Pop-Up Park

A few days ago I had a Williamsburg walk about day and came across this "Pop-Up park" which I thought was too funny and a brilliant idea: reclaim a small space of cement sidewalk  (if only temporarily) with replace it with something green.

It would be kind of impractical, but I love the idea of covering the smaller side street sidewalks of Manhattan with wild grasses and flowers and just have dirt path ways to walk along.  I'm sure the rat population would also love it and if you had a stroller or an old lady buggy you'd be furious and hate it, nonetheless it would be pretty and imagine all the wild edibles you could plant!   You could forage food on your walk home from work!

Meet Franklin

Crest Hardware in Williamsburg is my favorite old style large hardware store in New York.  Last year they e expanded and added a huge wonderful garden center out back.  This year, they have a new addition: Franklin the pet pig.  He is, I believe, the managers pet and isn't at the store every day but does come to work most days. Franklin is a miniature pot belly, they have made a lovely enclosure for him at the far end of the  garden center, but the day I was there he was not having the enclosure at all he was very cleverly determined to be free! So he was let out to wander amongst the potted plants.  Once out he was very calm, and stayed close to home sniffing about and socializing with visitors.

Although it is hard to tell from this picture Franklin wears a harness, he's around 6 months old and has started taking to the idea of being walked, although at first wasn't keen on the idea.  Apparently when not at  his country residence at the garden center Franklin has an apartment in Brooklyn he lives in.

Apparently pet pigs are becoming more popular and after meeting Franklin I can certainly see why. 

Blue Bottle Coffee Brooklyn

 Blue Bottle Coffee has an enormous roasting plant/cafe in Williamsburg at 160 Berry Street.  I love their coffee, drip coffee is made to order, you select the beans you want used and the barista grinds them then makes you your very own fresh brewed cup of coffee.  Mine cost $2.75 the price changes depending on the beans.  Certainly some of the best drip coffee I've ever had. 

Everything about the Brooklyn outpost of this San Francisco company wreaks of craft, a commitment to locally sourced, quality, hand made products.  Even though I have been many times before this time I was struck by the baked goods.  In particular the Brooklyn Bootleg S'Mores caught my attention. Homemade graham crackers, Mast Brothers Chocolate (whose bean to bar chocolate factory/store is just around the corner) and home made marshmallows made with artisanal moonshine (bourbon?) distilled in Brooklyn at the Kings County Distillery.

Every item them sell has some ingredient from Brooklyn, even if it is an olive oil that is imported by a Brooklyn company it shows an incredible commitment to quality locally sourced ingredients. 

Funny I didn't even notice if they served savory food?  Guess I'll  have to go back.
Oh and just to end on a coffee note they also cold brew coffee, which if I remember right they use as their iced coffee - the cold brew set up is very elaborate, almost looks like an art installation.  Cold brewed coffee also has the benefit of being more caffineated then hot brewed.  And did I mention they roast all their own beans on premises in small batches?

So if you are in Williamsburg or SF definitely check go visit, you will be glad you did.