Brooklyn Heights
March 27, 2008
House of the Day: 265 Hicks Street (Curb Cut and All!)
Hicks and Joralemon is a great location, that's for sure, but this four-story house at 265 Hicks is definitely sub-par for the neighborhood. The victim of a stoop castration and a not-so-hot re-bricking of the facade, the building was also divided into eight units at some point. The listing doesn't provide any interior photos, suggesting that there ain't much to show (a likely scenario given the subdivision in to multiple units.) The good news? The property will be delivered vacant. The listing for the corner lot also promotes the fact that approvals are already in place for a curb cut. That's sure to endear the new owner to the neighbors!
265 Hicks Street [Douglas Elliman] GMAP P*Shark
March 26, 2008
Streetlevel: Henry Street Vacancies to Join Forces?
The paper has been removed from the windows of these two vacant storefronts on an otherwise-filled Henry Street, between Orange and Pineapple, revealing that the dividing wall has been removed. Neighboring Blue Pig and Busy Chef, both in troubled retail spots, removed their dividing wall not long ago, though it seems Busy Chef is the busiest. Calls to the sales agent were not returned. Does anybody know if this space is being leased as one spacious unit, which could mean a bank, or two? What do you think Henry Street needs? GMAP
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Coming Soon: Olive Vine Cafe
316 Court Street at Degraw Street, Carroll Gardens
We spotted this signage at the soon-to-open new branch of Park Slope's Middle Eastern spot, the Olive Vine Cafe. (A Brooklyn Life snapped a shot of the storefront, too). There's some buzz about this block on Chowhound, where one user heard that next-door neighbor Donut House is also closing and will also be replaced by a Middle Eastern restaurant. Hmmm... two falafel joints operating side-by-side sounds like a West Bank Story waiting to happen. Anybody know if there's any truth to this rumor?
What Will Become of Magnetic Field?
Atlantic Avenue's Magnetic Field is closing for good this Sunday. Brooklyn Heights Blog says, "We know that the bar is for sale and there's a juicy 7 year lease attached to it," but what should become of the space? BHB readers suggest opening a taco stand, another Zombie Hut, or "someplace that serves delicious hot wings and has a huge beer selection." Any better ideas?
Pies 'n' Thighs Is Making a Comeback
"Sarah Buck, Carolyn Bane and Erika Geldzahler left their devotees of North Carolina-style pulled pork and first-rate fried chicken hungry in January when they closed, but they plan to reopen this summer in a larger location nearby: 166 South Fourth Street (Driggs Avenue), Williamsburg, Brooklyn." [NY Times]
After the jump: Rumor has it that Frankie's on Court Street is expanding; Gridskipper tracks down the best tres leches in the Big Apple...
Garage Plan for Heights Building Rears Its Head Again
Despite the firestorm of community opposition that greeted a proposal to build a car garage in the courtyard of Brooklyn Heights' historic Riverside Apartments a couple years ago, the Brooklyn Eagle reports that the building's owner is still keen on making the parking plan happen. Riverside's owner, the Pinnacle Group, wants to build a 134-car, two-level parking garage (one level would be underground) in the building's courtyard at Joralemon Street and Columbia Place. Pinnacle hired a new architect this time round for the plans, which were presented to Community Board 2's Land Use and Landmarks Committee last week. The committee voted unanimously against the proposal, which is now headed to the LPC for possible approval. Riverside tenants are opposing the would-be garage for a variety of reasons, including the notion—which Pinnacle denies—that their landlord wants to take the building condo.
Update: A representative for Pinnacle sent us a rendering of the current plan for the garage, above. An image of the old plan and building are on the jump.
Owner of Riverside Apartments Comes Back With New Plan [Brooklyn Eagle]
What’s Going on at Riverside Apartments? [Brooklyn Heights Blog]
Architecture 101: The Riverside Apartments [Brownstoner] GMAP
Photo of Riverside Apartments by d.p.Hetteix; renderings from the Eagle.
