Pratt Documentary

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Pratt Institute will be the setting for a documentary film currently shooting called Archiculture. Filmmakers Ian Harris and David Krantz filled me in on the project a few weeks ago before the semester began... If you've ever known an architecture student, you'll have seen him or her practically living in the studio day and night for five years straight. You've probably wondered why on earth someone would subject himself to such an insane academic program. I know I have! The original title of the project was "Architorture" -- a term well-known to architecture students and professionals describing the rigors of the program and the stress of completing the final thesis project before graduation. Worried about the negative connotation of the term to outsiders, Harris and Krantz changed the title to reflect the passion felt by these driven students, as well as the "self-inflicted" nature of choosing the curriculum and sticking with it.

Architecture programs, unlike many other undergraduate majors, place students into small groups in which they remain for the next five years. For kids coming out of high school, these small groups produce intense group dynamics in which roles begin to form -- class superstar, faculty politics, etc.

Harris and Krantz are hoping to do justice to the story of the undergraduate architecture student, and looked high and low for the right setting. The duo narrowed down their options to 20 institutions and chose Pratt based on the diversity of its student population, the support of the program to their project and the ease of bringing a camera crew on campus. The documentary will follow a select group of students as they prepare to present their final thesis projects before graduation.

Harris and Krantz have assured me that Clinton Hill and its surrounding neighborhoods will play a role in the finished product. As Harris explained, "The story is very much one of coming-of-age. The neighborhood is the context -- Where do they live? Where are they walking to school?"

More updates to come as filming continues! library-6397.jpg

June: Closed for Now

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Not sure how long June (on Dekalb) has been closed, but it looks like it will reopen tonight. library-6699.jpg

I think I heard about one robbery, but it sounds like there have been several.

June is one of those strange restaurant phenomenons -- it always looks pretty empty. I'm starting to wonder if size matters. For some reason, bigger places seem to remain empty.

Green Planet: Photos and Stuff

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Despite the snow (and this is nothing, considering I'm from Buffalo), I purposely got off the C train on the Washington end.  So far, I'm pleased with what I saw. green-planet-6.jpg

The highlight of the store, as many have commented, is the very full bulk section in the back!

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They seem to have everything here from dried fruit to beans to organic candies.

They also have a juice bar:

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I tried a 16 oz Blueberry + Creme shake.  It was made with some sort of blueberry protein mix, low fat vanilla soy milk and an organic banana, for $3.99 (no tax!).  Not dirt cheap, but seemingly reasonable.

They have a lot of "normal" organic stuff that I'd buy regularly, like Amy's Organic soups and Kashi cereal.

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Looks like pretty reasonable prices on both -- average to slightly lower than average.

They also have a crapload of vitamins.

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Personally, I hate swallowing big pills. I stick to an Advil-sized multivitamin and a C chewable, personally.  But maybe you guys are into this stuff.

I didn't take a pic of the produce section, since my camera battery was dying.  It looked kind of small to me, but at least there's one in there!

Conclusion: Green Planet seems to be an ideal mix of the super hippie-dippie organic stuff, as well as the more mainstream organic stuff, and prices seem fairly reasonable.  Staff seemed nice, too.  Plus, the hours are AMAZING (8am to 10pm!!!).  I'll probably hit up my Waverly Associated for the basics.  But for me, this'll be a great place to stop for a smoothie while taking a walk, loading up on dried fruit and stopping in for snacks when Associated is closed (ahem, Sunday evenings!).  You could probably do a lot of your basic grocery shopping there -- they have dairy, pastas, condiments, etc.

(Green Planet is on Fulton St. at Washington Ave)

Green Planet: OPEN!

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Received this early sneak peak last week: Just sending an email about the new store Green Planet on Fulton St. I walked by there today and they were loading in stocks of vitamins & supplements. I peeked in and there does not really look like space for fresh produce or any other fresh goods. Seems to be all packaged stuff, vitamins, drink mixes, cold remedies, etc. I for one am a big consumer of vitamins so I vow to patronize this place. HOWEVER, I am disappointed there will be no fresh veggies! *keeps fingers crossed*

A reader g-chatted me last night with this info:

just wanted to let you know that green planet is open (not fully stocked yet) but it looks great in there!

I hear they also have bulk granola!! I'll stop by after work to snap some pics.

Society for Clinton Hill New Comers' Party

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I don't think I can attend this year, which is a shame -- last year's party was a lovely evening! I didn't know about this event when I was a "newcomer," so if you've just moved to the area (or even if you've been here for years and have never heard about the event), do try to attend! The Society for Clinton Hill Welcomes Our New Residents to Our Neighborhood Pot Luck Party

Friday, February 15, 2008 8:00 pm

At the home of Frances Rodriguez and Jeffrey Stern

315 Washington Avenue (between DeKalb/Lafayette)

You are invited!

All neighborhood residents are welcome. Please invite those neighbors or friends who are new to the area. We want to meet them and welcome them to Clinton Hill. Children are also welcome.

* "Old Timers" are asked to bring a vegetarian dish, new residents are guests.

* SCH will provide drinks and babysitters for children.

RSVP by 2/13/08 to Roslyn at 718-499-8382 ext. 11

Garden + Flower Shop Coming to CH!!!

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It looks like my prayers are finally about to be answered.  While I know there are far more practical needs for the neighborhood (cheese shop, bookstore, etc), I've been pining for a really pretty flower / plant shop since moving to the neighborhood. Today, I received word that Root Stock & Quade (who already have a well-established Park Slope outpost) will be opening a store on Myrtle in the old one-hour photo place next to Move With Grace (Myrtle near Hall)!!!!!!  If this place is anything like Sprout Home in Williamsburg or GRDN in Boerum Hill, I am going to be one happy patron.

