Around Brooklyn: Bushwick florist institutes ‘Solidarity Sundays’

June 16, 2020 Editorial Staff

Here’s the view from the Manhattan Bridge’s pedestrian pathway. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

Share this:

Bushwick florist institutes ‘Solidarity Sundays’

Florist Suzanna Cameron, the owner of flower shop Stems Brooklyn in Brooklyn, has instituted “Solidarity Sundays,” in which she donates revenue as well as bouquets of flowers to nonprofit organizations and social justice groups around the city. “Flowers are the great connectors, and can help bring joy during these very important times,” said Cameron. She sends arrangements of bright-pink peonies, climbing sweet peaks, blueberry branch, pillowy poppies and more, according to Time Out New York.

Dozens of Williamsburg apartments empty for months

Sixty-six affordable apartments have been empty for more than six months in Williamsburg, and the developer is blaming the state legislature’s 2019 rent laws. David Lombino, the managing director of Two Trees Management, said that the developer is left with no good options to rent out the affordable apartments. The units are part of the Domino Sugar development. Since the development was approved in 2014, the state has passed new laws, including a mandate that developers who receive a 421a tax break must make more apartments affordable. In the case of Domino, this means at least 30 percent of the building. Two Trees says that would force it to set some rents higher than what the community and City Council agreed to, according to NY1 News.

Tudor house in Prospect-Lefferts going for $1.995M

A single-family Tudor home at 18 Chester Court that is now on the market has recently renovated kitchens and baths as well as some original details, such as parquet floors, wainscoting and a coffered ceiling. The house, and the tiny street where it was built, were created in 1911 by Brooklyn architect and builder Peter Collins. The Tudor-style houses were inspired by a trip he took to Chester in England. All of the houses on the block survived, and the development was designated a historic district in 2014, according to Brownstoner.

Firefighters rescue teen kayakers who fell into the Gowanus

Firefighters on Saturday afternoon rescued two teenage kayakers who capsized into the Gowanus Canal on Saturday afternoon. Their boat started filling with water around 4 p.m., and kept filling until it suddenly flipped over. The FDNY sent out its marine unit to the rescue. Video on the Citizen app showed firefighters pulling a female passenger out of the water near the base of the bridge. The two, who had been out on the water with the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club, were unharmed despite the pollution of the Gowanus and refused a trip to the hospital, according to the Brooklyn Paper.

Skateboarders stage their own protest in Williamsburg

On Friday afternoon, skateboarders, rollerboarders, bicyclists and scooter people descended on Williamsburg to stage a rally in sympathy with the Black Lives Matter protests across the city. “This is a great way to be part of the movement and get the skateboarding family together,” said Jennifer Charlene, one of the event’s organizers. Friday’s event began in Continental Army Plaza at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge and proceeded to McCarren Park. Getting that many skateboarders in one place wasn’t easy, according to Greenpointers.

Filipino-American chef feeds protesters in Williamsburg

Cher Channing Centro, a food and beverage consultant living in Williamsburg, has been camped out in McCarren Park for the past week, walking through crowds of protesters carrying aluminum trays piled high with Latin and Filipino foods. He makes anywhere from 80 to 150 servings of food each day. Centeno’s efforts began after he attended a Black Lives Matter vigil and saw someone else passing out egg rolls. “Filipinos love to feed and host people,” he said, “it’s what we do,” according to New York Eater.

Park Slope’s Winner Café is a Winner

When Winner Café and Bakery opened at 367 Seventh Ave. in March, it immediately became popular. Even in the time of the coronavirus, its popularity continued, said Daniel Eddy, its owner. He and several partners have slowly increased production, and are selling fresh bread and pastries on a specific schedule throughout the day through a takeout window on 11th Street. For example, sandwiches come out at noon and swiftly sell out. The bakery also houses guest chefs every week, according to New York Eater.

Workers hurt when platform inside elevator shaft collapses

Three members of a construction crew were injured when a platform inside an elevator shaft collapsed on Monday morning, sending them to the bottom. The accident happened around 8 a.m. at 170 Tillary St., Downtown Brooklyn. The three men, who were elevator mechanics, were taken to New York Presbyterian Methodist Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The building is still under construction, and the Department of Buildings is investigating the incident, according to ABC7.

Real estate lender makes Brooklyn loans

Urban Standard Capital, a New York-based real estate lending, development and investment firm, delivered $6.3 million in loans during the COVID-19 pandemic in three separate deals. The three loans included a $3.7 million acquisition and construction loan; a $1.25 million loan for a luxury seven-unit condo development at 311 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights; a $1.35 million loan for a development at 419 Manhattan Ave. in Williamsburg; and a development in Southampton, N.Y., according to Connect New York.

Brooklyn Cured expands pre-sliced offerings

Brooklyn Cured, a line of artisinal sausages, salamis and deli meats, has expanded its line of pre-sliced charcuterie in response to growing customer demand for pre-packaged sliced meals. For the new items, Brooklyn Cured is partnering with farmers to source meat that promotes regenerative agriculture. “Our mission is to promote sustainable agriculture, so we connected with farmers who typically supply restaurants so we could support them during these times,” said Brooklyn Cured founder Scott Bridi, according to Perishable News.

Two injured in Brownsville fire

Two people were injured Monday morning when fire swept through their apartment building in Brownsville, FDNY officials said. Both suffered smoke inhalation, but their injuries were not considered life-threatening. They were taken to Brookdale University Medical Center in stable condition. The fire broke out around 1 a.m. at 156 Rockaway Ave., and firefighters found fire blowing out of several windows of the building’s fifth floor. The fire was brought under control by 2 a.m., but by then several apartments were damaged, according to amNewYork.

City welds gates of Williamsburg playground shut

City parks workers were recently seen welding shut the gates of Middleton Playground in Williamsburg, which is heavily used by members of the Hasidic community. “In recent weeks, people have broken the locks and chains at the playground multiple times,” a spokesperson for the city Parks Department said. Assemblymember Joe Lentol, who represents the area, criticized the decision to close the playground. “Welding the doors shut at Middleton Playground during a time when our children need the open space to run and play is unacceptable,” Lentol said in a tweet, according to the National Review.

Red Hook resident organizes young adults

A young Brooklyn community organizer is inspiring many of his peers to take part in demonstrations, register to vote and educate themselves about new legislation. Na Lekan Masego, who lives in the Red Hook Houses, is the head of a group called Black Liberated Kings and Queens. Most of its several hundred members are under age 30. “Fighting for justice is the cool thing to do,” said Masego, who is planning another rally for Sunday, June 21, according to PIX11.

Bar trade show moves to web

Bar Covenant Brooklyn organizers announced recently that their popular sports and bar trade show will not take place at the Brooklyn Expo Center this year as planned. Instead, the group will stage the show digitally. “Since our Brooklyn debut three years ago, we have received immense support from the global bar industry,” said BCB Event Vice President Paula November. “We are excited for 2020 to bring an even greater unification of our community, and to be able to reach more at our digital show,” she added, according to NeatPour, a trade website.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.