Neighborhood bicycle shops…

Reading the ClintonHillBlog’s coverage of the new Bespoke Bicycle shop on Lafayette reminded me of my recent visit to what I feel is a far superior shop…  Bicycle Station.  I recently got my bike (which I bought there in 2003) tuned up there and I must say the service (as always) is friendly, fast and knowledgeable.  The store used to be located in Prospect Heights on Vanderbilt and has relocated to Park between Carlton & Adelphi.   While I did have a chance to chat with the owner of Bespoke when I inquired about their services,I tried to stop by last Tuesday at lunch time and they didn’t open until 2:00.  That reminded me I was neglecting the shop that’s been around for years simply because I was curious about the new spot.  I proceeded to go immediately to Bicycle Station and I’m happy with the decision.

While I’m sure Bespoke is a fine shop, I can say with full confidence that Bicycle Station has a much better selection, larger staff, cheaper prices and a longer history in the area.   Whether you need a new bike or a repair…  Whether you ride a mountain bike, fixed gear, road bike, cruiser… They have it. Check out reviews on yelp.

After 8 years, Community Center finally set to open…

I covered this in May of last year but it looks as if the Ingersoll Community Denter on Myrtle @ Prince if finally set to open after a now 8 year wait…  A little stimulus money will hopefully go a long way with the NYCHA.  Brownstoner covers the story on his blog today.   I’m still not a fan of the FG flea market (too much foot traffic in an area zoned residential) but it is nice to see Mr. Brownstoner diversifying his content to cover a different slice of the socioeconomic pie than new brownstone/condo owners or people who buy overpriced retro furniture (the food is the only thing I’ve found worth buying so far).  I do congratulate him on his success and the new much more appropriate Brooklyn Bridge location.

Wednesday Crime Time

Image courtesy of The Brooklyn Paper

Nothing too shocking in this week’s Police Blotter from The Brooklyn Paper.  To avoid getting your window smashed, make sure you don’t leave your Louis Vutton bag, Chanel earrings, Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, etc. in plain view when you park your car.   Don’t let the glowing press fool you…  While the neighborhood is MUCH safer than it was in the past you will get got if you make yourself such an easy mark…   Leaving a designer bag in plain view?  On Grand between Park & Flushing at 1 a.m.?  Sorry but that’s just stupid…

It’s gonna be a wild summer…

With the weather it seems we’ve skipped spring and gone straight to summer…   Did anyone see the huge fight on Fulton in front of Frank’s Saturday night?  Around 1:00 a.m.  there was a fight in which a guy described as a “Mini Tyson” took on 5 or 6 guys and won.  I was told there was a whole van full of cops that did nothing until the fight was basically over.  Fulton was shut down for at least 30 minutes.  I walked by to see Mini Tyson cuffed and a whole squadron of cops standing around.  From what I’ve seen so far it’s gonna be a wild summer…

SafeWalk

For all of you who may be in need of an escort to get home late at night there is new service launching called SafeWalk.   Personally I don’t think this neighborhood (FG/CH) is dangerous if you follow some simple rules (which I’ve stated almost weekly for the past year).

That being said I do think it’s a great idea.  The coordinators asked me to post the following…

SafeWalk is a volunteer-run program of RightRides where volunteers on bikes offer a free, safe walk to any destination in our service area to callers in Brooklyn on Friday nights. The service is available to anyone and is intended to prevent assault and harassment.

We’ll be having an information session for interested volunteers on Monday, April 20 at 7 pm at Verb Cafe (Bedford Avenue at N5th Street in Williamsburg). More information and updates are available at http://rightrides.org/templates/programs.php?page=bike_patrols and http://www.twitter.com/safewalk. RSVP to safewalknyc at gmail.com is helpful but not necessary.

Metromix reviews the Brooklyn Public House

For the most part I concur with their comments…  The faux old school pub concept is a bit played but they’ve done a really good job by utilizing the building’s inherent charms so the faux isn’t quite so fake.  The crowd was definitely mixed which is always my preference.  The menu leans more towards pub than gastro but from what I hear the food is solid.  Not incredible but respectable.

