Gossamer pleasures
Ashbox Cafe, Brooklyn Heights brownstones, Gotham, Clemente Bar, Yokkoyama Hat Market, best Hudson Valley antiquing, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Person
Little secrets
In my work for FOUND, I'm usually searching for the breaking edge of New York City dining, sneaking an illicit photo here or finagling my way onto a coveted bar stool there. But sometimes, the most compelling places in New York are neither novel nor conspicuous, and occasionally, they’re downright quixotic — neighborhood spots of extremely specific utility, subject to adoration from a small group of passionate people in the know.
For FOUND on its second birthday, it’s time to give it up: Ashbox Cafe is one of those places, and of them, maybe my favorite.
Located in Greenpoint a block from Newtown Creek at the absolute top of Brooklyn, it’s neither easy to get there nor are its hours particularly consistent, in that it’s open from 10a until it sells out (which is sometimes 230p, sometimes 1p). One way it is consistent, however, is that if anyone else is there, you’ll have to wait a little. Ashbox is run single-handedly by Yoko Kubo, a classical musician who in 2008 moved to America from Tokyo — where she owned a small cafe — taking over Ashbox with her late husband in 2008. Today, she prepares every order of the 12-seat cafe herself. You can eat it there, so long as you don’t talk on your cell phone, but why would you, when just a five minute walk away is a stunning view of Manhattan from Greenpoint Landing? On a bluebird day, there are few better spots to take your lunch in all the five boroughs.
As for the food: It’s fantastic, and the price is right. Rarely is anything over $10 on the menu of Japanese cafe fare (sandwiches, salads, onigiri, and handrolls, plus teas and seasonal fruity vinegar drinks), and all of it (even, yes, the hot dog) is downright lovely. Most beloved is the Spicy Tuna Poke, a small, delicious cup of tuna, avocado or pickled daikon, and warm heirloom multigrain rice. But Yoko’s specials — whatever she’s making that day, whether it’s gyūdon, oyakodon, miso grilled salmon, Tonjiru (pork soup), or a Japanese beef curry — are almost always the right order, if there’s any left.
It’s beyond cliche at this point to point out the love and care someone puts into cooking their food, but given the prominent service industry people I keep running into (a certain famous pastry chef here, the GM of a hit restaurant there), and the warmth you’ll feel from anyone talking about Kubo and her cafe, this might be that one apt occasion.
I wrote to a fellow editor, here, that to the untrained eye, Ashbox’s pleasures are gossamer (bordering on ineffable), but to those in the know, it hits. No idea what that means, he answered. Lemme try again: It’s a handshake of good taste, a nod to knowing, a joy of a secret in plain sight — more or less, about as FOUND as FOUND gets. –Foster Kamer
→ Ashbox Cafe (Greenpoint) • 1154 Manhattan Ave • Mon-Sat 10a-2p(ish) • Walk-ins only.
THE NINES • FOUND Sponsor
420 at Gotham
Nine ways to celebrate this weekend, from daily deals to ice cream and pizza giveaways, art exhibitions to DJ sets.
Brunch with KIVA & Apollo Bagels (All Gotham Locations), celebrate the release of Kiva Everything Bagel Dark Chocolate Bar with breakfast from Apollo Bagels, 04/19, 11a-1p
The World is Yours | Nas x Objects Are By (Gotham Gallery at Chelsea), attend the opening of our inaugural exhibition, showcasing largely unseen photographs of Nas from 1994, 04/19, 6p
Morning Fuel (All Gotham Locations), kickoff 420 with a pastry from our friends at Hani Bakery, Fabrique, and more, 04/20, 10-1130a
Mid-day Snacks (All Gotham Locations), refuel with snacks from Upside Pizza & Robertas, 04/20, 1230-230p
Ice Cream Treats (All Gotham Locations), chill out with ice cream from Oddfellows, Soft Swerve, and more, 04/20, 3-6p
All-Day DJs (All Gotham Locations), tune into solid gold sounds with live DJs all day long, 04/20
All-Day Giveaways (All Gotham Locations), enjoy limited edition swag that will get the party started, 04/20
Deals on Cannabis (All Gotham Locations), shop exclusive deals on your favorite cannabis product, thru 04/20
20% Off Paraphernalia (All Gotham Locations), all that glitters is gold with 20% off paraphernalia, all weekend long, thru 04/20
→ Shop & More: Gotham (East Village, Chelsea, Williamsburg, Hudson).
CULTURE & LEISURE • It’s the Playoffs
Ani DiFranco • Brooklyn Steel (Williamsburg) • Fri @ 8p • GA, $58 per
John Waite • The Paramount (Huntington) • Fri @ 8p • section 101, $103 per
Pistons v Knicks • Madison Square Garden (Midtown South) • Sat @ 6p • section 107, $837 per
CULTURE & LEISURE LINKS: Is the new Frick collection just the same old thing? • Shows will go on this summer at Forest Hills Stadium • What if the art market’s age of eternal growth is over • No, Patek Philippe did not pay for placement in ‘Your Friends & Neighbors.’
