coffee

Spring Reading: Coffee and a Good Book

May 15, 2019 By Erika Veurink Filed Under: Coffee Culture Tagged With: coffee, eric veurnik, Literature, reader lit

I can’t think of a better excuse to leave the apartment on a sunny Saturday afternoon than the prospect of losing myself in a book at a neighborhood cafe. What could be more indulgent? So order a drink “for here,” crack open the spine, and settle in. These pairings are as apropos as clogs and the Park Slope Co-Op.

Milk Bar (204 6th Ave)

Bright and buzzing, Milk Bar begs to be paired with equally as lively literature. The bar facing Sixth Avenue was built for leisurely browsing in the warmth of the light with a cappuccino in hand. There’s plenty of space and lots to order, but come early as the cafe closes at 4 pm. Benches outside the door make for prime stroller parking.

Pick up a copy of independent magazine like Gentlewoman, Apartmento, or AnOther magazine. Supporting smaller publications is a rewarding way to discover new writers and delightful art. I recently took out a subscription to The Sewanee Review. Along with reading a poignant new essay by an author I adore, I was able to discover tons of new voices. A total win/win.

Cafe Martin (355 5th Ave)

Pew benches line the walls of this tiny, adorable cafe tucked away on 5th Avenue. Perfectly Parisian and oozing charm, this isn’t the place to unload a laptop or catch up on your latest macrame project. Consider packing a book of poetry, instead. Maybe even consider a striped shirt or beret to really up the French factor.

A Night in Brooklyn by D. Nurkse is as close as it comes to the official poetic guide to the borough. His renderings of the imperfections that make this part of the city so beloved are stunning.

Other books of poetry like Not Here by Hieu Minh Nguyen and There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce by Morgan Parker are all excellent choices.

Os Cafe (535 6th Ave)

Quaint, with just enough space to settle in with a book, Os Cafe is always stocked with fresh pastries. Alternative milks, such as oat and almond, abound. The space is quiet, warm, and perfect for starting a new memoir.

Joy Enough by Sarah McColl mentions the iconic willow just across the street on 16th. Her memoir is a sweeping look at loss and love through the lens of the relationships that bolster her life. From the Emily Dickinson sentiment that “The mere sense of living is joy enough,” springs this thoughtful and arrestingly emotional story. Other memoirs like The Glass Eye by Jeannie Vanasco or My Soul Looks Back by Jessica B. Harris make great choices, as well.

Cafe Regular Du Nord (158 Berkeley Place)

Eclectic and beloved by locals, this cafe is a Park Slope institution. Read as: it fills up quickly on the weekends. Consider coming early one morning, ordering an espresso, and immersing yourself in a food memoir. If you make a habit of it, you might even be featured as one of the cafe’s “Spotlight Regulars.” Some outdoor seating is provided, as well.

It’s hard to even consider French culinary culture without thinking of Julia Child. Both her iconic voice and playfulness in the kitchen are captured brilliantly in her memoir, My Life in France. To read this book is to feel and taste the side of France Julia fell madly in love with. A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table by Molly Wizenberg is a classic of the genre, as well.

Muse Cafe (497 6th Ave)

Lots of table space equals high potential for productivity. This cafe would be the perfect place to start the nonfiction brick of a book that’s been staring at your from your bookshelf for months. Plenty of food options make it prime for bunkering down for an afternoon. Outdoor seating also makes it ideal for lingering.

Anything by Nancy Jo Sales would be a safe bet. American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers might be my favorite of her books. It’s surprisingly easy to read, despite its intimidating length. And in true Sales fashion, the writing always feels from inside rather than strictly observational. Also, this cafe feels surprisingly kid friendly. I loved reading Sofia’s Stoop Story: 18th Street, Brooklyn by Marcia LaPaca Bohrer, recently. It’s a local account of Sundays spent with family and the community Park Slope has always fostered.

The New Wave: The New Regular

February 7, 2017 By Nancy Lippincott Filed Under: New Wave Tagged With: coffee, community, Entertainment, Food & Drinks

There were a lot of crappy things that went down in 2016 that made us all too eager for the fresh start of a new year. Last year especially was marked by a lot of loss — artists, thinkers, political optimism, faith in humanity. . . The small business world in Park Slope was not an exception, as many stores and restaurants on Fifth and Seventh Avenues — some having been neighborhood fixtures for more than a decade — shuttered permanently. It’s sad when a much-loved business unexpectedly announces that it will close, especially if it was your regular joint (RIP Gorilla Coffee). After all, it’s not just the coffee or the sandwich or the convenience that goes away; it’s also the familiar faces behind the counters and bars. The upside — there’s always an upside — is that vacancies always end up getting filled. Just as we all notice when a storefront goes dark, we also feel that excited curiosity when the windows are subsequently lined in butcher paper, permits go up, and rumors start to buzz about who is next up to bat. And who knows? There’s always the possibility that whatever steps in next may become your new regular spot. Check out our list of promising new businesses, and then decide for yourself if any of them might be your new go-to in 2017.

