Homer Fink – Brooklyn Bugle

Mama Mia! Dellarocco’s Of Brooklyn Preps For Restaurant Opening

July 7, 2012

You can almost taste it. Dellarocco’s of Brooklyn, the new local brick-oven eatery at 214 Hicks Street, appears days away from opening its doors to the delectable fragrance of fresh pies and a thirst-quenching wine & beer cafe. Over the weekend, signage was etched onto the windows in elegant gold lettering.

The restaurant is owned & operated by Brooklyn-bred brothers Greg and Glenn Markman and Joseph Secondino (who has known the bros for 30+ years). The three are also partners of the Heights Cafe next door at 84 Montague Street. As previously reported, Dellarocco has a separate kitchen—with a wood-burning brick pizza oven flown in from Italy—and will operate as an independent biz.

Delivery and take-out will be available, along with in-room dining boasting 15-foot ceilings with a menu specializing in personal pizzas, according to Greg Markman. It will be open seven days a week, likely from noon to midnight.

The restaurant takes the place of Overtures stationery and gift boutique at 216 Hicks, which closed after 30 years in December 2011; and Dara Ettinger jewelry at 214 Hicks, which opened in May 2011 and lasted eight months. High-end clothier J. McLaughlin is to the left, at 218 Hicks. The spaces at 214 & 216 were combined into one large parcel in February.

(Photos: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43800

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, Health, Real Estate, Sports

Everyday Athlete Coming To Brooklyn Heights

July 7, 2012

Fitness center “everyday athlete” will open its second Brooklyn location in the Heights this summer at 130 Clinton Street. Tomas Anthony and Alejandra Belmar opened their first zen-centered store in 1998 in nearby Carroll Gardens at 136 Union Street.

According to the company’s website, “We believe fitness is essential and transformative. It also should be purposeful, challenging, joyful and full of play. We teach you how to explore your untapped potential in authentic and empowering ways. (Our) philosophy and methodology is rooted in: positive psychology, expert performance, functional training and “Play Theory,” with customized programs for men & women, kids, performance, outdoor & board sports surfing and snowboarding, recovery & stress reduction and meditation.

The website says the Heights location is opening “this summer.”

(Photo: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43600

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

As Temps Edge To 100°F, It Was Worse… In 1966

July 7, 2012

With the mercury rising as high as 100°F Saturday, take comfort in the fact that it could actually be worse. In 2010, we equaled the three-digit heat, while the record high temperature for Brooklyn is 105°F some 46 years ago, in July 1966.

Today, meanwhile, an Excessive Heat Warning is in effect until 6 p.m., with a low tonight of 79 degrees. And then… relief! Sunday’s high is forecast for 88°F, with a low of 70°F. And Monday: a high of 84°F and a sweet low of 66°F. No rain in sight.

(Photo: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43779

From the Web

News

UPDATE: Fallen Carroll Gardens Townhouse To Be Demolished

July 7, 2012

Following the collapse of about half of a three-story brownstone in Carroll Gardens Monday, the city will demolish the 50-foot-wide structure next to PS 58 Elementary School.

Much of the eastern wall of 241 Carroll Street (between Court and Smith streets) came down at 1:13 a.m. Monday, exposing the interior of the regal brownstone. A gash extended from roof-to-ground, and included much of the home’s south wall as well, according to AP. Miraculously, no one was injured.

By Tuesday, a massive crane was on-site, along with workers knocking away at the side of the building with hand tools, according to the South Brooklyn Post. FDNY, police, city employees and neighbors also surveyed the damage. Homes adjacent to the fallen brownstone have been evacuated until after demolition is completed.

While the cause of the collapse is still unknown, the city believes age and natural deterioration are to blame, as the home dates to the mid 1800s. In the mid 1900s, the adjoining building was demolished to make way for PS 58, which also could have destabilized the structure.

(Photo: WNYC)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7504

From the Web

NYC Increases Budget For Citywide Tree Maintenance

July 7, 2012

New York City may be offering its neighborhoods an olive branch—or at least snippers to prune it—with a substantial budget increase for care of street and park trees. Over the past decade, NYC’s declining bottom line has given responsibility for beautification and maintenance in the Heights to the Brooklyn Heights Association, which has overseen a cyclical block pruning program. Since 2001, it has dedicated more than $75,000 to pruning, planting and tree care from member donations. A major BHA effort took place in February and March.

For the fiscal year that begins this week, NY’s City Council added $2 million for tree pruning to the $1.45 million in Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed budget. The extra money is part of $30 million in restorations to the Parks Department’s budget, including money for public pools.

Of course, the move equates to more than a green thumb from the city. According to The New York Times, falling trees and limbs have led to a marked increase in injuries, deaths and lawsuits. “Tree pruning is something where you don’t see the impact of deferring until there’s a tragedy,” Park Slope-based Councilman Brad Lander told the Times. “Hopefully, getting pruning back on a better schedule will mean New Yorkers will be safer.”

Money added for tree care would put street trees on a more timely pruning cycle. Because of budget cuts, the pruning rotation had been elongated to every 15 years from once every 7 years in 2008. During that time, the budget for street-tree pruning contracts fell to $1.4 million from $4.7 million.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43743

From the Web

Events, Food

Season Opener For BBP ‘Movies With A View” Packs The Lawn For ‘E.T.’

