SlipperySlope does not like Smartmom. SlipperySlope does not understand why Smartmom feels the need to write in the 3rd person. SlipperySlope wants to know if Smartmom is married to "Jimmy" from Seinfeld.
Rose Ninja
Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 911 Location: South Slope
Thu May 18, 06 2:40 pm EST
I so agree. I just cannot stand her blog or her column. I find her writing style so freaking annoying. I don't know why I feel compelled to read her blog; it is so consistently irritating. It's just the same damn thing over and over: She lives on 3rd Street. She is jealous of people with money. Her kids went to 321. She knows everyone in Park Slope. She is jealous of Jennifer Connelly because she has a big expensive house. She is jealous of Jonathan Safran Foer because he has a big expensive house. Did I mention that she lives on 3rd Street?
She's like the epitome of what irritates me about so many people in Park Slope. The smug self-satisfaction weirdly combined with a constant need for other people's approval.
linusvanpelt Jockin my Mercedes
Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 394 Location: Center Slope, between 4th and 5th Avenues
Thu May 18, 06 2:55 pm EST
What Rose said, times ten. Plus can't stand the shameless, unctuous shilling for PS businesses. Apparently a bad business has never opened on 5th or 7th Avenue.
dw438 "Anonymous Guest"
Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 496
Thu May 18, 06 9:32 pm EST
Now she's quoted by lazy Times reporters who couldn't find a real-person quote for the life of their Columbia-trained keesters.
Blog was interesting at the start.
But there are others, better.
And the obsession with money? Sheesh.
Don't tell me she's got none.
After all, it's Third Street in the Slope.
SlopeDude Guest
Thu May 18, 06 10:06 pm EST
I am so glad someone decided to start this thread.
In fact, it was just the other day, I was thinking to myself: "Damn, I f#@kin' hate that Smartmom chick."
Absolutely agree with what's been said - so annoying.
And just this week, I was reading New York magazine and there's an article on actor and PS resident Paul Bettany and they quote Smartmom aka Louise Crawford. The quote was something to the effect of "we're glad they chose to live here."
What is she? The friggin' mayor of Park Slope. F her.
findcate Local
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 243 Location: park slope
Fri May 19, 06 10:24 am EST
link please...
Rose Ninja
Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 911 Location: South Slope
Scroll down a bit to find the part where she writes about the reporter who came all the way to 3rd Street to meet with her, and how impressed her 3rd Street neighbors were.
Can I also just say how annoying it is that she calls her kids Teen Spirit and Oh So Feisty One? They must be mortified. Oh, and her husband is Hepcat.
findcate Local
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 243 Location: park slope
Fri May 19, 06 11:00 am EST
“She’s the beautiful Brooklyn girl [Connelly was raised in Brooklyn Heights] made good who bought the nicest house on the hill, and he’s . . . well, a signpost of blond, gorgeous Englishness.â€Â
i see what you mean...that's painful.
stacey Beyond Karma
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 3105 Location: Underhill Ave.
Fri May 19, 06 11:12 am EST
Wait is Smartmom and Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn the same person?
dw438 "Anonymous Guest"
Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 496
Fri May 19, 06 11:15 am EST
stacey wrote:
Wait is Smartmom and Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn the same person?
Yes.
stacey Beyond Karma
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 3105 Location: Underhill Ave.
Fri May 19, 06 11:25 am EST
Ha the sister in law baby changing incident was hysterical and kind of sad at the same time.
Rose Ninja
Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 911 Location: South Slope
Fri May 19, 06 1:02 pm EST
stacey wrote:
Ha the sister in law baby changing incident was hysterical and kind of sad at the same time.
Oh yeah, that was charming: Sister paid good money for this baby and she's going to change her poopy diaper in the middle of the restaurant or anywhere she damn well pleases, heehee.
Guest
Sat May 20, 06 4:27 pm EST
I'm a registered member, but I'm logging out here. I have my reasons. Not only is smartmom annoying as all get out. The entire park slope paper is a grating example of poor journalism.