Coffee Shops:

Blue Bottle Coffee 203 7th Avenue bluebottlecoffee.com Blue Bottle Coffee has expanded their famous pour-over empire to a new lovely tree-lined corner on Seventh Avenue just a couple blocks away from the park. This will be their third Brooklyn location, which they thoughtfully tailored to Park Slope’s youngest generation by designating outdoor stroller parking and offering high chairs. Patrons will be able to enjoy a full breakfast and lunch menu in addition to their regular menu of coffee and espresso drinks.

Uptown Roasters 355 7th Avenue uptownroasters.com A neighborhood favorite in Harlem, Uptown Roasters will open their second location further down Seventh Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets. Dan Hildebrand and his wife have used their coffee sales to facilitate better wages for Peruvian farmers from whom they source their beans. The new 1500-square-foot space will provide even more opportunity for community building, as they have big plans to use it for local events, tastings, and talks.

Also check out: Everyman Espresso 162 5th Avenue

Retail:

Lucky Rubber Ducky 194-196 7th Avenue tarzianwest.com With Good Footing having migrated to a new location, Judy Kow, owner of Tarzian West, seized the opportunity — and the adjacent space — to expand her specialty kitchenware store. The new landlord loved Tarzian West so much that she approached Kow about taking over the storefront. The extra room has now enabled the business to respond to increasing demand from their loyal customer base for more merchandise. Their product line has now expanded beyond the kitchen to the rest of the home to include linens, lighting, throws, and more in a spacious and well curated shop.

Father Figure fatherfigure.com This crowd-funded fashion line was born and grown here in Park Slope by former Google employee Andrew Bentley. After becoming a new dad, Bently identified a need from millennial fathers for fashionable and functional clothing and parenting accessories. The collection is designed to “keep babies comfortable and dads looking good.” Customers can shop the locally owned, made-in-the-USA apparel online.

Also check out: Libra 1304 8th Avenue

Food & Drink:

Gnarley Eats 447 7th Avenue gnarleyeats.com Does a burger, fries, and drink for under $15 exist in our neighborhood? Now it does. Not only can you score a sloppy cheeseburger, buttermilk-fried chicken burger, wings, tater tots and a slew of other savory delights here, but you can top off the meal with what is already becoming their signature dessert dish: rolled ice cream.

Salzy 505 5th Avenue salzybar.com Looking for some laid-back, grown-up fun? This new cocktail bar and live music venue is already a hit with the late-night crowd. Salzy serves quality craft cocktails but leaves out pretention. The warm service, inviting vibes, and solid tunes make this newcomer feel like an old neighborhood standby already. Owned and operated by comedian Jennifer Salzman, the bar also features live comedy and musical acts, placing it a notch above a regular old watering hole, but with the same comfort and approachability.

Los Nopales 191 5th Avenue There’s never been a lack of Tex-Mex in the Slope. Unfortunately, if you wanted a taste of real-deal Mexican tacos or quesadillas, you were better off heading much further south to Sunset Park. Hopefully that will all change with Los Nopales opening in the old Bierkraft space on Fifth Avenue, which promises to feature “authentic Mexican spices and condiments” on their menu.

Atlantic Social 673 Atlantic Avenue Having closed both Pork Slope and Thistle Hill Tavern, the Three Kings Restaurant Group is already onto their next venture: an “old style New York tavern” occupying the 7,000-square-foot space. Their largest endeavor yet, the restaurant will seat up to 250 and feature and an eclectic menu by Chef Dale Talde, a cozy fireplace, and a game room.

Also check out: Mis Grill 370 5th Avenue Pig Beach Burger 480 Union Street Momo Ramen 78 5th Avenue Nargis Café 155 5th Avenue

Community:

FemGYN 175 7th Avenue femgynwellness.com This women’s walk-in clinic opened back in May and is making female-focused healthcare affordable and accessible. Services offered include contraceptives, breast cancer screening, annual exams, specialist referrals, and more. Given the uncertain fate of the Affordable Care Act and threats to defund family planning organizations, FemGYN couldn’t have come at a better time.

