CHB Interviews: Nadia Georgiou

Nadia Georgiou, CH resident of seven years, recently launched her own line of children's clothing.  I asked her about her business, her background and what she likes best about the neighborhood.

1. Where are you from, and what brought you to Clinton Hill?

I was born In Greece and was able to come to New York through a scholarship for graduate studies. and received my M.F.A in painting from the City University of New York.

I met my husband 12 years ago, fell in love and made New York my home. When we decided to have kids we moved to Clinton Hill from Williamsburg in search of a bigger more affordable kid friendly place.

2. What's changed the most since you first moved to the neighborhood?

The neighborhood is more self-sustained with a number of new businesses and services moving in the area. There is a lot of construction and the real estate prices have gone enormously up.  Hopefully the streets will be able to keep a neighborhood feeling. My family and I live in the Clinton Hill Coops. We really enjoy it and we have great views from our windows. We would love to move in a space with a back yard sometime in the near future.

3. What inspired you to start your own business?  Tell us about Brooklyn Junior!

With an art background that favors bright colors and bold shapes, a high astigmatism from birth and an often explosive temperament exaggerated by the big bellies of two pregnancies, I could not stand   another light pink and pastel blue baby product. Frustration gave way to inspiration and Brooklyn Junior was born, which offers mostly limited edition baby clothes and accessories.  Its new line shows a fresh and colorful touch. Brooklyn Junior, an urban-inspired children’s clothing company, explodes on the scene with its vibrant, baby-soft cotton children’s apparel.  The funky tees, colorful kimonos, and onesies can be found online at www.BrooklynJunior.com, and on Sundays at the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene (http://brownstoner.com/brooklynflea/) 4. Where did you learn to sew?

My mother always made my clothes as I was growing up. I didn’t appreciate it much then but nevertheless I was the best dressed amongst my friends.  As I grew up I realized how lucky I was to be dressed so well in a fraction of the cost so I decided that I would give it a try myself. My mother in law gave me her antique sewing machine. I made my first skirt without a pattern and it looked great. Beginner’s luck, the second one didn’t fit as well. I subscribed to Burda magazine and the rest is history.

When I first started Brooklyn Junior my mom flew from Greece to help and we made about 50 baby kimonos in our home sewing machine. Now I have them manufactured here in Brooklyn, in Bushwick. So yes our kimonos are made in Brooklyn.

5. You can often be found selling at the Brooklyn Flea.  How has your experience been so far?

Brooklyn Junior is at the Brooklyn Flea every Sunday since April 6th. The Flea has been one of the best things that happened to Brooklyn Junior. We get a lot of exposure and have many fans. It is great to see the neighborhood kids wearing our stuff. The extra money that we make every Sunday helps us stay in business and getting more of our designs in production. We got wholesale requests from as far as Japan. The Brooklyn Flea has been an amazing experience for our two children as well. It is a struggle to set up our booth on Sunday mornings, loading and unloading the van and dropping off/picking up the kids from soccer practice at the same time. But once all this is done the whole family gets together at the flea and our time together there has been wonderful. We interact with so many people and have learned a lot about our business from them.  The kids have been very involved in the business and my son is a heavy-duty salesman.

6. How is it raising children in Clinton Hill?  What does it offer that other neighborhoods don't?

Our neighborhood is a great place to live, spacious, clean, with parks and playgrounds but most importantly a sense of community and warmth. You can walk down the street and be greeted from so many people and I always see someone I know. My son is attending our district’s Community Roots charter school that is really amazing. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. We have great neighbors and feel safe and welcomed. I have only lived in Williamsburg before we moved in Clinton Hill. I liked it as well, it has its own flair. I don’t know what Clinton Hill offers that other neighborhoods don’t, every place has it own uniqueness that one has to experience in order to comment on it and I haven’t.

7. Do you have any advice for people looking to start their own business?

Yes, my advice is to go into business doing something that you really enjoy and believe in. Good planning and preparation are also important but eventually it is the level of enthusiasm and perseverance that will keep you in business the first years.

8. What's your favorite restaurant in the neighborhood?

We rarely eat out. Our favorite restaurant is “Nadia’s kitchen” fresh homemade Modern Greek cuisine created by me. We really liked Liquors but unfortunately it closed down. The kids love Grazziella’s and I personally think that Luigi’s on Dekalb has a super duper slice of pizza.  We had very nice meals at ICI and Lulu’s. I would like to see a restaurant with a simple, fresh, seasonal menu, maybe there is one in the neighborhood already? Let me know.

9. What would you like to see open up here?

A bakery. Being raised in a small Greek town I miss the flavor of fresh baked bread with my tomato salad.

10. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why?

Coconut with roasted almonds. Exotic and crunchy.

Learn more about Brooklyn Junior here!

CHB Interviews: Eda Sanchez-Persampieri, Owner of Square Root Cafe

If you've walked down Myrtle recently, you may have noticed some work being done in the corner storefront of the Renken Dairy building at Classon. Maybe you've also noticed the new sign hanging above it, or stopped in to speak with the folks renovating the space. Good news! This new hot spot, a retro-cool restaurant called the Square Root Cafe is almost ready to open!

I stopped in a few weeks ago to get some photos of the progress being made and to talk to the owner, Eda Sanchez-Persampieri. She and her husband Joe are doing an amazing job retaining many elements of the historic space (which has sat empty for years), as well as brightening up the interior. The corner windows are gorgeous! (swoon)

Square Root Cafe will open on January 1, offering FREE BRUNCH from 1-5pm! It'll be the perfect opportunity to feed your hangover and welcome the restaurant to the area!

1. You'll be opening a new restaurant on Myrtle called Square Root Cafe. What's the theme going to be? How about the cuisine? My husband Joe and I are totally stoked about opening in Clinton Hill! The restaurant will feature a casual environment decorated with the mid century antiques & collectibles ( funky junk) that we have collected over the past 10-12 years.

The food will be homestyle gourmet- lots of classic dishes with some updated ingredients. Joe is a 2001 graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. One of Joe's classmates was the then-wife of Richard Dreyfus and he actually came to the commencement- How cool is that?

2. Do you live in Clinton Hill? How did you decide to open the cafe?

We actually live up by the Navy Yard.

We had the idea for a cafe about five years ago and seeing the explosion of independent retailers on Myrtle decided we should go ahead and do it before the neighborhood became oversaturated with cafes!

3. What did you do before the restaurant? When did you decide to take the plunge?

Actually we are both continuing to work.

I work in apparel production/sourcing and my job stints have included being on the teams that launched the Sean John & Daisy Fuentes brands.

>Joe is a 25 year veteran of FDNY but he plans to retire next year.

We decided in June to take the plunge and looked at a lot of available storefronts but we knew we definitely wanted to be on Myrtle!

4. Will the restaurant be in the building with the milk company sign? Any info on the history of that place?

Yup we are in the milk building. Renken Dairy owned a number of buildings in the area. Our building was actually home to the corporate offices and retail storage. The basement has this cool old-fashioned walk-in refrigerator (which is now our office) and another smaller room was used as the vault -- there's a real vault door you have to walk through!

5. Tell me about the thriving community of Myrtle Ave merchants. How did you decide to open there?

Myrtle has just exploded in the last 3-4 years, We moved to the area when it was first stating to pop and the energy in the streets is inspiring. We definitely wanted to be on Myrtle hands down over any other street -- even Dekalb!

6. What's your favorite local hangout in the neighborhood?

Mojito's

7. How long have you lived in Clinton Hill? How has it changed since then?

We have lived as a couple in the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill/Wallabout area since 2004, first in a loft in the Choclate Factory and now over on Cumberland down the street from the Sweet & Low Company.

What we love about the area is that it is so diverse and that the residents embrace the diversity.

8. What kinds of events will the cafe be hosting? Art exhibits ( painting and photos) , live music (most likely Jazz, Blues or Jazz Fusion 2-4x a month) and weekly Movie/TV night with classic vintage movie& tv shows. We might do an open mic night 1x a week. I am also kicking around the idea of a film festival- showing local artists films.

9. What else would you like to see open in the neighborhood?

Gourmet Deli- Like Fourage in Dumbo Gourmet Cheese shop- Like Stinky's in Carol Gardens/Cobble Hill>

We would love to open a gourmet deli- If Square Root is successful, we might give it a go.

10. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why?

Joe is definetly chocolate ice cream because just about everyone likes chocolate ice cream and everyone immediately likes Joe!

I am green tea flavor -- an acquired taste but once you like you love it.

***

Square Root Cafe 584 Myrtle Ave. at Classon 718-230-7077 www.squarerootcafe.com

Clinton Hill: Personal Profile

(Yes, we've taken a long hiatus with this, but will hopefully be back on a regular schedule!)

Name: Melita Charles Clinton Hill Resident For: many years!

A few weeks ago, I met up with Melita Charles at the Polish Bar of Brooklyn to enjoy Mint Candy pedicures and chat about her history with the neighborhood.

Clinton Hill resident and general surgeon Melita Charles is making her home here for the second time. After med school and a stint upstate, Charles has come full circle.

Melita and her family originally moved to Clinton Hill from Sunset Park the summer before she began high school. She remembers being awed by the wide streets and taking long walks to downtown Brooklyn along DeKalb Avenue, or over to Pratt to buy art supplies, even though not much was open back then. She and her family lived in an apartment on Clinton and Gates, where her sister still resides.

Even though the neighborhood saw higher crime rates back then, Melita remembers feeling comfortable. "I saw somebody get mugged once, but otherwise we felt safe. The same three old people were always sitting outside in front of our building checking in on people," she explains. "My sister and I used to make fun of them for not having anything better to do, but at the same time we were glad to know someone was looking out for us."

