Are You Slopey?

Last week, we asked you all to take , and see just how “Slopey” you really are.

So how’d you do? How many random facts about Park Slope did you know? Are you very Slopey, sort of Slopey or not very Slopey at all? Maybe you had to ask a neighbor who’s lived in the neighborhood longer than you. Or did you just consult Google? No matter, we’re going to parcel out the answers bit by bit.

Check back next Tuesday for the second installation of our quiz answers.

1. Name Park Slope’s two City Council members.

Brad Lander represents the 39th council district, which includes parts of Park Slope, Borough Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Prospect Park, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Columbia Street Waterfront.

Steve Levin represents the 33rd council district, which includes parts of Park Slope, Boerum Hill, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, Greenpoint.

Both Democrats, they were elected in 2009 and will hold office for three years. The next election is in 2013.

2. What was the original location of Zuzu’s Petals? Why did they move?

Here’s the true history of Zuzu’s Petals, the flower, gift and garden shop owned by Fonda Sera. In January of 1971 Feronica Priaux opened up Growing Things in the rear of a Haitian bookshop on Flatbush Avenue. Six months later she moved to Seventh Avenue into the space that was most recently La Taqueria. At that time the monthly rent was $300.

“I started working there in 1972 and in March of 1974 she moved across the street to 81A Seventh Avenue and I bought the shop that August. I incorporated the business in 1990 and changed the name from Growing Things to Zuzu's Petals,” said Sera.

In 2004 there was a kitchen fire in Olive Vine, which was located next door to Zuzu’s. Olive Vine, Zuzu’s and a Korean green market all burned down. Zuzu’s is now located on Fifth Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets. For a few years they had a north Slope outpost where Café Regular Nord is now located, on Berkeley Place just west of Seventh Avenue. The name Zuzu’s Petals refers to a running theme in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

3. Before Poly Prep Lower School occupied the mansion on the corner of Prospect Park West and First Street, what was the name of the school that was located there? For extra credit: Who is one of its famous alumni?

A small progressive private school called Woodward Park occupied the 12,000 square foot mansion on the corner of Prospect Park West and First Street, The mansion, called the Hulbert mansion, was owned by the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, but is now owned by Poly-Prep. For the extra credit: Arlo Guthrie was a student at the Woodward Park School.

4. What was Abiyoyo and where was it located?

Abiyoyo was the name of a toy store on the corner of Third Street and Seventh Avenue. It was there when I first moved to Park Slope in 1991. In the nineties, the owners moved their shop to Welfleet in Cape Cod. The shop sells tourist T-shirts and sweatshirts, along with shoes, children's clothing, and bath and beauty products. It was named for the Pete Seeger song.

5. Name the principal of PS 321.

The principal of PS 321 is Elizabeth Phillips. She has been the principal of the school since 1998. Prior to that she was a parent at the school, a first grade teacher and administrator.

6. What Rod Steiger movie was filmed in Park Slope?

“The Chosen,” the 1981 movie based on the Chaim Potok novel about two Brooklyn Jewish families in the years after World War II, was filmed in Park Slope. Directed by Jeremy Kagan, it stars Maximillian Schell, Rod Steiger and Robbie Benson.

7. Where is Fiske Place?

Fiske Place is a beautiful single-block, brownstone-lined street located parallel to Eighth Avenue between Garfield Place and Carroll Street.

8. Who is the current president of the Park Slope Civic Council?

Michael Cairl is the president of the Park Slope Civic Council, an organization, which “nurtures, defends, celebrates and invigorates this community we call home.” They organize the annual house tour and the Halloween Children’s Parade. While we’re at it: Lauri Schindler is the first vice president, Gilly Youner is the second vice president, Robert Gilbert is the treasurer, Judith Lief is the recording secretary and Josh Levin is the membership secretary

9. What restaurant previously occupied the space that is now Blue Ribbon Sushi?

A restaurant called Vaux named for Calvert Vaux, who with Frederick Law Olmsted designed Prospect Park and Central Park. The restaurant, which served new American cuisine at moderate prices, was dimly lit and elegant with red velvet banquettes and decorated with old photographs of Prospect Park.

10. What was the first café in Park Slope?

The first café in Park Slope was Connecticut Muffin on Seventh Avenue and First Street. They opened their flagship store in the late 1980’s. Over the next decade they opened five more locations and now have outposts on Cortelyou Road, Montague Street, Myrtle Avenue, Prospect Park West. Ozzie’s arrived in the mid-nineties on Lincoln Place and Seventh Avenue in a space that used to be a pharmacy. Later came ill-fated New World Coffee, which was located on Seventh Avenue and President Street.