Finally!

Over the weekend, I took a walk down Waverly past those boarded-up skinny houses. Eureka! One of them has been opened up and is being worked on!! Like any good neighbor, I did what I had to do: snoop inside the barricade:

Looks like the entire place has been torn open. Also evident, at least Saturday morning, was one of the foulest smells to have ever reached my nose. I'm thinking it was related to this building. I mean, just imagine the things unleashed when tearing open a building like this, boarded up for who knows how many years (vermon, rotting stuff, ghosts, etc).

I can't wait to track its progress! If you own this place, please let us know! Or at least hit up Brownstoner so he can set you up with a reno blog.

Happenings Down In LaFu

I was walking along Lafayette Avenue last night and saw that Mullany's Pub* was now opened for business. A quick peek inside saw 2 flatscreens above the bar broadcasting the Sunday Night NFL game and a pretty mixed crowd inside. Looks like it's off to a good start. I also saw that Stuart & Wright* has also opened for business. Some really nice stuff from what I could see but I didn't stop in.

I also noticed that the outside of Smoke Joint* has been upgraded. Could construction almost be done? Is real BBQ finally coming to Fort Greene?

Oh, and I decided that little area needed it's own special nickname since it's got so much stuff going on around it. I've decided on LaFu since it's where Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Avenue meet up.

(No laughing unless you can think up something better.)

And remember, if you start to see the term LaFu popping up on all the Realty sites you saw it here first.

(*Thanks to Set Speed and Brooklyn Record for the original head's up on these places.)

Soule

Soule

920 Fulton Street

Brooklyn, NY 11238

(718) 399-7200

Free Delivery

In my opinion eating out is an experience. In reviewing places I often take into consideration certain things that have nothing to do with the food. While the food takes top priority the atmosphere, the decor, the service, etc. can make or break the "eating out" experience. So before I get on to the food portion of Soule I have to talk about two little things that bugged me.

First, there's a television.

(I didn't win the daily numbers.)

I find a television in a restaurant terribly distracting and in very poor taste.

And as hard as I try I can't seem to stop looking at it. It's like we're conditioned to look at it even when the sounds is off. (More on this in a second.) There's no reason for me to be looking at it either. I'm dining with good company (Lesterhead) and we're having good conversations yet every once in a while I have to turn my head and watch Wheel of Fortune.

...must...watch...t...v...

Second, their choice of music.

I'm going to date myself here but does anyone remember that commercial for the "Hey Love..." album?

(Yes, I said ALBUM.)

This is the commercial that starts off with several attactive black women sitting on a couch extremely bored and to get the "action" started one of the guys puts on the "Hey Love..." album.

Of course this gets the party started and everyone's now slow dancing.

It ends with one guy trying to take the album home and the other guy saying:

"No, my brother, you have to get your own. This one's mine."

(Or something like that.)

They only aired this commercial around 1 or 2 in the morning when your will is at it's weakest and your judgement is at it's poorest.

...must...buy...Hey...Love...

(Available on Amazon. You know you want it.)

I'd swear they were playing the entire collection while we were having dinner. Music while you eat is a good thing but the "Classic Sounds of Sexy Soul" isn't what I would call music to dine by. It's just didn't feel right.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest I can continue with my normal review.

Soule is nice. They've got about 12 tables so it's decently sized. It's very sparsely decorated and a little darker than I would like but overall it's a nice place. It has a sort of homey feeling to it.

(But that could just be the television.)

The service was prompt and friendly. We were offered several glasses of wine while we waited for our entrees, which is a nice touch. They also brought us complimentary corn bread.

(Mmmm...corn bread.)

The corn bread was served warm and the dipping sauce was really nice and unique in flavor. The sauce had a coconut/pineapple type of sweetness and flavor but it was very hard to place.

Our appetizer was Deep Fried Catfish Strips with a Curry Pineapple Sauce. Tasty stuff but, then again, anything fried I'll usually like. I did think the breading or the fish was seasoned with something spicy to give it a bit more flavor. It's not unbearable but just enough that you notice it.

Overall it was okay, not great, but all I could think of was how good a Catfish Po'boy these strips with make. Add a little remoulade on some crusty french bread with a bit of lettuce...mmm. Reminds me of N'Awlins.

("Can I just get one rib?")

I ordered the BBQ Chicken and Ribs platter with a side of Collards and a side of Mac and Cheese.

BBQ sauce on meat does not a barbecue make. (What was I thinking?)

It wasn't bad but I guess I was expecting barbecue, one of my favorite food groups, and got this.

The Mac and Cheese was good but I'm a fan of the Blue box. I grew up on the Blue box and when it's not gooey and drippy like the Mac and Cheese from the Blue box I feel a little disappointed.