Melita graduated from Stuyvesant High School, knowing from a very young age what she wanted to be when she grew up. "My Aunties were all nurses, but I always wanted to be a doctor," she says. Attending Ithaca College, Melita chose to pursue general surgery during medical school. To complement her surgical training, Melita completed additional training in surgical oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. It was there where she met my mother, a patient at the center, more than eight years ago.

Melita enjoyed Buffalo, but missed New York City and her family. Eventually, she made her way back east, living in both Queens and on Long Island. One morning, she claims to have had an epiphany in the shower. "I should move back to Brooklyn!" she thought. Initially, she made a beeline to Park Slope, a neighborhood she thought many professionals aspired to. Once there, however, she felt the neighborhood was both too expensive and "too much." It was not the right fit. She started hunting obsessively for real estate across the borough, finding everything she saw to be too small and just not right for her. It was a fluke that she happened to check out a spacious apartment on Classon Avenue. "Why didn't I start here to begin with?" she asked herself, "It's where I've always wanted to be!"

After several years away, Melita feels like she's back in the same neighborhood she grew up in despite all the changes the area has seen. A few establishments still remain from her teenage years -- the diner on Vanderbilt and Fulton for example, and the bodegas, which she affectionately describes as "indestructible" -- but she points more to a general feeling. "Clinton Hill has always been a little enclave," she explains. "Once you cross Fulton, you know you're home."

Melita's current regular haunts include Chez Ozkar, iCi, Zaytoons and Luz. "I love Luz!" she says. "I frequently take people there for a drink or a date, because I know at least I'll have a good time," she explains with a chuckle. She, like many residents, years for a gourmet cheese shop, a store for fresh produce and a bakery (she laments the closure of a bakery from her childhood that used to sell great peach cobbler).

Melita now works as a general surgeon at Long Island College Hospital. She loves walking to work, often past the Farmer's and Artisan Markets in Fort Greene Park.

"I'm glad I ended up back here," she says. "It's really just more 'my speed.'"

Clinton Hill: Personal Profile

Name: Ellie Balk Clinton Hill Resident For: 4 years

On June 19, I met up with Clinton Hill resident Ellie Balk at the Polish Bar of Brooklyn for Coco Kiwi Pedicures and a bottle of il Mimo, donated generously by the Greene Grape.

Drawn to Brooklyn for graduate programs at Pratt four years ago, artist Ellie Balk has made a home in Clinton Hill. Balk still lives in the St. James Place studio apartment she found on her first day of apartment hunting, and has just signed on for another two years.

Balk is both an accomplished painter and art teacher, and has long been a proponent of collaborative creations. When she teaches, Balk encourages students to put marks down on paper and then react to them, encouraging people to open up, moving physically and emotionally.

Much of Balk’s energy is spent on designing murals for public schools and local communities. Often times, she will encourage participants to begin painting whatever they’d like. Throughout the process, Balk controls only the available paint colors the participants are using, giving them access to colors of similar tones and families for different periods of time to help create continuity. Later, Balk and a few other artists add finishing touches, tying the community’s creations together into one unified final product.

While most of Balk’s community murals are painted on walls, she must occasionally improvise. During last summer’s St. James Place Association block party, Balk was forced to conduct mural painting on paper at St. James and Gates, after the owner of the corner’s scaffolding decided not to allow painting directly on the wood. Neighbors took part enthusiastically regardless, even bringing their own paper from home to add on to the growing design. Mural painting lasted for twelve hours that day, attracting the attention and participation of countless neighbors and passers by. Balk not only coordinated the mural’s painting, but also procured all of her supplies ahead of time by soliciting donations. Sisters Hardware on Fulton came through in a big way, as did local residents.

Many of Balk’s community murals are created in the shape of a circle, symbolizing the idea of getting back what one puts in to their surroundings. “You need to know your community to be a part of it,” Balk explains. The circle seems to represent Balk’s personal ideals, and she sports several tattoos of the motif. Currently, she is working with Tillie’s on planning a circular community mural on the building’s side, at Vanderbilt and DeKalb. Both the owner of Tillie’s and the building owners’ are on-board, but Balk is waiting for final approval from Landmarks. Unlike her block party mural, Balk will paint most of the mural herself before the public contributes. She plans on painting a large map of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, and then allowing members of the community to paint a small mark over where they live, a technique she uses often in school murals. “When people look at the map, they see how close we really live to one another,” Balk says. “Tillie’s is the perfect location for painting the map, at the crossroads of these two neighborhoods.”

To sit with Balk is to understand what makes urban living so appealing. Like so many people, she really “gets” what our neighborhood is about, and is able to articulate it through both words and actions. The circle motif makes perfect sense for Clinton Hill, with a diverse population of individuals like Balk stepping up to integrate their interests into the community.

Balk can be found frequenting local haunts often, citing “The Red Door (her name for Grand 275)” as her favorite hangout. “Luz has the best brunch for sure, and Olea is the best date place – so chill!” She mentions Zaytoons and Castros as well, before exclaiming, “I love my Fulton!” I look at her skeptically, but she’s not joking. “Kush is great, and Joloff? It’s my cure. They cook everything to order and their hot ginger drink is an instant pick-me-up when you’re feeling sick.” Later, Balk gives props to the Pratt Coffee shop for “sincerely taking care of her hunger needs for the past four years.”

On local restaurants and shops in general, she says, “You can just feel something precious [inside]. Someone loves this space and is sharing it with me. The genuine feeling is the whole theme of the neighborhood.”

Balk loves the diversity of Clinton Hill, especially on her street, and explores often. “I go for a two-hour walk, and it’s never the same!” she exclaims. If Balk were a flavor of ice cream, it would be "Cinnamon," she says, "'Cause I'm sweet and a little spicy!"

Ellie Balk recently presented her paintings at RePop’s First Fridays, and will be featured at Tillie’s this fall. Click here to view more of her work.

Clinton Hill: Personal Profile

Name: Karen Schwartz Clinton Hill Resident For: 3.5 years

(Thanks to the Polish Bar of Brooklyn for providing their space for the interview, as well as Essie pedicures, and to the Greene Grape for providing a bottle of Arregi Txacoli Getariako Txakolina 2006) On May 15, I met up with Karen Schwartz at the Polish Bar of Brooklyn for Essie pedicures, a bottle of Arregi Txacoli courtesy of the Greene Grape and mini cupcakes (it was Karen’s birthday!).

Karen, a yoga therapist, has lived in Clinton Hill for three and a half years, but spent the previous seventeen years in the same Upper East Side studio rental. Why did she move? “Because the ceiling fell. Literally!” she exclaims. After an unfixed long-term leak, her studio’s ceiling came crashing down. Two days later, she bid on her current Clinton Hill co-op. At the time, she didn’t know much about the area but its special differences became apparent very early on. None of Karen’s Manhattan neighbors had checked up on her despite hearing her ceiling fall in, but her current Clinton Hill neighbors call her out of concern if they don’t see her for a day or two. “There’s so much beauty here,” she says. “It’s great to walk around, and you can just say ‘hi’ to people.”

A native of the “Boogie-Down Bronx,” Karen and her family moved to Queens when she was in 6th grade, and she attended junior high and high school in Manhattan. The diversity of her neighborhoods and attendance at public schools strongly influenced her decision to become professionally involved in community life, though she didn’t end up there immediately. After a college journalism tenure focusing on social activism, her first professional experience working for a jewelry trade magazine left her less than inspired. Schwartz returned to school and obtained a Masters Degree in Social Work.

Focusing on clinical social work, Schwartz worked first with teenagers in foster care, and then on the Lower East Side focusing on dropout prevention. She also began teaching fitness classes and studying dance, which led her to her first yoga class. “I thought, ‘This is so hard!’” she explains. “But I couldn’t wait to go back.”

Schwartz says it took two years of yoga classes before she felt like she “got it,” and began to realize how many levels the practice operates on. “The physical is only a small part of yoga,” Schwartz says. “You can’t quantify everything about yoga. That is its essence.”

Schwartz began making some connections of her own, realizing how greatly yoga practice would benefit many of the people she encountered day-to-day as a social worker. “The current popularity of yoga is wonderful, but it’s often designed for people who are already in shape,” she says. Recognizing an evident gap, Schwartz has turned her career towards yoga therapy. “It’s not a replacement for other kinds of therapy, but rather a supplement.” Schwartz’s work has not gone unnoticed in the neighborhood, as she was nominated for the Personal Profile series by one of her local students: “What is particularly impressive about Karen is that she can teach at all levels. She is able to encourage new students so that they don't feel that yoga is beyond their ability while guiding more advanced students to new challenges. Karen was able to show me how to develop flexibility and strength that I didn't think I had.” Schwartz has clearly incorporated her life’s work into the community.

Currently, Schwartz focuses her career on one-on-one yoga therapy and conducting workshops for small groups, allowing her to assess each client’s individual needs and fitness level. She volunteers as much as time allows, providing valuable services for those who don’t traditionally have access to yoga. As part of this initiative, she has conducted yoga classes for senior residents in her building and has submitted a proposal to teach volunteer classes for the American Cancer Society; she also intends to work to a greater extent with abuse survivors and those suffering from eating disorders. Her work has truly come full circle, incorporating many of her life’s passions. A highlight of her work as a yoga therapist? “Making a connection with my students. It’s great to give them something to take with them afterwards.”

When she’s not teaching, Schwartz loves to enjoy the diversity of her surroundings. Dining out, Schwartz favors Luz hands-down, which she describes as having, “Great food and vibe, and they have a Tempranillo I just love!” You’ll also see her frequenting Olea, as well as enjoying a Café Moche at Pillow Café’s new space on Myrtle. “When I'm hanging out in the neighborhood I like to walk around and look at houses, relax in Fort Greene Park, and go to movies at BAM, especially the film festivals and other special cinema events they have.” And, of course, the ice cream question. “Haagen Dazs Deep Chocolate Peanut Butter, because it doesn't hold back!”

