CHB Reviews: Kif

Finally! After so much positive reader feedback, I was able to hit up Kif on Friday evening. I know many people loved Liquors, but to be honest, I was never really that into their food or service. Though it will always have a place in my heart, as it's the very first place I ate at in the neighborhood several years ago.

I'm glad to report that Kif seems to be offering tastier food and friendlier service!

I met up with BrooklynJay, who I haven't seen in months. We were able to snag a prime spot out back (glad to say they're also utilizing the back yard!), and started with falafel and pita/hummus. The hummus was great, and the pita bread was amazing -- warm, lightly baked and yet soft. Perfect for dipping.

Jay had the burger. He was sick with a bad cold, so he wasn't his usual chipper self (or I would have made him write this review). Still, he cleaned his plate and said that the burger was tasty with a good mix of Moroccan-type spices.

I had the couscous royal, which was filled with veggies and a few kinds of meat. I normally wouldn't order couscous, but the reader comments persuaded me. It was delicious, and came with a bunch of sauces.

The best thing, though, was the dessert. We tried the orange flower creme brulee, and OMG. It really tasted like the smell of orange blossoms, and it might rival Chez Lola's lavender bread pudding as tastiest dessert in the area (though I think that's still my favorite).

The inside was lavish without looking overdone, and I hear they offer hookah service after 11pm. Service was very friendly, and I felt like the owner made a good effort to offer a warm welcome to everyone. (To be honest, I have heard more than one report that he's a bit chilly to same sex couples -- any feedback on this?)

Kif 219 DeKalb Ave.

(note: the photos are not the best, I know. It was really dark inside and out back!)

Earth Day Opening Weekend at Habana Outpost!

Guys- So sorry I sat on this all week. I was starting a new job and, you know how it goes.

Anyway, Fort Greene's eco-friendly hot spot Habana Outpost has its opening weekend Saturday and Sunday, in honor of Earth Day. They're offering a packed schedule, including kids' concerts, composting classes, movies and umbrella recycling. Now, if only they'd revise that ordering-truck situation so that diners aren't left for an hour waiting for their corn...

Earth Day Expo at Habana Outpost

Saturday, April 19th & Sunday April 20th 2008

Two days of free workshops and events for the whole family!

Kid’s Corner-Saturday& Sunday 12-6

Throughout the weekend there will be free arts & crafts, games and entertainment for children focusing on recycling and nature.

The ABC’s of Bees and Beekeeping - Saturday 2:00pm

Local beekeeper John Howe (the Brooklyn Bee) will explain how honey is made with a live observation hive and arts and crafts projects.

FINDERS KEEPERS!!!! TOSSERS WEEPERS!!! – Saturday 3-4 &Sunday 2-3

Recycling within Your Environment – This hands-on workshop will explore how to reuse what is in your home, community and environment. On this day, that environment will be Habana Outpost! Children will be asked to go on a scavenger hunt through the Habana Outpost area and use what they find to create new objects or give old objects new purpose and meaning. Brought to you by the Leadership Learning Lab

Composting With Red Worms – Sunday 1-2

Learn the basics of composting at home with live red wiggler worms! Use kitchen waste to make valuable, all natural plant food…compost.

Composting Workshops for Adults – Saturday & Sunday 2:00 & 5:00

Brought to you by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Department of Sanitation, these fun workshops will teach you how to start composting at home.

Electronic Waste Recycling – Saturday & Sunday 10:00 – 4:00pm

The Lower East Side Ecology Center (LESEC) will be collecting your unwanted electronic waste in their e-waste container.

Recycled Art Show- Awards ceremony Sunday at 4:00pm

Local high school and elementary students will create art out of trash. The work will be on display throughout the weekend and the winners will be announced on Sunday at 4:00pm

Umbrella Recycling- Saturday 12:00 – 4:00pm

Umbrella Recycling: A BYOBU (bring your own broken umbrella) Design Project

Bring your own broken umbrella (BYOBU) to recycle, rehabilitate or re imagine. Learn how to craft a reusable (grocery) bag out of a dead umbrella. All other materials provided. Meet up under the solar panels with master tailor and sewing teacher Bonnie Barton.

Shop Green- Saturday & Sunday 12-6

Local vendors and designers will showcase green products and services in an outdoor market

Featuring: Trixe and Radar, Lower East Side Girls Club and Recycle a Bicycle.

Get Involved-Saturday & Sunday 12-6

Meet local eco-minded groups and individuals to find out how you can get involved!