The Real 50 Cent

We all know hip artists feel the need to at least feign some type of street credibility.  As many of you probably also know, one of the biggest artists in the genre “borrowed” his name from a well known neighborhood character named Kelvin Martin (b. 1964 – d. 1987).  The real 50 Cent was a notorious Fort Greene resident based out of the Ingersoll Houses.  Here’s some background information on Mr. Martin.  While I can’t vouch for the veracity of the article I do think it provides an idea of how the neighborhood was during the period.   Characters like 50 Cent used violence and intimidation to rob and steal.  In the end his life was taken by violence as well.

For more information you can view “Infamous Times: The Original 50 Cent” available from Amazon or Netflix.

Do area businesses reflect the neighborhood?

Stonehome has great wine and excellent food but I have a question…  Do the establishment’s owners have an appreciation for the surrounding community?

Diversity is quite possibly the most prized asset Fort Greene possesses.  Whether a newcomer or a long time resident most people have an appreciation for the racial/ethnic/socioeconomic diversity in what is actually a fairly segregated city (outside of parts of Manhattan below 14th).  That being said, I have noticed several businesses that don’t seem to appreciate that same diversity when it comes to employment.    Personally I feel a business should be staffed by workers reflecting their surrounding community and customers.   One establishment that immediately comes to mind is Stonehome.  While the staff is great, I’ve never seen a person of color doing anything there beyond maybe bringing dishes up from the basement.  I don’t think there’s an overt exclusionary agenda but it is something I’ve noticed.  Mullane’s isn’t quite as egregious but is also suspect…  I don’t really have hard numbers but after multiple visits to these establishments it was definitely apparent.  One caveat…  Chinese/Japanese spots and proprietor run shops get a pass on this one.

Profits are  a business’s first priority but in a community like Fort Greene I feel diversity is also quite important.  If there is no one qualified or capable I can understand but I know several people in the restaurant/bar business of color in the neighborhood actively looking for a new gig.  Look at establishments such as Maggie Brown, Olea, Moe’s, Red Bamboo, Burger 67, Chez Oskar, Kif, Luz, Madiba, Bati, Cafe Lafayette, ABistro…  Even Frank’s and Night of the Cookers have some diversity in their staffs.  So I’m not calling Al Sharpton or anything but I do want to recognize businesses that reflect the community and call out those who do not.

Obviously my level of sensitivity to this is higher than some so if my impression is not accurate please let me know…

Visit to Brooklyn Public House

courtesy of Metromix

I finally got around to visiting the Brooklyn Public House earlier this week…  While I wasn’t blown away by the place they do have a decent beer selection AND I finally have another place to drink Islay single malts (ok I’m picky).  The Hideout usually has one or two but of course they are $16 a glass.   The service was a bit too frequent but I’m not one to really complain about over attentiveness (the servers were also very nice and courteous).  The crowd was fairly mixed with a few Pratt kids, some locals (old and new) and what looked to be a couple local tourists (from another neighborhood or borough but not real tourists).

I would say they have done an excellent job of making the place feel as if it’s been around forever.   Many of the original building details remain (tin ceiling, etc.).  After inquiring why there was a marker stating “This is all that remains of Kevin St. James 1999-2007″, I found out the bar’s proprietors owned another bar (Kevin St. James) in Hell’s Kitchen.  Their old bar was razed for the construction of condos (of course).  They actually took the bar from the old place and installed it in the Public House.  While it’s sad to see condos sprouting like weeds it was comforting to hear after thinking of an 8 year old kid no longer being with us.  Anyway…

The only downside was the menu.  I was expecting a much more refined offering given the fact this place is supposed to be a  “gastropub“.  I think they forgot the “gastro”.  Their menu is basic bar food and makes Mullane’s look like fine dining.  I didn’t eat so I can’t review their culinary fare but it’s basically burgers, nachos, bangers & mash…  Standard Irish pub food.

That being said I really don’t go to bars to eat anyway so it works for me…  Brooklyn Public House won’t be replacing my regular spot but it is a nice change of pace.

One last reference…

This is a great book for those of you interested in the multitude of neighborhoods in Brooklyn. What was Williamsburg before it became home of the hipster? How did the private community of Sea Gate come to be? Have you ever been to Futurama?

Check out The Neighborhoods of Brooklyn (also edited by Kenneth T. Jackson) available from Amazon.  It’s not an in depth reference but it does provide nice summaries of pretty much every neighborhood in the borough.