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Page 4 PHOENIX January 31,1974iiiaNUlHiliRHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiGeorge Michel: ProgressNeed Not Destroy TraditionBY EILEEN PLATZGeorge Michel is a believer. Hisfaith in the resurgence andrevitalization of Park Slope is bornof an eyewitness evaluation of theSlope%u2019s growth and change fromhis own boyhood on Lincoln Placethrough his Brooklyn Law Schoolyears through to his vantage pointas owner of Michel%u2019s Restaurant.Michel%u2019s, established in 1910, is avenerable institution certainly, butmore importantly it is therealization of the dream of an 18year old Greek immigrant,William Michel. The actual familyname boasts of an incredibleconfiguration of vowels and consonants, but William thought theshortened form would work betteron signs and besides, he liked theFrench touch!Initially located at 5th Avenueand 9th Street, Michel%u2019s moved toits Flatbush Avenue location in1916. It was a neighborly place andthe neighborhood it served was allof Brooklyn, including the %u201chorseyset%u201d who breakfasted at Michel%u2019safter riding through Prospect Parkon Sunday mornings in the 1930's.George Michel treasures oldmenus from the 40%u2019s that documenta five course, 60 cents lunch(dinner was a buck and a quarter%u2014 soup to nuts).%u201cLike all of us, spiraling costshave kept George Michel conAAicheltinuously amazed. %u201cWho wouldthink a chicken dinner would oneday cost $10 on Flatbush Avenue.%u201dremarks Michel. But long timecustomers take such economicperversity in stride and returnregularly to dine in the elegant,warm ambience of Michel%u2019s.A number of these old timersremember how important it wasfor old Bill Michel to have the firstneon sign in the area. Much to theTripoliRestaurantAuthentic Lebanese CuisineHomestyle Cooking forLunch, Dinner, SupperOpen Daily 160 Atlantic Ave. cor. ClintonO p e n M o n .-F ri.11:30 am -lO pmTWO STEPS DOWN2 4 0 D e k a lb A ve.RESTAURANT LUNCHEON & DINNERBring your favorite wine 7 8 3 -9 2 3 9dismay of his daughters, Dite andMary, Bill discarded an extraordinary %u201cTurn of the Century%u201dbronze sign in favor of the modernneon. But progress was an important part of the senior Michel%u2019sdream and he was also rightlyproud of having the first Muzak inthe neighborhood as well as thefirst air conditioner.But as important as progresswas to Michel%u2019s, tradition wasnever neglected. In therestaurant%u2019s 64 year history, therehave been only two chefs, the firstof which was with Michel%u2019s for 40years. And just recently, fourwaiters retired after 50 years ofservice. The current manager ofthe restaurant, Steve Rozakisbegan years ago at Michel%u2019s as abusboy. But such longevity ofemployment is understandable inthe family run operation.%u201cThe restaurant business is inour blood%u201d observes George Michelwho holds a law degree but hasnever practiced. Michel%u2019s sisters,Dite Fordes and Mary Costassinglehandedly ran the placeduring the World War II and areactive in the running of therestaurant even today.The die was cast for family involvement when Bill Michel%u2019s wifemoved the family from Flatbush toPark Slope shortly after therestaurant was opened. Byeliminating the trolley ride between Michel%u2019s and the household,Mrs. Michel figured she%u2019d see moreof her hardworking, restauranteurhusband.Michel believes his father wouldbe proud of the renewal of the ParkSlope area, an occurrence that heF a n n y ' sBetter Dresses Coats Pant Suits\Coats and Dresses Limited Time Only \Bankam ericard &Mastercharge accepted56 Court StreetMon-Thurs 10-6; Fri til 3considers %u201cthe most importanturban experiment in the world.%u201dDelighted to see the Slope %u201ccomingback%u201d after a period of neglect anddecline, Michel observes that individuals have made themovement in Park Slope. Theindefatigable energies of JohnNoonan of the Civic Council, BruceGraham of Triangle Parks, DonMoore of the DBDA and RickRosan and Bob Votava of the Officeof Downtown Brooklyn Development deserve special attention fortheir contributions to Park Slope%u2019sre-birth, according to Michel. %u201cIt%u2019sgratifying to see the neighborhoodprospering. We%u2019ve had to saygoodbye to many customers wholeft Brooklyn for myriad reasons.Now we get to say hello to new oneswho%u2019ve chosen Brooklyn over anyplace else.