Participating Groups: Good Magazine, Green Home NYC, Green Brooklyn, Greenopia, Atomseco, The Society of Clinton Hill, Sunset-Ridge Waterfront Alliance

Films –

Sunday at 3:00pm

The Water Under Ground- In spring of 2006, the Lower East Side Ecology Center partnered with Center for Urban Pedagogy, City-as-School, and RECYouth to explore the Water Underground–the millions of gallons of water that enters the city, gets used in various ways and discharged to local waterways each day. The Water Underground video is a 25-minute student-led exploration of where water comes from, where it goes and what happens along the way.

Sunday at 3:00pm

Rooftop Bees - A film by Melissa Lohman Wild -John has an unusual hobby for a longtime resident of New York City. He maintains three beehives on his Brooklyn rooftop. This short doc gives a glimpse into the practice of urban beekeeping and shows how John’s bees are helping to pollinate the Big Apple.

Please visit our website for more information- www.habanaoutpost.com or call 718 858 9500

Habana Outpost - 757 Fulton Street ( corner of South Portland) Brooklyn, New York 11217

Kif: Review Coming Soon

I haven't been to Kif yet, the restaurant that finally took over the Liquor's space on DeKalb.  I've heard mostly good things so far -- that the food is good and that they have hookahs. (FYI, Zaytoons on Myrtle also has hookahs.)

Hope to check it out in the next week or so for myself.

Neighborhood Gyms

Someone asked me recently about neighborhood gyms, and as it turns out, it looks like I may be joining one of them soon (I currently belong to a gym near my office, but I'm starting a new job next week!).  I hope to visit them both this weekend, but in the meantime, here are my general thoughts on each: Crunch Fort Greene 691 Fulton St.

• Open extended hours
• Ability to work out at other Crunch locations (ie near my new office)
• Fun, funky classes
• Could be pricey
• Decent selection of morning and evening classes
• So-so weekend class schedule

YMCA Bed-Stuy 1121 Bedford Ave.

• Much more affordable monthly membership
• Pool
•  Seemingly good community programs for kids and teens (not applicable to me, but beneficial for families)
• Very affordable personal training available
• Brand new facility

These are my vague impressions thus far.  The affordability of the Y is a big factor, but so is the convenience of extra locations with Crunch for working out near both work and home.

Have a particularly good or bad experience with either?

HOLY FLEA!

Today's weather was freeeeezing (and I think it got exponentially colder in the hour I was there). It didn't discourage the crowds, however. Holy CRAP was it crowded in there! The food vendors, especially the waffle place and Choice made bank, with long lines stretching halfway down the track field. I purposely left my wallet at home, but had I brought it, you bet I would have been in line for some warm food and drink. As well as walked out with a ton of gorgeous jewelry. I saw a lot of really great stuff, notably the jewelry and many of the t-shirt tables. Some of my personal favorites:

(drink and dream, above)

(lois aronow ceramics, above)

(lost the card for this place, but they do gorgeously reupholstered vintage chairs)

Was it just me, or was it a bit hard to navigate? I felt like I had trouble figuring out how to see everything.  A word of warning -- there are no dogs allowed.  Plenty of people carried their small dogs inside, but leave your giant pup at home.  I suppose I understand not wanting a bunch of pee and poop inside the flea, but it would be really nice to bring the dogs along.

It was strange to see so many hipsters out and about on Lafayette Ave.  A tip -- if you have a car, secure your street spot before the flea starts every Sunday.

(props to Jon Butler and Eric Demby for organizing!)

Fort Greene in the Onion

Gotta love the Onion and their scathing satire. Fort Greene made a recent issue. Check it out here.

April Events at Tillie's

(sorry it's not nicely formatted- having a busy day!)April 2008 Events Tillie’s of Brooklyn

248 DeKalb Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11205

(718) 783-6140

www.tilliesofbrooklyn.com Music

Friday, April 4th

Tom Blatt Project

Tom Blatt, bass guitar

Malon Hoard, saxophone Westbank Johnson, trombone

Mary Lou Manahan, keyboard

Lee McClune, flute, electronics

Andy O’Neill, drums

Dave Painchaud, trumpet

Tm Blatt project appears all over the city at venues such as Pianos, the Bowery Poetry Club, and Goodbye Blue Monday in Brooklyn.

Friday, April 11th

Eyal Maoz Crazy Slavic Band Eyal Maoz - guitar Ron Caswell - tuba Ziv Ravitz, drums

Mesmerizing compositions from this prodigiously gifted composer and guitarist. Music by Israeli-born Maoz has been featured on MTV, NPR, and at the 2007 NYC Jazzfest, most recently.

