53 Boerum

Do a search on Google Maps for “53 Boerum Place” and it maps our address as *53 Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard.* Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

I did a little experiment and attempted to mail a letter to myself at 53 Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard. Unfortunately it never made it here and was returned to the address from where I sent it. All the street signs also say “Boerum Place - Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard” so I’m wondering why the letter was not delivered.

Anybody try this and was successful? Sounds so much nicer, don’t you think?

In the mood for good sushi? Need a haircut? Want to take a pilates class?

Visit Check This Out on the message boards and see what neighborhood spots your fellow residents are raving about…

I’m on a quest for the best brunch in our nabe… so far, Bacchus (amazingly quaint backyard with a real European flair) is my favorite with Cafe on Clinton (the ultimate in “neighborhoody” with its cozy interior and quiet location on a pretty residential street) a close second. What do you recommend?

It seems that Mac-Gray is offering something called *LaundryView*, an Internet application that allows you to monitor the status of washers and dryers in connected laundry rooms through a Web browser. As their site states, *monitor the status of your laundry online and even get email alerts so you don’t have to spend time in the laundry room waiting for your cycle to finish.*

Brilliant! Folks - we need this!!

Read more about this thrilling breakthrough in laundry room technology:
LaundryView website //

CNet News - Laundry Gets High Tech

How do we get this? There’s a sales rep contact on their website. I might give a call and report back at the tenant meeting.

Nina from Mr. Rafael’s cleaners called me today to admit fault and confirm that her staff has, indeed, lost the pants. While she was somewhat apologetic that this happened, I was less than enthused by her “creative offerings” to remedy the situation. She said that:

*A. She went to the store to try and find some similar pants.*
*B. If we bring her some fabric, she’ll make us a new pair of pants (Rafael’s is, after all, a custom tailor!).*

…Huh? What?

Needless to say, tomorrow morning I’m off to visit Nina to demand some proper compensation for our loss. Stay tuned folks…. you can’t make up stuff like this!!

I’m sure we’re not the only customers of Mr. Rafael’s Cleaners over on Schermerhorn. Who can resist their pick-up and delivery service?! It’s simply divine… Well, actually, it’s divine until you realize 10 minutes before leaving to attend a wedding that your husband’s pants were not returned with the rest of his suit! [Insert gasp here].

Has anyone else had a similar experience with Mr. Rafael’s? Obviously we’re in the market for a new dry cleaner, so please suggest your favorite below.

If you happen to come across the missing pants, we’re offering a handsome reward for their safe return.

A few of us residents are interested in organizing a building-warming party for an evening in the early fall… it would be nice to kick back on the patio (perhaps with that new stainless steel BBQ our friends over at meettheneighbors.org have been discussing!) and have a little more conversation than just “hi-bye” in the elevators. We’ll talk with Angelo to set up a date when the patio is available, and announce it at the first tenant meeting. Any suggestions, ideas, or sangria recipes should be posted on the message boards, or feel free to comment below. Cheers!

There’s no doubt we’re in an area with lots of new development. Across Boerum Place we’ve got Feil Hall, the new dormitory for Brooklyn Law. Two years from now (or so they say) the condo conversion of the former Board of Ed building will be completed. Up the street are the Court House Apartments, home to the new YMCA. But there’s two sites I haven’t yet figured out - the one across from the movies on Court St. (brick facade building with very large windows), and 199 State Street (big “hole” adjacent to Feil Hall). Anyone have any ideas what these might be? Please comment below.

Pictured above are the State Street Townhouses, also known as 14 Townhouses. These are being marketed by Corcoran and carry a hefty price tag of $2.5 - $2.6 million. Wow.

Each morning, we all wave good-bye to Lyle as we head off to our “gotta pay the mortgage” day jobs. …But being the dynamic, fabulous people that we are, I know we all do stuff on the side that is *much* cooler than that. Each month on the 53boerum.com blog, we’d like to feature a resident that will inspire us with his/her side business… or volunteer work… or artwork, etc… We’ll even post a link to your site, like this —> Curliegirl [blatantly obvious plug for my own crochet accessories company].

If there’s someone you’d like to nominate (including yourself), PM lori via the message boards.

If you’ve been lucky enough to look out your window at *just* the right time, then you’ve probably seen Gray Line’s double-decker tour buses zoom past our building on a pretty regular basis. According to their site, visitors riding the “Downtown Loop” or “Brooklyn Loop” pass by such sites as the Promenade, Old Fulton Landing, Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge, and our very own 53 Boerum Place - for a mere $37.00.

I’d love to know what the guides say to the tourists about our nabe. If anyone who lives on a lower floor can actually hear what they’re saying in the microphone, please let us know!

Hi Neighbors!

Welcome to 53boerum.com. After hubby and I closed on the condo, our first thought (both being designers and one of us a geek) was, “wouldn’t it be cool to get all the residents online?” Shortly thereafter we registered 53boerum.com… and a blog was born.

This is your place to say hello, voice concerns, recommend cool restaurants, check out the neighborhood happenings… all run by residents, for residents. No 3rd party involved.

We’re working on a slick design — we’re perfectionists, so it will take another day or two. Though I hate to reveal the site as “unfinished,” we’ve got enough of it up and running for you to post to your heart’s content. In the future you can look forward to cool photography, good info and (hopefully) witty writing.

See ya on the treadmill! (We love saying that).

Lori