Farewell to Tessan Boutique

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Just received a message that Tessan Boutique, at DeKalb and Clinton, will be closing.  It's very sad news, as Aissatou is such a delightful shopkeeper and curator.  However, running a business is not easy, and I respect her desire to destress.

Good Afternoon,

It was a difficult decision to make but it is official: Tessan Boutique's last day of business will be this coming Sunday, January 11, 2009. I would like to take this opportunity to thank customers, friends, family, neighbors, local businesses, bloggers and all who came and patronized Tessan Boutique. It was an amazing and rewarding experience. Please join us for Tessan Boutique's farewell party on Sunday, January 11, 2009 from 4pm to 6pm.

CHB Contributors!

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I'll be emailing those of you who submitted your email address in the reader survey for being a CHB contributor today! There's still time if you're interested.  Possible "beats" can include:

  • parenting and kids
  • history
  • store reviews
  • style
  • interviews/profiles
  • nightlife
  • politics

Not a writer?  There will be other ways to get involved:

  • creating neighborhood maps
  • event listings

Contact clintonhillblog-at-gmail-dot-com for more info.

What Should I Do With My Xmas Tree?

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Thankfully, CHB has the answer for you. Option 1: Leave it on the curb.  Sanitation tells us that they will pick up trees, without lights or ornaments, from the curb and will take them to Staten Island for chipping and mulching there. They will do this between January 5th and the 11th.

Option 2:  Mulchfest! Take your tree to Fort Greene Park this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, from 10am-2pm) for a huge chipping session where there will be refreshments for all provided by Provisions (YUM), located on Fulton Street.  Bring the kids and dogs for a good, end-of-holiday-season get-together.  And, best of all, the mulch will be used right there in our own Fort Greene Park to protect and nourish our trees and shrubs.

Option 3: Bring your used Christmas tree to the Hollenback Community Garden on Washington Avenue between Gates & Greene (also Saturday and Sunday) so that the Parks Department can haul them all over to Fort Greene Park for chipping and distribution to the needy trees and shrubs in the park. A great alternative for those who don't live near the park (or have a huge-ass tree that they don't want to haul as far).

If you want to keep it local, and provide much needed mulch for our own Fort Greene Park, take the trees to either Fort Greene Park or the Hollenback Garden this weekend. It is a little more exercise and you have to hang onto that dead tree for a little while longer, but keeping it local and helping the park are good.

Return from Dubai

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My apologies for not posing more while I was away!  I meant to, but with Flickr not accessible (and the regular Wordpress photo uploader not working), I just didn't make the time. One of many giant buildings on Sheik Zayed Road in Dubai

So, a brief recap:

Dubai couldn't have been less like Clinton Hill.  The entire place is a buzzing hive of development and almost everything is brand new and very tall.  It's impossible to cross any major street.  In fact, one night we went to a bar across the street and had to take a cab!  There are approximately six major malls there, with more on the way.  The malls are filled with expensive chain stores that cost twice as much as they do in NYC or London.  And that's what you do there (as a Westerner, anyway) -- go to malls, or go to hotels so you can drink.  It's not unlike Vegas in many ways.

Our host, a friend in his late 20s, is there to make money.  Yes, he's met and made friends there, through work and other connections.  But he's not chilling with the Emirati, and he's not having TV night with neighbors in his building, and he's not chatting with people on the street.  It's a very segregated place, between service workers and the wealthy.

Still, an interesting trip nonetheless, but not a place I'd consider putting roots down.

More lovely was a side trip to Khatar, Oman -- a little ancient town on the Arabian Gulf.  While there, my boyfriend and I just happened to get engaged!  I mention that sappy little bit only to say that we're going to try to use at least a few Clinton Hill businesses in the planning process.

I'm planning on getting right back to business as usual, but bear with me this week.  I am going right back to work and I expect jetlag to be a bitch (Dubai is 9 hours ahead of NYC).

Happy 2009!

A traditional dhow in the Arabian Sea, Oman

Changes on Fulton

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On Sunday, I discovered that Fulton Street is back to accommodating two-way traffic (after having to take an A/C shuttle bus).  FINALLY. The Times offered an interesting article on the state of the street's BID last week as well.  Many seem to think it's not needed, but you can't deny the success it's had on Myrtle Avenue.  Yet, a BID requires local businesses to pay into a community fund to help pay for street improvements.  After a few years of street construction and hard times, people aren't feeling so hip to spending more.

(I hope this post is coherent! I'm on vacation in Dubai and it's only 2:30 am EST.)

