Just got back from a long weekend in Jamaica where we visited perhaps the best bar on the planet. The Pelican bar is located about 1km from the shore (you have to hire a boat to get there) in the Treasure Beach area. The red stripe is cold, the fresh fish is delicious and the owner, Floyd has got to be one of the happiest guys in the world.
The perfect gift for Homer Simpson
I came upon this site after a friend mentioned that she was buying “bacon of the month” for a wedding gift. Who knew this existed? I’m not surprised, of course, as there are so many “of the month” clubs. My husband and I did the whole wine o’ the month thing for awhile which was really nice. Hooch delivered to your door every month! Not that you can’t run down to the wine or beer shoppe and pick it up yourself but what’s the fun in that? Plus all the wines had great descriptions and helpful hints for wine idiots like myself.
Anyhoo, bacon of the month…this site offers artisan bacon and other treats, like a rubber pig toy and tee shirts that come with the package.
A dangerous purchase perhaps? Only for the pigs….
Every week there seems to be something new opening, closing or revamping on Smith Street. Here are some new and exciting additions…
Can I tell you, how much I love cheese? Almost as much as I love the name of this new cheese store on Degraw and Smith — STINKY! This new joint, soon to be opened by the folks that bring us Smith and Vine has taken the first step in living out my dream of having a cheese, mustard and pickle shop all to my own. I don’t know if they will have mustard and pickles (my own little fantasy) but the cheese is the most important part anyway. (I’m not the only excited blogger)
Also new on the block is a women’s clothing/dress shop called BIRD (with 2 other location in the slope). I’ve been watching this renovation in progress for some time, and love the green windows. Even better, I can actually imagine buying one of these dresses. Looks like they have very cute stuff, hopefully it isn’t too pricey.
In an amazing turn of events my fantasy baseball team, Legion of Lollygaggers (Formerly Legion of Doom), has ousted the long running 1st place team Bad News Boyd. My husband may never live down letting “the wife” in the league and at the very least he isn’t going to hear the end of my self-congratulations. While I may not end up in first place in the long run I’ll take this opportunity, sitting high-atop my first place seat, to confirm the brilliance of the 30 and under socks-up strategy.
Earlier this month the Lollygaggers powered through a week-long slug-fest for second with my brother-in-law’s team “Stinky Pooz.” While repeated attempts to get the Pooz to trade David Ortiz to the Lollygaggers have been in vain, our roster remains fairly true to its original draft. We have lucked out with a break-out early season by Matt Holiday and Johan Santana is finally racking up some Ks. Here is a quick recap of our line-up as we prepare to defend our #1 spot.
M. Barrett (ChC - C)
T. Helton (Col - 1B)
R. Canó (NYY - 2B)
E. Chávez (Oak - 3B)
J. Reyes (NYM - SS)
J. Dye (CWS - OF)
N. Swisher (Oak - 1B,OF)
C. Figgins (LAA - 2B,3B,OF)
P. Fielder (Mil - 1B)
R. Hernández (Bal - C)
M. Holliday (Col - OF)
W. Taveras (Hou - OF)
J. Lane (Hou - OF)
W. Peña (Bos - OF)
C. Crisp (Bos - OF) DL
K. Escobar (LAA - SP,RP)
Jo. Santana (Min - SP)
J. Valverde (Ari - RP)
Fr. Rodríguez (LAA - RP)
D. Turnbow (Mil - RP)
J. Putz (Sea - RP)
D. Haren (Oak - SP)
T. Wakefield (Bos - SP)
B. Penny (LAD - SP)
B. Colón (LAA - SP) DL
Took in the gleefully unsubtle The Lieutenant of Inishmore last night at the Lyceum. You can go ahead and believe everything you’ve read — this thing actually is an extraordinarily enjoyable time.
Briefly, it’s a macabre, jet black Irish comedy about the IRA, violence, and, naturally, sweet little kitties. There’s lots of yelling, lots of shooting, lots of blood, and a parade of fun plot twists. Think Tarantino except funnier and less self-conscious. So, instead, think devilish, intelligent, well-told farce with a solid dose of Elmore Leonard and maybe a wee bit of Poe.
Easily one of the most entertaining and satisfying nights at the theahtah to be had in this town right now.
