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March 21, 2007
Out Of The Closet
After two-and-a-half years of anonymity, we're out of the closet as of today. It's impossible not to cringe a little when reading about yourself, but Tom Acitelli over at The New York Observer managed to keep the embarrassing moments to a minimum. (We hadn't realized that the color of the sweater we wore to the interview was fair game. Silly us.) The decision to unmask ourself was driven primarily by our desire to start interacting with the Brownstoner community more (putting on lectures, organizing a salvage fair later in the year and being able to mix and mingle with readers at house tours, open houses, etc.); as the site has grown, it's also been frustrating to have to turn down invitations to participate in panels, interviews, etc. because of protecting our identity. As Kramer once told Jerry in reference to his decision to stop wearing underwear, "I'm out there and I'm loving it."
See you on the street.
Mr. B
Brownstoner: It’s Me! [NY Observer]
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Comments
you handsome devil you!
Posted by: anon at March 21, 2007 8:09 AM
you handsome devil you!
Posted by: m at March 21, 2007 8:10 AM
Good luck, man. I like the site...now I have to decide if I should remain anonymous, or expose my real identity too!
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 8:10 AM
Good luck! Enjoy the new fame. And I agree with the first post, you ARE handsome. Who knew! (ha, kidding)
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 8:26 AM
Hope Scarano isn't the DUMBO architect you are leasing desk space from!
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 8:30 AM
eh, we knew who you were all along. does this open the door for personal product endorsement deals?
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at March 21, 2007 8:30 AM
Ah, yes. Think that's Sub Zero knocking at the door now...
Posted by: brownstoner at March 21, 2007 8:39 AM
You're white? Holy Shnikes!
Posted by: AnonymousNegro at March 21, 2007 8:43 AM
You do an outstanding job - keep it up!
Interesting article - I hadn't pegged you as a chamomile type. I especially liked this line "A choppy mantle of dark blond hair swathes his slender face" - right out of a romance novel.
Dan
PlanetPLG
Posted by: Dan at March 21, 2007 8:48 AM
So, you never told Mrs. B about the whole Brownstoner gig? Or was that just poor editing in the first paragraph?
Posted by: Halden at March 21, 2007 8:55 AM
See you at Reunions!
Posted by: Ms. Brooklyn at March 21, 2007 8:55 AM
Yawn and the world yawns with you.
Posted by: Jo at March 21, 2007 8:57 AM
Question: When you finally came out and quit your day job, was everyone all, like, "Yeah, we knew it was you anyway."?
Posted by: yente at March 21, 2007 8:59 AM
congratulations on taking the leap into doing brownstoner full-time! the site has been so helpful to us. i'm looking forward to the salvage sale...
Posted by: lc at March 21, 2007 9:00 AM
As your mother probably tells you, you're too thin! You definitely have some FAR in those jeans to grow into.
Posted by: west at March 21, 2007 9:04 AM
Troll, what troll?
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 9:09 AM
Now that everyone knows what you look like It's going to be a lot harder to attend open houses anonymously. Will you bring back the wig and funny glasses?
Posted by: Shahn Andersen at March 21, 2007 9:14 AM
there is plenty of room for all the people of the universe in brooklyn. and hopefully it can stay that way!
Posted by: Tony Tone at March 21, 2007 9:16 AM
i can feel the love! we wanna hear about some of the plans for the site. what can we expect?
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at March 21, 2007 9:19 AM
Priority Number 1 is rebuilding the forum to make it much more user-friendly while not losing the past two years of archives...
Posted by: brownstoner at March 21, 2007 9:24 AM
I was wondering when full time would become a reality. Congratulations and good luck!
Posted by: lp at March 21, 2007 9:25 AM
Wow, I was wrong, I always imagined you as a tall gray-haired man, with a huge hammer in hand, ready to destroy those all ugly-ass new developments :-)
But anyway, congratulations, and keep it up!! you are doing a wonderful job, and I wish you only the best.
Posted by: Mentch at March 21, 2007 9:26 AM
I heart you, Mr. B. Just know that all
brownstone renovators in NYC read
your site, not just the ones in Bklyn.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 9:31 AM
so you really are Mr. B...
