New to the Neighborhood and looking for...

metulj

1. Decent coffee shop: After reading the MW hate, I know better from the get go. Fair trade is important (Costa Rica beans a big plus!), but if I am having withdrawal I will drink Krispy Kreme coffee. Prospect Perk has nowhere to sit, but is fine for a cup on the way to whereever. What's a good sit down place?

2. Wine Shop: I poked my head into Fermented Grapes and was very happy to see that the owner isn't afraid of German and Austrian Wine. What's the take on it?

3. Cleaners: My wife works is design director for a big handbag line and needs a trustworthy cleaners. We tried Four Seasons after moving in, but did not like the turnaround and they put starch where starch should never go. I could be wrong. Correct me if so! Me: I'm a baseball hat wearing slob, so I could give a fuck, but peace be happy wife.

4. Bike Shop: I am a roadie. We chose this neighborhood because I can get out and crank in the park. Doesn't have to be high-end shop. Just one who can do the stuff I can't do in my living room.

5. Dive Bar: This is most important! We moved here from a classic scumbag, get your teeth knocked out, scruffy river town: Knoxville, TN. Wife is a Manhattanite who had her little hole in the wall in the East Village. I grew up the son of the manager of a Miller Brewery who had took me to his place: The Railroad Cafe for my 21st bday. Well, we need one here. Knoxville is resplendent with places like The Corner Lounge, Toot's, Mary's, and The Longbranch (the old one, not the high-dollar new one). The kind of places that inspire Cormac McCarthy to write books like 'Sutree' then beat feet to New Mexico to dry out. A jukebox is almost mandatory. Beer selection is important. One or two microbrews to start the night with: OK. But a low-brow on tap is a must. Any clues?

Thanks!

michaela

Subject: For #4 definitely Bicycle Station

It is THE BEST
See this thread:
http://dailyheights.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=93

anonymous

Subject: Dive bars

dive bars: Oconnors (fifth btw bergen and dean; Mooneys -kind of an oldman bar on flatbush close to carlton

my fav is in ft green, not to be too much of a traitor- tho - alibi on dekalb and vanderbilt

roux42

Subject: The 'hood

Freddy's on the corner of 6th and Dean. I really should not tell anyone about it 'cause it is gettin' too crowded.

Jonny Mack's by the Park. Snooky's on 7th for a decent cocktail and decent bar food... Snooky's is what Park Slope was 20 years ago.

alex

My parents met in snookys 26 years ago

carnivore

Alex wrote: My parents met in snookys 26 years ago

Dude- how old are you? :evil: :? :shock:

alex

25

anonymous

Subject: Gorilla Coffee!

Gorilla Coffee on 5th and Park Place.

Worth the walk. The coffee beats anything else in the area.

anonymous

I think Heights Coffee has a great tasting coffee and a great atmosphere. There are on Flatbush Ave nr 7th Ave. It worth a try and they're right in the neighborhood.

flute

Cleaners: I think there is a substantial thread somewhere here on this board re dry cleaners. Seems an awful lot of people (myself included) like the one on the corner of Park & Vanderbilt -- Caree. They do excellent tailoring on-site as well.

Bike Shop: I second (third? fourth? fifth? eh, whatever) the bike shop on Vanderbilt as the ONLY place to go.

carnivore

I nominate lovemynabe2 as best neighborhood corporate shill.

flute

Carnivore wrote: I nominate lovemynabe2 as best neighborhood corporate shill.

Another one? I'm (as usual) either getting confused or missing the irony.

dailyheights

It's not shilling to say you like a business.

carnivore

FLUTE wrote: Another one? I'm (as usual) either getting confused or missing the irony.

Sorry, that was in refernce to this:

lovemynabe2 wrote: I think Heights Coffee has a great tasting coffee and a great atmosphere. There are on Flatbush Ave nr 7th Ave. It worth a try and they're right in the neighborhood.

lovemynabe2 has posted similar things several times before in other threads, and although I have zero proof, I'm highly suspicious that s/he has an undisclosed tie to the management.

carnivore

OK, I was looking back at the Heights Coffee thread, and I think I confused lovemynabe2's post with some other ones there. :oops:
I therefore officially retract my statement and extend my apologies to lovemynabe2.

bluedove

Subject: dive bar

My husband and I love to get wings at Wing Wagon and eat them at Mooney's with a pitcher or two. Definitely a dive. Anyone else run into the Zeus guy there?

ana.log

Subject: Re: dive bar

bluedove wrote: My husband and I love to get wings at Wing Wagon and eat them at Mooney's with a pitcher or two. Definitely a dive. Anyone else run into the Zeus guy there?

where is wing wagon and who is zeus guy?

bluedove

Wing Wagon is right next door to Mooney's on Flatbush, and Zeus guy is this old guy who appears to be a regular there. He smokes with a white cigarette holder, will drunkenly talk your ear off if you so much as glance at him, and once expounded on his belief in Zeus as the one true god for at least half an hour to us (twice to my husband.)

ana.log

bluedove wrote: and once expounded on his belief in Zeus as the one true god for at least half an hour to us (twice to my husband.)

hehe, that's awesome

anonymous

Subject: the best

1. I'm on the go so Prospect perk suits me fine.

2. I am liking Fermented Grapes. But Gary's down on Flatbush almost to Bergen is pretty good too.

3. Cleaners?

4. I know I will be cruxified for this but the bike shop on Vanderbilt sucks. That guy has too much work and therefore the wait is obnoxious. I hate to recomend this place because the prices are high and the service is horrible unless you have a last name like Armstrong or Astor but R & A cycles down on 5th is the high end. They have it all and if you are patient enough to put up with the attitudes then this is the place. Just be pushy because they sure as hell will be.