The Collards were good.

(Hey, is that a garnish? That's fancy!)

Lesterhead got the Fried Chicken and, of course, I had to try it.

(She's small, I'm large and there's starving children in China! I can't let food go to waste! What would my mother say? Plus I need to have some so I can review it! That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

The Candy Yams are awesome! Sweet and oh so good. I think I'm officially hooked on them.

The piece of Fried Chicken I had was okay. I thought it was a little dry. Then again, if you want Fried Chicken there's a Crown across the street.

(A review of all the neighborhood Crowns will be forthcoming and, no, they're not all the same.)

---

Overall, I liked Soule.

I thought the food wasn't bad and for the amount of food we got it was a decent price. I would probably get takeout from there -- they offer free delivery -- only Soulé is on all the way on Fulton and I'm closer to Myrtle.

(5 Spots and Ruthie's on Myrtle is closer to me and offers the same type of dishes. )

I seriously doubt I would ever "eat in" there again. The television and the music was just enough to turn me off from doing that again but, hey, don't let that stop you. If you like to dine to the "Classic Sounds of Sexy Soul" be my guest.

Pookiellama Report: Smell That Smell

i walk through the intersection of greene ave. and classon ave. nearly every day. and about 8 out of every 10 days, it smells...incredible. like fresh-baked, sugary, buttery goodness. and it isn't some delicate "oh, my neighbor's baking cookies again" smell -- it's serious. like someone is mass-producing something luscious. but the thing is, there's nothing at that intersection that screams "pepperidge farm" (or even "little debbie's"). let's take a look at what's on the corners.

one:

ummmm, no.

two:

though the h.t.n.s. is one of my favorite neighborhood fixtures, i don't think they're cranking out the baked goods.

three:

as catherine malandrino said to vincent: no. no. no. no. (though, come spring, this will be a fabulous latin restaurant (but that's another story altogether...).)

four:

they could be shipping out cookies in those trucks, but i don't think so.

could it be that the

or the

both a half-block south on classon, are supplementing the collection plate with some intense bake sale activity?

if not, i'm stumped.

can anyone solve this puzzle? anyone? anyone?

*** This post contributed by hey mama, who will now be a more regular contributor- yay!

Wine Tasting @ Olivino

I adore Olivino on Fulton - great interior, reasonably-priced wines and tasting events! There's one this Friday. From Olivino:

We hope you had a wonderful summer!

Now that fall is on our doorstep, it is back to the business of tasting fresh new wines, with a farewell to summer and holiday dinners in the far reaches of our minds.

On Friday, September 15th, from 6:30 - 8:30pm, we will be tasting an assortment of Spanish wines with Kerin from Tempranillo.

We hope you can join us!

Cheers, Olivino

Olivino 905 Fulton Street (bet. Clinton and Vanderbilt) Tel. 718/857-7952

Hell on Earth: Adelphi Station PO

There are few things I hate more than visiting the Adelphi Station post office, for the 11238 zip code. If I can avoid it, I do, opting to send packages and buy stamps at the PO closest to my office (which happens to be huge, gorgeous and generously staffed).

As most of you have probably experienced, there are times when one MUST visit the PO in their zip code. Namely, when one received a large package, and does not have a doorman or a mailbox with capacity for anything larger than a magazine.

Sigh. Where to begin?!

1. HOURS I know PO hours are fairly standard, and this branch is no different -- 8-5 M-F; 8-1 Sat. However, how many people can actually get to the PO between these hours if they're working regular hours and have to commute to work? If you could get through the line quickly, that might work...

2. STAFFING I have never seen more than two employees working at the windows, when there are, in fact, seven or so windows that could potentially be used. This means that when anyone comes in for something other than stamps, it takes an eternity for the line to move forward.

3. PACKAGE RETRIEVAL My "favorite" thing is when the lone window attendant disappears for ten minutes to find one package, leaving the line at a complete standstill. On occasion, there will be a window dedicated to package pickups, but even then it crawls along. I suspect all registered packages are just dumped in one unorganized pile. Some sort of "system" might be more efficient.

4. APATHY Once, this branch lost a package of mine for two weeks. I showed up at the window after waiting 30 minutes with my retrieval slip in-hand, and my parcel could not be found. The explanation? "I don't know what to tell you. Sorry. I'll call you if I find it." (say aloud in monotone voice) No one called.

Two weeks later, I receive another slip. Thankfully, this time they handed it over. But I still had to wait in that snail-paced line. Again.

