MotherSister Brooklyn

4W Circle may be gone and bars in the spirit of Cellars may be giving way to the likes of The Hideout, but signs that black bohemia might be hanging on in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill appeared in the form of this Colson Whitehead review of Brooklyn Was Mine and this Erykah Badu interview (complete with snapshot of the rent-controlled 1-bedroom she’s held on to since she moved here c. 1996). Add to that one of the ex-Hub’s twice-yearly Joie Lee sightings on my block, and hope springs eternal.

Photo of Ms. Badu modeling a Jacob’s Eye purse from Jacob’s Etsy shop.

The Fort Greene Association Retail Survey results have been tallied by our man Jon Zeitlin, and the findings will be distributed soon via your friendly neighborhood media outlets such as The Brooklyn Paper. While the press release and report are coming together, however, I’ll tease you with a few tidbits:

• 58% of the respondents (there were ~400) said they were “somewhat likely” to satisfy their daily needs when shopping in Fort Greene; another 34% were either somewhat or very unlikely to find what they needed.
• No surprise that there was significantly greater satisfaction with existing restaurant options than retail/services options.
• The effect of the Internet on brick-and-mortar stores is overrated, at least for this neighborhood: Only 10% of respondents shop online when they can’t find what they need here, while 51% cruise over to a nearby neighborhood and another 32% handle their business in Manhattan instead.
• The top 10 most-wanted places across categories (retail, restaurants, and services) were: bookstore (overwhelmingly — something like 70% or so of survey respondents picked this), bakery with bread and desserts, seafood store, hardware store, natural foods store, gourmet grocery store, cheese store, 24-hour diner, stationery/card store, and florist. The most-wanted places were fairly consistent across incomes and ethnicities.
• Other desired stores included a bike shop, a food co-op, an Ethiopian restaurant, a knitting store, and a cooking supplies/housewares store. Um, and someone did request a Starbucks.
• The person who requested a Starbucks was a lone wolf, though: Respondents rejected “chains,” Starbucks, fast-food or take-out Chinese, “overpriced boutiques and markets,” porn shops (!), and dollar stores.
• At the Ingersoll and Whitman houses, respondents most wanted a supermarket, preferably either a Pathmark or Shop Rite (though Fairway, Costco, BJs, and Wal-Mart got 1 vote each as well.

As for my beloved bowling alley, it seems that mostly black respondents wanted one — it was number 12 of 20 when the data was cut by race. Someone pointed out that there is a bowling alley in the basement of Cadman Church on Lafayette and Clinton; wonder if it could be refurbished and find a new life?

The Fort Greene Retail Survey results aren’t all in yet, but it seems safe to say that grocery stores are likely to rank high as a community want. Yet already the times when your best hope for a quick and inexpensive bite to eat once you arrived back home in Fort Greene were take-out from Cambodian Cuisine or a slice from Mario’s are well and truly gone. Besides all of the restaurants that have opened up in the ‘hood in the past decade, the past three months have seen the introduction of lots of small market options. The latest, Provisions (753 Fulton St.), has been open for four hours and is serving free coffee as I type.

According to Jason, one of the store’s partners, fresh fish and meat will be available on Tuesday; the rest, including cheeses and charcuterie, will show up over the course of the next month. There have been murmurs of concern about the number of groceries in close proximity — including R&J’s, Fresh Garden, Greene Farm, Union Market, and whatever the Brooklyn Heights-based prepared food company that snapped up the former Seven Corners hardware space is going to open — but Jason didn’t seem particularly worried. Speaking of Fresh Garden specifically, he said, “I think we’ll complement each other.”

Now, will all of this stop me from ordering from Fresh Direct? Let’s face it, probably not; the convenience of being able to order online and have it show up at my door is too good to pass up (maybe if I didn’t have a toddler to wrangle and my local Met wasn’t so crummy…). But I’m finding already that I prefer to go to Fresh Garden for good fruit (Fresh Direct’s is generally crap; I used to go all the way to Citarella in Manhattan) and La Mediterranee yogurt, and I may find myself stepping into Provisions for other extras and treats (such as the freeze-dried peaches and Rao’s tomato sauce I picked up today). The prepared foods place could also be a boon (other than pizza, Fresh Direct doesn’t do that well, either). My homelier end of Fulton in Clinton Hill appears to be gaining an organic food shop, which if it’s really worth a damn will be fantastic to have; I’m also looking forward to Choice Market II, whenever they get their landmarks situation sorted and the doors open. Nothing here is really a one-stop solution (though a possible food co-op is promising); still, it’s nice to finally have some worthwhile options.