Continue reading "Garage Plan for Heights Building Rears Its Head Again"
March 19, 2008
House of the Day: 47 Willow Place
47 Willow Place (along with its three sister houses at 43, 45 and 49) is one of those houses that makes Brooklyn Heights such a special place. The 21-foot-wide Greek Revival structure is particularly notable for the colonnade that runs continuously along the facade of all four houses. The $3,450,000 asking price is on the low end for a house in this neighborhood, but then again there's only about 2,100 square feet of living space (not including the basement rec area) in this one. 49 Willow Place traded for $2,300,000 back in 2004, though we have no idea what kind of shape it was in. This house, though, has been recently renovated. So what do you think?
47 Willow Place [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Now Open: Toby's
6th Avenue and 21st Street, South Slope Greenwood Heights
Last Tuesday, Toby's opened its doors with a menu of brick oven pizzas, such as the Margherita ($12), four-cheese ($14), and white ($13). They're also serving up salads and antipasti, like a selection of "artisan Italian cured meats" (prosciuitto, sopressata, Italian ham) with focaccia. Customers can wash it all down with wine by the glass, booze, or beer — they've got a well-chosen selection, with Hofbrau seasonal brews on tap. But over on the Brooklynian boards, folks are already complaining that the pizzas are overpriced and griping about the "No Strollers" sign in the window. Check out an interior photo after the jump.
Now Open: Moxie Spot
81 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn Heights
As we reported last week, the Moxie Spot is finally open and serving up its family-friendly menu. But according to one Chowhound, some parents on a local list-serv are complaining about their "small portions, and out-of-synch serving (tables getting there plates 1 at a time)." On the bright side, the small portions are offered at low prices (burgers cost a mere $4.75), and Brooklyn Heights Blog is singing the praises of the place's creative entryway, which features an adult-sized door, with kid-sized and pet-sized doors built into it.
Roberta's: "Pizza as Art"
261 Moore Street (at Bogart Street), Bushwick; (718) 417-1118
"The 12-inch pizzas ($7 to $15) are the focal point of the short menu. Roberta’s offers a margherita and a tomato-only rosso, but the restaurant is not a destination for anyone looking to stoke memories of Napoli: the heretically creative pies are the thing to get... Roberta’s take on a Hawaiian pizza comes topped with paper-thin sheets of ripe pineapple, shreds of ham, sliced jalapeños and dabs of ricotta cheese." [NY Times]
After the jump: A peek inside Toby's, Brooklyn's first "occasional restaurant," Trois Pommes Patisserie's hamataschen how-to, a look inside the Hideout and the Habitat, and the official details on Brooklyn Restaurant Week '08...
March 18, 2008
Co-op of the Day: 75 Henry Street
We've heard of places fetching $1,200 a foot in Brooklyn Heights but not on Cadman Plaza! For some reason, someone (either the owner or the broker) thinks that this 800-square-foot post-war two bedroom will fetch $960,000. This makes no sense to us at all, especially when you can get what looks like a larger two-bedroom on the top floor of a more attractive building on Orange Street for just a few bucks more. What's up with that?
75 Cadman Plaza West [Century 21] GMAP P*Shark
March 13, 2008
Closing Bell: Brooklyn Bridge Park Demo Begins
Mechanical demolition of the Pier 1 structures began today, according to a mailer from the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. Gentlemen, start your kayaks!
Demolition Porn: Brooklyn Bridge Park Edition [Curbed]
Brooklyn Bridge Park Plans Doomed? [Brownstoner]
Brooklyn Bridge Park: It’s a Go! [Brownstoner]
StreetLevel: Kiddie Grub Grows Up on Atlantic Ave.
A few months ago Brooklyn Heights Blog noted the impending arrival of a new "family-friendly" restaurant on Atlantic and Hicks called The Moxie Spot by wondering whether Chuck E. Cheese had anything to worry about. As it turns out, they might. Moxie, which opened a few days ago, takes up two large floors at 81 Atlantic and its decor is industrial chic meets kiddie restaurant (so: exposed vents, brick walls, large-screen TVs and dedicated play areas). The menu is heavy on comfort food, featuring stuff like nachos ($5.95), cheesesteaks ($6.25), and burgers ($4.75) as well as some more grown-up options, such as broiled fish with white wine lemon butter ($13.00) and mussels mariniere ($11.00). The restaurant is open from 8 in the morning until 9:30 at night.
