Mommy FTW

This weekend Move About Myrtle is back and the weather is looking lovely (so there’s no chance of cancellation like last week!)  This week there’s a schedule full of fun stuff going on which you can see on the Myrtle Minutes section of the Myrtle Ave Partnership website.  But I wanted to highlight the FDNY Smokehouse which will be located on Myrtle between Vanderbuilt and Clinton.  FDNY Smokehouse is a life size fire safety unit, complete with crawl spaces and safety instructions.  My toddler is completely obsessed with firemen and firetrucks, so you can be sure we will be checking this out!

Also this weekend is the Carlton – Willoughby Block Association annual stoop sale taking place on Carlton Ave between Dekalb and Myrtle on Sunday.  This massive stoop sale is worth checking out!  Last year over 20 stoops participated so there’s lots of treasures to be found.

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

In a previous post I highlighted all the awesome amenities that Toren has which are geared towards the family set; in this post I want to attempt to do justice with words the beautiful three bedroom condo which I was able to take a tour of, as well as tell you a little about the Green aspects of the building, which area also quite impressive.

The three bedroom, three bath condo I saw was in the process of being staged, so unfortunately I was not able to take pictures of it – although I did snap some of the view (wow).  I will include some pictures that Toren sent me so hopefully you can get a sense of the units.

The living space in this impressive three bedroom is a almost 2,000 square feet – and it certainly feels huge when you walk in.  It’s a bi-level unit – with the living room / kitchen space taking up most of the first floor.  There’s also a full bath with a large, deep tub (all of them are really deep – bubble bath for mom, anyone?)  There’s lots of closet space, and also a large bedroom on this floor.  Perhaps the most awesome feature of the first floor of this unit is that the living room area is open to the next floor – meaning that the ceiling is two stories high – making the room incredibly light and open.  The windows (and their amazing views) flank the walls.  The beautiful kitchen opens on to the family room – so it would be easy to cook some dinner while keeping an eye on the kids.  Overall – a perfect space to relax and hang out as a family, or to entertain friends for a diner party.

Upstairs there are two additional bedrooms and full bathrooms.  One of the bedrooms / bathrooms is the master suite, and this bathroom has a double sink (which I love – so practical).  The tub and shower are separate.  There’s lots of closet space on this level as well – and the layout would work well for a family with a young child or newborn.  There is an entrance on this level as well as on the lower level, so it would be easy to sneak in and out for date night after putting the kids to bed while the babysitter manned the fort.

Aside from the amazing condo I was able to see there are other sizes available, all with open floor plans and generous amounts of space.  The light let in by the huge windows along with the high ceilings makes the rooms feel large and welcoming.  On the Toren website you can see more pictures of the residences and also check out the floor plans for all sizes of units (unfortunately since the website is flash I can’t provide a direct link – check under Residences > Floor Plans).

For those out there who are eco conscious, the Toren has some pretty impressive stats you can feel good about.  All of the appliances in all of the units are EnergyStar appliances and each has an efficient hot water boiler.  The hallways are equipped with lights that have occupancy sensors (the turn off if no one is near by).  The building has a cogeneration plant which generates lower cost heat and power for residents on site.  FYI – Toren is also linked to the city’s power grid, which acts as a back up.  And – if there was ever another black out, Toren would still have power thanks to its cogeneration system.  Pretty amazing!

My overall impression of Toren was very positive.  Not only are the units gorgeous, but the building itself has so much to offer to its residents and to the neighboring community.  The roof decks are a great place for  playgroups for the kids, or to entertain your friends.  The pool and Yoga Studio are great places to sign the little ones up for classes and keep them busy all months of the year.  And if someone doesn’t organize a story time in that beautiful library, it would be a shame!  To see more pictures of these amenities and learn more about them, check out my first post about Toren.

