The Park Slope Week in Review: 4/4/11 - 4/8/11

On Monday our shores were graced by some more quality pizza, with the soft open of South Brooklyn Pizza on First Street Just west of Seventh Avenue. At $4 a slice I was a little skeptical, but was assured by the owner, Reuben, that its high-quality ingredients make it worth every penny.

When Tuesday rolled around I actually got to try a slice and take some photos, and I'll be damned if this isn't some tasty pizza. The ingredients are top-notch, and it's got a nice crunch. I have a feeling it'll catch on: pizza this good, while pricey, is sure to draw a loyal following. Housing Works, coming soon to Fifth and Garfield, also took the signage down from the store's previous occupant, Brooklyn Kitchens and Baths.

On Wednesday Area Kids, the kid-centric toy and tchotchke store on Seventh between Union and President, completed their move to two storefronts down, in the much larger space last occupied by Super Savers. Also, it looks like an eyeglass store will be moving into the Video Forum space, which is VERY exciting. You've also gotta take a look at these crazy signs on the windows of the under-construction Spice, on Seventh between Berkeley and Lincoln.

Not much to report on Thursday, but the Unleashed by Petco coming to the under-construction building on Seventh between Union and Berkeley got some brick on its facade.

And Friday brought some good news: the space on the corner of Fifth and St. Marks, last home to a bakery for dogs (only in Park Slope!), will soon be getting an ice cream shop called Sky Ice. More details are forthcoming, but it's a charming little place and it'll be open soon.

The Park Slope Week in Review: 3/28/11 - 4/1/11

On Monday there was one less video store in Park Slope than the day before: The Video Forum, on Seventh between Garfield and Carroll, which finally succumbed to the march of technology and closed up shop. And in your bizarre business dealing of the week (last week's was the King of Cupcakes fiasco, naturally), the owners of PSbklyn (above, with Marty), everyone's favorite new family friendly gastropub, announced that they were selling the restaurant, but then quickly backtracked when people found out. The official story, as it stands, is that the listing was published "by mistake." I guess we'll just have to see how this plays out.

On Tuesday I met up with filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, who recently moved back to the neighborhood after a couple years of living in Fort Greene. We chatted about his path to our lovely neighborhood as well as his new documentary about product placement, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, which was completely financed by product placement. Basically it's the most meta movie ever.

On Wednesday my wild guess that Spice was going to be coming to our hood was confirmed by some temporary signage, hung up at the site of the recently shuttered Lemongrass Grill on Seventh between Berkeley and Lincoln. There's also a Stop Work Order on the door, which Spice's owners apparently didn't realize you get when you do construction work without a permit. Also, two long-shuttered old school southern 5th Avenue businesses, Sea World Fish Market and Gerry's Market, lost their signage.

Thursday saw Bare Burger, the actually-decent burger chain coming to Seventh and First, get some plywood. The space is gutted and the windows ripped out, but hopefully they don't do too much more damage to the old facade. Campo de Fiori, the Roman-style pizzeria on Fifth and Berkeley, also installed some windows that can open up to let in all this lovely Springtime air.

On Friday I visited Grab Specialty Foods, a real utopia for those who enjoy cured meats, cheese, and beer. I also got a tour of Blueprint, the under-construction cocktail and small plates bar coming to the southern half of the old Long Tan space, on Fifth near Union. Looks like they'll be keeping it classy and old-school, and judging by the success of owner Rory Dwyer's other bars, Commonwealth, High Dive, and Sharlene's, it should be a hit.

The Park Slope Week in Review: 3/14/11 - 3/18/11

On Monday, word got around that the ten year old Video Forum, on Seventh between Carroll and Garfield, is having a fire sale and will be closing down at the end of the month. According to L Magazine, this means that the North Slope is now "awful." I'm sad to see it close, but I have to question the author of that article's judgment. Also, Yogo Monster, which has been closed for renovations since January, announced that they'll be re-opening this weekend, just in time for some much-needed lovely weather.

Tuesday brought news that beer paradise Bierkraft, on Fifth between Union and Berkeley, will be opening up their backyard starting on April 16th, when they'll have their first oyster and cask ale festival. And there was much rejoicing. Alta Voce, the usually-empty restaurant/ event space on Fifth near Third Street also put their space up for rent.

Not too much happened on Wednesday, but I had a good chat with Ralph at the 4th Avenue Pub, one of the finest watering holes in the neighborhood.

Things picked up on Thursday, when we broke the news that a branch of the venerable Housing Works will be opening up a thrift store in the space that was formerly Brooklyn Kitchens and Baths, on Fifth and Garfield. More rejoicing; these are great shops run by really honorable folks. Also, Surfish, the Peruvian Bistro opening up in the old Willie's Dawgs space, installed some signage.

