Here's Park Slope: Grand Prospect Hall Controversy & A Vietnamese Resto

Hey folks, it's Dan from over at Here's Park Slope. Every Friday I'll be publishing a weekly roundup of Park Slope news and other stuff you might find interesting here. Yes, today's Monday but it'll be published on Fridays from now on.

Last Monday, word got around that there's a petition against the Grand Prospect Hall. It's not saying not to build it, just to do some impact studies about how a grotesquely out of scale hotel could negatively affect the area and its residents.

On Tuesday, the rumors first posted here that a pizza place was coming to the little space just west of the former Artesana (on First Street near Seventh Avenue) were confirmed. It'll be an outpost of South Brooklyn Pizza, run by the folks behind P.J. Hanley's, the popular Carroll Gardens bar. This pizza won't be like what you get from your usual slice joint; it's a little more upscale. News also broke on Tuesday that the former Second Helpings space, on Ninth Street just east of Seventh, would be turning into a Vietnamese restaurant. And there was much rejoicing.

On Wednesday, the above-mentioned Vietnamese restaurant got a sign, and a name: it'll be called Ha Noi, which I believe is Vietnamese for Hanoi. I also had a chat with the awesome daytime bartender at Timboo's, Betty Collins.

Friday was an eventful day. Colombia in Park Slope, a traditional Colombian restaurant specializing in empanadas and grilled meats, opened in the old Pollio space on Fifth Ave between Fifth and Sixth. There's an item on the menu called Horse Steak, bit it doesn't contain any horse. Nahm Thai Kitchen also opened last week in half of the storefront last occupied by Long Tan, and their lunch special is good. A body rub place also affixed a horrific sign to their new storefront, replacing an old realty office on Seventh up past Sterling. 203 Fifth Avenue (formerly a pizzeria) also got a shiny new glass facade, and finally, the scaffolding started coming down from the new building on the corner of Fifth and St. Johns, and it looks very red.

Don't forget to check Here's Park Slope every day for the latest news, as well as some history, interviews, and foodporn.