March Blogade in Kensington

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The Bad Girl Blog will be hosting the Brooklyn Blogade on Sunday, March 9, at 12 p.m., in Kensington at the Old Brick Cafe, a little Italian/Balkan/Mediterranean restaurant on Church Avenue. The cost is $15 and includes a meal. To see the lunch menu and to find out more about this event and/or to RSVP please click here. The Blogade is a monthly roving meetup of Brooklyn bloggers (who write on all sorts of topics!).  It's a great chance to meet some very cool people and brainstorm all things blog.

Gluten-Free Suggestions Wanted

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Received this email from a reader, who coincidentally went to the same high school as I did (small world!): I have a quick question to ask - I've been trying to read the blog for any suggestions on gluten-free food/ideas in the FG/CH area. I've been diagnosed with Celiacs for over four years now, and it's been really tough to find gluten-free products in the area. I know of the organic food store on Myrtle (Karrots), and the Met on Fulton is hit or miss (but they seem to have the GF beer), and the Associated on Myrtle carries a small selection. Any chance you could make a request/post about it in an upcoming blog entry?

Ideas? I'd also suggest:

  • Green Planet (Fulton at Washington)
  • Fresh Garden (Fulton and Lafayette)
  • Provisions (Fulton at S. Portland)

(More info on these places here.)

G Train Connection

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A bunch of you guys have emailed me today about this, and I admit that I slacked on posting.  Then everyone else started posting, so I was even less motivated to photoshop this cute graphic together: trains.jpg

Anyway, yes!  There is exciting news afoot!  Apparently Leticia James has suggested linking the G at Fulton to all of the trains at Atlantic-Pacific!  This is super news.  How often have you really wanted to take the 2,3,4 but were too lazy (or running late) to walk down there or wait for the bus down Greene (which, btw, never comes) so you made do with the G to the A,C to another change or two.

Sign the petition here!

And more info here via Second Avenue Sagas.

Rustik Tavern

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Rustik Tavern 471 DeKalb Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11205

http://rustiktavern.com/

I needed a place to eat that was close by but I wanted someplace new too. I didn't want it to be too fancy either. I just wanted a nice, chill, relaxing place to grab a beer and some decent food. I saw a review of Rustik over on Clinton Hill Foodie which seem to fit the bill perfectly. (yeah, I've been slacking and they got to it before me) After checking out Rustik's very slick website and menu online I decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad I did.

The first thing I noticed was how...out of place Rustik seemed to be in where it's located. It's like bodega, bodega, take out, take out, bodega, Rustik.

Well at least you won't miss it walking by.

I was impressed with Rustik's interior decor. High ceilings and lots of lights, but not overly bright, gave it a very warm and inviting feeling and with that big sofa up front - definitely a place to chill.

First order of business: a beer. Rustik has a very decent selection of tap and bottled beers. (All of which is listed on their website.) I went with the Blue Moon which they had on tap - always an excellent choice.

Second order of business: FOOD.

Every item was named after something local or of significance. For example, the Willoughby Wings for Willoughby Avenue. It's kind of silly but nice at the same time. Adds a very "neighborhood" feel to it.

Prices were extremely reasonable. Lots of items under $10 and nothing over $15.

We decided on the following:

The Nostrand Nachos with the olives and the jalapenos on the side.

As a stand alone dish it's eh. I like the fact that it's cheese sauce rather than real cheese, real cheese has a tendency to clump up and get chewy as it cools, but other than that it was lacking something that made it great. Like...

The Clinton Hill Chili.

Now I know you can add the chili on top of the nachos for $2 but go with a whole order of chili along with the nachos and use the nachos to scoop up all that chili goodness.

The chili, by itself, is still was very good and, while still full of flavor, it was relatively tame and lacked heat and spiciness.

Mixing it with the nachos is really the way to go. It takes two "okay" dishes to 11.

We moved on to a small order of the Willoughby Wings with BBQ sauce. (That's where my olives and jalapenos went!)

I want to point out that these wings are breaded. Normally I hate breaded wings but these I didn't mind. It worked well with the BBQ sauce, giving the sauce something to stick to, as well as adding a bit of crispiness to the chicken.

What surprised me about this dish was that the BBQ sauce was actually spicy and had some heat to it. The heat was unexpected, I had to double check to make sure it was the wings and not the chili, but not overwhelming. It actually worked very well together as a sweet and spicy combination.

Finally, the Franklin Fish and Chips.

This was pretty good. The fish was lightly breaded, not battered, which kept the whole dish relatively "light". The fish was done well and was flaky and moist. The chips on the other hand...eh.

