I really enjoy living in Carroll Gardens. It's kind of the right balance of a variety of things I enjoy about living in the City. It's trendy (Smith Street/Court Street/Henry Street serve as testing ground or launching pads for restaurateurs and restaurant concepts of all kinds), but not TOO. It's quiet, but not TOO. It's fairly straight, white and family-centric, but not TOO.
That's not to say it doesn't have its share of "excitement". A former almost completely Italian enclave (though there's still a large presence of Italians) with a history of reputed mob ties (there are still "social clubs" dotted around the 'hood.), Friday saw the stabbing attack of Mark Iacono, owner of Lucali's on Henry Street where he makes some of the world's most-renowned pizza (according to GQ and Zagat's). According to major news sources (The Post, Daily News), Mr. Iacono was stabbed by a lifelong friend with whom he had an argument Friday afternoon outside Joe's Superette Deli, two doors down from where I do my laundry (and did so, Saturday).
To someone who has seen arguably too many "mob" movies and has (perhaps) too active an imagination, Joe's has all the markings of a "front" business - it's decor seems like an afterthought and no one ever seems to go in - but apparently it sells some of the best proscuitto rice balls in the city (Who knew?!). It's such a fixture in the neighborhood, its sign is missing the "p" in Superette and a restaurant opened sometime last year further down Smith with the name Sue's Perette...an "homage" to Joe's sign, I'm nearly certain.
The man who attacked Mr. Iacono helped out at Bagels by the Park, which also happens to be where I got a breakfast sandwich Saturday, after not having been in there for months and months. At the time I visited, I didn't know about the stabbing and I recall thinking the staff and owner were unusually dour and whisper-y. In the context of the stabbing the night before, their unusual demeanors make a lot of sense.
As so often happens, commenters (well, at least Guest #6, above) on the news item on Eater throw out every possible rumor of Mr. Iacono's misdeeds or "difference" from "good, law-abiding citizens" in what I assume is a subconscious attempt to rationalize his being stabbed in an effort to retain their own sense of safety. According to this one reader, apparently Mr. Iacono is not only a philanderer - bedding his entire female staff despite his marriage - but also BIsexual! As if to say, "Well no WONder!" Or perhaps he subscribes to the Mary Mary school of thought that lumps homosexuals and murderers together.
Yesterday, what little is known about the reasons for the attack (the two involved aren't divulging.) were further muddied by reports that the Brooklyn DA's office announced it will charge both Mr. Iacono and his attacker with attempted murder, two counts of assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
So. How was your weekend?
Photo of crime scene via or Pardon Me For Asking.
