Onshore Activites: Awesome New Store in Gowanus

We bring our first blog of the Spring season onshore, specifically at the corner of 3rd and Bond Streets in Brooklyn's Gowanus neighborhood, where a unique new retail store has opened up.

We rode by the PictureBox Departmental Store and immediately noticed that Gary Panter had put his unique signature on the store (we've been huge fans of Panter since the early 80s). Panter, a Brooklyn-based artist, is well known as the creator of the cult comic Jimbo, the iconic Screamers logo and as the Emmy award winning set designer of Pee-Wee's Playhouse. Not only are the windows designed and painted by Panter, but we've been told that Panter also designed the display cases, shelving and painted the interiors.

PictureBox, which describes themselves as a "Grammy Award-winning art, music, photography, and comics publisher," opened its Departmental Store on March 22. The store specializes in artists’ editions, prints, books, zines, comics, prints, and international oddities. Among those, are the the Gary Panter Deluxe anthology, which is published by PictureBox, a Gary Panter skateboard (not a full board, just the deck), shirts and other unique items from around.

While their hours are limited - Friday 3-8, Saturday 12-8, Sunday 12-5, or by appointment - we really hope that people visit and support this place.

Photo of the Day: Brooklyn Bridge

Red Hook's Roosters

We took a bicycle tour of the Gowanus Canal and Red Hook yesterday. Our good friend, M.S., who has lived in New York City for over a decade has never explored the area and was intrigued by the industrial beauty and serenity of both areas.

On our tour of bucolic Red Hook, we came across a large lot, which was relatively empty, with the exception of a few large tanks and oil drums. But as we looked closer, we noticed a white and gray rooster alongside a brown rooster.

We don't think they are guard roosters, because we didn't see any signs reading, "Warning, Attack Rooster." Not only were there a few roosters in the lot, but we also saw a pigeon coop.

A Meal at Per Se or a Sunfish Sailboat, Which Costs More?

A friend of mine, we'll call him M.A., recently took his girlfriend to celebrate his recent promotion, raise, bonus and Valentine's Day by indulging themselves with a meal at Per Se, one of only two restaurants in NYC to receive Three Stars in the Michelin Guide. M.A. told me it was the best meal of his life, and well worth the $987 (which included service charges). In fact, he was so appreciative and tipped an additional $150, bringing the total bill to $1,137.

For less than the cost of M.A.'s meal for two with drinks, you could purchase a Sunfish sailboat on Craig's list for $800 (or two for $1500). If you desire a dinghy that is a bit bigger and faster, there's AMF Zuma for $1,300 which is only $163 more than my friend paid for the meal of a lifetime.

Any reasonable person would agree that $1,137 for a meal for two people is outrageously expensive. But you could make the case that having the ability to sail your own boat for less than $1,000 is in fact reasonable, even downright cheap, compared to what some may spend on indulging themselves.

So what type of meal do you get for $987, including service? Here is what he had:

• caviar
• polenta with black truffles shaved on them (M.A. noted the truffles were removed from a lock box and shaved onto the dish at the table)
• lobster tail
• big eye tuna
• quail
• beef prime cap
• cheese
• sorbet, peanut butter and chocolate desert and chocolates

They drank a bottle of rose champagne, a half-bottle Montrachet white wine, which he said was ridiculous, and a half-bottle of Martinelli 2005 Blue Slide Ridge pinot noir.

The kind staff at Per Se provided M.A. and his lady friend a a tour of the kitchen and all the different stations. He said "the workspaces are immaculate" and added that they have a "state of the art water system from Norway that creates perfect still and sparkling water and saves the environment."

Learn To Sail

Are you one of those people who's always been interested in sailing, but never stepped aboard a boat. If that's you, now is your chance to take some action by enrolling in Miramar Yacht Club's introductory sailing classes. The classes will cover the basics of sailing, including: basic safety, nomenclature, points of sail, sail trim , tacking, jibing, leaving and returning to a mooring, heaving to, anchoring, rules of the road, how to tie basic knots, weather, tides, and chart reading.

The three onshore classes and one lesson on a boat, are a perfect opportunity to test the waters. Classes start Friday, March 28th at 7:30, p.m. and run the same time on April 4 and April 11th. The classes cost $50 per person, $75 for families. Refreshments and materials are included.

For more information, call Miramar Yacht Club at 718-743-5823.