Here’s what’s happening this week:

✨ Local Happenings and New Openings ✨

• In case you missed it, we shared back in December that the team behind Ingas Bar is expanding into Boerum Hill at the former Café Kitsuné corner. Now, the upcoming spot has been revealed as Lonnies, with a new Instagram account hinting at what’s to come.

• Filming for Hulu’s suspense thriller “Count My Lies” is ongoing in the Brooklyn Heights area. Starring Lindsay Lohan, Kit Harington, and Shailene Woodley, the production has transformed local spots like Plymouth Church and Orange Street.

• Bar Bruno at 520 Henry Street is back! revamped by the team behind Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co. The updated concept brings a brand new menu with plenty of fresh seafood additions.

• Oldest NYC Choclatier opens permanent spot in Sahadi’s. Li-Lac Chocolates opens a permanent outpost. The new counter features the brand’s signature confections, expect classic truffles and buttercrunch to seasonal specialties.

• The Service Collective launches a new North Brooklyn Community Club. This will be a weekly after-school program for kids ages 10–14 focused on hands-on volunteer work and community impact. Learn more details and how to register here.

• A major redevelopment plan is in the works for the former Jehovah’s Witness Watchtower complex in nearby Brooklyn Heights. The proposal includes over 600 apartments, with a portion designated as affordable housing - though it’s still in early stages and will require rezoning approvals.

✨ Continue reading our ‘Cobble Hill Insider’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit your tip anonymously here, or email us

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Our Top Picks

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!

Today, April 9:

Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair (BFAPF) VIP Opening @ Powerhouse Arts (6:00pm-9:00pm)*: The Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair returns for its second year, bringing together over 50 international exhibitors. Expect a vibrant lineup of galleries, artists, and studios alongside daily talks, live demos, and special exhibitions. Their VIP night is April 9, with the fair running through April 12. Tickets HERE.

Stitch Night with Bobble Club House and Gotham Knits @ Fabrik DUMBO (6:00pm-8:30pm): Enjoy a cozy, creative night in the heart of DUMBO. Whether you knit, crochet, or have always wanted to but never picked up a hook or needle in your life: This one’s for you 🧶💖 Come stitch, snack, and connect in one of Brooklyn’s most beautiful community spaces. Tickets HERE.

The Silver Fish with author Connor Martin @ Barnes & Noble Atlantic Avenue (6:30pm): Enjoy a special evening with Connor Martin celebrating his debut thriller. Expect a live conversation and a chance to dive into this fast-paced espionage story set on the global stage.

Friday, April 10

Debut Novel Night by Sackett Street Writers Workshop @ Powerhouse Arena (7:00pm-9:00pm): This evening features readings and conversation celebrating five alumni authors with newly published novels. Hosted by founder Julia Fierro, the event offers a chance to hear from emerging voices in contemporary fiction and connect with one of Brooklyn’s most influential writing communities. Tickets HERE.

Saturday, April 11:

Pizza party with Teddy Wolff @ Popina (12:00pm-3:00pm)*: Enjoy an afternoon of pizza and wine specials as Teddy Wolff brings the energy and pizza oven for a laid-back classic pizza party vibe. RSVP HERE.

Sunday, April 12:

Court Street Spring Fair @ Court St between Union & 9th Street (10am - 6pm): Explore unique arts & crafts vendors, international food and exciting bounce house fun for the kids, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Mamacha Empanacha @ Anaïs Wine Bar (12:00pm-sold out)*: Enjoy an afternoon featuring pairings of warm, handmade Peruvian empanadas with chilled natural wines. RSVP HERE.

Multi-Day Events:

Brooklyn Makes FAD Market @ Empire Stores (April 11-12 from 11:00am to 6:00pm): Celebrate the start of spring at the FAD Market Brooklyn Makes pop-up. Featuring over 35 Brooklyn-based makers, this curated market brings together handmade goods, art, and local flavors.

Brooklyn Heights Run Club has shared their April lineup of community runs, including a new Sunday morning sunrise run at Ferrane Bakery and Thursday evening sunset runs at Black Bull and Congress Bar. Check out full details and how you can participate here.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup!

Neighborhood Job Board

Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Cobble Hill and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

This week: Summer jobs, Trudie’s Tavern (from the Gertie & Gertrude’s Restaurant team), Powerhouse Arts

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Cobble Hill Insider ✨

This week’s Insider section includes:

Popular Film Festival returns this May • Famous Movie Director lists dreamy Cobble Hill townhouse • Major Downtown Brooklyn development moves forward

Read more

Nick Bello is a writer and photographer based in Park Slope. He loves to capture local scenery as well as research local history. Follow him on Instagram @nbello8 or on substack at:

South Brooklyn History

Discovering history in and around South Brooklyn 📚

By Nick Bello

There is a manhole cover at the intersection of Court Street and Atlantic Avenue that thousands of cars and people walk over every day, unaware of what lies just beneath their feet and tires. A lot of Brooklyn history remains buried in the ground below us, forgotten stories reduced to layers of sediment that hold up the present. A man named Bob Diamond knew something had to be under that manhole cover, and when he found it, he spent the majority of his life trying to educate the public about its existence. He became consumed by what it was and could be, scrapping together money to bring it back to life. Today it remains lost, yet again.

A Railroad Beneath Brooklyn

In the mid 1800s, Brooklyn had an issue when it came to trains hitting pedestrians in the street. Trains, which were operated by the Long Island Railroad from the ferry crossing at the bottom of Atlantic Avenue to the to Jamaica station, operated on city streets during this period and lacked the braking ability required for dealing with pedestrians crossing busy streets, leading to multiple deaths. The tipping point came in 1839, when two children were killed according to an article in the Journal of Long Island History. In 1844 an idea to build a tunnel beneath the street was hatched by the Long Island Railroad under Cornelius Vanderbilt, leading to what would become the world’s first subway tunnel ever constructed. To complete this ambitious project for that time, engineers used what is called the cut and cover method. This method is one of the oldest ways of tunnel making as it was how the Romans constructed their tunnels. It involves digging a trench, constructing the tunnel in that trench and then covering the tunnel. While this may have been disruptive as it involves digging a giant trench in the middle of the street, it was the most cost effective way to go about this tall task.

The tunnel took seven months to construct, and crews of mostly Irish and other immigrant workers used hand tools and other rudimentary tools to construct the tunnel. The tunnel was constructed at the cost of some lives. In May, an Irish worker murdered a foreman over a dispute about the workers frequent distraction from his work to visit a priest. The worker drew a gun and shot the foreman in cold blood. Later that year, a man fell from the street level into the trench and workers were buried alive when the tunnel caved in on them.

The Atlantic Avenue tunnel opened on December 4, 1844 with a large celebration at noon. Five train cars filled with people who had a hand in the project passed through the tunnel to celebrate the occasion. In a speech by George B. Fisk, the then president of the Long Island Railroad, the public was thanked for their cooperation during the rather loud and inconvenient months that the residents of Atlantic Avenue had to endure.

Operation And Closure

The tunnel operated smoothly for a number of years after it opened. This was the first time Long Island and Boston would be connected via rail link as trains from Boston would terminate at the southern tip of Manhattan and passengers would board ferries to Brooklyn and take trains through the tunnel and to Jamaica station. They could then board trains to the outer parts of Long Island. This avoided the building of long and costly bridges across the Long Island Sound. This also brought a lot of business to Brooklyn which was developing into a commercial hub. Eventually the tunnel’s operation would meet its end. In the 1850s, residents along Atlantic Avenue complained that the smoke emanating from the tunnel’s ventilation shafts polluted the air. It is also believed that the Litchfield brothers, who we spoke about in this article in Park slope Living and were railroad moguls, had their hand in stopping the operation. It is rumored that the Litchfield’s, primarily Electus, lobbied the local population against the railroad so they could exploit the situation for their own financial gain.

In 1857, the famed poet Walt Whitman had fallen on hard times after publishing his first book Leaves of Grass and was writing for local papers to supplement his income. Whitman reported on this matter as local officials were in the early stages of creating an act to ban the usage of the tunnel. In an article for the Brooklyn Daily Times he said:

“We trust that the minority report will be promptly rejected and that the Com. Council will not plunge into any such quixotic measures as its president suggests. We do not believe either that it can or should plunge the city into a contest at law with the Long Island railroad company—for this is in short what the Atlantic street people invite us to. Doubtless it may be more convenient to the persons residing on the street that they should have a line of city horse-cars there instead of locomotives; but the interest of the city at large points in the contrary direction. The railroad has contributed to populating the island, and to build up even Atlantic street itself. It needs no argument to prove that to abolish the use of steam would be to diminish traveling facilities on the road, and to avert benefits which every such line must confer on the locality at its terminus. Nor is this all: other public companies who might have been disposed to invest their money here will pause when they observe our municipal authorities acting harshly towards this company, and disposed even to stretch a point to annoy them. One of the best things that can happen to a growing city like Brooklyn is to have her affairs administered in a liberal and even indulgent spirit toward those who invest their capital and energies in building up her trade, and increasing her commercial importance. No greater misfortune can befall us than to have manufacturers snubbed and “monopolies” denounced and annoyed in every conceivable manner, at the whim and beck of every one who may deem himself injured by them.”

