SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Courtesy of Gene Berardelli

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED: “Halikarnas Reopen and Clean, Lost Big To DOH Mess”

One of the handful of Sheepshead Bay’s Turkish restaurants closed down last week by order of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Halikarnas at 3075 Emmons Avenue (between Batchelder Street and Bay View Court) was shuttered after it failed its pre-permit inspection on January 5. According to a press officer at the Health Department, “The inspection found the restaurant operating without running water at the three compartment sinks, hand washing station and dishwasher located in its basement’s food prep area. Other factors that contributed to the restaurant’s closing included liquid waste found on the floor of the basement’s storage area, 60 mice droppings, and 10 live roaches in the restaurant’s kitchen and basement kitchen areas.”

We never tried eating here, but both Yelp reviews show the place is hit or miss. Many Yelp reviewers enjoyed the Turkish cuisine, while an almost equal amount were revolted by molding desserts or rude wait staff.

The DOH inspection reports, meanwhile, gave them grades that changed as drastically as an NBC contract (Ed. — OOF!!). They frequently jumped between highs of 79 point and single digit lows. Mind you – this is like golf, and par is 27.

I think subway platforms – especially Sheepshead Bay train station’s – make great scenes for photography. Gary Wong proves my point with this photo taken just a few days ago. He writes on his photoblog, The Wong Way, “With the temperature in the low 20s and the wind fiercely blowing, these people were smart and stayed in the stairwell while waiting for their train.” For those interested, check out his site. Wong has challenged himself to take and publish one thought out photo per day to document his 29th year of life. He’s going from birthday to birthday. Also, you can subscribe to his Flickr stream.

Courtesy of BK Southie

In the following screed, Brian Hedden argues for reclaiming the term “South Brooklyn” for the part of Brooklyn that’s actually… you know… south. The post was originally published on his blog BK Southie. Short and to the point, I think it’s something all “Southern Brooklynites” ought to read.

Streetsblog commenter “kapes” on a bicycling thread last month:

I don’t know why I have to be such a stickler.

But it is such a common mistake I have to say something.

“South Brooklyn” is an area of Brooklyn close to downtown.

It is called this because it was south of the original (and quite small) city of Brooklyn. It includes Red Hook, Gowanus, Cobble Hill etc.

Mill Basin, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach etc. are in southern Brooklyn.

You know, I usually make that distinction myself, but quite frankly, I’m a little tired of it. I blame Wikipedia for reinforcing this A-in-history-F-in-geography mentality. I mean, listen to this drivel.

South Brooklyn is a region or composite neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, encompassing areas of Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Red Hook, Gowanus, Park Slope, and Boerum Hill… The somewhat historic name of South Brookyn has been revived in recent years to foster a closer connection among the constituent communities, though the name has always been popular nomenclature for the neighborhood’s locals… [no, don't stop there, here comes my favorite part] This hilly area is not to be confused with the actual flat southern region of the modern borough of Brooklyn…

Let me see… an area called South Brooklyn that’s not actually in, y’know, South Brooklyn – why would that be confusing? But hey, for those of us that noticed Brooklyn grew out of its onesie and into its big boy pants some 150 years ago, I propose the following revision.

South Brooklyn is the section of Brooklyn that takes its name from its location south of other parts of Brooklyn, and is not north of any other part of Brooklyn.

For archaic uses of South Brooklyn, see North Brooklyn.

Respect my geographah!

We at Sheepshead Bites are considering making the permanent switch to calling our territory South Brooklyn. Damn the hipsters and the yuppies. We know common sense down here, and South Brooklyn ought to be the part of Brooklyn that is south. What do you think?

1724 Ave Z: Tamada awning replaced with Luxury Dental, P.C.

Looks like the building at the corner of Avenue Z and East 18th Street will finally have a new tenant.

After what seemed like years, the burgundy awning for Tamada Restaurant – which served Georgian food – has been replaced with a bright sign of a cartoon tooth holding a toothbrush. That means we’re getting a new dental office – and since Sheepshead Bay is the home of a luxury day care center, it makes sense that there should be a luxury dental center. Okay, okay – so, it’s not exactly a grand opening of a luxury dental center in Sheepshead Bay. Dr. Vadim Firdman – the toothman of this new joint – is only making a move from his 1607 Sheepshead Bay Road location.

We’re not sure when the first appointments are getting made, but if you get in to see Dr. Vadim Firdman put in a good word for us. Sheepshead Bites’ teeth could use a little dental work, especially a little luxury cleaning  on the house.

