Environmental cleanup will begin this month at 510 Driggs Avenue under the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Brownfield Cleanup Program. The cleanup will be performed by “187 North 8 Street Owner LLC” with oversight by the NYDEC.
510 Driggs Ave. in 2018 (via Google Maps)
The vacant parking lot has been closed for the past year and was home to the Bulletin Market during recent summers. A manufactured gas plant (MGP) was demolished on the site in 1887, and it later became a garage and a chair manufacturer after an industrial conversion in the 1940s.
508 Driggs Avenue in 1940 (via NYX tax photo archives)
A few of the items on offer at Selamat Pagi. Ethan Covey
Tucked in Greenpoint on Driggs Ave, Selamat Pagi is an Indonesian-influenced addition to the neighborhood, with plenty of options for vegetarians, vegans and meat-eaters alike. The restaurant quietly opened its doors in 2012 by Ben Van Leeuwen, Laura O’Neill, and Pete Van Leeuwen, the trio behind Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. The Indonesian menu is inspired by a series of trips to Bali and Laura O’Neill’s Australian background, where Indonesian food is widespread.
The stylish space features white walls, rustic light wood tabletops, a few thoughtfully placed potted plants and pink fluorescent light accents, emitting a retro-feeling cozy pink glow. The restaurant space was originally designed and built by its founders but underwent a renovation in 2016 led by the Brooklyn architecture firm Carpenter + Mason. Continue reading →
Lydia Lunch performs, speaking about misogyny and today’s pessimistic world. Photo: Angelica Hill
Last Thursday, artistMartynka Wawrzyniak hosted “A Night of Experimental Jazz & Lydia Lunch” at the Park Church Co-Op (129 Russell Street) to support her McGolrick Park community art installation, Ziemia. Ziemia, when finished, will consist of a large ceramic orb made from soil from across the globe and placed in a carefully cultivated meadow in McGolrick Park, adjacent to Russell Street between Nassau Ave and Driggs Ave.
The Park Church Co-Op was dimly lit, the stage awash with red and blue light. Meditative electronic new-age music played as the image of Jesus on the crucifix centered on the back wall looked over the scene. It may not seem like the most likely venue for a night of experimental jazz, but Pastor Amy Kienzle remarked that this event was part of the church’s larger event series that supports community art. And with Wawrzyniak being such an enthusiastic member of the church she felt it was important to support. She added that the church “believes in art and it being spiritually beneficial.” Continue reading →
Toro Ironworks was always a great spot for the pregame
For the past two years, Toro Ironworks Kitchen & Bar (254 Driggs Ave) has been a go-to spot for tacos, margs, and other Mexican delights. They especially came in handy as a pre-Warsaw dinner or a quick weekday happy hour drink. They were even ahead of the latest jackfruit trend when they debuted jackfruit tacos last year for the vegetarians among us. (You can now get brined jackfruit at Trader Joe’s because it’s #trending.) Alas, all good things must come to an end. Owner Sebouh Yegparian has let us know that today is, unfortunately, Toro Ironworks last day with us. They will be missed.
But they are not going out without a little bit of a celebration. Until the final closing of the doors tonight, they will be offering a “3, 4, 5” promotion. All beers are $3, all margaritas are $4, and all glasses of wine are $5. They do have a limited menu on offer for those of you who want that jackfruit one last time. We should note that they won’t be open until mid-afternoon due to construction on the block. So stop by this afternoon, or on your way home tonight to enjoy their patio one last time, and wish Sebouh well on his next adventure.
North Brooklyn has become synonymous with a certain type of restaurant: venues with unassuming frontage, pared back interiors, single-sheet menus of small plates and cocktails served in jam jars. Fushimi (475 Driggs Ave) is different, and it has always made me curious. I walk past it most days on my way to and from the L and often try to catch a glimpse of what lies beyond the bead-curtained windows and silver-mirrored entrance. Continue reading →
Picnic season is here! And, just in the nick of time, brand new store Greenpoint Cheese + Meat (192 Driggs Ave) has flung open its doors to provide us with a dazzling array of treats perfect for enjoying in the park on a lazy summer afternoon.
The store is run by friends and business partners Ursula O’Hara and Jessica Mark and, as the name suggests, they’re focusing mainly on specialist cheeses and cured meats (along with some exceptionally lovely Italian olives). Continue reading →
A taste of things to come from Greenpoint Cheese + Meat
It’s almost time to haul out that blanket from the back of the closet and indulge in the first picnic of the year. And although picnicking is my absolute favorite way to dine, it always leaves me feeling a little jealous of those living close enough to Eastern District to be able to pick up lovely cheeses en route to the park.
Luckily, the southern end of Greenpoint is about to be blessed with a speciality food shop of its very own. Greenpoint Cheese + Meat is due to open at 192 Driggs Avenue (between Newell and Diamond St) on May 1st, perfectly located by McGolrick Park and just in time for peak picnic season. Continue reading →
Little Dokebi (85 Driggs Ave) has been open for just over a month and already it’s a huge hit. So popular, in fact, that when we recently tried to go for a mid-week dinner the wait was over an hour-long. Fortunately, when we returned for Saturday brunch it was much easier to get a seat, though this may have had something to do with the fact that it was the snowiest day of winter so far! Continue reading →
We all wanted Piecorps to have a retail location, and great news: we can look forward to amazing pies come this June in Greenpoint! Piecorps needed to raise funds to buy a new oven and because of community donations they raised via Lucky Ant, they got it. Social media isn’t always evil. I follow Piecorps on Facebook just to drool at all the amazing pies they come up with. Like Chili Pie with Cornbread Crust or Rhubarb Custard Pie. Good news is you don’t have to wait until the summer to enjoy their delicious pies. You can shop for pies online to be delivered to your front door or visit them on Saturdays at Hester Street Fair (LES) & Stone Barns Center (upstate) or on Sundays at New Amsterdam Market (South Street Seaport). All three Union Markets as well as Gourmet Guild carry their pies.
Justine posted about this last year, but it’s worth another mention along with photos. At St. Stan’s over on Driggs, there is an amazing flea market on weekends, a real flea market, with flea market prices. I always stop in after I hit up the Greenmarket. You won’t find overpriced vintage items, but useful things for your home, like glassware, sewing supplies, appliances, VCRs, and religious figurines.
Today they had a juicer, a crazy accordion, gently used coats, decent furniture and an entire room dedicated to toys and children’s books. Kids don’t need new anything. They grow out of their clothes after one wear and destroy everything. Aside from cribs and strollers, you can buy this pretend purple coffee maker to teach your kid to abuse caffeine. It was right next to the fake cigarettes.
You can drop off donations there and according to Justine’s post, there is a cafe on Sunday’s, which I’ve yet to check out. I will report back soon.
