On the B: Broken Toenail Clippers

We've heard horror stories of commuters clipping their toenails on the train before, but someone must have really had a lot of time on their feet to give themselves a clipper-breaking pedicure on the B train last night.

The "Malcolm X" House on E. 19th St.

According to the FDC's guide to the neighborhood, this beauty at 257 E. 19th St. was the model home featured in the sales brochure for the builders of Beverley Square East.

It was also apparently featured in the 1992 movie "Malcolm X", although a recent viewing of the 3 hour and 20 minutes film (!!!) turned up no results for exterior shots. Our best guess is that Spike Lee and crew were shacked up inside filming scenes with Denzel and Angela Bassett. Anybody been around long enough to remember when this production took over our neighborhood?

Update:
The current homeowner filled us in on all the details in the comments section:

"We have been in residence at 257 East 19th Street for 13 years so missed by a few years the filming. There are two scenes in the interior of the house: when the social worker breaks up Malcolm's family after the murder of his father and sends him to a school for boys the headmistress introduces him to a dining room table of other boys. That is our dining room with the original three stained glass windows. Then the headmistress shows Malcolm to his bedroom which is under the eaves of the roof. This room we refer to as the Malcolm X room."

Newkirk Station Rehabilitation To Cost MTA $30 Million

Last week the MTA responded to our request for information about construction at the Newkirk Avenue B,Q station by sending out a form e-mail with a bunch of vague promises.

This week the MTA has slapped up a sign (that looks like it could use some rehabilitation itself) on the chain link fence around the station, providing a few more details about the project.

According to the sign, "the work includes repairing stairways, platform columns, platform edges, and the station booth. We are also replacing the concrete deck of a pedestrian plaza and upgrading the lighting and public address systems." The sign indicates the project will be completed in Winter 2011 and will cost approximately $30 million.

And thanks to the MTA's recent decision to extend weekend wait times between trains from 8 to 10 minutes, that means we get an extra 2 minutes to listen to the orchestra of electric saws, drills, and jackhammers.

Awesome Panoramic From Ocean Parkway

We found this beautiful panoramic shot by clicking on "Photos" under the "More" tab in Google Maps. Judging from its location on the map, it appears to be taken from Ocean Parkway between Ditmas and Cortelyou. We've seen some pretty great city views from the roofs of a few Ditmas Park apartment buildings, but clearly the scenes get much more dramatic as you venture across CIA to the high rises of Ocean Parkway. Full sized version here.

How the MTA's Proposed Service Cuts Would Affect Flatbush

The NYC comptroller's office has a handy little tool that lets you find out how the MTA's proposed service cuts would affect you based on your zip code, subway line or bus line. The site encourages users to share the information with friends and send a form e-mail to Governor Patterson protesting the cuts.

We already know that the B23 bus, which runs on Cortelyou, is in danger of being eliminated, and the MTA would also eliminate overnight service for the B67, which runs between Kensington and Downtown Brooklyn. As for the B and Q lines, there would be fewer trains on weeknights after 9:00 p.m. and on weekends. Tell Gov. Patterson that you don't want crowded trains and longer wait times by signing the petition.

MTA Delivers Big Ol' Steaming Pile Of "FUCK YOU" To Parkside, Beverley, Cortelyou, Newkirk, Ave H, J, and M Riders

Just as we feared, CB14 (via DP Blog) reports that trains will be skipping Newkirk Avenue in the upcoming weekends. This weekend, Feb. 21 & 22, trains will run normal on the northbound tracks and run express southbound between Prospect Park and Kings Highway, skipping Newkirk Avenue. Then next weekend, Feb. 28 & March 1, the trains are going to run normal on the southbound tracks but will run express northbound between Kings Highway and Prospect Park, again skipping Newkirk.

This will inconvenience people who catch the Q train at Parkside, Beverley, Cortelyou, Newkirk, Avenue H, Avenue J and Avenue M.

We're definitely re-evaluating weekend plans. We'll probably skip the two parties we'd hoped to go to since we don't want to end up punching the MTA executive who came up with this bright idea and landing in jail for seven years. Looks like we'll be getting a lot of chores done around the apartment the next few weekends.

Midwood Subway Advertising $8 Footlong Offer

Passing through Midwood this weekend we spotted this Kosher Subway on Avenue J proudly advertising it's $8 footlongs. $8!!! I guess it makes sense that it costs more to make Kosher subs, but it's still funny to see this huge banner promoting $8 footlongs when the $5 footlong marketing campaign is so successful that they've made a jingle that won't stay out of my head.