5. FACILITIES Dirty, unattractive and unstocked. Don't expect the forms you may need to be readily available. Chances are, you'll have to wait in line (surprise) to ask for what should be sitting out at kiosks.

I always have to pick up packages before work -- I am fortunate enough to leave for work around 9:30. I have never once walked in to find a line that did not extend the length of the office. And I have been late to work more than once because of a trip to the 11238 PO.

Clearly there is an enormous customer base. Long lines are the standard, not the exception. WE NEED INCREASED STAFFING, NOW! It's just not acceptable to wait 30 - 60 minutes every single time.

I'm going to write letters to the manager of the 11238 PO, as well as the NYC and national headquarters (there must be such a thing, right?)

My suggestions:

• Triple the staff
• Dedicated window for package pickup, and expedited package retrieval
• Extended evening hours at least one night per week
• Dedicated window for international shipping (to help expedite the necessary customs forms and shipping requirements)
• Self-service package shipping machines (available at the WTC PO currently, and probably many other NYC POs)
• Staff ALL windows during busiest hours

I stopped in last Wednesday afternoon to test the waters during a time I'm never available to go. Here's what I found:

long lines, even during the middle of the day

not only is this kiosk void of materials, it's full of TRASH!

...and again, few supplies, but trash all around

11238 is the armpit of the postal service.

Society for Clinton Hill News

More news on the upcoming meeting agenda, plus area news and links...

The Society for Clinton Hill GENERAL MEETINGWednesday, September 20, 2006, 7:30-9:00 PM St. Luke's Church, Washington Ave., (Dekalb/Willoughby)

AGENDA

1. 7:30 -- 7:45 pm -Church "Transformation" Update -- Richard Nealy & Debbie Dangerfield

A group of volunteers from various organizations using the church meeting rooms has been working on making the meeting space more inviting. They have been working on lighting, floors, organizing storage space and more. You are invited to join this group.

2. 7:45 -- 8:10 pm - Clinton Hill 2007 House Tour -- Co-Chairs, Linda Scher & Brett Truitt

The House Tour is our major fundraising event and the funds raised support all of our activities for the next two years. This will be an important tour because we believe it is our 30th, so we will try to make something extra special of it. It is held every other year, alternating with Fort Greene. It is a huge undertaking involving more than 140 volunteers. This is a great way to get involved and make new friends. There are volunteer opportunities in design, public relations, media, ticket sales, internet marketing, fund raising, house selection, house sitting, party planning, etc. Come and learn more about this event and volunteer for something you have experience in or want to learn more about.

3. 8:10 -- 9:00 pm -- Atlantic Yards Update

The CBN consultants continue to make progress in analyzing the 4000 pages of the DEIS. There is some excellent graphic analysis on the alternate plans on the CBN site now. We are in the final stages now as the public review period of the DEIS comes to an end on 9/29/06, 5:30 pm. You will need to get updated on what the consultants are learning so that you understand the impacts of this proposed project and can submit your own comments either verbally on 9/18/06 or in written form by 9/29/06.

Background:

The Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods (CBN), an umbrella group of more than 40 organizations in CB's 2,3,6 and 8 including the Society for Clinton Hill (SCH) and the Fort Greene Association (FGA,) has raised funds to hire consultants who specialize in reviewing environmental impact studies which are required of developers doing major projects. The CBN consultants are analyzing many topics such as traffic, sewage, shadows, infrastructure (schools, fire/safety), neighborhood character, security and more. This is our opportunity to raise questions or issues before the final EIS is completed and this project is finally reviewed by the ESDC and the Public Authority Control Board.

You might wonder how you can respond to the DEIS. Here are some examples. When the DEIS says that traffic and parking will not be an issue (despite the projected 40,000 new car trips per day) because almost half of the area parking spaces are vacant at 7:30 pm, you can respond with your own experience. When the DEIS says that local schools can meet the needs of the new population of 18-20,000 new residents, and you have kids in the existing schools, you will have a basis for responding as to how that might work or affect your children. When you learn that this project does not provide for any additional public infrastructure such as schools, post office, police, fire, you can respond with your thoughts on how this might work. When you see that the developer is not actually required in any legal way to provide the low-income housing we hear about, you can respond with your thoughts and questions. When you learn that the project might use eminent domain to acquire private homes and property to give to this developer to build an arena, you can respond with your questions and comments. When you see in the General Project Plan (GPP), that the developer can delay most of the below market housing to the second phase of the project and then only if he believes he has made enough profit does he actually have to build it, you can respond with your ideas on how the developer can be held accountable for these important promises. When you see in the GPP that the developer is going to receive almost a billion dollars in direct and indirect subsidies, you might want to question how much affordable housing and how many jobs are actually guaranteed in exchange for these subsidies. As you read the analysis, you will think of many other topics that are relevant to your daily living experience and you will know what kinds of issues you want to respond to. The opportunity for you to submit your questions and concerns is now, and you should participate whatever your position on the project is. We should all work to make Atlantic Yards the best development it can be for Brooklyn regardless of who builds it. We know we all agree on that.

