Photo credit Heather Phelps-Lipton

Last fall, Anna Hieronimus and Elise Kornack were all set to open their new restaurant/yoga studio, on a quiet, beautiful street in Carroll Gardens, awaiting only the final permit from the city. The Fire Department was scheduled to do the final inspections on October 29, but instead of the visit they expected, they got, instead, a visit from Superstorm Sandy.

“City officials were totally bogged down after that,” said Kornack recently from Take Root, which ended up opening in January. “We had to wait two and a half months to open.”

Located on Sackett Street between Henry and Hicks, Take Root’s warm, cozy dining room is designed, according to Kornack, to make guests feel as though they’re walking into Kornack and Hieronimus’ home—which is where their business began.

The two met three years ago and shortly thereafter moved in together (they’re now engaged and will be married this fall); a former sous-chef at Aquavit and winner on the Food Channel’s Chopped, Kornack became “obsessed” (her word) with the garden of their new apartment in Prospect Heights, and the two began holding dinner parties in their backyard for 10 to 12 people at a time. The dinners grew so popular they began selling tickets; after some neighbors complainted, they decided to open a restaurant that would replicate their homey dinner party experiences.

Hieronimus (left) and Kornack. Photo credit Heather Phelps-Lipton

At the same time, Hieronimus, whose mother ran a holistic health care center in Baltimore—“yoga and Ayurveda have always been a part of my life,” she said—was becoming a more serious practitioner of yoga, and several years ago underwent a teacher training program at Kripalu. Though she was teaching yoga privately, she realized that she really wanted to work with children, so behind Take Root’s dining room, just past the newly remodeled kitchen, is a yoga space for children, for toddlers to age six.  The classes combine traditional yoga moves with singing, dancing, and creative movement.   Hieronimus also offers yoga workshops for adults.

Take Root serves an $85 tasting menu on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, with one seating at 8 pm by reservation. Children’s yoga classes are held Wednesday through Saturday. On Saturday morning, Hieronimus hosts a children’s reading circle in the yoga studio, while parents and caretakers are invited sit in the dining room and chat and munch on Kornack’s home-made baked goods and sip coffee and lemonade. On Sundays, a small-plates brunch is served beginning at 11 a.m.

Take Root’s yoga program is currently offering a summer special: bring a friend or a sibling and get a 50% discount on the class. The classes are $12, with a $2 discount for first time visitors; the reading circle is $5 and designed, said Kornack, to offer a variety of price points for people in the neighborhood.

“Our goal is to create a small community,” said Kornack.  “I cook for people to hang out and eat.”

Photo credit Heather Phelps-Lipton

The second-annual Brooklyn Baby Expo will be held Sunday, June 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the International School of Brooklyn at 447 Court Street, in Carroll Gardens. Included: talks, raffles, gift bags and mini-workshops, with authors, experts and local Brooklyn moms discussing practical tips for new and expecting parents. Playrooms and courtyard concerts are planned for kids, starting at age 3.

“We’re educating parents about different parts of being a parent,” says Kim Janulewicz, co-owner of “A Child Grows in Brooklyn,” which is hosting the event.

According to its website, “Learn about best parenting resources, sleep, baby and child gear, greening your home, schools, how to hire a nanny, daycares, caring for yourself and more.” Raffle prizes include strollers, car seats, carriers, high chairs and baby gear, while exhibitors will showcase products & services covering all phases of life. There will also be hands-on testing of baby products like strollers and carriers.

Tickets are available online.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8616

Susan Kuhlmann, the Principal of Linden Tree Preschool in Cobble Hill, informs CHB that the facility it has used for the past nine years, Christ Church at 180 Kane Street, is being closed permanently after the building was struck by lightning and severely damaged last July.

At that time, Kuhlmann says, for safety reasons, the school had to immediately vacate, “being told by Christ Church we’d be back within weeks.” Since, it has been operating out of St. Stephen’s Church in Carroll Gardens. But now, “weeks and months have gone by and in January (2013), we were informed by Christ Church that they are closing Linden Tree Preschool as of June 30, sending families clamoring for alternate preschools and leaving nine dedicated staff members unemployed.”

Linden Tree Preschool is now searching for a new permanent home. Kuhlmann notes:

In order to continue to serve our families, staff and greater community by providing a beautiful preschool experience, myself and a colleague, Jennifer DeLuna, have formed our own LLC, Building Bridges. We require a minimum of 3,000 square feet but are willing to exceed that for the right opportunity. We are also willing to sign a long-term lease.

As you know rental space in our community is costly and difficult to come by. We have been searching for months and continue to. If anyone can help us please reach out, we need a home and can provide a nice income stream for a rental space. We appreciate any assistance.

Susan Kuhlmann: susan@lindentreepreschool.com
Jennifer DeLuna: jennifer@lindentreepreschool.com
lindentreepreschool.com
718-687-8141

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8426

At the end of this month, Italian Superette Good Food will shut down after 85 years in business. Located in Carroll Gardens at 431 Court Street (between 3rd and 4th Place), the store has supplied fresh mozzarella, Italian sausages, olives and other Italian delicacies, along with a deli and meat counter. Good Food also carried everything from canned goods to cleaning products and everything in between.

Pardon Me For Asking blog adds that the business first belonged to the Bruno brothers, relatives of NY City Office Of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno. Then brothers Mike and Allegrino Sale bought the supermarket and the building, and have managed it for the past 35 years.

Pardon Me—which interviewed the owners—also reports that representatives of Investors Bank have made the brothers “an offer they could not refuse” for the property. The Jersey-based bank will open a branch at the location.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8240

New York City Marathon officials continue to check damage caused by Hurricane Sandy before deciding what impact the storm will have on the race, scheduled this Sunday, November 4.

Mayor Bloomberg said Tuesday the race will “go on as normal, as of now,” although he will continue to discuss logistics with city and marathon officials before a final decision. According to the Marathon website, “NYRR continues to move ahead with its planning and preparation. We will keep all options open with regard to making adjustments necessary to race day and race weekend events. We will provide an update and more detail as information becomes available.”

The 26.2-mile course begins in Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island and passes through Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Prospect Heights and Boerum Hill, and into Manhattan over the Queensboro Bridge, finishing in Central Park. See the course route here.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7991

Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP blog, in which the actress oozes opinions about lifestyle & culture, offers a post on Brooklyn, in which she espouses: “Brooklyn has changed so much since I was a kid, and parts of it are probably unrecognizable from when my dad was born at Brooklyn Jewish hospital in 1943. A lot of this has been good change in the form of art, culture, neighborhood-defining restaurants, shops and more.”

Paltrow includes hot spots in Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill and Gowanus. Read her reviews below.

Park Slope’s Al di Là, 248 5th Avenue
“A homey and casual neighborhood trattoria so popular it has Manhattanites lining out the door (reservations aren’t taken, but you can wait in their charming wine bar next door). The menu hasn’t changed much since opening in 1998, because it’s pretty much perfect Venetian fare, with particularly excellent pastas.”

Prospect Heights’ Franny’s, 295 Flatbush Avenue
“Franny’s churns out some of the best pizza and locally-sourced food in Brooklyn, maybe even NYC. Hit the original location while you can, as they will be moving to a larger space by the end of the year, keeping the old space for a new restaurant, Marco’s, to open in the spring of 2013.

Prospect Heights’ Ample Hills Creamery, 623 Vanderbilt Avenue
“Handcrafted ice cream and sorbet made in small batches, Ample Hills gets its cream and eggs from local farms upstate for the freshest (and most sustainable) product possible, in 24 flavors that change with the seasons. They also do really delicious and beautiful custom ice cream cakes, for any occasion.”

Cobble Hill’s Henry Public, 329 Henry Street
“This handsome, old-timey Brooklyn saloon, with a limited “Bill of Fare” of simple and homey food, including a great burger, is perfect for a late supper and whiskey cocktails with friends.”

Cobble Hill’s Pok Pok, 127 Columbia Street
“People are crazy for this Thai via Portland import to the BK, for good reason – the fresh takes on Thai classics are seriously good (and run on the hot side), from the signature charcoal roasted hen with lemongrass to the sweet, spicy salads and more, plus an awesome Thai-inspired cocktail menu (the Pok Pok Bloody Mary with Thai chilies is a serious kick in the ass.)”

