stiZZy news & events (including nu year’s eve!)
stiZZy intro
stiZZy is owned & operated by T R U E.
stiZZy is located at 368 lewis avenue ~ in the heart of the growing arts community of bed~stizzy / stuyvesant heights, brooklyn, nyc ~ at the site of the old Palms Seafood Restaurant, next door to the House of Brown, directly across the street from the macon branch library, and a stone’s throw from the rest of the Shops of Lewis Avenue: Bread Stuy, Brownstone Books, House of Art, Lewis Gallery, Little Red Boutique, Marlene’s Hair Stylist, and Petit Bassam restaurant.
we are a bit behind schedule with our opening date (there are 1,001 things that can delay the process of buying and renovating an old building, and i think we’ve experienced 1,000 of them) but it’ll be well worth the wait. stiZZy will be a warm and inviting space that will bring people together to enjoy great company, great food, great spirits, and great culture.
stiZZy is all about love ~ love of self, love of community, love of people, love of life, love of GOD. it is this love that permeates every aspect of stiZZy, which u will hopefully feel even before setting foot in the door. (click here to hear a snippet of the rough, unedited stiZZy theme song, now being produced).
stiZZy will feature:
· a 1,400 sf space with full likka license for all your shwerving needs · delicious meals & desserts · organic vegetarian & vegan dishes · coffee · tea · espresso · cappuccino · outdoor seating · free wi~fi & electrical access for your cellphones & laptops · live dj · piano · billiards · pinball · juke box · board games · photo booth · free movie nites · private party rental space · comfy couches · atm · familiar faces · the stiZZy store, in which u can buy stiZZy wear & stiZZy gear, 100% of the proceeds from which go to benefit local non~profits working with our community’s youth
there will be a separate 1,400 sf exhibition & performance venue ~ stiZZy UNDERGROUND.
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stiZZy news & events
update ~ january 2008:
stiZZy is stuck. the cost of rectifying all the unforeseeable structural issues that were uncovered during the demolition process have exceeded our resources, so now the renovation process is at a standstill until we can find investors and / or partners.
if u know anyone with a chunk of cash that they wanna invest in sumthin local that can be secured by a note against the building…holla!
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stiZZy menu
stiZZy is not tryna be a bar~restaurant, so our food offerings are not intended to be all~encompassing. with that said, we would like to offer a reasonable selection at prices that would make it easy for anyone to eat here on a regular basis, rather than considering it a once~in~a~while splurge.
we’re open to any & all suggestions about offerings, price, etc.
here’s the tentative menu:
SANDWICHES
“not~chicken” salad sandwich o v
~ 5
grilled chicken sandwich o fr
~ 5
grilled tilapia sandwich o
~ 5
veggie burger or “not~chicken” burger o v
~ 5
turkey burger o fr
~ 5
grilled cheese with choice of
vegan cheddar, sharp cheddar, swiss, or jalapeño jack o
~ 5
all sandwiches come with romaine lettuce, tomato, & red onion o v , and choice of bread: whole wheat bread or bun, rye, sourdough, olive loaf, pita o v
add vegan cheddar, sharp
cheddar, swiss, or jalapeño jack o
~ 1
add fries or onion rings (see below) o v
~ 2
stiZZy meal deal: any sandwich, fries or onion rings & soft drink ~ 8
SIDES
house salad (romaine, tomato, bell pepper, carrot, red onion, sprouts
& croutons) o v
~ 4 / 6
add grilled chicken o fr
~ 2
3~bean chili or soup du jour o v
~ 4 / 6
home~made stiZZy blues (blue potato fries ~ regular or spicy) o v
~ 3
