News Round-Up

Brooklyn’s Food Network [Brooklyn Based]

150 Rally to Make Vacant Condos Affordable [Brooklyn Eagle]

Park Slope Civic Council Halloween [Hip Slope Mama]

Now Open: Hog Mountain Brings Country to Park Slope [Racked]

5th Avenue [Street Level]

Living Off 5th Avenue [Courier via Your Nabe]

Where to Watch the World Series/Drink Away the Shame of Being a Mets Fan [Brokelyn]

Tonight: Music in the Streets (Part 2)

Tonight is the second of two nights in the Music in the Streets series along Park Slope's Fifth Avenue. Details below:

Where? Along Park Slope's Fifth Avenue, between Dean and 18th Streets

When? Tonight from 6:30-8:00!

What? Musicians from the Brooklyn Queens Conservatory of Music will be playing jazz, blues, folk and classical music on every other corner of the avenue between Dean and 18th.

The Park Slope 5th Avenue Business Improvement District, in partnership with the Conservatory, are pleased to present “Music in the Streets.” Visitors will experience many different kinds of music as they dine, drink and shop their way along the avenue.

See you there!

Save the Date: "Howloween" Pups on Parade!

As part of the larger festivities this Saturday, October 31st the OSH will hold Park Slope's first annual Pups on Parade – a dog costume parade and contest – from 12pm-3pm at Washington Park. The event is designed to build community and fundraise for ongoing maintenance of the dog run.

There are a number of local businesses supporting the event, donating gift bags, prizes, and also judging the event! Check them out:

Pet Boutique & Supply
www.petboutiqueandsupply.com
(718) 832-7600
320 5th Ave

Willie's Dawgs
www.williesdawgs.com
(718) 832-2941
351 5th Ave

Paws in Paradise
www.pawsinparadisenyc.com
(718) 768-1888
410 5th Ave

Mobile Mutts
mobilemutts.com
718 722 9336
257 3rd Ave

New Route for Halloween Parade

As every good goblin and ghost knows, this Saturday, October 31st is Halloween. In Park Slope, this means that it is once-again time to march in the Park Slope Civic Council's annual Children's Halloween Parade! This year's parade will be better than ever because, for the first time in its 22 year history, the parade will take a new route and end on Fifth Avenue.

Officially, the 2009 parade will start at 14th Street and 7th Avenue at 6:30pm, travel down 7th to 3rd Street, then turn left down the hill across 6th and 5th Avenues to end in Washington Park and the Old Stone House. Events in the park will continue until 9:00 PM!

This is great news because, after all, Fifth Avenue is an important part of the Park Slope community. For more details on the parade, click here.

We hope to see you there!

More Music in the Streets

In case you missed it, here is a brief glimpse of the amazing performances along Park Slope's Fifth Avenue during last week's Music in the Streets event. Watch the video, above, and then remember to come out this Thursday (10/29) from 6:30-8:00 for more great tunes!

News Round-Up

Store for Dudes Opens in the Slope [Brownstoner]

Brooklyn Indoors: A Quarter 'Til [Brooklyn the Borough]

Bill Thompson's Campaign Opens an Office on 5th Avenue[Best View in Brooklyn]

Black Horse Pub Finally Opens [Brownstoner]

CNN: Park Slope is Cursed [Curbed]

Los Pollitos Rotisserie Chicken in Park Slope [Eating Brooklyn]

Gorilla Coffee [Amateur Gourmet]

TONIGHT: MUSIC IN THE STREETS!

Where? Along Park Slope's 5th Avenue, between Dean and 18th Streets

When? Tonight from 6:30-8:00! (oh, and October 29th from 6:30-8:00)

What? Musicians from the Brooklyn Queens Conservatory of Music will be playing jazz, blues, folk and classical music on just about every corner of the avenue between Dean and 18th.

The Park Slope 5th Avenue Business Improvement District, in partnership with the Conservatory, are pleased to present “Music in the Streets.” Visitors will experience many different kinds of music as they dine, drink and shop their way along the avenue.

See you there!

274 5th Avenue

The sign has been up for weeks-- but All About Fifth caught up with Zelda Victoria (formerly on the corner of 3rd Street and 5th) to find out the skinny on when they plan to re-open on the Avenue. The answer? November 1st, or close to it.

Zelda Victoria handles all phases of interior design. And if you cannot wait until they open shop at 274 5th, give them a call now: 718.369.9369.

REMINDER: MUSIC IN THE STREETS!

Just a reminder that this Thursday, October 22 from 6:30-8:00 PM, professional musicians from the Brooklyn Queens Conservatory of Music will be playing jazz, blues, folk and classical music on just about every corner of Brooklyn’s fashionable Fifth Avenue from Dean to 18th Street.

