Here's Park Slope: Goodbye Soup Bowl, Hello Culture

Another week, more burgers, and the rise of Jennifer McMillen. Here's your weekly roundup of news from Here's Park Slope.

On Monday, the legendary soups of Chef Richard Gussoff said goodbye for the season, as The Soup Bowl, on Seventh Ave just north of Ninth Street, said farewell. Uncle Louie G should be opening back up in that spot pretty soon, and we can most likely look forward to several Soup Bowls come next winter. Fez Salon and its hero, Rudy, also picked up and moved two doors down, into the space last occupied by Under the Pig Collectibles.

Tuesday finally brought March, and with it came the grand opening of Cheeburger Cheeburger, the Florida based chain, in the former Miracle Grill space on Seventh and Third. The burgers are greasy, the onion rings are awesome, and the room is pink. And that's the last time I'll be writing about Cheeburger Cheeburger. Signage also went up in the windows of the former Willie's Dawgs, on Fifth Ave between Fourth and Fifth, for a new Peruvian bistro named Surfish. I also had a chat with the nice lady who'll be running the new artisanal yogurt shop, Culture, coming to the old Serene Rose space on Fifth Ave between Third and Fourth.

Wednesday brought news that - what else? - a burger place will be opening up where Artesana used to be, on Seventh and First. This one actually has some promise, though; it's called Bare Burger and all the meat is organic and hormone-free, and comes in varieties like elk, bison, and ostrich. They've got a couple more outposts in the city, and reviews have been generally glowing. You can wash your burger down with a draft beer, too, unlike Cheeburger (okay, that's the last time I mention it, I promise).

On Thursday the quaint, charming, personality-filled little cafe known as Parkslope Eatery filed for bankruptcy. They apparently owe $95,000 to a bunch of creditors. Oh, and they completely flunked their recent health inspection, ranking up 12 critical violations. Way to go, people who had no idea what kind of food the neighborhood wanted and didn't even know that Park Slope is two words! They're somehow still in business, but probably won't be for long. Word also got around that our Blockbuster Video branch on Fifth and 15th will be closing on the 30th. Independent video stores (and Netflix) win!

On Friday I put in my two cents on the whole Prime 6 mess, sparked by a petition written by one Jennifer McMillen, who may or may not exist, but most likely doesn't. Not only is her petition race-baiting, it's Park Slope hater-baiting, and I don't like one bit of it. It's a good bit of satire, though, and its signers have some of the most elegant names I've ever seen. Who knew that someone named "Jane Youignorantslut" lived in our neighborhood?