home~made sweet stiZZies (yam fries ~ regular or spicy) o v
~ 3
home~made red onion rings (regular or spicy) o v
~ 3
stiZZy wings for herbivores o v
~ 5
stiZZy wings for carnivores o fr
~ 5
stiZZy fingers o fr
~ 5
mozzarella stix o
~ 4.5
DESSERTS
see your server for today’s special vegan & non~vegan desserts
(we were thinking about having desserts in the $5 range, things like a cookie~crusted chocolate chip vegan cheesecake, cobbler, and blue velvet cake, made for us by Bread Stuy)
o
~ organic
v ~ vegetarian
/ vegan
fr ~ free range
BEER
bottled brooklyn lager, bud light, corona, guinness, heineken, heineken
light, and red stripe ~ 5
CHAMPAGNE
moët, prosecco, and veuve clicquot (bottle) ~ 35
prosecco (glass), mimosa (orange or cranberry) ~ 6
GIN
beefeater, bombay, bombay sapphire, tanqueray ~ 6
LIQUERS
amaretto, baileys, cointreau, godiva, grand marnier, kahlua, midori ~
6
RUM
bacardi, captain morgan, malibu, mount gay ~ 6
SCOTCH
dewars, glenlivet, macallan ~ 6
TEQUILA
cuervo, patron, sauza ~ 6
VODKA
absolut, belvedere, grey goose, ketel one, skyy, stoli ~ 6
any martini + 2
WHISKEY
jack daniels, jim beam ~ 6
WINE
we have a range of whites, reds & rosés from south africa’s
first black~owned winery ~ New Beginnings Wine Farm
(red # 1) ~ 7 / 25
(red # 2) ~ 8 / 28
(red # 3) ~ 9 / 32
(white # 1) ~ 7 / 25
(white # 2) ~ 8 / 28
(white # 3) ~ 9 / 32
(rosé # 1) ~ 7 / 25
sangria ~ our house red with chunks of tasty fruit ~ 7 / 25
DRINK SPECIALS
see your server for today’s drink specials & special mixed drinks!
(we were thinking of having special drinks named after people, places & things in the community, like “Max’s Margarita,” “Chisholm’s Caribbean Rum Punch,” “Lesra’s Hurricane,” etc. any suggestions would be appreciated. ideally, the drink names would not be arbitrary, but rather have some specific connection between the namer & namee, i.e. the “Chisholm’s Caribbean Rum Punch” is reference to the fact that Shirley Chisholm spent part of her childhood in Barbados, where rum is a chief export.)
NON~ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
regular or decaf coffee, hot or iced ~ 1.5 / 2.5
flavored coffee (hazelnut, vanilla, amaretto), hot or iced ~ 2 / 3
cappuccino, espresso, latté, mocha or mochaccino ~ 2 / 3
tea, chai, chai latté or hot coco ~ 2 / 3
orange, cranberry, or apple juice ~ 2 / 3
coke, diet coke, “olde brooklyn” 12 oz. bottled sodas: “flatbush
orange,” “bay ridge birch beer,” “red hook raspberry,”
& “park slope ginger ale” ~ 2
bottled water ~ 2
10% discount on food orders for ny’s finest, ny’s bravest, teachers (ny’s patientest) & all government workers
FYI
stiZZy serves no pork or beef products. all fish and poultry products
are free~range and / or organic, when possible.
organic vegan alternatives to animal products will be available, whenever possible. frying is done with organic canola oil & vegan non~hydrogenated, non~trans fat margarine is used in place of butter.
the term “organic” means that these items / ingredients are as GOD intended: non~genetically modified and free from the carcinogenic pesticides, hormones & additives found in non~organic food (ever wonder why our children are developing at younger & younger ages?). stiZZy strives to be as close to 100% organic as possible, and to get ingredients from local farmers & suppliers whenever possible.
btw, the term “vegetarian” typically means “free of beef, pork, poultry, or fish flesh” but may contain other animal by~products such as eggs, dairy, honey, etc.
the term “vegan” typically means free from all types of animal flesh or by~product. strict vegans, by the way, in an attempt to be 100% “cruelty~free,” also avoid fur, leather, wool, & silk. be sure to pick up a “why vegan?” pamphlet by the door!