The Park Slope 5th Avenue Business Improvement District, in partnership with the Conservatory, are pleased to present “Music in the Streets.” Visitors will experience many different kinds of music as they dine, drink and shop their way along the avenue.

It looks like the weather will be fine, so come on down and enjoy the evening on Fifth Avenue! And, don't forget to spread the word because Music in the Streets will return on October 29th!

Avenue Feedback Loop

All About Fifth talked to Moe, long-time Slope resident (37 years) about the Avenue.

Where did you just shop along the Avenue? Leopoldi's hardware. They are store owners and neighborhood guys, satisfying customer needs with product and advice. Although not the neatest of stores-- it is homey, in a way. They are not cold efficient entrepreneurs who know how to process for efficiency.

People say the Avenue has most everything-- what do you think, any gaps? The neighborhood needs a really good hobby store for adults, nothing x rated. I mean things such as miniature train sets, ant farms, stamps and coin collections, etc. And the store should have a bar in back.

Any other stores you want to give a shout out to? I don't want to wax nostalgic but, when we moved into the neighborhood there was more than restaurants, banks, real estate offices, and chic boutiques. Between President and Garfield there was a fruit and vegetable store, butcher, bakery, shoe repair, coffee shop, women's and children's clothing, and more, where the owners knew you. It had a real neighborhood feel.

News Round-Up

Restaurant of the Day: 200 Fifth [Brownstoner]

Brooklyn Borough Hall to Host Brooklyn’s GLBT Center [Brooklyn Eagle]

So Long, Slope Socksmith [Brownstoner]

Seltzer Man Returns, and the Fizz Flows Again [NY Times]

Where the Ladies At? [SkaterGirl]

Halloween Event Picks [A Child Grows in Brooklyn]

Brooklyn Indoors: A Talking Head and Free Popcorn [Brooklyn the Borough]

High Court Hears Arguments in Atlantic Yards Case [NY Times]

Neighbors Say F.U. to Le Bleu Rooftop Bar [Brooklyn Paper]

Pechefsky Says: Go To Ginger's on Sunday Night at 7 p.m [OTBKB]

The Word on Fifth

We are always looking for new ways to inform you about what's going on along Park Slope's Fifth Avenue. Recently, we came up with a new idea that we think will yield some interesting results.

From time-to-time, we will be developing a single, relevant question and then travelling along the avenue, asking a number of merchants for their answers. We'll probably call the weekly blog post The Word on Fifth and it will probably change and morph over time. Honestly, though, we might have gotten the name and idea for this feature from Sesame Street. Of course, what haven't we all learned from Sesame Street, right?

Question: Have you noticed buying habits changing in the past year?

Mark (3r living): I have seen many more fake 100 dollar bills. A warning sign is someone buying less than a hundred dollars worth of items so they get lots of real cash in the transaction.

Mohammed (Galaxy comics): Spending has gotten worse. People are dropping a lot of comic titles they normally buy.

Tony (Record & Tape Center): People only want to spend 50 cents to a dollar. My stuff is a luxury; people are spending their money on necessities.

Thursday at 8 pm: Poetry Punch at the Old Stone House

Thursday, October 15th at 8 p.m.

Featuring: Edmund Berrigan, Louise Crawford, Bill Evans Sharon Mesmer, Wanda Phipps, Joanna Sit, Michael Sweeney and Jeffrey C. Wright.

At the Old Stone House. Fifth Avenue and 3rd Street in Park Slope. Suggested donation of $5. includes punch, wine and snacks. 718-768-3195

Spread the Word: E-Waste Event This Weekend!

WHAT
Sponsored by 3r Living and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID in conjunction with the Park Slope Civic Council's Clean Sweep program, this electronics recycling event will take place in two locations, simultaneously, in the neighborhood.

WHEN
Saturday, October 17, 11 am - 3 pm

WHERE
4th Street @ 5th Avenue (Washington Park): with ePlanet eWaste

9th Street in front of the YMCA: with Greg's Express and Per Scholas

Spread the word! Everyone has at least one piece of unwanted e-waste that they are looking to get rid of!

Interview with Diana English, owner of Diana Kane

All About Fifth talks to Diana English, owner of Diana Kane, about her "must-haves" and the latest trends in fashion for the fall/winter season.

AFF: Where are you from originally?

English: The simple answer to that is Northern California- although my earliest years were spent in rural midcoastal Maine, and Maine is still really close to my heart.

AFF: What's your background and what inspired you to open the store?

English: I had been designing and wholesaling my jewelry collection for a number of years. I wanted a new studio space and saw an opportunity on Fifth Avenue to indulge a life long fantasy- my own store. So, with the jewelry studio in the back of the store and acting as insurance if the retail didn't work, I took a chance on what, in the winter of 2002, was a pretty quiet stretch of Fifth Avenue. The store allowed and continues to allow me to bring beautifully crafted small designers' work to an audience who can enjoy and appreciate it. It's one of the facets of the store I most enjoy, being able to introduce and share great designs and designers with a larger community. And Park Slope really is an ideal community- happy to find something new and beautiful, excited to support our neighbors, and having cultivated tastes and an appreciation of style and craft.

AFF: What styles do you consider classic and timeless?

English: Well, I'm really a sucker for the most basic styles-- I just want the best versions of them. So for me, timeless is great fitting jeans, perfect t-shirts in super soft (preferably organic) cotton... Or in the fall, luscious long sleeved versions in cotton cashmere blends. Handcrafted belts, simple gold jewelry in uncluttered designs you can wear every day, but make you look and feel polished and put together.



AFF: What are the trends for this fall/winter season?

English: Lots of scarves, which are a great way to enliven and refresh your wardrobe, chunky sweaters, and great boots. There are so many excellent options for all of those this season!

AFF: What are your must haves?

English: Well, I had to have Calleen Cordero's amazing hand made black leather boots... They have a very subtle reference to good ol' Doc Martens-- only the sumptuous grown-up and refined version. And Majestic's navy to black dip dyed cashmere long sleeve shirt is like a warm second skin, and lately I'm lost without Steven Alan's wool/cotton woven shirts.

AFF: Where do you shop?

English: In the neighborhood!! I love Scaredy Kat, the Community Bookstore, St. Kilda, Babeland.

AFF: What are some of the greatest challenges of owning a small business?

English: Big box store competition is probably the single biggest challenge. And Internet shopping is a close second. The designers I love and support are working with small production runs, usually here in the US, and hand crafting their wares... It makes for incredible products, but the prices also reflect their standards. And wearing lots of hats throughout the day can sometimes be daunting. Some days I'm the bookkeeper, buyer, jeweler, merchandiser, cleaning lady all at once.

AFF: And, oh, who is Diana Kane?

English: Me. (Kane is my maiden name). Long term Park Slope resident (15 years, where does it go?), mom, wife, friend, designer, shop keeper, neighbor, reader, dreamer, appreciator...

Interview by Rebeccah Welch

News Round-Up

Park Slope Riot [Save the Slope]

Confusion, Lack of Space Discourage New Yorkers from Recycling More [Daily News]

Zagat: New Yorkers Eating Out Less, Skipping Booze [Newsday]

Finding a Bottom in Brooklyn [Real Deal]

Gowanus Canal Pumping Mechanism to Get Upgrade [Brooklyn Eagle]

The Slope's Most Cursed Corner? [Brownstoner]

Halloween Shocker: The Parade Route Has Changed! [OTBKB]

The ‘5th’ Dimension! Avenue to Become Music Central Later This Month [Brooklyn Paper]

Local Businesses Sponsoring Oct. 17 Walkathon [No Land Grab]

Merchant Perspective: Irene LoRe, Aunt Suzie's Restaurant

In the coming weeks and months, we hope to bring you brief interviews of merchants along Park Slope's Fifth Avenue. After all, who knows All About Fifth like the store, restaurant and bar owners along the the avenue?

Our first interview: Irene LoRe, Owner of Aunt Suzie's Restaurant and Executive Director of the new Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District.

As a merchant what do you appreciate about Fifth Avenue?

I appreciate the fact that Fifth Avenue is mostly small, mom and pop businesses. It has quaint shops that have both character and personality. Big box stores, like those generally found outside the city, have no charm or uniqueness. They're nationally envisioned and don't reflect the local community. I have been in business on 5th for over 20 years and feel that we are an integral part of the neighborhood.

As a merchant how would you like to see Fifth Avenue improved?

Unfortunately the vacancy rate is going up and that is never good for a commercial strip. I would like to see more unique and fun retail shops open on 5th. In terms of stores, I would like to see a bookstore on Fifth Avenue. I think it would do well and would be a great addition to the avenue. It would also be great to have a municipal lot here. I think that would bring more customers to the area. Local bus transportation is slow and erratic. A bus that looped around Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue from Flatbush to Eighteenth Street would go along way in making the neighborhood easier to get around.

What are the biggest challenges facing a Fifth Avenue business?

Staying alive (laughs). Frequently reinventing yourself is the only way to stay in business. You have to face what comes straight on and find ways to push back at a bad economy.

Zuzu's Bouquet: Spotlight in Time Out Magazine

Zuzu’s Petals was asked to create a reasonably priced Bridal Bouquet typical of their style for the Wedding Issue of Time Out Magazine. Their choice? Amelia roses, cool water roses, Saint-John’s-wort, scabiosa, thistle and nigella create a lushness of textures within a simple color palette, at $175. See the link: http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/weddings/78984/bridal-bouquets.

