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)