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stiZZy jobs
stiZZy will be hiring a full staff shortly. each position requires a minimum of 1 year experience and verifiable references.
we are looking for a staff that is reliable, consistent, easy to work with, and conscious. when we say “conscious,” we mean that we really need people who get it ~ that we are not a starbucks, we are not a mcdonalds, we are a small neighborhood bar that intends to be around (and serving the same customers) for years to come, and everything we do must be informed by that intention.
this neighborhood is our home, our customers are our neighbors, our friends, our family. by serving them as best we can, we honor our home, and ourselves.
we need:
managers ~ we need managers with at least 2 years experience who can also tend bar
bartenders ~ friendly, upbeat, and efficient
cook ~ we need someone with experience as a line cook, who can make menu suggestions and is conscious of healthier ingredient & preparation options
assistant cook
wait person
dishwasher
busperson
delivery person
security company ~ we are looking for a fully~insured and licensed company to provide at least one fulltime security person
event coordinator ~ this wouldn’t be a salaried position, but instead would be paid with a percentage of event sales ~ the more people u bring in, the more money u make
…
the places that offer the best service are the ones that have little staff turnover, and they have little staff turnover becuz everyone is treated well, makes enough money, and the environment is conducive to a smooth workflow. we strive to be one of those places.
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stiZZy plans
stiZZy’s gonna look a lil’ sumthin like this:
exterior
interior
the
space pre~demo
same
space during demo
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stiZZy store
as i think u can see, stiZZy is much more than just a bar. it’s about more than money ~ it’s about community. our humble attempt to make this neighborhood / boro / city / world a better place.
with that in mind, we’d like to introduce stiZZy store. stiZZy store is a source for clothing ~ stiZZy wear ~ and merchandise ~ stiZZy gear ~ that celebrate the great community of bed~stizzy.
i will have my hand in the design of assorted items (such as mugs, calendars, mousepads, and stiZZy wear t~shirts), but we are also hoping that other black fashion, product, or graphic designers will step up and represent!
most importantly: 100% of the proceeds from all stiZZy store purchases will go to bed~stizzy~based non~profits that work primarily with our community’s children.
tentatively, that list includes:
· A Family Place, Inc. ~ the only ses (supplemental educational services) provider in bed~stizzy, they offer free tutoring services for public school children in grades k~12;
· The Blossom Program for Girls ~ located on macdonough, Blossom is one of the few existing community~based programs that focuses on the needs of girls between the ages of 12~18 years old. Blossom empowers girls to develop a sense of self worth and the will to make positive changes in their lives, so that they can become positive, healthy and self~reliant young adults who are active in their communities;
· the Freedom Academic Movement ~ a black~owned & operated non~profit based in bed~stizzy. they specialize in providing innovative, alternative after~school programming that focuses on personal development, community awareness and exploring personal interests through the arts, technology and literacy. they serve youth in brooklyn and thruout nyc;
· Girls for Gender Equity ~ located on fulton street, GGE is committed to the physical, psychological, social and economic development of girls and women. thru education, organizing and physical fitness, Girls for Gender Equity encourages communities to remove barriers and create opportunities for girls and women to live self~determined lives;
· Project MALE ~ located in ms 258 on macon, Project MALE is focused on keeping boys off the streets, out of gangs, off drugs, out of jail, and respectful to women and girls.
(note: if u know of any non~profits / programs / charities that are exclusively or primarily working within bed~stizzy…holla!)
as we all know, the more a dollar circulates within a community, the more economically healthy and self~sufficient that community is. supporting the stiZZy store and sporting your stiZZy wear & stiZZy gear is one way to ensure that the dollar that leaves your hand is going towards making the place u call home a better place to live.
the stiZZy store will be located within stiZZy, you will also be able to shop & support online.
tentative designs:
“stiZZy postcard”
“when
i aint gettin’ bizzy, i’m chillin’ at stiZZy”
“i love stiZZy”
“shwerve”
“hello, my name is…”
“big stiZZy logo”
“stiZZy UNDERGROUND”
“i love bed~stizzy”
“this is the meaning of the chain & the stars”
“a: manhattan to bed~stizzy”
“bed~stizzy b k n y c u s a”
“you are here”
“zip codes“
has bed~stizzy been treated like a “public enemy?”