Date This Flatbush Hottie

If you spent your Valentine's weekend alone at Sycamore, still searching for that special someone, fear not! This week's Time Out NY has a number of single ladies and gentleman looking for love, and our neighborhood is represented well by this unique gal:

Unitey K.
29; managing director of the Manhattan New Music Project; Flatbush, Brooklyn

Says Unitey: “As an artist-turned-business woman, I have a pretty clear direction in life, but I’m open to anything. I find change exciting, which is partly why I have lived in 11 cities around the world. New York is my favorite for the arts and intellectually engaged crowd—it definitely keeps me busy! I love my job, my friends and my neighborhood. Now I just need to meet a nice boy…”

Think you stand a chance with this globe-trotting Flatbusher? Send her an e-mail at unitey@tonypersonals.com.

Stabbing on Coney Island Avenue

There was a stabbing Friday night around 11:00 on the east side of Coney Island Avenue between Ditmas Avenue and Ditmas Avenue (police tape was here). There was caution tape wrapped around a few sign posts, so we pulled over and asked a rookie police officer what happened. He told us there had been a fight.
"All this tape for a fight?" I asked.
"Yeah," he said.
"Did anyone get hurt?" Patrick asked.
"Well, someone got cut," he said hesitantly.
"Someone was stabbed?" Patrick asked.
"Yeah," the officer said very casually.
When we got to Cortelyou and Coney Island Avenue, there were three or four police cars and lots of officers. (most had pulled off by the time we snapped this picture) I went over to the officers and said I lived nearby and wanted to know what was going on. This time I got a classic Brooklyn cop who didn't hold back information. He asked me where I lived and then told me that someone was stabbed a block away and they caught up to a guy who fit the description of the stabbing suspect; however, he came up negative so now they were letting him go.

This brings the count to three stabbing incidents in four days in a relatively small vicinity. Early Tuesday a man was stabbed at the Newkirk Avenue 2, 5 station and the next day two men were stabbed at East 21st and Ditmas.

Newkirk Station Renovations to Last until Fall 2011

After the MTA cordoned off most of Newkirk Plaza with high chain link fences, I sent an e-mail to the MTA support center asking what was up. They responded in one week, which has to be a record for the fastest the MTA has ever done anything. They sent a form e-mail about the need for updating old stations and bringing them into a "state of good repair," which includes "repairing structural deficiencies, highlighting architectural features, enhancing lighting and signage, improving security and revenue control, and enhancing customer comfort." The e-mail added that Newkirk Avenue is scheduled for "station structural remediation to be completed in the fall of 2011. Please note, all dates are subject to change."

My interpretation of that, judging from the MTA's handling of train traffic, sick passengers, weekend track work and signal problems, is that the renovations will move very slowly and inefficiently and last past 2011. I hope I'm wrong and that it really means it will finish up sooner. But I suspect, fellow Newkirkians, that we have a lot of subway frustration in our future, including days when the trains will probably have to skip our stop. Maybe the newly highlighted architectural features and improved revenue control will make it worth it in the end. Maybe.

Darren Aronofsky Reveals Where His Dark Side Comes From

We saw "The Wrestler" f0r a second time at BAM last night and were treated to an incredibly open, revealing discussion with (Brooklyn-born) director Darren Aronofsky about his experience working on the film.

Aronofsky discussed the challenges he faced directing Rourke, saying everyday was a pain since Rourke fought many of his lines, required constant pushing, and ended up only giving about 30-40% of what he was capable of. Aronofsky even had to call the bars that Rourke visited nightly to tell the bartenders to cut him off or serve him 90% water, 10% alcohol so that he would wind down and be able to come into work the next day.

The crowd's favorite moment came when Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman, who hosted the discussion, drew a parallel between the darker elements of "The Wrestler" and Aronofsky's previous films, particularly "Requiem for a Dream."

Gleiberman: I'm curious, you're also such a nice person, I've known you for a very long time. Where does the dark side of Darren Aronofsky come from?

Aronofsky: Brooklyn.

Ditmas Park in Print: America's Painted Ladies

For those of you who pass by this colorful house on E. 19th St. between Cortelyou and Beverley and wonder what the story behind it is, this entry from America's Painted Ladies: The Ultimate Celebration of Our Victorians should answer a few questions.

217 East 19th Street
In 1989, Rose McGuiness and Nancy Franklin, the owners of this 1901 Colonial Revival home, which has been in several commercials and movies, asked San Francisco color consultant Bob Buckter for an elegant, dramatic color scheme. They wanted something sunny that wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb. The sculpted swan's neck pediment has been deftly picked out in a peachy six color scheme highlighted by cinnamon and melon, with a hearty sprinkling of gold leaf.
Merchant Will Ryan had paid a Mr. Ackerson to build the house at a cost of $10,000, plus $2,500 for the lot. Mahogany pillars in the parlor, polished oak walls in the dining room, and bird's-eye maple in the billiard room attest to Mr. Ryan's good taste and open pocketbook.
Rose McGuiness remarked, "The house makes me feel very happy when I look at it. My neighbor says she enjoys it more than I do because she sees it more than I do"- a good reminder of the social value of color and architecture.

