Hey neighbors,
Happy Saturday.
Good news! Ward 6 added six new subscribers last week for a total of 57! Even though I’m still in soft launch mode, as you can see with my under-construction landing page, please feel free to share this newsletter with other Ward 6 neighbors.
If you or anyone you know is a whiz at Beehiiv, please email ([email protected] or dm me (ward6_brooklyn) so I can focus on the reason I started a grassroots, community newsletter – meeting neighbors and sharing their stories with you.
And, to answer your question (you know who you are!), the “Pay what you want or Not” subscription option should be operational soon!
If you’re looking for an escape and want to take a pass on anything serious this week, feel free to scroll down to my interview with Shalini and Kathleen*, the owners of Tera Mera on Court Street.
BAR LUMIERE OPENS
While camped out on Columbia Street Monday morning, waiting for the final vote on the proposed plan to redevelop the Brooklyn waterfront (more on this below), I noticed some life across the street at the yet-to-open Bar Lumiere on Kane and Columbia Street.
A drink would have been nice, given the mood of the protestors who showed up to express their immense disappointment with our elected officials. Most of them had juggled full-time jobs or caregiving for more than a year to educate themselves and the community on the many complex redevelopment issues that are (still) up for debate.
Unfortunately, no one was at Bar Lumiere at 10:00 on a Monday morning, but I returned a few days later and met Scott Seth, the friendly General Manager. He confirmed the restaurant will officially open its doors on October 2nd. But if you’re around THIS weekend, the restaurant is serving what Seth described as “hyper-seasonal, Brooklyn farm to table” menu for the “soft opening.”
He encouraged me to research his collaborator, Michelin-starred chef Steven Hubbell, who has been involved with restaurants primarily in NYC, as well as in Chicago and Dubai. I got to sample a few dishes and a drink on Friday night as I somehow convinced Seth to let me crash the friends and family event (more on @ward_brooklyn).
COBBLE HILL GEN X COVER BAND SINGER POSTPONES AGAIN
After sharing my news last week about my upcoming interview with the local actor/Gen X cover band singer, all I got from him was a sad emoji and a request to push our interview by a week. More on this soon.
TIMEOUT NAMES RED HOOK 2025’s COOLEST NYC NEIGHBORHOOD
Read Timeout’s Rossilynne Skena Culgan’s article here.
MY FAVORITE (non-Brooklyn specific) HEADLINE OF THE WEEK FROM JOURNALIST/FOUNDER OF THE HANDBASKET NEWSLETTER
My feelings, exactly.
“During the first Trump administration there was often the feeling of being unable to escape the news. Every day, a new presidential proclamation via Twitter. Every day, a comment made in a press gaggle with potentially staggering implications. For many, the impact was immediate; but more often than not, the threat remained conceptual. This time around is different; things are actually getting materially worse each day, and the human brain is unequipped to notice, let alone process, all of it. “
INDEPENDENT ATLANTIC AVE DRUGSTORE HOLDS A BBQ/MEET-N-GREET TODAY (SAT)
If you’re frustrated with chain drugstores, as I am, you should definitely check out RX Downtown Pharmacy today from 12:00 to 4:00P at 180 Atlantic Ave. They will have flu and COVID shots available.
Clear up any confusion about COVID vaccine requirements and insurance coverage and read Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s weekly newsletter.
“The Governor recently signed an Executive Order to ensure all New Yorkers can receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine without a prescription. The Executive Order declares an emergency that overrides recent federal actions restricting vaccine access. You can get the Covid vaccine for free with no co-pays regardless of immigration or health insurance status through NYC Health+Hospitals and other health centers; if you have insurance, your insurance will be billed.”
NO ANSWERS YET ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THE RED HOOK BEARD ST FIRE
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The investigations are ongoing. More GoFundMe sites here.
