From Bistro New Albany to Brooklyn & the Butcher: A decade of New Albany Inn restaurants.

Yesterday:

Jaws will drop: A walk-through at Brooklyn & the Butcher.

Today, a look at Brooklyn & the Butcher's (opening February 2016) interior from 2005 to the present.

Late 2005, with Bistro New Albany's ATC hearing placard displayed.

A few months later, when Bistro New Albany opened. When Jimmy's Music left, so did the wall to the left. 

Bistro New Albany opening night, 2006.

2009: Howard Dean at The Windsor, merrily schmoozing Democrats (N and T photo).

Habana Blues opening, 2010.

Brooklyn & the Butcher dining room build-out, 2015. 

Bistro New Albany's rear dining area and kitchen access at opening, 2006.

The same view, different night. 

The same view when Habana Blues opened in 2010.

The same view as Brooklyn & the Butcher builds out.

Windsor's redesigned bar facing Market Street, inherited (and little changed) by Habana Blues in 2010.

Same spot but glancing left at the new/old Brooklyn & the Butcher bar. 

The patio remained largely unchanged from 2006 until now. This view is from 2014. 

The view in December, 2015, with bricked-in doors and windows, and (of course) patio decor to follow in 2016. Note that the fire escape no longer services actual doors and is meant solely as decoration. 

2014.

2014.

December, 2015. The doorway connects inside seating areas with the patio. The cellar steps connect to the space beneath the bar, and includes storage for apartment tenants. 

Planned Parenthood resolution pulled from Thursday council agenda, so I guess the Coffey spontaneous combustion is off, too.

It just isn't fair. I had a meme ready, and shit.

If it helps, NA Confidential resolves to support Planned Parenthood. So do I. In fact, my household just made a donation a couple weeks back.

The Ayatollah Coffey sharpens his knives for a Thursday evening orgy of ward-heeling religious ecstasy.

Jaws will drop: A walk-through at Brooklyn & the Butcher.

Inlaid, lobby floor.

This morning, Ian Hall walked me through Brooklyn & the Butcher. The build-out is ongoing but getting close, and even without furniture, the "shock and awe" factor of Matt Chalfant's redesign is almost overwhelming. These uncropped photos convey some of it. Tomorrow, I'll arrange a few compare-and-contrast photos for your enjoyment. The restaurant is hoping to open in February, 2016.

The old hotel key rack, as backing the host/hostess station.

Parts to construct the draft beer/wine tower.

Dining room,looking rear toward the kitchen.

Dining area, looking toward Market Street.

Patio with new entry (note steps descending on left).

Patio, cleaned and refurbished.

Reconfigured bar area. 

Bar area with corridor (left) to restrooms and patio, and basement stairs.

Cellar drinking below the bar.

Cellar again; draft system being installed today. 

Cellar.

For more years: Wasted council nixes solid waste.

Them salad days, back in '09.

Do you think corporate down in 'Bama is driving the bus as it pertains to the dragging of feet in hiring someone to cover New Albany?

Meanwhile, if you can make sense of the voting blocs on this one, let us know.

New Albany council votes down solid waste department funding, by Jenna Esarey (Clark County First)

NEW ALBANY — In a short but contentious special meeting, the New Albany City Council on Monday voted down an ordinance to appropriate $25,000 in EDIT funds to allow Floyd County Solid Waste to continue operations through January.

The measure, put forward by councilman Dan Coffey, had passed first and second readings but was defeated 5-3 with one abstention on the third and final reading.

Kevin Zurschmiede, Diane McCartin-Benedetti and Coffey supported the measure, while Robert Caesar, Greg Phipps, Shirley Baird, Scott Blair and council president Pat McLaughlin voted no. Councilman John Gonder recused himself from the vote.

Selling New Albany by the pound? Hey, I'm a bureaucrat, and "I'm only doing my job!"

Something to think about from Steve Turgoose, and as the 1960s rock group once advised, "we have all been here before."

From 2010: "Weights, measures, short pours, long odds and Little Big Pints."