Friday finally brought some 70-degree weather, and with it came the shuttering of The King of Cupcakes, the newish shop on Seventh between Fourth and Fifth that never quite caught on because of its insanely high prices. They say that they're just renovating, but I'll believe that when they re-open. I also managed to sneak a peek inside Yogo Monster, which moved the counter to the back of the space during its renovations. Also, cow feet soup. 

Enjoy the lovely weekend weather, folks!

The Park Slope Week in Review: 3/7/11 - 3/11/11

On Monday, I thought Heights Coffee on Flatbush across from Seventh had closed, but it turns out that they're just renovating. Awesome Irish pub Harry Boland's, on Ninth Street by Fifth Avenue, also came back from the dead to reopen after being seized by the taxman a few weeks ago. Pay your taxes, folks! Especially when you own a great bar!

Tuesday brought news that Lemongrass Grill, the 15 year old Thai restaurant on Seventh between Berkeley and Lincoln, had closed for good after spending the past month slowly fading away. The response was a resounding "Meh." 137 Fifth, the red beast on the corner of St. John's, also saw the last of its scaffolding taken down. The response was also a resounding "Meh."

On Wednesday, less than two days after Lemongrass served its last meal, Spice inked a deal to move into the space. It'll be the first Brooklyn location of the Manhattan-based mini Thai chain, and I'm a fan. I also had a chat with Miguel Aguilar, the Bobby Flay-trained chef/owner behind Surfish Peruvian Bistro, opening soon in the old Willie's Dawgs space on Fifth between Fourth and Fifth. It'll be sort of fusiony, with lots of creative ceviches, some sushi, and other Peruvian-inspired favorites. He's also a pretty cool dude, and is going to be on Food Network's Chopped next month.

I noticed on Thursday that 67 Burger, moving into the space last occupied by Garry's Liquors on Flatbush by Sixth, has put up a little sign in the window. While, c'mon, more burgers?, I'm pretty excited for this to open. The original, in Fort Greene, is a huge hit.

And on Friday news broke that the city's first "nails saloon" will be opening on Seventh between Third and Fourth. I love typos. Also it looks like Los Pollitos II, the Mexican restaurant on Fifth and Douglass, will be closed all of next week as they install a bar and do some general renovations. There's a "Grand Re-Opening Celebration" next weekend, though, so we may have some cheap margaritas to look forward to. Also, Donuts.

The Park Slope Week in Review: 2/28/11 - 3/4/11

On Monday, the legendary soups of Chef Richard Gussoff said goodbye for the season, as The Soup Bowl, on Seventh Ave just north of Ninth Street, said farewell. Uncle Louie G should be opening back up in that spot pretty soon, and we can most likely look forward to several Soup Bowls come next winter. Fez Salon and its hero, Rudy, also picked up and moved two doors down, into the space last occupied by Under the Pig Collectibles.

Tuesday finally brought March, and with it came the grand opening of Cheeburger Cheeburger, the Florida based chain, in the former Miracle Grill space on Seventh and Third. The burgers are greasy, the onion rings are awesome, and the room is pink. And that's the last time I'll be writing about Cheeburger Cheeburger. Signage also went up in the windows of the former Willie's Dawgs, on Fifth Ave between Fourth and Fifth, for a new Peruvian bistro named Surfish. I also had a chat with the nice lady who'll be running the new artisanal yogurt shop, Culture, coming to the old Serene Rose space on Fifth Ave between Third and Fourth.

Wednesday brought news that - what else? - a burger place will be opening up where Artesana used to be, on Seventh and First. This one actually has some promise, though; it's called Bare Burger and all the meat is organic and hormone-free, and comes in varieties like elk, bison, and ostrich. They've got a couple more outposts in the city, and reviews have been generally glowing. You can wash your burger down with a draft beer, too, unlike Cheeburger (okay, that's the last time I mention it, I promise).

On Thursday the quaint, charming, personality-filled little cafe known as Parkslope Eatery filed for bankruptcy. They apparently owe $95,000 to a bunch of creditors. Oh, and they completely flunked their recent health inspection, ranking up 12 critical violations. Way to go, people who had no idea what kind of food the neighborhood wanted and didn't even know that Park Slope is two words! They're somehow still in business, but probably won't be for long. Word also got around that our Blockbuster Video branch on Fifth and 15th will be closing on the 30th. Independent video stores (and Netflix) win!

On Friday I put in my two cents on the whole Prime 6 mess, sparked by a petition written by one Jennifer McMillen, who may or may not exist, but most likely doesn't. Not only is her petition race-baiting, it's Park Slope hater-baiting, and I don't like one bit of it. It's a good bit of satire, though, and its signers have some of the most elegant names I've ever seen. Who knew that someone named "Jane Youignorantslut" lived in our neighborhood?