Toren is located at 150 Myrtle Avenue, at the intersection of Myrtle and Flatbush. Nearby are a huge array of train lines (B, Q, M, R, 2, 3, A, C) and of course Fort Greene Park. Your closest playground is one of my favorites, the huge and rarely crowded New Fort Greene, which I profiled in my A Gem of A Playground series. Also, in the summer time, directly across the street you can find the Myrtle Avenue Farm Stand. To learn more about Toren you can check out their websites – torencondo.com and mylifeattoren.com (for more of an inside scoop on what it’s like to live there).

In the spirit of full disclosure, Toren has compensated me for this post – which means I was paid to go and check out their building and do a write up.  I want to assure you that the opinions expressed here are my own, and I was in no way told what I was to write.  Those of you who read my blog regularly and know me, know that I wouldn’t speak positively about something I don’t believe in.  If this write up as made you curious about Toren, please contact them and check it out for yourself.  I would be surprised if you were anything less than impressed!

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

Recently the people at Toren approached me and asked if I would be interested in doing a write up on the family friendly aspects of the building.  Honestly, I had never really considered Toren in a family friendly light (I didn’t really know anything about it at all) and I was intrigued.  So, last Thursday I went to go check it out.  In a word, I was impressed!  It is truly a gorgeous building inside and out, and it has some great offerings for the family set.  In this first post I’ll focus on the amenities and kid / child friendly programs they’ve got on tap, and in my second post I’ll finish with the absolutely incredible apartment they showed me (jaw droppingly beautiful doesn’t even begin to cover it….) as well as highlight the green aspects of the building.

Toren has a Yoga studio in house with class offered by Yoga Local.  There are a few classes for babies and toddlers on the books for this fall:

Mommy (or Daddy) & Me, Fridays, 9:30-10:15
Creative movement for all babies, 6 to 12 months, with caregiver.
Tiny Toes, Fridays, 10:30-11:15
Creative movement for normally-developing toddlers, 12-36 months.
Special Tiny Toes, Fridays, 11:30-12:15
Creative movement for identified special needs toddlers, 12-36 months.

All of these classes are paid on a monthly basis, $80 per head per month. They are taught by Amalia Rose and Carmen Rosario, a mother-daughter duo with over 50 years of experience under their collective belts. For residents of Toren, these classes are free.  Check out the Yoga Local website to learn more about them.  Also, keep checking for info about prenatal yoga classes!

Toren has a large bi-level outdoor space.  It’s a great place to take in some fresh air, have a playgroup get together, and enjoy a view of Brooklyn and beyond.  This fall Toren, in conjunction with Big Movies for Little Kids, will be hosting 4 screenings (every other Friday) on the outdoor terrace starting in late September.  These screenings are open to residents and the public.  The outdoor space has a huge set of stairs which will offer great stadium like seating for the event. Toren will offer stroller parking and free concessions. Doors Open 6:30- Movies to start at 7pm.  RSVP to Marco@torencondo.com.  Here’s the schedule:

Sept 24th – Spirited Away
October 8th – The Muppet Movie
October 22nd- Pinocchio
November 5th- TBD

The pool at Toren is so beautiful, when I was emailed pictures of it I thought they were computer renderings (see the gallery).  Well, I swear – it actually looks like that in person.  The pool is essentially a lap pool – only 4 feet deep.  It has a wide set of entry stairs that would be a nice toddler splash and play area.  In it’s shape and depth it reminds me of my beloved Clermont pool – a perfect place for a little one to learn to swim.  And of course, this pool is open year round.  Toren is going to offer Children’s swim classes free to residents.  Non residents can also sign up to participate.  This would be a great winter activity!  Although Cameron and I went swimming often last summer, over the winter his love of water seemed to dwindle.  The Toren pool is a great way to keep this from happening, and is a lot closer to most of Fort Greene than the neighboring YMCA’s.  Check the Toren website later this fall to find the class schedule for Children’s swim classes.