Schwartz has just launched a new website, www.oneselfyoga.com, which further details her work in yoga therapy. She also teaches mixed level/open yoga classes at Lucky Lotus Yoga on DeKalb.

CHB Interviews: Sister Elizabeth A. Hill, CSJ, President, St. Joseph's College

St. Joseph's College on Clinton Avenue has really been making its presence known of late, offering lots of interesting community events (many of them free!). I spoke with the college's President, Sister Elizabeth Hill, about the impact of the college on Clinton Hill, as well as her own personal history.

1. When did St. Joseph's College first open in Clinton Hill? How did the school come to own some of the most famous mansions in the area? St. Joseph's College opened in Clinton Hill in 1916. I have been told that the Pratts decided that this area was no longer "the" place to live, and they were anxious to divest themselves of their property, and that the Diocese of Brooklyn and St. Joseph's College were able to purchase it, but I don't know any details of the transactions. St. Joseph's only owns two of them...as you know, the Bishop lives in the third, and Pratt Institute still owns the last. There was a fifth, but that was damaged by fire, and finally destroyed to make room for the apartments, needed for workers in the Navy Yard during the Second World War.

2. How has the college influenced the neighborhood, and the other way around? The College has been a physical anchor for the community through many decades of ups and downs in property values, appearance, safety, etc. We have also tried to be a good neighbor, responsive to the needs and concerns of those who live near us and are affected by our activities. In recent years, we have invited the community to our growing arts program, which provides concerts, plays, art exhibits, etc.

3. Who is your typical student? Are they young adults from the neighborhood? Are you welcoming more out-of-town students? We have two schools at the Brooklyn campus...the School of Arts and Sciences, which serves a traditional age population, and the School of Professional and Graduate Studies, which serves adult students. Since we are basically a commuter school, in both schools the vast majority of our students come from Brooklyn and Queens, with a small number from the other boroughs. In the past five years, we have launched a small, but growing, residential program, and so we are attracting more out-of -town students, but they are still a real minority.

4. What do you feel are the benefits of an urban campus? The benefits of an urban campus are many indeed. First is the opportunity to interact with and learn from people from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Easy access to the riches of major cultural centers such as world-class museums, art galleries, and performance spaces such as Lincoln Center, etc. is also a wonderful aspect of urban living. The availability of internships and other "hands on" experiences is also very valuable to undergraduates who are exploring new fields and trying to discover if they are a good fit. And public transportation is also a real asset!

5. I've just read your bio on the SJC website, and your educational background is extremely impressive. How did you decide to return to your alma mater as a leader, and what led you to the field of educational administration? I returned to St. Joseph's as the Assistant to the President at the time the college had opened a new branch campus on Long Island. I had earned a law degree and practiced immigration law for two years, but realized that I found the "academic world" more suitable for me than the legal one. I served as Assistant to the President for 17 very happy years, and when my then boss decided to retire, I applied for the position and was elected by the Board of Trustees. I enjoy the challenges of educational administration, primarily because it is a collegial enterprise which, at its best, taps into the gifts and talents and passions of some very extraordinary people, (faculty and staff alike) enabling us to provide our students with an excellent education, at a modest cost.

6. Tell us about the religious order you belong to. How did you choose it, and what influenced you to become a nun? Is it difficult to balance your religious responsibilities and the responsibilities of running a college? I am a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, New York. We were founded in France in 1650, and there are branches of the Sisters of St. Joseph all over the world. Our particular branch was established in Brooklyn in 1856, and we have served as teachers, nurses, social workers, school administrators, prison and hospital chaplains, and in many other ministries through the years. I chose to enter the Congregation because I had had the sisters as teachers at the College and had been deeply impressed by their intelligence, their spirituality and their love for their students and their disciplines. It is no more difficult for me to balance my personal life with my professional life than it is for any other woman who has family and community relationships and responsibilities.

7. You're heavily involved in community groups. What is your favorite aspect of life in Clinton Hill? I love living in Clinton Hill. It is a beautiful place, with gorgeous homes and gardens and wonderful people and interesting restaurants and a great quality of life. I feel very fortunate to be able to live here. When I was elected President ten years ago, someone said to me, "Well, now you can move to Long Island!" (we have a campus out in Patchogue) and my response was "Why ever would I do that?" I was born and raised in Brooklyn, and I can't think of a better place to live and work.

8. What do you think the community is lacking, if anything? I can't think of anything the community is lacking, except for parking and a good bakery! Seriously, I think there is a very real sense of community, people care about the neighborhood, and their neighbors, and many make significant efforts to contribute to the improvement of the area.

9. What's your vision for the future of SJC, both academically and in respect to the neighborhood? As I look ahead, I see St. Joseph's continuing to be a partner in the growth and evolution of the neighborhood. We will strive to provide excellent academic programs at the most affordable tuition possible. I don't envision a major change in our mission, but I believe that we will always stay rooted in the liberal arts, while providing high-calibre pre-professional programs. An ongoing effort to prepare our students to assume roles of responsible leadership in the larger community is and will remain one of our major commitments.

10. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why? If I were a flavor of ice cream, it would be a chocolate/caramel/vanilla swirl...it is complex, and sweet!

Clinton Hill: Personal Profile

Name: Aissatou Minthe Clinton Hill Resident For: 10 years

(Thanks to the Polish Bar of Brooklyn for providing their space for the interview, as well as a paraffin manicure and a chocolate pedicure, and to the Greene Grape for providing a bottle of Burgans Albarino 2005) Aissatou Minthe and I sat down over wine and took pleasure in some pampering on April 10 at the Polish Bar of Brooklyn. While she slipped on some heated mitts for a paraffin manicure, I sat back and enjoyed the indulgent chocolate pedicure.

Aissatou Minthe is the fashionable Frenchwoman who owns Tessan Boutique, the tiny clothing and accessories shop on the ground floor of a brownstone on Clinton at DeKalb. She lives and works in the building.

I’ve often wondered about the French population in the area, since there seems to be a very high concentration. It was, in a way, what brought Minthe to the neighborhood. She first arrived from Paris, where she was born, to go to college and moved in with her boyfriend at the time in Fort Greene. She’s lived here ever since.

Minthe believes that the first French restaurant to open, Chez Ozkar, brought the French expats living in the neighborhood together for socializing and sharing. A Table and Café Lafayette followed, making the area a place in which the French felt comfortable. She laughs, saying that there are perhaps, “too many French people,” here, and how the French community often referred to Fort Greene as “French Greene.” (Moments earlier, she had recognized a friend in one of the pedicure chairs and the two spoke at length in French.)

Though born in Paris, Minthe feels a deep connection to Tessan, the village in Senegal where her mother was born. As a child, she and her siblings traveled to the village each summer with their parents to stay on her grandfather’s farm where he grew peanuts, corn and other vegetables. It was a peaceful experience for her, as Tessan was and still is very much a traditional African village – residents gathered water from a well and no one had electricity.

Minthe named her boutique after the village and as a tribute to her parents and family for being open-minded despite coming from a traditional background. While she hopes to eventually move to a bigger space, she plans on keeping the original location open as well. “My people remember what they come from,” she said, explaining her attachment to the storefront. The small space also creates an intimacy. On the weekends, the shop becomes crowded and shoppers often engage one another with personal stories or ask for advice.

Minthe spent a few years as a social worker, and had originally hoped to go back to school to design shoes, handbags and jewelry. Now, she sells them. “There was no time in my schedule to go to school while I was working, so I did it the other way around,” she says. “The store is small, and it used to be a storage space! My landlord knew I was looking for a space, and offered it to me. I decided to use the space to try this out.”

I asked how she chooses what she sells, given her limited square footage. “I choose clothing and accessories that go with everything, things that are very simple,” she explains. “Clothing to hang out in. Whatever a woman needs to feel beautiful.” Minthe also makes a point of selling items handmade by Clinton Hill residents, including hats and scarves by Nicole Tavares, twilight hats by a neighbor named Michael and jewelry from women named Masani and Karrie who live in Clinton Hill. Often, the local designers are people she’s met before in the area after admiring their personal styles and projects.

Minthe’s favorite aspect of Clinton Hill is its diversity. “It’s a small community,” she says. “Everyone knows one another. There is so much to do, but yet not a lot to do. You can just relax in the park doing nothing if you want, just like a small village!”

Minthe also waxes poetic about the local business community. “I’ve had a good experience opening the store here. I’ve received lots of help and encouragement from other entrepreneurs. It’s also very cool that so many women in the area own their own businesses. It creates a real solidarity. There are so many unique stores in the area, each with a different style!”

I asked her about some of her other favorites, of course. “For lentil soup, my favorite comes from Black Iris. Chez Oscar has the best Nicoise Salad. Cafe Lafayette has an amazing chocolate volcano. For quality cuisine, iCi. Djollof, on Fulton and St. James, has the best Senegali food! It’s like eating at home. And the best-kept secret in the neighborhood? A Bistro.”

Finally, I asked her what flavor of ice cream she would be and why. Minthe had her answer right away. “Chocolate! Because it’s sweet. Sweet and strong.”

New Interview Series!

I'm pleased to announce a new interview series here at CHB, called Clinton Hill: Personal Profiles.  Each month, I'll speak with  a CH resident at length about his or her history in the neighborhood and what his or her life in the Hill is like.  I'll still continue to do my traditional interviews where I post questions and answers, but this series is for CH residents ONLY, to highlight some of the interesting people who live here. Interviews will take place at Polish Bar Brooklyn, and interview subjects will enjoy wine courtesy of the Greene Grape and a fancy pedicure while we chat about life in Clinton Hill.

The series kicked off last night with Aissatou Minthe, owner of Tessan Boutique.  The profile will be posted in the next few days.