Posted by: Brownstone Dreamin at March 21, 2007 9:44 AM
Congrats! Fun article, great picture. Looking forward to the next stage of Brownstoner... especially events! Best wishes + good luck
Posted by: rfsgreene at March 21, 2007 9:48 AM
you've definitely set the mark for how a community-based blog ought to be. I didn't understand the power of blogs until I discovered brownstoner.com. hopefully the site will continue to grow as a virtual public commons/village greens. best of luck.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 9:54 AM
Pretty much what I pictured you to look like; my freedom beard is a little shaggier :) I didn't know you had quit your job to work on the blog, I'll try to be less annoyed by the double column of advertising.
BTW I don't know what you backend you are thinking of for the forums, but something that allows suppression of trolls like a slashdot style comment rating system would be a really nice addition.
Posted by: danielk at March 21, 2007 10:01 AM
Mr. B. Congratulations. Thank you and best of luck to you. I love the site; it has been so interesting and helpful.
Posted by: donatella at March 21, 2007 10:07 AM
I think I saw you at Choice Market a few months back, but wasn't sure so I didn't say hi. But now I will.
Posted by: lesterhead at March 21, 2007 10:12 AM
Congratulations, Mr. B! Along with the great salvage idea, how about a how-to section of the site? It would be a bit different from Forum in that one simple repair/upkeep task would be picked (like - how do I keep my outside door from getting totally weatherbeaten?) and then some local experts give their advice, along with a plug for their services to make it worthwhile.
As someone who's been reading this site for most of its existence, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do next!
Posted by: Petunia at March 21, 2007 10:13 AM
good idea, petunia
Posted by: brownstoner at March 21, 2007 10:16 AM
So the moral of the story is:
a) Quitting Wall Street is the career equivalent of going commando
b) Giving an interview to the NY Observer is the emotional equivalent of going commando
c) Going commando in Clinton Hill is not advisable
d) All of the above
Posted by: sylvia at March 21, 2007 10:18 AM
This is not quite as sexy as when Michael Keaton was practicing how to say, "I'm Batman" to Kim Basinger, but it's close. OK, well not that close (although Keaton could play you in the movie, with Jack Nicholson as your arch-enemy, the mega-developer Ratface). Congrats and way2go, Mr. B!
Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at March 21, 2007 10:50 AM
You were part of totem! I bought my couch at totem, I miss it.
Posted by: rich at March 21, 2007 10:53 AM
Ah, the pipe dream of many a blogger...best of luck to you and keep up the good work!
Posted by: The Knickerblogger at March 21, 2007 10:56 AM
Great article! Hope site views spike as a result of that piece ...
Posted by: shelz123 at March 21, 2007 11:00 AM
Its like finding out who Charlie was on Charlie's Angels. This is big, I'm still processing...
Posted by: Argyle Road at March 21, 2007 11:07 AM
Now that you're out will you start referring to yourself in first person singular? "We wore a sweater to an interview...silly us"
Ugh. Great site otherwise.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 11:07 AM
Now that you're out will you start referring to yourself in first person singular? "We wore a sweater to an interview...silly us"
Ugh. Great site otherwise.
Posted by: Wonder as I Wander at March 21, 2007 11:08 AM
congrats and good job! I think you should of kept your idenity a secret.
Posted by: jack slade at March 21, 2007 11:20 AM
Nice interview. Nice pub. Must be nice to be 'out'. Looking forward to many nwe things on the site.
Congrats.
Posted by: Sandy Mattingly at March 21, 2007 11:21 AM
I kinda liked the secret identity thing too. but I'm guessing that it means that they're getting ready to take things to the next level. The 'news' also made it to curbed.com.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 11:25 AM
Re "anonymous" blogging, isn't there more than a little hype in this whole secret identity business? Seems to me that Mr. B's identity would have already been an open secret in certain circles -- among friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow brownstoners, etc. There have certainly been multiple clues on the site over time for anyone inclined to put two and two together.
