year old on August 22. I can't believe how time has flown!!!

Thank you to EVERYONE who reads my blog. Nothing makes me happier than reading all your comments and keeping up with all things Brooklyn through my fellow Brooklyn bloggers. Keep 'em coming!

Homer, maybe we can have a joint birthday party next year? I'll make the cake ;-)

Rice Crispy Treats @ Rice in DUMBO

If you haven't tried these yet, you have to. I am a huge fan of Rice in DUMBO, especially the apricot and cranberry rice crispy treats. They always taste fresh, not like the hard squares at Starbucks.

If you go to pick up your order, the usually have a nice pile on the counter for people to have a taste. The best part: no one gives you dirty looks when you take three pieces! You can also order them with delivery orders and they come in a cute little canister with three treats. Yum!

Also, if you haven't tried Rice yet, I especially like their Chicken Kabob, Edamame Hummus with pita bread, Pad Thai and the absolute best is the vegetarian meatballs with spicy sauce (on the side), which I realize may not appeal to everyone. They also have really nice Thai Coconut Curry as well and I suggest getting it with the Thai black rice (so delicious!).

You all must think I eat all day 24/7 (which is partly true).

Outside of Brooklyn: Try Prune in Manhattan

As fans of Anthony Bourdain's show No Reservations on Travel Channel, we had to try one of his latest recommendations: Prune.

Located on 1st Street between First and Second, the restaurant is small and open, consistent with the "east village" vibe. We sat at a small table in the front and the wall was open to the street, so you felt like you were eating outside, which was really nice given the weather last weekend. The menu is small and not exactly cheap, but the food is simple and tasty (the important thing IMHO).

Instead of bread, they start you off with some fried chickpeas, which were a delightful alternative. We then shared an appetizer of braised escarole and salt cod, which wasn't salty at all. Both of us got the soupy rice as a main course, which was the perfect serving of risotto style rice cooked in lobster stock, with lobster meat and squid on top. For once in NY, the lobster was ample with a claw and a half tail.

We ended with mini home made ice cream sandwiches all marvelous flavors: mint ice cream with chocolate cookie outside, sweet cream with coconut cookie outside, and finally rhubarb ice cream with oatmeal cookie outside.

Mmmm... can't wait to go back and I hear brunch is also fantastic (i.e. hamburgers and bloody mary's).

Reservations a must. Ask to sit in the front.

Prune: Tony and well-known chefs Eric Ripert and Scott Bryan retreat to one of their favorite dining spots, Prune. They indulge in radishes and butter, along with roasted bone marrow and prawns in anchovy butter.
Address: 54 East 1st Street, New York, NY
Phone: 1-212-677-6221
Web site: www.prunerestaurant.com

Gothamist: State of Red Hook

One of our close friends lives in Red Hook and thanks to her we have learned about some great things the neighborhood has to offer. In no particular oder: Alma (which may not technically be in Red Hook), Moonshine, Baked, The Good Fork and Fairway.

Gothamist offers a solid update on the state of Red Hook, which has been positioned as the next area for a big makeover in recent years. The post notes that local businesses which showed promise are now closing.

I also came across an article in the New York Times from Saturday that focuses on the soon to be closed local liquor store LeNell's. And in June, the NYT Real Estate section also featured a couple who had renovated a house in Red Hook that made me very jealous. I guess we'll have to just wait and see.

On a final note, I am very disappointed that Alma took the Shrimp Tacos off the regular dinner menu. I can't be the only one eating those?

Craigslist Rental Apt Round-up: DUMBO, Red Hook, Carroll Gardens and Williamsburg

Red Hook: No fee garden apartment with hardwood floors and new bathroom and kitchen. It is a nice area near Fairway and my friend Lisa, an obvious bonus ($1500/month). This looks like it may be a similar listing, if not the same one.

DUMBO: Private house 2 bdrm/2 bth w/stainless steel appliances. Not sure if this is technically DUMBO given the photos, but looks nice ($6,000/month).

Carroll Gardens: 3 bdrm/2 bth w/private terrace off master. Skylights, w/d and nice appliances ($3,500/month).

Red Hook: This place is gorgeous, although can't picture the location off the top of my head. 1 bdrm totally redone on 2nd floor with shiny new hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances.

Williamsburg: Nice renovated 2 bdrm with central air and heating. Close to the L (Grand) and has stainless steel appliances - great kitchen ($2,200).

DUMBO: Looks like J Condo units are up for rent already. This is a 1 bdrm on the 4th floor -- totally new building and modern design ($3,000).

DUMBO: Rental on 4 Water st for only $8900/month! It does have a really nice private deck, but still.

New Lamp - Gotta Love West Elm

I am a huge fan of West Elm. Possibly it's due to the fact there aren't too many other options in DUMBO, but I really do like there stuff. It's a bit more contemporary and colorful than Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn (which is great about catalog returns at the store), and I think it's a bit less money as well. Our house is furnished with a mix of hand-me-downs from mom and dad, and new purchases we've made since our move to NYC in 2004 when we had our first grown-up apartment.

You know, the kind where things actually match and nothing in your living room was found in the alley and people like to sit on your couch. I remember my first college apartment and on the day we moved out, my parents came up to Boston from CT and helped me. I recall offering my dad a seat on our couch and he said "no thanks." Still makes me laugh!

Trust me, I am all about finding things and rehabbing them like on my favorite HGTV show Decorating Cents (I like House Hunters too), but I have no skills. I can't even use a drill. I am trying to find someone in my building to help us hang this mirror that needs anchors because I can't do it myself and my husband is not any better.

Anyway, we had two lamps in our living room - one from my mom and one from Home Goods. We just got a new one today from West Elm and it is so nice. Our kitty Lucy likes it as well.

Beautiful Brooklyn Day!

Today is simply gorgeous. I went up to the roof to try and even out my halter top tan and took some lovely pictures. Even downtown Brooklyn looks beautiful on a day like today.