IMPORTANT SITES & LINKS to use in understanding the scope and impacts of this proposed project and in writing your letters. (Warning! These sites are addictive.)

www.atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com for comprehensive analysis of the DEIS, the financial detail, the promised low income housing, campaign contributions from developers, and every other related topic, plus all the useful links.

www.CBrooklynNeighborhoods.homestead.com for the original DEIS, General Project Plan, tools for responding, consultant reports, dates on important meetings, new graphic analysis of the various alternative plans (Ratner, Extell, Pacific, and Unity) and more.

www.nolandgrab.org for cutting edge comment and analysis on the AY project, plus links to all articles, and critical data. This site was dubbed one of the "Top 10 Sites" by Crain's New York recently. It is sometimes funny too.

www.dddb.net for all available information on AY and links to everything else, including the October 21st Walkathon.

www.southoxford.com local block association with comprehensive coverage on AY.

www.empire.state.ny.us/AtlanticYards/. the State sponsor of the AY project, has the original DEIS and General Project Plan documents.

MEETINGS AND DATES:

Monday, 9/18/06, ESDC Public Forum on AY, 4:30-8:00 pm. Klitgord Auditorium, NYC Technical College, 285 Jay St. Everyone welcome to testify about the content of the DEIS, not whether you do or don't support the developer.

Monday, 9/18/06, Fort Greene Association, General Meeting, 7:30 pm, Lafayette Ave. Pres. Church. Jezra Kaye will be doing an update on Atlantic Yards. Everyone welcome.

Thursday, 9/14/06, CBN Forum, 7 pm, Old 1st Reformed Church, 7th Ave. & Carroll St. in Park Slope. Most recent consultants' work including graphic analysis of alternate plans. Every one welcome.

Thursday, 9/28/06, Fort Greene Park Conservancy, Huge Wine Tasting Party, Brooklyn War Memorial, Cadman Plaza, 6-8 and 8-10 pm. Contact: www.fortgreenepark.org You are invited.

Friday, 9/29/06, 5:30 pm. Written testimony on AY is due to: ESDC-AY, 633 3rd Ave., NYC 10017. Please send a copy of what you submit to: cbrooklynneighborhoods@hotmail.com or hard copy to Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods, 201 Dekalb Avenue, Bklyn, NY 11205.

Saturday, 10/21/06, Develop Don't Destroy Walkathon. See www.dddb.net/walkathon.

Saturday, 10/28/06, Fort Greene Park Conservancy- Children's Halloween Festival, Fort Greene Park. Hay rides, free pumpkins, face painting, food, everything for kids and their parents.

Saturday, 10/28/06, PUPS Halloween Dog Costume Contest, Fort Greene Park, noon. A hilarious affair for grown-ups, pets, kids, and crazies. Plan early! The competition is fierce and the media is there.

Tuesday, 10/31/06, Society for Clinton Hill, Children's Halloween Walk. A planned walk with great treats and no tricks at special homes for young children and parents.

(We know this is just a small sampling of events over the next weeks and we apologize for those events we've missed. This is a very active neighborhood, so stay tuned and stay involved.)

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

There are dozens of opportunities to help our neighborhood organizations and to meet people who will become lifetime friends. Right now, CBN desperately needs help staffing the AY Public Forum 9/18 and Atlantic Antic on 9/17, where they will be video taping many of the more than 300 people who showed up to testify on 8/23 and after up to 8.5 hours of waiting, were never called, while children who were bused in by developer Ratner, were allowed to testify right away. If you have video equipment and can help, please contact cbrooklynneighborhoods@hotmail.com.

Polish Bar: The Interview

I recently caught up with Tricalee Riley, owner of Myrtle Avenue's Polish Bar Brooklyn, to find out more about the inception of her business and why she loves Clinton Hill.

How long have you lived in the neighborhood, and what brought you here? I have been a Clinton Hill resident for 2 years. I love it because it is authentic, it wasn't created... it's a real community, with real people... real families and everyone belongs.

What's your favorite thing about it? the unpretentious people and the Pratt students... they keep me young and hip.

How long have you been planning to open Polish Bar, and what gave you the idea? 7 years. The idea came from being disappointed with the options in inexpensive nail salons; a part of my weekly routine. Sometimes you feel like you can do something better than it's currently being done. It was one of those situations. My makeup background brought the other facets of the business into the plan. So I started documenting my ideas (daily) about 5 1/2 years ago. I started my business plan in 2004.