Friday, April 25th

Damian Quinones

Damian Quinones: Vocals/Guitar/Electric Piano

Joe Lee: Electric Bass

Naren Rauch: Guitar

David Beauchamp: Drums

"Urban folk music" equally at home in a solo acoustic setting as it is full volume with the band. Quinones’ songwriting is part 60's pop, in the vein of Gainsbourg, Bacharach, Lennon/ McCartney, Davies, and Hayes/Porter; part 70's Nuyorican funk (in the mold of Willie Bobo, War, and Harlem River Drive; and has elements of electronic music, jazz, Tropicalia, and Reggae.

All performances start at 8 p.m.

Cover: $5, $3 with student ID Art Andrea Spiros Paintings

March 31st – May 3rd 2008

Andrea Spiros is a Brooklyn-born artist currently living in Clinton Hill. She studied at The Whitney Museum Independent Study Program, and participated in a group show at The Whitney. She has studied painting and drawing at Brooklyn College with Lee Bonteque, design at The School of Visual Arts, and Medical Illustration at LIU.

She has shown her work at the Queens Museum of Art, The Hillwood Art Museum, and The Foundation for Hellenic Culture in NYC. Internationally, she as exhibited at The Contemporary Museum of Art in Thassaloniki Greece, at Holland Tunnel in Paros, Greece, and at Sans Quoi Gallery, Okayama, Japan. In the last few years she has shown in several local art centers such as Brooklyn Academy of Music, Pratt Institute, Sideshow Gallery, D3 Gallery, and other in Bed Stuy, Dumbo & Williamsburg. She is dedicated to community art, and the independent art movement. Artist’s Statement

My recent paintings are concerned with psychic space, using hybrid abstract imagery as schematics for philosophical ideology. For example: I combine dualities such as internal and external, past and future, to symbolically model unseen worlds. The symbolism, though abstract, is specific. The cosmic juxtaposed with the cellular expresses a connection. They are composed of the same material, exhibiting a unity that seems to initiate connection.

Reception

Saturday 4/5

7 – 9 p.m.

Open Mic

Thursday, 4/10/08

Thursday, 4/24/08

Sign up: 8:00 p.m.

Performances: 8:30 p.m.

Host: Nick Noir

No cover.

For more information on any events, call Patricia Mulcahy at 718 783-6140. Tillie’s is in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Directions are under “Getting Here” on the website at www.tilliesofbrooklyn.com.

More on Thistle & Clover

I received a press release from one of the owners of Thistle and Clover a few days ago, just after my original post. Sounds like they have some cool stuff planned. For example: Thistle & Clover will produce 2 unique programs on a seasonal basis:

Tailored Events Nights: For these designer trunkshows cum meet-and-greets, Thistle & Clover will host neighbors, friends, and family in our storefront and back garden. Participating designers need not already have representation at Thistle & Clover, they may simply use the evening as an introduction to the Fort Greene clientele. Events will take place between 6-9PM.

Open Calls: Every quarter, Thistle & Clover will host a day of Open Calls, an opportunity for young, unrepresented designers to showcase their collections to the boutique. If selected, designers may sell their collection to Thistle & Clover on consignment, be featured on our website, and co-host a Tailored Event Night.

This is really awesome! What a great way for emerging designers to show their work! And count me in on that back garden action.

Thistle & Clover 221 DeKalb Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205 (p)718.855.5577 (f)718.855.5533 www.thistleclover.com

Is June Closed AGAIN?!

Noticed the paper in the windows late last week.

Thistle & Clover

I was finally able to make it over to the old Beezu spot (221 DeKalb) to check out a reported new boutique. It was, as one tipster described it, "kind of like Stuart & Wright."

The clothing looked marginally less expensive (talking a tiny margin here), but they also carry some lotions and letterpress greeting cards (which will certainly allow me to pick up a few items and support a local store without breaking the bank).

The two women working were friendly and personable, available to customers and did not ignore me in favor of continuing a loud conversation on the phone. This in itself makes the shop so much more lovely than Beezu.

They've only been open for a week -- check it out!

Thistle & Clover 221 DeKalb Ave (nr Adelphi) 718-855-5577 www.thistleclover.com

Fire on Adelphi

Walking home from work just now (I took a detour to check out some new stuff), I saw what looked like a pretty serious fire on Adelphi just north of DeKalb.  I didn't see any flames or smoke, but the fire dept had the ladder up and was unscrewing the hydrant.  While I continued on, at least three other firetrucks whirred past from different directions headed towards Adelphi.