What Whitman was getting at here is that this was a case of what we would call NIMBYism today. In 1859, the city of New York passed an act that prevented the usage of steam locomotives in Brooklyn, ending the use of the Atlantic Avenue tunnel. Almost simultaneously, Electus begins plans for a horse-drawn railroad that would operate at street level above the Atlantic Avenue tunnel, showing his direct benefit from the situation. The tunnel openings were sealed in 1861, 17 years after it opened and it would remain sealed for more than a century.

Conspiracy

There was a lot of mystique about the tunnel in the years that it closed. Whitman revisited the tunnel in 1862 in his series Brooklyniana which was published in the Brooklyn Standard. In the article, he yearns for the day where the tunnel was up and running, describing how much of a feat it was that it could take you from the bottom of Atlantic Ave and bring you all the way to the quaint towns of Long Island. While Whitman yearned, others saw the tunnel as the place for conspiracy theories and even fictional tales like The Horror at Red Hook by H.P. Lovecraft. The tunnel’s closure did leave it a great place for nefarious activities, as evidence proves that it was most likely used as a place to make and store bootleg alcohol during Prohibition.

The one story that led to its rediscovery in the 1980s was a theory that the tunnel housed a steam engine which contained the lost pages of John Wilkes Booth, the infamous assassin who killed President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theater. Booth was one of the best actors at that time in America and was also known to be a Confederate operative. After he killed Lincoln, he evaded being caught and fled Washington D.C. and headed south towards Virginia and intended to reach Richmond, the Confederate capitol. However, Booth had broken his leg when he fell from the balcony in Ford’s Theater after killing Lincoln, which inhibited his ability to travel as fast as he would have liked. Eventually federal troops caught up to him in Virginia, just over the Maryland border. Booth was surrounded in a barn and eventually killed. In the time after Booth died, the circumstances around his death were subject to conspiracy theories. Some believed the person that was killed was not Booth and that he escaped. Some also fixated on his diary, which was found on him when he died, and how it was missing some pages that appeared to be torn out. Some theories suggest that Booth burned the pages himself, while others suggest that then Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, removed the pages as he was trying to ensure that Booth would never become a hero. Another theory however suggests that the pages are in a blocked off section of the tunnel. It is true that Booth was in Brooklyn as well for a period, performing at the Brooklyn Academy of music (then located on Montague Street), in the fall of 1863. Whether or not Booth was here as an operative for the Confederacy is unknown.

This theory appeared on a radio show where a man from Brooklyn named Bob Diamond first heard of it. Diamond had just withdrawn from the Pratt Institute, where he was an engineering student and became entranced by the story. He sought out to find the tunnel and the lost diary pages, and he was able to pinpoint its location by using maps and information from the New York Public Library. The only question now was how to get access to the tunnel. Diamond was able to find one possible access point, which was below a manhole cover at the intersection of Court Street and Atlantic Avenue. He gained permission from the city to go looking, dropping down the manhole cover in one of Brooklyn’s busiest intersections. When he got down there, it was dark, cramped and mostly covered with dirt. However, Diamond did find a narrow space that headed west, which he shimmied his way down and eventually found a brick arch. Diamond was eventually able to clear the space and bust through the brick wall before dropping a rope ladder down. What he found was not just awe inspiring, but exactly what he had been looking for. He compared the experience in interviews years later to landing on the moon or like Indiana Jones in the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Nearly 120 years after it was sealed up, the tunnel had been rediscovered.

Bringing the Rails Back to Brooklyn

With his newfound prize, Diamond set out to bring it back to its former glory. Him and a small crew cleared out the pathway to the tunnel and added in a proper ladder so they could explore it. The tunnel was a treasure trove of artifacts from Brooklyn’s past, which Diamond collected to show people. He eventually got the city’s permission to start giving tours of the tunnel and quickly people started to turn out in numbers to see this new discovery. In 1982, Diamond established the Brooklyn Historic Railway Association (BHRA) and hoped to complete a lifelong dream of bringing back street trolleys to Brooklyn. The tunnel would serve as part of the experience and would serve as a station along the route. In 1989, the tunnel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its legacy and that it would remain intact for years to come.

In the 1990s, Diamond and the BHRA began buying up old trolley’s and storing them in a warehouse in Red Hook where they had worked out a deal and did not have to pay rent. Brooklyn residents were in love with the idea of bringing street cars back and as a result, Diamond was able to secure $300,000 in federal and local grants to fund his plan. The tours of the tunnel were doing well as well which provided more funding. They began laying tracks along the waterfront in Red Hook and created a transformer that used the city’s electrical system for power to operate the trolley’s. The first ride was operated in May of 1997, but it could only go 600 feet but was deemed a success to Diamond as he was relieved that nothing catastrophic had happened.

Around this time, Diamond was heralded as a local hero, appearing on tv and in the press. However, all of the popularity was not enough to get his project off the ground as a lack of private donations and the rapid development in the area put an end to Diamond’s grand plan. In 2002, the city withdrew its support of the project, the first domino to fall in what would lead to the tumultuous end of Diamond’s dream. The next year, the owner of the warehouse in Red Hook where Diamond kept his trains evicted him and the city began removing some of the track in Red Hook. Later that year, Diamond was arrested after emerging from a tour in the tunnel because the city had revoked his permission to operate in the tunnel. Diamond had sunk a lot of his own money into the project and when the city pulled the plug it was devastating for him. The city contended that they were facing budget issues and the project, though a nice idea, was no longer feasible. To make matters worse, Diamond contended a lot with city officials and even with his own crew, his single mindedness did not earn him any favors.

By 2004, the BHRA was relegated to just a warehouse in Red Hook. A New York Times reporter went to see Diamond, who showed him the shortest trolley ride in the world, which was just up and down the few feet of tracks Diamond had in the warehouse. He eventually moved to New Jersey with his girlfriend and began abusing alcohol and drugs as a way to cope with what had happened to him. He eventually cleaned himself up, and moved back to Brooklyn in 2006. In 2007, the city offered to let Diamond begin doing tours of the tunnel again and he would do so for the next three years.

The End of the Dream

When Diamond was allowed back into the tunnel, he came with a new found pursuit to try and find the lost train that had sparked his desire to find the tunnel in the first place. He put more of his own money towards this mission, since he now didn’t have to worry about finding the rail line. Diamond came close to a breakthrough and with that came attention from tv and film producers. In 2010, Diamond signed a contract with National Geographic for a documentary about the search. Once again the city shut Diamond out of the tunnel and the documentary could not be done. The city cited that it was a fire hazard as the one entrance via a ladder could be dangerous in an emergency. Diamond sued the city for them cancelling the contract but a judge ruled against him, citing they were well within their right to do so.

In 2011, engineering consultants who were working with ground penetrating radar along Atlantic Avenue discovered a metal anomaly where the tunnel was. The anomaly, according to an article in the Brooklyn Paper, was 20 feet long and most likely could be the lost train that Diamond had been looking for. Diamond told the Brooklyn Paper, “If I could get back down into the tunnel I would be digging with my teeth and fingernails trying to get at that thing.” He finished by saying, “It will make my lifelong mission in life fulfilled.”

Diamond passed away at the age of 62 in 2021 after dealing with a virus. He was eulogized in the New York Times and many other outlets, who considered him a visionary and advocate. In the years before his death, Diamond worked as a consultant and helped to advise the Brooklyn-Queens Connector (BQX), which was a street car line that would go along the East River from 59th Street in Sunset Park all the way to Astoria. The plan, which was supported by then Mayor Bill DeBlasio, had some legs in the late 2010s as studies were done to determine its feasibility. The plan was terminated however with the end of DeBlasio’s tenure as mayor.

What Lies Forgotten

Discovery and explorations are two addictive things that not many people who have walked this earth have gotten to experience. Think about how many people have been to outer space, or have seen untouched parts of this earth. Many do not get to experience these feelings that make us feel small and human, especially in the confines of our own borough. It is easy to write off Bob Diamond as a dreamer who let his dreams consume him and ultimately destroy him. But looking at him through that lens is dull, and in a world filled with people who do not pursue their desires because of fear, there needs to be more Bob Diamond’s in the world. If we do not decide to pursue the unknown, we will have lost the completely human and euphoric feeling of discovery. There is a manhole cover at the intersection of Court Street and Atlantic Avenue that thousands of cars and people walk over every day, and it is up to the next generation to discover what lies beneath it.

Treasure Trunk welcomes children into a world of imagination, creative play, social emotional learning and magic…right in your neighborhood! We know how busy families are, and how challenging it can be to make summer schedules work. That is where we come in! We offer endless customizable programming, to meet the needs of every family. Whether you need early drop off, a partial day, or a late pick-up, we’ve got you covered.

Founded by a local mom of 2, Treasure Trunk Theatre provides a joyful space to play, learn, and grow. We offer summer camp options for kids 3-12 years old at Treasure Trunk. For 13 years, Treasure Trunk has developed a program that centers each child’s unique voice through a process-based curriculum, boosting and celebrating the confidence of every kiddo who walks through our doors.

Join us at a camp location near you – Treasure Trunk Atlantic Ave Studio, St. Paul’s Church (Cobble Hill), or Pilates Heights!

Get in on the magic! Camp Offerings include:

☀️Summer Camps for ages 3-6

When school is out, the Trunk is open! Whether your child already enjoys performing or is a bit more hesitant, our camps will boost their confidence and encourage them to celebrate themselves. Curriculums focus on dramatic play, dance & movement, unique crafts, developing empathetic connection & fostering social-emotional learning skills, while exploring beloved themes that your kids will be over the moon about.

