Nostrand Park

Restaurant Openings This Week- Dutch Boy Burger and Basil Pizza & Wine Bar

Just a heads up for our local foodies- I Love Franklin Avenue reports (via an article in Time Out New York) that new Dutch Boy Burger will be opening this week.  Additionally, the Crown Heights News blog reports that the new pizza and wine bar, Basil, will open today. We called the restaurant to confirm, but just got a voice message.  Given the Jewish Sabbath, we are curious what the days and hours of operation will be.  In any event, the menu for Basil is now available on CHN's website, so chec...

As Neighborhood Gentrifies, Local Bodega Gets an Upgrade

Not sure what bodega folks frequent, but as some may have noticed, the bodega on the southeast corner Sterling Place and Nostrand Avenue has recently undergone a complete overhaul.  When I asked the owner about what motivated the change, he responded quite frankly “Because the neighborhood changed.  Used to be hustlers and drug dealers.  But now is different.  When the neighborhood changes, we change.” Then, as if on cue - two white patrons stepped into the establishment. Of course the neigh...

Dutch Boy Burgers on Franklin

The awning for the new burger joint on Franklin Avenue - which we blogged about a while back - went up earlier this week.  And about just as cool as the news of this new awning, is our photographer, Abeni G.'s, photo technique capturing the old time feel of the venue - if we do say so ourselves.  Click image to enlarge.  We didn't speak with the owners (who also own Franklin Park) but undoubtedly the name, "Dutch Boy Burgers" is a homage to the Dutch Boy Paint shop that used to exist in the loca...

The Union of the Unemployed

I recently lost my job. It came as quite a shock after five years of producing a national talk radio show. Budget cutbacks were the reason. Fortunately, I was given a severance package and my health benefits will be paid until the end of April. Soon, I will have to join the millions of others collecting unemployment. Again, I'm probably luckier than most because my wife is working and I'll be able to qualify for her health plan. It's not as good as mine was, but it's certainly better than nothin...

Coming Soon – Basil Pizza and Wine Bar

We decided to take a gander at the new kosher pizza and wine bar going up at the corner of Kingston and Lincoln that folks have been buzzing about recently**.  It's looking good.  They also have a website up, but there's no menu available yet. Looks like we're not the only ones curious about this place.  Just as we went to publish this piece, we came across this update from Thanksaglatt.com, which reports: this "will be the first kosher wood oven pizzeria in Brooklyn (maybe even in N...

Crown Heights’ Super Wings Crowned Best Wings in Brooklyn

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer // We've been telling folks, and now it's official.  Crown Heights' Super Wings has been crowned the best wings in Brooklyn, beating out 16 other challengers from across Brooklyn. From Super Wings FB page: "Superwings has won the battle for the best wings in Brooklyn!!! We won against 16of the best wing spots in Brooklyn.  We entered our Ginger Buff / Lava Sauce.   Thanks to the entire SWNY family & especially to our SWNY sup...

Local Valentines Day Options

By Laurel Brown and Ferentz Lafargue UPDATE: 2/14/10 Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer // All Photos:  Jennifer Macchiarelli With Valentines Day approaching many of you are likely scouring to make last minute plans. Surely, the prospect of trudging into the city on a Sunday night is not ideal for a lot of us residing in the outer boroughs. Sketchy weekend train service, biting winds, and elbowing bridge and tunnel tourists emboldened by a work-free Monday for ...

Jewel in the Crown Spa

Word on the street is that the Jewel in the Crown Spa - the upscale spa and nail salon located at 1216 Union Street (between Nostrand and Rogers), which first opened in August 2007 and then closed a year later - will be reopening under new ownership **as a completely new establishment. **NP Update: 2/11/10 at 6:23 a.m.:  We've heard from a trustworthy source, that while 1216 Union will indeed be back in business soon, it is not likely to be coming back as a nail salon/spa.  For the time b...

Can Starlite Lounge Be Saved?

NP Update (2/19/10 at 11:29 a.m.): We just received the following (uncorroborated) email from a tipster: Just heard a tip that Starlite was served with a 72 hour Notice to vacate on Tuesday!!!!  They could be forcibly removed today. But the tipster also noted that court records indicate that Starlite still has a pending case in front of the court, which might mean that they actually have some time before the landlord can try to make them vacate. Interestingly enough, we were walking by Star...

What’s new on Nostrand?

I recently came across a couple of great things on Nostrand Ave.  First, a new wine and liquor store at the corner of Nostrand and St. Johns.    (Note to self, add this to our previous list of local wine and spirit venues.)   I'm crossing my fingers that it will have a greater range of offerings than what we currently have on our little stretch of Nostrand.   Nothing against Beringer or Yellowtail, but sometimes you just want something a little more special and don't want to have to trek too far...