Any unexpected hurdles in opening your own business? Yes, too many to count. I've learned to spend 5 minutes on defining the problem and the remainder of time on RESOLUTION.

What sets your shop apart from other area salons? Simple. We're a customer based business. Every decision we make as business professionals puts the customer first. We are continually looking to improve the service, the products, and the overall experience. I believe as long as we remain committed to this, we will continue to grow as a brand. We're improving day by day.

Did you use any local organizations' resources in opening the salon? (MARP, PCC, etc) I met with MARP to introduce the business and get some feedback on my storefront design. Luckily, they were pleased with everything I wanted to do and very supportive. I could have used more resources, and now that I’m open I plan to reach out for help.

What's your background, professionally? Beauty? Business? I worked in cosmetics for 10 years. I managed makeup artists, retail stores and opened freestanding stores for cosmetic companies. I have 7 years in Business Management and 11 years in makeup. My experience ties directly into this venture and has helped in the transition.

Do people, um, think that the name of the salon is Polish, as in Poland? I myself misread it, as did many others. Any funny stories about that? LOL... truthfully, they're aren't any funny stories. I came up with the name 5 years ago, so I've heard Polish Bar... (as in Poland) over and over again. People come in a dozen times a day and say, "I thought this was a Polish Bar..." They laugh and I try to laugh too, but it's so hard. I would compare it to, "knock knock... who's there?" I want to laugh, but there's nothing left.

But I get it, and still I was adamant about the name, even though I knew it would confuse people. I spent many nights inside of the shop listening to neighbors and their excitement about a new bar opening. I guess that's why I felt compelled to offer cosmos at my Grand Opening. I guess I felt a bit guilty.

Favorite place to eat in Clinton Hill: so my typical day is breakfast at Cafe Martino, lunch from Pillow Cafe or Smooch... then take out from Thai 101 or Zaytoons. They are all my favorite. I spent a lot of time at these places when I was planning my opening.

What's your greatest wish for the neighborhood? That's too hard... so many things. Hopefully more small businesses will open, new restaurants, lounges, clothing shops, etc... I do want change for Clinton Hill, but I hope the people remain the same.

If you were a flavor of ice cream, what flavor would you be? I would be Neapolitan. Something for everyone to love.

CHB Remembers

In honor of those we lost and those who survived.

Please feel free to share any 9-11 stories related to Clinton Hill. Five years ago, I was living in Sunset Park, so it would be nice to hear about now neighbors pulled together in my favorite 'nabe. I have written about my own memories here.

Move With Grace

Signs are up in a Myrtle Avenue storefront window across from Polish Bar announcing a new yoga and dance studio called Move with Grace. Turns out Grace is is the name of the owner, AND she's the sister of Karen Tappin of Karen's Body Beautiful just down the street.

Currently, Grace is renovating the interior space, and plans for an October opening. She's also lining up the class schedule, which for now includes jazz, hip hop, yoga and meditation. For those of you who don't know me personally, yours truly has been tap dancing for 22 years, and may add a tap class to her busy schedule at Move With Grace.

Props to her for the nicely done window posters:

Grace is still looking for instructors to round out the schedule! Interested? Email movewithgracestudio@gmail.com.

Lesterhead is so very excited!

Move With Grace Myrtle Avenue between Washington and Hall opening October 2006

Chez Lola

Chez Lola

387 Myrtle Avenue

718-858-1484

"Chez Lola is Oskar's tall little sister. She is by no means a copy. Where Oskar is Bistro on the beaten path with classic decidedly French fair with butter & cream staple, Lola is Bistro off the beaten path, spilling over France's borders, (particularly to the south) with it's decidedly herb and olive oil staple.

She is a bit like the dark side of the moon..."

it's finally opened!

A view of the inside of Chez Lola.

Another view of the inside of Chez Lola.

A view of the garden seating from inside.

A view of the garden seating from outside.

The steamed little neck clams appetizer.

The assorted cheese terrine appetizer. The 12 oz sirloin steak. The spicy salmon burger.

Papillote.

Papillote opened.

Chocolate tart.

White chocolate and lavender bread pudding.

---

Do I really need to review this? Aren't the pictures enough? Lesterhead has given me the job of food reviewer so I feel I must write something to live up to my obligations. So here goes....First, I have a confession to make.I have been living in this area since 2002 and I've never been to Chez Oskar. I know, I know. It's one of the more popular places in the neighborhood and it's always packed but for some reason I've never felt like dining there.Probably because it's French.(And by this I mean super slow service ala Choice Market and, for those who can remember it, A Table. It once took an hour just to get our check at A Table. NOT good times.)