Toren has a lovely little library, a nice place to sit and quietly read a book – or have story time with the kids!  Residents who are looking for a place to take their little ones who have a case of cabin fever in the winter time should take advantage of this great space.  It would be a wonderful spot to organize a weekly story time, playgroup, or movie screening (they have perhaps the biggest TV I’ve ever seen).

Finally I wanted to note that there is an “upscale eco-friendly”  Supermarket coming to Toren (according to Brownstoner, and confirmed by the Toren rep I spoke to).  As a long time resident of Fort Greene, I can’t say how excited I am about this.  It’s something I think a lot of folks in the neighborhood are really looking forward to – and I can’t imagine having it just an elevator ride away.  This will be a major convenience for residents and is icing on the cake!

Check back in for my write up of the amazing family sized apartment I was able to preview, as well as to learn more about the Green aspects of the building which make Toren quite unique, and both eco and family friendly.

Toren is located at 150 Myrtle Avenue, at the intersection of Myrtle and Flatbush.  Nearby are a huge array of train lines (B, Q, M, R, 2, 3, A, C) and of course Fort Greene Park.  Your closest playground is one of my favorites, the huge and rarely crowded New Fort Greene, which I profiled in my A Gem of A Playground series.  Also, in the summer time, directly across the street you can find the Myrtle Avenue Farm Stand.  To learn more about Toren you can check out their websites – torencondo.com and mylifeattoren.com (for more of an inside scoop on what it’s like to live there).

In the spirit of full disclosure, Toren has compensated me for this post – which means I was paid to go and check out their building and do a write up.  I want to assure you that the opinions expressed here are my own, and I was in no way told what I was to write.  Those of you who read my blog regularly and know me, know that I wouldn’t speak positively about something I don’t believe in.  If this write up as made you curious about Toren, please contact them and check it out for yourself.  I would be surprised if you were anything less than impressed!

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

Pratt Post Office closed back in March for what was originally billed as an 8 – 12 week renovation.  5 months later… the original office is still closed – Surprise!?  Today I went to go pick up my mail from my P.O. Box and I saw that the post office has a new temporary home.  It is now located at 510A Myrtle, next to the Beauty Supply Store.

At this little store front you can pick up your packages and your P.O. Box mail.  Directly out front is parked the Mobile Unit where you can buy stamps.  Hopefully this means faster service for package pick up!


Posted from New York, New York, United States.

Today I stopped in at the Home and U store on at 394 Myrtle Avenue between Clermont and Vanderbuilt.  I found some really great items there for Cameron (at LOW prices) so I wanted to share so it was on your radar!

In the back by the cash registers I stumbled upon the most amazing Truck book (it’s called My First Truck Book).  Apparently the version I got isn’t made anymore (which I am guessing is why it ended up at Home and U).  But honestly, I don’t care if it’s a few years out of date – since the book itself was still brand new!  Anyways, I paid $2.99 – on Amazon a newer version is over $7, and is smaller in size.  Not too shabby!

And, picked up a small Elmo doll which Cameron immediately fell in love with.  At $1.99 it was worth every penny.

They also have lots of spray bottles to choose from – which are great fun at the sprinklers and playgrounds.  And plenty of other odds and ends toys for summer fun.

And, don’t forget I got Cameron’s little watering can there, which he uses to help me water the plants in the garden.

I will certainly be back to dig for more items.  The store can seem a little cramped and disorganized, but if you take a look you can find some low cost treasures.

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

For those of you who are looking for something special to give Dad for father’s day – consider getting some of your digital prints printed out.   Today we take so many pictures with our digital cameras and share them online – but it’s not the same as having the picture printed out and displayed in your home (or in dad’s office).

I take my prints to Walgreens (on Myrtle at Clermont) and they usually print them in a few hours.  The cost is minimal (a few cents a print).  They even sell some frames so you can complete the gift.  It’s a very affordable present that any father would love.

Did you plant your garden yet this summer?  I planted my tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, basil, and flowers about a month ago.  So far we’ve got some little tomatoes, and baby jalapenos, lots of basil, and some pretty flowers.