The chips were too big in size and I think that kept them from getting really crispy. The chips also had some old bay seasoning or something on them which was too over powering for the lighter tasting fish. I like the fish...the chips need work.

We wanted to try the Chambord Creme Brulee but they were out of it. (Doesn't it sound good though? Chambord Creme Brulee? Mmmm...)

Overall, it's a great place and I'm definitely going to be back. It's got a nice mellow vibe, serves good food and has good drinks. All at a very reasonable price. The entire meal was about $40. It's like the perfect little local neighborhood spot.

The service was good with the bartender being attentive without "hovering". (And he didn't once ask me if I spoke english! That's a plus right there!)

The one complaint I do have is the TV. There's a pretty big TV right in the middle of the room and when there's a TV on you're sort...of...forced...to...watch...it. I would have like it a lot better if it was off and a good selection of music was playing instead. (They have a very nice sound system.) The TV just seemed out of place and sort of broke up that "chill" feeling if you know what I mean.

Other than that it's a great place and a very welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Oh, and if you're lucky you'll catch a free show.

We were treated to piano renditions of Keane and Coldplay. Very very cool.

The Met Scrambles for Some Cred

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After all these comments on the Met on Fulton, I'm sure glad that it's not the closest grocery store to me! Looks like the opening of Green Planet (and maybe some of the remarks here on the interwebs) have the Met trying to make themselves look better. This just in from reader Rachel:

I found this really interesting: Met Foods now has a painted sign on their window claiming “Largest fresh organic products in the area.” I went in to see if there were, in fact, any fresh organic products and was hard-pressed to find any (just the usual half-rotten produce they usually carry). It’s clearly a reaction to the threat of all the discerning customers shopping at Green Planet, but why lie? I find it very fitting that the bunny painted next to the sign looks more like a giant rat…

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Heh. It actually does kinda look like a rat!

Brooklyn Lacrosse Team

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This just in for the kids: Play the nation’s fastest growing sport….Lacrosse!

Lacrosse combines the fast-paced action of basketball, excitement of ice hockey, and field-sense of soccer to create a unique game for players and spectators. Anyone can play, regardless of size or stature. Lacrosse is a sport that can open up many opportunities, with paths to play in private schools and college. Don’t miss out!

Join the Brooklyn Crescents

Boys and Girls Lacrosse Teams

Spring Season

Begins March 9th

open to: 7/8th grade teams for boys and girls

5/6th grade teams for boys and girls

3/4th grade developmental teams for boys and girls

No experience necessary!

includes:

* Weekly practices from March to June @ McLaughlin Field (Tillary and Jay St) Sun 9-11am * 8 games in the Oyster Bay lacrosse league * One overnight trip to play in a competitive tournament! * Day-trips to watch collegiate lacrosse games * Trip/tour of local private school * Excellent coaching from former college players fee: $250

No child will be turned away for financial reasons. Please inquire.

REGISTER Online at brooklyncrescents.googlepages.com

contact: brooklyncrescents@yahoo.com

Boys Team – Wes Jackson 718-809-7192 or L’Quentus Thomas 917-755-6459

Girls Team – Jess Lerman 917-628-0864 or Susan Murray 917-715-6725

about us: We are a non-profit youth lacrosse program, founded in 2006 by five former collegiate lacrosse players who share the love of lacrosse and a desire to give Brooklyn kids the opportunity to play this amazing sport, that opened up so many doors for them.

I'm told several of the existing team members live in CH.

Anniversary Celebration at Fort Greene Park

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From Myrtle Minutes: The Fort Greene Park Conservancy will present its plans for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument at the next Fort Greene Association meeting on Monday, February 25th at 7:30p at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church (85 South Oxford).

Preview the 3-day centennial celebration event plans which will include the rededication of the Monument; the return of the bronze eagles at the base of the Monument; the lighting of the eternal flame; Revolutionary War enactors encamped in the Park; a grand ball; souvenir journal; original orchestral and choral work by Brooklyn composer, Alvin Singleton; fireworks; a multi-nation parade; jazz performances; genealogical research stations, and much, much more.

Come out and celebrate your history. Come out and join your neighbors. Come out and learn how you can get involved.

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Read more details about the restoration efforts here.

Music / Art at Frank White

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The Freshness of Philly Celebrated in BrooklynThe Takeover - A Monthly Music/Art Series Launches

On Friday, February 22, 2008 Frank White, the hip Brooklyn cafe/gallery/lounge presents "The Takeover“ Philly Invades Brooklyn a monthly event celebrating Philadelphia music, artists and all things fresh-- made in Philly (i.e. Sly Fox Beer, Tastykake). The event is co-sponsored by two.one.five magazine, a new publication covering the scene in Philly and beyond.