NABC’s Pizzeria & Public House was twice visited last week by Floyd County’s recently installed local weights and measures inspector. His stated reason for knocking on our door was a complaint he had received to the effect that we were not offering full pours of beer.

Consequently, in order to comply with the letter of the law in a place that seldom enforces any of them, we shall continue pouring draft beer as we always have, while recalibrating the way we’ve spoken about our draft business for 18 complaint-free years, as we learn new ways to describe what we're pouring by speaking in vague shades of linguistic, liquid content.

Not only have I been there, but apparently it's where I reside; at least once a year, like clockwork, taking time away from managing a small business to grapple with soulless, turf-hugging bureaucrats. It's enough to make a guy into a Tea Partier, though so far I've been able to avoid the siren's call.

These ruminations are occasioned by the experience of the Bookseller, who lately has been offering books by the pound. What might a few stray ounces constitute between friends and customers? And is the "letter" of the law really applicable to what is, in reality, a marketing ploy?

Must be payback time. Our cute little gimmick of selling a few of our surplus books "by the pound" motivated a 2-man inspection team to come out and harass me for selling books at 25 cents an ounce. City's worried someone might get cheated out of a quarter. Once I realized it wasn't a prank, I got mad. And, as with every regulator this city has thrown at us, we passed. Ridiculous overreach of jurisdiction. And yes, I said do your job and gtfo.

Gahan reveals ambitious wayfinding signage project in preparation for tolls.

The Green Mouse received this helpful note.

I don't have any reason to doubt this, and I thought you might like to know. You might be able to use it for NAC. A friend of mine said she was bicycling over near the riverfront at the Jeffersonville/Clarksville line where restaurant row and the park come together. She said she saw this big highway sign that will be put up on I-65 somewhere. The sign says: "Last Exit Before Tolls Begin."

In New Albany, the Bored of Works already has approved a wayfinding signage project for the forthcoming tolling era.

The Ayatollah Coffey sharpens his knives for a Thursday evening orgy of ward-heeling religious ecstasy.

There is a special city council meeting tonight for the sole purpose of deciding how much to tithe to the Floyd County Solid Waste District.

The newspaper explains it here.

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES:                   READING

A-15-09 Ordinance for Appropriation of EDIT        Coffey 3
Money for Floyd County Solid Waste

Speaking of wastes, the final council conclave of the year takes place on Thursday night. There are several agenda items worthy of examination, including City Hall's proposal to shift 168K from a lighting project Duke Energy will fund instead, to a downtown Wi-Fi project no one knew existed.

The agenda does not make clear what any of this means, and as usual, we're reduced to gauging the spectrum of Kool-Aid colored smoke plumes emanating from somewhere behind the circled wagons.

HOWEVER ...

Even Team Gahan's belated discovery of contemporary communications technology (tin cans and string?)  pales by comparison with Shirley Baird's final legislative proposal on Thursday night.

It's a perfectly reasonable resolution in support of Planned Parenthood.

There's nothing radical in it, but there's something bloviating ON the council, and I suspect he's not going to like this one.

Briefly peruse these three recent "shares" on Dan Coffey's page at Facebook ...

... and understand how entertaining his tantrum on Thursday night stands to be.

I can't miss this one. It should be a filibuster for the ages. If Coffey packed the room for his various prayer bludgeonings, surely he'll fill it on Thursday.

We need to film this one, guys.

Then we can take the film to the Wunderkind, and ask: "Adam, can you explain again how Coffey is a Democrat?"

Ian Hall provides a Brooklyn & the Butcher status report.

From the southern ethos of the forthcoming Gospel Bird, and Taco Steve's guerrilla street food, we now take you to Ian "The Exchange" Hall's update from his long-gestating Brooklyn & the Butcher:

Lot's of folks have asked about Brooklyn & the Butcher, our new modern steakhouse, and are wondering when it is going to open. We are wrapping up construction in the next few weeks, starting to build our management team, and will begin hiring for hourly positions in early January and begin training for our team. Once we have all the pieces of the puzzle in place we will let you know when the countdown begins. Thanks for the support.