So having never eaten at Chez Oskar I cannot compare the two places.

On with the review...

Chez Lola just opened, with it's first official day of business being Thursday, September 7th, so things are still in a state of flux. They have not yet received their liquor license so it's BYOB until then and the menu will be expanded once things are a bit more settled. I think it's only dinner for now, they opened at 6pm tonight, with plans for a Sunday Brunch once the liquor license comes in. (No use getting brunch if you can't drink mimosas or bloody marys.)

The decor is great. The high ceilings, the colors and the paintings really give it that Bistro kind of feel. I immediately felt comfortable in this place. The garden is amazing. At the moment it's a bit dark with only the candles on the table giving off any illumination but lights will be strung up in the trees and fences to brighten it all up soon.

The food was wonderful.

The Littleneck Clams appetizer is highly recommended. The clams are served in a coconut curry broth so save some bread for dipping.

I had the 12oz Sirlion Steak, medium rare, and it was cooked to perfection. Very tender and very flavorful. The Freedom fries, okay - French fries since it is a French Bistro, were also the way I like them; fresh, small and crispy with a liberal amount of seasoning, and by seasoning I mean salt*, on them.

(*It's really ticks me off when you order Freedom fries and they don't come salted or barely have any salt on them. They need to be salted when they're hot! Don't you people watch the Food Network?)

The Mushrooms on top were tasty and offered a nice contrast of flavors but, honestly, they were kind of in my way of me consuming my steak.

As for the desserts...the Chocolate Tart was like eating a giant wedge of chocolate which is a good thing and drew no complaints.

The White Chocolate and Lavender Bread Pudding was good as well, you could actually taste the Lavender, but I liked the Chocolate Tart slightly better.

And the service? Couldn't have been better. Granted, it wasn't very crowded, but the staff was extremely friendly, very prompt and I got the check moments after asking for it.

(For a French place this is a big plus.)

I think Chez Lola's, like Oskar's, is going to be around for a long time.

Washington Avenue

Cool sidewalk grafitti:

Who's Your Doggy?

The new pet store, Who's Your Doggy, is now open on Willoughby and Adelphi! Owners and staff offered free hot dogs and took photos of all their doggie visitors at the Grand Opening. They offer a wide variety of high-quality pet food, and best of all, are eager to please. Staff will order any food desired if not in stock, and encourage pet owners to stop in and ask for what they need. The store plans on adjusting stock as needed based on customers' requests.

They'll also be open at 7am a few mornings a week -- perfect for swinging in on the way home from Ft Greene Park. I know I've been caught more than once sans pet food, and have had to run to Associated to pick up a box of Meow Mix to tide me over before heading to work. Blech.

Businesses on this block don't seem to last very long, but I think the pet store meets a need for neighbors there. Wishing them luck!

Now we just need something similar within Clinton Hill's borders! (WYD delivers, FYI)

Who's Your Doggy 197 Adelphi St. (at Willoughby) 718-522-5244 no website as of YET

Vintage Store Update!

Last month, fellow CH blogger Clintoncentric discovered a new vintage shop, Blue Bass Vintage, getting ready to open on Classon at DeKalb! Jay and I checked it out last weekend and took a peek inside.

The ladies tell me they have a grand opening party scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9 from "7pm 'til whenever!"

They promised to email me with more details... stay tuned.

UPDATE:

(I have to go to a bachelorette that evening, so if any readers attend, please email us pics and reviews!)

Blue Bass Vintage Clothing 431 DeKalb Ave (enter on Classon) Brooklyn, NY 11205 347-750-8935 bluebassvintage@gmail.com www.bluebassvintage.com

Free Fitness Classes in Ft. Greene Park

I saw this posted up on the Brooklynian's Fort Greene/Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy Forum.

Hi, I'm a personal trainer/fitness instructor and I'll be moving to Clinton Hill very soon. I'm really excited about the move and have decided to start boot camp classes in Fort Greene Park. I'm offering free classes this Saturday the 9th and next Saturday the 16th for all that are interested in getting into shape in an outdoor setting.

I'm not sure if this is a classifieds ad or not, but this is really specific to the area so I mainly want to reach all of you. I am holding a mommy boot camp class for moms and their babies from 10-11am, and then a general adult group fitness class from 11-12noon.

I've been leading these classes in Williamsburg for many years and am thrilled to be able to bring some outdoor fitness fun to this area. I would love to continue offering free classes on Saturdays as long as the response is high, so do come and check it out!