At any rate, love the site and wish you all the best with it.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 11:38 AM
My wife and I will see you at reunions -- we've been avid readers for years. I grew up a few blocks away.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 11:38 AM
Good article and congrats on coming out of the closet...but doesn't it kind of ruin the arguments people make around here that Brooklyn is not entirely supported by rich Wall Streeters? After all, Mr.B, frankly,until you quit the Wall St. job, you're kind of the stereotype of who people think are buying in B'lyn - privileged, white, Wall St. firm, Princeton/NYU? Not knocking it, as I come from that world myself, but it's kind of ironic in that regard.
Posted by: Anon at March 21, 2007 11:40 AM
Jeez, B, we liked it better when you wore the mask. Personally, I like my fake name.
Coffee at Starbucks on us soon, right after we check out some Fedders buildings and travel to Queens to hurl eggs at some Queens Crap.
Homer Fink
Publihsher, Altruist, BROOKLYNITE
brooklynheightsblog.com
Posted by: Homer Fink at March 21, 2007 11:44 AM
"doesn't it kind of ruin the arguments people make around here that Brooklyn is not entirely supported by rich Wall Streeters?"
entirely supported? that's where you are offbase. i don't think brooklyn is entirely supported by rich wall streeters. stereotyping does no one any good.
He's a guy doing what he loves. Good for him. More people should try to do the same.
Posted by: jm at March 21, 2007 11:46 AM
You look so young! Clinton Hill is the best neighborhood. Love Brownstoner and I have to get back to work now....
Posted by: anon at March 21, 2007 11:47 AM
You look so young! Clinton Hill is the best neighborhood. Love Brownstoner and I have to get back to work now....
Posted by: anon at March 21, 2007 11:48 AM
Great site keep it up. you go mr. B
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 11:48 AM
Anon 11:40 Not sure if what you say is correct. It looks as if he's got two mortgages totalling over a million on his property. If that's privileged I'd rather be poor.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 11:49 AM
unfortunately some people think being well educated, working hard and being smart with money equals priviledged.
this may be true in some instances, but it is certainly not always the case.
Posted by: jm at March 21, 2007 11:53 AM
Kudos Mr. B, We don't fit the profile of your readers - we are old farts. Your site gave us the courage to finally renovate our b'stone after many years. Can't tell you what this site has meant to us.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 12:16 PM
Kudos Mr. B, We don't fit the profile of your readers - we are old farts. Your site gave us the courage to finally renovate our b'stone after many years. Can't tell you what this site has meant to us.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 12:16 PM
jm - its a common term used by anti-white racists and is rarely used with precision.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 12:21 PM
Another old fart here who's been reading you since the beginning. You're just a kid! Great blog, esp. the (realtive) lack of snarkiness.
Posted by: ld at March 21, 2007 12:43 PM
"make him a newcomer in a borough not exactly tender toward newcomers"
--can't they (meida) write an article about Brooklyn without adding some sort of dig or insinuation that Brooklyn is provincial or less than sophisticated.
It really does get to be tired.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 1:14 PM
Jon, I noticed when I first started reading your blog, that you posted a picture of your house, and named the street. A quick drive-by yeilded the address, and property shark told the rest.
It was too easy. Anyway, great stuff! Best wishes.
Posted by: Hal at March 21, 2007 1:18 PM
Anne: I heard it. Was it really our troll? Hard to say. Since he's anonymous, anyone could "claim the mantle". However, he was familiar with this site and with a number of other real estate sites. It certainly could have been him.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 1:32 PM
Just a reminder to close the blinds at night so Hal 1:18 won't be able to see in.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 2:02 PM
Anon @ 2:02: Funny you should say that. When my wife and I wander in brownstone areas in the evening, she has an annoying habit of stopping in front of well lit parlor windows to steal glances into other people's houses. It creeps me out a bit and I try to get her to keep moving.
Posted by: Hal at March 21, 2007 2:15 PM
Hal-- I do this too. My husband gets supremely embarassed but I can't help myself. One time he lifted me on his shoulders so I could see inside a particularly high parlor window, and all I caught was a glimpse of the owner looking right back out at me!
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 2:26 PM
that's the best part of living in brownstone brooklyn..peeking into windows with open curtains (and believe me...if they're open, they're open for a reason...to let you look!!!), especially at nite! ya gotta love brooklyn
Posted by: anon at March 21, 2007 2:38 PM
i totally sat next to you at Pequena about a month ago...
anyways, congradulations and keep up the good work!