I wasn't able to stay up there too long because it is just too hot in the direct sun. Man, would the Floating Pool be nice right about now! Next Friday I have a summer friday so am going to try again and maybe also do a drive by of the Red Hook pool.

My Real Life "Office" Booze Cruise

On the worst, hottest day ever (this past Wednesday) our office had planned our summer outing. We were set to hop on a boat at 3:00 pm that was docked and head into the lovely East River for a scenic tour with open bar. Last time I checked, heat+boats+booze = disaster.

A handful of people were so sea sick that they ended up sleeping most of the way. Our finance team forced everyone to play flip cup on our boat that was traveling at about 2 miles an hour. Boats were flying by us left and right and kicking up the wake so we would wobble back and forth to the point where you felt like you would fall off. After the booze cruise, they had a bus to take us all to an open bar downtown, but luckily a few of us escaped and headed home.

The only upside to the three hour tour a la The Office booze cruise was the fact we went by DUMBO and I showed everyone my fantastic little hood and then we wrapped around Governor's Island and went by Lady Liberty up close and personal.

Here are some pics.

2007 DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival

This totally rocked last year. Looks like this year's event is scheduled for September 28-30 and they are accepting proposals for different types of exhibits and tours. Wish I was more crafty and could contribute, but I will definitely walk around and take pictures again to share with you all.

F the F!

It took more than a hour and a half to get home today after work -- and I only work in Union Sq. After work, we went to Whole Foods to pick up dinner and hopped on the 6 train to switch to the F. It was like 5 billion degrees in the subway and it took forever. Finally we got on the 6 and the air conditioning was temporary relief. While it's never really a smooth transfer from the 6 to the F, warning signals went off as soon as we got down the stairs.

First of all, it was packed, which meant people had been waiting for some time. After about 10 minutes, an F finally comes but it is filled to the brim with people all smushed inside. Then a bunch of people tried to shove themselves on and of course someone was keeping the train from closing so the doors kept opening and closing (4 times!). Needless to say, we didn't make it on that train. So another V comes. And then another V. And then an F and that one is packed too. So we wait for another and nothing comes.

Finally we took the B (which was cool because I had never taken the subway across the Manhattan Bridge) and then we we walked back to DUMBO. Anyway, longest commute ever!!! I don't understand why they can't run extra trains, for example let some of the Vs run on the F line during rush hour. It's so frustrating when you're waiting for the F and these empty V trains go by you with 3 people inside lounging and smiling while you're sweating your @#$ off on the platform.

Here's a rather cool picture of the F train wizzing by taken by brothergrimm on flickr.

F Train Back in Business, For the Most Part

Yesterday was a complete mess for anyone that has to ride the subway to get to work. Living in DUMBO, we have a variety of options but in yesterday's situation, three out of three options (F, A/C/E, 2/3) were all out of service. We were going to walk across the bridge to take the 4/5/6 but found out that it was also out of service. People were fighting over taxis and we even were going to take a town car into the city, but no cars were available because people couldn't get to work from the outer boroughs.

But the reality is that this isn't the last time it will rain heavily. From a FOX News article:

MTA Executive Director Elliot G. Sander said the intensity of the rain was simply overwhelming. The subway's drainage system can generally handle a maximum of 1.5 inches of rainfall per hour; on an average day, hundreds of MTA pumps remove 13 million gallons of water from the system, which includes several tunnels and stations below sea level.

That's pretty incredible...also considering a tornado touched down in Brooklyn and Staten Island. In terms of a solution that will work, only time will tell. But NY Governor Eliot Spitzer ...

... ordered a 30-day review of the New York City subway system after flooding from a rain storm shut down almost every line during yesterday's morning rush hour ...

Yesterday's subway suspensions and delays marked the third system-wide disruptions in seven months, said Spitzer. They came 18 months after the MTA's Inspector General released a report criticizing the agency's handling of flooding that paralyzed the system in September 2004 and made recommendations on how to prevent future failures.

Save DUMBO

If you haven't already, please read dumbonyc's lastest post on the latest in terms of the proposed building in the Novo Clutch lot near the BK Bridge. He notes a NYT article from yesterday's paper that included a letter from council member David Yassky opposing the construction.

I didn't realize it but a Web site has been established, www.savedumbo.org, to help raise awareness for this issue. The Web site cites its mission as follows:

the brooklyn bridge and neighborhood of dumbo are currently being threatened by developers as historic buildings are being demolished and out-of-context replacements are being erected, all without regard for the interests of the local community. this site aims to give supporters of the brooklyn bridge and residents of dumbo a unified voice so that together we can preserve these unique landmarks. please join us in our current fight against dock street dumbo.

Click here to voice your concern too.

My Failed Trip to the Floating Pool

Today the weather was absolutely perfect and we decided to head down to the floating pool near One Brooklyn Bridge Park. I was all ready to go with my towel and bathing suit but then the reality quickly set in that I wasn't the only person in Brooklyn with that idea.

I got to the pool and when I saw how long the line was to get a bracelet, we left. There was no way even if we got into line that we would make the next swim time of 5:00 pm and it was only 3:10 at that point.

I love that it's free and has become an accessible getaway on hot days like today for the many children in the city. It's such a great idea and I would totally pay to go if there was another less crowded location.

Anyone been to the BK floating pool and gone swimming? It looks like so much fun, although I will have to plan better next time!

Wine Glasses: Napa Style

I don't know how many of you watch the Food Network, but I occasionally tune into Michael Chiarello's show, which is mainly about party food. The other weekend when I was visiting my in-laws in CT, we drank out of these really great wine glasses and now I have to order them too.

They are on his Web site, NapaStyle.com, which has all sorts of stuff available for purchase online. My mother-in-law liked the glasses because they reminded her of the small ones they give you at Pastis in the city. I do really enjoy drinking wine out of the smaller glasses. He has a lot of great recipes on his site too.

NYT on Proposed DUMBO Historic District

Came across this post today on NYTimes.com's CityRoom blog.

