Another Shooting in the 88th!

Per NY1: Man Killed In Early Morning Shooting In Brooklyn September 02, 2006

A 26-year-old man died after being shot multiple times on Carlton Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

A 19-year-old and a 14-year-old were also both shot in the leg.

Police will only say they are in stable condition at Bellevue.

[thanks to reader Guy, who posted a link to this, from the NY Times]

Man Is Killed Outside Deli in Brooklyn; 2 Are Injured By CARA BUCKLEY Published: September 3, 2006

A 26-year-old Brooklyn man was killed early yesterday by a spray of bullets that also wounded two teenagers who were bystanders, the police said.

The man who died, Angel Durant, was shot several times at 12:26 a.m. in front of a deli at 137 Carlton Avenue in Fort Greene and was pronounced dead at Brooklyn Hospital Center an hour later, according to the police.

Seven bags of crack cocaine were found in his pockets, the police said.

A 19-year-man who happened to be walking by heard the shots and then realized he had been hit in the left leg, the police said. The man, whose name was not released, was in stable condition yesterday at Bellevue Hospital Center.

Another bullet pierced the wall of the deli and hit Mohammed Jaber, 14, in his right thigh. Mohammed's father, Jamal Jaber of Park Slope, said that his family was returning from a wedding and stopped at the deli, which is owned by Mr. Jaber's sister, for ice cream.

Mohammed was checking the score of the Yankees game on his aunt's laptop computer when the family members heard eight shots, Mr. Jaber said.

They ducked behind the counter, according to Mr. Jaber, and then Mohammed said, "Dad, I think I've been hit."

He was also taken to Bellevue, but his father said that his injuries were not serious and that he was expected to be released soon.

Mr. Durant lived on Bergen Street in Crown Heights but grew up in Fort Greene. Christella Smith, who lives near the scene of the shooting, said that he was "a good kid from a good mother."

Yesterday evening, mourners lighted candles and laid handwritten notes on the sidewalk where Mr. Durant, who was nicknamed Free, was shot. "The hood will always miss you," one note read.

Through Aug. 13, six murders were recorded this year in the 88th Precinct, which includes Fort Greene, compared with none in the same period last year.

Um. This is disconcerning. WTF?

Music/Vespa-Fest

OK, so this upcoming party lies more in Gowanas than Clinton Hill, but is being thrown by BrooklynBretta, a supercool scooter shop. AND, the shop owner, Nicholas Mendizabal, lives right here in Clinton Hill! Recently, I asked him a few questions about being a small business owner, and living in the Hill:

How long have you lived in Clinton Hill, and what brought you here? I've lived in Clinton Hill for 2 years, and before that Greenpoint for previous 6. I moved to Clinton Hill to be closer to the shop. Working late is typical, even the 2 mile commute to Greenpoint proved to be too far!

What do you do for a living? I own and operate NYC's best scooter shop :)

How did you come up with the idea for Brooklynbretta? I knew there was a need for a scooter shop here.

How did you pick the shop's location? Sackett Street between 3rd and 4th is ideal because it's on a commercial block where we are able to do our own thing. Being part of a string of retail shops presents its own issues - so I avoided it.

Any tips for small business owners? Doing the math helps a great deal. Having a worst case, best case, and a most likely case really helped keep fiscal expectations in line. Starting a small business is relatively easy, keeping it going is another challenge . . . I would also recommend businesses with 'seasonality' be avoided. Maintaining the proper staffing can be difficult.

Craziest story resulting from owning a business: It has to do with someone asking to use the rest room 'for just one moment'. I can't possibly sanitize this story for you, so going any further is a little difficult.

Favorite Clinton Hill Hangout: My favorite restaurant is Zaytoons, those guys make some good schwarma!

What do you hope opens in the neighborhood? A Belgian mussel joint. They always have the best beers . . . and with a pot of moules - they're perfect.