If you're interested in being profiled, just email me at clintonhillblog- at -gmail- dot -com.  Guys, don't be shy!  There are always plenty of men getting pedicures in the neighborhood.

On the Set of "Hammered"

A few weeks ago, I spent some time on the set of “Hammered with John and Jimmy DiResta," which currently airs on HGTV. They film the show on Waverly Ave!  Click here to read about how I discovered them in the 'hood. While I was there, I hung out with John and Jimmy, and watched them work on a set of bunkbeds for the show's second season.

I talked to them about making the show, and their experiences in Bkln.

JIMMY:

1. Are you a native Brooklynite? What neighborhood did you grow up in? My family is from Rockaway beach Queens. I grew up in Woodmere LI, and I lived in the East Village for 14 years.

2. How did you decide to get into design? Were you always making stuff as a kid? Your HGTV bio says you've worked in toy design. Have you designed any famous toys? I’ve always made things -- our dad put us in the environment to build with a wood shop always there in the house. I went to School of Visual Arts, class of 90'. In my final semester a teacher named Mark Settiducatti introduced me to the toy biz and helped my brother Joey and I make several connections and we worked it for 15+years. Joey is still in the biz on the manufacturing side of things. Our biggest item was a thing called "Gurgling Gutz."

3. Tell me about the inception of Hammered -- how did you and John come up with the idea, and how does one go about getting their show on TV? In about 2000 I started to edit video on a Mac. John went to Hollywood in 98 and sold a show to UPN (“DiResta,” about John as a working class policeman). The concept started as stand up, and became a one-man show and then a TV show (it lasted one season). With the connections John was developing we started to come up with ideas that I would shoot and edit. I made a pitch tape for a show called “Trash to Cash.” We would pick the trash and make it into stuff. That was our first show on Fox’s FX, and we did 7 episodes in 2003. We kept making pitch tapes and in 2004 we made a show called “Makin’ It With John and Jimmy,” all about making things in the shop with a fun aspect. Through friends we sent it to HGTV. It took about 10 months to come to a deal, and this show pitch became “Hammered.”

4. How did you choose your workshop location? Had you been working there prior to filming the show?

We did the pitch tape in my shop in the LES and having people on the street outside was something HGTV wanted to keep. We looked around NYC with the production company and we found an affordable place in Clinton Hill.

5. Even though the show films in Clinton Hill, you live in the East Village. Any plans to move out to the Best Neighborhood in NYC? I would consider moving into one of the abandoned-looking mansions. Know of any deals? [Ed. I wish! These guys should take over the haunted mansion/church on Clinton!]

6. What's your favorite thing about Clinton Hill? The abandoned-looking mansions. For real! No joke!

7. Favorite place to eat in the neighborhood: We ate at a great Mexican place over the summer but don't know the name? [Ed. Pequena? Los Pollitos?]

8. What's on tap for the new season? How do you decide what to make? (If you need ideas, I have a GREAT one- maybe you could make me a cool cat tree/scratching post- hint hint.) What was your favorite project from last season? I like the poker table – it’s a mechanical device and I like to make things mechanical. We all come up with the general ideas and I usually put the "flair" into it with some inventive design aspects. The show is about learning some thing new and having fun, so I consider what will look good and give John something to work with for comedy.

In this next season, we’ll make more practical stuff for the house.

9. You teach 3-D design and invention at SVA. Are these classes open to anyone, or do you need to be an artsy-type and already an SVA student in a degree program? I teach in the BFA degree program, so you would need to be full-time enrolled student at SVA.

10. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why? Anything with bumps and lumps in it. Keep things interesting.

JOHN:

1. So, who's the older brother? Do you guys have other siblings? There are four of us: Joey is 44, I’m 42, Jimmy’s 39 or 40 and Kathleen is about 35.

2. You've had quite an interesting career, starting out as an NYPD Transit Cop. You MUST share some stories with us -- what was the craziest thing you ever saw on the job? Did you ever do any patrolling in Clinton Hill? I was on patrol for five years in the subway on foot, mostly south Brooklyn-Coney Island area. Then I worked in a unit where you ride the train from eight pm to four am. After that, I was in the Homeless Outreach Unit. In my 12 years I was in just about every subway stop there is.

I got off at Shepherd on the A once to find something to eat, late night. The token booth clerk told me, “Be careful! There’s a guy at the top of the stairs selling guns. He's a gun dealer." I turned around and got right back on the train.

3. How did you make a successful transition to stand-up? Were you the cop always cracking jokes? I’ve been married for 18 years. My wife, Frances, is from Rockaway Beach. I have three kids: Matt, Sabrina and Shannon. (their nicknames: ratboy, chia pet and the piss monkey)

I always wanted to be a comedian and actor and didn’t have the balls to do it; nobody to guide me. I thought it was like wanting to be an astronaut...it's just a dream. Then after failing out of two colleges (New Paltz / Nassau Community) my dad forced civil service on me. I took the police exam, hoping to be NYPD. Instead, I got stuck in the subway against my will and hated every minute of it. (Our motto: You Ride, We Hide.) I was scared, bored and lonely. One night it got so bad I had to pay a crack-addicted transvestite hooker three bucks, just to hug me and tell me everything would be okay...

I spent five years on foot and then moved to the homeless unit, telling jokes to our 'clients' and getting big laughs on the bus with cops and homeless people. One night, my partner Mike Venckus said, “You should be a comedian. You should a least try it,”....and he was right. I was broke, depressed, married with two toddlers, tired, spent, done...but his suggestion had a certain 'righteousness' to it. I drove home to Harrimand NY at six am and woke up my wife...."I want to be a comedian"....long dead stare back, then..."Well, I want another baby..."

4. It sounds like you're the local guy who made it big, having your own sitcom and appearing in several movies and other TV shows (very impressive IMDB list, btw). Any secrets to success? I enrolled in a stand up comedy class in NYC, which I still owe Jimmy the $350 for, and nine months later our daughter Shannon was born. Right about that time, nine months into it, I started to get paid: 50 bucks at Pips in Bklyn, 35 bucks in the Bronx, 200 on a weekend in Conn.

Then I won a contest. I was officially NY’s funniest cop (and still am).

After five years of being a cop and a comedian I put up my one-man show, “Beat,” in NYC and it sold as a sitcom. That sitcom, “DiResta,” became the lowest rated sitcom in TV history. Then I did Miss Congeniality and then 15 mins with DeNiro…

5. What would you say was crazier -- dealing with crazy NYers, or dealing with crazy Hollywood types? LA is way tougher than anything on EARTH...THIS TOWN IS AN OUTRIGHT MOTHER FUCKER! TOUGH! IF YOU’RE HOT YOU’RE HOT AND IF YOU’RE NOT YOU’RE BROKE.

I hung in through some tough times and now I have two TV shows: Hammered on HGTV and American Body Shop on Comedy Central, which debuts in June.

6. You're living in LA now. What do you miss the most about NYC? What I miss about NYC: having true, longtime friends to hang with, pizza, the multiable comedy clubs that put me on and the multiable gigs In the tri state area as a comedian. I'm lucky -- I'm now bicoastal!

7. How did you and Jimmy come up with the concept for Hammered? Jimmy and I wanted to do a show where jimmy could show his talents that he could make anything I am could make anything funny. We shot four shows, on our own, with our own money, called “Making It.” We said if Hollywood wouldn’t give us a job we will just make our own shows and sell them directly to the fans on DVD. Then HGTV came looking for us...perfect timing. They changed the name from "Making It" to “Hammered with John and Jimmy DiResta” on HGTV.

8. What's your favorite thing about filming in Clinton Hill? What's your favorite place to eat when you're in the nabe? The thing I love most about Cobble Hill/Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy is that I used to work all those streets and now I work 'em as a TV host with my own show...weird! I also love the real people, no phonies. I love the broken streets, broken buildings and I love that I have Jimmy there, at my side, making a great show....

Don't have a favorite restaurant yet, but I love the Bronx, Bklyn and Harlem for rice and beans. I like real ethnic food.

9. I haven't seen the John DiResta mailbox outside the shop. What happened to it? The mailbox would be stolen! It’s inside the shop.

10. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why? If I were an ice cream flavor it would be french vanilla with big chunks of chocolate chips, big chunks, nestled throughout.

The show currently airs Saturdays at noon on HGTV.

CHB Interviews: Todd Lester of freeDimensional

I recently met Todd Lester (no relation) for coffee at Outpost, after a reader tipped me off to an interesting volunteer opportunity in the neighborhood. Todd heads freeDimensional, a non-profit group that provides assistance for exiled artists in danger. They also work with Bed-Stuy teenagers, providing lots of volunteer opportunities for those interested. From Todd:"The goal of freeDimensional is to partner socially progressive residential artist communities with human rights and freedom of expression organizations in order to facilitate rapid response, tactical placement of human rights defenders in exile. The network provides administrative support to art and media centers worldwide that seek to create a web of flexible, short-term safe havens for human rights defenders working at the intersection of arts and journalism. Residential Artist Communities benefit from this unique collaboration through enriched community, youth and environmental programs and by using their physical space to counter marginalizing issues at the local, regional and global levels."

1. How/when did you first conceive of the idea for FreeDimensional? In addition to being a student (and now a teacher) of community development and urban policy, I have been influenced by the dedication of – and obstacles faced by – individual artists, activists and citizen journalists during my work in more than 20 countries with a range of organizations and initiatives that include Reporters Without Borders, FilmAid International, International Rescue Committee, United Nations, Carter Center, CARE, Population Services International, World Social Forum, Rwanda Film Festival, Conflict Prevention in the Southern Caucasus, and Vera List Center for Art and Politics. Based on these experiences I began to convene a group of volunteer professionals to launch the freeDimensional network in 2005.