The launch event will be hosted by, Cee Knowledge, a Philadelphia native and former member of the Grammy Award winning hip hop group, Digable Planets and Nikki Jean lead singer for band, Nouveau Riche. An art exhibition will be on display by visual artist Soul One.

Muhammida El Muhajir and William Collick, the co-owners of Frank White are both Philadelphia transplants living in Brooklyn. "Historically, Philadelphia has had a huge impact on music and culture and that continues today," says Collick. "As Philadelphians- we are proud of both our 'Philly-ness' and our 'Brooklyn-ness' that is also shared by so many in the creative community in Brooklyn and New York City at large. It is this duality that will be celebrated at 'The Takeover'™," adds El Muhajir.

'The Takeover - Philly Invades Brooklyn'™ launches on Friday, February 22, 2008 and continues throughout the spring. This is a free event but RSVP is required for admittance (philly@frankwhitenyc.com). A 'Brooklyn Invades Philly'™ event is also in the works!

The Takeover -“ Philly Invades Brooklyn"™ Friday, 2/22/08 8p - midnite RSVP - philly@frankwhitenyc.com

frank white cafe | gallery | social 936 atlantic avenue @ st. james brooklyn, nyc 11238 718.622.0840 www.frankwhitenyc.com

weekdays 8-4 | weekends 9-5 evenings for private engagements

Take Out

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From Clintoncentric: It takes so much more energy for me to cook in the wintertime. I'm bored by the fresh produce, too cold/lazy to trek to Fairway, and unless I spend my Sundays cooking for the week, I'm basically f*ed, and have to either make quick meals after work, or order take out. Problem is, there aren't that many good options that I'm aware of. These are my favorites though:

Luz (718-246-4000), for their $10 rotisserie chicken -- one of the best I've had! -- with extra pepper sauces (they've got a green one and a reddish-orange one), black beans and rice.

Mojito's (718-797-3100), for their chulettas, pernil, or churrasco chicken, smoky black beans and rice (with extra green sauce!)

Bombay Masala (718-230-7640), for classic anglo-saxon fare: Chicken Tikka Masala and the Mushroom Saag. Really, the best Indian take out in the hood in my opinion.

Yamashiro (718-230-3313), for their Jade Roll (like getting seaweed salad in a roll), Yellowtail roll, and their Wasabi Roll. Hubby always gets the Sashimi Deluxe. They're generally fresh, and tastier, I think, than Sushi Okdol, though I haven't given them enough play, I admit.

Sushi Okdol (718-789-1373), for their bi bim bop. They're really more Korean than Japanese, and they give you tons of sides, like mushrooms, tofu and seaweed salad, for free when you order an entree.

Where does everyone else order from, and what do you get?

Final Little League Registration!

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Inner City Sports Little League will hold its final player registration for the 2008 season. Girls and boys ages 4 to 13 welcome! The league is located in Bedford-Stuyvesant and is open to the communities of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Fort Greene, East New York, Brownsville, Ocean Hills, Crown Heights and, Clinton Hills. Register Saturday, February 23rd 10am to 2pm. Herbert Von King Community Center, 670 Lafayette Avenue (Between Marcy & Tompkins). For registration requirements and details please call Michael Harris @ 917 804 1703 or email at ICSLIttleleague@aol.com

New Amsterdam Debuts in March!

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Nearly a year ago, a new Fox TV show called New Amsterdam filmed its pilot on Washington Avenue. The show, about an immortal detective in NYC, will debut on February 22 March 4. Tune in to see if the Washington Ave house and the streets of CH are featured! UPDATE: The first two episodes will be broadcast March 4th and 6th at 9:00PM ET, respectively, following American Idol. The series proper will then air Mondays at 9:00PM ET beginning March 10th, 2008. [from fansite New Amsterdam Forever]

A Bizarre Evening at Restaurant New Orleans

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A few weeks ago, I had THE weirdest dining experience at Restaurant New Orleans on Fulton (nr. S. Portland). A friend I dined with took the time to summarize: Last weekend, though, we went out to dinner with some friends, R. and W., with the intention of grabbing dinner before seeing "There Will Be Blood". I suggested Restaurant New Orleans, a restaurant on Fulton not to far from BAM where were going to see the movie. I've passed by this place numerous times walking back from BAM and it always intrigues me. It is decorated like someone's parlor, but half the time its empty and sometimes we've passed by around 10pm and its been dark, with a woman sitting at a computer in the window.

Anyway, we decided to meet at 7, figuring it would leave us plenty of time to catch the 9pm movie. We sat down and browsed the menu while the man who sat us looked for a bottle opener and glasses for the bottle of wine we brought with us (byob). This took about 10 minutes, and the glasses we got were sherry glasses. When the waitress came to take our order, she nearly forgot to take W's order.