CHB Holiday Schedule

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CHB will be operating on a light schedule until Tuesday, January 6, 2009. I hesitate to step completely away from the laptop, in case something interesting happens.  Regardless, I probably won't be posting daily. Stay tuned for new features and a new design in 09!

One last thing -- can anyone recommend a good Xmas Eve church service in the neighborhood?

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hankuuah, Happy Kwanza and Happy New Year.

finally, it snows!

More on the Explosion

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Many of you have probably walked by the explosion scene by now, but in case you haven't, here it is: CO2 explosion on washington ave at lafayette

No wonder it was so loud!  The sidewalk was completely shattered from below!

Thanks to all the readers who responded, especially in the immediate aftermath.  Many of you have expressed your frustration at not being able to find any news about this, so I'm glad I was able to at least create a space to share information.

Reader David also noted that here may have been two additional explosions on Classon at Myrtle-Willoughby yesterday (via Gothamist Labs).

Is this a common occurence?  The blast was loud and frightening on Friday night.  The authorities seemed to know in advance that it would happen -- firetrucks were lining Washington immediately afterwards.  But still.  Someone walking past could have been seriously injured.  It doesn't seem fair that there was no communication with the neighborhood from ConEd, etc, aside from the residents whose homes had to be searched before and after the blast.

Clinton Hill Convent to Close

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You may have noticed the fortress-like building on Willoughby Avenue near the Clinton Hill-Bed Stuy border and wondered what it was.  It's been a convent for nearly 150 years, and is now closing. The NY Times offered an interesting profile on it recently, including a photo slide show.  Sadly, the building isn't landmarked so there's no telling what will happen to it.  It's also sad to think about the remaining women there being split up.  I wish them well in their new homes.

This just in from the Society for Clinton Hill:

As you will see in the information below, the Sisters of Mercy Convent is soon to be closed and the property sold and possibly demolished. This property is one of 5 recommended for Individual Landmark status in our 2007 Cultural Resource Survey, which was submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission in August 2007 and recommends an expansion of our landmark district. Our report is still under review by LPC and we are now asking LPC to address our request as soon as possible. In just the year and a half since we submitted our report, there have been losses to the fabric of our unique architectural community, including some of those especially unique properties which are recommended for consideration as "Individual Landmarks." The loss of this intact nineteenth-century religious complex to yet more "luxury condos" would be a sad thing for our neighborhood on many levels. We would much prefer to see this historic religious compound preserved and put to adaptive re-use.

We hope you will help us save the Sisters of Mercy Convent!

The Sisters of Mercy Convent is located in Clinton Hill at 237 Willoughby Avenue between Classon Avenue and Taafe Place. The buildings represent an intact nineteenth-century convent complex. The motherhouse on the property was designed by Brooklyn resident Patrick C. Keely, the most important Catholic-church architect in America in the mid-nineteenth century.

The Sisters of Mercy first came to Brooklyn in 1855 and moved into the Willoughby Avenue building in November 1862. A substantial addition, St. Francis of Assisium Female Orphan Asylum, was built in 1883.  By 1891 there were 510 girls in residence.  Many were taught at St. Francis Industrial School at Kent and Willoughby Avenues.

Now with dwindling numbers and an estimated $20 million in needed repairs, the convent is closing. This complex is an important part of Clinton Hill and Brooklyn's history. Religious institutions across the city are being demolished and with their loss, neighborhoods are losing significant community anchors. The Sisters of Mercy Convent should not be demolished and can be adapted into any number of uses including housing, educational facilities, retail, office, medical and/or community facilities, including affordable housing.

The petition is sponsored by the Society for Clinton Hill and our friends, the Historic Districts Council.

Please use the link below to sign our on-line petition to LPC.

http://www.petitiononline.com/convent/petition.html

Neighborhood Christmas Caroling, TOMORROW

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Christmas Caroling in Clinton Hill Friday, December 19, 6:30 pm

Community Garden (DeKalb/Hall)

Join a 40-year tradition of song and celebration…bring family, friends and neighbors to share in the season, sing to the residents of our neighborhood, and share cookies and hot chocolate.  The route is not long, the spirit will be high, and the joy of song will go right into your heart.  Bring an instrument if you play.

Call Marge Othrow 718-789-1619 with questions or to volunteer with arrangements.

Tonight on Grand

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Infrequent Seams Series::A twice-monthly series of edgy, creative music, co-curated by James Ilgenfritz and Julianne Carney $8 Suggested (but we're flexible!) 8 PM - 11 PM First & Third Thursdays* www.myspace.com/infrequentseams

December 18 Nate Wooley / Dan Levin A Mown Lawn: Jacob Wick / Judith Berkson / Curtis Hasselbring / Josh Sinton / Jessie Marino

*We're taking January off, so this is your last chance to visit Le Grand Dakar on Thursdays until February!

Some really fabulous musicians this month...stop by to support local music!

Buying Local: 10 INEXPENSIVE GIFT IDEAS

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I've been meaning to do a feature like this for the last few years, but now it's more important than ever to shop locally!  I spent a few hours last weekend browsing local shops in search of unique (and inexpensive) finds perfect for rounding out the gift list. The criteria?   Inexpensive and purchased in the neighborhood. Here they are:

1. Owa African Market, 434 Myrtle Ave: Wooden Giraffe (made in Kenya), $10

Giraffes are a favorite animal of mine, and are one of several wood carved items available here.  Great for a bookshelf or side table!

2. Associated, 367 Waverly Ave: Popsicle Molds, $1.99 popsicle

I've been looking for popsicle molds for months now and was pleasantly surprised to find these at Associated!  Great for those with a do-it-yourself attitude and people excited to make a healthier alternative to store-bought pops. Take this gift to the next level by including some popsicle recipes.  (NOTE: THESE ARE NOT DISHWASHER SAFE.  Don't make the same mistake I did and end up with a dishwasher full of melted plastic sticks.)

3. Root Stock & Quade, 471 Myrtle Ave: Paperwhite Bulbs, $1.75/ea or 5 for $8 paperwhites at root stock and quade

Just place these in a glass vase filled with stones and water, and watch them sprout!  A great gift for an apartment-dweller with limited space.

4. Green Planet, 969 Fulton St: Yogi Tea, $3.99

The boxes are lovely and the variety is large.  Buy a few for a stressed-out friend and make a zen gift basket!

5. J. Love Gift Shop, 485 Myrtle Ave: Plastic Dinosaurs, $3.99

A fun idea for both kids and your hipster boyfriend alike.  Small plastic replicas of Jurassic animals will liven up any corporate office workstation!

6. Tessan Boutique, 280 DeKalb Ave: Gold Chain Necklace w/ Red Beads, $22

necklace at tessan

There's a whole table of reasonable jewelry to choose from, but this one stuck out to me!

7. Kulcha Lion, 926 Fulton St: Clinton Hill Chill T-shirt, $20

You'll pay a 100% markup by getting one at this Fulton retail shop (as opposed to the guys selling them on the street), but they sell a few other cool BK t-shirts, too.

8. Karen's Body Beautiful, 436 Myrtle Ave: Homemade Soaps, 3 for $15

These chunky soaps come in a variety of yummy flavors (including milkshake and jasmine lily).  Plus, they're all made on site in the store's open kitchen!

9. Pratt Store, 550 Myrtle Ave: I Love Pratt Mug, $7.99

Show your love for a local institution and let the recipient show off some creative cred.

10. bodega, 971 Fulton St: Botanica candles, $1.79

Yes, they're ubiquitous with bodegas and NYC, but that's part of their charm.

BONUS ITEM(S): Greene Grape Provisions, 753 Fulton St: Fort Greene Park Conservancy Greeting Cards, $3/ea

My plan was to keep the list exclusively to Clinton Hill proper, but the folks at Provisions in Fort Greene let me know that they're selling totes, paperweights and git cards with local historic scenes (BAM, the park, etc.)  All proceeds from sales of these items go to support Fort Greene Park (yes, 100% of sales price!).  Also check out their retro temporary tattoos, great for stocking stuffers, and gift baskets.

Finally, when you spend $15 and mention Clinton Hill Blog, receive a free holiday gift wine box:

Fort Greene PUPS Holiday Coffee: TOMORROW

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PUPS HOLIDAY COFFEE
At the PUPS Holiday Coffee on Saturday, Dec. 13, PUPS will be taking collections of money and other donations for Sean Casey Animal Rescue, a Brooklyn-based rescue organization (www.scarnyc.org). PUPS will match all donations dollar for dollar. We will also be accepting donations of towels, sheets, dog and cat food, treats, and toys. Come join us in Fort Greene Park between 8-9:00 am for (FREE) hot coffee, bagels, and muffins. We will also have the 2009 PUPS calendar available for $10 donations.

Dedicated Benches in Fort Greene Park

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Noticed some new benches in Fort Greene Park recently, and each one sports a dedication plaque.  I love this idea, since it's a great way to give a lasting gift to the neighborhood. Plus, it's fun to go bench to bench and see what donors have chosen for their plaques. This one was my favorite:

dedicated benches

Info on the benches, including sponsorship info, can be found here.