DailyHeights

Impending Economic Disaster: How "Fringe" is ProHo?

Posted on March 28, 2005 by dailyheights

Laura B asks on the DAILY HEIGHTS message boards: “When I read ‘What Happens If It Bursts?’ in last weekend’s Times, I couldn’t help wondering how Prospect Heights would fare in an economic downturn. The article says that proximity to resources (transportation, shopping) is key to property maintaining its value, which would seem to bode well for the PH. What do others think?

The article doesn’t say much about Brooklyn but quotes Brad Lander of the Pratt Institute Center for Community and Environmental Development (PICCED) as saying that fashionable areas playing host to “fringe gentrification” typically get harder hit: “If prices come down in general, Mr. Lander said, buyers will be less willing to deal with the relative isolation, limited retail and school choice in a place like Williamsburg.”

Amorina (Cucina Rustica) in "Openings & Buzz"

Posted on March 28, 2005 by dailyheights

No Comments

Nichelle points out that Amorina gets top billing in the latest “Openings & Buzz” column in New York Metro:

Albano Ballerini continues to remake burgeoning Vanderbilt Avenue in his own offbeat culinary image … he’s transformed a Brooklyn slice joint into a boutique focacceria. Pizza chef Ruth Kaplan, an Aliseo customer and avid home cook whose puffy, free-form pies got her the Amorina gig, has a toppings repertoire that runs the gamut from classic (tomatoes and mozzarella) to creative (dried cherries, nutmeg, orange peel, and crème fraîche)…”

Amorina (Cucina Rustica) | 624 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238. 718-230-3030.

[Photo: Kenneth Chen]

Happy Hour – Now With Cheerios!

Posted on March 28, 2005 by dailyheights

1 Comment

Isabel and Chay (center, right) show Park Sloper Leah (left) how things are done in the PH.

Soda Bar | 629 Vanderbilt Ave. at St. Marks Ave. 718-230-8393.

NOTE! Entry #2 in the ProHo Cuties category. Send in your cuties (animal or human) to [email protected].

Chocolate Footballs: Head to Head Comparison

Posted on March 27, 2005 by dailyheights

1 Comment

Manufacturer    Lindt            Hershey's
Brand  		LINDOR           Solid Milk
                Liliput-Eier 	 Chocolate Eggs
Cost  		3.90 Euros  	 $2.99
                (150g)           (260g)
Appearance   	Smooth   	 Rabbit poop
Consistency   	Hard shell,      Rabbit poop
		creamy center
Taste  		Like chocolate   Byproduct of
                                 chocolate
                                 manufacturing
                                 process

Daylight Saving Time (DST) for New York (EST)

Posted on March 27, 2005 by dailyheights

No Comments

Though Europe switched over early this morning, daylight savings time for New York (EST, GMT -7:00) takes place NEXT weekend. Set your clocks ahead (spring forward) one hour at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2005.

Pro-Ratner Pollster Tries to Convert Patti Hagan

Posted on March 25, 2005 by dailyheights

2 Comments

Of all the 718 numbers to dial, he had to pick hers…

“An advocacy telephone poll promoting Brooklyn’s biggest potential development project collided with the project’s fiercest opponent while canvassing the borough’s telephone lines this week.”

“What if I told you the Nets stadium would usher in the Golden Age of Brooklyn, and we’ll all be rich and have sparkly new schools… Does that change your opinion?”

“No! Absolutely not!”

“What if they gave lollipops and balloons to all the handicapped children in Brooklyn?”

“Opposed! Strongly opposed!”

“What if …”

“No! No! No!”

—
Thanks to reader NONROYAL for pointing it out: “For pure comedy, it’s hard to beat this.”

Prospect Heights Arts Festival: Tish on Board?

Posted on March 25, 2005 by dailyheights

No Comments

Thanks to Atim for sending us the raw, unexpurgated minutes of the first planning meeting, attended by 16 people. Next meeting is tomorrow (Saturday). The big news since the meeting is that Atim met with Council member Letitia James: “She is in full support of the idea and is requesting a proposal.” In addition, Community Board 8 officer Robert Matthews has requested information about the “dynamics” (i.e. street closings, police, fire, stages in parks).

Goals of the Prospect Heights Arts Festival: (1) help creative people reach a broader market than any single group or individual could reach on their own. (2) encourage tourism, support economic development for Prospect Heights.

Artist mix: visual artists, filmmakers, musicians, and performers (poetry, spoken word, comedy and theater).

Best time: Consensus was April or May 2006.

Michelle Washington of Washington Design shared insights on the Dumbo Arts Festival, now in its 8th year:
· Dumbo began from an organization (Dumbo Arts Center)
· Utilized several buildings – given in part by the major real estate company
· Funding by corporations
· Artist participation was at a very low fee of about $25
· Advertising and marketing are vital to its growth and development

For Profit or Not? It would be better to seek a fiscal sponsor for the festival. Heart of Brooklyn has decided not to be a sponsor. Atim will reach out other groups (NYFA, BAC and Hope Center).

FREE KITTENS: Good Friday Edition

Posted on March 25, 2005 by dailyheights

No Comments

Won’t someone please think of the kittens (or 4-year-old cats, as the case may be)?

Someone somewhere in New York writes on Craigslist: “We recently inherited a beautiful 4 year old cat. We already have 5 cats and really can not take her in. We have agreed to care for her temporarily while we search for a loving home. She is extremely nice and loving with people, very affectionate. She is however very jealous and make take some time to adjust if you have other cats. We would prefer her to be in a single cat household, however if you are good with cats and understand them a multiple cat household will be OK. We really would love to hear from you if you are interested. We thought about North Shore animal league, we adopted our cats from them, but really do not want to see her in a tiny cage. As she is 4 years old, the kittens usually get adopted and the older cats get stuck She needs a nice life. I will send photos and provide my cell number to any who are interested. Thanks.”

ANNOUNCING New Category: FREE KITTENS (note: there are no free kittens.)

NYC Bloggers: Are You on The List?

Posted on March 25, 2005 by dailyheights

9 Comments

Despite our strenuous and quite self-important insistence that this site is “more than just a blog,” not to mention our pretentious use of the “Royal We” (Pluralis Majestatis) in posts clearly authored by only one person, DAILY HEIGHTS is humbled, and honored, to be among the 4,516 entries in nyc bloggers, a project to bring together New York City’s blogs, organized geographically.

According to mike, liz, and matt, “The idea is simple: A map of the city that shows where the bloggers are, organized by subway stop. Find out who’s blogging in your neighborhood!”

We checked out this site two months ago, and it looked pretty much abandoned – tons of dead links, and so on. Now, the site looks revitalized, and they are actively seeking volunteers for this not-for-profit project:

1. Volunteers to go through our backlog of blog requests.
2. Programmers who know ASP, VBScript and MS Access to help create the password backend.
3. Designer to update the map.
4. Reviewers.
5. Anyone who can help them figure out how to receive RSS feeds.
6. Someone to help them find a new host.

HAIFA: Anti-Americanism Bodega Ban (AABB) Confirmed

Posted on March 24, 2005 by dailyheights

1 Comment

“The thing is, the Haifa proprietor seemed pleased on 9/11. that was enuf for us, ok.”

Well, that settles it, then.

“Did you not, in fact, on the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001, whistle a jaunty, non-Western melody while pushing a broom past a case full of expired dairy products? Answer the question, sir!”

[Flatbush Ave. Bodega “Under Ban for Anti-Americanism”]