bodega cats: first in a series

this is sancocho:

he is the feline-in-residence at the bodega on dekalb between hall and washington, two doors down from mike's diner.

a "sancocho", in case you were wondering, is a meat-heavy stew that is the national dish of the dominican republic. the bodega owner's daughter told me that her dad likes to name their cats after food. works for me! (in my family we gave all our cats names that started with the letter m....) she calls him "ocho" for short, and says that he has a loyal following among their customers, some of whom have even brought him presents.

you can usually find him sitting on the big blue metal box outside the store, or in the bushes just beyond it.

ps - and if you want to whip up some sancocho, here's a recipe.

An Exciting Surprise

After BklnJay wrote about LaFu, I decided I needed to check it out for myself. When I first moved to CH, I spent quite a lot of time around that corner. It didn't hurt that I had friends who lived across from Moe's, and CH wasn't home to quite as much as it is today. However, in the last year I've been down there less and less. So I was surprised to see all the new stuff with my own eyes!

It seems that only male bloggers have mentioned the new Stuart & Wright boutique in Fort Greene, which led me to believe that it only carried men's apparel. But NO! I peeked inside, and definitely saw lots of lady-tops, high boots and peep-toe shoes!

SWOON! I love that they kept the old sign up outside.

Here's more info.

Um, when did Fillmore open here?

And now for Mullanes. Well... I like the outside design a lot. The inside looks like... any Murray Hill pub. Here's the menu and the hours:

I do like that they're serving food. How many times have you been at Rope and gotten superdrunk because you haven't eaten dinner first? Um, OK, maybe just me (and a few other readers -- you know who you are).

On the OTHER side of the LaFu intersection, next to Academy, is THIS:

This looks cool. The exterior kind of reminds me of HK, in my former neighborhood.

I still haven't tried Le Bagel Delight. They're soooo witty!

At first, I assumed S&W was in the former cleaners closer to CH at Cumberland and Lafayette.

But no. Instead, there's a 7-11 moving in there!!!

Not sure how I feel about this. I'm sure it will be cleaner and bigger than any bodega in the area, and probably less smelly and stocked with more practical stuff (ie it won't have that entire aisle dedicated to those religious candles).

Looks like I'm spending my weekend in LaFu.

Pookiellama Report: Smell That Smell

i walk through the intersection of greene ave. and classon ave. nearly every day. and about 8 out of every 10 days, it smells...incredible. like fresh-baked, sugary, buttery goodness. and it isn't some delicate "oh, my neighbor's baking cookies again" smell -- it's serious. like someone is mass-producing something luscious. but the thing is, there's nothing at that intersection that screams "pepperidge farm" (or even "little debbie's"). let's take a look at what's on the corners.

one:

ummmm, no.

two:

though the h.t.n.s. is one of my favorite neighborhood fixtures, i don't think they're cranking out the baked goods.

three:

as catherine malandrino said to vincent: no. no. no. no. (though, come spring, this will be a fabulous latin restaurant (but that's another story altogether...).)

four:

they could be shipping out cookies in those trucks, but i don't think so.

could it be that the

or the

both a half-block south on classon, are supplementing the collection plate with some intense bake sale activity?

if not, i'm stumped.

can anyone solve this puzzle? anyone? anyone?

*** This post contributed by hey mama, who will now be a more regular contributor- yay!

Hell on Earth: Adelphi Station PO

There are few things I hate more than visiting the Adelphi Station post office, for the 11238 zip code. If I can avoid it, I do, opting to send packages and buy stamps at the PO closest to my office (which happens to be huge, gorgeous and generously staffed).

As most of you have probably experienced, there are times when one MUST visit the PO in their zip code. Namely, when one received a large package, and does not have a doorman or a mailbox with capacity for anything larger than a magazine.

Sigh. Where to begin?!

1. HOURS I know PO hours are fairly standard, and this branch is no different -- 8-5 M-F; 8-1 Sat. However, how many people can actually get to the PO between these hours if they're working regular hours and have to commute to work? If you could get through the line quickly, that might work...

