New Blog: PLOG

Hey y'all! When I started this thing Carrie and Charles at Hawthorne Street gave me a plug and my readership shot up (a good thing?). Now it's time for me to pay it forward. (Here's a pic of the poster featuring the delightful Kevin Spacey from the film of the same name, for no apparent reason, without credit, and without endorsement of its filmic virtues):

So seriously, check out PLOGNYC, Prospect Lefferts Gardens' latest entry into our "where do you find time to write all that crap anyway?" sweepstakes. So far so good PLOG! I particularly like the scoop on the Lincoln Park Tavern barkeep who "mysteriously" fell down 30 stairs. Thankfully, no casualties, and the "Cheers"-like good times continue to flow.

With a nod to confession, I gotta say "been there, done that." Though with me it was a loft bed and the mystery needed no Encyclopedia Brown. The empty bottle of Jagermeister covered in blood said it all. Godspeed Mr. Barkeep. This middle-aged man is glad those days are now but his salad daze.

Next up: what upscale block near the Q at Parkside now boasts a high-end Pawn Shop to go with its fancy vegetarian pan-asian bistro and hipster Christian accessories boutique?

Roll Out the Barrels

This time of year, we Middlebushers are likely to encounter more of these shipping barrels than usual. If you know what I'm talking about, then you can skip to the link below if you missed the awesome slide-show piece in the NY Times this weekend.

But if you're scratching both your heads right now, wondering what I'm talking about, don't be alarmed. I was flummoxed myself when I first emigrated to Flatbush Caledonia. You've probably seen these big containers though - through the windows of various shops on Flatbush Avenue, or maybe someone rolling one down the street on a hand cart. They're the cheapest and most common way to ship things to the Caribbean. You can send a whole barrel full of goodies to family for less than $100 (sometimes MUCH less), making them the preferred method of transport for Christmas goodies heading to Jamaica, Guyana, both Turks AND Caicos...etc., etc.

NY Times On Shipping Xmas

For those of us lucky enough to live on the 19th Century side of the park, the Leffert's Historic Farmhouse is a great way to relive those glory days of old. Check out the plan for this weekend:

‘Winter on a Flatbush Farm’ (Saturday and Sunday) Flatbush certainly doesn’t resemble farming territory these days, but Lefferts Historic House, the farmhouse museum in Prospect Park, will recreate the atmosphere and activities of the 19th century in this weekend celebration. Children can learn how to make candles, begin a patchwork quilt, harvest cabbage and whip up sauerkraut. And on Sunday at 3 p.m., St. Nicholas will visit. From 1 to 4 p.m., Children’s Corner of Prospect Park, Willink entrance, Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, , (718) 965-8999, prospectpark.org; free.

I'm a fan of the Leffert's House. But if I may make a suggestion for a future exhibition: "Leading Causes of Death of the Early 19th Century."

I've always wondered what it would be like to suffer from smallpox - it would be great to have some sort of reenactment. Who remembers the devastating effects of cholera? Lots of folks died from influenza or diarrhea - might be cool to see some accurately dressed actors living through that, realistically, in the flesh. Perhaps some sort of "infant mortality" exhibit - that felled more than 25% of babies back then, and lots of moms too. And you really had to watch out for accidents - without any antibiotics a simple flesh wound from chopping wood could lead to amputation or lethal infection.

Yes sir, if the Q were running that Lefferts House, things would really be different. For now though, feel free to bring the kids and have a joyful time!

Big Thanks for Little Thangs

Thanking G%D for Small Miracles: Like Truth in Advertising.

Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake.
Bake Place Man
Bake Me a Cake (Donut) as Fast As You Can



The real bakery is three doors down at Jamaican Pride. Thanks, DD, for callin' it like it is - your humility is endearing.

Happy Thanksgiving Neighbors!

Xmas Comes Early to Middlebush

Don't feel like an ugly stepchild. Embrace the fact that PLG is just one of your many home-hoods. Sure you live in Lefferts, or Caton Park, or Parade Grounds, or Parkside, or Caledonia or even as my Guyanese next door neighbor says when asked what neighborhood she lives in -- "Kings Couwuunty."

