December 31, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Filed under: No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 31, 2008

links to no words

Filed under: Uncategorized by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 31, 2008

Tonight: A Jazzy New Year’s Eve at Bussaco

I know what Park Slope jazz musician Joshua Shneider is doing tonight:

Come spend New Year’s Eve with me and my Quartet featuring Monte Croft, keyboards and vocals; Gregory Ryan, bass and Eric Halvorson on drums, at Bussaco in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Bussaco is a fabulous new restaurant with incredible food and
drink which was just opened by my old friend Scott Carney and his wife
Melanie Kozol. It is a beautiful, spacious room with a full bar and a
warm comfortable vibe. Scott is a sommelier who has been in the
business for many years and has now created a first class restaurant in
the Slope. Check them out at www.bussacobklyn.com.

As for my fine band, we will be playing some of the greatest hits from
the last 100 years, as well as whatever we feel when the spirit visits
us.

Please join us for the night or, if you’re already booked, just stop by and have a drink first. We’d love to see you.
New Year’s Eve at:

Bussaco

833 Union St

Brooklyn, NY 11215

Reservations Recommended 718.857.8828

www.bussacobklyn.com

Filed under: Postcard from the Slope by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 31, 2008

Happy New Year’s From Zuzu’s Petals

I just got this note from Fonda at Zuzu’s Petals:

We are going to need all our best everything in the coming year.

For The Zuzus that means the freshest, most long lasting well priced flowers, plants, gifts and the best energy we can generate.

To all zuzushoppers and their families we wish good health, and all the usual joy, love and peace the average person might desire.

Filed under: Postcard from the Slope by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 31, 2008

Greetings from Scott at Rocky Sullivan’s in Red Hook

Here are the latest greetings from Scott Turner of Rocky Sullivan’s in Red Hook!!

Greetings Pub Quiz Midnight Revelers…

One of the wonderful and maddening things in this world are the parallel happenings that re-define irony. Sometimes, we giggle. Others, we turn away in horror. Occasionally, it’s both.

Diane, the dogs and I were returning from Pittsburgh on Sunday evening. One signpost that we’re closing in on New York City is when 1010 WINS
starts coming in on the radio. There’s not a lot of radio between
Pittsburgh and New York — well, there is, but there’s, you know, not. This includes driving through Pennsylvania’s capital region, Harrisburg.

Between Brooklyn and the Steel City sits my favorite radio station that I’ve never actually listend to: WMLK, the short-wave station transmitting from the Assemblies of Yahweh. Right off Interstate 78 in Bethel, PA. No AM or FM for WMLK. You can only get it on short-wave frequency — 9265
kHz. According to WMLK’s website, the station targets Europe and the Middle East.

Testing one…two…three. WMLK founder Elder Meyer in the early days…or the early End of Days, perhaps.

I
have no idea whether I’d like what WMLK bounces off the clouds. Prolly
not, but since I don’t have a short-wave transmitter, who knows?
According to WMLK’s website, "The steel posts that were used for the antenna construction
fulfilled a prophecy found in Jeremiah 31:21. "Set yourself up
waymarks, make yourself guideposts [sign‑posts]; set your heart toward
the highway, even the way by which you went: turn again, O virgin of Israel,
turn again to these your cities." This would give some indication of the Assembly of Yahweh’s stance on things.

Transmitting
the word of some version of some god not enough for you? WMLK sells
its spare parts, too! If you need various components from a RCA BTA 50G and a RCA BTA 50F ("priced to sell. You can make your needs known via e-mail") or the empty cabinets from the BTA 50F ("we were intending on using these cabinets for a 100KW Short-wave
               unit.
            We
               have since purchased a BBC 250 KW unit and installed this instead"), your prayers have been answered — undoubtedly by folks who like answering prayers.

Look at the bright side — you can’t get O’Reilly, Hannity or Limbaugh on WMLK.

We were hoping to find news on the Israeli decimation of Gaza. News, analysis, discussion. Nothing. We did find religious proselytizing, Ravens and Eagles and Jets games, mainstream country stations and oldies which, imposingly, now include songs from when I was in high-school.

1010 WINS finally broke through the I-78 corridor static with an advertisement urging us to donate our car to the L’Chaim Society. "L’Chaim means life!" the narrator cheerfully intoned.

That was followed by the latest from Gaza — a second day of Israeli military bombardment, hundreds of Palestinians dead, two confirmed Israeli deaths from Hamas missles.

"L’chaim means life!"

History tells us many things. One is that bullies have a hard time maintaining the moral high ground.

This has been a
year to remember. Sadly, it’s so memorable because of all the terrible
things we’d like to forget — the economy, the continued foreign-policy
wastelands of Iraq and Afghanistan, people close to us we’ve lost (hope
you’ve escaped your demons, John Costelloe), the human inability to
solve disagreements without weaponry, the seduction of easy solutions
for tough problems, the vacuum of leadership, the dearth of people
getting involved, and cutting-edge technology cutting us off from one
another with increasing frequency.

That so many of you come out to the Rocky Sullivan’s Pub Quiz
week after week pushes that last item to the curb. A little bit, at
least. It’s a chance to rub shoulders with other folks, be part
something fun, thoughtful, challenging and inebriating. For one night
a week, we can lock arms with the world and at the same time reject the
notion of a culture where everyone’s no closer than arms-length. The
arms being our computers, PDAs, cell-phones, TMs, IMs, WWWs, PlayStations, Wiis, movies-on-demand, Netflixes and anything else that replaces hand-shakes and hugs with ones and zeroes.

There
are still a lot of options for being with each other in the flesh.
It’s an honorific that you choose Rocky’s and the Quiz come Thursday
night. Thanks also to everyone who’s spread the word about Rocky
Sullivan’s Pub Quiz — the grapevine, the bloggers, the word-of-mouth,
the forwarding of these e-mails.

…and yes, this is another irony — thanking you for being human by sending a group e-mail.

Life ain’t perfect. But it sure is lively.

Filed under: Postcard from the Slope by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 31, 2008

Jan 7-11: Puppets for Grown-Ups

Ring in the New Year with a quirky display of new works-in-progress and stop motion puppet animations from The Lab at St. Ann’s Warehouse.

Filed under: Postcard from the Slope by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 31, 2008

Tonight: The New Year’s Eve Fun Run

I wish I could be there. Ring in the New Year in a healthy and fun way!
Thinking about wearing a costume. Runners, walkers and all paces welcome!

2008-2009 NEW YEAR’S EVE FUN RUN
presented by
Brooklyn Road Runners Club and Slope Sports

5k/3.1 MILE FUN RUN
Prospect Park, Brooklyn

DATE/TIME

Monday, December 31, 2008 –
11:15pm start

NEW START/FINISH LINE
Start/Finish line is at the 9th Street, inside the Park

ENTRY FEE

$20 before December 31, 2008 ($15 for Brooklyn Road Runners Club members)
$25 on Race Day ($20 for BRRC Members)
No refunds and/or exchanges. Race will occur rain, snow or shine.

NEW COURSE
5K (3.1 mile) course. Start at 9th Street, down around the Lake, turn
Left on Center Drive. At the end of Center Drive, turn right back onto
West Drive to the Finish line at 9th Street. Runners, please make note
of your times at the end of the race. There will be an unofficial
timing and this is an un-scored Fun Run.

AWARDS

A free pair of running shoes (value up to $100) from Slope Sports for Top Male & Top Female finisher!
Running gloves for the first 250 participants
Hot chocolate provided for participants

RACE REGISTRATION

(1) Print and mail a race application. DOWNLOAD HERE >> CLICK HERE
OR
(2) Online registration at Active.com >> REGISTER ONLINE

REGISTRATION / RACE NUMBER PICK-UP
Slope Sports
70 Seventh Avenue, between Lincoln & Berkeley
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-230-4686

Mon. Dec. 29th, 11a-7p
Tue. Dec. 30th, 11a-7p
Race Day, Wed., Dec 31st, 11-5p

Onsite race registration: 10:30-11:00p

Filed under: Uncategorized by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 31, 2008

Coney’s Last Stand: Save the Amusement Zoning

On Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 12 Noon in Coney Island express how you feel about what’s going on in Coney Island. Join others on West Tenth Street at the memorial shrine on Boardwalk Gates of Coney Island’s closed and dismantled Astroland Park…Bring photos, drawings, letters, poems, flowers to add to the shrine.

Residents and tourists who come to Coney Island on New Year’s Day will be shocked to find historic bars and storefronts closed and colorful signage obliterated by Thor Equities “Space for Lease” banners. A few days before Christmas, Thor CEO Joe Sitt’s agents began evicting longtime tenants by cutting off locks, asking for triple the rent, or refusing to discuss 2009 leases. On Christmas Eve, huge custom-sized "Space For Lease" banners were put up on Ruby’s Bar & Grill, Nathan’s Boardwalk store, Cha Cha’s, and others businesses on Thor owned property in Coney Island. On September 7, Astroland closed forever after 46 years as Coney Island’s largest amusement park when Thor refused to grant a lease for the 2009 season.

"Especially in this economy, the city should not allow Thor Equities to displace an entire community of successful, thriving businesses who are contributing tourism dollars and tax revenue to the city,” says Dianna Carlin, owner of the Lola Staar Souvenir shop who found out on Christmas Eve that Thor Equities was evicting her from her shop on the Boardwalk. "This is the type of economic climate where Coney Island, the People’s Playground, would thrive because it provides accessible recreation for all during tough economic times and instead they are allowing it to be senselessly destroyed."

Why are Mayor Bloomberg, City Councilman Domenic Recchia and Lynn Kelly, President of the Coney Island Development Corporation, allowing Joe Sitt to get away with murdering Coney Island? This is your opportunity to say Thor No More!… Mayor Mike, Give Us Back our Playground!…Hey Domenic, Don’t let Pal Joey Kill Coney!….CIDC, Go Back to the Drawing Board!

“It is tragic that the City’s flawed redevelopment plan allowed predatory developer Thor Equities to take over and darken Coney Island,” says historian Charles Denson, a Coney Island native who began documenting his world-famous neighborhood when he was 12 and Steeplechase Park was set to be demolished. “The only way Coney Island will be saved for future generations is if the Bloomberg administration modifies its unrealistic rezoning plan and preserves the existing amusement zoning in its entirety. It is hard to believe that a shopping mall developer from Bensonhurst has brought the Bloomberg administration to its knees.”

The City’s rezoning plan is a capitulation to Thor Equities and almost completely abolishes the amusement district for the sake of high rise condos disguised as hotels and generic retail. Coney Island is currently zoned for 61 acres of amusements; the city’s new proposal reduces the amount of amusements to 9 acres. This reduction of the Amusement District will destroy Coney Island’s legacy as "the People’s Playground" and defeat the goal of creating a world class amusement and tourist destination.

“Change is inevitable in Coney Island but it MUST be change we can believe in,” says Dick Zigun, the founder and director of Coney Island USA . Known as the unofficial “Mayor of Coney Island” and the spokesman for the amusement district, Zigun was on the board of directors of the Coney Island Development Corporation until he resigned in protest in June 2008. “The CIDC compromised its plan for the amusement park last May to the extent that I had to resign to live with myself,” says Zigun. “Now its becoming clear that they city doesn’t have any interim plan and as a result, five hundred working people have lost their jobs in the amusement industry. The Municipal Arts Society of Manhattan has come forth with a plan for a world class tourist attraction in Coney Island for the 21st century. It is faster, better and cheaper. The CIDC must go back to the drawing board!”

For additional information on Coney Island redevelopment & how to help visit:
–Save Coney Island @ http://www.fightforyourrighttoconey.com/Home.html
–Save Coney Island @ http://www.myspace.com/saveconeyisland
–Municipal Art Society’s www.imagineconey.com

Filed under: Postcard from the Slope by louise crawford · 1 Comment
Tags:

December 31, 2008

Tom Martinez, Witness: For Esme with Love…

A 3-year-old went for a joy ride at
Hershey Park (PA). Surprisingly balmy weather made
for
a surreal, spring-like day in the middle of winter.

photo by Tom Martinez

Filed under: Uncategorized by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 31, 2008

Fireworks Tonight!

Tonight: The 27th annual New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular at Grand Army Plaza . The free celebration, sponsored by BP Markowitz and held in partnership with the Prospect Park Alliance, starts around 11 p.m. with music from Blacksmith Organization. Hot refreshments will be provided by Starbucks.

Best locations for viewing the midnight fireworks include anywhere in Grand Army Plaza , inside the Park on the West Drive , and along Prospect Park West between Grand Army Plaza and 9th Street.

Filed under: Postcard from the Slope by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 31, 2008

Oral Arguments in Term Limits Lawsuit Begin on Monday, January 5th; Media Availability Following Court Appearance

Oral arguments on the merits of the Term Limits
lawsuit will begin this Monday, January 5th, at 4:30pm.

This diverse coalition of local
elected officials, candidates, good-government groups, and voters filed the
lawsuit in November to challenge the term limits extension that was passed by
the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg this fall. The
plaintiffs seek to invalidate the law, and further seek the court’s declaration
that a fundamental change in the City’s term-limits law, such as the extension
enacted by the Council and the Mayor, requires a public referendum. The case
has been assigned to Judge Sifton in the Eastern District. The judge has set an
aggressive schedule for moving the case forward, and has also rejected the
City’s request to transfer the Term Limits case to the Southern District of New
York in Manhattan, after finding that combining the cases in the Southern
District would not save any resources or serve the interests of justice, as the
City had claimed.

Filed under: Election by louise crawford · 1 Comment
Tags:

December 31, 2008

The Oh-So-Prolific-One: Leon Freilich/Verse Responder

SOME THINGS NEVER

I took a pioneering trip

To Mercury on a rocket ship;

The sights were new but not the pattern–

My luggage spent the week on Saturn.

BOTTLE BATTLE

In the world’s poorer
countries

It’s water you need to fear

While in the prosperous sections

It’s best to avoid the air.

Filed under: VERSE RESPONDER: LEON FREILICH by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 31, 2008

Gowanus Lounge: Top 10 Brooklyn Stories of 2008

Real Estate slump, the meltdown of the Atlantic Yards, Coney Island and more: go to Gowanus Lounge to see his picks for the Top 10 stories of 2008.

Filed under: Uncategorized by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 30, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Filed under: No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 28, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Filed under: No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 28, 2008

The Current Weather in Tracy, California

Brought to you by Yahoo Weather.

Filed under: Uncategorized by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 28, 2008

Why Do You Think Brooklyn Is So Badass?

I just got this email from the folks over at (www.fuckedinparkslope.com), who want to spread the word about their latest project. And as you’ll see, you can help. Send in your reasons for loving Brooklyn…

Inspired by NY mag’s recent "Why we love NY feature" we here at FIPS (www.fuckedinparkslope.com)
have decided to quickly pull together a "why we love Brooklyn"
feature. As 2008 comes to a close, we hope to feature 209 reasons we
think Brooklyn is so badass in a feature to be pub’d on January 1, 2009.

So,
why do you love Brooklyn? It could be something very specific (i.e.
because of Frannie’s on Flatbush) or something more general (i.e. more
hipsters per square capita than any other place on earth). Feel free
to include links, where appropriate, and even a line or two of
explaining your choice (only if you’d like to). If its specific to
2008, all the better. And of course, we will attribute your item (and
include a link back to your blog or website!), so please do let me know
if you’d prefer to be anon.

Feel free to send in as many or
as few reasons as you’d like (and also feel free to forward this on to
any friends, other bloggers, or anyone else you think might like to
contribute). We’d love to feature as many other Brooklyn bloggers,
twitterers and Brooklynites as possible, so please repost on your blogs
and get back to us with any submissions.

We’re getting a late start after the holiday weekend, so apologies for the rush request!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Happy Holidays!

Filed under: Postcard from the Slope by louise crawford · 1 Comment
Tags:

December 28, 2008

Big Sky Brooklyn

Big Sky Brooklyn features impressions from big sky
Brooklyn, where old & new, concrete & ethereal, desolate &
sublime collide/harmonize. It’s a lovely website.

Filed under: Uncategorized by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 27, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Filed under: No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 26, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Filed under: No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 26, 2008

Everything There is to Say About Sex, Drugs, Smoking & Booze in 1:45 Seconds

I just got this from Beth Harpaz, author of 13 is the New 18:

OK, I guess some moms and teenagers around the neighborhood are
getting a laugh out of this. WHich I think is a good thing. Basically I
tried to sum up everything mothers want to tell their teenagers about
sex, drugs, booze, smoking and school in one minute and 45 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR7NduwSTiY

There’s a second video that isn’t quite as funny but similar theme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFvSIQZYAMA

Filed under: Uncategorized by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 26, 2008

The Oh-So-Prolific-One: Leon Freilich/Verse Responder

ONCE MORE AROUND THE BLOCK

I didn’t get my fantasy gift
Nor anything that hot
My car and I were hoping for
A permanent parking spot

Filed under: Uncategorized by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 26, 2008

Fun Hanukah Decorations at Marlene’s House

From friend and neighbor Marlene, of Marlene’s Lost and Found. She creates handcrafted jewelry, objects, and art created from lost images and found objects: She writes: "Hanukkah is almost over. And the display kinda looks "grander" in
person (or at least in the close-ups). But I thought I’d send ‘em to
you anyway. Happy Holidays!!! Happy New Year!!"

Filed under: Postcard from the Slope by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 26, 2008

Good News About Evicted Park Slope Couple

I just got this email with good news about the Park Slope couple evicted from their St. John’s Place apartment.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah,

I have some wonderful news to
report today. Our collective efforts have apparently made a big
difference. The Slope couple Frances and Frank are finally getting the
help they need, and much thanks goes to all the neighbors who made it
possible.

As soon as Frances and Frank are set up in their new
home, I will post again with more information. In the meantime, they
are most grateful to all who expressed concern and offered help.

Thank you,
Jennifer Epelbaum

Filed under: Postcard from the Slope by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 25, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Filed under: No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 25, 2008

Photography by Rodolph Vernaz-Colas: Snow

Photograph by Rodolph Vernaz-Colas

Filed under: Uncategorized by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 25, 2008

Happy Christmas from California

That’s where we are. Three hours behind the times in Brooklyn. Have a great day!

Filed under: Uncategorized by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 24, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Filed under: No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 23, 2008

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Filed under: No Words_Daily Pix by Hugh Crawford by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags:

December 23, 2008

Happy Christmas Eve

It’s Tuesday night and we’re packing up to go to California to visit Hepcat’s relatives. We will take an early flight on Wednesday morning. I will be packing up this computer in a few minutes.

Hepcat says that No Words Daily Pix will be up on Wednesday. And I’ll post the weather. But that’s it. Right now, I need to get ready to go. You will hear from me on Christmas. From California.

Merry Christmas to all. And Happy Hannukah, too.

Filed under: Postcard from the Slope by louise crawford · Comments Off
Tags: