Last Minute: New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve! In case you missed it, earlier this week we posted a whole list of things to do on Park Slope's Fifth Avenue, tonight. If you are just looking for a simple bar to hang out in, though, fear not because the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID is home to more than 30 bars from Dean to 18th Street. 

Whatever you have planned, we hope you enjoy the evening!

News Round-Up

Local Businesses Saw a Boost in Holiday Sales This Year [PS Patch]

Food Gossip for the New Year! [Brooklyn Paper]

Donations Rolling in for First Reformed Church Repair [PS Patch]

Brooklyn’s Top Commercial Real Estate Sales in 2011 [Brownstoner]

Bird's Winter Sale; The Best Fashion Dance Videos [NY Racked]

Winter CSA Comes to Gowanus [PS Patch]

A Look Back at 2011

As we like to say, the one thing you can count on, on Park Slope's Fifth Avenue, is change.

This year saw explosive growth in the number of restaurants and bars on the Avenue, along with the amazing emergence of a vintage and antique district, of sorts, from Dean to 18th Street. Our own monthly, unscientific survey shows that the commercial vacancy rate shrunk from about 11% in January to under 8% in December. Not bad, given the state of the economy!

Yet there is another side to the story, as Fifth Avenue lost an amazing number of businesses (all of them chronicled by Here's Park Slope yesterday). It will also soon lose two long-time community anchors, Aunt Suzie's and Timboo's.

While we hope for the best, the beginning of 2012 could be bumpy, as businesses assess their holiday sales numbers and battle the winter weather (if the winter ever arrives). Still, a great number of long-time vacant spots are under construction, the economy is slowly improving, the sidewalks are cleaner than ever and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID keeps working hard to make Fifth a better place.

Overall, things are looking up for Park Slope's Fifth Avenue. Here's to a great 2012!

New Year's Eve 2011

We're working hard to find the best places to hang out on Fifth Avenue for New Year's Eve. Here are some of the special events we know about. We'll add to the list as we hear more.

Kappa Sake House (388 Fifth Avenue): New Year's Eve Dinner, Goodbye 2011 & Hello 2012 Dec, 31st 2011 6:00pm~12:30am 5 courses of Prix Fixe Tokyo style home cooking dishes $40 per person. This is going to be Kappa's last New Year's eve event that please make a reservation ASAP.

South (629 Fifth Avenue): NYE PARTY! Party favors, free toast at midnight and best of all...NO COVER. Come welcome in 2012: South Style.

Miriam (79 Fifth Avenue): Special New Year's Eve menu opentable.com or by phone 718 622 2250. Download the amazing menu here.

Stone Park Cafe (324 Fifth Avenue): From 6 to 11pm, will be offering a three course prix fixe menu for $75. Some spots available. Reservations can be made at 718.369.0082. Menu available here.

Palo Santo (652 Union Street): An extravagant chef's tasting menu has be come a New Year's tradition at Palo Santo. Make reservations to celebrate with us on December 31st and enjoy a seven course meal complete with wine pairings and a champagne toast at midnight! - one seating only 9pm - $150 per person. Looking for a place to have an early New Year's Eve dinner before the main event? They are also ffering a special three course prix fixe with reservations available at 5pm or 6pm. $55 per person includes Fish, Meat or Vegetarian options. Aperitivo (279 Fifth Avenue): New Year's Eve Specials, Prix Fixe ($65) or Alle Carte. Download the menu here. Brunch Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11am to 4pm. Also, check out the menu of their sister restaurant, Sotto Voce (it's on 7th Avenue, but we'll forgive them).

Canaille Bistro Francais (78 Fifth Avenue): Traditional French four course menu for New Year's Eve. Serving for 3 seatings by reservation. lst seating - 5:30 to 7:30 is $55 2nd seating 7:30 to 9:30 is $60 3rd seating 9:30 thru Midnight is $65 Download the menu here.

Rachel's Taqueria (408 Fifth Avenue): $4 margaritas serving food till 1:am Thur - Sat.

Campo De' Fiori (187 Fifth Avenue): $45 per person, $25 wine pairing. Download the menu here.

Bogota Latin Bistro (141 Fifth Avenue): Brunch from 11 am - 4 pm, Dinner from 4 pm - 3 am. There is a Prix Fixe dinner menu from 6PM - 1AM with an optional 2 hour open bar for $50.00 per person. The New Year's Eve Prix Fixe menu will include (1) one appetizer, (1) entrée & (1) dessert from an option of 10 appetizers, 10 entrées & 5 desserts. There's something for everyone - vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, etc. Details and reservations at bogotabistro.com

Melt (440 Bergen Street): Having a New Year's Eve Dinner Prix fixe $55 and open on New Year's Day for brunch and dinner.