They set out to profile the architecture in DUMBO amid the proposed historic district plan and found several folks rushing through construction (assumed because of the plan). In particular, the post focuses on 215 Plymouth, which was proposed to be included in the plan.

From the post:

The building, she explained, was included in the proposed historic district. (Like numerous structures around Dumbo, it retains a hand-painted sign on the brickwork, badly faded but still legible: “Peerless Paint and Varnish.”) Ms. Ryan said she suspected the owners were trying to get a step ahead of regulation by doing the work before the historic district is formally established by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Sure enough, at 215 Plymouth, two workers were jackhammering a small area of the ground-floor facade. They kept at it while City Room snapped away. A front-loader appeared to cart the pile of rubble from the sidewalk.

Off Topic: Popularity Dialer

I saw this in my DailyCandy e-newsletter today and had to do a post! It's a free online service called Popularity Dialer. Basically you can use the service to make yourself look popular, get out of a bad situation or avoid having to talk to someone.

We had a very annoying coworker who would go on about personal stories at length to the point where we had to fake phone calls to get some quiet time. This would have come in handy!

You can even choose what kind of call you'd like to receive:

• popularity call
• female popularity call
• affirmation call
• return to the office call
• cousin in need call
• new! band practice call
• new! male english lover call

F Train Voted Dirtiest

Gothamist offers a recap of the annual state of the subways report from the Straphangers association.

Why am I so not surprised to learn that the F was voted the dirtiest? Everyday I marvel at the strange subway river of dirty water that is constantly flowing through the middle of the subway tracks at the York St stop. The best was once I was on the subway and out of the corner of my eye I saw a cockroach walking downward toward this lady's head. I quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her away. I am sure there are many more that aren't visible... eeeeek.

Can they also vote on worst exit? I think it would have to be the F at 63rd street and Lex, or the York St stop, based on the combo of uphill walking and stairs. I guess it's good exercise, right!

And while the M & W ranked worst on frequency of service, and the 5 ranked worst for regularity of service, I was surprised that the F did not receive an honorable mention for worst weekend service? I cannot count how many times my friends have had to take cabs to Brooklyn because the F wasn't running on a weekend.

What do you think?

Justin Timberlake's NY BBQ Restuarant

People Magazine reports on the opening of Justin Timberlake's new BBQ restuarant, Southern Hospitality, in NYC:

"Inside, Southern Hospitality is homey, decorated with antiques from Memphis flea markets. The restaurant is not Timberlake's first: He had previously owned a chic Chinese restaurant called Chi in West Hollywood."

According to the article, JT recommends the fried green tomatoes and pulled pork. YUM!

My husband and I are fans of Blue Smoke, but will definitely check this place out.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle Posts Blogger Copyright Law

Very interesting and first time I've seen such detailed copyright instructions regarding blog postings (hopefully I've not violated this law by posting it!):

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
All materials posted on brooklyneagle.com are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, posted on Gotham Gazette.com or any other blog without written permission, which can be sought by emailing arturc@att.net.

The BDE has a lot of great content. If anything, I would think that blog postings would help drive traffic back to the site. I have no problems going through the process to obtain permissions, but in all honestry, it's an annoying extra step.

25 top-earning towns - CNNMoney

My hometown of Greenwich, CT must be seriously slacking not to have made CNN/Money's Top 25 towns based on wealth.

We moved to Greenwich, CT when I was 12-ish so I could get a great education for free, (go Cardinals - think that was our mascot), rather than continue to have our family savings drained by Spence, even if it was worth every penny). Editor's note: I don't fit into the sterotypical "snooty" Greenwich persona and neither do my friends.

Never fear, many Greenwich's wealthy suburb neighbors did make the list, including Darien (media home price of $1.4 M!!!), New Canaan and Wilton, in addition to the towns of Chappaqua and Scarsdale and Briarcliff in Westchester.

Off Topic: New Glamor Blog

I just came across this blog written by a staff writer Christine Coppa at Glamour.

She's been "knocked up" and it offers the most hilarious, witty commentary on what it's like for a woman in her mid-twenties to go through the experience of getting pregnant. She jokes about having finally gotten out of the house and now finding herself having had to move back in with them, and on how people react to the infamous "bump."

I would recommend it to any woman, pregnant or not. Enjoy!

Gawker: Video User Guides for Williamsburg and Park Slope

Gawker offers a satirical video travel guide to Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood. Nothing too informative here, more just cheap shots at the neighborhood and the stereotype it's become. The guide notes that while adults are mainly the homeowners in Park Slope, it is actually dominated by children with names like Olive and Farley. I really don't find Park Slope that pretentious?

There is also one on Williamsburg, but since I've only been there twice I can't really comment.

(UPDATED) This Weekend in DUMBO: Strange Constumed Folk

Did anyone see the large group of people walking through DUMBO dressed in red goth-ish costumes? Many of the women had red fairy wings while the men were dressed head to toe in red and black.

UPDATED:

Thanks to dumbonyc for offering a report and photos! Check it out.

It was One Night of Fire, which began at Brooklyn Bridge and went to Coney Island.

Our New Family Member: Lucy

Say hello to our new kitten Lucy! She's enjoying the view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan.

A Lovely Day in Central Park

Yesterday we went to Central Park with our friends. Living in Brooklyn (and even Manhattan) it's easy to sometimes forget about the lovely parks available to you. We headed to Sheep Meadow in the 60s on the West Side for a little sunning and Frisbee. It was a gorgeous day, although the sun was very strong.

When we arrived at Noon, the park was relatively empty. By the time we left around 3, the place was packed. It was great to see everyone out and having a great time enjoying the day. Everyone once and a while you forget where you are and then look up to see the skyscrapers and it brings you back to reality. There was also a weird guy in a cape and mask organizing a 1 pm water fight. Not sure if it was supposed to be some sort of flash mob to garner media attention for supersoakers, but everyone who participated seemed to be having a blast.

