News Round-Up

Off view: Little-known vista at risk, preservationist claims [Brooklyn Paper]

Brooklyn residents pay for Xmas tree at Prospect Park [NY Daily News]

Where to Buy Christmas Trees in Brooklyn [Patch]

Buy Handcrafted Gifts at Holiday Craft Fairs in Park Slope [Park Slope Stoop]

Also, the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID is looking for someone to play "Santa" at a couple of events: Dec. 15th in the South Slope & Dec. 22 in the North Slope. Interested? Email them info@parkslopefifthavenuebid.com!

Toys for Tots Drive

The 18th Annual Park Slope Civic Council Toy Drive has begun. This is a great opportunity to share the holiday spirit with those who are less fortunate. There is an extensive list of toy drop-off sites at parkslopeciviccouncil.org/toys-for-tots/.

Within the Fifth Avenue BID, drop off toys at:

-Council Member Brad Lander’s Office (456 Fifth Avenue)
-Prospect Park YMCA (357 Ninth Street)
-Has Beans (620 Fifth Avenue)
-Tabeel (76 Fifth Avenue)

Art Opening to Benefit MS 51

Here's a chance to do a good thing for our community, while enjoying some art and refreshments.

Tomorrow, November 29, 2012 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, drop by The Old Stone House for an art exhibit opening, Creature Comforts – New Work by Andrew Hornberger

Andrew Hornberger is the art teacher at Middle School 51 and his opening will benefit the Art Program at the school. Tickets are $25 and are available on-line. Get yours now!

For more details about the evening's events, click here.

By the way, students at MS 51 created the spring and summer banners that you may have seen hung on light poles along the avenue (photo right). The school has done great things for Fifth!

A Big Thank You!

A big Thank You to everyone who came out on Small Business Saturday this past weekend and made it a big success! You really showed support for your community, Park Slope!

An especially big thanks goes out to the merchants who participated in Saturday's Happy to Help Hour, to raise money for our neighbors in Red Hook. The list of participants is below. Remember, when you Shop Local, the money stays in the community and local community groups get more support. This is a perfect example! For a the complete list of reasons to shop local (in case you aren't convinced), click here.

Alchemy (56 Fifth Avenue)
Al di la (248 Fifth Avenue)
Aperitivo (279 Fifth Avenue)
Backyard (388 Fifth Avenue)
Baluchi (310 Fifth Avenue)
Belleville (330 Fifth Street)
Benchmark (339 Second Street)
Beygl (291 Fifth Avenue)
Bhoomki Boutique (158 Fifth Avenue)
Bogota (141 Fifth Avenue)
Campo di Fiori (187 Fifth Avenue)
Coco Roco (392 Fifth Avenue)
Du Jour Bakery (365 Fifth Avenue)
El Pollito Mexicano (119 Fifth Avenue)
Ginger's Bar (363 Fifth Avenue)
HiHo Batik (184 Fifth Avenue)
La Villa (261 Fifth Avenue)
Leopoldi Hardware (415 Fifth Avenue)
Lobo (188 Fifth Avenue)
Melt (440 Bergen Street)
M&S Meats (312 Fifth Avenue)
Piramide (499 Fifth Avenue)
Peppino's (469 Fifth Avenue)
Razor (329 Fifth Avenue)
Sidecar (560 Fifth Avenue)
South (629 Fifth Avenue)
Sky Ice (63 Fifth Avenue)
Stone Park Cafe (324 Fifth Avenue)
Surfish Bistro (351 Fifth Avenue)
Tacos Nuevo Mexico (489 Fifth Avenue)
Tabeel Aromatherapy and Gift (76 Fifth Avenue)
Two Lovers (227 Fifth Avenue)

Fifth Avenue Holiday Tree Lighting Event

Join the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID for their annual tree lighting event on Wednesday, December 5th at 6 PM at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 3rd Street (S'Nice). Santa and his helpers will be there as well the MS 51 Chorus. Plus, Rolie Polie Guacamole will be on hand to keep our feet moving. See you there!

