New Map Coming Soon!

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Hi all- I know the CH Map is sorely outdated, and I'm working on a new one (a Google Map, like Bed-Stuy Blog uses), which will be easier to update regularly.  I'd like your advice -- I will obviously do my best to fill in everything in CH, but would you also like me to fill in Fort Greene and Western Bed-Stuy?  I feel that leaving those out wouldn't make much sense, but I have to draw the line someplace. So tell me, outside of CH, what would you like to have the map include?

The Benefits of the Hill

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Clinton Hill's name isn't an accident - it's actually on a hill! That means we're spared much of the street flooding that other Brooklyn neighborhoods see during a rain storm, tornado, etc. Though Park Avenue always seems to be flooded. Anyway, hopefully you can stay home today. The trains ain't going anywhere right now.

g train flooded

When Pat Kiernan says "stay home," I listen.

Brooklyn in Berlin!

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I've returned from Central Europe (though it took my luggage two extra days to catch up with me -- grrrr).  I spent my last two days in Berlin, which was definitely one of the most amazing cities I have ever seen!  I even found a little bit of the nabe there: dscf1458.jpg

On Friday, I took an eight-hour walking tour of the city.  Sounds insane, but it was amazing. The tour guide, an American student named Robin, has friends who live off of the Clinton-Washington stop!  Small world.

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There you have it:  HALLO from Robin and Robin in Berlin.

It's good to be back home.

Still Hip: NOW OPEN

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Should have posted this last week - was bogged down with finishing class in Krakow! Still Hip (clothing, toy and gear resale boutique) is set to open its new store location Tuesday, July 24! Along with children's and maternity clothing, toys and gear we will offer a wide array of kids' classes such as Sign-a-Song, Musica Para Mi, Private Picassos, Let's Dance Brooklyn!, Lego Mindstorm, and more. Audra Tsanos is teaching her summer session of Music for Aardvarks at the store already.

Our address is 283 Grand, between Lafayette Ave and Clifton Pl, in Clinton Hill. We are sandwiched between two great eateries, Grand 275 and Dakar, and around the corner from Choice Market. The store will be open Tuesday-Sunday 11am-6pm in the summer and will expand hours in the Fall to open at 10am.

Keep an eye out for info on our Grand Opening and ribbon cutting, arranged through Pratt Area Community Council, early this Fall! You can check us out at stillhipbrooklyn.com and sign up for our mailing list to receive updates on the store and info on classes.

Thanks so much for all the support! We are looking forward to showing off the new space and all that Still Hip has to offer.

See you soon! Best, Gabby and Marcie

Brooklyn in Krakow

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It seems my webmaster is doing his job posting my drafts while I am in Poland. Just wanted to check in, and share a little bit of Brooklyn in Krakow... On the street, you can buy obwarzanki from street carts, not unlike the carts in the city that sell pretzels and the like. Obwarzanki cost just 1 zloty (approximately 33 cents), and come in plain, sesame, poppy and salt. obwarzanki

They're a lot like bagels, but flatter and wider. The one I bought was a bit dry, but then again, so are bagels you buy from the silver breakfast carts on the street. I'll have to find a proper bakery and try one there.

July on CHB

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Happy Birthday, CHB! Exactly one year ago today, I started this site. I was worried I'd run out of things to write about. (Can't believe that now!) I'll be having a big Blog Birthday Bash in conjunction with RePop (also celebrating their one-year this month) sometime in August. Stay tuned for details. firstbirthdaypiks-copy.jpg

Thanks to all readers and commentors for contributing to the site, and keeping it alive. I could never keep the site up without your tips, questions and feedback.

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The party will be delayed due to the fact that I am going to be spending three weeks in Krakow, Poland for an intensive grad school semester (starting next week). I will have spotty internet access there, and have made provisions for some pre-drafted posts to go up daily while I am away. I have a large amount of historical stuff ready to go (postcards and photos) and hopefully hey mama will jump in with any breaking news. Continue sending tips to our gmail address. krakow-square-1.jpg

I hope to post a few "Brooklyn vs Krakow" pieces while I'm away.

See you in August! (I'm working on bringing in some Kelso kegs for the bash, so we can all support our local brewery!)