Thumbs Up: The Good Fork in Red Hook

Last night we went to The Good Fork in Red Hook for dinner (391 Van Brunt Street) upon our friends' recommendation. Not thinking we'd have to make a reservation, we called the day of and left a voicemail requesting a table for four at 7:30. We received a call back later that afternoon offering us a table at 8:30, but that we needed to call back quickly to confirm as there was a waiting list.

We took the 8:30 table and ate in the front room. Parking was easy on Van Brunt. The place is very unpretentious, with romantic lighting and rustic features. The garden seating area was also beautiful and I would definitely request to sit there next time we go for dinner. There is a middle room that seems fine as well, but our friends sat there previously and didn't like the atmosphere.

The menu is small compared to other restaurants in the city, but we found ourselves having a hard time choosing based on the wide variety of tasty looking dishes (and two tempting specials). One of the things the restaurant's menu is built on is accessible ingredients. On the menu, several dishes are marked with an "AV," which stands for Added Value which is the name of its local organic farm, only two blocks away (luckily not next store, which looks like a trash yard).

For drinks, there was an ample wine selection and my husband ordered his favorite drink, a Dark and Stormy, which he became a fan of during our rainy honeymoon in Bermuda. I had a sojito, a take on the mojito, traditional with lime and mint.

Three of us started with the AV Green Salad, which had a lovely vinaigrette dressing. My husband had the crispy cornmeal (i.e. friend) oysters, which was accompanied by greens and beets that were really good.

Then for main courses, the boys ordered the signature dish "steak and eggs" korean style (grilled skirt steak, kimchee rice, fried egg for $18), I had the crab cakes as a main course (with mashed and asparagus) and my other friend had the grilled shrimp special (served with mashed fava beans - a really tasty surprise, similar to hummus). My crab cakes were especially good as they had little to no breading. I enjoyed them, but think I slightly prefer the crab cakes from Henry's End. But it would be a close edge.

For dessert, we had Steve's Key Lime pie, a Red Hook staple my husband has been dying to try for a year now. We definitely we NOT disappointed. It was delicious!

Definitely try The Good Fork for dinner sometime soon or you'll be missing out on a great new Brooklyn edition! Service was great as well.

Another DUMBO Building to Go Condo

An industrial building located at 37-45 Bridge street in DUMBO (actually Vinegar Hill) will be turned into 53 condo units. The property was bought by private investor Baruch Singer for $13 million, or approximately $205 per square foot.

Oven Debuts on Henry Street

Restaurant row in Brooklyn Heights now has a new addition. Oven (60 Henry St., at Cranberry Street), owned by Chris Fehlinger, has finally opened for business. I will definitely have to sample the goods for myself, but in the meantime, here's a review from The Brooklyn Paper:

The thin-crust pizzas range from old-time favorites to the inventive and a bit out there — but all go well beyond the traditional Margherita pie. A chicken curry pizza is topped with cashews, green peppers, red onions and mozzarella, baked in a curry flavored tomato sauce and topped with a yogurt mint sauce. An eggplant pizza is topped with an assortment of cheeses and pine nuts, a surprisingly crunchy and complimentary combo. And there’s even a roasted asparagus pizza with Vermont goat cheese and oven-roasted Roma tomatoes, served on a creme fraiche base ... Oven focuses on specialty pizzas and an extensive wine list — over 180 bottles and more than 40 half-bottles..."

Trader Joe's to Cross East River

I just heard that Trader Joe's is coming to Brooklyn. I'm not a huge fan of the store, but I do like their wine store on 14th street in the city. The line in the food store is way too long. Hopefully they will have a similar side-by-side set-up.

Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush

In a Newsday review:

"Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush" lays it on thick - heart-tugging music and all - but that's the way the team's partisans remember it, as a glorious era ended by epic tragedy. It isn't so much that there's anything new in this production. It's that the pain still remains. So does the undying affection.

What: An HBO special, "Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush"

When: Tonight, 8-10 pm

Where: HBO

Edited: Child Stars All Grown Up

Winnie Cooper (a.k.a. Danica McKellar) from the "Wonder Years" (for some reason I had Growing Pains here before...thx to those who corrected me) looks exactly the same, just slightly more womanly. Check out other pictures of your old favorites here.

My favorite topic

Lobster Roll is one of my favorite things to eat and make. I was just reading an article in New York Magazine that rated Lobster Rolls in NYC. Surprisingly not on the is BLT Fish's lobster roll, which is really good in my opinion. Mermaid Inn's LR is also good.

I think my Lobster Roll is the best, but here Jasper White, chef-owner of Summer Shack in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and author of Lobster at Home, offers some advice as to what makes a real lobster roll.

1. A good amount of meat. A lobster roll should contain the meat from a one-pound lobster, about 3.5 ounces during the summer.
2. A flat-bottomed, or “top-loading,” hot-dog bun, butter-griddled like a grilled-cheese sandwich.
3. The right dressing. Hellmann’s is great, but mayo isn’t enough. Try a little mustard and a dice of cucumbers instead of celery. (BE Notes: Add old bay seasoning and some lemon juice, not too much though. And mix it first before adding to the lobster meat. I find celery is good, but make sure to get some of the light green stalk in there too, chopped, the part you find in the celery heart.)
4. On the side, some kind of pickle is important to add a little acidity; potato chips are nice. (BE Note: Whip up a salad of corn, shelled edamame, diced jalepeno, cucumber, split cherry tomato as a side dressed in a little EVOO, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.)
5. Eat with your hands. You can get away with a knife and fork in a restaurant, but if you tried that while sitting around a picnic table anywhere in New England, the locals would probably beat you up.

Fireworks and Hot Dogs

The July 4th fireworks are supposed to kick off tomorrow night around 9:20 p.m. dumbonyc has a nice photo from last year. Every year my family, me and my husband go to the Hamptons, well actually Amagansett, which is near East Hampton. It's so beautiful, but this year we convinced my parents that the fireworks in DUMBO were much better and that we should all hang out here first.
Aside from fireworks, the Coney Island hot dog eating contest goes hand-in-hand with July 4th. I just read that the champion is suffering from jaw pain and may not be able to compete this year.

