Check out some of the big money being thrown around for jungle gyms these days…

1. The the budget for the teardown/rebuild of Underhill Playground (Underhill Ave. Btw Park and Prospect), underway after months (years?) of delay, is said to have a budget of $700,000. To be fair, that’s about what you’d pay for a floor-and-a-half of unremarkable PH brownstone these days. Yet at the same time, enough to feed an entire Peruvian village for 80 years and still have enough left over to buy half of them associate degrees at CUNY.

2. So now that we have some perspective, let’s take that number and double it, because that’s what the persistent Friends of Dean Playground have pulled down for their renovation project. Thanks, Mr. Boymelgreen. (Learn more about this on Thurs., Dec. 1 from 7:30-9:00 pm at the meeting of the DEAN STREET BLOCK ASSOCIATION, to be held at Iglesia Evangelical Latina, 506 Bergen Street.)

So what’s a Prospect Heights parent to do while waiting for the seeds of playground gentrification to bear fruit? You could check out Mount Prospect Park, a short trek across Eastern Parkway, where on any given weekday afternoon you’ll find a relatively new and fairly elaborate toddler habitrail supervised by a gaggle of Caribbean babysitters (along with some mommies and the occasional stay-at-home dad).

Prospect Heights Message Boards

Anagram?

Originally uploaded by urbanstrategist.

This was a really puzzling anagram in the Flatbush Pavilion series and it’s still causing us some consternation. Certainly not as amusing as “Elvis Lives” b/w that thing about the new fan running away grinning… uh… somebody remind us what it said, please?

So is this one of the Mooney’s Crew, or the lone gunman father-of-two from Park Slope?

Thanks to urbanstrategist for adding this to the Prospect Heights Photo Pool.

Photo: Mr. Sparkle T-shirt Originally uploaded by Vaguely Artistic.
t-fal writes in the Crown Heights Message Boards: “There’s this guy who lurks about my block… I call him Mister Sparkles due to his rather impressive fronts that would make Flavor Flav green with envy … He is the sole and driving reason behind the deterioration of the once lovely quality of life on my block. “
“… He struts around like one of those grumpy commentators on the Muppets, giving shit to anyone and everyone who happens to pass by … he accused my boyfriend and I of being undercover cops … and now he’s got a cheering section of fourteen year old boys, the bastard.”
“There’s nothing worse than fourteen year old boys. He and his youth crew are outside my bedroom window nearly every night, including right now, serenading me with gunshots, random imitations of dogs barking, absurd proclamations about god.knows.what.”
“He starts incredibly loud fights with random people who happen to be passing by, at 4 am, and then follows them down the block creating a climate of fear and intimidation when once there was none.”
“My block used to be so live and let live! What happened? … It’s obvious: mister sparkles must die. But is he really worth going to prison for? Sadly, no. So therefore I suffer.”

Mister Sparkles Must Die: Crown Heights Message Boards

danaeo asked: “I am trying to ascertain how many other developments are in the works in Prospect Heights (which might add additional units). I thought I’d turn to the dailyheights experts on neighborhood development…”

Answer: A lot. On the Prospect Heights Message Boards, jml posted this quick list, “based on my experiences as I drive around looking for parking”:

The Washington, 35 Washington ave - 11 units
35 Underhill Ave., 39 units (same building?)
Dean between Washington and Underhill
Something is going on on St. Marks between Underhill and Washington
Park Place between Carlton and Vanderbilt
Richard Meier building on Plaza
Sterling between Classon and Washington
Washington between St. Marks and Bergen
Washington between Bergen and Dean
The new 3-story buildings along Underhill and running down Dean

More on new developments: Prospect Heights Message Boards
Current condo development in Brooklyn: The Real Deal [PDF]
Real Estate Message Boards: Wired New York Forums

Grey took this photo outside his building on Grand Ave. between Bergen and St. Marks: “There’s a toy warehouse across the street, the same building where ‘Grand Space’ is located … hope you enjoy!”

devincf, a semi-occasional-regular-of-late on the Daily Heights Message Boards, reports on his difficult interview with Richard Dreyfuss on the set of Poseidon, a remake of The Poseidon Adventure. The interview ends with Dreyfuss punching him (playfully? hard?) in the chest:

Devin: So I understand that you retired from films in 2004. What brought you back?

Dreyfuss: Money.

Devin: OK. But what was it about Poseidon in particular that really got your interest?