When most people think of surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding, New York City is not usually the first image that comes to mind — but that’s because they just don’t know. They’re starting to find out, though: the Gray Lady recently took notice of a Brooklyn band of skaters, and new shops such as the Harlem-based Everything Must Go and Homage in Cobble Hill have started serving up gear. But one company that pulls board sports into a truly 21st-century reality (it’s all about the mix, y’all) is Brooklyn Surfer. Established just several years ago by Michael Green, a surfer/skater/snowboarder and “creative dude” in the ad business, Brooklyn Surfer is an apparel company and a conceptual brand; Green’s affiliate company, BSI Agency, has clients that include MTV, Sony, and Microsoft.

Michael is soon off to a trade show in Germany, followed by a few days to enjoy the powder in Vermont before returning to dig into the next season of Brooklyn Surfer products and concepts. He took a time out, though, to tell me how Brooklyn Surfer represents the true surfer of life.

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As utterly disenchanted as I’ve become with national politics, I am more engaged with my local representatives, and I’ve been particularly impressed with Tish James, who has been on the front lines of community issues large (such as the Atlantic Yards development) and relatively small (saving the Broken Angel’s owners from eviction). Re-elected two years ago by nearly 90% of the voters, Councilwoman James’ dedicated advocacy is clearly appreciated by her Fort Greene/Clinton Hill constituency. Vibrant and funny, the Howard-educated lawyer and activist was excitedly anticipating the press conference announcing the preservation of 227 Duffield on the morning she indulged me for a MotherSister Minute.

LIVING HERE SINCE:  For 8 years. I’m a transplant from Park Slope.

WHY FORT GREENE/CLINTON HILL:  I came over because my mother was in Park Slope, and I wanted to get away from her. [laughing] It was post-college.

FAVORITE PLACE IN THE AREA:  Choice [Market].

COFFEE SHOP:  Connecticut Muffin and Pillow Cafe — love Pillow.

TIPS OR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD:  Spend your money here. Come to precinct meetings, community council meetings. Know your elected officials. And shop locally for the holidays!

Letitia James’ office is at 67 Hanson Place (tel. 718/260-9191).

Breezing past a Buddhist monk on the street isn’t an everyday occurrence, which is why when I did so last spring on Clinton Avenue, I’m reasonably sure I threw an appreciative double-take in his direction. There was something immediately calming about the sight of his flowing red and yellow robe, and as I continued on my way, I put one (Buddhist monk) and one (postcards advertising local meditation classes) together and resolved to visit the Vajradhara Meditation Center.

Not that it was hard to find: Located in a brownstone at Adelphi Street and Greene Avenue, the 2-year-old center’s meditation shrine is visible from the street. I have a long-standing interest in Buddhism, but I hadn’t found a center nearby for regular meditation…until now, which is a particularly opportune moment to apply its teachings of compassion and patience to my life. Buddhist nun Kelsang Demo welcomed me in, and we spoke about Kadampa Buddhism, the local community’s support of the center, and how to make the time in a busy and tumultuous life for regular practice.

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Besides her distinctive name, Tree Delfin also stands out for being one of those seemingly rare creatures in New York City these days: a young mom. Originally from North Carolina, Tree barely had her film degree in hand before marrying her freelance photographer husband Mike and having her first child, a beautiful 11-month-old named Ruby. The 24-year-old has also started her own business, inspired to create toys when she couldn’t find what she wanted for her daughter. “I decided that perhaps there is a need for more toy companies that make handmade toys in the U.S. with non-toxic materials!” said Tree. (With all the recent toy recalls, her timing couldn’t be better.) She has started with pacifier clips, and they’re selling well enough (including in far-flung places such as Australia) that she plans to expand to rattles, blocks, puzzles, and other infant toys and to eventually produce felt items as well. She’s lovely and talented and an ideal subject for a MotherSister Minute.

LIVING HERE SINCE: 3-1/2 years ago.

WHY FORT GREENE/CLINTON HILL: I came here to go to Pratt and never left.