2. How did you come to establish the organization's HQ here in Clinton Hill? freeDimensional was searching for an office space at the same time that the Pratt Center for Community Development (in Clinton Hill) was helping the community of Bed-Stuy write its 197-A zoning plan to the city of New York (sort of a love letter or wish list for what it would like to see itself become in the ensuing years). The city had just reverted to the Pratt Center on the culture section asking them to make it more concrete. The Pratt Center then offered us an office space (incubation space) and targeted introductions in the community in exchange for us considering a location in Bed-Stuy for our second-phase office and artist workspace.

Our search for a suitable office and artist workspace has been complicated by the typical real estate constraints in a metropolitan area. However, in early 2006, we were introduced to the Magnolia Tree Earth Center. By joining hands with select community partners, we will be able to cover the rent to occupy the space starting sometime in 2007, but more importantly we will be able to create a public facility and equipment for use by local and international artists working in a variety of media. To date, the Daylight Community Arts Foundation has donated a complete darkroom set-up and we have been granted membership in Materials for the Arts, which provides a wide range of free supplies. This new artist resource will be called the Center for International Art & Community (CIAC).

Read more on the Magnolia Tree Earth Center here. freeDimensional responds to Bed-Stuy community interests by internalizing objectives of Community Board #3 in all aspects of program design. The 197(a) Zoning Plan highlights these objectives:

To provide the necessary supportive service facilities, cultural and recreation facilities... [To] build upon the already strong social, economic, and cultural based of Bedford-Stuyvesant through a sustainable agenda that would reinvigorate this ethnically and culturally diverse community... [To] make Bedford-Stuyvesant a Cultural Tourism Destination... [To] establish an ‘arts incubator’ in the district...[To] develop and support after-school programs, and... [To] promote Bedford-Stuyvesant’s cultural assets.

Our partner, the Pratt Center for Community Development serves as the facilitating agency for the 197-a Plan.

3. What about you personally? How did you come to settle in the neighborhood? My partner, Bethany, and I had been looking for a fixer-upper with another couple for some time. We had looked in Harlem and several Brooklyn neighborhoods when the building we live in now (near the intersection of Grand and Greene Avenues) came on the market. Having spent some years working in Africa we liked the proximity to a (then) new Senegalese restaurant called Le Grand Dakar as well as other great eating spots and neighborhood institutions, such as the Corridor Gallery.

4. Tell us about the programs your artists assist with at local schools? Syndicate 19 is the youth program of the Center for International Art & Community (CIAC), an artist residency initiative in Central Brooklyn and the administrative office of the freeDimensional Network.

Syndicate 19 is a civic digital journalism initiative that partners with the Bedford Academy - a public high school in Bedford-Stuyvesant (Brooklyn, NYC) - to create an outlet for community media managed by local youth.

5. How do you find artists to participate in the program? How long do they remain in residence, and what do they usually do after their time with the program has ended? CIAC is freeDimensional's office and the site from which we provide housing, workspace, and an exhibition area for visual, performing, literary and new media artists communicating on human rights issues for periods of 4-6 months. Resident selection is based on the urgency of individuals’ situations (need of temporary safe haven); achieving a diverse professional range (discipline/media); potential to contribute to a collaborative project; and achieving a diverse age, gender and regional make-up. As we plan for expansion of facilities, we are looking for ways to collaborate with the North American Network of Cities of Asylum, in hopes that Central Brooklyn can eventually join this important network.

See also www.cityofasylum.org

After their stay with us at CIAC or one of our other partner centers around the world (SEE MAP), artists may either return to their home country if the situation has calmed or be linked to longer term resources for artists in need of assistance.

6. It sounds like FreeDimensional offers some intriguing volunteer opportunities, and I know several readers are interested in offering their time and talents to the community. What types of assistance does your organization need, and how can people get involved? We are always needing volunteer assistance with our Bedford Academy youth program as well as for issues of artist accommodation and hospitality. More specifically, we are currently looking to fill the following crucial role:

Specifically seeking 1 committed volunteer/intern to contribute as a full team member to the holistic development of a social justice and critical arts organization. The applicant may be a graduate student seeking internship credit who wishes to apply innovative strategies for growth within an emerging non-profit organization. The position will be called ‘Outreach Coordinator’ and the person that fills it will assist in the scaling-up of freeDimensional’s model for creative safe haven across 20+ international partner sites.

7. Speaking in more general terms, can you provide some tips for finding the right organization to volunteer for? The options seem overwhelming! How can you increase your chances of finding a good match for your skills and time available? I personally like www.idealist.org, but understand that it can be a bit overwhelming from both the volunteer and organizational perspectives. Also, try Community Connections, a service of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

8. Any tips on starting one's own nonprofit organization? What resources are available in Clinton Hill for nonprofits? That's a tough one. Well, you first need a supportive family and friends, b/c you will certainly have to ask a lot of the people you are close to. Let me give a shout out to Ashley French (a great friend, volunteer extraordinaire) who suggested this interview to both of us:-)

Make sure that the community is involved and that you are responding to a need that the community has expressed no matter if that is a geographic, demographic or otherwise defined group. That said, there are lots of resources that a dedicated individual can use to start an organization:

NonProfit Coordinating Committee of New York (http://www.npccny.org/)

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (http://www.vlany.org/)

New York NonProfit (http://www.nynonprofit.com) ... and its dynamic leader, Nancy Konipol

The Taproot Foundation (http://www.taprootfoundation.org/)

9. FreeDimensional is based in Clinton Hill, but has close ties with organizations in Bed-Stuy. What do you feel these adjacent neighborhoods have in common, and how does FD bridge the gap between the two? Well, the two neighborhoods are right beside each other geographically speaking, but there are drastic differences in household income levels and education provision levels.

Our perspective is that international social justice and local community development have a strong relationship. This project seeks to better define that relationship by working with community members to create an arts and multi-media center in Bedford-Stuyvesant, an economically marginalized community in Central Brooklyn.

"The program for the development of Bedford-Stuyvesant will combine the best of community action with the best of the private enterprise system. Neither by itself is enough, but in their combination lies our hope for the future," stated Senator Robert F. Kennedy on December 10, 1966 as ground was broken for the nation’s first community development corporation, Restoration Plaza. It is precisely because of this rich history of community development - and the remaining need - in Bedford-Stuyvesant that we first looked to this community to host a new process for organizing by engaging youth media and artist residency as tools for social change.

Bedford-Stuyvesant, Central Brooklyn is a community of 300,000 residents, 70% of which are African American and Caribbean. Figures from the 2002 census show the population of central Brooklyn as approximately 84% Black, 9% Latino, 3% Caucasian, and 4% other. Youth make up one-third of the population. At least 33% of residents receive public assistance, while approximately 20% are dependent on Social Security income. Unemployment stands at 30% for men and woman, twice the national average. The poverty and disenfranchisement in this neighborhood has had severe ramifications on education in Bedford-Stuyvesant. According to the 2000 US Census, only 13% of Bedford-Stuyvesant residents have a college degree, and over 10% of youth between the ages of 16 and 19 have dropped out of high school and neither have nor are actively seeking a GED.

10. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why? a sharp fruit sorbet – lemon, melon or raspberry – mixed with chocolate ice cream. It reminds me specifically of Vienna, which was the first place outside the US that I lived for more than a brief stint.

Interested in volunteering? Contact Todd: 917-952-4933 www.freedimensional.org inquiry@freedimensional.org

CHB Interviews: Barb Kenner, Virtual Assistant

1. You've been in Clinton Hill since 1992. How did you end up on Cambridge Place? I bet your place was a steal compared to today's prices! My husband and I outgrew our rental in Park Slope with the birth of our daughter. We lucked up with a wonderful broker by the name of Shirley Jones who introduced us to Clinton-Hill. I had no idea that in 1992, our house would quadruple in price.2. Where did you live before the Hill? We lived in Park Slope.

3. You're a "virtual assistant," which sounds like you do everything a regular assistant might do, from computer work, typing reports and personal assistant stuff like booking travel and running errands. What's your background, and when did you go "virtual?" My occupation as a virtual assistant or “Jill of all Trades” came about after working in the corporate sector for over 15 years as an Office Manager in Fortune 500 companies. I became tired of the 9 to 5 grind and “master of the universe” mentalities. I decided to strike out on my own. I do everything from: computer work booking travel running errands (post-office, shoe-repair, food, dry-cleaning, etc.) house-sitting (cable, moving, etc.) catering interior designer (www.Robinson-Kenner.com) Car repair appointments registered Notary working for small businesses in the neighborhood. Most small business has little to no money for full time employees, so I offer my services on a temporary basis. Some days I may file papers at the courts, Motor Vehicle registrations or any tasks associated with running a business. No job is too small or large to handle.

4. How do your clients find you? Are there a lot of high rollers in the neighborhood who use your services? Usually my clients find me by word of mouth. Lately, I have been leaving cards (Bkenner465@aol.com) in the various business establishments. I would never divulge my client’s name – confidentiality is very important to me.

5. Does this allow you to work at home during the day? Anything special go on in the nabe while I'm at work? My work usually takes me all over the place; I may do a food run at the greenmarkets for some great organic stuff, or for one handbag designer client, find distressed leather in the Garment District. It’s very rare to find me at home.

6. Tell us about some of the changes you've seen since you moved to the neighborhood, good and bad. It’s amazing the changes I’ve seen in 14 years. There is more foot and car traffic, which brings noise. It used to be a sleepy little block, but with the opening of the Clean-Rite laundermat, you now see more people. Parking has become more difficult. The positive changes are the opening of new restaurants, which is a refreshing change from the Chinese “joints”. 7. How do you feel about all the new condo developments and gentrification? Has it affected your block specifically in any way? The recent condo developments springing up in the neighborhoods are terrible. There is no one to police these structures; they are out of character with the rest of the neighborhood. One great example of this is the monstrosity located on Fulton and Classon. I believe the architects and contractors of this building should serve time in jail. Gentrification has been two-fold. The positive changes are the new restaurants and businesses, the upgraded water and sewer systems, and new lighting along Fulton Street. The negative aspect of Clinton Hill’s gentrification has been the removal of “old-timers” who fought to upgrade the neighborhoods earlier, but were completely ignored by elected officials and community police. Now that changes are being made, they are being pushed out, financially and socially.