We're all part of Middlebush, and just for living here I'm bringing you the Middlebush Discount, courtesy of FABID:



The Flatbush Avenue BID has already festooned the 'bush from Parkside to Cortelyou with lights and decorations. They've been up for a couple weeks, but now they've come alive. You may be jaded, but my little niece from Tallahassee was entranced by the sounds and sights of Flatbush when she visited last December. The crazy competing musics, the flashy displays, the suicidal dollar vans, the salons bursting with cackles -- and now get 10% off at a lot of places you've probably never shopped at. C'mon y'all. If this doesn't get your ass into Timmy's Stride Rite, Weekend for Ladies, or Daniella Zerky then you're simply not helping revive the economy like you promised.

Ask not what your country can buy for you, ask what you can buy for your country. Or at least for your little niece from Tallahassee.

Artist Wanted - Time for New Public Art for the Q at Parkside

I'll set aside the fact that what the Q at Parkside REALLY needs is a total rehab. Our station is a disgrace - it's potential for adorableness is enormous, but the MTA clearly doesn't consider us a priority. However, we ARE a priority in one area. Dynishal over at PLeGNA hipped me to a $5,000 grant for which our home train station is "priority" designated. Time to imagine the time when we'll wax nostalgic over the beguiling triangular mural by Specter, the artist formerly known as Gabriel Reese. His piece was to remain for 11 months. I for one am glad it's still there after a year, amazingly unadorned by graffiti. It's time, though, to turn over the keys to glory.

I'm certainly not cut out for the job. I'm a lot of things: father, fundraiser, songwriter, blogger, shredder, excellent speller...but one thing I ain't is a visual artist. So I implore y'all:

LET'S FIND A KICKIN NEW ARTIST FOR THE NEXT ROUND. SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS HERE, EITHER AS A COMMENT (public) OR TO ME PERSONALLY (private) at timothyjamesthomas@gmail.com. I'm happy to shepherd the project and proposal and make sure we get at least one super-cool idea in to the DOT. But I'm also MORE than happy to step aside. What's involved? The proposal is due January 7, 2011. The requirements include the artists previous experience, photos and renderings. That's a lot by the top of the new year! So please, consider send a link to this post far and wide. The City's got a buttload of artists perfectly suited for this kind of thing. Where are they? And who feels like going into the butt to find them?

Just to prove that I'm not the man for the job, my big idea was to take the large cement space and turn it into a paean to Mann's Chinese Theater. We could get the handprints of our own celebrities, like Pepa, Mansoob, Balde Koin, Umma, Moses Fried, both Duane and Reade, Sammy from the Pioneer, that crazy crackhead lady who stole MJMcBee's bicycle, Popeye, the Canners of Parkside, Nelson, the Honorable A. Shoemaker, Charles Starr, Bob Marvin, CeeLeeDee, Babs, Dr. Cuts, Dunebuggy, Struggs...the list of local celebs reads like a who's who of local celebs.

You know what they say...if you can't do the job right...window dress!!!!

5 Reasons to Start Going to Your Precinct Council Meetings

1. Two Dollar Turkeys!
At last night's 71st Precinct Meeting (it's YOUR meeting by the way, and open to ALL y'all), the highly entertaining nattily dressed Council President Karl Cohen and the boys raffled off $2 Turkeys donated by community merchants.
2. Get to Know Your Cops!
Living in NYC you're going to have issues with crime from time to time. Sometimes it's serious; sometimes it's just Quality of Life stuff like NLGs (noise, loitering, graffiti). Get to know the guys (and some ladies) who respond to your 911 or 311 calls. It really does make you feel safer to know there are actual people on the other end.
3. Let the Cops Get to Know YOU!
At most precinct meetings, a smattering of people show up - beyond those semi-required to be there, like local officials and their reps. Ask questions. Stay after and get into it with the precinct commander. He's actually very approachable, and despite some of the cops' Staten Island pedigree, they're really very nice people who've taken the time to get to know their constituents. As you can see, I'm trying hard to lose my prejudice against our brothers and sisters from across the Harbor.
4. You're On the Outer Edge of a Precinct - Don't Let Them Forget Us!
It gets complicated. The North side of Clarkson and up, and the north and east of Ocean/Woodruff, is the 71st. The South side of Clarkson heading west and south is the 70th. South and East of Bedford/Clarkson it's the 67th. Here's a map: Precinct Map. So even though you and I are truly neighbors, we're forever torn asunder by this freak of gerrymandering. That means we're like Uranus - way out in the hinterland with a funny name that people like to make fun of. For instance, the 71st Precinct is located at Empire and New York Avenue. Most of the active members of the Community Board 9 and the Precinct Council are based in CROWN HEIGHTS. Say what you will about our bastard neighborhood around the Q at Parkside - but it sure as hell ain't CROWN HEIGHTS. The Heights of Crown are home to a large Lubavitcher community that does a great job of representin' at the meetings, as well they should. There's a lot lighter turnout from PLG, though I gotta hand it to Babs - she was right there in the fray last night clutchin' her ticket like Charlie hoping for a trip to Chocolate Factory!
5. You Get ACTUAL Emails of Your Cops!
I know it's hard to pick up the phone and call the precinct out of the blue. Most of us have become notoriously phone-shy. Now that NYPD uses its own email system, the officers have their own addresses. Vinny Martinos, our head Community Affairs guy, is even putting together an email list to send out a newsletter. Welcome to the 21st Century Guys! Here's two key 71st precinct folks:
Vincent.Martinos@NYPD.org - for Community Affairs matters, or to talk about general stuff
Michael.Falk@NYPD.org - he's in charge of the beat cops on the ground.

