Goodbye Generic Fashion, Hello Personalized Fare!

 

While there have been huge losses in fashion retail around the world vis-à-vis brick and mortar stores, there have been some interesting successes in this area. Up to a third of all NYC businesses  broke down or substantially declined during the pandemic.  But in their stead, customized unique boutique shops have been gaining popularity. The question is, how?  One reason is that they are small businesses owned by individuals rather than large corporations that have way more overheads. Another reason is the bohemian character, akin to the area.

One local example of this is Page Sargisson Jewelry which opened its doors in Brooklyn on Hoyt Street and Atlantic Avenue after Thanksgiving. It’s popular in the area because it’s “playful and fresh…handcrafted…sustainably-made using recycled gold and silver,” and thus offers locals something different. 

Then there is home interior designer Michele Varian who “embraces chubby design [through] a new of kind of more [which she presents as] more in  minimal design – chunky, blobby and wabi-sabi.”  It has a very personal touch too as the seller is (as in similar cases like this) the creator as well. She moved from SoHo just before the pandemic to  Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn Heights which she believed saved her due to the high rentals in SoHo.   She found that people are now choosing to “shop in places that distinguished their tastes as artful.”

And with the lower rents in the area, this has allowed for Blue Marble to lease the place on Broadway and 97^th Street that used to be home to Earth Café. Offering organic ice cream with primarily locally-sourced ingredients, Jennie Dundas, co-owner explained:

“I’m not going to lie, this venture was made possible by the pandemic and the lower rents that resulted from it. The rents have always been a barrier to entry for us in Manhattan. I live around the corner from the new shop and when I saw this opportunity open up, this gorgeous location, I thought, we’ve just got to do this, because I want our neighborhood to feel loved and to have joy. I’ve been here throughout the whole pandemic, and it’s been a challenging time. I want to invest in my neighborhood.”

 

Checking Out Greenpoint, Brooklyn

 

In this video Tom Delgado shows you around Greenpoint, Brooklyn, making introductions to some local neighborhood leaders and business owners.

 

Restaurant Week to Go

Starting last Monday, people have been given the chance to order a meal from 78 local Brooklyn restaurants for $20.21 for a whole month as part of the "Restaurant Week To Go" program.  CEO and President of NYC & Company Fred Dixon said:

"Restaurants and restaurant workers need our support now more than ever, so it was important to us that all eateries across the five boroughs had the opportunity to participate in this program aimed at increasing local support.”

The number of interest and involvement from Brooklyn has sky-rocketed since last year when only 12 local restaurants participated in the venture.

Time to...Adopt a Pet!

 

There has probably never been a better time to bring a pet into your home than now.  With all the lockdowns and the isolation periods people are encountering, a furry friend can make such a difference. Obviously it is important that each household decide for themselves if they can manage the requirements of a pet but for those who think they can, now really is the time.

It turns out also that many Windsor Terrace-Kensington facilities (as well as neighboring ones) are making increased efforts to find homes for dogs, cats etc. And thankfully many willing individuals have delightedly picked some up.  Nationwide people have become more inclined to adopt a pet now; something they kept “putting off until the time was right” in some cases for years.

Some local adoption centers include:

1.       Animal Care Centers of NYC – Brooklyn

2.       Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue

3.       Brooklyn Pet Rehoming Services and

4.       Sean Casey Animal Rescue.

Some of these even offer fostering opportunities for those not 100% certain as to what having a pet will completely entail.

Brooklyn 2021

 

Let’s face it.  2020 was a wash out.  The good news is we can only go up right?  Brooklyners – like the rest of the world – missed out on so many great things but hopefully 2021 will be a lot better. And we’ll probably appreciate it a lot more as well.

In 1968 the first black woman (from Brooklyn) was elected to the House of Representatives.  2021 will see a monument going up in the area.  Shirley Chisholm will be recognized for eternity in the local park where she has been honored.  Local artists artists Amanda Williams and Olalekan Jeyifous have been chosen to design the monument for Prospect Park’s Parkside Entrance.

There is some more good news vis-à-vis rezoning.  Thanks to the emergency order issued by Mayor de Blasio the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (used to review and process public land use) was halted in March.  The two re-zonings currently in process are Brooklyn’s Gowanus and Manhattan’s SoHo and NoHo.  It is hoped these will be certified and that the ULURP process will begin this month.

Building Botanics in Brooklyn

Botanical gardens come in all shapes and sizes.  That is obvious from Brooklyn.  One just has to take a look at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden which has been in existence for over a century and spans 52 acres.  But botanical gardens need not be so big actually as Raphael Steinberg of Raphael Steinberg Landscaping has encountered in his work.  One of the main criteria for a gardener to consider in the initial planning is sizing but so much can be done within all shapes and sizes.  It is just a matter of correct planning.  Is the area they have to work with merely a small patch of a rooftop garden, a large industrial space or something in between?

What are botanical gardens exactly?  The dictionary definition is “an establishment where plants are grown for display to the public and often for scientific study.”  Education through experience within a botanical garden setting is a wonderful way for kids (and adults) to become familiar with greenery and plant life.

“What I really enjoy when clients request a botanical garden is the amount of leeway that is available.  Such gardens provide so much Zen for the client, as well as a natural education for those curious enough to ask,” Raphael Steinberg explained.

Botanical gardens are far from new. In fact, they have been around since about the 16^th century.  Initially they were used for medicinal and research purposes.  Today though the more common uses are educational, as a sanctuary and a space to create new plant life. Botanical gardens are often found in community centers, offering locals the chance to view stunning ornamental plants arranged in a way which depicts special relationships.  Before a landscape gardener designs one, they need to be aware of the main purpose of the client.  Some ideas include: the preservation of a collection; an exhibition or a private Zen area.

Whatever you decide to do ultimately, it is important to consult with a professional landscaper who has had experience in the design, building and maintenance over some years of a botanical garden and has examples to show you.

 

Gaming Fundraiser Comes to Bushwick

There hasn’t been much opportunity for fun in Brooklyn over recent months.  But now, Bushwick bar Wonderville has managed to jump through the coronavirus restrictions to offer a virtual gaming fundraiser this coming Sunday.

Starting at 12 on December 20, the games will be available until midnight and will stream on Twitch in conjunction with Death by Audio, a nonprofit organization partnering in the game-a-thon fundraiser.  Also featuring at the event will be Minecraft customized live concert streaming, game developer interviews and much more. Brooklyn state senator Julia Salazar is also due to make an appearance.