Takeru Kobayashi, the six-time defending Nathan's hot dog eating champion, received a chilling diagnosis that could end his Fourth of July roll: a creaky jaw.

The second cutest kitties

Originally uploaded by pratt

These are my friends kitties, but they are so cute I think anyone can appreciate this photo.

Vets That Really Care in Brooklyn

I'm writing this because I know how hard it can be to find a trustworthy vet. After recently losing our precious kitty to bladder stones, we've been extremely sentitive to our second cat's health and diet, and set out to find a new vet in Brooklyn.

Last week, we took him to Atlantic Animal Care (AAC) on the recommendation of a close friend to discuss how we could prevent him from the same fate. They were the most professional and caring vetrinary group.

After taking our cat there for his annual check-up, I was impressed by the cleanliness of the office and personal attention from the staff. Unfortunately, one day after the check-up we started to notice that he was showing signs of a bladder infection (sorry if this is TMI) and took him to the emergency vetrinary clinic near Smith Street, called Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group (VERG). They were recommended by AAC and were amazing as well. Everyone from the woman at the front desk admitting animals to the emergency care vets (Dr. Humphreys & Dr. Anderson) doing the examinations, everyone was attentive and helpful.

Both the AAC and VERG followed-up with me to make sure our cat was feeling better. VERG sent a prescription to AAC and I was able to order new food from their online service. It was so easy and everything got delivered in just a few days. VERG even let us bring him in one night for a 5 minute visit to check his bladder and make sure his meds were working correctly.

I highly recommend either place for you to bring your cat or dog!

Splasher Attempts to Make a Stink in DUMBO

I have been totally intrigued by reports of the infamous Splasher who is destroying graffiti art around the city. When I got home last night around 8, there was a large group of people outside for the Shepard Fairey art exhibit and apparently there were some interesting happenings.

dumbonyc found a report of the scene from woostercollective:

Two young guys entered Shepard Fairey’s opening night party at 81 Front Street in Dumbo with a backpack. Moments later they were seen attempting to light a homemade stink and smoke bomb that was hidden in a coffee can. As they were setting it off, two guys nearby saw what was happening and managed to stop the guys from igniting it before it went off. Seeing the scuffle, the security guys hired for the evening caught one of the two guys (shown above) while the other was able to get away.

I first read about the Splasher in New York Magazine and in a more recent interview with Fairey about his DUMBO art exhibit, he says:

He’s splashed almost every one of my pieces, but sometimes it takes him four months to get to them. Some people are all, ‘What statement are they making?’ Any arguments in favor of this kind of thing are incredibly flimsy, but at least it gets people talking and any dialogue about street art is always good to have.

I really appreciate street art and graffiti, even neckface's weird expressions. I hope this guy gets caught.

Summer Grub in NYC

In general, friedness is goodness when it comes to food, especially seafood. Gothamist offers a nice round-up of local restaurants known for fried clams, one of my favorites.

Included in the post is Brooklyn Fish Camp, a place I have been wanting to try but haven't gotten around to it (mainly because when in Park Slope, I like to Al Di La). If you've been and liked it, leave a comment.

JCondo Ready for Business

dumbonyc offers a nice update on JCondo, including pictures of the building and units.

Top 10 Burgers in New York

Time Out has published its Top Ten List for burgers in New York City.

Brooklyn's Blue Ribbon nabbed the No. 9 slot.

9 Blue Ribbon/Blue Ribbon Brooklyn
The name of the restaurant (in Soho and Park Slope) isn't the only reason this deluxe model is a Blue Ribbon burger. The densely packed beef patty, served on a toasted bun with a plateful of crisp fries and the requisite lettuce, tomato, onions and pickle, recalls the flame-licked meat that comes off backyard Webers in the summer. What the superlean, eight-ounce beauty ($12.50) lacks in chin-wiping juiciness it makes up for with its nicely charred outside and smoky flavor.

My personal favorite burger is still J.G. Melon. The secret (well maybe not so secret) trick is they cook it right next to a big heap of bacon so it's basically cooking in bacon fat. As Emeril would say, BAM!

No. 6 is Rare in Murray Hill, which is also pretty good.

Kitty Shopping at BARC Today

Well, it's really called the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC). My husband and I are in the market for a new cat as a companion for our cat Oscar, who recently lost his life-long buddy. We have looked at countless pets on the Web through Petfinder and also Catster, which I am embarrassed to say I look at quite often.

We went to BARC today in Williamsburg and they really have it together. I have been to a bunch of volunteer-based shelters and by far this is one of the nicest places for rescued animals to live. The space was clean, the cats were healthy and happy, and the volunteers were knowledgeable and kind. We met a very nice female cat that we're considering taking home to DUMBO. I highly recommend BARC if you are looking for a pet in need of a home. They have dogs and bunnies too.

If you're interested in adopting a pet, click here for more information.

Best Deal in Brooklyn! Lobster Roll @ Fairway

A tip from a close friend led us to lunch in Red Hook at Fairway. While I frequently shop there, I have never taken advantage of the outdoor eating area. The weather today couldn't have been more perfect so we decided to have lunch at Fairway.

We tried the Lobster Roll, as suggested by our friend, and were pleasantly surprised. We got two good sized portions with kettle chips, a pickle and salad on the side. Each portion was only $7.99. I can't say there are many places you can have a full lunch for two and spend less than $20. The Lobster Rolls were really good - lots of meat and no fillers, except a little celery mixed in and greens on the roll, which was nicely toasted on the grill as it should. My only complaint was that they went a little overboard with the salad dressing on the side salad, but now I know to ask for just a drop.

We got a nice table outside on the water and it certainly didn't feel like we were in the city. More like the beach somewhere far from NYC. But to our rightwas the Statue of Liberty. It doesn't get more perfect.

