Just last week and again today, I see someone parking their car bang in the middle of two open spots. In both cases I had to pull up and ask them to move their car back or front so I could also park. If I was not there at that instant, they would have just parked and gone away.

I realize there is no rule to force them to park so as not to take up two vacant spots, but isnt it the right thing to do.

The guy today who parked was already out of his car and then made a big fuss about getting back in. However I have a big SUV (ok ok I know!) and he realized that one way or the other I was going to try to squeeze in and would invariably bump his car. Only then did he get in his car and pull back freeing up one entire car parking spot.

Other than dismissing these drivers as assholes, is there something that can be done. Or does one just swallow it and move on ?

BrooklynFlea.com is the official site if you want to participate as a vendor in the future.

Today I came across an article in the Brooklyn Papers that talks about a proposal to get the City to enforce alternate side street cleaning rules only one day a week.

Currently, motorists in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill have to move their cars two to four times a week to accommodate street cleaning, while Slope and Heights drivers only need move their cars once or twice.

“We only want what they have,” said resident Susan Butler. She and other members of the Fort Greene Association have asked Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Prospect Heights) to fight City Hall.

“Constituents think [the schedule] is inconvenient and nothing more than a revenue-generator,” James told The Stoop. “I tend to agree.”

Moving the car on an average of 3-4 times a week is really a waste of time. However from what I have read on this issue, the alternate side cleaning is a big revenue generator for the city.

However some “elite” neighborhoods have it only for one day a week. So why the discrimination.

New York City….don’t you like Clinton Hill…..eh ??

Image Copyrights: The Gothamist

FreshDirect trucks plying all around the city is now a city staple. Like the yellow cab and the hotdog vendor it is part and parcel of New York life. When FreshDirect started out, it served Manhattan initially and slowly spread to the outer boroughs. This inspite of the fact that its warehouse and facilities are in Queens.

Since then it has followed an arbitrary pattern of opting neighborhoods into its delivery zone. Many parts of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx are not yet served by FreshDirect.

These are neighborhoods that FreshDirect deems underserved, or in plain terms…not worth the bother.

Bed-Stuy my old neighborhood is one such place. It borders Williamsburgh and Clinton Hill but FreshDirect wont go there. And this has riled a lot of residents, who are venting their frustration on this discussion board.

As one poster to the board writes

….they had the nerve to have a subway ad in the Myrtle-Willoughby train station and they don’t even deliver here!….And what’s more insulting is that I think some of the people around here actually WORK for Fresh Direct! Evil or Very Mad Fresh Direct can go directly to hell.

Having ordered from FreshDirect initially when they started out, I was baffled by the number of boxes they used to pack things. Groceries worth 40$ came in 5 boxes. And after I unpacked, I had to discard the boxes. There was no system of returning them to FreshDirect to be recycled.

Also the trucks park all over my neighborhood and are idling all the time. Each delivery takes about 10-15 minutes from the time the driver stops to the time he pulls out of his illegal double parking spot. Is an idling diesel engine good for the environment. I can understand that it is necessary that the refrigeration units stay chilled but that does not mean that I, living on the first floor breathe the exhaust directly aimed at my window. And all that because one of my neighbors wants to eat healthy.

As much as organic healthy food is necessary for a nation of people battling obesity and all kinds of related health conditions, FreshDirect may not be right answer. At what cost does one demand convenience ?

Anyone having any more info on this ??

I think it’s great to have a Barnes and Noble in the ‘hood. As much as it is a “big box retailer”, I look forward to a bookstore in the neighborhood where I can walk to.

The missus and some other friends were hotly discussing the best place to get a manicure and pedicure in Clinton Hill. All the women involved traded their war stories.

Purple Nails on Myrtle was for most of them the most convenient. Polish Bar was the new one on the block and is the most expensive. With Manhattan like prices, the place is untested territory amongst all the women at the party. A new place has opened up on Myrtle opposite the Subway at the junction of Vanderbilt. Again, uncharted territory. The one that the missus goes to is Nails Plus and is on Waverly between Lafayette and Greene. Although she has no complaints there, she and all her friends would like to try others.

So, my question to all you Hill-ers…..what is the best manicure and pedicure place ??

The rumour mill has it that a Bank of America is coming up there. However the place is boarded up for construction and there is nary a sign or marquee giving a hint of what is coming up there.

What goes ?? Anyone have any pointers ??

Area residents were criticizing the city last week for turning a crucial neighborhood fire station into a movie set.

Residents said that they were quite surprised Friday when they passed Engine Company 280 and Ladder Company 132, located at 489 St. John’s Place, to find the fire trucks in the bays replaced with more vintage models.

The firehouse was also renamed – to Ladder Company 223. Signs reading “Engine Company 280,” “Ladder Company 132″ and their motto, “In the Eye of the Storm,” had been removed.

It quickly became apparent that Engine Company 280 was rented out to a movie company filming the flick, “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,” a comedy starring Adam Sandler.

As shocking as this statement may sound, let me quantify. Every single parking spot is gone, keeping in mind the alternate side street cleaning rule. Now when we have many more important issues to deal with in everyday life, not the least, the 5 year anniversary of 9/11, why would I bring this issue up.

Well, because if you call this neighbourhood your home, it becomes the single most frustrating part of your every day routine.

What makes it all the more worse is the fact that drivers in the neighborhoods are such bad “parkers”. I could count at least 10 occassions where people could have used common sense and parked such that another car could be parked in. But no, no one wants to make an effort.

Yes, yes all you environmentalist, come out in droves. Scream and shout and say “you deserve it” !! For driving a gas slurping vehicle and doing my bit in reasons why we go to war. But no, stay away. Not today. Dont mess with me. 35 minutes of circling around every single block at least once, is damn frustrating. If you provoke, I will hit out !!

All I want is more parking space. That will be my prayer tonite.