As a reminder, Brooklyn & the Butcher will be located in the former New Albany Inn building on the southwest corner of Market and Bank. Concurrent with the eatery are a dozen rehabbed living spaces upstairs, courtesy of Matt Chalfant.

Restaurant openings are vicious, but Ian and his team are being meticulous. Things may be rolling by February.

Bars are being raised --and more importantly, stocked.

Gospel Bird lowdown at Insider Louisville and Facebook.

Visit the Gospel Bird page at Facebook

As a follow-up to Thursday's post ...

As the Gospel Bird build-out nears completion, the restaurant now is a Morris solo gig with Ethan Ray as acting executive chef.

 ... Steve Coomes (Insider Louisville) provides more information about the advent of Gospel Bird.

Restaurant Roundup: Huge chef shuffle, all-day breakfast, death to bourbon’s black market

 ... Morris moves on from Epic Sammich Co.: Eric Morris, chef at Epic Sandwich Co., has left the Highlands Avenue sandwich shop to focus solely on his new venture, Gospel Bird. Originally, Insider Louisville reported in November that Epic owner and chef Dustin Staggers also would be involved in Gospel Bird. However, Morris now says the upcoming Southern restaurant in New Albany will be a solo venture ...

The restaurant's long description at Fb:

Gospel Bird focuses on southern roots paired with modern talents and twists that will truly make your dining experience a memorable one. Eric Morris (previously of Loop 22) brings some old and new favorites to your table all prepared by local culinary legend Ethan Ray and his band of experienced and passionate cooks. We will have a full bar with rotating beers on tap and a fun and creative cocktail menu.

Usual suspects AWOL as C-J community discussion considers topics that make local politicians uncomfortable.

Yesterday's C-J-sponsored "community discussion" at the Carnegie Center was well worth my time.

3 takeaways from the CJ's S. Ind. community event, by Lexy Gross

... It was clear that people who attended The Courier-Journal's community discussion at the Carnegie Center in New Albany truly care about the residents in the community. Speakers from the Carnegie Center, Jesus Cares at Exit 0 and Metro United Way hit on the region's needs and engaged in discussion. About 30 people attended the event.

My favorite moment? Easy.

Regrettably, nary a cog in the Gahan nomenklatura was on hand to offer a rebuttal.

Barbara Anderson from Haven House Services Inc. in Jeffersonville discussed poverty and the community's ability to address it in the future. She decried New Albany's plan to help build a luxury apartment complex, despite the need to address affordable and public housing in the city.

Still waiting for YOUR local Democratic Party to display a pulse as it pertains to homelessness, affordable housing, income inequality and other topics that make the mayor blush?

Don't hold your breath.

Ain't happening.

The Mighty Oz was re-elected, the Wunderkind was promoted, and the pretend-luxury can proceed with real corporate welfare subsidies ... and without the pesky distractions of the real world.

Taco Steve's storefront is coming.

What began as Powell's Pigs and Cows eventually became Taco Steve, a phenomenon that has been slowly percolating throughout 2015.

Stephen Powell, who for a great many years was an employee of mine at the New Albanian Brewing Company, started rolling his taco cart to downtown street corners, and began developing a following.

Stephen "Taco Steve" Powell, his taco cart, and downtown New Albany.

Another instance of his business's evolution took a step forward last night, when Taco Steve did an invitation-only "soft opening" of his forthcoming bricks 'n' mortar location in the former Dueling Grounds Cafe space at Destinations Booksellers (604 E. Spring).

Thanks to everyone who came out for the opening. Next time I'll make more food. Regular hours will be posted soon for the Spring Street location, after some analysis and fine-tuning. Tacos for Everyone!

For further information, check the Taco Steve page at Facebook. I'm happy and hopeful for him. In an era of immediate gratification, Steve is taking a modest gradualist's approach, seeking to get small things right and basics put into place, and only then growing ... incrementally.

There'll be much to come, so stay tuned to Taco Steve.

Let go of Adam's teat and read about ways to make cities sustainable.