Mr. Ackerson, of course, is T.B. Ackerson, who built all the houses on E. 19th St. between 1898 and 1901. Although he's probably better known around here as the namesake of T.B. Ackerson Wine Merchants on Cortelyou.

What Kind Of Animal Tracks Are These?

I spotted these tracks leading up to the bench in my backyard a few days ago. My best guess is that I've got some rabbit neighbors. Am I close?

Sander Hicks Leaving Vox Pop

From Sander's blog:

Why I Resigned From Vox Pop

I’m moving on from Vox Pop to take a job in alternative energy financing, building the winder water and waves systems of tomorrow.

Vox Pop’s total sales last year were $414K. I feel really good about where I’m leaving the company’s valuation.

Debi Ryan will be the new CEO. She’s been training with us to take over. She’s brilliant and nurturing, a true Queen Mother who it is delightful to work with. I’ve personally worked alongside her all week doing rehab on Vox Pop Cortelyou. She’s a hard worker and has a great track record of growing companies, and leaving them profitable at $17 MM a year.

I just want to say that the game has changed in this country, now that Obama is in office, I think certain hybrid systems of capitalism/social consciousness could be tried. It’s time to grab bigger “guns,” in a nonviolent way. I need a bigger platform on which to work. I’m projected to be managing a Bond Fund that is going to put $100 MM into alternative energy. Compare that to running a coffeehouse company that just pulled in $414K in sales. Sort of pales in comparison.

Vox Pop Inc. I love ya, but I just gave you five years of my life, I poured my sweat and blood and splinters of my own flesh in your wood, gutting and building that place with Ross and the help in 2004. Vox Pop Inc. I held you close in the divorce, I took care of you, I wouldn’t let you die, I was the keeper of the torch for you, our little bastard child. I made you profitable and robust, you can go off with Debi now.

I’m off.

I’m into creating the systems that will destory Exxon/Mobil.

Not through violence, but a divine nonviolent form of warfare: financial. Competition. Energy delivery that is cheaper than oil. We’ll create those companies, we will birth them, put them together, fund them, incubate them, and let the hatchlings go. We will put $100MM into the marketplace and be funding all kinds of alternative energy research and conventions. The time is now.

Sincerely,

Sander Hicks

PS: this is NOT effective immediately, I will continue to help with the direct work of rehabilitating Vox Pop Cortelyou, and tomorrow I will be back at work grouting the new bit of granite I laid today in the entrance way! Vox Pop is still in my blood, but a period of transition is indeed upon us. May God have mercy on our souls.

This House Is Not In Park Slope And You Know It

I came across this cool book at the library the other day called One Thousand New York Buildings and I was excited to see Flatbush represented well. The Japanese House on Buckingham Road, the Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church, E. 16th St, Kenmore and Albemarle Terraces. They're all in there. But I take issue with one of the entries. Here's the book's description of the "Louise McDonald House" at Albemarle and Buckingham Road:

"This elegant Colonial revival mansion brings an all-American touch to a neighborhood filled with the best of foreign influences. When he developed this section of Park Slope, builder Dean Alvord hired a landscape architect to design the gardens around the homes, and formed an architectural staff, headed by Jon Petit."

PARK SLOPE? Are you kidding me? This house isn't even close to Park Slope. I'm not even opening this up to a debate because there is nothing to debate. This house is located in Prospect Park South. In Flatbush. Not Park Slope. Park Slope gets enough love. We know all about their playgrounds and their indie bookstores and their little boutique stores where you can stock up on organic doggie treats. We get it. It's a great place to live. Pretty sure they're all covered on the attention front.

These houses are our pride and joy, damnit. Don't take that away from us. I'll be looking for a revised edition of this book next year with a correction. And if I don't find it, I'm crying conspiracy.

Ghosts of Flatbush Past: Diplomat Bowl

We were cruising around the neighborhood this weekend when we came across this abandoned bowling alley on Snyder between Flatbush and Bedford. Can't seem to find any info about it online, except for this empty Yelp page (who sets up a Yelp page for a closed down bowling alley?). It seems like it may have been pretty popular back when Marty Markowitz lived in the hood. Maybe The Fonz nabbed a four bagger here after finishing his shift as an usher at Loew's Kings Theater. Anybody have any Diplomat Bowl stories?

Flatbush Shots: Ocean Avenue

at Beverley Road