You can email me if you'd like more information: billyburgbootcamp@yahoo.com

thanks, Rozz

Sounds fun and the price is right.

CHB Meets PIG

Thanks to all on sharing your personal stories on the neighborhood pig! We finally established contact with the owners, Jason and Kelli, and were able to see it with our own eyes.

Kelli answered some questions for us:

1. So, what is PIG's name? PIG's actual name is Emmett. We did not give him that name until we had decided to keep him which was after he had lived with us for about three months. In an effort to not form any real attachment, we had been calling him by Pig or Little Pig. In the end, he answers to anything with Pig in it, thus PIG, a fast bastardization of Little Pig, Piggers, and so on.

2. How long have you had him? How did you come to own a pig? Pig has had us for nine years now, being 4-5 months old when we acquired him, makes him approx. 9 1/2 years of age. I found him in the gutter of a four-lane busy street in the center of the city on a November evening, city being Louisville, KY. After stopping and discovering what I was seeing was in fact a tiny little black pig, the only thing to do was take him home. We tried to find a home or a rescue for him, already having two large dogs and not being in the market for a pig at the moment, but the rescues were full or flat out nasty to us and he was returned to us by the family who thought they wanted him. At that point Jason decided he was going to commit to taking on Pig as his own.

3. Did you know how big he would get? We had no idea how big he would be, only that because of his tail and his ears, according to our vet, he definitely is a miniature pot-bellied pig. He is not really a big boy. He is 19 inches tall and 36 inches long, exactly. So he is about the size of a large lab, with a pot-belly and chubby cheeks of course, that has super short legs.

4. Do you take Emmett to the vet? Does he have any special health needs? Yes, PIG goes to the vet. He is seen by Dr. Lischin at Hope, here in Brooklyn in conjunction with Dr. Gagnon in Louisville. He goes to Louisville to have his tusks cut once or twice a year. Reason being, we not only adore Dr. Gagnon, but the procedure in Louisville is 1/5 the cost of what it is in New York. Both of his vets normally do not see pigs, so we are more than grateful that they are dedicated enough to help him and us, so, if there is any major problem we take him to Cornell Animal Hospital in Ithaca where there are pig specialists.

5. How long do you expect him to live? We are by no means pig experts, but what we have read is 15-20 years.

6. Does he know his name? Does he come when called? Absolutely, he responds to a wide variety of words. And yes, he comes when called unless he is perturbed then he purposely turns his back to us refusing to acknowledge we are speaking to him.

7. Does he play with toys or do tricks? He used to play with toys, but now he mainly likes to nose my shoes around the apartment. Pig games are a little different than dog games. He is very fond of pushing around a plastic 2-liter bottle with small holes in it to release kibble, but it has to have larger more noisy objects in there as well.

8. Is he affectionate? Does he crave being petted and cuddled? PIG is extremely affectionate. He loves to snuggle and spoon, as well as being petted. Being petted by people on the street is one of his favorite things.

9. Does he ever go off-leash in Ft. Greene Park? No. He does occasionally go to the Farmers' Market on Saturdays for apples and then spend a little time at the park, but not off leash. This is not because he would go anywhere or do anything bad or destructive, it is because I am protective of him. I stay pretty close. Also, they sometimes spray the grass in the park and it is really hard to keep PIG from eating it.

10. What does he eat, and how much? His diet consists of a miniature pig kibble, 1 1/4 cup in the evening, and a mango or apple in the morning. On the corner of Dekalb is a place where they sell coconuts, sugarcane, and mangos. They are very kind to PIG and give him the mangos when they are not quite pretty enough to sell. He is pretty spoiled.

11. Are there special pig harnasses, or do you use a dog harnass? I do not know if there are harnesses just for pigs. Dog harnesses have always worked fine for us, although not all of them fit properly.

12. How much exercise does he need? Can he navigate stairs easily? He is supposed to walk around the block at least once a day. He prefers to lie on the sidewalk, sunbathe, and be with his favorite neighbors. We do take him out twice a day to go to the bathroom but he stays out usually for about an hour or so socializing.

13. How do your neighbors feel about Piggers? Everyone seems to really like him. He is kind of a showboat and wants to greet everyone who passes. So often we here, "He has really made my day." or "Now I have seen eveything." I could count on one hand the number of negative reactions and they are always fear of the unfamiliar.

14. How long have you lived in the neighborhood? What brought you here? We first moved to Fort Greene in 1999. Then spent sometime in Seattle while I was in Grad school, but returned to Brooklyn in 2002. Originally, we moved here because of a job I acquired.

