The Downtown Brooklyn Thread

A Bookstore That Also Sells Pineapples

A Dog Wearing Sunglasses On a Skateboard

this is not about downtown brooklyn but there was a large apartment building fire in my hood this afternoon, about a block behind union pool it looked like. big flames from upper story windows, huge plumes of thick gray smoke. about a dozen emergency vehicles. bummer vibes.

A McDonalds that Sells a Handmade Totebag with a Bird On It

The Target at Atlantic Center has a nice view of the Atlantic Yards construction site. I was going to say that's the only good thing about the Target at Atlantic Center, but I guess that would be disingenuous since I did go there for cheap housewares and whatnot.

Love that Target. Just bought a 6-pack of Coors Light, giant bag of Spicy Nacho Doritos, and a 2,000-piece puzzle of the Sistine Chapel there.

twitter blowin up abt some new restaurant where that video store on flatbush used to be my god

larrybraverman max read
So this is a nadir. - maura: There are so many reasons to not want Prime 6 right there, and not a single one... http://tumblr.com/x8p1nlsqqe
4 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Suckblog Harry Cheadle
Anyone want to help me write a pilot for a sitcom about quasi-racist Park Slope NIMBYs? Here's our inspiration: http://bit.ly/gRbQIg
6 minutes ago

1000TimesYes Chris Weingarten
Holy Fucking Shit RT @Gothamist Park Slope Petitions New Bar to Play "Indie" Instead of Rap http://bit.ly/hh5HnW
12 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

these three tweets were consecutive in my feed, there may be more i dont know!

btw i dont follow whiney that was retweeted by slutsky not sure why he cares or why anyone cares

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/prime6

SEND THE MESSAGE TO PRIME 6: Indie Music Will Earn You More Than Hip-Hop!!!

My name is Jennifer McMillen, and I live only a few doors down from the proposed site of Prime 6. Like most of the folks at the CB6 meeting on Monday night, I too have been concerned about the impending entrance of Prime 6 into our community and our daily lives.

I'm not generally the type of person that speaks up, (I remained silent during the entire Monday night meeting), but in this situation, I'm hopeful that I've stumbled onto a solution that makes so much sense for *both* parties that I'm beyond excited to share it with all of you.

First, let me explain what's at the heart of this conflict: I know for a fact that there's no single type of establishment (or type of bar/club patron for that matter) that Park Slopers would inherently view as "undesirable." I don't think anyone would deny that Park Slopers are about the least "racist" people on the planet.

What IS causing strife in this situation is that over the last ten years, Park Slope has become a family-oriented and family-centric community. This can be annoying at times - believe me, as someone who has chosen not to have children, I'm more than aware of the self-entitled attitude that often pervades parts of our community.

Nevertheless, it's just a fact that in this neighborhood, family comes first.

Prime 6 has to realize this - but at the same time - Park Slope families need to realize that this is a free country, and that Prime 6 has a right to exist. Furthermore, no one can legally stop the owners from doing what it is they're going to do.

So here's the gist of my big idea: Isn't there some middle ground between this spot being a stroller repair shop and it being a full-on hip-hop club?

No one can change the fact that Prime 6 WILL exist - they have their liquor license, and nothing's going to deter them from opening. BUT: What if owner Akiva Ofshtein could be convinced that his business will see far more financial success as a different kind of nightlife establishment. Instead of focussing on hip-hop and urban entertainment, what if Prime 6 embraced some of the more indie local artists of ALL races who live and perform in the area.

It's not "racist" to equate hip-hop with an elevated crime rate vis a vi other types of musical genres - It's just a statistical fact that crime is more likely to occur among urban audiences than among audiences of other demographics. R&B and rap happen to be my two favorite types of music, but no one (especially my African American friends and colleagues) would seriously deny that hip-hop's violent history tragically precedes it.

