This Year On The Stoop: 2013
It’s been a busy year in Park Slope. In 2013, we saw a lot of businesses come and go, watched the neighborhood become one big film set, elected a neighbor as mayor, prepped for (or fought against) development at Methodist Hospital, and got even more serious about traffic safety after mourning the loss of a young neighbor. Check out Park Slope’s 2013 highlights, as seen from the stoop:
• Biggest openings: Whole Foods, Lakeside,
Grand Central Oyster Bar Brooklyn.
• Biggest closings: Two Boots, Sweet Melissa, Jackie’s 5th Amendment.
• The death of Sammy Cohen-Eckstein spurred more action on traffic safety, which we look forward to seeing continue in 2014.
• Our Park Slope mayor and his signature dance is heading to Gracie Mansion.
• Methodist unveiled expansion plans, which CB6 rejected, so they’re back at the drawing board.
• BBQ may have edged out fro-yo as the Park Slope food of the year.
• Lawrence Abdullah was honored for his role in catching an alleged groper.
• The 78th Precinct didn’t “use the force” when it issued zero speeding tickets one month.
• President Obama came to Brooklyn, landing in Prospect Park.
• We’re still broken up about a dolphin who lost a fight against the Gowanus Canal.
• Beyoncé!
• Fourth Ave: two traffic lanes from three, McDonald’s to apts, still floody.
• Find vendors from PS 321 (now Brooklyn Flea) at the new South Slope Flea.
• We met George Horner, the artist behind striking posters on Union Street.
• 10 cool facts about Prospect Park.
• A van crashed into the deli at 5th Ave and 9th St, injuring two.
• How a romantic gesture led to evolving street art on 7th Avenue.
• The VMAs, Ona, neighbor woes, and more from the first year of the Barclays Center.
• The price of parking in Park Slope: $80,000.
• Patrick Stewart blew everyone’s mind by eating his first slice of pizza.
• Goorin Bros celebrated two great years as Park Slope’s hat shop.
• We lost some old signs: Eagle Clothes, Citroen, “Wine/Liquor” neon, Union Street’s Uncle Sam mural.
• The Smith/9th station reopened, and the R train stopped going to Manhattan.
• We saw which local blocks have the oldest buildings.
• New 5th Avenue BID director Mark Caserta talked about the future of the avenue.
• And we’re getting closer to a business improvement district on 7th Avenue.
• Park Slope Family Circus poked fun at Park Slope living.
• The pink house went brown.
• The Great Googa Mooga came with style, but won’t be returning.
• We got some Citibikes, but maybe not enough.
• Kids weighed in on the best family-friendly restaurants.
• Venusaur, a trapped Park Slope cat, was rescued by spelunkers.
• Kimberly McCreight discussed her novel Reconstructing Amelia, one of the year’s best.
• New York passed tough gun control legislation.
• Deirdre Novella talked about Badlands’ first year in business.
• A billboard for a strip club riled up some neighbors.
• StoryKeep and the business of recording family histories.
• We met the 5th Brooklyn Scouts, the new non-discriminatory Scout troop.
• We still love 10-year-old artist Chloe Schneider’s mural at Terroir.
• Helpful map of Prospect Park sledding spots in case it snows later this week.
• Rest in peace: Billy Donald Alexis, Anthony Chiappelloni, Barbara Henderson, Jesus Morales, Lynne Rosen and John Littig, Emily Singleton, Harry Tarzian, Ned Vizzini.
Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve everyone, and we look forward to seeing what 2014 brings.