Yesterday was the annual Court Street Summerfest. It seems to gets better and bigger every year. Highlights for me were the split roasted pig at Pj Hanleys (Have I mentioned how much I love this place before!?! I’ll gladly say it again. Pj Hanleys was easily the center of all the action this year). And my street fair favorite, roasted corn. A great assortment of vendors set-up tables, including local artists and boutiques to local restaurants and staples like Mazzone True Value Hardware. Abilene put out tables, where you could B.Y.O.F (bring your own food) and they’d supply you with beer or bloody marys. There was at least a full block of bounce rooms and other rides that required air compression and the The Pork Store held down the fort at the end of the festival, with a lone table between president and union. The Summerfest stretched from Union to 9th street -which I believe is the longest it has been to date. Can’t wait till next year but until then I have 10 blocks of silly string as a reminder.
Both Dave and Mary have sent links out today about outdoor moving schedules. So I figured what better place to repost them than our blog! Here is the beginning of a summer movie list. More to come from Prospect Park, Carroll Park, Rooftop Movies and the Socrates Sculpture Park. (p.s the Sculpture park is having a kite building/flying event this sunday - go check it out!)
8:30 pm Thursdays at Brooklyn Bridge Park- Movies with a View
Thurs Jul 6 The Wizard of Oz
Thurs Jul 13 Easy Rider
Thurs Jul 20 Strangers on a Train
Thurs Jul 27 Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
Thurs Aug 2 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Thurs Aug 10 Bonnie and Clyde
Thurs Aug 17 Raiders of the Lost Ark
Thurs Aug 24 The Warriors
5:00pm Mondays at Bryant Park :
Mon June 19 The Birds
Mon June 26 To Have and Have Not
Mon July 03 M*A*S*H
Mon July 10 Bullitt
Mon July 17 The Band Wagon
Mon July 24 High Noon
Mon July 31 Shot in the Dark
Mon Aug 07 The Manchurian Candidate
Mon Aug 14 Charade
Mon Aug 21 Rocky
Any other movie announcements - send them our way! I’m looking forward to finding out what will be playing in Prospect Park with live musical accompaniment!
Cruising around the Gowanus area this weekend I ran into this pile of stripped bicycles and busted up car radios. Hmmm… could there be a criminal element in the area?
Meet Little Girl, my most favorite of all shop cats in the neighborhood- I happily give her the “Best Shop Cat of the Nabe” award. She helps run the show at a local luncheonette, greeting customers, saving a chair for her favorite folks or playing with her good friend Zeus (Chihuahua). If you run into her, she’ll much appreciate a good rub under her chin.
Ain’t she the cutest? I’m also told “she loves plastic!”
Little Girl sleeps in on weekdays mornings, staying clear of the traffic in her box above one of the drink fridges.
I also went to the Gowanus Pathmark this weekend (see abrooklynlife post), and encountered one of the most mysterious kiddie coin rides I’ve ever seen. Can anybody explain to me what this is supposed to be? I’m thinking it’s a flying-hippie-squating-monkey-solider-with feathers. But that can’t possibly be right? What is the green thing he is holding?
p.s:notice the gin advertisement right behind the ride? Good stuff.
There is some initial planning for a greenmarket on smith (bet. 2nd and 4th Pl.) I personally think this would be a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. We are not only are low on grocery stores but this strip of sidewalk (across the street from our studio) is completely under utilized and neglected.
Heres a bit more info:
Deroy Peraza of Hyperakt Design Group and Toni D’Andrea of D’Andrea Craig Realty, both on Smith bet. 3rd and 4th Streets, are leading an initiative to secure a Farmers’ Market for our Neighborhood. The space we have proposed to Greenmarkets, who runs 54 markets throughout the city, is a 400’ X 20’ sidewalk next to the elevated subway track. The proposal has drawn unanimously positive reactions from the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association (via Yahoo group) and area neighbors (via support list). There is so much interest in the market that the Carroll Gardens Courier printed an unsolicited story about it this week (see link and quotes below)
Deroy reports, “Cathy Chambers, a representative from Greenmarkets, visited the site today and had nothing but good things to say about it. We should have a decision from them in 2 – 3 weeks. She said if approved, a market could be operational by late summer.”
“I think every neighborhood should have a farmer’s market,” said Community Board Six District Manager Craig Hammerman. “It’s great to see this level of interest.”
Tom Strumolo, executive director of the Greenmarket program, called the 20-foot wide expanse of sidewalk next to the elevated subway tracks on Smith Street an “appealing site.”
“It’s a matter at looking at the physical space, and seeing how many shoppers it can accept,” he said.
To see the site in question and a rough rendering of the potential market, please visit the link below:
http://www.hyperakt.com/clients/smithmarket