☀️Co-Lab Summer Camps for ages 6-8

This “next level” camp series includes a variety of weeks, focused on different aspects of the theatre world. From Shakespeare to musical theatre and more – we encourage our community of growing Treasure Trunkers to experience it all to find their individual passion. Whether your kiddo loves the spotlight, has a knack for crafting incredible costumes, or is destined to direct…there is something for everyone this summer!

🎶Full Scale Summer Musical Intensives for 6-12 (only at St. Pauls’)

For our older students who are looking for an exciting “next step” in their theatrical experience, we offer musical intensives with all the opportunities your budding actor could want - daily training in the art of theater. Kiddos in our 2-week musical theatre intensives can choose from two different experiences this summer: joining the cast of Junie B. Jones the Musical or creating their own musical from the ground up in Make a Musical. All of our musical experiences are led by professionals in their own field, with inspiration and wonderful wisdom to share with your growing performer!

Classes and camps are also available at our other studios: Treasure Trunk Park Slope (179 4th Ave) and Treasure Trunk Prospect Heights (700 Washington Ave).

For more information, visit our website, treasuretrunktheatre.com, or contact us at info@treasuretrunktheatre.com. Follow us on Instagram at @treasuretrunktheatre

Thank you to Treasure Trunk Theatre

Sponsored content like this allows Cobble Hill Collective to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Cobble Hill Collective? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

✨ Local Happenings and New Openings ✨

• The Taqueria Ramirez team is expanding to the Carrol Gardens neighborhood, with their Smith Street location opening soon. We cannot wait to have this beloved Brooklyn taco spot join the area!

• Candor Candy Now Open! This independently owned and operated candy store has hit the Fort Greene area with a wide selection of curated sweets, snacks and plenty of candy.

• Montague Open Streets returns starting May 17, bringing a lineup of local businesses, pop-ups, and community programming to Brooklyn Heights throughout the spring and early summer. Want to participate as a Montague merchant? Merchants can participate for free, get details and sign up here.

• After the fire in Red Hook last fall, Lanoba Design is making a comeback with a brand-new 9,500-square-foot showroom at 6 Waverly Avenue (across from Brooklyn Navy Yard), opening April 11.

• A new Mexican restaurant is in the works, taking over the former Gran Electrica space at 5 Front Street. The project comes from Julian Brizzi, the owner behind Celestine and Grand Army, and is targeting an early June opening.

✨ Continue reading our ‘Cobble Hill Insider’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit your tip anonymously here, or email us

Our Top Picks

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!

Today, April 2:

First Thursday Gallery Walk @ Art in DUMBO (6:00pm): Enjoy this free evening of gallery openings, artist talks, and live performances along the waterfront. Wander between exhibitions and stop by Superfine for drink specials.

Friday, April 3

Mysha x Maman Mornings @ Maman Cobble Hill (9:30am-11:00am): This is a monthly gathering for moms to meet, chat, and recharge together. Held on the first Friday of each month, enjoy a welcoming space to connect with others in a similar season of life, with special discounts on coffee and breakfast for attendees. RSVP HERE.

Restorative Yoga Community Class @ Abhaya Yoga (6:15pm*): Unwind with a $10 Community Restorative class. This slow, prop-supported practice will focus on deep relaxation and gentle release, helping to calm the nervous system, reduce tension, and restore both body and mind.

Saturday, April 4

Get the Garden Spring Ready @ Wyckoff Bond Garden (10:00am-2:00pm): Lend a hand as the community comes together to get Wyckoff Bond Garden spring-ready. Stop by to help plant, prep, and bring new life to the space. Stay for an hour or the whole afternoon, all are welcome.

Midnight Swim @ Loafers Cocktail Bar (9:00pm-late): Enjoy a night with Midnight Swim, a weekly series by Hyōgo. Blending club sounds with immersive, body-forward rhythms, expect a laid-back yet energizing dance floor experience.

Sunday, April 5:

Nasha Table Pop Up @ Bolo Bolo (11:00am until sold out): Nasha Table is bringing their small, freshly baked menu featuring signature sourdough favorites and new creations at Bolo Bolo. Arrive early or preorder to secure your picks before they sell out!

Tuesday, April 7:

Emma Straub: American Fantasy w/ Lin-Manuel Miranda with Books Are Magic @ First Unitarian Church (7:00pm-8:00pm)*: Join Emma Straub in conversation with Lin-Manuel Miranda for a special event celebrating her new novel American Fantasy. Hosted by Books Are Magic, the evening will include a live discussion followed by a book signing. RSVP HERE.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup!

Neighborhood Job Board

Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Cobble Hill and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

This week: Jobs at Darling, numerous roles at Brooklyn Bridge Park & Cobble Hill Association, Greenlight Bookstore (some application deadlines are today & this week!)

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Cobble Hill Insider ✨

This week’s Insider section includes:

Buzzy pizza spot opens location on Smith Street this month • A new classic diner is headed to DUMBO • Two nearby developments in Boerum Hill and Brooklyn Heights could bring 670+ new apartments to Brooklyn

Read more

Spring is here - and Luke’s is celebrating with something fresh, bold, and seriously satisfying.

The Shrimp & Grains Protein Bowl pairs Fair Trade shrimp - free from chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones - with a hearty blend of ancient grains and crisp vegetables. The result is a balanced bowl that’s as satisfying as it is nourishing.

“At Luke’s, we believe high quality seafood and simple ingredients handled with care make the best meals. This bowl brings together responsibly sourced shrimp, whole grains, and fresh vegetables for something that feels both energizing and delicious.” - Luke Holden, CEO and founder of Luke’s Lobster

The Shrimp & Grains Protein Bowl starts with tender Fair Trade shrimp and a hearty base of ancient grains, a nourishing blend of organic brown rice, whole green lentils, pearl millet, quinoa, and flax seed.

From there, it’s layered with crisp cucumbers, shaved carrots, roasted red peppers, peppery arugula, and sweet mandarin segments, with edamame for an extra boost of plant-powered protein. A drizzle of savory Bachan’s sauce ties it all together, while toasted almonds and crunchy rice crisps add the perfect finishing bite.

The bowl is gluten-free, high in protein (31 grams), and high in fiber (11 grams) for the large/entree sized portion).

• Half Shrimp & Grains Protein Bowl: $10

• Full Shrimp & Grains Protein Bowl: $18

Available March 31st through May 31st at participating shacks while supplies last.

Visit Luke’s Lobster at Brooklyn Bridge Park, or find your closest location:

11 Water St., Brooklyn, NY 11201

917-882-7516

Thank you to Luke’s Lobster

Sponsored content like this allows Cobble Hill Collective to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Cobble Hill Collective? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

✨ Local Happenings and New Openings ✨

• Pura Vida Miami Opens Today, March 26, in DUMBO! Check out their latest location at at 79 Front Street. Known for their for fresh bowls, salads, wraps, and all-day breakfast, the first 50 guests will score a complimentary cinnamon roll croissant with purchase.

• Maman has just shared they’ll be opening a 6,600 square-foot location on Water Street in DUMBO, which will be its 25th bakery in New York City.

• Celebrate International Women’s Month with the “Women Who Run It” giveaway, featuring prizes from woman-owned businesses along Smith Street. Enter for a chance to win gift cards, classes, brunch for two, and more, giveaway closes tomorrow, March 27!

• CardVault by Tom Brady has now officially opened its new shop at 80 Flatbush Avenue, offering sports cards, memorabilia, and collectibles. The store also hosts trading, selling, and grading services.

• A Boerum Hill brownstone owned by poet Robert Hershon served as a lively literary hub - housing his press, hosting writers, and reflecting decades of Brooklyn’s poetry scene. It’s on the market (around $2.5M, per Curbed) - agents: Jessica Quinn & James Fierro, Link to listing

  

• DAE has announced its final day of service will be April 26. A beloved neighborhood spot, it’s sure to be missed. Stop by to show some love and say goodbye before they close their doors.

✨ Continue reading our ‘Cobble Hill Insider’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit your tip anonymously here, or email us

Business Buzz

Brooklyn Habit is evolving into an all-day neighborhood staple, now offering both morning coffee and an evening wine experience. Their new wine program features rotating pours by the glass and a Brooklyn Habit Flight (any three wines for $21), alongside a growing food menu with standouts like the Sweet Potato Bowl and Chicken Pesto Parm Bowl. The space also welcomes private events and casual neighborhood gatherings.

Our Top Picks

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!

Today, March 26:

Storytime @ Red Hook Houses Farm (11:00am): Join Brooklyn Book Bodega, Red Hook Initiative, NYCHA Healthy Families, and Brooklyn Public Library for a special Storytime. This family-friendly event focuses on early play, song, and literacy for children ages 0–5, with a free book giveaway for all ages. Details HERE.

Friday, March 27:

Social Co-Working Day @ Fabrik DUMBO (9:00am-5:00pm): Take a break from working solo at Anti-Lonely Co-Working Day at Fabrik Dumbo. Designed for remote workers, freelancers, and creatives, this social workday offers a relaxed space to get things done alongside others. Tickets include a discounted day pass for $9.99 HERE (typically $29).