See you all, er, those North and East of the corner of Ocean and Woodruff, at the next meeting? It's held the third Thursday of every month at MS61 on the SW corner of Empire and NY Ave. I think I heard that they were going to move the Dec meeting to the 15th...anybody else hear that? I was busy texting somebody when they said it. Remember, I'm not a journalist! Carrie and Charles over at Hawthorne Street are WAY better at getting their facts straight. And that Monk's Trunk is outa sight! Don't let the lack of a storefront put you off. Once you're in there you'd think you at a posh shop on Carnaby street in London. Cheerio!

Kreations' Kuts KO Kompetition

Out of habit I've been going to the same barbers for a few years. My wife told me awhile back it was "time to make a relationship with a barber." This was after one too many of her hack jobs, after which my gratitude was not suitably overflowing. The Q was allergic to haircuts prior to his 30th birthday, so it's fair to say he's fairly new to the whole spend money to deal with your hair thing. The $15 cut from Park Slope Barbers always seemed fair; the ambiance was pure 1950s, and the music was always spot on apropos. I could never tell the two brothers apart; one could cut hair pretty good and carry a tune, and the other could do neither. So it was a crap shoot every time I went in there. They love Nat King Cole and Sam Cooke...the brother who could carry a tune has the strangest singing impediment I've ever heard. He anticipates the record by about two beats, so he's constantly singing the line BEFORE the singer on the record. Very disarming. But cute, in a $15 haircut kinda way.

But I feel silly getting my white hair cut by mediocre white guys way across the park when I live right off Scissor Alley. So at 9PM tonight I set out for Dr. Cuts up past the Sushi joint, figuring that even if the Doctor wasn't in, at least I could find out if he takes my insurance. On my way there, though, I passed by this place:



There were three guys in there and a little boy, maybe four years old, in one of the barber chairs getting ALL his hair taken off. I mean bald. I know that's a look and everything, but it kinda blew my mind. But here's what finally sealed the deal. They were all looking up at the TV which was blasting an Eminem video (My Name is...My Name is...). I figured that was a sign from the Hair Gods, and I sauntered in.

Barber number 2 seemed ready to rumble, and I sat down at his chair. We exchanged pleasantries, me with my slight drawl, he with his Jamaican (maybe Grenadian) lilt. I said "funny you guys pumping the Eminem" and he joked "just for you." From that moment I knew I was in good hands. When he told me a straight cut was $12 (going rate around here) I had nothing to lose, and at the very least I'll get to watch some videos (Fuse was playing a Top 20 of Eminem Videos - like I even knew he had that many singles!).

Y'all he spent nearly an hour on my head. I gave him a $20 and said keep the change, because frankly, I had more fun sitting in that chair watching whacked out Dre & Em videos and watching one kid after another get his hair did (isn't it a school night?) than the last five years of Kuts Kombined. I may have to try the Dr. (Cuts, not Dre) next time just for due diligence. But I'm sold. Lest you think I jest, here's the before and after:

The Knucklehead Theory

If your block is a lot like mine, there are roughly 1,000 people who call it home. That's not an exaggeration; it's the truth based on simple math. A lot of the larger apartment buildings around here have 60-80 apartments in them, on average 3 people per. So unless you're a "Manor" block, you've got some serious density. It's amazing we get along as well as we do - really. Every block has a few bad apples though, making it rough on the rest of the bushel.