But campaign finance monetization.

To Make Cities More Sustainable, Let Go of Tradition, by Richard Florida (City Lab)

“Things aren’t right in America today”: In his important new book on social innovation, Gabriel Metcalf—executive director of the urban policy think tank SPUR (San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association) and a CityLab contributor—opens with this all-too-familiar sentiment. Rising inequality, deepening segregation, and increasingly unaffordable housing are just a few of the many problems currently plaguing the U.S. These issues are no more evident than in America’s dense, large urban communities, which boast some of the greatest technology and innovation in the world, but also some of the harshest economic and class divides.

To make things right, Metcalf argues in Democratic by Design: How Carsharing, Co-ops, and Community Land Trusts Are Reinventing America, we need to make more and better use of alternative institutions like cooperatives and community land trusts to help build more sustainable, socially responsible, and prosperous communities.

Charlie Pierce on Donald Trump's "raging nihilism."

Raging nihilism?

Like when self-identified "craft" beer fans pay AB-InBev to drink Trojan Goose?

Charlie Pierce leads off with a quote that summarizes Donald Trump's candidacy, as well as our own collective experience in New Gahania.

"There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money and I can't remember what the second one is." — Mark Hanna

I've had little to say about the Trump phenomenon, and intend to keep it that way. Up here in the Sierra Maestre with Che and Camilo, there are too many other things on my mind.

However, it must be said that Trump's litmus candidacy is one of the most entertaining pieces of political performance art I've ever witnessed in L'America.

Trump has no chance of winning, but already he's amply illustrated how stupid we can be as a nation. Let's just hope the end comes before he renders The Onion completely obsolete -- although destroying the Republican Party would be a nice bonus.

Donald Trump's Rampaging Nihilism Has Destroyed the GOP's Delicate Balance, by Charles P. Pierce (Esquire)

... Trump has no such compunctions. He'll blow up the campaign for laughs because that kind of thing is his brand. He doesn't care if the United States comes out of this campaign with its political system in sticks and splinters all over the highway. He has no political future to protect, no pretend "revolution" to maintain. Frankly, there's no threat that Priebus can bring to bear on him that he can't laugh off. He is fully capable of whipping up his followers into the kind of froth that demolishes the convention and then walking away from the wreckage. What does he care? He still has a golf course in Scotland.

A century of Sinatra.

Just last week, making not explicit connection to Frank Sinatra's centenary, I listened to a collection of his hits with Tommy Dorsey's big band (1939-1942). Dorsey was an old pro, business-minded, "no bullshit" taskmaster, and he saw Sinatra's talent (and profit potential):

"You could almost feel the excitement coming up out of the crowds when the kid stood up to sing. Remember, he was no matinée idol. He was just a skinny kid with big ears. I used the stand there so amazed I'd almost forget to take my own solos."

Dorsey and Sinatra were like father and son, until Sinatra wanted out of his contract. Then it got contentious, and they never made up. Dorsey again:

"(Sinatra's) the most fascinating man in the world, but don't put your hand in the cage."

All else aside, in the end it was all about the music, which will be how Sinatra is remembered.

A very long retirement: Sinatra’s bittersweet final years remembered, by Richard Williams (The Guardian)

... On what would have been his 100th birthday – Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, on 12 December 1915 – it’s worth remembering that for all that he is fixed in the public mind as the Chairman of the Board, or the boorish leader of the Rat Pack, Sinatra was at his most remarkable as a singer and, even as his voice faltered as his career neared its close, it was as a singer that he sought to cement his legacy.

Luke Kelly truly was a troubadour of the downtrodden.

On the Dubliners, of whom I remain a tremendous fan these many years later ...

The American roots magazine Dirty Linen, contrasting the Dubliners and the Clancy brothers who emerged around the same time, wrote: "Whereas the Clancys were well-scrubbed returned Yanks from rural Tipperary, decked out in matching white Aran sweaters, the Dubliners were hard-drinking backstreet Dublin scrappers with unkempt hair and bushy beards, whose gigs seemed to happen by accident between fistfights."

As an entity and institution, the Dubliners lasted a half-century, finally disbanding in 2012 after the banjoist and last original band member Barney McKenna died. Lineups changed, and the entertainment value never wavered, but in musical and cultural contexts, the salad days were 1962 - 1984.

During the first two decades of the band's existence, Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly were its Lennon/McCartney or Jagger/Richards -- not in a songwriting sense, as the group performed the songs of others, but in terms of central focus.

Drew died in 2008, and the Irish Times explained his unique contribution to the Dubliners in its eulogy. Thirty years after Kelly's premature death, the Irish Post published a remembrance,explaining the  significance of the phrase I've chosen to title this posting.

A balladeer, musician and political activist, Kelly’s ability to sing ‘his heart out’ with ‘perfect diction’ in the words of Bono and the late Ronnie Drew bear testimony to the gift of his irreplaceable voice to stir and move the most hardened of souls with song and sentiment ...

... Luke often sang of the poor, the oppressed, the worker, the lover or the rebel – the realities of his own life and upbringing enlivened and gave weight to his songs and the emotional way in which he sang them. And his own childhood and youth was anything but privileged.

In this clip, Kelly sings one of his signature songs.

The documentary embedded and linked in this post was produced in 1999, but I only became aware of it earlier in the week. It is highly recommended.

Luke - A documentary on Luke Kelly (1999)

Mayor Jeff Gahan Presents the New Albany Complete Streets Conference.

Here's what one actually looks like.

We are honored to host featured guest Mayor Greg Ballard of Indianapolis. Elected the 48th Mayor in 2007 and re-elected in 2011, Mayor Ballard has been a long-standing advocate for Complete Streets. Highlights of his term include the advancement of Indianapolis' Cultural Trail and the launch of RebuildIndy, an unprecedented initiative to rebuild deteriorating and long-neglected thoroughfares, residential streets, sidewalks, and bridges throughout Marion County.

Damn -- Ballard's a Republican. Hmm ...

As the Gospel Bird build-out nears completion, the restaurant now is a Morris solo gig with Ethan Ray as acting executive chef.

Today on my way to coffee, I happened upon Steve Resch, and eventually wandered over to 207 - 209 Main Street to check on his build-out of the forthcoming Gospel Bird restaurant.

We welcome Staggers, Morris and the Gospel Bird with open arms and our senseless one-way streets.

Liftoff is scheduled for mid-January, with the rear outdoor patio to follow at some point before Derby. Later in the day, Eric Morris adjusted the restaurant's operational narrative, saying he wanted "New Albany to know first."

I just wanted to let you know that Dustin Staggers is no longer a part of this project and that I will be doing this on my own. Ethan Ray will be the acting executive chef. 

Thanks, Eric. New Albany is appreciative. As Kevin Gibson recently noted, Ethan Ray is a Louisville culinary legend, so I'm thinking the kitchen's in great hands. Noting that the former Parthenon next door is not slated to be connected to the Gospel Bird, here are two photos of work in progress. The west side will be the dining room ...

 ... and the east side the kitchen and bar.

Steve observed that they're at the stage of construction when things begin happening quickly, so stay tuned.

Parting glass: We recently took a look at previous occupants of the Bader Building's commercial space.

The Gospel Bird is coming, so let's remember what preceded it in the Bader Building and Parthenon.

Gahan nowhere to be found as fiscal health study shows New Albany to be "modestly falling behind."

And don't forget: He's not finished yet! Moldova, here we come.

Fiscal health study of Indiana cities shows growth in Jeffersonville, by Elizabeth DePompei (N and T)

A recently-released study that examines the impact of property tax caps on the fiscal health of 18 of Indiana's cities shows that Jeffersonville's finances are in good shape ...

... New Albany's gross assessed property valuation increased by less than five percent and property tax levies increased by more than 20 percent for the same time periods. Based on revenue collected from property and income taxes in 2015 compared to 2008 numbers, New Albany was identified as "modestly falling behind." New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan could not be reached for comment by press time.