Dreyfuss: The money they offered.

Devin: Tell me again who you’re playing.

Dreyfuss: Nelson.

Devin: Nelson Reilly?

Dreyfuss: Who?

Devin: Charles Nelson Reilly.

Dreyfuss: Just Nelson. We just call him Nelson. As we call Achilles. Achilles… Nelson.

Devin: About two weeks ago they did a screening of Close Encounters out at Devil’s Tower.

Dreyfuss: Outside?

Devin: Yeah.

Dreyfuss: That would be cool.

Devin: Do you ever revisit your films from the 70s?

Dreyfuss: Regularly. Yearly. I carry these Richard Dreyfuss itineraries, for these three day train rides. We go on the Richard Dreyfuss Memorial Tour – this is where American Graffiti was shot, this is where Tin Men was shot.

devincf narrates: “Dreyfuss builds up to the punch. He gets an iced coffee, and after taking a sip he throws some of the ice at me. He immediately follows that up by splashing the coffee itself in my face.“

Devin: That was pretty tasty.

Dreyfuss: It’s taken them sixty something days to get it right.

Dreyfuss takes a small “This is for CHUD, right? This is CHUD. It’s not like for the Nobel Prize.

Tiffany, defincf’s official Warner Bros. liaison, attempts to spin it: “You’ll make sure people know he was being funny?” she asks.

Read the rest of this painful exchange and devincf’s attempt to turn it into an article at Chud.com.

Shop_Wash_Ave

Originally uploaded by dailyheights.com.

lovemynabe writes in the Prospect Heights Message Boards: “I’d guess within the next five years Prospect Heights will be fully gentrified. It’s inevitable. Gentrification is good for any neighborhood because it brings new people, investment and energy into an area – it gives the neighborhood life. The question is will we local residents be those investors, or will we allow outside investors to seize the opportunities that are literally lying at our feet?”

EasternPkwy adds: “More so on Wash than on Vandy, the size of the available retail space is a hindrance. It is very reminiscent of 5th Ave in this quality: small, narrow, deep spaces that require a great deal of commitment from the consumer to penetrate from the street front. Not enough square footage to either display merchandise or provide seating. Plus the hill actually cuts into windowshopping, believe it or not - can you think of any NYC shopping districts that have big height changes in them?”

All this and more: Prospect Heights Message Boards

Prospect Heights Photo Pool

“When I lived in Manhattan, I knew the crackhead on my corner better than my neighbors … That could happen here, if we don’t stop this project.”

Links

Rosie: Yards Could Court Crackheads [BrooklynPapers.com]

Walk Don’t Destroy coverage [Prospect Heights Message Boards]

Thank you Rhodamine.

FLUTE writes: “It’s very creepy watching the trucks pull out of there loaded up with caskets … it’s one of those industries you’d prefer to have operate under the ‘radar screen.’ But, yea, I guess it’s part of the ‘economic engine’ that is South Brooklyn.”

Walk Don’t Destroy

Originally uploaded by dailyheights.com.

Oiseau sent this photo:

“I didn’t march but I donated. I took these four from my window when I heard the band playing the Monty Python theme.”

Discuss: Prospect Heights Message Boards

Webbed fingers

Originally uploaded by Frank Lynch.

Guess where.

Answer here.

Discuss: Prospect Heights Message Boards

JACK writes: I’m no expert on spiritual paraphenalia, but for some reason this make me feel… Odd… Mamma Donna is selling these on her site:

Left: With frying pan. Her power still lives in Aunt Jemima. Right: With hands on hips. Her power still lives in Aunt Jemima.

DISCUSS: Her Power Still Lives in Aunt Jemima [Prospect Heights Message Boards]

Back in February, we at Daily Heights reported that a rogue snow plow had taken out a big tree at the corner of Underhill Ave. and Park Place (Pictured: See what city services hath wrought).

Well, now it’s November, and it’s still not fixed. There’s a community meeting tonight where people will discuss solutions to this issue that the city has yet to fix. From the newsletter of the Park Place/Underhill Ave. Block Association:

“Are you Tired of that Sidewalk Eruption on Underhill & Park?

“We will discuss this and create a plan to fix it. If you have any other concerns relating to the quality of life on our blocks, bring them to the meeting. Our association exists to improve the neighborhood.”

Also on the agenda: All about Ratner and You.

