61 Local opening soon

Part bar, part cafe, part public house, 61local is still a bit of a mystery. The space opened briefly last weekend during the Farm City Fair and will be opening for good in about a month. The focus is on local (duh) beer and food. It sounds like the menu of both will rotate and highlight different vendors at a time. Here's a quote from their website that might clear things up. "If you're interested in the community, we’ve got your back. Come in and enjoy the best our farmers, brewers, and local artisans have to offer in a lively and festive atmosphere."

The atmosphere certainly was festive last weekend. It feels more like an event space than a cafe/bar but maybe that was just because it was a special one day opening. It's located at 61 Bergen street between Smith and Court right next to The Invisible Dog gallery and the Muriel Guepin Gallery and much like the two galleries the space feels very raw. Big unfinished wooden tables nailed to the floor by rusty metal legs is where you would stand (there are no stools as of yet) with your local brews and snacks. The bar, floors and decor are also unfinished and rustic. As is, the place seems really cool but we're excited to see it's evolution.

Barney's Co-op on Atlantic

Pretty soon now the Barney's Co-op will be opening right near Trader Joes at 194 Atlantic...maybe. At first we heard September but now it seems it will be pushed back to October, at least that's what the signs on the door say as well as the expected date posted on their website (http://www.barneys.com/CO-OP/CO-OP-1,default,sc.html), but rumors still suggest they may open early. It's a pretty big space and newly built as part of the Cobble Hill Mews.

So, what is Barney's Co-op? Is it an outlet type store? After browsing their website and other blogs written about the store, it doesn't seem to be. Shoes listed on the website under the "Sale" area were still upwards of $500. It seems as though it may be just a spin-off of the regular Barney's. A younger, hipper, more "Brooklyn" Barneys. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Another sign listed that piqued our interest was about jobs. It says "For a FAB, life changing job, email hr@barneys.com". So, for those interested in the fashion industry this may be a great opportunity and you'd probably get a discount on those $500 shoes!

New Stumptown Coffee Bar

Coffee enthusiasts in the neighborhood were undoubtedly thrilled last week when Stumptown Coffee Roasters, located at 219 Van Brunt Street, opened it's new coffee bar and store inside the roastery, or maybe they were just hopped up on caffeine. After opening less than two years ago in a warehouse in Red Hook, Stumptown quickly became a Brooklyn favorite and was being sold in several local restaurants and cafes.

While you may not be able to purchase a mocha frappuccino, cappuccino, or even a simple espresso at the new bar, it's all about the excellent quality cup of coffee that shouldn't be covered with syrups and flavors. Owner Duane Sorenson recently stated in the NY Times that they will be "putting the focus on the bag of coffee and showing our customers how to brew that coffee correctly,” There are so many options to choose from with over 35 beans and several brewing methods, including French Press and Chemex. So you can experiment with different sustainable varieties, learn how you prefer to brew your cup, and then buy your bags of whole beans, which come written with very detailed descriptions, and coffee-making gear all in the same place!

For more information stay tuned to their website, www.stumptowncoffee.com. Hours and details aren't up yet but we imagine they should be soon.

Strong Place Brunch

It's natural to be both wary of and excited by trying new restaurants. After hearing rave reviews from people around the neighborhood, we were all excitement and no worries to try brunch at the recent Strong Place, which is located on Court street between Butler and Douglass. It's been around for almost two months now but it's not too surprising that some have just discovered it. There is no sign and the decor is very discreet. Many have probably walked by not even noticing it, unless it was on a Friday or Saturday night when their are always a few pockets of people outside checking it out or waiting for a table.

The menu is unique and diverse with many options for seafood, meat and veggie lovers alike. They also have an extensive beer list, with 24 beers on draft. They seem to use super fresh ingredients. The heirloom tomato salad, grilled onion, and bleu cheese salad was a definite winner. The bacon pancakes were also delicious. Pancakes with a slab of bacon grilled right in? What a great idea! This place is great addition to the neighborhood and we wish it well!

Brooklyn Collective

Brooklyn Collective has re-opened in a bigger and better space that we here at Realty Collective rented to them. After the closing of General Nightmare, the folks at Brooklyn Collective needed a space they could call their own and we stepped up to the plate to help them find their new home.