The Fifth Estate (506 Fifth Avenue): New Year's Eve Bonanza. Free entrance! Cheap booze! Chili dogs! DJ's, bands and more!

Freddy's Bar (627 Fifth Avenue): Art Opening & Free bands, No reservations! Party ALL NIGHT!

Union Hall (702 Union Street): THE 5/5/5 NYE SPECTACULAR! Celebrating 5 years with $5 entry and $5 drink specials (giving away a FREE IPAD2)! Featuring:DJ LORD EASY Spinning the goods that will make you want to get down, both upstairs and down from 10-12!

Southpaw (125 Fifth Avenue): The Rub New Year’s Eve DJ Ayres, Cosmo Baker, DJ Eleven and special guest DJ Moma. 9 PM – 4 AM Complimentary champagne toast at midnight, The Rub is a classics & hip-hop party held on the first Saturday of every month at Southpaw. We do it Brooklyn style: great dance music mixed well, affordable drinks, and real people; no dress code, no bottle service, no VIPs and no celebrity DJs. The Rub has been widely recognized as the best monthly club night in New York City for the last seven years by The Village Voice, The New York Press, The New York Times and countless other local press and blogs. DJ’s Ayres, Eleven & Cosmo Baker have also been also featured on MTV Mixtape Mondays and in magazines such as Spin, Vice, XLR8R, Urb, The Wire, Hip-Hop Connection (UK) and more. 21+ w/ IDadmission: 40.00 door time: 9

Gingers Bar (363 Fifth Avenue): Fun and Fabulous Dance ParTay with music mixtress, DJ LINDZ!! Ginger’s free champagne toast brings in the prosperous 2012 New Year. Come ring in The Happy New Years like only BKLYN G-style could ever drop the BALL Yall'!!! More info on Facebook.

Also, don't forget that this is the last week for Aunt Suzie's Restaurant. They are celebrating a great 25 year run. Seating folks until 10 PM. Will open New Year's Day at 4 PM. Call (718) 788-2868 for reservations and details. This is also the last New Year's Eve for Timboos (477 Fifth Avenue) so drop by for a drink!

Be Careful Out There

According to local news and Weather.com, the entire East Coast is going to get pummeled today with heavy rain and wind. Things are expected to kick off in the late afternoon through the early evening, so get your Fifth Avenue activities in before it starts.

Hey, wasn't it just one year ago that we were digging out from one of the worst snow storms in decades? Here are the photos, just to remind you.

Happy Mega Monday

In some countries, today is called "Boxing Day." In American, the media is calling today "Mega Monday" although tens of billions of dollars worth of merchandise are expected to be returned.

Either way, we hope you will drop by Fifth Avenue's stores, bars and restaurants for a truly enjoyable Mega Monday experience.

Stay tuned, we'll have a list of places to spend New Year's Eve on Fifth Avenue later in the week.

Merry Christmas

-from the gang at All About Fifth and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID. Above is a video montage that we put together, featuring photos from Christmas events along the avenue. Music by Electric Campfire (Mark Caserta, Kevin Hodge, Brad Petrella)

Last Chance

Christmas Eve is here, folks. Last chance to grab last-minute gifts at one of Fifth Avenue's amazing shops! If you are in a panic, don't worry, we are here to help. Some of our previous posts had some good ideas that we will re-share here. Perhaps they'll give you ideas.

• Our Shopping Blogger Caitlin O'Connell has been busy this month, visiting some of Fifth Avenue's clothing and gift boutiques. Check out her posts on Scaredy Kat, Flirt, Lucia and Pink Olive.
• Here are some cool ideas from last week. Better hurry, though, it's getting late to take advantage of these deals.
• We found some good Fifth Avenue gift ideas on local blogs and shared them here.

Don't forget to check out the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID's online Business Directory to help you find what you need. It's also available in a mobile-optimized format to help you when you are on-the-go today. Simply visit parkslopefifthavenuebid.com with your mobile browser. The entire directory is available at your finger tips.

Good luck!

