Check out this building on Quincy between Downing and Classon across from the huge Salvation Army:
Condos? Man, this block is going to change fast.
Oh, wait- here's some info on Brownstoner (posted while I was in Poland). Looks like affordable housing...
The corner of Myrtle and Flatbush is such an incredible eyesore. I know it's WAY out of CH, but I notice it every time I come home late-night in a cab. Everything save for a check cashing place is shuttered and ready to fall apart. Wonder if the same person/company owns the whole block and is just waiting to raze it in favor of more condos.I know this is right near the projects, but it does seem odd that such a prime locale is sitting in decay.
The Haunted Church (447 Clinton Ave) has been covered in a black shroud the last several weeks. Now the plywood barricade facing Clinton holds an interesting announcement:
According to a comment on Brownstoner way back from 2005, it sounds like "Clinton Rising, LLC" has owned the building since January '05. If they're responsible for all that nasty trash sitting outside for the last 2.5 years, I'm worried. Then another 'Stoner post says it was sold this past April. Wait, now I can't find that post from 2005! Am I hallucinating? This is certainly one of the most confusing situations in the nabe.
I couldn't find any info about the project on the architect's site, and a Google search for Living Space Design on Ryerson yields nothing.
Wonder how this reno will turn out...
Not sure how I've never noticed this intriguing home on Lexington between Grand and Classon:
*swoooooon*
According to Property Shark, the building used to look like this:
OK, that's ridiculously small. But hopefully you get the idea. I'd love to do this someday -- buy a unique building in the 'hood and make it into a really cool home. Better start buying some lottery tickets.
Anyone been inside this place, or know the owners? I'd love to know how this place came about. What's on the second floor deck?
Something's filming today on Clinton between Lafayette and DeKalb. The signs only say "RSA Films." Normally they include a project name, so I poked around on Google. I've deduced that the filming is for a Heinekin commercial, taking place at one of our favorite mansions, 313 Clinton Ave.
This note just in from a reader: I've noticed in the past couple of weeks lots of people walking around the neighborhood wearing these t-shirts that say in large fancy cursive italics "Clinton Hill Chill." Some with white script on blue t-shirts, some blue script on white. These t-shirts are awesome and I would love to get my hands on one, but I have no idea where they come from (a cursory google yielded nothing). Have you seen these? I'd love to know where to get one.
I saw one last week on a teenage girl and it looked great. Someone help! How can we get our hands on these?
I also put up a post on Brooklynian in the hopes of finding the answer.
In other clothing-related news, there's a cool-looking store selling BK t-shirts on DeKalb near Skillman called D Train Couture. I haven't been in yet - anyone have a review?
Nearly a year ago, reader Houseowax tipped me off to a potential new storefront renovation on St. James and Greene Gates. The building's taken on some questionable window guards, but little has happened on the parlor floor level.
Until now.
There's a "for rent" sign in the "window," but I couldn't find any info on the Brooklyn Properties website. What's up here?
Wonder what this will be...
Hopes are not high for this one. I stopped by this morning and asked a guy standing in the doorway what was going in. He said he didn't know. He was also wearing a cowboy outfit. (near Washington)
Noticed this funny little truck ringing an old-fashioned bell on Greene Ave recently. I was with a neighbor who informed me that this old guy drives around Brooklyn sharpening knives. You simply flag him down and bring your knives. Apparently he's a real institution, but this was the first I'd heard or seen of him.
Is there any rhyme or reason to his schedule? Anyone ever flagged him down and asked him to sharpen stuff?
(Looking south on Lexington -- anyone have a clue what this thing is?)
Did Curves gym ever open on Myrtle? WTF? It's not listed on the Curves website as a Brooklyn location.
The former cleaner's on Lafayette, once rumored to become a 7-11, is now accepting proposals for the space. There are a few already hanging in the window, which seems strange. At least they whited out their grammatical error.
Interested in the space?
A post of mine from Eater.com here. As of late, the gates have been kept down, with no sign to be seen. Have they thrown in the towel?
Noticed this intriguing storefront on Vanderbilt...south of Atlantic. The website says that one owner lives in Clinton Hill -- maybe that's why he named the business after the nabe? The projects featured online look pretty nice.
Anyone used them for anything?
Several months ago, TimeOut printed a small chart highlighting various community dining opportunities in the city. One of them takes place on Flushing Ave. just past Classon. Anyone is welcome -- first come, first served -- and you "pay what you can." Here's the catch: the food is pilfered from garbage cans and dumpsters, and then cooked! I've Googled the event, and have come up with this:
Grub
A cheap, simple dinner for strangers and co-conspirators.
We are a small group of people who do a lot of other things in New York, like decorate subways and throw parties in the streets. We work with several collectives and art groups, like Toyshop, Madagascar Institute, and In Our Hearts. At Grub we're just offering dinner.
Whether you are active in other collectives, your neighborhood, your backyard garden, or just new to town, we invite you to our table. To get a little squishy, we are looking for practical ways to build community. We are particularly inspired by weekly dinners served at squats in Amsterdam and Berlin, where you can get a cheap, tasty meal and catch up with friends in a cozy room. We like parties as much as anyone, but we think there should be places to talk without a pounding sound system.
We are not gourmets or fancy cooks; we offer simple food simply prepared. We will only be able to serve 40 people, first come first serve. There will be plates for vegans and vegetarians alike. Please come early and hang out.
Rubulad home base 338 Flushing, at Classon, Brooklyn G train to Flushing or Classon stations, J,M,Z to Marcy, B61 bus to Flushing 6:30p doors, 7p dinner; $pay what you want, and bring your own booze
Never a mention of the dumpster diving.
I even walked past the space once, and found someone inside. He was really nice, and said they always get a big group of interesting folks. I'm KIND of tempted to try it out, but the whole trash thing scares me.
The interior space is pretty wacky -- filled to the brim with colorful artifacts and artsy stuff.
Has anyone ever gone to this? Thoughts, feedback and reviews?
Turns out there's live jazz in our 'hood regularly! I've been meaning to check out Parlour Jazz on Vanderbilt since moving to the neighborhood, but never have. Apparently, the jazz club is housed in a brick townhouse between Myrtle and Park. Parlor Jazz 718-855-1981 www.parlorjazz.com
The website takes me back to 1996, but I'm definitely going to make checking this out a priority
I've also seen web mention of something called Jazz 966, which seems to happen at 966 Fulton. This also may or may not be an old folks home? Jazz 966 718-638-6910
Finally, it appears that this renovated space, called LOX, next to Kush on Fulton is slated to be a new jazz club!
If it opens while I'm away, I expect a FULL report.
On Wordpress, I can check the sites that have linked to CHB. One of them simply says: Telos Apothecary coming to Fort Greene soon!
I can't find any info on them via Google, but maybe it'll be something cool, like a Bigelow Chemists-type store?
Noticed a new storefront on Waverly just north of Myrtle, sporting a vinyl sign that says, "Annetta's Beauty Salon." Didn't have my camera with me. Just a heads up!
Remember when the former cleaners was slated to become a 7-11? Readers have been asking me what's up. As far as I can tell, there was a problem with flooding in the building (per signage in the window recently). On a recent stroll past, I asked a guy in the doorway what was going in there. His response? "We don't know yet."
Wonder why 7-11 pulled out?
What do you think should open here?
(Washington between Myrtle and Park. Has anyone called this number? Who's behind this? Apparently the signs are posted in several neighborhoods.)
Clinton Hill Blog published from 2006 - 2010. Please enjoy these archives - a love letter to the neighborhood.