Hope everyone's OK!

Storytelling for Parents and Kids

Mixed Company’s Educational Division (through Brooklyn Arts Council) cordially invite you to attend: Parents and Kids Storytelling Workshop

Share your favorite story, hear stories you’ve never heard before, and create new stories to tell forever and ever! Join us for a day of pizza, storytelling games, and fun!

WHEN:

Saturday March 29th, 2008 from11:00AM-1:00PM

AT:

The Urban Academy of Arts and Letters 225 Adelphi St. (between DeKalb and Willoughby) Fort Greene, Brooklyn

This event is FREE!!!

*****To hold your spot, please email us at edu.mixedco@gmail.com*****

**Open to kids ages 8 to 11

**Kids MUST be accompanied by a parent

**All reservations will be confirmed

Enrollment is LIMITED, so secure your spot today! Please feel free to pass this along to parents that you think may be interested.

Dine in Brooklyn, 2008

In 28 neighborhoods across Brooklyn, restaurants will be serving some of their best dishes during Brooklyn’s restaurant week from March 24–31, 2008.

More than 175 restaurants will offer 3-course, prix-fixe meals for just $23.00. Choose from the list of participating restaurants and call to reserve your table.

(Editorial note: Why isn't Locanda Vini e Olii participating?! Annoying.)

In the Area:

L = Serving Lunch D= Serving Dinner * = Accepts the American Express ® Card

Bedford-Stuyvesant

Solomon's Porch 307 Stuyvestant Avenue 718-919-8001

Soule Restaurant 920 Fulton Street 718-399-7200

Clinton Hill

Autour du Monde (D)* 860 Fulton Street 718-398-3500

Five Spot Restaurant (D)* 459 Myrtle Avenue 718-852-0202

Maggie Brown Restaurant (D) 455 Myrtle Avenue 718-643-7001

Mojito Cuban Cuisine (L/D)* 82 Washington Avenue 718-797-3100

Fort Greene

Caffe e Vino (L/D)* 112 Dekalb Avenue 718-855-6222

Chez Lola (D)* 387 Myrtle Avenue 718-858-1484

Chez Oskar (D)* 211 DeKalb Avenue 718-852-6250

Epoca Ristorante (L/D) 773 Fulton Street 718-596-9070

iCi (L/D)* 246 Dekalb Avenue 718-789-2778

June Restaurant (D)* 229 Dekalb Avenue 718-222-1510

Los Pollitos III (L/D) 499 Myrtle Avenue 718-636-6125

Loulou Restaurant (D)* 222 DeKalb Avenue 718-246-0633

Luz Restaurant (L/D)* 177 Vanderbilt Avenue 718-246-4000

Madiba Restaurant (L/D)* 195 Dekalb Avenue 718-855-9190

Mullanes Bar and Grill (D)* 71 Lafayette Avenue 718-797-7606

Olea Mediterranean Taverna (D)* 171 Lafayette Avenue 718-643-7003

Scopello Ristorante & Bar (D)* 63 Lafayette Avenue 718-852-1100

Thomas Beisl (L)* 25 Lafayette Avenue 718-222-5800

FG-CH Food Co-op Meeting TONIGHT

This just in from the co-op committee: There's been a big groundswell of support -- 482 signatures for our petition of support, just over 300 people who've asked to join our mailing list since we started the effort -- and we have some exciting news: We're in talks with Sean Meenan of Cafe Habana to possibly use one of the spaces he owns on Fulton as a future home. We have a meeting this Thursday (TONIGHT): 7 p.m. at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church. We've got four committees now working on different aspects of the coop -- Business/Financing, Outreach/Membership, Location/Lease and Merchandising -- with a large group of committed, excited folks who want to make this green effort happen.

More info here.

Anniversary Celebration at Fort Greene Park

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.

Read more details about the restoration efforts here.

Final Little League Registration!

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

Knitting Class at Bidonville

Been wanting to learn how to knit?  Check out this two-session class being offered at super-cute Bidonville on Willoughby!

I haven't been there in awhile, since it's been too cold to take Mallow to the park, but last I stopped in, thy were offering baked goods from Choice!  Yum.

A Bizarre Evening at Restaurant New Orleans

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?

June: Closed for Now

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

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.

Valentine Wine Tasting at Gnarley Vines

=============================== 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

======================================

(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