FAVORITE PLACE IN THE AREA: Underwood Playground.

MIKE’S COFFEE SHOP OR PRATT COFFEE SHOP: Mike’s!

TIPS OR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD: We are lucky enough to have BAM in our neighborhood, as well as the Mark Morris Dance Company….I love BAM Cinema and they even host Sundance screenings in the summer. Mark Morris offers all types of dance classes for kids and adults.

Sugarsnap Toys can be found at Corduroy Kid in Prospect Heights, Acorn in Boerum Hill, and Gumbo on Atlantic Avenue.

Five things about the Clinton Hill Library that this degreed librarian didn’t know until she became a regular patron with The Scamp:

• You can check out magazines! If you’re not a magazine junkie like me, then you might not understand why this is a big deal. But it helps me tremendously to know that if I need to get my junk fix — fashion magazines being a particular weakness — I don’t have to lay out any of my ducats to do so.
• The children’s section includes Spanish and French titles. The selection of Spanish and English/Spanish titles is far more developed than the French ones, but The Scamp will tolerate my French babble if it’s Qui Mange Quoi? or one of the Barbapapa series. He also really digs the Spanish/English Dear Zoo.

• Actually, it doesn’t matter what’s on the shelves — thanks to the magic of ILL. I don’t know why it took me so long to discover how efficiently you can now reserve books in BPL system online and have them show up at your local branch within days, but I now do this all the time. It has made up (somewhat) for the lack of a large general-interest bookstore in the neighborhood, and it has stopped me from impulse buying on Amazon. While I do wish the permanent collection was a little more interesting or at least well-equipped, I’m kept pretty happy with this hold/request service. (Even though I’ve been waiting for Pattie Boyd’s Wonderful Tonight for 2 months.)
• The meeting room is available for private events. A local grandmother I know hosted a birthday party for her 2-year-old grandson there, which I didn’t even realize was an option. Apparently there’s even karaoke!
• There’s a Friends group. Maybe. Word is that only pre-approved media outlets can discuss the existence and meetings of Friends groups, even though the fact that one exists is all over the branch’s website. If you want to get in on the action, I’d recommend asking the librarian about it or contacting the Office of Friends & Volunteer Services.

A bonus tidbit: According to the NY Times, our humble branch might be headed for a makeover.

Part of the “How MomSis Got Her Mojo Back” campaign includes a wardrobe update, as I more or less stopped buying clothes for myself for a year after delivering The Scamp. (I was afraid that everything would go permanently south, but luckily I, ehrm, bounced back.) There are some cute boutiques around, but the place I’ve come to count on for recapturing my hottie-hood is Addy & Ferro. Fashion industry vet Erica Hutchinson has lived in Clinton Hill for a decade and has graced the neighborhood with a boho style mecca that perfectly captures the funkiness that I (and others) migrated here for. Vintage Vanity 6 and Carole King album covers on the wall, “I Love Black People” t-shirts and copies of The Way We Wore: Black Style Then on display, and seriously stylin’ women- and menswear on the racks –  it’s pretty much impossible to leave the shop with just one thing. The Scamp (who was only 18 months old at the time) nodded in solemn approval at three dresses I modeled in the store earlier this summer, and he wouldn’t steer me wrong. Erica kindly took a MotherSister Minute to tell me more about her store.

OPENED:  March 2005.

WHY FORT GREENE/CLINTON HILL:  I wanted to do something in the neighborhood, to contribute to my community.

BESTSELLING ITEMS:  It’s kinda all over the board, it’s hard to say. It really varies. I would say for fall, our coats are really popular, and in spring, it’s dresses. But the accessories, shoes, handbags, and menswear also do well.

COFFEE SHOP:  Smooch.

ADVICE OR TIPS ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD: I love the diversity of it, the ethnic makeup, ages….I hope it’s something we can maintain.

Addy & Ferro is at 672 Fulton Street, between S. Elliott Pl. and S. Portland Ave. (tel. 718/246-2900). Open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 8pm, Saturday from 11 to 8pm, and Sunday from noon to 7pm.