Posted by: greenstoner at March 21, 2007 2:41 PM
I think I heard part of the interview. I heard brownstoner mentioned but I had my hands full and couldn't listen closely. I feel like calling the station to find out who this POS is. I don't suppose they ever actually gave his name or anything like that did they?
Posted by: anon at March 21, 2007 2:51 PM
you are SO cute? mrs. b has her work cut out now that you've been exposed as a hottie! yum.
Posted by: miss priss at March 21, 2007 3:34 PM
No name. They said he intended to remain anonymous. Still, it seems the people at the station should know he is. I mean, they must have had some reason to believe they were interviewing the right person, no? You don't do an interview on the radio without a darned good reason to believe you're interviewing the right party.
Posted by: Anne at March 21, 2007 3:43 PM
Jon,
Congratulations, but the dark glasses and baseball cap at your lecture last year weren't really a very good disguise anyway :-)
As to our troll, what good would it do if we did know his name? After all, we're civilized people...aren't we?...and tarring and feathering is so passe.
:-) :-) :-)
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 4:23 PM
Hey, Jon, nice to finally meet you. As always, wish you the best, and hope to see you in person at some of your public endeavors.
Your new plans sound great. Salvage fair - cool!
Posted by: Crown Heights Proud at March 21, 2007 4:24 PM
CHP, I think it's time for you to change your handle to Brownnoser.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 21, 2007 5:45 PM
I don’t know B this is not good.... I mean ever since you reveled your secret identity it's Jon this and Jon that :)
Posted by: Jack Slade at March 21, 2007 5:46 PM
Sheesh, you can't even wish a guy good luck, wihout someone taking a potshot.
Besides, there already is a Brownoser. I believe he was outed as one of the troll's nom de plumes sometime last year. Try again.
Ah, whatever.......going back to work now.
Posted by: Crown Heights Proud at March 21, 2007 7:51 PM
Very nice article. We frequent 2 of your 3 favorite restaurants... and you and yours would always be welcome to swing by our humble Bushwick abode for refreshments. Congrats!
Posted by: jenblossom at March 21, 2007 11:53 PM
Congratulations, Mr. B - you do an awesome job and I'm more than a little proud of you for quitting and following your muse. Rock on (and the survey data fits me to a "T" - Windsor Terrace that is)
Posted by: Joel at March 22, 2007 12:48 AM
it is like finding out Bruce Wayne is Batman!
Or
that Clark Kent is Superman
this is too much for me to handle!!
get me some ludes quick!
Posted by: mr.peabody at March 22, 2007 1:32 AM
You're white! I am totally shocked.
Whats next B'Stoner cologne?
Posted by: anon at March 22, 2007 8:20 AM
Yes, imagine a white person getting off their A and setting up, and maintaining, something useful, informative and intelligent. It beggars belief. Unprecedented.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2007 8:49 AM
8:49 get over yourself it's not that serious.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2007 10:18 AM
10.18 - You're right of course, race-baiting is funny isn't it.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2007 10:58 AM
Can you say unctuous...
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2007 11:28 AM
And I thought Jonathan Butler was a black, South African, jazz guitarist. Who knew?
Congrats, Mr. B, for escaping the closet.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2007 1:47 PM
yeah, butler was one of my favorite r&b singers. haven't heard much from him since the 90's though.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 22, 2007 3:30 PM
well, hello mr. butler.......and thank you for this tremendously readable and interesting blog. a few years ago i abandoned brooKlyn heights with my spouse and daughter.....i've regretted it ever since. the call of an acre of land , trees, and lots of space was too seductive to resist.
you keep my brooklyn very much alive and i can still dream of returning.
Posted by: adriennui at March 22, 2007 9:16 PM
you are incredibly cute! I think I checked you out at Choice! i love this site - been reading since the early days! yeah you!
ps you're much better looking that the soft jazz jb
Posted by: wow at March 22, 2007 10:33 PM
nice to meet you
:)
Posted by: ms crown heights reno at March 23, 2007 8:25 AM
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