Flexichick Windsor Terrorist
Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 9623
Sat May 20, 06 5:07 pm EST
I don't even know who this Smartmom chick is, and it doesn't seem like I"m missing anything. ....
but......since you mentioned Park Slope papers........
Does anybody know what the story is with the guy who writes the crime section in that weekly PS paper (found in supermarkets, etc.)? His stories go something like this:
"Two hooligans were rough housing in front of a residence on 7th Avenue.."
"There were shenanigans in the park on Sunday..."
Does anybody know what/who I am talking about? I want to know if this guy is 80 years old or just some asshat trying to be funny (well, ok, I do find it funny, but still......).
Anyone?
homeowner "Way Too Incestial"
Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 2068 Location: Between a rock and a hard place
Sun May 21, 06 12:47 pm EST
If you're talking about the Brooklyn Paper, the editor is a guy by the name of Gersh Kuntzman who has been around in Brooklyn forever. If its Mr. Kuntzman I don't think its an affectation, but just a refection of his age.
Rose Ninja
Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 911 Location: South Slope
Sun May 21, 06 5:58 pm EST
Flexichick wrote:
"Two hooligans were rough housing in front of a residence on 7th Avenue.."
"There were shenanigans in the park on Sunday..."
Yes! I love that.
germfree! Carry On ...
Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 260 Location: the top shelf
Sun May 21, 06 8:20 pm EST
Flexichick wrote:
Does anybody know what the story is with the guy who writes the crime section in that weekly PS paper (found in supermarkets, etc.)? His stories go something like this:
"Two hooligans were rough housing in front of a residence on 7th Avenue.."
"There were shenanigans in the park on Sunday..."
Does anybody know what/who I am talking about? I want to know if this guy is 80 years old or just some asshat trying to be funny (well, ok, I do find it funny, but still......).
Anyone?
Do you mean the Daily Blotter? It functions merely as a list of criminal highlights, no? Without any specific author, or literary aspirations (except perhaps a "Car 54, Where Are You" - type delivery)?
Regardless; the most entertaining section of that rag.
Flexichick Windsor Terrorist
Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 9623
Sun May 21, 06 8:51 pm EST
Yep, I think those are them.
I don't remember what the paper is called, but it's the PS paper with the red and blue banner.
I never saw "Car 54", but I think that's the idea
Drano Meow Wars Veteran
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1559
Mon May 22, 06 8:48 am EST
Against my better judgement, I'm going to check out this blog or whatever it is.
The crime blotter is pretty good stuff, but it's got nothing on the "crimes" regularly reported in the small-town rag where I grew up.
Personal favorite: "A large dog was seen devouring a pie that was left on a sill." Yup, apparently someone called the sheriff over that.
hi. i haven't followed the "smartmom" column except for reading one or two things. I did not know she was also the blog knows brooklyn. thanks for filling me in!
however when you all were talking about her mentioning the writer coming to 3rd street, i thought that was from at least manhattan! ... not cobble hill!! what's the deal?? and why would the neighbors even notice? doesn't she ever have guests?
yeesh.
gersh kuntzman used to write for the new york post. he's a good guy but ...
laura Resident Alien
Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 896
Mon May 22, 06 10:25 pm EST
Drano wrote:
Personal favorite: "A large dog was seen devouring a pie that was left on a sill." Yup, apparently someone called the sheriff over that.
Lordy, where'd you grow up, Mayberry?
Dang, now I've got the Andy Griffith Show theme song in my head.
I didn't think people even left pies on window sills in real life.
Drano Meow Wars Veteran
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1559
Tue May 23, 06 11:38 am EST
laura wrote:
Drano wrote:
Personal favorite: "A large dog was seen devouring a pie that was left on a sill." Yup, apparently someone called the sheriff over that.
Lordy, where'd you grow up, Mayberry?
Dang, now I've got the Andy Griffith Show theme song in my head.
I didn't think people even left pies on window sills in real life.
