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                                    Page 4 PHOENIX March 7,1974%u00ab ? # %u00a32m ( > %u2022 v b_ _ /%u25a01 C / /C lin to n H illN e w CropB rooklyn'sBY DAN ICOLARIN. Y. Times architecture criticAda Louise Huxtable has statedthat the most potent lessonlearned by planners since WorldWar II is that you can'trestructure a community%u2019sdelicate internal balance andexpect to end up with somethingas successful as what youdestroyed.In this connection, it's hard toassess what the effect of MyrtleAvenue widening will be.Possibly, as we've promised, thestreet will be less congested andmore attractive, with the installation of new curbs and curbcuts, the planting of new trees,etc. I could rave on for daysabout low-sodium lighting, butit%u2019s been done to death. Besides,we%u2019re going to get it whether wewant it or not.Just as mysterious is theproliferation of new shops in theo f Shops on M y rtle ;P lu m b e r-N a tio n a lis tstwo-block stretch of Myrtlebetween Waverly Avenue andHall Street. The major thrust forupgrading was made by AdamiHardware in its imaginative reuse of a vacant supermarket.Adami's operation had beenhoused in a string of small shopsacross the street, and, by purchasing and renovating thesupermarket building, they wereable to consolidate, renting oneof the old stores across thestreet to a displaced Italiansocial club, one to a plant store,and two to gift shops. Meanwhile, a liquor store onWashington Avenue had expanded its operation and hadtaken over a vacant store at thecornter. All this was accomplished in an amazinglyshort time.On the next block, in a cornerparcel formerly occupied by alaundry and the Italian socialclub, the three new storefrontshave been leased to arestaurant, a tax service and abookstore (!), which will beopening shortly. The laundryrenovated and now occupies astore across the street from itsformer location.This commercial flow wasaccom plished o rg an ic ally ,without planning interference,without massive dislocation orupheaval. True, I lament thepassing of two beautiful oldstorefronts, and the fact thatwhat replaced them can nevermatch their charm or utility. ButI'd rather have a commercialstreet that functions. Unless, ofcourse, somebody%u2019s willing toform a design advisory board inbetween fighting demolition ofallegedly unsafe buildings,street widenings, installation oflethal lighting, and countlessother battles. Come thewidening, M yrtle Avenuemerchants are going to need usmore than ever if people arescared off by all the mess. I justhope they%u2014 and we can survive.If you%u2019ve learned %u2014 the hardway%u2014 that all workmen have tobe fed and nurtured and watched like children, expensivechildren, take heart. There areexceptions. Plumbing, for instance, can be aesthetic. In myhouse there is piping sogorgeous I hesitate to hide itbehind sheetrock. All th a tbeautiful stuff placed logicallyand intelligently where it shouldbe, as it should be. And at a fairprice, yet. My ally is TheBrooklyn Only Company, 100Vanderbilt Avenue, TR 5-6356or TR 5-9130. Ralph Greene andAvi Fink will go over ohe job indetail, so that everybody knowsbeforehand exactly what goeswhere %u2014 and why. If, as in mycase, you%u2019re not home when adecision must be made, you cantrust them to anticipate whatyou%u2019d want. Add to that the factthey're Brooklyn nationalists,and cheap, and you%u2019ve gotyourself two perfectly superbplumbers and, when the job isdone, some superb plumbing.Shakeena's Harvest, MyrtleAvenue near Washington, smellsgood. That%u2019s what you noticefirst, before discovering therobes and dresses, the books,cards, scents and edibles. Andthe pricetags! Handmade clothbags seen elsewhere for asmuch as $20. are priced at $8.and up. And hand-designedgreeting and note papers withsayings in Swahili. And Sahadifruit rolls last seen on AtlanticAvenue, a healthy snack. Andnuts and other goodies. Sort of ageneral store of the exotic. AndI'm told this is just the beginning. Check it out.I don't know whether theyrealized it at first, but AnnDingledyand Michael Campfieldstarted the first grid only silkscreen supply store in Brooklyn%u2014 in New York City, for thatmatter. Located on Myrtle nearHall, B. J.