New Businesses: December 2012

DUMBO

DUMBO finally has its own bike shop for recreational and competitive riders. Redbeard Bikes, at 165 Front Street, is the brainchild of Ilya Nikhamin, a native Brooklynite who is applying his eight years of bike shop experience towards “making people comfortable on existing bikes or making bikes from scratch, for comfort and body types.” There are top-notch road titanium and carbon-fiber bikes from Lynskey and Parlee, as well as folding bikes from Brompton and a carefully curated selection of parts and accessories. Open daily; visit www.redbeardbikes.com.

BOERUM HILL

Traditional Neapolitan, classic Italian, and Sicilian pizzas are the specialties at one of Atlantic Avenue’s newest pizzerias, Krescendo, which is owned by Bensonhurst-born Nancy Puglisi and helmed by San Francisco pastry chef/TV contestant Elizabeth Falkner. The cozy eatery with the red-trim at 364 Atlantic Avenue, between Hoyt and Bond Streets, is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. In addition to award-winning pizza, Krescendo also offers antipasti, salads, pastas, bar and dessert menus, and a wine list. http://krescendobrooklyn.com.

GREENPOINT

Selamat Pagi is the first foray into the savory menu world by Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream founders Lisa O’Neill and Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen. It features a menu of Balinese-style dishes from Chef Sophia Loch, such as Lemongrass Fish Curry, Bali-style fried rice with a sunnyside up egg, and spicy beef curry. Of course, ice cream is also on the dessert menu at 152 Driggs Avenue. www.selamatpagibrooklyn.com.

FORT GREENE

Pizza is on the also on the menu at 860 Fulton Street, where Belli Osteria is regaling lunch and dinner guests on a daily basis with impeccably prepared, authentically sourced and extremely sprightly Italian specialties with a twist. Standouts from the extensive menu include the Gnocchi with Duck Ragout, Arancini balls, and the Cavoletto – shaved raw Brussels sprouts in a creamy maple-orange dressing with Marcona almonds and Pecorino matchsticks. Owners Andreas and Paula Rodas and Andreas Whang also own Fragole, Piccoli, and Piccoli Trattoria.

WILLIAMSBURG

Aska means “growth from the ashes” in Swedish, and that is essentially what the new modern Scandinavian restaurant and bar strives to create for guests. Located inside Kinfolk Studios at 90 Wythe Avenue, Aska is open daily at 6 p.m. with a bar menu, and a six-course tasting menu ($65) that features seasonal and locally sourced ingredients on Sundays through Thursdays. Art is on display throughout the two 18- and 12-seat dining rooms. www.askanyc.com.

Combining music and glam rock, Tiger Blanket Records Vintage Clothing is your one stop shop for entrepreneur Emma Wildwood’s carefully curated selection of “rock n’ roll concert T-shirts, leather motorcycle jackets, vintage jeans, and beautiful dresses.” The spot, at 421 Graham Avenue, also serves as home to a record label. Wildwood’s inspiration for the shop comes from her years of playing in bands and having people always asking her where she got her clothes. www.tigerblanketrecords.com

Xixa – pronounced “shiksa,” like Jewish slang for non-Jewish girlfriend – is a new restaurant at 241 South 4th Street from Traif founders Chef Jason Marcus and Heather Heuser that features a creative menu full of cheese, bread, vegetables, grain, seafood, and meat. These include dishes such as deep-fried squash blossoms, butterfish ceviche, bone marrow tacos, pozole (stew) and churros. The drinks menu emphasizes tequilas and mezcals – categorized according to the personalities and looks of famous women.

COBBLE HILL

Smith Street has become home to Fassbinder Brooklyn, a holiday shop designed after the popular West Village jewelry boutique. The new boutique will have live music nights and wine tastings, in addition to vintage furniture and the jewelry lines of founder Sonja Fries, Kimberlin Brown, Max Steiner, and Sarah Richardson. The shop will be open through January 31 at 233 Smith Street, from Noon to 9 p.m. daily.

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