Book Launch: The Art of Being a Stranger @ Powerhouse Arena (7:00pm-9:00pm): Join Karen Bermann for the launch of her new memoir, The Art of Being a Stranger. Blending prose, poetry, and artwork, the book explores family, identity, and inherited trauma through a deeply personal and darkly funny lens. Register HERE.

Saturday, March 28:

Baya Bash @ Baya Bar Carroll Gardens (All day): Enjoy special pricing to celebrate the start of warmer weather. Large bowls for $9 and smoothies, super smoothies, and protein shakes for $7 (limited to one item per customer and available for rewards members only).

“All the Restaurants” Pop-up @ Framebridge Cobble Hill (12:00pm-4:00pm): Meet local artist John Donohue, founder of All the Restaurants, at a special pop-up. Donohue will be selling and signing limited-edition prints of his iconic sketches featuring beloved Brooklyn spots like Lucali, Frankies Spuntino, and Clover Club, with custom framing available on-site.

Brooklyn Heights Association Egg Hunt and Bake Sale @ Henry Chapin and Pierrepont Playgrounds (10:30am): Enjoy the annual Brooklyn Heights Egg Hunt with a community bake sale to follow. Stop by for a morning of treats and neighborhood fun. If you’d like to volunteer or donate baked goods, get additional details and sign up here.

Sunday, March 29:

Sea & Soil Welcome Party @ Sea & Soil (12:00pm-3:00pm): Celebrate the arrival of Sea & Soil Coop at their Neighborhood Welcome Party. Stop by for donuts, sandwiches, and salads, and meet the team behind the brand-new spot as they officially welcome the community.

Tuesday, March 31:

Community Night @ Royal Palms Shuffleboard (7:30pm-9:00pm):* We’re bringing together the community from Cobble Hill Collective + Park Slope Pulse for a relaxed evening of shuffleboard, drinks, and meeting fellow neighbors in person. We’ve reserved lanes (yes, free games!) so you can hang out and play a few rounds with locals & our team! More details here.

Wednesday, April 1:

Block Printing Scarf Workshop @ Bolo Bolo (7:00pm-9:00pm)*: Get creative with a hands-on block printing workshop led by artists Milli Patel of Parampara and Sajnee Thakkar. This intimate evening invites guests to carve their own printing block and design a custom cotton scarf to take home, all while enjoying tea and cookies. Tickets ($65) HERE.

Aprés Fools with Brooklyn Heights Association @ Café Brume (6:30pm-8:00pm): Enjoy an Alpine-inspired evening at this special after-hours event. Expect high-elevation wines, seasonal bites, and cozy European charm (plus two drinks included with your ticket). Purchase your ticket ($30 for members, $40 for nonmembers) HERE.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup!

Neighborhood Job Board

Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Cobble Hill and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

27 job openings across Cobble Hill and nearby neighborhoods

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Cobble Hill Insider ✨

This week’s Insider section includes:

A buzzy, design-forward wellness concept is expanding into Boerum Hill - bringing pools, saunas, and a new kind of “third space” • New DUMBO Mexican restaurant in the works • Montague Open Streets updates for 2026

Read more

There’s a moment most of us hit during the week: working from home isn’t quite cutting it, your go-to café is too loud, and the idea of schlepping into Manhattan feels unnecessary.

That’s exactly where The Shop Brooklyn fits in.

Just a few minutes from Cobble Hill, this newly-opened workspace in Gowanus was designed to be a happy medium: not an office you’re locked into for years, but not a bandaid fix either. It’s a space you can visit for the day or turn into a second home.

Work here for a day

If you just need to get out of the house, take a call, or reset your routine, The Shop offers drop-in access, private day office rentals, and fully bookable conference rooms.

The Shop is the kind of space that actually supports how people work now. The space can be quiet when you need it, social when you want it, and was designed with a level of intention that will probably make you want to stay longer than you’d planned.

Right now, we’re offering 50% off your first booking, whether that’s a day pass or a meeting room with promo code COBBLEHILL.

Book Now

Or stay for a spell

For those ready for a more permanent setup, this is where things start to move.

There are just a handful of private offices and artist studios remaining, and the mix is intentionally limited, no massive inventory, no endless rows of identical units. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Don’t worry, we’ve got something for you though: any offices signed by March 31st come with an extra month free, layered on top of existing founding member incentives when you name drop Cobble Hill Collective.

See this as your sign to land somewhere early, before the space is no longer Brooklyn’s best-kept secret.

Book a Tour

Built for Brooklyn (and beyond)

Beyond being a great workspace, The Shop is a part of a broader shift happening in Gowanus.

More people are around during the day. More businesses are planting roots. And spaces like ours are becoming the connective tissue between them.

Know someone else that would benefit from space at The Shop? Learn more about our neighborhood referral program today.

Refer Now

Thank you to The Shop Workspace

Sponsored content like this allows Cobble Hill Collective to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Cobble Hill Collective? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

✨ Local Happenings and New Openings ✨

• Ramblin’ Chick Opens Today, March 19! From the founders behind Ample Hills, the new spot will serve their much-anticipated “Cracklin’ Chicken Smash Burgers”, expect crispy, juicy chicken burgers the team has been perfecting for years.

• There’s a new tasting menu in the neighborhood! Cremini’s is offering a new tasting menu highlighting the flavors of Italy’s Marche region. The experience features a selection of the restaurant’s signature dishes inspired by family traditions and seasonal ingredients. Available Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday all day, and weekends until 4 PM (with the full menu still offered).

• Renovations at the historic Carroll Gardens Library have been delayed until summer 2026 after unexpected structural challenges were discovered during construction. The 1905 Carnegie branch has been closed since 2023, with a temporary pop-up location operating in Cobble Hill while upgrades continue.

• Community member Jessie Mro has launched a petition urging the city to open the fully built pre-K facility at 42 President Street / 129 Van Brunt, which currently sits unused despite being fully outfitted. Local parents say they’re forced to travel long distances with young children while the space remains closed.

• A Tom Brady-backed collectibles store has quietly opened in Downtown Brooklyn. We’ve got the details inside the Insider section.

• After recently closing its DUMBO locations, Taste56 and Bar56 are hosting a warehouse-style sale of furniture, art, lighting, and other items from the space. The neighborhood will certainly miss them, but it’s a chance to take home a small piece of the spot.

✨ Continue reading our ‘Cobble Hill Insider’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit your tip anonymously here, or email us

Our Top Picks

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!

Book ahead— Tuesday March 31st, 7:30-9pm: Join us for a Community Night at Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club 🎉 We’re bringing together the community from Cobble Hill Collective + Park Slope Pulse for a relaxed evening of shuffleboard, drinks, and meeting fellow neighbors in person. We’ve reserved lanes (yes, free games!) so you can hang out and play a few rounds with locals & our team! More details here

Today, March 19:

Bar Method Happy Hour @ Luana’s Tavern (5:00pm): Join the Bar Method Cobble Hill community for Third Thursdays, a happy hour meetup at Luana’s Tavern. Swing by for drinks, good company, and a chance to connect with neighbors after class.

Argentine Tango Group Class @ Fred Astaire Dance Studio (7:30pm): Step onto the dance floor at an Argentine Tango group class. Learn the basics, meet fellow dancers, and experience the passion and rhythm of tango. Details here.

Friday, March 20:

School Holiday Mini-Camp Embroidery Workshop @ Bond Craft Studio (9:00am-12:00pm)*: Kids can get creative during their day off at this hands-on mini camp. Students ages 9+ will learn basic embroidery techniques while personalizing a mini tote bag and crafting their own bag charms. All supplies are included, tickets HERE.

Saturday, March 21:

Saturday Stories & Scoops @ McNally Jackson City Point BKLYN (10:30am): Kids will enjoy a children’s storytime followed by a sweet treat where each child will receive a free scoop from Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.

Variety Open Mic Night @ Brooklyn Habit (5:00pm-8:00pm): Celebrate Women’s History Month at RA Open Mic: “Mic Madam”. This variety open mic welcomes all art forms and raises funds for Arts & Agriculture, with female-identifying performers taking the stage for free. Tickets ($10) HERE.

Sunday, March 22:

International Women’s Month Celebration @ Someday Bar (6:00pm-10:00pm): Celebrate International Women’s Month at Someday Bar with an evening featuring a lineup of women bartenders crafting specialty cocktails, along with Girl Scout cookie pairings from Troop 6000.

Multi-Day Events:

Brooklyn Flea is back! Under the Manhattan Bridge you can browse vintage finds, antiques, handmade goods, and plenty of unique treasures from 10 AM–5 PM every Saturday and Sunday.

Crab Week @ Red Hook Lobster Pound (March 23rd-29th): Enjoy New England–style crab dinners served with corn and potatoes, along with specials like crab dip and crab rolls. Available for dine-in only, with reservations recommended.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup!

Neighborhood Job Board

Locals make the best staff - they know the neighborhood, care about the community, and stick around. Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Cobble Hill and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

This week: Director of Advancement role; jobs at Sawa, Radio Bakery, PKLYN

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Cobble Hill Insider ✨

This week’s Insider section includes: • Special presale deals and members-only preview hour at a new, independent indoor bouldering and strength gym • New housing proposal at Watchtower Buildings • This popular bakery is opening its 25th city location in DUMBO

Read more

We’ve reserved shuffleboard lanes (free games!) and put together a relaxed evening for readers to meet fellow neighbors and some of the Cobble Hill Collective & Park Slope Pulse team in person.

📅 Tuesday, March 31
⏰ 7:30-9:00pm

This FREE event is exclusively for paid Cobble Hill Collective & Park Slope Pulse subscribers.

Paid subscribers can find the Free RSVP link and full event details below. ⬇️

(Not yet a paid subscriber? Join us for $5 to attend this event and stay in the loop for more community gatherings like this.)

Read more

GOALLLL!! ⚽ Spring Soccer with Soccer Shots kicks off March 21st & 22nd — and spots are filling fast!

Soccer Shots is an engaging, weekly children’s soccer program for ages 18 months–8 years, focused on character development, skill-building, and FUN. With our age-appropriate curriculum, best-in-class coaching, and expert communication, we create an unforgettable experience for every child — whether they’re brand new to the game or already scoring goals at home!

Our 10-week Spring Season runs in public parks from late March through early June on Saturdays and Sundays. Enrollment is just two payments of $175, with split payment options available to make registration easy.

2026 SPRING SEASON LOCATIONS:
• Prospect Park – Garfield Place
• Prospect Park – 15th Street
• JJ Byrne
• Stroud
• Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Cadman Plaza Park

Don’t settle for the average soccer program. Expand your child’s horizons with Soccer Shots and our holistic training philosophy. Build confidence, develop skills, learn character values, and of course — score GOALLLLS!

CONTACT US

nyccentral@soccershots.com
929.510.0770

More info here

Thank you to Soccer Shots!

Sponsored content like this allows Cobble Hill Collective to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Cobble Hill Collective? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

✨ Local Happenings and New Openings ✨

• The community is mourning the loss of longtime dog walker and trainer Csaba, who cared for neighborhood pets for more than two decades. He passed away at 55 after a recent diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer and is remembered by neighbors as a beloved part of the community.

• Sea Soil Coop is celebrating their new opening with a Welcome Party on March 29! Stop by for donuts, sandwiches, salads, and a chance to meet the team behind the new spot as they officially welcome the community.

• A new Atlantic City–themed bar is set to take over the former Dirty Precious space at 317 3rd Avenue. Shania’s Max Bet is targeting an opening mid-summer 2026 at 317 3rd Avenue.

• Fashion icon and former What Not to Wear host Stacy London has listed her longtime Carroll Gardens duplex co-op on 3rd Street for just under $2M after nearly 20 years in the home. Here’s a link to the listing.

  

• Calling all Brooklyn Talent! Wyckoff Bond Garden is looking for volunteers, educators and creatives for their Earth Day Weekend Celebration. Details here, email wyckoffbondgarden@gmail.com to apply.

• Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop will move into the former Ample Hills space at 305 Nevins Street, opening as a seated, family-friendly spot with rooftop seating.

• Bar Ferdinando opens April 15 at 151 Union Street, taking over the historic former home of Ferdinando’s Focacceria under restaurateur Sal Lamboglia. Expect aperitivi and amaro-forward cocktails alongside Sicilian classics like rice balls, pane e panelle, and bomboloni. Full scoop by here.

• Real Estate Scoop: Luxury sales surged this month, led by a redeveloped townhouse at 17 Douglass Street in Cobble Hill. The five-bedroom home, asking just over $9.8 million, was the top contract in a $75 million week for the borough’s high-end market, according to The Real Deal.

• Hudson Companies has filed plans for a 28-story, 302-unit building at 20 Fifth Street - with all units designated as affordable housing. If approved, it would become one of the largest income-restricted developments in the neighborhood’s post-rezoning pipeline, near the Smith-Ninth F/G station.

✨ Continue reading our ‘Cobble Hill Insider’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit your tip anonymously here, or email us

Unlimited Cleanings? A new membership dental service is coming to Downtown Brooklyn

A new membership-based dental service is launching in Downtown Brooklyn with transparent pricing and unlimited preventive care.

For a limited time before opening, you can reserve a Founding Membership for $149/year - a $100 savings. No insurance required, just modern, patient-first care designed to make routine visits easier and more predictable.

Learn more and reserve your Founding Membership here

Our Top Picks

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!

Today, March 12:

Astro Interpreters @ Adams Street Library (6:30pm): Astro-curious? Join fellow astrology lovers for a casual meetup to chat about star signs, charts, and different ways of interpreting the cosmos. All levels of astro-knowledge are welcome, details here.

Friday, March 13:

Vibe & Flow Yoga @ Keys to Success (10:00am)*: Enjoy a 90-minute yoga session with 45 min of Yin and 45 min of Vinyasa led by Adriana Zito, and perfectly complemented by live music from David Buchs. Tickets ($50) HERE.

Sip & Sew Alteration Workshop @ Brooklyn Sewing Academy (6:00pm): Bring a piece from your closet and learn how to give it new life at this hands-on mending and alterations workshop. Practice hemming, cropping, and simple hand repairs like fixing holes or replacing buttons and enjoy a glass of wine while you’re at it! Tickets ($125) here.

Book Club @ GTHR Yoga (7:00pm)*: Calling all horror lovers: a new book club is launching at GTHR. They’re kicking things off with A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers. Save your spot here.

Saturday, March 14:

Soccer Shots Free Fun Day @ Select Brooklyn parks (9:00am): Join Soccer Shots for a Free Fun Day across Brooklyn parks, including Prospect Park 15th street, Prospect Park Garfield Avenue, Stroud Playground, JJ Byrne Playground, Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Pier 5. Designed for children ages 2–8, this high-energy session lets kids build skills, confidence, and character while meeting professional coaches and experiencing the program in action.

Fun with Friends BRIC House Party @ BRIC House (9:00pm)*: The Fun with Friends collective is taking over BRIC House, bringing its signature blend of music, art, and community. Expect DJs, immersive visuals, and a photo exhibition celebrating the moments that have defined the series. Tickets HERE.

Sunday, March 15:

The Red Room Pilates @ MOUV (9:00am + 1:00pm)*:WellUp returns to New York with a red light experience in partnership with Project E Beauty. Choose a heated mat or reformer Pilates session, all under therapeutic red light designed to boost recovery and performance. Stay after for a curated wellness hour with refreshments. Reserve your spot HERE.

Brooklyn SeltzerFest @ Industry City (11:00am-6:00pm)*: This is a fizzy, family-friendly celebration of all things seltzer. Sample bubbly drinks from around the world, vote in the People’s Choice tasting, catch the 3rd National Egg Cream Invitational, and enjoy live programming, games, and seltzer-themed fun. Choose a single session or go all day. Tickets HERE (under 5 free).

Oscars Watch Party @ Congress Bar: Watch the Oscars Roll and for $5, you can fill out a ballot predicting the night’s winners. Whoever gets the most right takes home the whole pot.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup!

Neighborhood Job Board

Locals make the best staff - they know the neighborhood, care about the community, and stick around. Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Cobble Hill and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

This week: Jobs at F&F Pizzeria, Powerhouse Arts, Inga’s Bar

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Cobble Hill Insider ✨

This week’s Insider section includes: • Major redevelopment proposal in Downtown Brooklyn • Carroll Gardens Library renovations update • A stunning new townhouse with a rare feature hits the market

Read more

Inspired by the Alps, Café Brume delivers all the après-ski charm without the plane ride. We love the wood accents, cozy lighting, and that unmistakable European café energy. Their brunch menu leans into Austrian comfort classics, and we love the torn pancake (Kaiserschmarrn), topped with berry jam, brown butter, and clouds of chantilly. The Swiss hot chocolate is decadent and silky, and their brunch cocktails include beverages like a thoughtful twist on a Bloody Mary alongside other alpine-inspired sips that feel special enough for a celebratory brunch but relaxed enough for a casual Sunday.

Large groups: Yes, large tables in the back available

Brunch hours: Sat & Sun 11:00am-3:00pm

Gersi

This Northern Italian neighborhood favorite serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The menu offers an extensive range of bruschetta options, alongside eggs, salads, sandwiches, and housemade pastas that nod to its Italian roots. On the sweeter side, you’ll find French toast and buttermilk pancakes. Ideal for a group with mixed cravings: someone can order eggs and toast, someone else can go full Italian, and everyone leaves happy.

Large groups: Yes, can be booked for private events

Brunch hours: Sat & Sun 10:00am-4:00pm

Mile End Delicatessen

This spot brings Montreal-style deli comfort to Brooklyn for a reliably satisfying brunch stop when you’re craving something hearty and unfussy. They’re covering staples like French toast and their beloved cottage cheese pancakes, but you’ll also find smoked meat sandwiches, matzo ball soup, poutine, and other deli classics that blur the line between breakfast and lunch in the best way. Perfect for when half the table wants something sweet and the other half wants a bold sandwich and fries.