Brooklyn Collective is more than just a shop, it's an artisan gallery that houses designers whose work ranges the gamut and is unique in that all the members share the rent and keep 100% percent of their profits. They also host bi-monthly PR parties for artists to showcase their work and membership also includes a permanent page on the Brooklyn Collective Web Site.

Their new space is three times the size of their old digs which is great for their mixers, art shows and what's more in the new space they will be having a working studio in the back for artists and offering art classes!

Below are some photos we took of the new interior. Be sure to check it out! The new space is located at :
212 Columbia Street (between Sackett and DeGraw)
Hours are:
wed & thurs 12-6
fri-sun 12-8

Dubuque- 548 Court St

Hot off the press from Realty Collective! A new restaurant is under way at 548 Court St. The space is in its final touches and will be named Dubuque. We found this information on the space over by 9th St. written by our friends over at Brownstoner back in May:

"Here's an early word on what's to fill the space at 548 Court: a man working there said he plans on opening a burger place, with other open face sandwiches with some fancy touches like truffles. They were just approved for a building permit and construction looked to be in very early stages, but hopefully this place will measure up to the other popular restaurants on that lower stretch of Court." GMAP

Anything with truffles makes me salivate. We are looking forward to it! YUM!

Cucina 215

Columbia Street favorite Cucina 215, a hidden neighborhood gem, family-owned and famous for its large portions and decor (the walls were lined with photos of family members, the Sopranos cast, and a massive mural of Italy) was recently closed (as the above photo suggests). But have no fear carb-lovers, the business was recently sold and its new owner stopped in to our office the other day to say hello. He has informed us that he is giving the space a make-over and is adding a brick oven to the kitchen for pizzas and paninis! No exact date has been released as to when it will re-open, name change, etc. But we are very excited that the "napoletana" tradition will continue on this side of the BQE. We will keep you updated as more details become available!

The "old" Eton space is now. . . .a Dry Cleaners!

Just what the neighborhood needs! Yet ANOTHER dry cleaner!!!

Eton, Carroll Gardens' immensely popular dumpling and shave ice shack, moved to 359 Sackett St. (btwn Smith and Hoyt) a few months ago and it looks like a dry cleaners has opened in its original location 205 Sackett St. (near Henry).

How do all of these dry cleaners stay in business? I guess it just goes to show that New Yorkers:
A) Appreciate a finely pressed and starched shirt
B) No one does their own laundry!

Indoor Seating at Red Hook Lobster Pound

Hallelujah! Finally Red Hook Lobster Pound has indoor seating! If you look really close inside the windows of this photograph you will notice a happy family eating their yummy Lobster rolls on an indoor picnic table. This is great news for fall. But until the cold season sets in, there are multiple Brooklyn locations where you can get your lobster fix:

Lobster at the Movies:
Thursdays 5:30-9:30pm @Brooklyn Bridge Park (Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory)
Wednesdays 6-10pm @ McCarren Park

Brooklyn Flea in Ft. Greene, Saturdays 10:30-5pm

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, weather permitting: Thursdays 5:30-9:30pm, Fri, Sat. Sun 1pm to 8:00pm (7:00 on Sun).

And they are open at the Pound in Red Hook Wed-Sun 12-7pm.

If you decide to visit their store, you have your choice of the traditional Maine-style cold lobster salad roll with a touch of homemade mayo (or not), a bit of celery and spices or Connecticut-style, served warm with just lobster and butter. Both sandwiches are served on yummy buttery toasted top-split buns straight from Biddeford, Maine.

There's only a few weeks of summer left! Go get yourself some "lob-stah"!

Calling all gamers! Will Wright's new TV series filming on Atlantic this week!

Spotted on Atlantic and Henry Street was this NO PARKING sign. It looks like a project entitled The Creation Project will be shooting in the hood Monday through Thursday of this week. Apparently it is a new television series that will air on Current TV created by videogame master, Will Wright (SimCity).

According to IGN:

Set up at Current, The Creation Project teams Wright with producer Albie Hecht, former president of Spike TV and Nickelodeon. In essence, The Creation Project is a TV series about the creation of a TV series.

What we've seen suggests users will submit story ideas online and via mobile devices. This will lead to the users than discussing the submissions and voting for their favorite. Finally, the winning storyline is actually produced and will air as two half hour episodes.