Vines & Voices 035: Help Make Columbia Street Safer
Plus, Bar Ferdinando's opening date, a BMT deadline approaches and vibe-coding the Carroll Street subway stop.
Welcome to Vines & Voices, your weekly look at life across West Brooklyn. Curated by CSJ, this free newsletter brings together the local news and goings-on shaping our neighborhoods, plus a few extras worth knowing. Have a tip, a story idea or something you think deserves attention? Write to us. Your voice helps shape the story.
On CSJ
Two pieces of news, both with smashburger tie-ins:
Dae is closing at the end of April. If you haven’t yet tried their smashburger, go and report back. They will relocate, so more to come.
Ramblin’ Chick, a new fast-casual spot from the founders of Ample Hills Creamery, will serve chicken smashburgers from 512 Court Street starting March 19.
Elsewhere
Ward 6 reported from the first of five Rental Ripoff hearings organized by Mayor Mamdani. Their latest dispatch also includes a helpful summary of the BQE cantilever debate.
Voice of Gowanus initiated a health survey to determine whether and how locals “have been affected by chemicals known to be in the local ground and air.” VoG previously prompted the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to conduct a soil vapor intrusion investigation, finding 38 properties in need of remediation.
Mayor Mamdani appointed Diya Vij, a vice president at Gowanus-based Powerhouse Arts, to lead the Department of Cultural Affairs.
Bar Ferdinando sets an opening date of April 15; Allison Roman shouts out Tera Mera; cocktail bar Shania’s Max Bet takes over from Dirty Precious in Gowanus; and Pitt’s closes in Red Hook.
Hamilton’s Philippa Soo is selling her Brooklyn Heights loft; Stacy London is selling her Carroll Gardens home; an affordable housing building will bring 302 units to Gowanus; and the Jehovah’s Witness Watchtower could be rezoned to include more housing.
Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest was such effective marketing for this penthouse at the Olympia DUMBO, which just sold for $16.25 million.
TW: This entry is about home break-in and sexual assault. Early last Thursday morning, a man broke into a woman’s home in Carroll Gardens, dragged her outside and forcibly kissed her on the mouth.
Goings On
Fellow Substacker Dad Mag is hosting a meetup at Talea Cobble Hill tomorrow, March 7 from noon to 4pm. Grab a beer and learn more about the growing community of parents and families in the neighborhood.
DoBeDoUs will teach people how to make ceramic goods tomorrow March 7 as part of an afternoon art retreat series.
An important community gathering regarding traffic and pedestrian safety on Columbia Street: NYC Department of Transportation Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Keith Bray will hear directly from you about how to make Columbia Street safer. There have been several crashes along Columbia, including a 10-year-old girl who was hit by a car while crossing at President last fall. The hearing takes place Tuesday, March 10 at 6pm at Jalopy Theatre (315 Columbia Street). Bring examples, ideas and a willingness to make the street safer for all. RSVP here.
Another Brooklyn Marine Terminal Environmental Review Info Session takes place Wednesday, March 11 at 6pm at Sacred Hearts Church Cabrini Hall (125 Summit Street). This is an informational session to learn more about the BMT project proposal and review process and to ask questions. There will be a virtual scoping hearing on March 16, and as a reminder, March 31 is the deadline to submit written commentary.
Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse is hosting a wool felting session next Saturday, March 14.
Industry City will host a new EDM festival, Why Not Now?, taking place Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 24.
Sting’s fall tour dates include six shows at the Brooklyn Paramount.
One Last Thing
A TechHive writer vibe-coded a dashboard showing the location of trains at the Carroll Street subway stop. A suggestion: could someone vibe-code us a Saturday reservation at Red Hook Tavern?