Santa Meeting

Let the holiday events begin. We've already talked about a tree lighting ceremony and winter festival now here's an interesting event we heard about that's going on this weekend as well. A pancake breakfast with Santa? I'd say if I were a kid that would sound like just about the coolest thing ever. For $10 per person or $30 per family head down to the First Presbyterian Church at 124 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights for either the first seating at 9:30am or second at 10:30am. Eat pancakes, make crafts and get your picture with Santa. This sounds like a much better option than going to a mall and waiting in line after shopping all day. More relaxing and definitely more delicious. In case you can't see the photo we posted it says that seats are limited so here's the number to call to reserve a spot, 718-624-3770. Ask you're kids if they want to have breakfast with Santa this weekend. They'll probably say yes, unless they are terrified of the jolly bearded fellow like I used to be...then you may want to just wave to him from afar at the tree lighting ceremony on Friday instead.

Winter Festival

It's getting colder towards the end of this week and will be gin to feel a little more wintery. Let's celebrate by eating lots, drinking lots, and dancing! Only for the sake of keeping warm, of course. The most important part to keep warm and cozy is your heart (please excuse the cheese factor). You can keep warm, inside and out, by giving to this charitable cause. The Gowanus Canal Conservancy will be hosting a winter festival on Saturday, December 3rd at 69 9th Street (between 2nd ave and the canal). From 6:30-midnight indulge in a three-course meal, drinks, and live music, and all for a good cause! Tickets for the event and a conservancy membership are $60, event only $40, and concert only (which begins at 9pm) are $15. If you're already a member you can buy up to 10 tickets for a discount of $30 each. Let's help clean up the Gowanus Canal and have fun while doing it!

Christmas Tree Lighting

As we all know, one holiday ends and preparations for another one begin. This is especially so with Christmas. We see it as we enter the stores around the neighborhood and see Christmas decorations being sold and hear "Jingle Bell Rock" pumping out of the speakers. It's time to get in the spirit and you can start by going to a tree lighting ceremony at Carroll Park this Friday, December 2nd (rain date Dec 9th). The festivities begin at 6pm and will include singing carols and, of course lighting the tree. Also, Santa and his elves will be there and their will be free refreshments a gifts for the children. For anyone who's been to this annual event, you know that the kids really love it and it's good times for all. The forecast is looking good as well so it should be a beautiful night for a tree lighting!

Small Biz Saturday!

Okay, we're all stuffed from gorging ourselves turkey dinner yesterday and leftovers today. It's Black Friday and time to shop it off right? We say wait until tomorrow! Small Business Saturday. Rest off that meal today and get ready to support our local small businesses tomorrow. We know you don't need more incentive to shop at the awesome boutiques and shops in the hood but here is some anyways. Amex has a promotion going on for tomorrow only. Spend $25 or more at any independently owned business and they will credit you $25 on your account, which you should receive at some point next week. This goes for any small business, including restaurants. All you need to do is register here or go to the American Express facebook page and sign up there. So, forget hitting the big department stores today. Sit down, have some more pie, and relax. Tomorrow is go time!

Sadie's Kitchen Once More.

(photo taken from bococaland)

Okay, I know we've written a couple of blogs about this new restaurant already but we've finally gotten a chance to visit and taste and the verdict is a delicious one. We like to keep you updated so hear it is. Yes, the menu is mostly mac-n-cheese but the variety is incredible. From shitaki mac with brie and truffle bread crumbs to buttered lobster mac with fontina and herb bread crumbs to kielbasa and gorgonzola mac with brussel sprouts. Everything sounds unique and extremely mouth-watering. It doesn't disappoint either. They do have a handful of equally unique biscuit sandwiches if the former isn't up your alley. Fried catfish, jalapeno jack, slaw and pickled okra tartar is one. Another is made with bbq duck, spicy plum sauce, arugula and brinjal chutney. Anyways, we can list off the whole menu but you can just pick one up for yourself. We're making ourselves too hungry with all these descriptions anyways. They started delivery service at the beginning of the week so if need to change things up with your delivery repatoire this is a good option. Mac keeps well when traveling. Oh, we almost forgot the pies! Shoo fly, pumpkin spice, and more for $20 each. You may still be able to order one or two for tomorrow. Check them out.

Deals in the hood.

We wanted to let you guys in a a couple of internet (a la groupon) deals going on in the neighborhood. We can we say. We like to pass on the savings.

Amazon local is offering a $25 credit for only $10 for Verde restaurant on Smith Street. That's 60% off. If you've never been to this Italian restaurant then buying this coupon would be a great way to check them out for the first time. Make sure you read the rules before buying. They are the usual "dine-in only" and "only one per customer" type stuff. Also, you only have until the end of today to secure this deal so get on it.