8. What would you most like to see come to the neighborhood, in terms of services, dining, etc? I would love to see a full-service supermarket, bakery and a Biegelow type of pharmacy in the neighborhood.

9. Favorite place to eat in Clinton Hill: My favorite places to eat in the neighborhood are Bistro Lafayette, Soule, Kush, Joloff’s and ok, ok, White Castle.

10. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why? Vanilla, like me it goes with everything, works well on its own or accompanied with others. Contact: Email: Bkenner465@aol.com Webpage: www.Robinson-Kenner.com Phone: 917-902-0242

CHB Interviews: Steve Wacksman, on the reno of his St. James Place home

Turns out one of my best tipsters and new neighborhood friends owns one of the gorgeously-renovated homes next to that dumpy house I'd love to buy on St. James Place! I asked him a bunch of questions on how he came to own on my favorite street.

1. By now you know I am obsessed with your house. Who was the first to buy one of these and renovate?

Our next door neighbors at 156 did the first renovation. We were not living here at the time, but to hear them tell it it was an unsightly mess: fake stone stucco all the way up the facade. The parlor door was intact but the stairs had long since been removed or collapsed and only the garden floor door was accessible. They got a tax photo from which to work and, since it was small and grainy, improvised a bit on the details. Many of the details were salvaged from other buildings, etc. They won an award from the Clinton Hill Association for their renovation which was well deserved.

2. When did you move to the nabe, and what brought you here? Where did you live before the Hill?

We moved here in 2002. My wife and I had both lived in Manhattan previously and we were typical Manhattan snobs- I blew off more invitations to visit friends in Brooklyn than i can count, simply because it was 'too much trouble' to get here! I'd lived in the East Village since 1987 and was accustomed to living in what was essentially a rabbit hutch, but after we got married the Missus had had enough and put her foot down. I didn't think we'd find anything we could afford, but within 12 hours she found us a luxurious large one-bedroom in the Financial District. Maybe this isn't relevant here, but as an aside I wholly endorse the Financial District as a place to live- it's like a city within the city and there's so much to discover there; I loved living there for the most part.

Anyhow, we were there for 2 years when she announced that we would own our next home; our days as renters were over. And again, I didn't think we'd be able to afford anything we'd actually want to live in. And after seeing a handful of tiny, dark apartments with high common charges, the prognosis was pretty grim.

Finally I begrudgingly cast my nets wider and included Brooklyn in the search. And I found a house in Williamsburg with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths and a backyard for just about 20% more than we were looking to spend on a broom closet in Manhattan. Initially it seemed like it would be out of reach, but when I looked at the numbers, certain things made it more realistic: 10% down (vs the 20% all the Manhattan coops required), no common charges, and low taxes. All told, the monthly hit would be about the same!

We lost that one, but the hunt began at that point for a HOUSE in Brooklyn. We saw a couple of dumps in Greenpoint before I found this open house listed. We pulled up as a young couple was exiting - the young woman rolled her eyes and declared the house 'interesting' with obvious sarcasm. It WAS interesting, too in as many good ways as bad. Sofie was taking stock of the hideous purple and yellow color scheme that dominated the majority of the interior,the broken windows and creaking stairs when I whispered to her excitedly "We have to buy this house". And so we did. We knew next to nothing about Clinton Hill - we'd never even heard of it before attending the open house. I went to art school and I applied to Pratt - I declined because too many people told me that the neighborhood was unlivable and a warzone and I'd be unceremoniously beaten and mugged and scalped and would be returned to my grief-stricken mother in a box. Ironic, then, that we bought our house here and proudly call Clinton Hill home.

3. Is it true that The Notorious B.I.G. grew up on your street? If so, do you know which house?

I have indeed heard this rumor though I can't claim to be an authority on the subject. An unreliable source pointed to a house on the next block (bet Gates and Fulton).

4. Biggest challenge during renovation:

There were many challenges, though none ever seemed insurmountable. We were flying blind for the most part and were lucky that we worked with trustworthy contractors and architects. One of the most sticky issues was with the Landmarks commission, who required us to match our next-door-neighbor's facade exactly. The neighbors were upset because they felt their facade reflected many personal design choices and we should follow suit and design our own house. But Landmarks considered their now existing facade a precedent that we were required to follow. Tempers flared and, unfortunately, relations were never fully repaired.

Living in a house that's having extensive work done to it is not something I'd recommend to anyone- it's just taxing as hell on the nerves.

5. Your dog is enormous! What kind is it?

Okie is a French mastiff called a Dogue de Bordeaux. They are fairly rare, but were admitted into the AKC last year in the Miscellaneous class so in time I'm sure they'll be more common. He's just turned one year old last week- he has a lot of growing yet to do. He'll likely be somewhere around 140 lbs when he's done. He's great fun and as gentle as a lamb, but he DOES snore and drool. A lot. (LH NOTE: yesterday in the park, I was talking to Steve when Okie shook her head, and her drool flew right into my mouth.)

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our other dog, The Veal. She's a Boxer- 10.5 years old. I can't say enough good things about her and her breed in general; if anyone is looking for an athletic, fun-loving, good-natured, easy-keeping companion, think about a Boxer. Check out www.boxerrescue.com or www.secondchanceboxer.com

6. Favorite place to eat in the neighborhood:

I'd probably go with Smoke Joint- the BBQ is excellent and the owners are great guys who know how to make you feel welcome and appreciated. Same goes for Cafe Martino on Myrtle- we go there for breakfast on the weekends and the owners treat us like old friends. I can't overstate how much that makes a difference to me- good,friendly service. We find many places treat us like they're doing us a favor by serving us; they rarely get a second chance.

We also like the food and atmosphere at Luz and we take-out from Los Pollitos ands Castros pretty frequently.

We went to Bonita this weekend and it was very good as well; I'm sure we'll be back.

7. What do you most wish would open in the area?

I could fill a book, but the short list is: Grocery with fresh produce and baked goods- not necessarily a 'gourmet' place, but a decent, clean greengrocer. I know the wife wants fresh cut flowers, too. Would love a gym- we joined Fitness Academy just weeks before it closed. Crunch is a bit of a hike...

Also, I dream about a restaurant - a simple place, maybe just slightly more 'upmarket' than an average diner - I'm thinking about the equivalent of an EJ's or Veselka, maybe. Someplace to sit and have a burger or something after 8 PM. What gives with the only diners in this neighborhood closing so early?

8. As an artist, do you feel the neighborhood is conducive to creativity? Do you worry that artists will be forced to leave due to rising prices?

Well, the art school's presence isn't felt as strongly as I'd hoped it would be. But I do see creativity everywhere- that's New York. I see it in handpainted shop signs and xeroxed yard sale flyers and graffiti. It's everywhere and I derive inspiration from everything- at least i try to, but I'm an illustrator, which means I'm a 'commercial artist'- I'm often most inspired by a paycheck and/or a deadline.

Since I moved to NY I've witnessed an increasing lack of interest in or sympathy for creatives - NY has become a playground for wealthy suburbanites who have done their best to reshape the city in their image. The small designers from Waukeegan who would move to NY and open a dress shop on the LES - who can do that anymore? Who can afford to when there's always a Chuck E Cheese or Radio Shack looking to expand their empire? Ultimately, though, I dream NY's inhospitable attitude toward the people that made it what it was will backfire and there will be a creative diaspora. Places like Kansas City and Dayton, OH will find more artists living in their midst while NYC is populated solely by bankers, entertainment lawyers and celebrity chefs.

9. Are you involved with SONYA? If so, how can a local artist align with the organization and participate in the annual SONYA Stroll?

I am not- as I mentioned above, I'm a commercial artist so most of my work is of little interest to art enthusiasts. To my discredit I've never taken the time to learn much about SONYA.

10.If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why?

I had to enlist some help on this one. Sofie says: "Rocky Road, because you've got crispy bits and soft bits." Long pause. "And you're always sweet" Awww.

Thanks, Steve!

Steve Wacksman

www.houseowax.com

CHB Interviews: David Velez (Photographer and Life-Long Clinton Hill-er)

A few weeks ago, I received an email from a neighbor who had a unique story -- he's been living in the same brownstone since he was three years old, on Waverly between Park and Myrtle. I couldn't resist asking him some questions about all his years here. 1. How did you end up in the same house all of these years? How long had your family lived there? My parents bought this house and Mom told me we moved in the day before I turned three. We rented out some of the other apartments but basically it has been our family house all this time.

2. What was it like growing up in Clinton Hill? Was there a similar sense of community like there is today? Growing up in Clinton Hill........ well we never saw it as Clinton Hill as it is seen and known now.... back in the day we had the crack epidemic, empty lots, graffiti and gangs to deal with around here.

3. You worked as a Sea Cadet in the Navy Yard -- what is a Sea Cadet, and what were your responsibilities? Any memories from the Navy Yard that stick out in your memory? The Sea Cadets were like a Boys and Girls Club and we would have our drills or meets in the Navy Yard. Among the things we did as cadets were camping out, learning seamanship and drill competitions that allowed for us to compete against ROTC drill teams and march in Veterans' Parades. I can still see the buildings that were used as barracks, gyms, cafeterias, NIS, and commissary. We used to march all over.

