• Current

Blog

Trade Winds Closes

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

IMG_4468Edit: It turns out that Trade Winds has only moved. Read more here.

I use to live just a few doors down from the 7th Ave furniture store Trade Winds.  I always wondered how such a small place could stay in business, and the constant neon sale signs in the window indicated that it wasn't easy.  The only place that looked more desperate for business was the former Park Slope Shoes across the street.

When it came time for my girlfriend to get a new dresser though, the proximity and convenience of the store was too much to resist.  She ended up getting a pretty good deal from Trade Winds on an unfinished dresser that we stained and sealed ourselves.  While it may not be as trendy looking as an Ikea model, it's made out of real wood and fits our simple decor.

Yesterday as I was walking down 7th in the pouring rain I noticed the "For Rent" signs on the window.  I wasn't surprised, as it was only a matter of time before Park Slope rents, the failing economy, and tight margins caught up to them.

Labels: ,

4/21/2009 11:18:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lookout Hill Smokehouse is Dead, Long Live Cabana Bar

Thursday, October 30, 2008

I was combing through my RSS reader tonight when I read about an interesting new restaurant that just opened called the Cabana Bar.  A Google search brought me to this New York Magazine article with a bit more information, most importantly that the owner is Spencer Rothschild who recently brought Barrio to Park Slope.  But what really sent me for whirl was this line on Chow.com: "Formerly Lookout Hill Smokehouse."


In disbelief I did a Google search, and low and behold it looks like the semi-recently opened Lookout Hill Smokehouse closed at the end of September.  I am constantly amazed at how soon restaurants can go under in this city, and just how quickly new ones can be opened.  When I reviewed the Smokehouse this summer I gave it generally positive remarks, but I was disappointed with their ribs and far from blown away by their mac & cheese.  I guess mediocre isn't good enough to cut it on the Slope.

The Cabana Bar has piqued my interest, and although my review of Barrio wasn't stunning, it's generated a lot of buzz in the neighborhood and it's clear that Rothschild knows what he's doing.  While October may seem like a strange time to open a tiki hut bar, maybe this place will be a welcome escape for the gray gloom that is winter in NYC.

Labels: , , ,

10/30/2008 10:49:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)