The best explanation of the global credit crisis...ever!!

Move over, This American Life. Here's The Crisis of Credit Visualized, a tidy (and entertaining) account of the mess were in.

Reasons to Love Red Hook #1: Coffey Park

Coffey Park is an eight-acre slice of heaven in the center of Red Hook. Largely overlooked by visitors to this neighborhood, it serves as a sort of town square for residents. Devoted dog owners have fought for off-leash hours, and a regular crew of mutts (and their pets) assembles there nightly. Kids stroll through on their way to school, old folks populate the benches near Pioneer Street entrance. Warm weather brings barbeques and Old Timers' Day, sprinklers in the playground, and basketball games running late into the evening. 

Walking through the park this morning I spotted John, the park's gardener. I remarked on the Springlike weather, and he pointed toward the Southeast side of the park, near the playground and park house. "There's a witch hazel in the planting area over there. It just started to bloom." I love witch hazel - I'm a particular fan of any plant that blooms at odd times of year - and I'll walk my lumbering dog past that corner later this afternoon. 

As the warmer weather arrives, the crab apples will bloom pale pink and white, and the tulips planted by school kids each Fall will lurch brightly from the mulch. The sycamores will spread their leaves, and families will start sending scouts out into the early morning to reserve a block of picnic tables for the long, lazy day's barbeque to follow.

Hello Hook!

The former "Hook" in Red Hook will soon reopen!!! as "Hello Brooklyn".
http://www.hellobrooklynnyc.com/
The newly revamped performance venue in Red Hook is set to have its first event February 28th 2009 but hasn't history shown that Red Hook is not the place for music venues?!
Red Hook was said to be the next Williamsburg just 3 or so years back but it never seemed to come full circle. Even with the Hook's shuttle bus service to cart their customers back and forth from the subway to the venue it couldn't survive.
Their first event looks like it will be a rave! Didn't these also die in the 90's?
The party is being held to help raise funds for a party bunker for when the apocalypse comes.
I hope they are being sarcastic.

Why are people buying again? Ask these 50 people!

In this week's New York magazine, more evidence that New Yorkers are different:

DC vs. NYC: The Poll

That's right, folks. Even as our world crumbles around us, we still love our town and the lives we live here. 

Witness:

--Even though the majority of New Yorkers believe things in this country are getting worse, most believe their own lives are getting better. 

--Even though we acknowledge that DC is more powerful than our town, only 16% (that's eight whole people) would ever consider moving there. (Note that 68% of those Washingtonians would drop their "powerful" city for our more "morally bankrupt" environs.)

Right? Maybe this highly scientific data explains the uptick we've been seeing in buyer interest...

Iron Gates closes its doors ....again.

Iron Gates Real Estate used to be located at 269 Court Street at Carroll Street where the new kids' play store is and then moved down the block to Court Street between 1st and 2nd place. They have closed it's doors again (sometime in early November or late October) and moved out of the neighborhood -- this time to LIC!


They used to have a sign in the window advertising their own space for rent, but now it looks like the landlord has taken over after Iron Gate couldn't get the job done. I remember them most for their low listings fees of 3%, I think they tried morph into the small time version of Foxtons. I guess that platform doesn't work no matter what size you are. It is a beautiful space and hopefully will be rented out sooner then later but the landlord is asking a whopping $4500 in rent. Do they really think they can fetch this price? Hopefully Iron Gates will have more success in LIC then they did in CG.

When will the new hole open?

Its been almost a year since Hole in the Wall video closed on Court Street and still the doors to the new tenants have not opened. It was almost immediately rented to new tenants and work began on what looked like a coffee shop or bar.
I have now heard rumors that it is going to be restaurant? , called Calpurnia.


It was inspected last week and faired pretty well compared to other places in the neighborhood but when will they open their doors?

Crave Catering! Crave Restaurant?

On January 28th- Crave posted this on their yelp page:

Crave has closed our restaurant

"Thank you for supporting Crave Restaurant. We are know a full service caterer and event planning company. Please visit http://cravecateringny..."

http://www.yelp.com/biz/crave-catering-and-events-brooklyn

This used to be one of my favorite places in the neighborhood before the competition of The Grocery and Buttermilk Channel arrived.
I had tried to go there last week and got a message on their voice mail stating the change and I went once before Christmas on a Tuesday night and realized it wasn't open when I arrived.
It is sad to see another great restaurant close in the neighborhood but at least they are converting their current business instead of completely closing up shop, like many other places.
Hopefully they will be ably to survive as a caterer.

Last week's apartment of the week!- Still Available!

RENT STABILIZED ONE BEDROOM PLUS DEN! ::DETAILS::

Location: Carroll Gardens







Web Link: http://www.Realtycollective.com

Rent: $1575

Size: 1.5


This is an amazing find!
Just blocks from everything and located on a tree lined street this apartment has everything to make it your home.
The kitchen has been updated.
Great light -High ceilings
Great Bathroom with a tub and window!
Located in beautiful tree-lined neighborhood of Carroll Gardens.
Exposed brick in the bedroom
North South exposure
Good storage
Hard wood floors
Available Immediately or February 15th
1st month, and Security (1 month) due at lease signing
Sorry no Dogs
Perfect for a single or couple!
Carroll Gardens - Luquer Street at Clinton Street
Walking distance to the subway lines F and G at Carroll Street stop-2nd place entrance

Steps to Smith Street's restaurant row, boutiques, bars, shopping
The Best of Brooklyn!
Will not last! Must-see!
Check out www.realtycollective.com for more listings!

Everything learns to live with a little bit less space in NY.

Even this tree is smushed! I think it needs to get one of those storage spaces!