5. O'Conners--great juke box but no beer on tap. I don't know what that is all about but the atmosphere is classic dive.

anonymous

Subject: Re: dive bar

I won't let my kids bring Wing Wagon Wings into the house because of the smell - but to each his own I guess.

bluedove

Oh man, I love hot wings! The smell is the best part--it'll clear out your sinuses right quick.

whyfi

bluedove wrote: Oh man, I love hot wings! The smell is the best part--it'll clear out your sinuses right quick.

200 5th in PS makes some good wings... if you haven't ried them, you should...

*former employee, but far enough removed to be impartial

chippenziedeutch

Although nothing beats Bonnie's (further down 5th Ave from that) for Wing authenticity...

alafairnadia

wings at soda are damn good. there's a photo here

11238

Tavern on Dean's wings are pretty good too!!!!

pitu

When you're at Bonnie's on Fifth Ave for a burger/hot wings (catfish burger is great, too) go another block to THE GATE. It's a good beery bar. All those other ones mentioned above are nice too...

Gorilla Coffee on 5th and Park Place is handsdown most delicious.... They just moved the gorgeous red roaster to a warehouse in Sunset Park, so the coffee is still roasted locally. sooooo goood. But maybe too far away except you ride a bike...Vanderbilt bike shop, I millionth it! The place on Fifth Ave sucks, with attitude.

iowagirl

Coffee shop - Gorilla by far. The best iced latte anywhere.

Wine shop - Fermented Grapes is great, plus the owners live in the neighborhood. They know everything they sell, they have regular tastings and sometimes the tastings are held jointly with Delicacies down the street so you get snacks with your wine. Mmmmm.

Cleaners - Caree is fine, although I'd welcome an eco-friendly shop.

Bike shop - I agree with virtually everyone here: Bicycle Station on Vanderbilt is wonderful. Besides their knowledge and lack of attitude, they sold me a used kid's bike for my five year old for just $20.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

withachaser

1. Decent coffee shop. definitely gorilla for free trade, tho i have not yet tried heights. as a "the darker and more acidic, the better" kinda woman, many of the sit-down places in the 'nabe are fine, as long as they offer a triple espresso and cream option. there's a place in park slope around 4th and 11th that i've also liked. and tea lounge is pretty dependable, if obnoxiously sceney

2. Wine Shop: Fermented Grapes is great!. there's also a wine shop on 7th ave and 12th or 13th that has a great selection and knowledgeable and friendly staff. i've always trusted their judgment and have experinced some lovely wines as a result.

3. Cleaners: i dont understand why we have so many dry cleaners in pros hts...esp given the fact that our 'dry-cleaning population' does not appear to be as high as some other locales wtih far few dry cleaners. that being said, i am a big fan of carees on the corner of vndrblt and park, for cleaning and basic alterations. for leather i've gone to the place on flatbush b/t 7th and sterling
4. Bike Shop: I have an old high-maintenance road bike. love bike station on vndrblt. yes, the wait can be obnoxious. however, it is a non-attitude wait. whereas the obnoxious wait at r&a is festering with attitude and has left me thinking -- on many occasions -- that i should never enter that place again if i do not want to risk a psychotic break. still, i will go in desperate times:-). the bike shop on union off 7th (dixons) is a shop i've supported for almost 20 years and have consitently found them fair and courteous, if limited in their supplies.
5. Dive Bar: can't help you here, 'cept to note that beer selction is good at the gate, but it is really very much of a young urban deal. i've frequented beast, soda, tavern on dean, half, gingers, excelsior, gate, 12th street and have enjoyed all, but none of these could be classifed as 'dive.' perhaps freddy's or moonies or carriage house on 7th and 7th street might fit the bill. ive heard that ripple on washington is good, btw.

hey, welcome to our corner of the sky!!

flute

Bike Shops
Dixon's Bike Shop - Bike service with a smile! 792 Union St.

That's what they say ... haven't been there in awhile - so I can't vouch for the smile part ... but given the comments I'm reading on the Vanderbilt shop (long wait) and the one on 5th Ave. (bad attitude?), it's a possible alternative.

anonymous

2. I'd avoid Fermented Grapes. Have had several (ok, at least 2) mediocre wines recommened to me by the owner and then there's just something about the place that rubs me the wrong way, starting with the name, which is just dumb. While it's a schlep, I regularly make the trek to Shawn's on 7th. They have a good selection of German wines, btw.