The Q has a theory he's peddling - he calls it The Knucklehead Theory, and its been born out by 22 years of NYC neighborhood observation. Everywhere in NYC it's a few knuckleheads - drug dealers, gang members, delinquents, sociopaths - that make the block feel unsafe or dangerous. They might not ACTUALLY be dangerous people, but they thrive on making the rest of us feel nervous. It's true, that they might be armed, and occasionally, they really are "bad" people; but for the most part they're harmless if left unprovoked. These men (anyone want to argue that they're men?) eventually wear out their welcome in one way or other, and end up getting kicked out by their mothers or girlfriends, end up in jail, or even dead. A few might even get kicked around enough by life that they end up mending their ways; but if they're past a certain age, change is pretty unlikely.

So we're stuck with them, the knuckleheads. But that doesn't mean we can't keep an eye on them. There's a little gaggle of knuckleheads on my block that I keep my eye on. And yeah, the cops know about them. They deal right in broad daylight, and I should probably be all scared that they're going to read this.

But you know what? If you guys DO read this, do yourselves a favor and take the drug dealing indoors, like the coke dealers in the fancier neighborhoods do (I've heard they'll deliver, and even bring some bagels). The cops have you pegged and it's really not cool to be showing off your felonies in front of a bunch of impressionable young kids. You may not have been given a fair chance, and you might feel you have no choice but to join a gang, but please don't take a chance away from someone else by drawing them into your bullshit.

Oh, and curb your damn dogs. I'm fine with the loud music - it IS NYC after all. Just not after 11, okay?

The "Other" Side of the Park

The other side of the park is no place to walk around after dark. But now I'm starting to think that neither of those sketchy neighborhoods - neither Park Slope nor the decidedly hipper Prospect Heights - are safe at any time of day. The below was taken from the 77th precinct blotter via YourNabe:

An unhinged patron smashed a plate glass window at Yummy Taco on Flatbush Avenue on Nov. 6, injuring an employee taking a lunch break.

The 15-year-old broke the window in a fit of rage at 4:15 pm. Shards of glass showered over the 56-year-old employee, leaving him with cuts to his cheek and arm, said police, who charged the teen with assault.

Seems an honest person can't grab a yummy taco these days without fear of random violence.

Speaking of Chinese Food, when my old lady was pregnant back in late '08 she had quite the yen for Zen Vegetarian House on Flatbush 'tween Clarkson and Lenox. It had just opened, and we were among the first to brave its odd but pleasantly well-designed awning. Hey, it may not be the best Chinese Food in a city of 50,000 Chinese restaurants. But it's pretty dang good, though I'll never understand why a vegetarian would want to eat something called chicken, even if it IS meatless. But don't take my word for it. A gaggle of you Caledonians gave it reviews on Yelp, so I'll let you do the yapping.

Zen Vegetarian House Reviews

Voss der Impostor

The Gourmet Deli at Flatbush and Fennimore is making some pretty heady claims:



Not sure about that sandwich (that IS what they mean by hero, yes?) But VOSS water the best on all of Flatbush? Despite the fancy bottle and the fancy price tag, turns out this favorite waste of resources to the rich and famous is actually just Norwegian tap water, despite its bogus claims of Artesian exclusivity. This just in from the unsubstantiated nether-regions of the internets, and then of course corroborated by the always authoritative Wikipedia:

In October 2010, Norwegian television station TV 2 showed a documentary film highlighting the fact that the water bottled by Voss is tap water from the municipal water supply in Iveland. TV 2 also claimed to prove that the water source was not, in fact, artesian, as the marketing of Voss water claims. The website of Voss water claims that the water source is "protected from pollutants by layers of rock and ice". There is in fact no permanent ice in the vicinity of the water source. Voss water responded with a statement on its website challenging TV 2's claims. The company also employed a high profile Norwegian solicitor to consider legal action against TV 2. The TV channel in turn responded that they stood by all the statements made in the film.

Hamilton Blues

You're on the run, grabbing some doubles and roti and a bottle of Ting, not a second to spare to get back home for the final episode of "So You Think You Can Fish" when you reach into your purse or pocket and realize you spent your last ten spot on a decaf double macchiato. With just $15 in your checking account, you figure you're screwed. But look! It's a miracle!!:



You can pull out a sawbuck, tip your Trinidadian chef and be home in time for the first drop of a lure.