Happy to Help Hour

Happy Small Business Saturday, everyone! Today is a big day to shop small and show your support for the type of businesses that make commercial strips like Park Slope's Fifth Avenue so great.

As an added bonus, shop, eat or drink at participating merchants on Fifth today, add $10 to your bill, and 100% of it will go to helping our neighbors in Red Hook via the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID.

Below is a list of participating merchants:

Alchemy (56 Fifth Avenue)
Al di la (248 Fifth Avenue)
Aperitivo (279 Fifth Avenue)
Backyard (388 Fifth Avenue)
Baluchi (310 Fifth Avenue)
Belleville (330 Fifth Street)
Benchmark (339 Second Street)
Beygl (291 Fifth Avenue)
Bhoomki Boutique (158 Fifth Avenue)
Bogota (141 Fifth Avenue)
Campo di Fiori (187 Fifth Avenue)
Coco Roco (392 Fifth Avenue)
Du Jour Bakery (365 Fifth Avenue)
El Pollito Mexicano (119 Fifth Avenue)
Ginger's Bar (363 Fifth Avenue)
HiHo Batik (184 Fifth Avenue)
La Villa (261 Fifth Avenue)
Leopoldi Hardware (415 Fifth Avenue)
Lobo (188 Fifth Avenue)
Melt (440 Bergen Street)
M&S Meats (312 Fifth Avenue)
Piramide (499 Fifth Avenue)
Peppino's (469 Fifth Avenue)
Razor (329 Fifth Avenue)
Sidecar (560 Fifth Avenue)
South (629 Fifth Avenue)
Sky Ice (63 Fifth Avenue)
Surfish Bistro (351 Fifth Avenue)
Tacos Nuevo Mexico (489 Fifth Avenue)
Tabeel Aromatherapy & Gift (76 Fifth Avenue)
Two Lovers (227 Fifth Avenue)

Stone Park Cafe will be making a donation. Thank you!

Black Friday

Welcome to the official beginning of the holiday season. It seems like only yesterday, we were sitting outside of a restaurant or bar on Fifth Avenue and soaking in the sun's rays. Doesn't it?

Of course today is Black Friday, the traditional day for high-volume, big-deal shopping. As always, though, we encourage you to take some time today to explore what Park Slope's Fifth Avenue has to offer. If you can't make it today, though, be sure to come down tomorrow for Small Business Saturday, the big day to shop small! Participating merchants will be taking $10 donations for Red Hook Relief between 3 and 7 pm. Look for posters along the avenue or check here tomorrow for a list of participating stores, bars and restaurants.

Happy Thanksgiving

- from the merchants of Park Slope's Fifth Avenue and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID.

Remember, if you are looking for a great spot to eat today, look no further than Fifth. Here is a list of restaurants that will be serving something special.

Santa and Slurpees

Well, it's about that time to start thinking about Santa, right after we stuff our faces on Thursday. This year, though, try thinking about Santa and Slurpees for the holidays!

On Sunday, December 16th from 11am - 2pm, Puppetry Arts will host a free Meet N' Greet with Santa Clause and puppet characters from the family musical FuzzBuckets at the 7 Eleven of Park Slope (520 Fifth Avenue).

Familes are invited to meet with Santa and take photos and spend time with fuzzy characters Grizzel, Vierde, and Tuffy Tiger. There will be FREE hot chocolate and hoiday prizes.

As part of this neighborhood outreach, Puppetry Arts is asking the community to invest in their mission and to make a donation by bringing their boxes, bags, and jars of loose change. With every drop off, neighbors will be entered to win a $50 Gift Card from 7 Eleven and a Free Puppet Making Workshop for the winner's classroom/school of their choice.

7 Eleven of Park Slope is also a drop off location for Toys For Tots during the holiday season. Bring your unwrapped toys on the 16th and make this Christmas great for your family, and many others. Oh, and have a Slurpee!