2. STAFFING I have never seen more than two employees working at the windows, when there are, in fact, seven or so windows that could potentially be used. This means that when anyone comes in for something other than stamps, it takes an eternity for the line to move forward.

3. PACKAGE RETRIEVAL My "favorite" thing is when the lone window attendant disappears for ten minutes to find one package, leaving the line at a complete standstill. On occasion, there will be a window dedicated to package pickups, but even then it crawls along. I suspect all registered packages are just dumped in one unorganized pile. Some sort of "system" might be more efficient.

4. APATHY Once, this branch lost a package of mine for two weeks. I showed up at the window after waiting 30 minutes with my retrieval slip in-hand, and my parcel could not be found. The explanation? "I don't know what to tell you. Sorry. I'll call you if I find it." (say aloud in monotone voice) No one called.

Two weeks later, I receive another slip. Thankfully, this time they handed it over. But I still had to wait in that snail-paced line. Again.

5. FACILITIES Dirty, unattractive and unstocked. Don't expect the forms you may need to be readily available. Chances are, you'll have to wait in line (surprise) to ask for what should be sitting out at kiosks.

I always have to pick up packages before work -- I am fortunate enough to leave for work around 9:30. I have never once walked in to find a line that did not extend the length of the office. And I have been late to work more than once because of a trip to the 11238 PO.

Clearly there is an enormous customer base. Long lines are the standard, not the exception. WE NEED INCREASED STAFFING, NOW! It's just not acceptable to wait 30 - 60 minutes every single time.

I'm going to write letters to the manager of the 11238 PO, as well as the NYC and national headquarters (there must be such a thing, right?)

My suggestions:

• Triple the staff
• Dedicated window for package pickup, and expedited package retrieval
• Extended evening hours at least one night per week
• Dedicated window for international shipping (to help expedite the necessary customs forms and shipping requirements)
• Self-service package shipping machines (available at the WTC PO currently, and probably many other NYC POs)
• Staff ALL windows during busiest hours

I stopped in last Wednesday afternoon to test the waters during a time I'm never available to go. Here's what I found:

long lines, even during the middle of the day

not only is this kiosk void of materials, it's full of TRASH!

...and again, few supplies, but trash all around

11238 is the armpit of the postal service.

Washington Avenue

Cool sidewalk grafitti:

Soule on Fulton

Caught a glimpse of a brand-new soul food restaurant on Fulton last week, called Soule. Staff seemed friendly and welcoming, and the space appeared to be well-designed. I haven't eaten there yet, but since I am on V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N this week, it's likely that I'll stop by. Ever since Bodegas closed (RIP!), I've generally ignored Fulton. Instead, I default to Myrtle. I keep forgetting there are cool/intriguing things down there to check out, like Olivino and Boca Soul. Speaking of which, I wonder of Soule and Boca Soul will battle it out for patrons.

Shooting on Myrtle

As Our Lady Mess pointed out there was indeed a shooting on Myrtle Avenue on Friday, August 25th, around 11pm. According to a source on the Willoughby Walk Co-Op's building security, which patrols the buildings across from Los Pollitos III where the incident occurred, the shooting happened when a Garbage truck driver asked a car to move. The driver of the car refused so the Garbage truck driver pulled out a gun and shot him.

That's the story as it was told to me. I'm still trying to get more information on this incident but it didn't seem to make the papers.

Anyone have any additional information on this?

[Lesterhead's comment: Why was the garbage man carrying a gun on the job??]

Crime Alert

Seems like there was a robbery at the corner of Washington and DeKalb Avenue tonight. The scary parts of this incident was that: It was an armed robbery.

It was only 9:30pm.

The assailants were extremely young.

Now, please note that I did not witness the actual events. I was walking home when I noticed a Police car parked the other way and various personal contents on the ground.

From what I could gather briefly from the victim and some people who were in the area when it happened it sounded like the victim, a teenage Puerto Rican male around High School age, was approached by 3 even younger Black teens with one of the attackers pulling a small handgun out and shoving it into his stomach.

I guess some screaming/shouting occurred and someone on the street quickly called the Police.