Brown Betty Cafe's Prix Fixe

So Lesterhead and I made it back to Brown Betty's Cafe for the Prix Fixe 3-course dinner for $18 offered on Friday and Saturday nights. Okay, let me cut to the chase: It's AWESOME.

You get a choice of a soup or a salad to start, whatever, and then an entree...

I got the Jerk Chicken breast.

You gotta get the Jerk Chicken breast.

(Well, if you can stand a little bit of heat that is.)

It's AWESOME.

Just the right amount of spice and sitting on top of a mound of perfectly cooked sweet potatoes in a maple syrup glaze.

The sweetness of the sweet potatoes takes the edge right off the heat of the spices.

And on the side of that some rice and beans...

Boy, was I full.

And then he brings me this blondie bar...

Oh boy.

Anyway, go.

Get the Jerk Chicken.

(It's so good it's always on the menu.)

You won't be dissapointed.

[Lesterhead's take:

Since the jerk spices are too much for me, I opted for the grilled shrimp.

They were generous with the shrimp, which came atop a cold salad of beans, corn and tomatoes seasoned with parsley. The avocado on the side was a nice touch to the already tasty medly of flavors. Portions were perfect, service was great and the place is just so damn chill. Plus, you can't beat the value!]

Pookiellama Report: Local Sauce

Perhaps you've noticed the bearded man sitting at the northern end ofthe Fort Greene Farmer's Market, a respectful distance from the "legal" merchants, these past two Saturdays. Perhaps, like me, you at first didn't wander over to see what he was hawking in case it was, say, a self-published novel or something equally scary. But hopefully curiosity (or, in my case, a curious husband) won out, and you walked over. Cause if you didn't, you missed out on this:

Homemade, limited-edition, organic hot sauce, brewed right under our noses on Hall Street by local artist Matt Miller.

Matt moved to Clinton Hill in August 2000, to attend grad school at Pratt, and has been making hot sauce for the past three summers from peppers that he grows himself. He began with a small batch of only 94 bottles - made with peppers grown from seeds from "crappy Associated scotch bonnet peppers" - which he gave to family and friends and sold at work. He now makes two or three different small batches a year. Starting with a "general idea of the basics of how a hot sauce is made", he trawled web sites to see what other hot sauce brewers were up to, and eventually settled on his own formula. He wanted his sauce to be "natural, and made with high-quality ingredients". Matt, who names El Yucateo and Cholula as among his favorite commercial hot sauces, works mainly on his own, aided and supported by his girlfriend, family, friends, and "a team of Oompa Loompas (for Packaging and Quality Control)."

To come up with a name and logo for his creation, Matt explains, "First I thought of the hottest object in the universe, and then translated it into Flanders-speak. Next I photographed a sculpture I made from some peppers I grew, to get the logo. I guess I wanted people to get a chuckle out of the packaging too."

Matt had two varieties of hot sauce for sale the weekend that I ran into him at the Market. One was lighter, with a citrus flavor, and one was smokier and a bit spicier. Both are excellent - they have tons of flavor, not just heat. Devil's Doodad will keep for up to a year in the fridge.

Will the Devil's Doodad empire expand? Matt says it mainly depends on how his pepper crop does each year. At this point he only sells his sauce at the Fort Greene Farmer's Market and at his job, and doesn't turn a profit, though he breaks even.

Matt will likely be at the Farmer's Market again this Saturday, though he says his supplies are running low.... So get there early if you want the Doodad! You can also send him an email, with "hot sauce" in the subject line if you would like to reserve a bottle or get on the hot sauce mailing list that he is setting up.

This post contributed by hey mama.

NEW FEATURE: Pookiellama Report

Local Blogger Hey Mama always has a lot of good neighborhood info for us, so we've decided to give her a special column when she has a good story. Plus, she's on the faaaaar east side of the 'nabe, so she's often our set of eyes on the "east coast." The first Pookiellama Report starts today!

Mmmm...Toasty

There is this beautiful storefront on the corner of Grand and Myrtle. I was speculating on what it could become and had my very own wishlist going, hoping for something cool. Instead we got this:

Now I have nothing against Quiznos (except that I never thought the subs were that good, the whole "toasty" thing is way overrated and it's kind of pricey) but what a waste of a perfectly good location.

