Picture Perfect: Hard at Work

The view of one of our fine contributors hard at work at Cafe Regular (du Sud).

Prospect Park West Threatens Park Slope Way of Life

According to both Gawker and our very own insider at Bookforum, the press copies of Prospect Park West, Amy Sohn's thinly-veiled Sex and the City ripoff ("It's different! It's four women in BROOKLYN!") have been sent off to the four corners of the lit/gossip world. Early reports are...not so great. And with lines like these, how can we argue:

It was a scorching July Thursday, three days after Rebecca's thwarted masturbation, and she was looking forward to getting a break from her daughter. Rebecca's babysitter, Sonam, diminutive and deferential, with a forehead of lifelong suffering, took care of Abbie Tuesdays and Thursdays while Rebecca worked on freelance article assignments, window-shopped, or did her Prospect Park Food Coop shift, like today. (via Gawker)

This is, in short, every reason that people hate us (and I don't think it's meant to be ironic!) When will the stereotypes end? Is PS20 going to have to write a book of our own about life outside of the Coop? Hint: it's a hell of a lot sexier than thwarted masturbation and ethnic subservient help.

No.1 Park Slope Detective Agency

PS 20 is currently investigating the recent strange happenings in Prospect Park. We thought Park Slope was a bit magical, but not this sort of magical. 

First Impressions: Finding Fitness Together

There is absolutely nothing like having a Jewish mother. After losing almost 60 pounds, as this writer recently did through sheer will power and a bit of exercise, it was my Jewish mother who told me, "You look good, but you could really stand to tighten up your stomach." Of course it wasn't enough to have lost the weight, now I had to apparently to try my best to reach physical perfection.

And so, having had mixed luck with gyms, though I would recommend Ludlow Fitness to any LES resident, and being too naive (or spoiled depending on your definition) to merely work out or purchase one of those Swiss Balls (as a fellow writer at PS 20 recommended), I decided to do what any good Park Slope resident might do and google my options. A quick look with keywords like "Brooklyn" and "Fitness" soon netted me www.broolynpersonaltraining.com the local incarnation of the Fitness Together brand of personal trainers. I decided to submit a request for a meeting through their website, explaining my situation (Jewish mother and all) and got a call back the next day. Over the phone, I was asked when I would like to come in and when I requested coming in a week from then, was told that it should be sooner or it would never get done. What could I say? They were being pushy.

[The Fitness Together Ad]

Therefore, this morning I headed down for the free consult at their offices on 5th Ave and 5th st. Their location, next to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company and Get Fresh: Table and Market, as well as the proximity to Ginger's puts Fitness Together in the center of at least what I consider "Park Slope." The entrance to the place is filled with cardio equipment, which, from what I understand, a person can access at any time, seven days a week, when they join up for membership. However, it isn't quite different from a gym, as one will be ogled by passers by no matter what.

My meeting with trainer "L" was pretty interesting. I was asked more questions about my weight loss and commended that I was showing up my ex-girlfriend who had dumped me partially because of my advanced size. When L heard about this as the impetus for my weight loss, she was openly surprised and said that the ex would hardly recognize me. At any rate, she went through the whole spiel about how the whole place was a family. Apparently, the fitness center is made up of about three training rooms, which provide individual attention and privacy. A pretty good deal. The whole place kind of looks like if you set up a training center in three different living rooms and was immaculately clean. However, for a 24 year old, there is something inherently awkward about the personal attention, not to mention the price which runs about $95 a session. However, the staff was incredibly nice and confident about fixing any physical malaise that one might have. If I can just get my mother to part with some cash to foot the rather expensive bill as opposed to her usual contributions to my own neuroses, I would definitely give Fitness Together a try.

Picture Perfect: The Cafes Strike Back

A preview of where we at PS 20 will set up shop tomorrow and write a few more Cafe reviews including the one above, Ozzie's, etc.

Park Slope Cafe Odyssey Continues or Where to Buy a Cup of Coffee

Another entry into where to enjoy cups of joe wherever you go. Today we focus a bit more on the north side of the slope.

Cousin John's Cafe and Bakery [map]

Good For: Free Wi-fi in the middle of the day, eating half a cake before taking it in a box home.

While the space itself is a little bit cramped, and topped with a neon "Dolcera" sign, Cousin John's gives more than enough room and all the free wireless internet that anyone can handle. Along with some stools outside, the place seems more ideal for subway commuters on their way to the 2 and 3 trains than for a prolonged stay. However, for those who can spare a few minutes inside, and can resist the mouth-watering cakes that are ushered by every few minutes to be delivered or taken out, the cafe provides basic and not-to-pedestrian coffee necessities for low prices and a fair amount of salads for those trying to stay on a diet. However, staying too long does put one in danger of running into a screeching baby or two.

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Gorilla Coffee [map]

Good For: Coffee on the go with enough caffeine to keep you going.

What can be said about Gorilla Coffee that hasn't been said already. The six year old company markets itself as "Brooklyn Based" and its coffee grounds can be found all over the city. Not only does the line head out of the door, but the tables, stools and benches outside of gorilla coffee are usually filled with parents in strollers, neighborhood residents walking their dogs and young adults on laptops. However, the staff has been consistently personable, blasting their favorite music and freely commenting on their choices and occasionally offering up the free cup of coffee to park slope residents who are a dollar or two short. If you can stay awake through the lines and the hustle and bustle of the place, try their "Red Eye" to keep you going throughout the rest of the day.

Picture Perfect: 2009: A Cafe Odyssey!

The view from the counter of Cousin John's Bakery in North Slope as we at PS 20 update our map with as many coffee shops as possible. Any suggestions?