News Round-Up

Damaged Ceiling at Old First Reformed Church, Services Moved [PS Patch]

Brooklyn's Top 25 News Stories Of 2011 [L Magazine]

Fans Mourn Demise of ‘Bored to Death’ [Brooklyn Paper]

I Heart My City: Annemarie’s Brooklyn [National Geographic]

Shopping With Caitlin: Scaredy Kat

Scaredy Kat | 232 Fifth Avenue | 718-623-1839 | www.scaredykatstore.com

I’ve returned to Scaredy Kat several times over the course of my holiday shopping on Fifth, most recently in that pre-Christmas panic. Before I felt overwhelmed by the enormity of my gift list, the shop was an obvious choice for finding the perfect office-appropriate holiday card (I settled on these alligator holiday cards by Egg Press, six cards for $16). Now that the holidays are in full swing, I’ve come to appreciate Scaredy Kat as an excellent resource for quality and novel gift decorations, stocking stuffers, and party accessories.

I usually find holiday wrapping paper to be a total bore—reams and reams of predictable patterns—so I was thrilled to find these individual sheets of paper ($3.75) during my last visit. Though not holiday-specific, the prints are wonderfully vintage and excellent quality. I picked up a sheet featuring a print of an early New York City transit map to wrap one of my Christmas gifts (one sheet perfectly covers your standard-sized retail gift box). To give the gift more of a holiday touch, I made some paper snowflakes to glue over the paper. At least in decoration, Brooklyn will have a white Christmas!

These miniature ornaments caught my eye as a fun and easy holiday gift for a younger member of the family. I picked up the Hello Kitty set ($13.95) for my sister, who will enjoy using the ornaments as decorations even after the holidays have passed.

Seeing these Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer party crackers ($14.95) made me wish so badly that I was hosting a holiday party of my own. Add silly paper hats and an activity that pops to a boozy soiree, and you’re got yourself a memorable night.

And a little something extra, if you’re still not feeling the holiday spirit amidst this new onset of uncomfortably warm weather, visit their blog, Kat Treats, to download their free holiday mix.


-Caitlin O'Connell

Tonight: Unsilent Night

Celebrate the first night of winter tonight at Grand Army Plaza.  Starting at 6:30pm, gather at the plaza and join an interactive music parade which will make its way to Washington Park at 4th Street and Fifth Avenue.  If you have one, bring a boombox and join in the fun. Don't have one? Don't worry, boomboxes and cassette tapes will be distributed on site.


If you can't get to Grand Army Plaza, gather at Dean & Fifth or 18th Street & Fifth and join a parade of carolers as they make their way to Washington Park. Either way, free hot chocolate, cookies and Santa await!

Happy Winter!

Sponsored by the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID and Make Music NY.

Happy Hanukkah

-from the gang at All About Fifth and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID.

Photo via Flickr [ianandval]

One More Week

This is it, folks, the last week until Christmas (and one day till Hanukkah). Where did the time go?

We're sure that we don't have to remind you to come out and do your last-minute shopping on Fifth Avenue. To give you some help during crunch time, we posted some interesting tips last week. This week we have some additional tips for shopping and some specials to help you look good for the holiday season (the list will grow as we hear more):

* Le Chandelier Salon (264 5th Ave): offering a "buy one product and get 50% off the second one" special. Also having a special on hair straightening treatments. $200.00...reg. $300.00

* Dhaga Full Service Salon (294 Fifth Ave): Eyebrow threading $7, Lip threading $5, Offering a $75 gift certificate for $50 (valid on all services). 20% off hair services. New and old clients are welcomed!

*Picada y Vino (327 5th Ave): open from 10am till 8pm on Christmas Eve! Great for last-minute pick-ups!

*Zuzu's Petals (374 5th Ave): will be open Christmas Eve day until 2. Will be taking orders for pick up on the 24th. They can deliver as late as the evening of the 23rd.

*Eidolon (233 5th Ave): Offering 20% off all hats, scarves and neckware through the week. Also all shoes and boots are 20% off. Giving away a coupon for 25% off anything from Jan-March with $100 or higher purchase.

*Baluchis (310 5th Ave): Happy Hour daily this month! Bottled beer $3, draft beer $4 rack cocktail $6 wine $5

* Brooklyn Mercantile (335 5th Ave): Open all this week through Saturday, Christmas Eve. Will close around 3pm on Christmas Eve. Great spot for gifts: Gorgeous hour glasses, cool gifts for men, mercury glass votives, unusual coffee table books, sewing baskets and supplies, embroidery books and supplies, great transfer ware trays and much much more.

Also, FIPS has some good Hanukkah gift ideas, in case you are in a full gift-buying panic.

