New Restaurant on Fulton

Boca Soul, on Fulton between Clinton and Vanderbilt, didn't last very long. The food was tasty, but it just didn't take. There appears to be something new opening in that space:

Thanks to reader Brian for tipping me off. I might not have noticed otherwise, as the awning is the same color.

The website, shockingly, doesn't work. But I'll definitely check it out.

Props to the other businesses who've been holding their own on Fulton, despite the never-ending construction (Olivino, 'Cure, Fish and Crustaceans, Autour du Monde, etc).

Friday Photo (PUPS Edition!)

The PUPS Calendar is printed every other year, and features dogs from the neighborhood.  The cost is usually $10.  PUPS is gearing up for 2009, and are asking for owner submissions!  Upload your shots and see if your pup makes it into the next calendar! The 2009 Fort Greene PUPS Calendar Committee wants to see your best photos of your dog(s). If the Committee likes it, you might just see your dog in next year's calendar.

To submit photos for consideration, upload them to the PUPS Flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/785984@N23/

or, go to http://www/flickr.com/groups/ and search for "fortgreenepups"

Submissions will be accepted up to July 12, 2008. Photos must be 300 dpi to be used in the calendar.

We'd like to see action shots, portraits, mutts, purebreds . . . anything and everything!

The top contributions will be featured weekly on Clinton Hill blog (www.clintonhillblog.com)

THIS WEEK'S BEST CONTRIBUTIONS:

I may be taking photos at the park as well.

Bike Lanes in the 'Hood

Since I've been biking a lot lately, I've come to realize how wonderful bike lanes actually are.  I'm pleased to say that we now have a bike lane on both Myrtle AND DeKalb!  However, I have noticed that the DeKalb bike lane seems to be contributing to the bottle necking that happens around Classon Ave, causing a backup. It's not actually the bike lane that's causing this.

The cause is the police parking.  Cop cars cut off an entire lane just west of Classon on DeKalb, and now that practice has become even more dangerous.  Look at these pics sent to me by a reader:

This intersection has already become a traffic nightmare, and now cyclists have to divert out into traffic that's already dangerous.  Surely there must be a better way to arrange this.  With a huge increase in neighborhood traffic (especially on Sundays with the Flea), this isn't cool.

Speaking of bike lanes, WE NEED ONE ON LAFAYETTE AVENUE!!!  ASAP!!!

More on the Clinton-Washington Neighborhood Patrol

Command Security, who is operating the Clinton-Washington Neighborhood Patrol, found my blog post and emailed me a recent article written by the Fort Greene-Clinton Hill Courier. Click on the link to enlarge: clinton_news.jpg

More Dog Run Info

In light of the dog run chatter, the PUPS Prez just emailed this response: Dear PUPS members:

Every now and then PUPS get requests to work to install a dog run in Fort Greene Park. By way of history, keeping off-leash hours legal in the park was the original core mission for PUPS, not installing a dog run. We worked hard for the better part of ten years with many other dog groups in NYCDOG, NYC Parks Department, elected officials and others to get the 9:00 pm to 9:00 am off-leash courtesy rule codified into law, which went into effect citywide in May 2007.

What many people don't seem to know is that the Parks Department generally follows an either/or policy when it comes to off-leash hours and dog runs. A park might have off-leash hours or a dog run, but not both. An exception to this policy is Riverside Park, which happens to be very large.

Funds for installation of the permanent fencing for dog runs must be raised by volunteers. And all city dog runs are maintained by volunteers as well. Fort Greene Park is a landmarked park, so any dog run would need to be approved by the Landmarks Commission. It's unlikely that a dog run large enough to safely and comfortably accommodate the area's sizeable dog population would be approved given the overall size of Fort Greene Park and the many people who use its space for other purposes such as relaxing, picnicking, exercising, etc.

An idea we thought about years ago was to suggest a dog run be installed at Cuyler Gore Park (the small park at Greene and Cumberland). There is at least one part of this small park that seems ideal for a dog run, but a group of volunteers would need to be organized to work with the Parks Department, our Community Board, city officials and local community groups, raise the money, and maintain the dog run after installation.

