Page 17 - Demo

W H - d -ML' h U f^ //Clinton HillJrKicks Dethroned SuburbsbyDanicolariAfter growing up in overheated apartment houses and waking up with sweat around the corners of my nose, I'm happy to turn the thermostat down and put on another sweater. I've been doing just that, in fact, ever since I gained control of my environment by buying a house.I don't know whether the energy crisis is politically inspired, whether it represents governmental-industrial collusion, poor advance planning, or what. But I wonder what the owners of all those detached, sprawling one-family suburban ranches are thinking these days %u2014 you know, the ones who maintain two and three cars in order to get around in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and Westchester.Are they reconsidering the wisdom of their electricallyoperated lives %u2014 their gadgets and power mowers and gas barbecues? Are they beginning to realize that the environment, the future of the planet can no longer underwrite their extravagant consumerist lifestyle?It just may be that, like it or not, the narrow, racist, suburban minds that run this country will have to stop writing off the cities as nonviable. In a time of allaround-belt-tightening, New York City %u2014 not Nassau %u2014 has what it takes to survive: superb transportation, eliminating the need for an army of private cars; local shopping, accessible on foot; houses capable of accommodating several families in privacy and comfort; not to mention the City's obvious cultural and recreational advantages.Urban dwellers live in a multiclass, multi-racial world. Even for those who want them, the phenomenon of white, middleclass neighborhoods becomes ever more elusive as blacks and Latins cut themselves larger pieces of the middle-class pie. This is, thank God, the real world, and we should count ourselves fortunate to be part of it.Already one sees ads in the %u201c Times%u201d real estate section extolling the virtues of the subway suburb %u2014 in this case, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, hardly what most of us living in the brownstone belt would consider a convenient location. But4tr\\ R c jh w lr v n | c ii n n A C O %u2014-----j %u25a0 %u2014%u2022 ---------r~i----- %u2014it is. When will realtors in brownstone neighborhoods develop some sort of cooperative thrust, pool their energies and talent, and make a mass pitch for disgruntled suburbanites, many of whom would never think of looking under HOUSES pOE SALE %u2014 BROOKLYN?With all the ad, art and design talent in the Downtown Brooklyn area, I%u2019ll bet a display ad could be worked up and placed on page 2 or 3 of the real estate section, right next to \minutes from the George Washington Bridge!%u201d (!). And I%u2019ll bet it would pull. Sure, there%u2019d be the inevitable number of tourists, but there%u2019d be buyers, too: the realtors would benefit, the City would benefit, and the environment might be helped as well. A continuing program of this sort could have a real impact. An aside to the realtors: I%u2019d love to write the copy %u2014 a combination of anti-suburban bitchery and pro-urban superlatives.The Life of Commerce, and AllThat: Several columns ago, I wrote about shopping for clothes at %u201c The Little Bargain Store%u201d , 365 Myrtle Avenue, near Adelphi Street. I dropped in again recently and picked out some pants and a turtleneck sweater %u2014 cheap prices, no pressure, smiles, good music coming through the speakers. All this two blocks from where I live. No crowds, no buses to take, no hassles.But suppose the prices were not lower than on Fulton Street but indeed somewhat higher. Is the convenience of neighborhood shopping worth it? Should we support neighborhood merchants who, in mostcases, cannot afford to compete with multi-outlet discounters, such as Korvette%u2019s ' i believe we should.Of course it's easy to support the local hardware store, liquor store, candy store. But what about more exotic merchants %u2014 plant stores, gift shops, boutiques, head shops? What do we get for our patronage; how much non-tangible mileage per dollar?The most obvious answer is the pleasure our purchase brings, and the short walk home. Beyond that it is the array of stores that are not plywoodcovered social clubs or churches; the excitement of passing interesting and attractive displays. When we support local merchants, we underscore our own vitality and diversity. Too, we provide ourselves with sources of all kinds of last minute emergency goodies %u2014 gifts, eats, things to iook at, to feed, to water. We create all sorts of possibilities and experiences for our own lives.One such source, one such experience, is Francine Frank%u2019s %u201c Brooklyn Country\Street, near Willoughby Avenue, in Clinton Hill. If anyone in Downtown Brooklyn doesn%u2019t know Francine, it's because he or she has been incarcerated or hospitalized; no other excuse will do. So what follows is addressed to those of you who haven't had the pleasure.January 3,1974You walk into Francine%u2019s health-food store and right away you're on a first-name basis with Francine, or with whoever%u2019s behind the counter Thoro arc* enormous crocks of teas, grains, flours and spices. Freezers house exotic cheeses, eggs (organic, of course), yogurt and other perishables. There are shelves groaning with peanut and cashew butters, jellies and jams, wafers, cookies, cakes, noodles, skin preparations and vitamins; books and magazines reflecting the whole countercultural shtick %u2014 organic living, yoga, communes, macrame, et al. In addition, there is a large sselection of delightful crockery, utensils and glassware; and some trendy mainland China basketry as well.Now everyone knows how outrageous health-food prices usually are. Even with inflation, Francine's fruit and vegetable prices manage to be at least competitive with the A & P around the corner most of the time. She tries to keep prices on health-food items as low as her suppliers will allow. A little comparison shopping will convince you of that.Pay Brooklyn Country one visit, and you%u2019ll be hooked %u2014 if not on the merchandise, then certainly on Francine Frank. She's a delightful addiction.A correction; In the last column on the Fort Greene Triangle Parks Committee, IMixed MediaPromote efficiency. Nowyou can encourage coffee breaks. And no more worry about missed calls.Eliminate wasted time. Nomore going for coffee or standing in long lines.Fresh coffee whenever youwant it. Great coffee immediately for clients, guests, meetings, everybody%u201424 hours a day.Office coffee service is100% tax deductible.PHOENIX Page 17mentioned that there were seven bars which at one time comprised %u201c the strip\Lafayette Avenue from FultonStreet to South Elliott Place Actually, there were originally five bars, of which only two remain. Or should I say, three down, two to go7455 LocalSignals toBe RedoneLocal Assemblyman Michael L. Pesce has disclosed that plans are underway for an extensive modernization of traffic signals throughout South Brooklyn.Pesce said he had been advised by the State D epartm ent of Transportation that the design provides for the improvement of approximately 455 signals at intersections in this section of the borough.%u201c In addition to the m odernization. the Transportation Department will conduct an examination of those intersections which are presently without Mgnals to determine where the installation of these signal displays would improve auto and pedestrian safety,%u201d Pesce said.%u201cThe modernization of existing signals,%u201d Pesce explained, %u201cwill provide for the installation of two, Ihree-section faces for each intersection approach. As well, the Agnate will be installed in such a manner as to assure the greatest potential visibility to both motorists and pedestrians. The modernization will conform to the state's Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.%u201dcup of Sanka in the office as at home.No plumbing installationnecessary. Coffee brewer goes anywhere you have room for it.No equipment to buy, nomonthly rental charges. Allyou buy are coffee kits, delivered to your office.No mess, no cleaning fuss.Just throw away filter when brewing is completed.Famous Maxwell House orYuban flavor. Enjoy the great flavors that have made Maxwell House andDAY PROMPT SERVICEG M. 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