Park Slope Reading Circle & Storytelling Garden 431 6th Avenue bklynlibrary.org/locations/parkslope Thanks to funding from Brad Lander’s Participatory Budget, construction of this public reading circle adjacent to the Park Slope branch of the Brooklyn Public Library is underway. The addition will provide a safe and beautiful space to encourage outdoor reading and play and will feature an amphitheater, pathways, gardening spaces, a water fountain, and a statue of Knuffle Bunny. Who’s excited for spring?

The next New Wave is coming this Spring. If you are a new business and want to be included, contact us at office@psreader.com

The Business of Gentrification

August 30, 2016 By Ambika Samarthya-Howard Filed Under: Friends & Neighbors Tagged With: Beforeitsgone.co, Brooklyn, coffee, community, Flatbush, gentrification, local, neighborhood, Parkside, Prospect Lefferts Gardens

Gentrification: the process of replacing the poor population of a neighborhood with the affluent and reorienting the district along upscale lines.

When most of us think of gentrification, we not only mean that wealthier people are moving and displacing lower income people in specific neighborhoods, but we are often indirectly saying “white people are coming to replace a black neighborhood”. People joke that you know when a neighborhood is gentrifying when the first cupcake place opens, or when there are competing coffee shops serving pour overs. One friend marks it with the introduction of a Thai restaurant. Regardless, the businesses that arrive and thrive can signify a lot about your neighborhood.

Artwork by Daniel McCann

Before I start, I want to communicate two disclaimers:

1. As someone who moved to Brooklyn from Manhattan only a few years ago with my husband, both of us having full time jobs and holding graduate degrees, I identify as one of the gentrifiers.

2. A full comprehensive look at evolving businesses in Brooklyn would take several hundred pages. My handpicked few are merely a reflection of my personal taste.

Realizing the repercussions of our choices, specifically where we spend our money, many of us have strong opinions and loyalty about where we eat and drink. But it’s not so simple to make decisions along race, class, or even “how long have you been here” lines, as many new businesses are black-owned and historic shops not always are. And where does supporting female or small businesses play into the equation?

One place this intersectionality has shown its complex face is Prospect Lefferts Garden.

Take for example, Blessings Herbs & Coffee on Flatbush. The owner Lilian Bonafina, an Italian woman, opened the establishment two years ago after living in the neighborhood for x years. All the employees, including the co-owner, live in the neighborhood as well, and while other businesses have shut down and had to move out of the area, they have recently renovated and expanded to include a backyard space and will soon be open for dinner. The reason, in my opinion, is obvious: They know you there, and the customer loyalty has paid off. Lily knows everyone and on any afternoon is handling plates, talking to my son marking how much he’s grown, and quickly bagging up food when it rains.

Other places, like Delroy’s Café and Wine Bar and 65 Fen, a wine store and restaurant on Fenmore, also benefit from this street cred. Michel Campbell opened the wine shop seven years ago, and with its success followed with a wine bar two years later. He’s lived in the city 34 years, but doesn’t see the neighborhood as a gentrification project. When I asked him if he was feeling threatened by the new businesses he responded “You never feel secure, but I’m not threatened. I have knowledge as I’m entrenched in the neighborhood and have rent lower than most.” He talks specifically about the rise of stores and restaurants selling alcohol on Flatbush, but connects it to the state liquor authority needing more funds, not gentrification. Michael knows what wines I like and how to make my family feel at home.

But not all new businesses have found it so easy to build customer loyalty. Andy Charles, the owner of Greenhouse Café was forced to move his family out of the neighborhood from the economic pressures from his business. While Andy is Dominican and fits right into the predominantly Caribbean neighborhood, he’s only moved in about three years ago from East New York. “I would hang out in this neighborhood and that was the inspiration (to opening the business). I should have moved in earlier.”

There’s an important distinction between community driven growth versus corporate driven growth. Beforeitsgone.co is a great new social media site dedicated to fighting gentrification in Brooklyn, and explains many of the nuances in detail. When the community asks for establishments to stay open longer or to offer more diverse food options, residents respond very different than if a corporate chain tries to take roots in the area. This can explain the success of Parkside, a new brick side pizza oven restaurant, which attracts families, couples, and regulars. It filled a sore need for an upscale, but laid back cocktail place and has lived up to its expectations.

So where does that leave us: those who identify as political, and recognize that being new to a neighborhood means an opportunity for us to make choices that could be a drop in the bucket of the future of our borough? I’ve noticed most long term residents in Prospect Lefferts Garden will ask questions about the owners, supporting small business entrepreneurs from within the community. We also frequent spots that hire local residents, and that don’t play dirty with other businesses.

For me, it means touching base with the locals who have history there to hear the spots they want to support, and to keep asking the hard questions. And to hold off on my cravings for a cupcake or Thai food until I’m in the city next time.

