Streetlevel

Columbia Street Waterfront
This week the blogosphere wondered, “Is the Columbia St. Waterfront the new Smith Street?” Brooklyn Paper points to the opening of Pok Pok, the coming Greenway and park, and new restaurants vying to move in. The neighborhood is still limited by its lack of transportation, construction, and geographic isolation. So what do you think? Meanwhile, the Columbia Street Post Office will be forced to close due to budget cuts, according to CG Patch.

Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens
Grub Street posts the menu for Arthur on Smith, the organic/local restaurant from Southfork Kitchen chef slated to open March 19th at 276 Smith Street. And Sweet Melissa closes at Court and Douglas after being in the neighborhood since 1998. Says PMFA: “Melissa’s will be missed by many.” A little further north in Brooklyn Heights, construction workers are combining the retail space at 214-216 Hicks Street – past home to Overtures and Dara Ettinger. No one’s leased out the larger space yet.

Park Slope
Owners of much-hyped restaurant Talde are opening another at the old Aunt Suzie’s place, says Park Slope Patch. The name and cuisine type has not yet been revealed. The owner of Prospect Perk is expanding to 253 Flatbush Avenue, the new spot will be called Hungry Ghost Cafe. They tell HPS, “It will be a little more upscale than Prospect Perk, with a full bakery in-house and lots of room to sit.” A burger bar is filling the old Oko Frozen Yogurt space at 152 5th Avenue, between Degraw and Douglass. And new Italian joint Feluccio opened at 364 Prospect Avenue.

Elsewhere
A roll-your-own-smokes place in Sheepshead Bay is being threatened by the city to close down. The White Castle on Willoughby has shuttered in Downtown Brooklyn. BHB wonders if it closed due to the recent arrival of Shake Shack. Greenpoint club Europa was temporarily shut down by the cops due to some previously violent incidents. And lawmakers are pushing to bring a summertime plaza to Third Avenue between 81st and 89th Streets in Bay Ridge.
Photo by Jay Woodworth

Ditmas Park/Windsor Terrace
Am Thai Bistro opens on Church Avenue in Ditmas Park and plans to serve traditional Thai dishes to the nabe. Le Paddock extended its hours to be open Friday for brunch and for take-out. The cafe Oak and Iris should ropen on Fort Hamilton Parkway today.

Park Slope
Long-time Slope concert hall South Paw is closing down and a tutoring center is moving in, in a shift that seems catered to the changes of the neighborhood. The owner told the Brooklyn Paper: “I’m kind of over Park Slope — it’s not a destination for nightlife anymore.” V Spot is closed due to health violations and the old Timboo’s Bar will be replaced by a new bar run by the owners of Abilene Bar on Court Street, says Here’s Park Slope. HPS notes a third BBQ joint is moving into the neighborhood and Gothamist takes a tour of Fort Reno Provisions.

Elsewhere
Chocolate Earth opens in Dumbo at The Shops at 145 Front Street with over 20 brands and 80 types of artisan and craft chocolate bars. Burgersmith opens on Smith Street and Baltic in Cobble Hill serving up grass-fed beef burgers grilled on a cast-iron. East Village restaurant Max is expanding to South 2nd Street and Driggs in Williamsburg. Also in the neighborhood the Camel Art Space joins the gallery migration from Williamburg east into Bushwick. BoCoCa Land rounds up a few Italian newcomers he’s noticed in the neighborhood. Indian restaurant Baluchi’s opened quickly on Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights. Finally, Patch profiles Crem Puff Cafe, a coffe/juice bar on 6th Avenue between Dean and Bergen.

Carroll Gardens
NY Times shares details on Arthur, a new restaurant at 276 Smith Street by Chef Joe Isidori, from Brideghampton’s Southfork Kitchen. It will open this spring. The L interviews Kim Ima about opening up a brick-and-mortar Treats Truck at 521 Court Street. The bakery/cafe will open in February or early March.

Williamsburg
Timeout checks out Mercado on Kent, a Spanish market-style restaurant. A philly cheese steak food truck called Phil’s Steaks now graces Bedford Avenue. A New England, eastern seaboard style restaurant/bar named Extra Fancy is coming soon to 205 Metropolitan Avenue, says Here’s Williamsburg. And Evolve, a motor scooter store, is open 155 Grand Street. In case you’re interested, scooter prices start at $2900.

Elsewhere
Grub Street takes the first look at Clinton Hill’s Speedy Romeo, a new wood-fire pizza and Italian joint opening today! opening January 24th. Dumbo NYC shares a Dumbo retail report for this month. And Monte’s Deli and Catering moved into a larger location at 1811 Avenue P, on the corner of McDonald Avenue, in Sheepshead Bay.