4. How long has that church been on Waverly, where everyone dresses in white robes? The church with the people with white robes -- I think maybe seven years . I am not good with time but I know it has not been there for as long I have been here.

(note: I asked this one because that church had a huge event a few weeks ago and had so many cars on the street that they literally parked directly in the intersection blocking entry to Waverly, and that pissed me off!)

5. Tell us about some of the major changes the neighborhood has seen (openings, closings, local hangouts). The major changes are seeing the people from Billy Burg and Park Slope moving in. It has brought in bars and restaurants like Maggie Brown and Pollitos.

Where Maggies is used to be a doctors office - I went there as a kid when I had a sty on my eye. Then it was a tattoo parlor.

Where Pollitos is used to be a card store not unlike a Hallmark. The Associated used to be an A&P. The hair supply store was a pharmacy. Where the Blockbuster and now gone McD's are used to be a 5 and dime where you could buy just about anything.

The Bergen Bagels was once an ice cream store owned by John's. John owned John's Pizza (where Liberty Pizza is). John's Ice Cream shop which also sold birthday cakes.

Next to the Post Office in that empty space now used to be a Kentucky Fried Chicken. The hair salon on Myrtle between Hall and Washington used to be a cool video store - privately owned so we could always get cool movies and concerts there.

The school down Clinton used to be a Drakes Cakes factory - I used to watch the trucks pull in at night when I did my homework on my fire escape. Then it was a huge storage facility which looked more like a junk yard.

6. What's stayed the same? Kum Kau has always stayed packed - for good reason too.

7. Any scary stories from the neighborhood's "rough and tumble" past? Drugs (still evident) was and is a big issue albeit better covered now. Prostitutes as well. The home for grannies up Washington used to be a place to meet and get a "date." I'd get accosted by prostitutes on Myrtle, although it's less often than the panhandlers outside Citibank, Associated and Kum Kau.

8. What's your favorite place to eat in Clinton Hill? Kum Kau, Castro's, El Cofre, Liberty Pizza and Graziella's

9. How did you get into photography? I got into photography when I was stationed in Pearl Harbor. I was in the Navy and fought in the first Gulf War. In this time I picked up a camera and never looked back. I was basically self taught and I also graduated from the Germain School of Photography when I came back to NYC. I have been a professional photographer since 1991 when I was first published in maritime and naval publications and books. I work with film and digital cameras from 35mm up to 11x14 inches. I also have a darkroom where I do my film processing and some printing. I love photography and I am glad I can make my living from it.

10. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what flavor would you be and why? Ice cream...... my personal favorite is coffee heath bar crunch but if I was to be I would say chocolate because I could be so many different tastes (dark or milk and variations within those). I'm crazy and I barely know what I will want to shoot next - being able to be different tastes depending on my mood would suit me - so chocolate it is.

For more info on David Velez, check out his website. He snapped this hysterical photo of an abandoned leg at Waverly and Myrtle the other night:

I'm guessing this was orchestrated by a Pratt student or the guys at RePop...

GettingtoKnowYou: Clintoncentric

1. Name: Nicole Davis and Mike Didovic

2. Blog alias: Clintoncentric

3. When did you move to Clinton Hill, and how did you end up here? I (ND) moved here in 1999. But the first time I ever set foot in the area was a few years earlier, when I went to circuit city in the Atlantic Center Mall. The sun was setting, it was winter, and that narrow, window-lined hallway was drenched in this beautiful light. It was perhaps the prettiest moment ever in the atrocious Atlantic Center Mall. In any case, I was still living in Manhattan at the time, and I took the C at Fulton St. to get back uptown, and I remember thinking how precious that little park at Fulton and Greene was… So I developed a little crush on Fort Greene, and when I was looking to live alone, I checked out two apartments in the nabe. One was a studio the size of a dressing room for 900/month, the other was bigger but also out of my price range. Then I saw an ad in the village voice for a one bedroom in Clinton Hill. I remember being impressed by the wide, tree-lined avenues, and totally baffled by the G train. ("Where the hell does the G train go?" I wondered.) Then I walked into the foyer of my apartment, down the hall, into the eat-in kitchen, and then the hardwood floor living room with the marble fireplace, and the bedroom just off of it, and thought, "600 dollars a month for this palace? And it's rent stabilized? I've hit the jackpot!"

I lived alone until Mike moved in with me in 2003 or so, after living on 57th St., down the street from Carnegie Hall. He complained at first—it was too quiet (what isn't after Manhattan?), and it took too long to get back into the city on Sundays for brunch. Now, he usually stays in the hood on the weekends, and he's kicking himself that we didn't buy something here years ago.

4. Rent or own? We rent.

5. Hometown: Melville, Long Island (ND), Anaheim, CA (MD)

6. Years in NYC: 10+ (ND) , 6+ MD

7. Favorite place to eat in the hood: We love to eat out, so it's hard for us to name one place. But here goes: Luz, followed by Mojito's, though Bonita II will undoubtedly jockey for the #1 position soon. Also, ICI is great.

8. Favorite thing about Clinton Hill: The Pratt sculpture garden

9. Biggest neighborhood gripe: The lack of good, local produce, fish and meat in the supermarket.

10. What would you like to see most in the nabe? A cheese shop

11. Favorite street in Clinton Hill, and why: Clinton Ave., from Gates all the way to Park Ave. So many mansions to ogle!

12. If you could elect a mascot for Clinton Hill, what would it be and why? We would elect the Gingko tree. They look so tall and elegant lined along our block, and yet they drop those stinky seeds. It's as if they realize this is a beautiful neighborhood to be in, but they're in no way encouraging anyone else to stay.

13. Who is your favorite bartender or storekeeper in the hood? We love Cacho, the bartender at Luz.

14. Favorite take-out: Yamashiro sushi, although our last batch was not up to the usual, primo quality.

15. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would be and why? ND: I would be peach-- it's rare when you can find that flavor, but when you do, it's typically homemade, and you can taste the love that went into making it. MD: I would be coconut, because I like the tropics.

GettingtoKnowYou: hey mama

1. Name: kristen couse

2. Blog alias: hey mama 3. When did you move to Clinton Hill, and how did you end up here? my husband and i decided it was time to move out of our loft in bushwick and buy a place about 5 years ago. we started looking in cobble hill/carroll gardens and quickly realized that we couldn't afford anything decent there, so the real estate pages basically led us out here to fort greene/clinton hill/bed-stuy.

4. Rent or own? we bought a fantastic three-story brick townhouse that needs a lot of cosmetic work but has a bunch of original details—and a backyard.

5. Hometown: i've lived in ny state my whole life but have moved around a lot: i was born in nyack, but also spent parts of my childhood in piermont, new city, central valley, middletown, and cold spring.

6. Years in NYC: moved to manhattan in 98, then out to brooklyn in 99 and never looked back....

7. Favorite place to eat in the hood: oh man that's tough. i think i'll have to go with the first place i ever ate in clinton hill, back before i ever thought i'd moved here, when i got off the g train and said "where the hell am i?": locanda vini & olii. but i'd have to give cafe martino a close second.

8. Favorite thing about Clinton Hill: that it really feels like a small town in the middle of a big city.

9. Biggest neighborhood gripe: the ugly ugly buildings that are popping up all over the place. if i see one more pink brick or fedders air conditioner....

10. What would you like to see most in the nabe? a really great food market.

11. Favorite street in Clinton Hill, and why: not to be prejudiced, but.... i love my street, clifton place. there are tons of trees, and a variety of buildings---from the brownstones between grand and st. james to the ping-pong factory on the corner of classon---that are all great in their own right. plus there are always a good group of cats living at the elder housing complex between classon and grand who will come out and say hi, which is a plus in my book.

12. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would be and why? i'll say lemon sorbet: a little sweet, a little tart.

GettingToKnowYou: BrooklynJay

This is me and I still look the same with the same hairdo and everything.

1. Name: Jay

2. Blog alias: Brooklyn Jay aka Big Buddha

3. When did you move to Clinton Hill, and how did you end up here? I moved here in 2002. I was living in Chinatown and, after a lengthy legal dispute over a rent stabilized apartment, had to find a new place to live. Searching the various real estate websites I came across a very inexpensive studio apartment for sale in an area called "Clinton Hill".

The price was right so I moved here not really knowing much about the nabe and, honestly, I was probably the first Asian person living in my apartment complex. Security stopped me the first few times I tried to enter the building thinking I was making a delivery or a Pratt student who's lost and in the wrong building.

And while I'm still bitter over losing the apartment in Chinatown I really feel like it couldn't have work out any better as I love this area.

4. Rent or own? Own a little studio.

5. Hometown: Chinatown, NY.

6. Years in NYC: All my life. I did go to High School and College in the Boston area but I still felt like NYC was my home.

7. Favorite place to eat in the hood: White Castle's? Crown Fried Chicken? There's really so many place to eat in the area that I find it hard to pick a favorite.

8. Favorite thing about Clinton Hill: The people. I find everyone in Clinton Hill really friendly and nice.

9. Biggest neighborhood gripe: Not everyone curbs their dog. I mean, really, if you're going to own a pet then live up to your responsibilities as a pet owner.

10. What would you like to see most in the nabe? I would really like a decent pharmacy.

11. Favorite street in Clinton Hill, and why: Myrtle Avenue!

It's so diverse and offers something for everyone.

12. If you could elect a mascot for Clinton Hill, what would it be and why? A picket sign declaring "This Is Not Bed-Stuy".

If I watch Block Party one more time and hear someone call this area Bed-Stuy I'm going to go postal.

13. Who is your favorite bartender or storekeeper in the hood? Tricalee at Polish Bar gets my vote cause she lives in the same building as me.

14. Favorite take-out: Mojito. Really good Cubanos.

15. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what flavor would you be and why? I'm more like a sundae. Big with lots of different flavors to it.

