May 2003

LOCAL ARABS AREN’T VERY PATRIOTIC

Only two Atlantic Avenue merchants have posted patriotic placards on their storefronts---despite a Guardian Angel led neighborhood leafleting campaign. Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa and a dozen of his Angels went door to door on Atlantic Avenue between Henry and Bond distributing the posters. They feature an American flag and the words “Support our Troops.” After an hour long canvassing of the neighborhood, only two of the predominately Arab businesses displayed the posters: Damascus restaurant and Key Foods.

SURREAL NEIL TAKES BROOKLYN

Neil Diamond couldn’t do it, but the Surreal Neil could: walk down a Brooklyn street and pop into a pub without being mobbed by crazed fans. Surreal Neil is San Francisco singer-songwriter Randy Cordeiro who doesn’t look a thing like the real Neil. But, close your eyes and you’d swear he’s the real deal. Randy strolled down Smith street and had a Bloody Mary at Angry Wades. Then, it was off to the show----the last night of a three-night stand at Manhattan’s Irving Plaza, where his alter ego band, Super Diamond took the stage after a one hour warm-up performance by his original music band The Tijuana Strip Club. Randy frequently plays at Irving Plaza and if you want to hear what he sounds like or get a schedule check out his websites: www.surrealneil.com and www.superdiamond.com

BROOKLYN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS: “Manhattan is not safe”

The Cobbler has learned the Diocese of Brooklyn has banned it’s teachers from taking field trips into Manhattan over fears of terrorist attacks.

Several Connecticut and New Jersey school districts have already banned trips abroad and even to New York and Washington D.C.

But, this is the first time, a New York City school district has implemented such a ban . What’s extraordinary is the proximity to Manhattan, less than a mile away and over a bridge or through a tunnel.

The Catholic Church fears trips to such popular places like Wall Street, The Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden pose elevated risks to the children.

It should be noted that none of those sites has been specifically mentioned as possible terrorist targets and that the children probably have more of a chance of getting hurt by bullies and gangs in their own Brooklyn schools.

MUGGED ON COURT STREET

A 17-year-old boy was mugged while walking down Court Street near 1st Place. Police say the boy was jumped around 11:00pm by a gang of five black youths. They allegedly beat him and pushed him to the ground and tried to rob him. He had nothing in his pockets.

EDITOR CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY IN NEIGHBORHOOD

While sipping on some adult beverages at THE RED ROOM in Carroll Gardens, a shocked and amazed Cobbler editor, George Weber, was delivered corn on the cob with a birthday candle. The unusual substitution of the traditional birthday cake was devised by a quite deceptive and incorrigible neighborhood resident, Brian Casey. Shocked patrons looked on and immediately began ordering large quantities of Corn on the Cob, which up until that moment was a little known menu item. Corn on the Cob is now the number one seller at the RED ROOM, surpassing even beer.

NEIGHBORHOOD BARS STILL SMOKIN

In defiance of Mayor Bloomberg’s new smoking ban, several bars continued to allow their customers to light up until the May 1st enforcement date. At least four bars on Smith and Court streets ignored the April ban on smoking. However, most tell the Cobbler, they’re only doing it because of the city’s announcement that the law won’t be enforced until May.

20 % OFF: NOT

Carroll Gardens Dog Walker Danielle reports the a new Laundromat on Union Street is ripping off it’s customers. The huge sign in the window reads: 20% OFF ALL DRY CLEANING. But, the Four Paws owner says when she took her clothes in for dry cleaning, the shopkeeper refused to give her 20-percent off. Here is her letter to the Cobbler:

I walk in on Saturday with a curtain to be dry-cleaned. Now normally I would have continued past the laundry mat that was recently bought out on Union and Hicks (across from the 76) and drop off anything to be cleaned at the dry cleaners next to Amici's. But the big red lettering on the sign hanging down from the new awning read "20% of all dry cleaning." I was snagged. I decided to give the new guy a try. And if they weren't great well at least I wouldn't be paying full price. The woman seemed nice enough. She took the curtain and told me I could pick it up on Monday. "Wow! They're quick too!" I thought. Monday rolls around and I stroll in on my morning dog walk. I was told that I should come back in the evening and it would be ready. OK fair enough. I give them until Tuesday morning. Still not there. I am now told that it will take 3 days to get the curtain back. Come in tomorrow - Wednesday. I give them until Thursday. Finally I see it hanging on the rack next to the other plasticized garments. She hands it to me and it is beautifully pressed but still yellowed. Then she hands me the bill without any discount. When I ask her about the big sign out front, she shrugs and tells me the price is the price. I insist that the sign clearly reads: "20% of all dry cleaning." This would lead one to believe ALL new orders would receive a 20% discount. "No sorry," is all I got. I was so pissed off I announced I would never be returning and would be sure to let my neighbors know about the false advertising.

Late, poor workmanship, and over-priced is how I would sum up the whole experience. Live and learn.

Danielle

OUR LOCAL FIREHOUSE HAS BEEN ORDERED CLOSED

Despite a valiant effort by hundreds of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill residents, the Mayor has decided to shutdown Engine Company 204 on Degraw Street. Bloomberg decided to side with a so called “blue ribbon panel” to close a total of eight firehouses, five of them in Brooklyn and one of them here in the neighborhood. This despite a series of protests in front of the 204 and in front of city hall.

WHERE’S SPRING?

Thousands of Brooklyn residents were asking the same thing on April 7th when between three and six inches of snow fell in the Borough. The wind swept snow buried streets, cars and sadly….freshly planted flowers in our parks and in front of homes.

TIPS & TIDBITS

Got a tip, a wacky story, a neighborhood complaint, a secret? Send it to me and we'll likely print it for all of cyberworld to see. george@georgeweber.net