Ugh.

On the bright side, I walked past this store which is slated to open on September 4th.

"Who's Your Doggy", Premium Pet Food and Supplies, on the corner of Aldelphi and Willoughby Avenue.

Pet owners rejoice!

Fort Greene Stuff

Damn, there's a lot going on in this vicinity!! Over in the western corner of Fort Greene, SetSpeed reports on the turtle-esque progress of a new BBQ joint (opening where the Cambodian place used to be), as well as the irish pub slated to open next to Le Bagel Delight. This place was advertising broadcasting World Cup games, and it's STILL not open. Maybe they meant the 2008 World Cup? He ponders whether the pub points to the Murray Hill-ification of the 'hood. God, I hope not. I wonder how this'll fit in with the neighbors, and Moe's. The BBQ place definitely seems like a good choice for the area.

Both Clintoncentric and Brooklyn Record have clued us in on the former Italian restaurant on DeKalb that's been undergoing renovations. It's slated to be... Bonita! YESSSSSS. I do admit to the area already having some stellar Mexican (Pequena, Los Pollitos), but Bonita will be significantly closer to me than the other two. Depending on the quality of the guac, it might be tacked on to my list of regular dining options. (FYI, the original is in Williamsburg.)

My bad -- the pub and BBQ are both on South Elliott near Lafayette. Bonita is on DeKalb across from iCi.

Bistro Lafayette

Bistro Lafayette is the meeting place for the Bed-Stuy North Improvement Association. I figured that if people are planning on attending the meetings, Monday nights at 7:30pm, someone should review the food there. And since I like food... So, Bistro Lafayette.

My little ride parked outside as Marise opens up.

The inside of Bistro Lafayette.

It's located on 338 Franklin Avenue, not Lafayette Avenue as previously posted, between Greene and Lexington Avenues.

(Why is it called Bistro Lafayette? Wouldn't Bistro Franklin, Bistro Greene or Bistro Lexington be more appropriate? I guess Bistro is a French word and Lafayette is that famous French dude so maybe it does make sense. Anyway, I digress...)

On my first visit (more on this in a second) I took the recommendation of Marise, the very pleasant hostess, and ordered the Lafayette Burger, a burger with goat cheese and carmelized onions, for $8.

I was too excited that I got my food and took a bite before I remembered to take a picture. (Again.)

While the idea of goat cheese and carmelized onions sounds great on a burger there was something still...missing. Good idea, good ingredients but something keeped it from being "great". I couldn't really put my finger on it...and I probably could have figured it out but I got caught up in a really funny conversation with another patron and Marise that I totally forgot to take notes on the food.

An incomplete food review by me just wasn't going to cut it.

(Lesterhead's a real pain in the butt sometimes...)

So I went back the next day for breakfast.

Bistro eggs with a side of Turkey bacon.

This time I ordered the Bistro eggs for $5. (Eggs any style, toast, grits, fries or home fries.) I got my eggs over medium, passed on the grits (they get all over everything) and got some Turkey bacon on the side.

Turkey bacon was excellent, home fries were good but my eggs were a little overcooked. Eh. I'll live.

Now while I do have to say the food is just passable I would go back again because I had such a great time eating there. It's usually tough to eat alone in restaurants but I never felt like I was eating alone as the patrons and staff were all really nice and willing to engage in silly conversations.

It's really one of those nice neighborhood type of places that you can see yourself going back to again and again just because it's so friendly and comforting.

I just wish it was closer to me.

---

Bistro Lafayette 338 Franklin Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11238 (718) 230-4728

'Nabe Gossip: Cafe on St. James?

A neighbor of mine told me that he heard this renovation on St. James and Gates was slated to be a cafe on the ground floor! Apparently a friend of his climbed over the barricade to see what was up.

Renovation permits simply say "residence," and it just looks kind of unlikely to me. Sure would be nice to have a cafe over there, though.