While the mission of PUPS remains to keep off-leash hours in Fort Greene Park, we wonder if there's someone out there who would want to organize an offshoot of PUPS to help create a dog run in Cuyler Gore Park? Please feel free to get in touch with PUPS if you'd be interested in heading up such an effort. PUPS would be glad to help you find other like-minded individuals by sending out e.mails to the general membership, talking to you about our experience in working with Parks Department, elected officials and some of the local groups whose support you'd need, etc.

It could be a really great solution for the increasing number of neighborhood dog owners to have both options: 9:00 to 9:00 off-leash in Fort Greene Park and a permanent dog run in Cuyler Gore, a few blocks away.

Be in touch if you're a great organizer of people and want to take on a Herculean task!

See you in the park,

Nancy Peterson President, PUPS

To me, this sounds like a GREAT idea. It sounds as though installing a run in FG Park will take years, caught up in dealing with the city. Why not start a committee that works with the expertise PUPS has garnered over the years to petition for a run nearby?  If you're interested in working on this project, email PUPG at info@fortgreenepups.org.

Dog Run

Based on what I know about Fort Greene PUPS, they at no point ever prevented a dog run from being built at the park.  They have focused their energies on lobbying to make off-leash hours legal, installing a new (and sanitary) dog fountain in the park (which has just been installed!  yay!), volunteering to beautify the park, supplying poop bags, being a source of information and networking between dog owners, etc. Point is, there's nothing preventing those who want a dog run to form a committee and trying to make it happen.  There's a new dog run over in Bed-Stuy (on Lafayette and Marcy, I believe), and there's no reason why we can't have one, too.  But, it won't magically appear.

If anyone starts a group up, I will post about it here.  Just let me know.  (My dog is kind of antisocial, so personally, we probably won't be interested in the dog run.)

New Art Gallery!

When I posted about the SONYA stroll recently, I included a photo of a small sculpture that I purchased there four years ago. Word about the post made it back to the artist, Kathy Stecko, who was delighted! She reached out to tell me about a new art gallery in the area called I.O.I. (Items of Importance), located on Fort Greene Place and open since November. Stecko, who participated in the gallery's first show, will also be showing there again in September! More info on I.O.I. shows is listed here.

G Train Clusterf*ck

I just "love" how about a hundred people waited 20-30 minutes on the G platform this morning with no announcement or staffing whatsoever to tell us no train was coming, and then how every single bus that roared by on DeKalb was packed full and said, "NEXT BUS PLEASE." I know things happen, but would it have killed the MTA to tell us not to wait for the G???  As we exited, people were still swiping through to wait for the train!  Jeez - even a taped up sign written in magic marker would have been better than nothing.

Thankfully, I ran into a neighbor on the platform and then her coworker and we hit up Tillie's for huge iced coffees and walked down to the DeKalb stop together, chatting and laughing.  It made the morning infinitely better.  Yay for Clinton Hillers!

Forum on the Sean Bell Case

A great opportunity to debate and discuss, right here in our neighborhood.

Lovely Mural at NYC Pets

A few weeks ago, the storefront of NYC Pets (Myrtle at Washington) was transformed into a lovely painted parkscape complete with frolicking dogs. The reader who originally spotted it and emailed me said it looked like a Pratt student had been involved in the project.

I love the way the trees look painted over the windows!

Friday Photo

(graffiti in Clinton Hill)

Fort Greene PUPS Spring/Summer Coffee + Membership Drive

From Fort Greene PUPS: On Saturday, June 7, PUPS will hold its annual Spring/Summer Coffee and Membership Drive in Fort Greene Park during off leash hours (between 8AM-9AM). We'll have Gorilla coffee and pastries to help you wake up and get your weekend started. We need two volunteers to help sign up new members! With so many people and dogs moving into the area it's very important that we reach out to newcomers and keep our membership current.

Fort Greene PUPS and bringing your dog to the park for off leash hours are great ways to meet people in the neighborhood!! Plus, membership is FREE! Definitely stop by with your pup this coming weekend.