Zuzu’x Petals is located at 374 Fifth Ave between 5th and 6th Sts, Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-638-0918

Save the Date: Music in the Streets

On Thursday, October 22 & 29, from 6:30-8:00 PM, professional musicians from the Brooklyn Queens Conservatory of Music will be playing jazz, blues, folk and classical music on just about every corner of Brooklyn’s fashionable Fifth Avenue from Dean to 18th Street.

The Park Slope 5th Avenue Business Improvement District, in partnership with the Conservatory, are pleased to present “Music in the Streets.” Visitors will experience many different kinds of music as they dine, drink and shop their way along the avenue.

Save the Date and make sure to come down and enjoy the sounds of fifth.

Interview with Mark Gerbush of 200 Fifth

All About Fifth Interviews Mark Gerbush, owner of 200 Fifth, on Park Slope fandom and the passage of time.

AFF: Where are you from originally?

Gerbush: Brooklyn, New York

AFF: When did you open in Park Slope?

Gerbush: 200 FIFTH Restaurant and Bar opened January 14, 1987.

AFF: You’ve been around a long time, what has changed most in the neighborhood?

Gerbush: Huge changes: First, the demographics. When I came to Park Slope the people in the Slope were much more diversified and less affluent. There was a larger range of age group and less educated - but street smarter. Second is the way the 5th Avenue looks, there were abandoned stores everywhere - some of them, shells just lived in by the homeless and unfortunate. Fifth Avenue has come along way and has become one of the best avenues in all of New York.

AFF: What do you miss about the old 5th Avenue?

Gerbush: The pioneer attitude. A lot of people fought hard to make 5th Ave better; livable. The camaraderie that existed between us, the common bond, brought out the best in us. We had a sense of social justice, but we also wanted a certain quality of life and we wanted people held accountable and to respect their neighbors. Most of us were not born with silver spoons and we fought hard for what we had.

AFF: As a sports bar, you must have the inside scoop—-does Park Slope have any discernible favorites, even by slim margins? Are we Mets or Yankees town? What about Jets and Giants? (And, of course, what about you?)

Gerbush: I’m a New York Fan, and proud of it. I root for all NY teams and that’s good for business. We get a great crowd for all NY teams, but I lean towards the Giants. Often, it depends on who’s winning. It seems whatever team is on top will have a large draw. We also get a buzz for Boston teams and Pittsburgh Steeler Nation.

AFF: In a word, what kind of sports fans are Brooklynites?

Gerbush: Brooklyn sports fans demonstrate the classic Brooklyn traits: Passionate, Loyal, and Thirsty.

AFF: The layout of your establishment has a hybridized feel. What’s your model? Are there challenge to making a bar and restaurant work closely together or are they naturally complementary?

Gerbush: I came up with the model on my own. I had talked thoroughly with my friend Ron Beasley, who owned The Carriage House, about creating a sports bar that served quality food, not the prefab food other sports bar serve. Now at 200, we have the best of both worlds. The sports bar provides one of the most electric atmospheres to watch any game, while offering great Sports bar food, like burgers and wings. While the dining room offers an upscale menu with Chef’s specials which include the best steaks in the area.

AFF: How do you make beer choices, and what are the rotations?

Gerbush: 200 Fifth is a huge believer in the sense of community in Park Slope. We believe in promoting how great the neighborhood and Brooklyn are. Although we’re always open to storming anywhere for new great beer, we are adamant about showcasing the great brews that were birthed right next door.

AFF: What are the greatest challenges of being a small business owner?

Gerbush: The City: Dealing with the way the bureaucrats change or interpret the way they are going to enforce the regulations is maddening. We are at the mercy of agencies who now have to justify their existence. The way they justify their existence is by being revenue producing which means taking money from people who risk and give their all and are the backbone of this city. The other hardest job is dealing with your employees. You spend more time with them than your family and most of us want to be liked, but you have to insist on certain standards and employees eventually come to resent it. But it’s with this tough love that you find the strongest staff, which I feel 200 Fifth always has to represent it.

Interview by Rebeccah Welch

News Round-up

The Fifth Avenue Happy Hour List [Brokelyn]

Brooklyn Economy Faring Better Than Rest of City [Crain's]

And Here Are Our Favorite Diners [Brooklyn Paper]

Nets, Russia's Richest Man Agree to Deal [Crain's]

Brooklyn Philanthropy Is Going Big-Time [Brooklyn Eagle]

The Two Joshes of Stone Park Cafe to Open Chinese Restaurant [Brooklyn Paper]