Hidden Treasures at Lockaway

Friends of mine in BK Hts are moving, and enlisted my help in driving them to a storage place to purchase boxes. They told me there was a box place in Ft. Greene, so I pocked them up at the G train and drove up to Carlton and Flushing to visit Lockaway Storage. This is what it looks like on a sunny day (aka sketchy), so you can imagine what it looked like after dark:

We had to head around back to get inside, and were greeted by a tranquil fountain by the door! Inside, things got even better. The place is gorgeous inside, done up like an antique post office. It was inviting and cozy (you know, the opposite of the REAL post offices in the neighborhood). If they served beer or food, it might be a nice date place.

And, you can even have your fortune told inside (not sure if this machine is in working order):

How weird is it that all this stuff is tucked inside a shady-looking storage facility?

Manhole Explosion?!

Holy crap- Brooklyn Record reports that a manhole cover exploded on Clinton and Greene last night. I actually did hear it happen.  I was sitting at my kitchen table, and the noise made me jump from my chair.  It set off all the car alarms on Waverly Ave.  I can only see the Waverly-Greene intersection though from my window, but I kept looking out to see what might have happened.

It's a post-9-11 reaction.  Every time I hear a loud noise, I get nervous.  Hopefully everyone is OK.

Poo Avenue

I know I've written about how much crap sits on the sidewalks of Clinton Hill (literally and figuratively), but I think Waverly Avenue takes the cake. I'm not sure what it is about it that makes pet owners completely ignore their dogs crapping and walk on without picking it up. Last week, I counted 25 separate piles of shit on Waverly between Myrtle and Lafayette! 25!!! I'm sure I could have doubled that total by walking all the way down to Atlantic. Seriously, what's going on here?

Friday Photo(s)

(BQE, Washington at Park)

Friday Photo

(White Castle on Myrtle)

Fulton Market?

I seem to recall this place being open when I first moved to the area, but it kinda looks closed now:

What's up with this place? Was it ever a decent grocery store? This is along that weirdly quiet stretch of Fulton near Adelphi.

What's This?

Saw this new building on Steuben Classon, just north of Myrtle. It doesn't really look like apartments, so what is it? It's becoming very difficult to keep up with new construction in the neighborhood.

Fulton Thai

Is this place related to Myrtle Thai? Because they have almost exactly the same sign (same font, different color awning) and a similar naming scheme. Or is this just a default generic Thai food restaurant sign? (Fulton at Vanderbilt)

Friday Photo (early)

I'm departing this afternoon for a long weekend spa vacation!  So here's the FF, one day early...

(Myrtle at Kent)

Sharon's Dance Theater

This place was operational for awhile, but has been available for rent for several months now. I know someone who's looked at it and says it's huge inside! Wonder what it'll become.

Intriguing Bakery

I can't believe no one's written about this yet, but it appears there's already a new business ready to open in the old Blimpie's location. (LaFu, Lafayette and S. Elliott. And while I'm at it, I am NOT using the term LaFu to describe a trendy mini-nabe. I KNOW this is Fort Greene. But the streets here DO create an interesting triangle and a lot has been going on there. So I am using "LaFu" to denote the location. I would not say this is "in" LaFu, but rather "AT" LaFu, before more people get annoyed. Just saying.) So, anyway, there's a new place that looks kind of like a bakery (a chain bakery??)

I'm confused by this. Since there's a sign inside that says "pan plus," I assumed "pan" referred to the Spanish word for bread, which would make sense if the sign outside said "PAN & MAS (bread & more)," but it says PAM & MAS.

What is going on here?

Friday Photo

(Grand Ave)

Washington Ave Homes

I rarely find myself walking north on Washington, especially during daylight hours. So when I finally strolled by this past weekend, I couldn't believe my eyes. I know the area is home to a lot of interesting architecture, but Washington almost looks like it could be the suburbs! These are on top of a hill:

Def two of my favs! The one on the left looks like it might be more at home in Seattle. I love the brick balcony on the right:

To the left of the Seattle House is an enormous, gorgeous home. How many families live inside?

This one has all sorts of interesting corners on the side. I want it!

A Cape Cod-ish vibe here, with the light blue trim:

Not quite a regular brownstone:

Sigh- then someone had to muck it up with this:

When was this ever a good idea?

I'm hoping these will be on the house tour.

friday photo

greene ave. at franklin ave.

"Affordable" Haunted House

One of my fav Haunted Houses in the neighborhood has been undergoing a gut renovation the last several weeks. Brownstoner has the scoop -- it's being renovated by the PACC and sold "affordably." (600k) Looks like the PACC has several houses for sale with the same situation, many of which will be sold in the 400k range (!!!).

I find this tremendously frustrating, as it's for first-time home buyers only. I understand that, but the only way I personally might afford one of these deals would be to sell my co-op and put the profit towards one of these deals. Without that financial gain, I could never afford one of these places.

Maybe YOU can, and you're a first-time buyer. If so, let me know how it goes.

***

Otherwise on Waverly, the house Haunted by Bad Taste is on the market now (the owner passed away recently).

I wonder if the ornamental SpongeBob is included in the deal:

Then there's this renovated house, FSBO:

LOTS of action on this block (between Lafayette and Greene Greene and Gates).

Bad Logo, but Whatever

More signage up! I hope the bagels are better than the logo (blech).

A peek inside:

Block in Disrepair on Willoughby

There's an entire block of these beautiful townhouses, and they're all starting to get boarded up. Rumor has it they're owned by Pratt, who's just waiting to get everyone out so they can raze them. This one has already lost its front door.

Friday Photo

How soon?

(DeKalb between Vanderbilt and Clermont)

Retail Opportunity?

I noticed a small storefront for rent on Greene near Grand last weekend. I don't know what's reasonable for a commercial space, or what this one is going for. But I do know it's around the corner from the cool stuff on Grand (including the still-unopened Mirror's on Grand!) and across from the liquor store that's recently undergone a bit of an upgrade.

Looks perfect for something cool. Go to it, entrepreneurs!

Friday Photo

(Washington at Greene)