15. What's your favorite place to eat here? And does Piggers sit outside if you eat at an outside table? Jason is partial to the garden at Castro's. Red Bamboo, on Dekalb, is also a nice atmosphere. I have been a vegetarian since I was 19, and Jason became one after ordering a pepperoni pizza one night shortly after finding PIG, and felt unable to reconcile consuming pork while living with a pig. Pig likes to hang out in front of Tillie's, on Dekalb, while we have coffee. We rarely take him to restaurants, but when I have he justs sits by my feet.

16. What do you both do for a living? What do you do with PIG when you go out of town? Jason is a musician and I am finishing my Masters in architecture. When we go out of town we almost always take him with us. If he is unable to go we take him to a friend's kennel, which he loves because of all the barking. Growing up with dogs and having never been around another pig since we have had him, PIG thinks he is just like them.

17. Does PIG like being out in the rain and snow? No! To our chagrin, he despises the rain. Snow is a little different, very fun to eat but cold on the trotters.

18. Does PIG like car rides? Pig does ride in the car alot. Spends his time with his head between the seats or sound asleep, and usually seems to like it.

Stuff we learned when we met PIG in "person:"

• He is always "talking," creating a variety of grunts and squeaks
• Pig poop is like giant rabbit poop
• His "fur" is very bristly and stiff
• He is superstrong!

Thanks lots to Kelli and Jason for letting us meet their unique pet!

Society for Clinton Hill Meetings Resume!

First fall meeting: Wednesday, September 20 St. Luke's Church Washington Avenue

A Chat with Leticia James

I'll admit, I know very little about politics. What I do know, however, is that Councilwoman Leticia James is a very visible fixture in the community. I emailed her a detailed list of questions and she called me back the very next day! She went through my list verbally, as she's obviously short on time. Props to her for being so quick to give a few minutes to a neighborhood blog!

I took notes while we chatted, so here's the summary:

How long have you been Councilwoman for our neighborhood? Since 2003, after the assassination of Councilman James Davis

What are your responsibilities? Responding to constituent concerns, budgeting, financing affordable housing and parks, and supporting local organizations

What did you do before becoming an elected official? What inspired you to run for public office? Worked in politics for more than 12 years

We hear a lot about "affordable housing." What exactly does that mean? Who actually qualifies? I get the feeling that the "NYC middle class" (who, in any other part of the country would be upper-class based on income) are left out of the equation, meaning single people making less than 80k or so. The affordable housing Ms. James currently works on covers individuals making between 30 and 60k/year. She also works with PACC and non-profit groups on affordable housing initiatives.

Favorite place to dine in Clinton Hill: Night of the Cookers

What amenities do you feel are lacking in the neighborhood? Successful public schools. She hopes her legacy will be the renovation of all parks in her district, as well as meeting the needs of those in public housing. These people have long been ignored, which she feels contributes to the higher crime rate concentrated in these areas.

What would you most like to see open up here? "NOT Atlantic Yards!" She'd prefer a bookstore, ice cream shop, drug store, and "Crate and Barrel and Ann Taylor," two of her personal favorites.

How do you envision Clinton Hill ten years from now? A continually diverse community, where we celebrate children and families.

Name a few adjectives you would use to describe Clinton Hill: "Brownstoney (is that a word?), diverse, community-oriented, active."

Hobbies and interests: Reading, walking to book stores in Park Slope, attending church in the neighborhood, a new interest in studying architecture specifically relating to the neighborhood, visiting schools and stopping into police precincts to thank them for their hard work.

Councilwoman James asked me to remind readers that the primaries are just seven days away! She is endorsing Bill Batson for Assembly, as she feels he'd be a great partner: independent, values the area and most importantly shares her concerns about Atlantic Yards!

Soule on Fulton

Caught a glimpse of a brand-new soul food restaurant on Fulton last week, called Soule. Staff seemed friendly and welcoming, and the space appeared to be well-designed. I haven't eaten there yet, but since I am on V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N this week, it's likely that I'll stop by. Ever since Bodegas closed (RIP!), I've generally ignored Fulton. Instead, I default to Myrtle. I keep forgetting there are cool/intriguing things down there to check out, like Olivino and Boca Soul. Speaking of which, I wonder of Soule and Boca Soul will battle it out for patrons.

Pilates on South Portland

It seems as though a new pilates studio has opened on South Portland between Lafayette and Fulton. It's in the small space the hippie-esque bookstore occupied for a very short time. The flyers say the studio opened on September 1. However, I walked by that very day and it didn't seem ready to host classes. Seemed a bit dusty and undergoing the finishing touches.

If you go, let us know how it is.

K.I.M. Pilates Studio - Keep It Movin' 88 South Portland Ave. (between Lafayette and Fulton) 917-838-5349