I have a special affection for Greene Farm, long one of the best places in the neighborhood for organic goods and other tasty stuff not available in your average bodega. Kay Lee and her husband, who also own One Greene Japanese Restaurant and Mirai Wellness Spa, have a knack for identifying business opportunities that offer residents goods and services they usually seek in other neighborhoods. Their next project, Fresh Garden, will attempt to answer the growing demand for popular organic foods and goods, fruits and vegetables, and fresh flowers. At 2,000 square feet, the store will be a mini-market that Mrs. Lee hopes will capture those who would otherwise go straight to Perelandra or Whole Foods. With the new store’s impending opening in a couple of weeks and three thriving businesses to tend to, you might expect Mrs. Lee to have no time to chat — but she savors every opportunity to connect with the community, and she didn’t mind giving me a MotherSister Minute.

OPENED: 1991.

WHY FORT GREENE/CLINTON HILL: We were referred here by a friend at Pratt. We see the potential [of the neighborhood].

BESTSELLING ITEM: Organic milk.

COFFEE SHOP: Actually, I don’t really go to coffee shops. Greene Farm has very good coffee.

ADVICE OR TIPS ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD: I see newcomers around and I always ask, “How do you like Fort Greene?” And they love it here — it feels homey, it’s warmer, comfortable.

17 Greene Farm is at 17 Greene Avenue (718/643-1717), open daily from 7am to 11pm; One Greene Sushi is at 1 Greene Avenue (718/422-1000); Mirai Wellness Spa is at 670 Fulton Street (718/875-0369). Fresh Garden is expected to open at 729 Fulton Street near South Elliott Place by the end of the month.

I can understand why people might wonder about the opening hours of Peace of Mind Bookstore, having stopped in myself during the middle of a weekday to find it closed. Dwana Hope, the store’s proprietor, has a perfectly sensible explanation: maximum foot traffic. “The subway stop is right at the corner,” she pointed out, “so I get people coming home after a long day at work.” And of course, it’s open on weekend afternoons, which is when I stepped in to buy a YogaKids DVD I’d spied in the window. Less understandable is why anyone would take the store’s focus on well-being — featuring yoga, self-help, and nutrition books, CDs, and DVDs — as a personal affront, since there’s certainly room for Peace of Mind, DARE Books (with its educational mission), PrattStore (art books), and a potential future general-interest new/used bookstore to co-exist in an area as large and diverse (and apparently yoga- and nutrition-conscious) as Fort Greene/Clinton Hill. Indeed, Dwana observed that despite some initial naysaying from those who might’ve preferred a mini-Barnes & Noble, her patronage is “increasing from year to year. More people are coming around.” A former ESL teacher, first-time business owner, and longtime Fort Greene resident, she’s gratified by the nature of her venture: “There’s a lot of positivity. I feel good about that.”

OPENED: 2005.

WHY FORT GREENE/CLINTON HILL: I perceived that the neighborhood would be open to this type of store, since it has been an activist, artistic neighborhood.

BESTSELLING ITEMS: Learning to Love Yourself, Post-Traumatic Slave Disorder, and Energy Vampires. And incense.

COFFEE SHOP: I like Academy Restaurant.

ADVICE OR TIPS ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD: I would say that it is in the process of reinventing itself.

Peace of Mind Bookstore is at 112 South Oxford Street, between Fulton and Lafayette Avenues (718/855-0787). Open Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 10pm, Saturday from 1 to 7pm, and Sunday from 1 to 6pm.

As I mentioned a couple of months ago, my favorite place to meander with The Scamp is the Pratt Institute’s Sculpture Park. The park will be featured in this weekend’s OpenHouseNewYork activities, along with the Pratt Library, Higgins Hall, the Juliana Terian Curran Design Center, and the Caroline Ladd Pratt House.

The park’s curator, Professor David Weinrib, remembers that the first sculptures featured included a Louise Bourgeois piece and a “big cement nude in front of the engineering building.” More than 50 sculptures are now part of an ever-changing cast, and I asked Professor Weinrib about his selection process. Style-wise, “People think I’m trying to make a balanced situation,” he noted with a hint of bemusement. “I’m the sole curator and I just choose works that interest me, based not so much on style as much as quality. Some artists send me work, but most I go and find myself.” Bringing new works to the park is a wooing process, sometimes one that takes years. “Well-known sculptors aren’t after me,” he said dryly. It took 12 meetings with Mark di Suvero, for example, to get to yes.