Cameron helps to water the plants (sort of) with a small watering can I bought from the Home and U store on Myrtle (near Vanderbuilt).  It’s the perfect size for him!  We also weed the garden sometimes in the mornings.  I pull the weeds and hand them to Cameron to throw in a small bucket we use for trash.  I think he really likes helping out!  If you have even a small spot for a garden, get one going, and get your little one involved!  Check out my previous post for some gardening and tomato planting tips.

One of the most popular playgrounds in Fort Greene is the small playground located in Fort Greene Park near the intersection of DeKalb Ave and Washington Park.  Although it can be fun to visit this playground because you are practically guaranteed to run into someone you know, it certainly has its downsides : It’s crowded, and in the summer, ridiculously hot (there is no shade whatsoever to speak of).  There’s not a lot of play equipment, and the swings (only 4 of them) face directly into the sun at pretty much all hours.  A lot of people think this is the only playground in Fort Greene Park, and have never ventured over to the large and lovely one on the opposite corner of the park (at Myrtle and St. Edwards St.)

This playground, called New Fort Greene  / Fort Greene Park Playground is HUGE!  In 1995 almost $1.2 million was spent on its renovation – and it shows!  Built in the shape of a fort, it has lots of levels, slides, and other obstacles to explore.  There’s 8 baby swings, and a separate baby/toddler playground.  The ground is lined with those soft rubber pads, which is great for early walkers.  There is also a nice water feature, and bathrooms.  It has great shade no matter what hour of the day.  Also, the playground is almost always pretty empty.  Often when I tell people about New Fort Greene, they seem concerned that it might not be safe.  While I wouldn’t play there in the evenings, I think during the day it’s perfectly safe – I myself have never felt uncomfortable there.  Just be sure to keep an eye on your belongings (which, I would recommend you do at any neighborhood playground).

If you’re tired of the crowds at the other playground in Fort Greene Park, or need to escape the summer heat, consider checking out New Fort Greene.  It will be a fun adventure for your little one!

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

I was walking down Myrtle to the Post Office this morning and I decided to duck into Mr. CoCo to see what it looked like. Overall it seems pretty nice – it’s basically like a smaller version of Elly’s on DeKalb. They’ve got a small selection of produce which looks decent (for a bodega) lots of organic grocery items, and some frozen foods that Cameron likes to eat, including Dr. Praeger’s stuff.  I’m a little disappointed that they seem to be shrink wrapping some of their produce (see some of the peppers in the picture) – but overall, its not too shabby, and that’s more of a pet peeve of mine.  I asked the woman at the register if they were really open 24 hours, and she said yes.  So if anyone needs some organic milk at 2 am – you know where to check!

Hi all – I had two bits of Fort Greene / Clinton Hill news I wanted to share.

First – I was at Story Time yesterday at the Clinton Hill Library and it seems that the usual woman has moved libraries and is gone for good.  They have  a stand in named Steve (I think) and he didn’t give the impression that he was going to be the permanent person in charge.  He seemed a little awkward, but everything worked out fine.  I saw another mom who was at the later session and she said Steve told her class that they might not have the funding to keep Story Time going for more than 6 weeks.  I hope this isn’t true!  It’s such an amazing resource in the neighborhood.  Yesterday there was quite a crowd!

Secondly, I also went to the Pratt Post Office on Myrtle to get the mail from my P.O. Box.  I wasn’t sure what to expect since they quietly and quickly announced their closing.  There was a truck outside that was selling stamps (no money orders, according to the postal worker).

They were also letting people in to use the APC machine and drop items in the big box in the foyer.  I was also allowed to walk into the actual post office and pick up my mail.  The postal worker said they decided to keep it like this until actual construction begins.  Sounds reasonable to me!  After that, she said, who knows.   Yikes….  She recommended that people with P.O. Boxes check their mail daily for now.