Mysterious Wreck on Bedford

/

I smelled this building before I saw it, on Bedford and Gates (1124 Bedford). It's the smell of damp, rotting wood. I've smelled it before when old haunted houses get pried open for renovations. crumbling

piles of brick and debris

The place is huge. According to Brownstoner, the building was once the Bed-Stuy Community Mental Health Center. A Google search for the organization puts it currently at 1121 Bedford, just across the street (the same address as the YMCA). How long was this building in use? How long has it been closed?

former mental health center...spooooky

Gibb Mansion

/

One of my favorite aspects of our neighborhood is the ability to constantly discover something new. For the last several months, I've been dating a Bed-Stuy resident, which has given me an occasional reason to walk or drive east down Gates Ave. I've often been stopped in my tracks by this insanely awesome standalone mansion that sits on its own pristine lot. I never have a camera with me, and I always forget to come back with one.

gates03_frontfacade1.jpg

Yesterday, I received an email from the PACC about a photography show being held there. Finally! Some answers! I did some research.

Seems the PACC took over the house and created a living space for critically ill neighborhood residents who are working towards independent living. PACC has done an amazing job at restoring old homes in the area, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I found a photo of the mansion before renovation:

gates01_before1.jpg

I know it's small, but it's all I could find!

Anyway, here is the press release for the photography event, which will be held tomorrow night!

When: Friday, March 28, 2008 at 6pm

Where: The Velmanette Montgomery Library at Gibb Mansion located at 218 Gates Avenue (near Classon Avenue) in Brooklyn.

What: Pratt Area Community Council and Gibb Mansion Social Services cordially invite you to join us for our very first Visual Journey of the Past, Present and Future, a showcase of images taken by Gibb Mansion Residents and Staff.

Hosted by Social Service Interns, Angie Dang and Carli Ovadek, the philosophy behind this "Visual Journey" is to explore the importance of society and environment and its impact on the residents of the Gibb Mansion community. Gibb Mansion will, for one night, become an art gallery, displaying 30 or so pieces that were taken with a photojournalistic approach. The show will present images representing the past, present, and future of its participants. Deb Howard, the Executive Director of PACC says, “The Visual Journey experience is a culmination of all the hard work and dedication of its participants.”

Gibb Mansion, PACC’s social service residential building in Bed-Stuy, is home to some 71 Individuals that are single, low-income adults, or that may be chronically ill but are working toward the goal of independent living. Equipped with a camera and a journal, the groups met weekly at Gibb to share techniques and images, and on some occasions engage in group sessions with a professional photographer.

The members of Visual Journey use photography to express personal life experiences and future goals. Group members had the opportunity to take pictures together or on their own. As a group they traveled to other neighborhoods and places of interest; i.e. Central Park to capture the beauty of winter or taking in the architectural grandeur of Rockefeller Center.

Angie Dang says, “This showcase represents weeks of hard work, soul searching and talent from residents and staff. The purpose for taking each of these photos were then shared and discussed with peers at our weekly meetings. This gave participants the opportunity to see images and perspectives through a different lens, in addition to sharing individual stories through their own photographs.”

Carli Ovadek continues, “Angie and I want to use this night to recognize the hard work of the Gibb Mansion residents, and give members the chance to present these pieces to the community and important people with their lives.”

The Visual Journey group members would greatly appreciate the support and attendance of PACC staff for this unveiling. Those attending will enjoy an evening of unique photography and the stories behind the pictures.

Missing Mailbox!

/

This morning, I headed to my local blue mailbox (Clinton and Lafayette) to drop off my payment for the $60 parking ticket I received last week in BK Heights (GRRR), only to find THE MAILBOX WASN'T THERE! box-copy.jpg

Where did it go?! WTF???

UPDATE: The mailbox was taken out by two cop cars who collided at that corner Saturday morning. A reader did email me about it, but I was taking my eight-hour written exam at school, so I didn't get to see it. Back to the topic of cops pulling illegal traffic maneuvers in the 'hood, I saw one last week drive in front of a car at a red light from behind, look both ways and drive through it, no sirens. Just couldn't wait for that pesky red to change! I'm curious to know what the circumstances were on Saturday. If they were rushing to an emergency, OK. But if this happened because they were breaking traffic laws for no reason AND they ruined my mailbox, I am gonna be PISSED.

June: Closed for Now

/

Not sure how long June (on Dekalb) has been closed, but it looks like it will reopen tonight. library-6699.jpg

I think I heard about one robbery, but it sounds like there have been several.

June is one of those strange restaurant phenomenons -- it always looks pretty empty. I'm starting to wonder if size matters. For some reason, bigger places seem to remain empty.

Still Shuttered on Myrtle

/

Myrtle has become a real hotspot in Brooklyn, but it's still home to a surprising number of shuttered storefronts. Some of the more interesting places include: dscf1886.jpg

This place was horribly overpriced when it was open, and often opened late (grrr). It's a pretty large storefront. What should go in here?

And this place, too:

dscf1881.jpg

The black spray paint over the awning is fantastic. Looks like it was once a seafood restaurant.

I'm trying to enjoy these mysterious spaces while they last.

A Party at Steiner Studios

/

A top secret contact of mine was fortunate enough to attend Doug Steiner's birthday bash in the Brooklyn Navy Yard recently. Since we're all curious as to what it's like behind those gates, he offered to share his experience (under the pseydonym "Bill Bennet"): Thank you Lesterhead! I'm feeling super to be here!

Well readers, let me tell you a juicy story about last Friday night! Your faithful reporter, by the skin of his charm and suavity, got invited to a glittering party at the Steiner Studios in the ghetto-swank Brooklyn Navy Yard. The stars were out on November 30th both in the frozen night sky and on the red carpet!

Inside the scene was "thumpin', yo!" Our host for the evening and the birthday boy for whom the birthday bash was bumpin', the amazing Doug Steiner, had turned the ginormous main studio space -- twenty-seven thousand square feet of floor space with fifty foot ceilings! -- into a full-on dance club. The bar(s --three giant open bars!) were swarmed like a fat American tourist in the Congo, and rasperry vodka flowed like semen and ink at a writers' retreat. Beautiful go-go dancers shook their booties on raised platforms placed randomly throughout the space -- and when I say beautiful, I mean Booo-ti-foooollll!!! For the men, a hot blonde, a hot Latina, a hot African-American, and one dancer I couldn't quite place (Samoan islander mixed with Scottish highlander?) were bursting out of skimpy outfits, boobs and butts glistening with sweat! For the ladies guys in Greco-Roman wrestling gear pumped you up! as their rock hard muscles undulated like the enraged seas!

I was on pins and needles when my contact for the evening was approached by the birthday boy himself. I sharpened my conversation skills with a pocket pencil sharpener, grabbed an extra cocktail, and headed over to the pair.

"Doug, this is my friend Bill Bennet. Bill this is Doug Steiner."

Reader, I almost fainted on the spot.

Doug Steiner (who was being shadowed by his personal photographer) is a commanding five foot, six inches tall. Penetrating eyes peer out from strong brows situated just beneath his balding head.

"Hi," he said, and offered me a hand soft from lack of manual labor, but hard from giving "no"s to so many aspiring filmmakers. I gushed at how wonderful it was to meet him, and he, like Andy Warhol, acted dazed and indifferent, all the while projecting an inner confidence and intelligence that can only be described as "ineffable."

Naturally Mr. Steiner had too many guests to stop and chat with your humble reporter, and so he moved on through the crowd, shaking hands while the constant lightning from the flash of his personal photographer blinded the guests -- almost as much as the birthday boy's brilliance.

I made my way back to the bar to get my signature club soda and lime when a little man, who had obviously slipped past the velvet rope, had the nerve to ask if I was the designated driver. In the first place, I thought, I don't drive. I am DRIVEN. So I turned to him and said, "No. I'm in recovery." I thought it might give me a little Amy Winehouse chic. :)

Sadly my attempts to nose my way into the VIP rooms met with repeated rebuffs (and how buff! Mr. Steiner really knows how to pick a bouncer! ). So there's not much more to say. The plebes who milled around the dance floor mostly seemed to be indie movie company interns -- skinny, nervous young men with beards and sallow complexions -- or obese women in their 40s looking to pick up one of these trembling wall flowers in flannel. Occasionally a middle-aged entertainment lawyer would provide a spectacle, knocking back vodka tonics and leering at the go-go dancers. The high point of the remainder of the evening was watching one of the old, fat ladies groping a male go-go dancer's juicy package while her equally rotund friend took pictures on her mini digital camera.

Around 11 the gliterati started to fliterati into the night. I took my cue, downed the rest of my soda and lime and flew into the night to adventure and fun!!!

No word on whether or not the party moved to the Navy Yard Lounge.

Important Hearing on Admiral's Row

/

(If anyone attends this meeting and wants to email me a report to post, that would be great.  This week I am buried in grad school paper writing.  Email reports to clintonhillblog-at-gmail-dot-com.) navyyard.jpg

(photo by bb2087)

The issue of what to do with the crumbling houses located in the Navy Yard has been a heated one.  Currently, they are slated to be removed and replaced with a giant grocery store.  The press release below is clearly in favor of the plan, although many feel differently.

I'm hoping to do several posts on the Navy Yard in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.  My general position is that the Row should be preserved, but that the Navy Yard in general should be open to the public and used as community space.

For additional info, check out this independent project regarding the history of Admiral's Row, run by a friend of mine.

December 7, 2007

PLEASE JOIN COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES, WITH BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARTY MARKOWITZ; CONGRESSMAN ED TOWNS; STATE SENATOR VELMANETTE MONTGOMERY; ASSEMBLYMAN JOSEPH LENTOL; ASSEMBLYMAN HAKEEM JEFFRIES; COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID YAASKY; REV. MARK TAYLOR; COMMUNITY LEADERS AND RESIDENTS; FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE AND PUBLIC MEETING TO SUPPORT THE SUPERMARKET DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED BY THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (BNYDC)

All are invited to a press conference and public meeting to support the transfer of property in the Navy Yard (Admiral's Row) from the Federal Government to the City of New York, who will lease the land to the BNYDC for development.  The event will take place on Tuesday, December 11th beginning at 6:15 PM.

For twenty years BNYDC has worked closely with the community to acquire Admiral's Row Houses, to then convert the deteriorated and unsafe buildings into a community asset, including a major supermarket and community retail stores.  The proposed supermarket development will provide fresh produce for an underserved community, over 500 new retail and industrial jobs (local hiring commitment), and an on-site BNYDC Employment Center for easy access to job placement opportunities.

The Economic Development Committee of Community Board 2, as well as elected officials at all levels of government support the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation's re-development plan.  BNYDC has a strong track record of retaining the Yard's history, and is committed to historic preservation whenever possible.

WHAT:  BNYDC Public Meeting about the Transfer of Admiral's Row Houses

WHEN:  Tuesday, December 11th - Press Conference at 6:15 PM, Forum from 7 PM - 9 PM

WHERE:  Daniel Hale Williams Public School 307 - 209 York Street (near Gold Street)

Contact:  Ray Martin (Office of Council Member Letitia James) - (646) 942-3180, and Richard Drucker (Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation) - (718) 907-5936

NOW OPEN: Autour du Monde

/

With absolutely no fanfare or warning, Autour du Monde -- the new restaurant opening in the old Bodega's space -- is open! chb-02.jpg

Autout de Monde opened last Thursday. Jay and I checked it out Friday for lunch.

Inside, it still looks like Bodegas (RIP!!!!), aside from having painted the walls. I had the chicken panini, and Jay had the burger. Service was friendly, but SLOW (just like Bodegas). There were a few other diners inside, which surprised me since they don't have a sign and that huge construction arrow on Fulton is blocking much of the storefront.

chb-03.jpg

They're serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and are cash only and BYOB for now.

Here are some menu shots:

autour du monde

autour du monde

autour du monde

I predict it'll be a good place to stop in for a croissant and coffee before hopping on the C! Autour du Monde SE corner of Clinton and Fulton

Boat Noises?

/

A reader left this question in the comments: A question for the blog: Do you hear a noise like a fog horn or a ship's horn on occasion? Is this noise from the Navy Yard, or from cruise ships coming and going from Red Hook, or from ordinary East River ship traffic?

I've never heard any boat noises personally. I don't think the Navy Yard is used for boats anymore, but I'm not positive about this. Anyone know the source?

Donation Bins- More Info

/

Reader David filled me in on the disappearance of the clothing donation boxes: The clothes collection bins that have disappeared may be all due to the dept of sanitation asking them to be removed...... as you can see in this pic there is grease pencil writing and removal notices from the dept of sanitation - this clothes bin was on Park Ave and Vanderbilt Ave:

bin.JPG

Wonder if they were being abused?

J+J Cafe

/

J&J Cafe I took the above photo on one of the few days J+J Cafe (Fulton nr Waverly) was actually open. Yes, I was inside! And I bought a croissant and a coffee! The staff was nice, but the space was a bit shoddy.

Not that it matters now, as it closed down as soon as they put up their official sign...

skinny building

I'd say until that skinny building is finished, there's little use opening anything in that space.  It's almost completely invisible!

New Building on Park?! WTF?

/

what IS this?A few weeks ago, I came across a bizarre new building on Park by the BQE for sale by Corcoran. It looked to me like a building full of condo apartments, but the Corcoran listing I found said it was a legal 2-family listed at $979k.weird condos?

I procrastinated in posting this, and now the Corcoran link isn't working, and I can't find anything about it online!  What happened, and what IS this place?