Strong Rope Brewery & PortsideNYC fundraiser on Tuesday, Oct. 7th from 7-9P to support members of the community impacted by the fire and to celebrate Red Hook history. (185 Van Dkye Street, RH)
Read Alexa Tietjen Donragon, founder of the Court Street Journal’s story about Lanoba, a vintage Danish furniture company, one of more than 500 small businesses housed in the warehouse. They “lost their entire inventory,” says Donragon, “ 900 pieces of furniture, along with refurbishment tools…” She points out that compared to most of the businesses impacted by the fire, Lanoba’s situation isn’t all dire, as a container filled with new furniture is ready to be unloaded if the owners can find a new, temporary location.
In next week’s Ward 6, I’ll share my conversation with Red Hook artist Justin Neely about his art (see below), how he ended up living in Carroll Gardens, and what happens next for him. Like many of the studios, Neely started a GoFundMe and was preparing for the annual Red Hook Open Studios next month when the fire happened.
“I understand we have severe water and smoke damage, but that [our studio] did not burn. That’s the crux of what is eating 11C [part of the Feinberg Studios] alive is we’re not allowed to go inside. If things sit there for one or three months soaked in this filth, the curve of retrievability goes down (As told to Ward 6, by artist Justin Keenly about the Red Hook warehouse fire).”
@jn331
THE FIGHT OVER THE BROOKLYN WATERFRONT CONTINUES AFTER THE PROPOSED PLAN IS APPROVED, AFTER FIVE CANCELLED VOTES
Photo I originally shared with friends that highlights the housing proposal.
In case you missed the news, the City’s controversial redevelopment proposal for the Brooklyn waterfront along Columbia St. passed on Monday with 17 in favor and eight against (their statement). The City’s Economic Development Corporation, in charge of the project, cancelled five prior votes when it was clear they didn’t have the necessary support.
The Daily News editorial board had a little fun with this “who gets six attempts?” They want the City to prioritize a modern Brooklyn port over more luxury housing. “The BMT [Brooklyn Marine Terminal] should not be shriveled down to a boutique port, too small to be efficient…” For years, the City has been talking about its “Blue Highway” plan to reduce the number of delivery trucks on our streets and highways by moving goods along the East and Hudson Rivers to nearby, larger ports. “Slashing the BMT achieves the opposite,” said the Daily News Editorial Board.
The head of EDC, Andrew Kimball, responded on his X account, “everyone is entitled to their opinion, but @NYDailyNews got some basic facts wrong…”
Before Monday’s vote, local community groups, opposed to the current redevelopment plan, immediately started to post, call and email the City’s EDC, elected officials, especially Representative Dan Goldman, who's been driving the urgency to hold a vote, to share their frustration and disappointment.
Residents said they were taken aback that neither Rep. Goldman nor the city had considered scheduling a community meeting to share the final changes to the proposed plan. To see for themselves, individuals in the community had to rely on a leaked draft of the BMT “vision plan” to learn what deals had been made with elected officials to secure the 2/3 majority the City needed.
On Monday, during work hours, more than 20 residents showed up in protest and express their anger as task force members arrived at the Columbia Street building to cast their votes. A handful of reporters were also present to cover the final vote.
John Leyva, Voices of the Waterfront; Carolina Salguero of PortsideNYC talks to a reporter about maritime issues.
I’ve wanted to be a fly on the wall at the task force meetings that have been closed to the public and press. I finally got a tiny peek behind the curtain when this video surfaced from a meeting participant that Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon (office on Smith St) included in her newsletter this week. It appears to be a testy exchange between our congressman, Dan Goldman, one of the task force co-chairs, Simon, and two other task force members, one of whom is an elected official and Hank Gutman, who served a short tenure as Commish. for the DOT under Mayor Deblasio.
Simon writes about her decision to vote against the City’s current plan in her newsletter.
Community groups, including Voices of the Waterfront and the non-profit, PortsideNYC, the Red Hook Business Alliance, and Resilient Red Hook, among others, say they will continue to fight for transparency and inclusivity as the process moves forward and encourage more people to get involved.