The city has announced an initiative to eradicate 25 percent of salt from nearly all food products sold within the five boroughs. According to the Daily News, cereals, pretzels, potato chips, and canned vegetables, as well as fast-food favorites like fried shrimp and pizza, will be most affected by the changes. Though compliance is voluntary for now, companies are being asked to make the reductions by 2014 and several have already agreed. New York City officials expect that the initiative will have national implications as food providers change their recipes country wide. Salt companies have turned sour on the announcement, depicting it as the city’s attempt to “nanny the nation.”

Sheepshead Bites’ take?

First they came for the cigarettes, and I did not speak out—because I was not a smoker;
Then they came for the trans fatty acids, and I did not speak out—because I was not a McDonald’s patron;
Then they came for the salt, and I did not speak out—because I did not eat Lay’s;
Then they came for the booze—and it didn’t matter, since there was nothing left to eat or smoke when I drank.

(I dare you to come up with a better punchline.)

Two women were thrown from a car after the driver, a 29-year-old Gravesend resident, slammed into a guardrail early Sunday morning. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene.

Oleg Pantchenko was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter, driving while impaired, criminally negligent manslaughter, and first-degree manslaughter after the accident. A third woman is in stable condition at Lutheran Medical Center.

According to the New York Times:

The car, a 1996 Infiniti, hit a guardrail while traveling east, veered across several lanes of eastbound traffic and hit other cars, the police said. It then swerved back across all the eastbound lanes and struck a median. The two women, who were in the back of the Infiniti, were ejected. The crash occurred on the parkway near 80th Street at about 3:30 a.m.

Patchenko’s blood alcohol level was 0.054 percent, just above the 0.05 percent threshold for driving while impaired — a lesser charge than driving while intoxicated.

Nelson's Nostrand Avenue office, all packed up (Courtesy of Nelson Aide Steve Zeltser)

Nelson's new Voorhies Avenue location

Community members served by 48th District City Councilmember Michael C. Nelson will be pleased to hear that the new year also brings a new headquarters.

Previously located at 3810-A Nostrand Avenue, the office lease went up December 31, motivating Nelson’s camp to search of a new home. The councilman’s office now occupies the first floor of 1605 Voorhies Avenue – conveniently located in the heart of Sheepshead Bay.

Apart from the expired lease, another factor contributing to Nelson’s decision to relocate was to be near the center of his district, as opposed to sitting on the border of Councilman Lew Fidler’s and former Councilman Kendall Stewart’s districts. Now situated close to trains and buses, the ease of access to Councilman Nelson’s HQ has significantly increased.

The phone number remains the same, but may change as the office is set up.

Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo sent us this note about the Q train stations at Avenue U and Gravesend Neck Road:

Good word from the MTA, on Monday January 18th,2010 the southbound stations of Avenue U and Neck Road will be opened at 5am and at the same the northbound stations will be closed. This work will be completed by Fall 2010. The B service will be restored in Fall 2011.

After delays and destruction at those stations, this certainly is good news.

Just so we’re clear about this, beginning next Monday you will not be able to catch a Manhattan-bound train at Gravesend Neck Road or Avenue U, though the Brighton-bound side will be reopened. In order to go to Manhattan from those stations you will need to take a Brighton-bound train to Sheepshead Bay Road and transfer to the other side of the tracks.

The site of the proposed mosque at 2812/2814 Voorhies Avenue

Opponents of a proposed mosque in Sheepshead Bay came before the Sheepshead Bay/Plumb Beach Civic Association last week to rally support for their fight, but instead found little sympathy for their struggle.

A handful of neighbors came to the Tuesday night meeting to present their case against the mosque, which may soon be built at 2812 Voorhies Avenue and will also include a school and community center. But board members of the civic association and Community Board 15 chairperson Theresa Scavo bristled as the opposition turned towards race-baiting and ethnic fears.

“On what grounds are you opposing them?” said Scavo. “You can’t turn around and say ‘Oh they’re Muslim.’ Who’s going to look like the bad guy?”

Though initial statements from the mosque’s opponents emphasized potential traffic, parking, and noise problems as the cause for their concern, racist undertones began to bubble to the surface of the debate.

Read more about what happened at the meeting and to see documents from the mosque’s opponents

Not much to say this morning, except that I’m glad the cold is letting up. I’ve had a bad couple of days, mired in frustration.

Here’s something that I hope will get your mental gears grinding for the day:

People are strange when you’re a stranger
Faces look ugly when you’re alone
Women seem wicked when you’re unwanted
Streets are uneven when you’re down

When you’re strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you’re strange
No one remembers your name
When you’re strange

-The Doors, “People Are Strange”

I’d say these words sum up Sheepshead Bay pretty well, at least certain aspects of life here. Your thoughts?