May 13, 2009

Closing Bell: Visit 9 in '09

The Beat has all the info on a new tourism initiative launched by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. Nine in ‘09 encourages residents to "explore nine highlighted, culturally-diverse neighborhoods across the five boroughs with distinct cultural, retail, dining and entertainment offerings." Don't have the cash to go on a vacation this summer? Nine in '09 outlines the perfect staycation. You can view sample itineraries with neighborhood information here. For that staycation in Brooklyn, find out what Brighton Beach and Flatbush have to offer (like a visit to the Flatbush Caton Market).
Photo by Ana Rose.

Posted by TCulver at 4:00 PM | Comments (0)
Categories: Brighton Beach, Closing Bell, Flatbush

April 15, 2009

Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

Now Open: Belleville Lounge
332 Fifth Street, Park Slope; (718)832-9777
"Belleville, the landmark Brooklyn bistro that has wowed devoted locals and urban day-trippers with authentic Parisian food and ambiance, has recently expanded their space and created an exciting new nightspot, the Belleville Lounge... The Lounge, with its soaring sky-lit ceiling, vintage 1950’s Parisian bar and original French antique furnishings, brings the Marais to the Slope," or so says their press release. According to the Belleville website, they'll also host Wednesday night Karaoke (which will involve a "mix of everything from Brooklyn’s favorite karaoke singers, to readings of Dr. Seuss"), Monday night Girl Party, and a Sunday Night Drag/Tea Party.

Coming Soon: Purple Yam
1314 Cortelyou Road, Ditmas Park
Ditmas Park Blog happily reports that Purple Yam, "the eagerly-awaited Filipino restaurant on Cortelyou will open in May." A model of the new space and photos of the work-in-progress are posted on the Cendrillon website.

Newly Improved: Press 195
195 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope; (718) 857-1950
Chowhound Bob Oreilly talked to the owner at the recently reopened Press 195 and learned that they'll now be serving liquor, new menu items, six beers on tap, and "more importantly faster service as the kitchen has expanded... I can't wait to have a roasted beet salad and try these Belgian fries the owner told me about." (Thoughts on Press 195? Review it here.)

After the jump: A culinary tour of Brighton Beach, the new Patois, $25 prix fixe dinners, and more...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up"

Posted by Kara at 11:33 AM | Comments (26)
Categories: Brighton Beach, Ditmas Park, Food and Drink, Park Slope

January 21, 2009

Brighton Beach Getting a Rezoning Too

While everyone's been in a tizzy about the future of Coney Island, the city has been gearing up for a large rezoning of nearby Brighton Beach, points out Gowanus Lounge. Largely a reaction to some out-of-context apartment buildings that have risen in recent years, the city's plan seeks to preserve the lower density character of the nabe while providing a few stretches for slightly larger buildings.

Posted by Brownstoner at 11:42 AM | Comments (2)
Categories: Brighton Beach, Zoning

December 18, 2008

Rezoning for Brighton Beach?

Kensington's doing it. So is Flatbush (and Gowanus and Greenpoint/Williamsburg, too). And now Brighton Beach is slated for the rezoning bandwagon, too. City Limits reports that that proposal is "an attempt to limit destructive overdevelopment by setting clear limits on construction and creating height restrictions for buildings in the area. Most of the neighborhood is now zoned without any height limits." The limits were removed in the 1970s to stimulate development. Guess it worked, with an influx of young money and immigrants tilting the nabe away from the low-rise housing that once dominated and toward projects like the Oceana, in the photo above. Thus it's been the victim of the speculation that's harmed other Brooklyn neighborhoods, with half-finished or vacant projects looming over the area. If the rezoning goes through, most of the neighborhood would have to respect a 40-foot height limit, with 80 feet on commercial streets and 100 feet over on Brighton Beach Avenue, the throbbing hub of the 'hood. But some folks think it's too little, too late. "Asked whether the proposal will solve the development situation in Brighton, [CB13's district manager, Chuck Reichenthal] said: 'No, it won’t.'”
Rezoning Too Late for Brighton Beach? [City Limits]

Posted by lisa at 9:04 AM | Comments (25)
Categories: Brighton Beach, Zoning

July 16, 2008

Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up

Photo by NYC Food Guy

Ballfields Vendors Return! (With Some Serious Debt)
The Brooklyn Paper reports: "The beloved Latino food stalls of Red Hook Park announced they will return to their traditional haunt this weekend — and the grand re-opening couldn’t come a moment too soon for vendors, who have racked up tens of thousands of dollars in debt to comply with tightened city regulations... 'The losses are major,' said Marcos Lainez, who operates a Salvadoran papusa cart. 'It’s going to take at least two and a half years to recover all the money we have lost.'" It's unclear whether or not prices will be higher than previous years — better bring some extra cash just in case.

New Tenant Grabs 360 Space
360 Van Brunt, Red Hook
Lost City chats with the landlord and dishes the details on the new tenant: "The new eatery, 'another fancy sit-down place,' will arrive in September. It will be Italian, and run by an Italian, whose name I didn't get, but who runs a restaurant outside Italy, and has put in time at Patois on Smith Street. (Perhaps with that information, the foodies out there may have an idea who the guy is.) The place may be a 'family affair,' run by the chef and his clan, and the landlord said the man was committed to the place."

25 Bucks Buys Food, Booze, and Boobs
"Sixpoint Craft Ales is teaming with Clinton Hill's Brown Betty Cafe to cook up a—beat this—$25 four-course meal with beer pairings and burlesque show on Thursday 17 at Prospect Heights’ pastie-twirling watering hole Barrette. Highlights include watercress and grilled-peach salad with Righteous Rye ale, shrimp-and-corn bisque with Sweet Action Ale (one of the 100 Best Things we tasted last year) and a performance from Naughtia Nice... R.S.V.P. to 917-378-2454." [Time Out New York]

After the jump: Brooklyn Flipsters, Miranda, Zenkichi, the Prospect Heights dining scene, cheap eats in Brighton Beach, dining out in a Carroll Gardens brownstone, and fish tacos at Brooklyn Bridge Park...

Continue reading "Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up"

Posted by Kara at 11:29 AM | Comments (0)
Categories: Brighton Beach, Carroll Gardens, Clinton Hill, Dumbo, Food and Drink, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Red Hook, Williamsburg

June 11, 2008

Luxury, Brighton Beach Style

Oceana from the outside

Here's what you can get in Brighton Beach for the price of a historic brownstone: A penthouse condo at the Oceana complex. Oceana is a gated community with amenities like a fitness center and indoor and outdoor pools. $2 mil will nab you the 2,200-sf unit pictured above, which has three bedrooms and two baths. Common charges=$1,400. According to StreetEasy, this listing doesn't even represent the most expensive unit in the development, which is made up of seven buildings: That honor goes to a $2.7 million penthouse that's also on the market.

Posted by Gabby at 11:00 AM | Comments (72)
Categories: Brighton Beach, Condos