Hall Street Storage Goes Green

A blog called Did You Ever Notice has recently posted some photos of what appears to be a brand new mural on Hall Street between Park and Flushing:

Just a day or so after receiving this tip, the answer found its way into my inbox. The mural, newly painted on the side of Hall Street Storage, announces the company's new green renovations and services!

Here's their press release (it's long, but it has a lot of good info and history!):

Brooklyn’s Hall Street Storage is Designated the Country’s First Green Storage Space

The only storage facility in the country to qualify for the Green-e logo*-- the leading symbol for renewable energy excellence--opens self-storage rooms for every New Yorker

NY, NY (May 8, 2008)—Today Hall Street Storage offers New Yorkers the opportunity to store green for the first time. By introducing several ground-breaking green initiatives and opening self-storage rooms in its 1918 warehouse space, the company gives everyday New Yorkers the only green alternative for storage in the city, or the nation. The company is systemically green, with sustainable actions throughout—from renewable energy sources for 100% of its electricity use to biodegradable packing peanuts made of cornstarch.

Hall Street Storage has joined Brooklyn’s burgeoning green business movement with a number of forthright green actions. Its purchase of renewable energy (including wind and solar power) for 100% of its annual electricity needs qualifies it to use the Green-e logo, the leading symbol for renewable energy excellence because of its strict environmental and consumer protection standards. “By investing in clean, renewable energy, Hall Street Storage has given their customers the opportunity to support a company that raises awareness and inspires action by taking significant steps to reduce the negative impacts of a fossil-fuel energy generation,” says Aleka Seville, manager of Green-e Marketplace.

Within the company, green efficiencies and a remodel have resulted in the addition of 80,000 square feet of floor space. This newly available space has allowed the company to add self-storage units for individuals and small businesses. Many materials taken out during the remodel are being repurposed rather than trashed. Just one example is the antique wood taken from the company’s 1918 building, which is sought-after today by furniture makers and carpenters for laying floors, and will be used by area craftspeople.

Hall Street Storage has made an art out of finding every possible reuse for discarded materials, making its on-site center for packing supplies full of green materials such as repurposed shipping cartons and bags of paper from the office’s paper shredder to be used as an alternative to bubble wrap. Even the beams removed during the remodel of the building have become wood shavings to be used for packing. Also available are options like biodegradable packing peanuts made of cornstarch. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of recycled packing materials will be donated to the newly formed Wallabout/Clinton Hill Green Awareness Foundation, an organization founded by Hall Street Storage devoted to fostering sustainable lifestyle practices within the Downtown Brooklyn community.

Everyday actions that make an environmental difference within the company include initiatives like using eco-friendly cleaning products. These are echoed in an employee awareness program to elevate knowledge and use of green practices in employees’ own lives, which include the option of buying such items as natural cleaning products and low-energy light bulbs at cost.

Hall Street Storage even wants to encourage its customers to be green at home. New self-storage customers will receive an eco-tote bag filled with environmental helpers like a CFL bulb, a natural house cleaner, and a book with tips on how to be green. And if being green isn’t incentive enough, the company is offering a free year’s rent on self-storage to a winner drawn from those who register on the company’s web site. Soon the rest of the Northeast will have a chance to store green as well, as Hall Street aims to open fifteen green self-storage sites over the next five years.

"Our commitment to having the lowest impact on the environment is more than one of policy; it's become our primary passion," says Jeffrey E. Sitt, President of Hall Street Storage. He hopes the company’s commitment to the green business movement will inspire other area businesses. “It’s like dropping a pebble into a pond,” he says. “One little ripple will always reverberate into wider circles.”

About Hall Street Storage

Hall Street Storage has been serving the Tri-State area since 1931. It is a multi-building warehouse complex encompassing almost an entire city block in the Wallabout/Clinton Hill area of downtown Brooklyn, located opposite Steiner Studios and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and about a mile from DUMBO. The facility encompasses everything from individual rooms to entire floors. With the recent addition of self-storage units, individuals and small businesses will now have access to a range of services like professional packing, shipping, mailbox rentals, and third-party licensed and insured local and long-distance moving.

