across the park

Art Show and Fundraiser at Lime

Lime has yet to have its grand opening, but the proprieters have already signed on to a fundraiser for Maple Street School.  The organizers passed us the following information:

The Maple Street School is throwing a benefit to raise money for our local non-profit preschool...an Art Show and Cocktail Party! 

The school has been organizing workshops run by local artists and teachers for the kids of PLG to create unique works of art.  The art includes watercolor self-portraits, collages, finger paint collaboratives, and more, all mounted on wood and other ready to hang materials.  The results are beautiful!  In addition, some grown up local artists will be showing their latest works.  All the art is for sale by silent auction for the evening starting between $20-35, and on display for the month. 

And, introducing the newest  addition to nightlife in PLG, the much anticipated Lime!  Lime is cool, new lounge that hopes to also act as a community arts center with regular showings of local art and hosting community gatherings.  Lou, the owner, is opening LIME to the school with generous donations!

So, toast the holidays and see the inspired works of art created by the children of PLG, also great gifts for the holidays!  Tickets are $20 and include unlimited beer and wine.  All proceeds go to benefit the Maple Street School.  Contact Lizzie at eabicknell@yahoo.com for tickets and information.

For Rent Sign Disappears From Flatbush Storefront

This storefront on the corner of Flatbush Ave. and Chester Ct. once had a large for rent sign tied to the frame of its former awning.  The sign is now gone.

Has the store been rented?  Did someone arbitrarily pull the sign down?  Anyone have any information?

As per our usual sentiment... Thai would be nice.

Cheap Developers: Hands off Ocean Ave.

   =>    ?

We learned last week that time is running out for 185 Ocean Ave, the former home of Planet PLG creator Dan Canale and his family.  For those who are not clued in to the unfolding drama, a developer purchased the property and intends to demolish the house.  We're not against new development, but as a community we've got to make sure that this developer doesn't build some ugly piece of crap on the lot.  The other photo above, taken at the corner of Bedford and Parkside Aves, represents the antithesis of what would be a welcome addition to PLG's architectural variety because it has no style and is ugly.

It would be horrible to flank Prospect Park with a hideous structure.  How does one unearth building plans to find out what this developer plans to do?  If the plan includes something hideous, what can be done about it?

Condo on Caton

We're a little embarrassed to admit that Brownstoner completely scooped us on this one.  We noticed several months ago that a new building was going up on Caton, but we failed to note progress and keep our loyal readers informed.

Now for our commentary.

This building ain't pretty, which is unfortunate and somewhat mind boggling.  Why?  Because developers manage to build and sell reasonably attractive condos in the rougher parts of Williamsburg and altogether rough Bushwick, yet the folks developng our hood can't get their aesthetics together.  Other than 384 Maple, all new buildings in the area are downright ugly.  We fear for what will be built on the site of the former Planet PLG House (see below).  It would really suck if the one and only new development on Ocean Ave turned out ot be a Fedders House.

As everything sells at the right price, the condos on Caton will sell... to people who don't mind living on a crappy block that also happens to be a truck route. 

A new blog is born

Hawthorne Street has given birth to a new blog called Hawthorne Street.  The writers promise that they will offer concrete and practical advice related to life, love and brownstone renovation - without the life and love parts.

Be sure to check it out.

D-Day for 185 Ocean Ave

Ciao bella.

The Dream is Dead: Red Hook

NY Magazine has an article currently published online that is helping us feel more grounded in reality.

The topic is Red Hook, everyone's favorite up-and-coming baby.  However, the dreams of a gentrified Red Hook have largely failed to take flight.  Why?

Here's the paragraph that basically sums up the "problem" with Red Hook:

This is why Red Hook has seemed uniquely immunized against gentrification. It’s an isolated neighborhood, roughly one square mile in size, and it’s very difficult to commute to, except by car. Brokers and boosters like to describe Van Brunt as a "twenty-minute walk from the subway," but they don’t often tell you what this journey entails: From the Smith Street–Ninth Street F-train stop, you travel by foot over, under, and around the tangle of the BQE and the entrance to the Battery Tunnel, then cross an uninviting wasteland of warehouses and Dumpster-storage yards guarded by barbed wire and the occasional unfriendly dog. There’s a bus, the B61, that’s famous in local lore for its sporadic appearances and circuitous route. Did I mention that the Smith Street–Ninth Street subway station is scheduled to close for repairs in 2010? For about a year? At least?

Regardless of whether a neighborhood is boosted as trendy, limited infrastructure will keep new people from moving to the neighborhood.  It will also prevent consumers from traveling to the neighborhood.

We specifically chose PLG as our home because of the quick subway ride to Manhattan and access to Prospect Park.  Don't get us wrong - we wanted (and continue to want) more amenities to arrive, but we decided to live in PLG because it did not come with the isolation of a neighborhood such as Red Hook.

In summary, we're not surprised that Red Hook did not live up to its imagined potential.  NY Mag tries to make the argument that we could see "de-gentrifcation" emerge as a citywide trend, but we get the sense that Red Hook was never very desirable to begin with.

Jon Brownstoner offers his commentary today as well.

Indie Film to be Shot in PLG

We received an email recently from an independent flimmaker who is planning to shoot a film, entitled "Compliments of the Serpeant," which focues on a middle-aged couple dealing with HIV.  The filmmaker is currently seeking locations and extras.  She writes:

I was hoping you could get the word out and help our efforts to secure use of an apartment/home in the area. We're looking for a two bedroom space. It would be ideal, but not necessary, to have separate bathroom sinks ('his' and 'hers') as well. We are working to shoot a scenes at a doctor's office on Bedford Avenue as well as the Thriftway Pharmacy on Lincoln Rd. We are also in need of children to act as extras in a playground scene that will be shot in Prospect Park

The filmmaker can be reached here: elsienw@gmail.com; or here: 917-291-7913

Reader Photo=Pretty

A reader sent us this photo taken from a rooftop overlooking Prospect Park.  We're assuming this came from either Ocean Ave. or Patio Gardens - sweet view.

Sign of the Times...

... or so we hope. 

Lime had its sign put up recently.  As is evident in this reader-submitted photo, it's pretty damn spiffy for ol' Flatbush Ave.

In case you need some background info, Lime is a new bar slated to open soon on Flatbush.