Thanksgiving on Fifth

Are you sticking around for Thanksgiving but you don't want to cook? Some of Fifth Avenue's restaurants will be open and serving special meals. Check out the list, below:

Fornino (256 Fifth Avenue): 3 Course, $35 meal. The menu is available here

Backyard (388 Fifth Avenue): open for drinks and snack menu.

Baluchis (310 Fifth Avenue): $45 dinner for 2 includes free drink. Download the menu here. Also, Baluchi's has been open in Park Slope for 4 years. As a special thanks to the neighborhood, they are offering a free drink to anyone who comes in over the whole weekend.

Alchemy (56 Fifth Avenue): has their regular menu (minus roast chicken) plus traditional Thanksgiving specials.

Miriam (79 Fifth Avenue): Organic turkey with pita stuffing! Make your reservations now at miriamrestaurant.com.

Fort Reno (669 Union Street): Smoked Heritage Turkey and more for $35. Download the menu here.

Blue Ribbon (280 Fifth Avenue): Serving their full menu, including sushi. Also offering a $42 3-course pre fix that includes butternut squash and cabbage soup, roast turkey breast and confit with chestnut black currant dressing, brussels sprouts and cranberry sauce, plus choice of pie.

Stone Park Cafe (324 Fifth Avenue): A special menu including organic free range turkey, pan roasted duck breast and more! $65. The full menu is available on their website

Palo Santo (652 Union Street): Three-course, $60 meal (kids half-price). Download the menu here.

An Educated Sip: Terroir Park Slope

Is Park Slope ready to be schooled about what they drink? Paul Grieco and Marco Canora seemed to think so when they opened the newest outpost of their beloved wine bars at 284 Fifth Avenue, in the former Great Lakes space. The ultra modern, yet comfortable establishment sets out to be the same as their other locations but with a more relaxed vibe that is distinctly Brooklyn. In other words, you are still encouraged to geek out about Riesling, but there’s more elbow-room in which to do it.

One of the distinguishing features of all the Terroirs is the carefully selected list of wines, championing small producers, lesser-known regions and eclectic styles such as vin jaune, sherry and yes, Riesling - of all levels from bone dry to sweet. Manager Allison Whittinghill explains that each location has its own focus and that Park Slope is more “communal” than the Manhattan locations. Customers have responded well to things like free glasses of sherry at happy hour (one per person) and are noticeably receptive to trying new wines. She says the neighborhood seems to have a ”built-in excitement” for going beyond their comfort zone to try new things.

When asked what she wanted to focus on for Park Slope, Whittinghill responded “Austria, Hungary and Greece” - three hot, up-and-coming regions that may not be as familiar to the average wine drinker. So far, response has been good. The selections will change as the bar gets settled. “We want to get a feel for the neighborhood, and morph into what it wants.”

One of the ways they have adapted from the get-go is to provide a back table that is lower than the others, so the strollerati crowd feels more comfortable (there is also a stroller rack to keep aisles clear.)

While they share many popular menu items with the other Terroir locations (such as fried beet risotto balls, cheeses and charcuterie), Park Slope has several unique offerings, in large thanks to having the space for their own meat smoker. Chef John LoManto has prepared new items such as grilled cheese with house smoked bacon, Brooklyn bangers hot dogs, house made terrine, house smoked pulled pork panini, Korean-style short ribs with kimchi and sweet and sour chicken wings. There are also wonderful homemade sweets such as olive oil cake, chocolate budino and panna cotta. Brunch is served on weekends from noon till 3, including pancakes that make Whittinghill (and others) swoon.

Their motto? It’s the “elitist wine bar for everyone.”

Please check the Terroir website for hours, which vary during the week and weekends.

