The Flabenue Has Ears - Shhh - Sneaker Store

Play Kids is no more. Shelley and Carl are probably happier having shed the weekly, monthly and annual struggle to stay in the black. We have the memories, of the little toy store that did.

Guess what's going in that spot? Kids shoe store. No lie.

Cue creepy kids in heels shot:

Up and Adem. That's Right - The Vote Is TODAY

pic: Damon Winter, NYT

A neighbor culled the following quote from this Politico piece on challengers to the status quo in the NY Democratic Party. It speaks to the problem with letting Yvette Clarke electric slide back into the House of Representatives as YOUR voice. Just how important is Congress during the reign of Trump? If you don't know by now, by god, take a civics lesson. I'm not joshing - you can do it in your PJs. Get your voting pants on and go vote. Vote. Vote! If you're a registered Democrat this is your day. Vote Adem and tell them the Old Gray Lady sent you. The Times chose the challenger, and that speaks volumes.

"Four of Clarke’s former staffers, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, described Clarke as a congresswoman who is deeply charismatic, but also checked out. She was “always late,” and rarely visited her district office in Brooklyn during recesses, the former staffers said, noting that in August 2017 she canceled all of the events she’d planned in her home district, leaving groups in the lurch.

The former staffers said she avoided public transit whenever possible, and had to be pushed by her mother, former City Council Member Una Clarke, to attend various events.

“There are people who’ve wondered if she really even wants to do this. Her lateness exacerbates that perception,” one former staffer said.

“None of it is true,” Clarke campaign spokesperson Michael Oliva said. “She actually maintains a very vigorous schedule. From early morning until late at night, she’s either traveling in her district or meeting with people in her district.”

Clarke was sufficiently concerned about how she would perform in the primary’s only debate, on local news channel NY1, that she hired Democratic political consultant Donna Brazile for her debate prep. She’s spent tens of thousands of dollars on polling and political consultants and petition signature gathering." 

The former staffers said she avoided public transit whenever possible, and had to be pushed by her mother, former City Council Member Una Clarke, to attend various events.

“There are people who’ve wondered if she really even wants to do this. Her lateness exacerbates that perception,” one former staffer said.

“None of it is true,” Clarke campaign spokesperson Michael Oliva said. “She actually maintains a very vigorous schedule. From early morning until late at night, she’s either traveling in her district or meeting with people in her district.”

Clarke was sufficiently concerned about how she would perform in the primary’s only debate, on local news channel NY1, that she hired Democratic political consultant Donna Brazile for her debate prep. She’s spent tens of thousands of dollars on polling and political consultants and petition signature gathering." 

The Chameleon BK Hits All the Right Notes Where Tugboat Used To Was

Neighbors Susanne and Leslie and new cafe Chameleon BK

Coffee, tea or me? Most wise readers would choose coffee or tea. That's just fine...I ain't got time for play anyway. But coffee and a Good Morning Jerk Pulled Pork Biscuit sandwich with pal, musician, piano teacher and tireless entrepreneur Leslie Ward? Always time for that. So off to 546 Flatbush goeth le Q.

You recall Tugboat of course, one of the new breed of coffee shops to dot the Flabenue that opened 5 yrs ago. Chad and Co. recently threw in the towel (he's also part owner of the thriving Midwood Flats brau/chow joint), and that left an opening for Leslie and longtime partner Susanne to realize their dream of cafe ownership. Popping in this Sunday for a bit of brunch it's clear they've reinvigorated the spot through grit, charm, smarts and great music. The first thing the Q noticed was the terrific selection of old and rare grooves, giving the new decor a distinctly pan-Lefferts vibe that seemed reflected in the uber-hip diversified crew that steadily flowed in from 9am on. S&L greeted each customer and many customers were there.

The Chameleon BK. A great name for a terrific addition to the flowering Flabenue.

Chef Ro served up a delicious Jamaican-inspired concoction and an eclectic brunch menu is available along with classic coffee and tea shoppe fare. The Kenyan coffee hit the spot and most of all, Leslie and Suzanne's warmth and pride (it was Pride Day after all) seemed to suggest many happy returns from customers of every stripe.

I'd be inclined to give the place raves based on the owners charisma alone. But with faux objectivity let me say the place has a magic vibe and I expect super success all around.

The Chameleon BK crew

Important Things - BBG & House Race

So tonight, if you can handle the heat (and I know you can), head up to the School of the Deaf. That's right, up on Eastern Parkway just east of the Brooklyn Museum. And if you've been blessed with good hearing, bring earplugs, because Alicia Boyd and MTOPP and her other acronym FLAC (Seriously, Flower Lovers Against Change or somesuch) are hosting a meeting on the upcoming rezoning requests at the border of the Botanic Garden. Make no mistake. These are massive projects that will lead to a serious change for the recently purchased parcels at the Spice Factory and up by Tivoli Tower. Since CB9 (and yours truly) were squashed by MTOPP (with indirect help from the Borough President and his henchwoman Ingrid) regarding a residential redevelopment compromise plan, developers are doing exactly what you'd expect. Purchasing potentially lucrative lots and applying for rezoning - project by project. We're seeing a number of plans crop up north of Empire, and soon enough you'll certainly see plans for redevelopment from the Wendy's to Utica Avenue. It's merely a matter of timing.

If you haven't been following, I realize that's a lot to take in. It's all documented in the archives here on the ol' tyme blogge, so if you have any doubts, it's all there for the perusing (search Cornell Realty for instance). Here's Boyd's poster that blatantly misrepresents the projects, but, I for one am glad the public is being warned of the impending new micro-neighborhood being planned in SoCro (no, I didn't just write that, and I never would). The project won't look as ominous as this, but yeah it'll change the view from the garden considerably, though you can pretty much ignore the nonsense about shadows. It really won't make much of a difference - not even noticeable except in early mornings when the garden isn't even open, and only at certain times of the year. (If you'd like to see the entire rezoning application and environmental study, just shoot me an email.)