I saved that clipping for years, I'm going to try to dig it up. I grew up in a small mill town in New England - one of the deputies was so old that we figured he probably wouldn't be able to level his (probably older) .45 long colt revolver if he did need to use it. It wasn't TOO quiet though; someone would get killed every now and then, usually over beer.
dailyheights Honorary Fellow
Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 3619 Location: Prospect Heights State of Mind
Tue May 23, 06 1:27 pm EST
That's definitely the level of journalism we aspire to around here:
I've enjoyed reading the thread about Smartmom, the Brooklyn Papers (aka "that rag"), and Gersh Kuntzman (whom someone had the decency to call "a good guy," which I, as Gersh Kuntzman, appreciate). As the editor of the paper, I urge you to express your frustations through the Letters to the Editor process. If you think we are failing in our mission to inform, educate and entertain the savvy Brooklyn readers which you clearly are, please tell us rather than making anonymous posts.
We aim to serve you better, and, as such, would love to hear your complaints.
Regarding Smartmom, she is an acquired taste that I urge you to acquire. She is a rare Brooklyn talent and I am so happy to be in the position of nurturing that talent (others would prefer to resent her, I guess). Why so much backbiting? If you can do better, please pitch me stories. I welcome your contributions to the Brooklyn Papers.
By the way, we're the one with the blue-and-red banner every week (and we're a broadsheet, to boot). We are not the Courier-Life -- and I thank God for that daily.
Thanks for listening
GERSH KUNTZMAN
dailyheights Honorary Fellow
Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 3619 Location: Prospect Heights State of Mind
Tue May 23, 06 4:08 pm EST
How much do you pay? _________________ HOT BOARD | NEW YORK'S BEST THREADS
4 BLOCKS BACK - http://twitter.com/brooklynian
Carnivore Brooklyn Snark
Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 13566 Location: St Johns Pl and Underhill
Tue May 23, 06 4:14 pm EST
brooklyngersh wrote:
Why so much backbiting?
From Crescentlife.com:
Quote:
Imam Ghazâlî in his 'Ihya Ulûm ud Din' cites 6 situations in which backbiting is allowed.
1. To narrate the faults of another in a trial.
2. To help change one's evil deeds.
3. To seek a legal decision.
4. To warn about someone's harmful deeds.
5. To disclose the bad deeds of an evildoer.
6. To call someone by a well-known characteristic or feature.
He goes on to say:
>>To disclose the guilt of those who are accustomed to evil deeds openly is no sin, such as a male wearing female dress, a drunkard, a fornicator, or an oppressor.
The Prophet (saw) said: There is no sin in backbiting a person who has shaken off the screen of shame from his face.
Hazrat Omar (raa) said: There is no honor for a great sinner (meaning those who commit major sins openly). He who commits sins secretly should have the honor of his fault being kept secret.
Hazrat Hasan Basri said: There is no fault in backbiting three persons - (1) one who is a slave of passion, (2) an open and well known transgressor, (3) and a tyrant ruler.
>>The Prophet (saw) said:
Do you consider it bad to disclose the faults of a sinner? Disclose his faults so that people may know them. Disclose the faults in him, so that people may take precaution.
>>It is lawful to narrate the deeds of another to seek legal decision or law for remedy. For instance, one says: My father, my wife or my son treats me like this. What is the remedy of getting out of it?
Hinda, daughter of Utba, complained to the Prophet: 'Abu Sufiyan is a miser. He does not bear necessary expenses of my children and myself. May I spend anything in his absence? The Prophet said: Take such things as are necessary for you and your children. Hinda mentioned about miserliness and oppression of Abu Sufiyan, but the Prophet (saw) did not blame her for backbiting, as she had intention of taking decision.
(Note: Abu Sufiyan was Hinda's husband)
>>The ancient sages said: There is no sin in disclosing the guilt of three persons - (1) a tyrant ruler (2) a learned innovator (3) and a shameless evildoer.<< end quote.
I am officially on a Federal watchlist now.
Rose Ninja
Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 911 Location: South Slope
Tue May 23, 06 9:54 pm EST
brooklyngersh wrote:
Regarding Smartmom, she is an acquired taste that I urge you to acquire. She is a rare Brooklyn talent and I am so happy to be in the position of nurturing that talent (others would prefer to resent her, I guess). Why so much backbiting? If you can do better, please pitch me stories. I welcome your contributions to the Brooklyn Papers.
Hey, if someone is going to write something for publication (in print or in a blog) other people get to express their opinions about it. I never said I could do better, but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion. I might think The Da Vinci Code was a terrible movie, but saying so doesn't obligate me to try to make a better movie.
Also, I don't think anyone here resents Smartmom. We just don't like her writing.
Guest
Wed May 24, 06 10:19 am EST
Rose is right. Anybody who's worked in journalism knows that this is the first lame knee-jerk defense of anyone who's been critiqued by a writer: "How dare you criticize if you've never [made a movie, been elected to office, been a contestant on American Idol, whatever]!"
It's not your readers' job to write your paper. It's their job to read it. And it's their prerogative to have opinions about it and share those opinions, whether in the paper or elsewhere, by name or anonymously. Better that than that they just silently start picking up the Courier. (Having read Gersh for a while, before his present job, I suspect that he is enough of a pro to know that deep down but understandably wanted to defend his writer.)
Having said that, even if I can't stand Smartmom I think it's great that Gersh is drawing from local bloggers, so in the spirit of being constructive here are a couple Brooklyn bloggers whose writing I can recommend offhand, neither of whom I know personally (as far as I know):
DON'T READ THIS, IT'S MEAN
I was just checking out a site I'd never seen called The Slope Via The Lake and I came across this:
Annoying Lady: Apparently I am not the only one who finds Smartmom (local Park Slope columnist and blogger) incredibly annoying...
Nice.
quijibo Crooklyn Ninja
Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 2028 Location: taintalicious!
Tue Jun 06, 06 11:18 pm EST
uh-oh we got ourselves a cyber tussle
pitu Fake Buddhist
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 6489 Location: Utopian Park Slope
Wed Jun 07, 06 10:53 am EST
Rose wrote:
stacey wrote:
Ha the sister in law baby changing incident was hysterical and kind of sad at the same time.
Oh yeah, that was charming: Sister paid good money for this baby and she's going to change her poopy diaper in the middle of the restaurant or anywhere she damn well pleases, heehee.
a complete and utter horror, this one
I dropped in and out reading that blog around her embarrassing celeb stalker behavior
but the merry public diaper changing . . .
I try very hard to live in a Park Slope that is not about people like this.
Rose wrote:
She's like the epitome of what irritates me about so many people in Park Slope. The smug self-satisfaction weirdly combined with a constant need for other people's approval.
ding! ding! ding! cheers to Rose!
Drano Meow Wars Veteran
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1559
Wed Jun 07, 06 11:18 am EST
I'm the best.
Don't you think so?
blackoyster Regular
Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Park Slope
Wed Jun 07, 06 1:46 pm EST
I am the second best, but very close to being the best.
Drano Meow Wars Veteran
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1559
Sun Jul 16, 06 12:33 pm EST
Well. I had resolved to give Smartmom another chance after reading this thread and digesting Gersh's praise for her. Perhaps I had missed something that first time I read the column and tossed the paper aside halfway through.
Now here's the thing - if you read the column strictly as a parody of the stereotypical self-absorbed, over-educated Park Slope denizen it's brilliant stuff. And I do feel that there's at least a slight chance that the joke is on all of us.
But probably not - and read as the actual thoughts of a real person, well, let's just say it's...not so good. Gersh, I hope you have some sort of arrangement - financial or otherwise - with this person that compensates you for including her column in your paper. If not, may I suggest the following substitute uses for the space:
1) Marmaduke
2) More adverstisments
3) Ed Anger
4) Amy Sohn
5) Jumble
6) More police blotter stuff
Any of the above would be just great.
dw438 "Anonymous Guest"
Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 496
Sun Jul 16, 06 1:02 pm EST
Drano wrote:
Well. I had resolved to give Smartmom another chance after reading this thread and digesting Gersh's praise for her. Perhaps I had missed something that first time I read the column and tossed the paper aside halfway through.