In addition, conveniently(!), we also happen to be in the middle of an unprecedented drought of live music. Seventh Ave has ZERO venues for live music by indie artists, and is absolutely ripe for the right type of establishment to come along and breathe life into the live music scene. The business owner who is able to do THAT will reap financial rewards far beyond what they could hope to earn by selling Henessey/etc to basketball fans after a Nets game.

Not only will Akiva Ofshtein make more money by creating a sustainable business that uses social media to bring crowd-drawing acts to Prime 6, he'll also find that by working alongside the community he's joining, he'll build loyal allies in the neighbors around him - INSTEAD of the hostility we saw at the CB6 meeting and on the internet on Tuesday.

After all, which one of Prime 6's direct neighbors wouldn't be forever grateful to Ofshtein for seeding a vibrant artistic hub instead of another Yo MTV Raps "bling-bling" vip club.

As a Park slope resident that has lived steps from Flatbush avenue since 1998, I've seen the neighborhood change drastically in the last 12 years, and I'm well aware of the gentrification sensitivities that have been part of the neighborhood fabric for at least the last decade - so let me tell you first-hand:

We've waited a long time to get to this point: for once, this isn't a question of race or even class. My hope is that artists and art-appreciators OF EVERY IMAGINABLE BACKGROUND will band together to make this happen - to that end, please tweet and tweet and re-tweet: sign this petition to let Prime 6's owner know what he stands to GAIN by embracing independent LIVE music; and by steering clear of processed, commercial noise.

starting to feel kind of bad for her tbh, she is going to get crucified at the altar of gentrifiers trying to prove they arent gentrifiers

btw i dont feel park slope residents have a right to get upset abt the goings on on flatbush, flatbush is a no mans land that plays by its own rules and lives by the code of the street, flatbush street (ave)

that new bar is going to suck tho

I don't think anyone would deny that Park Slopers are about the least "racist" people on the planet.

its funny how no one noticed this place was going in until it was too late

you dropped the ball nimbys, take the loss, regroup for yr next fite against starbucks or w/e

increasingly thinking this is an elaborate joke

all right im calling it now--this shit is fake, there is no jen mcmillen

So many lols in that letter:

What IS causing strife in this situation is that over the last ten years, Park Slope has become a family-oriented and family-centric community. This can be annoying at times - believe me, as someone who has chosen not to have children, I'm more than aware of the self-entitled attitude that often pervades parts of our community.

You don't say

In addition, conveniently(!), we also happen to be in the middle of an unprecedented drought of live music. Seventh Ave has ZERO venues for live music by indie artists, and is absolutely ripe for the right type of establishment to come along and breathe life into the live music scene. The business owner who is able to do THAT will reap financial rewards far beyond what they could hope to earn by selling Henessey/etc to basketball fans after a Nets game.

why would anyone of any race go to a club in park slope?

all right im calling it now--this shit is fake, there is no jen mcmillen

― max, Wednesday, March 2, 2011 3:16 PM Bookmark

Jen McMillen is real Max. She lives in Park Slope, and in the West Village. In Dupont Circle, and in Nob Hill. She's concerned that a new Mosque is going to bring in too much auto traffic; she opposes the coming of a 99-cent store because of their lack of green products; she plasters your house with fliers that say "RAT INFESTATION!" in big block letters, only because she wants us to work together as a neighborhood to fight this problem. Jen McMillen lives in all of our neighborhoods, and she is fighting for all of us.

otm universal jen mcmillen

It's not "racist" to equate hip-hop with an elevated crime rate vis a vi other types of musical genres - It's just a statistical fact that crime is more likely to occur among urban audiences than among audiences of other demographics. R&B and rap happen to be my two favorite types of music, but no one (especially my African American friends and colleagues) would seriously deny that hip-hop's violent history tragically precedes it.
It's not "racist" to equate hip-hop with an elevated crime rate vis a vi other types of musical genres - It's just a statistical fact that crime is more likely to occur among urban audiences than among audiences of other demographics. R&B and rap happen to be my two favorite types of music, but no one (especially my African American friends and colleagues) would seriously deny that hip-hop's violent history tragically precedes it.
It's not "racist" to equate hip-hop with an elevated crime rate vis a vi other types of musical genres - It's just a statistical fact that crime is more likely to occur among urban audiences than among audiences of other demographics. R&B and rap happen to be my two favorite types of music, but no one (especially my African American friends and colleagues) would seriously deny that hip-hop's violent history tragically precedes it.
It's not "racist" to equate hip-hop with an elevated crime rate vis a vi other types of musical genres - It's just a statistical fact that crime is more likely to occur among urban audiences than among audiences of other demographics. R&B and rap happen to be my two favorite types of music, but no one (especially my African American friends and colleagues) would seriously deny that hip-hop's violent history tragically precedes it.