Rental Listings Round-up from Craigslist

DUMBO: Aclove 600 sq ft in JCondo - $2195/month
DUMBO: Studio 700 sq ft at 79 Bridge Street - $2600/month
Red Hook: 3 bdrm, 2 bath duplex - $2,400/month
Carroll Gardens: 1 bdrm on Clark St. - $1,400/month

Wiimbledon Comes to Brooklyn

I was reading in Time Out about a new event coming to Brooklyn. Called Wiimbledon, a cross between the famous Tennis Tournament and the Wii Tennis game, it's a one-day event being held on Sunday, June 23 at Barcade in Williamsburg. You can sign up to receive the newsletter here for more details as they become available. The tournament is being hosted by Steve Bryant, a reporter for eWEEK.

Brooklyn Sunset

Brooklyn Sunset
Originally uploaded by Harleys & Thunderstorms

We've been having some gorgeous sunsets lately.

Don't Free Paris T-Shirts

I couldn't resist posting this. For only $19.99 it could be yours! From Gawker.

Sopranos For Real! Botched Brooklyn Mob Hit

(NY Post) "The son of one of 'Dapper Don' John Gotti's trusted capos narrowly escaped an old-fashioned mob hit yesterday when a bullet grazed his head in a drive-by shooting in Brooklyn's Mafia heartland ... Robert DeCicco, whom feds identified as a 56-year-old mob associate, also was shot three times in the arm during the botched rubout in his car at Bath and 17th avenues in Bath Beach at about 10:15 a.m., cops and witnesses said."

Spice Up Your Drink Order

From Gothamist, here are some suggestions of more interesting mixed drinks you can order to keep your bartender on his/her toes.

Vodka and tonic drinker, try:
Moscow Mule – vodka, lime juice, ginger-ale
Salty Dog – vodka, grapefruit juice, ginger-ale, sparkling lemonade
Kir Lethale – vodka, crème de cassis, champagne

Gin and tonic drinker, try:
Gimlet – gin, lime juice
Horse’s Neck – gin, lemon, gin, ginger-ale
White Lady – gin, Cointreau, lemon juice
Gin Smash – gin, sugar, fresh mint

Whiskey and soda drinker, try:
Manhattan – rye whiskey, dry and sweet vermouth
Mint Julep – bourbon, sugar, mint leaves
Blizzard – bourbon, cranberry juice
Highland Morning – scotch, Cointreau, grapefruit juice

What bars do you think have the most interesting cocktails? I like Dove Bar in the West Village and my all time favorite in Boston, B-Side Lounge, home of the violet colored "Stardust" (light rum, Parfait Amour and lemon juice).

Event: DUMBO Block Party This Weekend

Check out the DUMBO Block Party this Saturday June 2nd from 1pm* to 7pm at 1 Main Street in Dumbo (Main St. between Plymouth and Water Sts). These were really fun last year.

LIVE MUSIC at 2pm for kids by AUDRA ROX and TOXIC MUFFIN
DJ Emilee 1-2
The Dahkter 3:30-4:30
DJ GOV 4:30-5:30
Alex Dirttt 5:30-7

Plus family fun with a bouncey castle, arts & crafts activities brought to you by the Brooklyn Children's Museum, and the FDNY's Mobile Fire Safety House and NYC Parks Department's Play Mobile on hand. (the graphic says 2 but music starts at 1pm)

The above image is of colored chalk on the sidewalk from last year's July 4th Block Party.

From NYT: Galapagos Moves to DUMBO

A NYT article caught by Brooklyn Record reports that the Galapagos Art Space is moving to a DUMBO venue next year -- a 102-year-old, 10,000 square-foot former horse stable at 16 Main Street that is owned by Two Trees. For more information, visit here.

This Day in History

In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge, linking two New York City boroughs, Brooklyn and Manhattan, was opened to traffic. (Red Bluff Daily News).

Nannies Diaries: Brooklyn Heights

From the Brooklyn Eagle:

Photographer John Barnard's work is on exhibit at the Callahan Center, St. Francis College, Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights.

But what's really interesting is the subject of his photos: Brooklyn Heights nannies.

“I’ve lived in Brooklyn Heights since 1971, and I never noticed the nannies,” he said. “They’re here all the time, yet I never noticed them. All of a sudden I saw nannies at Starbucks, picking up their kids at school, taking them to the playground. I started to see that nannies are a pretty important part of Brooklyn Heights.”

Lady Sovereign Lets Brooklyn Fans Down

Female UK rapper Lady Sovereign, who is opening for Gwen Stefanie on tour, was supposed to do a 1:30 am set in Brooklyn at venue Studio B but her bus broke down and didn't arrive until 3:30 am. Apparently, upon arrival she made some nasty remarks about the small crowd.

She has since apologized in a statement, saying "I know how stupid i must have looked on Friday, I was tired and not in the mood, having a bad day. But that's no excuse for letting fans down, I'm sorry to those that were at Studio B to see me."

I really like Lady Sovereign, so I hope she was just having an "off night."

Williamsburg's Aurora Opens in SOHO

Aurora SoHo
Crispy artichokes with mint, lobster with porcini and truffles, fennel pollen panna cotta, and sparkling malvasia.
510 Broome St., b/t Thompson St. & W. Broadway
212-334-9020
From dailycandy

Or stick with the Williamburg venue.

Random Rant: Curb Your Dog!

I was walking out of my building yesterday in DUMBO to see this woman walking her two little norfolk terriers. Nothing against terriers, my family has a cairn, but what she was doing really pissed me off.

She was pulling one of them by the neck to jump over the little gate around the tree outside my building so he could go urinate on the tree. While I don't like to see people yanking their dogs by the neck, I was so irratated that she was dragging her dog over the little gate -- which is clearly to keep dogs from going to the bathroom in that area. The dog didn't seem too enthusiastic about jumping over anyway.

So I asked our doorman if she lived in the building, cause this is an issue the residents have discussed, and the guy standing next to me in the lobby said "we need to put curb your dog signs up." I was like seriously, are you kidding me? You're telling me this lady doesn't know that the gates aren't there for a reason?