GettingtoKnowYou: Lesterhead

(And so begins our week of CHB interviews. Now that you'll know what we look like, say hi!) 1. Name: Robin Lester

2. Blog alias: Lesterhead

3. When did you move to Clinton Hill, and how did you end up here? I moved to Clinton Hill in April 2004. I decided I wanted to buy, and at first, I focused on the area since it was the most affordable for me in terms of what I wanted. The more I came out to look at the area, the more I fell in love with it. Plus, in looking at apartments, I became friends with Jay who grew up with a former coworker of mine. It was comforting to know I was moving somewhere where I had a built in dining/activity buddy. (And for the record, Jay and I are not dating!  We are just good pals who share an affinity for food, gadgets and popular culture.)

I vividly remember walking past an elderly man on a blustery winter day on Washington Avenue, and he stopped to chat with me. I was shocked, in a good way. This was how NYC was supposed to be, but never was! The love affair began immediately and kept on growing.

4. Rent or own? Own a 1 br co-op, and live in it with my gigantic cat and small dog

5. Hometown: Buffalo, NY (to be specific, a tiny town called Bowmansville, which is a Hamlet of Lancaster, which is one of the main suburbs of Buffalo). Spent four years at Syracuse U. Aside from a 4-mo stint in London studying abroad, I am a NY State lifer.

6. Years in NYC: 6.5 years (have lived on the UES, Sunset Park and Hell's Kitchen before moving to CH)

7. Favorite place to eat in the hood: Sushi D -- I can't get enough! And to pick a specific Clinton Hill place... Maggie Brown. Love the decor!

8. Favorite thing about Clinton Hill: All the dining options!

9. Biggest neighborhood gripe: I have two: A.) The C train. I hate it SO much. It never comes. B.) Garbage on the street. I didn't realize how bad it was until I got a dog, and saw her stop every 10 seconds to pick up a chicken bone off the sidewalk. Foul.

10. What would you like to see most in the nabe? A flower shop. I love to have fresh flowers at home, and I am constantly irritated by the piddly selection of skanky flower-fern combos on Myrtle and in shopping carts.

11. Favorite street in Clinton Hill, and why: It's a tie: St. James Place, because it's peaceful and has some interesting and gorgeous buildings; and Waverly, because I adore all the carriage houses that have been turned into homes.

12. If you could elect a mascot for Clinton Hill, what would it be and why? The generic black cat who can be found on almost every lawn in the nabe. Sometimes it's a friendly cat, and sometimes feral. But I love kitties and love seeing them around.

13. Who is your favorite bartender or storekeeper in the hood? Russell and Carl at RePop

14. Favorite take-out: Myrtle Thai -- I love the spring rolls!

15. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would be and why? Mint chocolate chip -- Briskly cool with hidden morsels of sweetness

CHB Interviews: Kath Hansen of Fort Greene PUPS

The Great PUPkin had an enormous turnout this year -- 50 dogs! Since one of the founders, Kath Hansen, is a neighbor of mine, I thought I'd ask her a few things about the group's history and more about what they do:

1. How long have you lived in Clinton Hill, and what brought you here? I've been in Clinton Hill for 9 years. My husband and I moved here from Nashville, Tennessee, because I landed a dream job with the Modern Language Association.

2. Tell us about how Fort Greene PUPS got started, and what your role was? I started PUPS in 1999, as a reaction to the threat that off-leash hours might be ended in city parks. We had just moved here with our dog, and learned that for twenty plus years there had been a courtesy rule to let dog owners run their dogs off-leash in parks that have no dog runs, from 9 pm to 9 am. I also heard there were mumblings the Parks Dept. might have to discontinue the courtesy off-leash hours. I thought dog owners in Fort Greene Park should get organized to protect this great policy, and basically copied the setup that FIDO in Prospect Park has. I made friends with the founder of FIDO and she was really helpful. I literally walked around the park with a clipboard for people to sign up; I'm sure lots of folks thought I was nuts. I guess I am nuts, because I'm still doing this 8 years later. And unfortunately, we are still fighting to keep off-leash, with the Juniper Park lawsuit that came up this year. You can go to www.nycoffleash.com to learn more about this.

3. Aside from the Great PUPkin, what other events does PUPS sponsor? We do a couple of coffee and doughnut gatherings a year to sign up new members and sell calendars. We used to do a dogwash in the summer, but it got hard to find volunteers. Who wants to wash dirty dogs?

4. You obviously have a dog. Tell us about him! Bobby is our new dog; we've had him three months. He is more like a drunken frat boy than a dog. The fine folks at Brooklyn Veterinary Hospital found him tied to their front door last summer and took him in. He was terribly emaciated but had a friendly personality. I was at the vet one day with one of the cats, and saw their sign looking for a home for him. We think he's part bloodhound, part shepherd, maybe a little great dane in there. I would give anything to see his parents. Before Bobby, we had a hundred pound mutt named Cameron for 9 wonderful years. Lost him to cancer in January 2006.

5. The dog owners in the park can be transient (as people move in and move out). How do you get the word out about PUPS? Events like the Pupkin and the coffee gatherings help, where we get new names to add to the email list. We have a few regular volunteers who help with these things, but for the amount of members we have (over 300), it is sad how few people ever volunteer even once to help out with the Pupkin or the calendar. Maybe that can be chalked up to the transient nature of dog ownership. I worry that too many take off-leash for granted.

6. How should a dog owner deal with an aggressive dog in the park causing problems? Any tips on that? Look for signs of an aggressive dog and keep your dog far away! Signs can be things like mounting behavior, some unfixed males, growling, a tail held too high, showing of teeth. I am no dog trainer, but you do learn to spot the aggressive dogs if you are observant. Just be really observant if you're going to go off-leash and you will probably be able to avoid 99% of any problems. Some people say big and small dogs don't mix, but I don't buy into that. Some small dogs are way more aggressive than big dogs.

7. What makes our area so dog-friendly, aside from the park and its off-leash hours? I think of Clinton Hill and Fort Greene as a pretty laid back mix of races and cultures, and I believe that laid back vibe sort of rubs off on the dogs. Plus, there are a few nice restaurants that will let you eat al fresco with your pal. Tillie's is famously dog friendly; they even have biscuits inside donated by a certain PUPS member who is an absolute angel.

8. I know that you, like myself, own both a cat AND a dog. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person? Oh man. Cats for the times you want to be introverted, and dogs for when you want to be extroverted. I think everyone should have at least one of each. They teach you things you can't learn anywhere else.

9. Favorite dog breed: 100% mutt, baby!

10. Favorite place to dine in the neighborhood: Red Bamboo

11. What would most like to see come to the Ft. Greene/ CH area? PUPS anxiously awaits the arrival of the dog fountain and drainage system we got funding and approval for a few years back. The Parks Dept. works on their own schedule! Personally, I'm waiting for a greengrocer, and how about a bakery?

12. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why? Honey, you're killing me here.

Interested in getting more involved? Check out the PUPS website, or email info@fortgreenepups.org

Want to support the group with the purchase of a PUPS calendar?

now on sale at the following convenient locations: -Tillie's (DeKalb Avenue at Vanderbilt) -Who's Your Doggy (197 Adelphi, at Willoughby) -Kiki's (DeKalb Avenue location) -Woofs 'n' Whiskers (59 Summit Street)

The calendar will be available in the park during morning off leash hours from time to time (watch your email) and at the Annual Holiday Coffee, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 9th. We also hope to have the calendar for sale in the park's Visitors Center Gift Shop soon.

If you want to purchase three or more calendars you may also contact Nancy Peterson (info@fortgreenepups.org) to arrange for a drop-off/pick-up.

In addition, orders can also be placed online via PayPal at www.fortgreenepups.org, however there's an additional per calendar shipping and handling charge of $2.50. (On the home page, click the donate button to get to PUPS' donate page on PayPal and indicate as the donation amount $12.50 PER CALENDAR and be sure to include your mailing address.)

Interviews

First, if anyone knows a good subject for an interview, let us know. We have a few on tap, but haven't done any in awhile (a new one will go up tomorrow). Next week, we'll post interviews with each one of us, so you know who we are. If you have any questions for us, just post or email us at clintonhillblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

As a side note, I am considering moving the site to Wordpress, since Blogger has been crapping out big time lately. Anyone have any experience with them? The address will stay the same -- no worries.

Broken Angel: Update from Chris Wood

Update Broken Angel 10/29/06On 10/10/06 Broken Angel suffered minimal damage from a fire at the top of the structure. The cause of the fire is unknown and still under investigation. Broken Angel has been an active project of construction by my family beginning in 1979. Major construction was finished in 2002, and all work done thereafter has been for the purpose of maintaining the building. The fire brought the attention of the Department of Buildings (DOB), previous interactions had occurred in 1986, and 2002 with no action taken against the building. During the course of building and maintaining the structure there have been no accidents or complaints. Compared with most modern construction projects, such as the Time Warner building in NYC, this is an excellent record. It raises questions as to why large developers are allowed to continue construction when they pose a risk to the community, whereas Broken Angel, which has no history of construction problems, has been singled out as a danger. My mother and father, the legal guardians and owners of Broken Angel were threatened with eviction for 6 days. On the 7th day they were vacated by the police without a court order or engineer's report. We question the necessity and the humanity of this action. They were told that this was done for their safety; however action was taken prior to any inspection of the interior of the building by an engineer. Furthermore, we were told that the building would be demolished in 3 weeks if an architect did not submit plans to bring it to code. We have been compliant with this request. We are thankful to the firm of Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture http://www.jpda.net/news.html for all of their help and support. On Thursday (10/26/06) an engineer from the DOB toured the structure, and the next day the DOB released a different story. A DOB spokesperson recently commented to the Daily News (10/27/06) that any demolition orders, if warranted will take approximately 3 months to begin.