12 Hall Street, Brooklyn, NY 718-855-3636 www.hallstreetstorage.com

For more on Green-e and Hall Street Storage, see “Corporate Responsibility News."

The original 1918 Hall Street Storage building at Brooklyn’s Wallabout Market; this picture circa 1927:

First Friday at RePop: June 6

FYI, RePop has a new website design!! FIRST FRIDAY art reception JUNE 6: Photography by Matias Aguilar

You are cordially invited to view the raw and heartthrobbing photography of Matias Aguilar on June 6 from 7:30 - 11pm.

Meet the artist, enjoy refreshments as you view his work as well as a 10% discount on all RePOP goods.

SECOND FRIDAY IN JULY

. As America celebrates Independence Day on July 4, RePOP's usual First Friday event has been moved up a week to accomodate the BBQ parties we all would rather be at! So remember to join us all on July 11th for our next Art Party featuring the collective work of Taibi and Katalan Foisey

Taibi creates mixed media works comprised of a variety of materials, most of which she has rescued from garbage piles and collected over time. Some of the things she collects include plastic "sell by" tags from bread bags and labels from food packaging. in short, the excess of daily consumer life. She is drawn to intense pattern and color and especially enjoys day of the dead shrines and psychedelic poster art of the late 60's/early 70's.

As a teenager Katelan and her cousin took road trips with no destinations. They wound up at truck stops, coffee shops, graveyards and the occasional prison. Through these trips she learned the art of collage. picking up whatever scraps she could find and pasting them into journals. Her first job was an in-house project for Hallmark Inc.

Now, Katelan makes a living pasting and painting for clients such as The Grammy Awards, Out magazine, The Progressive and many others. Her collaged portraits and ruminative mixed-media paintings have graced the pages of Scholastic Books and the walls of Young & Rubicam. Ensemble Studio Theater even had her work grace their stage. Katelan's art can currently be seen at The Ohio History Museum. During the Summer and Fall of 2008 she will be showing in both Harlem and Europe. She also designs and illustrates for Constellation Magazine.

Katelan still takes trips with no destinations and throws the fragments in her journals. In her spare time she reads tarot, practices reiki and poses for pictures.

Il Torchio No More

Many of you have emailed me in the last two days after trying to make a reservation at Il Torchio, only to be told the ownership had changed. This seems like a bizarre turn of events.  Il Torchio, which opened less than a year, definitely had its growing pains.  Many of you left comments about the price points, service and quality in the first month or so, but they really seemed to get their game together.  In recent months, many people have emailed me and commented on how good the food and atmosphere were.  And that makes this changeover all the more curious.

MARP, in response to my email asking what was up, said that they only knew that Il Torchio's owners decided they no longer wanted to own both the building and the restaurant.  (And as for Los Pollitos, they brought on a business partner, hence the name and menu change.)

Anyone one dined under the new ownership yet?

Now Filming in the 'Hood

Received several filming tips and questions yesterday, so between that and an evening jog around the area, here's what I've discovered:

• Brooklyn's Finest (feature film) - filming on DeKalb Ave, and on Clermont.  Lots of stars in this one, including Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Ellen Barkin and Richard Gere (keep your hamsters on lockdown).  Filming may have concluded yesterday, since it looked like they were packing up.
• Sports Illustrated something-or-other -Probably a TV show, and filming yesterday and today on South Oxford.

Donde Esta Los Pollitos?

A reader tipped me off to the fact that Los Pollitos on Myrtle has mysteriously been renamed!

What gives? I'm pretty sure it's still owned by the Los Pollitos folks, since the Los Pollitos dessert menu is still hanging in the window. Remember how packed LP was when it first opened?! What's going on here?

CH Resident Leads Children's Culinary School!

Clinton Hill Resident Lisa Sicilia will be the head instructor at a cooking school for children in nearby Boerum Hill: Creative Cooks Culinary Center is a culinary school designed just for kids between the ages of 3 and 13!! We will be opening our doors in June for summer programs, after-school classes & birthday parties. Come check out our new space at one of our Open Houses on June 4th or 11th from 6:30-8:30pm.