Well, I told her I would appreciate if she didn't let her dogs pee on our trees and in case she didn't realize, the gates are there for a reason. She apologized, smiled and walked away. But it really made me angry. I realize people don't have much of a choice as to where their animals go to the bathroom in the city, but when someone has clearly made an effort to keep pets out, why must people just ignore it?

Woman bitten after helping sick squirrel

Note to self: squirrels are just rats with furry tails. Would you help a sick rat? Yeah, thought so.

Photo: Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn HDR
Originally uploaded by Douglaslevy Photography.

Really liked this picture from Flickr and thought I'd share.

Upcoming Events: Uncommon Grounds BK

• Sunday, 5/20: Make your own Bloody Mary, with uncommon garnishes like Lobster-stuffed olives. Runs from 11 am-6pm. Mention my blog and get your first round at half price.
• Thursday, 5/24: Comedy Night next. No cover, click here for more info.

Brooklyn Industries "Top Dog Contest"

Brooklyn Industries is hosting an open casting call for dogs. If you think your pooch is the best in Brooklyn, take your pup to one of these three open casting calls!

Sat. 6/2, 11am - 3pm (Raindate Sun. 6/3)
PARK SLOPE STORE, 206 5th Ave, Brooklyn

Sat. 6/16, 11am - 3pm (Raindate Sun. 6/17)
WILLIAMSBURG, 162 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn

Sat. 6/30, 11am - 3pm (Raindate Sun. 7/1)
SMITH STREET, 100 Smith St, Brooklyn

Hope for Fourth Ave Section of Park Slope

Yes, my rhyme wasn't that cool but at 5 pm on a Friday what do you expect? Just saw this article from the NY Post about the beautification of Fourth Avenue.

We've all strolled down the boutique and restaurant filled Fifth Street and the treelined side streets, but I would have to agree that I've never thought much of Fourth Street. In fact, the only time I really go there is to find parking for Al Di La or with my husband to get the car fixed, washed or gassed up.

The article discusses and offers pics of the new real estate developments and retail establishments in the area. Looks very nice, actually.

Hampton Jitney to Stop in DUMBO

Hampton Jitney will now make stops in Brooklyn, one of which will be on Cadman Plaza and Clark Street. The new Brooklyn route begins on Friday, May 18.

Note that the Brooklyn Jitneys won't run on the Westhampton and Sag Harbor lines, but service will be available on the North Fork and Montauk lines (East, South, Bridgehampton).

Summer is almost here!

Event Tonight: DUMBO Town Meeting & Mixer

From dumbonyc, check out the event tonight for the DUMBO business and residential communites. It begins tonight at 6:30PM at Powerhouse Arena, which is on the corner of Main St. and Water St.

Old Factory on Henry Street: Lots of Potential

I was walking around Brooklyn Heights last weekend and I passed by 22 Henry (or maybe it was 20?), the what seems like an abandoned residential building/used-to-be Peaks Mason Mints candy factory. The windows are all knocked out but you can see old air conditioners and built-ins in some of the apartments. It seems that there may have been some bad history with this building and forced evictions.

Given the location - especially the proximity to P.S. 8 - and demand to live in the area, I am so surprised that a developer has yet to snatch up this property. I did a few Web searches but couldn't find any public information (perhaps I'm just looking in the wrong places). Plus, who wouldn't want to live a block from Noodle Pudding and Henry's End?

After some different searches on 20 Henry, I found some information on Brooklyn Heights Blog about the failed attempts to refurbish this property into condos, but seems it has been stalled. Based on all the information about 20 Henry, it's likely I read the number on the building incorrectly ... then after reading this notice by the Brooklyn Heights Association it looks like there may be two separate projects on the same property.

If anyone has any info on this property, please leave a comment.

Brooklyn Blog Fest

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to attend this year's event (it was my husband's birthday), but Brooklyn Record offers a nice post on the festivities and a visual. Gowanus Lounge also reported on the event and posted some photos as well.

Round-up: Events This Weekend

• Uncommon Grounds is doing a wine tasting this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday between 6 - 8 p.m. The theme on the wines will be a comparison of Old & New World styles of the same varietal.
• Pigfest kicks off today at Brooklyn Bridge Park @ 1 pm. Read original post for more info.
• Brooklyn Heights House Tour is also this weekend. Read more at Brooklyn Heights Blog.
  

Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition Open Studio Weekend

A press release announced that on Saturday June 9 and Sunday June 10, the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC) will host its Open Studio Weekend with self-guided tours in Red Hook and Carroll Gardens. There will be more than 100 participating artists and opening their studios to the public. The Red Hook/Carroll Gardens Open Studio Weekend (www.BWAC.org) and the Atlantic Avenue Art Walk (www.atlanticavenueartwalk.com) will run simultaneously.

$7.5 Million Penthouse at 1 Brooklyn Bridge Park

The New York Post reports on the planned $7.5 Million penthouse at 1 Brooklyn Bridge Park, along the Brooklyn Heights waterfront, that will offer 4,638-square-feet over three floors, with panoramic views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines from inside a state-planned public park.

Then there's more on the DUMBO side of Brooklyn Bridge Park from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

Uber Trendy Coming to DUMBO? Or near by ...

According to Brooklyn Record, Urban Outfitters is seriously considering opening a few Brooklyn locations. Target areas include Atlantic Ave. in DUMBO (I didn't know DUMBO extended this far?) and another in Williamsburg to-be-determined.

I do like Urban Outfitters, but I don't think we need one in Dumbo, or Brooklyn Heights for that matter. I prefer our little Dumbo boutiques, however expensive they maybe, to having chains in our hood.

NYT: Splitting the Bill

So glad that finally someone tackled this topic (and here).

Mmmm... donuts

I was reading up on donuts in Gothamist, which offers a nice overview of good donut places in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The list was in response to a recent world domination plot by Dunkin Donuts in Boston, as reported by Bostonist. I haven't been to The Plant, but have been wanting to go ever since I saw Food Network cover the store. They have these blueberry striped donuts in honor of the Yankees. Gothamist also notes a piece on Indie Donut Shops from the Fall edition of Edible Brooklyn.