While the above scenario has probably happened to you a dozen times, I'd like to remind us all how totally predatory it all is. Not the fishing, mind you. The ATM machine in question wants $3.00 for the privilege of giving you your Hamilton. Since presumably this plastic ATM model GE7459 is not a branch of your regular bank, your actual financial institution will charge an average of $2.00 for your cheating on it with another machine. Folks, that a 50% charge for YOUR money.

Of course this doesn't run afoul of New York's usury laws. Even though it is illegal for someone to charge you more than 16% annual interest for a loan, the perverse situation in question is actually the opposite. You're being charged for YOUR money. Guess the mattress is looking pretty good right now.

Maybe cash deters bedbugs?

Know Thy Neighbor - Celeste Lacy Davis

In a series I'm calling Know Thy Neighbor, I'm embarking on an experiment to get to know y'all better. The rules are simple: to be profiled, you must live or work in the greater North Flatbush area. The boundaries are somewhat malleable, but for sake of simplicity let's say Empire to the North, New York to the East, Church to the South, and Parade Grounds or PP Park to the West. Some might ask why I feel the need to include such a large swath of territory, but to those who've come to call this neck of the woods home, I think you'll see the logic. If not...start your own damn blog! Each person I profile will suggest another profilee, so I don't end up profiling ONLY people I know or meet myself. Sound fair? Let's go!

Yesterday I spent the better part of the afternoon with a fascinating woman named Celeste Lacy Davis. Celeste owns one of the glorious limestone townhouses along Ocean Avenue. She and her neighbors recently won landmark status for their homes - the Ocean on the Park District. It's made up of the 9 remaining houses; had it not been for their work, the area might soon have been a giant construction site a la the apartment building going up to their north.

Say hello to Celeste, pictured here this afternoon in front of her gorgeous home:
Her story has more twists and turns than the Cyclone, but as one hears the narrative of her life unfold, there's a certain circuitous logic to it all. A lifelong New Yorker, Celeste's mother was a guiding force in her budding activism. She's tells a great story of how her misbehaving led to being dragged by her mom to the 1964 Democratic Convention, and she joined the Civil Rights struggle in earnest from that day forward. She took another "left" turn while at Syracuse University and by the early 70's, she was running with the colorful and charismatic characters of the day. She and her husband had a wonderful baby girl named Njemile, and in many ways Celeste's activist life tracked the great convulsions of late 20th Century world politics. As she put it, those were heady times.

A bit of disillusionment later, Celeste found herself looking at an odd advertisement from The New School that said "How to Become a Lawyer in 6 Sessions - $35." Apparently the course was well taught, because within a few years she had graduated CUNY Law -- public interest law of course. Doors opened wide for her in litigation, advocacy and academia. Among her proudest achievements was her work for Planned Parenthood preparing the fabled PP vs. Casey, which narrowly saved the gist of Roe v Wade before a decidedly conservative Supreme Court. She met and worked with many of her heroes through the years. Perhaps inevitably though, she found that many people don't live up to standards of their ideals, including people dedicated to social justice. That tough lesson hardly deters her from her deeply held convictions in the power of people to create change through solidarity.

From 1988 she's been a proud resident of PLG. She shares the unease of some longtime residents regarding changes in the neighborhood, but she knows that she too was once the newcomer. We both commiserated on how some new folks don't want to engage with their neighbors. Eye contact, anyone? Nothing wrong with saying howdy; the worst that can happen is puzzled indifference. And she emphasizes that the story of PLG is NOT equivalent to the story of Lefferts Manor. While she harbors no ill will to the Manor, she feels its important to recognize that the neighborhood should be and feel more inclusive than just the "Lefferts Covenant" area designated by the City. My feeling is, if the Q at Parkside is your hometrain, you're my neighbor, neighbor. And for the sake of togetherness, even you Lincoln Roadsters feel like extended family! (Don't forget to send holiday cards this year.)

Beyond her leadership roles at non-profits, Celeste started a gallery out of her home called the Imarisha Art House that hosted a number of highly regarded shows in the late '90's early 00's. In fact her beautiful parlor floor, a doctor's office once, is still set up as a gallery. As we spoke in the back of that floor you could hear the rumble of our beloved Q/B behind her house. There have been some rough spots in her life lately, but some very cool stuff is on the horizon. Stay tuned. Celeste Lacy Davis is just getting started, y'all.

