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,

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• 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.