Review: Uncommon Grounds in BK Heights

I finally had the chance to go here on Friday night. My husband joined me and we had an amazing time. My overall review is that this place has enormous potential. It's got coffee, casual comfy seating, art, awesome entertainment of all genres, good food and great wine.

The drink: We had a bottle of the Shiraz they are serving, which was nice and smooth. They also had a nice selection of wines by the glass and half bottles, which they nicely recognize on the menu as "cute, but pricey."

Nibbles: Then we tried the seafood dip, which was similar to an artichoke dip but with seafood. Not overpoweringly fishy, just nice and light. That was served with flat bread and crispy pita chips. We also had their "slyders," a very scaled up version of the White Castle favorite. There were three mini burgers with some homemade accoutrements including ketchup. My only feedback there is that they weren't served hot. They were still tasty though.

Dessert: Always in its own category, dessert was a nice slice of pecan pie with ice cream (think from The Blue Pig, who may also be supporting the team at Uncommon Grounds...). The pie was really, really good and the chef, who is also the chef at Busy Chef, brought out his student who cooked up the Pecan Pie earlier that day.

The entertainment: There was a really cool chica called Drum Girl (aka Amanda Homi) who played an assortment of world music. It was fun and lively, the kind of music you can't keep still in your seat when you listen to, but still relaxed and quiet enough to carry a conversation. She was joined by a drummer and guitarist (so sorry, I skipped a day and blogged about John Valeri being there on Friday, but he was actually booked for Saturday). I liked her music, as did my husband, so we bought her CD. Our favorite was her song "Thin Ice."

The vibe: There were about 15 people there including us and the people who work at Uncommon Grounds. Everyone is really friendly and brings a special set of talents to the table. There were a few people who were hanging out in the doorway, intrigued by the music, but ultimately continued on their way. Others stopped in and gave a little shake to the music.

All in all, it was a great time and something you don't get to experience every day. Uncommon Grounds brings a unique atmosphere to Brooklyn Heights.

Cinco De Mayo

Fellow blogger dumbonyc has posted a great round-up of Cinco De Mayo activities in DUMBO.

Citysearch has also a page dedicated to local Cinco De Mayo festivities.

I'll be in Central Park for the Revlon/Run Walk, and then back to Brooklyn for a few drinks.

BKLYN Designs

From Brooklyn Daily Eagle: The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for the fifth edition of BKLYN Designs on May 11, 12 and 13 in DUMBO that coincides with NY Design Week citywide.

Domino's Will Never Equate to Brooklyn Style Pizza

The whole idea of Domino's claiming to have "Brooklyn style pizza" is just an oxymoron in itself.

I must admit I lived on Domino's in college, but only because it was essentially free (I could order these "points" through school and then my parents got charged). It was OK. I am by no means a pizza snob, but I have had some good pizza. I think I may have blogged about pizza several months back, but I was recently reminded of the topic when I saw this.

A new Domino's marketing campaign seeks to answer the Domino's 'Great Debate': Philly Cheese Steak vs. Brooklyn Style pizza. I have never had a Philly Cheese Steak from Philly, but I watched that Bobby Flay throw down episode and I can say without a doubt that I would choose a Philly Cheese Steak over a slice of Domino's pizza. Oh, and don't even get me started on those horrible ads with supposed Brooklynites talking about Brooklyn style pizza.

Kenny Wallace picked Philly and even talked sports with his pizza.
Dale Jarrett, a devout Yankees fan, went with Brooklyn.
David Reutimann also went with Brooklyn.
And Michael Waltrip...well...he just said, "I just like Domino's."

Considering I work in PR, I have a little insight into how these "campaigns" work. Molto Mario knew what he was doing branching out into NASCAR with his tailgate cookbook. This is a huge marketing opportunity.

I am guessing that these drivers have probably had better pizza at some point in their lives. But, for now, let me know what you think Domino's touting BK Style Pizza?

Zoe DUMBO Store Opening Party

I must admit I love Zoe, but I'm afraid only from afar as I've yet to find something there in my price range or size for that matter.

They are having a DUMBO store opening party (a few months too late, but who am I to complain!) and are offering free champagne and a 15% off coupon here this Sunday, May 6 between 4-6 pm.

So, browse and make your wish list with some bubbly.

Second Annual Brooklyn Blogfest on 5/10

I would totally have gone to this but it's my husband's birthday. Anyone who goes please let me know what it's all about.

WHAT: 2007 Brooklyn Blogfest
WHERE: Old Stone House (3^rd Ave and 4^th Street)
WHEN: Thursday, May 10^th, 8:00 PM

From Dope on the Slope.

Event this Friday 5/4 @ unCOMMon GRounDS

Anyone interested in some FREE music and wine this Friday in Brooklyn?

If so, come to unCOMMon GRounDs in Brooklyn Heights this Friday, May 4 for an open wine bar from 7:30-8:30 before the live music show.

The music will be upbeat, mostly guitar, the kind that can be in the background, or on which you can focus. The artist is John Valeri, a professionally trained Jazz guitar artist who has toured around the globe.

Anyone who RSVPs to rsvp (at) uncommonbrooklyn (dot) com and mentions brooklyn enthusiast will get in for free.

Also, if you are a musician, Chris at unCOMMon GRounDs is offering to play your music during the day at the venue and sell CDs at the counter (he's not interested in commission).

What are you waiting for?

Jehovah’s Make Bank

As a DUMBO resident, I am always on the lookout for news of property sales.

Just read in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle that Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (a.k.a. Jehovah’s Witnesses) will sell several six Brooklyn Heights properties, citing a decrease in Brooklyn staff.

Three properties are being sold as a portfolio:
• The Standish
• 183 Columbia Heights
• 161 Columbia Heights

Then, the three being sold separately are:
• 165 Columbia Heights
• 105 Willow St.
• 34 Orange St.

Brownstoner has some images up of the properties. One of the commenters on Brownstoner estimates the market price for 165 Columbia Heights would be about $3.5M. The views must be amazing.