While I had a feeling Thompson would do well in the neighborhood the NY Times block by block map is very interesting…  I would think that gentrification would have resulted in a larger turnout for Bloomberg.  The “nicest” blocks (i.e. most expensive) in the neighborhood, S. Portland and S. Oxford between Dekalb & Lafayette showed more support for Mayor Mike than other areas but as a whole Fort Greene did not support Bloomberg in his quest for a third term.

What are your thoughts on why this area supported Bill Thompson?  How did you vote in the election and why?

I heard of a new cigar bar at the corner or S. Oxford & Fulton in the space formerly occupied by an accountant.  I have yet to see or visit.  I’ll report back asap…

Do you love your block?  Check out the program below…

Citizens Committee for New York City is pleased to announce a new block transformation grants program.

Awardees will receive a $500 cash grant along with expedited support from city agencies for block improvements such as cleaning up a vacant lot, replacing worn out litter baskets, removing graffiti and replacing worn out street signs. The application can be downloaded at http://www.citizensnyc.org. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2009. For more information, please contact Scott Codey at 212-822-9563 or scodey@citizensnyc.org or Alicia Rouault at 212-822-9558 or arouault@citizensnyc.org

On the Manhattan Bridge’s 100th Anniversary I’ve decided to re-run a post discussing my appreciation of the hardest working bridge in NYC…

While we celebrate the 125th birthday of our beloved Brooklyn Bridge can I just point out the lack of attention and respect paid to what I consider the workhorse of all the bridges into the lower part of the city, the Manhattan Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge may be prettier, but I find it to be less convenient, more prone to accidents and the city approach is always backed up due to the absolutely useless police car that’s always blocking one lane. The Manhattan Bridge is rarely backed up, has two levels supporting many lanes of traffic (which can be configured according to need) and carries four subway lines (B,D,N,Q).

It’s similar to the constant attention the Golden Gate Bridge gets compared to the Bay Bridge… Ask anyone who has lived in the Bay which bridge is more important to the daily lives of area residents… The Golden Gate is pretty but pales in comparison when measuring the utility of the bridge.

Next year will be the 100th anniversary of the Manhattan Bridge. Hopefully it will be met with the same amount of fanfare.

I know it’s just a run-off but the low turnout means your vote will actually count more than ever.  I know I’m supporting Bill DeBlasio.  Public Advocate seems to be the only office Mark Green can actually get elected to.  I didn’t see him serve as a strong counterbalance to Rudy Giuliani who seemed to punk him at will.

Still up in the air on Comptroller.  One has a better story in my eyes but the other is also a good candidate AND is in Brooklyn.  My vote may change from the primary…  We’ll see.

Feel free to email me at realfg@gmail.com if you have an event that you would like to publicize.  If I think it’s worthwhile (and Fort Greene/Brooklyn related) I’ll post it.  If you’re opening a store/restaurant/etc.  and you want honest feedback  I’m your man.   You’ll be taking a risk but eventually I’ll come check it out and post on it anyway so why not?

This is slightly dated but again, I’m just now reading these emails…

While the Brooklyn Flea has grown on me a bit (at least the food has), I’m still not exactly a fan of the location.  It’s basically a hipsterfest for those not living in the neighborhood and tourists (but the food IS good).   I’m not gonna hate on Mr. Brownstoner’s business acumen though.  He’s basically pimpin out FG (and I guess DUMBO now) to the masses.  Play on playa.

The new Fulton Flea is much better situated as it’s a commercial zone with easy access to multiple subway lines.  Check out their information below…

The Fulton Flea – New Outdoors Community Market Opening

The Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center, in an effort to engage in positive community outreach, and to promote good partnership and enhanced visibility, is making their private parking lots available through our group on Sundays starting in mid-September, in order to support the “Fulton Flea” as described below:

The “Fulton Flea” is envisioned as an extension of the dynamic and vibrant activity taking place in the Fort Greene / Clinton Hill scene. Through its location at the hub where Fulton and Lafayette intersect, it can serve as an additional community space where people can meet and engage in the sharing of goods, services and information. Equally, as we align our “values with value” and make sense of the changing economic world, the “Fulton Flea” offers another adaptive opportunity to further the creative spirit of home-based artisan entrepreneurs while blending into the existing commercial merchant infrastructure of our community. Our hope is to stay community-rooted and be diverse and inclusive.

The details: We will be located at 650 Fulton Street in the parking lots of the Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center. We will be called the “Fulton Flea at Brooklyn Plaza” or the “Fulton Flea” for short. We expect to open on Sunday September 13, 2009 and run every Sunday through December 20, 2009. (We will have a bad weather policy in case of extremely inclement conditions.)

We are looking for vendors. We expect our opening prices for non-food vendors will be $75 per week for a 2 week commitment for a 10 x 10 spot (you can sub-divide), $70 per week for a 4 week commitment, and $65 per week for a 6-8 week commitment. We expect to offer some 5 x 10 spots at $40 per week. Tables / chairs will be available on a pre-ordered basis – likely about $10 for a table and $2 for a chair.

Neighborhood Food vendor spots will cost $75 for a 10 x 10 space based on an 8 + week commitment.