jesus christ that article is noxious

is that where "royal video" used to be?? if so i can finally move back to the neighborhood - i had a like outstanding $28 overdue fee there (possibly for porn).

RIP The Terrace dominican restaurant that used to be around the corner too, they had some great mofongo. i bet they would have cleaned UP. also rip "jackcelina" bodega (though itmay still be there for all i know) with its seemingly crack-addled staff and total lack of cigarettes

i'm not sure why this is all in the "downtown brooklyn" thread though

Is Atlantic Terminal/Atlantic Yards not considered Downtown Brooklyn anymore?

I mean I get that she's a Park Sloper, but I think the fact that this is a Flatbush Ave bar looking to poach Brooklyn Ballerz fans makes it a Downtown issue.

she plasters your house with fliers that say "RAT INFESTATION!" in big block letters, only because she wants us to work together as a neighborhood to fight this problem.

Incidentally, someone really did this to my building -- someone who does not live in my building. Twice.

i always thought of downtown as being like.... hoyt and schermerhorn. or the courthouse.

it's true though that flatbush plays by its own rules

That part of town feels connected to me though -- I kind of think of the whole area between Court St./Cadman Plaza/BQE/Flatbush (and a little on the other side of flatbush)/Atlantic and extending a little to the area around Atlantic Yards as being very downtown-like compared to the surrounding neighborhoods, so I think of it all as Downtown whether it is or not.

This thread also seems to encompass adjoining neighborhoods anyway -- Carroll Gardens, Ft. Greene, etc.

well theres like downtown downtown brooklyn and greater downtown brooklyn which m/l includes brownstone brooklyn - people call them both downtown brooklyn

I think the area I described makes sense as Downtown given the coming of the arena/the general resurgence of a sense of Brooklyn as a city and not just an outer boro.

I think it is important and fun to argue about neighborhood boundaries, but whether or not it's downtown brooklyn this is the de facto 'general brooklyn thread', isn't it?

I guess so. I still think of it as the "Not Williamsburg/Greenpoint, Not South-South Brooklyn" general brooklyn thread, although those come in anyway.

if anyone post abt williamsburg in here i will shun them

yeah this is the "not williamsburg" thread, i agree with tracer that i think of "downtown brooklyn" as the area around borough hall,

is that where "royal video" used to be??

yeah but they just moved up the street so your fee may still be on the books - beware

the terrible coming-soon sign for Prime 6 makes it look like a real estate office, I didn't know until just now that it's going to be a bar

it's not a bar it's another Yo MTV Raps "bling-bling" vip club.

it won't last, none of those places do

(xpost)

http://ny.eater.com/uploads/2011_02_prime6.bmp

probably last about as long as that joint that is now Dao Palate. the Well Lounge or something? closed in under a year.

rip shouldve featured indie music

Her thing about "indie music of ALL races" kind of reminds me of that line in Blues Brothers: "What kind of music do you usually have here?" "Oh we got both kinds -- country AND western."

yeah i really didn't understand that part of the rant - isn't one southpaw enough?

no you also need a barbes

there is no Park Slope thread bcuz none of us can afford to live there (anymore)

When the weather warms up in a little bit it might just be time to reconvene The Ale & Quail Club, pile into Mr. Atoz's Bookmobile and head on over to Sh4rlene's for the pub quiz.