The Finds / Dining in the Hood

April 18, 2016 By Beth Kaiserman Filed Under: Eat Local Tagged With: beef, beef carpaccio, breakfast, burrata, coffee, italian dishes, Live music, Local restaurants, mexican food, Park Slope, prawns, Smorgasbord, steaks, taqueria, Windsor Terrace, wine

Local Restaurants Bring Smorgasbord of Tastes

Stroll through Park Slope on a sunny day, and your eyes will usually find a restaurant you’ve never noticed. There are so many places to eat, it can be impossible to choose one. Here’s a rundown of a few unique spots we’ve found in the past year that tickled our taste buds. Have a spring adventure and check one out for yourself!

Carnem — 318 5th Avenue

Carnem, which opened last May, offers up classic steaks, sauces, and seafood with a side of whimsical delights like pork belly cotton candy lollipops. Yes, it’s a delicious tender pork belly surrounded by a pink cloud of cotton candy, served on a stick. For the more straightforward meat fare, the beef carpaccio is excellent: filet mignon, served with fried capers, parmesan, oyster cream sauce, and crispy potato skins. The menu, curated by owner Jacob Krumgalz, offers a bit of fun with your standard steakhouse staples, perfect for a celebratory night out.

Prawn Shop — 669 Union Street

If you thought the closest thing Gowanus had to the seashore was the Whole Foods patio next to the canal, you’re wong. Prawn Shop has asnwered the call for local, sustainable seafood, including creative seafood boils like the Far East, with sweet potato, green curry and coconut. They source from New York and New England, and Prawn Shop aims to showcase local fish and seafood, even if the options are less widely known. Hang out at a communal picnic table outside and enjoy dollar oysters and prawns for happy hour, or try out the newly launched brunch menu. Also, the chalkboard behind the bar helps you decode the art of crab shucking using Breaking Bad references.

Varrio 408 412 — 5th Avenue

The crew from Rachel’s Taqueria, two doors down, opened this spot last year, slinging fresh tortillas and Mexican fare from Tijuana. Watch them make the nicely blistered tortillas using a comal, and order meats family style for build-your-own tacos. Tacos, burritos, and mulas are also available à la carte. Don’t skip the carne asada al carbÓn, with perfectly juicy medium rare skirt steak. It’s a no-frills spot to eat some quick tacos with a homemade agua fresca, or take food to go. Visit Rachel’s Taqueria for a more sit-down experience.

Hugo and Sons 367 — 7th Avenue

On the first warm night of March, Hugo and Sons was buzzing with hungry, happy people. Andrea Taormina was running the show, seating people into slick, red booths and serving dishes inspired by his childhood in Palermo, Sicily. A delicious burrata is made light and refreshing by celery, apple, pine nuts, and parsley, with a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. The pappardelle with sausage, fennel, and chili peppers had just the right amount of spice that sneaks up on you while you bite through perfectly cooked pasta. A fairly simple menu offers mostly Italian dishes with a few French and American foods as well. Find pizzas, pastas, salads, a full kids’ menu, and also gluten-free dough and a gluten-free bun for the burger. A fun spring activity might be working your way through their pasta selections and asking Andrea for wine suggestions, including a few unfiltered orange wines.

Krupa Grocery — 231 Prospect Park West

Settle in for a nice breakfast at this charming spot right by Prospect Park, owned by the folks behind Slope Cellars and Windsor Wines across the street. Breakfast is served from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and brunch is served on the weekends. The energy was sunny as I enjoyed breakfast gnocchi with fried eggs, bacon, kale, squash, and breadcrumbs and large lemon ricotta pancakes, and neither dish was too greasy or heavy for a satisfying morning meal. But the highlight was their serious attention to the beverage program, especially the coffee from Irving Farm Coffee Roasters. Good coffee is crucial to a solid breakfast spot, and Krupa offers both a rotating hot coffee option and a rotating nitro iced coffee. The cafe portion of the restaurant is open daily for grab-and-go coffee and pastries from Ovenly. There’s also a rotating Kombrewcha on tap, and the draft lineup changes regularly. The spot’s name pays homage to the newsstand that was there for twenty years before the restaurant. (The landlords still live upstairs.) The space was then styled in honor of legendary jazz drummer Gene Krupa. Enjoy a Tuesday night dinner accompanied by live music at 8 p.m. Though it was too early for me when I visited, the panko-crusted shrimp burger is calling my name for lunch or dinner.

Shrimp Boil with Far East Sauce, Prawn Shop.

Burrata with apple, celery, pine nuts, and parsley, Hugo and Sons.

Breakfast gnocchi, Krupa Grocery.

Beef Carpaccio with oyster cream sauce, crispy capers, potato skins and parmesan, Carnem.