%u201dJust as neon, Muzak and airconditioning were firsts atMichel%u2019s, George Michel has aninnovation in store for the new lifestyle developing in the Slope.%u201cCabaret at Michel s%u201d opens onValentine%u2019s Day in one of therestaurant%u2019s intimate, woodpaneled dining rooms. In thesupper dub tradition, %u201cCabaret%u201dwill feature live entertainmentwith an opening schedule of appearances by the accomplishedmusician and arranger, NormanFields.Unlike most cabarets however,Michel%u2019s will have no cover orminimum. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. onThursday, Friday and Saturdaynights starting February 14th,guests at the Cabaret may drink orenjoy a light supper menu whileenjoying an everchangingrepertoire of songs and pianomusic by Norman Fields.%u201cOur plan is to provide a comfortable, informal, friendly placewhere you can come after dinner %u2014either in your paint splatteredjeans or dressed to the hilt %u2014whatever suits your fancy.%u201d observes George Michel.The idea for %u201cCabaret atMichel%u2019s%u201d was developed from theactivities of local residents BruceGraham and Bob Murphy who puttogether the successful LandmarkClub%u2019s New Year%u2019s Eve party thatfeatured Norman Fields. GeorgeMichel consulted with Park Slopemusician and teacher, CharlesSibirsky about the feasibility of aregular evening program ofcabaret-like entertainment in theSlope. Encouraged by Sibirsky,Michel formulated the concept ofCabaret with Bob Murphy, aformer musician and actor whohas been a Slope resident for 4years, and who manages theNorman Fields Duo. Together theydeveloped the scenario for a nonintimidating, easy atmosphere of acabaret where guests may comeand go as they please with no enforced posh or mandattory chic.%u201cCabaret at Michel%u2019s is GeorgeMichel%u2019s Valentine gift to hisneighbors and friends,Brooklynites by birth orallegiance, %u201c a confident andenergetic breed.%u201dClaims LICH Has Created Eyesore in Cobble HillAlice Van Bolt, president ofCobble Hill Association and Mrs.Mary Hartmann head of Womenfor a Clean Cobble Hill havecomplained that Long IslandCollege Hospital has been using avacant lot at the comers of Henryand Amity Streets in Brooklyn tostore building materials for aparking unit and trailer-library,causing a major eyesore for thearea.R ego%u2019s RoostTASTY FRIED CHICKENOpen Emu Da; 11a.m. - 11p.m.169 Atlantic Ave. 188 5th Ave.IATCLMTON STREET) (AT JVtti STRif T522-6100 633-6362John \of the hospital, said that the lot isonly a temporary storage place forthe materials until the hospital cantear down some burnt-outbuildings on the corner of PacificStreet to build parking facilitiesthere.Mrs. Van Bolt and Mrs. Hartmann protest however, that thematerials have been there too longto continue considering themtemporary and that sometimes,when loading and unloading isgoing on, there is danger thatambulances, which use the streetas their route, are unable to pass.The women insist that there is nowlittle or no parking room on AmityStreet and even less room for aparking lot.%u2014Barbara WeismanVisit thePromenadeRestaurantfor steaks, chops, seafood, soda fountain.Home-style Cooking is our specialty.I V / * . I %u00a5%u00bb/%u00bb%u2022%u00bb%u2022-%u2022 w un our expanded jacuineSjwe have added a service barserving cocktails,wines, and liquors.84 Montague St., ( Corner of Hicks )a p o t a b l e f e a s tselect coffees teas & cocoashand-thrown pots mugs & beanst w o f o r t h e p o t187 Clinton st (atlantic ave)%u2666 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 * * * %u2605 * * %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 * * * %u2605 ***** 158 M ontagus St.J OPEN 7 DAYS & 1 NIGHTS* Complete Meals**%u2605 %u2605 *%u2605 %u2605 %u2605 *%u2605 *875-6046