Buschenschank is spring ready!

Brooklyn Buschenschank has opened it's windows for the season and boy is this space opened up! The new spot, which opened only months ago, had frosted windows that you couldn't see in or out of and we had no idea they were planning on taking the windows out for the warmer months. What a great idea! As you can see above the windows were very large so without them it almost seems as though it's an outdoor beer garden now. So, they'll have this new perk for the spring and summer and come fall and winter they'll shut the place back up for that more tavern-like feel that people are attracted to in the colder months. Good job guys! Checking out their new look and those long wooden tables...we're thinking we need a beer!

New Bike Shop.

At 149 Smith Street there will be a new bike shop taking the place of a small organic market. BikeSmith, which is a great name, will sell a repair bikes. The sign is up but we aren't sure how ready they are to open shop. So far our neighborhood has a few bike shops already but not in the vicinity of this spot, so it should do well. We also heard that they may be doing rentals in the future. We're all for anything making Brooklyn more bike friendly!

New Kids Store.

We got some great photos (see above and below) of this new store on 192 Amity Street near Court. It's called Picnic and it has really cute kids and baby clothing and accessories. We really liked the set up inside. It was very colorful but simple and easy to browse. Nice window display too! They're having a grand opening reception of sorts this coming weekend with snacks and bevs. So, if you'd like to check this place out for yourself this Saturday or Sunday would be the time to do it!

Franny Performs.

Our friend, Franny, who has obviously been very busy will be participating in some performances over the next couple of months in different spaces around New York. Thought we'd share this with you.

4.8 | 2pm | $15
BNWRep's Tea Reading Series
presents Street Scene
by Elmer Rice

***

4.18-28 | 8pm | $15
Jimmy Maize's adaptation of
Spoon River Anthology with
100 ACTORS!

***

4.29 | 2pm | $15
BNWRep's Tea Reading Series
presents Waiting for Lefty
by Clifford Odets

***

5.18 | 9:30pm | $15
The Latvia Project
presented by
Dixon Place's Works-in-Progress
and warner|shaw

Cobble Hill Inspiring Dumbo.

We've just learned from Grubstreet NY about some recent similarities between Cobble Hill and it's not too distant neighbor, Dumbo. First bit of news is that One Girl Cookies just opened their second location at 33 Main Street. This is right next to a soon-to-be a Brad McDonald run restaurant that will be serving seasonal American fare. McDonald, of Atlantic Avenue's Colonie, will also be opening a second restaurant in Dumbo at 5 Front Street. The Front street restaurant will be entirely different from the other two as it will serve Mexican fare. No need to worry, though, neighbors. We are only sharing with Dumbo not giving anything away. Brad McDonald will still be at Colonie and One Girl Cookies isn't going anywhere either. Sharing is good! Now if they'll only trade and give us a Jacques Torres Chocolate or a Vinegar Hill House!

NYC Bike Share

NYC Bike Share is supposed to be coming this summer. This is actually the first we've heard of the program, which is already going on in Boston and DC. According to their website there is expected to be 600 or so bike stations throughout the city to pick up and drop off a rented bike. Membership is required. Think zipcar for bikes? They had a community meeting last week to figure out where the best locations throughout Cobble Hill and Park Slope would be. If this program is affordable enough it would be a really great addition to the neighborhood as a lot of people have storage issues when it comes to owning a bike. Unfortunately, though, there won't be any options for bikes with child seats. Does anyone have any more info on this project? Any meeting attendees that would like to share details?

5K at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Brooklyn Bridge Park has a lot lined up for the spring but probably the most exciting is their first 5K run. Saturday, March 31st, the Eileen C. Dugan Memorial 5k will start and finish near Jane's carousel. Former State Assemblywoman and Carroll Gardens native, Eileen C. Dugan passed away of breast cancer in 1996 and this is year 14 of the race, which will raise money for breast cancer awareness. Registration is $25 and will only allow 200 entrants so act fast. Here's info on how to register.

Register in Person/Pick Up Number and T-Shirt:

Thursday, March 29 (2:00 pm to 4:00 pm)
Friday, March 30 (3:00 pm to 7:00 pm)
Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, 334 Furman St.

Saturday, March 31 (7:30 am to 8:30 am)
Brooklyn Bridge Park (Empire Fulton Ferry section)

Registration Online
At www.brooklynbridgepark.org

Registration by Mail
Contact Richard Loyd at rloyd@bbpc.net or 718-802-0603 ext 3 for information.

Dinner at Maybelle's

We always love walking by Maybelle's and reading their sign outside. It's usually pretty funny with a geeky flair. This sign, however, is particularly exciting. As of last week they are serving dinner! Since they've been open, just over a year now, they've been serving up breakfast sandwiches, baked good, lunch sandwiches and really delicious coffee. And they've been doing pretty well, they're usually crowded. I guess they're hoping to pull in a whole new crowd. We know they have beer and wine and dinner specials. We'll visit them soon and check out the menu (we're assuming they'll have an altogether different menu since the regular menu is so geared towards lunch and breakfast?? But we aren't sure.).

EPA Gowanus Canal Meeting

On a similar topic to yesterday's blog, there will be another important community meeting this Thursday. This time it has to do with, not only beautifying the neighborhood, but cleaning it up. The Gowanus canal in particular. This is very important for everyone living in the area. Stay informed ans have your questions answered.

Thursday, March 22, 7:00 PM
EPA Red Hook public information meeting on the GOWANUS CANAL SUPERFUND SITE at the Red Hook-Miccio Community Center (Gymnasium) 110 West 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites you to attend a public information meeting to discuss the cleanup of the Gowanus Canal and its potential impact on the residents of Red Hook. Representatives from EPA will be on hand to talk about possible clean up options to address the contamination in the Gowanus, followed by a question and answer session.

Columbia Connector Meeting Tonight

Do you want to be involved in your community? Yes? Then come out tonight for an important meeting concerning the Columbia Street Connector project. Join your neighbors at 6:30 tonight at The Red Hook Initiative, 767 Hicks Street. Here's some more information we got from an email about what to expect at the meeting.

Monday evening’s presentation will include a design vision for the Columbia Street Connector, the stretch of Columbia Street between Lorraine Street and the Erie Basin Pier, including the Greenstreet at Halleck, in Red Hook. Options will be presented for greening the corridor, calming traffic, connecting residents to the waterfront, and connecting the Red Hook neighborhood to the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway route.This stretch of Columbia Street has low traffic and wide sidewalks. The land uses in the northern three blocks are mostly industrial and commercial and the pedestrian experience there and on the Esplanade could be improved significantly with vegetation and other treatments.

Because this is an important junction with the greenway, Brooklyn Greenway Initiative and Regional Plan Association seek the Red Hook community’s input on what improvements would be desirable to make this an attractive route and destination for Red Hook residents. In April 2011, Red Hook community members met to develop a plan to improve this part of the neighborhood. At the March 19, 2012 report-back meeting we will update you on the progress of the plan and how we can work with you to get it implemented.