- Amanda Schuster, peachesplums.blogspot.com/

News Round-Up

New School Zoning Plan Proposed in Brooklyn [NYT]

Rolling Stones Will Come to Barclays Center, After All [PS Patch]

City to Reinstate Alternate Side Parking Rules for Five Brooklyn Neighborhoods [NY Post]

Weekend Rails in Park Slope [PS Patch]

Rolling Stones Coming to Brooklyn

Okay, we're a little late to this story but we had to at least mention it.  The Rolling Stones have just announced that they will be playing the Barclay's Center on December 8th! The show is one of only 5 announced so far, in the world. It's a BIG deal.

This is pretty good news for Fifth Avenue Merchants near the arena. Of course, this assumes that Rolling Stones fans won't chase after the tour bus like Justin Bieber's fans recently did.

Happy to Help Hour

This year, Small Business Saturday (November 24th) is going to be morphed into a special fundraising effort on Park Slope's Fifth Avenue. Between 3pm and 7pm, merchants will be holding a "Happy to Help Hour" to collect donations of $10.00, which will be donated through the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID to help victims of Hurricane Sandy in nearby Red Hook.

In addition, look for Small Business Saturday specials, holiday treats and even a sidewalk sale! Small Business Saturday on Park Slope's Fifth Avenue is truly a big day to shop small!

Fifth Avenue Food for Red Hook

Fifth Avenue restaurants are stepping up to the plate to help displaced Red Hook residents get a hot, healthy meal. Organized by The Old Stone House, Park Slope Parents and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID, more than a dozen restaurants will be preparing meals that will be delivered to the Red Hook Initiative at their meal distribution center located at Calvary Baptist Church (773 Hicks Street) on a daily basis.The need for high protein hot meals in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy is on-going while Red Hook residents remain without power and adequate housing.

Contributing Restaurants so far:

Sidecar
7-11
Peppino's
Daisy's Diner
5th Avenue Diner
Rachel's Taqueria
Chip Shop
Baluchi's
Bonnie's Grill
La Villa
Trois Pommes
Fornino
Al di la
Bogota Latin Bistro
Miriam
El Viejo Yayo

Veterans Day

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
-- John Fitzgerald Kennedy

A big thank you to our veterans from the merchants of Fifth Avenue and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID.

News Round-Up

Red Hook Hurricane Relief Efforts [Red Hook Initiative]

This Sandy Relief Amazon Registry is a Great Way to Get Supplies to Far Rockaway [FIPS]

Pork Slope Raffling Off Nets Tickets to Help Flooded Neighbors [Park Slope Stoop]

His and Hers Social and Athletic Club Gutted [Here's Park Slope]

 FIPS' Ultimate 5th Ave South Bar Crawl [FIPS]

Music Ecologies at The Old Stone House

Tonight at 8:00 at The Old Stone House, an evening of music and conversation with Miya Masaoka - musician, composer and sound artist. Miya has used instruments, electronics, insects and even her own body to create music, so this event is not to be missed.

Tonight's performance is part of Musical Ecologies, a new monthly symposium on music and sound held every 2nd Thursday at the Old Stone House. Each event focuses on a single artist who presents a work or project either in the form of a talk or lecture, a multimedia presentation, a performance, or combination thereof. Each presentation is preceded by a 30-minute conversation with the curator and audience. Admission is by contribution and a reception will follow.

To learn more about Miya, go to miyamasaoka.com.

New York Comedy Festival

With the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the election and today's nor'easter storm, we bet you could use a laugh, right? Well, luckily, the New York Comedy Festival begins today through November 11th.

Tonight at 8pm at Union Hall:

TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
HOSTED BY VICTOR VARNADO (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night w/ Conan O'Brien, The Awkward Comedy Show)
WITH: JANEANE GAROFALO
LIAM MCENEANEY (from Showtime, Comedy Central, Vh1)
FRANK CONNIFF ("TV's Frank" from Mystery Science Theater 3000)
TANYA O'DEBRA (is filled with confetti AND funfetti )
 and House Band: AM TO AM

Tickets are only $10, so get them before they run out! If you miss this show, though, you can still catch a couple of New York Comedy Festival Shows at Union Hall this week:

Tomorrow, 11/8: Dark Lords of Comedy and 11/11 The Party Machine.