***

Then I received another similar tip, and a plea to find out what's going on there.

So, Jay and I walked by again. This time, I climbed onto his shoulders and took a few pics over the wall. (See how I risk my safety for you all?)

The entire ground floor of the house is wide open. I'd say it's definitely NOT a "normal" home renovation -- almost certainly going to be some sort of retail space.

I have to make mention of the supercool zebra-masking tape grafitti:

I swear, I will get to the bottom of this. Stay tuned.

Shooting on Myrtle

As Our Lady Mess pointed out there was indeed a shooting on Myrtle Avenue on Friday, August 25th, around 11pm. According to a source on the Willoughby Walk Co-Op's building security, which patrols the buildings across from Los Pollitos III where the incident occurred, the shooting happened when a Garbage truck driver asked a car to move. The driver of the car refused so the Garbage truck driver pulled out a gun and shot him.

That's the story as it was told to me. I'm still trying to get more information on this incident but it didn't seem to make the papers.

Anyone have any additional information on this?

[Lesterhead's comment: Why was the garbage man carrying a gun on the job??]

Crime Alert

Seems like there was a robbery at the corner of Washington and DeKalb Avenue tonight. The scary parts of this incident was that: It was an armed robbery.

It was only 9:30pm.

The assailants were extremely young.

Now, please note that I did not witness the actual events. I was walking home when I noticed a Police car parked the other way and various personal contents on the ground.

From what I could gather briefly from the victim and some people who were in the area when it happened it sounded like the victim, a teenage Puerto Rican male around High School age, was approached by 3 even younger Black teens with one of the attackers pulling a small handgun out and shoving it into his stomach.

I guess some screaming/shouting occurred and someone on the street quickly called the Police.

Luckily no one was seriously hurt.

One of the witnesses indicated another recent incident where a young Pratt student was recently robbed in the same manner in the same vicinity.

A quick look at the 88th Precinct Crime statistic indicates crime being down but with the students at Pratt returning, Freshmen orientation seemed to have occurred this week, I'm expecting a slight increase.

(Some of those Freshman just don't have a clue about living in a big city.)

With all the development going on this could be a backlash effect as a lot of people who have lived in this area for a long time are suddenly being priced out of their own neighborhood.

(As the nice Mexican restaurant opens up the McDonald's closes across the street...)

Just a little head's up for everyone as I got a feeling it's gonna get worse before it gets better.

24-Hours in Clinton Hill

Thanks to those who brought the lack of 24-hour amenities to my attention via their comments in the last post. Funny -- this really bothered me when I first moved to CH from Hell's Kitchen, but I've become complacent and have forgotten how nice it is to have a place for drunken noshing (or, just noshing after you work late, etc). The amenity I most sorely miss is 24-hour pizza. I was thrilled to find Mario's pizzaria practically at my doorstop when I moved in, and boy was I disappointed the first night I cabbed it home drunk and hungry circa 3am.

I'm generally not much of a "night owl" myself, but the fact remains that after 10pm or so, there's not many simple services available. Food delivery also ends around this time. It's been more than once that I've gotten home late from traveling after a flight was delayed, only to find an empty refrigerator and no one willing to deliver. Bah.

What do you think we're lacking, as far as round-the-clock services?

(Or even extended hours services. Could the Associated on Waverly close any earlier, especially on Sundays?! By the time I decide what I need to make dinner, the gates are down. Damn them! Then I am reduced to unhealthy Chinese takeout, or a dinner of Triscuits and ice cream.)

A Letter to Adrian

Dear Adrian Grenier:

Over a year ago, Brownstoner told us you bought a place in our 'hood!. Very cool. Looks like you've got a lot of reno work on your hands, considering you're insulating the house with used denim (thanks again, B'stoner). I knew you used to live in the 'Burg and all, but isn't it time to start being loyal to your new surroundings? You know, when you're not off in LA filming Entourage? A former boyfriend of mine once saw you eating breakfast at Academy Diner with a "hot" woman. That's cool, but that's Fort Greene. Perhaps you might enjoy Mike's, or Pratt Coffee Shop instead?