One of our favorites has a deal going on with NYC Downtown through Google offers. Buy an meal worth $50 at Alma for $25 on this site. You can spend it on food and drinks, and use it between November 24th and May 21st. Again you only have a short time (about 2 days) to buy this deal so check it out if you're interested.

We love our neighborhood restaurants and we love deals!

Top Five for Thanksgiving Shopping

We've put together a list of the top five (in our humble opinion) places to buy food for the Thanksgiving holiday. Whether you're cooking the whole meal or need to bring some nice snacks to someones home who you're celebrating with here's where you can go.

Stinky Bklyn- Since they're expansion they have twice as much room to house twice as many delicious cheeses, meats, and other gourmet treats. They also have free-range antibiotic and hormone-free turkeys ranging in weight from 12-24 pounds from Stonewood & Misty Knoll Farms in Vermont. Call to see if they have any Turkeys available (they go quick). This is the perfect place to pick up an appetizer for a party.

Fairway- Of course this is on our list. They pretty much have everything you may need. May be crowded and hectic but you'll find what you're looking for.

Court Street Grocers- They had Turkeys but the deadline has passed. Who knows though give them a call. Also though, like Stinky they have a lot of delicious treats to bring if you're attending as a guest...including pies!!!!

Sadie's Kitchen- Although we have yet to check this place out we've been hearing good things. They are on our list for one reason alone...well a few. Pies, pies, pies! They have pecan, sweet potato and other southern and Thanksgiving-friendly pies. Call ahead to see if you can order one or two or several!

American Beer Distributing and Thrifty Beverage Center at 256 Court Street- Now there are so many wonderful wine stores we could have included but decided that this place might be the best for this occasion. They have wine and beer (and a giant selection) but they also have a huge selection of soft drinks in case you have kids or non-drinkers attending that might like something special to drink for the holiday.

Well, there it is. Now get out there and shop away!

Caselnova, Now serving Brunch!

Our favorite neighborhood Trattoria, Caselnova, has just started serving brunch. The first day they opened for brunch was last Sunday. Along with some traditionals, like Eggs Benedict, they have an Italian twist on breakfast by serving things such as breakfast pizzas and Italian (instead of French) toast. All of this comes with a complimentary cocktail. Being right near our Columbia Waterfront office, the restaurant is at 215 Columbia, we order from there all the time and can vouch for the tasty food (especially the pizza, which you can see in a small photo below). They're playing Monday night football, as well, and they also have weekly specials, such as 1/2 price bottles of wine on Wednesdays. Last we looked kids ate free on Tuesdays and Mondays were 2 for 1 pizza nights. Check in with them on that as it may have changed. You can follow them here on facebook for more daily specials. So, if you haven't checked this place out yet you should. And definitely keep them on your brunch list.

Sadie's Kitchen now open!

Blogs across the web are and have been a buzz about the opening of this new restaurant, Sadie's Kitchen at 243 Degraw, which was scheduled to open Monday! Between reading through all the other blogs and articles, including a sweet spread they got last week in the NY Times Diner's Journal, and walking by and peeking in the windows ourselves, here's what we've found out. Like we suspected from the name and decor, it's a southern comfort food menu. Mac and Cheese is a big item on the menu and they'll serve it plain or dressed up with other ingredients. Biscuit sandwiches will also be on the menu, which seems to be very affordable ($7 for the plain mac and $8 for the sandwiches), and, of course pies pies and more pies!!! Since the space is so small they plan on doing more take-out business than anything else, but the inside is so inviting with a 30's retro diner look that I can't imagine people won't want to go in and soak up that atmosphere. If you've tried it already we'd love to hear a review! We're definitely going to try it soon ourselves. We're ready to be comforted!

New Music Store

A piano music store just opened up at 177 Smith Street. For anyone in the neighborhood who owns a piano or has just glanced in a window and caught sight of a beautiful grand piano while strolling through Cobble Hill, you know that a store that sells and refurbishes pianos should do pretty well in this area. Big Wrench Piano Care will hopefully thrive. If you walk by and look in the window of this new music store you'll see pianos of all shapes and sizes. It's Registered Piano Technician, or RPT, is a Brian Whiton. He's got a pretty good resume from the looks of the website. He "commenced the study of the art and trade of piano tuning and repair in Minnesota at the Steinway and Sons retail giant Schmitt Music. Since moving to Brooklyn in 2001, he has worked with several of the finest piano rebuilders and tuners in New York City.

But mainly he has a passion for what he does. "Like all successful tuner-technicians, I have a deep love for the instrument," Brian quotes. "I realize I'm fortunate to make a living in an interesting and challenging field." So if you're in the market for buying, need a tune up or repair, this place is for you.