Luckily no one was seriously hurt.

One of the witnesses indicated another recent incident where a young Pratt student was recently robbed in the same manner in the same vicinity.

A quick look at the 88th Precinct Crime statistic indicates crime being down but with the students at Pratt returning, Freshmen orientation seemed to have occurred this week, I'm expecting a slight increase.

(Some of those Freshman just don't have a clue about living in a big city.)

With all the development going on this could be a backlash effect as a lot of people who have lived in this area for a long time are suddenly being priced out of their own neighborhood.

(As the nice Mexican restaurant opens up the McDonald's closes across the street...)

Just a little head's up for everyone as I got a feeling it's gonna get worse before it gets better.

24-Hours in Clinton Hill

Thanks to those who brought the lack of 24-hour amenities to my attention via their comments in the last post. Funny -- this really bothered me when I first moved to CH from Hell's Kitchen, but I've become complacent and have forgotten how nice it is to have a place for drunken noshing (or, just noshing after you work late, etc). The amenity I most sorely miss is 24-hour pizza. I was thrilled to find Mario's pizzaria practically at my doorstop when I moved in, and boy was I disappointed the first night I cabbed it home drunk and hungry circa 3am.

I'm generally not much of a "night owl" myself, but the fact remains that after 10pm or so, there's not many simple services available. Food delivery also ends around this time. It's been more than once that I've gotten home late from traveling after a flight was delayed, only to find an empty refrigerator and no one willing to deliver. Bah.

What do you think we're lacking, as far as round-the-clock services?

(Or even extended hours services. Could the Associated on Waverly close any earlier, especially on Sundays?! By the time I decide what I need to make dinner, the gates are down. Damn them! Then I am reduced to unhealthy Chinese takeout, or a dinner of Triscuits and ice cream.)

The Onion on Gentrification

via Curbed... Sometimes I Feel Like I'm the Only One Trying to Gentrify This Neighborhood!

Too funny, and too right-on.

Unique Amenities on Grand

A reader tipped me off to some new stuff going in on Grand, just south of Lafayette. Of course, I checked it out (after a stop for an iced coffee and scone at the beloved Choice Market!). I've been looking at the intriguing storefront across from the late Karrot for awhile now. Finally, there's some signs in the window!

Grand Avenue Workshop

I wasn't lucky enough to find someone inside, so I gave them a call.

After 24 hours of phone tag, I connected with Carl, the owner.

Grand Avenue Workshop does restoration and finishing on antiques and newer pieces. His clients consist mostly of architects and designers/decorators. Neighbors are often dismyed to find that he doesn't work on weekends when they might be around to stop in.

However, he doesn't do much work for local area residents -- that is, unless they've hired an architect to renovate for them. He works when the professionals work, and describes his business as "a strange hybrid that only resides in NYC."

Carl has been in business for twenty years, and has lived in the neighborhood for that long, too -- he's a "Pratt Kid who never left." His shop on Grand Ave has been there for the last five years.

He says that lots of people will pop in on their way home from work if they see him in the office to find out what exactly he does. He seemed pretty jovial about that, but warns, "I am NOT the neighborhood fix-it man! I will not hang your cupboards for you!"

Then, there's this:

(sigh)

I'm a bit of a grammar hound, and stuff like this sends me into a tailspin. Do they mean "mirrors," plural? Or the name of the store is "Mirror," and the store belongs to it?

PLURAL WORDS DO NOT GET AN APOSTROPHE.

Who knows -- maybe they'll actually sell cool mirrors at reasonable prices. Personally, I've been wanting a floor mirror for some time. If they're going to call the store "Mirror's on Grand," I don't think I can patronize. But I hope you will, and report back. (Sorry, personal quirk.)

Still confused? Check out the Apostrophe Protection Society.

Neighborhood Wittiness

Normally, I don't condone grafitti, especially in the subway. There are few things more cliche than drawing the standard male genitalia over the face of a woman featured on a poster down there. However, a few Clinton Hill residents actually have something funny to say down below. I've been taking pics of the advertising defacement that makes me chuckle at both the Clinton-Washington G and C stations.