So, what gives? You going to be done anytime soon? Because we'd really like to see you hanging out at Grand 275 or Choice Market or something. We'll be polite, and just give a neighborly "hi," just like we do to everyone else. We're starting to feel kind of bad and neglected. Show us the love. And maybe you'd like to do an interview with us! Wouldn't that be fun?

xoxo- CHB

PS- I loved the Devil Wears Prada.

The Onion on Gentrification

via Curbed... Sometimes I Feel Like I'm the Only One Trying to Gentrify This Neighborhood!

Too funny, and too right-on.

Unique Amenities on Grand

A reader tipped me off to some new stuff going in on Grand, just south of Lafayette. Of course, I checked it out (after a stop for an iced coffee and scone at the beloved Choice Market!). I've been looking at the intriguing storefront across from the late Karrot for awhile now. Finally, there's some signs in the window!

Grand Avenue Workshop

I wasn't lucky enough to find someone inside, so I gave them a call.

After 24 hours of phone tag, I connected with Carl, the owner.

Grand Avenue Workshop does restoration and finishing on antiques and newer pieces. His clients consist mostly of architects and designers/decorators. Neighbors are often dismyed to find that he doesn't work on weekends when they might be around to stop in.

However, he doesn't do much work for local area residents -- that is, unless they've hired an architect to renovate for them. He works when the professionals work, and describes his business as "a strange hybrid that only resides in NYC."

Carl has been in business for twenty years, and has lived in the neighborhood for that long, too -- he's a "Pratt Kid who never left." His shop on Grand Ave has been there for the last five years.

He says that lots of people will pop in on their way home from work if they see him in the office to find out what exactly he does. He seemed pretty jovial about that, but warns, "I am NOT the neighborhood fix-it man! I will not hang your cupboards for you!"

Then, there's this:

(sigh)

I'm a bit of a grammar hound, and stuff like this sends me into a tailspin. Do they mean "mirrors," plural? Or the name of the store is "Mirror," and the store belongs to it?

PLURAL WORDS DO NOT GET AN APOSTROPHE.

Who knows -- maybe they'll actually sell cool mirrors at reasonable prices. Personally, I've been wanting a floor mirror for some time. If they're going to call the store "Mirror's on Grand," I don't think I can patronize. But I hope you will, and report back. (Sorry, personal quirk.)

Still confused? Check out the Apostrophe Protection Society.

Neighborhood Wittiness

Normally, I don't condone grafitti, especially in the subway. There are few things more cliche than drawing the standard male genitalia over the face of a woman featured on a poster down there. However, a few Clinton Hill residents actually have something funny to say down below. I've been taking pics of the advertising defacement that makes me chuckle at both the Clinton-Washington G and C stations.

More Info on the Bed-Stuy North Improvement Association

Thanks, readers! An anonymous commenter has filled us in: I recently joined the Bed-Stuy North Improvement Assoc, but it's been in existence for more than a year. We usually post flyers around the neighborhood before meetings. We need HELP! The building that was the subject of the rally is only one of two going up on the block (Clifton-Franklin-Greene-Classon). Another is in the works just west of it. The Bed-Stuy North Improvement Association meets on Monday nights, 7:30 pm, Bistro Lafayette, 338 Lafayette Ave. between Greene Ave & Lexington, all are welcome.

Thanks! Sounds fairly easy to drop in and say hello. Keep us posted of upcoming events and developments affecting the CH-BS border, and we'll fill the readers in.

Cafe Martino

So I had a chance to stop by Cafe Martino for breakfast this morning . I got the Breakfast Burritos (2) for $6.50 which was more like Breakfast soft tacos, but I'm not complaining. It was really good. I ordered mine with bacon -- they seemed to have run out of it and it looked like I got what was left. A discount was taken off my bill for it so it's all good. I would have preferred it being mentioned before hand so I could have switched it to something else that would clog my arteries but, again, I'm not complaining.