And then the fun started. R and W had ordered crab cakes and we had ordered shrimp cocktail as appetizers, but after about 20 minutes, only the crab cakes came out. After a few minutes, we tracked down our waitress (who was astonishingly hard to track down in a place that was also the size of a parlor), she said our appetizer was on its way. But then out came my catfish (which Sam and R had ordered as well), with a sweet potato on the side. I had ordered spinach and something else. The waitress said they were out of whatever sides I had ordered but they could make some nice garlic brussels sprouts. Sure, why not. About 5 minutes later, out came Sam and R's catfish as well. R's grilled catfish looked exactly the same as our blackened catfish. And they didn't have any sides. And there was no sign of W's gumbo. And it was about 8:30. The brussles sprouts never appeared.

We reminded our waitress about the appetizer, though we told her to just forget about it since we were already eating our main course. And then, about 5 minutes later, the reason for the missing shrimp cocktail became clear - they "were having a problem with the shrimp". And so they couldn't make the gumbo either. But they offered to make W a nice salmon fillet instead, on the house. She brought out a bowl of red beans and rice on the house too (we still never received any sides other than my sweet potato), so W ate those while waiting for the salmon, which came around 8:50. So we asked for the check too and paid that while W ate.

They felt so bad for all the trouble, so they comped us for two of the entrees and also offered us free brunch (though they didn't give us anything in writing indicating this). And they seemed so genuine that we weren't really upset about the service, mystified was the better word for our state. I mean, if they didn't have shrimp, they could have told us an hour earlier. Or the whole issue with the sides. W's dish came with collards, which both Sam and R had ordered but never came. How the place stays in business was the biggest question - its been there since we moved to the neighborhood I think. The food we did get was very good, but it just seemed like such a haphazard business that it was surprising that it was able to stay open.

I admit those crab cakes were delicious! Yet the dinner couldn't have been any more haphazard. Anyone have a similar experience?

Dramatic Fire on DeKalb?

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I happened to catch the words "Clinton Hill" spoken on the nightly news just now, so I checked all of the local news websites to see what had happened. Looks like it was a pretty serious fire at 470 DeKalb Ave. around 8am Sunday morning. Only ABC and CBS had info on their websites about it.

From ABC news:

BRONX (WABC) -- A family of four were trapped and hurt during a fire Sunday morning.

The fire broke out around 8 a.m. at 470 Dekalb Avenue in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn.

The fire started in an 11th-floor apartment, trapping the family in a rear bedroom.

Authorities say the family had to lean out of a window to breathe.

Police say the mother, in her 40's, was taken to Brooklyn Hospital in serious condition. Her husband, baby and teen daughter are all reportedly listed in stable condition. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

CBS's story:

Firefighters Save 7 From Brooklyn Fire NEW YORK (CBS) ― Several children, including a baby, were forced to hang onto a window ledge, in order to escape a fast moving fire in Brooklyn. Firefighters had little time to bring them to safety, but made a dramatic rescue, saving all seven people.

Frantic children were hanging out of an 11th story window trying to get air as the smoke thickened inside their apartment. Firefighters worked to rescue the family, going to the window above and lowered down oxygen masks to the kids so they could breathe.

"I just ran out of the building. I just wanted to see who it was," said Denise Rodriguez. "It's so hurtful because you see all these people everyday."

"The girl was hanging out the window with her babies, all the babies hanging out of the window and me and my neighbor called for the ambulance, for the fire department to come," added Denise Davis.

Seven people were inside the apartment when the fire broke out - a mother, father and several children, including a baby. The fire chief said one of the children rescued is autistic.

"We know the members of this job are trained and do this everyday and were able to get everyone out safely," FDNY Fire Chief Joe Woznica told CBS 2 HD.

A puppy was also saved from the fire. Andre Nash says he ran into help initially but could only get to the father and one of the children.

"I was crawling along the wall to get the mother, baby and boyfriend but once I got to the door because it slammed with so much pressure and heat, I wasn't able to," said Nash.

After being saved, the mother of the children was rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest. Doctors say she is expected to be okay.

According to the fire chief the fire started in one of the bedrooms, the cause has not been determined.

This happened 15 hours ago, and neither site has accurate information available? Was it four people, or seven? WTF?

I almost didn't notice the ABC story, since it was labeled "Bronx." CBS's story sounds much more accurate, but doesn't mention the neighborhood at all.

And by the way, this is Bed-Stuy. Just saying.

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Is it too much to ask for info on a major event that occurred hours ago? Regardless, great news that everyone was saved. Bravo to NY's Bravest.