News Round-Up

Fifth Avenue Ozzie's Re-Opens with New Look, New Name: Kos Kaffe [Here’s Park SLope]

Who Gives a Sh*# [FIPS]

Fifth Annual Snowflake Celebration on Seventh Avenue [PS Patch]

The Brooklyn Cigar Shop That Never Was [WSJ]

Park Slope’s ‘Batman’ Responds to Crime Wave [Brooklyn Eagle]

Shopping with Caitlin: Flirt

This past weekend marked the arrival of much anticipated winter weather, meaning it was time to finally break out my favorite mitten and hat set. A few minutes outside, and I realized that my fingers felt a bit drafty. As I quickly discovered, the moths that had surreptitiously plagued our closets for months, not satisfied with my wooly winter sweaters, had feasted on my mittens as well. With cold weather and chunky knits initially on my mind, I strolled along Fifth to see what warm things I could find.

 Flirt | 93 Fifth Avenue | 718-783-0364 | flirt-brooklyn.com

 What first strikes you about Flirt—after the light red benches outside—is its décor. The boutique’s vibrant and floral wallpaper and collection of antique furniture demand your attention as much as their assortment of playful, girly accessories and unique apparel. The items here can be pricey, but for good reason: the products are high quality, and you’re supporting independent designers. Flirt also offers basic sewing, knitting and craft classes at their studio space. Visit their website for more information.

Flirt has a wonderful selection of hats and mittens, but these convertible fingerless owl mittens ($40) from Wooden Ships by Paola Buendia were my pick. I’m a sucker for critter designs, and the owl decoration is subtle enough that I wouldn’t feel silly wearing them out and about. The knit owl cap ($64), also from Wooden Ships, is the perfect complement to the mittens. Hats can be a tough sell for some ladies (myself included) but this one fits wonderfully, snugly and attractively.

Unlike the quatrefoil studs at another shop on a certain Fifth Avenue, these clover earrings ($36) are classy and fabulous without the unpalatable price tag. They’d make a lovely present, for someone you know or just yourself.

Cooking has quickly developed into a new hobby of mine, just in time for the holidays. On Thanksgiving I baked sugar cookies with my sister, and as the flour diffused all over our darkly colored dinner clothes I lamented not having covered up before we embarked on such a messy project. This poppy apron by Funktion ($48) is cute, fun, and great for throwing on over your holiday dress while you’re get getting ready for a dinner party.

-Caitlin O'Connell

Unsilent Night

Make Music New York, the annual celebration with over 1,000 free outdoor concerts on the first day of summer, is launching a dozen participatory musical parades on the first night of winter (December 21st) which will be open to all.

 A full list of events is available here, but Park Slope residents can participate locally by dropping by Grand Army Plaza, 18th Street and Fifth Avenue or Dean Street and Fifth Avenue at 6:30 PM. Each group will walk and converge on 4th Street and Fifth Avenue by 7:15ish and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies with Santa Claus.

Sound like fun? Be there!

Holiday Shopping

Well, there is still some time left to shop until Christmas and Hanukkah, but you'd better hurry!

When you head out to shop on Fifth, don't forget to pick up one of our handy All About Fifth Guides to help you find what you need. You can also view it online here.

Also, keep checking Brooklyn blogs like Brokelyn and FIPS for local gift ideas like:

* These Tattoos for Commitment-Phobes from Cog and Pearl.

* Gifts for Hippies, Dorks, Ballers, Breeders and Brooklyn Snobs via FIPS (see Fifth Avenue options on each page). *UPDATED: Design Gurus and Dog Obsessives

If, for some bizarre reason, you can't find what you are looking for on Fifth, consider keeping it local rather than hitting the nearest shopping mall. Consider:

* Brooklyn Holiday Markets: Who doesn't love a holiday market, if only to soak up the spirit of the season for a while? Plus, there's one on Fifth (Kings County General Store at SouthPaw)

* Do you like to shop online? Why not support local artisans and manufacturers like these on withlovefrombrooklyn.com?

 There, that should give you a few ideas. Oh, to help get you in the holiday mood, enjoy the photos, above, from the Fifth Avenue Holiday Tree Lighting event.

More Santa

It seems that St. Nick just can't get enough of Park Slope's Fifth Avenue!

Over the past two weeks, he has made appearances at Piramide and Alta Voce, as well as the Holiday Tree Lighting event. Next Sunday, he's scheduled at Melt (440 Bergen Street at Fifth Avenue) from 2 - 5 pm.