July 7, 2012

The season opener for Brooklyn Bridge Park’s “Movies With A View” Thursday, July 5, drew thousands to the Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn to see “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.”

Sen. Daniel Squadron, BP Marty Markowitz and BPPC Executive Director Nancy Webster were all on hand, according to McBrooklyn, which also provides the photo from MK Metz. Also in the audience was actor Robert MacNaughton, who played Elliott’s brother Michael in “E.T.” Musical entertainment was provided by Brooklyn Radio DJs, with a short film, “CatCam,” by Seth Keal, who was also in the crowd.

Next up: “To Kill a Mockingbird,” on Thursday, July 12. Info is here.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43762

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, Food

Industry Group Takes Message To Streets To Oppose Bloomberg’s Proposed Sugar Soda Ban

July 7, 2012

A group created by the American soft drink industry is fighting back against NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s latest Nanny State mandate: to ban sugar sodas larger than 16 ounces at restaurants, movie theaters and street carts. New Yorkers for Beverage Choices has been sending its message out across the city—including the local Regal/United Artists movie theater in Brooklyn Heights.

An article in The New York Times highlights efforts coordinated by the industry and several national movie theater chains in what is likely to be a major PR campaign against the ban’s insistence that adults cannot make their own decisions. On July 4th, an airborne banner flew along the Rockaways and Coney Island beaches, saying: “NO DRINK 4 U.” Likewise, at a Battery Park AMC movie theater, ushers, ticket-takers & concession workers wore T-shirts with the message, “I picked out my beverage all by myself.” And on the marquee outside the Regal Theater in Brooklyn Heights was a call to arms: “Say No to the NYC Ban.”

Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser insists the the city’s Board of Health “make(s) decisions about public health based on science.” That’s simply not true: All members of New York’s Board of Health are personally appointed by Mayor Bloomberg, insuring that the deck—and the vote—are stacked in his favor. Bloomberg’s latest war on fun looks to ban the sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 fluid ounces. The Board will vote on the mandate following a July 24 public hearing.

New Yorkers for Beverage Choices will continue its efforts, including high-flying airplane banners at area beaches again this weekend. And inside the Heights theater on Court Street, movie-goers can sign a petition against the mayor’s plan. Information cards and posters will also be displayed in United Artists and AMC venues. AMC spokesman Ryan Noonan notes, “We are bewildered by the proposal to choose an ineffective gimmick to address a critical health issue.”

(Photo: New York Times)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43705

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Heights Library KO’d By AC Outage

July 7, 2012

The summer 2012 reading list wasn’t supposed to be quite this steamy. An air conditioning outage at the Brooklyn Heights Library has closed the local branch at 280 Cadman Plaza West for much of the week. The shutdown began at 2 p.m. Tuesday, before the library—which also contains the Business and Careers Library—was officially closed for Independence Day Wednesday and Thursday. Patrons who then discovered that the branch would remain closed until Monday are hot under the collar, according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

A volunteer with Friends of the Brooklyn Heights Library tells BHB, “The AC in the library is broken as it is wont to do every summer. Last Friday it was too hot for the ladies to work even though the library stayed open using fans.”

The cranky AC is hardly an unusual occurrence, according to Eagle reporter Don Evans, who says he’s written about the, uh, condition, many times: “The air conditioning broke down, they had a crew come in to make repairs, then it would happen all over again. On a warm day the staff wouldn’t work, so they closed it. People would go there and discover it was closed, with just a hand-written notice on the door.”

Councilman Steve Levin’s chief of staff Ashley Thompson said his office would be following up to see “how we can fix this. It’s not acceptable if the library closes every single hot day.”

(Photos: Library/Brooklyn Bridge Eagle; Sign/McBrooklyn)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43693

From the Web

Food

Carroll Gardens’ Mama Maria’s All New Following Gordon Ramsay Makeover

July 6, 2012

Mama, mia! Since chef Gordon Ramsay made over Carroll Gardens restaurant Mama Maria’s for the filming of his Fox television series “Kitchen Nightmares,” the eatery at 305 Court Street, has supplanted its traditional Italian vibe for a more Brooklyn feel. It also now features a shorter menu, shiny new paint and new decor.

The TV production sliced the restaurant’s menu down from 110 items to just 30, one of which is a special dish, Fox spokeswoman Joanna Wolff told DNAInfo. The menu still includes Italian favorites like a 10-inch pizza, lasagna and chicken parmesan.

“They cut down the menu so that each dish is better quality and more authentic, and changed some of the dishes so that the overall menu is a bit more modern, rather than strictly traditional Italian cuisine,” Wolff explained.

Aside from the entrees, tables have been covered with vintage newsprint bearing the restaurant’s name, alongside new artwork and a store sign with a more urban signature. The awning of the restaurant has also been removed and replaced with the simple sign.

The “Kitchen Nightmares” episode featuring the restaurant is scheduled to air this fall.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7495

From the Web

Happy 4th Of July, 2012 Wednesday Open Thread

July 4, 2012

Enjoy America’s Independence Day, and the freedom of speech granted by BHB’s Open Thread Wednesday. Wave your banner and spill what’s on your mind. (Photos: Chuck Taylor)