And if you haven't met the charming man running against Yvette Clarke in our district, by all means come out to see and hear Adem Bunkeddeko at my dear namesake Q at Parkside from 7:30 to around 8:30 tomorrow (Thursday) morning. These rush-hour train handshakes 'n' flyerings are a big part of Adem's strategy - to hook every un-beholden-to-Clarke voter and convince them that a) Adem's not a creepy serial killer type and b) he might actually DO something with his gig in D.C. And c) he's young, and it's time to give the next generation their chance, cuz god knows MY generation fucked things up royally in just about every category. But what can you expect, when we started out jaded and listening to Grunge? Or more damning, dancing to Public Enemy and NWA and not doing a damn thing to improve racial justice. Terrible track record. And don't give me that 9/11 changed everything line. If anything, it should've galvanized, not hypnotized.

The Old Gray Lady Comes Out For Adem

Well, well, well. Now THIS is interesting. The NY Times likes Adem Bunkeddeko against incumbent Yvette Clarke. Big news y'all. Big news indeed.

pic: Damon Winter for NY Times

The Q met Adem last week - the guy is cool as a cucumber in the crisper. Smart, young and boasting an immigrant-from-Uganda story that boggles the brain of this Entitled White Man from the Midwest (EWMM - pronounced Yewm).

In other words...he will undoubtedly do better than our current ho-hum Congresswoman, whom I must say in nearly 10 years of dicking around in politics here in the 'Bush, I've seen but twice. Pleasant enough...but it's time to move away from the Clarke Dynasty and give the kids a chance to shine. And if Adem takes his cues from another community organizer who used his easy-going manner to breeze to the stratosphere...

Look, he's going to vote the way you want him to, and that's really all you're getting from Yvette at this point. The Q's All In For Adem (AIFA).

Parkside-a-Palooza - This Saturday

Be part of the magic. It used to was a big slab of nothing, til your neighbors the Parkside Committee got together and turned it into an urban oasis, or urbanasis.

Don't Miss This NY Times Piece - Dollar Vans Up Close & Personal

My corner, from the Woodruff chess playing side

Neighbor Edu Bayer took the pictures. Ironically I'd JUST met him, then this came out, the most human and touching look at the City's Dollar Van culture I've ever seen (here in the NY Times). The Q is a huge fan of DV's, even if they cost $2 now (they were a buck when I moved to the 'hood). Yes, a few "cowbody" drivers are terrible aggressive drivers - I make sure I get in vans from one of the main DV companies, and always make sure the van has TLC plates and the driver has the proper registration. If you're in a hurry, or it's late or early or holidays and weekends, the B41 just doesn't cut it. And the DV is always a trip, as well as a cheap, fast trip. I've discovered so much great music by riding them and keeping my ears open.

Congrats to Edu an his wife on the birth of their son. I'm super impressed by Bayer's work, global, political and deep. You can sample on his website. So much talent around here it boggles the mind! Another reason NYC is the most exciting place in the country to live.

Cornering the Market

For so many years, when you thought of the corner of Parkside and Flatbush you thought of and/or/either

• Popeye's
• Manssob's Deli that became ParksideZ Deli
• The Driving School/Bill Pay/Money Order/Notary Public Everything Place
• The Duane Reade
• Absurd Traffic and Pedestrian Aggravation
• First Class Alcoholics Contemplating How To Get Their Next Drink From "First Class" Liquor Store
• Commuters to and from the Q at Parkside

It's practically a right of passage to become familiar and comfortable with the insanity here. My girls have grown up thinking that the Winthrop to Woodruff stretch of Flatbush is a perfectly normal happenstance of city design, though every once in a Blue Marble I'm struck by just how chaotic is this ode to Jane Jacobsian laissez faire urban coinkidink. Every sort of human, dog and Dollar Van makes its way through this intersection and 99.9% of the time the passage takes place without incident, though a compendium's worth of short stories could be compiled from the multitude of souls present at any given moment.

Lest you get too comfy, here comes the latest test to your nervous system:

More that one Q associate has noted how the ground floor retail space seems destined for a Starbucks. You really can't beat the location, location, location after all. It's "on the way to work" for a couple thousand people each morning. Though let's face it, S-bucks new "anyone can loiter or use the bathroom without paying" policies will probably get a good workout. 

Or maybe we'll get a Hungry Ghost? Have you been to those snooty java joints are? Not the most welcoming of environments, I go say. And if big white male is feeling that way I can't imagine it seems warm and inviting to those who feel marginalized. Just saying. Pretty soon they'll be taking "cards only" like this place I went to in SoHo the other day. Is that even legal not to take legal tender? Seems pretty classist to me, but what does the big straight white male know about such things.

Which makes me think Starbucks is fast becoming the RIGHT sort of business for a neighborhood as diverse as ours. Used to be S-bucks meant gentrification pure and simple. But with solid employee benefits and progressive customer service, not to mention a wildly diverse clientele, I'm actually hoping for a Starbucks here.

That's right. To those of you who think Starbucks is the worst thing that could happen to the neighborhood, I beg to differ. The worst thing that could happen to this neighborhood? Building no more affordable housing. And Ms. Boyd and her evil step-sisters are doing their darndest to see that not a single new home for lower income working people gets built. 

I'll drink a soy mocha latte to that.

Plant Flowers: Tomorrow!

You know you want it. Flowers, that is. Lots of them. All along Ocean Avenue. All you gotta do is come out tomorrow!