Primary Results and a Coffee Shop Controversy
Jay-Z celebrates 30 years of Reasonable Doubt with a Dumbo pop-up, Smør Bakery is coming to Carroll Gardens and more.
The Friday send is back. I’ve made it to the other side of an incredibly busy, and rewarding, season of my day job and am excited to dig back in.
The big news this week is Brad Lander winning the Democratic nomination for Congress in New York’s 10th District, beating out incumbent Dan Goldman. Jo Anne Simon won reelection in the 52nd State Assembly District, which covers much of West Brooklyn, a seat she has held since 2015.
One bit of news that caught my attention this week was Poetica Coffee sparking a Department of Justice Civil Rights Division investigation. The coffee chain reportedly posted and has since deleted a photo of Rep. Goldman at its Park Slope location. “At Poetica, we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between,” the post read in part. Poetica announced it had refunded Goldman’s order and told him not to return.
Goldman responded by saying he had stopped in with his 7-year-old daughter. A barista let his daughter use the restroom, and he purchased a coffee afterward out of gratitude.
Following the Instagram controversy, protestors and counter-protestors gathered at Poetica’s Williamsburg location. Poetica’s Instagram account appears to have since been deactivated.
The Roundup
Jay-Z is celebrating 30 years of Reasonable Doubt with a Dumbo pop-up and limited-edition Brooklyn Public Library card. The Dumbo pop-up runs until July 5 at 92 Plymouth Street, with library cards available until supplies last.
Two Atlantic Avenue towers that promised 35 percent affordable housing renegotiated after facing high interest rates and cost pressures. Norman Oder, who writes Brooklyn real estate watchdog Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report, reported the news last week.
Smør Bakery is bringing its cardamom buns and other baked goods to Court and President. The bakery polled Instagram followers in March about where to open its next location. Carroll Gardens won, with 40 percent of the votes.
Very Friendly Music, a record store and recording studio, opens tomorrow, June 27 at 610 Dean Street in Prospect Heights. The store will stock 40,000 to 50,000 records across genres, CDs and cassettes, with turntables and more audio equipment to come, Grand Army Gazette reports.
Cremini’s has received Slow Food’s Snail of Approval, a certification given to city-based restaurants, bars and food and beverage artisans that emphasize good, clean and fair food for New Yorkers. Read more about the restaurant specializing in Le Marche cuisine here via CSJ Index.
Plymouth Cafe, a.k.a. Plymouth Deli, in Brooklyn Heights has closed after more than four decades. Peter Hong, who ran the cafe with his brother David, told BK Eagle he’s retiring.
The Majestic, a 10-story U-shaped residential building at 540 Degraw Street in Gowanus, has topped out, according to an announcement from The Domain Companies. Set to open next year, the building includes 255 apartments, a roof terrace, indoor-outdoor rooftop fitness center and courtyard garden. Nearby, at 175 Third Street, developers have secured $785 million to build the largest tower in Gowanus.
Goings On
The Columbia Street Waterfront Association and District 29 Cleanup Crew are holding a clean-up at Columbia and Degraw Streets tomorrow, June 27 at 10 a.m. There will also be a work day at Human Compass Garden Sunday, June 28 at 10 a.m.
Sixteen Mills will sell gluten-free sourdough bagels without preservatives, gums, sugar, dairy, eggs, nuts or coconut tomorrow, June 27 from 10 a.m. until sold out.
Van Alen Institute is holding a signing party for Gowanus Yearbook, a student-led research project, tomorrow, June 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Garden Club is hosting a witchy event tied to the full moon on Monday evening, June 29. There will be tarot card readings, wine and snacks. RSVP here.
The BMT Development Corporation will meet Tuesday, June 30 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in person at Brooklyn Borough Hall and virtually here. The meeting follows one this morning with the BMT Advisory Task Force.
Anaïs is hosting a night of magic and mentalism on Tuesday, June 30.
Books Are Magic is running a city-wide scavenger hunt in celebration of the World Cup until Friday, July 31. Pick up an official map at either location.
One More Thing
I am truly mesmerized by the visuals (separate links) for Martin Bisi’s new single “Cubesmart Sunset.” Erase the F train, erase the rain! (JK, we definitely need both.)