Openings and Closings, 2010

At the close of every year we are compelled to look back and say to ourselves, "what's changed? What new things have entered into my life to make it better? What has sorrowfully left?" Friends and lovers, jobs and opportunities -- and most importantly -- neighborhood businesses!

Let's take a moment to reflect on ten of the comings and goings, the openings and closings, of some of our finest local shops.

A warm welcome to:

The Foodshed Market

at The Commons

388 Atlantic Avenue

Sundays, 11 am - 5 pm

Housed inside The Commons, a community and education center, Boerum Hill got its very own farmers market this year. It's not huge, but does offer regional chesses, yogurt, jam, ice cream, sauces, honey, breads, grains, ciders, as well as fresh local fruit, vegetables, milk, eggs and meat. Foodshed Market highlights how far its food has traveled and how it has been processed, to promote a more sustainable food system. Also, meet the farmers who grew your tasty veggies!

Persons of Interest

299 Smith Street

This old-fashioned barber shop (replacing Sal's Hairstylists) is classic and old-timey, but with a few added perks. For one, the "barbers" used to work in upscale shops like Spiff and Deluxe, so you'll actually look good when you walk out of there. And two, your $40 haircut includes a wash and a free beer and shiatsu massage. I wouldn't even get my hair cut with that deal; for $40 I'd be happy just to sit there and drink a beer while a stranger rubbed my head.

Black Gold

461 Court Street

Records, Rook Roasters coffee, taxidermy…what more is there to say, really? This spot was formerly an Italian Social club (supposedly frequented by John Gotti), but now its dark wallpapered walls make it a hipster paradise in all the right ways. Listen to some jazz, indie or death metal vinyl at the listening station, grab a cup of coffee with almond milk, and a rosemary and sea salt scone (you had me at rosemary and sea salt) and let your hipster mustache grow.

In addition to some fine taxidermy critters, Black Gold also usually sells my favorite collectible: old photographs of groups of people staring blindly while wearing the same outfit. Once they were even selling Cupie dolls! I'm almost ready to run over to Persons of Interest for a mustache trim.

Merlin Merchant

(Frankies Spuntino store)

457 Court Street (entry on Luquor Street)

If you don't want to wait two hours to sit at or , why not stroll around the corner and pick up some of their signature ingredients to make at home? Olive oils, breads, meats and even the famous Frankies Spuntino cookbook will help you through. The store is quaint and the clerks are sweet and helpful. Now if only you could buy a Frankies bartender at Merlin Merchant to mix up some drinks while you wait for your meatballs to come out of the oven.

Brooklyn Farmacy

214 Sackett Street

Take a step back in time at the old fashioned soda fountain whose June renovation was featured on the Discovery Channel's Construction Intervention and where . Stop by for an egg cream, a sundae, donuts from Peter Pan Bakery in Greenpoint or sticky buns from Trois Pommes Patisserie in Park Slope. It's like the soda fountain Jimmy Stewart goes to in It's a Wonderful Life, except, you know, with a less stressful storyline.

Flavor Paper

216 Pacific Street

Flavor Paper is a designer and custom wallpaper company from New Orleans that now has a Flavor Lab (and Lair) designed by Skylab Architecture right here on Pacific Street. The hand screened printing process can be watched from the street through the lab's floor-to-ceiling windows. The building also houses a darkroom, an ink room where colors are custom mixed and screen etching equipment. The custom showroom is located on the second floor, with residences on the third and forth, and finally a roof deck and meadow (!) on the roof. It's like Willa Wonka's Chocolate Factory for adults with lots of money, and nice houses and businesses to decorate.

Goose Barnacle

91 Atlantic Avenue

Not just another men's clothing store, Goose Barnacle is also an art gallery and boutique. A former banker turned FIT graduate, owner David Alperin's shop features menswear labels like Taylor Supply and Sebago, vintage Vuarnet sunglasses as well as paintings by artist Aldo Pizzi and wire sculptures by Rodger Stevens. There's also jewelry (including women's), some designed by Alperin himself as well as by his sister. Very cool.

And a moment of silence for….

Baltic Bazaar Thrift

Formerly at 141 Atlantic Avenue

Baltic Bazaar Thrift was a unique fabric store and thrift shop that also provided jobs and retail training for the disabled since 1992 in the Baltic Street Resource and Wellness Center. A neighborhood institution, we are sad to see it go. But never fear, they have only moved across the water to Staten Island.

Ola Baby

Formerly at 315 Court Street

Upscale specialty baby/toddler/youngin' shop Ola Baby closed its doors in June. The store carried some of the best brands for babies, including Phil & Ted's, California Baby, dwellbaby, Serena & Lily as well as many handmade duds. This is a loss for all posh babies in our fair hood.

Rashid Music

Formerly at 155 Court Street

Rashid Music was one of the oldest and largest distributors of Arabic music in America. It's sad to see places like this, with strong roots in the neighborhood and a truly specialized cultural significance, close to make way for a chain pet supply store. Luckily, however, you can still purchase music from their website.