Carroll Gardens’ The Grocery, 329 Henry Street
“Quality ingredients, imaginatively prepared from this superb market-driven menu keeps this tiny place on the top of the borough’s fine dining list year after year. It’s pricey, but for one of the best bargains in the borough, try the Green Plate Special – $40 for the four-course veggie tasting menu.”

Boerum Hill’s Mile End, 97A Hoyt Street
“Hearty, meaty sandwiches and Montreal-style deli food (think house-smoked meats, poutine, brisket and more) served deluxe. Make sure to get a pickle on the side and wash it all down with a good glass of wine.”

Gowanus’ The Pines, 284 3rd Avenue
“While this highly-anticipated Gowanus opening keeps the atmosphere casual, with an artfully shabby, worn in dining room and larger garden in the back, the menu is decidedly ambitious with an Italian bent (think cavatelli with duck heart) with lots of interesting seasonal salads and antipasti.”

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7941

After little more than a month on the market, Carroll Gardens’ “priciest townhouse” has entered contract. According to Curbed, 356 Sackett Street sold for close to asking price, which was $4,099,000.

Although Curbed alludes to comments in its original post about the property that deemed it “massively overpriced,” “not worth $4 million” and “out of touch with the reality of the neighborhood,” apparently those readers were way off the mark. Brownstoner adds its take here. See more pics and floorplan back at Curbed here.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7924

Fall is in the air at Carroll Gardens Greenmarket. It’s time for the annual Apple Pie Bake Off, on Sunday October 21 at 11 a.m. at the corner of Carroll and Smith Streets. The winning pie-maker will receive a bag of Greenmarket groceries.

Greenmarket Manager Kelly Faust tells Cobble Heights Blog: “If anyone would like to either be on the panel of judges or participate by bringing a pie, please let me know. I would like to invite any and all of you to do so. I’m hoping to have a full table of pies to taste. Please let me know soon if you’d like to judge or bake!” Email Faust here.

For more than 30 years, GrowNYC’s Greenmarket staff, volunteers and farmers have worked to promote regional agriculture, preserve farmland, and to ensure a continuing supply of fresh, local produce for all New Yorkers. More info here.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7871

The ever-entertaining end-of-summer Atlantic Antic—which brings madness, music and playful mayhem to a 10-block stretch of Atlantic Avenue, bordering Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill—will convene Sunday, September 30, noon to 6 p.m.

Sponsored by the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation, it offers 500+ retailers and pop-up shops pawning goodies, food, dancing, family fun and more, between Hicks Street & Fourth Avenue. Read all about it on the Brooklyn Heights Blog here.
(Photos: Chuck Taylor)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7801

The ninth-annual Children of Abraham Peace Walk will be held in Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11. Recognizing the solidarity that arises after any disaster, this year’s walk will visit several houses of worship, and include a local firehouse and Christ Church, which was severely damaged following a fatal lightning strike this summer.

Participants may meet at Kane Street Synagogue at 5 p.m., with the event finishing at the Brooklyn Promenade at 7 p.m. Performers and artists are welcome. More information is here; or call Rev. Tom Martinez at 718-915-2600.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7789

The Brooklyn Book Festival has announced its comprehensive lineup for the first-ever weeklong series of “Bookend Events” that will take place at venues throughout the borough from September 17 through September 23. The seventh-annual event is presented by Brooklyn Tourism and the Brooklyn Literary Council, initiatives of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, with support from AT&T.

It’s billed as the largest free literary gathering in New York City, with numerous events taking place in Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene and Park Slope. See the full schedule here.

Markowitz commented, “Brooklyn has more writers per square inch than almost anywhere else in the country, all contributing to our growing reputation as the epicenter of the literary universe—where authors from across the globe gather each fall for the Brooklyn Book Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious free literary festivals. This year, the Festival expands from four days to an entire week of diverse literary offerings.”

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7785

A spanking new seafood restaurant is moving into 305 Smith Street at Union in Carroll Gardens. Brownstoner reminds us that the space housed Diego for a short time, and before that, Union Smith Cafe.