Discuss: Prospect Heights Message Boards

Last week, I was chatting with the friendly bartender at Mooney’s, who admitted to me that he was one of the perpetrators of the movie marquee rewording that’s been going on for the past few months. His accomplices include a sheriff, a playwright and one other who’s occupation I can’t recall.

[Ed note: These aren’t the first anagrammers to be outed. Paul Berger wrote about sign-alterer David Collins in his blog and in an article for the New York Times (requires registration).]

If I had any doubts as to their story, I lost them when upon returning to the bar, I noticed near the back lurked a small, slightly shifty and wordy crew of late-night marquee pirates, puzzling over the arrangements of of letters cut from a newspaper, jotting down possible reformations in a notepad for future nocturnal recombinations.

More on this in the Daily Heights Message Boards.

When Danny Met Marty

Originally uploaded by dailyheights.com.

When Danny Met Marty

From Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn.

Outside of the PS 321 polling place in Park Slope on Election Day 2005.

“Marty Markowitz said: ‘Dan, you are the only one who has a legitimate complaint about this project [Ratner’s Atlantic Yards].’”

DAILY HEIGHTS ELECTION RESULT: Split 50/50 between Ferrer and Bloomberg.

Here is your invite. Now go, gut some fish.

Soda Bar, Brooklyn

Originally uploaded by urbanshoregirl.

Eating for Brooklyn writes: “Slightly hungover Saturday morning (or was it afternoon?), I was craving a burger to help cure me and a place that wasn’t too bright…”

“For about $6.00 you get a sizable burger that is charred to near perfection. I also opted for the greasy onion rings for $3.50. The dough was fried nice and crispy while the onion was heated up to release just the right amount of sweetness. Most of the draft beers, except some of the pricier imports like Belgium’s Delirium Tremens (overrated if you ask me), are $3.00.”

Link: Eating for Brooklyn

More ideas for burgers in Prospect Heights and Park Slope: Prospect Heights Message Boards

sje writes in the Prospect Heights Message Boards: “Has anyone else noticed that the wire garbage baskets, usually on every corner, or at least every other corner, are disappearing in Prospect Heights? Is the city trying to save money?”

“If you own dogs like I do, it gets mighty old carrying a bag of stinking fresh shit around for 4 or 5 blocks trying to find a can to throw it in. I don’t like putting it in people’s personal trash cans in front of their houses, but I frequently have no choice.”

“I mostly walk them on Underhill, which is especially barren. What’s going on? How can we get them back? 311?”

daisyh adds: “I’ve been thinking the same thing in Park Slope. There is exactly one public trash can between Flatbush and Union along 6th! What’s the deal? I have a sneaking suspicion that the residents have something to do with it - the cans are too tacky, too declassé for the beautiful Slope…”

DISCUSS: Disappearing Public Garbage Cans? [Prospect Heights Message Boards]

Photo: Vito Fun [Viceland.com]

This is scary.

See a pair of Brooklyn bunnies, live, on your computer.

Welcome to the future!

Discuss Bunny Cuteness: Prospect Heights Message Boards

Hey, guess who was just here in the neighborhood?

Brownstoner writes: “We were driving through Prospect Heights on Sunday when we noticed this development of townhouses on Underhill and Dean. They look to be of the same vintage as the ones Ratner built on Fulton in Fort Greene.”

“Does anyone know how and when these came to be built? How about the quality of the interiors? Have any sold in recent memory?”

LINKS:
Wondering About Newish Townhouses on Underhill: Brownstoner.com
Outlook for Prospect Heights Circa 2002: Set Speed

More? Prospect Heights Message Boards

outside of the eastern parkway 2/3 stop

Originally uploaded by Maygin.

“>crowhiller writes: “There is an article on walking through Prospect Heights in the Nov 1st issue of the very cerebral journal Space & Culture (“Walking, Emotion, and Dwelling: Guided Tours in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.”) The abstract says that it is photography and ethnology, and partially covers ‘residents emotional-phenomenological experience of walks…’ through the “hood, with a “diverse group of residents.”

“Here’s my favorite part from from the abstract: …constructing senses of dwelling and Heideggerian lifeworld.” I went to an Ivy-League school but.. “lifeworld?” I don’t know if that’s academic or hippy … “

“>Read more: Prospect Heights Message Boards

Too unseemly for this family-friendly website. For details, visit Daily Slope, Park Slope Neighborhood, Brooklyn, USA.