Contact kagetter@yahoo.com or call 917 364 5648 after 6 pm for more info.

About the Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center (BPMC): BPMC is a 25 year community rooted non-profit organization dedicated to improving the physical, spiritual, and psychological well being of the residents of north central Brooklyn by providing the highest quality comprehensive family health services. BPMC wants the community to know that they offer quality health care for all residents – and that they care about the well being of the community in a holistic way, inclusive of community economic development, arts and culture.

I finally checked the email account associated with this blog and I’m more popular than I thought…  Here’s an interesting event a reader would like for me to post.

As your blog is centered on Brooklyn, I would like to call your attention to a brand new production presented by Spike Lee and the Culture Project, County of Kings. The show is set in Sunset Park, during the most influential cultural movement of our time — the birth of hip-hop; taking the audience back to the days of B-boys, tracksuits, Adidas, and Boogie Down Productions.

County of Kings, written and performed by Brooklyn-born Puerto Rican poet Lemon Andersen, gives a tough, yet moving biographical account of a good kid growing up in an unforgiving environment.   Mixing difficult drama and occasional humor with his own brand of urban poetry, Lemon uses his unique perspective and talent to bring his own coming-of-age story to life.

Lemon Andersen is best known from his regular appearances on HBO’s Def Poetry presented by Russell Simmons, and as an original cast member and writer of the TONY award-winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway. He can also be seen opposite Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s Inside Man, and is featured in The Soloist, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr.

The show will begin its run at the Public Theater on October 12th, with previews starting September 29th.  ALL tickets for preview performances are $25!

For all other performances (not including opening night), a limited number of tickets will be sold for $25, cash only, at the box office.

County of Kings plays Tuesday through Sunday at The Public Theater’s Newman Stage, 425 Lafayette Street. For a full schedule, please visit www.countyofkingstheplay.com.

www.countyofkingstheplay.com ::  www.cultureproject.org ::  www.publictheater.org

“Lemon is a young man who possesses a wealth of talent and he knows how to tell a story. He joins the legacy of storytellers from Brooklyn.” - Spike Lee

“Mr. Andersen has a gift for rhythmic time-capsule set pieces that capture the flavor of a moment in history, turning bold-face and brand names into propulsive song.” – New York Times

A “wonderfully moving hip-hop autobiography” – Variety

As I walked by the park adjacent to the Ronald Edmonds Learning Center (MS 113) I noticed the park gates were locked.  This wasn’t late at night or early in the morning…  It was 3:00 in the afternoon.   My first assumption was the gate on Dekalb was locked to keep any toddlers from wandering out onto the busy thoroughfare.  I assumed the gate on Carlton would be open.  This would make the park a little less accessible but not a big deal.

As I continued walking I noticed BOTH gates were locked and the park was full of stay at home moms (and nannies) with children.  I was a bit perturbed as it now looked as if these parents had basically made a public park private with the park attendant choosing who could and couldn’t enter…  Gentrification gone too far.

It turns out the park attendant locked both gates because the kids from MS 113 were coming in the park after school and fighting.  She decided to “ban” them for a week.  While I don’t really think she can legally ban anyone from a public park at least the motivation wasn’t quite as sinister as I initially thought. What I don’t understand is why they don’t send a school safety officer after school rather than locking up the park…

My summer is just about over and now that I’ll be around a bit more I’m going to try to post at least a few times a week.  The NYT Local is now doing a pretty good job so my posts will be limited to basically my opinion on a variety of things in and around Fort Greene.   That being said here’s my summer roundup…  Again only my opinion and delivered in a way which will hopefully start a little debate.

Habana Outpost

The wackest spot around due to overexposure.  The “scene” at the establishment has become the attraction (it’s a destination spot) rather than the drinks, food or ambiance.

Der Schwarze Koelner

Not impressed…  Hopefully they can work out the kinks.  Too loud, too hot, disorderly service.

Safety

I just overheard a conversation with a couple of 88th precinct officers stating that there have been 15 “hit and run” muggings over the past month.  Most involve people walking alone listening to an iPod at night.  I don’t know how many times I’ve said this but once more.  This is not Kansas.  Act accordingly.  Don’t make yourself a target.   Does anyone realize this is still a city where you WILL get got if you act stupid.  Just think about it…  It’s 4 a.m., and you’re out looking to cause trouble.  Who do you approach…  The person walking with purpose making sure to be aware of his/her surroundings or the completely oblivious person listening to music while playing games on his/her iPhone?

Kif, Catherine Caffe, 67 Burger, Moe’s, all my other favorite spots…

Still great.

Primary, September 15

I support Tish James but regardless of who you’ll be voting for, make sure to vote.

Atlantic Terminal Construction

I actually saw the sun coming in from the glass facade yesterday.  They current configuration makes it seem as if it may be finished before the year 2020.

Pending condo foreclosures…

I told you so… No one moves to this neighborhood to live in a brand spanking new condo.  80 Dekalb and the Avalon “Fort Greene” (aka Downtown Brooklyn) will become college dorms for recent graduates that don’t know any better (or possibly affordable housing).

No. 7

Redeemed itself after my bad first experience.  I still don’t think it deserves all the hype but it is good.