Now here's the thing - if you read the column strictly as a parody of the stereotypical self-absorbed, over-educated Park Slope denizen it's brilliant stuff. And I do feel that there's at least a slight chance that the joke is on all of us.
But probably not - and read as the actual thoughts of a real person, well, let's just say it's...not so good. Gersh, I hope you have some sort of arrangement - financial or otherwise - with this person that compensates you for including her column in your paper. If not, may I suggest the following substitute uses for the space:
1) Marmaduke
2) More adverstisments
3) Ed Anger
4) Amy Sohn
5) Jumble
6) More police blotter stuff
Any of the above would be just great.
Never thought of it at that level - parody.
But it ain't. It's reinforcement of the bobo stereotype.
I'd rather read more of the 78th Precinct blotter.
Especially if one of the entries was about a pie taken off a windowsill by a dog.
Mmmmmm .... windowsill pie ......
steve Cylon
Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1263
Sun Jul 16, 06 11:27 pm EST
Gersh seems like an alright guy based on my interactions with him, but the paper overall is just meh...sometimes.
prusik Regular
Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 119 Location: South Slope
Mon Jul 17, 06 11:32 am EST
dw438 wrote:
I'd rather read more of the 78th Precinct blotter.
Especially if one of the entries was about a pie taken off a windowsill by a dog.
Mmmmmm .... windowsill pie ......
I grew up in a somewhat small town and the local (weekly) rag once excelled itself with the headline Dog Attacks Chicken. I guess it was just one more day in a slow news century.
eggcream Carneviento Devotee
Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 1237 Location: PS Bklyn
Tue Jul 18, 06 6:29 pm EST
Drano wrote:
1) Marmaduke
2) More adverstisments
3) Ed Anger
4) Amy Sohn
5) Jumble
6) More police blotter stuff
Any of the above would be just great.
7) How about beggar sightings/reports?
Rose Ninja
Joined: 10 Nov 2005 Posts: 911 Location: South Slope
Tue Jul 18, 06 8:20 pm EST
Oh lord, not Amy Sohn, please. She might be even more annoying than Smartmom. I vote for Marmaduke.
Drano Meow Wars Veteran
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1559
Tue Jul 18, 06 11:26 pm EST
Rose wrote:
Oh lord, not Amy Sohn, please. She might be even more annoying than Smartmom. I vote for Marmaduke.
Haha...Smartmom is just Amy without the sex. Frankly, I'm not sure who to come down for, but they seem to be similar cases of an editor feeling smarter than his customer (if that is the word for a reader of a free publication) base. Back when I used to avoid Amy regularly in the NYP, her editor defended her like a champ - there was a lot of hate mail - and Gersh's comments here reminded me of that situation.
Edit: "7) How about beggar sightings/reports?" Not bad, not bad. But I'm uncomfortable with the word "beggar". Can we go with "derelicts"?
Isa Crabby Native
Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 526 Location: St Johns Plizizace
Tue Jul 18, 06 11:41 pm EST
Omigod! I love you Gersh Kuntzman!
<3<3<3
Drano Meow Wars Veteran
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1559
Wed Jul 19, 06 9:16 am EST
Isa wrote:
Omigod! I love you Gersh Kuntzman!
<3<3<3
Well - just to be clear - I have nothing against Gersh or the paper. He appears to be a nice enough fellow, and you can't beat the paper for the price. I just find Smartmom irritating.
Gersh Fan Guest
Wed Jul 19, 06 8:57 pm EST
homeowner wrote:
If you're talking about the Brooklyn Paper, the editor is a guy by the name of Gersh Kuntzman who has been around in Brooklyn forever. If its Mr. Kuntzman I don't think its an affectation, but just a refection of his age.
I like Gersh -- he's a nice guy, writes amusing stories, and looks damn good for his age. Wouldn't want his last name though.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe in a reader
we got ourselves a cyber tussle