Kittery is a small fishing town in Maine, which includes the touristy seaside areas of Badger’s Island and Kittery Point. Mmm, mmm, good!

(Photo: Brownstoner)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7735

“Court Street Shops Defy the Odds” is the headline of a Crain’s New York Business profile of the main street that runs through Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens, which surveys the 13-block strip between Warren Street and Fourth Place, where nearly 20 longtime, mostly Italian-American mom-and-pop stores maintain healthy business.

The story notes that row houses within the region “can now fetch as much as $3 million. Pricey cars dot the curbs of low-key streets. Celebrity sightings—from Jay-Z to British novelist Martin Amis—are increasingly common. Yet out along Court Street, one of the neighborhoods’ main shopping drags, there is a surprising degree of continuity.”

Crain’s says that many of the Court Street stalwarts—from cafés to a clothier, many of them dating back to the early decades of the past century—have been able to escape rising rents “that have killed scores of their erstwhile neighbors, because their forebears had the foresight to snap up their spaces while they could. And nearly all of them have found ways to adapt to the area’s ever-evolving tastes while carefully preserving as much of the old ways as possible.”

For one, veteran sausage purveyor G. Esposito & Sons Jersey Pork Store, “started hawking rice balls, sandwiches and pasta alongside its curtains of handmade sopressata and pepperoni that hang from the pressed-tin ceiling.” Up the street, the owners of D’Amico Foods has been thriving since 1948. Current owner Francis D’Amico, whose grandfather Emanuele opened the store, says that when it opened, there were two kinds of coffee: dark-roast Italian and an American brown roast. Today, Francis cooks up more than 100 gourmet blends, while his wife, Joan, “still greets some longtime patrons with hugs and many others by their first names.”

Changes have also come at pub P.J. Hanleys, which is going strong 138 years after its first beer hit the bar, and at Scotto Funeral Home, which has been laying locals to rest for four generations.

“I had heard about the old-school Italian vibe here,” says Rachel Kash, a writer who moved to the area from the East Village three years ago. “I just had no idea about how many of these places still actually existed. Few areas have this kind of character or heritage.”

Read the full piece at Crain’s here.

(Photo: Row House Magazine)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7708

State Assemblywoman Joan Millman has started a petition drive on the website Change.org to restore service on the B71 bus along Union Street. She notes that this bus has been a valuable transportation resource for residents of the Columbia Street Waterfont District, Carroll Gardens, and Boerum Hill. She will be testifying at an MTA board meeting next week, and needs as many signatures as possible before next Tuesday, July 24. You can sign the petition here.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7606

While residential prices held steady throughout Brooklyn in 2012′s second quarter, a marked decline in inventory and a notable uptick in brownstone sales raised the bar for pricing in Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill.

Read more on the Brooklyn Heights Blog here.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7603

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

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

Despite the collapse of about half of a three-story brownstone building in Carroll Gardens early Monday morning, miraculously, no residents were injured.

Much of the eastern wall of 241 Carroll Street (between Court and Smith streets) came down, 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.

The collapse took place at 1:13 a.m. Monday, leaving six residents unable to return to their apartments. Two families on the first and second floors were on vacation. Police say work had been done in the building and that city building inspectors are investigating.
(Photos: DNAInfo.com)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7487

A dilapidated empty lot at the corner of Smith & Douglass streets in Carroll Gardens is about to cash in on commerce. DNAInfo.com reports that the 5,000 square-foot space at 232 Smith Street is going to become the location of a bank.

The lot is owned by Son Claire Realty LLC, a limited liability company owned by Claire Palermo and her son, who confirmed that she intends to sell it to a banking chain. She declined further details. The pair has accumulated $150,000 in unpaid violations from the Environmental Control Board over the years for letting the derelict space become a hazard.

(Photo: DNAInfo.com)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7413

Among its observations: “Carroll Gardens is the quiet Brooklyn neighborhood that lies between Red Hook and Gowanus. Established in the late 1800s, the area used to be considered South Brooklyn, but that was before the borough got carved up into minidistricts, each with its own character and bragging rights. A sign hanging in the small historic district on President Street, a few steps off Smith, sums up the milieu: ‘Its brownstone facades, coherent in style, with lavish gardens between the houses and the street, create a charming period enclave.’”