Looks like they also do garden design and event florals!

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Valentine Wine Tasting at Gnarley Vines

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=============================== Valentine's Day Start thinking romance with our special three-night long Valentine’s Day tasting.

Schramsberg Brut Rose, North Coast, CA -- $40 Mon, Tues & Wed, February 11-13 6pm-9pm.

Paired with some decadent dark chocolate!

Too late to snag a reservation for a prix-fixe dinner - what’s so romantic about another molten chocolate cake anyway? Might as well stay home and pop open a bottle of Schrammie Rose.

Among the greatest sparkling roses in the US, and, in our humble opinion, the best quality/price ratio - especially with the discount!

Made in the traditional Champagne method, this elegant beauty predominantly features supple Pinot Noir, along with Chardonnay, giving it a dusty salmon hue. Bright strawberry flavors and biscuit-y notes leap out of the glass.

Feel free to check out our other roses while you’re at it: *Bodegas Llopart Reserva Rose Cava, Penedes, Spain -- $20 *Le Grand Cros, La Maitresse, Provence, France -- $24 *Varnier-Fannier, Brut Rose-Avize, Champagne, France -- $55

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(GV will offer 10% off each of these wines poured during the tastings!)

GNARLY VINES 350 Myrtle Avenue (between Carlton and Adelphi) 718-797-3183 www.gnarlyvines.com

Shooting on Vanderbilt and Gates

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This blog seems to be awfully crime heavy lately. Let's hope it's just coincidence. This email just in at the CHB inbox:

Hi Lesterhead, Just wondering if you've heard anything about a shooting on Vanderbilt (around Gates) late Thursday night. Cops came by our place asking for info since we face the street and we didn't even hear shots so we must have slept through it. Scary!

Anyone have more information?

Hold Up at Mario's

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The Brooklyn Paper is reporting that Mario's Pizza on Waverly near Greene was robbed on January 30 around 5pm. Seems to be a rash of crime around this time in the 'hood lately, and I'm none too happy about it.  Especially since I often hit up Mario's for a quick slice.

(FYI, the BK Paper is a great resource for news tidbits and police blotter info!)

Friday Performances at Dakar

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Infrequent Seams: A new twice-monthly series of edgy, creative music(Mostly improvised music by players whose backgrounds range from Classical to Jazz to Experimental)

Friday, February 8, 2008, 9 PM - 11 PM at Le Grand Dakar (285 Grand Ave) 9 PM ~ Saris: Sara Schoenbeck (bassoon) & Harris Eisenstadt (drums) w/ Robert Dick (flute) 10 PM ~ Julianne Carney (violin), Lathan Hardy (saxophones), James Ilgenfritz (bass), & John McLellan (drums)

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Is Cafe Martino on the Way Out?

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Received this email from a reader: I thought you might like to know that Cafe Martino might not make it. I had dinner in there tonight and chatted with Martin who runs the restaurant and he mentioned another couple months and he may have to close up. After 2 years, it seems like they are still struggling to bring enough business in. It's a shame, it's one of my favorites in the neighborhood, good food and totally reasonably priced. There's a new retail place opening up next door which could help, but without support from the locals I don't think they'll last. Maybe you could post something and encourage a visit.

I admit, I've never tried it myself! Now's the time.

UPDATE: Sorry! Cafe Martino is located at 559 Myrtle bt Emerson and Classon!

Brooklyn Was Mine

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In case you haven't heard, there's a new book of personal essays about our borough, called Brooklyn Was Mine. Lots of different areas are covered, but of note is an essay by Susan Choi about Clinton Hill's own Underwood Park (at the corner of Lafayette and Waverly), detailing both the park's history as well as Choi's discovery of it. bkmine.jpg

Choi is one of many renowned artists living in Clinton Hill.

Unsettling Crime

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Received this ominous story last week: I live in Clinton Hill on Lexington Ave. near where the avenue ends at Grand. I am very fond of my neighborhood and have felt relatively safe walking around in it for the year and a half I've lived here. Unfortunately, I was attacked last Thursday early evening by a group of teenagers and no longer feel as safe. It was 6:15pm and I was crossing Lexington Ave just 50 feet from my own front door as a group of teenagers rushed up from behind, grabbed me, and began beating me. I am lucky. There was a man parked in an SUV very near who got out of his truck and began yelling at the kids. As he did this I was able to get to my feet and the teens all ran back down Lexington turning left and running further down Grand. The man who came to my aid made sure I was ok before leaving the scene. I escaped with no broken bones or stitches but there is significant bruising, swelling, and soreness, medical bills to be payed, and of course the sense of uneasiness that comes with being assaulted (in front of your own apartment!). I filed a police report at Precinct 88 the next day and the detectives (who were very helpful-btw) tell me that this is not an isolated incident and that there have been a few reports of late in and around Clinton Hill with similar circumstances carried out by a group of teenagers. I am a semi-regular reader of your blog and find it informative. I thought this might be something you and or your readers might like to be aware of as well.

It is extremely unsettling to hear about this -- a guy who gets jumped very early in the evening for no apparent reason just steps from his apartment. I'd never think to be wary of my surroundings at 6:30pm.  I try to stay away from crazed rants (aside from Adelphi Station), but dude!  Who raises kids who think beating up a random man is OK?!  Have they no concept of consequences?