New Neighbor: The Moxie Spot [BHB] GMAP
March 12, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by Shani Bar-on
Recently Reviewed: Korhogo 126
126 Union Street between Columbia and Hicks, Carroll Gardens; (718) 855-4405
"An appetizer of juicy grilled calamari and baby octopus tossed in a briny tapenade vinaigrette is pure Mediterranean, while an escargot starter, the soft critters nestled in a heady Pernod–red-wine sauce, is a tip of the hat to France. The meat dishes we tried matched the seafood in skill—we relished the tender braised lamb shank in a cardamom-inflected broth… it looks like Korhogo could be poised to become a neighborhood mainstay—whether you’re in the mood for African, or French." [TONY]
Armando's Replacement Revealed
143 Montague Street, between Henry and Clinton, Brooklyn Heights
"Thanks to BHB community member 'bhbabe' and her mad Googling skillz we've learned that Denver based panini and sandwich chain Spicy Pickle will take over Armando's Restaurant on Montague Street. No word on opening date." [Brooklyn Heights Blog]
Coming Soon: The Habitat
988 Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint
"The place is beautiful inside, from the bar countertop to the kitchen that looks like a house inside. The interior feels like an outside porch. Where better to drink than outback on the deck? …Opening sometime in March." [Kenny Bloggins]
After the jump: Local ice cream in the supermarket freezer and the best Chinese on Smith Street…
March 5, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by shadowknows555
Closing: Armando's
143 Montague St, Brooklyn Heights
"Armando's will close on March 16, after 70 years in business. Armando's owner Peter Byros told GO Brooklyn, 'I am retiring,' and said that a Midwestern chain restaurant would be going into the space, although he declined to name the chain. Neighborhood preservationists, along with state Senate candidate Daniel Squadron, are currently campaigning to save the neon 'lobster sign' that hangs over the door." [The Brooklyn Paper]
Dine In Brooklyn: Restaurant List Preview
VisitBrooklyn.org has yet to annouce the restaurants that will be participating in Brooklyn's restaurant week (scheduled for March 24 through 31, 2008), but the line-up, which is listed on the AmEx website, was leaked on Chowhound. The same Chowhounder who posted the AmEx link also asks, "whats really worth it?? i mean i love waterfront ale house for my burger and buffalo calamari, but i dont think it really makes sense to spend $23 for a 3 course meal there."
Egg: Not Just for Breakfast Anymore
135 North Fifth Street (Bedford Avenue), Williamsburg; (718) 302-5151
"Most of the dinner menu is guileless, direct and plain good eating. A hulking pork shank ($16), braised to a lacquered darkness, comes scattered with a mix of chopped garlic and herbs — like an informal gremolata — atop a mound of yellow Anson Mills grits... The house version of Tater Tots — miniature hash browns that it serves at breakfast — accompany a good grass-fed rib-eye steak topped with blue cheese ($24). Fried nearly black, they are a blast of creamy, buttery pleasure in a crisp potato shell." [NY Times]
After the jump: TONY rips on Jimmy's Diner, no love for Driggs pizza, and sNice's official opening date...
March 3, 2008
Co-op of the Day: 160 Henry Street
This co-op at 160 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights ain't for the faint-of-pocketbook. Even if you decide that the $3,250,000 asking price makes sense for this five-bedroom prewar pad, you're still going to have to find a way to come up with 50% of that in cash. Building rules, sorry. (While it's a high barrier to entry, it's also part of the reason you won't see a whole lot of foreclosures in co-ops like this.) No square footage stats are provided, but given that the monthly maintenance is a cool $3, 845, you gotta figure it's at least 3,000 square feet, right? Before you start guffawing, keep in mind that a unit on the eighth floor sold for $2,745,000 last summer and financing won't be an issue given the high downpayment.
160 Henry Street [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark