Category Archives: Downtown

News related to downtown Bricklyn

Is Pastry Shop Competition Heating Up in Bricklyn?

January 28, 2024

by Paul B. Macro, Bricklyn Eagle Business Correspondent

Dunk Them Donuts CEO David Plater Broffman has upped the ante in Bricklyn pastry shops with the opening of a super-size donut outlet on East Street, right next door to the recently opened “Pastries by Patsy” café.

Inside the new Dunk Them Donuts shop. — The new Dunk Them Donuts shop on East Street in Bricklyn. The donut trays can be rotated for ease of access to the upper rows of donuts. All photos in this post by Paul B. Macro, with assistance from Dall E-3.

As Broffman told The Bricklyn Eagle, “it’s time for the next generation in pastry outlets, and we’re taking the lead with our new deluxe donut shop. Donuts range from large to our new super-large size, but I can promise you, they’re all super tasty!”

As Broffman explained, “with our super-sized donuts, Bricklynites can watch TV without having to keep getting up to get another donut, or,” Broffman added, “they can easily share their super-size donut with a TV viewing partner.”

When asked about opening up a donut eatery right next to Pastries by Patsy, Broffman said “we’re both in a great location, and there’s nothing wrong with a little competition, now is there?”

Contacted about the opening of a Dunk Them Donuts right next door, the Real Patsy (Outland owner of Pastries by Patsy) told us that:

*Members of the Bricklyn Chapter of the Alliance Française inside Pastries by Patsy.*

“The team at Pastries by Patsy extends a warm welcome to the new Dunk Them Donuts shop next to us on East Street.”

“Frankly, we’re not concerned about competition from another pastry shop in the downtown core,” adding that “Pastries by Patsy customers value the high quality of ingredients used in our pastries.”

When we asked Patsy for an example, she pointed out that:

“All of our wheat comes from the Outerlands Heritage Grain Farm just outside of Bricklyn. We use only Blue Beard Durham wheat and we mill it by hand in the bakery daily. Our 90% butterfat butter comes from a local dairy farm, also in the Outerlands, and this farm specializes in raising the prized French breed Normande, which is renowned for producing the AOC (appellation d’origine controlée) cheeses.”

This Outland farm sells to Bricklyn businesses, including supplying butter to Pastries by Patsy. By the way, photographer/reporter Paul Macro was puzzled by the word “Damiry” in the Vermont road sign. If any Vermont readers know its meaning, please let us know.

➤ Editor’s Note: “Outerlands” is a term sometimes used to refer to portions of Outland communities that are located within roughly five to six miles of Inland locations (such as Bricklyn). Often businesses in these areas not only sell their products within their own Outland cities and towns, but also export their products to nearby Inland communities. The League of Inland Cities has successfully developed protocols to streamline customs procedures to expedite the flow of goods between Outland and Inland realms.

While “we have no concerns about the competition” appears to be Patsy’s response to the new Dunk Them Donuts shop next door, we’ll keep an eye on how this plays out. ✥

For cow lovers, here’s a quick video of Normande (or Normandy) cows:

New Bricklyn Arboretum Offers Residents & Visitors Spot to Relax

January 3, 2024

by Dave Plater Blue, Metro Desk Reporter

Catching up on some news from this past Summer (while The Bricklyn Eagle was closed due to the Newspaper Guild strike), the Broffman Arboretum opened its’ doors to the public at the end of June. Here’s our report.

Located adjacent to Bricklyn’s Downtown North Station, the Broffman Arboretum is the fruit of several years’ work by the Realm of Bricklyn Gardeners Association (RBGA) and the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce, supported by funding from the 2022 Downtown Bricklyn Improvement Bond Issue and a generous donation by Dave Tiler Broffman, CEO of Dunk Them Donuts, of the lot on which the arboretum was built.

*Linda Plater Meadows, with blue vest standing by trackside entrance to the arboretum*.

Linda Plater Meadows, President of the RBGA, told us that the new Broffman Arboretum “will provide a peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environment for both residents and visitors to Bricklyn,” while noting that “green spaces have been linked to mental health benefits, stress reduction, and overall well-being.”

“RBGA members,” Meadows added, “have signed up to volunteer as hosts at the arboretum, and look forward to answering visitors’ questions.”

Meadows also expressed appreciation to Planning Chief Tim Brickedy for helping shepherd through zoning changes that authorized the arboretum to be built on the site of the parking lot adjoining the west end of the train station, while also eliminating setbacks from the station. In unanimously approving the proposed zoning changes, the Federal Council found that the benefits of having the arboretum far outweighed the loss of ten parking spaces.

*Dave Tiler Broffman, donut in hand and in racing attire, opposite the new arboretum. Broffman generously donated the downtown parking lot site his company owned as the site of the new arboretum.*

Tom Brickorti, head of the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce, praised the arboretum, pointed to the “delight visitors arriving in Bricklyn will have in finding a green, restful spot adjoining the train station.”

Brickorti also thanked Dave Tiler Broffman for “helping turn the Chamber’s and Gardeners Association’s dreams into reality.” As Brickorti said to us with a smile, “folks buying a donut and cup of coffee from the Dunk Them Donuts shop inside the train station can now dunk their donuts while sitting under the shady trees of the Broffman Arboretum.” ✥

We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com

Bricklyn Loop Monorail Draws Eyes Skyward

November 3, 2023

by David Plater Blue, Metro Desk Reporter

Be sure to check out the Reader Responses to this article. Feel free to email your feedback to us at: bricklynvt@gmail.com

A crowd of Bricklynites looked skyward this afternoon as the Bricklyn Rail Transport Agency’s (BRTA) monorail service began operations, looping around South Bricklyn’s downtown core. Besides providing public transit to this growing commercial and residential area, the kilometer long monorail line avoids creating ground-level congestion.

*Engineer and Federal Council member Bill B. Butler, aka “3B.” Bricklyn Eagle archive photo.*

South Bricklyn Federal Council representative Bill B. Butler — who also works as a railroad engineer for Bricklyn’s Union Pacific rail line — applauded the inauguration of the monorail.

Butler explained that the Bricklyn Loop Monorail is based on that of the world-renowned Wuppertal, Germany, suspended monorail (“Schwebebahn”) system that has operated since 1901. As Butler noted, “for implementation in a LEGO city such as South Bricklyn, the BRTA monorail drew on the work of the talented LEGO design and engineering firm, JC Brickworks.”

Here’s a short video of the Bricklyn Loop Monorail in operation.

According to Stephen Plater Mills, CEO of the BRTA, “the BRTA decided on constructing a suspended system, as used in Wuppertal, Germany, rather than a Disney-like monorail system.” As Mills noted, “the Wuppertal system has proven itself for more than a century with its suspended carriage design.”

*Bricklyn Loop Monorail passing in front of the Railyard Jazz Club before arriving at Southside Loop Station.*

*Wuppertal, Germany, suspended monorail (the Schwebebahn). Photo from Wikipedia.*

Mills also suggested that those interested in learning more about suspended monorails, should read about the 12km, 20 station, Wuppertal monorail line, or watch this YouTube video about suspended monorail systems, including a 2km line serving Germany’s Dusseldorf airport.

*The Dusseldorf Airport suspended monorail. Photo by Konstantin von Wedelstaedt. Wikimedia Commons.*

When asked whether Bricklynites should have any cause for alarm due to the infamous 1991 Springfield monorail disaster, CEO Mills acknowledged “the concerns some may have about monorail safety given that unfortunate event and the fact that Homer Simpson — implicated in the Springfield crash — is now living in Bricklyn” [see FAQ #5] and has been spotted loitering by the two monorail stations.”

Homer Simpson seen loitering by the Southside Monorail Station last week while the monorail was doing test runs. FYI, note the giant-size donuts Homer is carrying. Dave Tiler Broffman, CEO of Dunk Them Donuts, has just come out with these mega donuts, in an effort to redirect Bricklynites crowding into the newly opened Pastries by Patsy café back to Broffman’s Dunk Them Donuts shops. Photo by Bricklyn Eagle reporter David Plater Blue.

But, as Mills explained, “unlike the Springfield monorail, with its flimsy construction and untested solar-power design, our monorail has been carefully engineered and rigorously tested. With its dynamic motor, solid plastic construction, and state of the art remote WiFi controls, the Bricklyn Loop Monorail will provide Bricklynites with years of safe and convenient service.” As to Simpson, Mills declared, “keep him loaded with those mega donuts and he won’t cause any monorail mischief.”

See our Reader Responses to this article, including a Response & Video Questioning BRTA’s Safety Claims

Asked about future plans, Mills told us that “If the initial South Bricklyn loop proves successful, phase 2 will extend the line through the Great Wall of Bricklyn. As Mills noted, “this will allow connectivity with key locations, including Bricklyn University, the Bricklyn Medical Center, and BIA (Bricklyn International Airport).”

Mills did acknowledge that Outland visitors to Bricklyn would be unable to view this portion of an expanded monorail system, as it would run on the other side of the Great Wall. However, as Bricklyn Eagle readers know, Bricklyn’s top scientists have been looking into potential workarounds that someday would allow visitors to see those portions of the Realm currently blocked off by the Great Wall.

In the meantime, Bricklynites and tourists alike can enjoy a safe, quiet, and comfortable ride, while enjoying scenic views of Lake Bricklyn and South Bricklyn’s downtown buildings.✥

Excerpt from The Simpsons episode “Marge vs. the Monorail.” includes the classic closing line: “Donuts. Is there anything they can’t do.” Notably, the episode was written by Conan O’Brien, and includes the appearance of Leonard Nimoy. Also noteworthy, the role of solar power and its consequences for the monorail! For links to the full episode.

See our Reader Responses to this article, including a Response & Video Questioning BRTA’s Safety Claims

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