JAWS

A few months ago, I started noticing this beat up auto on Clinton Avenue. At first, it was just a crappy car. Then, it received a special paint job.

I'm assuming the owner did it, but I suppose it could also have been a cruel (yet funny) case of property defacing. I've never seen anyone driving it, or moving it. Yet it's always moved according to street cleaning rules.

Must be a bitch to parallel park this thing.

Do you own this car? If so, contact us and give us the story!

URBAN SPRING: UPDATE!

Yesterday afternoon, I walked past Urban Spring and peeked into the window, behind the newspapers hung there. I saw a counter, shelving and cute overhead lights! YES! THEN, this morning, I noticed the window paper had been removed! A tall blonde guy was in the store and I gave him a wave. On my way back from the park, I ran into him outside.

Inspection is TODAY. As long as they get the "OK," they're going to practice during the week and may be open as early as SATURDAY!

It's funny how new storefront openings in our neighborhood attract the kind of frenzy that a boy band in-store appearance might have in the midwest. In the park, my neighbor and I shared stories of anxious waiting - me for Sushi D and he for Choice Market. New stuff in Clinton Hill is kind of like a drug.

More to come...

***Urban Spring is an organic juice bar set to open on DeKalb Ave. near Ft. Greene Park. I wrote about it last month here.

Haunted Church on Clinton

When I was little, I used to think all houses with boarded up windows were haunted.

This gorgeous old building's been boarded up for awhile. It appears to have been last used as a church, but I don't think it was built for that purpose. I remember it being for sale a long time ago, but haven't heard or seen anything since, aside from some brand-new "KEEP OUT" signs.

I wonder what it looks like inside.

Beautiful (or full of potential for being beautiful) buildings boarded up fill me with sadness, and a weird feeling I can't explain. Who lived here last? What did they leave behind on the other side of the padlocked door? Does no one want to cut the grass and clean away the trash?

For some history, check Brownstoner.

Challenge

I've been puzzled by this building on Clinton Avenue ever since I moved to the neighborhood in 2004. I don't think I've ever seen anyone go in or out, yet the property looks open and well-maintained. A family friend who grew up down the block tells me that kids used to spray paint a "D" at the end of "CHALLENGE." Pretty basic, yet made me chuckle.

So what IS this place?

Per their website:

Working in the heart of New York City, Teen Challenge provides comprehensive faith-based residential programs for men and women seeking help to overcome drug addiction and other life-controlling problems.

Apparently, the program provides a live-in program for both men and women looking to get clean and stay that way. Ironically enough, they only take people 17 years and older. They also run an after school program for children in grades 2-6. (Why are they calling it Teen Challenge when few teenagers actually qualify for their programs??) Actually, other chapters of the organization, which was started in NYC in the 1950s, do offer live-in services and counseling for teens. The organization claims to have a very high success rate compared to other rehab institutions.

While they don't list the actual addresses for the men's and women's live-in homes, they do have photos. Both look familiar, but I can't place them off the top of my head. I think they also might be in Clinton Ave.

Since I've never heard a thing about them, or direct reports of the individuals causing problems in the neighborhood, it seems they're doing a good job. They do help those in treatment earn their GED, which I highly laud.

Anyone have any interactions with this place?

My Little Section of the Nabe

Clinton Hill is blowing up! So much so that I've been enlisted to help cover my little section of the nabe - and since I live really close to Myrtle Avenue around Pratt I figure it'll be the first place I cover.

---

I've been living in Clinton Hill long enough to remember the KFC being open next to the Pratt Post Office on Myrtle Avenue. It's been closed now for a couple of years with the building being empty and abandoned until recently.

Last week I noticed a giant crane knocking the old KFC building down and there's been a flurry of construction activity ever since.

The site where KFC once stood.

Anyone know what's being built in it's place? I'm hoping for a CVS Pharmacy. This area sure could use one.

---

A little further up at 559 Myrtle Avenue is Cafe Martino.

I'm not sure when this coffee shop opened but it seems pretty nice.

The menu has a decent selection of breakfast and lunch choices with a slight bent towards Latin America.

The hours are 7am to 7pm weekdays and 8am to 6pm on weekends.

A full food review coming soon.

---

There's been a lots of recent residential construction activity too.

First, there's this monstrosity being built on the corner of Myrtle and Steuben.

And these 3 new developments on Grand.

Hmmm...didn't notice any places for parking. Let's hope they're smart enough to build it in.

I'll swing by and take updated construction photos as these building get closer to completion.

More to come.

St. James Place

One of my other fav streets in the 'nabe is one I just recently discovered: St. James Place. I happened upon it one evening while walking Mallow and following a sign for an open house. The signs led me to this house:

Looks kinda crappy, right? Well, if they weren't asking close to a mil for it, I might actually try to scrape up the cash to see if I could buy it. While I've always had the pipe dream to someday own a brownstone, lately I've been pining for a unique-looking house to gut and really make my own. Look what these people down the street did with their narrow houses:

Love it.

Since I first happened upon this place, I've been walking there every few days. The buildings there are really unique and dynamic, and many of then are still in disrepair.

Take this beauty - who ever thought it was a good idea to put siding on urban homes? And let's not even analyze the 10 million awnings. With a total renovation, this could be a palace.

Or this home, with the gorgeous stoop that's been painted over a zillion times (but obviously not recently). Picture it with a little love and some modern planters or carved pumpkins at Halloween time.

There are certainly people who have begun renovating and restoring here, but it still seems quiet and under-the-radar. I always feel like I should be tip-toeing down the sidewalk.

Most ironically though, is the fact that this is the street where the Notorious B.I.G. illegedly grew up! I'm pretty sure this is still Clinton Hill technically. Either he wanted more 'cred' to his name, or the mad shadiness crept over into CH back then and it didn't matter where Bed-Stuy started.

Here I am, skinny white girl skipping down his street with my little white dog and digital camera. Poor man is probably rolling in his grave.

Love these archways:

Great fixer-upper:

Speculation

I was very sad to see Brother's Hardware go. It was local, with a friendly staff, and also enormous. No Home Depot, mind you, but perfect for all basic hardware needs, plus roach and ant baits (ew, yes, I need them).

The building's been empty for awhile, and it seems work's been going on inside. Construction permits reveal nothing. Jay bets it's a restaurant or bar, while Marina guesses coffee-shop-type-place.

Me? I'm not sure. It seems awfully big for a bar or coffee shop, or even a restaurant. What do we need the most?

1. Book store (maybe selling a new-used combo? mmmm...)
2. Flower shop/gardening center
3. Clothing boutique (especially since Sodafine's moving to the 'Burg)
4. Straightforward, good Italian restaurant
5. Greek food
6. Modern home furnishings store

What are you hoping for?

On My Way to the Park

OK, this is Ft Greene fodder, but chances are you have the same questions. Most days, I walk my dog Marshmallow to Fort Greene Park.

1. I used to like to take Lafayette to Cumberland and then cut north to FG Park. I liked this route because I would pass a magnificent garden on the east side of the street the width of a house. Now that's being turned into luxury condos, but out of habit I still walk that way.

As soon as I turn right on Cumberland, I always pass this car service:

I am completely convinced this storefront is a front for something else. I mean, it looks like there are lights on inside, and it's never gated up. But have you ever seen anyone go in and out, or see towncars parked outside? Have you ever known anyone to take this car service? As the neighborhood continues to come up, this weird business seems more and more out of place.

Out of curiosity, I called them.

There was no answer at the first number.

The second one went straight to a voicemail. I'm sorry, but this is NOT a legit car service.

2. Change is afoot on DeKalb Avenue. Liquors is still closed, and the shoe repair place next door has become a cute-looking children's clothing store (Beezu?). On the block just east of the park, two storefronts have been under construction for months. One is slated to be a wine shop, while the other will be an organic juice bar!

I could have sworn this sign used to say "this spring." And even so, summer's half over. Open your damn juice bar already! I have high hopes for this place. I'm hoping it's nicely designed.