These scene, at East 23rd between Avenue W and Avenue V, is repeated on many local streets. Four days after the weekend storm toppled scores of trees in our area, many roads remain blocked. What streets do you know of that remain blocked?
Author Archive
Well, wouldn’t you know it, but yet another real estate office has closed. We’re not sure how long ago it happened, since such things kind of pass beneath our notice at this point, but the real estate office at 4175 Bedford Avenue has been replaced with something new.
I passed by earlier today and the new sign was up: Sheepshead Bay is getting a new bike shop! As the sign says RideBikeProGear is opening a bicycle show room and test center. As it turns out, RBPG looks like a well-established internet-based business, glancing at the page it looks like it’s been around a long time. The shop is not open yet so we don’t know just how much local service it’s going to provide, but let’s hope it’s a full-fledged bike shop. The area could use more unique businesses, even if they are just an outlet for a website.
On a slightly related topic, one does wonder what brings such a business to Bedford Avenue. While Bedford is one of the longest bicycle paths in the city it’s not exactly the safest or most scenic. Maybe the owner is from Sheepshead Bay, or perhaps this is the start of a new trend, where web businesses and dot-coms open offices in more affordable commercial areas outside Manhattan. Either way, RideBikeProGear is more than welcome here. If we can have a scuba shop, why not a bike shop!
Brennan & Carr (3432 Nostrand Avenue) seem to really love their Facebook page, using it to connect with fans and pump up the rivalry with Roll-N-Roaster. Now, they’re musing on a second location. They asked, “If another B&C was to open up, where would an ideal location be?”
Here’s a screenshot of the status update:
Seems like they’re looking to expand and open a new location outside Sheepshead Bay. A lot of commenters begged for an opening on Long Island or Staten Island, where the residents of Sheepshead past have moved to. A number of them are also saying Florida. As for us, we want to see it across the street from Roll-N-Roaster. That’d really throw some beef on the simmering feud.
But wait, don’t get too excited. We called Brennan & Carr and an employee there told us they have no plans for such an expansion. Despite the extreme popularity of their Facebook page, and the professional feel of it, they told us they have no affiliation with the page and don’t know who runs it. But can’t a boy dream?
If Brennan & Carr opens a second location, where do you think it should be? Should it be nearby, or far away? How about a small location at Coney Island? Maybe a swanky new pad in Park Slope? The city? Out of state even? Let your voice be heard!
Recently we ran an article that covered a graffiti problem on East 19th Street and other places (and here, here, here and here). It began to look like Sheepshead Bites is anti-graffiti, but in reality this blog’s editor, Ned Berke, is a big fan of street art done well. We just don’t like the shmucks who are putting their hideous marks on other people’s property.
We have a message for them: practice at home. Get good, then get paid for it.
There are many businesses in the area that have put talented graffiti artists to good use.
Benny's Gourmet Pizza (Photo by Ray Johnson)
Above, Pizzeria Del Corso (3003 Avenue U off Batchelder Street) has done a mural that is a perfect example of graffiti done right. It’s a beautiful, full-size mural promoting the business it adorns. It is there with purpose and reason, it’s fun to look at, and it’s not vandalism.
They’re not the only pie-tossers with the idea. Benny’s Gourmet Pizza (1730 Jerome Avenue) has a really well-done piece that takes up the entire length of the building and has some interesting characters on it.
The new Boost Mobile store opening up at 1505 Sheepshead Bay Road is getting artist Sueworks to put up a mural indoors once they get permission from the suits higher up.
And sometimes graffiti can be informational, like this piece on Coney Island Avenue:
For those of you “artists” out there that enjoy tagging post offices and garages, why not take this example to heart? You don’t have to vandalize property to display your art. It certainly doesn’t make you better, and no one gives a crap about your street cred. You get cred by being good. So find someone who’ll give you a legal canvas to work on, volunteer your talent, and help make your neighborhood a better place to live. You can earn some respect and some bank while you’re at it, and come out of the shadows as a respected artist.
With additional reporting by Ned Berke.
Local bar and grill Wheelers (1707 Sheepshead Bay Road), famous for their No Sushi sign, has entered the “Throw Your Wing Into The Ring” Chicken Wing Competition. Apparently the hipster scum up in North Brooklyn think they make the best wings around. Boy are they in for a fight!