I apologize about the flash photography of the food but it's fairly dark inside Cafe Martino as the first picture shows. Oh, and the fresh salsa comes on the side but I was so excited I put it on my eggs before I remembered that I should photograph it...

The ice coffee was, in my opinion, very, very weak. Some people might love it -- everyone's got different preferences when it comes to coffee -- but I'm not a fan. I really like my coffee turbo-charged and this was far from it.

I do have to say that it's Uber-friendly in there. He knows almost all the regular customers by name and what they drink. A nice little touch in my opinion.

I'll be back - there's still more on the menu I want to eat. I'm just going to have to get the hot coffee or drink iced tea unless they amp up the octane on the iced coffee.

Cafe Martino 559 Myrtle Avenue (between Emerson + Classon) 718-636-3966

Email from the Society for Clinton Hill

This just in, in my inbox: FGA News: Official Public Hearing on Atlantic Yards, Wed May 23rd - the most important event in the Atlantic Yards battle to date

Well, Fort Greene, we can't duck this one. History is knocking at our door!

The Brooklyn Atlantic Yards Proposal is one of the largest developments ever proposed for New York City, the largest ever for Brooklyn, and it is located at our doorstep in Fort Greene. We have a responsibility to ourselves and our neighbors now and in the future to respond to the Empire State Development Corporation's Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the BAY proposal.

We MUST have a strong showing at the Official Public Hearing on August 23rd at New York City Technical College, 285 Jay Street, 4:30 to 8:30.

You do not need to be an expert to speak; this is about opinions from individuals who live in the community. Your personal response – limited to three minutes – is invited, and can be most effective if it is well prepared.

The Council for Brooklyn Neighborhoods has an EXCELLENT and EASY TO USE TOOLKIT. It contains a simple format for responding, as well as a more detailed version for those who can spend more time on this important task. The TOOLKIT also lists websites where you can find out information on the proposal. The categories range from land use/density, to shadows, neighborhood character, traffic, air quality, noise, etc. Go to www.cbrooklynneighborhoods.homestead.com Written comments can also be submitted until September 22, but the court of the press and public opinion will pay close attention to the quality and quantity of public response on August 23.

The Fort Greene Association has adamantly supported development over the railyards, but opposes this outsized, flawed project.

You can find much information and many links at www.dddb.net

Urban Spring Springs into Business!

I know this is firmly placed in Fort Greene, but for those of us who head to the park regularly (especially with dogs!), this place is RIGHT on the way, and has been slated to open for months. I think it'll provide a nice alternative to iced coffee.

Inside, the space is small but adorable. Props on the design choice for the ceiling lights!

Staff seems supremely friendly and welcoming, which seems fitting for an organic juice establishment.

I stopped in this morning on my way home from the park with Mallow...

The owners, a husband (Gordon) and wife team, returned to Brooklyn after stints in Afghanistan (he working on Presidential elections and she in drug control). Finding it difficult to go back to 9-to-5 jobs, they decided to go into business for themselves. At first, they concentrated on green building, but when a storefront around the corner from them became available in April, they jumped at it.

They didn't want to be "just another coffee shop," and decided to focus on healthy juices and food.

I tried the avocado-banana smoothie in a bowl with granola (bowls are partially made from sugarcane and are fully biodegradable). I'm not normally into granola, but whatever they used was completely delish. The only drawback? It set me back $7.04. Totally worth $5, but $7 seemed a bit steep.

Then again, the high-ish prices may help pay for organic-natural products and supplies.

And here's the menu, if you're interested:

Urban Spring 185 DeKalb Ave @ Carlton www.urbanspring.net

---

I had a chance to go into Urban Spring this morning and they must've had a busy opening weekend! Lots of items on the menu weren't currently available. Don't worry -- as I was leaving a delivery of fresh ingredients was being made.

I got the Acai smoothie which was very tasty.

And Robin's right, the lights are super cool.

BrooklynJay