stiZZy UNDERGROUND
stiZZy UNDERGROUND is the performance & exhibition venue beneath stiZZy bar~lounge, located at 368 lewis avenue ~ in the heart of the growing black arts community of bed~stizzy / stuyvesant heights ~ at the site of the old Palms Seafood Restaurant, next door to the House of Brown, directly across the street from the macon branch library, and a stone’s throw from the rest of the Shops of Lewis Avenue: Bread Stuy, Brownstone Books, Freestyle Kids, Lewis Gallery, Little Red Boutique, Marlene’s Hair Stylist, and Petit Bassam.
stiZZy UNDERGROUND is owned & operated by T R U E, and will be opening soon (as soon as we find some investors!).
stiZZy UNDERGROUND will have a very active, inclusive, diverse, and collaborative events calendar ~ with an emphasis on the cultural expression of the afrikan diaspora ~ so that the space will be a continual reflection of the creative spirit of bed~stizzy.
it fill feature:
· art shows · film screenings · multimedia events · poetry readings · book signings · discussion groups · fashion shows · live music · dj · dance performances · karaoke · comedy showcases · networking socials · community events
stiZZy UNDERGROUND is gonna be like “stone soup” ~ we create the pot, y’all ad the ingredients. m m m m m…
if u r a singer, dancer, model, designer, dj, filmmaker, painter, event promoter, or any other type of creative person in need of a venue…holla!
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we need bed~stizzy historical artifacts!
as u know, stiZZy is a tribute to bed~stizzy, so we’re looking for anything that documents the community’s history ~ photographs, signage, memorabilia, ephemera, artifacts ~ anything at all that u can spare or make copies of that u would like to see permanently displayed in the space. whether u r a professional historian / archivist, or just someone that has kept a personal record of the people, places & things that make this community special…holla!
here are a few of the artifacts we’ve uncovered (these items will either be on display and / or available for research):
• a ghetto grows in brooklyn ~ one of many sociological studies of the community back when it was considered a problem that had to be solved, 1977
• an introduction to the black contribution to the development of brooklyn ~ a catalog from a New Muse Community Museum of Brooklyn exhibition, 1977
• bed~[stizzy] beat: sonny’s song ~ a childrens’ book celebrating life in the community, 1970
• bed~[stizzy] for peace ~ a “no war” button, date unknown
• bedford~stuyvesant: the anatomy of a central city community ~ another sociological study of the community, 1973
• design works of bedford~stuyvesant ~ an exhibition catalog from a show at the Brooklyn Museum Community Gallery, 1974
• First Jefferson Avenue Property Owners Association ~ a program from a “musical and dramatic concert,” 1944
• Fulton Park Urban Renewal Project ~ A booklet detailing the proposed revitalization of the area, circa 1966 ~ 1973
• Gates Avenue Association ~ minutes from the meetings of a local civic group that was formed specifically to address the problem of blacks moving into bed~stizzy, 1925
• girls hi skool ~ blue & gold (the yearbook), 1938; commencement exercises program, 1939; issues of the record (the school newspaper), 1937 ~ 1939
• Nazarene Congregational Church ~ a program from an “all star recital,” 1940
• new york times articles ~ we’ve scoured 150 years worth of articles from the new york times archives and cherrypicked a few of the positive news stories, which we will display in the space
• Paragon Progressive Federal Credit Union ~ a brochure, circa 1930s
• the people of brooklyn: a history of two neighborhoods ~ a historical study of bed~stizzy and sunset park, 1980
• people vs. Blutcher: black men and white law in bedford~stuyvesant ~ a non~fictional account of a local shopkeeper who was assaulted by police, 1970
• public skool 44 ~ yearbook, 1934
• rescuing a neighborhood: the Bedford~Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps ~ the story of how the Corps was founded, 1995
• Tompkins Theatre ~ a flier for a “big holiday show,” circa 1930s
• welcome to #57: four years of teaching and learning in bedford~stuyvesant ~ a book about one teacher’s experience in a local public school, 1974
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