Young tastemakers learn the art of cooking in our kid friendly kitchen. We provide a warm and nurturing environment where kids are taught kitchen safety, basic food handling and preparation, following recipes, measuring and most importantly, self expression through food. Students work in small groups and are supervised and taught by professional chefs.

Creative Cooks is located at: 298 Atlantic Avenue between Smith & Hoyt, Brooklyn, NY 11201 US www.creativecooks.us (our page is still in the works!)

CHB and BSB at Hoyt-Schermerhorne

A few weekends ago, I was waiting for the A, C at Hoyt Schermerhorne when a woman approached me. "Are you Robin?" she asked. "Yes?" I answered, not sure if I recognized her. It was Petra of Bed-Stuy Blog! Petra and I have been in touch since she started her site, but we'd never met in person! I love this area. I'm always running into someone I know (in both human and virtual form!)

Also, you may have noticed some weirdness and filming on the unused southbound track during commutes. Turns out they are remaking the 70s film The Taking of Pelham 123 and are filming it there! Cool.

Community Mural Painting at Tillie's

Last year, I interviewed local artist Ellie Balk as part of the "Personal Profiles" series (which will hopefully be resurrected soon -- if you have any ideas on what you might like, please email me!). She mentioned how she hoped to work with Tillie's to create a community mural -- a map of the neighborhood on which all local residents would be invited to paint a dot on the location where they lived, illustrating how close we all really live to one another and how much the neighborhoods nearby are connected. After many long months of working with Landmarks and raising money and applying for grants, Ellie is ready to begin!

Save the date, as the main citizen participation day will be Saturday, June 21.

Here's the info from the press release:

Tillie’s of Brooklyn is proud to announce the painting of a community mural on the Vanderbilt Avenue side of the store, now an empty brick wall at the corner of Vanderbilt and DeKalb Avenues in the Fort Greene section of the borough. Partnered with the newly created SONYA Mural Arts Project, artist Ellie Balk will paint a 9’ circle map of the neighborhood on the wall starting Friday evening, 6/13. Over the course of a week Balk and a crew of volunteer artists from the area will paint the map on the wall. On Saturday, June 21st from 12:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. the public is invited to participate by putting a dot in the spot where their home is located. Tillie’s will serve refreshments on 6/21 at the dedication ceremony.

South Of the Navy Yard Artists (SONYA) has partnered with Ellie Balk to create the SONYA Mural Arts Fund, which will be used to create and implement murals and public art projects that support the youth and neighborhoods of Brooklyn. The initial goal is to raise $5,000 towards the completion of its first project and the development of future murals. The public is invited to make tax-deductible donations by visiting SONYA's website: http://www.sonyaonline.org/ and clicking on "donate", then noting "Mural Arts Fund" under the special instructions, so that the funds can be allocated properly.

Artist Ellie Balk, a neighborhood resident and artist who specializes in community-based projects, explains: “The goal for the Tillie's Community Mural is to unify and bridge the varying aspects of the local community, giving all people a sense of connectedness. The mural will go up at the point where our neighborhoods meet, at the corner of Vanderbilt and DeKalb: Tillie's has become a home base for many Ft. Greene/Clinton Hill residents.”

With fiscal sponsorship and support from SONYA, this mural has been funded through a grant from the Puffin Foundation and with generous support from the Society for Clinton Hill. It is also supported by: the Landmarks commission of NYC; the Community Board of Kings County; building owner Danny Browne; Tillie's owners, Patricia Mulcahy and Amos Yogev; and many enthusiastic community members. Says SONYA’s president, Kathleen Hayek, “We are excited about the Tillie’s Community Mural and would very much like it to succeed and be the catalyst for many more mural projects within our community.”

To learn more about Ellie Balk’s projects and background as a mural artist, see www.elliebalk.com. For all other inquiries contact Patricia Mulcahy at 718 783-6140 or at mail@tilliesofbrooklyn.com.