As you might guess, taking care of the sculptures isn’t easy. “[Maintenance] is always a big problem,” Professor Weinrib said. Not only must the sculptures withstand the elements, they also must be protected from humanity. “There’s some hooliganism,” he acknowledged without dwelling on it. Luckily, he has an assistant, Jacques Zanetti, to help; he was repairing the blue pyramid as we spoke. You may soon have more insight into what it’s like to be the steward of one of the ten best college art collections: Professor Weinrib is writing a book about the experience of curating the park — A Curator’s Journal seems to be the working title — and he seemed hopeful that it would be published with the help of a small grant from the school.

Tours of the Sculpture Park will be given at 2pm and 3pm on Saturday, October 6. Keep an eye out for a couple of new pieces, one about the commodification of light in the city and the other about the 18 rules of tree installation in New York. Sculptors hoping to catch Professor Weinrib’s eye can write to him at 521 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011.

Grace Tappin projects a serenity that serves as a walking advertisement for her studio, Move With Grace, which offers a full menu of yoga (hatha, vinyasa, and kundalini), dance, and fitness classes. Tappin, a Brooklyn native and a dancer who studied with the Joffrey Ballet, began her yoga practice while attending Cornell University; opening a multipurpose studio with a comfortable community feel seemed to be a natural step. Pratt and St. Joe’s students particularly love the late-night sessions, but regular patrons from as far as New Jersey are also clearly drawn to the studio’s energy. “That’s the great thing about a dance studio,” Grace says. “People will travel far if they really love the classes.” Kum Kau’s foot traffic has also helped boost its profile among residents of nearby areas. The studio is a genuine labor of love that “doesn’t feel like work at all,” she says. “I’ve met so many interesting people in the neighborhood.” Grace continues to help out at her sister’s shop, which is where I caught up with her for a MotherSister Minute.

OPENED:  January 8.

WHY FORT GREENE/CLINTON HILL:  My sister has been in the neighborhood for over 3 years. It’s very diverse, and there’s a lot of growth here. I saw the opportunity to be part of that.

MOST POPULAR CLASS:  Belly dancing. We have mother-daughter combos coming in.

MIKE’S COFFEE SHOP OR PRATT COFFEE SHOP:  I usually go to John’s, on the corner of Hall [and Myrtle]. But of those two, I prefer Pratt.

ADVICE OR TIPS ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Look out for all the improvements thanks to MARP. Myrtle Avenue will be a beautiful place — aside from the large buildings that upset some people [laughs].

Move With Grace Studio is at 469 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Hall Street (718/230-0013). Check the website for the class schedule.

Lest you think I only keep disproportionate tally of customer service sins, allow me to publicly envelope Bergen Bagels and Zaytoons in a warm embrace and squeeze them tightly against my pillowy bosom. I’ve been a weekly (sometimes twice or thrice a week) customer of both since they opened locations on Myrtle Avenue, and they practically never let the MotherSister Posse down. A nasty head cold and the sultry heat have left me with barely enough energy to hit speed dial, so both crews have come to my rescue today, with service so characteristically stellar that I’m moved to broadcast my loyalty on the internets. Three reasons:

1. The food is delicious and an excellent value. I am completely addicted to Zaytoons’ fatoosh salad (which went weird for a bit but is back in top form), babaganoush, and chocolate mousse cake, but it’s impossible to go wrong with anything on the menu. I don’t claim to be a major bagel connoisseur, but as far as I’m concerned, nobody beats Bergen’s bagels and cream cheese. If we’ve been out of town, our first meals are from Zaytoons and Bergen — that’s how we settle back into Brooklyn.
2. They don’t make excuses. When something goes wrong with an order — which rarely happens, but considering how often we call for delivery, it’s bound to sometime — they fix it. No argument, no “we’ll make it up to you next time you order from us.” Simple apology, a redelivery — done. Refreshing, that.
3. They value regular customers. The boys at Bergen know me by voice, the guys at Zaytoons know me by address, and they can practically complete my orders for me, graciously allowing for whimsical detours from our usuals now and then. I could be deluding myself, but the delivery guys seem happy to see us. When the staff across the board are consistently pleasant to deal with, you know management is on top of things.

Extra bonus points to Bergen for what I think is an excellent “hold-the-line” message: a Pavlovian description of the hot, fresh bagel action you’re craving, so matter-of-factly and unrepentantly delivered that it makes it hard to hang up even if you’re on hold for 5 minutes — which never happens, because they care.