Brooklynian is Boring!

xchx

I actually like hearing about new places -and having a place to look up what that new construction site is... It's better than brownstoner

Maybe more people should post things ?

mcpoet

I was just thinking about what other stuff would be cool to have in the neighborhood.  A bowling alley would be kind of cool, though you really need a bigger space for that one. The other idea is a video game arcade/bar like they have in other areas of the city.  I don't know whether either is a practical option in the old Pioneer space, but I figured it couldn't hurt to throw it out there into the universe and see if anything comes of it.

tacologic

Ask not what Brooklynian can do for you.

pragmaticguy

@McPoet---I can think of five bowling alleys that closed in Brooklyn alone. Bedford Bowl on Bedford and Crown closed back in the 70s. I can't see anyone investing in a new one.

homeowner

Yeah, the gentrification of Brooklyn killed bowling in BK which is pretty ironic when you consider what a hipster thing bowling has become (yes, Brooklyn Bowl I'm looking at you). I guess they had to kill off all the places that were frequented by city worker leagues and blue collar bowlers first. 

Didn't Bedford Bowl close in the early 2000s? It was there operating until the MEC Business school replaced it.

mcpoet

It's true, bowling isn't particularly lucrative and it takes a lot of space, so the only way it's generally profitable is having the alley double as a restaurant/bar.  

Something along the lines of Barcade, with vintage arcade games, is probably a bit more practical.  Most of the area bars don't really hold all that much appeal for me because I can just have a beer at home for a fraction of the cost (if I was single they might hold more appeal).  Even with a PS4 though, I'd go and play some arcade games because it isn't practical to have them in your apartment (one of my best friends had an Asteroids arcade game in his basement when we were kids, which was pretty awesome).

whynot_31

1000 Dean, Berg'n, and 3rd Ward flirted with the idea of making this space a massive entertainment center, but 3rd Ward collapsed and the area now seems poised to become more upscale and older.

...the residents of Pacific Park come to mind.

  

clueless

I agree with Goldemi1 on May 24:

"Things I like to read about:

- renovations people are doing, with pictures, and who they're using (I could always use good leads to handymen, electricians, lighting techs, etc)

- History of the buildings in the area

- Events

- Bike rides, bike routes, bike stuff"

have mostly given up on brownstoner for recommendations since they won't let you post a recommendation for a contractor who doesn't advertise with them - that was a primary reason for using that site!

also would love to see everyone post about events in any neighborhood.

also enjoy getting together with brooklynians to "explore" bars/restaurants in any neighborhood

will try to check out brooklynian more often, and post some

mugofmead111

@mcpoet - In addition to the bowling alley that was on Bedford Avenue, there used to be a roller skating rink on Empire Boulevard. It had an infamous reputation for years before it finally closed some years ago.

I dunno when that bowling alley closed, but I believe it was still active when I was a kid in the 80s and 90s. 

If the armory were to be redeveloped to include some sort of recreational activity, that would be a logical place to put it, however, I'm not holding my breath. 

I also noticed that the closest NYC Parks recreation facility to me (in zip code 11225) is on Prospect Place and Schenectady. That's all the way on the other side of Crown Heights from me and in a different zip code. *shrug*

For some things I'll still have to leave the neighborhood.

Elcaminoman

I started renovating a place in crown heights. While work was being done, I started reading brooklynian for local crown heights observations, real estate news, openings, etc. I have to say I like checking the site to see what's new. When I move in, maybe I'll try to add something /post something.

brickstoner

Elcaminoman said:

I started renovating a place in crown heights. While work was being done, I started reading brooklynian for local crown heights observations, real estate news, openings, etc. I have to say I like checking the site to see what's new. When I move in, maybe I'll try to add something /post something.

Welcome!    I'm looking for someone to renovate my home in Bed Stuy as well -- if you should so happen to have a recommendation, it'd be well appreciated!

Elcaminoman

brickstoner - would be glad to make a recommendation, can you direct message me within this blog?  It looks like there's a mail icon at the top.

suppleknuckles

you guys should post that stuff publicly! well, if the contractors are okay with publicly posting their info (mine usually are)

another idea i had recently about things we could discuss: does anyone else go to open houses just for kicks? i and my partner do, all the time. and sometimes i wish i had a public forum to air my grievances on say, particularly bad flip jobs. but i dunno how to actually keep RE people out.

booklaw

Speaking as a moderator of this site, I see no reason why positive recommendations of contractors should not be posted by folks who've actually used them and been happy with the experience.

On the other hand, we would not permit negative reviews of contractors (risk of defamation lawsuits the site cannot afford to defend); nor will we allow contractors to post phony reviews of themselves.

Elcaminoman

I would love to post the info on my contractor who's awesome, but I'd want to check with her first!

whynot_31

Brownstoner had an interesting decline in that it did not seem to realize that the number of people who were buying decrepit homes in Brooklyn and then fixing them up was rapidly falling.

As a result, the audience of people who needed advice on how to strip their fireplace mantel changed to one who needed a contractor for more mundane tasks, because they had purchased a renovated home from an LLC that had flipped it.

National sites like Home Advisor squished them.

 

Marco555

Adding my 2 cents in about my love for this site. Temporarily living on the West Coast and was hoping to find something similar...nothing! It really is the best for hearing about the hyper-local scene, asking questions, getting answers, etc. 

Appreciate it, @whynot!