Wheelers is going to be the only South Brooklyn establishment represented in the competition, so we’re calling on everyone from Starrett City to Bensonhurst to rally behind our chosen warrior.
And ladies, your hubby is going to wine and dine you and a variety of other things he doesn’t want to do on Sunday. So give him the perfect pre-Valentine’s Day date. Bring your muchacho to the competition to sample all the chicken wings Brooklyn has to offer and cheer on our neighborhood representative!
Let’s show them who the real chickens are! (Uh, we mean the North “Brooklynites” who moved here ’cause they were scared of “real life” in Omaha or wherever…)
When: Saturday, Februarty 13 at 3 p.m.
Where: Red Star Bar, 37 Greenpoint Avenue (between Franklin and West Streets)
Cost: FREE!
Courtesy of wallyg via Flickr
Not only is Brooklyn home to the world’s best pizza and bagels, it’s also home to two legendary institutions of roast beef. These prodigious restaurants happen to both be in Sheepshead Bay. I don’t even need to name them, but for the sake of the record, I’m talking about Roll-N-Roaster and Brennan & Carr.
Last night, Brennan & Carr called out Roll-N-Roaster on their Facebook page.
“There is a new show on the Travel Channel called Food Wars. Who thinks that Brennan & Carr would beat Roll’N'Roaster in a best roast beef in New York competition?” they wrote.
Woah! Them’s fightin’ words! So what do you think Sheepshead Bay? Who’s got the beef?
The Guider Avenue Bridge – officially known as the East 8th Street Bridge – over the Belt Parkway near Coney Island Avenue is slated for full reconstruction. The project, expected to last between 12 and 18 months, gives the contractor full discretion over Belt Parkway closures. For portions of the work the Belt Parkway will be shut down for 15 minutes at a time, holding traffic in place while large components are moved.
In preparation for the work, most of the area has already been fenced off, some equipment is in place and detour signs are up and waiting. The bridge contractor is waiting for his permits. Once received, construction will commence immediately and the bridge will be closed. The huge structural components of the bridge will be installed at night and closures will be implemented as necessary. Drivers going northbound on Coney Island Avenue (Or westbound from Guider Avenue) will lose their easy access to the Belt Parkway West. They’ll have to detour by heading to Avenue Z, making a left and another left at Hubbard Street or Ocean Parkway.
It seems this project wasn’t included in the list of seven bridges the DOT is replacing, and the reconstruction also comes alongside drainage and guardrail renovations along the entire Belt Parkway from Coney Island Avenue to Knapp Street. With the three simultaneous projects, traffic on the Belt Parkway is expected to be a nightmare for more than a year.
What is up with Chase Bank? Is it just me or is it spreading like a virus through the city?
Everywhere I turn in Sheepshead Bay and the surrounding area is another Chase Bank. Normally this might be considered a good thing, but I don’t think so. It was bad enough that Chase took over every Washington Mutual location when the FDIC handed the company to them. The logical assumption was that Chase would consolidate all their accounts, merge the staff together, and close locations that overlapped with another store. Boy was I wrong! Not only did they assimilate every location, they’re opening new ones!
Employees at Brand Z For Less have confirmed that the business is closing on January 31st. There’s a big sign up at the 1805 Avenue U location. We haven’t been able to reach an owner to find out whether it’s a lease, business, personal or some other issue, but we wish the owners and employees the best of luck. ‘Til then, any speculation about what will become of the space?
A Tern photographed near the nature center by PhotoJeff via Flickr
…and you should answer! The Parks Department is having two local events this Saturday that you should consider attending with your family.
If you’re into bird watching then head over to the Salt Marsh Nature Center (Avenue U and East 33rd Street, directly across from Marine Park) at 8 a.m. The Park Rangers will be holding a “Birding Event“. Don’t ask me what that means but you’ll learn everything you need to know about birds!
After you’re done learning all about the birds (I wonder if they’ll teach you anything about bees too?), head over to the Coney Island Boardwalk (West 10th Street entrance) for a Marine Mammal Watch. You’ll be looking for seals, whales, and dolphins. Don’t expect any people in the water unless the Polar Bears are out and about!
Both events are courtesy of the City Parks Deparment and provide a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning. If you need any more information then call (718) 421-2021.
If you’re still looking for more to do, the Salt Marsh Nature Center will also hold a Book Blitz on Sunday at 3 p.m. and a Nature Lecture with Dr Judith Weiss on Monday @ 7 p.m.