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in Brooklyn Heights that came to market in the last 21 days.
→ 119 Henry St #3 (Brooklyn Heights) • 3BR/2BA, NA SF co-op • Ask: $2.25M • gut-renovated in landmarked townhouse • Days on market: 10 • Monthly tax/maintenance: $2070 • Agents: Brett Walsdorf & Ian Slater, Compass.
→ 42 Monroe Pl (Brooklyn Heights) • 7BR/5.1BA, 6425 SF two-family • Ask: $9.5M • 26.5’ wide, configured as two duplexes • Days on market: 18 • Monthly tax: $2884 • Agents: Leslie Marshall, Nick Hovsepian & James Cornell, Corcoran.
→ 52 Sidney Pl (Brooklyn Heights, above) • 7BR/4.2BA, 5280 SF townhouse • Ask: $10.995M • 22’ x 60’ federal style brick townhouse renovated in ‘elegant minimalism of the Mad Men era’ • Days on market: 11 • Monthly tax: $5221 • Agents: Deborah Rieders & Tita Omeze, Corcoran.
REAL ESTATE LINKS: The fight over secret real estate listings networks • Hudson Yards West approved by NYC Planning Commission • Beekeeping on the roof of a Park Slope brownstone.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine
Gallery stroll
HANNAH DEITS • sales and marketing director • Showrunner.co
Neighborhood you live in: Brooklyn Heights
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
I’m happily remote but I will typically finish my Friday workday at a hotel lobby, like the Crosby or Ace, then head to openings. (You wouldn’t believe the people I’ve met at the Crosby Hotel…) I use the app I work for, Showrunner, which allows me to filter by medium, subject, style, and neighborhood to find the art shows and openings I want to see, and make lists of shows I want to see most. This week, I’m excited for Canada's Couch Paintings show opening Friday (here’s my full list of shows I plan to go to). After I’ve had my art fix, I typically grab dinner or drinks with friends at Fanelli in Soho or Casetta by Dimes Square.
Any restaurant plans?
I went to Clemente Bar a few months back for a friend’s birthday, and since we were on a sober kick, they brought us an incredible zero-proof cocktail called the Kalimotxo. I’m looking forward to putting on a pair of heels this weekend and heading back. Aside from the food and drinks, the bar was created in collaboration with artist Francesco Clemente, and it’s filled with one-of-a-kind works by the artist, so it’s a perfect place to daydream.
Otherwise, I love a quieter night at Henry Public or Inga’s in Brooklyn Heights, followed by karaoke at Montero’s. I’m hosting on Saturday, and we’ll probably go by one of those spots to say hi to local friends or order in from Hibino for sushi or Lillo for Italian.
How about a little leisure or culture?
My friend Patricia took me to a play at the Brooklyn Center for Theatre Research, and I was blown away. We saw ‘Doomers,' which grapples with the realities of AI in a comedic two-part play. Matt Gasda, the playwright, hosts plays across many different subjects in his small Greenpoint theater.
Any weekend getaways?
I recently went to Yale’s Open Studios in New Haven, an annual event where the Yale School of Art hosts studio visits and features work from the departments of Graphic Design, Painting and Printmaking, Photography, and Sculpture. I started my career in art as a studio assistant for Vadis Turner back in 2019, and there’s something magical about being around an artist in their workspace. Afterwards, my friend Heather and I headed to Boston to go see another friend who happens to operate the world’s largest Polaroid camera. It’s a 20x24 Polaroid that’s been used by artists from Andy Warhol to William Wegman.
What was your last great vacation?
I went to Joshua Tree for New Year’s with friends. We mainly wandered around the desert, laughed, drank iced coffee, and drifted off into space. Each of us made a dent in our reading lists — for me, Sally Mann’s autobiography, Hold Still — and wrote out our list of hopes for the future. What a dreamy place. We loved the Red Dog Saloon in Pioneertown when Pappy and Harriet’s was booked, the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum, and the Wonderland of Rocks hike. If you plan ahead, book a session at the Integratron sound bath.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I recently commissioned a sculpture from an incredibly talented artist in Los Angeles named Lucy Black. Lucy made me an incredible swan sculpture that I now have hanging above my bed, and I also have my eye on one of her rotating collages. Outside of art, I bought a pair of Tory Burch pierced slingback heels for a spring wedding.
What store or service do you always recommend?
If you need a kind and talented editorial photographer, use my friend Joe. If you need an excellent hat, Yokkoyama Hat Market.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Water Mill’s Rosemary Lodge, built 1884 on land bought for $50, comes to market for $14.25M • Chef Sean Brock has started slinging pies in Nashville • The Orient Express’s first hotel debuts in Rome • American joining free wi-fi race, eyes 2026 debut for 90% of fleet.
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Antiquing, Hudson Valley
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of NYC’s best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@foundny.com.
Quittner (Germantown), off-the-highway warehouse specializing in vintage & antique lighting, farmhouse-style pottery, tableware