Large groups: No

Brunch hours: All Day Breakfast

~~~7 more of our favorite neighborhood brunch spots below the paywall~~~

Read more

6 Restaurant is owned by Carroll Gardens resident Kirk Love, with Executive Chef Nico Bouter (formerly of Faun, Eleven Madison Park, Flora Bar) leading the kitchen. Living nearby, Kirk wanted to create a restaurant that offers a comfortable yet elevated dining experience for the neighborhood - a place people genuinely love returning to.

From the moment you enter, the space feels less like a restaurant and more like being welcomed into someone’s beautiful home. Your coat is taken at the door, and as you walk through the spacious dining room, your eye is immediately drawn to the table that seats six at the end of the room, spotlighted beside the open kitchen that anchors the space.

The restaurant’s name has a personal meaning for owner Kirk Love. One of four siblings, Love grew up in a household where dinner together was non-negotiable. Each night, the six members of the family gathered around the table - a tradition that left a lasting impression and inspired the restaurant’s name.

In keeping with that spirit, photos displayed around the corner booth feature both Love’s family and the families of the restaurant’s staff. Kirk also shared that the name “6” comes from the idea that six is the perfect number for a dinner party. The dining room reflects that intention, with several spots designed for groups of six.

The dishes were exceptional. Many dishes on the menu reflect Chef Nico’s Dutch heritage, adding a distinctive touch to the offerings at 6 Restaurant.

During the meal, the standout courses included the scallop with red cabbage, spruce, and macadamia; the caraflex cabbage topped with an unexpectedly delicious combination of coffee, pistachio, and horseradish; and their signature tiger bread served with a generous whip of cultured butter and confit garlic.

Each dish balanced thoughtful flavors and textures, making it one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I’ve had in a while - a meal that easily ranks among the best I’ve had locally the past year. I tried the hearty lamb guiso, a Paraguayan dish that nods to Kirk’s wife’s heritage. Other highlights included Spanish mackerel with a bright poblano relish, lumache with mushroom, sage, and kombu, and two desserts - a decadent chocolate torte and panna cotta.

A thoughtful wine list curated by Beverage Director Eric Torres complements the menu. The service throughout the evening was warm and attentive, with Kirk himself offering a welcoming presence in the dining room.

If you’re looking for something simpler, the 6 Burger is available to order at any time.

With exposed brick, dark blue walls, and leather seats, the room feels intimate and inviting. It’s the kind of place where you’ll want to linger - dinner as it should be, shared with good company in a space that makes you want to return again soon.

6 Restaurant

481 Court St., Brooklyn

(Corner of Court St. and Nelson St.)

@6.restaurant.bk

Here’s what’s happening this week:

✨ Local Happenings and New Openings ✨

• JETSET Pilates now open! They’ve started offering their signature Reformer classes on Atlantic Avenue and you can book your free intro class by Thursday March 12 here.

• Red Hook neighborhood restaurant Pitt’s has sadly closed following its winter hiatus. The restaurant, known for its pancake soufflés, shut its doors permanently on March 4. Chef-owner Jeremy Salamon said “we had a very slow fall, and Pitts’s simply couldn’t withstand the notoriously quiet winters” and needing to focus his time and energy on Agi’s Counter, his popular Crown Heights restaurant.

• Salon 718 Now Open at 442 Atlantic Avenue! To celebrate the new location, first-time clients can enjoy 20% off, book your service HERE.

• Ramblin’ Chick just put its sign up, and the opening is only weeks away with the highly anticipated chicken smashburger. Follow along on the journey of Brian Jackie, founders of Ample Hill, as they get ready to open their next venture. You can get a sneak peek of the food here.

• Artist Call! Saturn Road is accepting submissions for “Out Loud,” an upcoming group exhibition spotlighting LGBTQ+ artists living and working in NYC. The show will feature small-scale 2D works celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of queer voices across the five boroughs. Submissions (HERE) are due March 6, with the exhibition running March 30 through August 2.

• Retail Scoop for Cobble Hill: Feed Me reported that the former Regal Cinema on Court Street is reportedly looking for a new operator. This theater packed with neighborhood lore might just be preparing for its second act. We’ll be watching closely.

• Broadway star Phillipa Soo, best known for her role in Hamilton, is selling her Brooklyn Heights loft with husband Steven Pasquale.

• The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is set to review a proposal for renovations at 145 Wyckoff Street in Boerum Hill, a three-story Italianate row house within the historic district. Plans call for a rear yard extension and modest enlargements that would not be visible from surrounding streets, aiming to preserve the block’s historic character while updating the interior.

✨ Continue reading our ‘Cobble Hill Insider’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit your tip anonymously here, or email us

Our Top Picks

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!

Today, March 5:

First Thursday Gallery Walk @ DUMBO Galleries (6:00pm-8:00pm): Enjoy an evening of late-night gallery hopping, artist talks, and live performances along the waterfront. Walk between exhibitions and stop by Superfine for local drink specials. Free and open to the public, with advance RSVP encouraged for the Insider Tour.

Friday, March 6:

Wine Between the Lines @ Liz’s Book Bar (7:00pm)*: Hosted by Brooklyn-based sommelier James Sligh, this interactive tasting explores wild fermentation, natural wine, and the language of flavor, with six pours included. RSVP HERE.

Sofar Sounds x Craftspring @ Craftspring (Doors open 7:30pm)*: This intimate live show is in partnership with Sofar Sounds for a surprise lineup. Grab tickets HERE (use code SOFARSPACES15-BCC88 for 15% off).

Saturday, March 7:

Storytime with Jon Burgerman: Beginning, Middle, and End @ Books Are Magic Montague St. (11:00am-12:00pm): Bring the kids to Storytime and read Beginning, Middle, and End. Young readers will meet three lively characters who discover that every part of a story matters, especially when they learn to work together. RSVP HERE.

Sunday, March 8:

Ice Cakes Not People Community Bake Sale @ By Clio Bakery (12:00pm-4:00pm): Hosted by Alex La Rosa and ByClio, this community bake sale will feature sweet and savory treats plus a raffle, with all proceeds benefiting Make the Road New York. Come support a great cause, and bring your sweet tooth.

Summer is Coming @ Fort Greene Park (6:56pm): Celebrate the first sunset of Daylight Saving Time at Fort Greene Park at 6:56 PM. Join neighbors to soak in that extra hour of daylight and welcome the (almost) feeling of summer together.

Book these popular events in advance:

Soccer Shots Free Fun Day @ Select Brooklyn parks (Saturday, March 14, 9:00am): Join Soccer Shots for a Free Fun Day across Brooklyn parks, including Prospect Park 15th street, Prospect Park Garfield Avenue, Stroud Playground, JJ Byrne Playground, Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Pier 5. Designed for children ages 2–8, this high-energy session lets kids build skills, confidence, and character while meeting professional coaches and experiencing the program in action.

Brooklyn SeltzerFest @ Industry City (Sunday, March 15, 11:00am-6:00pm)*: This is a fizzy, family-friendly celebration of all things seltzer. Sample bubbly drinks from around the world, vote in the People’s Choice tasting, catch the 3rd National Egg Cream Invitational, and enjoy live programming, games, and seltzer-themed fun. Choose a single session or go all day. Tickets HERE (under 5 free).

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup!

Neighborhood Job Board

Locals make the best staff - they know the neighborhood, care about the community, and stick around. Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Cobble Hill and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

This week: jobs at Bar Ferdinando, Mouv pilates, Big Reuse, and internships!

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Cobble Hill Insider ✨

This week’s Insider section includes: • Bar Ferdinando has an official opening date • A new Atlantic City–themed bar and a family-friendly spot with rooftop seating is headed to Gowanus • A housing lottery just launched and a 28-story affordable-housing tower filed in Gowanus.

Read more

If you’ve ever grabbed a great stoop find, joined a Buy Nothing group, or felt bad throwing away something that still had life in it – Treasure It might just be your new favorite app.

Treasure It is a new, free app focused on making it very easy to keep perfectly good things out of the trash by finding them a new home nearby. Built by a neighbor in nearby Fort Greene, Treasure It is specifically designed for anyone who is trying to spend less, declutter more, or just live a little bit more sustainably.

Why neighbors love Treasure It:

• Lower your mental load: With built-in scheduling, pick-up logistics and customizable reminders, you can take a set it and forget it approach to giving and getting free things

• Spend less: Discover free finds near you and save some money

• Sustainably declutter: Easily give things you no longer need directly to someone who wants them, saving your gently used items from the landfill and saving yourself a trip to the donation center

• Privacy-first approach: Someone only gets your address once they are en route to pick up

• No group drama: The Treasure It feed stays focused on secondhand things, not controversial conversations

1600+ Brooklynites are already using Treasure It to give thousands of gently used things a second life.

Join now to

• Give something away with just a few taps - seriously, it is really easy and you won’t have to deal with endless back-and-forth messaging

• Discover your next free find - everything from kid’s clothes to kitchen gear are regularly posted for free

• Create or join groups that match your interests - there’s Brooklyn rock climbers, Park Slope parents, and many more!

• Make a difference - recirculating gently used things is a low effort, high impact way to help yourself, your community, and the environment

Ready to get started?

• If on mobile, download Treasure It here and see what Brooklyn is sharing

• Check out what’s available now (no account required)

• Learn more about Treasure It

Thank you to Treasure It

Sponsored content like this allows Cobble Hill Collective to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Cobble Hill Collective? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Most of us don’t think about dental care until we absolutely have to - and then it’s insurance forms, co-pays, and appointments you put off longer than you should.