New Q at Parkside Feature! ASK BOB!!

I don't know if you all know Bob Marvin, but he's a delightfully ubiquitous presence on the blogosphere and a wonderful booster for all things PLG. Regarding my post the other night about a mysterious old sign touting a PLGNA Security Patrol he had this to say:

"There was indeed a PLGNA Security Patrol in the late '70s--early '80s. IIRC they got a grant to buy (or lease) a van to patrol in. It seems to have been organized as a response to the far more active and long-lived CNIS (Committee for Neighborhood Improvement and Safety) which existed from the late '70s through the early or mid '90s. CNIS was an organization that paid for a professional patrol, using various security companies over the years. It covered (IIRC) all of Lefferts Manor plus Parkside, between Flatbush & Bedford and, possibly a few other blocks.

When it started CNIS needed half of the residents in their coverage area to subscribe (at $200/household/year--a substantial sum 30+ years ago). For that price you got a security patrol, monitoring of home burglar alarms, and separate car that took people home from the Lincoln Road subway station (for which there was an additional charge, after the first few years). Subscribers got a door sticker and a special red light to put in their windows, but everyone on the covered blocks benefited from the patrol.

You ask whether this security function was something the NYPD should have done. Of course (minus the car service from the subway) it should have, but these were the days following NYC's "Fiscal Crisis"--a near brush with municipal bankruptcy--which led to lots of cutbacks in all services. There was a considerable increase in street crime and burglaries. When I moved to PLG in 1974 it was safe--far safer than Park Slope, where I had lived earlier (although some of my South Slope neighbors, from whom I was glad to escape, were no doubt reassured that their local thugs were white :-) ). A few years later PLG was still relatively safe but, especially in the aftermath of the violent looting following the '77 blackout, people were getting scared.

By the early '90s conditions had greatly improved (IMO due largely to the Dinkins administration's "community policing") and it became increasingly difficult to collect the money for an expensive operation like CNIS, leading to the organization's being disbanded."

editor's note: BTW, If I recall correctly, IIRC stands for "If I recall correctly."

Neighborhood Teen Goes Missing: Seen him?

One of our young male neighbors has disappeared and police need our help. I know it's a longshot, but it's breaking my heart, so here goes:



The NYPD is asking for the public's help finding Ricardo Jean-Pharuns, 17, of 475 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn. He was last seen on November 5 at 283 Adams Street, Brooklyn, wearing a blue shirt, black pants, and black sneakers. He is described as 5'7" and 150 pounds. If you have any information as to his whereabouts, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). All calls are strictly confidential.

Crime Held at Bay by Rusty Sign

Now that time is back to its natural state, unburdened by the legislated extra hour known as DST, winter is truly here. Screw what the calendar says. The Q says it started today, with sleet slowing the subways and the cruel dark night greeting us as we emerged out of the Q at Parkside. Settle in folks, it's time to get cozy.

The early eve light revealed one curiosity however. Take a peek at this old sign on Flatbush between Parkside and Winthrop:
One of you "old-timers" has got to help me out here. I'm pretty sure this says "This Area Patrolled by Prospect Lefferts Gardens Neighborhood Association Security Patrol." Love that graphic! The sun, cloud and snowflake really complete the picture. But what the Sam Hill is going on here? Was there really a PLeGNA Security Patrol at some point? And what happened to them? Or was this sign an idle threat meant to scare away the more timid gangsters and thieves?

(I trust you all attended PLeGNA's General Meeting tonight at the Church of the Evangel. I couldn't go - I had Little Miss FlatBed and darned if she's not quite ready to behave in accordance with Robert's Rules.)

So I leave the comments open to you with some questions for your input:

1. Was there really a PLeGNA nabe patrol?
2. Isn't that what the cops are supposed to do de rigeur?
3. Do the drug dealers on my block drive a Ford Taurus to throw us off? Or are they just really inept drug dealers who can't afford a nicer car?
4. Is Seven Brothers discount store really owned by seven brothers? Cuz I only ever see two, and I don't think it's named after the Finnish novel by Aleksis Kivi or the delightful MGM musical from the 1950's.