For a full list of New York Comedy Festival shows, go to nycomedyfestival.com/schedule/.

Happy Election Day

Alright, Park Slope. The day has come! It’s your civic duty to vote on Election Day, so get out there and get it done!

While you are out, though, don't forget to support local businesses on the Avenue! Here are a couple of specials you should be aware of (two of which directly benefit Hurricane Sandy victims):

Lobo Park Slope (at 188 5th Ave) is donating a portion of all their proceeds to the Red Cross from 11am to 11pm to support those affected by Hurricane Sandy. They serve Tex Mex brunch (including some fabulous migas!) till 3pm, and a menu that offers favorites such as tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, fried chicken and burgers all day. A house specialty is their fresh juice margaritas, which are also available in flavors such as blood orange and passion fruit, and can be mixed with infused tequilas such as ginger and chipoltle chili. In addition, there’s beer on tap, wine, sangria and a whole back bar to choose from. Kid friendly at the tables too! Follow them on Twitter @Lobobrooklyn

If you don’t have time to shop in person, or you just prefer buying clothing and accessories online, Teddy(89 5th Avenue) is generously donating 10% of all online profits from shopteddy.com plus an equal company match to the American Red Cross relief efforts for the rest of this year. Follow them on Twitter @shopteddy

Finally, there are lots of great Fifth Avenue bars to watch the election results in. However, if you are looking for something more substantial/sophisticated, drop by Melt (440 Bergen Street) for a prix fixe Election Day menu by Chef Michael with specialty cocktails by Head Bartender Kim. All can be enjoyed while the TV is tuned in to “the best possible coverage.” Reservations accepted at 718-230-5925.

Details: 

Happy Hour Until the Polls Close (in New York)
$6 House Wine $3 Draft Beers

Prix Fixe Menu   

The Red $20.12
Glass of Marche Rosso
Lamb Burger Grilled 8 oz. Ground Lamb, Rosemary Goat Cheese,
Balsamic Reduction, Baby Arugula, Herb Mayo, Fries
Chocolate Bread Pudding Dark Chocolate Chips and Amaretto Whipped Cream   

The Blue $20.12 
Glass of Pinot Grigio
Roasted Organic Chicken Fennel-Dusted Asparagus, Paprika Smoked Potatoes, Pan Jus
Tres Leches Bread Pudding Toasted Pistachio and Pineapple

November Calendar and Hurricane Relief

The Fifth Avenue Merchant Calendar for November has been updated. This is a difficult time for everyone, so please make sure to take some time out to support your local stores, bars and restaurants. [CALENDAR LINK].

On the hurricane relief front, the Park Slope Chamber of commerce is collecting items to help those affected by the storm. They are especially interested in gathering items to help keep people warm and dry, as we are expecting a strong Nor'easter storm to come through on Wednesday. Details on their drive are available at shopseventh.com.

Also, as we mentioned on Friday, the Old Stone House is working with Park Slope Parents to collect funds to purchase bulk supplies of underwear, socks, towels, water, ice etc. for Brooklyn shelters and evacuees. Make a donation to the effort at brownpapertickets.com/event/293089.

Finally, the blog Here's Park Slope posted a pretty comprehensive list of ways to help. Check out the list here.

Ways to Help

If you're looking for ways to help in local relief efforts, our neighbors in Red Hook could use the assistance.  Red Hook Initiative is doing a great job of coordinating efforts there. And they could use supplies, volunteer time and donations. Visit them here.

Also, take a look at Here's Park Slope for additional ways to help!

Small Business Saturday

Now that we're in November, we just wanted you to make sure that you Save the Date:

Wednesday, November 24th, it's Small Business Saturday! It's a Big Day to Shop Small!