In addition (this just in), he's going to make a stop on Fifth Avenue's 7-11 on Saturday the 17th from 2-5. There will be Hot Chocolate and Santa will bring candy canes.

Maybe Santa should consider purchasing a Park Slope brownstone and stay awhile.

News Round-Up

Gowanus, Home of the Pop-up Cocktail [PS Patch]

Slew of Park Slope Restaurants Shuttered Due to Economic Slump [Brooklyn Ink]

Thanksgiving Day Fire Heroes Recognized [PS Patch]

One of Park Slope's Best Bars to Close [L Magazine]

Comida Hailed for Good Working Conditions [PS Patch]

BAX Holiday Party

This friday, December 9th, drop by the Brooklyn Arts Exchange for "A Night of Babysitting & Fun." Bring the kids in their jammies for a night of pizza, games, dance party, story time and lots of fun!

The event is staffed by experienced BAX Teaching Artists and the Fabulous BAXco Teens and serves as a FUNdraiser for Bax's teen dance company. Call 718-832-0018 to reserve your slot today! Admission is $40 per child. Siblings 2 for $60

 For more information, visit bax.org/holiday-pajama-party/.

Shopping with Caitlin: Lucia

Lucia | 272 Fifth Avenue | 718-788-7500 | www.shoplucia.com

Lucia is one of my favorite places to shop on Fifth. Their racks are stocked with a lovely selection of day-to-evening outfits (perfect for any upcoming office holiday parties!), not to mention some great options if you’re still searching for the perfect dress for New Years Eve. While browsing, keep an eye out for dresses by Ark & Co. I’ve found items by the brand consistently well fitting and always fabulous. At the time of posting, they still have one of these left!

The first dress I tried on was an adorable short-sleeve bird print dress by Peppermint ($68).  Lately I’ve been catching up on episodes of The New Girl, and the dress immediately reminded me something Zooey Deschanel’s character might wear. I’m a size Small, and the fit was comfortable if not a bit looser than I would normally prefer. A brown belt would pull it together nicely. 

Green is my favorite color, so I was excited to find this olive dress by Plum ($72). I loved this item because it’s nice enough to wear to the office but also fun enough that I’d be happy wearing it to a happy hour or dinner with friends after work.

I tend to avoid black dresses when I’m looking for new additions to my wardrobe, but this one by Jack ($92) is sweet enough to warrant an exception.  The capped lace sleeves and gathered waist add a touch of ladylike delicacy to the dress, while the ruched, fitted top and scooped neckline give it some sass.

-Caitlin O'Connell

Tonight: Holiday Tree Lighting

Tonight at 6 pm at S'Nice (Fifth Avenue & 3rd Street)! 

Santa and his helpers will be there with music from Rolie Polie Guacamole and the MS 51 Chorus. Be there, or you'll receive coal in your stocking. 

Recent Changes on Fifth

Well, the holiday lights are up, the banners have been installed and the Holiday Tree is up and ready to be lit.

What else is new on Fifth?

* Sai Thai Kitchen (437 Fifth Avenue) opened in the former Fatoosh space. We welcome them to Fifth Ave! Check out their website here.

* Glow Accessories (219 Fifth Avenue) opened between President and Union. This is the second outpost for Glow. Their first outpost is located on Seventh Avenue.

 * Kiku is taking the larger space formerly occupied by Babouche (2 Lincoln Place) and will close their current location when the transition is complete.

* PC Tech (337 9th Street) has closed.

 * Oko Frozen Yogurt and Tea (154 Fifth Avenue) closed this week. Details here.

* Great Lakes (284 Fifth Avenue) closed after what appeared to be a disagreement over rent.

Also, while it is not obvious from the street, there will be a big change on the avenue at the end of the month. Timboo's Bar, which has been open as a bar on the avenue for more than 60 years, will close its doors on December 31st.

We are sorry to see them go and wish the owners all the best.

News Round-Up

Dinner Partying [PS Patch]

Park Slope Boasts Booming Real Estate Market [The Brooklyn Ink]

SweetWolf's is Open! [PS Patch]

Park Slope Hosts First-Ever Jewish Wedding Expo [CBS]

Five Injured in Brooklyn Fire [NY Times]

BID Banners

If you take a stroll along Fifth Avenue between Dean and 18th Streets this week, you may notice a change if you look up at the light poles. The Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID is installing decorative banners to help mark the district and celebrate the holiday season.

Designs include artwork by Fifth Avenue artist Jonathan Blum and a series of banners depicting the 12 days of Christmas, installed near 1st through 12th streets.

Check out the designs, above.