In an Earthquake, Heads will Roll

How many people get to see this each time they walk out their door and round the corner? There's something eerie about all those heads - the lighting is super-bright, and there's a wig-helper-lady standing at the door, ready to help you with all your wigging needs. She wears that little apron, and I wonder what she keeps in its pockets. And are synthetic "half-wigs" for people who are "half-bald?" Of course I could just go in and ask, but I don't want to kill the mystery of this place, near as it is to the Sneaker King. Speaking of sneaking, remember the blackout from 2003? That night, hooligans looted the Sneaker King...almost no other store was touched. Makes sense really. Shoes are among those things that retain much of their value out on the street. From our back window you could hear kids running through the alley, one saying "I got enough for the WHOLE year!" How many pairs do you suppose that was? I haven't a clue.

Speaking of one-year spans, I'm so sick of that "Year of..." fad in nonfiction. You know what I mean. The author sets out to do something unusual for a whole year, and apparently that's reason enough to land a book deal. "The Year of Eating Dangerously," "The Year of No Carbon Footprint," "The Year of No Internet" (really? that counts?), "The Year of Using No Buttons or Zippers, only Velcro" and what have you. I've got one though. "The Year of Never Leaving Caledonian Flatbush." Really, it's all here. Hell you could live your whole life and never travel more than two or three blocks in any direction. I'm not saying it would be a particularly fulfilling life, but you could get all of life's essentials within a few hundred feet. You'd need a job, of course. Maybe Gem is hiring?

Speaking of the Gem, Merry Christmas! Judging by its window display and the decorations along Flatbush, Christmas must be any day now...

First Class Security

Ever look up? When I first came to NYC 23 years ago I did my best not to set my gaze to the heavens, for fear of being branded a tourist. These days, I could give a rat's ass, and I notice stuff all the time. Like the above NYPD security camera. Where would YOU put one? If you guessed right outside "First Class Liquors" on Flatbush between Parkside and Winthrop, you guessed right. But did you really know it was called First Class Liquors? It's pretty much a single malt scotch joint, so they got the name right.

Who's watching that thing? Or are they just recording in case something "goes down?" Call me crazy, but I'd rather see some of the blue uniforms in person than know some snoring cop is watching a few miles away. And have you noticed how young the new cops look? Were they always that young and I just got older? There was a really tall and super skinny cop at the Q at Parkside the other night. I didn't mean to, but I burst out laughing. Seriously, he was pale white and maybe 6' 7" and his hips could barely hold up his holster. I'm pretty sure those were acne scars too. He was with a really pretty black woman cop, and the two made such a hilarious couple I wanted to write a godawful Hollywood screenplay about them. "When Foxy Met Gomer" I'd call it.

Let me know where the other security cameras are, so I'll know where not to stand when I'm selling my cracks. And speaking of looking up, how much money is in it for landlords when they sell rooftop space for cell transmitters like this?

Ladies and Gentleman, Speaker Boehner.

I have absolutely nothing to say about the election, but thank God it's over. At least you got here, to the Q, safe and sound.

BONUS, JUST FOR VISITING! A NY Times article about Lefferts from 1986 is a must read for anyone with native curiosity beyond what's for dinner tonight: If You're Thinking of Living In 1986. Note that prices had recently tripled according to a local real estate dude, tripled meaning houses for around $150K, apartments on Ocean from $50K. And for those not old enough to remember, that was during the big runup before the turn of big housing correction of that era. And here's the best part: the article says Donald Trump owned (and probably developed) Patio Gardens! What a hoot. (You old-timer knew that already, but that's a yarn worth repeating)

What I really wanted to show you though was this poster that I saw a lady put up in the laundromat window (on Flatbush near the Bright Red Liquor Store): It seemed kinda sad to me at first. But then I recently read that a quarter of couples meet online - so why not finish how you started?

Meet Your Losers

Live Blogging of Election Coverage - Right Here on the Q!

10:05 PM: Well, election results are coming in fast and furious. I'll let the professional pundits handle the obvious races, but here at the Q we take a deeper look at issues that concern us all, including the tightly contested races for US Congress, State Senate and the NY State Assembly. While races are still too close to call, the Q is prepared to project the following winners in races affecting our blogging area:

US Congress: With just 0% of the Precincts reporting, we're prepared to go out on a limb and predict Yvette Clarke will win another term in NY 11th district. By varying accounts, she was either not contested or contested by some perennial Republican/Conservative fall guy named Hugh C. Carr. Mr. Carr has no website, doesn't come up at the top of Google, has no picture and submitted no positions to any of the major election guides.

