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Rickshaw and Van Leeuwen Truck
Thursday, June 4, 2009
7th Avenue has become a hot-spot for high quality food trucks. The Waffles and Dinges truck is the first I can remember, and has since become a staple on Saturday afternoons in front of the Key Foods at 1st St. In the past few months, two new trucks have been popping up that caught my eye.
Starting in March, the dumpling restaurant Rickshaw started selling their fare on weekends at the intersection of 1st street, across from the PS 321 flea market. I visited their Flatiron location after seeing a documentary on MTV about the owner trying to launch the business, and have been back many times prior to sample their variety of delicious dumplings. Although I have yet to sample the ones from the truck, if they are anything like their brick and mortar counterparts I imagine I will be stopping by often. That stretch of 7th suffers from a lack of grab-and-go lunch food, making Rickshaw a great option for people out and about on summer weekends.
Within the last few weeks Van Leeuwen, an artisan ice cream company, has been parking their truck at the intersection of Carroll, across the street from Key Foods. Park Slope already has plenty of great ice cream options, but judging from their menu this is something different altogether. Flavors like Ginger, Pistachio, and Espresso set them apart, and their all-natural, hormone-free, locally-available ingredients are perfectly tuned to the needs of many residents. It turns out that Van Leeuwen already has a strong footprint in Park Slope, selling their brand in locations such as Get Fresh, Blue Apron Foods, Back to the Land, and the Park Slope Food Coop.
Labels: businesses, truck
6/04/2009 11:49:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Galaxy Comics Opens New Store
Thursday, June 4, 2009
As I walked to Key Foods yesterday I noticed that Galaxy Comics opened a new location at 7th Ave and Carroll St. They took over the space above the Park Slope Copy Center, formerly occupied by a shipping store. They had strategically placed a sign down at street level which caught my eye and led me upstairs. I think the space is perfect for a comic book store, which has limited window appeal but a dedicated customer base that will search it out.
The store has been open for about two weeks, and is the owner's third location. The store is small by neat, and includes a large selection of comics, collectibles, t-shirts, and trading cards.
I was aware of their 5th Ave shop, although I have never been inside, and I was surprised to see them open a new location such a short distance away. A search on Google Maps for reveals that comic book stores are few and far between in Brooklyn, but I guess they figure there is a demand from North Sloper's that they can tap in to.
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Labels: businesses, opening
6/04/2009 11:02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Rickshaw Sighting
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Parked out front of the AOC Bistro tonight was a rickshaw, not exactly a common mode of transportation in these parts. The decal on the bike pointed me to Revolution Rickshaws, which rents and sells rickshaws in New York City. They are an environmentally conscious company dedicated to creating "Local Organic Transport Systems". If I was in Time Square or Central park this sighting wouldn't be noteworthy, but does anyone know what brings a rickshaw to the Slope?
Labels: discovery
5/02/2009 11:45:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Cherry Blossom Festival
Saturday, May 2, 2009
This weekend the Brooklyn Botanical Garden celebrates Sakura Matsuri, the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The event is a mixture of enjoying the flowering trees, traditional Japanese culture, and modern Japanese pastimes such as manga, cosplay and J-Pop. While my interests lie more with the first two, the festival certainly has something for everyone.
The majority of the cherry trees are at their full bloom this weekend, and luckily the weather held up throughout the day Saturday, drawing large crowds. Standing under the canopy with petals slowly falling down around you is a magical experience, and everyone there was enjoying it. The Japanese Hill-and-Pond garden was another popular spot and had some great views. Live music, authentic food, workshops and performances were scattered throughout the property, encouraging guests to explore and venture beyond the cherry esplanade.
5/02/2009 10:46:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Filming at La Bagel Delight
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I passed by the La Bagel Delight (7th Ave and Carroll) tonight and was surprised to see the lights on and the people mulling around inside and outside. Closer inspection revealed a film shoot taking place inside. It wasn't clear who they were or what they were filming, but from what I could tell it seemed to be a small, independent production.
Labels: businesses, television
4/22/2009 09:43:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Correction: Trade Winds Moved
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I recently posted that the 7th Ave furniture store Trade Winds had closed. If it weren't for the pouring rain the day I saw the "For Rent" signs in their windows I probably would have walked across the street to get a better photo. There I would have clearly seen the signs that said that the store was just moving and not closing. Their new location is 47 Fifth Ave. at the corner of 5th and Bergen. Sorry for the mistake, and best wishes Trade Winds!
Trade Winds Imports
47 5th Ave (at Bergen St)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Labels: businesses, correction
4/22/2009 08:56:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Trade Winds Closes
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Edit: It turns out that Trade Winds has only moved. Read more here.
I use to live just a few doors down from the 7th Ave furniture store Trade Winds. I always wondered how such a small place could stay in business, and the constant neon sale signs in the window indicated that it wasn't easy. The only place that looked more desperate for business was the former Park Slope Shoes across the street.
When it came time for my girlfriend to get a new dresser though, the proximity and convenience of the store was too much to resist. She ended up getting a pretty good deal from Trade Winds on an unfinished dresser that we stained and sealed ourselves. While it may not be as trendy looking as an Ikea model, it's made out of real wood and fits our simple decor.
Yesterday as I was walking down 7th in the pouring rain I noticed the "For Rent" signs on the window. I wasn't surprised, as it was only a matter of time before Park Slope rents, the failing economy, and tight margins caught up to them.
Labels: businesses, closing
4/21/2009 11:18:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)