If you are in support of the current proposal, I’d like to hear from you at [email protected].
(Picture taken by me as I followed BK Borough President on my bike for a statement immediately following the task force meeting where he flipped his vote to a yes. He rides a Cannondale for those interested)
TWO SISTERS BRING INDIAN STREET FOOD TO CARROLL GARDENS
Sisters Shalini and Kathleen in the backyard of their resturant Tera Mera (Source: W6)
Seen Tera Mera, the new spot on Court St. next door to Osaka? That’s the work of Shalini and Kathleen*.
Intrigued by the cozy design, I had lunch at Tera Mera this summer, soon after it opened, with an out of town friend. Ward 6 was just an idea at the time, and I was mainly focused on a quick meal before my friend’s flight. Then, one of the owners, Shalini, served our food and shared the story behind each dish, and I knew I wanted to interview the two sisters and Carroll Garden residents, Shalini and Kathleen. They had a restaurant in Industry City for six years before relocating to Court St. with some menu changes and a new name. Tera Mera now serves dinner. (i’ve lightly edited the interview for space)
WHAT DOES TERA MERA MEAN?
[Shalini] We wanted a place where we would want to hang out that conveys home. A place that is welcoming and casual. We sat around with each other, friends, our father and goddaughter and threw out different ideas. We drank a little wine and more wine, the names got a little dirtier! Then finally my 14-year-old goddaughter came up with a name that in Hindi means, “What’s yours is mine, what’s mine is yours.” It’s a take on “Mi casa, su casa.”
Panu Puri, Dahi Puri, Masala omelette and spices made in-house for sale on Court St.
YOU SAID YOU WANTED YOUR NEW PLACE TO BE DIFFERENT, HOW?
[Shalini] We want to showcase Indian street food. We’re from Bombay (now called Mumbai; the largest city in India), which is such a snack culture (not snacks as in potato chips or candy); it’s how you meet your neighbors. We want it to feel like you’ve been transported to Bombay - a vibrant, fun city. We miss community; we miss home.
WERE YOU BORN IN BOMBAY?
[Shalini] No, we were born here. My father still lives in India, though, and we have tons of family there. I go once a year.
YOU SAID YOU RENOVATED FOR MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS
[Shalini] Yes, to design it! The main room looks like my house! There are electrical outlets all over the place so people can hang out and work.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE FOOD.
[Shalini] Our food has a Persian influence and is a little Middle Eastern, too. Every bite tastes different. The menu will constantly change. Everything we make here except the Nepalese dumplings.
YOU’RE NOT JUST SERVING PEOPLE THEIR FOOD, YOU TOLD ME THE STORY BEHIND WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO EAT.
It’s important that people have cultural orientation. [Shalini]
For example, I tried Pani Puri, a stuffed cracker with potato and mint cilantro.
[In Mumbai, Shalini explains] you stand in a circle on the street and pop them in your mouth. The man knows exactly how many you’ve eaten. How he knows, I have no idea!
YOU ALSO SELL INDIAN FOODS AND SPICES?
[ Shalini] We want to make Indian food like pasta, and make it more accessible. I want to teach people about Indian food and simple hacks to make it at home. We make four spices in house. We grind and toast them ourselves. They are basic pantry staples.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT INDIAN FOOD?
That it’s greasy, heavy and spicy! And that we only drink Chai! We drink a lot of coffee. The coffee we sell here is from a roaster in Williamsburg who sources some of their beans from India.
Cobble Hill resident enjoying the food.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT?
I will have cooking classes, sunset yoga, we’ll have South Asian performers where you can come and meet the artists.
Family chicken recipe hanging on the wall
After meeting Shalini and Kathleen, I immediately started Googling Indian street food. Here’s a good primer.
Tera Mera, 227 Court St. | Tue-Sunday 12-5p, 6-9P | (917-622-2276) | @termera.bk
*the sisters asked to only use their first names
See you next week. JLH