NY State Senate (District 20): With 103% of Precincts reporting, I gotta give this one to Eric Adams. I'll admit to being biased here, because I love the video he made about sagging pants: saggy pants video. Adams has a bright future ahead of him, but tonight he was nearly derailed by Allan E. Romaguera, a bright young star in the chump-on-the-stump circuit. Once again, NO information is available on this guy, and I can't find a picture. Do I spot a trend emerging? Might it be that the Conservative Party puts up front candidates, maybe even pays them, to garner enough votes to keep themselves on the ticket? Man that's big. If I wasn't such a lazy-ass blogger I might have a big scoop here.

NY Assembly District 43: Not so fast! This sacrificial lamb is an actual human being by the name of Menachem M. Raitport, and he's a butcher, making the sacrificial lamb metaphor remarkably well-suited. Despite the fact that he's a Lubavitcher from Crown Heights, he was pummeled by Karim Camara, a minister, even among his own Chosen People. Folks from our area called him a stand-up guy, but apparently he's just not Jewish enough to command support from local synagogues. Mazel Tov, Reverend!

NY Assembly District 42: Technically this is beyond my reach, since it's the heart of Caledonia (West of Flatbush), but the Q projects longtime fighter for the 42nd Rhoda Jacobs to return to the Chamber after defeating Conservative/Republican candidate Alan Kesler. Kesler is apparently a real person also, and he won the backing of the Midwood branch of the Brooklyn Young Republicans, a hilarious group known for its conspicuous use of the color orange on its website: BYR. Good luck getting laid guys.

Well that'll be my last post of the evening. I'm sorry I couldn't get any pictures of the loser candidates, and I hate a blog post without a picture. So here's a picture of the North American Jackalope:

Coop Conundrum

I'll cut to the chase here. I've been a coop member for over 10 years. That's including the 7 I've lived here in the Flatbush Gardens of Lefferts. I have no car, and couldn't afford my mortgage if I had one. But I've never once felt that the Coop was too far or inconvenient. I've found plenty of other reasons to complain about the Coop, but that's never been on my list. Why? I'll show you why...


Next to my wife and daughter, these are my two best buddies. It used to be Q over B41, but now that the limited stops at 7th avenue, it's like Cake or Pie...I just can't decide which I like better.

I was surprised then to learn about the Lefferts Community Food Coop. Don't get me wrong - I think it's great that more people want to get into the whole "know thy food" scene, and it would be amazing to have a joint just a jaunt away. But create a whole coop? Man, that takes gumption. The PSFC has grown organically (hee hee) over nearly 40 years - not without a lot of blood, sweat and tears. The founders and early members ate, drank and slept Coop so that the 15,000 current members can bitch about having to do a fairly pleasant 2 3/4 workslot once a month. You see, here's the little secret that nobody tells you. The VAST majority of Coop members have few or no complaints, enjoy doing their shifts, and get only one make up if they miss a shift because they're on good terms with their squad leader. They love the food, chat leisurely in line, learn about the crazy amazing fresh produce, and joke about the goofy chaos that is now a $40 million a year business but STILL doesn't take credit cards and takes principled stands on things that matter and don't matter and is only now getting rid of its tens of thousands of embarrassing outdated index cards that were often the final arbiter of whether you were suspended or not. And so friggin' what...you get suspended? you work a shift! Big deal. That's the secret. Only the most vocal, selfish and lazy people spend their time complaining ad nauseum. And frankly, we didn't want those douchebags crowding our aisles anyway. If you can afford $10 for a small bag of organic turnips then be my guest - Union Market's owners send their kids to Dalton off folks like you! (Actually, they're apparently really nice people whose kids go to Community Roots public school...and I live in a glass house like Billy Joel, so I shouldn't be throwin' stones. Still...)

I love being bitchy! But that's not my natural state, so let me get back to the point. If you live here, or want to live here, but want to be part of the PSFC...it's easy as a drunken fratboy. The Q or B41 will get you there in 15 minutes. If you do a big shop, ask for a walker who'll take you right to the stop/station by the American Apparel. Or you could always call a car service if you don't have the muscles for even a short schlep.

Speaking of AmAp...I had my first daddy nightmare. Little Mrs. Flatbed (she's 18 months now) comes home one day after high school band practice and announces that she's going to pose as an American Apparel model. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!