%u2019s Graphics stockssketch pads, acrylic paints andfine papers, a selection of bookson silk screen technique andmethod, and w hatever elseyou'd expect to find in a silkscreen supply store %u2014 except,maybe, The Village Voice. Inexchange for this plug, they'dbetter carry The Phoenix, too,and soon.Two Steps Down for lunch.DeKalb between Vanderbilt andClermont. Cheeseburgers madefrom meat, not chemicals. Two orthree giant French fries made byhand, not by machine. A salad onthe side. Or a generous prtion ofsweet and succulent chicken. Ora robust soup%u2014 like minestrone.Your own wine or a cup of good,strong coffee. Satisfaction.Reasonable prices. Do it.G ra c e Church to H old S how fo r Local A rtistsPlymouth Steak& Lobster House7 8 CLARK STREET(Opp. St. George Hotel)Brooklyn Heights' OnlyFresh Fish RestaurantL o b s le r Flow n inD o ily fro m M a in eS e lect Y o u r O w nFrom O u r T an kCall MA4-5263for ReservationsEstablished 1933Rev. Goldie Sherrill of Grace Church in Brooklyn Heights has invited Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Pyles to5 TO to P, m .Q L l < ^ A ^ %u00a3 X L C Oc z / ^ E i - t a u r a n tn p .,1 1 5 MONTAGUE STREET _ _\\Vlu=Visit thePromenadeRestaurantfor steaks, chops, seafood, soda fountain.Hom e-style Cooking is our specialty.With our expanded facilities,we have added a service barserving cocktails,wines, and liquors.chair a showing for artists living and working in the general area of downtown Brooklyn %u2014 renamed for this occasion Olde Brooklyn in the tradition of %u201cLittle Old New York%u201d or %u201cOlde San Juan%u201d.The show is being organized and managed in the manner of a cooperative by local artists who are interested in showing to the public examples of their best work. This Co-op show is scheduled to be presented in the facilities of Grace3 ?Ulichd?a Park Slope land m arksince 1910,o ff G rand Army P la z a .L U N C H E O ND IN N E RC O C K TA IL L O U N G EB A N Q U E T FACILITIESfree parkingow ned and operatedby the Michel fam ily3 4 6 Flatbush A venueNE 8 -4 5 5 2Church, April 26 through May 5. There will be painting, prints, photos, sculpture, and crafts such as pottery, weaving, jewelry and candles.A token entry fee of $1. for insurance costs will be asked of contributing artists. If you are an artist working or living in %u201cOldeBrooklyn%u201d and wish to show please call the following telephone numbers for further details. All artists interested in being part of the working and planning group are urged to contact the present committee %u2014 call Mrs. Mary Alice (Gypsy) Pyles (875-1716) or Mrs. Lynn Barber (237-6866).2 0 0 A tte n d Fashion S howa t St. M a ry 's M o th e r's C lubMore than 200 people attended a preview of spring fashions on March 1, sponsored by St. Mary Star of the Sea Mother%u2019s Club, at the Parish Hall. The clothes were suppled by Chella%u2019s Fashions, 303 Smith St.The audience viewed a sample of just about everything from casual slacks and blouses to the rriost elegant evening gowns according to Barbara Scotti. The articlesshown ranged trom a petite size 5 to a very smart size 18.All the models were members of the Mother%u2019s Club. The very young styles were worn by 8th graders of St. Mary%u2019s. %u201cAlthough none of the ladies were professionals, I don%u2019t think there was room for improvement. Aside from some backstage jitters, they were all elegant and beautifully composed,%u201d said Mrs. Scotti.O p enM on.-Fri.11:30 am-lOpmTWO STEPSD O W N2 4 0 D e k a ib Ave.RESTAURANTLUNCHEON & DINNERBring your favorite wine7 8 3 -9 2 3 98 4 M o n t a g u e St., ( C o r n e r o f H ic k s )O p e n til 2 a .m . 522-7433
                                
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