Brooklyn Based

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I’ve just begun a newsletter for Brooklynites called Brooklyn Based. Its purpose isn't to take the place of fantastic blogs like CHB, but to enhance and streamline all the information that's relevant to us in Brooklyn, via one small email a day (or more realistically, every other day, since I'm doing this in my spare time).

Today’s email, for instance, is about Brooklyn Uncorked, a great wine tasting event coming to BAMcafé this Wednesday. You can read about it here, and sign up for the newsletter here. I’d love to hear your feedback if you subscribe.

FYI: This is Clintoncentric's project. Lesterhead has her hands full :)

A Be-In For Brooklyn Babies

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My friend is filming a video about local babies and kids tomorrow in Prospect Park from roughly 11AM to 2PM, prime park-enjoying time. Kids of all ages are welcome. Bring any toys you'd like. The meeting point will be at the first patch of grass you come to when you go through the Grand Army Plaza Gate. There will be a gaggle of kids and parents hanging out, so they'll be easy to spot. Help your child represent!

People, get your tickets

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For their weekend edition, which comes out today, Daily Candy blurbed the house tour, and when Daily Candy blurbs something, things sell out lightening quick. I would pick up tickets soon if you don't have them: Clinton Hill House Tour What: Ogle twelve rarely (or never) seen, beautifully restored mansions and apartments from 19th-century millionaires like the Pratts, Singers, and Pfizers. Why: To the right, a room designed by Tiffany & Co. To the left, your broke ass. When: Sun., noon-5 p.m. Where: Tour starts at St. Luke’s Church, 259 Washington Ave., b/t DeKalb & Willoughby Aves. Tickets online at societyforclintonhill.org.

Second lesson to be learned from break-ins

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So, I called the 88th Precinct and said, have you heard about the rash of break-ins lately and have you done anything about it? (I used the word "rash" because it seems like there have been a lot based on the comments.) And the officer informed me that when lots of people call to report break-ins, they do put more cops on the street or in cars patrolling the street to stop them. But people don't always report them... so it continues to happen. And he wasn't aware of any "rash" of break-ins, which tells me people are being too quiet about it. So, if your car has been broken into, or you know someone whose car has been broken into, have them report it. The number is 718-636-6511.

Car break-ins

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It goes without saying that if you park your car on the street, you're opening yourself up to the possibility of a break-in. When I first moved to the hood, I saw few fancy cars parked on Washington, but as the years went on I began to see nice wheels like Land Rovers parked overnight. Which gives the impression that it's safe to leave a nice car on the street in Clinton Hill. But this week, a woman I know on Irving Pl. had her car broken into. Granted, it's a Beamer, but it made me wonder: did I have a false illusion of safety? Was this a fluke? Or is it just that as you get further from the heart of CH and closer to Bed-Stuy, you've got to be on your guard more? Has anyone else been broken into lately, or heard of someone who has? One lesson to be learned from all this (aside from garaging your car) is that the people (or person) who broke in only took that case that houses the user's manual for the car, presumably thinking she kept her spare key in there, which some people do (though she didn't thankfully). But she did keep her insurance, title and registration in it. Perhaps not the best place for those things.

Delays on Comments

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You may have noticed that your comments sometimes do not appear when you submit them. I have a super-strong spam blocker enabled, and sometimes comments are caught in the 'moderation' area.  If you post and the comment doesn't appear, it's probably waiting for my approval.  I will try to check a few times a day for comments in limbo and send them through to the site.

(Just wanted you all to know what was up.)

Bank of America: Grand Opening

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image001.gif I have a few things to say about this:

1. LOVE the idea for the new campaign. Hopefully MARP will provide info on the "18 local merchants" featured so I can post it here. I see Karen on the bottom right! Some of you recently posted on wanting a fish market. There's a guy on the bottom holding a fish! Let's find out what his deal is.

2. How exactly does a chain bank tie in with this campaign? Hey, I'm all for more banks nearby (though I'm annoyed at the lack of an HSBC), but just wondering.

3. Why do all these community events have to be on a weekday afternoon? It was the same with the CH Co-Ops co-generation celebration-thing. I know it's good to have local politicians on-hand and maybe it's harder to schedule them on the weekends. But if this stuff is for the community...well, it would be nice to be able to attend, that's all.

4. Tish James is scheduled to appear. I have to give her props for seemingly being everywhere at all times. I've never had a local politician be so visible.