A new studio opening soon in Downtown Brooklyn is trying to flip that dynamic by making preventative care simple, predictable, and easy to access.

Wally is a membership-based dental service launching at 195 Montague Street.

It’s currently the only dental membership in New York City offering unlimited cleanings, whitening, checkups, advanced diagnostics, and more - all without requiring insurance. Today, more than 25,000 New Yorkers rely on Wally for their preventative oral care.

What the membership includes

The annual plan (typically $249/year) covers ongoing preventative care, including:

• Dental cleanings throughout the year - as many times as you’d like

• Whitening treatments

• Routine checkups

• 3D scans and X-rays

• Saliva testing

• Virtual follow-ups

Cleanings use Swiss-engineered Airflow technology designed to be gentle and comfortable - no scraping, drilling, or polishing - and many patients notice their teeth look visibly whiter immediately after.

The Downtown Brooklyn location will be Wally’s ninth in NYC, and members can book at any studio citywide.

Founding memberships for local residents

You can reserve a Founding Membership for $149/yr ($100 off!) with only a $20 deposit using the special link below. We only have a limited amount of discount links to share, so don’t miss out!

Reserve Your Founding Membership

If you’ve been meaning to stay more consistent with cleanings - or just want a simpler, insurance-free option close to home - this is one to keep on your radar as the opening approaches.

*Update: opening date has shifted and removed from article

Thank you to Wally Health

Sponsored content like this allows Cobble Hill Collective to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Cobble Hill Collective? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

✨ Local Happenings and New Openings ✨

• Feel Good News: The Brooklyn Heights Association announced plans to fill every empty, viable street tree bed with a new tree. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation will inspect sites this spring and begin planting in the fall, in partnership with Lincoln Restler’s districtwide street tree initiative. We’re looking forward to more shade and greenery in the neighborhood!

• Margot is back with its morning service! The neighborhood wine bar is welcoming Winner Bakery for a new morning residency, serving coffee, pastries, and sandwiches from 8:00am-2:00pm starting with Friday-Sunday, follow Margot and Winner for updates.

• Trudie’s Tavern opening this Spring at 524 Court Street! Set to offer dinner and cocktails, we cannot wait to see what the team behind Gertie and Gertrude’s has in store for this space! Follow them for updates.

• Paulie Gee’s Gowanus Slice Shop is set to open very soon. Owner Kyle Driscoll told us that “We are waiting on the gas to be connected and will be good to open shortly after that”. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!

• A new beer garden, Hidden Rivers BK, is planned for 291 Nevins St, replacing the Tuned bike shop next to Liar Liar. The concept will spotlight rotating breweries and is expected to open pending licensing.

• Retail scoop for Cobble Hill: Häagen-Dazs is coming to the neighborhood! The new shop will occupy 825 square feet of ground-floor retail plus a mezzanine level.

✨ Continue reading our ‘Cobble Hill Insider’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Text us at (607) 301-1215, submit anonymously here, or email us

Our Top Picks

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!

Today, February 26:

Author Event with Becca C. Smith @ Barnes & Noble Atlantic Ave (6:30pm): They’re hosting an evening with Becca C. Smith as she discusses her latest thriller, Grandma’s Little Secret. Inspired by true events, this story follows eleven-year-old Emma as a summer vacation unravels into dark family secrets and deadly danger.

CHAMPAGNE! Popina Wine Dinner @ Popina (6:30pm)*: Enjoy a sparkling wine dinner at Popina in Cobble Hill on Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 PM. Tickets include a four-course, family-style feast paired with three champagnes per course for a memorable night out with friends or someone special. Tickets HERE.

Friday, February 27:

Tucks Travels Winter Social @ Jane’s Carousel DUMBO (6:00pm-8:00pm): Enjoy pizza, drinks, and good vibes as you raise funds with Tucks Travels to help young people get their first passports and international travel experience. Come by, meet the team, and make an impact. Register HERE.

Saturday, February 28:

Opening: From A W I N D O W @ M.Patmos (3:00pm-6:00pm): This new exhibition of screen print monotypes on fabric by Mariana Vidal-Escabi is inspired by the daily sunsets viewed from her studio, A W I N D O W. Through this series, Vidal-Escabi explores the window as both a frame and a way of seeing.

Studio Sessions with CAM @ 20 Jay St. (5:00pm-7:00pm): Tap into your creativity with Brooklyn-based artist CAM. This two-hour workshop invites you to paint, sip wine, and explore bold, symbolic designs in a relaxed studio setting. Tickets HERE.

Monday, March 2:

Book Club Meet Cute @ Saturn Road (7:00pm): A new book club is kicking off for all the Sallys and Harrys with a relaxed, no-pressure first meetup focused on mingling and getting to know each other IRL (no reading required). Bring friends, bring a crush, or just bring yourself and come ready to connect. RSVP HERE.

Tuesday, March 3:

Wine and Wonder @ Anaïs (7:00pm)*: This show features a brand-new hour of intimate magic and mentalism from Brooklyn’s own Jack Fox Baum. Tickets are $20 online (HERE) and at the door, with drinks available for purchase.

Book these popular events in advance:

The Red Room Pilates @ MOUV (Sunday, March 15, 9:00am + 1:00pm)*:WellUp returns to New York with a red light experience in partnership with Project E Beauty. Choose a heated mat or reformer Pilates session, all under therapeutic red light designed to boost recovery and performance. Stay after for a curated wellness hour with refreshments. Reserve your spot HERE.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup!

Neighborhood Job Board

Each week we create a new job board link with the latest local job listings! Sign up for Cobble Hill Collective to get the latest job board delivered to your inbox. List a job for free.

View Neighborhood Jobs

✨ Cobble Hill Insider ✨

This week’s Insider section includes: • A Landmarks Preservation Commission review of renovation plans for 145 Wyckoff Street in Boerum Hill • A potential revival for the former Regal Cinema on Court Street

Read more

Thank you to Boerum Place!

Sponsored content like this allows Cobble Hill Collective to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Cobble Hill Collective? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

✨ Local Happenings and New Openings ✨

• A new cocktail bar Pony’s NYC is planning to open at 424 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, led by owners Elana Shvalbe and Michael Furac, who previously operated the pop-up Five Seats in a barbershop. Early filings describe an approximately 1,100-square-foot space with daytime-through-late hours, centered on cocktails and a small, shareable food menu. Sample dishes include marinated feta, smoked trout, and cucumber salad, along with simple desserts like chocolate babka and apricots with honey.

• Bar Bruno is getting a new chapter in Carroll Gardens under the team behind Greenpoint Fish & Lobster, who’ve purchased both the Henry Street and Williamsburg locations. They’re reopening soon with a refreshed look, upgraded margaritas and cocktails, and keeping their warm, family-friendly vibe. gives the full scoop HERE.

• In need of some inspo for your weekend plans? We’ve curated a cozy Carroll Gardens day here.

• Atlantic Avenue and nearby blocks in Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Boerum Hill form one of NYC’s most vibrant hubs of Arabic culture. From Lebanese and Syrian bakeries to Yemeni cafés, Palestinian restaurants, halal butchers, and perfume shops, this stretch reflects generations of family-run businesses and enduring traditions. Explore this guide to the flavors and institutions that continue to shape this historic corridor.

• Check out our round-up of Black-Owned businesses in honor of Black History Month HERE.

• The newly opened Confidant has created quite the buzz on Atlantic Ave. We checked it out for ourselves. Check out the recap of our visit here.

• These futuristic cabins were designed as private VIP retreat spaces for artists on the Brooklyn Mirage rooftop - but the performance venue never reopened. Now these “PEBL Grand” cabins by Hello Wood are basically sitting idle and looking for a new home.

• Feel Good News: Love was in the air at Junior’s in Downtown Brooklyn, where four couples from across the country renewed their wedding vows inside the iconic cheesecake destination. Couples were selected from more than 1,000 submissions, each one sharing how Junior’s has been part of their love story.

• Art fans- save the date! Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair is set to return to Powerhouse Arts in Gowanus Apr. 9–12th. Tickets are on sale now!

✨ Continue reading our ‘Cobble Hill Insider’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Text us at (607) 301-1215, submit anonymously here, or email us

Our Top Picks

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!

Today, February 19:

Black Future Festival @ Brooklyn Children’s Museum (through Saturday Feb 21st, 10:00am-5:00pm: Join Brooklyn Children’s Museum for Brooklyn’s boldest celebration of Black imagination, invention, and joy, shaped by Black creators. Make art, learn dances, create music, and envision the future that celebrates Black culture and the African Diaspora. FREE with museum admission ($15).

Speed Dating @ Planted Cafe (7:00pm-8:30pm)*: This high-energy Speed Dating Mashup Night is designed to spark real connections in a relaxed, plant-powered setting. Guests rotate through timed meetups across fun themed tracks before the evening rolls into open mic night. Tickets HERE.

Friday, February 20:

Goatroper @ Jalopy Tavern (8:00pm): Enjoy a live honky-tonk set and expect a night of two-steppin’, country tunes, and dance-floor energy.

Saturday, February 21:

Lunar New Year Celebration @ City Point (Saturday February 21, 1:00pm-3:00pm): Brooklyn Bridge Parents is teaming up with City Point to host a Lunar New Year celebration. Families can enjoy Lion Dance performances, free Lunar New Year–inspired kids’ crafts, and festive fun for all ages—wear red to welcome good fortune. RSVP HERE.

Speed Friending @ Strong Rope Brewery (Gowanus) (6:00pm-8:00pm): This free, fun event designed to help newbies (or locals who are happy to add to their circle of friends) meet new friends in the area. Bring a book you love (or grab something new from Books Are Magic), and there will be 10-minute speed rounds to find your people. Like speed dating, only better. FREE.

Sunday, February 22:

Poetry Workshop @ Brooklyn Museum (11:00am-1:30pm): Contemplate the Brooklyn Museum’s Asian Art collection and the Rubin Museum Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room, and follow your poetic instincts. Join Tsering Wangmo Dhompa, associate professor of literature and creative writing at Villanova University, in the galleries for this generative creative-writing experience. The workshop will begin with an overview of the installation by Joan Cummins, Lisa and Bernard Selz Curator of Asian Art at the Brooklyn Museum. $35/$21 for members.

Monday, February 23:

Book Club Meet Cute @ Saturn Road (7:00pm): A new book club kicks off Monday for all the Sallys and Harrys with a relaxed, no-pressure first meetup focused on mingling and getting to know each other IRL (no reading required). Bring friends, bring a crush, or just bring yourself and come ready to connect. RSVP HERE.

Tuesday, February 24:

Summer in February @ Rooftop at Time Out 5th floor (6:30pm-9:30pm)*: Get a head start on summer at the Summer in February | Sing for Your Summer fundraiser. This festive night of cocktails and karaoke benefits the park’s beloved Long Summer Days programming, with 100% of proceeds supporting Brooklyn Bridge Park. Tickets include a signature cocktail and Time Out Market bites, with additional eats available from Fornino, Tanoreen, Rogue Panda, and Bark Barbecue. Karaoke slots for the Brooklyn Bridge Belt-Off are up for grabs too! Get your ticket HERE.

Wednesday, February 25:

Twice Desired Popup @ Café Brume (5:00pm-9:00pm): Stop by for an evening of curated vintage and designer fashion plus unique home finds, with happy hour cocktails and nibbles available as you browse. Details HERE.

Drink n’ Draft @ Anaïs Wine Bar (7:00pm): Enjoy a cozy night of wine and creative writing games. All genres and experience levels are welcome.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup!

Neighborhood Job Board

Each week we create a new job board link with the latest local job listings! Sign up for Cobble Hill Collective to get the latest job board delivered to your inbox. List a job for free.

View Neighborhood Jobs

✨ Cobble Hill Insider ✨

This week’s Insider section includes: A new ice cream shop coming soon to the neighborhood • A new beer garden spotlighting rotating breweries and new pizza slice shop opening soon in Gowanus • The latest housing lotteries for affordable units

Read more

Nick Bello is a writer and photographer based in Park Slope. He loves to capture local scenery as well as research local history. Follow him on Instagram @nbello8 or on substack at:

South Brooklyn History

Discovering history in and around South Brooklyn 📚

By Nick Bello

Cobble Hill Park, small yet beautiful, is quite literally the center of the Cobble Hill Historic District. The park is beloved by many in the neighborhood, as it is fairly filled with people when the weather is nice. It looks as if it has been in the neighborhood forever, however, it is not actually that old, built in 1965. In 1989, it would be redesigned and would win two awards, the first being the 1988 Annual Award for Excellence in Design from the Art Commission and the second award was the Philip Winslow Award for Public Projects awarded to the Park’s Council.

Today Cobble Hill Park is beloved by many in the neighborhood. However, many do not know the history of the land in which the park sits on, which played a pivotal role in the abolitionist movement during the Civil War and also helped set the early foundation for what would eventually become the Civil Rights Movement.

Cornelius Heeney

Where Cobble Hill Park sits today was once land belonging to Cornelius Heeney. Born in Ireland and educated in the mercantile trade by a family member in Dublin, Heeney came to America in 1784 and landed in Philadelphia penniless but looking for work. He found a job working with a Quaker named Mead, eventually making his way to New York. He would find yet another hospitable Quaker, William Backhaus, who would give him a job as an accountant and bookkeeper in his store that was located on Water Street in Manhattan. Here he would meet John Jacob Astor, the man who would go on to become one of the first multimillionaires in America. Backhaus’ business was in the fur trade which was quite lucrative at that time. In 1797, Backhaus would retire and leave his business to both Heeney and Astor. The two former employees now co-owners would keep the business running for a short period of time before Heeney would start his own store also on Water Street. Astor would keep the Backhaus store in the split.

Heeney was a shrewd business man which helped him amass a sizable wealth. He never married and thus shared his wealth with the Catholic Church, helping to found the first Catholic Church in New York, St. Peter’s Church which is in the Financial District in Manhattan. He also helped finance the building of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Nolita and gave land to build an orphan asylum. He established the first Catholic newspaper called The Truth Teller and served on the New York State Assembly from 1818-1822. Heeney lived above his store and in 1835 the Great Fire of New York would scorch not just his store and home, but 17 blocks of Lower Manhattan. With his store and home gone, Heeney would take the remaining $7,000 he had left and retire in Brooklyn. He bought a farm and established the Brooklyn Benevolent Society, a charitable society that gave fuel to the poor in the winter, clothing to poor school children, and paid teachers to teach poor children. After Heeney’s death in 1848, the society would continue its focus on education. Today, universities and colleges like Seton Hall, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Peter’s University, Marymount Manhattan College, Manhattan College, and Fairfield University all award scholarships in Heeney’s name and were established by the Brooklyn Benevolent Society. Heeney also donated land before his death to build St. Paul’s Church on Court Street. Heeney is buried on the church grounds, in a small courtyard in the back of the church. There is also a plaque on the front of the church with a brief bio about Heeney and his contributions. Shortly after Heeney’s death, the Second Unitarian Church was built on Heeny’s land in 1857.

Church Of The Holy Turtle

The Second Unitarian Church earned the nickname “The Church of the Holy Turtle”, due to its shape and green roof. The Unitarian parishioners were of New England and European descent and were pretty liberal in their views. They had existed in Brooklyn since the 1830s and rifts had developed within the first church which caused the Second Unitarian Church to be created. When looking at the history of the Second Unitarian Church, the never ending fight for civil rights and social reform is present throughout.

This mission was started by the first pastor of the church, Samuel Longfellow, the brother of prominent poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Like his brother, he had strong liberal views for the time, he was an abolitionist, a pacifist, and a supporter of women’s rights. In some of his sermons he portrayed John Brown, the leader of the rain on Harpers Ferry in Virginia (now part of West Virginia), as a martyr which drew backlash. In his surviving journals, Longfellow had written about a few intimate relationships with men throughout his life. The longest of which was with a man named Samuel Johnson that lasted for 40 years up until Johnson’s death in 1882. After Johnson’s death, Longfellow mentored gay men in Boston. He would leave the Second Unitarian Church in 1860 to travel to Europe and passed away in Maine in 1892.

Longfellow was replaced by Reverend Nathan Augustus Staples, who was also liberal in his views and an abolitionist. Staples also believed in Darwinism and supported the works of Herbert Spencer who coined the term “survival of the fittest.” As the Civil War was just beginning, the church would donate a significant amount of money to the Union Army under Staples’ leadership. He would have a short stint with the church, leaving in 1863 and replaced by John White Chadwick, who was one of the more popular pastors. Under Chadwick, the church would gain more supporters and was able to finish paying off the church’s debt in 1872. Spencer would be at the church until 1904.

One of the most famous members of the church was Mary White Ovington. Ovington, was born 1865 in Brooklyn and was a member of the prominent Ovington family in Brooklyn Heights. Her father, Theodore Ovington helped found the Ovington China Company with his brother Edward. The two made their fortune importing high end China from France. Mary was educated at the Packer Collegiate Institute and Radcliffe College, part of Harvard University. She was involved in the civil rights movement at that time, helping to found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She worked two terms as the Executive Secretary for the NAACP before becoming the Chair from 1919-1934. She was an active leader of the organization up until her death in 1951, while also writing multiple books on race issues as well.

An Empty Lot Spurs A Park

Eventually, shifting demographics in the area lead to the dwindling numbers of parishioners for the church. The last service would be held in 1924 but the building itself would not be torn down for some time. The land however was not owned by the Second Unitarian Church but by the Brooklyn Benevolent Society since Heeney had donated the land to them. The church was used for a period of time as a meeting place for the St. Paul’s Council for the Knights of Columbus, but after that it was left abandoned. The abandoned church was demolished in 1961, but not completely as rubble was left and trash soon started to pile up on top of the rubble.

Many suggested in op-ed’s to local newspapers that a park should be built on the abandoned lot. However, the land was sold to a real estate firm called Singer and Sons for $167,500. They intended on building apartments on the lot. The local community stepped in, advocating for a park to be built, creating the Emergency Park Organization for Cobble Hill (EPOCH), receiving 1,158 signatures from residents in favor of building the park, while working fast to get the idea in front of government officials. They were able to get the plan to Parks Commissioner Newbold Morris, who was against the idea due to its cost while also saying if he gave a park to Cobble Hill then he would have to give one to every neighborhood in the city. However, Morris would come around on the idea, eventually going before the Board of Estimate in July of 1962 to request the park be built. In October of 1962 the park plan was approved and the city bought the site from Singer & Son’s, showing what can happen when neighbors band together to create civic action. The park would take another few years to build and would be completed in 1965. Today it serves as a reminder of what can happen when a community bands together to create civic action that leads to the building of beautiful spaces.