Update on The Blue Roost ... from Besen Retail?

Color me surprised: Besen Retail, one of the big-dog commercial realtors in PLG, has a blog. They use it to give updates on the projects they have going on, and yesterday they covered the under-construction Blue Roost Petite Cafe, at 539 Flatbush (gmap).

The Besen blog has a nice writeup about the work that the owners, Linda Billings and Billy Clark, have been doing to get the store in shape and a gallery of in-progress pics of the remodeling.

Earlier: Homesick Cafe renamed Blue Roost

New Underground Restaurant on Hawthorne

A couple of neighbors down the block from us have started a small comfort food joint out of their house. That's right, they have started a business in their brownstone and are inviting complete strangers to come inside -- ARE THEY INSANE?!?

Well, we dig the idea and the homespun vibe of A Taste of Hawthorne, where you can order food and hang out in the back yard. Kind of like a bed and breakfast without the bed or breakfast (they serve lunch and dinner). The menu includes jerk skewers, sweet potato fries, and sliders -- including my fave, the salmon slider.

Owners Patrice Carter and Doreen Simpson work out of their kitchen in the garden floor and take orders by phone and by door knock. The kitchen is open on weekends only, from noon until 8 pm, at 37 Hawthorne. Check it out. You can reach them at tasteofhawthorne@gmail.com.

Fire at 50 Lincoln Road

Reader Dylan DiFalco just tipped us to this fire at his building, 50 Lincoln. The cause isn't yet known, but we'll update you once we find out.

Hmm, I wonder if this is why the fire truck at today's Hawthorne Street block party wasn't able to stay long...

How Soon 'til That Doggie's In The Window?

The pet store coming to Rogers is showing signs of life, with a new sign hanging out front and the traditional "Work in Progress" paper over the windows.

Bow Wow Pet Boutique and Spa is going to be in the old Kay-D Express location at 521 Rogers Avenue (gmap), between Rutland and Midwood.

Block Party Weekend on Hawthorne

The Hawthorne Street block party is this Saturday and our favorite puppeteers, Alphabet Arts, are back to put on a new show.

Starting at 8AM (sort of) and running until 7PM (or whenever), there will be food, activities and music all day.

Alphabet Arts will be putting on their new show, Puppets Got Talent, at noon, 2PM, and 5PM in front of 99 Hawthorne Street. Last year, the group wowed the kids (and their parents) with their production of City of Hamburgers and I am looking forward to what they do this year. Also, at 3PM, there will be a free Music Together class for infants and toddlers.

Other activities planned for the block party include sno-cone, popcorn and cotton candy machines, face painting, a DJ, a Fire Truck tours by the NYPD, the Bookmobile from the Brooklyn Public Library and, for the adults, a Health Truck with free HIV testing and Senior Transit Cards.

If last year is any indication, there will be people grilling as well.

Sadly, our own participation will be minimal as we failed to realize that the street fair on our own block would fall on Yom Kippur before it was too late. (And, to be clear, we voted for this date so the fault lies directly with us.)

If you have any questions or can volunteer, come to tomorrow's meeting or leave a note in the comments and I'll pass along the contact information for our block association President, Lisa Cummings. The Hawthorne Street Block Association needs folks to help with coordinating the games and running machines or for any other fun activity. There is a coordination/update meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 7PM at the Church of the Evangel on the SW corner of Hawthorne and Bedford.

New Bookstore Opening on Rogers This Weekend

A new bookstore is opening just outside the border of PLG, at 327 Rogers Avenue, near Montgomery (gmap). Daddy's Basement is holding its grand opening tomorrow, September 11, from 10 am to 7 pm. The shop will sell all kinds of books, both new and used. I haven't seen the space yet, but owner Shara Henry tells me that they have quite a bit of fiction.

Opening festivities will include a reading by Nandi Keyi,author of The True Nanny Diaries and Tonya Cherie Hegamin, the award-winning children's author of Most Loved in All the World, as well as the music of Blk Sonshine and Masauko Chipembere.

Does Anyone Want to Buy a Huge L-shaped Lot?

Brownstoner  The Brooklyn Eagle was the first with the word that the site of the proposed Lincoln Road tower is now up for sale. The project broker, TerraCRG, is quoted saying "We completely acknowledge that the award winning plans are ambitious for today’s market conditions and may have to be amended to accommodate a more modest rental project." They have no asking price listed.

I have no idea what the future holds for the site but we stand by our previous feeling that the location is, as these things go, as good a location for a high-rise in PLG as you are likely to find. Near both bus and subway, on a significant-commercial block with minimal architectural significance and mere blocks from the massive Patio Gardens development. We know that many of you disagreed with us about this. Go ahead and dance on the grave in the comments.

Via The Real Deal

Block Party Options This Weekend

September 11: a day for remembering, reflecting, and... block parties!  Both Fenimore II (Bedford & Rogers) and Hawthorne II are having annual block parties on Saturday. Fun and games for kids are on the agenda: clowns, face painting, rides, and music. The roads will be closed to traffic, so little people can play in the streets with abandon.

On Sunday, September 12, you can trek on down to Flatbush Frolic, which runs along Cortelyou Road from Coney Island Avenue to East 17th Street.  Frolic Highlights include but are not limited to:

• 2 bandstands
• 3 on 3 basketball tournament (3 age groups – sign up now)
• San Remo's Pizza Eating Contest
• For Kids – tot lot activities (see below)
• Martial Arts and Dance Demonstrations
• Rides, food and attractions

And here is the schedule for the tot lot:

11 AM - Banner and Costume Parade (kicks off at Coney Island and Cortleyou) All are encouraged to participate!
12 noon Kid's Yoga with Gina Bergdall
12:30 The Magic Family with the Thompsons (magic show)
1:30 Karate for kids (ages 4+) featuring Sensei Alison
2:00 Abbasubi with Fati & Charles
3:00 Musical Explorers with Yoon and Akiko
3:30 Gymnastics and dance with Alexandra Bayeva
4:00 The Flying Teapot interactive music featuring Joanne Riel

Enjoy!

Block Party + Puppet Show on Saturday, September 18

The annual Hawthorne Street block party is right around the corner. The bad news: it's on Yom Kippur, so all three Jews will have to miss out. The good news: Puppets! Music Together! Facepainting! Cotton Candy, snow cones, popcorn! All FREE!

WHEN: Saturday, September 18, from 8 am to 7 pm

Puppets Got Talent by Alphabet Arts: Shows at noon, 2 pm, and 5 pm

Music Together Demo Class: 3 pm

People on the block will be cooking out on their stoops and you can usually snag free burgers, sausages, and hot dogs if you play your cards right. There will also be NYFD fire truck tours, the Brooklyn Public Library Bookmobile, free senior transit cards, dinners at the church, and a DJ. It's really a great family event for everyone in the neighborhood (except Jews).

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Can you help us photocopy and post flyers? If so, please contact Carrie at brooklynite282 at gmail.

Hawthorne Block Association Meeting Tonight!

For those on the Flatbush block of Hawthorne, there's a block association meeting tonight (Thursday, September 9) at 7 pm at the Church of the Evangel (corner of Bedford). We'll be doing last-minute preparations for the street party next week. Come on down!