Read the entire story here.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7371

Any books checked out from the Carroll Gardens Library may be returned to any other Brooklyn branch, including Brooklyn Heights at 280 Cadman Plaza West, Pacific at 25 Fourth Avenue and Red Hook at 7 Wolcott Street.

(Photo: DNAInfo.com)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7304

Police have reported nine bike thefts in the past 60 days, Schiff says, compared to only three in March and February. Most occurred in apartment hallways where bikes were stored without locks. Rogues have also used tools to cut locks and swipe bikes from sidewalks.

The 76th Precinct offers bike registration, with an identifiable serial number to help owners protect property and help cops ID stolen bikes. Registration will be free at the Smith Street Fair June 24.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7296

He tells DNAInfo.com that residents are fed up with long, unpredictable wait times and crowded buses. “The B61 is packed like a sardine can. It’s pretty intense. It’s the only way for people to get to places like Fairway.” With renovations at the Smith-9th Streets subway stop on the G line still ongoing, the strain on the B61 is even more evident, he adds.

Two years ago, the MTA combined the B77 and B61 bus routes, extending the B61 to operate from Downtown Brooklyn to Windsor Terrace. Previously, the B77 ran from Park Slope to Red Hook along Ninth Street and Court Street in Carroll Gardens. Now, the extended B61 operates on Columbia Street, instead of Ninth Street, and passes Red Hook on its way to Windsor Terrace.

MTA responds that this summer, it will install a GPS in the B61 so that bus-arrival times can be tracked and posted online, allowing riders to check online to see when their bus is arriving. Deirdre Parker, an MTA spokeswoman, says, “we believe that by eliminating the B77 and extending the B61, we are giving customers better options by offering a single route from Downtown to Windsor Terrace via Red Hook. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the service but there are currently no plans to restore the B77.”

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7290

“We recently found a confirmed bed bug in your child’s school,” the letter reads. “Finding a bed bug does not mean that our school is infested. Bed bugs are often unknowingly brought into schools by building occupants and as a result we may have future sightings.” The notice also includes a description of the symptoms of a bed bug bite.

Patch contacted the school, where a source acknowledged that “a single bug” had been identified on a child and that a technician will be coming in for a second time later this week to check for a potential… second bed bug.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7200

Venues include Zombie Hut (273 Smith Street), Knit Lit (253 Smith), People’s Republic of Brooklyn (247 Smith), BookCourt (163 Court Street), Last Exit (136 Atlantic Avenue) and the After Party at 8 p.m. at 61 Local (61 Bergen Street).

Special events include: * Armchair/Shotgun enacts a live old-timey radio show. * The Liars’ League NYC acts out the latest story by Mark Haddon, author of “The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Nighttime.” * The Cambridge Writers Workshop presents Literary Cabaret.

The inaugural NYC Lit Crawl took place in September 2008. Last year’s event in Manhattan drew more than 1,200 crawlers, enjoying 70+ authors at some 20 events. This is its first extension into Brooklyn. The full schedule is here, with all info here.

“Brooklyn is so literary, it seemed like a no-brainer,” founder Suzanne Russo tells the Brooklyn Paper. “There’s so many friendly venues and so much going on in the literary sphere there, we thought it’s really the place we should be. The venues are smaller, there’s an energy in Brooklyn, a creative spirit that’s more of a go with the flow, we’ll-do-whatever kind of thing.”

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7187

(Photo: Pardon Me For Asking blog)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7123

A secondary piece showcases Brooklyn’s best “brewers, bakers and beef-jerky makers,” and includes Carroll Gardens’ own By Brooklyn, at 261 Smith Street near Degraw. Featured is its Binxgoods Genuine Vanilla, with the descriptor: “How to arrive at vanilla extract as fresh and pure as Binxgoods? First travel to India and befriend a bean farmer. Then let your imported beans steep for six weeks in your South Brooklyn kitchen.” The By Brooklyn website is here.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7027

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/6940